SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
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 ss. 240.14a-1l(c) or ss. 240.14a-12
GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE, INC.
------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
N/A
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(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)(4) and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-1l(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:
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GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE, INC.
---------------------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
to be held on
Thursday, March 9, 2000
-----------------------
To Our Stockholders:
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Green Mountain Coffee, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), will be held at the Holiday Inn, 45 Blush
Hill Road, Waterbury Vermont (directions enclosed) on March 9, 2000 at 10:30
a.m. to:
1. Elect eight directors.
2. Transact such other business as may properly be brought before
the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on January 14,
2000 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice
of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. A complete list of those stockholders
will be open to examination by any stockholder for any purpose germane to the
Meeting during ordinary business hours at the executive offices of the Company
for a period of 10 days before the Meeting.
All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Meeting.
Sincerely,
Robert D. Britt
Secretary
Waterbury, Vermont
January 21, 2000
All stockholders are urged to attend the Meeting in person or by proxy. Whether
or not you expect to be present at the Meeting, please mark, sign and return the
enclosed proxy card and return it promptly in the enclosed postage-paid
envelope.
GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE, INC.
33 Coffee Lane
Waterbury, Vermont 05676
------------------------
Proxy Statement
---------------
INTRODUCTION
The accompanying proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors (the
"Board") of Green Mountain Coffee, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company")
for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company (the "Annual
Meeting"). The Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 9, 2000 at 10:30
a.m. at the Holiday Inn, 45 Blush Hill Road, Waterbury, Vermont. This Proxy
Statement and the enclosed form of proxy are first being mailed to stockholders
of record on or about February 7, 2000.
The Company is a Delaware holding company whose only asset is the stock
of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., a Vermont corporation ("Roasters"). As
used in this proxy statement, unless the context otherwise requires, references
to the "Company" or "Green Mountain" include the Company and Roasters.
VOTING
To vote by proxy, please mark, sign and date the enclosed proxy card
and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided.
As of the close of business on January 14, 2000, the record date
for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual
Meeting, 3,398,008 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.10 per
share, were outstanding. The presence in person or by proxy of a majority of
the total number of outstanding shares entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting
is necessary to constitute a quorum.
Each stockholder is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock
held as of the record date. Stockholders may not cumulate votes for the election
of directors. Directors are elected by plurality vote. If shares are not voted
by the broker who is the record holder of the shares, or if shares are not voted
in other circumstances in which proxy authority is defective or has been
withheld with respect to any matter, these non-voted shares are not deemed to be
present or represented for purposes of determining whether stockholder approval
has been obtained, but are counted for quorum purposes.
SOLICITATION AND REVOCATION OF PROXIES
If the enclosed form of proxy is properly signed and returned, the
shares represented thereby will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance
with the instructions specified thereon. If the proxy does not specify how the
shares represented thereby are to be voted, the proxy will be voted FOR the
election of the eight directors proposed by the Board. In addition, shares
represented by your proxy will be voted in the named proxies' discretion on any
matter of which the Company did not have notice by January 6, 2000, and, to the
extent permitted by law, on any other business that may properly come before the
Meeting and any adjournments. Your proxy will only be used at the Annual Meeting
and any adjournments.
Once you execute and return your proxy to the Board, you may revoke or
change it at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting by: (i)
delivering a written notice of revocation to the Secretary of the Company at 33,
Coffee Lane, Waterbury, Vermont 05676; (ii) delivering another signed proxy to
the Secretary; or (iii) attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.
The Company will bear the entire cost of soliciting the proxies. In
addition to solicitation by mail, the directors, officers and other employees of
the Company may solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other means
without additional compensation. The Company does not presently intend to retain
professional proxy solicitation assistance or to solicit proxies otherwise than
as described.
PROPOSALS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Proposals of stockholders intended to be included in the Company's
proxy materials for presentation at the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must
be received by the Secretary of the Company at 33 Coffee Lane, Waterbury,
Vermont 05676 by September 22, 2000.
SEC rules provide that the Company will not have discretionary
authority to vote shares under proxies it solicits concerning matters submitted
by a stockholder if the stockholder submits the matter to the Company by a
certain date. That date for the Company's 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is
currently December 22, 2000.
PROPOSAL
Election of Directors
At the Annual Meeting, eight directors will be elected to serve until
the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their successors are elected
and qualified. Management recommends that you vote FOR each of the nominees
below. The Board knows of no reason why any nominee might be unable or unwilling
to serve.
The following sets forth the names and ages of the eight nominees for
election to the Board of Directors of the Company and their respective positions
with the Company.
Year First
Name Age Elected Positions with the Company
- ------------------------ --- ---------- ----------------------------------------
Robert P. Stiller 56 1993 Chairman of Board of Directors,
President and Chief Executive Officer
Robert D. Britt 44 1993 Chief Financial Officer, Vice President,
Treasurer, Secretary and Director
Stephen J. Sabol 38 1993 Vice President and Director
Jonathan C. Wettstein 51 1994 Vice President and Director
William D. Davis(1) 50 1993 Director
Jules A. del Vecchio(1) 56 1993 Director
Hinda Miller(1) 49 1999 Director
David E. Moran(1) 46 1995 Director
- ----------
(1) Member of Audit and Compensation Committees of the Board of Directors
<PAGE>
Certain biographical information regarding each director of the Company is set
forth below:
Robert P. Stiller, founder of Roasters, has served as its President and a
director since its inception in July 1981. In September 1971, Mr. Stiller
co-founded Robert Burton Associates, a company engaged in the development and
sale of E-Z Wider products and served as its President and director until June
1980, when Robert Burton Associates was sold.
Robert D. Britt has served as Chief Financial Officer of Roasters since May
1993. Prior to May 1993, Mr. Britt held financial, managerial and/or consulting
positions at Engineered Coatings, Inc., FCR, Inc., Ernst & Young, CIGNA
Corporation and KPMG Peat Marwick. Mr. Britt is a Certified Public Accountant
and holds a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the
University of Pennsylvania.
Stephen J. Sabol has served as Vice President of Sales of Roasters since
September 1996. Mr. Sabol served as Vice President of Branded Sales of Roasters
from August 1992 to September 1996. From September 1986 to August 1992, Mr.
Sabol was the General Manager of Roasters responsible for overall performance of
the wholesale division in Maine and New Hampshire.
Jonathan C. Wettstein has served as Vice President of Operations of Roasters
since April 1993. From June 1974 to April 1993, Mr. Wettstein was employed by
Digital Equipment Corporation in a variety of positions including Plant Manager,
Order Administration Manager, Marketing Manager, Business and Materials Manager
and Product Line Controller. Mr. Wettstein holds a Master of Business
Administration from the Harvard Business School.
William D. Davis is currently Member and Chairman of Rondele Acquisition LLC,
dba Rondele Specialty Foods. Mr. Davis joined Rondele Foods as Partner in
January 1996, and became Chairman of Rondele Acquisition LLC (a newly formed
company) in December 1998. Prior to this, Mr. Davis served as a Partner of
Waterbury Holdings of Vermont, a specialty foods holding company, from March
1995 to December 1998. He also served as CEO of Waterbury Holdings from March
1995 through January 1998. In his association with Waterbury Holdings, Mr. Davis
held the position of Partner and CEO of the company's affiliates including
McKenzie LLC, All Season's Kitchen LLC, Franklin County Cheese Corporation, and
Frank Hahn Incorporated. From January 1985 to October 1994, Mr. Davis was
President and Chief Executive Officer of Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Inc., a
dairy food manufacturer.
Jules A. del Vecchio is currently a Vice President of New York Life Insurance
Company and is responsible for communications and agent management and training.
Mr. del Vecchio has been affiliated with New York Life Insurance Company since
1970.
Hinda Miller is currently President of DeForest Concepts, a consulting firm
specializing in small business and the promotion of women entrepreneurs, and a
member of several Boards of Directors, including Vermont Country Store and New
England Culinary Institute. Ms. Miller co-founded Jogbra, Inc. in 1977, the
original maker of the "jogbra" women's sports garment. Ms. Miller served as
President of Jogbra, Inc. from 1977 until 1990, and continued to serve as such
when the company was bought by Playtex Apparel, Inc. in 1990. In 1991, when
Playtex Apparel was sold to Sara Lee Corp., Ms. Miller continued her leadership
as President until 1994. In May 1994, she became CEO of the Champion Jogbra
division of Sara Lee. From January 1996 through December 1997, Ms. Miller served
as Vice President of Communications for the same division.
David E. Moran is currently Managing Partner of Fusion5, an innovation
consulting company. From July 1995 through July 1999, Mr. Moran was a Partner
in the Cambridge Group, a management consulting company focused on marketing.
Before joining the Cambridge Group, he was a partner at Marketing Corporation
of America from July 1984 to June 1992. Earlier in his career Mr. Moran spent
ten years in brand management at General Foods and International Playtex. While
at General Foods, he was Brand Manager of several of its Maxwell House coffee
brands.
Officers are elected annually and serve at the discretion of the Board
of Directors. None of the Company's directors or officers has any family
relationship with any other director or officer, except for Robert P. Stiller
and one of the Company's directors, Jules del Vecchio, whose wives are sisters.
GENERAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors of the Company met six times in fiscal 1999.
During that year each of the directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate of
all meetings of the Board and of all Committees of which he or she was a member.
The Company does not have a standing nominating committee.
Audit Committee.
----------------
The Audit Committee reviews the engagement of the independent
accountants and their independence. It also reviews the audit and non-audit fees
of the independent accountants and the adequacy of the Company's internal
control procedures. In fiscal 1999, the Audit Committee was composed of Ms.
Miller and Messrs. Davis, del Vecchio and Moran. The Committee met three times
during fiscal 1999.
Compensation Committee.
------------------------
The Board's standing Compensation Committee, composed of non-employee
directors, establishes, implements and monitors the strategy, policies and plans
of the Company and its subsidiaries for the compensation of all executive
officers of the Company and its subsidiaries. Its duties include reviewing and
determining the compensation of the executive officers of the Company and its
subsidiaries, including setting any Company, subsidiary or business unit
performance goals. Directors Davis, del Vecchio, Miller and Moran constituted
this Committee in fiscal 1999. The Committee met four times during fiscal 1999.
The Board of Directors of the Company recommends a vote FOR the
election of each of the eight nominees to the Board of Directors under this
Proposal.
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
beneficial ownership of the Company's common stock as of December 31, 1999 for
(1) each of the Company's directors and nominees, (2) all directors and
executive officers of the Company as a group, (3) each Named Executive Officer
and (4) each person known by the Company to own beneficially 5% or more of the
outstanding shares of its common stock:
Number of Shares of
Common Stock Percent Ownership
Name and Address Beneficially of Common Stock
of Beneficial Owner Owned Outstanding
- ------------------------------------ ------------------- -----------------
Robert P. Stiller(1) 1,757,751 51.1%
c/o Green Mountain Coffee, Inc.
33 Coffee Lane
Waterbury, Vermont 05676
Robert D. Britt(2) 62,338 1.8%
c/o Green Mountain Coffee, Inc.
33 Coffee Lane
Waterbury, Vermont 05676
James K. Prevo(3) 30,027 0.9%
c/o Green Mountain Coffee, Inc.
33 Coffee Lane
Waterbury, Vermont 05676
Stephen J. Sabol(4) 29,761 0.9%
c/o Green Mountain Coffee, Inc.
33 Coffee Lane
Waterbury, Vermont 05676
Jonathan C. Wettstein(5) 68,901 2.0%
c/o Green Mountain Coffee, Inc.
33 Coffee Lane
Waterbury, Vermont 05676
William D. Davis(6) 12,000 0.3%
c/o Rondele Specialty Foods
8100 Highway K South
Merrill, WI 54452
Jules A. del Vecchio(6)(7) 28,574 0.8%
c/o New York Life Insurance Co.
51 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010
David E. Moran(8) 10,000 0.3%
c/o Fusion5
39 Riverside Avenue
Westport, CT 06880
Hinda Miller 500 *
c/o Deforest concepts
84 Deforest Heights
Burlington, VT 05401
Hathaway & Associates 250,000 7.3%
119 Rowayton Avenue
Rowayton, Connecticut 06853
All directors and executive 2,092,762 57.1%
officers as a group (12 persons)(9)
- ----------
(1) Includes an aggregate of 117,870 shares of common stock held by Trusts for
the benefit of Mr. Stiller's wife and children and excludes shares owned by
relatives of Mr. Stiller, if any, as to which Mr. Stiller disclaims beneficial
ownership.
(2) Includes 57,838 shares of common stock for Mr. Britt issuable upon exercise
of outstanding stock options exercisable within 60 days. Also includes 4,500
shares over which Mr. Britt shares voting and investment power with his wife.
(3) Includes 27,939 shares of common stock for Mr. Prevo issuable upon exercise
of outstanding stock options exercisable within 60 days.
(4) Includes 10,814 shares of common stock for Mr. Sabol issuable upon exercise
of stock options exercisable within 60 days.
(5) Includes 59,430 shares of common stock for Mr. Wettstein issuable upon
exercise of outstanding stock options exercisable within 60 days.
(6) Includes for each person 5,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise
of outstanding stock options exercisable within 60 days.
(7) Includes 23,574 shares held of record by Phyllis Brennan Hoffman, Mr. del
Vecchio's wife.
(8) Includes 10,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding
stock options excercisable within 60 days.
(9) Includes an aggregate of 227,639 shares of common stock issuable upon
exercise of stock options held by certain officers of the Company that are
exercisable within the next 60 days.
* Less than 0.1%
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
requires the Company's officers and directors and persons who own more than 10%
of the Company's Common Stock to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the NASDAQ. SEC rules
require reporting persons to supply the Company with copies of these reports.
Based solely on its review of the copies of such reports received and
written representations from reporting persons, the Company believes that with
respect to the fiscal year ended September 25, 1999, all reporting persons
timely filed the required reports except:
Name Number of late reports Number of transactions covered
- -------------------- ---------------------- ------------------------------
William D. Davis 1 1
Jules A. del Vecchio 1 1
Kevin G. McBride 1 3*
Hinda Miller 1 1
David E. Moran 1 1
*covering an aggregate of 2,600 shares purchased.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Committee Report
Executive Compensation for FY 1999
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is composed of
outside, independent directors, none of whom is currently or was formerly an
officer or employee of the Company. It is responsible for establishing and
monitoring the compensation strategy, policies and plans for all executive
officers of the Company and determines their compensation packages.
The Compensation Committee's fiscal year 1999 policy was to compensate
the executive officers in ways that would: (1) encourage Company growth and
profitability, (2) maintain market-competitive compensation, and (3) reward
superior performance by the executive officers. The factors and criteria upon
which the Committee determined the fiscal year 1999 base compensation of its
executive officers were, with the exception of market benchmarking, subjective
in nature, such as its perception of each executive officer's performance,
experience, responsibilities and skills. Bonuses, except for a certain portion
earned by the Vice President of Sales which was based on meeting certain sales
targets, were based on the Company achieving certain earnings per share targets
and were capped at $15,000 ($100,000 for the President and CEO). The Committee
believes that this approach was in the best overall interest of the Company and
its Stockholders.
The Compensation Committee was assisted in its review and evaluation of
executive compensation by compensation consultants. The Chief Executive Officer
recommended fiscal year 1999 salary and bonus targets for each executive officer
which reflected a benchmark to market by the consultants. The Committee accepted
the recommendations.
The Committee established the salary and bonus for the Chief Executive
Officer, which it also benchmarked to market compensation rates with the help of
the consultants.
Submitted by the 1999 Compensation Committee,
William D. Davis
Jules A. del Vecchio
Hinda Miller
David E. Moran
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
No member of the Compensation Committee is a former or current officer
or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, nor does any executive
officer of the Company serve as an officer, director or member of a compensation
committee of any entity one of whose executive officers or directors is a
director of the Company.
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares the percentage change in the cumulative
total stockholder return on the Company's Common Stock during the period from
September 24, 1994 though September 25, 1999, with the cumulative total return
for (i) the Nasdaq National Market Index (U.S. Companies) and (ii) the Standard
& Poor's Small Cap Non-Alcoholic Beverage Index. The comparison assumes that
$100 was invested on September 24, 1994 in the Company's Common Stock at the
closing "ask" price of $5.25, and in each of the foregoing indices, assuming
reinvestment of dividends, if any. The comparison reflected in the graph and
table is not intended to forecast the future performance of the Company's Common
Stock and may not be indicative of such future performance.
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
<TABLE>
9/24/94 9/30/95 9/28/96 9/27/97 9/26/98 9/25/99
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Green Mountain Coffee, Inc. $100.00 $114.29 $135.71 $200.00 $100.00 $157.14
NASDAQ - US Index $100.00 $139.40 $165.88 $226.54 $238.38 $374.29
S&P Beverage Small Cap Index $100.00 $126.85 $146.93 $227.13 $192.06 $224.08
</TABLE>
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth the aggregate compensation, cash and
non-cash, awarded to, earned by or paid by the Company to its President and
Chief Executive Officer and to the four highest-paid executive officers whose
annual compensation (consisting solely of base salary and bonus, if any)
exceeded $100,000 for the year ended September 25, 1999 (the "Named Executive
Officers"):
<TABLE>
Long Term
Annual Compensation Compensation
-----------------------------------------------------------
Other Securities
Name and Fiscal Salary Bonus Compensation Underlying
Principal Position Year ($) ($) ($) Stock Options
- ---------------------------- ------ -------- ------- -------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert P. Stiller
Chairman of the Board of 1997 244,150 - - -
Directors, President and 1998 251,621 75,000 5,588(1) -
Chief Executive Officer 1999 251,843 100,000 193(1) -
Robert D. Britt
Chief Financial Officer, 1997 120,924 - 2,896(1) -
Vice President, Treasurer, 1998 122,957 20,000 2,958(1) 10,000(3)
Secretary and Director 1999 138,257 15,000 3,952(1) 10,000(2)(3)
James K. Prevo
Vice President and 1997 100,383 - 2,238(1) 6,000(3)
Chief Information Officer 1998 106,157 35,000 2,675(1) 17,000(3)
1999 124,613 15,000 3,623(1) 10,000(2)(3)
Stephen J. Sabol
Vice President of Sales 1997 130,013 - 1,949(1) -
and Director 1998 132,343 10,000 2,903(1) 10,000(3)
1999 139,591 55,000 81,938(4) 10,000(3)
Jonathan C. Wettstein
Vice President of Operations 1997 124,625 - 3,113(1) -
and Director 1998 127,072 13,000 3,132(1) 16,000(3)
1999 142,929 15,000 3,898(1) 10,000(2)(3)
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) Represents matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) Plan.
(2) The term of outstanding options to purchase 47,148 shares held by Mr. Britt,
11,787 shares held by Mr. Prevo and 47,148 shares held by Mr. Wettstein were
extended on December 21, 1999 for an additional five years and now expire in
2008. The exercise price of these options exceeded the fair market value of the
common stok at the date of the extension.
(3) Represents common stock shares issuable upon exercise of options granted
under the Company's 1993 and/or 1999 Stock Options Plans.
(4) Represents $77,816 of compensation related to the reimbursement of taxes
paid on certain option exercise income and $4,122 of matching contributions to
the Company's 401(k) Plan.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
On March 26, 1993, Roasters entered into an employment agreement with
Robert D. Britt, its Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Treasurer and
Secretary. The employment agreement provides that Mr. Britt will receive a
minimum base annual salary of $100,000, subject to certain annual cost of living
adjustments, performance based bonuses to be determined from time to time by the
Board of Directors and additional compensation up to a maximum of 200% of his
then base annual salary payable over 24 months in the event of a sale of all or
substantially all of the stock or assets of the Company or a merger or
consolidation of the Company in which the Company is not the surviving entity or
any transaction or series of related transactions resulting in Mr. Stiller
owning less than 50% of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock. In
addition, Mr. Britt is entitled to a severance payment equal to 50% of his then
base annual salary in the event that he is terminated for any reason other than
(i) for cause or (ii) his voluntary resignation. The employment agreement may be
terminated at any time by Roasters or Mr. Britt.
On July 1, 1993, Roasters entered into an employment agreement with
Stephen J. Sabol, its Vice President of Sales. The employment agreement provides
that Mr. Sabol will receive a minimum base annual salary of $120,000 and
performance based bonuses to be determined from time to time by the Board of
Directors. The employment agreement may be terminated at any time by Roasters or
Mr. Sabol.
On July 1, 1993, Roasters entered into an employment agreement with
Jonathan C. Wettstein, its Vice President and Plant Manager. The employment
agreement provides that Mr. Wettstein will receive a minimum base annual salary
of $115,000, performance based bonuses to be determined from time to time by the
Board of Directors and additional compensation up to a maximum of 100% of his
then base compensation in the event of a sale of all or substantially all of the
stock or assets of the Company or a merger or consolidation of the Company in
which the Company is not the surviving entity. In addition, Mr. Wettstein is
entitled to a severance payment consisting of 50% of his then base annual salary
in the event that he is terminated for any reason other than (i) for cause or
(ii) his voluntary resignation. The employment agreement may be terminated at
any time by Roasters or Mr. Wettstein.
Each of the above employment agreements also provides that the officer
shall not (i) disclose or use any confidential information of the Company during
or after the term of his agreement, (ii) compete with the Company or any of its
affiliates during the term of his agreement, or in certain circumstances, for a
period of six months thereafter or (iii) recruit any employee of the Company for
employment in any other business competitive with the Company for a period of
one year after the termination of his agreement.
The following table sets forth certain information concerning grants of stock
options made to the Named Executive Officers pursuant to the Company's 1999
Stock Option Plan during the fiscal year ended September 25, 1999:
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
<TABLE>
Number of Percent of Total Exercise or
Securities Options Granted Base Price Present Value
Underlying to Employees in Per Share Expiration at Date of
Name Options Granted(1) Fiscal Year ($) Date Grant ($)(2)
- --------------------- ------------------ ---------------- ----------- ---------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert P. Stiller - - - - -
Robert D. Britt 10,000 3.9% 5.625 1/8/09 40,520
James K. Prevo 17,000 6.6% 5.625 1/8/09 68,884
Stephen J. Sabol 10,000 3.9% 5.625 1/8/09 40,520
Jonathan C. Wettstein 16,000 6.2% 5.625 1/8/09 64,832
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) The options, which were granted under the Company's 1999 Stock Option Plan,
generally become exercisable over a four-year period, one quarter of such
options vesting each year commencing one year after the date of the grant.
(2) In accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission rules, the
Black-Scholes option pricing model was chosen to estimate the grant date present
value of the options set forth in this table. The Corporation's use of this
model should not be construed as an endorsement of its accuracy at valuing
options. All stock option valuation models, including the Black-Scholes model,
require a prediction about the future movement of the stock price. The following
assumptions were made for purposes of calculating the Present Value at Date of
Grant: an expected life of 7 years, an average volatility of 70%, no dividend
yield, and a risk-free interest rate of 5.33%.
AGGREGATED OPTIONS EXERCISES
The following table sets forth information (on an aggregated basis)
concerning each exercise of stock options during the fiscal year ended September
25, 1999 by each of the Named Executive Officers and the final year-end value of
unexercised options.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES
IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 25, 1999
FISCAL YEAR END OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
Shares
Acquired Number of Unexercised Value ($) of Unexercised
on Value Options "In-the-Money" Options
Name Exercise Realized at Fiscal Year-End at Fiscal Year-End(1)
Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
- --------------------- -------- -------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert P. Stiller - - - - - -
Robert D. Britt - - 55,338 13,334 10,844 26,250
James K. Prevo - - 23,689 23,334 2,711 44,625
Stephen J. Sabol - - 8,314 13,334 - 26,250
Jonathan C. Wettstein - - 55,430 19,334 10,844 42,000
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) Options are "in-the-money" at the fiscal year-end if the fair market value
of the underlying securities on such date exceeds the exercise or base price of
the option.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMPENSATION
Directors are elected annually by the Company's stockholders. Each
director (other than those who are also officers of the Company) is paid a
retainer and is reimbursed for ordinary and necessary travel expenses incurred
in connection with attendance at each Board meeting. The annual retainer in
fiscal 1999 was $8,000.
In addition, the Company has granted stock options from time to time to
its outside directors. In fiscal 1999 it granted new director Ms. Miller
ten-year non-statutory options to purchase 5,000 shares and long-time directors
Mssrs. Davis, del Vecchio and Moran ten-year non-statutory options to purchase
the following number of shares: Mr. Davis, 8,000 shares, Mr. del Vecchio, 8,000
shares and Mr. Moran, 7,500 shares. All of these options are exercisable at
$5.875 per share. 5,000 of the options granted to each of the long-time
directors were immediately exercisable upon grant. The balance of these grants
and all of Ms. Miller's grants become exercisable over four years. Mr. Moran
also holds 5,000 options exercisable at $6.25 which expire on November 27, 2000.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Mr. Stiller has guaranteed the repayment of the indebtedness incurred
by the Company to the Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation. See Note
8 of "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" in the accompanying Annual
Report to Stockholders for a description of the terms of such indebtedness.
During fiscal 1999, the independent directors approved a total of
$650,000 in personal loans to Mr. Stiller. The largest aggregate loan amount
outstanding at any time during fiscal 1999 was $500,000. One note in the amount
of $250,000, issued September 24, 1999, was outstanding on September 25, 1999,
the end of the fiscal year. Subsequent to the end of fiscal 1999, additional
loans of a total of $200,000 have been made. Interest accrues on the unpaid
principal of the loans at the prime rate as reported in the Wall Street Journal
and is payable upon the maturity of each note. Mr. Stiller expects to repay
these loans during fiscal 2000 and has repaid $240,000 and paid all accrued
interest on the loans as of January 15, 2000, the end of the Company's fiscal
2000 first quarter. The remaining loan balance owed by Mr. Stiller is $210,000
at January 15, 2000. The Board of Directors believes the terms of these loans
are no more favorable to Mr. Stiller than he could obtain from institutional
lending sources, and believes the loans benefited the Company by permitting Mr.
Stiller to delay planned sales of certain of his shares in the Company, while
the Company conducted a series of stock repurchase programs.
Any future transactions between the Company and its officers,
directors, principal stockholders or other affiliates will be on terms no less
favorable to the Company than could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties
on an arms-length basis and will be approved by a majority of the Company's
independent and disinterested directors upon their conclusion that it may
reasonably be expected to benefit the Company.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Board of Directors is not aware of any matters not set forth herein
that may come before the Annual Meeting. However, if other matters are properly
brought before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the persons named in the
accompanying proxy will vote as the Board of Directors directs.
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP served as the Company's independent
accountants for fiscal year 1999. The Company expects that a representative of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will attend the Annual Meeting. This representative
will have an opportunity to make a statement, if he or she desires, and will be
available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.
The Corporation has not selected auditors for the current fiscal year.
The Board of Directors and its Audit Committee will make this decision later in
the year.
By order of the Board of Directors,
Robert D. Britt
Dated: January 21, 2000 Secretary
<PAGE>
DIRECTIONS TO HOLIDAY INN
45 Blush Hill Road
Waterbury, Vermont 05676
FROM I-89 - BOSTON, MA
1. Take Route 93 North to Route 89 North (just South of Concord, NH)
2. Take exit 10 (Waterbury - Stowe)
3. Turn right (North on Route 100) at the end of the exit ramp
4. Take the first left (100 yards), up Blush Hill Road, into the Holiday Inn
parking lot
FROM I-89 - BURLINGTON, VT
1. Take Route 89 South (toward Montpelier)
2. Take exit 10 (Waterbury, Stowe)
3. Turn left (North on Route 100) at the end of the ramp
4. Cross over I-89
5. Take the first left (100 yards), up Blush Hill Road, into the Holiday Inn
parking lot
FROM WAITSFIELD/WARREN
1. Take Route 100 North
2. Turn left on Route 2 and go through Waterbury
3. Turn right (continuing on Route 100 North) after going under the railroad
bridge
4. Cross over I-89
5. Take the first left (100 yards), up Blush Hill Road, into the Holiday Inn
parking lot
FROM STOWE/MORRISVILLE
1. Take Route 100 South towards I-89
2. You will pass between a Mobil and an Exxon
3. Turn right (before the ramp to I-89) up Blush Hill Road, into the Holiday
Inn parking lot.
For further assistance: Holiday Inn - Stowe/Waterbury (802) 244-7822
APPENDIX A: PROXY CARD
Detach Here
GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE, INC.
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held March 9, 2000
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Robert P. Stiller and
Robert D. Britt, and each of them, as proxies with full power of substitution,
to represent and vote all of the shares which the undersigned is entitled to
vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Green Mountain Coffee, Inc. (the
"Company") to be held at the Holiday Inn, 45 Blush Hill Road, Waterbury, Vermont
on Thursday, March 9, 2000 at 10:30 a.m., and at any and all adjournments
thereof. The undersigned hereby revokes any proxies previously given.
1. Proposal 1 - To elect eight directors.
Nominees: Robert P. Stiller, Robert D. Britt, Stephen J. Sabol,
Jonathan C. Wettstein, William D. Davis, Jules A. del Vecchio, Hinda
Miller and David E. Moran.
[__] FOR all nominees [__] WITHHELD from all nominees
[__] FOR, except vote withheld from the following nominees:
___________________________________________
2. In their discretion on any matter of which the Company did not have
notice by January 6, 2000, and, to the extent permitted by law, on any
other business that may properly come before the Meeting and any
adjournments.
(Please sign on reverse.)
<PAGE>
This proxy will be voted as directed or, if no direction is given, will be
voted FOR the nominees under Proposal 1, and in the proxies' discretion (to the
extent described above) on all other matters that may properly come before the
Meeting. If this proxy is not marked to withhold authority to vote for any
nominee it will be voted FOR all nominees.
If you receive more than one proxy card, please sign and return all cards in the
accompanying envelope. Please check your mailing address as it appears on this
card. If it is inaccurate please include your correct address below.
Dated: _______________________________, 2000
------------------------------------------
(Signature)
------------------------------------------
(Signature)
Note: Please sign exactly as your name or
names appear on this card. Joint owners
should each sign personally. If signing as
a fiduciary or attorney, please give your
exact title.
