<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant /X/
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /
Check the appropriate box:
/ / Preliminary Proxy Statement
/ / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
/X/ Definitive Proxy Statement
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section240.14a-11(c) or
Section240.14a-12
THE GRAND UNION COMPANY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
/X/ No fee required.
/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1)
and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5) Total fee paid:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
/ / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/ / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3) Filing Party:
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(4) Date Filed:
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<PAGE>
[LOGO]
August 25, 1997
To our Stockholders:
You are cordially invited to attend the 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of the Grand Union Company, to be held Thursday, September 25, 1997, at 10:00
a.m. at the Sheraton Crossroads Hotel, 1 International Boulevard, Mahwah, New
Jersey 07495. The formal notice and proxy statement for the Annual Meeting are
attached to this letter.
It is important that your shares be represented at the Annual Meeting.
Accordingly, whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to
complete, date and sign the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible and return
it in the envelope provided.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank you for your
continued support and look forward to seeing you on September 25.
Sincerely,
Roger E. Stangeland
Chairman of the Board
<PAGE>
THE GRAND UNION COMPANY
201 WILLOWBROOK BOULEVARD
WAYNE, NEW JERSEY 07470
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
SEPTEMBER 25, 1997
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE GRAND UNION COMPANY:
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The Grand Union Company (the
"Company") will be held at the Sheraton Crossroads Hotel, 1 International
Boulevard, Mahwah, New Jersey 07495, beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday,
September 25, 1997, for the following purposes, as more fully described in the
accompanying Proxy Statement:
(1) To elect the following eight (8) nominees to serve as directors:
Roger E. Stangeland, James J. Costello, Daniel E. Josephs, William G.
Kagler, Clifford A. Miller, Geoffrey T. Moore, J. Richard Stonesifer and
David Y. Ying.
(2) To approve the Associate Stock Purchase Plan which will allow
Company associates an opportunity to purchase Grand Union common stock
through payroll deduction and direct purchase, and
(3) To ratify the appointment of Price Waterhouse LLP as independent
accountants of the Company for the fiscal year ending March 28, 1998.
(4) To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on July 28, 1997, will
be entitled to vote at the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. A
list of such stockholders is kept at the Company's offices, 201 Willowbrook
Boulevard, Wayne, New Jersey, and at the place of the meeting for the ten days
prior to the meeting. The meeting will be open to all stockholders of record and
proxyholders, and to others by invitation only. Beneficial owners of shares held
by a broker or nominee must bring with them or have delivered to the Company an
appropriate proxy from their broker to vote such shares.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Donald C. Vaillancourt
CORPORATE VICE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY
August 25, 1997
PLEASE USE THE ENCLOSED STAMPED ENVELOPE TO RETURN YOUR PROXY. RETURNING
YOUR PROXY WILL NOT PREVENT YOU FROM VOTING IN PERSON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.
<PAGE>
THE GRAND UNION COMPANY
201 WILLOWBROOK BOULEVARD
WAYNE, NEW JERSEY 07470
PROXY STATEMENT
INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING
GENERAL
The enclosed Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of The
Grand Union Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), for use at the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") to be held at the Sheraton
Crossroads Hotel, One International Place, Mahwah, New Jersey, beginning at
10:00 a.m. on September 25, 1997, and at any adjournment or postponement
thereof, for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of
Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
These proxy solicitation materials, and the Annual Report to Stockholders
for the fiscal year ended March 29, 1997, including financial statements, are
being first mailed on or about August 25, 1997, to all stockholders entitled to
vote at the Annual Meeting.
RECORD DATE AND SHARES OUTSTANDING
Stockholders of record at the close of business on the record date, July 28,
1997, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. The Company
has three classes of voting equity securities outstanding: Common Stock, $.01
par value ("Common Stock"), Class A Convertible Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value
("Preferred Stock A"), Class B Convertible Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value
("Preferred Stock B" and collectively with the Preferred Stock A, the "Preferred
Stock"). At the close of business on the record date, 10,000,000 shares of
Common Stock, 1,300,424 shares of Preferred Stock A and 800,000 shares of
Preferred Stock B were issued and outstanding.
VOTING AND REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
Any proxy given in the form accompanying this proxy statement may be revoked
or superseded by the person giving it prior to exercise. A proxy may be revoked
by delivering to the Secretary of the Company a later dated proxy or a written
notice of revocation, or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. A
proxy, when executed and not so revoked, will be voted in accordance with the
instructions given in the proxy. If a choice is not specified in the proxy, the
proxy will be voted "FOR" the nominees for election of directors named in this
Proxy Statement, "FOR" the ratification of the appointment of Price Waterhouse
LLP as the Company's auditors for the current fiscal year, "FOR" approval of the
Associate Stock Purchase Plan, and according to the discretion of the
proxyholders on any other matters that properly come before the meeting.
Any stockholder present at the meeting may withdraw his or her proxy and
vote in person on each matter brought before the meeting. Stockholders attending
the meeting whose shares are held in the name of a broker or other nominee must
bring with them or cause to be delivered to the Company a proxy from that broker
or nominee in order to vote those shares.
Each holder of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the record date will be
entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held, and each holder of
shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on the record date will be entitled to the
number of votes equal to the number of shares of Common Stock into which all
shares of Preferred Stock A or Preferred Stock B held by the same holder are
convertible. Shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on the record date are
convertible at a conversion ratio of 6.8966 shares of Common Stock for each
share of Preferred Stock A and at a conversion ratio of 20.8333 shares of Common
Stock for each share of Preferred Stock B. If more than one share of Preferred
Stock is held by
1
<PAGE>
any holder of Preferred Stock, the total number of votes which such holder shall
be entitled to cast shall be computed on the basis of conversion of the total
number of shares of Preferred Stock held by such holder, with any then remaining
fractional share disregarded. Any such disregarded fractional shares will also
be disregarded for purposes of determining a quorum, and for purposes of
determining the number of votes necessary to approve a proposal and whether such
proposal has been approved. With respect to the shares outstanding at the close
of business on the record date, holders of the Common Stock are entitled to an
aggregate of 10,000,000 votes, holders of Preferred Stock A are entitled to an
aggregate of 8,968,504 votes and holders of Preferred Stock B are entitled to an
aggregate of 16,666,640 votes for a combined aggregate of 35,635,144 votes
entitled to be cast with respect to matters presented at the meeting.
Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the
votes cast, with all shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock voting together.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter by holders of
shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock A and Preferred Stock B, voting
together, shall be necessary to approve and adopt the Associate Stock Purchase
Plan and to ratify the appointment of the Company's independent accountants.
With respect to any other matter that may properly come before the Annual
Meeting, each holder of shares of Common Stock or of Preferred Stock will
generally have the rights described above, except where applicable law or the
Company's Certificate of Designation of Preferred Stock provide otherwise.
The presence in person or by proxy of shares entitled to cast a majority of
the votes of all outstanding shares is necessary to establish a quorum at the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for
purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction
of business. The effect of abstentions and broker non-votes on the calculation
of the required vote on specific proposals to be brought before the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders is discussed under each proposal, where applicable.
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
The Company will bear the entire cost of solicitation of proxies, including
costs incurred in connection with the preparation, assembly, printing and
mailing of this Proxy Statement, the proxy and any additional information
furnished to the Company's stockholders in relation to the Annual Meeting. In
addition, the Company may reimburse brokerage firms and other persons
representing beneficial owners of shares for their expenses in forwarding
solicitation materials to such beneficial owners. Proxies also may be solicited
by certain of the Company's directors, officers and regular employees, without
additional compensation, personally or by telephone, facsimile, telegram or any
other means of communication.
2
<PAGE>
SECURITY OWNERSHIP BY CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Set forth below is certain information as of June 30, 1997, regarding the
beneficial ownership of the Company's Preferred Stock and Common Stock by (i)
any person known by the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of any class of
voting securities of the Company; (ii) each director and nominee for director;
(iii) each of the Named Executive Officers identified in the Summary
Compensation Table; and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a group.
Included in the table are shares that the holder has the right to acquire within
60 days from the date above. Except as indicated otherwise, the Company
believes, based on information furnished by such owners, that the beneficial
owners of the Company's Common Stock listed below have sole investment and
voting power with respect to such shares, subject to applicable community
property laws. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for all natural persons
listed in the table below is c/o Grand Union Company, 201 Willowbrook Boulevard,
Wayne, New Jersey 07470.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT AND
NATURE OF
TITLE BENEFICIAL PERCENT
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OF CLASS OWNERSHIP(1) OF CLASS(1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ ------------ -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Trefoil Capital Investors II, L.P. ............................................. Preferred Stock A 1,240,424(2)(3) 95.40%
GE Investment Private Placement Partners II,
A Limited Partnership......................................................... Preferred Stock A 1,240,424(2)(3)(4) 95.40%
The Stangeland Family Limited Partnership....................................... Preferred Stock A 60,000(5) 4.61%
Trefoil Capital Investors II, L.P. ............................................. Preferred Stock B 800,000(2)(3) 100.00%
GE Investment Private Placement Partners II,
A Limited Partnership......................................................... Preferred Stock B 800,000(2)(3)(4)100.00%
Trefoil Capital Investors II, L.P. ............................................. Common 12,610,674(3) 71.61%
GE Investment Private Placement Partners II,
A Limited Partnership......................................................... Common 12,610,674(3)(4) 71.61%
Putnam Investments, Inc. ....................................................... Common 3,111,694(6)(7) 31.11%
Putnam Investment Management, Inc............................................... Common 3,069,741(6)(7)(9) 30.70%
Putnam Diversified Income Trust (High Yield).................................... Common 539,505(6)(7) 5.40%
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc........................................................ Common 768,827(10)(11) 7.69%
Merrill Lynch Group, Inc........................................................ Common 768,827(10)(11) 7.69%
Princeton Services, Inc......................................................... Common 768,827(11) 7.69%
Fund Asset Management, L.P...................................................... Common 627,434(11) 6.27%
Merrill Lynch Corporate Bond Fund, Inc.......................................... Common 521,389(11) 5.21%
Roger E. Stangeland............................................................. Common 447,630(12)(5) 4.29%
Daniel E. Josephs............................................................... Common 10,634(13) *
William G. Kagler............................................................... Common 4,334(13) *
David Y. Ying................................................................... Common 3,834(13) *
James J. Costello............................................................... Common 7,067(14) *
Clifford A. Miller.............................................................. Common 1,667(3)(14) *
Geoffrey T. Moore............................................................... Common 1,667(3)(14) *
J. Richard Stonesifer........................................................... Common 1,667(14) *
Joseph J. McCaig................................................................ Common 57,800(15) *
William A. Louttit.............................................................. Common 0 *
Darrell W. Stine................................................................ Common 22,000(16) *
Kenneth R. Baum................................................................. Common 0 *
Gilbert C. Vuolo................................................................ Common 6,560(17) *
William E. Kinslow.............................................................. Common 5,800(8) *
Francis E. Nicastro............................................................. Common 5,800(8) *
All Directors and Executive Officers as a
group (11 persons)............................................................ Common 496,660(18) 4.74%
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------
* Less than 1%.
3
<PAGE>
(1) Beneficial ownership is determined pursuant to SEC Regulation 13d-3 as
applied by Item 403 of Regulation S-K. Pursuant to these rules, percentage
ownership is calculated by including in the denominator for an owner shares
which the owner has the right to acquire within 60 days.
(2) The general partners of Trefoil are Trefoil Investors II, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Trefoil"), and Sigma Hedge Partners, G.P., a Delaware
partnership ("Sigma"). Trefoil II is the managing general partner of
Trefoil. The general partners of Sigma are Delta PT Investors Corporation, a
Delaware corporation ("Delta"), and Epsilon Equities, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Epsilon"), each of which is wholly owned by the General
Electric Pension Trust, a New York common law trust ("GEPT"). The principal
executive offices of Trefoil and Trefoil II are located at 4444 Lakeside
Drive, Burbank, California 91505. The principal executive offices of Sigma,
Delta, Epsilon and GEPT are located at 3003 Summer Street, P.O. 7900,
Stamford, Connecticut 06904. GE Investment Management Incorporated, a
Delaware Corporation ("GEIM"), serves as the managing general partner of
GEI. GEIM is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Electric Company and a
registered investment advisor. The principal executive offices of GEI, GEIM
and General Electric Company are located at 3003 Summer Street, P.O. Box
7900, Stamford, Connecticut 06904. Sigma, Delta, Epsilon and the Trustees of
General Electric Pension Trust ("GEPT") each holds shared dispositive power
over the shares of Preferred Stock held by Trefoil and the shares of Common
Stock into which such shares of Preferred Stock are convertible. Trefoil II
holds sole voting power, and Sigma, Delta, Epsilon and GEPT hold no voting
power, with respect to the shares of Preferred Stock held by Trefoil and the
shares of Common Stock into which such shares of Preferred Stock are
convertible.
(3) Trefoil and GE Investment Private Placement Partners II, A Limited
Partnership ("GEI"), a Delaware limited partnership (collectively with
Trefoil, the "Investors") may be deemed to beneficially own all of the
shares of Preferred Stock held by the Investors due to a Stockholders
Agreement between the Investors pursuant to which the Investors have each
agreed to certain joint action relating to voting and disposition of the
Preferred Stock and the Common Stock issuable on conversion of the Preferred
Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock is convertible into 6.8966 shares of
Common Stock, and each share of Preferred Stock B is convertible into
20.8333 shares of Common Stock.
(4) GEIM is the managing general partner of GEI and holds sole voting power and
sole dispositive power with respect to such shares.
(5) Of such shares, 5,000 are owned by The Roger E. and Lilah M. Stangeland
Foundation (the "Foundation"), and the remaining shares are owned by The
Stangeland Family Limited Partnership, a limited partnership for the benefit
of Roger and Lilah Stangeland (the "Partnership"), and for which The Roger
and Lilah Stangeland Living Trust serves as general partner. Mr. Stangeland
and his wife serve as co-trustees of such trust. Pursuant to a stockholder
agreement among the Company, the Investors and the Partnership, the
Partnership has granted to the Investors certain take-along rights, and the
Investors have granted to the Partnership certain tag-along rights, with
respect to such shares. Solely to the extent any of such take-along or tag-
along rights may be exercised, the Partnership and the Investors share
dispositive power with respect to such shares. The Partnership has sole
voting power with respect to such shares. Mr. Stangeland has voting and
dispositive power with respect to the shares held by the Foundation.
(6) Putnam Investments, Inc. wholly owns the registered investment adviser:
Putnam Investment Management, Inc. Shares of Common Stock beneficially held
by Putnam Investments, Inc. are as a result of the holdings of various
investment funds and other institutional investors for which Putnam
Investment Management, Inc., or affiliated entities act as investment
advisers. These shares of Common Stock include the shares held by Putnam
Diversified Income Trust, whose holdings are also separately reported in the
table. The address for each of the Putnam entities is One Post Office
Square, Boston, MA 02109. See also Notes (7) and (9).
(7) All of such shares are held with shared dispositive power and no voting
power.
(8) Includes 5,800 shares subject to acquisition pursuant to options exercisable
under the 1995 Equity Incentive Plan.
(9) All of the shares held by Putnam Diversified Income Fund are also
beneficially owned by Putnam Investment Management. See Note (7) above.
(10) Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. ("ML&Co.") and Merrill Lynch Group, Inc. ("ML
Group") are parent holding companies, Fund Asset Management, L.P., ("FAM")
is a registered investment advisor and Merrill Lynch Corporate Bond Fund,
Inc. (the "Fund") is a registered investment company. Shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by ML&Co. and ML Group are as a result of holdings of the
Fund and various other investment funds and investment companies for which
FAM and other entities affiliated with ML&Co. and ML Group act as investment
advisors. The address of each of ML&Co. and ML Group is World Financial
Center, North Tower, 250 Vesey Street, New York, New York 10281, and the
address of each of FAM, Princeton Services, Inc. ("PSI"), and the Fund is
800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536.
(11) All of such shares are held with shared voting and dispositive power.
(12) Includes 18,834 shares subject to acquisition pursuant to options
exercisable under the 1995 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan.
(13) Includes 3,834 shares subject to acquisition pursuant to options
exercisable under the 1995 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan.
(14) Includes 1,667 shares subject to acquisition pursuant to options
exercisable under the 1995 Equity Incentive Plan.
(15) Includes 47,800 shares subject to acquisition pursuant to options
exercisable under the 1995 Equity Incentive Plan.
(16) Includes 19,000 shares subject to acquisition pursuant to options
exercisable under the 1995 Equity Incentive Plan.
(17) Includes 6,560 shares subject to acquisition pursuant to options
exercisable under the 1995 Equity Incentive Plan.
(18) Includes 55,164 shares subject to acquisition pursuant to options
exercisable under of the 1995 Equity Incentive Plan.
4
<PAGE>
PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
DIRECTOR NOMINEES AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The names, ages and present principal occupations of the directors and
executive officers of Grand Union as of June 1, 1997, are as set forth below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AGE POSITIONS
- ----------------------------------------------------- --- -----------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Roger E. Stangeland.................................. 68 Director and Chairman--interim Chief Executive
Officer
Jeffrey P. Freimark.................................. 42 Executive Vice President--Chief Financial and
Administrative Officer
Gilbert C. Vuolo..................................... 53 Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Labor
Relations
Francis E. Nicastro.................................. 55 Vice President and Treasurer
William E. Kinslow................................... 58 Corporate Vice President--Management Information
Systems
Daniel E. Josephs.................................... 65 Director
William G. Kagler.................................... 65 Director
David Y. Ying........................................ 43 Director
James J. Costello.................................... 67 Director
Clifford A. Miller................................... 68 Director
Goeffrey T. Moore.................................... 40 Director
J. Richard Stonesifer................................ 61 Director
</TABLE>
MR. STANGELAND has been Chairman of the Board and a Director of the Company
since June 15, 1995. Mr. Stangeland was a Director and Chairman Emeritus of The
Vons Companies, Inc. ("Vons"), a large supermarket chain based in Southern
California from May 1994 until April 1997. From January 1986 through May 1994,
he was Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Vons. Mr. Stangeland
is a past Chairman of the Board of the Food Marketing Institute, a national
supermarket trade organization.
MR. FREIMARK was named Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and
Administrative Officer, on March 3, 1997. Prior to joining the Company, Mr.
Freimark served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
Pueblo Xtra International, Inc., a leading supermarket chain in the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico and the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands, from 1992 and as
Senior Vice President, Finance, Administration and Treasurer beginning in 1986.
Prior to that he was Vice President--Finance and Corporate Secretary of Kings
Supermarkets, a New Jersey supermarket chain.
MR. VUOLO was appointed Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Labor
Relations, effective April 1, 1996. Prior to that, he served as Corporate Vice
President, Personnel and Labor Relations, and Vice President, Labor Relations,
from 1989 to 1994. Mr. Vuolo has been with the Company for 35 years.
MR. NICASTRO has been Vice President and Treasurer of the Company since
September 1989. Prior to that, he spent 20 years with the Singer Company, the
last three of which were as Treasurer.
5
<PAGE>
MR. KINSLOW is Corporate Vice President--Management Information Systems. He
has held the position since June 1985, when he joined the Company.
MR. JOSEPHS is currently a self-employed consultant and has been a Director
since June 15, 1995. Mr. Josephs served as Director, President and Chief
Operating Officer of Dominick's Finer Foods, a supermarket chain based in the
Chicago area, from 1985 until March 1995.
MR. KAGLER has been a Director since June 15, 1995. Mr. Kagler served
Skyline Chili, Inc. as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board from
November 1994 until November 1995, as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer from November 1993 until November 1994, and as President and Chief
Executive Officer from November 1991 until November 1993. Prior thereto, he
served as President of The Kroger Co., a large supermarket chain based in
Cincinnati. He also serves as a Director of The Fifth Third Bank, a bank, Union
Central Life Insurance Co., a life insurance company, and The Ryland Group Inc.,
a home builder and mortgage insurance firm.
MR. YING has been a Director since June 15, 1995. Mr. Ying has been a
General Partner with the investment firm of Joseph, Littlejohn & Levy since June
1997. From January 1993 until June 1997, he was a Managing Director at
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, an investment banking firm,
and the head of the firm's Restructuring Group. From January 1990 to January
1993, Mr. Ying was a Managing Director with Smith Barney, an investment banking
firm. Mr. Ying also serves as a Director of Hayer Wheels International, Inc.
MR. COSTELLO has been a Director of the Company since September 17, 1996.
Mr. Costello was employed with the General Electric Company, a conglomerate, for
35 years, and as Comptroller (Chief Accounting Officer) for 12 years prior to
his retirement in 1992.
MR. MILLER has been a Director of the Company since September 17, 1996. Mr.
Miller has served as a Senior Consultant to Shamrock Holdings, Inc. since 1978.
From December 1986 through December 1991, Mr. Miller served as an Executive Vice
President and a Director of Great Western Financial Corporation and Great
Western Bank, both financial institutions. Mr. Miller also serves as a Director
of L.A. Gear, Inc., a footwear company.
MR. MOORE has been a Director of the Company since September 17, 1996. Mr.
Moore has been a Managing Director of Shamrock Capital Advisors, Inc., an
investment management company, since March 1992. From 1985 to 1992 he was an
investment banker with Paine Webber Incorporated. He currently serves as a
Director of Cacadian Farms, Inc., an organic foods manufacturer.
MR. STONESIFER has been a Director of the Company since September 17, 1996.
Mr. Stonesifer was employed with the General Electric Company, a conglomerate,
for 37 years, serving most recently as President and Chief Executive Officer of
GE Appliances, and an executive officer and Senior Vice President of the General
Electric Company, from January 1992 until his retirement in 1996.
Executive officers of Grand Union are appointed and serve at the discretion
of the Board of Directors. Each director of Grand Union is elected for a period
of one year and will serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified.
6
<PAGE>
In addition, the following individuals served as directors or executive
officers of the registrant during Fiscal 1997:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME POSITIONS SERVED THROUGH
- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Kenneth R. Baum............................. Senior Vice President, Chief Financial January 3, 1997
Officer and Secretary
William A. Louttit.......................... Director September 17, 1996
Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer February 18, 1997
Joseph J. McCaig............................ Director, President and Chief
Executive Officer May 7, 1997
Douglas T. McClure, Jr...................... Director September 17, 1996
Darrell W. Stine............................ Executive Vice President--Operations March 31, 1997
</TABLE>
NOMINEES
Eight (8) directors have been nominated for election at the Annual Meeting.
Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote the proxies received by
them for the eight (8) nominees named below, all of whom are presently directors
of the Company. If any such nominee is unable or declines to serve as a director
at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted for any nominee who
the proxy holders in their discretion may designate to fill the vacancy. The
Company is not aware of any nominee who will be unable or will decline to serve
as a director. The term of office for each person elected as a director will
continue until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until his successor
has been elected and qualified.
The election of directors shall be by the affirmative vote of the votes
represented by shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting,
with Common Stock and Preferred Stock voting together. The eight persons
receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected as directors. There is no
cumulative voting. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION
OF ALL THE FOLLOWING NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTOR: Roger E. Stangeland,
James J. Costello, Daniel E. Josephs, William G. Kagler, Clifford A. Miller,
Geoffrey T. Moore, J. Richard Stonesifer and David Y. Ying.
Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company is obligated to
include the five nominees designated by the Investors in the Company's slate of
nominees for election as directors at the Company's 1997 annual meeting of
stockholders and any other meeting of stockholders at which a slate of directors
is presented by the Company with a record date on or prior to September 1, 1997.
Messrs. Stangeland, Miller, Moore, Costello, and Stonesifer constitute the five
nominees designated by the Investors.
BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors of the Company currently comprises nine (9) members
and there is one vacancy on the Board. Each director serves until the next
annual meeting of stockholders or until his successor is duly elected and
qualified or until his earlier death, resignation or removal. The Board of
Directors has two standing committees: a Compensation Committee and an Audit
Committee.
The Board of Directors of the Company held sixteen (16) meetings during the
fiscal year ended March 29, 1997. From June 15, 1996 until September 17, 1996,
the Board was comprised of Messrs. Stangeland, Joseph J. McCaig, Josephs,
Kagler, William A. Louttit, Ying and Douglas T. McClure, Jr. Mr. Louttit and Mr.
McClure resigned from the Board effective September 17, 1996, and Messrs.
Costello, Miller, Moore, and Stonesifer were elected by the remaining directors
to replace them. Mr. McCaig resigned from the Board effective May 7, 1997. Each
incumbent director attended at least 75% of the
7
<PAGE>
aggregate of the number of meetings of the Board and the number of meetings held
by all committees of the Board on which he served.
The Audit Committee reviews the results and scope of audit and other
services provided by the Company's independent auditors and considers other
matters related to the financial condition of the Company. The Audit Committee
currently consists of Messrs. Costello, Josephs and Ying. During the fiscal year
ended March 29, 1997, the Audit Committee held a total of three (3) meetings.
The Compensation Committee sets the compensation for the chief executive
officer, makes recommendations concerning salaries and incentive compensation
for executive officers and key personnel, and during the fiscal year ended March
29, 1997, made recommendations as to whom stock options and other equity
incentive awards would be granted under the 1995 Equity Incentive Plan and the
terms of those awards. Members of the Compensation Committee are eligible to
receive formula-based awards made under the terms of the 1995 Non-employee
Directors' Stock Option Plan. The Compensation Committee presently consists of
Messrs. Kagler, Miller and Stonesifer. During the fiscal year ended March 29,
1997, the Compensation Committee held a total of seven (7) meetings.
The Board of Directors does not have a standing nominating committee.
Instead, the Board of Directors, as a whole, identifies and screens candidates
for membership on the Company's Board of Directors.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth compensation paid or accrued by the Company
to the Company's Chief Executive Officer, four other executive officers, and two
other executive officers who separated from the Company prior to year end, whose
salary and bonus exceeded $100,000 for the fiscal year ended March 29, 1997
(collectively, the "Named Executive Officers"), for services rendered to the
Company and its subsidiaries in all capacities during the three fiscal years
ended March 29, 1997:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG TERM
COMPENSATION
AWARDS
ANNUAL COMPENSATION -----------------
SECURITIES
UNDERLYING
----------------------------------- OPTIONS/SARS(#)
------------------------ ----------------- ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY($) BONUS ($)(1) COMPENSATION ($)(2)
- ----------------------------------------- --------- --------- ------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Joseph J. McCaig......................... 1997 538,462 39,939 -- 13,221
President and Chief 1996 454,310 90,000 47,800 181,786
Executive Officer 1995 502,165 22,493 -- 980,968
Darrell W. Stine......................... 1997 305,927 8,314 -- 8,028
Executive Vice President- 1996 281,142 56,780 19,000 40,070
Operations 1995 257,077 18,000 -- 621,911
Gilbert C. Vuolo......................... 1997 188,715 -- -- 4,920
Senior Vice President, 1996 145,792 29,440 6,560 4,244
Human Resources 1995 132,885 6,231 -- 4,450
Francis E. Nicastro...................... 1997 160,484 -- -- 6,355
Vice President and 1996 149,858 36,838 22,011 5,800 4,411
Treasurer 1995 133,018 -- 5,090
William E. Kinslow....................... 1997 147,691 11,062 -- 5,821
Vice President, 1996 134,399 40,182 5,800 5,460
Management Information 1995 129,992 25,963 -- 5,096
Systems
</TABLE>
8
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG TERM
COMPENSATION
AWARDS
ANNUAL COMPENSATION -----------------
SECURITIES
UNDERLYING
----------------------------------- OPTIONS/SARS(#)
------------------------ ----------------- ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY($) BONUS ($)(1) COMPENSATION ($)(2)
- ----------------------------------------- --------- --------- ------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
William A. Louttit....................... 1997 371,950 13,888 -- 590,993
Executive Vice President 1996 354,019 71,540 28,000 82,742
and Chief Operating 1995 335,669 15,037 -- 437,355
Officer
Kenneth R. Baum.......................... 1997 177,931 -- -- 224,052
Senior Vice President, 1996 203,654 42,000 11,720 9,392
Chief Financial Officer 1995 152,769 7,154 -- 31,691
and Secretary
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
The "Other Annual Compensation" column was omitted since the aggregate amount of
perquisites and other personal benefits in respect of Fiscal 1997, Fiscal 1996,
and Fiscal 1995 is less than the lower of $50,000 or 10% of the total annual
salary and bonus reported for each of the named executive officers and no other
compensation of the type required to be described in the "Other Annual
Compensation" column was paid in Fiscal 1997, 1996, or 1995.
(1) Included in the bonus column for Fiscal 1995 are amounts paid during Fiscal
1996 for performance in Fiscal 1995. All amounts included in the bonus
column for Fiscal 1996 are retention payments paid for remaining in the
Company's employ from the bankruptcy through the end of Fiscal 1996.
Included in the bonus column for Fiscal 1997 are amounts paid during Fiscal
1998 for performance in Fiscal 1997.
(2) "All Other Compensation" includes the following: (i) contributions to the
Company's Savings Plan under Section 401(k) made by the Company in Fiscal
1997, Fiscal 1996, and Fiscal 1995, respectively, for each of the named
executive officers as follows: Mr. McCaig -- $1,875, $1,414, and $1,455; Mr.
Stine -- $1,587, $1,563, and $1,547; Mr. Vuolo -- $1,598, $1,516, and
$1,526; Mr. Nicastro -- $1,482, $520, and $1,543; Mr. Kinslow--$1,486,
$1,470, and $1,506; Mr. Louttit -- $1,668, $1,526, and $765; and Mr. Baum --
$3,480, $1,546, and $1,525; and (ii) premium payments for life insurance
made by the Company in Fiscal 1997, Fiscal 1996, and Fiscal 1995,
respectively, for each of the named executive officers as follows: Mr.
McCaig -- $11,346, $10,843, and $31,090; Mr. Stine -- $6,441, $7,795, and
$13,522; Mr. Vuolo -- $3,322, $2,416, and $2,612; Mr. Nicastro - $3,608,
$3,891, and $4,812; Mr. Kinslow--$1,486, $1,470, and $1,506; Mr. Louttit --
$3,325, $4,795, and $10,013; and Mr. Baum -- $2,172, $2,741, and $3,302. The
Fiscal 1997 amounts for Messrs. Louttit and Baum include payments connected
with their separation from the Company, in the following amounts: Mr.
Louttit--$586,000 and Mr. Baum-- $218,400. The Fiscal 1996 and Fiscal 1995
amounts for Messrs. McCaig, Stine, Louttit, and Baum also include the value
of securities distributed from custodial accounts established pursuant to
non-competition and confidentiality agreements entered into by Messrs.
McCaig, Stine, Louttit, and Baum in August 1993. Such amounts were
distributed as a result of the Company's filing for bankruptcy in 1995, and
offset the Company's obligations to such executives under Grand Union's
Supplemental Retirement Program for Key Executives. Such distributions were
made in Fiscal 1996 and Fiscal 1995, respectively, in the following amounts:
Mr. McCaig -- $169,217 and $948,423; Mr. Stine -- $30,401 and $606,842; Mr.
Louttit -- $76,109 and $426,577; and Mr. Baum -- $4,793 and $26,864.
Effective March 3, 1997, the Company hired Jeffrey P. Freimark to serve as
the Company's Executive Vice President-Chief Financial and Administrative
Officer. Pursuant to the terms of a letter dated January 29, 1997, the Company
agreed to pay Mr. Freimark an initial annual base salary in the amount of
$325,000, a signing bonus in the amount of $150,000, and a car allowance of
$44,000 per year. In addition, the Company agreed that Mr. Freimark will
participate in the Company's bonus plan, with a maximum
9
<PAGE>
bonus of 40% of his base salary, based on achievement of certain Company
budgets; provided, however, that for the fiscal year ending March 28, 1998, the
Company guaranteed Mr. Freimark a minimum bonus payment of $25,000. Mr. Freimark
has also been granted 20,000 stock options, vesting in equal increments over a
four year period. Mr. Freimark is also eligible for other standard benefits
provided to the Company's executive officers, including participation in the
Company's Supplemental Early Retirement Plan and the Company's Equity Incentive
Plan.
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SECURITIES VALUE OF
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY
OPTIONS/SARS AT FY-END(#) OPTIONS/SARS AT FY-END ($)
-------------------------------- --------------------------------------
NAME EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
- ---------------------------------------------------------- ----------- ------------------- ----------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
J. McCaig................................................. 47,800 0 0 0
D. Stine.................................................. 19,000 0 0 0
G. Vuolo.................................................. 6,560 0 0 0
F. Nicastro............................................... 5,800 0 0 0
W. Kinslow................................................ 5,800 0 0 0
W. Louttit................................................ 28,000 0 0 0
K. Baum................................................... 11,720 0 0 0
</TABLE>
10
<PAGE>
PENSION PLAN TABLE
The table below shows, on a combined basis for the Grand Union Company
Employees' Retirement Plan (the "Retirement Plan"), and The Grand Union Company
Supplemental Retirement Program for Key Executives (the "Supplemental Plan"),
the estimated annual benefit payable upon retirement to specified compensation
and years of service classifications of 5, 10 and 15 or more years of service.
The credited years of service under these Plans for Messrs. McCaig, Louttit,
Stine, Baum and Vuolo are 22 years, 20 years, 28 years, 13 years and 22 years,
respectively. The current base compensation set forth in the "salary" column of
the Summary Compensation Table does not differ substantially from covered
compensation under these Plans. The retirement benefits shown are based upon
retirement at age 62 and the payment of a single-life annuity to the employee.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS OF SERVICE
FINAL AVERAGE ---------------------------------
COMPENSATION 5 10 15 OR MORE
- -------------------------------------------------------------- --------- --------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
$100,000...................................................... $ 21,667 $ 43,333 $ 65,000
150,000....................................................... 32,500 65,000 97,500
200,000....................................................... 43,333 86,667 130,000
250,000....................................................... 54,167 108,333 162,500
300,000....................................................... 65,000 130,000 195,000
350,000....................................................... 75,833 151,667 227,500
400,000....................................................... 86,667 173,333 260,000
450,000....................................................... 97,500 195,000 292,500
500,000....................................................... 108,333 216,667 325,000
550,000....................................................... 119,167 238,333 357,500
600,000....................................................... 130,000 260,000 390,000
</TABLE>
During the fiscal year ending March 29, 1997, Messrs. Louttit and Baum
separated from the Company. Mr. Loutitt is entitled to receive an annual pension
of $141,008 under the retirement plan and, in addition to receive three
Supplemental Plan payments of $178,333.33 on May 1, 1997, July 1, 1997 and
September 1, 1997. Mr. Baum is entitled to an annual pension benefit of $84,293
based upon his age and length of service. Mr. Stine retired from the Company on
March 31, 1997, and is eligible to receive a Supplemental Plan benefit. The
actual Retirement Benefit that each participant eventually receives from the
Retirement Plan may be lower upon application of the statutory benefit
limitations under IRC Section 415. In addition, each participant may elect to
receive his Retirement Benefit as early as age 55 in an actuarially reduced
amount, or under one of the optional forms of payment.
The benefits actually payable to an individual executive are reduced, in
some cases substantially, through offsets for primary Social Security benefits
and the actuarial equivalent of the value of securities received by those
executives who received distributions in 1995 and 1994. Below, for each named
executive, is the total estimated offset in each case expressed as a single life
annuity payable beginning at age 62 based on the Supplemental Plan's definition
of Actuarial Equivalence and a 7% interest rate conversion assumption.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ESTIMATED ANNUAL
PAYMENT OFFSET
AMOUNTS
---------------------
PRIOR SOCIAL TOTAL
DISTRIBUTIONS SECURITY OFFSET
------------ --------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
J. McCaig................................................................ $ 209,000 $ 18,000 $ 227,000
D. Stine................................................................. 77,000 14,000 91,000
G. Vuolo................................................................. -- 18,000 18,000
W. Louttit............................................................... 105,000 18,000 123,000
</TABLE>
11
<PAGE>
THE GRAND UNION COMPANY EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT PLAN
The Retirement Plan is a tax-qualified, noncontributory retirement plan,
providing retirement benefits for the Company's eligible salaried and hourly
non-union employees, union employees not covered by other pension plans, and all
of its officers. Under the Retirement Plan, a participant's benefit is generally
1.5% of the average of his or her five consecutive years of highest annual
compensation multiplied by years of service not in excess of 35 minus primary
social security benefits. Benefits under the plan are paid under several
alternatives, including monthly or lump sum payments at the employee's election.
Benefits are normally payable at age 65; however, the plan provides for early
retirement with reduced benefits commencing at age 55. The Internal Revenue Code
places certain limits on pension benefits which may be paid under plans
qualified under the Internal Revenue Code.
SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PLAN FOR KEY EXECUTIVES
The Supplemental Plan is a non-qualified pension plan pursuant to which
certain key employees of Grand Union and its affiliates ("Participants") earn a
supplemental pension in addition to the pension benefit to which they are
entitled under the Retirement Plan. The pension benefit formula under the
Supplemental Plan is expressed as an annual pension, payable monthly (i) if the
Participant is not married on his retirement date, for the Participant's life,
or (ii) if the Participant is married on his retirement date, the same amount as
described in clause (i) for the duration of the Participant's life and
thereafter 50% of such amount for the duration of the life of the Participant's
surviving spouse. The amount of the annual pension payable upon retirement at
age 62 or later is determined as the "target benefit" minus the "plan offsets".
The "target benefit" is an annual pension equal to the product of 4-1/3% of the
Participant's final year's base salary rate in effect immediately prior to his
separation, multiplied by the Participant's number of years of credited service
(up to 15 years) under the Supplemental Plan. "Plan offsets" for Participants
retiring at age 62 or later are equal to the sum of the Participant's (i)
primary Social Security benefits payable at the later of age 62 or the
Participant's actual retirement age, (ii) benefits under the Retirement Plan
payable at the later of age 62 or the Participant's actual retirement age in the
form of a single life annuity, and (iii) benefits, if any, payable from the
qualified retirement plan(s) of the Participant's previous employer(s).
Participants may also retire early (i) at or after attaining age 50 but prior to
attaining age 55, with the consent of Grand Union (the consent requirement is
waived for a Participant who becomes disabled or is involuntarily terminated
other than for cause), or (ii) at or after age 55, without any requirement for
consent by Grand Union. For Participants who retire early, the "target benefit"
is reduced by 5% per year for each year the Participant is under age 62.
Supplemental Plan benefits are payable in an actuarially determined single sum
no later than 30 days following the Participant's date of retirement or other
termination of employment. In general, no Supplemental Plan benefits will be
paid to a Participant whose employment with Grand Union terminates prior to the
Participant's attaining age 50. In May 1995, the Bankruptcy Court approved a
modification to the Supplemental Plan which provides that (x) in the case of
Joseph J. McCaig, the base salary would be deemed to be an amount not less than
$500,000 and (y) notwithstanding the general requirement of the Supplemental
Plan, benefits will not be paid to persons who retire prior to age 50, except
persons who were Participants in the Supplemental Plan prior to April 1, 1995,
who will be eligible for early retirement without forfeiture of benefits under
the Supplemental Plan from and after age 47 with Company consent.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Each non-employee director other than Mr. Stangeland receives an annual fee
of $25,000 for serving on the Board, and meeting fees of $1,500 for each Board
meeting attended in person, $750 for each committee meeting attended in person
and each telephonic Board meeting attended, and $375 for each telephonic
committee meeting attended. In addition, the Chairman of the Audit Committee,
Mr. Costello, and the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, Mr. Kagler,
receive $500 for each Committee meeting they attend in person as Chairman and
$250 for each telephonic committee meeting they attend as
12
<PAGE>
Chairman. Effective July 1, 1997, Directors will receive at least 50% of their
Director fees in Common Stock and, at their election, may receive all such fees
in Common Stock. Directors receive reimbursement of reasonable expenses
incidental to attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors or its
committees.
Mr. Stangeland receives an annual retainer of $100,000 for serving as
Chairman of the Board. In addition, Mr. Stangeland receives a $4,000 daily fee
for days spent at the Company and when undertaking substantial travel on the
Company's behalf. Mr. Stangeland absorbs incidental expenses incurred when
working on the Company's behalf from his office in California. Mr. Stangeland
was paid $351,000 in daily fees with respect to services performed during Fiscal
1997. Mr. Josephs and Mr. Kagler receive a $2,000 daily fee for activity on the
Company's behalf which requires substantial travel. Mr. Josephs and Mr. Kagler
received $4,000 and $4,000, respectively, with respect to services performed
during Fiscal 1997.
Each non-employee director also receives an automatic initial grant of
options to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock, and additional grants to
purchase 1,500 shares with each re-election by stockholders. All directors are
reimbursed for expenses incurred on the Company's behalf.
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS
The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its
directors and executive officers pursuant to which the Company has agreed to
indemnify such persons to the fullest extent permitted by law against expenses,
judgments, fines, penalties or amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection with legal proceedings in which
the person was involved by reason of being a director or officer of the Company.
Under current law, such indemnification generally is available if such person
acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the
best interests of the Company and, with respect to criminal proceedings, had no
reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Under current law,
such person is not indemnified in respect of matters as to which he or she has
been adjudged liable to the Company unless a court determines that, under the
circumstances, he or she is reasonably entitled to such indemnification.
Comparable indemnification rights are also provided pursuant to the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation.
SEVERANCE POLICY
In May 1995, the Company adopted a severance policy with respect to its
salaried employees whereby a salaried employee whose employment is terminated
without cause or whose employment is constructively terminated is entitled to
receive a lump-sum severance payment equal to (i) in the case of salaried
employees holding the office of President, Executive Vice President or Senior
Vice President, 18 months' base salary; (ii) in the case of salaried employees
holding the office of Corporate Vice President, 12 months' base salary; (iii) in
the case of salaried employees holding the office of appointed vice president or
director, 6 months' base salary; and (iv) in the case of all other salaried
employees, one week's base salary for each year of service to the Company up to
a maximum of 26 weeks. Constructive termination is defined under the policy to
mean an involuntary transfer that would require relocation outside the Company's
current operating area or (x) with respect to persons holding the position of
chief executive officer, chief operating officer or chief financial officer,
either removal from such position or a reduction in salary of 5% or more in any
year and (y) with respect to any other salaried employee, either a reduction in
salary of 10% or more in any year or a reduction in grade level of more than two
grades in any year.
CHANGE-IN-CONTROL PROVISIONS
Under the Company's 1995 Equity Incentive Plan and 1995 Non-Employee
Directors' Stock Option Plan, certain provisions take effect on a
change-in-control of the Company. Under both plans, on the twentieth (20th)
trading day prior to the effective date of the change in control, all stock
options not otherwise vested become fully vested, and any restrictions or other
conditions applicable to restricted stock or other incentives awarded under the
1995 Equity Incentive Plan lapse or are deemed satisfied and such
13
<PAGE>
awards become fully vested and/or immediately payable. In addition, the value of
any canceled award is paid out in cash unless the award holder receives either
(i) the right to acquire the same basket of cash and securities available to
holders of Common Stock, or (ii) if pooling of interests is a condition of the
transaction, an equivalent right in a successor security which would enable the
transaction to qualify for pooling of interests. Under both plans, a
change-in-control is defined to include: (1) any person, entity or Group
(persons or entities acting together) is or becomes the beneficial owner of more
than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company; (2) a consolidation, merger or sale
of substantially all of the assets of the Company, with the effect that any
person, entity or Group becomes the beneficial owner of more than 50% of the
Voting Stock of the Company or the Company is not the surviving entity; (3)
during any consecutive two-year period commencing July 1, 1996, individuals who
constituted the Board of Directors at the beginning of such period, together
with any new directors whose election by the Board or nomination for election by
stockholders was approved by 2/3 of the directors who were in office at the
beginning of the period or whose election or nomination was so approved, cease
to constitute a majority of the Board then in office; or (4) any order, judgment
or decree of dissolution or split-up of the Company, and such order remains
undischarged or unstayed for a period in excess of 60 days. For purposes of
determining whether a change in control has occurred, "more than 50% of the
Voting Stock" means more than 50% of one or more classes of stock pursuant to
which the holders have the general power to vote for the election of members of
the Board of Directors, and the aggregate of such classes for which the person,
entity or Group holds more than 50% has the power to elect more than 50% of the
members of the Board of Directors.
STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph shows a comparison of cumulative total returns for the
Company, the Standard & Poors 500 ("S&P 500"), and the Standard & Poors Retail
(Food Chains) Index, for the period that commenced on June 15, 1995, and ended
on March 29, 1997, with data points for June 15, 1995 and March 29, 1997. The
graph assumes that all dividends have been reinvested.
COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
(THE GRAND UNION COMPANY, S&P 500, S&P RETAIL (FOOD CHAINS) INDEX)
EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
6/15/95 3/30/96 3/29/97
<S> <C> <C> <C>
GUCO 100 39 23
S&P 500 100 123 144
S&P Retail (Food) 100 129 137
</TABLE>
14
<PAGE>
NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY SET FORTH IN ANY OF THE COMPANY'S
PREVIOUS FILINGS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES
ACT"), OR THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED (THE "EXCHANGE ACT"),
THAT MIGHT INCORPORATE FUTURE FILINGS, INCLUDING THIS PROXY STATEMENT, IN WHOLE
OR IN PART, THE FOLLOWING REPORT AND THE PERFORMANCE GRAPH ON PAGE 7 SHALL NOT
BE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO ANY SUCH FILINGS, NOR SHALL THEY BE DEEMED TO
BE SOLICITING MATERIAL OR DEEMED FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT.
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Compensation Committee ("Committee") is currently composed of William G.
Kagler (Chair), Clifford A. Miller and J. Richard Stonesifer, three non-employee
Directors of the Company. The Committee's primary duties include (I) reviewing
the compensation levels of the Company's officers, including the Chief Executive
Officer and certain other members of management, (ii) administering the
Company's incentive bonus plans, (iii) making recommendations regarding the
Company's overall stock option grant policy and/or awards to be granted under
the Company's 1995 Equity Incentive Plan and (iv) related matters.
COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY AND POLICIES
Historically, the compensation philosophy of the Company has been to provide
a balanced mix of base compensation, annual incentives, and retirement income,
to attract and retain top-quality people who will contribute to the long-term
performance and long-term growth of the Company. Annual and long-term incentives
have been designed to link corporate and individual performance with
compensation, and to align employee interests with stockholder interests.
Special incentives and awards have been provided as circumstances warrant.
During the past several years, the Company has sought to minimize
incremental compensation expense while remaining sufficiently commensurate with
comparable companies to attract and retain key personnel.
During the first two fiscal years following the effective date of the
Company's reorganization, the Company's incentive compensation has been designed
to spur management's efforts in connection with the Company's organizational
restructuring measures and efforts to secure a significant equity capital
infusion.
During the 1997 fiscal year, the Company adopted organizational
restructuring measures which substantially eliminated its regional offices and
consolidated its management functions, thereby reducing the number of employees.
After the end of fiscal 1997, the Company announced additional restructuring
measures designed to significantly further reduce the number of the Company's
administrative employees.
Accordingly, from the effective date of the reorganization through the
latter part of the 1997 fiscal year, the compensation of the Company's executive
officers was intended to reflect the assumption of increased responsibilities by
the executives and the achievement of various financial and managerial
objectives and personal development goals, while maintaining the Company's
ability to attract and retain
15
<PAGE>
key personnel and securing management's commitment to preserving and improving
the Company's performance through the transition period.
Once the Company returns to profitability, in addition to the aforementioned
considerations, compensation increases will be based on the overall performance
by the Company during the preceding fiscal year, as measured in terms of
criteria such as (i) annual long-term sales and earnings growth, (ii) market
share gains, (iii) progress toward achieving the Company's long-term objectives,
and (iv) return to shareholders.
ANNUAL SALARY
Historically, the annual salaries of the CEO and other executive officers
have been determined by reference to the mid-range of a varying mix of other
supermarket retailers with comparable revenues and/ or geographic coverage. In
July 1994, the CEO, all officers and vice presidents of the Company accepted a
ten percent (10%) reduction in annual salary on the basis of the Company's poor
performance. In May 1995, as part of the Company's Chapter 11 reorganization
proceedings, the CEO's salary/bonus mix was further adjusted, reducing his
annual salary by nearly eight percent (8%) in exchange for opportunities for an
increased bonus. In 1996, the CEO received a $100,000 increase to bring his base
salary to $550,000, thereby restoring his salary to approximately the level paid
to him prior to the July 1994 reductions. The CEO resigned on May 7, 1997,
without receiving a 1997 salary adjustment, although he did receive an annual
performance incentive bonus for the 1996/97 fiscal year.
The annual salaries of other executive officers were similarly reduced by
ten percent (10%) in July 1994. In May 1995, as part of the Company's
reorganization proceedings, the annual salaries of the other four executive
officers were increased by amounts which reflected restoration of one-half of
the prior year's reduction, plus an additional four percent (4%) market
adjustment. The market adjustment was determined based on the average increases
by other large food retailers and manufacturers headquartered in the same
geographic area as the Company. In addition, two executive officers received
promotions which were accompanied by more substantial increases. In May 1996,
the executive officers received the remaining one-half restoration of their 1994
salary reductions as well as an additional four percent (4%) market adjustment.
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES
Annual bonuses are directly dependent on corporate performance, and are paid
twice annually, based on performance during each half of the fiscal year.
Bonuses for the fiscal year ending March 29, 1997 generally were based on the
Company achieving specific measurable financial targets, principally with
respect to the acheivement of specified levels of EBITDA (Earnings Before
Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) during each of the two half-year
periods. Other elements of performance as to which bonuses could be achieved by
certain officers included specified amounts of net sales and the results of
individual operating units.
The following annual incentive bonuses were earned by and paid to executive
officers with respect to the Company's achievement of certain performance
targets for the fiscal year ended March 29, 1997: Mr. McCaig, the Company's
former CEO: $39,938; Mr. Louttit, the Company's former Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer: $13,888; and Mr. Stine, the Company's former
Executive Vice President--Operations: $8,314.
LONG-TERM INCENTIVES
The Company maintains two equity incentive plans, one for directors who are
not also employees and the other for employees. Grants under these plans provide
an immediate and direct link to stockholder interests. The Company and its
stockholders benefit from the increased morale and productivity that the Company
believes are associated with these grants, as well as the ability to retain key
employees through the vesting provisions contained in the plans. Option grants
to executive officers have been based on the
16
<PAGE>
executive's corporate level of responsibility. To date, executive officers have
received only one grant of stock options since the adoption of the applicable
equity incentive plan in 1995.
OTHER COMPENSATION
Executive Officers, along with all other eligible employees, participate in
the Company's pension plan, 401(k) plan, and other health and life insurance
benefits. Senior executives, including those individuals who hold the positions
of CEO, Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President, participate in a
Supplemental Retirement Program (SERP), which provides a total retirement income
of up to 65% of average annual compensation, reduced by amounts payable through
social security, under the company-wide pension plan and under a predecessor
SERP.
During the 1995/96 fiscal year and during and immediately after the
Company's reorganization, the Company was concerned with retaining key personnel
who might otherwise have been attracted by incentives offered by competitors, or
other business opportunities. Accordingly, prior to the tenure of the current
Compensation Committee, certain executives were promised retention payments,
payable to those executives who remained in the Company's employ through April
1, 1996. Such bonuses were paid on April 4, 1996. The Committee believes these
payments were a material element in securing executive management's commitment
to preserving and improving the Company's performance throughout the bankruptcy
process, and to repositioning the Company during fiscal year end 1996. No
special bonus arrangements were in effect during the last fiscal year.
TAX POLICY
Internal Revenue Code ("IRC") Section162(m) limits deductions for certain
executive compensation in excess of $1 million. Certain types of compensation
are deductible only if performance criteria are specified in detail, and
payments are contingent on stockholder approval of the compensation arrangement.
Compensation paid to executive officers during the last fiscal year did not
exceed the deductibility threshold. The Compensation Committee believes it is
more likely than not that the Company will be able to fully deduct all
compensation paid in the foreseeable future.
The Company has endeavored to structure its long-term and other incentives
to achieve maximum deductibility under Section162(m) with minimal sacrifices in
flexibility and corporate objectives. To that end, the Company's 1995 Equity
Incentive Plan limits the number of shares which may be covered by stock options
granted to any one individual. However, since long-term incentives allow an
individual to concentrate significant compensation in a single year, and because
corporate objectives may not always be consistent with the requirements for full
deductibility, it is conceivable that circumstances might arise under which some
payments are not deductible under Section162(m).
CONCLUSION
The Compensation Committee believes that long-term stockholder value is
enhanced by corporate and individual performance achievements. Through the plans
described above, during the past fiscal year a significant portion of the
Company's executive compensation was based on corporate performance, with
industry-competitive pay practices establishing a baseline. The Committee
believes equity compensation, in the form of stock options and restricted stock,
is vital to the long-term success of the Company. The
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Company remains committed to this policy, recognizing the competitive market for
talented executives may result in highly variable compensation for a particular
time period.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
July 22, 1997 William G. Kagler, Chairman
Clifford A. Miller
J. Richard Stonesifer
</TABLE>
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Board of Directors maintains a personnel and compensation committee (the
"Compensation Committee") consisting of three directors. The Compensation
Committee consists of Messrs. Kagler, Miller, and Stonesifer, with Mr. Kagler
acting as Chairman. Messrs. Miller and Stonesifer have served on the
Compensation Committee since September 1996, and Mr. Kagler since June 1995.
Messrs. Stangeland and Josephs served on the Compensation Committee from June
1995 until September 1996.
No member of the Board participates in decisions regarding his own
compensation as an executive officer of Grand Union.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's directors and
executive officers and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a
registered class of the Company's equity securities to file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in
ownership of Common Stock and other equity securities of the Company on Forms 3,
4, and 5. Officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial stockholders are
required by regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission to
furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. Based
solely on its review of the copies of reporting forms furnished to the Company,
or written representations of reporting persons, the Company believes that all
filing requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act applicable to its
directors, officers and any persons holding 10% or more of the Company's Common
Stock with respect to the Company's fiscal year ended March 29, 1997, were
satisfied.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
PRE-BANKRUPTCY RELATIONSHIPS AND TRANSACTIONS
On January 25, 1995, the Company filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the
federal bankruptcy laws. The Company emerged from bankruptcy on June 15, 1995,
the effective date of the bankruptcy court's approval of the Company's
reorganization plan. Prior to June 15, 1995, the Company was a wholly owned
subsidiary of Grand Union Capital Corporation ("Capital"), which in turn was a
wholly owned subsidiary of Grand Union Holdings Corporation ("Holdings").
Holdings was controlled by Miller Tabak Hirsch + Co. ("MTH") and its affiliates,
which also control Penn Traffic.
The following applies to relationships that existed prior to June 15, 1995.
Mr. Gary D. Hirsch served as Chairman and a Director of Grand Union and also as
Chairman and a Director of Penn Traffic. Mr. Martin A. Fox served as a Director,
Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Grand Union and Vice Chairman--Finance
and Assistant Secretary of Penn Traffic. Messrs. Hirsch and Fox received
compensation from MTH, of which Mr. Hirsch is a general partner of the managing
partner, and Mr. Fox is Executive Vice President. Messrs. Hirsch and Fox did not
receive salaries from Penn Traffic and did not participate in cash bonus plans
of Penn Traffic, and received no compensation in their capacities as executive
officers or directors of Grand Union.
Until May 31, 1995, Mr. McCaig was a member of the Board of Directors of
Penn Traffic, for which he received compensation of $10,000 per annum and $1,000
per Board of Directors meeting attended.
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Mr. McCaig became a Director of Holdings in July 1989 and a Director of Capital
in July 1992. He became President of Holdings and Capital in May 1993. Mr.
McCaig served as a Director of Penn Traffic from September 1992 until May 1995.
Mr. Hirsch is no longer a director of the Company. While he was a director,
he was an indirect beneficiary of the following transactions. Prior to June 15,
1995, MTH was engaged as financial advisor to Penn Traffic and as a financial
advisor to the Company, in the latter case pursuant to an agreement (the "MTH
Agreement"), under which MTH was to have provided certain financial consulting
and business management services to the Company through July 1997. In accordance
with the Company's post-bankruptcy Reorganization Plan, the MTH Agreement was
terminated on June 15, 1995 and Grand Union executed a settlement agreement (the
"MTH Settlement Agreement"). The MTH Settlement Agreement provides for the
termination of the MTH Agreement, payment by Grand Union of accrued and unpaid
fees under the MTH Agreement through June 15, 1995, and for the indemnification
of MTH and certain entities related to MTH (the "MTH Entities") from certain
claims and liabilities, subject to the terms and limitations set forth in the
MTH Settlement Agreement. The Company deposited $3.0 million relating to the
indemnification in escrow on June 15, 1995. During Fiscal 1996, the Company paid
$315,000 to MTH, pursuant to the MTH Agreement. On July 30, 1990, P&C Foods,
which is indirectly controlled by MTH, and Grand Union entered into an Operating
Agreement pursuant to which Grand Union acquired the right to operate 13 P&C
Foods' stores in New England under the Grand Union name until July 2000.
Pursuant to the Operating Agreement, Grand Union agreed to pay P&C Foods a
minimum annual fee which will average $10.7 million per year during the ten-year
lease term. Pursuant to the terms of the Operating Agreement, a $15 million
prepayment of the annual fee was made to P&C Foods in connection with the
recapitalization of the Company in 1992. The Operating Agreement was assumed
during the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case and will continue on its current terms.
From September 1993 until September 1995, Grand Union participated in a program
to consolidate the purchasing, storage and distribution of health and beauty
care and general merchandise product with Penn Traffic. During Fiscal 1996,
Grand Union purchased from Penn Traffic's inventory of health and beauty care
and general merchandise products at cost approximately $30.1 million for store
operations and approximately $12.8 million at the termination of the agreement.
POST-BANKRUPTCY RELATIONSHIPS.
Mr. Ying, a director of the Company since June 15, 1995, was a managing
director of Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation ("DLJ") from
January 1993 to June 1997. During Fiscal 1995 and Fiscal 1996, DLJ acted as
financial advisor to the Informal Committee of certain holders of Subordinated
Notes in connection with the restructuring of the Company and received
compensation from the Company of $1,278,000 for such services.
Near the end of Fiscal 1996, the Company entered into an agreement with DLJ
to provide investment banking services and advice to the Company. During the
term of DLJ's engagement, it had the exclusive right to act as sole managing
underwriter, exclusive placement agent, sole dealer manager or exclusive
solicitation agent with respect to any public offering of the Company's
securities, any private offering of any of the Company's debt securities, or any
exchange offer or refinancing transaction relating to the Company's Senior Notes
or other securities of the Company. The agreement also contains various other
provisions, including an obligation by DLJ to keep confidential certain
information provided to it by the Company, and an obligation by the Company to
indemnify and hold harmless DLJ, its parent and its affiliates, and the
directors, officers, agents, and employees of DLJ, its parent and its affiliates
("Indemnified Persons"), from and against various potential losses and
liabilities arising out of or in connection with misstatements or omissions in
disclosure documents or in connection with advice or services rendered by an
Indemnified Person. In Fiscal 1997, the Company entered into the Stock Purchase
Agreement in connection with which DLJ rendered various services pursuant to the
agreement, including a Fairness opinion. In connection with the agreement DLJ
received aggregate payments of $4,838,000, reflecting a
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Transaction Fee of $3,753,000, a Fairness Fee of $1,000,000 (for a fairness
opinion), and reimbursement of expenses in the amount of $85,000. DLJ received
an additional fee of $250,000 for services rendered in connection with
solicitation of consents and waivers from the holders of the Company's Senior
Notes.
In May, 1997, the Company entered into an agreement with DLJ to advise a
Committee of Independent Directors (the "Committee") with advice in respect to
the restructuring of obligations under the Stock Purchase Agreement. As
compensation for the services provided to the Committee, the Company paid DLJ
$500,000 in connection with a fairness opinion with respect to the June 1997
Acceleration and Exchange Agreement.
Mr. Geoffrey T. Moore, a director, is a managing director and executive
officer of Shamrock Capital Advisors, Inc. ("SCA"). Pursuant to a three-year
management services agreement (the "Services Agreement") dated July 30, 1996
between the Company and SCA, SCA shall consult with and provide advice to the
officers and management employees of the Company concerning matters (i) relating
to the Company's financial policies and the development and implementation of
the Company's business plans and (ii) generally arising out of the business
affairs of the Company. The Services Agreement expires by its terms in September
1999. SCA's compensation for such management and consulting services under the
Services Agreement was $300,000 in the fiscal year ending in 1997 and will be
$400,000 for the fiscal year ending in 1998. The Company also reimburses SCA for
its reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
performance of its services under the Services Agreement. The Company has agreed
to indemnify SCA against all claims, liabilities, expenses, losses or damages
(or actions in respect thereof) related to or arising out of actions taken (or
omitted to be taken) by SCA pursuant to the terms of the Services Agreement;
provided that such liabilities did not result primarily from actions taken, or
omitted to be taken, by SCA in bad faith or due to SCA's gross negligence or
officers and any persons holding 10% or more of the Company's Common Stock with
respect to the Company's fiscal year ended March 30, 1996, were satisfied.
1996 PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE
In a series of related transactions commencing on July 30, 1996, the
Investors have acquired beneficial ownership of an aggregate of approximately
70.77% of the Company's outstanding voting stock. On July 30, 1996, the Company
entered into a definitive agreement (the "Stock Purchase Agreement") to sell
$100 million of Preferred Stock A to an investment group comprised of Investors.
Each share of Preferred Stock A is convertible into 6.8966 shares of Common
Stock. Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Investors agreed to
purchase, and the Company agreed to sell, an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of
Preferred Stock A at a purchase price of $50 per share in stages through
February 25, 1998. On September 17, 1996, the first stage of the transaction was
closed, and the Investors acquired 800,000 shares of Preferred Stock A for an
aggregate purchase price of $40 million.
At a subsequent closing held on February 25, 1997, the Investors purchased
an additional 400,000 shares of Preferred Stock A for an aggregate purchase
price of $20 million. Additional subsequent closings were scheduled for August
25, 1997 and February 25, 1998 (the "Subsequent Closings"). At the Subsequent
Closings, the Investors would have been required to purchase an additional
400,000 shares of Preferred Stock A for an aggregate purchase price of $20
million.
Pursuant to an Acceleration and Exchange Agreement (the "Acceleration
Agreement"), dated June 5, 1997, among the Company and the Investors, the
Company and the Investors agreed to accelerate the purchase and sale of the
800,000 shares of Preferred Stock A to have occurred at the Subsequent Closings
(the "Accelerated Shares") for an aggregate purchase price of $40 million was
accelerated to June 12, 1997 (the "Accelerated Closing") and to exchange the
Accelerated Shares for 800,000 shares of Preferred Stock B (the "Exchange").
Immediately following the Accelerated Closing, the Investors completed the
Exchange pursuant to which they received an aggregate of 800,000 shares of the
Preferred Stock B, in
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consideration for their surrender of the Accelerated Shares. Trefoil and GEI
obtained the necessary funds to purchase the Preferred Stock from capital
contributions from their respective partners.
In connection with the closing of the initial purchase by the Investors of
Preferred Stock A, the Company paid to each of SCA (as investment manager for
Trefoil) and GEIM (as investment manager for GEI) a $2,000,000 transaction fee.
The Company has also agreed to pay directly, or reimburse the Investors for, all
fees and expenses incurred by the Investors in connection with the Stock
Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, up to a maximum
amount of $1 million.
STANGELAND PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE
On March 20, 1997, the Company consummated the sale to The Roger Stangeland
Family Limited Partnership (the "Partnership"), of 60,000 shares of Preferred
Stock A at a purchase price of $50.00 per share (the "Stangeland Shares"),
pursuant to the terms of a Stock Purchase Agreement, dated February 25, 1997, as
amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto dated as of March 20, 1997 (as so amended,
the "Stangeland Stock Purchase Agreement"), between the Company and Roger
Stangeland. Pursuant to a Stockholder Agreement, dated February 25, 1997 (the
"Stangeland Stockholder Agreement"), among the Investors, Mr. Stangeland and the
Company, Mr. Stangeland has granted to the Investors certain take-along rights,
the Investors have granted to Mr. Stangeland certain tag-along rights, and the
Investors and the Company have granted to Mr. Stangeland certain registration
rights related to the Stangeland Shares and any shares of Preferred Stock A, and
Common Stock, if any, paid as dividends with respect to the Preferred Stock A
(collectively, "Securities"). Pursuant to an Addendum, dated as of March 20,
1997, to the Stangeland Stockholder Agreement, the Partnership has succeeded to
all of the rights, and has assumed all of the obligations, of Mr. Stangeland
pursuant to the Stangeland Stockholder Agreement. The Investors disclaim any and
all beneficial ownership of the Stangeland Shares or any additional Securities
acquired by the Partnership in respect of the Stangeland Shares.
PROPOSAL TWO
ADOPTION OF ASSOCIATE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
On June 19, 1997, the Board of Directors approved (subject to shareholder
approval at the Annual Meeting) the Company's Associate Stock Purchase Plan (the
"Plan") covering 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock. The following is a summary of
certain terms of the Plan, the full text of which is set forth in Appendix A
annexed to this Proxy Statement.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Plan is to align the interests of the employees of the
Company more closely with the interests of the Company's shareholders, to foster
continued cordial relations with the employees of the Company and to provide
additional compensation to employees in exchange for future service by providing
employees of the Company with an opportunity to purchase shares of Common Stock.
OFFERING PERIODS; INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
Employee purchases will be made on a quarterly basis, beginning with the
quarter commencing on October 1, 1997 (each calendar quarter, an "Offering
Period"). Employees who elect to participate in the Plan will authorize the
Company to withhold a specific amount from each paycheck. In addition,
participants may make additional contributions to purchase shares pursuant to
the Plan. All contributions, whether made by payroll deduction or by additional
contribution, are subject to the following limitations: (i) no participant may
contribute less than $4 or more than $400 per week; (ii) the sum of all payroll
contributions and additional contributions per participant during an Offering
Period shall not exceed $5,200; (iii) no participant may purchase shares in
excess of $5,200 divided by 85% of the "Fair Market
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Value" (as defined in the Plan) of a share of the Company's Common Stock on the
first day of the Offering Period on which the stock exchange trading the
Company's Common Stock is open for trading; (iv) no contributions may be made
after the Participant's employment terminates for any reason; and (v) no
participant may purchase shares at a rate which exceeds $25,000 of the Fair
Market Value of such shares (determined at the time such option is granted)
during each calendar year. If, during a particular Offering Period, a
participant makes contributions in excess of the foregoing limitations, then the
Company will credit such participant for excess contributions either through the
Company's payroll process or by check payable directly to such participant. In
addition, no participant will be permitted to purchase shares pursuant to the
Plan if, immediately thereafter, such participant will own stock having five
percent or more of the voting power or value of all classes of stock of the
Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company.
ELIGIBILITY
In order to be eligible to participate in the Plan for any Offering Period,
an eligible employee must have been continuously employed by the Company during
the six months immediately preceding the commencement of the Offering Period and
must not be on a leave of absence at the beginning of the Offering Period. For
purposes of the Plan, any eligible employee who is already a participant in the
Plan and takes a leave of absence shall remain eligible to participate in the
Plan for a period of ninety (90) days from the date such leave begins. If
otherwise eligible, members of the Board of Directors shall be permitted to
participate in the Plan, Non-employee Directors and non-employee officers shall
not be permitted to participate in the Plan.
PURCHASE PRICE; PAYMENT
For any Offering Period, shares of Common Stock will be purchased under the
Plan at a price equal to 85% of the lesser of (i) the Fair Market Value of the
Common Stock on the first day of such Offering Period on which the stock
exchange trading the Company's Common Stock is open for trading and (ii) the
Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the last day of such Offering Period on
which the stock exchange trading the Company's Common Stock is open for trading.
The Company will maintain an account for each participant to record all
payroll deductions made by such participant during the Offering Period. No
interest shall accrue on such accounts. At the end of each Offering Period, the
Company will utilize the amounts invested by participants to purchase Common
Stock (whole and fractional shares) at the purchase price determined in
accordance with the formula described above, subject in all instances to the
purchase limitations also described above.
ENROLLMENT
In order to participate in the Plan with respect to an Offering Period, an
employee must enroll in the Plan not less than fifteen (15) days (seven (7) days
with respect to the initial Offering Period) prior to, and must satisfy all
eligibility requirements as of the first day of the Offering Period. Enrollment
forms will be made available by, and must be returned to, the Company's Benefits
Department or other office designated by the Company. Unless a participant or
the Company terminates a participant's enrollment, enrollment will automatically
carry over from one Offering Period to the next; employees need not re-enroll
each Offering Period in order to continue participating in the Plan.
TERMINATION OF PARTICIPATION AND CHANGES IN CONTRIBUTIONS
A participant who has enrolled in the Plan for any Offering Period may
terminate participation in the Plan by notifying in writing the Company's
Benefits Department or other office designated by the Company not less than
fifteen (15) days prior to the effective date of the proposed termination. If a
participant terminates participation in the Plan during an Offering Period, such
participant's accumulated
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payroll contributions and additional contributions will be used to purchase
shares at the end of the Offering Period. An employee shall automatically be
deemed to have terminated participation in the Plan upon termination of
employment for any reason (other than retirement), and the Company will return
to the participant any payroll deductions/contributions made by such participant
during the then-current Offering Period. Any leave of absence in excess of
ninety (90) days shall be considered a termination of employment for purposes of
the Plan. Upon termination of employment as a result of retirement (in
accordance with the Company's retirement policy), a participant may withdraw all
or a portion of any payroll deductions/contributions made by such participant
during the then-current Offering Period by notifying in writing the Company's
Personnel Benefits Department or other office designated by the Company not less
than fifteen (15) days prior to the last day of such Offering Period, and any
amounts not withdrawn in such a manner shall be utilized to purchase shares of
Common Stock in accordance with the general terms of the Plan. An employee who
terminates participation in the Plan during an Offering Period may not re-enter
the Plan until the following Offering Period.
Participants may increase or decrease the amount of their payroll deductions
by notifying in writing the Company's Benefits Department or other office
designated by the Company. Such changes must be received by the Company no later
than fifteen days prior to the proposed effective date of the change.
SHARES COVERED BY THE PLAN
A total of 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock may be purchased pursuant to the
Plan. Such shares may either be treasury or authorized but unissued shares. In
addition, the Plan authorizes the Company to purchase shares of the Company's
Common Stock in the open market for resale under the Plan. The number of shares
subject to the Plan may be subject to adjustment as a result of certain changes
in the capitalization of the Company.
ADMINISTRATION
The Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Company's
Board of Directors (the "Committee"), which is composed of Directors who are
"non-employee directors" for purposes of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, so long as the Plan continues
to be governed by the provisions of such rule. The Committee is authorized to
make, administer and interpret rules and regulations determined by the Committee
to be necessary to administer the Plan. Any determination, decision or action
made or taken by the Committee in connection with the administration,
interpretation or application of the Plan will be binding upon all participants.
Pursuant to the Plan, the Company shall indemnify the members of its Board
of Directors, the members of the Committee, and the participants in the Plan for
any actions taken or determinations made in good faith by such persons in
connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceedings, or in connection
with any appeal therein resulting from the performance of such persons'
respective duties under the Plan.
AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION
The Board of Directors of the Company may amend or terminate the Plan at any
time; however, no such amendment or termination shall adversely affect the
rights of any participant with respect to a previously granted option without
such participant's consent. Unless sooner terminated by the Board of Directors,
the Plan shall terminate upon the first of the following to occur: (i) September
30, 2007 or (ii) the date on which all of the shares reserved for issuance under
the Plan have been purchased. In the event that the Plan is terminated prior to
the last day of an Offering Period, such Offering Period shall be deemed to have
ended on the effective date of such termination.
The Board may terminate the Plan as of the effective date of any "Change of
Control" (as defined by the Plan). At which time, the Company will (i) return
all contributions that were contributed during the
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Offering Period in which the Change of Control occurred and (ii) pay an amount
("Award Value") to each participant to compensate for any options that
terminated as a result of the Change of Control equal to (a) the amount by which
the average market price of the Company's Common Stock over the twenty (20) days
preceding the Change of Control exceeds the option price, times (b) the total
amount of contributions made by the participant during the Offering Period in
which the Change of Control occurs divided by the option price. No options will
be terminated and no Award Value will be paid, however, if the participant
receives qualified replacement options or the acquiring company assumes the Plan
and all outstanding options.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The Plan is not subject to the requirements of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, but is intended to qualify as an "employee stock
purchase plan" as defined in Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended. Under such a plan, a participant who holds the stock to a date that
is more than two years from the date of option grant and one year from the date
of purchase (or death) must include as compensation income in the year of
disposition of shares purchased under the Plan (or in the year of the
participant's death) the lesser of (a) the excess of the Fair Market Value of
the shares at the time of disposition (or death) over the purchase price or (b)
the excess of the Fair Market Value of the shares at the time the option was
granted over the purchase price. Any additional appreciation in value is
considered a capital gain. Also, if these holding requirements are met, the
Company is not entitled to any deduction for tax purposes. If the participant
does not meet the holding period requirements, the participant realizes at the
time of disposition ordinary compensation income to the extent of the difference
between the fair market value of the shares on the purchase date and the price
paid for the shares, and an amount equal to such ordinary income is deductible
by the Company in the year of the disposition. Any additional appreciation in
value is similarly considered a capital gain to the participant.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
The Company will receive no consideration from the grant of options under
the Plan. The amounts received by the Company upon the purchase of shares of its
Common Stock pursuant to the Plan will be considered part of the general assets
of the Company and will be used for general corporate purposes.
No current directors who are not employees will receive any benefit as a
result of adoption of the Plan. The benefits that will be received as a result
of the adoption of the Plan by the current executive officers of the Company and
by all eligible employees are not currently determinable. As of July 25, 1997,
approximately 15,000 employees of the Company would be eligible to participate
in the Plan had it been implemented on that date.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE
ADOPTION OF THE COMPANY'S ASSOCIATE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.
PROPOSAL THREE
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors has selected Price Waterhouse LLP, independent
accountants, to audit the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal
year ending March 28, 1998, and recommends that stockholders vote "FOR"
ratification of such appointment. In the event of a negative vote on such
ratification, the Board of Directors will reconsider its selection.
Representatives of Price Waterhouse LLP are expected to be present at the
meeting with the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and are
expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
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OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING
The Company knows of no other matters to come before the Annual Meeting. If
any other matter not mentioned in this Proxy Statement properly comes before the
meeting, it is the intention of the proxy holders named in the enclosed Proxy to
vote the shares they represent as the Board of Directors may recommend.
STOCKHOLDER NOMINATIONS FOR ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at the annual
meeting or by the written consent of the stockholders may be made by any
stockholder of the Company entitled to vote for the election of directors at the
meeting who complies with certain notice procedures. A stockholder's nomination
of a person for election to the Board of Directors must be delivered to or
mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Company, addressed
to the attention of the Secretary of the Company, not less than sixty days prior
to the meeting or the date the stockholders are first solicited for their
consents as the case may be; provided, however, that, in the case of an annual
meeting and in the event that less than fifty days' notice or prior public
disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice
by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the earlier
of (a) the close of business on the fifteenth day following the day on which
such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was
made, whichever first occurs, or (b) two days prior to the date of the meeting.
Such stockholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth (a) as to each person
whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a
director, (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of the
person, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of the person, (iii) the
class and number of shares of capital stock of the Company which are
beneficially owned by the person, (iv) a statement as to the person's
citizenship, and (v) any other information relating to the person that is
required to be disclosed in solicitations for proxies for election of directors
pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (b) as to the stockholder
giving the notice, (i) the name and record address of the stockholder and (ii)
the class, series and number of shares of capital stock of the Company which are
beneficially owned by the stockholder. The Company may require any proposed
nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the
Company to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a
director of the Company. In connection with any annual meeting, the Chairman of
the Board of Directors shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the
meeting that a nomination not made in accordance with the foregoing procedure,
or otherwise properly made by the Board of Directors, was defective and shall be
disregarded.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS TO BE PRESENTED AT NEXT MEETING
Federal proxy rules specify what constitutes timely submission for a
stockholder proposal to be included in a subsequent proxy statement. Proposals
of stockholders that are intended to be presented by such stockholders at the
Company's 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders generally must be received by the
Company at its principal executive offices no later than April 27, 1998, in
order to be considered for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement relating
to that meeting. In addition, to be properly brought before the meeting under
the Company's Bylaws, a stockholder's notice must be received at the principal
executive offices of the Company, addressed to the attention of the Secretary of
the Company, within the time specified in the federal proxy rules for timely
submission of a stockholder proposal or, if not within such time, then not less
than sixty days nor more than ninety days prior to the meeting; provided,
however, that in the event that less than fifty days' notice or prior public
disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice
by the stockholder to be timely must be so received by the earlier of (a) the
close of business on the fifteenth day following the day on which such notice of
the date of the annual meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made,
whichever first occurs, and (b) two days prior to the date of the meeting. A
stockholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter
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the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (i) a brief
description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting,
(ii) the name and record address of the stockholder proposing such business,
(iii) the class and number of shares of the Company which are beneficially owned
by the stockholder, and (iv) any material interest of the stockholder in such
business.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall, if the facts warrant,
determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought
before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section I, and if
he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and any such business
not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
The Board of Directors
The Annual Report to Stockholders of the Company for the fiscal year ended
March 29, 1997, is being mailed concurrently with this proxy statement to all
stockholders of record. The Annual Report is not to be regarded as proxy
soliciting material or as a communication by means of which any solicitation is
to be made.
COPIES OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 29, 1997, INCLUDING
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES, WILL BE PROVIDED TO STOCKHOLDERS WITHOUT
CHARGE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY, THE GRAND UNION COMPANY, 201
WILLOWBROOK BOULEVARD, WAYNE, NEW JERSEY 07470
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APPENDIX A
THE GRAND UNION COMPANY
ASSOCIATE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<C> <S> <C>
1. Purpose.......................................................................... 2
2. Definitions...................................................................... 2
3. Eligibility...................................................................... 3
4. Offering Period.................................................................. 3
5. Participation.................................................................... 3
6. Contributions.................................................................... 3
7. Grant of Option.................................................................. 4
8. Exercise of Option............................................................... 5
9. Delivery......................................................................... 5
10. Withdrawal; Termination of Employment............................................ 5
11. Stock............................................................................ 6
12. Administration................................................................... 7
13. Non-transferability.............................................................. 7
14. Statements....................................................................... 7
15. Changes in Capitalization........................................................ 7
16. Certain Corporate Transactions................................................... 8
17. Amendment........................................................................ 8
18. Stockholder Approval............................................................. 9
19. Termination...................................................................... 9
20. Employment Relationship.......................................................... 9
21. Notices.......................................................................... 9
22. Government and Other Regulations................................................. 9
23. Applicable Law................................................................... 9
</TABLE>
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THE GRAND UNION COMPANY
ASSOCIATE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
The following constitutes the provisions of The Grand Union Company
Associate Stock Purchase Plan (herein called the "Plan"). As used herein the
terms "Company" and "Grand Union" refer to The Grand Union Company and, where
appropriate, any Participating Company of The Grand Union Company.
1. PURPOSE.
The purpose of the Plan is to align Associate interests more closely with
stockholder interests, foster continued cordial Associate relations, and provide
additional compensation in exchange for the future services of Associates, all
by providing Associates of the Company with an opportunity to purchase Common
Stock of the Company. It is the intention of the Company that the Plan qualify
as an "employee stock purchase plan" under Section 423 of the Code. The
provisions of the Plan shall be construed in a manner consistent with the
requirements of that section of the Code and the regulations promulgated
thereunder.
2. DEFINITIONS.
(a) "ASSOCIATE" means an employee of The Grand Union Company or a
Participating Company.
(b) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of The Grand Union Company.
(c) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(d) "COMMITTEE" means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or such other
committee as may be designated by the Board to administer this Plan.
(e) "COMMON STOCK" means the Company's common stock, par value of $0.01 per
share.
(f) "DEDUCTION ACCOUNT" means a bookkeeping account maintained by the
Company to keep track of a Participant's payroll contributions within a
particular Offering Period prior to the Purchase Date.
(g) "ELIGIBLE ASSOCIATE" has the meaning specified in Section 3.
(h) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, with respect to the Company's Common Stock as
of a specific date, the last sale price on that date as reported by the
principal exchange on which the Company has listed its Common Stock for trading
or by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations
System or such other similar system then in use (each, a "nationally recognized
exchange"), or if no sale is made on such date, the corresponding last sale
price on the first preceding date on which the Company's Common Stock was sold.
If the Company's Common Stock is not listed for trading on any nationally
recognized exchange, then "Fair Market Value" means the average of the closing
bid and asked prices with respect to such Stock, as furnished by a professional
market maker making a market in such Stock selected by the Committee; or if such
prices are not available, the Fair Market Value of such Stock as of such date as
determined in good faith by the Committee.
(i) "OFFERING PERIOD" has the meaning specified in Section 4.
(j) "OPTION GRANT DATE" means the first Trading Day of each Offering Period
of the Plan.
(k) "OPTION PRICE" has the meaning specified in Section 7.
(l) "PARTICIPANT" means an Eligible Associate who has become a Participant
in the Plan pursuant to section 5.
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(m) "PARTICIPATING COMPANY" means any present or future parent or subsidiary
of the Company (determined by reference to Section 424 of the Internal Revenue
Code) designated by the Board to be a Participating Company.
(n) "PLAN AGENT" means a third party selected by the Company to hold shares,
maintain records and provide administrative services with respect to the Plan.
(o) "PURCHASE ACCOUNT" means an account in the Participant's name maintained
by the Plan Agent, which reflects the number of shares purchased under the Plan
by the Participant and credited pursuant to Section 9.
(p) "PURCHASE DATE" means the last Trading Day of each Offering Period of
the Plan.
(q) "TRADING DAY" means a day on which the stock exchange, which trades
Grand Union Common Stock, is open for trading.
3. ELIGIBILITY.
Any Associate who has been continuously employed with the Company for a
period of at least six months ending on or prior to the first day of an Offering
Period shall be an Eligible Associate with respect to such Offering Period,
unless the Associate is on a leave of absence at the beginning of the Offering
Period. An Associate who has been continuously employed shall be an Eligible
Associate as of the date in the sixth month after the Associate's employment
commencement date, which corresponds numerically with the Associate's employment
commencement date. Members of the Board or the Committee who are Eligible
Associates are permitted to participate in the Plan.
4. OFFERING PERIOD.
Absent action by the Board, each Offering Period shall be for a period of
three calendar months, commencing on the first day of January, April, July and
October and ending, respectively, on the last day of March, June, September and
December. The Board may, without shareholder approval, (i) change the
commencement date and duration of Offering Periods with respect to future
offerings, if such change is announced at least thirty (30) days prior to the
scheduled beginning of the first Offering Period to be affected by such change
or (ii) cancel an offering at any time prior to the commencement date. The
Initial Offering Period under the Plan shall be from October 1, 1997 through
December 31, 1997. An Offering Period shall be deemed to have ended on the
effective date upon which the Plan is terminated in accordance with the
provisions of Section 19.
5. PARTICIPATION.
An Associate may become a Participant by completing an enrollment form
provided by the Company and filing that form with the designated Company office
not later than the fifteenth (15th) day prior to the commencement of an Offering
Period with respect to which he or she is an Eligible Associate, subject to the
limitations imposed by the Plan. Enrollment forms for the Initial Offering
Period must be received by the designated Company office not later than seven
(7) days prior to the commencement of the Initial Offering Period. An Associate
who becomes an Eligible Associate after the first day of an Offering Period may
not participate in the Plan until the next Offering Period.
6. CONTRIBUTIONS.
(a) At the time a Participant files his or her enrollment form, he or she
shall elect to have payroll contributions deducted on each payday during the
Offering Period, subject to the maximum prescribed in Section 6(e). Unless the
Committee provides otherwise, the amount to be deducted from each Participant's
pay is to be designated as a specific dollar amount, with a minimum deduction of
Four Dollars ($4) per
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weekly payroll period and a maximum deduction of Four Hundred Dollars ($400) per
weekly payroll period. All payroll contributions authorized by a Participant
shall be withheld by the Company from the Participant's pay and the Company
shall maintain a Deduction Account in the name of the Participant until such
amounts are credited to the Participant's Purchase Account as of the next
Purchase Date.
(b) A Participant's payroll deduction election shall remain in effect until
changed or revoked or participation is otherwise terminated as provided in
Section 10, or by the Company. Payroll contributions shall be made for each
payroll period ending during a particular Offering Period.
(c) A Participant may make additional contributions, subject to the limits
of Section 6(e), by making payment in the manner specified by the Company at
least fifteen (15) days prior to the end of the Offering Period.
(d) A Participant may discontinue his or her participation in the Plan as
provided in section 10, and may decrease or increase the rate of his or her
payroll contributions during the Offering Period by completing and filing with
the Company a new authorization for payroll deduction. The new authorization
must be received by the Company at least fifteen (15) days prior to the proposed
effective date of the change.
(e) The aggregate of all payroll contributions and additional contributions
per Eligible Associate during an Offering Period shall not exceed Five Thousand
Two Hundred Dollars ($5,200), unless the Offering Period is other than a period
of three calendar months, in which case such aggregate deductions and
contributions shall not exceed the product of Four Hundred Dollars ($400) times
the number of weeks during the Offering Period with respect to which such
amounts are accumulated, rounded to the nearest full week.
(f) All payroll contributions or additional contributions received or held
by the Company or the Plan Agent under the Plan are general corporate assets of
the Company and may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose. The
Company shall not be obligated to segregate such amounts.
(g) No interest shall accrue on amounts held in a Participant's Deduction
Account or Purchase Account.
(h) Contributions and deductions during a particular Offering Period may not
be withdrawn prior to the Purchase Date, except as provided under Section 10.
(i) No further contributions may be made by a Participant after the date on
which his or her employment with the Company, or any Participating Company,
terminates for any reason.
7. GRANT OF OPTION.
(a) On each Option Grant Date, each Participant in the Plan shall be deemed
to have been granted an option to purchase (at the per share Option Price) a
maximum number of shares of the Company's Common Stock, rounded to the nearest
ten thousandth of a share, determined by dividing: (i) Five Thousand Two Hundred
Dollars ($5,200), by (ii) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of
a share of the Company's Common Stock on such Option Grant Date; but in no event
shall such number be greater than the amount permitted under Section 7(b) of
this Plan. For any Offering Period which is not a calendar quarter, the amount
determined under (i) above shall be no greater than Four Hundred Dollars ($400)
times the number of weeks during the Offering Period.
(b) EXCEPTIONS. Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding,
any option granted to a Participant shall be limited so that:
(i) immediately after the grant, such Participant would not own stock
possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or
value of all classes of stock of the Company or of any parent or subsidiary
of the Company (including stock which the Participant may purchase under
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outstanding options and stock the ownership of which is attributed to the
Participant under Section 424(d) of the Code), and
(ii) the Participant's rights to purchase shares under all employee
stock purchase plans of the Company and its parent or subsidiaries shall not
accrue (i.e., first become exercisable) at a rate which exceeds twenty-five
thousand dollars ($25,000) of the Fair Market Value of such shares
(determined at the time such option is granted) for each calendar year in
which such option is exercisable and outstanding at any time.
(c) The Option Price per share of such shares shall be the lower of: (i) 85%
of the Fair Market Value of a share of the Company's Common Stock on the Option
Grant Date; or (ii) 85% of the Fair Market Value of a share of the Company's
Common Stock on the Purchase Date. In each case, the per share Option Price
shall be rounded to the nearest ten thousandth of a dollar.
8. EXERCISE OF OPTION.
(a) AUTOMATIC EXERCISE. Unless a Participant withdraws from the Plan as
provided in Section 10, his or her option for the purchase of shares will be
exercised automatically for the number of whole and fractional shares (rounded
to the nearest ten-thousandth) which the amount in the Participant's Purchase
Account on the Purchase Date could purchase at the Option Price, but not in
excess of the number of shares determined in Section 7(a). An option is
exercisable only on the Purchase Date and only to the extent of the amount in
the Participant's Purchase Account. A Participant's option to purchase shares
hereunder is exercisable only by the Participant or, in the event of the
Participant's death or incompetence, the Participant's legal representative. No
options shall be exercisable unless and until stockholders approve this Plan
within twelve months before or after its adoption by the Board of Directors.
(b) WITHHOLDING TAXES. The Company may prescribe procedures under which the
amount of federal, state or local taxes required to be withheld must be paid to
the Company by a Participant before shares are issued to that Participant, or
may be deducted, either at the time of exercise or following disposition of
shares purchased, from a Participant's pay, the Participant's Deduction Account
or the Participant's Purchase Account.
(c) EXCESS CONTRIBUTIONS. Any excess contributions remaining in the
Participant's Purchase Account after each purchase of the shares on the Purchase
Date will be credited to the Participant through the Company payroll or
otherwise be paid directly to the Participant by check, at the Company's
discretion.
9. DELIVERY.
As promptly as practicable after each Purchase Date of each offering, the
Company shall arrange to have credited to the Participant's Purchase Account the
number of whole and fractional shares purchased by the Participant. Shares
issued under the Plan may be issued only in the name of the Participant or in
the street name for the company holding shares for the Plan Agent. Shares held
in a Participant's Purchase Account may be transferred from that account at any
time by sale, gift, will, operation of the laws of descent and distribution, or
domestic relations order. Shares may not be issued to the Participant in
certificate form or transferred (other than by sale, gift, will, operation of
the laws of descent and distribution, or domestic relations order) within two
years from the Option Grant Date applicable to the shares being transferred,
without the written consent of the Company. In the event shares are distributed
to the Participant in certificate form, the Participant shall receive a
certificate for the number of whole shares requested, and if no other whole
shares remain, shall receive cash in lieu of any fractional share, based on the
selling price of shares sold to cover the fractional share.
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10. WITHDRAWAL; TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) RETIREMENT. On termination of the Participant's employment by reason of
retirement, in accordance with Company policy, the Participant may withdraw any
or all amounts held in his or her Deduction Account and shares credited to his
or her Purchase Account by filing a written request with the designated office
of the Company at least fifteen (15) days prior to the end of the Offering
Period. Amounts not withdrawn from the Participant's Deduction Account will be
applied to purchase shares at the end of the Offering Period.
(b) TERMINATION. If the Participant's employment is terminated prior to the
end of an Offering Period for any reason other than retirement, including
permanent disability or death, and such termination is recorded on Company
records prior to the end of the Offering Period, the payroll contributions and
additional contributions credited to the Participant's Deduction Account will be
returned to him or her, or in the case of his or her death, to the executor or
administrator of his or her estate, and his or her option will be canceled.
(c) LEAVE OF ABSENCE. An Eligible Associate or a Participant who has been
granted a leave of absence shall, for purposes of the Plan, be deemed an
Associate for the first 90 days of such leave of absence, and thereafter shall,
for the purposes of the Plan, be deemed to have terminated employment on the
91st day of such leave of absence. Payroll contributions for a Participant who
has been on an unpaid leave of absence will resume at the same rate as in effect
prior to such leave upon return to work unless changed by such Participant,
unless the Participant has been on an unpaid leave of absence for more than
ninety (90) days, or unless the Participant was on leave at the beginning of the
Offering Period, in which cases the Participant shall not be permitted to
re-enter the Plan until an enrollment form is filed by the Participant with
respect to a subsequent Offering Period which commences after such Participant
has returned to work from the leave of absence.
(d) CESSATION OF PARTICIPATION. A Participant may terminate participation in
the Plan as of any date during an Offering Period by giving written notice
thereof (on a form approved by the Committee) to an office designated by the
Company at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the proposed effective date of
such termination. Nevertheless, if the revocation becomes effective during an
Offering Period, any accumulated payroll contributions and additional
contributions will be used to purchase shares at the end of the Offering Period.
A Participant who terminates participation in the Plan during an Offering Period
may not re-enter the Plan until the following Offering Period.
(e) INVOLUNTARY CLOSURE OF ACCOUNT. At the Company's discretion, a
Participant's Purchase Account may be closed at any time by distributing
directly to the Participant a certificate representing the number of whole
shares in the Purchase Account and paying out any fractional share in cash. A
Participant's Purchase Account shall be closed upon or after the Participant's
termination of employment if the Participant's Purchase Account consists solely
of shares that were purchased as of the end of an Offering Period the first day
of which is more than two (2) years prior to the date of the termination of the
Participant's employment with the Company or any Participating Company.
11. STOCK.
(a) The maximum number of shares of the Company's Common Stock which may be
sold pursuant to all options exercised under the Plan shall be One Million
(1,000,000) shares, subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the
Company as provided in Section 15. The shares to be sold to Participants in the
Plan may be, at the election of the Company, either treasury shares or
authorized but unissued shares. In addition, the Company may acquire shares of
the Company's Common Stock in the open market for resale under this Plan. If the
total number of shares which would otherwise be subject to purchase pursuant to
Section 8 hereof exceeds the number of shares then available under the Plan
(after deduction of all shares for which options have been exercised or are then
outstanding), the Company shall make a pro rata
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allocation of the shares remaining available for purchase in as uniform and
equitable a manner as is practicable. In such event, the Company may reduce the
rate of payroll contributions as appropriate.
(b) The Participant will have no interest or voting right in shares covered
by his or her option until such option has been exercised.
12. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Board may from time
to time remove members from or add members to the Committee. Vacancies on the
Committee, however caused, shall be filled by the Board. Acts taken or approved
by a majority of the Committee at which a quorum is present, or acts approved in
writing by a majority of the members of the Committee, shall be the valid acts
of the Committee. The Committee may delegate part or all of its
responsibilities, other than the authority to amend the Plan, subject to the
limitations of law and of the Plan. In the absence of any specific delegation,
such responsibilities shall be deemed delegated to the Company.
(b) The Plan shall be administered in a manner that assures all Participants
the same rights and privileges. The Committee shall have the final authority to
interpret the Plan, and any decision by the Committee in connection therewith
shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Participants and other persons.
(c) No member of the Board or the Committee, and no Associate of the
Company, shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with
respect to the Plan or any option granted under it. In addition to such other
rights of indemnification as they may have, members of the Board, members of the
Committee and Associates shall be indemnified by the Company against the
reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees actually and necessarily incurred
in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in
connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party
by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the
performance of duties under the Plan, and against all amounts paid by them in
settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal
counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment
in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to
which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that the person
seeking indemnification is liable for gross negligence or willful misconduct in
the performance of his or her duties; provided that within sixty (60) days after
institution of any such action, suit or proceeding the person seeking
indemnification shall in writing offer the Company the opportunity, at its own
expense, to handle and defend the same.
(d) All costs and expenses incurred in administering the Plan not chargeable
to the Participant's Deduction and/or Purchase Account shall be paid by the
Company. The Board or the Committee may request advice or assistance or employ
such other persons as are necessary for proper administration of the Plan.
13. NON-TRANSFERABILITY.
Any option to purchase shares under the Plan may not be assigned,
transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way. Any such attempt at
assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition, shall be void and without
effect.
14. STATEMENTS.
Statements of account will be delivered to Participants promptly following
each Purchase Date, which statements will set forth the amounts of payroll
contributions and additional contributions, the per share purchase price, the
number of shares purchased and any excess contributions.
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15. CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION.
In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, recapitalization,
merger, consolidation, exchange of shares or the like, the number of shares then
subject to option and the number of authorized shares remaining available to be
sold shall be increased or decreased appropriately.
16. CERTAIN CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS.
(a) CASH-OUT OF OPTIONS. Subject to paragraph (c) below, the Board of
Directors may elect to terminate this Plan and any pending Offering Period as of
the effective date of a Change of Control, in which case the Company shall (1)
pay to each Participant whose options have been terminated an amount equal to
the Award Value with respect to such options, such payment to be made within 30
days after the Change of Control, and (2) the Company and the Plan Agent shall
return to each Participant all payroll contributions withheld and additional
contributions credited during the Offering Period in which the Change of Control
occurred. For purposes of this section, the Award Value shall be determined as
(i) the amount by which the Market Price exceeds the Option Price, times (ii)
the aggregate of payroll contributions and additional contributions so returned
to the Participant, divided by the Option Price. The Market Price shall be
determined as the average of the Fair Market Value of the Company's Common Stock
for the period of twenty (20) trading days ending on the effective date of the
Change of Control.
(b) PROPERTY IN LIEU OF OPTION. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
termination of options and the payment of Award Values described in paragraph
(a) of this section shall not apply with respect to any transaction in which any
of the following occur: (i) the holder of an option receives replacement
options, as the case may be, allowing the holder to receive, on the same terms
as in the original option, the greatest amount of securities, cash or other
property to which such holder would have been entitled as a holder of Common
Stock upon consummation of the transaction if such holder had exercised the
rights represented by the option held by such holder immediately prior to the
transaction, or (ii) the Plan and all options outstanding thereunder are assumed
by the acquiring company, or (iii) the Participant receives a replacement option
that satisfies the requirements of Code Section 424(a).
(c) "CHANGE OF CONTROL" means any of the following: (1) any person, entity
or Group (defined as persons or entities acting together) is or becomes the
beneficial owner of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company; (2) a
consolidation, merger, or sale of substantially all of the assets of the
Company, with the effect that any person, entity or Group becomes the beneficial
owner of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company or the Company is not
the surviving entity; (3) during any consecutive two-year period commencing July
1, 1996, individuals who constituted the Board of Directors at the beginning of
such period, together with any new directors whose election by the Board or
nomination for election by stockholders was approved by 2/3 of the directors who
were in office at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination
was so approved, cease to constitute a majority of the Board then in office; or
(4) entry of any order, judgment or decree of dissolution or split-up of the
Company, which remains in effect for a period in excess of 60 days. For purposes
of this provision, "more than 50% of the Voting Stock" means more than 50% of
one or more classes of stock pursuant to which the holders have the general
power to vote for the election of members of the Board, and the aggregate of
such classes for which the person, entity or Group holds more than 50% has the
power to elect more than 50% of the members of the Board. Beneficial ownership
will be determined by applying the rules applicable under Section 13(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
17. AMENDMENT.
The Board of Directors may at any time amend the Plan. No such amendment may
make any change in any option previously granted which adversely affects the
rights of any Participant without such Participant's consent. No amendment for
which stockholder approval is required shall be effective unless such approval
is obtained within the required time period. Whether stockholder approval is
required shall
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be determined by the Committee and shall be consistent with the rules of the
Securities Exchange Commission, the Code and the rules of the stock exchange(s)
on which the Company's shares are listed, as such rules are in effect at the
time the Plan amendment becomes effective.
18. STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL.
Approval of the stockholders may be obtained either by favorable vote of a
majority of the voting stock present or represented and entitled to vote on the
matter at a stockholder's meeting at which a quorum representing a majority of
the outstanding voting stock is present and voting on the Plan, either in person
or by proxy, or by the written consent of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding voting stock, in either case with Common Stock and other voting
shares convertible into Common Stock being considered together for the purpose
of determining a majority of the outstanding voting stock or a majority of the
voting stock present or represented and entitled to vote.
19. TERMINATION.
The Board may terminate the Plan at any time. Unless sooner terminated by
the Board, or extended by a vote of stockholders in the manner provided for in
Section 18, this Plan shall terminate on the earlier of September 30, 2007, or
when all shares authorized to be issued under the Plan have been purchased. No
such termination shall adversely affect options previously granted without the
consent of the affected Participants.
20. EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP.
Nothing in this Plan shall confer on any person the right to continue in the
employ of the Company, or shall interfere with or restrict the rights of the
Company, which are hereby expressly reserved, to terminate or modify the
employment of any person at any time, with or without cause, subject to the
terms and conditions of any applicable collective bargaining agreement.
21. NOTICES.
All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company in
connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received
in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by the person,
designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.
22. GOVERNMENT AND OTHER REGULATIONS.
The Plan, and the grant and exercise of the rights to purchase shares
hereunder, and Grand Union's obligation to sell and deliver shares upon the
exercise of rights to purchase shares, shall be subject to all applicable
Federal, State and foreign laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by
any regulatory or government agency as may, in the opinion of counsel for Grand
Union, be required.
23. APPLICABLE LAW.
This Plan shall be interpreted in a manner intended to give full effect to
the provisions of the Plan, except where to do so would conflict with the laws
of the State of Delaware.
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PROXY CARD
THE GRAND UNION COMPANY
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD
SEPTEMBER 25, 1997
The undersigned hereby nominates, constitutes and appoints Roger E.
Stangeland and Jeffrey P. Freimark, and each of them individually, the attorney,
agent and proxy of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote all
stock of THE GRAND UNION COMPANY which the undersigned is entitled to represent
and vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held at the
Sheraton Crossroads Hotel, 1 International Boulevard, Mahwah, New Jersey, 07495,
at 10:00 a.m. on September 25, 1997, and at any and all adjournments or
postponements thereof, as fully as if the undersigned were present and voting at
the meeting, as follows:
THE DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE "FOR" ITEMS 1, 2 AND 3.
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY THE
STOCKHOLDER ON THE REVERSE SIDE. WHERE NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, SUCH SHARES WILL
BE VOTED "FOR" THE ELECTION OF THE DIRECTORS NAMED ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS
PROXY, "FOR" APPROVAL OF THE ASSOCIATE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN, "FOR" RATIFICATION
OF PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS, AND IN THE
DISCRETION OF THE PROXYHOLDERS ON ANY OTHER MATTER WHICH MAY PROPERLY COME
BEFORE THE MEETING.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU ARE URGED TO SIGN AND
RETURN THIS PROXY, WHICH MAY BE REVOKED AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO ITS USE.
IMPORTANT--PLEASE SIGN AND DATE ON OTHER SIDE AND RETURN PROMPTLY
<PAGE>
PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTES AS IN THIS EXAMPLE USING DARK INK ONLY /X/
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
<S> <C>
</TABLE>
/ / FOR / / WITHHELD
Election of the following nominees as directors: Roger E. Stangeland, James
J. Costello, Daniel E. Josephs, William G. Kagler, Clifford A. Miller, Geoffrey
T. Moore, J. Richard Stonesifer and David Y. Ying.
(INSTRUCTIONS: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES, MARK THE BOX
ABOVE. TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, STRIKE THROUGH
THAT NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE LIST ABOVE.)
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
2. APPROVAL OF THE ASSOCIATE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN:
</TABLE>
/ / FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
3. RATIFICATION OF PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS:
</TABLE>
/ / FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
4. IN THEIR DISCRETION, ON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.
</TABLE>
Signature(s) __________________________________________
Date ________________________ , 1997
Please date and sign your name exactly as it appears hereon. Executors,
administrators, guardians, officers of corporations, and others signing in a
fiduciary capacity should state their full titles as such. Joint owners each
should sign personally.
