DEF 14A: Definitive proxy statements
Published on March 31, 1994
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. ___)
Filed by the Registrant /x/
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /
Check the appropriate box:
/ / Preliminary Proxy Statement
/x/ Definitive Proxy Statement
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or
Section 240.14a-12
DELUXE CORPORATION
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
JOHN H. LEFEVRE
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
/x/ $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(j)(2).
/ / $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act
Rule 14a-6(i)(3).
/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rule 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
___________________________________________________________________________
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
___________________________________________________________________________
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11*:
___________________________________________________________________________
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
___________________________________________________________________________
* Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how
it was determined.
/x/ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
$125
___________________________________________________________________________
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
Preliminary Proxy Statement for 1994 Annual Meeting
___________________________________________________________________________
(3) Filing Party:
Deluxe Corporation
___________________________________________________________________________
(4) Date Filed:
March 3, 1994
___________________________________________________________________________
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DELUXE CORPORATION
1080 W. County Road F
[Logo] Shoreview, MN 55126-8201
P.O. Box 64399
St. Paul, MN 55164-0399
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING
TO BE HELD MAY 9, 1994
To the Shareholders of Deluxe Corporation:
The annual meeting of the shareholders will be held at the Omni Houston Hotel,
Four Riverway, Houston Texas, on Monday, May 9, 1994, at 6:30 p.m. for the
following purposes:
1. to set the number of members of the board of directors at nine and to elect
the nominees listed in the proxy statement;
2. to consider and act upon a proposal to renew the Company's employee stock
purchase plan;
3. to consider and act upon a proposal to approve the Company's stock incentive
plan, which would permit the issuance of up to 3 million shares of the
Company's common stock. A copy of the plan is attached as Exhibit 99.3 to
the proxy statement;
4. to consider and act upon a proposal to approve a performance share plan;
5. to consider and act upon a proposal to approve an annual incentive plan;
6. to consider and act upon a proposal to ratify the selection of Deloitte &
Touche as independent auditors of the Company for the year ending December
31, 1994; and
7. to take action on any other business that may properly come before the
meeting.
Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 14, 1994, are
entitled to vote at the meeting and at any adjournment of the meeting.
Whether or not you expect to be present at the meeting, please complete, sign,
date and return the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible to ensure the
presence of a quorum and save the Company further solicitation expense. For your
convenience, a return envelope is enclosed which requires no postage if mailed
in the United States. If you attend the meeting in person, your proxy will be
returned to you upon request.
John H. LeFevre, Secretary
Dated: March 28, 1994
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THE
ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. THANK YOU.
1
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DELUXE CORPORATION
1080 WEST COUNTY ROAD F, SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA 55126-8201
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PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING TO BE HELD
MAY 9, 1994
The accompanying proxy is solicited by the board of directors of Deluxe
Corporation in connection with the annual shareholders meeting of the Company to
be held May 9, 1994, and any adjournment of the meeting.
The cost of soliciting proxies, including the cost of preparing and mailing
the notice of annual shareholders meeting and this proxy statement, will be paid
by the Company. Solicitation will be primarily by mailing this proxy statement
to all shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting. Proxies may be solicited by
officers of the Company personally, but at no compensation in addition to their
regular compensation as officers. In addition, the Company may retain services
of an outside proxy solicitation firm to assist in the solicitation of proxies
at its expense. If such proxy solicitation services are used, the Company
expects that the cost thereof will not exceed $10,000. The Company may reimburse
brokers, banks, and others holding shares in their names for others for the cost
of forwarding proxy material and obtaining proxies from their principals.
Proxies may be revoked at any time prior to the time they are voted by giving
written notice of revocation to the secretary of the Company. Unless revoked,
all properly executed proxies will be voted. This proxy statement and enclosed
form of proxy are first being mailed to shareholders on March 28, 1994.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 14, 1994, may
vote at the meeting or at any adjournment. As of that date, there were
82,518,073 outstanding shares of $1 par value common stock of the Company, the
only class of securities of the Company outstanding. Each shareholder of record
is entitled to one vote for each share registered in his or her name. Cumulative
voting is not permitted.
Shares of common stock represented by proxies in the form solicited will be
voted in the manner directed by the holder of such shares, and, if no direction
is made, such shares will be voted for the election of the nominees for director
named in this proxy statement and for approval of the other proposals discussed
herein. If an executed proxy card is returned and the shareholder has voted
"abstain" on any matter (or "withhold authority" as to the election of any
director), the shares represented by such proxy will be considered present at
the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum and for purposes of calculating
the vote, but will not be considered to have been voted in favor of such matter.
If an executed proxy is returned by a broker holding shares in street name which
indicates that the broker does not have discretionary authority as to certain
shares to vote on one or more matters, such shares will be considered present at
the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum, but will not be considered to
be represented at the meeting for purposes of calculating the vote with respect
to such matter. A shareholder may revoke his proxy at any time before it is
voted by written notice to the secretary, or by filing with the secretary
another proxy bearing a later date, or by appearing and voting at the meeting.
2
ITEM 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The board of directors recommends that the size of the board be set at nine
persons and that the persons listed below be elected directors to serve until
the annual shareholders meeting in 1995. All of the nominees are presently
directors of the Company whose terms of office will expire at the May 9, 1994,
shareholders meeting.
HAROLD V. HAVERTY, age 63, has been president and chief executive officer of the
Company since 1986. Mr. Haverty has served on the board of directors since 1970
and as its chairman since February 1992; he also serves on the board of
directors of Pentair Industries, Inc.
EUGENE R. OLSON, age 67. From 1977 until his retirement in 1986, Mr. Olson was
president and chief executive officer of the Company. He has served on the board
of directors since 1971.
EDWARD W. ASPLIN, age 71. From 1978 until his retirement in 1988, Mr. Asplin was
chairman and chief administrative officer of Bemis Company, Inc. Bemis is a
manufacturer of packaging material and equipment, graphics, and specialty
chemicals. Mr. Asplin has served on the Company's board of directors since 1977;
he also serves on the board of directors of Bemis Company, Inc.
JOHN SCHREINER, age 60, has been president of The Sebastian Group, Inc. since
1984. The Sebastian Group is an economic consulting firm offering specialized
services, including financial software services. Mr. Schreiner has served on the
Company's board of directors since 1978.
JERRY K. TWOGOOD, age 53, has been executive vice president and chief operating
officer of the Company since 1988. He has served on the Company's board of
directors since 1987.
WHITNEY MACMILLAN, age 64, has been chairman and chief executive officer of
Cargill, Incorporated since 1977. Cargill is a privately held international
processor and marketer of agricultural and other bulk commodities. Mr. MacMillan
has served on the Company's board of directors since 1988.
DR. JAMES J. RENIER, age 64. From 1988 until his retirement in 1993, Dr. Renier
was chairman and chief executive officer of Honeywell Inc. Honeywell is a
manufacturer of control systems, providing products and services for use in
houses, commercial and industrial buildings, and aviation, throughout the world.
Dr. Renier has served on the Company's board of directors since 1990. He also
serves on the boards of directors of Honeywell Inc., the NWNL Companies, and
First Bank System, Inc.
BARBARA B. GROGAN, age 46, has been president and chief executive officer of
Western Industrial Contractors, Denver, Colorado, since 1982. Ms. Grogan is the
founder of Western Industrial, which specializes in the moving and installation
of heavy industrial equipment. Ms. Grogan was elected to the Company's board of
directors in 1991.
ALLEN F. JACOBSON, age 67. From 1986 until his retirement in 1991, Mr. Jacobson
was chairman and chief executive officer of 3M Company. 3M is a provider of
goods and services to industrial, commercial, health care, and consumer markets
throughout the world. Mr. Jacobson was elected to the board of directors in
1991. He also serves on the boards of directors of 3M, Valmont Industries, Inc.,
U.S. West, Inc., Northern States Power Company, Potlatch Corporation, Mobil
Corporation, Sara Lee Corporation, Prudential Insurance Company, Silicon
Graphics, Inc., Alliant Techsystems, Inc., and Abbott Laboratories.
Unless authority to vote is withheld, the proxies will vote to elect the above
listed nominees. Shareholders are not entitled to cumulate votes for the
election of directors. If any of the above are not candidates for election at
the meeting, which is not presently anticipated, the proxies will vote for such
other person or persons as they in their discretion may determine.
3
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The only person known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5
percent of the Company's common stock is INVESCO MIM, Inc., 1315 Peachtree
Street NE, Atlanta, Ga., 30309, which reported its beneficial ownership as of
December 31, 1993, on a schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The filing indicates that INVESCO has shared voting and dispositive
power with respect to 7,904,125 shares (9.58 percent of the total shares
outstanding, as of December 31, 1993).
As of March 14, 1994, the directors and executive officers of the Company
beneficially owned the following shares of the Company's common stock.
The number of shares held by the directors and executive officers,
individually and as a group, is less than 1 percent of the outstanding shares of
the Company. Voting and investment powers as to the above shareholdings are held
solely by the director or executive officer or by the director or executive
officer and his or her spouse, except with respect to the following shares,
which are held solely in the name of the spouse: Mr. Olson, 9,500; Mr. Twogood,
248; Mr. Angeloni, 102. The above shareholdings do not include 900,000 shares
held by the Deluxe Employees Retirement Trust Common Fund in which Messrs.
Haverty, Olson, Twogood, Osborne, Angeloni, and Chupita have a total indirect
interest of approximately .6 percent.
* Pursuant to the stock incentive plan described under item 3 hereof, subject
to shareholder approval of this plan, the following executive officers have
received restricted stock units as of January 3, 1994: Mr. Haverty - 10,738, Mr.
Twogood - 6,979, Mr. Osborne - 2,732, Mr. Angeloni - 2,673, and Mr. Chupita -
2,276. The executive officers do not have voting or dispositive powers with
respect to such restricted stock units.
4
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
INTRODUCTION
The compensation committee of the board has overall responsibility for
compensation actions affecting the Company's officers. Specifically, the
committee is responsible for:
- - Developing an executive compensation philosophy and administrative policies.
- - Determining all compensation actions for the chief executive officer and the
chief operating officer.
- - Reviewing and approving all compensation actions for other Company officers.
- - Approving the design of all short- and long-term incentive compensation
programs.
- - Reviewing competitive data for officer positions.
- - Ensuring the Company's practices are in-line with stated policies.
- - Administering all officer compensation programs including selecting
performance measures and standards for incentive plans, determining
appropriate targets/grants for incentive awards, and administering the stock
compensation program.
The committee has access to and has met with independent compensation
consultants, and has access to competitive data regarding external compensation
levels and practices.
A YEAR OF CHANGE FOR DELUXE
During 1993, the committee worked with management and an independent
compensation consultant to revise the Company's approach and philosophy toward
executive compensation. Accordingly, this report presents details of both the
old and new approaches to compensation.
The description of both the old and the new programs, along with disclosure
required for a new tax law change, has led to a longer committee report than
would normally be expected. The committee believes a description of the new
compensation program, much of which does not take effect until January 1, 1994,
should be included here, so that shareholders will understand the compensation
approach that will be in place for 1994.
The remainder of this report describes the old and new programs, and actions
taken by the committee during 1993.
PHILOSOPHY
The Company seeks to develop a compensation program that:
- - Attracts, retains and motivates a top quality management team.
- - Links compensation to performance, both short- and long-term.
- - Aligns the interests of shareholders and management by encouraging and
rewarding financial performance, thereby increasing shareholder value.
- - Targets compensation at a competitive level commensurate with performance.
- - Provides compensation programs that are competitive, both in terms of level
and design.
Historically, the Company has valued and rewarded sustained performance by
establishing compensation programs that allow for annual merit increases to base
salary, annual stock option grants, and annual cash bonuses in which
approximately 7,000 employees participate.
Although the current compensation program has served the Company well
historically, the compensation committee decided to review and revise its
approach to executive compensation for 1994 and future years. This new approach,
described below, is consistent with the Company's overall compensation
objectives and the compensation committee believes will strengthen the link
between pay and performance.
5
COMPONENTS OF CURRENT COMPENSATION PROGRAM
BASE SALARIES. Base salaries are intended to provide a basic level of
compensation and are, therefore, the least variable component of the overall
program. As a general matter, historically, the Company targeted salaries to be
between the 50th and 75th percentiles of total cash compensation for comparably
sized employers in general industry. This analysis included many of the
companies included in the total shareholders return graph, but was intended to
capture competitive wage rates in the broader U.S. market. The Company's base
salary philosophy was based upon the Company's annual incentive policy (see
below) and the Company's historical level of superior financial performance.
ANNUAL INCENTIVE COMPENSATION. Company officers have participated in a
broad-based annual cash bonus program that rewards employees for the Company's
overall level of profitability. This program produced incentive awards for
officers well below conventional external standards (as disclosed in recent
proxy statements). For example, annual incentive awards for named executive
officers ranged from 2 to 2.2 percent of salary in 1993. It was and is the
policy of the Company to provide total cash compensation (base salary plus
annual incentive compensation) that is in-line with competitive standards given
the Company's relative level of performance.
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION. The Company's long-term incentive
compensation plan has consisted solely of stock options. The Company generally
grants stock options each year to its officers. Stock options are granted at an
exercise price equal to the fair market value on the date of grant, carry a
10-year term, and vest in stages over a three-year period. The Company's policy
has been to grant stock options at approximately the 75th percentile of
competitive practice of comparably sized employers in general industry.
For further discussion concerning the bases for compensation during 1993 of
the executive officers named in this proxy statement, see the sections entitled
"1993 Compensation Actions" and "1993 CEO Compensation" contained in this
report.
COMPENSATION PROGRAMS FOR 1994 AND FUTURE YEARS
During 1993, the compensation committee conducted a comprehensive review of
the Company's officer compensation program. As a result of this review, the
compensation committee elected to revise the program for 1994 and future years.
The new program is described below:
BASE SALARIES. In conjunction with the proposed new incentive compensation
programs described below, base salaries have been reduced from the former range
of the 50th to 75th percentile to a target of the 50th percentile of base salary
compensation for comparably sized companies in general industry. Base salaries
for most officers have been reduced from 1993 levels by amounts ranging from 4
to 25 percent. Reduction for the named executive officers ranged from 15 to 25
percent. The salary of the chief executive officer was reduced $200,000 and the
salaries of the other named executive officers were reduced in amounts ranging
from $42,400 to $130,000 for 1994. In some cases, these salary adjustments have
brought base salaries in-line with the new salary targets. In other cases, the
new salaries are still above the 50th percentile levels and will remain frozen
until the targeted level is reached. It is expected that all officers' base
salaries will be in-line with the Company's new base salary policy within five
years. As discussed further below in item 3, certain of these officers were
provided a one-time grant of restricted stock units under the Company's new
stock incentive plan, subject to shareholder approval of that plan.
ANNUAL INCENTIVE COMPENSATION. A formal annual incentive plan has been
developed for 1994 and future years based upon Company-wide financial
performance targets and, for plan participants other than named executive
officers, other performance standards which may be established from time to time
by the committee. An incentive pool will be created based upon the Company's
return on average capital employed (ROACE) performance during a specified period
determined by the compensation committee relative to the ROACE performance for
the S&P 500 during a measurement period determined by the compensation
committee. In general, the plan provides for a cash incentive pool that is
funded based upon the Company's ROACE performance relative to the S&P 500. If
ROACE is below the 50th percentile of the S&P 500, the incentive pool will be
$0. For performance above this level in 1994, the aggregate incentive pool will
equal:
6
- - 1 percent of that portion of income from operations which is attributable to
Company ROACE between the 50th and 75th percentile of S&P 500 ROACE, plus
- - 2 percent of that portion of income from operations which is attributable to
Company ROACE between the 75th and 90th percentile of S&P 500 ROACE, plus
- - 3 percent of that portion of income from operations which is attributable to
Company ROACE above the 90th percentile of S&P 500 ROACE.
The compensation committee plans to establish other performance standards
periodically. The compensation committee will review current standards versus
S&P 500 performance each year and will determine when it is appropriate to reset
the performance standards.
As stated above, some of the officers' salaries have not yet reached the
Company's new 50th percentile target. Accordingly, the committee plans to reduce
individual incentive payments in direct proportion to the degree to which such
salaries exceed this target until all base salaries reach the new policy level.
Officer incentive awards may be based solely upon ROACE performance or upon
performance versus additional pre-established, objective, individual performance
goals. For the named executive officers, the Company will provide incentive
awards, subject to shareholder approval, based upon a pre-determined formula
tied strictly to ROACE performance, with possible downward adjustment based upon
committee evaluation of executive overall performance. This method is intended
to bring the incentive awards made to executive officers under the proposed new
annual incentive plan into compliance with Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (IRC 162(m)) regarding deductibility of certain
executive compensation. This program is described in more detail in item 5 of
this proxy statement, in connection with the Company's solicitation of
shareholder approval of the annual incentive plan.
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION. A revised long-term incentive plan has been
developed for 1994 and future years that combines stock options and a
performance share program. The level of long-term incentive grants will be
targeted to the 50th percentile of the level of long-term incentive compensation
provided by comparably sized companies in general industry. The compensation
committee may adjust aggregate grants above or below this level based upon the
Company's financial or stock performance.
The new performance share plan will involve periodic grants of performance-
based restricted stock units that are earned based on the Company's total
shareholder return (TSR) during a performance period specified for each grant
relative to the TSR of the S&P 500 over a reference period specified for each
grant by the compensation committee. In all instances, if the Company's TSR is
below the 50th percentile of the TSR of the S&P 500 as so determined, the
performance-based restricted stock units granted will not vest. For performance
above this level during the initial performance period commencing in 1994,
share units will vest as follows:
- - 50 percent of granted share units vest for 50th percentile TSR performance.
- - 100 percent of granted share units vest for 75th percentile TSR performance.
- - 150 percent of granted share units vest for 90th percentile TSR performance.
For performance achievements in excess of the 50th percentile, which fall
between such percentile levels, the number of stock units which vest will be
ratably adjusted to the nearest whole number.
Other performance standards under the plan may be established by the
compensation committee for ensuing performance periods.
Grants of stock options and other stock-based incentive compensation are
described in this proxy statement in item 3, in connection with the Company's
solicitation of shareholder approval of the stock incentive plan. Included in
this proposal is a per employee limitation on annual stock option and other
stock-based incentive grants. This is intended to bring such stock grants into
compliance with IRC 162(m) discussed above. The performance share plan is
described in more detail in item 4 of this proxy statement, in connection with
the Company's solicitation of shareholder approval of the performance share
plan. The provisions of this plan are also intended to comply with IRC 162(m).
Awards of performance share units under the performance share plan, however, are
also subject to certain provisions of the proposed stock incentive plan
(including the per employee limitation on annual stock-based incentive
compensation). Therefore, if the Company's shareholders do not approve item 3 at
the 1994 annual meeting of shareholders, the performance share plan, even if
separately approved by the shareholders at that meeting, will not become
effective.
7
1993 COMPENSATION ACTIONS
For 1993 the compensation committee established target compensation ranges for
the Company's officers, including its named executive officers, by reference to
a comparative analysis of the compensation levels (base salary, bonus and
long-term incentive compensation) of 441 companies which shared with the Company
some combination of the following characteristics: comparable sales volume,
comparable employment level, parallel level of business diversification and
commitment to manufacturing as a core-business activity. In establishing
compensation levels for the Company's officers in preceding years, the
compensation committee also conducted comparative analyses using similar
reference groups of companies. For the purpose of comparing the Company's
performance to a published industry or line-of-business index as required by SEC
rules and as shown in the shareholder return graph, the Company selected
Standard & Poor's Miscellaneous Industry Group index. While the compensation
committee believes that this is a meaningful comparison of the Company's
performance as to shareholder return, for the purposes of establishing target
compensation ranges for the Company's officers, the compensation committee has
determined that the larger group used in this comparative analysis provides a
broader and more meaningful comparison of competitive compensation. Further
discussion of the target levels set by the compensation committee with respect
to base salaries, bonuses and long-term incentive compensation is contained in
the section of this report entitled Components of "Current Compensation
Program" above.
In determining the individual base salary level, bonus, long-term incentive
compensation and annual compensation adjustment of each of the Company's
officers for 1993, including its named executive officers, the following factors
were considered: individual performance in relation to the executive's
responsibilities, financial and operational performance of the operations
directed by the executive (including profitability under prevailing business
conditions, budget performance, customer acceptance of products and services,
and innovation), time in position, experience, potential for advancement,
responsibility and current compensation in relation to the amount designated for
the position. These factors were considered subjectively in the aggregate and
none of the factors was accorded a specific weight.
1993 CEO COMPENSATION
Each of the above factors was considered in setting Mr. Haverty's compensation
for 1993. Except as discussed below, these factors were considered subjectively
and none of the factors was given a specific weight in determining Mr. Haverty's
compensation.
Mr. Haverty has been chief executive officer of the Company since 1986. In
spite of the economic conditions and technological changes affecting the
Company's core business, during Mr. Haverty's tenure as chief executive officer,
the Company has continued to expand its product and service offerings through
internal development and strategic acquisitions, while continuing to achieve
above average financial results. These criteria are of greatest importance to
the committee and are believed to be the most significant in attaining long-term
corporate earnings targets.
Effective in January 1993, Mr. Haverty's base salary was increased by $25,000
to $802,500 or 3.2 percent. In considering the factors discussed above, the
compensation committee subjectively took into account the strong financial
performance of the Company in 1992 in establishing Mr. Haverty's base salary.
Annual incentive payments (under the broad-base plan) to Mr. Haverty during 1993
totaled $16,452 (or 2.1 percent of Mr. Haverty's base salary) and reflected the
Company's 1993 earnings performance. Mr. Haverty also received 35,000 stock
options in August 1993 under the Company's long-term incentive program. The
stock options were granted at $36.375 (the fair market value on the date of
grant), carry a 10-year term, and vest over a three-year period. Stock options
were targeted to the 75th percentile of competitive practice of comparably sized
employers in general industry.
As discussed above, the Company developed a new approach to executive
compensation for 1994 and future years. Given the nature of the program changes,
including a reduction in Mr. Haverty's base salary for 1994 of $200,000 (or
approximately 25 percent), the Company provided Mr. Haverty with a one-time
restricted stock grant in January 1994 of 10,738 restricted stock units, subject
to approval of the stock incentive plan at the 1994 annual meeting of
shareholders.
8
COMPLIANCE WITH IRC 162(M) PROVISIONS
The compensation committee believes that it is important for the Company to
continue to be able to take all available tax deductions with respect to
compensation paid its executive officers. Therefore, as stated earlier in this
report, the Company intends to take the actions necessary under IRC 162(m) to
continue to qualify for the tax deduction of executive compensation. The Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 created this new tax limitation governing the
deductibility of compensation in excess of $1 million paid to the five named
executive officers of publicly traded companies. IRC 162(m) requires, among
other things, that the Company obtain shareholder approval of various elements
of the compensation program. The committee believes that compensation levels of
the named executive officers set for 1994 are unlikely to reach deductibility
limits. These proxy materials include proposals for a new stock incentive plan
and two additional compensation plans that, if approved, are expected to allow
the Company to fully deduct all compensation to executive officers due to the
formal linking of most elements of pay to Company performance.
IN SUMMARY
This year's compensation committee report is longer than usual in view of the
large number of changes to the executive compensation program over the past
year. The committee believes these changes were made in shareholders' interests,
create a clear link between pay and performance, and a better tie between the
compensation program and the Company's executive compensation philosophy.
Edward W. Asplin - Chairman
Barbara B. Grogan
Allen F. Jacobson
James J. Renier
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10
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12
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS RETURN *
COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE RETURN (DIVIDENDS REINVESTED)
[Graph]
* Assumes $100 invested on December 31, 1988, in Deluxe Corporation, S&P 500
Index and S&P Miscellaneous Industry Group. The S&P Miscellaneous Industry
Group is a published industry or line-of-business index prepared
independently by Standard & Poor's which consists of 23 companies (including
the Company) and is weighted on the basis of stock market capitalization.
13
MEETINGS AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
There were seven meetings of the board of directors in 1993.
The board of directors has an audit committee, a compensation committee and a
nominating committee. The audit committee, which is composed of Messrs. Asplin,
Schreiner, MacMillan, and H. William Lurton, reviews the reports of the
independent public accountants and the Company's internal auditors. The audit
committee held two meetings in 1993. The compensation committee, which is
composed of Messrs. Asplin, Renier, Jacobson and Ms. Grogan, is responsible for
setting the compensation of the chief executive and executive vice president of
the Company, reviewing and approving compensation increases for the other
Company officers, and administering the Company's stock option, stock incentive,
and deferred compensation plans. The compensation committee held five meetings
in 1993. The nominating committee, which consists of Messrs. Lurton, Jacobson,
Schreiner, Renier, MacMillan and Ms. Grogan, reviews the qualifications for
election to the board of directors and identifies prospective nominees for
consideration by the board. The nominating committee held one meeting in 1993.
The nominating committee will consider recommendations by shareholders. Such
recommendations should be submitted by mail, addressed to the nominating
committee in care of the secretary of the Company.
During 1993, each director attended at least 75 percent of the aggregate of:
(i) the total number of meetings of the board of directors and (ii) the total
number of meetings held by all committees of the board on which he or she
served.
Directors who are employees of the Company do not receive compensation for
service on the board other than their compensation as employees. Directors who
are not employees of the Company each receive a $28,000 annual board retainer.
An additional $11,600 annual committee retainer is paid to the chair of each
committee, and a $6,600 annual committee retainer is paid to each other member
of a committee.
Additionally, if the stock incentive plan described in item 3 below is
approved by the Company's shareholders, non-employee directors will also
receive: (i) one-time awards, as of the date of the 1994 annual meeting and,
thereafter, as of the date of any new director's initial election to the board
of directors, of 1,000 shares of restricted stock, vesting in three, equal
annual installments, and (ii) annual grants of non-tax-qualified options to
purchase 1,000 shares of Company common stock, having an exercise price equal to
100 percent of the fair market value per share on the date of grant, exercisable
six months after grant, and expiring on the tenth anniversary thereafter.
Non-employee directors may, if they wish, defer payment of their board fees
payable in cash until termination of their service on the board. Any amounts
deferred are retained by the Company and credited with interest at the prime
rate until they are paid. Messrs. Asplin and Lurton elected to defer receipt of
their 1993 board fees under this plan.
Non-employee directors with at least five years of service who resign or are
not nominated for re-election are entitled to benefits under a board retirement
plan. Under the plan, an annual payment equal to the annual board retainer in
effect on the date of retirement is paid to the retiree for the lesser of 10
years or the number of years the retiree served on the board as a non-employee
director. Retirement payments do not extend beyond the lifetime of the retiree
and are contingent upon the retiree's availability for consultation with
management and refraining from engaging in any activity in competition with the
Company.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The compensation committee consists of four independent directors, none of
whom is or has been an officer of the Company. The Company has no compensation
committee interlocks that is, no officer of the Company serves as a director or
a compensation committee member of a company that has an officer or former
officer serving on Deluxe's board or compensation committee.
14
ITEM 2: TO APPROVE THE EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
The board of directors has determined that participation by employees as
shareholders of the Company contributes to the success of the Company.
Accordingly, the board recommends the approval of a five-year renewal of the
employee stock purchase plan. By its terms, the present plan will expire on
February 1, 1995.
THE PLAN
The employee stock purchase plan was originally adopted by the shareholders in
1966 and has been continually in effect since that time. As of March 14, 1994,
approximately 14,000 employees were eligible to participate in the plan and
approximately 9,300 were participating. If the proposed renewal of the plan is
approved by the shareholders, the plan will expire on February 1, 2000.
THE TERMS OF THE PLAN
The plan provides for voluntary participation through payroll deductions. All
full-time employees who have been with the Company for at least 12 months are
eligible to participate. Each employee who elects to participate may authorize
the deduction of up to 10 percent of his or her basic compensation (not
including overtime, bonuses or other extra compensation) for the purpose of
purchasing shares under the plan. The Company does not pay interest on the
amounts deducted, and the employee is not entitled to vote the shares or receive
dividends until he or she receives his or her certificates for shares purchased.
An employee may withdraw from the plan at any time and have his or her current
deductions returned, but he or she may not rejoin the plan for 12 months.
Each quarter, each participating employee has purchased for him or her as many
shares, but not less than two, as the amount in his or her account will purchase
at 75 percent of the fair market value on that date.
Shares issued under the plan are shares of the Company's common stock, $1 par
value. The price of the shares varies with the market price of the Company
stock, as determined by the closing price of the shares on The New York Stock
Exchange on the applicable quarterly purchase date. On March 14, 1994, the
closing price of the shares was $33.125 per share. To the extent the amounts in
an employee's account are not used for the purchase of shares, such amounts are
held and applied to the purchase of shares in the next quarter. During the
period commencing with the last five-year renewal of the plan, from February 1,
1990, through February 1, 1994, approximately 3,380,000 shares have been
purchased by employees under the plan.
FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a summary of the principal federal income tax consequences of
the acquisition of shares under the plan. At the time stock is acquired, the
participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the amount by which the fair
market value of the shares of common stock at that time exceeds the purchase
price. The tax consequences to a participant upon a disposition of shares
acquired under the plan will depend on how long the shares have been held.
Generally, there will be no tax consequences to the Company in connection with
the disposition of shares acquired under the plan.
Special rules may apply in the case of individuals subject to Section 16 of
the Exchange Act. In particular, unless a special election is made pursuant to
the Internal Revenue Code, shares acquired pursuant to the plan may be treated
as restricted as to transferability and subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture for a period of up to six months after the acquisition of such
shares. Accordingly, the amount of any ordinary income recognized and the amount
of the Company's tax deduction are determined as of the end of such period.
SHARES TO BE ISSUED DURING THE RENEWAL
The Company may issue currently unissued shares under the plan, or it may go
into the market and purchase shares for issuance under the plan. As it has been
administered, only repurchased shares have been sold under the plan. The
Company has not issued new shares for this purpose. Shares issued under the plan
may in some instances cost the Company more than it receives from the employees
as their purchase price.
15
The plan may be altered, amended or discontinued by the board of directors at
any time, except it cannot be amended to increase the number of shares that may
be sold under the plan, decrease the price at which shares may be sold, or
extend the duration of the plan without the approval of the shareholders.
If approved by the shareholders, no more than 5 million shares could be
purchased during the five-year renewal of the plan. In the event of a change in
the common stock of the Company through stock dividends, recapitalizations
resulting in stock split-ups, combinations, or exchanges of shares or otherwise,
the number of shares that could be purchased under the plan would be adjusted.
BOARD RECOMMENDATION
The board of directors recommends a vote "FOR" the proposal to approve the
employee stock purchase plan. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares
of common stock entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy at the annual
meeting of shareholders will be necessary for approval of the plan.
ITEM 3: TO APPROVE THE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
On December 22, 1993, the board of directors, upon the recommendation of the
compensation committee, adopted the stock incentive plan, subject to the
approval of the plan by the shareholders at the 1994 annual meeting of
shareholders. A copy of the plan is attached as Exhibit A to this proxy
statement, and the following discussion of the plan is qualified by reference to
the full text of the plan.
The purpose of the plan is to promote the interests of the Company and its
shareholders by aiding the Company in attracting management personnel capable of
assuring the future success of the Company, by offering such personnel
incentives to put forth maximum efforts for the success of the Company's
business, and by affording such personnel an opportunity to acquire a
proprietary interest in the Company.
ADMINISTRATION
With the exception of the provisions applicable to non-employee directors,
which are discussed below, the plan is administered by the compensation
committee of the board of directors. The committee has the authority to select
the individuals to whom awards are granted, to determine the types of awards to
be granted and the number of shares of common stock covered by such awards, to
set the terms and conditions of such awards, and to determine whether the
payment of any amounts received under any award shall or may be deferred. The
committee has the authority to establish rules for the administration of the
plan, and determinations and interpretations with respect to the plan are at the
sole discretion of the committee, whose determinations and interpretations are
binding on all interested parties. The committee may delegate to one or more
officers, the committee's powers and duties under the plan with respect to
individuals who are not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act; provided,
however, that the committee may not delegate any of its powers and duties under
the plan in such a manner as would fail to comply with any of the requirements
of IRC 162(m).
TERMS OF THE PLAN
The plan permits the granting of a variety of different types of awards: (a)
stock options, including incentive stock options meeting the requirements of
Section 422 of the IRC, and stock options that do not meet such requirements
(non-qualified stock options); (b) stock appreciation rights (SARs); (c)
restricted stock and restricted stock units; (d) performance awards; (e)
dividend equivalents; and (f) other awards valued in whole or in part by
reference to or otherwise based upon the Company's common stock (other
stock-based awards). Awards may be granted alone, in addition to, in tandem
with, or in substitution for any other award granted under the plan or any other
plan. Awards may be granted for no cash consideration or for such minimal cash
consideration as may be required by applicable law. Awards may provide that upon
the grant or exercise thereof the holder will receive cash, shares of common
stock, or other securities, awards or property, or any combination thereof, as
the committee shall determine. The exercise price per share under any stock
option, the grant price of any SAR, and the purchase price of any security which
may be purchased under any other stock-based award under section 6 (f) of the
plan may not be less than 100 percent of the fair market value of the Company's
common stock on the date of the grant of such option, SAR or right.
Determinations of fair
16
market value under the plan are made in accordance with methods and procedures
established by the committee.
Options may be exercised by payment in full of the exercise price, either in
cash or, at the discretion of the committee, in whole or in part by the
tendering of shares of common stock or other consideration having a fair market
value on the date the option is exercised equal to the exercise price.
The holder of an SAR is entitled to receive the excess of the fair market
value (calculated as of the exercise date or, if the committee shall so
determine, as of any time during a specified period before or after the exercise
date) of a specified number of shares over the grant price of the SAR.
Shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units will be subject to such
restrictions as the committee may impose (including any limitations on the right
to vote or the right to receive dividends), which restrictions may lapse
separately or in combination at such time or times, in such installments or
otherwise as the committee may determine. Restricted stock may not be
transferred by the holder until the restrictions established by the committee
lapse. Holders of restricted stock units have the right, subject to any
restrictions imposed by the committee, to receive shares of common stock at some
future date. Upon termination of the holder's employment during the restriction
period, restricted stock and restricted stock units are forfeited, unless the
committee determines otherwise.
Performance awards provide the holder thereof the right to receive payments,
in whole or in part, upon the achievement of such goals during such performance
periods as the committee shall establish. A performance award granted under the
plan may be denominated or payable in cash, shares of common stock or restricted
stock or restricted stock units, or other securities, awards or property.
Dividend equivalents entitle the holder thereof to receive payments (in cash,
shares or otherwise, as determined by the committee) equivalent to the amount of
cash dividends with respect to a specified number of shares. The committee is
also authorized to establish the terms and conditions of other stock-based
awards.
RESTRICTIONS ON AWARDS AND TRANSFERS
No person may be granted any award or awards under this plan (including the
proposed performance share plan) of more than 90,000 shares, in the aggregate,
in any calendar year. Furthermore, no more than 1,000,000 shares, in the
aggregate, may be issued under the plan (including the proposed performance
share plan) in the form of either restricted stock or restricted stock units or
any combination thereof.
No award granted under the plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or
otherwise encumbered by the individual to whom it is granted, otherwise than by
will, or by the laws of descent and distribution, except that the committee may
permit the designation of a beneficiary, and may permit transfers of awards to
immediate family members or family trusts. Each award is exercisable, during
such individual's lifetime, only by such individual, or, in certain
circumstances, by an immediate family member or family trust, or if permissible
under applicable law, by such individual's guardian or legal representative.
The aggregate number of shares of the Company's common stock which may be
issued under all awards granted during the period from January 1, 1994, through
December 31, 1998, under this plan (including the proposed performance share
plan) is 3,000,000 (subject to adjustment as described below). If any shares of
common stock subject to any award or to which an award relates are not purchased
or are forfeited, or if any such award terminates without the delivery of
shares, the shares previously set aside for such awards will be available for
future awards under the plan. Shares relating to awards which allow the holder
to receive or purchase shares will be counted against the aggregate number of
shares available for granting awards under the plan.
If any dividend or other distribution, recapitalization, stock split, reverse
stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off,
combination, repurchase, or exchange of shares of common stock or other
securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase
shares of common stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar
corporate transaction or event affects the shares of common stock so that an
adjustment is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the
benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the plan, the
committee shall, in such manner as it deems equitable, adjust (a) the number and
type of shares (or other securities or property) which thereafter may be
17
made the subject of awards, (b) the number and type of shares (or other
securities or property) subject to outstanding awards, and (c) the exercise
price with respect to any award.
TERMINATION
The plan terminates on December 31, 1998, and no awards may be made after that
date. However, unless otherwise expressly provided in the plan or an applicable
award agreement, any award granted may extend beyond the end of such period.
AMENDMENT
The board of directors may amend, alter or discontinue the plan at any time,
provided that shareholder approval must be obtained for any such action that,
absent such shareholder approval would, (i) cause Rule 16b-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act") to become unavailable with
respect to the plan; (ii) violate the rules or regulations of the New York Stock
Exchange, any other securities exchange or the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. applicable to the Company; or (iii) cause the Company
to be unable, under the IRC, to grant incentive stock options under the plan.
The committee may correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any
inconsistency in the plan or any award agreement in the manner and to the extent
it shall deem desirable to carry the plan into effect. The committee may waive
any condition of, or rights of the Company under any outstanding award,
prospectively or retroactively.
The closing price per share of the Company's common stock on March 14, 1994,
as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, was $33.125.
FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a summary of the principal federal income tax consequences
generally applicable to awards under the plan. The grant of an option or SAR is
not expected to result in any taxable income to the recipient. The holder of an
incentive stock option generally will have no taxable income upon exercising the
incentive stock option (except that a liability may arise pursuant to the
alternative minimum tax), and the Company will not be entitled to a tax
deduction when an incentive stock option is exercised. Upon exercising a
non-qualified stock option, the optionee must recognize ordinary income equal to
the excess of the fair market value of the shares of common stock acquired on
the date of exercise over the exercise price, and the Company will be entitled
at that time to a tax deduction in the same amount. Upon exercising a SAR, the
amount of any cash received and the fair market value on the exercise date of
any shares of common stock received are taxable to the recipient as ordinary
income and deductible by the Company. The tax consequence to an optionee upon a
disposition of shares acquired through the exercise of an option or SAR will
depend on how long the shares have been held and upon whether such shares were
acquired by exercising an incentive stock option or by exercising a
non-qualified stock option or SAR. Generally, there will be no tax consequence
to the Company in connection with disposition of shares acquired under an
option, except that the Company may be entitled to a tax deduction in the case
of a disposition of shares acquired under an incentive stock option before the
applicable incentive stock option holding periods set forth in the Code have
been satisfied.
With respect to other awards granted under the plan that are payable either in
cash or shares of common stock that are either transferable or not subject to
substantial risk of forfeiture, the holder of such an award must recognize
ordinary income equal to the excess of (a) the cash or the fair market value of
the shares of common stock received (determined as of the date of such receipt)
over (b) the amount (if any) paid for such shares of common stock by the holder
of the award, and the Company will be entitled at that time to a deduction for
the same amount. With respect to an award that is payable in shares of common
stock that are restricted as to transferability and subject to substantial risk
of forfeiture, unless a special election is made pursuant to the Code, the
holder of the award must recognize ordinary income equal to the excess of (i)
the fair market value of the shares of common stock received (determined as of
the first time the shares become transferable or not subject to substantial risk
of forfeiture, whichever occurs earlier) over (ii) the amount (if any) paid for
such shares of common stock by the holder, and the Company will be entitled at
that time to a tax deduction in the same amount.
Special rules may apply in the case of individuals subject to Section 16 of
the Exchange Act. In particular, unless a special election is made pursuant to
the Code, shares received pursuant to the exercise of a stock option or SAR may
be treated as restricted as to transferability and subject to a substantial risk
of forfeiture
18
for a period up to six months after the date of exercise. Accordingly, the
amount of any ordinary income recognized, and the amount of the Company's tax
deduction, are determined as of the end of such period.
Under the plan, the committee may permit participants receiving or exercising
awards, subject to the discretion of the committee and upon such terms and
conditions as it may impose, to surrender shares of common stock (either shares
received upon the receipt or exercise of the award or shares previously owned by
the optionee) or other property to the Company to satisfy federal and state tax
obligations.
ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES
Any employee of the Company and its affiliates selected by the committee is
eligible to receive an award under the plan. It is currently the committee's
intention to limit eligibility to the key management group, defined by level of
job responsibility. There were approximately 490 persons employed by the Company
and its subsidiaries as of March 14, 1994 who would be eligible as a class to
receive awards under the plan, if eligibility is limited to the key management
group. With the exception of 45,369 restricted stock units granted to 46
officers on January 3, 1994, which grants are subject to shareholder approval of
the plan at the 1994 annual meeting, the amount, type and recipients of awards
under the plan other than awards to non-employee directors described below have
not yet been determined. See New Benefits Table" following item 5.
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
If the plan is approved by the shareholders, on the date of the 1994 annual
meeting, each non-employee director in office following the meeting shall
receive an award of 1,000 shares of restricted stock. These shares shall vest in
three equal installments, on the dates of the annual shareholders meetings in
each of the three succeeding years, if the director remains in office
immediately following such meeting. In the event that in accordance with the
Company's policy with respect to mandatory retirement of directors, any director
is not nominated for election to serve as a director of the Company, all
restricted stock so awarded which has not then vested shall immediately vest in
full upon such director's retirement from the board. Subsequent to the date of
the 1994 annual meeting, each non-employee director shall, upon the date of his
or her initial election to the board, receive an award of 1,000 shares of
restricted stock subject to the same vesting restrictions. If a director ceases
to be a director prior to the date on which the award is fully vested for any
reason other than mandatory retirement, any unvested portion of the award shall
terminate and be irrevocably forfeited.
In addition, each non-employee director shall be granted an option to purchase
1,000 shares on the date of the annual meeting of shareholders each year,
commencing with the 1994 annual meeting, if the director will remain in office
immediately following such meeting. The exercise price of each option shall be
equal to 100 percent of the fair market value per share on the date of grant.
Such options shall be non-qualified stock options, shall become exercisable six
months after the date of grant, and shall terminate on the tenth anniversary of
the date of grant. Such options shall also terminate three months following the
date upon which the participant ceases to be a director of the Company, except
that if the participant shall cease to be a director by reason of willful and
material misconduct, the option shall terminate as of the date of such
misconduct, and if the participant shall die while a director of the Company and
he or she shall not have fully exercised the option, the option may be exercised
at any time within 12 months after the participant's death, by the participant's
legal representatives, but only to the extent of the full number of shares the
participant was entitled to purchase under the option on the date of death.
BOARD RECOMMENDATION
The board of directors recommends a vote FOR" the proposal to approve the
stock incentive plan, as set forth in Exhibit 99.3 to this proxy statement. The
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote
and present in person or by proxy at the annual meeting of shareholders will be
necessary for approval of the plan.
19
ITEM 4: TO APPROVE THE PERFORMANCE SHARE PLAN
Consistent with the compensation committee's determination to revise the
Company's philosophy and approach toward compensating its executive officers,
on February 10, 1994, the board of directors, upon the recommendation of the
compensation committee, adopted a performance share plan designed to reward
participants only if the Company's financial performance equals or exceeds the
median performance of the S&P 500 (as measured by specific, objective criteria).
The Company is seeking shareholder approval of the plan to qualify compensation
paid under the plan through December 31, 1998, as qualified performance-based
compensation," as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code.
ELIGIBILITY
The terms of the plan limit eligibility to receive an award thereunder to
management or highly compensated employees, as selected by the committee. At the
present time the compensation committee intends to limit participation in this
plan to the most senior officers of the Company and/or its subsidiaries. The
purpose of this limitation is to increase the incentives, and compensation
risks, for the executives whose positions of responsibility can most affect the
performance of the Company, with the goal of aligning their personal financial
interests more closely with long-term shareholder interests. Directors of the
Company or any affiliate of the Company who are not also employees of the
Company or any affiliate are not eligible to participate in the plan. There were
approximately 16 persons employed by the Company and its subsidiaries as of
March 14, 1994, who the compensation committee believes would be currently
eligible to receive awards under the plan.
ADMINISTRATION
The plan is administered by the compensation committee of the board of
directors. The committee has the authority to select the individuals to whom
awards are granted, to determine the number of shares of common stock or stock
units covered by such awards and to set the terms and conditions of such awards.
The committee has the authority to establish rules for the administration of the
plan, and determinations and interpretations with respect to the plan are at the
sole discretion of the committee, whose determinations and interpretations are
binding on all interested parties. The committee may delegate to one or more
officers the committee's powers and duties under the plan with respect to
individuals who are not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act; provided,
however, that the committee may not delegate any of its powers and duties under
the plan in such a manner as would fail to comply with any of the requirements
of IRC 162(m).
AWARD FORMULA, BUSINESS CRITERIA
Awards under the performance share plan, in the form of restricted stock
units, may be granted commencing in 1994 for such performance periods as may be
determined by the compensation committee of the board of directors. The right to
have a performance-based award vest or become payable in any fashion will be
determined solely on account of the attainment of one pre-established, objective
performance goal selected by the compensation committee at the time of the grant
of the performance- based award. Such goal will be based solely on total
shareholder return (TSR) of the Company as compared to the TSR of the Standard &
Poor's 500 (S&P 500") index of companies.
Under the plan, the restricted stock units awarded may be earned by a
participant, and become the property of the participant, only if the Company's
TSR equals or exceeds the 50th percentile of the TSR of the companies included
in the S&P 500 index in a period selected by the compensation committee, which
period need not be the same as the Company's TSR performance period. For
purposes of the plan, TSR is defined as the appreciation in share price between
the date of grant and the end of the performance period, plus dividends paid
during the given period. The compensation committee has set the parameters of
the performance share award formula for 1994, although the amount, type and
recipients of awards under the plan have not yet been determined. See
Compensation Committee Report of Executive Compensation - Compensation Program
for 1994 and Future Years - Long-term Incentive Compensation."
20
RESTRICTIONS ON AWARDS AND TRANSFERS
No award granted under the plan may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged,
hypothecated or otherwise disposed of by the individual to whom it is granted.
No participant may be granted any award or awards under the proposed
performance share plan: (i) and any other stock-based benefit plan adopted by
the Company (including, if adopted at the 1994 annual meeting, the Company's
stock incentive plan) of more than 90,000 shares in the aggregate, in any
calendar year, or (ii) exceeding 90,000 shares, in the aggregate during the
period from January 1, 1994, through December 31, 1998.
All restricted stock units granted pursuant to the plan will be issued by the
Company under, and in conformity with, the terms and conditions of the Company's
stock incentive plan. See "Item 3: To Approve the Stock Incentive Plan."
Therefore, if the Company's shareholders do not approve item 3 at the 1994
annual meeting of shareholders, the performance share plan, even if separately
approved by the shareholders at that meeting, will not become effective by its
terms. The aggregate number of shares of the Company's common stock which may be
issued under all awards granted during the period from January 1, 1994, through
December 31, 1998, under the incentive stock plan (and, therefore, including the
performance share plan) is 3,000,000 shares.
FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a summary of the principal federal income tax consequences
generally applicable to awards expected to be made under the performance share
plan. The grant of a performance share restricted stock unit is not expected to
result in any taxable income for a participant. The issuance of shares of common
stock when a stock unit is earned will be taxable to the participant as ordinary
income for the fair market value of the shares at that time. Subject to the
usual rules concerning reasonable compensation, and assuming as expected that
compensation paid under the performance share plan is "qualified
performance-based compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the
Code, the Company will be entitled to a tax deduction for that same amount at
the time a participant recognizes ordinary income. There are not expected to be
any tax consequences to the Company in connection with a subsequent disposition
of the shares acquired by a participant pursuant to the performance share plan.
Special rules may apply in the case of individuals subject to Section 16 of
the Exchange Act. In particular, unless a special election is made pursuant to
the Code, shares received when stock units are earned may be treated as
restricted as to transferability and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture
for a period of up to six months after the date of such acquisition.
Accordingly, the amount of any ordinary income recognized and the amount of the
Company's tax deduction are determined as of the end of such period.
Under this plan the committee may permit participants receiving or exercising
awards, subject to the discretion of the committee and upon such terms and
conditions as it may impose, to surrender shares of common stock (either shares
received upon the receipt or payment of the award or shares previously owned by
the participant) to the Company to satisfy federal and state tax obligations.
TERMINATION
The plan terminates on December 31, 1998, and no awards may be made after that
date. However, unless otherwise expressly provided in the plan or an applicable
award agreement, any award granted may extend beyond the end of such period.
AMENDMENT
The board of directors may amend, alter or discontinue the plan at any time,
provided that shareholder approval must be obtained for any such action that,
absent such shareholder approval would (i) cause Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange
Act to become unavailable with respect to the plan; or (ii) violate the rules or
regulations of the New York Stock Exchange, or any other securities exchange or
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., applicable to the Company.
The committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any
inconsistency in the plan or any award agreement in the manner and to the extent
it shall deem desirable to carry the plan into effect. The committee may waive
any condition of, or rights of
21
the Company under any outstanding award, prospectively or retroactively, without
the consent of the holder or beneficiary of the award.
BOARD RECOMMENDATION
The board of directors recommends a vote "FOR" the proposal to approve the
performance share plan. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of
common stock entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy at the annual
meeting of shareholders will be necessary for approval of the plan.
ITEM 5: TO APPROVE THE ANNUAL INCENTIVE PLAN
Consistent with the compensation committee's determination to revise the
Company's philosophy and approach toward compensating its executive officers, on
November 12, 1993, the board of directors, upon the recommendation of the
compensation committee, adopted an annual incentive plan designed to reward
participants only if the Company's financial performance equals or exceeds the
median performance of the S&P 500 (as measured by specific, objective criteria).
The Company is seeking shareholder approval of the plan to qualify compensation
paid under the plan through December 31, 1998, as "qualified performance-based
compensation," as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code.
ELIGIBILITY
The terms of the plan limit eligibility to receive an award to management or
highly compensated employees, as selected by the committee. At the present time,
the compensation committee intends to limit participation in this plan to
corporate and subsidiary officers and business unit managers. The purpose of
this limitation is to increase the incentives, and compensation risks, for the
officers and managers whose positions of responsibility can most affect the
performance of the Company, with the goal of aligning their personal financial
interests more closely with long-term shareholder interests. Directors of the
Company or any affiliate of the Company who are not also employees of the
Company or any affiliate are not eligible to participate in the plan. There were
approximately 52 persons employed by the Company and its subsidiaries as of
March 14, 1994, who the committee believes would currently be eligible as a
class to receive awards under the plan.
ADMINISTRATION
The plan is administered by the compensation committee of the board of
directors. The committee has the authority to select the individuals to whom
awards are granted, to set the terms and conditions of such awards and to
determine whether the payment of any amounts received under any award shall or
may be deferred. The committee has the authority to establish rules for the
administration of the plan, and determinations and interpretations with respect
to the plan are at the sole discretion of the committee, whose determination and
interpretations are binding on all interested parties. The committee may
delegate to one or more officers the committee's powers and duties under the
plan with respect to individuals who are not subject to Section 16 of the
Exchange Act; provided, however, that the committee may not delegate any of its
powers and duties under the plan in such a manner as would fail to comply with
any of the requirements of IRC 162(m).
AWARD FORMULA, BUSINESS CRITERIA
Compensation under the plan is determined in accordance with a pre-established
performance goal (or goals) selected by the compensation committee at the time
of the award which goal, with respect to the executive officers named in the
Company's annual proxy statement will be based upon the Company's return on
average capital employed (ROACE). Under all circumstances, however, no incentive
amount shall be earned or payable under the plan unless the Company's ROACE for
a performance period selected by the compensation committee equals or exceeds
the ROACE of the 50th percentile of the companies included in the S&P 500 for
such periods as the compensation committee may select. For the named executive
officers, awards under the plan will increase as the Company's ROACE, as
measured against the S&P 500, exceeds the 50th percentile, such increases to
occur in the manner to be determined in advance of a performance period by the
compensation committee. For other employees participating in the plan, awards
will be based on individual, pre-established criteria to be set by the
compensation committee in advance of the performance period. Such criteria for
these participants are not required to be solely related to Company
22
ROACE, and are likely to include financial and nonfinancial performance goals
that are tied to the results achieved by such individual's business unit or as a
result of such individual's area of responsibility.
The compensation goal of this plan is to provide total cash compensation (base
salary and annual incentive) commensurate with the Company's financial
performance. For 1994, the compensation committee has set the ROACE award
formula for the named executive officers such that, if the Company's ROACE
equals the 75th percentile of the S&P 500, total cash compensation will be equal
to that paid for similar managerial positions at the 75th percentile of
comparable companies; therefore, the compensation committee has retained the
right under the plan to reduce, but not to increase, the resulting formula
awards to the named executive officers. With respect to all other plan
participants, the committee has retained the right to increase or decrease
awards resulting from such individual's achievement of his or her particular
performance goals. See "Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation
- - Compensation Programs for 1994 and Future Years - Annual Incentive
Compensation."
INVESTMENT ELECTIONS, DIVIDEND AND VOTING RIGHTS
A participating employee may irrevocably elect, on an annual basis, prior to
January 1 of the year in which the annual incentive amount may be earned, either
(i) to receive all or a percentage (as designated by the compensation committee)
of such incentive award for such year in the form of restricted shares of
Company common stock, or (ii) to defer receipt of all or a percentage (as
designated by the compensation committee) of such incentive award for such year
in accordance with the Company's deferred compensation plan, or (iii) some
combination of both alternatives (plus the alternative not to defer such award).
In consideration of foregoing the cash portion of the incentive award for
shares of restricted stock, and subjecting such amount to possible forfeiture,
as explained below, the amount so foregone will be increased by 25 percent for
purposes of determining the number of shares of restricted stock to be credited
to each participant making such election. Shares of Company common stock will
then be issued based on a value equal to the fair market value on the date of
issuance, of the Company common stock as determined in accordance with the terms
of the Company's stock incentive plan.
The Company anticipates that participants electing to receive shares of
restricted stock will also be entitled to vote all shares issued in their names,
and will receive all cash dividends declared on the outstanding shares of
Company common stock until such time, if ever, as such shares are forfeited.
If the participant elects to receive shares of restricted stock, such shares
shall be issued in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of,
the Company's stock incentive plan. See "Item 3: Approval of the Stock Incentive
Plan." Therefore, if the Company's shareholders do not approve Item 3 at the
1994 annual meeting of shareholders, this election alternative will be
eliminated for the annual incentive plan.
For information concerning amounts that may be received by the named executive
officers and other groups of officers and directors under this plan if it is
approved by the shareholders at the 1994 annual meeting, see the "New Plan
Benefits" table following item 5 herein.
RESTRICTIONS ON AWARDS AND TRANSFERS
For each year during the period of 1994 through 1998, the amounts of incentive
compensation that may be paid to the chief executive officer and any other
participant under the plan shall not exceed in value the amount of $800,000
(whether received in the form of cash or shares of restricted stock). The 90,000
share annual and five-year cumulative award limitations described with respect
to the performance share plan (see "Item 4: Approval of the Performance Share
Plan - Restrictions on Awards and Transfers") will not apply to the shares of
restricted stock issued under the annual incentive plan because such shares will
be issued, if at all, due to the election of the participant and not to direct
share awards made by the compensation committee.
The compensation committee may in its discretion reduce incentive compensation
payments under the plan to individual officers or to all others regardless of
the Company's ROACE.
Participants electing the restricted stock alternative under the plan may not
sell, assign, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any such
shares prior to the vesting date for such shares.
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FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a summary of the principal federal income tax consequences
generally applicable to awards expected to be made under the annual incentive
plan. The amount of any cash received pursuant to the plan is taxable as
ordinary income to a participant. Subject to the usual rules concerning
reasonable compensation, and assuming as expected that compensation paid under
the plan is qualified performance-based compensation" within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Code, the Company will be entitled to a tax deduction for
that same amount at the time a participant recognizes ordinary income.
With respect to participants who receive shares of common stock pursuant to
the plan that are not transferable and subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture, unless a special election is made pursuant to the Code, the
participant must recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of
such shares, determined as of the first time the shares become transferable or
not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, whichever occurs earlier. As
described above, the Company is expected to be entitled at that time to a tax
deduction for that same amount. There are not expected to be any tax
consequences to the Company in connection with a subsequent disposition of the
shares acquired by a participant pursuant to the plan.
Under the stock incentive plan, the committee may permit participants
receiving or exercising awards, subject to the discretion of the compensation
committee and upon such terms and conditions as it may impose, to surrender
shares of common stock (either shares received upon the receipt or exercise of
the award or shares previously owned by the participants) to the Company to
satisfy federal and state tax obligations. Because shares received under the
annual incentive plan are being issued pursuant to the stock incentive plan,
participants will have the opportunity to use this method to pay their tax
liability.
TERMINATION
The plan terminates on December 31, 1998, and no awards may be made after that
date. However, unless otherwise expressly provided in the plan or an applicable
award agreement, any award granted may extend beyond the end of such period.
AMENDMENT
The board of directors may amend, alter or discontinue the plan at any time,
provided that shareholder approval must be obtained for any such action that,
absent such shareholder approval would (i) cause Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange
Act to become unavailable with respect to the plan; or (ii) violate the rules or
regulations of the New York Stock Exchange, any other securities exchange or the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., applicable to the Company. The
committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any
inconsistency in the plan in the manner and to the extent it shall deem
desirable to carry the plan into effect. The committee may waive any condition
of, or rights of the Company under any outstanding award, prospectively or
retroactively, without the consent of the holder or beneficiary of the award.
BOARD RECOMMENDATION
The board of directors recommends a vote "FOR" the proposal to approve the
annual incentive plan. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of
common stock entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy at the annual
meeting of shareholders will be necessary for approval of the plan.
24
25
ITEM 6: SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The board of directors, upon the recommendation of its audit committee, has
selected Deloitte & Touche as independent auditors to examine the accounts of
the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1994, and to perform other
accounting services. Deloitte & Touche has acted as independent auditors of the
Company since 1964.
Representatives of Deloitte & Touche are not expected to be present at the
1994 annual shareholders meeting. Although it is not required to do so, the
board of directors has submitted the selection of Deloitte & Touche to the
shareholders for ratification. Unless a contrary choice is specified, proxies
will be voted for ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche. If the
selection is not ratified, the board of directors will reconsider its selection
of Deloitte & Touche. The board of directors unanimously recommends the
ratification of its selection of Deloitte & Touche as independent auditors.
OTHER BUSINESS
The board of directors of the Company does not intend to present any business
at the meeting other than the matters specifically set forth in this proxy
statement and knows of no other business to come before the meeting. If any
other matters are brought before the meeting, the proxies will vote on such
matters in accordance with their judgment of the best interests of the Company.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Any shareholder proposals intended to be presented at the Company's 1995
annual shareholders meeting must be received by the Company no later than
November 22, 1994, to be included in the proxy statement for that meeting.
For the board of directors:
John H. LeFevre
Secretary
March 28, 1994
26
DELUXE CORPORATION
1080 W. County Road F. PROXY
[Logo] Shoreview, MN 55126-8201
P.O. Box 64399
St. Paul, MN 55164-0399
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The undersigned appoints Harold V. Haverty, Jerry K. Twogood and John H.
LeFevre as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and
authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side
hereof, all shares of common stock of Deluxe Corporation held of record by
the undersigned on March 14, 1994, at the annual shareholders meeting to be
held on May 9, 1994, and at any adjournment of the meeting.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED BY
THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER(S). IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED FOR EACH OF THE LISTED PROPOSALS.
(Continued and to be SIGNED on the reverse side)
PLEASE MARK BOXES /X/ OR /X/ IN BLUE OR BLACK INK.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR EACH OF THE PROPOSALS LISTED
BELOW.
1. Election of directors
Harold V. Haverty, Eugene R. Olson, Edward W. Asplin, John Schreiner, Jerry
K. Twogood, Whitney MacMillan, James J. Renier, Barbara B. Grogan, Allen F.
Jacobson
FOR ALL NOMINEES LISTED FOR ALL NOMINEES LISTED WITHHOLD AUTHORITY / /
ABOVE / / ABOVE EXCEPT / / TO VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES
LISTED ABOVE
-----------------------
2. Approval of employee stock purchase
plan / / For / / Against / / Abstain
3. Approval of stock incentive plan / / For / / Against / / Abstain
4. Approval of performance share plan / / For / / Against / / Abstain
5. Approval of annual incentive plan / / For / / Against / / Abstain
6. Appointment of Deloitte & Touche as
independent auditors / / For / / Against / / Abstain
7. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the meeting.
Please sign exactly as name appears at
left. When shares are held by joint
tenants, both should sign. When signing
as attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, please give full
title as such. If a corporation, please
sign in full corporate name by president
or other authorized officer. If a
partnership, please sign in partnership
name by authorized person.
Dated ____________________________, 1994
________________________________________
Signature
________________________________________
Signature if held jointly
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.