<PAGE> 1
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
/X/ Filed by the registrant
/ / Filed by a party other than the registrant
Check the appropriate box:
/ / Preliminary proxy statement
/X/ Definitive proxy statement
/ / Definitive additional materials
/ / Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-2
KING WORLD PRODUCTIONS, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
KING WORLD PRODUCTIONS, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing the Information Statement)
Payment of filing fee (check the appropriate box):
/X/ $125 per Exchange Act Rule 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(i)(2).
/ / $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
14a-6(i)(3).
/ / 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:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ / 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:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE> 2
KING WORLD PRODUCTIONS, INC.
1700 BROADWAY
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
FEBRUARY 17, 1995
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of King World Productions, Inc. ("King
World" or the "Company") will be held at The Breakers Hotel, One South County
Road, Palm Beach, Florida 33480, on the 17th day of February, 1995, at 10:00
a.m. (local time), for the following purposes:
1. to elect two directors to the Company's Board of Directors;
2. to consider and vote upon the selection of Arthur Andersen LLP,
independent public accountants, as the auditors of the Company for the
fiscal year ending August 31, 1995; and
3. to transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on December 27, 1994
as the record date for the determination of the stockholders of the Company
entitled to notice and to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Each share
of the Company's Common Stock is entitled to one vote on all matters presented
at the Annual Meeting.
ALL HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK (WHETHER THEY EXPECT TO ATTEND
THE ANNUAL MEETING OR NOT) ARE REQUESTED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN
PROMPTLY THE PROXY CARD ENCLOSED WITH THIS NOTICE.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Diana King
Corporate Secretary
December 29, 1994
<PAGE> 3
KING WORLD PRODUCTIONS, INC.
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
FEBRUARY 17, 1995
INTRODUCTION
This Proxy Statement is being furnished to stockholders of record of King
World Productions, Inc. ("King World" or the "Company") as of December 27, 1994
in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of King World of
proxies for the 1994 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at The Breakers
Hotel, One South County Road, Palm Beach, Florida 33480, on February 17, 1995 at
10:00 a.m. (local time), or at any adjournments thereof, for the purposes stated
in the Notice of Annual Meeting. The approximate date of mailing of this Proxy
Statement and enclosed form of proxy to stockholders is December 29, 1994.
As of the close of business on December 27, 1994, the Company had
outstanding 36,653,874 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value ("Common Stock").
Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote on all matters presented at
the Annual Meeting. A majority of the outstanding shares will constitute a
quorum at the meeting.
If the enclosed proxy is signed and returned, it may, nevertheless, be
revoked at any time prior to the voting thereof at the pleasure of the
stockholder signing it, either by a written notice of revocation received by the
person or persons named therein or by voting the shares covered thereby in
person or by another proxy dated subsequent to the date thereof.
Proxies in the accompanying form will be voted in accordance with the
instructions indicated thereon, and, if no such instructions are indicated, will
be voted in favor of the nominees for election as directors named below and for
the other proposal referred to below.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides for a Board of
Directors classified into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible,
each with a term of office of three years, expiring sequentially at successive
annual meetings of stockholders. The entire Board of Directors is comprised of
eight directors. Two directors will be elected at the 1995 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders for terms of three years each and until their respective successors
are elected and qualified.
The shares represented by proxies returned duly executed will be voted,
unless otherwise specified, in favor of the two nominees for the Board of
Directors named below. If, as a result of circumstances not known or unforeseen,
any of such nominees shall be unavailable to serve as a director, proxies will
be voted for the election of such other person or persons as the Board of
Directors may select. Each nominee for director will be elected by a plurality
of votes cast at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Proxies will be voted "for"
the election of the two nominees unless instructions to "withhold" votes are set
forth on the proxy card. Withholding votes will not influence voting results.
Abstentions may not be specified as to the election of directors. Under the
rules of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. ("NYSE"), brokers who hold shares in
"street name" for customers have the authority to vote on certain items in the
absence of instructions from their customers, the beneficial owners of the
shares. Under these rules, brokers that do not receive instructions are entitled
to vote on the election of the two nominees for director. Broker non-votes are
counted only for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for
the transaction of business. THE BOARD
<PAGE> 4
OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE TO ELECT THE TWO NOMINEES FOR THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS NAMED BELOW.
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTOR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SERVED AS
DIRECTOR
NAME PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION SINCE
---- -------------------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
Ronald S. Konecky........ Of counsel, law firm of Frankfurt, Garbus, Klein & Selz 1984
James M. Rupp............ President and Chief Executive Officer, JR Communications, 1986
Inc.
</TABLE>
CONTINUING DIRECTORS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SERVED AS
DIRECTOR
NAME PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION SINCE
---- -------------------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
Diana King............... Vice President and Corporate Secretary, King World 1976
Stephen W. Palley........ Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, King
World 1987
Joel Chaseman............ Chairman, Chaseman Enterprises International, Inc. 1990
Roger King............... Chairman of the Board, King World 1977
Michael King............. President and Chief Executive Officer, King World 1973
Richard King............. Real estate developer 1988
</TABLE>
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Set forth below is certain information with respect to each of the nominees
for the office of director, each director whose term of office will continue
after the 1995 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and each other executive officer
of King World:
NOMINEES
Ronald S. Konecky, 64, has been a director of the Company since August
1984. Since August 1985, Mr. Konecky has been of counsel to the law firm of
Frankfurt, Garbus, Klein & Selz, where he practices with emphasis on matters in
the entertainment field, including the representation of individuals and
companies in the television industry.
James M. Rupp, 59, has been a director of the Company since 1986. Mr. Rupp
is President and Chief Executive Officer of JR Communications, Inc., which is
based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. JR Communications, Inc. was founded by him in
February 1992 after Midwest Communications, Inc. ("Midwest") was sold to CBS,
Inc. Mr. Rupp was, at the time of such sale, President and Chief Executive
Officer and one of the largest shareholders of Midwest. In that capacity, he was
responsible for all the operations of Midwest, which encompassed five television
stations, two radio stations and Midwest Cable & Satellite, Inc., which includes
Midwest Sports Channel. Mr. Rupp is a director of United Video Satellite, Inc.,
United Video Cablevision, Inc. and First Trust Company of Minneapolis-St. Paul,
Minnesota.
CONTINUING DIRECTORS
Diana King, 45, has been a director of the Company since 1976. Since March
1984, she has served as Vice President -- Special Projects and since February
1986, as Corporate Secretary of the Company. Ms. King's current term as a
director will expire in 1996.
Stephen W. Palley, 49, joined King World as Senior Vice President and
General Counsel in May 1985. In September 1987, Mr. Palley was named Chief
Operating Officer of the Company and was elected a director in October 1987 by
the Board of Directors. He was named Executive Vice President in March 1989. Mr.
Palley's current term as a director will expire in 1996.
2
<PAGE> 5
Joel Chaseman, 68, has served as a director since 1990. Mr. Chaseman is
currently Chairman of Chaseman Enterprises International, Inc. He was a Vice
President of The Washington Post Company from June 1973 until January 1991. From
June 1973 until January 1990, Mr. Chaseman also served as Chief Executive
Officer of Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc., a subsidiary of The Washington Post
Company that operates four television stations. In addition, from March 1988
until January 1990, Mr. Chaseman served as Chairman of Post-Newsweek Stations,
Inc. Mr. Chaseman's current term as a director will expire in 1996.
Roger King, 50, has been an executive officer and a director of the Company
since 1977. From 1977 to August 1984, he was a Vice President primarily involved
in sales and marketing. Since August 1984, he has served as Chairman of the
Board of the Company. Mr. King's current term as a director will expire in 1997.
Michael King, 46, has been an executive officer and a director of the
Company since 1973. From 1973 to August 1984, he was a Vice President primarily
involved in the acquisition of new programming, sales and marketing. Since
August 1984, he has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company. Mr. King's current term as a director will expire in 1997.
Richard King, 53, is a major stockholder of King World and has acted as a
consultant to the Company since 1984. He is principally engaged in real estate
development in Florida. Mr. King has served as a director of the Company since
1988. Mr. King's current term as a director will expire in 1997.
OTHER EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
King World's executive officers, in addition to Roger King, Michael King,
Diana King and Stephen W. Palley, are as follows:
Anthony E. Hull, 36, was named Chief Financial Officer of King World in
June 1994. Prior to joining King World, Mr. Hull was Vice President, Financial
Planning of Paramount Communications, Inc. Mr. Hull joined Paramount in 1990 as
Senior Director, Financial Planning. Prior thereto, he had been a Vice President
in the Communications Group at Morgan Stanley & Co.
Steven R. Hirsch, 45, was named President of the Company's wholly-owned
subsidiary, Camelot Entertainment Sales, Inc., in July 1987. He joined Camelot
in February 1984 as Vice President -- Sales.
Roger King, Michael King, Diana King and Richard King are parties to an
agreement pursuant to which each has agreed that, in the event he or she desires
to sell any shares of the Company's capital stock, he or she will first offer
such shares to the Company. The purchase price of the shares, in the case of a
public sale, is the fair market value of such shares as of the date of the
stockholder's offer to the Company or, in the case of a private sale, is the
purchase price proposed to be paid by the buyer. The agreement also limits the
number of shares that any party may sell in the public securities markets during
any calendar year. Under certain circumstances, such agreement may prevent a
takeover of the Company.
Roger King, Michael King, Diana King and Richard King are children of the
late Charles and Lucille King, King World's founders.
During fiscal 1994, the Board of Directors of the Company held three
meetings. The only standing committees of the Board of Directors are the Audit
Committee, whose current members are Messrs. Chaseman, Konecky and Rupp, and the
Compensation Committee, whose current members are Messrs. Chaseman, Konecky and
Rupp and which committee in January 1994 assumed the functions of the Option
Committee, whose members were Messrs. Roger King, Michael King and Stephen W.
Palley. The Audit Committee periodically consults with the Company's management
and independent public accountants on financial matters, including the Company's
internal financial controls and procedures. The Audit Committee held one meeting
in fiscal 1994. The Compensation Committee approves compensation arrangements
for the Company's executive officers and administers the Company's Amended and
Restated Stock Option and Restricted Stock Purchase Plan. The Compensation
Committee held eleven meetings in fiscal 1994. The Option Committee held one
meeting in fiscal 1994.
Each outside director of the Company (currently Messrs. Chaseman, Konecky
and Rupp) is entitled to receive an annual fee of $45,000, as well as $1,000 for
each meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof attended by such
director.
3
<PAGE> 6
COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
To the Company's knowledge, except for Roger King, Michael King, Diana King
and Richard King, the only person or group that may be deemed to own
beneficially 5% or more of the Company's outstanding Common Stock is the
following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES PERCENT
BENEFICIALLY OF
NAME AND ADDRESS OWNED CLASS
-------------------------------------------------------------- --------- ----
<S> <C> <C>
Chancellor Capital Management, Inc.
and Chancellor Trust Company................................ 2,585,498(1) 7.1%
1166 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
Mellon Bank Corporation....................................... 2,139,000(2) 5.8%
One Mellon Bank Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) According to information furnished on behalf of Chancellor Capital
Management, Inc. and Chancellor Trust Company, as investment managers for
various fiduciary accounts ("Chancellor"), on December 27, 1994. Chancellor
disclaims beneficial ownership.
(2) According to a Schedule 13G filed by Mellon Bank Corporation on May 24,
1994.
COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial
ownership of the Company's Common Stock, as of December 27, 1994, by (i) each of
the Company's directors, (ii) each of the Company's executive officers named in
the compensation table below and (iii) the Company's executive officers and
directors as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, each nominee named in the
table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares shown as
beneficially owned by him or her.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER PERCENT
NAME OF SHARES OF CLASS
------------------------------------------------------------ --------- --------
<S> <C> <C>
Roger King.................................................. 2,133,900(1) 5.8%
Michael King................................................ 2,267,150(2) 6.2%
Richard King................................................ 2,054,161 5.6%
Diana King.................................................. 2,284,900(3) 6.2%
Joel Chaseman............................................... 22,500(4) *
Ronald S. Konecky........................................... 5,000 *
James M. Rupp............................................... 17,868(5) *
Stephen W. Palley........................................... 98,000(6) *
Steven R. Hirsch............................................ 62,000(7) *
Executive officers and directors as a group (10 persons).... 8,945,479(8) 24.0%
</TABLE>
- ---------------
* Less than 1%.
(1) Includes 240,000 shares issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable
stock options, and excludes 5,750 shares held by Mr. King's wife.
(2) Excludes 600 shares of Common Stock held by Mrs. Michael King in trust for
the benefit of her nephews. Includes 240,000 shares issuable upon exercise
of currently exercisable stock options.
(3) Includes 55,000 shares held by a charitable foundation of which Ms. King is
a director. Ms. King disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.
(4) Shares issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable stock options.
(5) Includes 12,138 shares issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable stock
options.
(6) Includes 80,000 shares issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable stock
options.
(7) Shares issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable stock options.
(8) Includes an aggregate 656,638 shares issuable upon exercise of currently
exercisable stock options.
4
<PAGE> 7
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Richard King has served as a consultant to King World since September 1984.
His annual compensation for such services for fiscal 1994 was $15,600. The term
of his current oral agreement with King World will expire on August 31, 1995.
Robert King was named Senior Vice President -- Strategic
Planning/Acquisitions of King World in April 1994. At that time, the Company
entered into an employment agreement with Mr. King, providing for salary
compensation at the rate of $400,000 per annum, and an option under the
Company's Amended and Restated Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan to
purchase 100,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price per share equal to
the closing price of the Common Stock on April 22, 1994 ($34.25), the date of
Mr. King's employment agreement. Mr. King's right to exercise such option is
subject to vesting over a five-year period (at the rate of 20% per year for the
first three years and 40% in the fifth year) and the satisfaction of certain
other conditions. Prior to assuming his current position, Mr. King had been
employed by King World since December 1991, assisting in strategic planning, and
received salary compensation at the rate of $400,000 per annum. Mr. King had
formerly served as President of television distribution for Orion Pictures, Coca
Cola Telecommunications and Columbia Pictures Television. He was President and a
director of the Company from 1973 until March 1984. Mr. King is a brother of
Roger, Michael, Diana and Richard King.
Ronald S. Konecky, a director of the Company, is of counsel to the law firm
of Frankfurt, Garbus, Klein & Selz, which has been retained by the Company in
connection with certain legal matters.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
To the Company's knowledge, all statements of beneficial ownership required
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in fiscal 1994 were
timely filed, except for a Form 4 filed by Roger King on April 14, 1994,
reporting beneficial ownership of 750 shares owned by his wife. Beneficial
ownership of such shares became attributable to Roger King upon his marriage to
Raemali King on May 7, 1993. Mr. King disclaims beneficial ownership of such
shares. Jeffrey E. Epstein, the former Chief Financial Officer of the Company,
filed a report under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act reporting the
termination of unvested options one day after the deadline for the filing of
reports of beneficial ownership on Form 5.
5
<PAGE> 8
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth certain compensation information as to the
Chief Executive Officer and the four other highest paid executive officers of
the Company for the fiscal years ended August 31, 1994, 1993 and 1992:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
COMPENSATION
AWARDS(1)
-----------------------
ANNUAL COMPENSATION
----------------------- (E) (F) (G)
(A) RESTRICTED SECURITIES ALL OTHER
NAME AND (B) (C) (D) STOCK UNDERLYING COMPENSATION
PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY($) BONUS($) AWARDS($) OPTIONS(#) ($)(2)
- ----------------------------- ---- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Michael King
President and Chief
Executive Officer.......... 1994 $1,000,000 $2,268,000 -- -- $ 10,000
1993 $ 950,000 $1,297,000 -- -- $ 11,500
1992 $ 900,000 $1,211,000 -- -- N/A
Roger King
Chairman
of the Board............... 1994 $1,000,000 $2,268,000 -- -- $ 10,000
1993 $ 950,000 $1,297,000 -- -- $ 11,500
1992 $ 900,000 $1,211,000 -- -- N/A
Stephen W. Palley
Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating
Officer................. 1994 $ 500,000 $ 801,500 -- 250,000 $ 10,000
1993 $ 450,000 $ 415,000 -- -- $ 11,500
1992 $ 425,000 $ 386,000 -- -- N/A
Steven R. Hirsch
President, Camelot
Entertainment Sales,
Inc. ................... 1994 $ 450,000 $ 295,500 -- 100,000 $ 10,000
1993 $ 425,000 $ 150,000 -- -- $ 11,500
1992 $ 400,000 $ 150,000 -- -- N/A
Jeffrey E. Epstein
Chief Financial Officer.... 1994(3) $ 429,300 $ 186,500 -- 150,000 $ 7,000
1993 $ 412,500 $ 25,000 -- -- $ 14,550(4)
1992 $ 391,000 $ 25,000 -- -- N/A
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) No pay-outs pursuant to long-term incentive plans have been made since the
inception of the Company.
(2) In accordance with transitional provisions applicable to the revised rules
in executive compensation disclosure adopted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, amounts of "All Other Compensation" are excluded for 1992. For
each named executive officer, includes $10,000 and $11,500 of Company
contributions to the Company's Retirement Savings Plan for fiscal 1994 and
1993, respectively.
(3) Mr. Epstein's employment as Chief Financial Officer of the Company
terminated in July 1994.
(4) Includes $3,050 of imputed interest on a promissory note issued by Mr.
Epstein to the Company, which was paid in full in December 1992.
6
<PAGE> 9
OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
The following table sets forth certain information concerning grants of
stock options, stock appreciation rights and phantom stock units awarded to the
named executive officers during the fiscal year ended August 31, 1994:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
----------------------------------------------------- POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
PERCENT OF VALUE AT
TOTAL ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES OF
NUMBER OF OPTIONS/ STOCK
SECURITIES SARS GRANTED PRICE APPRECIATION
UNDERLYING TO EMPLOYEES EXERCISE OR FOR OPTION TERM
OPTION/SARS IN FISCAL BASE PRICE EXPIRATION -----------------------
NAME GRANTED YEAR ($/SH) DATE 5%($) 10%($)
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F) (G)
- --------------------------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Michael King............... 120,000(1) 6.29% $38.875 8/31/95 $5,143,163 $5,644,650
270,000(2) 14.15% $38.875 8/31/95 $1,075,866 $2,204,213
Roger King................. 120,000(1) 6.29% $38.875 8/31/95 $5,143,163 $5,644,650
270,000(2) 14.15% $38.875 8/31/95 $1,075,866 $2,204,213
Stephen W. Palley.......... 250,000(3) 13.10% $38.875 12/21/03 $2,685,096 $5,933,394
Steven R. Hirsch........... 100,000(3) 5.24% $38.875 12/21/03 $1,074,038 $2,373,358
Jeffrey E. Epstein(4)...... 150,000 7.86% $38.875 8/15/94 $ 0 $ 0
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Phantom Stock Units. See "Employment Agreements -- Michael King and Roger
King".
(2) Phantom Stock Appreciation Units. See "Employment Agreements -- Michael King
and Roger King".
(3) Non-qualified Stock Options. See "Employment Agreements -- Stephen W.
Palley"; and "Employment Agreements -- Steven R. Hirsch".
(4) Mr. Epstein terminated his employment with the Company on July 15, 1994. The
non-qualified stock option granted to Mr. Epstein in fiscal 1994 expired 30
days after the termination of Mr. Epstein's employment.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND
FISCAL YEAR END OPTION VALUES
The following table sets forth the number of options exercised and the
value realized upon exercise by the named executive officers during the fiscal
year ended August 31, 1994 and the value of outstanding options held by such
executive officers as of August 31, 1994:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(D)
--------------- (E)
------------------
NUMBER OF
SECURITIES VALUE OF
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED
UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY
OPTIONS AT OPTIONS AT
(B) (C) FISCAL YEAR END FISCAL YEAR END($)
(A) --------------- ----------- --------------- ------------------
- ------------------------------ SHARES ACQUIRED VALUE EXERCISABLE/ EXERCISABLE/
NAME ON EXERCISE(#) REALIZED($) UNEXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
- ------------------------------ --------------- ----------- --------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Michael King.................. -- -- 240,000/ 0 $5,988,300/0
Roger King.................... -- -- 240,000/ 0 $5,988,300/0
Stephen W. Palley............. -- -- 80,000/200,000 $ 754,440/0
Steven R. Hirsch.............. -- -- 62,000/ 80,000 $1,015,560/0
Jeffrey E. Epstein(1)......... 150,000 $ 3,373,500 0/ 0 0/0
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Mr. Epstein terminated his employment with the Company on July 15, 1994.
The market value of the Company's Common Stock as of the close of business
on December 27, 1994, as reflected by the closing price of the Common Stock on
the NYSE, was $34.875 per share.
7
<PAGE> 10
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
The Company has entered into employment agreements with each of the
executive officers named in the table above, except for Mr. Epstein, who served
as Chief Financial Officer of the Company under a term agreement that expired
August 31, 1993 and thereafter on an at will basis until he resigned his
position in June 1994 and terminated his employment with the Company on July 15,
1994. The Company has entered into an employment agreement with Anthony E. Hull,
who has served as Chief Financial Officer of the Company since June 13, 1994.
Michael King and Roger King
The employment agreements with each of Michael King and Roger King, the
Company's President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board,
respectively, were entered into on December 21, 1993 and provide for employment
by the Company through August 31, 1995. They provide a base salary in the
Company's 1994 fiscal year for each of the two executive officers of $1 million,
with an increase of $50,000 in the Company's 1995 fiscal year, and an annual
cash bonus for each such executive officer equal to 1.5% of the Company's net
income after taxes but before extraordinary items, subject to the satisfaction
of a performance condition (the "S&P Performance Condition"), which requires
that the Company's return on equity shall have exceeded the average return on
equity of the companies comprising the S&P 500 Index (based on the most recently
published information available to the Company at the time satisfaction of the
S&P Performance Condition is to be determined). Such bonuses are payable on a
quarterly basis, based on the Company's unaudited quarterly financial statements
as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, with a final payment being
made after the end of the Company's fiscal year based on the Company's audited
financial statements. To the extent that the audited financial statements
include adjustments to prior quarterly statements, discrepancies are reconciled
in the final payment. The Compensation Committee is authorized to make all
determinations with respect to the payment of such bonuses and to cause the
Company to recoup any payments that were made in any year in which the annual
performance goal was not satisfied on an annual basis.
In addition, under their respective employment agreements, each of Michael
King and Roger King is entitled to a "New Show Bonus" of $750,000, $500,000 and
$250,000, respectively, for the first, second and third new first-run "strip"
(i.e., Monday through Friday) syndicated series first broadcast in any of the
1993-1994, 1994-1995 or 1995-1996 television seasons and cleared over the course
of any such season in domestic television markets covering at least 70% of the
domestic television viewing households. (The bonus did not apply to series being
aired at the time the employment agreement was signed, but did apply to Rolonda,
which premiered on January 17, 1994.) In addition, a New Show Bonus of $250,000
is payable to each of the two executive officers if the Company receives orders
for at least thirteen weeks of a series developed by the Company from an
over-the-air television network for broadcast in any of such television seasons.
The aggregate of all New Show Bonuses that may be earned in any fiscal year by
either executive officer may not exceed $1.5 million.
In addition, the employment agreements of Michael and Roger King granted
each of them 120,000 phantom stock units (the "Stock Units") and 270,000 phantom
stock appreciation units (the "Stock Appreciation Units"). The Stock Units are
intended to be functionally similar to restricted stock and the Stock
Appreciation Units are intended to be functionally similar to stock options,
except that, unlike restricted stock and stock options, the Stock Units and the
Stock Appreciation Units will be settled only in cash and on fixed redemption
dates, as described below. The Compensation Committee is responsible for
administering the redemptions of Stock Units and Stock Appreciation Units,
determining the amounts payable thereunder and making awards on the applicable
redemption dates.
Of the total number of Stock Units awarded to each such executive officer,
40,000 became eligible for redemption at the end of the 1994 fiscal year, 20,000
became eligible for redemption on the last day of the first quarter of the 1995
fiscal year and 20,000 of the remaining Stock Units become eligible for
redemption on the last day of each remaining quarter of the 1995 fiscal year. Of
the total number of Stock Appreciation Units awarded to each such executive
officer, 90,000 became eligible for redemption at the end of the 1994 fiscal
8
<PAGE> 11
year, 45,000 became eligible for redemption on the last day of the first quarter
of the 1995 fiscal year and 45,000 of the remaining Stock Appreciation Units
become eligible for redemption on the last day of each remaining quarter of the
1995 fiscal year. (August 31, 1994 and the last day of each quarter of the 1995
fiscal year are hereinafter referred to as a "Redemption Date").
On each Redemption Date, the Stock Units that have become eligible for
redemption will be automatically redeemed, in cash, under the following
conditions. If, on a Redemption Date, the average of the daily closing prices of
the Common Stock during the ten (10) business days ending on a Redemption Date
(the "Average Price") is equal to or greater than the Minimum Redemption Price
applicable to such Redemption Date, then Stock Units that became eligible for
redemption on such Redemption Date will be redeemed for a cash amount equal to
the Average Price for such Redemption Date. The "Minimum Redemption Price" for
each successive Redemption Date will be $38.875 per share, the closing price of
King World Common Stock on the NYSE on December 21, 1993, the date the
employment agreements of Michael King and Roger King were entered into (the
"Contract Date"), increased for each successive Redemption Date by an
appreciation factor calculated at the rate of 5% per annum over the closing
price of the Common Stock on the Contract Date. If, on any Redemption Date, the
applicable Average Price is less than the applicable Minimum Redemption Price,
then Stock Units that became eligible for redemption on such Redemption Date (or
were not previously redeemed and were carried forward from a prior Redemption
Date) will be carried forward to the next Redemption Date, will again be
eligible for redemption and will be redeemed on the next succeeding Redemption
Date on which the Average Price equals or exceeds the Minimum Redemption Price
on the Redemption Date on which such Stock Units first became eligible for
redemption. If, and to the extent that any Stock Units have not been redeemed on
or before the August 31, 1995 Redemption Date, they will expire.
On each Redemption Date, the Stock Appreciation Units that have become
eligible for redemption will be automatically redeemed, in cash, under the
following conditions. If, on a Redemption Date, the Average Price (determined in
the same manner as described above) is greater than $38.875 per share, the
closing price of King World Common Stock on the NYSE on the Contract Date (the
"Appreciation Unit Base Price"), then each Stock Appreciation Unit that became
eligible for redemption on such Redemption Date will be redeemed for a cash
amount equal to the excess of such Average Price over the Appreciation Unit Base
Price. If, on any Redemption Date, the applicable Average Price is not greater
than the Appreciation Unit Base Price, then all Stock Appreciation Units that
became eligible for redemption on such Redemption Date (or were not previously
redeemed and were carried forward from a prior Redemption Date) will be carried
forward to the next Redemption Date, will again be eligible for redemption and
will be redeemed on the next succeeding Redemption Date on which the Average
Price exceeds the Appreciation Unit Base Price. If and to the extent that any
Stock Appreciation Units have not been redeemed on or before the August 31, 1995
Redemption Date, they will expire.
Through the first quarter of fiscal 1995, none of the Stock Units or Stock
Appreciation Units had been redeemed because the Minimum Redemption Prices
associated with the Stock Units and the Appreciation Unit Base Price associated
with the Stock Appreciation Units had not been reached during applicable
measurement periods.
Stephen W. Palley
Mr. Palley serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
under an employment agreement entered into on December 21, 1993. Such employment
agreement has a term of three years commencing as of September 1, 1993 and
provides for a base salary of $500,000 per year. Mr. Palley also is entitled to
receive an annual cash bonus of 0.4% of the Company's net income after taxes but
before extraordinary items, and a supplemental cash bonus of an additional 0.4%
of the Company's net income after taxes but before extraordinary items (not to
exceed $1.33 million over the three-year term of his employment agreement),
subject to the satisfaction of the S&P Performance Condition. Mr. Palley's
supplemental bonus will be fully payable for any year during the term of his
employment agreement only if the average of the closing prices of the Common
Stock for such year (the "Average Yearly Price") is greater than or equal to
$38.875, the closing price of the Common Stock on December 21, 1993, the date of
Mr. Palley's employment
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<PAGE> 12
agreement (the "Contract Date Price"). To the extent that the Average Yearly
Price is less than the Contract Date Price in any such year, the supplemental
bonus payable to Mr. Palley will be reduced by multiplying the full amount of
the supplemental bonus otherwise payable by a fraction, the numerator of which
is the excess, if any, of the Average Yearly Price over Mr. Palley's "Base
Price" ($30) and the denominator of which is the excess of the Contract Date
Price over Mr. Palley's Base Price. No supplemental bonus will be payable if the
Average Yearly Price is less than the Base Price.
In addition, pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Palley
was granted a non-qualified stock option under the Company's Amended and
Restated Stock Option and Restricted Stock Purchase Plan to purchase 250,000
shares of Common Stock, at an exercise price equal to $38.875, the closing price
of the Common Stock on December 21, 1993, the date of grant. 20% of such options
vested on August 31, 1994, 20% of such options will vest on the last day of each
of the Company's 1995 and 1996 fiscal years, and the remainder will vest on the
last day of the Company's 1998 fiscal year. The term of such option is ten
years.
In the event that Mr. Palley's full-time employment with the Company is
terminated by the Company prior to the end of the Employment Period without
cause and other than on account of his death, disability or incapacity, he will
be entitled to exercise the option with respect to all shares of Common Stock
subject thereto (whether or not vested as of the date of such termination)
during the one-year period commencing on the date his employment is so
terminated, to the extent that the option had not previously been exercised. In
the event that Mr. Palley's full-time employment with the Company terminates on
account of his death, disability or incapacity, he (or his heirs, administrators
or legal representatives) will be entitled to exercise the option during the
one-year period commencing as of the date his employment so terminated with
respect to all the shares that had vested thereunder as of the date of such
termination and had not been exercised, and with respect to 50% of the unvested
shares of Common Stock subject to the option. In the event that Mr. Palley's
full-time employment with the Company terminates for any other reason, the
unexercised portion of the option held by him on the date his full-time
employment ceased may be exercised only within one year after such date, and
only to the extent that his right to exercise such portion of the option had
vested on the date his full-time employment ceased.
Steven R. Hirsch
Mr. Hirsch serves as the President of Camelot Entertainment Sales, Inc.,
the wholly-owned barter advertising subsidiary of the Company, under an
employment agreement having a term of three years commencing as of September 1,
1993 and providing for a base salary of $450,000 per year in the first two years
and $475,000 for the final year. In each of the Company's fiscal years under the
agreement, Mr. Hirsch is also entitled to an annual cash bonus equal to 1% of
Camelot's net revenues, and a supplemental cash bonus (not to exceed $150,000
per year or $375,000 over the three-year term of his employment agreement),
subject to the satisfaction of the S&P Performance Condition. Mr. Hirsch's
supplemental cash bonus will be fully payable for any year during the term of
his employment agreement only if the Average Yearly Price is greater than or
equal to the Contract Date Price. To the extent that the Average Yearly Price is
less than the Contract Date Price in any such year, the supplemental cash bonus
payable to Mr. Hirsch will be reduced by multiplying the full amount of the
supplemental cash bonus otherwise payable by a fraction, the numerator of which
is the excess, if any, of the Average Yearly Price over Mr. Hirsch's "Base
Price" ($32.625) and the denominator of which is the excess of the Contract Date
Price over Mr. Hirsch's Base Price. No supplemental bonus will be payable if the
Average Yearly Price is less than the Base Price.
In addition, pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Hirsch
has been granted a non-qualified stock option to purchase 100,000 shares of
Common Stock, pursuant to the Company's Amended and Restated Stock Option and
Restricted Stock Purchase Plan at an exercise price equal to $38.875, the
closing price of the Common Stock on December 21, 1993, the date of grant. 20%
of such options vested on August 31, 1994, 20% of such options will vest on the
last day of each of the Company's 1995 and 1996 fiscal years, and the remainder
will vest on the last day of the Company's 1998 fiscal year. The term of such
option is ten years. If Mr. Hirsch ceases to be a full-time employee of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, he will have the right to
exercise the unexercised portion of the option only within the one-month period
following the date on which he ceased to be a full-time employee, and then only
to the extent such
10
<PAGE> 13
unexercised portion was vested on the date his employment ceases, except that if
his employment ceased by reason of his death or disability (within the meaning
of sec.22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code")), such one month
period will instead be the one year period following the cessation of his
full-time employment.
Anthony E. Hull
Mr. Hull serves as Chief Financial Officer of the Company under an
employment agreement that commenced on June 13, 1994, and has a term of two
years, which at the Company's option may be extended for an additional two-year
period. The employment agreement provides for a salary of $300,000 for the first
year, $310,000 for the second year and, subject to the Company's exercise of its
option to extend the employment period, $325,000 for the third year and $350,000
for the fourth year. In addition Mr. Hull is entitled to a discretionary bonus
as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Hull
was granted a non-qualified stock option to purchase 100,000 shares of Common
Stock, pursuant to the Company's Amended and Restated Stock Option and
Restricted Stock Purchase Plan, at an exercise price equal to $40.75 per share,
the closing price of the Common Stock on the NYSE on the date of Mr. Hull's
commencement of employment with the Company. 20% of such options will vest on
June 12, 1995, 20% will vest on June 12, 1996, 20% will vest on June 12, 1997
and 40% will vest on June 12, 1999. If Mr. Hull ceases to be a full-time
employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, he will have
the right to exercise the unexercised portion of the option only within the
one-month period following the date on which he ceased to be a full-time
employee, and then only to the extent such unexercised portion was vested on the
date his employment ceased, except that if his employment ceased by reason of
his death or disability, then such one-month period will instead be the one-year
period following the cessation of his full-time employment. In addition, if the
Company does not exercise its option to extend Mr. Hull's employment period for
an additional two years, Mr. Hull is entitled to receive a payment equal to
10,000 times the amount, if any, by which the closing price of the Common Stock
on the NYSE on the date fixed for notice of the Company's option election
pursuant to the employment agreement exceeds the exercise price of the option
granted to Mr. Hull.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, whose members are
Messrs. Chaseman, Konecky and Rupp, was constituted in July 1993. The
Compensation Committee recommends compensation arrangements for the Company's
executive officers. Since January 1994, the members of the Compensation
Committee also have been responsible for determining the timing, amount,
exercise price and other terms of options granted under the Company's Amended
and Restated Stock Option and Restricted Stock Purchase Plan.
Ronald S. Konecky, a director of the Company, is of counsel to the law firm
of Frankfurt, Garbus, Klein & Selz, which has been retained by the Company in
connection with certain legal matters.
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Compensation Committee was constituted in July 1993 to review and
approve compensation packages for the Company's senior management. The Committee
also administers the Company's Amended and Restated Stock Option and Restricted
Stock Purchase Plan. In connection with its review of the Company's compensation
arrangements for the Chairman of the Board and President and Chief Executive
Officer in the 1994 fiscal year and the establishment of new compensation
arrangements with such executives, the Compensation Committee was advised by an
independent compensation consultant.
The Company's executive compensation program is structured to help the
Company achieve its business objectives by:
- setting levels of compensation designed to attract and retain superior
executives in a highly competitive environment;
11
<PAGE> 14
- providing incentive compensation that varies directly with both Company
financial performance and individual contributions to that performance;
and
- linking compensation to elements that affect short- and long-term stock
price performance.
The Company uses a combination of salary and incentive compensation, including
cash bonuses and equity-based incentives (stock options and, commencing in
fiscal 1994, "phantom" stock and "phantom" stock appreciation units), to achieve
its compensation goals.
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS GENERALLY
SALARY
The salary levels of the Company's executive officers are intended to
reflect the duties and level of responsibility inherent in the position in
question. Comparisons of the salaries paid by other companies in the television
syndication industry and related industries to executives holding comparable
positions are considered in establishing the salary level for each position. The
particular qualifications of the individual holding the position, his or her
relevant experience and the importance to the Company of his or her expected
contribution are also considered in establishing salaries.
PERFORMANCE AND INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
CASH BONUSES. Arrangements for bonus compensation for the Company's
executive officers are also negotiated individually with each executive officer
and are generally fixed by contract. Bonus compensation arrangements take
various forms, but generally are based on factors such as the Company's
financial performance, as measured by net income in the fiscal year, other
measures of operating performance, including the development and acquisition of
new television programming, and individual performance.
Certain of the Company's executive officers have a direct participation in
the Company's net income or the profits of a particular part of the Company's
business, depending on the executive's particular responsibilities. (The Company
has similar profit sharing arrangements with independent producers of the
Company's programming.) The Company has favored such arrangements because it
believes that they encourage executives to work harder and afford executives a
direct pecuniary interest in the portion of the Company's business for which
they are responsible. The Committee believes that such arrangements are commonly
employed in the television syndication and related entertainment industries to
encourage performance of talent and executive personnel; indeed, such
arrangements have been a feature of the Company's compensation arrangements with
its senior executives for the past six years.
The payment of cash bonuses is generally subject to performance conditions,
such as the condition that the Company's return on equity exceed the return on
equity of the companies comprising the S&P 500 Index and that the Company's
average stock price for the year exceed certain levels. These limitations are
designed to further align the interests of the Company's executive officers with
those of its stockholders, by ensuring that bonuses may be paid only if the
return on stockholders' equity exceeds a recognized market standard or if
stockholder value is otherwise preserved or increased. Because the return on
equity condition was satisfied for fiscal 1994, cash bonuses subject only to
this condition were paid in full. However, because the average stock price
condition was not satisfied, Mr. Palley's supplemental bonus (which is subject
to reduction to the extent that the Company's average closing stock price for
the year is less than the closing stock price on the date of his employment
agreement) was reduced.
Cash bonuses may also be discretionary, within the purview of the
Compensation Committee upon the recommendation of management.
The Company adopted a change in accounting with respect to revenue
recognition in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1994, which caused a one-time
reduction in net income for the fiscal year. The Compensation Committee
determined that it would be more equitable to adjust net income-based bonuses to
eliminate the effect of this accounting change. Therefore, each of Roger and
Michael King and Stephen W. Palley received a corrective bonus relating to his
cash bonus, and Mr. Palley received a corrective bonus relating to his
supplemental bonus.
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<PAGE> 15
EQUITY-RELATED INCENTIVES. The Company's primary method of compensating
senior executives has been through the grant of stock options granted at the
commencement of their employment agreements. To date, interim grants have not
been made. Stock options granted to executive officers are generally long-term
(10 years) and vest over a five-year period in most cases. The Company has
favored stock options as a way of aligning management's interests with the
long-term interests of the Company's shareholders and inducing executives to
remain with the Company on a long-term basis. Individual option grants have been
based on the performance and level of responsibility of the optionee.
Commencing with the Company's tax year beginning on September 1, 1994,
sec.162(m) of the Code will generally limit to $1 million the Company's federal
income tax deduction for compensation paid in any year to its Chief Executive
Officer and each of its four highest paid executive officers, to the extent that
such compensation is not "performance based compensation", within the meaning of
sec.162(m). Accordingly, in structuring the Company's compensation arrangements
with its highest paid executive officers, the Committee attempted to provide
incentive formulas that qualify as "performance based compensation" in order to
decrease the after-tax cost of such arrangements to the Company. However, there
can be no assurance that the various incentive and performance related elements
of the Company's compensation arrangements with its five highest paid executive
officers will in fact qualify as "performance based compensation" under
sec.162(m) of the Code or that the tax deductibility of compensation paid
pursuant thereto will not in fact be limited by the $1 million statutory cap on
deductible executive compensation.
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
In fiscal 1994, the Company entered into new employment agreements with the
Company's Chairman of the Board, Roger King, and its President and Chief
Executive Officer, Michael King, which establish the compensation arrangements
for the two year period ending August 31, 1995. The agreements provide for the
payment of higher levels of compensation than previous arrangements. In
negotiating and approving the terms of the new agreements, the Committee
considered proposals submitted by the executives, and its approval of the
overall compensation packages was primarily influenced by the success of the
Company's distribution and production operations over the past several years and
the unique contribution of these two executives to the Company's long- and
short-term profitability, including the Company's ability to obtain new
distribution properties, to develop and produce new programming and to
successfully distribute new and existing programming. During the course of its
negotiations with the executives, the Committee considered the previous levels
of compensation paid to the Chairman of the Board and President and Chief
Executive Officer as well as compensatory benefits paid to the chief executive
officers and chairmen of other companies in the television syndication and
related entertainment industries whose profitability was similar to that of the
Company. The Committee also engaged an independent compensation consultant.
The employment agreements provide for each of Roger and Michael King to
receive a base salary in the Company's 1994 fiscal year of $1 million, with an
increase of $50,000 in the 1995 fiscal year. The base salary for fiscal 1994
represents an increase of $50,000 over base salary in fiscal 1993.
Each of the employment agreements between the Company and its Chairman of
the Board and President and Chief Executive Officer provides for several forms
of performance-based bonus compensation. Under the agreements, Roger King, the
head of the Company's sales department, and Michael King, who is in charge of
the Company's overall programming acquisition, development and production
activities, are each entitled to a cash bonus of 1.5% of the Company's net
income after taxes but before extraordinary items. These bonuses may be earned
with respect to any year only if the Company's annual return on equity exceeds
the average annual return on equity of the companies comprising the S&P 500
Index.
The employment agreements of each of Michael King and Roger King include a
"New Show Bonus" of $750,000, $500,000 and $250,000 for each of the first,
second and third new first-run "strip" (i.e., Monday-Friday) syndicated series
first broadcast in any of the 1993-1994, 1994-1995 or 1995-1996 television
seasons and cleared in any such season in domestic television markets covering
at least 70% of the domestic television viewing households. In addition, a New
Show Bonus of $250,000 is payable to each of the two executive officers upon the
receipt of orders for at least thirteen weeks of a series developed by the
Company from an
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<PAGE> 16
over-the-air television network for broadcast in any of such television seasons.
The maximum New Show Bonus that may be earned in any fiscal year by each such
executive officer will be $1.5 million.
The Committee believes that the performance standards of the New Show Bonus
are an appropriate basis for compensating Michael King and Roger King, the
individuals who are primarily responsible for the development and acquisition of
new television series for the Company and licenses of syndicated series to
television stations in the United States. The Company is primarily engaged in
the first-run syndication of television programming; its future financial
success in this area will depend on the number and quality of new series it can
produce or acquire and successfully introduce into syndication. The standard of
70% audience coverage is widely recognized in the television industry as the
requisite level that must be achieved if a new strip series is to be
successfully launched. The terms of the New Show Bonus also provide for a
somewhat smaller bonus ($250,000) for new series sold to over-the-air television
networks, reflecting the fact that network distribution of series developed by
the Company is likely to be less profitable to the Company than syndicated
series. Since Michael King and Roger King are primarily responsible for the
development and licensing of new television series for the Company, the
Committee believes that the number of new first-run, syndicated series
successfully launched and series licensed to networks are appropriate indicators
of their performance and appropriate bases for bonus compensation.
In fiscal 1994, the Company awarded each of Michael and Roger King a New
Show Bonus of $750,000 upon the introduction and clearance in 70% of domestic
television viewing households of Rolonda, a morning talk show hosted by Rolonda
Watts which premiered in January 1994.
The compensation arrangements with the Company's Chairman of the Board and
President and Chief Executive Officer also provide for the issuance to each of
them of (i) 120,000 Stock Units, 40,000 of which became eligible for redemption
at the end of the 1994 fiscal year, 20,000 of which became eligible for
redemption on the last day of the first quarter of the 1995 fiscal year and
20,000 of the remaining Stock Units become eligible for redemption on the last
day of each remaining quarter of the 1995 fiscal year, subject to the
achievement of certain specified target prices for the Common Stock, and (ii)
270,000 Stock Appreciation Units, 90,000 of which became eligible for redemption
at the end of the 1994 fiscal year, 45,000 of which became eligible for
redemption on the last day of the first quarter of the 1995 fiscal year and
45,000 of the remaining Stock Appreciation Units become eligible for redemption
on the last day of each remaining quarter of the 1995 fiscal year, conditioned
upon the average price of the Common Stock during specified measurement periods
exceeding the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the Stock
Appreciation Units were granted. All such Stock Units and Stock Appreciation
Units may be redeemed only in cash.
The Stock Units and Stock Appreciation Units were granted to the executives
in fiscal 1994 to provide the executives with additional incentives having
certain equity features (similar to restricted stock and stock options) but
which will be measured on a short-term basis, settled only in cash and on fixed
redemption dates. This element of the compensation packages of Michael King and
Roger King will permit the executives to earn significant amounts of cash
compensation (but only if the value of the Common Stock increases over current
levels), without diluting stockholders' equity in the Company. The Company
granted Stock Units and Stock Appreciation Units, rather than restricted stock
and stock options, because the grant of equity incentives in fiscal 1994 would
have resulted in adverse income tax consequences to the executives.
Through the first quarter of fiscal 1995, none of the Stock Units or Stock
Appreciation Units has been redeemed because the Minimum Redemption Prices
associated with the Stock Units and the Appreciation Unit Base Price associated
with the Stock Appreciation Units had not been reached during the applicable
measurement periods. Payouts under these arrangements may be made in the future
if the applicable target prices are met during the remainder of fiscal 1995.
Joel Chaseman
Ronald S. Konecky
James M. Rupp
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<PAGE> 17
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPHS
The following graphs compare the cumulative total stockholder returns, over
the periods presented, on the Company's Common Stock, the Standard & Poor's
Composite Index of 500 Stocks and the capital stocks of a representative group
of companies1 whose operations include television programming. The fiscal
year-end values of each investment are based on share price appreciation plus
reinvested dividends, and assume an initial investment of $100.
As indicated in the charts, the market price of the Company's Common Stock
(adjusted for stock splits and dividends) has increased from $1.11 in December
1984, the time of the Company's initial public offering of Common Stock, to
$21.83 on August 31, 1989 and $37.75 on August 31, 1994. This represents stock
price appreciation of 3,300% since the initial public offering and 73% over the
Company's last five fiscal years.
FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURNS
[Graph]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MEASUREMENT PERIOD
(FISCAL YEAR COVERED) KING WORLD S & P 500 PEER GROUP
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1989 100.00 100.00 100.00
1990 91.60 95.01 61.97
1991 128.25 120.58 76.76
1992 112.79 130.13 85.68
1993 170.04 149.93 135.16
1994 172.90 156.99 116.68
</TABLE>
- ---------------
1The group of companies includes the following: All American
Communications, dick clark productions, Samuel Goldwyn Company, Kushner-Locke,
Multimedia, Spelling Entertainment, Time-Warner, Inc., Tribune Co. and Viacom,
Inc.
15
<PAGE> 18
CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURNS SINCE THE COMPANY'S INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
[ Graph ]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MEASUREMENT PERIOD
(FISCAL YEAR COVERED) KING WORLD S & P 500 PEER GROUP
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1984 100.00 100.00 100.00
1985 425.41 119.08 146.17
1986 935.94 165.66 194.20
1987 1914.38 222.84 247.35
1988 1291.25 183.20 219.48
1989 1966.96 255.09 350.73
1990 1801.74 242.36 217.34
1991 2522.43 307.58 269.25
1992 2218.48 331.94 300.51
1993 3344.58 382.43 474.08
1994 3400.77 400.44 409.27
</TABLE>
The above report of the Compensation Committee and the Stock Performance
Graph will not be deemed to be soliciting material or to be filed with or
incorporated by reference into any filing by the Company under the Securities
Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), except
to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates such report or graph by
reference.
2. APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
The Board of Directors has appointed the firm of Arthur Andersen LLP,
independent public accountants, as the auditors of the Company for the fiscal
year ending August 31, 1995, subject to the approval of such appointment by
stockholders at the Annual Meeting. Arthur Andersen LLP has audited the
Company's financial statements since the Company's 1982 fiscal year.
The ratification of the appointment of the firm of Arthur Andersen LLP will
be determined by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in
person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting. Proxies marked as
abstaining will be counted in the tabulation of the vote cast and, thus, will
have the effect of a vote against the proposal. Under NYSE rules, brokers that
do not receive instructions from their customers may nevertheless vote on this
matter. Broker non-votes are counted only for purposes of determining the
presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of business.
If the foregoing appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP is not ratified by
stockholders, the Board of Directors will appoint other independent accountants
whose appointment for any period subsequent to the 1996 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders will be subject to the approval of stockholders at that meeting. A
representative of Arthur Andersen LLP is expected to be present at the Annual
Meeting and will have an
16
<PAGE> 19
opportunity to make a statement should he so desire and to respond to
appropriate questions. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE
TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FIRM OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP.
GENERAL
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors does not know of any matters that are to be
presented at the Annual Meeting other than those stated in the Notice of Annual
Meeting and referred to in this Proxy Statement. If any other matters should
properly come before the Meeting, it is intended that the proxies in the
accompanying form will be voted as the persons named therein may determine in
their discretion.
The Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended
August 31, 1994 is being mailed to stockholders concurrently with this Proxy
Statement.
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
The cost of solicitation of proxies in the accompanying form will be borne
by the Company, including expenses in connection with preparing and mailing this
Proxy Statement. In addition to solicitation of proxies by mail, directors,
officers and employees of the Company (who will receive no additional
compensation therefor) may solicit the return of proxies by telephone, telegram
or personal interview. Arrangements have also been made with brokerage houses
and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for the forwarding of
solicitation material to the beneficial owners of stock held of record by such
persons, and the Company will reimburse them for reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by them in connection therewith.
Each holder of the Company's Common Stock who does not expect to be present
at the Annual Meeting or who plans to attend but who does not wish to vote in
person is urged to fill in, date and sign the proxy and return it promptly in
the enclosed return envelope.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
If any stockholder of the Company intends to present a proposal for
consideration at the 1996 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and desires to have
such proposal included in the proxy statement and form of proxy distributed by
the Board of Directors with respect to such meeting, such proposal must be
received at the Company's principal executive offices, 1700 Broadway, New York,
New York 10019, Attention: Assistant Secretary, not later than August 31, 1995.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDED AUGUST 31, 1994, FILED BY THE COMPANY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION, WITHOUT EXHIBITS, WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE TO ANY PERSON
REQUESTING A COPY THEREOF IN WRITING AND STATING THAT SUCH PERSON IS A
BENEFICIAL HOLDER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY ON THE RECORD DATE
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS. REQUESTS AND INQUIRIES SHOULD BE
ADDRESSED TO KING WORLD PRODUCTIONS, INC., C/O KING WORLD CORPORATION, 830
MORRIS TURNPIKE, SHORT HILLS, NEW JERSEY 07078, ATTENTION: STEVEN A. LOCASCIO,
VICE PRESIDENT AND CONTROLLER.
By Order of the Board of Directors
DIANA KING
Corporate Secretary
17
<PAGE> 20
KING WORLD PRODUCTIONS, INC.
PROXY
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Friday, February 17, 1995
The undersigned stockholder of KING WORLD PRODUCTIONS, INC., a Delaware
corporation, hereby appoints Roger King, Michael King, Diana King and Stephen
W. Palley, or any of them, voting singly in the absence of the others,
attorneys and proxies, with full power of substitution and revocation, to vote,
as designated on the reverse side, all shares of Common Stock of King World
Productions, Inc., which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of said Corporation to be held at The Breakers Hotel,
One South County Road, Palm Beach, Florida 33480 on February 17, 1995, at
10:00 a.m. (local time), or any adjournment thereof, in accordance with the
instructions on the reverse side.
THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS, NOMINEES:
RONALD S. KONECKY
JAMES M. RUPP
The proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by
the undersigned stockholder. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED
"FOR" ALL NOMINEES IN PROPOSAL NO. 1. AND "FOR" PROPOSAL NO. 2. The proxies
are authorized to vote as they may determine in their discretion upon such
other business as may properly come before the meeting.
PLESE MARK, DATE AND SIGN ON THE REVERSE SIDE
AND RETURN PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
CONTINUED ON
REVERSE SIDE
/ X / PLEASE MARK YOUR
VOTE AS IN THIS
EXAMPLE
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" ALL NOMINEES IN PROPOSAL NO. 1
AND "FOR" PROPOSAL NO. 2.
WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY
FOR ALL TO VOTE FOR
NOMINEES ALL NOMINEES
1. Election of the following Nominees
as Directors: Ronald S. Konecky
James M. Rupp / / / /
For, except vote withheld from the
following nominee:
-----------------------------------
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. The appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP / / / / / /
as auditors for the fiscal year ending
August 31, 1995.
3. The proxies are authorized to vote as they may determine in their
discretion upon such other business as may properly come before the
meeting.
Please sign exactly as name appears hereon.
When shares are held in name of joint holders, each should sign. When signing
as attorney, executor, trustee, guardian, etc., please so indicate. If a
corporation, please sign in full corporate name by an authorized officer.
If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by an authorized person.
___________________________________
___________________________________
SIGNATURE(S) DATE
