<PAGE> 1
[LOGO]
Bellevue, Washington
December 17, 1999
Dear Shareholders:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
Penford Corporation to be held on Monday, January 24, 2000 at 10:30 a.m. at the
Hyatt Regency Hotel, 900 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue, Washington (on the corner
of N.E. 8th & Bellevue Way).
In addition to the items set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual
Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement, we will report on current
activities of the Company and will provide an opportunity to discuss matters of
interest to you as a shareholder.
We sincerely hope you will be able to attend our Annual Meeting. However,
whether or not you plan to attend, please vote promptly to ensure that your
shares are represented.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to express our
appreciation for your continued interest in Penford Corporation.
Very truly yours,
/s/ JEFFREY T. COOK
-------------------------------------
Jeffrey T. Cook
President and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE> 2
PENFORD CORPORATION
------------------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
JANUARY 24, 2000
------------------------
To the Shareholders:
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Penford Corporation will be held at
the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 900 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue, Washington, on Monday,
January 24, 2000, at 10:30 a.m., for the following purposes:
1. To reelect two directors;
2. To ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors for
the current fiscal year; and
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on December 3, 1999
are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ SUSAN M. IVERSON
----------------------------------
Susan M. Iverson
Corporate Secretary
December 17, 1999
IMPORTANT
Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person, we urge you to
promptly vote your shares. This will ensure the presence of a quorum at the
meeting. Enclosed is a self-addressed envelope for which no postage is required
if mailed in the United States. RESPONDING PROMPTLY WILL SAVE THE COMPANY THE
ADDITIONAL EXPENSE OF FURTHER SOLICITATION. Submitting your vote by Proxy will
not prevent you from voting your stock at the meeting if you desire to do so, as
your Proxy is revocable at your option.
<PAGE> 3
PENFORD CORPORATION
777 - 108TH AVENUE N.E., SUITE 2390
BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON 98004-5193
------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
------------------------
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of Penford Corporation ("Penford" or the
"Company") to be voted at the Company's 2000 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to
be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 24, 2000. Shareholders who execute
proxies may revoke them at any time prior to their exercise by delivering a
written revocation to the Secretary of the Company, by submission of a proxy
with a later date, or by voting in person at the meeting. These proxy materials,
together with the Company's annual report to shareholders, are being mailed to
shareholders on or about December 17, 1999.
Shareholders of record at the close of business on December 3, 1999 will be
entitled to vote at the meeting on the basis of one vote for each share held. On
December 3, 1999, there were outstanding 7,415,061 shares of common stock of the
Company.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors consists of seven members and is divided into three
classes. Directors in each class are elected for a three-year term. This year,
Messrs. Paul H. Hatfield and N. Stewart Rogers, both of whom are current
directors, have been nominated to be reelected for a term that expires at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2003. Unless a shareholder
indicates otherwise, each signed proxy will be voted for the election of these
nominees.
Management expects that each of the nominees will be available for
election, but if any of them is not a candidate at the time the election occurs,
it is intended that the proxies will be voted for the election of another
nominee to be designated to fill any such vacancy by the Board of Directors.
The candidates elected are those receiving the largest number of votes cast
by the shares entitled to vote in the election, up to the number of directors to
be elected. Shares held by persons who abstain from voting on the election and
broker "non-votes" will not be counted in the election.
Nominees for Reelection
Paul H. Hatfield, 63, has served as director of the Company since October
1994. Mr. Hatfield is Principal of the Hatfield Capital Group. He served as
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Petrolite Corporation until
July 1997. Prior to that, he worked for Ralston Purina Company from 1959 until
his retirement in 1995. He served as a Vice President of Ralston, as well as the
President and Chief Executive Officer of Protein Technologies International,
Inc., then a wholly owned subsidiary of Ralston. He serves as a Board member and
is Chairman of the Executive Development and Compensation Committee of Solutia
Inc., and as a Director of Maritz Inc. and Stout Industries. Mr. Hatfield is
also a member of the Advisory Board for International Business for St. Louis
University.
N. Stewart Rogers, 69, has served as Chairman of the Board of the Company
since 1990 and as a director since 1983. Mr. Rogers served as Senior Vice
President of Univar Corporation until retiring in 1991. He is a graduate of
Stanford University with a B.A. in Economics. Mr. Rogers serves as a Board
member of Penwest Pharmaceuticals Co. and Royal Pakhoed, N.V.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR EACH OF THE NOMINEES AS A DIRECTOR.
<PAGE> 4
Continuing Directors -- Term Expires 2001
Jeffrey T. Cook, 43, has served as a director of the Company since October
1998. In addition, Mr. Cook is President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company. He served as Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer from
1991 to August 1998, and was the Corporate Treasurer prior to that time. He has
been with the Company since 1983. He is a graduate of Stanford University with a
B.A. in Economics. Mr. Cook serves as a Board member of the Pacific Science
Center.
Sally G. Narodick, 54, has served as a director of the Company since August
1993. Ms. Narodick serves as Chief Executive Officer of Apex Online Learning, an
internet educational software company providing advanced placement courses and
professional development in K-12 education. Prior to that, Ms. Narodick served
as an independent education technology consultant from April 1998 to October
1998; and as an educational technology consultant to the Consumer Division of
IBM from December 1996 to March 1998. From 1989 to 1996, Ms. Narodick served as
Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Edmark Corporation, an educational software
company that was sold to IBM in 1996. A graduate of Boston University, Ms.
Narodick earned an M.A. in Teaching from Columbia University and an M.B.A. from
New York University. She serves as a Board member of Puget Sound Energy and
click2learn.com, inc.
Continuing Directors -- Term Expires 2002
John C. Hunter III, 53, has served as a director of the Company since
October 1998. Mr. Hunter is Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of
Solutia Inc., an international producer of a range of high performance
chemical-based materials used to make consumer, household, automotive, and
industrial products. He was appointed Chairman on December 1, 1999, and
President and Chief Executive Officer in April 1999. Prior to that, he served as
President and Chief Operating Officer since Solutia's spin-off from Monsanto
Company in 1997. From 1969 to 1997, Mr. Hunter was President of Fibers for
Monsanto Company. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a
B.S. in Chemical Engineering and an M.B.A. from the University of Houston at
Clear Lake City. Mr. Hunter serves as a Board member of the Missouri Baptist
Hospital and the President's Advisory Board of Georgia Tech.
William G. Parzybok, Jr., 57, has served as a director of the Company since
August 1993. Mr. Parzybok served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Fluke Corporation until July 1998. He joined Fluke in early 1991. He began his
career with Hewlett-Packard in 1968, spending 16 years in various executive
management positions. Mr. Parzybok received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and
an M.S. in Business Management from Colorado State University. He serves as a
Board member of the Pacific Science Center, SonoSite, Inc., and WRQ, Inc. Mr.
Parzybok is also on the University of Washington's College of Engineering
Visiting Committee.
William K. Street, 70, has served as a director of the Company since 1983.
Mr. Street has served as President and General Manager of The Ostrom Company
since 1965. Earlier in his career, he was General Manager of Elkhorn Ranch, Ltd.
and Vice President and General Manager of Physio-Control Corporation. He is also
a member and Treasurer of the National Mushroom Council and Trustee Emeritus of
the Tacoma Art Museum. A graduate of the University of Washington, Mr. Street is
a member of the Advisory Committee of the University of Washington, Tacoma.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD AND DIRECTOR FEES
The Board of Directors has the following standing committees:
Audit and Environmental, Health, and Safety Committee -- This committee
consists of Messrs. Street (Chair), Hunter, Rogers, and Ms. Narodick. The
committee recommends to the Board the selection of the independent auditors;
reviews the proposed scope of the independent audit; reviews the annual
financial statements and the independent auditor's report; reviews the
independent auditors' recommendations relating to accounting, internal controls
and other matters; reviews internal controls and accounting procedures with
management; and approves policies relating to environmental, health, and safety
matters.
2
<PAGE> 5
Compensation and Benefits Committee -- This committee consists of Messrs.
Parzybok (Chair), Hatfield, Street, and Ms. Narodick. The committee reviews
current remuneration of the directors and the executive officers of the Company
and makes recommendations to the Board regarding appropriate periodic
adjustments of such amounts. The committee also makes recommendations regarding
the Company's benefit plans, determines executive bonus payments, and grants
stock options to officers and employees under the Company's stock option plan.
Executive Committee -- This committee consists of Messrs. Rogers (Chair),
Cook, Hatfield, and Parzybok. The committee establishes the fiscal year Company
targets from which executive bonus payments are measured and is authorized to
exercise all powers and authority of the Board with certain exceptions.
Nominating Committee -- This committee consists of Ms. Narodick (Chair),
Messrs. Cook, Hunter, and Parzybok. The committee proposes candidates to fill
any vacancies on the Board and Board member nominees for election by the
shareholders at each Annual Meeting. The Company's Restated Articles of
Incorporation allow a majority of disinterested directors (generally, directors
who are not affiliated with any shareholder owning 5% or more of the Company's
outstanding voting stock) or persons beneficially owning 1% or more of the
outstanding shares of voting stock when cumulative voting is in effect (as a
result of a shareholder owning 40% or more of the Company's outstanding voting
stock) to nominate candidates for election as a director and to have information
relating to such nominees included in the Company's proxy statement. The
procedures to be followed in the case of any such nominations are set forth in
the Bylaws of the Company. The committee also makes recommendations for other
committee appointments.
In fiscal year 1999, the Audit and Environmental, Health, and Safety
Committee met two times; the Compensation and Benefits Committee met two times;
the Executive Committee met one time; the Nominating Committee did not meet; and
the Board of Directors met four times. All directors attended 75% or more of the
aggregate number of Board meetings and meetings of committees on which they
served.
Non-employee directors were compensated during the last fiscal year as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Annual retainer as Chairman of the Board of Directors....... $30,000
Annual retainer as a director............................... 9,000
Annual retainer as Chair of the Executive Committee......... 4,000
Annual retainer as Chair of all other standing committees... 2,000
Fee for each meeting of the Board of Directors attended..... 1,000
Fee for each meeting of the Board of Directors attended when
held out of state of director's residence................. 2,000
Fee for Chair and member of each standing committee for each
meeting attended.......................................... 1,000
Reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred in
attending Board or committee meetings
</TABLE>
Under a non-qualified deferred compensation plan, non-employee directors
may elect to defer with interest all or part of such compensation.
Non-employee directors also receive restricted stock under the 1993
Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Plan. The plan provides that beginning
September 1, 1993 and every three years thereafter, each non-employee director
will be awarded $18,000 worth of common stock of the Company, based on the last
reported sale price of the stock on the preceding trading day. A person who
becomes a non-employee director after September 1 on which an award was made
will be awarded the number of shares determined by dividing the amount equal to
$18,000 minus the product of $500 times the number of months since such
September 1 by the last reported sale price of the stock on the trading day next
preceding the award date. A non-employee director may sell or otherwise transfer
one-third of the shares covered by an award on each anniversary of the date of
the award. If a non-employee director ceases to be a director before the
restrictions against transfer have lapsed with respect to any shares, then,
except in certain circumstances, the director must forfeit such shares.
3
<PAGE> 6
In addition, non-employee directors receive stock options under the Stock
Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors. The plan provides that on each September
1, each non-employee director will be granted an option to purchase the number
of shares of the Company's common stock equal to $10,000 divided by 25% of the
fair market value of a share of such stock on such date. The exercise price is
75% of the fair market value of a share of such stock on the grant date. If a
non-employee director will not serve during the full fiscal year due to
retirement, then a pro rata award will be made. Accordingly, on September 1,
1998, each non-employee director was granted an option to purchase 3,019 shares
of common stock. Each non-employee director also may elect to receive during a
fiscal year stock options in lieu of director cash compensation for that year.
Grants of these options, if so elected, occur quarterly. The number of shares
subject to each option is equal to the amount of compensation (retainer, meeting
and committee fees) payable to the non-employee director as of the quarterly
date divided by 25% of the fair market value of a share of the Company's common
stock on the grant date. The exercise price for these deferred compensation
options is 75% of the fair market value of a share of such stock on the grant
date. In fiscal 1999, Messrs. Hatfield, Hunter, Rogers, and Street elected to
receive such options in lieu of director cash compensation. Unless an option
granted under the plan is terminated or its exercisability is accelerated in
accordance with the plan upon the occurrence of certain events (including a
change of control), the option is exercisable six months after its grant date.
The options terminate at the earlier of ten years after the date of grant or
three years after the date the non-employee director ceases to be a member of
the Board.
4
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information, as of December 3, 1999,
regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company's common stock by any person
known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of
such outstanding common stock; by the directors, including the Company's Chief
Executive Officer; by the two other highest paid executive officers; and by the
directors and named executive officers as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT AND NATURE OF
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF
NAME (AND ADDRESS FOR BENEFICIAL OWNERS OVER 5%) COMMON STOCK(1) PERCENT OF CLASS
------------------------------------------------ ----------------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Wellington Management....................................... 641,400 8.65%
75 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
David L. Babson............................................. 446,300 6.02%
One Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA 02142
Dimensional Fund Advisors................................... 380,150 5.13%
1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor
Santa Monica, CA 90401-1038
Jeffrey T. Cook............................................. 283,047(2) 3.76%
Paul H. Hatfield............................................ 40,193 *
Gregory C. Horn............................................. 40,052 *
John C. Hunter III.......................................... 5,164 *
Sally G. Narodick........................................... 16,983 *
William G. Parzybok, Jr. ................................... 12,404 *
N. Stewart Rogers........................................... 185,399(3) 2.50%
Francis C. Rydzewski........................................ 88,812 1.19%
William K. Street........................................... 47,080(4) *
All directors and executive officers as a group (9
persons).................................................. 719,134 9.42%
</TABLE>
- ---------------
* Represents less than 1%.
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, beneficial ownership represents sole voting and
investment power. Includes shares that may be acquired within 60 days
through the exercise of stock options, as follows: Mr. Cook, 108,720; Mr.
Rydzewski, 74,710; and Mr. Horn, 35,816.
(2) Includes 78,300 shares held in irrevocable trusts for which Mr. Cook shares
voting and investment power.
(3) Includes 65,246 shares held by a limited partnership and 11,538 shares held
in irrevocable trusts both of which Mr. Rogers has sole voting and
investment power.
(4) Includes 14,028 shares owned by Mr. Street's spouse as to which Mr. Street
disclaims beneficial ownership.
5
<PAGE> 8
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation paid by the Company during fiscal years 1999, 1998, and 1997
for the Chief Executive Officer and the other two most highly compensated
executive officers is set out in the following table.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
COMPENSATION
ANNUAL COMPENSATION AWARDS
---------------------------------- ------------
OTHER ANNUAL SECURITIES ALL OTHER
FISCAL SALARY BONUS COMPENSATION UNDERLYING COMPENSATION
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR ($) ($)(1) ($) OPTIONS(#) ($)(2)
--------------------------- ------ -------- -------- ------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Jeffrey T. Cook................ 1999 $260,000 $174,900 0 125,000 $12,115
President and Chief 1998 211,700 113,438 0 0 11,824
Executive Officer 1997 155,000 129,813 0 14,500 8,148
Francis C. Rydzewski........... 1999 233,000 81,587 0 60,000 9,568
Vice President 1998 225,000 96,750 0 0 11,877
1997 205,000 127,408 0 19,000 8,927
Gregory C. Horn................ 1999 181,666 131,868 0 50,000 11,394
Vice President 1998 171,250 126,000 0 0 11,826
1997 160,000 33,000 0 14,500 7,992
</TABLE>
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(1) Reflects bonuses earned during the fiscal year, but paid in the next fiscal
year.
(2) These amounts represent the Company's matching and profit sharing
contributions under the Penford Corporation Savings and Stock Ownership Plan
and premiums paid on behalf of the named executive officers for supplemental
disability insurance.
The Company has a stock option plan pursuant to which options to purchase
common stock are granted to officers and key employees of the Company. The plan
is administered by the Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board of
Directors, which determines to whom the options are granted, the number of
shares subject to each option grant, the type of option, the vesting schedule
and the exercise price. The plan and related agreements contain provisions that,
in certain circumstances, may cause the date of exercise of such option to
accelerate upon a change of control of the Company.
OPTION GRANTS IN FISCAL 1999
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
VALUE AT ASSUMED
ANNUAL RATES OF
NUMBER OF % OF TOTAL STOCK PRICE
SECURITIES OPTIONS APPRECIATION FOR
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO EXERCISE OR OPTION TERMS(1)
OPTIONS EMPLOYEES IN BASE PRICE EXPIRATION ---------------------
NAME GRANTED(#) FISCAL YEAR ($/SH) DATE 5%($) 10%($)
- ---- ---------- ------------ ----------- ---------- -------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Jeffrey T. Cook............... 125,000 24% $9.25 09/11/08 $727,159 $1,842,765
Francis C. Rydzewski.......... 60,000 11 9.25 09/11/08 349,037 884,527
Gregory C. Horn............... 50,000 10 9.25 09/11/08 290,864 737,106
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Potential realizable value is based on the assumption that the stock price
of the Company's common stock appreciates at the annual rate shown
(compounded annually) from the date of grant until the end of the ten-year
option term. These numbers are calculated based on the requirements
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not reflect
Company's estimate of future stock price performance.
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AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND
FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
OPTIONS AT FISCAL IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
SHARES YEAR-END(#) AT FISCAL YEAR-END($)(1)
ACQUIRED ON VALUE --------------------------- ---------------------------
NAME EXERCISE(#) REALIZED($) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
---- ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Jeffrey T. Cook............. 0 $0 72,224 243,853 $355,010 $1,339,191
Francis C. Rydzewski........ 0 0 48,905 88,435 296,728 511,483
Gregory C. Horn............. 0 0 15,070 146,107 97,852 823,652
</TABLE>
- ---------------
1) Values are calculated by subtracting the exercise price from the fair market
value of the stock as of the fiscal year end.
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BENEFITS COMPUTED WITHOUT SALARY MAXIMUMS OR 415 MAXIMUMS
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
YEARS OF SERVICE
FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE -----------------------------------------
COMPENSATION(1) 15 20 25 30
----------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$200,000 $ 42,521 $ 56,694 $ 70,868 $ 85,041
300,000 65,021 86,694 108,368 130,041
400,000 87,521 116,694 145,868 175,041
500,000 110,021 146,694 183,368 220,041
600,000 132,521 176,694 220,868 265,041
700,000 155,021 206,694 258,368 310,041
800,000 177,521 236,694 295,868 355,041
900,000 200,021 266,694 333,368 400,041
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Represents the highest average annual earnings during five consecutive years
of service.
The Company has a defined benefit retirement plan (the "Retirement Plan").
The table above shows the estimated annual benefits payable at retirement under
the Retirement Plan to persons in the specified compensation and years of
service classifications. The retirement benefits shown are based upon retirement
at age 65 and the payments of a single-life annuity to the employee using
current average Social Security wage base amounts and are not subject to any
deduction for Social Security or other offset amounts. The Retirement Plan's
formula limits years of service to 30 years. With certain exceptions, the
Internal Revenue Code restricts to an aggregate amount of $130,000 (subject to
cost of living adjustments) the annual pension that may be paid by an employer
from a plan which is qualified under the Code. The Code also limits the covered
compensation which may be used to determine benefits to $160,000. The Board of
Directors has established supplemental benefits for certain highly compensated
employees to whom this limit applies, or will apply in the future, so that these
employees will obtain the benefit of the formula that would have applied in the
absence of the limitation. The named executive officers entitled to receive
supplemental benefits as of August 31, 1999 were Messrs. Cook, Rydzewski, and
Horn.
All permanent employees who are not members of the collective bargaining
unit are eligible to participate in the Retirement Plan. Compensation covered by
the Retirement Plan includes salaries and bonuses.
As of August 31, 1999, the approximate years of credited service (rounded
to the nearest year) under the Retirement Plan of the named executive officers
were: Mr. Cook, 18; Mr. Rydzewski, 4; and Mr. Horn, 6.
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<PAGE> 10
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS COMMITTEE REPORT
ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Board of Directors of the Company has a Compensation and Benefits
Committee (the "Committee") comprised of four independent directors. The
Committee is broadly charged by the Board of Directors to establish compensation
and incentive programs for key employees, and to direct and monitor the
Company's benefit plans for all Penford employees.
Following review and approval by the Committee, issues pertaining to
executive compensation are submitted to the full Board of Directors for approval
or ratification.
Total Compensation
The Committee believes that executive officer compensation should be
closely aligned with the performance of the Company on both a short-term and
long-term basis, and that such compensation should assist the Company in
attracting and retaining key executives critical to its long-term success. To
that end, the Committee's policy is that the compensation package for executive
officers should consist of three components: (i) an annual base salary; (ii) the
potential to earn incentive bonuses, the amount of which is dependent on both
Company and individual performance during the prior fiscal year; and (iii) stock
option awards designed to align management's interests with those of
shareholders by providing long-term incentives for the Company's key employees.
The Committee establishes total annual compensation for the chief executive
officer and other senior executive officers after reviewing each component of
such executive's compensation against executive compensation surveys prepared by
outside consultants. The surveys used for comparison reflect compensation levels
and practices for persons holding comparably responsible positions at targeted
peer group companies. In addition to reviewing senior executive officers'
compensation against the comparator group, the Committee also solicits
appropriate input from the Company's president and chief executive officer
regarding total compensation for those executives who report directly to him.
For fiscal 1999, the Committee determined that total compensation for
executive officers (the sum of base salary, incentive bonus, and long-term
compensation delivered through stock option awards) should be targeted between
the 50th and the 75th percentile of selected peer group companies. The Committee
may, at its discretion, award compensation in excess of the target. The program
is intended to be competitive with other high-performing organizations and to
enable the Company to attract, reward and retain exceptional talent.
Base Salary
Base salaries for executive officers are reviewed on an annual basis and at
the time of promotion or other increase in responsibilities. Increases in salary
are based on evaluation of such factors as the levels of responsibility,
individual performance, experience, current pay, and Company peer group pay
levels. In fiscal 1999, Mr. Cook's base salary was $260,000, which was
determined in accordance with the factors above.
Incentive Compensation
The Committee selects plan participants, sets bonus target percentages,
approves individual performance factors, and determines level of achievement to
objective performance measures. Target bonus amounts are expressed as a
percentage of base salary and are established according to the overall intended
peer group companies. For fiscal 1999, the bonus targets for participating
employees ranged from 20% to 60% of base salary depending on position. Mr.
Cook's target was 60%. After the end of the performance period, the extent to
which the performance goals were achieved and the amount of the award that is
payable is determined by the Committee.
This program is an annual cash payout dependent on achieving predetermined
profit and cash flow goals, as well as certain qualitative objectives. Penford's
Board of Directors believes strongly that a balanced combination of targets
requiring the achievement of short-term operating goals and longer-term
strategic
8
<PAGE> 11
objectives translates directly into increasing the long-term value of Penford
stock. Individual incentive compensation target awards are also subject to an
adjustment based on individual performance. Payouts can exceed targets when
quantitative and qualitative targets are exceeded.
Stock Based Incentive Programs
The Board of Directors strongly encourages all executive officers of
Penford to build a significant ownership position in Penford common stock. All
stock options to executive officers have been granted at market price on the
date of the grant. The incentive stock options generally vest over five years at
the rate of 20% each year and expire 10 years from the date of grant. The
non-qualified stock options generally vest over four years at the rate of 25%
each year and expire 10 years and 10 days from date of grant.
The amount of stock option shares granted under any given program is
calculated based on a potential long-term total return to shareholders versus
the potential long-term return to the option holder for performance in
increasing the value of Penford stock. Factors such as dilution to existing
shareholders and existing open market stock buyback programs are taken into
account.
Supplemental Benefit Plans
Supplemental benefit plans for executive officers and other key personnel
include a supplemental retirement plan, a deferred compensation plan, and a
supplemental disability plan. These plans are designed to be competitive with
other plans for comparably sized companies and to attract and retain highly
qualified management.
CEO Compensation
Mr. Jeffrey T. Cook was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer
effective September 1, 1998. As discussed above, Penford's executive cash
compensation program includes a base salary and a Company performance-based
incentive compensation program. Mr. Cook participates in the same incentive
program applicable to the other named executive officers. The Committee's
objective is to correlate the CEO's remuneration with the performance of the
Company. Mr. Cook's entire performance-related pay for fiscal years 1999, 1998,
and 1997 was paid under the incentive program. Such pay is adjusted to reflect
the level of target achievement for that particular fiscal year. Base salary is
reviewed every twelve months for executives in an effort to maintain market
competitiveness. Mr. Cook's last base salary increase was in January 1999. In
addition, Mr. Cook is a large shareholder in the Company, and to the extent his
performance as President and Chief Executive Officer translates into an increase
in the value of the Company's common stock, all shareholders, including him,
share the benefits.
William G. Parzybok, Jr., Chair
Paul H. Hatfield
Sally G. Narodick
William K. Street
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<PAGE> 12
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares the Company's cumulative total shareholder
return on its common stock for a five-year period (August 31, 1994 to August 31,
1999) with the cumulative total return of the Nasdaq Market Index and all
companies traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market(R) ("Nasdaq") with a market
capitalization of $100 - $200 million and $150 - $250 million, excluding
financial institutions. The graph assumes that $100 was invested on August 31,
1994 in the Company's common stock and in the stated indices. The comparison
assumes that all dividends are reinvested.
COMPARE 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG PENFORD CORPORATION,
NASDAQ MARKET INDEX AND PEER GROUP INDEX
[GRAPH]
ASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON SEPT. 1, 1994
ASSUMES DIVIDEND REINVESTED
FISCAL YEAR ENDING AUG. 31, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PENFORD CORPORATION 100.00 107.19 78.27 141.24 117.55 141.58
NASDAQ 100.00 118.99 133.61 184.93 179.61 329.84
NASDAQ MARKET CAP ($100-200M) 100.00 117.12 118.09 131.09 87.48 93.06
NASDAQ MARKET CAP ($150-250M) 100.00 141.67 139.23 165.44 108.84 160.79
</TABLE>
Management does not believe there is either a published index, or a group
of companies whose overall business is sufficiently similar to the business of
Penford, to allow a meaningful benchmark against which the Company can be
compared. The Company sells products based on specialty carbohydrate chemistry
to several distinct markets, making overall comparisons to one of these markets
misleading to the Company as a whole. For these reasons, the Company has elected
to use companies traded on Nasdaq with a similar market capitalization as a peer
group. The Company previously used as one peer group companies traded on Nasdaq
with a market capitalization of $150 - 250 million; however, based on the
Company's current market capitalization, the Company changed its comparative
index to companies traded on Nasdaq with a market capitalization of $100 - 200
million. For disclosure purposes, the Company is including both market
capitalization comparisons in this performance graph.
10
<PAGE> 13
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
The federal securities laws require the Company's directors and executive
officers, and persons who own more than ten percent of the Company's common
stock, to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission initial reports of
ownership and reports of changes in ownership of any securities of the Company.
To the Company's knowledge, based solely on review of the copies of such
reports furnished to the Company and written representations that no other
reports were required during the fiscal year ended August 31, 1999, all of the
Company's directors, executive officers and greater-than-ten percent beneficial
owners made all required filings.
CHANGE-OF-CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
The Company has change-of-control agreements with the following executive
officers as of December 3, 1999: Messrs. Jeffrey T. Cook, Francis C. Rydzewski,
and Gregory C. Horn. Each agreement provides that the executive will receive
compensation for 30 months if his employment is terminated by the Company upon a
change of control for any reason other than gross misconduct, death, disability,
or reaching age 65, or if he terminates his employment following (i) the
assignment to him of responsibilities or title materially less than his
responsibilities and title prior to a change of control; (ii) the reduction in
the aggregate of his salary and bonus; or (iii) a material breach by the Company
of the agreement, provided such termination occurs within 24 months after
certain defined events which might lead to a change in control of the Company.
The compensation will be paid at a rate equal to the executive's then-current
salary and target bonus. The compensation is subject to a minimum annual rate of
not less than the executive's average compensation for the preceding three
calendar years and is subject to reduction if the aggregate present value of all
payments would equal or exceed three times the executive's "base amount," as
defined in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code. The executive also will
continue to have "employee" status for the 30-month period and will retain most
employee benefits during this period. The amount to be paid is reduced by
amounts received by the executive from other employers during the 30-month
period.
The estimated aggregate amounts presently payable in the event of a change
of control (assuming each executive receives payments for the maximum 30-month
period) would be: Mr. Cook, $1,060,000; Mr. Rydzewski, $888,750; and Mr. Horn,
$670,625. This does not include the value of employee benefits that might be
payable to the executive during the 30-month period. The value of these benefits
cannot be calculated at this time. Continuation of these benefits would include
participation in the Company's health and welfare plans and policies, continued
vesting of stock options, and continuation of years of service for pension and
other retirement plan benefit computation purposes.
2. RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Directors requests that the shareholders ratify its selection
of Ernst & Young LLP, Certified Public Accountants, as independent auditors for
the Company for the current fiscal year. If the shareholders do not ratify the
selection of Ernst & Young LLP, another firm of certified public accountants
will be selected as independent auditors by the Board.
Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP will be present at the meeting, will
have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and will be
available to respond to appropriate questions.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION
OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Shareholder proposals intended for inclusion in next year's proxy statement
must be directed to the Corporate Secretary at Penford Corporation, P.O. Box
1688, Bellevue, Washington 98009-1688, and must be received by August 17, 2000.
Any shareholder proposal for next year's Annual Meeting submitted after August
17, 2000 will not be considered filed on a timely basis with the Company. For
proposals that are timely
11
<PAGE> 14
filed, the Company retains discretion to vote proxies it receives provided (1)
the Company includes in its proxy statement advice on the nature of the proposal
and how it intends to exercise its voting discretion and (2) the proponent does
not issue a proxy statement.
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
The proxy card accompanying this proxy statement is solicited by the Board
of Directors. Proxies may be solicited by officers, directors, and other
employees of the Company, none of whom will receive any additional compensation
for their services. Representatives of ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, LLC
also may solicit proxies as a part of the services it provides for the Company.
Solicitations of proxies may be made personally, or by mail, telephone,
telegraph, facsimile, or messenger. The Company will pay persons holding shares
of common stock in their names or in the names of nominees, but not owning such
shares beneficially, such as brokerage houses, banks and other fiduciaries, for
the expense of forwarding soliciting materials to their principals. All costs of
soliciting proxies will be paid by the Company.
VOTING TABULATION
Votes Required
Under the Washington Business Corporation Act, the election of the
Company's Directors and ratification of independent auditors requires a
plurality of the votes represented in person or by proxy at the meeting. Votes
cast by proxy or in person at the meeting will be tabulated by ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services, LLC. A majority of the shares eligible to vote must be
present in person or represented by proxy to provide a quorum.
Effect of an Abstention and Broker Non-Votes
A shareholder who abstains from voting on any or all proposals will be
included in the number of shareholders present at the meeting for the purpose of
determining the presence of a quorum. Abstentions will not be counted either in
favor of or against the election of the nominees or other proposals. Under the
rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, brokers holding stock
for the accounts of their clients who have not been given specific voting
instructions as to a matter by their clients may vote their client's proxies in
their own discretion.
OTHER MATTERS
The Company is not aware of any other business to be acted upon at the
meeting. If other business requiring a vote of the shareholders should come
before the meeting, the holders of the proxies will vote in accordance with
their best judgment.
December 17, 1999
A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR FISCAL YEAR 1999,
CONTAINING INFORMATION ON OPERATIONS, FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION, IS ACCESSIBLE ON THE COMPANY'S WEBSITE AT WWW.PENX.COM OR IS
AVAILABLE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST. PLEASE WRITE TO: INVESTOR RELATIONS, PENFORD
CORPORATION, POST OFFICE BOX 1688, BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON 98009-1688.
12
<PAGE> 15
PROXY
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
PENFORD CORPORATION
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Jeffrey T. Cook, Keith T. Fujinaga, and
Susan M. Iverson, and each of them, with full power of substitution, as proxies
to vote the shares which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to be held on January 24, 2000 and at any adjournment
thereof.
(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- FOLD AND DETACH HERE -
<PAGE> 16
Please mark
your votes [ X ]
as indicated in
this example
FOR AGAINST
1. Election of Directors, [ ] [ ]
Paul H. Hatfield and N. Stewart Rogers.
Except vote withheld from following nominee(s)
listed in space at right
------------------------
2. Ratification of selection of Ernst & Young LLP FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
as independent auditors of the Company for [ ] [ ] [ ]
fiscal year 2000.
3. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the meeting.
I plan to attend the meeting. [ ]
This proxy, when properly signed will be voted in
the manner directed herein by the undersigned
shareholder. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY
WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2.
IMPORTANT - PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN THIS PROXY
PROMPTLY. When shares are held by joint tenants,
both should sign. When signing as attorney,
executor, administrator, trustee or guardian,
please give full title as such. If a corporation,
please sign in full corporate name by President or
other authorized officer. If a partnership, please
sign in partnership name by an authorized person.
Signature(s) Dated , 1999/2000
---------------------------------------- ---------
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- FOLD AND DETACH HERE -
