SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 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 /X/ Definitive Proxy Statement /_/ Definitive Additional Materials /_/ Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12 MATLACK SYSTEMS, INC. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) ________________________________________________________________________________ (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than Registrant) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): /X/ No Fee Required. 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:* _____________________________________________________________________________ 4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: _____________________________________________________________________________ /_/ 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 No. ______________________________________ 3) Filing party: ___________________________________________________________ 4) Date filed: _____________________________________________________________ ___________ *Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined. MATLACK SYSTEMS, INC. NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD JANUARY 28, 1999 ------------------------ TO THE HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of MATLACK SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation, will be held at the Rollins Building, 2200 Concord Pike, First Floor Auditorium, Wilmington, Delaware, on Thursday, January 28, 1999, at 9:00 A.M. (Eastern Standard Time) for the following purposes: 1. To elect two Class I Directors to the Board of Directors; 2. To consider and act upon such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. The Proxy Statement dated January 8, 1999 is attached. The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on December 18, 1998 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting. If you cannot be present in person, please sign and date the enclosed proxy and promptly mail it in the enclosed return envelope which requires no United States postage. Any shareholder giving a proxy has the right to revoke it any time before it is voted. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MICHAEL B. KINNARD, Secretary Dated: Wilmington, Delaware January 8, 1999 ------------------------ YOU ARE REQUESTED TO DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE WHICH REQUIRES NO UNITED STATES POSTAGE. PROXY STATEMENT MATLACK SYSTEMS, INC. ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD JANUARY 28, 1999 ------------------------ The information concerning the enclosed proxy and the matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on January 28, 1999 (the "Annual Meeting") is submitted to the shareholders for their information. SOLICITATION OF AND POWER TO REVOKE PROXY This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors of MATLACK SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"). Proxies solicited hereby are to be voted at the Annual Meeting or at any adjournment thereof. The mailing address for the Company's principal executive office is P. O. Box 8790, Wilmington, Delaware 19899. This Proxy Statement and the form of proxy were first sent to the Company's shareholders on or about January 8, 1999. A form of proxy is enclosed. Each proxy submitted will be voted as directed but, if not otherwise specified, proxies solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company will be voted in favor of the candidates for election to the Board of Directors as Class I Directors. The solicitation of proxies will be by mail. It may be that further solicitation of proxies will be made by telephone, telegram or interview with some shareholders of the Company, following the original solicitation. All such further solicitations will be made by regular officers and employees of the Company, who will not be additionally compensated therefor, or its Transfer Agent. The Company will bear the entire cost of all such solicitations, which will be nominal and include reimbursements paid to brokerage firms and others for their expenses in forwarding solicitation material regarding the meeting to beneficial owners. Each shareholder has the right to revoke his or her proxy at any time before it is voted. A proxy may be revoked by filing with the Secretary of the Company a written revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or by voting in person at the Annual Meeting. Any shareholder may attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person, whether or not such shareholder has previously given a proxy. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Two individuals are to be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve as Class I Directors for a term of three years each, and until the election and qualification of their successors. Four other individuals serve as directors but are not standing for re-election because their terms as directors extend past the Annual Meeting pursuant to provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation which provide for the election of directors for staggered terms, with each director serving a three year term. Unless a shareholder WITHHOLDS AUTHORITY, the proxy holders will vote FOR the election of each of the persons named below to a three year term as a director. Although the Board of Directors does not contemplate the possibility, in the event a nominee is not a candidate or is unable to serve as a director at the time of the election, unless the shareholder WITHHOLDS AUTHORITY, the proxies will be voted for a nominee designated by the present Board of Directors to fill such vacancy. 1 The name and age of each of the nominees, his principal occupation, the period during which he has served as a director, together with the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by him, directly or indirectly, and the percentage of outstanding shares that ownership represents, all as of the close of business October 31, 1998 (according to information received by the Company), are set forth below. Similar information is also provided for those directors whose terms expire in future years. SHARES OF PERCENT OF NAMES OF PRINCIPAL SERVICE AS COMMON OUTSTANDING NOMINEES OCCUPATION(1) DIRECTOR AGE STOCK(2) SHARES -------- ------------- ---------- --- --------- ----------- Class I (Term Expires 2002) Patrick J. Bagley Vice President -- Finance and 1988 to date 51 12,565 .1% Treasurer; Vice President -- Finance, Treasurer and Director, Rollins Truck Leasing Corp. Gerard J. Trippitelli President and Chief Executive 1988 to date 55 95,239 1.1% Officer(3) SHARES OF PERCENT OF NAMES OF DIRECTORS WHOSE PRINCIPAL SERVICE AS COMMON OUTSTANDING TERMS HAVE NOT EXPIRED OCCUPATION(1) DIRECTOR AGE STOCK(2) SHARES - -------------------------- ------------------------------ ------------ -- --------- ---- Class II (Term Expires 2000) John W. Rollins, Jr. Chairman of the Board; 1988 to date 56 181,325(4) 2.1% President, Chief Operating Officer and Director, Rollins Truck Leasing Corp.(3) William B. Philipbar, Jr. Retired; Former President and 1993 to date 73 1,606 -- Chief Executive Officer, Rollins Environmental Services, Inc. Class III (Term Expires 2001) John W. Rollins Chairman of the Board and 1988 to date 82 1,003,684(5) 11.4% Chief Executive Officer, Rollins Truck Leasing Corp.; Chairman of the Board, Dover Downs Entertainment, Inc.(3) Henry B. Tippie Chairman of Executive 1988 to date 71 200,000(6) 2.3% Committee; Chairman of the Executive Committee and Vice Chairman of the Board, Rollins Truck Leasing Corp.; Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Tippie Services, Inc.; Vice Chairman of the Board, Dover Downs Entertainment, Inc. - ------------------ (1) Except as noted, the nominees and other directors have held the positions of responsibility set out in the above column (but not necessarily their present titles) for more than five years. In addition to the directorships listed in the above column, the following individuals also serve on the board of 2 directors of the following companies: John W. Rollins, Rollins, Inc., Safety-Kleen Corp., RPC, Inc., and FPA Corp.; John W. Rollins, Jr., Safety-Kleen Corp. and Dover Downs Entertainment, Inc.; Henry B. Tippie, Rollins, Inc., Safety-Kleen Corp. and RPC, Inc.; William B. Philipbar, Jr., Rollins Truck Leasing Corp. and Waste Systems International, Inc.; and Patrick J. Bagley, Dover Downs Entertainment, Inc. Rollins Truck Leasing Corp. is engaged in the business of truck leasing and logistics. Dover Downs Entertainment, Inc. operates facilities offering gaming, motorsports, horse racing and other forms of entertainment. Rollins, Inc. is a consumer services company engaged in residential and commercial termite and pest control. Safety-Kleen Corp. is engaged in the business of industrial waste disposal. RPC, Inc. is a diversified company engaged in oil and gas field services and boat manufacturing. Tippie Services, Inc. provides management services. Waste Systems International, Inc. is engaged in the business of solid waste management. (2) All shares are owned directly and of record. The above numbers exclude the following shares of Common Stock subject to options granted under the Company's 1988 and 1995 Stock Option Plans which the listed beneficial owner has the right to acquire beneficial ownership as specified in Rule 13d of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934: John W. Rollins, Jr., 51,000 shares; Gerard J. Trippitelli, 24,999 shares; and Patrick J. Bagley, 14,000 shares. (3) John W. Rollins is the father of John W. Rollins, Jr., Mr. Trippitelli is married to a first cousin of Eugene C. Bonacci, a Named Executive of the Company. (4) Does not include 53,998* shares held as Co-Trustee and 3,000* shares held by his wife. (5) Does not include 24,268* shares held by his wife and 15,687* shares held by his wife as Custodian for his minor children. (6) Does not include 263,821* shares held as Co-Trustee; 5,500* shares held as Trustee; 5,500* shares owned by his wife; and 27,000* shares owned by a partnership over which Mr. Tippie has sole voting power. - ------------------ *The Messrs. Rollins and Tippie disclaim any beneficial interest in these holdings. CAPITAL STOCK The outstanding capital stock of the Company on December 18, 1998 consisted of 8,814,434 shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share. Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote (non-cumulative) for each share of such stock registered in their respective names at the close of business on December 18, 1998, the record date for determining shares entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. A majority of the outstanding shares 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. In accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the election of the nominees named herein as Directors will require the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote in the election provided that a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting. In the case of a plurality vote requirement (as in the election of directors), where no particular percentage vote is required, the outcome is solely a matter of comparing the number of votes cast in favor of a proposal to the number of votes cast against the proposal, and hence only votes for or against the proposal (and not abstentions or broker non-votes) are relevant to the outcome. 3 As of October 31, 1998, five persons were known to the Company to own beneficially more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company. The name and address of each such person together with the number of shares so owned and the percentage of outstanding shares that ownership represents and information as to Common Stock ownership of the Named Executives identified in the Summary Compensation Table and the officers and directors of the Company as a group (according to information received by the Company) are set forth below: NUMBER OF SHARES TITLE OF AND NATURE OF PERCENT OF CLASS NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF BENEFICIAL OWNERS BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP(1) CLASS - -------- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------- ---------- Common Eugene C. Bonacci 43,109 .5% One Rollins Plaza Wilmington, DE 19803 Common John W. Rollins 1,003,684 11.4% One Rollins Plaza Wilmington, DE 19803 Common Gerard J. Trippitelli 95,239 1.1% One Rollins Plaza Wilmington, DE 19803 Common Alpine Capital, L.P., et al 1,859,350(2) 21.1% 201 Main Street, Suite 3100 Fort Worth, TX 76102 Common Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. 624,067(3) 7.1% 1299 Ocean Avenue, Suite 1100 Santa Monica, CA 90401 Common Rollins Properties, Inc. 600,000 6.8% One Rollins Plaza Wilmington, DE 19803 Common The TCW Group, Inc. 462,900 5.3% 865 South Figueroa Street Los Angeles, CA 90017 Common All Directors and 1,537,528 17.5% Officers as a Group (8 persons) - ------------------ (1) As to officers and directors, owned directly and of record. The above numbers exclude the following shares of Common Stock subject to options granted under the Company's 1988 and 1995 Stock Option Plans which the listed beneficial owner has the right to acquire beneficial ownership as specified in Rule 13d of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934: Gerard J. Trippitelli, 24,999; Eugene C. Bonacci, 19,600; and all directors and officers as a group, 119,259 shares. (2) Includes 1,739,194 shares held by Alpine Capital, L.P., a Texas limited partnership ("Alpine") and 120,156 shares held by The Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Foundation, a Texas non-profit corporation ("Foundation"). The two general partners of Alpine are Robert W. Bruce III and 4 Algenpar, Inc. Algenpar, Inc. is a Texas corporation controlled by J. Taylor Crandall. Mr. Bruce, through The Robert Bruce Management Co., Inc., shares investment discretion over the shares held by the Foundation with Mr. Crandall, Anne T. Bass and Robert M. Bass, who serve as directors of the Foundation. Holdings for Alpine and the Foundation are as of December 31, 1998. (3) Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. ("Dimensional"), a registered investment advisor, is deemed to have beneficial ownership of 624,067 shares of Matlack Systems, Inc. stock as of September 30, 1998, all of which shares are held in portfolios of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc., a registered open-end investment company, or in series of The DFA Investment Trust Company, a Delaware business trust, or the DFA Group Trust and the DFA Participating Group Trust, investment vehicles for qualified employee benefit plans, all of which Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. serves as investment manager. Dimensional disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares. Sole Voting Power = 446,075 shares* Shared Voting Power = 0 Sole Dispositive Power = 624,067 Shared Dispositive Power = 0 *Persons who are officers of Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. also serve as officers of DFA Investment Dimensions Group, Inc., (the "Fund") and The DFA Investment Trust Company (the "Trust"), each an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. In their capacity as officers of the Fund and the Trust, these persons vote 75,850 additional shares which are owned by the Fund and 102,142 shares which are owned by the Trust (both included in Sole Dispositive Power above). BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND BOARD COMMITTEES The Board of Directors held four regularly scheduled meetings during fiscal year 1998. All members of the Board attended at least seventy-five percent of the meetings held. Audit Committee. The Audit Committee consists of William B. Philipbar, Jr., Chairman, and Henry B. Tippie. The Audit Committee held two meetings during the last fiscal year. The Committee's functions include consulting with the Company's independent public accountants concerning the scope and results of the audit, reviewing the evaluation of internal accounting controls and inquiring into special accounting-related matters. Executive Committee. The Executive Committee consists of Henry B. Tippie, Chairman, John W. Rollins and John W. Rollins, Jr. The Executive Committee held three meetings during the last fiscal year. The Executive Committee has the power to exercise all of the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Company in accordance with the provisions of the by-laws of the Company. The Executive Committee performs all of the functions of a compensation committee of the Board of Directors. Stock Option Committee. The Stock Option Committee consists of Henry B. Tippie, Chairman, and John W. Rollins. Neither participates in any Company stock option plan. The Stock Option Committee held one meeting during the last fiscal year. The Stock Option Committee administers the Company's outstanding Stock Option Plans including the granting of options to various employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company does not have a nominating committee of the Board of Directors. 5 DIRECTOR'S COMPENSATION Directors who are not full-time employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries are paid an attendance fee of $1,000 for each Board of Directors or committee meeting attended. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Company's previous filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that might incorporate future filings, including this Proxy Statement, in whole or in part, the following report and the Performance Graph on page 8 shall not be incorporated by reference into any such filings. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE AND STOCK OPTION COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION During fiscal year 1998, the members of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors held primary responsibility for determining executive compensation levels. The Company is engaged in a highly competitive industry. As a consequence, the Company views its ability to attract and retain qualified executives as the cornerstone of its future success. In order to accomplish this objective, the Company has endeavored to structure its executive compensation in a fashion that takes into account the Company's operating performance and the individual performance of the executive. Of necessity, this analysis is subjective in nature and not based upon a structured formula. The factors referred to above are not weighted in an exact fashion. Pursuant to the above compensation philosophy, the total annual compensation of executive officers of the Company is made up of one or more of three elements. The three elements are salary, an annual incentive compensation package and, in some years, grants of stock options. The salary of each executive officer is determined by the Executive Committee. As previously stated, in making its determinations the Executive Committee gives consideration to the Company's operating performance for the prior fiscal year and the individual executive's performance. The annual incentive compensation package for executive officers is developed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company prior to the end of each fiscal year. It is based upon a performance formula for the ensuing fiscal year. That performance formula and incentive package is then reviewed by the Executive Committee and is either accepted, amended or modified. None of the members of the Executive Committee participate in the incentive program, nor does any member of the Board of Directors, except for the CEO, who is also a director. Awards under the Company's Stock Option Plans are purely discretionary, are not based upon any specific formula, and may or may not be granted in any given fiscal year. When considering the grant of stock options, the Stock Option Committee gives consideration to the overall performance of the Company and the performance of individual employees. CEO COMPENSATION The CEO's compensation is determined by the Executive Committee and the Stock Option Committee. As is the case with respect to the Named Executives, the CEO's compensation is based upon the Company's operating performance and his individual performance. The CEO's compensation consists of the same three elements identified above with respect to Named Executives: salary; an annual incentive; and, in some years, grants of stock options. The determination of salary and the award of stock options, if any, are subjective and not based upon any specific formula or guidelines. 6 The determination of an annual incentive is based on the amount by which the Company's pre-tax earnings exceed a target established by the Executive Committee prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. The target is revised annually. Executive Committee Henry B. Tippie, Chairman John W. Rollins John W. Rollins, Jr. Stock Option Committee Henry B. Tippie, Chairman John W. Rollins COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 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 ("SEC"). Officers, directors and greater than ten percent shareholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based on its review of the copies of such forms received by it, the Company believes that during its fiscal year ended 1998 all filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were complied with, except as follows: Gerard J. Trippitelli inadvertently filed a late Form 5 with respect to options he acquired through the Company's Stock Option Plan. 7 COMMON STOCK PERFORMANCE The following graph reflects a comparison of the cumulative total shareholder return on the Company's common stock with the S&P Composite 500 Index and the S&P Truckers Index, respectively, for the five year period commencing October 1, 1993 through September 30, 1998. The graph assumes that the value of the investment in the Company's common stock and each index was 100 at September 30, 1993 and all dividends were reinvested. The comparisons in this table are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission and, therefore, are not intended to forecast or be necessarily indicative of any future return on the Company's common stock. [In the Printed Version, a Line Graph Depicts the Following Information] YEARS ----------------------------------------------------------- 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Matlack Systems, Inc................... 100 109 98 74 80 65 S&P Truckers Index..................... 100 102 94 73 121 86 S&P Composite 500 Index................ 100 104 135 162 227 248 Assumes $100 invested on October 1, 1993 8 COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION The following directors serve on the Company's Executive Committee: John W. Rollins, John W. Rollins, Jr. and Henry B. Tippie. Each is an employee of the Company but none participates in the deliberations of the Executive Committee with respect to his own compensation. John W. Rollins, John W. Rollins, Jr. and Henry B. Tippie are members of the Executive Committee of Rollins Truck Leasing Corp. The Executive Committee of this company performs the functions of a compensation committee. John W. Rollins and Henry B. Tippie serve on the Compensation Committee of Dover Downs Entertainment, Inc. Patrick J. Bagley serves as a director of Dover Downs Entertainment, Inc. and Rollins Truck Leasing Corp. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION Shown below is information concerning the annual compensation for services in all capacities to the Company for the fiscal years ended September 30, 1996, 1997 and 1998, of those persons who were, at September 30, 1998, (i) the Chief Executive Officer and (ii) the other most highly compensated executive officers of the Company whose total annual salary exceeded $100,000 (the "Named Executives"): SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE LONG TERM COMPENSATION ------------------------------- AWARDS PAYOUTS ANNUAL COMPENSATION --------------------- ------- -------------------------------- RESTRICTED STOCK OTHER ANNUAL STOCK OPTIONS/ LTIP ALL OTHER NAME AND SALARY BONUS COMP. (2) AWARDS(3) SARS PAYOUTS COMPENSATION PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR (1) ($) ($) $ $ # $ $ ------------------ -------- ------ ----- ------------ ---------- -------- ------- ------------ Gerard J. Trippitelli 1998 300,000 -0- -- -0- 9,000 -0- -0- President and CEO 1997 291,250 112,818 -- -0- 36,000 -0- -0- 1996 261,250 -0- -- -0- 12,000 -0- -0- Eugene C. Bonacci 1998 200,008 -0- -- -0- 9,000 -0- -0- Senior Vice 1997 193,275 40,289 -- -0- 26,850 -0- -0- President and COO 1996 173,655 -0- -- -0- 9,000 -0- -0- - ------------------ (1) Fiscal years ending September 30. (2) The only type of Other Annual Compensation for each of the named officers was in the form of perquisites and was less than the level required for reporting. (3) No awards have ever been made. 9 OPTION AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR The following table sets forth stock options granted in the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998 to each of the Company's Named Executives. Employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible for stock option grants based on individual performance. The Company did not issue any stock appreciation rights. The table also sets forth the hypothetical gains that would exist for the options at the end of their terms, assuming compound rates of stock appreciation of 0%, 5% and 10%. The actual future value of the options will depend on the market value of the Company's Common Stock. All option exercise prices are based on the market price on the grant date. INDIVIDUAL GRANTS --------------------------------------------------- POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE % OF TOTAL AT ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK OPTIONS PRICE APPRECIATION FOR OPTIONS GRANTED TO EXERCISE OPTION TERM (2) GRANTED EMPLOYEES PRICE EXPIRATION ---------------------------------- NAME (#) IN FISCAL YEAR ($/SH) DATE 0% 5% 10% ---- ---------- -------------- -------- ---------- ---- -- --- Gerard J. Trippitelli 9,000 5.1% $8.875 4/30/06 -0- $ 38,137 $ 91,344 Eugene C. Bonacci 9,000 5.1% $8.875 4/30/06 -0- $ 38,137 $ 91,344 All employees as a group 177,000 100.0% $8.875 4/30/06 -0- $ 750,022 $ 1,796,435 Total potential stock price appreciation from May 1, 1998 to April 30, 2006 for all stockholders at assumed rates of stock price appreciation (3) -0- $37,335,144 $89,424,259 - ------------------ (1) Options with eight-year terms granted on May 1, 1998 at an exercise price of $8.875. (2) These amounts, based on assumed appreciation rates of 0% and the 5% and 10% rates prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission rules, are not intended to forecast possible future appreciation, if any, of the Company's stock price. These numbers do not take into account certain provisions of options providing for termination of the option following termination of employment, nontransferability or phased-in vesting. Future compensation resulting from option grants is based solely on the performance of the Company's stock price. (3) Based on a price of $8.875 on May 1, 1998 and a total of 8,810,834 shares of Common Stock outstanding on October 31, 1998. AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUE The following table summarizes option exercises during fiscal 1998 by the Company's Named Executives, and the value of the options held by such persons as of September 30, 1998. The Company has not granted and does not have any Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding. VALUE OF NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT OPTIONS AT SHARES ACQUIRED VALUE FY-END (#) FY-END ($) NAME ON EXERCISE (#) REALIZED ($)(1) EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE(2) ---- --------------- --------------- ------------------------- ---------------------------- Gerard J. Trippitelli -0- -0- 24,999/34,500 $17,203/$16,250 Eugene C. Bonacci 2,250 $10,406 20,800/28,250 $20,250/$ 5,000 - ------------------ (1) Fair market value of underlying security at exercise date less the exercise price. (2) The value of the Company's common stock on September 29, 1998 was $7.00 per share. 10 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN AWARDS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR There were no Long-Term Incentive Plan awards to the Named Executives during fiscal year 1998. DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS PENSION PLANS The Company's Pension Plan is a non-contributory qualified employee defined benefit plan. All full-time employees of the Company (except certain employees covered by collective bargaining agreements) are eligible to participate in the Pension Plan. Retirement benefits are equal to the sum of 1.35% of earnings up to covered compensation, as that term is defined in the Plan, and 1.7% of earnings above covered compensation. Covered compensation includes regular salaries or wages, commissions, bonuses, overtime earnings and short-term disability income protection benefits. Retirement benefits are not subject to any reduction for Social Security benefits or other offset amounts. An employee's benefits may be paid in certain alternative forms having actuarially equivalent values. Retirement benefits are fully vested at the completion of five years of credited service or, if earlier, upon reaching age 55. The maximum annual benefit under a qualified pension plan is currently $130,000 beginning at the Social Security retirement age (currently age 65). The Company maintains a non-qualified, defined benefit plan, called the Excess Benefit Plan, which covers those participants of the Pension Plan whose benefits are limited by the Internal Revenue Code. A participant in the Excess Benefit Plan is entitled to a benefit equaling the difference between the amount of the benefit payable without limitation and the amount of the benefit payable under the Pension Plan. Annual pension benefit projections for the Named Executives assume: (a) that the participant remains in the service of the Company until age 65; (b) that the participant's earnings continue at the same rate as paid in the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998 during the remainder of his service until age 65; and (c) that the Plans continue without substantial modification. The estimated annual benefit at retirement for each of the Named Executives is: Gerard J. Trippitelli, $127,048; and Eugene C. Bonacci, $64,339. 401(K) RETIREMENT PLAN The Company has a deferred compensation plan pursuant to section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code for all of its full time employees who have completed ninety (90) days of service. Covered employees may contribute up to 9% of their compensation for each calendar year. In addition, the Company contributes up to an additional 5% of the first 3% of compensation contributed by any covered employee to the plan. An employee's maximum annual contribution to the plan is $10,000. All contributions are funded currently. AUDITORS The Board of Directors has not selected or recommended the name of an independent public accounting firm for approval or ratification by the shareholders. The Board of Directors believes that it will be in the best interests of the shareholders if it is free to make such determination based upon all factors that are then relevant. 11 KPMG LLP served as the Company's auditors for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998. A representative of KPMG LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement should such representative so desire. Such representative also will be available to answer questions raised orally. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, KPMG LLP's services rendered to the Company consisted of auditing the Company's financial statements. In this connection, KPMG LLP performed such tests of the Company's accounting records and other auditing procedures as were required by generally accepted auditing standards. SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS Appropriate proposals of eligible shareholders (an eligible shareholder must be a record or beneficial owner of at least 1% or $1,000 in market value of securities entitled to be voted at the meeting and have held such securities for at least one year) intended to be presented at the Company's next Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be received by the Company no later than August 21, 1999 for inclusion in the Proxy Statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting. ANNUAL REPORT TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FORM 10-K The Company is required to file an Annual Report, called Form 10-K, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, a copy of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998 accompanies this Proxy Statement. Requests for additional copies should be directed to Patrick J. Bagley, Vice President -- Finance and Treasurer, Matlack Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 8790, Wilmington, DE 19899. The Company will charge reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for the reproduction of Exhibits to Form 10-K should a shareholder request copies of such Exhibits. MISCELLANEOUS The Board of Directors knows of no business other than the matters set forth herein which will be presented at the meeting. Inasmuch as matters not known at this time may come before the meeting, the enclosed proxy confers discretionary authority with respect to such matters as may properly come before the meeting and it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy to vote in accordance with their judgment on such matters. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MICHAEL B. KINNARD, Secretary Wilmington, Delaware January 8, 1999 12 MATLACK SYSTEMS, INC. PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS Thursday, January 28, 1999, 9:00 A.M., E.S.T. The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints John W. Rollins, Jr. and Michael B. Kinnard, and each of them jointly and severally, proxies with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of Common Stock which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held on January 28, 1999 at 9:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, Rollins Building, First Floor Auditorium, Wilmington, Delaware, or at any adjournment thereof, on all matters set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement dated January 8, 1999 as follows: (Mark only one box) 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Nominees: Patrick J. Bagley and Gerard J. Trippitelli / / VOTE FOR all nominees listed above; except vote withheld from the following nominee (if any): ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- / / VOTE WITHHELD FROM all nominees. 2. At their discretion, upon such matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. (OVER) (CONTINUED FROM OTHER SIDE) The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the aforesaid Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, each dated January 8, 1999, grants authority to any of said proxies, or their substitutes, to act in the absence of others, with all the powers which the undersigned would possess if personally present at such meeting, and hereby ratifies and confirms all that said proxies, or their substitutes, may lawfully do in the undersigned's name, place and stead. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MATLACK SYSTEMS, INC. AND THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR INSTRUCTIONS. IF NO CHOICE IS SPECIFIED BY YOU, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSAL 1. Please sign below, date and return promptly. ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- Signature(s) of Shareholder(s) DATED: January __, 1999 Signature(s) should conform to name(s) and title(s) stenciled hereon. Executors, administrators, trustees, guardians and attorneys should add their title(s) on signing. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF THIS PROXY IS RETURNED IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE AND MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.