ART'S-WAY MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
ARMSTRONG, IOWA 50514-0288
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held On April 25, 2000
To: The Shareholders of
ART'S-WAY MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
Art's-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
will be held at One Pacific Place, Suite 800, 1125 South 103 Street, Omaha,
Nebraska 68124 on Tuesday, April 25, 2000, at 10:00 A.M. Central Daylight
Savings Time, for the following purposes:
(1) To elect six (6) directors to serve until the next Annual
Meeting of Shareholders or until such time as their successors
are elected and qualified;
(2) To consider and vote upon a proposal to ratify the appointment
of KPMG LLP as independent public accountants of
the Company for the year ending November 30, 2000; and
(3) To transact such other business as may properly come before
the meeting.
NOTE: The Board of Directors is not aware of any other business to
come before the Meeting.
Any action may be taken on any one of the foregoing proposals at the
Meeting on the date specified above, or on any date or dates to which
the Meeting may be adjourned. The Board of Directors of the Company
has fixed the close of business on March 3, 2000 as the record date
for determining the shareholders of the Company entitled to notice
of and to vote at the Meeting and any adjournments thereof, and only
shareholders of record at such time will be entitled to such notice
and to vote. The stock transfer books of the Company will not be closed.
You are requested to fill in and sign the enclosed form of proxy which
is solicited by the Board of Directors and to mail it promptly in the
enclosed envelope. The proxy will not be used if you attend and vote
at the Meeting in person.
By Order of the Board of Directors
William T Green,
Secretary
Armstrong, Iowa
March 10, 2000
IMPORTANT: THE PROMPT RETURN OF PROXIES WILL SAVE YOUR CORPORATION THE
EXPENSE OF FURTHER REQUESTS FOR PROXIES IN ORDER TO INSURE A QUORUM.
AN ADDRESSED ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. NO POSTAGE IS
REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
ART'S-WAY MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
ARMSTRONG, IOWA 50514-0288
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation
of proxies by the Board of Directors of Art's-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc.,
a Delaware Corporation (the "Company"), for use at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders (the "Meeting") to be held at One Pacific Place, Suite 800,
1125 South 103 Street, Omaha, Nebraska, 68124, on Tuesday, April 25, 2000
at 10:00 A. M. Central Daylight Savings Time and at any and all adjournments
thereof. Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 3, 2000
are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting.
PROXIES
Proxies are being solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company.
Proxies so given may be revoked at any time prior to the Annual Meeting.
No special form of revocation is required and it need not be in writing.
Proxies will be solicited by mail and the expense of the solicitation of
such proxies will be borne by the Company. In addition to the solicitation
by use of the mails, directors, officers and/or executive and administrative
employees of the Company may solicit the return of proxies by mail, telephone
or in person, without extra compensation. The Company has retained the
American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, New York, New York, to assist
in solicitation of proxies at a cost of approximately $1,800. The
approximate date on which notice of the meeting, this Proxy Statement
and form of proxy are first being sent to shareholders is March 10, 2000.
VOTING SECURITIES
As of the close of business on March 3, 2000, the record date for the
Annual Meeting, the outstanding voting securities consisted of 1,256,351
shares of Common Stock, each of which is entitled to one vote.
VOTING SECURITIES AND OWNERSHIP BY CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The following table sets forth the names of the persons known to
the Company who beneficially own more than 5% of the issued and outstanding
shares of Common Stock of the Company as of March 3, 2000, the record date
for the meeting:
Type of Number of Percent of
Name and Address Ownership Shares Outstanding
Arthur Luscombe Of record and 123,825 9.86%
RR Benefically
Dolliver, Iowa 50531
Franklin Resources, Inc. Beneficially 120,500 9.59%
777 Mariners Island Blvd.
San Mateo, California 94404
J. Ward McConnell, Jr. Beneficially 138,950 (1) 11.06%
P.O. Box 6246
Kinston, North Carolina 28501
James L. Koley Of record and
1125 South 103 Street beneficially 86,000 (2) 6.85%
Omaha, Nebraska 68124
(1) Includes 3,750 shares which Mr. McConnell, Jr. is entitled to purchase
under the Director Stock Option Plan(1991).
(2) Includes 5,000 shares which Mr. Koley is entitled to purchase under
the Director Stock Option Plan(1991).
VOTING SECURITIES OWNED BY
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
The following table shows certain information with respect to the Company's
common stock beneficially owned by directors and executive officers as of
March 3, 2000. The shares shown as beneficially owned include shares which
executive officers and directors are entitled to acquire pursuant to out-
standing stock options exercisable within sixty days of March 3, 2000.
Name Type of Beneficial Ownership Number of Percent of
Shares Class
James L. Koley of record and Beneficially 86,000 (3) 6.85%
George A. Cavanaugh, Jr. of record and Beneficially 5,500 (3) *
Donald A. Cimpl of record and Beneficially 42,500 (3) 3.38%
Herbert H. Davis, Jr.(1) of record and Beneficially 48,200 (3) 3.84%
Douglas McClellan of record and Beneficially 20,500 (3) 1.63%
J. Ward McConnell, Jr. of record and Beneficially 138,950 (4) 11.06%
J. David Pitt(2) of record and Beneficially 7,487 (5) .60%
William T. Green of record and Beneficially 19,500 (6) 1.55%
Directors and Executive
Officers as a Group
(8 persons) of record and Beneficially 368,637 29.34%
* Less than 1%
(1) Mr. Davis is not running for reelection at the April 25, 2000 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders.
(2) Mr. Pitt resigned as President and Member of the Board of Directors on
November 20, 1999.
(3) Includes 5,000 shares which can be purchased by each individual
pursuant to stock options.
(4) Includes 3,750 shares which can be purchased pursuant to stock options.
(5) Includes 5,987 shares which is the allocable portion of the shares
in the Company's 401(k) Plan.
(6) Includes 18,000 shares which can be purchased pursuant to stock options.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ELECTION
Nominees to the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of the Company is presently composed of six (6)
directors. At this Annual Meeting of Shareholders six (6) directors are
to be elected to hold office until the 2001 annual meeting of Shareholders
or until the successor of each shall be elected and qualified. All of the
nominees named herein are presently serving as members of the Board of
Directors, except for Mr. Castle who has been nominated by the Board of
Directors. Management has no reason to believe that any of those named
below will be unable or unwilling to serve. If for any reason any nominee
named is unable to serve, the shares represented by all valid proxies
will be voted for the election of a substitute nominee recommended by
the Board of Directors or the Board of Directors may reduce the size
of the Board.
Nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes cast, up
to the number of directors to be elected, will be elected as directors.
The proxy holders will vote the proxies for the below six nominees.
The name of each nominee, his age, the year in which he was first
elected a director, his principal occupation or occupations for the
past five years and positions (other than director) with the Company
are as follows:
JAMES L. KOLEY, age 69, Omaha, Nebraska. Chairman of the Board of Directors
since 1987 and Member of the Executive Committee and Compensation and
Stock Option Committee. Chairman of the Board of the law firm of Koley,
Jessen, Daubman & Rupiper, P.C., Omaha, Nebraska since February 1988.
Director of Dover Corporation, New York, New York. Mr. Koley has been
a director since 1976.
DAVID R. CASTLE, age 50, Fairmont, Minnesota. President of Weigh-Tronix,
Inc., Fairmont, Minnesota since May 1998, where he had served as
Vice President and General Manager of their Santa Rosa facility
since July 1990.
GEORGE A. CAVANAUGH, JR., age 79, Ocala, Florida. Retired since 1981;
formerly President of Cavanaugh & Associates, Inc., Manufacturers
Representative, Southfield, Michigan. Chairman of the Compensation
and Stock Option Committee. Mr. Cavanaugh has been a director since 1972.
DONALD A. CIMPL, age 67, Omaha, Nebraska. Business consultant since 1989.
For more than five years prior to that time, partner with Coopers and
Lybrand. Chairman of the Audit Committee and member of the Executive
Committee. Mr. Cimpl has been a director since 1990.
DOUGLAS McCLELLAN, age 49, Clarence, New York. President of Filtration
Unlimited, Akron, New York, where he has held various positions for more
than five years. Member of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee
and Audit Committee. Mr. McClellan has been a director since 1987.
J. WARD McCONNELL, Jr., age 68, Kinston, North Carolina. Private investor
for more than five years. Member of the Audit Committee. Mr. McConnell
was elected a director in 1996.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the six nominees listed above.
Meetings of the Board of Directors and Committees
The principal functions of the Executive Committee are to advise and
consult with the Board of Directors on matters considered appropriate by the
Executive Committee and, subject to specified limitations, to consider and
act upon matters for the Board of Directors when the Board may be unable to
consider and act on such matters as a whole. The Executive Committee had no
meetings in the last fiscal year.
The Audit Committee's principal functions are to evaluate and review
financial procedures, controls and reporting. The Audit Committee recommends
selection of the independent public accountants. The Audit Committee had
two meetings in the last fiscal year.
The Compensation and Stock Option Committee has the responsibility to
review and advise management on broad compensation policies such as salary
ranges and incentive programs. The Committee also administers the Incentive
Stock Option Plans and grants options pursuant to the Plans. Furthermore the
Committee has the responsibility to approve and recommend to the Board of
Directors base salaries, salary increases and other benefits for elected
officers. The Compensation and Stock Option Committee had one meeting in
the last fiscal year.
The Company has no Nominating Committee.
The Board of Directors held four meetings in the last fiscal year.
Each director, except for Mr. McClellan, attended 100% of the meetings
of the Board and the Board Committees of which he was a member.
Mr. McClellan attended 75% of the meetings of the Board.
Each director, other than the Chairman of the Board, who is not an
employee of the Company or a subsidiary, receives $4,500 per year plus
$900 for attendance at each of the meetings of the Board, as well as
$788 for attendance at each meeting of a standing committee on which
he serves. The Chairman of a standing committee receives $1,035 for
each meeting attended.
The Chairman of the Board receives $36,000 per year and is eligible
for a discretionary bonus.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
The Company's President, J. David Pitt, resigned as President on
November 20, 1999. As of the record date a new President has not
been retained.
William T. Green, age 57, has been acting as interim President since
Mr. Pitt's resignation on November 20, 1999. Mr. Green also serves
the Company as Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration,
Secretary and Treasurer. Mr. Green was appointed Executive
Vice President, Finance and Administration, Secretary & Treasurer on
April 7, 1995. Prior to April 7, 1995 Mr. Green served as Controller
for the Company for more than five years.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation and Stock Option Committee Report on Executive Compensation
The Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board is composed of
three independent, non-employee Directors and has the responsibilities as
described on page 4 of this Proxy Statement. The Committee has furnished
the following report:
The compensation philosophy of the Company is to provide a compensation
package to executives that will, with base salary, incentive compensation
and stock options, maximize long-term shareholder value.
The Company's policy is to pay base salaries that are at, or near,
the average for similar companies. Salary increases are considered annually
and are based on current salary and the individual performance during the
past year. The Committee recommends to the Board salary increases for
the Company's President and for the Executive Vice President Finance
and Administration, Secretary and Treasurer, William T. Green.
The incentive compensation plan for executive officers is a performance
driven bonus plan to promote the objectives of the Company. Profitability
is the underlying factor in the determination of the annual bonus plan.
Each year the Compensation and Stock Option Committee recommends to the
Board the specific bonus plan for executive officers.
Stock options are the third part of the overall compensation package
for executive officers and are awarded to provide long term incentives.
The Compensation and Stock Option Committee recommends all stock option
grants to the Board for approval. The option price for shares of Art's-Way
common stock awarded to executive officers under the Company's Stock Option
Plan is 100% of the fair market value of the shares at date of grant, with
25% exercisable at date of grant and an additional 25% exercisable
after one, two and three years on a cumulative basis.
George A. Cavanaugh, Jr., Chairman
James L. Koley
Douglas McClellan
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth the aggregate cash and cash equivalent forms
of remuneration accrued by the Company and its subsidiaries to, or for, the
benefit of the President. No other executive officer's remuneration exceeded
$100,000.
Long Term
Compensation
Annual Compensation Awards
Name and
Principal
Position Year Salary ($) Bonus ($) All Other Options
Compensation
J. David Pitt, 1999 $155,897 - - -
President (1) 1998 $160,000 - - 10,526
1997* $ 60,000 $65,000 - -
1997 $120,000 - - 20,000
(1) Mr. Pitt resigned as President on November 20, 1999. As of the record
date, a new President has not been retained.
*For the six-month period ended November 30, 1997
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
There were no stock options granted during the last year to the (i)
President and (ii) the four most highly compensated executive officers,
other than the CEO, whose remuneration exceeded $100,000.
Option Exercises and Fiscal Year-End Values
There were no stock options exercised during the last year by the (i)
President and (ii) the four most highly compensated executive officers,
other than the CEO, whose remuneration exceeded $100,000. The previously
named Chief Executive Officer resigned on November 20, 1999 and all
outstanding stock options were cancelled as of that date.
The Company has a 401(k) Savings Plan (the "Plan") which covers sub-
stantially all full-time employees. Participating employees contribute to
the Plan through salary reductions. The Company contributes a discretionary
percentage of the Plan Participant's salary deferrals. The assets of the Plan
are managed by the Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, Iowa. Vesting of
participants is 20% per year after one year of employment until 100% vested
after 6 years. The Company's contributions to the Plan were $32,000 and
$170,000 for the years ended November 30, 1999 and 1998, respectively,
$54,000 for the six months ended November 30, 1997, and $0 for the
year ended May 31, 1997. No amounts were paid or distributed to the
individuals named in the above table pursuant to the Plan.
Description of Stock Options Plans
The Company has in effect two stock option plans, the Employee Stock
Option Plan (1991) and the Director Stock Option Plan (1991).
Under the Employee Stock Option Plan (1991), Incentive Stock Options
and Non-qualified Stock Options may be granted to key employees to purchase
shares of common stock of the Company at a price not less than its fair
market value at the date the options are granted. Options for an aggregate
of 100,000 common shares may be granted under the Plan. The Company's
Compensation and Stock Option Committee administer the Plan and
determine the number of shares to be subject to each option, the type
of option, the duration of each option, the exercise price under each
option, the time or times within which all or portions of each option
may be exercised and whether cash, Company common stock or other property
may be accepted in full or partial payment upon exercise of a stock option.
There are 72,000 common shares available for grant, 21,500 options
outstanding and exercisable. The remaining 6,500 shares have previously
been exervised by participants in the Plan.
Under the Director Stock Option Plan (1991), options may be granted
to non-employee directors at a price not less than fair market value
at the date the options are granted. Non-employee directors who have
served for at least one year are automatically granted options to purchase
5,000 common shares. Options for an aggregate of 45,000 common shares may be
granted under the Plan. Each option will be for a period of ten years and
may be exercised at a rate of 25% at the date of grant and an additional 25%
after one, two and three years of service on a cumulative basis. There are
15,000 common shares available for grant, 30,000 options outstanding, and
28,750 options exercisable.
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The graph below compares the yearly percentage change in the cumulative
total stockholder return for Art's-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. Common Stock
compared with the NASDAQ Stock Market-U.S. Index, and the S&P Manufacturing
(Diversified Industries) Index.
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
(Graph available on request)
Nov 94 Nov 95 Nov 96 Nov 97 Nov 98 Nov 99
Art's-Way
Mfg. Co., Inc.
(ARTW) 100 61 58 121 71 48
NASDAQ Stock
Mrkt.-US Index
(INAS) 100 143 175 217 267 448
S & P Mfg.
(Div Ind) Index
(IMNV) 100 147 206 243 274 328
RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors, acting on the recommendation of the Audit Committee,
has designated KPMG LLP as independent public accountants of the
Company for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2000. KPMG LLP
have been the independent public accountants of the Company since June 1,
1980. The firm has advised the Company that it has no relationship to the
Company except that of independent public accountants.
A representative of KPMG LLP will be present at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to respond to appropriate questions regarding
preparation of the financial statements.
The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR the
ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP as independent public
accountants.
Vote Required for Ratification
The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented at the
meeting is required to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP
as the independent public accountants of the Company.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Any proposals of shareholders that are intended to be presented at
the Company's 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be received at
the Company's principal offices no later than December 12, 2000 in order
to be included in the proxy statement and on the form of proxy which will
be solicited by the Board of Directors in connection with that meeting.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the
Company's executive officers and directors to file initial reports of
ownership and reports in changes of ownership with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC). Executive officers and directors are required
by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a)
forms they file. Based solely on a review of the copies of such forms
furnished to the Company, the Company believes all persons subject to
these reporting requirements filed the required reports on a timely basis.
OTHER MATTERS
Management knows of no other matters which may be brought before
the meeting. If any other matters are presented at the meeting on which
a vote may properly be taken, the persons named in the enclosed proxy will
vote thereon in accordance with their best judgment.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Financial statements of the Company are included in the Annual Report
to Shareholders for the fifty-two weeks ended November 30, 1999, which report
is mailed herewith to all stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting.
The Annual Report is not part of the soliciting material.
A copy of the Company's 1999 10-K Report is available without charge
upon written request of William T. Green, Secretary, Art's-Way Manufacturing
Co., Inc., P.O. Box 288, Armstrong, Iowa 50514-0288.
