Viad Corp
----------
VIAD TOWER
PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85077-1424
Robert H. Bohannon
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
March 31, 1997
Dear Stockholder:
Your 1997 Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 13, at 9:00 a.m., in
the Ballroom
of The Ritz-Carlton Phoenix, 2401 East Camelback Road, Phoenix, Arizona. As
the meeting will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m., please plan to arrive earlier. The
formal notice of the meeting follows on the next page.
No admission tickets or other credentials will be required for attendance
at the meeting. You may use the hotel's free valet parking, and, for your
convenience, arrangements have been made with the hotel to have the gratuity
charged to the Corporation. If you use this valet service, please notify the
valet that you are attending the Viad Corp stockholders' meeting.
Directors and officers will be present preceding and following the meeting
to talk with stockholders. During the meeting there will be an opportunity for
stockholder questions regarding the affairs of the Corporation and for
discussion of the business to be considered at the meeting as explained in the
notice and Proxy Statement which follow.
It is important that you vote, sign and return the enclosed proxy as soon
as possible, whether or not you plan to attend the meeting.
Sincerely,
/s/ ROBERT H. BOHANNON
<PAGE>
Viad Corp
----------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
March 31, 1997
To the Holders of Common Stock of
Viad Corp:
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Viad Corp, a Delaware corporation,
will be held in the Ballroom of The Ritz-Carlton Phoenix, 2401 East Camelback
Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85016, on Tuesday, May 13, 1997, at 9:00 a.m., Mountain
Standard Time, for the purpose of considering and voting upon:
1. Election of directors of the Corporation as set forth in the attached
Proxy Statement; and
2. Ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP to audit the
accounts of the Corporation for the year 1997; and
3. Approval of performance goals and certain other terms under the 1997
Viad Corp Omnibus Incentive Plan; and
4. Any other matters which may properly come before the meeting and any
adjournment or adjournments thereof.
Only stockholders of record of Common Stock at the close of business March
14, 1997, are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting. A list
of the stockholders entitled to vote will be available for examination by any
stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during the time of the
meeting and for ten days prior to the meeting at the principal executive offices
of the Corporation, Viad Tower, 1850 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona.
The Annual Report for the year 1996, including financial statements, is
included with your proxy statement.
To assure your representation at the meeting, please vote, sign and mail
the enclosed proxy, which is being solicited on behalf of the Board of
Directors, as soon as possible. If your registered address is in the United
States, a return envelope which requires no postage if mailed in the United
States is enclosed for that purpose.
SCOTT E. SAYRE
Secretary
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE VOTE
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
<PAGE>
PROXY STATEMENT
OF
Viad Corp
----------
VIAD TOWER
PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85077-1424
(First Mailed March 31, 1997)
GENERAL INFORMATION
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors for the 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
the Corporation. The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the
Corporation. Solicitation will be made primarily through the use of the mails,
but regular employees of the Corporation may solicit proxies personally, by
telephone or telegram. The Corporation has retained Georgeson & Company Inc. to
assist it in connection with the solicitation at an estimated fee of $9,000 plus
out-of-pocket expenses. The Corporation will reimburse banks, brokerage firms
and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred
by them in sending proxy materials to beneficial owners of shares. The enclosed
proxy, if properly executed and returned, will be voted according to its
specifications but may be revoked at any time before it is voted by giving
notice in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation or by voting in person at
the meeting. The election inspectors will treat abstentions or a withholding of
authority as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of
determining the presence of a quorum but as unvoted for purposes of determining
the approval of any matter submitted to the stockholders for a vote. If a broker
indicates on the proxy that it does not have discretionary authority as to
certain shares to vote on a particular matter, those shares will not be
considered as present and entitled to vote with respect to that matter. If a
stockholder is a participant in the Corporation's Stockholder Dividend
Reinvestment Plan, the proxy represents the number of shares in the dividend
reinvestment plan account, as well as shares registered in the participant's
name. If a stockholder is a participant in an Employees' 401k Plan of the
Corporation or one of its subsidiaries (401k Plan) and/or the Viad Corp
Employees' Stock Ownership Plan Trust (ESOP Plan), the proxy will serve as a
voting instruction to the respective Trustee. In a 401k Plan or in the ESOP
Plan, if no voting instructions are received, the Trustees will vote those
shares in accordance with the majority of such shares voted in such Plans for
which instructions were received or in the discretion of such Trustees as their
fiduciary duty may require.
Only stockholders of record of Common Stock as of the close of business on
the record date, March 14, 1997, will be eligible to vote at the meeting. The
number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding was 95,948,419 shares. Each
outstanding share will be entitled to one vote. For those proposals for which no
directions are given, the proxy will be voted "for" the election of the
directors set forth herein and in accordance with the recommendations of the
Board of Directors or the best judgment of the proxy holders on other proposals.
To be elected, each director must receive the affirmative vote of the holders of
a plurality of the shares voting. Approval of each other proposal requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares voting on each such proposal.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors held nine meetings during 1996. It has established
the following standing committees of certain of its members to deal with
particular areas of responsibility:
1. The Executive Committee, which held fourteen meetings during 1996,
exercises all the powers of the Board in the management of the business and
affairs of the Corporation, except as limited by Delaware law and resolutions of
the Board, when the Board is not in session.
2. The Audit Committee, which met three times in 1996, recommends
appointment of the Corporation's independent public accountants and reviews
audit reports, accounting policies, financial statements, interest rate swap
transaction reports, internal audit reports, internal controls, audit fees, and
certain officer expenses; all members of this Committee are nonemployee
directors.
3. The Human Resources Committee, which met eleven times in 1996, reviews,
for recommendation to the Board, the salary of the Chief Executive Officer, and
approves salaries and compensation of executive officers and other
-1-
<PAGE>
compensation awards under various compensation plans, and also approves grants
under the Corporation's incentive stock plans (see the Human Resources Committee
Report below); all members of this Committee are nonemployee directors.
4. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, which met seven times
in 1996, is responsible for proposing a slate of directors for election by the
stockholders at each annual meeting and proposing candidates to fill any
vacancies on the Board; all members of this Committee are nonemployee directors.
The Committee will consider candidates for Board membership proposed by
stockholders who have complied with the procedures described under the caption
below entitled "Submission of Stockholder Proposals and Other Information." The
Committee also reviews and from time to time proposes changes in the
Corporation's system of Corporate Governance.
A Search Committee, which met ten times in 1996, was responsible for
recommending to the Board candidates for the positions of Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation and of its former
consumer products business prior to its spin-off to stockholders as The Dial
Corporation effective August 15, 1996.
Directors who are not employees of the Corporation receive an annual
retainer of $30,000; they also receive a fee of $1,500 for each Board of
Directors meeting attended and a fee of $1,000 for each Audit, Executive, Human
Resources, Corporate Governance and Nominating, and Search Committee meeting
attended. Directors who chair committees of the Board are paid an annual
retainer of $5,000.
Nonemployee directors may elect to participate in the Deferred Compensation
Plan for Directors of the Corporation under which payment of part or all of
their directors' fees and retainers is deferred. (Nonemployee directors also
were granted the right to elect to participate in this Plan in connection with
termination of the Director's Retirement Plan in August, 1996, pursuant to which
the accrued vested benefits of a participant were credited, in the form of stock
units, to their Deferred Compensation Plan account.) This Plan provides
participants with the option to defer their compensation in the form of stock
units related to the price of the Corporation's Common Stock, as well as the
option to defer in the form of cash. Mmes. Hofer and Rice and Messrs. Hay,
Reichert and Rock are active participants in this Plan. Such accumulated
compensation or accrued vested benefits plus interest thereon at the long-term
medium-quality bond rate for cash accounts or dividend equivalents reinvested
for stock units accounts, as the case may be, are payable to the director or to
the director's estate or beneficiary, over such period as may be designated,
upon termination as a director. At August 15, 1996, participants in the Plan who
had stock units were credited with stock units of The Dial Corporation equal to
the number of stock units of the Corporation held by each participant, with
dividends on The Dial Corporation stock units, as declared, to be credited to a
cash account.
Pursuant to the 1992 Stock Incentive Plan, 13,000 nonqualified options to
purchase Common Stock were issued to each nonemployee director on August 15,
1996, at $13.875, the average market price on the day of issue. The Corporation
also provides such directors with accidental death and dismemberment insurance
benefits of $300,000 and, in addition, travel accident insurance benefits of
$250,000 when traveling on the Corporation's business.
Mmes. Hofer and Rice and Messrs. Hay, Reichert and Teets participate in the
Director's Charitable Award Program which provides for contributions on behalf
of each participating director of $100,000 per year by the Corporation to one or
more charitable organizations designated by the director over a period of ten
years following the director's death. The program is being funded through the
purchase of life insurance on the life of the director, with the Corporation as
beneficiary.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
As of the 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Board of Directors of
the Corporation will consist of seven persons divided into three classes. At
each annual meeting the term of one class of directors expires and persons are
elected to that class for terms of three years.
The persons appointed in the enclosed proxy intend to vote at the Annual
Meeting, and any adjournment or adjournments thereof, for the election of the
nominees for directors whose names appear below, for the term indicated or until
their respective successors have been elected and have qualified, or in the
event of disqualification, refusal or inability of any of them to serve, for the
election of such other persons as they believe will carry on the present
policies of the Corporation. Each of the nominees has agreed to serve if
elected.
-2-
<PAGE>
DIRECTOR NOMINEES
The information regarding the director nominees has been furnished by such
nominees and is set forth below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Principal Occupation, Year First Common Shares
Name Other Directorships and Age Elected Owned
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Terms Expiring at the 2000 Annual Meeting
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Robert H. Bohannon* Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer 1996 31,453
of the Corporation. Age 52.
Douglas L. Rock o Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer 1996 -0-
of Smith International, Inc., a supplier of products
and services to the oil and gas drilling and
production industry. Age 50.
</TABLE>
DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE
The information regarding the directors continuing in office has been furnished
by such directors and is set forth below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Principal Occupation, Year First Common Shares
Name Other Directorships and Age Elected Owned
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terms Expiring at the 1999 Annual Meeting
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Judith K. Hofer o*+ President and Chief Executive Officer of Filene's, 1984 26,477
a retail department store division of The May
Department Stores Company. Age 57.
Jack F. Reichert o++* Chairman of the Board, Retired, and a director of 1984 1,000
Brunswick Corporation, a leader in marine power,
pleasure boating and recreation products and
services. Trustee, Carroll College; Executive in
Residence, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee;
Director, Professional Bowlers Association. Age 66.
Terms Expiring at the 1998 Annual Meeting
Jess Hay++*+ Chairman, Texas Foundation for Higher Education, 1981 7,000
and Chairman of the Board of HCB Enterprises Inc.,
a private investment firm. Retired Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Lomas Financial
Corporation, and retired Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Lomas Mortgage USA, Inc.
Also a director of Exxon Corporation, SBC
Communications, Inc., and Trinity Industries, Inc. Age 66.
Linda Johnson Rice o+++ President and Chief Operating Officer and a 1992 3,000
director of Johnson Publishing Company, Inc.,
publisher of Ebony and other magazines. Also
a director of Bausch & Lomb Incorporated, and
Kimberly-Clark Corporation. Age 39.
Timothy R. Wallace+ President and Chief Operating Officer and a 1996 -0-
director of Trinity Industries, Inc., a manufacturer
of railcar and heavy equipment. Also a director
of Halter Marine Inc. Age 43.
</TABLE>
- ----------
o Member of Audit Committee
++ Member of Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
* Member of Executive Committee
+ Member of Human Resources Committee
-3-
<PAGE>
OWNERSHIP OF THE CORPORATION'S SECURITIES
The following table sets forth certain information at March 14, 1997, or
such other date as indicated, regarding those persons known to the Corporation
to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Corporation's outstanding
Common Stock and the beneficial ownership, as defined by the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC), of such Common Stock by all directors and executive
officers of the Corporation individually and as a group: Certain Beneficial
Owners
Amount and Nature Percent of
Name and Address of Beneficial Ownership Class
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brinson Partners, Inc. 5,532,042(1) 5.8
209 S. LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60604
FMR Corp. 9,173,648(2) 9.6
82 Devonshire Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Franklin Resources, Inc. 8,784,600(3) 9.2
777 Mariners Island Boulevard
P. O. Box 7777
San Mateo, California 94403-7777
Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. 5,832,500(4) 6.1
One Financial Center
Boston, Massachusetts 02111
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 5,072,785(5) 5.3
Trustee of Viad Corp Employee Equity Trust
P. O. Box 53434
Phoenix, Arizona 85072-3434
- ----------
1. The ownership information set forth herein is based in its entirety on
material contained in a Schedule 13G, dated February 12, 1997, filed with the
SEC by Brinson Partners, Inc. With respect to the shares held, such stockholder
has shared voting power and shared dispositive power for all shares owned.
2. The ownership information set forth herein is based in its entirety on
material contained in a Schedule 13G, dated February 14, 1997, filed with the
SEC by FMR Corp. FMR Corp. is the parent holding company of Fidelity Management
Company. With respect to the shares held, such stockholder has sole voting power
for 316,900 shares and sole dispositive power for all shares owned.
3. The ownership information set forth herein is based in its entirety on
material contained in a Schedule 13G, dated March 13, 1997, filed with the SEC
by Franklin Resources, Inc. With respect to the shares held, such stockholder
has sole voting power and sole dispositive power for all shares owned.
4. The ownership information set forth herein in based in its entirety on
material contained in a Schedule 13G, dated February 13, 1997, filed with the
SEC by Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. With respect to the shares held, such
stockholder has sole voting power for 2,970,400 shares, shared voting power for
158,900 shares, and sole dispositive power for all shares owned.
5. The ownership information set forth herein is as of February 5, 1997, and is
based in its entirety on material provided by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Trustee
for the Viad Corp Employee Equity Trust. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. has disclaimed
beneficial ownership of the shares of stock in the Trust. Shares are
periodically allocated and released from the Trust to satisfy benefit funding
requirements under certain of the Corporation's compensation and benefit plans
(Plans). The Trust's shares will be voted, under confidential voting procedures,
in the same proportion as the voting instructions received from such Plans'
participants with respect to the Corporation's Common Stock allocated to such
participants' accounts. Unallocated shares held in the Trust are voted in the
same proportions as the shares for which instructions have been received or in
the discretion of such Trustee as its fiduciary duty may require.
-4-
<PAGE>
Directors and Executive Officers
Amount of Beneficial Percent of
Name Ownership(1) Class
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert H. Bohannon 109,748 *
Charles J. Corsentino 108,586 *
Jess Hay 42,195 *
Judith K. Hofer 51,885 *
L. Gene Lemon 629,441 *
Frederick J. Martin 296,408 *
Philip W. Milne 41,752 *
Paul B. Mullen 8,255 *
Ronald G. Nelson 164,268 *
Peter J. Novak 153,951 *
Andrew S. Patti 147,789 *
Jack F. Reichert 62,394 *
Linda Johnson Rice 48,735 *
Norton D. Rittmaster 153,828 *
Douglas L. Rock -0- *
Scott E. Sayre 26,203 *
Richard C. Stephan 269,818 *
John W. Teets 3,270,048 3.4
Timothy R. Wallace -0- *
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group 5,585,304 5.8
(19 persons)
- ----------
(1) Includes 3,895,593 shares of Common Stock with respect to which all the
above directors and executive officers as a group have the right to acquire
ownership within 60 calendar days through the exercise of stock options granted
under the Corporation's stock option plans.
* Less than one percent.
The Corporation's management understands the importance of aligning the
financial interests of its officer group with those of stockholders.
Accordingly, the Corporation has established specific guidelines relating to the
minimum amount of stock officers should own on a direct basis, meaning stock
which is at risk in the market, not simply held under option.
The Corporation's guidelines call for each officer to own stock which has a
value within a range of one and one-half to five times that individual's annual
salary, depending on his or her level of compensation as discussed in the Human
Resources Committee Report which follows. Most of these officers have reached
their goals and the remainder are continuing to invest towards achieving their
goals.
-5-
<PAGE>
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth compensation received for the years 1994-1996 by
each of the Corporation's seven most highly compensated executive officers in
1996:
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
------------------------
ANNUAL COMPENSATION Awards Payouts
--------------------- ------------------------
Long-Term All Other
Other Annual Restricted Securities Incentive Compensa-
Compensation Stock Underlying Payouts tion
Name and Principal Position Year Salary ($) Bonus ($) ($)(1) Awards ($)(2) Options (#)(3) ($)(4) ($)(5,6)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John W. Teets 1996 1,000,000 480,000 126,449 -- 162,800 913,371 11,011,452
Chairman and CEO (Retired) 1995 1,111,500 -- 72,807 -- 188,210 1,000,000 30,000
1994 1,199,000 1,144,000 51,061 3,468,052(7) 282,314 1,847,000 30,000
Robert H. Bohannon8 1996 307,577 225,000 110,571 -- 45,000 446,237 3,048
Chairman, President 1995 233,840 187,800 41,540 -- 26,349 322,500 4,789
and CEO 1994 217,319 99,600 25,224 -- 36,889 -- 5,057
L. Gene Lemon 1996 384,800 138,500 38,268 -- 22,500 214,523 11,544
Vice President - 1995 378,500 -- 36,323 -- 24,467 260,000 11,355
Administration 1994 366,500 208,000 28,802 641,049(7) 69,638 471,000 10,995
Frederick J. Martin 1996 385,768 259,700 40,792 -- 43,800 260,732 3,194
President of Dobbs 1995 339,600 76,400 29,870 -- 50,628 -- 4,500
International Services, Inc. 1994 309,200 215,700 21,687 420,097(7) 62,486 253,200 6,198
Andrew S. Patti 1996 346,176 188,000 39,241 -- -- 212,712 446,310
President and COO (Retired) 1995 444,980 -- 30,005 -- -- -- 13,349
1994 388,633 287,000 33,487 693,094(7) -- 502,400 11,659
Norton D. Rittmaster9 1996 249,016 256,700 46,980 -- 13,800 39,137 1,569
Chairman and CEO of GES 1995 238,262 245,600 31,236 -- 24,468 -- 7,146
Exposition Services, Inc. 1994 222,882 275,000 23,209 343,585(7) 37,454 -- 6,686
Richard C. Stephan 1996 319,033 114,900 34,192 -- 35,300 159,633 9,571
Vice President - Controller 1995 304,800 -- 32,625 -- 40,841 207,000 9,144
1994 290,731 198,000 20,901 410,404(7) 55,333 326,000 8,723
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) Amounts shown represent relocation expenses ($55,870 to Mr. Bohannon in
1996), financial counseling services, medical premiums, automobile usage,
aircraft usage ($32,954 to Mr. Teets in 1996), tax gross-ups, and other
benefits paid during 1994-1996.
(2) Dividends are paid on restricted stock and performance-based stock at the
same rate as paid to all stockholders. On December 31, 1996, the following
persons held the following amounts of Viad Corp restricted stock and/or
performance-based stock valued at then current market values: John W. Teets
440,599 shares at $7,214,809; Robert H. Bohannon, 23,600 shares at
$386,450; L. Gene Lemon, 84,452 shares at $1,382,902; Frederick J. Martin,
70,925 shares at $1,161,397; Andrew S. Patti, 92,100 shares at $1,508,138;
Norton D. Rittmaster, 43,763 shares at $716,619; and Richard C. Stephan,
63,121 shares at $1,033,606; also on December 31, 1996, the following
persons held the following amounts of The Dial Corporation restricted stock
and/or performance-based stock valued at then current market values: John
W. Teets, 395,999 shares at $5,791,485; Robert H. Bohannon, 12,700 shares
at $185,738; L. Gene Lemon, 74,152 shares at $1,084,473; Frederick J.
Martin, 60,325 shares at $882,253; Andrew S. Patti, 92,100 shares at
$1,346,963; Norton D. Rittmaster, 39,663 shares at $580,071; and Richard C.
Stephan, 54,521 shares at $797,370. In conjunction with the spin-off of the
consumer products business, holders of restricted and performance-based
stock were credited with the number of shares of The Dial Corporation
common stock equal to the number of shares of the Corporation's Common
Stock previously awarded. For performance-based stock awards outstanding on
the distribution date, the stock awarded (including shares of The Dial
Corporation common stock received in the distribution) will vest based on
the combined performance of the Corporation and The Dial Corporation
shares.
(3) As a result of the spin-off of the consumer products business effective
August 15, 1996, securities underlying options for 1995 and 1994 have been
modified so that the aggregate exercise price and the aggregate spread
before the spin-off were preserved at the time of the spin-off. In the case
of Mr. Patti, securities underlying options for 1995 and 1994, totaling
50,000 and 49,700, respectively, representing options to purchase shares of
Common Stock of the Corporation were converted to options to purchase
shares of common stock of The Dial Corporation, and were modified so that
the aggregate exercise price and the aggregate spread before the spin-off
were preserved at the time of the spin-off.
(4) Long-term incentive payouts include payments under the 1994-1996
Performance Unit Incentive Plan, the 1996 Performance Unit Incentive Plan,
and the 1994-1996 Performance-Based Stock Plan.
(5) Amounts represent matching contributions under the 401k Plan and the
Supplemental 401k Plan except as noted in footnote 6.
(6) In the case of Mr. Teets, includes $10,981,452 paid January 1997 in
connection with termination of employment agreement (which provided for an
annual salary of $1,000,000) as Chairman and CEO in December 1996; and in
the case of Mr. Patti, includes $435,925 paid August 1996 in connection
with termination of employment agreement (which provided for an annual
salary of $500,032) as President and COO.
(7) Amount shown represents an award of restricted stock to provide a tax
benefit to the Corporation while also providing an incentive to the named
executive officers to defer receipt of previously granted restricted stock
in a trust until retirement.
(8) Employment agreement, effective January 1, 1997, provides for an annual
salary of $600,000. Mr. Bohannon's current employment agreement replaces a
prior employment agreement with the Corporation, providing for an annual
salary of $400,000, which was entered into effective August 15, 1996 in
connection with his election as President and Chief Operating Officer. 9.
Employment agreement, as amended, which may be terminated at the end of
each calendar year upon written notice, provides for an annual base salary
of $256,700 and an incentive award computed as a percentage of "Annual
Profits" but not more than 100% of current annual base salary.
-6-
<PAGE>
STOCK OPTION GRANTS
The following table sets forth information on stock option grants to each
of the seven most highly compensated executive officers of the Corporation for
1996. The amounts shown for each executive officer as potential realizable
values are based on assumed annualized rates of stock price appreciation of 5%
and 10% over the full ten-year term of the options, which would result in stock
appreciation per share of $8.73 and $22.11, respectively. The amounts shown as
potential realizable values for all stockholders represent the corresponding
increases in the market value of the approximately 89.7 million (excluding 5.7
million shares held by the Employee Equity Trust) outstanding shares of the
Corporation's Common Stock held by all stockholders on August 15, 1996, and at
the option exercise price shown in the table below, which would total
approximately $782 million and $1.98 billion, respectively. These potential
realizable values are based solely on assumed rates of appreciation required by
applicable SEC regulations. Actual gains, if any, on option exercises and common
stockholdings are dependent on the future performance of the Corporation's
Common Stock and overall stock market conditions. There can be no assurance that
the potential realizable values shown in this table will be achieved.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
Potential Realizable Value at
Assumed Annual Rates of Stock
Individual Grants Price Appreciation for Option Term
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of % of Total
Securities Options
Underlying Granted to Exercise
Options Employees in Price Expiration 5% 10%
Name Granted (#)(1) Fiscal Year ($/Share)(1) Date ($) ($)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John W. Teets 162,800 10.09% 13.8750 8/15/06 1,420,579 3,600,025
Robert H. Bohannon 45,000 2.79% 13.8750 8/15/06 392,666 995,093
L. Gene Lemon 22,500 1.39% 13.8750 8/15/06 196,333 497,546
Frederick J. Martin 43,800 2.72% 13.8750 8/15/06 382,195 968,557
Andrew S. Patti None -- -- -- -- --
Norton D. Rittmaster 13,800 0.86% 13.8750 8/15/06 120,418 305,162
Richard C. Stephan 35,300 2.19% 13.8750 8/15/06 308,025 780,595
All Stockholders' Stock Price N/A N/A N/A N/A 782 million 1.98 billion
Appreciation
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(1) The exercise prices are the fair market values of the Corporation's Common
Stock on the grant date. Fifty percent (50%) of options are exercisable one
year after grant and the balance are exercisable two years after grant;
each option contains the right to surrender the option for cash, which
right is exercisable only during certain tender offers. The exercise price
may be paid by delivery of already owned shares; and tax withholding
obligations related to exercise may be paid by offset of a portion of the
underlying shares, subject to certain conditions.
AGGREGATED STOCK OPTION EXERCISES AND VALUES
The following table sets forth information on aggregated stock option
exercises for 1996, number of unexercised options at 1996 year-end
(exercisable/unexercisable), and 1996 year-end values
(exercisable/unexercisable) for each of the seven most highly compensated
executive officers of the Corporation. The amounts set forth in the two columns
relating to Unexercised Options, unlike the amounts set forth in the column
headed "Value Realized," have not been, and might never be, realized. The
underlying options might not be exercised; and actual gains on exercise, if any,
will depend on the value of the Corporation's Common Stock on the dates of
exercise. There can be no assurance that these values will be realized.
-7-
<PAGE>
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FY-END OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of
Securities Underlying Value of Unexercised
Shares Unexercised Options In-the-Money Options
Acquired on Value at FY-End (#) at FY-End ($)
Name Exercise (#)(1) Realized ($)(1) Exercisable/Unexercisable(2) Exercisable/Unexercisable(3)
- ---- ----------- --------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John W. Teets(4) 124,894 1,945,435 2,203,463 256,905 16,332,436 719,843
Robert H. Bohannon None None 78,296 58,174 361,227 156,296
L. Gene Lemon 45,866 801,562 433,188 34,733 3,132,720 96,917
Frederick J. Martin None None 196,658 69,114 1,068,939 193,654
Andrew S. Patti(5) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Norton D. Rittmaster 69,708 959,847 49,688 26,034 196,277 75,171
Richard C. Stephan 93,986 1,046,549 145,394 55,720 716,819 156,134
</TABLE>
- ----------
1. Shares/SARs acquired on exercise and value realized are prior to the August
15, 1996 spin-off of the consumer products business, except for Mr. Stephan
which included 42,910 options exercised ($263,510 value realized) following
the August 15, 1996 spin-off.
2. As a result of the spin-off of the consumer products business effective
August 15, 1996, securities underlying options have been modified so that
the aggregate exercise price and the aggregate spread before the spin-off
were preserved at the time of the spin-off.
3. The closing price of the Corporation's Common Stock on December 31, 1996
was $16.375. The information shown reflects options accumulated over
periods of up to nine years.
4. Includes SAR exercise of 88,776 shares and value realized of $1,349,395.
5. Options of the Corporation held by Mr. Patti were converted to options to
acquire shares of The Dial Corporation in connection with the spin-off of
the consumer products business, and were modified so that the aggregate
exercise price and the aggregate spread before the spin-off were preserved
at the time of the spin-off.
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN GRANTS AND ESTIMATED PAYOUTS
The following table sets forth information on Performance Unit Incentive
Plan grants and Performance-Based Stock grants for 1996 and the performance
period until payout and, for the Performance Unit Incentive Plan, the estimated
ranges of the payout under the Plan, for each of the seven most highly
compensated executive officers of the Corporation:
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN AWARDS IN LAST YEAR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Stock Based Plans
--------------------------------------------------------
Performance
Period Threshold Target Maximum
Name Number of Units Until Payout (Number of Units) (Number of Units) (Number of Units)
- ---- --------------- ------------ ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John W. Teets 19,590(1) 1 year 4,898 19,590 39,180
44,600(2) 3 years N/A N/A N/A
Robert H. Bohannon 3,110(1) 1 year 778 3,110 6,220
10,900(2) 3 years N/A N/A N/A
L. Gene Lemon 4,540(1) 1 year 1,135 4,540 9,080
10,300(2) 3 years N/A N/A N/A
Frederick J. Martin 4,650(1) 1 year 1,163 4,650 9,300
10,600(2) 3 years N/A N/A N/A
Andrew S. Patti --(3) N/A N/A N/A N/A
--(2) N/A N/A N/A N/A
Norton D. Rittmaster --(1) N/A N/A N/A
4,100(2) 3 years N/A N/A N/A
Richard C. Stephan 3,760(1) 1 year 940 3,760 7,520
8,600(2) 3 years N/A N/A N/A
</TABLE>
1. Granted pursuant to the Performance Unit Incentive Plan, under which the
assumed value of the units awarded is equal to $28.81 ($15.31 after
modification) which was the price of the Corporation's Common Stock on the
initial date of grant. As a result of the August 15, 1996 spin-off of the
consumer products business, units granted under the Performance Unit
Incentive Plan were modified such that the aggregate price and aggregate
spread before the spin-off were preserved at the time of the spin-off. The
units shown above reflect the modification. The value of the units for any
payment of an award is based on the average price of
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<PAGE>
the stock during the month following the performance period. The closing
price of the Corporation's Common Stock on December 31, 1996 was $16.375.
Payouts of awards are dependent upon achievement of return on equity and
income targets which are established at the beginning of the performance
period.
2. Performance-based stock granted under the 1992 Stock Incentive Plan is
earned pro rata as total stockholder return performance targets are met or
exceeded relative to the applicable stock index and proxy comparator group
existing at the time of each award. No performance-based stock was granted
to Mr. Patti in 1996.
3. In the case of Mr. Patti, 5,210 units granted pursuant to the Corporation's
Performance Unit Incentive Plan were converted to units of The Dial
Corporation, modified such that the aggregate price and aggregate spread
before the spin-off were preserved at the time of the spin-off.
EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AND EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
The Corporation has entered into executive severance agreements with
Messrs. Bohannon, Lemon and Stephan providing that if their employment
terminates for any reason (other than because of death, disability, or normal
retirement) within 18 months after a change in control of the Corporation, then
they shall receive severance compensation. The maximum amounts the agreements
provide for consist of a lump sum payment of three times such executive
officer's highest yearly salary, incentive plan payments and fringe benefits.
The agreements also provide a tax gross-up feature, so that such executive
officers do not have to pay excise taxes imposed by the Internal Revenue Code on
payments made pursuant to the agreement. Benefits paid are reduced by other
severance benefits paid by the Corporation, but shall not be offset by any other
amounts. Such executive officers will also be credited with years of service
equal to the greater of the number needed to assure vesting under the retirement
plans or the number of years' salary paid under the severance plan, or the
number of years needed to attain 20 years of service. An executive severance
agreement with Mr. Teets having the same terms and provisions was in force while
he was Chief Executive Officer and an employee.
The Corporation has also entered into executive severance agreements with
Messrs. Martin and Rittmaster and certain other executive officers which provide
benefits similar to those in the agreements described above, except that if
employment terminates involuntarily or they leave for a good reason (as defined)
they would receive three times their yearly salary, incentive payments and
fringe benefits, and if employment terminates because they leave voluntarily
during the 30-day period following the first anniversary of the change in
control, they would receive two times such compensation.
The employment agreement between the Corporation and Mr. Teets provided
that upon early termination without cause of Mr. Teets' employment, the
Corporation would pay to Mr. Teets all payments or benefits (or their
equivalent) that would have been paid or provided over the term of the agreement
had he remained employed by the Corporation. In addition, the Corporation agreed
to provide office space as is usual for a retired chief executive officer to Mr.
Teets for a period of five years. The Corporation and Mr. Teets determined that
it was in the best interests of each party to resolve all financial obligations
arising under the employment agreement after December 31, 1996, by payment of a
lump sum in January 1997, in the amount of $10,981,452 to Mr. Teets. In
addition, the Corporation has retained Mr. Teets as a consultant for a period of
two years at an annual retainer of $120,000, and will continue to provide
executive medical coverage to Mr. Teets and his wife.
The employment agreement between the Corporation and Mr. Patti was
terminated August 31, 1996, by mutual agreement. The Corporation and Mr. Patti
determined that it was in the best interests of each party to resolve all
financial obligations arising under the employment agreement by payment of a
lump sum in the amount of $435,925 to Mr. Patti.
The Corporation has entered into an Employment Agreement with Mr. Bohannon,
expiring December 31, 1998, providing for an annual salary of $600,000.
PENSION PLANS
The following table shows estimated annual retirement benefits payable to a
covered participant who retires at age 65 or later, for the years of service and
remuneration level indicated, under the Viad Companies Retirement Income Plan
and the schedule of the Supplemental Pension Plan which prevents the loss of
pension benefits otherwise payable except for the limitations of Section 415 of
the Internal Revenue Code. The remuneration covered by the Retirement Plan is
annual salary and annual bonus, as reported in the summary compensation table
above. The final remuneration will be calculated on the basis of the average of
participant's last five years of covered remuneration prior to retirement;
however, in some cases the average of the participant's highest five years of
annual bonus will be included in covered remuneration.
-9-
<PAGE>
PENSION PLAN TABLE(1,2)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years of Service(3)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years(4)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
125,000 20,496 30,744 40,992 51,240 61,489
150,000 24,871 37,306 49,742 62,178 74,614
175,000 29,246 43,869 58,492 73,115 87,739
200,000 33,621 50,431 67,242 84,053 100,864
225,000 37,996 56,994 75,992 94,990 113,989
250,000 42,371 63,556 84,742 105,928 127,114
300,000 51,121 76,681 102,242 127,803 153,364
400,000 68,621 102,931 137,242 171,553 205,864
500,000 86,121 129,181 172,242 215,303 258,364
600,000 103,621 155,431 207,242 259,053 310,864
700,000 121,121 181,681 242,242 302,803 363,364
800,000 138,621 207,931 277,242 346,553 415,864
900,000 156,121 234,181 312,242 390,303 468,364
1,000,000 173,621 260,431 347,242 434,053 520,864
1,100,000 191,121 286,681 382,242 477,803 573,364
1,200,000 208,621 312,931 417,242 521,553 625,864
1,300,000 226,121 339,181 452,242 565,303 678,364
1,400,000 243,621 365,431 487,242 609,053 730,864
1,500,000 261,121 391,681 522,242 652,803 783,364
1,600,000 278,621 417,931 557,242 696,553 835,864
1,700,000 296,121 444,181 592,242 740,303 888,364
1,800,000 313,621 470,431 627,242 784,053 940,864
1,900,000 331,121 496,681 662,242 827,803 993,364
2,000,000 348,621 522,931 697,242 871,553 1,045,864
2,100,000 366,121 549,181 732,242 915,303 1,098,364
2,200,000 383,621 575,431 767,242 959,053 1,150,864
2,300,000 401,121 601,681 802,242 1,002,803 1,203,364
2,400,000 418,621 627,931 837,242 1,046,553 1,255,864
2,500,000 436,121 654,181 872,242 1,090,303 1,308,364
2,600,000 453,621 680,431 907,242 1,134,053 1,360,864
2,700,000 471,121 706,681 942,242 1,177,803 1,413,364
2,800,000 488,621 732,931 977,242 1,221,553 1,465,864
2,900,000 506,121 759,181 1,012,242 1,265,303 1,518,364
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) The Internal Revenue Code (Code) and the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act (ERISA) limit the annual benefits which may be paid from a
tax-qualified retirement plan. As permitted by the Code and ERISA, the
Corporation has a supplemental plan which authorizes the payment of
benefits calculated under provisions of the retirement plan which may be
above the limits permitted under the Code and ERISA for those executives
entitled to participate in the supplemental plan.
(2) Benefits are computed on a single-life annuity basis. Such benefits reflect
a reduction to recognize some of the Social Security benefits to be
received by the employee. The amounts set forth are before any adjustment
for joint and survivorship provisions, which would reduce, in some cases,
the amounts shown in the table.
(3) The number of credited years of service for Messrs. Teets, Bohannon, Lemon,
Martin, Patti, Rittmaster, and Stephan are: 25, 3, 27, 19, 29, 17, and 27
years, respectively. Messrs. Bohannon, Lemon, Martin, Rittmaster, and
Stephan's estimated annual retirement benefits are: $289,426, $419,148,
$108,428, $123,503, and $344,808, respectively. Mr. Teets retired effective
January 1, 1997, and has retirement benefits of $1,319,029 per annum, and
Mr. Patti retired on August 31, 1996, and will have retirement benefits of
$404,286 per annum. Mr. Patti's benefits are payable by The Dial
Corporation.
(4) The Corporation's Retirement Income Plan limits the years of service
credited for purposes of calculating benefits to a maximum of 30 years. Its
Supplemental Pension Plan contains similar limits and further provides that
pension benefits set forth in this column will be payable to designated
executive officers who have completed twenty or more years of service, and
have attained age 55, including Mr. Teets.
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<PAGE>
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Several stockholder derivative complaints were filed in the Delaware Court
of Chancery in late December 1995 and early January 1996 against members of
Viad's Board of Directors, and against Viad as a nominal defendant. The
complaints variously allege fraud, negligence, mismanagement, corporate waste,
breaches of fiduciary duty, and seek equitable relief and recovery from or on
behalf of Viad for compensatory and other damages incurred by Viad as a result
of alleged payment of excessive compensation, improper investments, or other
improper activities. Viad and its counsel believe the claims are without merit.
In addition, Viad and certain subsidiaries are plaintiffs or defendants to
various other actions, proceedings and pending claims, including multiple
lawsuits filed by several hundred former railroad workers claiming asbestos
related health conditions from exposure to railroad equipment made by former
subsidiaries. Certain of these pending legal actions are or purport to be class
actions. Some of the foregoing involve, or may involve, compensatory, punitive
or other damages. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties and it is possible
that some of the legal actions, proceedings or claims referred to above could be
decided against Viad. Although the amount of liability at December 31, 1996,
with respect to these matters is not ascertainable, Viad believes that any
resulting liability will not materially affect Viad's financial position or
results of operations.
Viad is subject to various environmental laws and regulations of the United
States as well as of the states and other countries in whose jurisdictions Viad
has or had operations and is subject to certain international agreements. As is
the case with many companies, Viad faces exposure to actual or potential claims
and lawsuits involving environmental matters. Although Viad is a party to
certain environmental disputes, Viad believes that any liabilities resulting
therefrom, after taking into consideration amounts already provided for, but
exclusive of any potential insurance recoveries, will not have a material
adverse effect on Viad's financial position or results of operations.
---------------
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the
Corporation's previous filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that might incorporate
future filings, including this Proxy Statement, in whole or in part, the
following report and the Stockholder Return Performance Graphs shall not be
incorporated by reference into any such filings.
HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE REPORT
This report was prepared by the Human Resources Committee (Committee) of
the Board of Directors. Under the Committee's direction, the Corporation has
implemented an executive compensation strategy designed to enhance profitability
and stockholder value. This strategy has served the stockholders of the
Corporation for many years by motivating and rewarding executives for achieving
the Corporation's goals.
Executive Compensation Strategy
The Corporation's primary executive compensation strategy is to closely
align the financial interests of senior managers with those of the stockholders.
Specific objectives of executive compensation are:
o To maximize stockholder value
o To attract and retain highly effective executive talent
o To motivate executives to achieve the Corporation's key business goals
o To put a significant amount of pay at risk in keeping with the
Corporation's pay-for-performance objective
o To encourage ownership of the Corporation's Common Stock
To support these objectives, a significant portion of executive
compensation is tied to achieving specific business goals that favorably impact
the Corporation's stock price.
Managing Compensation
Each year the Committee conducts an in-depth review of the Corporation's
executive compensation program. This review is based in part on a comprehensive
study from a nationally recognized independent consulting firm. The consultant's
report assesses the effectiveness of the compensation program in achieving the
strategy and objectives established by the Committee. In addition, it provides a
comparison relative to practices and costs typical among a group of companies in
comparable industries among which the Corporation competes for executive talent.
The companies chosen for the comparator group used for compensation purposes
generally are not the same companies which
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<PAGE>
comprise the comparator or published industry indexes in the performance graphs
included in this proxy statement. The Committee believes that the Corporation's
most direct competitors for executive talent are not necessarily the companies
that would be included in the indexes established for comparing stockholder
returns.
The compensation program for the Corporation's executive officers for 1996
was focused on performance-based criteria and was designed by reference to
target compensation packages of executive officers at approximately the 75th
percentile of the comparator companies, but such level of compensation would be
earned only if aggressive performance criteria were achieved.
The preceding Summary Compensation Table shows the overall levels of
incentive compensation and the year-to-year variations which indicate the strong
relationship between incentive compensation and performance.
Components of Compensation
Total compensation for the Corporation's executive officers includes:
o Base salary
o Annual and long-term incentives
o Benefits
o Perquisites
A significant amount of compensation is tied to the attainment of corporate
or subsidiary performance goals. For example, annual and long-term incentives at
target comprise approximately 71% of the aggregate compensation package for Mr.
Teets and approximately 56% for other executive officers.
The Committee believes this reinforces the pay-for-performance commitment
and encourages executive officers to focus on adding value to the Corporation.
The Committee has directed management to take reasonable action necessary to
maximize the tax deductibility of executive compensation under the provisions of
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Base Salary
Each year the Committee evaluates the named executive
officers' salaries based on performance during the prior period and competitive
surveys of the Corporation's comparator companies provided by the Corporation's
compensation consultants. Performance factors considered for the named executive
officers include various aspects of personal qualities, communication skills,
management leadership skills, strategic orientation and commitment to
competitive advantage, with both objective and subjective judgments being made
in the annual performance appraisal process.
In Mr. Teets' case the Committee decided, in June of 1995, in view of the
fact that Mr. Teets' 65th birthday would occur in approximately three years and
his employment agreement required the Corporation to give three years' notice of
termination, and in view of the fact that the Board of Directors determined that
it was appropriate to consider a successor for Mr. Teets during this period, in
consultation with Mr. Teets, to replace his prior agreement with a new agreement
to address specifically Mr. Teets' role and duties in the remaining three years.
That agreement has been terminated, and all compensation considerations under
such agreement, including any salary increase, were resolved by payment of a
lump sum to Mr. Teets in the aggregate amount of $10,981,452.
The Corporation entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Bohannon in
connection with his election as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Corporation, effective January 1, 1997. The agreement
replaced a prior agreement between the Corporation and Mr. Bohannon. In making
its determination as to the terms and conditions of the agreement, the Committee
considered the following:
o Scope of duties, responsibilities and expectations of the position
o Executive experience
o General competitive practice for similar companies, particularly the
Corporation's comparator companies
o Appropriate allocation between salary and performance-based incentive
compensation
The provisions of the agreement established an initial base salary,
effective January 1, 1997, of $600,000, based on the above considerations.
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<PAGE>
In the case of the other named executive officers, their salaries generally
were targeted at between the 50th and 75th percentile of the salaries of
comparable executives at the Corporation's comparator companies, and for 1996
such officers received increases maintaining them, on average, at such
percentiles of salaries at such companies.
Annual Incentives
Executives are eligible for an annual bonus based on achieving corporate
and business unit performance targets established each year. Performance targets
are set by the Committee at the beginning of the performance period. The awards
for 1996 reflect the extent to which targets for the following goals were
approached or exceeded:
o Corporate level: Return on equity (weighted at 50%) and earnings per
share from continuing operations (weighted at 50%).
o Operating company level: Return on equity (weighted at 50%) and net
income (weighted at 50% but subject to up to 10% upward or downward
adjustment depending on achievement of a cash flow measure).
Individual target bonuses range from 10% to 60% of the executive's base
salary, depending on the level of responsibility. Actual awards at the corporate
level range from 0% to 170% of target, depending on achievement of corporate
goals. Actual awards at the operating company level range from 0% to a maximum
of 178.5% of target, depending on achievement of operating company goals and
discretionary adjustment based on individual performance.
For 1996, Mr. Teets received an annual bonus of $480,000. The bonuses of
Messrs. Teets, Lemon and Stephan were based on the Corporation achieving
applicable return on equity and earnings targets. The bonuses for the executive
officers receiving bonuses at the operating company level were based on
achieving return on equity, income and cash flow targets for their respective
units, or in Mr. Rittmaster's case, his employment agreement. Mr. Bohannon
received an annual bonus of $225,000 for 1996, based on return on equity, income
and cash flow targets for the period of time that he served as President and
Chief Executive Officer of Travelers Express Company, Inc., a subsidiary of the
Corporation, and based on return on equity and income targets at the corporate
level from August 15, 1996 to December 31, 1996, the period of time that he
served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation, prior to his
election as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.
Long-Term Incentives
To accomplish the objectives of the executive compensation program and to
encourage short-term actions consistent with longer-term improvement, the
long-term incentive plans are designed to reward measurable performance and to
build stock ownership among executive officers. Three long-term incentive
vehicles (performance units, stock options, and performance-based stock) are
utilized to achieve the Corporation's objectives.
The Performance Unit Incentive Plan is intended to focus participants on
the long-term interests of stockholders by tying incentive payments not only to
the achievement of financial measures but also to common stock performance. At
the corporate level, goals are based on earnings per share and return on equity.
For the operating companies, the goals are generally based on growth in
operating income or net income and return on equity. The Performance Unit
Incentive Plan is offered to a limited group of key executives, including the
executives whose compensation is detailed above, excluding Mr. Rittmaster.
Awards are paid if, at the end of the applicable performance period,
specific financial targets are met. Targets are set by the Committee at the
beginning of the performance period.
Performance unit grants are based on the Corporation's Common Stock price
on the date of the grant and a multiple of salary determined by an independent
consulting firm to reflect competitive practice of the comparator companies.
Participant awards can be earned depending on the degree of achievement of two
financial goals based on a matrix of 0% to 200% of the number of award units
originally granted. Award payments depend on the stock price during the month
following the performance period. The maximum amount of award units will be
earned if the maximum earnings and return on equity targets for the performance
period are met. Proportionately fewer units are earned for less than maximum
results. If average annual income or return on equity are below the threshold
levels, no units are earned. In light of the uncertainties in early 1996
surrounding the proposed spin-off of the Corporation's consumer products
business, a special one-year performance period was established with
proportionately smaller performance unit grants.
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<PAGE>
After the end of the 1994-1996 and the 1996 performance periods, Mr. Teets
earned performance unit incentive bonuses of $310,800 and $228,600,
respectively, and Mr. Bohannon earned performance unit incentive bonuses of
$324,500 and $82,600, respectively, under the Performance Unit Incentive Plan.
The performance unit incentive bonuses for Messrs. Teets and Bohannon and the
performance unit incentive bonuses of the other executive officers were based on
achieving the earnings per share or income and return on equity targets for a
three-year and one-year performance period ending December 31, 1996.
The Stock Incentive Plan provides a long-term incentive for a broader group
of key employees.
Stock options encourage and reward effective management that results in
long-term financial success. In 1996 stock options were granted for ten years
with an exercise price at fair market value on the date of grant. Half the
number of options granted can be exercised after one year and the other half
after two years. Stock option grants are a part of the named executive officers'
total compensation package, and the amounts granted are based on multiples of
salaries based on competitive practices of the Corporation's comparator
companies.
Also in 1996, under the Stock Incentive Plan, the Committee awarded certain
executive officers performance-based stock, also based on multiples of salaries
based on competitive practices of the Corporation's comparator companies, for
the purposes of focusing management's attention on value creation as measured by
returns to stockholders; retaining the management team; and building stock
ownership by executive officers in the Corporation's Common Stock. The stock
will be earned only if performance targets are met or exceeded, relative to the
applicable stock index and proxy comparator group existing at the time of each
award.
In 1996, Mr. Teets received options to purchase 162,800 shares with an
exercise price of $13.875 per share; and, including the 1996 grant, at year end
he held options to purchase 2,460,368 shares. In 1996 Mr. Teets also received a
grant of performance-based stock in the amount of 44,600 shares. He now
beneficially owns 3,270,048 shares of the Corporation's Common Stock, including
137,900 shares of performance-based stock which will not be earned by Mr. Teets
unless the performance targets are met.
In 1996, Mr. Bohannon received options to purchase 45,000 shares with an
exercise price of $13.875 per share; and, including the 1996 grant, at year end
he held options to purchase 136,470 shares. In 1996, Mr. Bohannon also received
a grant of performance-based stock in the amount of 10,900 shares. He now
beneficially owns 167,923 shares of the Corporation's Common Stock, including
23,600 shares of performance-based stock which will not be earned by Mr.
Bohannon unless the performance targets are met.
Guidelines have been adopted encouraging officers and key executives to own
a dollar amount equal to a multiple of their base pay of the Corporation's
Common Stock which is at risk in the market and not simply held under option.
These multiples range from one and one-half to five times base pay, depending on
the level of compensation of individuals within the group.
Limit on Deductibility of Certain Compensation
In 1993, Congress adopted legislation that prohibited publicly held
companies, such as the Corporation, from deducting certain compensation paid to
a named executive officer that exceeds one million dollars during the tax year.
To the extent compensation is based upon the attainment of performance goals set
by the Committee, the compensation is not included in the computation of the
limit. The Committee intends, to the extent feasible and where it believes it is
in the best interest of the Corporation and its stockholders, to qualify such
compensation as tax deductible. In this regard, the Board of Directors is
submitting performance goals and certain other terms under the 1997 Viad Corp
Omnibus Incentive Plan for approval at the 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders,
in order to allow certain of the compensation payable under this plan to be
eligible for the deduction.
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<PAGE>
Conclusion
The Committee believes that the 1996 grants of stock options and
performance-based stock, and short and long-term cash incentive plans have
successfully focused the Corporation's senior management on building
profitability and stockholder value. The grants are competitive with those
offered at comparator companies. Through these programs, a significant portion
of the Corporation's executive compensation is linked directly to individual and
corporate performance and to stock price performance.
In 1996, as in previous years, the overwhelming majority of the
Corporation's executive compensation was at risk. The Committee intends to
continue to link executive compensation to corporate performance and stockholder
return.
HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Jess Hay, Chairman
Judith K. Hofer
Linda Johnson Rice
Timothy R. Wallace
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<PAGE>
STOCKHOLDER RETURN PERFORMANCE GRAPHS
Set forth below is a line graph comparing, for the five-year period ended
December 31, 1996, the yearly percentage change in the cumulative total
stockholder return on the Corporation's Common Stock against the cumulative
total return of the Standard & Poor's Midcap 400 Stock Index and the Commercial
and Consumer Services Industry Index.
Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Return*
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A LINE CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Viad Corp 100 122.5 121.1 131.0 187.1 205.2
S&P Midcap 400 100 111.9 127.4 122.9 160.8 191.6
Commercial
& Consumer Services 100 108.9 116.3 108.1 129.1 150.1
- ----------
* Assumes $100 invested on the last trading day of 1991 and all dividends
were reinvested. Post spin-off results include The Dial Corporation's stock
price and dividend.
** Includes: CPI Corp, FlightSafety International, Inc., Ogden Corporation,
PHH Corp, The Pittston Brink's Group, Rollins, Inc., and Sotheby's
Holdings, Inc.
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<PAGE>
The indexes used last year consisted of the Standard & Poor's Composite 500
Stock Index and an index consisting of the following consumer products
companies: Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., CPC International, Inc., The Clorox
Company, Colgate-Palmolive Company, General Mills, Inc., The Gillette Company,
Marriott Corporation, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, PepsiCo, Inc.,
Premark International, Inc., The Procter & Gamble Company, Quaker Oats Company,
Ralston Purina Company, Sara Lee Corporation, Unilever United States, Inc., and
Whitman Corporation. As a result of the spin-off, the Corporation is no longer
primarily engaged in the consumer products business. The Corporation is now
included in the Standard & Poor's Midcap 400 Stock Index and is engaged
primarily in providing commercial and consumer services. Therefore, it is
believed that the most meaningful indexes would be the Standard & Poor's Midcap
400 Stock Index and the Commercial and Consumer Services Industry Index. A
comparison using last year's indexes is set forth below.
Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Return*
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A LINE CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Viad Corp 100 122.5 121.1 131.0 187.1 205.2
S&P 500 100 107.6 118.4 120.0 165.0 202.7
Consumer
Comparators 100 109.5 112.8 118.8 160.0 201.0
- ----------
* Assumes $100 invested on the last trading day of 1991 and all dividends
were reinvested. Post spin-off results include The Dial Corporation's stock
price and dividend.
** Pre-spinoff Comparator Group includes: Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., CPC
International, Inc., The Clorox Company, Colgate-Palmolive Company, General
Mills, Inc., The Gillette Company, Marriott Corporation, Minnesota Mining
and Manufacturing Company, PepsiCo, Inc., Premark International, Inc., The
Procter & Gamble Company, Quaker Oats Company, Ralston Purina Company, Sara
Lee Corporation, Unilever United States, Inc., and Whitman Corporation.
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SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The following resolution concerning the appointment of independent public
accountants will be offered at the meeting:
RESOLVED, that the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP to audit the
accounts of the Corporation and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year 1997 is
hereby ratified and approved.
Deloitte & Touche LLP has audited the accounts of the Corporation and its
subsidiaries for many years and has been appointed by the Board of Directors of
the Corporation upon the recommendation of the Corporation's Audit Committee as
the Corporation's independent public accountants for 1997. It is expected that a
representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP will attend the meeting, respond to
appropriate questions, and be afforded the opportunity to make a statement.
Members of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, none of whom are
employees of the Corporation, are Judith K. Hofer, Chairman, Jack F. Reichert,
Linda Johnson Rice and Douglas L. Rock.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the approval of the
appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Corporation's independent public
accountants for 1997.
APPROVAL OF PERFORMANCE GOALS AND CERTAIN OTHER
TERMS UNDER THE 1997 VIAD CORP OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
The Corporation's Board of Directors has unanimously approved the 1997 Viad
Corp Omnibus Incentive Plan (the "1997 Plan") pursuant to which officers,
employees and directors of the Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries may
be awarded stock options and other performance-based stock, and may be paid
annual and long-term incentive awards.
The 1997 Plan provides for incentive compensation similar to incentive
compensation provided in existing plans approved by the Board of Directors for
many years. However, pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code,
performance goals and certain other terms of the 1997 Plan must be approved by
the Corporation's stockholders to qualify as "performance-based" compensation
awards under the 1997 Plan deductible by the Corporation for federal income tax
purposes. Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code")
generally does not allow publicly-held companies to obtain tax deductions in any
year for compensation of more than one million dollars paid to their chief
executive officer, or any of their other four most highly compensated executive
officers, unless such payments are "performance-based" in accordance with
conditions specified in that law. Section 162(m) requires stockholder approval
of the employees eligible to receive such compensation as well as an express
limitation on the number of shares which may be awarded to any individual during
a specified period as stock options, stock appreciation rights (SARs) and
restricted stock and an express limitation on the amount of cash payable to any
participant during a specified period. In addition, for awards other than stock
options and SARs, stockholder approval of the material terms of the performance
goals upon which such awards are to be conditioned is required.
The 1997 Plan includes features intended to permit the Human Resources
Committee of the Board (the "Committee") to grant awards to employees that will
qualify as performance-based compensation for Section 162(m) purposes. Officers,
employees and directors of the Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates are
eligible to participate in the 1997 Plan. The 1997 Plan limits the number of
shares with respect to which incentive stock options, non-qualified stock
options, SARs and restricted stock may be granted over any consecutive
three-year period to any one participant to 750,000 shares, compared to the Viad
Corp 1992 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the "1992 Plan") which had no
limitation. The 1997 Plan limits the aggregate dollar amount for awards
denominated solely in cash to $7.5 million to any one participant for any
consecutive three-year period, compared to the 1992 Plan which had no
limitation. The 1997 Plan provides that the Committee may condition exercise of
an award on attainment of an objective performance goal or goals based on one or
more of the following performance criteria with respect to the Corporation or
any unit thereof: sales or revenues, costs or expenses, net profit after tax,
gross profit, operating profit, base earnings, return on actual or pro forma
equity or net assets or capital, net capital employed, earnings per share,
earnings per share from continuing operations, operating income, operating
income margin, net income, stockholder return including performance (total
stockholder return) relative to the S&P 500 or similar index or performance
(total stockholder return) relative to the proxy comparator group, in both cases
as determined pursuant to Rule 402(l) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the
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Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), cash generation, unit
volume, and change in working capital, and that such criteria will be set by the
Committee within the time period prescribed by Section 162(m) of the Code or
related regulations.
With respect to the Viad Corp Management Incentive Plan (the "MIP"), the
1997 Plan provides that awards under the MIP may not exceed in the case of (i)
the Corporation's Chief Executive Officer, one and one-half percent (1.5%) of
net income; (ii) a president of any of the Corporation's operating companies
(whether or not incorporated), six-tenths of one percent (0.6%) of net income;
and (iii) any other executive officers of the Corporation, one-half of one
percent (0.5%) of net income, in each case as defined in the 1997 Plan.
The Board of Directors is seeking stockholder approval of the foregoing
eligibility requirements, award limits and performance goals. If approved by
stockholders, this proposal would enable the Corporation to make awards under
the 1997 Plan, during a five-year period ending with the date of the annual
meeting of the stockholders in 2002, which would be designed to continue to
provide tax deductions for the Corporation.
The 1997 Plan provides in one plan for the grant of stock options, SARs,
restricted stock and performance-based awards as described below. The 1997 Plan
would replace the 1992 Plan and provides the general framework under which to
continue the current incentive compensation programs operating under the Viad
Corp Performance-Based Stock Plan, the MIP and the Viad Corp Performance Unit
Incentive Plan (the "PUP"). With the exception of the provisions for
Performance-Based Awards and Qualified Performance Based Awards described below,
the terms of the 1997 Plan are generally similar to the terms of the 1992 Plan.
The description of the 1997 Plan set forth below is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the complete text of the 1997 Plan, which is attached hereto as
Annex A.
The 1997 Plan is to be administered by the Committee, as long as the
Committee consists of at least two directors who are "non-employee" directors
for purposes of Rule 16b-3 and "outside directors" for Section 162(m) purposes.
Subject to the terms of the 1997 Plan, the Committee has broad powers under the
1997 Plan to determine the persons who may receive grants and awards and the
targets and other terms and conditions of such grants and awards.
Duration of the 1997 Plan; Limits onNumber of Shares and Dollar Value of Awards
The 1997 Plan has a term expiring May 31, 2007, but can be terminated by
the Board at any time. No Incentive Stock Options can be granted under the 1997
Plan after the tenth anniversary of the 1997 Plan. Both Common Stock and
Preferred Stock ("Stock") may be issued under the 1997 Plan. The number of
shares of Common Stock available for grant under the 1997 Plan in each calendar
year is limited to two percent (2.0%) of the total number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding on the first day of each year for which the 1997 Plan is in
effect, compared to two and one-half percent (2.5%) in the 1992 Plan, provided
that any shares available for grant in a particular calendar year (or partial
calendar year) which are not, in fact, granted in such year can be added to the
shares available for grant in any subsequent year. In addition, subject to
adjustment as provided in the 1997 Plan, the number of shares of Stock covered
by awards under the 1997 Plan granted to any one participant will not exceed
750,000 shares for any consecutive three-year period, and the aggregate dollar
amount for awards denominated solely in cash will not exceed $7.5 million for
any such period, compared to the 1992 Plan which had no such limitations. The
1997 Plan also provides that, subject to adjustment as provided in the 1997
Plan, no more than 7.5 million shares of Common Stock will be cumulatively
available for the grant of stock options intended to be and designated as
"incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code
("Incentive Stock Options") over the life of the 1997 Plan, compared to 10
million shares in the 1992 Plan. The 1997 Plan also limits the grant of
Restricted Stock which is not performance-based to twenty percent (20%) of the
total number of shares which can be granted in any calendar year, compared to
the 1992 Plan which had no limitation. The closing price of the Common Stock on
March 14, 1997, was $17.75 per share.
With respect to the MIP, the 1997 Plan provides that awards under the MIP
may not exceed in the case of (i) the Corporation's Chief Executive Officer, one
and one-half percent (1.5%) of net income; (ii) a president of any of the
Corporation's operating companies (whether or not incorporated), six-tenths of
one percent (0.6%) of net income; and (iii) any other executive officers of the
Corporation, one-half of one percent (0.5%) of net income, in each case as
defined in the 1997 Plan.
Eligibility
Officers, employees and directors of the Corporation, its subsidiaries and
affiliates, who are responsible for or contribute to the management, growth and
profitability of the business of the Corporation, its subsidiaries and
affiliates are eligible to be granted awards under the 1997 Plan.
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Stock Options, SARs and Restricted Stock
The Committee has the power pursuant to the 1997 Plan to grant Incentive
Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options and related SARs provided that the
option price can be no less than fair market value. The Committee also has the
power to award Restricted Stock that vests upon the attainment of certain
performance goals and/or the continued service of the participant. The 1997 Plan
also provides that all Stock Options and SARs become exercisable and vest, and
all Restricted Stock vests and becomes fully transferable, upon a "Change in
Control," as defined in the 1997 Plan and that, unless otherwise provided at
grant, optionees may elect to receive cash for their options on certain terms
following a Change in Control.
Performance-Based Awards
The 1997 Plan provides for the grant of Performance-Based Awards which can
be denominated in Stock, cash, or a combination of the two, and which can also
be made payable in Stock, cash, or a combination of Stock and cash. The
settlement of Performance-Based Awards may be made subject to the attainment of
performance goals and/or continued service. It is currently intended that the
administration of the MIP, the PUP and the Performance-Based Stock Plan would
continue under the auspices of the 1997 Plan. Pursuant to the terms of the 1997
Plan, the agreements governing Performance-Based Awards may provide for
acceleration of payment upon a Change in Control.
Qualified Performance-Based Awards
Both Restricted Stock Awards and Performance-Based Awards under the 1997
Plan may be designated by the Committee as awards intended to qualify for
exemption from the deductibility limits of Section 162(m) of the Code
("Qualified Performance-Based Awards"). As previously noted, Section 162(m)
provides that companies may not deduct certain forms of compensation paid to
their chief executive officer and four most highly compensated executive
officers to the extent such compensation exceeds one million dollars in any one
tax year, unless payments are made based upon the attainment of objective
performance goals that are approved by stockholders. The 1997 Plan is designed
to meet the requirements of Section 162(m) and provides the objective
performance goals described above upon which the settlement of Qualified
Performance-Based Awards may be conditioned. Once set, the performance goals for
Qualified Performance-Based Awards cannot be changed, nor can the Awards
themselves be adjusted (except downward). The 1997 Plan also provides for
Performance-Based Awards that are not intended to, or need not, qualify for the
Section 162(m) exemption and to which such restrictions, including stockholder
approved performance goals, do not apply.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
Under existing law and regulations, the grant of non-qualified stock
options and stock appreciation rights will not result in income taxable to the
employee or provide a deduction to the Corporation. However, the exercise of a
non-qualified stock option or a stock appreciation right results in taxable
income to the holder, and the Corporation is generally entitled to a
corresponding deduction. At the time of the exercise of a non-qualified stock
option, the amount so taxable and so deductible will be the excess of the fair
market value of the shares purchased over their option price. Upon the exercise
of a stock appreciation right, the participant will be taxed at ordinary income
tax rates on the amount of the cash and the fair market value of the shares
received by the employee, and the Corporation will generally be entitled to a
corresponding deduction.
No income is recognized by an optionee when an incentive stock option is
granted or exercised. If the holder holds the shares received on exercise of an
incentive stock option for at least two years from the date of grant and one
year from date of exercise, any gain realized by the holder on the disposition
of the stock will be accorded long-term capital gain treatment, and no deduction
will be allowed to the Corporation. If the holding period requirements are not
satisfied, the employee will recognize ordinary income at the time of
disposition equal to the lesser of (i) gain realized on the disposition, or (ii)
the difference between the option price and the fair market value of the shares
on the date of exercise. Any additional gain on the disposition not reflected
above will be long-term or short-term capital gain, depending upon the length of
time the shares are held. The Corporation will generally be entitled to an
income tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the
employee.
An employee who is granted a Restricted Stock Award will not be taxed upon
the acquisition of such shares so long as the interest in such shares is subject
to a "substantial risk of forfeiture" within the meaning of Section 83 of the
Code. Upon lapse or termination of the restriction, the recipient will be taxed
at ordinary income tax rates on an amount equal to the current fair market value
of the shares. An employee may, however, elect to be taxed at ordinary income
tax
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rates on the full fair market value of the restricted shares at the time of
transfer. If the election is made, the basis of the shares so acquired will be
equal to the fair market value at the time of transfer. If the election is made,
no tax will be payable upon the subsequent lapse or termination of the
restrictions, and any gain or loss upon disposition will be a capital gain or
loss. Any awards that are not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture at the
time of grant will be taxed at the time of grant. The Corporation will generally
be entitled to a corresponding deduction when the value of the award is included
in the recipient's taxable income.
A participant will realize ordinary income as a result of performance
awards at the time Common Stock is transferred or cash is paid in an amount
equal to the fair market value of the shares delivered plus the cash paid.
The general rules for the Corporation's deductions described above are
subject to the limitations of Section 162(m) described above. Stockholder
approval of the performance goals and certain other terms of the 1997 Plan will
enable the Committee to design awards thereunder that are fully deductible.
However, additional limitations on deductibility may apply in the event of a
Change in Control. Thus, it is possible that the Corporation may not be able to
take the deductions described above with respect to all awards under the 1997
Plan.
The foregoing discussion is not a complete description of the federal
income tax aspects of awards under the 1997 Plan and is intended for the
information of stockholders considering how to vote with respect to this
proposal and not as tax guidance to participants in the 1997 Plan.
The Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders approve the
performance goals and other terms of the 1997 Plan discussed herein so that the
officers, employees and directors of the Corporation and its subsidiaries will
continue to be provided an incentive to increase stockholder value. The Board
believes it is desirable to maximize the deductibility of compensation for
federal income tax purposes. The Board also believes that it is desirable to
integrate all incentive compensation plans into one omnibus plan, and that
implementation of such plan will provide greater flexibility in creating and
developing incentive compensation programs and plans for the Corporation and its
subsidiaries.
No payments will be made under the performance goals and other terms of the
1997 Plan discussed herein unless this proposal is approved by the stockholders.
If this proposal is not approved by the stockholders, the Board will consider
appropriate management incentive alternatives to accomplish the objectives of
the 1997 Plan, including but not limited to continuance of the incentive
compensation plans currently in effect.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common
Stock voting on this proposal at the meeting will be necessary to approve this
proposal. Approval of this proposal to approve performance goals and certain
other terms under the 1997 Plan will be deemed to constitute (1) approval of the
issuance of stock to directors, officers and employees of the Corporation
pursuant to awards under the 1997 Plan for purposes of any applicable policies
of The New York Stock Exchange and (2) approval of the 1997 Plan for purposes of
granting Incentive Stock Options under Section 422 of the Code.
The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote FOR this proposal.
SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND OTHER INFORMATION
From time to time stockholders present proposals which may be proper
subjects for inclusion in the Proxy Statement and form of proxy for
consideration at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. To be considered, proposals
must be submitted on a timely basis. Proposals for the 1998 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders must be received by the Corporation no later than December 2, 1997.
Any such proposals, as well as any questions related thereto, should be directed
to the Secretary of the Corporation.
A copy of the Corporation's 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-K to the
Securities and Exchange Commission may be obtained by stockholders upon written
request to Carol Kotek, Viad Corp, Stockholder Services Department, Viad Tower,
Phoenix, Arizona 85077-1424.
In the event a stockholder wishes to propose a candidate for consideration
by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee as a possible nominee for
election as a director, or wishes to propose any other matter for consideration
at the stockholder meeting, other than proposals covered by the first paragraph
of this section, written notice of such stockholder's intent to make such
nomination or request such other action must be given to the Secretary
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of the Corporation, Viad Corp, Viad Tower, Phoenix, Arizona 85077-2212 pursuant
to certain procedures set out in the Corporation's Bylaws, a copy of which is
available upon request from the Secretary of the Corporation. The chairman of
the stockholder meeting may refuse to acknowledge the nomination of any person
or the request for such other action not made in compliance with the foregoing
procedure.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Board of Directors knows of no other matters to be brought before the
meeting. If any other business should properly come before the meeting, the
persons appointed in the enclosed proxy have discretionary authority to vote in
accordance with their best judgment.
By Order of the Board of Directors
SCOTT E. SAYRE
Secretary
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ANNEX A
1997 VIAD CORP OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION 1. Purpose; Definitions.
The purpose of the Plan is to give the Company a significant advantage in
attracting, retaining and motivating officers, employees and directors and to
provide the Company and its subsidiaries with the ability to provide incentives
more directly linked to the profitability of the Company's businesses and
increases in stockholder value. It is the current intent of the Committee that
the Plan shall replace the 1992 Stock Incentive Plan for purposes of new Awards
and that the Viad Corp Management Incentive Plan, the Viad Corp Performance Unit
Incentive Plan, and the Viad Corp Performance-Based Stock Plan continue under
the auspices of Sections 7 and 8 hereof subject to the discretion of the
Committee under the terms and conditions of this Plan.
For purposes of the Plan, the following terms are defined as set forth
below:
(a) "Affiliate" means a corporation or other entity controlled by the
Company and designated by the Committee as such.
(b) "Award" means an award of Stock Appreciation Rights, Stock Options,
Restricted Stock or Performance-Based Awards.
(c) "Award Cycle" will mean a period of consecutive fiscal years or
portions thereof designated by the Committee over which Awards of Restricted
Stock or Performance-Based Awards are to be earned.
(d) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) "Cause" means (1) the conviction of a participant for committing a
felony under federal law or the law of the state in which such action occurred,
(2) dishonesty in the course of fulfilling a participant's employment duties or
(3) willful and deliberate failure on the part of a participant to perform his
employment duties in any material respect, or such other events as will be
determined by the Committee. The Committee will have the sole discretion to
determine whether "Cause" exists, and its determination will be final.
(f) "Change in Control" and "Change in Control Price" have the meanings set
forth in Sections 9(b) and (c), respectively.
(g) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time, and any successor thereto.
(h) "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
successor agency.
(i) "Committee" means the Committee referred to in Section 2.
(j) "Common Stock" means common stock, par value $1.50 per share, of the
Company.
(k) "Company" means Viad Corp, a Delaware corporation.
(l) "Company Unit" means any subsidiary, group of subsidiaries, line of
business or division of the Company, as designated by the Committee.
(m) "Disability" means permanent and total disability as determined under
procedures established by the Committee for purposes of the Plan.
(n) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time, and any successor thereto.
(o) "Fair Market Value" means, as of any given date, the mean between the
highest and lowest reported sales prices of the Stock on the New York Stock
Exchange Composite Tape or, if not listed on such exchange, on any other
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national exchange on which the Stock is listed or on the Nasdaq Stock Market. If
there is no regular public trading market for such Stock, the Fair Market Value
of the Stock will be determined by the Committee in good faith. In connection
with the administration of specific sections of the Plan, and in connection with
the grant of particular Awards, the Committee may adopt alternative definitions
of "Fair Market Value" as appropriate.
(p) "Incentive Stock Option" means any Stock Option intended to be and
designated as an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section 422 of
the Code.
(q) "MIP" means the Company's Management Incentive Plan providing annual
cash bonus awards to participating employees based upon predetermined goals and
objectives.
(r) "Net Income" means the consolidated net income of the Company
determined in accordance with GAAP before extraordinary, unusual and other
non-recurring items.
(s) "Non-Employee Director" means a member of the Board who qualifies as a
"Non-Employee Director" as defined in Rule 16b 3(b)(3), as promulgated by the
Commission under the Exchange Act, or any successor definition adopted by the
Commission.
(t) "Non-Qualified Stock Option" means any Stock Option that is not an
Incentive Stock Option.
(u) "Performance Goals" means the performance goals established by the
Committee in connection with the grant of Restricted Stock or Performance-Based
Awards. In the case of Qualified Performance-Based Awards, such goals (1) will
be based on the attainment of specified levels of one or more of the following
measures with respect to the Company or any Company Unit, as applicable: sales
or revenues, costs or expenses, net profit after tax, gross profit, operating
profit, base earnings, return on actual or pro forma equity or net assets or
capital, net capital employed, earnings per share, earnings per share from
continuing operations, operating income, operating income margin, net income,
stockholder return including performance (total stockholder return) relative to
the S&P 500 or similar index or performance (total stockholder return) relative
to the proxy comparator group, in both cases as determined pursuant to Rule
402(l) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act, cash generation,
unit volume and change in working capital and (2) will be set by the Committee
within the time period prescribed by Section 162(m) of the Code and related
regulations.
(v) "Performance-Based Award" means an Award made pursuant to Section 8.
(w) "Performance-Based Restricted Stock Award" has the meaning set forth in
Section 7(c)(1) hereof.
(x) "Plan" means the 1997 Viad Corp Omnibus Incentive Plan, as set forth
herein and as hereinafter amended from time to time.
(y) "Preferred Stock" means preferred stock, par value $0.01, of the
Company.
(z) "Qualified Performance-Based Awards" means an Award of Restricted Stock
or a Performance-Based Award designated as such by the Committee at the time of
grant, based upon a determination that (1) the recipient is or may be a "covered
employee" within the meaning of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code in the year in
which the Company would expect to be able to claim a tax deduction with respect
to such Restricted Stock or Performance-Based Award and (2) the Committee wishes
such Award to qualify for the exemption from the limitation on deductibility
imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code that is set forth in Section 162(m)(4)(C).
(aa) "Restricted Stock" means an award granted under Section 7.
(bb) "Retirement" means retirement from active employment under a pension
plan of the Company, any subsidiary or Affiliate, or under an employment
contract with any of them, or termination of employment at or after age 55 under
circumstances which the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems equivalent to
retirement.
(cc) "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3, as promulgated by the Commission under
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time.
(dd) "Stock" means the Common Stock or Preferred Stock.
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(ee) "Stock Appreciation Right" means a right granted under Section 6.
(ff) "Stock Option" means an option granted under Section 5.
(gg) "Termination of Employment" means the termination of the participant's
employment with the Company and any subsidiary or Affiliate. A participant
employed by a subsidiary or an Affiliate will also be deemed to incur a
Termination of Employment if the subsidiary or Affiliate ceases to be such a
subsidiary or Affiliate, as the case may be, and the participant does not
immediately thereafter become an employee of the Company or another subsidiary
or Affiliate. Transfers among the Company and its subsidiaries and Affiliates,
as well as temporary absences from employment because of illness, vacation or
leave of absence, will not be considered a Termination of Employment.
In addition, certain other terms used herein have definitions given to them
in the first place in which they are used.
SECTION 2. Administration.
The Plan will be administered by the Human Resources Committee of the Board
pursuant to authority delegated by the Board in accordance with the Company's
By-Laws. If at any time there is no such Human Resources Committee or such Human
Resources Committee shall fail to be composed of at least two directors each of
whom is a Non-Employee Director and is an "outside director" under Section
162(m)(4) of the Code, the Plan will be administered by a Committee selected by
the Board and composed of not less than two individuals, each of whom is such a
Non-Employee Director and such an "outside director."
The Committee will have plenary authority to grant Awards pursuant to the
terms of the Plan to officers, employees and directors of the Company and its
subsidiaries and Affiliates, but the Committee may not grant MIP Awards larger
than the limits provided in Section 3.
Among other things, the Committee will have the authority, subject to the
terms of the Plan:
(a) to select the officers, employees and directors to whom Awards may from
time to time be granted;
(b) to determine whether and to
what extent Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock
Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock and Performance-Based Awards or any
combination thereof are to be granted hereunder;
(c) to determine the number of shares of Stock or the amount of cash to be
covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(d) to determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder
(including, but not limited to, the option price (subject to Section 5(a)), any
vesting condition, restriction or limitation (which may be related to the
performance of the participant, the Company or any subsidiary, Affiliate or
Company Unit) and any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture regarding any
Award and any shares of Stock relating thereto, based on such factors as the
Committee will determine) provided, however, that the Committee will have no
power to accelerate the vesting, or waive the forfeiture, of any Qualified
Performance-Based Awards;
(e) to modify, amend or adjust the terms and conditions, at any time or
from time to time, of any Award, including but not limited to Performance Goals;
provided, however, that the Committee may not adjust upwards the amount payable
with respect to any Qualified Performance-Based Award or waive or alter the
Performance Goals associated therewith;
(f) to determine to what extent and under what circumstances Stock and
other amounts payable with respect to an Award will be deferred; and
(g) to determine under what circumstances a Stock Option may be settled in
cash or Stock under Section 5(j).
The Committee will have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such
administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it from
time to time deems advisable, to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan
and any Award issued under the Plan (and any agreement relating thereto) and to
otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.
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The Committee may act only by a majority of its members then in office,
except that the members thereof may (1) delegate to designated officers or
employees of the Company such of its powers and authorities under the Plan as it
deems appropriate (provided that no such delegation may be made that would cause
Awards or other transactions under the Plan to fail to be exempt from Section
16(b) of the Exchange Act or that would cause Qualified Performance-Based Awards
to cease to so qualify) and (2) authorize any one or more members or any
designated officer or employee of the Company to execute and deliver documents
on behalf of the Committee.
Any determination made by the Committee or pursuant to delegated authority
pursuant to the provisions of the Plan with respect to any Award will be made in
the sole discretion of the Committee or such delegates at the time of the grant
of the Award or, unless in contravention of any express term of the Plan, at any
time thereafter. All decisions made by the Committee or any appropriately
delegated officer(s) or employee(s) pursuant to the provision of the Plan will
be final and binding on all persons, including the Company and Plan
participants.
SECTION 3. Stock Subject to Plan and Limits on Awards.
(a) Subject to adjustment as provided herein, the number of shares of
Common Stock of the Company available for grant under the Plan in each calendar
year (including partial calendar years) during which the Plan is in effect shall
be equal to two percent (2.0%) of the total number of shares of Common Stock of
the Company outstanding as of the first day of each such year for which the Plan
is in effect; provided that any shares available for grant in a particular
calendar year (or partial calendar year) which are not, in fact, granted in such
year shall be added to the shares available for grant in any subsequent calendar
year.
(b) Subject to adjustment as provided herein, the number of shares of Stock
covered by Awards granted to any one participant will not exceed 750,000 shares
for any consecutive three year period and the aggregate dollar amount for Awards
denominated solely in cash will not exceed $7.5 million for any such period.
(c) In addition, and subject to adjustment as provided herein, no more than
7.5 million shares of Common Stock will be cumulatively available for the grant
of Incentive Stock Options over the life of the Plan.
(d) Shares subject to an option or award under the Plan may be authorized
and unissued shares or may be "treasury shares." In the event of any merger,
reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, spin-off, stock dividend, stock
split, extraordinary distribution with respect to the Stock or other change in
corporate structure affecting the Stock, such substitution or adjustments will
be made in the aggregate number and kind of shares reserved for issuance under
the Plan, in the aggregate limit on grants to individuals, in the number, kind,
and option price of shares subject to outstanding Stock Options and Stock
Appreciation Rights, in the number and kind of shares subject to other
outstanding Awards granted under the Plan and/or such other equitable
substitutions or adjustments as may be determined to be appropriate by the
Committee or the Board, in its sole discretion; provided, however, that the
number of shares subject to any Award will always be a whole number.
(e) Awards under the MIP may not exceed in the case of (i) the Company's
Chief Executive Officer, one and one-half percent (1.5%) of net income as
defined; (ii) a president of any of the Company's operating companies, whether
or not incorporated, six-tenths of one percent (0.6%) of net income as defined;
and (iii) all other executive officers of the Company, one-half of one percent
(0.5%) of net income as defined.
SECTION 4. Eligibility.
Officers, employees and directors of the Company, its subsidiaries and
Affiliates who are responsible for or contribute to the management, growth and
profitability of the business of the Company, its subsidiaries and Affiliates
are eligible to be granted Awards under the Plan.
SECTION 5. Stock Options.
Stock Options may be granted alone or in addition to other Awards granted
under the Plan and may be of two types: Incentive Stock Options and
Non-Qualified Stock Options. Any Stock Option granted under the Plan will be in
such form as the Committee may from time to time approve.
The Committee will have the authority to grant any optionee Incentive Stock
Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options or both types of Stock Options (in each
case with or without Stock Appreciation Rights). Incentive Stock Options
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may be granted only to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries (within the
meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code). To the extent that any Stock Option is
not designated as an Incentive Stock Option or even if so designated does not
qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, it will be deemed to be a Non-Qualified
Stock Option.
Stock Options will be evidenced by option agreements, the terms and
provisions of which may differ. An option agreement will indicate on its face
whether it is an agreement for an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified
Stock Option. The grant of a Stock Option will occur on the date the Committee
by resolution selects an individual to be a participant in any grant of a Stock
Option, determines the number of shares of Stock to be subject to such Stock
Option to be granted to such individual and specifies the terms and provisions
of the Stock Option. The Company will notify a participant of any grant of a
Stock Option, and a written option agreement or agreements will be duly executed
and delivered by the Company to the participant.
Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of the Plan
relating to Incentive Stock Options will be interpreted, amended or altered nor
will any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be exercised so as to
disqualify the Plan under Section 422 of the Code or, without the consent of the
optionee affected, to disqualify any Incentive Stock Option under such Section
422.
Stock Options granted under the Plan will be subject to the following terms
and conditions and will contain such additional terms and conditions as the
Committee will deem desirable:
(a) Option Price. The option price per share of Stock purchasable under a
Stock Option will be determined by the Committee and set forth in the option
agreement, and will not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Stock subject
to the Stock Option on the date of grant.
(b) Option Term. The term of each Stock Option will be fixed by the
Committee, but no Incentive Stock Option may be exercisable more than 10 years
after the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted.
(c) Exercisability. Except as otherwise provided herein, Stock Options will
be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as
will be determined by the Committee. If the Committee provides that any Stock
Option is exercisable only in installments, the Committee may at any time waive
such installment exercise provisions, in whole or in part, based on such factors
as the Committee may determine. In addition, the Committee may at any time
accelerate the exercisability of any Stock Option.
(d) Method of Exercise. Subject to the provisions of this Section 5, Stock
Options may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time during the option
term by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number
of shares of Stock subject to the Stock Option to be purchased.
Such notice must be accompanied by payment in full of the purchase price by
certified or bank check or such other instrument as the Company may accept. An
option agreement may provide that, if approved by the Committee, payment in full
or in part may also be made in the form of unrestricted Stock already owned by
the optionee of the same class as the Stock subject to the Stock Option and, in
the case of the exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, Restricted Stock
subject to an Award hereunder which is of the same class as the Stock subject to
the Stock Option (in both cases based on the Fair Market Value of the Stock on
the date the Stock Option is exercised); provided, however, that, in the case of
an Incentive Stock Option, the right to make a payment in the form of already
owned shares of Stock of the same class as the Stock subject to the Stock Option
may be authorized only at the time the Stock Option is granted. In addition, an
option agreement may provide that in the discretion of the Committee, payment
for any shares subject to a Stock Option may also be made by instruction to the
Committee to withhold a number of such shares having a Fair Market Value on the
date of exercise equal to the aggregate exercise price of such Stock Option.
If payment of the option exercise price of a Non-Qualified Stock Option is
made in whole or in part in the form of Restricted Stock, the number of shares
of Stock to be received upon such exercise equal to the number of shares of
Restricted Stock used for payment of the option exercise price will be subject
to the same forfeiture restrictions to which such Restricted Stock was subject,
unless otherwise determined by the Committee.
No shares of Stock will be issued until full payment therefor has been
made. Subject to any forfeiture restrictions that may apply if a Stock Option is
exercised using Restricted Stock, an optionee will have all of the rights of a
stockholder of the Company holding the class or series of Stock that is subject
to such Stock Option (including, if
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applicable, the right to vote the shares and the right to receive dividends),
when the optionee has given written notice of exercise, has paid in full for
such shares and, if requested, has given the representation described in Section
12(a).
(e) Nontransferability of Stock Options.
(1) No Stock Option will be transferable by the optionee other than (A) by
will or by the laws of descent and distribution or (B) in the case of a
Non-Qualified Stock Option, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations
order (as defined in the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules thereunder). All Stock
Options will be exercisable, during the optionee's lifetime, only by the
optionee or by the guardian or legal representative of the optionee, it
being understood that the terms "holder" and "optionee" include the
guardian and legal representative of the optionee named in the option
agreement and any person to whom a Stock Option is transferred by will or
the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic
relations order.
(2) Notwithstanding Section 5(e)(1) above, the Committee may grant Stock
Options that are transferable, or amend outstanding Stock Options to make
them transferable, by the optionee (any such Stock Option so granted or
amended a "Transferable Option") to one or more members of the optionee's
immediate family, to partnerships of which the only partners are members of
the optionee's immediate family, or to trusts established by the optionee
for the benefit of one or more members of the optionee's immediate family.
For this purpose the term "immediate family" means the optionee's spouse,
children or grandchildren. Consideration may not be paid for the transfer
of a Transferable Option. A transferee described in this Section 5(e)(2)
shall be subject to all terms and conditions applicable to the Transferable
Option prior to its transfer. The option agreement with respect to a
Transferable Option shall set forth its transfer restrictions, such option
agreement shall be approved by the Committee, and only Stock Options
granted pursuant to a stock option agreement expressly permitting transfer
pursuant to this Section 5(e)(2) shall be so transferable.
(f) Termination by Death. If an optionee's employment terminates by reason
of death, any Stock Option held by such optionee may thereafter be exercised, to
the extent then exercisable, or on such accelerated basis as the Committee may
determine, for a period of one year (or such other period as the Committee may
specify in the option agreement) from the date of such death or until the
expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option, whichever period is the
shorter.
(g) Termination by Reason of Disability. If an optionee's employment
terminates by reason of Disability, any Stock Option held by such optionee may
thereafter be exercised by the optionee, to the extent it was exercisable at the
time of termination, or on such accelerated basis as the Committee may
determine, for a period of three years (or such s horter period as the Committee
may specify in the option agreement) from the date of such termination of
employment or until the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option,
whichever period is the shorter; provided, however, that if the optionee dies
within such three-year period (or such shorter period), any unexercised Stock
Option held by such optionee will, notwithstanding the expiration of such
three-year (or such shorter) period, continue to be exercisable to the extent to
which it was exercisable at the time of death for a period of 12 months from the
date of such death or until the expiration of the stated term of such Stock
Option, whichever period is the shorter. In the event of termination of
employment by reason of Disability, if an Incentive Stock Option is exercised
after the expiration of the exercise periods that apply for purposes of Section
422 of the Code, such Stock Option will thereafter be treated as a Non-Qualified
Stock Option.
(h) Termination by Reason of Retirement. If an optionee's employment
terminates by reason of Retirement, any Stock Option held by such optionee may
thereafter be exercised by the optionee, to the extent it was exercisable at the
time of termination, or on such accelerated basis as the Committee may
determine, for a period of five years (or such shorter period as the Committee
may specify in the option agreement) from the date of such termination of
employment or until the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option,
whichever period is the shorter; provided, however, that if the optionee dies
within such five-year period (or such shorter period), any unexercised Stock
Option held by such optionee will, notwithstanding the expiration of such
five-year (or such shorter) period, continue to be exercisable to the extent to
which it was exercisable at the time of death for a period of 12 months from the
date of such death or until the expiration of the stated term of such Stock
Option, whichever period is the shorter. In the event of termination of
employment by reason of Retirement, if an Incentive Stock Option is exercised
after the expiration of the exercise periods that apply for purposes of Section
422 of the Code, such Stock Option will thereafter be treated as a Non-Qualified
Stock Option.
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(i) Other Termination. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, if an
optionee incurs a Termination of Employment for any reason other than death,
Disability or Retirement or Cause, any Stock Option held by such optionee will
thereupon terminate, except that such Stock Option, to the extent then
exercisable, or on such accelerated basis as the Committee may determine, may be
exercised for the lesser of three months from the date of such Termination of
Employment or the balance of such Stock Option's term; provided, however, that
if the optionee dies within such three-month period, any unexercised Stock
Option held by such optionee will, notwithstanding the expiration of such
three-month period, continue to be exercisable to the extent to which it was
exercisable at the time of death for a period of 12 months from the date of such
death or until the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option, whichever
period is the shorter. In the event of Termination of Employment, if an
Incentive Stock Option is exercised after the expiration of the exercise periods
that apply for purposes of Section 422 of the Code, such Stock Option will
thereafter be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
(j) Cashing Out of Stock Option. On receipt of written notice of exercise,
the Committee may elect to cash out all or part of the shares of Stock for which
a Stock Option is being exercised by paying the optionee an amount, in cash or
Stock, equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Stock over the option
price times the number of shares of Stock for which the Option is being
exercised on the effective date of such cash-out.
(k) Change in Control Cash-Out. Subject to Section 12(h), but
notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, during the 60-day period from
and after a Change in Control (the "Exercise Period"), unless the Committee
determines otherwise at the time of grant, an optionee will have the right,
whether or not the Stock Option is fully exercisable and in lieu of the payment
of the exercise price for the shares of Stock being purchased under the Stock
Option and by giving notice to the Company, to elect (within the Exercise
Period) to surrender all or part of the Stock Option to the Company and to
receive cash, within 30 days of such notice, in an amount equal to the amount by
which the Change in Control Price per share of Stock on the date of such
election will exceed the exercise price per share of Stock under the Stock
Option (the "Spread") multiplied by the number of shares of Stock granted under
the Stock Option as to which the right granted under this Section 5(k) will have
been exercised.
SECTION 6. Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) Grant and Exercise. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in
conjunction with all or part of any Stock Option granted under the Plan. In the
case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, such rights may be granted either at or
after the time of grant of such Stock Option. In the case of an Incentive Stock
Option, such rights may be granted only at the time of grant of such Stock
Option. A Stock Appreciation Right will terminate and no longer be exercisable
upon the termination or exercise of the related Stock Option.
A Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised by an optionee in accordance
with Section 6(b) by surrendering the applicable portion of the related Stock
Option in accordance with procedures established by the Committee. Upon such
exercise and surrender, the optionee will be entitled to receive an amount
determined in the manner prescribed in Section 6(b). Stock Options which have
been so surrendered will no longer be exercisable to the extent the related
Stock Appreciation Rights have been exercised.
(b) Terms and Conditions. Stock Appreciation Rights will be subject to such
terms and conditions as will be determined by the Committee, including the
following:
(1) Stock Appreciation Rights will be exercisable only at such time or
times and to the extent that the Stock Options to which they relate are
exercisable in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 and this Section
6;
(2) Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, an optionee will be
entitled to receive an amount in cash, shares of Stock or both equal in
value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock as of
the date of exercise over the option price per share specified in the
related Stock Option multiplied by the number of shares in respect of which
the Stock Appreciation Right has been exercised, with the Committee having
the right to determine the form of payment;
(3) Stock Appreciation Rights will be transferable only to permitted
transferees of the underlying Stock Option in accordance with Section 5(e).
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SECTION 7. Restricted Stock.
(a) Administration. Shares of Restricted Stock may be awarded either alone
or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. The Committee will
determine the individuals to whom and the time or times at which grants of
Restricted Stock will be awarded, the number of shares to be awarded to any
participant, the conditions for vesting, the time or times within which such
Awards may be subject to forfeiture and any other terms and conditions of the
Awards, in addition to those contained in Section 7(c).
(b) Awards and Certificates. Shares of Restricted Stock will be evidenced
in such manner as the Committee may deem appropriate, including book-entry
registration or issuance of one or more stock certificates. Except as otherwise
set forth in a Restricted Stock Agreement, any certificate issued in respect of
shares of Restricted Stock will be registered in the name of such participant
and will bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and
restrictions applicable to such Award, substantially in the following form:
"The transferability of this certificate and the shares of stock
represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including
forfeiture) of the 1997 Incentive Plan and a Restricted Stock Agreement.
Copies of such Plan and Agreement are on file at the offices of Viad Corp,
Viad Tower, Phoenix, Arizona."
The Committee may require that the certificates evidencing such shares be
held in custody by the Company until the restrictions thereon have lapsed and
that, as a condition of any Award of Restricted Stock, the participant has
delivered a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Stock covered by
such Award.
(c) Terms and Conditions. Shares of Restricted Stock will be subject to the
following terms and conditions:
(1) The Committee may, prior to or at the time of grant, designate an Award
of Restricted Stock as a Qualified Performance-Based Award, in which event
it will condition the grant or vesting, as applicable, of such Restricted
Stock upon the attainment of Performance Goals. If the Committee does not
designate an Award of Restricted Stock as a Qualified Performance-Based
Award, it may also condition the grant or vesting thereof upon the
attainment of Performance Goals or such other performance-based criteria as
the Committee shall establish (such an Award, a "Performance-Based
Restricted Stock Award"). Regardless of whether an Award of Restricted
Stock is a Qualified Performance-Based Award or a Performance-Based
Restricted Stock Award, the Committee may also condition the grant or
vesting upon the continued service of the participant. The provisions of
Restricted Stock Awards (including the conditions for grant or vesting and
any applicable Performance Goals) need not be the same with respect to each
recipient. The Committee may at any time, in its sole discretion,
accelerate or waive, in whole or in part, any of the foregoing
restrictions; provided, however, that in the case of Restricted Stock that
is a Qualified Performance-Based Award, the applicable Performance Goals
have been satisfied.
(2) Subject to the provisions of the Plan and the Restricted Stock
Agreement referred to in Section 7(c)(8), during the period set by the
Committee, commencing with the date of such Award for which such
participant's continued service is required (the "Restriction Period") and
until the later of (A) the expiration of the Restriction Period and (B) the
date the applicable Performance Goals (if any) are satisfied, the
participant will not be permitted to sell, assign, transfer, pledge or
otherwise encumber shares of Restricted Stock.
(3) Except as provided in this paragraph (3) and Sections 7(c)(1) and (2)
and the Restricted Stock Agreement, the participant will have, with respect
to the shares of Restricted Stock, all of the rights of a stockholder of
the Company holding the class or series of Stock that is the subject of the
Restricted Stock, including, if applicable, the right to vote the shares
and the right to receive any dividends. If so determined by the Committee
in the applicable Restricted Stock Agreement and subject to Section 12(f)
of the Plan, (A) dividends consisting of cash, stock or other property
(other than Stock) on the class or series of Stock that is the subject of
the Restricted Stock shall be automatically deferred and reinvested in
additional Restricted Stock (in the case of stock or other property, based
on the fair market value thereof, and the Fair Market Value of the Stock,
in each case as of the record date for the dividend) held subject to the
vesting of the underlying Restricted Stock, or held subject to meeting any
Performance Goals applicable to the underlying Restricted Stock, and (B)
dividends payable in Stock shall be paid in the form of Restricted Stock of
the same class as the Stock with which such dividend was paid and shall be
held subject to the vesting of the underlying Restricted Stock, or held
subject to meeting any Performance Goals applicable to the underlying
Restricted Stock.
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(4) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the applicable Restricted
Stock Agreement, Section 7(c)(1), 7(c)(2), 7(c)(5) or 9(a)(2), upon a
participant's Termination of Employment for any reason during the
Restriction Period or before any applicable Performance Goals are met, all
shares still subject to restriction will be forfeited by the participant.
(5) Except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 9(a)(2), in the
event that a participant retires or such participant's employment is
involuntarily terminated (other than for Cause), the Committee will have
the discretion to waive in whole or in part any or all remaining
restrictions (other than, in the case of Restricted Stock which is a
Qualified Performance-Based Award, satisfaction of the applicable
Performance Goals unless the participant's employment is terminated by
reason of death or Disability) with respect to any or all of such
participant's shares of Restricted Stock.
(6) Except as otherwise provided herein or as required by law, if and when any
applicable Performance Goals are satisfied and the Restriction Period
expires without a prior forfeiture of the Restricted Stock, unlegended
certificates for such shares will be delivered to the participant upon
surrender of legended certificates.
(7) Awards of Restricted Stock, the vesting of which is not conditioned
upon the attainment of Performance Goals or other performance-based
criteria, is limited to twenty percent (20%) of the number of shares of
Common Stock of the Company available for grant under the Plan in each
calendar year.
(8) Each Award will be confirmed by, and be subject to the terms of, a
Restricted Stock Agreement.
SECTION 8. Performance-Based Awards.
(a) Administration. Performance-Based Awards may be awarded either alone or
in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. Subject to the terms and
conditions of the Plan, the Committee shall determine the officers and employees
to whom and the time or times at which Performance-Based Awards will be awarded,
the number or amount of Performance-Based Awards to be awarded to any
participant, whether such Performance-Based Award shall be denominated in a
number of shares of Stock, an amount of cash, or some combination thereof, the
duration of the Award Cycle and any other terms and conditions of the Award, in
addition to those contained in Section 8(b).
(b) Terms and Conditions. Performance-Based Awards will be subject to the
following terms and conditions:
(1) The Committee may, prior to or at the time of the grant, designate
Performance-Based Awards as Qualified Performance-Based Awards, in which
event it will condition the settlement thereof upon the attainment of
Performance Goals. If the Committee does not designate Performance-Based
Awards as Qualified Performance-Based Awards, it may also condition the
settlement thereof upon the attainment of Performance Goals or such other
performance-based criteria as the Committee shall establish. Regardless of
whether Performance-Based Awards are Qualified Performance-Based Awards,
the Committee may also condition the settlement thereof upon the continued
service of the participant. The provisions of such Performance-Based Awards
(including without limitation any applicable Performance Goals) need not be
the same with respect to each recipient. Subject to the provisions of the
Plan and the Performance-Based Award Agreement referred to in Section
8(b)(5), Performance-Based Awards may not be sold, assigned, transferred,
pledged or otherwise encumbered during the Award Cycle.
(2) Unless otherwise provided by the Committee (A) from time to time
pursuant to the administration of particular Award programs under this
Section 8, such as the Viad Corp Management Incentive Plan, the Viad Corp
Performance Unit Incentive Plan or the Viad Corp Performance-Based Stock
Plan or (B) in any agreement relating to an Award, and except as provided
in Section 8(b)(3), upon a participant's Termination of Employment for any
reason prior to the payment of an Award under this Section 8, all rights to
receive cash or Stock in settlement of the Award shall be forfeited by the
participant.
(3) In the event that a participant's employment is terminated (other than
for Cause), or in the event a participant retires, the Committee shall have
the discretion to waive, in whole or in part, any or all remaining payment
limitations (other than, in the case of Awards that are Qualified
Performance-Based Awards,
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satisfaction of the applicable Performance Goals unless the participant's
employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability) with respect to
any or all of such participant's Awards.
(4) At the expiration of the Award Cycle, the Committee will evaluate the
Company's performance in light of any Performance Goals for such Award, and
will determine the extent to which a Performance-Based Award granted to the
participant has been earned, and the Committee will then cause to be
delivered to the participant, as specified in the grant of such Award: (A)
a number of shares of Stock equal to the number of shares determined by the
Committee to have been earned or (B) cash equal to the amount determined by
the Committee to have been earned or (C) a combination of shares of Stock
and cash if so specified in the Award.
(5) No Performance-Based Award may be assigned, transferred, or otherwise
encumbered except, in the event of the death of a participant, by will or
the laws of descent and distribution.
(6) Each Award will be confirmed by, and be subject to, the terms of a
Performance-Based Award Agreement.
SECTION 9. Change in Control Provisions.
(a) Impact of Event. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the
contrary, in the event of a Change in Control:
(1) Any Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding as of the
date such Change in Control is determined to have occurred and not then
exercisable and vested will become fully exercisable and vested to the full
extent of the original grant;
(2) The restrictions and conditions to vesting applicable to any Restricted
Stock will lapse, and such Restricted Stock will become free of all
restrictions and become fully vested and transferable to the full extent of
the original grant;
(3) Performance-Based Awards will be considered to be earned and payable to
the extent, if any, and in an amount, if any, and otherwise, in accordance
with the provisions of the agreement relating to such Awards.
(b) Definition of Change in Control. For purposes of the Plan, a "Change in
Control" will mean the happening of any of the following events:
(1) An acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning
of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a "Person") of
beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under
the Exchange Act) of twenty percent (20%) or more of either (A) the then
outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company
Common Stock") or (B) the combined voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election
of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); excluding,
however, the following: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company,
other than an acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion
privilege unless the security being so converted was itself acquired
directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or
(iv) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which
complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subsection (3) of this Section
9(b); or
(2) A change in the composition of the Board such that the individuals who,
as of February 20, 1997, constitute the Board (such Board will be
hereinafter referred to as the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, for
purposes of this Section 9(b), that any individual who becomes a member of
the Board subsequent to February 20, 1997, whose election, or nomination
for election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at
least a majority of those individuals who are members of the Board and who
were also members of the Incumbent Board (or deemed to be such pursuant to
this proviso) will be considered as though such individual were a member of
the Incumbent Board; but, provided further, that any such individual whose
initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or
threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of
Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or
threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person
other than the Board will not be so considered as a member of the Incumbent
Board; or
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(3) The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company ("Corporate Transaction")
(or, if consummation of such Corporate Transaction is subject, at the time
of such approval by stockholders, to the consent of any government or
governmental agency, the earlier of the obtaining of such consent or the
consummation of the Corporate Transaction); excluding, however, such a
Corporate Transaction pursuant to which (A) all or substantially all of the
individuals and entities who are the beneficial owners, respectively, of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting
Securities immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction will
beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than sixty percent (60%) of,
respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock, and the combined
voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the
corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction (including, without
limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the
Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly
or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions
as their ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be, (B) no Person (other than the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation
resulting from such Corporate Transaction) will beneficially own, directly
or indirectly, twenty percent (20%) or more of, respectively, the
outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such
Corporate Transaction or the combined voting power of the outstanding
voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors except to the extent that such ownership existed
prior to the Corporate Transaction and (C) individuals who were members of
the Incumbent Board will constitute at least a majority of the members of
the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Corporate
Transaction; or
(4) The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
(c) Change in Control Price. For purposes of the Plan, "Change in Control
Price" means the higher of (1) the highest reported sales price, regular way, of
a share of Stock in any transaction reported on the New York Stock Exchange
Composite Tape or other national exchange on which such shares are listed or on
The Nasdaq Stock Market during the 60-day period prior to and including the date
of a Change in Control or (2) if the Change in Control is the result of a tender
or exchange offer or a Corporate Transaction, the highest price per share of
Stock paid in such tender or exchange offer or Corporate Transaction; provided,
however, that in the case of Incentive Stock Options and Stock Appreciation
Rights relating to Incentive Stock Options, the Change in Control Price will be
in all cases the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date such Incentive Stock
Option or Stock Appreciation Right is exercised. To the extent that the
consideration paid in any such transaction described above consists all or in
part of securities or other non-cash consideration, the value of such securities
or other non-cash consideration will be determined in the sole discretion of the
Board.
SECTION 10. Term, Amendment and Termination.
The Plan will terminate May 31, 2007, but may be terminated sooner at any
time by the Board, provided that no Incentive Stock Options shall be granted
under the Plan after February 19, 2007. Awards outstanding as of the date of any
such termination will not be affected or impaired by the termination of the
Plan.
The Board may amend, alter, or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment,
alteration or discontinuation will be made which would (a) impair the rights of
an optionee under a Stock Option or a recipient of a Stock Appreciation Right,
Restricted Stock Award or Performance-Based Award theretofore granted without
the optionee's or recipient's consent, except such an amendment which is
necessary to cause any Award or transaction under the Plan to qualify, or to
continue to qualify, for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3, or (b) disqualify
any Award or transaction under the Plan from the exemption provided by Rule
16b-3. In addition, no such amendment may be made without the approval of the
Company's stockholders to the extent such approval is required by law or
agreement.
The Committee may amend the terms of any Stock Option or other Award
theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, but no such amendment will
(1) impair the rights of any holder without the holder's consent except such an
amendment which is necessary to cause any Award or transaction under the Plan to
qualify, or to continue to qualify, for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3 or
(2) amend any Qualified Performance-Based Award in such a way as to cause it to
cease to qualify for the exemption set forth in Section 162(m)(4)(C). The
Committee may also substitute new Stock Options for previously granted Stock
Options, including previously granted Stock Options having higher option prices.
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Subject to the above provisions, the Board will have authority to amend the
Plan to take into account changes in law and tax and accounting rules, as well
as other developments and to grant Awards which qualify for beneficial treatment
under such rules without stockholder approval.
SECTION 11. Unfunded Status of Plan.
It is presently intended that the Plan constitute an "unfunded" plan for
incentive and deferred compensation. The Committee may authorize the creation of
trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan to
deliver Stock or make payments; provided, however, that, unless the Committee
otherwise determines, the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is
consistent with the "unfunded" status of the Plan.
SECTION 12. General Provisions.
(a) The Committee may require each person purchasing or receiving shares
pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that
such person is acquiring any shares without a view to the distribution thereof.
The certificates for such shares may include any legend which the Committee
deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer.
All certificates for shares of Stock or other securities delivered under
the Plan will be subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as
the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other
requirements of the Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Stock is then
listed and any applicable federal or state securities law, and the Committee may
cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate
reference to such restrictions.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or agreements made pursuant
thereto, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate
or certificates for shares of Stock under the Plan prior to fulfillment of all
of the following conditions:
(1) Listing or approval for listing upon notice of issuance, of such shares
on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., or such other securities exchange as
may at the time be the principal market for the Stock;
(2) Any registration or other qualification of such shares of the Company
under any state or federal law or regulation, or the maintaining in effect
of any such registration or other qualification which the Committee shall,
in its absolute discretion upon the advice of counsel, deem necessary or
advisable; and
(3) Obtaining any other consent, approval, or permit from any state or
federal governmental agency which the Committee shall, in its absolute
discretion after receiving the advice of counsel, determine to be necessary
or advisable.
(b) Nothing contained in the Plan will prevent the Company or any
subsidiary or Affiliate from adopting other or additional compensation
arrangements for its employees.
(c) The adoption of the Plan will not confer
upon any employee any right to continued employment nor will it interfere in any
way with the right of the Company or any subsidiary or Affiliate to terminate
the employment of any employee at any time.
(d) No later than the date as of which an amount first becomes includible
in the gross income of the participant for Federal income tax purposes with
respect to any Award under the Plan, the participant will pay to the Company, or
make arrangements satisfactory to the Company regarding the payment of, any
Federal, state, local or foreign taxes of any kind required by law to be
withheld with respect to such amount. Unless otherwise determined by the
Company, withholding obligations may be settled with Stock, including Stock that
is part of the Award that gives rise to the withholding requirement. The
obligations of the Company under the Plan will be conditional on such payment or
arrangements, and the Company and its Affiliates will, to the extent permitted
by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment otherwise due
to the participant. The Committee may establish such procedures as it deems
appropriate, including the making of irrevocable elections, for the settlement
of withholding obligations with Stock.
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(e) At the time of grant, the Committee may provide in connection with any
grant made under the Plan that the shares of Stock received as a result of such
grant will be subject to a right of first refusal pursuant to which the
participant will be required to offer to the Company any shares that the
participant wishes to sell at the then Fair Market Value of the Stock, subject
to such other terms and conditions as the Committee may specify at the time of
grant.
(f) The reinvestment of dividends in additional Restricted Stock at the
time of any dividend payment will only be permissible if sufficient shares of
Stock are available under Section 3 for such reinvestment (taking into account
then outstanding Stock Options and other Awards).
(g) The Committee will establish such procedures as it deems appropriate
for a participant to designate a beneficiary to whom any amounts payable in the
event of the participant's death are to be paid or by whom any rights of the
participant, after the participant's death, may be exercised.
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any agreement
relating to any Award hereunder, if any right granted pursuant to this Plan
would make a Change in Control transaction ineligible for
pooling-of-interests-accounting under APB No. 16 that, but for the nature of
such grant, would otherwise be eligible for such accounting treatment, the
Committee will have the ability, in its sole discretion, to substitute for the
cash payable pursuant to such grant Common Stock with a Fair Market Value equal
to the cash that would otherwise be payable hereunder.
(i) The Plan and all Awards made and actions taken thereunder will be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
SECTION 13. Effective Date of Plan.
The Plan will be effective on the later of (a) the time it is approved by
the Board and (b) the time certain provisions of the Plan are approved by
stockholders for tax purposes.
SECTION 14. Director Stock Options.
(a) Each director of the Company who is not otherwise an employee of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates, will (1) on the date of his or
her first election as a director of the Company (such initial grant being an
"Initial Grant"), and (2) annually on the third Thursday of August, during such
director's term (the "Annual Grant"), automatically be granted Non-Qualified
Stock Options to purchase Common Stock having an exercise price per share of
Common Stock equal to 100% of Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock at the
date of grant of such Non-Qualified Stock Option. The number of shares subject
to each such Initial Grant, and each such Annual Grant, will be equal to the
annual retainer fee in effect at the date of grant for non-employee directors of
the Company divided by an amount equal to one-third (1/3) of the Fair Market
Value of the Common Stock at the date of grant, rounded to the nearest 100
shares. A non-employee director who is first elected as a director of the
Company during the course of a year (i.e., on a date other than the date of the
Annual Grant) will, in addition to the Initial Grant, receive upon election a
grant of Non-Qualified Stock Options prorated to reflect the number of months
served in the initial year of service, with the number of shares of Common Stock
subject to such Stock Option being equal to (1) the number of shares subject to
the Initial Grant multiplied by (2) a fraction the numerator of which will be
the number of months from the date of such election through the date of the next
Annual Grant and the denominator of which will be twelve (12).
(b) An automatic director Stock Option will be granted hereunder only if as
of each date of grant the director (1) is not otherwise an employee of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates, (2) has not been an employee
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates for any part of the
preceding fiscal year, and (3) has served on the Board continuously since the
commencement of his term.
(c) Except as expressly provided in this Section 14, any Stock Option
granted hereunder will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan as if
the grant were made pursuant to Section 5 hereof including, without limitation,
the rights set forth in Section 5(j) hereof.
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