SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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WEGENER CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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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.
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4) Date Filed:
WEGENER CORPORATION
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1999
To the Stockholders:
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of WEGENER CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation, will be held at its home office at 11350 Technology Circle, Duluth,
Georgia 30097, on Thursday, January 28, 1999 at 7:00 p.m., Eastern Standard
Time, for the following purposes:
(a) To elect two Class I directors to hold office until the 2002 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders or until their successors shall have been
elected and qualified;
(b) To elect one Class III director to hold office until the 2001 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders or until his successor shall have been elected
and qualified;
(c) To approve an amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation
to authorize a class of preferred stock;
(d) To consider ratification of the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as
auditors for fiscal year 1999; and
(e) To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed November 30, 1998 as the record date for
the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on that date
will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. The stock transfer
records of Wegener Corporation will not be closed.
A proxy statement and a proxy solicited by the Board of Directors, together
with a copy of the 1998 Annual Report to Stockholders are enclosed herewith.
Stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting. Whether or not
you expect to attend the meeting in person, you are requested to sign and date
the enclosed proxy and return it as promptly as possible in the accompanying
envelope. If you attend the meeting, you may, if you wish, withdraw your proxy
and vote in person.
By Order of the Board of Directors
J. Elaine Miller
Secretary
Duluth, Georgia
December 4, 1998
PLEASE PROMPTLY COMPLETE AND RETURN THE
ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED.
WEGENER CORPORATION
11350 TECHNOLOGY CIRCLE
DULUTH, GEORGIA 30097
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
OF WEGENER CORPORATION
TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 28, 1999
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Wegener Corporation
(the "Company") to be held on Thursday, January 28, 1999. This Proxy Statement
is first being mailed to stockholders on or about December 4, 1998.
The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company
and will be voted at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment of the meeting. The
proxy may be revoked at any time before it is exercised by delivering a written
revocation to the Secretary of the Company or by voting at the meeting in person
or by delivering to the Secretary of the Company a new proxy properly executed
and bearing a later date. The items enumerated herein constitute the only
business which the Board of Directors intends to present or knows will be
presented at the meeting. However, the proxy confers discretionary authority
upon the persons named therein, or their substitutes, with respect to any other
business which may properly come before the meeting. Abstentions and broker
non-votes will not be counted as votes either in favor of or against the matter
with respect to which the abstention or broker non-vote relates; however, with
respect to any matter other than the election of directors, an abstention or
broker non-vote would have the effect of a vote against the proposal in
question.
The record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at
the Annual Meeting has been set at November 30, 1998. As of November 30, 1998,
the Company had outstanding 11,979,959 shares of common stock, $.01 par value.
Each share is entitled to one vote. A majority of the shares of common stock
outstanding must be present, in person or by proxy, to constitute a quorum.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information as of November 30, 1998
with respect to ownership of the outstanding common stock of the Company by (i)
all persons known to the Company to own beneficially more than five percent (5%)
of the outstanding common stock of the Company, including their address, (ii)
each director and executive officer of the Company and (iii) all directors and
executive officers of the Company as a group:
AMOUNT
AND
NATURE OF PERCENT
DIRECTOR BENEFICIAL OF
NAME SINCE OWNERSHIP(1) CLASS
- -------------------------- --------- -------------- ------
Robert A. Placek 1987 1,920,726(2) 15.7%
James H. Morgan, Jr. 1987 86,000(3) *
C. Troy Woodbury, Jr. 1989 65,438(4) *
Joe K. Parks 1992 16,000(5) *
Thomas G. Elliot 1998 10,000(6) *
Keith N. Smith N/A 18,750(7) *
James T. Traicoff N/A 25,563(8) *
All executive officers and directors
as a group (7 persons) 2,142,477(9) 17.5%
- ---------------------
*Less than 1%
(1) Includes stock options exercisable within 60 days of the record date.
(2) Includes 10,656 shares held in a 401(k) plan, stock options to purchase
153,000 shares, and 70,000 shares over which Mr. Placek has sole voting
power but as to which Mr. Placek disclaims any other beneficial interest.
Mr. Placek's business address is 11350 Technology Circle, Duluth, Georgia
30097.
(3) Includes stock options to purchase 18,000 shares.
(4) Includes 3,938 shares held in a 401(k) plan and 61,500 shares subject to
stock options currently exercisable or exercisable in the next 60 days.
(5) Includes stock options to purchase 12,000 shares.
(6) Includes stock options to purchase 10,000 shares.
(7) Represents shares subject to stock options currently exercisable or
exercisable in the next 60 days.
(8) Includes 9,563 shares held in a 401(k) plan and 13,250 shares subject to
stock options currently exercisable or exercisable in the next 60 days.
(9) Includes 24,157 shares held in a 401(k) plan and 286,500 shares subject to
stock options currently exercisable or exercisable in the next 60 days.
-2-
AGENDA ITEM ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's Board of Directors presently consists of five directors,
elected to staggered three-year terms.
The terms of C. Troy Woodbury, Jr. and Joe K. Parks will expire at the
upcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Board of Directors has nominated
Messrs. Woodbury and Parks for re-election as Class I directors of the Company
to serve for a term of three years, expiring in January 2002. In addition, on
September 16, 1998, the Board of Directors voted to increase the size of the
Board by one position and elected Thomas G. Elliot as a Class III director to
serve with the other Class III director, James H. Morgan, Jr. The Board of
Directors has nominated Mr. Elliot for re-election at the 1999 Annual Meeting to
serve as a Class III director for the remainder of the term of such Class, which
expires in January 2001. Unless otherwise directed, the proxies will be voted at
the meeting for the election of the foregoing nominees or, in the event of any
unforeseen contingency, for different persons as substitutes. THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF THE FOREGOING NOMINEES.
C. TROY WOODBURY, JR., age 51, Class I director, has served as Treasurer
and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since June 1988, and as a director of
the Company since December 1989. He also has served as Treasurer of Wegener
Communications, Inc. ("WCI"), a subsidiary of the Company, since September 1992,
as Executive Vice President of WCI from July 1995 to June 1998 and as Chief
Operating Officer of WCI from September 1992 to June 1998. Prior to joining the
Company in 1988, Mr. Woodbury served as Group Controller for Scientific-Atlanta,
Inc. from March 1975 to June 1988.
JOE K. PARKS, age 63, retired, Class I director, served as Laboratory
Director, Threat Systems Development Laboratory of the Georgia Tech Research
Institute, a department of the Georgia Institute of Technology, from 1980 to
July 1996. The principal business of the Threat Systems Development Laboratory
is to design and manufacture radar systems which simulate enemy threats. Mr.
Parks has served as a director of the Company since May 1992.
THOMAS G. ELLIOT, age 56, has served as Senior Vice President, Technical
Projects, at CableLabs (Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.), a research and
development consortium of cable television system operators representing most of
the cable subscribers in North America, since July 1997. From 1993 to July 1997,
Mr. Elliot served as a Senior Vice President of Telecommunications, Inc.
ROBERT A. PLACEK, age 60, Class II director, has served as a director of
the Company since August 1987, as Chairman of the Board of Directors since May
1994 and as President and Chief Executive Officer since August 1987. Mr. Placek
served as President of WCI from 1979 to June 1998, and has served as Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer of WCI since June 1998 and as a director
of WCI since 1979. His term of office expires in 2000.
JAMES H. MORGAN, JR., age 58, Class III director, was an attorney and
shareholder of O'Callaghan, Saunders & Stumm, P.A., Atlanta, Georgia, from 1985
to October 1990, at which time he joined the firm of Smith, Gambrell & Russell,
LLP, Atlanta, Georgia, as a partner. Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP currently
acts as general counsel to the Company and receives fees for services rendered.
Mr. Morgan has served as a director of the Company since 1987. His term of
office expires in 2001.
-3-
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors has standing Audit, Executive and Compensation, and
Incentive Plan Committees. The Audit Committee is composed of Messrs. Placek,
Parks and Morgan and held one meeting during the fiscal year ended August 28,
1998. The function of the Audit Committee is to consult with the auditors
regarding the plan of audit, the results of the audit and audit controls, and
the adequacy of internal accounting controls. The Audit Committee considers the
scope, approach, effectiveness and recommendations of the audit performed by the
independent accountants; determines and prescribes limits upon the types of
non-audit professional services that may be provided by the independent
accountants without adverse effect on the independence of such accountants;
recommends the appointment of independent accountants; and considers significant
accounting methods adopted or proposed to be adopted.
The Executive and Compensation Committee is composed of Messrs. Placek and
Morgan and held one meeting during the fiscal year ended August 28, 1998. The
function of the Executive and Compensation Committee is to recommend to the full
Board compensation arrangements for the Company's senior management and the
adoption of any benefit plans in which officers and directors are eligible to
participate.
The Incentive Plan Committee is composed of Messrs. Morgan and Parks and
acted four times by unanimous written consent during the fiscal year ended
August 28, 1998. The Incentive Plan Committee is responsible for recommending
the key employees who will receive awards under the 1988 Incentive Plan, the
1989 Directors' Incentive Plan and the 1998 Incentive Plan, the award amount or
number of shares of stock to be granted, and the terms and conditions of each
award.
The Board of Directors does not have a standing nominating committee.
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of the Company held one meeting and acted three
times by unanimous written consent during the fiscal year ended August 28, 1998.
During fiscal 1998, each director attended all meetings of the Board of
Directors and Committee(s) on which he served.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
directors, certain officers and persons who own more than 10% of the outstanding
common stock of the Company to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
reports of changes in ownership of the common stock of the Company held by such
persons. Officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are also required
to furnish the Company with copies of all forms they file under this regulation.
To the Company's knowledge, based solely on a review of copies of such reports
furnished to the Company and representations that no other reports were
required, during fiscal 1998, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable
to its officers and directors were complied with, except as follows: Keith N.
Smith, President of WCI, filed one report on Form 3 late.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table provides certain summary information concerning
compensation paid or accrued by the Company to or on behalf of the Company's
Chief Executive Officer and each other executive officer of the Company or WCI
whose total annual salary and bonus exceeded $100,000 (the
-4-
"Named Executive Officers") for the fiscal years ended August 28, 1998, August
29, 1997 and August 30, 1996.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Long Term
Compensation
-----------------------------
Annual Compensation Awards
----------------------------------------- -----------------------------
Name Other Restricted All
and Annual Stock Options/ Other
Principal Fiscal Salary Bonus Compensation Award(s) SARs Compensation
Position Year ($) ($) ($) ($) (#) ($)(a)
- --------------------------------- --------- ----------- ------------- -------------- ------------- -------------- --------------
Robert A. Placek 1998 178,209 10,331 -- -0- -0- 20,541
Chairman of the Board, 1997 174,062 -0- -- -0- 153,000(b) 19,420
President and Chief 1996 167,623 -0- -- -0- -0- 19,264
Executive Officer; Director
C. Troy Woodbury, Jr. 1998 130,786 7,582 -- -0- 40,000 4,000
Treasurer and Chief 1997 127,796 -0- 62,875(c) -0- 40,000(b) 2,400
Financial Officer; 1996 122,533 -0- 21,198(c) -0- -0- 1,154
Director
Keith N. Smith(d) 1998 108,333 25,000 -- -0- 45,000 -0-
President of WCI 1997 54,167 12,500 -- -0- 30,000 -0-
1996 -- -- -- -- -- --
- -----------------------
(a) Represents amounts contributed by the Company pursuant to the Company's
401(k) plan and life insurance premiums paid by the Company, as follows:
Insurance
Name Fiscal Year Premiums 401(k) Contributions
---- ----------- -------- --------------------
Robert A. Placek 1998 $17,055 $3,486
1997 17,055 2,365
1996 17,055 2,209
C. Troy Woodbury, Jr. 1998 -0- 4,000
1997 -0- 2,400
1996 -0- 1,154
Keith N. Smith 1998 -0- -0-
1997 -0- -0-
1996 -- --
-5-
(b) Represents options which were regranted in fiscal 1997 in consideration of
the surrender and cancellation of previously granted options to purchase
the same number of shares.
(c) Represents tax reimbursements ($57,925 in fiscal 1997 and $15,216 in fiscal
1996) due to the exercise of options under the 1989 Directors' Incentive
Plan. The amount shown for fiscal 1997 relates to the exercise of stock
options in fiscal 1996. The remaining balances of $4,950 in fiscal 1997 and
$5,982 in fiscal 1996 represent automobile expenses paid by the Company.
(d) Mr. Smith joined the Company during fiscal 1997.
STOCK OPTION PLAN
The following table provides certain information regarding options which
were granted to the Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended August
28, 1998 pursuant to the Company's Incentive Plans:
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
Potential Realizable
Value at Assumed
Annual Rates of Stock
Price Appreciation
Individual Grants for Option Term(1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of % Total
Securities Options
Underlying Granted to Exercise
Options Employees in Price Expiration
Name Granted Fiscal Year Per Share Date 5% 10%
- ---- --------- -------------- --------- ----------- --------- ---------
Robert A. Placek 0 0% -- -- $ -- $ --
C. Troy Woodbury, Jr. 20,000(2) 10.3% $1.4375 12/30/07 18,081 45,820
20,000(2) 10.3% $2.00 1/28/08 25,156 63,750
Keith N. Smith 45,000(2) 23.2% $1.4375 12/29/02 40,682 103,095
- --------------------
(1) The dollar amounts under these columns represent the potential realizable
value of each option assuming that the market price of the Common Stock
appreciates in value from the date of grant at the 5% and 10% annual rates
prescribed by regulation and therefore are not intended to forecast
possible future appreciation, if any, of the price of the Common Stock.
(2) These options vest in increments of 25% per year commencing on the first
anniversary of the date of grant.
The following table provides certain information concerning each exercise
of stock options under the Company's Incentive Plans during the fiscal year
ended August 28, 1998, by the Named Executive Officers and the fiscal year end
value of unexercised options held by such persons:
-6-
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR END OPTION VALUES
Number of
Securities Value of
Underlying Unexercised
Unexercised In-the-Money
Options at Fiscal Options at Fiscal
Shares Year End Year End
Acquired Value Exercisable/ Exercisable/
Name on Exercise Realized Unexercisable Unexercisable(1)
- ---- ----------- -------- ------------- ----------------
Robert A. Placek 0 $0 153,000/0 $28,688/$0
C. Troy Woodbury, Jr. 0 0 46,500/50,000 $20,063/$5,625
Keith N. Smith 0 0 7,500/67,500 $1,406/$12,656
- --------------
(1) The market value of the Company's common stock on August 28, 1998 was
$1.625 per share. The actual value, if any, an executive may realize will
depend upon the amount by which the market price of the Company's common
stock exceeds the exercise price when the options are exercised.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
The compensation currently payable to each non-employee director of the
Company is $300 per meeting attended. However, Mr. Morgan presently does not
receive director's fees. The law firm of which Mr. Morgan is a partner receives
legal fees for services rendered to the Company. Pursuant to the 1989 Directors'
Incentive Plan and the 1998 Incentive Plan, each non-employee director receives
an option to purchase 2,000 shares of common stock on the last day of December
of each year at an exercise price equal to the fair market value on such date.
During fiscal 1998 Messrs. Morgan and Parks each were granted an option to
purchase 2,000 shares at an exercise price of $1.53125.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION IN COMPENSATION
DECISIONS
The law firm of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, of which James H. Morgan,
Jr. is a partner, received legal fees from the Company for services rendered
during fiscal 1998. Mr. Morgan is a director of the Company and served as a
member of the Executive and Compensation Committee during fiscal 1998. The
Executive and Compensation Committee is comprised of Mr. Morgan and Robert A.
Placek, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company. This Committee met one time during fiscal 1998. See "Report of Board of
Directors on Executive Compensation."
The Company believes that the above described transactions are on terms no
less favorable to the Company than could be obtained from non-affiliated
parties.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
See "Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation in
Compensation Decisions" which describes certain business relationships between
the Company and certain of its directors.
-7-
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 of the
Board of Directors on Executive Compensation and the Stockholder Return
Performance Graph shall not be incorporated by reference into any such filings.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Company has an Executive and Compensation Committee comprised of the
Chief Executive Officer and one non-employee director of the Company. However,
this report is being made by the full Board of Directors, which authorized and
approved all components of executive compensation.
From September 1991 to May 1995, there were no increases in base salary to
the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board or the
Chief Financial Officer of the Company. In June 1995, the Chief Executive
Officer and the Chief Financial Officer received a 22% and 32.8% base salary
increase, respectively; in July 1996, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief
Financial Officer received a 4.5% and 5.0% base salary increase, respectively;
and in November 1997, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
each received a 3% cost of living increase. Bonuses were paid to the Named
Executive Officers as well as to all other employees during fiscal 1998. See
"Executive Compensation." The Executive and Compensation Committee and the full
Board of Directors review the performance of the Chief Executive Officer as well
as the other executive officers of the Company, and the full Board of Directors
has historically authorized and approved increases in salary or other cash
compensation awards. The performance of the Chief Executive Officer and the
other executive officers of the Company is reviewed in light of the performance
of the Company and the Company's working capital position and prospects. The
Board of Directors does not assign relative weights to the factors considered by
the Board in setting compensation, but rather considers all factors as a whole.
In determining compensation levels, the Board of Directors has not set specific
performance targets for officers to attain in order to earn any specific
component of compensation.
The Executive and Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors also
consider other companies in the telecommunications industry and review, to the
extent such information is available, the compensation paid to the Chief
Executive Officers and other executive officers of those companies. During
fiscal 1996, the Board of Directors utilized the 1995 salary survey of the
American Electronics Association, comprised of technology companies which are
grouped by size and by geographic region. The surveyed companies do not
necessarily correspond to the Nasdaq Telecommunications Stocks Index utilized by
the Company in preparing its Stockholder Return Performance Graph included in
the Company's Proxy Statement. However, the salary survey does include a number
of technology companies which the Board of Directors believes is an appropriate
source of comparative data. As a result of the review of such salary survey, the
Board of Directors has concluded that the compensation levels of the Company's
Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers are in the lower range of
compensation paid by the surveyed companies. The Board of Directors, in
reviewing the salary survey, considered the competitiveness of the entire
compensation package to its officers and not only certain items of compensation.
At the present time, the Company has the 1988 Incentive Plan, the 1989
Directors' Incentive Plan and the 1998 Incentive Plan for the purpose of
awarding options and other compensation to its directors, executive officers and
other key employees. See "Executive Compensation."
-8-
The Company's future compensation policies will be developed in light of
the Company's profitability and with the goal of rewarding members of management
for their contributions to the Company's success.
Robert A. Placek James H. Morgan, Jr.
C. Troy Woodbury, Jr. Joe K. Parks
Thomas G. Elliot
STOCKHOLDER RETURN PERFORMANCE GRAPH
Set forth below is a line graph comparing the yearly percentage change in
the cumulative total stockholder return on the Company's common stock against
the cumulative total return of the Nasdaq Stock Market (U.S. Companies) and the
Index for the Nasdaq Telecommunications Stocks for the period of five fiscal
years commencing August 27, 1993 and ending August 28, 1998. The graph assumes
that the value of the investment in the Company's common stock and each index
was $100 on August 27, 1993.
CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
----------------------------------------------------------------------
8/27/93 9/2/94 9/1/95 8/30/96 8/29/97 8/28/98
------- ------ ------ ------- ------- -------
WEGENER CORPORATION 100.00 185.71 1,228.57 685.71 207.14 185.71
NASDAQ STOCK MARKET (U.S.) 100.00 104.55 141.56 163.02 227.56 236.41
NASDAQ TELECOMMUNICATIONS
STOCKS 100.00 95.05 103.85 114.72 142.06 208.94
-9-
AGENDA ITEM TWO
PROPOSAL TO AMEND CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
TO AUTHORIZE CLASS OF PREFERRED STOCK
In November 1998, the directors approved an amendment to Article Fourth of
the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to authorize a class of preferred
stock (the "Preferred Stock"). The proposed amendment authorizes the Board of
Directors of the Company, without further stockholder action, to issue from time
to time, up to 1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock. In connection therewith, the
following resolution (or a similar resolution to the following effect) will be
introduced at the Annual Meeting for approval by stockholders:
"RESOLVED: That the Certificate of Incorporation shall be amended by
amending Article Fourth thereof (entitled "FOURTH: AUTHORIZED SHARES") to add a
new Subsection B. to read as follows:
B. Preferred Stock.
----------------
One class shall consist of One Million (1,000,000) shares of preferred
stock having a par value of $.01 per share, designated "Preferred Stock."
The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be empowered to divide any
and all shares of the Preferred Stock into series and to fix and to
determine the relative rights and preferences of the shares of any series
so established. Before any shares of Preferred Stock of any particular
series shall be issued, the Board of Directors shall fix and determine, and
is hereby expressly empowered to fix and determine, in the manner provided
by law, the following provisions of the shares of such series: (i) the
distinctive designation of such shares and the number of shares which shall
constitute such series, which number may be increased (except where
otherwise provided by the Board of Directors in creating such series) or
decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding)
from time to time by like action of the Board of Directors; (ii) the annual
rate of dividends payable on shares of such series, whether dividends shall
be cumulative and conditions upon which and the date when such dividends
shall be accumulated on all shares of such series issued prior to the
record date for the first dividend of such series; (iii) the time or times
when and the price or prices at which shares of such series shall be
redeemable at the option of the holder or of the Corporation and the
sinking fund provisions, if any, for the purchase or redemption of such
shares; (iv) the amount payable on shares of such series in the event of
any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the
Corporation, whether all or a portion is paid before any amount is paid on
the Common Stock; (v) the rights, if any, of the holders of shares of such
series to convert such shares into, or exchange such shares for, shares of
Common Stock or shares of any other series of Preferred Stock and the terms
and conditions of such conversion or exchange; and (vi) whether the shares
of such series have voting rights and the extent of such voting rights, if
any.
The Board of Directors shall have the power to classify unissued shares of
any series of Preferred Stock and the fixing and determination of the
provisions thereof are hereby ratified and approved."
-10-
See Exhibit A to this Proxy Statement for a statement of Article Fourth in
its entirety.
The proposed amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation empowers the
Board of Directors to divide any and all of the shares of the Preferred Stock
into series and to fix and determine the relative rights and preferences of the
shares of any series so established, including: (i) the distinctive designation
of such series and the number of shares which shall constitute such series, (ii)
the annual rate of dividends payable on shares of such series, whether dividends
shall be cumulative and conditions upon which and the date when such dividends
shall be accumulated on all shares of such series issued prior to the record
date for the first dividend of such series; (iii) the time or times when and the
price or prices at which shares of such series shall be redeemable at the option
of the holder or of the Company and the sinking fund provision, if any, for the
purchase or redemption of such shares; (iv) the amount payable on shares of such
series in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs
of the Company, whether all or a portion is paid before any amount is paid on
the common stock; (v) the rights, if any, of the holders of shares of such
series to convert such shares into, or exchange such shares for, shares of
common stock or shares of any other series of Preferred Stock and the terms and
conditions of such conversion or exchange; and (vi) whether the shares of such
series have voting rights and the extent of such voting rights, if any.
The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders approve the proposed
amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation because it considers the
proposal to be in the best long-term and short-term interests of the Company,
its stockholders and its other constituencies. The proposed creation of
Preferred Stock provides the Company with flexibility of action for possible
future financing transactions approved by the Board of Directors, including,
among others, acquisitions, employee benefit plans and other corporate purposes.
The Company does not have any immediate agreements, arrangements,
commitments or understandings with respect to the issuance of any of the shares
of Preferred Stock which would be authorized by the proposal to create a class
of Preferred Stock.
The Board of Directors believes that the availability of Preferred Stock
will be particularly useful since the Board would be able to respond to investor
preferences, developments in types of preferred stock, market conditions, and
the nature of the specific transaction. In addition, it may be advantageous in
some cases to pay certain investors dividends on equity instead of interest on
debt. Preferred stock allows a corporation to offer equity that is potentially
far less dilutive of the relative equity value of the holders of its common
stock than would be the case if additional shares of its common stock were
issued. Preferred stock typically does not enjoy dividend growth corresponding
to growth in a company's earnings. In addition, preferred stock can be subject
to redemption, also limiting dilution. Because future developments in this area
cannot be foreseen, the Company believes that it will be able to benefit
directly from these and other uses of Preferred Stock created in the future.
Opportunities may arise that require prompt action, such as properties or
businesses becoming available for acquisition or favorable market conditions
existing for the sale of a particular type of preferred stock. The Board of
Directors believes that the availability of Preferred Stock eliminates the delay
and expense of seeking stockholder approval at the time of the issuance of such
stock, thereby enabling the Company and its stockholders to benefit from such an
opportunity.
The existence of the Preferred Stock does not, by itself, have any effect
on the rights of holders of the Company's common stock. It should be noted,
however, that the issuance of one or more series of Preferred Stock in the
future could affect the holders of common stock in a number of respects,
including the following: the issuance of Preferred Stock would probably
subordinate the common stock to the Preferred Stock in terms of dividend and
liquidation rights, since Preferred Stock typically entitles its holder to
satisfaction in full of specified dividend and liquidation rights before any
payment of
-11-
dividends or distribution of assets on liquidation is made on the common stock;
if voting or conversion rights are granted to the holders of Preferred Stock,
the voting power of the common stock (including stock held by any persons who
may be seeking to obtain control of the Company) would be diluted; the issuance
of Preferred Stock may result in a dilution of earnings per share of the present
common stock; and certain fundamental matters requiring stockholder approval
(such as mergers, consolidations, sales of assets and future amendments to the
Certificate of Incorporation) may require approval by the separate vote of each
class, including the additional class (or in some cases each series of that
class) before action can be taken by the Company.
Issuance of the Preferred Stock could, under certain circumstances,
discourage or make more difficult an attempt by a person or organization to gain
control of the Company by tender offer or proxy contest, or to consummate a
merger or consolidation with the Company after acquiring control, and to remove
incumbent management, even if such transactions were favorable to the Company's
stockholders. Thus, it could benefit present management by helping them to
retain their positions. For example, shares of Preferred Stock could be issued
and sold which possess voting or conversion rights which would make it more
difficult for a person or organization to gain control of the Company,
especially if the shares were issued in a private placement to a party or
parties sympathetic to management and opposed to any attempt to gain control of
the Company. In connection with any issuance of shares of Preferred Stock, the
Board of Directors considers such factors as whether such issuance would be in
the best long-term and short-term interests of the Company, its stockholders and
its other constituencies. The Board of Directors is presently unaware of any
specific effort to obtain control of the Company or remove incumbent management.
Adoption of the proposed amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation
requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
common stock of the Company. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE
COMPANY'S STOCKHOLDERS APPROVE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION.
-12-
AGENDA ITEM THREE
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
The firm of BDO Seidman, LLP, independent certified public accountants,
audited the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended August
28, 1998. The Board of Directors has selected this same firm to audit the
accounts and records of the Company for the current fiscal year and proposes
that the stockholders ratify this selection at the Annual Meeting. Neither such
firm nor any of its members or associates has or has had during the past year
any financial interest in the Company, direct or indirect, or any relationship
with the Company other than in connection with their duties as auditors and
income tax preparers.
Stockholder ratification of this appointment is not required. Management
has submitted this matter to the stockholders because it believes the
stockholders' views on the matter should be considered, and if the proposal is
not approved, management may reconsider the appointment. Representatives of BDO
Seidman, LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting to respond to
stockholders' questions and will have an opportunity to make any statements they
consider appropriate.
ANNUAL REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS AND REPORT ON FORM 10-K
Additional information concerning the Company, including financial
statements of the Company, is provided in the Company's 1998 Annual Report to
Stockholders that accompanies this proxy statement. The Company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended August 28, 1998, as filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, is available to stockholders who make a written request
therefor to Mr. James T. Traicoff, Controller, at the offices of the Company,
11350 Technology Circle, Duluth, Georgia 30097. Copies of exhibits filed with
that report or referenced therein will be furnished to stockholders of record
upon request and payment of the Company's expenses in furnishing such documents.
STOCKHOLDERS' PROPOSALS FOR 2000 ANNUAL MEETING
Stockholders may submit proposals appropriate for stockholder action at the
Company's Annual Meeting consistent with the regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Proposals by stockholders intended to be presented at the
2000 Annual Meeting must be received by the Company no later than August 19,
1999 in order to be included in the Company's proxy materials for that meeting.
Such proposals should be directed to Wegener Corporation, Attention: Corporate
Secretary, 11350 Technology Circle, Duluth, Georgia 30097. In connection with
the Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2000, if the Company
does not receive notice of a matter or proposal to be considered by November 2,
1999, then the persons appointed by the Board of Directors to act as the proxies
for such Annual Meeting (named in the form of proxy) will be allowed to use
their discretionary voting authority with respect to any such matter or proposal
at the Annual Meeting, if such matter or proposal is raised at that Annual
Meeting. Any such proposals must comply in all respects with the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
-13-
GENERAL
The cost of this proxy solicitation will be paid by the Company.
Solicitations will be made by mail but in some cases may also be made by
telephone or personal call of officers, directors or regular employees of the
Company who will not be specially compensated for such solicitation. The Company
will also pay the cost of supplying necessary additional copies of the
solicitation material and the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for
beneficial owners of shares held of record by brokers, dealers, banks and voting
trustees and their nominees, and upon request, the Company will pay the
reasonable expenses of record holders for mailing such materials to the
beneficial owners.
Management knows of no other matters to be acted upon at the meeting.
However, if any other matter is lawfully brought before the meeting, the shares
covered by your proxy will be voted thereon in accordance with the best judgment
of the persons acting under such proxy.
In order that your shares may be represented if you do not plan to attend
the meeting, and in order to assure a required quorum, please sign, date and
return your proxy promptly. In the event you are able to attend, we will, if you
request, cancel the proxy.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
J. Elaine Miller
Secretary
December 4, 1998
-14-
EXHIBIT A
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
WEGENER CORPORATION
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Wegener Corporation (the "Company")
deems it desirable to amend the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as
amended (the "Certificate of Incorporation") to create a class of preferred
stock;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Certificate of Incorporation shall be amended by
amending Article Fourth thereof entitled "FOURTH: AUTHORIZED SHARES" to add a
new Subsection B. and thereby causing Article Fourth to read, in its entirety,
as follows:
"FOURTH: AUTHORIZED SHARES. The Corporation shall have authority to issue
Twenty-one Million (21,000,000) shares of capital stock, which shall be divided
into classes and shall have the following designations, preferences, limitations
and relative rights:
A. Common Stock.
-------------
One class shall consist of Twenty Million (20,000,000) shares of
common stock having a par value of $.01 per share, designated "Common
Stock." The holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to elect all the
members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, and such holders
shall be entitled to vote as a class on all matters required or
permitted to be submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation.
B. Preferred Stock.
----------------
One class shall consist of One Million (1,000,000) shares of preferred
stock having a par value of $.01 per share, designated "Preferred
Stock." The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be empowered
to divide any and all shares of the Preferred Stock into series and to
fix and to determine the relative rights and preferences of the shares
of any series so established. Before any shares of Preferred Stock of
any particular series shall be issued, the Board of Directors shall
fix and determine, and is hereby expressly empowered to fix and
determine, in the manner provided by law, the following provisions of
the shares of such series: (i) the distinctive designation of such
shares and the number of shares which shall constitute such series,
which number may be increased (except where otherwise provided by the
Board of Directors in creating such series) or decreased (but not
below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) from time to time
by like action of the Board of Directors; (ii) the annual rate of
dividends payable on shares of such series, whether dividends shall be
cumulative and conditions upon which and the date when such dividends
shall be accumulated on all shares of such series issued prior to the
record date for the first dividend of such series; (iii) the time or
times when and the price or prices at which shares of such series
shall be redeemable at the option of the holder or of the Corporation
and the sinking fund provisions, if any, for the purchase or
redemption of such shares; (iv) the amount payable on shares of such
series in
A-1
the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs
of the Corporation, whether all or a portion is paid before any amount
is paid on the Common Stock; (v) the rights, if any, of the holders of
shares of such series to convert such shares into, or exchange such
shares for, shares of Common Stock or shares of any other series of
Preferred Stock and the terms and conditions of such conversion or
exchange; and (vi) whether the shares of such series have voting
rights and the extent of such voting rights, if any.
The Board of Directors shall have the power to classify unissued
shares of any series of Preferred Stock and the fixing and
determination of the provisions thereof are hereby ratified and
approved."
A-2
WEGENER CORPORATION
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR USE AT THE
1999 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 28, 1999 AT 7:00 P.M.,
EASTERN STANDARD TIME.
The undersigned hereby appoints Robert A. Placek and C. Troy Woodbury, Jr.
and each of them, attorneys and proxies with full power to each of substitution,
to vote in the name of and as proxy for the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of Wegener Corporation (the "Company") to be held on Thursday,
January 28, 1999 at 7:00 p.m. at the offices of the Company, 11350 Technology
Circle, Duluth, Georgia 30097, and at any adjournment thereof, according to the
number of votes that the undersigned would be entitled to cast if personally
present, on the following matters:
(1) To elect the following nominees as Class I directors to serve until the
2002 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are elected
and qualified:
C. Troy Woodbury, Jr. Joe K. Parks
o FOR the nominees listed above o WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote
(except as indicated to for the nominees
the contrary below)
(To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), write that
nominee's name(s) on the line below:)
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(2) To elect the following nominee as a Class III director to serve until the
2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until his successor is elected and
qualified:
Thomas G. Elliot
o FOR the nominee listed above o WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote
for the nominee
(3) To approve an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Wegener
Corporation to authorize a class of preferred stock as set forth in Agenda
Item Two and Exhibit A to the Proxy Statement;
o FOR o AGAINST o ABSTAIN
(4) To ratify the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as auditors for the Company
and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year 1999; and
o FOR o AGAINST o ABSTAIN
(5) To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or
any adjournment thereof.
PROPERLY EXECUTED PROXIES WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE
UNDERSIGNED. IF NO SUCH DIRECTIONS ARE GIVEN, SUCH PROXIES WILL BE VOTED FOR THE
NOMINEES REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPHS (1) AND (2) AND FOR THE PROPOSITIONS REFERRED
TO IN PARAGRAPHS (3) AND (4).
The undersigned revokes all prior
proxies to vote the shares covered by
this proxy.
----------------------------------------
Signature
----------------------------------------
Signature
Date:___________________________, 199___
(When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian,
please give title as such. If
stockholder is a corporation, corporate
name should be signed by an authorized
officer and the corporate seal affixed.
For joint accounts, each joint owner
should sign.)
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THIS PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED REPLY ENVELOPE
WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.