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 14a-12 PEC Israel Economic Corporation - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): (x) $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(i)(2) or from Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A. ( ) $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 14a-6(i)(3). ( ) Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) 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: ----------------------------------------------------------------- ( ) 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.: ----------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Filing Party: ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Date Filed: ----------------------------------------------------------------- PEC ISRAEL ECONOMIC CORPORATION ------------------- NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS JUNE 4, 1996 ------------------- To the Shareholders of PEC ISRAEL ECONOMIC CORPORATION: The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of PEC Israel Economic Corporation will be held at 511 Fifth Avenue, 17th Floor, New York, New York on June 4, 1996 at 2:00 P.M., for the following purposes: 1. To elect 12 directors for the ensuing year; 2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting. The close of business on April 19, 1996 has been fixed as the record date for the meeting. All holders of common stock at such date will be entitled to vote at the meeting. By Order of the Board of Directors, JAMES I. EDELSON, Executive Vice President and Secretary New York, New York April 29, 1996 IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND MAIL YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING. PEC ISRAEL ECONOMIC CORPORATION 511 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10017 PROXY STATEMENT ------------------- The accompanying form of proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of PEC Israel Economic Corporation ("PEC" or the "Company") for use at the annual meeting to be held June 4, 1996. Proxies in the accompanying form which are properly executed and duly returned to PEC and not revoked will be voted as directed. Proxies may be revoked at any time before they are voted by delivery of a written notice of revocation or a subsequent proxy, or by announcing such revocation at the meeting. Under Maine law and the Company's Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, if a quorum is present, directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. A majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, constitutes a quorum. Shares represented by proxies or ballots withholding votes from one or more directors will not be counted in the election of that director but will be counted for purposes of determining a quorum. The only securities which are entitled to vote at the meeting are the shares of common stock of PEC, each share of which has one vote. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on April 19, 1996 are entitled to vote at the meeting. As of April 19, 1996, there were outstanding and entitled to vote 18,758,588 shares of PEC common stock. This proxy statement is being distributed to the shareholders commencing on or about April 29, 1996. As of April 19, 1996, IDB Development Corporation Ltd. ("IDB Development") owned 13,193,592 shares of PEC common stock, representing approximately 70.3% of the outstanding shares. Approximately 71% of the voting securities of IDB Development are owned by IDB Holding Corporation Ltd. ("IDB Holding"). For information concerning these shareholdings and persons who, by reason of their relationships to IDB Holding, may also be deemed to be beneficial owners of these shares, see "Information as to Share Ownership." ELECTION OF DIRECTORS At the meeting, management will present a proposal to elect as directors the 12 nominees named below for the term of one year, and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified. All of the nominees other than Mr. Oudi Recanati are currently serving as Directors of PEC for terms expiring in June 1996. It is intended (unless such authority is withheld) that votes will be cast pursuant to proxies hereby solicited for the nominees named below. If for any presently unknown reason any of the nominees are unable to serve as a director, another person or persons who may be nominated will be voted for at the discretion of the proxy holders. The following chart sets forth certain information with respect to each of the nominees, including beneficial ownership of PEC common stock as of April 15, 1996. 1 NOMINEES FOR ELECTION NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF SHARES OF PEC COMMON NAME, PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS YEAR FIRST STOCK DURING LAST 5 YEARS; BECAME A BENEFICIALLY OWNED AS OF OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS* AGE DIRECTOR APRIL 15, 1996** - ---------------------------------------------------- --- ---------- ------------------------ RAPHAEL RECANATI, Chairman, PEC Israel Economic 72 1962 13,193,592 --70.3%(1) Corporation; President, Finmar Equities Co., Shipping and Finance; Chairman and Managing Director, IDB Holding and IDB Development; Chairman, Discount Investment Corporation Ltd.; Director, Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc.(4) FRANK J. KLEIN, President, PEC Israel Economic 53 1994 1,000 Corporation since January 1, 1995; Director, Elron Electronic Industries Ltd. and Scitex Corporation Ltd.; For more than 20 years prior to 1995, an officer of Israel Discount Bank of New York (Executive Vice President from December 1985 to December 1994) ROBERT H. ARNOW, Chairman of the Board, Swig, Weiler 71 1988 1,900 and Arnow Mgt. Co., Inc., Real Estate JOSEPH CIECHANOVER, President, Atidim-Etgar Nihul 62 1980 2,000 Kranot B.M., General Partner, Investments; Chairman, El Al Israel Airlines Ltd.; Director, IDB Holding and IDB Development; From 1980 through 1994, President, PEC Israel Economic Corporation ELIAHU COHEN, Joint Managing Director of IDB 63 1995 -0- (2) Holding and IDB Development; Director of Discount Investment Corporation Ltd. ROGER CUKIERMAN, Chief Executive Officer, La 59 1986 -0- Compagnie Financiere Edmond de Rothschild Banque; Managing Director, Isrop Participations Ltd.; Deputy Chairman, Israel General Bank Ltd. ALAN S. JAFFE, Partner, Proskauer Rose Goetz & 56 1995 -0- Mendelsohn LLP, Attorneys, counsel to PEC HERMANN MERKIN, Member, New York Stock Exchange, 88 1966 5,000 Inc. and American Stock Exchange, Inc.; Director, IDB Holding and Discount Investment Corporation Ltd. HARVEY M. MEYERHOFF, Chairman, Magna Holdings, Inc., 69 1985 10,400 (3) Investments OUDI RECANATI, President, Y.L.R. Capital Markets 46 -- -0- Ltd., Investment Banking; Director, IDB Holding, IDB Development and Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc.(4) ALAN S. ROSENBERG, Private Investor; From 1967 66 1992 3,000 (5) through 1994, Partner, Proskauer Rose Goetz & Mendelsohn LLP, Attorneys, counsel to PEC RICHARD S. ZEISLER, Private Investor 79 1949 6,000 2 - ------------ (1) Represents shares of PEC common stock as to which Mr. Raphael Recanati may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power. See "Information as to Share Ownership." (2) Mr. Cohen owns options to acquire 80,700 Ordinary "A" Shares of NIS 1.00 each of IDB Development, of which one-half are exercisable until May 11, 1997 and one-half are exercisable until May 11, 1998. (3) Mr. Meyerhoff is the sole trustee of a charitable income trust which owns 13,070 Ordinary "A" Shares of NIS 1.00 each of IDB Development. (4) Mr. Oudi Recanati is a son of Mr. Raphael Recanati. (5) Includes 1,000 shares of PEC common stock owned by Mr. Rosenberg's wife. Mr. Rosenberg disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. * IDB Development and IDB Holding are parent companies of PEC. Discount Investment Corporation Ltd., Scitex Corporation Ltd. and Elron Electronic Industries Ltd. are or may be deemed to be affiliates of PEC. ** Except as indicated for Mr. Raphael Recanati, none of the nominees beneficially owns as much as 1% of the common stock of PEC. Except as indicated for Messrs. Recanati and Rosenberg, the amounts shown represent shares of PEC common stock as to which the person has sole voting and dispositive power. Five nominees for election to the Board of Directors are presently members of the Board of Directors of IDB Holding. Except for Mr. Raphael Recanati, none of these five nominees are considered by PEC to share voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares of PEC beneficially owned by IDB Holding. As of April 15, 1996, there were 37,666,364 Ordinary Shares of NIS 5.00 each of IDB Holding issued and outstanding. One NIS (New Israel Shekel) was equivalent to approximately $.32 on April 15, 1996. As of April 15, 1996, Mr. Ciechanover beneficially owned 500 Ordinary Shares of IDB Holding, Mr. Cohen beneficially owned 20,960.2 Ordinary Shares of IDB Holding, Mr. Merkin beneficially owned 20,865 Ordinary Shares of IDB Holding, and Mr. Recanati may be deemed to have shared the power to vote or direct the disposition of (and therefore to have beneficially owned) 19,754,005.4 Ordinary Shares of IDB Holding (52.4% of the outstanding Ordinary Shares). Following a lengthy trial in Israel of 22 defendants, including IDB Holding, the four largest Israeli banks, and members of their senior managements, IDB Holding, all the banks, including Israel Discount Bank Limited ("IDBL") of which IDB Holding was the parent, and all the management-defendants were convicted by a district court of contravening certain provisions of that country's laws in connection with activities that arose out of a program related to the regulation of bank shares. Messrs. Raphael Recanati, Eliahu Cohen and Oudi Recanati, who were among the management-defendants, and IDB Holding categorically denied any wrongdoing and appealed to the Supreme Court of Israel, which found that the share regulation had been authorized and encouraged by high officials of the Israeli Government, overturned the principal count of the indictments of the management-defendants, and acquitted IDB Holding of all charges. The Court left standing the lower court's finding that Messrs. Raphael Recanati and Eliahu Cohen, who were principal executive officers of IDBL, and Mr. Oudi Recanati, who was a member of that bank's senior management, caused improper advice to be given in connection with the sale of securities and that Messrs. Raphael Recanati and Eliahu Cohen caused false entries in corporate documents, in contravention of Israeli laws. None of the activities in question, which occurred more than 12 years ago, relate to or involve PEC or its business in any way. 3 Messrs. Merkin and Raphael Recanati are members of the Nominating Committee which recommends persons to the Board of Directors for nomination as members of the Board of Directors and election as officers of PEC. The Nominating Committee had one meeting during 1995. The Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders. Recommendations should be submitted in writing to the Secretary of PEC prior to December 31 in each year. PEC has a Compensation Committee of the Board whose principal functions are to determine the salaries, bonuses and other compensation, if any, to be paid to the officers of PEC. The present members of the Compensation Committee, which held one meeting in 1995, are Messrs. Raphael Recanati, Cohen and Meyerhoff. PEC also has an Audit Committee of the Board. The principal functions of the Audit Committee are to recommend the independent auditors for the Company, review the planned scope and results of audits and other services performed by the auditors, review the auditors' recommendations with regard to internal controls of the Company and review and make recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to financial and accounting matters generally. The present members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Merkin and Rosenberg. The Audit Committee held one meeting in 1995. PEC also has a Pension Committee of the Board. The principal functions of the Pension Committee are to administer the Employees' Retirement Plan of PEC and the investment of its assets. The present members of the Pension Committee are Messrs. Klein and Rosenberg. During 1995, the Pension Committee held two meetings. Two meetings of the Board of Directors and ten meetings of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors were held in 1995. The present members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Raphael Recanati and Klein. All members of the Board of Directors, except Messrs. Arnow, Ciechanover, Cohen, Cukierman and Meyerhoff, attended during 1995 at least 75% of the meetings of the Board of Directors and the Committees on which they serve. Directors of the Company serve in that capacity without compensation. 4 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The following table sets forth the compensation paid to, or earned by, the executive officers of the Company during each of the Company's last three fiscal years: SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE ANNUAL COMPENSATION ----------------------- ALL OTHER NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY ($) BONUS ($) COMPENSATION ($) - --------------------------------------------------- ---- ---------- --------- ---------------- Frank J. Klein..................................... 1995 400,000 53,000 159,889(1) President James I. Edelson................................... 1995 195,000 10,000 6,240(2) Executive Vice President, Secretary and General 1994 185,000 10,000 1,476(3) Counsel 1993 170,000 10,000 1,457(3) William Gold....................................... 1995 160,000 10,000 6,240(2) Treasurer 1994 155,000 10,000 1,476(3) 1993 150,000 10,000 1,407(3) - -------------- (1) Consists of $150,361 that the Company expensed pursuant to the supplemental retirement arrangement described below, $4,908 of insurance premiums paid by the Company for term life insurance and $4,620 of matching contributions by the Company under its Savings and Investment Plan. (2) Consists of $4,620 of matching contributions by the Company under its Savings and Investment Plan and $1,620 of insurance premiums paid by the Company for term life insurance. (3) Represents the amount of insurance premiums paid by the Company for term life insurance. Messrs. Klein, Edelson and Gold are participants in the Employees' Retirement Plan of PEC. Under the Employees' Retirement Plan, an employee is entitled to annual benefits equal to 2% of (a) his average salary for the five highest consecutive years of credited service preceding retirement or (b) $150,000 for 1995, whichever is lower, multiplied by the number of years of credited service and without reduction for Social Security benefits received. Mr. Klein has 28 years of credited service, all but one year of which is service with a former affiliated employer (for which he received benefits under that employer's plan which offset and reduce the payments due under the PEC Plan). Messrs. Edelson and Gold currently have 4 years and 28 years, respectively, of credited service. 5 The following table sets forth the estimated annual pension payable under the Employees' Retirement Plan upon retirement at age 65, to employees at various salary levels and in representative years-of-service classifications: AVERAGE ESTIMATED ANNUAL PENSION PAST BASED ON YEARS OF CREDITED SERVICE AT AGE 65 ANNUAL -------------------------------------------------------- SALARY 10 YEARS 20 YEARS 30 YEARS 40 YEARS - -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- $125,000 $ 25,000 $ 50,000 $ 75,000 $100,000 150,000 30,000 60,000 90,000 120,000 175,000 35,000 70,000 105,000 140,000 200,000 40,000 80,000 120,000 160,000 225,000 45,000 90,000 135,000 180,000 250,000 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 300,000 60,000 120,000 180,000 240,000 350,000 70,000 140,000 210,000 280,000 400,000 80,000 160,000 240,000 320,000 450,000 90,000 180,000 270,000 360,000 500,000 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 The annual pension payable to any employee under the Employees' Retirement Plan may not exceed the limitations imposed for qualified plans under Federal law (currently $120,000). However, under a supplemental arrangement made with Mr. Klein, he will be entitled to receive a lump sum equivalent of additional annual benefits equal to 1 1/2% of his average salary and bonus for the five highest consecutive years of credited service preceding retirement (without any limitation as to amount) multiplied by the number of years of credited service reduced by his annual pension under the Employees' Retirement Plan (and further reduced by retirement benefits from his former employer). For purposes of these calculations, Mr. Klein's prior service with his former employer is included in credited service. BOARD AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION General The salary levels for the executive officers of the Company for 1995 were established at the end of 1994 by the entire Board of Directors (other than Mr. Frank J. Klein). The present members of the Board of Directors who also were members of the Board of Directors at the end of 1994 and established the 1995 salary levels for executive officers of the Company are listed at the end of this report. In 1995, the Board of Directors appointed a compensation committee (the "Committee") which became responsible for establishing the levels of compensation for the executive officers of the Company. Its members are Raphael Recanati, Chairman, and Eliahu Cohen and Harvey M. Meyerhoff, none of whom is a current or former employee of the Company. The Committee established the bonus amounts for the executive officers of the Company for 1995. Each year the Committee will evaluate PEC's compensation paid to its executive officers. Compensation Philosophy The executive compensation philosophy of the Company is to provide competitive levels of compensation that reward corporate and individual performance and assist the Company in attracting, 6 retaining and motivating highly qualified executives. There is no specific formula pursuant to which any executive officer's compensation is established or adjusted. In setting executive officer salaries and bonuses, the Board of Directors and the Committee considered the recommendations of Mr. Klein, the Board of Directors' and the Committee's own subjective evaluations of the performance of those officers, the respective officers' length of service to the Company, and the many duties performed by the Company's executive officers because of the Company's small staff. The Board of Directors and the Committee also considered the Company's performance, emphasizing performance over a period of several years rather than a single year because PEC's business philosophy is to acquire interests in companies that have attractive long-term growth potential even though such investments may not offer current cash returns. The Board of Directors and the Committee did not give particular weight to or quantify any one or more particular performance factors, but in establishing salaries and bonuses for 1995 the Board of Directors and the Committee considered management's contribution to the enhancement of shareholder value and noted the superior performance of an investment in the Company's common stock compared to an investment in the Peer Group Index over the past five years as shown in the performance graph following this report. Components of Compensation Compensation paid to the named executive officers, as reflected in the foregoing Summary Compensation Table, consists primarily of base salary and bonus. The amount of the employee's salary and bonus is a function of the employee's officer position as well as individual performance and length of service to the Company. In evaluating the Company's executive compensation levels, the Board of Directors and the Committee reviewed information drawn from a variety of sources, including published survey data, information gleaned from the media, and the Company's own experience in recruiting and retaining executives. Benefit Plans At various times in the past, the Company has adopted certain broad-based employee benefit plans in which executive officers are permitted to participate on the same terms as non-executive employees who meet applicable eligibility criteria. Such plans include savings and investment (Sec.401(k)), retirement and life and health insurance plans. Compensation of the President Mr. Klein's 1995 compensation is based on the same factors as are described above for all executive officers pursuant to the Company's executive compensation philosophy. Mr. Klein's compensation in 1995 reflects his experience as the Executive Vice President of the Company from 1977 through 1991 and as an executive officer for more than 20 years of the 16th largest commercial bank in New York State in terms of deposits, his compensation from his previous employer, his personal involvement in most of the companies in which PEC has equity holdings and the Board of Directors' and the Committee's subjective evaluation of Mr. Klein's contribution to the business and management of the Company. Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code makes certain non-performance-based compensation to executives of public companies in excess of $1,000,000 non-deductible to the Company. At this time, it is not anticipated that any executive officer of the Company will receive any such compensation in excess of the limit in 1996. Therefore, to date, the Board of Directors has not taken any action with 7 respect to this limit. The Board of Directors will continue to monitor this situation and will take appropriate action if it is warranted in the future. The report of the Board of Directors and the Committee shall not be deemed to be "soliciting material" or incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts. Members of the Board of Directors: Raphael Recanati, Chairman Hermann Merkin Robert H. Arnow Harvey M. Meyerhoff Joseph Ciechanover Alan S. Rosenberg Roger Cukierman Richard S. Zeisler Compensation Committee: Raphael Recanati, Chairman Eliahu Cohen Harvey M. Meyerhoff 8 COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION Raphael Recanati is Chairman of the Company and is Chairman of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Recanati is not an employee of the Company and does not receive any compensation from the Company. Mr. Recanati is Chairman and Managing Director of IDB Holding and IDB Development. Mr. Ciechanover, who was President of PEC until December 31, 1994, serves as a director of both of these companies and participated in the deliberations of the Board of Directors of PEC in 1994 concerning the salary levels of PEC's executive officers for 1995. In December 1995, PEC purchased from IDB Development a 6.5% equity interest in Property and Building Corporation Ltd., a corporation whose stock is publicly traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, for $15.5 million, which was the market price of such equity interest on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange on the purchase date. IDB Development and a subsidiary of PEC are parties to an agreement under which IDB Development provides advisory and other services, including accounting services and obtaining and compiling financial information and reports, for an annual fee of $130,000. PEC has an agreement with a subsidiary of IDB Development under which each party provides administrative services to the other party and offers the other party equal participation in business opportunities for a fee of 2 1/2% of the equity invested by the paying party in business opportunities initiated or initially presented by the other party. In 1995, PEC paid the subsidiary of IDB Development approximately $35,000 under this agreement. PEC has made investments in and loans to affiliates of IDB Holding. 9 PERFORMANCE GRAPH The following graph compares for the five fiscal years beginning January 1, 1991 the yearly change in the year end stock price of PEC with the cumulative total return (change in year end stock price plus reinvested dividends) of the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index and an index composed of American Israeli Paper Mills Limited (an Israeli industrial company), Ampal American Israel Corporation (an American holding company that acquires interests in companies located in Israel or related to Israel), Elron Electronic Industries Ltd. (an Israeli holding company which is an affiliate of PEC that acquires interests in high technology companies located in Israel or related to Israel), Etz Lavud Ltd. (an Israeli industrial company) and Israel Land Development Company Ltd. (an Israeli company that engages in the development and rental of real estate, hotel management, insurance and publishing and other commercial media business) (the "Peer Group Index"), all of which are publicly traded in the United States. FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE RETURN* PEC, S&P 500 STOCK INDEX AND PEER GROUP INDEX ($100 INVESTED ON 12/31/1990) $500 400 [GRAPH] 300 200 100 0 12/31/90 12/31/91 12/31/92 12/31/93 12/31/94 12/31/95 - ---------------------------------------------------------- WEIGHTED TOTAL RETURN PEC ISRAEL PEER GROUP ECONOMIC S&P 500 INDEX 12/31/90 100.00 100.00 100.00 12/31/91 224.07 130.34 185.24 12/31/92 412.96 140.25 252.89 12/31/93 462.96 154.32 354.91 12/31/94 422.22 156.42 210.09 12/31/95 357.41 214.99 192.17 - ---------------------------------------------------------- - ------------ * Assumes that the value of the investment in the Company's common stock and each index was $100 on December 31, 1990 and that all dividends were reinvested. The Peer Group Index has been weighted based on market capitalization. In accordance with rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), the Company's performance graph does not constitute "soliciting material" and is not incorporated by reference in any filings with the SEC made pursuant to the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act. 10 INFORMATION AS TO SHARE OWNERSHIP The following table shows, as of April 15, 1996, the number of shares of PEC common stock owned by the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table (other than Frank J. Klein whose holdings of PEC common stock are listed under "Election of Directors") and by all directors and executive officers as a group. NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF SHARES OF PEC COMMON STOCK BENEFICIALLY OWNED AS OF APRIL 15, NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER 1996 - -------------------------------------------- ----------------------- James I. Edelson............................ 1,000(1) William Gold................................ 1,000(1) Directors and Executive Officers as a Group 13,224,892--70.5%(2) - ------------ (1) None of the executive officers beneficially owns as much as 1% of the outstanding common stock of PEC. The amount shown for Mr. Gold includes 500 shares of PEC common stock owned by Mr. Gold's wife. Mr. Gold disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. Except as indicated for Mr. Gold, the amounts shown represent shares of PEC common stock as to which the person has sole voting and dispositive power. (2) Persons who are directors or executive officers have sole power to vote and direct the disposition of 29,800 shares (less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Company) and share with other persons the power to vote and direct the disposition of 13,195,092 shares (70.3% of the outstanding shares). Set forth below are the names and addresses of those entities or persons that are known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the shares of PEC common stock, as reported to the Company. As of April 15, 1996, IDB Development Corporation Ltd., "The Tower", 3 Daniel Frisch Street, Tel Aviv, Israel, directly owned 13,193,592 shares of PEC common stock, constituting 70.3% of the outstanding PEC common stock. IDB Holding, which owns approximately 71% of the voting securities of IDB Development and has the same address as IDB Development, may, by reason of such holdings, be deemed the beneficial owner of the PEC common stock held by IDB Development. Accordingly, IDB Holding may be deemed a beneficial owner of an aggregate of 13,193,592 shares, or 70.3% of the outstanding PEC common stock. By reason of their positions with and control of voting shares of IDB Holding, Messrs. Raphael Recanati, of New York, New York, and Jacob Recanati, of Haifa, Israel, who are brothers, and Leon Recanati, of Tel Aviv, Israel, and Judith Yovel Recanati, of Herzliya, Israel, who are brother and sister, may each be deemed to share the power to direct the voting and disposition of the outstanding shares of PEC common stock owned by IDB Development and may each, under existing regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), therefore be deemed a beneficial owner of these shares. Leon Recanati and Judith Yovel Recanati are the nephew and niece of Raphael and Jacob Recanati. Companies the Recanatis control hold approximately 52.4% of the outstanding Ordinary Shares of IDB Holding. To the best of the Company's knowledge, based on reports filed with the SEC, the only other beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of PEC common stock is Delphi Asset Management, 485 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022, which as of December 31, 1995 owned beneficially 1,035,218 shares of PEC common stock, constituting 5.5% of the outstanding shares of PEC common stock. Delphi Asset Management reported in its filing with the SEC that it has sole 11 dispositive power with respect to all of its shares of PEC common stock and sole voting power with respect to 866,200 shares of PEC common stock. According to such SEC filing, the shares mentioned above were acquired in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of or having the effect of changing or influencing the control of the Company nor in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect. OTHER MATTERS Representatives of Arthur Andersen LLP and Haft & Gluckman LLP, who were the Company's auditors for 1995 and who have been recommended by the Audit Committee to the Board of Directors to be the Company's auditors for 1996, are expected to be present at the meeting with the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and to respond to appropriate questions. The Board of Directors of PEC does not know of any other matters to be brought before the meeting except those set forth in the notice thereof. If other business is properly presented for consideration at the meeting, it is intended that the proxies will be voted by the persons named therein in accordance with their judgment. The cost of preparing this Proxy Statement and all other costs in connection with this solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders are being borne by PEC. 1997 SHAREHOLDERS MEETING The Board of Directors of PEC will consider proposals intended for inclusion in the proxy materials relating to the next annual meeting of shareholders. These proposals must be submitted to and received at PEC's office no later than December 31, 1996 and must otherwise comply with applicable laws and regulations. By Order of the Board of Directors, JAMES I. EDELSON, Executive Vice President and Secretary New York, New York April 29, 1996 12 PROXY PROXY PEC ISRAEL ECONOMIC CORPORATION THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The undersigned hereby appoints Raphael Recanati, Frank J. Klein and James I. Edelson, and each of them, as Proxies, each with full power of substitution, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side, all the shares of common stock of PEC Israel Economic Corporation held of record by the undersigned on April 19, 1996 at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held on June 4, 1996 or any adjournment thereof. (CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED AND DATED ON THE REVERSE SIDE) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FOLD AND DETACH HERE Please mark your votes as [X] indicated in this example 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS FOR ALL WITHHOLD NOMINEES AUTHORITY to LISTED(except vote for all as marked to nominees listed the contrary) [ ] [ ] R. Recanati, F. Klein, R. Arnow, J. Ciechanover, E. Cohen, R. Cukierman, A. Jaffe, H. Merkin, H. Meyerhoff, O. Recanati, A. Rosenberg, R. Zeisler (Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee write that nominee's name on the line provided below.) ---------------------------------------------------- 2. In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned shareholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted for the election of the nominees named in Proposal 1. If more than one of said proxies or their substitutes shall be present and vote at said meeting, or any adjournment thereof, a majority of them so present and voting (or if only one be present and vote, then that one) shall have and may exercise all the powers hereby granted. Please sign below exactly as your name appears. When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. DATED ---------------------------------------, 1996 - --------------------------------------------------- Signature - --------------------------------------------------- Signature if held jointly Please mark, sign, date and return the Proxy Card promptly using the enclosed envelope which requires no postage when mailed in the U.S.A. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FOLD AND DETACH HERE