<PAGE> 1
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
FILED BY THE REGISTRANT [X] FILED BY A PARTY OTHER THAN THE REGISTRANT [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to sec.240.14a-11(c) or sec.240.14a-12
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
REEBOK INTERNATIONAL LTD.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)
PAYMENT OF FILING FEE (CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant
to Exchange Act
Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and
state how it was determined):
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
3) Filing Party:
4) Date Filed:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE> 2
[REEBOK LOGO]
REEBOK INTERNATIONAL LTD.
100 TECHNOLOGY CENTER DRIVE
STOUGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02072
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
MAY 4, 1999
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Reebok
International Ltd. will be held at BankBoston, Long Lane Conference Room, Second
Floor, 100 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts at 10:00 a.m. local time on
Tuesday, May 4, 1999 for the following purposes:
1. To elect three Class III members of the Board of Directors.
2. To approve an amendment to the 1987 Employee Stock Purchase Plan to
increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance by
1,000,000 shares.
3. To consider a shareholder proposal requesting that the Board take action
to declassify the Board of Directors.
4. To transact any other business that may properly come before the Meeting
or any adjournment thereof.
Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 11, 1999 are
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting and any adjournment thereof.
If you are unable to be present in person, please sign and date the
enclosed proxy and return it promptly in the enclosed envelope.
By Order of the Board of Directors
JOHN E. BEARD
Clerk
March 26, 1999
<PAGE> 3
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
MAY 4, 1999
PROXY STATEMENT
The enclosed proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of
Reebok International Ltd. ("Reebok" or the "Company") to be voted at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 4, 1999 or at any adjournment thereof
(the "Meeting"). The cost of solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Company's
management will be borne by Reebok. Directors, officers and employees of Reebok
may also solicit proxies by telephone, telegraph or personal interview. Reebok
will reimburse banks, brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred by them in sending proxy materials
on behalf of the Company's management to the beneficial owners of shares.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 11, 1999 are
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. There were 55,969,886 shares
of the Company's common stock, $.01 par value per share ("Common Stock"),
outstanding on that date, each of which is entitled to one vote. Under the
bylaws of the Company, a majority of the shares of Common Stock issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote will constitute a quorum for the Meeting. If a
quorum is present, the three nominees for director who receive the greatest
number of votes properly cast (or a plurality of the votes) will be elected
directors. An affirmative majority of the votes properly cast at the Meeting in
person or by proxy is required for approval of proposals 2 and 3. Votes cast by
proxy or in person at the Meeting will be counted by persons selected by the
Company to act as election inspectors for the Meeting.
The election inspectors will count shares represented by proxies that
withhold authority to vote for a nominee for election as a director or that
reflect abstentions and "broker non-votes" (i.e., shares represented at the
Meeting held by brokers or nominees as to which (i) instructions have not been
received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote and (ii) the
broker or nominee does not have the discretionary voting power on a particular
matter) only as shares that are present and entitled to vote on the matters for
purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, but neither proxies that
withhold authority (without naming an alternative nominee), abstentions nor
broker non-votes will be counted as votes cast at the Meeting. Such proxies
therefore will have no effect on the outcome of voting with respect to the
election of directors at the Meeting or proposals 2 and 3.
Shares represented by proxies in the form enclosed, if properly executed
and returned and not revoked, will be voted at the Meeting. To be voted, proxies
must be filed with the Clerk prior to voting. Proxies may be revoked at any time
before exercise by filing a notice of such revocation with the Clerk. Proxies
will be voted as specified by the shareholders. Where specific choices are not
indicated, proxies will be voted FOR the election of all of the nominees for
director identified below, FOR proposal 2, AGAINST proposal 3 and in the
discretion of the named proxies as to any other matter that may come before the
Meeting or any adjournments of the Meeting.
The Annual Report to Shareholders for Reebok's fiscal year ended December
31, 1998 has been mailed with this Proxy Statement. This Proxy Statement and the
enclosed proxy were mailed to shareholders on the same date as the date of the
Notice of Annual Meeting. The principal executive offices of Reebok are located
at 100 Technology Center Drive, Stoughton, Massachusetts 02072.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 50A of Chapter 156B of the
Massachusetts General Laws, the Board of Directors is divided into three
classes, having staggered terms of three years each. Under
<PAGE> 4
Section 50A and the bylaws of the Company, the Board of Directors may determine
the total number of directors and the number of directors to be elected at any
Annual Meeting of Shareholders or Special Meeting in lieu thereof. The Board of
Directors has fixed at twelve the total number of directors and has fixed at
three the number of directors to be elected at the 1999 Annual Meeting. Of the
current directors, three Class III directors have terms expiring at the 1999
Annual Meeting, two Class I directors have terms expiring at the 2000 Annual
Meeting and four Class II directors have terms expiring at the 2001 Annual
Meeting. The three directors whose terms expire at the 1999 Annual Meeting have
been nominated by the Board of Directors for reelection at such Meeting. Each
Class III director elected at the 1999 Annual Meeting will serve until the 2002
Annual Meeting of Shareholders or Special Meeting in lieu thereof, and until
that director's successor is elected and qualified.
INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO NOMINEES
Unless authority is withheld, proxies in the accompanying form will be
voted in favor of electing as Class III directors, to hold office until the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2002 or Special Meeting in lieu thereof, and
until their respective successors are elected and qualified, the three persons
identified in the table below. If the proxy is executed in such a manner as to
withhold authority to vote for one or more nominees for director, such
instructions will be followed by the persons named as proxies.
All of the nominees for director are now Class III members of the Board of
Directors. The Company has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be
unable to serve. In the event that any nominee should not be available, the
persons named in the proxy will vote for the others and may vote for a
substitute for such nominee.
Listed below are the nominees for Class III director, with information
showing the business experience and current public directorships, if any, of
each, the age of each and the year each was first elected a director of the
Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE AND DIRECTOR
NAME CURRENT DIRECTORSHIPS AGE SINCE
---- ----------------------- --- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Paul B. Fireman...................... Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the 55 1979
Board of Directors of the Company; President
of the Company (from 1979 to March 1987 and
since December 1989); Director of Abiomed,
Inc., a manufacturer of medical devices.
Thomas M. Ryan....................... President and Chief Executive Officer (since 46 1998
May 1998) and Director (since 1996) of CVS
Corporation ("CVS"), a company in the chain
drug store industry; President and Chief
Executive Officer of CVS Pharmacy, Inc.
(since 1994); Chief Operating Officer of CVS
(from October 1996 to May 1998); Director of
Fleet Financial Group, Inc., a financial
services company.
Carl J. Yankowski.................... Executive Vice President of the Company and 50 1998
President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Reebok Division (since September 1998);
President and Chief Operating Officer of
Sony Electronics Inc. a subsidiary of Sony
Corporation (November 1993 to January 1998).
Director of Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., a
high technology venture capital company;
Director of Avidyne Corporation, an avionics
and flight control systems company.
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE> 5
Class II members of the Board of Directors having terms of office expiring
at the 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE AND DIRECTOR
NAME CURRENT DIRECTORSHIPS AGE SINCE
---- ----------------------- --- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Paul R. Duncan....................... Executive Vice President of the Company 58 1989
(since 1990), with various executive
responsibilities including President of the
Company's Specialty Business Group (from
October 1995 to November 1996); Chief
Financial Officer of the Company (from 1985
to June 1995); Director of Cabletron
Systems, Inc., a computer networking
company.
M. Katherine Dwyer................... President of Revlon Consumer Products USA, a 50 1998
division of Revlon, Inc. ("Revlon"), a
cosmetics company (since January 1998);
President of Revlon Cosmetics USA (from
November 1995 to January 1998); Senior Vice
President of Revlon and of Revlon Consumer
Products Corporation ("Products
Corporation") (since December 1996); prior
to that served in various executive
positions for Products Corporation,
including President of the Cosmetics Unit
(from November 1995 to December 1996) and
Executive Vice President of Marketing of
Mass Cosmetics Unit (from June 1993 to
November 1995); Director of WestPoint
Stevens Inc., a bed and bath home fashions
and knitted fabrics company.
William F. Glavin.................... President Emeritus, Babson College; Director 66 1994
of INCO Ltd., a producer of primary metals,
alloys and engineered products; Director of
John Hancock Mutual Funds, Inc., a mutual
fund company; Director of OmegaTech, Inc., a
food ingredient company.
Richard G. Lesser.................... Executive Vice President, Chief Operating 64 1988
Officer and Director of TJX Companies, Inc.,
("TJX") an off-price apparel and home
furnishings retailer; President, The Marmaxx
Group, a division of TJX which operates T.J.
Maxx and Marshalls (since February 1996);
Director of A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts, Inc.,
an operator of arts and crafts stores.
</TABLE>
3
<PAGE> 6
Class I members of the Board of Directors having terms of office expiring
at the 2000 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE AND DIRECTOR
NAME CURRENT DIRECTORSHIPS AGE SINCE
---- ----------------------- --- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Mannie L. Jackson.................... Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and 59 1996
majority owner of Harlem Globetrotters
International, Inc., a sports and
entertainment entity; Retired Senior Vice
President-Corporate Marketing and
Administration of Honeywell, Inc., a
manufacturer of control systems, and prior
to that, served in various executive
capacities for Honeywell beginning in 1968;
Director of Ashland Inc., a vertically
integrated petroleum and chemical company;
Director of Jostens Inc., a manufacturer and
distributor of recognition awards; Director
of The Stanley Works, a commercial, consumer
and specialty tools company.
Geoffrey Nunes....................... Retired Senior Vice President and General 68 1986
Counsel, Millipore Corporation, a leader in
the field of separation technology.
</TABLE>
During 1998, the Board of Directors held eight meetings. All of the
directors who were on the Board in 1998 attended at least 75% of the Board and
relevant committee meetings during 1998, except Ms. Dwyer who attended 70% of
such meetings. Mr. Yankowski was appointed to the Board on October 6, 1998.
Bertram M. Lee, Sr. resigned from the Board as of July 21, 1998 and William M.
Marcus retired from the Board as of May 5, 1998 in accordance with the Term
Limits Policy of the Board of Directors. For information on compensation of
Directors, see "Compensation of Directors" below.
The Audit Committee, composed of Mr. Lesser and Ms. Dwyer and Mr. Lee
(through July 21, 1998) and Mr. Marcus (through May 5, 1998), held three
meetings during 1998. The Audit Committee recommends to the Board of Directors
the independent public accountants to be engaged by the Company; reviews with
such accountants and management the Company's internal accounting procedures and
controls; and reviews with such accountants the scope and results of their audit
of the consolidated financial statements of the Company.
The Compensation Committee, composed of Mr. Nunes, Mr. Glavin, Ms. Dwyer
and since May 5, 1998, Mr. Ryan, held five meetings during 1998. The
Compensation Committee administers the Company's stock option and compensation
plans, sets compensation for the Chief Executive Officer, reviews the
compensation of the other executive officers and provides recommendations to the
Board regarding compensation matters.
The Board Affairs Committee, composed of Mr. Glavin, Mr. Jackson, Mr.
Lesser, Mr. Nunes and since May 5, 1998, Mr. Ryan, held two meetings during
1998. This Committee is responsible for considering Board governance issues. The
Committee also recommends individuals to serve as directors of the Company and
will consider nominees recommended by security holders. Recommendations by
security holders should be submitted in writing to the Board Affairs Committee,
in care of the President of the Company.
The Executive Committee, composed of Mr. Fireman, Mr. Duncan and Mr. Nunes,
did not meet during 1998.
4
<PAGE> 7
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
During 1998, each director who was not an officer or employee of the
Company received $25,000 annually, plus $2,000 for each committee chairmanship
held and $2,000 for each directors' meeting and $1,000 for each committee
meeting attended, plus expenses. Beginning in 1998, as a part of a new policy
adopted by the Board of Directors that requires each director to own Reebok
Common Stock with a market value of at least four times the amount of the annual
retainer within five years from the date of the director's first election to the
Board, a minimum of forty percent of the annual retainer was paid to the
directors in Reebok Common Stock.
The Company's Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors (the
"Directors' Plan") provides for the issuance of stock options to directors and
provides a means by which directors may defer all or a portion of their director
fees.
The deferred compensation portion of the Directors' Plan permits directors
who are not employees of the Company to defer all or a portion of their director
compensation and to invest such deferred compensation in Reebok Common Stock or
in cash which earns interest at the Merrill Lynch Corporate Bond Rate.
Compensation deferred into Reebok Common Stock is converted into stock based on
the price of the stock on the first day of the calendar quarter following the
quarter in which the fees were deferred. Dividends paid on the Reebok Common
Stock are also credited to the director's deferred compensation account.
Directors who elect to defer their compensation will receive a distribution
of their deferred compensation in either a lump sum or in annual installments
(at the director's election) beginning on a date specified by the director or on
the date on which the director is no longer a member of the Reebok Board of
Directors, whichever occurs first. If the deferred compensation is invested at
the corporate bond rate, the distribution will be in cash in an amount equal to
the deferred compensation plus interest accrued. If the compensation is deferred
into Reebok Common Stock, the distribution will be in the form of shares of
Reebok Common Stock.
Under the stock option portion of the Directors' Plan, each newly elected
Eligible Director (as defined below) is granted an option on the date of such
election to purchase shares of Reebok Common Stock having an aggregate market
value on such date equal to six times the average cash compensation received by
all directors in the immediately prior calendar year. An Eligible Director is
any director who is not an officer or employee of the Company and is not a
holder of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock
or a person who is in control of such holder. After the initial grant, on April
28 of each year each Eligible Director is granted an option to purchase shares
of Reebok Common Stock having a fair market value on the date of such grant
equal to three times the average annual cash compensation received by all
directors in the immediately prior calendar year (or a pro rata portion based on
the date of his or her election). The exercise price for all options granted
under the Directors' Plan is the fair market value of Reebok Common Stock on the
date of the grant. Options become exercisable for one-third of the shares
covered thereby on each of the first through third anniversaries of the grant.
On April 28, 1998, Messrs. Glavin, Jackson, Lesser, and Nunes were each granted
an option to purchase 4,050 shares and Ms. Dwyer and Mr. Ryan were each granted
a pro-rated option to purchase 1,013 shares.
Of the current directors, Mr. Fireman, Mr. Yankowski and Mr. Duncan are not
Eligible Directors under the Directors' Plan.
5
<PAGE> 8
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SHARES
The following table shows certain information about the shares of Common
Stock owned on March 11, 1999 by persons owning of record or, to the knowledge
of the Company, beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock. It also shows ownership by each director and nominee for director, by
each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table below and by all
directors and executive officers of the Company as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COMMON STOCK
BENEFICIALLY PERCENT
NAME OWNED(1) OF CLASS(2)
---- ------------ -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Paul B. Fireman(3)(8)....................................... 7,857,226 13.01%
Phyllis Fireman(4).......................................... 5,047,002 8.36%
Roger Best.................................................. 570 *
Paul R. Duncan(8)........................................... 471,699 *
M. Katherine Dwyer(5)(8).................................... 3,848 *
William F. Glavin(5)(8)..................................... 20,488 *
Mannie L. Jackson(5)(8)..................................... 17,838 *
Richard G. Lesser(5)(6)(8).................................. 50,578 *
Angel Martinez.............................................. 871 *
Robert Meers(9)............................................. 537,977 *
Geoffrey Nunes(5)(8)........................................ 42,738 *
Thomas M. Ryan(5)(8)........................................ 5,292 *
Kenneth I. Watchmaker....................................... 5,334 *
Carl J. Yankowski........................................... 0 *
Brandes Investment Partners, L.P.(10)....................... 5,667,210 9.39%
First Pacific Advisors, Inc.(11)............................ 3,374,600 5.59%
Trimark Financial Corporation(12)........................... 5,066,800 8.39%
Directors and executive officers as a group (14
persons)(7)(8)............................................ 8,480,840 14.05%
</TABLE>
- ---------------
* Less than 1%.
(1) Except as otherwise noted, all persons and entities have sole voting and
investment power over their shares. All amounts shown in this column
include shares obtainable upon exercise of stock options exercisable within
60 days of the date of this table.
(2) Computed on the basis of 60,378,859 shares: 55,969,886 shares outstanding
and 4,408,973 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of the
date of this table.
(3) Excludes 5,047,002 shares that are beneficially owned by Phyllis Fireman,
Paul Fireman's wife. Mr. Fireman disclaims beneficial ownership of these
shares.
(4) Excludes 7,857,226 shares that are beneficially owned by Paul Fireman,
Phyllis Fireman's husband. Mrs. Fireman disclaims beneficial ownership of
these shares.
(5) Includes for the following persons, the following shares, which represent
shares deferred pursuant to the Directors' Plan: M. Katherine Dwyer, 832
shares; William F. Glavin 6,577 shares; Mannie L. Jackson, 4,429 shares;
Richard G. Lesser, 2,657 shares; Geoffrey Nunes, 1,323 shares; and Thomas
M. Ryan, 2,276 shares.
(6) Excludes 3,576 shares held by Mr. Lesser's wife and child. Mr. Lesser
disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.
6
<PAGE> 9
(7) Excludes the 5,047,002 shares described in note (3) above and the 3,576
shares described in note (6). Includes shares subject to options held by
directors and executive officers that are exercisable within 60 days of the
date of this table (see note (8) below).
(8) Includes for the following persons, the following shares which are subject
to stock options exercisable within 60 days of the date of this table: Paul
B. Fireman, 2,719,070 shares; Paul R. Duncan, 454,301 shares; M. Katherine
Dwyer, 3,016 shares; William F. Glavin, 12,661 shares; Mannie L. Jackson,
12,409 shares; Richard G. Lesser, 30,915 shares; Geoffrey Nunes, 30,915
shares; Thomas M. Ryan, 3,016 shares; and all directors and executive
officers as a group, 3,268,303 shares.
(9) Includes for Mr. Meers 532,000 shares which are subject to stock options
exercisable within 60 days of the date of this table.
(10) Information based on an amendment to Schedule 13G dated February 9, 1999
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Brandes Investment
Partners L.P., Brandes Investment Partners, Inc., Brandes Holdings, L.P.,
Charles H. Brandes, Glenn R. Carlson, and Jeffrey A. Busby, as a group,
which reported the beneficial ownership of 5,667,210 shares, of which the
group has shared voting power and shared dispositive power with respect to
all such shares.
(11) Information based on Schedule 13G dated February 12, 1999 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission by First Pacific Advisors, Inc., an
investment adviser, which reported the beneficial ownership of 3,374,600
shares, of which it has shared voting power with respect to 824,600 shares
and shared dispositive power with respect to 3,374,600 shares.
(12) Information based on Schedule 13G dated February 1, 1999 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission by Trimark Financial Corporation
("TFC"), a parent holding company, which owns 100% of Trimark Investment
Management Inc., an investment adviser and manager of certain Trimark
mutual funds, which reported the beneficial ownership by TFC of 5,066,800
shares, of which it has sole voting power and sole dispositive power with
respect to all such shares.
The address of Mr. and Mrs. Fireman is c/o Reebok International Ltd., 100
Technology Center Drive, Stoughton, Massachusetts 02072.
7
<PAGE> 10
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table shows the aggregate compensation paid or accrued by the
Company for services rendered during the years ended December 1996, 1997 and
1998 for the Chief Executive Officer and each of the Company's four other most
highly compensated executive officers:
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG TERM
COMPENSATION
------------------------
ANNUAL COMPENSATION AWARDS
----------------------------------- ------------------------
OTHER
ANNUAL RESTRICTED ALL
NAME AND COMPEN- STOCK OTHER
PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY($) BONUS($) SATION($) AWARDS($) OPTIONS(#) COMPENSATION($)
------------------ ---- ---------- -------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Paul B. Fireman....................... 1998 $1,000,012 None -- None None $ 56,275(1)(2)
Chairman, President and 1997 1,038,474 $562,500 -- None 111,150 54,112(1)(2)
Chief Executive Officer 1996 1,000,012 None -- None 500,000 100,913(1)(2)
Robert Meers.......................... 1998 749,996 None -- None 200,000(3) 43,461(4)
Executive Vice President 1997 769,227 365,625 -- None 35,000 39,749(4)
1996 699,978 None -- None 250,000 41,066(4)
Angel Martinez........................ 1998 488,481 None -- None 240,000(5) 38,434(6)
Executive Vice President; 1997 467,328 325,078 -- None None 29,001(6)
Chief Marketing Officer, Reebok 1996 425,022 201,354 -- None 187,500 31,776(6)
Division
Kenneth I. Watchmaker................. 1998 499,980 250,000 -- None 240,000(5) 30,480(7)
Executive Vice President 1997 509,600 281,250 -- None None 29,769(7)
and Chief Financial Officer 1996 440,387 None -- None 150,000 30,750(7)
Roger Best............................ 1998 438,604(8) None -- None 200,000(5) 83,314(9)
Senior Vice President 1997 379,972(8) 85,000 -- None None 17,875(9)
1996 344,515(8) 100,000 -- None 220,550 17,883(9)
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Includes contributions by the Company on behalf of Mr. Fireman as follows:
for 1998, $13,000 to the Company's Savings and Profit Sharing Retirement
Plan (the "Profit Sharing/Savings Plan") and $42,615 in credits allocated to
Mr. Fireman's account under the Company's Excess Benefits Plan; for 1997,
$12,250 to the Profit Sharing/Savings Plan and $41,095 in credits allocated
to Mr. Fireman's account under the Excess Benefits Plan; for 1996, $12,250
to the Profit Sharing/Savings Plan and $42,501 in credits allocated to Mr.
Fireman's account under the Excess Benefits Plan. Mr. Fireman is 100% vested
in these contributions and allocations.
(2) Includes $660 for 1998, reflecting the present value of the economic benefit
to Mr. Fireman of the portion of the premium paid by the Company during 1998
($19,245) with respect to the split-dollar life insurance agreement (see
"Employee Agreements" below for a description of such agreement), based on
the time period between the date on which the premium was paid by the
Company and May 26, 1999 which, as of March 26, 1999 is the earliest date on
which the Company could terminate the agreement and receive a refund,
without interest, of the premium it paid. Under the split-dollar life
insurance agreement, the Company was obligated to pay the premium for the
split-dollar policy for only six years, ending in 1996, and therefore in
1997 and 1998, the Company paid only the premium on a related "key man"
policy of which the Company is a beneficiary, resulting in the substantial
reduction in the total premium payment. Includes $767 for 1997 and $46,162
for 1996, as reported in the Company's 1998 and 1997 Proxy Statements,
respectively, reflecting the present value of the economic benefit to Mr.
Fireman of the premium paid during 1997 and 1996 ($19,245 and $1,106,317,
respectively) with respect to the same agreement, calculated on the same
basis.
(3) This option was granted to Mr. Meers on December 9, 1998 in consideration
for his long and valued service to the Company. In connection with this
grant, Mr. Meers forfeited two options amounting in the
8
<PAGE> 11
aggregate to 185,000 shares. See footnote (3) to the "Option/SAR Grants in
1998" table below for more information on this grant.
(4) Includes contributions by the Company on behalf of Mr. Meers as follows: for
1998, $13,000 to the Profit Sharing/Savings Plan and $30,461 in credits
allocated to Mr. Meers' account under the Excess Benefits Plan; for 1997,
$12,250 to the Profit Sharing/Savings Plan and $27,499 in credits allocated
to Mr. Meers' account under the Excess Benefits Plan; for 1996, $12,250 to
the Profit Sharing/Savings Plan and $28,816 in credits allocated to Mr.
Meers' account under the Excess Benefits Plan. Mr. Meers is 100% vested in
these contributions and allocations.
(5) These options were issued pursuant to the Company's Option Exchange and
Restructuring Program in which the executive exchanged all of his
above-market options for new options at the market price on the date of
grant, but at a ratio of four new shares for every five shares exchanged and
subject to a new four-year vesting schedule. See footnote (2) to the
"Option/SAR Grants in 1998" table below for more information on the Option
Exchange and Restructuring Program.
(6) Includes contributions by the Company on behalf of Mr. Martinez as follows:
for 1998, $13,000 to the Profit Sharing/Savings Plan and $25,434 in credits
allocated to Mr. Martinez's account under the Excess Benefits Plan; for
1997, $12,250 to the Profit Sharing/Savings Plan and $16,751 in credits
allocated to Mr. Martinez's account under the Excess Benefits Plan; for
1996, $12,250 to the Profit Sharing/Savings Plan and $19,526 in credits
allocated to Mr. Martinez's account under the Excess Benefits Plan. Mr.
Martinez is 100% vested in these contributions and allocations.
(7) Includes contributions by the Company on behalf of Mr. Watchmaker as
follows: for 1998, $13,000 to the Profit Sharing/Savings Plan and $17,480 in
credits allocated to Mr. Watchmaker's account under the Excess Benefits
Plan; for 1997, $12,250 to the Profit Sharing/Savings Plan and $17,519 in
credits allocated to Mr. Watchmaker's account under the Excess Benefits
Plan; for 1996 $12,250 to the Profit Sharing/Savings Plan and $18,500 in
credits allocated to Mr. Watchmaker's account under the Excess Benefits
Plan. Mr. Watchmaker is 100% vested in these contributions and allocations.
(8) Certain amounts of Mr. Best's compensation for 1998 (L130,000 and
Dfl.422,500), 1997 (L21,667) and 1996 (L20,833) have been converted from
pounds sterling or Dutch guilders to U.S. dollars using a conversion rate
for December 31 of each such year.
(9) Includes contributions by the Company on behalf of Mr. Best as follows: for
1998, $14,211 in credits allocated to Mr. Best's account under the Excess
Benefits Plan and $69,103 (L41,600) to Mr. Best's UK pension scheme; for
1997, $12,250 to the Profit Sharing/Savings Plan and $5,625 in credits
allocated to Mr. Best's account under the Excess Benefits Plan; for 1996,
$12,250 to the Profit Sharing/Savings Plan and $5,633 (L3,333) to Mr. Best's
UK pension scheme. Mr. Best is 100% vested in the contributions and
allocations to the Profit Sharing/Savings Plan and Excess Benefits Plan.
Certain amounts for 1996 and 1998 as specified above have been converted
from pounds sterling to U.S. dollars using a conversion rate for December 31
of each such year.
9
<PAGE> 12
The following table shows information concerning individual grants of stock
options and freestanding SARs made during 1998 to the Chief Executive Officer
and each of the four other most highly compensated executive officers:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN 1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
POTENTIAL
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS REALIZABLE VALUE
---------------------------------------------------- AT ASSUMED
% OF ANNUAL RATES OF
NUMBER OF TOTAL STOCK PRICE
SECURITIES OPTIONS/SARS EXERCISE APPRECIATION FOR
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO OR BASE OPTION TERM(1)
OPTIONS/SARS EMPLOYEES PRICE EXPIRATION ------------------------
NAME GRANTED(#) IN 1998 ($/SH) DATE 5% 10%
---- ------------ ------------ -------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Paul B. Fireman.................. None -- -- -- -- --
Angel Martinez................... 50,000(2) 1.17% $12.625 10/16/03 174,403 385,400
20,000(2) .46% 12.625 12/15/03 72,447 160,931
20,000(2) .46% 12.625 3/7/05 99,038 212,222
31,480(2) .74% 12.625 2/15/06 171,142 404,940
118,520(2) 2.78% 12.625 7/26/06 690,773 1,645,661
Robert Meers..................... 200,000(3) 4.69% 14.9375 12/9/08 1,878,823 4,823,806
Kenneth I. Watchmaker............ 80,000(2) 1.88% 12.625 10/16/03 279,040 616,640
20,000(2) .46% 12.625 12/15/03 72,447 160,931
20,000(2) .46% 12.625 3/7/05 99,038 212,222
33,360(2) .78% 12.625 2/15/06 181,363 427,004
86,640(2) 2.03% 12.625 7/26/06 504,966 1,203,005
Roger Best....................... 10,000(2) .23% 12.625 10/16/03 34,880 77,080
8,000(2) .19% 12.625 12/15/03 28,979 64,373
5,560(2) .13% 12.625 3/7/05 27,533 58,998
60,000(2) 1.41% 12.625 2/20/06 326,922 770,015
116,440(2) 2.73% 12.625 7/26/06 678,650 1,616,780
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) The assumed annual rates of stock price appreciation of 5% and 10% per annum
are established by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and are
not to be construed as a forecast of future appreciation. The actual
realized value of such options will depend on the market value of the Common
Stock on the date of exercise; no gain will be realized by the optionees
unless there is an increase in the stock price from the price on the date of
grant.
(2) These options were issued pursuant to the Company's Option Exchange and
Restructuring Program ("Option Exchange Program") upon surrender by the
optionee of all above-market outstanding options at a ratio of 1.25
surrendered option shares for 1 new option share. See "Report of the
Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation" and "Ten-Year Option/SAR
Repricings" table below for further information on the Option Exchange
Program. The options have a four-year vesting schedule, under which
twenty-five percent of the shares granted become exercisable on each of the
first four anniversaries of the date of grant. The options will also become
exercisable upon the death or permanent disability of the optionee and may
become exercisable under certain circumstances in the event of a merger,
consolidation, sale of substantially all of the Company's assets or other
transaction or series of transactions which result in a change of control of
the Company's Common Stock.
(3) In consideration for Mr. Meers' long and valued service to the Company, the
Compensation Committee granted this option to him on December 9, 1998
(expiring on December 9, 2008) under which all of the shares became
exercisable on the date of grant. In connection with this grant, Mr. Meers
forfeited two
10
<PAGE> 13
options which had exercise prices of $31.25 with respect to 150,000 shares
and $41.00 with respect to 35,000 shares.
The following table sets forth aggregated option exercises in 1998 and
option values as of December 31, 1998 for the Chief Executive Officer and each
of the four other most highly compensated executive officers:
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN 1998
AND OPTION/SAR VALUES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SECURITIES VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY
OPTIONS/SARS OPTIONS/SARS
SHARES AT 12/31/98(#) AT 12/31/98($)
ACQUIRED ------------------------- -------------------------
NAME ON EXERCISE(#) VALUE REALIZED($) EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE
---- -------------- ----------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Paul B. Fireman............. None 0 2,696,840/501,610 $ 0/0
Angel Martinez.............. None 0 0/240,000 0/540,000
Robert Meers................ None 0 504,000/116,000 106,250/0
Kenneth I. Watchmaker....... None 0 0/240,000 0/540,000
Roger Best.................. None 0 0/200,000 0/450,000
</TABLE>
The following table sets forth information concerning all repricing of
options and SARs held by any executive officer during the last ten completed
fiscal years:
TEN-YEAR OPTION/SAR REPRICINGS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF MARKET LENGTH OF
SECURITIES PRICE EXERCISE ORIGINAL
UNDERLYING OF STOCK AT PRICE AT OPTION TERM
OPTIONS/ TIME OF TIME OF REMAINING AT
SARS REPRICING OR REPRICING OR NEW DATE OF
REPRICED OR AMENDMENT AMENDMENT EXERCISE REPRICING OR
NAME AND POSITION DATE AMENDED(1)(#) ($) ($) PRICE($) AMENDMENT(2)
----------------- -------- ------------- ------------ ------------- -------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Roger Best.............. 10/16/98 4,000 $12.625 $ 27.625 $12.625 3.17
Senior Vice President 10/16/98 6,000 12.625 33.25 12.625 4.25
10/16/98 8,000 12.625 28.875 12.625 5.17
10/16/98 5,560 12.625 35.375 12.625 6.42
10/16/98 60,000 12.625 26.75 12.625 7.33
10/16/98 116,440 12.625 31.25 12.625 7.75
John B. Douglas III..... 12/14/90 15,000 12.75 17.32 12.75 9.67
Former Vice President 12/14/90 7,500 12.75 18.01 12.75 9.67
and General Counsel 12/14/90 15,000 12.75 18.37 12.75 9.67
William Dragon.......... 12/14/90 20,000 12.75 20.46 12.75 9.0
Former Vice President 12/14/90 10,000 12.75 21.28 12.75 9.0
12/14/90 20,000 12.75 21.71 12.75 9.0
John Duerden............ 12/14/90 40,000 12.75 20.46 12.75 9.0
Former Senior Vice 12/14/90 20,000 12.75 21.28 12.75 9.0
President; President, 12/14/90 40,000 12.75 21.71 12.75 9.0
Reebok Division
Paul Duncan............. 12/14/90 40,000 12.75 20.46 12.75 9.0
Executive Vice 12/14/90 20,000 12.75 21.28 12.75 9.0
President and 12/14/90 40,000 12.75 21.71 12.75 9.0
Former Chief Financial
Officer
</TABLE>
11
<PAGE> 14
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF MARKET LENGTH OF
SECURITIES PRICE EXERCISE ORIGINAL
UNDERLYING OF STOCK AT PRICE AT OPTION TERM
OPTIONS/ TIME OF TIME OF REMAINING AT
SARS REPRICING OR REPRICING OR NEW DATE OF
REPRICED OR AMENDMENT AMENDMENT EXERCISE REPRICING OR
NAME AND POSITION DATE AMENDED(1)(#) ($) ($) PRICE($) AMENDMENT(2)
----------------- -------- ------------- ------------ ------------- -------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
James R. Jones, III..... 10/16/98 7,200 $12.625 $ 45.75 $12.625 8.5
Senior Vice President, 10/16/98 14,400 12.625 33.75 12.625 9.17
Human Resources 10/16/98 18,400 12.625 30.00 12.625 9.33
Angel Martinez.......... 10/16/98 22,000 12.625 13.00 12.625 .67
Executive Vice 10/16/98 8,000 12.625 13.81 12.625 2.17
President; Chief 10/16/98 20,000 12.625 34.25 12.625 4.33
Marketing Officer 10/16/98 20,000 12.625 28.875 12.625 5.17
10/16/98 20,000 12.625 35.375 12.625 6.42
10/16/98 31,480 12.625 27.875 12.625 7.33
10/16/98 118,520 12.625 31.25 12.625 7.75
Robert Meers............ 12/14/90 20,000 12.75 21.71 12.75 9.0
Executive Vice 12/14/90 10,000 12.75 21.28 12.75 9.0
President 12/14/90 20,000 12.75 20.46 12.75 9.0
12/ 9/98 200,000(3) 14.9375 31.25/41.00(3) 14.9375 7.67/8.08(3)
Barry Nagler............ 10/16/98 4,000 12.625 27.625 12.625 3.17
Senior Vice President 10/16/98 4,000 12.625 33.25 12.625 4.25
and General Counsel 10/16/98 4,000 12.625 28.875 12.625 5.17
10/16/98 3,360 12.625 35.375 12.625 6.42
10/16/98 8,600 12.625 26.75 12.625 7.33
10/16/98 16,000 12.625 41.625 12.625 8.17
10/16/98 9,600 12.625 33.75 12.625 9.17
Robert Slattery......... 12/14/90 20,000 12.75 20.46 12.75 9.0
Former Vice President 12/14/90 10,000 12.75 21.28 12.75 9.0
and President, The 12/14/90 20,000 12.75 21.71 12.75 9.0
Rockport Company
William Sweeney......... 10/16/98 800 12.625 33.25 12.625 4.25
Senior Vice President 10/16/98 1,600 12.625 28.875 12.625 5.17
10/16/98 5,560 12.625 35.375 12.625 6.42
10/16/98 8,600 12.625 26.75 12.625 7.33
10/16/98 8,000 12.625 34.50 12.625 7.92
10/16/98 5,720 12.625 41.625 12.625 8.17
10/16/98 16,240 12.625 37.25 12.625 8.50
10/16/98 24,000 12.625 37.25 12.625 8.50
10/16/98 9,600 12.625 33.75 12.625 9.17
Marilyn Tam............. 12/14/90 20,000 12.75 17.375 12.75 9.2
Former Vice President
and President, Apparel
Products Division
</TABLE>
12
<PAGE> 15
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF MARKET LENGTH OF
SECURITIES PRICE EXERCISE ORIGINAL
UNDERLYING OF STOCK AT PRICE AT OPTION TERM
OPTIONS/ TIME OF TIME OF REMAINING AT
SARS REPRICING OR REPRICING OR NEW DATE OF
REPRICED OR AMENDMENT AMENDMENT EXERCISE REPRICING OR
NAME AND POSITION DATE AMENDED(1)(#) ($) ($) PRICE($) AMENDMENT(2)
----------------- -------- ------------- ------------ ------------- -------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Kenneth I. Watchmaker... 10/16/98 32,000 $12.625 $ 28.19 $12.625 3.75
Executive Vice 10/16/98 16,000 12.625 29.32 12.625 3.75
President and Chief 10/16/98 32,000 12.625 29.90 12.625 3.75
Financial Officer 10/16/98 20,000 12.625 28.875 12.625 5.17
10/16/98 20,000 12.625 35.375 12.625 6.42
10/16/98 33,360 12.625 27.875 12.625 7.33
10/16/98 86,640 12.625 31.25 12.625 7.75
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) With respect to the options issued on October 16, 1998, four new shares were
granted for every five shares canceled and exchanged under the Option
Exchange and Restructuring Program. See "Report of Compensation Committee on
Executive Compensation" below.
(2) Length of time is expressed in years.
(3) In consideration for Mr. Meers' long and valued service to the Company, the
Compensation Committee granted this option to him on December 9, 1998. In
order to minimize the dilutive effect of this grant, Mr. Meers forfeited two
options which had exercise prices of $31.25 with respect to 150,000 shares
and $41.00 with respect to 35,000 shares. The length of the original terms
remaining under the canceled options was 7.67 years with respect to 150,000
shares and 8.08 years with respect to 35,000 shares.
SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN
The Board of Directors, on February 15, 1996, adopted a Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plan ("SERP") for certain key executive officers, including
Mr. Fireman, Mr. Meers, Mr. Martinez and Mr. Watchmaker. The SERP provides that
a participant, upon attaining age 60, will receive an annual retirement benefit
equal to (a) twenty-five percent (25%) of his or her average total compensation
for the three calendar years out of the five consecutive calendar years ending
within the year in which the participant retires ("Final Average Compensation"),
in which he or she had the highest total compensation (except that, for one
former executive officer, the three calendar years have been defined as those
falling between 1993 and 1997) multiplied by (b) the number of years of such
executive's service with the Company (not to exceed 15) divided by 15. The SERP
also provides for reduced benefits for participants who retire after age 55, but
before age 60, and have completed at least five full years of continuous service
with the Company, or who retire before age 55, and have completed at least ten
full years of continuous service.
In February 1999 the SERP was amended to provide that participants who
voluntarily terminate their employment with the Company will forfeit their
eligibility and further benefits if, prior to age 65, they work on a full-time
basis (excluding service on a board of directors, government or public service
or teaching) after leaving the Company, or if at any time they perform any
services for a competitor of the Company.
13
<PAGE> 16
The following table sets forth estimated annual benefits payable under the
SERP upon a participant's retirement, assuming attainment of age 60 while in the
employment of the Company, for the following compensation levels and years of
service:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS OF SERVICE
FINAL AVERAGE ------------------------------------
COMPENSATION 5 10 15
------------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
$ 450,000............................. $ 37,500 $ 75,000 $112,500
550,000............................. 41,667 83,333 125,000
750,000............................. 62,500 125,000 187,500
1,000,000............................. 83,333 166,667 250,000
1,250,000............................. 104,167 208,333 312,500
1,500,000............................. 125,000 250,000 375,000
1,750,000............................. 145,833 291,667 437,500
2,000,000............................. 166,667 333,333 500,000
2,250,000............................. 187,500 375,000 562,500
</TABLE>
The compensation covered by the SERP for any calendar year is the
participant's base compensation and annual incentive bonus earned for such year
(plus any amount that would have been paid to the participant but for a salary
reduction agreement in effect during such year pursuant to Sections 125 or
401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended). The benefit payment
under the SERP is not subject to any deductions for Social Security benefits or
other offset amounts. Years of service credited under the SERP for the executive
officers named in the Summary Compensation Table above who are participants in
the SERP are as follows: Paul B. Fireman, 19 years, Robert Meers, 14 years,
Angel Martinez, 17 years, and Kenneth I. Watchmaker, 6 years.
EMPLOYEE AGREEMENTS
Mr. Fireman has a Stock Option Agreement with the Company pursuant to which
he received in 1990 a grant of options to purchase 2.5 million shares of the
Company's Common Stock at exercise prices ranging from $17.32 to $18.37 per
share, which became exercisable in stages over a five-year period ending July
24, 1995. Options to purchase 2.5 million shares are currently exercisable
pursuant to this grant. The options will remain exercisable until July 24, 2000,
as long as (i) Mr. Fireman remains available to serve the Company as an
employee, director or consultant, and (ii) Mr. Fireman does not compete with the
Company in any manner.
The Company entered into a split-dollar insurance agreement as of September
25, 1991 with a trust established by Paul Fireman, pursuant to which the Company
and that trust will share in the premium costs of a whole life insurance policy
that pays a death benefit of not less than $50 million upon the death of Paul
Fireman, age 55 or Phyllis Fireman, age 54 (whichever occurs later). Under the
agreement, the Company paid that portion of each annual policy premium that, in
general terms, was equal to the annual increase in the cash value of the policy.
The Company's obligation to make such premium payments terminated in 1996 upon
the payment of the sixth annual premium due under the policy. The Company
continues to pay the premium on a related "key man" policy of which the Company
is the beneficiary and which is designed to work in conjunction with the
split-dollar insurance policy to insure the repayment to the Company of the
aggregate amount of the premiums paid by the Company. The Company may cause the
agreement to be terminated and the policy to be surrendered at any time upon 60
days' prior notice. Upon surrender of the policy or payment of the death benefit
under the policy, the Company is entitled to repayment of an amount equal to the
cumulative premiums previously paid by the Company, with all remaining payments
to be made to the
14
<PAGE> 17
Fireman trust. See footnote (2) to the "Summary Compensation Table" above for
further information on premium payments made by the Company under this policy.
The Company has an employment agreement with Mr. Watchmaker which
established a supplemental retirement plan for his benefit into which the
Company has credited $400,000. The terms of such supplemental retirement plan
are identical to the Reebok International Ltd. Excess Benefits Plan, except that
if Mr. Watchmaker's employment is terminated by the Company without cause, or if
his employment ceases after a change of control under the terms of his change of
control agreement with the Company (as described below), the funds credited to
his supplemental retirement plan will become vested immediately upon his
termination. Mr. Watchmaker's benefits under this supplemental retirement plan
are reduced if he returns to Ernst & Young and becomes eligible for a retirement
plan there.
Two of the Company's subsidiaries have employment agreements dated
September 11, 1997 with Mr. Best under which he serves as Senior Vice President
Europe of the Company's UK subsidiary and as Managing Director of the Company's
Netherlands subsidiary, and which provide for the continuation of certain terms
and conditions contained in Mr. Best's employment agreement with the Company
dated April 17, 1996. The agreements provide for an initial aggregate annual
base salary of L260,000 pounds sterling (one-half to be paid by each
subsidiary), subject to review annually, and under which Mr. Best is entitled to
receive an annual bonus under the subsidiaries' bonus schemes, with a target
bonus of 50% of base salary. Mr. Best is entitled to a pension allowance of 16%
of his total compensation (base salary and bonuses, if any), which is paid
directly into to Mr. Best's UK pension scheme. Both agreements provide that the
subsidiaries or Mr. Best may terminate the agreement for any reason upon twelve
months' notice. In addition, the agreements may be terminated by the Company's
subsidiaries immediately for justified cause defined in the agreement as, among
other matters, to be serious or repeated misconduct or breaches of the agreement
or conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. If the
Netherlands subsidiary terminates Mr. Best's employment (other than for
justified cause), in lieu of twelve months' notice, Mr. Best would be entitled
to twelve months' gross salary and allowances. The agreements contain
non-competition provisions under which Mr. Best agrees that for a period of one
year following termination of his employment, he will not (i) in the case of the
UK agreement, accept any position with any organization which competes with the
Company anywhere in the world where Reebok products are sold and (ii) in the
case of the Netherlands agreement, engage in or have an interest in, directly or
indirectly, the Company's competitors specifically listed in the agreement. Mr.
Best's agreements also contain a change of control provision under which, in the
event that a change of control of the Company is initiated, he agrees to
continue to render employment services until the change of control has occurred
(or efforts to effect the change of control have terminated) after which, for a
period of twelve months, he has the right to terminate his employment upon one
months' notice and would be entitled to receive his base salary and an amount
approximating his average bonus for the balance of his employment term. A
"change of control" does not include a change resulting from a leveraged buy-out
or recapitalization of the Company or similar transaction in which Mr. Best or
Paul Fireman or three or more executive officers of the Company participate as
equity investors, with an aggregate direct or indirect interest of at least 5%.
The Company has change of control agreements with Mr. Martinez, Mr.
Watchmaker and Mr. Yankowski providing for certain compensation and benefits in
the event of the termination of their employment with the Company following a
"change in control" of the Company (as defined in the respective agreements). A
"change in control" includes one which is initiated by Company management
except, (i) in the agreements with Mr. Martinez and Mr. Watchmaker, in the case
of a leveraged buy-out or recapitalization of the Company in which the executive
participates as an equity investor and (ii) in the agreement with Mr. Yankowski
in the case of a leveraged buy-out or recapitalization of the Company as long as
he retains all the benefits of his employment agreement and his change-of
control agreement following the buy-out or
15
<PAGE> 18
recapitalization and his stock options are converted to replacement options or
other form of equity no less favorable than that generally adopted for other
senior executives of the Company. In each agreement, if the executive's
employment with the Company were to terminate (other than as a result of the
death, total disability or retirement of the executive at or after his normal
retirement date) within 24 months following a change in control and the
termination is (a) by the Company for a reason other than as a result of a
conviction of the executive for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or
(b) by the executive if the Company fails to maintain the executive in the
positions, with the titles, that he held immediately prior to the change of
control, following a downgrading of his responsibilities or authority or if the
Company makes certain other changes or reductions in the executive's
compensation as specified in the agreement, then the Company will pay to the
executive a lump-sum cash payment equal to 300% of the aggregate of his (i)
then-current annual base salary, (ii) his target bonus for the then-current
year, or, if higher, his bonus for the most recent calendar year ended before
the change of control, (iii) the amount of his then-current annual automobile
allowance and (iv) the annual cost of life insurance then furnished to him by
the Company. In addition, all of the executive's outstanding stock options,
restricted shares and other similar incentive rights and interests will become
immediately and fully vested and exercisable. The executive will be treated for
purposes of the Company's Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan ("SERP") as
having three additional years of continuous service and the Company will pay to
him in a single lump-sum cash payment the present value of his benefit under the
SERP. The Company will pay to the executive, in a single lump-sum cash payment,
an amount equal to the difference, if any, between (i) the total distribution
that he receives following his termination under the Company's Profit-Sharing
and Retirement Plan and its Excess Benefits Plan and (ii) the total distribution
that he would have received under such plans had he accumulated three additional
years of service for vesting prior to termination. The executive and his
dependents will also continue to participate fully at the expense of the Company
in all accident and health plans provided by the Company immediately prior to
the change in control, or receive substantially equivalent coverage, until the
third anniversary of his termination of employment. In addition, the agreements
provide that the executive will be reimbursed by the Company for any legal fees
and expenses incurred by him as a result of the termination of his employment.
The agreements provide that if it is determined that any payment or benefit
provided by the Company to or on behalf of the executive, either under the
executive's change of control agreement or otherwise, is subject to the excise
tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, the Company will make
an additional lump-sum payment to the executive which will be sufficient to make
the executive whole for all taxes and any associated interest and penalties
imposed under or as a result of Section 4999. Mr. Martinez, Mr. Watchmaker and
Mr. Yankowski are required under the agreements not to leave voluntarily the
employ of the Company in the event that any person or entity initiates a change
in control until such time as the effort terminates or the change in control is
completed.
The Company has non-competition agreements with Mr. Martinez, Mr. Meers and
Mr. Watchmaker under which each executive has agreed not to compete, directly or
indirectly, with the Company during his employment and pursuant to which the
Company has the right to extend the non-competition requirement for a period of
up to one year after his termination of employment with the Company (the
"Non-Competition Period"). During the Non-Competition Period, the Company will
pay the executive an amount equal to one-half of his base salary as in effect on
his termination date and will continue certain medical coverage benefits, except
that, if the Company terminates the executive's employment without "cause" (as
defined in the agreement), the executive would be entitled to 100% of his base
salary as of the date of his termination.
The Company has an employment agreement with Carl J. Yankowski. See
"Transactions with Management and Affiliates" below.
The Company has an employment agreement with Mr. Meers effective July 14,
1998, under which he assumed responsibility for special projects at the
direction of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company
16
<PAGE> 19
beginning on the effective date of the agreement continuing until his employment
with the Company is scheduled to end on December 31, 1999 (the "Termination
Date"). Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Meers receives a base salary of
$750,000 through the Termination Date and is eligible to participate in the
Management Performance Incentive Plan for 1998, subject to the terms and
conditions of that Plan, with a target bonus of 100% of his base salary (but is
not eligible for a bonus for calendar year 1999). If Mr. Meers voluntarily
terminates his employment with the Company or if the Company terminates his
agreement for "cause", as defined in the agreement (and described below) prior
to the Termination Date, his eligibility for salary continuation, bonus
eligibility and all other Company benefits will cease on the date of such
termination. The Company may terminate the agreement for "cause", which is
defined in the agreement to be (i) conviction of a felony or misdemeanor
involving moral turpitude which has a material adverse effect on the Company or
on Mr. Meers' ability to perform his obligations under the agreement, (ii)
conduct amounting to fraud or gross misconduct, (iii) violation of his
non-competition or confidentiality obligations set forth in his Non-Competition
and Employee Agreements, or (iv) his repeated failure to act in good faith in
the performance of his obligations under the agreement.
The above description is only a summary of the agreements which the Company
has with its various executive officers and is qualified in its entirety by the
actual agreements, copies of which have been filed as Exhibits to the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K.
REPORT OF COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee has submitted the following report:
The Committee in 1998 consisted of Geoffrey Nunes, Chair, William F.
Glavin, M. Katherine Dwyer (appointed February 24, 1998) and Thomas M. Ryan
(appointed May 5, 1998). The Compensation Committee's responsibilities include
setting the compensation level for the Chief Executive Officer and reviewing
compensation levels for all other executive officers of the Company.
Compensation for these other individuals is established by the Chief Executive
Officer. The Committee also functions as the stock option committee, and in that
capacity grants all stock options to executive officers.
During 1998, as part of a review of Mr. Fireman's total compensation
program, the Committee reviewed comparative compensation data from a group of
other companies in the shoe and apparel industries and leading consumer products
companies assembled by an outside compensation consulting firm (this data was
also reviewed in connection with evaluating the compensation of the other
executive officers of the Company, as described below). The Committee decided to
continue Mr. Fireman's base salary at $1,000,000 per year for 1998 and to
establish Mr. Fireman's target bonus at 100% of his base salary. Mr. Fireman's
salary and bonus target were established in 1990 and have not been changed since
that time. The Committee believes that this places Mr. Fireman's base salary at
approximately the median of similarly situated chief executive officers and Mr.
Fireman's target bonus at approximately the 75th percentile of similarly
situated executive officers, in each case based on the survey data. Mr.
Fireman's bonus for 1998 was determined under the Company's Executive
Performance Incentive Plan as discussed more fully below.
The Committee reviews the compensation for all other executive officers on
an annual basis. As part of such review, the Committee met in February 1998 and
reviewed comparative compensation data from a group of 14 other companies in the
shoe and apparel industries and leading consumer products companies. While
several of these companies are included in the Standard and Poor's and Textiles
Apparel Manufacturers Indices used as peer group indices in the comparison of
five year cumulative total return graph included in this Proxy Statement, the
Compensation Committee believes that the Company's most direct competitors for
executive talent are not confined to the companies that would be included in a
peer group established to compare shareholder returns. Thus, the companies
surveyed for compensation purposes were not the same as
17
<PAGE> 20
those included in the peer group indices. Target total compensation levels for
Reebok executive officers were generally in the 75th percentile of the
compensation for the companies surveyed and the Committee determined that this
was appropriate given the complexity, volatility and risks/rewards associated
with Reebok's business.
In February 1998, the Committee established financial criteria for the
executive officers of the Company for 1998 under the Company's Executive
Performance Incentive Plan (the "Bonus Plan"). The Bonus Plan permits bonuses to
be paid only if the financial criteria established by the Committee are met.
Thus, bonuses paid under the Bonus Plan qualify for a tax deduction pursuant to
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. For 1998 the
financial criteria were based on two factors: pre-tax operating profit and cash
flow from operations. For certain executives, these criteria are assessed
against the Company's financial results, for others they are assessed against
the results of a particular operating unit for which the executive is
responsible, and for other executives, their total bonus award is based on a
combination of both. The Committee also determined in February 1998 the amount
of the target award that would be paid if the financial criteria were satisfied.
For 1998, participants had the ability to earn 100% of their target award if the
financial criteria were satisfied and could earn more than 100% of the target
award if the criteria were exceeded. Target awards were fixed as a percentage of
base salary and ranged from 33.33% to 100%. As indicated above, Mr. Fireman's
target bonus is 100% of his base salary and for 1998 was calculated based on the
performance of the Company measured by the two specified financial criteria,
with each of the two criteria given equal weight.
Bonuses for the executive officers for 1998 were determined in accordance
with the Company's Bonus Plan and the Company's actual 1998 financial results.
In February 1999, the Committee met to review the Company's actual financial
results for 1998 and to determine whether such results satisfied the financial
criteria established under the Bonus Plan. For the Reebok Brand and Corporate
groups, (a) the pre-tax operating profit target was not met for 1998, and (b)
the Company met the cash flow target for the year. The Rockport and the Reebok
Europe groups did not meet their financial targets for the year. Based on these
financial results, the Bonus Plan provided for maximum funding (the "Bonus
Funding Amount") of 50% of the target bonuses which were calculated based on the
financial results of the Reebok Brand and Corporate groups, and 0% of the target
bonuses that were calculated based on financial results for the Rockport and
Reebok Europe groups. However, the Compensation Committee then had the ability
to reduce any bonus award paid to an executive officer based on an individual
assessment of each executive officer's performance in 1998 and whether such
executive officer had met his individual performance objectives for the year.
Based on such assessment, a decision was then made as to the actual bonus each
executive should receive. In addition, if an executive failed to manage
departmental expenses consistent with his budget, his bonus was subject to a
minimum 50% reduction. In the case of Mr. Fireman, because the Company met its
cash flow target for 1998, Mr. Fireman was entitled to funding of 50% of his
target bonus under the Bonus Plan. The Committee then reviewed Mr. Fireman's
individual performance and determined that he had met certain of his individual
performance objectives for 1998 and thus should be awarded a bonus under the
Plan. However, Mr. Fireman declined to accept a bonus, and the Committee
concurred, based on the current financial performance of the Company.
In addition to the bonus awards provided under the Executive Performance
Incentive Plan, certain executive officers who are not responsible for operating
units were awarded a separate discretionary bonus based on their individual
performance. The bonuses were awarded in recognition of each executive's
performance and his satisfaction of his individual performance objectives. The
bonuses ranged in amount from 13.33 to 20 percent of the executive's base
salary.
In August 1998, the Compensation Committee met to review the compensation
package proposed for Carl Yankowski, the new President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Reebok Brand. As part of such review,
18
<PAGE> 21
the Committee considered external market data for comparable positions,
precedents with respect to predecessors in the position and fairness vis-a-vis
other current executives in the Company. Based on this assessment, the Committee
approved the package proposed for Mr. Yankowski (which is detailed in his
Employment Agreement), as well as a significant stock option grant for shares of
Reebok Common Stock. The amount of the grant was determined based on an
assessment of the number of option shares that was appropriate to grant to an
executive in Mr. Yankowski's position and was intended to be in lieu of regular
annual grants for his position during the initial term of Mr. Yankowski's
employment agreement.
The Committee generally grants stock options to executive officers to
provide long-term performance related incentives that link rewards directly to
shareholder gains over a multi-year period. Under the Company's current program,
the stock options for officers of the Company generally vest over a four year
period in equal installments. The stock options awarded to executive officers
have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company's Common
Stock on the date of grant.
In February 1998, the Compensation Committee approved a stock option grant
to an executive officer to reflect the fact that the executive had taken on more
senior-level and broader responsibilities.
On October 6, 1998, the Compensation Committee approved an Option Exchange
and Restructuring Program ("Option Exchange Program") intended both to provide
certain employees with a more meaningful equity-based incentive arrangement and
to reduce the number of stock options outstanding. The Company's stock option
program is intended to provide an incentive for participants to contribute to
the success of the Company and to provide a means to retain valued employees.
Since the date of grant and original pricing of many outstanding employee stock
options, the Company's stock price had declined significantly due in large part
to unfavorable industry conditions, resulting in most of the Company's employee
stock options being "out of the money". This left the Company without an
effective equity-based incentive program. The Committee determined that as a
result of the significant decrease in the Company's stock price, the objectives
of its equity-based incentive program were not being met. After meeting with an
independent compensation consultant and considering various alternatives to
address employee retention and long-term compensation, the Committee decided it
was in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to offer the
Option Exchange Program to employees.
Under the terms of the Option Exchange Program, then-current employees of
the Company, if they chose, were allowed to exchange their existing underwater
options for new options, with a new four-year vesting schedule, for a smaller
number of shares (at a ratio of 1.25:1) priced at $12.625, the market price on
the date of grant. No partial exchanges were permitted. The expiration dates of
the new options are the later of (i) the original option's expiration date or
(ii) October 16, 2003. A total of 3,822,428 shares were exchanged by the
Company's employees. None of the executive officers of the Company who were also
directors, including Mr. Fireman and Mr. Yankowski, nor Mr. Meers, nor any of
the other directors of the Company were eligible to participate in the Program.
Certain other executive officers, including Mr. Martinez, Mr. Watchmaker and Mr.
Best, were included in the Option Exchange Program and elected to exchange their
options.
On December 9, 1998, the Compensation Committee reviewed the compensation
arrangement for Mr. Meers and it was the consensus of the Committee to provide
some additional benefit to him because of his long and valued service to the
Company. To provide this benefit, the Committee granted to him a new option for
200,000 shares at current market value and fully vested as of the date of grant,
December 9, 1998. In order to minimize the dilutive effect of this grant,
options covering an aggregate of 185,000 shares granted to Mr. Meers in July
1996 and January 1997 in connection with the Company's Dutch Auction self-tender
offer were canceled. The amount of shares to be included in the new grant was
established using the Black-Scholes method of valuation to determine the number
of shares sufficient to provide to Mr. Meers a target net value set by the
Committee, after forfeiture of his Dutch Auction self-tender option shares.
19
<PAGE> 22
In adopting and administering executive compensation plans and
arrangements, the Committee considers whether the deductibility of such
compensation will be limited under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, and, in appropriate cases, will attempt to structure such
compensation so that any such limitation will not apply.
Geoffrey Nunes, Chair
M. Katherine Dwyer
William F. Glavin
Thomas M. Ryan
PERFORMANCE GRAPHS
The following graph shows a five-year comparison of cumulative total
returns for the Company's Common Stock, the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index,
and the Standard & Poor's Shoes and Textile Apparel Manufacturers Indices* from
December 31, 1993 to December 31, 1998. The graph assumes an investment of $100
on December 31, 1993 in each of the Company's Common Stock and the stocks
comprising the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index and the Standard & Poor's Shoes
and Textile Apparel Manufacturers Indices. Each of the indices assumes that all
dividends were reinvested.
TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURNS
(DIVIDENDS REINVESTED)
[5-YEAR GRAPH OMITTED]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REEBOK
INTERNATIONAL TEXTILES
LTD. S&P 500 INDEX FOOTWEAR-500 (APPAREL)-500
------------- ------------- ------------ -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Dec93 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
Dec94 132.82 101.32 135.70 97.94
Dec95 95.86 139.40 183.99 109.99
Dec96 143.53 171.40 305.84 151.12
Dec97 98.46 228.59 206.11 162.97
Dec98 50.83 293.91 201.74 141.04
</TABLE>
- ---------------
* The Standard & Poor's Shoes and Textile Apparel Manufacturers Indices were
selected in order to compare the Company's performance with companies in each
of the two primary lines of business in which the Company is engaged. The
indices do not, however, include all of the Company's competitors, nor all
product categories and lines of business in which the Company is engaged.
The following graph shows a comparison of cumulative total returns for the
Company's Common Stock, the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index, and the Standard
& Poor's Shoes and Textile Apparel Manufacturers Indices from July 26, 1985, the
date of the Company's initial public offering, through December 31, 1998, and
20
<PAGE> 23
was prepared in the same manner as the five-year performance graph. This graph
is included to show the Company's historical stock performance for the entire
period since the Company's stock first became publicly traded.
TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURNS
(DIVIDENDS REINVESTED)
[PERFORMANCE GRAPH OMITTED]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REEBOK
INTERNATIONAL TEXTILES
LTD. S&P 500 INDEX FOOTWEAR-500 (APPAREL)-500
------------- ------------- ------------ -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
26-Jul85 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
Dec85 139.14 112.05 112.27 120.88
Dec86 348.43 132.91 121.99 173.32
Dec87 320.60 139.80 114.82 139.73
Dec88 377.96 163.02 182.58 158.19
Dec89 597.60 214.67 284.03 208.41
Dec90 370.08 208.00 288.90 181.28
Dec91 1077.51 271.38 595.38 290.74
Dec92 1117.30 292.05 642.40 309.48
Dec93 996.17 321.49 451.73 234.00
Dec94 1323.07 325.74 613.01 229.18
Dec95 954.93 448.14 831.16 257.39
Dec96 1429.80 551.04 1381.59 353.63
Dec97 980.84 734.88 931.08 381.36
Dec98 506.39 944.89 911.34 330.02
</TABLE>
TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT AND AFFILIATES
The Company has an employment agreement with Carl J. Yankowski, Executive
Vice President of the Company and President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Reebok Division, effective September 8, 1998 (the "Employment Agreement"), which
has an initial term of five years after which, unless notice is given by either
party six months prior to the termination date, it automatically continues for
continuously renewing one-year periods. Under the terms of the Employment
Agreement, Mr. Yankowski receives an initial base salary of $800,000 to be
reviewed initially in March 2000 and annually thereafter and is entitled to
receive an annual bonus of up to 100% of his base salary based on achievement of
certain financial and management performance goals on the same basis as other
senior executives of the Company. Under the Employment Agreement the Company
granted to Mr. Yankowski an option to purchase 500,000 shares of Reebok Common
Stock at an option price of $17.125, the market price on the date of grant,
which becomes exercisable for forty percent of the shares on September 8, 2000,
for twenty percent on September 8, 2001, September 8, 2002 and September 7,
2003, respectively. This option was intended to be in lieu of regular annual
grants for his current position during the initial term of the Employment
Agreement. The Employment Agreement contains a non-competition provision under
which Mr. Yankowski agrees that during his employment with the Company and for
one year thereafter, he will not accept any position with any Reebok competitor.
The Employment Agreement may be terminated prior to the end of its term by Mr.
Yankowski without good reason upon ninety days' prior notice or with good reason
(as defined in the Employment Agreement) upon fourteen days' prior notice. The
Company may terminate the Employment Agreement upon written notice for cause (as
defined in the Employment Agreement) or for other reasons. In the event of Mr.
Yankowski's voluntary termination without good reason, in the event of
termination by the Company for
21
<PAGE> 24
cause, or termination as a result of his death or incapacity, he is entitled to
payment of his base salary only until the last day of his employment. If his
employment is terminated as the result of his voluntary termination with good
reason, he is entitled to continuation of his base salary through the balance of
the term of the Employment Agreement (but in no event less than twelve months or
more than thirty-six months). In the event of termination of the Employment
Agreement by the Company for non-performance (as defined in the Agreement), he
is entitled to collect as severance his base salary for a period of eighteen
months following the date of termination. If the Company terminates the
Employment Agreement for other reasons, he is entitled to payment of his base
salary through the balance of the term of the Employment Agreement (but in no
event less than twelve months) and to his annual incentive compensation for the
year in which termination occurs and certain other benefits.
Under the terms of Mr. Yankowski's Employment Agreement, the Company loaned
Mr. Yankowski $1,000,000, on an interest free basis, evidenced by a promissory
note dated September 11, 1998. Under the terms of the loan, if Mr. Yankowski (i)
is employed by the Company for the full period from September 8, 1998 through
September 7, 2001 and (ii) does not terminate his employment with the Company
prior to September 8, 2003 for other than "good reason" (as defined in the
Employment Agreement), then on September 8, 2003, the full amount of the loan
will be forgiven by the Company as of September 8, 2001. If Mr. Yankowski's
employment is terminated prior to September 7, 2001, for "cause" (as defined in
the Employment Agreement), he is required to repay a pro rata portion of the
loan as set forth in the agreements, based on the number of days he was employed
by the Company. In the event Mr. Yankowski's employment is terminated
voluntarily by him for "good reason" (as defined in the Employment Agreement),
his employment is terminated as a result of his death or incapacity, or the
Company terminates his employment for other than cause, the full amount of the
loan will be forgiven by the Company. If Mr. Yankowski terminates his employment
with the Company prior to September 7, 2003 for other than "good reason" (not
including death or incapacity), he must repay the full amount of the loan.
In April 1996, the Company entered into a three-year agreement with Harlem
Globetrotters International, Inc. (the "Globetrotters") under which Reebok is
the exclusive athletic footwear and apparel sponsor of the Globetrotters and
supplies Reebok products to the Globetrotters. Under the agreement, Reebok has
also been granted a license to produce and sell Reebok products bearing the
Globetrotter's team trademark for a royalty payment of 5% of Reebok's production
cost, with specified guaranteed royalty payments. During 1998, Reebok paid to
the Globetrotters $100,000 and supplied to the Globetrotters product having a
retail value of approximately $400,000. Mannie L. Jackson, a director of the
Company, is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and majority owner of the
Globetrotters.
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO THE 1987 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
On February 23, 1999, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
and the Board of Directors unanimously approved an amendment to the 1987
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan"), subject to shareholder
approval, to increase the number of shares available for grants of options under
the Purchase Plan from 2,000,000 to 3,000,000. The increase in shares authorized
under the Plan is needed in order to provide sufficient shares to continue to
offer employees of the Company the opportunity to purchase shares of the
Company's Common Stock under the Purchase Plan.
The Purchase Plan affords eligible employees of the Company an opportunity
to acquire shares of Common Stock of the Company at a discount from market
price. The Plan authorizes the grant of options to each employee of the Company,
or a participating subsidiary of the Company, having at least six months of
continuous service on the date of grant if such employee elects to participate.
However, any employee who immediately after the grant of an option is determined
under the provisions of the Internal Revenue
22
<PAGE> 25
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") to own 5% or more of the Common Stock
would not be eligible to participate. There are approximately 2,500 employees
who are eligible to participate in the Purchase Plan as of March 11, 1999, at
which time the market value of a share of Common Stock was $17.50.
The Purchase Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee. Options
are granted twice yearly, on January 1 and July 1, and are exercisable effective
on the succeeding June 30 or December 31. The exercise price for options granted
under the Purchase Plan is the lower of 85% of the fair market value of the
Common Stock at the time of grant or 85% of the fair market value at the time of
exercise. Options are exercisable through accumulation of payroll deductions of
not less than 2% nor more than 10% of the employee's compensation as defined in
the Purchase Plan for the number of whole shares determined by dividing the
balance in the employee's withholding account on the last day of the option
period by the purchase price per share for the Common Stock determined under the
Plan. The number of shares each employee is entitled to purchase is subject to
proportionate reduction if the number of shares then being offered under the
Purchase Plan is over-subscribed. No employee may be granted an option under the
Purchase Plan which would permit him or her to purchase shares of Common Stock
under the Purchase Plan (and any similar plans of the Company or any subsidiary)
at a rate which exceeds $12,500 in fair market value of Common Stock for each
period during which the option would be outstanding.
An employee may cancel his or her option at any time prior to exercise, and
upon such cancellation, payments made will be returned to the employee. Each
employee's rights in an option will be exercisable during his or her lifetime
only by the employee and may not be sold, pledged, assigned, or otherwise
transferred. The employee may elect to have the amount credited to his or her
withholding account at the time of his or her death applied to the exercise of
his or her options for the benefit of named beneficiaries.
The Purchase Plan is intended to be an "employee stock purchase plan" as
defined in Section 423 of the Code. As a general matter, an employee will not
realize any taxable income upon purchase of such shares. If the shares acquired
under the Purchase Plan are disposed of more than two years from the date of
grant of the option, or in the event of the death of the employee (whenever
occurring) while the employee owns the shares, ordinary compensation income will
result equal to the lesser of (i) the excess of the fair market value of the
shares at the time of disposition or death over the purchase price, or (ii) 15
percent of the shares' fair market value at the time the option was granted. Any
additional gain will be long-term capital gain. If shares acquired under the
Purchase Plan are disposed of less than two years after the date of grant of the
option, the employee will generally realize ordinary compensation income equal
to the excess of the fair market value of the shares at time of purchase over
the purchase price, with any additional gain constituting long-term or
short-term capital gain depending on the employee's holding period for such
shares. The Company will not be entitled to any tax deduction in connection with
the grant or exercise of options under the Purchase Plan unless an employee
disposes of shares acquired under the Purchase Plan within the two-year period
described above, in which case the Company will be entitled to a tax deduction
in an amount equal to the amount of ordinary income realized by the employee at
the time of such disposition.
23
<PAGE> 26
The following table sets forth the number of shares purchased in 1998 under
the Purchase Plan and the exercise price paid therefor by the Chief Executive
Officer, each of the four other most highly compensated executive officers, all
current executive officers as a group, and all employees as a group:
BENEFITS UNDER THE 1987 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF AVERAGE
NAME AND POSITION SHARES PURCHASED EXERCISE PRICE
----------------- ---------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
Paul B. Fireman(1).......................................... None --
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Robert Meers................................................ 867 $17.94
Executive Vice President
Angel Martinez.............................................. None --
Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
Kenneth Watchmaker.......................................... 867 17.94
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Roger Best.................................................. None --
Senior Vice President
All current executive officers as a group (7 persons)....... 3,468 17.94
All employees as a group (approximately 850 persons)........ 223,583 17.10
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Under the terms of the Purchase Plan, Mr. Fireman is not eligible to
participate because he owns more than 5% of the Company's Common Stock.
As of March 11, 1999, there were 253,290 shares available for future grants
of options under the Purchase Plan. Unless the number of shares reserved for
issuance pursuant to options granted under the Purchase Plan is increased, there
will not be sufficient shares reserved for issuance under the Purchase Plan to
permit the continued granting of options to employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries under the Plan. The Board of Directors recommends voting in favor
of increasing the number of shares available under the Plan because the Plan
offers an opportunity for a large number of employees to participate in the
Company's success through ownership of Company stock that can be purchased at a
discount, thereby providing a valuable employee benefit and aligning employee
interests with shareholder benefits.
An affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present, in person or by
proxy, and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to approve the
amendment to the 1987 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR
PROPOSAL 2.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL
The following proposal was submitted on behalf of the New York City Fire
Department Pension Fund (the "Fire Department Fund"), a shareholder of the
Company, by Alan G. Hevesi, Comptroller of the City of New York. The Fire
Department Fund has informed the Company that its address is 1 Centre Street,
New York, NY 10007 and that it is the owner of approximately 6,860 shares of the
Company's Common Stock.
"BE IT RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Reebok International Ltd. request
that the Board of Directors take the necessary steps to declassify the Board of
Directors and establish annual elections of directors, whereby directors would
be elected annually and not by classes. This policy would take effect
immediately, and be applicable to the re-election of any incumbent director
whose term, under the current classified system, subsequently expires."
24
<PAGE> 27
SUPPORTING STATEMENT
We believe that the ability to elect directors is the single most important
use of the shareholder franchise. Accordingly, directors should be accountable
to shareholders on an annual basis. The election of directors by classes, for
three-year terms, in our opinion, minimizes accountability and precludes the
full exercise of the rights of shareholders to approve or disapprove annually
the performance of a director or directors.
In addition since only one-third of the Board of Directors is elected
annually, we believe that classified boards could frustrate, to the detriment of
long-term shareholder interest, the efforts of a bidder to acquire control or a
challenger to engage successfully in a proxy contest.
We urge your support for the proposal which requests the Board of Directors
to take the necessary steps to repeal the classified board and establish that
all directors be elected annually.
STATEMENT OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDING
A VOTE AGAINST THIS STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL
The Board believes that the present system of electing directors of the
Company in three classes is in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders and should not be changed.
A classified board offers important advantages to stockholders and is the
preferred method of governance for the majority of Fortune 500 companies.
Moreover, a classified board protects shareholders against potentially coercive
takeover tactics, whereby a party attempts to acquire control on terms that do
not offer the greatest value to all stockholders. Because a classified board
prevents the immediate removal of directors, any person seeking to acquire
control of the Company is encouraged to negotiate with the Board. This ensures
the Board sufficient time to develop and consider appropriate strategy and
enhances its ability to negotiate the best result for all stockholders.
In addition, Massachusetts law, under which the Company is incorporated,
requires all publicly-held corporations to have a classified board, unless the
company affirmatively exempts itself from such requirement. The legislative
history surrounding enaction of this law shows a decided preference for
classified boards in the interest of public policy.
The Board believes that a classified board enhances continuity and
stability in the Company's management and policies since a majority of the
directors at any given time will have had prior experience and familiarity with
the business of the Company. This continuity and stability facilitates more
effective long-term planning and is integral to increasing the Company's value
to stockholders. Moreover, such continuity helps the Company attract and retain
qualified individuals willing to commit the time and dedication necessary to
understand the Company, its operations and competitive environment.
The Board is committed to corporate accountability and does not accept the
proposition that a classified board insulates directors from responsibility. A
classified board permits stockholders to annually change one-third of the
directors and thereby substantially change the Board's composition and
character. Corporate accountability depends on the selection of responsible and
experienced individuals, not on whether they serve terms of one year or three.
The Company understands that the Board should be responsive to shareholders
and has taken steps to assure corporate accountability through such measures as
maintaining a majority of outside directors (six of nine); and having only
outside directors on the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the
Board Affairs Committee, which has responsibility for corporate governance
issues. In addition, to encourage the alignment of the interests of the members
of the Board with those of shareholders, the Board has a policy mandating
required levels of stock ownership by its Directors and requiring the deferral
of at least 40% of an
25
<PAGE> 28
outside directors' annual retainer into Reebok Common Stock. Moreover, to
promote regular inclusion on the Board of new perspectives and talent, the Board
has a term limit policy generally requiring that outside directors who have
served twelve or more years on the Board should not be renominated for
additional terms.
Finally, shareholders should be aware that adoption of this stockholder
proposal would not eliminate board classification and institute the annual
election of directors, but would constitute merely a recommendation by the
stockholders that the Board consider enacting such a change. The affirmative
vote of two-thirds of the outstanding shares or a vote of the directors is
required to opt out of the Massachusetts law and declassify the Board.
For the reasons outlined above, the Board has concluded that a classified
board is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders and thus is
opposed to the Fire Department Fund's shareholder proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE AGAINST
THIS PROPOSAL 3.
OTHER INFORMATION
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 of changes in ownership with the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange.
Executive officers and directors are required by SEC regulations 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 forms furnished to the
Company and written representations from the Company's executive officers and
directors, all required Section 16(a) filings were made.
AUDIT MATTERS
Ernst & Young LLP has been selected to audit the consolidated financial
statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 1999, and to report
the results of their audit to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
A representative of Ernst & Young LLP is expected to be present at the
Annual Meeting and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from
shareholders.
ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES
On February 24, 1998, the Company's Board of Directors approved an
amendment to the bylaws providing for certain advance notice procedures. As a
result, under the Company's bylaws, nominations for director may be made only
(a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or an appropriate committee
of the Board of Directors or (b) by any stockholder of record who is entitled to
vote for the election of directors at the meeting who has delivered notice to
the principal executive offices of the Company (containing certain information
specified in the bylaws) (i) not less than 75 nor more than 120 days prior to
the first anniversary date of the preceding year's annual meeting or (ii) if the
meeting is called for a date which is more than 75 days prior to such
anniversary date, not later than the close of business on the 10th day following
the date notice of such meeting is mailed or made public, whichever is earlier.
Under recent changes to the federal proxy rules, if a stockholder who wishes to
present such a proposal fails to notify the Company by the date required by the
Company's bylaws, then the proxies that management solicits for the annual
meeting will include discretionary authority to vote on the stockholder's
proposal in the event it is properly brought before the meeting notwithstanding
the Company's bylaws.
26
<PAGE> 29
The bylaws also provide that no business may be brought before an annual
meeting except as specified in the notice of the meeting or as otherwise brought
before the meeting (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b) by
the presiding officer, or (c) by a stockholder entitled to vote at such annual
meeting who has delivered notice to the principal executive offices of the
Company (containing certain information specified in the bylaws) (i) not less
than 75 nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding
year's annual meeting, or (ii) if the meeting is called for a date which is more
than 75 days prior to such anniversary date, not later than the close of
business on the 10th day following the date notice of such meeting is mailed or
made public, whichever is earlier. These requirements apply to any matter that a
stockholder wishes to raise at an annual meeting other than those stockholder
proposals included in the Company's proxy materials in accordance with the
procedures under Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
A copy of the full text of the bylaws provisions discussed above may be
obtained by writing to the Clerk of the Company at 100 Technology Center Drive,
Stoughton, Massachusetts 02072 and is filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as an exhibit to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1997.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Proposals of shareholders submitted for consideration at the Annual Meeting
of Shareholders in 2000 must be received by the Company no later than November
30, 1999.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Board of Directors knows of no business that will properly come before
the meeting for action except as described in the accompanying Notice of
Meeting. However, as to any such business which properly comes before the
Meeting, the persons designated as proxies will have discretionary authority to
act in their best judgment.
FORM 10-K
A copy of Reebok's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission is available without charge by writing to: Office of
Investor Relations, Reebok International Ltd., 100 Technology Center Drive,
Stoughton, Massachusetts 02072.
March 26, 1999
27
<PAGE> 30
0417-PS-99
<PAGE> 31
PROXY
ANNUAL MEETING OF REEBOK INTERNATIONAL LTD.
May 4, 1999
The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints KENNETH WATCHMAKER and
BARRY NAGLER, or either one of them with power of substitution to each, proxies
to vote and act at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at BankBoston,
Long Lane Conference Room, Second Floor, 100 Federal Street, Boston,
Massachusetts on May 4, 1999 at 10:00 a.m., and at any adjournments thereof,
upon and with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company as
to which the undersigned may be entitled to vote or act. The undersigned
instructs such proxies, or their substitutes, to vote in such manner as they may
determine on any matters which may come before the meeting, all as indicated in
the accompanying Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement, receipt of which is
acknowledged, and to vote on the following as specified by the undersigned. All
proxies heretofore given by the undersigned in respect of said meeting are
hereby revoked.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Unless
otherwise specified in the boxes provided on the reverse side hereof, this proxy
will be voted IN FAVOR of all nominees for director, FOR proposal 2, AGAINST
proposal 3 and in the discretion of the named proxies as to any other matter
that may come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE SEE REVERSE SIDE
<PAGE> 32
[X] Please mark
votes as in
this example.
The Board of Directors Recommends a vote "FOR" Proposals 1 and 2.
1. Election of Class III Directors.
The undersigned hereby GRANTS authority to elect as Class III directors the
following nominees:
Nominees: Paul B. Fireman, Thomas M. Ryan, Carl J. Yankowski
FOR WITHHELD
ALL [ ] [ ] FROM ALL
NOMINEES NOMINEES
[ ] ____________________________________________
For all nominees except as noted above
2. To approve an amendment to the 1987 Employee Stock Purchase Plan to
increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance by
1,000,000 shares.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
[ ] [ ] [ ]
The Board of Directors Recommends a vote "AGAINST" proposal 3.
3. Shareholder proposal to request the Board to take action to declassify the
Board of Directors.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
[ ] [ ] [ ]
PLEASE DO NOT FOLD THIS PROXY.
MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE AT LEFT [ ]
Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear hereon. When signing as attorney,
executor, administrator, trustee, or guardian, please sign your full title as
such. Each joint owner should sign.
Signature: _____________________________ Date _________________
Signature: ______________________________ Date _________________
