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 ' 240.14a-118 or ' 240.14a-12
INTELLIGENT CONTROLS, INC.
(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] No fee required.
[ ] 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:
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2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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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):
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4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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5) Total fee paid:
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
3) Filing Party:
4) Date Filed:
INTELLIGENT CONTROLS, INC.
NOTICE OF
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
JUNE 10, 1999
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Intelligent
Controls, Inc. will be held at the Sheraton Tara Hotel, 363 Maine Mall Road,
South Portland, Maine at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 10, 1999, to conduct the
following business:
1. To elect the Directors;
2. To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP as
independent accountants to the Company for the current fiscal year;
3. To approve an amendment to the 1993 Director Stock Option Plan,
increasing the number of shares available for issuance under the
Plan; and
4. To conduct any other business which may lawfully come before said
meeting.
A Proxy Statement describing these proposed actions accompanies this Notice of
Meeting.
Dated at Saco, Maine this 28th day of April, 1999.
INTELLIGENT CONTROLS, INC.
By: /s/ GREGORY S. FRYER
-------------------------------
Gregory S. Fryer, Clerk
NOTE: ALL SHAREHOLDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO VOTE, DATE, AND SIGN THE PROXY
CARD ENCLOSED WITH THIS NOTICE AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT,
AND TO RETURN THE COMPLETED PROXY CARD IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED.
INTELLIGENT CONTROLS, INC.
74 INDUSTRIAL PARK ROAD
P.O. BOX 638
SACO, MAINE 04072
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JUNE 10, 1999
INTRODUCTION
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of Intelligent Controls, Inc. ("INCON" or the
"Company") for use at the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Meeting will
be held at the Sheraton Tara Hotel, 363 Maine Mall Road, South Portland, Maine
at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 10, 1999.
When properly executed and returned, the enclosed proxy will be voted in
accordance with the choices marked. If no choice is specified, the proxy will be
voted as recommended by the Board of Directors. A proxy may be revoked at any
time before it is voted. Shareholders may revoke their proxies by delivering
written notice to the Clerk of the Company prior to the vote on a given matter
by submitting a later dated proxy at or before the Meeting, or by voting in
person at the Meeting.
The record date for determining shareholders entitled to vote at the
Meeting (and any adjournment thereof) is April 16, 1999. All shareholders of
record as of the close of business on that date will be entitled to cast one
vote per share. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy for the
Meeting are first being mailed to shareholders on or around April 28, 1999.
A description of matters to be voted upon is set forth at pages 5-6 of
this Proxy Statement. Certain information concerning share ownership,
management, and compensation appears below.
OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK
As of April 16, 1999, there were 4,918,172 outstanding shares of
Intelligent Controls, Inc. common stock, the Company's only authorized class of
stock. Set forth below, as of such date, is information concerning beneficial
ownership of the Common Stock by directors and executive officers of the Company
and by each other person known to the Company to beneficially own more than five
percent of the outstanding shares. Except as otherwise noted, all shares are
owned directly.
Number of Shares Percent
Name Beneficially Owned of Class
---- ------------------ --------
Ampersand Specialty Materials and Chemicals III 1,638,462 33.3%
Limited Partnership and related entities (1) (6)
Charles D. Yie (2) (6) 1,644,462 33.4%
Alan Lukas (3) (6) 1,039,314 21.1%
Paul E. Lukas (4) (6) 402,800 8.2%
Roger E. Brooks (5) (6) 491,923 10.0%
George E. Hissong (7) 17,500
Paul F. Walsh (7) 18,000
All directors and executive officers as a group (8) 3,616,633 72.6%
- ------------
(1) Ampersand Specialty Materials and Chemicals III Limited Partnership
and Ampersand Special Materials and Chemicals III Companion Fund
Limited Partnership own 1,612,247 and 26,215 shares, respectively.
These limited partnerships are herein referred to collectively as
"Ampersand." The other controlling persons of Ampersand include
ASMC-III MCLP LLP, AMC-III Management Company Limited Partnership,
Charles D. Yie, Richard A. Charpie, Peter D. Parker, and Stuart A.
Auerbach. The address of Ampersand and each controlling person is 55
William Street, Suite 240, Wellesley, Massachusetts 02181.
(2) Mr. Yie, a Director of INCON, is a General Partner of ASMC-III MCLP
LLP, which in turn is a controlling person of Ampersand. As a result,
he may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the shares held by
Ampersand. His ownership also includes 6,000 shares purchasable by him
within the next 60 days under stock options.
(3) Alan Lukas is a Director and executive officer of INCON. His ownership
includes 931,643 shares owned directly, 10,000 shares purchasable by
him within the next 60 days under a stock option, 67,749 shares owned
by his wife, 26,106 shares held in trust for his child, and 3,816
shares owned by Lukas Brothers, a general partnership of which Alan
Lukas and his brother Paul E. Lukas are two of the three partners.
His address is 74 Industrial Park Road, Saco, Maine 04072.
(4) Paul Lukas is a non-executive officer of INCON. His ownership includes
393,984 shares owned directly by him, 5,000 shares purchasable by him
within the next 60 days under a stock option, and 3,816 shares owned
by Lukas Brothers. His address is 74 Industrial Park Road, Saco, Maine
04072.
(5) Mr. Brooks is a Director and executive officer of INCON. His address
is 74 Industrial Park Road, Saco, Maine 04072. His ownership includes
486,923 shares of restricted stock purchased from the Company upon
commencement of employment in May 1998, of which all but 153,798
shares are currently subject to certain repurchase rights in favor of
the Company. See "Restricted Stock Agreement with Mr. Brooks" at pages
3-4.
(6) These persons may be deemed to have beneficial ownership over an
aggregate of 3,574,683 shares (72.4% of the outstanding shares), by
virtue of voting agreements contained in a Stockholders Agreement to
which each of them is a party. See "Stockholders Agreement" at page 4.
(7) Messrs. Hissong and Walsh are non-employee Directors of INCON. Their
ownership includes, respectively, 15,000 and 20,500 shares purchasable
within the next 60 days under stock options.
(8) Includes 60,250 shares purchasable within the next 60 days under stock
options.
2
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Directors of the Company are elected for one year terms at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders. Set forth below is biographical information for each
member of the Company's Board of Directors.
ROGER E. BROOKS, age 54, became President, Chief Executive Officer, and a
Director of INCON in May 1998, upon completion of Ampersand's investment in the
Company. From April 1997 until May 1998, he was an Executive in Residence with
Ampersand Ventures. From 1984 to 1996, Mr. Brooks served as a Director and
President/CEO of Dynisco, Inc., an instrumentation and equipment company. From
1977 to 1984, Mr. Brooks was a Director, Executive Vice President/COO, and Vice
President of Marketing & Sales of Thermo Electric Co. Inc., a temperature
measurement and control products company. He is a Director of American MSI
Corporation and Moldflow Corporation.
ALAN LUKAS, age 48, founded INCON in 1978 and currently serves as its Vice
President of Product Development. He has served as a Director and Chairman of
the Board of the Company since its inception, and served as its President/CEO
until May 1998. Mr. Lukas serves on the University of Southern Maine Advisory
Board for the School of Applied Sciences.
CHARLES D. YIE, age 40, is a General Partner of Ampersand Ventures, a
private equity/venture capital firm. He joined Ampersand Ventures' predecessor
firm in 1985, after having gained experience in systems engineering and
manufacturing at Hewlett-Packard. Mr. Yie currently serves as a Director or
Chairman of a number of private companies affiliated with Ampersand Ventures. He
became a Director of INCON in May 1998 and serves as Secretary and Treasurer of
the Company.
GEORGE E. HISSONG, age 62, has been employed since 1989 by Hissong
Development Corporation, where he serves as Chairman and Treasurer. He also is
the owner of Mousam River Campground and President of Stafford Systems, Inc.
From 1978 to 1986, Mr. Hissong was Chairman and President of Energy Sciences,
Inc. He is a Trustee of the Kennebunk Light and Power District and a Trustee of
Goodall Hospital. Mr. Hissong was first elected a Director of INCON in 1996.
PAUL F. WALSH, age 49, is Chairman and CEO of iDEAL Partners. >From 1995
to September 1998, Mr. Walsh served as President and Chief Executive Officer of
Wright Express Corporation, an information and financial services company. From
January 1990 to February 1995, Mr. Walsh was Chairman of BancOne Investor
Services Corporation, a financial services company. He is a Director of Staples,
Inc. and was first elected a Director of INCON in 1996.
Ampersand, Mr. Brooks, Alan Lukas, Paul E. Lukas, and certain others are
parties to a Stockholders Agreement dated as of May 1, 1998, under which each
has agreed to vote his or its shares of stock (i) to limit the size of the
Company's Board of Directors to five Directors and (ii) to elect as those
Directors Mr. Yie, Mr. Lukas, the Chief Executive Officer (Mr. Brooks), and one
designee each of Ampersand and Mr. Lukas. Other provisions of the Stockholders
Agreement are described below. See "Stockholders Agreement" at page 4.
During 1998 Messrs. Hissong, Walsh, and Yie each received as director
compensation (i) cash payments of up to $500 per meeting ($300 per committee
meeting) and (ii) quarterly stock option grants for 1,000 shares each as of (in
the case of Messrs. Hissong and Walsh) March 31, 1998 and (in the case of all
three Directors) June 30, 1998 at exercise prices of $2.64 and $2.14 per share,
respectively, and (iii) one-time grants of stock options for 20,000 shares each
as of August 14, 1998 at an exercise price of $2.00 per share. The exercise
price of each option equals 100% of the fair market value of the common stock as
of the date of grant. The August 14, 1998 stock option grants are described in
"Amendment Director Stock Option Plan" at page 5.
The Board of Directors has appointed a Compensation Committee, responsible
for reviewing the general compensation policies of the Company. The Committee
administers the Company's 1998 Employee Stock Option Plan and provides
assistance on such other compensation-related matters as the Board or the
President may request. The Committee presently consists of Messrs. Yie, Hissong,
and Walsh. The Committee met twice in 1998.
The Board of Directors has appointed an Audit Committee, which presently
consists of Messrs. Yie, Hissong, and Walsh. Its function is to oversee the work
of the Company's Controller and external accountants and to assure the existence
of an effective accounting system. The Committee met once in 1998.
3
The Board of Directors held seven meetings in 1998. Each Director was
present at 75% or more of the total number of Board and Committee meetings he
was eligible to attend in 1998.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND RELATED MATTERS
Set forth below is certain information concerning the compensation of the
only executive officers of the Company who received more than $100,000 in annual
compensation during 1998.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
ANNUAL COMPENSATION
------------------------------- All Other
Name Year Salary Bonus Other (1) Compensation (2)
---- ---- -------- ------- ------ ------------
Roger E. Brooks (3) 1998 $147,198 $48,948 $4,200 $8,518
President and CEO
Alan Lukas 1998 $100,150 $27,624 $ 0 $5,936
VP of Product Development 1997 $ 84,000 $ 7,262 $ 0 $6,853
and Chairman 1996 $ 84,000 $ 0 $ 0 $6,813
- ------------
(1) Includes car allowance payments of $4,200 in 1998 to Mr. Brooks.
(2) Includes a one-time $8,518 housing allowance for Mr. Brooks in 1998.
Includes Company contributions of $1,223, $2,140, and $2,100 to Mr.
Lukas' account under under the 401(k) Plan for 1998, 1997, and 1996,
respectively; Mr. Brooks was not eligible to participate in the Plan
in 1998. Also includes Company-paid premiums of $4,713 in each of
1998, 1997, and 1996, under a variable life insurance policy for Mr.
Lukas. The policy has a guaranteed minimum death benefit of $300,000.
In the event of Mr. Lukas' death, the Company would pay over to Mr.
Lukas' estate the net proceeds of the policy, after reimbursement of
the Company's premium cost. In the event of termination of Mr. Lukas'
employment, he would be entitled to ownership of the policy after
reimbursing the Company's premium cost.
(3) Mr. Brooks became an executive officer of INCON in May 1998. His
salary includes payments made to him as a consultant from February
through April of 1998.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH MR. BROOKS
Under his Employment Agreement, Mr. Brooks receives salary at the base
rate of $175,000 per year (subject to cost of living adjustments and to future
salary increases approved by the Board of Directors) and a $600 per month car
allowance. Mr. Brooks is also entitled to annual bonuses through the Company's
bonus pool. The Company may terminate Mr. Brooks' employment at any time, with
or without cause. In the event of a termination without cause, Mr. Brooks will
be entitled to between 6 and 12 months' severance compensation, at a rate equal
to his then current salary, plus continued participation in Company health
insurance and other benefits during such period. The term of the agreement runs
through June 30, 2000 and will automatically renew for successive one-year terms
unless either Mr. Brooks or the Company gives notice to the contrary at least 90
days before the renewal date. If the Company gives notice of nonrenewal prior to
the third anniversary of the agreement, Mr. Brooks will be entitled to the same
severance and benefit arrangements as for a termination without cause.
RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT WITH MR. BROOKS
In May 1998 INCON sold Mr. Brooks 486,923 shares of common stock at a
price of $3.25 per share. He paid for these shares by delivering a promissory
note for $1,332,500 and cash in the amount of $250,000. The promissory note from
Mr. Brooks bears interest at 5.69% per annum. Principal and interest under the
note become payable in 5 years, except that Mr. Brooks' payment obligation may
be accelerated if his employment with the Company terminates for any reason. In
such event, the note becomes due within either 90 days or one year, depending on
the reason for termination of employment. The purchased shares serve as
collateral for the note, and are pledged to the Company. Mr. Brooks' personal
liability on the note is limited to $200,000 plus the value of the purchased
shares, all of which shares are pledged to the Company as collateral.
4
The Company has the right (but not the obligation) to repurchase some of
the shares from Mr. Brooks at the initial purchase price of $3.25 per share.
Initially, the repurchase right extended to all of the shares except 76,923
(representing the number of shares for which Mr. Brooks paid cash at the time of
the purchase). The repurchase right lapses as to 25,625 shares for every three
months of continued employment (representing 1/16th of the remaining shares); if
Mr. Brooks is still employed by the Company on May 1, 2002, the repurchase right
will have lapsed entirely. In addition, the repurchase right will lapse as to
102,500 shares if Mr. Brooks' employment terminates due to death or disability
or if the Company terminates Mr. Brooks' employment without cause (as defined
under his Employment Agreement). The repurchase right will also lapse in its
entirety in the event of a "change in control" of the Company (as defined).
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH MR. LUKAS
Under his Employment Agreement, Mr. Lukas receives salary at the base rate
of $120,000 per year for his services as Vice President for Product Development
(subject to cost of living adjustments and to future salary increases approved
by the Board of Directors) and a $30,000 per year retainer for his services as
Chairman and a Director. Mr. Lukas is also entitled to annual bonuses through
the Company's bonus pool. The Company may terminate these arrangements with Mr.
Lukas at any time, with or without cause. In the event of a termination by the
Company without cause, Mr. Lukas would be entitled to (i) between 6 and 12
months' severance compensation, at a rate equal to his then current salary, plus
continued participation in Company health insurance and other benefits during
such period and (ii) continued payment of his $30,000 retainer and health
insurance benefits through June 30, 2003, in return for up to 400 hours of
consulting services to the Company per year.
APOLLO DEVELOPMENT LEASE
The Company leases a 13,000 square foot facility from a corporation owned
in part by Alan Lukas. This facility is used primarily for corporate office
space. The lease expires October 31, 2000 and is renewable, at the Company's
option, for an additional one-year term. The Company also has the right to
purchase this facility in 2000 at its then fair market value, subject to a
specified minimum price of $550,000. The current rent is approximately $66,220
per year (exclusive of utilities, taxes, and insurance, and before application
of a $5,400 per year credit for certain improvements paid for by the Company)
and is subject to an automatic increase of 5% per year. The Company believes
that the rent under this lease is reasonable in relation to prevailing rents for
comparable industrial or commercial space. The Company has not yet made any
decision on renewal of the lease or exercise of the purchase option. Presently,
the rental payments on the building exceed the landlord corporation's monthly
payments on its underlying mortgage loan; Alan Lukas' profits from this
arrangement currently amount to less than $5,000 per year.
AMPERSAND INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
The Company is a party to an Investment Agreement with Ampersand Specialty
Materials and Chemicals III Limited Partnership and Ampersand Specialty
Materials and Chemicals III Companion Fund Limited Partnership, which in May
1998 purchased a total of 1,638,462 shares of INCON common stock from the
Company at a price of $3.25 per share (an aggregate purchase price of
$5,325,001). The agreement provides Ampersand a right of first refusal on future
sales of INCON stock to third parties, and provides Ampersand and Mr. Brooks
with rights to require registration of their shares to permit resales of stock
by them. Under the agreement, Ampersand and Mr. Brooks also have a right (the
"put" right) to require the Company to repurchase their shares. This right is
triggered if (i) the Company receives a bona fide offer from an unaffiliated
third party to acquire INCON in a transaction that values the common stock at
more than $10 per share and (ii) Ampersand endorses the offer but the Company
declines to accept the offer. The Company would thereafter be required to
purchase the stock of Ampersand and Mr. Brooks at a price equivalent to the
third party's offer.
STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
The Company, Ampersand, Mr. Brooks, Alan Lukas, Paul E. Lukas, and certain
related parties have entered into a Stockholders Agreement restricting the
voting and transfer of shares of INCON common stock owned by each. The shares
owned by these stockholders currently represents approximately 70% of the
outstanding INCON stock.
The stockholders who are parties to the Stockholders Agreement have agreed
to vote their shares (i) to limit the size of the Company's Board of Directors
to five Directors and (ii) to elect as those Directors Mr. Yie, Alan Lukas, the
Chief Executive Officer (Mr. Brooks), and one designee each of Ampersand and
Alan Lukas. These stockholders have also agreed to vote their shares in such a
way that Ampersand will be able to block certain significant transactions
opposed by it, such as financing transactions exceeding $5 million or a merger
or other sale of the Company. In the event the "put" right
5
of Ampersand and Mr. Brooks is triggered as described above, these stockholders
agree to vote their shares in such a way as to increase the size of the Board of
Directors by two Directors, and to elect two nominees of Ampersand to fill those
positions. Moreover, for a period of five years, these stockholders agree not to
make open-market purchases of INCON common stock and not to initiate or assist
in proxy solicitations, except with prior written consent from INCON's Board of
Directors. These stockholders have also granted each other certain rights of
first refusal to purchase shares that a stockholder proposes to sell to a third
party; and to grant each other certain co-sale rights to participate in sales of
stock to a third party.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, certain
persons associated with the Company (Directors, executive officers and
beneficial owners of more than 10% of the outstanding common stock) are required
to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Company various
reports disclosing their ownership of Company securities and changes in such
ownership. To the Company's knowledge, all requisite reports in 1998 were filed
in a timely manner, except for Form 3 reports of initial beneficial ownership of
Andrew Clement, Roger E. Brooks, Charles D. Yie, and Ampersand; and Form 5
reports of Henry M. Powers, Charlton H. Ames, Paul F. Walsh, George E. Hissong,
Kenneth J. Burek, Nathaniel V. Henshaw, and Andrew Clement for 1998 stock
options awards from the Company. Each of these reports has since been filed.
SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
Set forth below is a summary of matters to be voted upon by shareholders
at the Meeting. The Company has been advised that Ampersand and each of the
Directors of the Company intend to vote their shares in favor of these matters,
in which case each matter will receive a vote sufficient to assure its approval.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's Articles of Incorporation provide for a Board of Directors
of not fewer than three nor more than nine members, as from time to time
determined by resolution of the Board of Directors or by the shareholders.
Directors are elected at each Annual Meeting of Shareholders for one year terms.
A resolution will be offered at the Meeting to establish the number of
Directors at five and to re-elect the following five persons as Directors:
Alan Lukas, George E. Hissong, Paul F. Walsh,
Charles D. Yie, and Roger E. Brooks
The foregoing individuals have each consented to be named as nominees and to
serve as Directors if elected. Biographical information concerning these
individuals appears at pages 2-3 above.
The Company's Articles of Incorporation allow for cumulative voting in the
election of Directors. A shareholder may require cumulative voting by giving the
Company notice of his or her intention to do so. Notice must be received prior
to voting on Directors. Under cumulative voting, each holder has the right to as
many votes as equals the number of Directors to be elected, multiplied by the
number of shares owned by such holder. The effect of cumulative voting would be
to ensure that the holders of more than one-sixth of the outstanding shares
could (by cumulating their votes) elect at least one of five Directors of the
Company.
Regardless of whether votes are to be cumulated, each Director position
will be filled by plurality vote. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not
affect the tally of votes cast in the election. (A broker non-vote occurs when a
broker, or other fiduciary, votes on at least one matter but lacks authority to
vote on another matter.)
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR"
THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE.
6
RATIFICATION OF ACCOUNTANTS
The shareholders will be asked to ratify the re-appointment of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's independent accountants for fiscal
1999. PricewaterhouseCoopers is one of the largest accounting firms in the
United States and has substantial experience in auditing financial statements of
public companies. One or more representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers will be
present at the Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement to the
Meeting if they desire to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate
questions.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR"
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP.
AMENDMENT TO DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN
Since 1993 the Company has maintained a Director Stock Option Plan and has
compensated its non-employee directors with grants of stock options.
In August 1998 the Board approved multi-year grants of options to the
three non-employee directors (Messrs. Hissong, Walsh, and Yie), allowing each to
purchase 20,000 shares at the trading price of the stock on that date ($2.00 per
share). The options vest in quarterly installments over a 4-year period, and
become fully exercisable by April 2002. Vesting will accelerate upon a "change
in control" of the Company (as defined). The options will expire 10 years after
the date of grant, to the extent not previously exercised.
This recent grant of options for 60,000 shares exceeds the number of
shares remaining under the 1993 Plan. The Plan originally authorized the
issuance of 100,000 shares, and options for approximately 65,000 shares were
already outstanding or had been exercised by the time of the most recent grants.
Accordingly, the Board made these August 1998 grants subject to receipt of
shareholder approval. Specifically, all option installments that would otherwise
vest after the third quarter of 1999 will not be deemed vested unless and until
the shareholders of the Company have duly approved a Plan amendment increasing
the share limitations of the Plan.
Subject to receipt of shareholder approval, the Board has amended the 1993
Plan to increase to 200,000 shares the total amount of common stock that may be
issued pursuant to the Plan. Shareholder approval of the proposed amendment will
also have the effect of allowing the August 1998 stock option grants to vest
fully.
Only non-employee Directors are eligible to receive options under the
Plan. All options must bear an exercise price of not less than $1.25 per share
(and it has been the Board's practice to set the price at 100% of the then
current trading price of the stock). Options may have a term of not greater than
10 years, and vesting of the options may be made subject to conditions set by
the Board. The Plan expires on December 31, 2002, and no new options may be
granted under the Plan after that date. These provisions remain unchanged by the
amendment.
Pursuant to SEC requirements, the following table illustrates the type of
benefits available under the amended Plan, by describing the stock options
recently awarded under the Plan during 1998.
NEW PLAN BENEFITS
1993 DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN
Dollar Value ($) If Stock
Appreciates for 10 Years at
No. of Units 0%/Yr. 5%/Yr. 10%/Yr.
------------ ------ ------ -------
Roger E. Brooks N/A N/A N/A N/A
Alan Lukas N/A N/A N/A N/A
Executive Officer Group N/A N/A N/A N/A
Non-Executive Director Group 60,000 $0 $195,467 $311,249
Non-Executive Officer Employee Group N/A N/A N/A N/A
7
The shareholders will be asked to vote on the following resolution: "To
approve an amendment to the 1993 Director Stock Option which increased to
200,000 shares the total amount of common stock that may be issued under the
Plan." A copy of the Plan, as restated to include the proposed amendment, is
attached as an Appendix to this Proxy Statement. The affirmative vote of a
majority of the outstanding shares of common stock is needed to approve the
amendment. (For these purposes, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the
same effect as a vote against the Plan.)
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" APPROVAL
OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE 1993 DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN.
OTHER MATTERS
All expenses of this solicitation will be borne by the Company. No person
will receive any additional compensation for soliciting proxies from any
shareholder. In addition to use of the mails, proxies may be solicited directly,
or by telephone or other means, by Company employees. The Company will reimburse
brokerage firms, custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries in accordance with
American Stock Exchange rules for the reasonable expenses of forwarding proxy
materials to beneficial owners.
At the date of this Proxy Statement, Management knows of no other matters
that are to be brought before the Meeting. However, if any matters other than
those set forth in the accompanying Notice should properly come before the
Meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote the proxies on such
matters in their discretion.
To be eligible for inclusion in the proxy materials for the 1999 Annual
Meeting, a shareholder proposal must be received by the Company in proper
written form by December 28, 1999. Any such proposals should be addressed to the
attention of the Board of Directors.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Gregory S. Fryer, Clerk
8
Appendix
INTELLIGENT CONTROLS, INC.
1993 DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN
(as amended and restated through August 1998)
The purpose of the 1993 Director Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") is to
advance the interests of Intelligent Controls, Inc. (the "Company") and its
shareholders by encouraging qualified persons to serve as non-employee members
of the Intelligent Controls, Inc. Board of Directors (the "Board") and to allow
such members to acquire and retain a proprietary interest in the Company by
ownership of its common stock, no par value ("Common Stock"). Options granted
under the Plan are intended to be options which do not meet the requirements of
Section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
1. AMOUNT AND SOURCE OF STOCK: Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to
paragraph 7 hereof, the total number of shares of Common Stock which may be
issued under the Plan shall not exceed 200,000. The number of shares of Common
Stock available for grant of options under the Plan shall be decreased by the
sum of the number of shares with respect to which options have been issued and
are then outstanding and the number of shares issued upon exercise of options,
and shall be increased due to the expiration or termination of options which
have not been exercised.
2. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN: The Plan is effective as of March 22,
1993, subject however to the later ratification and approval of the Plan by the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of all outstanding shares of
Common Stock. No options may be granted under the Plan after December 31, 2002.
The Board may, without further approval of the shareholders of the Company,
terminate the Plan at any time.
3. ADMINISTRATION: The Plan shall be administered by the Board, which
shall have full power to interpret the Plan and to establish and amend rules and
regulations for its administration. The Board may delegate any or all aspects of
the administration of the Plan to a committee composed of members of the Board,
in which case references herein to the "Board" may include such committee, as
the case may be.
4. OPTIONEES: Options shall be granted from time to time only to persons
who are non-employee members of the Board at the date of granting of the
options. The number of shares covered by any option granted pursuant to the Plan
shall be determined by the Board.
5. TERMS OF OPTIONS: (a) OPTION PERIOD: Each option granted under the Plan
(an "Option") shall be exercisable only during the term commencing on the date
the Option is granted and ending (unless the Option shall have terminated
earlier under the provisions of the Plan) on the tenth anniversary of such date
or such other date as the Board shall specify (the "Termination Date").
(b) OPTION PRICE: The purchase price per share of Common Stock purchased
pursuant to each Option (the "Option Price") shall be determined by the Board at
the time of grant; provided that the Option Price shall not be less than $1.25
per share. The Option Price shall be paid in full upon the exercise of the
Option by certified or bank cashier's check payable to the order of the Company,
or by any other means acceptable to the Company, and the stock purchased shall
thereupon be promptly delivered; provided, however, that the Company may, in its
discretion, require that an Optionee pay to the Company, at the time of
exercise, such amount as the Company deems necessary to satisfy its obligation
to withhold federal, state or local income or other taxes incurred by reason of
the exercise or the transfer of shares thereupon. No Optionee, or his or her
legal representatives, legatees or distributees, as the case may be, will be
deemed to be a holder of any shares pursuant to exercise of an Option until the
date of the issuance of a stock certificate to him or her for such shares.
(c) EXERCISE OF OPTIONS: Vesting and exercise of the Option may be subject
to such conditions as the Board shall determine. In exercising his or her
Option, the Optionee may exercise less than the full installment available to
him or her, but he or she must exercise the Option in full shares of Common
Stock of the Company.
(d) NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS: Except as the Board may otherwise
determine, each Option shall, during the Optionee's lifetime, be exercisable
only by him or her, and neither it nor any right hereunder shall be transferable
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or be subject to
attachment, execution or other similar process. In the event of any attempt by
the Optionee to alienate, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of
his or her Option or of
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any right hereunder, except as provided for herein, or in the event of any levy
or any attachment, execution or similar process upon the rights or interest
hereby conferred, the Company may terminate his or her Option.
6. INSTRUMENT OF GRANT: The terms and conditions of each Option granted
under the Plan shall be set forth in an instrument designated "Director Stock
Option Agreement" substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto and
made a part hereof [OMITTED FROM PROXY STATEMENT]. The Board may make such
modifications in the provisions of the instrument of grant as it shall deem
advisable or as may be required by any provision of the Code.
7. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK: If (a) the Company shall at any time
be involved in a transaction to which Section 425(a) of the Code is applicable,
(b) the Company shall declare a dividend payable in, or shall subdivide or
combine, its Common Stock or (c) any other event shall occur which in the
judgment of the Board necessitates action by way of adjusting the terms of the
outstanding Options, the Board shall forthwith take any such action as in its
judgment shall be necessary to preserve for the Optionees rights substantially
proportionate to the rights existing before such event. To the extent that such
action shall include an increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common
Stock subject to outstanding Options, the number of shares available under
paragraph 1 above shall be increased or decreased, as the case may be,
proportionately. The judgment of the Board with respect to any matter referred
to in this paragraph shall be conclusive and binding upon each Optionee.
8. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION: The Board may amend or terminate the Plan,
but may not, except as provided in paragraph 7 hereof, (i) without the consent
of the Optionee, alter or impair any rights or obligations under any Option
theretofore granted or (ii) without the approval of the holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares of the Company entitled to vote thereon, make any
alteration in the Plan which operates:
(a) to increase the total number of shares which may be issued under the
Plan;
(b) to extend the term during which Options may be granted under the
Plan; or
(c) to permit the exercise of an Option after the date on which such
Option would otherwise terminate pursuant to the terms hereof.
9. PLAN DOES NOT CONFER SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS: Neither the Optionee nor any
person entitled to exercise his or her right in the event of his or her death
shall have any rights of a shareholder with respect to the shares subject to
each Option, except to the extent that a certificate for such shares shall have
been issued upon the exercise of each Option as provided for herein.
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INTELLIGENT CONTROLS, INC.
PROXY
(Solicited by the Board of Directors)
The undersigned appoints Alan Lukas and Roger E. Brooks, or either of them,
proxies with full power of substitution, to represent and vote all shares of
Common Stock of Intelligent Controls, Inc. held by the undersigned, at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held June 10, 1999, or any adjournment
thereof.
1. TO FIX THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS AT FIVE AND TO ELECT THE FOLLOWING
NOMINEES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Alan Lukas, Roger E. Brooks, George E. Hissong, Paul F. Walsh, Charles D. Yie
(To withhold authority for one or more nominees, cross out his name or their
names)
2. TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS TO THE COMPANY FOR THE 1999 FISCAL YEAR
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
3. TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO THE 1993 DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN, AS
DESCRIBED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
4. In their discretion, upon such other matters as may properly come
before the Meeting.
This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed hereby
by the undersigned shareholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be
voted "FOR" the nominated directors and "FOR" proposals 2 and 3. The undersigned
hereby revokes any proxy previously given and acknowledges receipt of the Notice
of, and Proxy Statement for, the aforesaid Meeting.
Dated: _____________________, 1999
Signature ----------------------------------
Signature ----------------------------------
Personal representatives, custodians, trustees,
partners, corporate officers, and attorneys-in-fact
should add their titles as such.
PLEASE VOTE AND DATE THIS PROXY, SIGNING IT AS YOUR NAME APPEARS ABOVE AND
RETURN THE PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED.