<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section14(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 Rule-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
TOOTSIE ROLL INDUSTRIES, 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.
/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules14a-6(i)(1)
and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Total fee paid:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
/ / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/ / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule0-11(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>
TOOTSIE ROLL INDUSTRIES, INC.
7401 SOUTH CICERO AVENUE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60629
March 27, 1998
Dear Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
your Company to be held on Monday, May 4, 1998, at 9:00 A.M., Eastern Daylight
Savings Time, in Room 1200, Mutual Building, 909 East Main Street, Richmond,
Virginia.
At the meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote upon the election of
five directors and a proposal to ratify the appointment of Price Waterhouse LLP
as independent auditors of the Company.
The formal Notice of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the Proxy
Statement follow. It is important that your shares be represented and voted at
the meeting, regardless of the size of your holdings. Accordingly, please
promptly mark, sign and date the enclosed proxy and return it in the enclosed
envelope, whether or not you intend to be present at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders.
Sincerely,
[SIG] [SIG]
Melvin J. Gordon Ellen R. Gordon
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND PRESIDENT AND
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
<PAGE>
TOOTSIE ROLL INDUSTRIES, INC.
7401 SOUTH CICERO AVENUE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60629
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 4, 1998
To the Shareholders:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of TOOTSIE
ROLL INDUSTRIES, INC. will be held in Room 1200, Mutual Building, 909 East Main
Street, Richmond, Virginia, on Monday, May 4, 1998, at 9:00 A.M., Eastern
Daylight Savings Time, for the following purposes:
1. To elect the full board of five directors;
2. To consider and act upon ratification of the appointment of Price
Waterhouse LLP as independent auditors for the Company for the fiscal
year ending December 31, 1998; and
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
or any adjournments thereof.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 10, 1998 are
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournments
thereof. The relative voting rights of the Company's Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock in respect of the Annual Meeting and the matters to be acted upon
at such meeting are described in the accompanying Proxy Statement.
Your attention is directed to the accompanying Proxy, Proxy Statement and
1997 Annual Report of Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.
By Order of the Board of Directors
William Touretz, SECRETARY
Chicago, Illinois
March 27, 1998
NOTE: PLEASE MARK, DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN
THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN
PERSON. YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS VOTED.
<PAGE>
TOOTSIE ROLL INDUSTRIES, INC.
7401 SOUTH CICERO AVENUE
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60629
---------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS -- MAY 4, 1998
------------------------
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the
Board of Directors of Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. of the accompanying proxy
for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held on Monday, May
4, 1998, and at any adjournments thereof. The purpose of the meeting is for the
shareholders of the Company to: (1) elect five directors to terms of office
expiring at the 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; (2) consider and act upon a
proposal to ratify the appointment of Price Waterhouse LLP as independent
auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1998; and (3)
transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any
adjournments thereof.
Proxies in the accompanying form, properly executed and received by the
Company prior to the meeting and not revoked, will be voted as directed therein
on all matters presented at the meeting. In the absence of a specific direction
from the shareholder, proxies will be voted for the election of all named
director nominees and for ratification of the appointment of Price Waterhouse
LLP as the Company's independent auditors. The Board of Directors does not know
of any other matters to be brought before the meeting; however, if other matters
should properly come before the meeting it is intended that the persons named in
the accompanying proxy will vote thereon at their discretion. Any shareholder
may revoke his or her proxy by giving written notice of revocation to the
Secretary of the Company at any time before it is voted, by executing a
later-dated proxy which is voted at the meeting or by attending the meeting and
voting his or her shares in person.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 10, 1998 as
the record date for the determination of shareholders of the Company entitled to
receive notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held
on May 4, 1998, and at any adjournments thereof. As of the close of business on
March 10, 1998, there were outstanding and entitled to vote 15,861,321 shares of
Common Stock and 7,536,480 shares of Class B Common Stock. Each share of Common
Stock is entitled to one vote and each share of Class B Common Stock is entitled
to ten votes, and therefore the Common Stock will be entitled to a total of
15,861,321 votes and the Class B Common Stock will be entitled to a total of
75,364,800 votes. The Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock will vote
together as a single class with respect to the election of directors and all
other matters submitted to the Company's shareholders at the meeting. This Proxy
Statement and the enclosed form of proxy are being mailed to shareholders of the
Company on or about March 27, 1998.
The entire cost of soliciting proxies in the accompanying form will be borne
by the Company. Proxies will be solicited by mail, and may be solicited
personally by directors, officers or regular employees of the Company who will
not receive special compensation for such services. Upon request, the Company
will reimburse brokers, dealers, banks and trustees, or their nominees, for
reasonable expenses incurred by them in forwarding proxy material to beneficial
owners of shares of the Company's Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.
1
<PAGE>
VOTING INFORMATION
A shareholder may, with respect to the election of directors (i) vote for
the election of all named director nominees, (ii) withhold authority to vote for
all named director nominees or (iii) vote for the election of all named director
nominees other than any nominee with respect to whom the shareholder withholds
authority to vote by so indicating in the appropriate space on the proxy. A
shareholder may, with respect to the proposal to ratify the appointment of Price
Waterhouse LLP as the Company's independent auditors (i) vote "FOR" the
proposal, (ii) vote "AGAINST" the proposal or (iii) "ABSTAIN" from voting on the
proposal. Proxies properly executed and received by the Company prior to the
meeting and not revoked will be voted as directed therein on all matters
presented at the meeting. In the absence of a specific direction from the
shareholder, proxies will be voted for the election of all named director
nominees and for ratification of the appointment of Price Waterhouse LLP as the
Company's independent auditors. If a proxy indicates that all or a portion of
the votes represented by such proxy are not being voted with respect to a
particular matter, such non-votes will not be considered present and entitled to
vote on such matter, although such votes may be considered present and entitled
to vote on other matters and will count for purposes of determining the presence
of a quorum.
The affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes present in person or by
proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote in the election of directors is
required to elect directors. Thus, assuming a quorum is present, the five
persons receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected to serve as
directors. Withholding authority to vote for a director(s) and non-votes with
respect to the election of directors will not affect the outcome of the election
of directors. If a quorum is present at the meeting, in order to ratify the
appointment of Price Waterhouse LLP as the Company's independent auditors, the
number of votes cast favoring the action must exceed the number of votes cast
opposing the action. Accordingly, non-votes and abstentions with respect to such
matter will not affect the determination of whether such matter is approved.
2
<PAGE>
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
It is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote
for the election of each of the five persons named in the table below as a
director of the Company to serve until the 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified. All of such
nominees are now directors of the Company, having been previously elected as
directors by the shareholders of the Company. In the event any of the nominees,
all of whom have expressed an intention to serve if elected, fail to stand for
election, the persons named in the proxy presently intend to vote for a
substitute nominee designated by the Board of Directors. The information
concerning the nominees and their shareholdings has been furnished by them to
the Company.
The following table sets forth information with respect to the five nominees
for election as directors:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE AND OTHER POSITIONS, PERIOD SERVED AS DIRECTOR AND
IF ANY, WITH COMPANY BUSINESS EXPERIENCE DURING PAST 5 YEARS
- ------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Melvin J. Gordon, 78; Chairman of the Director since 1952; Chairman of the Board since 1962; Director and
Board and Chief Executive Officer (1) President of HDI Investment Corp., a family investment company.
(2)
Ellen R. Gordon, 66, President and Chief Director since 1969; President since 1978; Director and Vice-
Operating Officer(1)(2) President of HDI Investment Corp., a family investment company;
director of Bestfoods (formerly CPC International) since 1991.
Charles W. Seibert, 83(3)(4) Director since 1978; retired; Vice-President of Citibank through
February, 1974 and consultant to several banks since 1974.
William Touretz, 83, Secretary(1) Director since 1974; Treasurer 1969-79; Secretary since 1978;
part-time consultant to Company and subsidiaries since 1980.
Lana Jane Lewis-Brent, 51(3)(4) Director since 1988; President of Paul Brent Designer, Inc. since
1992 (art publishing); former President of Sunshine-Jr. Stores,
Inc. (convenience stores).
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(1) Member of the Executive Committee. When the Board of Directors is not in
session, the Executive Committee has the powers of the Board in the
management of the business and affairs of the Company, other than certain
actions which under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia must be
approved by the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee held four
meetings in 1997.
(2) Melvin J. Gordon and Ellen R. Gordon are husband and wife.
(3) Member of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee (a) annually recommends
to the Board of Directors the appointment of independent public accountants
for the Company and subsidiaries; (b) reviews the scope of audits; (c)
approves the non-audit services of the independent public accountants for
the Company and subsidiaries and their fees for audit and non-audit
services; and (d) receives, reviews and takes action deemed appropriate with
respect to audit reports submitted. The Audit Committee held two meetings
during 1997.
(4) Member of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee was
established in December 1996 to administer the Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.
Bonus Incentive Plan and in this capacity will make or recommend awards
under such plan. The Compensation Committee held one meeting during 1997.
The Company does not have a nominating committee.
The Board of Directors held five meetings during 1997. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon
do not receive fees for their service on the Board of Directors or committees.
Other directors received an annual fee of $19,000 plus $1,250 per meeting
attended for service on the Board of Directors during 1997. Each member of the
Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee received $1,250 per meeting
attended. Mr. Seibert, as
3
<PAGE>
the Chairman of the Audit Committee, received an additional annual fee of
$5,500. Additionally, William Touretz received an annual fee of $3,000 for
service on the Executive Committee and also earned a fee of $70,000 in 1997 for
investment consulting and corporate secretary services. During 1997, all of the
directors attended at least 75 percent of the meetings of the Board of Directors
and (if they were members of the Executive Committee, Audit Committee or
Compensation Committee) the Executive Committee, Audit Committee and
Compensation Committee.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL NAMED
DIRECTOR NOMINEES.
OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK AND CLASS B COMMON STOCK
BY CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The following table sets forth, as of March 10, 1998, information with
respect to the beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock by each person known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of
more than five percent of such Common Stock or Class B Common Stock. The
information has been furnished to the Company by such persons or derived from
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK AND CLASS B
COMMON STOCK OWNED
BENEFICIALLY AND NATURE OF PERCENTAGE OF
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP(1) OUTSTANDING
----------------------------------- SHARES OF
NAME DIRECT INDIRECT CLASS
- --------------------------------------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Melvin J. Gordon............................. Common 491,325 -- 3.1%
............................... Class B 491,325 -- 6.5%
Ellen R. Gordon.............................. Common 3,156,083 14,926(2) 20.0%
............................... Class B 3,156,083 14,926(2) 42.1%
Melvin J. Gordon
and Ellen R. Gordon,
jointly as fiduciaries..................... Common -- 1,985,607(3) 12.5%
............................... Class B -- 1,985,607(3) 26.3%
Leigh R. Weiner.............................. Common 610,859 137,213(4) 4.7%
............................... Class B 832,869 181,112(4) 13.5%
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
The address of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon is c/o Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.,
7401 South Cicero Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60629. The address of Mr. Weiner
is c/o Becker Ross Stone DeStefano & Klein, 317 Madison Ave., New York, New
York 10017- 5372.
(1) The persons named in the above table have sole investment and voting power
over the shares indicated therein as being owned directly and share
investment and voting power over the shares indicated therein as being owned
indirectly.
(2) Held as co-trustee of the Company's pension plan.
(3) Includes 1,766,702 shares each of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock held
by Mr. and Mrs. Gordon as fiduciaries for their children and 218,905 shares
each of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock owned by a charitable
foundation in which members of the Gordon family are interested.
(4) Includes 28,875 shares of Common Stock and 17,691 shares of Class B Common
Stock held by Mr. Weiner's wife (of which he disclaims beneficial
ownership), 72,696 shares of Common Stock and 53,850 shares of Class B
Common Stock held Mr. Weiner or by his wife as custodian for their children
and 35,642 shares of Common Stock and 109,571 shares of Class B Common Stock
held by a charitable foundation in which Mr. Weiner and members of his
family are interested.
4
<PAGE>
OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK AND CLASS B COMMON STOCK BY MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth, as of March 10, 1998, information with
respect to the beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock by each director, by each executive officer who is named in the
summary compensation table included in this proxy statement, and by all
directors and executive officers of the Company as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK AND
CLASS B COMMON STOCK
OWNED BENEFICIALLY
AND NATURE OF PERCENTAGE OF
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP(1) OUTSTANDING
----------------------------------- SHARES OF
NAME DIRECT INDIRECT CLASS
- ------------------------------------------ --------------- --------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Melvin J. Gordon.......................... Common (2) (2) (2)
............................. Class B (2) (2) (2)
Ellen R. Gordon........................... Common (2) (2) (2)
............................. Class B (2) (2) (2)
Charles W. Seibert........................ Common 502 -- (3)
............................. Class B 502 -- (3)
William Touretz........................... Common -- -- (3)
............................. Class B 579 2,307 (3)
Lana Jane Lewis-Brent..................... Common 1,666 6,233 (3)
............................. Class B -- -- (3)
John W. Newlin, Jr........................ Common 4,548 563 (3)
............................. Class B 4,548 563 (3)
Thomas E. Corr............................ Common -- -- (3)
............................. Class B -- -- (3)
G. Howard Ember Jr........................ Common 1,667 2,318 (3)
............................. Class B -- -- (3)
All directors and executive officers as a
group (10 persons)...................... Common 3,655,791 2,009,647 35.7%
............................. Class B... 3,653,037 2,003,403 75.1%
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(1) The persons named in the above table have sole investment and voting power
over the shares indicated therein as being owned directly and share
investment and voting power over the shares indicated therein as being owned
indirectly.
(2) See the table under the caption "Ownership of Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock by Certain Beneficial Owners" above for shareholdings of Mr.
and Mrs. Gordon.
(3) Less than 1% of the outstanding shares.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
directors, executive officers and persons who own more than ten percent of the
Company's Common Stock or Class B Common Stock to file reports of ownership and
changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission and New York
Stock Exchange. Such persons are also required to furnish the Company with
copies of all such reports.
Based solely on its review of the copies of such reports received by the
Company, and written representations from certain reporting persons, the Company
notes that its directors, executive officers and greater than ten percent
shareholders filed all required reports during or with respect to fiscal year
1997 on a timely basis, except for Lana Jane Lewis-Brent who inadvertently filed
one late report.
5
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION
The following summary compensation table sets forth the compensation for the
last three calendar years of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company and the four other most highly compensated executive officers of the
Company serving at the end of 1997.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
--------------------------------
ANNUAL COMPENSATION AWARDS
----------------------------------------- --------------------------------
OTHER ANNUAL RESTRICTED
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS COMPENSATION STOCK AWARDS OPTIONS/ SARS
- -------------------------------- --------- --------- --------- ------------------- --------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1997 $ 875,000 $ 760,000 $ 0 $ 0 0
Melvin J. Gordon ............... 1996 804,000 595,000 0 0 0
Chairman and CEO 1995 730,000 480,000 0 0 0
Ellen R. Gordon ................ 1997 $ 798,000 $ 755,000 $ 0 $ 0 0
President and Chief Operating 1996 733,000 590,000 0 0 0
Officer 1995 665,000 475,000 0 0 0
1997 $ 473,000 $ 246,000 $ 0 $ 0 0
John W. Newlin, Jr. ............ 1996 434,000 195,000 0 0 0
Vice President/Manufacturing 1995 394,000 161,000 0 0 0
Thomas E. Corr ................. 1997 $ 404,000 $ 260,000 $ 0 $ 0 0
Vice President/Marketing and 1996 370,000 225,000 0 0 0
Sales 1995 336,000 180,000 0 0 0
1997 $ 275,000 $ 185,000 $ 0 $ 0 0
G. Howard Ember Jr. ............ 1996 250,000 152,000 0 0 0
Vice President/Finance 1995 227,000 119,000 0 0 0
<CAPTION>
PAYOUTS ALL OTHER
------------- COMPENSATION
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION LTIP PAYOUTS (1)(2)(3)
- -------------------------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
$ 0 $ 940,852
Melvin J. Gordon ............... 0 760,014
Chairman and CEO 0 541,806
Ellen R. Gordon ................ $ 0 $ 934,145
President and Chief Operating 0 734,816
Officer 0 522,446
$ 0 $ 293,621
John W. Newlin, Jr. ............ 0 314,637
Vice President/Manufacturing 0 165,428
Thomas E. Corr ................. $ 0 $ 272,795
Vice President/Marketing and 0 292,121
Sales 0 147,320
$ 0 $ 185,961
G. Howard Ember Jr. ............ 0 230,461
Vice President/Finance 0 97,109
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------
(1) "All Other Compensation" includes (i) contributions to the Company's
pension, profit-sharing and excess benefit plans, (ii) annual awards to the
Company's Career Achievement Plan ("CAP") in the form of deferred
compensation with vesting and forfeiture provisions and (iii) benefits under
the Company's split dollar life insurance plan (see note 3 below).
(2) For 1997, (i) contributions to the Company's pension, profit-sharing and
excess benefit plans, (ii) CAP awards and (iii) split dollar life insurance
benefits were, respectively, as follows: $121,435, $0 and $819,417 for
Melvin J. Gordon; $114,728, $0 and $819,417 for Ellen R. Gordon; $83,154,
$190,000 and $20,467 for John W. Newlin, Jr.; $78,462, $184,000 and $10,333
for Thomas E. Corr; and $51,828, $125,000 and $9,133 for G. Howard Ember Jr.
(3) In 1993, the Board of Directors approved a split dollar life insurance plan
for Melvin J. Gordon and Ellen R. Gordon that replaced benefits that were
already earned under the Company's CAP and previous split dollar insurance
programs pursuant to which Mr. and Mrs. Gordon received awards during the
years 1982 through 1992. In 1993, 1996 and 1997, the Board of Directors
approved additional split dollar life insurance for Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, a
portion of which replaced benefits previously earned under deferred
compensation and excess benefit plans. Although the Company will fully
recover all premiums paid for the split dollar life insurance after
approximately 17 years, the plan includes a compensation element for the
additional benefits attributable to the Company's cost for advancing the
premium payments. The compensation element represents the total expected
cost of the benefits provided allocable to the service provided by Melvin J.
Gordon and Ellen R. Gordon during the year.
6
<PAGE>
CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENTS
The Company has entered into severance agreements (the "Agreements") with
five executive officers, excluding Mr. and Mrs. Gordon but including the other
executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table. The Agreements
generally provide that in the event the executive's employment is terminated by
the Company without "cause" or by the executive for "good reason" within two
years after a "change in control" (as such terms are defined in the Agreements),
the executive will receive a pro-rated bonus for the year of termination plus
three times his annual base salary and three times the higher of his incentive
bonus for the last fiscal year or his average incentive bonus over the prior
three fiscal years. The executive would also be eligible for three years of
coverage under the Company's health, life and disability benefit plans and for a
"gross-up" payment as reimbursement of any federal excise (but not income) taxes
payable. The executive would also become vested in, and be paid, any unvested
accrued benefits under the Company's Pension, Profit Sharing and Excess Benefit
Plans and the maximum award under the CAP Plan. In the event of such a
termination, each executive has agreed to a noncompetition and nonsolicitation
covenant applicable for one year following the termination of his employment.
The Board of Directors believes that the foregoing arrangements are frequently
part of executive compensation practices at major public corporations. Mr. and
Mrs. Gordon have advised the Board of Directors that the Gordon Family intends
to maintain voting control of the Company and, therefore, the Board of Directors
believes that it is unlikely that the Agreements would be utilized.
REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
During 1997, the entire Board of Directors was responsible for determining
the compensation structure and amounts for the executive officers of the
Company. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Compensation
Committee") was responsible for administering the Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.
Bonus Incentive Plan (the "Bonus Incentive Plan"). This report describes the
policies and rationale for the Board and the Compensation Committee in
establishing the principal components of compensation for the executive officers
during 1997.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION POLICY
The Company's compensation program is designed to encourage and reward both
individual effort and teamwork leading to improvement in the Company's financial
performance and attainment of the Company's principal long-term objective of
profitably building the Company's well-known brands. The Company's executive
officer compensation program is balanced between short-term and long-term
compensation and incentives. The program is comprised of base salary, annual
cash incentive bonuses, annual awards to the Company's Career Achievement Plan
("CAP"), split-dollar insurance plans, and pension, profit-sharing and excess
benefit plans generally available to employees of the Company. The Board of
Directors believes that this program will lead to increased shareholder value on
a long-term basis.
BASE SALARY
The Board of Directors annually reviews each executive officer's salary. The
Board considers the following with respect to the determination of an individual
executive officer's base salary:
- Performance and contribution to the Company, including length of service
in the position;
- Comparative compensation levels of other companies, including periodic
compensation studies performed by independent compensation and benefit
consultants;
- Overall competitive environment for executives and the level of
compensation considered necessary to attract and retain executive talent;
and
- Historical compensation and performance levels for the Company.
Companies used in comparative analyses for the purpose of determining each
executive officer's salary are selected periodically with the assistance of
professional compensation consultants. Selection of
7
<PAGE>
such companies is based on a variety of factors, including market capitalization
and industry classification. The companies used in these comparative analyses
include some of the companies in the Peer Group used in the Performance Graph,
as well as other companies. The Board of Directors believes that the Company's
primary competitors for executive talent are companies with a similar market
capitalization and, accordingly, relies on a broad array of companies in various
industries for comparative analyses.
ANNUAL INCENTIVES AND OTHER AWARDS
Effective January 1, 1997, the Compensation Committee established the Bonus
Incentive Plan. The Bonus Incentive Plan was adopted to ensure the tax
deductibility of the annual bonus that may be earned by executive officers of
the Company. Under the Plan, certain key employees (including employees who are
also directors) designated by the Compensation Committee may receive annual
incentive compensation determined by pre-established objective performance
goals. In 1997, the eligible employees for the Bonus Incentive Plan included the
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the President and Chief Operating
Officer. Performance goals were based on the measures, objectives and financial
criteria discussed below.
In addition, annual incentive bonuses to other executive officers and CAP
and split-dollar insurance awards are made at the discretion of the Board of
Directors to executive corporate officers in order to recognize and reward each
individual executive officer's contribution to the Company's overall performance
in terms of both financial results and attainment of individual and Company
goals.
The annual cash incentive bonus is designed to reward executives, as well as
other management personnel, for their contributions to the Company's financial
performance during the recently completed year.
The annual CAP award and split dollar life insurance program is principally
designed to provide an incentive to executive officers to achieve both
short-term and long-term financial and other goals, including strategic
objectives. These programs are also designed to provide an incentive for the
executive to remain with the Company on a long-term basis. These awards are
determined by the Board of Directors based on the performance of the Company and
the executive's contribution to the growth and success of the Company.
The Board of Directors considers both achievement of strategic objectives
and financial performance measures in determining compensation levels. Although
the Board of Directors does not use a fixed formula for determining annual
incentive and other awards, the following measures of Company performance were
considered in the determination of 1997 bonuses and awards:
- Earnings per share;
- Increase in sales of core brands and total sales;
- Return on assets;
- Return on equity; and
- Net earnings as a percentage of sales.
The awards for 1997 recognize the Company's achievement of record
profitability for the year and the high level of achievement on other measures
of financial performance.
RATIONALE OF CEO COMPENSATION
The Board of Directors established the compensation of Melvin J. Gordon,
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, using the same
criteria that were used to determine the other executive officers' compensation
as discussed above. In addition, the Board considered Mr. Gordon's leadership of
the Company in achieving the Company's strategic and long-term objectives. A
substantial portion of his compensation was at risk, in the form of annual cash
incentive bonus. As discussed above, the Compensation Committee determined
pre-established objective performance goals to determine
8
<PAGE>
Mr. Gordon's bonus. It is the Board's opinion that Mr. Gordon's compensation
package was based on an appropriate assessment of the Company's performance, his
individual performance and competitive standards.
TAX DEDUCTIBILITY OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Internal Revenue Code limits the tax deductibility of executive
compensation in certain circumstances. In the event a portion of executive
compensation were not tax deductible, the Board of Directors may require the
executive to defer the non-deductible portion of compensation until such time
the compensation may be deductible by the Company. In order to enable the
Company to receive federal income tax deductions for the compensation paid to
the executive officers of the Company in 1997 and in future years, the
Compensation Committee established the Bonus Incentive Plan.
The foregoing report has been approved by the entire Board of Directors, the
members of which are:
Melvin J. Gordon
Ellen R. Gordon
Charles W. Seibert
William Touretz
Lana Jane Lewis-Brent
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
As indicated above under "Report on Executive Compensation," during 1997 the
Board of Directors of the Company was responsible for determining the
compensation of the executive officers of the Company. Mr. Gordon is the
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mrs. Gordon is
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, and Mr. Touretz is the
Secretary of the Company.
9
<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following performance graphs compare the Company's cumulative total
shareholder return on the Company's Common Stock for a ten-year period (December
31, 1987 to December 31, 1997) and a five-year period (December 31, 1992 to
December 31, 1997) with the cumulative total return of Standard & Poor's 500
Stock Index ("S&P 500") and the Dow Jones Industry Food Index ("Peer Group",
which includes the Company).
EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOOTSIE ROLL S&P 500 PEER GROUP
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1987 100.00 100.00 100.00
1988 101.26 116.61 136.60
1989 127.81 153.58 186.36
1990 147.85 148.79 200.87
1991 275.43 194.12 293.04
1992 300.82 208.91 292.38
1993 285.24 229.97 266.29
1994 256.21 233.00 299.89
1995 342.32 320.56 382.54
1996 355.28 394.16 453.23
1997 580.77 525.67 649.58
</TABLE>
EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOOTSIE ROLL PEER GROUP S&P 500
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1992 100.00 100.00 100.00
1993 94.82 91.77 110.08
1994 85.17 102.58 111.53
1995 113.80 130.85 153.45
1996 118.10 155.03 188.68
1997 193.06 222.19 251.63
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
* Assumes (i) $100 invested on December 31 of the first year of the chart in
each of the Company's Common Stock, S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industry Food
Index and (ii) the reinvestment of dividends.
10
<PAGE>
PROPOSAL 2
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Directors has appointed Price Waterhouse LLP, independent
public accountants, as the independent auditors for the Company for the fiscal
year ending December 31, 1998. Price Waterhouse LLP has been the Company's
independent auditors since 1968. Although not required by the Company's Articles
of Incorporation or Bylaws, the Board of Directors deems it to be in the best
interest of the Company to submit to the shareholders a proposal to ratify the
appointment of Price Waterhouse LLP and recommends a vote in favor of such
ratification. It is not expected that representatives of Price Waterhouse LLP
will attend the Annual Meeting.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT
OF PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1999 ANNUAL MEETING
In order to be considered for inclusion in the Company's proxy materials for
the 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, any shareholder proposals should be
addressed to Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc., 7401 South Cicero Avenue, Chicago,
Illinois 60629, Attention: Ellen R. Gordon, President, and must be received no
later than December 1, 1998. In addition, the Company's Bylaws establish an
advance notice procedure for shareholder proposals to be brought before any
annual meeting of shareholders, including proposed nominations of persons for
election to the Board of Directors. Shareholders at the 1998 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders may consider shareholder proposals or nominations brought by a
shareholder of record on March 13, 1998, who is entitled to vote at the 1998
Annual Meeting of Shareholders and who has given the Corporate Secretary timely
written notice, in proper form, of the shareholder's proposal or nomination. A
shareholder proposal or nomination intended to be brought before the 1998 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders must have been received by the Corporate Secretary on or
after February 3, 1998 and on or prior to March 5, 1998. The Corporate Secretary
did not receive notice of any shareholder proposals or nominations relating to
the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
is expected to be held on May 3, 1999. A shareholder proposal or nomination
intended to be brought before the 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be
received by the Corporate Secretary on or after February 2, 1999 and on or prior
to March 4, 1999.
GENERAL
The Board of Directors does not know of any matters other than the foregoing
that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. However, if
other matters should be properly presented at the Annual Meeting, it is the
intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote thereon in
accordance with their best judgment pursuant to the discretionary authority
granted in the proxy.
A copy of the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1997 is being mailed herewith.
A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S 1997 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K WITHOUT EXHIBITS MAY
BE OBTAINED WITHOUT CHARGE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO TOOTSIE ROLL INDUSTRIES,
INC., 7401 SOUTH CICERO AVENUE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60629, ATTENTION: G. HOWARD
EMBER JR., VICE PRESIDENT/FINANCE. A REASONABLE CHARGE WILL BE MADE FOR
REQUESTED EXHIBITS.
By Order of the Board of Directors
William Touretz
SECRETARY
Chicago, Illinois
March 27, 1998
11
<PAGE>
PROXY
TOOTSIE ROLL INDUSTRIES, INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned shareholder of TOOTSIE ROLL INDUSTRIES, INC. (the
"Company") hereby appoints ELLEN R. GORDON, WILLIAM TOURETZ, MICHAEL L.
SOFFIN and AUGUSTUS C. EPPS, JR., and each of them, as the undersigned's
proxies (with the power of substitution) to vote all the shares of Common
Stock and/or Class B Common Stock of the Company which the undersigned would
be entitled to vote at the annual meeting of shareholders of such Company to
be held on May 4, 1998, at 9:00 A.M. (EDST) and any adjournment thereof, on
the matters set forth on the reverse side hereof.
This Proxy will be voted in accordance with instructions specified on the
reverse side, but in the absence of any instructions will be voted "FOR"
Items (1), (2) and (3). If any other business is presented at the meeting,
the proxies are authorized to vote thereon in their discretion. The
undersigned hereby revokes any proxy heretofore given.
THIS PROXY IS CONTINUED ON THE REVERSE SIDE.
PLEASE DATE AND SIGN ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN PROMPTLY.
A RETURN ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED.
TRIANGLE FOLD AND DETACH HERE TRIANGLE
<PAGE>
Please mark
your votes as /X/
indicated in
this example
(1)--Election of Directors: Melvin J. Gordon, Ellen R. Gordon, Lana Jane
Lewis-Brent, Charles W. Siebert, William Touretz.
/ / FOR all nominees listed above (except as marked to the contrary above)
/ / WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed above
(Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee,
strike a line through the nominee's name in the list above.)
(2)--Ratify the appointment of Price Waterhouse LLP as auditors for the fiscal
year 1998.
/ / FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN
(3)--In their discretion, transact any other business that may properly come
before such meeting.
/ / FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN
SIGNATURE SIGNATURE DATE
------------------------- ----------------- -------------
PLEASE DATE AND SIGN EXACTLY AS NAME APPEARS HEREON. EXECUTORS,
ADMINISTRATORS, TRUSTEES, ETC. SHOULD SO INDICATE WHEN SIGNING. IF SHARES ARE
HELD JOINTLY, BOTH SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD SIGN.
TRIANGLE FOLD AND DETACH HERE TRIANGLE
