<PAGE> 1
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>
/ / Preliminary Proxy Statement / / Confidential, for Use of the Commission
/X/ Definitive Proxy Statement Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Soliciting Material Pursuant to
sec. 240.14a-11(c) or sec. 240.14a-12
</TABLE>
GISH BIOMEDICAL, 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/ $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), or 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(i)(2)
or Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
/ / $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
14a-6(i)(3).
/ / 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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<PAGE> 2
GISH BIOMEDICAL, INC.
2681 KELVIN AVENUE
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92614
-------------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 13, 1996
The Shareholders of Gish Biomedical, Inc.
Notice is hereby given that the 1996 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Gish
Biomedical, Inc., a California corporation (the "Company"), will be held at the
offices of the Company, 2681 Kelvin Avenue, Irvine, California, 92614, at 2:00
P.M., Pacific Standard Time, on November 13, 1996 for the following purposes:
(1) To elect six directors, the names of which are set forth in
the accompanying proxy statement, to serve until the 1997
Annual Meeting.
(2) To ratify the selection of Ernst & Young as auditors for the
year ending June 30, 1997.
(3) To transact such other business as may properly be brought
before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Shareholders of record at the close of business on September 20, 1996, are the
only shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual Shareholders Meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ JEANNE M. MILLER
----------------------------------
Jeanne M. Miller
Secretary
Irvine, California
October 1, 1996
<PAGE> 3
GISH BIOMEDICAL, INC.
A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION
2681 KELVIN AVENUE
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92614
---------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
---------------------
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
NOVEMBER 13, 1996
2:00 P.M.
---------------------
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE SOLICITATION
This statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies to
be used at the Annual Shareholders Meeting "Annual Meeting" of Gish Biomedical,
Inc. (the "Company"), a California corporation, to be held November 13, 1996.
The solicitation of proxies in the enclosed form is made on behalf of the Board
of Directors of the Company.
The cost of preparing, assembling and mailing the proxy material and of
reimbursing brokers, nominees, and fiduciaries for the out-of-pocket and
clerical expenses of transmitting copies of the proxy material to the
beneficial owners of shares held of record by such persons will be borne by the
Company. The Company does not intend to solicit proxies otherwise than by use
of the mail, but certain officers and regular employees of the Company or its
subsidiaries, without additional compensation, may use their personal efforts,
by telephone or otherwise, to obtain proxies. The proxy materials are being
mailed to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 20,
1996.
A shareholder signing and returning a proxy on the enclosed form has the power
to revoke it at any time before the shares subject to it are voted by notifying
the Secretary of the Company in writing. If a shareholder specifies how the
proxy is to be voted with respect to any of the proposals for which a choice is
provided, the proxy will be voted in accordance with such specifications. If a
shareholder fails to so specify with respect to such proposals, the proxy will
be voted FOR proposals 1 and 2.
Abstentions and broker non-votes are each included in the determination of the
number of shares present and voting for the purpose of determining whether a
quorum is present, and each is tabulated separately. In determining whether a
proposal has been approved, broker non-votes are not counted as votes for or
against a proposal but are included in the determination of the number of
shares present and voting on the proposal.
SHAREHOLDERS' PROPOSALS FOR NEXT ANNUAL MEETING
Shareholders' proposals intended to be presented at the 1997 Annual Meeting
must be received by the Company no later than June 3, 1997, for inclusion in
the Company's proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting.
OUTSTANDING VOTING SECURITIES
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on September 20, 1996, are
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On that day, there were issued and
outstanding 3,374,632 shares of Common Stock. Each share has one vote on all
matters other than, under certain conditions, the election of directors, (see
"Cumulative Voting"). A simple majority of the total shares represented at the
Annual Meeting is required to elect directors and ratify or approve the other
item being voted on at this time.
<PAGE> 4
CUMULATIVE VOTING
California law and the bylaws of the Company provide that in elections of
directors, if any shareholder makes a proper request to cumulate such
shareholder's votes at a shareholder meeting prior to the vote for directors,
all shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting will
be entitled to cumulate their votes. Under cumulative voting, each shareholder
or proxy is entitled to multiply the number of shares to be voted on behalf of
that shareholder times the number of directors to be elected and distribute the
number of votes produced by the formula among one or more candidates as the
person voting the shares thinks fit.
Discretionary authority to cumulate votes represented by the proxies requested
hereby is solicited by the Company's Board of Directors because, in the event
that nominations are made in opposition to the nominees of the Board of
Directors, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to
cumulate votes represented by proxies for individual nominees in accordance
with their best judgment in order to assure the election of as many of the
nominees of the Board of Directors as possible.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL HOLDERS
Listed in the following table are the beneficial owners as of September 20,
1996, of more than five percent of the Company's outstanding Common Stock. In
addition, this table includes the outstanding voting securities beneficially
owned by the executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table who
are not directors of the Company, and the number of shares owned by directors
and executive officers as a group. Any voting securities beneficially owned by
directors and director nominees are disclosed under Election of Directors
below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================
AMOUNT AND NATURE OF
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP (1)(2) PERCENT OF CLASS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. 203,800 6%
1299 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90104(3)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heartland Advisors, Inc. 516,900 15%
790 North Milwaukee Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202(4)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Creative Medical Development, Inc. 240,240 7%
870 Gold Flat Road, Nevada City, CA 95959
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jack W. Brown 506,751 14%
2681 Kelvin Avenue, Irvine, California 92614
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeanne M. Miller 184,200 5%
2681 Kelvin Avenue, Irvine, California 92614(5)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All officers and directors as a group, seven persons 953,133 24%
====================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) Except as otherwise noted below, the persons named in the table have
sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as
beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where
applicable.
(2) Includes shares subject to outstanding stock options exercisable
within 60 days of the record date as follows: Mr. Brown 359,315; Ms.
Miller 155,000; and all officers and directors as a group 624,940.
(3) According to a report filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, Dimensional Fund Advisors has sole voting power with
respect to 109,650 of these shares and sole dispositive power with
respect to all of these shares.
(4) According to Heartland Advisors, Inc. they have sole voting power with
respect to 477,900 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to
all of these shares.
(5) Ms. Miller, age 39, joined the Company in 1982 as its Controller. She
was promoted to Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in May of
1986 and become corporate secretary in November 1986. Before joining
the Company she was with Ernst & Young, LLP.
<PAGE> 5
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
PROPOSAL 1:
Six directors will be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve until the 1997
Annual Meeting or until their successors shall have been chosen and qualified.
All of the nominees are directors of the Company and were elected by the
shareholders at the 1995 Annual Meeting. All of the nominees named below have
indicated their willingness to serve. However, in the event any one or more of
such nominees shall be unable to serve, votes will be cast, pursuant to
authority granted by the enclosed proxy, for such person or persons as may be
designated by the Board of Directors, unless the Board reduces the number of
directors to be elected at the meeting. The board of directors recommends that
you vote FOR the election of each of the nominees named below. The names of
the nominees for directors of the Company are listed in the following table.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===================================================================================================================
AMOUNT AND NATURE OF
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
NAME, POSITION(3)(4) AGE DIRECTOR SINCE (1)(2) PERCENT OF CLASS
===================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Jack W. Brown, 56 1980 506,751 14%
Chairman of the Board, President
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard A. Braun, 55 1988 33,375 1%
Director
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ray R. Coulter, 63 1979 31,909 1%
Director
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard W. Dutrisac, 57 1987 22,125 1%
Director
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James B. Glavin, 61 1988 24,625 1%
Director
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John S. Hagestad, 49 1979 147,148 5%
Director
===================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) Reflects amounts of the Company's Common Stock held as of September
20, 1996. Except as otherwise noted below, the persons named in the
table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares
shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property
laws where applicable.
(2) Includes shares subject to outstanding stock options exercisable
within 60 days of the record date as follows: Mr. Brown, 359,315, Mr.
Braun, 22,125, Mr. Coulter, 22,125, Mr. Dutrisac, 22,125, Mr. Glavin,
22,125, Mr. Hagestad, 22,125 and all officers and directors as a
group, 624,940, including the foregoing.
(3) There are no family relationships among the officers and directors of
the Company.
(4) The mailing address for each director is 2681 Kelvin Ave., Irvine, Ca
92614.
Nominee's business experience and other Directorships
Mr. Brown joined the company in 1980 as the Vice President of Marketing.
Shortly thereafter in 1980 Mr. Brown was elected President and Chairman of the
Board of Directors. Prior thereto Mr. Brown was director of Market and Product
development for Bentley Laboratories, Inc., a manufacturer of disposable
Cardiovascular devices. Mr. Brown also serves on the board of ICU Medical, a
medical device manufacturer.
Mr. Braun was formerly the President of CardioVascular Concepts, a distributor
of Medical Products in the South Western United States. He is presently
employed in a consulting capacity as Vice President, Corporate Affairs for
CardioVascular Concepts. Mr. Braun is also pursuing private business
interests.
Mr. Coulter is a co-founder and has been the Chief Financial Officer of Wintec
Ltd., a wind park development and management company, since June 1985. Prior
thereto, he was a practicing attorney in the Los Angeles area for 20 years.
3
<PAGE> 6
Mr. Dutrisac has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of PFE, Inc., a
medical export company based in Newport Beach, California since 1979. Mr.
Dutrisac has been involved in the medical industry for 34 years.
Mr. Glavin is Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Immune Response
Corporation, a bio-pharmaceutical firm. From April 1987 to September 1994, Mr.
Glavin was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Immune Response
Corporation. Mr. Glavin serves on the boards of directors of The Immune
Response Corporation, Inhale Therapeutic Systems (a medical device company),
and the Meridian Mutual Fund, Inc. (a mutual fund).
Mr. Hagestad is a Managing Director of Sares/Regis Group, a firm specializing
in real estate acquisition, development and management, located in Irvine,
California. He has been associated with Sares/Regis Group for more than 20
years.
Directors' Fees
Director's who are not officers of the Company each receive a fee of $8,000 per
fiscal year and an additional fee of $500 for attendance at each Board of
Directors' and committee meeting. Officers of the Company do not receive
additional compensation for attendance at Board of Directors' meetings or
committee meetings.
Formula Grant of Options to Non-Employee Directors
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Company's Incentive Stock Option,
Non-qualified Stock Option and Restricted Stock Purchase Plan - 1987, as
amended (the "Plan"), a Non-qualified option shall be granted under the Plan on
the last day of each fiscal year of the Company, to each person who is, as of
the last day of the fiscal year in question, a director of the Company, but is
not then an employee of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company. The
number of shares of Common Stock subject to each such option shall be equal to
a minimum of 5,000 shares plus the product of the gain, if applicable, in
market value multiplied by one thousand shares, the sum of which is not to
exceed an aggregate of fifteen thousand shares. The gain in market value is
calculated by subtracting the closing price of the Company's Common Stock on
the last day of the prior fiscal year from the closing price of the Company's
Common Stock on the last day of the current fiscal year. The exercise price of
the shares subject to each stock option granted shall be 100% of the fair
market value of such shares on the date of the grant of the option.
Board of Directors' Affiliations
No affiliations exist between the Company and the non-employee nominees to the
Board of Directors.
Management Indebtedness
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1991 the Company loaned $100,000 for the
exercise of Gish Biomedical, Inc. common stock options to Mr. Jack W. Brown,
President and Chairman of the Board. During the year ended June 30, 1996, Mr.
Brown repaid $10,000 and the balance of the note was renewed. The note is
secured by Company stock, bears interest at 5.5% per annum and is due within
one year.
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1995, the Company loaned $40,000 to Ms.
Jeanne M. Miller, Vice President and Secretary. During the year ended June 30,
1996 the note was renewed. The note is secured by Company stock and bears
interest at 5.5% per annum and is due within one year.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Pursuant to the Company's by-laws, the Board of Directors has appointed two
standing committees from among its members. These committees are the Audit and
Compensation Committees. The Board of Directors does not have a standing
nominating committee.
4
<PAGE> 7
The function of the Audit Committee is to review and report to the Board on the
financial statements of the Company prepared by management and to review and
report to the Board the results of audit examinations by the Company's
independent public accountants. The members of the Audit Committee are Ray R.
Coulter, James B. Glavin and John S. Hagestad.
The Compensation Committee reviews and recommends compensation of Company
officers to the Board and administers the Company's 1981 and 1987 Stock Option
Plans. The Committee is authorized to grant employee stock options to
non-officer employees of up to 3,750 shares. The members of the Compensation
Committee are Richard W. Dutrisac, James B. Glavin and John S. Hagestad.
Meeting Attendance
There were 5 meetings of the Board of Directors during the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1996, two meeting of the Audit Committee and one meeting of the
Compensation Committee. All directors attended more than 75% of the meetings
of the Board and of the committees of which they are members.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the annual and long-term compensation for the
Company's Executive Officers (the "Named Executives") as well as the total
compensation paid to each individual for the Company's two previous fiscal
years:
SUMMARY OF COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
==============================================================================================================================
LONG-TERM
ANNUAL COMPENSATION COMPENSATION
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER ANNUAL STOCK
NAME AND COMPENSATION OPTIONS ALL OTHER
PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY($) BONUS($)(2) ($)(1) (SHARES) COMPENSATION(4)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Jack W. Brown 1996 160,000 33,749 5,692 -- 250
President and Chief 1995 160,000 59,610 5,370 60,000 --
Executive Officer of the 1994 160,000 34,667 3,932 -- --
Company
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeanne M. Miller 1996 120,000 26,728 4,777 -- 250
Vice President and Chief 1995 120,000 44,851 5,101 20,000 --
Financial Officer of the 1994 120,000 26,360 3,084 -- --
Company
==============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) Other Annual Compensation consists of the personal use portion of
company-provided automobiles and premiums paid on executive disability
policies.
(2) Bonuses paid to the Named Executives are pursuant to annual incentive
compensation programs established each year for selected employees of
the Company, including the Company's executive officers. Under this
program, performance goals, relating to such matters as sales growth,
gross profit margin and net income as a percentage of sales and
individual efforts are established each year. Incentive compensation,
in the form of cash bonuses, was awarded based on the extent to which
the Company and the individual achieved or exceeded the performance
goals.
(3) All Other Compensation consists of the Company's matching
contributions to the Gish Salary Savings Plan under Section 401K of
$250 in fiscal 1996.
Option Grants
Aggregate Option Exercises and Fiscal Year-End Option Values
The following table provides information on option exercises in fiscal 1996 by
the Named Executives and the value of unexercised in-the-money options held by
the Named Executives as of June 30, 1996.
5
<PAGE> 8
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===============================================================================================================================
Number of Unexercised Options at Value of Unexercised In-the-Money
June 30, 1996 Options at June 30, 1995($)(1)(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares
Acquired on Value
Name Exercise Realized($) Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Jack W. Brown 6,000 $27,250 359,315 31,370 $1,480,459 $194,180
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeanne M. Miller 9,950 $49,682 138,750 20,000 $ 215,520 $ 20,000
===============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) The average of the high and low prices of the Company's common stock
on June 30, 1996 on the NASDAQ National Market System was $6.00. The
dollar amounts shown reflect the value of options accumulated over a
ten-year period from 1987-1996.
(2) Values are calculated by subtracting the exercise price from the fair
market value of the stock as of June 30, 1996.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Compensation Committee is a standing committee of the Board of Directors of
the Company. The Compensation Committee is responsible for establishing and
evaluating the effectiveness of compensation policies and programs for the
Company and for making determinations regarding the compensation of the
Company's executive officers, subject to review by the full Board of Directors.
In fiscal year 1996 the members of the Committee were John S. Hagestad, Richard
W. Dutrisac, and James B. Glavin, who are non-employee directors of the
Company.
Report of the Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation
The following report is submitted by the Compensation Committee members with
respect to the executive compensation policies established by the Compensation
Committee and compensation paid or awarded to executive officers who consist of
Jack Brown (the Company's Chief Executive Officer) and Jeanne Miller (the
Company's Vice President and Chief Financial Officer)(the "Officers") for
fiscal year 1996.
Compensation Policies and Objectives
In establishing, and also evaluating the effectiveness of, compensation
programs for Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee is guided by three
basic principles:
o The Company must offer competitive salaries to be able to
attract and retain highly-qualified and experienced executives
and other management personnel.
o Executive compensation in excess of base salaries should be
tied to the Company's performance, measured in terms of sales
growth, gross profit and profitability, as well as attainment
of individual objectives.
o The financial interests of the Company's executives should be
aligned with the financial interests of the shareholders,
primarily through stock option grants which reward executives
for improvements in the market performance of the Company's
Common Stock.
Salaries and Employee Benefit Programs
In order to retain executives and other key employees, and to be able to
attract additional well-qualified executives when the need arises, the Company
strives to offer salaries, health care and other employee benefit programs, to
its executives and other employees which are comparable to those offered by
competing businesses.
6
<PAGE> 9
In establishing salaries for the Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee
reviews (i) the historical performance of the Executive Officers; and (ii)
available information regarding prevailing salaries and compensation programs
offered by competing businesses. Another factor which is considered in
establishing salaries of the Executive Officers is the cost of living in
Southern California where the Company is headquartered, as such cost is
generally higher than in other parts of the country.
Salary increases in future years are expected to be limited for the most part
to cost-of-living increases. Merit increases in salaries for management
employees have been substantially eliminated in favor of incentive compensation
programs, described below, that are tied to the Company's performance.
However, in order to retain qualified management personnel, the Company has
followed the practice of seeking to promote executives from within the Company
whenever that is practicable. The Board of Directors believes that this policy
enhances employee morale and provides continuity of management. Typically,
modest appropriate increases are made in conjunction with such promotions.
Performance-Based Compensation
The Compensation Committee believes that annual compensation in excess of base
salaries should be made dependent on both the Company's performance and the
individual executive's performance. Accordingly, at the beginning of each
fiscal year, the Compensation Committee establishes an incentive compensation
program for executive officers and other key management personnel under which
the Executive Officers and other key management personnel may earn bonuses, in
amounts ranging from 15% to 40% of their annual salaries, provided the
individuals meet their individual performance goals and the Company achieves or
exceeds the corporate performance goals for the year.
The Company performance goals are established on the basis of the annual
operating plan developed by management and approved by the Board of Directors.
The measurements used to determine Company performance are sales growth, gross
profit as a percentage of sales and income before taxes as a percentage of
sales. The annual operating plan, which is designed to maximize profitability,
within the constraints of economic and competitive conditions, some of which
are outside the control of the Company, is developed on the basis of (i) the
Company's performance in the prior year; (ii) estimates of sales revenue for
the plan year based upon recent market conditions and trends and other factors
which, based on historical experience, are expected to affect the level of
sales that can be achieved; (iii) historical operating costs and cost savings
that management believes can be realized; and (iv) competitive conditions faced
by the Company. By taking all of these factors into account, including market
conditions, the corporate performance goals in the annual operating plan are
fixed at what is believed to be a realistic level so as to make the incentives
meaningful to executives and to avoid penalizing executives and other key
management personnel for conditions outside of their control.
Bonuses under the incentive plan are awarded not only on the basis of the
Company's performance, but also on the achievement by an executive of specific
objectives within his or her area of responsibility. For example, a bonus may
be awarded for an executive's efforts in achieving greater than anticipated
cost savings, or establishing new or expanding existing markets for the
Company's products. The maximum bonus that may be awarded for individual
achievement of specific objectives is half of the total available under the
program.
As a result of this performance-based bonus program, executive compensation,
and the proportion of each executive's total cash compensation that is
represented by incentive or bonus income, increases in those years in which the
Company meets its performance goals. On the other hand, in years in which the
Company does not meet its goals, bonuses, and therefore also total executive
compensation, tend to be lower.
7
<PAGE> 10
Stock Options and Equity-Based Programs
In order to align the financial interests of senior executives and other key
employees with those of the shareholders, the Company grants stock options to
its senior executives and other key employees on a periodic basis. Stock
option grants, in particular, reward senior executives and other key employees
for performance that results in increases in the market price of the Company's
Common Stock, which directly benefit all shareholders. Moreover, the
Compensation Committee generally has followed the practice of granting options
on terms which provide that the options become exercisable in cumulative annual
installments, generally over a two to four-year period. The Compensation
Committee believes that this feature of the option grants not only provides an
incentive for senior executives to remain in the employ of the Company, but
also makes longer term growth in share prices important for the executives who
receive stock options.
Fiscal Year 1996 Compensation
In fiscal 1996, 19% of the Company's performance goals were met under the
incentive plan. Therefore, Mr. Brown received $6,037 out of a maximum of
$32,000 under the plan and Ms. Miller received $4,528 out of a maximum of
$24,000 under the plan for the achievement of these goals.
With respect to meeting the individual performance criteria it was determined
that Mr. Brown met 94% of his individual goals and therefore earned $27,712 out
of a maximum of $32,000 and Ms. Miller met 94% of her individual goals and
therefore earned $20,200 out of a maximum of $24,000. Evaluations of the
Company's performance and individual performance are determined with respect to
each quarter and overall fiscal year performance.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Company's previous or
future filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that might incorporate by reference previous
or future filings, including this Proxy Statement, in whole or in part, the
foregoing Report, and the performance graph on page 9, shall not be
incorporated by reference into any such filings.
Richard W. Dutrisac, member James B. Glavin, member
John S. Hagestad, member
8
<PAGE> 11
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph sets forth the cumulative shareholder return (assuming
dividend reinvestment) to the Company's shareholders during the five year period
ended June 30, 1996 as well as an overall stock market index (Media General
Index) and the Company's peer group index (Media General Index of Medical
Instruments and Supplies):
COMPARE 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG GISH BIOMEDICAL INC.,
MEDIA GENERAL INDEX AND MG GROUP INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MEASUREMENT PERIOD GISH INDUSTRY
(FISCAL YEAR COVERED) BIOMEDICAL INC. INDEX BROAD MARKET
--------------------- --------------- -------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1991 100.00 100.00 100.00
1992 131.25 116.66 112.69
1993 71.88 105.50 129.46
1994 62.50 100.07 135.29
1995 89.06 142.56 161.02
1996 71.88 188.62 201.31
</TABLE>
ASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON JULY 1, 1991
ASSUMES DIVIDEND REINVESTED
FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1996
The stock performance graph assumes $100 was invested on July 1, 1991.
Assumes dividend reinvested fiscal year ending June 30, 1996.
9
<PAGE> 12
Profit Sharing Plan
The Company has a Salary Reduction Profit Sharing Plan, established under
Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, in which all employees are
eligible to participate (the "Profit Sharing Plan"). Under the provisions of
the Profit Sharing Plan employees may cause up to 15% of their salary to be
contributed to the Profit Sharing Plan. Contributions by employees are held in
a trust established under the Profit Sharing Plan and invested as directed by
each participant. A participant's contributions and the earnings thereon are
payable to the participant or his or her survivors upon death, disability or
retirement in a lump sum or installments over not more than 15 years as
directed by the participant. The Company matches up to $250 of annual
contributions by each employee. For the plan year ended December 31, 1995, the
Company made contributions to the Profit Sharing Plan totaling $42,315 and paid
administrative costs of $11,557. Non-employee directors are not eligible to
participate in the Profit Sharing Plan.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Based upon its review of the copies of reporting forms furnished to the
Company, the Company believes that all filing requirements under Section 16(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 applicable to its directors, officers
and any persons holding ten percent or more of the Company's Common Stock with
respect to the Company's fiscal year ended June 30, 1996, were satisfied.
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
PROPOSAL 2:
Subject to ratification by the shareholders, the Board of Directors has
reappointed Ernst & Young as independent auditors to audit the financial
statements of the Company for the current fiscal year. Ernst & Young has
served as the Company's auditors since 1979 and has issued its report on the
Company's financial statements for the last fourteen years.
Representatives of the of Ernst & Young are expected to be present at the
Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they so
desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
The Audit Committee and the Board of Directors recommend the shareholders vote
FOR such ratification.
OTHER MATTERS
PROPOSAL 3:
As of the date of this proxy statement, the Board of Directors is not informed
of any matters, other than those stated above, that may be brought before the
meeting. The persons named in the enclosed form of proxy or their substitutes
will vote with respect to any such matters in accordance with their best
judgment.
A copy of the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders, including Financial
Statements for the three fiscal years ending June 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994,
together with the report of Ernst & Young thereon, has been mailed to each
shareholder together with this Proxy Statement.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ JEANNE M. MILLER
-------------------------------------
Jeanne M. Miller
Secretary/Chief Financial Officer
Dated: October 1, 1996
10
<PAGE> 13
PROXY
GISH BIOMEDICAL, INC.
PROXY SOLICITED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jack W. Brown and Jeanne M. Miller, and each of them, with full power
of substitution, are hereby appointed proxies to vote all shares of stock which
the undersigned may be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
Gish Biomedical, Inc. (the "Company") to be held on November 13, 1996 at the
Company's offices at 2681 Kelvin Ave., Irvine, California, at 2:00 p.m., Pacific
Time, or any adjournment thereof, as follows:
1. Proposal 1--ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
[ ] FOR all nominees listed below [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote
(except as indicated to the for all nominees listed
contrary below) below
Jack W. Brown, Richard A. Braun, Ray R. Coulter, Richard W. Dutrisac,
James B. Glavin and John S. Hagestad
INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual
nominee, write that nominee's name in the space provided below.
_____________________________________________________________________
2. Proposal 2 to ratify appointment of Ernst & Young as auditors for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997:
FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN [ ]
3. In their discretion, the proxies named herein are authorized to vote
upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or
any adjournment thereof, including procedural and other matters
relating to the conduct of the meeting.
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED, THIS
PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE SIX DIRECTOR NOMINEES AND FOR
PROPOSAL 2.
Please sign exactly as your name appears
hereon.
________________________________________
________________________________________
Date:______________________________ 1996
(When shares are held by joint tenants,
both should sign. When signing as attorney,
as executor, administrator, trustee or
guardian, please give full title as such.
If a corporation, please sign in full
corporate name by President or other
PLEASE DATE, SIGN AND authorized officer. If a partnership,
RETURN THIS CARD IN THE please sign in partnership name by
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. authorized person.)
