<PAGE> 1
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SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by the registrant [X]
Filed by a party other than the registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to sec.240.14a-11(c) or sec.240.14a-12
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
(NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
(NAME OF PERSON(S) FILING PROXY STATEMENT)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid: __
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: __
(3) Filing Party: __
(4) Date Filed: __
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
KEITHLEY LOGO KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
28775 Aurora Road
Solon, Ohio 44139
(440) 248-0400
Fax (440) 248-6168
</TABLE>
December 29, 2000
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
This year's Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Keithley Instruments, Inc.
will be held at 12:00 Noon (EST), Saturday, February 17, 2001, at our corporate
headquarters, 28775 Aurora Road, Solon, Ohio.
In addition to acting on the matters outlined in the Proxy Statement, we
look forward to giving you a progress report on the first quarter which will end
on December 31, 2000. As in the past, there will be an informal presentation on
the Company's businesses.
We hope that you are planning to attend the Annual Meeting personally, and
we look forward to seeing you. Whether or not you expect to attend in person,
the return of the enclosed Proxy as soon as possible would be greatly
appreciated and will ensure that your shares will be represented at the Annual
Meeting. If you do attend the Annual Meeting, you may withdraw your Proxy should
you wish to vote in person.
On behalf of the Directors and management of Keithley Instruments, Inc., we
would like to thank you for your continued support and confidence in the
Company.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ Joseph P. Keithley
JOSEPH P. KEITHLEY
Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer
<PAGE> 3
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
KEITHLEY LOGO KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
28775 Aurora Road
Solon, Ohio 44139
(440) 248-0400
Fax (440) 248-6168
</TABLE>
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Keithley
Instruments, Inc. will be held at the Company's corporate headquarters, 28775
Aurora Road, Solon, Ohio, on Saturday, February 17, 2001, at 12:00 Noon (EST),
for the following purposes:
(1) To vote on a proposal to fix the number of Directors of the
Company at nine;
(2) To elect eight members of the Board of Directors to serve until
the next annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors have
been duly elected and qualified, leaving one vacancy to be filled by the
Board of Directors at its discretion;
(3) To vote on a proposal to amend the Company's Amended Articles of
Incorporation to increase the authorized number of shares of the Company's
capital stock to 89,000,000 shares, designating 80,000,000 shares of such
authorized capital stock as Common Shares and 9,000,000 shares as Class B
Common Shares;
(4) To vote on a proposal to adopt an amendment to the Company's
Amended Articles of Incorporation to eliminate cumulative voting in the
election of directors; and
(5) To transact such other business as may properly come before the
Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Only holders of Common Shares and Class B Common Shares of record at the
close of business on Tuesday, December 19, 2000, are entitled to notice of and
to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
/S/ JOHN M. GHERLEIN
JOHN M. GHERLEIN
Secretary
December 29, 2000
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY PROMPTLY.
A RETURN ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.
<PAGE> 4
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
28775 Aurora Road
Solon, Ohio 44139
PROXY STATEMENT
--------------------------------------
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 17, 2001
GENERAL INFORMATION
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of Keithley Instruments, Inc. (the "Company")
to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held on
February 17, 2001, and any postponements or adjournments thereof. The time,
place and purposes of the Annual Meeting are stated in the Notice of Annual
Meeting of Shareholders which accompanies this Proxy Statement.
The solicitation of proxies is made by and on behalf of the Board of
Directors. The expense of soliciting proxies, including the cost of preparing,
assembling and mailing the proxy materials will be borne by the Company. In
addition to solicitation of proxies by mail, solicitation may be made personally
and by telephone, and the Company may pay persons holding shares for others
their expenses for sending proxy materials to their principals. The Company has
engaged Corporate Investor Communications, Inc., at an estimated cost of $7,500,
plus reimbursement of expenses, to assist in the solicitation of proxies.
The presence of any shareholder at the Annual Meeting will not operate to
revoke his or her proxy. Any shareholder giving a proxy pursuant to this
solicitation may revoke it by giving notice to the Company in writing or in open
meeting. All properly executed proxies received by the Board of Directors of the
Company pursuant to this solicitation will be voted at the Annual Meeting, and
the directions contained in such proxies will be followed in each instance. If
no directions are given, the Proxy will be voted FOR the election of the
nominees listed in the Proxy and FOR the proposals set forth in the Notice.
The close of business on December 19, 2000 has been fixed as the record
date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at
the meeting. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying President's letter,
notice and Proxy, together with the Company's annual report to shareholders for
the fiscal year ended September 30, 2000, are first being sent to shareholders
on or about December 29, 2000.
VOTING RIGHTS
As of the close of business on December 19, 2000, there were outstanding
13,477,874 Common Shares, without par value, of the Company (the "Common
Shares") and 2,163,532 Class B Common Shares, without par value, of the Company
(the "Class B Common Shares"). The holders of the outstanding Common Shares on
that date will be entitled to one vote for each share held and the holders of
the outstanding Class B Common Shares on that date will be entitled to ten votes
for each share held. Abstaining votes and broker non-votes will not count in
favor of, or against, election of a nominee for Director; however, such votes
will have the effect of a vote against approval of any other matter.
The Ohio Revised Code, as it applies to the Company, provides that if
notice in writing is given by any shareholder to the President, a Vice President
or the Secretary of the Company not less than 48 hours before the time fixed for
holding the meeting to elect Directors that he or she desires the voting to
elect Directors to be cumulative, and an announcement of the giving of such
notice is made upon the convening of the meeting by the Chairman or the
Secretary or by or on behalf of the shareholder giving such notice, then each
shareholder shall have cumulative voting rights in the election of Directors,
enabling him or her to give one nominee for Director as many votes as is equal
to the number of Directors to be elected multiplied by the number of shares in
respect of which such shareholder is voting, or to distribute his or her votes
on the same principle among two or more nominees, as he or she sees fit.
1
<PAGE> 5
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The following persons are known to the Company to be the beneficial owners
of more than 5% of the voting securities of the Company as of December 19, 2000:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS B
COMMON SHARES COMMON SHARES(1)
------------------------ ------------------------
NUMBER OF NUMBER OF PERCENTAGE
SHARES SHARES OF TOTAL
BENEFICIALLY PERCENT BENEFICIALLY PERCENT VOTING
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED OF CLASS OWNED OF CLASS POWER
------------------------ ------------ -------- ------------ -------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Joseph P. Keithley..................... 119,386(2) * 2,143,908(3) 99.1% 61.3%
I.G. Investment Management, Ltd. (4)... 1,652,600 12.3 -- -- 6.7%
</TABLE>
---------------
* Less than 1%
(1) Pursuant to the Company's Amended Articles of Incorporation, all holders of
Class B Common Shares are entitled to convert any or all of their Class B
Common Shares into Common Shares at any time, on a share-for-share basis.
(2) Includes Common Shares represented by options exercisable on or before
February 17, 2001, by Joseph P. Keithley (41,500 shares). Such shares are
deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of
shares outstanding owned by Mr. Keithley and his percentage of total voting
power of the Company's capital stock, but are not deemed outstanding for the
purpose of computing the percentage of shares held by or total voting power
of any other person. Also includes 32,704 shares of restricted stock which
are subject to certain vesting requirements, and 2,448 shares owned by
Joseph P. Keithley's wife. Joseph P. Keithley disclaims beneficial ownership
with respect to the shares owned by his wife.
(3) Includes 1,954,816 shares owned by a partnership for which Mr. Keithley
serves as the general partner, and 59,092 shares owned by a trust for which
Mr. Keithley serves as the trustee.
(4) Based on information provided to the Company by I.G. Investment Management,
Ltd. on December 27, 2000.
The business address of Mr. Keithley is 28775 Aurora Road, Solon, Ohio
44139. The address for I.G. Investment Management, Ltd. is 447 Portage Avenue,
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3C 3B6.
2
<PAGE> 6
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
The beneficial ownership of Common Shares and Class B Common Shares by each
of the Company's Directors, each of the Company's executive officers named in
the Summary Compensation Table and by all executive officers and Directors of
the Company as a group on December 19, 2000, is set forth in the table below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS B
COMMON SHARES COMMON SHARES(1)
-------------------------- -----------------------------
NUMBER OF NUMBER OF PERCENTAGE
SHARES SHARES OF
NAME AND ADDRESS BENEFICIALLY PERCENT BENEFICIALLY PERCENT TOTAL VOTING
OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED(2) OF CLASS OWNED OF CLASS POWER(2)
------------------- ------------ -------- ------------ -------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Brian R. Bachman.......................... 22,165 * -- -- *
James T. Bartlett......................... 30,176 * -- -- *
Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr................... 44,760 * -- -- *
James B. Griswold......................... 47,162 * -- -- *
Leon J. Hendrix, Jr....................... 52,579 * -- -- *
William J. Hudson, Jr..................... 27,243 * -- -- *
Joseph P. Keithley........................ 119,386 * 2,143,908(3) 99.1% 61.3%
R. Elton White............................ 20,045 * -- -- *
David H. Patricy.......................... 47,350(4) * -- -- *
Mark J. Plush............................. 94,072(5) * -- -- *
Gabriel A. Rosica......................... 29,267 * -- -- *
D. Sherman Willows........................ 540 * -- -- *
All officers and Directors as a group (13
persons)................................ 588,595 4.3 2,143,908 99.1% 62.3%
</TABLE>
---------------
* Less than 1%
(1) Pursuant to the Company's Amended Articles of Incorporation, all holders
of Class B Common Shares are entitled to convert any or all of their Class
B Common Shares into Common Shares at any time, on a share-for-share
basis.
(2) Includes Common Shares represented by options exercisable on or before
February 17, 2001 by Brian R. Bachman (10,000 shares), James T. Bartlett
(10,000 shares), James B. Griswold (17,500 shares), Leon J. Hendrix, Jr.
(30,000 shares), William J. Hudson, Jr. (10,000 shares), Joseph P.
Keithley (41,500 shares), David H. Patricy (36,750 shares), Mark J. Plush
(24,000 shares), Gabriel A. Rosica (27,500 shares) and all officers and
Directors as a group (234,250 shares). Such shares are deemed to be
outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of shares
outstanding owned by each of the individuals and all officers and
Directors as a group and their percentage of total voting power of the
Company's capital stock, respectively, but are not deemed outstanding for
the purpose of computing the percentage of shares held by or total voting
power of any other person. Also includes restricted shares which are
subject to certain vesting requirements for Mr. Keithley (32,704 shares),
Mr. Plush (23,836 shares) and all officers as a group (80,602 shares).
Includes shares held under the Keithley Instruments, Inc. 1996 Outside
Directors Deferred Stock Plan for the benefit of Mr. Bachman (12,165
shares), Mr. Bartlett (20,176 shares), Dr. Bement (17,160 shares), Mr.
Griswold (21,482 shares), Mr. Hendrix (22,579 shares), Mr. Hudson (2,243
shares), Mr. White (20,045 shares) and Mr. Rosica (1,767 shares), as to
which such persons do not have current voting rights.
(3) Includes 1,954,816 shares owned by a partnership of which Joseph P.
Keithley serves as the general partner, and 59,092 shares owned by a trust
of which Mr. Keithley serves as the trustee.
(4) Includes eight shares owned by Mr. Patricy's daughter.
(5) Includes 2,360 shares owned by Mr. Plush's children and eight shares owned
by his wife. Mr. Plush disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to the
shares owned by his wife.
3
<PAGE> 7
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"),
as amended, requires the Company's directors, executive officers and holders of
more than 10% of the Company's Common Shares to file with the Commission initial
reports of ownership and reports of changes in beneficial ownership of Common
Shares. The Company believes that during the fiscal year ended September 30,
2000, its officers, Directors and holders of more than 10% of the Company's
Common Shares complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements.
ITEM ONE:
PROPOSAL TO FIX THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS
The Company's Code of Regulations provides that the number of Directors
shall be fixed by the shareholders at no fewer than three. The number of
Directors has been fixed at eight, and there are currently eight Directors on
the Board, all of whom have been nominated for re-election. The Board believes
that it would be desirable to fix the number of Directors at nine in order to
have a vacancy available which could be filled by the Directors, without the
time and expense involved in holding a special meeting of shareholders, should a
person who could make a valuable contribution as a Director of the Company
become available during the year. No decision has been made to fill the vacancy
created if this proposal is approved by the shareholders.
Under the Company's Code of Regulations, the affirmative vote of a majority
of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company represented at the meeting
is required for approval.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THIS
PROPOSAL.
ITEM TWO:
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the Annual Meeting, or any postponements or adjournments thereof, Common
Shares and Class B Common Shares represented by proxies will be voted for the
election as Directors of the eight nominees named below, unless the shareholder,
by so indicating on the Proxy, instructs that such authority to vote for any one
or more nominees is withheld.
Each of the Directors to be elected at the meeting is to serve until the
next Annual Meeting and until his successor shall have been duly elected and
qualified. Pursuant to the Company's Amended Articles of Incorporation (the
"Articles"), one-fourth (calculated to the nearest whole number) of the number
of authorized Directors, which presently equals two Directors, is entitled to be
elected by the Common Shares voting separately as a class. Messrs. Bartlett and
Hendrix have been nominated as the Directors to be so elected by the holders of
the Common Shares of the Company. The remaining six nominees are to be elected
by the holders of the Common Shares and the Class B Common Shares voting
together. The two nominees receiving the greatest number of votes of the Common
Shares voting separately as a class, and the six other nominees receiving the
greatest number of votes of the Common Shares and the Class B Common Shares
voting together without regard to class, will be elected as Directors.
If cumulative voting is in effect, the persons named in the Proxies will
have full discretion and authority to vote for any one or more of the eight
nominees. In the event of cumulative voting, the persons named in the Proxies
will vote the shares represented by each Proxy so as to maximize the number of
the Company's nominees that will be elected to the Board.
Each of the nominees has indicated his willingness to serve as a Director,
if elected. In addition, each of the nominees is presently a member of the Board
of Directors. If any nominee at the time of election is unable or unwilling to
serve or is otherwise unavailable for election (which contingency is not now
contemplated or foreseen), it is intended that the shares represented by the
Proxy will be voted for each substitute nominee as may be named by the Board of
Directors.
4
<PAGE> 8
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION
Set forth below is certain information furnished with respect to each
person nominated for election as a Director.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND AGE
OF NOMINEE BUSINESS EXPERIENCE DIRECTOR SINCE
------------ ------------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
Joseph P. Keithley Chairman of the Board of Directors since 1991, Chief 1986
Age 52 Executive Officer since November 1993 and President
since May 1994. Director of Brush Engineered
Materials, Inc., a worldwide supplier of beryllium
products, alloy products, electronic products,
precious metal products and engineered material
systems.
Brian R. Bachman Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Axcelis 1996
Age 55 Technologies since 2000, a leading supplier of
semiconductor capital equipment. Previously Senior
Vice President and Group Executive, Eaton
Corporation since January 1996, responsible for
hydraulics, aerospace, commercial controls, Navy
controls and semiconductor equipment operations.
James T. Bartlett(1) Managing Director since 1986 of Primus Venture 1983
Age 63 Partners Inc., the manager of Primus Capital Fund
and Primus Capital Funds II, III, IV and V, venture
capital limited partnerships. Director of Oglebay
Norton Company, a provider of products and services
to oil field services, chemical, steel and
construction industries, and Lamson & Sessions Co.,
a provider of products for the construction and
telecommunications industries.
Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr. David A. Ross Distinguished Professor of Nuclear 1988
Age 68 Engineering, and Head of the School of Nuclear
Engineering at Purdue University since 1998.
Previously Basil S. Turner Distinguished Professor
of Engineering and Director of Midwest
Superconductivity Consortium at Purdue University
from 1993 to 1998. Member of the Science and
Technology Advisory Committee of Havmet
Corporation, an Alcoa Company.
James B. Griswold(2) Partner in the law firm of Baker & Hostetler LLP 1989
Age 54 since 1982.
</TABLE>
5
<PAGE> 9
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND AGE
OF NOMINEE BUSINESS EXPERIENCE DIRECTOR SINCE
------------ ------------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
Leon J. Hendrix, Jr.(1) Principal, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc., a private 1990
Age 59 investment firm since 1993. Chairman of Remington
Arms Co., a manufacturer and marketer of firearms
and ammunition. Director of NACCO Industries, Inc.,
a holding company with subsidiaries that
manufacture forklift trucks, small electrical
appliances, mine and market lignite coal and
operate specialty retail stores, Cambrex Corp., a
provider of products and services to the life
sciences industries, and Riverwood International
Corp., a leading global provider of paperboard and
paperboard packaging systems.
William J. Hudson, Jr. Age 66 Private Investor. Former President and Chief 1999
Executive Officer of AMP, Inc., a leading
manufacturer of electrical, electronic, fiber-optic
and wireless interconnection devices from 1993 to
1998. Director of Carpenter Technology Corporation,
a manufacturer, fabricator, and distributor of
specialty metals, and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Company, an international company that develops,
manufactures, distributes and sells tires and
rubber products, and provides automotive repair
services. Member of the Executive committee of the
U.S. Council for International Business, Executive
Committee of Team PA, Investment Committee of High
Street Capital, L.L.C., and Board of the Pinnacle
Health Foundation.
R. Elton White Private Investor. Director of Kohl's Corporation, 1994
Age 58 which owns specialty department stores.
</TABLE>
---------------
(1) Elected by holders of Common Shares only.
(2) Baker & Hostetler LLP served as general outside legal counsel to the Company
during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2000 and is expected to render
services in such capacity to the Company in the future.
INFORMATION REGARDING MEETINGS AND
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors has an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a
Compensation and Human Resources Committee and a Strategy Committee. The Board
of Directors does not have a nominating committee. The Executive Committee
possesses and may exercise all of the powers of the Board of Directors, to the
extent permitted by law, during intervals between meetings of the Board of
Directors. All actions of the Executive Committee are reported to the Board of
Directors at its first meeting following such action or actions. The Audit
Committee reviews the activities of the Company's independent accountants and
various Company policies and practices. The Compensation and Human Resources
Committee approves the grant of stock options and reviews and determines the
compensation of certain key executives. The Strategy Committee reviews the
appropriateness of current business and technical strategies and explores new
business possibilities.
6
<PAGE> 10
Set forth below is the current membership of each committee of the Board,
with the number of meetings held during the fiscal year ended September 30,
2000, in parentheses.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXECUTIVE AUDIT COMPENSATION AND HUMAN STRATEGY
COMMITTEE (NONE) COMMITTEE (THREE) RESOURCES COMMITTEE (THREE) COMMITTEE (FOUR)
---------------- ----------------- --------------------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Joseph P. Keithley James T. Bartlett R. Elton White (Chairman) Brian R. Bachman
(Chairman) (Chairman) (Chairman)
James T. Bartlett Brian R. Bachman James B. Griswold James T. Bartlett
Leon J. Hendrix, Jr. James B. Griswold Leon J. Hendrix, Jr. Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr.
R. Elton White William J. Hudson, Jr. James B. Griswold
Leon J. Hendrix, Jr.
William J. Hudson, Jr.
Joseph P. Keithley
R. Elton White
</TABLE>
The Board of Directors held five meetings during the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2000. During that fiscal year, no Director attended fewer than 75%
of the aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors
held during the period he served as a Director and (ii) the total number of
meetings held by committees of the Board on which he served, during the periods
that he served.
Directors who are not employees of the Company receive an annual fee of
$10,000 paid in five installments. Directors receive an additional $1,000 for
each Board meeting attended and, unless Chairman of a committee, $575 for each
committee meeting attended, except for Executive Committee meetings for which no
additional fees are paid. Each Committee Chairman who is not an employee of the
Company is paid $1,150 for presiding as Chairman at a committee meeting.
Directors may defer their fees under the Keithley Instruments, Inc. 1996 Outside
Directors Deferred Stock Plan.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The Company's compensation and benefit programs are designed to enable the
Company to attract, retain and motivate the best possible employees to operate
and manage the Company at all levels.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
Employment Agreement with Named Executive Officers of the Company. Pursuant
to an employment agreement which was entered into on September 26, 1988, Joseph
P. Keithley is required to be compensated at the rate of at least $120,000 per
year initially for a five-year period which ended September 26, 1993 and is
automatically renewable for one-year periods thereafter. Pursuant to an
employment agreement which was entered into on April 7, 1994, Mr. Plush is
required to be compensated at the rate of at least $109,800 per year. Mr.
Plush's agreement initially covered a three-year period and is automatically
renewable for one-year periods thereafter.
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
Retirement Plans. The Company's United States pension plan provides
retirement benefits to eligible participants who terminate employment at or
after age 65, or who terminate employment before age 65 with at least five years
of service. Benefits commence after termination of employment, but generally not
before age 55. Retirement benefits are computed on the basis of pension credits
for each year of the employee's service. Generally, an employee's pension
credits will be equal to the sum of (i) 0.9% of the employee's high five-year
average annual compensation, not in excess of the employee's Social Security
"covered compensation" (as defined by Section 401(l)(5)(E) of the Internal
Revenue Code) as of September 30, 1999, plus 1.5% of such average annual
compensation in excess of "covered compensation," with such sum multiplied by
the employee's years of credited service (up to 30 years) through September 30,
1999; plus (ii) 1.2% of the employee's annual compensation for each plan year
beginning on or after October 1, 1999. The employee's annual retirement benefit,
when paid as a life annuity commencing at age 65, will equal the total of the
pension credits he has earned. If the individuals listed in the compensation
table were to continue to be
7
<PAGE> 11
employees until their attainment of age 65 at the rate of compensation they
received during fiscal 2000, their annual retirement benefits would be as
follows: Joseph P. Keithley, $83,085; Mr. Rosica, $18,998; Mr. Patricy, $79,553;
Mr. Plush, $59,028; and Mr. Willows, $16,679.
Keithley Retirement Savings Trust and Plan. Effective January 1, 1988, the
Company implemented the Keithley Instruments, Inc. Retirement Savings Trust and
Plan (the "Plan"). The Plan permits all eligible employees of the Company and
its subsidiaries who elect to participate in the Plan to make payroll deductions
for contribution by the Company or subsidiary to the Plan. Payroll deductions
cannot be less than 1% or more than 15% of a participant's total compensation
(excluding certain fringe benefits and some types of incentive compensation) for
the Plan year. The Plan qualifies under Sections 401(a), 401(k) and 501(a) of
the Internal Revenue Code.
The Plan provides for matching contributions at the Company's discretion
which will not exceed 6% of a participant's compensation during the Plan year.
All contributions under the Plan may be invested at the election of the
participant in a variety of investment options. Participants' contributions are
fully vested at all times. A participant's interest in the Company's
contributions is fully vested after three years of eligible service with the
Company.
Keithley Instruments, Inc. Supplemental Deferral Plan. This Plan was
implemented effective September 30, 1999, and permits all eligible employees and
Directors of the Company to defer a minimum of $2,500 and up to a maximum of 100
percent of their eligible annual compensation. To be eligible to be selected for
participation in this Plan, an employee must be compensated at a minimum defined
annual compensation level. The Plan is a non-qualified plan and, as such,
participants are unsecured general creditors of the Company. Amounts deferred
under this plan may be invested at the discretion of the participant in a
variety of investment options. Participants' contributions are fully vested at
all times. A participant's interest in any Company contributions is fully vested
after three years of completed Plan participation.
2000 Annual Senior Manager Extra Compensation Plan. This plan provides
additional compensation to executive officers based on consolidated corporate
performance for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2000. Individual objectives
also may be established. Extra compensation for the group of senior managers,
including the executive officers of the Company, may not exceed 100% of each
senior manager's October 1, 1999, base salary unless approved by the Company's
Board of Directors. The additional compensation is based upon return on assets
and sales or order growth for senior manager extra compensation.
1984 Stock Option Plan. The 1984 Stock Option Plan expired by its terms on
February 11, 1994. All options outstanding at the time of termination of this
plan continue in full force and effect in accordance with and subject to their
terms. The Plan provided for the issuance of "incentive stock options" within
the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, and nonqualified stock
options, for federal income tax purposes, to key employees.
1992 Stock Incentive Plan. The 1992 Stock Incentive Plan provides for the
issuance of "incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code, nonqualified stock options and restricted stock to key
employees. The primary features of the plan are summarized below.
The 1992 Stock Incentive Plan is administered by the Compensation and Human
Resources Committee. Incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options may
be granted for terms of up to ten years. The option price of an incentive stock
option is not less than 100% of the fair market value of the Common Shares on
the date the option is granted. In the case of a participant owning more than
10% of the voting power of the Company's voting securities, the term of the
incentive stock option must be no more than five years and the option price must
be at least 110% of the fair market value of the Common Shares on the date the
option is granted. The option price for Common Shares under a nonqualified stock
option is determined by the Committee on the date such option is granted. The
Committee may, at its discretion, grant stock appreciation rights that give the
employee the right to be paid an amount equal to the excess of the market price
of the Common Shares at the date of the exercise of the option over the option
price. Payment of the stock appreciation right may be made in cash, Common
Shares of the Company, or a combination thereof. The 1992 Stock Incentive Plan
will expire by its terms on February 8, 2002. All options outstanding at the
time of termination of this plan will continue in full force and effect in
accordance with and subject to their terms.
8
<PAGE> 12
1992 Directors' Stock Option Plan. On February 15, 1997, the Company's
Board of Directors terminated the 1992 Directors' Stock Option Plan. Prior to
its termination, each individual who qualified as a nonemployee Director at the
close of any annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company automatically was
granted an option to purchase 1,200 Common Shares. The option price for each
Common Share purchasable under an option was the fair market value of a Common
Share on the date such option was granted. All options currently outstanding
will continue in full force and effect in accordance with and subject to their
terms. The 1992 Directors' Stock Option Plan has been replaced by the 1997
Directors' Stock Option Plan.
1997 Director's Stock Option Plan. The 1997 Director's Stock Option Plan
provides for the issuance of stock options to nonemployee Directors. At the
close of each annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company, nonemployee
Directors are automatically granted an option to purchase 10,000 Common Shares.
The option price for each Common Share purchasable under an option is the fair
market value of a Common Share on the date such option is granted as defined by
the plan. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, grant additional
options under the plan for newly elected nonemployee Directors. The 1997
Director's Stock Option Plan will expire by its terms on February 15, 2007. All
options outstanding at the time of termination of this plan will continue in
full force and effect in accordance with and subject to their terms.
1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
offers eligible employees of the Company the opportunity to acquire Common
Shares at a discount and without incurring any material acquisition costs.
Eligible employees can only participate in the Plan on a year-to-year basis,
must enroll prior to the commencement of each Plan year and must authorize
monthly payroll deductions. The purchase price of the Common Shares is 85
percent of the lower of the market price at the beginning or ending of the Plan
year, which is on a calendar basis. Generally, all employees of the Company are
eligible to participate in the Plan; however, temporary employees, employees who
are customarily employed for less than five months in any calendar year, and
employees who directly or indirectly own more than a 5% interest in the Company
are not eligible to participate.
The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of
the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the four other Named Executive
Officers of the Company as of September 30, 2000, during the fiscal years ended
September 30, 2000, 1999 and 1998.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
ANNUAL COMPENSATION COMPENSATION
------------------------- AWARDS
------------ ALL OTHER
STOCK COMPEN-
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY ($) BONUS ($) OPTIONS (#) SATION(1)
--------------------------- ---- ---------- --------- ------------ ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Joseph P. Keithley 2000 324,138 450,000 120,000 4,908
Chairman of the Board, 1999 303,225 360,000 144,000 2,908
President and 1998 284,500 48,500 126,000 2,436
Chief Executive Officer
Gabriel A. Rosica 2000 239,286 275,000 55,000 4,912
Senior Vice President and 1999 230,652 200,000 88,000 2,870
General Manager 1998 223,932 25,000 42,000 2,490
David H. Patricy 2000 178,536 200,000 48,000 4,825
Vice President and 1999 168,933 115,000 53,000 3,007
General Manager 1998 157,875 24,000 53,000 2,493
Mark J. Plush 2000 164,409 190,000 42,000 4,888
Vice President and 1999 148,671 110,000 40,000 2,596
Chief Financial Officer 1998 127,957 13,000 34,000 1,919
</TABLE>
9
<PAGE> 13
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
ANNUAL COMPENSATION COMPENSATION
------------------------- AWARDS
------------ ALL OTHER
STOCK COMPEN-
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY ($) BONUS ($) OPTIONS (#) SATION(1)
--------------------------- ---- ---------- --------- ------------ ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
D. Sherman Willows (2) 2000 155,415 180,000 0 4,901
Vice President 1999 127,957 113,250 16,000 2,972
Worldwide Sales 1998 -- -- -- --
</TABLE>
---------------
(1) Consists of matching contributions under the Company's Retirement Savings
Trust and Plan which is intended to qualify under Section 1.401-1(b)(3) of
the income tax regulations.
(2) Mr. Willows was appointed Vice President of Worldwide Sales effective
February 13, 1999. The salary information shown for 1999 includes the full
fiscal year; salary information for 1998 is not required to be reported.
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
% OF TOTAL VALUE AT ASSUMED
OPTIONS ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK
GRANTED TO EXERCISE PRICE APPRECIATION
OPTIONS EMPLOYEES OR BASE FOR OPTION TERM
GRANTED IN FISCAL PRICE EXPIRATION ----------------------
NAME (#) YEAR ($/SH) DATE 5% ($) 10% ($)
---- ------- ---------- -------- ---------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Joseph P. Keithley...... 120,000 20.5% 45.1250 8/01/10 3,405,464 8,630,115
Gabriel A. Rosica....... 55,000 9.4% 45.1250 8/01/10 1,560,838 3,955,470
David H. Patricy........ 48,000 8.2% 45.1250 8/01/10 1,362,186 3,452,046
Mark J. Plush........... 42,000 7.2% 45.1250 8/01/10 1,191,913 3,020,540
D. Sherman Willows...... 0 -- -- -- -- --
</TABLE>
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN FISCAL 2000 AND
SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXERCISED IN FISCAL
2000 VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
----------------------- NUMBER OF IN-THE-MONEY
SHARES UNEXERCISED OPTIONS AT OPTIONS AT
ACQUIRED VALUE SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 (#) SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 ($)
ON EXERCISE REALIZED --------------------------- ---------------------------
NAME (#) ($) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
---- ----------- -------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Joseph P. Keithley................. 253,000 8,767,031 114,000 357,000 7,524,625 18,618,688
Gabriel A. Rosica.................. 148,400 4,887,345 12,500 176,500 803,516 9,394,859
David H. Patricy................... 66,280 2,278,877 48,000 140,000 3,188,812 7,276,812
Mark J. Plush...................... 108,324 2,621,060 24,000 106,000 1,596,938 5,276,688
D. Sherman Willows................. 28,248 420,896 18,000 32,500 1,196,953 2,152,891
</TABLE>
COMPENSATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE REPORT
The Company's Board of Directors has delegated to the Compensation and
Human Resources Committee (the "Committee") the responsibility for evaluating
and recommending for formal board approval the amounts of compensation paid to
officers. The Committee is composed entirely of outside Directors.
The guiding philosophy of the Company's executive compensation program is
to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified senior managers to direct and
grow the Company. Information is gathered to provide guidelines on pay for
comparable positions in comparable industries. The pay of the officers is
managed to assure that, in general, it falls between the median and the
seventy-fifth percentiles of market survey averages. Beyond information that is
available to the Company, the consulting firm iQuantic is used to analyze the
competitiveness of the Company's compensation program.
10
<PAGE> 14
The program provides for a salary that is based upon individual
performance, an annual bonus that is based upon the attainment of performance
goals, and long-term incentives in the form of stock options. These programs
were described earlier on pages 7 through 9 of this Proxy Statement.
The salary for each executive officer is set based upon data from the
Company's compensation consultant, iQuantic. The information used is the range
of salaries paid to individuals who hold similar positions or have similar
responsibilities within companies or divisions of companies of similar size in
the electronics industry some, but not all, of which are in the S&P Technology
Sector Index used in the performance graph on page 13.
The magnitude of the annual bonus that is paid to each officer is
determined as follows. First, the targeted amount of bonus to be paid annually
is determined through the use of salary survey information based on a percentage
of annual salary. An appropriate mix of business unit and/or corporate financial
measures and individual performance measures is then determined and a payout
schedule is set based upon percentage attainment of the performance goals. The
magnitude of these performance goals is set in participation with the Board to
reflect the marketplace conditions and an expectation of continuous improvement.
The bonus payment begins at 70% attainment of financial goals and cannot exceed
the equivalent of annual salary without special Board approval. Based upon the
Company's financial performance and a high level of individual performance by
the Company's executive officers, the Committee recommended and the Board
approved the bonuses shown in the Summary Compensation Table.
Prior to 1995, incentive stock options (ISOs) were used to provide
long-term incentives to officers and other key employees. The ISOs currently
outstanding have an option price equal to the market price at the time of grant,
vest in four years and expire in ten years from the date of grant. Since 1995
non-qualified stock options have been used to provide long-term incentives to
officers and other key employees. Each year a stock option grant is made for
each officer based upon competitive market practices. Options generally vest in
four years and expire in ten years from the date of grant and have an option
price equal to the market price at the time of grant.
Chief Executive Officer Compensation
The Compensation and Human Resources Committee determined Mr. Keithley's
compensation for fiscal 2000 based upon a number of criteria. The major facts
that influenced the Committee's decisions were the median pay levels for CEOs in
electronics firms of similar size, the performance of the Company in sales
growth and level and quality of profits, and the general state of the electronic
test and measurement industry.
Mr. Keithley's base pay for 2000 was increased 7.6%. This increase leaves
Mr. Keithley's base salary comparable to others in equivalent positions in the
electronics industry. Mr. Keithley's bonus was determined in the same manner as
described for other executive officers.
Compensation and Human Resources Committee
R. Elton White, Chairman
James B. Griswold
Leon J. Hendrix, Jr.
William Hudson
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors oversees the Company's
financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. The Committee
is comprised of four independent directors as defined under the rules of the New
York Stock Exchange and operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of
Directors and included as Appendix A to this proxy statement. In fulfilling its
oversight responsibilities, the Committee reviewed the audited financial
statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30,
2000 with management, including a discussion of the quality, not just the
acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant
judgments, and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.
Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the
reporting process including the systems of internal controls.
11
<PAGE> 15
The Committee reviewed with the independent auditors, who are responsible
for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial
statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgments as to
the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company's accounting principles
and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Committee under
generally accepted auditing standards. In addition, the Committee has discussed
with the independent auditors the auditors' independence from management and the
Company, including the matters in the written disclosures required by the
Independence Standards Board.
The Committee discussed with the Company's independent auditors the overall
scope and plans for their audit. The Committee meets with the independent
auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their
examinations, their evaluations of the Company's internal controls, and the
overall quality of the Company's financial reporting.
Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee
recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board has approved, that the
audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended September 30, 2000 for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Audit Committee
James T. Bartlett, Chairman
Brian R. Bachman
James B. Griswold
R. Elton White
12
<PAGE> 16
COMPANY STOCK PERFORMANCE
The following performance graph compares the five-year cumulative return
from investing $100 on September 30, 1995 in each of the Company's Common
Shares, the Russell 2000 Index and the Standard & Poor's High Technology
Composite Index, with dividends assumed to be reinvested when received.
COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
AMONG KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC., THE RUSSELL 2000 INDEX
AND THE S & P TECHNOLOGY SECTOR INDEX
[PERFORMANCE GRAPH]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC. RUSSELL 2000 S&P TECHNOLOGY SECTOR
-------------------------- ------------ ---------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
9/95 100 100 100
9/96 60 113 123
9/97 82 151 200
9/98 35 122 226
9/99 100 145 395
9/00 1000 162 472
</TABLE>
*$100 INVESTED ON 09/30/95 IN STOCK OR INDEX,
INCLUDING REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS.
FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30.
ITEM THREE:
PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE COMPANY'S AMENDED ARTICLES OF
INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED COMMON SHARES
The Board of Directors has unanimously approved and recommended that the
shareholders adopt an amendment to the Company's Articles to increase the number
of authorized Common Shares to 89 million shares, consisting of 80 million
Common Shares and 9 million Class B Shares. The additional Common Shares for
which authorization is sought would have the same rights and privileges as the
Common Shares presently outstanding. Holders of Common Shares have no preemptive
rights to subscribe to or for any additional shares of the Company.
General. Under the proposal, division A of Article IV of the Articles would
be amended and restated as follows:
A. Classes and Number of Shares. The total number of shares of
all classes of capital stock which the Corporation shall have
authority to issue is 89,000,000 shares, consisting of
80,000,000 Common Shares, without par value (hereinafter the
"Common Shares") and 9,000,000 Class B Common Shares, without
par value (hereinafter the "Class B Common Shares")
13
<PAGE> 17
Vote Required. Under the Company's Articles, the affirmative vote of a
majority of the issued and outstanding Common Shares and the affirmative vote of
the majority of the issued and outstanding Common Shares and Class B Shares
combined is required for approval.
Purpose and Effects of the Amendment. As of December 19, 2000, 13,477,874
Common Shares were issued and outstanding and approximately 259,100 Common
Shares were held in treasury. Approximately 4,084,439 Common Shares were
reserved for issuance under stock option and stock purchase plans and
approximately 2,163,582 Common Shares were reserved for issuance upon conversion
of Class B Shares.
As of such date, excluding Common Shares already reserved as described
above, a balance of 10,015,005 authorized Common Shares would have been
available for issuance without shareholder action. Because such a large
percentage of the Company's authorized shares have been issued, the Board of
Directors believes that the Company's Articles should be amended to allow for
the issuance of additional shares of Common Shares by the Board from time to
time for proper corporate purposes. The Company may use additional authorized
(but unissued) stock in connection with a stock split or payment of a stock
dividend; the public offering of Common Shares to raise additional capital;
corporate acquisitions, mergers or strategic alliances; funding new business
plans and other general corporate purposes. For example, the Company issued
approximately 5.5 million Common Shares pursuant to a two-for-one stock split in
June 2000 and approximately 2.2 million Common Shares pursuant to a two-for-one
stock split in November 1995. Although there can be no assurance that similar
issuances will occur in the future, the Board believes it is advisable to have
Common Shares available for such issuances if conditions warrant. The Board has,
therefore, approved and recommends the shareholders adopt, an amendment to the
Company's Articles which increases the number of Common Shares which the Company
is authorized to issue from 30,000,000 Common Shares to 80,000,000 which,
combined with the 9,000,000 authorized Class B Shares, equals a total of
89,000,000 authorized shares.
While the Company has no present plan, agreement or commitment for the
issuance of additional Common Shares other than pursuant to existing employee
benefit plans or the conversion of Class B Shares, the Company's Board of
Directors believes that the number of Common Shares available for issuance may
be insufficient to meet the future needs of the company. By authorizing the
shares in advance of such need, the Company may be able to avoid the need to
obtain shareholder approval in the future, unless required by applicable law,
the New York Stock Exchange or contractual agreements. Passage of the proposal
might also enable the Company to avoid incurring the delay and significant
expense that would accompany a future request for shareholder approval.
Increasing the number of Common Shares will give the Company greater flexibility
in responding quickly to advantageous business opportunities. Furthermore, the
Board of Directors does not intend to issue any Common Shares, except on terms
which the Board of Directors deems to be in the best interests of the Company
and its shareholders.
Although a proposal to increase the authorized capital stock of a company
may be construed as having an anti-takeover effect, neither the management of
the Company nor its Board of Directors views this proposal in that perspective.
This proposal has not been prompted by an effort by anyone to gain control of
the Company, and the Company is not aware of any such attempt. However, the
authorized and unissued Common Shares could be issued for the purpose of
discouraging an attempt by another person or entity, through the acquisition of
a substantial number of Common Shares, to acquire control of the Company with a
view to effecting a merger, sale of the Company's assets, or similar
transaction, since the issuance of Common Shares could be used to dilute the
share ownership or voting rights of such a person or entity. Further, any of
such authorized but unissued Common Shares could be privately placed with
purchasers who might support incumbent management, making a change in control of
the Company more difficult.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THIS PROPOSAL.
14
<PAGE> 18
ITEM FOUR:
PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO ELIMINATE CUMULATIVE VOTING
The Board of Directors has unanimously approved and recommended that the
shareholders adopt an amendment to the Company's Articles to eliminate
cumulative voting in the election of Directors. Under the proposal, the
following ARTICLE XI would be added to the Company's Articles:
ARTICLE XI
Notwithstanding any provision hereof or of Chapter 1701 of
the Ohio Revised Code, now or hereafter in effect, no
shareholder may cumulate such shareholder's voting power in the
election of directors.
Vote Required. Under the Company's Articles, the affirmative vote of a
majority of the issued and outstanding Common Shares and the affirmative vote of
the majority of the issued and outstanding Common Shares and Class B Shares
combined is required for approval.
Purpose and Effects of the Amendment. In an election of Directors under
cumulative voting, each share has a number of votes equal to the number of
Directors to be elected, and each shareholder may cast all of his votes for a
single candidate or allocate them among as many candidates and in such
proportions as he chooses. Under cumulative voting, minority shareholders may
cast all their votes for one candidate (instead of spreading their votes equally
among all candidates) and may elect one or more candidates to the Board of
Directors, who would not otherwise have received sufficient votes to be elected.
Without cumulative voting, each shareholder would be entitled to cast one vote
per share for a candidate for Director so that the holders of a majority of
shares would have the power to elect the entire Board of Directors. If the
proposal to eliminate cumulative voting is approved, the ability of minority
shareholders to elect a representative to the Board of Directors without the
cooperation of the shareholders owning a majority of the common shares would be
greatly reduced, if not eliminated. Therefore, the proposal could have an
anti-takeover effect and the effect of entrenching current management.
The holders of the Company's Common Shares have the right to elect
one-fourth of the Directors pursuant to the Company's Articles ensuring those
holders representation on the Board. Since cumulative voting could permit
holders of a minority of Common Shares to elect one or more Directors to the
Board of Directors, this proposal would help prevent special interest groups
from electing a Director who does not serve the interest of all shareholders.
The proposal eliminates the possession of rights by shareholders that are
disproportionate to their respective share holdings.
While the elimination of cumulative voting may impact the voting rights of
certain minority shareholders, cumulative voting creates an administrative
expense and burden to administer for the Company. Further, the Company's
shareholders, as a matter of practice, do not exercise the right of cumulative
voting in the election of the Directors.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THIS PROPOSAL.
OTHER MATTERS
The firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP served as the independent auditors
for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2000, and the Company has selected
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to so serve for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2001. A representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is expected to be present
at the Annual Meeting, and he will have an opportunity to make a statement if he
so desires. The representative will also be available to respond to appropriate
questions from shareholders.
Reports will be laid before the meeting, including a letter from the
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and the President which
accompanies the financial statements of the Company, and the report of
independent accountants. The Board of Directors does not contemplate and does
not intend to present for consideration the taking of action by shareholders
with respect to any reports to be laid before the
15
<PAGE> 19
meeting or with respect to the minutes of the Annual Meeting held on February
12, 2000, which will be read at the meeting on February 17, 2001, unless a
motion to dispense with a reading is adopted.
The Board of Directors of the Company is not aware of any matter to come
before the meeting other than those mentioned in the accompanying Notice.
However, if other matters shall properly come before the meeting, it is the
intention of the persons named in the accompanying Proxy to vote in accordance
with their best judgment on such matters.
Any shareholder proposal intended to be presented at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held in 2002 in compliance with Rule 14a-8 promulgated under
the Exchange Act must be received by the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer at its principal executive offices not later than August 30, 2001, for
inclusion in the Board of Directors' Proxy Statement and form of Proxy relating
to that meeting. Each proposal submitted should be accompanied by the name and
address of the shareholder submitting the proposal and the number of Common
Shares and/or Class B Common Shares owned. If the proponent is not a shareholder
of record, proof of beneficial ownership should be submitted. For those
shareholder proposals which are not submitted in accordance with Rule 14a-8, the
appointed proxies may exercise their discretionary voting authority for any
proposal received after November 14, 2001, without any discussion of the
proposal in the Company's proxy statement.
Upon the receipt of a written request from any shareholder entitled to vote
at the forthcoming Annual Meeting, the Company will mail, at no charge to the
shareholder, a copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the
financial statements and schedules required to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 13a-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, for the Company's most recent fiscal year. Requests from
beneficial owners of the Company's voting securities must set forth a good faith
representation that as of the record date for the Annual Meeting, the person
making the request was the beneficial owner of securities entitled to vote at
such Annual Meeting. Written requests for such report should be directed to:
Mark J. Plush
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Keithley Instruments, Inc.
28775 Aurora Road
Solon, Ohio 44139
You are urged to sign and return your Proxy promptly in order to make
certain your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting. For your convenience, a
return envelope is enclosed requiring no additional postage if mailed in the
United States.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ John M. Gherlein
JOHN M. GHERLEIN
Secretary
December 29, 2000
16
<PAGE> 20
APPENDIX A
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC. AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its
fiduciary responsibility by serving as an informed and effective overseer of the
financial reporting process, including the company's internal controls, the
independent audit and the internal audit process.
The Committee shall be composed of at least three directors who are free of
any relationship that, in the opinion on the Board of Directors, would interfere
with their exercise of independent judgement as a Committee member. Each member
shall have adequate financial experience with one member possessing accounting
or related financial management expertise, as the Board of Directors interprets
such qualifications in its business judgment.
Committee members will maintain an awareness of the Corporation's
operations and be cognizant of the factors that could contribute to an increased
risk of inaccurate, biased, misleading, or fraudulent reporting. All reasonable
resources required to discharge responsibilities will be employed.
The Committee shall be responsible for the selection of the independent
auditors, subject to full Board approval, and the independent auditors shall be
accountable to the Board and the Committee. As part of its effectiveness, the
Committee will maintain free and open communications between the directors, the
independent auditors, and the financial management of the Corporation. The
Committee should meet at least twice annually or more frequently if
circumstances make that preferable.
In carrying out these responsibilities, the Audit Committee will:
1. Confirm and assure the independence of the outside auditor with regard
to the company by periodically reviewing formal written statements
delineating all relationships between the auditor and the company, and
by discussing such findings with the independent auditor.
2. Meet with the independent auditors and the Corporation's financial
management to review the scope of the current year's audit and the
processes to be followed to detect fraud or internal control weakness.
3. Review the annual financial statements with the auditors to determine
that the independent auditors are satisfied that the disclosure and
content meet applicable standards.
4. Review the independent auditors' findings and recommendations at the
conclusion of each audit. Review effects of new accounting
pronouncements. Consider impact of significant tax issues or IRS
audits.
5. Meet privately with the independent auditors concerning:
- The quality and depth of staffing in the financial auditing areas;
- Major concerns;
- Any other matters which should be called to the Committee's attention.
6. Ascertain that management is constantly striving to satisfy its
responsibility for providing adequate internal control in the
Corporation's systems by regular evaluation and review of overall
internal control systems and their effectiveness with the independent
auditors.
7. Periodically review the need for an internal audit function and/or its
effectiveness and make appropriate recommendations.
8. Review management's program to monitor compliance with the corporate
code of conduct annually.
- Obtain signed acknowledgements from management personnel on business
ethics practices.
- Focus on controls to expose payments, transactions, procedures which
might be illegal or improper.
- Review procedures for determining level of officers' expenses and
prerequisites.
9. Meet regularly and report activities to the Board; provide copies of
all meeting minutes to Board members.
10. Review and reassess the adequacy of the Audit Committee Charter on an
annual basis.
<PAGE> 21
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
[GRAPHIC]
Please mark, sign, date and return the proxy card promptly,
using the enclosed envelope
DETACH CARD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC. COMMON SHARES
The undersigned hereby appoints JOSEPH P. KEITHLEY and MARK J. PLUSH and each of
them, as Proxy holders and attorneys, with full power of substitution, to appear
and vote all the Common Shares of Keithley Instruments, Inc. which the
undersigned shall be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
the Company to be held February 17, 2001, and at any postponements or
adjournments thereof, and directs said proxies to vote as specified herein on
the matters set forth in the notice of the meeting, and to transact such other
business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment
thereof, hereby revoking any and all proxies heretofore given.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ITEM 1, ITEM 2, ITEM 3 AND ITEM 4.
1. PROPOSAL TO FIX THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY AT NINE
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
2. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS, Nominees: FOR [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY [ ]
Joseph P. Keithley; Brian R. Bachman; James T Bartlett*; Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr.; James B. Griswold; Leon J. Hendrix,
Jr.*; William J. Hudson, Jr.; and R. Elton White
*Elected by holders of Common Shares only.
</TABLE>
TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE(S), WRITE THE NAME OF
THE NOMINEE(S) IN THE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE COMPANY'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE
THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED COMMON SHARES.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
4. PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO
ELIMINATE CUMULATIVE VOTING IN THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
(CONTINUED, AND TO BE SIGNED ON OTHER SIDE)
<PAGE> 22
[KEITHLEY LOGO]
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
FEBRUARY 17, 2001
12:00 NOON
DETACH CARD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Continued from the other side)
In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business
as may properly come before the meeting.
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY FOR THE
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2001.
YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO SPECIFY YOUR CHOICES BY MARKING THE APPROPRIATE BOXES, SEE
REVERSE SIDE, BUT YOU NEED NOT MARK ANY BOXES IF YOU WISH TO VOTE IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' RECOMMENDATIONS. THE PROXIES NAMED ABOVE CANNOT
VOTE YOUR SHARES UNLESS YOU SIGN AND RETURN THIS CARD.
This Proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by
the shareholder. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR ITEM 1,
ITEM 2, ITEM 3 AND 4.
The signer hereby revokes all
proxies heretofore given by
the signer to vote at said
meeting or any adjournments
thereof. NOTE: Please sign
name(s) exactly as printed
hereon. Joint owners should
each sign. Persons signing as
executors, administrators,
trustees or in similar
capacities should so indicate.
------------------------------
------------------------------
SIGNATURE(S) DATE
<PAGE> 23
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
[GRAPHIC]
Please mark, sign, date and return the proxy card promptly,
using the enclosed envelope
DETACH CARD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC. CLASS B COMMON SHARES
The undersigned hereby appoints JOSEPH P. KEITHLEY and MARK J. PLUSH and each of
them, as Proxy holders and attorneys, with full power of substitution, to appear
and vote all the Class B Common Shares of Keithley Instruments, Inc. which the
undersigned shall be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
the Company to be held February 17, 2001, and at any postponements or
adjournments thereof, and directs said proxies to vote as specified herein on
the matters set forth in the notice of the meeting, and to transact such other
business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment
thereof, hereby revoking any and all proxies heretofore given.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ITEM 1, ITEM 2, ITEM 3 AND ITEM 4.
1. PROPOSAL TO FIX THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY AT NINE
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
2. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS, Nominees: FOR [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY [ ]
Joseph P. Keithley; Brian R. Bachman; Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr.;
James B. Griswold; William J. Hudson, Jr.; and R. Elton White
</TABLE>
TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE(S), WRITE THE NAME OF
THE NOMINEE(S) IN THE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE COMPANY'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE
THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED COMMON SHARES.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
4. PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO
ELIMINATE CUMULATIVE VOTING IN THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
(CONTINUED, AND TO BE SIGNED ON OTHER SIDE)
<PAGE> 24
[KEITHLEY LOGO]
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
FEBRUARY 17, 2001
12:00 NOON
DETACH CARD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Continued from the other side)
In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business
as may properly come before the meeting.
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY FOR THE
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2001.
YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO SPECIFY YOUR CHOICES BY MARKING THE APPROPRIATE BOXES, SEE
REVERSE SIDE, BUT YOU NEED NOT MARK ANY BOXES IF YOU WISH TO VOTE IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' RECOMMENDATIONS. THE PROXIES NAMED ABOVE CANNOT
VOTE YOUR SHARES UNLESS YOU SIGN AND RETURN THIS CARD.
This Proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by
the shareholder. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR ITEM 1,
ITEM 2, ITEM 3 AND 4.
The signer hereby revokes all
proxies heretofore given by
the signer to vote at said
meeting or any adjournments
thereof. NOTE: Please sign
name(s) exactly as printed
hereon. Joint owners should
each sign. Persons signing as
executors, administrators,
trustees or in similar
capacities should so indicate.
------------------------------
------------------------------
SIGNATURE(S) DATE
