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 (AMENDMENT NO. )
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 Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule
14(a)-12
HOSPITALITY WORLDWIDE SERVICES, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) filing Proxy Statement, if other than 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:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the
amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined):
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
/ / 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:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement no.:
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(3) Filing Party:
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(4) Date Filed:
-2-
HOSPITALITY WORLDWIDE SERVICES, INC.
450 PARK AVENUE
SUITE 2603
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To the Shareholders of Hospitality Worldwide Services, Inc.
Please take notice that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
Hospitality Worldwide Services, Inc., a New York corporation (the "Company"),
will be held at the American Stock Exchange, 86 Trinity Place, New York, New
York, on Thursday, June 25, 1998 at 11:00 A.M. for the following purposes:
1. To elect 7 members to the Board of Directors.
2. To approve amendments to the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation and By-Laws to create three classes of
directors serving for staggered terms ranging from
one to three years.
3. To approve an amendment to the Company's Certificate
of Incorporation to increase (i) the number of
authorized shares of the Company's Common Stock from
20,000,000 to 50,000,000, and (ii) the number of
authorized shares of Preferred Stock from 3,000,000
to 5,000,000.
4. To approve an amendment to the Company's 1996 Stock
Option Plan (the "Employee Plan") to increase the
number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of stock options granted pursuant to the
Employee Plan from 1,700,000 to 2,700,000.
5. To ratify the appointment of Arthur Andersen, LLP as
the Company's independent certified public
accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31,
1998.
6. To transact such other business as may properly come
before the meeting or any adjournment or adjournments
thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on May 18, 1998
as the record date for the purpose of determining the shareholders entitled to
notice of, and to vote at, the meeting.
YOU ARE REQUESTED, WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO BE PRESENT AT THE
MEETING, TO MARK, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN PROMPTLY THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IN THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE TO WHICH NO POSTAGE NEED BE AFFIXED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED
STATES.
You may revoke your proxy for any reason at any time prior to the
voting thereof, and if you attend the meeting in person you may withdraw the
proxy and vote your own shares.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
HOWARD G. ANDERS
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
New York, New York
May 22, 1998
HOSPITALITY WORLDWIDE SERVICES, INC.
450 PARK AVENUE
SUITE 2603
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
PROXY STATEMENT FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
JUNE 25, 1998
The proxy accompanying this proxy statement (the "Proxy Statement") is
solicited by the Board of Directors (the "Board of Directors") of Hospitality
Worldwide Services, Inc., a New York corporation (the "Company"), for use at the
Company's 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at the American Stock
Exchange, 86 Trinity Place, New York, New York, on Thursday, June 25, 1998 at
11:00 A.M. and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof (the "Annual
Meeting").
The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 450 Park
Avenue, Suite 2603, New York, New York 10022. The approximate date of mailing of
this Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy to shareholders is May 22, 1998.
RECORD DATE AND VOTING SECURITIES
Only holders of the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par value per share
(the "Common Stock"), and Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock, $.01 par value
per share (the "Convertible Preferred Stock"), of record at the close of
business on May 18, 1998 (the "Record Date") will be entitled to notice of and
to vote at the Annual Meeting or at any adjournment or adjournments thereof. On
the Record Date, 11,880,522 shares of Common Stock were issued and outstanding
and 200,000 shares of Convertible Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding.
Each outstanding share of Common Stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote,
and each outstanding share of Convertible Preferred Stock entitles the holder
thereof to 4.17 votes.
PROXIES AND VOTING RIGHTS
Shares of Common Stock and/or Convertible Preferred Stock represented
by proxies in the accompanying form that are properly executed and duly returned
will be voted in accordance with the instructions specified therein. If no
instructions are given, such proxies will be voted in accordance with the
recommendations of the Board of Directors as indicated in this Proxy Statement.
A proxy may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise by written notice to
the Company, by submission of another proxy bearing a later date or by voting in
person at the Annual Meeting. Such revocation will not affect a vote on any
matters taken prior thereto. The mere presence at the Annual Meeting of the
person appointing a proxy will not revoke the appointment. A majority of the
votes of shares entitled to vote will constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting.
Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining the
presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of business. A broker
non-vote occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not
vote on a particular proposal because the nominee, who does not have
discretionary voting power with respect to that item, has not received
instructions from the beneficial owner. Broker non-votes and abstentions are not
included in the tabulation of the voting results on the election of directors or
issues requiring approval of the majority of the votes cast at the Annual
Meeting and, therefore, do not have the effect of votes in opposition in such
tabulations. Abstentions will have the effect of a vote "against" on all matters
other than the election of directors and the ratification of the Company's
independent certified public accountants.
The solicitation of proxies in the accompanying form is made by the
Board of Directors and the cost thereof will be borne by the Company. In
addition to the solicitation of proxies by use of the mails, some of the
officers, directors and other employees of the Company may also solicit proxies
personally or by mail, telephone or telegraph, but they will not receive
additional compensation for such services. Brokerage firms, custodians, banks,
trustees, nominees or other fiduciaries holding shares of Common Stock in their
names will be requested by the Company to forward proxy materials to their
principals and will be reimbursed for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in
such connection.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The voting securities of the Company outstanding on May 18, 1998
consisted of 11,880,522 shares of Common Stock and 200,000 shares of Convertible
Preferred Stock. The following table sets forth information concerning ownership
of the Common Stock and the Convertible Preferred Stock, as at May 18, 1998, by
(i) each director and nominee for director, (ii) each executive officer, (iii)
all directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group, and (iv)
each person who, to the knowledge of management, owned beneficially more than 5%
of the Common Stock. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each person
listed below is 450 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022.
CONVERTIBLE
COMMON STOCK PERCENT OF PREFERRED STOCK PERCENT OF
BENEFICIAL OWNER(1) BENEFICIALLY OWNED CLASS(2) BENEFICIALLY OWNED CLASS
- ---------------------------------------- ------------------ --------- ------------------ ---------
Robert A. Berman........................... 687,085(3) 5.8%
Leonard F. Parker.......................... 271,435 2.3%
550 Biltmore Way
Coral Gables, Florida 33134
Douglas A. Parker.......................... 376,667(4) 3.1% 40,000(4) 20.0%
550 Biltmore Way
Coral Gables, Florida 33134
Howard G. Anders........................... 179,600(5) 1.5%
Richard A. Bartlett........................ 416,500(6) 3.4%
c/o Resource Holdings Associates, L.P.
520 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Scott A. Kaniewski......................... 100,424(7) *
Louis K. Adler............................. 83,334(8) *
910 Travis Street, Suite 2030
Houston, Texas 77002-5810
George Asch................................ 83,334(9) *
c/o Gray Seifert & Company, Inc.
380 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Bradley Parker............................. 305,000(10) 2.5% 40,000(10) 20.0%
550 Biltmore Way
Coral Gables, Florida 33134
Philip Parker.............................. 355,000(11) 2.9% 40,000(11) 20.0%
550 Biltmore Way
Coral Gables, Florida 33134
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CONVERTIBLE
COMMON STOCK PERCENT OF PREFERRED STOCK PERCENT OF
BENEFICIAL OWNER(1) BENEFICIALLY OWNED CLASS(2) BENEFICIALLY OWNED CLASS
- ---------------------------------------- ------------------ --------- ------------------ ---------
Mitchell Parker............................ 355,000(12) 2.9% 40,000(12) 20.0%
550 Biltmore Way
Coral Gables, Florida 33134
Gregg Parker............................... 355,000(13) 2.9% 40,000(13) 20.0%
550 Biltmore Way
Coral Gables, Florida 33134
All Executive Officers and Directors as a group 2,198,379(14) 17.4%
(8 persons)................................
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* Less than 1%
(1) Except as outlined herein, the persons named in the table, to the
Company's knowledge, have sole voting and dispositive power with
respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to
community property laws where applicable and the information contained
in the footnotes hereunder.
(2) Calculations assume that (i) all options and warrants which are
presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days have been
exercised; and (ii) all Convertible Preferred Stock which is presently
convertible has been converted.
(3) Consists of (i) 474,085 shares of Common Stock held individually by Mr.
Berman; (ii) 200,000 shares of Common Stock held by Watertone Holdings,
L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and affiliate of the Company
("Watertone"), as to which Mr. Berman is attributed beneficial
ownership (as the sole Manager of Watertone's general partner) pursuant
to Rule 13d-3 ("Rule 13d-3") of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"); and (iii) 13,000 shares of Common Stock
held by Watermark LLC as to which Mr. Berman is attributed beneficial
ownership (as sole Manager) pursuant to Rule 13d-3. Mr. Berman
disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares held by Watertone and
Watermark LLC, other than those shares deemed to be beneficially owned
by him pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(2)(ii)(B) of the Exchange Act.
(4) Consists of (i) 155,000 shares of Common Stock held individually by Mr.
Parker; (ii) 21,667 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
presently exercisable options currently held by Mr. Parker; and (iii)
200,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of shares of
Convertible Preferred Stock which are presently convertible. The shares
of Convertible Preferred Stock convert into Common Stock on a formula
basis. This computation assumes the conversion of the Convertible
Preferred Stock on May 18, 1998 and represents the minimum number of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible
Preferred Stock. Should Mr. Parker convert any or all of his shares of
Convertible Preferred Stock, his ownership interest in the Convertible
Preferred Stock will decrease or disappear accordingly.
(5) Consists of (i) 4,600 shares of Common Stock held individually by Mr.
Anders; and (ii) 175,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
of presently exercisable options currently held by Mr. Anders.
(6) Consists of (i) 108,166 shares of Common Stock owned individually by
Mr. Bartlett: (ii) 300,000 shares of Common Stock underlying an option
granted to Resource Holdings Associates, L.P. ("Resource Holdings") as
to which Mr. Bartlett is attributed beneficial ownership pursuant to
Rule 13d-3; and (iii) 8,334 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of presently exercisable options currently held by Mr.
Bartlett. Mr. Bartlett, as a Managing Director of Resource Holdings,
has shared power to vote and dispose of the 300,000 shares of Common
Stock underlying Resource Holdings' option.
-3-
(7) Consists of (i) 92,090 shares of Common Stock held individually by Mr.
Kaniewski; and (ii) 8,334 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
of presently exercisable options currently held by Mr. Kaniewski.
(8) Consists of (i) 75,000 shares of Common Stock held individually by Mr.
Adler; and (ii) 8,334 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
presently exercisable options currently held by Mr. Adler.
(9) Consists of (i) 75,000 shares of Common Stock held individually by Mr.
Asch; and (ii) 8,334 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
presently exercisable options currently held by Mr. Asch.
(10) Consists of (i) 105,000 shares of Common Stock held individually by Mr.
Parker; and (ii) 200,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock which are presently
convertible. The shares of Convertible Preferred Stock convert into
Common Stock on a formula basis. This computation assumes the
conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock on May 18, 1998 and
represents the minimum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock. Should Mr. Parker
convert any or all of his shares of Convertible Preferred Stock, his
ownership interest in the Convertible Preferred Stock will decrease or
disappear accordingly.
(11) Consists of (i) 155,000 shares of Common Stock held individually by Mr.
Parker; and (ii) 200,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock which are presently
convertible. The shares of Convertible Preferred Stock convert into
Common Stock on a formula basis. This computation assumes the
conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock on May 18, 1998 and
represents the minimum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock. Should Mr. Parker
convert any or all of his shares of Convertible Preferred Stock, his
ownership interest in the Convertible Preferred Stock will decrease or
disappear accordingly.
(12) Consists of (i) 155,000 shares of Common Stock held individually by Mr.
Parker; and (ii) 200,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock which are presently
convertible. The shares of Convertible Preferred Stock convert into
Common Stock on a formula basis. This computation assumes the
conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock on May 18, 1998 and
represents the minimum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock. Should Mr. Parker
convert any or all of his shares of Convertible Preferred Stock, his
ownership interest in the Convertible Preferred Stock will decrease or
disappear accordingly.
(13) Consists of (i) 155,000 shares of Common Stock held individually by Mr.
Parker; and (ii) 200,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock which are presently
convertible. The shares of Convertible Preferred Stock convert into
Common Stock on a formula basis. This computation assumes the
conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock on May 18, 1998 and
represents the minimum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock. Should Mr. Parker
convert any or all of his shares of Convertible Preferred Stock, his
ownership interest in the Convertible Preferred Stock will decrease or
disappear accordingly.
(14) Includes (i) presently exercisable options to purchase 530,003 shares
of Common Stock at exercise prices ranging from $1.275 to $6.75 per
share; and (ii) 200,000 shares of Common Stock which are issuable upon
conversion of Convertible Preferred Stock which are presently
convertible.
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-------------------------
PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's By-Laws currently provide that the number of directors
constituting the entire Board of Directors shall consist of not less than three
nor more than fifteen members to be elected at each Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of the Company. Pursuant to Proposal No. 1, the seven (7) nominees
listed below have been nominated to serve until the 1999 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders and until their successors are elected. However, if Proposal No. 2
is adopted and implemented, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and
By-Laws will be amended to provide that the members of the Board of Directors
shall be classified as nearly as possible into three classes, each with, as
nearly as possible, one-third of the members of the Board of Directors. Under
Proposal No. 2, if approved by the Company's shareholders, Scott A. Kaniewski
and Leonard F. Parker shall be classified as Class I directors and shall serve
until the 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; Louis K. Adler, George Asch and
Richard A. Bartlett shall be classified as Class II directors and shall serve
until the 2000 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; and Robert Berman and Douglas
Parker shall be classified as Class III directors and shall serve until the 2001
Annual Meeting of Shareholders. At each meeting following this initial
classification and election, the successors to the class of directors whose
terms expire at that meeting would be elected for a term of office to expire at
the third succeeding Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Directors chosen to fill
vacancies on a classified board shall hold office until the next election of the
class for which directors shall have been chosen, and until their successors are
duly elected by the shareholders. When the number of directors is increased by
the Board of Directors and any newly created directorship is filled by the Board
of Directors, there shall be no classification of the additional directors until
the following Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Officers are elected by and serve
at the discretion of the Board of Directors, subject to certain employment
contracts.
The Company does not expect that any of the nominees will be
unavailable for election, but if that should occur before the Annual Meeting,
the proxies will be voted in favor of the remaining nominees and may also be
voted for a substitute nominee or nominees selected by the Board of Directors.
REQUIRED VOTE
Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, in person
or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting.
THE BOARD OR DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE FOR
THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES.
The following table sets forth for each director to be elected at the
Annual Meeting and for each director whose term of office will extend beyond the
Annual Meeting, the year each such director was first elected a director, the
positions currently held by each director with the Company, the year each
director's term will expire and the class of director for each director.
YEAR FIRST
ELECTED YEAR TERM CLASS OF
NAME AGE DIRECTOR POSITION WILL EXPIRE DIRECTOR
- ----------------------- -------- -------------- ------------------------- -------------- --------------
Robert A. Berman 38 1997 Chairman of the Board, 2001 III
Chief Executive Officer
and Director
Leonard F. Parker 68 1997 Chairman Emeritus and 1999 I
Director
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YEAR FIRST
ELECTED YEAR TERM CLASS OF
NAME AGE DIRECTOR POSITION WILL EXPIRE DIRECTOR
- ----------------------- -------- -------------- ------------------------- -------------- --------------
Douglas A. Parker 40 1997 President, Chief 2001 III
Operating Officer and
Director
Scott A. Kaniewski 34 1996 Director 1999 I
Louis K. Adler 62 1996 Director 2000 II
George Asch 60 1996 Director 2000 II
Richard A. Bartlett 40 1996 Director 2000 II
ROBERT A. BERMAN has been President and Chief Executive Officer and a
director of the Company since March 1997. Prior to joining the Company, Mr.
Berman served as the Managing Director of Watermark LLC from September 1992 to
March 1997 and is currently the sole Manager of Watermark LLC. Mr. Berman is
also Vice Chairman and a director of Unistar Gaming Corporation, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Executone Information Systems, and a director of Catskill
Development, LLC, the owner of an operating harness track.
LEONARD F. PARKER has been Chairman of the Board of the Company since
March 1997. Leonard Parker founded The Leonard Parker Company ("LPC") in 1969.
Mr. Parker is a graduate of Tulane University and served in the United States
Air Force. Prior to founding LPC, Mr. Parker was employed from 1950 by Maxwell
Company, an interior design and furnishing company. Mr. Parker serves on various
committees for the Special Olympics. Leonard Parker is the father of Douglas
Parker.
DOUGLAS A. PARKER has been President-Purchasing Division and a director
of the Company since March 1997. Mr. Parker is also President of LPC. Mr.
Parker, a graduate of Tulane University in International Business, has been with
LPC for 17 years. Mr. Parker is responsible for the development of the overseas
offices in Sandton, Singapore and Dubai, coordinating the international
operations and sales, as well as vendor and client relationships. Mr. Parker is
also a director of Shelby Williams Industries, Inc. Douglas Parker is the son of
Leonard Parker.
SCOTT A. KANIEWSKI has been a director of the Company since March 1996.
Since February 1998, Mr. Kaniewski has been president of HWS Real Estate
Advisory Group, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Mr. Kaniewski
has been a Member of Watermark LLC since February 1995 and the President of
Watermark LLC since May 1997. Prior to his involvement with Watermark LLC, Mr.
Kaniewski held several positions with VMS Realty Partners, including Vice
President of Hotel Investments from December 1988 to March 1995. He is a
Certified Public Accountant and a member of the Illinois CPA Society.
LOUIS K. ADLER has been a director of the Company since September 1996.
Mr. Adler has been a private investor for over five years in Houston, Texas. He
has been Chairman of the Board and President of Bancshares, Inc. (Houston, TX)
since 1973; Vice Chairman of the Board since 1992 and a director since 1988 of
Luther's Bar-B-Q, Inc., a group of twenty restaurants in Texas, Louisiana and
Colorado; a director, Secretary and Treasurer of Warwick Communications, Inc.
since 1993; and a director and officer of several other private companies. Mr.
Adler is also a trustee and the President of the Adler Foundation and a member
of the Dean's Advisory Counsel of Goizueta Business School of Emory University.
GEORGE ASCH has been a director of the Company since September 1996.
Since September 1994, Mr. Asch has been a Vice President of Gray, Seifert and
Co., Inc., an investment management company which became a wholly-owned
independent subsidiary of Legg Mason, Inc. in April 1994. For 25 years prior to
joining Gray Seifert and Co., Inc. in August 1990, Mr. Asch served as President
of a manufacturing company. He currently serves on the boards of various
philanthropic organizations, including the Montefiore Medical Center and the
Price Foundation. He is a graduate of Columbia College and served as an officer
in the United States Navy.
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RICHARD A. BARTLETT has been a director of the Company since September
1996. Mr. Bartlett is a Managing Director of Resource Holdings Limited, a
private merchant banking firm in New York City ("Resource Limited"). He
specializes in legal aspects of mergers, acquisitions and other corporate
restructurings. In that capacity, he sits and has sat on the board of various
companies in which Resource Limited and its principals have made investments.
From 1987 to 1993, he was a member of the Council of Foreign Relations and is a
member of the New York State Bar. Mr. Bartlett received a law degree from Yale
Law School and received his B.A. from Princeton University.
The following table and paragraphs set forth information regarding the
executive officers who are not standing for election as directors of the
Company.
NAME AGE POSITION
- ---- --- --------
Howard G. Anders 54 Chief Financial Officer, Executive
Vice President and Secretary
HOWARD G. ANDERS has been Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Secretary of the Company since February 1996 and was the Executive
Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and a director of the Company from
October 1994 to November 1995. From December 1995 to February 1996, Mr. Anders
was an independent consultant. Mr. Anders served as Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of Alpine Lace Brands, Inc. in Maplewood, New Jersey from
April 1992 to October 1994. From April 1983 to April 1992, Mr. Anders was
President and Chief Operating Officer of North Hills Electronic, Inc. in Glen
Cove, New York. Mr. Anders is a graduate of Rutgers University and attended the
Harvard Business School PMD Program.
BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors met seven times during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997. From time to time during such fiscal year, the members of the
Board of Directors also acted by unanimous written consent. The Board of
Directors has established standing Audit and Compensation Committees. The Audit
Committee exercises the power which the Board of Directors would otherwise hold
with respect to financial functions of the Company, including matters pertaining
to the audit of the financial statements of the Company and related financial
matters, as well as the appointment and activities of the Company's independent
certified public accountants. The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Adler and
Asch. The Audit Committee met two times during the fiscal year ended December
31, 1997. The Compensation Committee exercises the power which the Board of
Directors would otherwise hold with respect to (i) the grant of options under
the 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Employee Plan"); and (ii) the compensation and
benefits of all officers of the Company. The Compensation Committee consists of
Messrs. Adler, Asch and Bartlett. The Compensation Committee met two times
during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMPENSATION
The Company does not currently compensate directors who are also
employees of the Company for service on the Board of Directors. Outside
directors are paid a fee of $750 and reimbursed for their expenses incurred in
attending each meeting of the Board of Directors and its Committees. In
addition, outside directors receive options under the Company's 1996 Outside
Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Directors' Plan").
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth, for the fiscal years indicated, all
compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to Robert A. Berman, the Company's
Chief Executive Officer, Leonard F. Parker, Douglas A. Parker and Howard G.
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Anders, the Company's three other most highly compensated executives, and Alan
G. Friedberg, who served as the Company's Chief Executive Officer from February
1996 to March 1997 (the "Named Executive Officers"). There is no other executive
officer of the Company whose salary and bonus exceeded $100,000 with respect to
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE(1)
ANNUAL COMPENSATION LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
----------------------------------- --------------------------------
AWARDS PAYOUTS
---------------------- --------
SECURITIES
OTHER ANNUAL RESTRICTED UNDERLYING LTIP ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL SALARY BONUS COMPENSATION STOCK OPTIONS/ PAYOUTS COMPENSATION
POSITION YEAR ($) ($) ($) AWARDS ($) SARS(#) ($) ($)
- ------------------ ----- --------- -------- ------------- ---------- ---------- -------- ------------
Robert A. Berman (2). 1997 $161,000 -- -- -- 160,000 -- --
1996 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
1995 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Leonard F. Parker (3) 1997 $250,000 -- -- -- -- -- --
1996 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
1995 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Douglas A. Parker (4) 1997 $175,000 -- -- -- 100,000 -- --
1996 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
1995 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Howard G. Anders (5) 1997 $215,000 -- -- -- 15,000 -- --
1996 $150,000 -- -- -- 100,000 -- --
1995 $128,000 -- -- -- 50,000 -- --
Alan G. Friedberg(6). 1997 $250,000 -- -- -- -- -- --
1996 $225,000 $75,000 -- -- 400,000 -- --
1995 $110,520 -- -- -- -- -- --
- ----------------------
(1) Perquisites and other personal benefits, securities or property to each
executive officer did not exceed the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of such
executive's salary and bonus.
(2) Mr. Berman joined the Company in March 1997 as the President, Chief
Executive Officer and Director. In November 1997, he became the
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and a Director.
(3) Mr. Leonard Parker joined the Company in March 1997 as Chairman of the
Board and Director. In November 1997, he became Chairman Emeritus of
the Board of Directors.
(4) Mr. Douglas Parker joined the Company in March 1997 as
President--Purchasing Division and a Director. In November 1997, he
became the President, Chief Operating Officer and a Director.
(5) Mr. Anders joined the Company in October 1994 as Executive Vice
President, Chief Operating Officer and Director. In February 1996, he
resigned as a Director of the Company and became the Chief Financial
Officer, Executive Vice President and Secretary.
-8-
(6) Mr. Friedberg joined the Company in August 1995 as the Chief Executive
Officer of Hospitality Restoration and Builders, Inc., a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company. In February 1996, he became the Chief
Executive Officer and a Director of the Company, a position he held
until March 1997. Mr. Friedberg served as the President of the
Company's Renovation Division from March 1997 through November 1997.
In November 1997, he became a Senior Vice President of the Company.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding stock
option grants made to the Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997.
OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
POTENTIAL
REALIZABLE VALUE AT
ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES OF
STOCK PRICE APPRECIATION
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS FOR OPTION TERM(1)
------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
NUMBER OF % OF TOTAL
SECURITIES OPTIONS/SARS
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO EXERCISE
OPTIONS/SARS EMPLOYEES IN PRICE EXPIRATION
NAME GRANTED(2) FISCAL YEAR PER SHARE DATE 5% 10%
- ------------------- --------------- --------------- ----------- ------------- ------------- --------------
Robert A. Berman...... 160,000 21.7% $12.00 12/17/07 $1,207,477 $3,059,985
Leonard F. Parker..... -- -- -- -- -- --
Douglas A. Parker..... 65,000 8.8% $6.75 1/10/07 $275,927 $699,254
Douglas A. Parker..... 35,000 4.8% $12.00 12/17/07 $264,136 $669,372
Howard G. Anders...... 15,000 2.0% $12.00 12/17/07 $113,201 $286,874
Alan G. Friedberg..... -- -- -- -- -- --
The following table sets forth certain information regarding
unexercised stock options held by the Named Executive Officers as of December
31, 1997.
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL
YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
NUMBER OF
SECURITIES VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
SHARES UNDERLYING IN-THE-MONEY
ACQUIRED UNEXERCISED OPTIONS/SARS OPTIONS/SARS AT
ON VALUE AT FISCAL YEAR-END FISCAL YEAR-END
NAME EXERCISE REALIZED($) EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE(1) EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE
- --------------------- ----------- ------------- ------------------------------- -----------------------------
Robert A. Berman....... -- -- 0/160,000 0/$180,000
Leonard F. Parker...... -- -- -- --
Douglas A. Parker...... -- -- 0/100,000 0/$453,750
Howard G. Anders....... -- -- 175,000/40,000 $1,963,125/$276,250
Alan G. Friedberg...... -- -- 300,000/100,000 $3,112,500/$1,037,500
- ---------------
(1) On December 31, 1997, the last reported sales price of the Common Stock
on the American Stock Exchange was $13.125 per share.
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE AND PENSION PLANS
The Company does not have any long-term incentive or defined benefit
pension plans.
-9-
1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
For a discussion of the Employee Plan, please refer to Proposal No. 4.
1996 OUTSIDE DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
On September 26, 1996, the Company's Board of Directors adopted, and
the Company's shareholders approved, the 1996 Outside Directors' Stock Option
Plan (the "Directors' Plan") for purposes of securing for the Company and its
shareholders the benefits arising from stock ownership by outside directors.
Each outside director who becomes a director after March 1, 1996 receives an
initial grant of an option to purchase 15,000 shares of Common Stock. To the
extent that shares of Common Stock remain available for the grant of options
under the Directors' Plan, on April 1 of each year, commencing on April 1, 1997,
each outside director shall automatically be granted an option to purchase
10,000 shares of Common Stock. Options granted under the Directors' Plan shall
be exercisable in three equal installments, commencing on the first anniversary
of the grant date. The exercise price of such options is the closing price of
the Company's Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange on the business day
immediately prior to grant. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, 250,000
shares of Common Stock have been reserved for issuance under the Directors' Plan
and the Company has granted 130,000 options to purchase shares of Common Stock
under the Directors' Plan at a weighted average exercise price of $5.42 per
share, 33,334 of which are currently exercisable. The Directors' Plan is
intended to comply in all respects with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.
1994 NON-STATUTORY STOCK OPTION PLAN
In 1994, the Company adopted 1994 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan,
which was subsequently terminated. As of the date of this Proxy Statement,
options to purchase 50,000 shares of Common Stock are outstanding and
exercisable under such plan with an exercise price of $1.275 per share.
OTHER
No director, executive officer or record or beneficial owner of more
than five percent of the Company's Common Stock is involved in any material
legal proceeding in which he is a party adverse to the Company or has a material
interest adverse to the Company.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
The Company entered into a new three-year employment agreement with Mr.
Berman as of January 1, 1998. The term of the employment agreement may be
renewed for one year periods by mutual agreement of Mr. Berman and the Company.
The employment agreement provides for base compensation at the rate of $300,000
per annum plus an annual bonus determined by the Company's Board of Directors in
its sole discretion. In the event of a change of control (as defined in the
employment agreement) which results in either (i) the termination of Mr.
Berman's services for any reason other than voluntary withdrawal or cause, (ii)
the placement of Mr. Berman in a position of lesser stature than that of a
senior executive officer of the Company; (iii) a breach of certain provisions of
Mr. Berman's employment agreement; or (iv) a requirement that Mr. Berman's
principal duties be performed outside of Manhattan, or if Mr. Berman decides to
leave the Company one year after such a change of control, the Company must pay
to Mr. Berman, as liquidated damages, a lump sum cash payment equal to 2.99
times his base salary and last bonus paid (up to certain limitations). The
employment agreement also contains confidentiality and non-compete provisions
during the term of the agreement and for a period of two years thereafter.
The Company entered into a four-year employment agreement with Mr.
Leonard Parker on January 9, 1997 with a base compensation of $250,000 per
annum. Pursuant to such agreement, the salary for the final year of the
-10-
agreement was paid in full at signing. Further, Mr. Leonard Parker has agreed
not to compete with the Company during the term of the agreement and for a
period of one year thereafter.
The Company entered into a new two-year employment agreement with Mr.
Douglas Parker as of January 1, 1998. The term of the employment agreement may
be renewed for one year periods by mutual agreement of Mr. Douglas Parker and
the Company. The employment agreement provides for base compensation at the rate
of $250,000 per annum plus an annual bonus determined by the Company's Board of
Directors in its sole discretion. In the event of a change of control (as
defined in the employment agreement) which results in either (i) the termination
of Mr. Douglas Parker's services for any reason other than voluntary withdrawal
or cause, (ii) the placement of Mr. Douglas Parker in a position of lesser
stature than that of a senior executive officer of the Company; (iii) a breach
of certain provisions of Mr. Douglas Parker's employment agreement; or (iv) a
requirement that Mr. Douglas Parker's principal duties be performed outside a 30
mile radius from the location at which Mr. Douglas Parker had performed his
duties immediately prior to the change of control, the Company must pay to Mr.
Douglas Parker, as liquidated damages, a lump sum cash payment equal to 2.99
times his base salary (subject to certain limitations). The employment agreement
also contains confidentiality and non-compete provisions during the term of the
agreement and for a period of two years thereafter.
The Company entered into a new three-year employment agreement with Mr.
Anders as of January 1, 1998. The term of the employment agreement may be
renewed for one year periods by mutual agreement of Mr. Anders and the Company.
The employment agreement provides for base compensation at the rate of $225,000
per annum plus an annual bonus determined by the Company's Board of Directors in
its sole discretion. In the event of a change of control (as defined in the
employment agreement) which results in either (i) the termination of Mr. Anders'
services for any reason other than voluntary withdrawal or cause, (ii) the
placement of Mr. Anders in a position of lesser stature than that of a senior
executive officer of the Company; (iii) a breach of certain provisions of Mr.
Anders' employment agreement; or (iv) a requirement that Mr. Anders' principal
duties be performed outside a 30 mile radius from the location at which Mr.
Anders had performed his duties immediately prior to the change of control, the
Company must pay to Mr. Anders, as liquidated damages, a lump sum cash payment
equal to 2.99 times his base salary (subject to certain limitations). The
employment agreement also contains confidentiality and non-compete provisions
during the term of the agreement and for a period of two years thereafter.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Company's Compensation Committee, which exercises the power which
the Board of Directors would otherwise hold with respect to the grant of options
under the Employee Plan as well as the compensation and benefits of all officers
of the Company, consists of Louis K. Adler, George Asch and Richard A. Bartlett.
Mr. Bartlett is a Managing Director of Resource Holdings. The Company has
renewed its engagement with Resource Holdings as a financial advisor. As
compensation for such engagement, the Company has agreed to pay Resource
Holdings a retainer of $10,000 per month for at least one year. The Company,
pursuant to the terms of its previous agreement, granted Resource Holdings a
five-year option to purchase 500,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price
of $2.00 per share, 300,000 of which are outstanding and exercisable as of the
date of this Proxy Statement.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company is
responsible for establishing and administering the Company's executive
compensation programs. The Compensation Committee is comprised entirely of
non-employee directors. The Compensation Committee has reviewed and is in accord
with the compensation paid to executive officers for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997.
GENERAL COMPENSATION POLICY. The fundamental policy of the Compensation
Committee is to provide the Company's executive officers with competitive
compensation opportunities based upon their contribution to the development and
financial success of the Company and upon their performance. The Compensation
Committee
-11-
reviews the compensation structures of other companies similarly situated and
establishes a compensation structure designed to attract highly qualified
individuals while also recognizing the Company's financial condition. This
compensation structure involves three principal components: (i) a base salary
established at the minimum level necessary to attract new management and to
retain qualified individuals; (ii) a bonus opportunity based both on overall
Company performance and individually established goals; and (iii) equity
incentives in the form of stock options.
With this compensation structure, the Company has been able to attract
executives who recognize that their success is tied to the Company's future
business performance and to their success in increasing shareholder value. For
1998 and future years, incentive compensation plans will be heavily weighted to
reward superior operating performance, growth and profitability.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION. Mr. Berman's compensation package
was negotiated with the Compensation Committee to generally reflect the
principles described above. The Compensation Committee believes that Mr.
Berman's compensation, including his salary and stock options, fall well within
the Company's compensation philosophy. See "Employment Agreements."
COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 162(M). Section 162(m) of
the Internal Revenue Code, enacted in 1993, generally disallows a tax deduction
to publicly held companies for compensation exceeding $1 million paid to certain
of the corporation's executive officers. The limitation applies only to
compensation which is not considered to be performance based. The
non-performance based compensation to be paid to the Company's executive
officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 did not exceed the $1
million per officer, nor is it expected that the non-performance based
compensation to be paid to the Company's executive officers for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1998 will exceed that limit. The Employee Plan is structured
so that any compensation deemed made under that plan with an exercise price
equal to the fair market value of the option shares on the grant date will
qualify as performance based compensation which will not be subject to the $1
million limitation. Because it is very unlikely that the cash compensation
payable to any of the Company's executive officers in the foreseeable future
will approach the $1 million limit, the Compensation Committee has decided at
this time not to take any other action to limit or restructure the elements of
cash compensation payable to the Company's executive officers. The Compensation
Committee will reconsider this decision should the individual compensation of
any executive officer ever approach the $1 million level.
Submitted by the Compensation Committee: Louis K. Adler, George Asch
and Richard A. Bartlett.
COMMON STOCK PERFORMANCE
The following graph compares the total return on the Company's Common
Stock from the commencement of trading of the Company's Common Stock on January
28, 1994 to the total returns of the Standard & Poor's SmallCap 600 Index and
the Standard & Poor's Lodging/Hotels Industry Index (the "Peer Group").
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A LINE CHART IN THE PRINTED
MATERIAL]
Shareholder Value at Year End
Jan. 1994 Dec. 1994 Dec. 1995 Dec. 1996 Dec. 1997
------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Hospitality Worldwide Services $100.00 $53.33 $33.33 $180.00 $350.00
S&P Lodging/Hotels Industry Index $100.00 $96.93 $133.94 $145.03 $187.30
S&P SmallCap 600 Index $100.00 $93.54 $121.56 $147.48 $185.21
-12-
Assumes $100 invested on January 28, 1994 in the Company's Common
Stock, the Standard & Poor's SmallCap 600 Index and the Peer Group. The
calculations in the table were made on a dividends reinvested basis.
There can be no assurance that the Company's Common Stock performance
will continue with the same or similar trends depicted in the above graph.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's officers and
directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of
the Company's equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").
Officers, directors and greater than ten percent shareholders are required by
the Commission's regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section
16(a) forms they file. During the year ended December 31, 1997, all of such
forms were filed in a timely manner, with the exception of (i) Forms 3 with
respect to one transaction for each of Leonard F. Parker and Douglas A. Parker;
(ii) Forms 4 with respect to one transaction for each of Richard A. Bartlett,
Scott A. Kaniewski, George Asch and Louis K. Adler; and (iii) a Form 5 with
respect to one transaction for Watermark LLC.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
On February 1, 1998, the Company renewed its engagement of Resource
Holdings as a financial advisor. As compensation for such engagement, the
Company has agreed to pay Resource Holdings a retainer of $10,000 per month for
at least one year. The Company, pursuant to the terms of its previous agreement,
granted Resource Holdings a five-year option to purchase 500,000 shares of
Common Stock at an exercise price of $2.00 per share, 300,000 of which are still
outstanding and exercisable as of the date of this Proxy Statement.
In May 1997, the Company entered into an Agreement to Joint Venture
(the "Joint Venture Agreement") with Apollo Real Estate Advisors II, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership ("Apollo") and Watermark LLC. Pursuant to the Joint
Venture Agreement, Watermark LLC receives a management fee of 1 1/2% of all
costs (other than soft costs) incurred in acquiring and rehabilitating a
particular project. On February 9, 1998, the Company purchased the assets of the
real estate advisory business from Watermark LLC, including all of Watermark
LLC's right, title and interest to the aforementioned management fees payable
under the Joint Venture Agreement. The Company paid Watermark LLC $1,500,000 as
consideration.
The Company has performed renovation services for Watermark LLC. During
the second quarter of 1997, the Company renegotiated a renovation contract with
Watermark LLC to provide for fees more consistent with a project of similar
scope and complexity. As a result of the revision, the Company recognized
additional revenue of $409,000 and a job to date adjustment of $778,000,
resulting in additional gross margin of approximately $780,000 without an
accompanying increase in costs. As of December 31, 1997, the Company has no
receivables from Watermark LLC.
-------------------------
PROPOSAL NO. 2
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
AND BY-LAWS TO CREATE THREE CLASSES OF DIRECTORS
On March 24, 1998, subject to shareholder approval, the Board of
Directors authorized amendments (the "Amendments") to the Certificate of
Incorporation and By-Laws of the Company to establish three classes of
directors, each class ordinarily to serve for three-year terms. As proposed, the
Class I directors will serve until the 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the
Class II directors will serve until the 2000 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and
the Class III directors will serve until the 2001 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders.
-13-
The Amendments, if approved by the shareholders, would become effective
upon filing of a Certificate of Amendment to the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation with the Department of State of New York, which is expected to be
made shortly following the adoption of the Amendments at the Annual Meeting. If
the Amendments are approved, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws will
be amended to carry out the purposes of the Amendments and to eliminate
provisions in the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws which are
inconsistent with the purposes of the Amendments. Approval of the Amendments by
the shareholders will constitute approval and adoption of such changes to the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws.
PURPOSES OF THE AMENDMENTS
The Amendments are designed to make it more time consuming to change
majority control of the Board of Directors without its consent, and thus to
reduce the vulnerability of the Company to an unsolicited takeover proposal that
does not contemplate the acquisition of all of the Company's outstanding shares,
or to an unsolicited proposal for the restructuring or sale of all or part of
the Company. The Board of Directors believes that the Amendments will serve to
encourage any person intending to attempt such a transaction to negotiate with
the Board of Directors, and that the Board of Directors will better be able to
protect the interests of the shareholders.
The Amendments are intended to encourage persons seeking to acquire
control of the Company to initiate such an acquisition through arm's length
negotiations with the Board of Directors. The Amendments could also have the
effect of discouraging a third party from making a partial tender offer,
including an offer at a substantial premium over the then prevailing market
value of those shares of capital stock of the Company then issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote on such matters (the "Voting Stock"), or
otherwise attempting to obtain control of the Company, even though such an
attempt might be beneficial to the Company and its shareholders. Additionally,
since the Amendments are designed to discourage accumulations of large blocks of
the Voting Stock by purchasers whose objective is to have such Voting Stock
repurchased by the Company at a premium, adoption of the Amendments could tend
to reduce any temporary fluctuations in the market price of the Voting Stock
which are caused by such accumulations. Accordingly, shareholders could be
deprived of certain opportunities to sell their stock at a temporarily higher
market price. The Amendments may also discourage or make more difficult or
expensive a proxy contest or merger involving the Company or a tender offer,
open market purchase program or other purchases of Voting Stock which a majority
of shareholders may deem to be in their best interests or which may give
shareholders the opportunity to realize a premium over the prevailing market
price of their stock.
DESCRIPTION OF THE AMENDMENTS
The full text of the Amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation and
By-Laws are included in this Proxy Statement as Appendices A and B,
respectively. The following description of the Amendments is qualified in its
entirety by reference to Appendices A and B.
The directors shall be divided into three classes, and designated as
Class I, Class II and Class III. Class I directors shall be initially elected at
the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders for a term expiring at the 1999 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders; Class II directors shall be initially elected at the
1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders for a term expiring at the 2000 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders; and Class III directors shall be initially elected at
the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders for a term expiring at the 2001 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders. At each succeeding annual meeting of shareholders of
the Corporation, the successors of the class of directors whose term expires at
that meeting shall be elected for a term expiring at the annual meeting of
shareholders held in the third year following the year of their election, and
until their successors are elected and qualified.
REQUIRED VOTE
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of outstanding shares
of Capital Stock entitled to vote thereon is required for approval of the
proposal to amend the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws to
create three classes of directors.
-14-
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BELIEVES THAT THE ADOPTION OF THESE AMENDMENTS
ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY AND RECOMMENDS THAT
THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENTS.
-------------------------
PROPOSAL NO. 3
INCREASING THE AUTHORIZED COMMON AND PREFERRED STOCK
On March 24, 1998, subject to shareholder approval, the Board of
Directors authorized an amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation
to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from twenty million
(20,000,000) shares to fifty million (50,000,000) shares and the number of
authorized shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share ("Preferred
Stock"), from three million (3,000,000) to five million (5,000,000). If approved
by the shareholders, Article 5 of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation
would be amended to provide as follows:
"5: The aggregate number of shares of common stock that the Corporation
shall have authority to issue is (i) fifty million (50,000,000) shares
of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share ("Common Stock"), and (ii)
five million (5,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per
share ("Preferred Stock")."
The Company is currently authorized to issue 20,000,000 shares of
Common Stock. As of the Record Date, 11,880,522 shares of Common Stock were
issued and outstanding, and approximately an additional 7,375,973 shares of
Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding stock
options and warrants and for options that may be granted in the future under the
Employee Plan and the Outside Directors' Plan (assuming the approval by
shareholders of the increase in the number of shares reserved under the Employee
Plan described in Proposal No. 4 of this Proxy Statement), as well as shares of
Common Stock underlying outstanding convertible preferred stock. The Company is
currently authorized to issue 3,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, of which
200,000 have been designated as the Convertible Preferred Stock. As of the
Record Date, 200,000 shares of Convertible Preferred Stock were issued and
outstanding.
The Board of Directors of the Company believes that it is advisable and
in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders to have available
authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock in an amount
adequate to provide for the future needs of the Company. The additional shares
will be available for issuance from time to time by the Company in the
discretion of the Board of Directors, normally without further shareholder
action (except as may be required for a particular transaction by applicable
law, requirements of regulatory agencies or by American Stock Exchange rules),
for any proper corporate purpose including, among other things, future
acquisitions of property or securities of other corporations, stock dividends,
stock splits, convertible debt financing and equity financings. As there are no
offerings of the Preferred Stock contemplated by the Company in the proximate
future, the terms of such securities have not been determined. Dividend or
interest rates, conversion prices, voting rights, redemption prices, maturity
dates and similar matters will be determined by the Board of Directors, without
further authorization of the shareholders. No shareholder of the Company would
have any preemptive rights regarding future issuance of any shares of Common
Stock and Preferred Stock.
The Company has no present plans, understandings or agreements for the
issuance or use of the proposed additional shares of Common Stock and Preferred
Stock. However, the Board of Directors believes that if an increase in the
authorized number of shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock were to be
postponed until a specific need arose, the delay and expense incident to
obtaining the approval of the Company's shareholders at that time could
significantly impair the Company's ability to meet financing requirements or
other objectives.
-15-
The issuance of additional shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock
may have the effect of diluting the stock ownership of persons seeking to obtain
control of the Company. Although the Board of Directors has no present intention
of doing so, the Company's authorized but unissued Common Stock and Preferred
Stock could be issued in one or more transactions that would make more difficult
or costly, and less likely, a takeover of the Company. The proposed amendment to
the Company's Certificate of Incorporation is not being recommended in response
to any specific effort of which the Company is aware to obtain control of the
Company, nor is the Board of Directors currently proposing to shareholders any
anti-takeover measures.
REQUIRED VOTE
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of outstanding shares
of Capital Stock entitled to vote thereon is required for approval of the
proposal to amend the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to increase the
number of authorized shares of Common Stock.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF
THE PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AND
PREFERRED STOCK.
-------------------------
PROPOSAL NO. 4
On March 24, 1998, subject to shareholder approval, the Board of
Directors authorized an amendment to the Employee Plan to increase the number of
shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the exercise of options
granted under the Employee Plan from 1,700,000 to 2,700,000. The purpose of the
Employee Plan is to provide additional incentive to the officers and employees
of the Company who are primarily responsible for the management and growth of
the Company, or otherwise materially contribute to the conduct and direction of
its business, operations and affairs, in order to strengthen their desire to
remain in the employ of the Company and to stimulate their efforts on behalf of
the Company, and to retain and attract to the employ of the Company persons of
competence. The granting of options serves as partial consideration for and
gives employees an additional inducement to remain in the service of the Company
and provides them with an increased incentive to work towards the Company's
success. Each option granted pursuant to the Employee Plan shall be designated
at the time of grant as either an Incentive Stock Option or as a "non-qualified
stock option."
The Board of Directors believes it is in the best interests of the
Company and its stockholders to approve the amendment to the Employee Plan
because it will allow the Company to provide additional compensation and
incentives to eligible individuals whose present and potential contributions are
important to the continued success of the Company, to afford such persons an
opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company and to enable the
Company to continue to attract and retain the best available talent for the
successful conduct of its business.
REQUIRED VOTE
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of shares of Capital
Stock of the Company present, or represented, and entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting is required for the approval of the amendment to the Employee Plan.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT THE 1996 STOCK
OPTION PLAN.
-16-
PLAN ACTIVITY
As of May 18, 1998, options to purchase an aggregate of 80,750 shares
of Common Stock granted under the Employee Plan had been exercised, and options
to purchase 1,527,500 shares of Common Stock were outstanding, with a weighted
average exercise price of $5.82 per share. Without accounting for the proposed
amendment to the Employee Plan, 91,750 shares of Common Stock remain available
for future grants as of May 18, 1998.
Reference is made to the table under the caption "Option/SAR Grants in
Last Fiscal Year" for information with respect to the grant of options pursuant
to the Employee Plan to the Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1997. The following table sets forth additional information
with respect to options granted pursuant to the Employee Plan during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1997 to certain groups:
WEIGHTED AVERAGE
IDENTITY OF GROUP EXERCISE PRICE OPTIONS GRANTED
- --------------------------------------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
All executive officers as a group (4 persons)......... $10.76 275,000
Non-executive officer employees as a group
(approximately 59 persons)............................ $10.25 228,000
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMPLOYEE PLAN AND OPTION TERMS
The following is a summary of the primary provisions of the Employee
Plan, but it is not intended to be a complete description of all the terms and
provisions of the Employee Plan. A copy of the Employee Plan as proposed to be
amended is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix C. The following summary
of the Employee Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to Appendix C.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. The Employee Plan is administered by the
Compensation Committee, which determines to whom among those eligible, and the
time or times at which options will be granted, the number of shares to be
subject to options, the duration of options, any conditions to the exercise of
options, and the manner in and price at which options may be exercised. In
making such determinations, the Compensation Committee may take into account the
nature and period of service of eligible employees, their level of compensation,
their past, present and potential contributions to the Company and such other
factors as the Compensation Committee in its discretion deems relevant.
The Compensation Committee is authorized to amend, suspend or terminate
the Employee Plan, except that it is not authorized without shareholder approval
(except with regard to adjustments resulting from changes in capitalization) to
(i) increase the maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to the
exercise of options granted under the Employee Plan; (ii) permit the grant of an
incentive stock option under the Employee Plan with an option price less than
100% of the fair market value of the shares at the time such option is granted;
(iii) change the eligibility requirements for participation in the Employee
Plan; (iv) extend the term of any option or the period during which any option
may be granted under the Employee Plan; (v) decrease an option exercise price
(although an option may be cancelled and a new option granted at a lower
exercise price); or (vi) materially increase the benefits to participants of the
Employee Plan.
Unless the Employee Plan is terminated earlier by the Compensation
Committee, it will terminate on June 5, 2006.
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. The Employee Plan currently provides that
options may be granted with respect to a total of 1,700,000 shares of Common
Stock. However, if this Proposal No. 4 is adopted and implemented, the Employee
Plan will be amended to provide that options may be granted with respect to a
total of 2,700,000 shares of Common Stock. Under certain circumstances involving
a change in the number of shares of
-17-
Common Stock, such as a stock split, stock consolidation or payment of a stock
dividend, the class and aggregate number of shares of Common Stock in respect of
which options may be granted under the Employee Plan, the class and number of
shares subject to each outstanding option and the option price per share will be
proportionately adjusted. In addition, if the Company is involved in a merger,
consolidation, dissolution, liquidation or upon a transfer of substantially all
of the assets or more than 80% of the outstanding Common Stock, the options
granted under the Employee Plan will be adjusted or, under certain conditions,
will terminate, subject to the right of the option holder to exercise his option
or a comparable option substituted at the discretion of the Company prior to
such event. If any option expires or is terminated for any reason, without
having been exercised in full, the unpurchased shares subject to such option
will be available again for grant under the Employee Plan.
PARTICIPATION. Any employee of the Company or its subsidiaries shall be
eligible to receive incentive stock options or non-qualified stock options
granted under the Employee Plan.
OPTION PRICE. The exercise price of each option is determined by the
Compensation Committee, but may not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value
(as defined in the Employee Plan) of the shares of Common Stock covered by the
option on the date the option is granted in the case of an incentive stock
option, nor less than 75% of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock
covered by the option on the date the option is granted in the case of a
non-qualified stock option. If an Incentive Stock Option is to be granted to an
employee who owns over 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of
the Company's capital stock, then the exercise price may not be less than 110%
of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock covered by the option on the date
the option is granted.
TERMS OF OPTIONS. The Compensation Committee shall, in its discretion,
fix the term of each option, provided that the maximum term of each option shall
be 10 years. Options granted to an employee who owns over 10% of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company shall expire not
more than five years after the date of grant. The Employee Plan provides for the
earlier expiration of options of a participant in the event of certain
terminations of employment.
RESTRICTIONS ON GRANT AND EXERCISE. An option may not be transferred or
assigned other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant
to a qualified domestic relations order (as described in the Employee Plan) and,
during the lifetime of the option holder, may be exercised solely by him. The
aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time the incentive stock option
is granted) of the shares as to which an employee may first exercise incentive
stock options in any one calendar year under all incentive stock option plans of
the Company and its subsidiaries may not exceed $100,000. The Committee may
impose any other conditions to exercise as it deems appropriate.
REGISTRATION OF SHARES. The Company has filed a registration statement
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with
respect to the Common Stock currently issuable upon exercise of options granted
pursuant to the Employee Plan. If this Proposal No. 4 is adopted and
implemented, the Company intends to file a registration statement under the
Securities Act with respect to the 1,000,000 increase in the number of shares
issuable upon exercise of options granted pursuant to the Employee Plan.
RULE 16B-3 COMPLIANCE. In all cases, the terms, provisions, conditions
and limitations of the Employee Plan shall be construed and interpreted
consistent with the provisions of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act.
TAX TREATMENT OF INCENTIVE OPTIONS. No taxable income will be
recognized by an option holder upon receipt of an Incentive Stock Option, and
the Company will not be entitled to a tax deduction in respect of such grant.
In general, no taxable income for Federal income tax purposes will be
recognized by an option holder upon receipt or exercise of an Incentive Stock
Option and the Company will not then be entitled to any tax deduction. Assuming
that the option holder does not dispose of the option shares before the
expiration of the longer of (i) two
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years after the date of grant, or (ii) one year after the transfer of the option
shares, upon disposition, the option holder will recognize capital gain equal to
the difference between the sale price on disposition and the exercise price.
If, however, the option holder disposes of his option shares prior to
the expiration of the required holding period, he will recognize ordinary income
for Federal income tax purposes in the year of disposition equal to the lesser
of (i) the difference between the fair market value of the shares at date of
exercise and the exercise price, or (ii) the difference between the sale price
upon disposition and the exercise price. Any additional gain on such
disqualifying disposition will be treated as capital gain. In addition, if such
a disqualifying disposition is made by the option holder, the Company will be
entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the
option holder provided such amount constitutes an ordinary and reasonable
expense of the Company.
The amount by which the fair market value of the shares at the time of
exercise exceeds the exercise price of an incentive stock option will be a tax
preference item for purposes of the alternative maximum tax, which, in general,
imposes a 26% tax rate on the initial $175,000 (and a 28% rate in excess of
$175,000) of the excess of (i) an individual's adjusted gross income plus
certain tax preference items over (ii) $33,750 ($45,000 for joint returns)
reduced by $.25 for each $1.00 by which the alternative minimum taxable income
exceeds $112,500 ($150,000 for joint returns). An individual will be liable for
the alternative minimum tax only to the extent that the amount of such tax
exceeds the liability for regular Federal income tax.
TAX TREATMENT OF NON-QUALIFIED OPTIONS. No taxable income will be
recognized by an option holder upon receipt of a non-qualified stock option, and
the Company will not be entitled to a tax deduction for such grant.
Upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option, the option holder
will include in taxable income for Federal income tax purposes the excess in
value on the date of exercise of the shares acquired upon exercise of the
non-qualified stock option over the exercise price. Upon a subsequent sale of
the shares, the option holder will derive short-term or long-term gain or loss,
depending upon the option holder's holding period for the shares, commencing
upon the exercise of the option, and upon the subsequent appreciation or
depreciation in the value of the shares.
The Company generally will be entitled to a corresponding deduction at
the time that the participant is required to include the value of the shares in
his income.
-------------------------
PROPOSAL NO. 5
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors has appointed Arthur Andersen, LLP to be the
independent certified public accountants of the Company for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 1998. Although the selection of certified public accountants
does not require ratification, the Board of Directors has directed that the
appointment of Arthur Andersen, LLP be submitted to shareholders for
ratification. If shareholders do not ratify the appointment of Arthur Andersen,
LLP, the Board of Directors will consider the appointment of other certified
public accountants. A representative of Arthur Andersen, LLP is expected to be
available at the Annual Meeting to make a statement if such representative
desires to do so and to respond to appropriate questions.
CHANGE IN COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
On November 12, 1997, the Company dismissed BDO Seidman, LLP ("BDO") as
its independent certified public accountants. The Company's Board of Directors
approved such dismissal. BDO's accountant's report on the
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financial statements of the Company for the past two years did not contain an
adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or modified as
to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.
In connection with its audits for the two most recent fiscal years and
during the subsequent interim period ending on November 13, 1997, there were no
other reportable events or disagreements with BDO to report in response to Item
304(a) of Regulation S-K, Section 229.304(a).
On November 12, 1997, Arthur Andersen LLP was engaged as new
independent accountants to the Company.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION
OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN, LLP AS THE COMPANY'S
INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS.
-------------------------
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Shareholder proposals in respect of matters to be acted upon at the
Company's 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders should be received by the Company
on or before January 22, 1999 in order that they may be considered for inclusion
in the Company's proxy materials.
OTHER MATTERS
As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board of Directors is not
aware of any other matters to be presented for action at the forthcoming Annual
Meeting, but if any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is
intended that the persons voting the accompanying proxy will vote the shares
represented thereby in accordance with their best judgment.
An Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, including
financial statements, is being mailed to shareholders with this Proxy Statement.
If, for any reason, you did not receive your copy of the Annual Report, please
advise the Company and a copy will be sent to you.
It is important that proxies be returned promptly. Therefore, whether
or not you plan to attend the meeting in person, you are urged to mark, date,
execute and return your proxy in the enclosed envelope, to which no postage need
be affixed if mailed in the United States.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
HOWARD G. ANDERS,
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Dated: New York, New York
May 22, 1998
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APPENDIX A
Text of Proposed Amendment to
Certificate of Incorporation
to Create Staggered Board
RESOLVED: That the Certificate of Incorporation be amended by adding a new
Article 7 in the following form:
"7. The directors shall be divided into three classes, each with, as
nearly as possible, one-third of the members of the Board of Directors, and
designated as Class I, Class II and Class III. Class I directors shall be
initially elected at the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders for a term expiring
at the 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; Class II directors shall be
initially elected at the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders for a term expiring
at the 2000 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; and Class III directors shall be
initially elected at the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders for a term expiring
at the 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. At each succeeding annual meeting of
shareholders of the Corporation, the successors of the class of directors whose
term expires at that meeting shall be elected for a term expiring at the annual
meeting of shareholders held in the third year following the year of their
election, and until their successors are elected and qualified."
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APPENDIX B
Text of Proposed Amendment to
The Company's By-Laws to
Create a Staggered Board
1. SECTION 2 OF ARTICLE III OF THE COMPANY'S BY-LAWS SHALL BE AMENDED IN
ITS ENTIRETY TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
"Section 2. NUMBER OF DIRECTORS. The number of directors
constituting the entire Board of Directors shall be the number, not
less than three nor more than fifteen, fixed from time to time by a
majority of the total number of directors which the Corporation would
have, prior to any increase or decrease, if there were no vacancies,
provided, however, that no decrease shall shorten the term of an
incumbent director, and provided further, however, that if all of the
shares of the Corporation are owned beneficially and of record by less
than three shareholders, the number of directors may be less than three
but not less than the number of shareholders. Any newly created
directorships or any decrease in directorships shall be so apportioned
among the classes as to make all classes as nearly equal in number as
possible."
2. SECTION 3 OF ARTICLE III OF THE COMPANY'S BY-LAWS SHALL BE AMENDED IN
ITS ENTIRETY TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
"Section 3. ELECTION AND TERM. The directors shall be divided
into three classes, each with, as nearly as possible, one-third of the
members of the Board of Directors, and designated as Class I, Class II
and Class III. Class I directors shall be initially elected at the 1998
Annual Meeting of Shareholders for a term expiring at the 1999 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders; Class II directors shall be initially elected
at the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders for a term expiring at the
2000 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; and Class III directors shall be
initially elected at the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders for a term
expiring at the 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. At each succeeding
annual meeting of shareholders of the Corporation, the successors of
the class of directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be
elected for a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders held
in the third year following the year of their election, and until their
successors are elected and qualified."
3. SECTION 8 OF ARTICLE III OF THE COMPANY'S BY-LAWS SHALL BE AMENDED IN
ITS ENTIRETY TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
"Section 8. NEWLY CREATED DIRECTORSHIPS AND VACANCIES. Newly
created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of
directors and vacancies occurring in the Board of Directors for any
reason except the removal of directors by shareholders may be filled by
vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than
a quorum exists. Vacancies occurring as a result of the removal of
directors by shareholders shall be filled by the shareholders. A
director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected to hold office for
the unexpired term of his predecessor. A director elected to fill a
vacancy for a newly created directorship shall be elected to hold
office until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until his
successor has been elected and qualified. For any new Board created
directorship that is filled by a vote of a majority of the directors
then in office, there shall not be any classification of the additional
director until the next annual meeting of shareholders. In the event of
a vacancy in the Board of Directors, the remaining directors, except as
otherwise provided by law, may exercise the powers of the full Board
until the vacancy is filled."
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APPENDIX C
HOSPITALITY WORLDWIDE SERVICES, INC.
1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. PURPOSES
The purpose of the Plan is to provide additional incentive to
the officers and employees of the Company who are primarily responsible for the
management and growth of the Company, or otherwise materially contribute to the
conduct and direction of its business, operations and affairs, in order to
strengthen their desire to remain in the employ of the Company and to stimulate
their efforts on behalf of the Company, and to retain and attract to the employ
of the Company persons of competence. Each option granted pursuant to the Plan
shall be designated at the time of grant as either an "incentive stock option"
or as a "non-qualified stock option." The terms and conditions of the Plan shall
be set forth or incorporated by reference in the option agreements evidencing
the options.
2. DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of the Plan, unless the context otherwise
requires, the following definitions shall be applicable:
(a) "Board" or "Board of Directors" means the Company's Board
of Directors.
(b) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
(c) "Committee" means the Compensation Committee composed of
two or more members of the Board of Directors, and who shall be responsible for
administering the Plan. Each of the members of the Committee shall be a
Disinterested Person.
(d) "Company" means Hospitality Worldwide Services, Inc.
(e) "Disinterested Person" means a disinterested person, as
defined in Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.
(f) "Employee" means an employee of the Company or of a
Subsidiary (including a director or officer of the Company or a Subsidiary who
is also an employee).
(g) "ERISA" means the Employment Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974.
(h) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
(i) "Fair Market Value" of the Shares means the closing price
of publicly traded Shares on the national securities exchange on which the
Shares are listed (if the Shares are so listed) or on the Nasdaq National Market
(if the Shares are regularly quoted on the Nasdaq National Market), or, if not
so listed or regularly quoted, the mean between the closing bid and asked prices
of publicly traded Shares in the over-the-counter market, or, if such bid and
asked prices shall not be available, as reported by any nationally recognized
quotation service selected by the Company, or as determined by the Committee in
a manner consistent with the provisions of the Code.
(j) "ISO" means an option intended to qualify as an incentive
stock option under Section 422 of the Code.
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(k) "NQO" means an option that does not qualify as an ISO.
(l) "Plan" means the 1996 Stock Option Plan of the Company.
(m) "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
(n) "Shares" means shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.01
par value, including authorized but unissued shares and shares that have been
previously issued and reacquired by the Company.
(o) "Subsidiary" of the Company means and includes a
"Subsidiary Corporation," as that term is defined in Section 425(f) of the Code.
3. ADMINISTRATION
Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee
shall have authority to interpret and construe the Plan, to prescribe, amend and
rescind rules and regulations relating to it, to determine the terms and
conditions of the respective option agreements (which need not be identical) and
to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration
of the Plan. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee, in
its sole discretion, shall from time to time determine the persons from among
those eligible under the Plan to whom, and the time or times at which, options
shall be granted, the number of Shares to be subject to each option, whether an
option shall be designated an ISO or an NQO and the manner in and price at which
such option may be exercised. In making such determination, the Committee may
take into account the nature and period of service of eligible employees, their
level of compensation, their past, present and potential contributions to the
Company and such other factors as the Committee shall in its discretion deem
relevant. The determination of the Committee with respect to any matter referred
to in this Section 3 shall be conclusive.
4. ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION
Any Employee shall be eligible to receive ISOs or NQOs granted
under the Plan.
5. LIMITATION ON SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
Subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided, no more than
2,700,000 Shares may be issued pursuant to the exercise of options granted under
the Plan. If any option shall expire or terminate for any reason, without having
been exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares subject thereto shall again be
available for the purposes of the Plan.
6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS
Each option granted under the Plan shall be subject to the
following terms and conditions:
(a) Except as provided in Subsection 6(j), the option price
per Share shall be determined by the Committee, but (i) as to an ISO shall not
be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date such ISO
option is granted; and (ii) as to an NQO, shall not be less than 75% of the Fair
Market Value of a Share on the date such NQO is granted.
(b) The Committee shall, in its discretion, fix the term of
each option, provided that the maximum length of the term of each option granted
hereunder shall be 10 years and provided further than the provisions of
Subsection 6(j) hereof shall be applicable to the grant of ISOs to Employees
therein identified.
(c) If a holder of an option dies while he is employed by the
Company or a Subsidiary, such option may, to the extent that the holder of the
option was entitled to exercise such option on the date of his death,
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be exercised during a period after his death fixed by the Committee, in its
discretion, at the time such option is granted, but in no event to exceed one
year, by his personal representative or representatives or by the person or
persons to whom the holder's rights under the option shall pass by will or by
the applicable laws of descent and distribution or by a qualified domestic
relations order; provided, however, that no option granted under the Plan may be
exercised to any extent by anyone after its expiration.
(d) In the event that a holder of an option shall voluntarily
retire or quit his employment without the written consent of the Company or a
Subsidiary or if the Company shall terminate the employment of a holder of an
option for cause, the options held by such holder shall forthwith terminate. If
a holder of an option shall voluntarily retire or quit his employment with the
written consent of the Company or a Subsidiary, or if the employment of such
holder shall have been terminated by the Company or a Subsidiary for reasons
other than cause, such holder may (unless his option shall have previously
expired pursuant to the provisions hereof) exercise his option at any time prior
to the first to occur of the expiration of the original option period or the
expiration of a period after termination of employment fixed by the Committee,
in its discretion, at the time the option is granted, but in no event to exceed
three months, to the extent of the number of Shares subject to such option which
were purchasable by him on the date of termination of his employment. Options
granted under the Plan shall not be affected by any change of employment so long
as the holder thereof continues to be an Employee.
(e) Anything to the contrary contained herein or in any option
agreement executed and delivered hereunder, no option shall be exercisable
unless and until the Plan has been approved by stockholders of the Company in
accordance with Section 13 hereof.
(f) Each option shall be nonassignable and nontransferable by
the option holder otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined by
the Code or Title I of ERISA, or the rules promulgated thereunder and shall be
exercisable during the lifetime of the option holder solely by him.
(g) An option holder desiring to exercise an option shall
exercise such option by delivering to the Company written notice of such
exercise, specifying the number of Shares to be purchased, together with payment
of the purchase price therefor; provided, however that no option may be
exercised in part with respect to fewer than 100 Shares, except to purchase the
remaining Shares purchasable under such option. Payment shall be made as
follows: (i) in United States dollars by cash or by check, certified check, bank
draft or money order payable to the order of the Company; (ii) at the discretion
of the Committee, by delivering to the Company Shares already owned by the
option holder and having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to
the exercise price, or a combination of such Shares and cash; or (iii) by any
other proper method specifically approved by the Committee.
(h) In order to assist an option holder with the acquisition
of Shares pursuant to the exercise of an option granted under the Plan, the
Committee may, in its discretion and subject to the requirements of applicable
statutes, rules and regulations, whenever, in its judgment, such assistance may
reasonably be expected to benefit the Company, authorize, either at the time of
the grant of the option or thereafter (i) the extension of a loan to the option
holder by the Company, (ii) the payment by the option holder of the purchase
price of the Shares in installments, or (iii) the guaranty by the Company of a
loan obtained by the option holder from a third party. The Committee shall
determine the terms of any such loan, installment payment arrangement or
guaranty, including the interest rate and other terms of repayment thereof.
Loans, installment payment arrangements and guaranties may be authorized with or
without security and the maximum amount thereof shall be the option price for
the Shares being acquired plus related interest payments.
(i) The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time an
ISO is granted) of the Shares as to which an Employee may first exercise ISOs in
any one calendar year under all incentive stock option plans of the Company and
its Subsidiaries may not exceed $100,000.
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(j) An ISO may be granted to an Employee owning, or who is
considered as owning by applying the rules of ownership set forth in Section
425(d) of the Code, over 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes
of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary if the option price of such ISO equals
or exceeds 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the option is
granted and such ISO shall expire not more than five years after the date of
grant.
7. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION
(a) Subject to any required regulatory approval, new option
rights may be substituted for the option rights granted under the Plan, or the
Company's duties as to options outstanding under the Plan may be assumed, by a
corporation other than the Company, or by a parent or subsidiary of the Company
or such corporation, in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition,
separation, reorganization, liquidation or like occurrence in which the Company
is involved. Notwithstanding the foregoing or the provisions of Subsection 7(b)
hereof, in the event such corporation, or parent or subsidiary of the Company or
such corporation, does not substitute new option rights for, and substantially
equivalent to, the option rights granted hereunder, or assume the option rights
granted hereunder, the option rights granted hereunder shall terminate and
thereupon become null and void (i) upon dissolution or liquidation of the
Company, or similar occurrence, (ii) upon any merger, consolidation,
acquisition, separation, reorganization, or similar occurrence, in which the
Company will not be a surviving entity or (iii) upon a transfer of substantially
all of the assets of the Company or more than 80% of the outstanding Shares;
provided, however, that each option holder shall have the right immediately
prior to or concurrently with such dissolution, liquidation, merger,
consolidation, acquisition, separation, reorganization or similar occurrence, to
exercise any unexpired option rights granted hereunder whether or not then
exercisable. If the exercise of the foregoing right by the holder of an ISO
would be deemed to result in a violation of the provisions of Subsection 6(i) of
the Plan, then, without further act on the part of the Committee or the option
holder, such ISO shall be deemed an NQO to the extent necessary to avoid any
such violation.
(b) The existence of outstanding options shall not affect in
any way the right or power of the Company or its stockholders to make or
authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other
changes in the Company's capital structure or its business, or any merger or
consolidation of the Company, or any issuance of Common Stock or subscription
rights or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issuance of bonds,
debentures, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Shares
or the rights thereof, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any
sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other
corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise;
provided, however, that if the outstanding Shares shall at any time be changed
or exchanged by declaration of a stock dividend, stock split, combination of
shares or recapitalization, the number and kind of Shares subject to the Plan or
subject to any options theretofore granted, and the option prices, shall be
appropriately and equitably adjusted so as to maintain the proportionate number
of Shares without changing the aggregate option price.
(c) Adjustments under this Section 7 shall be made by the
Committee whose determination as to what adjustments, if any, shall be made, and
the extent thereof, shall be final.
8. PRIVILEGES OF STOCK OWNERSHIP
No option holder shall be entitled to the privileges of stock
ownership as to any Shares not actually issued and delivered to him.
9. SECURITIES REGULATION
(a) Each option shall be subject to the requirement that if at
any time the Board of Directors or Committee shall in its discretion determine
that the listing, registration or qualification of the Shares subject to such
option upon any securities exchange or under any Federal or state law, or the
approval or consent of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary or
desirable in connection with the issuance or purchase of Shares
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thereunder, such option may not be exercised in whole or in part unless such
listing, registration, qualification, approval or consent shall have been
effected or obtained free from any conditions not reasonably acceptable to the
Board of Directors or Committee.
(b) Unless at the time of the exercise of an option and the
issuance of the Shares thereby purchased by any option holder hereunder there
shall be in effect as to such Shares a Registration Statement under the
Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or there shall be available an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act, the option holder exercising such option
shall deliver to the Company at the time of exercise a certificate (i)
acknowledging that the Shares so acquired may be "restricted securities" within
the meaning of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, (ii) certifying
that he is acquiring the Shares issuable to him upon such exercise for the
purpose of investment and not with a view to their sale or distribution; and
(iii) containing such option holder's agreement that such Shares may not be sold
or otherwise disposed of except in accordance with applicable provisions of the
Securities Act. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver
certificates for Shares until there shall have been compliance with all
applicable laws, rules and regulations, including the rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
10. EMPLOYMENT OF EMPLOYEE
Nothing contained in the Plan or in any option agreement
executed and delivered thereunder shall confer upon any option holder any right
to continue in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary or to interfere with
the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate such employment at any
time.
11. WITHHOLDING; DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION
(a) The Company shall deduct and withhold from any salary or
other compensation for employment services of an option holder, all amounts
required to satisfy withholding tax liabilities arising from the grant or
exercise of an option under the Plan or the acquisition or disposition of Shares
acquired upon exercise of any such option.
(b) In the discretion of the Committee and in lieu of the
deduction and withholding provided for in subsection (a) above, the Company
shall deduct and withhold Shares otherwise issuable to the option holder having
a fair market value on the date income is recognized pursuant to the exercise of
an option equal to the amount required to be withheld.
(c) In the case of disposition by an option holder of Shares
acquired upon exercise of an ISO within (i) two years after the date of grant of
such ISO, or (ii) one year after the transfer of such Shares to such option
holder, such option holder shall give written notice to the Company of such
disposition not later than 30 days after the occurrence thereof, which notice
shall include all such information as may be required by the Company to comply
with applicable provisions of the Code and shall be in such form as the Company
shall from time to time determine.
12. AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
Subject to any required regulatory approval, the Board of
Directors or Committee may at any time amend, suspend or terminate the Plan,
provided that, except as set forth in Section 7 above, no amendment may be
adopted without the approval of stockholders which would:
(a) increase the number of Shares which may be issued pursuant
to the exercise of options granted under the Plan;
(b) permit the grant of an option under the Plan with an
option price less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares at the time
such option is granted;
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(c) change the provisions of Section 4;
(d) extend the term of an option or the period during which an
option may be granted under the Plan;
(e) decrease an option exercise price (provided that the
foregoing does not preclude the cancellation of an option and a new grant at a
lower exercise price without stockholder approval); or
(f) materially increase the benefits accruing to participants
of the Plan.
Unless the Plan shall theretofore have been terminated by the Board of Directors
or Committee, the Plan shall terminate on June 5, 2006. No option may be granted
during the term of any suspension of the Plan or after termination of the Plan.
The amendment or termination of the Plan shall not, without the written consent
of the option holder to be affected, alter or impair any rights or obligations
under any option theretofore granted to such option holder under the Plan.
13. EFFECTIVE DATE
The effective date of the Plan shall be June 5, 1996, subject
to its approval by shareholders of the Company not later than June 4, 1997.
C-6
HOSPITALITY WORLDWIDE SERVICES, INC.
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
JUNE 25, 1998
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned
shareholder of HOSPITALITY WORLDWIDE SERVICES, INC. (the "Company") does hereby
constitute and appoint ROBERT A. BERMAN AND HOWARD G. ANDERS or either of them
(each with full power of substitution of another for himself) as attorneys,
agents and proxies, for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, and
with all the powers the undersigned would possess if personally present, to vote
as instructed below all of the shares of Common Stock and/or Redeemable
Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company that the undersigned is entitled to
vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held on
Thursday, June 25, 1998 at 11:00 A.M. local time at the American Stock Exchange,
86 Trinity Place, New York, New York and at any adjournment or adjournments
thereof, all as set forth in the Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement.
(See Reverse Side)
1. ELECTION OF A BOARD OF SEVEN DIRECTORS:
To vote for the election of the following directors: Robert A.
Berman, Leonard F. Parker, Douglas A. Parker, Louis K. Adler,
George Asch, Richard A. Bartlett and Scott A. Kaniewski
(INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold
FOR all nominees listed to the WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to authority to vote for any individual
right (except as marked to the vote for nominees listed to the nominee, strike a line through the
contrary) right nominee's name in the listbelow.)
/ / / / Robert A. Berman
Leonard F. Parker
Douglas A. Parker
Louis K. Adler
George Asch
Richard A. Bartlett
Scott A. Kaniewski
2. AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS TO
CREATE THREE CLASSES OF DIRECTORS:
To vote for the approval of the amendments to the Company's Certificate
of Incorporation and By-Laws to create three classes of directors to
serve for staggered terms.
FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN / /
3. AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE
AUTHORIZED STOCK OF THE COMPANY:
To vote for approval of the amendment to the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation to increase the Company's authorized stock.
----- ----- -----
FOR | | AGAINST | | ABSTAIN | |
----- ----- -----
4. AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S 1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN:
To vote for approval of the amendment to the Company's 1996 Stock
Option Plan to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder.
----- ----- -----
FOR | | AGAINST | | ABSTAIN | |
----- ----- -----
5. RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS:
To ratify the appointment of Arthur Andersen, LLP as the Company's
independent certified public accountants for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 1998.
----- ----- -----
FOR | | AGAINST | | ABSTAIN | |
----- ----- -----
6. DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY:
To vote with discretionary authority with respect to all other matters
which may come before the Annual Meeting.
----- ----- -----
FOR | | AGAINST | | ABSTAIN | |
----- ----- -----
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN. IF NO SUCH INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN, THE SHARES
REPRESENTED BY THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF ELECTION OF THE
NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS DESIGNATED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND FOR
ITEMS 2 THROUGH 5.
The undersigned hereby revokes any proxy or proxies heretofore given
and ratifies and confirms that all the proxies appointed hereby, or any of them,
or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. The
undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Notice of Annual
Meeting and Proxy Statement, both dated May 22, 1998.
Signature _________________ Date ______________
Note: Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign.
When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please
give full title as such. When signing on behalf of a corporation, you should be
an authorized officer of such corporation, and please give your title as such.