Keithley Instruments, Inc. PRE 14A
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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 |
o Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
o Definitive Proxy
Statement |
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o Definitive
Additional Materials |
o Soliciting
Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11c or Section 240.14a-12 |
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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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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(2) |
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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(3) |
Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on
which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
determined): |
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(4) |
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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o |
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which
the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous
filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule
and the date of its filing. |
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(1) |
Amount Previously Paid: |
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(2) |
Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Keithley Instruments, Inc.
28775 Aurora Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44139-1891
440-248-0400
Fax: 440-248-6168
http://www.keithley.com |
December 29, 2005
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
This years Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Keithley
Instruments, Inc. will be held at 12:00 Noon (EST), Saturday,
February 11, 2006, at our corporate headquarters, 28775
Aurora Road, Cleveland, Ohio.
In addition to acting on the matters outlined in the Proxy
Statement, we look forward to giving you a progress report on
the first quarter, which will end on December 31, 2005. As
in the past, there will be an informal presentation on the
Companys business.
We hope that you are planning to attend the Annual Meeting
personally, and we look forward to seeing you. Whether or not
you expect to attend in person, the return of the enclosed proxy
as soon as possible would be greatly appreciated and will ensure
that your shares will be represented at the Annual Meeting. If
you do attend the Annual Meeting, you may revoke your proxy
should you wish to vote in person.
On behalf of the Directors and management of Keithley
Instruments, Inc., we would like to thank you for your continued
support and confidence in the Company.
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Sincerely yours, |
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/s/ Joseph P. Keithley |
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Joseph P.
Keithley |
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Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
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Keithley Instruments, Inc.
28775 Aurora Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44139-1891
440-248-0400
Fax: 440-248-6168
http://www.keithley.com |
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
of Keithley Instruments, Inc. will be held at the Companys
corporate headquarters, 28775 Aurora Road, Cleveland, Ohio, on
Saturday, February 11, 2006, at 12:00 Noon (EST), for the
following purposes:
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(1) To vote on a proposal to fix the number of Directors of
the Company at ten; |
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(2) To elect ten members of the Board of Directors to serve
until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until their
successors have been duly elected and qualified; |
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(3) To vote on a proposal to approve the Keithley
Instruments, Inc. 2005 Employee Stock Purchase and Dividend
Reinvestment Plan; |
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(4) To transact such other business as may properly come
before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement
thereof. |
Only holders of Common Shares and Class B Common Shares of
record at the close of business on Tuesday, December 13,
2005, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual
Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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/s/ John M. Gherlein |
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John M.
Gherlein |
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Secretary |
December 29, 2005
Please sign, date and return the enclosed proxy
promptly.
A return envelope is enclosed for your convenience.
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
28775 Aurora Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44139
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON
FEBRUARY 11, 2006
GENERAL INFORMATION
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by and on behalf of the Board of
Directors of Keithley Instruments, Inc. (the
Company) for use at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of the Company to be held on February 11,
2006, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. The time,
place and purposes of the Annual Meeting are stated in the
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders which accompanies this
Proxy Statement.
The solicitation of proxies is made by and on behalf of the
Board of Directors. The expense of soliciting proxies, including
the cost of preparing, assembling and mailing the proxy
materials, will be borne by the Company. In addition to
solicitation of proxies by mail, solicitation may be made
personally and by telephone, and the Company may pay persons
holding shares for others their expenses for sending proxy
materials to their principals. No solicitation will be made
other than by Directors, officers and employees of the Company.
The presence of a shareholder at the Annual Meeting will not
operate to revoke the shareholders proxy. Any shareholder
giving a proxy pursuant to this solicitation may revoke it by
giving notice to the Company in writing or in open meeting. All
properly executed proxies received by the Board of Directors of
the Company pursuant to this solicitation will be voted at the
Annual Meeting, in accordance with the directions contained in
such proxies. If no directions are given, properly executed
proxies will be voted FOR the election of the nominees named in
this Proxy Statement and FOR the proposals set forth in the
Notice, with discretionary authority to vote on all other
matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any
adjournment or postponement thereof.
The close of business on December 13, 2005 has been fixed
as the record date for the determination of shareholders
entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. This Proxy
Statement and the accompanying Presidents letter, notice
and proxy, together with the Companys annual report to
shareholders for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005,
are first being sent to shareholders on or about
December 29, 2005.
VOTING RIGHTS
As of the close of business on December 13, 2005, there
were outstanding 14,315,164 Common Shares, without par value, of
the Company (Common Shares) and 2,150,502
Class B Common Shares, without par value, of the Company
(Class B Common Shares). The holders of
outstanding Common Shares on that date will be entitled to one
vote for each share held, and the holders of outstanding
Class B Common Shares on that date will be entitled to ten
votes for each share held. Proxies received by the Company but
marked as abstentions or broker non-votes will not count in
favor of, or against, election of a nominee for Director;
however, abstentions and broker non-votes may have the effect of
a vote against approval of any other matter.
The Ohio Revised Code, as it applies to the Company, provides
that if notice in writing is given by any shareholder to the
President, a Vice President or the Secretary of the Company not
less than 48 hours before the time fixed for holding the
meeting that such shareholder desires the voting to elect
Directors to be cumulative, and if an announcement of the giving
of such notice is made upon the convening of the meeting by the
Chairman or the Secretary or by or on behalf of the shareholder
giving such notice, then each shareholder shall have cumulative
voting rights in the election of Directors, enabling such
shareholder to give one nominee for Director as many votes as is
equal to the number of Directors to be elected multiplied by the
number of shares in respect of which such shareholder is voting,
or to distribute votes on the same principle among two or more
nominees, as such shareholder sees fit. If cumulative voting is
in effect, the persons named in the proxy will vote shares
represented thereby so as to elect as many of the ten nominees
named herein as possible.
1
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
The following persons are known to the Company to be the
beneficial owners of more than 5% of the voting securities of
the Company as of December 13, 2005:
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Class B | |
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Common Shares | |
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Common Shares(1) | |
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Number of | |
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Number of | |
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Percentage | |
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Shares | |
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Shares | |
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of Total | |
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Beneficially | |
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Percent | |
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Beneficially | |
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Percent | |
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Voting | |
Name of Beneficial Owner |
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Owned | |
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of Class | |
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Owned | |
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of Class | |
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Power | |
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Joseph P. Keithley
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554,386 |
(2) |
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3.7 |
% |
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2,130,878 |
(3) |
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99.1 |
% |
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60.2 |
% |
Barclays Global Investors, N.A. (4)
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1,073,822 |
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7.5 |
% |
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3.0 |
% |
The TCW Group, Inc. (5)
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720,404 |
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5.0 |
% |
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2.0 |
% |
Bank of America Corporation (6)
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713,328 |
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5.0 |
% |
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2.0 |
% |
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(1) |
Pursuant to the Companys Amended Articles of
Incorporation, all holders of Class B Common Shares are
entitled to convert any or all of their Class B Common
Shares into Common Shares at any time, on a share-for-share
basis. |
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(2) |
Includes Common Shares represented by options exercisable on or
before February 11, 2006, by Joseph P. Keithley
(501,500 shares). Such shares are deemed to be outstanding
for the purpose of computing the percentage of shares
outstanding owned by Mr. Keithley and his percentage of
total voting power of the Companys capital stock, but are
not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the
percentage of shares held by or total voting power of any other
person. Also includes 6,540 shares of restricted stock that
are subject to certain vesting requirements and
2,448 shares owned by Mr. Keithleys wife.
Mr. Keithley disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to
the shares owned by his wife. |
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(3) |
Includes 1,954,816 shares owned by a partnership of which
Mr. Keithley serves as the general partner, and
46,062 shares owned by a trust of which Mr. Keithley
serves as the co-trustee. |
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(4) |
Derived from information set forth on a Schedule 13G of
Barclays Global Investors, N.A. dated February 14, 2005.
Barclays Global Investors, N.A. reports sole voting power
with respect to 610,147 shares, and sole dispositive power
with respect to 740,285 shares; and Barclays Global Fund
Advisors reports sole voting power with respect to
331,306 shares, and sole dispositive power with respect to
333,537 shares. |
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(5) |
Derived from information set forth on a Schedule 13G of The
TCW Group, Inc. dated February 9, 2005. The TCW Group, Inc.
on behalf of the TCW Business Unit reports shared voting power
with respect to 647,239 shares and shared dispositive power
with respect to 720,404 shares. |
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Derived from information contained in a Schedule 13G dated
February 11, 2005. Bank of America Corporation reports
shared voting power with respect to 700,656 shares and
shared dispositive power with respect to 713,328 shares; NB
Holdings Corporation reports shared voting power and shared
dispositive power with respect to 81,048 shares; Bank of
America, NA reports sole voting power with respect to
2,500 shares, shared voting power with respect to
74,150 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to
5,700 shares and shared dispositive power with respect to
70,950 shares; Banc of America Capital Management, LLC
reports sole voting power and sole dispositive power with
respect to 70,775 shares; NationsBanc Montgomery Holdings
Corporation reports shared voting power and shared dispositive
power with respect to 4,398 shares; Banc of America
Securities LLC reports sole voting power and sole dispositive
power with respect to 4,398 shares; Fleet National Bank
reports sole voting power with respect to 73,343 shares,
shared voting power with respect to 546,620 shares, sole
dispositive power with respect to 82,975 shares and shared
dispositive power with respect to 549,305 shares; Columbia
Management Group, Inc. reports shared voting power with respect
to 546,620 shares and shared dispositive power with respect
to 549,265 shares; and Columbia Management Advisors, Inc.
reports sole voting power with respect to 546,620 shares
and sole dispositive power with respect to 549,265 shares. |
2
The business address of Mr. Keithley is 28775 Aurora Road,
Cleveland, Ohio 44139. The address for Barclays Global
Investors, N.A. is 45 Fremont Street, San Francisco,
California 94105. The address for The TCW Group, Inc. is 865
South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California 90017. The
address for Bank of America Corporation is 100 North Tryon
Street, Floor 25, Bank of America Corporate Center,
Charlotte, North Carolina 28255.
Security Ownership of Management
The beneficial ownership of Common Shares and Class B
Common Shares by each of the Companys Directors, nominees
for Director, each of the Companys executive officers
named in the Summary Compensation Table and by all executive
officers and Directors of the Company as a group on
December 13, 2005, is set forth in the table below:
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Class B | |
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Common Shares | |
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Common Shares(1) | |
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Number of | |
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Number of | |
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Percentage | |
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Shares | |
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Shares | |
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of Total | |
Name and Address of |
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Beneficially | |
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Percent | |
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Beneficially | |
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Percent | |
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Voting | |
Beneficial Owner |
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Owned(2) | |
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of Class | |
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Owned | |
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of Class | |
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Power | |
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Brian R. Bachman
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75,479 |
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* |
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James T. Bartlett
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90,388 |
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James B. Griswold
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70,696 |
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* |
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Leon J. Hendrix, Jr.
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121,527 |
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Brian J. Jackman
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12,539 |
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* |
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Joseph P. Keithley
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554,386 |
(3) |
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3.7 |
% |
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2,130,878 |
(4) |
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99.1 |
% |
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60.2 |
% |
Dr. N. Mohan Reddy
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52,314 |
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Thomas A. Saponas
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Barbara V. Scherer
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20,936 |
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R. Elton White
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71,180 |
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Mark A. Hoersten
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118,298 |
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John A. Pesec
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139,261 |
(5) |
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1.0 |
% |
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Mark J. Plush
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198,727 |
(6) |
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1.4 |
% |
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Linda C. Rae
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157,801 |
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1.1 |
% |
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All executive officers and Directors as a group (18 persons)
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2,063,377 |
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12.8 |
% |
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2,130,878 |
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99.1 |
% |
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62.2 |
% |
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(1) |
Pursuant to the Companys Amended Articles of
Incorporation, all holders of Class B Common Shares are
entitled to convert any or all of their Class B Common
Shares into Common Shares at any time, on a share-for-share
basis. |
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(2) |
Includes Common Shares represented by options exercisable on or
before February 11, 2006 by Brian R. Bachman
(60,000 shares), James T. Bartlett (60,000 shares),
James B. Griswold (40,000 shares), Leon J.
Hendrix, Jr. (80,000 shares), Brian J. Jackman
(10,000 shares), Joseph P. Keithley (501,500 shares),
Dr. N. Mohan Reddy (45,000 shares), Barbara V. Scherer
(20,000 shares), R. Elton White (40,000 shares), Mark
A. Hoersten (116,700 shares) John A. Pesec
(132,250 shares), Mark J. Plush (158,854 shares),
Linda C. Rae (157,000 shares), and all officers and
Directors as a group (1,757,429 shares). Such shares are
deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the
percentage of shares outstanding owned by each of the
individuals and all officers and Directors as a group and their
percentage of total voting power of the Companys capital
stock, respectively, but are not deemed outstanding for the
purpose of computing the percentage of shares held by or total
voting power of any other person. Also includes restricted
shares that are subject to certain vesting requirements for
Mr. Keithley (6,540 shares), Mr. Plush
(6,912 shares), and all officers and Directors as a group
(21,874). Includes shares held under the Keithley Instruments,
Inc. 1996 Outside Directors Deferred |
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Stock Plan for the benefit of Mr. Bachman
(12,543 shares), Mr. Bartlett (29,452 shares),
Mr. Griswold (28,760 shares), Mr. Hendrix
(30,591 shares), Mr. Jackman (1,603 shares),
Dr. Reddy (6,378), and Mr. White (30,244 shares),
as to which such persons do not have current voting rights. |
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(3) |
Includes 2,448 shares owned by Mr. Keithleys
wife. Mr. Keithley disclaims beneficial ownership with
respect to the shares owned by his wife. |
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(4) |
Includes 1,954,816 shares owned by a partnership of which
Mr. Keithley serves as the general partner, and
46,062 shares owned by a trust of which Mr. Keithley
serves as the co-trustee. |
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(5) |
Includes eight shares owned by Mr. Pesecs wife.
Mr. Pesec disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to
the shares owned by his wife. |
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(6) |
Includes 1,251 shares owned by Mr. Plushs son
and 36,482 Common Shares represented by options exercisable on
or before February 11, 2006 for Mr. Plushs
former wife. Mr. Plush may exercise the options solely upon
the direction of his former wife who is entitled to the shares
issued upon exercise. Mr. Plush disclaims beneficial
ownership with respect to the options held for the benefit of
his former wife. |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
requires Keithleys executive officers, Directors and
persons who own more than 10% of Keithleys common shares
to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. These persons are required
to provide the Company with copies of all Section 16(a)
forms that they file. Based solely on the Companys review
of these forms and written representations from the executive
officers and Directors, the Company believes that all
Section 16(a) filing requirements were met during fiscal
year 2005.
PROPOSAL ONE: TO FIX THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS AT TEN
The Companys Code of Regulations provides that the number
of Directors shall be fixed by the shareholders at no fewer than
three. The number of Directors is currently fixed at nine. It is
expected that two current Directors will retire within the next
two years, and the Board believes that it is desirable to elect
a new Director at this time in order to provide continuity.
Therefore, the Board believes it desirable to increase the Board
to ten members.
Under the Companys Code of Regulations, the affirmative
vote of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of the
Company represented at the meeting is required for approval.
The Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders
vote FOR this proposal.
PROPOSAL TWO: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the Annual Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement
thereof, Common Shares and Class B Common Shares
represented by proxies, unless otherwise specified, will be
voted for the election as Directors of the ten persons named
below who have been nominated by the Board of Directors
following the recommendation of the Boards Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee.
Each of the Directors to be elected at the meeting is to serve
until the next Annual Meeting and until his successor shall have
been duly elected and qualified. Pursuant to the Companys
Amended Articles of Incorporation (the Articles),
one-fourth (calculated to the nearest whole number) of the
number of authorized Directors, is entitled to be elected by the
Common Shares voting separately as a class. If Proposal One
is approved the number of Directors will be fixed at ten and
three Directors will be elected by the holders of the Common
Shares. Messrs. Bachman, Jackman and Reddy have been
nominated as the Directors to be so elected by the holders of
the Common Shares of the Company. If Proposal One does not
pass the holders of the Common Shares will be entitled to elect
two Directors. The remaining seven nominees are to be elected by
the holders of the Common Shares and the Class B Common
Shares voting together. The three nominees (or two nominees if
Proposal One does not pass) receiving the greatest number of
votes of the Common Shares voting separately as a class, and the
seven other nominees receiving the greatest number of
4
votes of the Common Shares and the Class B Common Shares
voting together without regard to class, will be elected as
Directors.
Each of the nominees, with the exception of Mr. Saponas, is
presently a member of the Board of Directors and each has
indicated his willingness to serve as a Director, if elected. If
any nominee at the time of election is unable or unwilling to
serve or is otherwise unavailable for election (which
contingency is not now contemplated or foreseen), it is intended
that the shares represented by proxies will be voted for the
election of any substitute nominee that may be named by the
Board of Directors.
Nominees for Election
Set forth below is certain information, as of December 13,
2005, with respect to each person nominated for election as a
Director.
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Name and Age of Nominee |
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Business Experience |
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Director Since | |
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Joseph P. Keithley
Age 56
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Chairman of the Board of the Company since 1991, Chief Executive
Officer since November 1993 and President since May 1994.
Director of Brush Engineered Materials Inc., which through its
subsidiaries supplies beryllium-containing products and other
engineered materials for end-use applications within the
worldwide telecommunications and computer, automotive
electronics, industrial components, optical media, aerospace,
defense and appliance markets, and Director of Nordson
Corporation, a worldwide producer of precision dispensing
equipment and manufacturer of technology-based systems for
curing and surface treatment processes.
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1986 |
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Brian R. Bachman (1)
Age 60
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Private Investor. From 2000 to 2002, Mr. Bachman served as
the Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Axcelis
Technologies, a worldwide producer of ion implantation, dry
strip and photostabilization equipment used in the fabrication
of semiconductors. He was also Senior Vice President and Group
Executive of Semiconductor Equipment and Specialty Controls of
Eaton Corporation from 1996 to 2000, and Vice President of
Standard Products Business Group of Philips Semiconductor, a
worldwide semiconductor manufacturer for Philips Electronics
N.V. from 1991 through 1995. Director of Kulicke and Soffa
Industries Inc., a leading supplier of wire bonding equipment in
the semiconductor assembly market, and Director of Ultra Clean
Technologies, a developer and supplier of critical subsystems
for the semiconductor capital equipment industry, focusing on
gas delivery systems.
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1996 |
|
5
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|
Name and Age of Nominee |
|
Business Experience |
|
Director Since | |
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| |
James T. Bartlett
Age 68
|
|
Advising Director since 2002, and Managing Director from 1986 to
2002, of Primus Venture Partners Inc., the manager of Primus
Capital Fund and Primus Capital Funds II, III, IV and V,
venture capital limited partnerships. Director of
Lamson & Sessions Co., a provider of products for the
construction and telecommunications industries.
|
|
|
1983 |
|
|
James B. Griswold (2)
Age 59
|
|
Partner in the law firm of Baker & Hostetler LLP since
1982 concentrating in the areas of mergers and acquisitions,
venture capital, financing business negotiations, and assisting
entrepreneurs and high-growth companies.
|
|
|
1989 |
|
|
Leon J. Hendrix, Jr.
Age 64
|
|
Chairman of the Board of Remington Arms Co. since 1997, a
manufacturer and marketer of firearms and ammunition. Principal,
Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc., a private investment
firm, from 1993 to 2000. Chief Operating Officer of Reliance
Electric Company from 1992 to 1993, Executive Vice President of
Reliance from 1989 to 1992 and Vice President of Corporate
Development of Reliance from 1987 to 1989. Reliance Electric is
now a part of Rockwell Automation, a worldwide provider of
industrial automation power, control and information solutions.
Director of NACCO Industries, Inc., a holding company with
subsidiaries that manufacture lift trucks and household
electrical appliances, mine and market lignite coal and operate
specialty retail stores, and Director of Cambrex Corp., a
provider of products and services to the life sciences
industries. Chairman of Clemson University Board of Trustees.
|
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1990 |
|
6
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|
Name and Age of Nominee |
|
Business Experience |
|
Director Since | |
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| |
Brian J. Jackman (1)
Age 64
|
|
President, The Jackman Group, Inc., a management consulting
organization formed in 2005. From 1998 until his retirement in
2001, Mr. Jackman served as President, Global Systems and
Technology of Tellabs, Inc., which designs, deploys and services
optical networking, broadband access and voice-quality
enhancement equipment for the telecommunications industry. He
also served as Tellabs President of Operations from 1993
to 1998, and held various sales and marketing positions during
his tenure. Prior to joining Tellabs, Mr. Jackman held
various systems, sales and marketing positions with IBM
Corporation, which manufactures and markets advanced information
processing products, including computer and microelectronic
technology, software and networking systems. Director of PCTEL,
Inc., a leading supplier of products which simplify mobile
connectivity, and Open
Texttm
Corporation, a provider of Enterprise Content
Management solutions for global organizations. He also serves on
the Board of Gannon University.
|
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2005 |
|
|
Dr. N. Mohan Reddy (1)
Age 52
|
|
Associate Professor of Marketing since 1991 and Keithley
Professor of Technology Management since 1996 at the Weatherhead
School of Management, Case Western Reserve University.
Consultant to firms in the electronics, semiconductor and
telecommunications industries on commercializing new
technologies and marketing strategy implementation. Director of
Brush Engineered Materials, Inc., which through its subsidiaries
supplies beryllium-containing products and other engineered
materials for end-use applications within the worldwide
telecommunications and computer, automotive electronics,
industrial components, optical media, aerospace, defense and
appliance markets.
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2001 |
|
7
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|
Name and Age of Nominee |
|
Business Experience |
|
Director Since | |
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|
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| |
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Thomas A. Saponas
Age 56
|
|
Private Investor. Mr. Saponas served as the Senior Vice
President and Chief Technology Officer of Agilent Technologies,
Inc. from August 1999 until he retired in October 2003. Prior to
Agilents spin-off from Hewlett-Packard, Saponas was Vice
President and General Manager of Hewlett-Packards
Electronic Instruments Group from June 1998 to April 1999.
Mr. Saponas joined Hewlett-Packard in 1972 and held a
number of other positions prior to those listed. Director of
Procera Networks, a global provider of networking infrastructure
equipment.
|
|
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|
|
|
Barbara V. Scherer
Age 49
|
|
Senior Vice President Finance & Administration and
Chief Financial Officer of Plantronics, Inc. since 1998. Vice
President Finance & Administration and Chief Financial
Officer from 1997 to 1998. Plantronics is the leading provider
of headsets to telephone companies and the business community
worldwide. Prior to joining Plantronics, Ms. Scherer held
various executive management positions spanning eleven years in
the disk drive industry, was an employee with The Boston
Consulting Group and was a member of the corporate finance team
at ARCO.
|
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2004 |
|
|
R. Elton White
Age 63
|
|
Private Investor. President of NCR Corporation from 1991 to
1993, Executive Vice President of Marketing of NCR from 1990 to
1991, and Executive Vice President of the United States Group
from 1987 to 1990. Director of Kohls Corporation, which
owns specialty department stores.
|
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|
1994 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Elected by holders of Common Shares only. |
|
(2) |
Baker & Hostetler LLP served as general outside legal
counsel to the Company during the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2005 and is expected to render services in
such capacity to the Company in the future. |
INFORMATION REGARDING MEETINGS AND
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors held five meetings during the fiscal year
ended September 30, 2005. During that fiscal year no
Director attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of
(i) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors
held during the period he or she served as a Director and
(ii) the total number of meetings held by committees of the
Board on which he or she served, during the periods that he or
she served.
The Company has not established a formal policy regarding
director attendance at the Companys annual meeting of
shareholders. However, the annual meeting has generally been
scheduled on the same day as a regular board meeting. All of the
Companys Directors attended the 2005 annual
shareholders meeting.
The Company has five standing committees: the Executive
Committee, the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Human
Resources Committee, the Strategy Committee, and the Nominating
and
8
Corporate Governance Committee. Each of these committees has a
written charter approved by the Board of Directors. The Board of
Directors has also adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines. A
copy of the charters for the Audit Committee, Compensation and
Human Resources Committee and Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee and the Corporate Governance Guidelines can
be found under the Investor Relations section of our
website at www.keithley.com and are also available in print to
any shareholder who submits a request to the Company
c/o Marcia Miller, Keithley Instruments, Inc., 28775 Aurora
Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44139. Additionally, a copy of the charter
for the Audit Committee is attached hereto as Appendix A.
Set forth below is the current membership of each committee of
the Board, with the number of meetings held during the fiscal
year ended September 30, 2005, in parentheses.
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Nominating and |
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Compensation and |
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|
|
Corporate |
Executive Committee |
|
Audit Committee |
|
Human Resources |
|
Strategy Committee |
|
Governance |
(one) |
|
(seven) |
|
Committee (five) |
|
(four) |
|
Committee (three) |
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Joseph P. Keithley (Chairman)
|
|
R. Elton White (Chairman)
|
|
Brian R. Bachman (Chairman)
|
|
Dr. N. Mohan Reddy (Chairman)
|
|
James T. Bartlett (Chairman)
|
James T. Bartlett
|
|
James T. Bartlett
|
|
Leon J. Hendrix, Jr.
|
|
Brian R. Bachman
|
|
Brian R. Bachman
|
Leon J. Hendrix, Jr.
|
|
Dr. N. Mohan Reddy
|
|
Brian J. Jackman
|
|
James T. Bartlett
|
|
Leon J. Hendrix, Jr.
|
|
|
Barbara V. Scherer
|
|
Barbara V. Scherer
|
|
James B. Griswold
|
|
Brian J. Jackman
|
|
|
|
|
R. Elton White
|
|
Leon J. Hendrix, Jr.
|
|
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Brian J. Jackman
|
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Joseph P. Keithley
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Barbara V. Scherer
|
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R. Elton White
|
|
|
The Board has determined that all of the Directors, except for
Messrs. Keithley and Griswold, are independent
directors within the meaning of New York Stock Exchange
listing standards. All of the member of the Boards Audit
Committee, Compensation and Human Resources Committee and
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are independent
directors.
The non-management directors meet in executive session without
management during each board meeting. The non-management
directors have appointed R. Elton White to preside over
these executive sessions.
The Executive Committee is authorized to exercise all of the
powers of the Board of Directors between meetings of the Board
of Directors. All actions of the Executive Committee are
reported to the Board of Directors at its first meeting
following such action or actions.
The Audit Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in
overseeing (i) the integrity of the financial statements of
the Company, (ii) the Companys compliance with legal
and regulatory requirements, (iii) the Companys
independent registered public accounting firms
qualifications and independence, and (iv) the performance
of the Companys internal audit function and independent
registered public accounting firm. The Board has determined that
the Audit Committee financial experts within the
meaning of Item 401 of
Regulation S-K
under the federal securities laws, are Mr. White,
Mr. Bartlett and Ms. Scherer.
The Compensation and Human Resources Committee responsibilities
are to review and approve the goals and objectives relevant to
the compensation of the Companys Chief Executive Officer,
other executive officers and other employees who report to the
Companys Chief Executive Officer, and to amend these goals
and objectives if the Committee deems it appropriate. Toward
that end, the committee oversees all compensation, equity and
employee benefit plans and payments. The Committee is also
responsible for periodically evaluating compensation for members
of the Board of Directors and its committees and to review and
approve changes in compensation and plans relating to director
compensation.
The Strategy Committee is responsible for ensuring that
management has in place strategies and action plans as well as
useful planning and control systems to enable the Company to
meet its objectives.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible
for assisting the Board of Directors in identifying individuals
qualified to become Board members; to recommend board committee
9
structure, membership and operations; to develop and recommend
to the Board a set of effective corporate governance policies
and procedures; and to lead the Board in its annual review of
the Boards performance.
The charter of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
provides that the Committee shall make recommendations to the
Board regarding director nominations, including director
candidates recommended by shareholders. If a shareholders wishes
to recommend a candidate, they should send their recommendation,
with a description of the candidates qualifications, to:
Chairman, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee,
c/o Marcia Miller, Keithley Instruments, Inc.,
28775 Aurora Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44139. The Committee has
not established specific minimum qualifications a candidate must
have in order to be recommended by the Committee. However, in
determining qualifications for new directors, the Committee will
periodically establish and review Board succession plans,
establish the experience and attributes needed to fulfill its
responsibilities and work with the Chief Executive Officer to
identify managements needs for advice and counsel. A
director candidate pool will be established from recommendations
from shareholders and the Board of Directors. Additionally, the
Nominating and Governance Committee is supplementing this pool
through the retention of a board search consultant, which will
identify and recruit potential directors. Mr. Saponas was
recommended to the Nominating and Governance Committee by the
board search consultant.
For fiscal year 2005, directors who were not employees of the
Company received an annual fee of $10,000 paid in five
installments. Directors received an additional $1,000 for each
Board meeting attended and, unless Chairman of a committee, $750
for each committee meeting attended, except for Executive
Committee meetings for which no additional fees are paid. The
Audit Committee Chairman was paid $2,500 for presiding as
Chairman at a committee meeting. The Compensation and Human
Resources Committee Chairman was paid $1,500 for presiding as
Chairman at a committee meeting. The Strategy Committee and
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chairmen were paid
$1,250 for presiding as Chairman at a committee meeting.
Additionally, under the 1997 Directors Stock Option
Plan, non-employee Directors were automatically granted an
option to purchase 10,000 Common Shares at the close of
each annual meeting of shareholders. The exercise price for each
option was the fair market value of a Common Share on the date
such option is granted as defined by the Plan. The Board of
Directors could, in its sole discretion, grant additional
options under the Plan for newly elected nonemployee Directors.
The 1997 Directors Stock Option Plan would have
expired by its terms on February 15, 2007; however, the
Board of Directors terminated this Plan on December 8, 2005.
Beginning October 1, 2005, the Compensation and Human
Resources Committee of the Board of Directors approved a new
outside-Director compensation program. Under the new program,
Directors who are not employees of the Company receive an annual
fee of $20,000 paid in four installments. Directors receive an
additional $1,000 for each board meeting attended and each
committee meeting attended, except for Audit Committee meetings
where each Director receives $1,500 for his or her attendance.
Furthermore, the Audit Committee Chairman receives an additional
annual fee of $10,000 paid in four installments, while the
Compensation and Human Resources Committee Chairman, the
Strategy Committee Chairman, and the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee Chairman receive an additional annual fee
of $5,000 paid in four installments. Directors may defer their
fees under the Keithley Instruments, Inc. 1996 Outside Directors
Deferred Stock Plan. Additionally, under the Keithley
Instruments Inc. 2002 Stock Incentive Plan, each non-employee
Director receives an annual Common Share grant equal to $58,000.
The Common Shares are issued on a quarterly basis. New
outside-Directors will receive a restricted stock grant worth
$75,000 at the time of his or her appointment, which will vest
over a 3-year period.
Effective October 1, 2005, the board adopted a stock
ownership guideline pursuant to which directors will hold
$100,000 worth of Common Shares in the Company. It is expected
that the Companys Directors will achieve this ownership
level within the next four years, or in the case of new
Directors, within four years of their election.
CODE OF ETHICS
The Company has a Code of Ethics that applies to all employees,
executive officers and Directors of the Company, including the
Companys principal executive officer, principal financial
officer and principal
10
accounting officer. The Code of Ethics includes provisions
covering compliance with laws and regulations, insider trading
practices, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, protection
and proper use of Company assets, accounting and recordkeeping,
fair competition and fair dealing, business gifts and
entertainment, payments to government personnel, and the
reporting of illegal or unethical behavior. The Code of Ethics
is posted on the Companys website and is available in
print to any shareholder submitting a request to the Company
c/o Marcia Miller, Keithley Instruments, Inc., 28775 Aurora
Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44139. Any waiver of any provision of the
code granted to an executive officer or Director may only be
made by the Board of Directors or a Committee of the Board
authorized to do so and will be promptly disclosed on the
Companys website at www.keithley.com.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND RELATED INFORMATION
Compensation and Human Resources Committee Report
The Companys Board of Directors has delegated to the
Compensation and Human Resources Committee (the
Committee) the responsibility of evaluating and
establishing the amounts of compensation paid to officers. The
Committee is composed entirely of outside Directors.
The guiding philosophy of the Companys executive
compensation program is to attract, motivate, develop and retain
highly qualified leaders to direct and grow the Company. The
guideline for compensation of officers is that, in general, it
should be between 80% and 120% of median compensation for
similar positions at peer companies as determined by the
Committees independent compensation consultant.
The compensation for each officer is set based upon independent
benchmark data from the Committees compensation
consultant. The consultant provides current information on the
range of compensation paid to individuals who hold similar
positions or have similar responsibilities within companies or
divisions of companies of similar size in the electronics
industry. Some of these companies are in the S&P Information
Technology Sector Index used in the performance graph on
page 16. We specifically benchmark data on base salaries,
short-term incentives, and long-term incentives, as well as
emerging trends in the mix and character of the compensation
elements.
The current program provides for a salary that is based upon
individual responsibility and performance, an annual bonus that
is based upon the attainment of corporate performance goals, and
long-term incentives in the form of equity.
The annual bonus paid to each officer is determined as follows.
The Committee, based on independent benchmark data determines a
target bonus to be paid annually. A mix of corporate financial
measures are established each year as performance goals, from
which a payout schedule is established. The performance measures
for 2005 are Return on Assets and Sales Growth. The actual
performance goals and the target bonus levels are set by the
Board Compensation Committee to reflect marketplace conditions
together with an expectation of continuous improvement.
Non-qualified Stock Options (NQSOs) have been used to provide
long-term incentives to officers and other key employees based
upon competitive market practices. Generally, options vest in
four years, expire in ten years, and have an option price equal
to the market price at the time of grant. Beginning in fiscal
year 2006, Performance Award Units will be a primary long-term
incentive program for officers going forward. The performance
awards agreements provide for the award of performance units
with each unit representing the right to receive one share of
the Companys common shares to be issued after the
applicable award period. The award vests over a
3-year performance
period, based on revenue growth relative to the Companys
peers and return on assets or return on invested capital. The
final amount of units earned pursuant to an award may range from
a maximum of twice the initial award, as specified in the
agreement, to a minimum of no units depending upon the level of
attainment of performance threshold based upon return on assets
or return on invested capital. NQSOs will continue to be used to
provide a long-term stake in increasing shareholder value.
Finally, Restricted Shares are used for retention of other key
employees, and generally will have a
4-year vesting period.
The mix of equity incentives was established to meet the
objectives of focusing on growth relative to our peers while
earning our cost of capital through the business cycle,
retaining key employees, and
11
continuing to align our awards with shareholder interests, while
limiting the potential dilution of such programs.
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer Compensation |
The Compensation and Human Resources Committee determined
Mr. Keithleys compensation for fiscal 2005 based upon
a number of criteria. The Committee considered compensation for
CEOs from the independent benchmark data, and the performance of
the Company in sales and level of profits. In addition, the
Committees assessment of Mr. Keithleys
performance relative to his annual individual performance
objectives, which are mutually set at the beginning of each
year, is the basis for establishing his compensation level. In
2004, the Committee specifically recognized
Mr. Keithleys superior performance in developing
leaders and an effective organization, the organizational
commitment to superior long term growth through new product
innovation, operational excellence, and a clear focus on
superior profitability.
Mr. Keithleys annual salary was increased by three
percent in January 2005. Mr. Keithleys base salary is
comparable to others in equivalent positions in the electronics
industry. Mr. Keithley received a bonus for fiscal 2005 of
$109,481, based upon the Companys performance measured by
sales growth and return on assets goals. Mr. Keithley did
not receive a stock option grant during fiscal 2005, as the
Company changed its long-term incentive program to issue its
equity-based compensation awards at the beginning of its fiscal
year.
Compensation and Human Resources Committee
Brian R. Bachman, Chairman
R. Elton White
Brian Jackman
Leon J. Hendrix
Barbara Scherer
Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers of the
Company. Pursuant to an employment agreement which was
entered into on April 7, 1994, Mr. Plush is required
to be compensated at the rate of at least $109,800 per
year. Mr. Plushs agreement initially covered a
three-year period and is automatically renewable for one-year
periods thereafter.
Retirement Plan. The Companys United States pension
plan provides retirement benefits to eligible participants who
terminate employment at or after age 65, or who terminate
employment before age 65 with at least five years of
service. Benefits commence after termination of employment, but
generally not before age 55. Retirement benefits are
computed on the basis of pension credits for each year of the
employees service. Generally, an employees pension
credits will be equal to the sum of (i) 0.9% of the
employees high five-year average annual compensation, not
in excess of the employees Social Security covered
compensation (as defined by Section 401(I)(5)(E) of
the Internal Revenue Code) as of September 30, 1999, plus
1.5% of such average annual compensation in excess of
covered compensation, with such sum multiplied by
the employees years of credited service (up to
30 years) through September 30, 1999; plus
(ii) 1.2% of the employees annual compensation for
each plan year beginning on or after October 1, 1999. The
employees annual retirement benefit, when paid as a life
annuity commencing at age 65, will equal the total of the
pension credits he has earned. If the individuals listed in the
compensation table were to continue to be employees until their
attainment of age 65 at the rate of compensation they
received during fiscal 2005, their annual retirement benefits
would be as follows: Mr. Keithley, $93,100; Ms. Rae,
$82,700; Mr. Plush, $66,600; Mr. Pesec, $79,800, and
Mr. Hoersten, $85,700.
12
The following table sets forth information concerning the
compensation of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and
the four most highly compensated executive officers of the
Company as of September 30, 2005, for the fiscal years
ended September 30, 2005, 2004 and 2003.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
|
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Long-Term | |
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|
Compensation | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Compensation | |
|
Awards | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
Other | |
|
Securities | |
|
All Other | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual | |
|
Underlying | |
|
Compensation | |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
Salary ($) | |
|
Bonus ($) | |
|
Compensation(1) | |
|
Options (#) | |
|
($)(2) | |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Joseph P. Keithley
|
|
2005 |
|
$ |
409,000 |
|
|
$ |
109,481 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
6,388 |
|
|
Chairman of the Board,
|
|
2004 |
|
$ |
390,000 |
|
|
$ |
587,774 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
70,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,242 |
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
2003 |
|
$ |
379,584 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,185 |
|
Linda C. Rae (3)
|
|
2005 |
|
$ |
229,996 |
|
|
$ |
42,033 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
6,617 |
|
|
Senior Vice President and
|
|
2004 |
|
$ |
212,500 |
|
|
$ |
230,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
41,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,960 |
|
|
General Manager
|
|
2003 |
|
$ |
187,250 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,068 |
|
Mark J. Plush
|
|
2005 |
|
$ |
238,112 |
|
|
$ |
30,313 |
|
|
$ |
27,494 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
6,367 |
|
|
Vice President and
|
|
2004 |
|
$ |
221,500 |
|
|
$ |
189,863 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,145 |
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
2003 |
|
$ |
219,875 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,173 |
|
John A. Pesec
|
|
2005 |
|
$ |
217,560 |
|
|
$ |
39,718 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
6,274 |
|
|
Vice President Worldwide
|
|
2004 |
|
$ |
210,000 |
|
|
$ |
175,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,000 |
|
|
Sales and Support
|
|
2003 |
|
$ |
205,000 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,983 |
|
Mark A. Hoersten (4)
|
|
2005 |
|
$ |
192,993 |
|
|
$ |
22,287 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
6,218 |
|
|
Vice President Business
|
|
2004 |
|
$ |
190,000 |
|
|
$ |
139,596 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,852 |
|
|
Management
|
|
2003 |
|
$ |
181,000 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,715 |
|
|
|
(1) |
The amount shown for Mr. Plush in 2005 includes $10,000 for
personal use of a Company car, $8,481 for life insurance
premiums paid on his behalf, $7,690 for personal financial
planning services, with the remainder paid for health club dues. |
|
(2) |
Consists of matching contributions under the Companys
Retirement Savings Trust and Plan. |
|
(3) |
Ms. Rae was appointed Senior Vice President and General
Manager effective May 7, 2003. The compensation information
shown for fiscal year 2003 includes the entire fiscal year. |
|
(4) |
Mr. Hoersten was appointed Vice President Business
Management effective May 7, 2003. The compensation
information shown for fiscal year 2003 includes the entire
fiscal year. |
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
None.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND
FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities | |
|
Value of Unexercised | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying Unexercised | |
|
in-the-money | |
|
|
Shares | |
|
|
|
Options at | |
|
Options at | |
|
|
Acquired | |
|
Value | |
|
September 30, 2005 (#) | |
|
September 30, 2005 ($) | |
|
|
on Exercise | |
|
Realized | |
|
| |
|
| |
Name |
|
(#) | |
|
($) | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Joseph P. Keithley
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
501,500 |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
392,244 |
|
|
|
21,000 |
|
Linda C. Rae
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
157,000 |
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
89,378 |
|
|
|
6,300 |
|
Mark J. Plush
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
158,854 |
(1) |
|
|
7,175 |
|
|
|
14,997 |
|
|
|
6,027 |
|
John A. Pesec
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
132,250 |
|
|
|
6,750 |
|
|
|
229,698 |
|
|
|
5,670 |
|
Mark A. Hoersten
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
116,700 |
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
40,033 |
|
|
|
6,300 |
|
13
|
|
(1) |
Includes 36,482 exercisable options for Mr. Plushs
former wife. Mr. Plush may exercise the options solely upon
the direction of his former wife who is entitled to the shares
issued upon exercise. Mr. Plush disclaims beneficial
ownership with respect to the options held for the benefit of
his former wife. |
Audit Committee Report
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with
Keithleys management and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the
audited consolidated financial statements of Keithley contained
in the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
2005 fiscal year. The Audit Committee has also discussed with
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the matters required to be discussed
pursuant to SAS No. 61, as amended by Statement on Auditing
Standards No. 90, (Codification of Statements on Auditing
Standards, AU Section 380), which includes, among other
items, matters related to the conduct of the audit of
Keithleys financial statements.
The Audit Committee has received and reviewed the written
disclosures and the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1
(Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), and has
discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP its independence from
Keithley.
In addition, the Audit Committee, in consultation with
management, the independent registered public accounting firm
and the internal auditors, has reviewed managements report
on internal control over financial reporting as of
September 30, 2005 and the independent registered public
accounting firms attestation report (which are required
pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002),
and has considered the effectiveness of the Companys
internal control over financial reporting.
Based on these reviews and discussions referred to above, the
Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the
audited consolidated financial statements be included in
Keithleys Annual Report on
Form 10-K for its
2005 fiscal year for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Audit Committee
R. Elton White, Chairman
James T. Bartlett
Dr. N. Mohan Reddy
Barbara V. Scherer
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has served as the
Companys independent registered public accounting firm
since 1958. The following table shows the fees billed to the
Company from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for professional
services rendered for the fiscal years ended September 30,
2005 and 2004:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal 2005 | |
|
Fiscal 2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Audit Fees
|
|
$ |
737,000 |
|
|
$ |
371,708 |
|
Audit-Related Fees
|
|
|
29,500 |
|
|
|
22,900 |
|
Tax Fees
|
|
|
173,500 |
|
|
|
125,100 |
|
All Other Fees
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$ |
943,000 |
|
|
$ |
522,708 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees related to fiscal 2005 are comprised of the services as
described in the following items:
Audit Fees consist of fees billed for professional
services rendered for the audit of Keithley Instruments,
Inc.s consolidated financial statements, the audit of the
Companys internal control over financial reporting as
required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Section 404,
review of the interim
14
consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports,
and services that are normally provided by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in connection with statutory and
regulatory filings or engagements.
Audit-Related Fees consist of fees billed for
professional services related to the audits of the
Companys United States pension plan and retirement savings
and trust plan.
Tax Fees consist of fees billed for professional
services for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning for the
Companys subsidiaries and sales offices in various tax
jurisdictions throughout the world.
All Other Fees consist of licensing fees for an
accounting research database maintained by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
A representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is expected to be
present at the Annual Meeting, and he will have an opportunity
to make a statement if he so desires. The representative will
also be available to respond to appropriate questions from
shareholders.
Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and
Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm
The Audit Committee pre-approves, on an individual basis, all
audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the
independent registered public accounting firm. These services
may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services
and other services. Pre-approval is generally provided for up to
one year and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular
service or category of services and is generally subject to a
specific budget. The independent registered public accounting
firm and management are required to periodically report to the
Audit Committee regarding the extent of services provided by the
independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with
this pre-approval, and the fees for the services performed to
date.
The Audit Committee has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as
the Companys independent registered public accounting firm
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006.
15
COMPANY STOCK PERFORMANCE
The following performance graph compares the five-year
cumulative return from investing $100 on September 30, 2000
in each of the Companys Common Shares, the Russell 2000
Index and the Standard & Poors Information
Technology Index. The comparison assumes that all dividends are
reinvested.
COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
AMONG KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC., THE RUSSELL 2000 INDEX
AND THE S & P TECHNOLOGY COMPOSITE INDEX
PROPOSAL THREE: TO APPROVE THE COMPANYS
2005 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE AND DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT
PLAN
General
On December 8, 2005, the Board approved, subject to
shareholder approval, the Companys 2005 Employee Stock
Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan, effective as of
June 1, 2005 (the Purchase Plan).
The Company adopted the Purchase Plan to encourage and enable
employees of the Company and its designated subsidiaries to
acquire proprietary interests in the Company through the
ownership of the Companys Common Shares purchased through
accumulated payroll deductions on an after-tax basis. The
Purchase Plan is intended to be an employee stock purchase
plan within the meaning of Code Section 423 and the
provisions of the Purchase Plan will be construed in a manner
consistent with the requirements of such section.
The following summary describes the principal provisions of the
Purchase Plan. The summary does not purport to be complete and
is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Purchase
Plan attached as Appendix B to this Proxy Statement.
16
Description of the Purchase Plan
Under the Purchase Plan, an aggregate of 500,000 Common Shares
(subject to certain adjustments to reflect changes in the
Companys capitalization) may be purchased by eligible
employees that become participants in the Purchase Plan.
All employees of the Company or its designated subsidiaries
other than temporary employees who customarily work
less than 20 hours per week or less than five months per
year are eligible to participate in the Purchase Plan commencing
on the first day of any Subscription Period (defined below)
under the Purchase Plan. While Code Section 423 permits
certain classes of employees to be excluded from participating,
including highly compensated employees, part-time employees
customarily employed 20 hours or less per week, and
temporary employees customarily employed five or fewer months
per year, the Purchase Plan, as proposed, only excludes
part-time and temporary employees. The Companys previous
purchase plan, which was in effect from 1993 until June 30,
2005, contained similar provisions.
The Purchase Plan is to be administered by a committee
consisting of at least two employees, to appointed by the
Companys President.
The term designated subsidiary means each existing
subsidiary and future subsidiaries and parents (if any) that are
designated by the Board of Directors.
No person will be eligible to participate in the Purchase Plan
if such person, immediately after the grant, would own Common
Shares and/or hold options to purchase Common Shares, possessing
five percent or more of the total combined voting power or value
of all classes of Common Shares of the Company or a subsidiary
or parent, or which permits his or her rights to purchase Common
Shares under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company to
accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 in fair market value of
the Common Shares (determined at the time such option is
granted) for each calendar year in which such option is
outstanding.
There shall be at least one subscription period (a
Subscription Period) each and every 12 months
during the term of the Purchase Plan. The duration of each
Subscription Period will be established by the Board of
Directors or a committee thereof. If not otherwise established
by the Board of Directors, the Subscription Period will begin on
July 1 and end the following June 30. The purchase
price per share of the Common Shares subject to an offering will
be 95% of the fair market value of the Common Shares on the
grant date, unless modified by the Board of Directors. However,
in no event may the Board of Directors establish a purchase
price that is less than 85% of the fair market value of the
Common Shares on the grant date (the first day of the indicated
Subscription Period) , or 85% of the fair market value of the
Common Shares on the exercise date (the last day of the
Subscription Period).
An eligible employee may become a participant in the Purchase
Plan by enrolling in the Purchase Plan indicating the amount
they intend to contribute. An eligible employee
may purchase Common Shares through payroll deductions (on an
after-tax basis) from the employees compensation received
each payroll period. Payroll deductions may not be less than
$20 per month or exceed 100% of an employees
compensation. A participant may not increase or decrease the
rate of his or her payroll deductions during a given
Subscription Period but may increase or decrease payroll
deductions for future Subscription Periods. Where payroll deduction
is not available employees
submit their contribution at the end of the plan subscription
period. A participant may cancel his or her election at any time
with respect to any Subscription Period and receive in cash the
cash balance (without interest) then credited to his or her
account.
On each exercise date, the maximum number of Common Shares,
including fractional shares, will be purchased for such
participant at the applicable purchase price with the
accumulated payroll deductions credited to the
participants account. If all or a portion of the Common
Shares cannot reasonably be purchased on such date because of
unavailability or any other reason, such purchase will be made
as soon as thereafter feasible. A participant is entitled to all
rights as a shareholder as soon as the shares are credited to
his or her account.
If a participants continuous service terminates for any
reason, or if a participant ceases to be an eligible employee,
the entire payroll deduction amount of such employee on the
effective date of any such occurrence will be used to purchase
shares as of the next occurring exercise date; but, if a
designated subsidiary is no
17
longer part of the Purchase Plan, the entire payroll deduction
amount credited to a participant who is employed by such
subsidiary will be refunded to such employee. Other rules apply
if a participant is granted a leave of absence or is laid off.
The Board of Directors may at any time and for any reason
terminate, freeze or amend the Purchase Plan. Except as
otherwise described in the Purchase Plan, no termination may
adversely affect any purchase right previously granted and no
amendment may change any purchase right theretofore granted
which adversely affects the rights of any participant. No
amendment will be effective unless approved by the shareholders
of the Company if shareholder approval of such amendment is
required to comply with Code Section 423 or to comply with
any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule.
Neither payroll deductions credited to a participants
account nor any rights with regard to the purchase of or right
to receive Common Shares under the Purchase Plan may be
assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any
way (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or
as otherwise provided in the Purchase Plan) by the participant.
The Purchase Plan is not subject to any of the requirements of
ERISA. The Purchase Plan is not, nor is it intended to be,
qualified under Code Section 401(a).
Because future rights to purchase Common Shares under the
Purchase Plan will be based upon prospective factors, including
the amount of payroll deductions elected by plan-eligible
employees (whether individually, or in the aggregate), actual
rights to purchase Common Shares under the Purchase Plan cannot
be determined at this time.
United States Federal Tax Consequences
The Purchase Plan is intended to qualify as an employee
stock purchase plan under Code Section 423. Neither
the grant of a right to purchase Common Shares under the
Purchase Plan nor the purchase of such Common Shares will have
any immediate federal tax consequence for a participating
employee. If the participating employee does not dispose of the
Common Shares within two years from the date the right to
purchase was granted to him or her or within one year from the
date the Common Shares were purchased, any gain or loss realized
upon the disposition of shares will be treated as long term
capital gain or loss to the participant, provided that where the
purchase price was less than 100% (but not less than 85%) of
fair market value, such participant would realize ordinary
income equal to the lesser of: (i) the amount, if any, by
which the purchase price was exceeded by the fair market value
of the Common Shares at the time the right to purchase was
granted or (ii) the amount, if any, by which the purchase
price was exceeded by the fair market value of the Common Shares
on the date of the disposition or the participants death.
No income tax deduction will be allowed to the Company with
respect to Common Shares purchased under the Purchase Plan by a
participant provided such Common Shares are held for the
required periods. The earlier disposition of the Common Shares
(i.e., a disqualifying disposition) will
result in the lesser of: (i) the excess of the fair market
value of the Common Shares at the time of purchase over the
purchase price; or (ii) the excess of the fair market value
of the Common Shares at the time of disposition over the
purchase price; or (ii) the excess of the fair market value
of the Common Shares at the time of disposition over the
purchase price, being treated as income and taxed at ordinary
income tax rates in the year in which the disposition occurred,
in which case the Company will generally be entitled to a
corresponding deduction.
Required Vote
Approval of the proposed Purchase Plan requires the affirmative
vote of a majority of the votes cast with respect to the
proposal at the Annual Meeting.
The Board of Directors Recommends that Shareholders Vote FOR
the 2005 Employee Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment
Plan.
18
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors of the Company is not aware of any matter
to come before the meeting other than the election of Directors.
However, if other matters shall properly come before the
meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxies
to vote in accordance with their best judgment on such matters.
Any shareholder proposal intended to be presented at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2006 in compliance with
Rule 14a-8
promulgated under the Exchange Act must be received by the
Company at its principal executive offices not later than
August 31, 2006, for inclusion in the Board of
Directors proxy statement and form of proxy relating to
that meeting. The Company will not be required to include in its
proxy statement and form of proxy a shareholder proposal that is
received after that date or which otherwise fails to meet the
requirements for shareholder proposals established by
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In
addition, if a shareholder intends to present a proposal at the
Companys 2007 Annual Meeting without the inclusion of the
proposal in the Companys proxy materials, the appointed
proxies may exercise their discretionary voting authority for
any proposal received after November 14, 2006, without any
discussion of the proposal in the Companys proxy statement.
Shareholders may send written communications to the Board by
mailing them to the Board of Directors, c/o Joseph P.
Keithley, Chairman, Keithley Instruments, Inc., 28775 Aurora
Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44139. All communications will be
forwarded to the Directors.
Upon the receipt of a written request from any shareholder
entitled to vote at the forthcoming Annual Meeting, the Company
will mail, at no charge to the shareholder, a copy of the
Companys Annual Report on
Form 10-K,
including the financial statements and schedules required to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to
Rule 13a-1 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for the
Companys most recent fiscal year. Requests from beneficial
owners of the Companys voting securities must set forth a
good faith representation that as of the record date for the
Annual Meeting, the person making the request was the beneficial
owner of securities entitled to vote at such Annual Meeting.
Written requests for such report should be directed to:
Mark J. Plush
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Keithley Instruments, Inc.
28775 Aurora Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44139
You are urged to sign and return your proxy promptly in order to
make certain your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting.
For your convenience, a return envelope is enclosed requiring no
additional postage if mailed in the United States.
December 29, 2005
19
APPENDIX A
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
CHARTER OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REVISED APRIL 26, 2004
|
|
1. |
Purposes of the Committee |
The purposes of the Audit Committee (the Committee)
of the Board of Directors (the Board) of Keithley
Instruments, Inc. (the Company) are (i) to
assist the Board in overseeing (a) the integrity of the
financial statements of the Company, (b) the Companys
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (c) the
Companys independent auditors qualifications and
independence, and (d) the performance of the Companys
internal audit function and independent auditors; (ii) to
prepare the report required by the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the SEC) to be included in the
Companys annual proxy statement, (iii) to perform an
annual performance review of the Committee, and (iv) to
perform the duties and responsibilities of audit committees set
forth in Rule 10A-3(b)(2)-(5) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.
|
|
2. |
Composition of the Committee |
The Committee shall consist of no fewer than three directors,
each of whom shall be independent, as the term
independent is defined for purposes of applicable
Federal securities laws, the rules of the SEC and the listing
standards of the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE)
or other applicable listing standards. Each Committee member
must meet the financial literacy and experience standards
applicable to him or her under applicable law, SEC rules and
NYSE or other listing standards. No Committee member may serve
on the audit committee of more than three other publicly-traded
companies.
The members of the Committee will be appointed by and serve at
the pleasure of the Board. The Board has the sole authority to
remove Committee members and to fill vacancies on the Committee.
|
|
3. |
Meetings and Procedures of the Committee |
The Committee will meet at least quarterly with the authority to
convene additional meetings as it deems appropriate. The Board
shall designate one member of the Committee as its Chairperson.
The Chairperson of the Committee will preside at each meeting
and will set the agenda of items to be addressed at each
meeting. In setting the agenda, the Chairperson may consult with
other members of the Committee and is encouraged to consult with
the Companys Chief Financial Officer. The Chairperson of
the Committee shall ensure that the agenda for each meeting is
circulated to each Committee member in advance of the meeting.
The Chairperson of the Committee or a majority of the members of
the Committee may call special meetings of the Committee. The
Committee may form subcommittees of not fewer than two members
for any purpose that the Committee deems appropriate and may
delegate to such subcommittees such power and authority as the
Committee deems appropriate.
The Committee may request that any directors, officers or
employees of the Company, or other persons whose advice and
counsel are sought by the Committee, attend any meeting of the
Committee to provide such information as the Committee requests.
The Committee may meet in executive session outside the presence
of the Companys executive officers.
|
|
4. |
Committee Authority and Responsibilities |
The Committee has the following authority and responsibilities:
|
|
|
(a) Approval of Services. The Committee has the sole
authority to engage and, when appropriate, replace, the
Companys independent auditor. The Committee is directly
responsible for the compensation and oversight of the work of
the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements
between management and the auditor regarding financial
reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an |
A-1
|
|
|
audit report or related work or performing other audit, review
or attestation services for the Company. The Committee must
preapprove all auditing services and permitted non-audit
services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed
for the Company by its independent auditor. |
|
|
(b) Review and Discussion Items. The Committee shall
review and discuss: |
|
|
|
|
(i) |
with the internal auditor and the independent auditor,
respectively, in advance of their respective audits, the overall
scope and plans for their audits, including the adequacy of
staffing and other factors that may affect the effectiveness and
timeliness of such audits; in this connection, the Committee
shall discuss with management and the independent auditor the
Companys significant financial reporting exposures, and
with management and the internal auditor, the Companys
significant exposures (financial, operating or otherwise), and
the steps management has taken to monitor and control such
exposures, including the Companys risk assessment and risk
management policies; |
|
|
(ii) |
with management and the independent auditor, the financial
information to be included in the Companys Annual Report
on Form 10-K (or
the annual report to stockholders if distributed prior to the
filing of the
Form 10-K),
including the disclosures under Managements
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations, their judgment about the quality, not just
acceptability, of accounting principles, the reasonableness of
significant judgments, the clarity of the disclosures in the
financial statements, and any significant matters regarding
internal controls over financial reporting that have come to
their attention during the conduct of their audit; in this
connection, the Committee shall discuss the results of the
annual audit and any other matters required to be communicated
to the Committee by the independent auditor under generally
accepted auditing standards, applicable law or listing
standards, including matters required to be discussed by
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended by
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 90, and shall determine
whether to recommend to the Board that the audited financial
statements be included in the Companys
Form 10-K;
|
|
|
(iii) |
with management and the independent auditor, the quarterly
financial information to be included in the Companys
Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q,
including the disclosures under Managements
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations, and any other matters required at the time of
that discussion to be communicated to the Committee by the
independent auditor under generally accepted auditing standards,
applicable law or listing standards; in this connection, the
Committee shall discuss the results of the independent
auditors review of the Companys quarterly financial
information conducted in accordance with Statement on Auditing
Standards No. 100; |
|
|
(iv) |
with the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer
periodically (and at least quarterly), managements
conclusions about the efficacy of the Companys disclosure
controls and procedures, including any significant deficiencies
in the design or operation of such controls and procedures or
material weaknesses therein, and with management and the
independent auditor annually, managements annual internal
control report, including the auditors attestation
thereof, if any; |
|
|
(v) |
with management, at least annually and at such other times as
the Committee considers appropriate, the Companys earnings
press releases, including the use of any pro forma
or adjusted non-GAAP information, and the nature of
financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts
and rating agencies; |
|
|
(vi) |
with the independent auditor, at least annually, any problems or
difficulties the auditor has encountered in connection with the
annual audit or otherwise, including any restrictions on the
scope of its activities or access to required information, any
disagreements with management regarding U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles |
A-2
|
|
|
|
|
(GAAP) or other matters, material adjustments to the
financial statements recommended by the independent auditor, and
adjustments that were proposed but passed,
regardless of materiality; in this connection, the Committee
shall discuss with the independent auditor significant
consultations on matters that otherwise are required
to be disclosed to the audit committee made with the
independent auditors national office, any management
letter issued or proposed to be issued by the auditor, the
Companys response to that letter and the responsibilities
and budget of the Companys financial auditing staff and
the quality and depth of the financial auditing staff; |
|
|
(vii) |
with management, the internal auditor and independent auditor,
at least annually and at such other times as the Committee
considers appropriate, (a) significant issues regarding
accounting principles and financial statement presentations,
including any significant change in the Companys selection
or application of accounting principles, and significant issues
as to the adequacy of the Companys internal controls and
any special audit steps adopted in light of material control
deficiencies, (b) analyses prepared by management or the
independent auditor setting forth significant financial
reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the
preparation of the financial statements, (c) all
alternative treatments of financial information within GAAP that
have been discussed with management, ramifications of the use of
such alternative treatments, and the treatment preferred by the
independent auditor, and (d) the effect of regulatory and
accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures,
on the Companys financial statements and other public
disclosures; |
|
|
(viii) |
with the independent auditor, at least annually, the
auditors periodic reports regarding its independence; |
|
|
(ix) |
with the independent auditor, at least annually, the
auditors performance, including the Committees
evaluation of the auditors lead partner; in conducting
this review, the Committee shall consult with management and the
head of internal audit and obtain and review a report by the
independent auditor describing its internal quality-control
procedures, material issues raised in its most recent internal
quality- control review, or peer review (if applicable), or by
any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional
authorities within the preceding five years, respecting any
independent audit carried out by the independent auditor, and
the response of the independent auditor; |
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(x) |
with the Chief Financial Officer and, if appropriate, the
Companys outside counsel, at least annually and at such
other times as the Committee considers appropriate, material
legal affairs of the Company and the Companys compliance
with applicable law and listing standards; in this connection,
the Committee shall discuss with management (and appropriate
counsel) and the independent auditor any correspondence with, or
other action by, regulators or governmental agencies and any
employee complaints or published reports that raise concerns
regarding the Companys financial statements, accounting or
auditing matters or compliance with the Companys code of
ethics or other standards of conduct; |
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(xi) |
with management, annually, a summary of the Companys
transactions with directors and officers of the Company,
including reimbursement of expenses, and with firms that employ
directors, and any other material related party
transactions; and |
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(xii) |
with the full board, annually, an evaluation of this Charter and
of the Committees performance under this Charter. |
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(c) Reports. The Committee shall report regularly to
the full board with respect to actions taken and matters
discussed by the Committee, including any items that arise with
respect to the quality or integrity of the Companys
financial statements, the Companys compliance with legal
and regulatory requirements, the performance and independence of
the Companys independent auditors, and the performance of
the internal audit function. The Committee shall report annually
to the full Board with |
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respect to the Committees evaluation of this Charter and
the Committees performance thereunder. The Committee shall
be responsible for the preparation of the reports required to be
included in the Companys annual proxy statement with
respect to financial and accounting matters and Committee
actions, and such other reports with respect to those matters as
are required by applicable law, applicable rules of the SEC or
applicable NYSE or other listing standards. |
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(d) Hiring and Complaint Processing Policies and
Procedures. The Committee shall establish (a) policies
for the Companys hiring of employees or former employees
of the independent auditors who have participated in the audit
of the Company, and (b) procedures for (i) the
receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the
Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls and
auditing matters, and (ii) the confidential, anonymous
submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding
accounting or auditing matters. |
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(e) Other Authority and Responsibilities;
Limitation. The Committee will have such additional
authority and responsibilities as may be granted to or imposed
on audit committees from time to time by applicable law, SEC
rules and NYSE or other listing standards, and shall discharge
all of its authority and responsibilities in accordance with all
applicable law, SEC rules and NYSE or other listing standards.
The Committee may conduct or authorize the conduct of such
investigations within the scope of its authority and
responsibilities as it considers appropriate, and may retain, at
the Companys expense, such legal, accounting or other
advisers as the Committee considers necessary or advisable for
the full and faithful execution thereof. |
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In discharging its responsibilities, the Committee is not
responsible for the planning or conduct of audits or for any
determination that the Companys financial statements are
complete and accurate or in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles and applicable rules and regulations.
These matters are the responsibility of management and the
independent auditor. |
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(f) Access to Records. The Committee is entitled to
full access to all books, records, facilities and personnel of
the Company for the purpose of executing its authority and
responsibilities. |
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APPENDIX B
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
2005 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE AND DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT
PLAN
Section I Purpose
This 2005 Employee Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan
(the Plan) is adopted and established by Keithley
Instruments, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the
Company), effective as of June 1, 2005, subject
only to appropriate approval by its shareholders, for the
general benefit of the employees of the Company and certain of
the Companys subsidiary corporations. The purpose of the
Plan is to facilitate the purchase by eligible employees of
common shares, without par value, of Keithley Instruments, Inc.
(Stock). The Plan is intended to meet the
requirements of Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the Code).
Section II Agent
National City Bank, Cleveland, Ohio, is hereby appointed to act
as agent of the Company and of the participants under this Plan
(the Agent).
Section III Eligible
Employees
(a) In General. All employees of the Company, and
all employees of those subsidiary corporations (as defined in
Section 424 of the Code) listed in Attachment A hereto, are
eligible to participate in the Plan, other than temporary
employees of the Company or any such subsidiary corporation who
(i) customarily are employed for less than five
(5) months in any calendar year, or (ii) customarily
work twenty (20) hours or less per week. All individuals
who satisfy the requirements set forth in the preceding sentence
(individually, an Eligible Employee, and
collectively, Eligible Employees) shall be granted
rights to purchase Stock hereunder, so long as they continue to
satisfy such requirements, and shall have the same rights and
privileges as every other such Eligible Employee.
(b) Limitations on Rights. An Eligible Employee
shall not be entitled to purchase Stock under the Plan if
(i) such purchase would cause such Eligible Employee to own
Stock (including any shares of Stock which would be owned if
such Eligible Employee purchased all of the Stock made available
for purchase by such Eligible Employee under all options or
rights then held by such Eligible Employee, whether or not then
exercisable) representing five percent (5%) or more of the total
combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the
Company or any subsidiary corporation; or (ii) such
purchase would cause such Eligible Employee to have rights to
purchase more than $25,000 of Stock under the Plan (and under
all other stock purchase plans of the Company and its subsidiary
corporations which satisfy the requirements of Section 423
of the Code) for any calendar year in which such rights are
outstanding (based on the fair market value of such Stock,
determined as of the commencement date of the Subscription
Period and otherwise in accordance with Section IV(b)
hereof). For purposes of clause (i) of this
subparagraph (b), the attribution rules set forth in
Section 424(d) of the Code and related regulations shall
apply. For purposes of applying the $25,000 limitation of
clause (ii) of this subparagraph (b), the number of
shares of Stock eligible for purchase in one Plan Year may not
be carried over to any other Plan Year; provided, that
the $25,000 limitation will be determined on a calendar year
basis and not a Plan Year basis. In applying the limitation of
clause (ii) of this subparagraph (b), in the event an
option to purchase shares of Stock is outstanding in more than
one calendar year because the Subscription Period extends across
two calendar years, an Eligible Employee shall have the right to
purchase up to $50,000 of Stock under the Plan for such
Subscription Period, but applying such limit first to the first
calendar year in which such option is outstanding and after
taking into account all other stock purchased for such Eligible
Employee hereunder. In the event more than one Subscription
Period is in affect with respect to an Eligible Employee during
the course of a given calendar year, the $25,000 limitation of
clause (ii) of this subparagraph (b) shall be
applied first to that Subscription Period with the earliest
commencement date.
Section IV Enrollment
and Subscription Periods
(a) Enrolling in the Plan. To participate in the
Plan, an Eligible Employee must enroll in the Plan. Enrollment
for a given Plan Year, and for each Subscription Period
commencing during such Plan Year, will
B-1
take place during the Enrollment Period, which shall
consist of no less than a thirty (30)-day period and no greater
than a forty-five (45) day period and be held within the
ninety (90-day period
immediately preceding the commencement of the Subscription
Period to which such Enrollment Period relates. The initial
Enrollment Period shall commence June 1, 2005 and end
June 30, 2005 (inclusive), and apply with respect to the
rights granted under the Plan for the Plan Year commencing
July 1, 2005 (or if later, the effective date of the
registration statement to be filed in accordance with
Section XIX(a) hereof).
(b) The Subscription Period. Any employee who is an
Eligible Employee and desires to subscribe to purchase Stock
under the Plan must make and file with the Company a
subscription agreement that complies with Section VIII
hereof during the applicable Enrollment Period. Such agreement
shall be effective for the subscription period immediately
following such Enrollment Period. There shall be at least one
subscription period (a Subscription Period) each and
every 12 months during the term of this Plan. The duration
of each Subscription Period shall be established by the Board of
Directors of the Company (the Board), or by a
standing committee of the Board as the Boards delegee, but
in any event acting in the Boards (or such delegees)
discretion. If not otherwise established by the Board, the
Subscription Period for a Plan Year shall commence on the first
day of July and ending on the following June 30th.
(c) Changing Enrollment. The offering of Stock under
the Plan shall occur only during a Subscription Period, and
shall be made only to those Eligible Employees properly enrolled
for that Subscription Period. Once enrolled, the Company will
inform the Agent of such fact and those Eligible Employees so
enrolled will thereupon become Participants under
the Plan. Once enrolled, a Participant shall continue to be
eligible to participate in the Plan for each succeeding
Subscription Period until he or she terminates his or her
participation or ceases to be an Eligible Employee. If a
Participant desires to change his or her rate of contribution,
he or she may do so effective for the next Subscription Period
by filing a new authorization for payroll deduction and
subscription agreement with the Company during the Enrollment
Period immediately preceding such Subscription Period.
Section V Term
of Plan
This Plan shall be in effect from the date of its adoption until
it is terminated by action of the Board. The Plan shall be
submitted to the shareholders of the Company for approval as
soon as practical, but in any event not later than
12 months after the date of its adoption by the Board.
Section VI Number
of Shares of Stock to be Made Available
The total number of shares of Stock made available for purchase
by Eligible Employees hereunder is Five Hundred Thousand
(500,000), which may be authorized but unissued shares, treasury
shares, or shares purchased for or on behalf of the Plan in the
open market. When such shares of Stock are fully subscribed, the
Plan shall either be continued through additional authorizations
of shares made by the Board, or shall be terminated in
accordance with Section XVII hereof.
Section VII Subscription
Price
(a) Presumptive Subscription Price. Unless modified
by the Board in accordance with Section VII(b), the
Subscription Price for each share of Stock purchased
for an Eligible Employee during a Subscription Period shall be
95% of the fair market value of the Stock, determined as of the
commencement of such Subscription Period. The fair market value
of the Stock will be determined in accordance with
Section VII(c) hereof.
(b) Modification of Subscription Price. The Board,
in its discretion, may modify the Subscription Price set forth
in Section VII(a) above by written action taken prior to
the beginning of the Subscription Period for which such
modification is to be effective. In the event the Board adopts a
modified Subscription Price, such Subscription Price shall not
be less than the lowest fair market value of a share of such
Stock within the twelve (12) month period immediately
preceding the first day of the applicable Subscription Period,
and shall not be greater than the highest fair market value of a
share of such Stock within the twelve month period immediately
preceding the first day of the applicable Subscription Period.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence to the contrary, in no
event will the Subscription Price of a share of Stock be the
lesser of (i) 85% of the fair market value of a share of
such Stock on the last trading day before the first day of each
Subscription
B-2
Period (which for Plan purposes shall be considered the date the
right to purchase such Stock is granted to, and first
exercisable by a Participant); or (ii) 85% of the fair
market value of such share of such Stock on the last trading day
of such Subscription Period (which for Plan purposes shall be
considered the date each such right to purchase such Stock is
actually exercised).
(c) Determining The Price of Stock. For purposes of
this Section, the fair market value of a share shall be the last
reported sale price on the New York Stock Exchange or such other
stock exchange on which a share of Stock is listed on the day in
question (or if there is no reported sale on that day, on the
most recent previous business day within a period of not more
than five business days).
Section VIII Amount
of Contribution; Method of Payment
(a) Payroll Withholding. Except as otherwise
specifically provided herein, the Subscription Price will be
payable by each Participant by means of payroll withholding.
However, for any Participant not maintained on the
Companys payroll, such Participant shall be entitled to
satisfy the Subscription Price by tendering to the Company (or
its delegee) an amount, by money order or check drawn against an
account with sufficient funds, that satisfies such
Participants Subscription Price. The minimum withholding
shall be equal to twenty dollars ($20.00) per month from a
Participants Base Pay; the maximum withholding shall be an
amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of a
Participants Base Pay (rounded to the nearest dollar),
subject to any applicable tax or other withholding limitations.
In any event, the total withholding permitted to be made by any
Participant for a Subscription Period or Subscription Periods
shall not exceed $25,000 for each calendar year as prescribed by
Section 423(b)(8) of the Code. The actual percentage of
Base Pay to be deducted shall be specified by a Participant in
his or her authorization for payroll withholding.
(b) Base Pay. For purposes of paragraph (a),
above, Base Pay means the regular compensation which
a Participant is entitled to receive on a pay day. Base Pay
shall not include overtime, bonuses, or other items which are
not considered to be regular earnings.
(c) Application of Withholding Rules. Payroll
withholding will commence with the first paycheck issued during
the Subscription Period and will continue with each paycheck
throughout the entire Subscription Period, except for pay
periods for which a Participant receives no compensation (i.e.,
uncompensated personal leave, leave of absence, etc.). Any pay
period which overlaps two Subscription Periods will be credited
in its entirety to the Subscription Period in which it is paid.
Payroll withholding shall be retained by the employer or other
party responsible for making payment to the Participant, until
applied to the purchase of shares as described in
Section IX and the satisfaction of any related federal,
state or local withholding obligations (including any employment
tax obligations), or until returned to such Participant in
connection with a withdrawal from the Plan or a revocation of
authorization described in Section XIII. Any amounts held
by an employer or other party in connection with or as a result
of payroll withholding made pursuant to the Plan and pending the
purchase of shares hereunder shall be considered non-interest
bearing, unsecured indebtedness extended to such employer or
other party by such Participant.
Section IX Purchasing,
Transferring Stock
(a) Maintenance of Plan Account. The Company shall
maintain a Plan Account in the name of each
Participant. At the close of each pay period, the amount
deducted and retained by the employer or other party from a
Participants Base Pay will, for bookkeeping purposes only,
be credited by the Company to such Participants Plan
Account. As of the last day of each Subscription Period (unless
a Participant has given written notice to the Company of his or
her withdrawal or revocation of authorization), such
Participants right to purchase Stock will be exercised
automatically for him or her; upon such automatic exercise, the
amount then credited to such Participants Plan Account for
the purpose of purchasing shares will be divided by the
Subscription Price for such Subscription Period (using the
applicable discount determined pursuant to Section VII(a)
hereof), and there shall be transferred to such
Participants Plan Account by the Agent the number of
shares of Stock which results. Participants shall not receive
any interest on amounts held by an employer, the Company, or any
other party (including the Agent) and credited to Plan Accounts
established and maintained under this Plan.
(b) Insufficient Number of Available Shares. In the
event the number of shares of Stock subscribed for any
Subscription Period exceeds the number of shares of Stock
available for sale under the Plan for such
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Period, the number of shares of Stock actually available for
sale hereunder shall be allocated by the Agent among the
Participants in proportion to that portion of their Plan Account
balances committed to the purchase of Stock for such
Subscription Period.
(c) Handling Excess Shares. In the event that the
number of shares of Stock which would be credited to any
Participants Plan Account in any Subscription Period
exceeds the limit specified in Section III(b) hereof, such
Participants Account shall be credited with the maximum
number of shares permissible, and all remaining amounts will be
refunded in cash.
(d) Status Reports. As soon as practical following
the close of each Subscription Period but in no event more than
thirty (30) days following the close of such Subscription
Period, the Agent shall report to each Participant the number of
shares of Stock purchased on his or her behalf for such
Subscription Period, and the total shares held on behalf of such
Participant in his or her Plan Account. The Agent shall hold in
its name or in the name of its nominee all shares so purchased
and allocated. No certificate will be issued to a Participant
for shares held in his or her Plan Account unless he or she so
requests in writing, or unless such Participants active
participation in the Plan is terminated due to death, separation
from service or retirement.
(e) In Service Stock Withdrawals. A Participant may
request that a certificate for all or part of the full shares of
Stock held in his or her Plan Account be sent to him or her
after the relevant shares of Stock have been purchased and
allocated. All such requests must be submitted in writing to the
Agent. No certificate for a fractional share will be issued. The
fair market value of any fractional shares, as determined
pursuant to Section VII on the date of withdrawal of all
shares credited to a Participants Plan Account, shall be
paid in cash to such Participant. Any Participant requesting
issuance of a Stock certificate prior to the date active
participation ceases shall be solely responsible for paying and
discharging all applicable fees and other associated with such
issuance prior to the date any distribution of a certificate
evidencing ownership of such shares occurs.
Section X Dividends
and Other Distributions
(a) Reinvestment of Dividends. Cash dividends and
other cash distributions received by the Agent on shares held in
its custody hereunder will be credited to the Plan Accounts of
individual Participants in accordance with their interests in
the shares of Stock with respect to which such dividends or
distributions are paid or made, less any applicable withholding,
and will be applied, as soon as practical after the receipt
thereof by the Agent, to the purchase in the open market at
prevailing market prices (without any adjustment or discount
otherwise provided for under Section VII hereof) of the
number of whole shares of Stock capable of being purchased with
such funds, after deduction of any bank service fees, brokerage
charges and transfer taxes payable in connection with the
purchase of such shares that are not otherwise paid by the
Company.
(b) Stock to Be Held in Agents Name. All
purchases of shares of Stock made pursuant to this Section will
be made in the name of the Agent or its nominee, shall be held
as provided in Section IX hereof, and shall be transferred
and credited (to the nearest one one-thousandth of a share) to
the Plan Accounts of the individual Participant(s) to which such
dividends or other distributions were credited. Dividends paid
in the form of Stock will be allocated by the Agent, as and when
received, with respect to shares held in its custody hereunder
to the Plan Accounts of individual Participants (to the nearest
one one-thousandth of a share) in accordance with such
Participants interests in such shares with respect to
which such dividends were paid. Property, other than shares of
Stock or cash, received by the Agent as a distribution on shares
held in its custody hereunder, shall be sold by the Agent for
the accounts of those Participants to whom such property is
attributable or allocable, and the Agent shall treat the
proceeds of such sale in the same manner as cash dividends
received by the Agent on shares held in its custody hereunder.
(c) Tax Responsibilities. It is understood that the
automatic reinvestment of dividends under the Plan will not
relieve a Participant or other employee of any federal, state,
local, or foreign income or other tax which may be due on or
with respect to such dividends. The Agent shall report to each
Participant the amount of dividends credited to his or her Plan
Account.
(d) Withholding on Payments Made to Non-Resident Aliens.
The Agent shall be authorized and empowered to comply with
any and all federal withholding laws relating to the payment of
income items to non-resident aliens.
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Section XI Voting
of Stock
Shares of Stock held for a Participant in his or her Plan
Account will be voted in accordance with such Participants
express written directions. In the absence of any such
directions, such Stock will not be voted.
Section XII Sale
of Stock
Subject to the provisions of Section XIX, a Participant may
direct the Agent to sell all or part of the shares held on
behalf of such Participant at any time, without having to first
withdraw any shares of Stock from the Plan, by giving written
notice to the Agent. Upon receipt of such a notice, the Agent
shall, as soon as practical thereafter, sell such shares in the
open market at the prevailing market price and transmit the net
proceeds of such sale (less any bank service fees, brokerage
charges and transfer taxes) to such Participant, but only so
long as such Participants signature is guaranteed by a
bank or trust company.
Section XIII Withdrawals
from the Plan
(a) General Rule. By giving written notice to the
Company, a Participant may at any time withdraw from the Plan
or, without withdrawing from the Plan but by giving written
notice to the Company, revoke his or her authorization for
payroll deduction for the Subscription Period in which such
revocation is made. In the event a Participant withdraws from
the Plan or revokes such authorization, such Participant may
withdraw the amount credited to such Participants Plan
Account which has not previously been used to purchase shares of
Stock.
(b) Refund of Amounts Not Used to Purchase Shares.
At the time of any withdrawal or revocation under this
Section, the amount credited to a Participants Plan
Account which has not previously been used to purchase shares of
Stock will be refunded in cash.
(c) Withdrawal of Shares. Upon any withdrawal under
this Section, a Participant, in his or her notice of withdrawal
election, may elect to receive either shares of Stock or cash
for the full number of shares of Stock then being held in his or
her Plan Account. If a Participant elects cash, the Agent shall
sell such shares (whether in the open market, or otherwise) and
send the net proceeds (less any bank service fees, brokerage
charges and transfer taxes) to such Participant, but only if
such Participants signature on such election has been
guaranteed by a bank or trust company. If no election is made in
a notice of withdrawal, a certificate shall be issued for all
full shares of Stock held in such Participants Account. In
every case of withdrawal from the Plan, fractional shares
allocated to a Participants Plan Account will be paid in
cash at the market value of such Stock on the date such
withdrawal becomes effective, as determined pursuant to
Section VII.
Section XIV Separation
from Employment
Separation from employment for any reason, including death,
disability, a termination of employment (regardless of the
reason(s) therefore) shall be treated as a withdrawal from the
Plan as described in Section XIII. For purposes of this
Section XIV, an Eligible Employee will not be deemed to
have terminated employment or failed to remain in the continuous
employ of the Company, or to have ceased to qualify as an
Eligible Employee, in the event such employee is absent from
active employment due to sick leave, military leave of absence,
a leave of absence required to be provided pursuant to the
Family and medical Leave Act of 1993 or any other leave of
absence approved by the Committee or required by applicable
federal, state, or local law; provided, that such leave is for a
period of not more than ninety (90) days or such Employee
holds reemployment rights with the Company that are protected by
state or federal statute. A service fee will not be charged for
any withdrawal attributable to a separation from employment.
Section XV Assignment
No Eligible Employee, Participant, or other person, may assign,
alienate, or otherwise transfer his or her right or rights to
purchase Stock under this Plan to any other person or party; any
attempt to so assign, alienate or transfer shall be void. A
Participants right to purchase Stock under this Plan may
be exercisable during such Participants lifetime only by
that Participant.
B-5
Section XVI Adjustment
of and Changes in Stock
In the event that the shares of Stock are changed or converted
into, or exchanged for, a different number or kind of shares of
stock or other securities of the Company or of another
corporation (whether by reason of merger, consolidation,
recapitalization, split-up, combination of shares, or
otherwise), or the number of shares of Stock are changed through
a stock split or the payment of a stock dividend, there shall be
substituted for or added to each share of Stock theretofore
reserved for sale and/or issuance under the Plan, the number and
kind of shares of stock or other securities into which each
outstanding share of Stock shall be so changed or converted, or
for which each such share shall be exchanged, or to which each
such share shall be entitled, as the case may be.
Section XVII Amendment
or Termination of the Plan
The Board shall have the right to amend, modify or terminate the
Plan at any time without notice; however, no Participants
existing rights shall be adversely affected by any such
amendment, modification or termination. In any event, any such
amendment or modification that materially increases the benefits
accruing to Participants under the Plan; or increases in any
respect the number of shares of Stock permitted to be issued
under the Plan; or materially modifies the eligibility
requirements for Plan participation; or changes the designation
of those corporations whose employees are eligible to
participate in the Plan (other than another parent or subsidiary
of the Company); shall not take affect, or otherwise become
effective, until after such amendment or modification has
received the approval of the holders of a majority of the voting
power of the shares of Stock.
Section XVIII Administration
(a) Committee To Administer. The Plan shall be
administered by a Committee, which shall be appointed by the
Companys president and consist of at least two employees
of the Company or of a subsidiary corporation. The Committee
shall be responsible for the administration of all matters under
the Plan which have not been delegated to the Agent.
(b) Specific Responsibilities. The Committees
responsibilities shall include, but shall not be limited to,
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(i) interpreting the Plan (including issues relating to the
definition and application of Base Pay); |
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(ii) identifying and compiling a list of persons who are
Eligible Employees for a Plan Year; |
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(iii) identifying those Eligible Employees not entitled to
be granted options or other rights for a Plan Year on account of
the limitations described in Section III(b) hereof; and |
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(iv) providing prompt notice to the Agent of the enrollment
of Eligible Employees, the amounts to be credited to
Participants Plan Accounts, and any written notices of
withdrawal or revocation of any authorization filed with the
Committee by individual Participants. |
The Committee may from time to time adopt rules and regulations
for carrying out the Plan. Interpretation or construction of any
provision of the Plan by the Committee shall be final,
conclusive and binding on all persons, absent specific and
contrary action taken by the Board. Any interpretation or
construction of any provision of the Plan by the Board or a
committee thereof shall be final, conclusive and binding.
Section XIX Securities
Law Restrictions
Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary:
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(a) Need For Registration Statement. No shares of
Stock shall be purchased or issued under the Plan until a
registration statement has been filed and become effective with
respect to the issuance of the Stock covered by the Plan under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Act).
Prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement, Stock
subject to purchase under the Plan may be offered to Eligible
Employees only pursuant to an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Act. |
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(b) Compliance With Blue Sky Laws. No payroll
deduction shall take place and no shares of Stock shall be
purchased or issued under the Plan with respect to Eligible
Employees resident in any state |
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unless such shares of Stock are exempt from registration under
the securities laws of such state, or such purchase or issuance
constitutes an exempt transaction under the securities laws of
such state or comprises part of a purchase or issuance that has
been registered by description, qualification, coordination or
otherwise under the securities laws of such state. |
Section XX No
Independent Employment Rights
Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to form, or to constitute
evidence of, a contract of employment between the Company and
any employee, or any group or category of employees (whether for
a definite or specific duration or otherwise), or to prevent the
Company, its parent or any subsidiary from terminating any
employees employment at any time, without notice or
recompense. No employee shall have any rights as a shareholder
until the right to purchase Stock has been exercised as of the
last trading day of a Subscription Period.
Section XXI Agent
Powers and Duties
(a) Acceptance. The Agent accepts the agency created
under this Plan and agrees to perform the obligations imposed
hereunder.
(b) Receipt of Shares and Dividends. The Agent shall
be accountable to each Participant for shares of Stock held in
such Participants Plan Account, and for dividends received
with respect thereto.
(c) Records and Statements. The records of the Agent
pertaining to the Plan shall be open to the inspection of the
Company at all reasonable times and may be audited from time to
time by any person or parties specified by the Company in
writing. The Agent shall furnish the Company with whatever
information relating to the Plan Accounts the Company considers
necessary, including, without limitation, any information
required to be furnished to Participants each January 31
pursuant to Section 6039(a)(2) of the Code and related
regulations.
(d) Fees and Expenses. The Agent shall receive from
the Company reasonable annual compensation as may be agreed upon
from time to time between the Company and the Agent.
(e) Resignation. The Agent may resign at any time as
Agent of the Plan by giving sixty (60) days written notice
in advance to the Company.
(f) Removal. The Company, by giving sixty
(60) days written notice in advance to the Agent, may
remove the Agent. In the event of the resignation or removal of
an Agent, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Agent,
so long as it intends to continue the Plan.
(g) Interim Duties and Successor Agent. Each
successor Agent shall succeed to the title of the Agent vested
in its predecessor by accepting in writing its appointment as
successor Agent and filing the acceptance with the former Agent
and the Company without the signing or filing of any further
statement. The resigning or removed Agent, upon receipt of
acceptance in writing of the agency by the successor Agent,
shall execute all documents and do all acts necessary to vest
the title in any successor Agent. Each successor Agent shall
have and enjoy all of the powers conferred under this Plan upon
its predecessor. No successor Agent shall be personally liable
for any act or failure to act of any predecessor Agent. With the
approval of the Company, a successor Agent, with respect to the
Plan, may accept the account rendered and the property delivered
to it by a predecessor Agent without incurring any liability or
responsibility for so doing.
(h) Limitation of Liability to Participants. The
Agent shall not be liable hereunder for any act or failure to
act, including without limitation, any claim of liability
(i) arising out of a failure to terminate a
Participants Plan Account upon such Participants
death or adjudication of incompetency, prior to the receipt by
the Agent of notice in writing of such death or incompetency; or
(ii) with respect to the price(s) at which shares of Stock
are purchased or sold for a Participants Plan Account, or
the timing of any such purchase(s) or sale(s).
Section XXII Applicable
Law
The Plan shall be construed, administered and governed in all
respects under the laws of the State of Ohio.
B-7
Attachment A
to
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
2005 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE AND DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT
PLAN
List of Participating Subsidiary Corporations
Keithley Instruments, GMBH
Keithley Instruments, Ltd.
Keithley Instruments, SARL
Keithley Instruments, BV
Keithley Instruments, Srl
Keithley Instruments, KK
Keithley Instruments, SA
Keithley Instruments International Corporation
B-8
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
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Please mark, sign, date and return the proxy card
promptly, using the enclosed envelope
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DETACH CARD
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KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC. |
Class B Common Shares |
The undersigned hereby appoints JOSEPH P.
KEITHLEY and MARK J. PLUSH and each of them, as proxies and
attorneys, with full power of substitution, to appear and vote
all the Class B Common Shares of Keithley Instruments, Inc.
which the undersigned shall be entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held
February 11, 2006, and at any postponements or adjournments
thereof, and directs said proxies to vote as specified herein on
the matters set forth in the notice of the meeting, and to
transact such other business as may properly come before the
Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof, hereby revoking any
and all proxies heretofore given.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote
FOR Item 1, Item 2, Item 3 and
Item 4.
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1. Proposal to fix the number of Directors
of the Company at ten
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FOR o AGAINST o ABSTAIN o
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2. ELECTION OF
DIRECTORS, FOR o
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WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY o
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Joseph P. Keithley;
James T. Bartlett; James B. Griswold;
Leon J. Hendrix,
Jr.; Thomas A.
Saponas; Barbara V. Scherer; and
R. Elton White
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To withhold authority to vote for any
individual nominee(s), write the name of the nominee(s) in the
space provided below.
(Continued, and to be signed on other
side)
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
February 11, 2006
12:00 Noon
DETACH CARD
---------------------------------------------------------------
(Continued from the other side)
3. Proposal to approve the Keithley
Instruments, Inc. 2005 Employee Stock Purchase and Dividend
Reinvestment Plan
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FOR o |
AGAINST o |
ABSTAIN o |
4. To vote upon such other business as may
properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or
postponement thereof.
THIS PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2006.
You are encouraged to specify your choices by
marking the appropriate boxes, SEE REVERSE SIDE, but you need
not mark any boxes if you wish to vote in accordance with the
Board of Directors recommendations. The proxies named
above cannot vote your shares unless you sign and return this
card.
This Proxy when properly executed will be voted
in the manner directed herein by the shareholder. If no
direction is made, this Proxy will be voted FOR Items 1 and 3,
FOR the nominees named in Item 2 and with discretionary
authority on all other matters that may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
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The signer hereby revokes all proxies heretofore
given by the signer to vote at said meeting or any adjournments
thereof. NOTE: Please sign name(s) exactly as printed hereon.
Joint owners should each sign. Persons signing as executors,
administrators, trustees or in similar capacities should so
indicate.
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SIGNATURE(S) DATE |
KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
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Please mark, sign, date and return the proxy card
promptly, using the enclosed envelope
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DETACH CARD
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KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC. |
Common Shares |
The undersigned hereby appoints JOSEPH P.
KEITHLEY and MARK J. PLUSH and each of them, as proxies and
attorneys, with full power of substitution, to appear and vote
all the Common Shares of Keithley Instruments, Inc. which the
undersigned shall be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of the Company to be held February 11, 2006,
and at any postponements or adjournments thereof, and directs
said proxies to vote as specified herein on the matters set
forth in the notice of the meeting, and to transact such other
business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any
adjournment thereof, hereby revoking any and all proxies
heretofore given.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote
FOR Item 1, Item 2, Item 3 and
Item 4.
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1. Proposal to fix the number of
Directors of the Company at ten
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FOR o AGAINST o ABSTAIN o
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2. ELECTION OF
DIRECTORS, FOR o
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WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY o
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Joseph P. Keithley;
Brian R. Bachman*; James T Bartlett;
James B. Griswold;
Leon J. Hendrix, Jr.;
Brian J. Jackman*; Dr. N. Mohan Reddy*; Thomas A. Saponas;
Barbara V. Scherer; and R. Elton White
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*Elected by holders of Common Shares only.
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To withhold authority to vote for any
individual nominee(s), write the name of the nominee(s) in the
space provided below.
(Continued, and to be signed on other
side)
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
February 11, 2006
12:00 Noon
DETACH CARD
---------------------------------------------------------------
(Continued from the other side)
3. Proposal to approve the Keithley
Instruments, Inc. 2005 Employee Stock Purchase and Dividend
Reinvestment Plan
FOR o AGAINST o ABSTAIN o
4. To vote upon such other business as may
properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or
postponement thereof.
THIS PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2006.
You are encouraged to specify your choices by
marking the appropriate boxes, SEE REVERSE SIDE, but you need
not mark any boxes if you wish to vote in accordance with the
Board of Directors recommendations. The proxies named
above cannot vote your shares unless you sign and return this
card.
This Proxy when properly executed will be voted
in the manner directed herein by the shareholder. If no
direction is made, this Proxy will be voted FOR Items 1 and 3,
FOR the nominees named in Item 2 and with discretionary
authority on all other matters that may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
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The signer hereby revokes all proxies heretofore
given by the signer to vote at said meeting or any adjournments
thereof. NOTE: Please sign name(s) exactly as printed hereon.
Joint owners should each sign. Persons signing as executors,
administrators, trustees or in similar capacities should so
indicate.
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SIGNATURE(S) DATE |