ThZeal - The Zeal

DEF 14A 1 a37500.txt REX STORES CORPORATION Section 240.14a-101 Schedule 14A. Information required in proxy statement. Schedule 14A Information Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ) Filed by the Registrant [X] Filed by a party other than the Registrant [ ] Check the appropriate box: [ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) [X] Definitive Proxy Statement [ ] Definitive Additional Materials [ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12 REX STORES CORPORATION ................................................................. (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) ................................................................. (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): [X] No fee required [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: ............................................................ (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: ....................................................... (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): ....................................................... (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: ....................................................... (5) Total fee paid: ....................................................... [ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. [ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount Previously Paid: ....................................................... (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: ....................................................... (3) Filing Party: ....................................................... (4) Date Filed: ....................................................... [REX LOGO] REX STORES CORPORATION 2875 NEEDMORE ROAD DAYTON, OHIO 45414 ------------------- NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 27, 2004 The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of REX Stores Corporation will be held at the Dayton Racquet Club, Kettering Tower, Dayton, Ohio on Thursday, May 27, 2004, at 2:00 p.m., for the following purposes: 1. Election of seven members to the Board of Directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their respective successors are elected and qualified. 2. Transaction of such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on April 22, 2004 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person. By Order of the Board of Directors EDWARD M. KRESS EDWARD M. KRESS Secretary Dayton, Ohio April 29, 2004 WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE MARK, DATE, SIGN AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED. REX STORES CORPORATION 2875 NEEDMORE ROAD DAYTON, OHIO 45414 -------------------------- PROXY STATEMENT -------------------------- MAILING DATE APRIL 29, 2004 GENERAL INFORMATION This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of REX Stores Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the 'Company'), for use for the purposes set forth herein at its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 27, 2004 and any adjournments thereof. All properly executed proxies will be voted as directed by the shareholder on the proxy card. If no direction is given, proxies will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors' recommendations and, in the discretion of the proxy holders, in the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof. Any proxy may be revoked by a shareholder by delivering written notice of revocation to the Company or in person at the Annual Meeting at any time prior to the voting thereof. The Company has one class of stock outstanding, namely Common Stock, $.01 par value, of which there were 11,355,253 shares outstanding as of April 22, 2004. Only holders of Common Stock whose names appeared of record on the books of the Company at the close of business on April 22, 2004 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each shareholder is entitled to one vote per share. A majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock will constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum. Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of Common Stock at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted toward a nominee's achievement of a plurality and thus will have no effect. A broker non-vote occurs when a broker submits a proxy with respect to shares held in a fiduciary capacity (or 'street name') that indicates the broker does not have discretionary authority to vote the shares on a particular matter. Brokers normally have discretion to vote shares held in street name on 'routine' matters, such as election of directors, but not on non-routine matters such as approval of stock plans. FISCAL YEAR All references in this Proxy Statement to a particular fiscal year are to the Company's fiscal year ended January 31. For example, 'fiscal 2003' means the period February 1, 2003 to January 31, 2004. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Seven directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting to hold office until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are elected and qualified. Unless otherwise directed, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote each proxy for the election of the nominees listed below. All nominees, with the exception of Mr. Harris, are presently directors of the Company. If at the time of the Annual Meeting any nominee is unable or declines to serve, the proxy holders will vote for the election of such substitute nominee as the Board of Directors may recommend. The Company and the Board of Directors have no reason to believe that any substitute nominee will be required. Set forth below is certain information with respect to the nominees for director. STUART A. ROSE, 49, has been the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since its incorporation in 1984 as a holding company to succeed to the ownership of Rex Radio and Television, Inc., Kelly & Cohen Appliances, Inc. and Stereo Town, Inc. Upon the retirement of Mr. Tomchin in 2004, Mr. Rose was also elected President. Prior to 1984, Mr. Rose was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Rex Radio and Television, Inc., which he founded in 1980 to acquire the stock of a corporation which operated four retail stores. LAWRENCE TOMCHIN, 76, retired as the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company effective January 31, 2004, a position he held since 1990. Mr. Tomchin remains a part-time employee of, and consultant to, the Company. From 1984 to 1990, he was the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Mr. Tomchin has been a director since 1984. Mr. Tomchin was Vice President and General Manager of the corporation which was acquired by Rex Radio and Television, Inc. in 1980 and served as Executive Vice President of Rex Radio and Television, Inc. after the acquisition. ROBERT DAVIDOFF, 77, has been a director since 1984. Mr. Davidoff has been employed by Carl Marks & Co., Inc., an investment banking firm, since 1950 and currently is Vice President in charge of corporate finance. Mr. Davidoff is also a director of Hubco Exploration, Inc., Marisa Christina, Inc., Aquis Communications Group, Inc. and Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. EDWARD M. KRESS, 54, has been the Secretary of the Company since 1984 and a director since 1985. Mr. Kress has been a partner of the law firm of Chernesky, Heyman & Kress P.L.L., counsel for the Company, since 1988. Mr. Kress has practiced law in Dayton, Ohio since 1974. LEE FISHER, 52, has been a director since 1996. Mr. Fisher is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Families and Children, a private nonprofit human services organization. Mr. Fisher was a partner of the law firm of Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP from 1995 to 1999. Mr. Fisher served as Ohio Attorney General from 1991 to 1995, State Senator, Ohio General Assembly, from 1983 to 1991, and State Representative, Ohio General Assembly, from 1981 to 1983. Mr. Fisher practiced law with Hahn Loeser & Parks from 1978 to 1991. CHARLES A. ELCAN, 40, has been a director since 2003. Mr. Elcan became Executive Vice President -- Medical Office Operations of Health Care Property Investors, Inc. (HCP), a real estate investment trust specializing in health care related real estate, in October 2003. Prior to that date, he served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of MedCap Properties, LLC, a real estate company located in Nashville, Tennessee that owns, operates and develops real estate in the healthcare field, which HCP acquired in October 2003. From 1992 to 1997, Mr. Elcan was a founder and investor in 2 Behavioral Healthcare Corporation (now Ardent Health Services LLC), a healthcare company that owns and operates psychiatric and acute care hospitals. DAVID S. HARRIS, 44, is the President of Grant Capital, Inc., a private investment company. From 2001 to 2002, Mr. Harris served as a Managing Director in the investment banking division of ABN Amro Securities LLC (ABN), from 1997 to 2001 he served as a Managing Director and Sector Head of the Retail, Consumer and Leisure Group of ING Barings LLC (ING), and from 1986 to 1997 he served in various capacities as a member of the investment banking group of Furman Selz LLC. Furman Selz was acquired by ING in 1997 and the investment banking operations of ING were acquired by ABN in 2001. Mr. Harris is also a nominee for director of Steiner Leisure Limited. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Following the Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors will consist of seven directors. The Board has determined that four of the seven directors, Robert Davidoff, Lee Fisher, Charles A. Elcan and David S. Harris, are independent within the meaning of Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange ('NYSE') Listed Company Manual. To be considered independent, the Board must determine that the director has no material relationship with the Company, either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company, including commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable and family relationships, among others. The Board has established the following guidelines, consistent with Section 303A.02 of the NYSE listing standards, to assist it in determining independence of directors. A director who is an employee, or whose immediate family member is an executive officer, of the Company is not independent until three years after the end of such employment relationship. A director who receives, or whose immediate family member receives, more than $100,000 per year in direct compensation from the Company, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service), is not independent until three years after he or she ceases to receive more than $100,000 per year in such compensation. (Compensation received by an immediate family member for service as a non-executive employee need not be considered in determining independence under this test.) A director who is affiliated with or employed by, or whose immediate family member is affiliated with or employed in a professional capacity by, a present or former internal or external auditor of the Company is not 'independent' until three years after the end of the affiliation or the employment or auditing relationship. A director who is employed, or whose immediate family member is employed, as an executive officer of another company where any of the Company's present executives serve on that company's compensation committee is not 'independent' until three years after the end of such service or the employment relationship. A director who is an executive officer or an employee, or whose immediate family member is an executive officer, of a company that makes payments to, or receives payments from, the Company for property or services in an amount which, in any single fiscal year, exceeds the greater of $1 million, or 2% of such other company's consolidated gross revenues, is not 'independent' until three years after falling below such threshold. 3 Mr. Elcan's brother provides real estate brokerage services to the Company and has acted as a finder in connection with the Company's investments in synthetic fuel limited partnerships and facilities. The Board has determined that this is not a material relationship affecting Mr. Elcan's independence. The Board of Directors held one meeting and took action by unanimous written consent one time during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004. Each incumbent director attended all meetings of the Board of Directors and Board Committees on which he served. Directors are invited and encouraged to attend the Company's annual meeting of shareholders. All directors attended the 2003 Annual Meeting. BOARD COMMITTEES The Board of Directors has four standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee and the Executive Committee. Audit Committee. The Audit Committee assists Board oversight of the integrity of the financial statements of the Company, the Company's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the independent accountants' qualifications and independence, and the performance of the Company's internal audit function and independent accountants. The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, retention and oversight of the work of the Company's independent accountants. The Audit Committee acts pursuant to a written charter. The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Davidoff, Fisher and Elcan. All members of the Audit Committee are independent within the meaning of applicable NYSE listing standards and rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC'). The Board has determined that Mr. Davidoff is an audit committee financial expert as defined by applicable SEC rules. The Board has also determined that Mr. Harris, who is expected to be appointed to the Audit Committee, will also qualify as an audit committee financial expert. The Audit Committee met four times during fiscal 2003. Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has direct responsibility to review and approve CEO compensation, makes recommendations to the Board with respect to non-CEO compensation and compensation plans, and administers the Company's stock option plans. The Compensation Committee acts pursuant to a written charter. The members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Davidoff, Fisher and Elcan. All members of the Compensation Committee are independent within the meaning of applicable NYSE listing standards. The Compensation Committee met one time and took action by unanimous written consent two times during fiscal 2003. Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee identifies individuals qualified to become Board members consistent with criteria approved by the Board, recommends for the Board's selection a slate of director nominees for election to the Board at the annual meeting of shareholders, develops and recommends to the Board the Corporate Governance Guidelines applicable to the Company, and oversees the evaluation of the Board and management. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee acts pursuant to a written charter. The members of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee are Messrs. Davidoff, Fisher and Elcan. All members of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee are independent within the meaning of applicable NYSE listing standards. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee was established in March 2004. The Board seeks director candidates who possess the background, skills and expertise to make a significant contribution to the Board, the Company and shareholders. In identifying and evaluating director candidates, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee may consider a number of 4 attributes, including experience, skills, judgment, accountability and integrity, financial literacy, time, industry knowledge, networking/contacts, leadership, independence from management and other factors it deems relevant. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee reviews the desired experience, mix of skills and other qualities to assure appropriate Board composition, taking into account the current directors and specific needs of the Company and the Board. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee may solicit advice from the CEO and other members of the Board. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by the Company's shareholders. Shareholders must submit the name of a proposed shareholder candidate to the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee at the Company's corporate offices by the date specified under 'Shareholder Proposals.' Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is empowered to exercise all of the powers and authority of the Board of Directors between meetings of the Board, other than the power to fill vacancies on the Board or on any Board committee and the power to declare dividends. The members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Rose and Tomchin. The Executive Committee met informally throughout the year and took formal action by unanimous written consent six times during fiscal 2003. CODE OF ETHICS, CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES AND COMMITTEE CHARTERS The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to its employees, officers and directors. A copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics has been filed as an exhibit to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2004 and is posted on the Company's website www.rextv.com. The Company has adopted a set of Corporate Governance Guidelines addressing director qualification standards, director responsibilities, director access to management and independent advisors, director compensation and other matters. A copy of the Corporate Governance Guidelines is posted on the Company's website www.rextv.com. The charters of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee are posted on the Company's website www.rextv.com. Copies of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charters of Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee are available in print to shareholders by contacting Douglas L. Bruggeman, Vice President -- Finance, REX Stores Corporation at (937) 276-3931. PROCEDURES FOR CONTACTING DIRECTORS Shareholders may communicate with the Board, the non-management directors as a group, or a specific director by writing to REX Stores Corporation, 2875 Needmore Road, Dayton, Ohio 45414, Attention: Board of Directors, Non-Management Directors or [Name of Specific Director]. All communications will be forwarded as soon as practicable to the specific director, or if addressed to the Non-Management Directors to the Chairman of the Audit Committee, or, if addressed to the Board, to the Chairman of the Board or other director designated by the Board to receive such communications. DIRECTOR COMPENSATION Directors who are not officers or employees of the Company may receive a fee of up to $1,000 plus reasonable expenses for each meeting of the Board attended. 5 Nonemployee directors are eligible to receive grants of stock options under the Company's 1995 and 1999 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plans. Under the Plans, on the date of each annual meeting of the Company's shareholders, each nonemployee director is awarded a nonqualified stock option to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock such that the exercise price of the option multiplied by the number of shares subject to the option is as near as possible to $100,000, but in no event more than 10,000 shares. The exercise price of each nonqualified option is the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. The options are exercisable in five equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the date of grant and expire ten years from the date of grant. For fiscal 2003, each nonemployee director was granted an option to purchase 8,305 shares at an exercise price of $12.04 per share. AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT The Audit Committee assists Board oversight of the integrity of the financial statements of the Company. The Audit Committee is comprised of nonemployee directors who meet the independence and financial experience requirements of applicable NYSE listing standards and SEC rules. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter, a copy of which is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix A. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the Company's systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Committee reviewed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K with management, including a discussion of the quality and the acceptability of the Company's financial reporting and controls. The Committee reviewed with the independent auditors, who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgments as to the quality and the acceptability of the Company's financial reporting and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Committee under generally accepted auditing standards. In addition, the Committee has discussed with the independent auditors the auditors' independence from management and the Company, including the matters in the auditors' written disclosures required by the Independence Standards Board. The Committee also discussed with the Company's independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Committee meets periodically with the independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the Company's internal controls, and the overall quality of the Company's financial reporting. In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AUDIT COMMITTEE ROBERT DAVIDOFF LEE FISHER CHARLES A. ELCAN 6 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE The following table sets forth the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to the Chief Executive Officer, and to each of the other executive officers of the Company whose total annual salary and bonus exceeded $100,000, for services rendered in all capacities to the Company and its subsidiaries for each of the last three fiscal years. All information concerning stock options in the following tables reflects 3-for-2 stock splits in August 2001 and February 2002.

--------- (1) Amounts in this column represent employer matching contributions on behalf of the named executive under the Company's Profit Sharing Plan. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS Stuart A. Rose has an employment agreement with Rex Radio and Television, Inc. that provides for an annual salary of $154,500, a cash bonus at the discretion of the Board of Directors, participation in all employee benefit plans and reimbursement for business expenses. The agreement is for a term of three years commencing January 1, 2003 and is automatically renewed for additional one-year terms until Mr. Rose's resignation, death, total disability or termination of employment for cause, unless earlier terminated by either party upon 180 days written notice. Lawrence Tomchin had a similar employment agreement during fiscal 2003 that was replaced with the agreement described below upon his retirement as President and Chief Operating Officer effective January 31, 2004. Mr. Tomchin has an employment agreement with Rex Radio and Television, Inc. that provides for an annual salary of $77,250, a cash bonus at the discretion of the Board of Directors, participation in all employee benefit plans and reimbursement for business expenses. The agreement is for a term of one year commencing February 1, 2004 and is automatically renewed for additional one-year terms until Mr. Tomchin's resignation, death, total disability or termination of employment for cause, or unless earlier terminated by either party upon 90 days written notice. 7 OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR The following table sets forth information concerning individual grants of stock options made to the named executive officers during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004.

--------- (1) Nonqualified options granted pursuant to the Company's 1999 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan. These options become exercisable in five cumulative installments of 20% on each anniversary of the date of grant. The date of grant was September 30, 2003. AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES The following table sets forth information concerning each exercise of stock options during fiscal 2003 by each of the named executive officers and the fiscal year-end value of unexercised options.

--------- (1) Unexercised options were in-the-money if the fair market value of the underlying shares exceeded the exercise price of the option at January 31, 2004. 8 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

--------- (1) Includes the Company's 1995 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan. (2) Includes the Company's 1999 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan, the 1998 Nonqualified Executive Stock Options and the 2001 Nonqualified Executive Stock Options. Under the 1999 Omnibus Plan, the Company may grant to officers and key employees awards in the form of nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, other stock-based awards and cash incentive awards. The 1999 Omnibus Plan also provides for yearly grants of nonqualified stock options to directors who are not employees of the Company. The exercise price of each option must be at least 100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. A maximum of 4,500,000 shares are authorized for issuance under the 1999 Omnibus Plan, of which 2,304,153 shares remain available for issuance. The 1998 Nonqualified Executive Stock Options and the 2001 Nonqualified Executive Stock Options are individual compensation arrangements. On October 14, 1998, nonqualified stock options for 1,462,500 shares were granted to Messrs. Rose and Tomchin at an exercise price of $4.42 per share, which represented the market price on the date of grant, in connection with their entering into three year employment agreements. These options are fully exercisable and outstanding. On April 17, 2001, nonqualified stock options for 1,462,500 shares were granted to Messrs. Rose and Tomchin at an exercise price of $8.01 per share, which represented the market price on the date of grant, in connection with their entering into new three year employment agreements. These options become exercisable in one-third increments on December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The Compensation Committee reviews and approves Chief Executive Officer (CEO) compensation, makes recommendations to the Board with respect to non-CEO compensation and compensatory plans, and administers the Company's 1995 and 1999 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plans. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION POLICIES The goal of the Company's executive compensation policy is to ensure that an appropriate relationship exists between executive pay and the creation of shareholder value, while at the same time motivating and retaining key employees. To achieve this goal, the Company's executive compensation policies integrate base salary with annual bonuses based upon corporate and individual performance, supplemented with long-term equity-based incentive awards. 9 Base salary is intended to be set at a level below the base salaries paid to executives of similarly-sized companies within the industry and the peer group. Salaries for executive officers are reviewed by the Committee on an annual basis, subject to the terms of any existing employment agreements. Annual bonuses are intended to comprise a substantial portion of each senior executive officer's annual cash compensation and are based upon corporate financial performance. For fiscal 2003, to reflect tax savings realized from the Company's investments generating income tax credits, the Committee established the amount of the Company's after-tax earnings as a percentage of net sales (the 'After-Tax Earnings Percentage') as the performance measure for determining senior executives' bonuses. In calculating after-tax earnings for this purpose, the Company's effective federal income tax rate cannot go below 0%. Annual bonuses for the executive officers other than senior executives are established by the Chief Executive Officer based on his assessment of the individual's performance. Long-term incentive awards are made in the form of annual grants of incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options pursuant to the Omnibus Plans. Stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and other stock-based awards may also be granted under the Plans. The Committee feels that stock options and other stock-based awards are an effective long-term incentive for executive officers to create value for shareholders, since their value bears a direct relationship to the Company's stock price. Stock options are granted at the fair market value of the underlying shares at the date of grant (unless otherwise required by applicable law), and generally vest in installments over multiple years. During fiscal 2003, nonqualified stock options were granted under the 1999 Omnibus Plan to 74 employees, including one executive officer, based primarily on the individual's contribution to the Company's growth and profitability. CEO COMPENSATION Stuart A. Rose, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, received a base salary of $154,500 in fiscal 2003 pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement. Mr. Rose earned a cash bonus of $984,225 for fiscal 2003, compared to his fiscal 2002 cash bonus of $882,800. This increase was based on the fiscal 2003 After-Tax Earnings Percentage of 5.965% (compared to the fiscal 2002 After-Tax Earnings Percentage of 5.35%). In determining Mr. Rose's cash bonus, the Committee utilized a measure of a $165,000 cash bonus for each After-Tax Earnings Percentage point. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 162(M) Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally disallows a federal income tax deduction to a public company for compensation paid in excess of $1 million in any taxable year to the corporation's chief executive officer or any of its other named executive officers in the proxy statement. Depending upon the number of options exercised by an executive officer in a particular year and the value of the underlying shares at that time, exercise of the 1998 or 2001 nonqualified executive stock options or the nonqualified options granted under the 1999 Omnibus Plan could result in the individual's annual compensation exceeding the $1 million deduction limitation. For fiscal 2003, a portion of Mr. Rose's compensation from salary and bonus exceeded the $1 million deduction limitation. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ROBERT DAVIDOFF LEE FISHER CHARLES A. ELCAN 10 PERFORMANCE GRAPH Set forth below is a line graph comparing the yearly percentage change in the cumulative total shareholder return on the Company's Common Stock against the cumulative total return of the S&P 500 Stock Index and a peer index comprised of three selected publicly traded consumer electronics retailers (*) for the period commencing January 31, 1999 and ended January 31, 2004. The graph assumes an investment of $100 in the Company's Common Stock and each index on January 31, 1999 and reinvestment of all dividends. [PERFORMANCE GRAPH] REX STORES CORPORATION Comparison of Five Year Cumulative Total Return (REX Stores Corporation, S&P 500 and Peer Group)

--------- * The peer group is comprised of Tweeter Home Entertainment Group, Inc., Ultimate Electronics, Inc. and Conn's, Inc. The peer group used in prior years included Good Guys, Inc. Good Guys, Inc. was acquired by CompUSA Inc. in December 2003 and has been replaced with Conn's, Inc. which went public in November 2003. Peer group return reflects Conn's, Inc. return from that date forward. 11 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT The following table sets forth, as of April 22, 2004 (the record date for the Annual Meeting), certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock by each director and nominee for director of the Company, each executive officer of the Company, all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group and those persons or groups known by the Company to own more than 5% of the Company's Common Stock. For purposes of this table, a person is considered to 'beneficially own' any shares if such person, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise, has (or has the right to acquire within 60 days after April 22, 2004) sole or shared power (i) to vote or to direct the voting of such shares or (ii) to dispose or to direct the disposition of such shares. Unless otherwise indicated, voting power and investment power are exercised solely by the named person or shared with members of his household.

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--------- * One percent or less. (1) Percentages are calculated on the basis of the number of shares outstanding on April 22, 2004 plus the number of shares issuable upon the exercise of options held by the person or group which are exercisable within 60 days after April 22, 2004. (2) Includes (i) 462,209 shares held by the Stuart Rose Family Foundation, an Ohio nonprofit corporation of which Mr. Rose is the sole member, chief executive officer and one of three members of the board of trustees, the other two being members of his immediate family and (ii) 1,901,600 shares issuable upon the exercise of options. (3) Includes 4,200 shares held by Mr. Tomchin's wife and 758,664 shares issuable upon the exercise of options. (4) Includes 97,164 shares issuable upon the exercise of options. (5) Includes 20,160 shares held by Mr. Kress as co-trustee of two trusts with respect to which Mr. Kress has shared voting and investment power, 4,775 shares held by Mr. Kress as trustee of two trusts for the benefit of his children and 97,164 shares issuable upon the exercise of options. (6) Includes 44,425 shares issuable upon the exercise of options. (7) Includes 1,661 shares issuable upon the exercise of options. (8) Includes 202,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of options. (9) Includes 3,101,017 shares issuable upon the exercise of options. (10) Based on a Schedule 13G filing dated February 14, 2003. Fidelity Management & Research Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR Corp. and a registered investment adviser, is the beneficial owner of 1,400,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company as a result of acting as investment adviser to various registered investment companies. One investment company, Fidelity Low Priced Stock Fund, owns 1,400,000 shares. Edward C. Johnson 3d (Chairman of FMR Corp.), (footnotes continued on next page) 13 (footnotes continued from previous page) FMR Corp., through its control of Fidelity Management & Research Company, and the funds each has sole power to dispose of the 1,400,000 shares owned by the funds, while the sole power to vote or direct the voting of the shares owned directly by the Fidelity funds resides with the funds' boards of trustees. (11) Based on a Schedule 13G filed February 3, 2004. Vanguard Capital Opportunity Fund, a registered investment company, has sole power to vote or direct the voting of 875,000 shares. PRIMECAP Management Company, a registered investment adviser, filed a Schedule 13G dated December 31, 2003 showing it has sole power to dispose of 875,000 shares. The Company believes these are the same 875,000 shares reported as beneficially owned by the Fund. (12) Based on a Schedule 13G filing dated February 6, 2004. Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc., a registered investment adviser, furnishes investment advice to four registered investment companies and serves as investment manager to certain other commingled group trusts and separate accounts. In its role as investment adviser or manager, Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. has sole power to vote and dispose of 835,942 shares owned by these funds. Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares. (13) Based on a Schedule 13G filing dated February 6, 2004. Royce & Associates, LLC, a registered investment adviser, has sole power to vote or direct the voting and sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of 816,500 shares. (14) Based on a Schedule 13G filing dated February 5, 2004. All shares of Common Stock are owned by various investment advisory clients of Investment Counselors of Maryland, Inc., which is deemed to be a beneficial owner of those shares due to its discretionary power to make investment decisions over such shares for its clients and its ability to vote such shares. Investment Counselors of Maryland, Inc. has sole power to vote 458,900 shares, shared power to vote 154,000 shares and sole power to dispose of 612,900 shares. SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's directors and executive officers to file reports of ownership and changes of ownership of the Company's Common Stock with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company believes that during fiscal 2003 all filing requirements applicable to its directors and executive officers were met. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS Rex Radio and Television, Inc. leases 10,000 square feet for a store in a strip shopping center in Beavercreek, Ohio, from Stuart Rose/Beavercreek, Inc. under a lease dated December 12, 1994. The shareholders of Stuart Rose/Beavercreek, Inc. are Stuart A. Rose and Lawrence Tomchin. Base rent is $82,500 per year. During fiscal 2003, the Company paid the law firm of Chernesky, Heyman & Kress P.L.L., of which Edward M. Kress is a partner, a total of $422,167 for legal services. 14 INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Deloitte & Touche LLP served as the Company's independent public accountants for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004, and has served in that capacity since 2002. It is anticipated that representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders and to make a statement if they desire to do so. The Board of Directors of the Company annually appoints the independent public accountants for the Company after receiving the recommendations of its Audit Committee. No recommendation of the Audit Committee has been made concerning the appointment of independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2005. AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT FEES The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed to the Company for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2004 and 2003 by Deloitte & Touche LLP:

--------- (1) Audit Fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company's annual financial statements and review of the interim financial statements included in the Company's quarterly reports and services that are normally provided by Deloitte & Touche LLP in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. (2) Audit-Related Fees consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company's financial statements and are not reported under 'Audit Fees.' This category included fees related to the audit of the financial statements of the Companys' employee benefit plan and, in fiscal 2003, Sarbanes-Oxley readiness procedures. (3) Tax Fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. (4) All Other Fees consist of fees for products and services other than services reported above. POLICY ON AUDIT COMMITTEE PRE-APPROVAL OF AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES The Audit Committee's policy is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent public accountants. The Audit Committee will generally pre-approve a list of specific services and categories of services, including audit, audit-related, tax and other services, for the upcoming or current fiscal year, subject to a specified dollar limit. Any material service not included in the approved list of services, and all services in excess of the pre-approved dollar limit, must be 15 separately pre-approved by the Audit Committee. The independent public accountants and management are required to periodically report to the Audit Committee all services performed and fees charged to date by the independent public accountants pursuant to the pre-approval policy. None of the fees billed by the independent public accountants for Audit-Related, Tax and Other Services described above were approved by the Audit Committee after the services were rendered pursuant to the de minimus exception under SEC rules. CHANGE OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS IN 2002 On June 13, 2002, the Company's Board of Directors voted to approve the engagement of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's independent auditor for the year ending January 31, 2003, subject to customary client acceptance procedures, and to dismiss the firm of Arthur Andersen LLP. The decision to change accountants was recommended and approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. The reports of Arthur Andersen LLP on the Company's financial statements for the years ended January 31, 2002 and 2001 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. In connection with the audits of the Company's financial statements for the years ended January 31, 2002 and 2001, and through June 13, 2002, there were no disagreements with Arthur Andersen LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Arthur Andersen LLP, would have caused Arthur Andersen LLP to make reference thereto in its report on the Company's financial statements for such years. No event of the type described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K occurred during the period described above. Prior to the Board's determination to engage Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's independent auditors for the year ending January 31, 2003, Deloitte & Touche LLP was not consulted on accounting treatment and disclose requirements. OTHER BUSINESS SOLICITATION OF PROXIES The Company will bear the entire expense of this proxy solicitation. Arrangements will be made with brokers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to send proxy solicitation materials to their principals and the Company will, upon request, reimburse them for their reasonable expenses in so doing. Officers and other regular employees of the Company may solicit proxies by mail, in person or by telephone. OTHER MATTERS The Board of Directors does not know of any matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting other than those mentioned above. However, if other matters should properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof, the proxy holders will vote the proxies thereon in their discretion. 16 SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS Proposals by shareholders intended to be presented at the Company's 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must, in accordance with applicable regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, be received by the Secretary of the Company at 2875 Needmore Road, Dayton, Ohio 45414 on or before December 30, 2004 in order to be considered for inclusion in the Company's proxy materials for that meeting. Shareholder proposals intended to be submitted at the 2005 Annual Meeting outside the processes of Rule 14a-8 will be considered untimely under Rule 14a-4(c)(1) if not received by the Company at its corporate offices on or before March 15, 2005. If the Company does not receive timely notice of such proposal, the proxy holders will vote on the proposal, if presented at the meeting, in their discretion. Shareholder recommendations for director candidates must be received by the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee at the Company's corporate offices on or before December 30, 2004 to be considered for nomination in connection with the 2005 Annual Meeting. Names submitted after this deadline will not be considered. By Order of the Board of Directors EDWARD M. KRESS EDWARD M. KRESS Secretary April 29, 2004 Dayton, Ohio 17 APPENDIX A REX STORES CORPORATION AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER I. PURPOSE The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors shall assist Board oversight of (i) the integrity of the financial statements of the Company, (ii) the Company's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (iii) the independent accountants' qualifications and independence and (iv) the performance of the Company's internal audit function and independent accountants. The Audit Committee shall be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the Company's independent accountants. The Audit Committee shall prepare an audit committee report as required by the Securities and Exchange Commission to be included in the Company's annual proxy statement. II. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP The Audit Committee shall be comprised of at least three directors of the Company. Each member of the Audit Committee shall satisfy the independence, experience and financial expertise requirements of applicable law and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In addition, at least one member of the Audit Committee shall have accounting or related financial management expertise or shall be an audit committee financial expert as defined by applicable law and NYSE listing standards. Director's fees are the only compensation that an Audit Committee member may receive from the Company. The Board of Directors shall appoint the members of the Audit Committee. The members of the Audit Committee shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualify, and shall designate the Chairman of the Audit Committee. III. MEETINGS The Audit Committee shall meet regularly as necessary to discharge its responsibilities and duties or as circumstances require. The Audit Committee shall meet periodically with management, the independent accountants and those responsible for the internal audit function in separate executive sessions in furtherance of its purpose. IV. AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES A. AUTHORITY The Audit Committee shall have sole authority and be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent accountants employed by the Company (including resolution of disagreements between management and the accountants regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services, and such independent accountants shall report directly to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee shall pre-approve all audit, review and attest engagements and all permissible non-audit services, unless the engagement is entered into pursuant to pre-approval policies and procedures established by the Audit Committee that are detailed as to the particular service and A-1 the Audit Committee is informed of each service, or as otherwise permitted by applicable law with respect to de minimus non-audit services. The Audit Committee may consult with management, but shall not delegate these responsibilities to management. The Audit Committee shall have the authority to engage independent counsel and other advisers as it determines necessary to carry out its duties, and to conduct or authorize investigations into any matters within the scope of its responsibilities. The Company shall provide appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit Committee in its capacity as a committee of the Board of Directors, for payment of (i) compensation to the independent accountants engaged to render or issue an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company, (ii) compensation to any advisers employed by the Audit Committee and (iii) ordinary administrative expenses of the Audit Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties. B. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES In carrying out its responsibilities and duties, the Audit Committee shall: Review and discuss with management and the independent accountants the Company's annual audited financial statements, including disclosures made in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A), and the matters required to be discussed pursuant to Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 61, and recommend to the Board whether the audited financial statements should be included in the Company's Form 10-K. Review and discuss with management and the independent accountants the Company's quarterly financial statements, including disclosures made under MD&A or similar disclosures, and the matters required to be discussed pursuant to SAS No. 61, prior to the filing of the Company's Form 10-Q, including the results of the independent accountants' reviews of the quarterly financial statements to the extent applicable. Review and discuss with management and the independent accountants, as applicable: all significant accounting principles and practices, including critical accounting policies and estimates, used by the Company in the preparation of its financial statements, and any significant changes in the Company's selection or application of significant or critical accounting principles, practices, policies, or estimates; all alternative treatments within generally accepted accounting principles for policies and practices related to material items discussed with management, including the ramifications of the use of alternative disclosures and treatments and the treatment preferred by the independent accountants; material written communications between the independent accountants and management, such as any management letter or schedule of unadjusted differences; the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company's internal controls, any material weaknesses identified by management or the independent accountants, and any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses; any problems, difficulties or differences encountered in the course of the audit work, including any disagreements with management or restrictions on the scope of the independent accountants' activities or on access to requested information; A-2 the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the financial statements; and the Company's earnings press releases as well as financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies (generally by type of information to be disclosed and not necessarily in advance of release). Discuss with management the Company's major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures. Obtain and review a report from the independent accountants at least annually regarding (i) the independent accountants' internal quality-control procedures, (ii) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm and (iii) any steps taken to deal with any such issues. Evaluate the qualifications, performance and independence of the independent accountants, including all relationships between the independent accountants and the Company, and obtain from the independent accountants the written disclosures as required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1. Ensure that the lead partner and the concurring partner of the independent accountants responsible for the audit are rotated at least every five years as required by applicable law, rules and regulations. Recommend to the Board of Directors policies for the Company's hiring of employees or former employees of the independent accountants who were engaged on the Company's account. Discuss with the independent accountants the Company's internal audit function. Establish procedures for (i) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. Make regular reports to the Board of Directors. Review and reassess the adequacy of this charter annually. Annually review the Audit Committee's own performance. V. LIMITATIONS OF AUDIT COMMITTEE'S ROLES While the Audit Committee has the responsibility and authority set forth in this charter, it is not the duty of the Audit Committee to prepare financial statements, plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Company's financial statements and disclosures are complete and accurate and are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable rules and regulations. These are the responsibilities of management and the independent accountants. Adopted: March 30, 2004 A-3 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF REX STORES CORPORATION May 27, 2004 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. ____ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE [X] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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: O -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. IN THEIR DISCRETION the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the Meeting. This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors and will be voted as directed herein. If no direction is given, this proxy shall be voted FOR Proposal 1. --------------- ------- ------------- ----------- 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. PROXY REX STORES CORPORATION Proxy for Annual Meeting of Shareholders May 27, 2004 The undersigned hereby appoints Stuart A. Rose and Lawrence Tomchin and each of them proxies for the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote all the shares of Common Stock of REX STORES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held on Thursday, May 27, 2004, at 2:00 p.m. and any adjournments thereof. (Continued, and to be signed, on the other side) 14475