Hickok Incorporated Proxy Statement 2009
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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-12
Hickok Incorporated
(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:
HICKOK INCORPORATED
10514 Dupont Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44108
January 26,
2010
To the Shareholders of Hickok Incorporated:
The Company will hold its Annual Meeting of Shareholders at 10:00 a.m.,
EST.,
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at BRATENAHL PLACE, 1 Bratenahl Place,
Bratenahl,
Ohio 44108.
We hope that you are planning to attend the Annual Meeting in person,
and
we look forward to seeing you. Whether or not you expect to attend in
person,
the return of the enclosed Proxy as soon as possible would be greatly
appreciated. If you do attend the Annual Meeting you may, of course,
withdraw your Proxy
should you wish to vote in person.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and management of Hickok
Incorporated,
I would like to thank you for your continued support and confidence.
Sincerely,
/s/ Janet H. Slade
Janet H. Slade
Chairman of the Board
|
/s/ Robert L. Bauman
Robert L. Bauman
President and Chief
Executive Officer
|
Important Notice
regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Hickok
Incorporated
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be Held on Wednesday, February 24,
2010:
The Proxy
Statement and
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended September 30, 2009 are available at our
website:
www.hickok-inc.com/files/financial
HICKOK INCORPORATED
10514 Dupont Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44108
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
OF SHAREHOLDERS
MAILED TO SHAREHOLDERS
ON JANUARY 26, 2010
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Hickok Incorporated, an Ohio
corporation
(the "Company"), will be held at BRATENAHL PLACE, 1 Bratenahl Place,
Bratenahl,
Ohio, on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 10:00 a.m., EST., for the
following
purposes:
1. To fix the number of Directors at eight and elect seven
Directors;
and
2. To ratify the selection of the independent auditor for 2010; and
3. To approve and adopt the 2010 Outside Directors Stock Option Plan;
and
4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting
or any adjournment thereof.
Only shareholders of record, as of the close of business on January 4,
2010,
will be entitled to receive notice of and to vote at this meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors.
/s/ Robert L. Bauman
Robert L. Bauman
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
January 26, 2010
IMPORTANT
Please fill in and sign the enclosed Proxy and return it in the
accompanying
envelope regardless of whether you expect to attend the Annual Meeting
or
not. If you attend the Annual Meeting you may vote your shares in
person,
even though you have previously signed and returned your Proxy.
HICKOK INCORPORATED
10514 Dupont Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44108
PROXY STATEMENT
Mailed to shareholders on January 26, 2010
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation
of
proxies by the Board of Directors of Hickok Incorporated (hereinafter
the
"Company") to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
the
Company to be held on February 24, 2010, and any adjournments thereof.
The
time, place, and purpose of the meeting are stated in the Notice of
Annual
Meeting of Shareholders (the "Notice") which accompanies this
Proxy
Statement.
The expense of soliciting proxies, including the cost of preparing,
assembling,
and mailing the Notice, Proxy Statement, and Proxy will be paid by the
Company.
In addition to solicitation of proxies by mail, solicitation may be
made
personally, by telephone or other electronic means, and the Company may
pay
persons holding shares for others their expenses for sending proxy
materials
to their principals. While the Company presently intends that
solicitations
will be made only by Directors, officers, and employees of the Company,
the
Company may retain outside solicitors to assist in the solicitation of
proxies.
Any expenses incurred in connection with the use of outside solicitors
will be paid by the Company.
Any person giving a Proxy pursuant to this solicitation may revoke it.
The
General Corporation Law of Ohio provides that, a shareholder, without
affecting
any vote previously taken, may revoke a Proxy not otherwise revoked by
a
later appointment received by the Company or by giving notice of
revocation to the Company in writing, in a verifiable communication, or
in open
meeting.
Mere presence at the Annual Meeting will not revoke a proxy.
All validly executed Proxies received by the Board of Directors of the
Company
pursuant to this solicitation will be voted at the Annual Meeting, and
the
directions contained in such Proxies will be followed in each instance.
If
no directions are given, the Proxy will be voted to fix the number of
Directors
at eight and for the election of all of the nominees listed in the
Proxy
and for the other proposals set forth in the Notice.
VOTING RIGHTS
At the close of business on January 4, 2010, the Company had 793,229
shares
of Class A Common Stock, $1.00 par value ("Class A Shares"),
outstanding
and entitled to vote. Additionally, on such date there were 454,866
shares
of Class B Common Stock, $1.00 par value ("Class B Shares"),
outstanding
and entitled to vote. The holders of the outstanding Class A Shares as
of
January 4, 2010 shall be entitled to one vote for each share held. The
holders
of the outstanding Class B Shares as of said date shall be entitled to
three
votes for each share held. The General Corporation Law of Ohio
generally
provides that if notice in writing is given by any shareholder to the
President, Vice President or the Secretary of the Company not less than
48 hours before
the time fixed for holding the meeting, that such shareholder desires
the voting at
such
election to be cumulative, and an announcement of the giving of such
notice
is made upon the convening of the meeting by the Chairman or Secretary
of
the meeting or by or on behalf of the shareholder giving such notice,
each
shareholder shall have cumulative voting rights in the election of
Directors,
enabling any shareholder to give one nominee for Director as many votes
as is equal
to
the number of Directors to be elected multiplied by the number of
shares
in respect of which such shareholder is voting, or to distribute his or
her
votes
on the same principle among two or more nominees, as he or she sees
fit. Only
shareholders
of record at the close of business on January 4, 2010 are entitled to
notice
of and to vote at this meeting.
At the Annual Meeting, in accordance with the General Corporation Law
of
Ohio, the inspectors of election appointed by the Board of Directors
for
the Annual Meeting will determine the presence of a quorum and will
tabulate
the results of shareholder voting. As provided by the General
Corporation
Law of Ohio and the Company's Amended Code of Regulations, holders of a
majority
of the outstanding shares of the Company, present in person or by proxy
at
the Annual Meeting, will constitute a quorum for such meeting. The
inspectors
of election intend to treat properly executed proxies marked "abstain"
as
"present" for these purposes. Such inspectors will also treat as
"present"
shares held in "street name" by brokers that are voted on at least one
proposal
to come before the Annual Meeting.
The vote required to approve the proposal regarding the election of
Directors
is included in the appropriate description below. Any additional
questions
and matters brought before the Annual Meeting will be, unless otherwise
provided
by the Articles of Incorporation of the Company or the General
Corporation
Law of Ohio, decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding
votes thereon present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. In
voting for such other proposals, votes may be cast in favor, against or
abstained.
Abstentions will count as present for purposes of the item on which the
abstention
is noted and will have the effect of a vote against. Broker non-votes,
however,
are not counted as present for purposes of determining whether a
proposal
has been approved and will have no effect on the outcome of any such
proposal.
PRINCIPAL OWNERSHIP
The shareholders named in the following table include each executive
officer
named in the Executive Compensation tables below and those persons
known
by the Company to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the
outstanding
Common Shares of the Company as of January 4, 2010. In addition, this
table
includes the beneficial ownership of Common Shares by the Directors and
Executive
Officers of the Company as a group on January 4, 2010.
Title of Class
|
Name and Business Address
of Beneficial Owner
|
Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned (1)
|
Percent
of Class
|
Common Shares,
$1.00 par value,
Class A and Class B |
Janet H. Slade (2)
5862 Briar Hill Drive
Solon, Ohio 44139
|
9,253
Class
A (3)
94,642 Class B (4)
|
1.2%
20.8%
|
|
Gretchen L. Hickok (2)
3445 Park East, Apt. A203
Solon, Ohio 44139
|
1,500
Class
A
115,056 Class B
|
|
|
Patricia H. Aplin (2)
7404 Camale Drive
Pensacola, Florida 32504
|
4,994
Class
A (5)
118,042 Class B (5)
|
|
|
Robert L. Bauman
10514 Dupont Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44108
|
60,413
Class
A (6)
127,126 Class B (7)
|
7.5%
28.0%
|
|
Glaubman Rosenberg & Robotti
Fund, L.P.
708 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10014
|
78,614
Class A (8)
|
9.9%
|
|
Robert E. Robotti
52 Vanderbilt Avenue
New York, New York 10017
|
104,339
Class
A (9)
|
13.2%
|
|
Steven Tannenbaum
420 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
|
76,050 Class A (10)
|
9.6%
|
|
All Directors and Executive
Officers as a group (9 persons)
|
214,615 Class A (11)
221,768 Class B
|
24.9%
48.8%
|
* Less than one percent
|
|
|
|
(1) Pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, a
person
is deemed to be a beneficial owner of a security if he or she has or
shares
voting or investment power in respect of such security or has the right
to
acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. Accordingly, the amounts
shown
throughout this Proxy Statement do not purport to represent beneficial
ownership,
except as determined in accordance with said Rule.
(2) Daughter of the late Robert D. Hickok.
(3) Includes 9,000 Class A Common Shares which Ms. Slade, as a
Director,
has the right to acquire upon the exercise of immediately exercisable
options.
The ownership of 253 Class A Common Shares held by the Florence
Janet Slade Trust is
attributed to Ms. Slade pursuant to the Securities and
Exchange Commission rules.
(4) The ownership of 94,642 Class B Common Shares held by the Florence
Janet Slade Trust is
attributed to Ms. Slade pursuant
to the Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
(5) Shares are held by the Patricia Hickok Aplin Revocable Trust.
(6) Includes an aggregate of 15,000
Class A Common Shares which may be acquired by Mr. Bauman upon the
exercise of immediately exercisable options. The ownership of 40,613
Class A Common
Shares held by the Susan F. Bauman Revocable Trust and 4,800 Class A
Common
Shares held by the Robert L. Bauman Revocable Trust are attributed to
Mr. Bauman pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
(7) The ownership of 127,126 Class B Common Shares held by the Robert
L.
Bauman Revocable Trust is attributed to Mr. Bauman pursuant to the
Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
(8) Based
on a Form 4/A filed June 10, 2009 with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Form 4/A indicates that the following reporting persons
have shared voting
and
shared dispositive power over 78,614 shares of the Company's Class A
common
stock: The Glaubman Rosenberg & Robotti Fund, L.P., Glaubman
&
Rosenberg Partners, LLC., Glaubman & Rosenberg Advisors, LLC.,
Joseph
Hain and Kirin Smith. According to a Form 4 filed June 18, 2009, Joseph
Hain
has sole voting and dispositive power over an additional 4,150 such
shares (for a total, combined with the above mentioned 78,614 shares,
of 82,764 shares or 10.4% of the Class), and according to a Form 4
filed June 18, 2009, Kirin
Smith has
sole voting and dispositive power over an additional 5,935 such shares
(for
a total, combined with the above mentioned 78,614 shares, of 84,549
shares or 10.7%
of the Class).
(9) Based on a Schedule 13D/A
filed March 5, 2008 with the Securities
and
Exchange Commission. According to the Schedule 13D/A, the
following
reporting persons have shared voting and dispositive power over 104,339
shares of the Company's
Class
A common stock: Robert E. Robotti, Kenneth R. Wasiak, Ravenswood
Management
Company, L.L.C. According to Schedule 13D/A, The Ravenswood Investment
Company,
L.P. has shared voting and shared dispositive power over 73,854 shares
of
the Company's Class A common stock (or 9.3% of the Class), and
Ravenswood
Investments III, L.P. has shared voting and
shared dispositive power over 30,485 shares of the Company's Class A
common
stock (or 3.8% of the Class).
(10) Based on a Schedule 13G
filed March 10, 2008 with the Securities
and
Exchange Commission. According to the Schedule 13G, the following
reporting
persons have sole voting and dispositive power over 76,050 shares of
the Company's
Class A
common stock: Steven Tannenbaum and Greenwood Investments, Inc.
According
to Schedule 13G, Greenwood Investors Limited Partnership has sole
voting
and dispositive power over 36,050 shares of the Company's Class A
common
stock (or 4.5% of the
Class), and
Greenwood Capital Limited Partnership has sole voting and dispositive
power
over 40,000 shares of the Company's Class A common stock (or 5.0% of
the Class).
(11) Includes 69,000 Class
A
Common
Shares which the Directors and the Executive Officers of the Company
have
the right to acquire upon the exercise of immediately exercisable
options.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The number of Directors of the Company is presently fixed at seven. The
term
of office of each Director expires annually. The individuals elected to
the
office of Director at the Annual Meeting will hold office until the
next
Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors have been
duly
elected.
The Board of Directors recommends that the number of Directors be fixed
at eight, that seven of such directorships be filled by the vote of the
shareholders
at the Annual Meeting, and that the seven nominees hereinafter named be
elected.
The Board of Directors believes that the election of one less Director
than
authorized will provide the Board with flexibility during the year to
appoint
an additional member to the Board, when and if an individual whose
services
would be beneficial to the Company and its shareholders is identified.
The nominees receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected.
The
Proxy holders named in the accompanying Proxy or their substitutes will
vote
such Proxy at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof for the
election
as Directors of the nominees named below unless the shareholder
instructs,
by marking the appropriate space on the Proxy, that authority to vote
is
withheld. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the
election
of Directors. If cumulative voting is in effect, the Proxy holders
shall have
full discretion and authority to vote for any one or more of such
nominees.
In the event that the voting is cumulative, the Proxy holders will vote
the
shares represented by each Proxy so as to maximize the number of
nominees
elected to the Board of Directors. However, the shares represented by
each
Proxy cannot be voted by the Proxy holders for a greater number of
nominees
than those identified in this Proxy Statement. Each of the nominees has
indicated
his or her willingness to serve as a Director, if elected. If any
nominee
should become unavailable for election (which contingency is not now
contemplated
or foreseen), it is intended that the shares represented by the Proxy
will be voted for such substitute nominee as may be named by the Board
of Directors.
INFORMATION CONCERNING NOMINEES
FOR DIRECTORS
Name and Age
|
Business
Experience (1)
|
Year in
which first
elected
Director
|
|
Common
Shares (2)
beneficially
owned as of
January 4,
2010
|
Percent
of class
beneficially
owned
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert L. Bauman (3)
Age: 69
|
President and Chief Executive
Officer
of
the Company since July 1993; Chairman
of the Company from July 1993 to May
2001
|
1980
|
|
60,413 (4)
Class A
127,126 (5)
Class B
|
7.5%
28.0%
|
T. Harold Hudson
Age: 70
|
President, AAPRA Associates,
LLC,
(con-
sulting firm) since June 1999; Senior Vice
President of Engineering and Design of
Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc. for five years
prior to June 1999
|
1992
|
|
12,500 (6)
Class A |
1.6%
|
James T. Martin
Age: 78
|
Consultant, self employed, since
Septem-
ber 1997; President
and
Chief Executive
Officer, Meaden & Moore, Ltd. (regional,
Cleveland based CPA firm) for five years
prior to September 1997
|
1999
|
|
9,900 (7)
Class A
|
1.2%
|
Michael L. Miller
Age: 68
|
Retired Partner of Calfee,
Halter
&
Griswold LLP, the Company's Legal
Counsel. Mr. Miller became a Partner of
the firm in January 1972
|
1992
|
|
14,000 (7)
Class A
|
1.7%
|
Hugh S. Seaholm
Age: 58
|
President and Chief Executive
Officer,
Universal Metal Products, Inc. (custom
metal stamping manufacturer) since Janu-
ary 1987
|
2002
|
|
6,000 (8)
Class A
|
*
|
Janet H. Slade
Age: 66
|
Chairman of the Company since
May
2001; Private Investor for five years prior
to May 2001 |
1992
|
|
9,253 (7) (9)
Class A
94,642 (10)
Class B
|
1.2%
20.8%
|
Kirin M. Smith
Age: 31
|
Managing Partner of the
Glaubman, Rosenberg & Robotti Fund, L.P. (fundamental equity
investment fund) since November 2005; Assistant Vice President,
Financial Dynamics (business and financial communications
consultancies) for five years prior to November 2005
|
2009
|
|
84,549 (11) Class A
|
10.7%
|
* Less than one percent
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, the
principal
occupation shown for each of the Company's Directors has been the
principal
occupation of such person for at least the past five years. Each
Director
may be reached c/o the Company at 10514 Dupont Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio
44108.
(2) Class A Common Shares are indicated by "Class A"; Class B Common
Shares
are indicated by "Class B".
(3) Mr. Robert L. Bauman is the brother of Mr. Thomas F. Bauman, the
Company's
Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing.
(4) Includes an aggregate of 15,000 Class A Common Shares which may be
acquired
by Mr. Bauman upon the exercise of immediately exercisable options. The
ownership
of 40,613 Class A Common Shares held by the Susan F. Bauman Revocable
Trust
and 4,800 Class A Common Shares held by the Robert L. Bauman Revocable
Trust
are attributed to Mr. Bauman pursuant to the Securities and Exchange
Commission
rules.
(5) The ownership of 127,126 Class B Common Shares held by the Robert
L.
Bauman Revocable Trust is attributed to Mr. Bauman pursuant to the
Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
(6) Includes 3,000 Class A Common Shares which may be acquired upon the
exercise
of immediately exercisable options.
(7) Includes 9,000 Class A Common Shares which may be acquired upon the
exercise
of immediately exercisable options.
(8) Includes 6,000 Class A Common Shares which may be acquired upon the
exercise
of immediately exercisable options.
(9) The ownership of 253 Class A Common Shares held by the Florence
Janet Slade Trust is
attributed to Ms. Slade pursuant to the Securities and
Exchange Commission rules.
(10) The ownership of 94,642 Class B Common Shares held by the Florence
Janet Slade Trust is attributed to Ms. Slade pursuant
to the Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
(11) The ownership of 78,614 Class A
Common Shares held by the Glaubman, Rosenberg & Robotti Fund, L.P.
(a member of a Section 13(d) group) is attributed to Mr. Smith pursuant
to the Securities and
Exchange Commission rules. Mr. Smith disclaims beneficial ownership of
the securities beneficially owned by the other members of the group
except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. As a managing
member of Glaubman & Rosenberg Partners, LLC. and Glaubman &
Rosenberg Advisors, LLC., the general partner and investment manager of
Glaubman, Rosenberg & Robotti Fund, L.P., respectively, Mr. Smith
may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common stock
beneficially owned by Glaubman, Rosenberg & Robotti Fund, L.P.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the
Company's
officers and Directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of
the
Company's Class A Shares, to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Officers, Directors, and greater than ten percent shareholders are
required
by Securities and Exchange Commission regulation to furnish the Company
with
copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on review of the copies of such forms furnished to the
Company,
or written representations that no Form 5s were required, the Company
believes
that during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009 all Section 16(a)
filing
requirements applicable to its officers, Directors, and greater than
ten
percent beneficial owners were complied with.
TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT
During fiscal years 2008 and 2009, no transactions occurred or were
proposed
that are required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation
S-K under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
INFORMATION REGARDING MEETINGS AND
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee and a Compensation
Committee.
The Board of Directors has determined that James T. Martin and Hugh S.
Seaholm,
members of the Audit Committee, satisfy the criteria adopted by the
Securities
and Exchange Commission to serve as "audit committee financial experts"
and
all three members of
such Committee are independent directors. In addition, the
Board has a
Compensation Committee made up of two independent directors. The Board
of
Directors has determined that all remaining directors are independent
except
for Mr. Robert L. Bauman, who is employed by the Company. The
determinations
of independence described above were made using the definition for
independence
of directors under NASDAQ listing standards.
Set forth below is the membership of the various committees with the
number
of meetings held during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009 in
parentheses:
Audit Committee (1)
T. Harold Hudson
James T. Martin
Hugh S. Seaholm |
Compensation Committee (1)
James T. Martin
Michael L. Miller
|
|
The Audit Committee reviews the activities of the Company's independent
auditors
and various Company policies and practices. The Compensation Committee
determines
and reviews overall compensation matters affecting senior managers and
officers,
including the granting of stock options.
The Board of Directors does not have a nominating committee or
committee
performing similar functions because the Company believes that as a
small
business issuer traded on the Over The Counter Bulletin Board, it is
not
necessary to have a separate nominating committee. Rather, the full
Board
of Directors participates in the consideration of director nominees. At
this
time, the Board does not have a formal policy with regard to the
consideration
of any director candidates recommended by Company shareholders because
historically
the Company has not received recommendations from its shareholders and
the costs of establishing and maintaining procedures for the
consideration of
shareholder nominations would be unduly burdensome.
Qualifications for consideration as a Board nominee may vary according
to
the particular areas of expertise being sought as a complement to the
existing
Board composition. However, in making its nominations, the Board of
Directors
considers, among other things, an individual's business experience,
industry
experience, financial background, breadth of knowledge about issues
affecting
the Company, time available for meetings and consultation regarding
Company
matters and other particular skills and experience possessed by the
individual.
During fiscal 2009, Mr. Smith was elected by the Board to fill an
existing vacancy. Mr. Smith is affiliated with the Glaubman,
Rosenberg & Robotti Fund, L.P. a beneficial owner of more than 5%
of the Company’s Class A Common Shares. Mr. Smith shares voting
and dispositive power with respect to the Class A Common Shares owned
by that fund. Mr. Smith expressed an interest in becoming a
member of the Board of Directors, and was invited to attend a Board
meeting and discuss his potential membership on the Board. The
Board of Directors evaluated Mr. Smith’s potential candidacy in
accordance with the criteria specified above, and elected him a
Director effective July 31, 2009. The Board does not believe that
its process of evaluating Mr. Smith’s potential membership differed
from the manner in which any potential director not affiliated with a
significant shareholder would be evaluated.
The Company does not currently employ an executive search firm, or pay
a
fee to any other third party, to locate qualified candidates for
director
positions.
The Board of Directors held four meetings during the fiscal year ended
September
30, 2009. During that fiscal year, no Director attended fewer than 75%
of
the aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings of the Board of
Directors
held during the period he or she served as a Director and (ii) the
total
number of meetings held by committees of the Board on which he or she
served,
during the period that he or she served. The Company has not adopted a
formal
policy requiring Directors to attend the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders,
but all Directors attended the February 2009 Annual Meeting.
The Board provides a process for shareholders to send communications to
the
Board or any of the Directors. Shareholders may send written
communications
to the Board or any of the Directors c/o Janet Slade, Hickok
Incorporated,
10514 Dupont Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44108. All shareholder
communications
will be compiled by Janet Slade and submitted to the Board or the
individual
Directors on a periodic basis.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the compensation for services in all
capacities
to the Company of the Outside Directors.
|
Fees Earned
or Paid in Cash
(b)
|
Option
Awards (1)
(d)
|
Total
(h)
|
|
T. Harold Hudson
|
$4,500
|
$3,215
|
$7,715
|
|
James T. Martin
|
5,250
|
3,215
|
8,465
|
|
Michael L. Miller
|
4,500
|
3,215
|
7,715
|
|
Jim
N. Moreland
|
1,500
|
-0-
|
1,500
|
|
Hugh S. Seaholm
|
4,500
|
3,215
|
7,715
|
|
Janet H. Slade
|
28,665
|
3,215
|
31,880
|
|
Kirin M. Smith
|
750
|
-0-
|
750
|
|
|
$49,665
|
$16,075
|
$65,740
|
|
For the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2009, Directors who are
not
also employees of the Company received an annual fee of $750 and a
fee
of $750 for each Board and Committee meeting attended for the year.
Janet
Slade, Chairman of the Board, received an annual fee of $5,733 and a
fee
of $5,733 for each Board meeting attended for the year. Directors who
are
also employees of the Company received a fee of $25 for each Board
meeting
attended and receive no compensation for any Committee meetings
attended
for the year. In addition, Jim
Moreland, a Director of the Company until his retirement from the Board
of Directors in 2009 received $750 for each Board and Committee
meeting
attended for the year. No
other compensation is paid to the Company's Directors.
The current year fees represent the
temporary reduction of 33%
to
50% from the normal Board and Committee fees the Compensation Committee recommended
and
the
Board of Directors approved at the December 10,
2008 Board of Directors meeting. The fee reductions were established in
response to the current
economic conditions. The
Board noted that when improved conditions allow, the Directors
fees
prior to these reductions could be re-instituted.
(1) Option Awards (column (d)) represent stock option grants for which,
in
each case the Company recorded 2009 compensation expense. Under the
required
FASB Codification ASC Topic 718 methodology, the compensation expense
reflected in
column
(d)
is for grants made in 2009. The assumptions used in calculating the
Share-Based compensation expense are provided in the Company's Annual
Report on
Form
10-K which is available at www.hickok-inc.com.
The Company's Outside Directors Stock Option Plans (collectively the
"Directors
Plans") provide for the automatic grant of options to purchase shares
of
Class A common stock over a three year period to members of the Board
of
Directors who are not employees of the Company, at the fair market
value
on the date of grant. The options are exercisable for up to 10 years.
All options granted under the Directors Plans become fully exercisable
on February
26, 2012. However, upon the occurrence of a change in control, any and
all
options granted shall become immediately exercisable. During the fiscal
year ended September 30, 2009, stock options for 1,000 shares
were granted
to each Outside Director listed in the Director Compensation
Table.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Audit Committee")
reports
to the Board and is responsible for overseeing the Company's accounting
functions,
the system of internal controls established by management, and the
processes
to assure compliance with applicable laws, regulations and internal
policies.
The Audit Committee is currently comprised of three directors, each of
whom
meet independence requirements under the current National Association
of
Securities Dealers corporate governance standards. The Audit Committee
operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors,
which is reviewed annually and is available on the Company's website at
www.hickok-inc.com
under financial.
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial
statements
with management. The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent
auditors
the matters required to be discussed by auditing standards set by the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Audit
Committee members also discussed and reviewed the results of the
independent
auditors' examination of the financial statements, the quality and
adequacy
of the Company's internal controls, and issues relating to auditor
independence.
The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter
from the independent accountants required by Independence Standards
Board
Standard
No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), as the
same
may be modified or supplemented, and has discussed with the independent
accountant
the independence of the accountant from the Company. Based on the
review
and discussions referred to above, the Audit 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 last fiscal year for
filing
with the SEC.
The Audit Committee of The Board of Directors
James T. Martin, Chairman
T. Harold Hudson
Hugh S. Seaholm
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, Meaden &
Moore,
Ltd. provided various audit services and non-audit services to the
Company.
Set forth below are the aggregate fees billed for these services:
|
2009
|
2008
|
Audit Fees
|
$81,800 |
$78,400
|
Audit-Related Fees |
-0-
|
700
|
Tax Fees
|
8,600
|
10,500
|
All Other Fees
|
6,500
|
5,000
|
|
|
|
Totals
|
$96,900
|
$94,600
|
|
|
|
Audit Fees: Fees for audit services include fees associated
with
the audit of the Company's annual financial statements and for the
reviews
of the financial statements included in the Company's quarterly reports
on
Form 10-Q. Audit fees also include fees associated with providing
consents
included with, and assistance with and review of, documents filed with
the
SEC.
Audit-Related Fees: Audit-related fees include fees
associated
with discussions related to stock options and uncertain tax positions.
Tax Fees: Fees for tax services include tax compliance, tax
advice
and tax planning.
All Other Fees: Other fees include fees associated with
401k
plan audits and other services.
The Audit Committee has determined that the rendering of the non-audit
services
by Meaden & Moore, Ltd. is compatible with maintaining the
auditor's
independence.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy: It is the policy of the Company's
audit
committee to approve all engagements of the Company's independent
auditor
to render audit and non-audit services prior to the initiation of such
services.
All services listed above were preapproved by the audit committee.
Proposal
to Ratify the Selection of the Independent Auditor
The Audit Committee has again selected the firm of Meaden & Moore,
Ltd. to act as
the
auditors for the Company for the current fiscal year. Although action
by the stockholders in this matter is not required, the Audit Committee
believes that it is appropriate to seek stockholders ratification of
this selection in light of the critical role played by independent
auditors. A representative
of Meaden & Moore, Ltd. is expected to be present at the Annual
Meeting and will have
an
opportunity to make a statement, if desired. The representative also is
expected
to be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.
The following proposal will be presented for action at the Annual
Meeting by direction of the Board:
Resolved: that the selection by the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors of the firm of Meaden & Moore, Ltd., as independent
auditors for the Company for the year 2010 is hereby ratified.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR this proposal. The persons
named in the accompanying Proxy or their substitutes will vote such
Proxy for this proposal unless it is marked to the contrary. A
favorable vote of a majority of the combined outstanding Class A and
Class B Shares on the record date is required for ratification of the
proposal.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the compensation for services in all
capacities
to the Company of the Chief Executive Officer and the Company's other
most
highly compensated officers (the "Named Executive Officers").
Summary Compensation Table
|
|
Annual Compensation
|
|
|
|
Name and
Principal Position
(a)
|
Year
(b)
|
Salary
(c)
|
Bonus (1)
(d)
|
Option
Awards
(f)
|
All
Other
Compensation
(i)
|
Total
(j)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert L. Bauman,
President & Chief
Executive Officer
|
2009
2008
|
$163,850
(2)
$260,400 (3)
|
0
0
|
|
$229 (5)
$229 (5)
|
$164,079
$260,629
|
Thomas F. Bauman,
Senior Vice President,
Sales and Marketing
|
2009
2008
|
$106,375
$147,813
|
0
0
|
|
$4,340 (6)
$4,396 (6)
|
$110,715
$152,209
|
William A. Bruner,
Senior Vice President,
Manufacturing Operations
|
2009
2008
|
$83,300
$97,250
|
0
0
|
0 (4)
0 (4)
|
$229 (7)
$762 (7)
|
$83,529
$98,012
|
Gregory M. Zoloty,
Senior Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer
|
2009
2008
|
$83,300
$97,250
|
0
0
|
0 (4)
0 (4)
|
$258 (8)
$258 (8)
|
$83,558
$97,508
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Named Executive Officers did not receive personal benefits or
perquisites
during the last fiscal year in excess of the lesser of $10,000 or 10% of their
aggregate salary and bonus.
(1) Represents bonuses earned from the plans described in the section
"Profit
Sharing Plans" below. Bonuses are normally paid after the end of the
year
for that year (e.g., bonus distributions that accrued in fiscal year
2008
will actually be paid in fiscal year 2009).
(2) This amount includes $100 which represents a fee of $25 for each
Board
meeting attended during fiscal 2009.
(3) This amount includes $200 which represents a fee of $50 for each
Board
meeting attended during fiscal 2008.
(4) Represents options to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock.
Under the Company's Key Employees Stock Option Plans (collectively the
"Employee
Plans") the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has the
authority
to grant options to Key Employees. The options are exercisable for up
to
10 years. All options granted under the Employee Plans were exercisable
at
September 30, 2009. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009
there
were no stock options granted to the Named Executive Officers listed in
the
Summary Compensation Table.
(5) For Mr. Bauman the All Other Compensation column for 2009 and 2008
includes $229 representing allocated premiums for group term life
insurance.
(6) For Mr. Bauman the All Other Compensation column for 2009 includes
$4,000 representing premiums for life insurance and $340 representing
allocated premiums for group term life insurance. The All Other
Compensation column for 2008
includes $4,000 representing premiums for life insurance and $396
representing allocated premiums for group term life
insurance.
(7) For Mr. Bruner the All Other Compensation column for 2009 and 2008
includes $229 and $762 respectively, representing allocated
premiums for group term life
insurance.
(8) For Mr. Zoloty the All Other Compensation column for 2009 and 2008
includes $258 representing allocated premiums for group term life
insurance.
2009 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth
outstanding
equity awards information for the individuals named in the Summary
Compensation
Table.
|
Option Awards
|
|
|
|
Name
(a)
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
(b)
|
Option
Exercise
Price ($)
(c)
|
Option
Expiration
Date
(f)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert L. Bauman
|
5,000
5,000
10,000
|
5.00
3.125
3.55
|
12/31/2009 (1)
12/31/2010
3/01/2012
|
|
|
|
Thomas F. Bauman
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
William A. Bruner
|
3,000
3,000
6,000
|
5.00
3.125
3.55
|
12/31/2009 (1)
12/31/2010
3/01/2012
|
|
|
|
Gregory M. Zoloty
|
2,000
3,000
6,000
|
5.00
3.125
3.55
|
12/31/2009 (1)
12/31/2010
3/01/2012
|
|
|
|
(1) Options were not exercised and have
expired.
Under the Company's Key Employees Stock Option Plans (collectively the
"Employee
Plans") the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has the
authority
to grant options to Key Employees. The options are exercisable for up
to
10 years. All options granted under the Employee Plans were exercisable
at
September 30, 2009. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009
there
were no stock options granted to the Named Executive Officers listed in
the
Summary Compensation Table.
2009 Option Exercises and Year-End Value Table
The following table sets forth stock option information for the
individuals
named in the Summary Compensation Table. The value of the
“in-the-money”
options refers to options having an exercise price which is less than
the
fair market value of the Company's stock on September 30, 2009.
|
|
|
Number of
Unexercised
Options at
September 30, 2009
|
Value of (1)
Unexercised In-
the-Money Options at
September 30, 2009
|
Name
|
Shares
Acquired
on Exercise
|
Value
Realized
|
Exercis-
able
|
Unexer-
cisable
|
Exercis-
able
|
Unexer-
cisable
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert L. Bauman
|
- 0 -
|
- 0 -
|
20,000 (2)
|
- 0 -
|
$24,075
|
- 0 -
|
Thomas F. Bauman
|
- 0 -
|
- 0 -
|
- 0 -
|
- 0 -
|
- 0 -
|
- 0 -
|
William A. Bruner
|
- 0 -
|
- 0 -
|
12,000 (3)
|
- 0 -
|
$14,445
|
- 0 -
|
Gregory M. Zoloty
|
- 0 -
|
- 0 -
|
11,000 (4)
|
- 0 -
|
$14,435
|
- 0 -
|
(1) Calculated on the basis of the fair market value of the underlying
securities
at the exercise date or year-end, as the case may be, minus the
exercise
price.
(2) Includes 5,000 shares which expired after fiscal year end but
before
the record date.
(3) Includes 3,000 shares which expired after fiscal year end but
before
the record date.
(4) Includes 2,000 shares which expired after fiscal year end but
before
the record date.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table provides information as of September 30, 2009 with
respect
to compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements)
under
which Common Stock of the Company is authorized for issuance under
compensation
plans previously approved and not previously approved by shareholders
of
the Company.
|
(a)
|
(b)
|
(c)
|
Plan category
|
Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
|
Weighted average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
|
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
|
|
Equity compensation
plans approved by
security holders
|
90,400
|
$4.69
|
47,200
|
|
|
|
|
Equity compensation
plans not approved by
security holders
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
90,400
|
|
47,200
|
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following data compares the value of $100 invested on October 1,
2004
in the Company's Class A Common Shares, the Nasdaq Composite Index, and
the
Nasdaq Industrial Index. The Nasdaq Composite Index represents a broad
market
group in which the Company participates, and the Nasdaq Industrial
Index
was chosen as having a representative peer group of companies. The
total return
includes reinvestment of dividends. The comparisons in this graph are
not
intended to forecast, or be indicative of, possible future performance.
The above graph was prepared using the following data:
SEPTEMBER 30
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HICKOK
|
$100
|
$93
|
$112
|
$244
|
$171
|
$95
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NASDAQ COMPOSITE
|
100
|
113
|
119
|
143
|
110
|
111
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NASDAQ INDUSTRIAL
|
100
|
113
|
121
|
145
|
106
|
103
|
Profit Sharing Plans
The Company has a formula based profit sharing bonus plan that has been
in
place for over 30 years. In
addition
the Board of Directors from time to time have installed special bonus
plans.
The bonus distribution for the profit sharing bonus plan is determined
by
the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors after considering
such
factors as the employee's influence on Company results, performance
during
the preceding years with emphasis on the previous year, and employee
long-term
anticipated contribution to corporate goals.
The profit sharing bonus plan for all officers and key employees
provides
for a fund consisting of 20% of the excess of profits, before federal
taxes,
after deducting 10% of the net stockholders' equity at the beginning of
the
fiscal year such equity to include the net amount received by the
company
during the fiscal year from the sale of common stock or through the
exercise
of common stock options.
The bonus awarded under the regular profit sharing bonus plan for all
officers
and key employees cannot exceed 50% of any recipient's base salary. The
Company's
formula based profit sharing bonus plan produced no bonuses in 2009 or
in
2008.
PROPOSAL RELATING TO 2010 OUTSIDE DIRECTORS STOCK OPTION PLAN
Background
The shareholders will be asked at the meeting to vote
on a proposal to approve the adoption of the 2010 Hickok Incorporated
Outside Directors Stock Option Plan (the “2010 Outside Directors Plan”
or the “Plan”). The 2010 Outside Directors
Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors in December
2009, subject to shareholder approval.
The purpose of the Plan is to provide each of the Company’s
non-employee Directors an added incentive to continue in the service of
the Company and a more direct interest in the future success of the
Company’s operations. The Plan also may help the Company attract
outstanding individuals to become Directors of the
Company. For these reasons, the Board adopted the 2010 Outside
Directors Plan, subject to shareholder approval. Accordingly, the Board
of Directors and management believe that approval of the Plan is in the
best interests of the Company and recommend that
shareholders vote in favor of the proposal.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
the
combined outstanding Class A and Class B Common Shares entitled to vote
present in person or by proxy at the meeting is required for the
adoption
of the 2010 Outside Directors Plan. Thus, shareholders who vote to
abstain
will in effect be voting against the proposal. Brokers who hold
Class
A Common Shares as nominees will have discretionary authority to vote
such
shares if they have not received voting instructions from the
beneficial
owners by the tenth day before the meeting, provided that this Proxy
Statement
is transmitted to the beneficial owners at least 15 days before the
meeting.
Broker non-votes, however, are not counted as present for determining
whether
this proposal has been approved and have no effect on its outcome.
The following is a summary of the principal features of
the 2010 Outside Directors Plan and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the Plan. A copy of the Plan
is attached hereto as Appendix A.
General
The 2010 Outside Directors Plan provides for the
issuance of options to purchase a maximum of an aggregate of 21,000
Class A Common Shares of the Company to Directors who are not also
employees of the Company or any subsidiary (“Outside Directors”). There
are presently six eligible Outside Directors. The Plan will terminate
on the second business day after the Company's regular meeting of
shareholders at which directors are elected in 2012, unless earlier
terminated by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Grants of Options
If the Plan is approved by shareholders, on the
“Effective Date” of the Plan, each Outside Director will be granted an
option to purchase 1,000 Class A Common Shares at
the then fair market value calculated by reference to the closing
price of the Class A Common Shares on the NASDAQ Over-The-Counter
Bulletin Board Market; provided, however, that under no circumstances
will any option be awarded that is exercisable at a price less than
$2.925 per share. Thereafter, on the first business day
immediately following the date of each of the Company's regular
meetings of shareholders at which directors are elected, commencing
with the meeting to be
held in 2011 and through the meeting in 2012, each Outside Director
then serving in such capacity will receive an automatic grant of an
option to purchase 1,000 shares of Class A Common Shares at the
then fair market value.
Securities Subject to the 2010 Outside Directors Plan
Not more than 21,000 Class A Common Shares of the Company may be issued
pursuant to the 2010 Outside Directors Plan in the aggregate. The
market value of 21,000 Class A Common Shares of the Company as of
January 4, 2010 was $84,210.
If any option granted under the Plan is canceled, terminates, expires
or lapses, shares subject to that option generally will again be
available for the grant of options under the Plan, subject to certain
limitations
contained in the Plan. Additionally, the Plan provides for the Board,
in
its sole discretion, to make certain necessary and appropriate
adjustments
in the exercise prices, number of shares issuable upon exercise and/or
the
class of shares issuable upon exercise of all options outstanding at
the
occurrence of certain events (e.g., merger, reorganization, share
splits,
share dividends, combinations, exchanges of shares or similar capital
adjustments),
as further set forth in the Plan.
Certain Option Terms
The terms of options granted under the Plan are to be set forth in an
Option Agreement. Each option granted under the Plan will become
exercisable in equal one-third increments of the Class A Common Shares
subject to the option on each of the first three anniversary dates of
the grant. Each option granted under the 2010 Outside Directors Plan
will expire on the tenth anniversary of the date the option was
granted.
The Option Price for the Option is
payable (i) in cash, (ii) if permitted by the Board, by delivering
shares of Class A Common Stock owned by the Outside Director and having
a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Option Price,
(iii) by payment through a broker in accordance with procedures
permitted by Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, or (iv) by such
other method as the Committee may approve.
The Plan permits the Board to impose certain restrictions on any shares
acquired pursuant to the exercise of an option under the Plan. The Plan
also imposes certain restrictions on the transferability of
options, which generally provide that no option may be sold or
otherwise transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution or pursuant to certain qualified domestic relations
orders. Rights under an option granted under the Plan may be exercised
during an Outside Director’s lifetime only by the Outside Director or
the Outside Director’s legal representative.
Terminations of Directorship and Changes in Control
If an Outside Director ceases to be a Director of the Company because
of death or disability (as defined in the Plan), all vested options may
be
exercised until the earlier to occur of either (i) the first
anniversary of the Outside Director’s termination of directorship or
(ii) the expiration of the option. With respect to any option
that remains exercisable in the above manner due to the Director’s
death, the Plan provides that
any such option may be exercised during that time by the person(s)
named
as the participant’s beneficiary or those persons that have acquired
the
participant’s rights by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution.
Options held by a participant that are not vested as of the date he
or she ceases to be a Director are immediately forfeited to the Company
under
the Plan. The Plan also includes certain provisions applicable to
the treatment of options that are vested as of the date a participant
ceases to be a Director for reasons other than death or disability, and
provides for the treatment of options in the event that a participant
ceases to be a Director by disability, and then dies within the
exercise period following the termination by disability.
In the event of a Change in Control, as defined in the 2010 Outside
Directors Plan, all options outstanding granted under the Plan will
become immediately exercisable and, subject to certain limitations, the
Board will have authority to make appropriate modifications to the
options before the effective date of the Change in Control.
Amendments and Modifications to the Plan
The Board of Directors may amend or discontinue the Plan at any time
and from time to time; provided, however, that (a) unless otherwise
required by law, no amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be
made which would impair the rights of an Outside Director with respect
to any Option which has been granted under the Plan without such
individual’s consent and (b) no amendment shall be effective without
the approval of the stockholders of the Company if stockholder approval
of the amendment is then required pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the applicable rules of
any national securities exchange upon which the Company’s Class A
Common Shares are then listed, or the Ohio corporation law or other
applicable laws.
Indemnification of Directors
The Plan provides each person who is or shall have been a member of the
Board with rights to indemnification in certain circumstances relating
to actions taken or failures to act under the Plan. These rights
to indemnification are subject to certain limitations included in the
Plan and are not exclusive of other indemnification rights of the
indemnified persons or indemnification powers of the Company.
Income Tax Treatment
The Company has been advised that under current law
certain of the income tax consequences under the laws of the United
States to Outside Directors and the Company of options granted under
the 2010 Outside Directors Plan generally should be as set forth in the
following summary. The summary only addresses income tax consequences
for Outside Directors and the Company.
The options granted under the Plan shall be
non-qualified options for federal income tax purposes. An Outside
Director to whom an option is granted will not recognize income at the
time of grant of such option. When such Outside Director exercises such
non-qualified option, the Outside Director will recognize ordinary
compensation income equal to the difference, if any,
between the option price paid and the fair market value, as of
the date of option exercise, of the shares the Outside Director
receives. The tax basis of such shares to such Outside Director will be
equal to the option price paid, and the Outside Director’s holding
period for such shares will commence on the day on which the Outside
Director recognized taxable income in respect of such shares. Subject
to applicable provisions of the Code and regulations thereunder, the
Company will generally be entitled to a federal income tax deduction in
respect of non-qualified options in an amount equal to the ordinary
compensation income recognized by the Outside Director.
The discussion set forth above does not purport to be a
complete analysis of all potential tax consequences relevant to
recipients of options or the Company or to describe tax consequences
based on particular circumstances. It is based on United
States federal income tax law and interpretational authorities
as of the date of this Proxy Statement, which are subject to change at
any time. The discussion does not address state or local
income tax consequences or income tax consequences for taxpayers who
are not subject to taxation in the United States.
New Plan Benefits
As of the date of this Proxy Statement,
no option grants have been made under the 2010 Outside Directors Plan.
If the 2010 Outside Directors Plan is approved by the Company
shareholders, the Plan provides for initial grants of 1,000 stock
options to each of the outside directors on February 25, 2010. The Plan
also provides for subsequent grants to be made on the first business
day immediately
following the date of each of the Company’s regular meetings of
shareholders
at which directors are elected in 2011 and 2012 to each outside
director
of an option to purchase 1,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common
stock.
The following table sets forth the amount of the option grants
presently
expected to be made to the current outside directors as a group under
the Plan if the Plan is approved by the Company's shareholders at the
Annual
Meeting and assuming no amendment, modification or early termination of
the
Plan.
Hickok Incorporated 2010 Outside Directors Stock Option Plan
Name and Position
|
Dollar Value (1)
|
Number of Units
|
Non-Executive
Director Group
|
(1)
|
18,000 (2)
|
|
|
|
(1) The dollar value of the benefits to be received by the
outside directors from the stock options currently expected to be
granted under the Plan cannot be determined at this time because that
value will be determined on the date the options are exercised.
(2) As explained in the above summary of the Plan, the Plan
provides for the issuance of options to purchase a maximum of an
aggregate of 21,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock.
The 18,000 total included in the above Table represents the number of
options that are presently expected to be granted under the terms of
the Plan, if approved by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting, to
each of the six outside director nominees and
includes, for each such director nominee, an initial grant of 1,000
options
and subsequent grants of 1,000 options in each of 2011 and 2012.
To
the extent that the members of the group of outside directors change
over
the life of the Plan, the total number of options granted under the
Plan
could differ from the 18,000 estimate set forth in the Table.
Additionally,
the Plan may be altered, amended, suspended or terminated early in
accordance
with its terms, which are summarized in the above summary of the Plan,
in
which event the number of options granted under the Plan could differ
from
the 18,000 total set forth in the Table. For additional detail
regarding options to be granted under the Plan, please see the above
summary and the terms of the Plan attached hereto as Appendix A.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR this proposal. The persons
named in the accompanying Proxy or their substitutes will vote such
Proxy for this proposal unless it is marked to the contrary. A
favorable vote of a majority of the combined outstanding Class A and
Class B Shares on the record date is required for adoption of the
proposal.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS AND OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors of the Company is not aware of any matter to
come
before the meeting other than those mentioned in the accompanying
Notice.
However, if other matters shall properly come before the meeting, it is
the
intention of the persons named in the accompanying Proxy to vote in
accordance
with their best judgment on such matters.
Any shareholder proposal intended to be presented at the 2011 Annual
Meeting
of Shareholders must be received by the Company's Secretary at its
principal
executive offices no later than September
20, 2010, for inclusion in the Board of Directors' Proxy
Statement
and form of Proxy relating to that meeting. Each proposal submitted
should
be accompanied by the name and address of the shareholder submitting
the
proposal and the number of Common Shares owned. If the proponent is not
a shareholder of record, proof of beneficial ownership should also be
submitted.
All proposals must be a proper subject for action and comply with the
Proxy
rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Company may use its discretion in voting Proxies with respect to
Shareholders'
proposals not included in the Proxy Statement for fiscal year ended
September
30, 2010, unless the Company receives notice of such proposals prior to
December 3, 2010.
Upon the receipt of a written request
from
any shareholder entitled to vote at the forthcoming Annual Meeting, the
Company
will mail, at no charge to the shareholder, a copy of the Company's
Annual
Report on Form 10-K, including the financial statements and schedules
required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to Rule
13a-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for the
Company's
most recent fiscal year. Requests from beneficial owners of the
Company's
voting securities must set forth a good-faith representation that, as
of
the record date for the Annual Meeting, the person making the request
was
the beneficial owner of securities entitled to vote at such meeting.
Written
requests for such report should be directed to:
Mr. Gregory M. Zoloty
Hickok Incorporated
10514 Dupont Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44108
In addition, all
shareholders will have the ability to access this Proxy Statement and
the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
September
30, 2009 by visiting our website: www.hickok-inc.com/files/financial
You are urged to sign and return your Proxy promptly in order to make
certain
your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting. For your convenience,
a
return envelope is enclosed requiring no additional postage if mailed
in
the United States.
By Order of the Board of Directors.
/s/ Robert L. Bauman
Robert L. Bauman
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
Dated January 26, 2010
APPENDIX A
HICKOK INCORPORATED
2010 OUTSIDE DIRECTORS STOCK OPTION PLAN
Hickok Incorporated hereby adopts a stock option plan for the
benefit of
Outside Directors and subject to the terms and provisions set forth
below.
Article 1. Definitions
Whenever used in the Plan, the following terms have the meanings set
forth below:
(a) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(b) “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred upon:
(i) The acquisition of beneficial ownership of thirty percent
(30%) of the Company’s Shares by a person or group of persons under
common control unless such acquisition is approved by the Board; or
(ii) A change in the membership of the Board at any time
during any
twelve (12) month period such that, following such change, at least
thirty percent (30%) of the members of the Board were not members of
the Board at the start of such twelve (12) month period but
only if the election of such new members
of the Board was not approved by at least three-quarters (3/4) of the
Directors who were either sitting at the beginning of such twelve (12)
month period or elected to the Board during such twelve (12) month
period with the approval of three-quarters (3/4)
of the Directors who were sitting at the beginning of such twelve (12)
month period.
(c) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time.
(d) “Company” means Hickok Incorporated, an Ohio corporation,
or any successor thereto.
(e) “Director” means a member of the Board.
(f) “Disability” means a Participant’s inability, due to a
physical or mental condition, to continue to serve as a member of the
Board, as determined by the Board pursuant to written certification of
such Disability from a physician acceptable to the Board.
(g) “Effective Date” means February 25, 2010, subject to
ratification by an affirmative vote of a majority of the voting capital
stock of the Company.
(h) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, or any successor thereto.
(i) “Fair Market Value” means (a) if the Shares are
listed
on a nationally recognized stock exchange or the NASDAQ
Over-The-Counter
Bulletin Board Market, the closing price of the Shares on the date the
fair market value of the Shares is being determined, or, if no sale has
occurred on such date, on the most recent preceding day on which there
is
a closing price of the Shares, or (b) in all other circumstances,
the value determined by the Board after obtaining an appraisal by one
or
more independent appraisers meeting the requirements of regulations
issued
under Section 170(a)(1) of the Code.
(j) “Option” means an option to purchase Shares granted under
Article 4 herein.
(k) “Option Agreement” means an agreement, in the form of
Exhibit A attached hereto, setting forth the terms and provisions
applicable to an Option.
(l) “Option Price” shall be equal to one hundred percent
(100%) of
the Fair Market Value of a Share at the close of the date the Option is
granted; provided, however, that under no circumstances will the Option
Price be lower than $2.925 per share.
(m) “Outside Director” means a Director who is not employed by
the Company or a Subsidiary.
(n) “Participant” means an Outside Director who has been
granted an Option.
(o) “Plan” means the Hickok Incorporated 2010 Outside
Directors Stock
Option Plan.
(p) “Shares” means the Class A Common Shares, $1.00 par value,
of the Company.
(q) “Subsidiary” means any corporation, at least fifty percent
(50%) of the common stock of which is owned directly or indirectly by
the Company.
Article 2. Establishment, Purpose and Duration
2.1 Establishment of the Plan. The Company hereby establishes
the Plan as set forth herein.
2.2 Purpose of the Plan. The purpose of the Plan is to
provide the
Outside Directors with greater incentive to serve and promote the
interests of the Company and its shareholders. The premise of the Plan
is that, if such Outside Directors acquire a proprietary interest in
the Company or increase such proprietary interest as they may already
hold, then the incentive of such Outside Directors to work toward the
Company’s continued success will be commensurately increased.
Accordingly, the Company will, from time to time during the effective
period of the Plan, grant to the Outside Directors Options on the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in the Plan.
2.3 Duration of the Plan. The Plan shall commence on
the Effective
Date and shall remain in effect until the second business day after the
Company's
regular meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected in 2012,
unless earlier terminated by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Article 3. Shares Subject to the Plan
3.1 Number of Shares. The total number of Shares
available for grant under the Plan shall be Twenty-One Thousand
(21,000). These Shares may be either authorized but unissued,
treasury Shares or reacquired Shares. The grant of an Option shall
reduce the Shares available for grant under the Plan by the number of
Shares subject to such Option. To the extent that an Option is
settled in cash rather than in Shares, the authorized Share pool shall
be reduced by the appropriate number of Shares represented by the cash
settlement of the Option, as determined by the Board (subject to the
limitation set forth in Section 3.2 herein).
3.2 Lapsed Options. If any Option granted under this
Plan is canceled, terminates, expires or lapses for any reason, any
Shares subject to such Option again shall be available for the grant of
an Option under the Plan. However, in the event that prior to the
Option’s cancellation, termination, expiration, or lapse, the holder of
the Option at any time received one or more “benefits of ownership”
pursuant to such Option (as defined by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, pursuant to any rule or
interpretation promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act),
the Shares subject to such Option shall not be made available for
regrant under the Plan.
3.3 Adjustments in Authorized Shares. In the event of any
merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, separation,
liquidation, share split, share dividend, split-up, share combination,
or other change in the corporate structure of the Company, the Board,
in its sole discretion, shall make such adjustments as are necessary
and appropriate in the exercise prices, number of Shares issuable upon
exercise and/or the class of Shares issuable upon exercise of all then
outstanding Options, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights of
the holders of Options under the Plan; and provided that the number of
Shares attributable to any Option shall always be a whole number.
Article 4. Grant of Options
4.1 Grant of Options to Outside Directors. On the Effective
Date each Outside Director shall be granted an Option to purchase One
Thousand (1,000) Shares at the Option Price. Thereafter, on the first
business day immediately following the date of each of the Company's
regular meetings of shareholders at which directors are elected,
commencing with the meeting to be held in 2011 and through the meeting
in 2012, each Outside Director shall be granted an Option to purchase
One Thousand (1,000) Shares at the Option Price. Each Option shall be
exercisable in equal one-third increments, beginning on the first
anniversary of the date of grant. The terms of each such Option shall
be set forth in an Option Agreement which shall
be executed by the Outside Director and the Company.
4.2 Duration of Options. Subject to the provisions contained
herein relating to earlier expiration, each Option shall expire on the
tenth (10th) anniversary date of its grant.
4.3 Exercise of Options. Options granted under the Plan shall
be exercisable as follows:
Options shall be exercised by the delivery of a written notice of
exercise to the Company, setting forth the number of Shares with
respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full
payment for the Shares.
4.4 Payment. The Option Price for the Option is payable (i)
in cash, (ii) if permitted by the Board, by delivering shares of Class
A Common Stock owned by the Outside Director and having a Fair Market
Value on the date of exercise equal to the Option Price, (iii) by
payment through a broker in accordance with procedures permitted by
Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, or (iv) by such other method
as the Committee may approve.
As soon as practicable after receipt of a written notification of
exercise and full payment, except in the case of a cashless exercise,
the Company shall deliver to the Participant, in the Participant’s
name, Share certificates in an appropriate amount based upon the number
of Shares purchased under the Option(s).
4.5 Restrictions on Share Transferability. The Board may
impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the
exercise of an Option under the Plan as shall be required under
applicable Federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock
exchange or market upon which such Shares are then listed and/or traded
and under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such
Shares.
4.6 Ceasing to be a Director Due to Death or Disability.
(a) Death. In the event a Participant ceases to be a Director
by reason of death, all vested Options held by the Participant shall
remain exercisable at any time prior to their expiration date, or for
one (1) year after the date of death, whichever period is shorter, by
such person or persons as shall have been named as the Participant’s
beneficiary, or by such persons that
have acquired the Participant’s rights under the Option by will
or by the laws of descent and distribution.
(b) Disability. In the event a Participant ceases to be a
Director by reason of Disability, all vested Options held by the
Participant shall remain exercisable at any time prior to their
expiration date, or for one (1) year after the date that the Board
determines the definition of Disability to have been satisfied,
whichever period is shorter.
(c) Death After Ceasing to be a Director. In the event that
a Participant ceases to be a Director by reason of Disability, and
within the exercise period following such termination the
Participant dies, then the remaining exercise period under
outstanding Options shall equal the longer of (i) one (1) year
following death; or (ii) the remaining portion of
the exercise period which was triggered by reason of the Director’s
Disability; provided, however, the remaining exercise period shall
in no event extend beyond the expiration date of such Options. Such
Options shall be exercisable by such person or persons who
shall have been named as the Participant’s beneficiary, or by
such persons who have acquired the Participant’s rights under the
Option by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
4.7 Ceasing to be a Director. If a Participant ceases to be
a Director for any reason, all Options held by the Participant
which are not vested as of the date he ceases to be a Director
shall immediately be forfeited to the Company.
Options which are vested as of the date a Participant ceases to be a
Director for any reason other than the reasons set forth in
Section 4.6 may be exercised within the period beginning on the
date the Participant ceases to be a Director, and ending sixty (60)
days after such date. In the event the Participant dies
within such sixty (60) day period, then any outstanding Options
may be exercised within twelve (12) months after the date of such
Participant’s death by such person or persons who shall have been
named as such Participant’s beneficiary or by such person who
has acquired the Participant’s rights under the Options by will or
by the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however, the
remaining exercise period shall in no event extend beyond the
expiration date of such Options.
4.8 Nontransferability of Options. No Option may be sold,
transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated
by a Participant or any other person, voluntarily or involuntarily,
other than (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution
or (ii) pursuant to a Qualified Domestic Relations Order as
provided for in Section 206(d)(3)(B) of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. Further, a Participant’s
rights under the Plan shall be exercisable during the Participant’s
lifetime only by the Participant or the Participant’s legal
representative.
Article 5. Beneficiary Designation
Each Participant may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or
beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) who will
succeed to the Participant’s rights hereunder in the event of the
Participant’s death. Each such designation shall revoke all prior
designations by the same Participant, shall be in
a form prescribed by the Company, 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.
The spouse of a married Participant domiciled in a community
property jurisdiction
shall join in any designation of beneficiary or beneficiaries other
than the spouse.
Article 6. Change in Control
Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, unless otherwise
specifically prohibited by the terms of Section 11.5 herein:
(a) Any and all Options granted hereunder shall become
immediately exercisable; and
(b) Subject to Article 7 herein, the Board shall have the
authority to make any modifications to the Options as determined by the
Board to be appropriate before the effective date of the Change in
Control.
Article 7. Amendment, Modification, and Termination
7.1 Amendment, Modification, and Termination. It is the
intention of the Company that no payment or entitlement pursuant to
this Plan will give rise to any adverse tax consequences to an Outside
Director under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and Department
of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued
thereunder, including those issued after the date hereof (collectively,
“Section 409A”). The Plan shall be interpreted to that end and,
consistent with that objective and notwithstanding any provision herein
to the contrary, the Company may unilaterally take any action it deems
necessary or desirable to amend any provision herein to avoid the
application of or excise tax or other penalties under Section 409A.
Further, no effect shall be given to any provision herein in a manner
that reasonably could be expected to give rise to adverse tax
consequences under Section 409A. Neither the Company nor its current or
former employees, officers, directors, representatives or agents shall
have any liability to any current or former Outside Director with
respect to any accelerated taxation, additional taxes, penalties or
interest for which any current or former Outside Director may become
liable in the event that any amounts payable under the Plan are
determined to violate Section 409A.
The Board of Directors may amend or discontinue the Plan at any time
and from time to time; provided, however, that (a) unless otherwise
required by law, no amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be
made which would impair the rights of an Outside Director with respect
to any Option which has been granted under the Plan without such
individual’s consent and (b) no amendment shall be effective without
the approval of the stockholders of the Company if stockholder approval
of the amendment is then required pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the applicable rules of
any national securities exchange upon which the Company’s Class A
Common Shares are then listed, or the Ohio corporation law or other
applicable laws.
Article 8. Withholding
The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct and
withhold from
any other compensation due the Participant from the Company, or require
a
Participant to remit to the Company in such form as requested by the
Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy Federal, state, and
local taxes required by law to be withheld with respect
to any taxable event arising from or as a result of this Plan.
Article 9. Indemnification
Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Board 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 such person in connection with
or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to
which such person may be a party or in which such person 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 such person
in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval or paid by such
person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit,
or proceeding against such person, provided such persons shall give the
Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the
same before such person undertakes to handle and defend it on
such person’s own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall
not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such
persons may be entitled under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation
or Code of Regulations, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power
that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
Article 10. Successors
All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to
Options 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 11. Miscellaneous
11.1 No Right to Continue as a Director. Nothing in this
Plan or in any Option Agreement shall confer upon any Outside Director
any right to continue as a Director, or to be entitled to receive any
remuneration or benefits not set forth in the Plan or such Option
Agreement, or to interfere with or limit the right of the shareholders
of the Company to remove him or
her as a Director, with or without cause.
11.2 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.
11.3 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.
11.4 Requirements of Law. The granting of Options 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.
Notwithstanding any other provision set forth in the Plan, if required
by the then-current Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any
“derivative security” or “equity security” granted pursuant to the Plan
to any Outside Director may not be sold or transferred for at least six
(6) months after the date of grant of such Option. The terms “equity
security” and “derivative security” shall have the meanings ascribed to
them in the then-current Rule 16(a) under the Exchange Act.
11.5 Securities Law Compliance. Transactions under this Plan
are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of
Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the Exchange Act.
To the extent any provision of the Plan or action by the
Committee fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void,
to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee.
11.6 Governing Law. To the extent not preempted by Federal
law, the Plan, and all agreements hereunder, shall be construed in
accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Ohio.
11.7 Time for Taking Action. Any action that may be taken in
respect of the Plan within a certain number of days shall be
taken within that number of calendar days; provided, however,
that if the last day for taking any such action falls on a weekend or a
holiday, the period during which such action may be taken shall be
extended until the next business day. If any action in respect of
the Plan is required to be taken on a day which falls on a weekend or a
holiday, such action shall be taken on the next business day.
11.8 Nonqualified Options. All Options granted under the Plan
shall, for purposes of the federal income tax, be nonqualified stock
options.