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
[X] Filed by the Registrant
[ ] 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
Exchange Act Rule 14(a)-6(e)(2)]
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Material
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss. 240.14a-11(c) or ss. 240.14a-12
RUBY TUESDAY, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Payment of Filing Fee:
[X] No fee required.
[ ] $125 per Exchange Act Rule 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1) or 14a-6(i)(2),
or Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
0-11:
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
filing fee is calculated and how determined):
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee paid previously with written 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:
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(4) Date filed:
[LOGO]
August 30, 2002
Dear Shareholders:
We are holding your 2002 Annual Meeting on Tuesday, October 8, 2002, at
11:00 a.m., local time, at the Company's headquarters located at 150 West
Church Avenue, Maryville, Tennessee 37801. Matters on which action will be
taken at the meeting are explained in detail in the Notice and Proxy Statement
following this letter.
We sincerely hope that you will be able to attend the meeting in person,
and we look forward to seeing you. Whether or not you expect to be present,
please complete, date, sign and mail the enclosed proxy in the envelope
provided. If you attend the meeting, you may withdraw your proxy and vote your
own shares.
Sincerely,
RUBY TUESDAY, INC.
/s/ Samuel E. Beall, III
------------------------
Samuel (Sandy) E. Beall, III
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
R U B Y T U E S D A Y, I N C.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
150 West Church Avenue o Maryville, Tennessee 37801 o (865) 379-5700 o Telefax
(865) 379-6811
RUBY TUESDAY, INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD
OCTOBER 8, 2002
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Ruby Tuesday, Inc. will be held at
the Company's headquarters located at 150 West Church Avenue, Maryville,
Tennessee 37801 on Tuesday, October 8, 2002, at 11:00 a.m., local time, for the
following purposes:
1. To elect three Class I directors for a term of three years to the Board
of Directors.
2. To approve amendments to the Stock Incentive and Deferred Compensation
Plan for Directors to permit annual formula grants of options and to
increase the number of shares reserved for issuance thereunder.
3. To approve an amendment to the Company's Incentive Bonus Plan for the
Chief Executive Officer to increase the maximum annual bonus limit to
$2,000,000.
4. To consider a shareholder proposal.
5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on August 16, 2002,
are entitled to vote at the meeting.
The mailing address of the Company's principal executive office is 150
West Church Avenue, Maryville, Tennessee 37801.
We hope you will be able to attend the meeting in person. Whether or not
you expect to be present, please complete, date, sign and mail the enclosed
proxy in the envelope provided. If you attend the meeting, you may withdraw
your proxy and vote your own shares.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Daniel T. Cronk
-------------------
Daniel T. Cronk
Senior Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary
August 30, 2002
Maryville, Tennessee
RUBY TUESDAY, INC.
150 West Church Avenue
Maryville, Tennessee 37801
PROXY STATEMENT FOR 2002 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
GENERAL INFORMATION
The following Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card, first
mailed to shareholders on or about August 30, 2002, are furnished in connection
with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of Ruby Tuesday, Inc., a
Georgia corporation (the "Company"), of proxies to be used in voting at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held on Tuesday, October 8,
2002, at the Company's headquarters located at 150 West Church Avenue,
Maryville, Tennessee 37801 and at any adjournment(s) thereof (the "Annual
Meeting").
Any shareholder returning a proxy has the power to revoke it prior to the
Annual Meeting by giving the Secretary of the Company written notice of
revocation, by returning a later dated proxy or by expressing a desire to vote
in person at the Annual Meeting. All shares of the Company's common stock, $.01
par value per share ("Common Stock"), represented by valid proxies received
pursuant to this solicitation and not revoked before they are exercised will be
voted in the manner specified therein. If no specification is made, the proxy
will be voted (i) in favor of the election of the three nominees for Class I
directors named in this Proxy Statement, (ii) in favor of the amendments to the
Company's Stock Incentive and Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors (the
"Directors' Plan"), (iii) in favor of the amendment to the Company's Incentive
Bonus Plan for the Chief Executive Officer (the "CEO Bonus Plan"), (iv) against
the shareholder proposal, and (v) in accordance with the best judgment of the
proxy holders on any other matter that may properly come before the Annual
Meeting.
If you participate in the Ruby Tuesday, Inc. Salary Deferral Plan (the
"Plan"), your proxy card will also serve as a voting instruction card for the
Plan Trustee. If you do not provide voting instructions with respect to the
shares held in the Plan to the Plan Trustee, those shares will not be voted.
If you participate in the Plan or maintain accounts in more than one name,
you may receive more than one set of proxy materials. To be sure that all
shares are counted, you must sign and return every proxy card you receive.
The entire cost of soliciting these proxies will be borne by the Company.
In following up the original solicitation of the proxies by mail, the Company
will request brokers and others to send proxy forms and other proxy material to
the beneficial owners of the Common Stock and will reimburse them for expenses
incurred in so doing. If necessary, the Company also may use some of its
employees to solicit proxies from the shareholders personally or by telephone.
August 16, 2002, has been fixed as the record date for determination of
shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and,
accordingly, only holders of Common Stock of record at the close of business on
that date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.
The presence in person or by proxy of shareholders of record holding a majority
of the shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual
Meeting. Shares represented by a valid proxy on which the authority to vote for
one or more director nominees is withheld, if any, are counted as shares
present for determination of a quorum. The number of shares of outstanding
Common Stock on August 16, 2002, was 63,752,977, each of which is entitled to
one vote.
Election of each of the director nominees named in Proposal 1 requires the
approval of a plurality of the votes cast in the election. For purposes of
determining whether a director nominee has been elected, shares as to which
authority is withheld will have no effect on the outcome of the voting.
Approval of the amendments to the Directors' Plan and the CEO Bonus Plan
described in Proposals 2 and 3 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of
the votes cast by holders of the shares of Common Stock present or represented
and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, provided that the total votes cast
on such Proposals represents over 50 percent of all shares present or
represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on such Proposals. For
purposes of determining whether Proposals 2 and 3 have been approved by the
shareholders, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the
outcome of the voting on such Proposals, but abstentions will count towards the
total number of votes cast. Approval of the shareholder proposal requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by holders of the shares of
Common Stock present or represented and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
For purposes of determining whether Proposal 4 has been approved by the
shareholders, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the
outcome of the voting.
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's Articles of Incorporation provide for three classes of
directors with staggered, three-year terms of office and provide that upon the
expiration of the term of office for a class of directors, the nominees for
that class will be elected for a term of three years to serve until the
election and qualification of their successors or until their earlier
resignation, death or removal from office. The Company's Articles of
Incorporation and its Bylaws provide that the Board of Directors shall consist
of not less than three nor more than 12 directors and authorize the exact
number to be fixed from time to time by resolution of a majority of the Board
of Directors or by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of all
outstanding shares entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting
together as a single class. Currently, the Board of Directors is set at nine
members. The terms of office of the Class I directors expire at the Annual
Meeting. The Class III directors and the Class II directors have two years and
one year, respectively, remaining on their terms of office. Accordingly, the
Board of Directors has nominated Bernard Lanigan, Jr., James A. Haslam, III,
and Stephen I. Sadove to serve in Class I of the Board of Directors for a term
of three years. Mr. Lanigan and Mr. Haslam are currently serving as directors
of the Company.
It is intended that persons named in the accompanying form of proxy will
vote for the three nominees listed below unless authority to so vote is
withheld. Although the Board of Directors does not expect that any of the
nominees identified herein will be unavailable for election, in the event a
vacancy in the slate of nominees occurs, the shares represented by proxies in
the accompanying form may be voted for the election of a substitute nominee
selected by the persons named in the proxy.
Director and Director Nominee Information
Nominees for Directors
CLASS I -- TERM EXPIRING 2005
BERNARD LANIGAN, JR.
Director of the Company since 2001 Age: 54
Mr. Lanigan founded, and has served as managing principal of, Lanigan &
Associates, P.C., Certified Public Accountants and Management Consultants since
1974. Mr. Lanigan has served as Chairman and managing director of Southeast
Asset Advisors, Inc., a registered investment advisor and consulting company,
since 1981.
JAMES A. HASLAM, III
Director of the Company since 1999 Age: 48
Mr. Haslam has been President of Pilot Travel Centers, LLC since
September, 2001 and Chief Executive Officer of Pilot Corporation, an operator
of convenience stores and travel centers in 36 states, since July 1995. Prior
thereto, from 1976 to 1995, he was Executive Vice President of Pilot
Corporation. Mr. Haslam is a director of First Tennessee National Corporation.
STEPHEN I. SADOVE
Director Nominee Age: 51
Mr. Sadove has served as Vice Chairman of Saks Incorporated since January
7, 2002. Prior thereto, Mr. Sadove served as Senior Vice President of
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and President of Worldwide Beauty Care from
September 2000 to January 2001; as Senior Vice President of Bristol-Myers
Squibb Company and President of Worldwide Beauty Care and Nutritionals from
1998 to September 2000; as President of Worldwide Beauty Care from 1995 to
1998; and as President of Clairol, Inc. from 1991 to 1995. Mr. Sadove is a
director of Saks Incorporated.
2
Directors Continuing in Office
CLASS II -- TERM EXPIRING 2003
DR. DONALD RATAJCZAK
Director of the Company since 1981 Age: 59
Dr. Ratajczak has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BrainWorks
Ventures Inc. (f/k/a Auric Metals Corporation), a company which provides
investment and advisory services for startup technology companies, since May
2000. Until his retirement in June 2000, Dr. Ratajczak served as Professor and
Director, Economic Forecasting Center, Georgia State University since July
1973. Dr. Ratajczak is a director of CIM High Yield Securities Fund, Crown
Crafts, Inc. and TBC Corporation.
SAMUEL E. BEALL, III
Director of the Company since 1982 Age: 52
Mr. Beall has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
of the Company since May 1995. Mr. Beall served as President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company from June 1992 to May 1995 and President and
Chief Operating Officer of the Company from September 1986 to June 1992.
CLAIRE L. ARNOLD
Director of the Company since 1994 Age: 55
Ms. Arnold has been Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Leapfrog
Services, Inc., a privately-held technical outsourcing company, since April
1998. Ms. Arnold served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Nicotiana
Enterprises, Inc., a family holding company, from November 1992 to April 1994.
Prior thereto, Ms. Arnold was Chair and Chief Executive Officer of NCC L.P.
from August 1979 to November 1992. Ms. Arnold is a director of
Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. and International Multifoods, Inc.
CLASS III -- TERM EXPIRING 2004
JOHN B. MCKINNON
Director of the Company since 1989 Age: 67
Prior to his retirement in May 1995, Mr. McKinnon was Dean of Babcock
Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University. Prior thereto, he was
President, Sara Lee Food Service from July 1988 through June 1989, and
President, Sara Lee Corporation from July 1986 through June 1988. Mr. McKinnon
is also a director of Medcath, Inc.
DOLPH W. VON ARX
Director of the Company since 1992 Age: 67
Prior to his retirement in 1991, Mr. von Arx was Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Planters LifeSavers Company, an
affiliate of RJR Nabisco, Inc. Mr. von Arx served as Chairman of the Board of
Isolux America Corporation, a privately-held company that manufactures
fiberoptic cable and medical devices, from 1998 through 2000. Mr. von Arx is a
director of Cree Research, Inc., International Multifoods, Inc., and Northern
Trust of Florida Corporation, a subsidiary of Northern Trust Corporation.
ELIZABETH L. NICHOLS
Director of the Company since 1999 Age: 48
Ms. Nichols has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Graylitt,
Inc., a privately held company that engages in real estate investments, since
August 2000. Prior thereto, Ms. Nichols served as President of JDN Realty
Corp., a public real estate investment trust, from March 1994 until September
2000. Ms. Nichols was President of JDN Enterprises, Inc. from December 1990
through March 1994.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the election of the three
nominees for Class I Directors named above.
3
Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock
The following table sets forth certain information as of August 16, 2002
(except as otherwise noted) regarding the amount of Common Stock beneficially
owned by all persons known to the Company who beneficially own more than five
percent of the outstanding Common Stock, each director and director nominee of
the Company, each Named Executive (as defined below), and all directors and
executive officers of the Company as a group. An asterisk indicates beneficial
ownership of less than one percent of the outstanding Common Stock.
Number of Shares
Beneficially Percent
Name or Group Owned(1) of Class(2)
- ------------- -------- -----------
Westport Asset Management, Inc. ...................................... 4,951,500(3) .77%
253 Riverside Avenue
Westport, CT 06880
Capital Group International, Inc.. ................................... 3,421,900(4) .37%
11100 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. ....................................... 3,556,500(5) .58%
100 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Samuel E. Beall, III ................................................. 817,760(6) .28%
Claire L. Arnold ..................................................... 50,701 *
James A. Haslam, III ................................................. 48,225(7) *
Bernard Lanigan, Jr. ................................................. 3,713(8) *
John B. McKinnon ..................................................... 96,500(9) *
Elizabeth L. Nichols ................................................. 16,737 *
Dr. Benjamin F. Payton ............................................... 37,669 *
Dr. Donald Ratajczak ................................................. 59,765(10) *
Dolph W. von Arx ..................................................... 53,405(11) *
Stephen I. Sadove .................................................... 0 *
A. Richard Johnson ................................................... 170,308 *
Robert D. McClenagan ................................................. 312,947 *
Sherry L. Turner ..................................................... 339,998 *
Daniel T. Cronk ...................................................... 113,638(12) *
All directors and executive officers as a group (15 persons) ......... 2,262,975 .48%
- ------------
(1) The amounts shown include: (i) shares subject to currently exercisable
options and options exercisable within 60 days after August 16, 2002, held
by the named persons and group as follows: Mr. Beall, 322,000; Ms. Arnold,
16,410; Mr. Haslam, 8,700; Mr. Lanigan, 1,932; Mr. McKinnon, 21,170; Ms.
Nichols, 8,700; Dr. Payton, 16,410; Dr. Ratajczak, 18,722; Mr. von Arx,
25,190; Mr. Johnson, 170,000; Mr. McClenagan, 216,634; Ms. Turner, 274,851;
Mr. Cronk, 99,387; and all directors and executive officers as a group,
1,306,060; and (ii) shares held in the Company's Salary Deferral Plan as
follows: Mr. Beall, 22,656; and all directors and executive officers as a
group, 26,566.
The amounts shown do not include share equivalent units credited to the
accounts of the named persons and group under the Company's Deferred
Compensation Plan which, as of July 31, 2002, were as follows: Mr. Beall,
20,730; Mr. McClenagan, 27,591; Ms. Turner, 28,400; Mr. Cronk, 21,820; and
all directors and executive officers as a group, 106,972. These units
represent deferred compensation obligations of the Company payable in
shares of Common Stock upon termination of employment either in a lump sum
or in installments, as determined by the Company in its capacity as plan
administrator.
(2) "Percent of Class" has been calculated by taking into account all shares as
to which the indicated person has sole or shared voting or investment power
(including shares subject to currently exercisable options and options
exercisable within 60 days after August 16, 2002), without regard to any
disclaimers of beneficial ownership by the person indicated.
4
(3) The information presented is based on the Schedule 13G, as amended, filed
by Westport Asset Management, Inc. reporting beneficial ownership as of
December 31, 2001. Westport Asset Management, Inc. disclaims 6,200 shares
owned by employees of Westport Asset Management, Inc. and Westport Advisors
LLC.
(4) The information presented is based on the Schedule 13G, as amended, filed
by Capital Group International, Inc. reporting beneficial ownership as of
December 31, 2001.
(5) The information presented is based on the Schedule 13G filed by T. Rowe
Price Associates, Inc. reporting beneficial ownership as of December 31,
2001.
(6) Includes 209,424 shares held in the Beall Family Ltd. Partnership, a
limited partnership of which Mr. Beall is a General Partner.
(7) Includes 30,388 shares held by PTC, Inc. of which Mr. Haslam is a 50%
owner. Mr. Haslam disclaims beneficial ownership of any shares in excess of
50% of the total of such shares. Mr. Haslam also disclaims beneficial
ownership of 200 shares held by his wife individually.
(8) Includes 1,000 shares held in a family limited partnership.
(9) Includes 42,500 shares owned by Mr. McKinnon and his spouse as tenants in
common.
(10) Includes 13,500 shares held in an individual retirement account by Dr.
Ratajczak.
(11) Includes 2,250 shares held by the von Arx Family Foundation, a charitable
organization. Mr. von Arx may be deemed to share voting and dispositive
power with respect to such shares by virtue of his position as a member of
the board of directors of the foundation.
(12) Includes 3,200 shares owned by Mr. Cronk and his spouse as tenants in
common.
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 executive officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders
("Reporting Persons") to file certain reports ("Section 16 Reports") with
respect to beneficial ownership of the Company's equity securities. Based
solely on its review of the Section 16 Reports furnished to the Company by its
Reporting Persons and, where applicable, any written representation by any of
them that no Form 5 was required, all Section 16(a) filing requirements
applicable to the Reporting Persons during and with respect to fiscal year 2002
have been complied with on a timely basis, except that Mr. Haslam failed to
timely report small acquisitions made during fiscal 2001 and 2002 by PTC, Inc.,
a corporation of which he is 50% owner, pursuant to a broker-administered
dividend reinvestment program.
Directors' Fees and Attendance
The Board of Directors met four times during fiscal year 2002. Each
director attended at least 75% of these meetings and meetings of any committee
of which he or she was a member which were held during the fiscal year, except
that Ms. Arnold was unable to attend the July 9, 2001 meetings of the Board of
Directors, the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee.
Directors who are employees of the Company receive no directors' fees. All
non-employee directors currently receive $4,500 quarterly retainers, $4,500 per
regularly-scheduled Board meeting attended and $2,250 for each special Board
meeting attended. Non-employee directors serving on the Audit Committee or the
Compensation Committee (other than the Chairpersons of such committees) do not
receive any fee for attending committee meetings. Committee Chairpersons
receive a fee for each committee meeting attended which is not held in
conjunction with a meeting of the Board of Directors. In addition, beginning in
fiscal year 2003, the Chairperson of the Audit Committee will receive an annual
fee of $10,000 and the Chairperson of the Compensation Committee will receive
an annual fee of $3,000.
The Ruby Tuesday, Inc. Stock Incentive and Deferred Compensation Plan for
Directors (the "Directors' Plan") permits non-employee directors to defer all
or a portion (in 25 percent increments) of their retainer (other than any
portion of the retainer allocated to Stock Awards, as described below) and/or
any additional meeting and committee fees to a deferred compensation account.
Deferred compensation accounts are credited as of the last day of each fiscal
quarter with an assumed rate of income equal to 90-day U.S. Treasury Bills,
based on the weighted average balance of that account during that fiscal
quarter. Amounts credited to a director's deferred compensation account will be
distributed not sooner than the earlier of the first January 15 or July 15
following (a) the date of the director's seventieth birthday, or (b) the date
the director ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors.
5
The Directors' Plan provides that each non-employee director who has not
attained the Target Ownership Level, as defined below, will be deemed to have
elected to direct that 60 percent of his or her retainer payable for each
fiscal quarter be allocated to the purchase of Common Stock on his or her
behalf. Each non-employee director who has attained the Target Ownership Level
may elect to direct, in 10 percent increments and subject to such other
conditions prescribed by the Directors' Plan, that up to 60 percent of his or
her retainer for each fiscal quarter be allocated to the purchase of Common
Stock on his or her behalf (collectively, the "Stock Awards"). A deemed
election will continue in effect until that director, after attaining the
Target Ownership Level, modifies or revokes the election in the manner allowed
for discretionary elections.
A director will be treated as having attained the "Target Ownership Level"
for a fiscal quarter if he or she owns, on the first day of that fiscal
quarter, at least a number of shares of Common Stock with a fair market value,
as determined by the closing price on the last trading day prior to such date
("Fair Market Value"), equal to 10 multiplied by that director's annual
retainer.
Each director who has elected, or who has been deemed to have elected, to
purchase Stock Awards for a fiscal quarter, will be issued the number of shares
of Common Stock equal to the amount of the retainer elected to be so allocated,
multiplied by 1.15 and divided by the Fair Market Value of a share of Common
Stock, as of the issue date. Common Stock so purchased may not be transferred
within three years of the date of purchase, except in the event of death,
disability, retirement on or after age 70 or unless this restriction is waived
by the committee administering the Directors' Plan.
The Directors' Plan provides that each non-employee director who receives
Stock Awards, whether through a deemed election or a discretionary election,
will be awarded an option to purchase shares of Common Stock (the "Options")
equal to three times the number of shares issued pursuant to the discretionary
election or deemed election, as the case may be.
Options issued under the Directors' Plan will be granted on the first day
of each fiscal quarter for which an election for a Stock Award is in effect,
will become fully exercisable six months following the date of grant, and will
be exercisable at the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the date of
the Option grant. Each Option shall expire generally upon the fifth anniversary
of the date on which it was granted.
The shareholders are being asked to consider at the Annual Meeting a
proposal to amend the Directors' Plan to permit annual formula grants of
options and to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance thereunder
(see Proposal 2).
Committees of the Board
The Board of Directors is responsible for the overall affairs of the
Company. To assist the Board of Directors in carrying out this responsibility,
the Board delegated certain authority to two committees. Information concerning
these committees follows.
Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is comprised solely of non-management
directors. The Audit Committee maintains communications with the Company's
independent auditors as to the nature of the auditors' services, fees and such
other matters as the auditors believe may require the attention of the Board.
The Audit Committee reviews the Company's internal control procedures and makes
recommendations to the Board with respect thereto. The Audit Committee of the
Company's Board met four times during fiscal year 2002. The current members of
the Audit Committee are John B. McKinnon (Chairperson), Claire L. Arnold, James
A. Haslam, III, Bernard Lanigan, Jr., Elizabeth L. Nichols, Dr. Benjamin F.
Payton, Dr. Donald Ratajczak and Dolph W. von Arx.
Compensation and Stock Option Committee. The Compensation and Stock Option
Committee (the "Compensation Committee") is comprised solely of non-management
directors. The Compensation Committee makes recommendations to the Board of
Directors with respect to compensation of officers and with respect to the
granting of stock options. The Compensation Committee of the Company's Board
met two times during fiscal year 2002. The current members of the Compensation
Committee are Dolph W. von Arx (Chairperson), Claire L. Arnold, James A.
Haslam, III, Bernard Lanigan, Jr., John B. McKinnon, Elizabeth L. Nichols, Dr.
Benjamin F. Payton and Dr. Donald Ratajczak.
6
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
This section of the Proxy Statement discloses compensation for services
rendered to the Company during each of the three fiscal years in the period
ended June 4, 2002, which compensation was awarded to, paid to, or earned by
the Company's Chief Executive Officer and each of the four other executive
officers of the Company who were most highly compensated and whose salary and
bonus exceeded $100,000 in fiscal year 2002 (collectively, these persons are
sometimes referred to as the "Named Executives").
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
All Other
Annual Compensation Long Term Compensation Compensation
--------------------------------------- ------------------------ -------------
Other Annual Awards Payouts
Compensation Options/ LTIP
Name and Position Year Salary ($) Bonus ($) $(1) SARs (#) Payouts ($) ($)(2)
- ----------------- ---- ---------- --------- ---- -------- ----------- ------
Samuel (Sandy) E. Beall, III 2002 936,368 1,162,720 3,755 398,698 -0- 5,548
Chairman of the Board and 2001 893,738 1,118,000 5,700 596,913 -0- 5,362
Chief Executive Officer 2000 846,442 1,075,000 -0- 478,000 -0- 3,217
Robert D. McClenagan 2002 390,193 390,425 3,298 203,975 -0- 9,235
President 2001 358,327 448,240 4,949 176,708 -0- 6,634
2000 344,544 431,000 74,177 216,634 -0- 7,064
Sherry L. Turner 2002 220,700 219,240 2,688 153,252 -0- 4,200
President - RTI Support 2001 210,652 210,808 3,893 175,268 -0- 4,000
Center 2000 202,502 202,700 3,600 179,387 -0- -0-
A. Richard Johnson (3) 2002 224,042 222,560 -0- 90,000 -0- 1,407
Senior Vice President - 2001 214,000 214,000 158,019 100,000 -0- 1,326
Brand Development 2000 8,231 -0- -0- 170,000 -0- -0-
Daniel T. Cronk 2002 211,663 210,263 2,401 72,892 -0- 2,255
Senior Vice President, 2001 202,026 202,176 3,607 94,878 -0- 2,240
General Counsel and 2000 193,961 194,400 3,600 99,387 -0- -0-
Secretary
- ------------
(1) Under the Company's Management Stock Option Program (the "MSOP"), eligible
employees of the Company may purchase shares of Common Stock up to
established annual limits if pre-established Corporate, Division, Region,
District or Unit goals, as the case may be, are achieved. For each share of
Common Stock purchased under the MSOP, the participant receives .15 of a
"bonus share" and a five-year option to purchase three times the number of
shares purchased plus the related bonus shares. The shares purchased and
the related bonus shares are subject to a two-year restriction on resale.
The value of the bonus shares received in connection with the purchase of
shares of Common Stock under the MSOP by the Named Executives is included
in this column. Additionally, the following amounts for taxable relocation
assistance provided by the Company are included: R. D. McClenagan, $68,177
for fiscal year 2000; and A.R. Johnson, $158,019 for fiscal year 2001.
(2) The amounts in this column include the following: (a) Company contributions
to the Deferred Compensation Plan for fiscal years 2002, 2001, and 2000,
respectively: R. D. McClenagan, $6,396, $3,847, and $4,898; S.L. Turner,
$4,200, $4,000, and $0 and Mr. Cronk, $2,255, $2,240 and $0; (b) executive
group life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance plan premiums
paid for fiscal years 2002, 2001, and 2000, respectively: S. E. Beall, III,
$1,142, $934, and $864; R. D. McClenagan, $1,142, $934, and $864; and A.R.
Johnson, $540, $424, and $0; and (c) employee portion of split-dollar life
insurance premiums paid by the Company for fiscal years 2002, 2001, and
2000, respectively: S. E. Beall, III, $4,406, $4,428 and $2,353; R. D.
McClenagan, $1,698, $1,853 and $1,302; and A.R. Johnson, $867, $902, and
$0.
(3) Mr. Johnson was elected as an executive officer of the Company on May 1,
2000.
7
OPTION GRANTS IN FISCAL 2002
The following table presents information regarding options to purchase
shares of Common Stock granted by the Company during fiscal year 2002 to the
Named Executives. The Company has no outstanding SARs and granted no SARs
during fiscal year 2002.
Potential Realizable Value(3) at Assumed Annual
Rates of Stock Price Appreciation for Option Term
----------------------------------------------------
Individual Grants 5% 10%
--------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------
% of Total
Options/SARs Market Price Market Price
Granted to Required to Required to
Employees in Exercise or Realize Realize
Options/SARs Fiscal Base Price Expiration Dollar Dollar Gains Dollar Dollar Gains
Name Granted(#)(1) Year(2) ($/Share) Date Gains ($) ($/Share) Gains ($) ($/Share)
- ---- ------------- ------- --------- ---- --------- --------- --------- ---------
S. E. Beall, III 2,634 0.12% 17.00 05-Jun-06 12,371 21.70 27,337 27.38
2,064 0.10% 21.70 05-Mar-07 12,374 27.70 27,344 34.95
394,000 18.27% 23.30 10-Apr-07 2,536,320 29.74 5,604,604 37.52
R. D. McClenagan 2,232 0.10% 17.00 05-Jun-06 10,483 21.70 23,165 27.38
1,746 0.08% 21.70 05-Mar-07 10,468 27.70 23,131 34.95
200,000 9.27% 23.30 10-Apr-07 1,287,472 29.74 2,844,977 37.52
S. L. Turner 1,824 0.08% 17.00 05-Jun-06 8,567 21.70 18,931 27.38
1,428 0.07% 21.70 05-Mar-07 8,561 27.70 18,918 34.95
150,000 6.95% 23.30 10-Apr-07 965,604 29.74 2,133,732 37.52
A. R. Johnson 90,000 4.17% 23.30 10-Apr-07 579,362 29.74 1,280,239 37.52
D. T. Cronk 1,623 0.08% 17.00 05-Jun-06 7,623 21.70 16,845 27.38
1,269 0.06% 21.70 05-Mar-07 7,608 27.70 16,812 34.95
70,000 3.25% 23.30 10-Apr-07 450,615 29.74 995,742 37.52
- ------------
(1) Except as otherwise stated, the indicated options have a term of five years
and were granted pursuant to the Company's Stock Incentive Plan. Those
options with an exercise price of $23.30 generally become exercisable
after 30 months. All other options listed in the table above generally
become exercisable after two years. In the event of a change in control of
the Company, the vesting of options will be accelerated unless the
Committee administering the plan elects to cash-out the options.
(2) Based on an aggregate of 2,156,971 options granted by the Company in fiscal
year 2002.
(3) The Potential Realizable Values are calculated as follows: [[Market Price
at Grant x (1 + Stock Price Appreciation Rate)] - Exercise Price] x Number
of Underlying Shares. Because these Potential Realizable Values are based
on annualized compound rates of increase over a five year term, the total
potential appreciation on annual appreciation rates of 5% and 10% is 27.6%
and 61.1% respectively.
8
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN FISCAL 2002 AND FISCAL YEAR END VALUES
The following table presents information regarding exercises of options to
purchase shares of Common Stock during fiscal year 2002 by the Named Executives
and the value of unexercised options to purchase Common Stock held at June 4,
2002. There were no SARs outstanding during fiscal year 2002.
Value of
Number of Unexercised
Unexercised In-the-Money Options at
Options FY-End FY-End($)(2)
------------------ ------------------------
Shares
Acquired on Value Exercisable/ Exercisable/
Name Exercise (#) Realized ($)(1) Unexercisable Unexercisable
- ---- ------------ --------------- ------------- -------------
S. E. Beall, III ......... 342,868 4,503,558 0/1,471,169 0/10,460,398
R. D. McClenagan ......... 234,232 3,292,057 14,634/580,454 194,674/3,425,193
S. L. Turner ............. 174,982 2,624,919 104,851/496,696 1,488,748/2,985,941
A. R. Johnson ............ -- -- 0/360,000 0/2,679,279
D. T. Cronk .............. 103,182 1,760,454 9,387/256,147 130,590/1,593,502
- ------------
(1) Value Realized is calculated as follows: [(Per Share Closing Price on date
of exercise) - (Per Share Exercise Price)] x Number of Shares for which
the option was exercised.
(2) Value of Unexercised In-the-Money Options at fiscal year end is calculated
as follows: [(Per Share Closing Sale Price on June 4, 2002) - (Per Share
Exercise Price)] \x Number of Shares Subject to Unexercised Options. The
per share closing sale price on June 4, 2002, the last trading day of
fiscal year 2002, was $22.73.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table presents information as of the end of fiscal year 2002
with respect to equity compensation plans (exclusive of the proposed increase
under Proposal 2):
(c)
Number of securities
(a) remaining available for
Number of securities (b) future issuance under
to be issued Weighted-average equity compensation
upon exercise of exercise price of plans (excluding
outstanding options, outstanding options, securities reflected in
Plan category warrants and rights warrants and rights column (a))
- ------------- ------------------- ------------------- -----------
Equity compensation plans approved
by security holders ..................... 4,016,994 15.3064 2,200,786
Equity compensation plans not
approved by security holders(1) ......... 3,560,407 14.8658 4,338,336
--------- ------- ---------
Total .................................. 7,577,401 15.0994 6,539,122
========= ======= =========
- ------------
(1) The material features of the only plan in this category, the Ruby Tuesday,
Inc. 1996 Non-Executive Stock Incentive Plan, are described in Note 10 to
the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements for fiscal year 2002.
Retirement Plan
The Company is a sponsor of the Morrison Restaurants Inc. Retirement Plan
(the "Retirement Plan"). Under the Retirement Plan, participants are entitled
to receive benefits based upon salary and length of service. The Retirement
Plan was frozen as of December 31, 1987, so that no additional benefits have
accrued, and no new participants have been permitted since that date. The
Retirement Plan is a tax-qualified, funded, defined benefit plan. A
participant's accrued annual benefit is determined generally by adding A and B
below, as applicable:
(A) 1/4 percent of pay up to that year's Social Security Wage Base, plus
1-1/4 percent of pay over the Social Security Wage Base for each credited
year of service (as defined in the Retirement Plan) commencing on or
after January 1, 1986; and
9
(B) 1/4 percent of average pay for the highest consecutive five years from
1976 through 1985 up to $14,400, plus 1-1/4 percent of such pay in excess
of $14,400, multiplied by the number of credited years of service with
the Company up to January 1, 1986.
Normal retirement for purposes of the Retirement Plan is age 65, although
a participant with at least five years of service may retire with a reduced
benefit as early as age 55. Generally, benefits are paid in the form of a
single life annuity if the participant is unmarried or a joint and survivor
annuity if the participant is married, unless an alternative form of benefit
payment is selected by the participant from among a range of options made
available under the Retirement Plan. A participant's accrued benefit becomes
vested upon completion of five years of service after age 18.
Benefits payable under the Retirement Plan reduce the amount of benefits
payable to a participant in the Executive Supplemental Pension Plan or the
Management Retirement Plan, described below.
Executive Supplemental Pension Plan
Eligible Named Executives of the Company participate in the Company's
Executive Supplemental Pension Plan ("ESPP"). The ESPP is a nonqualified,
unfunded, defined benefit retirement plan for selected employees. As a
condition of entry to the ESPP, future participants must complete five years of
continuous service in one or more qualifying job positions and must have
achieved a minimum salary threshold, as described in the ESPP.
A participant's accrued benefit in the ESPP equals 2.5 percent of the
participant's highest five-year average base salary multiplied by the
participant's years and fractional years of continuous service (as defined in
the ESPP) not in excess of 20 years; plus one percent of the participant's
highest five-year average base salary multiplied by the participant's years and
fractional years of continuous service in excess of 20 years, but not in excess
of 30 years of such service; less the retirement benefit payable at the age of
65 in the form of a single life annuity payable to the participant under the
Retirement Plan; and less the participant's Social Security benefits. Base
salary includes commissions but excludes bonuses and other forms of
remuneration other than salary. Benefits are paid to a participant in the same
manner as benefits may be paid under the Retirement Plan and become vested if
the participant has completed ten years of service. Normal retirement for
purposes of the ESPP is age 65, although a participant with at least five years
of service may retire with an actuarially reduced benefit as early as age 55.
Supplemental early retirement provisions allow designated participants to
receive unreduced benefits, enhanced benefits, and/or early commencement of
benefit payments, depending upon age and service criteria specified in the
ESPP. A participant's receipt of unreduced early retirement benefits is
conditioned upon not competing with the Company for a period of two years
following retirement.
Estimated annual benefits payable upon retirement to persons in specified
remuneration and years of continuous service classifications are shown in the
following table. All amounts shown are for a single life annuity and assume
that active participation in the ESPP continues until age 65. In accordance
with the ESPP, the amounts shown are subject to reduction for Social Security
benefits and benefits received under the Retirement Plan.
10
Executive Supplemental Pension Plan Estimated Annual Benefits for
Representative Years of Service to Age 65
30 or
Annual Average Base Salary 10 15 20 25 More
- -------------------------- -- -- -- -- ----
$ 250,000.................. $62,500 $93,750 $125,000 $137,500 $150,000
275,000 ................. 68,750 103,125 137,500 151,250 165,000
300,000 ................. 75,000 112,500 150,000 165,000 180,000
325,000 ................. 81,250 121,875 162,500 178,750 195,000
350,000 ................. 87,500 131,250 175,000 192,500 210,000
375,000 ................. 93,750 140,625 187,500 206,250 225,000
400,000 ................. 100,000 150,000 200,000 220,000 240,000
425,000 ................. 106,250 159,375 212,500 233,750 255,000
450,000 ................. 112,500 168,750 225,000 247,500 270,000
475,000 ................. 118,750 178,125 237,500 261,250 285,000
500,000 ................. 125,000 187,500 250,000 275,000 300,000
525,000 ................. 131,250 196,875 262,500 288,750 315,000
550,000 ................. 137,500 206,250 275,000 302,500 330,000
575,000 ................. 143,750 215,625 287,500 316,250 345,000
600,000 ................. 150,000 225,000 300,000 330,000 360,000
625,000 ................. 156,250 234,375 312,500 343,750 375,000
650,000 ................. 162,500 243,750 325,000 357,500 390,000
675,000 ................. 168,750 253,125 337,500 371,250 405,000
700,000 ................. 175,000 262,500 350,000 385,000 420,000
725,000 ................. 181,250 271,875 362,500 398,750 435,000
750,000 ................. 187,500 281,250 375,000 412,500 450,000
775,000 ................. 193,750 290,625 387,500 426,250 465,000
800,000 ................. 200,000 300,000 400,000 440,000 480,000
825,000 ................. 206,250 309,375 412,500 453,750 495,000
850,000 ................. 212,500 318,750 425,000 467,500 510,000
875,000 ................. 218,750 328,125 437,500 481,250 525,000
900,000 ................. 225,000 337,500 450,000 495,000 540,000
925,000 ................. 231,250 346,875 462,500 508,750 555,000
950,000 ................. 237,500 356,250 475,000 522,500 570,000
975,000 ................. 243,750 365,625 487,500 536,250 585,000
1,000,000 ................. 250,000 375,000 500,000 550,000 600,000
Years of continuing service, to the nearest year, and current remuneration
covered by the ESPP (base salary) for the eligible Named Executives are: Mr.
Beall, 30 years, $936,368; Mr. McClenagan, 30 years, $390,193; Mr. Johnson, 8
years, $231,462; and Mr. Cronk, 5 years, $211,663.
Management Retirement Plan
The Company's Management Retirement Plan ("MRP") provides a select group
of management or highly compensated employees the security of receiving a
defined level of retirement benefits. The MRP is a nonqualified, unfunded,
defined benefit retirement plan for employees with 15 or more years of credited
service (as defined in the MRP) whose average annual compensation over a
consecutive three calendar-year period equals or exceeds $40,000, which amount
may be adjusted by the Company from time to time. The MRP was frozen as of June
1, 2001, so that no additional benefits have accrued, and no new participants
have been permitted since that date.
A participant's single-life annuity accrued benefit in the MRP equals 1.5
percent of the participant's average compensation determined over the five-year
period immediately preceding the earlier of the participant's termination of
employment or June 1, 2001 multiplied by the participant's years of credited
service prior to June 1, 2001 not in excess of 20 years; plus 2 percent of the
participant's average compensation determined over such five-year period
multiplied by the participant's years of credited service prior to June 1, 2001
in excess of 20 years, but not in excess of 30 years; minus the sum of (a) the
participant's Retirement Plan benefits, (b) the participant's Social Security
benefits, and (c) the participant's ESPP Benefit (as defined in the MRP). For
purposes of determining a participant's accrued benefit, a year's compensation
includes commissions and bonuses, but generally no form of remuneration is
counted in excess of $100,000, which amount may be adjusted by the Company from
time to time.
11
Normal retirement for purposes of the MRP is age 65, although a
participant may retire with a benefit as early as age 55. Generally, benefits
are paid in the form of a single life annuity if the participant is unmarried
or a joint and survivor annuity if the participant is married. If the
participant is also entitled to benefits under the Retirement Plan, benefits
payable under the MRP must be in the same form as those payable under the
Retirement Plan. The MRP allows payment of an actuarially reduced benefit,
commencing as early as age 55, even if the participant terminated employment
prior to attainment of age 55.
Estimated annual benefits payable upon retirement to persons in specified
remuneration and years of credited service classifications are shown in the
following table. All amounts shown are for a single life annuity and assume
that active participation continues in the MRP until age 65. In accordance with
the MRP, the amounts shown are subject to reduction for Social Security
benefits, benefits received under the Retirement Plan and benefits payable
under the ESPP. A participant is ineligible for benefits under the MRP while
receiving any long-term disability benefits.
Management Retirement Plan
Estimated Annual Benefits for Representative Years of Service to Age 65
Final Average Salary 15 20 25 30 or More
- -------------------- -- -- -- ----------
$ 40,000 ............. $ 9,000 $12,000 $16,000 $20,000
60,000 .......... 13,500 18,000 24,000 30,000
80,000 .......... 18,000 24,000 32,000 40,000
100,000 .......... 22,500 30,000 40,000 50,000
Years of credited service and salary covered by the MRP for the eligible
Named Executives are: Mr. Beall, 30 years, $100,000; and Mr. McClenagan, 30
years, $100,000.
Employment Agreement
The Company entered into an employment agreement with Samuel (Sandy) E.
Beall, III dated June 19, 1999 pursuant to which Mr. Beall has agreed to serve
as Chief Executive Officer of the Company until June 18, 2006. The employment
agreement may continue for any subsequent renewal periods agreed to by the
Company and Mr. Beall.
The employment agreement provides that Mr. Beall will be compensated at an
initial base salary rate equal to $860,000 a year, adjusted annually by an
amount equal to the greater of (a) 4% of the base salary then in effect, or (b)
an amount determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, or appropriate
committee thereof, based upon peer group competitive market data (as so
adjusted from time to time, the "Base Salary"). In addition, under the
employment agreement, Mr. Beall is entitled to an annual bonus opportunity
pursuant to the terms of the CEO Bonus Plan, based upon performance criteria
approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, or appropriate committee
thereof, currently with a target bonus equal to 100% of Base Salary and a
maximum bonus equal to 175% of Base Salary.
In addition, under the employment agreement, Mr. Beall will also be
entitled to participate in such long-term incentive compensation programs as
may be developed from time to time for the senior management of the Company,
including annual grants of stock options under the Company's Executive Stock
Option Program according to the same criteria pursuant to which grants are
awarded to other senior executives of the Company.
Pursuant to the employment agreement, the Company agreed to provide Mr.
Beall with life insurance coverage providing a death benefit of not less than
four times Base Salary, payable to such beneficiary or beneficiaries as Mr.
Beall may designate. This obligation may be satisfied in whole or in part by
the Executive's participation in the Ruby Tuesday, Inc. Executive Life
Insurance Plan.
In the employment agreement, the Company and Mr. Beall agreed, and the
Company's Compensation Committee approved, that options previously granted to
Mr. Beall to acquire Common Stock will be amended to provide, or will provide
if granted in the future, that (a) such options which have not then vested
shall vest in full upon Mr. Beall's death or disability, the involuntary
termination of Mr. Beall's employment by the Company without Cause, Mr. Beall's
retirement upon satisfying applicable early retirement criteria or upon a
Change in Control and (b) the maximum term within which then-vested options may
be exercised shall expire no later than 90 days following a voluntary
resignation by Mr. Beall (unless the resignation qualifies as a Qualified
Termination) prior to Mr. Beall satisfying applicable early retirement
criteria; no later than 90 days following an involuntary termination of Mr.
Beall's employment by the Company without Cause with respect to the portion of
any option which vests
12
as a result of such involuntary termination of employment; or, no later than
one year following any other involuntary termination of Mr. Beall's employment,
prior to a Change of Control, without Cause with respect to the portion of any
option which has then previously vested, and no later than 15 days following an
involuntary termination of Mr. Beall's employment by the Company for Cause, or
in each case the expiration of the stated term of such option, whichever first
occurs.
Pursuant to the employment agreement, in the event the Company terminates
Mr. Beall's employment other than for Cause, the employment agreement will
terminate and Mr. Beall will become entitled to receive: (a) immediate payment
of any obligations accrued but unpaid as of the date of termination; (b)
payment of Base Salary then in effect for 24 months (the "Severance Period");
(c) payment of annual bonuses (or pro rata portion thereof), if any, payable
for each of those fiscal years that overlap, in whole or in part, with the
Severance Period, with such amounts paid when and as such annual bonuses would
normally be determined; (d) payment of earned but unused vacation through the
end of the calendar month in which the termination occurs; and (e) the
provision of health, life and disability coverages to Mr. Beall and eligible
dependents for the Severance Period at active employee rates (or cash equal to
the cost of any such coverage to the extent such continued coverage cannot be
provided pursuant to any underlying insurance policy then in effect or where
such continued coverage would have adverse tax effects to Mr. Beall or other
plan participants). The Company and Mr. Beall agreed that the failure of the
Board of Directors of the Company to elect, or the action of the Board of
Directors to remove, Mr. Beall as Chairman of the Board will, in the absence of
Cause, permit Mr. Beall to terminate the employment agreement within 60 days of
such event and such termination will be deemed to constitute an involuntary
termination other than for Cause by the Company.
The employment agreement provides that in the event of a Qualified
Termination of Mr. Beall's employment following a Change of Control, the
employment agreement will terminate and Mr. Beall will become entitled to
receive: (a) immediate payment of any obligations accrued but unpaid as of the
date of termination; (b) immediate payment of a lump sum amount equal to the
product of three, multiplied by the sum of (i) Base Salary then in effect, plus
(ii) the greater of (A) the target annual bonus for the fiscal year in which
the Qualified Termination occurs, or (B) the average of the last three annual
bonuses earned by Mr. Beall; (c) immediate payment of a pro rata portion of the
target annual bonus for the fiscal year in which the Qualified Termination
occurs; and (d) the provision of health, life and disability coverages to Mr.
Beall and eligible dependents for a period of 36 months at active employee
rates (or cash equal to the cost of any such coverage to the extent such
continued coverage cannot be provided pursuant to any underlying insurance
policy then in effect or where such continued coverage would have adverse tax
effects to Mr. Beall or other plan participants). Payment of obligations under
any other employee benefit plans will be determined in accordance with the
provisions of those plans; provided, however, that Mr. Beall's accrued benefit
under the ESPP will be determined by increasing Mr. Beall's actual years of
continuous service by an additional three full years.
The employment agreement also provides that if the aggregate amount
provided for in the employment agreement and any other payments and benefits
which Mr. Beall has the right to receive from the Company and its affiliates
would subject Mr. Beall to an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal
Revenue Code, or any interest or penalties are incurred or paid by Mr. Beall
with respect to such excise tax (any such excise tax, together with any such
interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise
Tax"), then Mr. Beall shall be entitled to an additional payment from the
Company as is necessary (after taking into account all federal, state and local
taxes (regardless of type, whether income, excise or otherwise imposed upon Mr.
Beall as a result of the receipt of the payment contemplated by the employment
agreement)) to place Mr. Beall in the same after-tax position Mr. Beall would
have been in had no Excise Tax been imposed or incurred or paid by Mr. Beall.
The Company agreed to pay to Mr. Beall in cash in a lump sum any amount due
pursuant to this provision not later than five business days prior to the date
that Mr. Beall must file his federal income tax return which reflects the
payment that subjects Mr. Beall to the Excise Tax.
Pursuant to the employment agreement, Mr. Beall agreed (a) to hold the
Company's confidential information and trade secrets in strictest confidence,
and (b) not to use, duplicate, reproduce, distribute, disclose or otherwise
disseminate the Company's confidential information and trade secrets or any
physical embodiments thereof and may in no event take any action causing or
fail to take any action necessary in order to prevent any of the Company's
confidential information and trade secrets from losing its character or ceasing
to qualify as confidential information or a trade secret. These covenants will
survive the termination of the employment agreement for a period of two
13
years following termination of the employment agreement with respect to
confidential information, and with respect to trade secrets for so long as the
information qualifies as a trade secret under applicable law.
In addition, Mr. Beall agreed that during his employment by the Company
and for a period of two years thereafter (a) he will not (except on behalf of
or with the prior written consent of the Company), within the United States,
either directly or indirectly, on his own behalf or in the service or on behalf
of others, as a principal, partner, officer, director, manager, supervisor,
administrator, consultant, executive employee or in any other capacity which
involves duties and responsibilities similar to those undertaken for the
Company, engage in any business which is the same as or essentially the same as
the business of the Company and (b) he will not, on his own behalf or in the
service or on behalf of others, solicit or recruit any employee of the Company
with whom he worked or had dealings in the course of his employment with the
Company. Mr. Beall also agreed that at any time during or after his employment
with the Company, he will not make any disparaging remarks to the public
regarding the Company or otherwise attempt to cast the Company in an
unfavorable light.
Under the employment agreement, "Cause" means, with respect to termination
of Mr. Beall's employment by the Company: (a) conviction of a felony; (b)
conduct constituting a willful refusal to perform any material duty assigned by
the Board of Directors of the Company; (c) conduct that amounts to fraud
against the Company or its affiliates; (d) a breach of the terms of the
employment agreement that is materially injurious to the Company or its
affiliates; or (e) conduct that amounts to willful gross neglect or willful
gross misconduct resulting in material economic harm to the Company or its
affiliates.
"Change of Control" means any of the following events: (a) the acquisition
by any individual, entity or "group" (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or
Section 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (a
"Person") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated
under such Act) of voting securities of the Company where such acquisition
causes any such Person to own 25% or more of the combined voting power of the
then outstanding voting securities then entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (the "Outstanding Voting Securities"); provided, however,
that for purposes of this definition, the following shall not constitute a
Change of Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, unless such a
Person subsequently acquires additional shares of Outstanding Voting Securities
other than from the Company; or (ii) any acquisition by an employee benefit
plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any
affiliate; (b) within any 12-month period (beginning on or after the effective
date of the employment agreement), the persons who were directors of the
Company immediately before the beginning of such 12-month period (the
"Incumbent Directors") shall cease to constitute at least a majority of the
Board of Directors of the Company; provided that any director who was not a
director as of the effective date of the employment agreement shall be deemed
to be an Incumbent Director if that director was elected to the Board of
Directors by, or on the recommendation of or with the approval of, at least
two-thirds of the directors who then qualified as Incumbent Directors; and
provided further that no director whose initial assumption of office is in
connection with an actual or threatened election contest (as such terms are
used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934) relating to the election of directors shall be deemed to be an
Incumbent Director; (c) the approval by the shareholders of the Company of a
reorganization, merger or consolidation, with respect to which persons who were
the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such reorganization,
merger or consolidation do not, immediately thereafter, own more than 50% of
the combined voting power entitled to vote in the election of directors of the
reorganized, merged or consolidated company's then outstanding voting
securities; (d) the sale, transfer or assignment of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company and its affiliates to any third party; or (e) the
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
"Qualified Termination" means, during the term of the employment
agreement, any one of the following events: (a) an involuntary termination of
Mr. Beall's employment by the Company other than for Cause; (b) a resignation
by Mr. Beall for any reason within 12 months following a Change of Control; or
(c) a resignation by Mr. Beall following a Change of Control for any one of the
following reasons: (i) a reduction in his then current Base Salary or a
reduction in his target bonus opportunity, expressed as a percentage of Base
Salary; (ii) a failure to elect or reelect him to the positions of Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors; (iii) a material
diminution in his duties or responsibilities; or (iv) a change in supervisory
authority such that he no longer reports directly to the Board of Directors of
the Company.
14
The Company estimates the value of the compensation and benefits payable
under the change in control provisions of Mr. Beall's employment agreement, as
of the date of this Proxy Statement, if such provisions were triggered by a
change in control would be approximately $8,450,000.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, which
is composed solely of non-employee directors of the Company, has furnished the
following report on executive compensation.
Overall Compensation Philosophy
During the past fiscal year, the Company has reaffirmed its long-standing
emphasis on the performance-based elements of executive compensation. These
programs closely align performance measures with current business strategy and
are designed to motivate executive behavior. In general, the Company controls
base salaries and compensates outstanding performance through more highly
leveraged annual and longer-term incentive programs. As a result, the following
principles apply to executive compensation:
o Base salaries are competitive with similar high-performance restaurant
companies;
o A very significant portion of executive compensation is tied to the
Company's success in meeting predetermined earnings per share growth and
other annual and long-term performance goals; and
o Executives are required to own specified amounts of Common Stock,
resulting in direct linkage between executive and shareholder interests.
The overall objectives of this strategy are to attract and retain the best
possible executive talent and to motivate the Company's executives to achieve
the goals inherent in the Company's business strategy.
The key components of the Company's executive compensation packages are
base salary, annual incentive opportunities, and equity devices. The
Compensation Committee's policies with respect to each of these elements are
discussed below.
Base Salaries
The Company's general approach for base compensation of its officers,
including the Chief Executive Officer and the Named Executives, is to establish
salary ranges with market targets which are at the 75th percentile of the
competitive market in the casual dining industry for the Chief Executive
Officer and the 50th percentile for the other executives. Each salary range
provides a lower and upper limit on the value of jobs assigned to that range.
This reflects the previously mentioned objective of controlling base salary
costs and emphasizing incentive compensation. Future adjustments to base
salaries and salary ranges will reflect average movement in the competitive
market as well as individual performance.
Annual Incentive Compensation
The Company's annual incentive plan directly links annual incentive
payments to the accomplishment of predetermined and Board-approved financial
and operating goals. Annual incentive opportunities are established for
executives depending upon their respective organizational levels and
responsibilities as well as competitive market practices. Corporate and
individual performance objectives are established at the beginning of each
fiscal year.
Potential incentives for executives who do not have partner agreements
with the Company are tied to growth in earnings per share, as well as certain
qualitative measures. For fiscal year 2002, annual incentive compensation
opportunities for these executives ranged from 15 percent to 20 percent of base
salary if "minimum" goals were achieved, 30 percent to 40 percent of base
salary if the "target" goals were achieved, 45 percent to 80 percent of base
salary if the "maximum" goals were achieved and 60 percent to 125 percent of
base salary if the "maximum plus" goals were achieved. Pursuant to existing
partner agreements, potential incentives are tied to increases in same store
sales and, in some cases, increase in profitability of Company-owned
restaurants, and range from 50 percent to 200 percent of base salary.
Performance for fiscal year 2002 measured against the objectives contained in
the incentive plan or partner agreements resulted in the incentive compensation
for the Named Executives shown in the Summary Compensation Table. Such awards
generally represented approximately 100 percent of the total incentive awards
that could have been earned by the Named Executives. In April 2002, the Company
revised the
15
annual incentive compensation structure for executives who do not have partner
agreements to remain competitive with companies in the casual dining industry.
Under the revised bonus structure, annual incentive opportunities for fiscal
2003 through fiscal 2007 for such executives other than the Chief Executive
Officer range from 15 percent to 40 percent if the "minimum" goals are
achieved, 30 percent to 80 percent if the "target" goals are achieved and 50
percent to 150 percent if the "maximum" goals are achieved. The "maximum plus"
incentive bonus level was eliminated for all executives other than staff Vice
Presidents, who have an annual incentive opportunity of 60 percent if the
"maximum plus" incentive bonus level is achieved. Occasionally the Company may
establish a special incentive award for an individual officer or other employee
aimed at achieving a specified performance goal. The Company has a separate
bonus plan for the Chief Executive Officer, described in more detail below,
which is similar in structure to the incentive plan for the other executives.
Executive Stock Ownership
Believing that equity ownership plays a key role in aligning the interests
of Company personnel with Company shareholders, the Company encourages all
employees to make a personal investment in Common Stock. Ownership requirements
have been developed for the Company's top management group. The following
requirements apply to various organization levels: Chief Executive Officer, a
minimum of four times base salary; Concept Presidents and President/Partners, a
minimum of three times base salary; Corporate Senior Vice Presidents and Senior
Vice President/Partners--Regional Operations, a minimum of two times base
salary; and Corporate and Concept Vice Presidents and Vice
Presidents/Partners--Regional Operations, a minimum of one times base salary.
These objectives must be attained within the five-year period commencing with
the date of hire or promotion, as appropriate, with the minimum to be fully
achieved at the end of such period, and may be accomplished through the
exercise of stock options, other stock incentives, open market purchases
effected by the employee on his own behalf or by his spouse or on behalf of his
children under age 21 or through participation in the Company's deferred
compensation retirement plan. Members of the management group must achieve
target ownership levels to be eligible to receive future awards under
stock-based plans.
Long-Term Incentive Compensation
Awards under the Company's stock-based compensation plans directly link
potential participant rewards to increases in shareholder value. The Company
maintains stock incentive plans for executive officers and other employees.
These plans provide for grants of a variety of stock incentives, including
stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, stock purchase
rights and performance shares or units. The programs described below have been
established under one or more of these plans.
Executive Stock Option Program
The Company has an Executive Stock Option Program which provides for
option grants to its key employees at the General Manager level and above,
depending upon the key employee's position within the Company. The options are
issued at fair market value and have a five-year term and generally vest 30
months after the date of the grant. In order for key employees to receive
option grants under this program, they must meet certain minimum Common Stock
ownership requirements. During fiscal year 2002, option grants ranging from 200
to 394,000 shares, for a total of 1,847,050 shares, were made under this
program.
Management Stock Option Program
The Company has a MSOP for exempt employees and full-time non-exempt
employees with at least two years of service. Based on organization level,
eligible employees may purchase shares of Common Stock up to established annual
limits. For each share purchased, 1.15 shares will be issued and the
participant will receive a five-year option to purchase three times the number
of shares of Common Stock obtained at a per share exercise price equal to the
fair market value of a share on the date of grant. These options generally vest
two years after the date of the grant. The right to purchase Common Stock under
this program is conditioned on the achievement of Corporate, Division, Region,
District or Unit goals, as the case may be. There generally is a two-year
restriction on the sale of shares acquired through this program other than
through the exercise of stock options. The Company granted options to purchase
an aggregate of 295,569 shares to employees under this program during fiscal
year 2002.
16
Restricted Stock
The Company may occasionally grant restricted stock or other stock rights
to ensure retention of key executives or as a part of the compensation provided
to a new executive hired from outside the Company. No restricted stock or other
stock rights were granted by the Company during fiscal year 2002.
Chief Executive Officer Compensation
Pursuant to the terms of Mr. Beall's employment agreement, Mr. Beall's
base salary for fiscal year 2002 was $930,176. At the July 8, 2002,
Compensation Committee meeting, Mr. Beall's base salary was reviewed. Based on
the terms of his employment agreement and competitive market data, the
Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board of Directors subsequently
approved, an increase in annual base salary to $967,383 for fiscal year 2003.
The CEO Bonus Plan was approved by the shareholders at the 1994 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders, and was reapproved at the 1999 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders. Pursuant to the CEO Bonus Plan, the Chief Executive Officer may
earn a cash bonus determined as a percentage of his salary if predetermined
levels of growth in earnings per share are achieved by the Company. For fiscal
year 2002, the Chief Executive Officer's bonus opportunity was 25 percent, 50
percent, 100 percent or 125 percent of his base salary if the Company achieved
or exceeded the "minimum," "target," "maximum" and "maximum plus" earnings per
share growth level, respectively, with a proportional increase in the bonus for
every one-tenth of a percent increase in earnings per share growth between such
performance levels. For fiscal year 2002, Mr. Beall earned an incentive bonus
pursuant to the CEO Bonus Plan of $1,162,720. At the April 12, 2002 meeting of
the Compensation Committee, the Compensation Committee revised the incentive
compensation structure for the Chief Executive Officer in the form of an
amendment to the CEO Bonus Plan to increase the maximum annual bonus limit for
the Chief Executive Officer to $2,000,000 to remain competitive with companies
in the casual dining industry. This amendment is being considered by the
shareholders at the Annual Meeting. Under the revised bonus structure, the
Chief Executive Officer's bonus opportunity for fiscal years 2003 through 2006
will be 50 percent, 100 percent and 175 percent of his base salary if the
Company achieved or exceeded the "minimum," "target" and "maximum" earnings per
share growth level, respectively. The "maximum plus" performance level was
eliminated.
In addition, the Compensation Committee has approved Mr. Beall's
participation in the Management Stock Option Program (described above) under
which he may purchase Common Stock having a value of up to $56,000 annually
(beginning with the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2002), conditioned upon the
Company's achievement of pre-established financial goals.
Deductibility of Executive Compensation
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), limits the amount of individual compensation for certain executives
that may be deducted by the employer for federal tax purposes in any one fiscal
year to $1 million unless such compensation is "performance-based." The
determination of whether compensation is performance-based depends upon a
number of factors, including shareholder approval of the plan under which the
compensation is paid, the exercise price at which options or similar awards are
granted, the disclosure to and approval by the shareholders of applicable
performance standards, the composition of the Compensation Committee, and
certification by the Compensation Committee that performance standards were
satisfied. In order to preserve the Company's ability to deduct certain
performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, the
Compensation Committee recommended that the Company seek shareholder approval
for certain incentive compensation programs for the Chief Executive Officer.
Pursuant to the Compensation Committee recommendation, the Company submitted to
the shareholders for approval, and the shareholders approved, the CEO Bonus
Plan at the 1994 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. In order to continue to
preserve the Company's ability to deduct annual incentive compensation paid to
the Chief Executive Officer, the CEO Bonus Plan was reapproved at the 1999
Annual Meeting of Shareholders and an amendment to increase the maximum annual
bonus that may be paid thereunder is being submitted to the shareholders for
approval at the Annual Meeting (see Proposal 3). While it is possible for the
Company to compensate or make awards under incentive plans and otherwise that
do not qualify as performance-based compensation deductible under Section
162(m), the Compensation Committee, in structuring compensation programs for
its top executive officers, intends to give strong consideration to the
deductibility of awards.
17
Board of Directors and Compensation Committee
The Board of Directors of the Company has a standing Compensation
Committee whose purpose is to review and make recommendations concerning the
base salaries of all officers of the Company and to authorize all other forms
of compensation, including stock options. Members of the Compensation Committee
also administer the Company's stock-based incentive plans. The Compensation
Committee met two times during fiscal year 2002. The Board of Directors
approved all decisions of the Compensation Committee during fiscal year 2002.
The members of the Compensation Committee are named below.
Dolph W. von Arx (Chairperson)
Claire L. Arnold Elizabeth L. Nichols
Bernard Lanigan, Jr. Dr. Benjamin F. Payton
James A. Haslam, III Dr. Donald Ratajczak
John B. McKinnon
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS
AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
During fiscal year 2002, the members of the Compensation Committee were
Dolph W. von Arx, (Chairperson), Claire L. Arnold, James A. Haslam, III,
Bernard Lanigan, Jr., John B. McKinnon, Elizabeth L. Nichols, Dr. Benjamin F.
Payton, and Dr. Donald Ratajczak. During fiscal year 2002, Mr. Haslam, a
director of the Company, served as President of Pilot Travel Centers, LLC and
Chief Executive Officer and a director of Pilot Corporation, a privately-held
corporation. Pilot Corporation does not have a compensation committee of its
board of directors. Mr. Beall, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, and Mr. McKinnon, a director and member of the
Compensation Committee of the Company, also served on the board of directors of
Pilot Corporation and the board of managers of Pilot Travel Centers, LLC during
fiscal year 2002.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
The Company has a ground lease with Holrob-Mercedes Place General
Partnership, a Tennessee general partnership ("Holrob-Mercedes"). The lease
covers the Company's restaurant located in the Mercedes Place Shopping Center
in Knoxville, Tennessee. The lease has a term expiring on June 30, 2014, with
two five-year renewal options. The minimum rent under the lease is $50,000
annually through June 30, 2004 and gradually increases every fifth anniversary
thereafter by a rate of less than $10,000 annually. Susan Bagwell Haslam, James
A. Haslam, III's wife, and William E. Haslam, Mr. Haslam's brother, each hold a
25 percent interest in Holrob-Mercedes.
The Company entered into a partner agreement dated as of June 6, 2001 with
Robert D. McClenagan, Jr. pursuant to which Mr. McClenagan agreed to serve as a
concept partner responsible for the development and operation of
Company-operated Ruby Tuesday restaurants. Pursuant to this agreement, Mr.
McClenagan is entitled to compensation from the Company consisting of an annual
salary of $388,000 (fixed during the term) and a bonus based on increases in
same store sales and profitability of Company-operated Ruby Tuesday
restaurants. Bonus is determined as a multiple of salary, capped at two times
base salary. Pursuant to this agreement, Mr. McClenagan delivered to the
Company shares of Common Stock with a market value of $300,000 to be held in
escrow to secure satisfactory performance of his duties and responsibilities
under the agreement. In the event the agreement is terminated by the Company
for cause or Mr. McClenagan resigns, the escrow shares will be forfeited to the
Company. The agreement has a term of three years but terminates upon death and
may be terminated by the Company (i) for cause, (ii) upon disability and (iii)
without cause upon 120 days' notice. This agreement also contains trade
secrets, confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-compete covenants. Mr.
McClenagan is an executive officer of the Company. Mr. McClenagan earned a
bonus of $390,425 for fiscal year 2002 under this agreement.
The Company entered into a partner agreement dated as of June 5, 2002 with
Mark S. Ingram, who is Mr. Beall's brother-in-law, pursuant to which Mr. Ingram
agreed to serve as president/partner responsible for the development,
operation, licensing and franchising of the Company's domestic franchise
business. Pursuant to this agreement, Mr. Ingram is entitled to annual
compensation from the Company consisting of a salary of $240,000 (fixed during
the term) and a bonus based on increases in same store sales and profitability
by the Company's domestic franchising business. Bonus is determined as a
multiple of salary, which is capped at two times base salary.
18
Pursuant to this agreement, Mr. Ingram delivered to the Company shares of
Common Stock with a market value of $200,000 to be held in escrow to secure
satisfactory performance of his duties and responsibilities under the
agreement. In the event the agreement is terminated by the Company for cause or
Mr. Ingram resigns, the escrow shares will be forfeited to the Company. The
agreement has a term of three years but terminates upon death and may be
terminated by the Company (i) for cause, (ii) upon disability and (iii) without
cause upon 120 days' notice. The agreement also contains trade secrets,
confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-compete covenants. Pursuant to Mr.
Ingram's previous partner agreement, which was similar to the current agreement
but had an annual bonus cap of $1,000,000, Mr. Ingram earned bonuses of
$1,000,000, $1,000,000 and $754,069 for fiscal years 2002, 2001 and 2000,
respectively.
The Company has a partner agreement dated as of June 6, 2001 with Collin
C. Cope pursuant to which Mr. Cope agreed to serve as a concept partner
responsible for the development and operation of Company-owned Ruby Tuesday
restaurants. Mr. Cope was designated as an executive officer of the Company in
October 2001. Pursuant to this agreement, Mr. Cope is entitled to compensation
consisting of an annual salary of $165,500 (fixed during the term) and a bonus
based on increases in same store sales and profitability of Company-operated
Ruby Tuesday restaurants. Bonus is determined as a multiple of salary, capped
at two times base salary. Pursuant to this agreement, Mr. Cope delivered to the
Company shares of Common Stock with a market value of $300,000 to be held in
escrow to secure satisfactory performance of his duties and responsibilities
under the agreement. In the event the agreement is terminated by the Company
for cause or Mr. Cope resigns, the escrow shares will be forfeited to the
Company. In order to purchase a portion of the shares placed in escrow, Mr.
Cope borrowed $200,000 from the Company pursuant to a promissory note bearing
interest at a simple rate of seven percent per year. The note is secured by a
pledge of the escrow shares. Mr. Cope will make interest payments to the extent
his bonus exceeds 50 percent of his bonus opportunity for each fiscal year. All
unpaid principal and interest on the note will be due and payable upon the
first to occur of (i) termination or expiration of the partner agreement, (ii)
Mr. Cope's resignation of his employment with the Company or any affiliate, or
(iii) June 2, 2004. The partner agreement with Mr. Cope has a term of three
years but terminates upon death and may be terminated by the Company (i) for
cause, (ii) upon disability and (iii) without cause upon 120 days' notice. The
agreement also contains trade secrets, confidentiality, non-solicitation and
non-compete covenants. For fiscal year 2002, Mr. Cope earned a bonus of
$166,534 under this agreement, and made interest payments to the Company of
$2,000 under the promissory note.
In June 2002, the Company retained Southeast Asset Advisors, Inc., a
registered investment advisor, to provide investment advisory and consulting
services to the Company related to the selection of investment choices for the
Company's Salary Deferral and Deferred Compensation Plans. For these services,
the Company will pay Southeast Asset Advisors, Inc. fees of $35,000 per year
and will reimburse it for related out of pocket travel expenses. Bernard
Lanigan, Jr., a director of the Company, is Chairman, managing director and
significant shareholder of Southeast Asset Advisors, Inc.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee reports as follows with respect to the audit of the
Company's fiscal year 2002 financial statements (the "Financial Statements"):
o The Audit Committee has held meetings with KPMG LLP throughout the fiscal
year, without the management present, to discuss financial reporting
matters;
o The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the Financial Statements
with the Company's management;
o The Audit Committee has discussed with KPMG LLP the matters required to
be discussed by SAS 61 Communications with Audit Committees, which
include, without limitation, matters related to the conduct of the audit
of the Financial Statements; and
o The Audit Committee has received written disclosures and the letter from
KPMG LLP required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (which
relates to KPMG LLP's independence from the Company) and has discussed
this with KPMG LLP.
Based on reviews and discussions of the Financial Statements with
management and discussions with KPMG LLP discussed above, the Audit Committee
recommended to the Board of Directors that such Financial Statements be
included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.
19
This report is submitted by the Audit Committee, the members of which are
named below.
John B. McKinnon (Chairperson)
Claire L. Arnold Dr. Benjamin F. Payton
James A. Haslam, III Dr. Donald Ratajczak
Bernard Lanigan, Jr. Dolph W. von Arx
Elizabeth L. Nichols
Audit Committee Charter
The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit
Committee, a copy of which is attached as Appendix A to the Company's proxy
statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 31, 2001.
The Audit Committee reviews and reassesses the adequacy of the Audit Committee
Charter, and the Board of Directors confirms the Charter, on an annual basis.
Independence of Audit Committee Members
Each of the members of the Company's Audit Committee meets the
requirements for independence (as defined by Standards of the New York Stock
Exchange).
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following chart and table compare the cumulative total return of the
Company's Common Stock with the cumulative total return of the NYSE Stock
Market (U.S. Companies) Index and a peer group consisting of U.S. companies
listed on the NYSE whose business activities are included in the same standard
industrial classification industry group as the Company's business (SIC
industry group code 581, Eating and Drinking Places).
Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Returns
Among Ruby Tuesday, Inc.,
NYSE Stock Market (U.S. Companies) and Peer Group
[THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL WAS ALSO REPRESENTED AS A LINE CHART IN PRINTED VERSION]
05/30/97 06/05/98 06/04/99 06/02/00 06/05/01 06/04/02
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Ruby Tuesday, Inc. 100.00 145.30 180.03 201.45 321.41 430.65
NYSE Stock Market (US Companies) 100.00 130.24 143.63 149.33 147.59 125.85
Peer Group (NYSE Stocks, SIC 581-Eating and
Drinking Places, US Companies) 100.00 135.99 168.59 141.12 135.71 154.61
- ------------
Notes:
A. The lines represent monthly index levels derived from compounded daily
returns that include all dividends.
B. The indexes are reweighted daily, using the market capitalization on the
previous trading day.
C. If the monthly interval, based on the fiscal year-end, is not a trading
day, the preceding trading day is used.
D. The index level for all shares was set to $100.00 on 05/30/1997.
20
PROPOSAL 2
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO
STOCK INCENTIVE AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION
PLAN FOR DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors has adopted, and recommends that the shareholders
approve, amendments to the Ruby Tuesday, Inc. Stock Incentive and Deferred
Compensation Plan for Directors (the "Directors' Plan") to (i) increase by
500,000 the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the
Directors' Plan and (ii) to provide for the grant to each non-employee director
of an option to purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock if the director is
elected or re-elected, or otherwise continues, to serve on the Board of
Directors at each annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company held on and
after October 8, 2002. Approval of the proposed amendments to the Directors'
Plan requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by holders
of the shares of Common Stock present or represented by proxy and entitled to
vote at the Annual Meeting, provided that the total votes cast represents over
50 percent of all shares present or represented at the Annual Meeting and
entitled to vote. These amendments were recommended to the Board of Directors
by the Company's independent compensation consultants based on their study
which showed the Company's lack of equity-based compensation for directors was
causing the total director compensation package to fall behind that of its peer
group in terms of competitiveness.
The following is a description of the Directors' Plan as proposed to be
amended as described above.
Shares Reserved. The Directors' Plan reserves for issuance pursuant to
equity awards authorized by the terms thereof a total of 950,000 shares of
Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided by the terms of the Directors'
Plan, approximately 609,476 of which remain available for issuance.
Deferred Compensation Accounts. The Directors' Plan permits non-employee
directors to defer all or a portion (in 25 percent increments) of their
retainer (other than any portion of the retainer allocated to Stock Awards, as
described below) and/or any additional meeting and committee fees to a deferred
compensation account. Deferred compensation accounts are credited as of the
last day of each fiscal quarter with an assumed rate of income equal to 90-day
U.S. Treasury Bills, based on the weighted average balance of that account
during that fiscal quarter. Amounts credited to a director's deferred
compensation account will be distributed not sooner than the earlier of the
first January 15 or July 15 following (a) the date of the director's seventieth
birthday, or (b) the date the director ceases to be a member of the Board of
Directors.
Target Ownership Levels. The Directors' Plan provides that each
non-employee director who has not attained the Target Ownership Level, as
defined below, will be deemed to have elected to direct that 60 percent of his
or her retainer payable for each fiscal quarter be allocated to the purchase of
Common Stock on his or her behalf. Each non-employee director who has attained
the Target Ownership Level may elect to direct, in 10 percent increments and
subject to such other conditions prescribed by the Directors' Plan, that up to
60 percent of his or her retainer for each fiscal quarter be allocated to the
purchase of Common Stock on his or her behalf (collectively, the "Stock
Awards"). A deemed election will continue in effect until that director, after
attaining the Target Ownership Level, modifies or revokes the election in the
manner allowed for discretionary elections.
A director will be treated as having attained the "Target Ownership Level"
for a fiscal quarter if he or she owns, on the first day of that fiscal
quarter, at least a number of shares of Common Stock with a fair market value,
as determined by the closing price on the last trading day prior to such date
("Fair Market Value"), equal to 10 multiplied by that director's annual
retainer.
Each director who has elected, or who has been deemed to have elected, to
purchase Stock Awards for a fiscal quarter, will be issued the number of shares
of Common Stock equal to the amount of the retainer elected to be so allocated,
multiplied by 1.15 and divided by the Fair Market Value of a share of Common
Stock, as of the issue date. Common Stock so purchased may not be transferred
within three years of the date of purchase, except in the event of death,
disability, retirement on or after age 70 or unless this restriction is waived
by the committee administering the Directors' Plan.
Award of Options. The Directors' Plan provides that each non-employee
director who receives Stock Awards, whether through a deemed election or a
discretionary election, will be awarded an option to purchase shares of Common
Stock equal to three times the number of shares issued pursuant to the
discretionary election or deemed election, as the case may be. These options
will be granted on the first day of each fiscal quarter for which an election
21
for a Stock Award is in effect, will become fully exercisable six months
following the date of grant, and will be exercisable at the Fair Market Value
of the Common Stock as of the date of the option grant. Each such option will
expire generally upon the fifth anniversary of the date on which it was
granted.
The Directors' Plan also provides for annual option grants to each
non-employee director to purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock if the director
is elected or re-elected, or otherwise continues, to serve on the Board of
Directors at each annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company held on and
after October 8, 2002. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to each
annual option grant will be adjusted in the event of recapitalizations or
similar events affecting the Company. The annual options will be granted at
fair market value as of the date of the annual meeting of shareholders. Each
annual option shall expire generally upon the earlier of the fifth anniversary
of the option grant date or 90 days following the date the director ceases to
serve as a director of the Company other than for cause and 15 days following
the date the director ceases to serve as a director of the Company for cause.
The annual options will become exercisable 30 months following the date of
grant or, earlier, in the event of death, retirement, disability or certain
changes in control. Non-employee directors whose service with the Company ends
prior to the option term, other than for cause, may exercise a pro rata portion
of the option.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote
FOR the amendments to the Directors' Plan.
PROPOSAL 3
APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE
INCENTIVE BONUS PLAN FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The CEO Bonus Plan of the Company was approved by the shareholders of the
Company at the 1994 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and reapproved at the 1999
Annual Meeting of Shareholders in order to meet the conditions necessary for
the Company to exclude performance-based compensation thereunder from the $1
million limit on the Company's deductions from federal income taxes under
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Board of Directors has
approved, and recommends that the shareholders approve, an amendment to the CEO
Bonus Plan to increase the maximum annual bonus limit from $1,400,000 to
$2,000,000. Approval of this amendment by the shareholders is required to
preserve the exclusion from the deductibility limitations of Section 162(m) of
the Internal Revenue Code for performance-based compensation paid under the CEO
Bonus Plan. The approval of the proposed amendment to the CEO Bonus Plan
requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by holders of the
shares of Common Stock present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at
the Annual Meeting, provided that the total votes cast represents over 50
percent of all shares present or represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled
to vote. If the shareholders do not approve the proposed amendment, the maximum
annual bonus that may be paid under the CEO Bonus Plan will remain $1,400,000.
This amendment was recommended to the Board of Directors by the Company's
independent compensation consultants so that the Chief Executive Officer's
total cash compensation at maximum performance level or better will be in the
75th percentile of the Company's peer groups, which is consistent with the
Company's compensation philosophy as adopted by the Compensation Committee.
The following is a description of the CEO Bonus Plan as proposed to be
amended as described above.
Performance Goals and Determination of Awards. Pursuant to the CEO Bonus
Plan, the Chief Executive Officer may earn a cash bonus determined as a
percentage of his base salary if predetermined levels of growth in earnings per
share are achieved by the Company. The earnings per share growth goals and the
bonus, expressed as a percentage of base salary, are set by the Compensation
Committee. The maximum bonus that may be earned by the Chief Executive Officer
under the CEO Bonus Plan in any given fiscal year is $2,000,000.
Payment of Awards. Before any award may be paid pursuant to the CEO Bonus
Plan, the Compensation Committee must certify that the performance goals have
been achieved and that any other requirements of the CEO Bonus Plan have been
satisfied.
Partial Annual Bonus Awards. In the event of the Chief Executive Officer's
death, termination of employment due to disability or termination of employment
due to a change of control, the Chief Executive Officer (or the legal
representative of the Chief Executive Officer, as the case may be) shall be
entitled to payment of an adjusted annual bonus award. The amount of the
adjusted annual bonus award shall be determined by multiplying the annual bonus
22
award that would have been payable to the Chief Executive Officer had he
remained an employee through the last day of the fiscal year of the Company by
a fraction the numerator of which shall be the number of days during the fiscal
year during which he was an employee and the denominator of which shall be 365.
Administration. The CEO Bonus Plan will be administered by the
Compensation Committee as long as the composition of the Compensation Committee
consists solely of two or more "outside directors" as that term is defined in
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Compensation Committee has the
authority to establish performance goals and targets under the CEO Bonus Plan
consistent with its terms.
Amendment and Termination. The Compensation Committee at any time may
amend or terminate the CEO Bonus Plan without shareholder approval; provided,
however, that the Compensation Committee may condition any amendment on the
approval of shareholders of the Company if such approval is necessary or
advisable with respect to tax, securities or other applicable laws. The
Compensation Committee is specifically authorized to amend the CEO Bonus Plan
as necessary or appropriate to comply with Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code and the regulations issued thereunder.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the
amendment to the CEO Bonus Plan.
PROPOSAL 4
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL
The Charitable Trust of the Sisters of Mercy Regional Community of Detroit
(the "Trust"), 29000 Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48336, beneficial
owner of 200 shares of Common Stock, has informed the Company that it intends to
introduce the resolution set forth below at the Annual Meeting. Rule 14a-8
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company to include in the Proxy
Statement the shareholder proposal and supporting statement exactly as submitted
by the Trust. Approval of this shareholder proposal requires the affirmative
vote of a majority of the votes cast by holders of the shares of Common Stock
present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. The
Board of Directors and the Company accept no responsibility for the proposed
resolution and the supporting statement. For the reasons stated in the Company
management's statement below, the Board of Directors recommends that you vote
AGAINST the shareholder proposal.
Shareholder Proposal and Supporting Statement
LABEL GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD
RESOLVED: Shareholders request that (unless long-term safety testing
demonstrates that genetically engineered (GE) crops, organisms, or products
thereof are not harmful to humans, animals, and the environment) the Board of
Directors adopt a policy to identify and label all food products manufactured or
sold by the company under the company's brand names or private labels that may
contain GE ingredients.
Supporting Statement
International markets for genetically engineered (GE) foods are threatened
by extensive resistance:
o Many of Europe's larger food retailers have committed to removing GE
ingredients from their store-brand products, as have some U.S. retailers;
o In the UK, three fast-food giants--McDonald's, Burger King, and KFC--are
eliminating GE soy and corn ingredients from their menus;
o McCain Foods of Canada announced it would no longer accept genetically
engineered Bt potatoes for their brand-name products (11/99);
o Gerber Products Co. announced in July 1999 that it would not allow GE
corn or soybeans in any of their baby foods;
o Frito Lay, a division of PepsiCo, asked farmers that supply corn for
Frito Lay to provide only non-genetically engineered corn;
23
o Since fall of 2000, hundreds of millions of dollars may have been spent
by food companies in recalling food containing GE corn not approved for
human consumption;
o Upon ratification by 50 countries, the Biosafety Protocol, signed by over
100 countries, will require that genetically engineered organisms (GEOs)
intended for food, feed and processing must be labeled "may contain"
GEOs, and countries can decide whether to import those commodities based
on a scientific risk assessment.
There is scientific concern that genetically engineered agricultural
products may be harmful to humans, animals, or the environment:
o For human health and environmental concerns, the European Union has
proposed regulations to phase out by 2005 antibiotic-resistant marker
genes, widely used to develop GE seeds;
o Research has shown that Bt crops are building up Bt toxins in the soil,
with unknown long-term effects on soil ecology;
o The National Academy of Sciences report, Genetically Modified
Pest-Protected Plants, recommends development of improved methods for
identifying potential allergens in genetically engineered pest-protected
plants. The report found the potential for gaps in regulatory coverage
(4/2000);
o GE-crops grown for pharmaceutical purposes, including contraceptive
effects, may contaminate other crops and soil and adversely effect human
health;
o Uncertainty about the ecological risks of genetically engineered crops
persists. (Science 12/15/2000).
In the U.S., a long tradition of citizens' "right to know" is expressed in
laws requiring nutritional labeling of foods:
o Focus groups conducted by the Food and Drug Administration in spring 2000
indicated strong public support for mandatory labeling;
o Over a dozen polls in the U.S. show that about 70-93% of people surveyed
want GE food to be labeled as such;
o It is difficult for individuals to avoid GE-foods for religious or
ethical reasons unless they are labeled;
o The European Union, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Australia have
passed regulations that require labeling of GE foods.
Board of Directors' Statement in Opposition of the Proposal
The Company is firmly committed to food safety and actively supports its
customers' interest in this important issue. The Company's menus offer an array
of items that are derived from or include a wide variety of safe and wholesome
agricultural products. The Company does not plant or raise crops for use in the
food its restaurants serve; rather, the Company is a customer in the
marketplace, purchasing products from the agricultural industry. The Company
firmly believes that all of the food products served in its restaurants,
including those which may contain genetically modified ingredients, are safe.
The Company complies with all regulations applicable to food safety and will
continue to do so in the future.
The Company believes that developing a reliable labeling system to
identify products that contain genetically engineered ingredients would require
the Company to expend considerable resources to determine what constitutes the
"genetically engineered crops, organisms or products thereof." Requiring the
Company to identify and label food products containing biotechnology-derived
ingredients would involve unnecessary expenditures of time and resources. In
addition, the Company believes that the alternative of placing labels on its
menus stating that its food products "may" include genetically modified
ingredients, whether or not they in fact contain such ingredients, would not
provide its customers meaningful information necessary to make informed
choices.
The Company believes that the Food & Drug Administration (the "FDA") and
other regulatory agencies that are charged with protecting the health and
safety of the public and the environment are in the best position to evaluate
and make decisions about the sale and labeling of food products that may
contain genetically engineered ingredients. These agencies currently do not
require the labeling of food products containing genetically modified
ingredients. The Company believes that in the absence of uniform labeling
regulations applicable to the entire restaurant industry,
24
the Company's unilateral implementation of a labeling system would put it at a
competitive disadvantage relative to other restaurant companies.
The Company is absolutely committed to serve to its customers safe,
wholesome and high quality meals in all of its restaurants. While the Company
respects the view of those who question the value of biotechnology in foods,
the Company believes that its customers and shareholders will be better served
if appropriate governmental agencies monitor, evaluate and make judgments about
the use of biotechnology-derived ingredients, with the Company focusing on
strict adherence to existing food safety regulations rather than incurring
significant costs to implement its own labeling system.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote AGAINST
this shareholder proposal.
RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Independent Auditors
The firm of KPMG LLP served as the Company's independent auditors for
fiscal year 2002. Representatives of KPMG LLP will be present at the Annual
Meeting to respond to appropriate questions and will have an opportunity to
make a statement if they so desire.
The appointment of auditors is a matter for determination by the Board of
Directors for which no shareholder approval or ratification is necessary. The
Board of Directors has selected the firm of KPMG LLP to audit the consolidated
financial statements of the Company for fiscal year 2003.
Audit and Non-Audit Fees
The aggregate fees for professional services rendered by KPMG LLP for the
audit of the consolidated financial statements and the reviews of the
consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Forms 10-Q for 2002
were $247,600.
Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees
The Company did not retain KPMG LLP to perform any financial information
systems design or implementation services in fiscal year 2002.
All Other Fees
During fiscal year 2002, all other fees billed by KPMG LLP were $256,800,
including fees for non-audit services of $219,250 and audit-related services of
$37,550. Non-audit services consisted of tax planning and compliance.
Audit-related services consisted primarily of audits of employee benefit plans
and issuance of consents.
Determination of Auditor Independence
The Audit Committee has considered the provision of non-audit services by
KPMG LLP and has determined that it was not incompatible with maintaining their
independence.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Any shareholder of the Company wishing to submit a proposal for action at
the Company's 2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and desiring the proposal to
be considered for inclusion in the Company's proxy materials must provide a
written copy of the proposal to the Company not later than May 2, 2003, and
must otherwise comply with rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission
relating to shareholder proposals. Shareholder proposals should be sent by mail
to the Company's principal executive office or by fax at (865) 379-6826
followed by mail, in each case to the attention of the Secretary.
The proxy or proxies designated by the Company will have discretionary
authority to vote on any matter properly presented by a shareholder for
consideration at the 2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders but not submitted for
inclusion in the proxy materials for such meeting unless (i) with respect to
any nomination for director, written notice of the intent to make the
nomination is submitted to the Company at least 90 days in advance of the
meeting and is otherwise made in accordance with the nomination procedures
contained in the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, or (ii) with respect
to any other shareholder proposal, notice of the matter is received by the
25
Company at its principal executive office not later than July 16, 2003 and, in
either case, certain other conditions of the applicable rules of the Securities
and Exchange Commission are satisfied.
GENERAL
Management does not know of any other business to come before the Annual
Meeting. If, however, other matters do properly come before the Annual Meeting,
it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote on
such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
A list of shareholders entitled to be present and vote at the Annual
Meeting will be available for inspection by shareholders at the time and place
of the Annual Meeting.
The Annual Report of the Company for fiscal year 2002 (which is not part
of the proxy soliciting material) is being mailed with this Proxy Statement to
all shareholders of record as of the record date for the Annual Meeting.
THE COMPANY WILL, UPON THE WRITTEN REQUEST OF ANY SHAREHOLDER, FURNISH
WITHOUT CHARGE A COPY OF ITS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 4, 2002. REQUESTS
FOR COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO DANIEL T. CRONK, SECRETARY, RUBY TUESDAY,
INC., 150 WEST CHURCH AVENUE, MARYVILLE, TENNESSEE 37801.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Daniel T. Cronk
Daniel T. Cronk
Senior Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary
August 30, 2002
Maryville, Tennessee
26
APPENDIX A
NOTE: This document is being filed as an Appendix to the Company's 2002 Proxy
Statement pursuant to Instruction 3 of Item 10 of Schedule 14A under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and will not be distributed to the
shareholders.
FIRST AMENDMENT
TO THE
RUBY TUESDAY, INC.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S
INCENTIVE BONUS PLAN
THIS FIRST AMENDMENT is made as of this ____ day of July, 2002, by RUBY
TUESDAY, INC. (the "Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Georgia.
W I T N E S S E T H:
--------------------
WHEREAS, the Company maintains the Ruby Tuesday, Inc. Chief Executive
Officer's Incentive Bonus Plan (the "Plan"), which was established by indenture
effective as of September 28, 1994 and restated as of September 30, 1999.
WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend the Plan to increase the maximum
annual bonus limit thereunder.
WHEREAS, such amendment has been approved by the Board of Directors of
the Company, subject to the approval of the Company's stockholders.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby amended, effective for fiscal years
of the Company commencing on and after June 5, 2002, by deleting Section 4.4 in
its entirety and by substituting therefor the following:
"4.4 Maximum Annual Bonus Award. No annual bonus award
otherwise earned pursuant to the Plan shall be payable to the
Participant if and to the extent the amount of the annual bonus exceeds
$2,000,000."
Except as specifically amended hereby, the Plan shall remain in full
force and effect as prior to this First Amendment.
This First Amendment shall be submitted to the stockholders of the
Company for their approval and, if such approval is not obtained, the amendment
of the Plan as effected by the
adoption of this First Amendment shall be null and void.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this First Amendment to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.
RUBY TUESDAY, INC.
By: ______________________________
Title: ___________________________
ATTEST:
By: _______________________________
Title: ____________________________
[CORPORATE SEAL]
APPENDIX B
NOTE: This document is being filed as an Appendix to the Company's 2002 Proxy
Statement pursuant to Instruction 3 of Item 10 of Schedule 14A under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and will not be distributed to the
shareholders.
FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE
RUBY TUESDAY, INC. STOCK INCENTIVE
AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR DIRECTORS
THIS FOURTH AMENDMENT is made this ____ day of July, 2002, by Ruby
Tuesday, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the
State of Georgia (hereinafter called the "Company").
W I T N E S S E T H:
--------------------
WHEREAS, the Company maintains the Ruby Tuesday, Inc. Stock Incentive
and Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors, which is currently maintained
under an amended and restated indenture which became effective as of September
28, 1994 (the "Plan"); and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend the Plan to increase the number
of shares of Company common stock reserved thereunder; to authorize annual
option grants to eligible non-employee directors; and to revise the terms of
those options that may be granted pursuant to existing Plan provisions, all as
provided herein; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has duly approved and
authorized this amendment to the Plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company does hereby amend the Plan, effective as of
October 8, 2002, except as otherwise provided herein, as follows:
1. By adding a new Section 1.1(a-1), as follows:
"(a-1) `Annual Option' means a non-qualified option to
purchase shares of Stock pursuant to Section 3A."
2. By adding a new Section 1.1(b-1), as follows:
"(b-1) `Cause' means conduct amounting to (1) fraud or
dishonesty against the Company or affiliate(s); (2) Participant's
willful misconduct or knowing violation of law in the course of
Participant's service with the Company or affiliate(s); (3) repeated
absences from required meetings and other commitments of members of the
Board of Directors of the Company or an affiliate without a reasonable
excuse; (4) repeated intoxication with alcohol or drugs while on the
Company's or affiliate(s) premises; (5) a conviction or plea
of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving
dishonesty; or (6) a breach or violation of the terms of any agreement
to which the Participant and the Company or affiliate(s) are party."
3. By deleting Section 1.1(c) in its entirety and substituting therefor
the following:
"(c) `Change in Control' means any one of the following
events:
(1) the acquisition by any individual, entity or
`group' (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section
14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act (a `Person') of beneficial
ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under
the Exchange Act) of voting securities of the Company where
such acquisition causes any such Person to own twenty-five
percent (25%) or more of the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities then entitled to vote generally
in the election of directors (the `Outstanding Voting
Securities'); provided, however, that the following shall not
constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition directly
from the Company, unless such a Person subsequently acquires
additional shares of Outstanding Voting Securities other than
from the Company; or (ii) any acquisition by any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the
Company or any affiliate.
(2) within any twelve-month period (beginning on or
after July 9, 2002), the persons who were directors of the
Company immediately before the beginning of such twelve-month
period (the `Incumbent Directors') shall cease to constitute
at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company;
provided that any director who was not a director as of July
9, 2002 shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director if that
director was elected to the Board of Directors by, or on the
recommendation of or with the approval of, at least two-thirds
of the directors who then qualified as Incumbent Directors;
and provided further that no director whose initial assumption
of office is in connection with an actual or threatened
election contest relating to the election of directors shall
be deemed to be an Incumbent Director;
(3) the approval by the stockholders of the Company
of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, with respect to
which persons who were the stockholders of the Company
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or
consolidation do not, immediately thereafter, own more than
fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power entitled to
vote in the election of directors of the reorganized, merged
or consolidated company's then outstanding voting securities;
(4) the sale, transfer or assignment of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company and its
affiliates to any third party; or
(5) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company."
-2-
4. By deleting Section 1.1(y) in its entirety and substituting therefor
the following:
"(y) `Stock Incentives' means Annual Options, Options, Stock
Awards and Restricted Stock Awards."
5. By deleting Section 2.2 in its entirety and substituting therefor
the following:
"(y) `Stock Subject to the Plan' Subject to adjustment in
accordance with Section 7.1, 950,000 shares of Stock (the `Maximum Plan
Shares') are hereby reserved exclusively for issuance pursuant to Stock
Incentives. At no time shall the aggregate of shares of Stock issuable
pursuant to outstanding Stock Incentives, shares of Stock issued
pursuant to Stock Incentives, and shares of Stock issued pursuant to
Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Awards exceed the Maximum Plan
Shares. If a Stock Incentive expires or terminates for any reason
without being exercised in full, the unpurchased shares subject to such
Stock Incentive shall again be available for purposes of the Plan."
6. By deleting the last sentence of Section 2.3 in its entirety and
substituting therefor the following:
"The Plan shall be interpreted in view of the intention that the grant
and exercise of Annual Options and Options and the grant of Stock
Awards and Restricted Stock Awards are all intended to qualify as
exempt transactions under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange
Act."
7. By adding Section 3A in its entirety and substituting therefor the
following:
"SECTION 3A ANNUAL OPTION AWARDS
3A.1 Grants of Annual Options. Each Participant who is a
director and who is not an employee of the Company shall be granted an
Annual Option as of the date of each annual meeting of the shareholders
of the Company falling on and after October 8, 2002, if such
Participant is elected or re-elected as a director of the Company at
that meeting or otherwise continues to serve as a director of the
Company immediately following that meeting. In the event the number of
Maximum Plan Shares, reduced by the number of such Maximum Plan Shares
previously issued or issuable under the Plan, is insufficient to fund
all of the Annual Options to be granted as of any annual meeting of the
shareholders of the Company, then no Annual Options with respect to
that meeting or any subsequent meeting shall be granted unless and
until the Plan is amended to increase the number of Maximum Plan
Shares; provided, further, that no Annual Options shall be granted with
respect to annual meetings that take place prior to the effective date
of any such amendment.
3A.2 Annual Options. An Annual Option shall represent the
right to purchase 10,000 shares of Stock at a per share exercise price
equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of
grant, which is the date of the annual meeting of the
-3-
shareholders of the Company for which the award is made. Upon the grant
of an Annual Option hereunder, the Committee shall prepare (or cause to
be prepared) a Stock Incentive Agreement reflecting the option terms,
which shall contain the provisions set forth below and such other terms
and conditions as the Committee may determine are appropriate from time
to time hereafter:
(a) Vesting. Each Annual Option granted under this
Plan shall not be exercisable until the 30-month anniversary
of the date the Annual Option was granted at which point the
Annual Option shall be fully exercisable. If the Participant
terminates service as a director of the Company due to death,
Disability, or retirement at or after age 50 upon expiration
of any normal term of appointment, the unvested portion of the
Annual Option shall become fully vested. Each Annual Option
also shall become fully vested and exercisable immediately
prior to any Change in Control. If the Participant's service
as a director of the Company is terminated involuntarily other
than due to Cause, a portion of the Annual Option shall become
vested and exercisable as follows: that portion determined by
multiplying the total number of shares subject to the Annual
Option by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
number of full months of the Participant's service with the
Company from the date of grant to the date of involuntary
termination and the denominator of which shall be thirty (30).
If the Participant's service as a director of the Company is
terminated involuntarily for Cause, the unvested portion of
the Annual Option shall be forfeited.
(b) Option Period. Each Annual Option shall have a
maximum term of five (5) years, but shall expire no later than
(1) ninety (90) days following any earlier termination of the
Participant's service as a director of the Company due to a
voluntary resignation or involuntary termination other than
for Cause; and (2) fifteen (15) days following any earlier
involuntary termination of the Participant's service as a
director of the Company for Cause.
(c) Method of Exercise. All Annual Options granted
hereunder shall be exercised by written notice directed to the
Secretary of the Company at its principal place of business or
to such other person as the Committee may direct. Each notice
of exercise shall identify the Annual Option which the
Participant is exercising (in whole or in part) and shall be
accompanied by payment of the applicable exercise price for
the number of shares specified in such notice. The exercise
price shall be payable upon the exercise of an Annual Option
in an amount equal to the number of shares then being
purchased times the per share exercise price. Payment at the
election of the Participant (or his successors) shall be (1)
in cash; (2) by delivery to the Company of a certificate or
certificates for shares of Stock held by the Participant for
at least six (6) months duly endorsed for transfer to the
Company; or (3) by a cashless exercise executed through a
broker, dealer, or other creditor, as defined by Regulation T
promulgated by the
-4-
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, following
delivery by the Participant to the Company of instructions in
a form acceptable to the Company.
(d) Restrictions on Transfer and Exercise of Annual
Options. No Annual Option shall be assignable or transferable
by the Participant except by will or the laws of descent and
distribution; provided, however, that the Chairperson of the
Committee may (but need not) permit other transfers where the
Chairperson concludes that such transferability (1) does not
result in accelerated taxation, and (2) is otherwise
appropriate and desirable, taking into account any state or
federal tax or securities laws or accounting consequences
applicable to transferable options. During the lifetime of a
Participant, the Annual Option shall be exercisable only by
him or her or such permitted transferee; provided, however,
that in the event the Participant is subject to a Disability
and unable to exercise an Annual Option, such Annual Option
may be exercised by such Participant's legal guardian, legal
representative, fiduciary or other representative whom the
Chairperson deems appropriate based on applicable facts and
circumstances.
3A.3 Rights as a Shareholder. A Participant shall have no
rights as a shareholder with respect to shares covered by an Annual
Option until the date of the issuance of the shares of Stock to him or
her and only after the applicable exercise price of such shares is
fully paid. No adjustment will be made for dividends or other rights
for which the record date is prior to the date of such issuance."
8. By deleting, effective for Options granted on or after October 8,
2002, Section 6.4 in its entirety and substituting therefor the following:
"6.4 Option Terms. Each Option granted under this Plan shall
not be exercisable or vested until six (6) months from the date the
Option was granted. If the Participant terminates service as a director
of the Company due to death, Disability, or retirement at or after age
50 upon expiration of any normal term of appointment, the unvested
portion of the Option shall become fully vested and exercisable. Each
Option also shall become fully vested and exercisable immediately prior
to any Change in Control. If the Participant's service as a director of
the Company is terminated involuntarily other than due to Cause, a
portion of the Option shall become vested and exercisable as follows:
that portion determined by multiplying the total number of shares
subject to the Option by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be
the number of full months of the Participant's service with the Company
from the date of grant to the date of involuntary termination and the
denominator of which shall be six (6). If the Participant's service as
a director of the Company is terminated involuntarily for Cause, the
unvested portion of the Option shall be forfeited. Each Option shall
have a maximum term of five (5) years, but shall expire no later than
(1) ninety (90) days following any earlier termination of the
Participant's service as a director of the Company due to a voluntary
resignation or involuntary termination other than for Cause; and (2)
fifteen (15) days following any earlier involuntary termination of the
Participant's service as a director of the Company for Cause."
-5-
9. By deleting Section 6.6 in its entirety and substituting therefor
the following:
"6.6 Restrictions on Transfer and Exercise of Options. No
Option shall be assignable or transferable by the Participant except by
will or the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however, that
the Chairperson of the Committee may (but need not) permit other
transfers where the Chairperson concludes that such transferability (1)
does not result in accelerated taxation, and (2) is otherwise
appropriate and desirable, taking into account any state or federal tax
or securities laws or accounting consequences applicable to
transferable options. During the lifetime of a Participant, Options
shall be exercisable only by him or her or such permitted transferee;
provided, however, that in the event the Participant is subject to a
Disability and unable to exercise an Option, such Option may be
exercised by such Participant's legal guardian, legal representative,
fiduciary or other representative whom the Chairperson deems
appropriate based on applicable facts and circumstances."
10. By deleting Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 7.1 in their
entirety and substituting therefor the following:
"(a) The number of shares of Stock reserved for the award of
Stock Incentives, the number of shares of Stock reserved for issuance
under outstanding Stock Incentives, the number of shares to be awarded
as an Annual Option and the exercise price of each outstanding Annual
Option and Option shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or
decrease in the number of shares of Stock resulting from a subdivision
or combination of shares or the payment of a stock dividend (including,
but not limited to, an extraordinary dividend) in shares of Stock to
holders of outstanding shares of Stock or any other increase or
decrease in the number of shares of Stock outstanding effected without
receipt of consideration by the Company.
(b) If the Company shall be the surviving corporation in any
merger or consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification of shares
or similar reorganization, an appropriate adjustment shall be made to
each Stock Incentive such that the Participant shall be entitled to
receive or purchase, as applicable, the number and class of securities
to which a holder of the number of shares of Stock at the time of the
transaction would have been entitled to receive as a result of such
transaction, and a corresponding adjustment shall be made in the
exercise price of each outstanding Annual Option and Option. A
dissolution or liquidation of the Company shall cause all Stock
Incentives to terminate as to any portion thereof not vested and/or
exercised as of the effective date of the dissolution or liquidation.
In the event of a sale of substantially all of the Stock or property of
the Company or the merger or consolidation of the Company into another
entity where the acquiror does not agree to the assumption of the
Annual Options and Options, the Committee shall be authorized to
terminate the outstanding Annual Options and Options in consideration
of the payment to each Participant holding such a Stock Incentive of an
amount equal to the difference between the Fair Market Value of the
Stock subject to the unexercised portion of
-6-
the Annual Option or Option, as the case may be, and the aggregate
exercise price of such Annual Option or Option."
11. By substituting the phrase "Annual Option or Option" for the term
"Option" as such term appears in Section 7.3 and by deleting the second sentence
of Section 7.5 in its entirety.
This Fourth Amendment shall be submitted to the stockholders of the
Company for their approval and, if such approval is not obtained, the adoption
of this Fourth Amendment, other than Sections 1.1(b-1), 1.1(c-1), 6.4 and 6.6,
shall be deemed null and void and the Plan shall remain as in effect immediately
prior to the adoption of this Fourth Amendment by the Board of Directors of the
Company, except as amended by Sections 1.1(b-1), 1.1(c-1), 6.4 and 6.6.
Except as specifically amended hereby, the Plan shall remain in full
force and effect as prior to the adoption of this Fourth Amendment.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Fourth Amendment to be
executed on the day and year first above written.
RUBY TUESDAY, INC.
By: _______________________________
Title: ____________________________
ATTEST:
By: ___________________________
Title: __________________________
[CORPORATE SEAL]
RUBY TUESDAY, INC.
PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting
of Shareholders and Proxy Statement, each dated August 30, 2002, and does hereby
appoint Samuel E. Beall, III and Marguerite Naman Duffy, and either of them,
with full power of substitution, as proxy or proxies of the undersigned to
represent the undersigned and to vote all shares of Ruby Tuesday, Inc. Common
Stock which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present at
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Ruby Tuesday, Inc., to be held at the
Company's headquarters located at 150 West Church Avenue, Maryville, Tennessee
37801 at 11:00 a.m., local time, on October 8, 2002, and at any adjournment(s)
thereof.
This card also provides voting instructions for shares held in the Ruby
Tuesday, Inc. Salary Deferral Plan as set forth in the Proxy Statement. IF YOUR
REGISTRATIONS ARE NOT IDENTICAL, YOU MAY RECEIVE MORE THAN ONE SET OF PROXY
MATERIALS. PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN ALL CARDS YOU RECEIVE.
This proxy/voting instruction card, when properly executed, will be voted
in accordance with the directions given by the undersigned shareholder. If no
direction is made, it will be voted (i) FOR all director nominees listed on the
reverse side, (ii) FOR the proposed amendments to the Stock Incentive and
Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors, (iii) FOR the proposed amendment to
the Company's Incentive Bonus Plan for the Chief Executive Officer, and (iv)
AGAINST the shareholder proposal to label genetically engineered food.
(continued on other side)
To change your address, please mark this box. [ ]
To include any comments, please mark this box. [ ]
RUBY TUESDAY, INC.
P.O. BOX 11113
NEW YORK, N.Y. 10203-0113
\/ DETACH PROXY CARD HERE \/
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PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN
AND RETURN THIS PROXY [X]
PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED Votes must be indicated
ENVELOPE. (x) in Black or Blue ink.
1. TO ELECT THREE CLASS I DIRECTORS FOR A TERM OF THREE YEARS TO THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS.
FOR all nominees listed [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY [ ] *EXCEPTIONS [ ]
below (except as marked to vote for ALL nominees
to the contrary below) listed below
CLASS I Nominees: BERNARD LANIGAN, JR., JAMES A. HASLAM, III and STEPHEN I.
SADOVE
*(INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority for any individual nominee, mark the
"EXCEPTIONS" box above and strike a line through that nominee's name in the list
of nominees below the boxes.)
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all director nominees listed above.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO THE STOCK INCENTIVE [ ] [ ] [ ]
AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR DIRECTORS TO
PERMIT ANNUAL FORMULA GRANTS OF OPTIONS AND TO
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES RESERVED FOR
ISSUANCE THEREUNDER.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the approval of the amendments
described above.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
3. TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S [ ] [ ] [ ]
INCENTIVE BONUS PLAN FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM ANNUAL BONUS
LIMIT TO $2,000,000.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the approval of the amendment
described above.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
4. TO APPROVE A SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL TO LABEL [ ] [ ] [ ]
GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote AGAINST the approval of the
shareholder proposal described above.
5. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before this meeting.
PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY. Please sign exactly
as your name(s) appear hereon. If shares are held jointly, each shareholder
named should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or
guardian, give your full title as such. If the signatory is a corporation, sign
the full corporate name by a duly authorized officer.
Date Share Owner sign here Co-Owner sign here
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