WWW.EXFILE.COM, INC. -- 888-775-4789 -- SUTRON CORPORATION -- DEF 14A
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
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Definitive
Proxy Statement
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Definitive
Additional Materials
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Soliciting
Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
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SUTRON
CORPORATION
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(Name
of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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SUTRON
CORPORATION
21300
Ridgetop Circle
Sterling,
Virginia 20166
(703)
406-2800
April 15, 2009
Dear
Sutron Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to our Annual
Meeting of Shareholders on Wednesday, May 13, 2009, beginning at 1:30 p.m.,
local time, at Sutron’s corporate headquarters, 21300 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling,
Virginia. The enclosed notice of annual meeting sets forth the
proposals that will be presented at the meeting, which are described in more
detail in the enclosed proxy statement. The Board of Directors
recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” these
proposals.
It is
important that you use this opportunity to take part in Sutron’s affairs by
voting on the business to come before this meeting. Whether or not you expect to
attend the meeting, please complete, date, sign and promptly return the
accompanying proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope so that your
shares may be represented at the meeting. Returning the Proxy card
does not deprive you of your right to attend the meeting and to vote your shares
in person.
We look forward to seeing you
there.
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Very
truly yours,
/s/ Raul S. McQuivey
Raul
S. McQuivey
Chairman
of the Board, President and
Chief
Executive Officer
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SUTRON
CORPORATION
21300
Ridgetop Circle
Sterling,
Virginia 20166
(703)
406-2800
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON MAY 13, 2009
To
the Holders of Common Stock of Sutron Corporation,
Notice is hereby given that the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders of Sutron Corporation will be held at 21300 Ridgetop
Circle, Sterling, Virginia, on Wednesday, May 13, 2009, at 1:30 p.m., local
time, for the following purposes:
1.
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To
elect five directors to hold office until the next annual election of
directors and until their successors shall have been duly elected and
qualified;
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2.
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To
ratify the appointment of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. as independent
accountants for fiscal year 2009;
and
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3.
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To
transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and
any adjournments thereof.
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Shareholders of record at the close of
business on Thursday, March 26, 2009, are entitled to notice of and to vote at
the meeting.
All shareholders are cordially invited
to attend the meeting in person. However, to assure your
representation at the meeting, we urge you to complete, sign, date and return
the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed envelope as promptly as
possible. If you attend the meeting, you may vote in person even if
you have returned a proxy.
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By
Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Sidney C. Hooper
Sidney C.
Hooper
Secretary
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April 15,
2009
SUTRON
CORPORATION
21300
Ridgetop Circle
Sterling,
Virginia 20166
(703)
406-2800
PROXY
STATEMENT
The enclosed Proxy is solicited on
behalf of the Board of Directors of Sutron Corporation (the "Company") for use
at its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2009, at
1:30 p.m., local time, and at any adjournments thereof. The purposes
of the meeting are set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of Annual
Meeting of Shareholders. The meeting will be held at the principal
executive offices of the Company, 21300 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling, Virginia
20166. The approximate date on which this Proxy Statement and the
Proxy Card were first sent to shareholders of the Company is April 15,
2009.
After the enclosed Proxy Card is duly
executed and returned, a shareholder may revoke the proxy at any time by written
request that is received by the Secretary of the Company prior to the meeting or
by voting in person at the meeting or by executing a later dated Proxy
Card. The Proxy Card is in ballot form so that a specification may be
made to vote for, or to withhold authority to vote for, the nominees for
election as directors, or any of them, and to indicate whether the shareholder
wishes to vote for or against or abstain from voting upon the other
proposal.
RECORD
DATE AND VOTING RIGHTS
Shareholders of record at the close of
business on Thursday, March 26, 2009 are entitled to notice of and to vote at
the meeting. On March 26, 2009, the Company had outstanding and
entitled to vote 4,570,632 shares of Common Stock. Each share of
Common Stock entitles the holder to one vote on each matter to be voted upon at
the meeting.
The
By-laws of the Company require that the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of the Company’s Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting be
present in person or represented by proxy in order for a quorum to exist for the
transaction of business at that meeting. Abstentions and “broker non-votes”
(which occur if a broker or other nominee does not have discretionary authority
and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner with respect
to the particular item) are counted for purposes of determining the presence or
absence of a quorum for the transaction of business. Assuming that a quorum is
present for the Annual Meeting, the five nominees for director who receive the
highest number of votes cast will be elected. Abstentions and broker non-votes
will have no effect on the outcome of the election of directors.
The
ratification of the appointment of the independent public accountants must be
approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person
or by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. For purposes of
this Proposal, abstentions are counted for purposes of calculating shares
entitled to vote but are not counted as shares voting and therefore have the
effect of a vote against such Proposal. For purposes of this Proposal, broker
non-votes are not counted as shares entitled to vote and therefore have no
effect with respect to such Proposal.
Any Proxy
Card which is returned by a Shareholder properly completed and which is not
revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting in the manner specified therein.
Unless contrary instructions are
given,
the persons designated as proxy holders in the accompanying Proxy Card (or their
substitutes) will vote “FOR” the election of the Board
of Directors’ nominees and “FOR” the ratification of the
appointment of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. as independent accountants, and
in the proxy holders’ discretion with regard to all other matters properly
brought before the meeting. Any unmarked proxies, including those submitted by
brokers (other than broker non-votes) or nominees will be voted in favor of the
nominees for the Board of Directors and other proposals, as indicated in the
accompanying Proxy Card. We urge you to vote your shares
without delay.
The Company will bear the cost of
preparing this Proxy Statement and the other costs of soliciting Proxies for the
2009 Annual Shareholders Meeting. In addition to solicitation by
mail, solicitations
may be made by personal interview or telephone by officers and employees of the
Company, acting without additional compensation. Sutron anticipates
that banks, brokerage houses, and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries
will forward this material to beneficial owners of shares of Common Stock
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, and such persons will be reimbursed by
Sutron for the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them.
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
The nominees for directors are Dr. Raul
S. McQuivey, Daniel W. Farrell, Robert F. Roberts, Jr., Andrew D. Lipman and
Leland R. Phipps. All nominees are presently directors of the
Company. Mr. Roberts, Mr. Lipman and Mr. Phipps are non-employees of
the Company and are independent as defined by Nasdaq listing standards and
therefore result in a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors being
independent in accordance with Nasdaq listing standards.
The Board of Directors of the Company
recommends the election of the nominees to serve as directors of Sutron until
the fiscal year 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors
have been duly elected and qualified or until the director's earlier death,
resignation or removal. In the event that any nominees for directors
should be unavailable to serve, which is not anticipated, the Board of
Directors, in its discretion, may designate substitute nominees, in which event
Proxies received by the Board of Directors will be voted for such substitute
nominees.
The five
nominees for director who receive the highest number of votes cast by the
holders of shares entitled to vote in the election of directors at the Annual
Meeting will be elected. All duly submitted and unrevoked Proxy Cards will be
voted “FOR” the nominees selected by the Board of Directors except where
authorization to vote is withheld.
NOMINEES
FOR DIRECTORS
Set forth
below, for each nominee, are his name and age, his positions with the Company,
his principal occupation and business experience during at least the past five
years and the year of the commencement of his term as a director of the
Company:
Raul S. McQuivey, Ph.D., age 70, has
served as a director since 1976 and as President, Chief Executive Officer, and
Chairman of the Board of Directors since January 1989. Dr. McQuivey
served as Executive Vice President from September 1980 to January 1989,
Treasurer of the Company from March 1983 to March 1984 and as Secretary from
March 1983 until September 1989. Dr. McQuivey earned a B.S. in Civil
Engineering from Utah State University in 1961, an M.S. in Civil Engineering
(Hydraulics) from Colorado State University in 1963, and a Ph.D. in Civil
Engineering (Hydraulics, Hydrology and Fluid Mechanics) from Colorado State
University in 1967. He is a Registered Professional
Engineer.
Daniel W. Farrell, age 56, has served
as a director since May 1988 and as Vice President of the Company since March
1984. Mr. Farrell has been over the Company’s Research and
Development Division since August 1989. Prior to managing the Research and
Development Dision, Mr. Farrell was a Project Manager in the Water Resources
Division. Mr. Farrell joined the Company in September 1976 as a staff
scientist. Mr. Farrell received a B.S. in Chemistry from Brigham
Young University in 1976.
Robert F. Roberts, Jr., age 58, has
served as a director since May 2003 and as the Chairman of the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors since July 2005 and is also a member of
the Corporate Governance and Nominating and Audit Committees of the
Board. Mr Roberts was the founder, CEO and Chairman of Concept
Automation Inc. from 1975 to 1995. Concept Automation, a computer
systems integrator, grew from a one-man operation to employing over 220 people
in six offices. Federal and state government agencies and Fortune
1000 companies were the primary clients. Sales in 1995 were
approximately $100 million when the company was sold. Mr. Roberts
served as a Director for Colgan Airways, a regional commuter airline from 1990
to 2005, as a Principal for Foresight Funding, which manages private investments
in tax free bonds, real estate and corporate obligations from 1995 to 2005, and
as Chairman, Trustee of Wakefield School, a private school that offers a
classical curriculum for grades Pre-K to 12 from 1990 to 2005. Mr.
Roberts received an Associates degree in Business Management from Northern
Virginia Community College.
Andrew D. Lipman, age 57, has served as
a director since June 2005 and as the Chairman of the Corporate Governance and
Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors since July 2005 and is also
a member of the Compensation and Audit Committees of the Board. Mr.
Lipman is a partner and head of the Telecommunications, Media and
Technology Group of Bingham McCutchen LLP, formerly Swidler Berlin, LLP, an
international law firm since 1988. From 1987 to 1997, Mr. Lipman also
served as Senior Vice President for Legal and Regulatory Affairs for MFS
Communications, Co., a competitive telecommunications provider. He also
currently serves as a member of the boards of directors of TMNG Inc., a
telecommunications-related consulting firm and Nu Skin Enterprises, a personal
care and nutritional supplements provider. He received a B.A. degree, Summa Cum
Laude, from the University of Rochester and a J.D. degree from Stanford
University.
Leland R.
Phipps, age 53, has served as a director and as the Chairman of the Audit
Committee since March 2008 and is also a member of the Corporate Governance and
Nominating and Compensation Committees of the Board. Mr. Phipps began
his career with KPMG Peat Marwick working in the Private Business Consulting
Practice from 1982 to 1983. He worked as Controller and Chief Financial
Officer of Concept Automation, Inc (CAI) from 1983 to 1989. He was
promoted to CAI’s President and Chief Operating Officer in 1989 and remained
until 1995 when CAI was acquired by BTG, Inc. During his tenure at CAI,
revenues grew from $500 thousand to approximately $100 million. He was a
Senior Vice President over Integration and Network Systems with BTG from 1995 to
1997 and was responsible for a new business unit that began with a backlog of
$20 million and grew to $60 million of revenue within two years. Mr.
Phipps founded Plexar Corporation, an investment management, consulting and
private equity firm, in 1997. Mr. Phipps is a Certified Public
Accountant. He received a B.S. degree in Accounting and a Masters degree
in Accounting and Information Systems from Brigham Young
University.
Each of
the nominees has consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and to serve
as a Director if elected. The Company knows of no reason why any
nominee would be unable or unwilling to serve if elected.
CODE
OF ETHICS
The Company has adopted a Code of
Ethics that applies to the Company’s chief executive officer,
chief
financial officer, principal accounting officer and persons performing functions
similar to a controller, as well as other officers, directors and employees of
the Company. The Code of Ethics is posted on the Company’s website at
www.sutron.com
under “Investor Information.”
BOARD
AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS
During
fiscal 2008, the Board held five meetings, including telephone conference
meetings, and took two actions by written consent. The three standing committees
of the Board are the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. No director attended
fewer than 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the Board and
the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on which he
served.
Audit Committee.
Mr. Phipps, Mr. Lipman and Mr. Roberts are the current
members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Phipps, the Chairman of the Audit
Committee, was appointed as Chairman of the Audit Committee on March
6, 2008. The Board has determined that Mr. Phipps is the “audit
committee financial expert” as defined by the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Audit Committee met five times during fiscal 2008. The
Audit Committee’s primary responsibilities are to provide oversight of the
Company’s accounting and financial controls, review the scope of and procedures
to be used in the annual audit, review the financial statements and results of
the annual audit, and retain and evaluate the performance of the independent
accountants and the Company’s financial and accounting personnel.
Each
current member of the Audit Committee meets the independence and other
requirements to serve on our Audit Committee under the rules of the SEC and
listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market.
Compensation
Committee. Mr. Roberts, Mr.
Lipman and Mr. Phipps are the current members of the Compensation Committee.
Mr. Roberts serves as the Chairman of the Compensation Committee and
was appointed to that position in July 2005. The Compensation Committee met once
during fiscal 2008. The principal responsibilities of the Compensation Committee
are to establish the general compensation policy for Sutron. The Compensation
Committee reviews and establishes base salary levels and target bonuses for the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers each year. The
Compensation Committee also administers the Company’s 1996, 1997 and 2002
Amended and Restated Stock Option Plans. The Compensation Committee does
not currently have a formal charter.
Nominating
Committee.
Mr. Lipman, Mr. Phipps and Mr. Roberts are the current members of the
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (“Nominating Committee”).
Mr. Lipman is the Chairman of the Nominating Committee and was appointed to
that position in July 2005. The Nominating Committee met two times during
fiscal 2008. The principal responsibilities of the Nominating Committee are to
identify and recommend to the Board of Directors individuals qualified to become
Board of Directors’ members, to recommend to the Board of Directors corporate
governance principles, and to lead the Board of Directors in complying with its
corporate governance principles.
Each
current member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee meets the
independence and other requirements to serve on our Corporate Governance and
Nominating Committee under the rules of the SEC and listing standards of
The Nasdaq Stock Market. The Nominating Committee has a formal charter that is
available on the Company’s web site at www.sutron.com under
“Investor Information.”
DIRECTOR
NOMINATION PROCESS
The
Company did not engage a third party to assist in identifying and evaluating the
individuals nominated for election as directors at this
meeting. Historically, the Nominating Committee has relied on
recommendations from its members to identify nominees. In
considering whether to nominate any particular candidate for election to the
Board, the Nominating Committee uses various criteria to evaluate each
candidate, including an evaluation of each candidate’s integrity, business
acumen, knowledge of the Company’s business and industry, experience, diligence,
conflicts of interest and the ability to act in the interests of the Company’s
shareholders. The Nominating Committee evaluates biographical information and
interviews selected candidates.
The
Nominating Committee also considers whether a potential nominee would satisfy
the Nasdaq listing standards for “independence” and the SEC’s definition of
“audit committee financial expert.” The Nominating Committee does not assign
specific weights to particular criteria and no particular criterion is a
prerequisite for each prospective nominee. The Nominating Committee believes
that the backgrounds and qualifications of its directors, considered as a group,
should provide a composite mix of experience, knowledge and abilities that will
allow the Board to fulfill its responsibilities.
The
Company does not have a formal policy with regard to the consideration of
director candidates recommended by its shareholders; however shareholder
recommendations relating to director nominees may be submitted in accordance
with the procedures set forth below under the heading “Communicating with the
Board of Directors.”
COMMUNICATING
WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Shareholders
who wish to send communications to the Board may do so by writing to the
Secretary of the Company, Sutron Corporation, 21300 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling,
Virginia 20166. The mailing envelope must contain a clear notation indicating
that the enclosed letter is a “Shareholder-Board Communication.” All such
letters must identify the author as a shareholder and must include the
shareholder’s full name, address and a valid telephone number. The name of any
specific intended Board recipient should be noted in the
communication.
The
Secretary will forward any such correspondence to the intended recipients;
however, prior to forwarding any such correspondence, the Secretary or his
designee will review such correspondence, and in his or her discretion, may not
forward communications that relate to ordinary business affairs, communications
that are primarily commercial in nature, personal grievances or communications
that relate to an improper or irrelevant topic or are otherwise inappropriate
for the Board’s consideration.
DIRECTOR
ATTENDANCE AT ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
Although
the Company does not have a policy with regard to Board members’ attendance at
the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders, all directors are encouraged to
attend the annual meeting. All five members of the Board of Directors attended
the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION
Each
independent director is paid an annual retainer of $10,000, an attendance fee of
$1,500 for each meeting of the Board of Directors where the director is
physically present and $1,000 for each meeting attended
telephonically. Also, each independent director is paid an attendance
fee of $1,500 for each committee meeting of the Board of Directors where the
director is physically present and $1,000 for
each
meeting attended telephonically. The Audit Committee Chairman
receives a $5,000 annual retainer. The Compensation and Nominating
Committee Chairmen receive a $3,000 annual retainer. Travel expenses
are reimbursed at actual cost. Employee directors are not eligible for
compensation for their services as directors. Each independent
director also receives a stock option in the amount of 5,000 shares on the
shareholder meeting date that vests over a one-year period in accordance with
the Company’s approved compensation plan for independent directors
The
following table provides a summary of compensation paid to members of our Board
of Directors during 2008.
Name
|
Fees
Earned or Paid in Cash ($)
|
Stock
Awards ($)
|
Option
Awards ($) (1)
|
All
Other Compensation ($)
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Total
($)
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Andrew
D. Lipman
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21,500
|
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12,362(2)
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—
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33,862
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Leland
R. Phipps
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25,000
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8,643(3)
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33,643
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Robert
F. Roberts, Jr.
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23,000
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12,362(4)
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35,362
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(1) The
amount represents the dollar amount recognized for financial reporting purposes
for the year ended December 31, 2008 of stock options granted to each of
the directors, calculated in accordance with provisions of SFAS 123R. Stock
options in the amount of 5,000 shares of Sutron common stock were granted to
each independent director in 2008. See Note 12, “Stock Option
Plans,” to the Company’s consolidated financial statements set forth in the
Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 for the
assumptions made in determining SFAS 123R values. This amount reflects the
Company’s accounting expense for stock options granted to each of the named
directors and is not intended to represent the value, if any, that is actually
realized by the individual.
(2) As
of December 31, 2008, Mr. Lipman had an aggregate of 20,000 shares subject to
outstanding stock options.
(3) As
of December 31, 2008, Mr. Phipps had an aggregate of 6,000 shares subject to
outstanding stock options.
(4) As
of December 31, 2008, Mr. Roberts had an aggregate of 40,000 shares subject to
outstanding stock options.
REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
This
Report of the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Audit
Committee”) is required by the Securities and Exchange Commission and shall not
be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities
Act or under the Exchange Act by any general statement incorporating by
reference this Proxy Statement, and shall only be incorporated into other
filings to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this
information by reference, and shall not be deemed soliciting material or filed
under the Securities Act or Exchange Act.
The Audit
Committee is composed of three independent directors and operates under a
written charter approved by the Audit Committee and adopted by the Board. Leland
R. Phipps, Andrew D. Lipman and Robert F. Roberts, Jr. are the current members
of the Audit Committee. The Audit
Committee’s
primary responsibilities are to provide oversight of the Company’s accounting
and financial controls, review the scope of and procedures to be used in the
annual audit, review the financial statements and results of the annual audit,
and retain and evaluate the performance of the independent accountants and the
Company’s financial and accounting personnel.
The
Company’s management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements
and reporting process, which includes the Company’s systems for internal
control. Thompson, Greenspon & Co., the Company’s independent auditor for
fiscal year 2008, is responsible for performing an independent audit of the
Company’s financial statements in accordance with standards established by the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, expressing an opinion, based on its
audit, as to the conformity of such financial statements with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States. The Audit Committee’s
responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes, including by engaging
in discussions with management and the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm.
The Audit
Committee members are not professional accountants or auditors, and their role
is not intended to duplicate or certify the activities of management and the
independent registered public accounting firm, nor can the Committee certify
that the independent registered public accounting firm is “independent” under
applicable rules. The Committee serves a board-level oversight role, in which it
provides advice, counsel and direction to management and the independent
registered public accounting firm on the basis of the information it receives,
discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting
firm, and the experience of the Committee’s members in business, financial and
accounting matters.
In
carrying out its oversight responsibilities, the Board met with management and
reviewed with management the audited consolidated financial statements included
in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2008. The review included a discussion of the quality and
acceptability of the Company’s financial reporting and controls, including the
reasonableness of significant judgments and the clarity of disclosures in the
consolidated financial statements.
The Board
also reviewed with Thompson, Greenspon & Co., who are responsible for
expressing an opinion on the conformity of the Company’s audited financial
statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgments as to
the quality and the acceptability of the Company’s financial reporting and such
other matters as are required to be discussed with the Board under generally
accepted auditing standards and SAS (Statement on Auditing Standards) 114.
In addition, the Board discussed with Thompson, Greenspon & Co. their
independence from management and the Company, including the matters in their
written disclosures required by the Independence Standards Board, including
Standard No. 1, and received written disclosures required by that standard.
The Board has considered whether the independent auditors’ provision of
non-audit services to the Company is compatible with the auditors’
independence.
In reliance on the reviews and
discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended that the audited
consolidated financial statements be included in the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 for filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE
Leland R.
Phipps, Chairman
Andrew D.
Lipman
Robert F.
Roberts, Jr.
EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
The biographies for Messrs. McQuivey
and Farrell are provided under the heading “Nominees for
Directors.”
Sidney C.
Hooper, age 50, has served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company since
2003 and as Treasurer since 1993. Mr. Hooper joined the Company in
August 1989 and was promoted to the position of Controller in January
1990. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Hooper served as a Senior
Accountant with Arthur Andersen & Company. Mr. Hooper received a
B.S. degree in Accounting from Brigham Young University in 1983 and a Master of
Accountancy degree from Brigham Young University in 1984.
Ashish Raval, age 37, has served as
Vice President of Integrated Services Division since 2001. He joined
the Company in February 1998, as an Applications Engineer in the Integrated
Systems Division (ISD). Prior to joining Sutron Mr. Raval worked as a
instrumentation engineer in Walk, Haydel & Associates, a Dames & Moore
Company. Mr. Raval has earned B.S. in Instrumentation Engineering from
University of Pune in 1993 and a Masters in Electrical Engineering with
specialization in Control Systems Engineering from University Of New Orleans in
1996. He is a Registered Engineer-In-Training (EIT) in Louisiana. Mr. Raval has also
been an active member of ISA and IEEE since 1993.
EMPLOYMENT
AND OTHER AGREEMENTS
The
Company does not have any Employment Agreements and has no other plan or
arrangement that would result in any executive officer receiving compensation as
a result of their resignation, retirement or any other termination of
employment with the Company. Option agreements provide for the
immediate vesting of all unvested stock options in the event of a change in
control of the Company.
SUMMARY
COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth
information concerning cash and other compensation paid to or earned by our
chief executive officer, and other executive officers, whom we refer to as our
“Named Executive Officers” for the most recent year as follows:
Name
and
Principal
Position
|
Year
|
Salary
($)
|
Bonus
($)
|
Stock
Awards ($)
|
Option
Awards ($)
|
All
Other Compensation ($)
|
Total
($)
|
Raul
S. McQuivey
|
2008
|
200,000
|
|
0
|
0
|
10,056
(1)
|
216,964
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
2007
|
190,000
|
28,500
|
0
|
0
|
12,003
(2)
|
230,503
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel
W. Farrell
|
2008
|
173,250
|
|
0
|
0
|
9,538 (3)
|
182,788
|
Vice
President, R&D
|
2007
|
165,000
|
24,750
|
0
|
0
|
9,402 (4)
|
199,152
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sidney
C. Hooper
|
2008
|
168,000
|
|
0
|
0
|
12,070
(5)
|
180,070
|
Chief
Financial Officer, Secretary
|
2007
|
159,500
|
24,000
|
0
|
0
|
11,873
(6)
|
195,373
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ashish
R. Raval
|
2008
|
157,500
|
|
0
|
0
|
4,535 (7)
|
162,035
|
Vice
President, ISD
|
2007
|
150,000
|
22,500
|
0
|
0
|
4,462 (8)
|
176,962
|
(1)
|
Consists
of (i) $3,148 for life insurance premiums on term life insurance and (ii)
Company’s 401k matching contribution of
$6,908.
|
(2)
|
Consists
of (i) $3,148 for life insurance premiums on term life insurance, (ii)
auto allowance relating to personal use of $1,897 and (iii) Company’s 401k
matching contribution of $6,958.
|
(3)
|
Consists
of (i) $630 for life insurance premiums on term life insurance, (ii) auto
allowance relating to personal use of $2,601and (iii) Company’s 401k
matching contribution of $6,307.
|
(4)
|
Consists
of (i) $630 for life insurance premiums on term life insurance, (ii) auto
allowance relating to personal use of $2,739 and (iii) Company’s 401k
matching contribution of $6,033.
|
(5)
|
Consists
of (i) $355 for life insurance premiums on term life insurance (ii) auto
allowance relating to personal use of $4,099 and (iv) Company’s 401k
matching contribution of $7,616.
|
(6)
|
Consists
of (i) $355 for life insurance premiums on term life insurance (ii) auto
allowance relating to personal use of $4,093 and (iv) Company’s 401k
matching contribution of $7,425.
|
(7)
|
Consists
of Company’s 401k matching contribution of
$4,535.
|
(8)
|
Consists
of Company’s 401k matching contribution of
$4,462.
|
OUTSTANDING
EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
The following table sets forth certain
information concerning the value of outstanding equity awards held by the Name
Executive Officers as of December 31, 2008.
Name
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)
Exercisable
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)
Unexercisable
|
Option
Exercise Price
|
Option
Expiration Date
|
Number
of Shares of Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)
|
Market
Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested
($)
|
Raul
S. McQuivey
|
110,000
(1)
|
0
|
$ .55
|
10/17/2012
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel
W. Farrell
|
90,000 (1)
|
0
|
$ .55
|
10/17/2012
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sidney
C. Hooper
|
120,000
(1)
|
0
|
$ .55
|
10/17/2012
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ashish
R. Raval
|
25,000 (1)
|
0
|
$ .68
|
1/6/2013
|
0
|
0
|
Ashish
R. Raval
|
50,000 (1)
|
0
|
$ 6.90
|
2/27/2017
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
All
options are fully vested.
|
PRINCIPAL
SHAREHOLDERS
The following table sets forth the
names and addresses of all persons who beneficially owned, to the knowledge of
the Company, more than 5% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company's
Common Stock on March 26, 2009.
|
|
Percentage
|
Name
and Address of
|
Number
of Shares
|
Of
Shares
|
Beneficial
Owner
|
Beneficially
Owned
|
Outstanding(1)
|
|
|
|
Raul
S. McQuivey, Ph.D.
|
880,686
(2)
|
18.9%
|
Kenneth
W. Whitt
|
340,029
(3)
|
7.4%
|
(1) As
of March 26, 2009, the Company had 4,570,632 shares of Common Stock
outstanding. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by
a person and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of Common
Stock that such person could purchase by exercising outstanding
options and options that will become exercisable within 60 days of March 26,
2009, are deemed outstanding. Such shares, however, are not deemed
outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other
person. Each natural person named in the table above has an address
in care of Sutron Corporation, 21300 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling, Virginia
20166.
(2) Dr.
McQuivey’s holdings consist of 692,086 shares held by Dr. Raul S. McQuivey and
Karen T. McQuivey, Dr. McQuivey's wife, as Trustees for the Raul S. McQuivey
Trust and the Karen T. McQuivey Trust, 78,600 shares held by Raul McQuivey and
110,000 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after March 26,
2009.
(3) Mr.
Whitt’s holdings consist of 340,029 shares held by Kenneth Whitt and Eva D.
Whitt, Mr. Whitt’s wife, as Trustees for the Whitt Family Living
Trust.
MANAGEMENT
OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK
Set forth below is information
concerning stock ownership of each named executive officer, director and
director nominee, and all directors and executive officers of the Company as a
group, as of March 26, 2009. The information as to securities
beneficially owned are, in each instance, based upon information furnished by
each individual. As to the shares shown to be beneficially owned, the
owner has sole investment and voting power, unless otherwise
indicated.
Beneficial
Owner
|
Number
of Shares
Beneficially
Owned
|
Percent
of Class (1)
|
Raul
S. McQuivey, Ph.D. (2)
|
880,686
|
18.8%
|
Daniel
W. Farrell (3)
|
224,308
|
4.8%
|
Sidney
C. Hooper (4)
|
165,000
|
3.5%
|
Ashish
R. Raval (5)
|
75,000
|
1.6%
|
Robert
F. Roberts, Jr. (6)
|
40,000
|
.9%
|
Andrew
D. Lipman (7)
|
20,000
|
.4%
|
Leland
R. Phipps (8)
|
6,000
|
.1%
|
All
executive officers and directors as a group (7 in number)
|
1,410,994
|
30.1%
|
(1) See
Note 1 under "PRINCIPAL
SHAREHOLDERS."
(2) See
Note 2 under "PRINCIPAL
SHAREHOLDERS."
(3) Mr.
Farrell’s holdings consist of 93,948 shares that are held by Daniel W. Farrell
and Jill E. Farrell, Mr. Farrell's wife, as Joint Tenants with a Right of
Survivorship, 40,360 held by Mr. Farrell and 90,000 shares subject to options
exercisable within 60 days after March 26, 2009.
(4) Includes
30,000 shares owned by Sidney C. Hooper and Malissa C. Hooper, Mr. Hooper's
wife, as Joint Tenants with a Right of Survivorship, 15,000 shares owned by Mr.
Hooper and 120,000 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after
March 26, 2009.
(5) Reflects
75,000 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after March 26,
2009.
(6) Reflects
40,000 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after March 26,
2009.
(7) Reflects
20,000 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after March 26,
2009.
(8) Reflects
6,000 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after March 26,
2009.
In 2008,
the Company did not have any related party transactions with officers or
directors.
COMPLIANCE
WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
Under the
securities laws of the United States, the Company's directors and its executive
officers are required to report ownership of shares of the company's Common
Stock and any changes in that ownership to the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Specific due dates for these reports have been
established and the Company is required to disclose in this proxy statement any
failure to file by these dates during 2008.
·
|
Mr.
McQuivey was delinquent in filing one report on Form
4.
|
·
|
Mr.
Lipman and Mr. Roberts were each delinquent in filing one report on Form
3. Mr. Phipps was delinquent in filing two reports on Form
3.
|
RATIFICATION
OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors considers it
desirable that its appointment of the firm of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. as
independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for fiscal year
2009 be ratified by the shareholders. In fiscal year 2009, an
attestation of the Company’s internal controls must be made by the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm. Thompson, Greenspon
& Co., P.C., who had been the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm since the Company’s inception in 1975, has declined to stand for
reelection since it will not be a provider of such internal controls attestation
services.
Representatives
of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. will be present at the
Annual Meeting, will be given an opportunity to make a statement if they so
desire, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from the
shareholders.
The Board of Directors recommends a
vote “FOR” ratification of the appointment of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C.
and the enclosed proxy will be so voted unless a vote against the proposal or an
abstention is specifically indicated. If this proposal is not
approved at the Annual Meeting, the Audit Committee may reconsider its selection
of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C.
Aggregate fees for professional
services rendered to the Company by Thompson, Greenspon & Co. as of or for
the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 are summarized in the table
below.
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit
|
|
$ |
78,000 |
|
|
$ |
72,000 |
|
Audit-related
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Tax
|
|
|
10,500 |
|
|
|
9,500 |
|
All
other
|
|
|
500 |
|
|
|
500 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
89,000 |
|
|
$ |
82,000 |
|
Audit
fees for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, were for
professional services rendered for the audits of the financial statements of the
Company and review of the Company’s quarterly financial statements.
Tax fees
as of the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, were for
services related to tax compliance, including the preparation of tax returns,
tax planning and tax advice.
All other
services were for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Thompson, Greenspon &
Co.
There
were no fees for audit-related work.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE PRE-APPROVAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
During
Fiscal 2008, the Board pre-approved all services (audit and permitted non-audit
services) provided to Sutron by the Company’s independent
auditor. The Board however has not adopted written policies and
procedures in regards to pre-approval of audit and permitted non-audit
services.
OTHER
MATTERS
The Board of Directors knows of no
other business that will be presented for consideration at the 2009 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders. The enclosed Proxy confers upon the person
or persons entitled to vote the shares represented thereby discretionary
authority to vote such shares in accordance with their best judgment with
respect to other business that may come before the 2009 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders in addition to the scheduled items of business.
SHAREHOLDERS
PROPOSALS
Any
shareholder proposals intended to be presented at Sutron's 2010 Annual Meeting
of Shareholders must be received by Sutron at its offices at 21300 Ridgetop
Circle, Sterling, Virginia 20166, on or before December 6, 2009, for
consideration for inclusion in the proxy material for such meeting.
If a
shareholder of the Company wishes to present a proposal before the 2010 Annual
Meeting, but does not wish to have the proposal considered for inclusion in the
Company’s proxy statement and proxy card, such shareholder must also give
written notice to the Secretary of the Company at the address noted above. The
Secretary must receive such notice by March 12, 2010, and if a shareholder fails
to provide such timely notice of a proposal to be presented at the 2010 Annual
Meeting, the proxies designated by the Company’s Board of Directors will have
discretionary authority to vote on any such proposal.
REPORT
TO SHAREHOLDERS
Rules
promulgated by the SEC require us to provide an Annual Report to Shareholders
who receive this Proxy Statement. We will also provide copies of the
Annual Report to brokers, dealers, banks, voting trustees and their nominees for
the benefit of their beneficial owners of record. Upon the written
request by any shareholder entitled to vote at the 2009 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, the Company will furnish that person without charge additional
copies of the Annual Report along with copies of the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 which is filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the financial statements and
schedules thereto, but excluding the exhibits or documents incorporated by
reference.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Sidney C. Hooper
Sidney
C. Hooper
Secretary
|
April 15,
2009
PROXY
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SUTRON
CORPORATION
The
undersigned hereby appoints Sidney C. Hooper and Ashish R. Raval proxies, each
with power to act without the other and with power of substitution, and hereby
authorizes them to represent and vote, as designated on the other side, all the
shares of stock of Sutron Corporation standing in the name of the undersigned
with all powers which the undersigned would possess if present at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held at 21300 Ridgetop Circle,
Sterling, Virginia at 1:30 p.m. on May 13, 2009 or any adjournment
thereof.
(Continued,
and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)
THIS
PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE
UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2.
|
NOMINEES:
|
Raul
S. McQuivey, Daniel W. Farrell, Robert F. Roberts, Jr., Andrew D. Lipman,
Leland R. Phipps
|
|
(INSTRUCTION: To
withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write that
nominee’s name in the space provided
below.)
|
|
For all nominees
listed to the right (except as marked to the contrary) |
o |
WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed to the
right
|
o |
2.
|
Ratification
of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. as the independent public accountants
of the corporation.
|
FOR
o
|
AGAINST
o
|
ABSTAIN
o
|
3.
|
In
their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the
meeting.
|
Please
sign exactly as name appears below. When shares are held by joint
tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee, or guardian, please give full title as
such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by
President or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign
in partnership name by authorized person.
Dated: ____________________________________________________________2009
(Signature)
(Signature
if held jointly)
|
|
PLEASE
SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.