TENNANT CO
DEF 14A, 1996-03-22
REFRIGERATION & SERVICE INDUSTRY MACHINERY
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<PAGE>


                                        [LOGO]

                                   TENNANT COMPANY

                                      NOTICE OF

                            ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                                     MAY 2, 1996


TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS:

    The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Tennant Company will be held at the
corporate headquarters of Tennant Company, 701 North Lilac Drive, Minneapolis,
Minnesota, on Thursday, May 2, 1996, at 10:30 a.m., Central Daylight Time, for
the following purposes:

    (1) To elect directors for a three-year term;

    (2) To ratify the appointment of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as independent
        auditors of the Company;

    (3) To act upon any other business that may properly come before the
 meeting.

    Only holders of Common Stock of record at the close of business on March 4,
1996, will be entitled to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

    You are cordially invited to attend the meeting. Whether or not you plan to
come to the meeting, please sign, date and return your Proxy in the reply
envelope provided. Your cooperation in promptly signing and returning your Proxy
will help avoid further solicitation expense.


March 22, 1996                                    Bruce J. Borgerding, Secretary


                                   TENNANT COMPANY

                                   ESTBLISHED 1870

             701 N. LILAC DRIVE, P.O. BOX 1452, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. 55440

<PAGE>

                                        [LOGO]

                                   TENNANT COMPANY

                                   PROXY STATEMENT


    This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by
Tennant Company (the "Company"), on behalf of its Board of Directors, of Proxies
for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held Thursday, May 2, 1996, and any
adjournment thereof. Stock represented by Proxies will be voted. Where
specification is made in the Proxy, the stock will be voted in accordance
therewith. Where no specification is made in the Proxy, the stock will be voted
for all proposals. Proxies may be revoked at any time before being voted by
giving written notice of revocation at the mailing address noted or at the
meeting, or by a later-dated Proxy delivered to an officer of the Company.
Personal attendance and voting in person does not revoke a written Proxy.

    There were outstanding on March 4, 1996, the record date for shareholders
entitled to vote at the meeting, 9,988,450 shares of Common Stock, each share
being entitled to one vote.

    Expenses in connection with the solicitation of Proxies will be paid by the
Company. Solicitation of Proxies will be principally by mail. In addition,
several of the officers or employees of the Company may solicit Proxies, either
personally or by telephone, or by special letter, from some of the shareholders.
The Company also will make arrangements with brokerage houses and other
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to send Proxies and proxy material to their
principals, and will reimburse them for their expenses in so doing.

    The mailing address of the principal executive office of the Company is 701
North Lilac Drive, P.O. Box 1452, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440. This Proxy
Statement and form of Proxy enclosed are being mailed to shareholders commencing
March 22, 1996.


                                          1

<PAGE>

                   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS


    The following table sets forth, as of February 29, 1996, certain
information with respect to all shareholders known to the Company to have been
beneficial owners of more than 5% of its Common Stock, and information with
respect to the Company's Common Stock beneficially owned by directors of the
Company, the executive officers of the Company included in the Summary
Compensation Table set forth under the caption "Executive Compensation" below
and all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group.  Except as
otherwise indicated, the shareholders listed in the table have sole voting and
investment powers with respect to the Common Stock owned by them.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NAME AND ADDRESS                            AMOUNT AND NATURE OF                                   PERCENT OF
OF BENEFICIAL OWNER                         BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP                                   COMMON STOCK
- -------------------                         --------------------                                   ------------
<S>                                         <C>                                                    <C>
First Bank System, Inc.(1)                  1,088,444 shares(2)                                        10.9%
Minneapolis, MN
                                            First Bank System, Inc. has sole investment
                                            authority for 18,834 shares, shared investment
                                            authority for 1,069,610(2) shares and shared
                                            voting authority for 1,087,844(2) shares.

George T. Pennock  Minneapolis, MN          896,840 shares(3)(4)                                        9.0%

Trimark Financial Corporation, Inc.(1)      600,000 shares                                              6.0%
Toronto, Ontario

David L. Babson & Co., Inc.(1).             558,900 shares                                              5.6%
Cambridge, MA
                                            David L. Babson & Co., Inc., has sole investment
                                            authority for 558,900 shares, sole voting authority
                                            for 327,500 shares and shared voting authority
                                            for 231,400 shares

Putnam Investments, Inc.(1)                 539,200                                                     5.4%
Boston, MA
                                            Certain Putnam investment managers (together with
                                            their parent corporations, Putnam Investments, Inc.,
                                            and Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.) are considered
                                            "beneficial owners" in the aggregate of 539,200
                                            shares of the Company's Common Stock, which shares
                                            were acquired for investment purposes by such
                                            investment managers for certain of their advisory
                                            clients.  Putnam Investments, Inc., has shared
                                            investment authority for 539,200 shares and shared
                                            voting authority for 162,500 shares.

Roger L. Hale                               376,419 shares(5)(6)                                        3.8%

Douglas R. Hoelscher                        24,572 shares(6)(7)                                           *

Richard A. Snyder                           23,719 shares(6)(8)                                           *

Janet M. Dolan                              12,093 shares(6)(9)                                           *

</TABLE>
 

                                          2

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
NAME AND ADDRESS                            AMOUNT AND NATURE OF                                   PERCENT OF
OF BENEFICIAL OWNER                         BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP                                   COMMON STOCK
- -------------------                         --------------------                                   ------------
<S>                                         <C>                                                    <C>
Keith D. Payden                             11,921 shares(6)(10)                                          *

Andrew P. Czajkowski                        3,376 shares                                                  *

David C. Cox                                2,874 shares                                                  *

William A. Hodder                           2,876 shares                                                  *

Arthur R. Schulze, Jr.                      2,876 shares                                                  *

William I. Miller                           2,224 shares                                                  *

Delbert W. Johnson                          1,882 shares                                                  *

Arthur D. Collins, Jr.                      859 shares                                                    *

All directors and executive                 744,579 shares(6)(11)                                       7.5%
officers as a group (16 persons)

</TABLE>
 
*   An asterisk in the column listing the percentage of shares beneficially
    owned indicates the person owns less than 1% of total.

(1)   The information set forth above as to the Amount and Nature of Beneficial
      Ownership is based upon a Schedule 13G statement filed with the
      Securities and Exchange Commission reflecting beneficial ownership as of
      December 31, 1995.

(2)   This number includes 741,942 shares held in the "unallocated" account, as
      of December 31, 1995, of the Tennant Company Profit Sharing and Employee
      Stock Ownership Plan and Trust, as to which an affiliate of First Bank
      System, Inc. acts as trustee. The number of "allocated" shares held in
      such trust (847,569 shares as of December 31, 1995) is not included in
      this number. The Securities and Exchange Commission has taken the
      position, with respect to similar plans, that the plan trustee is the
      beneficial owner of shares held in an unallocated reserve pending
      allocation to participants' accounts. The plan trustee disclaims that it
      or the Trust is the beneficial owner of shares held in the unallocated
      account.

(3)   Included are 764,800 shares in a trust established by Mr. Pennock's
      mother for the equal benefit of Mr. Pennock's children and his sister.
      Mr. Pennock, co-trustee with First Bank, National Association of this
      trust, has sole voting and investment authority for this trust.

(4)   Not included are 8,920 shares owned by certain family members of Mr.
      Pennock, as to which Mr. Pennock disclaims beneficial ownership.

(5)   Of these shares, Mr. Hale has an interest in 144,074 shares in trusts
      established under the will of his mother, of which he is a beneficiary.
      Includes 9,200 shares covered by currently exercisable options granted to
      Mr. Hale.

(6)   Includes shares allocated to the individual or group under the Tennant
      Company Profit Sharing and Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

(7)   Includes 1,400 shares covered by currently exercisable options granted to
      Mr. Hoelscher.

(8)   Includes 1,400 shares covered by currently exercisable options granted to
      Mr. Snyder.

(9)   Includes 1,500 shares covered by currently exercisable options granted to
      Ms. Dolan.


                                          3

<PAGE>

(10)  Includes 800 shares covered by currently exercisable options granted to
      Mr. Payden.

(11)  Includes 17,000 shares covered by currently exercisable options granted
      to nine executive officers of the Company.


                                ELECTION OF DIRECTORS


    Pursuant to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company,
directors are elected for staggered terms of three years, with approximately
one-third of the directors to be elected each year.

    At the meeting, two directors are to be elected.  The Board of Directors
has designated Roger L. Hale and Delbert W. Johnson as nominees for election to
serve three-year terms ending at the time of the Annual Meeting in 1999 and
until their successors are elected and have qualified.  Mr. Hale and Mr. Johnson
are currently directors of the Company and have previously been elected by the
shareholders.  The nominees have indicated a willingness to serve, but in case
any of the nominees is not a candidate at the Annual Meeting, it is the
intention of the persons named in the enclosed form of Proxy to vote in favor of
the other nominees named and to vote for a substitute nominee in their
discretion.

    The affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock present and entitled to vote in person or by proxy on the election of
directors is necessary to elect each nominee. For this purpose, a shareholder
voting through a Proxy who abstains with respect to the election of directors is
considered to be present and entitled to vote on the election of directors at
the meeting, and is in effect a negative vote; but a shareholder (including a
broker) who does not give authority to a Proxy to vote, or withholds authority
to vote, on the election of directors shall not be considered present and
entitled to vote on the election of directors.

    The following information is furnished with respect to each nominee for
election as a director and for each director whose term of office will continue
after the meeting:

 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NAME, AGE AND YEAR                                                                                 OTHER
FIRST ELECTED DIRECTOR                      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION                                   DIRECTORSHIPS
- ----------------------                      --------------------                                   -------------
<S>                                         <C>                                                    <C>
Nominees for election for terms expiring in 1999 (Class I Directors):

Roger L. Hale (1)                           Mr. Hale has been President of the Company             Dayton Hudson
Age: 61                                     since January 1975 and Chief Executive                  Corporation
Director Since 1969                         Officer since May 1976.  He previously                 First Bank System,
                                            served as Chief Operating Officer 
from                  Inc.
                                            January 1975 to May 1976 and as Vice
                                            President from April 1969 to December 1974.

Delbert W. Johnson                          Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer        Ault, Inc.
Age: 57                                     Metal Finishing.                                       Coherenet
Director since 1993                         Minneapolis, MN.                                        Communications
                                            Specialist in metal finishing.                          Systems Corp.
                                                                                                   Compucom
                                            Mr. Johnson has been an executive officer               Systems
                                            of Pioneer Metal Finishing, a division                 First Bank System,
                                            of Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., for more                Inc.
                                            than the past five years.                              Safeguard
                                                                                                    Scientifics, Inc.


</TABLE>

(1) Roger L. Hale, a director and executive officer of the Company, is a first
    cousin of Richard M. Adams, a Vice President of the Company.


                                                                      4

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


NAME, AGE AND YEAR                                                                                 OTHER
FIRST ELECTED DIRECTOR                      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION                                   DIRECTORSHIPS
- ----------------------                      --------------------                                   -------------
<S>                                         <C>                                                    <C>

Directors whose terms expire in 1997 (Class II Directors):

David C. Cox                                President and Chief Executive Officer of Cowles        National Computer
Age: 58                                     Media Company.                                          Systems, Inc.
Director Since 1991                         Minneapolis, MN.                                       ReiaStar Financial
                                            Publisher of newspapers,magazines and related           Corp
                                            ancillary products.

                                            Mr. Cox has been an executive officer of Cowles
                                            Media Company for more than the past five years.

William I. Miller                           Chairman of Irwin Financial Corporation.               Cummins Engine
Age: 39                                     Columbus, IN.                                           Company Inc.
Director Since 1994                         Interrelated group of financial services               EuroPacific Growth
                                            companies.                                              Fund
                                                                                                   Irwin Financial
                                            Mr. Miller has been Chairman of Irwin Financial         Corporation
                                            Corporation since 1990.  Prior to that time, he        New Perspective
                                            served as President of Irwin Management                 Fund
                                            Company, Inc., a family investment management
                                            firm, for seven years.

Arthur R. Schulze, Jr.                      Retired Vice Chairman of the Board of General          Inter-Regional
Age: 65                                     Mills, Inc.                                             Financial
Director since 1982                         Golden Valley, MN.                                      Group, Inc.
                                            A diversified consumer products company.               Sealright Co., Inc.

                                            Mr. Schulze was an executive officer of General
                                            Mills, Inc. for more than five years prior to his
                                            retirement in 1993.

Directors whose terms expire in 1998 (Class III Directors):

Andrew P. Czajkowski                        President and Chief Executive Officer of
Age: 60                                     Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota.
Director since 1992                         St. Paul, MN.
                                            Minnesota health care company.

                                            Mr. Czajkowski has been an executive officer of
                                            Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota for more
                                            than the past five years.

William A. Hodder                           Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of                Donaldson
Age: 64                                     Donaldson Company, Inc.                                 Company, Inc.
Director Since 1975                         Minneapolis, MN.                                       Norwest
                                            Manufacturer of filtration devices for heavy-duty       Corporation
                                            mobile diesel engines and industrial applications.     ReliaStar Financial
                                                                                                    Corp.
                                            Mr. Hodder has been an executive officer of            SUPERVALU, Inc.
                                            Donaldson Company, Inc. for more than the past
                                            five years.

</TABLE>


                                        5

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NAME, AGE AND YEAR                                                                                           OTHER
FIRST ELECTED DIRECTOR                      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION                                             DIRECTORSHIPS
- ----------------------                      --------------------                                             -------------
<S>                                         <C>                                                              <C>

Arthur D. Collins, Jr.                      President and Chief Operating Officer of                         Medtronic, Inc.
Age:  48                                    Medtronic, Inc.
Director since 1995                         Minneapolis, MN
                                            Manufacturer of therapeutic medical devices.

                                            Mr. Collins was named Chief Operating Officer in
                                            January 1994 after joining Medtronic, Inc. as
                                            Executive Vice President and President of
                                            Medtronic International in June 1992.  For more
                                            than five years prior to that, Mr. Collins held
                                            various management positions with Abbott
                                            Laboratories, a diversified healthcare products
                                            and services company.


</TABLE>

 
    During 1995, the Board of Directors met on four occasions. The Board of
Directors has an Audit Committee composed of Messrs. Czajkowski, Johnson and
Schulze, which met on three occasions during 1995. The primary function of the
Audit Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling its fiduciary
responsibilities relating to the Company's internal control procedures and
accounting, financial and reporting practices. The Board has an Executive
Compensation Committee composed of Messrs. Hodder, Collins, Cox, and Miller,
which met on two occasions during 1995. The primary function of the Executive
Compensation Committee is to review and develop executive compensation plans of
the Company and determine the compensation of officers. The Board has designated
an Executive Committee composed of Messrs. Hale, Cox, Hodder and Schulze, which
met on two occasions during 1995.  The primary function of the Executive
Committee is to exercise the authority of the Board of Directors and the
management of the business of the Company in the intervals between meetings of
the Board of Directors.  The Board has designated a Board Affairs Committee
composed of Messrs. Cox, Hodder, Johnson and Collins, which did not meet in
1995.  The primary function of the Board Affairs Committee are to set Board
compensation and recommend nominees for election to the Board.  Shareholders who
wish to suggest qualified candidates to the Committee should write to Bruce J.
Borgerding, Secretary of the Company, at 701 North Lilac Drive, P.O. Box 1452,
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440, stating in detail the candidate's qualifications
for consideration by the Committee. As noted in the last paragraph of this
section of the Proxy Statement, if a shareholder wishes to nominate a director
other than a person nominated by or on behalf of the Board of Directors, he or
she must comply with certain procedures set out in the Company's Restated
Articles of Incorporation. The Board also has designated a Special Litigation
Committee composed of Messrs. Czajkowski and Johnson, which did not meet during
1995. All incumbent directors attended more than 75% of the aggregate number of
meetings of the Board and committees on which they served during 1995.

    Non-management directors of the Company received an annual retainer plus
$750 for each meeting or committee meeting of the Board of Directors during
1995. Pursuant to the Tennant Company Restricted Stock Plan for Nonemployee
Directors (the "Director Plan"), the annual retainer is paid in the form of
Restricted Stock. Restricted Stock for this purpose is generally issued once
every three Board Years (as defined in the Director Plan), in an amount equal to
the anticipated annual retainer for the Board Year then commencing and the next
two succeeding Board Years, based on the then Fair Market Value (as defined in
the Director Plan) of such Restricted Stock. On May 7, 1993 each non-management
director was issued 2,070 shares of Restricted Stock, based on a Fair Market
Value of $20.289 per share, in payment of the annual retainer for the three
Board Years commencing May 7, 1993. (These numbers have been adjusted to reflect
a two-for-one stock split effective April 26, 1995.) As a result of the
amendment to the Director Plan on January 1, 1995, each non-management director
was issued an additional 406 shares of Restricted Stock, based on a Fair Market
Value of $23.075 per share, in connection with the annual retainer for the three
Board Years commencing May 7, 1993. The Director Plan provides that the
restrictions on the Restricted Stock will lapse only upon the first to occur of
(a) the death of the director, (b) the disability of the director preventing
continued service on the Board, (c) retirement of the director from the Board in
accordance with any policy on retirement of Board members then in effect, (d)
the termination of service as a director by reason of resignation at the request
of the Board, the director's


                                          6

<PAGE>

failure to have been nominated for re-election to the Board or to have been
re-elected by the shareholders, or the director's removal by the 
shareholders, or (e) a change in control of the Company (as defined in the 
Director Plan). In no event will the restrictions lapse prior to six months 
after the date of issuance. Upon the occurrence of an event causing the 
restrictions to lapse, Restricted Stock issued to the director in payment for 
Board Years commencing following the occurrence of the event is forfeited and 
returned to the Company.

    Under the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation, no person (other
than a person nominated by or on behalf of the Board of Directors) shall be
eligible for election as a director at any annual or special meeting of
shareholders unless a written request that his or her name be placed in
nomination is received from a shareholder of record by the Secretary of the
Company not less than 75 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting, together
with the written consent of such person to serve as a director.

                                EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

    OVERVIEW AND PHILOSOPHY. The Executive Compensation Committee of the Board
of Directors is composed entirely of outside directors and is responsible for
reviewing and developing executive compensation plans of the Company.  In
addition, the Executive Compensation Committee, pursuant to authority delegated
by the Board, determines on an annual basis the compensation to be paid to the
Chief Executive Officer and each of the other executive officers of the Company.
The Committee also is charged with periodically reviewing the Board of Directors
compensation and, when appropriate, recommending to the Board any changes.

    The objectives of the Company's executive compensation program are to:

         -    Motivate executives to achieve corporate goals by placing a
              significant portion of pay at risk.

         -    Provide a strong link between the Company's short- and long-term
              goals and executive compensation.

         -    Provide competitive total compensation in order to attract and
              retain high-caliber key executives critical to the long-term
              success of the Company.

         -    Align the executives' interests with those of the shareholders by
              providing a significant portion of compensation in Company Common
              Stock.

    The executive compensation program is intended to provide an overall level
of compensation opportunity that is competitive with other U.S. durable goods
manufacturing companies.  To determine competitiveness, the Committee annually
uses sales volume adjusted data from a top-management compensation survey.  This
data is verified every three to four years through the use of an outside
consultant which compares all aspects of the Company's executive compensation
with that of other similar companies.  Actual compensation levels may be greater
or less than average competitive levels depending on annual and long-term
Company performance, individual performance against goals set at the beginning
of the year, and scope of responsibilities as compared to a similar position
within the surveys.  The Executive Compensation Committee uses its discretion to
set executive compensation at levels warranted in its judgment by external,
internal or individual circumstances.

    The Company does not have a policy with respect to the limit under the
Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) on the deductibility of the qualifying
compensation paid to its executives, as it is likely for the near future that
all such compensation will be deductible by the Company.

    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM.  The Company's executive compensation
program is comprised of base salary, annual cash incentive compensation and
long-term incentive compensation in the form of Performance Share grants,
Restricted Stock grants and stock options.  All of the long-term plans have a
significant portion of their payout in Company Common Stock.  In addition,
executives receive various benefits, including medical and retirement plans,
generally available to employees of the Company.


                                          7

<PAGE>

    BASE SALARY.  Base salary levels for the Company's executives are
competitively set relative to the average of other U.S. durable goods
manufacturing companies of similar size.  In determining salaries, the
Executive Compensation Committee also takes into account individual
experience, performance, and scope of responsibility, although no particular
weight is given to any one factor.

    ANNUAL CASH INCENTIVE COMPENSATION.  The purpose of the annual cash
incentive program is to provide a direct financial incentive in the form of an
annual cash bonus to executives to achieve their business units' and/or the
Company's annual goals.  Target bonus awards are set at a level consistent
with the averages of other U.S. durable goods manufacturers, after adjusting
for sales volume.  In fiscal 1995, the following performance measures and
weightings were generally used:  Company sales growth (35%), Company return on
average invested capital (35%), Company or Business Unit expense control
(10%), and Company or Business Unit asset management (20%).

    STOCK INCENTIVE PLANS.  The stock incentive plans are the Company's long-
term incentive plans for executive officers and key managers. The objectives
of the program are to align executive and shareholder long-term interests by
creating a strong and direct link between executive pay and shareholder
return, and to enable executives to develop and maintain a significant, long-
term ownership position in the Company's Common Stock.  In order to better
define for executives the minimum amount of stock that should be held, the
Executive Compensation Committee established in 1993 the following executive
stock holding guidelines:  CEO - 6 x base salary; Vice Presidents - 4 x base
salary; Operating Management - 2 x base salary.  Each year the Committee
reviews the progress of each executive towards those goals.

    The Executive Compensation Committee annually grants a variety of
stockbased awards under the Company's stock incentive plans.  The amounts of
the awards increase as a function of higher salary and position in the
Company.  The award amounts, as a percent of base salary, are reviewed and
adjusted, as necessary, every three to four years to ensure their
competitiveness.  The last review was performed by Hewitt Associates in late
1994.  During 1995, the following types of awards were granted.  (Note that
prior grants were not a factor in determining the size of these grants.)

    -    Performance Shares
              Payout is based on Company performance measured by return on
              average invested capital and sales growth during the four-year
              performance period.  Each of these measures is given
              approximately equal weight.  Payout is made in the form of
              Company stock and cash.

    -    Restricted Stock
              These grants vest 100% at the end of the restriction period.

    -    Stock Options
              These options permit executives to purchase Company stock during
              a ten-year period at the price in effect at the beginning of
              that period.

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION.  Mr. Hale's fiscal 1995 base salary
and incentive award were determined by the Committee in accordance with the
methodology described above.

    Base Salary -  Mr. Hale's base salary for fiscal 1995 was $327,132 which
                   approximates the market average for durable goods
                   manufacturing companies of similar size.

    Annual Incentive -  Mr. Hale's cash incentive award for fiscal 1995 was
                        $201,681.  This amount was based on sales growth of
                        13% (vs. 17% in 1994), return on average invested
                        capital of 19% (vs. 19% in 1994), inventory turnover
                        of 3.1 (vs. 3.2 in 1994), receivables of 58 days sales
                        outstanding (vs. 51 in 1994), and expense as a percent
                        of sales of 35% (vs. 35% in 1994).

                                          8

<PAGE>

    Long-Term Performance Grants -     Mr. Hale received in 1995 a non-vested
                                       Performance Share grant equal to 50% of
                                       his base salary, a vested Performance
                                       Share grant equal to 42% of his base
                                       salary (in lieu of previous salary
                                       increases), a Restricted Stock grant
                                       equal to 10% of his base salary, and a
                                       stock option grant equal to 2.7 times
                                       his base salary.

              William A. Hodder, Chairman        David C. Cox
                   William I. Miller          Arthur D. Collins
                     Members of the Executive Compensation Committee

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

    The following table sets forth the cash and noncash compensation for each
of the last three fiscal years awarded to or earned by the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company and the four other most highly compensated executive
officers of the Company (the "named executive officers").

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
                                                                 -------------------------------------------
                                         ANNUAL COMPENSATION                 AWARDS              PAYOUTS
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   RESTRICTED                                    ALL OTHER
NAME AND                                                             STOCK                         LTIP           COMPEN-
PRINCIPAL POSITION       YEAR           SALARY          BONUS      AWARD(S)(1)       OPTIONS     PAYOUTS(2)      SATION(3)
                                         ($)             ($)            ($)           (#)            ($)             ($)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>         <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>           <C>             <C>
Roger L. Hale            1995        327,132        201,681         31,951         37,000        218,940         21,444
President and            1994        327,132        260,097         53,156              0        101,400         25,426
Chief Executive Officer  1993        315,777              0         31,542              0         72,811          8,344

Douglas R. Hoelscher     1995        182,436         76,513         17,813          5,800         51,504         27,022
Senior Vice President    1994        182,436         84,614         18,818              0         34,394         30,417
                         1993        161,507              0         16,128              0         25,352         12,281

Janet M. Dolan           1995        182,820         76,089         17,860          6,000         37,551          9,475
Senior Vice President    1994        148,814         71,294         21,728              0         23,204          9,220
and General Counsel      1993        125,155              0         12,516              0         15,008          2,353

Richard A. Snyder        1995        173,880         65,533         16,965          5,800         51,504         26,282
Vice President,          1994        173,880         80,646         24,008              0         33,866         30,381
Treasurer and            1993        163,449              0         16,338              0         24,845         12,743
Chief Financial Officer

Keith D. Payden          1995        160,992         59,898         15,881          3,400         27,074         24,179
Vice President           1994        149,148         69,175         22,650              0         12,741         25,932
                         1993        131,416              0          9,828              0          9,177         10,149
</TABLE>
 
(1) The value of the Restricted Stock awards was determined by multiplying the
    fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant by
    the number of shares awarded.  As of December 31, 1995, and using the fair
    market value of the Company's Common Stock as of that date, the number and
    value of aggregate Restricted Stock award holdings were as follows:  1,356
    shares ($32,375) by Mr. Hale, 756 shares ($18,050) by Mr. Hoelscher, 758
    shares ($18,097) by Ms. Dolan, 720 shares ($17,190) by Mr. Snyder, and 674
    shares ($16,092) by Mr. Payden.  These shares of Restricted Stock have a
    two-year vesting period, from respective dates of issuance. Dividends are
    paid on Restricted Stock awards at the same time and rate as paid to all
    shareholders.

                                          9

<PAGE>

(2) Amounts represent the dollar value of Performance Shares paid out in each
    fiscal year. Performance Shares were paid in Common Stock on a share-for-
    share basis with respect to a minimum of 50% of the Performance Shares
    earned (valued, for this purpose, as of December 31 of the respective
    years of payment), and the balance was paid in cash.  The Tennant Company
    1992 Stock Incentive Plan allows participants to defer receipt of payments
    of Performance Shares.  Participants who elect such a deferral are
    eventually paid entirely in Common Stock and will also receive
    supplemental shares in amounts that roughly approximate dividends that
    were not received as a result of the deferral.  Payments thus deferred are
    reported in the table for the year in which they would have been paid but
    for such deferral election.

(3) Amounts represent payments under the Company's Profit Sharing and Employee
    Stock Ownership Plan and the Company's Excess Benefit Plan as follows: (a)
    Profit Sharing Contributions (up to 5% of certified earnings, the first 2%
    of which are contributed to participants' accounts through the allocation
    of Company Common Stock from the unallocated ESOP reserve, with the
    remainder (if any) of such contributions paid to the participants in cash)
    were paid as follows for 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively:  $2,111.48,
    $12,100.87, and $6,464.78 to Mr. Hale, $1,445.98, $7,138.74 and $4,696.63
    to Mr. Hoelscher, $1,120.52, $6,411.24, and $4,696.37 to Ms. Dolan,
    $1,463.36, $6,944.64, and $4,568.24 to Mr. Snyder, and $1,176.57,
    $6,383.57 and $4,447.27 to Mr. Payden; (b) employer Matching Contributions
    relating to employee Individual Shelter Contributions (Internal Revenue
    Code Section 401(k) contributions) were paid as follows for 1993, 1994 and
    1995, respectively, through the allocation of Company Common Stock from
    the unallocated ESOP reserve:  $1,785.96, $3,234.00 and $3,234.00 to
    Mr. Hale, $983.97, $1,094.62 and $1,386.00 to Mr. Hoelscher, $1,232.19,
    $1,405.89 and $2,319.90 to Ms. Dolan, $1,799.84, $2,434.32 and $2,741.46
    to Mr. Snyder, and $1,445.58, $1,959.84 and $2,454.28 to Mr. Payden; (c)
    Profit Related Retirement Contributions were paid as follows for 1993,
    1994 and 1995, respectively:  $8,850.61, $11,145.00 and $10,770.00 to
    Mr. Hoelscher, $8,957.02, $11,145.00 and $10,770.00 to Mr. Snyder, and
    $7,201.60, $11,145.00 and $10,770.00 to Mr. Payden; and (d) Excess Benefit
    Plan payments were made as follows for 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively:
    $4,446.60, $10,090.43 and $11,745.63 to Mr. Hale, $0.00, $11,037.80 and
    $10,169.17 to Mr. Hoelscher, $0.00, $1,402.17 and $2,458.45 to Ms. Dolan,
    $523.14, $9,856.76 and $8,202.60 to Mr. Snyder, and $325.67, $6,442.85 and
    $6,507.70 to Mr. Payden.

STOCK OPTION AWARDS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR

    The following table summarizes Stock Option awards made during the last
fiscal year under the Tennant Company 1995 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan")
for the named executive officers.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE
                                         % OF TOTAL                                    AT ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES
                                           OPTIONS                                   OF STOCK PRICE APPRECIATION
                                         GRANTED TO                                      FOR THE OPTION TERM
                                                                                    ----------------------------
NAME                        OPTIONS        EMPLOYEES     EXERCISE
                            GRANTED         DURING         PRICE       EXPIRATION        5%(3)         10%(3)
                            (#)(1)        FISCAL YEAR    ($/SH)(2)        DATE            ($)            ($)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                         <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>             <C>          <C>
Roger L. Hale               37,000           36.5        23.6875        2/10/05        551,187      1,396,816

Douglas R. Hoelscher         5,800            5.7        23.6875        2/10/05         86,402        218,960

Janet M. Dolan               6,000            5.9        23.6875        2/10/05         89,382        226,511

Richard A. Snyder            5,800            5.7        23.6875        2/10/05         86,402        218,960

Keith D. Payden              3,400            3.4        23.6875        2/10/05         50,650        128,356
</TABLE>

                                          10

<PAGE>

(1) All such options granted under the Plan are non-qualified options, and are
    exercisable 25% per year, on a cumulative basis, beginning one year after
    the date of the grant.  Such options become immediately exercisable,
    however, upon (a) death, disability, or retirement of the holder, or (b) a
    change of control (defined as certain changes in the Company's Board of
    Directors, certain concentrations of voting power, certain mergers, sales
    of corporate assets, statutory share exchanges or similar transactions, or
    liquidation or dissolution of the Company).  The holder is permitted to
    pay the exercise price and withholding taxes due upon exercise with either
    cash, shares of Common Stock, a reduction in the number of shares
    delivered to the holder, or a combination of these alternatives.

(2) The exercise price of such options is not less than the fair market value
    (as defined in the Plan) of a share of Common Stock at the time of grant.

(3) The hypothetical potential appreciation shown in these columns reflects
    the required calculations at annual rates of 5% and 10% set by the
    Securities and Exchange Commission, and therefore are not intended to
    represent either historical appreciation or anticipated future
    appreciation of the Company's Common Stock price.

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           SHARES                                 NUMBER OF SECURITIES                  VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                          ACQUIRED             VALUE             UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED                IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT
                         ON EXERCISE         REALIZED         OPTIONS AT FISCAL YEAR-END (#)            FISCAL YEAR-END ($)(1)
                                                             -------------------------------       -------------------------------
                           (#)                 ($)           EXERCISABLE       UNEXERCISABLE        EXERCISABLE      UNEXERCISABLE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>                 <C>             <C>               <C>                  <C>              <C>
Roger L. Hale               0                   0                   0              37,000                   0               6,938

Douglas R. Hoelscher        0                   0                   0               5,800                   0               1,088

Janet M. Dolan              0                   0                   0               6,000                   0               1,125

Richard A. Snyder           0                   0                   0               5,800                   0               1,088

Keith D. Payden             0                   0                   0               3,400                   0                 638
</TABLE>

(1) Market value of underlying securities at fiscal year-end minus the exercise
price.

                                          11

<PAGE>

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN AWARDS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR

    The following table summarizes Performance Share awards made during the
last fiscal year under the Tennant Company 1992 Stock Incentive Plan for the
named executive officers.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          ESTIMATED FUTURE PAYOUTS UNDER
                                                                          NON-STOCK PRICE-BASED PLANS(1)
                                                                       -------------------------------------
                             NUMBER OF           PERFORMANCE
                           SHARES, UNITS       OR OTHER PERIOD
                             OR OTHER         UNTIL MATURATION            THRESHOLD     TARGET     MAXIMUM
    NAME                     RIGHTS(#)           OR PAYOUT                   ($)          ($)        ($)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                        <C>                <C>                          <C>          <C>        <C>
Roger L. Hale                  12,424              4 years                    0         296,623    691,133

Douglas R. Hoelscher            4,410              4 years                    0         105,289    245,316

Janet M. Dolan                  3,518              4 years                    0          83,992    195,704

Richard A. Snyder               3,682              4 years                    0          87,908    204,824

Keith D. Payden                 2,144              4 years                    0          51,188    119,255
</TABLE>

(1) Payout of Performance Share awards is based on Company performance during a
    four-year performance period. Payout can range from 0% to 233% of the
    performance grant, which represents the threshold and maximum payouts,
    respectively.  Payout of 100% of the performance grant represents the
    target payout.  Awards are payable in Common Stock of the Company on a
    share-for-share basis with respect to 50% of the Performance Shares earned
    and in cash with respect to 50% of the Performance Shares earned, unless
    the participant elects in advance to receive a greater portion in stock.
    The value of the estimated future payouts was determined using the fair
    market value of the Company's Common Stock on December 31, 1995.

    The Executive Compensation Committee may provide at the time Performance
    Share awards are made that all or a portion of the Performance Shares
    awarded will be "Vested Performance Shares."  Such Vested Performance
    Shares will be earned upon termination of the participant's employment
    prior to the end of the performance period, whether such termination of
    employment occurs by reason of retirement, death, disability, or otherwise.
    Of the total Performance Shares set forth in the table, the following
    number of Performance Shares are Vested Performance Shares:
    Mr. Hale, 5,644; Mr. Hoelscher, 2,142; Ms. Dolan, 1,244; Mr. Snyder, 2,024
    and Mr. Payden, 610.

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS

    The Company is a party to management agreements (the "Agreements") with
certain of the executive officers of the Company. The purpose of each of the
Agreements is to encourage the executive (a) to continue to carry out his or her
duties in the event of the possibility of a change in control of the Company,
and (b) to remain in the service of the Company in order to facilitate an
orderly transition in the event of an actual change in control of the Company.

    Under the terms of each of the Agreements, if, between the occurrence of a
change in control of the Company and the three-year anniversary date of such
occurrence, an executive's employment is involuntarily terminated (for any
reason other than death, disability, or for cause), the executive will be
entitled to receive severance compensation. If an executive resigns after
certain changes in the executive's duties, compensation, benefits or work
location, the executive shall be deemed to have been involuntarily terminated.
Severance compensation is payable also if the termination occurs before the
change of control but after steps to change control have been taken.  Severance
compensation consists of three times the executive's average annual taxable
compensation during the five taxable years preceding the change in control plus
the continuation of

                                          12

<PAGE>

certain insurance benefits, minus $1.00, subject to reduction for payments under
employee benefit plans of the Company contingent upon a change in control of the
Company and for the amount of any other severance compensation paid by the
Company to the executive under any other agreement of the Company providing
compensation in the event of involuntary termination.  As of the date of this
Proxy Statement, the total severance compensation for Mr. Hale would be
$1,583,261; Mr. Hoelscher, $725,723; Ms. Dolan, $526,760; Mr. Snyder, $707,174
and Mr. Payden, $521,492.  The Company also will reimburse an executive for
legal fees and expenses incurred in resolving disputes under the Agreement.

TENNANT COMPANY DEFINED BENEFIT RETIREMENT PLAN

    The Tennant Company Defined Benefit Retirement Plan provides fixed
retirement benefits for certain employees of the Company. Based upon certain
assumptions, including continuation of the Retirement Plan as of January 1,
1996, without amendment, the following table shows the annual retirement
benefits (including the additional retirement benefits described in the second
sentence under "Tennant Company Excess Benefit Plan" below) which would be
payable as a straight life annuity to persons at various salary levels after
specified years of service.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         YEARS OF CREDIT SERVICE
                   ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     ANNUAL
  COMPENSATION       10              15            20             25             30
  ------------   ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
  <S>             <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
   $ 50,000       $ 5,421        $  8,132       $ 10,842       $ 13,553       $ 16,263
    100,000        12,421          18,632         24,842         31,053         37,263
    150,000        19,421          29,132         38,842         48,553         58,263
    200,000        26,421          39,632         52,842         66,053         79,263
    250,000        33,421          50,132         66,842         83,553        100,263
    300,000        40,421          60,632         80,842        101,053        121,263
    350,000        47,421          71,132         94,842        118,553        142,263
    400,000        54,421          81,632        108,842        136,053        163,263
    450,000        61,421          92,132        122,842        153,553        184,263
    500,000        68,421         102,632        136,842        171,053        205,263
    550,000        75,421         113,132        150,842        188,553        226,263
    600,000        82,421         123,632        164,842        206,053        247,263
</TABLE>

    Under the Retirement Plan, benefits are payable based upon a percentage of
a participant's final average pay excluding bonus, overtime or other special
forms of remuneration.  Currently under ERISA, as amended, the maximum annual
amount that can be paid during 1996 to any individual is $120,000.  Amounts in
excess of that maximum as well as amounts based on compensation that is excluded
from the Plan formula by ERISA or the terms of the Plan are covered under the
Tennant Company Excess Benefit Plan.  The years of credited service under the
Retirement Plan for the named executive officers are: Mr. Hale 14 years and
Ms. Dolan 10 years.  Were Mr. Hale or Ms. Dolan to retire currently, the final
average pay used by the Plan to determine benefits payable pursuant to the above
table as of December 31, 1995 would be $442,748 for Mr. Hale and $172,071 for
Ms. Dolan.

    The figures above are not subject to deductions for Social Security or
other offset amounts.

                                          13

<PAGE>

TENNANT COMPANY EXCESS BENEFIT PLAN

    An Excess Benefit Plan provides additional retirement benefits for highly
compensated employees participating in the Tennant Company Profit Sharing and
Employee Stock Ownership Plan or the Retirement Plan.  Employees participating
in the Excess Benefit Plan will receive a retirement benefit equal to the
additional benefits which would have been provided under the Retirement Plan if
(a) the limitations imposed by Sections 401(a)(17) and 415 of the Internal
Revenue Code were not applicable, and (b) management bonuses were included in
certified earnings for the year in which they were earned, and (c) deferred
salary increases were included in certified earnings for the plan year in which
such amounts would have been paid in the absence of the deferral.  Employees
participating in the Excess Benefit Plan also receive cash payments of amounts
which would have been contributed by the Company to the Tennant Company Profit
Sharing and Employee Stock Ownership Plan as Profit Related Retirement
Contributions or Matching Contributions if various limitations imposed by the
Internal Revenue Code were not applicable.

                        COMPARATIVE STOCK PERFORMANCE

    The graph below compares the cumulative total shareholder return on the
Common Stock of the Company for the last five fiscal years with the cumulative
total return over the same period on the following indexes:

    -    Overall Stock Market Performance (Media General Composite Index)
    -    Industry Index (CRSP Index for NASDAQ Stocks - Manufacturing
         Machinery, Non-electrical, SIC Codes 3500 through 3599 provided by
         Center for Research in Security Prices, University of Chicago Graduate
         School of Business)
    -    Industry Index (Media General Industry Group Index 28 - Heavy
         Machinery)

    This assumes an investment of $100 in the Company's Common Stock, the Media
General Composite Index, the CRSP Industry Index and the Media General Industry
Index on December 31, 1990, with reinvestment of all dividends.

    Media General Industry Group Index 28 - Heavy Machinery has been included
in this year's graph, and will be used in future graphs, because the Company
believes that it provides a better long-term comparison for cumulative total
shareholder return performance than the CRSP Industry Index used in previous
years.  The Media General Industry Index includes only manufacturers of capital
goods, which is the Company's core business.  The CRSP Index includes a
significant and expanding number of "technology" companies that have cumulative
total shareholder return performance characteristics quite different from those
of the Company.

                                          14

<PAGE>

                   COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN

[PERFORMANCE GRAPH]


    ASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON DECEMBER 31, 1990, WITH DIVIDENDS REINVESTED.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         12/31/90   12/31/91   12/31/92   12/31/93   12/31/94   12/31/95
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Tennant Company                           100.00     106.36     130.23     146.88     155.31     157.90

Overall Stock Market                      100.00     129.09     134.25     154.11     152.83     198.15
Performance Index (Media General)

Industry Index (CRSP)                     100.00     139.10     183.40     187.70     200.40     302.40

Industry Index (Media General)            100.00     116.49     119.61     163.73     169.76     196.88
</TABLE>

                               SECTION 16(a) REPORTING

    Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
directors and executive officers to file initial reports of ownership and
reports of changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Directors and executive officers are required by Commission regulations to
furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.  Based
solely on a review of the copies of such forms furnished to the Company and
written representations from the Company's directors and executive officers, a
trust for which Mr. Hale's spouse acts as a trustee filed one late Form 4
relating to a sale of shares by the Trust; all other Section 16(a) filing
requirements were met for the year ended December 31, 1995.

                                          15

<PAGE>

                               APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS

    At the meeting, a vote will be taken on a proposal to ratify the
appointment of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as independent auditors of the Company for
the year ending December 31, 1996.  KPMG Peat Marwick LLP are independent
accountants and auditors who have audited the accounts of the Company annually
since 1954. The Company has been advised that a representative of the firm will
attend the shareholders' meeting. The representative will be available to
respond to appropriate questions and will be given the opportunity to make a
statement if the firm desires to do so.

                                SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

    Any shareholder proposal intended to be presented at the next Annual
Meeting should be sent to the Secretary of the Company at 701 North Lilac Drive,
P.O. Box 1452, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440, and must be received on or before
November 25, 1996, to be eligible for inclusion in the Company's Proxy Statement
and form of Proxy relating to that meeting.

                                    OTHER MATTERS

    So far as the management is aware, no matters other than those described in
this Proxy Statement will be acted upon at the meeting.  If, however, any other
matters properly come before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons
named in the enclosed Proxy to vote the same in accordance with their judgment
on such other matters.



March 22, 1996                                By Order of the Board of Directors
                                                  Bruce J. Borgerding, Secretary

                                          16


<PAGE>

     THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED
HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER.  IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL
BE VOTED FOR ALL PROPOSALS.

Please sign exactly as name appears below.  When shares are held by joint
tenants, both should sign.  When signing as attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, please give full title as such.  If a corporation, please
sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer.  If a
partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.


                                          ____________________________________
                                          Signature
                                          Dated: _______________________, 1996


                                            PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND
                                            RETURN THE PROXY PROMPTLY
                                            USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.








[LOGO - TENNANT PROXY]

TENNANT COMPANY               THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF
701 NORTH LILAC DRIVE         DIRECTORS
P.O. BOX 1452
MINNEAPOLIS, MN  55440        The undersigned hereby appoints Roger L.
                              Hale,William A. Hodder and Arthur R. Schulze, Jr.,
                              and each of them, as Proxies, each with the power
                              to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes
                              them or any of them to represent and to vote, as
                              designated below, all the shares of Common Stock
                              of Tennant Company held of record by the
                              undersigned on March 4, 1996, at the Annual
                              Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 2, 1996,
                              or any adjournment thereof.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                          <C>                                               <C>
1.   ELECTION OF DIRECTORS    FOR all nominees listed below                     WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
                              (EXCEPT AS MARKED TO THE CONTRARY BELOW)  / /     To vote for all nominees listed below  / /

     (INSTRUCTION:  IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, MARK THE FOR BOX AND STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE 
     NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE LIST BELOW.)

     Roger L. Hale       Delbert W. Johnson

     If elected, the nominees will serve for a term of three years.

2.   PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP as the independent public accountants of the corporation.

     / /  FOR   / /  AGAINST   / /  ABSTAIN


3.   IN THEIR DISCRETION, the PROXIES are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
</TABLE>




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