SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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Check the appropriate box:
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[_] Confidential, For Use of the 14a-12
Commission Only (as permitted
by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[_] Definitive Additional Materials
Syms Corp.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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SYMS CORP
SYMS WAY
SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY 07094
June 10, 2005
Dear Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
of Syms Corp (the "Company") which will be held on July 14, 2005, at 10:30 a.m.
at the offices of the Company.
Information about the meeting and the various matters on which the
shareholders will act is included in the Notice of Annual Meeting of
Shareholders and Proxy Statement which follow. Also included is a proxy card and
postage paid return envelope.
It is important that your shares be represented at the meeting. Whether or
not you plan to attend, we hope that you will complete and return your Proxy
Card in the enclosed envelope as promptly as possible.
Sincerely,
Marcy Syms
Chief Executive Officer
SYMS CORP
-----------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON
JULY 14, 2005
To the Shareholders:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Syms Corp
will be held at the office of the Company at Syms Way, Secaucus, New Jersey
07094, on Thursday, July 14, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. for the following purposes:
1. To elect six (6) Directors to serve for the term of one (1) year
or until their respective successors have been elected and
qualified.
2. To ratify the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as the registered
independent public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal
year ending February 25, 2006.
3. To approve the 2005 Stock Option Plan.
4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting and any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR items 1, 2 and 3.
The foregoing items of business are described more fully in the Proxy
Statement accompanying this notice.
The close of business on June 10, 2005 has been fixed by the Board of
Directors as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to
notice of, and to vote at, the meeting and only shareholders of record at such
time will be so entitled to vote.
You are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person. Please sign and
date the enclosed proxy and return it in the envelope enclosed for this purpose,
whether or not you plan to attend the meeting. It will assist us in keeping down
the expenses of the meeting if shareholders return their signed proxies
promptly, whether they own a few shares or many shares.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Antone F. Moreira
Assistant Secretary
Secaucus, New Jersey
June 10, 2005
SYMS CORP
SYMS WAY
SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY 07094
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD
ON JULY 14, 2005
INTRODUCTION
This Proxy Statement and enclosed proxy card are being furnished in
connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of Syms Corp, a New
Jersey corporation (the "Company"), of proxies for use at the July 14, 2005
Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of the Company or at any adjournment(s) or
postponement(s) thereof (the "Annual Meeting") for the purposes set forth in the
accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Annual Meeting will
be held at the Company's executive offices located at Syms Way, Secaucus, New
Jersey 07094. The cost of preparing and mailing the proxy and this Proxy
Statement and all other costs in connection with this solicitation of proxies
will be borne by the Company. It is anticipated that the accompanying proxy and
this Proxy Statement will be sent to shareholders of the Company on or about
June 10, 2005.
Proxies in the accompanying form which are properly executed and duly
returned to the Company and not revoked will be voted as specified. Any such
proxy in which no direction is specified will be voted FOR the election of the
nominees for director, FOR the ratification of the appointment of BDO Seidman,
LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm, and FOR the approval
of the 2005 Stock Option Plan (collectively the "Proposals"), and in the
discretion of the proxies named on the proxy card with respect to any other
matters properly brought before the meeting and any adjournment(s) or
postponement(s) thereof. Each proxy granted is revocable and may be revoked at
any time prior to its exercise, by notifying American Stock Transfer & Trust
Co., 59 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038 in writing, by executing a subsequent
proxy or by electing to vote in person at the Annual Meeting. Mere attendance at
the Annual Meeting will not serve to revoke a proxy. The Company intends to
reimburse brokerage companies and others for forwarding proxy materials to
beneficial owners of shares.
Only shareholders of record of the Company's voting securities as of the
close of business on June 10, 2005 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the
Annual Meeting. As of the record date, 14,949,153 shares of common stock, par
value $0.05 per share ("Common Stock"), were outstanding. Each share of Common
Stock entitles the record holder thereof to one vote on each of the Proposals
and on all other matters properly brought before the Annual Meeting.
Concurrently with the mailing of this Proxy Statement, the Company is mailing
its Annual Report for its fiscal year ended February 26, 2005, to shareholders
of record on June 10, 2005.
Shareholders vote at the Annual Meeting by casting ballots (in person or by
proxy) which are tabulated by a representative of the Company's independent
transfer agent appointed to serve as Inspector of Election at the meeting and
who has executed and verified an oath of office. The holders of a majority of
the shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding represented in person or by
proxy shall constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of a plurality of the
votes cast at the Annual Meeting is sufficient to elect a director. The
affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting is
required to ratify the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as the Company's
registered independent public accounting firm. The affirmative vote of a
majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required to approve the
adoption of the 2005 Stock Option Plan.
Abstentions and broker non-votes are included in the determination of the
number of shares present at the Annual Meeting for quorum purposes. A "broker
non-vote" occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not
vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary
voting power on that matter and has not received instructions from the
beneficial owner. With respect to Proposals 1 and 2, abstentions and "broker
non-votes" will not be included in total votes and will have no effect on the
outcomes of these proposals. With respect to Proposal 3, abstentions will be
treated as votes cast and they will have the same effect as a vote against the
matter, and "broker non-votes" will not be considered as votes cast with respect
to the matter and so will have no effect on the vote, unless they result in a
failure to obtain total votes cast of more than 50% of the shares entitled to
vote.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
PROPOSAL 1
At the Annual Meeting, all six directors of the Company are to be elected
for the term of one year or until their respective successors have been elected
and qualified. It is intended that votes will be cast pursuant to proxies
received from holders of Common Stock of the Company for the nominees listed
below, unless the proxy contains contrary instructions. The affirmative vote of
a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting is necessary for the election of
directors.
If any of the nominees listed below is unavailable for election at the date
of the Annual Meeting, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted for the
remaining nominees and for such substitute nominee or nominees as the Board of
Directors, in their judgment, designate. The Company at this time has no reason
to believe that any of such nominees will decline or be unable to serve if
elected.
Background information with respect to the Board of Directors and nominees
for election as directors, all of whom are incumbent directors, appears below.
Except for Marcy Syms, who is the daughter of Sy Syms, there is no family
relationship between any nominee and any other nominee or executive officer of
the Company. See "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management" for information regarding such person's holding of equity securities
of the Company.
NAME OF DIRECTOR OR DIRECTOR
NOMINEE FOR ELECTION AGE SINCE POSITION
-------------------- --- -------- --------
Sy Syms (1) (2) (5) (6)........ 79 1983 Chairman of the Board and
Director of the Company
Marcy Syms (1) (2) (5) (6)..... 54 1983 Chief Executive Officer/
President and Director of
the Company
Antone F. Moreira.............. 68 1997 Vice President, Treasurer and
Chief Financial Officer,
Assistant Secretary and
Director of the Company
Harvey A. Weinberg (3) (4)..... 67 1992 Director of the Company
Amber M. Brookman (3) (4) ..... 63 2004 Director of the Company
Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. (3) (4) ... 67 1983-1999; Director of the Company
2000
-----------------------
(1) Member of the Executive Committee of the Company.
(2) Sy Syms is the father of Marcy Syms.
(3) Member of the Stock Option Committee of the Company.
(4) Member of the Audit Committee of the Company.
(5) Member of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee of the Company.
(6) Member of the Compensation Committee of the Company.
2
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTOR
The following individuals are nominees for director at the Annual Meeting:
SY SYMS has been Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and a
Director of the Company and/or its predecessors since 1959. Mr. Syms was Chief
Operating Officer of the Company from 1983 to 1984. Mr. Syms has been a Director
of Israel Discount Bank of New York since December 1991. On January 22, 1998,
Mr. Syms resigned from his position as Chief Executive Officer. Since that date,
Mr. Syms has been Chairman of the Board. Mr. Syms is Marcy Syms' father.
MARCY SYMS has been President and a Director of the Company since 1983 and
was Chief Operating Officer of the Company from 1984 until January 1998. On
January 22, 1998, Marcy Syms was named Chief Executive Officer and President.
Marcy Syms is Sy Syms' daughter.
ANTONE F. MOREIRA has been Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of Syms Corp since May 1997. From 1996 to May
1997, Mr. Moreira was a financial consultant with Equitable Assurance Society, a
financial services organization. From 1990 to 1995, Mr. Moreira was Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Stuarts Department Stores, Inc., a
regional discount department store chain operating in New England. Mr. Moreira
has been a Director of the Company since May 1997.
HARVEY A. WEINBERG has been a consultant in various industries since April
1994. From April 1992 to April 1994, he was President and Chief Executive
Officer of HSSI, Inc., a retailer of men's and women's apparel. From 1987 to
September 1990, he was Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board of
Directors of Hartmarx Corporation and from 1990 to September 1992, he served as
Chairman of such Board of Directors. From 1997 to 2004 he served as a Trustee of
Glimcher Realty Trust, a real estate investment trust. He is also a Director of
R.G. Barry Corp. He has been a Director of the Company since 1992.
AMBER M. BROOKMAN has been President and Chief Executive Officer of
Brookwood Companies for the past fourteen years. Brookwood Companies is a
textile and apparel company. Ms. Brookman manages the activities of five
divisions of Brookwood Companies, as well as its wholly owned subsidiaries
Brookwood Laminating, Kenyon Industries, Inc., XtraMile and Solutions 4.
WILBUR L. ROSS, JR. has been a principal of W L Ross & Company LLC since
2000. Mr. Ross was Managing Director of Rothchild, Inc. from 1976 to 1999. He
was a Director of the Company from 1983 through March 1999 and was reappointed
Director in October 2000.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE
ELECTION OF EACH NOMINEE FOR DIRECTOR NAMED ABOVE. PROXIES SOLICITED HEREBY WILL
BE VOTED FOR EACH NOMINEE NAMED ABOVE UNLESS A VOTE AGAINST A NOMINEE OR AN
ABSTENTION IS SPECIFICALLY INDICATED.
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MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
During the Company's fiscal year ended February 26, 2005 there were four
meetings of the Board of Directors. Each director attended all of the fiscal
2004 meetings of the Board of Directors and the committees of which he or she
was a member during the 2004 fiscal year, except one Director missed a Board of
Director's meeting during the 2004 fiscal year.
Based on information supplied to it by the Directors, the Board of
Directors has affirmatively determined that each of Harvey A. Weinberg, Amber
Brookman and Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. are "independent" under the listing standards
of the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") and the rules and regulations
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Board of
Directors has made such determinations based on the fact that none of such
persons have had, or currently have any material relationship with the Company
or its affiliates or any executive officer of the Company or his or her
affiliates, that would currently impair their independence, including, without
limitation, any commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting,
charitable or familial relationship.
The Board of Directors has determined that the Company is a "controlled
company" (as defined in the NYSE listing standards) based on the fact that more
than 50% of the voting power of the Company's voting stock is held by a group
comprised of Sy Syms, individually and as trustee of The Sy Syms Revocable
Living Trust, dated March 17, 1989, as amended, and Marcy Syms, individually and
as trustee of The Laura Merns Living Trust, dated February 14, 2003. As a
result, the Company is exempt from the provisions of the NYSE listing standards
requiring that (i) a majority of the board consist of independent directors,
(ii) the nominating committee be composed entirely of independent directors and
(iii) the compensation committee be composed entirely of independent directors.
The Committees of the Board of Directors include an Audit Committee, an
Executive Committee, a Stock Option Committee, a Compensation Committee and a
Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee.
The Audit Committee has the principal function of reviewing the adequacy of
the Company's internal system of accounting controls, conferring with the
independent registered public accountants concerning the scope of their
examination of the books and records of the Company and their audit and
non-audit fees, recommending to the Board of Directors the appointment of
independent registered public accountants, reviewing and approving related party
transactions and considering other appropriate matters regarding the financial
affairs of the Company. The Board of Directors had adopted a written charter
setting out the functions of the Audit Committee, a copy of which is available
on the Company's website at www.syms.com and is available in print to any
shareholder who requests it, in writing to the Company's Assistant Secretary,
Syms Corp, Syms Way, Secaucus, New Jersey 07094. The current members of the
Audit Committee are Harvey A. Weinberg (Chairman), Amber Brookman and Wilbur L.
Ross, Jr., none of whom is, or has ever been, an officer or employee of the
Company and are all considered "independent" for the purposes of the NYSE
listing standards. In addition to meeting the independence standards of the
NYSE, each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate and meets the
independence standards established by the SEC. The Board of Directors has also
determined that Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. has the requisite attributes of an "audit
committee financial expert" as defined by regulations of the SEC and that such
attributes were acquired through relevant education and experience. The Audit
Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended February 26, 2005.
The Executive Committee exercises all of the powers and authority of the
Board of Directors in the management and affairs of the Company between meetings
of the Board of Directors, to the extent permitted by law. The members of the
Executive Committee are Sy Syms and Marcy Syms. The Executive Committee did not
meet during the fiscal year ended February 26, 2005.
4
The Stock Option Committee, which was formed by the Board of Directors on
April 27, 2004, reviews and recommends to the Board of Directors renumeration
arrangements and compensation plans for the Company's officers and key employees
and administers the Company's Amended and Restated Incentive Stock Option and
Appreciation Plan, as amended (the "Option Plan"), as well as the Company's 2005
Stock Option Plan, which is subject to the approval of the Company's
shareholders at this Annual Meeting, and determines the officers and key
employees who are to be granted equity based incentive compensation awards under
such plans. The members of the Stock Option Committee are Amber Brookman, Wilbur
L. Ross, Jr. and Harvey A. Weinberg, none of whom is, or has ever been, an
officer or employee of the Company and are all "independent" for the purposes of
the NYSE listing standards. The Stock Option Committee did not meet during the
fiscal year ended February 26, 2005. In addition, the Company's Stock Option
-Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, which administered the
Company's Option Plan and is the predecessor committee to the Stock Option
Committee, was composed of the following members of the Board of Directors until
April 27, 2004: David A. Messer, Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. and Harvey A. Weinberg.
The Compensation Committee, which was formed by the Board of Directors on
April 27, 2004, is responsible for reviewing and approving for the CEO and other
executives of the Company, annual base salary, and for determining director
compensation and benefit programs (other than those programs administered by the
Stock Option Committee). The full Board of Directors reviews and approves the
recommendations of the Compensation Committee for the annual base salary of the
CEO and Chairman of the Board. The current members of the Compensation Committee
are Sy Syms and Marcy Syms. The Compensation Committee did not meet during the
fiscal year ended February 26, 2005.
The Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee, which was formed by the
Board of Directors on April 27, 2004, seeks to, among other things, find
qualified individuals to serve as directors of the Company. The current members
of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee are Marcy Syms and Sy Syms.
Because the Company is a "controlled company" (as defined in the NYSE listing
standards), the Company is not required to have a formal written charter for the
Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating & Corporate
Governance Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended February 26,
2005.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS. The Company does not set specific criteria for
directors except to the extent required to meet applicable legal, regulatory and
stock exchange requirements, including, but not limited to, the independence
requirements of the NYSE and the SEC, as applicable. Nominees for director will
be selected on the basis of outstanding achievement in their personal careers;
board experience; wisdom; integrity; ability to make independent, analytical
inquiries; understanding of the business environment; and willingness to devote
adequate time to Board of Directors duties. While the selection of qualified
directors is a complex and subjective process that requires consideration of
many intangible factors, the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee
believes that each director should have a basic understanding of (i) principal
operational and financial objectives and plans and strategies of the Company,
(ii) results of operations and financial condition of the Company and of any
significant subsidiaries or business segments, and (iii) the relative standing
of the Company and its business segments in relation to it competitors.
NOMINATING PROCESS. The Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee is
willing to consider candidates submitted by a variety of sources (including
incumbent directors, shareholders, Company management and third party search
firms) when reviewing candidates to fill vacancies and/or expand the Board of
Directors. If a vacancy arises or the Board of Directors decides to expand its
membership, the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee asks each director
to submit a list of potential candidates for consideration. The Nominating &
Corporate Governance Committee then evaluates each potential candidate's
educational background, employment history, outside commitments and other
relevant factors to determine whether he/she is potentially qualified to serve
on the Board of Directors. At that time, the Nominating & Corporate Governance
Committee also will consider potential nominees submitted by shareholders in
accordance with the procedures adopted by the Board of Directors, the Company's
management and, if the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee deems it
necessary, retain an independent third party search firm to provide potential
candidates. The Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee seeks to identify
and recruit the best available candidates, and it intends to evaluate qualified
shareholder nominees on the same basis as those submitted by Board of Directors
members, Company management, third party search firms or other sources.
5
After completing this process, the Nominating & Corporate Governance
Committee will determine whether one or more candidates are sufficiently
qualified to warrant further investigation. If the process yields one or more
desirable candidates, the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee will rank
them by order of preference, depending on their respective qualifications and
the Company's needs. The Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee will then
contact the preferred candidate(s) to evaluate their potential interest and to
set up interviews with the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee. All such
interviews are held in person, and include only the candidate and the Nominating
& Corporate Governance Committee members. Based upon interview results and
appropriate background checks, the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee
then decides whether it will recommend the candidate's nomination to the full
Board of Directors.
When nominating a sitting director for re-election at an annual meeting,
the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee will consider the director's
performance on the Board of Directors and the director's qualifications in
respect of the criteria referred to above.
CONSIDERATION OF STOCKHOLDER NOMINATED DIRECTORS. The Nominating &
Corporate Governance Committee will consider candidates for the Board of
Directors submitted by shareholders in a timely manner in accordance with
applicable securities laws. Any shareholder wishing to submit a candidate for
consideration should send the following information to the Company's Secretary,
Syms Corp, Syms Way, Secaucus, New Jersey 07094: (i) shareholder's name, number
of shares owned, length of period held, and proof of ownership; (ii) name, age
and address of candidate; (iii) a detailed resume describing, among other
things, the candidate's educational background, occupation, employment history
for at least the previous five years, and material outside commitments (E.G.,
memberships on other boards and committees, charitable foundations, etc.); (iv)
a supporting statement which describes the candidate's reasons for seeking
election to the Board of Directors; (v) a description of any arrangements or
understandings between the candidate and the Company; and (vi) a signed
statement from the candidate, confirming his or her willingness to serve on the
Board of Directors.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES AND CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
The Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines. The
Board of Directors has also adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. The
Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics are
available on the Company's website at www.syms.com. A copy of the Corporate
Governance Guidelines and a copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics are
available in print to any shareholder who requests it, in writing to the
Company's Assistant Secretary, Syms Corp, Syms Way, Secaucus, New Jersey 07094.
CODE OF ETHICS FOR SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS
The Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to the
Company's Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Controller, which
is available on the Company's website at www.syms.com. A copy of the Code of
Ethics for Senior Financial Officers is available in print to any shareholder
who requests it, in writing to the Company's Assistant Secretary, Syms Corp,
Syms Way, Secaucus, New Jersey 07094.
NON-MANAGEMENT DIRECTORS
Non-management directors meet in executive sessions routinely and regularly
and, if the group of non-management directors includes any director who is not
"independent," the independent directors meet at least once a year in an
executive session of only independent directors. As appropriate, some of the
executive sessions of the non-management directors should be with the CEO and
some should be outside the presence of the CEO and any other management
officials.
COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN SHAREHOLDERS AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Shareholders and other interested persons seeking to communicate with the
Board of Directors should submit any communications in writing to the Company's
Assistant Secretary, Syms Corp, Syms Way, Secaucus, New Jersey 07094. Any such
communication must state the number of shares beneficially owned by the
shareholder making the
6
communication. The Company's Assistant Secretary will forward such communication
to the full Board of Directors or to any individual director or directors to
whom the communication is directed.
ATTENDANCE AT ANNUAL MEETINGS
All Board of Director's members are expected to attend in person the Company's
annual meeting of shareholders and be available to address questions or concerns
raised by shareholders. All Directors attended the 2004 Annual Meeting of
shareholders.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Each member of the Board of Directors who is not an officer or employee of
the Company receives a Director's fee presently established at the rate of
$3,500 per meeting for attending regular or special meetings of the Board of
Directors. Additionally, each committee member of the Board of Directors
receives $500 for any committee meeting attended by such member, together with
travel expenses related to such attendance. Directors who are officers or
employees of the Company do not receive any additional compensation by reason of
their service as directors.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The Company's executive officers, as well as additional information with
respect to such persons, are set forth in the table below:
Name Age Position
Sy Syms 79 Chairman of the Board and Director
Marcy Syms 54 Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
Antone F. Moreira 68 Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer, Assistant Secretary and Director
Ronald Zindman 55 Executive Vice President, General Merchandise
Manager
Allen Brailsford 61 Executive Vice President, Operations
Myra Butensky 46 Vice President, Divisional Merchandise Manager
Men's Tailored Clothing
James Donato 49 Vice President, Operations
Elyse Marks 52 Vice President, Information Services
John Tyzbir 51 Vice President, Human Resources
Information with respect to executive officers of the Company who also are
Directors is set forth on Page 3 of this Proxy Statement.
RONALD ZINDMAN has been Executive Vice President - General Merchandise
Manager of the Company since March 1997. He was Vice President, General
Merchandise Manager, Ladies, Men's and Haberdashery of the Company from July
1994 to March 1997. Previously, Mr. Zindman was Vice President - General
Merchandise Manager Ladies of the Company from March 1993 to July 1994 and a
buyer of men's and women's merchandise from March 1990 to March 1993.
ALLEN BRAILSFORD has been Executive Vice President of the Company since
April 2001. Mr. Brailsford was Vice President of Operations of the Company from
March 1992 to March 2001, and from March 1985 to March 1992, he was Director of
Distribution of the Company.
MYRA BUTENSKY has been Vice President - Divisional Merchandise Manager,
Men's Tailored Clothing of the Company since January 1999. From May 1998 to
January 1999, Ms. Butensky was Divisional Merchandise Manager, Ladies, of the
Company. From June 1991 to April 1998, Ms. Butensky was a ladies buyer. Prior to
joining the Company in 1991, Ms. Butensky was a buyer with Popular Trading Club,
Inc, and also spent 10 years with Macy's in a number of buying positions.
JAMES DONATO has been Vice President of Operations of the Company since
April 2001. From November 1997 to March 2001 he was Director of Store Planning
of the Company. Prior to November 1997, Mr. Donato was in store management as a
District Manager and Store Manager of the Company.
ELYSE MARKS has been Vice President of MIS of the Company since April 2001.
From November 1999 to March 2001, Ms. Marks was Director of MIS of the Company.
Prior to November 1999, Ms. Marks was manager of MIS and store systems of the
Company. From 1983 to 1987, she was also in store management for the Company.
7
JOHN TYZBIR has been Vice President - Human Resources of the Company since
April 1999. From October 1997 to April 1999, Mr. Tyzbir was Director of Human
Resources of the Company. From January 1995 to October 1997, Mr. Tyzbir was
Director of Human Resources of Zallie Supermarkets Corp. From June 1991 to
January 1995, Mr. Tyzbir was Director of Human Resources and Planning of Carson
Pirie Scott Inc.
The Company's officers are elected annually by the Board of Directors and
hold office at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of shares of Common
Stock as of June 10, 2005, by each person known by the Company to own
beneficially more than five percent (5%) of the Company's outstanding Common
Stock, by each Director, each nominee for Director, each of the executive
officers named in the Summary Compensation Table, and by all Directors and
executive officers of the Company as a group. Each person named in the table has
sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock
shown as beneficially owned by such person, except as otherwise set forth in the
notes to the table.
AMOUNT AND NATURE OF
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
OF COMMON STOCK AS PERCENT OF
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OF JUNE 10, 2005 CLASS
------------------------------------- -------------------- ----------
Sy Syms .................................... 6,046,383(1) 40.4%
Syms Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094
Marcy Syms ................................. 2,272,237(2)(3)(9) 15.2%
Syms Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094
Franklin Advisory Services, LLC ............ 1,430,000(4) 9.6%
777 Mariner's Island Blvd.
San Mateo, CA 94404
Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. ............ 1,263,400(5) 8.5%
1299 Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Barington Companies Equity Partners, L.P. .. 984,915(6) 6.6%
888 Seventh Avenue, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Ronald Zindman ............................ 102,674(7)(9) .7%
Syms Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094
Harvey A. Weinberg ......................... 200 *
2384 Augusta Way
Highland Park, IL 60035
Allen Brailsford ........................... 5,596(8)(9) *
Syms Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094
Antone Moreira ............................. -- N/A
Syms Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094
Wilbur L. Ross, Jr ......................... 3,000 *
WL Ross & Company LLC
101 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10022
Amber M. Brookman .......................... -- N/A
Brookwood Companies, Inc.
232 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10016
All directors and executive officers
as a group (8 persons) ..................... 8,430,090 56.4%
* Less than one percent.
8
(1) Includes (a) 6,046,283 shares held in the Sy Syms Revocable Living Trust,
dated March 17, 1989, as amended (the "Sy Syms Revocable Living Trust"); Sy
Syms retains the sole voting power of such shares and the right to revoke
the Sy Syms Revocable Living Trust at any time, and (b) 100 shares held by
Sy Syms as custodian for Jillian E. Merns.
(2) Includes 580,070 shares issuable upon the exercise of options granted under
the Option Plan and either currently exercisable or exercisable within 60
days of June 10, 2005. Stock option information presented herein has been
adjusted to give effect to the special one-time dividend. See note (9)
below.
(3) Includes (a) 697,592 shares held in the Laura Merns Living Trust, dated
February 14, 2003, between Laura Merns, as settlor, and Marcy Syms, as
trustee, and (b) 317,183 shares held in the Marcy Syms Revocable Living
Trust, dated January 12, 1990, as amended; Marcy Syms retains the sole
voting power of such shares and the right to revoke the Marcy Syms
Revocable Living Trust at any time.
(4) Franklin Advisory Services, LLC ("Franklin") has sole voting and
dispositive power with respect to 1,430,000 of its shares. This information
is based upon a Schedule 13G publicly filed by Franklin in February 2001.
(5) Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. ("Dimensional") has sole voting and
dispositive power with respect to 1,263,400 of its shares. This information
is based upon a Schedule 13G publicly filed by Dimensional in February
2005.
(6) Barington Companies Equity Partners, L.P. ("Barington") and others have
sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 984,915 of its shares.
This information is based upon a Schedule 13D/A publicly filed by Barington
in April 2005.
(7) Includes 100,474 shares issuable upon the exercise of options granted under
the Option Plan and either currently exercisable or exercisable within 60
days of June 10, 2005. Stock option information presented herein has been
adjusted to give effect to the special one-time dividend. See note (9)
below.
(8) Includes 5,396 shares issuable upon the exercise of options granted under
the Option Plan and either currently exercisable or exercisable within 60
days of June 10, 2005. Stock option information presented herein has been
adjusted to give effect to the special one-time dividend. See note (9)
below.
(9) In connection with the Company's special one-time dividend paid on May 12,
2005 to shareholders of record as of April 27, 2005, the Stock Option
Committee approved on June 3, 2005 an anti-dilution adjustment to all
outstanding options granted under the Option Plan. The exercise prices of
all such options were reduced by the ratio of the stock price ex-dividend
to the stock price with the dividend, or 0.9266 and the number of stock
options was correspondingly increased by the reciprocal of this ratio, or
1.0792.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the compensation paid by the Company and its
subsidiaries for the last three fiscal years to its five most highly compensated
executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer, serving as such at
the end of the most recently completed fiscal year.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
LONG-TERM
ANNUAL COMPENSATION COMPENSATION AWARDS(2)
-------------------------------- SECURITIES UNDERLYING ALL OTHER
YEAR(1) SALARY BONUS OPTIONS/SARS COMPENSATION
------- ------ ----- --------------------- ------------
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION
Sy Syms.................................... 2004 $624,988(3)(4) $ 0 0 0
Chairman of the Board 2003 $624,988(3)(4) $ 0 0 0
2002 $721,138(3)(4) $ 0 0 0
Marcy Syms ................................ 2004 $576,150(3) $ 0 0 0
Chief Executive Officer/President 2003 $578,485(3) $ 0 0 0
2002 $589,544(3) $ 0 0 0
Ronald Zindman............................. 2004 $399,984 $ 0 0 0
Executive Vice President- 2003 $399,023 $ 0 0 0
General Merchandise Manager 2002 $350,000 $ 0 0 0
9
LONG-TERM
ANNUAL COMPENSATION COMPENSATION AWARDS(2)
-------------------------------- SECURITIES UNDERLYING ALL OTHER
YEAR(1) SALARY BONUS OPTIONS/SARS COMPENSATION
------- ------ ----- --------------------- ------------
Antone F. Moreira.......................... 2004 $156,000 $ 0 0 0
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, 2003 $156,000 $ 0 0 0
Treasurer and Assistant Secretary 2002 $150,800 $ 0 0 0
Allen Brailsford........................... 2004 $137,800 $ 0 0 0
Executive Vice President 2003 $132,600 $10,000 0 0
Operations 2002 $132,600 $ 0 0 0
(1) The compensation reported for fiscal years ended February 26, 2005,
February 28, 2004 and March 1, 2003 reflects annual salaries for a 52-week
period.
(2) During the period covered by the table, the Company did not make any
restricted stock awards or stock option grants or have in effect (or make
payments under) any long term incentive plan other than the Option Plan.
(3) Sy Syms is paid at a weekly rate of $12,019 and Marcy Syms is paid at a
weekly rate of $11,443.
(4) Excludes payments made under the lease of the Elmsford store. See "Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions."
STOCK OPTION GRANTS IN FISCAL 2004
No stock options or stock appreciation rights were granted to the executive
officers named in the Summary Compensation Table during the fiscal year ended
February 26, 2005.
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES
IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
The following table provides information concerning exercises of stock
options as of February 26, 2005 by the executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table and the value of unexercised options held by them at February
26, 2005.
NUMBER OF SECURITIES VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY
NUMBER OF OPTIONS/SARS AT OPTIONS/SARS AT
SHARES VALUE FEBRUARY 26, 2005(1) FEBRUARY 26, 2005 ($)(2)
ACQUIRED ON REALIZED -------------------------- -------------------------
NAME EXERCISE ($) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
---- -------- -------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
Sy Syms 0 0 0 0 0 0
Marcy Syms 0 0 537,500(3) 0 3,194,688 0
Antone Moreira 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ronald Zindman 0 0 137,900(3) 0 898,835 0
Allen Brailsford 0 0 5,000(3) 0 40,125 0
-----------------------------
(1) No SARs are held.
(2) Based upon a closing price of $13.65 per share of Common Stock on the NYSE
on February 26, 2005.
(3) In connection with the Company's special one-time dividend paid on May 12,
2005 to shareholders of record as of April 27, 2005, the Stock Option
Committee approved on June 3, 2005 an anti-dilution adjustment to all
outstanding options granted under the Option Plan. The exercise prices of
all such options were reduced by the ratio of the stock price ex-dividend
to the stock price with the dividend, or 0.9266 and the number of stock
options was correspondingly increased by the reciprocal of this ratio, or
1.0792. Accordingly, the number of shares underlying unexercised options
held by Ms. Syms, Mr. Zindman and Mr. Brailsford is 580,070, 100,474 and
5,396, respectively.
10
PENSION PLAN
The following table sets forth the estimated annual benefits payable on
retirement to persons in specified renumeration and years of participation
classifications under the Company's defined benefit pension plan (the "Pension
Plan") for employees not covered under collective bargaining agreements:
HIGHEST FIVE 15 20 25 30 35
YEAR AVERAGE YEARS OF YEARS OF YEARS OF YEARS OF YEARS OF
COMPENSATION SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE
------------ -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
$ 50,000 $ 5,700 $ 7,600 $ 9,500 $ 9,500 $ 9,500
75,000 8,550 11,400 14,250 14,250 14,250
100,000 11,400 15,200 19,000 19,000 19,000
125,000 14,250 19,000 23,750 23,750 23,750
150,000 17,100 22,800 28,500 28,500 28,500
Each participant in the Pension Plan is entitled to an annual retirement
benefit equal to 19% of the average compensation (excluding bonuses) during his
five consecutive highest paid calendar years during the ten years prior to
retirement except that the annual benefit payable to Sy Syms at normal
retirement, as per the Pension Plan, cannot exceed $70,000. A participant's
interest vests over a seven year period commencing in the third year at the rate
of 20% after completing three years of employment and 20% for each year
thereafter, and is 100% vested after the completion of seven years of service.
Benefit payments are made in the form of one of five annuity payment options
elected by the participant. Amounts in the table are based on a straight life
annuity. For the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table,
compensation for purposes of the Pension Plan generally corresponds to the
amounts shown in the "Salary" column of the Summary Compensation Table.
Currently no more than $160,000 (as adjusted from time to time by the
Internal Revenue Service) of cash compensation may be taken into account in
calculating benefits payable under the Pension Plan. Executive officers in the
Summary Compensation Table were credited with the following years of service at
December 31, 2004: Sy Syms, 31 or more years; Marcy Syms, 27 or more years;
Ronald Zindman, 15 years; Allen Brailsford, 20 or more years; and Antone Moreira
8 or more years. Benefits under the Pension Plan are not subject to any
deduction for social security or other offset amount. The annual retirement
benefit is reduced pro rata if the employee has completed less than fifteen
years of service. Effective December 31, 1994, the plan was amended to change
the pro rata reduction to be based on 25 years of participation. A participant
is entitled to be paid his benefits upon his retirement at age 65. If a
participant has completed at least 15 years of service he may retire upon
reaching age 55 but the benefits he receives will be actuarially reduced to
reflect the longer period during which he will receive a benefit. A participant
who leaves the Company for any reason other than death, disability or retirement
will be entitled to receive the vested portion of his benefit payable over
different periods of time depending on the aggregate amount vested and payment
option elected.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
The Company has entered into an employment agreement dated November 1, 1996
with its Executive Vice President - General Merchandise Manager, Ronald Zindman.
Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Zindman is to receive a minimum salary of
$225,000 per year from inception through March 1, 1997; $300,000 per year for
the next succeeding three years; $350,000 per year for the next succeeding three
years; $400,000 per year for the next succeeding three years; and $450,000 per
year for the final three years of the agreement. The agreement is to remain in
effect until March 1, 2009. Termination of the agreement by the Company before
that date will require a payment to Mr. Zindman equal to 150% of one year's
salary (at the employee's then current rate). If this agreement is terminated by
the employee prior to its final term, the Company must pay to the employee a sum
equal to 60% of one year's salary (also at the employee's then current rate).
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
Sy Syms and Marcy Syms served as members of the Compensation Committee. Sy
Syms is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company and Marcy Syms is the
Company's Chief Executive Officer and President. Other than as set forth in this
Proxy Statement, no member of the Compensation Committee had any relationship
requiring disclosure by the Company under Item 404 of Regulation S-K.
In addition, the Stock Option - Compensation Committee, the predecessor
committee to the Compensation Committee, was composed entirely of non-employee
directors that had no direct or indirect material interest
11
in or relationship with the Company outside of his position as a Director. The
Stock Option - Compensation Committee was composed of the following board
members until April 27, 2004: David A. Messer, Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. and Harvey A.
Weinberg.
No executive officer of the Company served during fiscal 2004 (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 serves on the
Compensation Committee of the Company; (ii) as a director of another entity, one
of whose executive officers served on the Compensation Committee of the Company;
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 the Company.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY SET FORTH IN ANY OF THE COMPANY'S
PREVIOUS FILINGS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, THAT MIGHT INCORPORATE FUTURE FILINGS,
INCLUDING THIS PROXY STATEMENT, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, THE FOLLOWING PERFORMANCE
GRAPH AND "REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE" SHALL NOT BE INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE INTO ANY SUCH FILINGS.
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
Below is a graph comparing the cumulative total shareholders return on the
Company's Common Stock for the last six fiscal years (beginning February 25,
2000 and ending February 25, 2005, the last trading date for fiscal 2004) with
the cumulative total return of the Wilshire 5000 Index and the S&P Retail
Composite Index over the same period (assuming (i) the investment of $100 on
February 25, 2000 in the Company's Common Stock and in each of these two
Indexes, (ii) reinvestment of all dividends and (iii) no payment of brokerage or
other commissions or fees).
[The data below represent a line chart in the printed report.]
2/25/00 3/2/01 3/1/02 3/1/03 2/28/04 2/26/05
------- ------ ------ ------ ------- -------
Syms Corp 100 130 131 170 181 312
S&P Retail 100 97 112 80 125 137
Wilshire 5000 100 86 78 60 84 89
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Compensation Committee, through its executive compensation policy,
strives to provide compensation rewards based upon both corporate and individual
performance while maintaining a relatively simple compensation program in order
to avoid the administrative costs which the Compensation Committee believes are
inherent in multiple complex compensation plans and agreements. The Stock Option
Committee, which is comprised solely of independent directors, administers the
issuances of equity-based compensation arrangements under the Company's stock
incentive compensation plans.
The Company has only one employment agreement with an executive officer,
Ronald Zindman, and has only one executive compensation plan, the Option Plan.
The determination of compensation ranges for executive officers reflects a
review of salaries and bonuses for executive officers holding similar positions
in retailers of relatively comparable size and orientation. However, in making
compensation decisions, the Compensation Committee remains cognizant of the
Board of Directors' responsibility to enhance shareholder value. The
Compensation Committee utilizes cash bonuses, when it feels a bonus is merited,
based on factors such as an executive's individual performance and the Company's
performance relative to its past performance and the performance of competitors.
The Company has available a long-term incentive for executives to both remain in
the employ of the Company and to strive to maximize shareholder value
12
through the Option Plan, which aligns the interests of executives with those of
shareholders.
Determination of Marcy Syms' compensation as the Company's Chief Executive
Officer for the fiscal year ended February 26, 2005 reflects the Company's
performance and a comparison with chief executive officer compensation of the
Company's competitors, but also reflects recognition of Ms. Syms unique, ongoing
contribution to the growth, success and profitability of the Company. The Board
of Directors reviews and approves the compensation of the Chief Executive
Officer.
It is the responsibility of the Compensation Committee to address the
issues raised by the tax laws which make certain non-performance-based
compensation to executives of public companies in excess of $1,000,000
non-deductible to the Company. In this regard, the Compensation Committee must
determine whether any actions with respect to this limit should be taken by the
Company. At this time, it is not anticipated that any Executive Officer will
receive any such compensation in excess of this limit. Therefore, the
Compensation Committee has not taken any action to comply with the limit.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Sy Syms
Marcy Syms
STOCK OPTION COMMITTEE
(solely with respect to the description
of equity-based compensation)
Harvey A. Weinberg
Amber M. Brookman
Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The Company leases its store in Elmsford, New York from Sy Syms, Chairman
of the Board and principal shareholder of the Company at an annual fixed rent of
$796,500. The lease for this store between the Company and Mr. Syms expires
November 30, 2010. During the fiscal year ended February 26, 2005, the Company
paid to Sy Syms approximately $796,500 in fixed rent.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company's officers and directors,
and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company's equity
securities, to file initial statements of beneficial ownership (Form 3), and
statements of changes in beneficial ownership (Forms 4 and 5), of Common Stock
of the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Executive officers,
directors and greater than 10% shareholders are required to furnish the Company
with copies of all such forms they file.
To the Company's knowledge, based solely on its review of the copies of
such forms received by it, or written representations from certain reporting
persons that no additional forms were required, all filing requirements
applicable to its executive officers, directors, and greater than 10%
shareholders were met.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee reviews the Company's financial reporting process on
behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for
the financial statements and reporting process. The Company's independent
registered accountants are responsible for expressing an opinion on the
conformity of the Company's audited financial statements to generally accepted
accounting principles.
In this context, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with
management and the independent registered public accountants the Company's
audited financial statements. The Audit Committee has discussed with the
independent registered public accountants the matters required to be discussed
by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (communication with audit committees).
In addition, the Audit Committee has received from the independent registered
public accountants the written disclosures and letter required by Independence
Standards Board Standard No. 1 (independence discussions with audit committees)
and discussed with the independent accountant their independence from the
Company and its management.
13
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 Company's audited financial statements be included in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 26, 2005, for filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Amber M. Brookman
Harvey A. Weinberg
Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF THE REGISTERED INDEPENDENT
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
PROPOSAL 2
The independent accountants for the Company for the fiscal year ended March
1, 2003 and from March 2 through May 28, 2003 were Deloitte & Touche LLP
("Deloitte & Touche"). BDO Seidman, LLP ("BDO Seidman") were the Company's
independent registered public accountants from May 28, 2003 through February 28,
2004 and for the fiscal year ended February 26, 2005. The Audit Committee of the
Company has appointed BDO Seidman as the registered independent public
accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ending February 25, 2006 and
recommends that shareholders ratify such appointment. The affirmative vote of a
majority of the votes cast at the meeting is necessary for ratification of the
appointment of BDO Seidman as the registered independent public accounting firm
for fiscal 2005. If the shareholders do not ratify the appointment of BDO
Seidman as the Company's registered independent public accounting firm, the
Audit Committee will reconsider this selection.
On May 23, 2003, upon the recommendation of the Company's Audit Committee,
the Company's Board of Directors voted to approve the engagement of BDO Seidman
as the Company's independent auditors. BDO Seidman replaced Deloitte & Touche as
the Company's independent auditors. Effective May 28, 2003, the Company
dismissed Deloitte & Touche as the Company's independent auditors. Deloitte &
Touche and its predecessor firms had audited the financial statements of the
Company for more than the past ten fiscal years and served as the Company's
independent auditors for the fiscal year ended March 1, 2003 and from March 2
through May 28, 2003.
None of Deloitte & Touche's reports on the Company's consolidated financial
statements for the past year contained an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of
opinion, or was qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or
accounting principles.
During the Company's two most recent fiscal years and any subsequent
interim period preceding the dismissal of Deloitte & Touche as the independent
accountants, there were no disagreements between the Company and Deloitte &
Touche on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to Deloitte &
Touche's satisfaction, would have caused Deloitte & Touche to make reference to
the subject matter in connection with its report on the Company's consolidated
financial statements for such period; and there were no reportable events, as
defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
The Company provided Deloitte & Touche with a copy of the foregoing
statements and received a letter from Deloitte & Touche stating its agreement
with such statements. The Company filed this letter as an exhibit to its current
report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on June 3, 2003.
During the Company's two most recent fiscal years and any subsequent
interim period prior to engaging BDO Seidman as the independent accountants, the
Company did not consult BDO Seidman with respect to (i) the application of
accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed
or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's
consolidated financial statements; or (ii) any matter that was either the
subject of a disagreement (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K
and the related instructions to this item); or (iii) a reportable event (as
defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).
A representative of BDO Seidman is expected to be present at the meeting
and will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so
and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders. A
representative from Deloitte & Touche is not expected to be present at this
meeting.
Audit Fees: Audit fees billed to the Company by BDO Seidman for auditing
the Company's annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended February
26, 2005 and February 28, 2004 and reviewing the financial
14
statements included in the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q amounted to
$122,500 and $125,000, respectively.
Audit Related Fees: Fees for employee benefit related services billed by
BDO Seidman during the fiscal year ended February 26, 2005 and February 28, 2004
amounted to approximately $30,000 for both years.
Tax Fees: For the fiscal years ended February 26, 2005 and February 28,
2004, the Company paid Deloitte & Touche tax fees of $15,700 and $25,135,
respectively. Tax fees included professional services rendered for tax
compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
All Other Fees. There were no non-audit related fees paid to either
Deloitte & Touche or BDO Seidman for the fiscal years ended February 26, 2005
and February 28, 2004.
PRE-APPROVAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. The Audit Committee Charter adopted
by the Board of Directors of the Company requires that, among other things, the
Audit Committee pre-approve the rendering by the Company's independent
registered accountants of all audit and permissible non-audit services. The
Audit Committee has pre-approved all of the services provided by BDO Seidman
referred to above.
The Company and the Audit Committee have considered whether other non-audit
services by BDO Seidman are compatible with maintaining the independence of BDO
Seidman in its audit of the Company.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF BDO SEIDMAN. PROXIES SOLICITED HEREBY WILL BE
VOTED FOR THE PROPOSAL UNLESS A VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSAL OR ABSTENTION IS
SPECIFICALLY INDICATED.
APPROVAL OF THE 2005 STOCK OPTION PLAN
PROPOSAL 3
The Board of Directors has adopted the 2005 Stock Option Plan and is
recommending that shareholders approve the 2005 Stock Option Plan at the Annual
Meeting. The 2005 Stock Option Plan is integral to the Company's compensation
strategies and programs for directors, officers, employees, and third party
service providers. The Board of Directors believes that the 2005 Stock Option
Plan would maintain the flexibility that the Company needs to keep pace with its
competitors and effectively recruit, motivate, and retain the caliber of
employees and directors essential for achievement of the Company's success. If
the 2005 Stock Option Plan is adopted by the Company's shareholders, the Company
will no longer issue options under its Amended and Restated Incentive Stock
Option and Appreciation Plan.
The 2005 Stock Option Plan would permit the grant of options, share
appreciation rights ("SARs"), restricted shares, restricted share units,
performance awards, annual incentive awards, cash-based awards and other
share-based awards. Shareholder approval of the 2005 Stock Option Plan, among
other things, is intended to (1) comply with applicable securities law
requirements, (2) permit the performance-based awards discussed below to qualify
for deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code and (3)
allow for the issuance of the "incentive stock options" described below.
Individuals eligible to receive awards and grants under the 2005 Stock Option
Plan include employees, officers, directors, consultants, agents, advisors and
other third party service providers of the Company and its subsidiaries. As of
May 1, 2005, there are six directors, nine executive officers and approximately
325 employees (other than executive officers) who are eligible to receive awards
under the 2005 Stock Option Plan.
A summary of the principal features of the 2005 Stock Option Plan is
provided below, but is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text
of the 2005 Option Plan that is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix A.
DESCRIPTION OF THE 2005 PLAN
The purpose of the 2005 Stock Option Plan is to provide a means whereby
employees, directors, and third party service providers develop a sense of
proprietorship and personal involvement in the development and financial success
of the Company, and to encourage them to devote their best efforts to the
business of the Company, thereby advancing the interests of the Company and its
shareholders. A further purpose of the 2005 Stock Option Plan is to provide a
means through which the Company may attract able persons to become employees or
serve as directors or third party service providers of the Company and to
provide a means whereby those individuals upon whom the
15
responsibilities of the successful administration and management of the Company
are of importance, can acquire and maintain share ownership, thereby
strengthening their concern for the welfare of the Company.
The 2005 Stock Option Plan will become effective upon shareholder approval
and will terminate ten years later unless sooner terminated.
2005 PLAN AND PARTICIPANT SHARE LIMITS
The maximum number of Common Shares issuable under the 2005 Stock Option
Plan is 850,000, which represents approximately 5.7% of the current outstanding
Common Shares. Any Shares that are subject to awards of options or share
appreciation rights are counted against this limit as one share for every share
issuable pursuant to such awards. Any shares that are subject to awards other
than options or stock appreciation rights shall be counted against this limit as
two shares for every share awarded pursuant to any such awards.
Shares are counted against the authorization only to the extent they are
actually issued. Thus, shares which terminate by expiration, forfeiture,
cancellation, or otherwise, are settled in cash in lieu of shares, or exchanged
for awards not involving shares, shall again be available for grant.
The 2005 Stock Option Plan also imposes annual per-participant award
limits. The maximum number of shares for which options may be granted to any
person in any calendar year is 300,000. The maximum number of shares subject to
SARs granted to any person in any calendar year is 300,000. The maximum
aggregate grant to any person in any calendar year of restricted shares or
restricted share units is 300,000 shares. The maximum aggregate grant to any
person in any calendar year of performance units or performance shares is
300,000 shares, or the value of 300,000 shares determined as of the earlier of
the date of vesting or payout. The maximum aggregate grant to any person in any
calendar year of cash-based awards may not exceed $1,000,000. The maximum
aggregate grant to any person in any calendar year of other share-based awards
is 300,000 shares.
The number and kind of shares that may be issued, the number and kind of
shares subject to outstanding awards, the option price or grant price applicable
to outstanding awards, the annual per-participant award limits, and other value
determinations are subject to adjustment by the Designated Committee (as defined
in the paragraph below) to reflect share dividends, share splits, reverse share
splits, and other corporate events or transactions, including without limitation
distributions of shares or property other than normal cash dividends. The
Designated Committee may also make adjustments to reflect unusual or
nonrecurring events such as mergers, consolidations, spin-offs and other
corporate reorganizations.
ADMINISTRATION
A committee designated by the Board of Directors, consisting of at least
two directors, all of whom must be considered (i) a "non-employee director"
within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended; (ii) an "outside director" pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code; and (iii) an "independent director" for purposes of the rules and
regulations of the NASDAQ (the "Designated Committee"), will be responsible for
administering the 2005 Stock Option Plan. The Designated Committee will have the
discretionary power to interpret the terms and intent of the 2005 Stock Option
Plan and any 2005 Stock Option Plan-related documentation, to determine
eligibility for awards and the terms and conditions of awards, and to adopt
rules, regulations, forms, instruments, and guidelines. Determinations of the
Designated Committee will be final and binding. The Designated Committee may
delegate administrative duties and powers to one or more of its members or to
one or more officers, agents, or advisors. The Designated Committee may also
delegate to one or more Company officers the power to designate other employees
and third party service providers to be recipients of awards.
ELIGIBILITY
Employees, non employee directors, and third party service providers of the
Company and its subsidiaries who are selected by the Designated Committee are
eligible to participate in the plan.
OPTIONS
The Designated Committee may grant both incentive options ("ISOs") and
nonqualified options ("NQSOs") under the 2005 Stock Option Plan. Eligibility for
ISOs is limited to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. The exercise
price for options cannot be less than the fair market value of the shares
underlying such options on the date of grant (provided that the exercise price
cannot be less than 110% of the fair market value of the shares on the
16
date of grant with respect to ISOs granted to a 10% shareholder). The latest
expiration date cannot be later then the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date of
grant (for an ISO, the fifth anniversary of the date of grant if the recipient
is a 10% shareholder). Fair market value under the 2005 Stock Option Plan may be
determined by reference to market prices on a particular trading day or on an
average of trading days, as determined by the Designated Committee. The exercise
price may be paid with cash or its equivalent, with previously acquired shares
(in certain circumstances, that have been held at least six months), or by other
means approved by the Designated Committee, including by means of a
broker-assisted cashless exercise.
SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS
The Designated Committee may grant SARs under the 2005 Stock Option Plan
either alone or in tandem with options. The grant price of an SAR cannot be less
than the fair market value of the shares at the time of grant. The grant price
of an SAR granted in tandem with an option will be the same as the option price
of the option. SARs cannot be exercised later then the tenth anniversary of the
date of grant. SARs granted in tandem with ISOs are subject to special
restrictions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, SARs may be granted only if the
Company's shares are traded on an established securities market at the date of
grant.
Freestanding SARs may be exercised on such terms as the Designated
Committee determines and tandem SARs may be exercised by relinquishing the
related portion of the tandem option. Upon exercise of an SAR, the holder will
receive from the Company shares equal in value to the difference between the
fair market value of the shares subject to the SAR, determined as described
above, and the grant price.
RESTRICTED SHARES AND RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS
The Designated Committee may award restricted shares and restricted share
units. Restricted share awards consist of shares that are transferred to the
participant subject to restrictions that may result in forfeiture if specified
conditions are not satisfied. Restricted share unit awards result in the
transfer of shares to the participant only after specified conditions are
satisfied. A holder of restricted shares is generally treated as a current
shareholder (subject to the restrictions), whereas the holder of a restricted
share unit award is treated as a shareholder with respect to the award only when
the shares are delivered in the future. The Designated Committee will determine
the restrictions and conditions applicable to each award of restricted shares or
restricted share units.
PERFORMANCE UNIT AND PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARDS
Performance unit and performance share awards may be granted under the 2005
Stock Option Plan. Performance unit awards will have an initial value that is
determined by the Designated Committee. Performance shares will have an initial
value that is based on the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant.
Such awards will be earned only if performance goals over performance periods
established by or under the direction of the Designated Committee are met. The
performance goals may vary from participant to participant, group to group, and
period to period. The performance goals for performance unit and performance
share awards that are intended to constitute "qualified performance-based
compensation" will be based upon one or more of the following: (i) net earnings
or net income (before or after taxes); (ii) earnings per share; (iii) net sales
growth; (iv) net operating profit; (v) return measures (including, but not
limited to, return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, or sales); (vi)
cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow,
and cash flow return on equity); (vii) earnings before or after taxes, interest,
depreciation, and/or amortization; (viii) gross or operating margins; (ix)
productivity ratios; and (x) share price (including, but limited to, growth
measures and total shareholder return).
The Designated Committee will determine whether the performance targets or
goals that have been chosen for a particular performance award have been met and
may provide in an award that any evaluation of performance may include or
exclude any of the following that are objectively determinable and that occur
during the performance period to which the award is subject: asset write-downs,
litigation, claims, judgments, or settlements; the effect of changes in tax
laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reporting
results; any reorganization and restructuring programs; extraordinary
nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30
and/or in management's discussion of financial condition and results of
operations appearing in the Company's annual report to shareholders for the
applicable year; acquisitions or divestitures; and foreign exchange gains and
losses.
Awards that are designed to qualify as performance-based compensation may
not be adjusted upward. However, the Designated Committee has the discretion to
adjust these awards downward. In addition, the Designated
17
Committee has the discretion to make awards that do not qualify as
performance-based compensation. Awards may be paid in the form of cash, shares,
or in any combination, as determined by the Designated Committee.
CASH-BASED AWARDS
The Designated Committee may grant cash-based awards under the 2005 Stock
Option Plan that specify the amount of cash to which the award pertains, the
conditions under which the award will be vested and exercisable or payable, and
such other conditions as the Designated Committee may determine that are not
inconsistent with the terms of the 2005 Stock Option Plan. Although based on a
specified dollar amount, cash-based awards may be paid, in the Designated
Committee's discretion, either in cash or by the delivery of shares.
OTHER SHARE-BASED AWARDS
The Designated Committee may grant equity-based or equity-related awards,
referred to as "other share-based awards," other than options, SARs, restricted
shares, restricted share units, or performance shares. The terms and conditions
of each other share-based award shall be determined by the Designated Committee.
Payment under any other share-based awards will be made in shares or cash, as
determined by the Designated Committee.
DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS
The Designated Committee may provide for the payment of dividend
equivalents with respect to any shares subject to an award that have not
actually been issued under the award.
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
The Designated Committee will determine how each award will be treated
following termination of the holder's employment with, or service for, the
Company, including the extent to which unvested portions of the award will be
forfeited and the extent to which options, SARs, or other awards requiring
exercise will remain exercisable.
ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
Neither ISOs nor, except as the Designated Committee otherwise expressly
determines, other awards may be transferred other than by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution. During a recipient's lifetime, an ISO and, except as
the Designated Committee may determine, other non-transferable awards requiring
exercise, may be exercised only by the recipient.
TREATMENT OF AWARDS UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
One or more awards may be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in
a written agreement between the Company and a Participant providing for
different terms or provisions with respect to such awards upon a "Change of
Control" of the Company (as that term may be defined in such written agreement),
provided, that such written agreement may not increase the maximum amount of
such awards.
AMENDMENT OF AWARDS OR 2005 PLAN
The Designated Committee may at any time alter, amend, modify, suspend, or
terminate the 2005 Stock Option Plan or any outstanding award in whole or in
part, except that no amendment of the 2005 Stock Option Plan will be made
without shareholder approval if shareholder approval is required by applicable
law, regulation or stock exchange rule. No amendment to an award previously
granted may adversely affect the rights of any participant to whom such award
was granted without such participant's consent, unless specifically provided for
in the 2005 Stock Option Plan.
ADJUSTMENT OF AWARDS
In the event of any corporate event or transaction such as a merger,
consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, separation, stock dividend,
stock split, reverse stock split, split up, spin-off, or other distribution of
our stock or property, combination of shares, exchange of shares, dividend in
kind, or other like change in our capital structure or distribution (other than
normal cash dividends) to our stockholders, or any similar corporate event or
transaction, the designated committee may, in order to prevent dilution or
enlargement of participants' rights under the plan, substitute or adjust the
number and kind of shares that may be issued under the plan or under particular
18
forms of awards, the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding awards,
the option price or grant price applicable to outstanding awards, the annual
award limits, and other value determinations applicable to outstanding awards.
The designated committee may also make appropriate adjustments in the terms of
any awards under the plan to reflect or related to such changes or distributions
and to modify any other terms of outstanding awards, including modifications of
performance goals and changes in the length of performance periods. Subject to
certain limitations set forth in the plan and applicable rules of the Internal
Revenue Code, without affecting the number of shares reserved or available
thereunder, the designated committee may authorize the issuance or assumption of
benefits under the plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, spin-off,
split-off, split-up, acquisition of our property or stock, or reorganization
upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, or the designated
committee or the board of directors may cause any award outstanding as of the
effective date of the applicable event to be cancelled in consideration of a
cash payment or alternate award made to the holder of such cancelled award equal
in value to the fair market value of such cancelled award (other than the
repricing, replacing or regranting of options or share appreciation rights
through cancellation or the lowering of the option price or grant price or in
violation of the Internal Revenue Code).
AWARDS FOR NON-U.S. EMPLOYEES
To comply with the laws in other countries in which the Company or its
subsidiaries operate or may operate or have employees, officers, directors, or
third-party service providers, the Designated Committee may establish, among
other things, subplans under the 2005 Stock Option Plan and modify the terms of
the awards made to such employees, officers, directors or third-party service
providers.
MATERIAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a brief summary of the principal federal income tax
consequences of awards under the 2005 Stock Option Plan. The summary is based
upon current federal income tax laws and interpretations thereof, all of which
are subject to change at any time, possibly with retroactive effect. The summary
is not intended to be exhaustive and, among other things, does not describe
state, local or foreign tax consequences.
INCENTIVE OPTIONS
Unless the Shareholders approve the 2005 Stock Option Plan, the Company
will be unable to issue ISOs. An optionee does not generally recognize taxable
income upon the grant or upon the exercise of an ISO. However, the exercise of
an ISO may in some cases trigger liability for the alternative minimum tax.
Upon the sale of ISO shares, the optionee recognizes income in an amount
equal to the difference, if any, between the exercise price of the ISO shares
and the fair market value of those shares on the date of sale. The income is
taxed at the long-term capital gains rate if the optionee has not disposed of
the shares within two (2) years after the date of the grant of the ISO and has
held the shares for at least one (1) year after the date of exercise, and the
Company is not entitled to a federal income tax deduction. The holding period
requirements are waived when an optionee dies.
If an optionee sells ISO shares before having held them for at least one
(1) year after the date of exercise and two (2) years after the date of grant (a
"disqualifying disposition"), the optionee recognizes ordinary income to the
extent of the lesser of: (i) the gain realized upon the sale, or (ii) the
difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the shares on
the date of exercise. Any additional gain is treated as long-term or short-term
capital gain depending upon how long the optionee has held the ISO shares prior
to disposition. In the year of a disqualifying disposition, the Company receives
a federal income tax deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income that
the optionee recognizes as a result of the disqualifying disposition.
NONQUALIFIED OPTIONS
In general, an optionee does not recognize taxable income upon the grant of
an NQSO. Upon the exercise of such an option, the optionee recognizes ordinary
income to the extent the fair market value of the shares received upon exercise
of the NQSO on the date of exercise exceeds the exercise price. The Company
receives an income tax deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income that
the optionee recognizes upon the exercise of the option.
19
RESTRICTED SHARES
A participant who receives an award of restricted shares does not generally
recognize taxable income at the time of the award. Instead, unless an election
is made as described in the next paragraph, the participant recognizes ordinary
income in the first taxable year in which his or her interest in the shares
becomes either: (i) freely transferable, or (ii) no longer subject to
substantial risk of forfeiture. The amount of taxable income is equal to the
fair market value of the shares less the cash, if any, paid for the shares.
A participant may elect to recognize income at the time he or she receives
restricted shares in an amount equal to the fair market value of the restricted
shares (less any cash paid for the shares) on the date of the award. Any such
election must be filed with the Internal Revenue Service within 30 days of the
date of grant. Future appreciation on the shares will be taxed as capital gains
when the shares are sold. However, if after making such an election, the shares
are forfeited, the participant will be unable to claim any loss deduction.
The Company receives a compensation expense deduction in an amount equal to
the ordinary income recognized by the participant in the taxable year in which
restrictions lapse (or in the taxable year of the award if, at that time, the
participant had filed a timely election to accelerate recognition of income).
OTHER AWARDS
In the case of an exercise of an SAR or an award of restricted share units,
performance shares, performance units, share awards, or incentive awards, the
participant would generally recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to any
cash received and the fair market value of any shares received on the date of
payment. In that taxable year, the Company would receive a federal income tax
deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income that the participant has
recognized.
MILLION DOLLAR DEDUCTION LIMIT
Pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, the Company may
not deduct compensation of more than $1,000,000 dollars that is paid to an
individual who, on the last day of the taxable year, is either the Company's
chief executive officer or is among one of the four other most
highly-compensated officers for that taxable year as reported in the Company's
proxy statement (a "Covered Employee"). The limitation on deductions does not
apply to certain types of compensation, including qualified performance-based
compensation. It is intended that awards under the 2005 Stock Option Plan made
to Covered Employees in the form of options, performance-based restricted
shares, performance shares, performance units, SARs, and cash payments under
annual incentive awards will constitute qualified performance-based compensation
and, as such, will be exempt from the $1,000,000 limitation on deductible
compensation, but no assurance can be made in this regard.
COMPLIANCE WITH DEFERRED COMPENSATION PROVISIONS OF AMERICAN JOBS CREATION
ACT
The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, enacted at the end of last year,
added new Section 409A of the Code. Section 409A imposes penalty taxes and
interest charges on employees who receive certain deferred compensation that
does not meet the requirements of Section 409A. The Company intends that awards
under the Plan will meet the requirements of Section 409A, but no assurance can
be made in this regard.
WITHHOLDING TAXES
Awards made to participants under the 2005 Stock Option Plan may be subject
to federal, state and local income tax and employment tax withholding
obligations and the Company will comply with any requirements to withhold such
taxes.
NEW 2005 PLAN BENEFITS
Because benefits under the 2005 Stock Option Plan will primarily depend on
the Designated Committee's actions and the fair market value of the Company's
Common Shares at various future dates, it is not possible to determine the
benefits that will be received by directors, executive officers, other employees
and third party service providers if the 2005 Stock Option Plan is approved by
the shareholders. On May 19, 2005, the closing price of the Company's Common
Shares was $13.00.
20
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table sets forth equity compensation plan information as of
February 26, 2005:
--------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
--------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of securities
remaining available
Number of securities for future issuance
to be issued Weighted-average under equity
upon exercise of exercise price of compensation plans
outstanding options, outstanding options, (excluding securities
Plan category warrants and rights warrants and rights reflected in column (a))
------------- ------------------- ------------------- ------------------------
(a) (b) (c)
--------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------------- --------------------------------
Equity compensation
plans approved by
security holders......... 711,375 $7.49 342,335
--------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------------- --------------------------------
Equity compensation
plans not approved by
security holders.......... N/A N/A N/A
--------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------------- --------------------------------
Total..................... 711,375 $7.49 342,335
--------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------------- --------------------------------
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE 2005
STOCK OPTION PLAN.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors does not know of any matters to be brought before
the Annual Meeting, except those set forth in the notice thereof. If other
business is properly presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting, the
persons named in the accompanying form of proxy intend to vote the proxies
therein in accordance with their best judgment on such matters.
NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Proposals of shareholders to be considered by the Company for inclusion in
the proxy material for the annual meeting in 2006, must be received by the
Company not later than February 10, 2006 and must comply with the proxy
solicitation rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In accordance with
Rule 14a - 4(c) (1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
management proxy holders intend to use their discretionary voting authority with
respect to any shareholder proposal raised at the annual meeting in 2006 as to
which the proponent fails to notify the Company on or before April 26, 2006 (45
days prior to the date on which this Proxy Statement was first mailed to
shareholders).
ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS
The Company's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended February 26, 2005,
including financial statements, is being mailed to shareholders of the Company
with this Proxy Statement. The Annual Report does not constitute a part of the
Proxy Solicitation materials. Shareholders may without charge, obtain copies,
excluding certain exhibits, of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Requests for this Report should be
addressed to Investor Relations, Syms Corp, Syms Way, Secaucus, New Jersey
07094.
Your cooperation in giving this matter your immediate attention and
returning your proxies will be appreciated.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Antone F. Moreira
Assistant Secretary
June 10, 2005
21
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APPENDIX A
2005 STOCK OPTION PLAN
ARTICLE 1. ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE, AND DURATION
1.1 ESTABLISHMENT. Syms Corp, a New Jersey corporation (the
"Company"), establishes an incentive compensation plan to be known as the 2005
Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"), as set forth in this document.
The Plan permits the grant of Cash-Based Awards, Nonqualified Options,
Incentive Options, Share Appreciation Rights (SARs), Restricted Shares,
Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, and Other
Share-Based Awards.
The Plan shall become effective upon shareholder approval (the "Effective
Date") and shall remain in effect as provided in Section 1.3 hereof.
1.2 PURPOSE OF THE PLAN. The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means
whereby Employees, Directors, and Third Party Service
Providers of the Company develop a sense of proprietorship
and personal involvement in the development and financial
success of the Company, and to encourage them to devote
their best efforts to the business of the Company, thereby
advancing the interests of the Company and its
shareholders. A further purpose of the Plan is to provide a
means through which the Company may attract able
individuals to become Employees or serve as Directors, or
Third Party Service Providers of the Company and to provide
a means whereby those individuals upon whom the
responsibilities of the successful administration and
management of the Company are of importance, can acquire
and maintain stock ownership, thereby strengthening their
concern for the welfare of the Company.
1.3 DURATION OF THE PLAN. Unless sooner terminated as provided herein,
the Plan shall terminate ten (10) years from the Effective
Date. After the Plan is terminated, no Awards may be
granted but Awards previously granted shall remain
outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and
conditions and the Plan's terms and conditions.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Incentive Options may be
granted more than ten (10) years after the earlier of (a)
adoption of the Plan by the Board, and (b) the Effective
Date.
ARTICLE 2. DEFINITIONS
Whenever used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings
set forth below, and when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the
word shall be capitalized.
2.1 "AFFILIATE" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule
12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations of the Exchange Act.
2.2 "ANNUAL AWARD LIMIT" OR "ANNUAL AWARD LIMITS" have the meaning set
forth in Section 4.3.
2.3 "AWARD" means, individually or collectively, a grant under this
Plan of Cash-Based Awards, Nonqualified Options, Incentive
Options, SARs, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units,
Performance Shares, Performance Units, or Other Share-Based
Awards, in each case subject to the terms of this Plan.
2.4 "AWARD AGREEMENT" means either (i) a written agreement entered
into by the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms and
provisions applicable to an Award granted under this Plan, or (ii)
a written statement issued by the Company to a Participant
describing the terms and provisions of such Award.
2.5 "BENEFICIAL OWNER" or "BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP" shall have the
meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Exchange Act.
2.6 "BOARD" or "BOARD OF DIRECTORS" means the Board of Directors of
the Company.
2.7 "CASH-BASED AWARD" means an Award granted to a Participant as
described in Article 10.
2.8 "CODE" means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time.
2.9 "COMMITTEE" means the committee designated by the Board to
administer this Plan. The members of the Committee shall be
appointed from time to time by and shall serve at the discretion
of the Board and, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the
Committee shall consist of no fewer than two directors, each of
whom is (i) a "Non-Employee Director" within the meaning of Rule
16b-3 (or any successor rule) of the Exchange Act, (ii) an
"outside director" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the
Code, and (iii) an "independent director" for purposes of the
rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE").
2.10 "COMPANY" means Syms Corp, a New Jersey corporation, and any
successor thereto as provided in Article 20 herein.
2.11 "COVERED EMPLOYEE" means a Participant who is a "covered
employee," as defined in Code Section 162(m) and the Treasury
Regulations promulgated under Code Section 162(m), or any
successor statute.
2.12 "DIRECTOR" means any individual who is a member of the Board of
Directors of the Company.
2.13 "EFFECTIVE DATE" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
2.14 "EMPLOYEE" means any employee of the Company, its Affiliates,
and/or its Subsidiaries.
2.15 "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time, or any successor act thereto.
2.16 "FAIR MARKET VALUE" or "FMV" means a price that is based on the
opening, closing, actual, high, low, or average selling prices of
a Share reported on the NYSE or other established stock exchange
(or exchanges) on the applicable date, the preceding trading day,
the next succeeding trading day, or an average of trading days, as
determined by the Committee in its discretion. Unless the
Committee determines otherwise, if the Shares are traded over the
counter at the time a determination of its Fair Market Value is
required to be made hereunder, its Fair Market Value shall be
deemed to be equal to the average between the reported high and
low or closing bid and asked prices of a Share on the most recent
date on which Shares were publicly traded. In the event Shares are
not publicly traded at the time a determination of their Fair
Market Value is required to be made hereunder, the determination
of their Fair Market Value shall be made by the Committee in such
manner as it deems appropriate. Such definition(s) of FMV shall be
specified in each Award Agreement and may differ depending on
whether FMV is in reference to the grant, exercise, vesting,
settlement, or payout of an Award.
2.17 "FULL VALUE AWARD" means an Award other than in the form of an
ISO, NQSO, or SAR, and which is settled by the issuance of Shares.
2.18 "FREESTANDING SAR" means an SAR that is granted independently of
any Options, as described in Article 7.
2
2.19 "GRANT PRICE" means the price established at the time of grant of
an SAR pursuant to Article 7, used to determine whether there is
any payment due upon exercise of the SAR.
2.20 "INCENTIVE OPTION" or "ISO" means an Option to purchase Shares
granted under Article 6 to an Employee and that is designated as
an Incentive Option and that is intended to meet the requirements
of Code Section 422, or any successor provision.
2.21 "INSIDER" shall mean an individual who is, on the relevant date,
an officer or Director of the Company, or a more than ten percent
(10%) Beneficial Owner of any class of the Company's equity
securities that is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the
Exchange Act, as determined by the Board in accordance with
Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
2.22 "NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" means a Director who is not an Employee.
2.23 "NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR AWARD" means any NQSO, SAR, or Full Value
Award granted, whether singly, in combination, or in tandem, to a
Participant who is a Nonemployee Director pursuant to such
applicable terms, conditions, and limitations as the Board or
Committee may establish in accordance with this Plan.
2.24 "NONQUALIFIED OPTION" or "NQSO" means an Option that is not
intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422, or that
otherwise does not meet such requirements.
2.25 "OPTION" means an Incentive Option or a Nonqualified Option, as
described in Article 6.
2.26 "OPTION PRICE" means the price at which a Share may be purchased
by a Participant pursuant to an Option.
2.27 "OTHER SHARE-BASED AWARD" means an equity-based or equity-related
Award not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan, granted
pursuant to Article 10.
2.28 "PARTICIPANT" means any eligible individual as set forth in
Article 5 to whom an Award is granted.
2.29 "PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION" means compensation under an Award
that satisfies the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and
the applicable Treasury Regulations thereunder for certain
performance-based compensation paid to Covered Employees.
2.30 "PERFORMANCE MEASURES" means (i) those measures described in
Section 11.3 hereof on which the performance goals are based, or
(ii) such other measures that have been approved by the Company's
shareholders as contemplated by Article 11 of this Plan in order
to qualify Awards as Performance-Based Compensation.
2.31 "PERFORMANCE PERIOD" means the period of time during which the
performance goals must be met in order to determine the degree of
payout and/or vesting with respect to an Award.
2.32 "PERFORMANCE SHARE" means an Award granted under Article 9 herein
and subject to the terms of this Plan, denominated in Shares, the
value of which at the time it is payable is determined as a
function of the extent to which corresponding performance criteria
have been achieved.
2.33 "PERFORMANCE UNIT" means an Award granted under Article 9 herein
and subject to the terms of this Plan, denominated in units, the
value of which at the time it is payable is determined as a
function of the extent to which corresponding performance criteria
have been achieved.
2.34 "PERIOD OF RESTRICTION" means the period when Restricted Shares or
Restricted Share Units are subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture (based on the passage of time, the achievement of
performance
3
goals, or upon the occurrence of other events as determined by the
Committee, in its discretion), as provided in Article 8.
2.35 "PERSON" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)
thereof, including a "group" as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.
2.36 "PLAN" means this 2005 Stock Option Plan, as it may hereinafter be
amended or restated.
2.37 "PLAN YEAR" means the Company's fiscal year as may be in effect
from time to time. The Company's current fiscal year is the twelve
month period beginning on August 1st of a particular year and
ending on July 31st of the subsequent year.
2.38 "RESTRICTED SHARES" means an Award granted to a Participant
pursuant to Article 8.
2.39 "RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT" means an Award granted to a Participant
pursuant to Article 8, except no Shares are actually awarded to
the Participant on the date of grant.
2.40 "SHARE" or "SHARES" means the Company's shares of common stock,
par value $.01 per share.
2.41 "SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHT" or "SAR" means an Award, designated as
a SAR, pursuant to the terms of Article 7 herein.
2.42 "SUBSIDIARY" means any corporation, partnership, limited liability
company or other entity, whether domestic or foreign, in which the
Company has or obtains, directly or indirectly, a proprietary
interest.
2.43 "TANDEM SAR" means an SAR that is granted in connection with a
related Option pursuant to Article 7 herein, the exercise of which
shall require forfeiture of the right to purchase a Share under
the related Option (and when a Share is purchased under the
Option, the Tandem SAR shall similarly be canceled).
2.44 "THIRD PARTY SERVICE PROVIDER" means any consultant, agent,
advisor, or independent contractor who renders services to the
Company, a Subsidiary, or an Affiliate that (a) are not in
connection with the offer and sale of the Company's securities in
a capital raising transaction, and (b) do not directly or
indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company's
securities.
2.45 "TREASURY REGULATIONS" means the regulations promulgated under the
Code.
2.46 "WITHHOLDING TAXES" means any federal, state, local or foreign
income taxes, withholding taxes, or employment taxes required to
be withheld by law or regulations.
ARTICLE 3. ADMINISTRATION
3.1 GENERAL. The Committee shall be responsible for administering the
Plan, subject to this Article 3 and the other provisions of the Plan. The
Committee may employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, agents, and other
individuals, any of whom may be an Employee, and the Committee, the Company, and
its officers and Directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions,
or valuations of any such individuals. All actions taken and all interpretations
and determinations made by the Committee shall be final and binding upon the
Participants, the Company, and all other interested individuals.
3.2 AUTHORITY OF THE COMMITTEE. The Committee shall have full and
exclusive discretionary power to interpret the terms and the intent of the Plan
and any Award Agreement or other agreement or document ancillary to or in
connection with the Plan, to determine eligibility for Awards and to adopt such
rules, regulations, forms, instruments, and guidelines for administering the
Plan as the Committee may deem necessary or proper. Such authority shall
include, but not be limited to, selecting Award recipients, establishing all
Award terms and conditions,
4
including the terms and conditions set forth in Award Agreements, and, subject
to Article 17, adopting modifications and amendments to the Plan or any Award
Agreement, including without limitation, any that are necessary to comply with
the laws of the countries and other jurisdictions in which the Company, its
Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries operate.
3.3 DELEGATION. The Committee may delegate to one or more of its
members or to one or more officers of the Company, and/or its Subsidiaries and
Affiliates or to one or more agents or advisors such administrative duties or
powers as it may deem advisable, and the Committee or any individual to whom it
has delegated duties or powers as aforesaid may employ one or more individuals
to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Committee or such
individual may have under the Plan. The Committee may, by resolution, authorize
one or more officers of the Company to do one or more of the following on the
same basis as can the Committee: (a) designate Employees to be recipients of
Awards; (b) designate Third Party Service Providers to be recipients of Awards;
and (c) determine the size of any such Awards; provided, however, (i) the
Committee shall not delegate such responsibilities to any such officer for
Awards granted to an Employee that is considered an Insider; (ii) the resolution
providing such authorization sets forth the total number of Awards such
officer(s) may grant; and (iii) the officer(s) shall report periodically to the
Committee regarding the nature and scope of the Awards granted pursuant to the
authority delegated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may not
delegate to any officer the ability to take any action or make any determination
regarding issues arising out of Code Section 162(m).
ARTICLE 4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN AND MAXIMUM AWARDS
4.1 NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE FOR AWARDS. Subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 4.4 herein, the maximum number of Shares available for
issuance to Participants under the Plan (the "Share Authorization") shall be
850,000 Shares. Any Shares that are subject to Awards of Options or Share
Appreciation Rights shall be counted against this limit as one Share for every
Share issuable pursuant to such Awards. Any Shares that are subject to Awards
other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against this
limit as two Shares for every Share awarded pursuant to any such Awards.
4.2 SHARE USAGE. Shares covered by an Award shall only be counted as
used to the extent they are actually issued. Any Shares related to Awards which
terminate by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation, or otherwise without the
issuance of such Shares, are settled in cash in lieu of Shares, or are exchanged
with the Committee's permission, prior to the issuance of Shares, for Awards not
involving Shares, shall be available again for grant under the Plan. The Shares
available for issuance under the Plan may be authorized and unissued Shares or
treasury Shares.
4.3 ANNUAL AWARD LIMITS. Unless and until the Committee determines
that an Award to a Covered Employee shall not be designed to qualify as
Performance-Based Compensation, the following limits (each an "Annual Award
Limit" and, collectively, "Annual Award Limits") shall apply to grants of such
Awards under the Plan:
(a) OPTIONS: The maximum aggregate number of Shares subject to
Options granted in any one Plan Year to any one Participant
shall be 300,000 Shares.
(b) SARS: The maximum number of Shares subject to Share
Appreciation Rights granted in any one Plan Year to any one
Participant shall be 300,000 Shares.
(c) RESTRICTED SHARES OR RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS: The maximum
aggregate grant with respect to Awards of Restricted Shares
or Restricted Share Units in any one Plan Year to any one
Participant shall be 300,000.
(d) PERFORMANCE UNITS OR PERFORMANCE SHARES: The maximum
aggregate Award of Performance Units or Performance Shares
that any one Participant may receive in any one Plan Year
shall be 300,000 Shares (if such Award is payable in
Shares), or equal to the value of 300,000 Shares. For this
purpose, to the extent an Award is payable in cash or
property other than Shares, then such Award shall be
treated as payable in such number of Shares having a value
equal to the
5
value of the cash or property (other than Shares) payable
under such Award, determined as of the earlier of the date
of vesting or payout.
(e) CASH-BASED AWARDS: The maximum aggregate amount awarded or
credited with respect to Cash-Based Awards to any one
Participant in any one Plan Year may not exceed 1,000,000
dollars.
(f) OTHER SHARE-BASED AWARDS. The maximum aggregate grant with
respect to Other Share-Based Awards pursuant to Section
10.2 in any one Plan Year to any one Participant shall be
300,000 Shares.
The above Annual Award Limits are intended to comply with Code Section
162(m) and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, and shall be applied and/or
construed in such a way to ensure compliance with Code Section 162(m) and the
Treasury Regulations thereunder.
4.4 ADJUSTMENTS IN AUTHORIZED SHARES. In the event of any corporate
event or transaction (including, but not limited to, a change in the Shares of
the Company or the capitalization of the Company) such as a merger,
consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, separation, stock dividend,
stock split, reverse stock split, split up, spin-off, or other distribution of
stock or property of the Company, combination of Shares, exchange of Shares,
dividend in kind, or other like change in capital structure or distribution
(other than normal cash dividends) to shareholders of the Company, or any
similar corporate event or transaction, the Committee, in its sole discretion,
in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants' rights under the
Plan, shall substitute or adjust, as applicable, the number and kind of Shares
that may be issued under the Plan or under particular forms of Awards, the
number and kind of Shares subject to outstanding Awards, the Option Price or
Grant Price applicable to outstanding Awards, the Annual Award Limits, and other
value determinations applicable to outstanding Awards.
The Committee, in its sole discretion, may also make appropriate
adjustments in the terms of any Awards under the Plan to reflect or related to
such changes or distributions and to modify any other terms of outstanding
Awards, including modifications of performance goals and changes in the length
of Performance Periods. The determination of the Committee as to the foregoing
adjustments, if any, shall be conclusive and binding on Participants under the
Plan.
Subject to the provisions of Article 17, without affecting the number of
Shares reserved or available hereunder, the Committee may authorize the issuance
or assumption of benefits under this Plan in connection with any merger,
consolidation, spin-off, split-off, split-up, acquisition of property or stock,
or reorganization (collectively, a "Reorganization") upon such terms and
conditions as it may deem appropriate, subject to compliance with the ISO rules
under Section 422 of the Code and the provisions of Section 409A of the Code,
where applicable. Without limiting the foregoing, in the event of any
Reorganization, the Committee or the Board may cause any Award outstanding as of
the effective date of the Reorganization to be cancelled in consideration of a
cash payment or alternate Award made to the holder of such cancelled Award equal
in value to the fair market value of such cancelled Award; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that nothing in this Section 4.4 shall permit the repricing, replacing or
regranting of Options or SARs in violation of Section 17.1 or the provisions of
Section 409A of the Code.
ARTICLE 5. ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
5.1 ELIGIBILITY. Individuals eligible to participate in this Plan
include all key Employees, Directors, and Third Party Service Providers.
5.2 ACTUAL PARTICIPATION. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the
Committee may, from time to time, select from all eligible individuals, those
individuals to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine, in its sole
discretion, the nature of, any and all terms permissible by law, and the amount
of each Award.
6
ARTICLE 6. OPTIONS
6.1 GRANT OF OPTIONS. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan,
Options may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms, and
at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee, in
its sole discretion; provided that ISOs may be granted only to eligible
Employees of the Company or of any parent or subsidiary corporation (as
permitted by Section 422 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder).
6.2 AWARD AGREEMENT. Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award
Agreement that shall specify the Option Price, the maximum duration of the
Option, the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, the conditions upon
which an Option shall become vested and exercisable, and such other provisions
as the Committee shall determine which are not inconsistent with the terms of
the Plan. The Award Agreement also shall specify whether the Option is intended
to be an ISO or a NQSO.
6.3 OPTION PRICE. The Option Price for each grant of an Option under
this Plan shall be as determined by the Committee and shall be specified in the
Award Agreement. The Option Price shall be: (i) based on 100% of the FMV of the
Shares on the date of grant or (ii) set at a premium to the FMV of the Shares on
the date of grant.
6.4 DURATION OF OPTIONS. Each Option granted to a Participant shall
expire at such time as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant;
provided, however, no Option shall be exercisable later than the tenth
anniversary date of its grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for Options (other
than ISOs) granted to Participants outside the United States, the Committee has
the authority to grant Options that have a term greater than ten years.
6.5 EXERCISE OF OPTIONS. Options granted under this Article 6 shall be
exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as
the Committee shall in each instance approve, which terms and restrictions need
not be the same for each grant or for each Participant.
6.6 PAYMENT. Options granted under this Article 6 shall be exercised
by the delivery of a notice of exercise to the Company or an agent designated by
the Company in a form specified or accepted by the Committee, or by complying
with any alternative procedures which may be authorized by the Committee,
setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be
exercised, accompanied by full payment for the Shares.
A condition of the issuance of the Shares as to which an Option shall be
exercised shall be the payment of the Option Price. The Option Price of any
Option shall be payable to the Company in full either: (a) in cash or its
equivalent; (b) by tendering (either by actual delivery or attestation)
previously acquired Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of
exercise equal to the Option Price (provided that except as otherwise determined
by the Committee, the Shares that are tendered must have been held by the
Participant for at least six months prior to their tender to satisfy the Option
Price or have been purchased on the open market); (c) by a combination of (a)
and (b); or (d) any other method approved or accepted by the Committee in its
sole discretion, including, without limitation, if the Committee so determines,
a cashless (broker-assisted) exercise.
Subject to any governing rules or regulations, as soon as practicable
after receipt of written notification of exercise and full payment (including
satisfaction of any applicable tax withholding), the Company shall deliver to
the Participant evidence of book entry Shares, or upon the Participant's
request, Share certificates in an appropriate amount based upon the number of
Shares purchased under the Option(s).
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, all payments under all of
the methods indicated above shall be paid in United States dollars.
6.7 RESTRICTIONS ON SHARE TRANSFERABILITY. The Committee may impose
such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option
granted under this Article 6 as it may deem advisable, including, without
limitation, minimum holding period requirements, restrictions under applicable
federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market
upon which such Shares are then listed and/or traded, or under any blue sky or
state securities laws applicable to such Shares.
7
6.8 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Each Participant's Award Agreement
shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to
exercise the Option following termination of the Participant's employment or
provision of services to the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries,
as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion
of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with
each Participant, need not be uniform among all Options issued pursuant to this
Article 6, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.
6.9 TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS.
(a) INCENTIVE OPTIONS. No ISO granted under the Plan may be
sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise
alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the
laws of descent and distribution. Further, all ISOs granted
to a Participant under this Article 6 shall be exercisable
during his lifetime only by such Participant.
(b) NONQUALIFIED OPTIONS. Except as otherwise provided in a
Participant's Award Agreement or otherwise determined at
any time by the Committee, no NQSO granted under this
Article 6 may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or
otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or
by the laws of descent and distribution; provided that the
Board or Committee may permit further transferability, on a
general or a specific basis, and may impose conditions and
limitations on any permitted transferability. Further,
except as otherwise provided in a Participant's Award
Agreement or otherwise determined at any time by the
Committee, or unless the Board or Committee decides to
permit further transferability, all NQSOs granted to a
Participant under this Article 6 shall be exercisable
during his lifetime only by such Participant. With respect
to those NQSOs, if any, that are permitted to be
transferred to another individual, references in the Plan
to exercise or payment of the Option Price by the
Participant shall be deemed to include, as determined by
the Committee, the Participant's permitted transferee.
6.10 NOTIFICATION OF DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION. If any Participant
shall make any disposition of Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of an ISO
under the circumstances described in Section 421(b) of the Code (relating to
certain disqualifying dispositions), such Participant shall notify the Company
of such disposition within ten days thereof.
6.11 SPECIAL ISO RULES FOR 10% SHAREHOLDERS. If any Participant to whom
an ISO is to be granted is, on the date of grant, the owner of Shares
(determined using applicable attribution rules) possessing more than 10% of the
total combined voting power of all classes of equity securities of his or her
employer (or of its parent or subsidiary), then the following special provisions
will apply to the ISO granted to that Participant:
(a) The Option Price per Share of the ISO will not be less than
110% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares underlying such
ISO on the date of grant; and
(b) The ISO will not have a term in excess of 5 years from the
date of grant.
ARTICLE 7. SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS
7.1 GRANT OF SARS. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan,
SARs may be granted to Participants at any time and from time to time as shall
be determined by the Committee. The Committee may grant Freestanding SARs,
Tandem SARs, or any combination of these forms of SARs. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, SARs may be granted only if Shares are traded on an established
securities market at the date of grant.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee shall have
complete discretion in determining the number of SARs granted to each
Participant and, consistent with the provisions of the Plan, in determining the
terms and conditions pertaining to such SARs.
8
The Grant Price for each grant of a Freestanding SAR shall be determined
by the Committee and shall be specified in the Award Agreement. The Grant Price
shall be: (i) based on 100% of the FMV of the Shares on the date of grant or
(ii) set at a premium to the FMV of the Shares on the date of grant
7.2 SAR AGREEMENT. Each SAR Award shall be evidenced by an Award
Agreement that shall specify the Grant Price, the term of the SAR, and such
other provisions as the Committee shall determine.
7.3 TERM OF SAR. The term of an SAR granted under the Plan shall be
determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, and except as determined
otherwise by the Committee and specified in the SAR Award Agreement, no SAR
shall be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary date of its grant.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, for SARs granted to Participants outside the
United States, the Committee has the authority to grant SARs that have a term
greater than ten years.
7.4 EXERCISE OF FREESTANDING SARS. Freestanding SARs may be exercised
upon whatever terms and conditions the Committee, in its sole discretion,
imposes.
7.5. EXERCISE OF TANDEM SARS. Tandem SARs may be exercised for all or
part of the Shares subject to the related Option upon the surrender of the right
to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option. A Tandem SAR may be
exercised only with respect to the Shares for which its related Option is then
exercisable.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, with
respect to a Tandem SAR granted in connection with an ISO: (a) the Tandem SAR
will expire no later than the expiration of the underlying ISO; (b) the exercise
of the Tandem SAR may not have economic and tax consequences more favorable than
the exercise of the ISO followed by an immediate sale of the underlying Shares,
and the value of the payout with respect to the Tandem SAR may be for no more
than 100% of the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the
underlying ISO at the time the Tandem SAR is exercised over the Option Price of
the underlying ISO; (c) the Tandem SAR may be exercised only when the Fair
Market Value of the Shares subject to the ISO exceeds the Option Price of the
ISO; (d) the Tandem SAR may be exercised only when the underlying ISO is
eligible to be exercised; and (e) the Tandem SAR is transferable only when the
underlying ISO is transferable, and under the same conditions.
7.6 PAYMENT OF SAR AMOUNT. SARs granted under this Plan shall be
payable only in Shares. Upon the exercise of an SAR, a Participant shall be
entitled to receive from the Company such number of Shares determined by
multiplying:
(a) The excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date
of exercise over the Grant Price; by
(b) The number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is
exercised.
Such product shall then be divided by the Fair Market Value of a Share on
the date of exercise. The resulting number (rounded down to the next whole
number) is the number of Shares to be issued to the Participant upon exercise of
an SAR.
7.7 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Each Award Agreement shall set forth
the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the SAR
following termination of the Participant's employment with or provision of
services to the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries, as the case
may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the
Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with
Participants, need not be uniform among all SARs issued pursuant to the Plan,
and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.
7.8 NONTRANSFERABILITY OF SARS. Except as otherwise provided in a
Participant's Award Agreement or otherwise determined at any time by the
Committee, no SAR granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged,
assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the
laws of descent and distribution. Further, except as otherwise provided in a
Participant's Award Agreement or otherwise determined at any time by the
Committee, all SARs granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable
during his lifetime
9
only by such Participant. With respect to those SARs, if any, that are permitted
to be transferred to another individual, references in the Plan to exercise of
the SAR by the Participant or payment of any amount to the Participant shall be
deemed to include, as determined by the Committee, the Participant's permitted
transferee.
7.9 OTHER RESTRICTIONS. The Committee shall impose such other
conditions and/or restrictions on any Shares received upon exercise of a SAR
granted pursuant to the Plan as it may deem advisable or desirable. These
restrictions may include, but shall not be limited to, a requirement that the
Participant hold the Shares received upon exercise of a SAR for a specified
period of time.
ARTICLE 8. RESTRICTED SHARES AND RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS
8.1 GRANT OF RESTRICTED SHARES OR RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS. Subject to
the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time
to time, may grant Restricted Shares and/or Restricted Share Units to
Participants in such amounts as the Committee shall determine. Restricted Share
Units shall be similar to Restricted Shares except that no Shares are actually
awarded to the Participant on the date of grant.
8.2 RESTRICTED SHARES OR RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AGREEMENT. Each
Restricted Share and/or Restricted Share Unit grant shall be evidenced by an
Award Agreement that shall specify the Period(s) of Restriction, the number of
Restricted Shares or the number of Restricted Share Units granted, and such
other provisions as the Committee shall determine. Notwithstanding anything in
this Article 8 to the contrary, delivery of Shares pursuant to an Award of
Restricted Share Units (or an Award of Restricted Shares) shall be made no later
than 2-1/2 months after the close of the Company's first taxable year in which
such Shares are no longer subject to a risk of forfeiture (within the meaning of
Section 409A of the Code).
8.3 TRANSFERABILITY. Except as provided in this Plan or an Award
Agreement, the Restricted Shares and/or Restricted Share Units granted herein
may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or
hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction established
by the Committee and specified in the Award Agreement (and in the case of
Restricted Share Units until the date of delivery or other payment), or upon
earlier satisfaction of any other conditions, as specified by the Committee, in
its sole discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement or otherwise at any
time by the Committee. All rights with respect to the Restricted Shares and/or
Restricted Share Units granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be
available during his lifetime only to such Participant, except as otherwise
provided in an Award Agreement or at any time by the Committee.
8.4 OTHER RESTRICTIONS. The Committee shall impose such other
conditions and/or restrictions on any Restricted Shares or Restricted Share
Units granted pursuant to the Plan as it may deem advisable including, without
limitation, a requirement that Participants pay a stipulated purchase price for
each Restricted Share or each Restricted Share Unit, restrictions based upon the
achievement of specific performance goals, time-based restrictions on vesting
following the attainment of the performance goals, time-based restrictions,
and/or restrictions under applicable laws or under the requirements of any stock
exchange or market upon which such Shares are listed or traded, or holding
requirements or sale restrictions placed on the Shares by the Company upon
vesting of such Restricted Share or Restricted Share Units.
To the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, the Company may retain
the certificates representing Restricted Shares in the Company's possession
until such time as all conditions and/or restrictions applicable to such Shares
have been satisfied or lapse.
Except as otherwise provided in this Article 8, Restricted Shares covered
by each Restricted Share Award shall become freely transferable by the
Participant after all conditions and restrictions applicable to such Shares have
been satisfied or lapse (including satisfaction of any applicable tax
withholding obligations), and Restricted Share Units shall be paid in cash,
Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares as the Committee, in its sole
discretion shall determine.
10
8.5 CERTIFICATE LEGEND. In addition to any legends placed on
certificates pursuant to Section 8.4, each certificate representing Restricted
Shares granted pursuant to the Plan may bear a legend such as the following or
as otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion:
"The sale or transfer of Shares of stock represented by
this certificate, whether voluntary, involuntary, or by
operation of law, is subject to certain restrictions on
transfer as set forth in the Syms Corp 2005 Stock Option
Plan, and in the associated Award Agreement. A copy of the
Plan and such Award Agreement may be obtained from Syms
Corp."
8.6 VOTING RIGHTS. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and
set forth in a Participant's Award Agreement, to the extent permitted or
required by law, as determined by the Committee, Participants holding Restricted
Shares granted hereunder may be granted the right to exercise full voting rights
with respect to those Shares during the Period of Restriction. A Participant
shall have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Share Units granted
hereunder.
8.7 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Each Award Agreement shall set forth
the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to retain Restricted
Shares and/or Restricted Share Units following termination of the Participant's
employment with or provision of services to the Company, its Affiliates, and/or
its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the
sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement
entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Restricted
Shares or Restricted Share Units issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect
distinctions based on the reasons for termination.
8.8 SECTION 83(B) ELECTION. The Committee may provide in an Award
Agreement that the Award of Restricted Shares is conditioned upon the
Participant making or refraining from making an election with respect to the
Award under Section 83(b) of the Code. If a Participant makes an election
pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code concerning a Restricted Share Award, the
Participant shall be required to file promptly a copy of such election with the
Company.
ARTICLE 9. PERFORMANCE UNITS/PERFORMANCE SHARES
9.1 GRANT OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/PERFORMANCE SHARES. Subject to the
terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to
time, may grant Performance Units and/or Performance Shares to Participants in
such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine.
9.2 VALUE OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/PERFORMANCE SHARES. Each Performance
Unit shall have an initial value that is established by the Committee at the
time of grant. Each Performance Share shall have an initial value equal to the
Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. The Committee shall set
performance goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they
are met, will determine the value and/or number of Performance Units/Performance
Shares that will be paid out to the Participant.
9.3 EARNING OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/PERFORMANCE SHARES. Subject to the
terms of this Plan, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the
holder of Performance Units/Performance Shares shall be entitled to receive
payout of the value and number of Performance Units/Performance Shares earned by
the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of
the extent to which the corresponding performance goals have been achieved.
9.4 FORM AND TIMING OF PAYMENT OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/PERFORMANCE
SHARES. Payment of earned Performance Units/Performance Shares shall be as
determined by the Committee and as evidenced in the Award Agreement. Subject to
the terms of the Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned
Performance Units/Performance Shares in the form of cash or in Shares (or in a
combination thereof) equal to the value of the earned Performance
Units/Performance Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period, or
as soon as practicable after the end of the Performance Period. Any Shares may
be granted subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee. The
determination of the Committee with respect to the form of payout of such Awards
shall be set forth in the Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the Award.
Notwithstanding anything in this Article 9 to the contrary, delivery of Shares,
cash or other property pursuant to an Award of Performance
11
Units/Performance Shares shall be made no later than 2-1/2 months after the
close of the Company's first taxable year in which delivery of such Shares, cash
or other property is no longer subject to a risk of forfeiture (within the
meaning of Section 409A of the Code).
9.5 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Each Award Agreement shall set forth
the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to retain Performance
Units and/or Performance Shares following termination of the Participant's
employment with or provision of services to the Company, its Affiliates, and/or
its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the
sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement
entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Awards of
Performance Units or Performance Shares issued pursuant to the Plan, and may
reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.
9.6 NONTRANSFERABILITY. Except as otherwise provided in a
Participant's Award Agreement or otherwise determined at any time by the
Committee, Performance Units/Performance Shares may not be sold, transferred,
pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or
by the laws of descent and distribution. Further, except as otherwise provided
in a Participant's Award Agreement or otherwise determined at any time by the
Committee, a Participant's rights under the Plan shall be exercisable during his
lifetime only by such Participant.
ARTICLE 10. CASH-BASED AWARDS AND OTHER SHARE-BASED AWARDS
10.1 GRANT OF CASH-BASED AWARDS. Subject to the terms and provisions of
the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Cash-Based
Awards to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms, including the
achievement of specific performance goals, as the Committee may determine.
10.2 OTHER SHARE-BASED AWARDS. The Committee may grant other types of
equity-based or equity-related Awards not otherwise described by the terms of
this Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted Shares) in such
amounts and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Committee shall
determine. Such Awards may involve the transfer of actual Shares to
Participants, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of
Shares and may include, without limitation, Awards designed to comply with or
take advantage of the applicable local laws of jurisdictions other than the
United States.
10.3 VALUE OF CASH-BASED AND OTHER SHARE-BASED AWARDS. Each Cash-Based
Award shall specify a payment amount or payment range as determined by the
Committee. Each Other Share-Based Award shall be expressed in terms of Shares or
units based on Shares, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may
establish performance goals in its discretion. If the Committee exercises its
discretion to establish performance goals, the number and/or value of Cash-Based
Awards or Other Share-Based Awards that will be paid out to the Participant will
depend on the extent to which the performance goals are met.
10.4 PAYMENT OF CASH-BASED AWARDS AND OTHER SHARE-BASED AWARDS.
Payment, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award or an Other Share-Based
Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash or Shares
as the Committee determines. Notwithstanding anything in this Article 10 to the
contrary, delivery of Shares, cash or other property pursuant to a Cash-Based
Award or Other Share-Based Award shall be made no later than 2-1/2 months after
the close of the Company's first taxable year in which delivery of such Shares,
cash or other property is no longer subject to a risk of forfeiture (within the
meaning of Section 409A of the Code).
10.5 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. The Committee shall determine the
extent to which the Participant shall have the right to receive Cash-Based
Awards or Other Share-Based Awards following termination of the Participant's
employment with or provision of services to the Company, its Affiliates, and/or
its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. Such provisions shall be determined in the
sole discretion of the Committee, such provisions may be included in an Award
Agreement entered into with each Participant, but need not be uniform among all
Awards of Cash-Based Awards or Other Share-Based Awards issued pursuant to the
Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination.
12
10.6 NONTRANSFERABILITY. Except as otherwise determined by the
Committee, neither Cash-Based Awards nor Other Share-Based Awards may be sold,
transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other
than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Further, except as
otherwise provided by the Committee, a Participant's rights under the Plan, if
exercisable, shall be exercisable during his lifetime only by such Participant.
With respect to those Cash-Based Awards or Other Share-Based Awards, if any,
that are permitted to be transferred to another individual, references in the
Plan to exercise or payment of such Awards by or to the Participant shall be
deemed to include, as determined by the Committee, the Participant's permitted
transferee.
ARTICLE 11. PERFORMANCE MEASURES
11.1. GENERAL. (a) Certain Awards granted under the Plan may be granted
in a manner such that the Awards qualify as Performance-Based Compensation and
thus are exempt from the deduction limitation imposed by Section 162(m) of the
Code. Awards shall only qualify as Performance-Based Compensation if, among
other things, at the time of grant the Committee is comprised solely of two or
more "outside directors" (as such term is used in Section 162(m) of the Code and
the Treasury Regulations thereunder).
(b) Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based
Compensation may be granted to Participants who are or may be
Covered Employees at any time and from time to time, as shall be
determined by the Committee. The Committee shall have complete
discretion in determining the number, amount and timing of awards
granted to each Covered Employee.
(c) The Committee shall set performance goals at its discretion
which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will
determine the number and/or value of Awards intended to qualify as
Performance-Based Compensation that will be paid out to the
Covered Employees, and may attach to such Performance-Based
Compensation one or more restrictions.
11.2. OTHER AWARDS. Either the granting or vesting of Awards intended to
qualify as Performance-Based Compensation (other than Options and SARs) granted
under the Plan shall be subject to the achievement of a performance target or
targets, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, based on one or
more of the performance measures specified in Section 11.3 below. With respect
to such Performance-Based Compensation:
(a) the Committee shall establish in writing (x) the objective
performance-based goals applicable to a given period and (y) the
individual Covered Employees or class of Covered Employees to
which such performance-based goals apply no later than 90 days
after the commencement of such period (but in no event after 25
percent of such period has elapsed);
(b) no Performance-Based Compensation shall be payable to or
vest with respect to, as the case may be, any Covered Employee for
a given period until the Committee certifies in writing that the
objective performance goals (and any other material terms)
applicable to such period have been satisfied; and
(c) after the establishment of a performance goal, the
Committee shall not revise such performance goal or increase the
amount of compensation payable thereunder (as determined in
accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code) upon the attainment of
such performance goal.
11.3 PERFORMANCE MEASURES. Unless and until the Committee proposes for
shareholder vote and the shareholders approve a change in the
general Performance Measures set forth in this Article 11, the
performance goals upon which the payment or vesting of an Award to
a Covered Employee that is intended to qualify as
Performance-Based Compensation shall be limited to the following
Performance Measures:
(a) Net earnings or net income (before or after taxes);
(b) Earnings per share;
(c) Net sales growth;
(d) Net operating profit;
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(e) Return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets,
capital, invested capital, equity, or sales);
(f) Cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow,
free cash flow, and cash flow return on capital);
(g) Earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, and/or
amortization;
(h) Gross or operating margins;
(i) Productivity ratios; and
(j) Share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and
total shareholder return).
Any Performance Measure(s) may be used to measure the performance of the
Company, Subsidiary, and/or Affiliate as a whole or any business unit of the
Company, Subsidiary, and/or Affiliate or any combination thereof, as the
Committee may deem appropriate, or any of the above Performance Measures as
compared to the performance of a group of peer companies, or published or
special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or
the Company may select Performance Measure (j) above as compared to various
stock market indices.
11.4 EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE. The Committee may provide in any such
Award that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the
following events that occurs during a Performance Period: (a) asset write-downs,
(b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (c) the effect of changes in
tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported
results, (d) any reorganization and restructuring programs, (e) extraordinary
nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30
and/or in management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and
results of operations appearing in the Company's annual report to shareholders
for the applicable year, (f) acquisitions or divestitures, and (g) foreign
exchange gains and losses. To the extent such inclusions or exclusions affect
Awards to Covered Employees, they shall be prescribed in a form that meets the
requirements of Code Section 162(m) for deductibility.
11.5 ADJUSTMENT OF PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION. Awards intended to
qualify as Performance-Based Compensation may not be adjusted upward. The
Committee shall retain the discretion to adjust such Awards downward, either on
a formula or discretionary basis or any combination, as the Committee
determines.
11.6 COMMITTEE DISCRETION. In the event that applicable tax and/or
securities laws change to permit Committee discretion to alter the governing
Performance Measures without obtaining shareholder approval of such changes, the
Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining
shareholder approval. In addition, in the event that the Committee determines
that it is advisable to grant Awards that shall not qualify as Performance-Based
Compensation, the Committee may make such grants without satisfying the
requirements of Code Section 162(m) and base vesting on Performance Measures
other than those set forth in Section 11.1.
ARTICLE 12. NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR AWARDS
All Awards to Nonemployee Directors shall be determined by the Board. The
terms and conditions of any grant to any such Nonemployee Director shall be set
forth in an Award Agreement.
ARTICLE 13. DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS
Any Participant selected by the Committee may be granted dividend
equivalents based on the dividends declared on Shares that are subject to any
Award, to be credited as of dividend payment dates, during the period between
the date the Award is granted and the date the Award is exercised, vests or
expires, as determined by the Committee. Such dividend equivalents shall be
converted to cash or additional Shares by such formula and at such time and
subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Committee (but subject
to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, if applicable).
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ARTICLE 14. BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
Each Participant under the Plan may, from time to time, name any
beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to
whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case of his death before he
receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all
prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the
Committee, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing
with the Company during the Participant's lifetime. In the absence of any such
designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant's death shall be paid
to the Participant's estate.
ARTICLE 15. RIGHTS OF PARTICIPANTS
15.1 EMPLOYMENT. Nothing in the Plan or an Award Agreement shall
interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company, its Affiliates,
and/or its Subsidiaries, to terminate any Participant's employment or service on
the Board or to the Company at any time or for any reason not prohibited by law,
nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue his employment or service
as a Director or Third Party Service Provider for any specified period of time.
Neither an Award nor any benefits arising under this Plan shall
constitute an employment contract with the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its
Subsidiaries and, accordingly, subject to Articles 3 and 17, this Plan and the
benefits hereunder may be terminated at any time in the sole and exclusive
discretion of the Committee without giving rise to any liability on the part of
the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries.
15.2 PARTICIPATION. No individual shall have the right to be selected
to receive an Award under this Plan, or, having been so selected, to be selected
to receive a future Award.
15.3 RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. Except as otherwise provided herein, a
Participant shall have none of the rights of a shareholder with respect to
Shares covered by any Award until the Participant becomes the record holder of
such Shares.
ARTICLE 16. CHANGE OF CONTROL
In addition to the terms and conditions of this Plan, one or more Awards
may be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in a written agreement
between the Company and a Participant providing for different terms or
provisions with respect to such Awards upon a "Change of Control" of the Company
(as that term may be defined in such written agreement), including but not
limited to acceleration of benefits, lapsing of restrictions, vesting of
benefits and such other terms, conditions or provisions as may be contained in
such written agreement; PROVIDED HOWEVER, that such written agreement may not
increase the maximum amount of such Awards.
ARTICLE 17. AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, SUSPENSION, AND TERMINATION
17.1 AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, SUSPENSION, AND TERMINATION. Subject to
Section 17.3, the Committee may, at any time and from time to time, alter,
amend, modify, suspend, or terminate the Plan and any Award Agreement in whole
or in part; provided, however, that, without the prior approval of the Company's
shareholders and except as provided in Section 4.4, Options or SARs issued under
the Plan will not be repriced, replaced, or regranted through cancellation, or
by lowering the Option Price of a previously granted Option or the Grant Price
of a previously granted SAR. Further, no amendment of the Plan shall be made
without shareholder approval if shareholder approval is required by law,
regulation, or stock exchange rule.
17.2 ADJUSTMENT OF AWARDS UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF CERTAIN UNUSUAL OR
NONRECURRING EVENTS. The Committee may make adjustments in the terms and
conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or
nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in
Section 4.4 hereof) affecting the Company or the financial statements of the
Company or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles,
whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order
to prevent unintended dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential
benefits intended to be made available under the Plan. The
15
determination of the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, shall be
conclusive and binding on Participants under the Plan.
17.3 AWARDS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED. Notwithstanding any other provision of
the Plan to the contrary, and except to the extent necessary to avoid the
imposition of additional tax and/or interest under Section 409A of the Code with
respect to Awards that are treated as nonqualified deferred compensation, no
termination, amendment, suspension, or modification of the Plan or an Award
Agreement shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously
granted under the Plan, without the written consent of the Participant holding
such Award.
ARTICLE 18. WITHHOLDING
The Company shall have the right to withhold from a Participant (or a
permitted assignee thereof), or otherwise require such Participant or assignee
to pay, any Withholding Taxes arising as a result of the grant of any Award,
exercise of an Option or SAR, lapse of restrictions with respect to Restricted
Shares or Restricted Share Units, or any other taxable event occurring pursuant
to this Plan or any Award Agreement. If the Participant (or a permitted assignee
thereof) shall fail to make such tax payments as are required, the Company (or
its Affiliates or Subsidiaries) shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the
right to deduct any such Withholding Taxes from any payment of any kind
otherwise due to such Participant or to take such other action as may be
necessary to satisfy such Withholding Taxes. In satisfaction of the requirement
to pay Withholding Taxes, the Participant (or permitted assignee) may make a
written election which may be accepted or rejected in the discretion of the
Committee, (i) to have withheld a portion of any Shares or other payments then
issuable to the Participant (or permitted assignee) pursuant to any Award, or
(ii) to tender other Shares to the Company (either by actual delivery or
attestation, in the sole discretion of the Committee, PROVIDED THAT, except as
otherwise determined by the Committee, the Shares that are tendered must have
been held by the Participant for at least six months prior to their tender to
satisfy the Option Price or have been purchased on the open market), in either
case having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the Withholding Taxes.
ARTICLE 19. SUCCESSORS
All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards
granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the
existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase,
merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business
and/or assets of the Company.
ARTICLE 20. GENERAL PROVISIONS
20.1 FORFEITURE EVENTS.
(a) The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the
Participant's rights, payments, and benefits with respect
to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation,
forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain
specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable
vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events
may include, but shall not be limited to, termination of
employment for cause, termination of the Participant's
provision of services to the Company, Affiliate, and/or
Subsidiary, violation of material Company, Affiliate,
and/or Subsidiary policies, breach of noncompetition,
confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants that may
apply to the Participant, or other conduct by the
Participant that is detrimental to the business or
reputation of the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its
Subsidiaries.
(b) If the Company is required to prepare an accounting
restatement due to the material noncompliance of the
Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial
reporting requirement under the securities laws, if the
Participant knowingly or grossly negligently engaged in the
misconduct, or knowingly or grossly negligently failed to
prevent the misconduct, or if the Participant is one of the
individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section
304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Participant
shall reimburse the Company
16
the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award earned
or accrued during the twelve-month period following the
first public issuance or filing with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever just
occurred) of the financial document embodying such
financial reporting requirement.
20.2 LEGEND. The certificates for Shares may include any legend which
the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer of such
Shares.
20.3 GENDER AND NUMBER. Except where otherwise indicated by the
context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine, the
plural shall include the singular, and the singular shall include the plural.
20.4 SEVERABILITY. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held
illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect
the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as
if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
20.5 REQUIREMENTS OF LAW. The granting of Awards and the issuance of
Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and
regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national
securities exchanges as may be required.
20.6 DELIVERY OF TITLE. The Company shall have no obligation to issue
or deliver evidence of title for Shares issued under the Plan prior to:
(a) Obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the
Company determines are necessary or advisable; and
(b) Completion of any registration or other qualification of
the Shares under any applicable national or foreign law or
ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines
to be necessary or advisable.
20.7 INABILITY TO OBTAIN AUTHORITY. The inability of the Company to
obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority
is deemed by the Company's counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and
sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in
respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite
authority shall not have been obtained.
20.8 INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS. The Committee may require any
individual receiving Shares pursuant to an Award under this Plan to represent
and warrant in writing that the individual is acquiring the Shares for
investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares.
20.9 EMPLOYEES BASED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES. Notwithstanding any
provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in other
countries in which the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries operate
or have Employees, Directors, or Third Party Service Providers, the Committee,
in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to:
(a) Determine which Affiliates and Subsidiaries shall be
covered by the Plan;
(b) Determine which Employees, Directors, or Third Party
Service Providers outside the United States are eligible to
participate in the Plan;
(c) Modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to
Employees, Directors, or Third Party Service Providers
outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign
laws;
(d) Establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other
terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be
necessary or advisable. Any
17
subplans and modifications to Plan terms and procedures
established under this Section 20.9 by the Committee shall
be attached to this Plan document as appendices; and
(e) Take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it
deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any
necessary local government regulatory exemptions or
approvals.
Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may not take any actions
hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate applicable law.
20.10 UNCERTIFICATED SHARES. To the extent that the Plan provides for
issuance of certificates to reflect the transfer of Shares, the transfer of such
Shares may be effected on a noncertificated basis, to the extent not prohibited
by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange.
20.11 UNFUNDED PLAN. Participants shall have no right, title, or
interest whatsoever in or to any investments that the Company, its Subsidiaries,
and/or its Affiliates may make to aid it in meeting its obligations under the
Plan. Nothing contained in the Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its
provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a
fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant, beneficiary,
legal representative, or any other individual. To the extent that any individual
acquires a right to receive payments from the Company, its Subsidiaries, and/or
its Affiliates under the Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of
an unsecured general creditor of the Company, a Subsidiary, or an Affiliate, as
the case may be. All payments to be made hereunder shall be paid from the
general funds of the Company, a Subsidiary, or an Affiliate, as the case may be
and no special or separate fund shall be established and no segregation of
assets shall be made to assure payment of such amounts except as expressly set
forth in the Plan.
20.12 NO FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional Shares shall be issued or
delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine
whether cash, Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of
fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall
be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
20.13 RETIREMENT AND WELFARE PLANS. Neither Awards made under the Plan
nor Shares or cash paid pursuant to such Awards may be included as
"compensation" for purposes of computing the benefits payable to any Participant
under the Company's or any Subsidiary's or Affiliate's retirement plans (both
qualified and non-qualified) or welfare benefit plans unless such other plan
expressly provides that such compensation shall be taken into account in
computing a Participant's benefit.
20.14 NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN. The adoption of this Plan shall not be
construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or Committee to
adopt such other compensation arrangements as it may deem desirable for any
Participant.
20.15 NO CONSTRAINT ON CORPORATE ACTION. Nothing in this Plan shall be
construed to: (i) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Company's or a
Subsidiary's or an Affiliate's right or power to make adjustments,
reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business
structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer
all or any part of its business or assets; or, (ii) limit the right or power of
the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate to take any action which such entity
deems to be necessary or appropriate.
20.16 GOVERNING LAW. The Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed
by the laws of the State of New York, excluding any conflicts or choice of law
rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of
the Plan to the substantive law of another jurisdiction. Unless otherwise
provided in the Award Agreement, recipients of an Award under the Plan are
deemed to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal or state
courts of New York, to resolve any and all issues that may arise out of or
relate to the Plan or any related Award Agreement.
20.17 INDEMNIFICATION. Each individual who is or shall have been a
member of the Board, or a committee appointed by the Board, or an officer of the
Company to whom authority was delegated in accordance with Article 3, shall be
indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost,
liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him in
connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or
18
proceeding to which he may be a party or in which he may be involved by reason
of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any
and all amounts paid by him in settlement thereof, with the Company's approval,
or paid by him in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or
proceeding against him, provided he shall give the Company an opportunity, at
its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he undertakes to handle
and defend it on his own behalf, unless such loss, cost, liability, or expense
is a result of his own willful misconduct or except as expressly provided by
statute.
The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any
other rights of indemnification to which such individuals may be entitled under
the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or
otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them
harmless.
20.18 AMENDMENT TO COMPLY WITH APPLICABLE LAW. It is intended that no
Award granted under this Plan shall be subject to any interest or additional tax
under Section 409A of the Code. In the event Code Section 409A is amended after
the date hereof, or regulations or other guidance is promulgated after the date
hereof that would make an Award under the Plan subject to the provisions of Code
Section 409A, then the terms and conditions of this Plan shall be interpreted
and applied, to the extent possible, in a manner to avoid the imposition of the
provisions of Code Section 409A.
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ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
SYMS CORP
JULY 14, 2005
Please date, sign and mail
your proxy card in the
envelope provided as soon
as possible.
Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided.
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PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE [x]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. The election of the following persons as Directors of the Company to serve
for the respective terms set forth in the accompanying Proxy Statement:
NOMINEES:
[_] FOR ALL NOMINEES 0 Sy Syms
0 Marcy Syms
[_] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY 0 Antone F. Moreira
FOR ALL NOMINEES 0 Harvey A. Weinberg
0 Amber M. Brookman
[_] FOR ALL EXCEPT 0 Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.
(See instructions below)
INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark
"FOR ALL EXCEPT" and fill in the circle next to each nominee you
wish to withhold, as shown here:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and
indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that [_]
changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via
this method.
2. To ratify the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
independent accountants of the Company for the
fiscal year ending February 25, 2006. [_] [_] [_]
3. To vote on the approval of the Stock Option Plan. [_] [_] [_]
4. In their discretion with respect to any other matter that may properly come
before the meeting or any and all adjournment(s) or postponement(s)
thereof.
Signature of Shareholder Date:
-------------------------- -----------------------
Signature of Shareholder Date:
-------------------------- -----------------------
NOTE: Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When
shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as
executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full
title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate
name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is
a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
SYMS CORP
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS - JULY 14, 2005
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned shareholder of Syms Corp, a New Jersey corporation (the
"Company"), hereby appoints Sy Syms and Marcy Syms, and each of them with full
power to act without the other, as proxy for the undersigned, with full power of
substitution, to vote and otherwise represent all shares of common stock of the
Company held by the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the
Company (receipt of a copy of the Notice of such meeting, and Proxy Statement
being acknowledged) on July 14, 2005 at 10:30 a.m., at the offices of Syms Corp,
Syms Way, Secaucus, New Jersey 07094, upon the following matters and upon such
other business as may properly come before the meeting and any and all
adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof, with the same effect as if the
undersigned were present and voting such shares. The undersigned hereby revokes
any proxy previously given with respect to such shares.
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
SPECIFICATIONS MADE. IF THIS PROXY IS EXECUTED BUT NO SPECIFICATION IS MADE, THE
SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" EACH OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS' NOMINEES AND "FOR" PROPOSAL 2 AND PROPOSAL 3. THE PROXIES, IN THEIR
DISCRETION, ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME
BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT(S) OR POSTPONEMENT(S) THEREOF.
(CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON THE REVERSE SIDE)
14475