PHC, INC.
200 LAKE STREET
SUITE 102
PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS 01960
November 30, 2000
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting of Stockholders of
PHC, Inc., which will be held on January 11, 2001, at 2:00PM, at the corporate
offices of PHC, Inc., 200 Lake Street, Suite 102, Peabody Massachusetts 01960.
The following Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
describes the items to be considered by the stockholders and contains certain
information about PHC, Inc.'s officers and directors.
Please sign and return the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible in the
envelope provided so that your shares can be voted at the meeting in accordance
with your instructions. Even if you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to
sign and promptly return the enclosed proxy. You can revoke it at any time prior
to the meeting, or vote your shares personally if you attend the meeting. We
look forward to seeing you.
Sincerely,
Bruce A. Shear
PRESIDENT
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PHC, INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 11, 2001
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of PHC, Inc. (the "Company") will be
held at our Corporate offices at 200 Lake Street, Suite 102, Peabody,
Massachusetts, on January 11, 2001, at 2:00PM, for the following purposes:
1. To elect five directors (two to be elected by the holders of the Company's
Class A Common Stock and three to be elected by the holders of the
Company's Class B Common Stock) to hold office until the annual meeting
next following their election and until their successors are duly elected
and qualified;
2. To ratify the selection by the Board of Directors of BDO Seidman, LLP as
the Company's independent auditors; and
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or
any adjournment thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on November 15, 2000
as the record date for determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and
to vote at the annual meeting and at any adjournment thereof.
All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting.
By order of the Board of Directors
Paula C. Wurts, Assistant Clerk
Peabody, Massachusetts
November 30, 2000
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN
THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND MAIL IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE IN ORDER TO
ASSURE REPRESENTATION OF YOUR SHARES. NO POSTAGE NEED BE AFFIXED IF MAILED IN
THE UNITED STATES.
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PHC, INC.
200 LAKE STREET
SUITE 102
PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS 01960
(978) 536-2777
PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of PHC, Inc. (the "Company") for use at the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the Corporate offices of the
Company at 200 Lake Street, Suite 102, Peabody, Massachusetts on January 11,
2001 at 2:00PM (Boston time), and at any adjournment of that meeting (the
"Annual Meeting"). Each proxy will be voted in accordance with the instructions
specified, and if no instruction is specified, the proxy will be voted in favor
of the proposals set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting. Any proxy may be
revoked by a stockholder at any time before it is exercised by filing a later
dated proxy or written notice of revocation with Paula C. Wurts, Assistant Clerk
of the Company, or by voting in person at the Annual Meeting.
The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended June 30,
2000 is being mailed to stockholders together with this Proxy Statement. The
Company will furnish any exhibit to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
upon the payment of a processing fee of ten cents per page plus mailing costs.
The date of mailing of this Proxy Statement is expected to be on or about
December 11, 2000.
The Board of Directors has fixed November 15, 2000 as the record date for
the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting (the
"Record Date"). On that date there were outstanding and entitled to vote
7,494,602 shares of Class A Common Stock and 726,991 shares of Class B Common
Stock of the Company (the shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common
Stock are referred to collectively herein as the "Shares"). Each share of Class
A Common Stock is entitled to one vote and each share of Class B Common Stock is
entitled to five votes. The holders of the Company's Class A Common Stock are
entitled to elect two members of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Class A
Directors") and holders of the Company's Class B Common Stock are entitled to
elect all the remaining members of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Class
B Directors"). Holders of Class A Common Stock will receive proxy cards which
will be different from those received by the holders of Class B Common Stock.
The proxy cards received by the holders of Class A Common Stock will contain a
proposal relating to the election of the two members of the Board of Directors
to be elected by the holders of the Class A Common Stock, in addition to any
other proposals to be voted upon during the General Session. Holders of Class B
Common Stock will receive proxy cards which will contain a proposal relating to
the election of the three members of the Board of Directors to be elected by the
holders of the Class B Common Stock, in addition to any other proposals to be
voted upon during the General Session.
The Annual Meeting will comprise three related but separate sessions: (i)
a special session of the holders of Class A Common Stock, during which session
only holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to vote, for the separate
election by such holders of two directors, and no other business may properly
come before the meeting; (ii) a special session of the holders of Class B Common
Stock, during which session only holders of Class B Common Stock are entitled to
vote, for the separate election by such holders of three directors, and no other
business may properly come before the meeting; and (iii) a general session of
the holders of the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock for
ratification of the selection of independent auditors and for the conduct of
such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting. The presence
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in person or by proxy of holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date which, combined, have the right
to cast a majority of the votes which may be cast with respect to matters
arising during the General Session will constitute a quorum for the conduct of
business at the General Session. The presence in person or by proxy of holders
of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock outstanding as of the
Record Date which have the right to cast a majority of the votes which may be
cast with respect to matters arising during the Class A Session and the Class B
Session, respectively, will constitute a quorum for purposes of the Class A
Session and the Class B Session, respectively.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares of each
of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock represented at the meeting is
required for the election of the Class A Directors and the Class B Directors,
respectively. Approval of each of the other matters that is before the meeting
will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares
represented at the meeting and voting thereon. No votes may be taken at the
meeting, other than a vote to adjourn, unless the appropriate quorum (as set
forth in the preceding paragraph) has been constituted. Shares voted to abstain
or to withhold as to a particular matter, or as to which a nominee (such as a
broker holding shares in street name for a beneficial owner) has no voting
authority in respect of a particular matter, shall be deemed represented for
quorum purposes. Such shares, however, shall not be deemed to be voting on such
matters, and therefore will not be the equivalent of negative votes as to such
matters. Votes will be tabulated by the Company's transfer agent subject to the
supervision of persons designated by the Board of Directors as inspectors.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership
of shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock, and Class B Common Stock (the
only classes of voting capital stock of the Company currently outstanding) as of
November 15, 2000, by (i) each person known by the Company to beneficially own
more than 5% of any class of the Company's voting securities, (ii) each director
of the Company, (iii) the Company's Chief Executive Officer, (iv) each of the
Company's four most highly compensated executive officers other than its Chief
Executive Officer who were serving as officers of the Company at the end of the
1999 fiscal year and whose salary and bonus for the 2000 fiscal year exceeded
$100,000 and (v) all directors and officers of the Company as a group (the
individuals specified in subsections (iii) and (iv) hereof collectively are
referred to herein as the "Named Executive Officers"). Unless otherwise
indicated below, to the knowledge of the Company, all persons listed below have
sole voting and investment power with respect to their shares of Common Stock,
except to the extent authority is shared by spouses under applicable law. In
preparing the following table, the Company has relied on the information
furnished by the persons listed below:
NAME AND ADDRESS AMOUNT AND PERCENT
TITLE OF CLASS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER NATURE OF
OF BENEFICIAL CLASS
OWNER (11)
Class A Common Stock . Gerald M. Perlow 47,750(1) *
c/o PHC, Inc.
200 Lake Street
Peabody, MA 01960
Donald E. Robar 44,250(2) *
c/o PHC, Inc.
200 Lake Street
Peabody, MA 01960
Bruce A. Shear 115,750(3) 1.5%
c/o PHC, Inc.
200 Lake Street
Peabody, MA 01960
Robert H. Boswell 125,138(4) 1.6%
c/o PHC, Inc.
200 Lake Street
Peabody, MA 01960
Howard W. Phillips 32,250(5) *
P. O. Box 2047
East Hampton, NY
11937
William F. Grieco 42,250(6) *
115 Marlborough
Street
Boston, MA 02116
Paula C. Wurts 72,815(7) *
c/o PHC, Inc.
200 Lake Street
Peabody, MA 01960
All Directors and 480,203(8) 6.1%
Officers as a Group
(7 persons)
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NAME AND ADDRESS AMOUNT AND PERCENT
TITLE OF CLASS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER NATURE OF
OF BENEFICIAL CLASS
OWNER (11)
Class B Common Stock Bruce A. Shear 671,259(10) 92.3%
(9)... c/o PHC, Inc.
200 Lake Street
Peabody, MA 01960
All Directors and 671,259 92.3%
Officers as a Group
(7 persons)
* Less than 1%.
1. Includes 26,000 shares issuable pursuant to currently exercisable stock
options or stock options which will become exercisable within sixty days,
having an exercise price range of $.81 to $6.63 per share.
2. Includes 29,500 shares issuable pursuant to currently exercisable stock
options or stock options which will become exercisable within sixty days,
having an exercise price range of $.81 to $6.63 per share.
3. Includes 100,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable pursuant to
currently exercisable stock options, having an exercise price range of
$1.00 to $2.63 per share.
4. Includes an aggregate of 104,333 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable
pursuant to currently exercisable stock options at an exercise price range
of $.60 to $1.50 per share.
5. Includes 20,500 shares issuable pursuant to currently exercisable stock
options having an exercise price range of $.81 to $3.50 per share.
6. Includes 20,500 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable pursuant to
currently exercisable stock options, having an exercise price range of $.81
to $3.50 per share
7. Includes 55,167 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable pursuant to
currently exercisable stock options, having an exercise price range of $.60
to $1.50 per share
8. Includes an aggregate of 356,000 shares issuable pursuant to currently
exercisable stock options. Of those options, 5,500 have an exercise price
of $6.63 per share, 10,000 have an exercise price of $5.00 per share,
26,000 have an exercise price of $3.50 per share, 50,000 have an exercise
price of $2.63 per share, 4,500 have an exercise price of $2.06 per share,
10,000 have an exercise price of $1.50 per share, 160,000 have an exercise
price of $1.25 per share, 12,500 have an exercise price of $1.20 per share,
25,000 have an exercise price of $1.17 per share, 4,000 have an exercise
price of $1.03 per share, 45,000 have an exercise price of $1.00 per share,
2,000 have an exercise price of $.81 per share and 1,500 have an exercise
price of $.60 per share.
9. Each share of class B common stock is convertible into one share of class A
common stock automatically upon any sale or transfer or at any time at the
option of the holder.
10. Includes 56,369 shares of class B common stock pledged to Steven J. Shear
of 2 Addison Avenue, Lynn, Massachusetts 01902, Bruce A. Shear's brother,
to secure the purchase price obligation of Bruce A. Shear in connection
with his purchase of his brother's stock in the company in December 1988.
In the absence of any default under this obligation, Bruce A. Shear retains
full voting power with respect to these shares.
11. Represents percentage of equity of class, based on numbers of shares listed
under the column headed "Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership". Each
share of Class A Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share and each
share of Class B Common Stock is entitled to five votes per share on all
matters on which stockholders may vote (except that the holders of the
Class A Common Stock are entitled to elect two members of the company's
Board of Directors and holders of the Class B Common Stock are entitled to
elect all the remaining members of the company's Board of Directors).
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By virtue of the fact that class B shareholders have the right to elect three
of the five members of the Board of Directors and Mr. Shear owns 92% of the
Class B shares, Mr. Shear has the right to elect the nominees and therefore
control the Board of Directors.
Based on the number of shares listed under the column headed "Amount and
Nature of Beneficial Ownership," the following persons or groups held the
following percentages of voting rights for all shares of common stock combined
as of November 15, 2000:
Bruce A. Shear .....................30.92%
All Directors and Officers as a Group
(7persons).......................34.47%
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
The directors and officers of the company as of June 30, 2000 are as
follows:
NAME AGE POSITION
---- --- --------
Bruce A. Shear 45 Director, President and Chief Executive
Officer
Robert H. Boswell 51 Senior Vice President
Paula C. Wurts 51 Controller, Treasurer and Assistant Clerk
Gerald M. Perlow, M.D. (1)(2) 62 Director and Clerk
Donald E. Robar (1)(2) 63 Director
Howard W. Phillips 70 Director
William F. Grieco (1) 46 Director
(1) Member of Audit Committee.
(2) Member of Compensation Committee.
All of the directors hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders
next following their election, or until their successors are elected and
qualified. The Compensation Committee reviews and sets executive compensation.
Officers are elected annually by the Board of Directors and serve at the
discretion of the Board. There are no family relationships among any of the
directors or officers of the company.
Information with respect to the business experience and affiliations of the
directors and officers of the company is set forth below.
BRUCE A. SHEAR has been President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director
of the company since 1980 and Treasurer of the company from September 1993 until
February 1996. From 1976 to 1980 he served as Vice President, Financial Affairs,
of the company. Mr. Shear has served on the Board of Governors of the Federation
of American Health Systems for over ten years. Mr. Shear received an M.B.A. from
Suffolk University in 1980 and a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from Marquette
University in 1976.
ROBERT H. BOSWELL has served as the Senior Vice President of the company
since February 1999 and as executive vice president of the company from 1992 to
1999. From 1989 until the spring of 1994 Mr. Boswell served as the Administrator
of the company's Highland Ridge Hospital facility where he is based. Mr. Boswell
is principally involved with the company's substance abuse facilities. From 1981
until 1989, he served as the Associate Administrator at the Prevention Education
Outpatient Treatment Program--the Cottage Program, International. Mr. Boswell
graduated from Fresno State University in 1975 and from 1976 until 1978 attended
Rice University's doctoral program in philosophy. Mr. Boswell is a Board Member
of the National Foundation for Responsible Gaming and the Chair for the National
Center for Responsible Gaming.
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PAULA C. WURTS has served as the Controller of the company since 1989, as
Assistant Clerk since January 1996, as Assistant Treasurer from 1993 until April
2000 when she became Treasurer. Ms. Wurts served as the company's Accounting
Manager from 1985 until 1989. Ms. Wurts received an Associate's degree in
Accounting from the University of South Carolina in 1980, a B.S. in Accounting
from Northeastern University in 1989 and passed the examination for Certified
Public Accountants. She received a Master's Degree in Accounting from Western
New England College in 1996.
GERALD M. PERLOW, M.D. has served as a Director of the company since May
1993 and as Clerk since February 1996. Dr. Perlow is a retired cardiologist who
practiced medicine in Lynn, Massachusetts, and has been Associate Clinical
Professor of Cardiology at the Tufts University School of Medicine since 1972.
Dr. Perlow is a Diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners and the
American Board of Internal Medicine (with a subspecialty in cardiovascular
disease) and a Fellow of the American Heart Association, the American College of
Cardiology and the American College of Physicians. From 1987 to 1990, Dr. Perlow
served as the Director, Division of Cardiology, at AtlantiCare Medical Center in
Lynn, Massachusetts. From October 30, 1996 to March 1, 1997, Dr. Perlow served
as President and Director of Rubenfaer Physician Services, P.C. formerly Perlow
Physicians, P.C. which has a management contract with BSC. Dr. Perlow currently
holds no ownership interest in Rubenfaer Physician Services, P.C. Dr. Perlow
received compensation of $8,333 for the period. Dr. Perlow served as a
consultant to Wellplace.com, formerly Behavioralhealthonline.com, in fiscal year
2000 and has been a contributing journalist to Wellplace.com since 1999. Dr.
Perlow received a B.A. from Harvard College in 1959 and an M.D. from Tufts
University School of Medicine in 1963.
DONALD E. ROBAR has served as a Director of the company since 1985 and as
the Treasurer from February, 1996 until April 2000. He served as the Clerk of
the company from 1992 to 1996. Dr. Robar has been a professor of Psychology
since 1961, most recently at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire.
Dr. Robar received an Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts in 1978, an
M.A. from Boston College in 1968 and a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts
in 1960.
HOWARD W. PHILLIPS has served as a Director of the company since August 27,
1996 and has been employed by the company as a public relations specialist since
August 1, 1995. From 1982 until October 31, 1995, Mr. Phillips was the Director
of Corporate Finance for D.H. Blair Investment Corp. From 1969 until 1981, Mr.
Phillips was associated with Oppenheimer & Co. where he was a partner and
Director of Corporate Finance. From 1995 until 1999 Mr. Phillips served as a
member of the Board of Directors of Food Court Entertainment Network, Inc., an
operator of shopping mall television networks, and Telechips Corp., a
manufacturer of visual phones.
WILLIAM F. GRIECO has served as a Director of the company since February
18, 1997. Since August 1999 Mr. Grieco has been a self-employed law consultant.
From November 1995 to July 1999 he served as Senior Vice President and General
Counsel for Fresenius Medical Care North America. From 1989 until November of
1995, Mr. Grieco was a partner at Choate, Hall & Stewart. Mr. Grieco received a
BS from Boston College in 1975, an MS in Health Policy and Management from
Harvard University in 1978 and a JD from Boston College Law School in 1981.
MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board held five meetings during the fiscal year 2000. During fiscal
year 2000, each director attended 100% of the total number of meetings of the
Board (held during the period for which he was a director) and the total number
of meetings held by all Board committees on which such director served (during
the periods that he served as a member). The Board has a standing audit
committee (the "Audit Committee") and a standing compensation committee, but
does not have a standing nominating committee.
The Audit Committee is composed of Dr. Perlow, Mr. Robar and Mr. Grieco.
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Mr. Robar and Mr. Grieco are both independent with respect to the Company, while
Dr. Perlow is not independent under Rule 4200 (a)(14) of the NASD's listing as
he also serves as the Clerk of the Company and provides consultant services to a
wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. During the April 2000 Board of Directors
meeting the Board adopted the charter for the audit committee outlining the
principal functions of the Audit Committee (see appendix A.) The Audit Committee
assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibilities to
stockholders concerning the Company's financial reporting and internal controls,
and facilitates open communication among the Audit Committee, Board of
Directors, outside auditors and management. The Audit Committee discusses with
management and the outside auditors the financial information developed by the
Company, the Company's system of internal controls and the Company's audit
process. The Audit Committee recommends to the Board each fiscal year the
independent auditors who will audit the books of the Company for that year. The
independent auditors meet with the Audit Committee both with and without the
presence of the Company's management to review and discuss various matters
pertaining to the audit, including the Company's financial statements, the
report of the independent auditors on the results, scope and terms of their work
and their recommendations concerning the financial practices, controls,
procedures and policies employed by the Company.
The compensation committee is composed of Dr. Perlow and Mr. Robar. The
compensation committee held no meetings during fiscal year 2000. The principal
functions of the compensation committee are to review and make recommendations
to the Board on all compensation and hiring issues that relate to officers and
senior staff members.
Audit Committee Report
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the Company's audited
financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000 with the Company's
management. The Audit Committee has discussed with BDO Seidman, LLP, the
Company's independent auditors, the matters required to be discussed by
Statement on Auditing Standards No.61. The Audit Committee has received the
written disclosures and the letter from BDO Seidman required by Independence
Standards Board Standard No.1 and has discussed with BDO Seidman its
independence. The discussions that the Audit Committee had with BDO Seidman, LLP
regarding the matters described above occurred after the filing with the SEC of
the Company's Annual Report on form 10-KSB for fiscal 2000.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Gerald M. Perlow, M.D.
Donald E. Robar
William F. Grieco
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
The Company has not entered into any employment agreements with its
executive officers. The Company owns and is the beneficiary on a $1,000,000 key
man life insurance policy on the life of Bruce A. Shear.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Three executive officers of the company received compensation in the 2000
fiscal year, which exceeded $100,000. The following table sets forth the
compensation paid or accrued by the company for services rendered to these
executives in fiscal year 2000, 1999 and 1998:
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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
LONG TERM
COMPENSATION
ANNUAL COMPENSATION AWARDS
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (G) (I)
NAME AND OTHER SECURITIES ALL OTHER
PRINCIPAL YEAR SALARY BONUS ANNUAL UNDERLYING COMPENSATION
POSITION ($) ($) COMPENSATION OPTIONS/SARS ($)
($) (#)
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Bruce A. Shear 2000 $300,195(1) -- $10,159(2) 50,000 $22,517
President and 1999 $300,195(1) -- $ 7,940(3) 50,000 $21,622
Chief Executive 1998 $309,167(1) -- $ 9,813(4) 50,000 $51,256
Officer
Robert H. Boswell 2000 $116,000 $32,200 $12,846(5) 26,666 $14,261
Senior Vice 1999 $111,083 $ 800 $ 7,955(6) 65,000 $29,753
President 1998 $102,750 -- $ 7,836(7) 15,000 $14,149
Paula C. Wurts 2000 $90,800 $13,500 $ 9,642(8) 33,334 $17,263
Controller, Treasur 1999 $85,883 -- $ 8,950(9) 20,000 $ 9,055
And Assistant Clerk 1998 $77,700 -- $ 8,547(10) 10,000 $ 9,720
</TABLE>
(1)Effective July 1, 1995 the Board of Director authorized a base salary of
$310,000, which was drawn as listed above.
(2)This amount represents $3,383 contributed by the company to the company's
Executive Employee Benefit Plan on behalf of Mr. Shear, $4,837 in premiums
paid by the company with respect to life insurance for the benefit of Mr.
Shear and $1,938 personal use of a company car held by Mr. Shear.
(3)This amount represents $2,791 contributed by the company to the company's
Executive Employee Benefit Plan on behalf of Mr. Shear, $2,792 in premiums
paid by the company with respect to life insurance for the benefit of Mr.
Shear and $2,357 personal use of a company car held by Mr. Shear.
(4)This amount represents $2,791 contributed by the company to the company's
Executive Employee Benefit Plan on behalf of Mr. Shear $4,768 in premiums
paid by the company with respect to life insurance for the benefit of Mr.
Shear, and $2,254 personal use of a company car held by Mr. Shear.
(5)This amount represents a $6,000 automobile allowance, $952 contributed by
the company to the company's Executive Employee Benefit Plan on behalf of Mr.
Boswell, $3,000 in relocation expenses paid to Mr. Boswell and $2,894 in
benefit derived from the purchase of shares through the employee stock
purchase plan.
(6)This amount represents a $6,000 automobile allowance, $357 contributed by
the company to the company's Executive Employee Benefit Plan on behalf of Mr.
Boswell, $704 in other benefits paid by the company on behalf of Mr. Boswell
and $894 in benefit derived from the purchase of shares through the employee
stock purchase plan.
(7)This amount represents a $6,000 automobile allowance, $408 contributed by
the company to the company's Executive Employee Benefit Plan on behalf of Mr.
Boswell, $408 in other benefits paid by the company on behalf of Mr. Boswell
$115 in Class A Common Stock issued to employees and $905 in benefit derived
from the purchase of shares through the employee stock purchase plan.
(8)This amount represents a $4,800 automobile allowance, $3,878 contributed by
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the company to the company's Executive Employee Benefit Plan on behalf of Ms.
Wurts and $964 in benefit derived from the purchase of shares through the
employee stock purchase plan.
(9)This amount represents a $4,800 automobile allowance, $3,940 contributed by
the company to the company's Executive Employee Benefit Plan on behalf of Ms.
Wurts and $210 in benefit derived from the purchase of shares through the
employee stock purchase plan.
(10) This amount represents a $4,650 automobile allowance, $3,250 contributed by
the company to the company's Executive Employee Benefit Plan on behalf of
Ms. Wurts, $115 in Class A Common Stock issued to employees and $532 in
benefit derived from the purchase of shares through the employee stock
purchase plan.
STOCK OPTIONS GRANTS
The following table provides information about options granted to the named
executive officers during fiscal 2000 under the company's Stock Plan, Employee
Stock Purchase Plan and Non-Employee Director Stock Plan.
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
-----------------
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
NUMBER OF % OF
SECURITIES TOTAL
UNDERLYING OPTIONS/SA EXERCISE
OPTIONS/SARS GRANTED OR BASE EXPIRATION
NAME GRANTED (#) TO PRICE DATE
EMPLOYEES ($/SHARE)
IN FISCAL
YEAR
_______________________________________________________________________________
Bruce A. Shear 50,000 18.5% $1.00 2/10/2010
Robert H. Boswell 16,666 6.1% $1.00 2/10/2010
10,000 3.7% $1.50 4/25/2005
Paula C. Wurts 23,334 8.6% $1.00 2/10/2010
10,000 3.7% $1.50 4/25/2005
All Directors and
Officers as a
group (7 Persons) 158,000 58.3% $.81-$1.50 12/23/2004-2/10/2010
The following table provides information about options exercised by the named
executive officers during fiscal 1999 and the number and value of options held
at the end of fiscal 1999.
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
NUMBER OF VALUE OF
SECURITIES UNEXERCISED
SHARES UNDERLYING IN-THE-MONEY
ACQUIRED VALUE UNEXERCISED OPTIONS/SARS AT
NAME ON REALIZED OPTIONS/SARS AT FY-END ($)
EXERCISE ($) FY-END (#) EXERCISABLE/
(#) EXERCISABLE/ UNEXERCISABLE
UNEXERCISABLE
_______________________________________________________________________________
Bruce A. Shear -- -- 87,500/62,500 $5,250/$5,250
Robert H. Boswell -- -- 88,583/51,483 $1,583/$1,583
Paula C. Wurts -- -- 49,417/31,667 $2,216/$2,216
All Directors and
Officers as a
group (7 persons) -- -- 312,000/206,650 $10,450/$11,970
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
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Directors who are employees of the Company receive no compensation for
services as members of the Board. Directors who are not employees of the Company
receive $2,500 stipend per year and $1,000 for each Board meeting they attend.
In addition, directors of the Company are entitled to receive certain stock
option grants under the Company's Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the
"Director Plan").
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The members of the Board of Directors elected at the Annual Meeting will be
classified into two classes of directors. Two directors will be elected by the
holders of the Company's Class A Common Stock and the balance of the directors
will be elected by the holders of the Company's Class B Common Stock . The terms
of the present directors expire at the Annual Meeting or when the successors are
chosen and qualified, if later. The Board of Directors has fixed at five the
number of directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting.
The nominees for Class A Directors for election at the Annual Meeting are
Donald E. Robar and Gerald M. Perlow. The nominees for Class B Directors for
election at the Annual Meeting are Bruce A. Shear, Howard W. Phillips and
William F. Grieco. The proxy for holders of Class A Common Stock will be voted
to elect as Class A Directors the two nominees (Donald E. Robar and Gerald M.
Perlow), unless authority to vote for the election of directors is withheld by
marking the proxy to that effect or the proxy is marked with the names of
directors as to whom authority to vote is withheld. The proxy for holders of
Class B Common Stock will be voted to elect as Class B Directors the three
nominees (Bruce A. Shear, Howard W. Phillips and William F. Grieco), unless
authority to vote for the election of directors is withheld by marking the proxy
to that effect. Donald E. Robar, Gerald M. Perlow, Bruce A. Shear, Howard W.
Phillips and William F. Grieco are presently directors of the Company and have
consented to serve if reelected.
Each director will be elected to hold office until the next annual meeting
of stockholders following the 2000 Annual Meeting (2001) and until his successor
is elected and qualified. If a nominee becomes unavailable, the proxy may be
voted, unless authority has been withheld as to the nominee, for the election of
a substitute.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR.
APPROVAL OF AUDITORS
The Board has selected the firm of BDO Seidman, LLP, independent certified
public accountants, as auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending June
30, 2001 and is submitting the selection to stockholders for approval. The Board
recommends a vote "FOR" this proposal. Unless the proxy indicates otherwise, the
shares represented by the enclosed proxy will be voted to approve such
selection.
Although there is no legal requirement that this matter be submitted to a
vote of stockholders, the Board believes that the selection of independent
auditors is of sufficient importance to seek stockholder ratification. In the
event BDO Seidman, LLP is not ratified by the affirmative vote of the holders of
shares representing a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting, the
Board may reconsider its selection. A representative of BDO Seidman, LLP is
expected to attend the Annual Meeting. Such representative will have an
opportunity to make a statement and will be available to respond to appropriate
questions from stockholders.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF THE ABOVE SELECTION
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
Based on a review of Forms 3 and 4 furnished to the company, all directors,
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officers and beneficial owners of more than ten percent of any class of equity
securities of the Company registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act filed on a timely basis reports required by Section 16(a) of the
Exchange Act during the most recent fiscal year.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
For approximately the last twelve years, Bruce A. Shear, a director and the
President and Chief Executive Officer of the company, and persons affiliated and
associated with him have made a series of unsecured loans to the company and its
subsidiaries to enable them to meet ongoing financial commitments. The
borrowings generally were entered into when the company did not have financing
available from outside sources and, in the opinion of the company, were entered
into at market rates given the financial condition of the company and the risks
of repayment at the time the loans were made. As of June 30, 2000, the company
owed an aggregate of $200,000 to related parties.
During the period ended June 30, 2000, the company paid Mr. Shear and
affiliates approximately $28,500 in principal and accrued interest under various
notes. As of June 30, 2000, the company owed Bruce A. Shear $100,000 on a
promissory note, which is dated August 13, 1998, bears interest at the rate of
12% per year and is payable on demand and Tot Care, Inc., an affiliate of Bruce
A. Shear, $100,000 on promissory notes dated May 28, 1998 and June 9, 1998 which
bear interest at the rate of 12% per year and are payable on demand.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2001 MEETING
Proposals of stockholders intended to be presented and director nominations
intended to be made at the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received
by the Company at its principal office, 200 Lake Street, Suite 102, Peabody,
Massachusetts 01960, Attention: Paula C. Wurts, Assistant Clerk, not later than
July 21, 2001 for inclusion in the proxy statement for that meeting. Any
proposal of a stockholder to be presented at the Company's annual meeting of
stockholders in 2001, which has not been included in the Company's proxy
material, must be received not later than October 4, 2001 to be considered
timely.
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OTHER MATTERS
The Board does not know of any other matters that may come before the
Annual Meeting. However, if any other matters are properly presented to the
Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying
proxy to vote, or otherwise to act, in accordance with their judgment on such
matters.
All costs of solicitation of proxies by management will be borne by the
Company. In addition to solicitations by mail, the Company's directors, officers
and regular employees, without additional remuneration, may solicit proxies by
telephone or personal interviews. Brokers, custodians and fiduciaries will be
requested to forward proxy soliciting materials to the beneficial owners of the
Company's stock held in the names of such brokers, custodians and fiduciaries,
and the Company will reimburse them for their out-of-pocket expenses in this
connection.
By order of the Board of Directors
Paula C. Wurts, ASSISTANT CLERK
November 30, 2000
The Board hopes that stockholders will attend the meeting, WHETHER OR NOT
YOU PLAN TO ATTEND, YOU ARE URGED TO COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE
ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE. A prompt response will greatly
facilitate arrangements for the meeting, and your cooperation will be
appreciated. Stockholders who attend the meeting may vote their stock personally
even though they have sent in their proxies.
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APPENDIX A
PHC, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
One committee of the board of directors will be known as the audit committee.
The majority of the members of the audit committee will be independent
directors. An independent director is free of any relationship that could
influence his or her judgment as a committee member. An independent director may
not be associated with a major vendor to, or customer of, the company. When
there is some doubt about independence, as when a member of the committee has a
short-term consulting contract with a major customer, the director should recuse
himself from any decisions that might be influenced by that relationship.
The primary function of the audit committee is to assist the board in fulfilling
its oversight responsibilities by reviewing the financial information that will
be provided to the shareholders and others, the systems of internal control
management and the board of directors have established and all audit processes.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1. The audit committee provides open avenues of communication among the
internal accounting staff, the independent accountant and the board of
directors.
2. The audit committee must report committee actions to the full board of
directors and may make appropriate recommendations.
3. The audit committee has the power to conduct or authorize investigations
into matters within the committee's scope of responsibilities. The
committee is authorized to retain independent counsel, accountants or
others it needs to assist in an investigation.
4. The committee will meet at least two times each year, more frequently if
circumstances make that preferable. The audit committee chairman has the
power to call a committee meeting whenever he or she thinks there is a
need. An audit committee member should not vote on any matter in which he
or she is not independent. The committee may ask members of management or
others to attend the meeting and is authorized to receive all pertinent
information from management.
5. The committee will do whatever else the law, the company's charter or
bylaws or the board of directors require.
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ENGAGING INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
1 The audit committee will select the independent accountants for company
audits. The committee's selection is subject to approval by the full board
of directors. The audit committee also will review and set any fees paid to
the independent accountants and review and approve dismissal of the
independent accountants.
2. The audit committee will confirm and assure the independence of the
independent accountant, including a review of management consulting
services provided by the independent accountant and the fees paid for them.
3. The audit committee will consider, in consultation with the independent
accountant and a designated accounting staff member, the audit scope and
procedural plans made by the accounting staff and the independent
accountant.
4. The audit committee will listen to management and the primary independent
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auditor if either thinks there might be a need to engage additional
auditors. The audit committee will decide whether to engage an additional
firm and, if so, which one.
5. The audit committee will make sure that the designated accounting staff
member and the independent accountant coordinate the internal and external
audits. The purpose of coordinating these efforts is to assure completeness
of coverage, reduce redundancy and use audit resources effectively.
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR REVIEWING INTERNAL INFORMATION, THE ANNUAL EXTERNAL AUDIT
AND THE REVIEW OF QUARTERLY AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. The audit committee will ascertain that the independent accountant views
the board of directors as its client, that it will be available to the full
board of directors at least annually and that it will provide the committee
with a timely analysis of significant financial reporting issues.
2. The audit committee will ask management, a designated accounting staff
member and the independent accountant about significant risks and exposures
and will assess management's steps to minimize them.
3. The audit committee will review the following with the independent
accountant and a designated accounting staff member.
(a) The adequacy of the company's internal controls, including computerized
information system controls and security.
(b) Any significant findings and recommendations made by the independent
accountant or accounting staff, together with management's responses
to them.
4. Shortly after the annual examination is completed, the audit committee will
review the following with management and the independent accountant:
(a) The company's annual financial statements and related footnotes.
(b) The independent accountant's audit of and report on the financial
statements.
(c) The auditor's qualitative judgments about the appropriateness, not
just the acceptability, of accounting principles and financial
disclosures and how aggressive (or conservative) the accounting
principles and underlying estimates are.
(d) Any serious difficulties or disputes with management encountered
during the course of the audit.
(e) Anything else about the audit procedures or findings that GAAS
requires the auditors to discuss with the committee.
5. The audit committee will consider and review with management and a
designated accounting staff member:
(a) Any significant findings during the year and management's responses to
them.
(b) Any difficulties an accounting staff member encountered while
conducting audits, including any restrictions on the scope of their
work or access to required information.
(c) Any changes to the planned scope of management's internal audit plan
that the committee thinks advisable.
6. The audit committee will review annual filings with the SEC or other
published documents containing the company's financial statements and will
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consider whether the information in the filings is consistent with the
information in the financial statements.
7. The audit committee will review the interim financial reports with
management the independent accountant and an accounting staff member before
those interim reports are released to the public or filed with the SEC or
other regulators.
8. The audit committee will prepare a letter for inclusion in the annual
report that describes the committee's composition and responsibilities and
how the responsibilities were fulfilled.
PERIODIC RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Review and update the committee's charter annually.
2. Review policies and procedures covering officers' expense accounts and
perquisites, including their use of corporate assets, and consider the
results of any review of those areas by the accounting staff or the
independent accountant.
3. Review, with an accounting staff member and the independent accountant, the
results of their examination of compliance with the company's code of
conduct.
4. Review legal and regulatory matters that may have a material effect on the
organization's financial statements, compliance policies and programs and
reports from regulators.
5. Meet with an accounting staff member, the independent account and
management in separate executive sessions to discuss the matters the
committee or these groups believe should be discussed privately with the
audit committee.
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REVOCABLE PROXY - CLASS A COMMON STOCK
PHC, INC.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2000 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
The undersigned stockholder of PHC, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation, (the
"Company") hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of 2000 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for fiscal year ended June 30,
2000 and hereby appoints Bruce A. Shear and Paula C. Wurts, and both of them, as
proxies, with full power to each of substitution, and hereby authorizes either
of them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side, all the
shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company held of record by the undersigned
on November 15, 2000 at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 2:00
p.m. (Boston time), on January 11, 2001 at the Corporate offices of PHC, Inc.,
200 Lake Street, Suite 102, Peabody, Massachusetts 01960, and at any
adjournments or postponements thereof. The undersigned stockholder hereby
revokes any proxy or proxies heretofore given.
(CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED AND DATED ON REVERSE SIDE)
(BACK)
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[X} Please mark your
votes as in this
example.
WITHHOLD
FOR AUTHORITY
Nominees:
Donald E. Robar [ ] [ ]
Gerald M. Perlow [ ] [ ]
1. To elect Donald E.
Robar and Gerald M. Perlow as the FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
Class A Directors of the Company, 2. To ratify the [ ] [ ] [ ]
each to hold the office until selection by the Board of Directors
the annual meeting next following of BDO Seidman, LLP as the Company's
his election: independent auditors for the 2001
fiscal year.
For, all nominees except as noted below. 3. In their discretion, the Proxies
are authorized to vote upon such
other matters as may properly come
before the meeting or any
adjournment or postponement thereof.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED,
WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER
DIRECTED, OR IF NO DIRECTION IS
MADE, FOR SUCH PROPOSALS, AND IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE DETERMINATION
OF THE PROXY HOLDERS AS TO OTHER
MATTERS. THE UNDERSIGNED
STOCKHOLDER HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES
RECEIPT OF THE NOTICE OF ANNUAL
MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN
THIS PROXY CARD USING THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.
SIGNATURE DATE DATE
(SIGNATURE IF HELD JOINTLY)
_______________________________________________________________________________
Note: Please sign exactly as name appears on this proxy. All joint owners should
sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or
custodian for a minor, please give your full title as such. If a corporation,
please sign full corporate name and indicate signer's office. If a partner sign
in the partnership name.
(FRONT)
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REVOCABLE PROXY - CLASS B COMMON STOCK
PHC, INC.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2000 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
The undersigned stockholder of PHC, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation, (the
"Company") hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of 2000 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for fiscal year ended June 30,
2000 and hereby appoints Bruce A. Shear and Paula C. Wurts, and both of them, as
proxies, with full power to each of substitution, and hereby authorizes either
of them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side, all the
shares of Class B Common Stock of the Company held of record by the undersigned
on November 15, 2000 at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 2:00
p.m. (Boston time), on January 11, 2001 at the Corporate offices of PHC, Inc.,
200 Lake Street, Suite 102, Peabody, Massachusetts 01960, and at any
adjournments or postponements thereof. The undersigned stockholder hereby
revokes any proxy or proxies heretofore given.
(Continued And To Be Signed And Dated On Reverse Side)
(BACK)
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FORM OF PROXY FOR CLASS B COMMON STOCK SHAREHOLDERS
[X} Please mark your
votes as in this
example.
WITHHOLD
FOR AUTHORITY
Nominees:
Bruce A. Shear [ ] [ ]
Howard W. Phillips [ ] [ ]
William F. Grieco [ ] [ ]
1. To elect Bruce A.
Shear, Howard W. Phillips and
William F. Grieco as the FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
Class B Directors of the Company, 2. To ratify the [ ] [ ] [ ]
each to hold the office until selection by the Board of Directors
the annual meeting next following of BDO Seidman, LLP as the Company's
his election: independent auditors for the 2001
fiscal year.
For, all nominees except as noted below. 3. In their discretion, the Proxies
are authorized to vote upon such
other matters as may properly come
before the meeting or any
adjournment or postponement thereof.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED,
WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER
DIRECTED, OR IF NO DIRECTION IS
MADE, FOR SUCH PROPOSALS, AND IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE DETERMINATION
OF THE PROXY HOLDERS AS TO OTHER
MATTERS. THE UNDERSIGNED
STOCKHOLDER HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES
RECEIPT OF THE NOTICE OF ANNUAL
MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN
THIS PROXY CARD USING THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.
SIGNATURE DATE DATE
(SIGNATURE IF HELD JOINTLY)
_______________________________________________________________________________
Note: Please sign exactly as name appears on this proxy. All joint owners should
sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or
custodian for a minor, please give your full title as such. If a corporation,
please sign full corporate name and indicate signer's office. If a partner sign
in the partnership name.
(FRONT)
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