<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. ...................... / / )
Filed by the rgistrant /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 Rule 14a-11(c) or
Rule 14a-12
Steve's Homemade Ice Cream, Inc.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Board of Directors of Steve's Homemade Ice Cream, Inc.
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
/X/ $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(j)(2).
/ / $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
14a-6(i)(3).
/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:*
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4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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/ / 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: 125
-----------------------------------------------
2) Form Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
--------------------------
3) Filing Party: Steve's Homemade Ice Cream, Inc.
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4) Date Filed: 5/16/95
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- ---------
*Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined.
<PAGE>
STEVE'S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM, INC.
4175 Veterans Highway
Ronkonkoma, New York 11779
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD July 26, 1995
To The Stockholders of Steve's Homemade Ice Cream, Inc.:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
Steve's Homemade Ice Cream, Inc. (the "Company") will be held on July 26, 1995,
at 10:00 A.M. at the offices of Tenzer, Greenblatt LLP, 405 Lexington Avenue,
New York, New York 10174, 14th floor, for the following purposes:
1. To elect five (5) directors to hold office until the 1996
Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their respective successors
have been duly elected and qualified; and
2. To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve an
amendment to the Company's 1991 Stock Option Plan to increase the
maximum number of shares of common stock as to which options may be
granted thereunder from 570,000 to 1,070,000 shares; and
3. To amend the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to
change the name of the Company to INTEGRATED BRANDS INC.
4. To transact such other business as may properly come before
the meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on June 20, 1995
are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments
thereof.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Richard E. Smith
Chairman of the Board
June 13, 1995
IF YOU DO NOT EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING, PLEASE FILL IN,
DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD, WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF
MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. THE PROXY MAY BE REVOKED AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO
EXERCISE, AND IF YOU ARE PRESENT AT THE MEETING YOU MAY, IF YOU WISH, REVOKE
YOUR PROXY AT THAT TIME AND EXERCISE THE RIGHT TO VOTE YOUR SHARES PERSONALLY.
<PAGE>
STEVE'S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM, INC.
-------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
-------------------------
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD July 26, 1995
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation
of proxies by the Board of Directors of Steve's Homemade Ice Cream, Inc. (the
"Company") for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on July 26,
1995, including any adjournment or adjournments thereof, for the purposes set
forth in the accompanying Notice of Meeting.
Management intends to mail this proxy statement and the accompanying
form of proxy to stockholders on or about June 19, 1995.
The costs of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. It is
estimated that said costs will be nominal.
Proxies in the accompanying form, duly executed and returned to the
Company and not revoked, will be voted at the meeting. Any proxy given pursuant
to such solicitation may be revoked by the stockholder at any time prior to the
voting of the proxy by a subsequently dated proxy, by written notification to
the Secretary of the Company, or by personally withdrawing the proxy at the
meeting and voting in person.
The address of the principal executive offices of the Company is:
4175 Veterans Highway
3rd Floor
Ronkonkoma, New York 11779
Telephone No.: (516) 737-9700
Proxies which are executed but which do not contain any specific
instructions will be voted in favor of all of the directors named herein.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on June 20, 1995
(the "Record Date") are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.
As of the Record Date, the Company had 9,953,288 shares of Class A Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), outstanding, each share entitled
to one vote.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the Common
Stock owned on April 21, 1995 (i) by each person who is known by the Company to
own beneficially more than 5% of the Common Stock, (ii) by each of the Company's
directors and (iii) by all directors and officers as a group:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Amount and
Nature of
Name and Address Beneficial Percent
of Beneficial Owner Ownership(1) of Class
------------------- ------------ --------
<S> <C> <C>
Richard E. Smith
4175 Veterans Highway
Ronkonkoma, New York 11779................. 2,547,200 25.6%
</TABLE>
-3-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Amount and
Nature of
Name and Address Beneficial Percent
of Beneficial Owner Ownership(1) of Class
------------------- ------------ --------
<S> <C> <C>
Gerard M. Tucci (2)
4175 Veterans Highway
Ronkonkoma, New York 11779................. 228,568 2.3%
Karl Eller
Red River Resources, Inc.
2122 East Highland Avenue
Suite 425
Phoenix, Arizona 85016...................... 100,000 1.0%
Benjamin Raphan
c/o Tenzer Greenblatt LLP
405 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10174................... 164,100 1.6%
David M. Smith (3)
4175 Veterans Highway
Ronkonkoma, New York 11779................. 533,000 5.3%
Directors and officers as a
group (8 persons) (4) ...................... 4,115,033 39.9%
</TABLE>
- ----------------------------
(1) A person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of any security of which that
person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. The
named individuals have sole voting and investment power with respect to the
shares held by them.
(2) Includes 85,000 shares of stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options
exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 25, 1995 issued under the
Company's stock option plan.
(3) Includes 16,000 shares of Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options
exercisable within sixty (60) days of April 25, 1995 issued under the
Company's stock option plan.
(4) Includes 353,500 shares of stock issuable upon the exercise of stock
options held by certain of the Company's executive officers exercisable
within sixty (60) days of April 25, 1995 issued under the Company's stock
option plan. Also includes 1,535 shares of Common Stock as to which one of
the executive officers disclaims beneficial ownership.
PROPOSAL I.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The proxies granted by stockholders will be voted at the Annual Meeting
for the election of the persons listed below as directors of the Company, to
serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors
are duly elected and qualified. Each of the persons named has indicated to the
Board of Directors of the Company that he will be available as a candidate.
-4-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year of
Name Age First Election Position
----- ---- -------------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Richard E. Smith 51 1985 Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer
and Director
Gerard M. Tucci 43 1989 Vice President -- Opera-
tions, Secretary and
Director
Karl Eller 66 1993 Director
Benjamin Raphan 57 1993 Director
David M. Smith 24 1993 Vice President, Director
</TABLE>
All directors are serving a current term of office which continues
until the next annual meeting of stockholders.
Richard E. Smith has been Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive
Officer and a Director of the Company since October 1985. Mr. Smith has also
been the Chairman of the Board, Secretary and a Director of Calip Dairies, Inc.
for more than the past five years. Calip Dairies, Inc. is a major distributor of
ice cream products in the New York metropolitan area. Calip Dairies, Inc. also
owns the trademarks and tradenames of Dolly Madison Ice Cream. Since 1980, Mr.
Smith has also been Chairman of the Board, Secretary and a Director of Frusen
Gladje Franchise, Inc., which owns the worldwide right to franchise and license
Frusen Gladje ice cream stores and the worldwide right to sell, market and
distribute Frusen Gladje bulk ice cream to food service and institutional
customers. Mr. Smith was the founder of Frusen Gladje, Ltd. and was its Chairman
of the Board and Chief Executive Officer until the sale of Frusen Gladje to
Kraft, Inc. in 1985.
Gerard M. Tucci has been the Vice President -- Operations and Secretary
of the Company since October 1985 and Director of the Company since December
1989. Mr. Tucci has also been the Vice President -- Operations of Calip Dairies,
Inc. since 1981.
Karl Eller has been a Director of the Company since September 1993.
Since 1992 Mr. Eller has been the President of Eller Outdoor Advertising Co.,
Inc., an advertising company, and since 1980 the Chairman of the Board of Red
River Resources, Inc., a holding company. From 1983 through 1990 Mr. Eller was
the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Circle K Corporation, an owner
and operator of convenience stores. The Circle K Corporation filed a petition
under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in May 1990. From 1980 to
1987 he was the Chairman of the Board of Swensen's, Inc. Mr. Eller currently
serves on the Board of Directors of Inter-Tel, Inc., a telephone communications
company, El Dorado Company, an investment company, and the Phoenix Suns of the
National Basketball Association.
-5-
<PAGE>
Benjamin Raphan has been a Director of the Company since
September 1993. Mr. Raphan has been a partner at Tenzer
Greenblatt LLP, the Company's general counsel, since 1970.
David M. Smith has been a Vice President of the Company
since December 1989. David M. Smith is the son of Richard E.
Smith.
During the fiscal year ended December 3, 1994, the Board of Directors
held 2 meetings. The Company does not have standing audit, nominating or
compensation committees of the Board of Directors, or committees performing
similar functions, other than a Stock Option Committee.
Executive Officers
Name Age Position
- ---- --- --------
Gary P. Stevens 49 President, Treasurer and
Chief Financial Officer
John R. Welty, Jr. 44 Vice President
David J. Stein 33 Vice President
Gary P. Stevens, has been President of the Company since June 1990 and
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer since April 1989. He was a Vice Chairman
of the Board of the Company from August 1988 until June 1990. Mr. Stevens became
a Director of Swensen's, Inc. in October 1987 and served as President of
Swensen's, Inc. from October 1987 until June 1990.
John R. Welty, Jr., has been the President of Swensen's, Inc. and a
Vice President of the Company since June 1990. From November 1986 through
October 1987, he was Group Vice President -- Corporate Operations and from
October 1987 through May 1990, he served as Executive Vice President of
Swensen's, Inc.
David J. Stein has been a Vice President of the Company since December
1989.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
On September 1, 1994, the Company purchased one million shares of
common stock from Red River Resources, Inc. at the price of $0.70 per share.
Karl Eller, a director of the Company, is the sole stockholder of Red River
Resources, Inc.
On September 1, 1994, the Company purchased one million shares of
common stock from Andal Corp. at the price of $0.75 per share. At the time of
the purchase Andal Corp. owned in excess of 10% of the outstanding Common Stock
of the Company.
The Company has entered into an agreement with Calip Dairies, Inc. (the
"Distributor") terminable on 30 days' notice, to sell to the Distributor at an
agreed upon price, the Company's products for distribution to certain retail
outlets in New York, New Jersey, southern Connecticut and the
Philadelphia-Delaware areas. The Company believes that the price at which the
Company's products are sold to the Distributor is competitive with the prices
generally paid by distributors for similar products in the New York metropolitan
area. Sales of ice cream to the Distributor for the year ended December 31, 1994
were approximately $1,695,000.
Certain officers of the Company are also officers of the Distributor
and will be obtaining customers and site locations for T & W dip shops as well
as for Steve's Ice Cream Stores and Swensen's Ice Cream Shoppes. While the
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<PAGE>
Company believes that desirable locations for T & W dip shops, Steve's Ice Cream
Stores and Swensen's Ice Cream Shoppes are different for the most part, there
will be some overlap, and there can be no assurance that such decisions will not
adversely affect the Company.
On April 15, 1986, the Company entered into a Management Agreement with
the Distributor which, as extended in April 1992, expires April 15, 1996.
Pursuant to the terms of the Management Agreement, the Distributor will provide
a portion of the management, administrative and other personnel required for the
operation of the Company's business until April 15, 1996. For the services
provided by the Distributor, the Distributor will receive an annual management
fee equal to 10% of the gross revenues of the Company, up to $5,000,000 in gross
revenues, and 2% of gross revenues thereafter up to a maximum annual fee of
$1,000,000. In addition, the Distributor is entitled to receive an additional
incentive management fee equal to 5% of the Company's annual net after tax
income in excess of $3,000,000. While the Management Agreement was not
negotiated at arms' length, the Company believes that the terms of the
Management Agreement are fair. The management fee for the year ended December
31, 1994 was approximately $751,000.
During the year ended December 31, 1994, the Company paid Tenzer
Greenblatt LLP, general counsel to the Company, approximately $154,000 for legal
fees. Mr. Benjamin Raphan, a director of the Company, is a partner in Tenzer
Greenblatt LLP.
In December 1994, the Company authorized the issuance to Karl Eller, a
director of the Company, of 5 year options to purchase 100,000 shares of the
Company's Common stock at an exercise price of $.72 per share.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires
the Company's officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a
registered class of the Company's equity securities ("10% Holders"), to file
reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"). Officers, directors, and 10% Holders are required by SEC
regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they
file.
To the Company's knowledge, based solely on the Company's
review of the copies of such forms received by the Company, or written
representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms 5 were required for
those persons, the Company believes that, during the year ended December 31,
1994, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers,
directors, and 10% Holders were met.
-7-
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table discloses the compensation awarded by the
Company, for the three fiscal years ended December 31, 1994, January 1, 1994 and
January 2, 1993 to Mr. Gary P. Stevens, its President and Chief Financial
Officer during such fiscal years, and Mr. John R. Welty, Jr., the President of
Swensen's and a Vice President of the Company, who were the only executive
officers of the Company whose salaries equaled or exceeded $100,000 during the
1994 fiscal year.
Summary Compensation Table
--------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Annual Long Term
Name and Principal Compensation Compensation
- ------------------ ----------------------- -------------
Position(1) Year Salary($) Bonus($) Options (#)
- ------------------ ---- -------- -------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Gary P. Stevens 1994 130,548 -
President, Chief 1993 130,548 20,000 -
Financial Officer and 1992 130,200 85,000(2)
Treasurer
John R. Welty, Jr. 1994 119,548 -
Vice President, 1993 112,184 -
President of 1992 108,783 50,000(3)
Swensen's Inc.
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(1) Richard E. Smith, the Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, Gerard M. Tucci, the Vice
President-Operations and Secretary of the Company and David
M. Smith a Vice President of the Company are paid by other
companies affiliated with Mr. Richard Smith. Pursuant to
the terms of the Management Agreement with the Company,
Calip Dairies, Inc., receives a management fee for
providing a portion of the management, administrative and
other personnel as required by the Company. The management
fee for the year ended December 31, 1994 was $751,000. See
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions. ---
(2) The options to Mr. Stevens were granted on July 18, 1991
with an exercise price of $.6875 per share, subject to
vesting over a five-year period as follows: 23,000 shares
in 1991, 17,000 shares in 1992 and 15,000 shares in each of
1993, 1994 and 1995. On July 18, 1991 the Company
cancelled options issued to Mr. Stevens to purchase 10,000
shares at $1.12 per share.
(3) The options to Mr. Welty were granted on July 18, 1991 with
an exercise price of $.6875 per share, subject to vesting
over a five-year period as follows: 14,500 shares in 1991,
10,000 shares in 1992 and 8,500 shares in each of 1993,
1994 and 1995. On July 18, 1991 the Company cancelled
options issued to Mr. Welty to purchase 7,500 shares at
$1.12 per share.
-8-
<PAGE>
The following table sets forth information concerning the
value of unexercised stock options held by the named executive officers as of
December 31, 1994. During such fiscal year no stock options were exercised.
Aggregate Year-End Option Values
--------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Value of
Number of Unexercised
Unexercised In-the-Money
Options at Options at
December 31, 1994 December 31, 1994
Shares ----------------------- ---------------------
Acquired on Value Rea- Exerci- Unexer- Exerci- Unexer-
Name Exercise (#) lized ($) sable cisable sable cisable
- ---- ------------ ---------- ------- ------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Gary P. - - 70,000 15,000 $ 76,125 $ 16,313
Stevens
John R. - - 41,500 8,500 $ 45,131 $ 9,244
Welty, Jr.
</TABLE>
PROPOSAL II
AMENDMENT OF 1991 STOCK OPTION PLAN TO INCREASE THE
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES AS TO WHICH OPTIONS MAY BE GRANTED
THEREUNDER FROM 570,000 TO 1,070,000
At the Annual Meeting the Company's shareholders will be asked
to approve an amendment to the Company's 1991 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") to
increase the maximum number of shares of Common Stock as to which options may be
granted under the Plan from 570,000 to 1,070,000.
Options are outstanding covering 479,050 of the 570,000 shares
of Common Stock as to which options may be granted under the Plan. In the
opinion of the Board of Directors, the limited number of shares available for
the grant of options under the Plan may limit the value of the Plan as a means
of providing incentive compensation to key personnel. The Board believes that
increasing the number of shares from 570,000 to 1,070,000 will enable the
Company to continue to attract and retain personnel of the highest caliber, by
providing to officers, key employees, directors, consultants and other
independent contractors who perform services for the Company the opportunity,
through the granting of stock options, to participate in the value and/or
appreciation in value of the Company's Common Stock. The Board has found that
the grant of options under the Plan has proved to be a valuable tool in
attracting and retaining key employees. Accordingly, the Board believes that the
proposed increase (i) will provide the Company with significant means to attract
and retain talented personnel, (ii) will result in saving cash, which otherwise
would be required to maintain current key employees, and adequately attract
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<PAGE>
and reward key personnel, and (iii) consequently will prove beneficial to the
Company's ability to be competitive.
If the above-described amendment to the Plan is approved by
the stockholders, additional options may be granted under the Plan, the timing,
amounts and specific terms of which cannot be determined at this time.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" the above
proposal to amend the Company's 1991 Stock Option Plan.
Stock Option Plan
The Company had previously adopted a Stock Option Plan (the
"Plan") pursuant to which 570,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock have been
reserved for issuance to key employees, officers, agents, consultants and others
upon exercise of options designated as "incentive stock options" within the
meaning of Section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), or "nonqualified options." The Board of Directors has, subject to
Shareholder approval, amended the Plan to increase the number of options to be
granted under the Plan by 500,000 shares.
The exercise price of any option which may be granted under
the Plan must not be less than the fair market value of the Company's Common
Stock on the date of grant. With respect to any participant who owns more than
10% of the Company's outstanding voting stock, the exercise price of an
incentive stock option must be not less than 110% of fair market value of the
stock on the date of grant. In the event the Company's Common Stock is not
publicly traded at the time an option is granted, fair market value will be
determined by the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors.
The Plan contains antidilution provisions authorizing appropriate adjustments in
certain circumstances. Shares of the Company's Common Stock subject to options
which expire without being exercised or which are cancelled as a result of
cessation of employment, are available for further grants.
The Plan is administered by the entire Board of Directors or
by a committee appointed by the Board of Directors. A member of the committee is
not eligible to participate in the Plan while a member of the committee. Options
granted under the Plan are generally exercisable within 5 years from the date of
grant. Options are not transferable or assignable, except upon the death of the
optionee. Options may be exercised only while the optionee is employed by the
Company and, under certain circumstances, for three months thereafter, except
that, in the event of death while employed or within three months after
termination of employment, options may be exercised during a 12-month period
following death. The Company may not, in the aggregate, grant incentive stock
options that are first exercisable by an optionee in any calendar year to the
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<PAGE>
extent that the aggregate fair market value of the underlying stock (determined
at the date of grant) exceeds $100,000. In July 1991, options for 147,500 shares
at an exercise price of $1.12 per share were cancelled and options to purchase
an aggregate of 479,050 shares were granted under the Plan at an exercise price
of $.6875 per share. Each exercise price was the mean between the bid and asked
market price of said shares at the time of grant. No options were exercised
through March 31, 1995. Messrs. Stevens, Tucci, Welty, Stein and David Smith
received 85,000, 100,000, 50,000, 50,000 and 20,000 options, respectively.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and
Insider Participation In Compensation Decisions
The Company does not have a Compensation Committee of its Board of
Directors or other committee performing similar functions. Decisions as to
compensation are made by the Company's Board of Directors based primarily upon
recommendations made by Mr. Richard E. Smith, the Company's Chairman of the
Board.
Report on Executive Compensation
There is no compensation committee of the Board of Directors or other
committee of the Board performing equivalent functions. As noted above,
compensation of the Company's executive officers is determined by the Board of
Directors pursuant to recommendations made by Richard E. Smith, Chairman of the
Board. There is no formal compensation policy for the Company's executive
officers.
Total compensation for executive officers consists of a combination of
salaries, bonuses and stock option awards. The salary of the Company's President
and other executive officers is fixed annually by the Board of Directors. Annual
bonuses to these executive officers are based generally on the Company's
performance and available resources. Base salary and bonus compensation of other
executive officers is based on the Company's financial performance and the
executive's individual performance and level of responsibility. Stock option
awards under the Company's Stock Option Plan are intended to attract, motivate
and retain senior management by affording them an opportunity to receive
additional compensation based upon the performance of the Company's Common
Stock.
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 ("Code"),
enacted in 1993 and effective for taxable years beginning in 1994, generally
disallows a tax deduction to public companies for compensation over $1,000,000
paid to any of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and four other highest
compensated executive officers. The Code and currently proposed regulations
issued under the Code contain certain exclusions from this limitation and
provide transition rules and relief, as applicable, for stockholder approval
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<PAGE>
and other requirements with respect to awards under the Plan. All options
granted to date under the Plan qualify for transition relief and, therefore,
compensation recognized with respect to such options in the future will not
count in applying the limitation of Section 162(m) of the Code, provided that
there are no material modifications made to such options. Any compensation
recognized with respect to options granted under the Plan in the future will not
qualify for exemption under Section 162(m) of the Code unless certain changes
are made in the Plan in accordance with such provision and the regulations
promulgated thereunder.
The Board of Directors recognizes that part of the 1994 annual
compensation paid to one or more of the covered executive officers may not
qualify for exemption, but the amount of such 1994 compensation is expected to
be significantly less than $1,000,000. The Board of Directors is reluctant,
however, to make changes at this time to the executive compensation programs
solely for tax purposes, at least until final regulations are issued. At that
time, the Board of Directors will assess the practical impact of the new tax
legislation on executive compensation and determine what action, if any, is
appropriate.
Richard E. Smith
Gerard M. Tucci
Karl Eller
Benjamin Raphan
David M. Smith
PROPOSAL III.
TO APPROVE AMENDMENT TO THE
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION, AS AMENDED
On June 12, 1995, the Board of Directors of the Company
approved the following resolutions, subject in each case to approval by the
stockholders at the 1995 Annual Meeting of Stockholders:
RESOLVED, that Article First of the Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, of Steve's Homemade Ice Cream, Inc.
shall be amended in its entirety to read as follows:
ARTICLE FIRST. The name of this Corporation is
INTEGRATED BRANDS INC.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that at any time prior to the filing of the
foregoing amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended,
with the Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey, notwithstanding
authorization of such amendment by the stockholders of the Company, the Board of
Directors of the Company many abandon such amendment without further action by
the stockholders of the Company."
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<PAGE>
The Board of Directors believes that the change in corporate
name to "INTEGRATED BRANDS INC." will better reflect the scope of the business
of the Company. The Board of Directors believes that it is appropriate because
the name Steve's Homemade Ice Cream, Inc. implies an unnecessarily limited
description of the Company's business. The Company is engaged in the marketing
and distribution of a wide variety of brand name frozen dessert products. The
Company believes that the new name more accurately reflects the Company's
current and future businesses. If the proposed amendment to the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, is approved by the stockholders and is
not abandoned by the Board of Directors, such amendment will become effective
when a certificate of amendment of the Company's Certification of Incorporation,
as amended, is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" the above
proposal to change the name of the Company. The affirmative vote of a majority
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the 1995 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders will be necessary for approval. Unless otherwise
instructed, the proxies will vote FOR approval of the amendment and the related
authorization to the Board of Directors.
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<PAGE>
Stock Performance Graph
The following line graph compares, from January 1, 1990
through December 31, 1994, the cumulative total return among the Company,
companies comprising the NASDAQ Market Index and a Peer Group Index, based on an
investment of $100 on January 1, 1990 in the Company's Common Stock and each
index, and assuming reinvestment of all dividends, if any, paid on such
securities. The Company has not paid any dividends and, therefore, the
cumulative total return calculation for the Company is based solely upon stock
price appreciation. The Peer Group Index consists of The Value Line Food
Processors: Small Capitalization Index comprised of 22 publicly traded companies
in the food business. Historic stock price is not necessarily indicative of
future stock price performance.
Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Return*
Steve's Homemade Ice Cream, Russell 2000 And Value Line Food Processors:
Small Cap Index
(Performance Results Through 12/31/94)
$200.00|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| & & |
| & |
$150.00|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| # & # |
| * # # |
| # & |
$100.00|----*&#-----------------------------------------------------------|
| & * |
| |
$50.00|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| * * * |
| |
$0.00|----|----------|---------|-----------|-----------|-----------|----|
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Steve's Homemade Ice Cream $100.00 $ 26.83 $121.95 $ 85.37 $ 48.78 $ 48.78
Russell 2000 $100.00 $ 80.49 $117.56 $139.21 $165.52 $162.24
Food Processors: Small Cap $100.00 $114.11 $132.38 $134.80 $132.99 $137.74
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
*=Steve's Homemade Ice Cream &=Russell 2000 #=Food Processors: Small Cap
Assumes $100 invested at the close of trading 12/89 in Steve's Homemade Ice
Cream common stock, Russell 2000 and Food Processors: Small Cap
* Cumulative total return assumes reinvestment of dividends.
Source: Value Line, Inc.
Factual material is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but the
publisher is not responsible for any errors or ommissions contained herein.
-14-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
BDO Seidman has examined and reported upon the financial statements of
the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994 and has been selected by
the Board of Directors to examine and report upon the financial statements of
the Company for the year ending December 30, 1995. BDO Seidman has no direct or
indirect interest in the Company or any affiliate of the Company. A
representative of BDO Seidman is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting
with the opportunity to make a statement if he desires to do so and is expected
to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1996 ANNUAL MEETING
Stockholders who wish to present proposals appropriate for
consideration at the Company's 1996 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must submit
the proposals in proper form to the Company at its address set forth on the
first page of this proxy statement not later than November 1, 1995 in order for
the proposals to be considered for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement
and form of proxy relating to such Annual Meeting.
OTHER INFORMATION
Proxies for the Annual Meeting will be solicited by mail and through
brokerage institutions and all expenses involved, including printing and
postage, will be paid by the Company.
A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
1994 HAS BEEN FURNISHED TO EACH STOCKHOLDER OF RECORD AS OF THE CLOSE OF
BUSINESS ON JUNE 20, 1995. ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE ANNUAL REPORT WILL BE
PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO:
Steve's Homemade Ice Cream, Inc.
4175 Veterans Highway
Ronkonkoma, New York 11779
Attention: Gerard M. Tucci, Secretary
The Board of Directors is aware of no other matters, except for those
incident to the conduct of the Annual Meeting, that are to be presented to
stockholders for formal action at the Annual Meeting. If, however, any other
matters properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof, it
is the intention of the persons named in the proxy to vote the proxy in
accordance with their judgment.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Richard E. Smith
Chairman of the Board
June 13, 1995
-15-
