LODGENET ENTERTAINMENT CORP
DEF 14A, 2000-04-07
CABLE & OTHER PAY TELEVISION SERVICES
Previous: RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUST SERIES 92, 497J, 2000-04-07
Next: CENTURY CASINOS, DEF 14A, 2000-04-07



<PAGE>
                            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 Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section
         240.14a-12

                       LODGENET ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (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:
         -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                     [LOGO]

                          3900 WEST INNOVATION STREET
                        SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA 57107

                            ------------------------

                                                                  April 13, 2000

Dear Stockholder:

    You are cordially invited to attend the 2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation. The meeting will be held on Wednesday,
May 10, 2000, at 9:00 a.m., Central Daylight Time, at LodgeNet's National
Headquarters and Distribution Center, 3900 West Innovation Street, Sioux Falls,
South Dakota 57107. We encourage you to read carefully the enclosed Notice of
Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement.

    We hope you will be able to attend the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you
plan to attend, we urge you to complete, sign, date and promptly return the
enclosed proxy card in the enclosed envelope in order to make certain that your
shares will be represented at the Annual Meeting. Your vote is important,
whether you own a few shares or many.

Very truly yours,

<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
/s/ Tim C. Flynn                               /s/ Scott C. Petersen

Tim C. Flynn                                   Scott C. Petersen
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD                          PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
                       LODGENET ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION

                                ----------------

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

                             ---------------------

TO THE STOCKHOLDERS:

    NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, pursuant to its Bylaws and the call of its
Board of Directors, the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") of
LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation (the "Company") will be held at LodgeNet's
National Headquarters and Distribution Center, 3900 West Innovation Street,
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57107 on Wednesday, May 10, 2000, at 9:00 a.m.,
Central Daylight Time, for the purpose of considering and voting upon the
following matters:

TO RECEIVE AND CONSIDER:

    The report of Management on the business of the Company and the Company's
audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999,
together with the report thereon of Arthur Andersen LLP, the Company's
independent public accountants.

TO ACT ON:

    1.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.  To elect two persons to the Board of Directors
        of the Company to serve for a three-year term expiring in 2003 and until
        such persons' successors are elected and qualified. The Board of
        Directors' nominees are:

                                      R. Douglas Bradbury
                                   Richard R. Hylland

    2.  AMENDMENT OF STOCK OPTION PLAN.  To ratify and approve an amendment of
        the Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan, as amended, (the "Plan") to
        increase the initial and the annual stock option grant to each
        non-employee director from 6,000 shares to 12,000 shares and to
        authorize up to an additional 750,000 shares available for issuance upon
        the exercise of stock options granted pursuant to the Plan.

    3.  RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS.  To
        ratify the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's
        independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31,
        2000.

    4.  OTHER BUSINESS.  To transact such other business as may properly come
        before the Meeting and at any and all adjournments thereof.

    Only those stockholders of record on March 22, 2000 shall be entitled to
notice of and to vote in person or by proxy at the Meeting.

    The Proxy Statement which accompanies this notice contains additional
information regarding the proposals to be considered at the Meeting and
stockholders are encouraged to read it in its entirety.

    As set forth in the enclosed Proxy Statement, the proxy is solicited by and
on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company. It is expected that these
materials will be first mailed to stockholders on or about April 13, 2000.

    WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE MARK, DATE AND SIGN
THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE TO BE SURE
THAT YOUR STOCK IS VOTED. YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT, WHETHER YOU OWN A FEW SHARES
OR MANY.

                                          By Order of the Board of Directors,

                                          /s/ Daniel P. Johnson

                                          Daniel P. Johnson
                                          SECRETARY

Dated:  April 13, 2000
<PAGE>
                       LODGENET ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
                          3900 WEST INNOVATION STREET
                        SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA 57107
                                 (605) 988-1000

                            ------------------------

                                PROXY STATEMENT
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                  MAY 10, 2000

                             ---------------------

                              GENERAL INFORMATION

    This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation (the
"Company") for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") of the
Company to be held on Wednesday, May 10, 2000, at LodgeNet's National
Headquarters and Distribution Center, 3900 West Innovation Street, Sioux Falls,
South Dakota 57107 at 9:00 a.m., Central Daylight Time, and at any and all
adjournments thereof. Tim C. Flynn and Scott C. Petersen, the designated
proxyholders (the "Proxyholders"), are members of the Company's management. This
Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card (the "Proxy") and other enclosures
will be first mailed to stockholders on or about April 13, 2000. Only
stockholders of record on March 22, 2000 (the "Record Date") are entitled to
vote in person or by proxy at the Meeting.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED

    The matters to be considered and voted upon at the Meeting will be:

    1.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.  To elect two persons to the Board of Directors
        of the Company to serve for a three-year term expiring in 2003 and until
        such persons' successors are elected and qualified. The Board of
        Directors' nominees are:

                                  R. Douglas Bradbury
                                  Richard R. Hylland

    2.  AMENDMENT OF STOCK OPTION PLAN.  To ratify and approve an amendment of
        the Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan, as amended, (the "Plan") to
        increase the initial and the annual stock option grant to each
        non-employee director from 6,000 shares to 12,000 shares and to
        authorize up to an additional 750,000 shares available for issuance upon
        the exercise of stock options granted pursuant to the Plan.

    3.  RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS.  To
        ratify the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's
        independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31,
        2000.

    4.  OTHER BUSINESS.  To transact such other business as may properly come
        before the Meeting and at any and all adjournments thereof.

VOTING AND REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES

    A Proxy for use at the Meeting is enclosed. The Proxy must be signed and
dated by you or your authorized representative or agent. You may revoke a Proxy
at any time before it is exercised at the Meeting by submitting to the Secretary
of the Company a written revocation of such proxy or a duly executed proxy
bearing a later date or by voting in person at the Meeting.
<PAGE>
    Unless revoked, the shares of common stock represented by Proxies will be
voted in accordance with the instructions given thereon. In the absence of any
instruction in the Proxy, your shares of common stock will be voted: (i) "FOR"
the election of the nominees for director set forth herein; (ii) "FOR" approval
of the Plan Amendment; and (iii) "FOR" the ratification of the appointment of
Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's independent public accountants for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2000.

    The enclosed Proxy confers discretionary authority with respect to any
amendments or modifications of the proposals or other business which properly
may be brought before the Meeting. As of the date hereof, management is not
aware of any such amendments or modifications or other matters to be presented
for action at the Meeting. However, if any other matters properly come before
the Meeting, the Proxies solicited hereby will be voted by the Proxyholders in
accordance with the recommendation and in the discretion of the Board of
Directors.

COSTS OF SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

    This Proxy is made on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company and
the Company will bear the costs of solicitation. The expense of preparing,
assembling, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement and the materials used in
this solicitation of Proxies also will be borne by the Company. It is
contemplated that Proxies will be solicited principally through the mail, but
directors, officers and regular employees of the Company may solicit Proxies
personally or by telephone. Although there is no formal agreement to do so, the
Company may reimburse banks, brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries for their reasonable expenses in forwarding these proxy materials to
their principals. The Company does not intend to utilize the services of other
individuals or entities not employed by or affiliated with the Company in
connection with the solicitation of Proxies.

OUTSTANDING SECURITIES AND VOTING RIGHTS

    The authorized capital of the Company consists of 20,000,000 shares of
common stock, par value $.01 per share, of which 12,123,688 shares were issued
and outstanding on the Record Date, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock,
$.01 par value, of which there are no shares outstanding.

    A majority of the outstanding shares of common stock constitutes a quorum
for the conduct of business at the Meeting. Each stockholder is entitled to one
vote, in person or by proxy, for each share of common stock standing in his or
her name on the books of the Company as of the Record Date on any matter
submitted to the stockholders. The Company's Certificate of Incorporation does
not authorize cumulative voting. In the election of directors, the persons
receiving the highest number of votes will be elected. The approval of the Plan
Amendment and the ratification of Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's
independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000
require the affirmative vote of a majority of the common stock represented and
entitled to vote at the Meeting. Shares represented by a proxy card marked as
abstaining on any proposal will be counted as a vote against that matter. If a
broker which is the record holder of certain shares indicates on a proxy that it
does not have discretionary authority to vote on a particular matter as to such
shares, or if shares are not voted in other circumstances in which proxy
authority is defective or has been withheld with respect to a particular matter,
these non-voted shares will be counted for quorum purposes but are not deemed to
be present or represented for purposes of determining whether stockholder
approval of that matter has been obtained.

    Brokers and nominees holding common stock in "street name" which are members
of a stock exchange are required by the rules of the exchange to transmit this
Proxy Statement to the beneficial owner of the common stock and to solicit
voting instructions with respect to the matters submitted to the stockholders.
In the event any such broker or nominee has not received instructions from the
beneficial owner by the date specified in the statement accompanying such
material, the broker or nominee may give or authorize the giving of a Proxy to
vote such common stock on the matters to be considered at the Meeting; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the broker or nominee may not give or authorize the giving of a
Proxy for

                                       2
<PAGE>
any matter if it has notice of any contest with respect to any matter, and,
PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the broker or nominee may not vote the common stock
"FOR" any matter which substantially affects the rights or privileges of the
common stock without specific instructions from the beneficial owner. If you
hold your common stock in "street name" and you fail to instruct your broker or
nominee as to how to vote your common stock, your broker or nominee may, in its
discretion, vote your common stock "FOR" the election of the Board of Directors'
nominees and "FOR" the proposal to ratify the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP
as the Company's independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2000.

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT

    The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of common stock as
of the Record Date by each person known to the Company to be the record or
beneficial owner of more than five percent of the outstanding shares of common
stock (other than depositories holding shares of common stock in "street name"),
by each director and nominee for director, each executive officer named in the
Summary Compensation Table, and by all directors and executive officers, as a
group:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND ADDRESS OF                              AMOUNT AND NATURE OF       PERCENT
BENEFICIAL OWNER(1)(2)                          BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP(3)   OF CLASS(3)
- ----------------------                          -----------------------   -----------
<S>                                             <C>                       <C>
Scott C. Petersen, President and Chief
  Executive Officer, Director(4)..............           509,745               4.2%
Tim C. Flynn, Chairman of the Board of
  Directors(4)................................           718,627               5.9%
John M. O'Haugherty, Senior Vice President,
  Chief Operating Officer(4)..................           107,367                 *
David M. Bankers, Senior Vice
  President/Business Development, Chief
  Technology Officer(4).......................            72,381                 *
Jeffrey T. Weisner, Senior Vice President,
  Chief Financial Officer(4)..................           109,175                 *
R. Douglas Bradbury, Director(5)..............             6,000                 *
Lawrence Flinn, Jr., Director(6)..............           132,559               1.1%
Richard R. Hylland, Director(7)...............            37,559                 *
R. F. Leyendecker, Director(8)................            42,559                 *
Red Coat Capital Management, LLC(9)(10).......         2,023,500              16.7%
Alex Brown Investment Management(11)..........           981,700               8.1%
Wellington Management Company LLP(12).........           700,000               5.8%
Directors and Executive Officers(4)
  (A group of 17 persons).....................         1,941,104              16.1%
</TABLE>

- ------------------------

   * Less than 1%.

 (1) Unless otherwise indicated, the address of such person is 3900 West
     Innovation Street, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57107.

 (2) Each named person has sole voting and investment power with respect to the
     shares listed, except as noted below.

 (3) Shares which the person (or group) has the right to acquire within 60 days
     after the Record Date are deemed to be outstanding in calculating the
     percentage ownership of the person (or group) but are not deemed to be
     outstanding as to any other person (or group).

 (4) Includes shares issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase Common
     Stock which the person (or group) has the right to acquire within 60 days
     after the Record Date as follows: Mr. Petersen, 335,343 shares; Mr. Flynn,
     177,222 shares; Mr. O'Haugherty, 102,367 shares; Mr. Bankers, 72,381

                                       3
<PAGE>
     shares; and Mr. Weisner, 57,375 shares; and all directors and executive
     officers as a group, 943,688 shares. Does not include 24,063 shares held in
     the Company's 401(k) Plan of which Mr. Flynn and Mr. Petersen are Trustees;
     and for Mr. Flynn, includes 1,200 shares owned by Mr. Flynn's minor
     children, and for Mr. Petersen includes 150 shares owned by Mr. Petersen's
     minor children.

 (5) Includes 6,000 shares of Common Stock which Mr. Bradbury has the right to
     acquire by the exercise of vested stock options.

 (6) Includes 29,000 shares of Common Stock which Mr. Flinn has the right to
     acquire by the exercise of vested stock options.

 (7) Includes 34,000 shares of Common Stock which Mr. Hylland has the right to
     acquire by the exercise of vested stock options.

 (8) Includes 39,000 shares of Common Stock which Mr. Leyendecker has the right
     to acquire by the exercise of vested stock options.

 (9) The address for Red Coat Capital Management, LLC is 600 Third Avenue,
     21(st) Floor, New York, New York, 10016; address and share ownership
     information based on Schedule 13G filed for the year ended December 31,
     1999.

 (10) In accordance with the provisions of the Stockholders Rights Plan ("Rights
      Plan"), Red Coat Capital Management, LLC is not an "acquiring person" as
      it has certified in writing to the Company that it inadvertently exceeded
      the Rights Plan's 15% threshold and will take steps to divest as promptly
      as practicable to below that threshold and to advise the Company upon the
      completion of such divestiture.

 (11) The address for Alex Brown Investment Management is 217 E. Redwood Street,
      Suite 1400, Baltimore, Maryland, 21202; address and share ownership
      information based on Schedule 13G filed for the year ended December 31,
      1999.

 (12) The address of Wellington Management Company LLP is 75 State Street,
      Boston, Massachusetts 02109; address and share ownership information based
      on Schedule 13G filed for the year ended December 31, 1999.

                                       4
<PAGE>
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND NOMINEES

    The Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that the
number of directors shall be determined from time to time by the Board of
Directors but may not be less than three nor more than nine. The Board of
Directors is currently composed of six members. The Bylaws further provide for
the division of the directors into three classes of approximately equal size,
with directors in each class elected for a three-year term and approximately
one-third of the directors elected each year.

    The directors nominated for reelection are R. Douglas Bradbury and Richard
R. Hylland. Mr. Bradbury was appointed to the Board in September of 1999.
Mr. Hylland is completing the term to which he was elected by the stockholders
in 1997. Each nominee has indicated his willingness to serve and, unless
otherwise instructed, Proxies will be voted in favor of such nominees. In the
event that either Mr. Bradbury or Mr. Hylland should be unable to serve as a
director, it is intended that the Proxies will be voted for the election of such
substitute nominee(s), if any, as shall be designated by the Board of Directors.
Management has no reason to believe that the nominees will be unavailable to
serve.

                 THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR"
            THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

    The following table sets forth certain information, as of the Record Date,
with respect to the nominees for director and the continuing directors of the
Company. The number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by the nominees
for director and the continuing directors is set forth above under "Beneficial
Ownership of Principal Stockholders and Management."

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                   YEAR FIRST
                                                                                                     BECAME
                                                                                                 DIRECTOR (1)/
NAME                        AGE      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS   TERM EXPIRES
- ----                      --------   ----------------------------------------------------------  --------------
<S>                       <C>        <C>                                                         <C>
NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR:

R. Douglas Bradbury....      49      Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of        1999/2000
                                       Level 3 Communications, Inc. ("LVLT")* from
                                       1996-present; Chief Financial Officer, 1992-1996;
                                       Executive Vice President, 1995-1996; Senior Vice
                                       President, 1992-1995 of MFS Communications Company,
                                       Inc.; Senior Vice President--Corporate Affairs for MFS
                                       Telecom, 1988-1992.

Richard R. Hylland.....      39      President, Chief Operating Officer and Director of             1990/2000
                                       NorthWestern Corporation ("NOR")* from 1998-present;
                                       Vice Chairman of NorthWestern Growth Corporation from
                                       1994-present; Cornerstone Propane GP, Inc., Blue Dot
                                       Services, Inc., Expanets, Inc.; Chairman of Franklin
                                       Industries; and serves on the boards of MDC
                                       Communications and other private entities.

OTHER DIRECTORS:

Lawrence Flinn, Jr.....      64      Private Investor; Formerly Chairman, Chief Executive           1994/2001
                                       Officer and Director of United Video Satellite Group,
                                       Inc.
</TABLE>

                                       5
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                   YEAR FIRST
                                                                                                     BECAME
                                                                                                 DIRECTOR (1)/
NAME                        AGE      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS   TERM EXPIRES
- ----                      --------   ----------------------------------------------------------  --------------
<S>                       <C>        <C>                                                         <C>
Scott C. Petersen......      44      President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr.      1993/2001
                                       Petersen joined the Company in 1987 as Senior Vice
                                       President for Corporate and Legal Affairs, was appointed
                                       Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in
                                       1991 and was appointed President and Chief Executive
                                       Officer in July 1998.

Tim C. Flynn...........      50      Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company. Mr.         1983/2002
                                       Flynn founded the Company in 1980 and served as its
                                       President and Chief Executive Officer from its
                                       incorporation in 1983 until July 1998.

R. F. Leyendecker......      54      President and Chief Executive Officer of NorthWestern          1986/2002
                                       Energy Corporation and President and Chief Executive
                                       Officer of NorCom Advanced Technologies, 1998-present;
                                       Vice President--Market Development, Northwestern
                                       Corporation ("NOR")*, 1996-1997; Vice President--Energy
                                       Services, NPSC 1994-1996.
</TABLE>

- ------------------------

*   Denotes public company.

(1) For purposes of this table, the year in which an individual first became a
    director of the Company shall be the year in which such individual was
    appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company or its South Dakota
    predecessor.

PROCEDURES FOR NOMINATING DIRECTORS

    The procedures for nominating directors, other than by the Board of
Directors, are set forth in the Bylaws. Nominations for the election of
directors, other than by the Board of Directors, must be made by a stockholder
entitled to vote for the election of directors by giving timely written notice
to the Secretary of the Company at the Company's principal office. Such notice
must be received at least 90 days prior to the date on which, in the immediately
preceding calendar year, the Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders for such
year was held; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the event the date of the Annual
Meeting is changed by more than 30 days from such anniversary date, such
stockholder's notice must be received by the Secretary of the Company no later
than 10 days after notice or prior public disclosure of the meeting is first
given or made to stockholders. The stockholder's notice must be in writing and
must set forth as to each proposed nominee all information relating to such
person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies pursuant to
Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), including, but not limited to, such person's written consent to
being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director, if
elected. The stockholder notice must also set forth the name and address of the
nominating stockholder. If the stockholder fails to comply with the above
provisions, then the Chairman of the meeting may declare that the nomination was
not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Bylaws and the
defective nomination may be disregarded.

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is composed of
Messrs. Hylland, Bradbury, Flinn and Leyendecker, each of whom is a
disinterested director. The Audit Committee provides assistance to the Board in
satisfying its responsibilities relating to accounting, auditing, operating and
reporting practices of the Company. The Audit Committee met three times during
1999.

                                       6
<PAGE>
    The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is composed of
Messrs. Leyendecker, Bradbury, Flinn and Hylland, each of whom is a
disinterested director. The Compensation Committee is responsible for
establishing compensation policies, for setting compensation levels for the
Company's executive officers and serves as disinterested administrators of the
Plan. The Compensation Committee met four times during 1999. For a description
of the functions of the Compensation Committee, see "ELECTION OF
DIRECTORS--Executive Compensation--REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ON
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION."

    The Board of Directors met five times during 1999. All of the persons who
were directors of the Company during 1999 attended at least 75% of the total
number of meetings of the Board of Directors and the committees of the Board of
Directors on which he served.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

    The compensation to be paid to each non-employee director is set at $20,000
per year, $500 for each committee meeting attended, and reimbursement for travel
and related expenses for attendance at Board and Committee meetings. The
non-employee directors receive half of their annual retainer in the form of cash
and the other half in shares of the Company's Common Stock. Non-employee
directors currently receive upon their initial election or appointment to the
Board a nonqualified stock option to purchase 6,000 shares of Common Stock under
the Plan plus an additional 6,000 options to be granted on each anniversary of
such election during the term of service. In November of 1999, the Compensation
Committee retained the consulting firm of William M. Mercer, Incorporated
("Mercer") to advise the Committee on compensation issues. Following receipt of
the Mercer report in February of 2000, the Compensation Committee and Board
raised the per meeting fee from $300 to $500 and recommended that the initial
and annual stock options for non-employee directors be increased from 6,000 to
12,000 shares. That recommendation is to be voted on by the stockholders at the
Annual Meeting.

COMPLIANCE WITH REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 16 OF THE EXCHANGE ACT

    Under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, the Company's directors, executive
officers and any persons holding ten percent or more of the common stock are
required to report their ownership of common stock and any changes in that
ownership to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and to furnish
the Company with copies of such reports. Specific due dates for these reports
have been established and the Company is required to report in this Proxy
Statement any failure to file on a timely basis by such persons. To the
Company's knowledge, based solely upon a review of copies of such reports
received by the Company which were filed with the SEC from January 1, 1999
through the Record Date, and upon written representations from such persons that
no other reports were required, the Company has been advised that all reports
required to be filed under Section 16(a) have been timely filed with the SEC.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

SUMMARY OF CASH AND CERTAIN OTHER COMPENSATION

    The following table sets forth certain summary information concerning
compensation paid or accrued by the Company to or on behalf of the Company's
Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and the four most highly
compensated executive officers other than the CEO (determined as of the end of
the last fiscal year) (the "Named Executives") whose total annual salary and
bonus exceeded $100,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.

                                       7
<PAGE>
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    LONG-TERM
                                                          ANNUAL COMPENSATION                     COMPENSATION
                                        -------------------------------------------------------   -------------
                                                                                OTHER ANNUAL      STOCK OPTIONS
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION               YEAR     SALARY($)      BONUS($)   COMPENSATION($)(1)        (#)
- ---------------------------             --------   ---------      --------   ------------------   -------------
<S>                                     <C>        <C>            <C>        <C>                  <C>
Scott C. Petersen.....................    1999      320,000       193,280          26,735                  --
  President, Chief Executive Officer      1998      284,663       181,171          23,781             100,000
                                          1997      250,000        53,620          21,003              20,000

Tim C. Flynn..........................    1999      267,800            --          22,820                  --
  Chairman of the Board of Directors      1998      267,800       113,713          22,600             100,000
                                          1997      260,000        55,765          21,793              20,000

John M. O'Haugherty...................    1999      170,000        74,779          15,510                  --
  Senior Vice President, Chief            1998      164,800        60,114          14,875              40,000
  Operating Officer                       1997      160,000        59,782          14,293              15,000

David M. Bankers......................    1999      160,000        71,430          15,595                  --
  Senior Vice President/Business          1998      150,000        53,078          13,765              40,000
  Development, Chief Technology           1997      125,000        16,600          11,668              12,500
    Officer

Jeffrey T. Wesiner....................    1999      150,000        62,044          19,355                  --
  Senior Vice President, Chief            1998      140,000        46,179          13,015              32,500
    Financial
  Officer                                 1997      125,000        16,600          11,668              12,500
</TABLE>

- ------------------------

(1) Reflects compensation paid to the Named Executives by the Company in order
    for them to purchase individual supplemental insurance coverage and other
    benefits.

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

    In connection with the Company's initial public offering in October 1993,
the Company entered into employment agreements with each of Mr. Flynn and
Mr. Petersen, dated August 16, 1993. In July 1998, Mr. Petersen became Chief
Executive Officer and President of the Company and at that time the Board
amended and extended the term of Mr. Petersen's agreement until June 30, 2000
with the base salary for 1999 set at $320,000. In addition, Mr. Petersen is
entitled to participate in various Company employment benefits plans. At that
same time, the Board amended and extended the term of Mr. Flynn's agreement
until July 31, 2000, with the base salary for 1999 set at $267,500. In addition,
Mr. Flynn is entitled to participate in various Company employment benefit
plans.

    Mr. Petersen's agreement also contains an automatic renewal provision which,
absent notice from either the Company or Mr. Petersen on or before each
November 1, beginning in 1999, the agreement is extended for an additional year.
Accordingly, Mr. Petersen's agreement is currently extended until June 30, 2001.
Mr. Petersen's employment may be terminated prior to the expiration of the term
of the agreement (i) automatically upon Mr. Petersen's death or disability; or
(ii) by the Company at any time, with or without cause, by action of its Board
of Directors. In the event of any such termination of employment, the following
termination benefits apply: (x) for any termination, other than for cause
(including a termination due to death or disability), the Company will pay a pro
rata portion of the maximum bonus for the then current year under any bonus
program in which Mr. Petersen may be participating at the time, unless such
payment is not permitted by the terms of the plan; and (y) for any termination
by the Board of Directors without cause including an election by the Company not
to allow the agreement to automatically extend, the Company will pay
Mr. Petersen a severance payment for a period of twenty four months at a monthly
rate equal to Mr. Petersen's monthly base salary increased by twenty percent. In
the event of a termination after a change in control involving the Company, the
terms of Mr. Petersen's agreement will be governed by the terms and conditions
of the Severance Agreements described below. The employment agreement

                                       8
<PAGE>
contains a covenant by Mr. Petersen not to compete with the Company, or to work
for a competing business, for the term of his employment. Should Mr. Petersen
compete with the Company following his termination, the Company's obligation to
make severance or other payments shall immediately cease.

    On May 11, 1999, the Company entered into employment agreements with David
M. Bankers, the Company's Senior Vice President/Business Development and Chief
Technology Officer, John M. O'Haugherty, the Company's Senior Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer, and Jeffrey T. Weisner, the Company's Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer. The terms of each of those employment
agreements are the same as in Mr. Petersen's agreement summarized above, with
the exception of salary (as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table) and the
term of each of those agreements expire on December 31 of each current year,
subject to automatic renewal on November 1 of each year.

    In July 1995, the Compensation Committee authorized the Company to enter
into agreements (the "Severance Agreements") with the Company's President and
its other executive officers, including the officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table, providing for the payment of certain compensation and other
benefits in the event of a covered termination of the executive's employment
within two years following a "change in control" involving the Company. No
compensation is payable to any executive under the Severance Agreements unless
(i) there has been a change in control and (ii) the executive's employment with
the Company shall have been terminated (including a substantial reduction in
duties or compensation, but excluding termination as a result of the death or
permanent disability of the executive or for cause or voluntary retirement). A
"change in control" is generally defined as the occurrence of any of the
following: (i) any person or group becomes the beneficial owner of securities
representing 30% or more of the voting power of the Company's outstanding
capital stock having the right to vote in the election of directors (excluding
any such transaction that is effected at an actual or implied average valuation
of less than $6.75 per share of common stock); (ii) a majority of the members of
the Board shall not for any reason be the individuals who at the beginning of
such period constitute the Board or persons nominated by such members;
(iii) any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company (meaning assets representing 30% or more of the net
tangible assets of the Company or generating 30% or more of the Company's
operating cash flow), excluding a business combination or transaction in which:
(a) the stockholders of the Company prior to such transaction continue to
represent more than 70% of the voting power of the Company immediately after
giving effect to such transaction; (b) no person or group becomes the beneficial
owner of 30% or more of the Company's voting stock; or (c) the purchase price
results in an actual or implied average valuation of less than $6.75 per share
of common stock; (iv) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation
or dissolution of the Company; or (v) the occurrence of any other event that
would be required to be reported as a change in control in response to Item 6(e)
of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act.

    Upon a covered termination, the executive is entitled to receive a lump sum
payment equal to the compensation the executive would have received over a
30-month period, a pro rata portion of any bonus the executive would have
received for the year in which such termination occurs, any stock options
previously granted to the executive will become fully vested, and the executive
will be entitled to the continuation of the insurance and other welfare benefits
then being received by such executive for a 30-month period. The Severance
Agreements contain a covenant not to compete with the Company for a period of
six months following a covered termination, and executives are not required to
mitigate any termination benefits (nor will such benefits be reduced by
compensation received from other employment). The Severance Agreements terminate
upon the earlier of: (i) five years (subject to automatic one-year extensions
unless the Board otherwise notifies the executive); (ii) the termination of the
executive's employment other than pursuant to a covered termination described
above; (iii) two years from the date of a change in control of the Company if
there has not been a covered termination; and (iv) prior to a change in control
upon the executive's ceasing to be an executive officer of the Company.

                                       9
<PAGE>
STOCK OPTIONS

    There were no grant of stock options during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1999 to any of the Named Executives.

OPTION EXERCISES AND HOLDINGS

    The following table provides information with respect to the Named
Executives concerning the exercise of options during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1999 and unexercised options held by the Named Executives as of
December 31, 1999:

                AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN FISCAL YEAR 1999
                       AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          NUMBER OF SECURITIES          VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                SHARES                    UNDERLYING OPTIONS AT        IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT
                              ACQUIRED ON    VALUE            12/31/99 (#)                 12/31/99 ($)(1)
                               EXERCISE     REALIZED   ---------------------------   ---------------------------
NAME                              (#)         ($)      EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE   EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE
- ----                          -----------   --------   -----------   -------------   -----------   -------------
<S>                           <C>           <C>        <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>
Scott C. Petersen...........      N/A         N/A        320,343        35,000        5,863,509       429,525
Tim C. Flynn................      N/A         N/A        147,222        35,000        2,026,827       429,525
John M. O'Haugherty.........      N/A         N/A         95,617        49,500        1,552,747       598,667
David M. Bankers............      N/A         N/A         71,256        38,250        1,173,625       496,311
Jeffrey T. Weisner..........      N/A         N/A         58,861        32,250          751,630       412,821
</TABLE>

- ------------------------

(1) Value of unexercised "in-the-money" options is the difference between the
    market price of the Common Stock on December 31, 1999 ($24.875 per share)
    and the exercise price of the option, multiplied by the number of shares
    subject to the option.

                                       10
<PAGE>
                      REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
                           ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

    The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee") is
responsible for developing and making recommendations to the Board with respect
to the Company's executive compensation policies. In addition, the Committee,
pursuant to authority delegated by the Board, determines on an annual basis the
compensation to be paid to the Company's chief executive officer and each of the
other executive officers of the Company. The Committee consists exclusively of
disinterested directors. Set forth below is the Report of the Committee
addressing the Company's policies regarding executive compensation for 1999.

COMPENSATION POLICIES APPLICABLE TO EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

    THE REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION SHALL NOT
BE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE BY ANY GENERAL STATEMENT INCORPORATING BY REFERENCE
THIS PROXY STATEMENT INTO ANY FILING UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE
"SECURITIES ACT"), OR UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE
COMPANY SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATES THIS INFORMATION BY REFERENCE, AND SHALL NOT
OTHERWISE BE DEEMED FILED UNDER SUCH ACTS.

    COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY AND OBJECTIVES.  The Company's success is dependent
upon its ability to attract and retain highly qualified and motivated
executives. The Company endorses the philosophy that executive compensation
should reflect Company performance and the contribution of such officers to that
performance. The Company's compensation policies are designed by the Committee
to achieve three fundamental objectives: (i) attract and retain qualified
executives, (ii) motivate performance to achieve specific strategic objectives
of the Company, and (iii) align the interests of senior management with the
long-term interests of the Company's shareholders. The three key elements of the
Company's compensation program are base salary, an annual performance-based cash
bonus, and long-term stock options.

    The Company's executive officers are also permitted to participate in the
Company's broad based employee benefit plans and receive supplementary payments
to enable such executives to purchase additional insurance coverage and other
benefits. The incremental cost to the Company of the benefits provided under
these plans to the Named Executives averaged approximately 9.7% of their base
salaries in 1999.

    BASE SALARIES.  The Company's approach to compensating executive officers
has been to pay base salaries which are competitive with the salaries paid to
executives of other companies of comparable size and growth rates in the media
and communications industries, and based upon the Committee's judgment of the
particular individual's experience, performance and potential contributions to
the Company. The Company believes executive compensation levels must be
competitive with those provided to other executives in the media, communications
and Internet connectivity industries in order to attract and retain qualified
executives crucial to the Company's long-term success. The group of companies
considered by the Committee is broader than the group shown in the performance
graph included below because the Company believes that it competes with a
broader group of companies for executive talent.

    The Company's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Petersen, is employed pursuant to
an employment contracts (the "Employment Contract") entered dated July 22, 1998.
The Employment Contract was for an initial term through June 30, 2000, and
automatically extends each year unless either the Company or Mr. Petersen elect
not to extend. In approving the Employment Contract, the Board made a subjective
assessment of management performance relating to the achievement of financial
targets and strategic milestones and considered the salary levels of executive
officers of its competitors and other public companies of comparable size.
Mr. Petersen's base salary of $320,000, did not change between 1998 and 1999.
Mr. Flynn, the Company's Chairman of the Board, is employed pursuant to an
employment contract for a term through July 31, 2000. Mr. Flynn's base salary of
$267,800, did not change between 1998 and 1999. With respect to the Company's
other Named Executive officers, based on the policies and factors

                                       11
<PAGE>
described above, including the performance of the Company and peer group
compensation, the Committee approved base salary adjustments for 1999 averaging
5.5% for such Named Executive officers. The Company has also entered into
employment agreements with such Named Executive officers, namely: David M.
Bankers, John M. O'Haugherty and Jeffrey T. Weisner. See "EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION--EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS."

    BONUS COMPENSATION.  The Company's officers are eligible to receive annual
cash incentive compensation based on achieving specific goals and objectives
established by the Committee. In December 1998 the Committee established an
executive bonus program for 1999 based on the achievement by the executive of a
combination of target goals relating to earnings before interest, expense,
income taxes, growth in new Guest Pay interactive rooms; and the achievement of
strategic goals, the particular combination of targets and their respective
weighting being dependent upon the nature of the participating executive's areas
of responsibility. Target bonuses under the program assuming budgeted
expectations were met could range from 20% to approximately 40% of base salary
depending upon the executive's position. If results significantly exceeded
budgeted expectations, bonus payments under the program could equal up to 60% of
base salary. The Committee met in February 2000 to evaluate the Company's
performance and determine the 1999 bonuses for executive officers. The Committee
considered whether the target goals for 1999 were attained and reviewed
strategic events that occurred during the year. In light of the foregoing, the
Committee approved the cash bonus payments to the Named Executives reflected in
the Summary Compensation Table.

    LONG-TERM STOCK OPTIONS.  The Company believes that stock ownership by
executive officers and key employees aligns their interests with those of
stockholders. Stock options granted to such persons are intended to provide such
employees with an incentive to achieve superior performance that will be
reflected in the appreciation of the Company's common stock. The terms and
conditions of such options are determined and administered by the Committee.
Generally, stock options are granted annually with an exercise price equal to
the prevailing market value of the Company's common stock at the time of grant,
have ten year terms and vest over a four year period. The nature of the
long-term stock option compensation means that participating executives will not
realize compensation unless the value of the Company's common stock increases.
Each executive officer is considered for stock options based on his or her
responsibilities in the Company and existing stock option position, as well as
stock option award levels of comparable media and communications companies. No
option grants were made to the Named Executives in 1999 as the 1998 option
grants were intended as two year grants.

    SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS.  The Board believes that it is in the interest of the
Company and its stockholders to reinforce and encourage the continued dedication
of the Company's executive officers without the distractions occasioned by the
possibility of an abrupt change in control of the Company. In July 1995, the
Committee authorized the Company to enter into severance agreements with the
Company's president and its other executive officers, including the Named
Executives, providing for the payment of certain compensation and other benefits
in the event of a covered termination of the executive's employment within two
years following a "change in control" involving the Company. See "EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION--EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS."

    IRC SECTION 162(M).  Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code disallows
the deductibility by the Company of any compensation over $1 million per year
paid to each of the chief executive officers and the four most highly
compensated executive officers (other than the chief executive officer), unless
certain criteria are satisfied. During 1999, the Board discussed the adoption of
an amendment of the Company's stock option plan to, among other things, qualify
for an exemption from the limitation on deductibility with

                                       12
<PAGE>
respect to stock options granted under the plan. No officer of the Company
receives compensation in excess of such amount and, accordingly, such action was
not taken in 1999.

                                        THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

                                        R.F. Leyendecker
                                        R. Douglas Bradbury
                                        Lawrence Flinn, Jr.
                                        Richard R. Hylland

          COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

    No member of the Compensation Committee has ever served as an officer of the
Company, other than Mr. Leyendecker, who served as the Company's Treasurer from
1988 though 1992. Certain compensation matters were reviewed by the entire Board
of Directors, which includes Mr. Flynn, Chairman of the Board, and
Mr. Petersen, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

                CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS

    In 1998 the Board of Directors authorized loans to Tim C. Flynn and Scott C.
Petersen in amounts not to exceed $1.5 million and $500,000, respectively,
secured by LodgeNet common stock with interest to accrue at a rate commensurate
with the current interest rate of the revolving credit facility. Mr. Petersen's
loan has since been repaid in full. As of the date of this document,
Mr. Flynn's outstanding loan balance was approximately $84,000. Except for those
loans, none of the directors or executive officers of the Company or any
subsidiary thereof, or any associates or affiliates of any of them, is or has
been indebted to the Company at any time since the beginning of the last
completed fiscal year in excess of $60,000. None of the directors or executive
officers of the Company or any associate or affiliate of such person, had any
material financial interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction or any
proposed transaction with the Company during the past fiscal year.

                                       13
<PAGE>
                               PERFORMANCE GRAPH

    The following graph compares the percentage change in the Company's
cumulative total shareholder return on its common stock with (i) the cumulative
total return of the NASDAQ Market Index and (ii) the cumulative total return of
all companies (the "Peer Group") with the same four-digit standard industrial
code (SIC) as the Company (SIC Code 4841--Cable and Other Pay Television
Services) over the period from December 31, 1994 through December 31, 1999. The
graph assumes an initial investment of $100 in each of the Company, the NASDAQ
Market Index and the Peer Group and reinvestment of dividends. The Company did
not declare or pay any dividends in 1999. The graph is not necessarily
indicative of future price performance. THIS GRAPH SHALL NOT BE DEEMED
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE BY ANY GENERAL STATEMENT INCORPORATING BY REFERENCE
THIS PROXY STATEMENT INTO ANY FILING UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR UNDER THE
EXCHANGE ACT, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE COMPANY SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATES
THIS INFORMATION BY REFERENCE, AND SHALL NOT OTHERWISE BE DEEMED FILED UNDER
SUCH ACTS.

                     COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
             AMONG THE COMPANY, NASDAQ MARKET INDEX AND PEER GROUP*

EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          LODGENET ENTERTAINMENT CORP.  CABLE, OTHER PAY TV SERVICES  NASDAQ MARKET INDEX
<S>       <C>                           <C>                           <C>
DOLLARS
12/31/94                       $100.00                        100.00               100.00
12/31/95                       $125.62                        115.45               129.71
12/31/96                       $234.71                         93.86               161.18
12/31/97                       $145.45                        157.19               197.16
12/31/98                        $90.91                        302.58               278.08
12/31/99                       $328.93                        541.57               490.46
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         DECEMBER 31
                                               ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 1994       1995       1996       1997       1998       1999
                                               --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
<S>                                            <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
LodgeNet Entertainment.......................  $100.00    $125.62    $234.71    $145.45    $ 90.91    $328.93
Cable, Other Pay TV Services.................   100.00     115.45      93.86     157.19     302.58     541.57
NASDAQ Market Index..........................   100.00     129.71     161.18     197.16     278.08     490.46
</TABLE>

- ------------------------

*   Source: Media General Financial Services, Inc.

                                       14
<PAGE>
               AMENDMENT OF THE COMPANY'S 1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN

    The Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan was adopted by action of the Board of
Directors and stockholders effective as of August 16, 1993 and was amended in
each of 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1998 (as amended, the "Plan"). The 1996 amendment
and restatement of the Plan incorporated amendments adopted in 1995 and 1996 as
well as amendments that conformed the Plan to revisions in Rule 16b-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act and to permit Non-Employee Directors to elect
to receive their fees in nonqualified stock options ("NSOs") and/or shares of
Common Stock.

    The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the Company and its
stockholders by enabling the Company and its subsidiaries to attract and retain
qualified management and to provide added incentive to officers, directors,
consultants and other key employees of the Company and its affiliates for high
levels of performance and to encourage stock ownership in the Company.
Currently, the Plan provides for the issuance of a maximum 1,800,000 shares. As
of March 15, 2000, less than 50,000 shares were available for grant under the
Plan.

    The Board believes that the number of shares presently available for grant
under the Plan is insufficient to enable the Company to retain or attract high
caliber individuals in today's competitive market. Therefore, the Board has
adopted, subject to stockholder approval, an amendment to Section 4 of the Plan
to authorize up to an additional 750,000 shares (for a total of 2,550,000)
reserved for issuance under the Plan (the "Plan Amendment"). Any such options
granted in the future will be subject to the same terms and provisions as
provided in the Plan or as otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee
pursuant to discretionary authority granted under the Plan.

    The Board believes that in order to attract and retain high caliber
individuals to serve on the Company's Board of Directors it is necessary to
provide competitive long term compensation in the form of stock option grants to
non-employee directors. Based on information provided to the Board by the
consulting firm of William M. Mercer, Incorporated, the Board has adopted,
subject to stockholder approval, an amendment to Section 5 of the Plan to
increase the initial and annual recommends stock option grants to non-employee
directors from 6,000 shares to 12,000 shares.

    The Board of Directors believes that the Company's policy of encouraging
stock ownership by its directors, officers and key employees has been a positive
factor in its growth and success by enabling the Company to attract and retain
quality directors and key employees, to stimulate the efforts of such
individuals towards achievement of the Company's objectives and to align the
interests of such individuals with those of the Company's stockholders.

                    THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE
                    "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF THE PLAN AMENDMENT

    A general description of the basic features of the Plan is set forth below.
This summary is qualified in its entirety by the actual text of the Plan, a copy
of which may be obtained from the Company.

    GENERAL.  The purpose of the Plan is to enable the Company and its
subsidiaries to attract, retain and reward key managerial employees ("Key
Employees") and non-employee directors ("Non-Employee Directors") of the Company
by offering them the opportunity to have a greater proprietary interest in and
closer identity with the Company and its financial success. Shares of common
stock subject to Options which expire or are terminated or canceled may be
re-added to the remaining number of shares of common stock available for grant.

    ADMINISTRATION.  The Plan is administered by the Committee. The Committee
may interpret the Plan, prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations
relating to it, determine the terms and provisions of Options granted under the
Plan, including the number of option grants, exercise price, duration and method
of exercise as set forth in the Plan, and make such other determinations as it
deems necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

                                       15
<PAGE>
    TYPE OF OPTIONS GRANTED.  An option granted under the Plan to a Key Employee
to purchase shares of the Company's common stock may be an incentive stock
option ("ISO"), as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
(the "Code"), or a nonqualified stock option ("NSO") (collectively, the
"Options"). Under the existing provision, each individual who becomes a
Non-Employee Director automatically is granted an NSO to purchase 6,000 shares
of common stock upon initial election to the Company's Board of Directors and an
additional grant of 6,000 options on each anniversary of such election during
the term of service. The Board recommends the Stockholders approve an amendment
to increase such initial and annual grants to non-employee directors from 6,000
shares to 12,000 shares. The per share exercise price of each NSO granted to a
Non-Employee Director must be 100% of the fair market value of a share of Common
Stock on the date of grant. Subject to the provisions regarding termination of
service, if applicable, each such NSO may be exercised in whole or in part not
earlier than six months after the date of grant and shall expire on the date ten
years after the date of grant. Additionally, Non-Employee Directors may elect to
receive all or a portion of their annual retainer payments and meeting fees in
NSOs and/or shares of Common Stock.

    REQUIRED TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.  Each ISO granted to a Key
Employee shall be in such form and subject to such restrictions and conditions
and other terms as the Committee may determine at the time of grant, consistent
with the requirements of the Code and subject to the general provisions of the
Plan and the following specific rules. Except as otherwise provided, the per
share exercise price of each ISO shall be at least 100% of the fair market value
of the common stock at the time of grant, provided that in the case of an ISO
granted to a Key Employee who at the time of grant owns (as defined in
Section 424(d) of the Code) stock of the Company or its parent or subsidiaries
possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company, the exercise price shall be at least 110% of the fair
market value of the common stock at the time of grant and the ISO by its terms
shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date of
grant. Subject to earlier termination, each ISO shall expire on the date
determined in the applicable Option Agreement at the time the ISO is granted,
provided that such date shall not be more than 10 years from the date of grant,
except as otherwise provided above. The terms and conditions applicable to the
NSOs granted to Key Employees and Non-Employee Directors pursuant to the Plan
(which need not be identical) and the Option Agreements relating thereto are
determined by the Committee and the Committee may make such other determinations
as it deems necessary or advisable for the administration of NSOs granted under
the Plan.

    TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE.  Except as set forth below or
otherwise determined by the Committee, each Option granted to a Key Employee
shall expire on the expiration date or dates set forth in the applicable Option
Agreement. Unless the Committee determines to extend the option exercise period
for a period of up to ninety days and/or permits the Key Employee to exercise an
Option that becomes exercisable during that 90-day period, an Option granted to
a Key Employee shall expire on the first to occur of (i) the applicable date or
dates determined by the Option Agreement or (ii) the date that the employment of
the Key Employee with the Company or its subsidiaries terminates for any reason
other than death or disability, retirement, or upon the occurrence of specified
events. In no event, however, may the Committee permit such Key Employee to
exercise an Option under this section after the expiration date or dates set
forth in the applicable Option Agreement. If the employment of a Key Employee
with the Company and its subsidiaries terminates by reason of disability (as
determined by the Committee) or death, his unexpired Options or portions
thereof, if any, held on the date of disability or death that would expire
pursuant to the terms of her Option Agreement during the twelve-month period
commencing on the date of disability or death, shall expire on the last day of
such twelve-month period. During such twelve-month period, any such Option or
portion thereof referred to in the preceding sentence may be exercised by such
Key Employee or the appropriate beneficiary. If the employment of a Key Employee
with the Company and its subsidiaries terminates due to retirement under any
qualified retirement plan maintained by the Company and/or any of its
subsidiaries, his Option shall expire on the earlier to occur of (i) the
applicable expiration date or dates set forth in the applicable Option
Agreement(s) or (ii) the third anniversary of the date of such termination of
employment. If a Key Employee who has so retired dies

                                       16
<PAGE>
prior to exercising in full an Option that has not expired pursuant to the
preceding sentence, then notwithstanding the preceding sentence, such Option
shall expire on the first anniversary of the date of the Key Employee's death.

    TERMINATION UPON OCCURRENCE OF SPECIFIED EVENTS.  If, within two years after
the occurrence of any event described in the paragraph below on adjustments, the
employment of a Key Employee with the Company and its subsidiaries terminates
voluntarily for good reason, or involuntarily for any reason other than for
cause, or due to the death, disability or retirement of a Key Employee, and if
such event does not have the prior written approval of a majority of the
Continuing Directors (as defined in the Plan), the dates upon which his
outstanding Options may be exercised shall be advanced to the date of
termination. In such event, not later than 90 days following the date of his
termination, the Key Employee may elect to exercise in whole or in part any or
all of his Options notwithstanding any restrictions and conditions that may be
contained in his Option Agreement.

    ADJUSTMENTS.  In the event that: (i) any person (as such term is used in
Section 13 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and
including any Affiliate or Associate of such person, as defined in Rule 12b-2
under the Exchange Act, and any person acting in concert with such person)
directly or indirectly acquires or otherwise becomes entitled to vote more than
50% of the voting power entitled to be cast at elections for directors ("Voting
Power") of the Company; or (ii) there occurs any merger or consolidation of the
Company, or any sale, lease or exchange of all or any substantial part of the
consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries to any other person and
(A) in the case of a merger or consolidation, the holders of outstanding stock
of the Company entitled to vote in elections of directors immediately before
such merger or consolidation (excluding for this purpose any person (including
any Affiliate or Associate) that directly or indirectly owns or is entitled to
vote 20% or more of the Voting Power of the Company) hold less than 80% of the
Voting Power of the survivor of such merger or consolidation or its parent; or
(B) in the case of any such sale, lease or exchange, the Company does not own at
least 50% of the Voting Power of the other person; or (iii) one or more new
directors of the Company are elected and at such time five or more directors
(or, if less, a majority of the directors) then holding office were not
nominated as candidates by a majority of the Continuing Directors; the Committee
may, in its discretion, revise, alter, amend or modify any Option Agreement with
a Key Employee and any then outstanding and unexercised Option granted to a Key
Employee in any manner that it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to,
any of the following respects: (A) the Option may be deemed to pertain to and
apply to the securities to which a holder of the number of shares of Common
Stock subject to the unexercised portion of the Option would be entitled if he
actually owned such shares immediately prior to the record date or other time
any such event became effective; and (B) the dates upon which outstanding and
unexercised Options may be exercised may be advanced (without regard to
installment exercise limitations, if any). If the Committee believes that any
such event is reasonably likely to occur, the Committee may so revise, alter,
amend or modify as set forth above at any time before and contingent upon the
consummation of such an event.

    TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN.  No ISOs shall be granted under the
Plan more than ten years after the first to occur of (i) the date the Plan was
adopted by the Board or (ii) the date the Plan was approved by the stockholders
of the Company. The Board may at any time terminate, suspend or modify the Plan
without authorization of stockholders to the extent allowed by applicable law,
regulation or rule. No termination, suspension, or modification of the Plan may
adversely affect any right acquired by any participant under an Option granted
before the date of such termination, suspension or modification, unless such
participant shall consent. Any member of the Board who is an officer or employee
of the Company may not vote on any proposed amendment to the Plan, or on any
other matter which might affect that member's individual interest under the
Plan.

    FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES.  The following discussion is only a summary
of the principal federal income tax consequences of the options to be granted
under the Plan, and is based on existing federal law

                                       17
<PAGE>
(including administrative regulations and rulings) which is subject to change,
in some cases retroactively. This discussion is also qualified by the particular
circumstances of individual optionees, which may substantially alter or modify
the federal income tax consequences herein discussed.

    INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS.  Generally under present law, when an option
qualifies as an ISO under Section 422 of the Code: (i) an optionee will not
realize taxable income either upon the grant or the exercise of the option,
(ii) any gain or loss upon a qualifying disposition of the shares acquired by
the exercise of the option will be treated as capital gain or loss, and
(iii) 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 the shares. A disposition by an optionee of stock acquired upon
exercise of an ISO will constitute a qualifying disposition if it occurs more
than two years after the grant of the option, and one year after the transfer of
the shares to the optionee. If such stock is disposed of by the optionee before
the expiration of those time limits, the transfer would be a "disqualifying
disposition" and the optionee, in general, will recognize ordinary income equal
to the lesser of (i) the aggregate fair market value of the shares as of the
date of exercise less the option price, or (ii) the amount realized on the
disqualifying disposition less the option price. The Company would become
entitled to a corresponding deduction. Ordinary income from a disqualifying
disposition will constitute ordinary compensation income. Any gain in addition
to the amount reportable as ordinary income on a "disqualifying disposition"
generally will be capital gain. Upon the exercise of an ISO, the difference
between the fair market value of stock on the date of exercise and the option
price generally is treated as an adjustment to taxable income in that taxable
year for alternative minimum tax purposes, as are a number of other items
specified by the Code. Such adjustments (along with tax preference items) form
the basis for the alternative minimum tax (presently at a graduated rate for
individuals), which may apply depending on the amount of the computed "regular
tax" of the employee for that year. The Company does not obtain a deduction as a
result of an optionee incurring the alternative minimum tax.

    NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS.  In the case of NSOs, no income generally is
recognized by the optionee at the time of grant. Under present law the optionee
generally will recognize ordinary income at the time the NSO is exercised equal
to the aggregate fair market value of the shares acquired less the option price.
Ordinary income from an NSO will constitute compensation for services. Subject
to special rules applicable when an optionee uses stock of the Company to
exercise an option, shares acquired upon exercise of an NSO 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, the optionee generally will recognize
capital gain or loss. Provided the shares are held by the optionee for more than
one year prior to disposition, such gain or loss will be long-term capital gain
or loss. The Company will generally be entitled to a deduction equal to the
ordinary income (i.e., compensation) recognized by the optionee in connection
with the exercise of an NSO provided the Company complies with any withholding
requirements of federal and state law.

    RESTRICTIONS ON DEDUCTIONS.  Not every amount paid as compensation for
services is currently deductible. For example, depending upon the services
rendered, some compensation payments must be capitalized or added to inventory
costs. Two other restrictions under the Code potentially applicable to
deductions for executive compensation payments are the restriction on the
deduction of so-called "excess parachute payments" (and the imposition of a 20%
excise tax on the recipient thereof) and the deduction limit of $1,000,000 per
year for certain executive compensation. Whether any such restrictions will
apply to specific payments of compensation by the Company cannot be predicted at
this time.

    EFFECT OF AMENDMENT.  The Plan Amendment will have no effect upon the tax
consequences to Key Employees or the Company.

                                       18
<PAGE>
    PLAN BENEFITS.  The benefits and amounts that will be received by each of
the Named Executives, the executive officers as a group and all other key
management employees under the Plan are not presently determinable. No stock
options were granted to the Named Executives during 1999.

             RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

    The accountants of the Company are Arthur Andersen LLP, 45 South Seventh
Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402-1611. Arthur Andersen LLP has performed accounting
services for the Company and its predecessors since its appointment in the
fourth quarter of 1991, which services have consisted of the examination of the
consolidated financial statements of the Company and its affiliates and
predecessors and limited assistance and consultation in connection with filings
with the SEC. All professional services rendered by Arthur Andersen LLP during
1999 were furnished at customary rates and terms.

    It is anticipated that representatives of Arthur Andersen LLP will be
present at the Meeting to respond to appropriate questions and to comment on the
Company's consolidated financial statements.

    The Board of Directors has appointed Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's
independent public accountants for the current fiscal year and the stockholders
are being asked to ratify such appointment. The affirmative vote of the holders
of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock
represented and voting at the Meeting will be required for passage of this
proposal.

    THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE APPOINTMENT OF ARTHUR
ANDERSEN LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS OF THE COMPANY FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2000.

                                 ANNUAL REPORT

    The Company's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999
accompanies this Proxy Statement. The Annual Report contains consolidated
financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and the report thereon
of Arthur Andersen LLP, the Company's independent public accountants.
Stockholders may obtain without charge a copy of the Company's annual report on
Form 10-K including financial statements required to be filed with the SEC
pursuant to the Exchange Act for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 by
writing to the Company at 3900 West Innovation Street, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
57107, Attention: Stockholder Relations.

                           PROPOSALS OF STOCKHOLDERS

    Under certain circumstances, stockholders are entitled to present proposals
at stockholder meetings. The 2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on
or about May 9, 2001. Proposals of stockholders intended to be included in the
proxy materials for the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by
the Secretary of the Company, 3900 West Innovation Street, Sioux Falls, South
Dakota 57107, by December 7, 2000, in a form that complies with the Company's
Bylaws and applicable requirements.

                                 OTHER BUSINESS

    The Board of Directors knows of no business which will be presented for
consideration at the Meeting other than as stated in the Notice of Meeting. If,
however, other matters are properly brought before the Meeting, it is the
intention of the Proxyholders to vote the shares represented thereby on such
matters in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors and
authority to do so is included in the Proxy.

DATED: April 13, 2000

                                          By Order of the Board of Directors,

                                          /s/ Daniel P. Johnson

                                          Daniel P. Johnson
                                          SECRETARY

                                       19
<PAGE>

PROXY                                                                  PROXY

                   LODGENET ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION

        THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
        FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD MAY 10, 2000

     The undersigned hereby appoints Mr. Tim C. Flynn and Mr. Scott C. Petersen,
and each of them, the attorneys, agents and proxies of the undersigned, with
full powers of substitution to each (the "Proxies"), to attend and act as
proxy or proxies of the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
(the "Annual Meeting") of LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation (the "Company")
to be held at the Company's National Headquarters and Distribution Center,
3900 W. Innovation Street, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57107 on Wednesday,
May 10, 2000 at 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time or any adjournment thereof,
and to vote as specified herein the number of shares which the undersigned,
if personally present, would be entitled to vote.

     This Proxy when properly executed will be voted as specified. If no
instruction is specified with respect to a matter to be acted upon, the
shares represented by the Proxy will be voted "FOR" the election of Mr. R.
Douglas Bradbury and Mr. Richard R. Hylland; "FOR" approval of the Plan
Amendment; and "FOR" the ratification of Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's
independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000.
If any other business is presented at the Annual Meeting, this Proxy confers
authority to and shall be voted in accordance with the recommendation of the
Board of Directors. This Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of
Directors and may be revoked prior to its exercise by filing with the
Corporate Secretary of the Company a duly executed proxy bearing a later date
or an instrument revoking this Proxy, or by attending and electing to vote in
person.

                PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THIS PROXY
                 CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE

                (CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE)

<PAGE>

                       LODGENET ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
        PLEASE MARK VOTE IN OVAL IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER USING DARK INK ONLY



                                                                  For all
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS FOR A                For   Withhold  (Except Nominees
   TERM OF 3 YEARS--                                            written below)
   NOMINEES: R. Douglas Bradbury,
   Richard R. Hylland                         / /     / /            / /

   -----------------------------------

2.  To approve the Plan Amendment.                   For   Against   Abstain
                                                     / /      / /       / /

                                                     For   Against   Abstain
3.  To ratify the appointment of Arthur              / /     / /       / /
    Andersen LLP as the Company's Independent
    public accountants for the fiscal year ending
    December 31, 2000.

4. In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
   business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any and all
   adjournments thereof. The Board of Directors at present knows of no other
   business to be presented by or on behalf of the Company or the Board of
   Directors at the Annual Meeting.




                                                     Dated         , 2000
                                                           --------

                                     Signature(s)
                                                 ------------------------
                                     Signature(s)
                                                 ------------------------
- ----------------------------------   Please sign exactly as name appears
 PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND MAIL    hereon. Joint owners should each sign.
  THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING     Where applicable, indicate official
     THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE           position or representative capacity.
- ----------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         FOLD AND DETACH HERE



© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission