<PAGE> 1
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14A-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
[X] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission
Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
</TABLE>
Hughes Supply, 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)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date Filed:
<PAGE> 2
HUGHES SUPPLY, INC.
---------------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 20, 1997
---------------------
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
Hughes Supply, Inc., a Florida corporation (the "Company"), will be held in the
principal executive offices of the Company at 20 North Orange Avenue, Suite 200,
Orlando, Florida 32801, on Tuesday, May 20, 1997, at 10:00 a.m., local time, for
the following purposes:
(1) To elect four Directors to serve for a three-year term expiring at
the 2000 Annual Meeting of Shareholders;
(2) To consider and take action upon a proposal to amend the Company's
Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized
shares of Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share ("Common Stock"), from 20
million shares to 100 million shares;
(3) To consider and take action upon a proposal to approve the 1997
Executive Stock Plan; and
(4) To consider and take action upon any other matters that may
properly come before the 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or any
adjournment thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 21, 1997 as
the record date for the determination of the holders of shares of Common Stock
entitled to notice of and to vote at the 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Robert N. Blackford
Secretary
Orlando, Florida
April , 1997
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE MARK, DATE AND SIGN THE
ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE IN ORDER THAT
YOUR SHARES MAY BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING. NO POSTAGE IS NEEDED IF MAILED IN
THE UNITED STATES.
<PAGE> 3
HUGHES SUPPLY, INC.
20 NORTH ORANGE AVENUE
SUITE 200
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32801
---------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
---------------------
The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Hughes Supply,
Inc., a Florida corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the 1997 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to be held in the principal executive offices of the
Company at 20 North Orange Avenue, Suite 200, Orlando, Florida 32801 on May 20,
1997, at 10:00 A.M., local time, or any adjournment thereof (the "Annual
Meeting"). The Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for fiscal year ended
January 31, 1997 accompanies this Proxy Statement. This Proxy Statement and the
accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the enclosed proxy
card were first sent or given to shareholders of the Company on or about April
, 1997.
Holders of record of the Company's Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share
(the "Common Stock"), as of the close of business on March 21, 1997 will be
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, and each holder of record of Common
Stock on such date will be entitled to one vote for each share held. As of March
21, 1997, there were approximately 11,590,873 shares of Common Stock
outstanding.
Shares of Common Stock cannot be voted at the Annual Meeting unless the
beneficial owner is present or represented by proxy. Any shareholder giving a
proxy may revoke it at any time before it is voted by giving written notice of
revocation to the Company, c/o Robert N. Blackford, Secretary, at the address
shown above, or by executing and delivering prior to the Annual Meeting a proxy
bearing a later date. Any shareholder who attends the Annual Meeting may revoke
the proxy by voting his or her shares of Common Stock in person.
All properly executed proxies, unless previously revoked, will be voted at
the Annual Meeting in accordance with the directions given. With respect to the
election of four Directors to serve until the 2000 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, shareholders of the Company voting by proxy may vote in favor of
all nominees, may withhold their vote for all nominees or may withhold their
vote as to any nominee. With respect to the proposal to amend the Company's
Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares
of Common Stock and the proposal to approve the 1997 Executive Stock Plan,
shareholders may vote in favor or against each such proposal or may abstain from
voting with respect to each such proposal. If no specific instructions are
given, shares of Common Stock represented by a properly executed proxy will be
voted FOR all nominees for election as Directors, FOR the proposal to amend the
Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of
authorized shares of Common Stock, FOR the proposal to approve the 1997
Executive Stock Plan and in the discretion of the persons named therein as
proxies on all other matters that may be brought before the Annual Meeting.
A majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock must be represented in
person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting in order to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. Abstentions and non-votes will be counted for purposes
of determining the existence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting. The four
nominees for election as Directors will be elected by the affirmative vote of a
plurality of the shares of Common Stock present in person or by proxy and
actually voting at the Annual Meeting. The affirmative vote of a majority of the
shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the record date for the
Annual Meeting is required for the adoption of the proposal to amend the
Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of
authorized shares of Common Stock. The affirmative vote of a majority of the
quorum present at the Annual Meeting is required for the adoption of the
proposal to approve the 1997 Executive Stock Plan. Abstentions and non-votes
will have no effect on the outcome of the voting to elect the Directors.
However, abstentions and non-votes will have the effect of a vote against the
proposals described above. A non-vote may occur when a nominee holding shares of
Common Stock for a beneficial owner does not vote on a proposal because such
nominee does not have discretionary voting power and has not received
instructions from the beneficial owner.
<PAGE> 4
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth as of March 21, 1997 certain information
with respect to the Common Stock, the only class of voting securities
outstanding, owned beneficially by each Director of the Company, each executive
officer of the Company named in the Summary Compensation Table, and by all
Directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. As of March 21,
1997, the Company did not have any beneficial owners of more than 5% of the
outstanding Common Stock. Stock ownership information has been furnished to the
Company by such beneficial owners or is based upon information contained in
filings made by such beneficial owners with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission").
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT AND NATURE OF APPROXIMATE PERCENT
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP(1) OF CLASS(2)
- ------------------------ ----------------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
David H. Hughes......................... 343,297(3)(4)(5)(6)(7) 2.88%
A. Stewart Hall, Jr..................... 65,476(3)(4) *
Vincent S. Hughes....................... 314,685(3)(4)(5)(6)(7) 2.64%
Russell V. Hughes....................... 209,464(3)(4)(5)(6)(8) 1.76%
John D. Baker II........................ 11,500(9) *
Robert N. Blackford..................... 20,684(9) *
John B. Ellis........................... 29,500(9) *
Clifford M. Hames....................... 23,819(9) *
Herman B. McManaway..................... 29,929(9) *
Donald C. Martin........................ 231,897(4)(9) 1.95%
H. Corbin Day........................... 0(10) *
Jasper L. Holland, Jr................... 30,388(11) *
Clyde E. Hughes III..................... 22,467(12) *
Gradie E. Winstead, Jr.................. 18,025(13) *
All Directors and Executive Officers as
a Group (19 persons).................. 1,275,868(14)(15)(16)(17) 10.72%(18)
</TABLE>
- ---------------
* Less than 1%.
(1) Under the rules of the Commission, a person is deemed to be a beneficial
owner of a security if such person has or shares the power to vote or
direct the voting of such security or the power to dispose of or direct the
disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial
owner of a security if that person has the right to acquire beneficial
ownership within 60 days. Accordingly, more than one person may be deemed
to be a beneficial owner of the same securities. Unless otherwise indicated
by footnote, the named individuals have sole voting and investment power
with respect to the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned.
(2) Calculated on the basis of 11,907,081 shares of Common Stock outstanding as
of March 21, 1997 and, with respect to each of the persons noted in the
table above, the shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days
granted to such person. Figures shown only for those persons whose
beneficial ownership of shares exceeds 1% of the Common Stock outstanding
or deemed to be outstanding for this calculation.
(3) The number of shares of Common Stock shown following the name of each
person identified below in this footnote may be deemed to be beneficially
owned by such person in the above table. The following listing sets forth
the number of shares of Common Stock subject to options held by each of the
following persons under the Hughes Supply, Inc. 1988 Stock Option Plan (the
"1988 Stock Option Plan") which are exercisable within 60 days: David H.
Hughes, 43,500; A Stewart Hall, Jr., 43,500; Vincent S. Hughes, 19,000; and
Russell V. Hughes, 20,000. The aggregate number of shares credited to the
accounts of each such person under the Hughes Supply, Inc. Employee Stock
Ownership Plan (the "ESOP") is as follows: David H. Hughes, 4,306; A.
Stewart Hall, Jr., 2,585; and Vincent S. Hughes, 2,855. The indicated
persons are considered to have sole voting power and shared investment
power with respect to the shares credited to their accounts under the ESOP.
Such persons are also beneficiaries under the Company's Cash or Deferred
Profit Sharing Plan (the "Profit Sharing Plan") which holds
2
<PAGE> 5
30,499 shares of Common Stock as unallocated assets of the Profit Sharing
Plan. Such persons disclaim beneficial ownership of any of the shares held
by the Profit Sharing Plan and none of such shares are included in the
table above as owned by such persons.
(4) The number of shares of Common Stock shown in the above table to be
beneficially owned includes shares held subject to shared voting power or
shared investment power as follows: (i) shared voting power: David H.
Hughes, 129,070; Vincent S. Hughes, 147,033; Russell V. Hughes, 169,017;
and Donald C. Martin, 56,569; (ii) shared investment power: David H.
Hughes, 133,376; A. Stewart Hall, Jr., 2,585; Vincent S. Hughes, 149,888;
Russell V. Hughes, 169,017; and Donald C. Martin, 56,569.
(5) Each of the indicated Directors is an executive officer and director of,
and owns a one-third equity interest in Hughes, Inc., a corporation to
which the Company makes payments for the lease of certain properties. See
"Certain Transactions with Management."
(6) Includes 40,645 shares of Common Stock held by Hughes, Inc., the
corporation described in footnote (5) above. Russell V. Hughes, David H.
Hughes and Vincent S. Hughes are considered to share voting and investment
power with respect to such shares and all such shares are reported in the
table above as beneficially owned by each such person. David H. Hughes and
Vincent S. Hughes are brothers; and Russell V. Hughes is a first cousin of
David H. Hughes and Vincent S. Hughes.
(7) Includes 86,507 shares of Common Stock held by three trusts of which David
H. Hughes and Vincent S. Hughes are co-trustees. All of the shares held by
these trusts are included in the table above as beneficially owned by each
of David H. Hughes and Vincent S. Hughes.
(8) Does not include 21,263 shares of Common Stock owned in a trust by Mr.
Hughes' wife as to which shares Mr. Hughes disclaims beneficial ownership.
(9) Includes the number of shares of Common Stock subject to options granted
under the Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Directors' Plan") for
nonemployee Directors as follows: John D. Baker II, 7,500; Robert N.
Blackford, 7,500; John B. Ellis, 22,500; Clifford M. Hames, 17,450; Herman
B. McManaway, 13,500; and Donald C. Martin, 7,500.
(10) 455,945 shares of Common Stock are owned of record by Jemison Investment
Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Jemison"). Mr. Day is the Chairman of
the Board of Directors of Jemison, and he and members of his immediate
family own an equity interest in Jemison. Mr. Day disclaims beneficial
ownership of these shares.
(11) Includes 2,578 shares of Common Stock held by the ESOP and 24,000 shares of
Common Stock represented by options under the 1988 Stock Option Plan which
are exercisable within 60 days. Mr. Holland is considered to have sole
voting power with respect to 30,388 shares, sole investment power with
respect to 27,810 shares, and shared investment power with respect to 2,578
shares.
(12) Includes 1,932 shares of Common Stock held by the ESOP and 7,000 shares of
Common Stock represented by options under the 1988 Stock Option Plan which
are exercisable within 60 days. Mr. Hughes is considered to have sole
voting power with respect to 18,734 shares, sole investment power with
respect to 16,802 shares, shared investment power with respect to 5,665
shares, and shared voting power with respect to 3,733 shares.
(13) Includes 555 shares of Common Stock held by the ESOP and 16,000 shares of
Common Stock represented by options under the 1988 Stock Option Plan which
are exercisable within 60 days. Mr. Winstead is considered to have sole
voting power with respect to 16,555 shares, sole investment power with
respect to 16,000 shares, shared investment power with respect to 2,025
shares, and shared voting power with respect to 1,470 shares.
(14) Includes 86,507 shares of Common Stock held by three trusts of which David
H. Hughes and Vincent S. Hughes are co-trustees and with respect to which
they share voting and dispositive power, and 40,645 shares of Common Stock
owned by Hughes, Inc., with respect to which David H. Hughes, Vincent S.
Hughes and Russell V. Hughes share voting and dispositive power.
(15) Includes an aggregate of 240,258 shares of Common Stock subject to options
under the 1988 Stock Option Plan exercisable within 60 days held by
Directors and executive officers of the Company as a
3
<PAGE> 6
group and 75,950 shares of Common Stock subject to unexercised stock
options under the Directors' Plan held by nonemployee Directors of the
Company as a group.
(16) Includes an aggregate of 18,204 shares of Common Stock credited to the
accounts of Directors and executive officers of the Company under the ESOP.
(17) Sole voting power with respect to 936,773 shares, shared voting power with
respect to 795,040 shares, sole investment power with respect to 918,569
shares and shared investment power with respect to 813,244 shares.
(18) Calculated on the basis of 11,907,081 shares of Common Stock, including
11,590,873 shares outstanding and 316,208 shares subject to options which
have been deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing such percentage.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), requires the Company's Directors, executive officers and
persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the Common Stock to file with the
Commission initial reports of beneficial ownership and reports of changes in
beneficial ownership of such Common Stock. Directors, executive officers and
beneficial owners of more than 10% of the Common Stock are required by
Commission rules to furnish the Company with copies of all such reports. To the
Company's knowledge, based solely upon a review of the copies of such reports
furnished to the Company and written representations from the Company's
Directors and executive officers that no other reports were required, all
Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to the Company's Directors and
executive officers were complied with during the year ended January 31, 1997.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Executive officers are elected annually by the Board of Directors following
each annual meeting of shareholders to serve for a one-year term and until their
successors are elected and qualified. The compensation of the Company's
executive officers is established by the Board of Directors after receiving the
recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the
"Compensation Committee"). The following sets forth the name of each executive
officer of the Company and the principal positions and offices he holds with the
Company. Unless otherwise indicated, each of these officers has been employed by
the Company or a subsidiary of the Company for more than five years and has
served as an executive officer of the Company for at least five years.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AGE POSITION
- ---- --- --------
<S> <C> <C>
David H. Hughes............................ 53 Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer since November 1986.
A. Stewart Hall, Jr........................ 54 President and Chief Operating Officer since
March 1994. Previously, Mr. Hall served as
Executive Vice President.
Russell V. Hughes.......................... 71 Vice President since February 1971.
Vincent S. Hughes.......................... 56 Vice President since April 1972.
Jasper L. Holland, Jr...................... 55 Regional Vice President since June 1994.
Previously, Mr. Holland served as a Vice
President.
Clyde E. Hughes III........................ 49 Regional Vice President since June 1994.
Previously, Mr. Hughes served as a Regional
Manager.
James C. Plyler, Jr........................ 53 Regional Vice President since February
1996. Previously, Mr. Plyler served as
President of a subsidiary operation.
</TABLE>
4
<PAGE> 7
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Age Position
- ---- --- --------
<S> <C> <C>
Kenneth H. Stephens.................................. 56 Regional Vice President since June 1994. Previously,
Mr. Stephens served as a Vice President.
Sidney J. Strickland, Jr............................. 46 Vice President of Purchasing and Administration since
August 1994. Previously, Mr. Strickland served as
Director of Corporate Services and Director of Human
Resources.
Gradie E. Winstead, Jr............................... 47 Regional Vice President since June 1994. Previously,
Mr. Winstead served as a Regional Manager.
Peter J. Zabaski..................................... 48 Regional Vice President from June 1994 to February
1997. Mr. Zabaski resigned from his position as
Regional Vice President in February 1997. Prior to
June 1994, Mr. Zabaski served as President of a
subsidiary operation.
J. Stephen Zepf...................................... 47 Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer since April
1984.
</TABLE>
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any previous filings
made by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the
Exchange Act that might incorporate future filings, including this Proxy
Statement, in whole or in part, the following Compensation Committee Report on
Executive Compensation and the Shareholder Return Performance Graph shall not be
incorporated by reference into any of such filings.
Introduction
The compensation of the Company's executive officers is established
annually by the Board of Directors acting upon the recommendation of the
Compensation Committee. The members of the Compensation Committee are
nonemployee Directors appointed by the Board of Directors immediately following
each annual meeting of shareholders. Since the 1996 Annual Meeting, the members
consisted of John B. Ellis, John D. Baker II, and Donald C. Martin. During the
last fiscal year, the executive management group consisted of the executive
officers of the Company. The recommendations of the Compensation Committee with
respect to executive management compensation for the last fiscal year were made
by the Compensation Committee and adopted by the Board of Directors on January
25, 1996, and March 12, 1996, respectively.
Compensation Policy and Committee Recommendation
The goal of the Company's executive compensation policy is to attract,
retain and motivate qualified executive management under a competitive
compensation program which regards individual performance and increases
shareholder value. To achieve this goal, the Compensation Committee evaluated
the respective positions, the competitive market for the required management
skills, individual performance and potential, and the potential for motivating
Company and individual performance. Before finalizing its recommendation, the
Compensation Committee also considered the recommendation of the Company's Chief
Executive Officer with respect to the compensation of each of the other
executive officers.
Compensation Program
The main components of the Company's executive management compensation
program are base salaries, annual and long-term performance based incentive
bonus plans, stock plans, and retirement plans. Each of these components is
discussed in the remainder of this report.
Information with respect to the compensation paid to the Company's Chief
Executive Officer and the other four most highly compensated executive officers
of the Company for the last fiscal year and for each of
5
<PAGE> 8
the two previous fiscal years, descriptions of certain of the compensation plans
referred to in this report, and a Shareholder Return Performance Graph
illustrating cumulative share return with respect to the Common Stock are set
forth elsewhere in this Proxy Statement following this report.
Base Salaries
Base salaries are intended to establish a level of compensation which,
together with the other components of the compensation program, will help the
Company attract and retain the talent needed to meet the challenges of the
competitive industry in which it operates while maintaining an acceptable level
of fixed labor costs. The Compensation Committee's recommendation with respect
to base salaries was based upon the Compensation Committee's evaluation of the
responsibility and scope of each position, the level of pay for comparable
positions in the industry and, with respect to each of the executive officers,
his performance over an extended period of time, and the value and potential to
him of other elements of the Company's compensation program.
Annual Incentive Plan
The Company's annual incentive plans are intended to motivate and reward
short-term performance by providing cash bonus payments based upon required
performance goals defined, depending upon the particular plan, as income before
taxes measured against the Company's profit, return on investment, or return on
investment and return on sales. Upon achievement of the required performance
goal, the bonus paid to a participant is determined, depending upon the
particular plan, as a percentage of the base salary of the participant or as the
sum of a percentage of the funds available for the payment of such bonus and a
percentage of the participant's base salary up to a designated maximum
percentage of the participant's base salary. The designation of the annual
incentive plan participants, the definition of the required performance goals,
and the determination of bonuses to be paid upon the achievement of the required
performance goals are established annually by the Board of Directors upon the
recommendation of the Compensation Committee.
With respect to each specific annual incentive plan, the Compensation
Committee recommended ambitious performance goals which are sufficiently
achievable to provide a meaningful incentive for superior performance, and
recommended as participants those executive officers who are in positions most
responsible for the success of the Company. Except for Russell V. Hughes, each
of the executive officers was recommended by the Compensation Committee and
designated by the Board of Directors as a participant in a specific annual
incentive plan during the last fiscal year.
Long-Term Incentive Bonus Plans
The Company's Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chief Financial
Officer also participate in certain Senior Executives' Long-Term Incentive Bonus
Plans which are intended to motivate and reward sustained performance. Under
each of these plans an incentive bonus is paid if a designated earnings per
share goal is met during the designated performance period of three or more
fiscal years. Such incentive bonus payments, in each case, are determined by
applying a percentage, based upon achievement, of the applicable earnings per
share goals, to the base salaries of the participants.
During the last fiscal year, the Board of Directors, upon the
recommendation of the Long-Term Incentive Bonus Plan Committee, adopted a
performance plan under the Senior Executives' Long-Term Incentive Bonus Plan for
the three fiscal year periods up to and including the Company's fiscal year to
be ended January 29, 1999. Under this performance plan each participant would
receive a bonus equal to a percentage of his base salary for the final year of
the performance period if, and to the extent, the Company's earnings per share
during the performance period reach or exceed the required goal. Any such bonus
would be payable in cash and Common Stock. During the last fiscal year the
designated officers also participated in similar senior executives' long-term
incentive plans adopted in previous fiscal years.
6
<PAGE> 9
Stock Plans
The Company's stock plans in the executive compensation program, including
the 1988 Stock Option Plan and the ESOP, are intended as incentives to enhance
shareholder values by providing to plan participants an opportunity to benefit
from increases in the value of the Common Stock.
Participation under the 1988 Stock Option Plan is limited to executive
officers and other selected key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries.
The Company granted an aggregate of 100,000 options under the 1988 Stock Option
Plan on March 12, 1996.
Retirement Plans
The retirement plans in the Company's executive compensation program,
including the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the "Retirement Plan") and
the Profit Sharing Plans are intended to encourage and reward long-term
employment with the Company.
The Retirement Plan was adopted on September 30, 1986. Eleven of the
executive officers, all of those who were fifty-five years of age or younger on
the date of adoption of the Retirement Plan, are participants under the
Retirement Plan.
The Profit Sharing Plan is a contributory plan for the benefit of
substantially all employees of the Company. Each of the executive officers is a
participant under the Profit Sharing Plan. Participants may make limited
contributions under the Profit Sharing Plan by salary reduction. Contributions
by the Company under the Profit Sharing Plan include those required to match a
portion of a participant's contribution and may include limited additional
contributions within the discretion of the Board of Directors. The Company's
discretionary contribution to the Profit Sharing Plan for the last fiscal year
is allocated among the participants based upon the relative salaries of the
participants.
Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer
Mr. David H. Hughes, the Company's Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer, is eligible to participate in the same components of the
executive officers' compensation program available to the other executive
officers described above, and the recommendation of the Compensation Committee
with respect to Mr. Hughes' compensation was determined in the manner outlined
above with respect to the executive officers. During the last fiscal year the
Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board of Directors approved and
implemented, an increase in Mr. Hughes' base salary from $240,000 to $255,000 in
order to compensate him in a manner more consistent with his responsibilities.
The Compensation Committee believes that Mr. Hughes' base salary is conservative
in comparison to his peers in the industry. For the last fiscal year Mr. Hughes'
annual compensation was $382,500, including a bonus of $127,500 earned under the
annual incentive plan. Mr. Hughes also earned a bonus payment under the Senior
Executives' Long-Term Incentive Bonus Plan for the three fiscal year performance
period ended January 31, 1997.
Conclusion
The Compensation Committee believes that the policies articulated above
will continue to ensure that the interests of the Company's executive management
group are tied to the interests of the Company's shareholders.
Submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
John B. Ellis, Chairman
John D. Baker II
Donald C. Martin
7
<PAGE> 10
SUMMARY OF CASH AND CERTAIN OTHER COMPENSATION
The Company's compensation program for executive management includes base
salaries, annual and long-term performance based incentive bonus plans, stock
plans, and retirement plans. The compensation of each executive officer was
established by the Board of Directors acting upon the recommendation of the
Compensation Committee. With respect to each executive officer, base salary and
selected other components of the compensation package are integrated on an
individual basis in an effort to carry out the Company's executive compensation
policy.
The following table sets forth the annual, long-term and other compensation
for the Company's Chief Executive Officer and each of the other four most highly
compensated executed officers (the "named executives") during the last fiscal
year, as well as the total annual compensation paid to each individual for the
two previous fiscal years.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL LONG-TERM
COMPENSATION COMPENSATION
----------------- ------------
NAME AND FISCAL SALARY BONUS LTIP PAYOUTS ALL OTHER
PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR ($) ($) ($) COMPENSATION($)(1)
- ------------------------------------- ------ ------- ------- ------------ ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
David H. Hughes...................... 1997 255,000 127,500 255,000(2) 8,746
Chairman of the Board and Chief 1996 240,000 120,000 240,000(3)
Executive Officer 1995 210,000 105,000 0
A. Stewart Hall, Jr.................. 1997 210,000 105,000 210,000(2) 8,979
President and Chief Operating
Officer 1996 200,000 100,000 200,000(3)
1995 180,000 90,000 0
Clyde E. Hughes III.................. 1997 133,000 133,000 0 8,259
Regional Vice President 1996 126,500 100,004 0
1995 115,000 69,000 0
Jasper L. Holland, Jr................ 1997 139,000 116,675 0 9,279
Regional Vice President 1996 132,000 72,939 0
1995 120,000 72,000 0
Gradie E. Winstead, Jr............... 1997 126,000 126,000 0 8,039
Regional Vice President 1996 120,000 108,963 0
1995 100,000 60,000 0
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Includes the amounts indicated below for the 1997 fiscal year: (i) the cost
of premiums paid by the Company for life insurance provided to the named
executive; (ii) matching contributions made to the accounts of the named
executive in the Profit Sharing Plan; and (iii) Company discretionary
contributions to the Profit Sharing Plan.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INSURANCE MATCHING DISCRETIONARY
EXECUTIVE PREMIUM CONTRIBUTION CONTRIBUTION(4)
- --------- --------- ------------ ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
David H. Hughes................................ $1,584 $2,250 $4,912
A. Stewart Hall, Jr............................ 1,817 2,250 4,912
Clyde E. Hughes III............................ 1,097 2,250 4,912
Jasper L. Holland, Jr.......................... 2,117 2,250 4,912
Gradie E. Winstead, Jr......................... 877 2,250 4,912
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(2) Bonus payments under the Senior Executives' Long-Term Incentive Bonus Plan
for the three fiscal year performance period ended January 31, 1997.
(3) Bonus payments under the Senior Executives' Long-Term Incentive Bonus Plan
for the three fiscal year performance period ended January 26, 1996.
8
<PAGE> 11
(4) Contribution estimated as named person's pro rata plan interest, as last
calculated by the plan trustee, applied to the Company's aggregate
contribution of $600,000 for the year ended January 31, 1997.
BONUS PLANS
The Company has annual incentive plans for members of its executive
management, and for its sales, branch and department managers and other key
employees. Bonuses are awarded under the annual incentive plans upon achievement
of required performance goals by applying the percentage provided for under such
plans to the base salaries of members of its executive management. Individual
bonuses may also be awarded to executive management and other key employees by
the Board of Directors based upon job performance or other criteria within the
discretion of the Board of Directors.
The Company also has long-term performance based incentive bonus plans to
provide incentive compensation to reward selected key senior executives for
achieving specified Company performance goals. The Chief Executive Officer, the
President, and the Chief Financial Officer are the selected participants in the
Senior Executives' Long-Term Incentive Bonus Plans for fiscal years 1997, 1998
and 1999. Each of these plans is a performance plan providing for the payment of
an incentive bonus at the end of the three fiscal year performance period if the
Company's earnings per share criteria in the plan are met.
The Senior Executives' Long-Term Incentive Bonus Plans for fiscal years
1997, 1998 and 1999 were adopted by the Board of Directors on May 24, 1994,
March 15, 1995 and March 12, 1996, respectively and were incorporated into the
Senior Executives' Long-Term Incentive Bonus Plan approved by the shareholders
at the 1994 Annual Meeting. Each such plan provides for payments based upon
cumulative growth in the Company's earnings per share during the three fiscal
year performance periods ending with January 31, 1997, January 30, 1998, and
January 29, 1999, respectively. Under each of the plans, the participants would
receive a bonus of from 25% to 100% of base salary for the final year of the
performance period if the Company achieves the required earnings per share for
such performance period. Any bonus earned would be paid in equal portions of
cash and shares of Common Stock of the Company at the fair market value on the
final day of the applicable performance period. Under the Senior Executives'
Long-Term Incentive Bonus Plan for the three fiscal year performance period
ending January 31, 1997, the Company achieved the earnings required for the
payment of bonuses equal to 100% of the base salary for each participant. The
payouts under such plan aggregated $585,000 and, in accordance with the plan,
were paid one half in cash and one half in shares of Common Stock of the Company
valued on the fair market value of the stock on the last day of the 1997 fiscal
year.
The following table provides information concerning estimated future
payouts to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the only other participant
among the Company's other four most highly compensated executive officers under
the Senior Executives' Long-Term Incentive Bonus Plan for fiscal year 1999. If
fully diluted earnings per share falls between the minimum earnings requirement
for a bonus payment and the earnings requirement for the maximum permissible
bonus payment, the amount of the bonus payment is prorated between the minimum
("threshold") bonus payment and the maximum permissible bonus payment.
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS-AWARDS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ESTIMATED FUTURE
PAYOUTS UNDER NON-
STOCK PRICE-BASED
PERFORMANCE OR PLANS(1)
NUMBER OF OTHER PERIOD -------------------
RIGHTS UNTIL MATURATION THRESHOLD MAXIMUM
NAME (#) OR PAYOUT ($) ($)
- ---- --------- ---------------- --------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
David H. Hughes................................... 1 3 years 75,816 303,264
A. Stewart Hall, Jr............................... 1 3 years 65,610 262,440
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Based on estimated base salary levels for final year of performance period.
If earnings per share fall between the amount required for a threshold bonus
payment and the amount required for the maximum permissible bonus payment,
the amount of the bonus payment is prorated accordingly.
9
<PAGE> 12
Under the Senior Executives' Long-Term Incentive Bonus Plan, as amended
January 25, 1996, the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, may
establish separate performance plans and designate the performance periods,
goals, participants, and bonus payments to be made under such plans if the
required performance goals are achieved.
1988 STOCK OPTION PLAN
The 1988 Stock Option Plan presently authorizes the granting of options, in
addition to those presently outstanding, for the purchase of up to 516,519
shares of Common Stock to key executive, management, and sales employees. Under
the 1988 Stock Option Plan, options may be granted at prices not less than
market value on the date of grant, but prices for incentive stock options
granted to employees who own more than 10% of the Common Stock must be granted
at least 110% of such market value. Options may be granted from time to time
through May 1998. Such options may be exercisable for up to 10 years from the
date of grant, except in the case of employees owning more than 10% of the
Common Stock, for whom incentive stock options may be exercisable only up to 5
years from the date of grant. The 1988 Stock Option Plan permits the granting of
both incentive stock options and other stock options and the granting of options
with cash surrender rights comparable to stock appreciation rights ("SARs"). No
options other than incentive stock options have been granted under the 1988
Stock Option Plan nor have any options been granted with SARs. Under the terms
of the 1988 Stock Option Plan, as amended March 12, 1996, the 1988 Stock Option
Plan Committee of the Board of Directors has the authority, solely within its
discretion, to determine the terms of and to make grants of any additional
options under the 1988 Stock Option Plan. The 1988 Stock Option Plan Committee
granted an aggregate of 100,000 options on March 12, 1996.
The following table summarizes options exercised during the fiscal year
ended January 31, 1997 and presents the value of unexercised options held by the
named executives at fiscal year end.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR AND
FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SECURITIES
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
OPTIONS AT IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
SHARES JANUARY 31, 1997(#) AT JANUARY 31, 1997($)
ACQUIRED ON VALUE --------------------------- ---------------------------
NAME EXERCISE(#) REALIZED($) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
- ---- ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
David H. Hughes............. 0 0 43,500 9,000 641,438 252,000
A. Stewart Hall, Jr......... 0 0 43,500 9,000 641,438 252,000
Clyde E. Hughes III......... 3,000 66,375 7,000 4,000 134,125 81,000
Jasper L. Holland, Jr....... 0 0 24,000 6,000 364,500 168,000
Gradie E. Winstead, Jr...... 0 0 16,000 4,000 247,750 81,000
</TABLE>
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
The ESOP covers employees of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries
who have attained the age of 21 and completed at least 12 months of service.
SunTrust Banks, Inc. is trustee of the ESOP. The ESOP is administered by an
administrative committee appointed by the Company's Board of Directors.
Contributions by the Company, which may consist of cash, stock of the Company,
or other property acceptable to the trustee, are made at the discretion of the
Company's Board of Directors, but may not exceed the maximum amount deductible
for federal income tax purposes. Allocations of contributions are made to the
accounts of active participants on the basis of their compensation. Vested
percentages of their accounts (valued in accordance with the ESOP) are
distributed to participants upon termination of employment. Vested percentages
are based upon periods of service as follows: less than 3 years, 0%; 3 years,
20%; 4 years, 40%; 5 years, 60%; 6 years, 80%; 7 years or more, 100%. No
contribution was made by the Company to the ESOP for the fiscal year ended
January 31, 1997.
10
<PAGE> 13
SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN
The Company has Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Agreements with
certain of its executive officers providing for the payment by the Company of
supplemental retirement compensation in addition to any compensation paid under
the Company's other benefit programs. The Company is obligated to pay
supplemental retirement compensation, pursuant to the Supplemental Retirement
Plan Agreements, to each of such officers (i) after retirement of such executive
officer from the service of the Company, or (ii) upon such officer's total
disability while in the employ of the Company, provided such disability
continues until the executive officer's normal retirement date. Supplemental
retirement compensation will be based upon the salary portion of such executive
officer's annual compensation (not including any bonus or other compensation)
for the final year of employment prior to retirement, or for the final year of
employment prior to the disability preceding disability retirement, as the case
may be, ("final salary"), and will be payable monthly following such retirement
for a period of 15 years. The rate per annum of supplemental retirement
compensation in the case of retirement or disability retirement at age 65 shall
be equal to 35% of final salary or, in the case of early retirement or early
disability retirement with the approval of the Company prior to age 65 but not
earlier than age 55 shall be reduced proportionately to from 96% of 35% of final
salary upon retirement at age 64 to 60% of 35% of final salary upon retirement
at age 55. Death benefits are payable under each of the agreements in the event
of death while employed by the Company but prior to disability retirement. Death
benefits are payable monthly for a period of 10 years after death at the rate
per annum equal to 35% of final base salary. Benefits under the Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plan Agreements are totally nonvested, unfunded retirement
and death benefits.
CASH OR DEFERRED PROFIT SHARING PLAN
The Profit Sharing Plan is for the benefit of substantially all employees
of the Company and its subsidiaries. SunTrust Banks, Inc. is trustee of the
Profit Sharing Plan. The Profit Sharing Plan is administered by an
administrative committee appointed by the Company's Board of Directors. Eligible
employees may contribute to the Profit Sharing Plan by salary reduction, and
before imposing federal income taxes, from 2% to 15% of their cash compensation
up to a maximum of $7,000 per year as adjusted for inflation ($9,500 for 1997).
On employee contributions of up to 3% of the employee's cash compensation, the
Company will contribute a matching contribution of 50% of the employee's
contribution. Additional discretionary contributions by the Company, which may
be either a fixed dollar amount of a percentage of profits, may be made to the
Profit Sharing Plan at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors, but
all employee and Company contributions may not exceed the maximum amount
deductible for federal income tax purposes. Allocations of discretionary Company
contributions are made to the accounts of active participants on the basis of
their compensation. The full amounts credited to their accounts (valued in
accordance with the Profit Sharing Plan) are distributed to participants upon
their death or retirement. For participants who cease to be employees prior to
death or retirement, the amounts distributed are 100% of the participant's
contribution account and the vested percentage of the participant's Company
contribution account based upon the participant's period of service as follows:
less than 3 years, 0%; 3 years, 20%; 4 years, 40%; 5 years, 60%; 6 years, 80%; 7
years or more, 100%. For the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997, all
contributions by the Company to the Profit Sharing Plan were made to match
contributions by employees and a contribution of $600,000 was made by the
Company to the Profit Sharing Plan for the period.
OTHER BENEFITS
The Company provides $250,000 life insurance policies for its executive
officers, and $100,000 life insurance policies for other key employees.
CASH COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Nonemployee Directors of the Company receive an annual retainer of $15,000
and attendance fees of $1,000 for each Board meeting attended in person or $250
for each Board meeting attended by telephone conference. For each meeting of a
committee of the Board of Directors such nonemployee Directors receive an
attendance fee of $500 for attendance in person or $250 for attendance by
telephone conference. Directors
11
<PAGE> 14
who are employees of the Company do not receive directors' or committee members'
fees. John D. Baker II, Robert N. Blackford, John B. Ellis, Clifford M. Hames,
Herman B. McManaway and Donald C. Martin served as nonemployee Directors and
received nonemployee Director's fees during the fiscal year ended January 31,
1997. H. Corbin Day's nonemployee Director's fees were prorated to reflect his
abbreviated term as a member of the Company's Board of Directors during the
fiscal year ended January 31, 1997.
DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
Each of the nonemployee Directors is a participant in the Directors' Plan.
Under the Directors' Plan, options for the purchase of Common Stock are granted
to the participants on the date of each annual meeting of the Board of Directors
following each annual meeting of the shareholders. Under the Directors' Plan
approved by the shareholders in 1989, options with respect to an aggregate of
12,000 shares, equally divided among the then participants, were granted to the
participants in each of the years 1989 through 1993. The Directors' Plan was
amended with shareholder approval in 1994 to provide for the granting of options
with respect to an aggregate of 15,000 shares, equally divided among the then
participants in each of the years 1994 through 1998. Options granted under the
Directors' Plan are granted for the purchase of shares at a purchase price of
100% of the current market value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant
and expire 10 years after the date of the grant or earlier in the event of
termination of service as nonemployee Director or under the circumstances set
forth in the Directors' Plan. Such options are not incentive stock options
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the
"Code"). During the last fiscal year, options with respect to an aggregate of
15,000 shares, divided equally between the six nonemployee Directors (who served
as Directors for the entire fiscal year), were granted at a purchase price of
$38.50 per share.
The following table sets forth the aggregate numbers of shares of Common
Stock subject to stock options granted and outstanding as of March 21, 1997
under the Directors' Plan to the named participants and to all such participants
as a group, the average per share exercise prices applicable to such shares, and
the net values (market value less exercise price) for such shares realized
during the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AGGREGATE NUMBER OF
SHARES SUBJECT NET VALUE REALIZED
TO OPTIONS DURING FISCAL YEAR
AT AVERAGE PER SHARE ENDED
NAME JANUARY 31, 1997(#) EXERCISE PRICE($) JANUARY 31, 1997($)
- ---- ---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
John D. Baker II..................... 7,500 27.71 0
Robert N. Blackford.................. 7,500 27.71 352,000
H. Corbin Day........................ 0 0 0
John B. Ellis........................ 22,500 19.04 0
Clifford M. Hames.................... 17,450 21.00 119,288
Donald C. Martin..................... 7,500 27.71 0
Herman B. McManaway.................. 13,500 21.81 70,125
All Participants as a Group (7
persons)........................... 75,950 22.55 541,413
</TABLE>
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION IN COMPENSATION
DECISIONS
Donald C. Martin, a nonemployee Director member of the Compensation
Committee, provides consulting services to the Company under a consulting
agreement and leases property under a lease agreement with the Company.
Information with respect to the consulting agreement and the lease agreement is
set forth under "Certain Transactions with Management" in this Proxy Statement.
As indicated in the Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation
set forth elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, David H. Hughes, the Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, consulted with the
Compensation Committee with respect to the compensation of the executive
management group and submitted to the Compensation Committee his recommendation
for compensation of the other members of the group. Mr. Hughes, who is not a
member of the Compensation Committee, consulted with the Compensation Committee
and provided his recommendation at the Compensation Committee's request.
12
<PAGE> 15
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT
The Company and certain of its subsidiaries lease certain buildings and
properties from Hughes, Inc., a company of which David H. Hughes, Vincent S.
Hughes, and Russell V. Hughes are the officers and directors, and in which each
owns a one-third interest. During the last fiscal year 16 such leases were in
effect with respect to 15 locations in Florida and one location in Georgia. Each
lease was entered into on or prior to March 11, 1992 and most of such leases
will expire on or after March 31, 1998. Such leases typically relate to branch
facilities including buildings ranging in size from approximately 15,000 to
45,000 square feet together with outside parking and storage areas ranging in
size from approximately 35,000 square feet to several acres. The two largest
buildings leased from Hughes, Inc. were the Orlando Electric sales branch
facility which is approximately 108,000 square feet and the Orlando Plumbing
sales branch facility which is approximately 64,000 square feet.
Under leases in effect during the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997, the
Company and its subsidiaries made rental payments to Hughes, Inc. aggregating
$1,193,343. The Company also pays real estate taxes, building insurance and
repairs, other than structural repairs, with respect to the leased properties.
During the last fiscal year the Company paid real estate taxes and building
insurance on the leased properties of $158,934 and $19,096, respectively.
Maintenance repairs paid by the Company during the last fiscal year were not
substantial and were, in the opinion of management, normal for the types of
properties leased.
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997, the Company and its
subsidiaries also made rental payments to Hughes, Inc. of approximately $118,733
for the use of an aircraft belonging to Hughes, Inc.
Donald C. Martin, a member of the Board of Directors, is a party to a
consulting agreement and two lease agreements with the Company entered into
under the terms of an acquisition agreement, dated June 30, 1993, between Mr.
Martin and the remaining stockholders of Electrical Distributors, Inc. ("EDI"),
pursuant to which EDI was acquired by the Company. Under the consulting
agreement, Mr. Martin has provided and will continue to provide consulting
services to the Company for a five year period, which began July 1, 1993, for
annual compensation of $50,000, the amount paid to him during the last fiscal
year. The lease agreements between Mr. Martin and the Company relate to two
buildings in Atlanta, Georgia, both of which are occupied by a branch facility
of the Company. One lease, which expires June 30, 1998, relates to an
approximately 32,780 square foot building with approximately 60,000 square feet
of outside parking and storage space. The second lease, which was executed July
1, 1996 for a term expiring June 30, 1998, relates to an approximately 22,400
square foot building with approximately 30,000 square feet of outside parking
and storage space. During the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997, the Company
made rental payments to Mr. Martin aggregating $200,925. The Company also pays
real estate taxes, building insurance and repairs, other than structural
repairs, with respect to the leased properties. During the last fiscal year the
Company paid real estate taxes and building insurance on the leased properties
of $22,525 and $3,564, respectively. Maintenance repairs which were paid for by
the Company during the last fiscal year were not substantial and were, in the
opinion of management, normal for the types of properties leased.
Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, dated May 13, 1996, by and among the
Company, Jemison, PVF Holdings, Inc. ("PVF"), Southwest Stainless, Inc.
("Southwest"), Multalloy, Inc., a New Jersey corporation ("Multalloy NJ"),
Multalloy, Inc., a Texas corporation ("Multalloy Tx"), and Houston Products &
Machine, Inc., ("HPP") (Southwest, Multalloy NJ, Multalloy Tx and HPM are
collectively referred to herein as the "Sellers"), the Company acquired
substantially all of the assets of the Sellers and assumed certain liabilities
(the "PVF Acquisition"). The aggregate base consideration paid in the PVF
Acquisition was approximately $99 million, consisting of cash in the amount of
$44.4 million, the issuance of the seller note in the amount of $30 million, the
issuance of 669,956 shares of Common Stock, with an agreed aggregate value of
approximately $18,600,000, and the assumption of $6.5 million of bank debt. In
addition, cash in the amount of $7.5 million was issued to Jemison as an
adjustment to the base price paid by the Company on the closing date. H. Corbin
Day, a member of the Board of Directors, is the Chairman of the Board of
Directors of Jemison, and he and members of his immediate family own an equity
interest in Jemison. Prior to the closing of the PVF Acquisition, Jemison was a
shareholder of PVF, the sole shareholder of the Sellers. Subsequent to the
closing, the Sellers were liquidated into PVF, and PVF was thereafter liquidated
into Jemison, at which time Jemison succeeded to the ownership of the Company's
Common Stock previously owned by PVF.
13
<PAGE> 16
The Company leases certain buildings and properties from SWS-TX Realty,
Inc. ("SWS-TX Realty"), Jem-Realty, LLC ("Jem-Realty"), and SWS-GA Realty, Inc.
("SWS-GA Realty"). Mr. Day is the sole shareholder of SWS-TX Realty and SWS-GA
Realty, and Jem-Realty is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jemison.
During the last fiscal year, 6 such leases were in effect with respect to 4
locations in Texas, one location in Georgia, and one location in North Carolina.
All of the leases were entered into on May 13, 1996. All of the leases will
expire on May 12, 1999, except for one lease which will expire on May 12, 1997.
Each lease typically relates to branch facilities ranging in size from
approximately 15,000 to 44,500 square feet, together with outside storage and
parking.
Under leases in effect during the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997, the
Company made rental payments to SWS-TX Realty, Jem-Realty, and SWS-GA Realty,
aggregating $569,969. During the last fiscal year, the Company paid real estate
taxes in respect of the leased properties. The Company also pays for repairs,
other than structural repairs, with respect to the leased properties.
Maintenance repairs paid by the Company during the last fiscal year were not
substantial and were, in the opinion of management, normal for the types of
properties leased.
Certain of the Company's subsidiaries occupy buildings and properties
leased from Union Warehouse & Realty Co. ("Union") and Monoca Realty Co.
("Monoca"), entities in which James C. Plyler, Jr., a Vice President of the
Company, and members of his immediate family own an equity interest. Mr. Plyler
owns a 12.35% equity interest in Union and members of his immediate family own
the remaining equity interest. Monoca is a general partnership in which Mr.
Plyler owns a 25% equity interest and members of his immediate family own an
additional 50% equity interest.
During the last fiscal year 13 such leases were in effect with respect to 8
locations in North Carolina and 5 locations in South Carolina. Most of these
leases were entered into prior to February 1, 1996 when Mr. Plyler became a Vice
President of the Company. Most of the leases will expire on February 1, 1998.
Each lease typically relates to branch facilities, including buildings ranging
in size from approximately 10,000 to 49,000 square feet together with outside
parking and storage areas ranging in size from approximately 25,000 to 75,000
square feet.
Under leases in effect during the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997,
subsidiaries of the Company made rental payments to Union and Monoca aggregating
$674,280. During the last fiscal year the Company paid real estate taxes of
$53,134. The subsidiaries also pay for repairs, other than structural repairs,
with respect to the leased properties. Maintenance repairs which were paid for
by the subsidiaries during the last fiscal year were not substantial and were,
in the opinion of management, normal for the types of properties leased.
A subsidiary of the Company occupies an approximately 8,200 square foot
building with approximately 10,000 square feet of outside parking and storage
space in Clarksville, Tennessee under a 3 year lease with Peter J. Zabaski,
formerly a Regional Vice President of the Company. Under the lease, which was
executed on February 1, 1995 for a 3 year term commencing on that date, the
subsidiary pays annual rent of $27,600 and real estate taxes, building insurance
and repairs other than structural repairs. During the last fiscal year the
Company paid real estate taxes and building insurance of $2,273 and $272,
respectively. Maintenance repairs which were paid for by the Company during the
last fiscal year were not substantial and were, in the opinion of management,
normal for the types of properties leased.
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997, the Company purchased
approximately $496,104 worth of merchandise from Jasper Enterprises, Inc.
("Jasper Enterprises"). Jasper Enterprises sells promotional and other marketing
related items. Diane E. Holland, wife of Jasper L. Holland, Jr., a Regional Vice
President of the Company, is the sole shareholder of Jasper Enterprises. As of
January 31, 1997, the Company was indebted to Jasper Enterprises for
approximately $27,305.
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997, the Company made payments of
approximately $300,000 to Travel Concepts travel agency for services provided.
Tara Winstead, the wife of Gradie E. Winstead, a Regional Vice President of the
Company, owns a 100% equity interest in Travel Concepts.
The Company believes that the terms of the transactions described above are
at least as favorable to the Company as those which could have been obtained
form unrelated parties.
Robert N. Blackford, Secretary and a Director of the Company, is a member
of the law firm of Maguire, Voorhis & Wells, P.A., which served as counsel to
the Company during the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997.
14
<PAGE> 17
SHAREHOLDER RETURN PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares during the five year period ended January 31,
1997, the yearly percentage change in the cumulative total shareholder return on
the Company's Common Stock with the cumulative total return of the S&P SmallCap
600 and the cumulative total return of an industry group consisting of those
peer group companies identified in the graph which have been selected by the
Company as reporting companies whose lines of business are comparable to those
of the Company.
The Company's previous peer group consisted of only four companies each of
which operated entirely in the construction industry and all of which could be
characterized as "small cap" stocks. Two of the companies were acquired by the
Company over the last two years. As a result, the Company has expanded its peer
group to include three industrial distribution companies (A.M. Castle & Co.,
W.W. Grainger, Inc., and Lawson Products, Inc.) and added four other companies
involved in construction activity. The Company believes its new larger peer
group more adequately reflects the composition of its market areas (industrial
and construction) and therefore should be a more reliable gauge to measure the
Company's stock performance.
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
AMONG HUGHES SUPPLY, INC., THE S&P SMALLCAP 600 INDEX,
A NEW PEER GROUP AND AN OLD PEER GROUP
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MEASUREMENT PERIOD HUGHES SUPPLY, S&P SMALLCAP NEW PEER OLD PEER
(FISCAL YEAR COVERED) INC. 600 GROUP GROUP
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
JAN 1992 100 100 100 100
JAN 1993 118 117 116 170
JAN 1994 208 139 137 219
JAN 1995 153 125 115 202
JAN 1996 250 166 147 351
JAN 1997 304 204 189 563
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INDUSTRY PEER GROUP
-------------------
<S> <C>
* $100 INVESTED ON 1/31/92 IN STOCK OR INDEX A.M. Castle & Co.
INCLUDING REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS. FISCAL BMC West Corporation
YEAR ENDING JANUARY 31. Florida Rock Industries, Inc.
Lawson Products, Inc.
Lennar Corporation
Noland Company
Rexel, Inc.
Sentex Corp.
United States Filter Corporation
Watsco Inc.
W.W. Grainger Inc.
</TABLE>
15
<PAGE> 18
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS' MEETINGS AND ATTENDANCE
During the last fiscal year, the Board of Directors of the Company held a
total of seven meetings. No member of the Board of Directors attended fewer than
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 of Directors on which he served.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of the Company has standing Executive, Audit,
Compensation, 1988 Stock Option Plan, Long-Term Incentive Plan, and Directors'
Stock Option Plan Committees. The memberships of the standing committees of the
Board of Directors are listed in the Directors' biographies set forth below
under "Election of Directors." The Company does not have a nominating committee.
The Executive Committee met once during the last fiscal year to establish
the offering price for the Company's May 1996 Offering. The Executive Committee
has authority to act on matters of general corporate governance when the Board
of Directors is not in session.
The Audit Committee met two times during the last fiscal year. At its
meetings, the Audit Committee considered the recommendations of the Company's
independent auditors with respect to internal accounting controls, reviewed
management's actions taken in response to such recommendations, reviewed the
reports of the Company's internal audit staff with respect to internal controls,
and reviewed the professional services provided by the independent auditors
together with the range of audit and nonaudit fees.
The Compensation Committee met two times during the last fiscal year and
reviewed and made recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to the
compensation of members of the Company's executive management group. Information
with respect to the Compensation Committee's recommendation for the last fiscal
year is set forth elsewhere in this Proxy Statement under "Compensation
Committee Report on Executive Compensation."
The 1988 Stock Option Plan Committee met two times during the last fiscal
year to interpret the provisions of certain outstanding options and to grant
options. The authority of the 1988 Stock Option Plan Committee to interpret the
1988 Stock Option Plan and make recommendations to the Board of Directors
concerning the granting of options was expanded by an amendment to the 1988
Stock Option Plan on March 12, 1996. The amendment granted the 1988 Stock Option
Plan Committee the additional authority to exercise, solely within the
discretion of the 1988 Stock Option Plan Committee, the authority of the Board
of Directors to determine the times of and to make the grant of options under
the 1988 Stock Option Plan.
The Long-Term Incentive Plan Committee met once during the last fiscal year
to approve pay-out on the fiscal 1996 plan and to set targets for the fiscal
1999 plan. The Long-Term Incentive Plan Committee was established on January 25,
1996, pursuant to an amendment to the Senior Executives' Long-Term Incentive
Plan, to administer the plan and any separate performance plans adopted
thereunder. It is the duty of the Long-Term Incentive Plan Committee to
interpret the plan and to establish and administer separate performance plans
under the plan, including the designation of applicable performance periods, the
selection of participants, the establishment and application of performance
goals and the determination of performance bonus payments under such plans.
The Directors' Stock Option Plan Committee has the authority to interpret
the provisions of the Directors' Plan. The Directors' Stock Option Plan
Committee did not meet during the last fiscal year.
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CERTAIN DIRECTORS
The following family relationships exist between Directors of the Company:
David H. Hughes and Vincent S. Hughes are brothers; and Russell V. Hughes
is a first cousin of David H. Hughes and Vincent S. Hughes.
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ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
(PROPOSAL ONE)
The Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that
the Board of Directors of the Company shall be divided into three approximately
equal classes of Directors. The Company's Board of Directors is currently
comprised of eleven Directors, two classes consisting of four Directors each and
one class consisting of three Directors. Each Director is elected for a
three-year term, with one class of Directors being elected at each annual
meeting of shareholders.
The Board of Directors has nominated Robert N. Blackford, A. Stewart Hall,
Jr., H. Corbin Day and Donald C. Martin for election as Directors at the Annual
Meeting. All nominees currently are members of the Board of Directors and have
consented to serve as Directors if elected. Each of the Directors elected at the
Annual Meeting (and any Director subsequently appointed to fill the existing
vacancy) will serve until the 2000 Annual Meeting and until the election and
qualification of his successor or until his earlier death, resignation or
removal.
It is the intention of the persons named as proxies to vote the proxies FOR
the election to the Board of Directors of the four nominees named above, unless
a shareholder directs otherwise. In the event that a vacancy (which is not
anticipated) arises among the nominees prior to the Annual Meeting, the proxy
will be voted for the remaining nominees and may be voted for a substitute
nominee designated by the Board of Directors.
The affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of
Common Stock will be required to elect each of the nominees as a Director of the
Company for the ensuing year. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no
effect on the outcome of the voting to elect the Directors.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES
NAMED IN THIS PROPOSAL.
Set forth below is information concerning the nominees for Directors to be
elected at the Annual Meeting for a three-year term expiring at the 2000 Annual
Meeting, as well as certain information concerning the Directors whose terms
extend beyond the Annual Meeting.
DIRECTORS TO BE ELECTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING
Set forth below with respect to each nominee is his name, age, principal
occupation and business experience for the past five years and length of service
as a Director.
ROBERT N. BLACKFORD
AGE: 60
Mr. Blackford has served as the Company's Secretary since February 1974,
and as a Director since December 1970. Mr. Blackford also serves as a member of
the Company's Executive, Directors' Stock Option Plan and Audit Committees. Mr.
Blackford is an attorney with the firm of Maguire, Voorhis & Wells, P.A., in
Orlando, Florida, where he has practiced since 1968.
H. CORBIN DAY
AGE: 59
Mr. Day has served as a Director of the Company since October 1996. Mr. Day
currently serves as Chairman of Jemison. Mr. Day also serves as a director of
American Heritage Life Insurance and Blount International, Inc.
A. STEWART HALL, JR.
AGE: 54
Mr. Hall has served as the Company's President, Chief Operating Officer and
a Director since March 1994. Mr. Hall also serves as a member of the Company's
Executive Committee. Mr. Hall served as the Company's Executive Vice President
from January 1988 to March 1994.
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DONALD C. MARTIN
AGE: 60
Mr. Martin has been a Director of the Company since August 1993. Mr. Martin
serves as a member of the Company's Compensation, 1988 Stock Option Plan and
Long-Term Incentive Plan Committees. Mr. Martin also provides consulting
services to the Company and has done so since July 1993. Mr. Martin served as
President of EDI from April 1963 to June 1993. EDI was acquired by the Company
in June 1993.
DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS EXTEND BEYOND THE ANNUAL MEETING
JOHN D. BAKER II
AGE: 48
Mr. Baker has served as a Director of the Company since March 1994. Mr.
Baker also serves as a member of the Company's Compensation, 1988 Stock Option
Plan, and Long-Term Incentive Plan Committees. Mr. Baker currently serves as
President, Chief Executive Officer and director of Florida Rock Industries, Inc.
Mr. Baker also serves as a director of FRP Properties, Inc. Mr. Baker's term as
a Director of the Company expires at the 1998 Annual meeting.
CLIFFORD M. HAMES
AGE: 71
Mr. Hames has been a Director of the Company since February 1972. Mr. Hames
also serves as a member of the Company's Audit Committee. Mr. Hames retired from
SunTrust Bank Central Florida, N.A. in Orlando, Florida in 1989 where he served
as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for a period of 14 years. Mr. Hames'
term as a Director of the Company expires at the 1998 Annual Meeting.
HERMAN B. MCMANAWAY
AGE: 71
Mr. McManaway has been a Director of the Company since October 1985. Mr.
McManaway also serves as a member of the Company's Audit and Directors' Stock
Option Plan Committees. Prior to retiring in January 1987, Mr. McManaway served
as Vice President of Ruddick Corporation for a period of 13 years and as a
President of Ruddick Investment Co. for a period of 13 years. Mr. McManaway is
also a director of Versa Technologies, Inc. Mr. McManaway's term as a Director
of the Company expires at the 1998 Annual Meeting.
JOHN B. ELLIS
AGE: 72
Mr. Ellis has served as a Director of the Company since November 1986. Mr.
Ellis also serves as a member of the Company's Directors' Stock Option Plan,
1988 Stock Option Plan, Compensation, and Long-Term Incentive Plan Committees.
Prior to retiring in January 1986, Mr. Ellis served as Senior Vice President,
Finance and Treasurer of Genuine Parts Company for a period of 11 years. Mr.
Ellis is also a director of Interstate/Johnson Lane, Inc., General Parcel
Services, Inc., Oxford Industries, Inc., Intermet Corporation, and Integrity,
Inc., and is a director emeritus of Genuine Parts Company. Mr. Ellis' term as a
Director of the Company expires at the 1999 Annual Meeting.
DAVID H. HUGHES
AGE: 53
Mr. Hughes has served as the Company's Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer since November 1986, and as a Director since August 1968. Mr.
Hughes also serves as a member of the Company's Executive Committee. Mr. Hughes
served as President of the Company from June 1972 to March 1994. Mr. Hughes is
also a director of SunTrust Banks, Inc. and Lithium Technologies Corp. Mr.
Hughes' term as a Director of the Company expires at the 1999 Annual Meeting.
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<PAGE> 21
VINCENT S. HUGHES
AGE: 56
Mr. Hughes has served as Vice President of the Company since April 1972 and
as a Director since April 1966. Mr. Hughes also serves as a member of the
Company's Executive Committee and is also a member of the Board of Directors of
United American Bank, Orlando, Florida. Mr. Hughes' term as a Director of the
Company expires at the 1999 Annual Meeting.
AMEND THE RESTATED
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
(PROPOSAL TWO)
The Board of Directors of the Company has adopted a resolution unanimously
approving and recommending to the Company's shareholders for their approval an
amendment to the current Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (the
"Articles") increasing the number of authorized shares of Common Stock of the
Company from 20,000,000 to 100,000,000 shares.
The Articles currently provide that the Company is authorized to issue up
to 20,000,000 shares of Common Stock. As of March 21, 1997, approximately
11,590,873 shares of Common Stock were issued and outstanding. In addition,
approximately 985,698 shares of Common Stock were reserved for issuance in
connection with the Company's equity based incentive plans. Accordingly,
approximately 7,423,429 authorized but unissued and unreserved shares of Common
Stock are available for general use by the Company on an unrestricted basis.
The proposed amendment to the Articles would increase the number of
authorized shares of Common Stock by 80,000,000 shares. The additional shares of
Common Stock for which authorization is sought, if and when issued, would have
the same rights and privileges as the shares of Common Stock now outstanding.
The Board of Directors recommends the increase in the authorized Common
Stock to enable the Company to have additional shares available for issuance in
connection with future acquisitions, public or private financings involving the
sale of Common Stock or securities convertible into Common Stock, employee
benefit plans and other purposes. If the proposal to amend the Articles to
increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock is approved at the
Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors will have greater flexibility to issue
additional shares of Common Stock without the expense and delay of a
shareholders' meeting unless shareholder approval is otherwise required. Except
as described above, the Company has no current plans, agreements or arrangements
for the issuance of additional shares of Common Stock, other than the issuance
of shares of Common Stock in connection with certain pending acquisitions, and
upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and awards under employee benefit
plans.
The Board of Directors has the authority to authorize the issuance of
additional shares of Common Stock without shareholder approval unless such
approval is otherwise required by applicable law or stock exchange rules. The
issuance of additional shares of Common Stock could, under certain
circumstances, render more difficult or discourage an attempt by a third party
to obtain control of the Company. For example, the issuance of shares of Common
Stock in a public or private sale, merger, or similar transaction would increase
the number of the Company's outstanding shares, thereby diluting the interest of
a party seeking to acquire control of the Company and increasing the cost of
such transaction.
In addition, the Articles, as currently in effect, allow the Company to
issue one or more series of preferred stock having such voting rights,
conversion features and other characteristics as the Board of Directors deems
appropriate. Consequently, the Company could issue an additional series of
preferred stock that could be converted into Common Stock and have a further
dilutive effect on the interest of the party seeking to acquire control of the
Company or that has rights and characteristics that may otherwise defeat or
discourage an attempt by a third party to obtain control of the Company.
Management currently knows of no intent or plan on the part of any person or
entity to gain control of the Company.
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Issuances of additional shares of Common Stock, depending upon the timing
and circumstances, could dilute earnings per share and decrease the book value
per share of shares theretofore outstanding and each shareholder's percentage
ownership of the Company may be proportionately reduced.
The affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the issued
and outstanding shares of Common Stock is needed for the approval of this
proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as a vote
against the proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE
ARTICLES TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.
APPROVE THE HUGHES SUPPLY, INC. 1997
EXECUTIVE STOCK PLAN
(PROPOSAL THREE)
BACKGROUND
The Hughes Supply, Inc. 1997 Executive Stock Plan ("the 1997 Stock Plan")
was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on April 2, 1997, subject
to and effective upon approval by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting. Grants
that may be made under the 1997 Stock Plan are not currently determinable. The
Board of Directors continues to believe that stock-based incentives are
important factors in attracting, retaining and rewarding employees and closely
aligning their interests with those of shareholders. The following is a summary
of the material terms of the 1997 Stock Plan. This summary is qualified in its
entirety by the complete terms of the 1997 Stock Plan as set forth in Exhibit A
hereto.
GRANTS
The 1997 Stock Plan provides for grants of options to purchase Common
Stock, restricted shares of Common Stock (which may be subject to both grant and
forfeiture conditions) ("Restricted Stock"), and grants of SARs (entitling the
grantee to receive the difference in value between the underlying Common Stock
on the date of exercise and the value of such Common Stock on the date of
grant), which may be either freestanding or granted in tandem with an option.
Options to purchase Common Stock may be either incentive stock options ("ISOs"),
which are intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, or
options which are not intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the
Code ("NQOs").
SECURITIES TO BE OFFERED
There will be 500,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for use under the
1997 Stock Plan, of which up to 250,000 may, but need not be, granted as
Restricted Stock. Any shares subject to an option that remain unissued after the
cancellation, expiration or exchange of an option and any shares of Restricted
Stock which are forfeited will again become available for use under the 1997
Stock Plan. Any shares which are surrendered for cash or Common Stock or a
combination thereof, and any shares of Common Stock used to satisfy a
withholding obligation shall not again become available for use under the 1997
Stock Plan.
ADMINISTRATION OF 1997 STOCK PLAN
The 1997 Stock Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee,
which has the sole authority to grant options, SARs and Restricted Stock. The
Compensation Committee must consist of at least two Directors, each of whom
shall be an "outside director" for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code
("Section 162(m)"). The Board of Directors has authorized the Compensation
Committee to interpret the 1997 Stock Plan to determine the key employees to
receive grants, the number of shares to be granted, the terms of option grants
and restrictions on shares, the provisions of the respective option, Restricted
Stock and SAR agreements (which need not be identical), and to take such other
action in the administration and operation of the 1997 Stock Plan as the
Compensation Committee deems equitable under the circumstances. The Board of
Directors, however, has reserved to itself the right to act with respect to any
matters
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concerning: (1) certain corporate transactions in which there is a change in
control (as defined in the 1997 Stock Plan) with no assumption or substitution
of options, SARs or Restricted Stock granted under the 1997 Stock Plan (in which
case: (i) options and SARs may be cancelled unilaterally by the Company in
exchange for a payment of whole shares of Common Stock, and cash in lieu of
fractional shares, if any, which the holder would have received if on the date
set by the Board of Directors he or she had exercised his or her SAR in full or
if he or she had exercised a right to surrender his or her outstanding option in
full; (ii) options and SARs may be cancelled unilaterally if the option price or
SAR share value at grant equals or exceeds the fair market value of a share of
Common Stock on such date; and (iii) the grant and forfeiture conditions on
Restricted Stock may be deemed satisfied); or (2) any adjustment in the number
of shares reserved for issuance under the 1997 Stock Plan, in the number of
shares of Restricted Stock granted and any related restrictions, the number of
shares of Common Stock subject to options, the option price, the SAR grant value
and the number of shares of Common Stock related to any SAR to equitably reflect
any change in the capitalization of the Company, including, but not limited to
Common Stock dividends or Common Stock splits or to reflect certain corporate
transactions; or (3) the amendment or termination of the 1997 Stock Plan.
However, the Compensation Committee may condition an amendment on the approval
of the Company's shareholders to the extent the Compensation Committee
determines such approval to be necessary or advisable for securities or tax
purposes.
ELIGIBILITY
The Compensation Committee will select key employees to participate in the
1997 Stock Plan. A key employee means any employee of the Company or any
subsidiary, who, in the judgment of the Compensation Committee, is important to
the success of the Company or a subsidiary.
TERMS OF OPTIONS
The 1997 Stock Plan authorizes the grant of ISOs or NQOs, both of which are
exercisable for shares of Common Stock. The price at which an option may be
exercised for a share of Common Stock may not be less than the fair market value
of a share of Common Stock on the date the option is granted. The "fair market
value" means the closing price per share of Common Stock on the New York Stock
Exchange prior to the date the option is granted, or if no such closing price is
available on such day, the closing price for the immediately preceding business
day.
The period during which an option may be exercised shall be determined by
the Compensation Committee at the time of option grant and may not extend more
than 10 years from the date of grant. An option or portion thereof that is not
exercised before expiration of the applicable option period shall terminate. An
option agreement may provide for the exercise of an option after the employment
of a key employee has terminated for any reason, including death or disability.
No grants will be made after April 2, 2007.
The aggregate fair market value of ISOs granted to a key employee under the
1997 Stock Plan and incentive stock options granted under any other stock option
plan adopted by the Company or a subsidiary which first becomes exercisable in
any calendar year may not exceed $100,000. Furthermore, a key employee may be
granted, in any calendar year, one or more options, or one or more SARs, or one
or more options and SARs in any combination which, individually or in the
aggregate, relate to no more than 15,000 shares of Common Stock.
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
Under the 1997 Stock Plan, SARs may be granted as part of an option (a
"Related Option") with respect to all or a portion of the shares of Common Stock
subject to the Related Option (a "Tandem SAR") or may be granted separately (a
"Freestanding SAR") (Tandem SARs and Freestanding SARs are collectively referred
to as "SARs"). The share value of a Freestanding SAR shall be set forth in the
related SAR agreement, and may not be less than the fair market value of a share
of Common Stock on the date of grant of the SAR. The share value of a Tandem SAR
shall be determined by the exercise price of the Related Option,
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which also may not be less than the fair market value of a share of Common Stock
on the date of grant. The grant of SARs may be subject to such other terms as
the Compensation Committee deems appropriate.
When a Freestanding SAR is exercised, the key employee receives a payment
determined by calculating the difference between the share value at grant as set
forth in the SAR agreement and the fair market value of a share of Common Stock
on the date of exercise. On the exercise of a Tandem SAR, the Related Option is
deemed to be surrendered to the extent of the number of shares of Common Stock
for which the Tandem SAR is exercised, and the payment is based on the increase
in fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the exercise date over the
share value stated in the option agreement. Payment may be made in cash or
stock, or a combination of cash and stock. The form and timing of payments shall
be determined by the Compensation Committee.
RESTRICTED STOCK
Shares of Restricted Stock may be granted to key employees and may be
subject to one or more contractual restrictions applicable generally or to a key
employee in particular, as established by the Compensation Committee at the time
of grant and as set forth in the related Restricted Stock agreement. The
agreement will set forth the conditions, if any, which will need to be satisfied
before the grant will be effective and the conditions, if any, under which the
key employee's interest in the Restricted Stock will be forfeited. Such
restrictions must include a prohibition on the sale or transfer of such shares
until the employee fulfills one or more employment, performance or other grant
or forfeiture conditions, if any, established by the Compensation Committee at
the time of grant. As soon as practicable after a grant has become effective,
the shares are registered to or for the benefit of the employee. The Restricted
Stock agreement will state whether the employee has the right to receive any
cash dividends paid with respect to the shares of Restricted Stock. If the
employee has no right to receive cash dividends, the agreement may give the
employee the right to receive a cash payment in the future in lieu of the
dividend payments, provided certain conditions are met. Common Stock dividends
declared on the shares of Restricted Stock after grant but before the shares are
forfeited or become nonforfeitable are treated as part of the grant of the
related Restricted Stock. An employee has the right to vote the shares of
Restricted Stock after grant until they are forfeited or become nonforfeitable.
Shares of Restricted Stock may vest in installments or in lump sum amounts
upon satisfaction of the stipulated conditions. If the restrictions are not
satisfied, the shares are forfeited back to the Company and again become
available under the 1997 Stock Plan. To enforce the restrictions, all shares of
Restricted Stock will be held by the Company until the restrictions are
satisfied. The exercise or surrender of any option granted under the 1997 Stock
Plan and the acceptance of a Restricted Stock grant shall constitute an
employee's full and complete consent to whatever actions the Compensation
Committee deems necessary to satisfy the federal and state tax withholding
requirements, if any, which the Compensation Committee in its discretion deems
applicable to such exercise or surrender of such Restricted Stock. The
Compensation Committee also can provide in an option agreement or Restricted
Stock agreement that an employee may elect to satisfy federal and state tax
withholding requirements through a reduction in the number of shares of Common
Stock actually transferred to the employee under the 1997 Stock Plan, and any
such election and any such reduction shall be effected so as to satisfy the
conditions to the exemption under Rule 16b-3. Grants of Restricted Stock will be
effective for periods as determined by the Compensation Committee, provided no
Restricted Stock may be granted after the earlier of April 2, 2007 or the date
on which all shares of Common Stock reserved under the 1997 Stock Plan have been
issued or are unavailable for the 1997 Stock Plan use, in which event the 1997
Stock Plan also shall terminate on such date.
In the case of Restricted Stock grants which vest only on the satisfaction
of performance objectives, the Compensation Committee shall determine the
performance objectives to be used in connection with Restricted Stock awards and
shall determine the extent to which such objectives have been met. Performance
objectives may vary from participant to participant and between groups of
participants and shall be based upon such Company and/or subsidiary performance
factors and criteria as the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion shall
select among one or more of the following: stock price, earnings per share,
return on equity, net income, return on assets or total return to shareholders.
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CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following summary generally describes the principal federal income tax
consequences of certain events under the 1997 Stock Plan. The summary is general
in nature and is not intended to cover all tax consequences that may apply to a
particular employee or to the Company. The provisions of the Code and
regulations thereunder relating to these matters are complicated and their
impact in any one case may depend upon the particular circumstances.
OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
An employee will not be subject to any federal income tax upon the grant of
an option or SAR granted pursuant to the 1997 Stock Plan.
An employee will not recognize income for federal income tax purposes (and
the Company will not be entitled to any federal income tax deduction) as a
result of the exercise of an ISO and the related transfer of shares to the
employee. However, the excess of the fair market value of the shares transferred
upon the exercise of an ISO over the exercise price for such shares generally
will constitute an item of alternative minimum tax adjustment to the employee
for the year in which the option is exercised. Thus certain employees may have
an increase in their federal income tax liability as a result of the exercise of
an ISO under the alternative minimum tax rules of the Code.
If the shares transferred pursuant to the exercise of an ISO are disposed
of within two years from the date the ISO is granted or within one year from the
date the ISO is exercised (the "ISO holding periods"), the employee will
recognize ordinary income equal to the lesser of (i) the excess of the amount
realized on the disposition over the price paid for the shares (the "gain
realized") or (ii) the excess of the fair market value of the shares when
transferred to the employee at exercise over the exercise price for such shares.
If the shares transferred upon the exercise of an ISO are disposed of after
the ISO holding periods have been satisfied, such disposition generally results
in long term capital gain or long term capital loss with respect to the gain or
loss realized on the disposition. The Company will not be entitled to a federal
income tax deduction as a result of a disposition of such shares after the ISO
holding periods have been satisfied.
Ordinary income will be recognized upon exercise of an NQO. Generally, the
ordinary income realized is the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the
shares of Common Stock received upon the exercise of the NQO over the exercise
price. An employee will also recognize ordinary income upon exercising a SAR.
The amount of such income is the amount of any cash received and the fair market
value of any shares of the Common Stock received upon exercise of the SAR.
Income tax withholding from the employee is required on the income
recognized by the employee upon exercise of an NQO or a SAR. The Company
generally will receive a deduction for federal income tax purposes equal to the
ordinary income recognized by the employee upon exercise of an NQO or a SAR, or
the ordinary income recognized on a disqualifying disposition of Common Stock
acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO.
RESTRICTED STOCK
An employee will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair
market value of the shares subject to the Restricted Stock grant at the time of
vesting. Dividends paid to an employee on shares of Restricted Stock prior to
the vesting of such shares are treated as ordinary income of the employee in the
year received. The Company will receive a deduction for federal income tax
purposes equal to the ordinary income recognized by the employee, subject to the
limitations on deductibility contained in Section 162(m).
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The affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the quorum
present at the Annual Meeting is needed for approval of this proposal.
Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as a vote against the
proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BELIEVES IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMPANY
FOR THE SHAREHOLDERS TO APPROVE THE 1997 STOCK PLAN. THUS, THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE PROPOSAL DESCRIBED ABOVE.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Price Waterhouse LLP served as the Company's independent auditors for the
year ended January 31, 1997. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Company
has not engaged its auditors for fiscal year ended January 30, 1998.
Representatives of Price Waterhouse LLP are expected to be present at the Annual
Meeting where they will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire
to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1998 ANNUAL MEETING
Shareholders who wish to submit a proposal for consideration at the 1998
Annual Meeting should submit the proposal in writing to the Company at the
address set forth on page 1 of this Proxy Statement. A proponent of a proposal
is required to have been a record or beneficial owner of at least 1% or $1,000
in market value of Common Stock of the Company for a period of at least one year
and must continue to own such securities through the date on which the 1998
Annual Meeting is held. The Company has the right to request documentary support
(as provided in Rule 14a-8 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the
Exchange Act) of the proponent's ownership claim within 14 calendar days after
receipt of the proposal, and the proponent shall furnish appropriate
documentation within 21 days after receiving such request. Proposals must be
received by the Company on or before January 3, 1998 for inclusion in next
year's proxy materials. Shareholders who submit proposals must, in all other
respects, comply with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Board of Directors does not intend to present and knows of no other
person who intends to present any matter of business at the Annual Meeting other
than as set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
However, if other matters properly come before the meeting, it is the intention
of the persons named on the enclosed proxy card to vote in accordance with their
best judgment.
The Company will bear the costs of preparing and mailing the Proxy
Statement, proxy card and other material that may be sent to shareholders in
connection with this solicitation. In addition to solicitations by mail,
officers and other employees of the Company may solicit proxies personally or by
telephone or telegram.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Robert N. Blackford
Secretary
Orlando, Florida
April , 1997
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY; THEREFORE, SHAREHOLDERS WHO
DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE 1997 ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON ARE REQUESTED TO FILL
IN, SIGN AND RETURN THE PROXY FORM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
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APPENDIX
HUGHES SUPPLY, INC.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual
Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement, each dated April __, 1997, and
does hereby appoint David H. Hughes, Robert N. Blackford, and Vincent S.
Hughes, and any of them, with full power of substitution, as proxy or proxies
of the undersigned, to represent the undersigned and vote all shares of Hughes
Supply, Inc. Common Stock which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if
personally present at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Hughes Supply, Inc.
to be held at the principal executive offices of the Company, 20 North Orange
Avenue, Suite 200, Orlando, Florida 32801, at 10:00 a.m. on May 20, 1997 and at
any ajournment(s) thereof:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
1. Proposal 1: Election of Directors.
FOR all nominees listed below WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote
(except as marked to the contrary below) [ ] for all nominees listed below [ ]
CLASS [ ]: Nominees for a three-year term expiring in 2000: Robert N. Blackford, H. Corbin Day,
A. Stewart Hall and Donald C. Martin.
(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write the nominee's name
in the space provided below.)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Proposal 2: Proposal to amend the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of
authorized shares of Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share, from 20 million shares to 100 million shares.
FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN [ ]
3. Proposal 3: Proposal to approve the 1997 Executive Stock Plan.
FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN [ ]
4. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote on such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or at any adjournment(s) thereof. This Proxy may be revoked at any time prior to the voting thereof.
</TABLE>
TO BE SIGNED ON OTHER SIDE
<PAGE> 28
PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY
This Proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in accordance with
the directions given by the undersigned shareholder. If no direction is made,
it will be voted in favor of Proposals 1, 2 and 3. The proxies may vote in
their discretion as to other matters that may properly come before the meeting.
________ Shares Common Stock
______________________________________
______________________________________
Date ___________________________, 1997
Please sign exactly as your
name(s) appear hereon, and when signing
as attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, give your full
title as such. If the signatory is a
corporation, sign the full corporation
name by a duly authorized officer.
