TRAK AUTO CORP
DEF 14C, 1996-05-30
AUTO & HOME SUPPLY STORES
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<PAGE>   1
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                            SCHEDULE 14C INFORMATION
 
                INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(c)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
Check the appropriate box:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                             <C>
/ /  Preliminary Information Statement          / /  Confidential, for Use of the Commission
                                                Only (as permitted by Rule 14c-5(d)(2))
/X/  Definitive Information Statement
</TABLE>
 
                             TRAK AUTO CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  (Name of Registrant As Specified in Charter)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
     /X/  $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), or 14c-5(g).
 
     / /  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14c-5(g) 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:
 
         ---------------------------------------------------------------------

     4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

         --------------------------------------------------------------------- 

     5)  Total fee paid:

         ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
         * Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and 
         state how it was determined.
 
/ /  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
 
                               [TRAK AUTO LOGO]
                               3300 75TH AVENUE
                           LANDOVER, MARYLAND 20785
 
                            ------------------------
 
                    NOTICE OF THE TAKING OF CORPORATE ACTION
                      WITHOUT A MEETING BY WRITTEN CONSENT
 
     Notice is hereby given that Dart Group Corporation, a Delaware corporation,
as holder of approximately 67% of the outstanding capital stock of Trak Auto
Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Trak Auto"), shall, on or about June 28,
1996, elect five Directors to Trak Auto's Board of Directors by the taking of
corporate action in lieu of an annual meeting of stockholders.
 
     The accompanying information statement is furnished pursuant to Section
14(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
                                            By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                            /s/  ELLIOT R. ARDITTI
 
                                            Elliot R. Arditti
                                            Secretary
 
May 30, 1996
 
                       WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY
                 AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY.
<PAGE>   3
 
                             TRAK AUTO CORPORATION
                                3300 75TH AVENUE
                            LANDOVER, MARYLAND 20785
 
                    ---------------------------------------
 
                             INFORMATION STATEMENT
                    ---------------------------------------
 
     This Information Statement is furnished in connection with the taking of
corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent of
stockholders. Dart Group Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Dart"), as holder
of 3,962,246 shares of the common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"), of Trak Auto Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Trak Auto"), is
entitled to vote such shares or approximately 67% of the outstanding capital
stock of Trak Auto. On or about June 28, 1996, Dart intends to re-elect all five
Directors to Trak Auto's Board of Directors by less than unanimous written
consent in lieu of taking such action at an annual meeting of stockholders.
Please be advised, therefore, that this is only an Information Statement. WE ARE
NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY.
 
     This Information Statement is first being sent or given to stockholders on
May 30, 1996. Record holders of the Common Stock at the close of business on May
10, 1996 are entitled to receive a copy of this Information Statement. Each
stockholder is entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held. On May
10, 1996, there were 5,894,180 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
 
                                        1
<PAGE>   4
 
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
     Pursuant to this corporate action without a meeting, five directors are to
be elected to the Board of Directors to serve until the next annual meeting of
stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified. In the event
that a nominee for any reason should become unavailable for election (which is
not anticipated), Dart intends to elect a substitute nominee as may be proposed
by the Board of Directors, unless the Board of Directors reduces the number of
Directors.
 
     The following information is furnished with respect to the nominees:
 
     HERBERT H. HAFT, age 75, has been Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of Trak Auto since its incorporation in 1983. Mr. Haft is the founder of
Dart and has been its chairman and chief executive officer since 1960. He is
also the Chairman of each of Dart's other subsidiaries, including Crown Books
Corporation ("Crown Books") and Total Beverage Corporation ("Total Beverage")
and a director of Shoppers Food Warehouse Corp., in which Dart owns a 50 percent
interest.
 
     R. KEITH GREEN, age 45, was named director of Trak Auto in September 1991.
He has been the President of Trak Auto since 1990. Mr. Green was president and
chief executive officer of The Whitlock Corporation, Inc. from 1987 until he
joined Trak Auto.
 
     DOUGLAS M. BREGMAN, age 46, is a partner in the law firm of Bregman,
Berbert & Schwartz, specializing in commercial real estate law. Mr. Bregman is
also an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Georgetown University Law Center. Mr.
Bregman was elected to serve as a director of Trak Auto, Dart and Crown Books in
June 1993.
 
     LARRY G. SCHAFRAN, age 57, is managing general partner of L.G. Schafran and
Associates, a New York based investment advisory firm, and is the Chairman of
Delta Omega Technologies, Inc. and is a director of Publicker Industries, Inc.,
Capsure Holdings, Corp. and OXIGENE, Inc. Mr. Schafran has previously held the
positions of vice president and director of Webb & Knapp, Inc. and its successor
General Property Corp. Mr. Schafran was elected a director of Trak Auto, Dart
and Crown Books on December 20, 1993.
 
     BONITA A. WILSON, age 54, has been a retail consultant for Dalton Brody
since October 1993. Prior to that she was a retailing executive with the May
Company. Ms. Wilson serves on the board of directors of Wedgewood Capital
Management, Inc. Ms. Wilson was elected to serve as a director of Trak Auto,
Dart, and Crown Books in June 1993.
 
     There is no family relationship between any of the other directors or
officers of Trak Auto.
 
     Information regarding legal proceedings pending against certain directors
and executive officers of Trak Auto is incorporated herein by reference to Item
3 of Trak Auto's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February
3, 1996 ("fiscal 1996"), which Annual Report may be obtained without charge upon
written request to David B. MacGlashan, Chief Financial Officer, Trak Auto
Corporation, 3300 75th Avenue, Landover, Maryland 20785.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   5
 
            THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ITS COMMITTEES AND COMPENSATION
 
     The Board of Directors of Trak Auto held six meetings and took action by
written consent on one occasion during the year ended February 3, 1996. The
Board of Directors has an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee. Trak
Auto does not have a standing committee on nomination. In 1994, the Board of
Directors established an Executive Committee and a Special Litigation Committee.
All Directors attended at least seventy-five percent of the meetings of the
Board of Directors and the committees on which such Directors served during
fiscal 1996.
 
     The Audit Committee currently consists of Larry G. Schafran, Bonita A.
Wilson and Douglas M. Bregman. The Audit Committee, which held three meetings
during fiscal 1996, reviews potential conflicts of interest, reviews the results
of the annual audit with Trak Auto's independent auditors and the adequacy of
Trak Auto's internal accounting controls and practices, and recommends to the
Board of Directors the independent auditors to be retained by Trak Auto.
 
     The Compensation Committee was formed in December 1994 and currently
consists of Douglas M. Bregman, Larry G. Schafran and Bonita A. Wilson. The
Compensation Committee held two meetings in fiscal 1996. Trak Auto's Chief
Executive Officer is to consult with the Compensation Committee prior to
exercising such officer's authority to fix the compensation of Trak Auto's
officers. The Compensation Committee also advises the Board of Directors as to
the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer.
 
     On September 7, 1994, the Board of Directors of Dart established an
Executive Committee comprised of Dart's outside directors to conduct the affairs
of Dart with respect to matters that were the subject of dispute between the
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Dart, Herbert H. Haft, and
the then President and Chief Operating Officer of Dart, Ronald S. Haft. Because
Herbert H. Haft is and Ronald S. Haft was an executive officer and/or director
of Trak Auto, on October 11, 1994, the Board of Directors of Trak Auto
established an Executive Committee comprised of the same outside directors, with
authority parallel to that of Dart's Executive Committee. The disputes between
Herbert H. Haft and Ronald S. Haft concerning issues involving Dart and Trak
Auto have been extensive. Accordingly, the respective Executive Committees
assumed day-to-day involvement in these disputed issues and other matters
affecting Dart and Trak Auto, in particular matters relating to litigation to
which Dart or Trak Auto is a party. While the Executive Committee remains
involved in the day-to-day affairs of Dart, its continuing role is dependent
upon future developments.
 
     The Special Litigation Committee currently consists of Larry G. Schafran.
The Special Litigation Committee assesses, on behalf of Trak Auto, whether to
pursue, settle or abandon certain derivative litigation.
 
     A Standstill Order entered into on December 6, 1995 in connection with a
settlement of certain litigation and other related transactions between Dart and
Ronald S. Haft provides, among other things, that Dart may not, until further
order is entered by the Delaware Court of Chancery, (i) change the current
composition of the board of directors of Dart or any of its subsidiaries, or
(ii) change the current Haft family officers of Dart or any of its subsidiaries.
 
     Compensation. Each director is compensated by Trak Auto at the rate of
$15,000 per year and each outside director is compensated an additional $1,000
per meeting (allocated among Trak Auto, Dart and Crown Books). Those directors
who are members of Trak Auto's audit committee and profit sharing committee
receive an annual fee of $5,000 for each committee (allocated among Trak Auto,
Dart and Crown Books).
 
     Members of the Executive Committee are compensated at a rate of $275 per
hour plus reimbursement of expenses. Members of the Special Litigation Committee
of the Board of Directors have been compensated at
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   6
 
a rate of $250 per hour plus reimbursement of expenses. During fiscal 1996, the
compensation paid by Dart and its subsidiaries, including Trak Auto, to members
of the respective Executive Committees for their services on those committees
totaled $1,263,000 ($421,000 paid by Trak Auto). Dart and its subsidiaries,
including Trak Auto, did not make any payments to members of the Special
Litigation Committee for their service on that committee in fiscal 1996.
 
     Trak Auto Corporation 1993 Stock Option Plan. The Trak 1993 Plan specifies
that 1,500 Non-Qualified Stock Options shall be granted to each director who is
not an employee each calendar year, such options to be effective as of July 31
each year and to expire five years from the date of grant.
 
     Deferred Compensation Plan. Trak Auto adopted the 1988 Trak Auto
Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors, effective January 1, 1988
(the "Compensation Plan"). The Compensation Plan permits Trak Auto's directors
to defer the payment of all or a specified part of future compensation payable
for services as director, including fees for serving on or attending meetings of
committees of the Board of Directors. Each director may elect, on or before
January 31 of any year, to defer payment of compensation, payable on or after
the February 1st following such election, for services to be performed during
the twelve-month period commencing on such February 1 and ending on January 31
of the following calendar year (the "Plan Year"). After such an election, all
subsequent compensation will be deferred until the director notifies Trak Auto,
prior to the commencement of any Plan Year, that compensation for future Plan
Years is to be paid on a current basis.
 
     Deferred compensation will not be paid to a director as earned, but will be
held in Trak Auto's general funds and credited to a bookkeeping account
maintained by Trak Auto in the name of the director. Each participating director
will be treated as a creditor of Trak Auto with respect to such funds. Deferred
compensation will be paid to directors in a lump sum on the February 15th of the
Plan Year after retirement, unless the director elects, at the time he exercises
the deferral option, to be paid in up to ten annual installments.
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   7
 
                SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
 
     The following table sets forth certain information concerning all
shareholders known by Trak Auto to be beneficial owners of five percent or more
of the Common Stock as of May 10, 1996.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        AMOUNT AND
                                                                        NATURE OF
                                                                        BENEFICIAL      PERCENT OF
                          NAME AND ADDRESS                             OWNERSHIP(1)       CLASS
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------  ------------     ----------
<S>                                                                    <C>              <C>
Dart Group Corporation(2)............................................    3,962,246         67.2
3300 75th Avenue
Landover, MD 20785
Heartland Advisors, Inc.(3)..........................................      783,850         13.3
790 N. Milwaukee Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc.(4)....................................      375,900          6.4
1299 Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90401
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), a
    person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of a security if such owner has
    or shares the power to vote or direct the voting of such security or the
    power to dispose or direct the disposition of such security. Accordingly,
    more than one person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the same
    securities. Unless otherwise indicated by footnote, the persons named in
    the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares
    of Common Stock beneficially owned.
    
(2) Under the Voting Trust Agreement, dated October 6, 1995 (the "Voting Trust
    Agreement"), among Ronald S. Haft, Dart and the Voting Trustees named
    therein, Richard B. Stone, as Voting Trustee, has sole voting power over
    374,485 Dart Class A shares and 222,294 Dart Class B shares and Ronald S.
    Haft has sole investment power over such shares, subject to (i) the rights
    of Dart to exercise a call option to purchase the shares, as provided in
    the Buy/Sell/Offering Agreement entered into by Ronald S. Haft and Dart,
    and (ii) the rights of Dart and Cabot-Morgan Real Estate Company ("CMREC")
    under a Stock and Trust Certificate Pledge Agreement made by Ronald S. Haft
    in favor of the initial Voting Trustees, as collateral agents and bailees
    for Dart and CMREC. The Voting Trustee may vote the shares in such manner
    as he deems to be "in the best interests of Dart and all of its
    shareholders as a single class." The Voting Trust Agreement will terminate
    on August 1, 2000, unless terminated earlier or later pursuant to the terms
    of the Voting Trust Agreement. The Voting Trust Agreement is subject to
    legal challenge. See Item 3 of Trak Auto's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
    the year ended February 3, 1996.
    
(3) Based on the holdings reported on the most recent Schedule 13G filed by
    Heartland Advisors, Inc., an investment advisor registered under the
    Investment Advisors Act of 1940 ("Heartland"), on February 9, 1996. In its
    Schedule 13G, Heartland has reported that it has sole voting power over
    643,050 of the shares. Heartland has sole investment power over 783,850
    shares.
    
(4) Based on holdings reported on a Schedule 13G filed by Dimensional Fund
    Advisors Inc., an investment advisor registered under the Investment
    Advisors Act of 1940 ("DFA"), on February 7, 1996. DFA has sole voting
    power with respect to 240,400 shares (representing 4.1% of the shares
    outstanding). Persons who are officers of DFA also serve as officers of DFA
    Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (the "Fund") and the DFA Investment Trust
    Company (the "Trust"). In their capacities as officers of the Fund and the
    Trust, these persons vote 43,500 shares (representing .7% of the shares
    outstanding) owned by the Fund and 92,000 shares (representing 1.6% of the
    shares outstanding) owned by the Trust. DFA has sole investment power with
    respect to 375,900 shares.
    
                                        5
<PAGE>   8
 
                          POTENTIAL CHANGES IN CONTROL
 
     On October 6, 1995, Dart and Ronald S. Haft entered into a settlement of
certain litigation and other related transactions (collectively, the "RSH
Settlement").
 
     The RSH Settlement transactions are subject to pending litigation and,
through such litigation Robert M. Haft, Gloria G. Haft and Linda G. Haft and,
separately, Herbert H. Haft seek control of Dart. If sustained, the RSH
Settlement transactions were intended to have the effect, by their terms, of
transferring majority control of Dart's voting stock to one or more voting
trustees under the Voting Trust Agreement. On December 28, 1995, the initial
Voting Trustees resigned and appointed Richard B. Stone as successor Voting
Trustee.
 
     If the RSH Settlement is sustained by the Delaware Court of Chancery, a
Buy/Sell/Offering Agreement between Dart and Ronald S. Haft will govern the
ultimate disposition of the shares held by the Voting Trustee. That agreement
gives Ronald S. Haft the right to "put" to Dart the stock held by the Voting
Trustee at any time between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 1999, subject to
certain conditions. With respect to the 222,294 shares of Dart Class B Common
Stock held by the Voting Trustee, Ronald S. Haft may (instead of including them
in the "put") exchange them for 244,523 shares of Dart Class A Common Stock
(i.e., a 1.1 to 1 exchange ratio) and offer those 244,523 shares of Dart Class A
Common Stock to the public. Dart has an option to "call" the shares held by the
Voting Trustee, if they have not previously been disposed of as described above,
at any time during the first seven months of the year 2000.
 
     All of the 222,294 Dart Class B shares in the Voting Trust, as well as the
related voting trust certificates issued to Ronald S. Haft under the Voting
Trust Agreement, have been pledged to Dart and CMREC as security for certain
loans made to Ronald S. Haft and other obligations of Ronald S. Haft arising
under the RSH Settlement.
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   9
 
                        SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
 
     The following table sets forth information as of May 10, 1996 regarding the
ownership of the Common Stock, Dart's Class A Common Stock, $1.00 par value per
share ("Class A"), and Dart's Class B Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share
("Class B"), by the following persons: (a) each of Trak Auto's current
directors, (b) Trak Auto's Chief Executive Officer and the other four most
highly paid executive officers of Trak Auto and (c) all of Trak Auto's current
directors and executive officers as a group.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                APPROXIMATE
                                                        TITLE OF    NO. OF      PERCENTAGE
                        NAME                             CLASS      SHARES       OF CLASS
- ----------------------------------------------------  ------------  -------     -----------
<S>                                                   <C>           <C>         <C>
Herbert H. Haft.....................................  Class A       259,161(1)     13.76(2)
                                                      Class B            --(3)        --
                                                      Trak Auto         500            *
R. Keith Green......................................  Class A           999(4)         *(2)
                                                      Trak Auto      13,834(5)         *
Bonita A. Wilson....................................  Class A         2,250(6)         *(2)
                                                      Trak Auto       4,500(7)         *
Douglas M. Bregman..................................  Class A         2,250(6)         *(2)
                                                      Trak Auto       4,500(7)         *
Larry G. Schafran...................................  Class A         1,125(8)         *(2)
                                                      Trak Auto       3,000(9)         *
Robert E. Brann.....................................  Trak Auto       1,699(10)        *
Thomas V. Reilly....................................  Trak Auto       6,922(11)        *
David B. MacGlashan.................................  Trak Auto       1,533(12)        *
All directors and officers as a group (8 persons)...  Class A       265,785(13)     4.40(2)
                                                      Trak Auto      36,488(14)        *
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
  *  Less than one percent.
 (1) Includes exercisable options for 136,414 Class A shares. These options
     include 10,000 shares under Dart's 1983 Executive Non-Qualified Stock Plan
     and 99,750 shares under Dart's 1987 Executive Non-Qualified Stock Option
     Plan, the validity of which is subject to challenge by Dart.
 (2) Calculated based upon a class including shares subject to exercisable stock
     options under stock option plans, which are subject to challenge by Dart.
 (3) Herbert H. Haft has filed a lawsuit seeking a judgement declaring that
     172,730 shares of Class B Common Stock belong to him, that they were
     wrongfully sold by Ronald S. Haft to Dart and that Herbert H. Haft is
     entitled to restitution of such shares or, alternatively, that his
     purported irrevocable proxy on the 172,730 shares continues to be valid.
 (4) Exercisable options for 999 Class A shares.
 (5) Includes exercisable options for 8,834 shares.
 (6) Exercisable options for 2,250 Class A shares.
 (7) Exercisable options for 4,500 shares.
 (8) Exercisable options for 1,125 Class A shares.
 (9) Exercisable options for 3,000 shares.
(10) Exercisable options for 1,699 shares.
(11) Includes exercisable options for 4,732 shares.
(12) Exercisable options for 1,533 shares.
(13) Includes exercisable options for 143,038 Class A shares.
(14) Includes exercisable options for 28,798 shares.
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   10
 
                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
     Dart provides Trak Auto with certain general and administrative services.
Dart charged Trak Auto approximately $865,000 for such services during the year
ended February 3, 1996. In addition, Trak Auto provides similar services to Dart
and its other subsidiaries. Trak Auto charged Dart and its subsidiaries
approximately $1,235,000 for such services in the year ended February 3, 1996.
In management's opinion, the intercompany charges for these services were equal
to the costs incurred by Dart or Trak Auto to provide these functions. It is not
practicable for Trak Auto to estimate the cost it would have incurred for these
services if it had operated as an unaffiliated entity. In addition, Dart charges
Trak Auto for actual expenses that relate directly to Trak Auto's operations.
Substantially all such charges are supported by invoices from unrelated parties
designating Trak Auto as recipient of the related goods and services or were for
matters related to Dart and all of its affiliated companies (including Trak
Auto) and were allocated on a judgmental basis by management. These direct
charges were $5,154,000 in the year ended February 3, 1996 and included
insurance premiums that were paid by Trak Auto in prior years.
 
     Of Trak Auto's 276 stores as of February 3, 1996, 23 stores were held under
lease or sublease agreements from entities in which members of the Haft family
own substantially all the beneficial interests. Two stores were leased from
joint ventures in which Dart owned the majority interest and the remaining
interests were owned by members of the Haft family. In addition, two stores were
subleased from Crown Books. These 27 store lease agreements provide for various
termination dates from 1996 to 2024 (assuming option periods are exercised) and
require future minimum rentals aggregating $49,979,000 at February 3, 1996.
These lease agreements also require payment of a percentage of sales in excess
of a stated minimum. During the year ended February 3, 1996, the fees and
rentals paid by Trak Auto under these agreements were $2,914,000.
 
     Trak Auto leases a 176,000 square foot warehouse located in Bridgeview,
Illinois from a private partnership in which Haft family members own all of the
partnership interests. The lease (which commenced in 1984) is for thirty years
and six months and provides for rental payments increasing approximately 15%
every five years over the term of the lease. The current annual rental is
$728,000. The lease also requires the payment of maintenance, utilities,
insurance and real estate taxes on the warehouse.
 
     Trak Auto subleases from Dart 210,000 square feet of a warehouse and office
facility located in Landover, Maryland which it shares with Dart and Crown
Books. The sublease is for 30 years and six months, provides for rental payments
increasing approximately 15% every five years over the term of the sublease and
commenced in 1985. The current annual rental is $1,422,000. The sublease also
requires the payment of maintenance, utilities, insurance and real estate taxes
allocable to the space subleased. Dart leases the entire 271,000 square foot
warehouse and office facility from a private partnership in which Haft family
members own all of the partnership interests. Trak Auto's lease is on the same
terms as Dart's lease from the Haft family partnership.
 
     Dart has a lease agreement with a Haft family-owned entity for vacant land
near Trak Auto's warehouse in Landover, Maryland. The lease is for the same
period as the warehouse and office facility lease described above. Dart, Trak
Auto and Crown Books each pay a pro-rata share of the rent in the proportion to
their use of the warehouse and office facility. Trak Auto's current annual
rental is $25,000 with increases of three percent per year.
 
     On April 20, 1992, Trak Auto entered into an agreement with Dart to
sublease 6,500 square feet in a warehouse facility adjacent to the above
warehouse and office facility. Dart leases the property from a partnership in
which Haft family members own all of the partnership interests (the "Pennsy
Leases"). The term of the sublease is one year (with nine one-year option
periods). Under the sublease agreement the current annual rental is $21,000 and
increases to $24,000 for each of the last five option periods. The sublease
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   11
 
also requires Trak Auto to pay approximately $6,000 annually for its full share
of any common area charges, real estate taxes and insurance premiums. Trak Auto
has given notice to terminate this sublease and hold over in the warehouse on a
month-to-month basis.
 
     Trak Auto has a lease agreement with a Haft family-owned entity for a
317,000 square foot distribution center in Ontario, California. The lease is for
20 years, commenced in 1989, and provides for increasing rental payments, based
upon the Consumer Price Index for the Los Angeles area, over the term of the
lease. The current annual rental is $1,374,000. The lease requires the payment
of maintenance, utilities, insurance and real estate taxes.
 
     The total of annual fees and rent paid to Haft-owned entities for stores,
warehouses and office space was $6,295,000 in fiscal 1996.
 
     As part of the RSH Settlement, Ronald S. Haft agreed to transfer the real
estate and partnership interests controlled by him in the Landover, Maryland,
Bridgeview, Illinois and Ontario, California offices and warehouse facilities to
Dart (or its subsidiaries) and to reduce the rent. These transfers and rent
reductions are subject to contingencies, including bankruptcy court approval,
mortgagee approval, challenges brought by Herbert H. Haft concerning the extent
of Ronald S. Haft's ownership interest in the property, and claims asserted by
Robert M. Haft and Linda G. Haft regarding the extent to which Ronald S. Haft
controls the aforementioned partnerships.
 
     On February 10, 1995, after a legal review by Dart's Executive Committee,
Dart filed a complaint for rescission of the Pennsy Leases and for the return of
rent paid since 1991 on such leases. The Executive Committees of Dart, Trak Auto
and Crown Books have also undertaken a legal review of other leasing
arrangements and real estate related transactions between Dart, Trak Auto and
Crown Books, on the one hand, and Haft-owned entities, on the other hand. The
Executive Committees have not yet determined whether other actions will be taken
as a result of this legal review.
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   12
 
         REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
     This report describes Trak Auto's compensation policies applicable to its
executive officers during the fiscal year ended February 3, 1996. During fiscal
1996, executive compensation policies were formulated by the Compensation
Committee and an extensive evaluation of executive compensation practices was
completed. An Executive Compensation Program was developed in fiscal 1996 and
will be implemented in fiscal 1997. This new program shifts the former "base
pay" emphasis to one that is more closely tied to company performance.
 
     The key elements of Trak Auto's executive compensation program consist of
base salaries that are determined based upon (a) concerns of competitive pay and
performance, (b) cash bonus awards that are driven solely on performance and (c)
ownership of stock options to align the interests of management with those of
stockholders. Each of these elements are described in more detail below.
 
     Executive compensation during fiscal 1996 consisted principally of salary.
For executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer, annual salary is
determined by the person to whom such officer reports (in the case of officers
other than the President, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer),
based on the officer's previous year's salary and his superior's subjective
assessment of the responsibilities of the position held, the competitive market
for retail executives with comparable levels of responsibility, the executive's
performance on the job and other factors that the superior deems relevant or
appropriate.
 
     Trak Auto's President is eligible to receive a bonus based on Trak Auto's
operating results as compared to budget for the fiscal year. The accrual for Mr.
Green's bonus for the fiscal year ended February 3, 1996 was $120,000. No
bonuses were awarded to any other executive officers.
 
     The Compensation Committee believes that annual awards of stock options are
an effective means of aligning an executive's compensation with the interests of
shareholders, since the value of such options are tied directly to increases in
the market value of the Common Stock. The exercise price for such options
granted is the market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. Options
become exercisable over time. One-third become exercisable one year from the
date of grant, an additional one-third become exercisable two years from the
date of grant and the last third become exercisable three years from the date of
grant. There is no set number of options that can be awarded in any year or any
formula for allocating options among the officers. The amount of options awarded
to each executive officer is based on the Compensation Committee's subjective
evaluation of the relative contributions of the executives to Trak Auto.
 
     During the fiscal year ended January 28, 1995, stock option grants were
approved by the Board of Directors subject to approval by the Delaware Chancery
Court as a result of a Standstill Agreement. As of the end of fiscal 1995, the
court had not approved the grant of options and, consequently, no options were
deemed to have been granted in fiscal 1995. On April 18, 1995, a hearing was
held at which the court issued an order stating that the Standstill Agreement
did not enjoin the issuance of stock options approved by the Board of Directors.
Because the hearing took place after the end of fiscal 1995, there were no stock
options granted during fiscal 1995. Accordingly, in fiscal 1996, Trak Auto
granted stock options to certain executive officers based upon performance
during fiscal 1995. In addition, Trak Auto granted stock options to certain
executive officers during fiscal 1996 based upon performance during fiscal 1996.
 
FISCAL 1996 COMPENSATION FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
 
     Herbert H. Haft, the Chief Executive Officer, received $250,000 in salary
from Trak Auto in fiscal 1996. Mr. Haft's salary has been the same since 1986
and was not reviewed by the Compensation Committee during the past fiscal year.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   13
 
LIMIT ON DEDUCTIBILITY OF CERTAIN COMPENSATION
 
     It is the responsibility of the Board of Directors to address the issues
raised by a change in the federal income tax laws that has made certain
non-performance based compensation to executive officers of public companies in
excess of $1 million non-deductible to such companies. In this regard, the Board
must determine whether any actions with respect to this new limit should be
taken by Trak Auto. At this time, it is not anticipated that any executive
officer of Trak Auto will receive any such compensation in fiscal 1997.
Therefore, the Board has not taken any action to comply with the $1 million
limitation. The Board will continue to monitor this situation and will take
appropriate action if it is warranted in the future.
 
STATUS OF REPORT
 
     The foregoing report on Executive Compensation shall not be deemed to be
"soliciting material" or be "filed" with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14C
promulgated by the SEC or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
                                          Compensation Committee
 
                                          Douglas M. Bregman
                                          Larry G. Schafran
                                          Bonita A. Wilson
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   14
 
                         STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE GRAPH
 
     The following graph compares cumulative total returns (assuming
reinvestment of dividends) on the Common Stock, the S&P Composite-500 Stock
Index and a peer company index (the S&P Retail Store Specialty Index) for the
five-year period ending February 3, 1996. This stock price performance graph
assumes that the value of the investment in the Common Stock and each index was
$100 on January 31, 1991. Through February 3, 1996, no dividends were paid on
the Common Stock. The stock price performance shown on the graph below is not
necessarily indicative of future price performance.
 
                COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
                      FOR THE YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 3, 1996
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      MEASUREMENT PERIOD           TRAK AUTO      STANDARD &     RETAIL STORE
    (FISCAL YEAR COVERED)         CORPORATION    POOR'S INDEX      COMPOSITE
<S>                              <C>             <C>             <C>
1991                                    100.00          100.00          100.00
1992                                    243.00          123.00          114.00
1993                                    315.00          136.00          149.00
1994                                    211.00          153.00          149.00
1995                                    294.00          163.00          144.00
1996                                    255.00          173.00          141.00
</TABLE>
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   15
 
                       COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
     The following table sets forth in summary form all compensation for all
services rendered in all capacities to Trak Auto and its subsidiaries for the
three years ended February 3, 1996 to (i) the Chief Executive Officer of Trak
Auto and (ii) the other four most highly paid executive officers of Trak Auto
(collectively, the "Named Executive Officers").
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   LONG TERM
                                                                                  COMPENSATION
                                                    ANNUAL COMPENSATION              AWARDS
                                            -----------------------------------   ------------
                                                                      OTHER        SECURITIES
                                                                      ANNUAL       UNDERLYING     ALL OTHER
            NAME AND               FISCAL                          COMPENSATION     OPTIONS      COMPENSATION
       PRINCIPAL POSITION           YEAR    SALARY($)   BONUS($)      ($)(1)          (#)           ($)(2)
- ---------------------------------  ------   ---------   --------   ------------   ------------   ------------
<S>                                <C>      <C>         <C>        <C>            <C>            <C>
Herbert H. Haft..................   1996     250,000         --       15,000(3)          --          3,000
  Chief Executive Officer           1995     250,000         --       15,000(3)          --          3,000
                                    1994     250,000         --       12,500(3)      20,000          1,000
R. Keith Green...................   1996     310,200    120,000       20,000(4)      25,000          3,000
  President                         1995     273,000     97,500       20,000(4)          --          3,000
                                    1994     263,000         --       12,500(5)      10,000          1,000
Robert E. Brann..................   1996     247,800         --           --          7,000          3,000
  Executive Vice President          1995     220,000         --           --             --          3,000
                                    1994     211,100         --           --          1,600            500
Thomas V. Reilly.................   1996     222,800         --           --          7,000          3,000
  Executive Vice President          1995     198,000         --           --             --          3,000
                                    1994     187,100         --           --          1,600            500
David B. MacGlashan..............   1996     207,800         --           --          7,000          3,000
  Vice President, Chief             1995     183,000         --           --             --          3,000
     Financial Officer              1994     171,700         --           --          1,600            500
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) Excludes perquisites and other personal benefits, unless the aggregate
    amount of such compensation is at least $10,000 or 10% of the total annual
    salary and bonus reported for the Named Executive Officer.
(2) Includes allocations to the accounts of the Named Executive Officers
    pursuant to the profit-sharing plans of Trak Auto.
(3) Includes fees received as a director of Trak Auto.
(4) Includes fees received as a director of Trak Auto ($15,000) and health, life
    and disability insurance ($5,000).
(5) Includes fees received as a director of Trak Auto ($12,500).
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   16
 
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
 
     This table provides information with respect to grants of options for
shares of common stock of Trak Auto to the Named Executive Officers during
fiscal 1996 and the exercise price, expiration date and estimates of the
potential realizable values of such options.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                             
                                                              INDIVIDUAL GRANTS                                 POTENTIAL    
                                     -------------------------------------------------------------------       REALIZABLE    
                                                      % OF TOTAL                                            VALUE AT ASSUMED 
                                                       OPTIONS                                               ANNUAL RATES OF
                                                      GRANTED TO                                               STOCK PRICE
                                                      EMPLOYEES                    MARKET                   APPRECIATION FOR
                                        OPTIONS           IN        EXERCISE OR     PRICE                    OPTION TERM(2)
                                        GRANTED         FISCAL      BASE PRICE     DATE OF    EXPIRATION    -----------------
               NAME                     (#)(1)           YEAR         ($/SH)       GRANT($)      DATE       5%($)     10%($)
- -----------------------------------  -------------    ----------    -----------    -------    ----------    ------    -------
<S>                                  <C>              <C>           <C>            <C>        <C>           <C>       <C>
Herbert H. Haft....................        None
R. Keith Green.....................      15,000          11.9          16.125      16.125       7/31/00     66,800    147,700
                                         10,000(3)       11.4           14.00       14.00       7/31/99     38,700     85,500
Robert E. Brann....................       5,000           4.0          16.125      16.125       7/31/00     22,300     49,200
                                          2,000(3)        2.3           14.00       14.00       7/31/99      7,700     17,100
Thomas V. Reilly...................       5,000           4.0          16.125      16.125       7/31/00     22,300     49,200
                                          2,000(3)        2.3           14.00       14.00       7/31/99      7,700     17,100
David B. MacGlashan................       5,000           4.0          16.125      16.125       7/31/00     22,300     49,200
                                          2,000(3)        2.3           14.00       14.00       7/31/99      7,700     17,100
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Options become exercisable over time. One-third become exercisable one year
    from the date of grant, an additional one-third become exercisable two years
    from the date of grant and the last third become exercisable three years
    from the date of grant. Options expire five years from the date of grant.
    Options are granted at market price on the date of grant. All options
    granted to executive officers are incentive stock options ("ISO's") under
    the Internal Revenue Code. ISO's entitle the option holder to special tax
    treatment provided that the option holder satisfies certain holding periods
    with respect to shares acquired on the exercise of options. In general, if
    the holding periods are satisfied, the option holder will incur no taxable
    income by reason of exercise of the option, and Trak Auto will not receive
    an income tax deduction by reason of the exercise. The option holder will
    recognize gain or loss upon a subsequent sale of the common stock, based on
    the difference between the amount for which the stock is sold, and the
    option price paid.
 
(2) Potential realizable value is based on an assumption that the price of the
    Common Stock appreciates at the annual rate shown (compounded annually) from
    the date of grant until the end of the five year option term. These numbers
    are calculated based on the rules and regulations promulgated by the
    Securities and Exchange Commission and do not reflect the Company's estimate
    of future stock price growth.
 
(3) Represents options for Trak Auto Common Stock granted in fiscal 1995 but not
    approved by court action until fiscal 1996.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   17
 
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION
VALUES
 
     For each of the Named Executive Officers, the following table provides
information regarding the exercise of options during fiscal 1996 and the number
and value of unexercised options held as of February 3, 1996.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             NUMBER OF
                                                                            SECURITIES       VALUE OF
                                                                            UNDERLYING      UNEXERCISED
                                                                            UNEXERCISED    IN-THE-MONEY
                                                                            OPTIONS AT      OPTIONS AT
                                                                              FY-END         FY-END($)
                                                                           -------------   -------------
                                           SHARES ACQUIRED      VALUE      EXERCISABLE/    EXERCISABLE/
                  NAME                       ON EXERCISE     REALIZED($)   UNEXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE
- -----------------------------------------  ---------------   -----------   -------------   -------------
<S>                                        <C>               <C>           <C>             <C>
Herbert H. Haft..........................       73,332         277,500         --/ 6,668       --/16,700
R. Keith Green...........................           --              --      8,834/25,001   17,100/15,000
Robert E. Brann..........................           --              --      1,699/ 6,868    3,200/ 2,700
Thomas V. Reilly.........................          500           2,600      4,732/ 6,868   20,600/ 2,700
David B. MacGlashan......................           --              --      1,533/ 6,868    2,800/ 2,700
</TABLE>
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
 
     On January 24, 1995, Trak Auto entered into an employment agreement with
each of Messrs. Green, Brann, Reilly and MacGlashan. Mr. Green's agreement is
for a term of two years from February 1, 1995 to January 31, 1997, and is
automatically extended two years at the end of this term unless Mr. Green is
terminated pursuant to the agreement prior to that time. The other agreements
are for the period from February 1, 1995 to January 31, 1996, and are
automatically extended one year at the end of such term unless the individual is
terminated pursuant to the agreement prior to that time.
 
     The agreements provide for the following rates of annual compensation: Mr.
Green, $300,000; Mr. Brann, $240,000; Mr. Reilly, $215,000; Mr. MacGlashan,
$200,000. Annual compensation is subject to annual increases as recommended to
the Board by the Compensation Committee following review and performance
appraisal by the Compensation Committee and approval by the Board.
 
     Mr. Green is eligible for an annual bonus pursuant to a bonus agreement
based on performance. The bonus base is $75,000 if Trak Auto meets budget, is
increased by a percentage of Trak Auto's net income that exceeds budget and is
decreased by a percentage of net income that is below budget.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   18
 
                              INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
     Arthur Andersen LLP has served as the independent auditors of Trak Auto for
the fiscal year ended February 3, 1996 and has been appointed by the Board of
Directors to serve as Trak Auto's independent auditors for the fiscal year
ending February 1, 1997.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors
                                          /s/ ELLIOTT R. ARDITTI
                                          Elliott R. Arditti
                                          Secretary
 
May 30, 1996
 
     A COPY OF TRAK AUTO'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED
FEBRUARY 3, 1996, WHICH HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SEC PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE
ACT, MAY BE OBTAINED WITHOUT CHARGE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO DAVID B. MACGLASHAN,
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, TRAK AUTO CORPORATION, 3300 75TH AVENUE, LANDOVER,
MARYLAND 20785.
 
                                       16


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