Filed
by the Registrant x
|
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant o
|
Check
the appropriate box:
|
oPreliminary
Proxy
Statement
|
oConfidential,
for
Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14A-6(E)(2))
|
xDefinitive
Proxy
Statement
|
oDefinitive
Additional Materials
|
oSoliciting
Material Pursuant to 240.14a-12
|
Urstadt
Biddle Properties
Inc.
|
(Name
of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
|
__________________________________________________________
|
(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
Registrant)
|
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
|
xNo
fee
required
|
oFee
computed on
table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
|
(1) Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
|
(2) Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
|
(3) Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing
fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
|
(4) Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
|
(5) Total
Fee paid:
|
oFee
paid
previously with preliminary materials.
|
oCheck
box if any
part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2)
and
identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously.
Identify
the previous filing by registration statement number, or the
Form or
Schedule and the date of its filing.
|
(1) Amount
Previously Paid:
|
(2) Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
|
(3) Filing
Party:
|
(4) Date
Filed:
|
1. |
To
elect three Directors to serve for three
years;
|
2. |
To
ratify the appointment of PKF as the independent registered public
accounting firm of the Company for one year;
and
|
3. |
To
transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
or
any adjournments thereof.
|
· |
a
candidate’s demonstrated integrity and ethics consistent with the
Company’s Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics;
|
· |
a
candidate’s willingness and ability to participate fully in Board
activities, including active membership and attendance at Board meetings
and participation on at least one committee of the Board;
and
|
· |
a
candidate’s willingness to represent the best interests of all of the
Company’s shareholders and not just a particular
constituency.
|
· |
a
candidate’s experience in real estate, business, finance, accounting rules
and practices, law and public
relations;
|
· |
the
appropriate size and diversity of the Company’s Board of
Directors;
|
· |
the
needs of the Company with respect to the particular talents and
experience
of its Directors and the interplay of the candidate’s experience with that
of other Board members; and
|
· |
a
candidate’s judgment, skill and experience with businesses and
organizations comparable to the
Company.
|
5%
BENEFICIAL OWNERS
|
||||
Name
and Address of Beneficial
Owner
|
Common
Shares Beneficially Owned
|
Percent
of Class
|
Class
A Common Shares Beneficially Owned
|
Percent
of Class
|
Charles
J. Urstadt
Urstadt
Biddle Properties Inc.
321
Railroad Ave.
Greenwich,
CT 06830
|
2,999,771
(1)
|
38.7%
|
273,925
(2)
|
1.5%
|
Willing
L. Biddle
Urstadt
Biddle Properties Inc.
321
Railroad Ave.
Greenwich,
CT 06830
|
1,446,653
(3)
|
18.7%
|
164,230
(4)
|
.9%
|
The
Vanguard Group, Inc.
100
Vanguard Blvd.
Malvern,
PA 19355
|
-
|
-
|
966,781(5)
|
5.1%
|
(1) |
Of
these shares, 538,939 are owned by Urstadt Property Company, Inc.
(“UPCO”), a company of which Mr. Urstadt is the chairman, a director and
a
principal stockholder, 1,901,006 shares are owned by Urstadt Realty
Associates Co LP (“URACO”), a Delaware limited partnership of which UPCO
is the general partner and Mr. Urstadt, Elinor Urstadt (Mr. Urstadt’s
wife), the Catherine U. Biddle Irrevocable Trust and the Charles
D.
Urstadt Irrevocable Trust (for each of which trusts Mr. Urstadt is
the
sole trustee) are the limited partners, 21,300 shares are owned by
Elinor
Urstadt and 7,996 shares are held by The Trust Established Under
the
Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. Excess Benefit and Deferred Compensation
Plan (the “Compensation Plan Trust”). See "Compensation and Transactions
with Management and Others" below.
|
(2) |
Of
these shares, 41,425 shares are owned by URACO, 19,750 shares are
owned by
Elinor Urstadt and 100,000 shares are owned by the Urstadt Conservation
Foundation (the “Conservation Foundation”), of which Mr. Urstadt and
Elinor Urstadt are the sole trustees. Mr. Urstadt disclaims beneficial
ownership of any shares held by the Conservation Foundation. See
“Compensation and Transactions with Management and Others”
below.
|
(3) |
Of
these shares, 2,878 shares are held by the Compensation Plan Trust,
2,307
shares are owned by the Willing L. Biddle IRA, 4,475 shares are owned
beneficially and of record by Catherine U. Biddle, Mr. Biddle’s wife, 555
shares are owned by the Catherine U. Biddle IRA, 1,070 shares are
owned by
the Charles and Phoebe Biddle Trust UAD 12/20/93, of which Mr. Biddle
and
Charles J. Urstadt are the sole trustees, for the benefit of the
issue of
Mr. Biddle, and 5,163 shares are owned by the P.T. Biddle (Deceased)
IRA.
|
(4) |
Of
these shares, 4,475 shares are owned beneficially and of record by
Catherine U. Biddle and 555 shares are owned by the Catherine U.
Biddle
IRA.
|
(5) |
Based
upon information filed in a Schedule 13-G with the SEC by The Vanguard
Group, Inc. for the year ended December 31,
2005.
|
DIRECTORS
AND OFFICERS
|
||||||
Common
|
Class
A
|
|||||
Shares
Beneficially
|
Percent
|
Common
Shares
|
Percent
|
|||
Name
|
Owned
(1)
|
Of
Class (1)
|
Beneficially
Owned (2)
|
of
Class (2)
|
||
Charles
J. Urstadt
|
2,999,771
|
(3)
|
38.7%
|
273,925
|
(4)
|
1.5%
|
Willing
L. Biddle
|
1,446,653
|
(5)
|
18.7%
|
164,230
|
(6)
|
*
|
E.
Virgil Conway
|
7,625
|
*
|
76,996
|
(7)
|
*
|
|
Robert
R. Douglass
|
11,757
|
(8)
|
*
|
36,143
|
(9)
|
*
|
Peter
Herrick
|
-
|
*
|
81,574
|
*
|
||
George
H.C. Lawrence
|
26,995
|
*
|
40,006
|
*
|
||
Robert
J. Mueller
|
-
|
*
|
9,445
|
*
|
||
Charles
D. Urstadt
|
20,076
|
(10)
|
*
|
3,153
|
(11)
|
*
|
George
J. Vojta
|
525
|
*
|
3,425
|
*
|
||
James
R. Moore
|
--
|
*
|
189,729
|
(12)
|
1.0%
|
|
Raymond
P. Argila
|
--
|
*
|
23,000
|
*
|
||
Thomas
D. Myers
|
13,750
|
*
|
77,450
|
*
|
||
Directors
& Executive Officers
|
||||||
as
a group (12 persons)
|
4,527,152
|
(13)
|
58.4%
|
979,076
|
(14)
|
5.2%
|
(1) |
On
August 14, 1998, the Company paid a stock dividend in the form of
one
share of Class A Common Stock for each outstanding share of Common
Stock
(the “Stock Dividend”). In connection with the Stock Dividend, each of the
directors' options to purchase shares of Common Stock awarded prior
to the
Stock Dividend (each an "Existing Option") is deemed to be, upon
his
election with respect to each Existing Option: (i) an option (each,
a
"Common Stock Option") to purchase such number of shares of Common
Stock
as shall be equal in aggregate fair market value to the aggregate
fair
market value of the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the
related Existing Option; (ii) an option (each, a "Class A Stock Option")
to purchase such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall
be
equal in aggregate fair market value to the aggregate fair market
value of
the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the related Existing
Option; or (iii) an option (each, a "Combination Option") to purchase
such
number of shares of Common Stock and such number of shares of Class
A
Common Stock, in each case, as shall be equal to the number of shares
of
Common Stock issuable pursuant to the related Existing
Option.
|
(2) |
The
figures presented in this column assume, in connection with the
determination of the number of Class A Common Shares issuable upon
exercise of options exercisable within 60 days by Messrs. Douglass
and
C.D. Urstadt, that such individuals will elect the Class A Stock
Option
with respect to all of such options. If such individual elects the
Combination Option or the Common Stock Option with respect to any
or all
of such options, the number of Class A Common Shares issuable upon
exercise of options exercisable within 60 days, the total number
of Class
A Common Shares beneficially owned and the Percent of Class would
be less
for such individual.
|
(3) |
See
note (1) under the preceding table titled “5% Beneficial
Owners”.
|
(4) |
See
note (2) under the preceding table titled “5% Beneficial
Owners”.
|
(5) |
See
note (3) under the preceding table titled “5% Beneficial Owners”.
|
(6) |
See
note (4) under the preceding table titled “5% Beneficial
Owners”
|
(7) |
This
figure includes 10,000 Class A Common Shares held of record by The
Conway
Foundation of which Mr. Conway and his wife, Elaine Conway, are the
sole
directors. Mr. Conway disclaims beneficial ownership of any shares
held by
The Conway Foundation.
|
(8) |
This
figure includes 4,932 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of options
which are currently exercisable or which will become exercisable
within 60
days. See footnote (1) above.
|
(9) |
This
figure includes 4,906 Class A Common Shares issuable upon exercise
of
options which are currently exercisable or which will become exercisable
within 60 days. See footnote (1) above.
|
(10) |
This
figure includes 2,966 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of options
which are currently exercisable or which will become exercisable
within 60
days. See footnote (1) above.
|
(11) |
This
figure includes 2,953 Class A Common Shares issuable upon exercise
of
options which are currently exercisable or which will become exercisable
within 60 days. See footnote (1) above.
|
(12) |
This
figure includes 15,813 Class A Common shares held of record by the
Compensation Plan Trust.
|
(13) |
This
figure includes 7,898 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of options
which are currently exercisable or which will become exercisable
within 60
days.
|
(14) |
This
figure includes 7,859 Class A Common Shares issuable upon exercise
of
options which are currently exercisable or which will become exercisable
within 60 days.
|
SUMMARY
COMPENSATION TABLE
|
||||||||
Long
Term Compensation
|
||||||||
Annual
Compensation
|
Awards
|
Payouts
|
||||||
Name
and
Principal
Position
|
Year
|
Salary
|
Bonus
|
Total
|
Restricted
Stock
(1)
|
#
Options SARs
|
LTIP
Payouts
$
|
All
Other Compensation
(2)
|
Charles
J. Urstadt
|
2006
|
$295,000
|
$30,000
|
$325,000
|
$1,115,600
|
0
|
0
|
$16,250
|
Chairman
and Chief
|
2005
|
$294,167
|
$30,000
|
$324,167
|
$1,304,875
|
0
|
0
|
$15,708
|
Executive
Officer
|
2004
|
$289,166
|
$30,000
|
$319,166
|
$1,205,063
|
0
|
0
|
$15,958
|
Willing
L. Biddle
|
2006
|
$279,167
|
$30,000
|
$309,167
|
$1,672,100
|
0
|
0
|
$15,458
|
President
and Chief
|
2005
|
$272,500
|
$30,000
|
$302,500
|
$1,683,900
|
0
|
0
|
$15,125
|
Operating
Officer
|
2004
|
$258,333
|
$30,000
|
$288,333
|
$1,376,688
|
0
|
0
|
$14,417
|
James
R. Moore
|
2006
|
$234,167
|
$20,000
|
$254,167
|
$283,245
|
0
|
0
|
$12,708
|
Executive
Vice President
|
2005
|
$228,333
|
$20,000
|
$248,333
|
$314,625
|
0
|
0
|
$12,417
|
and
Chief Finance
|
2004
|
$218,333
|
$20,000
|
$238,333
|
$214,800
|
0
|
0
|
$11,917
|
Officer
|
||||||||
Raymond
P. Argila
|
2006
|
$176,167
|
$10,000
|
$186,167
|
$32,840
|
0
|
0
|
$
9,308
|
Senior
Vice President
|
2005
|
$170,833
|
$10,000
|
$180,833
|
$92,290
|
0
|
0
|
$
9,042
|
and
Co-Counsel
|
2004
|
$164,000
|
$
9,000
|
$173,000
|
$64,440
|
0
|
0
|
$
8,650
|
Thomas
D. Myers
|
2006
|
$176,167
|
$15,000
|
$191,167
|
$246,300
|
0
|
0
|
$
9,558
|
Senior
Vice President
|
||||||||
Co-Counsel
and Secretary(3)
|
(1) |
Amounts
shown represent the dollar value on the date of grant. The aggregate
number of shares of restricted stock held on October 31, 2006 and
the
value thereof as of such date were as follows: Urstadt, 92,500 Class
A
Common Shares and 406,250 Common Shares ($9,203,900); Biddle, 102,500
Class A Common Shares and 517,500 Common Shares ($11,431,075); Moore,
78,000 Class A Common Shares and 0 Common Shares ($1,492,140); Argila,
20,000 Class A Common Shares and 0 Common Shares ($382,600); and
Myers,
59,700 Class A Common Shares and 11,500 Common Shares ($1,352,511);
Restricted stock vests between five and ten years after the date
of grant,
as determined by the Compensation Committee at the time of each grant.
Dividends on shares of restricted stock are paid as declared. During
the
year ended October 31, 2006, each of the named executive officers
became
fully vested in an equal number of Class A Common and Common shares
that
were granted as restricted stock in 2001 as follows: Urstadt, 15,000
shares; Biddle, 20,000 shares; Moore, 5,500 shares; Argila, 2,000
shares;
and Myers, 2,000 shares.
|
(2) |
Consists
of a discretionary contribution by the Company to the Company's Profit
Sharing and Savings Plan (the "401(k) Plan") allocated to an account
of
the named executive officer and related excess benefit
compensation.
|
(3) |
Mr.
Myers’ compensation for 2004 and 2005 has been omitted since Mr. Myers
first became an executive officer in March,
2006.
|
Aggregated
Options/SAR Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and FY-End Option/SAR
Values
|
||||||
#
of Unexercised
Class
A Common
And
Common Share
Options/SARs
at FY-End
|
Value
of Unexercised
In-the-Money
Options/SARs
at
FY-End
(S)
|
|||||
Shares
Acquired On Exercise
(#)
|
Value
Realized
($)
|
|||||
Names
|
Exercisable
|
Unexercisable
|
Exercisable
|
Unexercisable
|
||
Charles
J. Urstadt
|
||||||
Class
A
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Common
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Willing
L. Biddle
|
||||||
Class
A
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Common
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
James
R. Moore
|
||||||
Class
A
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Common
|
5,000
|
$
47,9444
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Raymond
P. Argila
|
||||||
Class
A
|
3,000
|
$
28,7666
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Common
|
3,000
|
$
32,0599
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Thomas
D. Myers
|
||||||
Class
A
|
1,500
|
$
14,3833
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Common
|
1,500
|
$
16,0299
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Restricted
Stock Award Plan
Awards
to Employees and Non-employee Directors
During
the Year ended October 31, 2006
|
|||
Number
of Shares
|
|||
Name
and Position
|
Dollar
Value (1)
|
Common
Shares
|
Class
A
Common
Shares
|
Charles
J. Urstadt
Chairman
& Chief Executive Officer
|
$1,115,600
|
65,000
|
5,000
|
Willing
L. Biddle
President
& Chief Operating Officer
|
$1,672,100
|
100,000
|
5,000
|
James
R. Moore
Executive
Vice President &
Chief
Financial Officer
|
$
283,245
|
--
|
17,250
|
Raymond
P. Argila
Senior
Vice President & Co-Counsel
|
$
32,840
|
--
|
2,000
|
Thomas
D. Myers
Senior
Vice President Co-Counsel & Secretary
|
$
246,300
|
--
|
15,000
|
Total
Executive Group
|
$3,350,085
|
65,000
|
44,250
|
Non-Executive
Director Group
|
$
91,536
|
800
|
4,800
|
Non-Executive
Officer Employee Group
|
$
492,600
|
--
|
30,000
|
(1) |
Amounts
shown represent the dollar value on the date of grant. Restricted
stock
vests between five and ten years after the date of grant, as determined
by
the Compensation Committee at the time of each
grant.
|
Equity
Compensation Plan Table
|
||||||
(a)
|
(b)
|
(c)
|
||||
Plan
category
|
Number
of Securities
to
be Issued Upon
Exercise
of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants
and Rights
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants
And Rights
|
Number
of Securities
Remaining
Available for
Future
Issuance Under
Equity
Compensation
Plans
(Excluding
Securities
Reflected
in
Column (a))
|
|||
Equity
Compensation plans approved by security holders
|
7,859
(1) (4)
|
$8.69
(1)
|
2,406
(2)
|
|||
7,898
(2) (5)
|
$8.52
(2)
|
517,550
(3)
|
||||
Total
|
7,859
(1) (4)
|
$8.69
(1)
|
2,406
(2)
|
|||
7,898
(2) (5)
|
$8.52
(2)
|
517,550
(3)
|
(1) |
Class
A Common Shares
|
(2) |
Common
Shares
|
(3) |
Either
Common or Class A Common Share
|
(4) |
As
more fully described in footnote (1) to the table titled “Directors and
Officers” under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners and Management”, the figure presented assumes, in connection with
5,859 Class A Common Shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding
options, that all individuals for whom an election has been granted
will
elect the Class A Stock Option. If any individual elects the Combination
Option or the Common Stock Option with respect to any or all of such
options, the total number of Class A Common Shares to be issued would
be
less.
|
(5) |
As
more fully described in footnote (1) to the table titled “Directors and
Officers” under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners and Management”, the figure presented assumes, in connection with
5,898 Common Shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options,
that all individuals for whom an election has been granted will elect
the
Common Stock Option. If any individual elects the Combination Option
or
the Class A Stock Option with respect to any or all of such options,
the
total number of Common Shares to be issued would be less.
|
Compensation
Committee:
|
|
E.
Virgil Conway Chairman
|
|
Robert
R. Douglass
|
|
George
H. C. Lawrence
|
|
Audit
Committee:
|
|
Robert
J. Mueller, Chairman
|
|
Peter
Herrick
|
|
George
J. Vojta
|
|
FY
Ended 10/31/06
|
FY
Ended 10/31/05
|
|||
(PKF)
|
(E&Y)
|
|||
Fees
Billed:
|
||||
Audit
Fees
|
$293,500
|
$677,500
|
||
Audit-Related
Fees
|
$
0
|
$
25,000
|
||
Tax
Fees
|
$
12,055
|
$
31,820
|
||
All
Other Fees
|
$
0
|
$
0
|
||
Total
|
$305,555
|
$734,320
|
10/01
|
10/02
|
10/03
|
10/04
|
10/05
|
10/06
|
|||||||
UBA
|
100.00
|
126.18
|
167.28
|
210.23
|
228.61
|
277.94
|
||||||
UBP
|
100.00
|
138.50
|
170.90
|
210.47
|
251.66
|
276.07
|
||||||
S&P
500
|
100.00
|
84.89
|
102.55
|
112.21
|
122.00
|
141.94
|
||||||
NAREIT
ALL-REIT INDEX
|
100.00
|
107.61
|
145.73
|
187.29
|
213.69
|
289.68
|
(a) |
the
Director is, or has been within the last three years, an employee
of the
Company;
|
(b) |
an
immediate family member of the Director is, or has been within the
last
three years, an executive officer of the
Company;
|
(c) |
the
Director or an immediate family member of the Director has received,
during any twelve-month period within the last three years, more
than
$100,000 in direct compensation from the Company, other than director
and
committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation
for
prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any
way on
continued service);
|
(d) |
(i)
the Director or an immediate family member of the Director is a current
partner of a firm that is the Company’s internal or external auditor; (ii)
the Director is a current employee of such a firm; (iii) the Director
has
an immediate family member who is a current employee of such a firm
and
who participates in the firm’s audit, assurance or tax compliance (but not
tax planning) practice; or (iv) the Director or an immediate family
member
of the Director was within the last three years (but is no longer)
a
partner or employee of such a firm and personally worked on the Company’s
audit within that time;
|
(e) |
the
Director, or an immediate family member of the Director is, or has
been
within the last three years, employed as an executive officer of
another
company where any of this Company’s present executive officers at the same
time serves or served on that company’s compensation committee; or
|
(f) |
the
Director is a current employee, or an immediate family member of
a
Director is a current executive officer, of a company that has made
payments to, or received payments from, this Company for property
or
services in an amount which, in any of the last three fiscal years,
exceeds the greater of $1 million, or 2% of such other company’s
consolidated gross revenues.
|
1. |
Review
annually with management and the independent auditor the scope and
general
extent of the independent auditor's examination prior to the commencement
of the annual audit.
|
2. |
Discuss
the Company’s annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial
statements with management and the independent auditor, including
the
Company’s disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. Based on such discussion,
the Committee shall determine whether to recommend to the Board that
the
annual audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual
Report filed under the rules of the SEC. The Committee may designate
the
|
Chairperson
of the Committee to act on behalf
of the Committee in such discussions regarding the Company’s quarterly
financial statements.
|
3. |
From
time to time, discuss and review generally the Company’s earnings press
releases, as well as financial information and earnings guidance
provided
to analysts and rating agencies.
|
4. |
Discuss
guidelines and policies with respect to risk assessment and risk
management and meet periodically with management to review the Company’s
major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken
to
monitor and control such exposures.
|
5. |
Meet
separately, periodically, with management, persons responsible for
the
internal audit function and the independent
auditor.
|
6. |
In
consultation with management, the independent auditor and persons
responsible for the internal audit function, consider the integrity
of the
Company’s financial reporting processes and controls and review any
significant findings prepared by the independent auditor and persons
responsible for the internal audit function together with management’s
response(s).
|
7. |
From
time to time, review and discuss with management and/or the independent
auditor, significant financial reporting matters and judgments made
in
connection with the preparation of the Company’s financial statements, and
significant issues regarding accounting principles and financial
statement
presentations, including changes to the application of accounting
principles.
|
8. |
Establish
procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints
received
by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls
or audit
matters, and the confidential, anonymous submission by employees
of
concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
|
9. |
Report
regularly to the Board of
Directors.
|
10. |
Review
and assess the adequacy of this Charter annually and recommend any
proposed changes to the Board for
approval.
|
11. |
Review
and assess the adequacy of the Committee’s performance
annually.
|
12. |
The
independent auditor shall report directly to the Committee. The Committee
shall have the sole authority to, and shall, directly appoint, retain,
set
the terms of engagement of, evaluate, terminate (when circumstances
warrant), oversee and cause the Company to compensate the Company’s
independent auditor for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit
report or performing other audit, audit-related or attest services
for the
Company. Annually, the Committee shall review the independence and
performance of the independent auditor, appoint the independent auditor,
seek ratification of such appointment by the Company’s shareholders and
approve the fees to be paid to the independent auditor.
|
13. |
Obtain
and review, at least annually, a report by the independent auditor
describing: the auditor’s internal quality-control procedures; any
material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control
review,
or peer review, of the auditor, or by any inquiry or investigation
by
governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five
years,
respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the auditor,
and
any steps taken to deal with such issues.
|
14. |
At
least annually, assess the independence of the independent auditor
and all
relationships between the independent auditor and the
Company.
|
15. |
Receive
a formal written statement from the independent auditor regarding
the
auditor's independence, including without limitation, a delineation
of all
relationships between the auditor and the Company; discuss such
statement
with the auditor, and if so determined by the Committee, recommend
that
the Board take appropriate action to satisfy itself of the independence
of
the auditor. All engagements for non-audit services by the independent
auditor shall be approved by the Committee prior to the commencement
of
such services. The Committee may designate a member of the Committee
to
represent the entire Committee for purposes of approval of non-audit
services, subject to review by the full Committee at the next regularly
scheduled meeting. The Company’s independent auditor may not be engaged to
perform activities prohibited under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
the
rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board or the SEC.
|
16. |
Obtain
from the independent auditor assurance that Section 10A of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 has not been implicated.
|
17. |
Discuss
with the independent auditor the matters required to be discussed
by
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 relating to the conduct of
the
audit.
|
18. |
Review
with the independent auditor any problems or difficulties encountered
by
the auditor and any management letter provided by the auditor, together
with the Company’s response to that letter. Such review should include any
difficulties encountered in the course of the audit work, including
any
restrictions on the scope of activities or access to required
information.
|
19. |
Review
any reports provided by the independent auditor to the Committee
as
required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with regard to:
(a)
critical accounting policies and practices used by the Company; (b)
alternative treatments of financial information within GAAP for policies
and practices related to material items that have been discussed
with
management (including ramifications of the use of such alternative
disclosures and treatments and the treatment preferred by the independent
auditor); and (c) other material written communications between the
independent auditor and management, such as any management or internal
control letter, or schedule of unadjusted
differences.
|
20. |
Review
the budget, plan, changes in plan, activities, organization structure
and
qualifications of persons responsible for the Company’s internal audit
function, as needed.
|
21. |
Approve
the appointment (including, if applicable, any engagement terms),
performance and replacement of persons responsible for the Company’s
internal audit function.
|
22. |
Review
significant reports prepared by persons responsible for the internal
audit
function together with management’s response to these
reports.
|
23. |
Annually,
prepare the report required by the rules of the SEC to be included
in the
Company's annual proxy statement.
|
24. |
On
at least an annual basis, review with the Company's counsel legal
matters
that may have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements, the
Company's compliance policies and any material reports or inquiries
received from regulators or governmental
agencies.
|
25. |
Set
clear policies for the hiring, by the Company, of current or former
partners, principals, shareholders or employees of the independent
auditor
in accordance with applicable law.
|
26. |
Perform
any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Company’s by-laws
and governing law, as the Committee or the Board deems necessary
or
appropriate.
|
Please
vote and sign on this side and return promptly in the enclosed
envelope.
Do not forget to date your proxy.
|
x
Votes
must be indicated
(x)
in Black or Blue ink.
|
|||||||||||
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THESE
PROPOSALS
|
||||||||||||
Proposal
1. To
elect three Directors to serve for three years.
|
Proposal
2.
|
To
ratify the appointment of PKF as the independent registered public
accounting firm of the Company for one year.
|
For
o
|
Against
o
|
Abstain
o
|
|||||||
FOR
all nominees
listed
below o
|
WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY to
vote
for
all nominees listed below o
|
*EXCEPTIONS
o
|
||||||||||
Nominees
to serve for three years: Willing L. Biddle, E. Virgil Conway and
Robert
J. Mueller
|
Please
sign name exactly as shown. When there is more than one holder,
each
should sign. When signing as an attorney, administrator, guardian
or
trustee, please add your title as such. If executed by a corporation
or
partnership, the proxy should be signed by a duly authorized person,
stating his or her title or authority.
|
|||||||||||
(INSTRUCTIONS:
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark
the
“Exceptions” box and write that nominee’s name in the space provided
below.)
|
||||||||||||
*Exceptions_________________________________________
|
||||||||||||
To
change your address, please mark this box and make the changes
to the
address
shown
at left. o
|
||||||||||||
Please
sign exactly as your name appears hereon. When signing in a representative
capacity, please give full title.
|
||||||||||||
Date
________
Share Owner sign here ____________ Co-Owner sign here
_______________
|