blondertonguedef14a.htm
SCHEDULE
14A
(Rule
14a-101)
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ___)
Filed by the
Registrant |
[X]
|
Filed by a
Party other than the Registrant |
[
] |
Check the
appropriate box:
[
] Preliminary Proxy Statement
|
Confidential,
for Use of the
|
[X]
Definitive Proxy Statement
|
Commission
Only (as permitted
|
[
] Definitive Additional Materials
|
by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
|
[
] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12
|
|
BLONDER
TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC.
(Name of
Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the
Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
|
[X]
No fee required.
|
|
[
] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(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: |
|
|
|
|
Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials:
|
|
|
|
Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its
filing.
|
|
|
|
1. |
Amount
Previously Paid: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. |
Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3. |
Filing
Party: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4. |
Date
Filed: |
|
|
|
BLONDER
TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC.
One
Jake Brown Road
Old
Bridge, New Jersey 08857
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To
Be Held May 21, 2008
To Our
Stockholders:
The 2008
Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. (“Blonder”
or “we”) will be held at the Comfort Suites-East
Brunswick, 555 Old Bridge Turnpike, East Brunswick, New Jersey, on May 21, 2008,
beginning at 10:00 a.m., local time, for the following purposes:
|
1.
|
To
elect three Directors constituting Class I of the Board of Directors to
serve until the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until qualified
successor directors have been elected or until their resignation or
removal;
|
|
2.
|
To
ratify the appointment of Marcum & Kliegman LLP, certified public
accountants, as our independent registered public accountants for the year
ending December 31, 2008; and
|
|
3.
|
To
transact any other business as may properly come before the meeting or any
adjournments thereof. In their discretion, the Proxies are
authorized to vote upon any other business as may properly come before the
Annual Meeting or any adjournments
thereof.
|
A proxy,
if properly executed and received in time for the voting, will be voted in the
manner directed on the proxy. If no direction is made, the proxy will
be voted FOR all proposals on the proxy card.
Our Board
of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 31, 2008 as the record
date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting and to vote
at the meeting or any adjournments thereof. Only stockholders of
record at the close of business on March 31, 2008 are entitled to notice of and
to vote at the meeting or any adjournments thereof.
Please
read the attached Proxy Statement for further information regarding each
proposal to be made.
We
cordially invite you to attend the meeting. Regardless of whether you
plan to attend, please complete, date and sign the enclosed proxy and return it
promptly. If you receive more than one form of proxy, it is an indication that
your shares are registered in more than one account, and therefore you should
complete and return each proxy if you wish to vote all of your shares that are
eligible to be voted at the meeting.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors
|
|
Robert
J. Pallé, Jr., President, Chief
|
|
Operating
Officer and Secretary
|
April 23,
2008
PLEASE
COMPLETE AND RETURN THE PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHICH REQUIRES NO
POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING AND
DESIRE TO VOTE IN PERSON AT THE MEETING, YOUR PROXY WILL BE RETURNED TO YOU UPON
WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY REVOKING YOUR PROXY.
BLONDER
TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC.
One
Jake Brown Road
Old
Bridge, New Jersey 08857
PROXY
STATEMENT FOR
THE
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON
MAY
21, 2008
This
Proxy Statement is being furnished to the stockholders of Blonder Tongue
Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Blonder” or “we”), in connection
with the solicitation of proxies by our Board of Directors for our 2008 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) and at any adjournment or
adjournments thereof.
You are
invited to attend the Annual Meeting on May 21, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., local
time. The meeting will be held at the Comfort Suites-East
Brunswick, 555 Old Bridge Turnpike, East Brunswick, New Jersey.
The
mailing address of our principal executive office is One Jake Brown Road, Old
Bridge, New Jersey 08857. Our telephone number is (732)
679-4000. This Proxy Statement and the enclosed form of proxy will be
mailed to each stockholder on or about April 23, 2008, together with the Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Voting and
Proxies
You can vote by completing, signing,
dating and mailing the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided. When a
proxy is returned properly, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted in
accordance with your instructions.
You may
also attend the Annual Meeting in person and cast your vote there. If
your shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee and you
wish to vote at the Annual Meeting, you must bring a legal proxy from the record
holder of your shares indicating that you were the beneficial owner of the
shares on March 31, 2008, the record date for voting, and that you have a right
to vote your shares.
Regarding
the election of Directors to serve until the 2011 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, stockholders may vote in favor of all nominees or withhold their
votes as to all nominees or withhold their votes as to specific
nominees. With respect to any other proposals to be voted upon,
stockholders may vote in favor of a proposal, against a proposal or may abstain
from voting. You should specify your choices on the enclosed form of
proxy. If no specific instructions are given with respect to the
matters to be acted upon, the shares represented by a signed proxy card will be
voted (i) FOR the election of all nominees and (ii) FOR ratification of the
appointment of Marcum & Kliegman LLP as independent registered public
accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008. Directors
will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of the shares of
our common stock, $.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), voting in person
or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. Thus, abstentions will have no
effect on the vote for election of Directors. Approval of any other
matters to come before the Annual Meeting will require the affirmative vote of
the holders of a majority of the shares of our Common Stock present in person or
by proxy at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions are deemed present for
quorum purposes and entitled to vote and, therefore, will have the effect of a
vote against any matter other than the election of Directors. Broker
non-votes occur when a broker or other nominee holding shares for a beneficial
owner does not vote on a proposal because the beneficial owner has not provided
voting instructions and the broker does not have discretionary authority to vote
shares on the matter. Broker non-votes are not considered to be
shares “entitled to vote” (other than for quorum purposes), will not be included
in vote totals and will have no effect on the outcome of any matters to be voted
upon at the Annual Meeting.
Revocation
of a Proxy
All
proxies delivered pursuant to this solicitation are revocable at any time before
they are exercised, by (i) filing written notice with our Secretary before the
Annual Meeting, (ii) signing and delivering a later dated proxy to our Secretary
before the Annual Meeting (each to the mailing address of our executive
offices), or (iii) voting in person at the Annual Meeting if you are a record
holder. Your attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, without
taking one of actions described in the immediately preceding sentence,
constitute revocation of a proxy. If your shares are held in the name
of a broker, bank or other nominee, you need to contact the record holder of
your shares regarding how to revoke your proxy.
Voting on Other
Matters
We know
of no other business to be transacted at the Annual Meeting other than the
election of Directors and the other proposal described in the attached Notice of
Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If any other matters do arise and are
properly presented, the persons named in the proxy will have the discretion to
vote on those matters for you according to their best judgment and with the
instructions of the Board of Directors.
Costs
of Proxy Solicitation
We will
pay the expenses associated with soliciting proxies for the Annual Meeting,
including the cost of preparing, assembling and mailing the notice, proxy and
Proxy Statement. We will solicit proxies by use of the mails, through
brokers and banking institutions, and by our officers and regular
employees. We may also solicit proxies by personal interview, mail,
telephone or facsimile transmission.
Voting
Securities
Only
owners of record of our Common Stock at the close of business on March 31, 2008
(the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting
or any adjournments or postponements thereof. Each owner of record on
the Record Date is entitled to one vote for each share of our Common Stock so
held. There is no cumulative voting. On the Record Date,
there were 6,222,252 shares of Common Stock issued, outstanding and entitled to
vote.
PROPOSAL
NO. 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, provides that our Board shall consist
of between five and eleven members, as determined from time to time by the
Board, divided into three classes as nearly equal in number as
possible. The size of the Board has currently been set at seven
directors, with Class I comprised of three directors and Classes II and III each
comprised of two directors. The term of the current Class I Directors
expires at the 2008 Annual Meeting, the term of the current Class II Directors
expires at the 2009 Annual Meeting and the term of the current Class III
Directors expires at the 2010 Annual Meeting, The successors to
each class of Directors whose terms expire at an Annual Meeting will be elected
to hold office for a term expiring at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held in
the third year following the year of their election.
The
Directors whose terms will expire at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are
Anthony J. Bruno, Robert E. Heaton and James A. Luksch, each of whom has been
recommended for nomination by our Nominating Committee and nominated by our
Board to stand for re-election as a Director at the 2008 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, to hold office until the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and
until a qualified successor director has been elected or until he resigns or is
removed. Messrs. Bruno, Heaton and Luksch have each consented to
serve for the new terms, if elected.
Recommendation
of the Board of Directors Concerning the Election of Directors
Our
Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Anthony J. Bruno, Robert E. Heaton and
James A. Luksch as Class I Directors to hold office until the 2011 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders and until qualified successor directors have been
elected or until their resignation or removal. Proxies received by
the Board of Directors will be so voted unless stockholders specify in their
proxy a contrary choice.
DIRECTORS
AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Nominee
and Continuing Directors
The
following table sets forth the names and certain information about each of the
nominees for election as Director and our continuing Directors:
Name
|
Age
|
Director
Since
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nominees
for a three-year term expiring in 2011 (Class I
Directors):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anthony
J. Bruno
(1)
|
67
|
2008
|
|
|
Robert
E. Heaton
(2)(3) |
78
|
1998
|
|
|
James
A. Luksch |
77
|
1988
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors
not standing for election this year whose terms expire in 2009 (Class II
Directors): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
J. Pallé, Jr. |
62
|
1993
|
|
|
Gary
P. Scharmett(4) |
52
|
1997
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors
not standing for election this year whose terms expire in 2010 (Class III
Directors): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
B. Mayer
(5)(6)(7) |
76
|
1995
|
|
|
James
F. Williams(6)(8)(9) |
50
|
1993
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Since
February, 2008, a member of the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors.
|
(2)
|
Since
May, 1998, a member of the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors.
|
(3)
|
Since
June, 2000, a member of the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors.
|
(4)
|
Since
February, 2004, a member of the Nominating Committee of the Board of
Directors.
|
(5)
|
Since
December, 1995, a member of the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors.
|
(6)
|
Since
December, 1995, a member of the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors.
|
(7)
|
Since
April, 2004, a member of the Nominating Committee of the Board of
Directors.
|
(8)
|
Since
January, 2007, a member of the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors.
|
(9)
|
Since
May, 2007, a member of the Nominating Committee of the Board of
Directors.
|
Set forth below is a brief summary of
the recent business experience and background of each nominee, continuing
Director and executive officer:
Anthony J. Bruno has been one
of our Directors since February 1, 2008. Since 2007, Mr.
Bruno has been a consultant to Besam Entrance Solutions, the United States
subsidiary of ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems, a Swedish Company, handling various
aspects of corporate acquisitions. Prior to his role as a consultant, Mr. Bruno
was the Vice-President of Finance for Besam Entrance Solutions for 18 years,
managing all aspects of its financial activities in North America. Mr. Bruno
also served as Blonder Tongue’s Vice President of Finance from 1981 to
1989.
Robert E. Heaton has been one
of our Directors since March, 1998. From April, 1993 through April,
1995, Mr. Heaton served as Vice Chairman of the Stainless Steel Group of Lukens,
Inc. From April, 1981, through April, 1993, Mr. Heaton was President
and Chief Executive Officer of Washington Steel Corporation until it was
acquired by Lukens, Inc. Mr. Heaton is a past Chairman of the
Specialty Steel Industry of North America.
James A. Luksch has been one
of our Directors and our Chief Executive Officer since November,
1988. He has been the Chairman of our Board since November,
1994. Mr. Luksch also served as our President from November, 1988
until May, 2003. Mr. Luksch is the father of Emily Nikoo, one of our
Senior Vice Presidents.
Robert B. Mayer has been one
of our Directors since December, 1995. From 1966 to 1991, Mr. Mayer
served in various executive positions, including Director and Regional President
of Norstar Bank, N.A. (formerly known as Liberty National Bank & Trust Co.),
a member of Fleet Financial Group. Mr. Mayer has from time to time
served as a part-time instructor at State University of New York at Buffalo and
is currently a Director and officer of People, Inc., a non-profit corporation
dedicated to serving people with disabilities.
Robert J. Pallé, Jr. has been
one of our Directors since September, 1993, our President since May, 2003 and
our Chief Operating Officer and Secretary since April, 1989. He also
served as our Executive Vice President from April, 1989 until May, 2003 and as
our Interim Treasurer from March through April, 2001.
Gary P. Scharmett has been one
of our Directors since December, 1997. Since January, 1989, Mr.
Scharmett has been a partner in the law firm of Stradley, Ronon, Stevens &
Young, LLP, our outside counsel, and served on the Board of Directors of that
firm from January, 2001 until December, 2003.
James F. Williams has been one
of our Directors since September, 1993. He has served as the
Vice-President and a Director of Ontario Specialty Contracting, Inc., a
demolition and environmental contracting company, since March,
1999. Since April, 1996, Mr.
Williams has also been the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of
Integrated Waste Services, Inc. Mr. Williams is the nephew of James
H. Williams, who was one of our Directors until May, 2006.
Other
Executive Officers
Eric S. Skolnik, 43, has been
a Senior Vice President since May, 2003 and our Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Assistant Secretary since May, 2001. Mr. Skolnik served
as our Interim Chief Financial Officer from January, 2001 through April,
2001. He was our Corporate Controller from May, 2000 through January,
2001. From 1994 until May, 2000, Mr. Skolnik worked as a certified
public accountant with BDO Seidman, LLP.
Emily M. Nikoo, 42, has been
our Senior Vice President – Operations since February, 2007. She was
Vice President - Marketing and Technical Services from February, 2004 to
February, 2007. She was hired by us in March, 1995 as a product
manager and has held several supervisory and management
positions. From 1994 until 1995, Ms. Nikoo was the Vice President of
Electronic Systems Advanced Technology, and from 1987 to 1994 she worked as an
electrical engineering and project manager for Lockheed Martin Corporation in
its space systems business segment. Ms. Nikoo is the daughter of
James A. Luksch.
Peter F. Daly, Jr., 51, has
been our Senior Vice President – Marketing and Sales and our Chief Marketing
Officer since February, 2007. Mr. Daly is responsible for sales,
marketing, business development, technical services and customer services. He
was Vice President – Sales from April, 2004 to February, 2007. Mr.
Daly was a co-founder of Lamont Digital Systems, Inc. where he served as Senior
Vice President and Chief Technology Officer from November, 2000 to November,
2003, during which time he oversaw the design, engineering and operation of
complex fiber-to-the-home video, voice and data systems. From
January, 1992 to November, 2000, Mr. Daly served as Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer of Campus TeleVideo, a division of Lamont Digital Systems,
Inc.
Norman A. Westcott, 67, has
been our Senior Vice President - Operational Services since October, 1999 and
was one of our Vice Presidents from July, 1994 until October,
1999. Mr. Westcott is responsible for material purchasing and
production.
Allen Horvath, 56, has been
our Vice President - Manufacturing since May, 2003 and is responsible for our
manufacturing activities. Mr. Horvath served as our Manufacturing
Manager from 1998 until May, 2003. Since 1976, Mr. Horvath has served
us in several management positions in the areas of production testing,
engineering, quality control and manufacturing.
Kant Mistry, 67, has been our
Vice President - Engineering since May, 2003, and has been our Chief Technical
Officer since July, 2000. From October, 1990 to July, 2000, Mr.
Mistry served as our Chief Engineer.
Director
Independence
Our Board of Directors has considered
the independence of our Directors pursuant to Section 121A of the Rules of the
American Stock Exchange. Based on this consideration, our Board has
determined that Robert B. Mayer, Anthony J. Bruno, Robert E. Heaton, and Gary P.
Scharmett, all current Directors, are independent pursuant to Section
121A. Our Board of Directors has determined that during fiscal 2007,
James F. Williams was independent from the period of January 1 through December
5. On December 6, 2007, we entered into a Purchase Agreement with
Buffalo City Center Leasing, LLC (“Buffalo City”), of which Mr. Williams is a
director, managing member and vice president. Additionally, Mr.
Williams may be deemed to control the entity which owns fifty percent (50%) of
the membership interests of Buffalo City. See “Certain Relationships
and Related Transactions” below for more information on the Purchase Agreement
and Mr. Williams relationship with Buffalo City. Due to this
relationship with Buffalo City, the Board of Directors has determined that as of
December 6, 2007 Mr. Williams was no longer considered independent pursuant to
Section 121A. Mr. Williams continued to serve on each of our
Compensation, Nominating and Audit Committees after December 6, 2007 relying on
the “exceptional and limited circumstances” exemption provided for under the
Rules of the American Stock Exchange. Our Board of Directors
determined that his continued service on these committees was in the best
interests of Blonder and our shareholders due to his knowledge and experience
with our compensation and nomination practices as well as his comprehensive
knowledge of our financial affairs and designation as our “audit committee
financial expert.”
Meetings
of the Board of Directors; Committees
During
the year ended December 31, 2007, there were eight meetings of our Board of
Directors and each Director attended (either in person or via teleconference) at
least 75% of the meetings held. The Board of Directors has three
standing committees: the Compensation Committee, the Nominating
Committee and the Audit Committee.
Compensation
Committee. The Compensation Committee is currently comprised
of Robert E. Heaton, Robert B. Mayer and James F. Williams, each of whom is a
non-employee Director. Two of the members of the Compensation
Committee, Mr. Heaton and Mr. Mayer, who each served during the 2007 fiscal year
were independent, as independence for compensation committee members is defined
by the American Stock Exchange. Mr. Williams was considered
independent as a Compensation Committee member in fiscal 2007 until we entered
into a Purchase Agreement with Buffalo City on December 6, 2007 as disclosed
above. Accordingly, as of December 6, 2007 Mr. Williams was no longer
considered an independent member of the Compensation Committee, but he continued
to serve on the Compensation Committee pursuant to the “exceptional and limited
circumstances” exemption provided for under Rule 805(b) of the American Stock
Exchange. As noted above, our Board of Directors determined that his
continued service on the Compensation Committee was in the best interests
of Blonder and our shareholders due to his knowledge and experience with our
compensation practices.
The
Compensation Committee currently does not have a formal charter. The
Compensation Committee determines compensation for our executive officers and
administers our stock incentive plans, except for the Amended and Restated 1996
Director Option Plan and the 2005 Director Equity Incentive
Plan. This committee held five meetings during 2007, all of which
were attended (either in person or via teleconference) by each committee
member.
The
Compensation Committee’s responsibilities include, among other duties, the
responsibility to:
|
·
|
evaluate
the performance of the Chief Executive Officer and the
President;
|
|
·
|
review
and approve the base salary (subject to Board approval), bonus, incentive
compensation and any other compensation for the Chief Executive Officer
and the President;
|
|
·
|
review
the Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations for the compensation of the
other executive officers, make appropriate adjustments and
approve;
|
|
·
|
monitor
our cash bonus and equity-based compensation plans and discharge the
duties imposed on the Compensation Committee by the terms of those plans;
and
|
|
·
|
perform
other functions or duties deemed appropriate by the
Board.
|
Compensation decisions for the Chief
Executive Officer, President and all other executive officers are reviewed and
approved by the Compensation Committee, subject to ratification by the Board of
Directors of the base salary for the Chief Executive Officer and the
President. The Compensation Committee relies upon the Chief Executive
Officer to assist the Compensation Committee in performing its duties with
regard to all other executive officers. While the Compensation
Committee has not retained a compensation consultant, in determining the base
salary for our executive officers, the Compensation Committee obtains, from time
to time, salary survey information from companies such as Watson Wyatt Data
Services. The Compensation Committee does not delegate any of its
authority to other persons.
With
regard to the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and the President,
Messrs. Luksch and Pallé, respectively, the Compensation Committee reviews their
respective performance, the relevant compensation information from salary
surveys, and written comments received from members of the Board regarding their
respective performance. The Chief Executive Officer also provides the
Compensation Committee with a summary review of the President’s
performance. Based upon such review, the Compensation Committee
determines their respective compensation, subject to Board approval of their
base salaries. The base salary of the Chief Executive Officer and the
President is presently reviewed every other year.
With
regard to compensation for the other named executive officers, the Chief
Executive Officer provides the Compensation Committee with a written summary
review of the executive officers’ performance and a recommendation as to the
appropriate form and amount of compensation for each executive
officer. The Compensation Committee reviews and considers the
recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer, makes adjustments as appropriate
and approves them. This review and adjustment procedure is
performed annually for the other named executive officers.
The
Compensation Committee does not establish or recommend the amount or form of
Director compensation. These determinations are made and approved by
the full Board of Directors. Grants of stock option awards to
non-employee Directors are generally made annually upon consideration and
approval by the full Board of Directors with the non-employee Directors
abstaining from such vote.
Nominating
Committee. The Nominating Committee is currently comprised of
Robert B. Mayer, James F. Williams and Gary P. Scharmett, each of whom is a
non-employee Director. Robert E. Heaton, also a non-employee
director, was a member of the Nominating Committee from January 2007 through May
of 2007 when he was replaced by James F. Williams. During fiscal
2007, Mr. Heaton, Mr. Mayer, and Mr. Scharmett were independent, as independence
for nominating committee members is defined by the American Stock
Exchange. Mr. Williams was considered independent as a Nominating
Committee member in fiscal 2007 until we entered into a Purchase Agreement with
Buffalo City on December 6, 2007 as disclosed above. Accordingly, as
of December 6, 2007 Mr. Williams was no longer considered an independent member
of the Nominating Committee, but he continued to serve on the Nominating
Committee pursuant to the
“exceptional and limited circumstances” exemption provided for under Rule 804(b)
of the American Stock Exchange. As noted above, our Board of
Directors determined that his continued service on the Nominating Committee was
in the best interests of Blonder and our shareholders due to his knowledge
and experience with our nomination practices.
The
Nominating Committee, among other things, considers and makes recommendations to
the Board of Directors concerning the appropriate size of the Board and nominees
to stand for election or fill vacancies on the Board. In particular,
the Nominating Committee identifies, recruits, considers and recommends
candidates to fill positions on the Board in accordance with its criteria for
Board membership (as such criteria are generally described below). In
searching for qualified director candidates to nominate for election at an
annual meeting of stockholders, the Nominating Committee will initially consider
nominating the current Directors whose terms are expiring and will consider
their past performance on the Board, along with the criteria for Board
membership, in determining whether to nominate them for
re-election. In connection with nominations for elections at annual
meetings or to fill vacancies in the Board, the Nominating Committee may solicit
the current members of the Board to identify qualified candidates through their
business and other organizational networks and may also retain director search
firms as it determines necessary in its own discretion. The
Nominating Committee will then consider the potential pool of Director
candidates derived from the foregoing process, select the top candidates to fill
the number of openings based on their qualifications, the Board’s needs
(including the need for independent directors) and the
criteria
for Board membership. The Nominating Committee will then conduct a
thorough investigation of the proposed candidates’ backgrounds to ensure there
is no past history that would disqualify such candidates from serving as
Directors. Those candidates that are selected and pass the background
investigation will be recommended to the full Board for nomination.
The
criteria for a nominee to the Board include, among other things:
|
·
|
The
highest personal and professional ethics, strength of character, integrity
and values;
|
|
·
|
Experience
as a senior manager, chief operating officer or chief executive officer of
a relatively complex organization or, if in a professional or scientific
capacity, be accustomed to dealing with complex problems, or otherwise
shall have obtained and excelled in a position of
leadership;
|
|
·
|
Education,
experience, intelligence, independence, fairness, reasoning ability,
practical wisdom, and vision to exercise sound, mature judgments on a
macro and entrepreneurial basis on matters which relate to our current and
long-term objectives;
|
|
·
|
Competence
and willingness to learn our business, and the breadth of viewpoint and
experience necessary for an understanding of the diverse and sometimes
conflicting interests of stockholders and other
constituencies;
|
|
·
|
The
nominee should be of such an age at the time of election to assure a
minimum of three years of service as a director, and should be free and
willing to attend regularly scheduled meetings of our Board of Directors
and its committees over a sustained period and otherwise be able to
contribute a reasonable amount of time to our company
affairs;
|
|
·
|
The
stature and capability to represent us before the public, stockholders,
and other various individuals and groups that affect us;
and
|
|
·
|
Willingness
to appraise objectively the performance of management in the interest of
the stockholders and question management’s assumptions when inquiry is
appropriate.
|
The
Nominating Committee does not have a formal charter, but our Board has adopted
guidelines addressing the purpose and responsibilities of the Nominating
Committee in connection with its formation. The guidelines include
procedures for recruiting, considering and recommending nominees to our Board
and criteria for Board membership. Although the Nominating Committee
will not consider any director candidates recommended by stockholders, our Board
believes this is appropriate as our certificate of incorporation and bylaws
permit stockholders to directly nominate persons for election as Directors by
following the procedures set forth therein. This committee held one
meeting during 2007, and each committee member attended this meeting (either in
person or via teleconference).
Audit
Committee. We have a separately-designated standing Audit
Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Audit Committee is
currently comprised of James F. Williams, Robert E. Heaton, Robert B. Mayer and
Anthony J. Bruno, all of whom are non-employee Directors. The Audit
Committee, among other things:
|
·
|
oversees
our accounting and financial reporting process and audits of our financial
statements;
|
|
·
|
selects,
retains or terminates our independent registered public
accountants;
|
|
·
|
reviews
the plans and results of the audit engagement with the independent
registered public accountants;
|
|
·
|
discusses
with the independent registered public accountants all accounting policies
and practices to be used and alternative treatments of financial
information discussed with
management;
|
|
·
|
oversees
the work of the independent registered public
accountants;
|
|
·
|
evaluates
and pre-approves audit and non-audit services provided by the independent
registered public accountants;
|
|
·
|
reviews
the independence of the independent registered public
accountants;
|
|
·
|
assures
the regular rotation of the audit
partners;
|
|
·
|
considers
the range of audit and non-audit fees and determines the compensation of
the independent registered public
accountants;
|
|
·
|
reviews
financial and earnings information released to the public, analysts and
other third parties; and
|
|
·
|
reviews
the adequacy of our internal accounting
controls.
|
This
committee held six meetings during 2007, all of which were attended (either in
person or via teleconference) by each committee member.
Three
members of the Audit Committee, Mr. Heaton, Mr. Mayer and Mr. Bruno, are
independent, as “independence” for Audit Committee members is defined by the
American Stock Exchange. Mr. Williams was considered independent as
an Audit Committee member in fiscal 2007 until we entered into a Purchase
Agreement with Buffalo City on December 6, 2007 as disclosed
above. Accordingly, as of December 6, 2007 Mr. Williams was no longer
considered an independent member of the Audit Committee, but he continued to
serve on the Audit Committee pursuant to the “exceptional and limited
circumstances” exemption provided for under Rule 803B(2)(b) of the American
Stock Exchange. As noted above, our Board of Directors determined
that his continued service on the Audit Committee was in the best interests
of Blonder and our shareholders due to his comprehensive knowledge of our
financial affairs and designation as our “audit committee financial
expert.”
Our Board
of Directors has determined that a member of the Audit Committee, James F.
Williams, qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in
Section 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). As noted above, Mr. Williams
is not considered independent under the Rules of the American Stock
Exchange. The Board of Directors adopted a written charter for the
Audit Committee in June, 2000, which was amended by the Board of Directors in
March, 2003 and March, 2004. The Audit Committee reviews and
reassesses the charter for adequacy on an annual basis, most recently in March,
2008. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter was attached as Appendix
A to our proxy statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
Board
Policies Regarding Communications With the Board of Directors and Attendance at
Annual Meetings
Our Board
of Directors maintains a process for stockholders to communicate with the Board
of Directors. A stockholder wishing to communicate with our Board of
Directors, or any individual member(s) of the Board of Directors, can send a
written communication to the attention of the Board of Directors (or specific
individual Director(s), if applicable) at the following address: c/o
Corporate Secretary, One Jake Brown Road, Old Bridge, New Jersey
08857. Any such communication must state the number of shares
beneficially owned by the stockholder making the communication. Our
Corporate Secretary will forward such communication to the full Board of
Directors or to any individual Director or Directors to whom the communication
is directed unless the communication is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal or
similarly inappropriate, in which case our Corporate Secretary has the authority
to discard the communication or take appropriate legal action regarding the
communication.
While we
do not have a formal written policy regarding Board member attendance at our
Annual Meeting, we actively encourage our Directors to attend the Annual Meeting
of Stockholders. All Directors attended our 2007 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors has:
|
·
|
reviewed
and discussed the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2007 with management;
|
|
·
|
discussed
with Blonder’s independent registered public accountants the matters
required to be discussed by Statement on Accounting Standards No. 61, as
the same was in effect on the date of Blonder’s financial
statements;
|
|
·
|
received
the written disclosures and the letter from Blonder’s independent
registered public accountants required by Independence Standards Board
Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), as the
same was in effect on the date of Blonder’s financial statements;
and
|
|
·
|
discussed
with Blonder’s independent registered public accountants their
independence from Blonder and its
management.
|
Management
is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of Blonder’s
financial statements, the financial reporting process, accounting principles and
internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting
standards and applicable laws and regulations. Blonder’s independent
registered public accountants are responsible for performing an independent
audit of the financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards and issuing a report thereon. The Audit Committee’s
responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes. The Audit
Committee has relied, without independent verification, on the information
provided to it and on the representations of management and the independent
registered public accountants that the financial statements have been prepared
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
Based on the review and discussions
referred to in the items above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of
Directors that the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2007 be included in Blonder’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
|
The
Audit Committee
|
|
Robert
E. Heaton, Chairman
|
|
Anthony
J. Bruno
|
|
Robert
B. Mayer
|
|
James
F. Williams
|
Directors’
Compensation
2007
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The
following table discloses the actual compensation paid to or earned by each of
our Directors who is not also a named executive officer in fiscal year
2007:
Name
|
Fees
Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
|
Option
Awards
($)(2)
|
All Other Compensation
($)
|
Total
($)
|
Robert
B. Mayer
|
$ 21,700
|
$ 13,467
|
(3)(4)
|
|
$ 35,167
|
John
E. Dwight(1)
|
-
|
$ 8,933
|
(5)
|
$ 60,0000
(6) |
$ 68,933
|
James
F. Williams
|
$ 21,700
|
$ 13,467
|
(3)(4)
|
|
$ 35,167
|
Robert
E. Heaton
|
$ 22,400
|
$ 13,467
|
(3)(4)
|
|
$ 35,867
|
Gary
P. Scharmett
|
$ 20,300
|
$ 13,467
|
(3)(4)
|
|
$ 33,767
|
|
(1) John
E. Dwight resigned as a Director as of February 1, 2008, but remains an
employee in his capacity as Assistant to the Chief Executive
Officer.
|
|
(2) The
amounts in the “Option Awards” column reflect the dollar amount recognized
by us for financial statement reporting purposes under FAS 123(R) for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, disregarding the estimate of
forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. In accordance
with FAS 123(R), this column may include amounts from awards granted in
and prior to 2007 under our long term incentive plans for
Directors. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts
are included in Note 1(o) to our audited consolidated financial statements
included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2007.
|
|
(3) Each
non-employee Director as of April 3, 2007 was granted an option to
purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock on such date under the 2005
Director
Equity Incentive Plan.
|
|
(4) As
of December 31, 2007, each non-employee Director held options to purchase
57,000 shares of Common Stock. |
|
(5)
Mr. Dwight was granted an option award to purchase 10,000 shares of Common
Stock on April 3, 2007 under the 2005 Employee Equity Incentive
Plan. As
of December 31, 2007, Mr. Dwight held options to purchase an aggregate of
30,000 shares of Common Stock.
|
|
(6) Represents
amounts paid as compensation for service as our
employee. |
Director
Compensation Arrangements.
We pay
each of our non-employee Directors a retainer at the annual rate of $15,000,
payable quarterly, a fee of $1,000 for each Board meeting attended in person
($500 if attendance was telephonic) and a fee of $600 for each committee meeting
attended in person ($300 if attendance was telephonic or if attending on the
same date as a Board meeting). We reimburse each Director for certain
travel, lodging and related expenses incurred in connection with attendance at
Board and committee meetings. During calendar year 2007, we did not
pay Messrs. Luksch, Pallé and Dwight any separate compensation for serving on
the Board of Directors or any committees thereof.
Director
Benefit Plans.
In May
2005, our stockholders approved the adoption of the Blonder Tongue Laboratories,
Inc. 2005 Director Equity Incentive Plan (the “Director Plan”). The
Director Plan is administered by our Board of Directors. Under the
Director Plan, Directors who are not currently employed by us or by any of our
subsidiaries and who have not been so employed within the past six months, are
eligible to receive equity-based awards from time to time as determined by our
Board. A maximum of 200,000 shares may be awarded under the Director
Plan, and any shares subject to an award which is terminated, canceled, expired
or forfeited for any reason will again be available for the grant of an
award. Under the Director Plan, eligible Directors may be awarded
stock options to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock (“Stock Options”),
stock appreciation rights to receive the excess, if any, of the fair market
value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock at the time of exercise
over the
grant
price (“SARS”) or stock awards at no cost to the Director (“Stock Awards”),
which may be either restricted stock or unrestricted stock. Each
grant of a Stock Option, SAR or Stock Award will be subject to a written Award
Agreement which shall specify the terms and conditions of the grant as
determined by the Board of Directors, provided, however, that the
exercise price for any Stock Option or SAR granted shall not be less than the
fair market value of the underlying Common Stock on the date of
grant. The Director Plan expires on February 1, 2015.
On April
3, 2007, each of our non-employee Directors who was a Director on such date was
granted an option under the Director Plan to purchase 10,000 shares of Common
Stock at an exercise price equal to $1.98 per share, the fair market value of
our Common Stock on April 3, 2007, calculated by taking the average of the high
and low selling prices as reported on the American Stock Exchange on the grant
date of April 3, 2007. These
options vested on April 3, 2008 and expire on April 2, 2017.
On
January 30, 2008, each of our non-employee Directors who was a Director on such
date was granted an option under the Director Plan to purchase 10,000 shares of
our Common Stock, at an exercise price equal to the greater of (i) $1.435 per
share (the fair market value on the date of grant) or (ii) the fair market value
of our Common Stock on the second trading day
following the date of public disclosure of our financial results for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2007. The fair market value of the Common
Stock on the second trading day following the date of public disclosure was
$1.575 per share; accordingly, the exercise price is $1.575 per
share. The fair market
value of our Common Stock
is calculated by taking the average of the high and low selling prices as
reported on the American Stock Exchange. These options vest
on January 30, 2009 and expire on January 29, 2018.
On February 1, 2008, in
connection with his appointment to the Board of Directors, Anthony J. Bruno was
granted an option under the Director Plan to purchase 9,167 shares of Common
Stock at an exercise price equal to the greater of
(i) $1.495 per share (the fair market value on the date of grant) or (ii) the
fair market value of our Common Stock on the second trading day following
the date of public disclosure of our financial results for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2007. The fair market value of the Common Stock on the
second trading day following the date of public disclosure was $1.575 per share;
accordingly, the exercise price is $1.575 per share. This option
vests on February 1, 2009 and expires on January 31, 2018.
Summary
Executive Compensation
The
following table summarizes the total compensation paid to or earned by each of
the named executive officers for services rendered to us in all capacities for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
2007
Summary Compensation Table
|
|
Name
and
Principal Position
|
Year
|
|
Salary($)
|
|
Option Awards
($)(1)
|
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation
($)(2)
|
|
|
All
Other
Compensation
($)
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
James
A. Luksch
|
2007
|
|
$402,500
|
|
$17,122
|
|
|
$
- |
|
|
$45,195
(3)
|
|
$464,817 |
|
Chairman
of the Board and Chief
Executive
Officer
|
2006
|
|
383,250
|
|
27,708 |
|
|
52,845
|
|
|
48,548
(3) |
|
512,351 |
|
Robert
J. Pallé, Jr.
|
2007
|
|
315,000
|
|
12,656 |
|
|
-
|
|
|
22,464
(4) |
|
350,120 |
|
President,
Chief Operating Officer and
Secretary
|
2006
|
|
300,000
|
|
21,550
|
|
|
36,758
|
|
|
22,125
(4) |
|
380,433 |
|
Peter
F. Daly, Jr.
|
2007
|
|
193,078
(5)
|
|
8,933
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
11,687
(6) |
|
213,698 |
|
Senior
Vice President – Marketing and
Sales
|
2006
|
|
178,500
|
|
20,819
|
|
|
21,883
|
|
|
7,556
(6) |
|
228,759 |
|
_________________
(1)
|
The
amounts in the “Option Awards” column reflect the dollar amount recognized
by us for financial statement reporting purposes under FAS 123(R) for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively,
disregarding the estimate of forfeitures related to service-based vesting
conditions. In accordance with FAS 123(R), this column may include amounts
from awards granted in and prior to 2007 or 2006, respectively, under our
various long term incentive plans. Assumptions used in the
calculation of these amounts
|
are
included in Note 1(o) to our audited consolidated financial statements included
in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007
and 2006. The amounts reported reflect compensation recognized under
FAS 123(R) in these years from the following awards made under our 2005 Employee
Equity Incentive Plan:
|
·
|
Stock
options granted in March, 2006 with an exercise price of $1.905 per
share. These option vest in three equal installments on March
28, 2007, 2008 and 2009, and will expire on March 28,
2016.
|
|
·
|
Stock
options granted in January, 2007 with an exercise price of $1.98 per
share. These option vest in three equal installments on April
3, 2008, 2009 and 2010, and will expire on April 3,
2017.
|
|
The
2005 Employee Equity Incentive Plan does not preclude us from lowering the
exercise price of options. |
(2)
|
The
amounts in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column for 2006
reflect the cash awards made under our Executive Officer Bonus Plan (as
described below under the heading “Executive Officer Bonus
Plan”).
|
(3)
|
The
amount shown in the “All Other Compensation” column for Mr. Luksch
includes personal use of a company car, professional fees for tax return
preparation and legal services, and below market interest benefit on
outstanding loan amounts owing to us as described under “Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions” beginning on page 15
below. This amount also includes our matching contribution to
our 401(k) defined contribution plan for the benefit of Mr. Luksch and the
dollar value for life insurance premiums paid by us with respect to life
insurance for the benefit of Mr. Luksch. The cost of the below
market interest benefit in 2007 was $16,588 and was determined based on
the average outstanding loan balance (calculated using the average of the
outstanding loan balance at January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007) at our
weighted average borrowing rate under our credit facilities during 2007
(10.4%). The cost of the below market interest benefit in 2006
was $15,353 and was determined based on the average outstanding loan
balance (calculated using the average of the outstanding loan balance at
January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2006) at our weighted average borrowing
rate under our credit facilities during 2006
(8.90%).
|
(4)
|
The
amount shown in the “All Other Compensation” column for Mr. Pallé includes
personal use of a company car and professional fees for tax return
preparation. This amount also includes our matching
contribution to our 401(k) defined contribution plan for the benefit of
Mr. Pallé and the dollar value for life insurance premiums paid by us with
respect to life insurance for the benefit of Mr.
Pallé.
|
(5)
Mr. Daly
did not have a fixed salary for 2007. The 2007 amount reported
for him under the "Salary" column represents amounts paid to him
under his compensation arrangement with us, which is described in greater
detail below under the heading "Compensation Arrangements."
(6)
|
The
amount shown in the “All Other Compensation” column for Mr. Daly for 2007
includes personal use of a company car, our matching contribution to our
401(k) defined contribution plan and the dollar value for life insurance
premiums paid by us during 2007 with respect to life insurance for Mr.
Daly’s benefit. For 2006, this amount includes personal use of
a company car and the dollar value for life insurance premiums paid by us
during 2006 with respect to life insurance for Mr. Daly’s
benefit.
|
Compensation Arrangements.
We have
no employment agreements with Messrs. Luksch, Pallé and Daly, who are employed
by us on an at-will basis.
We have a
compensation arrangement with Mr. Daly whereby Mr. Daly’s compensation is
variable and determined as a percentage of our Adjusted Net Sales, which is
equal to our actual net sales for the fiscal year multiplied by a gross margin
adjustment to take into account certain decreases in our actual gross margin (as
more fully described in the description of Mr. Daly’s compensatory arrangement
in Exhibit 10.32 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2007). Mr. Daly receives periodic draws against his
variable compensation, subject to monthly adjustments, in accordance with the
Company’s policies relating to variable compensation arrangements with its
employees. Mr. Daly’s compensation arrangement began as of January 1,
2007 and will expire, unless otherwise renewed by the Compensation Committee, on
December 31, 2008.
Mr. Daly
remains eligible to participate in our Executive Officer Bonus Plan with all
other executive officers of the Company for 2008 and in future years to the
extent determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors. From time to time, as determined by the Compensation
Committee, Mr. Daly may be granted equity-based awards including stock purchase
options, stock appreciation rights or stock awards. Mr. Daly’s total
compensation from all sources in any fiscal year, however, will be capped at
$1,000,000.
Executive
Officer Bonus Plan.
We
provide executives with an annual opportunity to earn cash incentive awards
through the Executive Officer Bonus Plan (the “Executive Bonus
Plan”). These cash bonuses are intended to motivate and reward the
achievement of short-term profit, which is a key element of the Compensation
Committee’s overall compensation philosophy. Cash bonus awards under
the Executive Bonus Plan are paid to officers during a particular fiscal year
based upon and relating to our financial performance during the prior fiscal
year. During the first quarter of each fiscal year, we designate
which of our executive officers are to participate in the Executive Bonus Plan
for that year. We then establish one or more objective performance
goals for the participants and a formula to determine bonus payments based on
the achievement of the goal(s). In no event may the bonus for any
participant exceed 100% of the participant’s base salary.
The
performance goals are expressed in terms of (a) one or more corporate or
divisional earnings-based measures (which may be based on net income, operating
income, cash flows, or any combination thereof) and/or (b) one or more corporate
or divisional sales-based measures. Each such goal may be expressed
on an absolute and/or relative basis, may employ comparisons with our past
performance (including one or more divisions) and/or the current or past
performance of other companies, and in the case of earnings-based measures, may
employ comparisons to capital, stockholders’ equity and shares
outstanding. Performance goals need not be uniform among
participants, but they have been in recent years.
After our
financial results for a fiscal year have been determined, the Compensation
Committee will certify the level of performance goal attainment and the
potential bonus payment for each participant. The Compensation
Committee has full authority to decrease the amount that would otherwise be
payable to any participant for a fiscal year.
For the
2007 fiscal year, each of the named executed officers were participants under
the Executive Bonus Plan. The participants were entitled to share in
a Bonus Pool (“Bonus Pool”) based upon a subjectively determined allocation,
which took into account the relative compensation levels of the executives as
well as other subjective factors related to overall job performance in 2006,
such as the ease with which the executive could be replaced, whether further
opportunities for advancement within the company existed for the executive,
teamwork skills, perceived efforts, interpersonal relationships and overall job
performance. The Bonus Pool for 2007 was equal to the sum of (i)
forty percent (40%) of the first $1,000,000 (or portion thereof) of our pre-tax
income, plus (ii) twenty percent (20%) of our pre-tax income in excess of
$1,000,000, but less than or equal to $2,000,000, plus (iii) ten percent (10%)
of our pre-tax income in excess of $2,000,000, all as set forth on our audited
financial statements (in all cases calculated before taking into account any
accrual for such Bonus Pool). In no event, however, may the Bonus
Pool exceed the sum of the base salaries of all participants, in the
aggregate. Also, no bonus may be paid to any participant unless the
Bonus Pool (calculated in the manner described above) equals or exceeds
$90,000. No bonuses were paid in 2007 under the Executive Bonus
Plan.
Retirement
Benefits.
Each of
the named executive officers participates in our 401(k) Savings and Investment
Retirement Plan, which covers all full time employees and is qualified under
Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under this plan, we
match 50% of each participating employee’s salary deferral up to a maximum match
of 3% of eligible compensation.
Outstanding
Equity Awards
The following table discloses for each
named executive officer all shares of our Common Stock underlying unexercised
options as of December 31, 2007.
OUTSTANDING
EQUITY AWARDS AT DECEMBER 31, 2007
|
|
Name
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)
Exercisable
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)
Unexercisable
|
Option
Exercise Price
($)
|
Option
Expiration Date
|
James
A. Luksch
|
15,000(1)
|
30,000
(1)
|
$ 1.905
|
03/28/2016
|
|
-
|
35,000
(2)
|
$ 1.98
|
04/03/2017
|
Robert
J. Pallé, Jr.
|
11,667(1)
|
23,333
(1)
|
$ 1.905
|
03/28/2016
|
|
-
|
25,000
(2)
|
$ 1.98
|
04/03/2017
|
Peter
F. Daly, Jr.
|
20,000(3)
|
-
|
$ 3.375
|
04/17/2014
|
|
5,000
(4)
|
-
|
$ 3.84
|
03/29/2015
|
|
6,667(1)
|
13,333
(1)
|
$ 1.905
|
03/28/2016
|
|
-
|
20,000
(2)
|
$ 1.98
|
04/03/2017
|
__________________
|
(1)
This option award is for a total of 45,000 shares of Common Stock to Mr.
Luksch, 35,000 shares to Mr. Pallé, and 20,000 shares to Mr.
Daly. These options vest in three equal installments on March
27, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
|
|
(2)
This option award vests in three equal installments on April 3, 2008, 2009
and 2010.
|
|
(3)
This option award vested in two installments of 6,667 and one installment
of 6,666 on each of April 19, 2005, 2006 and 2007,
respectively.
|
|
(4)
This option award vested on May 31, 2005. |
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The
following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of
our Common Stock as of March 31, 2008 by (i) each person who is known by us to
beneficially own more than five percent of our Common Stock, (ii) each of our
Directors, including nominee Directors, (iii) each of our executive officers
named in the Summary Compensation Table, and (iv) all our executive officers and
Directors as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, the persons
named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all
shares that they beneficially own, subject to community property laws
where applicable.
Name
and Address of
Beneficial
Owner(1)(2)
|
|
Amount
and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
(1)
|
|
Percent
of Class Beneficially
Owned
|
James
A. Luksch
|
|
|
772,923 |
|
|
(3) |
|
|
12.34 |
% |
Robert
J. Pallé, Jr.
|
|
|
1,337,556 |
|
|
(4) |
|
|
21.39 |
% |
Peter
F. Daly, Jr.
|
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
(5) |
|
|
* |
Anthony
J. Bruno
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
Robert
E. Heaton
|
|
|
62,500 |
|
|
(6) |
|
|
1.00 |
% |
Robert
B. Mayer
|
|
|
69,500 |
|
|
(7) |
|
|
1.11 |
% |
Gary
P. Scharmett
|
|
|
125,600 |
|
|
(8) |
|
|
2.00 |
% |
James
F. Williams
|
|
|
124,173 |
|
|
(9) |
|
|
1.98 |
% |
All
Directors and executive officers as a group (13
persons)
|
|
|
3,003,166 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
42.78 |
% |
_______________
* Less
than 1%
(1)
|
Beneficial
ownership as of March 31, 2008 for each person includes shares subject to
options held by such person (but not held by any other person) which are
exercisable within 60 days after such date. Beneficial
ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Commission and
generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities,
which voting or investment power may be further described in the footnotes
below. This table contains information furnished to us by the
respective stockholders or contained
in
|
|
filings
made with the Commission. Certain of our executive officers and
Directors may, from time to time, hold some or all of their Common Stock
in brokerage accounts having outstanding margin loan balances secured by
the Common Stock and the other investment securities held in such
brokerage accounts. |
(2)
|
Unless
otherwise indicated, the address for each beneficial owner is c/o Blonder
Tongue Laboratories, Inc., One Jake Brown Road, Old Bridge, NJ
08857.
|
(3)
|
Includes
10,928 shares of Common Stock owned of record by two trusts of which Mr.
Luksch is the trustee, 9 shares of Common Stock owned of record by an
estate of which Mr. Luksch is the executor, 294 shares of Common Stock
held of record by Mr. Luksch’s spouse, as to which Mr. Luksch expressly
disclaims beneficial ownership, and 41,667 shares of Common Stock
underlying options granted by us. 720,025 shares of Common
Stock owned by Mr. Luksch are pledged as
collateral.
|
(4)
|
Includes
200,000 shares of Common Stock owned of record by a limited liability
company of which Mr. Pallé and his wife are the sole members and 31,667
shares of Common Stock underlying options granted by
us.
|
(5)
|
Includes
45,000 shares of Common Stock underlying options granted by
us.
|
(6)
|
Includes
57,000 shares of Common Stock underlying options granted by
us.
|
(7) |
Includes
57,000 shares of Common Stock underlying options granted by us and 200
shares of Common Stock held of record by Mr. Mayer’s spouse. |
(8) |
Includes
57,000 shares of Common Stock underlying options granted by
us. |
(9)
|
Includes
57,000 shares of Common Stock underlying options granted by us and 52,173
shares of Common Stock underlying an option granted by James H. Williams,
a former Director, to James F. Williams, which shares are owned by James
H. Williams.
|
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our Directors and
executive officers, and persons who own more than ten percent of our Common
Stock, to file with the Commission and the American Stock Exchange, initial
reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common Stock and our
other equity securities. Officers, Directors and greater than ten
percent stockholders (collectively, “Reporting Persons”) are additionally
required to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they
file.
To our
knowledge, based solely on review of the copies of such reports furnished to us
or written representations that no reports were required with respect to fiscal
year 2007, we believe that all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to
Reporting Persons were complied with on a timely basis during 2007, except that,
(i) the Form 4 filing for Robert B. Mayer to report his purchase of 10,000
shares on November 21, 2007 was filed 1 day late, (ii) the Form 4 filing for
James A. Luksch to report his sale of 10,000 shares on November 21, 2007 was
filed 1 day late and (iii) the Form 4 filings for each of Gary P. Scharmett,
Robert E. Heaton, Robert B. Mayer and James F. Williams to report the grant of
stock option awards were each filed 6 days late.
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The Chief
Executive Officer’s daughter, Emily Nikoo, is our Senior Vice President -
Operations. Ms. Nikoo’s annual salary in 2007 and 2006 was $151,000
and $143,000, respectively. Nezam Nikoo, Ms. Nikoo’s husband and our
Chief Executive Officer’s son-in-law, is our Chief Digital
Engineer. Mr. Nikoo’s annual salary in 2007 and 2006 was $150,469 and
$135,754, respectively.
One of
our Directors, Gary P. Scharmett, is a partner at the law firm of Stradley,
Ronon, Stevens & Young, LLP, which serves as our outside
counsel. During the 2007 and 2006 fiscal years, we paid fees for
legal services to this firm in the aggregate amount of $346,000 and $888,000,
respectively. Mr. Scharmett’s interest in this relationship arises
from his minority ownership interest as a partner at this
firm. In management's opinion, the terms of such services were
substantially equivalent to those which would have been obtained from
unaffiliated parties.
As of
March 31, 2008, James A. Luksch, our Chief Executive Officer and a Director, was
indebted to us in the amount of $149,000, for which we have charged no
interest. This indebtedness arose from a series of cash advances made
to Mr. Luksch, the latest of which was advanced in February,
2002. The largest aggregate amount of indebtedness during the 2007
and 2006 fiscal years was $166,000 and $179,000, respectively. This
debt is presently being repaid at the rate of at least $1,000 per month, all of
which represents principal payments on the indebtedness. Mr. Luksch
paid $13,000 and 13,500
of
principal during the 2007 and 2006 fiscal years, respectively.
On
December 6, 2007, we entered into a Purchase Agreement with Buffalo City Center
Leasing, LLC (“Buffalo City”) pursuant to which we are the contract manufacturer
of a product known as RouteTracker, and Buffalo City agrees to purchase from us
a minimum quantity of 25,000 units over a period of three (3) years, for a total
purchase of approximately $4,000,000. One of our Directors, James F.
Williams, is a director, managing member and vice president of Buffalo
City. Additionally, Mr. Williams may be deemed to control the entity
which owns fifty percent (50%) of the membership interests of Buffalo City
Center Leasing, LLC.
On
January 1, 1995, we entered into a consulting and non-competition agreement with
James H. Williams who was one of our Directors until May 24, 2006. He
was also our largest stockholder until November 14, 2006. Under the
agreement, Mr. Williams provides consulting services on various operational and
financial issues and is currently paid at an annual rate of $185,800, but in no
event is such annual rate permitted to exceed $200,000. Under the
agreement, we paid Mr. Williams $185,800 and $176,951 in 2007 and 2006,
respectively. Mr. Williams also agreed to keep all of our information
confidential and not to compete directly or indirectly with us for the term of
the agreement and for a period of two years thereafter. The initial
term of this agreement expired on December 31, 2004 and automatically renews
thereafter for successive one-year terms (subject to termination at the end of
any renewal term on at least 90 days’ notice). This agreement
automatically renewed for a one-year extension until December 31,
2008. In addition, on November 14, 2006, we repurchased 1,293,000
shares of our Common Stock from Mr. Williams in a private off-market block
transaction for $0.75 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of
$970,000.
On June
30, 2006, we entered into a Share Exchange and Settlement Agreement with Blonder
Tongue Telephone, LLC, which was a 5% stockholder immediately prior to the
transaction (“BTT”) and certain related parties of BTT. Under the
terms of the agreement, we transferred to BTT the 49 membership shares of BTT
(representing a 50% equity ownership interest) owned by us in exchange for BTT
transferring back to us the 500,000 shares of our Common Stock that were
previously contributed by us to the capital of BTT. Pursuant to the
agreement, we granted BTT a non-transferable equipment purchase credit in the
aggregate amount of $400,000 (subject to certain off-sets), which was exercised
in full by September 30, 2006. BTT agreed to change its corporate
name within 90 days after closing and cease using any of our intellectual
property, including the names “Blonder,” “Blonder Tongue” or “BT.” As
part of the transaction, certain other non-material agreements between us and
BTT were also terminated. We acquired our 50% ownership interest in
BTT as part of a series of agreements entered into in March, 2003 and September,
2003.
PROPOSAL
NO. 2 – RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT
OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Our Audit
Committee has selected Marcum & Kliegman LLP to serve as our independent
registered public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2008. Marcum & Kliegman LLP has been our independent registered
public accountants since October 24, 2005. The engagement of Marcum
& Kliegman LLP was unanimously approved by our Audit Committee on October
13, 2005 and the firm is considered by us to be well
qualified. We have been advised by Marcum & Kliegman LLP
that neither it nor any member thereof has any financial interest, direct or
indirect, in us or any of our subsidiaries, in any capacity. One or
more representatives of Marcum & Kliegman LLP is expected to be present at
this year’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders with an opportunity to make a
statement if he or she desires to do so and to answer appropriate questions with
respect to that firm’s examination of our financial statements and records for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
Although
the submission of the appointment of Marcum & Kliegman LLP is not required
by our By-Laws, the Board is submitting it to the stockholders to ascertain
their views. If the stockholders do not ratify the appointment, we
will not be bound to seek other independent registered public accountant for
2008, but the selection of other independent registered public accountants will
be considered in future years.
Audit
and Other Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accountants
The
following table presents fees billed by Marcum & Kliegman LLP for
professional services rendered for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and
December 31, 2006.
Services
Rendered
|
Fiscal
2007
|
Fiscal
2006
|
|
|
|
Audit
Fees
|
$210,284
|
$ 237,550
|
Audit-Related
Fees
|
$ 37,500
|
$ 13,500
|
Tax
Fees
|
$ 71,850
|
$ 33,400
|
All
Other Fees
|
$ --
|
$
--
|
Audit Fees
The audit fees are billed for
professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements,
the reviews of the financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q, consents to incorporate audited financial statements into
registration statements related to our employee benefit plans, and assistance
with earnings announcements on Form 8-K.
Audit-Related Fees
The audit-related fees for fiscal years
2007 and 2006 consisted principally of audits of our pension and 401(k)
plans.
Tax Fees
Tax fees for fiscal years 2007 and 2006
consisted principally of preparing our U.S. federal and state income tax
returns.
Our Audit Committee has reviewed the
non-audit services currently provided by our independent registered public
accountants and has considered whether the provision of such services is
compatible with maintaining the independence of such independent registered
public accountants. Based on such review and consideration, the Audit
Committee has determined that the provision of such non-audit services is
compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent registered
public accountants.
Pre-Approval
Policy for Services by Independent Registered Public Accountants
Our Audit Committee has implemented
pre-approval policies and procedures for the engagement of our independent
registered public accountants for both audit and permissible non-audit
services. Under these policies and procedures, all services provided
by the independent registered public accountants must either (i) be approved by
our Audit Committee prior to the commencement of the services, (ii) relate to
assisting us with tax audits and appeals before a taxing authority or be
services associated with periodic reports or registration statements filed by us
with the Commission, all of which services are pre-approved by our Audit
Committee, or (iii) be a de minimis non-audit service (as described in Rule
2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X) that does not have to be pre-approved as
long as management promptly notifies our Audit Committee of such service and our
Audit Committee approves it prior to the service being
completed. Within these parameters, our Audit Committee annually
approves the scope and fees payable for the year end audit, statutory audits and
employee benefit plans to be performed by the independent registered public
accountants for the next fiscal year. Our Audit Committee also
delegates pre-approval authority for permissible non-audit services to the Audit
Committee’s Chairman. Any approvals of non-audit services made by our
Audit Committee’s Chairman are then reported by him at the next Audit Committee
meeting. All of the services provided by our independent registered
public accountants during fiscal year 2007 were approved in accordance with our
pre-approval policies and procedures.
Recommendation
of the Board Concerning the Ratification of Appointment of Independent
Registered Public Accountants
Our
Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote FOR the ratification of the
appointment of Marcum & Kliegman LLP as our independent registered public
accountants for the 2008 fiscal year. Proxies received by the Board
of Directors will be so voted unless stockholders specify in their proxies a
contrary choice.
OTHER
BUSINESS
We know
of no other matters that will be presented at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. However, if any other matter properly comes before the
meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, it is intended that proxies
in the accompanying form will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the
persons named therein.
STOCKHOLDER
PROPOSALS
Director
Nominations at the Annual Meeting
Our By-laws require
advanced notice of any stockholder proposal for nomination for the election of a
Director. Notice of any such stockholder proposal must be received by
our Corporate Secretary at One Jake Brown Road, Old Bridge, New Jersey
08857 not less than sixty (60) days prior to the date of the scheduled annual
meeting, regardless of any postponement, deferrals or adjournments of that
meeting to a later date, however, if less than seventy (70) days’ notice of the
date of the scheduled annual meeting is given, then to be timely, such notice
must be received not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day
following the earlier of the date notice of the scheduled annual meeting was
mailed or the date of public disclosure of the annual meeting
date. Accordingly, any stockholder who wished to have a Director
nomination considered at the 2008 Annual Meeting must have delivered notice to
the Secretary no later than the close of business on March 21,
2008. Any proposal received after that date is considered
untimely.
Stockholder
Proposals for Inclusion in 2009 Proxy Statement
The date
by which we must receive stockholder proposals intended to be included in our
Proxy Statement for presentation at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is
December 23, 2008, to be eligible for inclusion in such Proxy
Statement. Stockholder proposals must comply with all of the
applicable rules and requirements set forth in the rules and regulations of the
SEC, including Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. Stockholder proposals should be sent to our Chief Financial
Officer at One Jake Brown Road, Old Bridge, New Jersey 08857.
Stockholder
Proposals for Presentation at the 2009 Annual Meeting
Other
than a proposal for nomination for the election of a Director which is subject
to the advance notice requirements described above, if notice of a stockholder
proposal intended to be presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is
not received by us on or before March 8, 2009 (whether or not the stockholder
wishes the proposal to be included in the proxy statement for such annual
meeting), we (through management proxy holders) may exercise discretionary
voting authority on such proposal when and if the proposal is raised at the
annual meeting without any reference to the matter in the Proxy
Statement.
FORM
10-K
A COPY OF
OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007
ACCOMPANIES THIS PROXY STATEMENT. WE WILL FURNISH TO EACH PERSON
WHOSE PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED, UPON WRITTEN REQUEST, ANY EXHIBIT DESCRIBED IN
THE LIST ACCOMPANYING THE FORM 10-K, UPON THE PAYMENT, IN ADVANCE, OF REASONABLE
FEES RELATED TO OUR FURNISHING SUCH EXHIBIT(S). REQUESTS FOR COPIES
OF SUCH EXHIBIT(S) SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO ERIC SKOLNIK, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER,
AT OUR PRINCIPAL ADDRESS AS SHOWN ON THE COVER PAGE OF THIS PROXY
STATEMENT.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors
|
|
James
A. Luksch
|
|
Chairman
of the Board and
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
|
|
Date: April
23, 2008
Old
Bridge, New Jersey
ANNUAL
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES,
INC.
May
21, 2008
Please
date, sign and mail
your
proxy card in the
envelope
provided as soon
as
possible.
Please
detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope
provided.
|
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR ALL NOMINEES” FOR THE ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS AND “FOR” PROPOSAL 2. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN
PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE
IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE: x
|
1.
Election of three Class I Directors to hold office until the 2011 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders and until qualified successor directors have been
elected or until their resignation or removal.
|
|
|
|
|
NOMINEES:
|
[
] FOR ALL NOMINEES
|
|
¡ Anthony
J. Bruno
|
|
|
|
[
] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
|
|
|
FOR ALL NOMINEES
|
|
|
|
|
|
[
] FOR ALL EXCEPT
|
|
|
(See Instructions below)
|
|
|
INSTRUCTION:
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s) mark “FOR ALL
EXCEPT” and fill in the circle next to each nominee you wish to
withhold as shown here: l
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. Proposal
to ratify the appointment of Marcum & Kliegman
LLP [
] [
]
[ ]
as the
independent registered public accountants for the fiscal
year
ending December 31, 2008.
In
their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other matters as
may properly come before the meeting and at any postponements or adjournments
thereof.
This
proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed by the
stockholder. If no direction is made on this Proxy Card, this Proxy
will be voted FOR the election of all nominees to serve as Class I Directors and
FOR proposal 2. On all other matters which may properly come before
the meeting, the shares represented by this proxy will be voted by the Proxies
in accordance with the instructions of the Board of Directors.
To change
the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new
address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the
registered name(s) on the account my not be submitted via this
method.
Signature
of Stockholder
Date:
Signature
of Stockholder
Date:
Note: Please sign
exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are
hold jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor,
administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as
such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name
by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a
partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
BLONDER
TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC.
One
Jake Brown Road
Old
Bridge, NJ 08857
PROXY
CARD FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
MAY
21, 2008
THIS
PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
|
The
Undersigned hereby appoints James A. Luksch and Robert J. Pallé, Jr., and
either of them (with full power to act alone), as Proxies of the
undersigned, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby
authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on this Proxy
Card, all shares of Common Stock of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc.
(the “Company”) held of record by the undersigned on the record date
of March 31, 2008, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May
21, 2008 and at any postponements or adjournments thereof, all as in
accordance with the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy
Statement furnished with this Proxy.
|
(Continued
and to be signed on the reverse
side)
|