Profit Plan was not achieved in fiscal 2001, and therefore, no bonuses were earned by the Chief Executive Officer nor the President for fiscal 2001.
In awarding options under the 1993 Plan, the Compensation Committee has adopted a policy pursuant to which: (1) Messrs. Rogers and Cronk will receive options to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock with a current market value equal to three and one-half times their annual base salary; (2) all other Named Executive Officers (and the other Vice President of the Company) will receive options to purchase the Company's Common Stock with a current market value equal to two and one-quarter times the average annual base salary of vice presidents of the Company; (3) approximately 20 executive staff members will receive options to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock with a current market value equal to one and one-quarter times their individual annual base salary; and (4) approximately 75 management staff members will receive options to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock with a current market value equal to three-quarter times their individual annual base salary. In addition, the Compensation Committee may, at its discretion from time to time, grant to other employees options to purchase 1,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock. The size of the option grants included in the Compensation Committee's policy are competitive with a 2000 survey of competitive practice in diversified companies received from the Company's compensation consultants Watson Wyatt Worldwide (which surveys included some companies which are represented in the indices described under the caption "Performance Graph" on page 13). All stock option grants awarded by the Compensation Committee in fiscal 2001 were consistent with the Compensation Committee's stated policies.
The Compensation Committee has also adopted a policy whereby key executive employees of the Company and its subsidiaries may, at the Compensation Committee's discretion, be offered the opportunity to receive options, in lieu of current cash compensation, including bonuses, to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock (the "Income Swap Plan"). Options granted in exchange for cash compensation are non-qualified options and may be granted under either the 1992 Plan or the 1993 Plan. The exchange ratio used to determine the proper number of shares to be subject to such options is based on the Black-Scholes valuation method. The exercise price of options granted under the Income Swap Plan is set at the current fair market value of the Company's Common Stock as of the date of grant. The vesting of options granted by the Compensation Committee under the Income Swap Plan depends on whether the options are granted under the 1992 Plan or the 1993 Plan. Options granted under the 1992 Plan begin vesting two years from the date of grant and may be exercised only as to 40 percent of the optioned shares after two years from the date of grant and as to an additional 20 percent after each of the succeeding three years. Options granted under the 1993 Plan in connection with the Income Swap Plan vest six months from the date of grant. Options granted under the Income Swap Plan are exercisable for cash or by exchanging previously acquired shares of the Company's Common Stock. Further, any tax withholding requirement can be satisfied through surrender of the Company's Common Stock previously acquired by the employee. Options granted under the 1993 Plan in connection with the Income Swap Plan may have a "reload" feature which would result in the option holder receiving, upon the exercise of such option, a "reload" grant equal to the number of shares of Common Stock utilized to pay the exercise price and/or tax withholdings. If granted, the "reload" options will have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant of the "reload" option and an exercise term equal to the remaining term of the option exercised.
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code limits the deductibility of compensation in excess of one million dollars paid to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and to any of its four other highest paid executive officers. However, certain performance-based compensation, such as stock options granted under the Company's stock option plans, are specifically exempt from the limitation on deductibility. To date, no employee of the Company has been paid compensation in excess of one million dollars (as defined in Section 162(m)) that would be subject to the Section 162(m) limitation. While the tax impact of any compensation arrangement is one factor to be considered, such impact is evaluated in light of the Compensation Committee's overall compensation philosophy. The Committee's general intention is to establish executive officer compensation programs which will maximize the deductibility of compensation paid by the Company, if the Compensation Committee determines that such actions are consistent with its philosophy and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. However, from time to time the Compensation Committee may award compensation which is not fully deductible if the Compensation Committee determines that such award is consistent with its philosophy and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
The Compensation Committee notes that, generally, options granted to executive officers will only realize value to the extent the fair market value of the Company's stock increases after the date of grant. The Compensation
Committee believes that this furthers the Compensation Committee's goal of aligning management's interests with those of the Company's stockholders.
Submitted by the Compensation Committee: | Edmund R. Manwell, Chairman Jan L. Booth Robert A. Helman M. Steven Langman John W. Larson Timothy P. Smucker |
The foregoing Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates such information by reference.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During fiscal 2001, none of the Company's executive officers served on the board of directors or compensation committee of any entities whose directors or officers serve on the Company's Compensation Committee. No current executive officers of the Company serve on the Company's Compensation Committee, although Jan L. Booth, a member of the Compensation Committee, was the Company's Vice President - Marketing from 1981 to 1987.
In June 1993, the Company issued in a private placement to General Electric Capital Corporation, Trustees of General Electric Pension Trust and GE Investment Private Placement Partners I, Limited Partnership (collectively, the "Holders"), pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement (the "GE Agreement"), an aggregate of $100,752,000 of 6.25% Convertible Subordinated Debentures of the Company (the "Debentures"), due June 30, 2001. In August 1995, the Company converted the Debentures into Series B Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company (the "Series B Stock"). In October 1997, the Series B Stock was converted into a total of 1,007,522 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company (the "Series A Convertible Stock"), redeemable on June 30, 2001. In June 2001, the Series A Convertible Stock was converted into a total of 5,800,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock. In July 2001, the Holders sold approximately 3,400,000 shares of the 5,800,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock held by them to Nestle Holdings, Inc. ("NHI"), and in January 2002, the Holders sold their remaining 2,400,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock to a financial institution that, in turn, subsequently sold the shares to other investors.
Jack O. Peiffer was nominated by the Holders and named to the Board of Directors of the Company pursuant to a provision of the GE Agreement. Mr. Peiffer served as Senior Vice President - Corporate Human Resources of General Electric Company, an affiliate of the Holders, until his retirement in January 1994. Pursuant to an agreement between the Holders and the Company, Mr. Peiffer resigned from the Board of Directors concurrently with the Holders' sale of their remaining shares of the Company's Common Stock.
On June 14, 1994, the Company entered into a Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement (the "Nestlé Agreement") with Nestlé Holdings, Inc. ("NHI") whereby NHI purchased from the Company 6,000,000 million shares of the Company's Common Stock and warrants for the purchase of 4,000,000 million shares of the Company's Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $106,000,000. Per the terms of the Nestlé Agreement, the warrants expired unexercised. Under the Nestlé Agreement, NHI may not beneficially own more than 25 percent of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock on a "fully diluted basis" without the prior consent of the Board of Directors, subject to certain limited exceptions which could increase NHI's ownership percentage up to 35 percent, until June 14, 2004. After June 14, 2004, NHI may not beneficially own more than 35 percent of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock on a "fully diluted basis" without the prior consent of the Board of Directors, unless NHI makes an offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock. For purposes of the Nestlé Agreement, "fully diluted basis" means all issued and outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock as well as all outstanding stock options and other securities convertible into, or entitling the holder to acquire, the Company's Common Stock. The Nestlé Agreement also provides that as long as NHI beneficially owns at least 10 percent of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock on a "fully diluted basis," NHI may nominate that number of nominees proportionate to the amount of outstanding shares beneficially owned by NHI (but not less than two) and that the Company will recommend and use the same efforts on behalf of such nominees as are used to cause the elections of all other nominees to the Board of Directors of the Company. NHI and its affiliates have certain rights to purchase additional shares of the Company's Common Stock in the event their aggregate equity ownership in the Company is diluted to certain levels.
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M. Steven Langman and Robert A. Helman were named to the Board of Directors pursuant to the terms of the Nestlé Agreement. Mr. Langman was nominated by NHI in March 1997. From time to time, Mr. Langman in his position as Managing Director of Rhône Group LLC, provides financial advisory and investment banking services to NHI and its affiliates. Mr. Helman was nominated by NHI in March 1998. From time to time, Mr. Helman and his law firm, Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw provide legal services to NHI and its affiliates.
During fiscal 2001, Edmund R. Manwell was the Secretary of the Company and a partner in the law firm of Manwell & Schwartz. The Company paid Manwell & Schwartz $287,841 in legal fees during fiscal 2001 for services rendered as counsel to the Company. Mr. Manwell is not separately compensated for his services as Secretary of the Company although some of the fees received by Manwell & Schwartz may be for services that, in other corporations, are performed by the corporate secretary.
Other Relationships
On June 14, 1994, the Company entered into an agreement (the "1994 Agreement") with Nestlé Ice Cream Company ("NICC"), an affiliate of NHI, to distribute in certain markets frozen novelty and ice cream products manufactured by or for NICC (the "NICC Products"). The 1994 Agreement was replaced in November 2001 with a new distribution agreement between the Company and Ice Cream Partners, LLC, an affiliate of NICC, whereby the Company continues to purchase the NICC Products in the ordinary course of business and at prices consistent with those offered to other distributors.
Timothy P. Smucker was appointed as a director of the Company in March 1997. Mr. Smucker is Chairman of The J.M. Smucker Company ("JMS"), a supplier for the Company of certain raw materials used in production of the Company's products. The Company purchases raw materials from JMS in the ordinary course of business and at prices consistent with those offered by other suppliers.
During the Company's fiscal year 1998, the Company loaned to Thomas M. Delaplane, Vice President - Sales of the Company, an aggregate principal amount of $281,000 pursuant to two separate Secured Promissory Notes (the "Notes"). The Notes, which were repaid to the Company in full by Mr. Delaplane in May 2001, bore interest at an annual rate of 6.50 percent.
Any other business relationships existing between any of the nominees or continuing directors and the Company, or between the Company and any of the beneficial owners identified under the caption "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners" on page 7 are described under the caption "Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation" on page 16.
MATTERS SUBMITTED TO A VOTE OF STOCKHOLDERS
Election of Directors
The directors of Class II will be elected at the 2002 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and will hold office until the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their successors are elected and qualified. The nominees for directors of Class II, Robert A. Helman, Edmund R. Manwell and Timothy P. Smucker, constitute the current Class II of the Board of Directors with each of their terms expiring as of the date of the Annual Meeting. Information regarding the Board of Directors, including the business experience of the nominees for directors of Class II, is set out under the caption "Board of Directors" on page 3. No family relationship exists between any nominee and any of the other directors. Any business relationship existing between any of the nominees or continuing directors and the Company are described under the captions "Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation" on page 16 and "Other Relationships" on page 17.
Unless otherwise directed, the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy will vote such proxy for the election of Robert A. Helman, Edmund R. Manwell and Timothy P. Smucker, each of whom has consented to be named as a director of the Company and to serve if elected. In case any of Messrs. Helman, Manwell or Smucker becomes unavailable for election or declines to serve for any unforeseen reason, an event management does not anticipate, the persons named in the proxy will have the right to use their discretion to vote for a substitute.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES FOR CLASS II OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
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Approval of Appointment of Independent Public Accountants
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has been appointed to be the Company's independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 28, 2002, and were the independent public accountants for the Company during the fiscal year ended December 29, 2001.
The appointment of independent public accountants is made annually by the Board of Directors and is subsequently submitted by them to the stockholders for approval. The decision of the Board of Directors is, in turn, based upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee. In making its recommendations, the Audit Committee reviews both the audit scope and estimated audit fees for the coming year. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews the types of professional services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to determine whether the rendering of such services would impair the independence of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Should stockholder approval not be obtained, the Board of Directors will consider it a directive to select and retain other independent public accountants.
A representative or representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will be present at the stockholders' meeting and will be afforded an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to questions raised orally at the Annual Meeting.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE 2002 FISCAL YEAR AND THEREAFTER UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED.
VOTING INFORMATION
General Voting Information
A stockholder may, with respect to the election of directors: (i) vote for the election of all the director nominees named herein; (ii) withhold authority to vote for the director nominees; or (iii) vote for the election of any of such director nominee(s) and against any of the other director nominee(s) by so indicating on the proxy. Withholding authority to vote for a director nominee will not prevent such director nominee from being elected. A stockholder may, with respect to each other matter specified in the notice of the Annual Meeting: (a) vote"FOR" the matter; (b) vote"AGAINST" the matter; or (c)"ABSTAIN" from voting on the matter. Shares will be voted as instructed in the accompanying proxy on each matter submitted to stockholders. If there are no instructions from the stockholder on an executed proxy, the proxy will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors.
Abstentions and broker non-votes are each included in the determination of the number of shares present for quorum purposes. Abstentions are counted in tabulations of votes cast on proposals presented to stockholders. While not counted as votes for or against a proposal, abstentions have the same effect as votes against a proposal. Broker non-votes will be considered as shares not entitled to vote and will therefore not be considered in the tabulation of the votes. Approval of each matter specified in the Annual Meeting notice requires the affirmative vote of either a majority or a plurality of the shares of Common Stock present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on such matter.
Votes Required For Approval
Election of Directors: Plurality of the votes of the shares of Common Stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
Approval of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent public accountants: Majority of the shares of Common Stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
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Voting via the Internet or by Telephone
Shares Registered Directly in the Name of the Stockholder
Stockholders with shares registered directly with the Company's transfer agent, may vote telephonically by calling 1-800-690-6903 or you may vote via the Internet at the following address on the World Wide Web, and follow the instructions on your screen:
www.proxyvote.com
Shares Registered in the Name of a Brokerage Firm or Bank
A number of brokerage firms and banks are participating in a program provided through ADP Investor Communication Services ("ADP") that offer telephone and Internet voting options. If your shares are held in account at a brokerage firm or bank participating in the ADP program, you may vote those shares telephonically by calling the telephone number referenced on your voting form or you may vote via the Internet at the following address on the World Wide Web, and follow the instructions on your screen:
www.proxyvote.com
PROPOSALS OF STOCKHOLDERS
The 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on or about May 7, 2003. The SEC has adopted regulations that govern the inclusion of stockholder proposals in the Company's annual proxy materials. Stockholder proposals for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the Company's 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the Company by December 10, 2002. If the Company is not notified of a stockholder proposal by February 23, 2003, then the Board of Directors' proxies will have discretionary authority to vote on such stockholder proposal, even though such proposal is not discussed in the proxy statement. In order to curtail any controversy as to the date on which a proposal was received by the Company, it is suggested that proposals be submitted by Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, and be addressed to the Secretary of Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc., 5929 College Avenue, Oakland, California 94618.
OTHER MATTERS
The Company knows of no other business to be presented at the Annual Meeting. If other matters do properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the proxy holders will vote on them in accordance with their best judgment.
| By Order of the Board of Directors, |
| EDMUND R. MANWELL Secretary |
Oakland, California
April 8, 2002
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If you have any inquiries about the Company or your stockholder account,
please write to:
William C. Collett
Treasurer
Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc.
5929 College Avenue
Oakland, California 94618
(LOGO)printed on recycled paper
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/DEF 14A/0000950136-02-000997/x1-76369logosm.jpg) C/O PROXY SERVICES P.O. BOX 9142 FARMINGDALE, NY 11735 | | VOTE BY INTERNET -www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site. You will be prompted to enter your 12-digit Control Number which is located below to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. |
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| | VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call. You will be prompted to enter your 12-digit Control Number which is located below and then follow the simple instructions the Vote Voice provides you. |
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| | VOTE BY MAIL - Mark, sign, and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc., c/o ADP, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. |
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: | | KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS |
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DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY |
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED. |
DREYER'S GRAND ICE CREAM, INC. | | | |
Vote on Directors | | | | | | | | | |
1. | The election of three Class II directors Nominees: | For All O | Withhold All O | For All Except O | | | |
| 1) Robert A. Helman 2) Edmund R. Manwell 3) Timothy P. Smucker | | | | To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark "For All Except" and write the nominee's number on the line below.
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Vote on Proposals | For | Against | Abstain |
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2. | The approval of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's independent public accountants for fiscal year 2002. | O | O | O |
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3. | With discretionary authority on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting.
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| THE SHARES COVERED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHOICES MADE. WHEN NO CHOICE IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE LISTED NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR AND FOR PROPOSAL 2. | | | | |
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| Please date and sign exactly as your name(s) appears on your shares. If signing for estates, trusts, or corporations, title or capacity should be stated. If shares are held jointly, each holder should sign.
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| Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date | | | Signature (Joint Owners) Date | | |
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PROXY |
DREYER'S GRAND ICE CREAM, INC.
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE 2002
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
The undersigned hereby appoints T. Gary Rogers, William F. Cronk, III and Edmund R. Manwell, or any of them, each with power of substitution and revocation, as the proxy or proxies of the undersigned, to represent the undersigned and vote all shares of Common Stock, $1.00 par value, of DREYER'S GRAND ICE CREAM, INC., which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of DREYER'S GRAND ICE CREAM, INC., to be held at the Claremont Resort & Spa, Ashby and Domingo Avenues, Oakland, California 94623 on Wednesday, May 8, 2002, at 2:00 p.m. and at any postponements or adjournments thereof, upon the matters stated on the reverse.
The 2002 Annual Meeting of Stockholders may be held as scheduled only if a majority of the shares outstanding are represented at the meeting by attendance or proxy. Accordingly, please complete this proxy and return it promptly in the enclosed envelope.
(Continued, and to be signed, on reverse side.)