<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_]
Check the appropriate box:
[_] Preliminary Proxy Statement [_] CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE
COMMISSION ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY
RULE 14A-6(E)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[_] Definitive Additional Materials
[_] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12
POLYPHASE CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
POLYPHASE CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required
[_] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Total fee paid:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
[_] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[_] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Filing Party:
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(4) Date Filed:
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Notes:
<PAGE>
[POLYPHASE CORPORATION LETTERHEAD]
May 6, 1999
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
(the "Annual Meeting") of Polyphase Corporation (the "Company"), which will be
held at The Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Los Angeles Airport located at 6101 West
Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, on the 27/th/ day of May, 1999 at
1:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
At the Annual Meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote upon the
following: (1) the election of four directors to hold office until the next
annual election of directors by stockholders or until their respective
successors shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified; (2) a proposal
to approve an amendment to the 1994 Employee Stock Option Plan for Polyphase
Corporation (the "1994 Employee Plan") to increase the number of shares of
common stock authorized and reserved for issuance upon the exercise of stock
options granted pursuant to the 1994 Employee Plan by 750,000 shares,from
1,000,000 shares to 1,750,000 shares; (3) a proposal to approve the filing of a
listing application with the American Stock Exchange, Inc. ("AMEX"), enabling
the Company to issue additional shares of common stock in excess of restrictive
limits set forth by the AMEX, upon the conversion of shares of a series of the
Company's preferred stock into shares of common stock; and (4) the transaction
of any and all other business that may properly come before the meeting or any
adjournment(s) thereof.
Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please date, sign, and
return the enclosed proxy for your shares of stock in the enclosed prepaid
envelope. Your cooperation in returning your executed proxy promptly is
appreciated. If you do attend the meeting, you may vote in person, which will
effectively revoke any proxy previously submitted.
Sincerely,
James Rudis
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
POLYPHASE CORPORATION
4800 BROADWAY, SUITE A
ADDISON, TEXAS 75001
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 27, 1999
To the Stockholders of Polyphase Corporation:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the
"Annual Meeting") of Polyphase Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the
"Company"), will be held at The Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Los Angeles Airport
located at 6101 West Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, on the 27/th/
day of May, 1999 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time for the following purposes:
1. To elect four directors of the Company to hold office until the
next annual election of directors by stockholders or until their respective
successors shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified; and
2. To consider and act upon a proposal to approve an amendment to the
1994 Employee Stock Option Plan for Polyphase Corporation (the "1994
Employee Plan") to increase the number of shares of common stock, par value
$.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), authorized and reserved for issuance
upon exercise of stock options granted pursuant to the 1994 Employee Plan
by 750,000 shares from 1,000,000 shares to 1,750,000 shares; and
3. To consider and act upon a proposal to approve the filing of a
listing application with the American Stock Exchange, Inc. ("AMEX"),
enabling the Company to issue additional shares of common stock in excess
of restrictive limits set forth by the AMEX, upon the conversion of shares
of a series of the Company's preferred stock into shares of the Common
Stock; and
4. To transact any and all other business that may properly come
before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 19, 1999 as
the record date (the "Record Date") for the determination of stockholders
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment(s)
thereof. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date
are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. The stock transfer
books will not be closed. A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting will be available for examination at the offices of the Company for ten
(10) days prior to the Annual Meeting.
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting; WHETHER OR NOT YOU
EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, HOWEVER, YOU ARE URGED TO MARK, SIGN,
DATE, AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED FORM OF PROXY PROMPTLY SO THAT YOUR SHARES OF STOCK
MAY BE REPRESENTED AND VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR WISHES AND IN ORDER THAT
THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM MAY BE ASSURED AT THE MEETING. Your proxy will be
returned to you if you should be present at the Annual Meeting and should
request its return in the manner provided for revocation of proxies on the
initial page of the enclosed proxy statement.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Michael F. Buck, Secretary
May 6, 1999
Addison, Texas
<PAGE>
POLYPHASE CORPORATION
4800 BROADWAY, SUITE A
ADDISON, TEXAS 75001
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 27, 1999
___________________________
SOLICITATION AND REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
The accompanying proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors on behalf of
Polyphase Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), to be voted at the
1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company (the "Annual Meeting") to be
held on May 27/th/, 1999, at the time and place and for the purposes set forth
in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Notice") and
at any adjournment(s) thereof. WHEN PROXIES IN THE ACCOMPANYING FORM ARE
PROPERLY EXECUTED AND RECEIVED, THE SHARES REPRESENTED THEREBY WILL BE VOTED AT
THE ANNUAL MEETING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DIRECTIONS NOTED THEREON; IF NO
DIRECTION IS INDICATED, SUCH SHARES WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE
NOMINEES UNDER PROPOSAL 1; IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL SPECIFIED IN PROPOSAL 2; IN
FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL SPECIFIED IN PROPOSAL 3; AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE
NAMED PROXIES WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTERS PROPERLY PRESENTED IN PROPOSAL 4.
Management does not intend to present any business at the Annual Meeting
for a vote other than Proposal 1, Proposal 2 and Proposal 3 and has no
information that others will do so. If other matters requiring a vote of the
stockholders properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the
persons named in the accompanying form of proxy to vote the shares represented
by the proxies held by them in accordance with their judgment on such matters.
The executive offices of the Company are located at, and the mailing
address of the Company is, 4800 Broadway, Suite A, Addison, Texas 75001.
This proxy statement (the "Proxy Statement") and accompanying proxy are
being mailed on or about May 6, 1999. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K,
as amended, covering the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998 is enclosed
herewith, but does not form any part of the materials for solicitation of
proxies.
Any stockholder of the Company giving a proxy has the unconditional right
to revoke his proxy at any time prior to the voting thereof either in person at
the Annual Meeting, by delivering a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or
by giving written notice of revocation to the Company addressed to Michael F.
Buck, Secretary, Polyphase Corporation, 4800 Broadway, Suite A, Addison, Texas
75001; no such revocation shall be effective, however, until such notice of
revocation has been received by the Company at or prior to the Annual Meeting.
In addition to the solicitation of proxies by use of the mail, officers and
regular employees of the Company may solicit the return of proxies, either by
mail, telephone, telegraph or through personal contact. Such officers and
employees will not be additionally compensated but will be reimbursed for
out-of-pocket expenses. Brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees, and
fiduciaries will, in connection with shares of the Company's common stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), registered in their names, be
requested to forward solicitation material to the beneficial owners of such
shares of Common Stock.
The cost of preparing, printing, assembling, and mailing the Annual Report,
the Notice, this Proxy Statement, and the enclosed form of proxy, as well as the
cost of forwarding solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of shares of
Common Stock and other costs of solicitation, are to be borne by the Company.
<PAGE>
QUORUM AND VOTING
The record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of
and to vote at the Annual Meeting was the close of business on April 19, 1999
(the "Record Date"). On the Record Date, there were 17,812,464 shares of Common
Stock issued and outstanding.
Each holder of Common Stock as of the Record Date is entitled to one vote
on all matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting and neither the Company's
Articles of Incorporation nor its bylaws allow for cumulative voting rights. The
presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the issued and
outstanding Common Stock entitled to vote at the meeting is necessary to
constitute a quorum to transact business. If a quorum is not present or
represented at the Annual Meeting, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat,
present in person or by proxy, may adjourn the Annual Meeting from time to time
without notice or other announcement until a quorum is present or represented.
Assuming the presence of a quorum, the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the shares of Common Stock voting at the meeting is required for the
election of each of the nominees for director and for the approval of Proposal 2
and Proposal 3. Abstentions and broker non-votes are each included in the
determination of the number of shares present for determining a quorum, and will
have no effect on the outcome of Proposal 1, Proposal 2 or Proposal 3.
2
<PAGE>
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial
ownership of Common Stock as of the Record Date by each person or group who
owned, to the Company's knowledge, more than five percent of the Common Stock,
each nominee and each of the Company's directors, the Company's Chief Executive
Officer, and all of the Company's directors and executive officers as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PERCENT
AMOUNT AND NATURE OF BENEFICIAL OF
NAME OWNERSHIP (1) CLASS (1)
- --------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C>
James Rudis........................................ 557,900 (2) 3.1%
William E. Shatley................................. 404,700 (3) 2.2
Michael F. Buck.................................... 60,100 (4) *
George R. Schrader................................. 80,000 (5) *
Harold Estes....................................... 3,921,200 (6) 22.0
Infinity Investors Limited......................... 1,762,665 (7) 9.0
Paul A. Tanner..................................... ** (8) **
All directors and executive officers as a group (4
persons).......................................... 1,102,700 (9) 6.0
</TABLE>
________________
* Less than 1%.
** Not available.
(1) Except as noted, to the knowledge of the Company, the listed persons
and entities have sole investment power and sole voting power as to all
shares of Common Stock for which they are identified as being the
beneficial owners. Information as to beneficial ownership has been
furnished to the Company by such persons. Such presentation is based on
17,812,464 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date.
(2) Includes 276,500 shares that could be purchased pursuant to the
exercise of stock options exercisable within 60 days subsequent to the
Record Date.
(3) Includes 246,500 shares that could be purchased pursuant to the
exercise of stock options exercisable within 60 days subsequent to the
Record Date. Includes 158,200 shares that Mr. Shatley may be deemed to
beneficially own as a general partner in a family limited partnership.
(4) Includes 60,000 shares that could be purchased pursuant to the exercise
of stock options exercisable within 60 days subsequent to the Record
Date.
(5) Includes 80,000 shares that could be purchased pursuant to the exercise
of stock options exercisable within 60 days subsequent to the Record
Date.
(6) Mr. Estes' address is Highway 59 South, Route 15, Box 9475, Lufkin,
Texas 75901. Includes 2,000,000 shares owned by the Pyrenees Group, for
which Mr. Estes has sole voting power, and which is held as collateral
by Mr. Estes on the Company's note payable to Mr. Estes.
3
<PAGE>
(7) The address of Infinity Investors Limited ("Infinity") is 38 Hertford
Street, London W1Y7TG, England. The number of shares reportedly held
by Infinity consists solely of 1,762,665 shares, 9.0% of the class on
an "as converted" basis, of Common Stock into which certain of the
Company's preferred stock (and accrued dividends thereon) held by
Infinity is convertible within 60 days subsequent to the Record Date.
(8) Mr. Tanner resigned as the Company's Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
and Director in February 1998. At the effective time of his
resignation, all stock options held by Mr. Tanner were canceled for no
consideration of any kind, and Mr. Tanner is no longer eligible to
participate in any stock option plan of the Company. The Company is
unable to determine the number of shares which may have been held by
Mr. Tanner as of the Record Date. Furthermore, there have been no
reports made to the Securities and Exchange Commission by Mr. Tanner
with respect to such holdings.
(9) Includes 663,000 shares that could be purchased pursuant to the
exercise of stock options exercisable within 60 days subsequent to the
Record Date.
4
<PAGE>
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
(PROPOSAL 1)
The bylaws of the Company provide that the number of directors that shall
constitute the whole board shall be not less than one (1) nor more than nine
(9). The number of directors presently comprising the Board of Directors is four
(4).
NOMINEES
Unless otherwise directed in the enclosed proxy, it is the intention of the
persons named in such proxy to nominate and to vote the shares represented by
such proxy for the election of the following named nominees for the office of
director of the Company, to hold office until the next annual meeting of
stockholders or until their respective successors shall have been duly elected
and shall have qualified. Each of the nominees is presently a director of the
Company.
Information regarding each nominee is set forth in the table and text
below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR FIRST
ELECTED PRESENT
NOMINEE AGE DIRECTOR OFFICE(S) HELD
------- --- -------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
James Rudis 49 1992 Chairman of the Board of
Directors, President and Chief
Executive Officer
William E. Shatley 52 1998 Senior Vice President,
Treasurer,
Chief Financial Officer and
Director
Michael F. Buck 61 1989 Secretary and Director
George R. Schrader 68 1994 Director
</TABLE>
JAMES RUDIS was elected to the Board of Directors in December 1992 and
became the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in February 1998. Mr. Rudis has
served as President of the Company since July 1997. He previously served as
Executive Vice President of the Company from March 1994 until July 1997. He is
President of Quorum Corporation, a private consulting firm involved in
acquisitions and market development and has held that position since September
1984. From 1970 until 1984, he held various executive positions in CIT Financial
Corporation, including Vice President and Regional Manager of that company's
Commercial Finance Division.
WILLIAM E. SHATLEY was named to the Board of Directors in February 1998 and
has served as Senior Vice President and Treasurer of the Company since March
1994. He joined the Company in an executive capacity in October 1993, having
previously served the Company on an advisory basis since the relocation of its
corporate offices to Texas in 1992. Mr. Shatley, a Certified Public Accountant
since 1970, previously conducted his own consulting and accounting practice
(1982-1993), after having served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
of Datotek, Inc. (1977-1982) and in an executive capacity with Arthur Andersen &
Co. (1968-1977).
MICHAEL F. BUCK is President of Mimatian Co., an operations and materials
consulting firm. From August 1990 to August 1994, Mr. Buck served as Vice
President of Bath Iron Works, Inc., a company engaged in building Aegis Class
cruisers and destroyers for the United States Navy. From August 1989 to August
1990, Mr. Buck was a Vice President of Sabreliner Corporation, a company engaged
in building, maintaining and overhauling executive jet aircraft. From March 1986
to August 1989, Mr. Buck was Vice President and Director of Procurement for
International Telephone and Telegraph. He became a director of the Company in
December 1989. Mr. Buck was elected Secretary of the Company in April 1999.
5
<PAGE>
GEORGE R. SCHRADER was appointed as a director in March 1994 to fill a
vacancy on the Board of Directors. He is currently a named member of Schrader &
Cline, LLC, a financial and governmental management consulting firm. From 1983
to 1993, he was a principal of Schrader Investment Company, whose activities
paralleled those of Schrader & Cline, LLC. Mr. Schrader's additional experience
includes ten years as City Manager for the city of Dallas, Texas and a total of
nine years experience as City Manager for the Texas cities of Mesquite and
Ennis.
The Board of Directors does not contemplate that any of the above-named
nominees for director will refuse or be unable to accept election as a director
of the Company, or be unable to serve as a director of the Company. Should any
of them become unavailable for nomination or election or refuse to be nominated
or to accept election as a director of the Company, then the persons named in
the enclosed form of proxy intend to vote the shares represented in such proxy
for the election of such other person or persons as may be nominated or
designated by the Board of Directors. No nominee is related by blood, marriage,
or adoption to another nominee or to any executive officer of the Company or its
subsidiaries or affiliates.
Assuming the presence of a quorum, each of the nominees for director of the
Company requires for his election the approval of the holders of a plurality of
the shares of Common Stock represented and voting at the Annual Meeting.
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES
The Board has standing Compensation and Audit Review Committees. The
Compensation Committee is comprised of Messrs. Buck and Schrader. During fiscal
1998, the Compensation Committee met one time. The Compensation Committee (i)
administers the Company's employee stock option plans and approves the granting
of stock options and (ii) approves compensation for officers.
The Audit Review Committee is composed of Messrs. Buck and Schrader. During
fiscal 1998, the Audit Review Committee met twice. Its functions are to (i)
recommend the appointment of independent accountants; (ii) review the
arrangements for and scope of the audit by independent accountants; (iii)
consider the adequacy of the system of internal controls and review any proposed
corrective actions; and (iv) review and monitor the Company's policies regarding
business ethics and conflicts of interest.
The full Board of Directors met fifteen times during fiscal 1998. Each
director attended all meetings of the Board of Directors and Committees on which
such director served.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Directors who are also employees of the Company receive no additional
compensation for services as directors. Nonemployee directors receive an annual
fee of $8,500, with additional fees of $2,500 and $1,500 for service on the
Audit Committee and Compensation Committee, respectively, plus additional fees
of $500 to $750 per Board and Committee meeting attended. Directors are also
reimbursed for all expenses incident to their service on the Board of Directors.
During March 1998, Mr. Buck and Mr. Schrader were granted options to
purchase 30,000 and 50,000 shares, respectively, of Common Stock, exercisable at
$0.75 per share (the fair market value at the date of grant) in whole or in
part, expiring in March 2008.
During July 1996, Mr. Buck and Mr. Schrader were each granted options to
purchase 30,000 shares of Common Stock, exercisable at $2.00 per share (the fair
market value at the date of grant), in whole or in part, expiring in July 2006.
In March 1994, Mr. Schrader was granted options to purchase 50,000 shares
of Common Stock. Mr. Schrader's options were exercisable at $5.25 per share (the
fair market value at the date of grant), in whole or in part, and expired in
March 1999.
6
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND KEY EMPLOYEES
The table and text below set forth the name, age, current position, and the
principal occupation during the last five years of Mr. Harold Estes. Mr. Estes,
although not an executive officer, is considered to be a key employee of the
Company. Information with respect to the Company's two other executive officers,
Messrs. Rudis and Shatley, is set forth above under the caption "--Nominees."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Age Current Position
---- --- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Harold Estes 58 President of Texas Timberjack, Inc.
</TABLE>
Harold Estes is the President of Texas Timberjack, Inc. ("TTI"), a wholly
owned subsidiary of the Company. TTI is a distributor of industrial and
commercial timber and logging equipment with locations in Lufkin, Jasper,
Cleveland and Atlanta, Texas. Mr. Estes has been President of TTI since 1984,
when he acquired TTI from Eaton Corporation.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act"),
requires the Company's directors, officers and persons who own more than 10
percent of a registered class of the Company's equity securities, to file
reports of ownership and changes in ownership of the Company's equity securities
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and the AMEX.
Directors, officers and greater than 10 percent beneficial owners of the
Company's equity securities are required by applicable regulations to furnish
the Company with copies of all forms they file with the Commission pursuant to
Section 16(a).
Based upon (i) a review of the copies of the forms furnished to the Company
pursuant to the requirements of Section 16(a); (ii) information received by the
Company in connection with various purchases and sales of the Company's equity
securities; and (iii) the knowledge of the Company that Infinity Investors
Limited ("Infinity") may have owned greater than ten percent of the Company's
equity securities and has not filed the required forms with the Commission
pursuant to Section 16(a), the Company believes that during fiscal 1998, all
filing requirements applicable to its directors and executive officers were
satisfied. However, with respect to the Company's greater than 10% beneficial
owners of equity securities, Infinity may be delinquent in its Section 16(a)
filing obligations.
Based solely upon a review of the copies of forms furnished to the Company
pursuant to the requirements of Section 16(a) and excluding Infinity, all
holders of greater than 10% of the Company's equity securities have satisfied
their Section 16(a) filing requirements.
BYLAW REQUIREMENTS
The Company's bylaws provide that a nomination of a person for election to
the Board of Directors may be made by (i) the Board of Directors, (ii) by a
Nominating Committee established by the Board of Directors and (iii) by any
stockholder of the Company entitled to vote at the annual meeting for the
election of directors, provided that such stockholder submit written notice to
the Company 20 days in advance of the annual meeting to be held on May 27, 1999
and 90 days in advance of all annual meetings thereafter, and provided further
that such written notice contain information about the proposed nominee
sufficient to comply with the disclosure requirements of the proxy rules
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE
INDIVIDUALS NOMINATED FOR ELECTION AS A DIRECTOR.
7
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth for fiscal 1998, 1997 and 1996 all
compensation awarded or paid by the Company or its subsidiaries to Mr. Paul A.
Tanner, the Company's previous Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer, Mr. James Rudis, the Company's President and Mr. William E. Shatley,
the Company's Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
(collectively, the "Named Executive Officers"). Other than as indicated in the
table below, no executive officer of the Company received salary plus bonus in
excess of $100,000 for the year ended September 30, 1998.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
COMPENSATION
ANNUAL COMPENSATION AWARDS
--------------------------------- -------------
NAME AND PRINCIPAL FISCAL OTHER ANNUAL ALL OTHER
POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS COMPENSATION OPTIONS/SARS COMPENSATION
- ------------------------- --------- --------- ----- --------------- ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Paul a. Tanner........... 1998 $ 102,960 $ 0 $ --(1) - $ -
Chairman, Chief 1997 $ 224,640 $ 0 $ --(1) - $ -
Executive Officer and 1996 $ 196,560 $ 0 $ --(1) 130,000 $ -
Director (2) -
James Rudis.............. 1998 $ 168,077 $ 0 $ --(1) - $ -
Chairman,Chief Executive 1997 $ 138,240 $ 0 $ --(1) - $ -
Officer, President and 1996 $ 120,960 $ 0 $ --(1) 130,000 $ -
Director (3) -
William E. Shatley....... 1998 $ 126,000 $ 0 $ --(1) - $ -
Senior Vice President, 1997 $ 108,000 $ 0 $ --(1) - $ -
Treasurer,Chief Financial 1996 $ 94,500 $ 0 $ --(1) 100,000 $ -
Officer and Director
</TABLE>
_______________
(1) The Named Executive Officers each received certain perquisites and other
personal benefits from the Company during fiscal 1998, 1997 and 1996. These
perquisites and other personal benefits, however, did not equal or exceed
10% of the Named Executive Officers' salary and bonus during fiscal
1998,1997 or 1996.
(2) Mr. Tanner resigned as the Company's Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
Director in February 1998. At the time of Mr. Tanner's resignation, all
stock options held by Mr. Tanner were canceled for no consideration of any
kind, and Mr. Tanner is not eligible to participate in any stock option
plan of the Company.
(3) Mr. Rudis was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer upon Mr. Tanners's
resignation in February 1998. Mr. Rudis, formerly the Company's Executive
Vice President, became President in July 1997, also replacing Mr. Tanner in
that position.
No individual grants of stock options were made to the Named Executive
Officers during the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998.
8
<PAGE>
The following table describes for the Named Executive Officers options and
the potential realized value for his options as of September 30, 1998, which
were granted in prior fiscal years.
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND
SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 OPTION/SAR VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SECURITIES VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY
OPTIONS/SARS OPTIONS/SARS
AT SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AT SEPTEMBER 30, 1998(1)
--------------------------- -------------------------------
NAME EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
---------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Paul a. Tanner........ 0 -- $-- $--
James Rudis........... 276,500 -- $-- $--
William E. Shatley.... 246,500 -- $-- $--
</TABLE>
_____________
(1) Based on $.4375 per share of Common Stock, which was the closing price
per share of Common Stock on September 30, 1998 on the AMEX as reported
by the Wall Street Journal.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Board of Directors has established a Compensation Committee to review
and approve the compensation levels of executive officers of the Company,
evaluate the performance of the executive officers, consider senior management
succession issues and any related matters for the Company. The Compensation
Committee is charged with reviewing with the Board of Directors in detail all
aspects of cash compensation for the executive officers of the Company. Stock
option compensation for the executive officers is also considered by the
Compensation Committee.
The philosophy of the Company's compensation program is to employ, retain
and reward executives capable of leading the Company in achieving its business
objectives. These objectives include preserving a strong financial posture,
increasing the assets of the Company, positioning the Company's assets and
business operations in geographic markets and industry segments offering long
term growth opportunities, enhancing shareholder value and ensuring the survival
of the Company. The accomplishment of these objectives is measured against
conditions prevalent in the industries within which the Company operates. In
recent years these conditions reflect a highly competitive market environment
and rapidly changing regional, geographic and overall industry market
conditions.
The available forms of executive compensation include base salary, cash
bonus awards and incentive stock options. Performance of the Company is a key
consideration (to the extent that such performance can fairly be attributed or
related to such executive's performance), as well as the nature of each
executive's responsibilities and capabilities. The Company's compensation policy
recognizes, however, that stock price performance is only one measure of
performance and, given industry business conditions and the long term strategic
direction and goals of the Company, it may not necessarily be the best current
measure of executive performance. Therefore, the Company's compensation policy
also gives consideration to the Company's achievement of specified business
objectives when determining executive officer compensation. Compensation paid to
executive officers is based upon a Company-wide salary structure consistent for
each position relative to its authority and responsibility compared to industry
peers.
Based on comparative industry data, and after due consideration to the
factors mentioned above, the Compensation Committee set Mr. Rudis' salary at
$168,077 for fiscal 1998 and Mr. Tanner's salary at $102,960 for the period of
the fiscal year prior to his resignation in February 1998. The Company did not
pay any cash bonuses to Mr. Rudis or Mr. Tanner for fiscal 1998.
9
<PAGE>
The Compensation Committee believes that the compensation of the Company's
other executive officers was reasonably related to the performance of the
Company and those individuals during fiscal 1998.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Michael F. Buck
George R. Schrader
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
No member of the Compensation Committee was an executive officer or
employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or had any relationship
requiring disclosure pursuant to Item 404 of Commission Regulation S-K. No
executive officer of the Company served as a member of the Compensation
Committee (or other Board committee performing similar functions or, in the
absence of any such committee, the entire board of directors) of another
corporation, one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation
Committee. No executive officers of the Company served as a director of another
corporation, one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation
Committee. No executive officer of the Company served as a member of the
Compensation Committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions
or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire board of directors) of
another corporation, one of whose executive officers served as a director of the
Company.
COMMON STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following performance graph compares the five-year cumulative return of
the Common Stock with that of a Broad Market Index (American Stock Exchange) and
a Published Industry Index (MG Industry Group- Multi-Industry Companies). Each
index assumes $100 invested at September 30, 1993, and is calculated assuming
quarterly reinvestment of dividends and quarterly weighting by market
capitalization.
COMPARATIVE FIVE-YEAR TOTAL RETURNS
POLYPHASE CORPORATION, BROAD MARKET AND PEER GROUP
(PERFORMANCE RESULTS THROUGH 9/30/98)
[GRAPH APPEARS HERE]
The following performance table compares the five-year cumulative return of
the Common Stock with that of a Broad Market Index (AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE) and
a Published Industry Index (MG Industry Group 341-Multi-Industry Companies).
Each index assumes $100 invested at September 30, 1993, and is calculated
assuming quarterly reinvestment of dividends and quarterly weighting by market
capitalization.
COMPARATIVE FIVE-YEAR TOTAL RETURNS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPANY 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Polyphase Corporation 100.00 158.62 94.83 189.66 50.00 12.00
Industry Index 100.00 110.21 114.22 150.37 163.05 90.60
AMEX Market Index 100.00 101.93 122.80 127.81 165.42 135.70
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
10
<PAGE>
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
THE PYRENEES OPTION
In October 1992, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the issuance
of options to purchase convertible preferred stock to the Pyrenees Group, a
private investment firm controlled by Paul A. Tanner, the Company's former
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, or its assignees. The options are
summarized as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PREFERRED CONVERSION COMMON
SERIES SHARES PRICE SHARES
- -------- --------- ---------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
A 125,000 $ .50 2,500,000
B 100,000 1.00 1,000,000
C 100,000 2.00 500,000
D 200,000 4.00 500,000
E 475,000 10.00 475,000
--------- ---------
1,000,000 4,975,000
========= =========
</TABLE>
During fiscal 1994 and 1995 Pyrenees exercised and converted Series A, B,
and C Preferred Stock into common stock. In November, 1995, Pyrenees exercised
the Series D option through the issuance of a 7% recourse note in the amount of
$2,000,000, collateralized by the shares issued. During fiscal 1996 the shares
were converted to 500,000 shares of common stock. During the years ended
September 30, 1996 and 1997, principal payments of approximately $721,000 and
$304,000, respectively were made on the note. The Company believes the
remaining balance of $975,000 will be uncollectible and that it will recover the
500,000 shares of common stock that secure this note. As discussed in Note 13
to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company expects to recover these
shares subsequent to September 30, 1998 and will account for this recovery as an
unexercised stock option in accordance with Accounting Principles Board opinion
No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees". As such, the difference
between the note balance ($975,000) and the fair market value of the 500,000
shares (approximately $218,500 at September 30, 1998) will be recorded as a
reduction in paid-in capital.
ADVANCES TO RELATED PARTIES
On February 23, 1998, Mr. Paul A. Tanner resigned as Chief Executive
Officer and Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. James Rudis, the
Company's President, was elected by the Board to assume the vacated positions.
Following the resignation, a reserve of approximately $165,000 was established
against all outstanding advances due from Mr. Tanner.
During fiscal years 1994 and 1995 a number of advances were made to Mr.
Tanner which aggregated approximately $2,000,000. In December 1995 the advances
were refinanced though the issuance to the Company of a 12% unsecured demand
note from Mr. Tanner. Also during the aforementioned periods the Company made
non-interest bearing cash advances of approximately $1.5 million to Pyrenees.
During January 1996, the Company reached an agreement to manage a project
to develop and build a multi-purpose sports facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The
project was being developed by PLY Stadium Partners, Inc. ("Stadium Partners"),
a private investment firm controlled by Mr. Tanner independent of Polyphase.
The Company agreed to provide to Stadium Partners up to $4 million of debt (1)
convertible into a 14% economic interest in the project and (2) guaranteed
personally by Mr. Tanner and Pyrenees. As part of this agreement, the
aforementioned amounts receivable from Mr. Tanner and Pyrenees (approximately
$3.5 million), together with subsequent amounts advanced, charged or accrued to
or on behalf of Stadium Partners were considered as components of the $4 million
of convertible debt, bearing interest at 12.0% and guaranteed personally by Mr.
Tanner and Pyrenees. Through September 30, 1996, the Company advanced an
additional $9.27 million, for an approximate total of $13.3 million.
11
<PAGE>
During the twelve months ended September 30, 1996, the Company accrued
management and service revenues of $2,550,000 and interest income of $790,000
related to the Company's activities with Stadium Partners, the collectibility of
which was dependent upon the success of the project and/or the guarantees
referred to above. As a result of the terms of the financing arrangements with
Lehman described below, Stadium Partners was precluded from making any
distributions until permanent project financing was secured or stadium suite
sales were made that were sufficient to repay the financing from Lehman. As a
consequence of Stadium Partners' inability to effect such sales or obtain such
financing by March 15, 1997, in order to make its payment to the Company on such
date, the Company established a reserve of $3.34 million as of September 30,
1996, which represented all income accrued in 1996.
On November 15, 1996, Stadium Partners, through a newly-formed partnership,
purchased 62 acres in Las Vegas for the development of the stadium and adjacent
convention facility. Financing was provided by Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc.
("Lehman") through a partnership, Nevada Stadium Partners Limited Partnership
("Nevada Partnership") with Lehman receiving an equity interest in the project.
The Company guaranteed the repayment of the Lehman loan on behalf of
Stadium Partners. The guarantee is only effective in certain circumstances or
upon the occurrence of certain events. A foreclosure sale was conducted on or
about July 15, 1998. Notwithstanding such foreclosure action, the Company,
based on the advice of legal counsel, does not believe that it will incur any
significant liability as a result of this guarantee. As a result, the Company
believes the existence of such guarantee will not have a material adverse effect
on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
The loan agreement with Lehman required certain prepayments by Nevada
Partnership, the first of which, in the amount of $5.0 million became due in
January 1997. This was paid primarily with funds advanced by the Company, of
which $2.4 million was obtained from an existing credit line and $2.5 million
was obtained from a six month term note, collateralized by the Company's
corporate office building. In connection with the loan transaction, the Company
entered into a consulting agreement with a principal of the lender, whereby the
Company granted such party an option to purchase 200,000 shares of the Company's
common stock at $.01 per share; this option was assigned a value of $973,000
which was charged to expense during fiscal 1997.
The second prepayment requirement of $20.0 million became due in May 1997;
this payment was not made. As a result of the failure to make this payment,
another agreement was entered into among the borrower, Lehman and the Company as
of July 1, 1997. This agreement generally provided forbearance by Lehman until
September 30, 1997, to allow additional time to raise the funds to make the
principal payment. The terms of the forbearance agreement were not met by the
September deadline, and the note matured unpaid in November 1997.
As a result of the above, the Company recorded a charge to earnings for the
year ended September 30, 1997, in the amount of $14.8 million, representing all
amounts remaining unpaid by Stadium Partners, net of the reserve established in
1996. Amounts which may subsequently be recovered, if any, will be recognized
as income when collection is assured.
During April 1998, the Company filed suit against PLY Stadium Partners,
Inc., and against Mr. Tanner and Pyrenees, the guarantors of the debt. As of
September 30, 1998, the amount ultimately recoverable as a result of this
litigation, if any, is not determinable. However, in enforcing these
guarantees, the Company expects either through judicial foreclosure or
otherwise, to obtain the rights to 2,000,000 shares of Polyphase common stock
owned by Pyrenees and held by Mr. Harold Estes as secondary collateral as
described more fully in Notes 3, 9 and 10 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements.
12
<PAGE>
OTHER TRANSACTIONS
Other assets include an insurance premium receivable from Mr. Harold Estes
representing insurance premiums paid by TTI on his behalf. As of September 30,
1998, the insurance premium receivable was $592,000.
In connection with the purchase of TTI, the Company acquired a note
receivable from an officer of TTI. The note is secured by marketable
securities, is payable within one year and bears interest at 3.96%. As of
September 30, 1998 the balance outstanding was $335,380 and the note has been
classified as a related party receivable. Also included in related party
receivables at September 30, 1998 are approximately $335,275 in notes receivable
from employees of TTI subsidiaries payable within one year.
During fiscal 1994 and 1995 Pyrenees exercised and converted Series A, B,
and C Preferred Stock into common stock. In November, 1995, Pyrenees exercised
the Series D option through the issuance of a 7% recourse note in the amount of
$2,000,000, collateralized by the shares issued. During fiscal 1996 the shares
were converted to 500,000 shares of common stock. Principal payments of
approximately $1,025,000 were made on the note during fiscal 1996 and 1997. The
Series E option expired unexercised.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES
AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE PURSUANT
TO THE 1994 EMPLOYEE PLAN
(PROPOSAL 2)
GENERAL
On April 13, 1999, the Board of Directors approved, subject to stockholder
approval, a proposal to amend the 1994 Employee Plan to increase the number of
shares of the Company's Common Stock available for issuance under the 1994
Employee Plan by 750,000 shares from 1,000,000 shares to 1,750,000 shares.
If approved by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting, the first sentence
of Section 3 of the 1994 Employee Plan will be amended to provide as follows:
"The Company may grant to Eligible Persons from time to time Options
to purchase an aggregate of up to 1,750,000 Shares from Shares held in
the Company's treasury or from authorized and unissued Shares.
The remaining language of Section 3 will not be changed and the only effect
of the amendment will be to increase the number of shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of stock options granted under the 1994 Employee
Plan.
Over recent years, the Company's operations have grown substantially and
rapidly. As a result, the Company now has many more employees and consultants
than it did when the 1994 Employee Plan was originally approved by the
stockholders. The proposed amendment will provide the Company with the ability
to issue options to members of its expanded employee and consultant base and
will enable the Company to continue the purpose of the 1994 Employee Plan by
providing additional incentives to attract and retain qualified and competent
employees and consultants, upon whose judgement the success of the Company is
largely dependent.
Stockholder approval is required by Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the
Commission under the Exchange Act and the rules of the AMEX. Approval of the
amendment by the stockholders of the Company is advisable in order for the 1994
Employee Plan to continue to comply with Rule 16b-3. Rule 16b-3 provides an
exemption from the operation of the "short-swing profit" recovery provisions of
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, with respect to the acquisition of stock
options, transactions relating to stock appreciation rights and the use of
already owned shares of Common Stock as payment for the exercise price of stock
options.
The Company has previously registered the 1,000,000 shares currently
issuable under the 1994 Employee Plan under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"). The Company intends to register with the Commission on
Form S-8 the 750,000 additional shares to Common Stock issuable under this
amendment under the Act, assuming the stockholders approve the proposal to
increase the number of available shares.
13
<PAGE>
Since participation in the 1994 Employee Plan is voluntary and is generally
open to all employees (see "Eligibility and Participation"), it is not possible
at this time to indicate the number, names or positions of employees who will
receive options or the number of shares for which options will be granted to any
employee under the 1994 Employee Plan. The 1994 Employee Plan is not subject to
the qualification requirements of Section 401 of the Code, nor is the 1994
Employee Plan subject to any provisions of ERISA.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the 1994 Employee Plan is to advance the interest of the
Company by providing additional incentives to attract and retain qualified and
competent employees and consultants, upon whose efforts and judgment the success
of the Company (including its subsidiaries) is largely dependent, through the
encouragement of stock ownership in the Company by such persons. Unless the
context otherwise requires, references to the Company in this discussion of the
1994 Employee Plan shall mean the Company and any corporation wherein the
Company owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total combined voting
power (a "Subsidiary").
ELIGIBILITY
Those persons who are either (i) employees of the Company, (ii) under
written contract (a "Consulting Contract") to provide consulting services to the
Company (a "Consultant"), or (iii) directors of a Subsidiary, are eligible to
participate in the 1994 Employee Plan; provided, however, that directors of the
Company who are not employees of the Company are not eligible to participate in
the 1994 Employee Plan. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, substantially
all the Company's full-time employees were eligible for options issuable
pursuant to the 1994 Employee Plan ("1994 Employee Options").
TYPES OF OPTIONS
The 1994 Employee Plan authorizes (i) the granting of incentive stock
options ("1994 Incentive Options") to purchase Common Stock to eligible persons,
(ii) the granting of nonqualified stock options ("1994 Nonqualified Options") to
purchase Common Stock to eligible persons and (iii) the use of already owned
Common Stock as full or partial payment for the exercise price of options
granted under the 1994 Employee Plan. Unless the context otherwise requires,
the term "1994 Employee Option" includes both 1994 Incentive Options and 1994
Nonqualified Options.
ADMINISTRATION
The 1994 Employee Plan is currently administered by the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors (the "1994 Employee Plan Administrator").
The 1994 Employee Plan Administrator consists of two (2) members of the Board of
Directors, each of whom is a disinterested person.
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO THE 1994 EMPLOYEE PLAN
Assuming approval of this Proposal 2, a total of 1,750,000 shares of Common
Stock (subject to adjustment as discussed below) will have been reserved for
sale upon exercise of 1994 Employee Options granted under the 1994 Employee
Plan.
EXERCISE PRICE OF 1994 EMPLOYEE OPTIONS
The 1994 Incentive Options may not be granted with an exercise price per
share that is less than the fair market value of the Common Stock at the date of
grant. The 1994 Nonqualified Options may be granted with any exercise price
determined by the 1994 Employee Plan Administrator.
PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE
The exercise price of a 1994 Employee Option may be paid in cash, by
certified or cashier's check, by money order, by personal check or by delivery
of already owned shares of Common Stock having a fair market value equal to the
exercise price, or by delivery of a combination of cash and already owned shares
of Common Stock; provided, however, that if the
14
<PAGE>
optionee acquired such stock directly or indirectly from the Company, he shall
have owned such stock to be surrendered for six months prior to tendering such
stock for the exercise of the 1994 Employee Option.
SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR 1994 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS
An eligible employee may receive more than one 1994 Incentive Option, but
the maximum aggregate fair market value of the Common Stock (determined when the
1994 Incentive Option is granted) with respect to which 1994 Incentive Options
are first exercisable by such employee in any calendar year cannot exceed
$100,000. In addition, no 1994 Incentive Option may be granted to an employee
owning directly or indirectly stock possessing more than 10% of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company unless the exercise
price is set at not less than 110% of the fair market value of the shares
subject to such 1994 Incentive Stock Option on the date of grant and such 1994
Incentive Option expires not later than five (5) years from the date of grant.
Awards of 1994 Nonqualified Options are not subject to these special
limitations.
NONTRANSFERABILITY OF 1994 EMPLOYEE OPTIONS
No 1994 Employee Option granted under the 1994 Employee Plan is assignable
or transferable, otherwise than by will or by laws of descent and distribution.
During the lifetime of an optionee, his 1994 Employee Option is exercisable only
by him or his guardian or legal representative.
EXERCISABILITY OF 1994 EMPLOYEE OPTIONS
The 1994 Employee Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may limit the
optionee's right to exercise all or any portion of a 1994 Employee Option until
one or more dates subsequent to the date of grant. The 1994 Employee Plan
Administrator also has the right, exercisable in its sole discretion, to
accelerate the date on which all or any portion of a 1994 Employee Option may be
exercised.
The 1994 Employee Plan provides that 30 days prior to certain major
corporate events such as, among other things, certain changes in control,
mergers or sales of substantially all of the assets of the Company (a "Major
Corporate Event"), each 1994 Employee Option shall immediately become
exercisable in full.
EXPIRATION OF 1994 EMPLOYEE OPTIONS
The expiration date of a 1994 Employee Option is determined by the 1994
Employee Plan Administrator at the time of the grant, but in no event may a 1994
Employee Option be exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the date of
grant of the 1994 Employee Option.
It terminated for cause, all rights of an optionee under the 1994 Employee
Plan cease and the 1994 Employee Options granted to such optionee become null
and void for all purposes. The 1994 Employee Plan further provides that in most
instances a 1994 Employee Option must be exercised by the optionee within 30
days after the termination of the Consulting Contract between such optionee and
the company or termination of the optionee's employment with the Company, as the
case may be (for any reason other than termination for cause, mental or physical
disability or death), if and to the extent such 1994 Employee Option was
exercisable on the date of such termination. If the optionee is not otherwise
employed by or a Consultant to the Company, his 1994 Employee Option must by
exercised within 30 days of the date he ceases to be a director of a Subsidiary.
Generally, if an optionee's employment or Consulting Contract is terminated
due to mental or physical disability, the optionee will have the right to
exercise the 1994 Employee Option (to the extent otherwise exercisable on the
date of termination) for a period of one year from the date on which the
optionee suffers the mental or physical disability. If an optionee dies while
actively employed by, or providing consulting services under a Consulting
Contract to, the company, the 1994 Employee Option may be exercised (to the
extent otherwise exercisable on the date of death) within one year of the date
of the optionee's death by the optionee's legal representative or legatee.
As described above, a 1994 Employee Option becomes exercisable in full 30
days prior to a Major Corporate Event. In anticipation of a Major Corporate
Event, however, the 1994 Employee Plan Administrator may, after notice to the
optionee, cancel the optionee's 1994 Employee Options on the consummation of the
Major Corporate Event. The optionee, in any event, will the opportunity to
exercise his 1994 Employee Options in full prior to such Major Corporate Event.
15
<PAGE>
ADJUSTMENTS
The 1994 Employee Plan provides for adjustments to the number of shares
under which 1994 Employee Options may be granted, to the number of shares
subject to outstanding 1994 Employee Options and to the exercise price of such
outstanding 1994 Employee Options in the event of a declaration of a stock
dividend or any recapitalization resulting in a stock split-up, combination or
exchange of shares of Common Stock.
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
Grants of 1994 Employee Options
Under current tax laws, the grant of a 1994 Employee Option will not be a
taxable event to the recipient optionee, and the Company will not be entitled to
a deduction with respect to such grant.
Exercise of 1994 Nonqualified Options and Subsequent Sale of Stock
Upon the exercise of a 1994 Nonqualified Option, an optionee will recognize
ordinary income at the time of exercise equal to the excess of the then fair
market value of shares of Common Stock received over the exercise price. The
taxable income recognized upon exercise of a 1994 Nonqualified Option will be
treated as compensation income subject to withholding and the Company will be
entitled to deduct as a compensation expense an amount equal to the ordinary
income an optionee recognizes with respect to such exercise. When Common Stock
received upon the exercise of a 1994 Nonqualified Option subsequently is sold or
exchanged in a taxable transaction, the holder thereof generally will recognize
capital gain (or loss) equal to the difference between the total amount realized
and the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise; the
character of such gain or loss as long-term or short-term capital gain or loss
will depend upon the holding period of the shares following exercise.
Exercise of 1994 Incentive Options and Subsequent Sale of Stock
The exercise of a 1994 Incentive Option will not be taxable to the
optionee, and the Company will not be entitled to any deduction with respect to
such exercise. However, to qualify for this favorable tax treatment of
incentive stock options under the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"), the
optionee may not dispose of the shares of Common Stock acquired upon the
exercise of a 1994 Incentive Option until after the later of two years following
the date of grant or one year following the date of exercise. The surrender of
shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of a 1994 Incentive Option in
payment of the exercise price of a 1994 Employee Option within the required
holding period for incentive stock options under the Code will be a
disqualifying disposition of the surrender shares. Upon any subsequent taxable
disposition of shares of Common Stock received upon exercise of a qualifying
1994 Incentive Option, the optionee generally will recognize long-term or short-
term capital gain (or loss) equal to the difference between the total amount
realized and the exercise price of the 1994 Employee Option.
If a 1994 Employee Option that is intended to be an incentive stock option
under the Code does not qualify for favorable incentive stock option treatment
under the Code due to the failure to satisfy the holding period requirements,
the optionee may recognize ordinary income in the year of the disqualifying
disposition. Provided the amount realized in the disqualifying disposition
exceeds the exercise price, the ordinary income an optionee shall recognize in
the year of a disqualifying disposition shall be the lower of (i) the excess of
the amount realized over the exercise price or (ii) excess of the fair market
value of the Common Stock at the time of the exercise over the exercise price.
In addition, the optionee shall recognize capital gain on the disqualifying
disposition in the amount, if any, by which the amount realized in the
disqualifying disposition exceeds the fair market value of the Common Stock at
the time of the exercise. Such capital gain shall be taxable as long-term or
short-term capital gain, depending on the optionee's holding period for such
shares.
Notwithstanding the favorable tax treatment of 1994 Incentive Options for
regular tax purposes, as described above, for alternative minimum tax purposes,
a 1994 Incentive Option is generally treated in the same manner as a 1994
Nonqualified Option. Accordingly, an optionee must generally include in
alternative minimum taxable income for the year in which a 1994 Incentive Option
is exercised the excess of the fair market value on the date of exercise of the
shares of Common Stock received over the exercise price. If, however, an
optionee disposes of shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of a 1994
Incentive Option in the same calendar year as the exercise, only an amount equal
to the optionee's ordinary income for regular
16
<PAGE>
tax purposes with respect to such disqualifying disposition will be recognized
for the optionee's calculation of alternative minimum taxable income in such
calendar year.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE 1994
EMPLOYEE PLAN.
FILE WITH THE AMEX A LISTING APPLICATION ENABLING THE COMPANY TO ISSUE
ADDITIONAL SHARES OF COMMON STOCK IN EXCESS OF RESTRICTIVE LIMITS SET FORTH BY
THE AMEX.
(PROPOSAL 3)
BACKGROUND
On November 10, 1995, the Company entered into a Convertible Preferred
Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with Infinity whereby the
Company agreed to sell to Infinity 250,000 shares of the Company's Series A-3
Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the "Preferred Stock")
for an aggregate purchase price of $2,500,000. The rights and preferences of the
Preferred Stock were described in the Certificate of Designations of the
Preferred Stock filed with the Secretary of State of Nevada on November 8, 1995.
Each of the Purchase Agreement and the Certificate of Designations have been
filed as exhibits to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K (Exhibits 10.32
and 4.2, respectively, to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
Period ended September 30, 1995).
Section 5(b) of the Certificate of Designations provides that the Preferred
Stock was originally to be convertible into two (2) shares of Common Stock for
each share of Preferred Stock, to result in a total of 500,000 shares of the
Company's Common Stock at a conversion price of $5.00 per share, subject to
adjustment as described below. An Additional Listing Application covering the
issuance of a total of 500,000 shares of Common Stock to Infinity was approved
by the AMEX on October 14, 1996.
Section 5(e) of the Certificate of Designations provides for an adjustment
to the conversion price in the event that, beginning on or after November 10,
1997, the closing sales price of the Company's common stock averages less than
$5.00 per share during any 30 day period; such adjustment is to remain in effect
until the average price exceeds $5.00 per share. Due to the price of the
Company's Common Stock in November 1997 and subsequent to that time, the
adjusted conversion price has become the closing market price immediately prior
to conversion.
Based upon the adjusted conversion price and as described in the
Certificate of Designations, each share of Preferred Stock may be converted into
the number of whole shares of the Company's Common Stock that is calculable by
multiplying the number of shares of Preferred Stock being converted by ten (10)
and dividing such number by the closing sales price of the common stock on the
day immediately preceding the date that written notice of conversion is given to
the Company by the holder of the Preferred Stock. Because the price of the
Common Stock is continually fluctuating, it is not possible to determine the
number of shares of the Company's Common Stock into which the Preferred Stock
may ultimately be converted.
During 1996, the Company and Infinity agreed that 125,000 shares of the
Preferred Stock would be returned to the Company in consideration for the
exercise of a stock option by an associate of Infinity. Additionally, the
Company and Infinity agreed that the Certificate of Designations for the
Preferred Stock be amended to allow for the payment of accrued dividends in
Common Stock as opposed to cash.
Pursuant to the AMEX guidelines discussed below, a second Additional
Listing Application was filed by the Company and approved by AMEX on December
31, 1997, increasing the number of shares issuable pursuant to conversions by
Infinity to a total of 2,500,000.
As of the Record Date, the entire 2,500,000 shares approved by AMEX have
been issued to Infinity. Infinity's remaining holdings of Preferred Stock,
together with accrued dividends thereon, would result, based upon the closing
market price on the Record Date, in an additional 1,762,665 Common Shares being
issuable upon conversion. It should be noted that
17
<PAGE>
this number of shares will increase as a result of additional dividend accruals
and could either increase or decrease as a result of subsequent fluctuations in
the market price of the Company's Common Stock.
An agreement between the Company and Infinity executed in November 1998
provided, among other things, that certain disputed accrued dividends were
compromised and therefore reduced to zero; that Infinity's conversions would be
limited to certain maximum monthly amounts; that the Company would timely effect
all subsequent conversions of the Preferred Stock, and that the Company would
seek AMEX approval of additional issuances of the Company's Common Stock in
excess of the restrictive limits of AMEX as discussed below, if the previously
listed 2,500,000 shares were insufficient to effect conversions of all
Infinity's Preferred Stock.
AMEX GUIDELINES
Section 713 of the AMEX Company Guide requires that a company seeking to
sell or issue shares of its Common Stock equal to 20% or more of the then
outstanding Common Stock for less than the greater of book or market value of
the Common Stock, must receive stockholder approval as a prerequisite to
approval of applications for additional listing of shares. At the time the
Purchase Agreement was executed, the Company had 12,621,966 shares of Common
Stock issued and outstanding; therefore, an application for an additional
listing of shares in excess of 2,524,393 (or 20% of 12,621,966) would require
stockholder approval. As discussed above, on December 19, 1997, in connection
with the Infinity transaction, the Company filed with AMEX an application for a
listing of a total of 2,500,000 additional shares of Common Stock; such
application was subsequently approved by AMEX. In connection therewith, the
Company was required to issue a letter to AMEX representing that it was aware of
the restrictions of Section 713 of the AMEX Company Guide and that it would not
seek approval for an additional listing of shares in excess of the 2,500,000
shares already approved without first securing the approval of the stockholders.
STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL
As described above, Infinity has received 2,500,000 shares of the Company's
Common Stock from its conversions of the Preferred Stock. The Company has
agreed to use its best efforts to secure the approval of its stockholders and
AMEX in connection with the filing of an application for the additional listing
of shares in excess of the 20% restriction imposed by Section 713 of the AMEX
Company Guide. Any further conversions of the Preferred Stock by Infinity will
require that the Company file a listing for additional shares. Because the
issuance of any shares of Common Stock above the 2,500,000 shares already listed
will exceed the 20% maximum, the Company cannot file an application for an
additional listing of shares with the AMEX without prior approval of the
stockholders.
Only upon receiving the approval of the stockholders, can the Company issue
additional shares of Common Stock to Infinity upon any further conversion of the
Preferred Stock requested by Infinity. Upon receiving the approval of the
stockholders to issue additional shares, the Company may comply with requests
from Infinity to convert shares of the Preferred Stock into an indeterminable
number of shares of Common Stock. If Infinity sells the Common Stock it receives
upon its conversion of the Preferred Stock, such sale could result in a
depression of the price of the Common Stock, thereby lowering the conversion
price of the Preferred Stock and enabling Infinity to acquire additional shares
of Common Stock for fewer shares of the Preferred Stock. If, however, the
Company does not receive the approval of the stockholders, the Company cannot
issue Common Stock to Infinity, upon Infinity's request for additional
conversions of the Preferred Stock, without violating AMEX Company Guide Section
713. The Company is currently in litigation with Infinity regarding issues
related to the Preferred Stock. The Company anticipates that its failure to
issue such additional shares of Common Stock following any future conversion
request by Infinity, may result in new claims being advanced in the litigation
with Infinity. Therefore, the Company is hereby seeking the approval of the
stockholders to file an additional listing application for an additional listing
of shares in excess of the 20% maximum amount.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" FILING A LISTING APPLICATION WITH
THE AMEX ENABLING THE COMPANY TO ISSUE ADDITIONAL SHARES OF COMMON STOCK IN
EXCESS OF RESTRICTIVE LIMITS SET FORTH BY AMEX.
18
<PAGE>
OTHER MATTERS
(PROPOSAL 4)
At the time this Proxy Statement was published, the Board of Directors knew
of no other matters constituting a proper subject for action by the stockholders
which would be presented at the Annual Meeting. However, if any matters
properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons
named in the enclosed proxy card to vote the shares represented by said proxies
in accordance with their judgement on such matters.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Company's financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30,
1998 have been examined by the firm of Ernst & Young LLP ("Ernst & Young"). A
representative of Ernst & Young is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting,
and such representative will have the opportunity to make a statement if he
desires and be available to respond to appropriate questions.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Stockholders of the Company who intend to present a proposal for action at
the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company must notify the Company's
management of such intention by notice received at the Company's principal
executive offices no later than January 29, 2000.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JAMES RUDIS
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
May 6, 1999
Addison, Texas
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. STOCKHOLDERS WHO DO
NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING AND WISH THEIR STOCK TO BE VOTED, ARE
URGED TO DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED SELF-
ADDRESSED ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
19
<PAGE>
Please detach and Mail in the Envelope Provided
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FORM OF PROXY
POLYPHASE CORPORATION
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD 1:00 P.M., May 27, 1999
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The undersigned hereby appoints James Rudis and Michael F. Buck, or either
one of them in the absence of the other, as attorneys and proxies of the
undersigned, with full power of substitution, for and in the name of the
undersigned, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of Polyphase Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), to be held on
Thursday, May 27, 1999 at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Los Angeles Airport, 6101
West Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045, and at any adjournment or
postponement thereof, and to vote all shares of common stock of the Company
standing in the name of the undersigned on April 19, 1999, with all of the
powers the undersigned would possess if personally present at such meeting.
(IMPORTANT - TO BE SIGNED AND DATED ON THE REVERSE SIDE)
---------------
| SEE REVERSE |
| SIDE |
---------------
<PAGE>
Please date, sign and mail your
proxy card back as soon as possible!
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
POLYPHASE CORPORATION
May 27, 1999
Please Detach and Mail in the Envelope Provided
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[X] Please mark your
votes as in this
example
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1. Election of FOR WITHHELD Nominee: James Rudis 3. Proposal to file a FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
Directors [_] [_] Michael F. Buck listing application [_] [_] [_]
of the George R. Schrader with the American
Company (see reverse). William E. Shatley Stock Exchange,
enabling the Company
to issue additional
shares of its common
stock in excess of the
restrictive limits set
forth by the American
Stock Exchange.
FOR all nominees listed at right, except 4. In their discretion, the
authority to vote withheld for the proxies are authorized to
following nominees (if any). vote upon such other
business as may properly
________________________________________ come before the meeting.
2. Proposal to amend the 1994 Employee FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF
Stock Option Plan to increase the [_] [_] [_] DIRECTORS. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED. IN
number of shares of common stock THE ABSENCE OF DIRECTION, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR
authorized and reserved for issuance THE FOUR NOMINEES FOR ELECTION, FOR THE APPROVAL OF
pursuant to such Plan from 1,000,000 PROPOSAL 2 AND PROPOSAL 3 AND AT THE DISCRETION OF THE
shares to 1,750,000 shares. PROXIES WITH REGARD TO PROPOSAL 4.
Copies of the Notice of Meeting and of the Proxy
Statement have been received by the undersigned.
SIGNATURE(S)________________________________________________________________________________________ DATE_________________________
</TABLE>
NOTE: This proxy should be dated, signed by the stockholder(s) exactly as his or
her name appears hereon, and returned promptly in the enclosed envelope. Persons
signing in a fiduciary capacity should so indicate. If shares are held by joint
tenants or as community property, both should sign.
