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 registrant  |X|

Filed by a party other than the registrant |_|

Check the appropriate box:

  |X|    Preliminary proxy statement

  |_|    Definitive proxy statement

  |_|    Confidential, for use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 
         14a-6(e)(2))

  |_|    Definitive additional materials

  |_|    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c)
         or Rule 14a-12

                      TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
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                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

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    (Name of Person[s] Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):

       |X|     No fee required

       |_|| |     Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-(6)(i)(1) and 0-11.

       (1)     Title of each class of securities to which transaction 
               applies:

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       (2)     Aggregate number of securities to which transactions applies:

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       (3)     Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction 
   computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:(1)

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       (4)     Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

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       (5)     Total fee paid:

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      |_|-------------------------------------------------------------------

       | |   Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

       |_|| | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.

       (1)     Amount previously paid:

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       (2)     Form, schedule or registration statement no.:

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       (3)     Filing party:

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       (4)     Date filed:

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- - ------------------------------------
(1)  Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
     was determined.




                      Technical Communications Corporation
                                  [Letterhead]



                                                              July     ___,, 1998
Dear TCC Stockholder:
   
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be
held at the Company's offices in Concord, Massachusetts on _______, July __,Friday, August 14,
1998 at 10:00 A.M., Eastern Daylight Time. The meeting is for the purpose of (i)
electing seven (7) directors, each to serve for a one (1) year term; provided,
however, that in the event that a continuing dispute relating to whether the
Board members shall serve staggered terms (the "Dispute") is resolved in the
Company's favor, the Company's Board would be staggered, with directors serving
different terms, and the proxies named herein shall vote to elect the two (2) Class I Directors named herein, each to serve for a term of
three (3) years, (ii) ratifying the election of the Company's independent
auditors and (iii) conducting any other business that may be properly brought
before the meeting. In addition, you will be asked to consider one (1) 
stockholder proposal at the meeting.
    
   
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS YEAR'S ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS IS CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT AND WE URGE YOU TO READ THOROUGHLY THE ACCOMPANYING NOTICE OF ANNUAL
MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT. M. Mahmud Awan, Philip Phalon, Robert B. Bregman
and William Martindale, Jr. (collectively, the "Group"), who together hold
approximately 17.2% of the Company's shares according to their filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), are soliciting proxies for the election of
five (5) nominees in
opposition to those nominated bythe director nominees of the Company.
    
   
YOU SHOULD KNOW however, that this Group is pursuingon May 22, 1998, one of the Company's Directors,
Philip Phalon, joined an individual named M. Mahmud Awan in a lawsuit against
the Company and its directors (other than Mr. Phalon), filed in Massachusetts
Superior Court, Middlesex County (the "Court"), entitled Philip A. Phalon and M.
Mahmud Awan v. Technical Communications Corporation, Arnold McCalmont, Herbert
A. Lerner, Robert T. Lessard, Carl H. Guild, Mitchell B. Briskin, Donald Lake
and Thomas E. Peoples, Civil Action No. 98-2553 (the "Group Lawsuit"). In the
action, the plaintiffs, which include Mr. Phalon, a long-time director and
former acting President of the Company, allege a breach of fiduciary duty by
directors relating to actions of the Board including its new independent directors, based on innuendoimproper denial of access
to stockholder information. Forced to testify under oath, Mr. Awan and intentional or reckless falsehoods. YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT MESSRS. PHALON AND
AWAN-- FORCED TO TESTIFY UNDER OATH - NOW ADMITMr.
Phalon now admit that manysome of the most significant allegations in theirthe complaint
were unfounded and unsubstantiated, and that someMr. Phalon certified to them for
the complaint based either on information provided to him by persons he cannot
now remember or identify, or on pure guesswork. Specifically, the complaint
alleges among other actions: (i) that the Company "covered up" the results of
its internal investigation and that the former Chief Executive Officer and
President, as well as the former Chief Financial Officer, were terminated for
their refusal to participate in the alleged "cover-up"; (ii) that the Company's
directors, with the exception of Mr. Phalon but including the recently elected
independent directors are allegedly "beholden" to Arnold McCalmont, and
therefore under his control; (iii) that Mr. Mitchell Briskin, one of the new
independent directors, allegedly made a large investment in Net2Net, a company
founded by Mr. McCalmont's son; and (iv) that new director Mr. Donald Lake is a
banker that previously handled personal banking and financial matters for Arnold
McCalmont and his family. The Board believes that the false allegations were
included in the complaint not on the basis of fact, but instead as part of an
intentional strategy of innuendo 
    

   
and deception aimed at painting the Company's Board, including its new 
independent directors as "cronies" involved in a "cover-up" scheme. The Board 
reaches this conclusion based upon sworn admissions by members of the Group 
that the allegations appearing in the Group's complaint that a previous 
relationship existed between Arnold McCalmont and the independent directors 
were unfounded and that they had no personal knowledge of Mr. Briskin's 
alleged investment or Mr. Lake's banking relationship, neither of which 
existed. The complaint also challenges the effectiveness of certain actions 
taken by the Board of Directors on April 30, 1998 in creating staggered terms 
for the Board. On June 10, 1998, on the basis of the allegations made by 
Messrs. Phalon and Awan, the Court issued a decision and order (the "Order"). 
The Court denied the plaintiffs' request for stockholder information, providedbut 
ordered the Company to themdistribute plaintiffs' proxy materials, but only at 
plaintiffs' expense. The Court also enjoined the effectiveness of the April 
30 vote. On June 24, 1998, the Company's independent outside Board members, 
who were not involved in the April 30 vote, voted to opt in to the provisions 
of Massachusetts law creating staggered terms for boards of directors. Other 
than Mr. Phalon, none of the board members involved in the April 30 vote 
participated in any of the discussions on or the vote taken June 24. On June 
28, 1998, the Company filed motions for clarification and reconsideration of 
the Order in light of the June 24 Board action. On July 6, 1998, the Court 
denied the motions, but let stand the June 24, 1998 Board action. Thus, the 
Court has not issued any order invalidating the June 24, 1998 action by persons they cannot now
remember or identify, and others based on pure guesswork. Their success in court
to date has been based in large part on these false allegationsthe 
Company's independent Board members and the Company believes that this vote 
is continuing its efforts through legal channels. YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT AND
WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THIS GROUP OF FOUR STOCKHOLDERS WILL GAIN MAJORITY
CONTROL OF YOUR BOARD AND THUS DIRECT THE COMPANY'S ASSETS AND RESOURCES.valid, effective and in force. Nonetheless, the plaintiffs have filed a 
complaint for civil contempt against the Company's Board members, excluding 
Philip Phalon, as a result of the June 24 Board action. The Court has 
scheduled a hearing on the matter for July 10, 1998.
    
   
On the basis of the foregoing and pending any action by the Court, the Company
will nominate and seek the election of the two (2) Class I Director nominees
identified in this proxy statement at the Meeting scheduled for August 14, 1998.
Stockholders should note, however, that the Court could, among other actions,
either before or after the Meeting, (i) require the Company to reconsider
whether it may properly opt in to the provisions of Section 50A, (ii) require
the Board to postpone the Meeting pending the resolution of the Group Lawsuit,
or (iii) require the Company to hold a new election of the Board. The Company
intends to inform stockholders via press releases and filings with the
Commission of the status of the Group Lawsuit as it progresses.
    
For the reasons described herein, the Company's Board of Directors urges you to
vote AGAINST the Group's nominees and AGAINST the stockholder proposal that is
described in the Proxy Statement. 
   
The seven (7) candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected
at the Meeting. In the event that the Dispute is resolved in the Company's
favor, the Company's Board would be staggered, with directors serving different
terms, and the proxies named herein shall vote to elect the two (2) Class I
Directors named herein. In such event, the two (2) candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected 
at the Meeting.


Detailed information relating to the Company's activities and operating
performance during fiscal 1997 is contained in the Company's Annual Report to
stockholders furnished to you with this proxy.

   
It is important that your shares be represented at the meeting.Meeting. Accordingly,
please promptly complete, date, sign and return the enclosed WHITE proxy card in
the enclosed postage-paid return envelope.

Whether or not you expect to attend the Meeting, please sign, date and return
the enclosed WHITE proxy in the enclosed envelope at your earliest convenience.
If you return your WHITE proxy, you may nevertheless attend the Meeting, revoke
your proxy, and vote your Sharesshares in person.
    

                                IMPORTANT

1.       REGARDLESS  OF HOW MANY  SHARES  YOU OWN,  YOUR VOTE IS VERY  
         IMPORTANT. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD.

         PLEASE VOTE EACH WHITE PROXY CARD YOU  RECEIVE  SINCE EACH  ACCOUNT  
         MUST BE VOTED SEPARATELY. ONLY YOUR LATEST DATED PROXY COUNTS.

2.       WE URGE YOU NOT TO SIGN ANY GOLD PROXY CARDS SENT TO YOU BY THE GROUP.

3.       EVEN IF YOU HAVE SENT A GOLD PROXY CARD TO THE GROUP, YOU HAVE EVERY
         RIGHT TO CHANGE YOUR VOTE. YOU MAY REVOKE THAT PROXY, AND VOTE FOR THE
         BOARD'S NOMINEES BY SIGNING, DATING AND MAILING THE ENCLOSED WHITE
         PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

   
4.       IF YOUR SHARES ARE HELD IN THE NAME OF THEA BANK, BROKER OR OTHER
         NOMINEE, PLEASE DIRECT THE PARTY RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ACCOUNT TO VOTE
         THE WHITE PROXY CARD AS RECOMMENDED BY YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR DESIRE ASSISTANCE IN VOTING YOUR PROXY, PLEASE
CONTACT EITHER ME (COLLECT) AT (978) 287-5100 OR RAYMOND PRYOR ATC0NTACT SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AT (212) 422-0430 OR 1 (800) ____________________.733-8481, 
EXTENSION 402.
    

On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you for your continued support.

                                          Sincerely,



                                          Carl H. Guild, Jr.
                                          Chairman and
                                          Chief Executive Officer





                      TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
   
                  Notice of 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
                           To Be Held July __,August 14, 1998
    
To our Stockholders:
   
Notice is hereby given that the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the
"Meeting") of Technical Communications Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation
(the "Company"), will be held at the Company's offices, 100 Domino Drive,
Concord, Massachusetts 01742-2892 at 10:00 a.m. on _________, July __,Friday, August 14, 1998:
    
   
         1.       To elect seven (7) directors, each to serve for a one (1) year term
            or until their respective successors have been duly elected and
            qualified; provided, however, that in the event that a continuing
            dispute relating to whether the Board members shall have staggered
            terms (the "Dispute") is resolved in the Company's favor, the
            Company's Board would be staggered, with directors serving different
            terms, and the proxies named herein shall vote to elect the two (2) Class I Directors named herein, each to serve
                  for a term of three (3) years or until their respective
                  successors have been duly elected and qualified;
    
         2.       To ratify the selection of the firm of Arthur Andersen LLP as
                  auditors for the Company for the fiscal year ending October 3,
                  1998;

         3.       To act upon a stockholder proposal as described in the
                  accompanying proxy statement; and

         4.       To consider and act upon such other business and matters or
                  proposals as may properly come before the Meeting or any
                  adjournments thereof.
   
THE COMPANY REQUESTS THAT ALL STOCKHOLDERS READ THOROUGHLY THE ACCOMPANYING
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT. M. Mahmud Awan, Philip Phalon,
Robert B. Bregman and William Martindale, Jr. (collectively, the "Group") are
soliciting proxies for the election of five (5) nominees in opposition to those nominated
by the Company. If the Group is able to elect five (5) directors to
the Board, then the Group would control a majority of the Board of Directors.
YOU SHOULD KNOW that this Group is pursuing a lawsuit against the Company and
its directors, including its new independent directors, based on innuendo and
intentional or reckless falsehoods. YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT MESSRS. PHALON AND AWAN-- FORCED TO TESTIFY
UNDER OATH --- NOW ADMIT that manysome of the most significant allegations in their
complaint were unfounded and unsubstantiated, and that some were included in the
complaint based on information provided to them by persons they cannot now
remember or identify, and others are based on pure guesswork. Their success in court
to date has been based in large part onIn light of these
false allegations andfacts, the Company believes that the Group is continuingpursuing its efforts through legal channels.lawsuit against the
Company and its directors, including its new independent directors, based on
innuendo and intentional or reckless falsehoods. For the reasons described
herein, the Company's Board of Directors urges you to vote AGAINST the Group's
nominees and AGAINST the stockholder proposal that is described in the Proxy
Statement.
    

The seven (7) candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected
at the Meeting. In the event that the Dispute is resolved in the Company's
favor, the Company's Board would be staggered, with directors serving different
terms, and the proxies named herein shall vote to elect


   
the two (2) Class I Directors named herein. In such event, theThe two (2) candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected at
the Meeting.
    
   
Stockholders of record on the books of the Company at the close of business on
May 29,June 22, 1998, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting.
    
Whether or not you expect to attend the Meeting, please sign, date and return
the enclosed WHITE proxy in the enclosed envelope at your earliest convenience.
If you return your WHITE proxy, you may nevertheless attend the Meeting, revoke
your proxy, and vote your shares in person.

                                 IMPORTANT

1.       REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY SHARES YOU OWN, YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT.  
         PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD.

         PLEASE VOTE EACH WHITE PROXY CARD YOU RECEIVE SINCE EACH ACCOUNT MUST 
         BE VOTED SEPARATELY. ONLY YOUR LATEST DATED PROXY COUNTS.

2.       WE URGE YOU NOT TO SIGN ANY GOLD PROXY CARDS SENT TO YOU BY THE GROUP.

3.       EVEN IF YOU HAVE SENT A GOLD PROXY CARD TO THE GROUP, YOU HAVE EVERY
         RIGHT TO CHANGE YOUR VOTE. YOU MAY REVOKE THAT PROXY, AND VOTE FOR THE
         BOARD'S NOMINEES BY SIGNING, DATING AND MAILING THE ENCLOSED WHITE
         PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

4.       IF YOUR SHARES ARE HELD IN THE NAME OF THE BANK, BROKER OR OTHER
         NOMINEE, PLEASE DIRECT THE PARTY RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ACCOUNT TO VOTE
         THE WHITE PROXY CARD AS RECOMMENDED BY YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Meeting.

                                             By Order of the Board of Directors,



                                             Edward E. Hicks, Clerk
Concord, Massachusetts
July      ____,, 1998


It is important that your shares be represented at the Meeting. Whether or not
you plan to attend the Meeting, please sign, date and mail the enclosed proxy
in the enclosed envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in the United 
States.




                      TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                                       FOR
                       1998 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

                                  July __, 1998
   
Proxies enclosed with this proxy statement are solicited by and on behalf of the
Board of Directors (the "Board of Directors") of Technical Communications
Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation (the "Company"), for use at the 1998
Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") to be held at the Company's
offices, 100 Domino Drive, Concord, Massachusetts, at 10:00 a.m. on _______, 
July __,Friday,
August 14, 1998, and at any adjournments thereof. The proxies named herein shall
vote to elect the two (2) Class I Directors named herein, each to serve for a
term of three (3) years. M. Mahmud Awan, Philip A. Phalon, Robert B. Bregman and
William C. Martindale, Jr. (collectively, the "Group") have filed a proxy
statement (the "Group Proxy") under the provisions of Regulation 14A of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC" or the "Commission"). Under the Group Proxy, the Group is
soliciting proxies for the election of five (5) nominees in opposition to the individuals
nominated by the Company's Board of Directors at the Meeting. The individuals
named in the Group Proxy and their backgrounds, together with the reasons for
the Board's opposition to their election, are described herein. In the event that a continuing dispute 
relating to whether the Board members shall have staggered terms (the 
"Dispute") is resolved in the Company's favor, the Company's Board would be 
staggered, with directors serving different terms, and the proxies named 
herein shall vote to elect the two (2) Class I Directors named herein, each 
to serve for a term of three (3) years. YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT AND WILL 
DETERMINE WHETHER A SMALL GROUP OF FOUR STOCKHOLDERS WILL GAIN MAJORITY 
CONTROL OF YOUR BOARD AND THUS DIRECT THE COMPANY'S ASSETS AND RESOURCES. YOU 
SHOULD KNOW that this Group is pursuing a lawsuit against the Company and its 
directors, including its new independent directors, based on innuendo and 
intentional or reckless falsehoods. YOU SHOULD KNOW
THAT MESSRS. PHALON AND AWAN-- FORCED TO TESTIFY UNDER OATH - NOWOATH--NOW ADMIT that manysome
of the most significant allegations in their complaint were unfounded and
unsubstantiated, and that some were included in the complaint based on
information provided to them by persons they cannot now remember or identify and
others are based on pure guesswork. Their success in court to date has been based in large part onIn light of these false 
allegations andfacts, the Company
believes that the Group is continuingpursuing its efforts through legal channels.lawsuit against the Company and its
directors, including its new independent directors, based on innuendo and
intentional or reckless falsehoods. For the reasons described herein, your Board
of Directors urges you to vote AGAINST the Group's nominees and AGAINST the
stockholder proposal described in this Proxy Statement.
    
   
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR DESIRE ASSISTANCE IN VOTING YOUR PROXY, PLEASE
CONTACT EITHER CARL H. GUILD, JR. (COLLECT) AT (978) 287-5100 OR:CONTACT:
    
                     SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
                             26 BROADWAY, ROOM 1640
                               NEW YORK, NY 10004
   
                      ATTN: RAYMOND PRYOR

                                 (212) 422-0430
                                  (800) _______733-8481, Extension 402
    

                                       1



SHARES OUTSTANDING AND VOTING PROCEDURES
   
Only holders of record of outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock as of
the close of business on May 29,June 22, 1998, are entitled to notice of and to vote at
the Meeting.
    
   
1
As of May 29,June 22, 1998, there are 1,283,238 shares of the Company's Common Stock
outstanding of which 1,247,505 are entitled to vote. The shares of Common Stock
are the only voting securities of the Company. Stockholders are entitled to cast
one vote for each share held of record.
    
Although the Technical Communications Corporation Employees' Stock Ownership
Plan (the "ESOP") was terminated October 1, 1997, until vested shares are
distributed, participants who execute proxies will have the shares allocated to
their accounts voted by the Trustees of the ESOP as they direct. The ESOP also
provides that the Trustees shall vote any shares allocated to participants'
accounts as to which they have not received voting instructions in the same
proportion as shares in participants' accounts as to which voting instructions
are received. The Trustee of the ESOP has indicated that he intends to follow
these pass-through voting provisions of the ESOP unless doing so would conflict
with the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended ("ERISA"), including but not limited to the prudence requirements of
ERISA. Participants in the ESOP will receive proxies applicable to their
holdings in the ESOP on which they are to indicate their voting instructions to
the Trustee.
   
If the enclosed WHITE proxy is properly marked, signed, and returned in time to
be voted at the Meeting, and is not subsequently revoked, the shares represented
by proxy will be voted in accordance with the instructions marked thereon. The
proxy is in ballot form so that a specification may be made (i) to grant or
withhold authority to vote for the election of Directors, (ii) to vote for or
against, or abstain from voting on, the ratification of the firm of Arthur
Andersen LLP as the Company's auditors, and (iii) to vote for or against, or
abstain from voting on the stockholder proposal. SIGNED PROXIES RETURNED TO THE
COMPANY AND NOT MARKED TO THE CONTRARY WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE ELECTION OF
THE SEVEN (7) DIRECTORS NOMINATED FOR ELECTION BY THE BOARD AND IN FAVOR OF THE
RATIFICATION OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS AND AGAINST THE
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL. If the Dispute is resolved in the Company's favor, the
Company's Board would be staggered, with directors serving different terms, and
the proxies named herein shall vote to elect the two (2) Class I Directors named
herein, each to serve for a term of three (3) years, and in such event SIGNED
PROXIES RETURNED TO THE COMPANY AND NOT MARKED TO THE CONTRARY WILL BE VOTED IN
FAVOR OF THE ELECTION OF THE TWO (2) CLASS I DIRECTORS NOMINATED BY THE BOARD AND IN FAVOR OF THE
RATIFICATION OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS AND AGAINST THE
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL. Any stockholder may revoke a proxy at any time prior to
its exercise by filing a later-dated proxy or a written notice of revocation
with the Clerk of the Company. Stockholders attending the Meeting may also
revoke their proxies by voting in person at the Meeting.
    
   
  YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT AND WILL DETERMINE WHETHER A SMALL GROUP OF FOUR
STOCKHOLDERS WILL GAIN MAJORITY CONTROL OF YOUR BOARD AND THUS DIRECT THE
COMPANY'S ASSETS AND RESOURCES. In the event that a quorum cannot be achieved, including both votes being cast
in person and by proxy, it may be necessary to adjourn the Meeting until such
later date as when quorum may be achieved, at additional cost and expense to the
Company.
    

                                       2

The seven (7) candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected
at the Meeting. In the event that the Dispute is resolved in the Company's
favor, the Company's Board would be staggered, with directors serving different
terms, and the proxies named herein shall vote to elect the two (2) Class I
Directors named herein. In such event, the two (2) candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected at
the Meeting.


                                       2

    
Other than as described herein, the Board of Directors knows of no other matter
to be presented at the Meeting. If any other matter should be presented at the
Meeting upon which a vote may be properly taken, shares represented by all
proxies received by Management of the Company will be voted with respect thereto
in accordance with the judgment of the persons named as attorneys in the
proxies.

It is expected that this proxy statement and the accompanying proxy, and an
Annual Report to Stockholders, containing financial statements for the fiscal
year ended September 27, 1997, will be mailed to stockholders on or about July ___,,
1998.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
   
The following table shows, as of May 29,June 22, 1998, the ownership of Common Stock of
the Company by any person or group who is known to the Company to be the
beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company's Common Stock outstanding and
entitled to vote as of such date:
    


Amount and Nature of   
                                      Beneficial Ownership       Percent of
   Name and Address                  (Number of Shares)(1)        Class (1)
   ----------------                  ---------------------        ---------
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership Percent of Name and Address (Number of Shares) (1) Class (1) ---------------- ---------------------- ---------- Herbert A. Lerner, Trustee 97,762 (2) 7.8% (2) Technical Communications Corporation Employees' Stock Ownership Trust 100 Domino Drive Concord, MA 01742-2892 Martindale Andres & Company, Inc. 77,000 (3) 6.2% (3) 200 Four Falls Corporate Center Suite 200 West Conshohocken, PA 19428 Quest Advisory Corporation 127,200 (4) 10.2% (4) c/o Charles M. Royce 1414 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10019 M. Mahmud Awan 131,978 (3) 10.6% (3) c/o TechMan International Corporation 240 Sturbridge Road Charlton City, MA 01506
- - ---------------------------------------------------------- (1) Unless otherwise indicated, each of the persons named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares set forth opposite such person's name. Information with respect to beneficial ownership is based upon information furnished by each stockholder. 3 (2) Held as Trustee for the ESOP and represents shares that are allocated to the participants. Until vested shares of the terminated plan are distributed, each participant may direct the Trustee as to the manner in which shares allocated to his or her account shall be voted. The ESOP provides that the Trustee shall vote any shares allocated to participants' accounts as to which they have not received voting 3 instructions in the same proportion as shares in participants' accounts as to which voting instructions are received. Mr. Lerner disclaims beneficial ownership of these 97,762 shares. (3) The nature of ownership of Mr. Awan and Martindale Andres & Company ("MAC") as set forth herein is based upon their Schedule 13D, as amended, on file with the SEC. The Schedule 13D was filed on behalf of a "group" (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) consisting of Mr. Awan, Philip A. Phalon, Robert B. Bregman and William C. Martindale, Jr., principal of MAC. The beneficial ownership of each member of the group is as follows: Mr. Awan has beneficial ownership of 131,978 shares (10.6% of Class), Mr. Phalon has beneficial ownership of 2,250 shares (0.2% of Class), Mr. Bregman has beneficial ownership of 2,700 shares (0.2% of Class) and Mr. Martindale in his capacity as investment advisor may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of 77,000 shares (6.2% of Class), which shares are owned by numerous clients of MAC. Of the 77,000 shares, Mr. Martindale has sole dispositive and voting power over 10,000 shares and shared dispositive and voting power over 67,000 shares. (4) The nature of ownership of Quest Advisory Corporation ("Quest") as set forth herein is based upon their Schedule 13G on file with the SEC. Quest in its capacity as investment advisor may be deemed the beneficial owner of the 127,200 shares indicated in the above table, which shares are owned by numerous clients of Quest. Mr. Royce disclaims beneficial ownership of the 127,200 shares owned by Quest. I. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION AS DIRECTORS OF THE NOMINEES LISTED BELOW. A. Number of and Nominees for Directors The Company's stockholders are being asked to elect two (2) members of the Board of Directors. Currently,Stockholders should note, however, that on May 22, 1998, one of the Company's Directors, Philip Phalon, joined an individual named M. Mahmud Awan in a lawsuit against the Company and its directors (other than Mr. Phalon), filed in Massachusetts Superior Court, Middlesex County (the "Court"), entitled Philip A. Phalon and M. Mahmud Awan v. Technical Communications Corporation, Arnold McCalmont, Herbert A. Lerner, Robert T. Lessard, Carl H. Guild, Mitchell B. Briskin, Donald Lake and Thomas E. Peoples, Civil Action No. 98-2553 (the "Group Lawsuit"). In the action, the plaintiffs, which include Mr. Phalon, a long-time director and former acting President of the Company, allege a breach of fiduciary duty by directors relating to actions of the Board including improper denial of access to stockholder information. Forced to testify under oath, Mr. Awan and Mr. Phalon now admit that some of the most significant allegations in the complaint were unfounded and unsubstantiated, and that Mr. Phalon certified to them for the complaint based either on information provided to him by 4 persons he cannot now remember or identify, or on pure guesswork. Specifically, the complaint alleges among other actions: (i) that the Company "covered up" the results of its internal investigation and that the former Chief Executive Officer and President, as well as the former Chief Financial Officer, were terminated for their refusal to participate in the alleged "cover-up"; (ii) that the Company's directors, with the exception of Mr. Phalon but including the recently elected independent directors are allegedly "beholden" to Arnold McCalmont, and therefore under his control; (iii) that Mr. Mitchell Briskin, one of the new independent directors, allegedly made a large investment in Net2Net, a company founded by Mr. McCalmont's son; and (iv) that new director Mr. Donald Lake is a banker that previously handled personal banking and financial matters for Arnold McCalmont and his family. The Board believes that the false allegations were included in the complaint not on the basis of fact, but instead as part of an intentional strategy of innuendo and deception aimed at painting the Company's Board, including its new independent directors as "cronies" involved in a "cover-up" scheme. The Board reaches this conclusion based upon sworn admissions by members of the Group that the allegations appearing in the Group's complaint that a previous relationship existed between Arnold McCalmont and the independent directors were unfounded and that they had no personal knowledge of Mr. Briskin's alleged investment or Mr. Lake's banking relationship, neither of which existed. The complaint also challenges the effectiveness of certain actions taken by the Board of Directors is composed of eight (8) directors, each of whom are serving for a one (1) year term which shall expire at the Meeting or when their successors are duly elected and qualified or when he sooner dies, resigns, is removed, or becomes disqualified. Onon April 30, 1998 in creating staggered terms for the Board. On June 10, 1998, on the basis of the allegations made by Messrs. Phalon and again onAwan, the Court issued a decision and order (the "Order"). The Court denied the plaintiffs' request for stockholder information, but ordered the Company to distribute plaintiffs' proxy materials, but only at plaintiffs' expense. The Court also enjoined the effectiveness of the April 30 vote. On June 24, 1998, the Company's independent outside Board members, who were not involved in the April 30 vote, voted to opt in to the provisions of Directors, after careful considerationMassachusetts law creating staggered terms for boards of past management deficiencies and performance, established specific goals to movedirectors. Other than Mr. Phalon, none of the board members involved in the April 30 vote participated in any of the discussions on or the vote taken June 24. On June 28, 1998, the Company forward in terms of market share, technological innovationfiled motions for clarification and revenue growth. To these ends, on April 30, 1998 and again on June 24, 1998, the Board acted to enlarge the size of the Board, to add qualified, experienced and independent new board members, and to opt into the protections provided by Massachusetts state law under M.G.L. c.156B, Section 50A, which provides for the continuity and efficiencies of a staggered board. On June 10, 1998, the Court, by wayreconsideration of the Order (as defined herein), enjoined the first vote of the Board which staggered the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 50A. The Company's appeal of the Order (as defined herein) has, to date, been unsuccessful. The statuslight of the June 24 vote, however, is in dispute. In any event, whetherBoard action. On July 6, 1998, the Company nominates atCourt denied the Meeting seven (7) directors for one (1) year terms or two (2) Class I Directors for three (3) year terms, all of the Company's nominees are committed to enhancing long term stockholder value. 4 If the current dispute surroundingmotions, but let stand the June 24, 1998 Board action. Thus, the Court has not issued any order invalidating the June 24, 1998 action by the Company's independent Board members and the Company believes that this vote is resolvedvalid, effective and in force. Nonetheless, the Company's favor,plaintiffs have filed a complaint for civil contempt against the Company's Board would be staggered, with directors serving different terms,members, excluding Philip Phalon, as a result of the June 24 Board action. The Court has scheduled a hearing on the matter for July 10, 1998. 5 On the basis of the foregoing and pending any action by the proxies named herein shall vote to electCourt, the Company will nominate and seek the election of the two (2) Class I Directors named herein, eachDirector nominees identified in this proxy statement at the Meeting scheduled for August 14, 1998. Stockholders should note, however, that the Court could, among other actions, either before or after the Meeting, (i) require the Company to serve forreconsider whether it may properly opt in to the provisions of Section 50A, (ii) require the Board to postpone the Meeting pending the resolution of the Group Lawsuit, or (iii) require the Company to hold a termnew election of three (3) years. In such event,the Board. The Company intends to inform stockholders via press releases and filings with the Commission of the status of the Group Lawsuit as it progresses. Presently, the Board of Directors shall beis constituted as follows: The term of office of those of the first class ("Class I Directors"), which consists of two (2) directors, shall expire at the Meeting or when their successors are duly elected and qualified or when he sooner dies, resigns, is removed, or becomes disqualified; the term of office of those of the second class ("Class II Directors"), which consists of three (3) directors, shall expire at the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or when their successors are duly elected and qualified or when he sooner dies, resigns, is removed, or becomes disqualified; and the term of office of those of the third class ("Class III Directors"), which consists of three (3) directors, shall expire at the 2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or when their successors are duly elected and qualified or when he sooner dies, resigns, is removed, or becomes disqualified. At each Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Directors chosen to succeed those whose terms then expire shall be elected for a full term of office expiring at the third succeeding Annual Meeting of Stockholders after their election or until their successors are duly elected and qualified or until he sooner dies, resigns, is removed, or becomes disqualified. Vacancies and newly created directorships, resulting from any reason, may be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office. Stockholders should note however, that on May 22, 1998, one of the Company's Directors, Philip Phalon, joined an individual named M. Mahmud Awan in a lawsuit against the Company and its directors (other than Mr. Phalon), filed in Massachusetts Superior Court, Middlesex County (the "Court"), entitled Philip A. Phalon and M. Mahmud Awan v. Technical Communications Corporation, Arnold McCalmont, Herbert A. Lerner, Robert T. Lessard, Carl H. Guild, Mitchell B. Briskin, Donald Lake and Thomas E. Peoples, Civil Action No. 98-2553 (the "Group Lawsuit"). In the action, the plaintiffs, which include Mr. Phalon, a long-time director and former acting President of the Company, allege a breach of fiduciary duty by directors relating to actions of the Board including improper denial of access to stockholder information. Forced to testify under oath, Mr. Awan and Mr. Phalon now admit that many allegations in the complaint, were unfounded and unsubstantiated, and that Mr. Phalon certified to them for the complaint based either on information provided to him by persons he cannot now remember or identify, or on pure guesswork. The Board believes that the false allegations were included in the complaint not on the basis of fact, but instead as part of an intentional strategy of innuendo and deception aimed at painting the Company's Board, including its the new independent directors as "cronies" involved in a "coverup" scheme. The complaint also challenges the effectiveness of certain actions taken by the Board of Directors on April 30, 1998 in creating staggered terms for the Board. On June 10, 1998, on the basis of the allegations made by Messrs. Phalon and Awan, the Court issued a decision and order (the "Order"). The Court denied the plaintiffs' request for stockholder information, but ordered the Company to distribute plaintiffs' proxy materials, but only at plaintiffs' expense. The status of the June 24 vote in which the new independent directors voted to create staggered terms for the Board is still in dispute. 5 IF THE DISPUTE IS RESOLVED IN THE COMPANY'S FAVOR, THEN THE COMPANY'S BOARD WOULD BE STAGGERED, WITH DIRECTORS SERVING DIFFERENT TERMS, ANDACCORDINGLY, THE PROXIES NAMED HEREIN SHALL VOTE TO ELECT THE TWO (2) CLASS I DIRECTORS NAMED HEREIN, EACH TO SERVE FOR A TERM OF THREE (3) YEARS. THESE INDIVIDUALS INCLUDE MESSRS. BRISKIN AND RESNICK. MR. ARNOLD MCCALMONT, CURRENTLY A DIRECTOR, HAS INDICATED THAT HE WILL NOT STAND FOR REELECTION AS A DIRECTOR IF THE DISPUTE IS NOT RESOLVED IN THE COMPANY'S FAVOR. IF THE DISPUTE IS RESOLVED IN THE COMPANY'S FAVOR, MR. MCCALMONT HAS INDICATED THAT HE WILL RESIGN AS A DIRECTOR IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE MEETING AND BEFORE ANY MEETING OF THE NEWLY ELECTED NOMINEES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Philip Phalon, a current director who is suing the Company, advised the Company on January 26, 1998 that he will not seek another term on a slate that includes the Company's current Board members. His decision arises from his disagreement with Company policies and procedures in several respects. First, he believes that the Board of Directors has failed to manage the Company appropriately. His view arises from his disagreement with certain transactions and from his perception that the Board caused Company management to be inefficient or unproductive. 6 Second, he believes that the recently concluded independent internal review of certain foreign transactions should have lead the Company to seek restitution of investigation costs. Finally, he disagrees with any action by the Board that would render the Company subject to the provisions of Massachusetts law c.156B, ss. 50A ("Section 50A") which creates staggered terms for, or "classifies," the Board of Directors. Rather than work with the current Board, which now includes three new independent outside members, to develop objectives for enhancing stockholder value, Mr. Phalon has aligned himself with three other individuals and has sued the Company to facilitate the Group's attempt to gain majority control ofa foothold in the Board and thusattempt to direct the Company's assets and resources. The Board of Directors concurs that the prior management was deficient in several respects. The current Board, however, believes that it has appropriately supervised the operations of the Company, and notes that for some period of time Mr. Phalon himself was acting President. The Board has made a considered review of the results of the internal review and believes its response - including the termination of all relationships with James McCalmont, a former director and employee, and disclosure to relevant governmental agencies - was appropriate and prudent. Further, the Board also notes that although no specific amounts were allocated to restitution, it did satisfactorily resolve all financial issues, including the waiver of substantial sales commissions that are or may be due to James McCalmont. In addition, the Board has elected three new independent directors with no previous ties to the Company. Finally, the Board believes that bringing the Company within the scope of Massachusetts law c.156B, ss.Section 50A is appropriate to preserve and enhance the long-term value at the Company to its stockholders. Section 50A, which was passed by the Massachusetts legislature in 1990 to protect Norton Company and other Massachusetts public companies from hostile bidders or costly proxy battles, requires that Massachusetts public companies classify or stagger the terms of their board members. This classification prevents the wholesale precipitous change of the entire board in any one year, promoting stability in corporate affairs and effectively requiring that any hostile 6 bidder or group deal with a majority of then-current board members, which board members are obligated to represent all stockholders -- instead of a completely new slate of directors owing their allegiance to the small group that elected them. In addition, the Company believes that a staggered Board of Directors facilitates continuity and stability of leadership and corporate policy by permitting new directors to become familiar with the business of the Company and to benefit from the experience of the continuing directors. The Board agrees with the policy advanced by the Massachusetts legislature and believes that -- for now -- bringing-bringing the Company within the scope of Massachusetts law, ss.Section 50A, is appropriate and that continuity at the Board level will preserve and enhance the long-term value of the Company and its stockholders as described above. The Board notes that ss.Section 50A provides that the Company can "opt out" of its statutory protections by a Board vote or by a 2/3 stockholder vote. Moreover, Board members organized into classes also can be removed for cause, as defined in the statute. Finally, the Board believes that opting in to the protections of ss.Section 50A, like any decision to implement a takeover defensive mechanism, is not permanent and in fact must be reassessed periodically to ensure that the interests of all stockholders can be served in light of any negotiated transaction or proxy contest. 7 The Board notes that the election of directors by classes is a common practice that has been adopted by many large companies and that it is specifically permitted by the laws of many states, including Massachusetts, the Company's state of incorporation. At the Meeting, unless the pending dispute surrounding the June 24 vote is resolved in the Company's favor and the Board of Directors is deemed to be staggered as set forth above, it will be the intention of the persons named as proxies to vote the proxies, unless authority to vote is specifically withheld, to elect the seven (7)two (2) individuals nominated by the Company, such individuals to include Messrs. Briskin Guild, Lake, Lerner, Lessard, Peoples and Resnick. In such an event, the directors so elected shallResnick, each to serve until the 1999 Annual Meetingfor a term of Stockholdersthree (3) years or until their successors are duly elected and qualified or until he sooner dies, resigns, is removed, or becomes disqualified. Mr. Arnold McCalmont, currently a Director, has indicated that he will not stand for reelection as a director if the Dispute is not resolved in the Company's favor, and if the Dispute is resolved in the Company's favor, Mr. McCalmont has indicated that he will resign as a director immediately following the Meeting and before any meeting of the newly elected nominees to the Board of Directors. If the DisputeGroup Lawsuit is resolved in the Company's favor, the terms of the Class I Directors, which would consist of Philip A. Phalon and Mitchell B. Briskin, shall expire at the Meeting and the Company's Board would beremain staggered, with directors serving different terms, and the proxies named herein shall, unless authority to vote is specifically withheld, vote to elect as the two (2) Class I Directors Mr. Briskin and Mr. Resnick, each to serve for a term of three (3) years or until their successors are duly elected and qualified or until he sooner dies, resigns, is removed, or becomes disqualified.Resnick. The following table sets forth the year each director (or director nominee) first became a director, the position currently held by each director (or director nominee) with the Company, the principal occupation of each of the directors during the past five years, any other directorships held by such person in any company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or in any company registered as an investment company under the Investment 7 Company Act of 1940, as amended, the age of each director (or director nominee), the current business address of each director, the class of directors to which the director would be belong to should the Dispute is resolved in the Company's favor,belongs, and the number of shares and percentage of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote of the Company beneficially owned by each director (or director nominee) and by all directors, director nominees and officers as a group, as of May 15,June 22, 1998. The following table also sets forth the names of all executive officers of the Company, the year each first became an executive officer, the position currently held by each officer of the Company, the principal occupation of each officer during the past five years, the age of each officer, and the number of shares and percentage of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote of the Company beneficially owned by each officer as of May 15, 1998. 8
Director's and Officer's Amount and Nature Name and Year Positions and of Beneficial First Became a Director or Offices with Ownership Percent of Officer(2)(3) the Company Age (# of shares)(1) Class (1) -------------------------- ------------- ----------- --- ---------------- -------------------------- ---------- Mitchell B. Briskin (4) Director 39 0 0% 100 Main Street, Suite 320 Concord, MA 01742 1998 - Class I Bernard Resnick (5) Director nominee 72 0 0% 11 Black Oak Road Wayland, MA 01778 (director nominee)- Class I Herbert A. Lerner (6) Director, Treasurer, 71 3,936(7)3,936 (7) 0.3% Technical Communications Treasurer, CFO Corporation 100 Domino Drive Concord, MA 01742-2892 1961 - Class II Robert T. Lessard (8) Director 57 0 0% 2417 Beechnut Place Odenton, MD 21113 1997 - Class II Arnold M. McCalmont (9) Director 68 11,007(10)11,007 (10) 0.9% 1 Powers Road Hollis, NH 03049 1961 - Class II
8 Carl H. Guild, Jr. (11) Director, 54 24,000(12)24,000 (12) 1.9% Technical Communications Chairman of the Corporation Board of Directors, 100 Domino Drive Directors, CEO Concord, MA 01742-2892 1997 - Class III 9 Donald Lake (13) Director 53 0 0% 19570 Top O The Moor Drive East Monument, CO 80132 1998 - Class III Thomas E. Peoples (14) Director 49 0 0% 1025 Connecticut Avenue Suite 501 Washington, DC 20036 1998 - Class III Non-Director Officers - - --------------------- John I. Gill (15) Executive Vice 59 19,551(16)19,551 (16) 1.6% 1985 President Dale G. Peterson (17) President 35 20,000(18)20,000 (18) 1.6% 1998 All directors, director nominees and officers as a group (10 persons) 78,494(19)78,494 (19) 6.3%
- - ------------------------- (1) Unless otherwise indicated, each of the persons named in the table has sole voting and investment powers with respect to the shares set forth opposite such person's name. With respect to each person or group, percentages are calculated based on the number of shares beneficially owned plus shares that may be acquired by such person or group within sixty days upon the exercise of stock options. Unless otherwise indicated herein, none of the persons named in this table is, or was within the past year, a party to any contract, arrangementsarrangement or understandingsunderstanding with any person with respect to any securities of the Company, including, but not limited to, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees against loss or guarantees against loss or guarantees of profit, division of losses or profits, or the giving or withholding of proxies. 9 None of the persons named in the table, nor any of their respective associates have any arrangement or understanding with any person with respect to any future employment by the Company or its affiliates, or with respect to any future transactions to which the Company or any of its affiliates will or may be a party. Except as otherwise described herein, none of the persons named in this table own any security of the Company of record but not beneficially. (2) Roland Gerard resigned from the Board on February 13, 1998. Prior to that time he served as the President and Chief Executive Officer. James A. McCalmont resigned from the Board on January 13, 1998. On April 30, 1998, Mr. Briskin, Mr. 10 Lake and Mr. Peoples were all elected by the Board to fill vacancies on the Board resulting from resignations. (3) Philip A. Phalon will not be continuing as a Director of the Company following the Meeting. Mr. Phalon was Senior Vice-President for Corporate Marketing for Raytheon Company from 1983 through September 1990. From May 1994 through June 1995, Mr. Phalon was the Company's Acting President. (4) Mitchell Briskin is a principal at Concord Investment Partners in Concord, Massachusetts. In this capacity, he is responsible for all aspects of private equity investing with a focus on creating value in middle market companies through operational improvements. From 1990 until 1995, Mr. Briskin was General Manager at General Chemical Corporation. In this role he managed operations and sales which included full P&L responsibility, and he substantially improved the Company's financial performance through expansions, turnaround strategies and operating management. Prior to this, Mr. Briskin was a lawyer with Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler in New York City. He holds a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration. He was also awarded a Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law, and a B.A. from Wesleyan University. (5) Bernard Resnick has 43 years experience in the communications products industry. Most recently from 1986 to 1993, Mr. Resnick was Vice President and General Manager of the Mobile Subscriber Equipment (MSE) Division of GTE Government Systems. In this role, he was responsible for a multi-billion dollar communications program awarded by the U.S. Army, as well as the worldwide marketing, logistics, training and management of the division's communications business. He was awarded several government awards as a result of the success of the program including the Bronze Medal of the Dispute of Mercury. Prior to this, Mr. Resnick was Director of Engineering for the Electronic Systems Group at GTE-Eastern Division. Mr. Resnick was employed at GTE from 1958 to 1993 and then retired. Mr. Resnick holds a BSEE from Northeastern University and a MSEE from Yale University. (6) Herbert A. Lerner has been a director of the Company since 1961, and employed as Treasurer since 1961, with the exception of 1987. Mr. Lerner has been serving as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company since the termination of Graham R. Briggs on January 14, 1998. From 1990 until June 1, 1992, he was a Programs Business Manager with Raytheon Company. In addition to his duties at the Company, Mr. Lerner is currently an independent consultant. (7) Includes 3,750 shares that may be acquired by Mr. Lerner within sixty (60) days upon exercise of stock options. Excludes 97,762 shares held by the ESOP, which 10 Mr. Lerner, as a trustee of the ESOP, may be deemed to own beneficially. Mr. Lerner disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. With respect to shares now owned by him, Mr. Lerner shares the voting and investment powers with his wife. 11 (8) Robert T. Lessard was employed in a variety of management positions from 1966 through December 1995 at the U.S. National Security Agency ("NSA"), Department of Defense. During his final two years at NSA, Mr. Lessard was the Group Chief in the Operations Directorate responsible for communications and cryptographic technology. Since his retirement in December 1995, he has represented the Director of the National Security Agency on several special projects. (9) Arnold M. McCalmont has been a director since 1961, and was President of the Company from 1961 through August 22, 1993. Mr. McCalmont served as Chairman of the Board from 1961 until 1998. Mr. McCalmont retired as an employee of the Company in March 1998. Mr. McCalmont has indicated that he will not stand for reelection as a director if the DisputeGroup Lawsuit is not resolved in the Company's favor, and if the DisputeGroup Lawsuit is resolved in the Company's favor, Mr. McCalmont has indicated that he will resign as a director immediately following the Meeting and before any meeting of the newly elected nominees to the Board of Directors. On June 4, 1996 Mr. McCalmont sold 4,000 shares of the Company's stock. (10) The 11,007 shares are allocated to Arnold M. McCalmont under the Company's ESOP. (11) Carl H. Guild, Jr. was elected to the Board on May 1, 1997. Upon Mr. Gerard's resignation from the Board on February 13, 1998, Mr. Guild replaced Mr. Gerard as Chief Executive Officer and was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors. From 1993 to 1997, he was a Senior Vice President with Raytheon Engineers and Constructors, Inc., a unit of Raytheon Company. Mr. Guild had been an independent consultant to the Company from May 1, 1997 until February 13, 1998. (12) Includes 24,000 shares that may be acquired by Mr. Guild within sixty (60) days upon exercise of stock options. (13) Donald Lake has been a financial consultant to various federal government agencies since 1991. Before initiating his consulting practice, from 1990 to 1991, Mr. Lake served as Director of the International Banking Services Division of the American Security Bank in Washington, D.C. Prior to this, Mr. Lake was the Managing Director of the Maryland Bank International S.A. in Luxembourg. Mr. Lake holds an M.S. from Texas Christian University and a B.A. from the University of Illinois. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at George Washington University. (14) Thomas E. Peoples is the Vice President for International and Washington Operations of Aerojet, a privately held aerospace and defense contractor and has 11 been employed by that company since 1992. Prior to his employment with Aerojet, Mr. Peoples served as Manager of Business Development for Smart Munitions Programs at Raytheon Company. Prior to this, Mr. Peoples served as 12 Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition. Mr. Peoples holds an M.S. from Troy State University and a B.A. from Benedictine College. (15) John I. Gill has been employed by the Company since August 1983. (16) Includes 9,551 shares currently allocated to Mr. Gill under the ESOP. (17) Dale G. Peterson has been employed as President of the Company since his re-employment in February, 1998. From 1996 to 1998, Mr. Peterson served as Director of Business Development, Network Security, for Racal Data Group, a subsidiary of Racal Electronics Plc, a public company engaged in the production of telecommunications, defense electronics and data products. Prior to this, Mr. Peterson was employed by the Company in various sales and marketing roles from 1990 to 1996. Prior to this, Mr. Peterson was employed by the National Security Agency from 1984 to 1990. Mr. Peterson holds a B.S. from the University of Illinois. (18) Includes 20,000 shares that may be acquired by Mr. Peterson within sixty (60) days upon exercise of stock options. (19) Includes 47,750 shares that the directors and officers have the right to acquire within sixty (60) days of May 15, 1998, by the exercise of stock options. Also includes an aggregate of 20,558 shares that are allocated to the accounts of officers under the ESOP. For a discussion of the voting and investment powers with respect to such shares, see page 2 and footnote (1) on page 3. A quorum being present, the seven (7) candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected at the Meeting. In the event that the Dispute is resolved in the Company's favor, the Company's Board would be staggered, with directors serving different terms, and the proxies named herein shall vote to elect the two (2) Class I Directors named herein. In such event, the two (2) candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected at the Meeting. Thus, abstention or broker non-votes will not be included in the totals and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote. B. Meetings of the Board of Directors and Committees The Board of Directors held five (5) meetings during the twelve months ended September 27, 1997 ("Fiscal Year 1997"). Each of the directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate of (a) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors he was eligible to attend, and (b) the total number of meetings of all committees of the Board of Directors on which he served which were held during Fiscal Year 1997. 12 The Audit Committee of the Board, of which Messrs. Guild, Lerner, and Phalon were members, held seven (7) meetings during Fiscal Year 1997. The Audit Committee oversees the accounting and tax functions of the Company, recommends to the Board the engagement of independent 13 auditors for the year subject to the approval by the stockholders of the Company, reviews with management and the auditors the plan and scope of the audit engagement, reviews the annual financial statements of the Company and any recommended changes or modifications to control procedures and accounting practices and policies, and monitors with management and the auditors the Company's systems of internal controls and its accounting and reporting practices. The Compensation Committee of the Board, of which Messrs. Lerner and Lessard were members and of which James A. McCalmont was a member until January 13, 1998, held two (2) meetings during Fiscal Year 1997. The Compensation Committee reviews and recommends to the Board compensation for the President, the Chairman of the Board and outside directors. It also reviews and recommends the adoption, amendment and implementation of incentive compensation plans, stock option plans and other employee benefit plans and programs for the Company and officers and directors of the Company. C. Compensation of Directors Directors who are not regular employees of the Company received a fee of $1,000 for attendance at the November 1996 Board of Directors meeting, and $1,200 for all meetings attended thereafter during Fiscal Year 1997. In addition, beginning with its Annual Meeting held in February 1997, each outside director is authorized an annual retainer of $2,800 paid in arrears in quarterly increments of $700 starting February 1, 1997. During Fiscal Year 1997, outside directors also received a fee of $500 for each meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors they attended. Mr. Lerner, who as the Treasurer of the Company and a part-time Company employee, was also authorized to receive the retainer and fees for attendance at meetings. In addition, pursuant to the 1990 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan, adopted by the Board of Directors in August 1990 and approved by the stockholders at the 1991 Annual Meeting, each director who was not then an employee, who attended at least 75% of Board Meetings held during the previous fiscal year, and who was not otherwise ineligible, received on the date of each Annual Meeting of Stockholders during the term of said plan an option to purchase 750 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of one hundred percent (100%) of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the option was granted. Each option had a term of five (5) years from the date of grant and was exercisable in full or in part at any time or times after the date of grant until the earlier of the expiration of such term or sixty days after the optionee ceased to serve as a director of the Company. Mr. Phalon, the then currently eligible director under the 1990 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan, received an option to purchase 750 shares following the 1997 Annual Meeting. The 1990 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan was subsequently terminated by the Board in February 1997. In February 1997, the Board approved additional director compensation that will grant 1,000 share stock options under the Company's 1991 Stock Option Plan to all directors effective as of the meeting of the Board of Directors which will follow the Meeting. These shares will have a term of five (5) years from the date of the grant and will have an exercise price equal to 85% of 13 the fair market value as of that date. In addition, all directors are to receive a grant of 500 shares of Company stock at the meeting of the Board of Directors which will follow the Meeting. 14 D. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions On November 17, 1989, the Company established the Technical Communications Corporation Employees' Stock Ownership Trust (the "Trust") for the benefit of its employees. The Trust purchased 190,350 shares of the Company's Common Stock with borrowed funds, and the Company served as guarantor of the bank loans. During Fiscal Year 1997, the Company provided two loans to the Trust in order to pay off the bank loans. At its August 27, 1997 meeting, the Board of Directors voted to terminate the ESOP, effective October 1, 1997. Herbert A. Lerner, Company director, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, is the Trustee of the Technical Communications Corporation Employees' Stock Ownership Trust. Edward E. Hicks, Esq., the Company's Secretary and Clerk, is a member of a law firm that provides legal services to the Company. Lawrence A. Kletter, Esq., who resigned as a director during Fiscal Year 1997, is a member of a law firm that provided legal services to the Company. Carl H. Guild, Jr., elected to the Board of Directors effective May 1, 1997, served as a consultant for the Board during Fiscal Year 1997, earning $52,500 in this capacity during that time. During Fiscal Years 1997 and 1996, the Company incurred expenses of $116,038 and $96,360, respectively, to FutureComms, Inc., a privately held telecommunications software consulting services company. FutureComms is owned and operated by Michelle D. Gerard, the wife of the Company's former President and Chief Executive Officer. FutureComms' work ended on August 29, 1997. On June 27, 1995, the Company invested $250,800 for a minority interest in Series B Preferred Stock of Net2Net Corporation ("Net2Net"), a privately held company involved in the development of high performance management and analysis systems for Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networks. The Company also paid a deposit for inventory, purchased at a discounted price, valued at $244,200 as well as entered into an eighteen month distribution agreement with Net2Net that gave the Company the exclusive right to sell Net2Net products to certain U.S. Government departments. As of September 27, 1997, $144,283 of the inventory had been sold and the remaining amount of $99,917 has been either written-down or fully reserved. On May 15, 1998, a wholly owned subsidiary of Visual Networks, Inc. ("Visual"), a public company, merged with and into Net2Net. Under the terms of the merger, all outstanding shares of Net2Net were exchanged for an aggregate of 2,250,000 shares of Visual common stock. Net2Net's president was Stephen McCalmont, son of Arnold M. McCalmont, and brother to former director James A. McCalmont. Arnold and James McCalmont, as well as Herbert A. Lerner, also were investors in Net2Net Corporation. This investment, which represented less than a 5% interest, was accounted for using the cost method. 1415 E. The Group's Nominees The Group has nominated Mr. Phalon, Mr. Awan, Joseph J. Hansen, Ernest R. Fenton and David A.B. Brown for election as directors. Listed below are the names and ages of the Group's nominees, their business experience during the last five years and ownership of Company stock. The information set forth below relating to the Group's nominees is taken from the Group Proxy and has not been independently verified or confirmed by the Company. Group Nominee Beneficial Ownership Background and Name, Age and of Shares Present Occupation Business Address Philip A. Phalon (69) 2,250 (1) Self-employed 40 Salem Street international marketing Lynnfield, MA 01940 and business consultant and private investor from October 1990 to the present. Interim President of the Company from May 1994 to March 1995. Director of the Company from August 1994 to the present. M. Mahmud Awan (46) 138,387 (2) Chairman and Chief 240 Sturbridge Road Executive Officer of Charlton City, MA 01506 TechMan International Corporation, a manufacturer of fiber optic medical devices and communications systems, from September 1982 to the present. Joseph J. Hansen (64) 0 (3) President of Lexington 221 Follen Road Strategic Associates, a Lexington, MA 02173-5502 strategic management consulting firm, from October 1992 to the present; Senior Lecturer in mathematics at Northeastern University from 1986 to the present. Ernest R. Fenton (51) 0 Self-employed business 4 Johns Lane consultant specializing in Lexington, MA 02173 turnaround of underperforming international businesses, from 1992 to the present. David A.B. Brown (54) 0 President of the Windsor One Boston Place Group, Inc., a business Boston, MA 02108 consulting firm focused on the 15
Group Nominee Beneficial Ownership Background and Name, Age and of Shares Present Occupation Business Address Philip A. Phalon (69) 2,250 (1) Self-employed international marketing 40 Salem Street and business consultant and private Lynnfield, MA 01940 investor from October 1990 to the present. Interim President of the Company from May 1994 to March 1995. Director of the Company from August 1994 to the present. M. Mahmud Awan (46) 138,387 (2) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 240 Sturbridge Road of TechMan International Corporation, Charlton City, MA 01506 a manufacturer of fiber optic medical devices and communications systems, from September 1982 to the present. Joseph J. Hansen (64) 0 (3) President of Lexington Strategic 221 Follen Road Associates, a strategic management Lexington, MA 02173-5502 consulting firm, from October 1992 to the present; Senior Lecturer in mathematics at Northeastern University from 1986 to the present. Ernest R. Fenton (51) 0 Self-employed business consultant 4 Johns Lane specializing in turnaround of Lexington, MA 02173 underperforming international businesses, from 1992 to the present. David A.B. Brown (54) 0 President of the Windsor Group, Inc., One Boston Place a business consulting firm focused on Boston, MA 02108 the 16 oil industry and international operations, from 1984 to the present. Mr. Brown is a director of BTU International, Inc. (thermal processing equipment and controls), EMCOR Group, Inc. (electrical and mechanical engineering) and The Marine Drilling Companies (owner and operator of offshore drilling rigs).
(1) Mr. Phalon beneficially owns 2,250 shares of Common Stock of which 500 shares are owned directly by Mr. Phalon; 1,750 shares are issuable upon exercise of stock options which are currently exercisable. (2) Mr. Awan owns 138,378 shares of Common Stock (of which 78,000 are owned by Mr. Awan directly and 60,378 of which are owned of record by TechMan International Corporation, which is wholly owned by Mr. Awan). (3) Mr. Hansen holds a revocable proxy to vote 50 shares of Common Stock owned of record by Frederick A. Kinch, a former employee of the Company. F. Board of Directors Response to The Group's Nominees On April 30, 1998, the Board of Directors, after careful consideration of past management deficiencies and performance, established specific goals to move the Company forward in terms of market share, technological innovation and revenue growth. To these ends, on April 30, 1998 the Board acted to enlarge the size of the Board, to add qualified, experienced and independent new board members, and to opt into the protections provided by Massachusetts state law under M.G.L. c.156B, Section 50A, which provides for the continuity and efficiencies of a staggered board. On June 10, 1998, the Court, by way of the Order, enjoined the April 30, 1998 vote of the Board that staggered the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 50A. On June 24, 1998, the newCompany's independent outside Board members voted to opt in to the provisions of Massachusetts law creating staggered terms for boards of directors. On June 28, 1998, the Company filed motions for clarification and reconsideration of the Order in light of the June 24 Board action. On July 6, 1998, the Court denied the motions, but let stand the June 24, 1998 Board action. Thus, the Court has not issued any order invalidating the June 24, 1998 action by the Company's independent Board members again votedand the Company believes that this vote is valid, effective and in force. Nonetheless, the plaintiffs have filed a complaint for civil contempt against the Company's Board members, excluding Philip Phalon, as a result of the June 24 Board action. The Court has scheduled a hearing on the matter for July 10, 1998. On the basis of the foregoing and pending any action by the Court, the Company will nominate and seek the election of the two Class I Director nominees identified in this proxy statement at 17 the Meeting scheduled for August 14, 1998. Stockholders should note, however, that the Court could, among other actions, either before or after the Meeting, (i) require the Company to reconsider whether it may properly opt intoin to the protections provided byprovisions of Section 50A.50A, (ii) require the Board to postpone the Meeting pending the resolution of the Group Lawsuit, or (iii) require the Company to hold a new election of the Board. The Company intends to inform stockholders via press releases and filings with the Commission of the status of this June 24 vote is still in dispute. The Company's initial appeal of the Order has, to date, been unsuccessful, however the Company is continuing its efforts to resolve the dispute. In any event, whether the Company nominates at the Meeting seven (7) directors for one (1) year terms or two (2) Class I directors for three (3) year terms, allGroup Lawsuit as it progresses. Both of the Company's nominees are committed to enhancing long term stockholder value. The Company's nominees have consulted with the Company's current management and have agreed that the Company's Board must take immediate action to return the Company to profitability and enhance stockholder value. Their contribution is expected to include -- on a regular basis -- a commitment to overseeing and advising the Company's management with respect to actions that currently are expected to include: (i) a focus of product development 16 efforts on those products that have near-term marketability and offer a chance to increase the Company's revenue and market share, (ii) the launching of new and technologically innovative encryption products aimed at the financial market, (iii) an intensification of sales efforts on current products to increase revenues, (iv) the completion and on-time delivery of custom designed secure network equipment for a key international government customer, (v) the control and reduction of the cost of operations, and (vi) a strengthening of engineering resources to align product cycles with market opportunities. YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY OR ITS STOCKHOLDERS WOULD BE SERVED BY ELECTING ANY OF MESSRS. PHALON, AWAN, HANSEN, FENTON OR BROWN, ALL OF WHOM ARE NOMINEES OF A SMALL GROUP OF STOCKHOLDERS ATTEMPTING TO GAIN MAJORITY CONTROL OF YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THUS DIRECT THE COMPANY'S ASSETS AND RESOURCES.BROWN. The Company believes that the Group's course of action and nomination of its own slate of directors may be motivated by a personal agenda that may not be aligned with the interests of the stockholders as a whole. The Company believes that Mr. Phalon is using the proxy contest to secure himself the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors, a position likely unavailable to him by vote of the new outside members of the Board of Directors. Prior to the formation of the Group of which he is a member, in December 1997 and January 1998, Mr. Phalon advised his fellow Board members that he wished to be Chairman of the Board. A deposition under oath of Mr. Phalon in the lawsuit against the Company filed in Massachusetts Superior Court, Middlesex County has revealed the following: 18 1. In late January 1998, after outside counsel had completed an internal investigation of certain historical contracts, finding that certain approval and control procedures had not been followed with respect to those contracts, Mr. Phalon and other Board members voted to (i) direct counsel to report the results of the investigation to the Commission and to the Company's auditors and (ii) make all required filings under the federal securities laws. Simultaneously, the Board authorized the issuance of a press release on these matters. 2. Instead of conveying any concerns that he had about the internal investigation or the press release to the Commission, the Company's auditors, or any other authority, Mr. Phalon chose to convey his own review and analysis of the internal investigation to a small group of persons who then began purchasing stock of the Company. In early April, this small group entered into a formal agreement that, in the event that a member of the group desires to sell his shares of Company stock to an outsider, each other member of this small group has a right of first refusal with respect to the purchase of that stock. 3. In late April, the Company's Board moved to elect three new outside directors, each with significant industry or investment banking experience and no prior contractual or other ties to the Company or any of its directors. The Board also voted to classify the terms of its members, in accordance with Massachusetts law, c. 156B, ss.50A.Section 50A. In May 1998, Mr. Phalon and M. Mahmud 17 Awan, a stockholder who had purchased Company stock on the basis of information provided by Mr. Phalon, filed a lawsuit against the Company, Mr. Phalon's fellow directors and the three new outside directors, including in their complaint manysome of the most significant allegations that Mr. Phalon and Mr. Awan now admit were unfounded and unsubstantiated. The complaint in the Group Lawsuit asserts that the Company's directors engaged in a "coverup" and self-dealing transactions. In support, the complaint includes admittedly false allegations to the effect that: (i) the threeCompany "covered up" the results of its internal investigation and that the former Chief Executive Officer and President, as well as the former Chief Financial Officer, were terminated for their refusal to participate in the alleged "cover up"; (ii) the Company's directors, with the exception of Mr. Phalon but including the recently elected independent directors are allegedly "beholden" to Arnold McCalmont, and therefore under his control; (iii) Mr. Mitchell Briskin, one of the new independent directors, elected to the Boardallegedly made a large investment in April 1998 were "cronies" of director Arnold McCalmont, (ii)Net2Net, a company founded by Mr. McCalmont's son; and (iv) new director Briskin was a stockholder in Net2Net Corporation, a privately held company of which Mr. McCalmont's son was the president, (iii) new directorDonald Lake is a banker that previously handled personal banking and financial matters for Arnold McCalmont and his family, and (iv) director McCalmont has entered into a secret consulting arrangement with the Company.family. ACCORDING TO SWORN AFFIDAVITS OF MESSRS. BRISKIN, LAKE AND PEOPLES, NONE OF THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE. IN FACT, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT MESSRS. PHALON AND AWAN--FORCED TO TESTIFY UNDER OATH NOW ADMIT THAT SOME OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ALLEGATIONS IN THEIR COMPLAINT WERE UNFOUNDED AND UNSUBSTANTIATED, AND THAT SOME WERE INCLUDED IN THE COMPLAINT BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THEM BY PERSONS THEY CANNOT NOW REMEMBER OR IDENTIFY, AND 19 OTHERS ARE BASED ON PURE GUESSWORK. In June 1998, Mr. Phalon and Mr. Awan obtained an injunction against the Board's opting into the provisions of ss.50A,Section 50A, largely on the basis of the allegations in their complaint. In point of fact, the Board believes that the "coverup" alleged by Mr. Phalon and his colleague Mahmud Awan does not exist. The Company -- through counsel -- has reported in detail the content and nature of the internal investigation to both the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Company's auditors. (In addition, the Company has reported the stock purchasing activity surrounding Mr. Phalon's release of non-public information to his small group of colleagues to the Securities and Exchange Commission's Boston office.) In addition, contrary to the allegations leveled by Mr. Phalon and Mr. Awan, none of the new directors knew Arnold McCalmont prior to joining the Board in April 1998, nor did any of the new independent directors have any previous relationship with the Company. Mr. Briskin is not and never has been a stockholder (of record, beneficial or otherwise) of Net2Net. Mr. Lake has never handled any banking or financial matters for Arnold McCalmont or the Company. The Company has not entered into any current consulting or employment relationship with Arnold McCalmont. Mr. Phalon has stated under oath that he has no direct knowledge that any of these allegations set forth in the complaint are true and that he certified to them for the complaint based on information provided to him by persons he cannot now remember or identify. Forced to testify under oath, Mr. Awan and Mr. Phalon now admit that manysome of the most significant allegations in the complaint were unfounded and unsubstantiated, and that Mr. Phalon certified to them for the complaint based either on information provided to him by persons he cannot now remember or identify, or on pure guesswork. The Board believes that the false allegations were included in the complaint not on the basis of fact, but instead as part of an intentional strategy of innuendo and deception aimed at painting the Company's Board, including its the new independent directors as "cronies" involved in a "coverup" scheme. The Board reaches this conclusion based upon sworn admissions by members of the Group that the allegations appearing in the Group's complaint that a previous relationship existed between Arnold McCalmont and the independent directors were unfounded. 4. In addition, only after Messrs. Awan and Phalon were forced to admit under oath that (i) their earlier proxy statement filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission omitted significant information in that they failed to disclose certain business dealings that Mr. Awan had conducted with the Company in Fiscal Year 1997 and (ii) Mr. Awan's stock purchases had been described inaccurately as the acquisition of "put options," did they amend their Securities and Exchange Commission filings for distribution to the Company's stockholders. 18 5. Mr. Phalon also has contacted and identified several former Company employee/stockholders of his choosing about employment positions at the Company if his group should prevail in the proxy contest. On the basis of the above, the Company believes that Mr. Phalon is using the proxy contest to secure himself the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors, a position likely unavailable to him by vote of the new outside members of the Board of Directors. 20 FOR THE REASONS STATED ABOVE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BELIEVES THAT THE ELECTION OF THE GROUP'S NOMINEES IS NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY AND ITS STOCKHOLDERS. ACCORDINGLY, THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR MESSRS. BRISKIN GUILD, LAKE, LERNER, LESSARD, PEOPLES AND RESNICK AS DIRECTORS BY EXECUTING THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD. IF THE DISPUTE IS RESOLVED IN THE COMPANY'S FAVOR, THE COMPANY'S BOARD WOULD BE STAGGERED, WITH DIRECTORS SERVING DIFFERENT TERMS, AND THE PROXIES NAMED HEREIN SHALL VOTE TO ELECT THE TWO (2) CLASS I DIRECTORS NAMED HEREIN, EACH TO SERVE FOR A TERM OF THREE (3) YEARS. IN SUCH EVENT, THE BOARD WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU VOTE FOR MESSRS. BRISKIN AND RESNICK AS CLASS I DIRECTORS BY EXECUTING THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD. WE URGE YOU NOT TO SIGN ANY PROXY CARD FROM THE GROUP OR ANY MEMBER OF THE GROUP. If you have mistakenly executed and delivered a proxy card received from the Group and wish to vote for the slate of directors recommended by the Company, you may revoke such proxy at any time prior to its exercise by executing a later-dated WHITE proxy card and returning it to the Company. Stockholders attending the Meeting may also revoke their proxies by voting in person at the Meeting. G. Executive Compensation and Other Information Summary of Cash and Certain Other Compensation. The following tables set forth certain summary information concerning compensation paid or accrued by the Company during Fiscal Year 1997 to its Chief Executive Officer and the other executive officers of the Company whose annual compensation during Fiscal Year 1997 exceeded $100,000 (hereafter referred to as the "named executive officers"): SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE Fiscal Year 1997 Compensation
Fiscal All Other Name and Principal Position Year Salary Bonus Compensation - - --------------------------- ---------- ------ ----- ------------ Graham R. Briggs (1) 1997 $ 96,324 $ 11,171 (2) $ -- Vice President Finance 1996 $ 85,865 $ 1,500 (2) $ 1,747 (3) 1995 $ 87,233 $ 200 (2) $ 1,366 (3) Roland S. Gerard (4) 1997 $ 158,708$158,708 $ 45,171 (5) $ 1,173 (6) President and Chief 1996 $ 125,862$125,862 $ 15,000 (5) $ 4,233 (7) Executive Officer 1995 $ 35,600 $ -- $ 25,644 (8)
19 John I. Gill 1997 $ 116,325$116,325 $ 18,171 (9) $ -- Executive Vice President 1996 $ 108,953$108,953 $ 1,500 (9) $ 2,209 (3) 1995 $ 111,660$111,660 $ 200 (9) $ 1,948 (3)
- - ------------------------- (1) Mr. Briggs was employed by the Company until January 14, 1998. Mr. Lerner is currently performing the duties of the Vice President of Finance in his capacity as Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. 21 (2) These amounts of $11,171, $1,500, and $200 were paid to Mr. Briggs for services rendered in fiscal years 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively. (3) Represents the Company's contribution for the account of the respective executive officer under the Company's Profit-Sharing Plan, a plan qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The contribution is determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, but may not exceed 15% of the Company's net profits before taxes for any given Plan year, nor certain limits imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. (4) Mr. Gerard was employed by the Company as President from June 12, 1995 until February 13, 1998. Mr. Guild is currently serving as Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Peterson is currently serving as President. (5) These amounts of $45,171, and $15,000 were paid to Mr. Gerard for services rendered in Fiscal Years 1996 and 1995, respectively. (6) Represents the personal use portion of Mr. Gerard's automobile allowance. (7) Represents the Company's $3,625 contribution to Mr. Gerard under the Company's Profit-Sharing Plan as described in note (3) above, plus $608 for the personal use portion of Mr. Gerard's automobile allowance. (8) Consists entirely of relocation expenses. (9) These amounts of $18,171, $1,500, and $200 were paid to Mr. Gill for services rendered in fiscal years 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively. Stock Options. No stock options were granted to the named executive officers during Fiscal Year 1997. The unexercised options held as of September 27, 1997 by the named executive officers are as follows: AGGREGATED FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
Value of Unexercised Number of Unexercised In-the-Money Options Options at Fiscal Year-End at Fiscal Year-End (1) -------------------------- ---------------------- Name Exercisable Not Exercisable Exercisable Not Exercisable - - ---- ----------- --------------- ----------- --------------- Roland S. Gerard (2) 40,000 (3) 60,000 -- -- Graham R. Briggs (4) 6,800 (5) -- -- --
- - ---------- 20 ----------------------- (1) Value is based on the difference between the option exercise price and the fair market value at September 27, 1997 ($6.75 per share) multiplied by the number of shares underlying the in-the-money portion of the option. (2) Mr. Gerard was employed by Company as President from June 12, 1995 until February 13, 1998. Mr. Guild is currently serving as Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Peterson is currently serving as President. 22 (3) This option has subsequently expired due to the termination of Mr. Gerard's employment with the Company. (4) Mr. Briggs was employed by the Company until January 14, 1998. Mr. Lerner is currently performing the duties of the Vice President of Finance in his capacity as Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. (5) This option has subsequently expired due to the termination of Mr. Briggs' employment with the Company. Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act. Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company's officers and directors, and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent (10%) of the Company's stock, to file initial reports of ownership on Form 3 and reports of changes in ownership on Form 4, and annual statements of beneficial ownership on Form 5 with the SEC and any national securities exchange on which the Company's securities are registered. Executive officers, directors and greater than ten percent (10%) beneficial owners are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on a review of the copies of such forms furnished to the Company and written representations from the executive officers and directors that no other reports were required, the Company believes that during Fiscal Year 1997, its executive officers, directors and greater than ten percent (10%) beneficial owners complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filings. II. RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF AUDITORS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP AS AUDITORS. The Board of Directors has selected the firm of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent certified public accountants, to serve as auditors for the fiscal year ending October 3, 1998. Arthur Andersen LLP served as the Company's auditors for Fiscal Year 1997. A quorum being present, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock voting in person or by proxy on the appointment of the auditors shall be required for approval. Thus, abstentions or broker non-votes will not be included in the totals and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote. 21 A member of the firm of Arthur Andersen LLP will be present at the Meeting and will be available to respond to appropriate questions and will have the opportunity to make a statement on behalf of Arthur Andersen LLP. III. STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "AGAINST" THE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL. 23 Mr. Graham R. Briggs, 45 Hoover Road, Needham, MA 02194, formerly employed by the Company as its Vice President-Finance until his termination earlier this year, who states that he beneficially owns 5,461 shares of Common Stock, submitted the following proposal (the "Proposal"): "That the actions taken on April 30, 1998 by the Company's Board of Directors to classify the Board into three (3) classes having staggered terms be revoked." STATEMENT OF MR. BRIGGS IN SUPPORT OF HIS PROPOSAL: Pursuant to the Massachusetts Business Corporation Law and the Company's by-laws, an annual meeting of stockholders for the year beginning September 28, 1997 should have occurred no later than March 31, 1998. In prior years, such annual meeting has been held in February. On April 3, 1998, a group of investors, including one Director of the Company, beneficially owning an aggregate of 197,228 shares or approximately 15.4% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, filed a Schedule 13D stating that their shared purpose included considering the costs and benefits of conducting a proxy contest to replace at least a majority of the Board. Still, no annual meeting was scheduled. On Wednesday, April 29, 1998, Philip A. Phalon and Dr. M. Mahmud Awan, two of the members of such group, sent a written demand to the Company to set a record date and conduct an annual meeting, as required by law. At its April 30, 1998 meeting, the Board finally established a record date and a meeting date for the annual meeting. However, at the same time, the majority of the incumbent Board members took action to entrench themselves (i) by adopting a by-law amendment increasing from 10% to 40% the percentage of outstanding shares necessary to call a special meeting of stockholders and (ii) by "opting in" to a staggered board scheme previously eschewed by the Company even though it has been available by statute to Massachusetts public companies since 1990. Under Massachusetts law and the by-laws of the Company, a simple majority of the stockholders voting at the annual meeting could have approved the adoption of the by-law amendment creating a staggered Board. However, under statute, removing a validly adopted by-law provision creating a staggered Board requires two-thirds of the stockholders voting at a meeting. By amending the by-laws without waiting for a stockholder vote, the Board extended the terms of the majority of the directors already serving by five years in the aggregate and elected two out of three new Directors to serve an aggregate of over four years. This presumptive action, taken ten weeks before the next annual meeting, usurps the role of the stockholders, imposes a majority of Directors not subject to re-election for an extended period and, in the view of the proponent, breaches the duty of the Directors to the stockholders. The actions taken on April 30, 1998 by 22 the Company's Board of Directors to classify the Board into three (3) classes having staggered terms should be revoked, so that all Directors remain accountable to the stockholders. THE COMPANY'S STATEMENT IN OPPOSITION: Your Board recommends that you vote against the Proposal. The Board agrees with the policy advanced by the Massachusetts legislature and believes that - - -- for now -- bringing the Company within the scope of Massachusetts law, c. 156B, ss.Section 50A, is appropriate and that continuity at the Board level will preserve and enhance the long-term value of the company and its stockholders. Moreover, the Board believes that the proponent's use of the term "revoke" makes 24 the effect of the Proposal, if passed, unclear. The Company believes that Massachusetts corporate law does not allow stockholders to "revoke" actions lawfully taken by the Board of Directors. Rather, in this instance, the Company may "opt out" of the protections of ss.Section 50A by a specific board vote or a specific 2/3 stockholder vote. The Proposal does not call for either alternative, nor does it suggest that passage would be mandatory or non-binding as a directive to the Board, nor does it state what percentage of stockholders must vote to "revoke" an action of the Board under Massachusetts law. In short, this lack of clarity and vagueness combined with what we believe is the plain language of Section 50A provides little guidance to the thoughtful stockholder who might ask "what am I voting on" and "what does my vote mean?" Additionally, the Proposal refers to Board action taken on April 30, 1998. This action has since been superseded. On June 24, 1998, the Company's new independent directors reexamined the April 30 Board action and voted to stagger the terms of the Board of Directors. The Proposal no longer refers to an effective Board action. Moreover, your Board of Directors believes that a staggered board WOULD PREVENT A SMALL GROUP OF STOCKHOLDERS FROM IMMEDIATELY GAINING MAJORITY CONTROL OVER YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THUS DIRECTING THE COMPANY'S ASSETS AND RESOURCES to suit their own personal agendas, motives and ends. In short, a staggered board, in conjunction with a 40% stock ownership requirement to call a special meeting of the stockholders, could prevent precisely the kind of inappropriate pressure tactics currently being used by the Group because such a group could not obtain immediate control of your entire Board in any one election. These tactics have included the intentional and reckless use of unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations in a complaint against the Company and its directors in what the Company believes to be an attempt by the Group to smear the new independent directors as "co-conspirators" in a "coverup" scheme. On April 30, 1998 and again on June 24, 1998, the Board of Directors, after careful consideration of past management deficiencies and performance, established specific goals to move the Company forward in terms of market share, technological innovation and revenue growth. To these ends, the Board acted to enlarge the size of the Board, to add qualified, experienced and independent new board members, and to opt into the protections provided by Massachusetts state law under M.G.L. c.156B, Section 50A, which provides for the continuity and efficiencies of a staggered board. These actions were not undertaken for the purposes of "entrenchment," but instead with the intent of bringing in outsiders whose independence, experience and judgment would serve the interests of ALL STOCKHOLDERS - INSTEAD OF THE UNSTATED PERSONAL AGENDA OF A SMALL GROUP. 23 In the opinion of the Board of Directors, a staggered Board of Directors serves the best interests of a vast majority of the Company's stockholders. A staggered Board of Directors facilitates continuity and stability of leadership and corporate policy by permitting new directors to become familiar with the business of the Company and to benefit from the experience of the continuing directors. Dramatic shifts in the composition of the board of directors of a corporation often lead to disarray at the board level since the directors do not possess a clear and unified vision of 25 future of the corporation, nor do they comprehend the steps necessary to achieve the desired goals. Further, the Board of Directors believes that a staggered Board of Directors would encourage any person or group seeking to acquire control of the Company to do so through arm's-length negotiations with management and the Board of Directors, who are in a position to protect stockholder value and negotiate a transaction that is fair to all stockholders. Corporations which do not have staggered boards present easy targets for those seeking control of a company without paying a negotiated premium over market value. The Board notes that the election of directors by classes is a common practice that has been adopted by many large companies and that it is specifically permitted by the laws of many states, including Massachusetts, the Company's state of incorporation. In summary, without a staggered board, the Board of Directors believes that the Company is subject to inappropriate pressure tactics from hostile groups interested in obtaining control of the Company's resources to suit their own ends. The Group's activities have incorporated some of these tactics, including the intentional use of unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations in a complaint against the Company and its directors. In fact, you should know that the subject of the Proposal, which is put forth by a former and now disgruntled employee who has made demands upon the Company for severance payments to which he is not entitled, is also at issue in ongoing litigation filed by the Group. In fact, Mr. PhalonAwan has testified under oath that he has spoken to the proponent regarding employment opportunities at the Company should the Group prevail.a company controlled by Mr. Awan. As your Board, we are committed to using all available resources of the Company to enhance long term stockholder value. We believe that a staggered board will serve you as we attempt to reach that overall goal. WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE PROPOSAL IS LIKELY UNENFORCEABLE AS A LEGAL MATTER, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WOULD SEND THE WRONG MESSAGE TO HOSTILE GROUPS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOVER THE COMPANY OR USE ITS RESOURCES TO SERVE THEIR OWN PERSONAL MOTIVES. WE URGE YOU TO VOTE "AGAINST" THE PROPOSAL. IV. OTHER MATTERS The Board of Directors of the Company is not aware of any matter, other than those described above, that may come before the meeting. However, if any matters are properly presented to the meeting for action, it is intended that the persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment. 24 PROPOSALS OF STOCKHOLDERS It is currently contemplated that the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on February 22, 1999. Proposals of stockholders intended to be present at that annual meeting of stockholders must be received by the Company at its principal executive offices no later than September 2, 1998, for inclusion in the Proxy Statement and Form of Proxy relating to that meeting and must comply with the applicable requirements of federal securities laws. The Company suggests that proponents submit their proposals by certified mail, return receipt 26 requested, to the General Counsel of the Company. All proposals must comply with applicable SEC rules and regulations. EXPENSES AND SOLICITATION OF PROXIES The cost of the solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company. Such costs shall include the cost of engaging Shareholder Communications Corporation, a proxy solicitation firm, anticipated to be $7,000 plus certain expenses. In light of the proxy contest necessitated by the Group Proxy, the estimated costs including fees for attorneys, advertising, printing and other costs incidental to the solicitation are estimated to be approximately $_____________.$100,000. YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THE GROUP HAS STATED IN ITS PROXY STATEMENT THAT THE TOTAL ESTIMATED COST FOR THE SOLICITATION OF THEIR PROXY IS APPROXIMATELY $300,000, AND THAT THE GROUP INTENDS TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE COMPANY FOR THEIR COSTS AND EXPENSES INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROXY SOLICITATION IF THE GROUP NOMINEES ARE ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. To date, the Company has spent approximately $10,000 in connection with the solicitation of proxies. Proxies will be solicited principally through the mails or by telephone. Further solicitation of proxies from some stockholders may be made by directors, officers, and regular employees of the Company, personally, by telephone, telegraph, or special letter. No additional compensation, except for reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, will be paid for any such further solicitation. In addition, the Company may request banks, brokers and their custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to solicit customers of theirs who have shares of the Company registered in the name of a nominee. The Company will reimburse any such persons for their reasonable out-of-pocket costs. TO AVOID THE NEED TO ADJOURN OR POSTPONE THE MEETING TO ALLOW TIME TO SOLICIT ADDITIONAL PROXIES FOR A QUORUM, WHICH COULD RESULT IN ADDITIONAL COST AND EXPENSE TO THE COMPANY, WE URGE ALL STOCKHOLDERS TO VOTE THEIR WHITE PROXY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The Company will provide, without charge to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting, a copy of the Company's Annual Report to the SEC on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending September 27, 1997. A request for copies of such report should be addressed to the Company at 100 Domino Drive, Concord, Massachusetts 01742-2892, Attention: Investor Relations. ---------------------- 25--------------- 27 TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION 100 Domino Drive Concord, Massachusetts 01742-2892 Telephone: (978) 287-5100 NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS AND PROXY STATEMENT 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders July __,August 14, 1998 2628 TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION Proxy for Annual Meeting of Stockholders - July 17,August 14, 1998 The undersigned hereby appoints CARL H. GUILD, JR. and EDWARD E. HICKS, or either of them, the action of both of them voting to be controlling, attorneys of the undersigned, with full powers of substitution, with all the powers the undersigned would possess if personally present, to vote the stock of the undersigned in TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 10:00 a.m. on July 17,August 14, 1998 and at any adjournments thereof. Even if you have sent a gold proxy card to the Group, you have every right to change your vote. You may revoke that proxy by signing, dating and mailing this proxy card in the enclosed envelope. This proxy, if properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, the proxy will be voted FOR items 1 and 2 and AGAINST item 3. Please vote, date and sign on the reverse side, and promptly return in the enclosed envelope. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IT WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED AND IF NO CHOICE IS INDICATED IT WILL BE VOTED FOR ITEMS 1 AND 2 AND AGAINST ITEM 3: 1. The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the election of the seven (7) nominees listed below: Election of directors: Nominees: Mitchell B. Briskin, Carl H. Guild, Jr., Donald Lake, Robert T. Lessard, Herbert A. Lerner, Thomas E. Peoples and Bernard Resnick |_| FOR all nominees |_| WITHHOLD from the following nominee(s):______________ In the event that the Order is modified or otherwise revised in the Company's favor and the Board of Directors is staggered into three (3) classes, then the Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the election of the two (2) nominees for Class I Directors listed below: Election of directors: Nominees: Mitchell B. Briskin and Bernard Resnick |_|| | FOR all nominees |_|| | WITHHOLD from the following nominee(s):_____________________ 2. The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the ratification of Arthur Andersen LLP. To ratify the selection of the firm of Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's auditors. |_|| | FOR |_|| | AGAINST |_|| | ABSTAIN 3. The Board of Directors recommends that you vote AGAINST the Stockholder Proposal. To approvevote the Stockholder Proposal |_|| | FOR |_|| | AGAINST |_|| | ABSTAIN 4. In their direction,discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. Please sign exactly as the name appears stenciled on this Proxy. When signing as attorney, executors, administrators, trustee or guardian, please set forth your full title. If the stockholder is a corporation, the signature should be that of an authorized officer who should indicate his or her title. Date: ________________, 1998 ----------------------------
Please sign exactly as the name appears stenciled on this Proxy. Date: , 1998 When signing as attorney, executors, administrators, trustee or guardian , ------ --- please set forth your full title. If the stockholder is a corporation, the signature should be that of an authorized officer who should indicate --------------------- his or her title. (Signature) --------------------- (Signature) ---------------------------- (Signature)