VIDEONICS INC
DEF 14A, 1997-04-22
PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES
Previous: MEDCATH INC, 10-Q, 1997-04-22
Next: HANCOCK JOHN INSTITUTIONAL SERIES TRUST, 24F-2NT, 1997-04-22





                        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 Sec. 240.14a-11(c) or Sec. 240.14a-12

                                VIDEONICS, INC.
            ------------------------------------------------
            (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)


Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):

/X/  No fee required.
     

/ /  $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
     14a-6(i)(3).

/ /  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.


(1)  Title of each class of securities to which transactions applies:

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

(2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transactions 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>






                                 VIDEONICS, INC.
                                ----------------


                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

      NOTICE  IS  HEREBY  GIVEN  that the  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  of
Videonics, Inc., a California corporation (the "Company"),  will be held at 1370
Dell Avenue, Campbell,  California 95008 at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, 1997,
for the following purposes:

      Proposal 1. To elect four (4) directors of the Company for terms  expiring
at the 1998 Annual Meeting;

      Proposal 2. To ratify the  selection  of Coopers & Lybrand  L.L.P.  as the
Company's independent accountants for the year ending December 31, 1997;

and to transact  such other  business as may properly come before the meeting or
any adjournments thereof.

      The close of  business on March 24, 1997 has been fixed as the record date
for the  determination of shareholders  entitled to notice of and to vote at the
meeting.

      PLEASE SIGN,  DATE AND MAIL YOUR PROXY IN THE  ENVELOPE  PROVIDED FOR YOUR
CONVENIENCE.  YOU MAY REVOKE THIS PROXY AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE MEETING, AND IF
YOU ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY VOTE YOUR SHARES IN PERSON.

                                             By Order of the Board of Directors,


                                             /s/ Mark C. Hahn
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Mark C. Hahn
                                             Secretary


Dated: April 15, 1997


<PAGE>

                                 VIDEONICS, INC.
                                 1370 Dell Ave.
                           Campbell, California 95008

                                 PROXY STATEMENT

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

                               GENERAL INFORMATION

      This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection  with the  solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of Videonics,  Inc. (the "Company") for use at
the  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  to be held on May  22,  1997,  or at any
adjournments  thereof (the "Annual Meeting"),  for the purposes set forth herein
and in the foregoing Notice. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying Proxy are
being mailed to the Company's shareholders on or about April 25, 1997.

      At the close of business on March 24,  1997,  the record date fixed by the
Board of Directors of the Company for determining those shareholders entitled to
vote at the Annual Meeting (the "Record Date"),  the  outstanding  shares of the
Company  entitled to vote  consisted of 5,735,045  shares of Common Stock.  Each
shareholder of record at the close of business on the Record Date is entitled to
one vote for each  share  then held on each  matter  submitted  to a vote of the
shareholders.

      A form of proxy is enclosed for use at the Annual  Meeting.  The proxy may
be revoked by a shareholder at any time prior to the exercise  thereof,  and any
shareholder  present at the Annual Meeting may revoke his proxy thereat and vote
in person if he or she so  desires.  When such proxy is  properly  executed  and
returned,  the  shares it  represents  will be voted at the  Annual  Meeting  in
accordance with any  instructions  noted thereon.  If no direction is indicated,
all shares  represented by valid proxies received  pursuant to this solicitation
(and not  revoked  prior to  exercise)  will be voted  for the  election  of the
nominees for directors  named herein (unless  authority to vote is withheld) and
in favor of all other proposals stated in the Notice of Meeting and described in
this Proxy Statement.

      The  Company's  Annual  Report for the year  ended  December  31,  1996 is
enclosed with this Proxy Statement.

                                       1
<PAGE>


                                   PROPOSAL 1:

                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Nominees

      Four  directors,  constituting  the entire Board of  Directors,  are to be
elected at the Annual Meeting, each to hold office until the next Annual Meeting
and until their successors are elected and qualified. The Board of Directors has
nominated for election as directors the four persons  indicated in the following
table. In the election of directors,  the proxy holders intend,  unless directed
otherwise, to vote for the election of the nominees named below, all of whom are
now members of the Board of  Directors.  It is not  anticipated  that any of the
nominees  will  decline or be unable to serve as  director.  If,  however,  that
should occur,  the proxy holders will vote the proxies in their  discretion  for
any nominee designated by the present Board of Directors to fill the vacancy.

      MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF EACH NAMED NOMINEE.

      The following table gives certain  information as to each person nominated
for election as a director:

          Name                                    Age             Director Since
          ----                                    ---             --------------
          Michael L. D'Addio                      52                   1986
          Mark C. Hahn                            47                   1986
          Carl E. Berg                            59                   1987
          N. William Jasper, Jr.                  48                   1993

      Michael L. D'Addio, a co-founder of the Company,  has served as President,
Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Chairman  of the  Board of  Directors  since the
Company's  inception  in July  1986.  From May 1979  through  November  1985 Mr.
D'Addio served as President,  Chief Executive  Officer and Chairman of the Board
of Directors of Corvus Systems, a manufacturer of small computers and networking
systems.  Mr.  D'Addio holds an A.B.  degree in  Mathematics  from  Northeastern
University.

      Mark C. Hahn, a co-founder  of the  Company,  has served as the  Company's
Chief  Technical  Officer  since  February  1996,  and  Corporate  Secretary and
Director  since the  Company's  inception.  Previously,  Mr.  Hahn served as the
Company's Vice President of Research and  Development.  Prior to co-founding the
Company, Mr. Hahn served as Vice President of Research and Chief Technologist of
Corvus Systems from May 1979 to February  1986. Mr. Hahn holds a B.S.  degree in
Electrical Engineering from Princeton University and a M.S. degree in Electrical
Engineering from Stanford University.

                                       2
<PAGE>

      Carl E. Berg, a co-founder  of the  Company,  has served on the  Company's
Board of Directors since June 1987. Mr. Berg is currently,  and has for the last
seven years been, a private venture capital  investor and industrial real estate
developer.  Mr. Berg is also a member of the Board of  Directors  of  Integrated
Device  Technology,  Inc.,  Valence  Technology,  Inc.  and  Systems  Integrated
Research.

      N.  William  Jasper,  Jr.  joined the Board of Directors of the Company in
August 1993.  Since 1983, Mr. Jasper has been the President and Chief  Operating
Officer of Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

Board Committees and Meetings

      During the year ending  December  31,  1996,  there was one meeting of the
Company's Board of Directors at which all members were present.

      The Audit  Committee was  established on December 15, 1994. The members of
the Audit Committee are Carl E. Berg and N. William Jasper, Jr., neither of whom
is an employee of the  Company.  The  functions  of the Audit  Committee  are to
define the scope of the audit,  review the auditor's  reports and comments,  and
monitor the internal auditing procedures of the Company. The Audit Committee met
one time during the Company's year ended December 31, 1996.

      The  Compensation  Committee  was  established  on October 27,  1994.  The
members of the  Compensation  Committee are Carl E. Berg and N. William  Jasper,
Jr.,  neither of whom is employed by the  Company.  The  Compensation  Committee
makes  recommendations  with  respect to  compensation  of senior  officers  and
granting of stock options and stock awards.  The Compensation  Committee met one
time during the Company's year ended December 31, 1996.

      The Company does not presently have a Nominating Committee.

                                       3

<PAGE>


                                   PROPOSAL 2:

              RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


      The Board of  Directors  has  selected  Coopers &  Lybrand  L.L.P.  as the
Company's independent  accountants for the year ending December 31, 1997 and has
further  directed  that  management  submit the  selection  of  accountants  for
ratification by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting. Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
was first  appointed  independent  accountants of the Company for the year ended
December 31, 1991. A  representative  of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. is expected to
be present at the Annual Meeting,  will have an opportunity to make a statement,
and is expected to respond to appropriate questions.

      Shareholder  ratification  of the selection of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. as
the Company's independent accountants is not required by the Company's Bylaws or
otherwise.  However,  the Board is submitting the selection of Coopers & Lybrand
L.L.P.  to the  shareholders  for  ratification  as a matter  of good  corporate
practice.  If the  shareholders  fail to ratify  the  selection,  the Board will
reconsider  whether  or not to  retain  that  firm.  Even  if the  selection  is
ratified,  the Board in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different
independent  accounting firm at any time during the year if the Board determines
that  such a change  would  be in the  best  interests  of the  Company  and its
shareholders.

                                       4

<PAGE>


                 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS


      The following table sets forth, as of March 3, 1997,  certain  information
with respect to each person known by the Company to be a  beneficial  owner,  as
defined in Rule 13d-3 ("Rule 13d-3")  promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission  under the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended (the "1934
Act"), of more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company.

                                                                   Percentage of
                                                                    Outstanding
Name and Address                       Number of Shares               Common
of Beneficial Owner                   Beneficially Owned               Stock
- -------------------                  --------------------          -------------
Carl E. Berg
10050 Bandley Drive
Cupertino, CA 95014                        1,051,605                    18%

Michael L. D'Addio
1370 Dell Avenue
Campbell, CA 95008(1)                       902,962                     15%

Mark C. Hahn
1370 Dell Avenue
Campbell, CA 95008(2)                       563,831                     9%

State of Wisconsin
  Investment Board
P.O. Box 7842
Madison, WI  53707                          535,000                     9%

Joseph M. Cohen; Cowen &
Company; Cowen, Incorporated
Financial Square
New York, NY 10005-3597                     364,208                     6%


(1)    Includes 6,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable as of March 3,
       1997 or within 60 days thereafter held by Mr. D'Addio's spouse, a Company
       employee.

(2)    Includes 6,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable as of March 3,
       1997 or within 60 days  thereafter  held by Mr. Hahn's spouse,  a Company
       employee.

                                       5

<PAGE>


                       SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF THE DIRECTORS
                     AND EXCUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
<TABLE>
      The following  table sets forth certain  information,  as of March 3, 1997
concerning each director and each executive officer,  including their beneficial
ownership  as defined in Rule 13d-3,  of shares of Common  Stock and  beneficial
ownership of Common Stock by all officers and directors as a group.
<CAPTION>

                                           Director/                                 Shares            Percent
                                            Officer                               Beneficially       Beneficially
Name                             Age         Since        Positions                  Owned              Owned
- ----                            ----         -----        ---------                 -------            --------
<S>                              <C>       <C>            <C>                         <C>                   <C>
Carl E. Berg                     59        1988           Director                    1,051,605             18%

Michael L. D'Addio(1)            52        1986           Chairman, CEO,                902,962             15
                                                          President, &
                                                          Director

Mark C. Hahn(2)                  47        1987           V.P., Chief                   563,831              9
                                                          Technical Officer,
                                                          Secretary & Director

N. William Jasper, Jr.(3)        48        1993           Director                       30,750              *

Jeffrey A. Burt(4)               43        1992           V.P. of Operations             43,000              *

James Francis(5)                 32        1992           E.V.P. of Sales and            59,085              *
                                                          Marketing

James A. McNeill(6)              51        1993           V.P. of Finance,               90,000              2
                                                          CFO & Assistant
                                                          Secretary

Stephen L. Peters(7)             42        1996           V.P. of Research and           17,668              *
                                                          Development

All executive officers and directors as a Group (8 persons)(8)                        2,758,901             47
- ------------------
<FN>
* Represents less than 1%
</FN>
</TABLE>

       Jeffrey A. Burt has served as Vice President of Operations of the Company
since April 1992. From August 1991 to March 1992, Mr. Burt served the Company as
its Materials  Manager.  Prior to that time,  from October 1990 until July 1991,
Mr.  Burt  acted  as a  consultant  to the  Company  in the  area  of  materials
management.  From May 1989 to October  1990,  Mr. Burt served as the Director of
Manufacturing  of On Command  Video.  Mr. Burt holds a B.A.  degree in Economics
from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater.

       James  Francis  has  served  as  Executive  Vice  President  of Sales and
Marketing  since  September  1995.  From March 1992 to August 1995,  Mr. Francis
served the Company as its Vice President of International  Sales.  From May 1990
to March  1992,  Mr.  Francis  served  the  Company  as its  Manager of Far East
Marketing. Prior to joining the Company in 1990 Mr. Francis worked as a computer
programmer with IBM  Corporation.  Mr. Francis holds a B.S. degree in Electrical
Engineering and Japanese from Brigham Young University.

                                       6
<PAGE>

       James A. McNeill has served the Company as its Vice  President of Finance
and Chief  Financial  Officer since  November  1993.  Mr.  McNeill has served as
Assistant Secretary since October 1994. From 1991 until joining the Company, Mr.
McNeill  served  as  Vice  President,  Finance  of  JHK &  Associates,  Inc.,  a
professional  services firm.  From 1978 to 1991, he served  successively as Vice
President  of Finance and  President  of U.S.  Controls  Holding,  Inc.  and its
subsidiaries,  Reactor Controls, Inc. and Project Integration,  Inc. Mr. McNeill
holds a B.S. degree in Accounting from  Pennsylvania  State  University and is a
C.P.A. under the laws of California.

      Stephen L. Peters has served the Company as its Vice President of Research
and  Development  since  February  1996.  From 1994 to February 1996, Mr. Peters
acted as a  consultant  in the  areas of  international  business  planning  and
product  development.  From 1976 to 1980 and from  1983 to 1994,  he served as a
Division  Manager,  R&D  Manager,  R&D Section  Manager,  Project  Manager,  and
development engineer at Hewlett-Packard.  From 1980 to 1983 he served as Project
manager and senior engineer at Advanced  Technology  Labs. Mr. Peters holds B.S.
degrees from Oregon State University in Engineering Physics and Pre-medicine.

- -------------
(1)    Includes 6,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable as of March 3,
       1997 or within 60 days thereafter held by Mr. D'Addio's spouse, a Company
       employee.

(2)    Includes 6,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable as of March 3,
       1997 or within 60 days  thereafter  held by Mr. Hahn's spouse,  a Company
       employee.

(3)    Includes  30,750 shares subject to stock options  exercisable as of March
       3, 1997 or within 60 days thereafter.

(4)    Includes  43,000 shares subject to stock options  exercisable as of March
       3, 1997 or within 60 days thereafter.

(5)    Includes  59,085 shares subject to stock options  exercisable as of March
       3, 1997 or within 60 days thereafter.

(6)    Includes  10,000 shares subject to stock options  exercisable as of March
       3, 1997 or within 60 days thereafter.

(7)    Includes  16,668 shares subject to stock options  exercisable as of March
       3, 1997 or within 60 days thereafter.

(8)    Includes an aggregate of 171,503 shares included  pursuant to notes (1) -
       (7).

                                       7

<PAGE>

                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

<TABLE>
      The following table sets forth the total compensation  earned by the Chief
Executive  Officer  and the  executive  officers  of the  Company  for  services
rendered in all capacities for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994.

                           Summary Compensation Table
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Annual                  Long-Term
                                                               Compensation             Compensation
                                                       ----------------------------     ------------       All Other
                                                         Salary             Bonus          Option/        Compensation
Principal Position                        Year             ($)               ($)          SARs (#)           ($)(3)
- ------------------                        ----             ---               ---          --------         -----------
<S>                                       <C>           <C>               <C>               <C>              <C>
Michael L. D'Addio                        1996          $92,000             $2,704               0                  0
   Chief Executive Officer                1995          $92,000            $19,068               0                  0
   and President                          1994          $90,000                  0               0                  0


Jeffrey A. Burt                           1996          $92,000             $3,362          30,000            $70,517
   Vice President of                      1995          $92,000            $19,068               0            $64,133
   Operations                             1994          $92,000            $13,813               0                  0


James Francis                             1996          $52,000           $124,160(1)       51,504                  0
   Executive Vice President of            1995          $52,000           $149,958(1)        5,000           $229,875
   Sales and Marketing                    1994          $52,000           $133,498(1)            0                  0


Mark C. Hahn                              1996          $92,000             $3,362               0                  0
   Vice President, Chief                  1995          $92,000            $19,068               0                  0
   Technical Officer and                  1994          $90,000                  0               0                  0
   Secretary


James A. McNeill                          1996          $92,000             $2,704          30,000                  0
   Vice President of                      1995          $92,000            $19,068               0                  0
   Finance, CFO &                         1994          $92,000            $13,813               0                  0
   Assistant Secretary


Stephen L. Peters                         1996          $85,750(2)         $36,750(2)       50,004                  0
   Vice President of
   Research and Development
- ----------------
<FN>
(1)    With respect to Mr. Francis,  bonus amounts are commissions calculated as
       a percentage of sales revenues.

(2)    Mr. Peters joined the Company in February  1996. Mr. Peters is guaranteed
       a bonus  of  $3,500  per  month  during  his  first  year of  employment.
       Accordingly,  the 1996 Summary  Compensation  Table information set forth
       above includes only that compensation  earned by Mr. Peters from February
       19, 1996 through December 31, 1996.

(3)    Amounts  represent  gain  recognized  on exercise of  nonstatutory  stock
       options issued under the Company's 1987 Stock Option Plan.
</FN>
</TABLE>
                                       8

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
      The following tables set forth as to the Chief Executive  Officer and each
of the executive officers named under the summary  compensation  table,  certain
information  with  respect to options to purchase  shares of Common Stock of the
Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 1996.

                                             Option/SAR Grants in 1996
<CAPTION>

                       Number of      % of Total                                       Potential Realizable
                      Securities       Options/                                       Value at Assumed Annual
                      Underlying         SARs         Exercise                         Rates of Stock Price
                        Option/       Granted to       or Base                           Appreciation for
                         SARs          Employees        Price                             Option Term(3)
                        Granted           In           ($/per        Exp.          ------------------------------
Name                    (#)(1)          1996(2)        Share)        Date          0% ($)     5% ($)      10% ($)
- ---------------------  --------        --------        ------        -----         ------     ------      -------
<S>                      <C>               <C>         <C>          <C>               <C>    <C>         <C>     
Jeffrey A. Burt          30,000            3.5%        $7.50        2/12/06           0      $141,501    $358,592
James Francis            51,504            6.0%        $7.50        2/12/06           0      $242,929    $615,631
James A. McNeill         30,000            3.5%        $7.50        2/12/06           0      $141,501    $358,592
Stephen L. Peters        50,004            5.9%        $7.50        2/12/06           0      $235,854    $597,701
- -----------
<FN>
(1)    Options  granted  in this table have  exercise  prices  equal to the fair
       market  value on the date of grant.  All such  options  typically  become
       exercisable  at a rate  of  1/6  after  the  first  full  six  months  of
       employment,  and 1/6 every six months  thereafter  for a total three year
       vesting period following the date of grant.

(2)    The  Company  granted  options to  purchase a total of 854,628  shares of
       Common Stock to employees in 1996.

(3)    Potential  realizable  value assumes that the stock price  increases from
       the date of grant  until  the end of the  option  term (10  years) at the
       annual rate specified (0%, 5%, 10%). Annual compounding  results in total
       appreciation  of 63% (at 5% per year) and 159% (at 10% per year).  The 5%
       and 10% assumed rates of appreciation  (over the deemed fair market value
       at the  grant  date) are  mandated  by the  rules of the  Securities  and
       Exchange  Commission  and do not  represent  the  Company's  estimate  or
       projection of the future of the Company's Common Stock.
</FN>
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
                     Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises in 1996
                         and Year-End Option/SAR Values
<CAPTION>
                         Shares                       Number of Securities                 Value of Unexercised
                      Acquired on     Value          Underlying Unexercised              In-the-Money Options/SARs
                        Exercise    Realized        Options/SARs at Year-End                  at Year-End(1)
Name                       #          $           Exercisable      Unexercisable        Exercisable      Unexercisable
- --------------------   --------- -----------      -----------      -------------        -----------      -------------
<S>                       <C>        <C>               <C>            <C>                <C>                <C>    
Michael L. D'Addio         -          -                 -              -                   -                  -
Jeffrey A. Burt           8,000      $70,517           38,000         25,000             $279,600           $31,250
James Francis              -          -                49,668         36,836             $269,960           $42,920
Mark C. Hahn               -          -                 -              -                   -                  -
James A. McNeill           -          -                 5,000         25,000               $6,250           $31,250
Stephen L. Peters          -          -                 8,334         41,670              $10,418           $52,088
- ------------------
<FN>
(1)    Calculated  on the basis of the closing  price of $8.75 on  December  31,
       1996, minus the exercise price.
</FN>
</TABLE>
                                       9
<PAGE>

Employment Agreements

In February  1996,  the Company  entered into an employment  agreement  with Mr.
Peters,  pursuant  to which he  presently  receives a base salary of $98,000 per
year, plus a guaranteed  bonus of $42,000 the first year,  $38,000 in the second
year,  and $34,000 in the third year.  In  addition,  Mr.  Peters is eligible to
receive an incentive  bonus, in his second and third years of employment,  based
on  performance.  Pursuant to this  agreement,  Mr. Peters received an option to
purchase 50,004 shares of the Company's Common Stock under the Stock Option Plan
at an  exercise  price of $7.50 per share  which  vests  over three  years.  The
agreement  provides  that if Mr.  Peters is  terminated  within one year after a
merger or buyout,  his shares will be fully vested and he will receive one years
severance pay.


Remuneration of Non-Employee Directors

      The Company does not compensate  non-employee directors who are also major
shareholders,   such  as  Mr.  Berg,  for  their  services.  Other  non-employee
directors, such as Mr. Jasper, receive $500 for each board meeting attended.


Report of the Compensation Committee With Respect to Executive Compensation

      The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee") was
established  on October 27, 1994.  The  functions of the  Committee  are to make
recommendations to the Board concerning salaries and incentive  compensation for
the Company's executive officers.

      The  Company's  executive  compensation  program has been  designed to (i)
attract  and  retain  executives  capable  of  leading  the  Company to meet its
business objectives and to motivate them to enhance long-term  shareholder value
through compensation that is comparable to the levels offered by other companies
in similar industries; (ii) motivate key executive officers to achieve strategic
business initiatives and reward them for their achievement;  and (iii) align the
interests  of  executives   with  the  long-term   interests  of  the  Company's
shareholders  through  award  opportunities  resulting  in the  ownership of the
Company's Common Stock. Annual compensation for the Company's executive officers
may consist of three  elements:  cash salary,  cash incentive  bonus,  and stock
option  grants.  Stock  option  grants  provide an incentive  which  focuses the
executive's  attention on managing the Company from the  perspective of an owner
with an equity stake in the business. These stock options will generally provide
value to the  recipient  only when the price of the  Company's  stock  increases
above the option grant price.

      The  Committee  recognizes  that  the  salary  paid  to Mr.  D'Addio,  the
Company's Chief Executive Officer, is substantially below that paid to others in
comparable  positions  of similar  companies.  In 1995,  the  Committee  met and
recommended  an increase in Mr.  D'Addio's  salary.  Mr.  D'Addio  declined this
proposed increase, citing his equity ownership in the Company.  Accordingly, Mr.
D'Addio's  salary was only  increased  by a nominal  amount in order to make his
salary  consistent  with  the  salary  paid to  certain  of the  Company's  Vice
Presidents. Mr. D'Addio's salary did not change during 1996.

      During 1997,  it is  anticipated  that the Committee  will conduct  annual
performance  reviews  comparing  actual Company  progress  against annual plans.
Elements of such plans,  including  progress on product  development,  sales and
marketing, expense control and organizational development, may be considered.

                                       10

<PAGE>

                           The Compensation Committee

       Carl E. Berg                                N. William Jasper, Jr.



Compensation  Committee  Interlocks and Insider  Participation  in  Compensation
Decisions

      The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Berg and Jasper, neither of
whom is employed by the Company.  There are no Compensation Committee interlocks
between  the  Company  and other  entities  involving  the  Company's  executive
officers and Board members who serve as executive officers of such entities.


Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

      Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires
the Company's directors,  executive officers,  and persons who own more than ten
percent of a registered class of the Company's equity  securities,  to file with
the Commission  initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership
of Common Stock and other equity securities of the Company. Officers,  directors
and greater than ten percent shareholders are required by Commission  regulation
to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

      To the Company's knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such
reports  and   amendments   thereto   furnished   to  the  Company  and  written
representations  that no other reports were  required,  all Section 16(a) filing
requirements applicable to its officers,  directors and greater than ten percent
beneficial  owners were complied  with during the year ended  December 31, 1996,
provided,  however,  a timely  report was not filed on one  transaction  for Mr.
Aiello and on one transaction for Mr. McNeill.  The May, 1996 Form 4 reports for
Messrs.  Hahn and McNeill were filed on time,  but were later amended to include
information regarding a single transaction.


Certain Transactions

      There  is no  pending  litigation  or  proceeding  involving  a  director,
officer, employee or other agent of the Company as to which indemnification from
the  Company  is  being  sought  nor is the  Company  aware  of any  pending  or
threatened  litigation  that may  result in claims  for  indemnification  by any
director, officer, employee or other agents.

      On January 24, 1997,  the Company  loaned  $250,000 to Steve Peters,  Vice
President of Research and Development of the Company. The loan bears interest at
a rate of 6% per  annum,  and is due and  payable  in one lump sum on January 4,
2000.  The loan is secured by a deed of trust on Mr.  Peters'  home in Saratoga,
California.

                                       11

<PAGE>

Performance Measurement Comparison

      The following  graph compares the total  shareholder  return of the Common
Stock of the  Company,  CRSP  Total  Return  Index for the Nasdaq  Stock  Market
(Domestic  Companies) and the CRSP Total Return Index for the Nasdaq  Electronic
Component Companies, since December 15, 1994. The graph assumes that $100.00 was
invested on December 15,  1994,  the  effective  date of the  Company's  initial
public offering of Common Stock.


(The following  descriptive  data is supplied in accordance  with Rule 304(d) of
Regulation S-T)

                                              Cumulative Total Return
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   12/15/94    12/31/94     12/31/95    12/31/96

Videonics, Inc.                      100         116          107           81
Nasdaq (Domestic)                    100         103          149          183
Electronic Component Companies       100         106          175          303

      The Company's stock was publicly  traded for sixteen  calendar days during
the Company's  year ended  December 31, 1994.  These indices are calculated on a
dividend  reinvested  basis. The Company  emphasizes that the performance of the
Company's  stock  over the period  shown is not  necessarily  indicative  of the
future performance of the Company's stock.

                                       12
<PAGE>


                                  OTHER MATTERS

Expenses of Solicitation

      The  accompanying  proxy is  solicited  by and on  behalf  of the Board of
Directors of the Company, and the entire cost of such solicitation will be borne
by the Company. In addition to the use of the mails, proxies may be solicited by
directors,  officers  and  employees  of the  Company,  by  personal  interview,
telephone and telegraph.  Arrangements  will be made with  brokerage  houses and
other  custodians,  nominees and  fiduciaries for the forwarding of solicitation
material and annual reports to the beneficial  owners of stock held of record by
such persons,  and the Company will reimburse them for reasonable  out-of-pocket
and clerical expenses incurred by them in connection therewith.

Financial and Other Information

      All financial  information is incorporated by reference to the information
contained in the Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report to
security holders.

Shareholder Proposals

      Proposals  of  shareholders  that  are  intended  to be  presented  at the
Company's 1998 Annual Meeting of shareholders must be received by the Company no
later than December 15, 1997, in order to be included in the proxy statement and
proxy relating to that Annual Meeting.

Discretionary Authority

      The Annual  Meeting is called for the  specific  purposes set forth in the
Notice of Meeting as discussed  above,  and also for the purpose of  transacting
such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.  At the date
of this Proxy Statement the only matters which management intends to present, or
is  informed  or  expects  that  others  will  present  for action at the Annual
Meeting,  are those matters  specifically  referred to in such Notice. As to any
matters  which may come  before the Annual  Meeting  other than those  specified
above, the proxy holders will be entitled to exercise discretionary authority.

                                        By Order of the Board of Directors,


                                        /s/ Mark C. Hahn
                                        -----------------------
                                        Mark C. Hahn
                                        Secretary


Dated: April 15, 1997
       Campbell, California
                                       13

<PAGE>


                                                                      APPENDIX A

                                VIDEONICS, INC.

                         ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
          THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
P
R     The undersigned hereby appoints Michael L. D'Addio,  Mark C. Hahn, Carl E.
O  Berg  and N.  William  Jasper,  Jr.  as  proxies,  each  with  the  power  of
X  substitution,  and hereby  authorizes them to vote all shares of Common Stock
Y  of the  undersigned at the 1997 Annual Meeting of the Company,  to be held at
   Videonics,  Inc., 1370 Dell Ave., Campbell,  California, on Thursday, May 22,
   1997, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.

      WHEN PROPERLY  EXECUTED,  THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER  DIRECTED
   HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED  SHAREHOLDER.  IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THIS PROXY
   WILL BE VOTED "FOR" THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS  AND "FOR" THE OTHER  PROPOSALS
   SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE SIDE.

                                                                 ---------------
                   CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE      SEE REVERSE
                                                                       SIDE
                                                                 ---------------

<PAGE>

[X] Please mark
    votes as in
    this example.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR proposals 1 and 2.

                                                          FOR   AGAINST  ABSTAIN
1. Election of Directors                2. Selection of   [ ]     [ ]      [ ]
   Nominees: M. D'Addio, M. Hahn,          Independent 
   C. Berg, W. Jasper                      Accountants.

        FOR      WITHHELD
        [ ]        [ ]

[ ]
    -----------------------------
     For all nominees except as          MARK HERE   [ ]
            noted above                 FOR ADDRESS
                                         CHANGE AND
                                        NOTE AT LEFT


                                      Please  sign   exactly  as  name   appears
                                      hereon.  Joint  owners  should  each sign.
                                      When   signing  as   attorney,   executor,
                                      administrator, trustee or guardian, please
                                      give full title as such.


Signature:__________________Date:_______Signature:___________________Date:______




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