P&F INDUSTRIES INC
DEF 14A, 2000-04-25
METALWORKG MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT
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<PAGE>
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

                  Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
            the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.    )

<TABLE>
      <S>        <C>
      Filed by the Registrant / /
      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 Section240.14a-11(c) or
                 Section240.14a-12

                        P&F INDUSTRIES, INC.
      -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

      -----------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
                                    Registrant)
</TABLE>

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

<TABLE>
<S>        <C>  <C>
/ /        No fee required.
/ /        Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1)
           and 0-11.
           (1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction
                applies:
                ----------------------------------------------------------
           (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:
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/ /        Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/ /        Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
           Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which
           the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous
           filing by registration statement number, or the Form or
           Schedule and the date of its filing.
           (1)  Amount Previously Paid:
                ----------------------------------------------------------
           (2)  Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
                ----------------------------------------------------------
           (3)  Filing Party:
                ----------------------------------------------------------
           (4)  Date Filed:
                ----------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                             P & F INDUSTRIES, INC.
                                300 SMITH STREET
                          FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK 11735

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                            TO BE HELD MAY 31, 2000

To the Stockholders of P & F Industries, Inc.:

    The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of P & F Industries, Inc. will be held at
the Huntington Hilton Hotel, 598 Broad Hollow Road, Melville, New York on
Wednesday, May 31, 2000 at 10:00 A.M., for the following purposes:

    (1) To elect three directors to hold office for three years;

    (2) To ratify the selection of BDO Seidman, LLP, independent certified
public accountants, as auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000;
and

    (3) To consider and act upon such other business as may properly come before
the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

    In accordance with the provisions of the Company's By-Laws, the Board of
Directors has fixed the close of business on April 21, 2000 as the date for
determining stockholders of record entitled to receive notice of, and to vote
at, the Annual Meeting.

    Your attention is directed to the accompanying Proxy Statement.

    You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting. If you do not expect
to attend the Annual Meeting in person, please vote, date, sign and return the
enclosed proxy as promptly as possible in the enclosed reply envelope.

                                          By order of the Board of Directors,
                                          JOSEPH A. MOLINO, JR.
                                          SECRETARY

Dated:  April 28, 2000
      Farmingdale, New York
<PAGE>
                             P & F INDUSTRIES, INC.
                                300 SMITH STREET
                          FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK 11735

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

                                PROXY STATEMENT

    This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of P & F Industries, Inc. (the "Company") to
be used at the meeting of stockholders of the Company (the "Annual Meeting") to
be held on Wednesday, May 31, 2000 at 10:00 A.M., at the Huntington Hilton
Hotel, 598 Broad Hollow Road, Melville, New York, or at any adjournment or
postponement thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying notice of
Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If the enclosed form of proxy is executed and
returned, it may nevertheless be revoked at any time before it is exercised,
either in person at the Annual Meeting or by written notice or by a duly
executed proxy, bearing a later date, sent to the Secretary of the Company. The
Company anticipates mailing this proxy statement and the accompanying proxy to
stockholders on or about April 28, 2000.

    As of April 21, 2000, there were 3,572,733 shares of the Company's Class A
Common Stock, $1.00 par value (the "Class A Common Stock"), outstanding. Each
share of Class A Common Stock is entitled to one vote. Only holders of record of
Class A Common Stock at the close of business on April 21, 2000 will be entitled
to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. The Company will bear the cost
of the Annual Meeting and the cost of soliciting proxies, including the cost of
mailing the proxy material. In addition to solicitation by mail, directors,
officers and regular employees of the Company (who will not be specifically
compensated for such service) may solicit proxies by telephone or otherwise.

    All proxies received pursuant to this solicitation will be voted, except as
to matters where authority to vote is specifically withheld and, where a choice
is specified as to the proposal, such proxies will be voted in accordance with
such specification. If no instructions are given, the persons named in the
proxies solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company intend to vote for
the nominees for election as directors of the Company set forth herein and for
the confirmation of the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as independent certified
public accountants of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000.
If any other matter should be presented at the Annual Meeting upon which a vote
may properly be taken, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted with
respect thereto in the discretion of the person or persons holding such proxy.

    For purposes of determining whether a proposal has received the required
number of votes for approval, abstentions will be included in the vote totals
with the result that an abstention will have the same effect as a negative vote.
In instances where nominee recordholders, such as brokers, are prohibited from
exercising discretionary authority for beneficial owners of shares of Class A
Common Stock who have not returned a proxy ("broker non-votes"), those shares of
Class A Common Stock will not be included in the vote totals and, therefore,
will have no effect on the vote. If a quorum should not be present, the Annual
Meeting may be adjourned from time to time until a quorum is obtained.
<PAGE>
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

    As permitted by Delaware law, the Board of Directors is divided into three
classes, the classes being divided as equally as possible and each class having
a term of three years. Each year the term of office of one class expires. A
director elected to fill a vacancy, including a vacancy resulting from an
increase in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors, serves
for the remaining term of the class in which the vacancy exists. The Board of
Directors presently consists of nine members, with three classes each consisting
of three directors.

    This year the term of a class consisting of three directors expires.
Management proposes that Messrs. Sidney Horowitz, Arthur Hug, Jr. and Dennis
Kalick, whose terms of office expire in 2000, be re-elected as directors to
serve for terms to expire at the 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Unless
otherwise indicated, the enclosed proxy will be voted for the election of such
nominees. Should any one or more of these nominees become unable to serve for
any reason or, for good cause, will not serve, which is not anticipated, the
Board of Directors may, unless the Board of Directors by resolution provides for
a lesser number of directors, designate substitute nominees, in which event the
persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote for the election of such
substitute nominee or nominees. On December 2, 1999 Earle K. Moore resigned from
the Board of Directors and on March 28, 2000, Robert M. Steinberg was elected to
serve the balance of Mr. Moore's term, which expires at the 2001 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders.

    Directors will be elected by the plurality vote of the holders of the
Class A Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and present in
person or by proxy.

    THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR
                            THE FOREGOING NOMINEES.

INFORMATION AS TO DIRECTORS AND NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS

    Set forth below are the name and age of each nominee for director and each
director currently in office and whose term continues, his principal occupation,
the year each became a director of the Company and a description of his
principal occupation for the past five years. The information set forth below is
as of April 21, 2000.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         SERVED AS DIRECTOR
NAME                                                            AGE      CONTINUOUSLY SINCE
- ----                                                          --------   ------------------
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>
NOMINEES TO SERVE IN OFFICE UNTIL 2003:
Sidney Horowitz.............................................     79             1962
Arthur Hug, Jr..............................................     77             1987
Dennis Kalick...............................................     47             1997

DIRECTORS TO CONTINUE IN OFFICE UNTIL 2002:
Robert L. Dubofsky..........................................     60             1990
Neil Novikoff...............................................     46             1998
Marc A. Utay................................................     40             1992

DIRECTORS TO CONTINUE IN OFFICE UNTIL 2001:
Richard A. Horowitz.........................................     50             1975
Alan I. Goldberg............................................     50             1998
Robert M. Steinberg.........................................     57             2000
</TABLE>

                                       2
<PAGE>
    Sidney Horowitz has been Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors since
November 1995 and was Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company from 1968 to November 1995. Sidney Horowitz is the father
of Richard A. Horowitz.

    Arthur Hug, Jr., who is retired, was the President of Vanguard
Ventures, Inc. from 1987 to 1989 and was Chairman of North American Bancorp from
1974 to 1987.

    Dennis Kalick has been engaged in the private practice of providing
accounting services with Gilman & Ciocia, Inc. (or a predecessor firm) since
1993.

    Robert L. Dubofsky has been Managing Director of BWD Group Limited (formerly
Blumencranz, Klepper, Wilkins & Dubofsky, Ltd.), an insurance brokerage group,
since April 1992.

    Neil Novikoff has been a partner in the law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher
for more than the last five years.

    Marc A. Utay has been a Managing Partner of Clarion Capital Partners, LLC,
an investment banking firm, since October 1999. From May 1993 until
October 1999, Mr. Utay was a Managing Director of Wasserstein Perella
Co., Inc., an investment banking firm.

    Richard A. Horowitz has been Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company since November 1995 and has been President of
the Company since 1986.

    Alan I. Goldberg has been President of About Sportswear, an apparel
manufacturing corporation, since 1977.

    Robert M. Steinberg has been Vice Chairman of Reliance Group
Holdings, Inc., an insurance holding company, since November 1999. From
October 1984 until November 1999, Mr. Steinberg was Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Reliance Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Reliance Group
Holdings, Inc.

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES

    During 1999, the Board of Directors held four meetings and acted by
unanimous written consent on three occasions. No director attended fewer than
75% of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and all committees
on which he served. The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee and a Stock
Option Committee, of which the current members of each are Messrs. Hug, Dubofsky
and Kalick. The Audit Committee recommends the selection of independent auditors
to the Board of Directors, reviews the overall scope and the results of the
Company's annual audit and reviews the Company's overall internal controls.
During 1999, the Audit Committee met once. The Stock Option Committee
administers the Stock Option Plan. The Stock Option Committee met one time
during 1999. The Board does not have a nominating or a compensation committee or
a committee performing similar functions.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

    During 1999, each director who was not an employee of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries received fees of $3,500 plus $1,250 for each meeting of the
Board of Directors or Audit Committee attended. Upon election to the Board of
Directors, each director who is not an employee of the Company receives an
option to purchase 2,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. Directors who are also
officers of the Company are not compensated for their duties as directors.

                                       3
<PAGE>
                         OWNERSHIP OF EQUITY SECURITIES

    The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of Class A Common
Stock as of April 21, 2000, including shares as to which a right to acquire
ownership within 60 days exists (for example, through the exercise of stock
options) within the meaning of Rule 13d-3(d)(1) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), by (i) each director and nominee
for director, (ii) the executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation
Table (Richard A. Horowitz and Joseph A. Molino, Jr. are the only executive
officers of the Company), (iii) each person known by the Company to be the
beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Class A Common Stock and (iv) all
directors and executive officers as a group. Except as indicated in the
applicable footnotes, each beneficial owner listed has sole voting power and
sole investment power over the shares of Class A Common Stock indicated. Except
as indicated in the applicable footnotes, the address of each beneficial owner
is in the care of the Company, 300 Smith Street, Farmingdale, New York 11735.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                AMOUNT
                                                              AND NATURE       PERCENT
                                                              BENEFICIAL          OF
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER                          OWNERSHIP         CLASS
- ------------------------------------                          ----------       --------
<S>                                                           <C>              <C>
Robert L. Dubofsky..........................................     22,000(1)(2)       *
Alan I. Goldberg............................................      2,000(2)          *
Sidney Horowitz.............................................    282,731(3)(4)     7.9
Richard A. Horowitz.........................................  1,222,065(5)       32.4
Arthur Hug, Jr..............................................      3,000(2)          *
Dennis Kalick...............................................      2,000(2)          *
Joseph A. Molino, Jr........................................     21,000(6)          *
Neil Novikoff...............................................      2,000(2)          *
Marc A. Utay................................................     72,000(2)        2.0
Robert M. Steinberg.........................................      2,000(2)          *
FMR Corp....................................................    304,000(7)        8.5
Steel Partners II L.P.......................................    398,785(8)       11.2
Lawndale Capital Management, LLC............................    341,550(9)        9.6
All directors and executive officers as a group (10
  persons)..................................................  1,630,796(10)      42.8
</TABLE>

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

*   Less than 1%.

(1) Includes 5,000 shares owned by his child.

(2) Includes 2,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options.

(3) The address of Sidney Horowitz is 20596 Links Circle, Boca Raton, Florida
    33434.

(4) Includes 99,988 shares owned by Grace Horowitz, wife of Sidney Horowitz,
    individually and as trustee for their daughter, and 400 shares owned by The
    Sidney and Grace Horowitz Foundation, Sidney Horowitz disclaims beneficial
    ownership of the 99,988 shares owned by Grace Horowitz individually and as
    Trustee for the daughter of Grace Horowitz and Sidney Horowitz. Also
    includes 2,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options.

(5) Includes (i) 660,000 shares owned by Linda Horowitz, wife of Richard A.
    Horowitz, individually, (ii) 22,400 shares owned by Linda Horowitz,
    individually and as Trustee for the daughter of Linda Horowitz and Richard
    A. Horowitz, and (iii) 10,000 shares owned by The Linda and Richard Horowitz
    Foundation. Linda Horowitz has granted Richard A. Horowitz a ten year
    irrevocable proxy to vote the 660,000 shares owned by her. Richard A.
    Horowitz disclaims beneficial ownership of the 22,400 shares owned by Linda
    Horowitz individually and as Trustee for the daughter of Linda Horowitz and
    Richard A. Horowitz. Also includes 203,500 shares issuable upon the exercise
    of stock options.

                                       4
<PAGE>
(6) Includes 20,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options. Joseph
    A. Molino, Jr. has been Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the
    Company since December 1997. From July 1990 until November 1997, Mr. Molino
    was chief financial officer of several small private manufacturing and
    service companies.

(7) Information obtained from a Schedule 13G, dated February 14, 2000, filed
    with the Securities and Exchange Commission by FMR Corp., Edward C. Johnson
    3d and Abigail P. Johnson, FMR Corp. has sole power to dispose or to direct
    the disposition of all shares held. The address of FMR Corp. is 82
    Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.

(8) Information obtained from a Schedule 13D, dated June 12, 1998, filed with
    the Securities and Exchange Commission by Steel Partners II, L.P. and Warren
    Lichtenstein. Steel Partners II, L.P. and Warren Lichtenstein have sole
    voting and sole dispositive power over all shares held. The address of Steel
    Partners II, L.P. is 750 Lexington Avenue, 27th Floor, New York, New York
    10022.

(9) Information obtained from a Schedule 13G, dated February 8, 2000, filed with
    the Securities and Exchange Commission by Lawndale Capital Management, LLC,
    Andrew E. Shapiro, Diamond A Partners, L.P. and Diamond A Investors, L.P.
    Lawndale Capital Management, LLC shares voting and dispositive power with
    Andrew E. Shapiro with respect to 341,550 shares, Diamond A Partners, L.P.
    with respect to 290,650 shares and Diamond A Investors, L.P. with respect to
    50,900 shares. The address of each of the foregoing entities is One Sansome
    Street, Suite 3900, San Francisco California 94104.

(10) Includes 239,500 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options and
    warrants.

                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

    The following table sets forth all cash and non cash compensation for each
of the past three fiscal years awarded to or earned by the Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer and the other executive officer whose aggregate
compensation exceeded $100,000.

                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          LONG-TERM
                                                       ANNUAL           COMPENSATION
                                                    COMPENSATION           AWARDS
                                                 -------------------   ---------------
                                                                         SECURITIES
                                                  SALARY     BONUS       UNDERLYING          ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION           YEAR       ($)       ($)(1)    OPTIONS/SARS(#)   COMPENSATION($)(2)
- -----------------------------         --------   --------   --------   ---------------   ------------------
<S>                                   <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>               <C>
Richard A. Horowitz.................    1999     550,000    740,000             --       26,072 25,084
Chairman of the Board                   1998     499,000    600,000    150,000 100,000         24,149
and Chief Executive Officer             1997     458,000    373,000

Joseph A. Molino, Jr................    1998     188,000    150,000    10,000 10,000           11,600
Vice-President and Chief                1999     175,000    135,000
Financial Officer (3)
</TABLE>

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

(1) The Company has an incentive compensation bonus plan (the "Bonus Plan").
    Under the terms of the Bonus Plan, the total bonuses paid to executive
    officers may not exceed 15% of the Company's pre-tax, pre-bonus income prior
    to the payment under the Bonus Plan. Allocations to the individuals set
    forth above are made at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Amounts
    are accrued in the year shown above and paid in the following year.

(2) The Company maintains a split-dollar life insurance policy on the life of
    Mr. Richard Horowitz and paid $1,081, $1,043 and $1,007 allocated to the
    term portion of the split-dollar coverage for

                                       5
<PAGE>
    1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. The actuarial equivalent of the value of
    the premium paid by the Company for 1999, 1998 and 1997, based on certain
    assumptions regarding interest rates and periods of coverage, was $13,391,
    $12,441 and $11,542, respectively. It is anticipated that the Company will
    recover the premiums on this policy or the cash surrender value thereof.

    Mr. Horowitz and Mr. Molino are covered by a Company-sponsored defined
    contribution retirement plan (the "Plan"). The Plan covers all employees
    (other than employees of the Company's Green Manufacturing, Inc. subsidiary
    who are covered by a separate plan) who do not receive pension benefits
    under a collective bargaining agreement, have been in the employ of the
    Company for at least one year and are at least 21 years of age.
    Contributions paid by the Company are 5% of the first $40,000 of each
    employee's salary and 8% of the balance up to $160,000. Upon leaving the
    Company, an employee may receive a lump sum payment of all amounts vested
    for him under the Plan, including earnings thereon. Contributions made on
    behalf of Mr. Horowitz were $11,600, $11,600 and $11,600 for 1999, 1998 and
    1997, respectively. Contributions made on behalf of Mr. Molino were $11,600
    in 1999.

(3) Mr. Molino's employment with the Company commenced during December 1997.

                     OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR

    The following table shows for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 the
number of stock options granted to the executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
                                    -------------------------
                                    NUMBER OF     PERCENT OF
                                    SECURITIES      TOTAL
                                    UNDERLYING     OPTIONS
                                     OPTIONS      GRANTED TO
                                     GRANTED     EMPLOYEES IN   EXERCISE   EXPIRATION        GRANT DATE
NAME                                  (#)(1)     FISCAL YEAR     PRICE        DATE      PRESENT VALUE ($)(2)
- ----                                ----------   ------------   --------   ----------   --------------------
<S>                                 <C>          <C>            <C>        <C>          <C>
Joseph A. Molino, Jr..............    10,000         66.7%      $8.9375      3/18/09          $49,600
</TABLE>

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

(1) These options were granted on March 18, 1999 and were fully vested on the
    date of grant.

(2) This estimate of value was developed solely for the purposes of comparative
    disclosure in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities
    and Exchange commission and is not intended to predict future prices of the
    Class A Common Stock. The estimate was developed using the Black-Scholes
    option pricing model incorporating the following assumptions: volatility of
    33.9% and dividend yield of 0%, both based on the historical averages for
    the underlying Class A Common Stock; risk-free rate of return of 5.1% based
    on a 10 year zero coupon rate; and time of exercise of 10 years, being the
    expected duration of the option.

    The following table shows for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 the
number of stock options which were exercised during 1999 and the number and
value of unexercised options for the executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table.

                                       6
<PAGE>
              AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                     AND FISCAL YEAR END OPTION/SAR VALUES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      NUMBER OF
                                                                SECURITIES UNDERLYING    VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                                     UNEXERCISED             IN-THE-MONEY
                                                                  OPTIONS/SAR'S AT          OPTIONS/SAR'S
                                      SHARES                     FISCAL YEAR-END (#)    AT FISCAL YEAR-END ($)
                                    ACQUIRED ON                 ---------------------   ----------------------
                                     EXERCISE        VALUE          EXERCISABLE/             EXERCISABLE/
NAME                                    (#)       REALIZED($)       UNEXERCISABLE           UNEXERCISABLE
- ----                                -----------   -----------   ---------------------   ----------------------
<S>                                 <C>           <C>           <C>                     <C>
Richard A. Horowitz...............    250,000      2,032,750       186,000/64,000             50,297/38,391
Joseph A. Molino, Jr..............         --             --             20,000/0                       0/0
</TABLE>

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS WITH EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

    Effective as of February 28, 1997, the Company entered into an employment
agreement (the "Horowitz Employment Agreement") with Richard A. Horowitz. The
Horowitz Employment Agreement provides for Richard Horowitz to serve as
President of the Company for a term expiring on February 28, 2004, unless sooner
terminated pursuant to the provisions of the Horowitz Employment Agreement.
Pursuant to the Horowitz Employment Agreement, Richard Horowitz will receive an
annual salary of $610,000 for the year ending December 31, 2000. Mr. Horowitz is
also eligible to receive such increases in base compensation as the Board of
Directors may from time to time grant to him and to receive such bonuses as the
Board of Directors, in its discretion, may allocate to him. In the event of a
"discharge" following a "change in control" of the Company (as each term is
defined in the Horowitz Employment Agreement) Richard Horowitz will receive his
annual salary and all benefits to which he is entitled under the Horowitz
Employment Agreement for the remainder of the term thereof or a lump sum
severance allowance in an amount equal to 2.99 times his "annualized includable
compensation for the base period" (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended).

                        REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

    The Company does not have a compensation committee. The Board of Directors
reviews the annual compensation of the Company's executive officers. Each
executive officer's compensation includes salary and a performance bonus. In
1986, the Company established the Bonus Plan for its executive officers that
provides for the payment of a cash bonus not to exceed, in the aggregate, 15% of
the Company's pre-tax, pre-bonus income. In 1999, Messrs. Horowitz and Molino
received bonuses of $740,000 and $150,000, respectively, under the Bonus Plan.
These awards were based on a subjective evaluation of the performance of
Mr. Horowitz and Mr. Molino during the year.

    In determining the executive officers' base compensation for the ensuing
fiscal year, the Board of Directors considers the individual officer's job
performance and level of responsibility, prior years' compensation, number of
years of employment with the Company and the rate of inflation. Mr. Horowitz's
and Mr. Molino's base compensation increased by 10% and 7%, respectively, for
1999. These increases were based on a subjective evaluation of the performance
of Mr. Horowitz and Mr. Molino during the prior year.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
<S>                                            <C>
ALAN I. GOLDBERG                               ARTHUR HUG, JR.
ROBERT DUBOFSKY                                DENNIS KALICK
RICHARD A. HOROWITZ (Chairman)                 ROBERT M. STEINBERG
SIDNEY HOROWITZ                                NEIL NOVIKOFF
                                               MARC A. UTAY
</TABLE>

                                       7
<PAGE>
                        COMPANY STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH

    The following performance graph compares the five-year cumulative return of
the Class A Common Stock to the total returns of the Nasdaq Stock Market
(U.S.A.) Index and a composite group comprised of companies with approximately
the same market capitalization as the Company at December 31, 1994. Such
composite group was used because the Company, through its three subsidiaries,
engages in several different lines of businesses and an applicable peer group
does not exist. In addition to the Company, the following companies are included
in the index: 4 Kids Entertainment, Inc., Driver Harris Co. Inc., Energy
West, Inc., Halsey Drug Corp., Harris & Harris Group, Inc., Presidential Realty
Corp., TSR, Inc. and Wendi-Bristol Health Corp. Each case assumes a $100
investment on December 31, 1994 and reinvestment of any dividends. Cumulative
returns are at December 31 of each year.

EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            PEER GROUP  NASDAQ  P&F INDUSTRIES
<S>         <C>         <C>     <C>
12/31/1994        $100    $100            $100
12/29/1995        $123    $141            $112
12/31/1996        $137    $173            $171
12/31/1997        $101    $211            $341
12/31/1998         $96    $296            $465
12/31/1999        $219    $550            $303
</TABLE>

            SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

    Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's directors and
executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of
the Company's equity securities, to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") initial reports of ownership and reports of
changes in ownership of Class A Common Stock and other equity securities of the
Company. Officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by
the Commission to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms
they file.

    To the Company's knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such
reports furnished to the Company or written representations that no other
reports were required, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its
officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners were complied with
during, or in respect of, the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.

                    TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS

    The Company and Sidney Horowitz are parties to a Consulting Agreement, which
will terminate on October 31, 2000, pursuant to which Mr. Horowitz receives
$100,000 in annual consulting fees.

                                       8
<PAGE>
                             SELECTION OF AUDITORS

    The Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of its Audit Committee, has
selected BDO Seidman, LLP as independent certified public accountants for the
Company, to audit and report upon the Company's consolidated financial
statements for the 2000 fiscal year, and the Board of Directors is submitting
this matter to the stockholders for their ratification. The affirmative vote of
a majority of the shares of Class A Common Stock present or represented and
entitled to vote on the proposal at the Annual Meeting is required for the
ratification of the selection of BDO Seidman, LLP. Representatives of BDO
Seidman, LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, to make a
statement if they desire to do so and to be available to respond to appropriate
questions that may be asked by stockholders.

      THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE
              FOR APPROVAL OF THE SELECTION OF BDO SEIDMAN, LLP AS
                   INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS.

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2001 ANNUAL MEETING

    Stockholder proposals intended for inclusion in the proxy material for the
2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the Secretary of the
Company at the Company's offices at 300 Smith Street, Farmingdale, New York
11735 not later than December 29, 2000 in order for such proposals to be
included in the proxy materials for the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Such proposals must also meet the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act
relating to stockholders' proposals. Any stockholder interested in bringing a
proposal before the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders outside of the processes
of Rule 14a-8 is referred to the advance notice provisions contained in the
Company's By-Laws, which require receipt of such proposals by the Secretary of
the Company at the Company's offices not prior to October 30, 2000 and not later
than December 29, 2000.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND OTHER MATTERS

    A copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1999 as filed with the Commission may be obtained free of charge by
writing to the Company, 300 Smith Street, Farmingdale, New York 11735;
Attention: Secretary of the Company.

    Management of the Company is not aware of any matters to be presented for
action at the Annual Meeting other than the matters mentioned above, and does
not intend to bring any other matters before the Annual Meeting. However, if any
other matters should come before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the
holders of the proxies will vote them in their discretion.

                                          By order of the Board of Directors,

                                          JOSEPH A. MOLINO, JR.
                                          SECRETARY

Date: April 28, 2000

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