The Board of Directors is submitting the selection of BDO Seidman, LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2011 for ratification in order to ascertain the views of stockholders on this selection. Proxies solicited by the Board of Directors will, unless otherwise directed, be voted to ratify the appointment by the Audit Committee of BDO Seidman, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011. If stockholders do not ratify the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP, the Audit Committee will reconsider its selection, but it retains the sole responsibility for appointing and terminating the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
It is anticipated that a representative of the accounting firm will be present at the Annual Meeting via telephone.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the ratification of BDO Seidman, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2011.
The Audit Committee meets with representatives of the independent registered public accounting firm to review its comments and plans for future audits.
In accordance with the Audit Committee charter, the Audit Committee must review and, in its sole discretion, pre-approve an itemized budget for the independent auditors’ annual engagement letter and all audit, audit-related, tax and other permissible services proposed to be provided by the independent auditor in accordance with the applicable New York Stock Exchange listing standards and United States Securities and Exchange Commission rules, and the fees for such services. The Audit Committee approved all services provided by BDO Seidman during fiscal years 2010 and 2009.
PROPOSAL NUMBER 3
ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
As required by Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, we are offering our stockholders an opportunity to cast an advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement. Although the vote is not binding on the Company or the Board, the Board and the Compensation Committee will consider the voting results when making future compensation decisions.
As described in the “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION” section of this proxy statement beginning on page 11, we believe that our Executive Compensation Program (1) provides a competitive total compensation program that enables us to attract, retain and motivate executive management employees, and (2) aligns the interests of the named executive officers with the interests of our stockholders in different ways, by focusing on both short-term and long-term performance goals, by promoting ownership of the Company, and by rewarding individual performance. For these reasons, we recommend that stockholders vote in favor of the following resolution:
“RESOLVED, that the stockholders hereby approve the compensation of National Presto Industries, Inc.’s named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and disclosures.”
The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” approval of this resolution.
PROPOSAL NUMBER 4
ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) VOTE ON FREQUENCY OF AN
ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
In addition to providing stockholders with the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on executive compensation in Proposal Number 3 above (commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay” vote), the Company this year is providing stockholders with an advisory vote on whether the advisory vote on executive compensation should be held every one, two or three years.
The Board believes that a frequency of “every three years” for the advisory vote on executive compensation is the optimal interval for conducting and responding to a “say on pay” vote. Stockholders who have concerns about executive compensation during the interval between “say on pay” votes are welcome to bring their specific concerns to the attention of the Board. Please refer to the “Corporate Governance” section in this proxy statement for information about communicating with the Board.
Although this advisory vote on the frequency of the “say on pay” vote is not binding on the Company or the Board, the Board and the Compensation Committee will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation.
The proxy card provides stockholders with the opportunity to choose among four options (holding the vote every one, two or three years, or abstaining). The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote for the option of every “3 years” for future advisory votes on executive compensation.
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OTHER MATTERS
The cost of preparing, assembling, and mailing this proxy statement, the notice, and form of proxy will be borne by the Company. The management has made no arrangement to solicit proxies for the meeting other than by use of mail, except that some solicitation may be made by telephone, facsimile, email, or personal calls by officers or regular employees of the Company. The Company will, upon request, reimburse brokers and other persons holding shares for the benefit of others in accordance with the rates approved by the New York Stock Exchange for their expenses in forwarding proxies and accompanying material and in obtaining authorization from beneficial owners of the Company’s stock to give proxies.
The Board of Directors knows of no other matters to be brought before this Annual Meeting. If any other matter is properly presented for a vote at the meeting, however, it is the intention of each person named in the proxy to vote such proxy in accordance with his or her judgment on such matters.
The 2010 Annual Report is enclosed with this Proxy Statement and contains the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. National Presto Industries, Inc. 2010 Annual Report and Form 10-K annual report on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission may be obtained, without charge, upon written request to Douglas J. Frederick, Secretary, National Presto Industries, Inc., 3925 North Hastings Way, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54703, phone number 1-800-945-0199 Ext. 2119. Copies of exhibits to Form 10-K may be obtained upon payment to the Company of the reasonable expense incurred in providing such exhibits.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
The Company expects the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on May 15, 2012. Therefore, any stockholder who desires to present a proposal at the 2012 Annual Meeting, must deliver the written proposal to the Secretary of the Company at 3925 North Hastings Way, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54703:
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| • | Not later than December 8, 2011, if the proposal is submitted for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials for the 2012 Annual Meeting pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or |
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| • | Not later than February 17, 2012, if the proposal is submitted pursuant to the Company’s bylaws in which case the Company is not required to include the proposal in its proxy materials. |
Stockholders may present a proposal at the 2012 Annual Meeting for consideration only if proper notice of the proposal has been given in accordance with one of these requirements. Nominations for Director at the 2012 Annual Meeting may be made only if advance written notice in accordance with the bylaws is delivered to the Secretary of the Company by February 17, 2012.
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| BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
| Douglas J. Frederick, Secretary |
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![(PRESTO LOGO)](https://capedge.com/proxy/DEF 14A/0000897101-11-000597/a111691002_v1.jpg)
Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement Annual Meeting of Stockholders May 17, 2011 Please sign and return the enclosed proxy card promptly. National Presto Industries, Inc. 3925 North Hastings Way Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54703
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Important Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement and 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at www.gopresto.com/proxy/.
| NATIONAL PRESTO INDUSTRIES, INC. Proxy | | This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of DirectorsThe undersigned hereby appoints Maryjo Cohen as proxy, with the power to appoint substitutes, and hereby authorizes her to represent and to vote as designated below, all the shares of common stock of National Presto Industries, Inc., held of record by the undersigned on March 17, 2011, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 17, 2011 and any adjournment thereof. |
| Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54703Telephone (715) 839-2119 | |
The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” Proposals 1, 2 and 3 and “3 years” on Proposal 4.
1. | Election of Directors | FOR all nominees (except as marked to the contrary below) | | WITHHOLD from all nominees |
| Nominees: | | | |
| Randy F. Lieble Joseph G. Stienessen | ☐ | | ☐ |
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| To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write that nominee’s name on the line below. | | |
| | For | Against | Abstain |
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2. | Ratify the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as National Presto’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011. | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
3. | To approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of National Presto’s named executive officers. | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
4. | Non-binding advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation. | | | |
| 3 years ☐ | 2 years ☐ | 1 year ☐ | Abstain ☐ | | | |
In her discretion, the proxy is authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
(Continued, and to be signed, on the other side)
This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted “FOR” Proposals 1, 2 and 3 and “3 years” for Proposal 4.
| [Name and Address] | | Please sign exactly as name appears below. When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
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| DATED | | , 2011 |
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| Signature | | |
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. | | Signature if held jointly | |
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