<PAGE>
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
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 (S) 240.14a-11(c) or (S) 240.14a-12
THE GREAT ATLANTIC & PACIFIC TEA COMPANY, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[_] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Total fee paid:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
[_] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[_] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
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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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Notes:
Reg. (S) 240.14a-101.
SEC 1913 (3-99)
<PAGE>
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc.
TWO PARAGON DRIVE
MONTVALE, NEW JERSEY 07645
-----------------------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
to be held July 11, 2000
-----------------------------
To the Stockholders of
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc.
Notice is Hereby Given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The Great
Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (the "Company") will be held at the
Windsor Court Hotel, 300 Gravier Street, New Orleans, Louisiana on Tuesday,
July 11, 2000 at 9:30 A.M. (C.D.T.) for the following purposes:
1. To elect a Board of eleven directors to serve until the next annual
meeting of stockholders and until the election and qualification of
their successors;
2. To elect independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending
February 24, 2001;
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed May 18, 2000 as the record date for the
determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the
meeting. Accordingly, only stockholders of record at the close of business on
that date are entitled to vote at the meeting or at any adjournment thereof.
Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please complete and sign the
accompanying proxy and return it promptly to the Company in the stamped return
envelope enclosed for your use.
A copy of the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year
ended February 26, 2000 accompanies this proxy statement.
By order of the Board of Directors
WILLIAM P. COSTANTINI
Senior Vice President , General
Counsel
& Secretary
Dated: May 24, 2000
You are cordially invited to attend the meeting. Whether or not
you plan to do so, please sign, date and vote or otherwise
indicate your choices with respect to the matters to be voted upon
on the accompanying proxy card and mail it at once in the enclosed
envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in the United
States.
<PAGE>
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc.
TWO PARAGON DRIVE
MONTVALE, NEW JERSEY 07645
----------------
PROXY STATEMENT
----------------
Solicitation and Revocation of Proxies
The accompanying proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of The Great
Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (the "Company") for use at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders to be held on July 11, 2000. The Company will bear the
cost of such solicitation. It is expected that the solicitation of proxies
will be primarily by mail. Proxies may also be solicited personally by regular
employees of the Company, by telephone, or other means of communication at
nominal cost. The Company will reimburse banks, brokers and trustees, or their
nominees, for reasonable expenses incurred by them in forwarding proxy
material to beneficial owners of stock in accordance with The New York Stock
Exchange schedule of charges. Any stockholder giving a proxy has the power to
revoke it at any time prior to its exercise by giving notice in writing to the
Secretary, or by casting a ballot at the meeting in person or by proxy. This
proxy statement is first being mailed to stockholders on or about May 24,
2000.
Voting at Meeting
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on May 18, 2000 will be
entitled to vote at the annual meeting. As of May 18, 2000, there were
outstanding 38,367,216 shares of the Company's $1 par value common stock (the
"Common Stock") each of which is entitled to one vote. Proxies marked as
abstaining (including proxies containing broker non-votes) on any matter to be
acted upon by stockholders will be treated as present at the meeting for
purposes of determining a quorum but will not be counted as votes cast on such
matters.
Certain Beneficial Owners
As of May 18, 2000, the Company is informed that Tengelmann
Warenhandelsgesellschaft (a partnership organized under the laws of the
Federal Republic of Germany, hereinafter "Tengelmann"), controlled by
Mr. Erivan Haub, owned beneficially and of record 21,035,000 shares of the
Company's Common Stock (approximately 54.83% of the outstanding shares).
Tengelmann controls, among others, PLUS Warenhandelsgesellschaft and Kaiser's
Kaffee-Geschaft AG, general retailers in Germany. Mr. Erivan Haub also has an
interest in Tenga Capital Corporation.
The address of Tengelmann and Mr. Haub is c/o Tengelmann
Warenhandelsgesellschaft, Wissollstrasse 5-43, 45478 Mulheim/Ruhr, Germany.
Except as set forth above, at May 18, 2000 no person beneficially owned, to
the knowledge of the Company, more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the
Company's Common Stock.
<PAGE>
Election of Directors
Eleven directors are to be elected to hold office until the next annual
meeting and until their successors are elected and shall qualify. The persons
named as proxies in the accompanying proxy intend to vote, unless otherwise
instructed, for the election to the Board of Directors of the persons named
below, each of whom has consented to nomination and to serve when elected.
Each nominee is presently a member of the Board of Directors. The affirmative
vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required for the
election of each director.
Mrs. Hauptfuhrer and Messrs. Edley and Teelen will not stand for reelection.
Mrs. Hauptfuhrer who joined the Board in 1975 is retiring after 25 years of
service. Mr. Edley retired from the Board of Directors on January 18, 2000
after nearly 19 years of service. Mr. Teelen, a director since 1979, is
retiring after nearly 21 years of service. The Company appreciates their
dedication.
Nominees
John D. Barline, Esq.
Mr. Barline, age 53, was elected a director on July 9, 1996. He is Chairman
of the Compensation Policy Committee and a member of the Retirement Benefits
Committee.
Mr. Barline, an attorney in private practice since 1973, is currently
associated with the law firm Williams, Kastner & Gibbs LLP in Tacoma,
Washington. His areas of practice include corporate tax law, mergers and
acquisitions, general business law, estate planning and real estate. He
provides personal legal services to the Haub family, including Helga and
Erivan Haub and Christian Haub.
Mr. Barline is a member of the Board of Directors and corporate secretary of
Sun Mountain Resorts, Inc. He is also on the Board of Directors of Sun
Mountain Lodge, Inc. and Wissoll Trading Company, Inc. These are small closely
held corporations owned primarily by the Haub family. He is a member of the
Board of the Franciscan Foundation and the Board of the Tacoma Art Museum.
Rosemarie Baumeister
Senior Vice President of Tengelmann
Mrs. Baumeister, age 66, has been a member of the Company's Board of
Directors since 1979. She is a member of the Compensation Policy Committee.
During the past five years and prior to assuming her present position, she has
served in various executive capacities with Tengelmann, most recently as
Executive Vice President and Head of the Public Relations Department of
Tengelmann.
Mrs. Baumeister is a member of the Supervisory Board of Kaiser's Kaffee-
Geschaft AG, an affiliate of Tengelmann, a member of the Supervisory Board of
Tengelmann Espana and a member of the Advisory Board of Deutsche Bank.
Fred Corrado
Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Corrado, age 60, has been a director since 1990. He is Vice Chairman of
the Executive Committee and a member of the Finance and Retirement Benefits
Committees. During the past five years, Mr. Corrado also served as Treasurer
and Executive Vice President of the Company.
Mr. Corrado is a director of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and
Covenant House.
2
<PAGE>
Christian W. E. Haub
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
Mr. Haub, age 35, was elected a director on December 3, 1991, President and
Chief Operating Officer of the Company on December 7, 1993 and Co-Chief
Executive Officer on April 2, 1997. He was elected to his current position
effective May 1, 1998. He is a member of the Executive Committee and an ex
officio member of the Finance and Retirement Benefits Committees.
Mr. Haub is a partner of Tengelmann and a son of Erivan and Helga Haub. Mr.
Haub is on the board of the Food Marketing Institute.
Helga Haub
Mrs. Haub, age 65, has been a member of the Company's Board of Directors
since 1979. She is a member of the Executive and the Finance Committees.
Mrs. Haub is a member of the Supervisory Board of Kaiser's Kaffee-Geschaft
AG, an affiliate of Tengelmann, a consultant to Tengelmann and has an interest
in Tenga Capital Corporation. She also is a member of the Advisory Board of
GfK Gesellschaft fur Konsumforschung, Germany. She is a director of the
American Chamber of Commerce in Germany. She is a director of The George C.
Marshall Home Preservation Fund, Inc., a member of the Board of Governors of
World USO and president of the Board of Trustees of the Elizabeth Haub
Foundation for Environmental Policy and Law. Mrs. Haub is the wife of Mr.
Erivan Haub and mother of Mr. Christian Haub.
Dan Kourkoumelis
Mr. Kourkoumelis, age 49, was elected a director on March 21, 2000.
Mr. Kourkoumelis was President and Chief Operating Officer of Quality Food
Centers, Inc. from May 1989 until September 1996, and thereafter President and
Chief Executive Officer of Quality Food Centers, Inc. until September 25,
1998, when he retired after the acquisition of Quality Food Centers, Inc. by
Fred Meyer, Inc. He also served as a director of Quality Food Centers, Inc.
from April 1991 until March 1998.
Mr. Kourkoumelis is a director of Expeditors International and a director,
and past president, of the Western Association of Food Chains.
Edward Lewis
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Essence Communications, Inc.
Mr. Lewis, age 60, was elected a director on May 16, 2000.
Mr. Lewis is cofounder and publisher of ESSENCE magazine and is chairman of
TransAfrica Forum and a trustee of Tuskegee University. He is a director of
the New York City Partnership, the Times Square Business Improvement District,
the Jazz Committee of the Board of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts,
Girls, Inc., and the Central Park Conservancy. He is a member of the
Leadership Council of the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding
and a committee member of the Minority Business Roundtable of the Joint Center
for Political and Economic Studies. He also served as chairman of the Magazine
Publishers of America from 1997 to 1999, becoming the first African-American
to hold this position in the 75-year history of the organization.
3
<PAGE>
William A. Liffers
Mr. Liffers, age 71, was elected a director on July 9, 1996. He is Chairman
of the Audit Review Committee and a member of the Compensation Policy and
Executive Committees.
Mr. Liffers served as Vice Chairman of American Cyanamid Company
(principally engaged in the manufacture and sale of medical, agricultural,
chemical and consumer products) from 1978 until his retirement in 1993. He was
a member of its Board of Directors from 1977 until he retired. He also served
in other executive capacities with that company in the United States and
abroad.
Mr. Liffers served as a Senior Advisor to the United Nations Development
Programme from 1994 until 1998, assisting the Peoples Republic of China in its
efforts to reform its state owned enterprises. He is also a member of the
Board of Overseers of the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Richard L. Nolan
William Barclay Harding Professor of Management of Technology at the Harvard
Business School
Mr. Nolan, age 60, was elected a director on October 5, 1999. He is a member
of the Audit Review Committee.
Mr. Nolan, the William Barclay Harding Professor of Management of Technology
since 1991, is the originator of the "Stages Theory", one of the most widely
used management frameworks for information technology baselining and planning.
He is also a member of the Board of Directors for Novell, Surebridge, Inc. and
Zefer.
Robert L. "Sam" Wetzel
President and Chief Executive Officer of Wetzel International, Inc.
Mr. Wetzel, age 69, was elected a director effective May 21, 1991. He is
Chairman of the Finance Committee and a member of the Audit Review,
Compensation Policy and Retirement Benefits Committees.
Mr. Wetzel has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Wetzel
International, Inc., a management consulting firm specializing in
international marketing and joint ventures in the aerospace, defense and
commercial industries based in Columbus, Georgia, following his retirement as
a Lieutenant General in June 1986 from his position as Commanding General V
(U.S.) Corps, Frankfurt, Germany. He is President of European Foods, Inc., an
import-export company based in Columbus, Georgia.
Mr. Wetzel is an advisory director of Columbus Bank & Trust Company,
Columbus, Georgia, a subsidiary of Synovus Financial Corporation. He is also a
director of Consolidated Fusion Technologies, Inc., Columbus, Georgia.
James Wood
Chairman of the Board
Mr. Wood, age 70, was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief
Executive Officer in 1980. On April 2, 1997 he was elected Co-Chief Executive
Officer and retired from that office on April 30, 1998. He is Chairman of the
Executive Committee.
Mr. Wood is a director of Schering-Plough Corporation.
4
<PAGE>
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth the number of shares of Common Stock of the
Company beneficially owned as of May 18, 2000, by each director and nominee,
each named executive officer and by all directors and executive officers as a
group:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares Stock
Beneficially Option % of
owned shares(1) Total Class
------------ --------- --------- -----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John D. Barline, Esq. (2)............... 2,200 2,600 4,800 *
Rosemarie Baumeister (2)................ 2,800 3,200 6,000 *
Fred Corrado............................ 1,700 142,750 144,450 *
Christian Haub (2)...................... 600 347,500 348,100 *
Helga Haub (2).......................... 2,800 3,200 6,000 *
Barbara B. Hauptfuhrer (3).............. 1,300 3,200 4,500 *
Dan Kourkoumelis........................ 0 2,000 2,000 *
George Graham........................... 5,000 59,375 64,375 *
Michael J. Larkin....................... 200 190,000 190,200 *
Edward Lewis............................ 0 2,000 2,000 *
William A. Liffers...................... 1,000 2,600 3,600 *
Aaron Malinsky.......................... 1,000 90,000 91,000 *
Richard L. Nolan........................ 0 2,000 2,000 *
Fritz Teelen (2)........................ 3,300 3,200 6,500 *
Robert L. "Sam" Wetzel.................. 500 3,200 3,700 *
James Wood.............................. 11,321 350,000 361,321 *
All directors and executive officers as
a group (25 persons)................... 33,771 1,621,325 1,655,096 4.3
</TABLE>
- --------
* Less than 1%
(1) The amounts shown include all purchase options granted under Company stock
option plans regardless of whether exercisable within 60 days.
(2) The association of Mmes. Baumeister and Haub, and Messrs. Barline and Haub
with Tengelmann and Mr. Erivan Haub is set forth herein under "Nominees".
Mr. Teelen, who is retiring from the Board, was the former Chief Operating
Officer of Tengelmann in Europe. Mr. Christian Haub disclaims investment
and voting power over the shares owned by Tengelmann and they are excluded
herein. Mrs. Haub disclaims any investment or voting power over the shares
owned by Mr. Erivan Haub and the organizations which he controls and the
same are not included herein.
(3) Mrs. Hauptfuhrer disclaims beneficial ownership over any shares held by
any funds or trusts of the companies of which she also serves as a
director and any such shares are not included herein.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
The Company believes that during 1999 all reports for the Company's
executive officers and directors that were required to be filed under Section
16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 were timely filed, except a Form 4
filing by Mrs. Haub on a purchase in late February of 4,000 shares by her
husband, in which she disclaims beneficial ownership, was filed in early April
and the Form 3 for William McEwan, President and Chief Executive Officer
Atlantic Operations, upon his promotion to executive officer status effective
the first of the fiscal year was not filed until May.
5
<PAGE>
Board Meetings, Committees and Compensation
During the last fiscal year, the Board of Directors held 7 meetings and
committees thereof held 14 meetings. The Audit Review Committee held 4
meetings, and the Compensation Policy Committee held 5 meetings. Such
Committees are composed of non-employee directors. The Audit Review Committee
reviews annual financial statements prior to submission to the Board and
reports thereon; reviews quarterly results prior to release; at its
discretion, examines and considers matters relating to the internal and
external audit of the Company's accounts and financial affairs; recommends the
employment of outside accountants and their compensation; and, as appropriate,
meets with Company personnel in performance of its functions. The Compensation
Policy Committee approves salaries and salary increases and benefits where the
median base annual compensation for the salary level is at least $195,000,
approves and interprets incentive plans, and serves as the committee to
administer the employee stock option and long term incentive and share award
plans. There is no standing Nominating Committee. All directors attended at
least 75% of the aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings of the Board of
Directors and (ii) the total number of meetings held by all Committees of the
Board on which they served as members.
Directors who are neither officers nor employees of the Company are each
paid fees consisting of an annual retainer of $28,000 plus an attendance fee
of $1,000 for each Board meeting attended, and $1,000 for each committee
meeting attended if substantial time or effort is involved, plus expenses of
attendance. If two compensable meetings are held on the same day, the fee for
the second meeting is limited to $500. The Chairman of each Committee, except
the Executive Committee, is paid an additional $10,000 per year. Under the
directors stock option plan, non-employee directors are entitled to an initial
stock option grant of 2,000 shares with 200 shares granted after each Annual
Meeting thereafter. These shares vest in one-third increments on succeeding
Annual Meeting dates.
The Company revised the compensation program for its non-employee directors
effective May 1, 1996. It suspended the retirement plan pursuant to which
directors, after serving 5 years and attaining age 70, were entitled upon
retirement from the Board to an annual benefit equal to the highest annual
retainer paid during their tenure (currently $28,000) for a period equal to
their years of service up to 15 years. The directors had a one time election
to transfer the present value of their accrued benefits to the new plan. Under
the deferred compensation plan, the Company contributes to book accounts of
all directors with less than fifteen years of service an amount equal to 75%
of the current retainer. Up to all and at least 50% of these deferred payments
will be credited to a Company Common Stock equivalent account. The balance, at
the director's election in increments of 25% will be credited to a 10-year U.
S. Treasury bond equivalent account. The directors are fully vested in their
accounts. Accruals will be made to these accounts through the fifteenth
anniversary of Board service. Upon termination from service as a director, the
value of the Company Common Stock equivalent account will be determined using
the final average market value of the Company's shares for the prior 180
calendar days, inclusive of appreciation for the effect of dividends. The
value of the bond equivalent account will be the sum of the credits and
interest to the date of termination. Benefits will then be paid to the retired
director equally over the subsequent 180 months or the length of service,
whichever is shorter. However, in the event of death, benefits will continue
to be paid to the director's beneficiary for a maximum of ten years, which
includes any period of payment before death.
Effective May 1, 1998, Mr. Wood became non-executive Chairman of the Board,
receiving $400,000 per year without entitlement to an incentive bonus. He will
remain Chairman of the Board until April 30, 2001 and during such time shall
remain entitled to an office and certain executive level benefits and
services, including transportation and security.
Directors who are also officers of the Company receive no extra compensation
or benefits for such service.
6
<PAGE>
Certain Relationships and Transactions
Tenga Capital Corporation, which is owned by Erivan and Helga Haub, owns
property in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on which an indirect subsidiary of the
Company, A&P Properties Limited, has leased a store since 1983. The initial
term expires October 31, 2003, with four 5-year renewal options. The base
annual rental is CN$467,603, with percentage rents subject to specified caps.
The Company is a party to agreements granting Tengelmann and its affiliates
the exclusive right to use the "A&P" trademark in Germany and other European
countries pursuant to which the Company received $100,000 which is the maximum
annual royalty fee under such agreements. The Company also is a party to
agreements under which it purchased from Wilh. Schmitz-Scholl ("Wissoll"),
which is an affiliate of Tengelmann, approximately $956,261 worth of the Black
Forest line and Master Choice candy.
The Company owns a jet aircraft which Tengelmann leases under a full cost
reimbursement lease that also allows the Company to charter the aircraft for
its use at a below market charter rate. During fiscal 1999, Tengelmann was
obligated to reimburse the Company an average monthly cost of $265,400.
Since the beginning of fiscal 1999, the largest aggregate indebtedness by
Craig Sturken, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Midwestern Operations, to
the Company on his interest free loan related to his relocations for the
Company was $83,321. The loan is being repaid through period payroll
deductions and $48,881 remains outstanding on the loan as of May 22, 2000.
7
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION
The following table sets forth the compensation paid by the Company and its
subsidiaries for services rendered in all capacities during each of the last
three fiscal years to or for the account of Mr. Haub and the other four most
highly compensated executive officers.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Long Term Compensation
Awards
-----------------------
Annual Securities
Compensation Restricted Underlying All Other
Principal Position ------------------ Stock Options Compensation
During Fiscal Year Year Salary($) Bonus($) Award(s)($) SARS(#) ($)(2)
------------------ ---- --------- -------- ----------- ---------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Christian Haub 1999 619,615 319,838 12,444
President & Chief
Executive Officer 1998 562,397 -- 125,000 11,468
1997 382,212 100,000 100,000 7,219
Fred Corrado 1999 546,677 167,348 47,805
Vice Chairman, Chief
Financial Officer 1998 506,800 -- 44,174
1997 498,885 75,000 60,000 40,997
George Graham 1999 397,173 97,750 14,653
Executive Vice
President, Chief 1998 385,307 -- 25,000 13,681
Merchandising Officer 1997 372,019 62,500 13,714
Michael Larkin 1999 450,846 167,349 18,638
Senior Executive Vice
President, 1998 425,000 -- 85,000 19,750
Chief Operating Officer 1997 286,058 87,500 50,000 15,425
Aaron Malinsky 1999 506,250 167,348 18,563
Vice Chairman,
Development & 1998 476,923 -- 651,250(1) 25,000 11,224
Strategic Planning 1997 433,173 65,000 9,184
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Mr. Malinsky resigned on May 12, 2000 at which time his award of
restricted stock under the 1998 Long Term Incentive and Share Award Plan
was forfeited pursuant to the terms of his grant.
(2) Consists of, respectively, Company contributions to the Retirement/Savings
Plan and the cost for insurance, for 1999: Mr. Haub ($11,200 and $1,244);
Mr. Corrado ($11,200 and $31,605); Mr. Graham ($11,200 and $3,453); Mr.
Larkin ($11,200 and $7,438); and Mr. Malinsky ($6,400 and $12,163).
Additionally, a tax preparation and planning fee of $5,000 is included for
Mr. Corrado.
Employment and Termination Agreements
Mr. Corrado's employment contract, which expires May 20, 2002, generally
provides a minimum base annual salary of $451,000, regular Company benefits
applicable to his position and incentive compensation with a $125,000 initial
annual base at 100%. Mr. Corrado's contract further provides immediate vesting
of his age 65 benefit at age 62 under SERP, discussed infra, and life
insurance equal in face value to three times his base annual salary. Mr.
Graham's employment and separation agreement provides specified termination
benefits in exchange for his providing certain services to the Company. His
"Eligible Termination", as defined in his agreement, will occur thereafter at
the Company's discretion. Upon his Eligible Termination Mr. Graham becomes
entitled to salary continuation, life insurance and executive medical coverage
for two calendar years. Any vested unexercised stock options and SARs, unless
sooner expired, may be exercised until three months thereafter. His SERP will
be calculated with 20 years' service credit and full retirement at age 59. Mr.
Larkin's three year employment agreement provides an annual salary of
$425,000, a bonus base of $175,000 under the management incentive plan, a
grant of 50,000 purchase options, participation in the Executive Medical
Program and SERP with full credit for past Company service and retirement at
age 62 without reduction for early
8
<PAGE>
retirement. Mr. Malinsky's employment contract provides a minimum base annual
salary of $425,000, an initial bonus base of $125,000 under the management
incentive plan, a sign on bonus of 65,000 stock options which were granted in
1996, life insurance coverage in the amount of $1,000,000, membership in SERP
and other benefits applicable to his position. In the event Mr. Malinsky is
terminated involuntarily without cause, he is entitled to one year's salary.
However, Mr. Malinsky resigned May 12, 2000.
Option Tables
There were no stock options/stock appreciation rights ("SARs") granted to or
exercised by the named executive officers during the last fiscal year. The
table below sets forth the fiscal year-end value of stock option/SARs held by
such officers.
Fiscal Year-End Option/SAR Values
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Securities Value of Unexercised
Underlying Options/SARs In-the Money
Shares at FY-End Options/SARs at FY-End($)(1)
Acquired on Value ------------------------- ----------------------------------
Name Exercise Realized Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
---- ----------- -------- ----------- ------------- --------------- ---------------
(#) ($) (#) (#) ($) ($)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Christian Haub.......... None -- 188,750 106,250 1,875 --
Fred Corrado............ None -- 89,999 45,001 3,750 --
George Graham........... None -- 40,624 18,751 703 --
Michael Larkin.......... None -- 52,499 82,501 -- --
Aaron Malinsky.......... None -- 61,250 28,750 -- --
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Based on the closing price of the Common Stock on February 25, 2000 of
$23.75.
PENSION PLAN TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years of Service
--------------------------------------------
Remuneration 15 20 25 30 35
- ------------ -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$450,000........................... $168,750 $202,500 $202,500 $202,500 $202,500
500,000........................... 187,500 225,000 225,000 225,000 225,000
550,000........................... 206,250 247,500 247,500 247,500 247,500
600,000........................... 225,000 270,000 270,000 270,000 270,000
650,000........................... 243,750 292,500 292,500 292,500 292,500
700,000........................... 262,500 315,000 315,000 315,000 315,000
</TABLE>
The table above indicates the amount of annual benefit payable to a person
at age 65 in the specified final average remuneration and years-of-service
classifications under the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan ("SERP")
except that such benefits do not reflect the requisite reduction for any
applicable Social Security, or other Company retirement benefits. SERP is an
unfunded defined benefit final average pay plan that covers the named
executives, excluding Mr. Haub. Mr. Malinsky's participation and prospective
entitlements under SERP ceased when he terminated employment.
The compensation covered by SERP is base salary, i.e., essentially the
"Salary" reflected in the Summary Compensation Table computed as an average of
such base salary over the highest compensated five years of employment during
the last 10 years. The benefit is computed at the rate of 3% for each year up
to 10 years of service, plus 1 1/2% of such compensation for up to 10
additional years of service with a maximum benefit equal to 45% of such
average base salary. Estimated or actual credited years of service at
retirement for each participating named executive officer are: Mr. Corrado, 18
years; Mr. Graham, 20 years; and Mr. Larkin, 20 years.
9
<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following performance graph compares the five-year cumulative total
shareholder return (assuming reinvestment of dividends) on the Company's
Common Stock to the Standard & Poor's 500 Index and the SBC Warburg Dillon
Read Index of Supermarkets as its peer group which is comprised of the
following companies: The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc.,
Albertson's, Inc., Delhaize America, Inc. (formerly Food Lion, Inc.), The
Kroger Co., Safeway, Inc. and Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. Hannaford Brothers Co.
was removed from the Peer Group because of the pending merger with Delhaize
America, Inc. American Stores Company, Fred Meyer, Inc. and The Penn Traffic
Company were removed from the Peer Group because they have either been
acquired or delisted. The performance graph assumes $100 is invested in the
Company's Common Stock, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index and a composite index
for the peer companies on February 25, 1995, and that dividends paid during
the period were reinvested to purchase additional shares.
(Company fiscal year ends--last Saturday in February)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Year S&P 500 A&P Peer Group
Ending
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ $ $
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
02/25/95 100 100 100
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
02/24/96 138 118 130
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
02/22/97 171 161 169
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
02/28/98 227 164 239
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
02/27/99 271 172 311
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
02/26/00 296 132 175
</TABLE>
10
<PAGE>
Report of the Compensation Policy Committee
The Company's Compensation Policy Committee approves the compensation of all
executive officers and other key employees and acts as the Committee for the
Company's Stock Option and Long-Term Incentive and Share Award Plans.
Principles and Program
The Company's executive compensation program includes the following policy
objectives:
. Compensation must be sufficient to attract and retain talented
executives.
. Incentives are included in the executive compensation package based
upon criteria which also enhance shareholder value.
. Improvements in compensation should bear a relationship to the
Company's improvement in performance.
To meet these objectives, the program has salary, incentive and equity
elements. The Committee considers each of these elements, setting salary and
bonus levels that reflect the above-described objectives and awarding stock
appreciation rights, stock options or restricted stock points to provide an
equity-based compensation element.
Salaries
The Compensation Policy Committee employs several criteria in fixing the
salaries of the executive officers (including chief executive officers and the
other four most highly compensated officers). These criteria include the
responsibility of the position, the officer's performance, the Company's
financial performance and the business and economic climate in which the
Company operates. Executive officers with responsibility for a business unit
are also evaluated on the basis of the unit's performance. Additional criteria
such as success in achieving desired business goals are utilized in
determining the appropriate salary for an officer.
Annual Incentive Plan
During fiscal 1999, the Company had an annual management incentive plan
which, for executive officers, provided target bonus awards contingent upon
the attainment of goals, with the maximum bonus determined by the ability of
the individual to make a direct contribution to the financial performance of
the Company and the responsibility of the position held by the individual. The
goals comprised sales, profit, team and strategy objectives.
The goals for the 1999 fiscal year were established by the Compensation
Policy Committee taking into account the performance of the Company relative
to the performance of comparable companies and relative to the competitive and
economic environment in which the Company operated.
Forty percent of the executive's bonus was predicated on the attainment of
the profit goals, 30% on the attainment of sales goals and 15%, respectively,
on the attainment of team and strategy objectives. An annual Return on
Invested Capital modifier was established for Corporate participants and for
each operating group and may affect the bonuses by as much as 25%.
Equity Based Compensation
The Company's 1994 Stock Option Plan authorizes grants through March 17,
2004 of up to 1,500,000 shares for stock options and tandem or independent
SARs. The 1998 Long Term Incentive Plan and Share Award Plan authorizes grants
through July 13, 2008 of up to 5,000,000 shares for stock options, SARs,
restricted stock and other stock based awards.
11
<PAGE>
Discussion of Fiscal 1999 Compensation for the Chief Executive Officer
The Compensation Policy Committee recommends the compensation level of the
Chief Executive Officer. Taking into account all of the factors described in
this report, Mr. Haub's salary for the 1999 fiscal year was increased to
$660,000 effective November 1, 1999 and his incentive bonus base was increased
to $409,000. Under the criteria described above, Mr. Haub received 78% of his
incentive bonus base.
Compliance with Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m)
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, enacted in 1993, subject to
certain exceptions, disallows a tax deduction to public companies for
compensation over $1,000,000 paid to the Chief Executive Officer and the four
other most highly compensated officers at fiscal year end. The exceptions to
the $1,000,000 deduction limit include compensation paid under preexisting
employment agreements and performance based compensation meeting certain
requirements. Except in the case of Mr. Haub, the salary and bonuses of each
of the named executive officers for the 2000 fiscal year are expected to be
less than $1,000,000 and the compensation payable to such officers therefore
should be fully deductible. With respect to Mr. Haub, it is possible that a
small portion of his bonus may not be deductible under Section 162(m) for the
2000 fiscal year. The Company's 1994 Stock Option Plan and the 1998 Long Term
Incentive and Share Award Plan have been tailored to comply with the
provisions of Section 162(m) so that amounts received upon the exercise of
options and SARs thereunder should be exempt from Section 162(m) limitations.
Compensation Policy Committee
John Barline, Chairman
Rosemarie Baumeister
Robert L. "Sam" Wetzel
William A. Liffers
Election of Auditors
In keeping with the Company's historic custom and practice, independent
auditors are to be elected at the meeting. Pursuant to the recommendation of
the Audit Review Committee and Board of Directors, the persons named in the
accompanying proxy intend to vote, unless otherwise instructed, for Deloitte &
Touche LLP, who have audited the accounts of the Company for the past forty-
four fiscal years. Representatives of that firm are expected to be present at
the meeting to respond to appropriate questions and make such statements as
they may desire. Should the firm not receive a majority vote, the Board of
Directors will reconsider its selection of independent auditors.
Stockholder Proposals
The Company will consider including a stockholder's proposal for action at
the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in the proxy material to be mailed to
its stockholders in connection with that meeting if such proposal is received
at the principal office of the Company no later than January 25, 2001. The
date, after which notice of a shareholder proposal submitted outside of the
processes of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act is considered untimely, is April
9, 2001. If notice of a shareholder proposal submitted outside of the
processes of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act is received by the Company after
April 9, 2001, then the proxy material to be mailed by the Company to its
stockholders in connection with the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders may
confer discretionary authority to vote on such matter without any discussion
of such matter in such proxy materials.
12
<PAGE>
Other Matters
No business other than that set forth in the attached Notice of Annual
Meeting is expected to come before the meeting. However, should any other
matters requiring a vote of stockholders arise, including the question of
adjourning the meeting, the persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote
thereon according to their best judgment in the interest of the Company. In
the event that any of the above-named nominees for the office of director or
the nominee for independent auditors shall withdraw or otherwise become
unavailable, the persons named as proxies may vote for other persons in their
place in the best interest of the Company.
By Order of the Board of Directors
William P. Costantini
Senior Vice President, General
Counsel
& Secretary
Dated: May 24, 2000
Each person solicited by this proxy statement, including any person who on
May 18, 2000 is a beneficial owner of the Company's Common Stock, may request
a copy of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the last fiscal year.
Such written requests should be directed to the Secretary of the Company at
its address aforesaid.
13
<PAGE>
May 24, 2000
Dear Shareholder:
We are pleased to send you our 1999 Annual Report and 2000 Proxy Statement and
to invite you to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 9:30
A.M . (C.D.T.) on Tuesday, July 11, 2000 at Windsor Court Hotel, 300 Gravier
Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.
If you are interested in further information about the Company, you are invited
to contact the Treasury Department at the executive offices in Montvale, New
Jersey or contact the A&P home page at www.aptea.com.`
Sincerely,
William P. Costantini
Sr. Vice President, General Counsel
& Secretary
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
\/ Please Detach and Mail in the Envelope Provided \/
Please mark your
A [X] votes as in this example.
FOR all nominees WITHHOLD
listed at right (except AUTHORITY to
as marked to the vote all nominees
contrary below) listed at right Nominees: J.D. Barline
R. Baumeister
(1) ELECTION OF [_] [_] F. Corrado
DIRECTORS C.W.E. Haub
H. Haub
(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any D. Kourkoumelis
individual nominee, write that nominee's name on the E. Lewis
following line): W.A. Liffers
R.L. Nolan
R.L. Wetzel
J. Wood
-----------------------------------------------------
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. Election of Deloitte & Touche LLP as [_] [_] [_}
independent auditors.
(THE DIRECTORS FAVOR A VOTE "FOR")
Upon such other business as may properly come before said meeting
and at any adjournments thereof.
SIGNATURE(S): ___________________________________________________________________________ Date: __________________________
NOTE: Please date and sign exactly as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. The full title or capacity of any
person signing for a corporation, partnership, trust or estate should be indicated.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
--------------------------------
WHEN PROXY IS OKAYED PLEASE SIGN
& DATE IT ABOVE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE GREAT ATLANTIC & PACIFIC TEA COMPANY, INC.
PROXY - FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING - JULY 11, 2000 THIS PROXY IS
SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The undersigned, having received the Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement
dated May 24, 2000, appoints CHRISTIAN HAUB, FRED CORRADO and WILLIAM P.
COSTANTINI, and each or any of them as Proxies with full power of substitution,
to represent and vote all the shares of Common Stock which the undersigned may
be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 9:30
A.M. (C.D.T.) July 11, 2000, at Windsor Court Hotel, 300 Gravier Street, New
Orleans, Louisiana, or at any adjournment thereof, with all powers which the
undersigned would possess if personally present.
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED
HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED
"FOR" ITEMS (1) AND (2), ALL OF SAID ITEMS BEING MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN THE
NOTICE OF MEETING AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT. THE UNDERSIGNED RATIFIES
AND CONFIRMS ALL THAT SAID PROXIES OR THEIR SUBSTITUTES MAY LAWFULLY DO BY
VIRTUE HEREOF.
(To be signed on Reverse Side)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
--------------------------------
WHEN PROXY IS OKAYED PLEASE SIGN
& DATE IT ABOVE
Please date, sign and mail your
proxy card back as soon as possible!
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
THE GREAT ATLANTIC & PACIFIC TEA COMPANY, INC.
July 11, 2000
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
\/ Please Detach and Mail in the Envelope Provided \/
Please mark your
A [X] votes as in this
example.
FOR all nominees WITHHOLD
listed at right (except AUTHORITY to
as marked to the vote all nominees
contrary below) listed at right Nominees: J.D. Barline
R. Baumeister
(1) ELECTION OF [_] [_] F. Corrado
DIRECTORS C.W.E. Haub
H. Haub
(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any D. Kourkoumelis
individual nominee, write that nominee's name on the E. Lewis
following line): W.A. Liffers
R.L. Nolan
R.L. Wetzel
J. Wood
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. Election of Deloitte & Touche LLP as
independent auditors for the fiscal year [_] [_] [_]
ending February 24, 2001.
(THE DIRECTORS FAVOR A VOTE "FOR")
The Confidential Voting Instruction form represents voting rights in the
following number of equivalent shares of A & P Common Stock as of
May 18, 2000.
SIGNATURE(S): ___________________________________________________________________________ Date: __________________________
NOTE:Please date and sign exactly as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. The full title or capacity of any person
signing for a corporation, partnership, trust or estate should be indicated.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
--------------------------------
WHEN PROXY IS OKAYED PLEASE SIGN
& DATE IT ABOVE
CONFIDENTIAL VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM
THE GREAT ATLANTIC & PACIFIC TEA COMPANY, INC.
SAVINGS PLAN
BANK OF NEW YORK - TRUSTEE
I hereby direct that the voting rights pertaining to shares of The Great
Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. held by the Trustee and allocated to my
account shall be exercised at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company,
to be held on July 11, 2000, and at any adjournment of such meeting, as
specified herein, and if no vote is specified, that such rights be exercised
"FOR" items 1 and 2.
By my signature on the reverse, I hereby acknowledge receipt of the Notice of
the Annual Meeting, the Proxy Statement of the Company dated May 24, 2000, and a
copy of the Annual Report.
Please sign, date and return this form before July 6, 2000. As to matters
coming before the meeting for which no signed direction is received by the
Trustee prior to July 6, 2000, the Trustee may exercise voting rights on your
behalf in such manner as the Trustee may, in its discretion, determine.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN AND DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE, AND RETURN IN THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.
(CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE)
