Definitive proxy statement

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

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Kewaunee Scientific Corporation

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

  

 

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KEWAUNEE SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

2700 West Front Street

Statesville, North Carolina 28677-2927

 

William A. Shumaker

President and

Chief Executive Officer

July 22, 2011

TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS:

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Kewaunee Scientific Corporation (the “Company”), which will be held at The Conference Center at UBS Tower, One North Wacker Drive, 2nd Floor, Chicago, Illinois, on August 24, 2011, at 10:00 A.M. Central Daylight Time.

At the meeting, management will review with you the Company’s past year’s performance and the major developments which occurred during the year. There will be an opportunity for stockholders to ask questions about the Company and its operations. We hope you will be able to join us.

To assure that your shares are represented at the meeting, please vote, sign and return the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible. The proxy is revocable and will not affect your right to vote in person if you are able to attend the meeting. YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!

The Company’s 2011 Annual Report to Stockholders is enclosed.

Sincerely yours,

LOGO


KEWAUNEE SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

to be held on

August 24, 2011

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Kewaunee Scientific Corporation will be held at The Conference Center at UBS Tower, One North Wacker Drive, 2nd Floor, Chicago, Illinois, on August 24, 2011, at 10:00 A.M. Central Daylight Time, for the purpose of considering and acting upon the following:

 

 

(1)

To elect two Class I directors;

 

 

(2)

To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

Stockholders of record at the close of business on July 1, 2011 will be entitled to vote at the meeting. A list of stockholders will be available for examination by any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting, during normal business hours, at the offices of K&L Gates LLP, 70 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois, for a period of 10 days prior to the meeting.

It is important that your shares be represented at the meeting regardless of the size of your holdings. Whether or not you intend to be present at the meeting in person, we urge you to vote, date and sign the enclosed proxy and return it in the envelope provided for that purpose, which does not require postage if mailed in the United States.

 

  

D. MICHAEL PARKER

  

Secretary

July 22, 2011

 

  YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!   
      
  Please vote, date and sign the enclosed proxy and return it   
 

promptly in the enclosed envelope.

 

  


KEWAUNEE SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

PROXY STATEMENT

The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Kewaunee Scientific Corporation (the “Company”) for use at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company to be held at The Conference Center at UBS Tower, One North Wacker Drive, Second Floor, Chicago, Illinois, on August 24, 2011, at 10:00 A.M. Central Daylight Time, and at any postponements or adjournments thereof. Proxies properly executed and returned in a timely manner will be voted at the meeting in accordance with the directions noted thereon. If no direction is indicated, proxies will be voted for the election of the nominees named herein as directors, and on other matters presented for a vote in accordance with the judgment of the persons acting under the proxies.

The Company’s principal executive offices are located at 2700 West Front Street, Statesville, North Carolina 28677-2927 (telephone 704/873-7202).

The proxy, together with this Proxy Statement and the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, is being mailed to stockholders on, or about, July 22, 2011.

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Two Class I directors are to be elected at the meeting. The Board of Directors, at its meeting on June 22, 2011, upon the recommendation of the Nominating Committee, selected David S. Rhind and John D. Russell as nominees for re-election as directors at the annual meeting, to serve for three-year terms. All nominees are serving as directors as of the date of this Proxy Statement. The two nominees receiving the greatest number of votes at the annual meeting will be elected directors. Unless a stockholder indicates otherwise on the proxy, proxies will be voted for the election of the two nominees named below. If due to circumstances not now foreseen, any of the nominees becomes unavailable for election, the proxies will be voted for such other person or persons as the Board of Directors may select, or the Board will make an appropriate reduction in the number of directors to be elected.

Information on the current nominees for Class I directors and the current Class III and II directors is shown below.

Class I directors nominated for re-election to serve until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2014:

DAVID S. RHIND, 48, was elected a director of the Company in April 2008. Since July 2003, Mr. Rhind has served as General Counsel, North America, for Hudson Highland Group, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois, a leading provider of permanent recruitment, contract professionals, and talent management worldwide. From October 1995 to June 2003, he was Associate General Counsel at Technology Solutions Company of Chicago, a technology consulting and systems integration company. We believe Mr. Rhind is well suited to serve on our Board due to his many years of experience in legal matters, his

 

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overall business acumen, and his understanding of the long-term interests of our company and stockholders.

JOHN D. RUSSELL, 58, was elected a director of the Company on May 31, 2011. Since June 2006, Mr. Russell has been a business consultant and a director for Strategic Materials Incorporated, the largest glass recycling business in North America. From September 2007 to May 2010, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Maysteel LLC, a precision metal fabricator in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. From April 2002 to April 2006, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Neoplan USA, a manufacturer of heavy duty transit buses. Prior to April 2002, Mr. Russell was a partner at McKinsey and Company and a corporate officer of Brunswick Corporation. We believe Mr. Russell is well suited to serve on our Board due to his experience as chief executive officer of two different companies, his other executive management experience, and his experience as a director of another company.

Class III directors continuing in office until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2013:

ROSS W. McCANLESS, 53, was elected a director of the Company in May 2010. Since 2006, Mr. McCanless has been a private investor. From 2003 to 2006, Mr. McCanless was Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Lowe’s Companies, Inc., a FORTUNE 50 company that operates over 1,700 home improvement stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico. From 1999 to 2002, Mr. McCanless served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Food Lion LLC, a large supermarket company. We believe that Mr. McCanless is well suited to serve on our Board due to his experience as Chief Executive Officer of a public company, General Counsel and Secretary of another public company, his background and experience in finance and accounting, and his understanding of the long-term interests of our company and stockholders.

PATRICK L. McCRORY, 54, was elected a director of the Company in May 2009. Mr. McCrory is a partner of McCrory & Company, a sales consulting company, and is Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives for the law firm of Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte, North Carolina since January 2010. He served as Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, from 1995 to 2008. Until 2008, Mr. McCrory was employed for 29 years by Duke Energy Corporation of Charlotte, North Carolina where he held various management positions. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Tree.com, the parent of several brands and on-line businesses in the financial services and real estate industries. We believe that Mr. McCrory is well suited to serve on our Board due to his 13 years experience as mayor of a major U.S city, his many years of management experience in the private sector, and his understanding of the long-term interests of our company and stockholders.

MARGARET B. PYLE, 59, was elected a director of the Company in February 1995. Ms. Pyle has been engaged in the practice of law in Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin as a sole practitioner for more than five years, has been sole Trustee and Chief Executive of the Allis-Chalmers Corporation Product Liability Trust since June 1996 and Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel of the Pyle Group since December

 

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2007. We believe Ms. Pyle is well suited to serve on our Board due to her many years of experience in a variety of legal matters relevant to the Company, her 16 years experience as a director of our company, and her understanding of the long-term interests of our company and stockholders.

Class II directors continuing in office until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2012:

JOHN C. CAMPBELL, JR., 68, was elected a director of the Company in 1973. Since May 1995, Mr. Campbell has been engaged in private consulting. From May 1992 to May 1995, he was Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President and a director of Grounds For Play, Inc. of Arlington, Texas, a manufacturer of specialty equipment for children’s playgrounds. We believe Mr. Campbell is well suited to serve on our Board due to his 38 years experience as a director of our company, his executive management experience, and his understanding of the long-term interests of our company and stockholders.

JAMES T. RHIND, 89, was elected a director of the Company in 1966. He is a retired lawyer. Until March 2010, he was a partner or counsel with the law firm of Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP, Chicago, Illinois, for over fifty years. We believe Mr. Rhind is well suited to serve on our Board due to his 45 years as a director for our company, his many years of experience in legal matters, and his understanding of the long-term interests of our company and stockholders.

WILLIAM A. SHUMAKER, 63, has served as President of the Company since August 1999 and Chief Executive Officer since September 2000. He was elected a director of the Company in February 2000 and Chairman of the Board in February 2010. He served as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer from August 1998, when he was also elected Executive Vice President, until September 2000. He served as General Manager of the Company’s Laboratory Products Group from February 1998 until August 1998. He joined the Company in December 1993 as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. We believe Mr. Shumaker is well suited to serve on our Board due to his role as our Chief Executive Officer and his 18 years experience in various leadership roles for our company.

Class I directors whose term expires at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2011:

WILEY N. CALDWELL, 84, was elected a director of the Company in 1988. From 1984 to 1992, when he retired, he was President of W.W. Grainger, Inc., a distributor of electrical and mechanical equipment. We believe Mr. Caldwell is well suited to serve on our Board due to his experience as President of a public company, his 22 years experience as a director of our company, and his understanding of the long-term interests of our company and stockholders.

SILAS KEEHN, 81, was elected a director of the Company in May 2001. From 1981 to 1994, when he retired, he was President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. He is also a director of the National Futures Association. We believe Mr. Keehn is well suited to serve on our Board due to his experience as President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, his executive management experience with a public company, and his many years of experience in finance and accounting.

 

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Except as otherwise indicated, each director and nominee has had the principal occupation mentioned above for more than five years. Mr. Campbell is the first cousin of Laura Campbell Rhind, wife of Mr. James T. Rhind. Mr. David S. Rhind is the son of Mr. James T. Rhind.

The Board of Directors has approved an amendment to the Company’s bylaws to reduce the size of the Board of Directors from ten members to eight members, to be effective upon the retirements of Messrs. Caldwell and Keehn. The Company’s certificate of incorporation provides that the Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, and that the three classes shall be as nearly equal in number as possible.

The Board of Directors established a policy whereby any director reaching age 75 during his/her term is expected to retire at the end of the term.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the election of the two

foregoing nominees for director.

Meetings and Committees of the Board

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. Members of the Board keep informed of the Company’s business and activities by reports and proposals sent to them periodically and in advance of each Board meeting and reports made to them during these meetings by the President and other Company officers. The Board is regularly advised of actions taken by the Executive Committee and other committees of the Board, as well as significant actions taken by management. Members of management are available at Board meetings and other times to answer questions and discuss issues. During the Company’s fiscal year ended April 30, 2011, the Board of Directors held thirteen meetings.

During fiscal year 2011, the standing committees of the Board of Directors of the Company were the Executive Committee, Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Financial/Planning Committee, and Nominating Committee. Effective June 23, 2011, the Nominating Committee was replaced by a new Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The functions and membership of the committees are described below.

The Executive Committee consisted of Messrs. James Rhind (Chairman), Campbell, and Shumaker and Ms. Pyle in fiscal year 2011. Effective June 23, 2011, membership of the committee was changed to Messrs. Campbell (Chairman), David Rhind, James Rhind, and Shumaker. The committee exercises the authority of the Board between meetings of the full Board, subject to the limitations of the Delaware General Corporation Law. The committee did not meet during the Company’s last fiscal year.

The Audit Committee consisted during fiscal year 2011 of Messrs. Keehn (Chairman), Campbell, McCanless, McCrory, and David Rhind. Effective June 23, 2011, membership of the committee changed to Messrs. McCanless (Chairman), Keehn, Campbell, McCrory and Russell. All members of the committee are independent directors. The

 

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committee performs the responsibilities and duties described in the Company’s Audit Committee Charter, and is responsible for annually appointing the independent auditor for the Company, approving services to be performed by the independent auditor, reviewing the independent auditor’s reports, and reviewing the Company’s quarterly and annual financial statements before release to the public. In accordance with Audit Committee Charter guidelines, the committee is responsible for reviewing and approving all related party transactions. The Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Keehn and McCanless are “financial experts” within the meaning of the current rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The committee met five times during the Company’s last fiscal year.

The Compensation Committee consisted during fiscal year 2011 of Messrs. Caldwell (Chairman), Keehn, McCanless, McCrory, and David Rhind. Effective June 23, 2011, membership of the committee was changed to Messrs. McCrory (Chairman), Caldwell, David Rhind, Russell, and Ms. Pyle. All members of the committee are independent directors. The committee considers and provides recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to the compensation (salaries and bonuses) of executive officers of the Company; short- and long-range compensation programs for officers and other key employees of the Company; benefit programs for all employees of the Company; and stock option grants to key employees. The committee also acts as the Stock Option Committee, administering and interpreting the stock option plans for officers and other key employees. The Committee does not have a written charter. The committee met two times during the Company’s last fiscal year. The committee did not engage a compensation consultant during the last fiscal year.

The Financial/Planning Committee consisted during fiscal year 2011 of Messrs. Shumaker (Chairman), Caldwell, Keehn, McCanless, McCrory, David Rhind, and Ms. Pyle. Effective June 23, 2011, membership of the committee was changed to Messrs. Shumaker (Chairman), Caldwell, Campbell, Keehn, McCanless, Russell, and Ms. Pyle. The committee reviews and provides recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to the annual budget for the Company, the Company’s strategic plan and the annual budget for capital expenditures. The committee also reviews the investment results of the assets of the Company’s retirement plans. The committee met three times during the Company’s last fiscal year.

The Nominating Committee, consisted during fiscal year 2011 of Messrs. James Rhind (Chairman), Campbell, Keehn, and Ms. Pyle, each an independent director. The committee makes recommendations to the full Board with respect to candidates for Board membership, officers of the Company, and Board committee membership. The committee met two times during the Company’s last fiscal year.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee replaced the Nominating Committee, effective June 23, 2011. Members of the committee include Messrs. David Rhind (Chairman), McCanless, McCrory, James Rhind, and Ms. Pyle. The committee performs the responsibilities and duties described in the Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter, which is available on the Company’s website at http://www.kewaunee.com. The committee is comprised of at least three directors, all of whom must meet the criteria for independence required by the NASDAQ Global Market. The committee

 

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reviews and recommends to the Board of Directors the appointment of directors to Board committees and the selection of the chairperson of each committee, makes recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to officers of the Company, assures that an up-to-date management succession plan is in place for the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers, reviews and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding director compensation and benefits, periodically reviews the skills and qualifications of existing directors with a view toward a rounded and effective Board, identifies and screens potential nominees to the Board, and reviews stockholder proposals for inclusion in the Company’s Proxy Statement. In addition, the committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning nominees for Board membership brought to its attention by officers, directors and stockholders. Proposals may be addressed to the committee at the address shown on the cover of this Proxy Statement, attention of the Corporate Secretary. At a minimum, a candidate for the Board must have demonstrated significant accomplishment in his or her field, the capacity and experience to understand the broad business operations of the Company, and the vision to assist the Company in its development and expansion. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not favor or disfavor any particular nominee on the basis of race, religion, gender, age or national origin.

Executive sessions of independent directors are held in connection with each regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting, the regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting in June of each year, and at other times as necessary. The Board of Directors’ policy is to hold executive sessions without the presence of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and any other non-independent directors. The Board of Directors has determined that each of Messrs. Caldwell, Campbell, Keehn, McCanless, McCrory, David Rhind, James Rhind, Russell and Ms. Pyle are independent within the meaning of the rules of the NASDAQ Global Market.

The Company does not have a formal policy regarding attendance by members of the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, although all directors are expected to attend. All members of the Board of Directors attended the Company’s 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In the Company’s last fiscal year, no director attended less than 75% of the aggregate of all meetings of the Board and all meetings held by committees of the Board on which such director served.

Board Leadership Structure

The Board determines whether the role of the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer should be separated or combined based on its judgment as to the structure that best serves the interest of the Company. Currently, the Board believes that the positions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officers should be held by the same person as this combination has served and is serving the Company well by providing unified leadership and direction.

When the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer roles are combined, the chair for the Executive Committee (i) acts as the lead independent director and presides at any board meetings at which the Chairman is not present, including executive sessions of the

 

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non-employee directors, (ii) serves as liaison when appropriate between the Chairman and the non-employee directors, and (iii) calls meetings and sets agendas for executive sessions.

Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

The Board oversees risk management processes directly and through its committees. Management is responsible for risk management on a day-to-day basis. The role of the Board and its committees is to oversee the risk management activities of management. The Audit Committee assists the board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to risk management in the areas of financial reporting, internal controls and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Compensation Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to the management of risk arising from our compensation policies and programs. The Nominating Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to the management of risks associated with Board organization, membership and structure, and succession planning for our directors.

Stockholder Communications with the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors recommends that any communications from stockholders be in writing and addressed to the Board in care of the Corporate Secretary, 2700 West Front Street, Statesville, North Carolina 28677-2927. The name of any specific Board member to whom a communication is intended to be addressed should be noted in the communication. The Corporate Secretary will forward such correspondence only to the intended recipient if one is noted; however, the Corporate Secretary, prior to forwarding any correspondence, will review the correspondence, and in his discretion, will not forward certain items if they are deemed frivolous, of inconsequential commercial value or otherwise inappropriate for Board consideration.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

As noted above, the Compensation Committee consisted of Messrs. Caldwell, Keehn, James Rhind, and Ms. Pyle in fiscal year 2011. No executive officer of the Company served as a member of the Compensation Committee or as a director of any other entity, one of whose executive officers serves on the Compensation Committee or is a director of the Company.

Director Compensation

In fiscal year 2011, each director who was not an employee of the Company received for his services as such a quarterly retainer of $5,000 plus a fee of $1,500 for each day of Board and/or committee meetings attended, a daily multiple-meeting fee of $2,000 and a $750 fee for telephone meetings. In addition, the Chairman of each of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Executive Committee, and Compensation Committee receives an annual fee of $2,000 and the Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an annual fee of $5,000. Since Mr. Shumaker is an employee of the Company, he received no fees for his services as Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Financial/Planning Committee. All directors are reimbursed for their expenses for each Board and committee meeting.

 

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Non-employee directors may elect to participate in the Company’s health insurance program at no cost to them. During the last fiscal year, Ms. Pyle and Messrs. McCanless and McCrory participated in this program.

During fiscal year 2011, the stockholders approved the 2010 Stock Option Plan for Directors (the “2010 Plan”). The 2010 Plan is designed to promote the interests and long-range prospects of the Company and its stockholders by attracting and retaining well-qualified directors who are not employees of the Company. On the effective date of the 2010 Plan, each eligible director of the Company was granted an option to purchase 10,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. Each person who becomes an eligible director after the effective date of the 2010 Plan will be granted on the date of his or her election an option to purchase 10,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The 2010 Plan authorizes the Board of Directors, until August 25, 2020, to grant options to purchase a total of not more than 100,0000 shares of the Company’s common stock to eligible directors of the Company. If an option expires or is terminated unexercised as to any shares, such released shares may again be subject to newly granted options. The option price for shares granted under the 2010 Plan is the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Options will be granted under the 2010 Plan for a term of five years and will be exercisable in four equal installments, one-fourth becoming exercisable on the next August 1 following the date of grant, and an additional one-fourth becoming exercisable on August 1 of each of the next three years. During fiscal year 2011, all directors who were not employees of the Company were granted an option to purchase 10,000 shares of the Company’s stock in accordance with the 2010 Plan. Mr. Russell was granted a similar option upon his election to the Board on May 31, 2011.

Director Compensation Table

The following table provides compensation information for the one year period ended April 30, 2011 for each member of the Board of Directors who served as a director in the last fiscal year.

 

Name

  Fees
Earned
or Paid in
Cash
    Stock
Awards
    Option
Awards (1)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
    Change in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
    All Other
Compensation
    Total  

Wiley N. Caldwell

  $ 39,500        —        $ 38,300        —          —          —        $ 77,800   

John C. Campbell, Jr.

    39,750        —          38,300        —          —          —          78,050   

Silas Keehn

    45,000        —          38,300        —          —          —          83,300   

Ross W. McCanless

    39,250        —          38,300        —          —          —          77,550   

Patrick L. McCrory

    37,750        —          38,300        —          —          —          76,050   

Margaret B. Pyle

    38,750        —          38,300        —          —          —          77,050   

David S. Rhind

    38,250        —          38,300        —          —          —          76,550   

James T. Rhind

    40,750        —          38,300        —          —          —          79,050   

William A. Shumaker (2)

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —     

 

(1)

See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of the assumptions underlying the value of stock options.

 

(2)

Mr. Shumaker is an employee of the Company and during the last fiscal year received no compensation for service as a director. See the Summary Compensation Table for disclosure related to the compensation received by Mr. Shumaker, who also is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

 

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Audit Committee Report

The Audit Committee is composed solely of independent directors and is responsible for overseeing the Company’s financial reporting process and other duties as described in the Audit Committee Charter. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Committee has reviewed and discussed the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2011 with management and the Company’s registered independent public accounting firm. Management of the Company is responsible for these financial statements and the Company’s financial reporting process, including the Company’s system of internal controls. The independent auditors are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of these financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The Committee has discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 relating to the conduct of the audit. The Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, L.L.P. required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees, and has discussed with Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, L.L.P. their independence.

The Audit Committee also considered whether the provision of non-audit services by Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, L.L.P., if any, was compatible with maintaining its independence. Based on the Committee’s review of the audited financial statements and the review and discussions described in this paragraph, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2011 be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2011 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All members of the committee meet the independence standards established by the NASDAQ Global Market.

Audit Committee Members

Ross W. McCanless, Chairman

John C. Campbell, Jr.

Silas Keehn

Patrick L. McCrory

John D. Russell

 

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INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, L.L.P. has served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company’s annual financial statements and to review the financial statements to be included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The decision to engage Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, L.L.P. is approved annually by the Company’s Audit Committee.

It is expected that a representative of Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, L.L.P. will be present at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on August 24, 2011 to answer any appropriate questions and such representative will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires.

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services

The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the Company’s independent auditors on a case-by-case basis. In making such determination, the Audit Committee considers whether the provision of non-audit services is compatible with maintaining the auditor’s independence. All of the audit and non-audit services provided by the Company’s independent auditors on behalf of the Company in 2011 and 2010 were pre-approved in accordance with this policy.

Audit Fees and Non-Audit Fees

The following fees were paid or will be paid to the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for professional services rendered on behalf of the Company related to the past two fiscal years:

 

     2011      2010  

Audit of Financial Statements

   $ 105,000       $ 103,000   

Audit-Related Services

     24,000         24,000   

All Other Fees

     —           —     
                 

Total

   $ 129,000       $ 127,000   
                 

Audit services consisted of the audit of the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and the review of the Company’s quarterly financial statements. Audit-related services consisted of fees for audits of financial statements of employee benefit plans.

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Executive compensation is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board, which is composed solely of independent directors.

The objective of the Company’s executive compensation program is to attract, motivate, reward and retain management talent critical to the Company’s achievement of its objectives. Salaries and other compensation for the Company’s executive officers are based on

 

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each executive officer’s responsibilities, level of experience, and performance over time, as well as on the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer. In order to assure that salaries and compensation remain competitive, the Company subscribes to and consults various published surveys on executive compensation.

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, limits the deduction for federal income tax purposes of certain compensation paid by any publicly-held corporation to its chief executive officer and its four other most highly compensated executive officers to $1 million per year for each such executive. Because the levels of compensation of executive officers traditionally have been well below the deduction limit, the Company has not adopted a formal policy with respect to Section 162(m).

Executive Officer Compensation

The four principal components of the Company’s compensation program for executive officers are discussed below.

Base Salary

The Compensation Committee annually reviews the base salaries of executive officers. Prior to the meeting at which the annual review occurs, the Committee is provided (i) information furnished by the Company’s human resources department on historical data about the base and total compensation for each executive, and marketplace compensation data, including both base and incentive compensation data, for comparable positions at other manufacturing and service companies with generally similar annual sales volume, and (ii) individual performance appraisals and recommended base salary adjustments from the Chief Executive Officer for each executive officer, except himself. The human resources department also provides a base salary range based on class for each executive officer, which shows a minimum, mid-point, and maximum salary, and the position of the executive officer’s base salary in this range. The base salary range is established using marketplace comparison data and the individual responsibilities of the executive officer’s position, and is updated each year for inflation. The Company typically targets base salaries at the mid-point of the Company’s established range for a position. The Committee further considers, on a subjective basis, the executive officer’s particular qualifications, level of experience, and sustained performance over time. These same factors are also considered in determining an adjustment to the salary of the Chief Executive Officer. Base salaries are traditionally adjusted as of July 1 of each year.

Annual Incentive Compensation

All of the Company’s executive officers are eligible to participate in an annual incentive bonus plan, pursuant to which each executive officer is eligible to earn a cash bonus for each fiscal year of the Company, based primarily on the attainment of earnings goals established in the incentive bonus plan and, to a lesser extent, on the executive officer’s achievement of established personal objectives to the degree determined by the Board of Directors upon the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Compensation Committee.

 

11


At the beginning of each fiscal year, the Board of Directors approves earnings goals for the Company for such year and, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, establishes specified percentages of each executive officer’s base salary that will be available for bonuses if the Company and/or its operating businesses achieves specified earnings goals and the executive officer achieves his or her personal goals. The Board of Directors generally attempts to establish annual earnings goals at target levels it believes are challenging, but achievable, with earnings above target levels considered to be relatively difficult to achieve. In determining the level of available bonuses for each executive officer, many of the same factors considered in determining an executive officer’s base salary are also considered by the Committee and the Board of Directors.

For fiscal year 2011, the specified bonus percentages for executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer ranged from 1.0% of an executive officer’s base salary, if the Company achieved 80% of targeted earnings for the year, increasing to a maximum of 68% of an executive’s base salary, as earnings reached 120% of targeted earnings. The corresponding specified percentages for the Chief Executive Officer were from 1.5% to a maximum of 82.5%.

Long-Term Incentive Plans

The Company uses stock options as its long-term incentive plan for executive officers. Stock option awards are normally made annually in August by the Board of Directors, based on the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer, with respect to all stock options other than his own, and the Compensation Committee. The exercise price of the granted stock options is the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. Individual awards are based on an individual’s performance, his or her comparative base salary level and the number of stock option grants previously made to him or her. In August 2010 and 2009, the Company granted stock options on a total of 20,000 and 16,000 shares, respectively, of the Company’s common stock to the Chief Executive Officer and named executive officers under the Company’s stock option plans.

Other Compensation Plans

Executive officers of the Company who met eligibility requirements as of April 30, 2005, participate in the Company’s Pension Plan. The Plan provides retirement benefits for participating employees. The annual benefit amount is calculated as 40% of the 10-year final average annual compensation (salary and bonus) minus 50% of the primary social security benefit, all multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of years of credited service up to 30 years, and the denominator of which is 30. Participants in the Plan may elect among several payment alternatives. As of April 30, 2005, the Company “froze” the benefits under the Plan. As a result, no further benefits will be earned under the Plan after that date and no additional participants will be added to the Plan. To the extent ERISA rules restricted the amount otherwise payable under the Plan, the benefit amount in excess of the restrictions will be paid by the Company under the provisions of the Company’s non-qualified Pension Equalization Plan.

 

12


The Company has a 401(k) Incentive Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plan”) which covers substantially all salaried and hourly employees, including all of the executive officers. The plan provides benefits to all employees who have attained age 21, completed three months of service, and who elect to participate. Under terms of the plan, the Company makes matching contributions equal to 100% of the employee’s qualifying contribution up to 3% of the employee’s compensation, and makes matching contributions equal to 50% of the employee’s contributions between 3% and 5% of the employee’s compensation, resulting in a maximum employer contribution equal to 4% of the employee’s compensation. Additionally, the Company may make a non-matching contribution for participants employed by the Company on December 31 of each year up to 1% of the participant’s qualifying compensation for that calendar year based on the profitability of the Company.

The Company also has a non-qualified 401 Plus Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the “401 Plus Plan”), which supplements the 401(k) Plan. The 401 Plus Plan was adopted to provide highly compensated employees an alternative retirement plan because income tax laws restrict the amount of contributions executives may otherwise have contributed to the 401(k) Plan. The 401 Plus Plan operates similarly to the 401(k) Plan, in that the Company makes matching credits to the participant’s account in an amount equal to 50% of the compensation deferred by the participant up to 3% of the participant’s compensation. Amounts deferred under the plan will be distributed to the participant after the participant’s termination of employment with the Company in cash in a lump sum or installments at a time previously elected by the participant. All of the named executive officers participated in the 401(k) Plan and the 401 Plus Plan in fiscal year 2011.

Each of the Company’s executive officers is entitled to receive additional compensation in the form of payments, allocations, or accruals under various other group compensation and benefit plans on the same basis as other employees. Benefits under these plans are not directly, or indirectly, tied to employee or Company performance.

Chief Executive Officer Compensation

The Compensation Committee considers the Chief Executive Officer’s leadership an important factor in the future success of the Company. The compensation of the CEO has traditionally included base salary, annual incentive compensation, long-term incentive compensation, and benefits under various group plans. In establishing Mr. Shumaker’s base salary for each fiscal year, the Compensation Committee considers operating results for the prior year and the outlook for the current year, continued development of the management team, operational improvements, compensation of chief executive officers of other companies with comparable sales, a review of his base salary in relation to the range for his position proposed by the human resources department, and the price of the Company’s common stock. The CEO’s annual incentive compensation and long-term incentive compensation are determined pursuant to the Company’s incentive plans for executive officers. Mr. Shumaker did not earn a cash bonus in fiscal year 2011 under the annual incentive bonus plan since the minimum targeted earnings threshold was not achieved. In August 2010, Mr. Shumaker was granted stock options on 12,500 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price at the fair market value of the common stock on that date.

 

13


COMPENSATION TABLES

Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal Year 2011

 

Name and

Principal Position

  Year     Base
Salary
($)
    Bonus
($)
    Stock
Awards
    Option
Awards
($) (1)
    Change in
Pension Value
And
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($) (2)
    All Other
Compensation
($) (3)
    Total
($)
 

William A. Shumaker

    2011        394,303        —          —          47,375        30,254        30,210        502,142   

President and Chief Executive Officer

    2010        363,475        —          —          44,200        43,278        29,078        480,031   

D. Michael Parker

    2011        229,236        —          —          28,425        21,265        17,571        296,497   

Senior Vice President, Finance
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary

    2010        222,232        —          —          26,520        34,534        17,778        301,064   

Sudhir K. (Steve) Vadehra (4)

    2011        175,808        25,985        —          —          8,176        82,255        292,224   

Vice President, International Operations

    2010        171,016        —          —          —          13,669        62,113        246,798   

 

(1)

See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of the assumptions underlying the value of stock options.

 

(2)

The amount listed for each named executive officer consists of the current year change in the present value of benefits earned under the Pension Plan. Mr. Shumaker’s amount also includes an increase of $4,863 during the year in the present value of his benefits earned under the Pension Equalization Plan. No benefits were earned under the Pension Plan or Pension Equalization Plan during the year. See the “Pension Benefits” section of this Proxy Statement for additional information regarding the Pension Plan and the Pension Equalization Plan.

 

(3)

The amount listed for Messrs. Shumaker and Parker consists of the matching contributions made or accrued by the Company on behalf of that executive officer to the Company’s 401(k) Incentive Savings Plan and 401 Plus Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. Mr. Vadehra’s amount includes $50,981 and $34,588 paid to Mr. Vadehra in fiscal years 2011 and 2010, respectively, to offset the devaluation of the United States dollar against the Singapore dollar from a predetermined base; $19,175 and $16,446, respectively, for matching contributions made or accrued by the Company on behalf of Mr. Vadehra to the Company’s 401(k) Incentive Savings Plan and 401 Plus Executive Deferred Compensation Plan; and $12,099 and $11,109, respectively, for automobile allowance.

 

(4)

Mr. Vadehra’s salary and benefits are paid by the Company and reimbursed by Kewaunee Labway Asia Pte. Ltd., a dealer for the Company’s products in Singapore which is 51% owned by the Company.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

The following table sets forth information with regard to stock options granted to each named executive during fiscal year 2011 under the Company’s 2008 Employee Stock Option Plan. No other equity incentive plan awards or non-equity incentive plan awards were granted to the named executives during the year.

 

Name

   Grant Date      Option Awards:
Number of Shares
Underlying
Options
     Exercise Price of
Option Awards
($)
     Grant Date
Fair Value of
Option Awards (1)
($)
 

William A. Shumaker

     August 25, 2010         12,500         10.64         47,375   

D. Michael Parker

     August 25, 2010         7,500         10.64         28,425   

Sudhir K. (Steve) Vadehra

             —           —           —     

 

(1)

See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of the assumptions underlying the value of stock options.

 

14


Outstanding Equity Awards at April 30, 2011

 

     Option Awards (1)  

Name

   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options-
Exercisable
(#)
     Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options-
Unexercisable
(#)
     Option
Exercise
Price
($)
     Option
Expiration
Date
 

William A. Shumaker

     5,000         —           9.55         8/25/11   
     9,000         —           9.10         8/28/12   
     7,575         2,525         14.90         8/28/17   
     3,750         3,750         14.69         8/28/18   
     2,500         7,500         12.66         8/22/19   
     —           12,500         10.64         8/25/20   

D. Michael Parker

     1,500         —           9.55         8/22/11   
     4,500         1,500         14.90         8/22/17   
     2,000         2,000         14.69         8/22/18   
     1,500         4,500         12.66         8/22/19   
     —           7,500         10.64         8/25/20   

Sudhir K. (Steve) Vadehra

     —           —           —           —     

 

(1)

The options listed below vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date (which is 10 years prior to the expiration date shown for each option).

Equity Compensation Plans

The following table summarizes information about the Company’s equity compensation plans as of April 30, 2011. All outstanding awards relate to the Company’s common stock.

 

Plan Category

   Number of
securities to be issued
upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants, and rights
     Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants, and rights
     Number of
securities remaining
available for future
issuance under equity
compensation plans (1)
 

Equity compensation plans approved by
stockholders

     279,800       $ 11.94         185,300   

Equity compensation plans not approved by
stockholders

     —           —           —     
                          

Total

     279,800       $ 11.94         185,300   
                          

 

(1)

Represents shares available for future issuance under the Company’s 2008 Key Employee Stock Option Plan and the 2010 Stock Option Plan for Directors. No options were available for grant under any other equity compensation plans of the Company.

 

15


Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

This following table includes information regarding the estimated amount of payments and other benefits each named executive officer would receive if his employment with the Company was terminated on April 30, 2011.

 

Name and Benefits

  For Cause
or Voluntary
termination other
than for
Good Reason ($)
    Termination
Without Cause
and no
Change in Control ($)
    Termination
Without Cause
after Change in Control ($)
 

William A. Shumaker

     

Base salary

    —        $ 400,000      $ 800,000   

Annual bonus

        64,487   

Pension Equalization Plan

    —          —          46,489   

401(k)/401 Plus Deferred Compensation Plans (1)

    —          —          69,159   

Life insurance benefit

    —          —          68,300   

Medical & disability insurance

    —          8,056        16,112   
                       

Total

    $ 408,056      $ 1,064,547   
                       

D. Michael Parker

     

Base salary

    —        $ 230,350      $ 460,700   

Annual bonus

        32,507   

Pension Equalization Plan

    —          —          —     

401(k)/401 Plus Deferred Compensation Plans (1)

    —          —          39,457   

Life insurance benefit

    —          —          55,973   

Medical & disability insurance

    —          8,010        16,020   
                       

Total

    $ 238,360      $ 604,657   
                       

Sudhir K. (Steve) Vadehra

     

Base salary

    —        $ 176,600      $ 176,600   

Annual bonus (2)

  $ 25,985        25,985        25,985   

Medical & disability insurance

    —          6,804        6,804   
                       

Total

  $ 25,985      $ 209,389      $ 209,389   
                       

 

(1)

Represents the additional Company matching contributions the executive officer would have earned under both the 401 Plus Deferred Compensation Plan and the 401(k) Incentive Savings Plan for the base salary and annual bonus amounts shown.

 

(2)

Annual bonus earned in fiscal year 2011, but not paid until after April 30, 2011.

 

16


AGREEMENTS WITH CERTAIN EXECUTIVES

The Company entered into Change of Control Employment Agreements (the “Agreements”) with (i) Messrs. Shumaker; Parker; and Kurt P. Rindoks, Vice President of Engineering and Product Development, in fiscal year 2000, (ii) with Messrs. Keith D. Smith, Vice President of Manufacturing; Dana L. Dahlgren, Vice President of Sales and Marketing – Laboratory Products Group; and David M. Rausch, Senior Vice President, Construction Services and General Manager of Laminate Furniture Division, in fiscal year 2005, (iii) Mr. K. Bain Black, Vice President, General Manager – Technical Furniture Group, in fiscal year 2008, and (iv) with Mrs. Elizabeth D. Phillips, Vice President of Human Resources, in fiscal year 2010. These agreements provide for the payment of compensation and benefits in the event of termination of their employment within three years following a Change of Control of the Company, as defined in the Agreements. Each executive officer whose employment is so terminated will receive compensation if the termination of his or her employment was by the Company or its successor without cause, or by the executive officer for good reason, as defined in the agreements. Upon such a termination of employment within one year following a Change of Control, the Company or its successor will be required to make, in addition to unpaid ordinary compensation and a lump-sum cash payment for certain benefits, a lump-sum cash payment equal to the executive officer’s annual compensation with respect to Messrs. Black, Rindoks, Smith, Dahlgren, and Rausch and Mrs. Phillips, and two (2) times the executive officer’s annual compensation with respect to Messrs. Shumaker and Parker. Upon a termination of employment occurring after the first anniversary, but within three years, of the date of the Change of Control, in addition to unpaid ordinary compensation and a lump-sum cash payment for certain benefits, Messrs. Black, Rindoks, Smith, Dahlgren, and Rausch and Mrs. Phillips will be entitled to a lump-sum payment equal to one-half (1/2) of their annual compensation and Messrs. Shumaker and Parker will be entitled to a lump-sum payment equal to their annual compensation. See “Compensation Tables – Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” for other entitlements for the named executive officers under terms of the Agreements.

In August 2004, the Company entered into an employment letter agreement with Mr. Black, which provides that if he is terminated without cause, the Company will be obligated to pay him separation pay equal to his current base salary for nine (9) months, reduced by any income earned by him during the payment period.

Kewaunee Labway Asia Pte. Ltd., a dealer for the Company’s products in Singapore, is a joint venture formed in June 1998 between the Company and an entity controlled by Mr. Vadehra. The Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kewaunee Scientific Corporation Singapore, Pte. Ltd., owns 51% of Kewaunee Labway Asia, and the entity controlled by Mr. Vadehra owns the remaining 49% interest. Mr. Vadehra was elected Vice President of International Operations of the Company in June 2004. He has also served as the Managing Director of Kewaunee Labway Asia since its formation in 1998.

 

17


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following table contains information with respect to the “beneficial ownership” (as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission) of shares of the Company’s common stock, as of July 1, 2011, by (i) each director and director nominee, (ii) each of the named executive officers and (iii) all directors and executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated by footnote, the shares shown are held directly with sole voting and investment power.

 

Name

   Shares
beneficially
owned (1)
     Percent
of class
 

Margaret B. Pyle (2)

     57,909         2.2

Wiley N. Caldwell

     8,000         *   

John C. Campbell, Jr. (3)

     44,167         1.7

Silas Keehn

     7,500         *   

Ross W. McCanless

     7,300         *   

Patrick L. McCrory

     3,440         *   

David S. Rhind

     24,955         *   

James T. Rhind (4)

     344,396         13.4

John D. Russell

     2,500         *   

William A. Shumaker (5)

     66,408         2.6

D. Michael Parker (6)

     32,812         1.3

Sudhir K. (Steve) Vadehra

     —           —     

Directors and executive officers as a group (18 persons)

     667,234         25.9

 

*

Percentage of class is less than 1%.

 

(1)

Includes shares which may be acquired within sixty (60) days from July 1, 2011 upon exercise of options by: Ms. Pyle – 2,500; Messrs. Caldwell, Campbell, Keehn, McCanless, McCrory, D. Rhind, J. Rhind and J. Russell – 2,500 each; Mr. Shumaker – 32,850; and Mr. Parker – 13,875; and all officers and directors as a group – 123,225.

 

(2)

Includes 9,275 shares held by Ms. Pyle as custodian for the benefit of her three adult children and 3,000 shares held by her spouse, as to all of which shares she disclaims beneficial ownership.

 

(3)

Includes 21,083 shares held by Mr. Campbell’s wife, as to which shares he disclaims beneficial ownership.

 

(4)

Includes 228,079 shares held by Mr. James Rhind’s wife, Laura Campbell Rhind, 44,080 shares held by Mrs. Rhind as trustee and beneficiary of a trust under the will of Ruth Haney Campbell, as to which shares Mrs. Rhind shares voting and investment power, and 22,455 shares held by a trust of which Mr. James Rhind is sole trustee. Mr. Rhind disclaims beneficial ownership of all of such shares.

 

(5)

Includes 33,376 shares in which Mr. Shumaker shares voting and investment power.

 

(6)

Includes 18,809 shares in which Mr. Parker shares voting and investment power.

 

18


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

The following table contains information with respect to the “beneficial ownership” (as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission) of shares of the Company’s common stock, as of July 1, 2011, by each person who is known by management of the Company to have been the “beneficial owner” of more than five percent of such stock as of such date. Except as otherwise indicated by footnote, the shares shown are held with sole voting and investment power.

 

Name

   Shares
beneficially
owned
    Percent
of class
 

Donald Gardner

     226,787 (1)      8.8

Laura Campbell Rhind

     344,396 (2)      13.4

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

     183,201 (3)      7.1

 

(1)

Includes 58,750 shares held by Gardner Family Preferred Equity LLC, of which Mr. Gardner is a director; 76,301 shares held by the Elizabeth B. Gardner Marital Trust, of which Mr. Gardner is a trustee; 40,909 shares held by the Anne E. Gardner Trust, of which Mr. Gardner is one of three trustees; 38,902 shares held by the Thomas H. Gardner Trust, of which Mr. Gardner is one of three trustees; and 11,925 shares held by Mr. Gardner directly. Mr. Gardner disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the Anne E. Gardner Trust and the Thomas H. Gardner Trust. Mr. Gardner’s address is 2500 Indigo Lane, Apt. 357, Glenview, Illinois 60026.

 

(2)

Includes 44,080 shares held as trustee and beneficiary of a trust under the will of Ruth Haney Campbell, as to which shares Mrs. Rhind shares voting and investment power, 69,737 shares held by Mr. James Rhind personally or as trustee, and 2,500 shares which may be acquired by Mr. Rhind within sixty (60) days from July 1, 2011 upon exercise of options. Mrs. Rhind’s address is 830 Normandy Lane, Glenview, Illinois 60025.

 

(3)

The shares owned by Dimensional Fund Advisors listed in the table are shown as being owned as of December 31, 2010 according to a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 11, 2011. Dimensional Fund Advisors’ address is Palisades West, Building One, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Austin, TX 78746.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s executive officers, directors and 10% stockholders to file reports of ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such persons also are required to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on its review of copies of such forms received by it and inquiries of such persons, the Company believes that all such filing requirements applicable to its executive officers, directors and 10% stockholders were complied with, except for a purchase of 750 shares by Mr. K. Bain Black on September 14, 2010 that was reported on a Form 4 filed on September 21, 2010.

 

19


PROXIES AND VOTING AT THE MEETING

The expense of solicitation of proxies is to be paid by the Company. The Company will also reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable expenses in sending proxies and proxy material to the beneficial owners of the Company’s common stock. This Proxy Statement and the 2011 Annual Report to Stockholders are available at http://bnymellon.mobular.net/bnymellon/kequ. To obtain directions to attend the annual meeting, please contact the Secretary of the Company.

At the close of business on July 1, 2011, the record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting, there were 2,578,814 shares of common stock of the Company outstanding and entitled to vote.

Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote. Any stockholder giving a proxy has the power to revoke it at any time before it is voted, by written notice to the Secretary, by delivery of a later-dated proxy or in person at the meeting.

The holders of a majority of the total shares of common stock issued and outstanding, whether present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the meeting. The vote of a plurality of the shares represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy, is required to elect the two nominees for director. Approval of any other matter submitted to the stockholders for their consideration at the meeting requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote. Abstentions, directions to withhold authority, and broker non-votes are counted as shares present in the determination of whether the shares of stock represented at the meeting constitute a quorum. Abstentions, directions to withhold authority, and broker non-votes are not counted in tabulations of the votes cast on proposals presented to stockholders. Thus, an abstention, direction to withhold authority, or broker non-vote with respect to a matter other than the election of directors, may have the same legal effect as a vote against the matter. With respect to the election of directors, an abstention, direction to withhold authority or broker non-vote will have no effect. An automated system administered by the Company’s transfer agent will be used to tabulate votes.

A stockholder entitled to vote for the election of directors can withhold authority to vote for any of the nominees.

 

20


STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

The deadline for receipt of stockholder proposals for inclusion in the Company’s 2012 proxy material is March 24, 2012. Any stockholder proposal should be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Company at its principal executive offices. The stockholder proposal must include the stockholder’s name and address as it appears on the Company’s records and the number of shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by such stockholder. In addition, (i) for proposals other than nominations for the election of directors, such notice must include a description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for presenting such business at the meeting, and any material interest of the stockholder in such business, and (ii) for proposals relating to stockholder nominations for the election of directors, such notice must also include, with respect to each person nominated, the information required by Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act. All other proposals to be presented at the meeting must be delivered to the Secretary of the Company, in writing, by June 7, 2012.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Company has enclosed its Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2011 with this Proxy Statement. Stockholders are referred to the report for financial and other information about the Company, but such report is not incorporated in this Proxy Statement and is not a part of the proxy soliciting material.

OTHER MATTERS

Management of the Company knows of no other matters which are likely to be brought before the annual meeting. If any such matters are brought before the meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote thereon according to their judgment.

 

  

By Order of the Board of Directors

  

LOGO  

  

D. MICHAEL PARKER

  

Secretary

July 22, 2011

 

21


LOGO

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE VOTE TODAY.

We encourage Both you are avail to take able advantage 24 hours a of day, Internet 7 days or a telephone week. voting.

Internet and telephone voting is available through 11:59 PM Eastern Time the day prior to the stockholder meeting date.

INTERNET

http://www.proxyvoting.com/kequ

Use the Internet to vote your proxy.

Have your proxy card in hand when you

access the web site.

KEWAUNEE SCIENTIFIC OR

CORPORATION TELEPHONE

1-866-540-5760

Use any touch- tone tele phone to vote

your proxy. Have your proxy card in

hand when you call .

If you vote your proxy by Internet or by telephone,

you do NOT need to mail back your proxy card.

To vote by mail, mark, sign and date your proxy card

and re turn it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope .

Your Internet or telephone vote authorizes the

named proxies to vote your shares in the same

manner as if you marked, signed and returned your

proxy card.

WO#

02769-1

FOLD AND DETACH HERE

This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed by the undersigned stockholder. If no contrary direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR the election of the nominees named niI t em 1 below and with discretio nary authority upon such other business as may properly come be f o re the meeting. Please mark your vote n i side one box below

Please mark your votes as

FOR

WITHHOLD

ind ica ted in thi s example

X

the nominees li sted

AU THORI TY

(e xcept as ma rked

to vo te for th e

to the contrary)

nomin ee (s ) li sted

*EXCEP TIONS

1. Ele ctio n of Class I Directors 2. In t h eir discreti on, h t e Proxies are authorized o t vote upon such other business as may properly come befo re h t e Meeting.

Nominees:

You are urg ed t o date, sign an d return promptly t h is proxy in the envelope pro vided. It is

01 David S. Rhind important for you t o be e r presented at t h e Meeting. The execution of t h is proxy will not af ect your rig ht t o vote in person if you are present at the Meeti ng and wish t o so vote.

02 John D. Russel

I( NS TRUCTIONS: To wi h t hold authority to vote o f r any n i dividual nominee, mark the “Excepti ons” box above and write t h at nominee’s name n i h t e spa ce pro vide d belo w.)

*Exceptio ns            

Mark Here f o r Addre ss Change or Comments SEE REVER SE

IMPORTANT: Please sig n exactly as your name or names appe ar her eon. If signin g as an attorney, exec utor, adminis trator, t r ustee, guardian, or in some other representative capacity, or as an of ic er of a cor po ration, please in dica te your capacity or f u ll title. f I st ock is held jointly , each jo in t owner should sign.

Signature Signature Date


LOGO

 

Choose MLinkSM for fast, easy and secure 24/7 onlin e access o t your future proxy materia ls, investment plan statements, t a x documents and more. Simply o l g on o t n I vestor ServiceDirect® at www.bnymellon.com/shareowner/e quity access where step-by-step instructions wil l prompt you h t rough enrollment.

Important notice regarding the Internet availa bilit y of proxy materia ls for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Proxy Statement and the 2011 Annual Report to Stockholders are available at: http://bnymellon.mobular.net/bnymel on/kequ

FOLD AND DETACH HERE

PROXY

KEWAUNEE SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

2700 WEST FRONT STREET

STATESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28677-2927

THIS PROXY IS SOLIC ITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned hereby appoin ts John C. Campell, Jr., Ross W. McCanle ss and Margaret B. Pyle as Proxies, each with power of substitution, and here by authoriz es them to e r present and to vote, as designated on the r e verse side hereof, all the share s of common stock of Kewaunee Scientific Corporation held of e r cord by the undersigned on July 1, 2011, at h t e Annual Meetin g of Stockholders to be held at 10:00 a.m., Central Daylight Time, on August 24, 2011 and at any adjournment thereof.

Your vote o f r w t o directors may be ndicated i on the reverse side. David S. Rhin d and John D. Russell have been nominated for ele ction as Class I Directors.

Address Change/Comments

( M ark the corresponding box on the e r verse side)

BNY MELLON SHAREOWNER SERVICES

P.O. BOX 3550

SOUTH HACKENSACK, NJ 07606-9250

(Contin ued and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side) WO# 02769-1