UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment
No. )
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the
Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
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o Preliminary
Proxy Statement |
o Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
þ Definitive Proxy
Statement |
o Definitive
Additional Materials |
o Soliciting
Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12 |
GRAHAM CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act
Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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(1) |
Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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(2) |
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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(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): |
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(4) |
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
Exchange Act 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. |
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(1) |
Amount Previously Paid: |
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(2) |
Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
GRAHAM CORPORATION
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JULY 28, 2005
The 2005 annual meeting of stockholders of Graham Corporation
will be held at the Holiday Inn-Airport, 911 Brooks Avenue,
Rochester, New York 14624, on Thursday, July 28, 2005, at
11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, for the following purposes, which
are more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement:
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1. To elect three Directors. |
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2. To ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche
LLP as our independent auditors for our fiscal year ending
March 31, 2006. |
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3. To transact such other business as may properly come
before the annual meeting or any adjournment of the annual
meeting. |
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on
June 10, 2005 as the record date for determining the
stockholders who are entitled to receive notice of and to vote
at the annual meeting as well as at any adjournments of the
annual meeting.
Stockholders who do not expect to be present at the annual
meeting should complete, sign and date the enclosed proxy card
and return it promptly in the enclosed return envelope. No
postage is required for the mailing of proxy cards within the
United States.
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BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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WILLIAM C. JOHNSON |
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President & Chief Executive Officer |
Dated: June 28, 2005
GRAHAM CORPORATION
20 Florence Avenue
Batavia, New York 14020
PROXY STATEMENT
We are furnishing this proxy statement to our stockholders in
connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of
proxies for use at the annual meeting of stockholders for our
fiscal year ended March 31, 2005 (Fiscal Year
2005), as well as for use at any adjournment of the annual
meeting, for the following purposes:
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To elect three Directors. |
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To approve the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as
our independent auditors for our fiscal year ending
March 31, 2006 (Fiscal Year 2006). |
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the
annual meeting or any adjournment of the annual meeting. |
The annual meeting will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2005,
at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, at the Holiday Inn-Airport,
911 Brooks Avenue, Rochester, New York 14624. This proxy
statement and the accompanying form of proxy are being first
mailed to our stockholders on or about June 28, 2005.
Record Date and Shares Outstanding
The record date for the annual meeting is June 10, 2005.
Our records indicate that as of June 10, 2005 there were
1,727,932 shares of our common stock issued and
outstanding. No other classes of our stock are issued or
outstanding. If you were a holder of record of our common stock
on June 10, 2005, then you are entitled to one vote at the
annual meeting for each share of our common stock that you held
on that date. A quorum is required for our stockholders to
conduct business at the annual meeting. Pursuant to our By-laws,
the holders of record of a majority of the shares entitled to
vote at the annual meeting will constitute a quorum.
Proxy Cards and Voting
If we receive the enclosed proxy, properly executed, in time to
be voted at the annual meeting, the Board of Directors will vote
the shares represented by it in accordance with the instructions
marked on the proxy. Executed proxies without instructions
marked on them will be voted FOR each of the nominees for
election as Director and FOR the ratification of the appointment
of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent auditors
for Fiscal Year 2006.
Under our By-laws, Directors are elected by a plurality of the
votes cast at the annual meeting. The vote required for approval
of any other matter before the annual meeting is a majority of
shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the
matter. Under Delaware law, the state in which we are
incorporated, the total votes received, including abstentions
and votes on routine matters by brokers holding shares in
street name or in some other fiduciary capacity, are
counted in determining the presence of a quorum at the annual
meeting. With respect to the election of Directors, votes may be
cast for or withheld from voting for any or all Director
nominees. Votes that are withheld will have no effect on the
election of Directors, other than for purposes of establishing a
quorum. Abstentions may be specified on all proposals other than
the election of Directors and will be counted as present for
purposes of the matter with respect to which the abstention is
noted. Therefore, under our By-laws and under Delaware law,
assuming the presence of a quorum at the annual meeting,
non-votes by brokers will have no effect on any proposal to be
acted upon at the annual meeting. However, abstentions will have
the effect of no
1
votes with respect to ratifying the appointment of
Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent auditors for
Fiscal Year 2006.
Revocability of Proxies
Your presence at the annual meeting will not automatically
revoke your proxy. However, you can revoke your proxy at any
time prior to its exercise at the annual meeting by:
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delivering to our corporate secretary a written notice of
revocation prior to the annual meeting; |
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delivering to our corporate secretary a duly executed proxy
bearing a later date; or |
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attending the annual meeting and filing a written notice of
revocation with our corporate secretary and voting in person. |
Notices of revocation and revised proxies should be sent to our
corporate secretary at the following address: Graham
Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 20 Florence Avenue,
Batavia, New York 14020. In addition, notices of revocation and
revised proxies can be delivered in person to our corporate
secretary or his agents at the annual meeting.
Solicitation of Proxies
This proxy solicitation is made by the Board of Directors on our
behalf, and we will bear the cost of soliciting proxies. In
addition to solicitation by mail, our Directors, officers and
employees may solicit proxies personally or by telephone or
other telecommunication. We will not compensate our Directors,
officers or employees for making proxy solicitations on our
behalf. We will provide persons holding shares in their names or
in the names of nominees, which in either case are beneficially
owned by others, proxy materials for delivery to those
beneficial owners and will reimburse the record owners for their
expenses in doing so.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The table below sets forth the beneficial ownership of our
common stock as of June 10, 2005 by:
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each person who is known to us, based on reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, to own beneficially more
than 5% of our common stock; |
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each of our named executive officers as of that date
(See Executive Compensation on page 10); |
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each of our Directors and Director nominees who beneficially
owns shares of our common stock; and |
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all of our executive officers and Directors as a group. |
We have calculated beneficial ownership based upon the
requirements promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Unless otherwise indicated below in the footnotes to
the table, each stockholder named in the table has sole voting
and investment power with respect to all shares shown as
beneficially owned by that stockholder and the designated
address of each individual listed in the table is as follows:
Graham Corporation, 20 Florence Avenue, Batavia, New York 14020.
2
COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP TABLE
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Common Stock Beneficially Owned | |
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Number of | |
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Percentage of | |
Name of Beneficial Owner |
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Shares | |
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Class | |
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Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Graham Corporation
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100,936 |
(3) |
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5.8 |
% |
Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc.
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91,768 |
(4) |
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5.3 |
% |
Van Den Berg Management
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146,580 |
(5) |
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8.5 |
% |
Helen H.
Berkeley(1)
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122,307 |
(6) |
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7.0 |
% |
Jerald D.
Bidlack(1)
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31,250 |
(7) |
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1.8 |
% |
William C.
Denninger(1)
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4,250 |
(8) |
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* |
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J. Ronald
Hansen(2)
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12,920 |
(9) |
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* |
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William C.
Johnson(1)(2)
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18,000 |
(10) |
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1.0 |
% |
H. Russel
Lemcke(1)
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38,000 |
(11) |
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2.2 |
% |
James R.
Lines(2)
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14,314 |
(12) |
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* |
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James J.
Malvaso(1)
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4,250 |
(13) |
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Stephen P.
Northrup(2)
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25,555 |
(14) |
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1.5 |
% |
Cornelius S. Van
Rees(1)
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21,050 |
(15) |
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1.2 |
% |
All executive officers and Directors as a group (10 persons)
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291,896 |
(16) |
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15.8 |
% |
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Less than 1%. |
(1) |
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Director. |
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Executive officer. |
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The Employee Benefits Committee of our Board of Directors
administers the Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Graham
Corporation (the ESOP). The Board of Directors has
appointed an unrelated corporate trustee for the ESOP. The
Employee Benefits Committee instructs the ESOP trustee regarding
investment of funds contributed to the ESOP. Each member of the
Employee Benefits Committee disclaims beneficial ownership of
the shares held in the ESOP. The ESOP trustee must vote all
allocated shares held in the ESOP in accordance with the
instructions of the participating employees. Unallocated shares
held in the suspense account are voted by the ESOP trustee in a
manner calculated to most accurately reflect the instructions
the ESOP trustee has received from participants regarding the
allocated stock, provided such instructions do not conflict with
the ESOP trustees fiduciary obligations under ERISA. As of
June 10, 2005, all 100,936 shares were allocated to
participants under the ESOP and no shares were unallocated. |
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Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc.s address is 1299
Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor, Santa Monica, California 90401.
Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc., an investment advisor
registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act
of 1940, is deemed to have beneficial ownership of
91,768 shares of our stock as of December 31, 2004,
all of which shares are held in the portfolios of four
investment companies, each of which is registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940. Dimensional Fund Advisors,
Inc. furnishes investment advice to each of the four investment
companies but disclaims beneficial ownership of all of the
shares held by the investment companies and reported in the
table above. |
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Van Den Berg Managements address is 805 Las Cimas Parkway,
Suite 430, Austin, Texas 78746. |
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Includes 15,000 shares that Mrs. Berkeley may acquire
within 60 days upon exercise of stock options. |
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Includes 12,000 shares that Mr. Bidlack may acquire
within 60 days upon exercise of stock options. |
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Includes 4,250 shares that Mr. Denninger may acquire
within 60 days upon exercise of stock options. |
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Includes 4,200 shares that Mr. Hansen may acquire
within 60 days upon exercise of stock options and
720 shares held by the ESOP trustee and allocated to
Mr. Hansens account, as to which Mr. Hansen has
sole voting power but no dispositive power, except in limited
circumstances. |
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Includes 18,000 shares that Mr. Johnson may acquire
within 60 days upon exercise of stock options. |
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Includes 20,000 shares that Mr. Lemcke may acquire
within 60 days upon exercise of stock options. |
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Includes 13,200 shares that Mr. Lines may acquire
within 60 days upon exercise of stock options and
1,114 shares held by the ESOP trustee and allocated to
Mr. Liness account, as to which Mr. Lines has
sole voting power but no dispositive power, except in limited
circumstances. |
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Includes 4,250 shares that Mr. Malvaso may acquire
within 60 days upon exercise of stock options. |
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Includes 16,200 shares that Mr. Northrup may acquire
within 60 days upon exercise of stock options and
1,355 shares held by the ESOP trustee and allocated to
Mr. Northrups account, as to which Mr. Northrup
has sole voting power but no dispositive power, except in
limited circumstances. |
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Includes 12,000 shares that Mr. Van Rees may acquire
within 60 days upon exercise of stock options. |
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See footnotes 6 through 15 to this table. Includes
119,100 shares that members of the group may acquire within
60 days upon exercise of stock options and
3,189 shares allocated to the named executive officers
under the ESOP, as to which the named executive officers may
exercise voting power, but not dispositive power, except in
limited circumstances. |
4
PROPOSAL 1:
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors currently consists of seven members. Our
By-laws provide for a classified Board of Directors consisting
of three classes of Directors, with each class serving a
staggered three-year term. As a result, only a portion of our
Board of Directors is elected each year.
Our By-laws require mandatory retirement at age 75 for
Directors who become members of the Board for the first time
after October 2002. No retirements pursuant to this provision
occurred during Fiscal Year 2005.
Three of our seven Directors are to be elected by our
stockholders at the annual meeting, each to hold office for a
three-year term expiring in 2008 or until his successor is duly
elected and qualified.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT
STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE
NOMINEES
TO SERVE AS DIRECTORS
Unless authority to vote for one or more of the Director
nominees is specifically withheld, proxies will be voted FOR the
election of all of the nominees. The Board of Directors does not
contemplate that any of the nominees will be unable to serve as
a Director, but if that contingency should occur before the
proxies are voted, the persons named in the enclosed proxy
reserve the right to vote for such substitute nominees as they,
in their discretion, determine.
The table below sets forth information concerning each of the
Director nominees whose term in office expires at the annual
meeting.
Nominees Proposed for Election as Directors
for a Three-Year Term Expiring in 2008
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Name and Background |
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Director Since | |
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Term Expires | |
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William C. Denninger, age 54, has served as Senior
Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Barnes
Group, Inc. in Bristol, Connecticut, since 2000. Before joining
Barnes, and from 1993 to 2000, he served as Vice
President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer of BTR, Inc. in
Stamford, Connecticut.
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2003 |
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2005 |
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H. Russel Lemcke, age 65, has served as President of
H. Russel Lemcke Group, Inc., which specializes in strategic
business development, including mergers, acquisitions and joint
ventures, since 1990. Mr. Lemcke serves as a board member
of Sensus Metering Systems, Inc., in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Sensus is a global manufacturer of utility metering products and
systems.
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1996 |
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2005 |
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Cornelius S. Van Rees, age 76, was a partner in the
New York City law firm of Thacher Proffitt & Wood until
his retirement in 1994. Mr. Van Rees received his law
degree in 1954 from Columbia University. He serves as Secretary
of the Company.
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1969 |
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2005 |
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The table below sets forth information concerning each Director
whose term in office does not expire at the annual meeting.
Directors Whose Terms Do Not Expire
at the Annual Meeting
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Name and Background |
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Director Since | |
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Term Expires | |
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Helen H. Berkeley, age 76, is a private investor.
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1998 |
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2006 |
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Jerald D. Bidlack, age 69, has served as President
of Griffin Automation, Inc., a manufacturer of special
automation machinery and systems located in West Seneca, New
York, since 1992. He serves also as a trustee of Keuka College,
which is located in Penn Yan, New York.
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1985 |
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2007 |
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William C. Johnson, age 42, is our President and
Chief Executive Officer. Before joining us in November 2004,
Mr. Johnson had served since October 1999 as Senior Vice
President and General Manager of ESAB Welding and Cutting
Equipment, a manufacturer of welding equipment and cutting
machines. In this capacity, Mr. Johnson was responsible for
operations comprising $100 million in annual sales.
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2004 |
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2006 |
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James J. Malvaso, age 55, has served as President
and Chief Executive Officer of The Raymond Corporation, located
in Greene, New York, since 1997. Previously, and from 1993 to
1996, he served as Chief Operating Officer and Vice
President-Operations of Raymond. He serves also as a trustee of
Lemoyne College, which is located in Syracuse, New York.
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2003 |
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2007 |
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BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
During Fiscal Year 2005, the Board of Directors held a total of
eight meetings. The Board of Directors has an Executive
Committee, an Audit Committee, an Employee Benefits Committee, a
Compensation Committee, and a Nominating Committee. The
function, composition, and number of meetings of each of these
five committees are described below.
Executive Committee
Between meetings of the Board of Directors, the Executive
Committee has the authority to manage and direct all of our
business and affairs, insofar as such authority may be legally
delegated and except as may be limited from time to time by
resolutions of the Board of Directors. The members of the
Executive Committee are Directors Bidlack (Chairman), Johnson,
Lemcke and Van Rees. The Executive Committee did not meet during
Fiscal Year 2005.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee: (a) is responsible for the
appointment, compensation and retention of our independent
auditors and for oversight of their work; (b) approves all
audit engagement fees and terms, as well as significant
non-audit engagements; (c) meets and discusses directly
with our independent auditors their audit work and related
matters; and (d) oversees and performs such investigations
with respect to our internal and external auditing procedures
and affairs as the Audit Committee deems necessary or advisable
and as may be required by applicable law. The current charter
for our Audit Committee sets forth specifically the duties and
responsibilities of the Committee. It was attached as
Appendix A to the proxy statement for our 2004 annual
meeting of stockholders. The members of the Audit Committee are
Directors Denninger (Chairman), Berkeley, Bidlack and Lemcke.
The Audit Committee held five meetings during Fiscal Year 2005.
The Board of Directors has determined that the Audit Committee
has at least one audit committee financial expert, Director
William C. Denninger. Mr. Denninger and each of the other
members of the Audit Committee is independent in
accordance with the current listing standards of the American
Stock Exchange.
The Audit Committees report relating to Fiscal Year 2005
appears on page 16 of this proxy statement.
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Employee Benefits Committee
The Employee Benefits Committee reviews the performance of the
plan administrator of each of our Retirement Income Plan,
Incentive Savings Plan, Group Hospitalization Plan, Medical
Plan, Major Medical Plan, Life Insurance Plan, Long-Term
Disability Plan, Employee Stock Ownership Plan and any other
employee benefit plan we maintain for which a named fiduciary is
designated. The Employee Benefits Committee reviews and reports
to the Board of Directors on the performance of the Incentive
Savings Plan trustee and the Retirement Income Plan trustee in
investing, managing and controlling plan assets. The Employee
Benefits Committee has authority: (a) to establish a
funding policy and method consistent with the objectives of the
Retirement Income Plan; (b) to recommend changes in the
plans and changes in any plan trustee or administrator; and
(c) subject to the further action of the Board of
Directors, to amend any of the plans, other than the Retirement
Income Plan, the Incentive Savings Plan and the Employee Stock
Ownership Plan. The members of the Employee Benefits Committee
are Directors Van Rees (Chairman), Berkeley, Bidlack and
Denninger. The Employee Benefits Committee held three meetings
during Fiscal Year 2005.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee: (a) reviews and determines
annually salaries, bonuses and other forms of compensation paid
to our executive officers and management; (b) approves
recipients of awards of incentive stock options and
non-qualified stock options and establishes the number of shares
and other terms applicable to such awards; and
(c) construes the provisions of and generally administers
the 1995 Incentive Plan to Increase Shareholder Value and the
2000 Incentive Plan to Increase Shareholder Value. The members
of the Compensation Committee are Directors Lemcke (Chairman),
Berkeley, Bidlack, Malvaso and Van Rees. The Compensation
Committee held two meetings during Fiscal Year 2005. The
Compensation Committees report relating to Fiscal Year
2005 appears on page 13 of this proxy statement.
Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee has authority to evaluate, interview
and nominate candidates for election to the Board of Directors.
The Nominating Committee held two meetings during Fiscal Year
2005. The members of the Nominating Committee are Directors Van
Rees (Chairman), Bidlack and Malvaso. All members of the
Nominating Committee are independent in accordance
with the current listing standards of the American Stock
Exchange.
The Charter of the Nominating Committee was attached as
Appendix B to the proxy statement for our 2004 annual
meeting of stockholders.
In identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the
Nominating Committee seeks candidates possessing the highest
standards of personal and professional ethics and integrity;
practical wisdom, independent thinking, maturity and the ability
to exercise sound business judgment; skills, experience and
demonstrated abilities that help meet the current needs of the
Board; and a firm commitment to the interests of stockholders.
In addition, the Nominating Committee will take into
consideration such other factors as it deems appropriate. These
factors may include knowledge of the Companys industry and
markets, experience with businesses and other organizations of
comparable size, the interplay of the candidates
experience with the experience of other Board members, and the
extent to which the candidate would be a desirable addition to
the Board and any committees of the Board. The Nominating
Committee may consider, among other factors, experience or
expertise in some of the following areas: the heat-transfer
industry, global business, science and technology, competitive
positioning, corporate governance, finance or economics, and
public affairs.
Pursuant to our By-laws, stockholders of record entitled to vote
in the election of Directors at any annual meeting may recommend
individuals for consideration by the Nominating Committee as
potential nominees by submitting written recommendations to our
corporate secretary no later than (a) 60 days in
advance of the annual meeting, if the annual meeting is to be
held within 30 days preceding the anniversary of the
previous years annual meeting, or (b) 90 days in
advance of the annual meeting, if the annual meeting is to be
held on or after the anniversary of the previous years
annual meeting. For an annual meeting of stockholders held at a
time other than within these time periods, or for a special
meeting of stockholders for the election of Directors, notice
must be submitted no later than the close of business on the
10th day following the date on which notice of such meeting is
first given to stockholders.
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Stockholder recommendations must contain: (a) each
nominees name, age, business and residence addresses;
(b) principal occupation or employment; (c) the
nominees written consent to serve as a Director; and
(d) information that would be required to be included in a
proxy statement filed pursuant to applicable rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any stockholder
submitting a recommendation must provide his or her own name and
address as they appear on our books and records as well as the
class and number of our shares owned of record and the dates he
or she acquired such shares. The stockholder also must describe
all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and
the nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person
or persons) pursuant to which the nominations are made by the
stockholder. Furthermore, the stockholder must identify any
person employed, retained, or to be compensated by the
stockholder submitting the nomination or by the person
nominated, or any person acting on his or her behalf, to make
solicitations or recommendations to stockholders for the purpose
of assisting in the election of such nominee, and briefly
describe the terms of such employment, retainer or arrangement
for compensation.
The Nominating Committee will evaluate nominees proposed by
stockholders using the same criteria, and in the same manner, as
described above for other nominees.
Meeting Attendance
Each Director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of
(a) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors
and (b) the total number of meetings of all committees of
the Board of Directors on which he or she served (during the
periods that he or she served). All Directors who were members
of the Board at the time attended the Companys 2004 annual
meeting of stockholders.
Communications from Security Holders
Stockholders may send communications to the Board, or to
individual directors, to the attention of: Cornelius S. Van
Rees, Secretary, Graham Corporation, 20 Florence Avenue,
Batavia, New York 14020. The Secretary will convey all such
communications to the Board, or if addressed to an individual
member of the Board, to that Director.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
The Board has one employee-Director who does not receive any
remuneration for his service on the Board of Directors or on any
committee of the Board.
Each of our non-employee Directors receives an annual fee of
$15,000 for service on the Board of Directors. Additionally,
each non-employee Director receives a fee of $1,000 for each
Board or committee meeting attended, except that if such meeting
is held by telephone conference call or by unanimous written
consent, the fee is reduced to $500. If a Board and/or one or
more committees meet on the same day, a full meeting fee is paid
for one meeting and one-half of the meeting fee is paid for each
additional meeting attended that day. Each non-employee Director
who serves on the Executive Committee receives an additional
annual fee of $5,000 for such service. The Chairman of the Board
of Directors receives an additional annual fee of $10,000 for
such service. The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an
additional annual fee of $5,000 and the chairman of each other
committee receives an additional annual fee of $2,000.
Non-employee Directors participate in the Outside
Directors Long-Term Incentive Plan (the LTIP).
Under the LTIP, for the first five fiscal years in which our net
income meets or exceeds 100% of the Board of Directors
approved budget for such year, starting with 1996 for Directors
in office at that time and starting with election to the Board
of Directors for new Directors, each non-employee Director will
be credited with share equivalent units (SEUs). Each
SEU is valued at the market value of one share of our common
stock on the last day of trading of the first quarter following
the end of a fiscal year for which SEUs are to be credited
(Valuation Date). The number of SEUs to be credited
is determined by dividing the value of one SEU into $10,000.
Upon termination of a Directors service on the Board of
Directors, but not before, SEUs become redeemable, at our
option, for either (a) a commensurate number of shares of
our common stock or (b) the cash value of a commensurate
number of shares of our common stock as of the termination of
service date.
In the event that we elect under the LTIP to redeem a
Directors SEUs for cash representing a commensurate number
of our shares of our common stock, the cash value will be
determined by multiplying the number of SEUs held by such
Director on the date of his or her termination from service
multiplied by the closing price of our stock on the date of such
termination (the FMV); provided, however, that the
cash value of each SEU may not exceed
8
the greater of $16.00 per share or the Valuation Date
price. In the event that we elect to redeem a Directors
SEUs for a commensurate number of shares of our common stock,
the number of shares we pay to such Director shall be determined
as follows: (a) if the FMV is at or below the Valuation
Date price, each SEU will be redeemed for one share of common
stock; (b) if the FMV is greater than the Valuation Date
price but less than $16.00 per share, each SEU will be
redeemed for one share of our common stock; (c) if the FMV
is greater than $16.00 per share and the Valuation Date
price was less than or equal to $16.00 per share, the
number of shares constituting the redemption price of a
Directors SEUs will be determined by multiplying the
number of SEUs times $16.00 and dividing the product by the FMV;
and (d) if the FMV is greater than the Valuation Date price
and the Valuation Date price was greater than $16.00 per
share, the number of shares constituting the redemption price of
a Directors SEUs will be determined by multiplying the
number of SEUs times the Valuation Date price and dividing the
product by the FMV.
Pursuant to the 1995 Graham Corporation Incentive Plan to
Increase Shareholder Value (the Incentive Plan),
each of our non-employee Directors was to be granted, annually
for four years, an option to purchase 2,250 shares of
our common stock at its closing price on the American Stock
Exchange on the date of each grant, subject to availability
under the Incentive Plan of unissued options reserved for
Directors. However, no shares reserved for any non-employee
Directors remain in the Incentive Plan and no grants from it
were made to any non-employee Director during Fiscal Year 2005.
During Fiscal Year 2005, each of our non-employee Directors on
October 28, 2004 was granted an option to
purchase 1,000 shares of our common stock at its
closing price on the American Stock Exchange on the date of
grant, pursuant to the 2000 Graham Corporation Incentive Plan to
Increase Shareholder Value.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
We are currently served by the following executive officers, who
are elected by the Board of Directors and serve until their
respective successors are elected and qualified:
William C. Johnson, age 42, is our President and
Chief Executive Officer. Before joining us in November 2004,
Mr. Johnson had served since October 1999 as Senior Vice
President and General Manager of ESAB Welding and Cutting
Equipment, a manufacturer of welding equipment and cutting
machines.
J. Ronald Hansen, age 58, has been our Vice
President-Finance & Administration and Chief Financial
Officer since 1993. He has been employed with us since 1993.
James R. Lines, age 44, has been our Vice President
and General Manager since 2005. Previously, and from 1995 to
2005, he served as our Vice President-Marketing &
Sales. He has been employed with us since 1984.
Stephen P. Northrup, age 53, has been our Vice
President and Chief Technology Officer since 2005. Previously,
and from 1995 to 2005, he served as our Vice
President-Engineering. He has been employed with us since 1973.
9
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the annual compensation for
services to us in all capacities for the past three fiscal years
for our Chief Executive Officer and our three most highly
compensated executive officers (other than our Chief Executive
Officer) who were serving as executive officers on
March 31, 2005, the last day of Fiscal Year 2005
(collectively, the named executive officers). It
also includes compensation for two executive officers who left
our service during the fiscal year.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
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|
|
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|
|
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|
|
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Long-Term | |
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|
|
|
|
|
Annual Compensation | |
|
Compensation | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Annual | |
|
Securities | |
|
All Other | |
|
|
Fiscal | |
|
Salary | |
|
Bonus | |
|
Compensation | |
|
Underlying | |
|
Compensation | |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year | |
|
($)(1) | |
|
($)(2) | |
|
($) | |
|
Options/SARs(#) | |
|
$(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) | |
| |
William C. Johnson
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
80,140 |
(10) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
18,000 |
|
|
|
125,338 |
|
President and
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Ronald Hansen
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
146,931 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
31,816 |
(11) |
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Vice President Finance &
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administration and
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
146,931 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
23,387 |
(11) |
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
86,475 |
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
146,931 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
14,050 |
|
James R. Lines
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
137,966 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
12,109 |
(11) |
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
14,762 |
|
Vice President and
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
137,966 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
8,606 |
(11) |
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
43,132 |
|
General Manager
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
137,966 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
7,442 |
|
Stephen P. Northrup
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
137,966 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
41,476 |
|
Vice President and
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
137,966 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
25,558 |
(11) |
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
86,960 |
|
Chief Technology Officer
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
137,966 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
6,054 |
|
Alvaro Cadena
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
176,233 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
58,175 |
(11) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
98,714 |
|
Retired President
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
234,978 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
113,160 |
|
and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
234,978 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
14,050 |
|
Philip Marks
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
108,593 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
63,558 |
(11) |
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
46,157 |
|
Former Vice President
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
120,922 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
4,010 |
|
Manufacturing
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
118,456 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
7,540 |
|
|
|
(1) |
The figures shown include amounts (if any) deferred by the named
executive officers pursuant to section 401(k) of the
Internal Revenue Code as deferred contingent salary. Amounts
deferred under section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code
are deposited in the named executive officers 401(k)
account for investment and payment according to the terms of our
Incentive Savings Plan. |
|
(2) |
Bonus amounts are deferred to the following fiscal year and are
contingent upon attainment of predetermined performance goals.
No bonus was paid to any named executive officer with respect to
Fiscal Years 2003 through 2005. |
|
(3) |
Includes premiums paid on insurance policies on each of the
named executive officers as follows: Mr. Hansen
$8,032 for our fiscal year ended March 31, 2003
(Fiscal Year 2003); Mr. Lines
$4,417 for Fiscal Year 2003 and $2,160 for Fiscal Year 2005;
Mr. Northrup $6,054 for Fiscal Year 2003;
Mr. Cadena $14,050 for Fiscal Year 2003; and
Mr. Marks $7,540 for Fiscal Year 2003. |
|
(4) |
Includes for Mr. Johnson $125,338 in relocation and related
expenses in connection with his commencement of service as our
President and Chief Executive Officer. |
|
(5) |
Includes for Mr. Lines payment for published professional
articles of $3,025 for Fiscal Year 2003 and $1,375 for our
fiscal year ended March 31, 2004 (Fiscal Year
2004) and also payment in lieu of vacation of $2,653 for
Fiscal Year 2005. |
|
(6) |
Includes for Mr. Northrup a long-term service award of
$5,306 for Fiscal Year 2004. |
|
(7) |
Includes cash proceeds received in Fiscal Year 2004 upon
termination of split-dollar life insurance policies maintained
by us as follows: Mr. Hansen $86,475;
Mr. Lines $41,757; Mr. Marks
$4,010; Mr. Northrup $81,654;
Mr. Cadena $63,847. Also includes for Fiscal
Year 2004 the cash surrender value of $49,313 for life insurance
policies transferred by us to Mr. Cadena as part of our
termination of our split-dollar insurance benefit. Our
termination of our split-dollar life insurance program realized
a tax benefit to us in Fiscal Year 2004 of approximately
$130,000 and brings an annual net cost saving of approximately
$48,000. |
10
|
|
(8) |
Includes for Mr. Cadena with respect to Fiscal Year 2005
payment in lieu of vacation of $39,314, a long- term service
award of $13,556 and payment of $45,844 pursuant to a
post-retirement consultation agreement between Mr. Cadena
and us. |
|
(9) |
Includes for Mr. Marks with respect to Fiscal Year 2005
payment in lieu of vacation of $22,805 and $23,352 paid to
Mr. Marks following the conclusion of his service with us
pursuant to the employment agreement between Mr. Marks and
us. |
|
|
(10) |
Mr. Johnsons salary commenced November 29, 2004. |
|
(11) |
Represents gain from sale of stock acquired by exercising stock
options. |
Stock Options
The following table indicates the total number of stock options
we granted to each named executive officer during Fiscal Year
2005.
Option/ SAR Grants During Fiscal Year 2005
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Individual Grants | |
|
Potential Realizable | |
|
|
| |
|
Value at Assumed | |
|
|
|
|
Percent of | |
|
|
|
Annual Rates of | |
|
|
Number of | |
|
Total | |
|
|
|
Stock Price | |
|
|
Securities | |
|
Options/SARs | |
|
Exercise | |
|
|
|
Appreciation for | |
|
|
Underlying | |
|
Granted to | |
|
or Base | |
|
|
|
Option Term | |
|
|
Options/SARs | |
|
Employees in | |
|
Price | |
|
Expiration | |
|
|
Name |
|
Granted (#)(1) | |
|
Fiscal Year (%) | |
|
($/Share) | |
|
Date | |
|
5% ($) | |
|
10% ($) | |
|
William C. Johnson
|
|
|
18,000 |
|
|
|
60.0 |
% |
|
|
13.00 |
|
|
|
12/2/14 |
|
|
|
147,161 |
|
|
|
372,936 |
|
J. Ronald Hansen
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
10.0 |
% |
|
|
12.50 |
|
|
|
10/28/14 |
|
|
|
23,584 |
|
|
|
59,765 |
|
James R. Lines
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
10.0 |
% |
|
|
12.50 |
|
|
|
10/28/14 |
|
|
|
23,584 |
|
|
|
59,765 |
|
Stephen P. Northrup
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
10.0 |
% |
|
|
12.50 |
|
|
|
10/28/14 |
|
|
|
23,584 |
|
|
|
59,765 |
|
Philip Marks
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
10.0 |
% |
|
|
12.50 |
|
|
|
10/28/14 |
|
|
|
23,584 |
|
|
|
59,765 |
|
|
|
(1) |
All stock options are currently vested, non-qualified stock
options. |
The following table indicates the total number of exercisable
and unexercisable stock options held by each named executive
officer on March 31, 2005, the last day of Fiscal Year
2005, and the value.
Aggregated Option/ SAR Exercises in Fiscal Year 2005
and Fiscal Year-End Option/ SAR Values
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares | |
|
|
|
Number of Securities | |
|
|
|
|
Acquired | |
|
|
|
Underlying Unexercised | |
|
Value of Unexercised In-the- | |
|
|
on | |
|
Value | |
|
Options/SARs at Fiscal | |
|
Money Options/SARs at | |
|
|
Exercise | |
|
Realized | |
|
Year-End (#) | |
|
Fiscal Year-End ($)(1) | |
Name |
|
(#) | |
|
($) | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
William C. Johnson
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
18,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
76,500 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
J. Ronald Hansen
|
|
|
9,000 |
|
|
|
31,816 |
|
|
|
4,200 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
14,250 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
James R. Lines
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
12,109 |
|
|
|
13,200 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
122,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Stephen P. Northrup
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
16,200 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
147,450 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Alvaro Cadena
|
|
|
7,700 |
|
|
|
58,175 |
|
|
|
36,815 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
230,493 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Philip Marks
|
|
|
12,340 |
|
|
|
63,558 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
14,250 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Based on the closing price of our common stock on March 31,
2005, which was $17.25 per share. |
11
Pension Plans
The following table sets forth straight-life annuity amounts
without regard to offsets for social security benefits. Benefits
listed in the table are subject to a deduction of an amount
equal to 50% of an eligible employees estimated primary
social security benefit.
Pension Plan Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years of Service | |
Remuneration ($) |
|
15 | |
|
20 | |
|
25 | |
|
30/35 | |
|
100,000
|
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
|
$ |
33,333 |
|
|
$ |
41,670 |
|
|
$ |
50,000 |
|
125,000
|
|
$ |
31,250 |
|
|
$ |
41,662 |
|
|
$ |
52,088 |
|
|
$ |
62,500 |
|
150,000
|
|
$ |
37,500 |
|
|
$ |
49,995 |
|
|
$ |
62,505 |
|
|
$ |
75,000 |
|
160,000
|
|
$ |
40,000 |
|
|
$ |
53,333 |
|
|
$ |
67,667 |
|
|
$ |
80,000 |
|
175,000(1)
|
|
$ |
43,750 |
|
|
$ |
58,328 |
|
|
$ |
72,922 |
|
|
$ |
87,500 |
|
260,000(1)
|
|
$ |
65,000 |
|
|
$ |
86,667 |
|
|
$ |
108,334 |
|
|
$ |
130,000 |
|
|
|
(1) |
For the U.S. Retirement Income Plan (as defined below),
with respect to Fiscal Year 2004, $205,000 was the maximum
amount of compensation that could be used as the basis for
determining benefits under applicable law; for Fiscal Year 2005
the amount was $210,000. For the Supplemental Plan (as defined
below), with respect to Fiscal Year 2004 only base salary over
$205,000 was used as the basis for determining benefits and for
Fiscal Year 2005 only base salary over $210,000 was used as such
basis. |
Our Retirement Income Plan is a defined benefit pension plan for
the benefit of our eligible domestic employees and the eligible
domestic employees of our United States subsidiaries (the
U.S. Retirement Income Plan). The
U.S. Retirement Income Plan takes income into account for
future benefits on a calendar year basis. The portion of Fiscal
Year 2005 compensation that is taken into account by the
U.S. Retirement Income Plan for the purpose of calculating
future pension benefits is as follows: $146,931 for
Mr. Hansen; $137,966 for Mr. Lines; $137,966 for
Mr. Northrup; $176,233 for Mr. Cadena; and $108,593
for Mr. Marks.
The approximate years of creditable service as of June 10,
2005 of each of the named executive officers eligible to
participate in the U.S. Retirement Income Plan are as
follows: 12 years for Mr. Hansen; 21 years for
Mr. Lines; and 31 years for Mr. Northrup.
In addition to the U.S. Retirement Income Plan, we maintain
a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the Supplemental
Plan) that is intended to provide eligible participants
and their surviving spouses and beneficiaries with the amount of
employer-provided retirement benefits that the
U.S. Retirement Income Plan would provide but for the
limitation on compensation that may be recognized under
tax-qualified plans imposed by section 401(a)(17) of the
Internal Revenue Code and the limitations on benefits imposed by
sections 415(b) and (e) of the Internal Revenue Code. Any
of our officers whose base salary exceeded $200,000 in 2005, or
will exceed $200,000 in 2006, are eligible to participate in the
Supplemental Plan. Currently none of our named executive
officers are eligible to participate in the Supplemental Plan.
The Supplemental Plan takes income into account for future
benefits on a calendar year basis. With respect to Fiscal Year
2005, no compensation for any officer was taken into account by
the Supplemental Plan for the purpose of calculating future
benefits.
We also maintain a Defined Contribution Pension Plan. Under the
Defined Contribution Pension Plan, eligible participants with at
least one hour of service during the relevant plan year who are
employed by us at the end of such year receive a profit sharing
contribution in an amount equal to 3.25% of eligible
compensation received during such year, which contribution is
paid on the first $210,000 of compensation. The amounts
allocated to participants under the profit sharing contribution
plan vest after five years of employment. Mr. Johnson
participated in such plan during Fiscal Year 2005.
Employment Contracts, Termination of Employment and
Change in Control Arrangements
Mr. Johnson is party to a letter agreement with us that
provides for his receipt of a base salary of $235,000 per
year, as well as an annual cash bonus if our returns on capital
employed and the personal goals set for Mr. Johnson by the
Compensation Committee are attained. Mr. Johnsons
agreement also provides for him to participate in the Defined
Contribution Pension Plan and provides for our payment to him of
certain relocation
12
and club dues. The agreement further provides that if we
terminate Mr. Johnson for any reason other than for cause
he will receive a severance payment equal to one years
base salary.
Mr. Hansen, Mr. Lines and Mr. Northrup each have
a one-year Employment Agreement with us that is renewable upon
the parties mutual consent for additional periods.
Mr. Marks, while an officer of ours, was party to such an
agreement. Each such Employment Agreement has a termination
provision that, in certain circumstances, entitles each named
executive officer to a payment equal to 12 months
base salary upon the termination of employment.
Mr. Hansen is party to a Senior Executive Severance
Agreement with the Company. His agreement provides that in the
event of a change in control (defined generally as an
acquisition of 25% or more of our outstanding voting shares, or
a change in the majority of the Board of Directors as the result
of any tender offer or business combination) effected by a third
person, Mr. Hansen is entitled to three years
compensation, including bonuses, if his employment is terminated
within two years of such a change in control.
Mr. Cadena is party to an agreement with us that became
effective upon his retirement in November 2004. This agreement
provides for Mr. Cadenas engagement by us as an
independent consultant, commencing January 1, 2005 and
continuing to the date Mr. Cadena attains the age of 65,
subject to the conditions set forth in the agreement. For
example, the agreement sets forth consulting fees and number of
days per annum for providing consulting services. We have agreed
to provide specified medical, dental and insurance benefits to
Mr. Cadena during the consulting period and Mr. Cadena
has agreed not to compete against us or to use our confidential
information during that period.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
The members of our Compensation Committee during Fiscal Year
2005 were Directors Lemcke (Chairman) Berkeley, Bidlack, Malvaso
and Van Rees. Director Van Rees is our corporate secretary but
receives no compensation for his service in such capacity.
Mr. Van Rees participated in the Board of Directors
deliberations regarding compensation of all of our compensated
officers.
Except as set forth herein under the heading Employment
Contracts, Termination of Employment and Change in Control
Arrangements and under the heading Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions, no member of our
compensation committee: (i) was an officer or employee of
ours or any of our subsidiaries during Fiscal Year 2005;
(ii) was formerly an officer of ours or any of our
subsidiaries; or (iii) had any relationship requiring
disclosure in this proxy statement pursuant to Securities and
Exchange Commission rules. In addition, none of our named
executive officers served: (i) as a member of the
compensation committee (or other board committee performing
equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee,
the entire board of directors) of another entity, one of whose
executive officers served on our compensation committee;
(ii) as a director of another entity, one of whose
executive officers served on our compensation committee; or
(iii) as a member of the compensation committee (or other
board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the
absence of any such committee, the entire board of directors) of
another entity, one of whose executive officers served as a
director of our company.
Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation
Our Compensation Committee establishes levels of cash
compensation and forms and amounts of non-cash compensation for
our executive officers and our subsidiaries executive
officers. The guiding principles of our Compensation Committee
are as follows:
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To provide a reasonable level of compensation sufficient to
attract and retain executive personnel best suited by training,
ability, and other relevant criteria for the management
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To balance base compensation (non-contingent) and incentive
compensation (contingent upon performance) for the purpose of
motivating executive personnel. |
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To determine the extent and method of aligning the financial
interest of our executive personnel with the interest of our
stockholders in the appreciation of their investment. |
Decisions regarding executive compensation made during Fiscal
Year 2005 involved considerations related to hiring a new Chief
Executive Officer as well as the perceived need to align
incentives properly for our executive
13
officers. The Compensation Committee took these factors into
account with respect to base salary decisions and also with
respect to stock option grants to our new Chief Executive
Officer and to our other executive officers.
During Fiscal Year 2005, the Compensation Committee maintained
the base salary for the position of Chief Executive Officer
substantially at the same level as the previous year. For our
other executive officers the Committee increased base salaries,
effective April 1, 2005, to align such salaries closer to
the median salary range for comparably situated companies. We
believe that compensation for our Chief Executive Officer and
other executive officers stands approximately at the median for
similarly situated executive officers of companies both in our
industry and our geographic region. We also believe that
non-cash compensation, in the form of stock options, is below
that offered by comparably-sized companies both in our industry
and our geographic region. In determining Chief Executive
Officer compensation we took into account Mr.
Johnsons prior achievements and employment history, as
well as the companys need to recruit a Chief Executive
Officer with his talent and proven track record.
In the interest of linking corporate performance to officer
compensation while maintaining competitive overall nominal
salary rates, a portion of compensation for each named executive
officer is a contingent bonus. The bonus is payable, on a
deferred basis, only following the end of each fiscal year, and
payment is subject to attainment of performance-based goals for
the year by us and by each named executive officer individually.
Under this arrangement, a target performance-based amount for
each eligible officer, representing a percentage of base salary,
is recommended to the Compensation Committee annually by the
Chief Executive Officer. Similarly, a target performance-based
amount for the Chief Executive Officer is determined by the
Compensation Committee. We must meet a predetermined earnings
threshold in order for any eligible officer to receive
performance-based pay. The actual amount of performance-based
pay earned, if any, depends upon the degree of attainment of
goals established by the Compensation Committee for each year in
the following areas: corporate and subsidiary net income and
working capital employed and an individual performance goal for
each officer. These determinations were based on the
Compensation Committees review of pertinent data with
reference to literature in the field and to industry practices
for comparably-sized companies and expectations of attainable
results under existing market conditions.
No bonus was paid to any named executive officer for Fiscal Year
2005.
In Fiscal Year 2005, we granted stock options to our Chief
Executive Officer and other named executive officers. These
stock option grants were made pursuant to our 1995 and 2000
Incentive Plans to Increase Shareholder Value for the purpose of
further increasing incentives for our officers to increase
shareholder value. No stock appreciation rights or other forms
of equity compensation were granted in Fiscal Year 2005.
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Compensation Committee: |
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H. Russel Lemcke, Chairman |
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Helen H. Berkeley |
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Jerald D. Bidlack |
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James J. Malvaso |
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Cornelius S. Van Rees |
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING
COMPLIANCE
During Fiscal Year 2005, all of our Directors, executive
officers and more than 10% stockholders complied in a timely
manner with the filing requirements of Section 16(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In making this statement, we
have relied on the written representations of our Directors,
executive officers and more than 10% stockholders and copies of
the reports that they have filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
14
STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE GRAPH
Our common stock is traded on the American Stock Exchange under
the symbol GHM. Set forth below is a line graph
comparing, (a) the cumulative stockholder return on our
common stock for a five-year period beginning with the last
trade of our common stock on March 31, 2000, to
(b) the cumulative total return of companies on the
American Stock Exchange Market Value Index (the AMEX
Index) over the same period and (c) a selection of
peer group public companies, each of which shares a Standardized
Industrial Classification code with us and each of which either
competes with us as to one or more product lines or one or more
market segments (the Peer Group).
Comparison of 5 Year Cumulative Total Return
Among Graham Corporation, The AMEX Market Value (U.S. &
Foreign) Index
and a Peer Group
The Peer Group public companies selected by us for comparison in
the line graph consist of the following manufacturing companies:
Flowserve Corp., Paul Mueller Co., and Selas Corp. of America.
This line graph above assumes an investment of $100 on
March 31, 2000 in (a) our common stock, (b) the
stocks comprising the AMEX Index and (c) the stocks of the
Peer Group public companies. Total returns assume the
reinvestment of dividends.
Our stock performance may not continue into the future with the
trends similar to those depicted in the line graph above. We
neither make nor endorse any predictions as to our future stock
performance.
15
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee oversees our financial reporting process on
behalf of the Board of Directors and is directly responsible for
the compensation, appointment and oversight of our independent
auditors. Management has the primary responsibility for the
financial statements and the reporting process. Our independent
auditors, Deloitte & Touche LLP
(Deloitte & Touche), are responsible for
auditing our financial statements and expressing an opinion as
to their conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States. Under its written charter, the
Audit Committee has the authority to conduct any inquiry
appropriate to fulfilling its responsibilities, has direct
access to the independent auditors as well as all of our
personnel, and has the ability to retain, at our expense, legal
counsel and accounting or other consultants or experts it deems
necessary in the performance of its duties.
The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial
statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended March 31, 2005 with management and
Deloitte & Touche. The Audit Committee has also
discussed and reviewed with Deloitte & Touche the
matters required to be discussed by Statements on Auditing
Standards No. 61 Communications with
Audit Committees, as amended. In addition, the written
disclosures and the letter required by Independence Standard
No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit
Committees, as amended, by the Independence Standards
Board were discussed and reviewed by the Audit Committee with
Deloitte & Touche and the Audit Committee discussed
with Deloitte & Touche any relationships that may
impact their objectivity and independence. The Audit Committee
has also considered whether the provision of non-audit services
by Deloitte & Touche is compatible with maintaining
their independence, and has satisfied itself with respect to
Deloitte & Touches independence.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above,
the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and
the Board has approved) that the audited financial statements be
included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended March 31, 2005 for filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
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Audit Committee: |
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William C. Denninger, Chairman |
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Helen H. Berkeley |
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Jerald D. Bidlack |
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H. Russel Lemcke |
16
PROPOSAL 2:
RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has selected
Deloitte & Touche as our independent auditors for
Fiscal Year 2006. This selection will be presented to our
stockholders for approval at the annual meeting. The Board of
Directors recommends a vote in favor of the proposal to approve
and ratify this selection, and, unless otherwise instructed in
the proxy, the persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote the
proxies FOR this proposal. If our stockholders do not approve of
the selection of Deloitte & Touche, the Audit Committee
will reconsider its choice. We have been advised by
Deloitte & Touche that they are independent auditors
with respect to us within the meaning of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated under such act.
A representative from Deloitte & Touche is expected to
be at the annual meeting, will have an opportunity to make a
statement if he or she so desires and will be available to
respond to appropriate questions during the meeting.
Fees Paid to Deloitte & Touche LLP
We paid the following fees to Deloitte & Touche for
Fiscal Year 2005 and Fiscal Year 2004:
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Fiscal Year | |
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Audit Fees
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74,580 |
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84,630 |
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Audit-Related Fees
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65,540 |
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22,095 |
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Tax Fees
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51,325 |
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44,453 |
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All Other Fees
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0 |
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TOTAL
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191,445 |
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$ |
151,178 |
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Audit fees for each of Fiscal Year 2005 and Fiscal Year 2004
included fees associated with the annual audit, reviews of our
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and reviews of our
registration statements. For Fiscal Year 2005, audit-related
fees included fees associated with employee benefit plan audits,
assistance with responses to Securities and Exchange Commission
comment letters, consultation regarding revenue recognition
policy change, consultation regarding the discontinuance of our
operations in the United Kingdom, consultation regarding
restatement of prior year financial statements, and
out-of-pocket expenses billed. For Fiscal Year 2004,
audit-related fees included fees associated with employee
benefit plan audits, review of accounting for benefit plan
curtailment, and out-of-pocket expenses billed.
For each of Fiscal Year 2005 and Fiscal Year 2004, tax fees
primarily included tax compliance, tax consulting and tax
planning services, as well as out-of-pocket expenses billed.
We did not pay any fees to Deloitte & Touche during the
last two fiscal years for financial system design and
implementation.
The Audit Committee has determined that the provision of
non-audit services described above has not compromised the
independence of Deloitte & Touche.
The Audit Committee has adopted procedures for pre-approving all
audit and permitted non-audit services provided by our
independent auditor. The Audit Committee annually pre-approves a
list of specific services and categories of services, subject to
a specified cost level. Part of this approval process includes
making a determination as to whether non-audit services are
consistent with the Securities and Exchange Commissions
rules on auditor independence. The Audit Committee has delegated
pre-approval authority to the Chairman of the Audit Committee,
subject to reporting any such approvals at the next subsequent
Audit Committee meeting. The Audit Committee monitors the
services rendered and actual fees paid to the independent
auditors quarterly to ensure such services are within the scope
of approval. None of the fees described under Audit Related
Fees, Tax Fees or All Other Fees above were approved pursuant to
the waiver provisions described in 17 CFR
210.2-01(c)(7)(i)(C), whereby the requirement for pre-approval
of audit or non-audit services may be waived under certain
circumstances.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT
STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT
OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT
AUDITORS
17
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Long-Term Stock Ownership Plan
At our annual meeting for our fiscal year ended March 31,
2000, our stockholders approved the Long-Term Stock Ownership
Plan of Graham Corporation. Certain of our Directors and named
executive officers are participants in this plan and are
indebted to us for a balance due on the purchase of shares of
our common stock at the closing price on the American Stock
Exchange on the date of purchase, which was April 5, 2001.
As of June 10, 2005, pursuant to the terms of both a stock
subscription agreement executed by each participant in this plan
and a note executed by each such person, Mr. Hansen is
indebted to us in the amount of $10,597 and Mr. Northrup is
indebted to us in the amount of $10,074. Of the Director
participants as of the same date, Mr. Bidlack is indebted
to us for $37,532, Mr. Lemcke for $35,744 and Mr. Van
Rees for $37,532. The largest aggregate amount of indebtedness
to us by each participating officer since the beginning of our
last fiscal year was $12,111 for Mr. Hansen and $11,994 for
Mr. Northrup. The largest aggregate amount of indebtedness
outstanding during such fiscal year for each participating
Director was $42,896 for Mr. Bidlack, $44,684 for
Mr. Lemcke and $44,684 for Mr. Van Rees. Each
subscription agreement states that 18 months after
purchasing the shares of common stock, a participant is entitled
to sell up to 50% of his shares and that the participant agrees
to hold the remainder of his shares until such time as he
terminates employment with us or his service as a Director ends.
The terms of each note require the participant to repay the
balance of the note in thirty-two equal consecutive quarterly
installments beginning on June 30, 2002.
The loans are interest-free during a participants
employment or service as Director. Interest on each note is
imputed as income to each participant at the applicable federal
rate established by the Internal Revenue Service. Shares remain
in our custody until a participants note is paid in full,
unless the participant sells his shares (when and to the extent
permitted). Each note provides that until it is paid in full,
any shares sold will be sold through a broker who will forward
any proceeds, less expenses, to us to pay off all or a portion
of such note. Each note also contains provisions that grant a
security interest to us in the purchased shares and any proceeds
from any subsequent sale of the purchased shares. If a
participant ceases to be an officer or director any time after
18 months after purchase, the participant may sell all or a
portion of his shares. However, because the subscription
agreement states that no participant may sell any shares prior
to 18 months after purchase, if a participant ceases to be
an officer or director prior to 18 months after purchase,
such participant has the discretion to retain or sell all or a
portion of his shares only if we waive our rights under that
provision in such participants subscription agreement.
The SarbanesOxley Act that became law on July 30,
2002 prohibits any further loans under the Long-Term Stock
Ownership Plan. It also prohibits renewal, or any material
modification of the terms, of any of the loans outstanding under
the plan.
Consultation Agreements
Director Cornelius S. Van Rees, Secretary to the Company, is
party to a consultation agreement with us whereby he is
compensated $22,000 annually to consult with us regarding legal
matters.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2006 ANNUAL MEETING
In order for any stockholder proposal to be included in our
proxy statement to be issued in connection with our annual
meeting of stockholders for our fiscal year ending
March 31, 2006, we must receive the proposal no later than
March 1, 2006. If the proposal is in compliance with all of
the requirements set forth in Rule 14a-8 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, we will include the stockholder
proposal in our proxy statement and place it on the form of
proxy issued for the 2006 annual meeting. Pursuant to our
By-laws, stockholder proposals that are not submitted for
inclusion in our proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 may
be brought before the 2006 annual meeting only if written notice
of the proposal is delivered to our corporate secretary by
May 29, 2006, and if a stockholder complies with all of the
other applicable provisions of our By-laws. All such stockholder
notices and proposals should be delivered to the following
address: Graham Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 20
Florence Avenue, Batavia, New York 14020.
18
ANNUAL REPORT
A copy of our annual report containing financial statements for
Fiscal Year 2005, prepared in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles in the U.S., accompanies this proxy
statement. To obtain a copy of our annual report on
Form 10-K without charge, please address your request to
Graham Corporation, Attention: Annual Report Request, 20
Florence Avenue, Batavia, New York 14020.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors does not know of any other matters that
may be presented for action at the annual meeting. Should any
other matters come before the annual meeting, however, the
persons named in the enclosed proxy will have discretionary
authority to vote all proxies with respect to such matters in
accordance with their judgment.
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By Order of the Board of Directors |
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WILLIAM C. JOHNSON |
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President & Chief Executive Officer |
Dated: June 28, 2005
19
GRAHAM CORPORATION
20 Florence Avenue
Batavia, New York 14020
www.graham-mfg.com
PROXY 2005
GRAHAM CORPORATION
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Jerald D. Bidlack and James J. Malvaso, or
either of them, each with power of substitution, as proxies to attend the Annual Meeting
of Stockholders of Graham Corporation to be held at the Holiday Inn-Airport, 911 Brooks
Avenue, Rochester, New York 14624 on Thursday, July 28, 2005 at 11:00 a.m., and any
adjournment thereof, and to vote in accordance with the following instructions the number
of shares the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present at such meeting:
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Address Change/Comments (Mark the corresponding box on the reverse side)
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5 FOLD AND DETACH HERE
5
You can now access your Graham Corporation account online.
Access your Graham Corporation stockholder account online via Investor ServiceDirect®
(ISD).
Mellon Investor Services LLC, Transfer Agent for Graham Corporation, now makes it easy and
convenient to get current information on your stockholder account.
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View account status
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Make address changes
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View certificate history
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Obtain a duplicate 1099 tax form |
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View payment history for dividends
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Establish/change your PIN |
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Visit us on the web at http://www.melloninvestor.com
Call 1-877-978-7778 between 9am-7pm
Monday-Friday Eastern Time
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE NOMINEES AND FOR RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.
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Please
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Mark Here
for Address
Change or
Comments
SEE REVERSE SIDE |
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Election of Directors |
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FOR nominee(s) listed
except as marked to
the contrary |
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WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY
for all nominees |
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William C. Denninger to serve until
2008
H. Russel Lemcke to serve until 2008
Cornelius S. Van Rees to serve until 2008
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Withheld for the nominee you list below: (Write that nominees name in
the space provided below.) |
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2.
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Ratification of the appointment of Deloitte
& Touche LLP as independent auditors for the
fiscal year ending March 31, 2006.
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN
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In their discretion, to vote upon all other
matters as may be properly brought before
the meeting. |
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This Proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein
by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this Proxy will be
voted FOR the election of the nominees and FOR ratification of the appointment
of auditors. |
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To help our preparation for the meeting,
please check here if you plan to attend. |
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Please sign exactly as name(s) appears on this proxy and return it promptly
whether you plan to attend the meeting or not. If you do attend, you may, of
course, vote in person. The space below may be used for any questions or
comments you may have. |
SIGNATURE
_______________________________________ SIGNATURE _______________________________________ DATE ___________________
5 FOLD AND DETACH
HERE 5
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GRAHAM CORPORATION
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CONFIDENTIAL VOTING INSTRUCTION |
This Instruction is solicited by the Employee Benefits Committee
of Graham Corporation
as a named fiduciary for the
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN OF GRAHAM CORPORATION (Plan)
For the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on July 28, 2005
The undersigned Participant, Former Participant or Beneficiary of a deceased Former
Participant in the Plan (the Instructor) hereby provides the voting instructions hereinafter
specified to the Employee Benefits Committee of Graham Corporation (the Committee), which
instructions shall be taken into account in directing the Trustee of the Plan to vote, in person,
by limited or general power of attorney, or by proxy, the shares and fractional shares of common
stock (the Shares) of Graham Corporation (the Corporation) which are held by the Trustee of the
Plan, in its capacity as Trustee, as of June 10, 2005 (the Record Date) at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of the Corporation (the Annual Meeting) to be held at the Holiday Inn-Airport, 911
Brooks Avenue, Rochester, New York 14624, on July 28, 2005 at 11:00 a.m., or at any adjournment
thereof.
As to the nominees and proposals listed on the reverse side hereof and as more particularly
described in the Corporations Proxy Statement dated June 28, 2005, the Committee will give voting
directions to the Trustee of the Plan. Such directions will reflect the voting instructions filed
by the Instructor on this Confidential Voting Instruction, in the manner described in the
accompanying letter from the Committee dated June 28, 2005.
As to other matters which may properly come before the Annual Meeting, the Trustee will be
instructed to vote upon such matters in its discretion, or cause such matters to be voted upon in
the discretion of the individuals named in any proxies executed by it.
The instructions set forth on the reverse side hereof will be taken into account as described
above in directing the Trustee of the Plan how to vote the Shares of the Corporation held by it as
of the Record Date in its capacity as Trustee, provided this card is received by the Burke Group by
July 21, 2005.
Please mark, sign and date this voting instruction card on the reverse side and return it in the enclosed envelope.
IF THIS VOTING INSTRUCTION IS SIGNED BUT NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THIS VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD
WILL BE DEEMED TO INSTRUCT VOTES FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES AND FOR PROPOSAL 2.
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ESOP COMMON (as of 6/10/05)
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PLEASE MARK YOUR CHOICE LIKE THIS:
IN BLUE OR BLACK INK. |
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The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote For the election of nominees and For proposal 2. |
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Election of Directors |
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Ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent auditors for the period April 1, 2005
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For a three-year Term |
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William C. Denninger
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FOR
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H. Russel Lemcke
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Cornelius S. Van Rees
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In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
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The undersigned hereby instructs the Committee to direct the
Trustee of the Plan to vote in accordance with the voting
instructions indicated above and hereby acknowledges receipt
of the letter from the Committee dated June 28, 2005, a
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Graham
Corporation and a Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting. |
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Signature |
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Signature |
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Please sign exactly as your name appears on this instruction.
Each owner of shares held jointly must sign this voting
instruction. If signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please include your full
title. Corporate proxies must be signed by an authorized
officer. |
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*
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For purposes of the unallocated Shares held by the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, abstention is
equivalent to not voting. |
Employee Benefits Committee
June 28, 2005
Dear Plan Accountholder:
The Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Graham Corporation (ESOP) has a related trust (the ESOP
Trust) which owns common stock of Graham Corporation (Graham). GreatBanc Trust Company as
trustee of the ESOP is a stockholder of Graham and may vote on matters presented for stockholder
action at Grahams 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled to be held on July 28, 2005
(Annual Meeting).
The ESOP Trust provides that in casting its vote at the 2005 Annual Meeting, the ESOP Trustee is to
follow directions given by Grahams Employee Benefits Committee (Committee). The Committee in
turn follows instructions provided by participants, former participants and beneficiaries of
deceased former participants with respect to the Graham common stock allocated to their accounts in
the ESOP as of June 10, 2005.
The records for the ESOP indicate that you are among the individuals who may give voting
instructions. You may give your instructions by completing and signing the enclosed Confidential
Voting Instruction Card (Instruction Card) and returning it in the envelope provided to the Burke
Group, which maintains the records for this plan. The Instruction Card lets you give instructions
for each matter expected to be presented for stockholder action at the Annual Meeting. The
Committee expects the Burke Group to tabulate the instructions given on a confidential basis and to
provide the Committee with only the final results of the tabulation. The final results will be
used in directing the ESOP Trustee.
The voting of the common stock held by the ESOP Trust is subject to legal requirements under the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. The Committee, in consultation with
its legal advisors, considers these requirements in establishing voting instruction procedures and
directing the ESOP Trustee how to vote. The remainder of this letter describes the voting
procedures which the Committee expects to follow for the 2005 Annual Meeting.
How your voting instructions count depends on whether it was anticipated that the matter being
voted upon would be presented for stockholder action at the Annual Meeting; if you had an interest
in the ESOP Trust on the proper date; and how large your interest was, as follows:
Anticipated Proposals
If Graham Common Stock Was Allocated to Your Account Under the ESOP Trust as of June 10, 2005
In general, the ESOP Trustee will be directed to vote the number of shares of Graham common stock
(if any) held by the ESOP Trust and allocated as of June 10, 2005 to your individual account under
the ESOP according to the instructions specified on the reverse side of the Instruction Card. The
Instruction Card shows the number of shares of Graham common stock allocated to your individual
account under the ESOP Trust as of June 10, 2005. If you do not file the Instruction Card by July
21, 2005, you will be deemed to have instructed the ESOP Trustee to ABSTAIN as to all
-2-
proposals.
Unanticipated Proposals
It is possible, although very unlikely, that proposals other than those specified on the
Instruction Card will be presented for stockholder action at the 2005 Annual Meeting. If this
should happen, the ESOP Trustee will be instructed to vote upon such matters in their discretion,
or to cause such matters to be voted upon in the discretion of the individuals named in any proxies
executed by them.
Your interest in the ESOP Trust offers you the opportunity to participate, as do Grahams
stockholders, in decisions that affect Grahams future, and we encourage you to take advantage of
it. To help you decide how to complete the Instruction Card, enclosed is a copy of the Proxy
Statement that is being furnished to all holders of Graham common stock in connection with the 2005
Annual Meeting. Please complete, sign and return your Instruction Card today. Your instructions
are important regardless of the size of your interest in the ESOP Trust.
If you have questions regarding the terms of the ESOP, or how to complete the Instruction Card,
please call J. Ronald Hansen, Vice President-Finance & Administration at (585) 343-2216.
Sincerely,
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS COMMITTEE
OF
GRAHAM CORPORATION
ca
Enclosures