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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant /X/
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /
Check the appropriate box:
/ / Preliminary Proxy Statement
/ / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
/X/ Definitive Proxy Statement
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Soliciting Material Pursuant to 240.14a-11(c) or 240.14a-12
CPI AEROSTRUCTURES, INC.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
/X/ No fee required
/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
----------------------------------------------------------------------
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
5) Total fee paid:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
/ / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/ / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
___________________________________________________________________________
2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
___________________________________________________________________________
3) Filing Party:
___________________________________________________________________________
4) Date Filed:
___________________________________________________________________________
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CPI AEROSTRUCTURES, INC.
200A Executive Drive
Edgewood, New York 11717
(516) 586-5200
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
to be held May 20, 1997
To the Shareholders of CPI Aerostructures, Inc.:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of the
Shareholders (the "Meeting") of CPI Aerostructures, Inc. (the "Company"), which
will be held at the headquarters of the Company, 200A Executive Drive, Edgewood,
New York 11717, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Standard Time, on May 20, 1997 to
consider and act upon the following matters:
(1) The election of four (4) members to the Board of Directors to hold office
for a one-year term or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
The persons nominated by the Board of Directors (Arthur August, Theodore J.
Martines, Walter Paulick and Stanley Wunderlich) are described in the
accompanying Proxy Statement.
(2) To approve an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
to authorize 2,000,000 shares of "blank check" preferred stock, par value $.001
per share.
(3) To approve an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
increasing the number of authorized Common Shares of the Company from 10,000,000
to 15,000,000.
(4) To approve an amendment of the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan to increase
the number of shares included therein by 300,000 Common Shares.
(5) The ratification of the appointment of Goldstein Golub Kessler & Company,
P.C. as the Company's auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1997.
(6) The transaction of such other business as may properly come before the
Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on April 18, 1997,
will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting or any adjournments
thereof.
A list of shareholders entitled to vote at the Meeting will be open to
examination by any shareholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, at the
offices of the Company, 200A Executive Drive, Edgewood, New York 11717, during
ordinary business hours for ten days prior to the Meeting. Such list shall also
be available during the Meeting.
By order of the Board of Directors,
Theodore J. Martines, Secretary
Date: Edgewood, New York
April 21, 1997
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WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE,
SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD, AND RETURN IT TO THE COMPANY. THE PROXY
MAY BE REVOKED AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS VOTED, AND SHAREHOLDERS EXECUTING
PROXIES MAY ATTEND THE MEETING AND VOTE THERE IN PERSON SHOULD THEY SO DESIRE.
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CPI AEROSTRUCTURES, INC.
200A Executive Drive
Edgewood, New York 11717
Proxy Statement
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
May 20, 1997
These proxy materials are furnished in connection with the solicitation
of proxies by the Board of Directors of CPI Aerostructures, Inc., a New York
corporation (the "Company"), for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
the Company and for any adjournment or adjournments thereof (the "Meeting"), to
be held at the headquarters of the Company, 200A Executive Drive, Edgewood, New
York 11717, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Standard Time, on May 20, 1997 for the
purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
A Board of Directors' proxy (the "Proxy"), by means of which you may indicate
your votes as to each of the proposals described in this Proxy Statement, is
enclosed herewith.
All Proxies which are properly completed, signed and returned to the
Company prior to the Meeting, and which have not been revoked, will be voted in
accordance with the shareholder's instructions contained in such Proxy. The
affirmative vote by holders of a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of
the Company's common shares, $.001 par value (the "Common Shares"), the only
shares of the Company entitled to vote at the Meeting, is required for the
election of Directors and by a majority of such votes cast on the proposals to
approve the increase in Common Shares included in the 1995 Stock Option Plan and
to approve the selection of auditors. The affirmative vote of the majority of
the holders of the outstanding Common Shares of the Company is required for the
adoption of the proposed amendments to the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation to (i) authorize the issuance of shares of "blank check" preferred
stock, and (ii) increase the number of authorized shares of Common Shares. In
the absence of contrary instructions, shares represented by such Proxy will be
voted "FOR" the election of the nominees for Directors as set forth herein
(Proposal 1); "FOR" the approval of an amendment to the Certificate of
Incorporation authorizing the Company to issue 2,000,000 shares of "blank check"
preferred stock (Proposal 2); "FOR" the approval of an amendment to the
Certificate of Incorporation increasing the number of authorized Common Shares
from 10,000,000 to 15,000,000 (Proposal 3); "FOR" approving the increase in the
number of Common Shares of the Company included in the Company's 1995 Stock
Option Plan (Proposal 4); and "FOR" the ratification of the appointment of the
Company's auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1997 (Proposal 5).
Shares represented by proxies which are marked "abstain" for any Proposal on the
proxy card and proxies which are marked to deny discretionary authority on all
other matters will not be included in the vote totals, and therefore will have
no effect on the vote. In addition, when brokers are prohibited from exercising
discretionary authority for beneficial owners who have not provided voting
instructions (commonly referred to as "broker non-votes"), those shares will not
be included in the vote totals.
The Board of Directors does not anticipate that any of its nominees
will be unavailable for election and does not know of any other matters that may
be brought before the Meeting. In the event that any other matter shall come
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before the Meeting or any nominee is not available for election, the persons
named in the enclosed Proxy will have discretionary authority to vote all
Proxies not marked to the contrary with respect to such matter in accordance
with their best judgment.
A shareholder may revoke his Proxy at any time before it is exercised
by filing with the Secretary of the Company at its executive offices in
Edgewood, New York, either a written notice of revocation or a duly executed
Proxy bearing a later date, or by appearing in person at the Meeting and
expressing a desire to vote his or her shares in person. All costs of this
solicitation are to be borne by the Company.
The Company has fixed April 18, 1997 as the record date (the "Record
Date") for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote
at the Meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof. As of the Record
Date, the Company had 5,876,710 Common Shares outstanding, the only outstanding
voting securities of the Company. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each
share owned upon all matters to be considered at the Meeting.
This Proxy Statement, the accompanying Notice of Meeting of
Shareholders, the Proxy and the 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders for the year
ended December 31, 1996, are expected to be mailed commencing on or about April
21, 1997, to shareholders of record on the Record Date.
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STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The following table sets forth, as of the Record Date, certain
information concerning those persons known to the Company, based on information
obtained from such persons, with respect to the beneficial ownership (as such
term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Act") of Common Shares by (i) each
person known by the Company to be the owner of more than 5% of the outstanding
Common Shares, (ii) each Director and nominee for Director, (iii) each executive
officer named in the Summary Compensation Table, and (iv) all Directors and
executive officers as a group.
Name and Address of Beneficial Shares Percent of
Beneficial Owner(1) Owned (2) Common Shares (3)
Arthur August 1,104,000 (4) 18.3% (5)
Theodore J. Martines 240,000 (6)(7) 4.0% (8)
Walter Paulick 20,000 (9) *
Stanley Wunderlich 83,500 (10) 1.4% (11)
All Directors and 1,447,500 (12) 23.2% (13)
Executive Officers as a
group (four persons)
* Less than 1%
(1) The business address of each person is CPI Aerostructures, Inc., 200A
Executive Drive, Edgewood, New York 11717.
(2) Unless otherwise noted, the Company believes that all persons named in the
table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all Common Shares
beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws, where
applicable. A person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of securities that can
be acquired by such person within 60 days from the date hereof upon the exercise
of warrants or options. Each beneficial owner's percentage ownership is
determined by assuming that options or warrants that are held by such person
(but not those held by any other person) and which are exercisable within 60
days from the date hereof have been exercised.
(3) Unless otherwise indicated, based on 5,876,710 shares issued and
outstanding.
(4) Includes 144,000 Common Shares which Mr. August has the right to acquire
within 60 days upon exercise of options granted pursuant to the Company's 1992
Employee Stock Option Plan and the Company's 1995 Employee Stock Option Plan.
Excludes an aggregate of 100,000 Common Shares owned by Mr. August's children or
held in trust for Mr. August's grandchildren and 9,000 Common Shares owned by
Mr. August's wife, all of which shares Mr. August disclaims beneficial
ownership.
(5) Assumes, pursuant to Rule 13d-3(d)(1) of the Exchange Act, that there
are 6,020,710 Common Shares outstanding.
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(6) Includes 115,000 Common Shares which Mr. Martines has the right to acquire
within 60 days upon exercise of options granted pursuant to both of the
Company's 1992 Employee Stock Option Plan and its 1995 Employee Stock Option
Plan.
(7) Excludes 75,000 Common Shares owned by Mr. Martines' wife and an
aggregate of 60,000 Common Shares held in trust for three children and two
grandchildren of Mr. Martines, as to all of which shares Mr. Martines
disclaims beneficial ownership.
(8) Assumes, pursuant to Rule 13d-3(d)(1) of the Exchange Act, that there are
5,981,710 Common Shares outstanding.
(9) Includes 20,000 Common Shares which Mr. Paulick has the right to acquire
within 60 days upon exercise of options granted pursuant to the Company's 1992
Employee Stock Option Plan.
(10) Includes 18,500 Common Shares which Mr. Wunderlich has the right to acquire
within 60 days upon exercise of non-qualified stock options granted outside the
Company's stock option plans and 65,000 Common Shares which Mr. Wunderlich has
the right to acquire within 60 days upon exercise of non-qualified stock options
granted pursuant to the Company's 1995 Employee Stock Option Plan.
(11) Assumes pursuant to Rule 13d-3(d)(1) of the Exchange Act, that there are
5,960,210 Common Shares outstanding.
(12) Includes an aggregate of 144,000, 115,000, 20,000 and 83,500 Common Shares
which the individuals included in the group have the right to acquire within 60
days upon exercise of options granted pursuant to the Company's 1992 and 1995
Stock Option Plans.
(13) Assumes pursuant to Rule 13d-3(d)(1) of the Exchange Act, that there are
6,239,210 Common Shares outstanding.
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Proposal 1.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's Board of Directors is comprised of four Directors. The
Board of Directors has nominated Arthur August, Theodore J. Martines, Walter
Paulick and Stanley Wunderlich, each of whom currently serves as a Director, for
election as Directors at the Meeting, to hold office, subject to the provisions
of the Company's By-laws, for a one-year term, or until their successors are
duly elected and qualified. It is intended that the accompanying form of Proxy
will be voted FOR the election as Directors of the four (4) nominees named
above, unless the Proxy contains contrary instructions. Proxies which direct the
Proxy holders to abstain and do not direct the Proxy holders to vote for or
withhold authority in the matter of electing Directors will be voted for the
election of the four (4) Directors named below. Proxies cannot be voted for a
greater number of persons than the number of nominees named in the Proxy
Statement.
Management has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will not be a
candidate or will be unable to serve. However, in the event that any of the
nominees should become unable or unwilling to serve as a Director, the Proxy
will be voted for the election of such person or persons as shall be designated
by the Directors.
Set forth below is certain information, as of the Record Date, concerning
each nominee.
Name Age Position
Arthur August 62 Chairman of the Board of Directors,
Chief Executive Officer, President
and Director
Theodore J. Martines 64 Executive Vice President,
Secretary/Treasurer and Director
Stanley Wunderlich 49 Director
Walter Paulick 50 Director
Arthur August, a founder of the Company, has been the Chairman of the
Board, Chief Executive Officer, President and a Director of the Company since
January 1980. From 1956 to 1979, Mr. August was employed by Northrop Grumman
Corporation ("Grumman"), an aerospace products manufacturer, where he last held
the position of Deputy Director. Mr. August holds a degree in Aeronautical
Engineering from the Academy of Aeronautics (1956), a B.S. degree in Industrial
Management from C. W. Post College (1963), a Masters degree in Engineering from
New York University (1965) and is a graduate of the Program for Management
Development at the Harvard Graduate School of Business (1977).
Theodore J. Martines has been the Executive Vice President,
Secretary/Treasurer and a Director of the Company since December 1984. From
1957 to 1983, Mr. Martines was employed by Grumman where he last held the
position of Director of Contracts and Business Analysis. From 1955 to 1957,
Mr. Martines was employed by Sperry (Unisys) Corp. as a design engineer. Mr.
Martines holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stevens Institute of
Technology and an MBA degree from Adelphi University.
5
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Stanley Wunderlich has been a Director of the Company since November
1995. He has served as Corporate Development Consultant to the Company since
January 1995. Mr. Wunderlich is currently the Chairman of Consulting for
Strategic Growth, Ltd., a financial consulting company. From November 1992 to
May 1994, Mr. Wunderlich was the Chairman of Renaissance Group, Ltd., a
financial consulting company. From May 1991 to October 1992, Mr. Wunderlich
served as a Managing Director of Robert Todd Financial. From January 1990 to
April 1991, Mr. Wunderlich was a Managing Director of American Fund Advisors,
Inc.
Walter Paulick has been a Director of the Company since April 1992. Mr.
Paulick is currently a self employed financial consultant. From 1982 to November
1992, Mr. Paulick was a Vice President of Parr Development Company, Inc., a real
estate development company. From 1980 to 1982, Mr. Paulick was employed by Key
Bank, where he last held the position of Vice President. From 1971 to 1980, Mr.
Paulick was a Vice President of National Westminster U.S.A.
Each Director will hold office until the next Annual Meeting of
shareholders or until his successor has been elected and qualified. Officers are
appointed by and serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Directors
currently receive no cash compensation for serving on the Board of Directors
other than stock options and reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in
attending meetings.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION
FOR THE NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE (PROPOSAL 1).
Committees and Meetings of the Board of Directors
The Company held two meetings of the Board of Directors during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1996. Messrs. August, Martines, Paulick and Wunderlich
serve on the Company's Compensation Committee, which reviews and approves the
compensation to be paid to certain officers of the Company. Messrs. Paulick
(Chairman), Martines and Wunderlich also serve on the Company's Audit Committee.
The Compensation Committee held one meeting during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996. No member of the Board of Directors attended, in person or
telephonically, fewer than 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and
committees thereof upon which he served during the fiscal year ended December
31, 1996.
The Company has agreed, for a period of five years ending September 16,
1997, if so requested by Whale Securities Co., L.P., the underwriter of its
initial public offering, to nominate and use its best efforts to elect a
designee of such underwriter as a director of the Company, or, at the
underwriter's option, as a non-voting advisor to the Company's Board of
Directors. The Company's officers, directors and their affiliates, have agreed
to vote their Common Shares in favor of such designee. The underwriter has not
exercised its right to designate such a person.
Executive Compensation
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth all compensation awarded to, earned by, or
paid for all services rendered to the Company, a small business issuer, during
the fiscal years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, by the Company's Chief
Executive Officer and the Company's only other executive officer whose total
compensation exceeded $100,000.
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Annual Compensation
(a) (b) (c) (d)
Name and Principal
Position Year Salary($) Bonus($)
- ------------------ ---- -------- -------
Arthur August, 1996 $271,148 $12,611
Chief Executive 1995 $256,281 -0-
Officer and 1994 $193,306 $ 4,354
President
Theodore J. 1996 $164,211 $ 5,044
Martines, 1995 $153,988 -0-
Executive 1994 $116,479 $ 1,742
Vice President
and Director
Long Term Compensation
(e) (f) (g) (h) (I)
Other Long-term
Annual Restricted Incentive
Compen- Stock Options/ Plan All
sation Award(s) SARs Payouts Other
($) ($) ($) ($) Compensation
Arthur August, -0- -0- -0- -0- -0-
Chief Executive -0- -0- -0- -0- -0-
Officer and -0- -0- -0- -0- -0-
President
Theodore J. -0- -0- -0- -0- -0-
Martines, -0- -0- -0- -0- -0-
Executive Vice -0- -0- -0- -0- -0-
President and
Director
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AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FY END OPTION/SAR VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
Value of
Number of Unexercised
Unexercised In-The-Money
Options/SARs at Options/
Shares FYE(#) SARs at FYE ($)
Acquired on Value Exercisable/ Exercisable/
Name Exercise (#) Realized Unexercisable Unexercisable
- ---- ------------ -------- ---------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Arthur August -0- -0- 100,000/-0- -0-/-0-
Theodore J. Martines -0- -0- 80,000/-0- -0-/-0-
</TABLE>
Directors Compensation
Directors currently receive no cash compensation for serving on the Board
of Directors other than reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in
attending meetings. However, the Company's two non-officer directors each
received stock options from the Company, in 1996 and 1997 to purchase 5,000
Common Shares.
Employment Agreements
Messrs. August and Martines are employed by the Company as Chairman of the
Board, President and Chief Executive Officer; and Executive Vice President,
Secretary and Treasurer; respectively, pursuant to employment agreements which
expire on September 15, 1998. The employment agreements, entered into effective
September 16, 1995, provide Messrs. August and Martines with annual base
salaries of $251,942, and $157,464, respectively, during the first year, which
increased at a rate of 8% per annum in the second and third years. Pursuant to
their employment agreements, Mr. August and Mr. Martines are entitled to receive
an annual bonus equal to 2.5% and 1%, respectively, of the Company's net income
for the years ending December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997. No bonuses were paid in
1995 and bonuses of $12,611 and $5,044 were paid to Messrs. August and Martines,
respectively, for 1996.
The agreements provide that during the term of employment with the Company,
and for a period of one year thereafter, the employees will not compete with the
Company or engage in any activities that would interfere with the performance of
their duties as employees of the Company. The agreements provide that the
Company will maintain hospital and health insurance benefits for the employees
following retirement.
Employee Benefit Plans
On February 1, 1991, the Board of Directors adopted a Qualified Sick Pay
Plan (the "QSP Plan") which covers full-time executive officers and managers.
The QSP Plan provides covered employees with an income during periods of
disability due to sickness or injury and is funded through the purchase of
disability income insurance policies.
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On September 11, 1996 the Company adopted a fully-qualified voluntary
401(k) Employees Savings Plan. Employee contributions to the plan commenced on
October 1, 1996. The plan permits the Company to make voluntary contributions
for the account of its employees. On January 17, 1997, the Company made a
contribution to the Plan, which has been accounted for as an expense during
fiscal 1996.
Stock Options
1995 Employee Stock Option Plan
The Company has granted options under the 1995 Employee Stock Option Plan
(the "1995 Option Plan"), which currently authorizes the grant of 300,000
options, to purchase an aggregate of 300,000 Common Shares, at exercise prices
ranging from $1.06 to $3.00 per share, to certain employees, executive officers,
and directors of the Company including: five-year options to purchase an
aggregate of 100,000 Common Shares granted to Arthur August, Chairman of the
Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer; five-year options to purchase
40,000 Common Shares to Theodore J. Martines, Executive Vice President;
five-year options to purchase an aggregate of 84,000 Common Shares to Stanley
Wunderlich, a Director; five-year options to purchase 5,000 Common Shares to
Walter Paulick, a Director; and five-year options to 14 non-executive officer
employees to purchase an aggregate of 71,000 Common Shares. As of the date
hereof options to purchase 286,500 shares were outstanding and no options were
available, under the 1995 Option Plan.
1992 Employee Stock Option Plan
As of the date hereof, a total of 318,500 options have been granted under
the Company's 1992 Employee Stock Option Plan (the "1992 Plan"); 81,001 have
been forfeited; options to purchase an aggregate of 216,335 Common Shares remain
outstanding; and 1,501 shares remain eligible for the grant of options.
Outstanding options are held by 15 different persons including options to
purchase: 44,000 shares held by Arthur August, Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer, exercisable at $3.00 per share; 35,000 shares held by
Theodore Martines, Executive Vice President, exercisable at $3.00 per share and
40,000 shares exercisable at $1.31 per share; 5,000 shares held by Walter
Paulick, a Director, exercisable at $3.00 per share and 6,000 shares exercisable
at $1.00 per share and 5,000 shares exercisable at $2.00 per share; 16,000
shares held by Stanley Wunderlich, a Director, exercisable at $2.00 per share
and 5,000 shares held by Craig Sakin, a former Director, exercisable at $3.00
per share.
Other Options
In October 1994, the Company granted an option to purchase 10,000 shares at
$3.00 per share (as amended) to a consultant. On January 26,1995, the Company
granted an option to purchase 120,000 Common Shares at $3.00 per share to Rickel
& Associates, in consideration of business consulting services to be performed
for the Company. This option was cancelled in April 1996, because of Rickel &
Associates' non-performance and is the subject of a lawsuit. In January 1995,
the Company also granted an option to purchase 30,000 Common Shares exercisable
at $1.06 per share, of which 11,500 options were exercised by Mr. Wunderlich in
December 1996. An option to purchase 20,000 Common Shares was issued to the
Company's counsel in April 1995 exercisable at $2.00 per share.
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Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
As of January 1, 1996, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with
Stanley Wunderlich, a director of the Company. The agreement terminates on
December 31, 1997, unless sooner terminated on sixty days notice of either
party. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Wunderlich provides the Company with
financial advisory consulting services including, but not limited to, assisting
with financial public relations, arranging meetings with securities analysts and
money managers, rendering advice with regard to possible changes in the
capitalization or corporate structure of the Company, and advising the Company
in connection with potential mergers of acquisitions. In consideration for these
services, Mr. Wunderlich is compensated at the rate of $5,000 per month
including reasonable expenses. In addition, as further compensation for these
consulting services, Mr. Wunderlich was granted options to purchase 30,000
Common Shares exercisable at $1.06 per share, and 60,000 Common Shares
exercisable at $2.00 per share, the then current fair market values.
Proposal 2. Proposed Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to Add
Provisions Permitting the Board to Designate Series of Preferred
Stock
At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders will be asked to approve an
amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to authorize 2,000,000 shares of
"blank check" preferred stock, par value $.001 ("Preferred"). The text of the
proposed amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation is set forth in Appendix
A to this Proxy Statement and should be read in its entirety by shareholders.
"Blank Check" Preferred Stock
The proposed provisions would vest in the Board of Directors the authority
to designate one or more series of Preferred Stock. Such provisions are often
referred to as "blank check" provisions, as they give the Board of Directors the
flexibility, at any time or from time to time, without further shareholder
approval, to create one or more series of Preferred Stock and to determine the
designations, preferences and limitations of each such series, including, but
not limited to, (i) the number of shares, (ii) dividend rights, (iii) voting
rights, (iv) conversion privileges, (v) redemption provisions, (vi) sinking fund
provisions, (vii) rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Company and (viii) other relative rights, preferences and limitations of such
series.
The Board of Directors believes that amending the Certificate of
Incorporation to permit the Board to authorize the issuance of up to 2,000,000
shares of "blank check" preferred stock provides the Company with the
flexibility to address potential future financing needs by creating a series of
Preferred customized to meet the needs of any particular transaction and to
market conditions. The Company also could issue Preferred Stock for other
corporate purposes, such as to implement joint ventures or to make acquisitions.
Although the Company is not currently considering the issuance of Preferred
Stock for such financing or transactional purposes and has no present intention
to issue any series of Preferred Stock, the Board and management believe that
the Company should have the flexibility to issue Preferred Stock, along with its
ability to issue debt and/or additional Common Shares.
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If any series of Preferred Stock authorized by the Board provides for
dividends, such dividends, when and as declared by the Board of Directors out of
any funds legally available therefor, may be cumulative and may have a
preference over the Common Shares as to the payment of such dividends. In
addition, if any series of Preferred Stock authorized by the Board so provides,
in the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company,
whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of each such series of the then
outstanding Preferred Stock may be entitled to receive, prior to the
distribution of any assets or funds to the holders of Common Shares, a
liquidation preference established by the Board of Directors, together with all
accumulated and unpaid dividends. Depending upon the consideration paid for
Preferred Stock, the liquidation preference of Preferred Stock and other
matters, the issuance of Preferred Stock could therefore result in a reduction
in the assets available for distribution to the holders of Common Shares in the
event of liquidation of the Company. Holders of Common Shares do not have any
preemptive rights to acquire Preferred Stock or any other securities of the
Company.
Unissued Stock
The Company's authorized capital stock currently consists of 10 million
Common Shares. As of the Record Date, 5,876,710 Common Shares were outstanding.
The Common Shares carry no preemptive rights. The proposed amendment to
authorize "blank check" preferred stock is not designed to deter or to prevent a
change in control; however, under certain circumstances, the Company could use
the Preferred Stock to create voting impediments or to frustrate persons seeking
to effect a takeover or otherwise gain control of the Company and thereby to
protect the continuity of the Company's management. In addition, the issuance of
additional Common Shares or Preferred Stock at below market rates would dilute
the value of the outstanding securities of the Company. The Company could also
privately place such shares with purchasers who might favor the Board of
Directors in opposing a hostile takeover bid, although the Company has no
present intention to do so. The Company does not currently have any plans,
agreements, commitments or understandings with respect to the issuance of
Preferred Stock. See "Certain Effects of Adoption of Proposals 2 and 3 on
Holders of Outstanding Common Shares" below.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Common
Shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting is
required for approval of the adoption of the proposed amendment to the
Certificate of Incorporation to authorize 2,000,000 shares of "blank check"
preferred stock.
The Board of Directors Recommends That Shareholders Vote "FOR" Adoption of the
Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation Authorizing 2,000,000 Shares of
"Blank Check" Preferred Stock (Proposal 2).
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<PAGE>
Proposal 3. Ratification of an Amendment to the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation Increasing the Authorized Common Shares from
10,000,000 to 15,000,000.
The Company's authorized capital stock currently consists of 10,000,000 Common
Shares. As of the Record Date an aggregate of 8,733,177 Common Shares were
issued or reserved for issuance, as follows: 5,876,710 Common Shares were
outstanding, another 140,000 shares are issuable under presently outstanding
options outside of any stock option plan, 216,335 under the 1992 Employee Stock
Option Plan, 286,500 under the 1995 Employee Stock Option Plan and 2,213,632
shares are issuable under presently outstanding warrants, leaving only 1,266,823
Common Shares available for issuance for other purposes. The Common Shares have
no preemptive or other subscription rights, and there are no conversion rights
or redemption or sinking fund provisions with respect to such shares.
The additional Common Shares would be available for stock dividends or
splits should the Board decide that it would be desirable, in light of market
conditions then prevailing, to broaden the public ownership of, and to enhance
the market for, the Common Shares. Additional Common Shares would also provide
needed flexibility to meet future capital requirements and to take advantage of
propitious market conditions and acquisition opportunities. Additional shares
would also be available for issuance for these and other purposes, which include
employee benefit programs, at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the
Company without the delays and expenses ordinarily attendant upon obtaining
further shareholder approval. To the extent required by New York law or under
NASDAQ regulations, shareholder approval will be solicited in the event shares
of stock are to be issued in connection with a merger. The Board of Directors
has no present plans to authorize a stock split or to enter into any acquisition
agreement or any other transaction involving the issuance of Common Shares.
Certain Effects of Adoption of Proposals 2 and 3 on Holders of Outstanding
Common Shares
While the Board believes that the amendments to the Company's Charter
contained in Proposals 2 and 3 should be adopted for the reasons set forth
above, the Board is aware that certain of these amendments could serve as
measures designed to thwart change in control of the Company's management, which
are commonly known as "anti-takeover" measures. The increase in the number of
Common Shares and the creation of "blank check" Preferred Stock, as discussed
above, can serve as anti-takeover measures.
The general effect of the authorization and issuance of Preferred Stock, to
the extent that dividends may be paid thereon, would be to reduce the amount
otherwise available for payment of dividends on the Common Shares currently
issued and outstanding, although no dividends have been paid by the Company to
date and there is no present intention to do so in the near future. In the event
that any additional Common Shares and/or newly issued Preferred Stock having
limited voting rights are issued, the voting power of the Common Shares would be
diluted. To the extent that a particular series of Preferred Stock is
convertible into Common Shares, and/or additional shares of Common Shares may be
issued, a dilution of the equity of the outstanding Common Shares could result.
Holders of shares of capital stock of the Company have no preemptive rights, and
accordingly have no preferential rights to purchase any Common Shares or
Preferred Stock in order to maintain their percentage ownership.
In addition, to the extent that holders of the Preferred Stock receive
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preferences upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company, the
rights of Common Share holders to distribution of the Company's assets upon
dissolution will be diminished. When considering whether to issue shares of
Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors will consider various factors, including
the general effect thereof upon the Common Share Holders. The Board of Directors
does not intend to issue any shares of Preferred Stock except on terms which it
deems to be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
The Board has made no determination with respect to the issuance of any
shares of Preferred Stock and has no plans, proposals, commitments, undertakings
or arrangements which would result in the issuance of any shares of the
Preferred Stock.
Although the proposed Charter Amendments (i) authorizing "blank check"
Preferred Stock, and (ii) an increase in the number of authorized Common Shares
are not designed to deter or prevent a change in control, under certain
circumstances, the Company could, nevertheless use the Preferred Stock, as well
as unissued Common Shares, to create impediments or frustrate persons seeking to
effect a takeover or otherwise gain control of the Company and thereby protect
the continuity of the Company's management. In addition, the issuance of
Preferred Stock or additional Common Shares at below market rates would dilute
the value of the Company's then outstanding securities. The Company could also
place such shares privately with purchasers who might support the Company's
existing Board of Directors in opposing a hostile takeover bid, although the
Company has no present intention to do so. The Company does not currently have
any plans, agreements, commitments or understandings with respect to the
implementation of the issuance of either Preferred Stock, additional Common
Shares, with the exception of outstanding options and warrants. Neither
management nor the Board is considering the use of Preferred Stock or additional
Common Shares for such purposes. A copy of the proposed Charter Amendment is
attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement and should be read by
shareholders in its entirety.
The Board of Directors Recommends That Shareholders Vote "FOR" Adoption of the
Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation Increasing the Number of Common
Shares (Proposal 3).
PROPOSAL 4. Amendment To 1995 Employee Stock Option Plan
At the Annual Meeting, Shareholders will be asked to ratify amendments to
the Company's 1995 Employee Stock Option Plan ("1995 Option Plan") to increase
the number of shares available to be granted thereunder from 300,000 to 600,000.
The 1995 Option Plan provides for the grant of options to qualified
employees (including officers) and directors of the Company, employees of
Company subsidiaries, independent contractors, consultants and other
individuals. The Company currently employs approximately 25 persons and has two
outside directors. The closing price of the Common Shares on March 20, 1997 was
$1.75 per share.
Additional Amendment
The Board of Directors has also amended the 1995 Option Plan to take
advantage of recent changes in the law that permit the transferability of NQSOs
and SARs granted in tandem with NQSOs at the discretion of the Committee.
Shareholder approval is not required, however, with respect to this amendment.
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Summary of 1995 Option Plan
The following discussion, which summarizes certain provisions of the 1995
Option Plan, as amended is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of
the 1995 Option Plan. Copies of the 1995 Option Plan are available for
examination at the Securities and Exchange Commission and at the principal
executive offices of the Company at 200A Executive Drive, Edgewood, New York
11717.
Eligibility for Participation
Under the 1995 Option Plan, incentive stock options ("ISOs") as defined in
Section 422(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or
ISOs in tandem with Stock Appreciation Rights ("SARs") which are subject to the
requirements set forth in Temp. Reg. Section 14a.422A-1, A-39 (a)-(e), may be
granted, from time to time, to officers and other employees of the Company and
its subsidiaries. Non-Qualified Stock Options ("NQSOs"), not intended to qualify
under Section 422(b) of the Code, may also be granted under the 1995 Option Plan
to employees, officers and directors of the Company and its subsidiaries, as
well as independent contractors, consultants and other individuals who are not
employees of, but are involved in the continuing development of the Company's
business ("Participants").
Administration
The 1995 Option Plan is to be administered by the Board of Directors or by
the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (referred to below as the
"Committee"), which may not contain fewer than two non-employee directors (as
defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act) and
currently consists of Messrs. August, Martines, Paulick and Wunderlich, of which
Messrs. Paulick and Wunderlich are independent. The Committee has the authority,
in its discretion, to determine the persons to whom options shall be granted,
the character of such options, the manner of exercising and making payment for
Common Shares and the number of Common Shares to be subject to each option. It
is the intention of the Company that the 1995 Option Plan shall comply in all
respects with Rule 16b-3. Compliance with Rule 16b-3 generally allows a Section
16(b) Participant to avoid the effect of the "short-swing" profit rules of
Section 16(b) with respect to the exercise and sale of the shares underlying the
Options.
Terms of Options
The terms of Options granted are to be determined by the Committee. Options
must be granted within ten years from the date the 1995 Option Plan was adopted.
Each Option is to be evidenced by a stock option agreement between the Company
and the Participant, and is subject to the following additional terms and
conditions:
(a) Exercise of the Option. The Committee shall determine the time periods
during which Options may be exercised. Options will be exercisable in whole or
in part at any time prior to expiration, but may not expire later than ten years
from the date of grant. If an ISO or an SAR granted in tandem with an ISO is
granted to an individual who, immediately before the grant owns directly, or
through attribution, more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all
classes of capital stock of the Company or a subsidiary or parent of the
Company, such ISO or SAR granted in tandem with an ISO shall not be exercisable
after the expiration of five years from the date of grant. An Option is
exercised by the Participant's giving written notice of exercise to the Company
specifying the number of full Common Shares to be purchased and tendering
payment of the
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<PAGE>
purchase price to the Company in cash or certified check, or, at the discretion
of the Committee, by delivery of Common Shares having a fair market value equal
to the option price or the delivery of a promissory note or by a combination of
the above forms of payment. The ability to pay the option exercise price in
Common Shares may enable a Participant to engage in a series of successive
stock-for-stock exercises of an Option and thereby fully exercise an Option
with little or no cash investment.
(b) Option Price. The option price of an NQSO or an SAR in tandem with an
NQSO granted pursuant to the 1995 Option Plan is determined by the Committee in
its sole discretion. In no event may the option price of an ISO be less than the
fair market value on the date of grant. The fair market value of an ISO shall be
determined by the Committee and, if the Common Shares are listed on a national
securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market, the fair market
value shall be the closing price on such exchange, or the mean of the reported
bid and asked prices of the Common Shares in the over-the-counter market as
reported by NASDAQ, the OTC Bulletin Board or the National Quotation Bureau,
Incorporated, as the case may be, on such date. ISOs or SARs granted in tandem
with ISOs to holders of more than 10% of the Company's Common Shares are subject
to the additional restriction that the option price must be at least 110% of the
fair market value of the Company's Common Shares on the date of grant.
(c) Vesting. The Committee will determine the time or times the Options
become exercisable. The 1995 Option Plan provides, however, that with respect to
holders of more than 10% of the Common Shares, such Options must become fully
exercisable initially not later than five years from the date of grant, and no
less than 20% of the shares subject to an Option must become exercisable in each
of the first five years of the Option until fully exercisable.
(d) Termination of Employment, Death, Disability. Except as provided in the
1995 Option Plan, upon termination of employment with the Company for any
reason, a Participant may exercise its ISOs at any time within three months
after the date of such termination. Other Options are not extinguished by
termination without cause. Any Options granted under the 1995 Option Plan shall
immediately terminate in the event the Participant is terminated for cause by
the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
If the holder of an Option dies while employed by the Company or a
subsidiary or parent corporation of the Company or within three (3) months after
the termination of such holder's employment, such Option may be exercised by a
legatee or legatees of such holder under such individual's last will or by such
individual's personal representatives within one year after death, in the case
of ISOs, or through the end of the term otherwise.
If the holder of an Option becomes disabled within the definition of
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code while employed by the Company or a subsidiary or
parent corporation of the Company, such Option may be exercised at any time
within one year after termination of such holder's employment due to the
disability.
No Option may in any event be exercised after the original expiration date
of the Option.
(e) Nontransferability of ISOs. ISOs and SARS granted in tandem with ISOs
shall be nontransferable and non-assignable except by will or the laws of
intestacy, and any ISO or SAR in tandem with an ISO is exercisable during the
lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant, or in the event of his or
her death, by a person who acquires the right to exercise the Option by bequest
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<PAGE>
or inheritance or by reason of the death of the Participant; and other Options
shall be transferable at the discretion of the Committee.
(f) Maximum Number of ISOs or SARs in Tandem with ISOs Which May Be Issued.
A maximum aggregate fair market value of $100,000, determined as of the time any
ISO or SAR in tandem with an ISO is granted and in the manner provided in the
1995 Option Plan, may not be exceeded for any Participant as the maximum
aggregate value of (A) the Common Shares with respect to which ISOs and/or SARs
in tandem with ISOs granted under the 1995 Option Plan are exercisable for the
first time during any calendar year, together with (B) the Common Shares with
respect to which ISOs and/or SARs in tandem with ISOs granted under ISOs
qualifying as such in accordance with Section 422 of the Code were granted under
any other incentive stock option plan maintained by the Company or its parent or
subsidiary corporations. Any options granted in excess of this limit shall be
deemed to be NQSO's under the 1995 Option Plan.
An option agreement issued under the 1995 Option Plan may contain such
other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent therewith as may be
determined by the Committee.
Termination, Modification and Amendment
The 1995 Option Plan shall terminate ten years from the date of its
adoption by the Board of Directors. No Options will be granted after termination
of the 1995 Option Plan.
The Board of Directors of the Company may terminate the 1995 Option Plan at
any time prior to its expiration date or make such modifications or amendments
thereto from time to time as the Committee may deem advisable. The Committee may
not, however, without the approval of a majority of the then outstanding shares
of the Company entitled to vote thereon, except under conditions described under
"Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization," increase the maximum number of
shares as to which Options may be granted under the 1995 Option Plan or
materially change the standards of eligibility thereunder.
No termination, modification or amendment to the 1995 Option Plan may
adversely affect the terms of any outstanding Options without the consent of the
holders thereof.
Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization
In the event that the number of outstanding Common Shares is changed by
reason of recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, stock dividend,
combination, exchange of shares, or the like, the Committee will make an
appropriate adjustment in the aggregate number of Common Shares available and
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of then outstanding Options and in the
exercise prices of such Options. Any adjustment in the number of shares will
apply proportionately only to the unexercised portion of Options granted under
the 1995 Option Plan. Fractions of shares resulting from any such adjustment
shall be further adjusted to the next higher whole number of shares.
In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of substantially all of the
assets of the Company, all outstanding Options will automatically terminate,
unless otherwise provided by the Committee.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following discussion is only a summary of the principal Federal income
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tax consequences of the grant and exercise of Options and is based on existing
Federal law, which is subject to change, in some cases retroactively. This
discussion is also qualified by the particular circumstances of each Participant
which may substantially alter or modify the Federal income tax consequences
herein discussed.
Generally, under current law, when an Option qualifies as an ISO under
Section 422 of the Code, (i) an employee will not realize taxable income either
upon the grant or the exercise of the Option, (ii) the amount by which the fair
market value of the shares acquired upon exercise of the Option at the time of
exercise exceeds the option price is included in determining a Participant's
alternative minimum tax, (iii) any gain or loss (the difference between the net
proceeds received upon the disposition of the shares and the Option Price paid
therefor), upon a qualifying disposition of the shares acquired by exercise of
an Option will be treated as a capital gain or loss if the shares qualify as a
capital asset in the hands of the Participant, and (iv) no deduction will be
allowed to the Company for Federal income tax purposes in connection with the
grant or exercise of an ISO or a qualifying disposition of shares. A disposition
by an employee of shares acquired upon exercise of an ISO will constitute a
qualifying disposition if the disposition occurs more than two years after the
grant of the Option and more than one year after the issuance of the shares to
the employee. If such shares are disposed of by the employee before the
expiration of those time limits, the transfer would be a "disqualifying
disposition" and the employee will typically recognize ordinary income (and the
Company will receive an equivalent deduction) equal to the lesser of (i) the
aggregate fair market value of the shares as of the date of exercise less the
Option Price, and (ii) the amount realized on the disqualifying disposition less
the Option Price. Ordinary income from a disqualifying disposition will also
constitute compensation for which withholding may be required under Federal and
state law. The maximum Federal tax rate on ordinary income is greater than the
Federal tax rate for long-term capital gains. Proposals have been made to
decrease the marginal tax rate further on certain types of capital gains. No
assurance can be given as to when, if ever, new Federal tax legislation will be
enacted into law, or as to the effective date of any such legislation.
In the case of an NQSO granted under the 1995 Option Plan, generally no
income is recognized by the Participant at the time of the grant of the Option
assuming such NQSO does not have a readily ascertainable fair market value. The
Participant generally will recognize ordinary income upon exercise of an NQSO
equal to the aggregate fair market value of the shares acquired less the Option
Price. Withholding may be required, and the Company will receive an equivalent
deduction, subject to the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code relating to
excessive employee remuneration. Section 162(m) disallows a deduction for an
employer with respect to remuneration paid in any taxable year to an executive
officer named in the Summary Compensation Table in excess of $1,000,000. For
purposes of determining remuneration paid, the excess of the fair market value
of the Common Shares received upon exercise of an NQSO over the exercise price
is considered remuneration paid in the year of exercise unless the income is
considered performance-based compensation as defined in ss.162(m) and the tax
regulations.
Shares acquired upon exercise of an NQSO will have a tax basis equal to
their fair market value on the exercise date or other relevant date on which
ordinary income is recognized and the holding period for the shares generally
will begin on the date of exercise or such other relevant date. Upon subsequent
disposition of the shares, a Participant will recognize capital gain or loss if
the shares constitute a capital asset in the Participant's hands. Provided the
shares are held by the Participant for more than one year prior to disposition,
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such gain or loss will be recognized as long-term capital gain or loss. As set
forth above, the maximum federal tax rate on ordinary income is currently
greater than the maximum federal tax rate on long-term capital gains. To the
extent a Participant recognizes a capital loss, such loss generally may offset
capital gains and up to $3,000 of ordinary income. Any excess capital loss may
be carried forward indefinitely.
The grant of an SAR is generally not a taxable event for an optionee. Upon
the exercise of an SAR, however, the Optionee will recognize ordinary income in
an amount equal to the amount of cash and the fair market value of any Common
Shares received upon such exercise, and the Company will be entitled to a
deduction equal in amount.
The foregoing discussion is only a brief summary of the applicable Federal
income tax laws as in effect on this date and should not be relied upon as being
a complete treatment thereof. The Federal tax laws are complex, and they are
subject to legislative changes and new or revised judicial and administrative
interpretations at any time. In addition to the Federal income tax consequences
described herein, a Participant may also be subject to state and/or local income
tax consequences in the jurisdiction in which the Participant works and/or
resides.
The Board of Directors deems it to be in the best interests of the Company
that the amendments be approved in order to give the Committee greater
flexibility in awarding Participants Options affording them a stock interest
with the opportunity to grow with the Company. The Board recommends a vote in
favor of approval of the amendments to the 1995 Option Plan.
The affirmative vote of the majority of shares represented and entitled to
vote at the Annual Meeting is required to ratify the amendments to the 1995
Option Plan, except as described above.
The Board of Directors Recommends that Shareholders Vote "FOR" Ratification
of the Amendments to the 1995 Option Plan (Proposal 4).
Proposal 5. Ratification of Appointment of Auditors
The Board of Directors has appointed Goldstein Golub Kessler & Company,
P.C. of New York, to continue as the Company's auditors and to audit the books
of account and other records of the Company for the fiscal year ending December
31, 1997. The Board recommends that shareholders vote "FOR" ratification of such
appointment. A representative of Goldstein Golub Kessler & Company, P.C. is
expected to attend the Meeting.
The Board of Directors Recommends Shareholders Vote "FOR" the Ratification of
the Appointment of Goldstein Golub Kessler & Company, P.C. as the Company's
Auditors (Proposal 5).
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors is not aware of any business to be presented at the
Meeting except the matters set forth in the Notice and described in this Proxy
Statement. Unless otherwise directed, all shares represented by Board of
Directors' Proxies will be voted in favor of the proposal of the Board of
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Directors described in this Proxy Statement. If any other matters come before
the Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying Proxy will vote on those
matters according to their best judgment.
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's officers and
directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of
the Company's equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Officers, directors and
greater than ten percent shareholders are required by regulation to furnish the
Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it, or
written representations from certain reporting persons that no Form 5's were
required for those persons, the Company is not aware of any failures by any of
its Directors, executive officers or beneficial owners of more than ten percent
of the Common Shares, to file reports or report transactions pursuant to Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act in a timely manner during the Company's fiscal year
ended December 31, 1996.
Expenses
The entire cost of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing this Proxy
Statement, the enclosed Proxy and other materials, and the cost of soliciting
Proxies with respect to the Meeting, will be borne by the Company. The Company
will request banks and brokers to solicit their customers who beneficially own
shares listed of record in names of nominees, and will reimburse those banks and
brokers for the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of such solicitations. The
original solicitation of Proxies by mail may be supplemented by telephone and
telegram by officers and other regular employees of the Company, but no
additional compensation will be paid to such individuals.
Shareholder Proposals
No person who intends to present a proposal for action at a forthcoming
shareholders' meeting of the Company may seek to have the proposal included in
the proxy statement or form of proxy for such meeting unless that person (a) is
a record beneficial owner of at least 1% or $1,000 in market value of Common
Shares, has held such shares for at least one year at the time the proposal is
submitted, and such person shall continue to own such shares through the date on
which the meeting is held, (b) provides the Company in writing with his name,
address, the number of shares held by him and the dates upon which he acquired
such shares with documentary support for a claim of beneficial ownership, (c)
notifies the Company of his intention to appear personally at the meeting or by
a qualified representative under New York law to present his proposal for
action, and (d) submits his proposal timely. A proposal to be included in the
proxy statement or proxy for the Company's next Annual Meeting of Shareholders,
will be submitted timely only if the proposal has been received at the Company's
principal executive office no later than December 22, 1997. If the date of such
meeting is changed by more than 30 calendar days from the date such meeting is
scheduled to be held under the Company's By-Laws, or if the proposal is to be
presented at any meeting other than the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the
proposal must be received at the Company's principal executive office at a
reasonable time before the solicitation of proxies for such meeting is made.
Even if the foregoing requirements are satisfied, a person may submit only
one proposal of not more than 500 words with a supporting statement if the
latter is
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requested by the proponent for inclusion in the proxy materials, and under
certain circumstances enumerated in the Securities and Exchange Commission's
rules relating to the solicitation of proxies, the Company may be entitled to
omit the proposal and any statement in support thereof from its proxy statement
and form of proxy.
Request for Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
Copies of the Company's 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1996, as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including the financial statements, accompany these proxy materials.
Additional copies of the Company's 1996 Annual Report can be obtained without
charge by shareholders (including beneficial owners of Common Shares) upon
written request to Theodore J. Martines, the Company's Secretary, CPI
Aerostructures, Inc., 200A Executive Drive, Edgewood, NY 11717. The Company's
EDGAR filings may be found on the Worldwide Web at www.sec.gov.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Theodore J. Martines
Secretary
Date: Edgewood, New York
April 21, 1997
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Appendix A
Certificate of Amendment
of
Certificate of Incorporation
of
CPI Aerostructures, Inc.
Under Section 805 of the Business Corporation Law
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 805 of the Business Corporation Law,
the undersigned, being respectively the President and the Secretary of CPI
Aerostructures, Inc., hereby certify as follows:
FIRST: The name of the corporation is CPI Aerostructures, Ltd. (the
"Corporation").
SECOND: The certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with
the Department of State on January 11, 1980.
THIRD: The amendments to the certificate of incorporation of the
Corporation effected by this certificate of amendment are as follows:
a. to authorize 2,000,000 shares of "blank check" preferred
stock, par value $.001 per share;
b. to increase the authorized Common Shares of the Corporation, par
value $.001, from 10,000,000 to 15,000,000.
FOURTH: To accomplish the foregoing amendments, the following Article of
the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended to read as
follows:
a. Article 4 of the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation
(relating to the aggregate number of shares which the
Corporation is authorized to issue and the par value thereof) is
hereby amended to read as follows:
"4. The aggregate number of shares that the Corporation shall have
authority to issue is (i) fifteen million (15,000,000) Common
Shares, each of which shall have a par value of $.001, all of
which are of the same class, and the aggregate par value of
which shall be $15,000.00, and (ii) two million (2,000,000)
shares of preferred stock, each of which shall have a par value
of $.001 per share and the aggregate par value of which shall
be $2,000.00."
FIFTH: The foregoing amendments of the certificate of incorporation of the
Corporation were duly authorized by the unanimous written consent of all the
members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, and subsequently were
approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the holders of all of the
outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote on said amendments of the
certificate of incorporation at a meeting of shareholders.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have signed this document on this 20th day of May
1997, and do hereby affirm, under the penalties of perjury, that the statements
contained herein have been examined by us and are true and correct.
/s/ Arthur August
---------------------
Arthur August
President
/s/ Theodore J. Martines
---------------------
Theodore J. Martines
Secretary
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PROXY
CPI AEROSTRUCTURES, INC.
The undersigned, a holder of Common Shares of CPI Aerostructures, Inc.,
a New York corporation (the "Company"), hereby appoints ARTHUR AUGUST and
THEODORE J. MARTINES, and each of them, the proxies of the undersigned, each
with full power to appoint their substitutes, and hereby authorizes them to
attend, represent and vote for the undersigned, all of the shares of the Company
held of record by the undersigned on April 18, 1997, at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of the Company to be held at the Company's executive offices at
200A Executive Drive, Edgewood, New York 11717, at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard
Time), on May 20, 1997 and any adjournment(s) thereof, as follows:
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS, as provided in the Company's Proxy Statement:
[ ] FOR all nominees listed below
[ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all the nominees listed below
(Instructions: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE,
STRIKE A LINE THROUGH OR OTHERWISE STRIKE OUT THE NOMINEE'S NAME BELOW)
Arthur August/Theodore J. Martines /Walter Paulick /Stanley Wunderlich
2. To amend the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to authorize
2,000,000 shares of "blank check" preferred stock, par value $.001
per share.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
3. To amend the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to increase the
number of authorized Common Shares of the Company from 10,000,000 to
15,000,000.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
4. The ratification of the amendment to the Company's 1995 Employee Stock
Option Plan to increase the number of shares available to be granted
thereunder from 300,000 to 600,000 Common Shares.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
5. The ratification of the appointment of Goldstein Golub Kessler &
Company, P.C. as the Company's independent auditors for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 1997.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE INSTRUCTIONS INDICATED HEREON. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE DIRECTORS NAMED IN PROPOSAL 1, FOR THE ADOPTION OF
PROPOSALS 2, 3, 4 AND 5 AND AS SUCH PROXIES SHALL DEEM ADVISABLE ON SUCH OTHER
BUSINESS AS MAY COME BEFORE THE MEETING. EACH MATTER ABOVE WAS PROPOSED BY THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
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The undersigned acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Notice of Annual
Meeting and accompanying Proxy Statement dated April 21, 1997 relating to the
Annual Meeting and the 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders.
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Signature(s) of Shareholder(s)
The signature(s) hereon should correspond exactly with the name(s) of
the Shareholder(s) appearing on the Stock Certificate. If stock is jointly held,
all joint owners should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If signer is a corporation,
please sign the full corporate name, and give title of signing officer.
Date: , 1997
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CPI AEROSTRUCTURES, INC.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY PROMPTLY
USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU VOTE.
