SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant [ X ]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission
Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) [ X ]
Definitive Proxy Statement [ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to
Section 240.14a-11(c) or
Section 240.14a-12
CASEY'S GENERAL STORES, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
[NOT APPLICABLE]
(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.
[Not Applicable]
[ ] 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.
[Not Applicable]
[LOGO OF CASEY'S GENERAL STORES, INC.]
August 11, 1998
To Our Shareholders:
The Annual Meeting of the shareholders of Casey's General Stores, Inc. will
be held at the Casey's General Stores, Inc. Corporate Headquarters, One
Convenience Blvd., Ankeny, Iowa, at 9:00 A.M., Iowa time, on Friday, September
18, 1998. The formal Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, which are
contained in the following pages, outline the election of directors to be
considered by the shareholders at the meeting.
It is important that your shares be represented at the meeting whether or
not you are personally able to attend. Accordingly, we ask that you please sign,
date and return the enclosed Proxy Card promptly. If you later find that you may
be present for the meeting or for any other reason desire to revoke your proxy,
you may do so at any time before it is voted.
Your copy of the Company's Annual Report for 1998 is also enclosed. Please
read it carefully. It gives you a full report on the Company's operations for
the fiscal year ended April 30, 1998.
We look forward to seeing you at the meeting and thank you for your
continued interest in the Company.
Sincerely,
/s/ Ronald M. Lamb
-------------------------
Ronald M. Lamb
Chief Executive Officer
[LOGO OF CASEY'S GENERAL STORES, INC.]
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
SEPTEMBER 18, 1998
To the Shareholders of Casey's General Stores, Inc.:
The Annual Meeting of the shareholders of Casey's General Stores, Inc., an
Iowa corporation, will be held at the Casey's General Stores, Inc. Corporate
Headquarters, One Convenience Boulevard, Ankeny, Iowa, on Friday, September 18,
1998, at 9:00 A.M., Iowa time, for the following purposes:
1. To elect seven members to the Board of Directors to serve until the next
ensuing Annual Meeting of shareholders or until their successors are
elected and qualified; and
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or
at any adjournment thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business, August 4, 1998, as
the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and
to vote at this meeting and at any and all adjournments thereof. A list of such
holders will be open for examination by any shareholder for any purpose germane
to the meeting, at the Company's Corporate Headquarters at the address described
above, for a period of ten days prior to the meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ John G. Harmon
------------------------
John G. Harmon
Secretary/Treasurer
August 11, 1998
PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card or voting instruction
card (either, the "proxy card") are being mailed beginning on or about August
11, 1998, to each holder of record of the Common Stock, no par value (the
"Common Stock"), of Casey's General Stores, Inc. (the "Company") at the close of
business on August 4, 1998. Proxies in the form enclosed are solicited by the
Board of Directors of the Company for use at the Annual Meeting of shareholders
to be held at the Casey's General Stores, Inc. Corporate Headquarters, One
Convenience Boulevard, Ankeny, Iowa 50021, at 9:00 A.M., Iowa time, on Friday,
September 18, 1998.
For participants in the Casey's General Stores, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment
and Stock Purchase Plan, the proxy card represents the number of full and
fractional shares in the participant's plan account, as well as other shares
registered in the participant's name. If the proxy card is properly executed and
returned, the shares represented thereby will be voted at the meeting in
accordance with the shareholder's instructions. If no instructions are given,
the proxy will be voted FOR the election as directors of the nominees named
herein. A person giving a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is voted.
Any shareholder attending the meeting may, on request, vote his or her own
shares even though the shareholder has previously sent in a proxy card. Unless
revoked, the shares of Common Stock represented by proxies will be voted on all
matters to be acted upon at the meeting.
For participants in the Casey's General Stores, Inc. Employees' Stock
Ownership Plan and Trust (the "ESOP"), the proxy card will also serve as a
voting instruction card for UMB Bank, n.a. (the "Trustee"), the trustee of the
ESOP, with respect to the shares held in the participants' accounts. A
participant cannot direct the voting of shares allocated to the participant's
account in the ESOP unless the proxy card is signed and returned. If proxy cards
representing shares in the ESOP are not returned, those shares will be voted by
the Trustee in the same proportion as the shares for which signed proxy cards
are returned by the other participants in the ESOP.
The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. The Company
expects to solicit proxies primarily by mail. Proxies may also be solicited
personally and by telephone by certain officers and regular employees of the
Company. The Company may reimburse brokers and their nominees for their expenses
in communicating with the persons for whom they hold shares of the Company.
So far as the Board of Directors and the management of the Company are
aware, no matters other than those described in this Proxy Statement will be
acted upon at the
meeting. If, however, any other matters properly come before the meeting, it is
the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote the same in
accordance with their judgment on such other matters.
SHARES OUTSTANDING
Holders of record of the Common Stock at the close of business on the
record date, August 4, 1998, will be entitled to vote on all matters to be
presented at the Annual Meeting. On the record date, 52,624,512 shares of Common
Stock were outstanding. Each such share of Common Stock will be entitled to one
vote on all matters. All share amounts and prices set forth in this Proxy
Statement have been adjusted to reflect the two-for-one stock split distributed
February 17, 1998.
The following table contains information with respect to each person,
including any group, known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more
than 5% of the Common Stock of the Company as of the date indicated below.
Except as otherwise indicated, the persons listed in the table have the voting
and investment powers with respect to the shares indicated.
Name and Amount
Address of and Nature
Beneficial of Beneficial Percent
Owner Ownership of Class
-------------- -------------- --------
UMB Bank, n.a.
10th and Grand
Kansas City, MO 64141 3,879,133 (1) 7.37%
Donald F. Lamberti
One Convenience Blvd.
Ankeny, IA 50021 4,668,543 (2) 8.87%
Brown Capital Management
809 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201 3,526,950 (3) 6.71%
- -----------------------------
(footnotes on next page)
(1) Information is as of August 4, 1998 and consists of shares held by UMB
Bank, n.a. as the Trustee of the ESOP. Under the trust agreement creating
the ESOP, the shares of Common Stock held by the Trustee are voted by the
Trustee in accordance with the participants' directions or, if no
directions are received, in the same manner and proportion as the Trustee
votes shares for which the Trustee does receive timely instructions. The
trust agreement also contains provisions regarding the allocation of shares
to participants, the vesting of plan benefits and the disposition of
shares. The amount shown includes an aggregate of 1,745,027 shares voted by
the Trustee in accordance with the instructions of Messrs. Lamberti, Lamb,
Shull and Harmon as participants in the ESOP.
(2) Information is as of August 4, 1998 and includes 1,113,499 shares held
under the ESOP and currently allocated to the account of Mr. Lamberti, over
which Mr. Lamberti exercises voting power, and 20,000 shares subject to
currently exercisable stock options which cannot be presently voted. See
Footnote 1 above and Footnote 1 to the table set forth under the heading
"BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK BY DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS" on pp. 9-10 herein.
(3) Information is as of December 31, 1997 and was supplied by Brown Capital
Management, a registered investment advisory firm. Such information
indicates that Brown Capital Management had sole voting power over
1,154,550 shares and sole dispositive power over 3,526,950 shares.
VOTING PROCEDURES
Under Iowa corporate law and the Restated and Amended Articles of
Incorporation, as amended (the "Restated Articles"), the holders of a majority
of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote must be
present or represented by proxy in order to constitute a quorum to conduct
business at the 1998 Annual Meeting.
Directors are elected by a majority of the votes cast by the shares
entitled to vote in the election at a meeting at which a quorum is present. For
purposes of determining the number of votes cast, all votes cast "for" or to
"withhold authority" are included. Any "broker non-votes," which occur when
brokers are prohibited from exercising voting authority for beneficial owners
who have not provided voting instructions, will not be counted for the purpose
of determining the number of votes cast with respect to the election of
directors.
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors currently consists of seven persons. The Board of
Directors has not appointed a successor to complete Douglas K. Shull's term of
office following his resignation on July 25, 1998, and no nominee for the
directorship vacated by Mr. Shull is being presented for consideration at the
1998 Annual Meeting of shareholders. Under the Restated Articles, the Board of
Directors may consist of up to nine persons, and individuals may be elected by
the Board to fill any vacancies or to occupy any new directorships, with such
individual serving in each case until the next annual meeting of shareholders
and until a successor is duly elected and qualified. The Board has no current
intention of filling the existing vacancy or creating any new directorships
prior to the 1998 Annual Meeting of shareholders, but would be authorized under
the Restated Articles to create new directorships and elect individuals to fill
such positions at some point in the future as described above.
The Board of Directors has designated the seven individuals named below as
nominees for election as directors of the Company at the 1998 Annual Meeting of
shareholders. All nominees are currently directors of the Company and have been
previously elected by the shareholders. Directors are elected to hold office
until the next annual election and, in each case, until their respective
successors are duly elected and qualified.
Additional information regarding each of these nominees is set forth below.
The number of shares of Common Stock of the Company beneficially owned by each
of the nominees as of August 4, 1998 is set forth on pages 9 and 10. Except as
may be otherwise expressly stated, all nominees for directors have been employed
in the capacities indicated for more than five years.
It is intended that all proxies in the accompanying form, unless contrary
instructions are given thereon, will be voted for the election of all the
persons designated by the Board of Directors as nominees. In case any of the
nominees is unavailable for election, an event which is not anticipated, the
enclosed proxy may be voted for the election of a substitute nominee.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR election of the following
nominees as directors of the Company:
Ronald M. Lamb, 62, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company.
Mr. Lamb served as a Vice President of the Company from 1976 until 1987 when he
was elected Chief Operating Officer. He served as President and Chief Operating
Officer of the Company from September 1988 until becoming President and Chief
Executive Officer on May 1, 1998. Mr. Lamb has been a director of the Company
since 1981.
Donald F. Lamberti, 60, Chairman of the Executive Committee. Mr. Lamberti
co-founded the Company in 1967 and served as its President from 1975 to 1988,
when he assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer. He served in that
position until becoming Chairman of the Executive Committee on May 1, 1998. Mr.
Lamberti, a director of the Company since 1967, also serves as a director of
Norwest Bank Iowa, N.A. and National By-Products, Inc. and as a member of the
Board of Trustees of Buena Vista University.
John G. Harmon, 44, Secretary/Treasurer of the Company. Mr. Harmon has been
associated with the Company since 1976 and served as Corporate Secretary from
1987 until his appointment on July 25, 1998 to the new position of
Secretary/Treasurer. He has been a director of the Company since 1987.
John R. Fitzgibbon, 76, consultant and former Vice Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of First Group Companies and former Chief Executive Officer of
Iowa-Des Moines National Bank (currently Norwest Bank Iowa, N.A.). Mr.
Fitzgibbon, a director of the Company since 1983, also serves as a member of the
Board of Directors of the Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation and as
Chairman of the Des Moines International Airport Board.
John P. Taylor, 51, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Taylor Ball
(formerly known as Ringland-Johnson-Crowley), a general construction contractor.
Mr. Taylor served as President of Taylor Ball from 1983 to 1992, when he assumed
his present position. Mr. Taylor, a director since 1993, also serves as a
director of Allied Group Inc. and three wholly-owned property and casualty
insurance subsidiaries of Allied Group, Inc.
Kenneth H. Haynie, 65, shareholder with Ahlers, Cooney, Dorweiler, Haynie,
Smith & Allbee, P.C., a Des Moines law firm. Mr. Haynie has served as a director
of the Company since 1987.
Patricia Clare Sullivan, 70, consultant and President (1977-1993) and
President of External Affairs (1993-1995) of Mercy Health Center of Central
Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa. Ms. Sullivan has served as a director of the Company
since June 14, 1996.
MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors held six meetings during the fiscal year ended April
30, 1998. At intervals between formal meetings, members of the Board are
provided with various items of information regarding the Company's operations
and are frequently consulted on an informal basis with respect to pending
business. Each member of the Board of Directors attended 75% or more of the
aggregate number of Board meetings and meetings of committees on which the
member served.
The Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws, restated as of March 3, 1997
(the "Bylaws"), establish four standing committees of the Board of Directors:
the Executive Committee, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the
Nominating Committee. In addition, the Bylaws authorize the Board of Directors
to establish other committees for selected purposes. One such other committee,
the Management Study Committee, has been established for the purpose of
reviewing recent industry developments and corporate defensive measures and
making recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect thereto. This
Committee, which consists of Messrs. Lamberti, Lamb and Haynie, met once during
the fiscal year ended April 30, 1998.
The Executive Committee, presently consisting of Messrs. Lamberti, Lamb,
Fitzgibbon and Haynie, is authorized, within certain limitations, to exercise
the power and authority of the Board of Directors between meetings of the full
Board. The Committee met twice and acted once by unanimous consent during the
fiscal year ended April 30, 1998.
The principal functions of the Audit Committee, presently consisting of
Messrs. Taylor, Fitzgibbon and Haynie, are the recommendation to the Board of
Directors of an independent public accounting firm to be the Company's auditors,
and the approval of the audit arrangements and audit results. The Committee met
twice during the fiscal year ended April 30, 1998.
The principal functions of the Compensation Committee, presently consisting
of Messrs. Fitzgibbon, Haynie and Taylor and Ms. Sullivan, are to review
management's evaluation of the performance of the Company's officers and their
compensation arrangements and to make recommendations to the Board of Directors
concerning the compensation of the Company's executive officers, Vice Presidents
and outside directors.
The Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended April 30, 1998.
The Nominating Committee, presently consisting of Messrs. Harmon, Lamb and
Taylor and Ms. Sullivan, generally reviews the qualifications of candidates
proposed for nomination and recommends to the Board candidates for election at
the Annual Meeting of shareholders. The Committee met once during the fiscal
year ended April 30, 1998.
Shareholders may nominate director candidates for election pursuant to
procedures set forth in the By-laws. To make such nominations, shareholders must
deliver written notice thereof to the Secretary of the Company not later than
(i) with respect to an election to be held at an annual meeting of shareholders,
at least 90 days prior to the one-year anniversary date of the date of the
immediately preceding annual meeting of shareholders, and (ii) with respect to
an election to be held at a special meeting of shareholders, the close of
business on the tenth day following the date on which notice of such meeting is
first mailed to shareholders or public disclosure of the date of such special
meeting, whichever first occurs. The notice must set forth certain information
concerning such shareholder and the shareholder's nominee(s), including their
names and addresses, a representation that the shareholder is entitled to vote
at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to
nominate the person or persons specified in the notice, a description of all
arrangements or understandings between the shareholder and each nominee, such
other information as would be required to be included in a proxy statement
pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission had the
nominee(s) been nominated by the Board of Directors, and the consent of each
nominee to serve as a director of the Company if so elected. The chairman of the
meeting may refuse to acknowledge the nomination of any person not made in
compliance with the foregoing procedure.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Directors who are also employees of the Company receive no compensation in
their capacities as directors. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 1998, each
non-employee director was paid an annual cash retainer fee of $7,500 plus a
meeting fee of $500 for each Board, committee or shareholders' meeting attended.
The Company also paid the premiums on a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy insuring all directors.
Under the Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan approved by the
shareholders at the 1995 Annual Meeting (the "Director Stock Plan"), each
Eligible Non-Employee Director (defined in the Director Stock Plan as any person
who is serving as a non- employee director of the Company on the last day of a
fiscal year) will receive an option to purchase 2,000 shares of Common Stock.
The exercise price of all options awarded under the Director Stock Plan is the
average of the last reported sale prices of shares of
Common Stock on the last trading day of each of the 12 months preceding the
award of the option. The term of such options is ten years from the date of
grant, and each option is exercisable immediately upon grant. The aggregate
number of shares of Common Stock that may be granted pursuant to the Director
Stock Plan may not exceed 200,000 shares, subject to adjustment to reflect any
future stock dividends, stock splits or other relevant capitalization changes.
In accordance with the terms of the Director Stock Plan, each of Messrs.
Fitzgibbon, Haynie and Taylor and Ms. Sullivan received an option on May 1, 1997
to purchase 2,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $9-7/16 per
share.
(The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank).
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
BY DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth, as of August 4, 1998, the beneficial
ownership of shares of the Company's Common Stock, the only class of capital
stock outstanding, by the current directors of the Company, the executive
officers named in the Summary Compensation Table herein, and all directors and
executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, the shareholders
listed in the table have the voting and investment powers with respect to the
shares indicated.
Total Amount
Name of Shares and Nature
Beneficial Direct Subject to ESOP of Beneficial Percent
Owner Ownership Options(1) Shares(2) Ownership (3) of Class
- ---------- --------- --------- --------- ------------- --------
Donald F. Lamberti 3,535,044 20,000 1,113,499 4,668,543 8.87%
Ronald M. Lamb 538,000 20,000 517,854 1,075,854 2.04%
Douglas K. Shull 100,000 60,000 5,589 165,589 *
John G. Harmon - 0 - 50,000 108,085 158,085 *
John R. Fitzgibbon 124,720(4) 18,000 - 0 - 142,720 *
Kenneth H. Haynie 55,662(5) 18,000 - 0 - 73,662 *
John P. Taylor 20,000 10,000 - 0 - 30,000 *
Patricia Clare
Sullivan 1,700 4,000 - 0 - 5,700 *
All executive
officers and
directors as
a group
(8 persons) 4,325,126 200,000 1,745,027 6,320,153 12.01%
- ----------------------------------------
* Less than 1%
(footnotes on next page)
(1) Consisting of shares (which are included in the totals) that are subject to
acquisition through currently exercisable stock options granted under the
1991 Incentive Stock Option Plan (or the predecessor plan) or the Director
Stock Plan, but which cannot be presently voted by the executive officers
or non-employee directors holding the options. See "ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
-- Compensation of Directors" and "EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION -- Option Grants
and Exercises" on pages 15 and 16 herein.
(2) The amounts shown (which are included in the totals) consist of shares
allocated to the named executive officers' accounts in the ESOP as of April
30, 1998 (the most recent allocation made by the Trustee of the ESOP) over
which the officer exercises voting power. See Footnote 1 to the table set
forth under the heading "SHARES OUTSTANDING" on page 3 herein.
(3) Except as otherwise indicated, the amounts shown are the aggregate numbers
of shares attributable to the shareholders' direct ownership of shares,
shares subject to currently exercisable options and ESOP shares.
(4) The amount shown includes an aggregate of 40,720 shares held by a family
trust and affiliated business of Mr. Fitzgibbon.
(5) The amount shown includes 1,000 shares held by a family trust for which Mr.
Haynie acts as trustee.
VOTING TRUST AGREEMENT
Messrs. Lamberti and Lamb are parties to a voting trust agreement that will
become effective upon the date of death of the first of such shareholders. Under
the voting trust agreement, the shareholders have agreed to deposit all of the
shares of Common Stock of the Company beneficially owned by them ("Voting
Shares") with the survivors of Messrs. Lamberti and Lamb, and their successors,
as voting trustees. Upon the effectiveness of the voting trust, the voting
trustees generally will be entitled to vote the Voting Shares in their
discretion in accordance with the determination of a majority of the voting
trustees. However, in order to approve certain extraordinary corporate actions,
such as the merger of the Company into any other company, the voting trustees
will be required to obtain the prior affirmative vote of the holders of voting
trust certificates representing not less than two-thirds of the Voting Shares.
Unless earlier terminated by the vote of all of the voting trustees or of
holders of voting trust certificates representing at least three-quarters of the
Voting Shares, the agreement will terminate upon the expiration of three years
after the effective date of the voting trust.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
REPORT OF COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee"),
consisting of the four current non-employee directors, is responsible for
evaluating the performance of management and determining the annual compensation
to be paid to the Company's chief executive officer and the executive officers
named in the Summary Compensation Table. The Committee also administers the 1991
Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "1991 Option Plan"), makes recommendations to
the Board of Directors with respect to the employment agreements with the
executive officers and approves of the salaries and bonus structure proposed by
the Chief Executive Officer for the Company's Vice-Presidents.
OBJECTIVES
The Committee's executive compensation policies are designed to attract,
motivate and retain executives who will contribute to the long-term success of
the Company, and to reward executives for achieving both short-term and
long-term strategic goals of the Company. The Company is committed to providing
a fair and competitive pay package to all employees. Compensation for executive
officers is linked directly to the Company's financial performance as well as
the attainment of each executive officer's individual performance goals. As a
result, a substantial portion of each executive officer's total compensation is
intended to be variable and to relate to and be contingent upon the financial
performance of the Company, as well as each executive officer's job performance.
Each year, typically in July or August, the Committee reviews the Company's
executive compensation program and approves individual salary levels and
performance goals for all executive officers and other senior Company personnel.
The Committee also may make determinations with respect to the award of stock
options under the 1991 Option Plan at that time.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
The three principal components of the Company's executive compensation
program consist of base salary, annual incentive payments and stock options.
Base Salary. Base salaries for executive officers of the Company are
determined primarily on the basis of each executive officer's job description
and corresponding responsibilities, rather than on the basis of job titles or
comparisons with executive officers at comparably sized companies. The Company
currently has only three executive officer positions and, as a result, the
Committee believes that the Company's executive officers generally assume more
extensive responsibilities than those found in similar positions with comparably
sized companies. The base salary of each executive officer is set forth in the
officer's employment agreement with the Company and may be adjusted during the
terms thereof with the consent of the officer.
Annual Incentive Payments. The Company's executive officers (as well as its
Vice Presidents) annually participate in an incentive compensation bonus pool.
Bonus awards are made only if the Company achieves specific performance targets
in earnings per share established each year by the Committee, with the amount of
the bonus increasing as earnings per share increase above the levels specified
by the Committee. The purpose of the bonus award is to reward superior
performance by the Company's executive officers that has resulted in the Company
achieving certain financial performance levels. During the 1998 fiscal year,
each of the Company's executive officers received one-half of the maximum bonus
award for which he was eligible under the levels established by the Committee in
August 1997.
Stock Options. Stock options may be granted to executive officers and other
key employees of the Company under the terms of the 1991 Option Plan. The size
of an individual's stock option award is based primarily on individual
performance and the individual's responsibilities and position with the Company.
The 1991 Option Plan is designed to assist the Company in attracting, retaining
and motivating executive officers and other key employees. The stock options are
also designed to align the interests of the executive officers and other key
employees with those of the Company's shareholders. The stock options are
granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company's
Common Stock on the date of grant. This approach encourages the creation of
shareholder value over the long-term, in that no benefit is realized from the
stock option grants unless the price of the Company's Common Stock rises over a
number of years. No options were awarded to any of the executive officers during
the 1998 fiscal year.
Additional Compensation and Benefits. The Company's compensation of
executive officers includes certain other benefits. Each executive officer is
entitled to receive additional compensation in the form of payments,
allocations, or accruals under various benefit plans, consisting primarily of
contributions to the Company's 401(k) plan and employee stock ownership plan.
The Committee believes that these plans are an integral part of the overall
compensation program of the Company.
Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Lamberti's compensation for the fiscal year
ended April 30, 1998 was determined in accordance with the above policies and in
light of his employment agreement with the Company. Effective January 1, 1998,
Mr. Lamberti's annual salary was increased by $100,000 to $450,000. Mr. Lamberti
also earned $100,000 in annual bonus based upon the Company's ability to achieve
specified financial performance targets in earnings per share established by the
Committee at the beginning of the fiscal year.
Other. The Committee periodically reviews the terms of the employment
agreements with the executive officers and from time to time considers
modifications to the same, most recently in the area of retirement benefit
arrangements. The Committee also is aware of the statutory limitations placed on
the deductibility of compensation in excess of $1 million which is earned by an
executive officer in any year, and is continuing to monitor developments in this
area.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
John R. Fitzgibbon, Chairman
Kenneth H. Haynie
John P. Taylor
Patricia Clare Sullivan
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth certain information concerning the
compensation earned or awarded during the last three fiscal years to the chief
executive officer and the three other most highly compensated executive officers
of the Company as of April 30, 1998 whose compensation (based on the total of
the amounts required to be shown in the salary and bonus columns of such table)
exceeded $100,000.
Summary Compensation Table
Long-Term
Annual Compensation Compensation
Name and Other Annual Securities All Other
Principal Compensation Underlying Compensation
Position (1) Year Salary ($) Bonus ($) ($) Options (#) ($) (2)
- ------------ ---- ---------- --------- ---------- ----------- -----------
Donald F. Lamberti
Chairman 1998 383,333 100,000 2,444 - 0 - - 0 -
and Chief 1997 350,000 200,000 2,444 - 0 - - 0 -
Executive 1996 350,000 200,000 2,444 10,000 - 0 -
Officer
Ronald M. Lamb
President 1998 383,333 100,000 836 - 0 - - 0 -
and Chief 1997 350,000 200,000 836 - 0 - - 0 -
Operating 1996 350,000 200,000 836 10,000 - 0 -
Officer
John G. Harmon
Corporate 1998 146,250 40,000 118,286 (3) - 0 - 5,850
Secretary 1997 130,000 85,000 1,789 25,000 5,200
1996 113,750 85,000 79,939 (3) 5,000 4,550
Douglas K. Shull
Treasurer 1998 148,750 40,000 2,248 - 0 - 5,950
and Chief 1997 142,500 85,000 2,248 25,000 7,237
Financial 1996 133,750 85,000 822,248 (3) 5,000 5,350
Officer
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(footnotes on next page)
(1) Effective May 1, 1998, Mr. Lamberti became Chairman of the Executive
Committee and Mr. Lamb assumed the office of President and Chief Executive
Officer. Mr. Shull resigned as Treasurer and as a member of the Board of
Directors on July 25, 1998 and Mr. Harmon was appointed as of that date to
the new position of Secretary/Treasurer. For the periods indicated, the
Company had only four executive officers for whom individualized pay
disclosure is required under the rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
(2) The amount shown for each named executive officer is the total of the
Company's contributions to the Company's 401(k) plan, in which all
employees are eligible to participate, and contributions to the ESOP.
(3) The amount shown includes amounts attributable to the named executive
officer's exercise of stock options and the sale of all or a portion of the
shares acquired thereby.
OPTION GRANTS AND EXERCISES
No stock option grants were made by the Compensation Committee to the
executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table during the 1998
fiscal year. The following table summarizes, for the fiscal year ended April 30,
1998, option exercises by the executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table under the 1991 Option Plan, and the value of the options held
by such persons at April 30, 1998.
Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
and Fiscal Year-End Option Values
Number of
Securities Value of
Underlying Unexercised
Unexercised In-the-Money
Options at Options at
Year-End Year-End
Shares Value Exercisable/ Exercisable/
Acquired on Realized Unexercisable Unexercisable
Name Exercise (#) ($) (1) (#) (in shares) (in dollars) (2)
- ---- ------------ -------- --------------- ---------------
Donald F. Lamberti 0 0 20,000/0 113,700/0
Ronald M. Lamb 0 0 20,000/0 113,700/0
Douglas K. Shull 0 0 60,000/0 428,725/0
John G. Harmon 30,000 267,500 50,000/0 371,875/0
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) The "value realized" represents the difference between the exercise price
of the option shares and the market price of the option shares on the date
the option was exercised. The value realized was determined without
considering any taxes which may have been owed.
(2) Calculated on the basis of a stock price of $16-3/8 per share, which was
the last reported sales price of shares of Common Stock reported on the
NASDAQ National Market System on April 30, 1998, minus the exercise price.
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AND CHANGE OF CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
The Company entered into amended and restated employment agreements with
each of Messrs. Lamberti, Lamb and Harmon in October 1997. The agreements with
Messrs. Lamberti and Lamb are for terms of five years with automatic renewal
terms of three years. The agreement with Mr. Harmon is for a period expiring on
August 1, 2001. The term of employment for Mr. Harmon would be extended for a
three year period in the event of a "change of control" (as defined in the
agreement) of the Company.
Each of the agreements with the executive officers continues their levels
of responsibility on an equivalent basis to the duties performed by each of them
prior to the
effective date of the agreement. Under their agreements, Messrs. Lamberti and
Lamb will receive compensation exclusive of bonuses at the rate of $450,000 per
year, and Mr. Harmon will receive compensation exclusive of bonuses at the rate
of $150,000 per year, or in each case such other amount as the Company and the
officer mutually shall agree. In addition, each officer will receive all
benefits generally provided by the Company to its employees and officers,
including specified health insurance coverages.
In each case, the officer's employment may be terminated as a result of
death, disability, cause or "good reason", both before or following any change
in control of the Company. For this purpose, good reason is generally defined as
a diminution in compensation or level of responsibility, forced relocation to
another area, or the failure to continue employment upon the stated terms and
conditions.
Under the agreements, the death of either Messrs. Lamberti or Lamb would
obligate the Company to pay their surviving spouse the officer's salary for a
period of 24 months, after which the spouse would receive monthly benefits equal
to one-half of the officer's retirement benefits for a period of 20 years or
until the spouse's death, whichever occurs first. A similar obligation would
arise in the event of the death of Mr. Harmon, except that the period during
which full salary would be paid would be 12 rather than 24 months. In the event
either Messrs. Lamberti or Lamb become disabled, the officer would be entitled
to disability benefits equal to one-half of their annual salary until they reach
age 65 or are no longer disabled or until their death, whichever occurs first.
In the event they recover from their disability, such officers would be eligible
to receive retirement benefits thereafter until death as described below. Mr.
Harmon is not entitled to receive any disability payments under his agreement
with the Company.
In the event of termination for cause (or other than for good reason), each
of the officers is entitled to receive his salary to the date of termination. In
the event an officer terminates employment for good reason or for any
termination other than for cause, the Company would be obligated to pay such
officer (i) his salary through the date of termination, (ii) a pro-rata portion
of the highest annual bonus received during the three previous fiscal years, if
any, (iii) a payment equal to 2.0 times the sum of the officer's salary and the
foregoing bonus amount and (iv) all compensation previously deferred. Certain
employee benefits also would be continued for a two-year period following the
date of termination. If an officer terminates employment for good reason or is
terminated for any reason other than for cause within three years following a
change of control, the Company would be obligated to pay such officer as it
would for a "good reason" termination described above, except that the multiple
would be 3.0 times the sum of the officer's salary and highest recent bonus
rather than 2.0 times. Similarly, certain employee benefits also would be
continued for a three-year period following the date of termination. In the
event of such a termination, the Company would be obligated to
reduce the payment amount to the maximum deductible amount permitted under the
golden parachute tax provisions and Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986.
In connection with the approval of the foregoing agreements with the
executive officers, the Board of Directors adopted a Non-Qualified Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plan ("SERP") for the executive officers. The SERP provides
for the payment of an annual retirement benefit to the officer for the earlier
of a period of 20 years or until his death, after which such benefits shall be
paid to the officer's spouse for a period ending on the 20th anniversary of the
officer's retirement or the spouse's death, whichever occurs first. In the case
of Messrs. Lamberti and Lamb, optional retirement is permitted upon the officer
reaching age 59 (which both such officers have met), following which such
officer would be entitled to receive an annual retirement benefit equal to
one-half of his then-current salary. In the case of Mr. Harmon, optional
retirement is available upon reaching age 55. In such event, the retirement
benefits available to Mr. Harmon would be equal to one-fourth of his
then-current salary, increasing by 5% of his salary for each additional year of
employment until he reaches age 60.
The Board of Directors also approved the execution of a trust agreement
with UMB Bank, n.a. for the purpose of creating a trust to secure its
obligations under the SERP in the event of a change of control of the Company.
In such event, the trust would be funded in an amount equal to the maximum
amount payable to the officers under the SERP, either in cash or pursuant to an
irrevocable letter of credit established by the Company for that purpose.
Payment of the retirement benefits to the officers thereafter would be made by
the trustee from the trust funds, at the times and in the amounts provided in
the SERP.
The Company has entered into "change of control" employment agreements with
eleven other key employees, including the six current Vice Presidents. The
purpose of these agreements is to encourage such individuals to carry out their
duties in the event of a possible change of control of the Company. Under the
terms of these agreements, the individuals may become entitled to receive
certain payments upon their termination of employment or if their job duties or
compensation and benefits are substantially reduced within two years following a
change of control of the Company. The maximum amount payable is two or three
times the sum of the individual's salary and the highest annual bonus received
by such individual during the two preceding years. In addition, the agreements
provide for the continuation of certain benefits for up to two years after
termination.
Under a severance agreement dated as of July 25, 1998 between the Company
and Mr. Shull, Mr. Shull tendered his resignations as Treasurer and as a member
of the Board
of Directors and agreed to serve as a consultant to the Company until August 31,
1998, during which time he will assist with the transition of his successor and
completion of the first quarter's financial reports. Under the agreement, Mr.
Shull will receive $75,000 per year for twenty years, along with health
insurance, in lieu of the severance payment and other rights under his
employment agreement with the Company. Mr. Shull also has agreed to certain
confidentiality and restrictive covenants for a two year period and released the
Company from all claims relating to his employment by the Company.
COMPARATIVE STOCK PERFORMANCE
The Performance Graph set forth on the following page compares the
cumulative total shareholder return on the Company's Common Stock for the last
five fiscal years with the cumulative total return of the Russell 2000 Index and
a peer group index based on the common stock of the following companies: Dairy
Mart Convenience Stores, Uni- Marts Incorporated, E-Z Serve Corp. and Southland
Corp. The cumulative total shareholder return computations set forth in the
Performance Graph assume the investment of $100 in the Company's Common Stock
and each index on April 30, 1993, and reinvestment of all dividends. The total
shareholder returns shown are not intended to be indicative of future returns.
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG CASEY'S GENERAL STORES, INC., THE RUSSELL 2000 INDEX
AND A PEER GROUP
Russell
Casey's General 2000 Peer
Measurement Period General Stores, Inc. Index Group
(Fiscal Year Covered)
Measurement Pt - 4/30/93 $100 $100 $100
FYE 4/30/94 149 115 93
FYE 4/30/95 213 123 82
FYE 4/30/96 268 164 72
FYE 4/30/97 236 164 70
FYE 4/30/98 411 233 58
The above Performance Graph and related disclosure and the Report of the
Compensation Committee (set forth on pages 11 through 13 hereof) shall not be
deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating this
Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the
Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not
otherwise be deemed filed under such acts.
OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors determines annually
the compensation to be paid to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and other
executive officers, including the executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table. The current members of the Compensation Committee are
Messrs. Fitzgibbon (Chairman), Haynie and Taylor and Ms. Sullivan. Mr. Haynie is
a shareholder with
Ahlers, Cooney, Dorweiler, Haynie, Smith & Allbee, P.C., a law firm in Des
Moines, Iowa. The Company retained this law firm during fiscal 1998 for legal
services and expects to retain such firm in the current fiscal year.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
At one store location in Des Moines, Iowa, the Company owns the building
and currently leases the land from a trust created by Mr. Lamberti's mother. The
Company's lease is for a term of 15 years and provides for a fixed monthly
rental payment of $1,300 and payment of an amount equal to 1% of sales by the
store. The amounts paid by the Company under the lease during the past three
fiscal years were $36,148 in fiscal 1996, $41,271 in fiscal 1997 and $40,274 in
fiscal 1998. The Company does not intend to lease additional store sites or
buildings from affiliated persons.
AUDITORS
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP was engaged by the Company to serve as its auditors
for fiscal 1998. Representatives of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP will be in attendance
at the Annual Meeting to be held on September 18, 1998, and will be available to
respond to appropriate questions and may make a statement if they so desire.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Any proposal which a shareholder intends to present at the Annual Meeting
of shareholders in 1999 must be received by the Company by April 15, 1999 in
order to be eligible for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement and proxy
card relating to such meeting.
The Company's Bylaws established advance notice procedures as to business
to be brought before an annual meeting of shareholders other than by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors. A shareholder may bring business before an
annual meeting only by delivering notice to the Company within the time limits
described on page 7 hereof for a nomination for the election of a director. Such
notice must include a description of and the reasons for bringing the proposed
business before the meeting, any material interest of the shareholder in such
business and certain other information about the shareholder. These requirements
are separate and apart from, and in addition to, the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") requirements that a shareholder must meet in order to have a
shareholder proposal included in the Company's proxy statement pursuant to SEC
Rule 14a-8. A copy of the Bylaws may be obtained upon written request to the
Secretary/Treasurer of the Company at the address provided in the following
paragraph.
ANNUAL REPORTS
The Company's 1998 Annual Report, including consolidated financial
statements, is being mailed to shareholders with this Proxy Statement, but does
not form a part of the material for the solicitation of proxies. The Company
will provide without charge to each shareholder, on written request, a copy of
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year 1998, including the
consolidated financial statements and schedules thereto, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. If a shareholder requests copies of any
exhibits to such Form 10-K, the Company may require the payment of a fee
covering its reasonable expenses. A written request should be addressed to the
Secretary/ Treasurer, Casey's General Stores, Inc., One Convenience Blvd.,
Ankeny, Iowa 50021- 0845.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ John G. Harmon
-------------------------
John G. Harmon
Secretary/Treasurer
August 11, 1998
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE COMPLETE AND SIGN THE
ENCLOSED FORM OF PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE
ACCOMPANYING POSTPAID ENVELOPE.
CASEY'S GENERAL STORES, INC. PROXY
ONE CONVENIENCE BOULEVARD
ANKENY, IOWA 50021
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
[LOGO]
The undersigned hereby appoints Donald F. Lamberti and Ronald M. Lamb as
Proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes
them to represent and to vote, as designated below, all the shares of Common
Stock of Casey's General Stores, Inc. held of record by the undersigned on
August 4, 1998 at the Annual Meeting of shareholders to be held on September 18,
1998, or any adjournment thereof.
1. PROPOSAL 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
--
-- FOR ALL NOMINEES LISTED BELOW (except as marked to the
contrary below).
--
-- WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees below.
(INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual
nominee, mark the box next to the nominee's name below.)
-- --
-- Donald F. Lamberti -- Ronald M. Lamb
-- --
-- John R. Fitzgibbon -- John G. Harmon
-- --
-- Kenneth H. Haynie -- Patricia Clare Sullivan
--
-- John P. Taylor
2. In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the meeting.
(To be signed on the other side.)
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY
THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED
FOR PROPOSAL 1.
DATED: ----------------------, 1998
--------------------------------------
Signature
--------------------------------------
Signature if held jointly
Please sign exactly as name appears. 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.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE
PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.
CASEY'S GENERAL STORES, INC. INSTRUCTION
ONE CONVENIENCE BOULEVARD CARD
ANKENY, IOWA 50021
[LOGO]
INSTRUCTIONS TO: UMB Bank, n.a., as Trustee of the
Sixth Amended and Restated Casey's General Stores, Inc.
Employees' Stock Ownership Plan and Trust (the "ESOP").
I hereby direct that the voting rights pertaining to all shares of Common
Stock of Casey's General Stores, Inc. held by the Trustee and allocated to my
account in the ESOP shall be exercised at the Annual Meeting of the shareholders
of Casey's General Stores, Inc. to be held on September 18, 1998, or at any
adjournment of such meeting, in accordance with the instructions below, in
voting upon the election of Directors and on any other business that may
properly come before the meeting.
1. PROPOSAL 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
--
-- FOR ALL NOMINEES LISTED BELOW (except as marked to the contrary
below).
--
-- WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees below.
(INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee,
mark the box next to the nominee's name below.)
-- --
-- Donald F. Lamberti -- Ronald M. Lamb
-- --
-- John R. Fitzgibbon -- John G. Harmon
-- --
-- Kenneth H. Haynie -- Patricia Clare Sullivan
--
-- John P. Taylor
2. In its discretion, the Trustee is authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the meeting.
(To be signed on the other side.)
CASEY'S GENERAL STORES, INC.
EMPLOYEES' STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN AND TRUST
You are entitled to direct the voting of the total number of shares of
Common Stock of Casey's General Stores, Inc. allocated to your account in the
ESOP through August 4, 1998, the record date for voting at the September 18,
1998 Annual Meeting of shareholders, if your completed and signed Instruction
Card is received by the Trustee no later than September 16, 1998. If your voting
instructions are not timely received by the Trustee, the shares allocated to
your account and the other shares held by the Trustee for which no instructions
were timely received will be voted by the Trustee in the same manner and
proportion as the Trustee votes shares for which the Trustee does receive timely
instructions.
DATED: ---------------------------, 1998
-----------------------------
Participant's Signature
(Please sign exactly as your name appears)
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS
CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.