Section 240.14a-101 Schedule 14A.
Information required in proxy statement.
Schedule 14A Information
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[X] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted
by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section
240.14a-12
VITAL SIGNS, INC.
..................................................................
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
..................................................................
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1)
and 0-11
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
............................................................
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction
applies:
.......................................................
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount
on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
determined):
.......................................................
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
.......................................................
(5) Total fee paid:
.......................................................
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for
which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the
previous filing by registration statement number, or the
Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
.......................................................
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
.......................................................
(3) Filing Party:
.......................................................
(4) Date Filed:
.......................................................
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
OF
VITAL SIGNS, INC.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Vital
Signs, Inc. (the "Company" or "Vital Signs") will be held at the Company's
headquarters, 20 Campus Road, Totowa, New Jersey, on ________, September __,
2002 at 10:00 a.m. local time, to consider and act upon the following:
1. The election of seven directors to serve for a period of one year
and thereafter until their successors shall have been duly elected
and shall have qualified.
2. The approval of the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan to replace the
Company's 1990 Employee Stock Option Plan and 1991 Outside Director
Stock Option Plan, both of which have expired.
3. The approval of an amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate
of Incorporation to eliminate all references therein to a series of
preferred stock that was never issued by the Company.
4. The approval of an amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate
of Incorporation to provide for directors to be elected on a three
year, staggered term basis (the "Staggered Board Provision").
5. The approval of an amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate
of Incorporation to provide that shareholders of the Company can act
only at special or annual meetings of shareholders except as
required by law (the "Shareholder Meeting Provision").
6. The approval of an amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate
of Incorporation to add a provision (the "Amendment Provision") to
such Restated Certificate of Incorporation stating that in addition
to such approvals as shall be required by law, amendments to the
Staggered Board Provision, the Shareholder Meeting Provision and the
Amendment Provision may only be made if approved either by each of
the members of the Company's Board of Directors or by shareholders
owning 75% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of the
Company's voting stock.
7. To consider and act upon any other matter which may properly come
before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on August 7, 2002
as the date for determining the shareholders of record entitled to receive
notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Joseph F. Bourgart
Secretary
Totowa, New Jersey
August __, 2002
We urge you to sign and return the enclosed proxy as promptly as possible,
whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person. Returning the proxy
will not limit your right to vote at the meeting if you later decide to attend
in person.
VITAL SIGNS, INC.
20 Campus Road
Totowa, New Jersey 07512
--------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
--------------------
The following statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation
of proxies by the Board of Directors of Vital Signs, Inc. (the "Company" or
"Vital Signs"), a New Jersey corporation. Such proxies are to be used at the
Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at the Company's
headquarters, 20 Campus Road, Totowa, New Jersey, on ______, September __, 2002
commencing at 10:00 a.m., local time. This Proxy Statement and the enclosed form
of proxy are first being sent to shareholders on or about August __, 2002.
Shareholders Entitled to Vote
Only holders of record of the Company's Common Stock (the "Common Stock")
at the close of business on August 7, 2002 (the record date fixed by the Board
of Directors) will be entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Annual
Meeting. At the close of business on the record date, there were _______ shares
of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each
such share is entitled to one vote.
Voting; Revocation of Proxy; Quorum and Vote Required
A form of proxy is enclosed for use at the Annual Meeting if a
shareholder is unable to attend in person. Each proxy may be revoked at any time
before it is exercised by giving written notice to the Secretary of the Meeting
or by submitting a duly executed, later-dated proxy. All shares represented by
valid proxies pursuant to this solicitation (and not revoked before they are
exercised) will be voted as specified in the form of proxy. If the proxy is
signed but no specification is given, the shares will be voted FOR:
o election of the Board's nominees to the Board of Directors;
o approval of the Company's proposed 2002 Stock Incentive Plan;
o approval of an amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to eliminate all references therein to a series of
preferred stock that was never issued by the Company;
o approval of an amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to provide for directors to be elected on a three
year, staggered term basis (the "Staggered Board Provision");
o approval of an amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to provide that shareholders of the Company can act
only at special or annual meetings of shareholders except as
required by law (the "Shareholder Meeting Provision"); and
o approval of an amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to add a provision (the "Amendment Provision") to such
Restated Certificate of Incorporation stating that in addition to
such approvals as shall be required by law, amendments to the
Staggered Board Provision, the Shareholder Meeting Provision and the
Amendment Provision may only be made if approved either by each of
the members of the Company's Board of Directors or by shareholders
owning 75% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of the
Company's voting stock.
A majority of the shares outstanding on the record date will constitute a quorum
for purposes of the Annual Meeting. Assuming that a quorum is present, the
election of directors will be effected by a plurality vote of the votes cast at
the Annual Meeting and adoption of the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan and of each of
the proposed amendments to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation
will require a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting. For purposes of
determining the votes cast with respect to any matter presented for
consideration at the Annual Meeting, only those votes cast "for" or "against"
are included. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted only for the purpose
of determining whether a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting.
Costs of Solicitation
The entire cost of soliciting these proxies will be borne by the Company.
In following up the original solicitation of the proxies by mail, the Company
may make arrangements with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries to send proxies and proxy materials to the beneficial owners of the
Common Stock and may reimburse them for their expenses in so doing. If
necessary, the Company may also use its officers and their assistants to solicit
proxies from the shareholders, either personally or by telephone or special
letter.
Principal Shareholders; Beneficial Ownership of Directors and Officers
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial
ownership of the Common Stock as of June 30, 2002 by (i) each person who is
known by the Company to own beneficially more than five percent of the Common
Stock; (ii) trusts maintained for the benefit of the children of Terry D. Wall,
the Company's principal shareholder and chief executive officer; (iii) each
Named Officer (as defined herein), director and nominee of the Company; and (iv)
all directors, nominees and executive officers of the Company as a group. Unless
otherwise indicated, each of the named shareholders possesses sole voting and
investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned. Shares covered
by stock options are included in the table below only to the extent that such
options may be exercised by August 29, 2002.
2
Shareholder Number Percent(11)
----------- ------ -----------
Terry D. Wall (1)(2).................................................................. 4,308,888 33.11
Trusts for the benefit of the minor children of Terry D. Wall
(Anthony J. Dimun, trustee) (1)(3)................................................. 2,420,327 18.73
Anthony J. Dimun, individually and as trustee (1)(3).................................. 2,571,715 19.86
Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc., 1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor,
Santa Monica, CA 90401 (4)......................................................... 743,500 5.76
Kennedy Capital Management, Inc., 10829 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141 (5).......... 704,420 5.45
C. Barry Wicker (6)................................................................... 324,384 2.50
David J. Bershad (7).................................................................. 100,567 *
Stuart M. Essig (8)................................................................... 27,611 *
Herbert Javer (9)..................................................................... --- ---
David H. MacCallum.................................................................... --- ---
Joseph J. Thomas...................................................................... --- ---
All directors, nominees and executive officers as a group (ten persons) (10).......... 7,333,165 55.73
--------------
* Represents less than one percent.
(1) The business address of Mr. Wall and the above-mentioned trusts is c/o
Vital Signs, Inc., 20 Campus Road, Totowa, New Jersey 07512. The business
address of Mr. Dimun is c/o Strategic Concepts, LLC, 46 Parsonage Hill
Road, Short Hills, New Jersey 07078.
(2) Includes 3,440,894 shares owned by Mr. Wall directly, 706,748 shares
owned by Carol Vance Wall, Mr. Wall's wife, 23,534 shares held in the
Company's 401(k) plan on Mr. Wall's behalf, 41,518 shares held in the
Company's Investment Plan on Mr. Wall's behalf and 96,194 shares covered
by options exercisable by Mr. Wall. Excludes shares held in trust for the
benefit of the Walls' minor children (which shares may not be voted or
disposed of by Mr. Wall or Carol Vance Wall) and shares held by a
charitable foundation established by Mr. Wall and Carol Vance Wall. Mr.
Wall and Carol Vance Wall have pledged 4,041,272 shares as collateral to
a brokerage firm as security for a loan made to them. Based on the
closing sale price of the Common Stock on July 25, 2002, the value of the
shares held as collateral on this loan represented more than 540% of the
outstanding balance on this loan as of July 25, 2002. Upon any default
under this loan, the shares collateralizing such loan may be sold in the
market. The number of shares so sold in the market may negatively impact
the market price of the Common Stock. Depending upon the number of shares
sold and the number of shares that could similarly be sold in connection
with the loans described in the next footnote, such sales could result in
a change in control of the Company.
(3) As trustee of the trusts maintained for the benefit of the minor children
of Terry D. Wall, Anthony J. Dimun has the power to vote and dispose of
each of the shares held in such trusts and thus is deemed to be the
beneficial owner of such shares under applicable regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Mr. Dimun is also deemed to be the
beneficial owner of 700 shares held in certain insurance trusts
established by Mr. Wicker. He is also deemed to be the beneficial owner
of 79,700 shares held by the charitable foundation described above.
Accordingly, the shares reflected in the table above as shares
beneficially owned by Mr. Dimun include shares held by Mr. Dimun for such
trusts and foundation, 20,644 shares owned by Mr. Dimun individually,
20,381 shares held in the Company's Investment Plan on Mr. Dimun's behalf
and 29,963 shares covered by options exercisable by Mr. Dimun. The trusts
established for the Walls' children have pledged their shares as
collateral to a financial institution to secure loans made to them. The
Company has agreed to register such shares for resale, at the trusts'
expense, in the event that such financial institution acquires such
shares upon a default and thereafter desires to sell such shares. Based
on the closing sale price of our common stock on July 25, 2002, the value
of the shares held as collateral on these loans represented more than
640% of the outstanding balance on these loans as of July 25, 2002. Upon
any default under these loans, the shares collateralizing such loans may
be sold in the market. The number of shares so sold in the market may
negatively impact the market price of the Common Stock. Depending upon
the number of shares sold and the number of shares that could similarly
be sold in connection with the loan described in the immediately
preceding footnote, such sales could result in a change in control of the
Company.
3
(4) In a Schedule 13G Amendment filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on February 12, 2002, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. stated
that it has sole power to vote and dispose of these shares in its role as
investment advisor or manager.
(5) In a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
February 14, 2002, Kennedy Capital Management, Inc. stated that it has
sole power to vote 679,920 of these shares and the sole power to dispose
of all of these shares in its role as investment advisor or manager.
(6) Includes 268,927 shares owned by Mr. Wicker directly, 9,878 shares held
in the Company's 401(k) plan on Mr. Wicker's behalf, 8.971 shares held in
the Company's Investment Plan on Mr. Wicker's behalf and 36,608 shares
covered by options exercisable by Mr. Wicker. Excludes shares held in
insurance trusts maintained for the benefit of Mr. Wicker's children,
which shares may not be voted or disposed of by Mr. Wicker or his wife.
(7) Includes 20,267 shares owned by Mr. Bershad directly, 2,000 shares owned
by Mr. Bershad's wife as to which Mr. Bershad disclaims beneficial
ownership, 8,362 shares held in the Company's Investment Plan on Mr.
Bershad's behalf and 69,938 shares covered by options exercisable by Mr.
Bershad.
(8) Includes 3,781 shares owned by Mr. Essig directly, 6,638 shares held in
the Company's Investment Plan on Mr. Essig's behalf and 17,192 shares
covered by options exercisable by Mr. Essig.
(9) Mr. Javer served as the Company's chief financial officer from May 2001
through January 2002. The information with respect to Mr. Javer is based
upon record ownership only; the Company is not aware that Mr. Javer owns
any shares of Common Stock beneficially or of record.
(10) Includes 249,895 shares covered by options exercisable by the Company's
executive officers, directors and nominees, 33,412 shares held in the
Company's 401(k) plan and 85,870 shares held in the Company's Investment
Plan; also includes shares held in trust by Mr. Dimun for Mr. Wall's
children and pursuant to certain insurance trusts established by Mr.
Wicker and shares held by a charitable foundation established by Terry
and Carol Vance Wall.
(11) Percent of class is based on 12,919,068 shares of Common Stock
outstanding on June 30, 2002.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the
Company's directors, executive officers and 10% shareholders to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission certain reports regarding such persons
ownership of the Company's securities. The Company is required to disclose any
failures to file such reports on a timely basis. The Company is not aware of any
such untimely filings during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001.
PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The holders of the Common Stock will elect seven directors at the Annual
Meeting. If the shareholders approve the Staggered Board Provision, then Messrs.
Bershad and Dimun shall be deemed to have been elected for one year terms
expiring at the 2003 annual meeting of shareholders, Messrs. Essig and MacCallum
shall be deemed to have been elected for two year terms expiring at the 2004
annual meeting of shareholders and Messrs. Thomas, Wicker and Wall shall be
deemed to have been elected for three year terms expiring at the 2005 annual
meeting of directors. If the shareholders do not approve the Staggered Board
Provision, each of the nominees will be elected for a one year term. Unless a
shareholder either indicates "withhold authority" on his proxy or indicates on
his proxy that his shares should not be voted for certain nominees, it is
intended that the persons named in the proxy will vote for the election of the
persons named in the table below to serve until the expiration of their terms
and thereafter until their successors shall have been duly elected and shall
have qualified. Discretionary authority is also solicited to vote for the
election of a substitute for any of said nominees who, for any reason presently
unknown, cannot be a candidate for election. Each of the nominees is currently a
member of the Company's Board of Directors.
4
The table below sets forth the names and ages (as of March 31, 2002) of
each of the nominees, the other positions and offices presently held by each
such person within the Company, the period during which each such person has
served on the Board of Directors of the Company and the principal occupations
and employment of each such person during at least the past five years.
Director
Name and Age Since Business Experience(A)
------------ ----- ----------------------
Terry D. Wall, 60 1972 President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr.
Wall presently serves on the Board of Directors of Bionx
Implants, Inc.
David J. Bershad, 61 1991 Member of the law firm of Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes &
Lerach LLP. Mr. Bershad presently serves on the Board of
Directors of Bionx Implants, Inc.
Anthony J. Dimun, 58 1987 Chairman of Nascent Enterprises, LLC (consulting firm) (May
1, 2001 to present); Executive Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company (1991 to
May 1, 2001); Secretary of the Company (December 1991 to
December 1998); Principal Owner, Strategic Concepts,
Inc. (financial and acquisition advisory firm) (1988 to
present). Mr. Dimun presently serves on the Board of
Directors of Bionx Implants, Inc.
Stuart M. Essig, 40 1998 President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director of
Integra Life Sciences Corporation (a medical technology
company) (1997 to present); Managing Director and
various positions with Goldman, Sachs & Co. (an
investment banking firm) (1988 to 1997). Mr. Essig
presently serves on the Board of Directors of St. Jude
Medical Corporation.
David H. MacCallum, 64 2002 Managing Partner of Outer Islands Capital (April 2002 to
present) (private equity partnership); Managing Director
-Global Head of Health Care, Salomon Smith Barney (1999 to
November 2001) (investment banking firm); Executive Vice
President, Head of Healthcare, ING Baring Furman Selz, LLC
(investment banking firm) (April 1998 to June 1999);
Managing Director for Life Sciences Investment Banking,
UBS Securities LLC (1994 to 1998) (investment banking
firm); Co-Head, Investment Banking, Hambrecht & Quist LLC
(1983-1994) (investment banking firm).
Joseph J. Thomas, 65 1992 President of Thomas Medical Products, Inc. (a subsidiary of
the Company) ("TMP") (1990 to present).
Barry Wicker, 61 1985 Executive Vice President--Sales of the Company.
--------------
(A) In each instance in which dates are not provided in connection with a
director's business experience, such director has held the position
indicated for at least the past five years. Messrs. Wall, Bershad and
Dimun have invested together (and serve together as Board members) in
Bionx Implants, Inc. Messrs. Wall and Bershad have invested together (and
serve as Board members) in OmniSonics Medical Technologies, Inc.
(formerly Sonokinetics, Inc.). The Company and Messrs. Wall and Dimun are
shareholders of EchoCath, Inc. Messrs. Wall, Dimun, MacCallum, Bershad
and Thomas are investors in X-Site Medical, LLC. Messrs. Wall, Dimun and
MacCallum serve as Board members of X-Site Medical, LLC. (See "Related
Party Transactions"). Omnisonics Medical Technologies, Inc. and X-Site
Medical, LLC are private companies.
5
Summary of Cash and Certain Other Compensation
The following table sets forth, for the fiscal years ended September 30,
1999, 2000 and 2001, the annual and long-term compensation of the Company's
Chief Executive Officer and the other individuals who served as executive
officers of the Company at the end of fiscal 2001 and received greater than
$100,000 in salary and bonus during fiscal 2001 (the "Named Executive
Officers"):
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Long-Term
Compensation
Annual Compensation --------------------------------
----------------------------------------------- Common Shares
Other Subject
Annual to Options All Other
Name and Principal Position Year Salary Bonus(A) Compensation(B) Granted (#) Compensation(C)
--------------------------- ---- ------ -------- --------------- ---------- ---------------
Terry D. Wall................... 2001 $225,000 $ 31,035 $6,000 7,758 $4,902
President and Chief Executive 2000 225,000 18,634 6,000 24,916 4,109
Officer 1999 225,000 10,695 6,000 -- 5,088
Joseph J. Thomas (D)............ 2001 156,000 208,104 -- -- 2,433
President, Thomas Medical 2000 150,000 -- -- -- 606
Products 1999 150,000 13,500 -- -- 1,644
Barry Wicker.................... 2001 151,250 20,993 6,000 9,638 3,554
Executive Vice President-Sales 2000 151,250 12,625 6,000 8,304 3,606
1999 151,250 7,331 6,000 9,638 3,574
Herbert Javer (E)............... 2001 106,277 10,195 4,000 -- --
Executive Vice President and 2000 -- -- -- -- --
Chief Financial Officer 1999 -- -- -- -- --
--------------
(A) Reflects bonuses in the fiscal year earned, which may not correspond with
the fiscal year paid.
(B) Comprised entirely of monthly car allowances.
(C) "Compensation" reported under this column for the year ended September
30, 2001 includes: (i) contributions of $2,625, $2,153, and $2,433,
respectively, for Messrs. Wall, Wicker and Thomas, respectively, to the
Company's 401(k) Plan on behalf of the Named Executive Officers to match
pre-tax elective deferral contributions (included under "Salary") made by
each Named Officer to that Plan and (ii) premiums of $2,277, $1,401 and
$0, respectively, with respect to life insurance purchased by the Company
for the benefit of Messrs. Wall, Wicker and Thomas, respectively.
(footnotes continued on next page)
6
(footnotes continued from previous page)
(D) Effective October 1, 2001, Mr. Thomas and TMP entered into a three year
employment agreement, pursuant to which Mr. Thomas will be paid a base
salary of $162,240 in fiscal 2002, increased annually by the same
percentage increase as salaries generally increase for the Company. Mr.
Thomas is guaranteed an annual bonus of $212,450 during the term. He is
also entitled to receive an additional bonus based on TMP's performance.
Mr. Thomas' wife is also an employee of TMP and TMP has entered into a
similar agreement with her. However, her first year's base salary is
$74,578 and her guaranteed annual bonus is $77,757. Mr. Thomas is also
entitled to an auto allowance and auto expense reimbursement of $1,466
per month. On November 30, 2001, pursuant to unsecured promissory notes
bearing interest at 5.5% per annum, the Company loaned Mr. Thomas the sum
of $637,350 and loaned his wife $233,370. The notes are due on November
30, 2004.
(E) Subsequent to the end of fiscal 2001, Mr. Javer resigned as Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and was replaced by Joseph F.
Bourgart, who joined the Company on a part-time basis in June of 2001,
and became a full-time employee on October 1, 2001. Before becoming
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Bourgart served
as Executive Vice President of Business Development for the Company.
Stock Options
The following table contains information regarding the grant of stock
options to the Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended September
30, 2001. In addition, in accordance with rules adopted by the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the following table sets forth the hypothetical
gains or "options spreads" that would exist for the respective options assuming
rates of annual compound price appreciation in the Company's Common Stock of 5%
and 10% from the date the options were granted to their final expiration date.
No stock appreciation rights were granted during the fiscal year ended September
30, 2001.
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
Individual Grants
Potential Realizable Value
Number of Percent of at Assumed Annual Rates
Common Shares Total Options of Stock Price Appreciation
Underlying Granted for Option Term
Options To Employees Exercise Price Expiration ---------------------------
Name Granted(A) in Fiscal 2001 Per Share Date 5% 10%
---- --------- -------------- --------- ---- -- ---
Terry D. Wall.............. 7,758 9.3% $29.00 8/31/2011 $141,490 $358,563
Barry Wicker............... 9,638 11.28% 29.00 8/17/2011 175,777 445,454
Joseph J. Thomas........... -- -- -- -- -- --
Herbert Javer.............. -- -- -- -- -- --
--------------
(A) In connection with the options granted to Messrs. Wall and Wicker, these
individuals entered into forbearance agreements with the Company.
Pursuant to these forbearance agreements, these individuals agreed not to
exercise vested options which had been previously granted to them under
the Company's Investment Plan for another two years. The options granted
to Messrs. Wall and Wicker in fiscal 2001 vest in full two years after
the grant date.
The following table provides data regarding stock options exercised by
the Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001 and
the number of shares of the Company's Common Stock covered by both exercisable
and non-exercisable stock options held by the Named Executive Officers at
September 30, 2001. Also reported are the values for "in-the-money" options,
which represent the positive spread between the exercise prices of existing
options and $30.60, the closing sale price of the Company's Common Stock on
Friday, September 28, 2001.
7
AGGREGATE OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR-END VALUES
Number of Shares Value of Unexercised
Underlying Unexercised In-the-Money Options at
Shares Value Options at Fiscal Year-End(#) Fiscal Year-End($)
Acquired on Realized($) ----------------------------- ---------------------------
Exercise(#) (A) Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
----------- --- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
Terry D. Wall.......... 124,000 1,781,984 71,278 32,674 595,171 245,377
Barry Wicker........... 60,000 705,000 20,000 35,884 167,000 292,130
Joseph J. Thomas....... -- -- -- -- -- --
Herbert Javer.......... -- -- -- -- -- --
--------------
(A) The amount realized represents the aggregate fair market value of the
shares acquired upon exercise of the options minus the aggregate exercise
price.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table gives information about the Company's Common Stock
that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants and rights under all
of the Company's existing equity compensation plans as of September 30, 2001,
including the Company's Investment Plan, as amended and restated as of May 30,
2001, 1991 Director Stock Option Plan and 1990 Employee Stock Option Plan, as
amended and restated as of December 1, 1997. No warrants or rights are
outstanding under the foregoing plans.
(c)
Number of Securities
(a) Remaining Available for
Number of Securities (b) Future Issuance Under
to be Issued Upon Weighted-Average Equity Compensation
Exercise of Exercise Price of Plans (Excluding
Outstanding Options, Outstanding Options, Securities Reflected in
Plan Category Warrants and Rights Warrants and Rights Column (a))
------------- -------------------- -------------------- -----------
Equity Compensation
Plans Approved by
Shareholders............ 456,257 $22.23 574,041
Equity Compensation
Plans Not Approved by
Shareholders............ -- -- --
------- -------
TOTAL 456,257 574,041
======= =======
Arrangements with Directors
Joseph Thomas became a director of the Company upon the Company's
acquisition of TMP on September 30, 1992. Mr. Thomas continues to be employed by
the Company as the President of TMP. For the year ended September 30, 2001, Mr.
Thomas received a salary of $156,000 and a bonus of $208,104. For further
information on the terms of Mr. Thomas' employment agreement, see footnote (D)
to the Summary Compensation Table. On November 30, 2001, pursuant to unsecured
promissory notes bearing interest at 5.5% per annum, the Company loaned Mr.
Thomas the sum of $637,350 and loaned his wife $233,370. The notes are due on
November 30, 2004. The principal amount of these notes, together with interest
accrued thereon, represents the largest amount of such
8
indebtedness outstanding on this indebtedness at any time since November 30,
2001. All of such indebtedness remained outstanding as of the date of this proxy
statement.
Directors who are not employed by the Company or its subsidiaries
participated in the Company's 1991 Director Stock Option Plan (the "Director
Plan"). Under the Director Plan, each outside director automatically received
options covering 4,000 shares of Common Stock (with an exercise price equal to
fair market value on the date of grant) on an annual basis and was entitled to
receive additional options at the discretion of the committee administering the
Director Plan. During fiscal 2001, each of Mr. Bershad and Mr. Essig were
granted options covering 4,000 shares. One half of the options granted under the
Director Plan vest immediately at the time of grant. Half of the balance may be
exercised commencing one year after the date of grant and the remainder may be
exercised commencing two years after the date of grant.
Following Anthony Dimun's retirement as Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of the Company in May of 2001, Mr. Dimun received
$25,200 in consulting fees from the Company during fiscal 2001.
Directors of the Company presently do not receive any cash fees for
serving in such capacity.
The Board of Directors; Committees of the Board
The Board of Directors of the Company held five meetings during the
fiscal year ended September 30, 2001. The Board's Audit Committee, which is
responsible for reviewing significant audit and accounting principles, policies
and practices and for meeting with the Company's independent accountants, met
four times during the year ended September 30, 2001. The Audit Committee
presently consists of Messrs. Bershad, Dimun and Essig.
The Board has a Nominating Committee, consisting of Messrs. Wall and
Dimun. This Committee did not meet during the year ended September 30, 2001, as
all nominating matters were considered by the full Board. The Nominating
Committee is charged with the responsibility of interviewing potential
candidates for election to the Board and for nominating individuals each year
for election to the Board. The Nominating Committee has not established any
procedures for considering nominees recommended by shareholders.
The Board does not have a general Compensation Committee. It maintains a
Stock Option Committee, however, to administer the Company's stock option plans
and the Vital Signs Investment Plan. The Stock Option Committee presently
consists of Messrs. Wall and Wicker and acted by unanimous consent during the
Company's most recent fiscal year.
Each member of the Company's Board was present for 75% or more of the
aggregate of the total meetings of the Board and each Board committee on which
he serves.
Audit Committee Matters
Audit Committee Charter. The Audit Committee has adopted a written
charter which was filed with the Company's 2001 Notice of Annual Meeting of
Shareholders and Proxy Statement.
Independence of Audit Committee Members. The Common Stock is listed on
the Nasdaq National Market and the Company is governed by the listing standards
applicable thereto. Messrs. Bershad and Essig have been determined to be
"independent directors" pursuant to the definition contained in Rule 4200(a)(14)
of the National Association of Securities Dealers' ("NASD") Marketplace rules.
Anthony Dimun, the third member of the Audit Committee, does not satisfy that
definition, inasmuch as he has been employed by the Company within the past
three years. Nevertheless, the Board concluded that given Mr. Dimun's background
as a certified public accountant and his familiarity with the Company's
financial statements and controls, it is in the Company's best interests for Mr.
Dimun to serve on the Audit Committee. Under the NASD's rules, the Company is
permitted one such exception from the independence requirements.
Audit Committee Report. In connection with the preparation and filing of
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30,
2001:
(1) the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial
statements with the Company's management;
(2) the Audit Committee discussed with the Company's independent auditors
the matters required to be discussed by SAS 61;
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(3) the Audit Committee received and reviewed the written disclosures and
the letter from the Company's independent auditors required by the Independence
Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees)
and discussed with the Company's independent auditors any relationships that may
impact their objectivity and independence and satisfied itself as to the
auditors' independence; and
(4) based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit
Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be
included in the 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
By: The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
David J. Bershad, Anthony J. Dimun and Stuart M. Essig
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The Board of Directors does not maintain a Compensation Committee.
Accordingly, compensation decisions are made by the entire Board of Directors.
During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, the following individuals
served on the Board of Directors: Terry D. Wall, David J. Bershad, Anthony J.
Dimun, Stuart M. Essig, E. David Hetz, Ray Larkin, Joseph J. Thomas and Barry
Wicker. During that year, of the persons named, Messrs. Wall, Dimun, Thomas and
Wicker were officers and employees of the Company or its subsidiaries.
Related Party Transactions
TMP, a subsidiary of the Company, provides product development and
manufacturing services to X-Site Medical, LLC ("X-Site"), a company engaged in
the development of specialized cardiovascular products. TMP invoiced X-Site
$371,675 during fiscal 2001 and $236,289 during the period from October 1, 2001
through June 30, 2002. As of June 30, 2002, a balance of $18,351 was outstanding
for such services. The Company believes that the rates charged to X-Site for
such services are no less favorable to the Company than those charged to
similarly situated unrelated parties. Mr. Wall and his family limited
partnership own 37.6% of X-Site. Mr. Dimun, an investment limited partnership in
which Mr. Bershad is the primary investor, Mr. Thomas and Mr. MacCallum own
3.9%, 4.3%, 2.1% and less than 1% of X-Site, respectively.
Board Report on Executive Compensation
Pursuant to rules adopted by the SEC designed to enhance disclosure of
corporate policies regarding executive compensation, the Company has set forth
below a report of its Board regarding compensation policies as they affect Mr.
Wall and the other Named Executive Officers.
The Board of Directors views compensation of executive officers as having
three distinct parts, a current compensation program, a set of standard benefits
and a long-term benefit. The current compensation element focuses upon the
executive officer's salary and is designed to provide appropriate reimbursement
for services rendered. The Company's standard benefit package consists primarily
of the matching portion of the Company's 401(k) Plan and eligibility for bonuses
based upon performance of the Company. The long-term benefit element has been
reflected in the grants of stock options to specific executive officers.
During the past two completed fiscal years, the two most senior executive
officers did not receive any salary increase. Traditionally, Mr. Wall's salary
has been set at levels which are perceived by the Board to be below the salaries
of chief executive officers of other comparable companies. Mr. Wall, whose
family continues to own more than half of the outstanding Common Stock of the
Company, has been willing to accept such salary levels primarily because of the
message his salary sends to other executive officers, employees and
shareholders. Furthermore, Mr. Wall's personal net worth ultimately depends more
on the performance of the Company than on any specific salary level. The
salaries of each of the other Named Executive Officers are based upon experience
with the Company, contributions to the Company and the relationship of such
individual's responsibilities to the Chief Executive Officer's responsibilities.
Stock options granted to executive officers of the Company have
historically been granted at a price equal to fair market value. Accordingly,
such options will gain appreciable value if, and only if, the market value of
the Common Stock increases subsequent to the date of grant. The Board believes
that the issuance of stock options at fair market value provides incentives to
employees to maximize the Company's performance and to assure continued
affiliation with the Company.
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The Board believes that an appropriate compensation program can help in
promoting strong earnings performance if it reflects an appropriate balance
between providing rewards to executive officers while at the same time
effectively controlling cash compensation costs. It is the Board's objective to
continue monitoring the Company's compensation program to assure that this
balance is maintained.
By: The Board of Directors
Terry D. Wall Stuart M. Essig Joseph J. Thomas
David J. Bershad David H. MacCallum C. Barry Wicker
Anthony J. Dimun
PROPOSAL TWO
APPROVAL OF THE VITAL SIGNS, INC. 2002 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
On May 31, 2002, the Company's Board of Directors adopted, subject to
shareholder approval, the Vital Signs, Inc. 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (the
"Stock Incentive Plan"). The purpose of the Stock Incentive Plan is to enable
the Company to attract and retain qualified directors, officers, employees and
consultants, and to provide these persons with an additional incentive to
contribute to the success of the Company. In many respects, the Stock Incentive
Plan is a renewal of the Company's employee and outside director stock option
plans, both of which have expired. The material aspects of the Stock Incentive
Plan are summarized below. A copy of the Stock Incentive Plan is annexed to this
proxy statement as Appendix A. Shareholders of the Company are urged to read the
plan in its entirety.
Administration
The Stock Incentive Plan provides that it will be administered by the
Board of Directors or any duly created committee appointed by the Board and
charged with the administration of the Stock Incentive Plan. To the extent
required in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (the "Code"), any committee will consist solely
of "outside directors", within the meaning of Section 162(m). The Board or
committee which administers the Stock Incentive Plan is referred to as the
"Program Administrator". It is currently anticipated that the Stock Incentive
Plan will be administered by a committee consisting of Terry D. Wall and C.
Barry Wicker except as otherwise required by Section 162(m) of the Code. The
Board has designated David J. Bershad and David H. MacCallum to serve as a
special committee to administer the Stock Incentive Plan to the extent necessary
to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.
Structure
The Stock Incentive Plan actually consists of five different plans - a
plan which contemplates the grant of incentive stock options, a plan which
contemplates the grant of non-statutory stock options (referred to herein as
"supplemental stock options"), a plan which contemplates the grant of stock
appreciation rights, a plan which permits the granting of performance shares and
a plan which provides for the automatic grant of options to non-employee
directors.
Eligibility
All directors and key officers, employees and consultants of the
Company and its subsidiaries (approximately 1,250 persons as of March 31, 2002)
are eligible to receive benefits under the Stock Incentive Plan. As a matter of
law, only employees are eligible to receive incentive stock options. Benefits
under the Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan are limited to directors who
have not been employed by the Company during the 12 months preceding the date of
grant of the applicable options. Except for certain options granted to
non-employee directors, grants under the Stock Incentive Plan are discretionary,
and the Company is unable, at the present time, to determine the identity or
number of directors, officers, other employees and consultants who may be
granted benefits under the Stock Incentive Plan in the future.
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Types of Options
The Program Administrator may designate any option granted as either an
incentive stock option or a supplemental stock option, or the Program
Administrator may designate a portion of the option as an incentive stock option
and the remaining portion as a supplemental stock option. Any portion of an
option that is not expressly designated as an incentive stock option will be a
supplemental stock option. To the extent that an option intended to be granted
as an incentive stock option fails to satisfy one or more requirements
applicable to incentive stock options, it will be deemed to be a supplemental
stock option.
Other Awards
In addition to stock options, the Stock Incentive Plan authorizes the
grant of stock appreciation rights and performance shares. Stock appreciation
rights may be granted in tandem with existing stock options or separately from
such options. Performance shares enable the Company to condition the grant of
shares upon the satisfaction of certain specified milestones.
Exercise Period
Subject to modification by the Program Administrator, options granted
to participants other than non-employee directors are generally exercisable in
25% annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant
and continuing for each of the next three anniversaries thereafter. Options
granted under the Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan vest as follows: 50%
on the date of grant, 25% one year later and 25% two years later.
Unless previously terminated by the Board of Directors, the Stock
Incentive Plan will terminate on May 31, 2012. Such termination will have no
impact upon options granted prior to the termination date. The maximum term of
all options granted under the Stock Incentive Plan is 10 years, provided,
however, that any incentive stock option granted to a person who is the
beneficial owner of more than 10% of the combined voting power of the Company's
capital stock shall cease to be exercisable five years after the date such
option is granted.
Exercise Price
Options granted under the Stock Incentive Plan will have an exercise or
payment price as established by the Program Administrator, provided that the
exercise price of incentive stock options and options granted under the
Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan may not be less than the fair market
value of the underlying shares on the date of grant. If incentive stock options
are granted to a person who is the beneficial owner of more than 10% of the
combined voting power of the Company's capital stock, such options shall be
granted at a price of not less than 110% of the fair market value of the shares
covered by the option. If on the date of grant the Common Stock is listed on a
stock exchange or is quoted on the automated quotation system of Nasdaq, the
fair market value will be the closing sale price (or if such price is
unavailable, the average of the high bid price and the low asked price) on such
date. If no such prices are available, the fair market value shall be determined
in good faith by the Program Administrator in accordance with generally accepted
valuation principles and such other factors as the Program Administrator deems
relevant. On August __, 2002, the closing sale price of a share of the Company's
Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market was $___.
Payment
Upon exercise of an option granted under the Stock Incentive Plan, the
participant will be required to provide the payment price in full by certified
or bank cashier's check or, if permitted by the Program Administrator, in shares
of Common Stock valued at fair market value on the date of exercise, or by a
combination of a check and shares. The Program Administrator may, in its sole
discretion, permit an optionee to make "cashless exercise" arrangements. In
connection with any exercise of options, the Company will have the right to
collect or withhold from any payments under the Stock Incentive Plan all taxes
required to be withheld under applicable law.
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Transferability
Options granted under the Stock Incentive Plan generally will be
nontransferable, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
During the lifetime of a participant, an option generally may be exercised only
by the participant and after the participant's death only by the participant's
executor, administrator or personal representative. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Program Administrator may permit the recipient of a supplemental
option to transfer such option to a family member or a trust, limited liability
company or partnership created for the benefit of a family member.
Termination of Employment
If a participant ceases to be employed by the Company or any subsidiary
for cause or voluntarily terminates his or her employment, then all options
shall terminate immediately. If employment is terminated by the Company or a
subsidiary without cause, the options may be exercised, to the extent
exercisable on the date of termination, until 90 days after the date of
termination.
If a participant dies or becomes disabled while employed by the Company
or any subsidiary, then all options may be exercised, to the extent exercisable
on the date of death or termination due to disability, at any time within twelve
months after the date of death or such termination.
Amendment and Termination
The Stock Incentive Plan may be amended or terminated at any time by
the Board of Directors, except that no amendment may be made without shareholder
approval if such approval is required by applicable laws or regulations, and no
amendment or revision may alter or impair an outstanding option without the
consent of the holder thereof. The Stock Incentive Plan will terminate on May
31, 2012, unless earlier terminated by the Board of Directors. No options may be
granted after termination, although such termination will not affect the status
of any option outstanding on the date of termination.
Shares Subject to the Plan
A total of 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as
described below) may be issued under the Stock Incentive Plan. Any shares
delivered pursuant to the Stock Incentive Plan may be authorized and unissued
shares or treasury shares.
Adjustments
The number of shares available for option grants and the shares covered
by options will be adjusted equitably for stock splits, stock dividends,
recapitalizations, mergers and other changes in the Company's capital stock.
Comparable changes will be made to the exercise price of outstanding options. If
any option should terminate for any reason without having been exercised in
full, the unpurchased shares will again become available for option grants.
Change In Control
The Stock Incentive Plan provides that all outstanding stock options
will become immediately exercisable upon the occurrence of a "change in control
event". The Stock Incentive Plan provides in general that a "change in control
event" shall be deemed to have occurred if any of the following events occur:
(a) the consummation of any merger of the Company in which the Company is not
the surviving corporation (expressly excluding from the definition of a change
in control a so-called "merger of equals" in which the board of directors of the
surviving corporation consists of an equal number of former Vital Signs
directors and former directors of the other party to the transaction); (b) the
consummation of any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company; (c) approval by the shareholders
of the Company of a plan of liquidation or dissolution of
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the Company and (d) any action pursuant to which any person (as defined in
Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) shall become the
beneficial owner of more than 50% of the Company's outstanding voting
securities.
Additional Limitation
No participant may receive incentive stock options that first become
exercisable in any calendar year in an amount exceeding $100,000. In addition,
no one person may receive options for more than 250,000 shares of Common Stock
in any calendar year.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS AND THE
APPLICATION OF VARIOUS STATE INCOME TAX LAWS, THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION OF TAX
CONSEQUENCES IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND RELATES SOLELY TO FEDERAL INCOME TAX
MATTERS. PARTICIPANTS ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT THEIR PERSONAL TAX ADVISORS BEFORE
EXERCISING AN OPTION OR DISPOSING OF ANY STOCK RECEIVED PURSUANT TO THE EXERCISE
OF ANY SUCH OPTION. IN ADDITION, THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY IS BASED UPON AN ANALYSIS
OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED, AS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT,
EXISTING LAWS, JUDICIAL DECISIONS, ADMINISTRATIVE RULINGS, REGULATIONS AND
PROPOSED REGULATIONS, ALL OF WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), treats
incentive stock options and supplemental stock options, also known as
non-qualified stock options, differently. A participant's individual
consequences will depend upon the nature of the option received. However, as to
both types of options, no income will be recognized to the optionee at the time
of the grant of an option, nor will the Company be entitled to a tax deduction
at that time.
Upon the exercise of a supplemental stock option or an option granted
under the Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan, the optionee will
recognize ordinary income on the excess of the fair market value of the stock on
the exercise date over the exercise price, if any. The Company generally will be
entitled to a tax deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized
by the optionee. If shares acquired upon such exercise are held for more than
one year before disposition, any gain on disposition of such shares will be
treated as long-term capital gain.
An optionee will not recognize any federal taxable income in respect of
incentive stock options at the time of exercise. However, the excess of the fair
market value of the stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price will
be taken into account in determining whether the "alternative minimum tax" will
apply for the year of exercise. If the shares acquired upon exercise of
incentive stock options are not disposed of within two years from the date the
options were granted nor within one year after the shares are transferred, any
gain or loss upon the sale of such shares will be treated as long-term capital
gain or loss (measured by the difference between the sales price of the stock
and the exercise price). If the two-year and one-year holding period
requirements are not met (a "disqualifying disposition"), an optionee will
recognize ordinary income in the year of disposition in an amount equal to the
lesser of (i) the fair market value of the stock on the date of exercise minus
the exercise price or (ii) the amount realized on disposition minus the exercise
price. The remainder of the gain will be treated as long-term or short-term
capital gain, depending upon whether the stock has been held for more than one
year. If an optionee makes a disqualifying disposition, the Company will be
entitled to a tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by
the optionee.
In general, if an optionee in exercising an option tenders shares of
Common Stock in partial or full payment of the option price, no gain or loss
will be recognized on the tender. However, if the tendered shares were
previously acquired upon the exercise of an incentive stock option and the
tender is within two years from the date the option was granted or one year
after the date of exercise of the other option, the tender will be a
disqualifying disposition of the tendered shares.
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As noted above, the exercise of an incentive stock option could subject
the optionee to the alternative minimum tax. The application of the alternative
minimum tax to any particular optionee depends upon the particular facts and
circumstances which exist with respect to the optionee in the year of exercise.
However, as a general rule, the amount by which the fair market value of the
Common Stock on the date of exercise of an option exceeds the exercise price of
the option will constitute an item of "adjustment" for purposes of determining
the alternative minimum tax that may be imposed. As such, this item will enter
into the tax base on which the alternative minimum tax is computed, and may
therefore cause the alternative minimum tax to become applicable in a given
year.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual
Meeting is required to approve the proposal to adopt the Stock Incentive Plan.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the proposal to adopt the
Vital Signs, Inc. 2002 Stock Incentive Plan.
PROPOSAL THREE
ADOPTION OF AN AMENDMENT TO
THE COMPANY'S RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
TO ELIMINATE ALL REFERENCES TO THE SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK
The Board of Directors of the Company has approved an amendment to the
Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation to eliminate all references
therein to a series of preferred stock that was never issued by the Company. The
Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of 40,000,000
shares of common stock, no par value (the "Common Stock"), and 10,000,000 shares
of preferred stock (the "Preferred Stock"). The Restated Certificate of
Incorporation specifies that, in the absence of action by the Board of Directors
to eliminate the Series A Preferred Stock, a total of 400,000 shares of
Preferred Stock are to be designated as the Series A Preferred Stock and to have
the rights and privileges described in the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation. The Series A Preferred Stock contains terms comparable to the
terms typically found in preferred shares contemplated by a so-called
shareholder rights plan. Since no such plan has ever been adopted by the Company
and the Board has no present intention to adopt any such plan, the proposed
amendment eliminates all references to the Series A Preferred Stock. The text of
such amendment is set forth in Appendix B to this proxy statement.
Upon adoption of the Restated Certificate, the Company will continue to
be authorized to issue 40,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 10,000,000 shares
of Preferred Stock. As is currently the case, the Board has full authority to
establish a particular series of Preferred Stock and cause the issuance of such
series without further approval by the Company's shareholders.
The Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders of the Company
approve the proposed amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation eliminating all references to the Series A Preferred Stock.
PROPOSAL FOUR
ADOPTION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION TO PROVIDE FOR THE STAGGERED ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
AND THE CLASSIFICATION OF DIRECTORS INTO THREE CLASSES, SUCH THAT ONLY
ONE CLASS WILL BE ELECTED AT EACH ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
The Board of Directors has approved an amendment to the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation providing for a classified board. The text of the
proposed amendment is set forth in Appendix C to this proxy statement.
Shareholder approval of this amendment is required in order for it to be
implemented. If this amendment is approved by shareholders of the Company, the
Board will be divided into three classes and, at each annual meeting of
15
shareholders, only one class of directors will be elected. It is intended that
the classes will, to the maximum extent feasible, have a similar number of
members. At the upcoming annual meeting of shareholders, each of the members of
the Board of Directors will be elected. If the proposed amendment is adopted,
the Board will be classified into three classes by alphabetical order.
Accordingly, if the nominees for election are elected at the annual meeting and
the proposed amendment is adopted, directors David J. Bershad and Anthony J.
Dimun will serve until the 2003 annual meeting of shareholders, directors Stuart
Essig and David H. MacCallum will serve until the 2004 annual meeting of
shareholders, and directors Joseph Thomas, C. Barry Wicker and Terry D. Wall
will serve until the 2005 annual meeting of shareholders.
Pursuant to New Jersey law, directors on a staggered board may only be
removed by shareholders if there is "cause" for such removal.
The overall effect of the Staggered Board Provision is to prevent a
person or entity from immediately acquiring control of the Company through an
increase in the number of directors and the election of such person or of such
person's or entity's nominees to fill such newly created vacancies. Since a
hostile party would be unable to acquire control immediately, the Staggered
Board Provision may have the effect of encouraging a such a party to negotiate
with the Board rather than seek unilateral action.
Staggered board provisions are typically referred to as anti-takeover
provisions. The principal purpose of any anti-takeover provision is to protect
the interests of a corporation and its shareholders in the event of a sudden
takeover attempt. Such provisions are intended to require a hostile purchaser to
deal fairly with shareholders and to give a corporation's board of directors a
better opportunity to analyze prospective business combinations and tender
offers, evaluate alternatives, and make careful recommendations to shareholders.
However, such provisions could have the effect of making more difficult, or
discourage, a merger, tender offer, proxy contest, or assumption of control and
change of incumbent management, even when a majority of shareholders considers
such a course to be in its best interests.
The Board believes that the positive aspects of the Staggered Board
Provision outweigh the limitations on anti-takeover provisions. Accordingly, the
Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders of the Company approve the
Staggered Board Provision.
PROPOSAL FIVE
ADOPTION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION TO PROVIDE THAT SHAREHOLDER ACTIONS MAY ONLY BE TAKEN AT
ANNUAL OR SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE SHAREHOLDERS
The Board of Directors has approved an amendment to the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation providing that shareholder actions may only be
taken at annual or special meetings of the shareholders except as required by
law and except as may be provided in the future for series of preferred stock
that have not yet been established. The text of the proposed amendment is set
forth in Appendix D to this proxy statement. Shareholder approval of this
amendment is required in order for it to be implemented.
Under New Jersey law, shareholders may act either by resolutions
approved at special or annual meetings or pursuant to written consents executed
by holders of at least a majority of the outstanding voting shares. However, a
certificate of incorporation may provide that the written consent procedure is
unavailable in all circumstances except when all shareholders execute a written
consent. If a certificate of incorporation precludes the use of the consent
procedure in the manner contemplated by the amendment set forth in Appendix D, a
corporation's shareholders may take actions only at special or annual meetings
of shareholders or pursuant to a written consent signed by all shareholders. For
a public corporation such as Vital Signs, the likelihood of arranging for every
shareholder to execute a written consent is remote. Thus, in effect, the
Shareholder Meeting Provision makes the written consent procedure unavailable
for the Company.
The amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation
approved by the Board provides that the Company's shareholders will be permitted
to act solely at special or annual meetings of the Company's
16
shareholders unless otherwise required by N.J.S.A. 14A: 5-6(a) or unless
otherwise provided with respect to a specific series of preferred stock.
N.J.S.A. 14A: 5-6(a) is a New Jersey statute that provides that a written
consent may be used if signed by all of a company's shareholders. The Company
believes that during the twelve years that it has been a public corporation,
there has been only one instance in which the consent mechanism (then permitting
action by holders of a majority of the outstanding shares) has been utilized.
That instance related to the adoption of an employee benefit plan.
Parties seeking to effect a hostile takeover may use consent procedures
as a means to effecting changes more rapidly than would be possible if their
only mechanism for obtaining shareholder approvals would be by means of a
meeting of shareholders. By effectively eliminating the consent procedure, it is
more likely that such a party would seek to negotiate with the Board rather than
taking hostile action.
As is the case with the Staggered Board Provision, the principal
purpose of the Shareholder Meeting Provision is to protect the interests of the
Company and its shareholders in the event of a sudden takeover attempt. The
Shareholder Meeting Provision is intended to require a hostile party to deal
fairly with shareholders and to give the Board a better opportunity to analyze
prospective business combinations and tender offers, evaluate alternatives, and
make careful recommendations to shareholders. The Board recognizes, however,
that the Shareholder Meeting Provision could have the effect of making more
difficult, or discouraging, a merger, tender offer, proxy contest, or assumption
of control and change of incumbent management, even when a majority of
shareholders considers such a course to be in its best interests.
The Board believes that the positive aspects of the Shareholder Meeting
Provision outweigh the limitations on anti-takeover provisions. Accordingly, the
Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders of the Company approve the
Shareholder Meeting Provision.
PROPOSAL SIX
ADOPTION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION TO PROVIDE FOR GREATER THAN MAJORITY VOTING REQUIREMENTS IN
CONNECTION WITH THE AMENDMENT OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE COMPANY'S
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The Board of Directors has approved an amendment to the Company's
Restated Certificate of Incorporation providing for the application of greater
than majority voting requirements in the circumstances described below. The text
of the proposed amendment is set forth in Appendix E to this proxy statement.
Shareholder approval of this amendment is required in order for it to be
implemented.
The proposed amendment provides that the sections of the Restated
Certificate relating to the staggered election of directors and the requirement
to hold shareholder meetings, as well as the Amendment Provision itself, may not
be amended without the approval of shareholders holding 75 percent of the voting
power of the Company's capital stock, unless such amendment is approved by each
of the members of the Board of Directors, in which case only such shareholder
approval as is provided for under the New Jersey Business Corporation Act shall
be required.
Under New Jersey law, in the absence of contrary provisions in a
corporation's certificate of incorporation (or, with respect to the Board vote
required, provisions in a corporation's by-laws), an amendment to a certificate
of incorporation requires the affirmative approval of:
o a majority of the votes of directors present at a board meeting at
which a quorum is present (the "Standard Board Vote"); and
o a majority of the votes cast by shareholders present in person or
by proxy at a meeting at which a quorum is present (the "Standard
Shareholder Vote").
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Pursuant to the proposed amendment to the Company's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, the Staggered Board Provision, the Shareholder
Meeting Provision and the Amendment Provision may be amended in one of two ways.
First, such provisions may be amended with the approval of:
o each of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company; and
o a majority of the votes cast by shareholders present in person or
by proxy at a meeting at which a quorum is present (that is, the
Standard Shareholder Vote).
Alternatively, under the proposed amendment, such provisions may be amended with
the approval of:
o a majority of the votes of directors present at a board meeting at
which a quorum is present (that is, the Standard Board Vote); and
o 75% of the voting power of all of the Company's outstanding voting
shares.
The Amendment Provision is designed to assure that the protections
underlying the Staggered Board Provision and the Shareholder Meeting Provision
cannot be amended without a clear consensus (expressed either by unanimity on
the Board or a 75% shareholder vote) that such amendments are appropriate. The
Board believes that the Amendment Provision complements the Staggered Board
Provision and the Shareholder Meeting Provision, with the same advantages and
detriments as are expressed above with respect to those two provisions.
The Board believes that the positive aspects of the Amendment Provision
outweigh the limitations on anti-takeover provisions. Accordingly, the Board of
Directors recommends that the shareholders of the Company approve the Amendment
Provision.
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
Under New Jersey law, a board of directors may, without further
shareholder approval, authorize the filing of a restated certificate that does
no more than incorporate amendments previously approved by shareholders. If the
shareholders approve each of the Staggered Board Provision, the Shareholder
Meeting Provision and the Amendment Provision, the Board intends to authorize
the filing of an amended and restated certificate of incorporation in the form
and substance of the document annexed to this proxy statement as Appendix F.
Shareholder Return Comparison
Set forth below is a line-graph presentation comparing the cumulative
shareholder return on the Company's Common Stock, on an indexed basis, against
the cumulative total returns of the NASDAQ Market Index and the Media General
Medical Instruments and Supplies Group Index (consisting of 136 publicly traded
medical instrument and device companies) ("MG Group Index") for the period from
October 1, 1996 (October 1, 1996 = 100) through September 30, 2001.
18
COMPARE 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG VITAL SIGNS, INC.
NASDAQ MARKET INDEX AND MG GROUP INDEX
[GRAPH]
ASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON OCT. 1, 1996
ASSUMES DIVIDEND REINVESTED
FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPT 30, 2001
Audit Fees and Related Matters
Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP ("GGK"), certified public accountants, has a
continuing relationship with American Express Tax and Business Services Inc.
("TBS") from which it leases auditing staff who are full time, permanent
employees of TBS and through which its partners provide non-audit services. As a
result of this arrangement, GGK has no full time employees and therefore, none
of the audit services performed were provided by permanent full-time employees
of GGK. GGK manages and supervises the audit and audit staff, and is exclusively
responsible for the opinion rendered in connection with its examination. Other
services, which consist principally of tax advice and which do not include
Financial Information System Design and Implementation fees, have been provided
by TBS.
Audit Fees. The Company was billed $225,836 by GGK for the audit of the
Company's annual financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30,
2001 and for the review of the financial statements included in the Company's
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed during fiscal 2001.
19
Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees. The Company
was billed $0 for the professional services described in Paragraph (c)(4)(ii) of
Rule 2-01 of the SEC's Regulation S-X (in general, information technology
services) rendered by GGK, the Company's principal accountant, during the fiscal
year ended September 30, 2001.
All Other Fees. The Company was billed $50,755 by GGK for non-audit
services (other than the non-audit services described above), principally advice
regarding various accounting topics rendered during the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2001.
Other Matters. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has
considered whether the provision of the non-audit services is compatible with
maintaining the independence of the Company's principal accountant.
Relationship with Independent Public Accountants
GGK has been selected by the Board of Directors to audit and report on
the Company's financial statements for the year ending September 30, 2002. A
representative of that firm is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and
will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she so desires. The
representative is expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions
from shareholders. GGK audited the Company's financial statements for more than
the past five years.
Other Matters
At the time that this Proxy Statement was mailed to shareholders,
management was not aware that any matter other than the election of directors,
the approval of the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan and the proposed amendments to the
Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation would be presented for action at
the Annual Meeting. If other matters properly come before the Meeting, it is
intended that shares represented by proxies will be voted with respect to those
matters in accordance with the best judgment of the persons voting them.
If a stockholder of the Company wishes to have a proposal included in the
Company's proxy statement for the 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the
proposal must be received at the Company's principal executive offices by
________, 2003 and must otherwise comply with rules promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission in order to be eligible for inclusion in the
proxy material for the 2003 Annual Meeting.
If a stockholder desires to bring business before the meeting which is
not the subject of a proposal complying with the SEC proxy rule requirements for
inclusion in the proxy statement, the stockholder must follow procedures
outlined in the Company's by-laws in order to personally present the proposal at
the meeting. A copy of these procedures is available upon request from the
Secretary of the Company.
One of the procedural requirements in the Company's by-laws is timely
notice in writing of the business that the stockholder proposes to bring before
the meeting. Notice of business proposed to be brought before the 2003 Annual
Meeting or notice of a proposed nomination to the Board must be received by the
Secretary of the Company no earlier than 120 days prior to the meeting date and
no later than the later of the 90th day before the meeting date or the tenth day
after the Company publicly announces the date of the 2003 Annual Meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Joseph F. Bourgart, Secretary
Dated: August _, 2002
A copy of an annual report for the year ended September 30, 2001,
including financial statements, accompanies this proxy statement. The annual
report is not to be regarded as proxy soliciting material or as a communication
by means of which any solicitation is to be made. Copies of the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K are available without charge by contacting the Company by
telephone at 973-790-1330 or by writing to: Investor Relations, Vital Signs,
Inc., 20 Campus Road, Totowa, New Jersey 07512.
20
APPENDIX A
----------
VITAL SIGNS, INC.
2002 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Purposes. This 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Program") is
intended to secure for Vital Signs, Inc. (the "Corporation"), its direct and
indirect present and future subsidiaries, including without limitation any
entity which the Corporation reasonably expects to become a subsidiary (the
"Subsidiaries"), and its shareholders, the benefits arising from ownership of
the Corporation's Common Stock (the "Common Stock") by those selected directors,
officers, key employees and consultants of the Corporation and the Subsidiaries
who are most responsible for future growth. The Program is designed to help
attract and retain superior individuals for positions of substantial
responsibility with the Corporation and the Subsidiaries and to provide these
persons with an additional incentive to contribute to the success of the
Corporation and the Subsidiaries.
2. Elements of the Program. In order to maintain flexibility
in the award of benefits, the Program is comprised of five parts -- the
Incentive Stock Incentive Plan ("Incentive Plan"), the Supplemental Stock
Incentive Plan ("Supplemental Plan"), the Stock Appreciation Rights Plan ("SAR
Plan"), the Performance Share Plan ("Performance Share Plan") and the
Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan (the "Non-Employee Director Plan").
Copies of the Incentive Plan, Supplemental Plan, SAR Plan, Performance Share
Plan and Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan are attached hereto as Parts
I, II, III, IV and V, respectively. Each such plan is referred to herein as a
"Plan" and all such plans are collectively referred to herein as the "Plans."
The term "Plans" shall also refer to the Program in its entirety, including the
General Provisions. The grant of an option or other award under one of the Plans
shall not be construed to prohibit the grant of an option or other award under
any of the other Plans.
3. Applicability of General Provisions. Unless any of the
Plans specifically indicates to the contrary, all Plans shall be subject to the
general provisions of the Program set forth below under the heading "General
Provisions of the Stock Incentive Plan" (the "General Provisions").
21
GENERAL PROVISIONS OF THE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Article 1. Administration. The Plans shall be administered by
the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board" or the "Board of
Directors") or any duly created committee appointed by the Board and charged
with the administration of the Plans. To the extent required in order to satisfy
the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), such committee shall consist solely of "Outside Directors"
(as defined herein). The Board, or any duly appointed committee, when acting to
administer the Plans, is referred to as the "Plan Administrator". Any action of
the Plan Administrator shall be taken by majority vote at a meeting or by
unanimous written consent of all members without a meeting. No Plan
Administrator or member of the Board of the Corporation shall be liable for any
action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plans or with
respect to any option or other award granted pursuant to the Plans. For purposes
of the Plans, the term "Outside Director" shall mean a director who (a) is not a
current employee of the Corporation or the Subsidiaries; (b) is not a former
employee of the Corporation or the Subsidiaries who receives compensation for
prior services (other than benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan)
during the then current taxable year; (c) has not been an officer of the
Corporation or the Subsidiaries; and (d) does not receive remuneration (which
shall be deemed to include any payment in exchange for goods or services) from
the Corporation or the Subsidiaries, either directly or indirectly, in any
capacity other than as a director, except as otherwise permitted under Code
Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder.
Article 2. Authority of Plan Administrator. Subject to the
other provisions of this Program, and with a view to effecting its purpose, the
Plan Administrator shall have the authority: (a) to construe and interpret the
Plans; (b) to define the terms used herein; (c) to prescribe, amend and rescind
rules and regulations relating to the Plans; (d) to determine the persons to
whom options, stock appreciation rights and performance shares shall be granted
under the Plans; (e) to determine the time or times at which options, stock
appreciation rights and performance shares shall be granted under the Plans; (f)
to determine the number of shares subject to any option or stock appreciation
right under the Plans and the number of shares to be awarded as performance
shares under the Plans as well as the option price, and the duration of each
option, stock appreciation right and performance share, and any other terms and
conditions of options, stock appreciation rights and performance shares; and (g)
to make any other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration
of the Plans and to do everything necessary or appropriate to administer the
Plans. All decisions, determinations and interpretations made by the Plan
Administrator shall be binding and conclusive on all participants in the Plans
and on their legal representatives, heirs and beneficiaries.
Article 3. Maximum Number of Shares Subject to the Plans. The
maximum aggregate number of shares issuable pursuant to the Plans shall be
1,000,000 shares of Common Stock. No one person participating in the Plans may
receive options or other awards for more than 250,000 shares of Common Stock in
any calendar year. All such shares may be issued under any of the Plans which is
part of the Program. If any of the options (including incentive stock options)
or stock appreciation rights granted under the Plans expire or terminate for any
reason before they have been exercised in full, the unissued shares subject to
those expired or terminated options and/or stock appreciation rights shall again
be available for purposes of the Program. If the performance objectives
associated with the grant of any performance shares are not achieved within the
specified performance objective period or if the performance share grant
terminates for any reason before the performance objective date arrives, the
shares of Common Stock associated with such performance shares shall again be
available for the purposes of the Plans. Any shares of Common Stock delivered
pursuant to the Plans may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and
unissued shares or treasury shares.
Article 4. Eligibility and Participation. All directors
(including non-employee directors), officers, employees and consultants of the
Corporation and the Subsidiaries shall be eligible to participate in the Plans,
except that (i) only employees shall be eligible to participate in the Incentive
Plan and (ii) only non-employee directors shall be eligible to participate in
the Non-Employee Director Plan. The term "employee" shall include any person who
has agreed to become an employee and the term "consultant" shall include any
person who has agreed to become a consultant.
22
Article 5. Effective Date and Term of the Program. The Program
shall become effective immediately upon approval of the Program by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation, subject to approval of the Program by the
shareholders of the Corporation within twelve months after the date of approval
of the Program by the Board of Directors. The Program shall continue in effect
for a term of ten years from the date that the Program is adopted by the Board
of Directors, unless sooner terminated by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation.
Article 6. Adjustments. In the event that the outstanding
shares of Common Stock of the Corporation are hereafter increased, decreased,
changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or securities
through merger, consolidation, combination, exchange of shares, other
reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split
or reverse stock split (an "Adjustment Event"), an appropriate and proportionate
adjustment shall be made by the Plan Administrator in the maximum number and
kind of shares as to which options, stock appreciation rights and performance
shares may be granted under the Plans A corresponding adjustment changing the
number or kind of shares allocated to unexercised options, stock appreciation
rights and performance shares, or portions thereof, which shall have been
granted prior to any such Adjustment Event shall likewise be made. Any such
adjustment in outstanding options or stock appreciation rights shall be made
without change in the aggregate purchase price applicable to the unexercised
portion of the option or stock appreciation right but with a corresponding
adjustment in the price for each share or other unit of any security covered by
the option or stock appreciation right. In making any adjustment pursuant to
this Article 6, any fractional shares shall be disregarded.
Article 7. Termination and Amendment of Plans and Awards. No
options, stock appreciation rights or performance shares shall be granted under
any of the Plans after the termination of such Plan. The Plan Administrator may
at any time amend or revise the terms of any of the Plans or of any outstanding
option, stock appreciation right or performance share issued under such Plan,
provided, however, that (a) any shareholder approval required by applicable law
or regulation (including without limitation Section 422 of the Code) shall be
obtained and (b) no amendment, suspension or termination of any of the Plans or
of any outstanding option, stock appreciation right or performance share shall,
without the consent of the person who has received such option or other award,
impair any of that person's rights or obligations under such option or other
award.
Article 8. Privileges of Stock Ownership. Notwithstanding the
exercise of any option granted pursuant to the terms of the Plans or the
achievement of any performance objective specified in any performance share
granted pursuant to the terms of the Performance Share Plan, no person shall
have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Corporation in
respect of any shares of stock issuable upon the exercise of his or her option
or achievement of his or her performance objective until certificates
representing the shares of Common Stock covered thereby have been issued and
delivered. No adjustment shall be made for dividends or any other distributions
for which the record date is prior to the date on which any stock certificate is
issued pursuant to the Plans.
Article 9. Reservation of Shares of Common Stock. During the
term of the Program, the Corporation will at all times reserve and keep
available such number of shares of its Common Stock as shall be sufficient to
satisfy the requirements of the Program.
Article 10. Tax Withholding. The exercise of any option, stock
appreciation right or performance share is subject to the condition that, if at
any time the Corporation shall determine, in its discretion, that the
satisfaction of withholding tax or other withholding liabilities under any state
or federal law is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection
with, such exercise or the delivery or purchase of shares pursuant thereto,
then, in such event, the exercise of the option, stock appreciation right or
performance share or the elimination of the risk of forfeiture relating thereto
shall not be effective unless such withholding tax or other withholding
liabilities shall have been satisfied in a manner acceptable to the Corporation.
Article 11. Employment; Service as a Director or Consultant.
Nothing in the Program gives to any person any right to continued employment by
the Corporation or the Subsidiaries or to continued service as a director or
consultant of the Corporation or the Subsidiaries or limits in any way the right
of the Corporation or the Subsidiaries at any time to terminate or alter the
terms of that employment or service.
23
Article 12. Investment Letter; Lock-Up Agreement; Restrictions
on Obligation of the Corporation to Issue Securities; Restrictive Legend. Any
person acquiring or receiving Common Stock or other securities of the
Corporation pursuant to the Plans, as a condition precedent to receiving the
shares of Common Stock or other securities, may be required by the Plan
Administrator to submit a letter to the Corporation (a) stating that the shares
of Common Stock or other securities are being acquired for investment and not
with a view to the distribution thereof and (b) providing other assurances
determined by the Corporation to be necessary or appropriate in order to assure
that the issuance of such shares is exempt from any applicable securities
registration requirements. The Corporation shall not be obligated to sell or
issue any shares of Common Stock or other securities pursuant to the Plans
unless, on the date of sale and issuance thereof, the shares of Common Stock or
other securities are either registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and all applicable state securities laws, or exempt from registration
thereunder. All shares of Common Stock and other securities issued pursuant to
the Plans shall, if determined to be necessary by the Plan Administrator, bear a
restrictive legend summarizing any restrictions on transferability applicable
thereto, including those imposed by federal and state securities laws.
Article 13. Covenant Against Competition. The Plan
Administrator shall have the right to condition the award to an employee of the
Corporation or the Subsidiaries of any option, stock appreciation right or
performance share under the Plans upon the recipient's execution and delivery to
the Corporation of an agreement not to compete with the Corporation and its
Subsidiaries during the recipient's employment and for such period thereafter as
shall be determined by the Plan Administrator. Such covenant against competition
shall be in a form satisfactory to the Plan Administrator.
Article 14. Rights Upon Termination of Employment, Service as
a Consultant or Service as a Director. Notwithstanding any other provision of
the Plans, any benefit granted to an individual who has agreed to become an
employee of, or consultant to, the Corporation or any Subsidiary or to become an
employee of or consultant to any entity which the Corporation reasonably expects
to become a Subsidiary, shall immediately terminate if the Plan Administrator
determines, in its sole discretion, that such person or entity, as the case may
be, will not become such employee, consultant or Subsidiary. If a recipient
ceases to be employed by or to provide services as a consultant or director to
the Corporation or any Subsidiary, or a corporation or a parent or subsidiary of
such corporation issuing or assuming a stock option in a transaction to which
Section 424(a) of the Code applies:
(a) because of termination by the Company or a Subsidiary
without cause, all options and stock appreciation rights may be
exercised, to the extent exercisable on the date of termination, until
90 days after the date on which the employment or service terminated,
but in any event not later than the date on which the option or stock
appreciation right would otherwise terminate pursuant to the Plans, and
all Naked Rights (as defined in the Stock Appreciation Rights Plan) not
payable on the date of termination and all performance share awards
still subject to the achievement of performance objectives shall
terminate immediately;
(b) because of termination by the Company or a Subsidiary for
cause or because of voluntary termination at the election of the
recipient, all options and other awards shall lapse immediately on the
date of such termination; and
(c) because of death or disability, all options and stock
appreciation rights may be exercised, to the extent exercisable on the
date of termination, until twelve months after the date on which the
employment or service terminated, but in any event not later than the
date on which the option or stock appreciation right would otherwise
terminate pursuant to the Plans, and all other awards (including all
Naked Rights and performance shares still subject to the achievement of
performance objectives) shall terminate immediately.
No exercise permitted by this Article 14 shall entitle an optionee or his or her
personal representative, executor or administrator to exercise any portion of
any option or stock appreciation right beyond the extent to which such option or
stock appreciation right is exercisable pursuant to the Program on the date the
recipient's employment or service terminates.
24
Article 15. Non-Transferability. Options and other awards
granted under the Plans may not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any
manner by the recipient otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution and shall be exercisable (a) during the recipient's lifetime only
by the recipient and (b) after the recipient's death only by the recipient's
executor, administrator or personal representative, provided, however, that the
Plan Administrator may permit the recipient of a supplemental option granted
pursuant to Part II of the Program to transfer such options to a family member
or a trust, limited liability company or partnership created for the benefit of
family members, subject to such conditions as the Plan Administrator shall
determine to be appropriate. In the case of such a transfer, the transferee's
rights and obligations with respect to the applicable options shall be
determined by reference to the recipient and the recipient's rights and
obligations with respect to the applicable options had no transfer been made.
The recipient shall remain obligated pursuant to Articles 10 and 12 hereunder if
required by applicable law.
Article 16. Change in Control. All options granted pursuant to
the Plans shall become fully exercisable upon the occurrence of a Change in
Control Event. As used in the Plans, a "Change in Control Event" shall be deemed
to have occurred if any of the following events occur:
(a) the consummation of any consolidation or merger of the
Corporation in which the Corporation is not the continuing or surviving
corporation or pursuant to which shares of the Common Stock would be
converted into cash, securities or other property, other than (i) a
merger of the Corporation in which the holders of the shares of Common
Stock immediately prior to the merger have the same proportionate
ownership of common stock of the surviving corporation immediately
after the merger or (ii) a merger in which the board of directors of
the surviving corporation immediately after the effective date of such
merger consists of an equal number of former directors of the
Corporation and former directors of the other party to such merger; or
(b) the consummation of any sale, lease, exchange or other
transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of
all, or substantially all, of the assets of the Corporation, other than
to a subsidiary or affiliate; or
(c) an approval by the shareholders of the Corporation of any
plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation;
or
(d) any action pursuant to which any person (as such term is
defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), corporation or other
entity (other than any person who owns more than ten percent (10%) of
the outstanding Common Stock on the date of adoption of this Program by
the Board of Directors, the Corporation or any benefit plan sponsored
by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries) shall become the
"beneficial owner" (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of shares of capital stock
entitled to vote generally for the election of directors of the
Corporation ("Voting Securities") representing more than fifty (50%)
percent of the combined voting power of the Corporation's then
outstanding Voting Securities (calculated as provided in Rule 13d-3(d)
in the case of rights to acquire any such securities), unless, prior to
such person so becoming such beneficial owner, the Board shall
determine that such person so becoming such beneficial owner shall not
constitute a Change in Control.
Article 17. Merger or Asset Sale. For purposes of the Plans, a
merger or consolidation which would constitute a Change in Control Event
pursuant to Article 16 and a sale of assets which would constitute a Change in
Control Event pursuant to Article 16 are hereinafter referred to as "Article 17
Events". In the event of an Article 17 Event, each outstanding option shall be
assumed or an equivalent benefit shall be substituted by the entity determined
by the Board of Directors of the Corporation to be the successor corporation.
However, in the event that any such successor corporation does not agree in
writing, at least 15 days prior to the anticipated date of consummation of such
Article 17 Event, to assume or so substitute each such option, then each option
not so assumed or substituted shall be deemed to be fully vested and exercisable
15 days prior to the anticipated date of consummation of such Article 17 Event.
If an option is not so assumed or subject to such substitution, the Plan
Administrator shall notify the holder thereof in writing or electronically that
(a) such holder's option shall be fully exercisable until immediately prior to
the consummation of such Article 17 Event and (b) such holder's option shall
terminate upon the consummation of such Article 17 Event. For purposes of this
Article 17, an option shall be
25
considered assumed if, following consummation of the applicable Article 17
Event, the option confers the right to purchase or receive, for each share of
Common Stock subject to the option immediately prior to the consummation of such
Article 17 Event, the consideration (whether stock, cash or other securities or
property) received in such Article 17 Event by holders of Common Stock for each
share of Common Stock held on the effective date of such Article 17 Event (and,
if holders of Common Stock are offered a choice of consideration, the type of
consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock); provided, however, that if such consideration received in such
Article 17 Event is not solely common stock of such successor, the Plan
Administrator may, with the consent of such successor corporation, provide for
the consideration to be received in connection with such option to be solely
common stock of such successor equal in fair market value to the per share
consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Article 17 Event.
Article 18. Method of Exercise. Any optionee may exercise his
or her option from time to time by giving written notice thereof to the
Corporation at its principal office together with payment in full for the shares
of Common Stock to be purchased. The date of such exercise shall be the date on
which the Corporation receives such notice. Such notice shall state the number
of shares to be purchased. The purchase price of any shares purchased upon the
exercise of any option granted pursuant to the Plans shall be paid in full at
the time of exercise of the option by certified or bank cashier's check payable
to the order of the Corporation or, if permitted by the Plan Administrator, by
shares of Common Stock, provided that such shares have been owned by the
optionee for more than six months on the date of surrender to the Corporation,
or by a combination of a check and shares of Common Stock. The Plan
Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit an optionee to make "cashless
exercise" arrangements, to the extent permitted by applicable law, and may
require optionees to utilize the services of a single broker selected by the
Plan Administrator in connection with any cashless exercise. No option may be
exercised for a fraction of a share of Common Stock. If any portion of the
purchase price is paid in shares Common Stock, those shares shall be valued at
their then Fair Market Value as determined by the Plan Administrator in
accordance with Section 4 of the Incentive Plan.
Article 19. Ten-Year Limitations. Notwithstanding any other
provision of the Plans, (a) no option or other award may be granted pursuant to
the Plans more than ten years after the date on which the Plans were adopted by
the Board of Directors and (b) any option or award granted under the Plans
shall, by its terms, not be exercisable more than ten years after the date of
grant.
Article 20. Sunday or Holiday. In the event that the time for
the performance of any action or the giving of any notice is called for under
the Plans within a period of time which ends or falls on a Sunday or legal
holiday, such period shall be deemed to end or fall on the next day following
such Sunday or legal holiday which is not a Sunday or legal holiday.
Article 21. Governing Law. The Plans shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey.
Article 22. Applicable Option Plan. In the event that a stock
option is granted pursuant to the Program and the Plan Administrator does not
specify whether such option has been granted pursuant to the Incentive Plan or
the Supplemental Plan, such option shall be deemed to be granted pursuant to the
Supplemental Plan.
26
PART I
INCENTIVE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
The following provisions shall apply with respect to options
granted by the Plan Administrator pursuant to Part I of the Program:
Section 1. General. This Incentive Stock Incentive Plan
("Incentive Plan") is Part I of the Corporation's Program. The Corporation
intends that options granted pursuant to the provisions of the Incentive Plan
will qualify and will be identified as "incentive stock options" within the
meaning of Section 422 of the Code. Unless any provision herein indicates to the
contrary, this Incentive Plan shall be subject to the General Provisions of the
Program.
Section 2. Terms and Conditions. The Plan Administrator may
grant incentive stock options to purchase Common Stock to any employee of the
Corporation or its Subsidiaries. The terms and conditions of options granted
under the Incentive Plan may differ from one another as the Plan Administrator
shall, in its discretion, determine, as long as all options granted under the
Incentive Plan satisfy the requirements of the Incentive Plan.
Section 3. Duration of Options. Each option and all rights
thereunder granted pursuant to the terms of the Incentive Plan shall expire on
the date determined by the Plan Administrator, but in no event shall any option
granted under the Incentive Plan expire later than ten years from the date on
which the option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any option granted
under the Incentive Plan to any person who owns more than 10% of the combined
voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation or any Subsidiary shall
expire no later than five years from the date on which the option is granted.
Section 4. Purchase Price. The option price with respect to
any option granted pursuant to the Incentive Plan shall not be less than the
Fair Market Value of the shares on the date of the grant of the option; except
that the option price with respect to any option granted pursuant to the
Incentive Plan to any person who owns more than 10% of the combined voting power
of all classes of stock of the Corporation shall not be less than 110% of the
Fair Market Value of the shares on the date the option is granted. For purposes
of the Plans, the phrase "Fair Market Value" shall mean the fair market value of
the Common Stock on the date of grant of an option or other relevant date. If on
such date the Common Stock is listed on a stock exchange or is quoted on the
automated quotation system of Nasdaq, the Fair Market Value shall be the closing
sale price (or if such price is unavailable, the average of the high bid price
and the low asked price) of a share Common Stock on such date. If no such
closing sale price or bid and asked prices are available, the Fair Market Value
shall be determined in good faith by the Plan Administrator in accordance with
generally accepted valuation principles and such other factors as the Plan
Administrator reasonably deems relevant.
Section 5. Maximum Amount of Options in Any Calendar Year. The
aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the option is granted) of
the Common Stock with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable
for the first time by any employee during any calendar year (under the terms of
the Incentive Plan and all incentive Stock Incentive Plans of the Corporation
and the Subsidiaries) shall not exceed $100,000.
Section 6. Exercise of Options. Unless otherwise provided by
the Plan Administrator at the time of grant or unless the installment provisions
set forth herein are subsequently accelerated pursuant to the General Provisions
of the Program or otherwise by the Plan Administrator with respect to any one or
more previously granted options, incentive stock options may only be exercised
to the following extent during the following periods of time:
27
Maximum Percentage of
Shares Covered by
Option Which May be
During Purchased
------ ---------------------
First 12 months after grant 0
First 24 months after grant 25%
First 36 months after grant 50%
First 48 months after grant 75%
Beyond 48 months after grant 100%
Section 7. Failure to Satisfy Applicable Requirements. To the
extent that an option intended to be granted pursuant to the provisions of this
Incentive Plan fails to satisfy one or more requirements of this Incentive Plan,
it shall be deemed to be a supplemental stock option granted pursuant to the
Supplemental Plan set forth as Part II of the Program.
28
PART II
SUPPLEMENTAL STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
The following provisions shall apply with respect to options
granted by the Plan Administrator pursuant to Part II of the Program:
Section 1. General. This Supplemental Stock Incentive Plan
("Supplemental Plan") is Part II of the Corporation's Program. Any option
granted pursuant to this Supplemental Plan shall not be an incentive stock
option as defined in Section 422 of the Code. Unless any provision herein
indicates to the contrary, this Supplemental Plan shall be subject to the
General Provisions of the Program.
Section 2. Terms and Conditions. The Plan Administrator may
grant supplemental stock options to any person eligible under Article 4 of the
General Provisions. The terms and conditions of options granted under this
Supplemental Plan may differ from one another as the Plan Administrator shall,
in its discretion, determine as long as all options granted under this
Supplemental Plan satisfy the requirements of this Supplemental Plan.
Section 3. Duration of Options. Each option and all rights
thereunder granted pursuant to the terms of this Supplemental Plan shall expire
on the date determined by the Plan Administrator, but in no event shall any
option granted under this Supplemental Plan expire later than ten years from the
date on which the option is granted.
Section 4. Purchase Price. The option price with respect to
any option granted pursuant to this Supplemental Plan shall be determined by the
Plan Administrator at the time of grant. In the absence of such a determination,
the option price of any such option shall equal the Fair Market Value of one
share of Common Stock, as determined pursuant to Part I of this Program.
Section 5. Exercise of Options. Unless otherwise provided by
the Plan Administrator at the time of grant or unless the installment provisions
set forth herein are subsequently accelerated pursuant to the General Provisions
of the Program or otherwise by the Plan Administrator with respect to any one or
more previously granted options, supplemental stock options may only be
exercised to the following extent during the following periods of time:
Maximum Percentage of
Shares Covered by
Option Which May be
During Purchased
------ ----------------------
First 12 months after grant 0
First 24 months after grant 25%
First 36 months after grant 50%
First 48 months after grant 75%
Beyond 48 months after grant 100%
29
PART III
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS PLAN
Section 1. General. This Stock Appreciation Rights Plan ("SAR
Plan") is Part III of the Corporation's Program.
Section 2. Terms and Conditions. The Plan Administrator may
grant stock appreciation rights to any person eligible under Article 4 of the
General Provisions. Stock appreciation rights may be granted either in tandem
with supplemental stock options or incentive stock options as described in
Section 4 of this SAR Plan or as naked stock appreciation rights as described in
Section 5 of this SAR Plan.
Section 3. Mode of Payment. At the discretion of the Plan
Administrator, payments to recipients upon exercise of stock appreciation rights
may be made in (a) cash by bank check, (b) shares of Common Stock having a fair
market value (determined in the manner provided in Section 4 of the Incentive
Plan) equal to the amount of the payment, (c) a note in the amount of the
payment containing such terms as are approved by the Plan Administrator or (d)
any combination of the foregoing in an aggregate amount equal to the amount of
the payment.
Section 4. Stock Appreciation Right in Tandem with
Supplemental or Incentive Stock Option. A SAR granted in tandem with a
supplemental stock option or an incentive stock option (in either case, an
"Option") shall be on the following terms and conditions:
(a) Each SAR shall relate to a specific Option or portion of
an Option granted under the Supplemental Stock Incentive Plan or
Incentive Stock Incentive Plan, as the case may be, and may be granted
by the Plan Administrator at the same time that the Option is granted
or at any time thereafter prior to the last day on which the Option may
be exercised.
(b) A SAR shall entitle a recipient, upon surrender of the
unexpired related Option, or a portion thereof, to receive from the
Corporation an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value
(determined in accordance with Section 4 of the Incentive Plan) of the
shares of Common Stock which the recipient would have been entitled to
purchase on that date pursuant to the portion of the Option surrendered
over (ii) the amount which the recipient would have been required to
pay to purchase such shares upon exercise of such Option.
(c) A SAR shall be exercisable only for the same number of
shares of Common Stock, and only at the same times, as the Option to
which it relates. SARs shall be subject to such other terms and
conditions as the Plan Administrator may specify.
(d) A SAR shall lapse at such time as the related Option is
exercised or lapses pursuant to the terms of the Program. On exercise
of the SAR, the related Option shall lapse as to the number of shares
exercised.
Section 5. Naked Stock Appreciation Right. SARs granted by the
Plan Administrator as naked stock appreciation rights ("Naked Rights") shall be
subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a) The Plan Administrator may award Naked Rights to
recipients for periods not exceeding ten years. Each Naked Right shall
represent the right to receive the excess of the Fair Market Value of
one share of Common Stock (determined in accordance with Section 4 of
the Incentive Plan) on the date of exercise of the Naked Right over the
Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock (determined in
accordance with Section 4 of the Incentive Plan) on the date the Naked
Right was awarded to the recipient.
30
(b) Unless otherwise provided by the Plan Administrator at the
time of award or unless the installment provisions set forth herein are
subsequently accelerated pursuant to the General Provisions of the
Program or otherwise by the Plan Administrator with respect to any one
or more previously granted Naked Rights, Naked Rights may only be
exercised to the following extent during the following periods of
employment or service as a consultant or director:
Maximum Percentage
of Naked Rights Which
During May Be Exercised
------ ---------------------
First 12 months after award 0%
First 24 months after award 25%
First 36 months after award 50%
First 48 months after award 75%
Beyond 48 months after award 100%
(c) The Naked Rights solely measure and determine the amounts
to be paid to recipients upon exercise as provided in Section 5(a).
Naked Rights do not represent Common Stock or any right to receive
Common Stock. The Corporation shall not hold in trust or otherwise
segregate amounts which may become payable to recipients of Naked
Rights; such funds shall be part of the general funds of the
Corporation. Naked Rights shall constitute an unfunded contingent
promise to make future payments to the recipient and shall not reduce
the number of shares of Common Stock available under the Program.
31
PART IV
PERFORMANCE SHARE PLAN
Section 1. General. This Performance Share Plan ("Performance
Share Plan") is Part IV of the Corporation's Program. Unless any provision
herein indicates to the contrary, this Performance Share Plan shall be subject
to the General Provisions of the Program.
Section 2. Terms and Conditions. The Plan Administrator may
grant performance shares to any person eligible under Article 4 of the General
Provisions. Each performance share grant shall confer upon the recipient thereof
the right to receive a specified number of shares of Common Stock of the
Corporation contingent upon the achievement of specified performance objectives
within a specified performance objective period including, but not limited to,
the recipient's continued employment or status as a consultant through the
period set forth in Section 5 of this Performance Share Plan. At the time of an
award of a performance share, the Plan Administrator shall specify the
performance objectives, the performance objective period or periods and the
period of duration of the performance share grant. Any performance shares
granted under this Plan shall constitute an unfunded promise to make future
payments to the affected person upon the completion of specified conditions.
Section 3. Mode of Payment. At the discretion of the Plan
Administrator, payments of performance shares may be made in (a) shares of
Common Stock, (b) a check in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value
(determined in the manner provided in Section 4 of the Incentive Plan) of the
shares of Common Stock to which the performance share award relates, (c) a note
in the amount specified above in Section 3(b) containing such terms as are
approved by the Plan Administrator or (d) any combination of the foregoing in
the aggregate amount equal to the amount specified above in Section 3(b).
Section 4. Performance Objective Period. The duration of the
period within which to achieve the performance objectives shall be determined by
the Plan Administrator. The period may not be more than ten years from the date
that the performance share is granted. The Plan Administrator shall determine
whether performance objectives have been met with respect to each applicable
performance objective period. Such determination shall be made promptly after
the end of each applicable performance objective period, but in no event later
than 90 days after the end of each applicable performance objective period. All
determinations by the Plan Administrator with respect to the achievement of
performance objectives shall be final, binding on and conclusive with respect to
each recipient.
Section 5. Vesting of Performance Shares. Unless otherwise
provided by the Plan Administrator at the time of grant or unless the
installment provisions set forth herein are subsequently accelerated pursuant to
the General Provisions of the Program or otherwise by the Plan Administrator
with respect to any one or more previously granted performance shares, the
Corporation shall pay to the recipient on the date set forth in Column 1 below
("Vesting Date") the percentage of the recipient's performance share award set
forth in Column 2 below.
Column 1 Column 2
Vesting Date Percentage
------------ ---------
1 year from Date of Grant 25%
2 years from Date of Grant 25%
3 years from Date of Grant 25%
4 years from Date of Grant 25%
32
PART V
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Section 1. General. This Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive
Plan ("Non-Employee Director Plan") is Part V of the Corporation's Program.
Unless any provision herein indicates to the contrary, this Non-Employee
Director Stock Incentive Plan shall be subject to the General Provisions of the
Program.
Section 2. Definition. For purposes of this Non-Employee
Director Plan, the term "Non-Employee Director" shall mean any individual who,
as of the date of any grant of options under this Non-Employee Director Stock
Incentive Plan, has not been an employee of the Corporation or any of its
Subsidiaries during the twelve months immediately preceding such grant.
Section 3. Annual Grant. On the date of each annual meeting of
the shareholders of the Corporation, the Corporation shall automatically grant
to each Non-Employee Director who is being nominated for election at such
meeting an option to purchase 4,000 shares (subject to adjustment pursuant to
the General Provisions of the Program in the event of a stock split, stock
dividend or similar recapitalization event) of Common Stock.
Section 4. Discretionary Grant. From time to time, the Plan
Administrator may grant stock options to any Non-Employee Director, covering up
to 100,000 shares of Common Stock per year, in the discretion of the Plan
Administrator, provided that the grant of such options are approved by each
member of the Board.
Section 5. Terms of Options. Each option granted pursuant to
this Non-Employee Director Plan (a) shall expire ten years after the date of
grant, subject to earlier termination in accordance with the General Provisions
of the Program, (b) shall have a per share exercise price equal to the Fair
Market Value of one share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Part I of
the Program) and (c) shall vest and be exercisable as follows: (i) 50% on the
date of grant, (ii) 25% on the one year anniversary of the date of grant and
(iii) 25% on the two year anniversary of the date of grant.
33
APPENDIX B
PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE REFERENCES TO A SERIES OF PREFERRED STOCK
THAT HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED BY THE COMPANY
Article V of the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall
be amended to provide in its entirety as follows:
"Capital Stock
A. Authorized Capital Stock. The total authorized capital
stock of the corporation shall be 50,000,000 shares, consisting of:
1. 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock ("Preferred Stock");
and
2. 40,000,000 shares of Common Stock ("Common Stock")
Shares of the authorized capital stock of each class may be issued from time to
time for such consideration as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of
Directors.
B. Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors is authorized to
amend this Restated Certificate of Incorporation so as to divide the Preferred
Stock into one or more series and to determine the number of shares and the
designation of the series and the relative voting, dividend, liquidation, and
other rights, preferences, and limitations of the shares of each series. All
shares of any one series of Preferred Stock shall be alike in every particular
except that, in the case of a series entitled to cumulative dividends, shares
issued at different times may differ as to the dates from which dividends
thereon shall be cumulative."
34
APPENDIX C
STAGGERED BOARD PROVISION
Article III of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation is hereby
amended in its entirety to provide as follows:
"Board of Directors
A. Current Board of Directors. The current Board of Directors
of the Corporation (the "board or the "Board of Directors") consists of seven
persons. Their names and addresses are as follows:
[names and addresses to be inserted at the time of filing a
certificate of amendment]
B. Number of Directors. The authorized number of members of
the Board of Directors will be fixed from time to time by resolution adopted by
the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors but in no
event may the number be less than three.
C. Classification. The directors shall be divided into three
classes, each consisting of one-third of such directors, as nearly as may be,
designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Class I directors shall initially
serve until the 2003 annual meeting of shareholders; Class II directors shall
initially serve until the 2004 annual meeting of shareholders; and Class III
directors shall initially serve until the 2005 annual meeting of shareholders.
Upon the filing of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the directors
then in office shall be assigned to such classes by alphabetical order of their
respective last names, with two directors be assigned to Class I, two directors
being assigned to Class II and the remaining directors being assigned to Class
III. Commencing with the annual meeting of shareholders in 2003, and at each
succeeding annual shareholders' meeting, successors to the class of directors
whose term expires at such annual shareholders' meeting shall be elected for a
three-year term. If the number of such directors is changed, an increase or
decrease in such directors shall be apportioned among the classes so as to
maintain the number of directors comprising each class as nearly equal as
possible. A director shall hold office until the annual shareholders' meeting
for the year in which his term expires and until his successor shall be elected
and shall qualify, subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement,
disqualification, or removal from office.
D. Vacancies. Except as otherwise required by law, any vacancy
on the board of directors that results from an increase in the number of
directors and any other vacancy occurring in the board of directors shall only
be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a
quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever
the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock issued by the
Corporation shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect
directors at an annual or special meeting of shareholders, the election, term of
office, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorships shall be
governed by the terms of this restated certificate of incorporation applicable
thereto and such directors so elected shall not be divided into classes pursuant
to this Article III, in each case unless expressly provided by such terms.
During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock have the
right to elect additional directors as provided for or fixed pursuant to the
provisions of Article V hereof, then upon commencement and for the duration of
the period during which such right continues: (i) the then otherwise total
authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be
increased by such specified number of directors, and the holders of such
Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided
for or fixed pursuant to said provisions, and (ii) each such additional director
shall serve until such director's successor shall have been duly elected and
qualified, or until such director's right to hold such office terminates
pursuant to said provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his earlier
death, disqualification, resignation or removal. Except as otherwise provided by
the Board of Directors in the resolution or resolutions establishing such
series, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right
to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to the
provisions of such stock, the terms of office of all such additional directors
elected by the holders of such stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting
from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional
directors, shall forthwith terminate and the total and authorized number of
directors of the Corporation shall be reduced accordingly."
35
APPENDIX D
SHAREHOLDER MEETING PROVISION
The Restated Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended to include
a new Article VIII, which shall provide as follows:
"No Shareholder Action Without a Meeting
Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of
this Restated Certificate of Incorporation relating to the rights of holders of
any series of preferred stock and except as otherwise required by N.J.S.A. 14A:
5-6(a), (i) no action required to be taken or which may be taken at any annual
or special meeting of shareholders of the Corporation may be taken without a
meeting and (ii) the power of the shareholders to consent in writing, without a
meeting, to the taking of any action is specifically denied."
36
APPENDIX E
AMENDMENT PROVISION
The Restated Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended to include
a new Article IX, which shall provide as follows:
"Votes Required
In addition to such other approvals as shall be required by law, the
provisions of Articles III and VIII and the provisions of this Article IX may
not be amended in any respect unless such amendment is approved by either each
of the members of the entire Board of Directors or the affirmative vote of the
holders of seventy-five percent (75%) in voting power of the outstanding shares
of the Corporation entitled to vote generally."
37
APPENDIX F
FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
VITAL SIGNS, INC.
The undersigned corporation, acting pursuant to the provisions
of N.J.S.A. 14A:9-5, hereby adopts the following restated certificate of
incorporation:
ARTICLE I
Corporate Name
The name of the corporation is Vital Signs, Inc. (the
"Corporation").
ARTICLE II
Registered Office and Agent
The address of the Corporation's current registered office is
20 Campus Road, Totowa, New Jersey 07512. The name of the Corporation's current
registered agent at that address is Terry D. Wall.
ARTICLE III
Board of Directors
A. Current Board of Directors. The current Board of Directors
of the Corporation (the "board or the "Board of Directors") consists of seven
persons. Their names and addresses are as follows:
[names and addresses to be inserted at the time of filing a
certificate of amendment]
B. Number of Directors. The authorized number of members of
the Board of Directors will be fixed from time to time by resolution adopted by
the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors but in no
event may the number be less than three.
C. Classification. The directors shall be divided into three
classes, each consisting of one-third of such directors, as nearly as may be,
designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Class I directors shall initially
serve until the 2003 annual meeting of shareholders; Class II directors shall
initially serve until the 2004 annual meeting of shareholders; and Class III
directors shall initially serve until the 2005 annual meeting of shareholders.
Upon the filing of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the directors
then in office shall be assigned to such classes by alphabetical order of their
respective last names, with two directors be assigned to Class I, two directors
being assigned to Class II and the remaining directors being assigned to Class
III. Commencing with the annual meeting of shareholders in 2003, and at each
succeeding annual shareholders' meeting, successors to the class of directors
whose term expires at such annual shareholders' meeting shall be elected for a
three-year term. If the number of such directors is changed, an increase or
decrease in such directors shall be apportioned among the classes so as to
maintain the number of directors comprising each class as nearly equal as
possible. A director shall hold office until the annual shareholders' meeting
for the year in which his term expires and until his successor shall be elected
and shall qualify, subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement,
disqualification, or removal from office.
D. Vacancies. Except as otherwise required by law, any vacancy
on the board of directors that results from an increase in the number of
directors and any other vacancy occurring in the board of directors shall only
be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a
quorum, or by a sole remaining
38
director. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more
series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting
separately by class or series, to elect directors at an annual or special
meeting of shareholders, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies and
other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of this
restated certificate of incorporation applicable thereto and such directors so
elected shall not be divided into classes pursuant to this Article III, in each
case unless expressly provided by such terms. During any period when the holders
of any series of Preferred Stock have the right to elect additional directors as
provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article V hereof, then upon
commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right
continues: (i) the then otherwise total authorized number of directors of the
Corporation shall automatically be increased by such specified number of
directors, and the holders of such Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect
the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to said provisions,
and (ii) each such additional director shall serve until such director's
successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director's
right to hold such office terminates pursuant to said provisions, whichever
occurs earlier, subject to his earlier death, disqualification, resignation or
removal. Except as otherwise provided by the Board of Directors in the
resolution or resolutions establishing such series, whenever the holders of any
series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are
divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such stock, the terms of
office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such stock, or
elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation,
disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith
terminate and the total and authorized number of directors of the Corporation
shall be reduced accordingly.
ARTICLE IV
Purpose
The purpose for which the Corporation is organized is to
engage in any activity within the purposes for which Corporations may be
organized under the New Jersey business Corporation Act.
ARTICLE V
Capital Stock
A. Authorized Capital Stock. The total authorized capital
stock of the Corporation shall be 50,000,000 shares, consisting of:
1. 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock ("Preferred Stock");
and
2. 40,000,000 shares of Common Stock ("Common Stock")
Shares of the authorized capital stock of each class may be issued from time to
time for such consideration as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of
Directors.
B. Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors is authorized to
amend this Restated Certificate of Incorporation so as to divide the Preferred
Stock into one or more series and to determine the number of shares and the
designation of the series and the relative voting, dividend, liquidation, and
other rights, preferences, and limitations of the shares of each series. All
shares of any one series of Preferred Stock shall be alike in every particular
except that, in the case of a series entitled to cumulative dividends, shares
issued at different times may differ as to the dates from which dividends
thereon shall be cumulative.
ARTICLE VI
Personal Liability of Officers and
Directors; Indemnification
A. A director or an officer of the corporation shall not be
personally liable to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages
for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except to the extent such
exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the New
Jersey Business Corporation Act
39
as presently in effect or as the same may hereafter be amended. No amendment to
or repeal of this Article VI and no amendment, repeal or termination of
effectiveness of any law permitting the exemption from liability provided for
herein shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability
of any director or officer for or with respect to any acts or omissions of that
director or officer occurring prior to the amendment, repeal or termination of
effectiveness.
B. Every person who is or was a director or officer of the
corporation, or any such person who serves or served in any capacity with any
other enterprise at the request of the corporation, shall be indemnified by the
corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law against all expenses and
liabilities reasonably incurred by or imposed upon him in connection with any
proceeding to which he may be made, or threatened to be made, a party, or in
which he may become involved by reason of his being or having been a director or
officer of the corporation, or of serving or having served such other
enterprise, whether or not he is a director or officer of the corporation, or
continues to serve such other enterprise, at the time the expenses or
liabilities are incurred.
ARTICLE VII
Board Authorization
The Board of Directors shall have the authority to grant
rights and options pursuant to N.J.S. 14A:7-7 in connection with which
distinctions may be made between directors based upon the date on which
directors are elected to the Board, the relationship of directors to particular
shareholders and/or the composition of the Board which nominated or elected such
directors.
ARTICLE VIII
No Shareholder Action Without a Meeting
Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the
provisions of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation relating to the rights
of holders of any series of preferred stock and except as otherwise required by
N.J.S.A. 14A: 5-6(a), (i) no action required to be taken or which may be taken
at any annual or special meeting of shareholders of the Corporation may be taken
without a meeting and (ii) the power of the shareholders to consent in writing,
without a meeting, to the taking of any action is specifically denied.
ARTICLE IX
Votes Required
In addition to such other approvals as shall be required by
law, the provisions of Articles III and VIII and the provisions of this Article
IX may not be amended in any respect unless such amendment is approved by either
each of the members of the entire Board of Directors or the affirmative vote of
the holders of seventy-five percent (75%) in voting power of the outstanding
shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally.
40
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this restated
certificate of incorporation to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized
officer on this __ day of ______, 2002.
VITAL SIGNS, INC.
By: __________________________
Terry D. Wall
President
41
APPENDIX 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VITAL SIGNS, INC.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
SEPTEMBER , 2002
The undersigned hereby appoints Richard Gordon, Jay Sturm and Joseph
Bourgart, and each of them, attorneys and proxies, with power of substitution in
each of them, to vote for and on behalf of the undersigned at the annual meeting
of the stockholders of the Company to be held on September , 2002 and at any
adjournment thereof, upon matters properly coming before the meeting, as set
forth in the related Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement, both of which have
been received by the undersigned. Without otherwise limiting the general
authorization given hereby, said attorneys and proxies are instructed to vote as
follows:
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please date, sign and mail your
proxy card back as soon as possible!
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
VITAL SIGNS, INC.
September , 2002
Please Detach and Mail in the Envelope Provided
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A [ ] Please mark your
votes as in this
example
FOR the nominees WITHHOLD The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR"
listed at right (except AUTHORITY the nominees for Directors in Proposal 1 and
as marked to the to vote for the nominees "FOR" Proposal 2.
contrary below) listed at right
1. ELECTION Nominees:
OF [ ] [ ] David J. Bershad
DIRECTORS Anthony J. Dimun
Stuart M. Essig
INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for Joseph J. Thomas
any individual nominee listed at right, write the Terence D. Wall
nominee's name in the space provided below. Barry Wicker
David MacCallum
----------------------------------------------------
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. Approval of the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan to replace the
Company's 1990 Employee Stock Option Plan and the 1991
Outside Director Stock Option Plan, both of which have
expired. ----- ----- -----
3. The approval of an amendment of the Company's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation to eliminate all references
therein to a series of preferred stock that was never
issued by the Company. ----- ----- -----
4. The approval of an amendment to the Company's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation to provide for directors to
be elected on a three year, staggered term basis (the
"Staggered Board Provision"). ----- ----- -----
5. The approval of an amendment to the Company's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation to provide that
shareholders of the Company can act only at special or
annual meetings of shareholders except as required by
the law (the "Shareholder Meeting Provision"). ----- ----- -----
6. The approval of an amendment to the Company's Restated
Certificate of incorporation to add a provision (the
"Amendment Provision") to such Restated Certificate of
Incorporation stating that in addition to such approvals
as shall be required by law, amendments to the Staggered
Board Provision, the Shareholder Meeting Provision and
the Amendment Provision may only be made if approved
either by each of the members of the Company's Board of
Directors or by shareholders owing 75% of the voting
power of all outstanding shares of the Company's voting
stock. ----- ----- -----
7. Upon all such other matters as may properly come before
the meeting and/or any adjournment or adjournments
thereof, as they in their discretion may determine. The
Board of Directors is not aware of any such other
matters. ----- ----- -----
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED IN THE SQUARES OR SPACE PROVIDED IN THIS PROXY, THIS
PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH OF THE BOARD'S NOMINEES. Please sign this proxy
and return it promptly whether or not you expect to attend the meeting, you may
nevertheless vote in person if you attend.
Signed:__________________ Signed:___________________ Dated:____________, 2002
NOTE: Please sign exactly as your name appears hereon. Give full title if an
Attorney, Executor, Administrator, Trustee, Guardian, etc. For an
account in the name of two or more persons, each should sign, or if
one signs, he should attached evidence of his authority.
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