SCHEDULE 14A
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No.)
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[X] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
NBTY, Inc.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5) Total fee paid:
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount previously paid:
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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3) Filing party:
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(4) Date Filed:
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"NBTY Logo"
PROXY STATEMENT
for
April 12, 1999
Annual Stockholders' Meeting
of NBTY, Inc.
"NBTY Logo"
NBTY, Inc.
90 Orville Drive
Bohemia, New York 11716
Scott Rudolph
Chairman of the Board
Chief Executive Officer
Dear Stockholder:
It's our pleasure to invite you to NBTY, Inc.'s Annual Meeting of
Stockholders in Hauppauge, New York on April 12, 1999. On the following
pages you'll find information about the meeting plus a Proxy Statement.
A brief reception will precede the meeting and management presentation
followed by a question and answer session for stockholders.
If you can't be with us in person, please be sure to vote your shares by
proxy. Just mark, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it in
the postage-paid envelope. Your prompt return of the card will help your
Company avoid additional solicitation costs. In person or by proxy, your
vote is important.
Sincerely,
Scott Rudolph
March 10, 1999
NBTY, INC.
90 Orville Drive, Bohemia, New York 11716
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of NBTY, Inc. will be held at the
Wyndham Windwatch Hotel, 1717 Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, New York 11788 on
April 12, 1999, at 10:00 A.M., local time for the following purposes:
(1) to re-elect Class II Directors, Scott Rudolph, Murray Daly, Bud
Solk, and Nathan Rosenblatt to serve until the 2002 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders or until their respective successors are
duly elected and qualified.
(2) to consider and vote upon an amendment to the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of
authorized shares of common stock to the Company from 75,000,000
shares of common stock, $.008 par value, to 300,000,000 shares
of common stock, $.008 par value.
(3) to ratify the designation by the Board of Directors of
PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P. as independent certified public
accountants to audit the consolidated financial statements of
the Company for the 1999 fiscal year.
(4) to transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 10, 1999
are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting.
By order of the Board of Directors,
Scott Rudolph
Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer
and President
Bohemia, New York
March 10, 1999
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THE
ENCLOSED PROXY, WHICH IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY,
AND RETURN IT TO THE COMPANY IN THE PRE-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE PROVIDED FOR THAT
PURPOSE. ANY STOCKHOLDER MAY REVOKE HIS OR HER PROXY AT ANY TIME BEFORE THE
MEETING BY WRITTEN NOTICE TO SUCH EFFECT TO THE COMPANY'S SECRETARY, BY
SUBMITTING A SUBSEQUENTLY DATED PROXY OR BY ATTENDING THE MEETING AND VOTING
IN PERSON.
NBTY, INC.
90 Orville Drive, Bohemia, New York 11716
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS TO BE CONSIDERED BY STOCKHOLDERS
Stockholders are being asked to re-elect four Directors to Class II:
Scott Rudolph, Murray Daly, Bud Solk and Nathan Rosenblatt. The Board of
Directors is divided into three classes, Class I Directors, Class II
Directors and Class III Directors. Each Class serves for a term of three
years or until their successors are elected.
Proposal Number Two is to consider and vote upon an amendment to the
Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of
authorized shares of common stock of the Company from 75,000,000 shares of
common stock, $.008 par value, to 300,000,000 shares of common stock, $.008
par value.
Proposal Number Three is to ratify the designation by the Board of
Directors of PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P. as independent certified public
accountants to audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company
for the 1999 fiscal year.
The Board of Directors of the Company recommends a vote FOR the above
proposals and for the election of the Directors.
(This Summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information appearing within this Proxy Statement).
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE SOLICITATION
The Proxy Statement and enclosed Proxy are being furnished to all
holders of the common stock, par value $.008 per share (the "Common Stock"),
of NBTY, Inc. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, in connection with a
solicitation of proxies in the form enclosed by the Board of Directors of
the Company for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on
April 12, 1999, and at any adjournments thereof. The persons named as
proxies were selected by the Board of Directors of the Company and are
executive officers of the Company.
The Company anticipates first sending this Proxy Statement and the
enclosed Proxy to its stockholders on or about March 12, 1999. The
Company's Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes financial statements
for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998 has been mailed simultaneously
with this Proxy Statement to stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting. The Annual Report is not to be regarded as proxy soliciting
material.
The enclosed Proxy provides that each stockholder may specify that his
or her shares be voted "FOR" the election of the named nominees to the
Company's Board of Directors with provision to "WITHHOLD AUTHORITY" as to
all nominees or any individual nominee or nominees; and voted "FOR",
"AGAINST" or "ABSTAIN" from voting with respect to: vote upon an amendment
to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of
authorized shares of common stock to the Company from 75,000,000 shares of
common stock, $.008 par value, to 300,000,000 shares of common stock, $.008
par value and to the ratification of the designation by the Board of
Directors of PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P as independent certified public
accountants to audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company
for the 1999 fiscal year. If properly executed and returned in time for the
meeting, the enclosed Proxy will be voted as specified therein. Except with
respect to broker non-votes, where a signed Proxy is returned, but no choice
is specified, the shares will be voted "FOR" the election of each named
nominee to the Company's Board of Directors, and ratification of the
Company's independent public accountants. Under the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware, the state in which the Company is incorporated, an
abstaining vote is deemed to be "present" but is not deemed to be a "vote
cast". As a result, abstentions and broker "non-votes" are not included in
the tabulation of the voting results on the election of directors or issues
requiring approval of a majority of the votes cast and, therefore, do not
have an effect of votes in opposition in such tabulations. A broker "non-
vote" occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not
vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have
discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not received
instructions from the beneficial owner. Broker "non-votes" and the shares
as to which a stockholder abstains are included for purposes of determining
whether a quorum is present at a meeting.
All shares entitled to vote and represented by properly executed
proxies received prior to the Annual Meeting, and not revoked, will be voted
at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions indicated on those
proxies. If no instructions are indicated on a properly executed proxy, the
shares represented by that proxy will be voted as recommended by the Board
of Directors.
If any other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting for
consideration, including, among other things, consideration of a motion to
adjourn the Annual Meeting to another time or place, the persons named in
the enclosed form of proxy and acting thereunder will have discretion to
vote on those matters in accordance with their best judgment to the same
extent as the person signing the proxy would be entitled to vote. The
Company does not currently anticipate that any other matters will be raised
at the Annual Meeting.
Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the
person giving it at any time before it is voted. A proxy may be revoked (i)
by filing with the Secretary of the Company, at or before the taking of the
vote at the Annual Meeting, a written notice of revocation or a duly
executed proxy, in either case later dated than the prior proxy relating to
the same shares or (ii) by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person
(although attendance at the Annual Meeting will not itself revoke a proxy).
Any written notice of revocation or subsequent proxy should be sent as to
be delivered to NBTY, Inc., 90 Orville Drive, Bohemia, New York 11716,
Attention: Secretary, or hand delivered to the Secretary, at or before the
taking of the vote at the Annual Meeting.
The Company has fixed the close of business on March 10, 1999 as
the record date for determining the holders of its Common Stock who will be
entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. On September 30, 1998,
the Company had issued and outstanding 68,082,000 shares of its Common Stock
which are the only outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company.
Holders of the Company's Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each
share owned of record. Shares representing a majority of the votes
entitled to be cast by the holders of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
must be represented in person or by Proxy at the Annual Meeting in order for
a quorum to be present.
PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's Amended and Restated By-Laws provide that the members of
the Board of Directors of the Company shall be divided into three classes
and that the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors, and
each Class thereof, shall from time to time be fixed and determined by a
vote of a majority of the Company's whole Board of Directors serving at the
time of such vote. The Board of Directors is now comprised of eleven
members, with Class I consisting of three members, Class II consisting of
four members and Class III consisting of four members, who shall serve until
the end of each respective term, or until their successors are duly elected
and qualified. The Board of Directors has nominated Scott Rudolph, Murray
Daly, Bud Solk and Nathan Rosenblatt for re-election to Class II at the
Annual Meeting. Messrs. Rudolph, Daly, Solk and Rosenblatt are currently
serving as Class II directors of the Company.
Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual
Meeting by the holders of the shares present in person or represented by
proxy at a meeting at which a quorum is present. "Plurality" means that the
individuals who receive the largest number of votes cast are elected as
directors up to the maximum number of directors to be chosen at the meeting.
Consequently, any shares not voted (whether by abstention, withholding
authority or broker non-vote) have no impact in the election of directors,
except to the extent the failure to vote for the individual results in
another individual receiving a larger number of votes.
Stockholders of the Company do not have cumulative voting rights with
respect to the election of directors. It is the intention of the persons
named in the enclosed form of Proxy to vote such Proxy "FOR" the election of
the named nominees for Class III directorships unless authorization is
withheld on the Proxy. Should any nominee be unable or unwilling to serve
as a director, which is not anticipated, it is intended that the named
proxies will vote for the election of such other person or persons as they,
in their discretion, may choose.
Information as to Director Nominees and Directors:
The following table provides information as of January 31, 1999, with
respect to each of the Company's directors and director nominees.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name and year first became Principal Occupation during
a Director of the Company Age the past Five Years
- -------------------------- --- ---------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
CLASS II - Terms Expiring at the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Scott Rudolph 41 The Chairman of the Board of Directors,
1986 President and Chief Executive Officer
and a shareholder of the Company. He is
the Chairman of Dowling College, Long
Island, New York. He joined NBTY in
1986. He is the son of Arthur Rudolph.
Murray Daly 71 Formerly a Vice President of J. P. Egan
1971 Office Equipment Co., is currently a
consultant to the office equipment
industry.
Bud Solk 64 President of Chase/Ehrenberg & Rosene,
1994 Inc., an advertising and marketing
agency located in Chicago, Illinois.
Nathan Rosenblatt 42 President and Chief Executive Officer
1994 of Ashland Maintenance Corp., a
commercial maintenance organization
located in Long Island City, New York.
CLASS I - Terms Expiring at the 2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Aram Garabedian 63 A real estate developer in Rhode Island
1971 since 1988. He was associated with
NBTY and its predecessor, Arco
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., for 20 years in
a sales capacity and as an Officer.
Bernard G. Owen 70 Has been associated with Cafiero,
Cuchel and Owen Insurance Agency,
Pitkin, Owen Insurance Agency and Wood-
HEW Travel Agency for more than the
past five years. He currently serves
as Chairman of these firms.
Alfred Sacks 70 President of Al Sacks, Inc., an
1971 insurance agency.
CLASS III - Terms Expiring at the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Arthur Rudolph 70 Founded the Company in 1971 and had
1971 served as the Company's Chief Executive
Officer and Chairman of the Board of
Directors since that date until his
resignation in September, 1993. Mr.
Rudolph acts as a consultant to the
Company. He is a member of the Board
of Directors and he is the father of
Scott Rudolph.
Glenn Cohen 39 President of Glenn-Scott Landscape &
1988 Design.
Michael L. Ashner 46 President and Chief Executive Officer
1998 of Winthrop Financial Assoc., a firm
engaged in the organization and
administration of real estate limited
partnerships.
Michael Slade 49 For more than the past five years, he
1998 was the President and an owner of
Nutrition Headquarters Corp., Nutro
Labs, Inc. and Lee Nutrition, Inc.,
which companies were acquired by the
Company in 1998
</TABLE>
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the re-election of the Class II
Directors, Scott Rudolph, Murray Daly, Bud Solk and Nathan Rosenblatt. In
the event that any nominee named as a Class II director is unable to serve
(which is not anticipated), the persons named in the Proxy may vote it for
another nominee of their choice.
Committees of the Board
The Audit Committee is comprised entirely of outside Directors and
recommends to the Board independent auditors to audit the Company's
financial statements; reviews the audit with the auditors and management;
reviews the Company's dealings with Directors and their affiliates; reviews
the Company's legal affairs; and consults with the auditors and management
regarding risk management and the adequacy of financial and accounting
procedures and controls. In carrying out its responsibilities, the
Committee meets with the independent auditors in executive session, without
members of management present.
The Compensation Committee is comprised entirely of outside Directors
and is responsible for developing compensation policies, including stock
options, consistent with and linked to the Company's strategies. In
addition, the Committee evaluates, in consultation with all outside
Directors, the performance of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and
recommends his compensation and that of all executive management to the
Board annually; reviews and approves all other officers' compensation; and
recommends to the Board the fees of outside Directors. The Committee's
report on executive compensation can be found on page __.
The Nominating Committee establishes criteria for Board membership,
searches for and screens candidates to fill vacancies on the Board,
recommends an appropriate slate of candidates for election each year and, in
this regard, evaluates the performance of individual Directors, assesses the
overall performance of the Board and considers issues regarding the
composition and size of the Board. Shareholders wishing to nominate
Director candidates for consideration may do so by writing to the Secretary,
NBTY, Inc., 90 Orville Drive, Bohemia, New York 11716 and providing the
candidate's name, biographical data and qualifications.
Strategic Planning Committee which may exercise the broad powers and
authority granted to it under the Company's By-Laws.
The chart below sets forth the composition of the Board's committee as
of December 31, 1998, as well as the number of meetings each committee held
in 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Committee Member Number of meetings in 1998
- --------- ------ --------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Audit Arthur Rudolph 2
Aram Garabedian 2
Compensation Arthur Rudolph 2
Glenn Cohen 2
Alfred Sacks 2
Strategic Scott Rudolph 4
Arthur Rudolph 4
Nominating Scott Rudolph 1
Arthur Rudolph 1
Nathan Rosenblatt 1
Bernard G. Owen 1
Murray Daly 1
</TABLE>
During 1998, the Board met four times.
Compensation of Directors
During fiscal 1998, each outside Director earned an annual retainer of
$20,000 for a total of $180,000 for services rendered as Directors. Each
Director is entitled to reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses to attend
meetings. Any Director who is an officer of the Company did not receive
additional compensation for his services as a director.
The Company does not offer a pension plan to its outside Directors.
Principal Stockholders and Security Ownership of Management
The following information with respect to the outstanding shares of
common stock beneficially owned by (i) each director of the Company, (ii)
the chief executive officer and the five other most highly compensated
executive officers, (iii) all beneficial owners of more than five percent of
common stock known to the Company, and (iv) the directors and executive
officers as a group, is furnished as of December 31, 1998, except as
otherwise indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Shares
Beneficially Percentage
Directors Owned (a)(b)(c)(d) Ownership
- --------- ------------------ ----------
<S> <C> <C>
Scott Rudolph 11,358,058 16.67
Arthur Rudolph 2,056,893 3.02
Aram Garabedian 36,000 *
Bernard G. Owen 39,500 *
Alfred Sacks 30,000 *
Murray Daly 42,009 *
Glenn Cohen 117,000 *
Bud Solk 30,000 *
Nathan Rosenblatt 30,000 *
Michael L. Ashner 30,000 *
Michael Slade(e) 2,087,448 3.07
Other Named Executive Officers
- ------------------------------
Harvey Kamil 1,641,906 2.39
Barry Drucker 138,799 *
James P. Flaherty 84,408 *
James H. Taylor 81,483 *
Other
- -----
All Directors and Executive
Officers as a group (15 persons) 17,797,495 26.14
NBTY, INC. Employees'
Stock Ownership Plan 2,986,533 4.39
<FN>
<Fa> Each stockholder shown on the table has sole voting and investment
power with respect to the shares beneficially owned.
<Fb> Each named person or group is deemed to be the beneficial owner of
securities which may be acquired within 60 days through the exercise
or conversion of options, if any, and such securities are deemed to be
outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage beneficially
owned by such person or group. Such securities are not deemed to be
outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of class
beneficially owned by any other person or group. Accordingly, the
indicated number of shares includes shares issuable upon exercise of
options (including employee stock options) and any other beneficial
ownership of securities held by such person or group.
<Fc> Includes shares held in a Trust created by Arthur Rudolph for the
benefit of Scott Rudolph and others.
<Fd> Includes options to purchase common stock of the Company.
<Fe> Includes 530,847 shares held in a Trust for the benefit of Ruth Slade,
the Wife of Michael Slade. Mr. Slade is a trustee of this Trust.
</FN>
</TABLE>
An asterisk (*) in the above table means percentage ownership of less than
one percent.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Long-Term All Other
Compensation Awards(1) Compensation:
Annual Compensation ------------------------- -----------------
Name and --------------------- Restricted Stock Pension Plan
Principal Position Year Salary $ Bonus $ Stock ($) Options # and 401(k) Plan $
- ------------------ ---- -------- ------- ---------- --------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Scott Rudolph 1998 600,000 400,000 1,050,000 7,672
Chairman of the Board, 1997 488,838 350,000 4,792
President and Chief 1996 474,600 275,000 5,709
Executive Officer
Harvey Kamil 1998 300,000 225,000 150,000 7,672
Executive Vice President 1997 271,611 200,000 4,592
Chief Financial Officer 1996 263,700 150,000 5,709
Barry Drucker 1998 284,000 720,000 30,000 7,672
Senior Vice President 1997 274,000 25,000 4,792
1996 263,700 150,000 5,709
James Flaherty 1998 167,500 75,000 30,000 7,672
Vice President 1997 161,000 50,000 4,792
Marketing & Advertising 1996 154,500 25,000 5,709
James H. Taylor 1998 141,000 110,000 30,000 7,672
Vice President 1997 135,500 100,000 4,377
Production 1996 130,295 100,000 5,709
</TABLE>
Employment and Consulting Agreements
Scott Rudolph, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, entered into an employment agreement effective
February 1, 1994, as amended, to terminate in January, 2004. During the
period of the employment agreement, the salary payable to Scott Rudolph
shall be fixed by the Board of Directors of the Company, provided that in no
event will the executive salary be at a rate lower than $600,000 per year,
with bonuses, certain fringe benefits accorded other executives of NBTY, and
with annual cost of living index increases.
Harvey Kamil, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Secretary of the Company, entered into an employment agreement effective
February 1, 1994, as amended, to terminate in January, 2004. During the
period of the employment agreement, the salary payable to Harvey Kamil shall
be fixed by the Board of Directors of the Company, provided that in no event
will the executive salary be at a rate lower than $300,000 per year, with
bonuses, certain fringe benefits accorded other executives of NBTY, and with
annual cost of living index increases.
Each of the above agreements also provides for the immediate
acceleration of the payment of compensation for the term of the contract and
the registration and sale of all issued stock, stock options and shares
underlying options in the event of certain changes of control, or
involuntary (i) termination of employment, (ii) reduction of compensation,
or (iii) diminution of responsibilities or authority.
Effective January 1, 1997, the Company entered into a consulting
agreement with Rudolph Management Associates, Inc. for the services of
Arthur Rudolph, a director of the Company. The agreement has been renewed
to provide services from January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2000 with the
consulting fee fixed by the Board of Directors of the Company, provided that
in no event will the consulting fee be at a rate lower than $400,000 per
year, payable monthly, with certain fringe benefits accorded to other
executives of NBTY.
On April 20, 1998, the Company entered into a one-year consulting
agreement with Michael C. Slade, one of the former owners of Nutrition
Headquarters Corp. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Slade presently is
a consultant to the Company and the President of the Company's Nutrition
Headquarters subsidiary and will receive an annual compensation of $275,000
renewable at Mr. Slade's option, for up to two additional one-year periods.
The agreement also provides for fringe benefits accorded to other
executives of NBTY.
Four members of Holland & Barrett's senior executive staff have
service contracts, terminable by the Company upon twelve months notice, at
annual salaries ranging between approximately $75,000 and $200,000.
Executive Compensation Policies
Compensation packages generally include base salary, stock options,
executive benefits, and in certain years, a performance bonus. Factors
considered have typically included the results of the performance review of
each executive officers' performance and an evaluation of the significance
of the executives' contribution. The compensation packages have been
designated to attract and retain experienced and well-qualified executive
officers who will enhance the performance of the Company.
The Committee believes that Company tenure and the level of
responsibility undertaken by individual executives should be appropriately
reflected in the establishment of base salary amounts. Additionally, the
Committee believes that the performance-based bonus structure is of key
importance. Accordingly, for executive officers in charge of sales
divisions, a material portion of total bonus eligibility is tied to year-to-
year improvement in financial and operational indicators measured at the
divisional level. For executive officers in charge of corporate
departments, bonuses are based in large part on improvements in the
Company's net earnings. The Committee believes that these standards serve
to align the interests of executives with those of stockholders.
The Company has attempted to set the base salary of its executive
officers to be competitive within the nutritional supplement industry. In
addition, base salaries have reflected the Company's operating philosophy,
strategic direction and cost-conscious orientation. The Company conducts
performance reviews to determine and adjust each executive officer's base
salary. During the past 10 years, stock options have generally been a
component of executive officers' total compensation. Since stock options
become exercisable over a ten year period, their ultimate value is dependant
on the long-term appreciation of the Company's stock price. Such options
are intended to increase executive officers' equity interests in the
Company, providing executives with the opportunity to share in the future
value they are responsible for creating. In addition to the standard
benefits package offered to its executives, the Company provides company
cars to all of its executive officers. No options were granted in fiscal
1998.
Aggregated option exercise in 1998 and fiscal
year-end option values table.
The following table shows information concerning the exercise of stock
options by each of the named Executive Officers during fiscal 1998 and the
value of all remaining exercisable and unexercisable options at September
30, 1998, on a pre-tax basis.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of securities Value of unexercised
underlying unexercised in-the-money options
Shares Value options at 12/31/98 options at 12/31/98
acquired on realized (#)(b) ($)(c)
Name exercise (#) ($)(a) exercisable/unexercisable exercisable/unexercisable
- ---- ------------ -------- ------------------------- -------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Scott Rudolph 2,500,000 10,291,040 1,550,000 0
Harvey Kamil 840,000 3,482,606 150,000 0
Barry Drucker 30,000 0
James Flaherty 30,000 0
James Taylor 30,000 0
<FN>
<Fa> Calculated by subtracting the exercise price from the market value of
the Common Stock as of the exercise date.
<Fb> The securities underlying the options are shares of Common Stock.
</FN>
</TABLE>
NBTY, Inc. Employees' Stock Ownership Plan
The Company has an Employees' Stock Ownership Plan pursuant to which
the Company can elect to make contributions of cash and/or Common Stock to a
related trust for the benefit of all employees as defined.
All employees of the Company, including officers, over the age of 21
and who have been employed by the Company for one year or more are eligible
participants in the Plan.
Contributions are made on a voluntary basis by the Company. There is
no minimum contribution required in any one year.
There will be no contributions required by an employee. All
contributions will be made by the Company at the rate of up to 15% of the
Company's annual payroll, at the discretion of the Company. Each eligible
employee receives an account or share in the Trust and the cash and/or
shares of stock contributed to the Plan each year are credited to his or her
account.
The vesting is as follows: less than five years - no vesting; five or
more years - fully vested.
Defined Contribution Savings Plan (401(k) Plan)
The Company has adopted a defined Contribution Savings Plan qualified
under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The employees of the
Company who have completed six months of service and have attained the age
of twenty and one-half may elect to contribute to this plan in accordance
with the Company's guidelines. Each year the Board of Directors will vote
to determine the amount, if any, of matching contributions up to a maximum
equal to the lesser of 2% percent of each employee's annual gross
compensation or the amount contributed, if any, by each employee.
Compensation Committee's Report on Executive Compensation
The Company's Compensation Committee has determined generally to
retain base salary, stock options, executive benefits and performance
bonuses as components in the Company's executive compensation packages. In
setting the compensation levels for executive officers, the Committee
expects to be guided by the following considerations:
- -- compensation levels should be competitive with compensation generally
being paid to executives in other nutritional supplement companies;
- -- a significant portion of the executive officer's compensation may be
awarded in the form of stock options to closely link shareholder and
executive interests and to encourage stock ownership by executive
officers;
- -- each individual executive officer's compensation should, to the extent
possible, reflect the performance of the Company as a whole, the
performance of the officers' business unit, and the performance of the
individual executive; and
- -- executive compensation should reflect the Company's unique,
entrepreneurial and cost-conscious orientation.
Summary
The Compensation Committee is committed to attracting, motivating and
retaining executives who will help the Company meet the increasing
challenges of the nutritional supplement industry. The Compensation
Committee recognizes its responsibility to the Company's stockholders to
increase the value of the Company's Common Stock and intends to continue to
review, establish and implement compensation policies that are consistent
with competitive practices, are based on the Company's and the executives'
performance and permit the Company to attract, motivate and retain
executives who will lead the Company.
Members of the Compensation Committee
-------------------------------------
Arthur Rudolph, Chairman
Alfred Sacks
Glenn Cohen
The foregoing report of the Compensation Committee shall not be deemed
incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by
reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except
to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by
reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.
Performance Graph
The following graph illustrates, for the period from September, 1993
(Base Year) through September, 1998, the cumulative total shareholder return
of $100 invested in (1) The Company's common stock, (2) Nasdaq Stock Market
- - US and (3) Nasdaq Health Services.
COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG NBTY, INC., THE NASDAQ STOCK MARKET (U.S.) INDEX
AND THE NASDAQ HEALTH SERVICES INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Cumulative Total Return
------------------------------------------------------------------
9/93 9/94 9/95 9/96 9/97 9/98
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NBTY, INC. 100.00 59.15 32.04 92.96 119.01 133.10
NASDAQ STOCK MARKET (U.S.) 100.00 100.83 139.28 165.24 226.81 231.84
NASDAQ HEALTH SERVICES 100.00 126.33 133.69 174.67 175.47 119.10
</TABLE>
$100 INVESTED ON 9/30/93 IN STOCK OR INDEX--
INCLUDING REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS.
FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30.
NASDAQ
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998 1997
Fiscal ------------- -------------- -------------
Quarter High Low High Low High Low
- ------- ---- --- ---- --- ---- ---
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
First* 8 5 8.46 6.42 6.83 4.50
Second -- -- 20.58 10.67 7.83 4.79
Third -- -- 24.38 14.63 9.50 4.88
Fourth -- -- 23.25 7.31 11.50 6.13
<FN>
<F*> Price through March __, 1999.
</FN>
</TABLE>
The price of the Company's Common Stock on February 17, 1999 was $5.12.
The Company's Common Stock is traded over-the-counter and is included in the
Nasdaq-National Market System (symbol NBTY).
PROPOSAL TWO
APPROVAL TO INCREASE THE AUTHORIZED NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
The Board adopted, subject to Stockholders' approval, an amendment to
the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of
authorized shares of Common Stock from 75,000,000 to 300,000,000 shares, for
the reasons discussed below. A copy of the proposed amendment of the
Certificate of Incorporation is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix
A.
The Company currently has 75,000,000 authorized shares of Common
Stock, par value $.008 per share, of which 68,082,000 shares were
outstanding at September 30, 1998.
Although currently authorized shares are sufficient to meet all
presently known needs, the Board considers it desirable that NBTY have the
flexibility to issue an additional amount of Common Stock without further
shareholder action, unless required by law or stock exchange regulations.
The availability of these additional shares will enhance the Company's
flexibility in connection with possible stock splits, stock dividends,
acquisitions, financings, and other corporate purposes and will allow such
shares to be issued without the expense and delay of a special Stockholders'
meeting, unless such action is required by applicable law or the rules of
any stock exchange on which the Company's securities may then be listed.
While the Company has no present plans to split the Common Stock, it
wishes to have the ability to do so if such a split would be in the best
interest of shareholders. Since May, 1992, the Company has had four stock
splits or stock dividends.
The Company does not have any commitment or understanding at this time
for the issuance of any shares of the additional Common Stock.
The Company has only one class of stock, i.e., Common Stock, par value
$.008 per share. All of such shares are voting shares and have the same
voting rights. However, none of such shares confer any preemptive rights on
the holders thereof to purchase or receive any additional shares of the
Company's Common Stock or any other securities or rights or options for the
Company's securities authorized or acquired by the Company in the future.
The Board of Directors may issue the Common Stock for such consideration as
may be fixed by the Board and for any corporate purpose without further
action by the Stockholders, except as may be required by law. Each share of
Common Stock has equal dividend rights and participates equally upon
liquidation.
VOTE REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD WITH RESPECT TO PROPOSAL TWO.
Under Delaware law, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Meeting is required to
adopt this Proposal Two. Shares of Common Stock that are voted as an
abstention shall be treated as voting against Proposal Two and broker non-
votes shall have no effect on the outcome of the vote on Proposal Two.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL TWO.
PROPOSAL THREE
APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Directors has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P. as
independent auditors of the Company to audit its consolidated financial
statements for 1998 and has determined that it would be desirable to request
that the stockholders approve such appointment.
PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P. has served the Company and its
subsidiaries as independent auditors for many years. Representatives of
PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P. will be present at the Annual Meeting with the
opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and to respond to
appropriate questions from stockholders.
Vote Required for Approval
Stockholder approval is not required for the appointment of
PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P., since the Board of Directors has the
responsibility for selecting auditors. However, the appointment is being
submitted for approval at the Annual Meeting. No determination has been
made as to what action the Board of Directors would take if stockholders do
not approve appointment.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL THREE
FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS L.L.P. AS INDEPENDENT
AUDITORS.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's officers and
directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of the registered class
of the Company's equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes
in ownership with the SEC. Officers, directors and greater than ten-percent
stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with
copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on a review of
the copes of such forms furnished to the Company, or written representations
that no Forms 5 were required, the Company believes that during 1997, its
officers, directors and greater than ten-percent beneficial owners complied
with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements.
EXPENSES OF SOLICITATION
All expenses of this solicitation, including the cost of preparing and
mailing this Proxy Statement, will be borne by the Company. In addition to
solicitation by use of the mails, proxies and voting instruments may be
solicited by directors, officers and employees of the Company in person or
by telephone, telegram or other means of communication. Such directors,
officers and employees will not be additionally compensated but may be
reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with such
solicitation. Arrangements will also be made with brokers, custodians,
nominees and fiduciaries for forwarding proxy solicitation materials to
beneficial owners of shares held of record by such custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries, and the Company will reimburse such custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith.
PROCEDURE FOR SUBMITTING STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, stockholders may
present proper proposals for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement and
for consideration at the next annual meeting of its stockholders by
submitting their proposals to the Company in a timely manner. In order to
be so included for the next Annual Meeting, stockholder proposals must be
received by the Company no later than December 31, 1999, and must otherwise
comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8. In addition, the Company's By-
laws establish an advance notice procedure with regard to certain matters,
including stockholder proposals not included in the Company's proxy
statement, to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders. In
general, notice must be received by the Secretary of the Company not less
than 70 days nor more than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the
immediately preceding annual meeting and must contain specified information
concerning the matters to be brought before such meeting and concerning the
stockholder proposing such matters. If the date of the annual meeting is
more than 30 days earlier or more than 60 days later than such anniversary
date, notice must be received not earlier than the 120th day prior to such
annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the
70th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on
which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. If a
stockholder who has notified the Company of his intention to present a
proposal at an annual meeting does not appear or send a qualified
representative to present his proposal at such meeting, the Company need not
present the proposal for a vote at such meeting.
All notices of proposals by stockholders, whether or not to be
included in the Company's proxy materials, should be sent to the attention
of the Secretary of the Company at 90 Orville Drive, Bohemia, New York
11716.
General
The Board of Directors does not know of any other matters to be
presented at the Annual meeting. If any additional matters are properly
presented, the persons named in the proxy will have discretion to vote in
accordance with their own judgment on such matters.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Scott Rudolph
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
March 10, 1999
APPENDIX A
RESOLVED: That the Fourth Article of the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of NBTY, Inc., as heretofore amended, is further amended to
read as follows:
FOURTH: The total number of shares of stock which this Corporation is
authorized to issue is THREE HUNDRED MILLION (300,000,000) shares of common
stock of the par value of $.008 per share.
No stockholder as such shall be entitled as a matter of right to
subscribe for, purchase or receive any shares of the stock of any class or
any rights or options of the Corporation which, it may issue or sell,
whether out of the number of shares authorized by this Certificate of
Incorporation or by amendment thereof or out of the shares of the stock of
the Corporation acquired by it after the issuance thereof, nor shall any
stockholder be entitled as a matter of right to subscribe for, purchase or
receive any bonds, debentures or other securities which the Corporation may
issue or sell that shall be convertible into or exchangeable for stock of
any class or to which shall be attached or appertain any warrant or warrants
or other instrument or instruments that shall confer upon the holder or
owner of such obligation the right to subscribe for, purchase or receive
from the Corporation any shares of its capital stock. But all such
additional issues of stock, rights and options, or of bonds, debentures or
other securities convertible into or exchangeable for stock or to which
warrants shall be attached or appertain or which shall confer upon the
holder the right to subscribe for, purchase or receive any shares of stock,
may be issued and disposed of by the Board of Directors to such person,
firms or corporations and upon such terms as in their absolute discretion
they may deem advisable.
NBTY, INC.
90 Orville Drive
Bohemia, New York 11716
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on
April 12, 1999 at 10:00 A.M.
The undersigned hereby appoints Harvey Kamil and Michael C. Duban as
Proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes
them, to represent and vote, as designated on the reverse, all shares of
Common Stock of NBTY, INC. (the "Company") held of record by the undersigned
on March 10, 1999, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April
12, 1999 at 10:00 AM, EST, or any adjournment thereof.
(To be Signed on Reverse Side.)
Please date, sign and mail your
proxy card back as soon as possible!
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
NBTY, INC.
April 12, 1999
Please Detach and Mail in the Envelope Provided
A [X] Please mark your
votes as in this
example.
DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE FOR ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND A VOTE FOR PROPOSALS
2 AND 3.
FOR WITHHOLD
ALL NOMINEES ALL NOMINEES
1. ELECTION OF [ ] [ ] Nominees: Scott Rudolph
DIRECTORS: Murray Daly
Bud Solk
Nathan Rosenblatt
INSTRUCTIONS: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE
FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, PLACE AN "X" IN THE
WITHHOLD BOX ABOVE AND STRIKE A LINE THROUGH
THE NOMINEES NAME LISTED AT RIGHT.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. AMENDMENT OF THE COMPANY'S [ ] [ ] [ ]
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
3. RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT [ ] [ ] [ ]
ACCOUNTANTS
PLEASE PROMPTLY DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THIS PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
"NOTE" SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY
MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.
- ------------------------- --------- -------------------------- ---------
Signature Date Signature if Held Jointly Date
(NOTE: Please sign exactly as your name appears hereon. Executors,
administrators, trustees, etc. should so indicate when signing, giving full
title as such. If signer is a corporation, execute in full corporate name
by authorized officer. If more persons, all should sign.)
