UNITED STATES |
SCHEDULE 14A |
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF |
Filed by the registrant [X] |
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Filed by a party other than the registrant [ ] |
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Check the appropriate box: |
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Preliminary proxy statement. |
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Confidential, for use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)). |
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[X] |
Definitive proxy statement. |
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Definitive additional materials. |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 |
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LaBarge, Inc. |
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) |
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if Other Than the Registrant) |
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Payment of filing fee (check the appropriate box): |
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[X] No fee required. |
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[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed |
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pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the |
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act |
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Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was |
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paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement |
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number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing. |
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(1) Amount Previously Paid: |
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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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(4) Date Filed: |
NOTICE OF
ANNUAL MEETING
AND PROXY STATEMENT
NOVEMBER 11, 2009
LaBarge, Inc.
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
NOVEMBER 11, 2009
To the Stockholders:
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of LaBarge, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at the executive offices of the Company located at 9900 Clayton Road, St. Louis, Missouri, on November 11, 2009, at 4:00 P.M., St. Louis
time. Stockholders who do not attend the Annual Meeting in person are invited to listen to a webcast of the meeting, which will be accessible on the Internet at www.labarge.com.
At the Annual Meeting, Common Stockholders will be asked:
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To elect two Class B Directors for a term ending in 2012; |
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To consider and act upon the ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP as independent registered public accountants for fiscal 2010; and |
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
Only Stockholders whose names appear of record at the Company’s close of business on September 18, 2009 are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
We encourage you to vote via Internet or telephone, or you may mail your proxy.
If you receive more than one proxy card because you own shares registered in different names or at different addresses, please vote each proxy as soon as possible by following the instructions on the proxy card regarding
voting by Internet, telephone or mail.
By Order of the Board of Directors |
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/S/ DONALD H. NONNENKAMP |
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Donald H. Nonnenkamp |
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Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary |
October 12, 2009
ALL STOCKHOLDERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING. WHETHER OR NOT YOU INTEND TO BE PRESENT, PLEASE VOTE YOUR PROXY. STOCKHOLDERS CAN HELP THE COMPANY AVOID UNNECESSARY EXPENSE AND DELAY BY PROMPTLY VOTING THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD. THE
PRESENCE, IN PERSON OR BY PROPERLY SUBMITTED PROXY, OF A MAJORITY OF THE COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING ON THE RECORD DATE IS NECESSARY TO CONSTITUTE A QUORUM AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.
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LaBarge, Inc. |
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9900 Clayton Road |
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St. Louis, Missouri 63124 |
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PROXY STATEMENT |
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Annual Meeting of Stockholders |
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to be held on November 11, 2009 |
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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting
The Proxy Statement and Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended June 28, 2009 are available at http://www.cfpproxy.com/5197. |
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This Proxy Statement and the enclosed form of proxy are being furnished to the Common Stockholders of LaBarge, Inc. (the “Company”) on or about October 12, 2009, in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company, for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on November 11, 2009 at the time, place and for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting, and at any adjournment of that meeting. |
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Holders of shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company at its close of business on September 18, 2009 (the “Record Date”) will be entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, 15,958,839 shares of Common Stock were outstanding. Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held of record on the Record Date on each matter that may properly come before the Annual Meeting. |
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Directors will be elected by a plurality of the voting power represented and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. The passage of any other proposal will be determined by the affirmative vote of the majority of the voting power represented and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. In the election of directors, abstentions and broker non-votes will not affect the outcome except in determining the presence of a quorum; they will not be counted toward the number of votes required for any nominee’s election. An instruction to “abstain” from voting on any other proposal will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal. Broker non-votes will not be considered as present and entitled to vote on the proposals. Therefore, under applicable Delaware law, broker non-votes will have no effect on the number of affirmative votes required to adopt such proposal. |
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Stockholders of record on the Record Date are entitled to cast their votes in person or by properly submitted proxy at the Annual Meeting. Stockholders wishing to vote their shares by proxy may do so either (i) by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed envelope, or (ii) by Internet or telephone. Instructions for voting by Internet or telephone are contained on the proxy card. For additional information on how to obtain directions to be able to attend the meeting and vote in person, please write to the Company’s Corporate Secretary at LaBarge, Inc., 9900 Clayton Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63124 or call (314) 997-0800. The presence, in person or by properly submitted proxy, of a majority of the Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. If a quorum is not present at the time the Annual Meeting is convened, the Company may adjourn the Annual Meeting. |
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All Common Stock represented at the Annual Meeting by properly submitted proxies received prior to or at the Annual Meeting and not properly revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions indicated in such proxies. If no instructions are indicated, such proxies will be voted FOR election of the Board’s nominees as directors, FOR ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP, and, at the discretion of the named proxies, on any other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors of the Company does not know of any matters other than the matters described in the Notice of Annual Meeting attached to this Proxy Statement that will come before the Annual Meeting. |
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Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person giving it at any time before it is voted. Proxies may be revoked by (i) filing with the Secretary of the Company, at or before the Annual Meeting, a written notice of revocation bearing a date later than the date of the proxy, (ii) submitting a new proxy with a later date, including a proxy given via the Internet or by telephone, or (iii) attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person (although attendance at the Annual Meeting will not in and of itself constitute a revocation of a proxy). Any written notice revoking a proxy should be sent to: Corporate Secretary, LaBarge, Inc., 9900 Clayton Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63124. |
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The proxies are solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company. In addition to the use of the Internet, telephone and mail, proxies may be solicited personally or by facsimile transmission by directors, officers or regular employees of the Company. The cost of solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company. |
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A copy of the Company’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended June 28, 2009 is being mailed to each Stockholder along with this Proxy Statement. |
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The date of this Proxy Statement is October 12, 2009. |
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS |
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The Board of Directors of the Company is divided into three classes, designated as Class A, Class B and Class C. Each Director is elected for a three-year term and the term of each Class expires in a different year. Under the Company’s bylaws, the Board of Directors has the authority to fix the number of directors. The number of directors currently is fixed at six. |
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The Board of Directors has nominated for election two Class B Directors: Messrs. John G. Helmkamp, Jr. and Lawrence J. LeGrand. Each of the nominees is currently serving as a Director of the Company and has consented to continue to serve as a Director if elected. Unless proxy cards are marked to withhold authority to vote for any Director nominee, the proxies intend to vote all properly executed proxies FOR election of each of the Director nominees. |
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The following biographical information is furnished with respect to each nominee and each current Director whose term continues after the Annual Meeting. |
Mr. Helmkamp has been a Director since 1998 and serves as a member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. He retired from the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Illinois State Bank and Trust in 1996 where he served in those capacities for more than five years. |
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Mr. LeGrand became a Director in 1998 and serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. He has been Executive Vice President of Plancorp, Inc., a financial planning and investment advisory firm, since 2001. He served as Executive Vice President of LMI Aerospace from 1998 to 2001. Prior to that time, Mr. LeGrand was a partner of KPMG LLP for more than 20 years. |
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Mr. Corcoran became a Director in June 2005 and serves as a member of the Audit Committee, Human Resources Committee and Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Corcoran is currently President of Corcoran Enterprises, LLC, a private management consulting firm, and serves as senior advisor to The Carlyle Group, a Washington, D.C.-based private equity firm. Prior to joining The Carlyle Group as senior advisor, Mr. Corcoran served as President and Chief Executive Officer for Gemini Air Cargo, Inc., and Allegheny Teledyne Inc. He previously spent 32 years at Lockheed Martin Corporation and its predecessor companies where he held various senior management positions, including President and Chief Operating Officer for the corporation’s Space and Strategic Missiles and Electronics Systems sectors. Mr. Corcoran is a Director of L-3 Communications Holding LLC, GenCorp, Inc., AR Inc., Aer Lingus, PLC and Serco, PLC. |
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Mr. LaBarge has been a Director since 1981. He assumed the positions of Chief Executive Officer and President in 1991. Prior to that time, he was Vice President—Marketing of the Electronics Division of the Company (1975 to 1979), President of the Electronics Division of the Company (1979 to 1986), Vice President of the Company (1981 to 1986) and President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company (1986 to 1991). Mr. LaBarge is a Director of U.S. Bank, N.A., in St. Louis. |
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Mr. Clark became a Director in 2001 and serves as a member of the Human Resources Committee and the Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors. Since 1984, he has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Clayco, Inc., a design/build construction, real estate and architectural firm doing business in the United States and Canada. |
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Mr. Thomas became a Director in 1997 and serves as Chairman of the Human Resources Committee and the Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors. Since 1982, he has been President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Coin Acceptors, Inc., a world leader in the design and manufacture of coin mechanisms, bill validators, control systems and vending machines. Mr. Thomas is a Director of U.S. Bank, N.A., in St. Louis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Royal Vendors, Inc., and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Money Controls, Ltd. |
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The Board of Directors Recommends that you vote “FOR” election of its Nominees for Director. |
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Meetings of the Board of Directors and Fees
The Board of Directors of the Company held five meetings in fiscal year 2009. Each Director attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and its Committees on which he served in fiscal year 2009. It is the Company’s policy that Directors are
expected to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders and at the last Annual Meeting, held on November 12, 2008, all Directors except Mr. Thomas were in attendance.
Members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of the Company receive $1,500 for each Board meeting attended, $1,000 for each Audit Committee meeting attended, $750 for each Human Resources Committee and Nominating Committee meeting attended, and $500 for
attendance at the Company’s Annual Meeting. All Directors who are not employees receive a quarterly retainer of $2,500, with Committee Chairs receiving an additional $1,000. The following table discloses our non-employee Directors’
compensation for fiscal year 2009:
2009 Director Compensation
Pursuant to its charter, the Human Resources Committee has the responsibility of recommending to the Board of Directors the compensation for Board members, such as retainers, committee Chairman fees, stock options and other
similar items, as appropriate. In performing this task, the Human Resources Committee considers recommendations by the Company’s Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers as to Director compensation. The Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers evaluate
the compensation paid to directors of other regional public company boards in forming their recommendation and make adjustments given the relative size of the Company as compared with others. The Human Resources Committee does not engage the services of any
third-party consultants in determining the Director compensation.
Committees
The Board of Directors has standing Audit, Human Resources and Nominating Committees. The Audit Committee is composed of Messrs. Corcoran, Helmkamp and LeGrand (Chairman). The Human Resources Committee is composed of Messrs. Clark, Corcoran and Thomas
(Chairman). The Nominating Committee is composed of Messrs. Clark, Corcoran and Thomas (Chairman).
The Board has determined in its business judgment that each of the following Directors and Director nominees is independent, as such term is defined in the NYSE Amex listing standards as set forth in the NYSE Amex Company Guide: Messrs. Clark, Corcoran, Helmkamp,
LeGrand and Thomas. In addition, each of the members of the Audit Committee meets the more stringent independence standards and the financial literacy standards set forth in the rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the
NYSE Amex listing standards. The Board has made an affirmative determination as to each independent Director that no relationships exist that, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities
of a Director. In making these determinations, the Directors reviewed and discussed information provided by the Directors and the Company with regard to each Director’s business and personal activities as they may relate to the Company and
management.
Audit Committee |
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The Audit Committee, which met four times in fiscal 2009, oversees the Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes, audits of the Company’s financial statements and internal control matters, and appoints the independent registered public accountants to audit the Company’s financial statements. The Committee’s report on its activities for fiscal 2009 is on pages 18 and 19. Fees paid to the independent registered public accountants in fiscal 2009 are provided on page 17. The Committee’s charter is available on the Company’s Web site at www.labarge.com. |
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Nominating Committee |
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The Nominating Committee, which did not meet in fiscal 2009, is responsible for identifying individuals qualified to become members of the Board of Directors, recommending Director nominees for each Annual Meeting and nominees to fill Board vacancies and to address related matters. The Committee’s charter is available on the Company’s Web site at www.labarge.com. |
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Human Resources Committee |
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The Human Resources Committee, which met two times in fiscal 2009, serves as the Board’s compensation committee. The Committee’s charter is available on the Company’s Web site at www.labarge.com.
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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation |
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During the 2009 fiscal year, Messrs. Clark, Corcoran and Thomas served as members of the Human Resources Committee. None of the Company’s executive officers serves as a director or member of the compensation committee, or other committee serving an equivalent function, for any other entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors or the Human Resources Committee. None of Messrs. Clark, Corcoran or Thomas has ever been an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. |
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Communication with the Board of Directors |
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Stockholders may communicate with any and all members of the Company’s Board of Directors by transmitting correspondence by mail addressed to one or more Directors by name (or to the Chief Executive Officer, for a communication addressed to the entire Board of Directors) at the following address and fax number: Name of the Director(s), c/o Corporate Secretary, LaBarge, Inc., 9900 Clayton Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63124, fax number: 314-812-9438. Communications from the Company’s Stockholders to one or more Directors will be monitored by the Company’s Corporate Secretary and the Chief Executive Officer, who will bring any significant issues to the attention of the appropriate Board members. |
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Director Nominations |
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Director candidates are nominated by the Board. The Nominating Committee recommends Director nominees to the Board. The Nominating Committee investigates and assesses the background and skills of potential candidates for Directors. The Committee seeks to create a Board that will bring a broad range of experience, knowledge and judgment to the Company. The Committee does not have specific minimum qualifications that must be met by a candidate for election to the Board of Directors in order to be considered for nomination by the Committee. When the Committee reviews a potential new candidate, the Committee looks specifically at the candidate’s qualifications in light of the needs of the Board and the Company at that time given the current mix of Director attributes. |
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Upon identifying a candidate for serious consideration, one or more members of the Nominating Committee initially interview the candidate. If a candidate merits further consideration, all other Committee members (individually or as a group) interview the candidate, and the candidate meets the Company’s executive officers and ultimately meets many of the other Directors. The Nominating Committee elicits feedback from all persons who met the candidate and then determines whether or not to nominate the candidate. The process is the same whether the candidate is recommended by a Stockholder, another Director, management or otherwise. The Company does not pay a fee to any third party for the identification or evaluation of candidates. |
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Stockholders who wish to recommend Director candidates for consideration by the Nominating Committee for the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders should notify the Nominating Committee no later than March 16, 2010. Submissions are to be addressed to the Nominating Committee, c/o Corporate Secretary, LaBarge, Inc., 9900 Clayton Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63124, which submissions will then be forwarded to the Committee. The Nominating Committee would then evaluate the possible nominee using the criteria established by it and would consider such person in comparison to all other candidates. The Nominating Committee is not obligated to nominate any such individual for election. No Stockholder nominations have been received by the Company for this year’s Annual Meeting. Accordingly, no rejections or refusals of such candidates have been made by the Company. |
Executive Officers |
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The following table sets forth certain information, as of September 18, 2009, with respect to the executive officers of the Company. |
Name |
Age |
Position(s) with the Company |
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Craig E. LaBarge |
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58 |
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Chief Executive Officer, President and Director |
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Randy L. Buschling |
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49 |
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer |
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Donald H. Nonnenkamp |
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57 |
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary |
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William D. Bitner |
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54 |
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Vice President, Operations |
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Teresa K. Huber |
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46 |
Vice President, Operations |
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John R. Parmley |
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55 |
Vice President, Sales and Marketing |
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Mr. LaBarge — For biographical information, see “Proposal 1: Election of Directors” on page 2. |
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Mr. Buschling joined the Company in 1998. He is currently Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, serving in this capacity since 2002. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Buschling was General Manager of Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company’s Systems Division for more than five years. |
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Mr. Nonnenkamp joined the Company in 1999 and currently serves as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary. Previously, he was Vice President and Treasurer for Esco Technologies, Inc. from 1993 to 1999. Prior to joining Esco, Mr. Nonnenkamp served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Clark Oil and Refining Corporation. |
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Mr. Bitner joined the Company in January 2007 and began serving as Vice President, Operations. Prior to joining LaBarge, Mr. Bitner was Vice President and General Manager of Burger Boat Company, designer and builder of custom motor yachts, from 2005 to 2006. Previously, he was employed by Rolls-Royce Corporation, an aerospace manufacturing company, in various management positions from 2000 to 2005. |
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Ms. Huber joined the Company in 2004 through the acquisition of Pinnacle Electronics LLC, a contract manufacturing company, on February 17, 2004 and became Vice President, Operations in 2005. Prior to joining LaBarge, Ms. Huber was Chief Operating Officer of Pinnacle Electronics from 2002 to 2004. Previously, Ms. Huber was employed by Sony Electronics, Inc. in various management positions from 1992 to 2002. |
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Mr. Parmley joined the Company in 1997 and became Vice President, Sales and Marketing in 1999. He was Account Manager, Aerospace and Defense Business Unit from 1997 to 1999. Previously, Mr. Parmley was employed by Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc., where he served in various sales and management positions from 1991 to 1997. |
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Executive Compensation Objectives and Philosophy
The fundamental objectives of our executive compensation program are to attract and retain talented executives; align executive compensation with the interests of our stockholders; foster and promote the short-term and long-term
financial success of the Company; materially increase stockholder value by motivating performance through incentive compensation; and, encourage executive ownership in the Company. These objectives are furthered by a compensation philosophy that is based on the
following:
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Competition with peer companies: Compensation packages should be competitive and consistent with the general market. As such, the Human Resources Committee works with its compensation and benefits consultant to design compensation packages that fall within certain ranges compared with competitive companies, with sufficient flexibility to address individual responsibilities and performance. |
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Accountability and recognition for individual and Company performance: Compensation should depend, in part, on each executive officer’s performance in order to motivate and reward success. The Committee has provided for a sizeable portion of the overall compensation packages to be tied to performance through the payments of short-term incentive awards in the form of cash bonuses and the grant of long-term incentive awards in the form of performance units that are settled in restricted Common Stock. |
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Alignment of Stockholder interests: Certain elements of the compensation packages should be tied to stock performance to align our executive officers’ interests with those of our Stockholders. In order to create this tie, a portion of the compensation packages include stock-based awards in the form of performance units that are settled in restricted Common Stock. |
Compensation Determination Process
Our Human Resources Committee serves as our compensation committee and is responsible for considering and approving the annual salary, incentive compensation and other benefits of our Chief Executive Officer and other members of
executive management. The Committee is made up of independent directors and typically meets following each fiscal year-end to: (i) consider and approve salary changes and annual incentive bonuses, if any; (ii) determine and approve long-term incentive awards,
if any; and (iii) establish goals for both the annual and long-term incentive programs.
To assist the Committee in evaluating and determining executive compensation, the Company, at the direction of the Committee, utilizes services of Hay Group, a highly regarded international independent compensation and
benefits consulting firm. Hay Group periodically evaluates the executive officer positions, measuring each position on the practical and technical skills required; problem-solving environment and challenges faced; and accountability and decision-making
impact. The evaluation of all of these factors results in a point total for each executive officer position (“Hay Points”) which allows the Committee and Hay Group to rank the positions and measure the distance between jobs within the Company.
Hay Group uses the Hay Points to compare the compensation of the Company’s executive officers with the compensation of officers who hold positions with similar Hay Points in companies comprising the Hay General Industry
Market, a group of approximately 800 industrial companies throughout the United States, 40% of which are manufacturing companies. The names of the companies comprising the Hay General Industry Market are included as Appendix A to this proxy statement.
Using this comparison, Hay Group constructs ranges of base salaries, base salaries plus annual incentive bonus opportunities (“Total Cash Compensation”) and total compensation, which includes Total Cash Compensation and long-term incentives, for each of
the Company’s executive officer positions. The actual compensation of the Company’s executive officers, and the relative position within the ranges, is dependent on individual performance, Company performance versus established goals and other
factors, as described herein.
The Committee believes that base salaries, Total Cash Compensation and total compensation should approximate the median of the Hay General Industry Market for performance at target levels, in furtherance of our compensation
principles noted above. Other than the specific Company performance criteria considered in determining the annual and long-term incentive payments, our compensation programs are flexible, although we do rely on the Hay Group market analyses to ensure that our
compensation practices remain equitable and competitive. For example, individual performance, expertise and experience are all considered when determining each element of total compensation.
Annual and long-term incentive compensation is awarded primarily based on the Company’s achievement of certain performance objectives, as later discussed. Goals relating to the Company’s annual and long-term
incentives are set at levels the Committee believes are appropriately aggressive and balanced between short-term and long-term while not encouraging the named executive officers to take undue risk in their responsibilities and decision-making with respect to the
Company and its operations. These goals, individually or together, are designed to be challenging and as such, the Committee believes that the Company’s goals would not be achieved all of the time. Historically, this has been true. Furthermore, the Committee
believes that reaching maximum levels, and therefore the maximum payout, would be achieved less often than reaching the target performance levels, but recognizes that the payout should be appropriate for the performance, regardless of how often it may happen.
The mix of our cash and non-cash compensation, and short and long-term compensation, is not subject to a specific policy. Instead, the Committee considers the current trends in the market based on the Hay Group data in light of our compensation philosophies and
objectives outlined above, and makes gradual changes over time as necessary to further these compensation goals.
Each year, taking into account the evaluations of Hay Group, current performance and the Company’s compensation objectives, the Chief Executive Officer makes recommendations to the Committee regarding proposed salary
changes, annual incentive bonuses and long-term incentive awards, if any, for each executive officer. The Chief Executive Officer also assists the Committee in setting Company performance goals on which part of each officer’s total compensation is
based. The Committee considers this input from the Chief Executive Officer and the recommendations of the Hay Group, as well as other factors it believes are relevant, and determines the compensation packages of the executive officers, including the Chief
Executive Officer.
Elements of Compensation
Base Salaries:
In line with the Company’s philosophy that compensation should be competitive, the Committee aims for base salaries to approximate the median of the Hay General Industry Market. As such, changes in executive
officer salaries are, in part, market-driven. However, salaries are also dependent on individual evaluations conducted each year by the Committee. During this process, the Chief Executive Officer provides input to the Committee. As relating to base
salaries, no specific individual performance criteria are or have been established by the Committee. Rather, each executive officer, including the Chief Executive Officer, is evaluated based on (i) general individual performance over the past year; (ii) the
scope of each officer’s duties and responsibilities; and (iii) experience and expertise.
Fiscal 2009 salaries are disclosed in the 2009 Summary Compensation Table later in this proxy statement. The salaries of the executive officers approximated the median of the Hay General Industry Market. In
response to the economic downturn, effective May 4, 2009, the Company reduced the salaries of all executive officers by 5% together with the implementation of other Company cost savings initiatives.
At the end of fiscal 2009, the Committee established the fiscal 2010 salaries for the named executive officers. These fiscal 2010 salaries reflect no increase from those paid to the named executive officers at the end of fiscal 2009, which, as noted above, reflect a 5% salary decrease implemented in May 2009. The fiscal 2010 salaries are as follows:
Table 1
Name |
Fiscal 2010 Salaries |
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Craig E. LaBarge |
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$527,306.00 |
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Randy L. Buschling |
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$356,278.00 |
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Donald H. Nonnenkamp |
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$299,286.00 |
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John R. Parmley |
..…………………………………………………… |
$247,000.00 |
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Teresa K. Huber |
…………..………………………………….……... |
$218,530.00 |
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Annual Incentives:
Executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer, have the opportunity to earn annual incentive bonuses in the form of cash payments following the end of each fiscal year. Annual incentive bonuses depend, in
part, on each executive officer’s individual performance during the fiscal year and other circumstances considered during the annual evaluation, as discussed above.
The main consideration of the Committee in awarding annual incentive bonuses is the achievement of certain Company performance goals established at the beginning of each fiscal year. The measurements used may vary among
the executive officers and relate to each officer’s specific job responsibilities, changing each year as the Committee, with the input of the Chief Executive Officer, sees fit. Annually, goals and correlating annual incentive bonus opportunities are
established at the threshold, target and maximum levels. The Committee’s goal is that, for performance at the target level, Total Cash Compensation will approximate the median of the Hay General Industry Market. However, such levels serve as a guide
rather than strict payout formulas, as payouts vary depending on individual circumstances. In any case, payout will be zero if threshold performance levels are not met and will not exceed the maximum payout, or 150% of the payout for target performance.
The Company’s annual incentive bonus arrangements provide that all bonus payouts are conditioned upon the Company’s achievement of a base net income level. While the bonuses for the named executive officers
are tied to the achievement of other goals, as later discussed, no bonuses are paid unless the Company meets a net income of at least the base level. For fiscal 2009, the base net income level was $13.0 million.
Once the Company reaches its base net income level, the Committee looks to the specific goals for each named executive officer in order to determine annual bonus payouts. Each specific performance goal is weighted
differently and correlates independently to a threshold, target and maximum cash bonus payout. For example, using Mr. LaBarge’s goals below in Table 2, he would be eligible to receive the corresponding threshold, target or maximum bonus tied to bookings
as long as he meets the required bookings threshold, target or maximum goal, even if no other performance goal is met, as long as the Company has reached its base net income level. Those goals that are not quantitatively measured are evaluated by the Committee,
in its discretion.
Table 2
Table 2 continued on page 9.
|
|
Threshold Goal/Corresponding Payout |
Target Goal/Corresponding Payout |
Maximum Goal/Corresponding Payout |
||||||
Teresa K. Huber |
Net Income |
$14.5 million / $9,500 |
$15.5 million / $19,000 |
$16.5 million / $28,500 |
||||||
Bookings3 |
$115.0 million / $14,250 |
$122.0 million / $28,500 |
$129.0 million / $42,750 |
|||||||
Operating Income3 |
$9.1 million / $14,250 |
$10.6 million / $28,500 |
$12.1 million / $42,750 |
|||||||
Pretax Cash Flow3 |
$3.2 million / $9,500 |
$4.8 million / $19,000 |
$6.4 million / $28,500 |
|||||||
**No quantitative measurement.
Includes evaluating and updating, where appropriate, the Company’s investor relations strategy.
Includes the definition, development and implementation of a marketing and promotion strategy.
Goal is tied to the performance of those Company plants over which Ms. Huber has supervisory responsibility only.
The Committee believes these performance targets are appropriate to motivate the named executive officers but does not believe they encourage such officers to take undue risk with respect to their responsibilities and decision-making relating to the Company and its
operations.
As noted above, no named executive officer receives an annual bonus unless the Company meets the base net income goal, which was $13.0 million for fiscal year 2009. Because the Company did not meet this base net income goal, no named executive officer received
an annual incentive bonus for fiscal 2009.
Long-Term Incentives:
Executive officers are eligible to earn long-term incentive awards pursuant to the Company’s 2004 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), the terms of which are more fully described later in this proxy
statement. Under the terms of the Plan, the Company has the flexibility to utilize a variety of vehicles in designing appropriate long-term incentives. Since the Plan was approved in 2004, the Committee has elected to utilize performance units, which pay
out in shares of restricted Common Stock. The number of shares of restricted Common Stock, if any, that each executive officer will receive is tied to the Company’s fiscal year net income performance and the closing sales price of the Common Stock on the
date of the award.
The Committee meets following each fiscal year-end to approve net income goals at threshold, target and maximum levels for three years hence (the “Performance Period”). At this meeting, the Committee also
enters into performance unit award agreements with each executive officer, pursuant to which each executive officer is granted a specified number of performance units, the value of which will be determined based on the Company’s actual net income performance
for the Performance Period. The number of performance units granted to each named executive officer is based on comparisons of the long-term incentive awards granted to named executive officers of companies within the Hay General Industry Market. The
Committee aims for the number of performance units to approximate the median of long-term incentive awards of the Hay General Industry Market.
As noted above, the value of the performance units is dependent on the Company’s actual net income results for the Performance Period. If actual net income results are less than the threshold goal for the
Performance Period, the value of each performance unit will be zero. If actual net income results are at threshold, the value of each performance unit will be $0.50. If actual net income results are at target, the value of each performance unit will be
$1.00. If actual net income results are at or above maximum, the value of each performance unit will be $1.50. If actual results are greater than threshold but less than target, or greater than target but less than maximum, the value of each performance
unit will be adjusted proportionately. Target long-term incentive opportunities are designed to approximate the median of the Hay General Industry Market for target net income performance and also take into account the individual circumstances considered in the
annual evaluations.
Following the end of the Performance Period, the Committee meets to determine the value of each performance unit (the “Unit Value”) based upon the net income results for the Performance Period. Each executive
officer is issued a number of shares of restricted Common Stock equal to the Unit Value times the number of performance units granted to him or her for the Performance Period, divided by the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock as of the last trading day
of the Performance Period. The restricted Common Stock then vests upon the first to occur of: (i) two additional years of employment; (ii) death or Disability; or (iii) a Change in Control (all as defined in the Plan).
The design of the Company’s long-term incentive program provides that each executive officer will have three outstanding grants of performance units at all times. For example, the Committee met following the end of
fiscal 2009 to establish threshold, target and maximum net income goals for 2012 and grant each executive officer performance units, the value of which will be determined based on the Company’s net income results for fiscal 2012. Therefore, in the current
fiscal year (fiscal 2010), each executive officer has outstanding performance units for fiscal years 2010, 2011 and 2012. These performance units will be valued, and restricted stock will be issued, once the net income results for these fiscal years are
calculated. The Committee believes that the practice of setting three-year rolling grants is appropriate for the business, as it provides incentive for the executive officers to focus on the long-term health of the Company and serves as a retention tool.
The Committee further believes that converting performance units to restricted Common Stock has certain advantages, including: (i) encouraging ownership of the Company’s Common Stock by executive officers; (ii) providing a retention incentive through the
two-year vesting period; and (iii) allowing for lower dilution, as compared to the granting of stock options.
The number of performance units to be awarded to each named executive officer for fiscal year 2009 were granted in 2006 and were valued based on fiscal year 2009 net income performance, pursuant to the process described
above. The Company’s net income performance goals for fiscal 2009 were as follows:
|
Threshold |
Target |
Maximum |
||||||||
Net Income |
$ |
13.00 million |
$ |
14.75 million |
$ |
16.25 million |
|||||
As is customary, the Committee met following the end of fiscal year 2009 to determine the value of performance units based on fiscal 2009 actual results. The Company did not meet its threshold net income goal for fiscal
2009 long-term incentive awards, and thus, no named executive officer received a grant of restricted Common Stock for fiscal 2009.
Perquisites and Other Benefits
Our executive officers receive the following benefits in addition to the compensation discussed above: (i) eligibility to participate in the Company’s 401(k) plan; (ii) Company-paid interest on deferred compensation; (iii)
life insurance policies; (iv) use of Company-leased vehicles, or a vehicle allowance; (v) club dues; and (vi) limited financial planning services. The Committee believes these perquisites are reasonable and competitive and considers the value to be
modest. As such, the Committee has not given significant weight to the value of perquisites when designing executive compensation packages.
Executive officers are eligible to receive the same health, dental, disability and group life insurance benefits, and participate in the 401(k) on the same terms, as are available to all other full-time employees of the
Company.
As part of the Company’s cost savings initiatives, the Company temporarily suspended its 401(k) matching contributions in April 2009. This suspension applies to employees Company-wide, including the named executive
officers.
Retirement and Other Post-Termination Benefits
We maintain Executive Severance Agreements with each of our named executive officers. Each Executive Severance Agreement and the Plan contain Change in Control provisions, pursuant to which executive officers receive the benefits more fully described below.
Both the Executive Severance Agreements and the Plan define “Change in Control” as the first to occur of any of the following events: (i) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, or other combination or reorganization involving the Company, irrespective
of which party is the surviving entity, excluding any merger, consolidation, share exchange, or other combination involving the Company solely in connection with the acquisition by the Company of any other entity; (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, transfer, or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; (iii) any acquisition (other than pursuant to will, the laws of descent and distribution, gift to a parent, child, spouse or descendant, or pursuant to an employee benefit plan) or agreement to
acquire by any person or entity, directly or indirectly, beneficial ownership of 25% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Company; (iv) during any period of two consecutive years during the term hereof, individuals who at the date of the Agreement, in the
case of Executive Severance Agreements, or the Plan, in the case of the 2004 Long Term Incentive Plan, constitute the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the
election of each director at the beginning of such director's term has been approved by at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then in office; any such director so approved shall thereafter be an Incumbent Director; (v) a majority of the Board or a majority
of the stockholders of the Company approve, adopt, agree to recommend, or accept any agreement, contract, offer, or other arrangement providing for any of the transactions described above; (vi) any series of transactions resulting in any of the transactions described
above; or (vii) any other set of circumstances which the Board of Directors deems to constitute a Change in Control.
Executive Severance Agreements
Each Executive Severance Agreement provides that, following a Change in Control, the Company will continue to employ the executive officer for a period not less than one year at his or her place of employment immediately prior
to the Change in Control or within 50 miles thereof.
During the Change in Control payment period, the executive officer would be entitled to a base salary in the amount not less than the annualized base salary paid or payable to him or her during the month immediately preceding
the month in which the Change in Control occurs. He or she would also be entitled to an annual bonus equal to the same percentage of his or her base salary as the average bonuses paid to the executive officer in each of the five fiscal years most recently ended were
to his or her base salary in those years, after disregarding the highest and lowest of such percentages. The executive officer would also be entitled, during such one-year period, to all pension, welfare and other employee benefits, fringe benefits and
perquisites in amounts and on terms no less favorable than those to which he or she was entitled on the date of the Change in Control. The Agreements also provide that, in the event of termination of the executive officer’s employment during such one-year
period for reasons other than death, Disability, or Cause (as defined by the Agreements) or voluntarily by the executive officer without Good Reason (as defined by the Agreements), the executive officer would be entitled to a lump sum payment from the Company equal
to the sum of: (i) his or her salary and other compensation not yet paid by the Company through the date of termination; (ii) a bonus prorated for the portion of the year through the date of termination; (iii) the product of three times the sum of (x) the executive
officer’s salary plus (y) the bonus to which he or she would have been entitled for the full fiscal year; plus (iv) accrued vacation pay. The Company would also be required to provide to the executive officer for three years after termination all medical,
hospitalization, disability and certain other benefits in amounts and on terms not less favorable than those to which he or she was entitled at the time of termination. If the foregoing amounts were not paid when due, they would bear interest at the rate of 15%
per annum. The Agreements provide for appropriate adjustments of such payments if they would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2004 Long Term Incentive Plan
As noted above, executive officers receive performance units to be settled in restricted Common Stock, pursuant to the 2004 Long Term Incentive Plan, as part of the Company’s long-term incentive portion of compensation
packages. Once issued, the restricted Common Stock vests upon the first to occur of: (i) two additional years of employment; (ii) death or Disability; or (iii) a Change in Control, as defined above. If a Change in Control occurs at any time prior to
the end of the second fiscal year following the Performance Period (as defined above), the restricted Common Stock shall become fully vested and immediately transferable. If a Change in Control occurs at any time before the end of the Performance Period, the
net income goals with respect to the Performance Period shall be deemed to have been achieved at the maximum level as of the date of the Change in Control, whether or not the Performance Period is complete, and the performance units shall be distributable at the end
of the twelve-month period immediately following the Change in Control, subject to forfeiture upon termination of employment other than Retirement, death, Disability or for Good Reason, as defined in the Plan.
Deferred Compensation Plan
Executive officers are also eligible to participate in a non-qualified deferred compensation plan that allows them to defer payments of portions of their salaries and annual bonuses until post-retirement. If an executive
officer retires from the Company and has participated in the deferred compensation plan for at least five years, is at least 50 years old and has a deferred compensation balance of at least $50,000, he or she will receive monthly payments from the Company over a
three or fifteen-year period, at the individual’s option, the amount of which depends on his or her balance. If all of the above criteria are not met, the executive officer will receive his or her plan balance in one lump sum upon retirement.
Impact of Accounting and Tax Treatments of Executive Compensation
Accounting Treatment:
The Committee has taken into account certain accounting consequences and rules when determining the types of awards that executive officers should receive as part of their long-term incentive components of compensation
packages. As such, the Committee makes awards of performance units under the Plan that are settled in shares of restricted Common Stock that the executive officers receive upon vesting.
Tax Treatment:
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, generally imposes a $1.0 million limit on the amount that public companies may deduct from compensation paid to the named executive officers. In
fiscal 2009, no executive officer received compensation that triggered the applicability of Section 162(m).
Report of the Human Resources Committee
The Company’s Human Resources Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K. Based upon such review and discussions, the
Human Resources Committee has recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.
Committee Members: |
|
Jack E. Thomas, Jr., Chairman |
|
Robert G. Clark |
|
|
Thomas A. Corcoran |
|
|
2008 Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of the named executive officers for the fiscal years ended July 1, 2007, June 29, 2008 and June 28, 2009.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in Pension Value |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Craig E. LaBarge |
|
2009 |
550,780 |
--- |
401,329 |
--- |
--- |
35,185 |
|
987,294 |
|||||||||||||||
Randy L. Buschling |
2009 |
372,140 |
--- |
267,552 |
--- |
--- |
28,698 |
668,390 |
|||||||||||||||||
Donald H. |
2009 |
312,596 |
--- |
|
178,369 |
--- |
--- |
31,639 |
522,604 |
||||||||||||||||
John R. Parmley |
2009 |
258,000 |
--- |
89,193 |
--- |
--- |
29,959 |
377,142 |
|||||||||||||||||
Teresa K. Huber |
2009 |
228,254 |
--- |
76,350 |
--- |
--- |
14,545 |
319,149 |
|||||||||||||||||
Bonus amounts are earned in the fiscal year shown and paid in the subsequent fiscal year.
Amounts shown equal the dollars expensed under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R (“FAS 123R”) under the Company’s 2004 Long Term Incentive Plan for awards earned. Each of these awards is expensed over three years
(the year in which the performance takes place, plus two additional years for vesting). See Note 17 to the audited financial statements included as part of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 28, 2009 for a discussion of the
assumptions made in the valuation of these amounts under FAS 123R. No new awards were earned in fiscal 2009.
Amounts shown are the balance of expenses of option awards granted in fiscal year 2004 expensed under FAS 123R. See Note 17 to the audited financial statements included as part of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended June 28, 2009 for a discussion of the assumptions made in the valuation of these amounts under FAS 123R.
Represents the above-market or preferential earnings on compensation that is deferred on a basis that is not tax-qualified, including such earnings on non-qualified defined contribution plans. Amounts shown represent interest
earned at a rate that exceeded 120% of the applicable federal long-term rate. Mr. LaBarge and Ms. Huber do not defer any portion of their compensation.
Amounts shown for fiscal 2009 include 401(k) employer match, use of auto, club dues, financial planning and life insurance premiums.
2009 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table sets forth additional information about plan-based awards granted in the fiscal year ended June 28, 2009:
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive |
||||||||||
|
|
Threshold |
Target |
Maximum |
||||||||
Craig E. LaBarge |
250,000 |
500,000 |
750,000 |
|||||||||
Randy L. Buschling |
8/25/2008 |
160,000 |
320,000 |
480,000 |
||||||||
Donald H. Nonnenkamp |
8/25/2008 |
107,500 |
215,000 |
322,500 |
||||||||
John R. Parmley |
8/25/2008 |
54,000 |
108,000 |
162,000 |
||||||||
Teresa K. Huber |
8/25/2008 |
54,000 |
108,000 |
162,000 |
||||||||
(a) Represents awards under the Company’s 2004 Long Term Incentive Plan granted in fiscal year 2009 and are applicable for performance during fiscal year 2011. Awards are made in the form of performance units, the value of which will be determined based on the Company’s net income performance in fiscal 2011, as more fully described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section. The performance units will be paid out in restricted Common Stock based on the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on July 1, 2011. If the threshold net income performance goal for fiscal 2011 is not achieved, no shares of restricted Common Stock will be issued.
As discussed above and in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, performance units granted under the Company’s 2004 Long Term Incentive Plan are paid out in restricted Common Stock depending on the achievement of net income levels and the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the last day of the fiscal year during which net income performance is measured. Any restricted Common Stock that is issued is subject to a two-year vesting schedule as discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. During the restriction period, executive officers may exercise full voting rights and are entitled to dividends and other distributions paid with respect to the shares on the same terms as those of the Company’s Common Stockholders.
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2009 Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth information on outstanding options and stock awards held by the named executive officers as of June 28, 2009, including the number of shares underlying both exercisable and unexercisable portions of each stock option, as well as the exercise price and the expiration date of each outstanding option, and the market value of stock awards:
Option Awards |
Stock Awards |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Craig E. LaBarge |
92,900 |
2.85 |
2011 |
51,923 |
(d) |
477,697 |
500,000 |
(e) |
250,000 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
65,000 |
3.56 |
2013 |
500,000 |
(f) |
250,000 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
62,552 |
8.54 |
2014 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Randy L. Buschling |
20,000 |
2.85 |
2011 |
34,615 |
(d) |
318,458 |
320,000 |
(e) |
160,000 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
320,000 |
(f) |
160,000 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Donald H. Nonnenkamp |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
36,600 |
8.54 |
2014 |
215,000 |
(f) |
107,500 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
John R. Parmley |
34,309 |
2.50 |
2009 |
11,538 |
(d) |
106,150 |
108,000 |
(e) |
54,000 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
31,821 |
2.50 |
2010 |
108,000 |
(f) |
54,000 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
23,260 |
2.85 |
2011 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
37,500 |
3.56 |
2013 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
24,500 |
8.54 |
2014 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Teresa K. Huber |
15,000 |
8.54 |
2014 |
10,385 |
(d) |
95,542 |
108,000 |
(e) |
54,000 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
108,000 |
(f) |
54,000 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Valued at closing stock price of $9.20 per share on June 26, 2009 (the last trading day in fiscal 2009).
Performance units awarded under the 2004 Long Term Incentive Plan for fiscal years 2010 and 2011.
Unearned and unvested performance units are valued assuming the Company achieves in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 the threshold net income targets. In fiscal year 2009, the Company did not achieve its threshold net income target.
Represents shares of restricted stock that have not yet vested. The shares will vest on June 27, 2010.
Represents performance units awarded under the 2004 Long Term Incentive Plan. The restricted stock may be earned based on fiscal year 2010 performance, as discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section. The restricted stock will then
be subject to a two-year vesting schedule.
Represents performance units awarded under the 2004 Long Term Incentive Plan. The restricted stock may be earned based on fiscal year 2011 performance, as discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section. The restricted stock will then be subject to a two-year vesting schedule.
2009 Option Exercises and Stock Vested
The following table sets forth the exercise of stock options and vesting of stock awards during fiscal 2009 for the named executive officers.
Option Awards |
Stock Awards |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) |
|
|
|
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) |
|
|
|
||||||||||
Craig E. LaBarge |
404,412 |
|
4,990,444 |
|
43,042 |
|
395,986 |
|
||||||||||
Randy L. Buschling |
302,568 |
3,909,179 |
28,695 |
263,994 |
||||||||||||||
Donald H. Nonnenkamp |
129,670 |
1,410,810 |
19,130 |
148,396 |
||||||||||||||
John R. Parmley |
--- |
--- |
9,562 |
87,970 |
||||||||||||||
Teresa K. Huber |
--- |
--- |
7,652 |
70,398 |
||||||||||||||
All shares reported in this column vested on June 28, 2009, the last day of fiscal 2009. Because June 28, 2009 was not a trading day, the shares were valued using the closing stock price of $9.20 on June 26, 2009, the last trading day of fiscal 2009.
2009 Non-qualified Deferred Compensation
The following table discloses contributions, earnings and balances under the Company’s non-qualified deferred compensation plan for each of the named executive officers as of June 28, 2009:
|
Executive |
|
|
|||||||||
Craig E. LaBarge (b) |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|||||||||
Randy L. Buschling |
--- |
16,853 |
363,595 |
|||||||||
Donald H. Nonnenkamp |
24,630 |
7,980 |
215,980 |
|||||||||
John R. Parmley |
70,800 |
16,664 |
453,062 |
|||||||||
Teresa K. Huber (b) |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|||||||||
Includes interest paid by the Company at a rate equal to prime. None of the earnings represent above-market or preferential earnings (in excess of 120% of the applicable federal long-term rate).
Mr. LaBarge and Ms. Huber do not participate in the Company’s non-qualified deferred compensation plan.
Amounts included for Messrs. Buschling, Nonnenkamp and Parmley include the following amounts reported in the Summary Compensation table in prior fiscal years: Mr. Buschling, $6,325 in fiscal 2008 and $4,722 in fiscal 2007; Mr. Nonnenkamp, $3,160 in fiscal 2008 and $2,393 in fiscal 2007; and Mr. Parmley, $6,006 in fiscal year 2008 and $4,722 in fiscal 2007.
Employment Agreements and Other Post-Termination Agreements with Executive Officers |
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
To identify and address any concerns regarding related party transactions and ensure their proper disclosure, the Company requires such transactions to be reported in its questionnaires distributed to Directors and officers each year and mandates that
all employees and Directors report to the Corporate Secretary all transactions presenting potential conflicts of interest pursuant to its Policy on Business Conduct & Ethics. As stated in its charter, the Company’s Audit Committee reviews and approves all
transactions with related persons requiring disclosure pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
The Audit Committee will take into account any factors it deems relevant in determining whether to approve a transaction. Such factors may include:
|
|
the terms of the transaction; |
|
||
|
the potential impact of the transaction on the Company’s results of operations, financial position and cash flows; |
|
|
|
|
|
whether the terms of the transaction are no less favorable to the Company than if the other party did not have an affiliation or other relationship with a related person; and |
|
|
|
|
|
the identity of the related person and the impact of the transaction on the related person’s independence. |
During fiscal 2009, no related party transactions were entered into or proposed that require disclosure pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
PROPOSAL 2: |
|
RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM |
|
KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) has been appointed independent registered public accountants for the Company, for the fiscal year ending June 27, 2010, by the Audit Committee with the approval of the Board of Directors.
KPMG has been the Company’s independent accountants since 1980. Although the appointment of the independent registered public accountants does not require the approval of Common Stockholders, the Board of Directors believes Common Stockholders should
participate in the appointment through ratification. A representative of KPMG is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting with the opportunity to make a statement, if he so desires, and he is expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions
raised at the Annual Meeting.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock casting a vote at the Annual Meeting is necessary for the ratification of the selection of the independent registered public accountants. In the event that a majority of
the shares are not voted in favor of ratification, the Audit Committee will reconsider its selection.
Independent Registered Public Accountants’ Fees |
|
Aggregate fees for professional services rendered for the Company by KPMG for such fiscal years were: |
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended |
|
|
||||||||||
|
June 28, |
|
June 29, |
|
|||||||||||
Audit fees |
$ |
576,000 |
|
$ |
435,500 |
|
|||||||||
Audit-related fees |
|
--- |
--- |
|
|
||||||||||
Tax fees |
--- |
62,000 |
|
||||||||||||
All other fees |
12,000 |
--- |
|
||||||||||||
Total |
$ |
588,000 |
$ |
497,500 |
|
||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
Audit fees were for professional services rendered for the audits of the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its benefit plans and the review of documents filed by the Company with the SEC. These fees include the audit of internal controls in compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
|
Other fees in fiscal 2009 were for professional services rendered to assist the Company in acquisition due diligence. Tax fees in fiscal 2008 were for professional services rendered in connection with the Company’s Internal Revenue Service audit covering fiscal years 2005 and 2006. |
|
The Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures relating to the approval of all audit and non-audit services that are to be performed by the Company’s independent registered public accountants. These policies generally provide that the Company will not engage the independent registered public accountants to render audit or non-audit services unless the service is specifically approved in advance by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has granted the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer the authority to engage KPMG for audit-related and tax services not exceeding $25,000. Such engagements are then formally approved by the Audit Committee at its next meeting. All fees billed for fiscal years 2009 and 2008 were pre-approved by the Audit Committee. |
The Board of Directors Recommends That You Vote |
|
|
Report of the Audit Committee |
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|
|||
The primary role of the Audit Committee is oversight of the Company’s financial reporting process, public financial reports, internal accounting and financial controls, and the independent audit of the annual
consolidated financial statements. The Board, in its business judgment, has determined that the members of the Audit Committee are “independent” and “financially literate” as required by the NYSE Amex. In addition, the Board has
determined, in its business judgment, that Lawrence J. LeGrand qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is defined by the SEC. The Committee acts under a charter. A current copy of the charter is available on the
Company’s website, www.labarge.com. The Committee reviews the adequacy of the charter at least annually. |
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|
|||
In the performance of its oversight function, the Audit Committee meets at least each quarter with management to review the Company’s quarterly financial results and with the independent auditors to review the results of their quarterly review before the publication of the Company’s earnings press releases. The Audit Committee assists the Board in establishing procedures for receipt and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal controls and other matters, including the confidential anonymous submission by the Company’s employees, received through established procedures, of any concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management and the independent auditors the Company’s fiscal 2009 audited consolidated financial statements. Management and the independent auditors told the Audit Committee that the Company’s financial statements were fairly stated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Audit Committee also has discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended, as adopted the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) in Rule 3200T, relating to communication with audit committees. In addition, the Audit Committee has received from the independent auditors the written disclosures and letter required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent auditors’ communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with the independent auditors the independent auditors’ independence. The Audit Committee has considered whether the independent auditors’ provision of non-audit services to the Company is compatible with maintaining the auditors’ independence. |
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|
|||
The Audit Committee discussed with the Company’s independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their audit. The Audit Committee met with the independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the Company’s internal controls and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting. |
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|
|||
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management its assessment and report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of June 28, 2009, which it made using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control - Integrated Framework. The Audit Committee has also reviewed and discussed with the independent auditors its report on internal control over financial reporting. The Company published these reports in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 28, 2009. |
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|
|||
The Audit Committee pre-approved all services provided by the independent auditors in fiscal 2009. Pre-approval includes audit services and other services. In some cases, the full Audit Committee provides pre-approval for up to a year, related to a particular defined task or scope of work and subject to a specific budget. In other cases, the Chairman of the Audit Committee has the delegated authority from the Audit Committee to pre-approve additional services, and the Chairman then communicates such pre-approvals to the full Audit Committee. To avoid certain potential conflicts of interest, the law prohibits a publicly traded company from obtaining certain non-audit services from it independent registered public accounting firm. The Company obtains these services from other service providers as needed. See “Proposal 2: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” for more information regarding fees paid to the independent auditor. |
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|
|||
Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board has approved, that the Company’s fiscal 2009 audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 28, 2009 for filing with the SEC. |
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|
|||
The Audit Committee has retained KPMG to audit the Company’s financial statements for fiscal 2010. |
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|
|||
|
Committee Members: |
|
Lawrence J. LeGrand, Chairman |
|
Thomas A. Corcoran |
||
|
John G. Helmkamp, Jr. |
Voting Securities and Ownership Thereof By Management and Certain Beneficial Owners |
Set forth below is information, as of September 18, 2009, concerning all persons known to the Company to be beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date, and beneficial ownership of Common Stock by each Director and nominee for Director of the Company, each named executive officer of the Company and all executive officers and directors as a group (unless otherwise indicated, such ownership represents sole voting and sole investment power). |
Name and Address of |
Amount and Nature of |
Percent |
|
|||||
Directors and Executive Officers: |
||||||||
Randy L. Buschling |
219,312 - (3) (4) (5) |
1.3% |
|
|||||
Robert G. Clark |
8,385 |
* |
||||||
Thomas A. Corcoran |
1,500 |
* |
||||||
John G. Helmkamp, Jr. |
365,196 - (6) |
2.2% |
||||||
Teresa K. Huber |
64,829 - (3) (4) (5) |
* |
||||||
Craig E. LaBarge |
1,534,246 - (3) (4) (5) (7) |
9.4% |
||||||
Lawrence J. LeGrand |
1,218,485- (8) (9) |
7.5% |
||||||
Donald H. Nonnenkamp |
204,146 - (3) (4) (5) |
1.3% |
|
|||||
John R. Parmley |
120,602 - (3) (4) (5) |
* |
||||||
Jack E. Thomas, Jr. |
3,685 |
* |
||||||
All executive officers and directors as a group |
3,747,325 - (4) |
|
||||||
5% Stockholders: |
|
|
||||||
Sanfurd G. Bluestein, M.D. |
1,378,689 - (11) |
8.5% |
||||||
Joanne V. Lockard |
1,217,835 - (9) (10) |
7.5% |
||||||
Leo V. Garvin, Jr. |
1,208,485- (9) |
7.4% |
||||||
Wentworth Hauser & Violich, Inc. |
1,073,200 - (12) |
6.6% |
||||||
* Less than 1%.
(1) |
|
The address of each executive officer and Director is c/o LaBarge, Inc., 9900 Clayton Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63124. |
|
|
|
(2) |
Percent of class is calculated on the basis of 15,958,839 Common Shares outstanding on September 18, 2009. |
|
|
|
|
(3) |
Includes the following number of shares awarded under the 2004 Long Term Incentive Plan that are restricted until June 27, 2010: Mr. Buschling, 34,615; Ms. Huber, 10,385; Mr. LaBarge, 51,923; Mr. Nonnenkamp, 23,077; and Mr. Parmley, 11,538. |
|
|
||
(4) |
Includes options exercisable within 60 days for the following number of shares under the 1995 Incentive Stock Option Plan and the 1999 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan: Mr. Buschling – 20,000; Ms. Huber – 15,000; Mr. LaBarge – 220,452; Mr. Nonnenkamp – 68,600; Mr. Parmley – 24,500. All executive officers and Directors as a group – 348,552 shares. |
|
|
||
(5) |
Includes the following number of shares held in employee contribution accounts, Company unrestricted match accounts and Company restricted match accounts, respectively, of the Company’s 401(k) Benefit Plan: Mr. Buschling -0-, 6,683 and -0-; Ms. Huber: -0-, 1,614 and -0-; Mr. LaBarge: 105,019, 126,835 and -0-; Mr. Nonnenkamp: -0-, 5,788 and -0-; and Mr. Parmley: -0-, 6,670 and -0-. The named persons have sole voting power with respect to all shares held in their accounts, and have sole dispositive power with respect to the shares held in their Company unrestricted match accounts. Except as noted below, the named persons have no dispositive power with respect to shares held in their Company restricted match accounts. In addition, Messrs. LaBarge and Nonnenkamp as administrators of the Company 401(k) Benefit Plan have shared dispositive power and no voting power (except for shares in their own accounts) as to 3,493 shares held in the Company restricted match accounts. Messrs. LaBarge and Nonnenkamp disclaim beneficial ownership of all shares held in the Company restricted match accounts of employees other than themselves. |
|
|
|
|
(6) |
Includes 2,600 shares held by Mr. Helmkamp’s spouse in her name, 3,911 shares in her IRA and 22,000 shares held in a trust, of which she acts as trustee. Also includes 45,300 shares held in three trusts for the benefit of Mr. Helmkamp’s children and 43,500 shares held in a charitable remainder trust. Mr. Helmkamp is trustee of the aforesaid trusts. Mr. Helmkamp disclaims beneficial ownership of all these shares. |
|
|
|
|
(7) |
Includes 74,548 shares held by Mr. LaBarge’s spouse in her name, 34,000 shares held in her IRA and 14,702 shares as custodian for their two children. Mr. LaBarge disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. Also includes 18,172 shares held by a trust for two children of Mr. LaBarge and 5,334 shares held in trust for a niece of Mr. LaBarge. Mr. LaBarge is a co-trustee of the trusts and disclaims beneficial ownership. Also includes 878,870 shares owned in Mr. LaBarge’s individual capacity and 20,000 shares held in his IRA. Also includes 212,752 shares held in a generation-skipping trust for the benefit of Mr. LaBarge’s two children, of which Mr. LaBarge disclaims beneficial ownership. |
|
|
|
|
(8) |
Includes 5,000 shares held in Mr. LeGrand’s individual capacity and 5,000 shares held by Mr. LeGrand’s spouse. |
|
|
|
|
(9) |
Includes 520,000 shares of Common Stock held by the Pierre L. LaBarge Pledge Trust for which Ms. Lockard and Messrs. Garvin and LeGrand, as personal representatives of Pierre L. LaBarge’s estate, each has shared voting and shared dispositive power. Includes: (a) 107,079 shares of Common Stock held by the Pierre L. LaBarge Generation-Skipping Trust; (b) 126,090 shares of Common Stock held by the Craig E. LaBarge Generation-Skipping Trust; (c) 107,079 shares of Common Stock held by the Mark LaBarge Generation-Skipping Trust; (d) 107,079 shares of Common Stock held by the Jon L. LaBarge Generation-Skipping Trust; (e) 107,079 shares of Common Stock held by the Denise M. LaBarge Generation-Skipping Trust; and (f) 107,079 shares of Common Stock held by the Marie A. LaBarge Miller Generation-Skipping Trust. Ms. Lockard and Messrs. Garvin and LeGrand serve as co-trustees for each of these trusts. Each of the co-trustees has shared voting and shared dispositive power. |
|
|
|
|
(10) |
Includes 1,906 shares owned jointly with Ms. Lockard’s spouse as to whom she has shared voting and dispositive power and 7,444 shares held in her IRA as to which she has sole voting power. |
|
|
|
|
(11) |
Based on information submitted on Form 13G/A filed on February 9, 2009. The shares of Common Stock include (a) 670,052 shares owned directly by Mr. Bluestein, over which Mr. Bluestein has sole voting and investment control, (b) 116,148 shares held by Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., custodian for Sanfurd G. Bluestein IRA, over which Mr. Bluestein has sole voting and investment control, (c) 22,000 shares, over which Mr. Bluestein has sole voting and investment control, which such shares have been pledged to The Rudolf Steiner Foundation, Inc. (the “Foundation”) pursuant to a certain Guaranty delivered by Mr. Bluestein to the Foundation to secure a loan from the Foundation to IceStone, LLC, a New York limited liability company which is partially owned by Mr. Bluestein, and (d) shares held in the accounts of the persons named below, over which Mr. Bluestein shares voting and investment control pursuant to third-party trading authorizations: (i) Bluestein Family Partnership, LP, a limited partnership organized under the laws of the state of New Jersey, which held 163,000 shares of Common Stock as of December 31, 2008 (the “Disclosure Date); (ii) Bluestein Family Foundation Inc., a private foundation of which Mr. Bluestein is the manager, which held 151,800 shares of Common Stock as of the Disclosure Date; (iii) Joel Bluestein, Mr. Bluestein’s son, who held 131,889 shares of Common Stock as of the Disclosure Date; (iv) Doris Hasnas, Mr. Bluestein’s sister, who held 10,800 shares of Common Stock as of the Disclosure Date; (v) JB Trusts, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company owned by two trusts for the benefit of Mr. Bluestein’s granddaughter, which held 55,000 shares of Common Stock as of the Disclosure Date; and (vi) JR Trusts, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company owned by two trusts for the benefit of Mr. Bluestein’s granddaughter, which held 58,000 shares of Common Stock as of the Disclosure Date. |
|
|
|
|
(12) |
Based on information submitted on Form 13G/A filed on February 17, 2009. |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires that the Company’s directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 10% of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock file reports
on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the SEC and the NYSE Amex to report their beneficial holdings of the Company’s shares and changes thereto.
Based solely on its review of copies of such forms received by it and written representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms 5 were required to be filed by those persons, the Company believes that during fiscal 2009, all filing requirements were timely
complied with.
OTHER MATTERS |
|
Stockholder Proposals for Next Year
Any Stockholder proposal to be considered for inclusion in the Proxy Statement for the next Annual Meeting, which is expected to be held in November 2010, must be received by the Company in writing at its principal office at
the address listed on page 1 hereof no later than June 11, 2010. The deadline for written notice of a proposal for which the Stockholder will conduct his or her own solicitation is August 27, 2010.
SEC Form 10-K
Stockholders may obtain a copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 28, 2009 without charge by writing to the Corporate Secretary at the address listed on page 1, or by visiting the Company’s
Web site at www.labarge.com.
Code of Ethics
The Company has adopted a Policy on Business Conduct & Ethics applicable to its employees, including officers, and Directors. This Policy on Business Conduct & Ethics can be viewed on the Company’s Web site at
www.labarge.com. Any future amendments of the Policy on Business Conduct and Ethics will be promptly disclosed on the Company’s Web site. The Company will disclose on its Web site any waiver from
a provision of the Policy on Business Conduct & Ethics that applies to the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, and that relates to any
element of the code of ethics definition enumerated in Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K.
Other Matters and Householding
As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board of Directors of the Company does not intend to present, nor has it been informed that other persons intend to present, any matters for action at the Annual Meeting, other than those specifically
referred to herein. If, however, any other matters should properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named on the proxy card to vote the shares represented thereby in accordance with their judgment as to the best interest of the
Company on such matters.
The Company and some banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may participate in the practice of householding proxy statements and annual reports. This means that only one copy of this proxy statement may have been sent to multiple shareholders in your household unless you provide us with contrary instructions. A separate copy of this proxy statement or the annual report will be delivered to you if you write to the Secretary at the address listed on page 1 or call (314) 997-0800.
|
By Order of the Board of Directors |
/S/ DONALD H. NONNENKAMP |
|
Donald H. Nonnenkamp |
|
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary |
St. Louis, Missouri
October 12, 2009
Appendix A
Hay General Industry Market
7-Eleven |
|
Chiquita Brands International |
|
Caesar Enterprises Restaurants |
|
Perfetti Van Melle USA |
A.H. Belo--Dallas Morning News |
Chrysler |
Illinois Tool Works |
Perkins Restaurant & Bakery |
|||
Abercrombie & Fitch |
CHS |
IMC Global |
Perkins Restaurant & Bakery--Perkins |
|||
Accor North America |
CHS--Ag Business |
Independence Blue Cross |
Pernod Ricard SA--Pernod Ricard USA |
|||
Ace Hardware |
CHS--Energy |
Ineos |
PETsMART |
|||
ACUITY |
CHS--Processing |
Infineum USA |
Philip Morris International |
|||
Advance Auto Parts |
Ciba Specialty Chemicals |
Ingersoll - Rand |
Philips International |
|||
Aeropostale |
CIGNA |
Ingersoll - Rand--Security Technologies |
Phillips-Van Heusen |
|||
AES |
City of Austin - Austin Energy |
Injured Workers Insurance Fund |
Physicians Mutual Insurance |
|||
Aetna |
City of Philadelphia--Philadelphia Gas Works |
Innophos |
Pier 1 Imports |
|||
AFC Enterprises |
CKE Restaurants |
In-N-Out Burger |
Pierce County, WA |
|||
Agfa--Agfa Materials |
CKE Restaurants--Hardee's |
Institute of Nuclear Power Operations |
Pilkington |
|||
Agrana |
Claim Jumper Restaurants |
International Copper Association |
Pioneer Hi-Bred International |
|||
Agrium U.S. |
Clariant |
International Dairy Queen |
PJM Interconnection |
|||
Ahold USA--Stop & Shop Supermarket |
CNH Global |
International Flavors & Fragrances |
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey |
|||
Air Liquide America |
Coach |
International Meal Company Holdings Ltd - IMC Caribbean |
Potbelly Sandwich Works |
|||
Air Products |
Cognis |
Int'l Coffee and Tea |
Powersouth |
|||
AK Steel |
Colgate-Palmolive |
INVISTA |
PPG Industries |
|||
Akzo Nobel--Functional Chemicals |
Collective Brands |
Iroquois Pipeline |
PPG Industries--Chemicals |
|||
Alcan |
Collin County, TX |
Isuzu Motors--Isuzu Commercial Truck of America |
PPG Industries--Coatings & Resins |
|||
Alex Lee |
Columbia Insurance |
Isuzu Motors--Isuzu North America |
PPG Industries--Glass |
|||
Alex Lee--Institution Food House |
Comcast Cable Communications |
J. C. Penney |
Praxair |
|||
Alex Lee--Lowes Foods Stores |
Compass Group NAD |
J.Crew |
Premera Blue Cross |
|||
Alex Lee--Merchants Distributors |
CompSource Oklahoma |
Jack in the Box |
Premier |
|||
Alfa Mutual Insurance Company |
Constellation Brands--Constellation Wines US |
Jack in the Box--Jack in the Box |
Presbyterian Healthcare Services |
|||
Allete |
Cooper Industries |
Jack in the Box--Qdoba Restaurant Group |
Principal Financial Group |
|||
Alliant Techsystems |
Cooper Industries--B-Line |
Jacmar--Shakey's USA |
Public Works Commission of Fayetteville, North Carolina |
|||
Alliant Techsystems--Armament Systems |
Cooper Industries--Bussmann |
Jamba |
QVC |
|||
Alliant Techsystems--Launch Systems |
Cooper Industries--Cooper Tools |
Japan Tobacco--JT International USA |
Raising Cane's Restaurants |
|||
Alliant Techsystems--Mission Systems |
Cooper Industries--Lighting |
Jewelers Mutual Insurance |
Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals |
|||
Alliant Techsystems--Space Systems |
Cooper Industries--Power Systems |
Jewelry Television |
Real Mex Restaurants |
|||
Almatis |
Cooper Industries--Wiring Devices |
Joe's Crab Shack |
Recreational Equipment |
|||
Amcor Limited--Amcor PET Packaging |
Cosi |
Johnson County Government |
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers |
|||
American Century Investments |
Cost Plus |
Joy Global |
Remy Cointreau USA |
|||
American Crystal Sugar |
Costco Wholesale |
Joy Global--Joy Mining Machinery |
Restaurants Unlimited |
|||
American Eagle Outfitters |
Coty |
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan |
Retail Ventures--DSW |
|||
American Enterprise Group |
COUNTRY Insurance & Financial Services |
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan--Colorado |
RGA Reinsurance |
|||
American Family Insurance Group |
COUNTRY Insurance & Financial Services--MiddleOak |
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan--Georgia |
Rhodia |
|||
American Honda Motor |
Covance |
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan--Hawaii |
Rock Bottom Restaurants |
|||
American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) |
Coventry Health Care |
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan--Mid-Atlantic States |
Rockwell Collins |
|||
American National Insurance |
Cubist Pharmaceuticals |
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan--Northern California |
Roquette America |
|||
American National Property and Casualty |
CUNA Mutual |
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan--Northwest Region |
Ross Stores |
|||
American Transmission |
Curtiss-Wright |
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan--Ohio |
Ruby Tuesday |
|||
Americas Styrenics |
Curtiss-Wright--Controls |
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan--Southern California |
Ruth's Chris Steak House |
|||
Amerigroup |
Curtiss-Wright--Flow Control |
Kansas City Life Insurance |
SABIC Innovative Plastics US |
|||
AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies |
Curtiss-Wright--Metal Improvement |
Karl Storz--Karl Storz Endovision |
SABMiller--Miller Brewing |
|||
Amsted Industries |
CVS/Caremark |
Karl Storz--Karl Storz Imaging |
Sacramento Municipal Utilities District |
|||
Amsted Industries--Amsted Rail |
Cytec Industries |
Kellogg |
Safe Auto Insurance |
|||
Amsted Industries--Baltimore Aircoil |
D&B |
Kenneth Cole Productions |
Safeway |
|||
Amsted Industries--Burgess Norton |
Dallas County |
Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance Authority |
SAIF |
|||
Amsted Industries--Consolidated Metco |
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport |
Kforce |
Saint-Gobain--Abrasives |
|||
Amsted Industries--Diamond Chain |
Darden Restaurants |
Kinder Morgan |
Saint-Gobain--Ceramics |
|||
Amsted Industries--Griffin Pipe |
Darden Restaurants--Bahama Breeze |
King Pharmaceuticals |
Saint-Gobain--Certain Teed |
|||
Amsted Industries--Means Industries |
Darden Restaurants--Olive Garden |
Knowledge Learning |
Saint-Gobain--Containers |
|||
Amway--Alticor |
Darden Restaurants--Red Lobster |
Kohl's |
Saint-Gobain--Delegation |
|||
Anaheim Public Utilities |
Dave & Buster's |
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts |
Saint-Gobain--Gypsum |
|||
Analytical Bio-Chemistry Laboratories |
Deere |
Krystal |
Saint-Gobain--Technical Fabrics |
|||
Andersons |
Deere--John Deere Credit |
KV Pharmaceutical |
Saint-Gobain--Vetrotex |
|||
Anheuser-Busch InBev--Anheuser-Busch |
Del Monte Foods |
L.L. Bean |
Saks |
|||
Ann Taylor Stores |
Delaware North |
Lady Foot Locker Stores |
Sanofi Pasteur |
|||
AnnTaylor Stores--AnnTaylor Factory |
Delicato Family Vineyards |
Lands' End |
Sao Paulo Alpargatas |
|||
AnnTaylor Stores--AnnTaylor Loft |
Delta Dental Plan of Colorado |
Lanxess |
Sasol North America |
|||
AnnTaylor Stores--AnnTaylor Stores |
Denny's |
LaRosa's |
Sazerac |
|||
Aramark |
Diageo North America |
Laureate Education |
SCF of Arizona |
|||
ArcelorMittal |
Dick's Sporting Goods |
Legal Sea Foods |
Schlumberger |
|||
ArcelorMittal--Dofasco Tubular Products Mechanical |
DineEquity |
Lehigh Hanson |
Schweitzer-Mauduit International |
|||
Arch Chemicals |
DineEquity--Applebee's |
LifeWay Christian Resources |
Scottish Re (U.S.) |
|||
Arctic Slope Regional |
DineEquity--IHOP |
Lighthouse Energy Trading |
Sears Holdings |
|||
Arctic Slope Regional--ASRC Energy Services |
Dollar General |
Limited Brands |
Securian |
|||
Arctic Slope Regional--ASRC Federal Holding |
Dollar Tree Stores |
Limited Brands--Bath & Body Works |
Segetis |
|||
Arctic Slope Regional--Petro Star |
Dominion Resources |
Limited Brands--Henri Bendel |
Sentara Healthcare |
|||
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield |
Dominion Resources--VA Power |
Limited Brands--Victoria's Secret Direct |
Sepracor |
|||
Arkema |
Domino's Pizza |
Limited Brands--Victoria's Secret Stores |
Severstal--Severstal North America |
|||
Ashland |
Donatos Pizzeria |
Limited Stores |
Severstal--Severstal Wheeling |
|||
Ashland--Aqualon Functional Ingredients |
Dow Chemical |
LIMRA International |
Shelter Insurance |
|||
Ashland--Ashland Distribution |
Dow Chemical--Dow AgroSciences |
Liz Claiborne |
Shiseido Cosmetics America |
|||
Ashland--Consumer |
Dow Corning |
Logan's Roadhouse |
ShopKo Stores--ShopKo Stores |
|||
Ashland--Hercules Water Technologies |
DPL |
LOMA |
Sierra Southwest Co-Op Services |
|||
Ashland--Performance Materials |
DSM Resins--DSM Chemicals |
Lonza |
Sodexo--Sodexo |
|||
Associated Materials |
DSM Resins--Nutritional Products |
Lord & Taylor |
Solvay America |
|||
Assurant--Assurant Health |
DSM Resins--Services USA |
L'Oreal USA |
Solvay America--Solvay Advanced Polymers |
|||
Atmos Energy |
Duke and King Acquisition |
Louisiana Workers' Compensation |
Solvay America--Solvay Chemicals |
|||
AutoZone |
Duke and King Acquisition--bd's Mongolian Grill |
Lowe's |
Solvay America--Solvay Pharmaceuticals |
|||
Avon Products |
Dunkin' Brands |
LSG Sky Chefs |
Solvay America--Solvay Solexis |
|||
Axcan Pharma |
Dunkin' Brands--Baskin-Robbins |
Lubrizol |
Sonic Automotive |
|||
Bacardi Limited--Bacardi USA |
Dunkin' Brands--Dunkin' Donuts |
Lubrizol--Additives |
Sonic Restaurants |
|||
Baker Petrolite |
Duquesne Light |
Lubrizol--Advanced Materials |
Sonoco Products |
|||
Ball |
E & J Gallo Winery |
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton--Moet Hennessy USA |
South Jersey Industries |
|||
Bal-Seal Engineering |
E. I. du Pont de Nemours |
LyondellBasell Chemical |
South Jersey Industries--Energy Solutions |
|||
Barilla Pasta US |
Eagle Ottawa |
MacDermid |
South Jersey Industries--South Jersey Gas |
|||
Barry Callebaut USA |
Eastman Chemical |
Macy's |
Southern Company--Georgia Power |
|||
BASF |
Easton Utilities |
Macy's--Bloomingdale's |
Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency |
|||
Bayer MaterialScience |
Eat'n Park Hospitality Group |
Macy's--Macy's (Central) |
Southern Star Concrete |
|||
Beacon Mutual Insurance |
Eaton |
Macy's--Macy's (East) |
Southwest Gas |
|||
Behr Industries |
Eaton--Automotive Components |
Macy's--Macy's (Florida) |
Southwest Power Pool |
|||
Beiersdorf |
Eaton--Eaton Aerospace |
Macy's--Macy's (West) |
Specialty's Cafe |
|||
Belden |
Eaton--Eaton Electrical |
Macy's--Macys.com |
Sports Authority |
|||
Belden--Belden Americas |
Eaton--Fluid Power |
Maidenform Brands |
Sprint Nextel |
|||
Belk |
Eaton--Truck Components |
Main Street America Group |
Stage Stores |
|||
Benihana |
Edward Jones |
Maine Employers' Mutual Insurance |
Stage Stores--Peebles |
|||
Benihana--RA Sushi Bar Restaurant |
El Pollo Loco |
Marmon Group--Union Tank Car |
Staples |
|||
Best Buy |
Electric Reliability Council of Texas |
Martin Resource Management |
Starbucks |
|||
Big Lots |
ElectriCities of North Carolina |
Matthews International |
Sterling Chemicals |
|||
Biomerieux |
Elliott |
Mazda North American Operations |
Stiefel Laboratories |
|||
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida |
EmblemHealth |
Mazzio's |
SUEZ Energy |
|||
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas |
EmblemHealth--ConnectiCare |
Mazzio's--Mazzio's Italian Eatery |
SUEZ Energy--SUEZ Energy Generation North America |
|||
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, MO |
Embraer |
McCormick & Company |
SUEZ Energy--SUEZ Energy LNG North America |
|||
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts |
EMD Serono |
McDonald's |
SUEZ Energy--SUEZ Energy Marketing North America |
|||
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota |
Employers Mutual Casualty |
MeadWestvaco |
Suez Energy--United Water |
|||
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska |
Energy Future Holdings |
MeadWestvaco--Calmar |
Summa Health System--SummaCare |
|||
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina |
Energy Future Holdings--TXU Energy |
MeadWestvaco--Community Development & Land Management |
Sunoco--Chemical Division |
|||
Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina |
Erie Insurance |
MeadWestvaco--Consumer & Office Products |
Swarovski (D.)--Swarovski North America |
|||
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee |
Evonik Degussa |
MeadWestvaco--Consumer Solutions |
Symcor |
|||
Blue Shield of California |
Express |
MeadWestvaco--Global Business Services |
Taco John's International |
|||
Bob Evans Farms |
Fairplex |
MeadWestvaco--Packaging Resource Group |
Target |
|||
Boddie-Noell Enterprises |
Fairway Investments |
MeadWestvaco--Specialty Chemicals |
Tarrant County |
|||
Boddie-Noell Enterprises--Hardee's |
Fallon Community Health Plan |
Medco Health Solutions |
Tate & Lyle Americas |
|||
Boddie-Noell Enterprises--Texas Steakhouse & Saloon |
Family Dollar Stores |
Medica Health Plans |
Tate & Lyle Americas--Custom Ingredients |
|||
BoJangles' Restaurants |
Famous Dave's of America |
Medical Mutual of Ohio |
Tate & Lyle Americas--Ingredients Americas |
|||
Bon-Ton Stores |
FBL Financial Group |
Meijer |
Tate & Lyle Americas--Tate & Lyle Sucralose |
|||
Boston Market |
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas |
Memphis Light, Gas & Water |
Texas Mutual Insurance |
|||
Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan |
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia |
Merz Pharmaceuticals |
Texas Roadhouse |
|||
BPZ Energy |
FedEx--FedEx Express |
Metagenics |
Thomas & King |
|||
Brambles |
FedEx--FedEx Office and Print Services |
MetLife |
Timberland |
|||
BrickStreet Mutual Insurance |
Ferrero USA |
Metso Minerals Industries |
Tipp Enterprises--Novamex |
|||
Bridgestone--Bridgestone Americas Holding |
Ferring Pharmaceuticals |
Michelin North America |
TJX Companies |
|||
Brinker International |
Fired Up |
Michelman |
Tommy Hilfiger |
|||
Brinker International--Chili's |
First Data |
Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative |
Tomtom |
|||
Brinker International--Maggiano's |
FM Global |
Midland Cogeneration Venture |
Toshiba America Medical Systems |
|||
Brinker International--On the Border |
FMC |
Midwest Reliability Organization |
TOTAL S.A.–Total Petrochemicals USA |
|||
Brown Shoe |
Focused Health Solution |
Millennium Inorganic Chemicals |
Tower Group |
|||
Brown-Forman |
Foot Locker |
Mirant |
Toys R Us |
|||
Buca |
Foot Locker--Foot Locker Stores |
Missouri Employers' Mutual Insurance |
Travis County Human Resources Management Department |
|||
Buckman Laboratories |
Foot Locker--Footlocker.com/Eastbay |
Mitsubishi Polycrystalline Silicon America |
Tredegar |
|||
Buffalo Wild Wings |
Foresters |
Modine Manufacturing |
Tredegar--Films |
|||
Buffet Partners |
Fortune Brands--Beam Global Spirits & Wine |
Molson Coors Brewing |
Tredegar--William L. Bonnell |
|||
Buffet Partners--Furr's Family Dining |
Fossil |
Montana State Fund |
Tronox |
|||
Buffets |
Foster's Group--Foster's Wine Estates Americas |
Moog |
Trustmark Insurance |
|||
Bunge North America |
Friendly Ice Cream |
Morton's Restaurant Group |
Tufts Associated Health Plans |
|||
Bupa |
Frisch's Restaurants |
Mosaic |
Tween Brands |
|||
Burger King |
Galderma Laboratories |
Multiplan |
Tyco Electronics |
|||
Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway |
Gap |
Munich American Reassurance |
Tyson Foods |
|||
Butterball |
Gap--Banana Republic |
MVP Health Care |
Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance |
|||
C&S Wholesale Grocers |
Gap--Gap Direct |
NACCO Materials Handling |
Umicore |
|||
Cabela's |
Gap--Gap International |
NATCO Group |
Union Pacific |
|||
Cabot |
Gap--Gap Outlet |
National Starch |
United States Steel |
|||
Cadbury North America |
Gap--Gap Stores |
Neighborhood Health Plan |
United Stationers |
|||
California Independent System Operator |
Gap--Old Navy |
Neiman Marcus Group |
UnitedHealth Group |
|||
California State Compensation Insurance Fund |
Geisinger Health System--Geisinger Health Plan |
Nestle USA |
Unitil |
|||
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority |
Gemalto |
New West Health Services |
Universal Parks & Resorts |
|||
CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield |
GenCorp |
New York & Company |
University of Dayton |
|||
Caribou Coffee |
GenCorp--Aerojet |
New York City Department of Education |
University of Tennessee |
|||
Carlson Restaurants Worldwide |
GEO Specialty Chemicals |
New York Independent System Operator |
Uno Restaurant Holding |
|||
Carlson Restaurants Worldwide--Pick Up Stix |
Georgia Farm Bureau Federation |
New York Power Authority |
Valley Services |
|||
Carlson Restaurants Worldwide--TGI Friday's |
Georgia Farm Bureau Federation--Mutual Insurance |
New York State Insurance Fund |
Valmont Industries |
|||
Carter's |
Georgia Gulf |
Newark InOne |
Valmont Industries—Coatings |
|||
Carus Chemical |
Gerdau AmeriSteel |
NewMarket |
Valmont Industries—International |
|||
Caterpillar |
Glatfelter |
NHP Foundation |
Valmont Industries—Irrigation |
|||
Caterpillar--Solar Turbines |
Global Aviation Holdings |
Nissan North America |
Valmont Industries—Utilities |
|||
CBC Restaurant |
Global Cash Access |
Nitto Denko America--Permacel Automotive |
Voith--Voith Hydro |
|||
CBRL Group |
Golden Corral |
Noble Corporation |
Vopak North America |
|||
CBRL Group--Cracker Barrel Old Country |
Goodrich |
Noranda Aluminum |
Vorwerk - Jafra US |
|||
CEC Entertainment |
Great Plains Energy--Kansas City Power & Light |
Noranda Aluminum--Noranda Primary |
Wackenhut Services |
|||
Celanese |
Griffith Laboratories USA |
Noranda Aluminum--Norandal |
Wal-Mart Stores |
|||
Centene |
Group Health Cooperative |
Nordstrom |
Wal-Mart Stores--Stores and Super Stores |
|||
CenterPoint Energy |
Grupo Bimbo--Bimbo Bakeries USA |
Northeast Utilities |
Walt Disney--Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts |
|||
Central Bancompany |
Guest Services |
Northrop Grumman--Newport News |
Warner Chilcott |
|||
Central Bancompany--Boone County National Bank |
Gulfstream |
NOVA Chemicals |
Watson Pharmaceuticals |
|||
Central Bancompany--Central Bank |
Gymboree |
Noven Pharmaceuticals |
WEA Insurance Trust |
|||
Central Bancompany--Central Bank Lake of the Ozarks |
H.B. Fuller |
Novo Nordisk |
Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield |
|||
Central Bancompany--Central Mortgage Company |
Hallmark Cards |
NPC |
WellPoint |
|||
Central Bancompany--Central Technology Services |
Hard Rock Cafe |
NuStar Energy |
Wendy's / Arby's Group |
|||
Central Bancompany--Central Trust and Investment Company |
Harris Teeter |
Nycomed US |
Wendy's / Arby's Group--Arby's |
|||
Central Bancompany--City Bank and Trust |
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care |
Occidental Petroleum--Occident Chemical |
Wendy's / Arby's Group--Wendy's |
|||
Central Bancompany--Empire Bank |
Health Care Service Corporation |
Ocean Spray Cranberries |
West Ed |
|||
Central Bancompany--First Central Bank |
Health Net |
O'Charley's |
Western Union |
|||
Central Bancompany--First National Bank Audrain County |
Health New England |
O'Charley's--Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub |
Westlake Chemical |
|||
Central Bancompany--First National Bank of St. Louis |
Health Partners |
O'Charley's--O'Charley's |
Whataburger |
|||
Central Bancompany--Jefferson Bank of Missouri |
HealthPartners |
O'Charley's--Stoney River |
White Castle System |
|||
Central Bancompany--Metcalf Bank |
HealthSpring |
Office Depot |
Wienerberger--General Shale Brick |
|||
Central Bancompany--ONB Bank |
Heineken USA |
OfficeMax |
William Grant & Sons |
|||
Central Bancompany--Ozark Mountain Bank |
Helzberg Diamonds |
Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation |
Williams-Sonoma |
|||
Central Bancompany--Third National Bank |
Hershey Foods |
Old Dominion Electric Cooperative |
Wills Group |
|||
CGGVeritas |
Hexion Specialty Chemicals |
Olin--Winchester |
Winchester Gardens |
|||
Champion Technologies |
Hillwood Development |
Orlando Utilities Commission |
WireCo |
|||
Champs Sports |
Hilti--US |
OSG Ship Holding Group |
Workers Compensation Fund |
|||
Charming Shoppes |
Home Depot |
P.F. Chang's China Bistro |
Workforce Safety Insurance |
|||
Checkers Drive-In Restaurants |
Honeywell--Specialty Materials |
P.F. Chang's China Bistro--P.F. Chang's |
World Bank Group |
|||
Cheesecake Factory |
Hooters of America |
P.F. Chang's China Bistro--Pei Wei |
Xtralis |
|||
Chemtura |
|
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey |
Pacific Gas and Electric |
Yum!--KFC |
||
Chemtura Corporation--Crop Protection |
Hormel Foods |
Panda Restaurant Group |
Yum!--Long John Silver's |
|||
Cheniere Energy |
Hot Topic |
Panera Bread |
Yum!--Pizza Hut |
|||
Chester County Intermediate Unit |
Howden Buffalo |
Pantry |
Yum!--Taco Bell |
|||
Chevron--Chevron Phillips Chemical |
Huber (J.M.) |
Papa Gino's |
Zale |
|||
Chicago Mercantile Exchange |
Huhtamaki |
Papa John's International |
Zep |
|||
Chico's FAS |
Hyundai--Hyundai Motor America |
|
Patina Restaurant Group |
|
ZF Group--North American Operations |
|
Chico's FAS - Soma Intimates |
ICL Industrial Products |
Penn National Insurance |
||||
Chico's FAS--Chico's |
Idaho State Insurance Fund |
Penske Truck Leasing |
||||
Chico's FAS--White House/Black Market |
Ilitch Holdings--Little Caesar Enterprises |
Pepsi Bottling Group |
||||
Children's Place |
Ilitch Holdings--Little |
|||||
Chipotle Mexican Grill |
LaBarge, Inc.
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
November 11, 2009
4:00 P.M.
The undersigned hereby appoints Craig E. LaBarge and Donald H. Nonnenkamp, or either of them acting in the absence of the other, proxies for the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of LaBarge, Inc. to be held at the offices of the Company, located at 9900 Clayton Road, St. Louis, Missouri, on November 11, 2009 at 4:00 P.M. St. Louis time, and at any adjournments thereof, in accordance with the instructions on the reverse side of this form, and with discretionary authority with respect to such other matters not known or determined at the time of the solicitation of this proxy, as may properly come before said meeting or any adjournments thereof. Stockholders who do not attend the Annual Meeting in person are invited to listen to a webcast of the meeting, which will be accessible through the Company’s Web site at http://www.labarge.com.
The undersigned hereby revokes any proxies heretofore given in connection with the Annual Meeting and directs said persons to use this proxy to act or vote as follows:
PLEASE COMPELTE, DATE, SIGN, AND MAIL THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE OR PROVIDE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTE VIA THE INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE.
(Continued, and to be marked, dated, and signed, on the other side)
FOLD AND DETACH HERE
LaBarge, Inc.— ANNUAL MEETING, NOVEMBER 11, 2009
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
Annual Meeting Materials are available online at:
http://www.cfpproxy.com/5197
You can vote in one of three ways:
Call toll free 1-866-860-0411 on a Touch-Tone Phone. There is NO CHARGE to you for this call.
or
Via the Internet at https://www.proxyvotenow.com/lbi and follow the instructions.
or
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it promptly in the enclosed envelope.
REVOCABLE PROXY
LaBarge, Inc.
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS |
||||
X |
|
PLEASE MARK VOTES |
|
November 11, 2009 |
For |
|
With-hold |
|
For All |
|
All |
Except |
Proposal 1. |
Election of Directors: |
|
Class B — |
|
(01) John G. Helmkamp, Jr. |
(02) Lawrence J. LeGrand |
||
|
|
|
INSTRUCTION: |
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write that nominee’s name in the space provided below. |
|
|
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of the nominees listed above.
For |
|
Against |
|
Abstain |
Proposal 2. |
|
Proposal to ratify the selection of KPMG LLP as Independent Registered Public Accountants for the fiscal year ending June 27, 2010. |
|
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR ALL PROPOSALS.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP. |
NOTE: Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as
attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, or guardian, please give full title as such.
Please be sure to date and sign this instruction card in the box below. |
Date: |
||
|
|
||
Sign above |
|
IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET, PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW
FOLD AND DETACH HERE IF YOU ARE VOTING BY MAIL
Stockholders of record have three ways to vote:
1. By Mail; or
2. By Telephone (using a touch-tone phone); or
3. By Internet.
A telephone or Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed, dated and returned this proxy. Please note that all telephone and Internet votes must be cast prior to 3 A.M. Eastern Time November 11, 2009. It
is not necessary to return this proxy if you vote by telephone or Internet.
Vote by Telephone
Call toll-free on a touch-tone phone anytime prior to
3 A.M. Eastern Time November 11, 2009:
1-866-860-0411
Vote by Internet
Anytime prior to
3 A.M. Eastern Time November 11, 2009, go to:
https://www.proxyvotenow.com/lbi
Please note that the last vote received, whether by telephone, Internet or mail, will be the vote counted.
ONLINE ANNUAL MEETING MATERIALS: http://www.cfpproxy.com/5197
Your vote is important!