Ferro Corp. PRE 14A
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment
No. )
Filed by the
Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the
Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
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þ Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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o Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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o Definitive
Proxy Statement
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o Definitive
Additional Materials
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o Soliciting
Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
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Ferro 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):
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act
Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1) |
Title of each class of securities to which
transaction applies:
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Aggregate number of securities to which
transaction applies:
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Per unit price or other underlying value of
transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11
(set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and
state how it was determined):
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as
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for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the
previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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FERRO CORPORATION |
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100O LAKESIDE AVENUE |
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CLEVELAND, OHIO 44114-1147 USA |
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TELEPHONE: (216) 641-8580 |
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FACSIMILE: (216) 875-7266 |
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WEBSITE: www.ferro.com |
October
[], 2006
Dear Shareholder:
I cordially invite you to attend the 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Ferro Corporation,
which will be held on Friday, November 3, 2006. The meeting will be held at Ferros headquarters
located at 1000 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, and will begin at 8:00 a.m. (Cleveland time).
At the 2006 Annual Meeting, which was delayed until the filing of the Companys 2005 financial
statements, shareholders will vote on the election of three Directors, the approval of the 2006
Long-Term Incentive Plan and an amendment to Ferros Code of Regulations. The following Proxy
Statement contains information about the Directors standing for election, the Directors who will
continue in office after the Annual Meeting, the 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan, the proposed
amendment to the Code of Regulations, a description of our corporate governance practices and other
relevant information about our Company and the Annual Meeting.
Regardless of the number of shares you own, your participation is important. I urge you to
vote as soon as possible by telephone, the Internet or mail, even if you plan to attend the
meeting. You may revoke your proxy at any time before the meeting regardless of your voting
method. If you choose, you may also vote your shares personally at the meeting. In any case, your
vote is important.
I look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.
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Very truly yours,
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James F. Kirsch |
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President and Chief Executive Officer |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Who is soliciting my proxy with this Proxy Statement?
The Board of Directors of Ferro is soliciting your proxy in connection with our Annual Meeting
of Shareholders.
Where and when will the meeting be held?
This years meeting will be held on Friday, November 3, 2006, at our headquarters at 1000
Lakeside Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. The meeting will begin at 8:00 a.m. (Cleveland time).
What will be voted on at the meeting?
At the meeting, shareholders will vote on the following three items:
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Election of three Directors for terms ending in 2009, |
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Approval of the 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan, and |
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Amendment of Ferros Code of Regulations to permit notice of shareholder
meetings via electronic communication. |
What if I wish to attend the meeting?
If you wish to attend the meeting, you should so indicate on the enclosed attendance response
card and return the card to Ferro. This will assist us with meeting preparations and enable us to
expedite your admission to the meeting.
Who is entitled to vote at the meeting?
The record date for this meeting is Thursday, September 28, 2006. On that date, we had
[] shares of Common Stock (which have a par value of $1.00 per share) and
[] shares of Series A ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock (which have no par value)
outstanding. Each of these shares will be entitled to one vote at the meeting. (The Common Stock
and Series A ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock will vote together as a single class.)
How do I vote?
You may cast your votes in person at the meeting or by any one of the following ways:
By Telephone: You may call the toll-free number (1 (888) 693-8683) printed on your proxy
card. Follow the simple instructions and use the personalized control number printed on your proxy
card to vote your shares. You will be able to confirm that your vote has been properly recorded.
Telephone voting is available 24 hours a day. If you vote by telephone, you do not need to return
your proxy card.
Over the Internet: You may visit the website (www.cesvote.com) printed on your proxy card.
Follow the simple instructions and use the personalized control number printed on your proxy card
to vote your shares. You will be able to confirm that your vote has been properly recorded.
Internet voting is available 24 hours a day. If you vote over the Internet, you do not need to
return your proxy card.
By Mail: You may mark, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it in the enclosed
postage-paid envelope.
What if I change my mind before the meeting?
If you change your mind, you may revoke your proxy by giving us notice either in writing
before the meeting or at the meeting itself. (If you do revoke your proxy during the meeting, it
will not, of course, affect any vote that has already been taken.)
PROXY STATEMENT
This document is the Notice of Meeting and the Proxy Statement of the Board of Directors
of Ferro Corporation in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Friday,
November 3, 2006, at Ferros headquarters at 1000 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, at
8:00 a.m. (Cleveland time).
ITEM ONE: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the Annual Meeting, shareholders will consider the election of three Directors for terms
ending in 2009. Our Board has nine Directors divided into three classes with each class having a
minimum of three directors. The Directors in each class are elected for terms of three years so
that the term of office of one class of Directors expires at each Annual Meeting. The following
pages contain information about our Directors (both the nominees for re-election and the Directors
whose terms will not expire at this meeting).
Nominees for Election at this Annual Meeting
The current terms of office of Dr. Jennie S. Hwang and James F. Kirsch will expire on the day
of this Annual Meeting (as soon as they or their successors are elected). Due to the resignation
of a Director during 2005, a vacancy exists in the class of Directors whose terms expire in 2006.
The Board has nominated Mr. Sharp, who was elected to a term originally expiring in 2007, to fill
such vacancy. The Board has nominated each of these incumbents for re-election at this Annual
Meeting. Following is information* about these three Directors:
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JENNIE S. HWANG, Ph.D. |
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Age:
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59 |
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First Became a Ferro Director:
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2001 |
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Current Term Expires:
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This Annual Meeting
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Common Shares Owned:
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11,670 Shares
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Common Shares Under Option:
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13,000 Shares
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Committee Assignments:
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Audit Committee
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Technology Strategy Committee
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Biographical Information:
Dr. Hwang has over 25 years of experience in the chemical coating, materials
and electronics industries through her management and/or ownership of
businesses. Since 1994, she has served as the President of H-Technologies
Group, encompassing international business, worldwide manufacturing services,
intellectual property management and joint ventures. Dr. Hwang was also the
CEO of International Electronic Materials Corporation, a manufacturing company
she founded, which was later acquired. Prior to establishing these companies,
Dr. Hwang held various senior executive positions with Lockheed Martin Corp.,
SCM Corp., and The Sherwin-Williams Company.
Dr. Hwang holds a Ph.D. in engineering and two M.S. degrees in liquid crystals
and chemistry. She has served as National President of the Surface Mount
Technology Association and in other global leadership positions and is a
worldwide speaker and author of 300 publications and several internationally
used textbooks on leading technologies and global market thrusts. Dr. Hwang
has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering and is a board member
of Second Bancorp, Inc. (a bank holding company), Singapore Asahi Chemical
Industries, Pte. Ltd. (a Singapore chemical company) and Case Western Reserve
University.
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For each of the Directors, the
number of shares reported as Common Shares Owned are as of September 14,
2006, and include shares that the Director owns beneficially, but not of
record, including deferred shares. (An individual is deemed to be the
beneficial owner of shares over which he or she exercises or shares voting
power or investment power.) The number of shares reported as Common Shares
Under Option include shares that may be acquired by the Director as of
November 27, 2006, pursuant to exercisable stock options. |
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JAMES F. KIRSCH |
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Age:
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49 |
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First Became a Ferro Director:
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2005 |
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Current Term Expires:
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This Annual Meeting
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Common Shares Owned:
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108,500 Shares
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Common Shares Under Option:
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62,500 Shares
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Biographical Information:
Mr. Kirsch was appointed Chief Executive Officer and a Director
following the unexpected death of Hector R. Ortino, the Companys
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, in November 2005. Mr. Kirsch
joined Ferro in October 2004 as its President and Chief Operating
Officer.
Prior to joining Ferro, Mr. Kirsch served as President of Premix Inc.
and Quantum Composites, Inc., manufacturers of thermoset molding
compounds, parts and sub-assemblies for the automotive, aerospace,
electrical and HVAC industries. Prior to that, from 2002 through
2004, he served as President of Quantum Composites. From 2000
through 2002, he served as President and director of Ballard
Generation Systems and Vice President for Ballard Power Systems in
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
Mr. Kirsch started his career with The Dow Chemical Company, where he
spent 19 years and held various positions of increasing
responsibility, including global business director of Propylene Oxide
and Derivatives and Global Vice President of Electrochemicals.
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WILLIAM J. SHARP |
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Age:
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64 |
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First Became a Ferro Director:
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1998 |
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Current Term Expires:
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2007 |
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Common Shares Owned:
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20,808 Shares
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Common Shares Under Option:
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23,000 Shares
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Committee Assignments:
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Audit Committee
Governance, Nomination & Compensation Committee
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Finance Committee
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Biographical Information:
Mr. Sharp serves as a consultant to various private equity groups.
In 2001, Mr. Sharp retired as President of North American Tire for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Company, a tire, engineered rubber products and chemicals manufacturer.
Mr. Sharp began his career with Goodyear in 1964. Following various assignments in the United
States and abroad, he was named Director of European Tire Production in 1984. He was appointed Vice
President of Tire Manufacturing in 1987 and later Executive Vice President of Product Supply in
1991. In 1992, he became President and General Manager of Goodyears European Regional Operations.
He was elected President of Goodyear Global Support Operations in 1996. Mr. Sharp is also a
director of Jiangsu Xingda Tyre Cord Co. Ltd. (a Chinese tire component supplier).
Dr. Hwang, Mr. Kirsch and Mr. Sharp have agreed to stand for re-election. While we have
no reason to believe that any of these nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve at the time of
the Annual Meeting, in the unlikely event any of them does not stand for re-election, the shares
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represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting may be voted for the election of a substitute
nominee named by the Board or there will be a vacancy available to be filled by the Board.
Vote Required
The three nominees who receive the greatest number of votes cast for the election of Directors
at the 2006 Annual Meeting by the shares present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote, will
be elected Directors.
Board Recommendation
The Board recommends that you vote FOR the election of Dr. Hwang, Mr. Kirsch and Mr. Sharp.
Unless you instruct otherwise on your proxy card or by telephone or Internet voting instructions,
your proxy will be voted in accordance with the Boards recommendation.
If
the election of Directors is by cumulative voting (see page
[] below), however, the
persons appointed by your proxy intend to cumulate the votes represented by the proxies they
receive and distribute such votes in accordance with their best judgment.
-3-
Directors Continuing in Office
The following are the Directors who will continue in office after the Annual Meeting:
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MICHAEL H. BULKIN |
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Age:
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68 |
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First Became a Ferro Director:
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1998 |
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Current Term Expires:
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2007 |
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Common Shares Owned:
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26,626 Shares
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Common Shares Under Option:
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23,000 Shares
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Committee Assignments:
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Governance, Nomination &
Compensation Committee
(Chair)
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Technology Strategy Committee
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Biographical Information:
Mr. Bulkin is a private investor. In 1965, he joined McKinsey & Company, Inc.
(an international management consulting firm). He became a principal in 1970
and was elected a director in 1976. While serving with McKinsey & Company, Mr.
Bulkin held several leadership positions including Managing Director of various
offices, Chairman of the Partner Evaluation and Compensation Committee and
member of the Shareholders Committee, Executive Committee, Strategy Development
Committee, Professional Personnel Committee and Partner Election Committee.
Mr. Bulkin retired from McKinsey & Company in 1993.
Mr. Bulkin also serves as a director of Bunge Limited (a global food and
agribusiness company operating in the farm-to-consumer food chain).
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SANDRA AUSTIN CRAYTON |
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Age:
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58 |
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First Became a Ferro Director:
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1994 |
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Current Term Expires:
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2008 |
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Common Shares Owned:
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12,533 Shares
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Common Shares Under Option:
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26,750 Shares
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Committee Assignments:
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Technology Strategy Committee (Chair)
Finance Committee
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Biographical Information:
Ms. Crayton is a Managing Director with Alvarez and Marsal, a professional services firm. Ms. Crayton joined the firm in
January 2006. Prior to that, Ms. Crayton was President and CEO of PhyServ, LLC, a health care billing, collections,
receivables and information company.
Ms. Crayton was appointed Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Medical/Surgical and Psychiatry Management Centers
of University Hospitals of Cleveland in 1988. From 1990 to 1994, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer of The University of Chicago Hospitals. In 1994, she was appointed President of Caremark Clinical Management
Services, a division of Caremark Rx, Inc. In 1995, Ms. Crayton was named President of Caremark Physician Services, a
division of Caremark, Inc., which provides physician practice management services. Between 1997 and 1999, Ms. Crayton was
President and Chief Executive Officer of Sedona Health Care Group, Inc. In 1999, she became President and CEO of PhyServ LLC
and retired from that position on June 1, 2001, when the company was sold.
Ms. Crayton also serves as a director of NCCI Holdings, Inc. (a workers compensation database management firm).
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WILLIAM B. LAWRENCE |
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Age:
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62 |
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First Became a Ferro Director:
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1999 |
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Current Term Expires:
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2008 |
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Common Shares Owned:
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8,131 Shares
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Common Shares Under Option:
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18,000 Shares
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Committee Assignments:
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Audit Committee (Chair)
Governance, Nomination & Compensation
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Committee
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Biographical Information:
Before the sale of TRW Inc. to Northrop Grumman in December 2002 and his retirement from TRW in February 2003, Mr. Lawrence served as TRWs
Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary. TRW was a provider of advanced technology products and services for the global
automotive, aerospace and information systems markets.
Mr. Lawrence first joined TRW in 1976 as counsel specializing in securities and finance. He held positions of increasing responsibility within
the TRW law department until his appointment as TRWs Executive Vice President of Planning, Development and Government Affairs in 1989. In
1997, Mr. Lawrence was named to the additional position of Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary.
Mr. Lawrence also serves as a director of Brush Engineered Materials Inc. (a manufacturer of high-performance engineered materials).
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MICHAEL F. MEE |
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Age:
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64 |
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First Became a Ferro Director:
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2001 |
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Current Term Expires:
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2007 |
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Common Shares Owned:
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13,605 Shares
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Common Shares Under Option:
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15,500 Shares
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Committee Assignments:
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Finance Committee (Chair)
Governance, Nomination & Compensation
Committee
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Biographical Information:
At the time of his retirement in March 2001, Mr. Mee served as Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, a pharmaceutical and
related health care products company.
Mr. Mee joined Bristol-Myers Squibb in 1994 as its Chief Financial Officer and later
assumed additional responsibility for Corporate Development and Global Business
Services. In 1999, he was made Executive Vice President and became a member of the
Office of the Chairman in 2000.
Before joining Bristol-Myers Squibb, Mr. Mee was involved in the reorganization of Wang
Laboratories as Chairman of the Board and earlier as Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of the company. Prior to joining Wang Laboratories in 1990, Mr. Mee
had positions of increasing responsibility with Norton Company, Monsanto Company and
Chrysler Corporation. Mr. Mee also serves as a director of Lincoln National
Corporation (an insurance and financial services company).
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DENNIS W. SULLIVAN |
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Age:
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67 |
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First Became a Ferro Director:
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1992 |
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Current Term Expires:
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2008 |
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Common Shares Owned:
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29,916 Shares
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Common Shares Under Option:
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26,750 Shares
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Committee Assignments:
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Audit Committee
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Technology Strategy Committee
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Biographical Information:
Mr. Sullivan retired as Executive Vice President of Parker Hannifin
Corporation, a producer of motion and control components for commercial,
industrial and aerospace markets, on December 31, 2003. Mr. Sullivan began his
career with Parker in 1960. He became Group Vice President in 1972, President
of the Fluid Connectors Group in 1976, Corporate Vice President in 1978,
President of the Fluidpower Group in 1979 and President of the Industrial
Sector in 1980. He became an Executive Vice President of Parker in 1981.
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ALBERTO WEISSER |
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Age:
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51 |
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First Became a Ferro Director:
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2000 |
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Current Term Expires:
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2007 |
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Common Shares Owned:
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13,836 Shares
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Common Shares Under Option:
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15,500 Shares
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Committee Assignments:
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Audit Committee
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Finance Committee
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Biographical Information:
Mr. Weisser is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bunge
Limited, a global food and agribusiness company operating in the
farm-to-consumer food chain.
Mr. Weisser joined Bunge as Chief Financial Officer in July 1993.
In 1999, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer and then Chairman
later that year. He has served as a member of the Bunge Board of
Directors since May 1997. Before joining Bunge, Mr. Weisser served
in various finance-related positions for the BASF Group for 15
years in Germany, the United States, Mexico and Brazil.
Mr. Weisser is also a member of Rabobanks North American
Agribusiness Advisory Board. Mr. Weisser is also a member of the
Board of Directors of International Paper Company.
Board Meetings and Attendance
The Board met 11 times during 2005. Committees of the Board met from time to time upon call
of the Chairman of the Board or individual committee Chairs. During 2005, each Director attended
at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and the committees on which he or she
served.
Although we do not have a formal policy with respect to Director attendance at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders, the Directors are encouraged to attend. All of our Directors attended the
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2005 Annual Meeting held in April 2006, except one Director who was unable to attend due to a
family illness.
Director Compensation
Each Director (other than Directors who are Company employees) is paid an annual fee of
$30,000 and an attendance fee of $1,500 per day for meetings of the Board and $1,000 for committee
meetings. The Chairs of the Audit Committee and the Governance, Nomination & Compensation
Committee are paid an additional annual fee of $20,000 each, and the Chairs of the Finance and
Technology Strategy Committees are paid an additional fee of $4,000 each. In addition, in each of
2004 and 2005, Ferro granted each Director (other than Mr. Kirsch and the Companys former Chairman
& Chief Executive Officer, Hector R. Ortino) an option to purchase 7,000 shares of Common Stock
under the 2003 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan.
Directors may defer their fees into a Ferro Common Stock account. Amounts so deferred are
invested in shares of Ferro Common Stock and dividends on those shares are reinvested in additional
shares of Ferro Common Stock. Ferro distributes the shares credited to a Directors deferred
account after he or she ceases to be a director.
Director fees for 2005 were as follows:
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Non-Stock |
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Total |
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Fees |
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Fees Paid |
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Option |
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Incentive |
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All Other |
Name |
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Fees |
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Deferred |
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in Cash |
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Awards |
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Compensation |
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Compensation |
Michael H. Bulkin |
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$ |
68,500 |
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$ |
68,500 |
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$ |
0 |
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7,000 |
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0 |
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0 |
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Sandra Austin Crayton |
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53,000 |
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0 |
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53,000 |
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7,000 |
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0 |
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0 |
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Jennie S. Hwang |
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75,000 |
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75,000 |
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0 |
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7,000 |
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0 |
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0 |
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William B. Lawrence |
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93,500 |
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0 |
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93,500 |
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7,000 |
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0 |
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0 |
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James F. Kirsch (1) (2) |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
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Michael F. Mee |
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57,500 |
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57,500 |
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0 |
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7,000 |
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0 |
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0 |
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Hector R. Ortino (1) (2) |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
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William J. Sharp |
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77,000 |
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77,000 |
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0 |
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7,000 |
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0 |
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0 |
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Dennis W. Sullivan |
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74,000 |
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74,000 |
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0 |
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|
7,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Padmasree Warrior (3) |
|
|
21,500 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
21,500 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Alberto Weisser |
|
|
64,000 |
|
|
|
64,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Neither Mr. Ortino nor Mr. Kirsch were paid any fees for their service as Directors because
they were employees of the Company. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Ortino died on November 28, 2005, and was succeeded on the Board by Mr. Kirsch. |
|
(3) |
|
Ms. Warrior resigned as a Director on June 23, 2005, due to the time commitment required by
her other professional responsibilities. |
-7-
ITEM TWO: APPROVAL OF THE 2006
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
General
The 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Plan) was adopted by the Companys Board of Directors
on September 28, 2006, subject to approval by the Companys shareholders. The description herein is
a summary of the Plan and is subject to and qualified by the complete text of the Plan, which is
included as Appendix A.
The Directors are seeking shareholder approval of the Plan so that the shares reserved for
issuance under the Plan may be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Pursuant to the rules of the
exchange, the Company may grant options that qualify as incentive stock options under the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code), and compensation attributable to
equity-based awards may qualify as performance-based compensation, which would exempt such grants
from the limits on the deductibility contained in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993
(the OBRA) for Federal income tax purposes of certain corporate payments to executive
officers.*
Description of the Plan
Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to promote Ferros long-term financial interests and
growth by attracting, retaining and motivating high quality key employees and Directors and
aligning their interests with those of its shareholders.
Plan Administration. The Plan will be administered by the Governance, Nomination &
Compensation Committee or such other committee of independent Directors as the Board may from time
to time designate. The Committee will have such additional authority as the Board determines from
time to time is necessary or desirable in order to further the purposes of the Plan.
Awards to Participants. The Committee will be responsible for selecting the employees and
Directors who will participate in the Plan, determining the types and number of Awards to be made
to each participant, and determining the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to each
award. The Committee may delegate authority to the Chief Executive Officer for Awards to employees
who are not executive officers.
Types of Awards. The Plan will authorize several different types of long-term incentives,
including the following:
|
O |
|
Stock Options. Stock options entitle a participant to purchase shares of Common
Stock at a fixed price over a pre-established period of time. The Plan will authorize
the award of both incentive stock options and nonstatutory stock options as the
Committee determines. Incentive stock options may be granted only to employees of
Ferro and subsidiary corporations that are at least 50% owned, directly or indirectly,
by Ferro. The exercise price of stock options will not be less than the per share fair
market value of Common Stock on the date the option is granted and thereafter the |
|
|
|
* |
|
OBRA amended the Internal Revenue Code to
limit to $1 million per year the deduction allowed for Federal income tax
purposes for compensation paid to the Chief Executive Officer and the four
other most highly compensated executive officers of a public company. The OBRA
deduction limit, however, does not apply to compensation paid under a plan that
meets certain requirements for performance-based compensation. Compensation
attributable to a stock option is deemed to satisfy the requirement that
compensation be paid on account of the attainment of one or more performance
goals, if (1) the grant is made by a committee of directors, which meets
certain criteria, (2) the plan under which the option is granted states a
maximum number of options that may be granted to any individual during a
specified period of time and (3) the amount of compensation the individual
could receive is based solely on the increase in the value of the common shares
after the date of grant. The Company has structured the Plan to meet the
performance-based compensation requirement in order to preserve the full
deductibility of all compensation paid under the Plan to the extent
practicable. |
-8-
|
|
|
option price may not be changed. No stock option will be exercisable more than ten
years after it is granted. Fair market value means the closing price of the
Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange. |
|
|
O |
|
Stock Appreciation Rights. A stock appreciation right entitles a participant to
receive a payment, in cash or Common Stock, as determined by the Committee, equal to
the excess of the fair market value, on the date of exercise or surrender, of the
number of shares of Common Stock covered by such exercise or surrender over the stock
appreciation right exercise price (which may not be less than the fair market value on
the date of grant) of a stated number of shares of Common Stock. Once granted, the
initial value of a stock appreciation right may not be changed so as to increase its
value. Stock appreciation rights must be exercised within ten years of the date of
grant. |
|
|
O |
|
Restricted Shares. Restricted shares are shares of Common Stock that are
forfeitable if certain conditions are not satisfied. With respect to Awards of
restricted shares that vest based solely on the lapse of time, the aggregate Award may
not vest in whole in less than three years from the date of grant and no installment of
an award may vest in less than 12 months. With respect to Awards of restricted shares
that vest based on performance criteria, the restriction period applicable to
restricted shares may not be less than 12 months. |
|
|
O |
|
Performance Shares. Performance shares are represented either by forfeitable shares
of Common Stock issued at the time of grant or by phantom performance shares.
Performance shares will be earned upon satisfaction of pre-established performance
targets over a performance period (usually three years) established by the Committee.
At the end of the applicable performance period, the performance shares will be
converted into Common Stock, cash, or a combination of Common Stock and cash, or
forfeited, based on whether and to what extent the pre-established performance targets
have been achieved. Performance targets may be established based upon various financial
and stock performance measures established by the Committee. |
|
|
O |
|
Other Common Stock Based Awards. The Committee is authorized to make Awards in the
form of Common Stock, phantom common stock units, deferred common stock or units or
other awards valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based upon,
Common Stock. |
|
|
O |
|
Dividend Equivalent Rights. The Committee may grant Awards in the form of dividend
equivalent rights. Dividend equivalent rights entitle the participant to receive
credits based on cash distributions that would have been paid on the shares of Common
Stock specified in the dividends equivalent right (or other Award to which it relates)
if such shares had been issued to and held by the participant. A dividend equivalent
right may be granted hereunder to any participant as a component of another Award or as
a freestanding award, with such terms and conditions as set forth by the Committee. |
Shares Subject to the Plan. The shares of Common Stock to be issued under the Plan may be
either authorized but unissued shares or previously issued shares reacquired by Ferro and held as
treasury shares. Subject to allowed adjustments upon changes in capitalization, the number of
shares of Common Stock reserved for Awards under the Plan will be 3,000,000 shares. Shares of
Common Stock subject to any Award that is forfeited or otherwise terminated without the issuance of
shares or payment of consideration in lieu of shares, will again be available for grant under the
Plan (other than Stock Appreciation Rights). With respect to Stock Appreciation Rights settled in
shares of Common Stock, the aggregate number of shares subject to the Stock Appreciation Right
shall be counted against the number of shares for issuance under this Plan regardless of the number
of shares of Common Stock issued upon settlement. Shares of Common Stock tendered by Participants
as full or partial payment to Ferro upon exercise of Options or other Awards or to satisfy a
Participants tax withholding obligations will not increase the shares of Common Stock available
for Awards under the Plan.
-9-
Limitations. The Plan contains certain limitations on Awards, including the following:
|
O |
|
No more than 300,000 shares of Common Stock will be available for issuance with
respect to incentive stock options, |
|
|
O |
|
No more than 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock will be available for issuance with
respect to restricted shares, performance shares, or Common Stock Awards, and |
|
|
O |
|
No more than 500,000 shares of Common Stock will be the subject of awards granted to
any single participant during any 12-month period. |
Assignment and Transfer. Generally awards may not be transferred by a participant except by
will or the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee may authorize transfer of awards to a
participants family members, trusts for the exclusive benefit of such family members, or entities
in which the participant and such family members are the only owners or members, so long as such
transfer is for no consideration.
Change of Control. The Plan has special provisions concerning a Change in Control of Ferro.
Those special provisions include the following:
|
O |
|
All stock options and stock appreciation rights will become fully vested and
exercisable, |
|
|
O |
|
All restrictions and conditions with respect to all awards of restricted shares will
be deemed fully released or satisfied, except as set forth below, |
|
|
O |
|
All previously established performance targets for performance shares will be deemed
to have been met at 100% of the award level, and |
|
|
O |
|
During a restriction period or during a performance period, participants will be
entitled to receive a pro rata portion of the award that would have been distributed to
them at the end of the applicable restriction period or performance period. |
In connection with a Change of Control, Ferro may make payments to participants in cash for
the value of all outstanding awards to the extent vested based upon the higher of (i) the closing
price on the date of the Change of Control or (ii) the highest price actually paid in connection
with the Change of Control.
Amendment or Termination. The Board of Directors will have the power to amend, modify or
terminate the Plan under certain circumstances. The Board will not have the power to change an
option price nor the initial value of a stock appreciation right.
Federal Income Tax Consequences. Ferro believes generally that awards under the Plan will
have the following consequences under current U.S. Federal income tax laws:
|
O |
|
Incentive Stock Options. A participant will not recognize any taxable income on
grant or exercise of an incentive stock option. The exercise of an incentive stock
option may, however, result in the imposition of the alternative minimum tax. Ferro is
not entitled to a deduction on grant or exercise of an incentive stock option unless
the participant disposes of the shares within 12 months after exercise. |
|
|
O |
|
Other Awards. A participant will not recognize any taxable income on grant of
non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares or
performance shares. On exercise of non-statutory stock options or stock appreciation
rights, on expiration of a restriction period for restricted shares, or on expiration
of a performance period for performance shares, the participant will recognize
compensation income and Ferro will be entitled to a deduction equal to the value of the
Common Stock or cash the participant receives (minus, in the case of a non-statutory
stock option, the option exercise price paid by the participant). |
Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan was adopted by the Board as of September 28, 2006,
subject to approval by the shareholders at this Annual Meeting. No new awards may be made under
the Plan after December 31, 2016.
-10-
Status of Grants Under Prior Plans. If the Plan is approved, no further grants may be made
under Ferros 2003 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan. Outstanding options and performance
shares shall not be affected by shareholder approval of this Plan.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2005 regarding the number of
shares issued and available for issuance under Ferros equity compensation plans.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares to Be |
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
|
Issued on Exercise of |
|
Weighted Average Exercise |
|
Remaining Available for Future |
|
|
Outstanding Options, |
|
Price of Outstanding |
|
Issuance Under Equity Compensation |
Equity Compensation Plan |
|
and Other Awards |
|
Options, and Other Awards |
|
Plans (1) |
Approved by Ferro Shareholders (2) |
|
4,752,900 Shares |
|
$ |
22.19 |
|
|
914,225 Shares(4) |
Not Approved by Ferro Shareholders (3) |
|
134,830 Shares |
|
$ |
24.96 |
|
|
0 Shares |
Total |
|
4,887,730 Shares |
|
$ |
22.23 |
(5) |
|
914,225 Shares |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Excludes shares listed in the second column. |
|
(2) |
|
Includes options issued under the Companys 2003 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan. |
|
(3) |
|
Includes options granted in excess of 100,000 shares to the Chief Executive Officer and
phantom units issued under the Companys Executive Employee Deferred Compensation Plan and
Supplemental Executive Defined Contribution Plan. |
|
(4) |
|
As indicated in the summary of the 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan, no further grants of these
shares will be offered if the Plan is approved. |
|
(5) |
|
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options; excludes phantom units. |
Set forth below is a description of the material features of each plan that were not
approved by Ferro shareholders:
|
O |
|
Stock Options. On February 11, 2002 and February 9, 2001, respectively, the Board
granted Mr. Ortino 155,000 and 122,000 options to purchase shares. Of this amount,
options for 100,000 shares each year were granted under the 1985 Employee Stock Option
Plan approved by shareholders and the remaining options were approved and granted by
the Board from available treasury shares. The options granted in 2002 have an exercise
price of $25.50 and the options granted in 2001 have an exercise price of $23.60. Both
grants have a maximum term of ten years and vest evenly over four years on the
anniversary of the grant date. |
|
|
O |
|
Executive Employee Deferred Compensation Plan. The Executive Employee Deferred
Compensation Plan allows participants to defer up to 75 percent of annual base salary
and up to 100 percent of incentive cash bonus awards and cash performance share
payouts. Participants may elect to have all or a portion of their deferred
compensation accounts deemed to be invested in shares of Ferro Common Stock, and
credited with hypothetical appreciation, depreciation, and dividends. When
distributions are made from this Plan in respect of such shares, the distributions are
made in actual shares of Ferro Common Stock. |
|
|
O |
|
Supplemental Executive Defined Contribution Plan. The Supplemental Executive
Defined Contribution Plan allows participants to be credited annually with matching and
basic pension contributions that they would have received under the Companys 401(k)
plan except for the applicable IRS limitations on compensation and contributions.
Contributions vest at 20% for each year of service, are deemed invested in Ferro Common
Stock and earn dividends. Distributions are made in Ferro Common Stock or in cash. |
-11-
As of August 31, 2006, 42,747,117 shares of Company stock were outstanding, 214,653 shares
were available for outstanding equity awards under all equity compensation plans, and 214,653
shares were available for future awards under the 2003 Long-Term Incentive Compensation
Plan.* Thus, as of August 31, 2006, our fully diluted overhang was 11.8% and our simple
overhang was 12.1%. If the 3,000,000 shares under the 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan for which
shareholder approval is requested were available for grant as of August 31, 2006, our fully diluted
overhang would have increased to 16.5% and our simple overhang to 16.8%. For fiscal years 2005,
2004, and 2003, our burn rate, i.e., shares used for equity compensation awards during the year
divided by shares outstanding as of the beginning of the year, was 2.2%, 2.1%, and 1.4%,
respectively.
The Company currently awards performance shares to employees. Employees are awarded a target
number of shares which are included in the Number of Shares to be Issued on Exercise of
Outstanding Options and Other Awards in the table on page 11. At the end of the applicable
performance period (usually three years), a payout is made based on the achievement of
pre-established performance targets. Payouts under the Plan are settled one-half in shares of
Common Stock and one-half in cash. Consequently, the number of shares of Common Stock actually
issued in connection with an award of performance shares is less than the initial award. The
following table sets forth the aggregate award and payout information for the Companys performance
share plan paid in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2000-2002 Plan |
|
2001-2003 Plan |
|
2002-2004 Plan |
|
|
Paid in 2003 |
|
Paid in 2004 |
|
Paid in 2005 |
Awards |
|
|
144,800 |
|
|
|
144,000 |
|
|
|
145,450 |
|
Total Forfeitures |
|
|
(10,000 |
) |
|
|
(36,500 |
) |
|
|
(36,700 |
) |
Shares Remaining Before Payout |
|
|
134,800 |
|
|
|
107,500 |
|
|
|
108,750 |
|
Cancellation of Plans |
|
|
(79,671 |
) |
|
|
(70,438 |
) |
|
|
(84,809 |
) |
Shares Paid Out |
|
|
55,129 |
|
|
|
37,062 |
|
|
|
23,941 |
|
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes present and entitled to vote is required for
the approval of the Plan. Approval of the Plan also requires that the holders of a majority of the
shares entitled to vote (as determined in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange)
cast a vote whether in favor, against or in abstention. If you abstain from voting on this
proposal, it will have the same effect as a vote against this proposal. However, if your shares
are held in a brokerage account and you do not instruct your broker to vote, your vote will be
counted neither as a vote for nor a vote against this proposal because such votes are not
considered cast on the matter. (A broker who holds street name shares cannot vote in its
discretion on approval of the Plan.)
Board Recommendation
The Board recommends that you vote FOR approval of the 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Unless
you instruct otherwise on your proxy card or telephone or Internet voting instructions, your proxy
will be voted in accordance with the Boards recommendation.
|
|
|
* |
|
On August 31, 2006, 5,206,855 shares of the
Companys common stock were issuable upon exercise of outstanding options
(with a weighted-average exercise price of $22.24 per share and a
weighted-average remaining contractual life of 5.6 years), and 249,100
shares of Company common stock were potentially issuable under the
performance share plan based upon performance attainments and the related
cash payment in lieu of common stock. |
-12-
ITEM THREE: AMENDMENT OF THE COMPANYS CODE OF REGULATIONS
The Board has approved, subject to the approval of the Companys shareholders, an amendment to
the Companys Code of Regulations to allow the Company to notify shareholders of the time, place
and purposes of each meeting of shareholders by electronic or other means of communication
authorized by the shareholder. The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders approve the
amendment.
The full text of Section 3 of Article I of the Code of Regulations reflecting this amendment
is attached to this proxy statement as Appendix B. The following description of the amendment is
qualified in its entirety by reference to Appendix B.
The Proposed Amendment
Section 3 of Article I of the Companys Code of Regulations currently requires the Company to
issue written notices to shareholders of record by personal delivery or by mail, setting forth the
time, place and purposes of each shareholder meeting. This provision requires written notices even
if the shareholder has consented in advance to receive notices and other materials from the Company
by e-mail or some other means of communication.
The current requirements were consistent with Ohio law when they were enacted. However, given
recent developments in Ohio corporate law and advances in the area of electronic communication, the
Board believes that the requirement that delivery of notice be by personal delivery or by mail is
no longer necessary or justified if a shareholder wishes to receive notices electronically.
Ohio law now permits the Company to adopt alternative methods of providing to shareholders of
record notices regarding the time, place and purposes of shareholder meetings by any means other
than personal delivery or mail which is authorized by the shareholder to whom the notice is given.
Accordingly, the proposed amendment to Section 3 of Article I of the Code of Regulations would
allow the Company, if authorized by the shareholder in advance, to send notices of shareholder
meetings to such shareholder by alternative means of communication, such as e-mail. The proposed
amendment would also enable the Company to take advantage of recent changes in the law that now
permit the use of electronic delivery of proxy statements and annual reports to shareholders.
Shareholders would not be compelled to receive such notices by e-mail or other electronic
means if they wished not to. Rather, electronic communication would be used only if authorized in
advance by the individual shareholder, as required by Ohio law, and a shareholder will have the
right to revoke the authorization at any time. In addition, if the Company were unsuccessful in
two consecutive attempts to deliver a notice electronically to a shareholder and has received
notice that delivery was unsuccessful, the shareholders authorization would be deemed revoked
under Ohio law.
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of the holders of record of shares entitling them to exercise a majority
of the voting power of the Company is required for approval of the amendment to the Companys Code
of Regulations. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as votes against the
proposal.
Board Recommendation
The Board recommends that you vote FOR this amendment to the Companys Code of Regulations.
Unless you instruct otherwise on your proxy card or telephone or Internet voting instructions, your
proxy will be voted in accordance with the Boards recommendation.
-13-
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Ferros Board has long followed, both formally and informally, corporate governance
principles designed to assure that the Board, through its membership, composition, and
committee structure, is able to provide informed, competent and independent oversight of the
Company.
Below is a description of the corporate governance measures in place to assure that
objective is met. Further information about the Companys governance may be found at our
website: www.ferro.com.
Corporate Governance Principles
The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Principles. These Corporate Governance Principles,
which may be found on Ferros website, are intended to assure that Ferros Director qualifications,
Committee structure and overall Board processes provide good corporate governance and independent
oversight of the Companys management.
Director Independence
The Board has also adopted formal Guidelines for Determining Director Independence, a copy of
which is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix C. The purpose of these Guidelines is to
assist the Board in its evaluation of and determination as to the independence of members of the
Board. The Guidelines meet or exceed in all respects the standards set forth in section 303A of
the New York Stock Exchange listing standards, and the Board has determined that all Directors,
other than the Chief Executive Officer, qualify as independent under such standards.
Board Committees
The Board has four committees as follows:
The Audit Committee assists the Board with oversight of the integrity of Ferros financial
statements, Ferros compliance with legal and regulatory requirements relating to its financial
reports (including the annual Audit Committee report as required by the Securities Exchange Act of
1934), Ferros external independent auditors qualifications, independence, and performance, the
performance of Ferros internal audit and risk management functions, compliance with Ferros legal
and ethical policies and Ferros accounting practices and systems of internal controls. The Audit
Committee is not, however, responsible for conducting audits, preparing financial statements, or
the accuracy of any financial statements or filings, all of which remain the responsibility of
management and the independent auditors. The Committees charter may be found on Ferros website.
The members of the Audit Committee are Dr. Hwang and Messrs. Lawrence, Sharp, Sullivan and
Weisser. Mr. Lawrence serves as the Chair. Each member of the Audit Committee is independent as
required under section 301 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as under the standards
contained in section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange listing standards. The Board has
determined, in its best judgment, that more than one member of the Audit Committee has the
accounting and related financial management experience and expertise to qualify as an audit
committee financial expert as defined in section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Securities
and Exchange Commissions rules under that statute. The Board, however, has designated Alberto
Weisser as the Audit Committees named financial expert. (Mr. Weissers biography is on page
[] above.) The Board has further determined that each member of the Audit Committee has the
requisite financial literacy required under section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange listing
standards to serve on the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee met 26 times in 2005. The Audit Committees report is on page []
below.
-14-
O |
|
Governance, Nomination & Compensation Committee |
The Governance, Nomination & Compensation Committee is responsible for recommending to the
Board corporate governance principles, overseeing adherence to the corporate governance principles
adopted by the Board, recommending to the Board criteria and qualifications for new Board members,
recommending to the Board nominees for appointment or election as Directors, recommending to the
Board the composition of committees and the chairs of each, recommending policies for compensation
of Directors, and setting the compensation of executive officers, including Ferros Chief Executive
Officer. The Committees charter may be found on Ferros website.
In its role as the nominating body for the Board, the Committee reviews the credentials of
potential Director candidates (including potential candidates recommended by shareholders),
conducts interviews and makes formal recommendations to the Board for the annual and any interim
election of Directors. In making its recommendations, the Committee considers a variety of
factors, including skills, independence, background, experience, diversity and compatibility with
existing Board members. Other than the foregoing, there are no stated minimum criteria for
Director nominees, and the Committee may also consider such other factors as it deems appropriate
in the best interests of Ferro and its shareholders.
The Committee identifies nominees by first evaluating the current members of the Board willing
to continue in service. If any Board member does not wish to continue in service or if the
Committee or the Board decides not to nominate a member for re-election, then the Committee
identifies the desired skills and experience in light of the criteria outlined above. The
Committee then establishes a pool of potential Director candidates from recommendations from the
Board, senior management and shareholders. The Committee may also retain a third party search firm
to assist in the identification of Director candidates.
The Committee will consider candidates for Director who are recommended by shareholders.
Shareholder recommendations should be submitted in writing to: Secretary, Ferro Corporation, 1000
Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114-1147 USA. The recommendation letter should include the
shareholders own name, address and the number of shares owned and the candidates name, age,
business address, residence address and principal occupation, as well as the number of shares the
candidate owns. The letter should provide all of the information that would need to be disclosed
in the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors under Federal securities laws.
Finally, the shareholder should also submit the recommended candidates written consent to be
elected and commitment to serve if elected. Ferro may also require a candidate to furnish
additional information regarding his or her eligibility and qualifications.
Messrs. Bulkin, Lawrence, Mee and Sharp are the members of the Governance, Nomination &
Compensation Committee, with Mr. Bulkin serving as the Chair. All members of this Committee meet
the independence standards contained in section 303A of the New York Stock Exchanges listing
standards.
The Governance, Nomination & Compensation Committee met twice in 2005. Its report is on pages
[] to [] below.
The Finance Committee has oversight responsibilities with respect to reviewing the Companys
capital structure, worldwide capital needs, major capital allocations, financial position and
related financial covenants and recommending to the Board financial programs and plans for
implementing such programs. This Committees charter may also be found on Ferros website.
The Finance Committee met five times in 2005. Ms. Crayton and Messrs. Mee, Sharp and Weisser
are the members of the Finance Committee, with Mr. Mee serving as the Chair.
-15-
O |
|
Technology Strategy Committee |
The Technology Strategy Committee has responsibility for considering new business initiatives
presented by management in the electronics, pharmaceuticals and other high technology sectors and
for evaluating and recommending strategies for developing and adding to the technologies involved
in those initiatives.
Ms. Crayton, Dr. Hwang, Mr. Bulkin, and Mr. Sullivan are members of the Technology Strategy
Committee, with Ms. Crayton serving as the Chair. This Committee met once in 2005 and its charter
may also be found on Ferros website.
Other Corporate Governance Measures
Ferros non-management Directors, all of whom are independent, meet at regularly scheduled
executive sessions at least once each year. These meetings are chaired by a lead Director selected
from among the committee Chairs on a rotating basis. Neither the Chief Executive Officer nor any
other member of management attends these meetings. Following each executive session, the
non-management Directors invite the Chief Executive Officer to join their meeting and share with
him, at their discretion, any observations, comments or concerns they may have.
The independent Directors have access to Ferro management as they deem necessary or
appropriate. In addition, the Chairs of the Audit Committee and the Governance, Nomination &
Compensation Committee meet periodically with members of senior management.
Finally, Ferro has adopted a series of policies dealing with business conduct and ethics.
These policies apply to all Ferro Directors, officers and employees. A summary of these policies
may be found on Ferros website and the full text of the policies is available in print, free of
charge, by writing to: General Counsel, Ferro Corporation, 1000 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio
44114-1147 USA. Under the Audit Committees charter, the Committee is charged with responsibility
to assure that all exceptions to and waivers of the Companys ethical and internal control policies
are properly disclosed, documented and approved by the Committee and that no employee is
disciplined, punished or otherwise disadvantaged as a consequence of reporting in good faith
violations of the Companys policies. Exceptions, waivers and amendments of those policies may be
made, if at all, only by the Committee and, in the event any such exceptions, waivers or amendments
are granted, a description of the change or event will be posted on Ferros website within four
business days. Finally, further to assure compliance, Ferro maintains a hotline that allows
employees throughout the world to report confidentially any detected violations of these legal and
ethical conduct policies consistent with local legal requirements and subject to local legal
limitations.
Any shareholder or interested party who wishes to communicate directly and confidentially with
the lead Director or the independent Directors as a group may contact the independent Directors at
the following website: www.ferrodirectors.com. The independent Directors will handle such
communications confidentially.
Note
Under rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to minimize
mailing costs we are permitted to send a single set of annual
reports and proxy statements to any household at which two or more
shareholders reside if they appear to be members of the same
family. A number of brokerage firms have also instituted this
practice with respect to the delivery of documents to shareholders
residing at the same address. With this practice, however, each
shareholder continues to receive a separate proxy card for voting.
Any shareholder affected by this practice who desires to receive
multiple copies of annual reports and proxy statements in the
future should call Investor Relations at (216) 641-8580.
-16-
INFORMATION CONCERNING EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Report of the Governance, Nomination & Compensation Committee
Our Compensation Program
Ferros management compensation program is designed to balance current performance with
achievement of long-term objectives and to align the interests of senior management with those of
its shareholders. The three key elements of this program are (1) an annual base salary, (2) an
annual incentive bonus, and (3) long-term incentives. The Chief Executive Officers compensation
includes all three of these elements. The Governance, Nomination & Compensation Committee has
general responsibility for administering the compensation program.
Annual Base Salary. The Committee sets the annual base salary of all executive officers,
including the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer makes recommendations to the
Committee as to the base salaries of officers other than himself. The Chief Executive Officer does
not, however, participate in deliberations concerning his own compensation.
Annual Incentive Bonus. Annual cash bonuses are paid to management employees under an annual
incentive compensation plan. Under this plan, the Chief Executive Officers achievement is
measured exclusively by attainment of financial performance targets. Awards for other senior
managers are based on achievements measured primarily by attainment of financial performance
targets, but they are also measured to a lesser extent by personal performance objectives.
Each year the Committee determines which senior managers will participate in the annual
incentive compensation plan, determines the applicable percentage of salary to be used for bonus
measurement and sets the financial performance targets by which the level of bonus achievement will
be measured.
Long-Term Incentives. In 2005, grants of stock options and performance shares were made under
the 2003 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan. Grants of stock options and performance shares
reinforce the long-term goal of increasing shareholder value by aligning the interests of
management and the interests of the Companys shareholders. The terms of those grants may be
summarized as follows:
|
O |
|
Stock Options. Stock options are issued with an exercise price at no less than the
closing market price at the date of grant. Stock options have a maximum term of ten
years and vest evenly over the first four anniversaries of the grant date. The
Committee determines which employees receive stock options and the number of option
shares granted to such employees in accordance with the terms of the Plan. |
|
|
O |
|
Performance Shares. Employees are awarded a nominal or target number of shares. At
the end of a pre-determined performance period (usually three years), a determination
is made whether and to what extent the pre-established performance targets have been
achieved. Unless target levels of performance are achieved, employees actual payouts
under the Plan can be significantly below the nominal values of the awards. Payments
under the Plan are made one-half in shares and one-half in cash. |
2005 Executive Compensation
Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer. The Committee was responsible for setting the
compensation package for the Companys Chief Executive Officer. To assist in its evaluation, the
Committee retained Watson Wyatt & Company (Watson Wyatt) as its independent executive
compensation consultants. Watson Wyatts advice was based on a variety of competitive data
maintained by, or available to, Watson Wyatt. Companies included in this competitive data differ
from those included in the performance graph on page [] because the Committee believes Ferro
competes
-17-
for executive talent not only with those companies within the same industry, but also with
companies with similar operations or of similar size.
From these data, Watson Wyatt made recommendations to the Committee as to competitive levels
of each element of the CEOs compensation (base salary, annual incentive and long-term incentives).
The Committee took these recommendations into consideration in setting Mr. Ortinos and Mr.
Kirschs compensation. The Committees policy is to attain competitive levels of executive
compensation for each of these elements.
For 2005, compensation for Mr. Ortino and Mr. Kirsch was as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Base Salary |
|
Annual Incentive Bonus |
|
Stock Options(1) |
|
Performance Shares |
Hector R. Ortino |
|
$ |
700,000 |
|
|
$ |
173,660 |
|
|
162,000 Shares |
|
30,000 Shares |
James F. Kirsch |
|
$ |
508,333 |
|
|
$ |
254,167 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 Shares |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Mr. Kirsch was awarded 125,000 stock options in October 2004 when he joined Ferro; as a
consequence, he was not awarded any stock options in February 2005. |
The Committees decisions with respect to the incentive elements of Mr. Ortinos
compensation were based on performance to previously established financial goals for the
corporation, and prorated for the period that Mr. Ortino served as CEO. The recommendations and
actions of the Committee included consideration of Watson Wyatts data as to competitive standards
of compensation in the marketplace.
Mr. Ortinos base salary, which was not increased from 2004 to 2005, was in the third quartile
of competitive market salary data as reported by Watson Wyatt. Mr. Ortinos annual incentive bonus
target amount equaled 75% of his base salary, a percentage that, if achieved, would have placed Mr.
Ortinos bonus in the third quartile of other companies in the marketplace for 2005 as reported by
Watson Wyatt. Based on the mathematical application of performance factors for sales revenue and
earnings per share. Mr. Ortinos actual bonus for 2005 equaled 24.81% of his base salary in 2005
($173,660 divided by $700,000). Mr. Ortinos 2005 bonus reflects prorating due to his death during
2005.
With respect to long-term incentives, Mr. Ortinos 2005 combined stock option award and 2005
performance share award were in the fourth quartile of long-term incentive grants to CEOs of
comparable companies in the marketplace as reported by Watson Wyatt. The actual future value of
stock option awards will, of course, be a function of the market value for Ferro stock in the
future. The actual future value of performance share awards will be a function both of the future
market value of Ferro stock and of the degree of achievement of performance targets, as prorated
for his death during 2005.
Mr. Ortino served as the Companys Chairman & Chief Executive Officer until his untimely death
on November 28, 2005. On November 29, 2005, Mr. Kirsch was named President & Chief Executive
Officer. Accordingly, effective December 1, 2005, the Committee increased Mr. Kirschs annual
salary rate from $500,000 to $600,000, and his annual incentive target rate from 60% to 75% of base
salary. This placed Mr. Kirschs base salary in the first quartile of other companies in the
marketplace for 2005, and placed his total annual target compensation opportunity in the second
quartile of other companies based on market data provided by the Committees independent
compensation consultants.
Compensation of Other Senior Executives. The Committee believes that a substantial portion of
compensation for other senior executives should be variable, based upon performance of the Company
and results achieved by each member of management. The target bonuses for the five named senior
executives as a group were in the second quartile of the peer companies reported in Watson Wyatts
competitive market data.
-18-
In making its determinations with respect to Messrs. Bays, Benson, Gannon and Kramer and Ms.
Mastin, the Committee considered and discussed performance in relation to previously established
financial goals for the corporation for 2005. With respect to these executives, the Committee
also considered its and Mr. Kirschs evaluation of their individual performances. In the case of
Messrs. Benson and Kramer and Ms. Mastin, who had direct responsibilities with respect to Ferro
business operations, their levels of achievement under the annual incentive compensation plan and
2003 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan were also materially affected by the performance of the
specific operations for which they were then responsible. In the case of Mr. Bays, a special
incentive of $100,000 was awarded in recognition of his contributions toward the completion of the
internal investigations and restatement.*
Section 162(m) Limitation
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally provides that certain compensation in
excess of $1.0 million per year paid to a companys chief executive officer and any of its four
highest paid executive officers is not deductible by a company unless the compensation qualifies
for an exception. Section 162(m) provides an exception for performance-based compensation if
certain procedural requirements, including shareholder approval of the material terms of the
performance goals, are satisfied. The 2003 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan contains the
provisions necessary to qualify the Plan under the section 162(m) exception and preserve the tax
deductibility to the Company of compensation paid to executives under these plans in the future.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael H. Bulkin, Chairman
William B. Lawrence
Michael F. Mee
William J. Sharp
* * * * *
Governance, Nomination & Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During 2005, no officer or employee of Ferro served as a member of the Governance, Nomination
& Compensation Committee. Also, during 2005, there were no interlocking relationships (as
described in Item 402(j) of SEC Regulation S-K) between members of the Governance, Nomination &
Compensation Committee and Ferro.
|
|
|
* |
|
For a more complete description of the
internal investigation and the ensuing audit and restatement process,
please see the discussion under the heading Restatement on pages 3 to 7
of the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004. |
-19-
Executive Compensation
The following table shows on an accrual basis the elements of compensation paid or awarded
during 2005, 2004 and 2003 to each person serving as the Chief Executive Officer, the other four
highest paid executive officers as of December 31, 2005, and an additional executive officer who
would have been among the four highest paid executive officers as of December 31, 2005, but was no
longer serving as an executive officer as of such date.
Summary Compensation Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-Term Compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Options |
|
Performance Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value |
|
Value |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of |
|
of |
|
|
|
|
|
All |
|
|
Total |
Name and |
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Compensation |
|
Options |
|
Options |
|
Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
|
Compen- |
Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
Other |
|
Awarded |
|
Awarded |
|
Awarded |
|
Payout |
|
Compensation |
|
|
sation |
Footnote |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
(2) |
|
(3) |
|
(4) |
|
(5) |
|
(6) |
|
(7) |
|
|
(8) |
Units |
|
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
Shares |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
James F. Kirsch (9) |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
508,333 |
|
|
|
254,167 |
|
|
|
87,507 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
484,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,616 |
|
|
|
|
1,353,373 |
|
President and |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
104,167 |
|
|
|
35,826 |
|
|
|
9,225 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
735,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,171 |
|
|
|
|
897,389 |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hector R. Ortino (9) |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
700,000 |
|
|
|
173,660 |
|
|
|
144,504 |
|
|
|
162,000 |
|
|
|
826,200 |
|
|
|
581,700 |
|
|
|
257,826 |
|
|
|
60,036 |
|
|
|
|
2,743,926 |
|
Chairman and |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
800,000 |
|
|
|
292,020 |
|
|
|
171,986 |
|
|
|
175,000 |
|
|
|
1,188,250 |
|
|
|
1,050,400 |
|
|
|
417,417 |
|
|
|
111,940 |
|
|
|
|
4,032,013 |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
793,750 |
|
|
|
336,360 |
|
|
|
179,637 |
|
|
|
175,000 |
|
|
|
1,235,325 |
|
|
|
850,400 |
|
|
|
769,907 |
|
|
|
127,319 |
|
|
|
|
4,292,698 |
|
James C. Bays |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
142,621 |
|
|
|
30,263 |
|
|
|
44,000 |
|
|
|
224,400 |
|
|
|
116,340 |
|
|
|
39,779 |
|
|
|
20,598 |
|
|
|
|
874,001 |
|
Vice President and |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
258,000 |
|
|
|
77,671 |
|
|
|
34,201 |
|
|
|
39,000 |
|
|
|
264,810 |
|
|
|
183,820 |
|
|
|
68,624 |
|
|
|
17,598 |
|
|
|
|
904,724 |
|
General Counsel |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
258,000 |
|
|
|
56,290 |
|
|
|
17,493 |
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
247,065 |
|
|
|
127,560 |
|
|
|
75,346 |
|
|
|
19,560 |
|
|
|
|
801,314 |
|
M. Craig Benson(10) |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
18,847 |
|
|
|
33,000 |
|
|
|
168,300 |
|
|
|
141,547 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
15,565 |
|
|
|
|
594,259 |
|
Vice President, |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
229,583 |
|
|
|
61,305 |
|
|
|
6,577 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
135,800 |
|
|
|
217,958 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
15,659 |
|
|
|
|
666,882 |
|
Electronic Materials |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
215,000 |
|
|
|
34,061 |
|
|
|
9,350 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
49,413 |
|
|
|
106,300 |
|
|
|
99,078 |
|
|
|
15,268 |
|
|
|
|
528,470 |
|
Thomas M. Gannon(11) |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
365,000 |
|
|
|
57,623 |
|
|
|
36,628 |
|
|
|
57,000 |
|
|
|
290,700 |
|
|
|
164,815 |
|
|
|
39,779 |
|
|
|
23,757 |
|
|
|
|
978,302 |
|
Vice President and |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
110,138 |
|
|
|
30,344 |
|
|
|
52,000 |
|
|
|
353,080 |
|
|
|
246,844 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,571 |
|
|
|
|
1,110,977 |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
224,145 |
|
|
|
61,430 |
|
|
|
8,729 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
352,950 |
|
|
|
145,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
47,155 |
|
|
|
|
840,209 |
|
Dale G. Kramer(12) |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
295,000 |
|
|
|
78,359 |
|
|
|
36,670 |
|
|
|
44,000 |
|
|
|
224,400 |
|
|
|
166,754 |
|
|
|
28,426 |
|
|
|
19,504 |
|
|
|
|
849,113 |
|
Vice President, |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
295,000 |
|
|
|
74,998 |
|
|
|
38,303 |
|
|
|
55,000 |
|
|
|
373,450 |
|
|
|
254,722 |
|
|
|
40,149 |
|
|
|
18,392 |
|
|
|
|
1,095,014 |
|
Performance Chemicals |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
295,000 |
|
|
|
39,557 |
|
|
|
22,013 |
|
|
|
55,000 |
|
|
|
388,245 |
|
|
|
180,710 |
|
|
|
66,571 |
|
|
|
18,963 |
|
|
|
|
1,011,059 |
|
Celeste B. Mastin(13) |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
230,833 |
|
|
|
50,536 |
|
|
|
15,340 |
|
|
|
33,000 |
|
|
|
168,300 |
|
|
|
137,669 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,845 |
|
|
|
|
619,523 |
|
Vice President, |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
181,667 |
|
|
|
49,666 |
|
|
|
7,773 |
|
|
|
11,500 |
|
|
|
78,085 |
|
|
|
91,910 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
42,829 |
|
|
|
|
451,930 |
|
Growth & Development |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
79,227 |
|
|
|
8,358 |
|
|
|
104 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,580 |
|
|
|
|
97,269 |
|
Footnotes to Summary Compensation Table
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Bonuses with respect to fiscal 2005 were paid under the Companys annual incentive
compensation plan. Under such plan, each participant was eligible to receive a bonus of up to
250% of his or her target incentive multiplied by his or her annual salary as of December 31,
2005, or $1,125,000 (250% times 75% times $600,000) with respect to Mr. Kirsch, $1,500,000
(250% times 75% times $800,000) with respect to Mr. Ortino, $337,500 (250% times 45% times
$300,000) with respect to Mr. Bays, $281,250 (250% times 45% times $250,000) with respect to
Mr. Benson, $456,250 (250% times 50% times $365,000) with respect to Mr. Gannon, $368,750
(250% times 50% times $295,000) with respect to Mr. Kramer, and $292,500 (250% times 45% times
$260,000) with respect to Ms. Mastin. The actual amount paid was set at the discretion of the
Governance, Nomination & Compensation Committee. |
|
(2) |
|
Amounts in this column include primarily dividends paid on as-yet-unmatured performance
shares, above-market interest credited under the Companys Executive Deferred Compensation
Plan and the incremental cost of personal use of Company aircraft for each of the years 2003,
2004 and 2005 as follows: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
2004 |
|
2005 |
|
|
PSP |
|
Above Market |
|
Personal Use of |
|
PSP |
|
Above Market |
|
Personal |
|
PSP |
|
Above Market |
|
Personal Use of |
|
|
Dividends |
|
Interest |
|
Aircraft |
|
Dividends |
|
Interest |
|
Use of Aircraft |
|
Dividends |
|
Interest |
|
Aircraft |
James F. Kirsch |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
14,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,771 |
|
Hector R. Ortino |
|
$ |
62,495 |
|
|
$ |
11,176 |
|
|
$ |
83,594 |
|
|
$ |
72,355 |
|
|
$ |
4,413 |
|
|
$ |
51,560 |
|
|
|
69,093 |
|
|
$ |
8,363 |
|
|
|
38,797 |
|
James C. Bays |
|
|
8,265 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,258 |
|
|
|
559 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,122 |
|
|
|
1,397 |
|
|
|
|
|
M. Craig Benson |
|
|
5,075 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,640 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,673 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas M. Gannon |
|
|
1,740 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,932 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,862 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dale G. Kramer |
|
|
11,383 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,631 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,632 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Celeste B. Mastin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,030 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,148 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-20-
In addition, the amount reported for Mr. Kirsch includes $45,000 for a country club
initiation fee. The method by which the value of personal use of aircraft has been calculated
in the table above is different from the method used prior to disclosure of compensation for
fiscal 2004. In previous years, the calculation was based on the standard industry fare
level. In the table above the value is based on the incremental cost to the Company of the
air travel. Incremental cost was calculated based on variable operating cost, which includes
fuel and other supplies, travel expenses, equipment rental, flight crew expenses, meals and
miscellaneous handling charges and expenses. Fixed costs were not included in the calculation
of incremental cost because those expenses would have been incurred by the Company regardless
of the personal use of the aircraft by Company executives. We have recalculated the amount
previously reported for 2003 prior to the proxy relating to fiscal 2004 so that all amounts
are reported on a consistent incremental cost basis.
|
|
|
(3) |
|
With the exception of grants made to Mr. Kirsch at the time he joined Ferro on October 18,
2004 and Mr. Gannon at the time he joined Ferro on May 16, 2003, these stock options were
granted on February 28, 2003, February 9, 2004 and February 7, 2005. |
|
(4) |
|
The grant date present value of $5.10 per option share (or 26.3% of the exercise price) was
calculated using the Black Scholes method of option valuation in accordance with FAS 123R.
The model assumes the following: (a) an option term of ten years, (b) an interest rate of
3.78% that represents the interest rate on a U.S. Treasury bond with a 30 year maturity, (c)
volatility of 29.93%, calculated using month end stock prices for the past three calendar
years, and (d) the stocks annual dividend yield over the past three years of 2.99%. No
adjustments were made to amounts to reflect forfeitures. The grant date of such options was
February 7, 2005 and the exercise price is the closing market price per share on such date. |
|
(5) |
|
The values reported in this column are based on awards made under the Companys Long-Term
Incentive Compensation Plan. The values reported represent the number of performance shares
awarded times the market price of Ferro Common Stock on the date of the award. With these
awards, the actual number of shares on which the payout will be based for any given three-year
performance period will depend upon the level of achievement during such period and can equal
up to twice the number of shares awarded. Dividends are paid to recipients of the performance
shares during the three-year performance period. |
|
|
|
At December 31, 2005, the persons listed above held the following number of performance shares
applicable to performance periods not yet completed, valued at the value of the underlying
shares at December 31, 2005: Mr. Kirsch, 25,000 shares, valued at $469,000; Mr. Ortino,
110,000 shares, valued at $2,063,600; Mr. Gannon, 23,900 shares, valued at $448,364; Mr. Bays,
19,000 shares, valued at $356,440; Mr. Kramer, 8,500 shares, valued at $159,460 and Ms.
Mastin, 10,600 shares, valued at $198,856. |
|
(6) |
|
As described in more detail below under Performance Share Payouts for 2003-2005,
performance share payouts were made under the Companys Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan
for the 2003-2005 performance period. Each performance share award under the Companys
Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan was based on a three-year performance cycle ending on
December 31, 2005 and paid out half in cash and half in Common Stock unless deferred by the
participant, in which case amounts deferred are credited to the participants account and are
deemed invested in either Ferro Common Stock and/or Treasury rate-based instrument at the
election of the participant. |
|
(7) |
|
This column includes the following amounts for 2005: Company matching contributions under
the Savings and Stock Ownership Plan (Mr. Kirsch $5,250, Mr. Ortino $9,000, Mr. Bays $9,013,
Mr. Benson $9,071, Mr. Gannon $9,014, Mr. Kramer $9,057, Ms. Mastin $7,017); and Company
contributions to the Supplemental Executive Defined Contribution Plan (Mr. Kirsch $13,366, Mr.
Ortino $51,036, Mr. Bays $11,585, Mr. Benson $6,494, Mr. Gannon $14,743, Mr. Kramer $10,447,
Ms. Mastin $9,828). |
|
(8) |
|
Total Compensation includes amounts in the following columns: Salary, Bonus, Other, Value of
Options Awarded, Value of Shares Awarded, Payout and All Other Compensation. |
|
(9) |
|
Hector R. Ortino served as the Companys Chairman & Chief Executive Officer until his
untimely death on November 28, 2005. Upon Mr. Ortinos death, James F. Kirsch, who had joined
the Companys management team as its President and Chief Operating Officer on October 18,
2004, was named President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Kirschs actual bonus for 2005
equaled 50% of his base salary in 2005 ($254,167 divided by $508,333). Mr. Kirschs 2005
bonus reflects a minimum 50% bonus payout for 2005 (but not for future years) in Mr. Kirschs
employment agreement. |
|
(10) |
|
Mr. Benson ceased serving as an executive officer of the Company on February 17, 2006 and his
employment terminated on February 28, 2006. Pursuant to the terms of his separation
agreement, Mr. Benson will not be entitled to any payouts relating to the 2004 and 2005
performance share plan awards. |
|
(11) |
|
Mr. Gannon joined Ferro as its Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in May 2003. |
|
(12) |
|
Mr. Kramer ceased serving as an executive officer of the Company in November 2005 and his
employment with the Company terminated on March 31, 2006. Pursuant to the terms of his
separation agreement, Mr. Kramer will not be entitled to any payouts relating to the 2004 and
2005 performance share plan awards. |
|
(13) |
|
Ms. Mastin joined the Company in July 2003. |
-21-
Performance Share Awards and Payouts
The following table sets forth information relating to performance share awards under the 2003
Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan during 2005 to each of the executive officers of Ferro named
in the Summary Compensation Table:
Performance Share Awards in 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts in Shares(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Threshold |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance |
|
Performance |
|
Target Performance |
|
Maximum Performance |
Name |
|
Number of Shares |
|
Grant Date |
|
Period |
|
(25%) |
|
(100%) |
|
(200%) |
James F. Kirsch |
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
February 7, 2005 |
|
|
2005-2007 |
|
|
|
6,250 |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
Hector R. Ortino |
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
February 7, 2005 |
|
|
2005-2007 |
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
James C. Bays |
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
February 7, 2005 |
|
|
2005-2007 |
|
|
|
1,500 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
12,000 |
|
M. Craig Benson |
|
|
7,300 |
|
|
February 7, 2005 |
|
|
2005-2007 |
|
|
|
1,825 |
|
|
|
7,300 |
|
|
|
14,600 |
|
Thomas M. Gannon |
|
|
8,500 |
|
|
February 7, 2005 |
|
|
2005-2007 |
|
|
|
2,125 |
|
|
|
8,500 |
|
|
|
17,000 |
|
Dale G. Kramer |
|
|
8,600 |
|
|
February 7, 2005 |
|
|
2005-2007 |
|
|
|
2,150 |
|
|
|
8,600 |
|
|
|
17,200 |
|
Celeste B. Mastin |
|
|
7,100 |
|
|
February 7, 2005 |
|
|
2005-2007 |
|
|
|
1,775 |
|
|
|
7,100 |
|
|
|
14,200 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Messrs. Kirsch, Ortino, Bays, and Gannon and Ms. Mastin have performance measurements based
on cumulative earnings per share and cumulative sales revenue. Any performance shares award
payout relating to Mr. Ortino will be prorated and paid to his estate. Pursuant to the terms
of the separation agreements, Messrs. Benson and Kramer will not receive any performance share
payouts relating to the 2005-2007 performance period. |
Each of the awards listed above has a three-year performance cycle ending on December 31,
2007. The participant must continue to be an employee of Ferro until the end of the performance
period in order to qualify for payment. However, if a participant dies, is disabled or retires, a
pro rata payment is made at the end of the performance period based upon the portion of the
performance period during which the participant was employed. Also, in the case of a change in
control and termination of employment, a cash payment is paid at target performance at the time of
the change in control equal to (1) the aggregate value of performance share awards based on the
remaining term in the executives employment or change in control agreement and the portion of the
performance period that expired prior to the change in control minus (2) the value of performance
share payments actually made.
The following table sets forth information relating to the performance matrix and actual
performance share payouts under the 2003 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan for the 2003-2005
performance period to each of our executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table. Each
award under the Performance Share Plan was based on a three-year performance cycle ending on
December 31, 2005.
Performance Share Payouts for 2003-2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005 Payouts (1) (2) (3) |
|
|
Performance Matrix |
|
|
|
|
|
Cash |
|
|
|
|
Threshold |
|
Target |
|
Maximum |
|
|
|
|
|
Value of |
|
Total |
Name |
|
(25%) |
|
(100%) |
|
(200%) |
|
Cash |
|
Shares |
|
Value |
James F. Kirsch |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hector R. Ortino |
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
80,000 |
|
|
$ |
128,926 |
|
|
$ |
128,900 |
|
|
$ |
257,826 |
|
James C. Bays |
|
|
1,500 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
19,890 |
|
|
|
19,889 |
|
|
|
39,779 |
|
M. Craig Benson |
|
|
1,250 |
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Thomas M. Gannon |
|
|
1,500 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
19,890 |
|
|
|
19,889 |
|
|
|
39,779 |
|
Dale G. Kramer |
|
|
2,125 |
|
|
|
8,500 |
|
|
|
17,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
28,426 |
|
Celeste B. Mastin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Messrs. Ortino, Bays and Gannon had performance measurements based on corporate earnings per
share growth and sales revenue growth. Messrs. Benson and Kramer had performance measurements
based on both the corporate measures described in the preceding sentence and measurements
specific to their respective operating groups. Mr. Kirsch and Ms. Mastin were not
participants in the 2003-2005 Performance Share Plan. |
|
(2) |
|
2005 payouts were paid one-half in cash and one-half in shares and are rounded. The value of
shares is the number of shares times the average closing share price for the days in
which the shares traded during the last 10 calendar days of 2005. |
|
(3) |
|
Mr. Ortino elected to defer 30% of the value of his payout; however, due to his death the
amount was paid to his designated beneficiaries. Mr. Kramer elected to defer 100% of his
payout under the Companys Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. Under this Plan, amounts
deferred are credited to the participants account and are deemed invested in either Ferro
Common Stock and/or Treasury rate-based instrument at the election of the participant. The
participants account is distributed in cash and/or Ferro Common Stock. |
-22-
Stock Option Grants, Exercises and Year-End Values
The following table sets forth information with respect to each of the executive officers of
Ferro named in the Summary Compensation Table regarding grants under the 2003 Long-Term Incentive
Compensation Plan during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005:
Option Grants in 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage of Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options Granted to |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Present Value at |
|
|
Options Granted |
|
Employees in Fiscal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date of Grant |
Name |
|
(1) |
|
2005 |
|
Exercise Price |
|
Expiration Date |
|
(2) |
James F. Kirsch |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hector R. Ortino |
|
|
162,000 |
|
|
|
21.6 |
% |
|
$ |
19.39 |
|
|
February 7, 2015 |
|
|
826,200 |
|
James C. Bays |
|
|
44,000 |
|
|
|
5.9 |
% |
|
|
19.39 |
|
|
February 7, 2015 |
|
|
224,400 |
|
M. Craig Benson |
|
|
33,000 |
|
|
|
4.4 |
% |
|
|
19.39 |
|
|
February 7, 2015 |
|
|
168,300 |
|
Thomas M. Gannon |
|
|
57,000 |
|
|
|
7.6 |
% |
|
|
19.39 |
|
|
February 7, 2015 |
|
|
290,700 |
|
Dale G. Kramer |
|
|
44,000 |
|
|
|
5.9 |
% |
|
|
19.39 |
|
|
February 7, 2015 |
|
|
224,400 |
|
Celeste B. Mastin |
|
|
33,000 |
|
|
|
4.4 |
% |
|
|
19.39 |
|
|
February 7, 2015 |
|
|
168,300 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Stock options have a maximum term of ten years and vest evenly over four years on the
anniversary of the grant date. In the case of death, retirement, disability or change in
control, the options become 100% vested and exercisable. |
|
(2) |
|
The grant date present value of $5.10 per option share (or 26.3% of the exercise price) was
calculated using the Black-Scholes method of option valuation in accordance with FAS 123R.
The model assumes the following: (a) an option term of ten years, (b) an interest rate that
represents the interest rate on a U.S. Treasury bond with a 30-year maturity, (c) volatility
calculated using month-end stock prices for the past three calendar years, and (d) the stocks
annual dividend yield over the past three years. See footnote (4) of the summary compensation
table. The grant date of such options was February 7, 2005 and the exercise price is the
closing market price per share on such date. |
The following table sets forth for each of the executive officers of Ferro named in the
Summary Compensation Table the exercises of stock options under Ferro stock option plans during the
year ended December 31, 2005:
Option Exercises and Vesting in 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Value of Unexercised |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value |
|
Unexercised Options |
|
In-the-Money Options |
|
|
Shares Acquired |
|
Realized |
|
at December 31, 2005 |
|
at December 31, 2005 (1) |
Name |
|
on Exercise |
|
on Exercise |
|
Exercisable |
|
Not Exercisable |
|
Exercisable |
|
Not Exercisable |
James F. Kirsch |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
31,250 |
|
|
|
233,750 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Hector R. Ortino (2) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
1,031,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
1,295,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
James C. Bays |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
61,000 |
|
|
|
121,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
M. Craig Benson |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
29,000 |
|
|
|
54,000 |
|
|
|
101,750 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Thomas M. Gannon |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
38,000 |
|
|
|
159,500 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Dale G. Kramer |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
92,896 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
101,750 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Celeste B. Mastin |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
2,875 |
|
|
|
57,125 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Value of unexercised in-the-money options is based on Ferros NYSE closing Common Stock
price on December 30, 2005 of $18.76. |
|
(2) |
|
All of Mr. Ortinos options became immediately vested and exercisable as a result of his
death on November 28, 2005, pursuant to the terms of the Plan covering such options. The
options are currently held by the estate of Mr. Ortino. |
-23-
Pension Benefits
The following table indicates the amount of annual pension benefits that would be payable at
age 65 under the Ferro Corporation Retirement Plan (the Qualified Plan) and the Ferro Corporation
Supplemental Executive Defined Benefit Plan (formerly known as the Ferro Corporation Nonqualified
Retirement Plan) (the Nonqualified Plan) (collectively, the Retirement Program) to officers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assumed |
|
Years of Service at Age 65 |
Regular |
|
With Retirement in 2005 |
Compensation |
|
15 |
|
20 |
|
25 |
|
30 |
|
35 |
$200,000
|
|
$ |
44,378 |
|
|
$ |
59,171 |
|
|
$ |
73,963 |
|
|
$ |
88,756 |
|
|
$ |
88,756 |
|
400,000
|
|
|
94,378 |
|
|
|
125,837 |
|
|
|
157,297 |
|
|
|
188,756 |
|
|
|
188,756 |
|
600,000
|
|
|
144,378 |
|
|
|
192,504 |
|
|
|
240,630 |
|
|
|
288,756 |
|
|
|
288,756 |
|
800,000
|
|
|
194,378 |
|
|
|
259,171 |
|
|
|
323,963 |
|
|
|
388,756 |
|
|
|
388,756 |
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
244,378 |
|
|
|
325,837 |
|
|
|
407,297 |
|
|
|
488,756 |
|
|
|
488,756 |
|
1,200,000
|
|
|
294,378 |
|
|
|
392,504 |
|
|
|
490,630 |
|
|
|
588,756 |
|
|
|
588,756 |
|
1,400,000
|
|
|
344,378 |
|
|
|
459,171 |
|
|
|
573,963 |
|
|
|
688,756 |
|
|
|
688,756 |
|
1,600,000
|
|
|
394,378 |
|
|
|
525,837 |
|
|
|
657,297 |
|
|
|
788,756 |
|
|
|
788,756 |
|
1,800,000
|
|
|
444,378 |
|
|
|
592,504 |
|
|
|
740,630 |
|
|
|
888,756 |
|
|
|
888,756 |
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
494,378 |
|
|
|
659,171 |
|
|
|
823,963 |
|
|
|
988,756 |
|
|
|
988,756 |
|
2,200,000
|
|
|
544,378 |
|
|
|
725,837 |
|
|
|
907,297 |
|
|
|
1,088,756 |
|
|
|
1,088,756 |
|
2,400,000
|
|
|
594,378 |
|
|
|
792,504 |
|
|
|
990,630 |
|
|
|
1,188,756 |
|
|
|
1,188,756 |
|
2,600,000
|
|
|
644,378 |
|
|
|
859,171 |
|
|
|
1,073,963 |
|
|
|
1,288,756 |
|
|
|
1,288,756 |
|
Under the Retirement Program,* an eligible participant who retires at age 65 with
at least 30 years of service will receive a monthly benefit equal to 50% of the monthly average of
the participants highest five consecutive calendar years of compensation (includes base salary,
bonuses and incentive compensation substantially equivalent to salary, bonus and performance shares
as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table), reduced for 50% of the monthly primary social
security benefits. Benefits are subject to reduction for service of less than 30 years and for
commencement prior to age 60 for elected officers. Service in excess of 30 years is not taken into
account for accrual of retirement benefits. Benefits are payable in a life annuity form with 120
monthly payments guaranteed unless the benefits under the Nonqualified Plan are commuted and paid
in a single sum. Furthermore, the benefits payable under the Nonqualified Plan to an eligible
participant are conditioned upon the execution of, and compliance with, a non-competition,
non-solicitation, non-disparagement and confidentiality agreement.
The five-year average covered compensation for the individuals listed in the Summary
Compensation Table was: Mr. Ortino ($1,897,068), Mr. Bays ($392,306), Mr. Benson ($308,169), Mr.
Gannon ($402,705) and Mr. Kramer ($354,957). As of December 31, 2005, Messrs. Ortino, Bays,
Benson, Gannon and Kramer had 34, 4, 18, 2 and 6 whole years of service, respectively. Mr. Kirsch
and Ms. Mastin were hired after June 30, 2003 and therefore they are not eligible for participation
in the Retirement Program.
The employment of Messrs. Ortino, Benson and Kramer has terminated. Retirement Program
benefits relating to Mr. Ortino have been paid partially in a lump sum payment and partially in the
form of monthly payments to his beneficiary. Retirement Program benefits of Mr. Benson have been
paid partially in a lump sum payment, with the other part to be paid in the form of monthly
payments to commence later. Retirement Program benefits of Mr. Kramer have been paid partially in
two lump sum payments during 2006 and the balance will be paid in monthly payments in the future.
|
|
|
* |
|
Effective April 1, 2006, the Companys
U.S. defined benefit pension program for salaried and certain hourly employees
has been changed. Under the program changes announced February 15, 2006,
benefits accrued for active employees who were participating in the defined
benefit program have been frozen as of March 31, 2006. (This freeze will not
affect the benefits of current retirees, former employees or employees hired on
or after July 1, 2003.) From April 1, 2006, the affected employees will join
salaried and certain hourly employees in the United States who were hired on or
after July 1, 2003 in receiving an additional contribution each year from the
Company to an existing defined contribution plan. |
-24-
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans
The following table sets forth information regarding non-qualified deferred compensation plans
with respect to each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table for 2005:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate |
|
Aggregate Balance |
|
|
Executive |
|
Company |
|
Aggregate |
|
Withdrawals / |
|
at |
Name |
|
Contributions(1) |
|
Contributions(2) |
|
Earnings(3) |
|
Distributions |
|
December 31, 2005 |
James F. Kirsch |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
13,366 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
13,366 |
|
Hector R. Ortino |
|
|
417,417 |
|
|
|
51,036 |
|
|
|
2,581 |
|
|
|
226,400 |
|
|
|
1,348,312 |
|
James C. Bays |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
11,585 |
|
|
|
1,205 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
91,301 |
|
M. Craig Benson |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6,494 |
|
|
|
(5,208 |
) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
32,422 |
|
Thomas M. Gannon |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
14,743 |
|
|
|
(2,080 |
) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
25,099 |
|
Dale G. Kramer |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
10,447 |
|
|
|
(21,613 |
) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
118,045 |
|
Celeste B. Mastin |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
9,828 |
|
|
|
(551 |
) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
12,570 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Mr. Ortinos contribution represents the deferral of his performance share payout for the
2002 2004 performance period, which would have been paid during 2005. This amount appears
in Mr. Ortinos 2004 compensation in the Payout column of the Summary Compensation Table on
page []. |
|
(2) |
|
Such amounts also appear as part of such officers 2005 compensation in the All Other
Compensation of the Summary Compensation Table on page []. |
|
(3) |
|
Aggregate Earnings in 2005 consist of interest, dividends, gains and/or losses. |
The non-qualified deferred compensation plans in this table consist of the Ferro Corporation
Executive Employee Deferred Compensation Plan (Executive Deferred Compensation Plan) and the
Ferro Corporation Supplemental Executive Defined Contribution Plan (Supplemental Plan).
Under the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, participants may elect to defer a percentage
of their annual salary, as well as their annual bonus and/or performance share payout, to be paid
at a certain time specified by the participant consistent with the terms of the Executive Deferred
Compensation Plan. The amounts that were deferred in 2005 are listed under Executive Contributions
in the table. There are no Company Contributions under the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.
Under the Supplemental Plan, participants may receive a supplemental matching contribution
and/or a supplemental basic pension contribution. These are contributions that would have been
made to the account of a participant in the Ferro Corporation Savings and Stock Ownership Plan (a
401(k) and employee stock ownership plan, the SSOP) but for the application of IRS limits. The
supplemental basic pension contribution in 2005 applied to participants who were hired on or after
July 1, 2003, the date as of which new participation in Ferros Retirement Program ceased (Mr.
Kirsch and Ms. Mastin in the table). There are no employee contributions under the Supplemental
Plan.
Executive Employment Agreement and Change in Control Agreements
The Company is party to an employment agreement with Mr. Kirsch, which was entered into on
October 18, 2004 in connection with his appointment as President and Chief Operating Officer. On
November 30, 2005, Mr. Kirsch was named President and Chief Executive Officer following Mr.
Ortinos untimely death. The employment agreement has an initial term ending December 31, 2007 and
is renewable for one-year periods thereafter. Mr. Kirschs initial base salary for 2004 was
$500,000 and he was eligible for an annual bonus payment of up to 60% of his base salary. He was
guaranteed a bonus of at least 50% of his base salary actually paid in 2004 and 2005. When Mr.
Kirsch was named President and Chief Executive Officer on November 30, 2005, the Board increased
his base salary to $600,000 and his target bonus to 75% of his base salary. Mr. Kirsch is also
eligible for awards under the Companys 2003 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan, including
awards of stock options and performance shares, as and to the extent determined by the Governance,
Nomination & Compensation Committee of the Board, and to participate in other benefit plans
generally available to senior management.
-25-
The agreement is terminable upon death, disability, for cause or upon voluntary termination.
If Mr. Kirschs employment were to end on account of a Termination Without Cause (as such term
is defined in his employment agreement), the Company would be obligated (1) to pay Mr. Kirsch a
lump sum severance payment equal to two times his full years compensation (base salary plus
targeted annual bonus), (2) to provide him continued participation in Ferros employee benefit
programs for up to 24 months, (3) to provide him outplacement services, and (4) to reimburse him
for legal fees he incurs as a result of his termination of employment. The Companys payment and
benefit continuation obligations will cease if Mr. Kirsch breaches any of his agreements contained
in the Companys standard employee confidentiality agreement or if Mr. Kirsch declines to sign and
return, or revokes, a release agreement containing the Companys standard noncompetition,
nonsolicitation, nondisparagement and confidentiality provisions the Company ordinarily requires of
executives who receive additional benefits or payments on termination of employment.
If Mr. Kirschs employment is terminated under the Change of Control Agreement (defined
below), then the terms of the Change of Control Agreement, and not the employment agreement, will
govern.
Ferro is also a party to change in control agreements (the Change in Control
Agreements) with Messrs. Bays, Gannon and Ms. Mastin. The purpose of these agreements is to
reinforce and encourage each officers continued attention and dedication to his assigned duties
without distraction in the face of solicitations by other employers and the potentially disturbing
circumstances arising from the possibility of a change in control of Ferro. Under the respective
Change in Control Agreements, if there were a change in control of the Company and the executives
employment were terminated, the Company would be obligated (1) to pay Messrs. Kirsch, Bays, Gannon
and Ms. Mastin a lump sum severance payment equal to two times the executives full years
compensation (base salary plus targeted annual bonus) and (2) to provide the executives with
continued participation in Ferros employee benefit programs for up to 24 months. These agreements
limit the executives right to compete against Ferro after the termination of employment. The
Change in Control Agreements are not employment agreements. (Mr. Kramers Change in Control
Agreement terminated when his employment with the Company terminated on March 31, 2006.)
-26-
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Dismissal of Previous Independent Registered Public Accountants
On May 12, 2006, the Audit Committee dismissed KPMG LLP, which had served as Ferros auditors
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 and prior years, as the Companys independent
registered public accountants. The audit reports of KPMG on the consolidated financial statements
of Ferro and its subsidiaries as of and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003
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, except that the report for year ended
December 31, 2004 stated that Ferro had restated its fiscal 2003 consolidated financial statements
and stated that certain liquidity uncertainties facing Ferro raised substantial doubt about its
ability to continue as a going concern.
Disagreements with Former Auditors. The only disagreements that KPMG communicated to the
Audit Committee during the 2003 and 2004 fiscal years or the period from December 31, 2004 to May
12, 2006 involved the Audit Committees internal investigation of irregular accounting entries as
follows:
In early July 2004, as a result of issues discovered by management during the performance of
certain of the Companys internal control procedures in connection with the preparation of the
Companys second quarter 2004 financial statements, the Company commenced an internal investigation
into certain potentially inappropriate accounting entries made in the Companys domestic Polymer
Additives business unit.
Following an initial investigation, management reached the preliminary conclusion that
inappropriate accounting in the Companys Polymer Additives business unit both overstated the
units historical performance and undermined the reliability of the units forecasting process. On
July 23, 2004, the Company issued a press release announcing that the Companys Polymer Additives
business units performance in the second quarter fell short of expectations and that the Companys
Audit Committee had engaged independent legal counsel (Jones Day) and an independent public
accounting firm (Ernst & Young LLP) to conduct an investigation under its auspices.
On September 15, 2004, the Company announced it would be restating certain previously-filed
information and reported that the independent investigation conducted under the auspices of the
Audit Committee had generally confirmed managements preliminary conclusions reported in the
Companys July 23, 2004, press release. The September 15 release reported that the investigative
team had concluded that all of the potentially irregular accounting entries were made at the
Polymer Additives business unit and were made without senior managements knowledge or involvement.
The release also reported that the investigative team concluded that substantially all of the
irregular accounting entries were made by a subordinate divisional employee who had since left the
Company.
At a meeting of the Audit Committee on September 23, 2004, KPMG expressed its concern about
several emails reviewed during the initial phase of the investigation and expressed its desire to
have more work done to determine whether those emails raised additional concerns. In response to
KPMGs expressed concerns, the Audit Committee directed Jones Day and Ernst & Young to conduct
further investigation through additional email searches, interviews of participants in the
questioned email exchanges and any other person who might have relevant knowledge, and other
documents as they deemed appropriate.
On October 25, 2004, the Audit Committee met by teleconference and received the report of
Jones Day and Ernst & Young concerning the expanded email review requested by KPMG. The
investigators reported to the Audit Committee that they had not found illegal acts or an intent to
commit fraud, but found some evidence of immaterial mistakes in the timing of recording expenses as
required by generally accepted accounting principles. These findings were reported to KPMG and, on
November 19, 2004, the Audit Committee concluded that the additional work done by Jones Day and
Ernst & Young indicated no evidence of fraud and no reasonable need to expand the investigation.
-27-
KPMG had expressed disagreement with the investigators findings and the Audit Committee
invited KPMG to provide a written list of any recommendations it might have and the rationale
therefore.
Following the November 19, 2004, meeting, Jones Day and Ernst & Young had discussions with
KPMG concerning what additional investigatory work would be needed to address KPMGs concerns. In
addition, at about the same time the investigators learned that the former subordinate division
employee who was responsible for the irregular accounting entries at the Companys Polymer
Additives Division was willing, for the first time, to be interviewed. In that interview, the
former employee confirmed the irregular entries that the investigators had reported earlier and the
fact that he had made those entries without any knowledge or involvement of senior management. The
employee also raised some suspicions of irregular accounting entries in another smaller business
unit.
In late December 2004, following discussions with the investigation team, the Chair of the
Audit Committee and the Companys now-deceased Chief Executive Officer met by teleconference with
KPMG. At that meeting, the Audit Committee Chair advised KPMG that the Audit Committee was
willing, as requested by KPMG, to go forward with further investigation procedures to determine
whether there was a pervasive pattern of intentional, inappropriate spreading of expenses,
emphasized that independent investigators needed to exercise discretion and make independent
judgments, and emphasized the need to complete the investigation expeditiously.
On January 18, 2005, in a press release the Company reported KPMG had requested Jones Day and
Ernst & Young to perform additional procedures, including the review of certain electronic files.
In addition, the release disclosed that the former subordinate division employee had been
interviewed and had confirmed the irregular entries that the investigators had reported earlier and
the fact that he had made the entries without any knowledge or involvement of senior management and
of the suspicions he had raised about the other business unit (which were also to be reviewed by
the investigation team).
Jones Day and Ernst & Young delivered their third phase investigation report to the Audit
Committee on March 9, 2005. In that report, the investigators concluded:
|
O |
|
The investigative team did not find evidence of a systemic or pervasive pattern or
practice of managing earnings by inappropriately spreading expenses over reporting
periods or any other means or conduct that constituted illegal acts, |
|
|
O |
|
The leadership of Ferros finance organization strives to apply generally accepted
accounting principles and produce accurate financial records, and |
|
|
O |
|
All of the individuals potentially responsible for irregular accounting entries
either had resigned before the investigation started or had been terminated by the
Company. |
On March 15 and April 4, 2005, following delivery of the Jones Day/Ernst & Young report on the
additional procedures, KPMG advised the Audit Committee that it was dissatisfied with the
conclusions of Jones Day and Ernst & Young and that it regarded the investigation as inadequate for
its purposes. KPMG indicated that further investigation would be necessary to constitute a
predicate for an audit report and further that such further investigation should be undertaken by
a new investigative team.
After further deliberations by the Audit Committee during April 2005, on April 21, 2005, the
Company announced that Jones Day and Ernst & Young had completed the additional procedures
requested by KPMG and reported the investigators findings. The release also noted that
investigators had again confirmed their earlier conclusions that substantially all of the irregular
entries had been made by the former subordinate divisional employee and that the entries were made
without any knowledge or involvement of senior management.
The April 21, 2005, press release also reported that, despite the findings and conclusions of
the investigation, KPMG had advised the Audit Committee that KPMG was unable to conclude at that
time that the investigation was adequate for its purposes, that KPMG believed further investigation
-28-
was necessary to constitute a predicate for its audit of the Companys financial statements,
and that KPMG had proposed that such investigative work should be undertaken by a new
investigation team. The Companys Audit Committee had evaluated both KPMGs position and the Jones
Day/Ernst & Young reports relating to the issues raised by KPMG. On the basis of that evaluation,
the Company reported that the Audit Committee believed it could rely in good faith on the judgments
and conclusions of the independent investigators, that additional investigation was neither
necessary nor justified, and that the only additional work that was necessary was routine audit
examinations that fell outside the province of the investigation team.
While the Audit Committee continued to believe its reliance on the judgments and conclusions
of the investigative team was justified, the April 21, 2005, press release disclosed that the Audit
Committee had responded to KPMGs expressed concerns in such a way that KPMG would be able to
complete its audit of the Companys financial statements. To that end, the Audit Committee engaged
a second independent investigative team, consisting of independent legal counsel (Venable LLP) and
independent forensic accountants (Navigant Consulting).
In an October 31, 2005, press release, the Company reported that the Venable/Navigant team had
completed its investigation. Venable and Navigant reported to the Audit Committee that, although
they found evidence of Ferro accounting personnel spreading expenses and some other misapplications
of generally accepted accounting principles to achieve internal forecasts, they did not find that
this was done with the intent to affect reported earnings in a way that misleads the investing
public. The investigators also indicated that, while they found a lax tone with respect to GAAP
compliance among certain former members of the Companys finance organization, they were
comfortable that the then-current senior management of the Company, including the chief executive
officer and chief financial officer, set a positive tone with respect to accounting practices.
Consequently, the Venable/Navigant team concluded that it found no pervasive pattern or practice of
engaging in fraudulent earnings management, that is, the misapplication of generally accepted
accounting principles with the intent to affect reported earnings in a way that misleads the
investing public.
The Company has authorized KPMG to respond fully to the inquiries of the successor independent
registered public accounting firm concerning the subject matter of the disagreements discussed in
the preceding paragraphs.
Reportable Events. In managements assessment of internal controls as of December 31, 2004
included under Item 9A of the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004, management identified the following material weaknesses of internal control over
financial reporting: (i) inadequately trained and insufficient numbers of accounting personnel
coupled with insufficient accounting policies and procedures; (ii) non-adherence to policies and
procedures associated with the financial statement reporting process; (iii) failure to consistently
reconcile and perform timely reviews of accounting reconciliations, data files and journal entries;
(iv) failure to properly identify and ensure receipt of agreements for review by accounting
personnel; and (v) failure to consistently review the calculations and accounting for amounts due
to employees under various compensation plans, and concluded that the Companys internal control
over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2004. KPMGs report under Item 9A
included KPMGs opinion that managements assessment was fairly stated in all material respects and
that, because of the effect of the material weaknesses identified by management described above,
the Company had not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December
31, 2004.
During the course of the Venable/Navigant investigation, on October 26, 2005, KPMG requested
that senior Company financial personnel review entries that had been made during the period being
restated by one former and one current member of the Companys finance function so as to be able to
provide KPMG with management representations concerning those entries.
The report of KPMG on the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the years ended
December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004 included in the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004 stated, as described above, that the Company restated its fiscal 2003
consolidated financial statements. Representatives of KPMG will not attend the Annual Meeting.
-29-
Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accountants
The Audit Committee has sole responsibility for appointing the Companys independent
registered public accountants. On May 18, 2006, the Company announced that its Audit Committee had
appointed a new independent registered public accounting firm to conduct the 2005 audit, subject
only to completion of the new firms customary client acceptance procedures. On June 5, 2006, the
Company announced that those procedures had been completed and that Deloitte & Touche LLP had been
engaged as the Companys new independent registered public accountants.
During the 2003 and 2004 fiscal years or the period from December 31, 2004 to the date of this
proxy statement, Ferro did not consult with Deloitte regarding any matter requiring disclosure
under Item 304(a)(2) of Regulation S-K.
Deloitte is expected to continue as Ferros auditors for the year 2006. In accordance with
its responsibilities under its charter and the New York Stock Exchange listing standards, the Audit
Committee will assess periodically the advisability of rotating audit firms for audits in future
years.
Representatives of Deloitte will attend the Annual Meeting. They will have an opportunity to
make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Fees
The Audit Committee has sole responsibility, in consultation with management, for approving
the terms and fees for the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm for
audits of Ferros financial statements. In addition, the Audit Committee has sole responsibility
for determining whether and under what circumstances Ferros independent registered public
accounting firm may be engaged to perform audit-related services and must pre-approve any non-audit
related service performed by the independent registered public accountants. Under no circumstances
are our independent registered public accountants permitted to perform services of the nature
described in Section 201 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Since May 6, 2003, all of the services provided by the Companys independent registered public
accountants have been approved in accordance with the pre-approval procedures described above.
For the years ended December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, Deloitte and KPMG billed the
Company fees as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year |
|
Firm |
|
Audit Fees |
|
Audit-Related Fees |
|
Tax Fees |
|
All Other Services |
2005 |
|
Deloitte |
|
$ |
6,510,000 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
2004 |
|
KPMG |
|
$ |
15,188,211 |
|
|
$ |
2,345,000 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Audit Fees with respect to 2004 were higher than usual due to the extensive work done by
KPMG in connection with the restatement of the Companys financial statements for fiscal year ended
December 31, 2003 and the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2004 that resulted from the Companys
independent investigations of accounting irregularities and related matters and an increased scope
of work for the 2004 audit.* The 2004 Audit Fees also included, for the first time, an
audit of our internal controls over financial reporting and managements assessment of the
effectiveness of those controls pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. In
addition, after the date that the 2004 Audit Fees were reported in the Companys last proxy
statement, the Company was billed an additional $2,685,211 by KPMG with respect to audit services
provided in respect of 2004. Taken
|
|
|
* |
|
For a more complete description of the
internal investigation and the ensuing audit and restatement process, please
see the discussion under the heading Restatement on pages 3 to 7 of the
Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31,
2004. |
-30-
together, these factors, which are detailed in the table below, led to the significant
increase in Audit Fees from 2003 to 2004:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restatement of |
|
Audit of 2004 Financial |
|
Sarbanes-Oxley |
Financial Statements |
|
Statements |
|
Section 404 Audits |
$2,302,000 |
|
$ |
6,154,513 |
|
|
$ |
6,643,698 |
|
The Audit-Related Fees for 2004 related principally to work performed by KPMG with
respect to support of the Companys independent investigation of accounting irregularities and
related matters, which amounted to $2,216,000.
The Audit Committee has reviewed all non-audit services described above and has concluded that
the provision of these non-audit services is compatible with maintaining Deloittes independence.
* * * * *
Report of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with Ferros management and Deloitte Touche &
Co. LLP, Ferros independent registered public accounting firm, the audited financial statements of
the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. The Audit Committee has also discussed
with Deloitte all matters required by generally accepted auditing standards to be discussed. The
Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from Deloitte required by
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, has discussed with Deloitte its independence, and has
concluded that Deloitte is independent.
Based on the review and discussions noted above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board
that the audited financial statements be included in Ferros Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Respectfully submitted,
William B. Lawrence, Chair
Dr. Jennie S. Hwang
William J. Sharp
Dennis W. Sullivan
Alberto Weisser
-31-
SHAREHOLDINGS
Stock Ownership by Directors, Executive Officers and Employees
Ferro encourages share ownership by its Directors and executive officers and has ownership
guidelines based on base compensation or fees and position within the Company. The information
below shows beneficial ownership of Ferro Common Stock by (i) each Director, (ii) each executive
officer named in the Summary Compensation Table on page [] above, and (iii) all
Directors and executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise noted, each person has sole
voting and investment power as to his or her shares. (The information set forth below is as of
September 14, 2006.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares of |
|
Shares Underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stock Owned |
|
Options Exercisable |
|
|
|
|
|
Series A ESOP |
|
|
Directly or |
|
Within 60 Days of |
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible |
|
|
Indirectly |
|
Record Date |
|
Total Common Stock |
|
Preferred |
Michael H. Bulkin |
|
|
26,626 |
|
|
|
23,000 |
|
|
|
49,626 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Sandra Austin Crayton |
|
|
12,533 |
|
|
|
26,750 |
|
|
|
39,283 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Jennie S. Hwang |
|
|
11,670 |
|
|
|
13,000 |
|
|
|
24,670 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
James F. Kirsch (1) |
|
|
108,500 |
|
|
|
62,500 |
|
|
|
171,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
William B. Lawrence |
|
|
8,131 |
|
|
|
18,000 |
|
|
|
26,131 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Michael F. Mee |
|
|
13,605 |
|
|
|
15,500 |
|
|
|
29,105 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
William J. Sharp |
|
|
20,808 |
|
|
|
23,000 |
|
|
|
43,808 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Dennis W. Sullivan |
|
|
29,916 |
|
|
|
26,750 |
|
|
|
56,666 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Alberto Weisser |
|
|
13,836 |
|
|
|
15,500 |
|
|
|
29,336 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Officers Named in Summary Compensation Table |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James C. Bays (1) |
|
|
46,228 |
|
|
|
98,000 |
|
|
|
144,228 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
M. Craig Benson |
|
|
6,125 |
|
|
|
46,500 |
|
|
|
52,625 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Thomas M. Gannon |
|
|
42,523 |
|
|
|
77,750 |
|
|
|
120,273 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Dale G. Kramer |
|
|
9,836 |
|
|
|
92,896 |
|
|
|
102,732 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Celeste B. Mastin |
|
|
31,100 |
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
45,100 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Hector R. Ortino |
|
|
156,302 |
|
|
|
1,031,000 |
|
|
|
1,187,302 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
16 Directors and Executive
Officers as a Group (2) |
|
|
579,413 |
|
|
|
452,525 |
|
|
|
1,031,938 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Shares reported above include 108,500, 36,000, 31,300, 70,000 and 31,100 shares
awarded to Messrs. Kirsch, Bays, Gannon, Ortino and Ms. Mastin, respectively, with regard to
the 2004-2006, 2005-2007 and 2006-2008 (all of which shares are subject to forfeiture under
the former Performance Share Plan and/or the 2003 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan), but
do not include 730, 1,505, 1,371 and 687 phantom shares held for the accounts of Messrs.
Kirsch, Bays and Gannon, and Ms. Mastin respectively, in the Supplemental Executive Defined
Contribution Plan. |
|
(2) |
|
Shares of former executive officers (Messrs. Ortino, Benson and Kramer) are not included in
these totals. |
As a group, current Directors and officers have beneficial ownership of 2.41% of our
outstanding Common Stock. (This percentage includes shares that would be issued if the Directors
and officers exercised all stock options vested within 60 days after the record date for the Annual
Meeting.) Mr. Ortino, who owned 2.78% of the outstanding Common Stock, was the only Director or
executive officer who owned more than 1.0% of the outstanding shares. (None of our current
Directors or executive officers own any of the outstanding shares of Series A ESOP Convertible
Preferred Stock.)
-32-
Stock Ownership by Other Major Shareholders
The following table sets forth information about each person known by us to be the beneficial
owner of more than 5% of Ferros outstanding Common Stock or stock convertible into Common Stock.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage of |
|
|
Nature and Amount of |
|
Outstanding |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
|
Beneficial Ownership |
|
Common Stock |
Mario J. Gabelli and related entities (1)
One Corporate Center
|
|
5,404,448 Shares |
|
[]% |
Rye, New York 10017 |
|
of Common Stock |
|
|
Mac-Per-Wolf Company (2)
311 S. Wacker Dr. Suite 6000
|
|
2,493,800 Shares |
|
[]% |
Chicago, Illinois 60606 |
|
of Common Stock |
|
|
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and related entities (3)
100 E. Pratt Street
|
|
2,476,180 Shares |
|
[]% |
Baltimore, Maryland 02109 |
|
of Common Stock |
|
|
DePrince, Race & Zollo, Inc. (4)
250 Park Ave. South, Suite 250
|
|
2,334,800 Shares |
|
[]% |
Winter Park, Florida 32789 |
|
of Common Stock |
|
|
Wellington Management Company, LLP and related entities (5)
75 State Street
|
|
2,255,900 Shares |
|
[]% |
Boston, Massachusetts 02109 |
|
of Common Stock |
|
|
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., Trustee (6)
|
|
591,462
Shares |
|
[]% |
Under the Ferro Corporation
|
|
of Common Stock |
|
|
Defined Contribution Master Trust |
|
380,159 Shares |
|
|
|
|
of Convertible |
|
|
|
|
Preferred Stock |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
We obtained the information regarding share ownership from Schedule 13D/A filed May 24, 2005,
by Mario J. Gabelli and related entities. Such reporting persons reported sole voting power
as to 5,127,948 shares and sole dispositive power as to 5,404,448 shares as of May 19, 2005. |
|
(2) |
|
We obtained the information regarding share ownership from the Schedule 13G filed on February
15, 2006 by Mac-Per-Wolf Company (MPW), which reported shared voting and dispositive power
as to 2,431,000 shares and sole voting and dispositive power as to 62,800 shares as of
December 31, 2005, and the Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2006 by Janus Capital Management
LLC (Janus), which reported shared voting and dispositive power as to 2,431,000 shares as of
December 31, 2005. The MPW filing also indicates that (a) MPW is the parent holding company of Perkins, Wolf,
McDonnell and Company, LLC (Perkins Wolf) and PWMCO, LLC, and is filing on their behalf, and
(b) its holdings may also be aggregated within Schedule 13G filings submitted by Janus. The
Janus filing also indicates that (x) the holdings of Enhanced Investment Technologies LLC,
Perkins Wolf and Janus have been aggregated for purposes of the filing due to Janus indirect
ownership interest in such entities; (y) as an investment advisor or sub-advisor, Perkins Wolf
may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such 2,431,000 shares; however, Perkins Wolf does
not have the right to receive any dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the
securities held in its clients portfolios and disclaims any ownership associated with such
rights; and (z) its holdings may also be aggregated within Schedule 13G filings submitted by
MPW. |
|
(3) |
|
We obtained the information regarding share ownership from the Schedule 13G filed on February
14, 2006, by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., which reported sole voting power as to 420,320
shares and sole dispositive power as to 2,476,180 shares as of December 31, 2005. |
|
(4) |
|
We obtained the information regarding share ownership from the Schedule 13G filed on
September 7, 2006, by DePrince, Race & Zollo, Inc., which reported sole voting and dispositive
power as to such shares as of August 31, 2006. |
|
(5) |
|
We obtained the information regarding share ownership from the Schedule 13G/A filed on
February 14, 2006, by Wellington Management Company, LLP, which reported shared voting power
as to 2,255,900 shares and shared dispositive power as to 1,253,800 shares as of December 31,
2005. |
|
(6) |
|
The beneficial owners of the Defined Contribution Master Trust are those of our employees and
former employees who participate in the Ferro Corporation Savings and Stock Ownership Plan and
the Ferro Corporation Bargaining Unit 401(k) Plan. The Trustee votes the shares in the Plan
in accordance with the participants instructions. The Convertible Preferred Stock is a
convertible class of stock that is held in the Plan trust and is non-transferable. When a
participant receives a distribution of his or her account balance, the participant receives
either Common Stock or cash. Each share of the Convertible Preferred Stock carries one vote
and votes together with the Common Stock on most matters. At September 14, 2006, the 380,159
shares of Convertible Preferred Stock were convertible into 987,958 shares of Common Stock,
representing approximately 2.26% of the combined number of shares of Common Stock and
Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding. |
-33-
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our officers and Directors, and
persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities, 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 Ferro with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
To our knowledge, based solely on review of the copies of such reports furnished to us, during
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 or with respect to such fiscal year, all Section 16(a)
filing requirements were met.
-34-
COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE OF SHAREHOLDER RETURNS
The chart below compares Ferros cumulative total shareholder return for the five years ended
December 31, 2005, to that of the Standard & Poors 500 Index and the Standard & Poors MidCap
Specialty Chemicals Index. In all cases, the information is presented on a dividend-reinvested
basis and assumes investment of $100.00 on December 29, 2000.
COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR
CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURNS
-35-
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR
THE 2007 ANNUAL MEETING
Any shareholder who intends to present a proposal at the 2007 Annual Meeting and who wishes to
have the proposal included in Ferros proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting must
deliver the proposal to the Company at our headquarters at 1000 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio
44114-1147, not later than December 29, 2006.
Any shareholder who intends to present a proposal at the 2007 Annual Meeting other than for
inclusion in Ferros proxy statement and form of proxy must deliver the proposal to Ferro at our
headquarters at 1000 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114-1147, no later than February 1, 2007,
or such proposal will be untimely. Ferro reserves the right to exercise discretionary voting
authority on the proposal if a shareholder has failed to submit the proposal by March 14, 2007.
SHAREHOLDER VOTING
Under the Ohio General Corporation Law, if a shareholder desires cumulative voting for
election of the Directors, then the shareholder must provide written notice to the President, a
Vice President or the Secretary of Ferro at least 48 hours before the meeting. Upon announcement
of this notice at the meeting, each shareholder will have cumulative voting rights. Cumulative
voting means that each shareholder is entitled to that number of votes equal to the number of
shares that he or she owns multiplied by the number of Directors to be elected. Each shareholder
may cast all of his or her votes for a single nominee or may distribute his or her votes among as
many nominees as he or she sees fit. As indicated on page
[] above, if the election of
Directors is by cumulative voting, the persons appointed by the accompanying proxy intend to
cumulate the votes represented by the proxies they receive and distribute such votes in accordance
with their best judgment in order to elect two nominees for Directors. Those nominees receiving
the largest number of votes for the Director positions to be filled will be elected to those
positions.
Abstentions and broker non-votes will be deemed to be present for the purpose of determining a
quorum for the meeting, but will be deemed not voting on the issues or matters as to which the
abstention and non-votes are applicable.
MISCELLANEOUS
Ferro will bear the cost of preparing and mailing this statement, with the accompanying proxy
and other instruments. Ferro will also pay the standard charges and expenses of brokerage houses,
or other nominees or fiduciaries, for forwarding such instruments to and obtaining proxies from
security holders and beneficiaries for whose account they hold registered title to Ferro shares.
In addition to using the mail, Directors, officers and other employees of Ferro, acting on its
behalf, may also solicit proxies, and Morrow & Co., New York, New York, has been retained, at an
estimated cost of $[] plus expenses, to aid in the solicitation of proxies from brokers,
institutional holders and individuals who own a large number of shares. Proxies may be solicited
personally, or by telephone. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy will be sent to
shareholders by mail on or about October 3, 2006.
Only the business set forth above in this notice of meeting will be acted upon at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders.
|
|
|
|
|
|
FERRO CORPORATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: Mary Ann Jorgenson,
Secretary |
|
|
[], 2006
-36-
Appendix A
2006 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Purpose. The purpose of this 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (this Plan) is to promote the
long-term financial interests and growth of Ferro Corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliated
companies (Ferro) by:
(a) Attracting and retaining high-quality key employees and Directors;
(b) Further motivating such employees and Directors to achieve Ferros long-range
performance goals and objectives and thus act in the best interests of Ferro and its
shareholders generally; and
(c) Aligning the interests of Ferros employees and Directors with those of Ferros
shareholders by encouraging increased ownership of Ferro Common Stock, par value $1.00 per
share (Common Stock), by such executive personnel and Directors.
2. Plan Administration. The Governance Nomination & Compensation Committee (the Committee)
of the Board of Directors (the Board) (or such other committee as the Board may from time to time
designate) will administer this Plan. The Committee shall consist of not less than three Directors,
all of whom shall be Non-Employee Directors (as defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3)(i) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934) and Outside Directors (as defined in Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986). Subject to any limitations established by the Board, in administering this Plan the
Committee will have conclusive authority:
(a) To administer this Plan in accordance with its provisions in such a way as to give
effect to economic and competitive conditions, individual situations, the evaluation of
individual performance and the economic potential and business plans of various units of
Ferro;
(b) To determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Plan, of any Award granted under this Plan and prescribe the form of any agreement or
document applicable to any such Award;
(c) To construe and interpret the provisions of this Plan and all Awards granted under
this Plan; and
(d) To establish, amend, and rescind rules and regulations for the administration of
this Plan.
The Committee will also have such additional authority as the Board may from time to time determine
to be necessary or desirable in order to further the purposes of this Plan.
3. Awards to Participants. The Committee will select the employees and Directors of Ferro
(Participants) who will participate in this Plan and determine the type(s) and number of award(s)
(Awards) to be made to each such Participant. The Committee will determine the terms, conditions
and limitations applicable to each Award. The Committee may, if it so chooses, delegate authority
to Ferros Chief Executive Officer to select certain of the Participants (other than executive
officers and Directors of Ferro and other individuals subject to reporting under Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) and to determine Awards to be granted to such Participants on such
terms as the Committee may specify. Awards may be made singly, in combination, or in exchange for a
previously granted Award and also may be made in combination or in replacement of, or as
alternatives to, grants or rights under any other employee plan of the Company, including the plan
of any acquired entity.
4. Types of Awards. Under this Plan, the Committee will have the authority to grant the
following types of Awards to Participants of Ferro and its subsidiaries and affiliates:
(a) Stock Options. The Committee may grant Awards in the form of Stock Options. Such
Stock Options may be either incentive stock options (within the meaning of Section 422 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code)) or nonstatutory
-A-1-
stock options (not intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code). However,
incentive stock options may be granted only to employees of Ferro and subsidiary
corporations that are at least 50% owned, directly or indirectly, by Ferro. The option price
of a Stock Option may be not less than the per share Fair Market Value of the Common Stock
on the date of the grant. Fair Market Value means, as of any given date, the quoted
closing price of the Common Stock on such date on the New York Stock Exchange or, if no such
sale of the Stock occurs on the New York Stock Exchange on such date, then such closing
price on the next day on which the Common Stock was traded. If the Common Stock is no
longer traded on the New York Stock Exchange, then the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock
shall be determined by the Committee in good faith. Once a Stock Option has been granted,
the option price may not be adjusted or amended, whether directly or indirectly, by
amendment, cancellation, replacement grants or any other means so as to increase the value
of such stock option, except as provided in Section 7 hereof. Such Stock Options will be
exercisable in whole or in such installments and at such times and upon such terms as the
Committee may specify. No stock option, however, may be exercisable more than ten years
after its date of grant. A Participant will be permitted to pay the exercise price of a
Stock Option in cash, with shares of Common Stock (including by attestation of Common Stock
owned) or by a combination of cash and Common Stock. The aggregate fair market value
(determined at the time the option is granted) of shares of Common Stock as to which
incentive stock options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any
calendar year (under this Plan and any other plan of Ferro) may not exceed $100,000 (or such
other limit as may be fixed by the Code from time to time). Any Stock Option granted that
is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option, but fails to so qualify at or after the
time of grant will be treated as nonstatutory stock option.
(b) Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee may grant Awards in the form of Stock
Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights will be granted for a stated number of shares
of Common Stock on such terms, conditions and restrictions as the Committee deems
appropriate. Stock Appreciation Rights will entitle a Participant to receive a payment, in
cash or Common Stock, as determined by the Committee, equal to the excess of (x) the Fair
Market Value, on the date of exercise or surrender, of the number of shares of Common Stock
covered by such exercise or surrender over (y) the Stock Appreciation Rights exercise price
(which may not be less than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant). Stock Appreciation
Rights must be exercised within ten years of the date of grant. Once a stock appreciation
right has been granted, the initial share value may not be adjusted or amended, whether
directly or indirectly, by amendment, cancellation, replacement grants or any other means,
so as to increase the value of such Stock Appreciation Right. Stock Appreciation Rights may
be granted either separately or in conjunction with other Awards granted under this Plan.
Any Stock Appreciation Right related to a Stock Option, however, will be exercisable only to
the extent the related Stock Option is exercisable. Similarly, upon exercise of a Stock
Appreciation Right as to some or all of the shares of Common Stock covered by a related
Stock Option, the related Stock Option will be canceled automatically to the extent of the
Stock Appreciation Right exercised, and such shares of Common Stock shall not be eligible
for subsequent grant. Any Stock Appreciation Right related to a nonstatutory stock option
may be granted at the same time such stock option is granted or at any subsequent time
before exercise or expiration of such stock option. Any Stock Appreciation Right related to
an incentive stock option must be granted at the same time such incentive stock option is
granted.
(c) Restricted Shares. The Committee may grant Awards in the form of Restricted
Shares. Such Awards may be in such numbers of shares of Common Stock and at such times as
the Committee determines. Such Awards will have such periods of vesting and forfeiture
restrictions as the Committee may determine at the time of grant. The Committee may, in its
discretion, permit dividends on Restricted Shares to be paid or require such dividends to be
deferred or reinvested and subject to forfeiture until the underlying Restricted Shares have
vested. With respect to Awards of Restricted Shares that vest based solely on the lapse of
time, the aggregate Award may not vest in whole in less than three years from the date of
grant and no installment of an Award may vest in less than 12 months. With respect to
Awards of Restricted Shares that vest based on performance criteria, the restriction period
applicable to Restricted Shares may not be less than 12 months.
-A-2-
(d) Performance Shares. The Committee may grant Awards in the form of Performance
Shares. Performance Shares will be (i) represented by forfeitable shares of Common Stock
issued at the time of grant of a Performance Share Award or (ii) phantom Performance Shares.
Such Performance Shares will be earned upon satisfaction of Performance Targets relating to
Performance Periods established by the Committee at or prior to the time of a grant. At the
end of the applicable Performance Period, based upon the level of achievement of the
Performance Targets, Performance Shares will be converted into Common Stock, cash, or a
combination of Common Stock and cash, or forfeited. If Performance Shares initially were
represented by forfeitable Common Stock, such Common Stock will become nonforfeitable or be
repurchased by Ferro at the end of the applicable Performance Period.
The Committee may establish Performance Targets in terms of any or all of the
following: sales; sales growth; gross margins; operating income; net earnings; earnings
growth; cash flows; market share; total shareholder returns; returns on equity, net assets,
assets employed, or capital employed; accomplishment of acquisitions, divestitures, or joint
ventures (or the success of an acquisition or joint venture, measured in terms of any of the
preceding), or the attainment of levels of performance of Ferro under one or more of the
measures described above relative to the performance of other businesses, or various
combinations of the foregoing, or changes in any of the foregoing. Performance Targets
applicable to Performance Shares may vary from Award to Award and from Participant to
Participant.
When determining whether Performance Targets have been attained, the Committee will
have the discretion to make adjustments to take into account extraordinary or nonrecurring
items or events, or unusual nonrecurring gains or losses identified in Ferros financial
statements, provided such adjustments are made in a manner consistent with Section 162(m) of
the Code (to the extent applicable). Awards of Performance Shares made to Participants
subject to Section 162(m) of the Code are intended to qualify under Section 162(m) and the
Committee will interpret the terms of such Awards in a manner consistent with that intent to
the extent appropriate. (The foregoing provisions of this Section 4(d) will also apply to
Awards of Restricted Shares made under Section 4(c) to the extent such Awards of Restricted
Shares are subject to performance goals of Ferro.)
(e) Other Common Stock Based Awards. The Committee may grant Awards in the form of
Common Stock, phantom common stock units, deferred common stock or units, or other awards
valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based upon, Common Stock. Common
Stock Awards will be subject to conditions established by the Committee and set forth in the
applicable Award Agreement.
(f) Dividend Equivalent Rights. The Committee may grant Awards in the form of Dividend
Equivalent Rights. Dividend Equivalent Rights entitle the Participant to receive credits
based on cash distributions that would have been paid on the shares of Common Stock
specified in the Dividends Equivalent Right (or other Award to which it relates) if such
shares had been issued to and held by the Participant. A Dividend Equivalent Right may be
granted hereunder to any Participant as a component of another Award or as a freestanding
Award, with such terms and conditions as set forth by the Committee.
5. Award Agreements. All Awards to Participants under this Plan will be evidenced by a
written agreement (an Award Agreement) between Ferro and the Participant containing such terms
not inconsistent with this Plan as the Committee may determine, including such restrictions,
conditions, and requirements as to transferability, continued employment, individual performance or
financial performance of Ferro or a subsidiary or affiliate as the Committee deems appropriate.
Each such Award Agreement will, however, provide that the Award will be forfeitable if, in the
opinion of the Committee, the Participant, without the written consent of Ferro:
(a) Directly or indirectly, engages in, or assists or has a material ownership interest
in, or acts as agent, advisor or consultant of, for, or to any person, firm, partnership,
-A-3-
corporation or other entity that is engaged in the manufacture or sale of any products
manufactured or sold by Ferro, or any subsidiary or affiliate, or any products that are
logical extensions, on a manufacturing or technological basis, of such products;
(b) Discloses to any person any proprietary or confidential business information
concerning Ferro, its subsidiaries, or affiliates or any of the officers, Directors,
employees, agents, or representatives of Ferro, its subsidiaries or affiliates, which the
Participant obtained or which came to his or her attention during the course of his or her
employment with Ferro;
(c) Takes any action likely to disparage or have an adverse effect on Ferro, its
subsidiaries, or affiliates or any of the officers, Directors, employees, agents, or
representatives of Ferro, its subsidiaries, or affiliates;
(d) Induces or attempts to induce any employee of Ferro or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates to leave the employ of Ferro or such subsidiary or affiliate or otherwise
interferes with the relationship between Ferro or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates and
any of their respective employees, or hires or assists in the hiring of any person who was
an employee of Ferro or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, or solicits, diverts or
otherwise attempts to take away any customers, suppliers, or co-venturers of Ferro, any
subsidiary or any affiliate, either on the Participants own behalf or on behalf of any
other person or entity; or
(e) Otherwise performs any act or engages in any activity which in the opinion of the
Committee is inimical to the best interests of Ferro.
6. Shares Subject to this Plan. The shares of Common Stock to be issued under this Plan may
be either authorized but unissued shares or previously issued shares reacquired by Ferro and held
as treasury shares, as the Committee may from time to time determine. Subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 7 below, the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for Awards under this
Plan is 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock.
Any shares of Common Stock issued by Ferro through the assumption or substitution of
outstanding grants previously made by an acquired corporation or entity shall not reduce the number
of shares available for Awards under this Plan. If any shares of Common Stock subject to any Award
granted under this Plan are forfeited or if such Award otherwise terminates without the issuance of
such shares or payment of other consideration in lieu of such shares, the shares subject to such
Award, to the extent of any such forfeiture or nonissuance, shall again be available for grant
under this Plan as if such shares had not been subject to an Award (except for Stock Appreciation
Rights). With respect to Stock Appreciation Rights settled in shares of Common Stock, the aggregate
number of shares subject to the Stock Appreciation Right shall be counted against the number of
shares for issuance under this Plan regardless of the number of shares of Common Stock issued upon
settlement. Shares of Common Stock tendered by Participants as full or partial payment to Ferro
upon exercise of Options or other Awards or to satisfy a Participants tax withholding obligations
will not increase the shares of Common Stock available for Awards under the Plan.
Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7 below:
(a) A cumulative maximum of 300,000 shares of Common Stock will be available for
issuance with respect to incentive stock options granted under this Plan;
(b) A cumulative maximum of 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock will be available for
issuance with respect to Restricted Shares, Performance Shares, and Common Stock Awards
granted under this Plan;
(c) A maximum of 500,000 shares of Common Stock will be the subject of Awards granted
to any single Participant during any 12-month period;
7. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization. If the outstanding shares of Common Stock are
changed by reason of any reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend, combination
or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or any change in the corporate structure or Common
Stock of Ferro, then the maximum aggregate number and class of shares of Common Stock as to which
Awards
-A-4-
may be granted under this Plan, the maximums described in Section 6 above, the shares of
Common Stock issuable pursuant to then outstanding Awards, and the option price of outstanding
stock options and any related Stock Appreciation Rights shall be appropriately adjusted by the
Committee. If Ferro makes an extraordinary distribution in respect of Common Stock or effects a pro
rata repurchase of Common Stock, the Committee may consider the economic impact of the
extraordinary distribution or pro rata repurchase on Participants and make such adjustments as it
deems equitable under the circumstances. For purposes of this Section 7,
(a) The term extraordinary distribution means a dividend or other distribution of (i)
cash, where the aggregate amount of such cash dividend or distribution together with the
amount of all cash dividends and distributions made during the preceding twelve months, when
combined with the aggregate amount of all pro rata repurchases (for this purpose, including
only that portion of the aggregate purchase price of such pro rata repurchases that is in
excess of the fair market value of the Common Stock repurchased during such 12-month
period), exceeds ten percent of the aggregate fair market value of all shares of Common
Stock outstanding on the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to receive
such extraordinary distribution, or (ii) any shares of capital stock of Ferro (other than
shares of Common Stock), other securities of Ferro, evidences of indebtedness of Ferro or
any other person, or any other property (including shares of any subsidiary of Ferro), or
any combination thereof; and
(b) The term pro rata repurchase means a purchase of shares of Common Stock by Ferro
or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, pursuant to any tender offer or exchange offer
subject to section 13(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange
Act) or any successor provision of law, or pursuant to any other offer available to
substantially all holders of Common Stock other than a purchase of shares of Ferro made in
an open market transaction.
The determinations of the Committee under this Section 7 shall be final and binding upon all
Participants, in the absence of revision by the Board.
8. Assignment and Transfer. No Award of a Stock Option or a related Stock Appreciation Right
shall be transferable by a Participant or Director except by will or the laws of descent and
distribution, and Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised during a
Participants or Directors lifetime only by the Participant or Director or the Participants or
Directors guardian or legal representative. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in
its discretion, authorize the transfer of all or a portion of a Stock Option and related Stock
Appreciation Right (other than an incentive stock option), so long as such transfer is made for no
consideration, to:
(a) A Participants or Directors spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings
and other family members approved by the Committee (collectively, Family Members);
(b) Trust(s) for the exclusive benefit of such Participant, Director, or Family
Members; or
(c) Partnerships or limited liability companies in which such Participant, Director, or
Family Members are at all times the only partners or members.
Any transfer to or for the benefit of Family Members permitted under this Plan may be made subject
to such conditions or limitations as the Committee may establish to ensure compliance under the
Federal securities laws, or for other purposes. Subject to the terms of the Award, a
transferee-Family Member may exercise a Stock Option and/or related Stock Appreciation Right during
or after the Participants or Directors lifetime.
The rights and interests of a Participant or Director with respect to any Award made under
this Plan other than Stock Options and related Stock Appreciation Rights may not be assigned,
encumbered or transferred except, in the event of the death of a Participant or Director, by will
or the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however, that the Board is specifically
authorized to permit assignment, encumbrance, and transfer of any such other Award if and to the
extent it, in its sole
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discretion, determines that such assignment, encumbrance or transfer would not produce adverse
consequences under tax or securities laws and such transfer is made for no consideration.
9. Change of Control. Except as the Board may expressly provide otherwise, in the event of a
Change of Control:
(a) All Stock Options (including Director Stock Options) and Stock Appreciation Rights
then outstanding shall become fully exercisable as of the date of the Change of Control;
(b) All restrictions and conditions with respect to all Awards of Restricted Shares
then outstanding shall be deemed fully released or satisfied as of the date of the Change of
Control, except as set forth in paragraph (d) below;
(c) All previously established Performance Targets necessary to achieve 100% of a
Participants specified award level for Performance Shares shall be deemed to have been met
as of the date of the Change of Control; and
(d) If the Change of Control occurs during a restriction period applicable to an Award
of Restricted Shares or during a Performance Period applicable to a Performance Share Award,
then Participants will be entitled to receive a prorata proportion of the Award that would
have been distributed to them at the end of the applicable restriction period or Performance
Period, based upon the portion of the applicable restriction period or Performance Period
during which the Participants employment continued.
The value of all outstanding Awards, in each case to the extent vested, shall, unless otherwise
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion at or after grant but prior to a Change of
Control, be cashed out on the basis of the change of Control Price. Change of Control Price means
the higher of (i) the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange for the Common Stock on the date
of such Change of Control or (ii) the highest price per share of Common Stock actually paid in
connection with such Change of Control.
For purposes of this Section 9, the term Change of Control means a change of control of
Ferro of a nature that would be required to be reported (assuming such event has not been
previously reported) in response to Item 6 (e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or any successor
provision) promulgated under the Exchange Act; provided that, without limitation, a Change of
Control shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as (i) any person (within the meaning of
section 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of
securities of Ferro representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of Ferros then
outstanding securities, (ii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the
beginning of such period constituted the Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board unless the election, or the nomination for election, by Ferros shareholders
of each new Director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors then still in
office who were Directors at the beginning of the period (iii) a merger or consolidation of Ferro
occurs, other than a merger or consolidation that would result in Ferros shareholders holding
securities that represent immediately after the merger or consolidation more than fifty percent
(50%) of the voting securities of either Ferro or the other entity that survives such merger or
consolidation (or the parent of such entity) or (iv) Ferro sells or otherwise disposes of all or
substantially all of Ferros assets to an entity that is not controlled by Ferro or its
shareholders; provided, however, that no Change of Control shall be deemed to occur solely as a
result of the acquisition of any securities of Ferro by a trust exempt from tax under Section
501(a) of the Code that is formed for the purpose of providing retirement or other benefits to
employees of Ferro, any subsidiary or any affiliate.
10. Employee Rights Under this Plan. No employee or other person shall have any claim or right
to be granted any Award under this Plan. Neither this Plan nor any action taken under this Plan
shall be construed as giving any employee any right to be retained in the employ of Ferro or any
subsidiary or affiliate.
11. Settlement by Subsidiaries and Affiliates. Settlement of Awards held by employees of
subsidiaries or affiliates shall be made by and at the expense of such subsidiary or affiliate.
Ferro either will sell or contribute, in its sole discretion, to the subsidiary or affiliate, the
number of shares needed to
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settle any Award that is granted under this Plan. In addition, with respect to Participants
who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States, or both, the Committee may cause
Ferro or a subsidiary or affiliate to adopt such rules and regulations, policies, sub-plans or the
like as may, in the judgment of the Committee, be necessary or advisable in order to effectuate the
purposes of this Plan.
12. Securities Law Issues. The Committee may require each Participant acquiring Common Stock
pursuant to an Award under the Plan to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that the
Participant is acquiring the Common Stock without a view to distribution thereof. Any certificates
for such shares may include any legend which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any
restrictions on transfer.
All shares of Common Stock or other securities issued under the Plan shall be subject to such
stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules,
regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange
upon which the Common Stock is then listed, and any applicable federal or state securities laws,
and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any certificates for such shares to
make appropriate reference to such restrictions or to cause such restrictions to be noted in the
records of the Companys stock transfer agent and any applicable book entry system.
13. Taxes. No later than the date as of which an amount first becomes includable in the gross
income of the Participant for federal income tax purposes with respect to any Award under the Plan,
the Participant shall pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee
regarding the payment of, any federal, state or local taxes or other items of any kind required by
law to be withheld with respect to such amount. Subject to the following sentence, unless
otherwise determined by the Committee, withholding obligations may be settled with Common Stock,
including unrestricted Common Stock previously owned by the Participant or Common Stock that is
part of the Award that gives rise to the withholding requirement. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
any election by a Section 16 Participant to settle such tax withholding obligation with Common
Stock that is previously owned by the Participant or part of such Award shall be subject to prior
approval by the Committee, in its sole discretion which may be granted in the applicable Award
Agreement. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be conditional on such payment or
arrangements and the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates to the extent permitted by law
shall have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the
Participant.
14. Amendment or Termination. Ferro reserves the right to amend, modify or terminate this Plan
at any time and, by action of the Committee and, if such amendment, modification or termination
impairs the rights of a Participant, with the consent of such Participant, to amend, modify or
terminate any outstanding Award Agreement, except to the extent that shareholder approval is
required pursuant to any applicable law, regulation or rule, including any rule relating to the
listing on a national securities exchange of Ferro Common Stock, and except with respect to any
adjustment or amendment affecting the value of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right not
permitted under paragraph 4(a) or 4(b) above. Subject to the above provisions, the Committee shall
have all necessary authority to amend this Plan, clarify any provision or take into account changes
in applicable securities and tax laws or accounting rules in administering this Plan.
15. Effective Date and Term of Plan. This Plan is adopted by the Board as of September 28,
2006, subject to subsequent approval by Ferro shareholders. No Awards shall be made under this Plan
after December 31, 2016, provided that any Awards outstanding on such date shall not be affected
and shall continue in accordance with their terms.
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Appendix B
AMENDMENT TO
CODE OF REGULATIONS
ARTICLE I, SECTION 3
The current text of Section 3 of Article I of the Companys Code of Regulations reads as
follows:
Section 3. Notice of Meetings. A written or printed notice of every annual or
special meeting of the shareholders, stating the time and place and the purposes thereof,
shall be given to each shareholder entitled to notice as provided by law, which notice may
be served upon a shareholder in person or may be mailed to his last address appearing on the
books of the Corporation, at least ten days before any such meeting.
If the amendment proposed in Item Three of this proxy statement is adopted, then Section 3 of
Article I would be amended to read in its entirety as follows:
Section 3. Notices of Meetings. Written notice of each annual or
special meeting stating the time, place, and the purposes thereof, and the means, if
any, by which shareholders can be present and vote at the meeting through the use of
communications equipment, shall be given by personal delivery, by mail, by overnight
delivery service or by any other means of communication authorized by the
shareholder to whom the notice is given, to each shareholder of record entitled to
vote at or entitled to notice of the meeting, not less than seven or more than sixty
days before any such meeting. If mailed or sent by overnight delivery service, such
notice shall be directed to the shareholder at his address as the same appears upon
the records of the Corporation. If sent by any other means of communication
authorized by the shareholder, the notice shall be sent to the address furnished by
the shareholder for those transmissions. Any shareholder, either before or after
any meeting, may waive any notice required to be given by law or under these
Regulations.
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Appendix C
GUIDELINES FOR
DETERMINING DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
A. Generally
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The Board recognizes the unique and vital role independent Directors play in the
proper governance of the Corporation. |
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Accordingly, the Board has adopted these Guidelines to assist in its evaluation of
and determination as to the independence of members of the Board. |
B. Guidelines
Absent clear and compelling evidence to the contrary, the Board will generally be guided by
the following:
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No Director who is employed, or has within the past ten years been employed, by the
Corporation will be deemed to be independent. |
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No Director whose immediate family member is employed, or has within the past ten
years been employed, by the Corporation as an executive officer will be deemed to be
independent. |
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No Director who has received $100,000 per year or more in direct compensation, 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), from the Corporation within the past five years will be deemed to be
independent. |
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No Director whose immediate family member has received $100,000 per year or more in
direct compensation, 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), from the Corporation within the past five years will be
deemed to be independent. |
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No Director who is affiliated with or employed by, or has within the past five years
been affiliated with or employed by, the Corporations external auditors or has been an
internal auditor of the Corporation will be deemed to be independent. |
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No Director whose immediate family member is affiliated with or employed in a
professional capacity by, or has within the past five years been affiliated with or
employed in a professional capacity by, the Corporations external auditors or has been an
internal auditor of the Corporation will be deemed to be independent. |
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No Director who is employed, or has within the past five years been employed, as an
executive officer of a company on which an executive officer of the Corporation then
served as a member of such companys compensation committee will be deemed to be
independent. |
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No Director whose immediate family member is employed, or has within the past five
years been employed, as an executive officer of a company on which an executive officer of
the Corporation then served as a member of such companys compensation committee will be
deemed to be independent. |
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No Director who is an executive officer or an employee of a company that makes
payments to, or receives payments from, the Corporation for property or services in an
amount which, in any single fiscal year, exceeds the greater of $1 million or 2% of such
other companys consolidated gross revenues will be deemed independent until three years
after falling below such threshold. |
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No Director whose immediate family member is an executive officer of a company that
makes payments to, or receives payments from, the Corporation for property or services in
an amount which, in any single fiscal year, exceeds the greater of $1 million or 2% of
such other companys consolidated gross revenues will be deemed independent until three
years after falling below such threshold. |
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No Director who, or whose immediate family member, has any other professional,
personal, family or other relationship that, in the judgment of the Board, will or might
affect adversely the independent exercise of the Directors business judgment for the
benefit of the Corporation will be deemed to be independent. |
C. Due Diligence Process
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Annually, each Director will be requested to respond to a questionnaire that
elicits information concerning the Directors |
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Principal employment, professional affiliations and directorships, |
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Other financial, business, family or professional interests that are
or might be deemed to be a material conflicting interest, and |
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Other personal interests or relationships that will or might affect
adversely the independent exercise of the Directors business judgment for the
benefit of the Corporation. |
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Based on the responses received to such questionnaires and such other due
diligence as that Committee deems appropriate, annually the Governance, Nomination &
Compensation Committee will review and report to the Board all relationships that are or
could be deemed to constitute a material conflicting relationship or that otherwise
renders a Director as not independent. |
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Based on the report of the Governance, Nomination & Compensation Committee and
such other due diligence as the Board deems appropriate, annually the Board will
determine (in each case with the recusal of the affected Director) whether each Director
is or is not independent. |
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Notwithstanding such due diligence by the Corporation, it remains a Directors
personal responsibility to advise the chair of the Governance, Nomination & Compensation
committee on a timely basis if and when circumstances arise that could affect the
Boards annual determination of that Directors independence. |
D. Definitions
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As used in these Guidelines, the term immediate family member means a persons
spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother and father-in-law, sons and
daughters-in-law, brothers and sisters-in-law, and anyone (other than domestic
employees) who shares such persons home. |
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When applying these Guidelines to past periods, however, the Board may choose to
disregard individuals who are no longer immediate family members (as defined above) due
to legal separation or divorce, or those who have died or become incapacitated. |
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3. |
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In addition, references above to company are intended to include any parent or
subsidiary in a consolidated group with a particular company. |
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FERRO CORPORATION
c/o National City Bank
Shareholder Services Operations
Locator 5352
P. O. Box 94509
Cleveland, OH 44101-4509
VOTE BY TELEPHONE
Have your proxy card available when you
call Toll-Free 1-888-693-8683 using a
touch-tone phone and follow the simple
instructions to record your vote.
VOTE BY INTERNET
Have your proxy card available when you
access the website www.cesvote.com and
follow the simple instructions to record
your vote.
VOTE BY MAIL
Please mark, sign and date your proxy
card and return it in the postage-paid
envelope provided or return it to: National
City Bank, P.O. Box 535300, Pittsburgh PA
15253-5300.
Vote by Telephone
Call Toll-Free using a
touch-tone telephone:
1-888-693-8683
Vote by Internet
Access the Website and
cast your vote:
www.cesvote.com
Vote by Mail
Return your proxy
in the postage-paid
envelope provided
Vote 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
Your telephone or Internet vote must be received by 6:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time
on November 3, 2006 to be counted in the final tabulation.
If you vote by telephone or over the Internet, do not mail your proxy card.
If you vote by mail, the proxy card below must be signed and dated.
ê Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing. ê
FERRO CORPORATION
This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on November 3, 2006
The undersigned shareholder of Ferro Corporation hereby appoints James C. Bays, Rhonda S. Ferguson
and Suzanne K. Hanselman, and each of them, the proxies of the undersigned, with full power of
substitution to vote the shares of the undersigned at the 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
the Corporation and any adjournment thereof upon the proposals on the reverse side.
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Signature |
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Signature if held jointly |
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Date:
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, 2006 |
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NOTICE: When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give
your full title as such. A proxy given by a
corporation should be signed in the corporate name
by the chairman of its board of directors, its
president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
If you do not vote by telephone or Internet, please sign and date this proxy card and return
it promptly in the enclosed postage-paid envelope to National City Bank, PO Box 535300, Pittsburgh,
PA 15253, so your shares are represented at the Annual Meeting. If you vote by telephone or
Internet, it is not necessary to return this proxy card.
ê Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing. ê
Please indicate how you wish your shares to be voted. Unless otherwise indicated, the proxies will vote FOR proposals 1, 2 and 3.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMEND VOTES BE CAST FOR PROPOSALS 1, 2 AND 3.
1. |
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ELECTION OF DIRECTORS |
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Nominees for terms expiring in 2009: |
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(1) Jennie S. Hwang, Ph.D. (2) James F. Kirsch (3) William J. Sharp |
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FOR all nominees listed above
(except as listed to the contrary below)
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WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
to vote for all nominees listed above. |
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To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write that nominees name below: |
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Approval of the 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan. |
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN |
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Approval of the amendment to Ferro Corporations Code of Regulations. |
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN |
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In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may
properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
IMPORTANT THIS PROXY MUST BE SIGNED AND DATED ON THE REVERSE SIDE