[OBJECT OMITTED]
1110 Maple Street, P.O. Box 300 - Elma, New York 14059-0300
716-655-5990 FAX 716-655-6012
DR. NICHOLAS D. TRBOVICH
CHAIRMAN AND PRESIDENT
June 11, 2004
Dear Fellow Shareholder:
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders will take place on July 2, 2004 at 2:30
p.m. at the Center for Tomorrow, North Campus, State University of New York at
Buffalo, Flint Road (off Maple Road), Amherst, New York 14226. You are cordially
invited to attend.
The enclosed Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement describe the
matters to be acted upon during the meeting. The meeting will also include a
report on the state of Servotronics, Inc.'s business.
To ensure your representation at the meeting, even if you are unable to
attend, please sign the enclosed Proxy Card and return it in the postage paid
envelope.
If you have any questions in regard to completing your proxy, please call
our Treasurer, Lee D. Burns at (716) 655-5990.
Your continued interest and support is very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
DR. NICHOLAS D. TRBOVICH
SERVOTRONICS, INC.
1110 Maple Street
P.O. Box 300
Elma, New York 14059
NOTICE OF
2004 ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING
To the Shareholders:
Notice is hereby given that the 2004 Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of
Servotronics, Inc. (the "Company") will be held at the Center for Tomorrow,
North Campus, State University of New York at Buffalo, Flint Road (Off Maple
Road), Amherst, New York 14226, on Friday, July 2, 2004 at 2:30 p.m., Buffalo
time, for the following purposes:
1. To elect four directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting of
Shareholders and until their successors are elected and qualified.
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
or any adjournments thereof.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on May 28, 2004 are
entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournments thereof.
DR. NICHOLAS D. TRBOVICH
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD,
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Dated: June 11, 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO VOTE BY SIGNING, DATING AND MAILING THE ENCLOSED PROXY
IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE TO WHICH NO POSTAGE NEED BE AFFIXED IF MAILED IN THE
UNITED STATES.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 11, 2004
SERVOTRONICS, INC.
1110 Maple Street
P.O. Box 300
Elma, New York 14059
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JULY 2, 2004
The following information is furnished in connection with the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders of SERVOTRONICS, INC. (the "Company") to be held on July
2, 2004 at 2:30 p.m., Buffalo time, at the Center for Tomorrow, North Campus,
State University of New York at Buffalo, Flint Road (off Maple Road), Amherst,
New York 14226. A copy of the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 accompanies this Proxy Statement. Additional
copies of the Annual Report, Notice, Proxy Statement and form of proxy may be
obtained without charge from the Company's Treasurer, 1110 Maple Street, P.O.
Box 300, Elma, New York 14059. This Proxy Statement and proxy card are first
being mailed to shareholders on or about June 11, 2004.
SOLICITATION AND REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
The enclosed proxy for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders is being
solicited by the directors of the Company. The proxy may be revoked by a
shareholder at any time prior to the exercise thereof by filing with the
Treasurer of the Company a written revocation or duly executed proxy bearing a
later date. The proxy may be revoked by a shareholder attending the meeting,
withdrawing such proxy and voting in person. The cost of soliciting the proxies
on the enclosed form will be paid by the Company. In addition to the use of
mails, proxies may be solicited by employees of the Company (who will receive no
additional compensation therefor) personally or by telephone or other electronic
communications, and arrangements may be made with banks, brokerage houses and
other institutions, nominees and/or fiduciaries to forward the soliciting
material to their principals and to obtain authorization for the execution of
proxies. The Company may, upon request, reimburse banks, brokerage houses and
other institutions, nominees and fiduciaries for their expenses in forwarding
proxy material to their principals. The Company has retained the services of
InvestorCom, Inc. 800 Third Avenue, 17th Floor, New York, New York 10022, to
assist in the solicitation of proxies and will pay that firm a fee of
approximately $3,000 plus expenses.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
The record date for determining shares entitled to vote has been fixed at
the close of business on May 28, 2004. On such date there were outstanding
2,492,901 shares of common stock of the Company, $.20 par value ("Common
Stock"), entitled to one vote each.
1
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The following table lists the persons that owned beneficially, as of May
12, 2004, more than five percent of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company,
based on the Company's records. Unless otherwise stated, each person has sole
voting and investment power with respect to the shares indicated as beneficially
owned by that person.
NAME AND ADDRESS OF AMOUNT AND NATURE OF PERCENT OF
BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP CLASS (1)
---------------- -------------------- ---------
Servotronics, Inc. Employee.
Stock Ownership Trust (2) 836,971 (2) 33.6%
1110 Maple Street
P.O. Box 300 Elma, New York 14059
Dr. Nicholas D. Trbovich 554,605 (3) 20.8%
1110 Maple Street
P.O. Box 300 Elma, New York 14059
Harvey Houtkin (4) 352,088 (4) 14.1%
160 Summit Avenue
Montvale, New Jersey 07645
--------------------
(1) Percent of class is based upon 2,492,901 shares of common stock
outstanding as of May 12, 2004 plus, in the case of Dr. Trbovich, the
shares underlying his stock options, all of which are presently
exercisable.
(2) The trustees of the Servotronics, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership
Trust--Nicholas D. Trbovich, Jr., Lee D. Burns and Raymond C. Zielinski
-- direct the voting of unallocated shares. The participants in the
related plan have the right to direct the voting of shares which have
been allocated to their respective accounts; if a participant does not
direct the vote, the trustees may direct the vote of that participant's
shares. As of May 12, 2004, approximately 391,646 shares have been
allocated to the accounts of participants and approximately 445,325
shares (17.9% of the shares outstanding) remain unallocated.
(3) This amount includes (i) 32,309 shares held by a charitable foundation
for which Dr. Trbovich serves as a trustee; (ii) an option to acquire
170,600 shares; and (iii) approximately 42,974 shares allocated to Dr.
Trbovich's account under the Servotronics, Inc. Employee Stock
Ownership Plan. This amount does not include the shares beneficially
owned by certain of Dr. Trbovich's relatives.
(4) Based on a statement on Schedule 13D, as last amended on February 12,
2004, filed by Mr. Houtkin with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
According to Mr. Houtkin's statement, he has sole voting and investment
power with respect to 190,000 shares and shared voting and investment
power with respect to 162,088 shares. Mr. Houtkin disclaims beneficial
ownership in additional shares owned by other members of his family.
2
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth, as of May 12, 2004, information as to the
beneficial ownership of shares of common stock of the Company held by each
director and by all directors and officers as a group (each individual listed in
the following table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the
shares of common stock indicated as beneficially owned by that person, except as
otherwise indicated):
NAME OF AMOUNT AND NATURE OF PERCENT OF
BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP CLASS (1)
---------------- -------------------- ---------
Dr. Nicholas D. Trbovich 554,605 (2) 20.8%
Nicholas D. Trbovich, Jr. 124,520 (3) 4.8%
Donald W. Hedges 66,336 (4) 2.6%
Dr. William H. Duerig 65,193 (5) 2.6%
Raymond C. Zielinski 54,753 (6) 2.2%
Lee D. Burns 49,895 (7) 2.0%
All directors and executive officers as a group 1,360,627 (8)(9) 46.36%
--------------------
(1) Percent of class is based upon 2,492,901 shares of common stock outstanding
as of May 12, 2004 plus the number of shares subject to stock options held
by the indicated person or group.
(2) See note (3) to the table in "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners."
(3) This amount includes 87,800 shares which Mr. Trbovich, Jr. has the right to
acquire under stock options which are currently exercisable and
approximately 20,906 shares allocated to Mr. Trbovich, Jr.'s account under
the Servotronics, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Does not include
shares held by the Servotronics, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust (the
"ESOT") as to which Mr. Trbovich, Jr. serves as one of three trustees. See
note (8) below and the table in "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners."
(4) This amount includes 61,600 shares which Mr. Hedges has the right to
acquire under stock option plans all of which are currently exercisable.
Mr. Hedges has sole voting and investment power with respect to 4,261
shares and shared voting and investment power with respect to 475 shares.
(5) This amount includes 61,600 shares which Dr. Duerig has the right to
acquire under a stock option plan all of which are currently exercisable.
Dr. Duerig has sole voting with respect to 3,593 shares.
(6) This amount includes 30,300 shares which Mr. Zielinski has the right to
acquire under stock options which are currently exercisable and
approximately 16,126 shares allocated to Mr. Zielinski's account under the
Servotronics, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Does not include shares
held by the ESOT as to which Mr. Zielinski serves as one of three trustees.
See note (8) below and the table in "Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners."
(7) This amount includes 30,300 shares which Mr. Burns has the right to acquire
under stock options which are currently exercisable and approximately 6,423
shares allocated to Mr. Burns' account under the Servotronics, Inc.
Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Does not include shares held by the ESOT as
to which Mr. Burns serves as one of three trustees. See note (8) below and
the table in "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners."
(8) Includes unallocated shares held by the ESOT over which certain officers,
as trustees of the ESOT, may be deemed to have voting power, as well as
shares allocated to the accounts of all officers as a group under the
related plan. See the table in "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners" and note (2) thereto.
3
(9) See notes (2) through (7) above.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following is a listing of the Company's executive officers:
POSITION WITH THE COMPANY AND PRINCIPAL
OCCUPATION AND BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
NAME AGE FOR PAST FIVE YEARS
---- --- -----------------------------------------
Dr. Nicholas D. Trbovich 69 See table under "Election of Directors."
Nicholas D. Trbovich, Jr. 44 See table under "Election of Directors."
Raymond C. Zielinski 59 Vice President since 1990.
Lee D. Burns 62 Treasurer and Secretary and Chief
Financial Officer since 1991.
Nicholas D. Trbovich, Jr. is the son of Dr. Nicholas D. Trbovich. There are
no other family relationships between any of the directors or executive officers
of the Company.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
DIRECTORS' FEES. Under the Company's standard compensation arrangements
with directors who are not employees, they are paid a yearly director's fee of
$10,000 plus a per meeting fee of $650 and reimbursement of actual expenses for
attendance at Board meetings. Directors who are also employees do not receive
the director's and/or meeting fees. Members of the Audit Committee of the Board
are paid a yearly Audit Committee fee of $2,500 plus a per-meeting fee of $450
and reimbursement of actual expenses for attendance at Audit Committee meetings.
4
COMPENSATION TABLE. The following table shows the compensation paid by the
Company to each executive officer of the Company whose total salary and bonus
from the Company and its subsidiaries exceeded $100,000 during any of the last
three fiscal years (the "Named Officers").
LONG TERM
ANNUAL COMPENSATION COMPENSATION
-------------------------------------- ------------
AWARDS
------
OTHER SECURITIES
ANNUAL UNDERLYING ALL OTHER
NAME AND COMPEN- OPTIONS COMPEN-
PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS(1) SATION(2) (NO. OF SHARES) SATION(3)
------------------ ---- ------ -------- --------- --------------- ---------
Dr. Nicholas D. Trbovich 2003 $ 359,579 -- -- 50,000 $ 34,886
Chairman, President and 2002 347,419 $ 15,000 -- -- 45,620
CEO 2001 337,301 30,000 -- 45,000 44,002
Raymond C. Zielinski 2003 $ 134,263 -- -- 9,000 $ 3,409
Vice President 2002 129,308 $ 6,500 -- -- 4,414
2001 120,423 10,000 -- 8,000 12,269
Nicholas D. Trbovich, Jr. 2003 $ 139,446 -- -- 27,000 $ 13,848
Director, Vice President 2002 129,308 $ 6,500 -- -- 19,885
2001 120,423 10,000 -- 24,000 14,699
Lee D. Burns 2003 $ 122,809 -- -- 9,000 $ 12,569
Treasurer, Secretary, CFO 2002 118,532 $ 6,500 -- -- 712
2001 110,327 10,000 -- 8,000 6,834
-------------------
(1) The "Bonus" column of the compensation table above includes discretionary
incentive payments authorized by the Board of Directors and paid in the
year indicated in the table. No bonuses were paid in the year 2003.
Discretionary payments authorized for 2004 will be included in the
compensation table for 2004 to the extent they are paid in that year. The
Board of Directors has made no commitment for incentive payments in
subsequent years.
(2) The values of perquisites and other personal benefits are not shown on the
table because the aggregate amount of such compensation (if any) for each
year shown did not exceed 10% of the Named Officer's annual salary and
bonus for that year.
(3) All Other Compensation for 2003 includes (i) an allocation of 1,378 shares,
940 shares, and 1,020 shares for Dr. Trbovich, Mr. Zielinski and Mr.
Trbovich, Jr., respectively, of common stock of the Company under the
Servotronics, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan valued as of November 30,
2003 (the date of the allocation) at the closing price on the American
Stock Exchange on that date of $3.10 per share; (ii) $4,350, $494, $118,
and $747 to Dr. Trbovich, Mr. Zielinski, Mr. Trbovich, Jr. and Mr. Burns,
respectively, for life insurance; and (iii) $26,265, $10,570, and $11,822
paid to Dr. Trbovich, Mr. Trbovich, Jr. and Mr. Burns, respectively, for
untaken vacation pursuant to a policy that is generally applicable to all
employees of the Company; these amounts reflect accrued vacation earned and
expensed by the Company prior to when the payments were received.
OPTION GRANTS. The following tables give information with respect to
stock options granted to, exercised or owned by the Named Officers during 2003.
5
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
---------------------------------
(INDIVIDUAL GRANTS)
NUMBER OF PERCENT OF TOTAL
SECURITIES OPTIONS/SARS
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO
OPTIONS/SARS EMPLOYEES EXERCISE OF EXPIRATION
NAME OF OFFICER GRANTED (#) IN FISCAL YEAR BASE PRICE ($/SH) DATE
--------------- ----------- -------------- ----------------- ----
Dr. Nicholas D. Trbovich 50,000 (1) 45.9% $2.045 4/10/13
Raymond C. Zielinski 9,000 (2) 8.3% $2.045 4/10/13
Nicholas D. Trbovich, Jr. 27,000 (1) 24.8% $2.045 4/10/13
Lee D. Burns 9,000 (2) 8.3% $2.045 4/10/13
-------------------
(1) Exercisable on October 11, 2003
(2) Exercisable on April 11, 2004
OPTION EXERCISES AND FISCAL YEAR END VALUES. No Named Officer exercised
options during 2003. The following table shows information with respect to the
value of unexercised options held by the Named Officers as of December 31, 2003.
Valuation calculations for unexercised options are based on the closing price
($2.90) of a Share on the American Stock Exchange on December 31, 2003.
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
-------------------------------------
VALUE OF
NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED
UNEXERCISED SECURITIES IN-THE-MONEY
UNDERLYING OPTIONS AT OPTIONS AT
FISCAL YEAR-END: FISCAL YEAR-END
NAME OF OFFICER EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE
--------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
Dr. Nicholas D. Trbovich 170,600/0 $42,750/0
Raymond C. Zielinski 21,300/9,000 0/$7,695
Nicholas D. Trbovich, Jr. 87,800/0 $23,085/0
Lee D. Burns 21,300/9,000 0/$7,695
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
NUMBER OF SECURITIES
NUMBER OF SECURITIES REMAINING AVAILABLE FOR
TO BE ISSUED UPON WEIGHTED-AVERAGE FUTURE ISSUANCE UNDER
EXERCISE OF OUTSTANDING EXERCISE PRICE OF EQUITY COMPENSATION
OPTIONS, WARRANTS OUTSTANDING OPTIONS, PLANS (EXCLUDING SECURITIES
AND RIGHTS WARRANTS AND RIGHTS REFLECTED IN COLUMN (A))
PLAN CATEGORY (A) (B) (C)
------------- --- --- ---
Equity compensation
plans approved by
security holders 270,000 $3.126 80,000
Equity compensation
plans not approved
by security holders 194,200 $6.057 76,600
------- ------
Total 464,200 $4.352 156,600
======= =======
6
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The By-Laws of the Company provide that there shall be not less than three
directors nor more than nine and that the number of directors to be elected at
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders shall be fixed by the Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors has fixed the number of directors to be elected at the
meeting at four. Each person so elected shall serve until the next Annual
Meeting of Shareholders and until his successor is elected and shall have
qualified.
Each nominee is currently serving as a director of the Company and was
elected at the Company's 2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
The directors believe that all of the nominees are willing and able to
serve as directors of the Company. If any nominee at the time of election is
unable or unwilling to serve or is otherwise unavailable for election, the
enclosed proxy will be voted in accordance with the best judgment of the person
or persons voting the proxy. Each nominee, to be elected as a director, must
receive the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the nominees
for election to the Company's Board of Directors.
POSITION WITH THE COMPANY AND PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
NAME AGE AND BUSINESS EXPERIENCE FOR PAST FIVE YEARS
---- --- --------------------------------------------------------
Dr. William H. Duerig 82 Director of the Company since 1990; Physicist and Senior
Program Manager for Kearfott Guidance & Navigation
Corporation for more than five years prior to retirement
in 1993.
Donald W. Hedges 82 Director of the Company since 1967; self-employed
attorney since 1988.
Nicholas D. Trbovich, Jr. 44 Director of the Company since 1990; Vice President of
the Company since 1990;
Director of Corporate
Development of the Company
from 1987 to 1990; Director
of e.Autoclaims.
Dr. Nicholas D. Trbovich 69 Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company since 1959.
The directors recommend a vote FOR the four nominees listed above. Unless
instructed otherwise, proxies will be voted FOR these nominees.
ADDITIONAL COMPANY INFORMATION
COMMITTEES AND MEETING DATA
The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee comprised of Dr. Duerig and
Mr. Hedges. The Audit Committee meets with the Company's independent auditors
and reviews with them matters relating to corporate financial reporting and
accounting procedures and policies, the adequacy of financial, accounting and
operating controls, the scope of the audit and the results of the audit. The
7
Audit Committee is also charged with the responsibility of submitting to the
Board of Directors any recommendations it may have from time to time with
respect to financial reporting and accounting practices, policies and financial
accounting and operation controls and safeguards.
The Board has designated Dr. William H. Duerig as the Company's "Audit
Committee financial expert" in accordance with the SEC rules and regulations.
The Board has determined that Dr. Duerig is independent pursuant to Section 121A
of the listing Standards of the American Stock Exchange ("AMEX").
The Company has a formal Audit Committee which performs all the required
functions. The Company's full Board of Directors performs the functions of all
other committees and in lieu thereof as permitted by the Company's Bylaws and
the current AMEX listing standards. The Company is on a planned schedule to
timely comply with all the new appropriate AMEX requirements on or before the
July 31, 2005 effective date applicable to small business issuers. Currently,
the full Board of Directors participates in the consideration of all director
nominees. See "Director Nominating Process" on page 11. Additionally, the
Board's practice is to require all compensation provisions relative to the Chief
Executive Officer to be approved by a majority of independent directors as well
as a majority of the Board of Directors. During the fiscal year ended December
31, 2003, the Audit Committee met 5 times and the Board of Directors met 9
times. No director attended less than 100% of the meetings held.
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Audit Committee serves as the representative of the Board of Directors
for general oversight of the Company's financial accounting and reporting,
systems of internal control, audit process, and monitoring compliance with
standards of business conduct. The Charter for the Audit Committee is set out in
full in Appendix A of this Proxy Statement. Management of the Company has
primary responsibility for preparing financial statements of the Company as well
as the Company's financial reporting process. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, acting
as independent auditors, is responsible for expressing an opinion on the
conformity of the Company's audited financial statements with generally accepted
accounting principles.
In this context, the Audit Committee hereby reports as follows:
1. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial
statements for fiscal year 2003 with the Company's management.
2. The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent auditors the
matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards
No. 61, COMMUNICATIONS WITH AUDIT COMMITTEES.
3. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the
letter from the independent auditors required by Independence
Standards Board No. 1, INDEPENDENCE DISCUSSIONS WITH AUDIT
COMMITTEES, and has discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the
matter of that firm's independence.
4. Based on the review and discussion referred to in paragraphs (1)
through (3) above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of
Directors of the Company, and the Board of Directors has approved,
that the audited financial statements be included in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2003,
for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Each member of the Audit Committee is independent as defined under the
listing standards of the American Stock Exchange.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
---------------
Donald W. Hedges, Chairman
Dr. William H. Duerig
8
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Based solely on its review of reports filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act or representations from directors and executive
officers required to file such reports, the Company believes that all such
filings required of its officers and directors were timely made.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Dr. Trbovich has an employment agreement with the Company pursuant to which
he is entitled to receive minimum direct compensation of $363,995 per annum, or
such greater amount as the Company's Board of Directors may determine, and
lifetime health and life insurance benefits. In the event of Dr. Trbovich's
death or total disability during the term of the employment agreement, he or his
estate is entitled to receive 50% of the compensation he is receiving from the
Company at the time of his death or disability during the remainder of the term
of the employment agreement. Also, in the event of (i) a breach of the agreement
by the Company, (ii) a change in control of the Company, as defined, or (iii) a
change in the responsibilities, positions or geographic office location of Dr.
Trbovich, he is entitled to terminate the agreement and receive a payment of
2.99 times his average annual compensation from the Company for the preceding
five years. If this provision is invoked by Dr. Trbovich and the Company makes
the required payment, the Company will be relieved of any further liability
under the agreement notwithstanding the number of years covered by the agreement
prior to termination. In the event the agreement is not extended by the Company
beyond the scheduled expiration date (September 30, 2008), as such date may be
extended, Dr. Trbovich will be entitled to a severance payment equal to nine
months' salary and benefits.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
During 2003, Dr. Trbovich's son, Nicholas D. Trbovich, Jr., served as an
officer and director of the Company and received the compensation disclosed in
the Executive Compensation Table. See also, the discussion under "Employment
Agreement" above. Michael D. Trbovich, also a son of Dr. Nicholas D. Trbovich,
received remuneration of $74,852 which includes fringe benefits for health
insurance, life insurance and an amount paid for untaken vacation. He did not
receive a benefit (i.e.: a no-cost allocation of Company shares) from the
Company's ESOP.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, which has served as the Company's independent
public accountants since 1976, has been selected by the Board of Directors as
the independent public accountants for the Company's current fiscal year. A
representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is expected to be present at the
meeting with the opportunity to make a statement if he desires to do so and will
be available to respond to appropriate questions of shareholders.
Relating to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 and 2002,
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP provided various audit and non-audit services to the
Company as follows:
2003 2002
---- ----
Audit Fees (1) $ 83,750 $ 79,250
Audit-Related Fees 0 6,000
Tax Fees (2) 30,300 31,300
All Other Fees 0 0
---------- ----------
Total $114,050 $116,550
========== ==========
---------------
9
(1) Audit fees represent fees for professional services provided in
connection with the audit of the Company's financial statements and
review of the Company's quarterly financial statements and audit
services provided in connection with other statutory or regulatory
filings.
(2) Tax fees principally included fees for tax preparation and tax
consulting services.
The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and legally permissible
non-audit services provided by the independent accountants. The Audit Committee
pre-approved all services performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP during 2003.
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has considered whether
provision of the services described above is compatible with maintaining our
accountant's independence and has determined that such services have not
adversely affected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP's independence.
VOTING INFORMATION
The presence, in person or by properly executed proxy, of the holders of
shares of Common Stock entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be
cast by the holders of all outstanding shares of Common Stock is necessary to
constitute a quorum. The form of proxy submitted by the Company's management
confers on the named proxies the authority to vote in their discretion on any
other matter submitted for a vote at a meeting as to which the Company did not
have notice on or before May 2, 2004, which date is 45 days before the date
(June 18) on which the Company mailed its proxy materials for last year's annual
meeting. At May 2, 2004, the Company had not received notice of any intention to
submit any other matter; and, therefore, the proxies have discretion to vote on
any other matter that comes before the meeting.
Shares of Common Stock represented by a properly signed, dated and returned
proxy will be treated as present at the meeting for the purposes of determining
a quorum. Proxies relating to "street name" shares of Common Stock that are
voted by brokers will be counted as shares of Common Stock (1) present for
purposes of determining the presence of a quorum and (2) as having voted in
accordance with the directions and statements on the form of proxy.
DIRECTOR NOMINATING PROCESS
Currently, the Company's Board of Directors is responsible for director
nominations as permitted by the current AMEX listing standards. The Company is
on a planned schedule to be in timely compliance with the appropriate new AMEX
listing standards regarding director nominations which are scheduled to be
effective on July 31, 2005. The Board has determined that Dr. Duerig and Mr.
Hedges are independent under the AMEX listing standards.
The Board has not adopted specific minimum criteria for director nominees.
Nominees are identified by first evaluating the current members of the Board
willing to continue in service. Current members of the Board with skills and
experience that are relevant to the Company's business and who are willing to
continue in services are considered for re-nomination. If any member of the
Board does not wish to continue in service, the Board first considers the
appropriateness of the size of the Board and then consider factors that it deems
are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders in identifying and
evaluating a new nominee.
The Board will consider director nominees from any reasonable source,
including nominees suggested by incumbent Board members and management as well
as shareholder recommendations tendered in accordance with the advance notice
provisions discussed below under "Shareholder Proposals." The Company does not
10
currently employ an executive search firm, or pay a fee to any other third
party, to locate qualified candidates for director positions.
SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Shareholders who wish to contact the Board of Directors or any of its
members may do so by addressing their written correspondence to Board of
Directors, 1110 Maple Street, P.O. Box 300, Elma, New York 14059. Correspondence
directed to an individual Board member will be referred if appropriate to that
member. Correspondence not directed to a particular Board member will be
referred, if appropriate, to the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Shareholder proposals must be received at the Company's offices no later
than February 17, 2005, in order to be considered for inclusion as a stockholder
proposal in the Company's proxy materials for the 2005 Annual Meeting.
OTHER MATTERS
So far as the directors are aware, no matters other than the election of
directors will be presented to the meeting for action on the part of the
shareholders. If any other matters are properly brought before the meeting, it
is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote thereon
the shares to which the proxy relates in accordance with their best judgment.
By Order of the Directors
DR. NICHOLAS D. TRBOVICH
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD,
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Elma, New York
11
APPENDIX A
SERVOTRONICS, INC.
(THE "COMPANY")
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
ORGANIZATION
A committee of the Board of Directors is designated as the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee shall be composed of two or more directors, as determined
from time to time by the Board of Directors. The members of the Audit Committee
are referred to below as "Members", each of which is a "Member". A majority of
the Members shall be independent of the management of the Company and shall have
no relationship to the Company that, in the judgment of the Board of Directors,
may interfere with the exercise of those Members' independence from management
and the Company. In determining whether any Member is independent, the Board of
Directors will be guided by the definition of "independent" contained in Section
121 of the American Stock Exchange Listing Standards, Policies and Requirements
("Amex Company Guide"), including the specific restrictions applicable to each
Member with respect to certain relationships between a Member and the Company as
set forth in the Amex Company Guide.
Each Member shall be able to read and understand fundamental financial
statements, including the Company's balance sheet, income statement and cash
flow statement or will become able to do so within a reasonable period of time
after his or her appointment to the Audit Committee. The Board of Directors
shall designate one Member as Chairman of the Audit Committee.
STATEMENT OF POLICY
The Audit Committee shall provide assistance to the corporate directors in
fulfilling their responsibilities to the shareholders and investment community
relating to corporate accounting, reporting practices of the Company and the
quality and integrity of the financial reports of the Company. In so doing, the
Audit Committee is responsible to maintain free and open means of communication
among the Members, the independent auditors, and the financial management of the
Company.
RESPONSIBILITIES
To fulfill its responsibilities, the Audit Committee believes its policies
and procedures should remain flexible, in order to best react to changing
conditions and to achieve and maintain a standard that the corporate accounting
and reporting practices of the Company are not only in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, but also are of the highest quality.
In carrying out these responsibilities the Audit Committee will:
o Review and recommend to the Board of Directors the independent auditors
to be engaged to audit the financial statements of the Company. The
independent auditors are ultimately accountable to the Board of
Directors and Audit Committee; and the Audit Committee and the Board of
Directors have the ultimate authority and responsibility to select,
evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the independent auditors.
o Meet with the independent auditors and financial management of the
Company to review the scope of the proposed audit for the current year
and the audit procedures to be utilized, and at the conclusion of the
audit conduct a review as set forth below.
E-1
o Review with the independent auditors and Company financial and
accounting personnel the adequacy and effectiveness of the accounting
and financial controls of the Company, and elicit any recommendations
for the improvement of such internal control procedures or particular
areas where new or more detailed controls or procedures are desirable.
Particular emphasis should be given to the adequacy of such internal
controls to expose any payments, transactions, or procedures that might
be deemed illegal or otherwise improper.
o Review with management and the independent auditors the financial
statements proposed to be contained in the annual report to
shareholders and the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Form 10-KSB") to
determine that the independent auditors are satisfied with the quality
of the disclosure and content of the financial statements to be
presented to the shareholders. Any changes in accounting principles
should be reviewed; and the independent auditors shall disclose and
present for discussion the matters required by the Statement on
Auditing Standards No. 61 (as amended from time to time).
o Provide sufficient opportunity for the independent auditors to meet
with the members of the Audit Committee without Company management and
employee personnel present. Among the items to be discussed in these
meetings are the independent auditors' evaluation of the Company's
financial, accounting, and auditing personnel, and the cooperation that
the independent auditors received during the course of the audit.
o Review and discuss with the independent auditors, upon their request,
matters appropriate to determination of their independence, including
the disclosures made by the auditors pursuant to Independence Standards
Board Standard No. 1.
o Establish a procedure whereby the Audit Committee or a Member on behalf
of the Audit Committee may review quarterly financial statements or
other financial presentations of the Company and have an opportunity,
upon request, to discuss them with Company financial management
personnel and the independent auditors before public release or public
filing of the financial statements or presentations.
o Review accounting and financial human resources and succession planning
within the Company.
o Submit the minutes of all meetings of the Audit Committee to, or
discuss the matters discussed at each committee meeting with, the Board
of Directors. Recommend to the Board of Directors whether the audited
annual financial statements of the Company, after review by the Audit
Committee as described above, should be included in the Form 10-KSB.
o Investigate any matter brought to its attention within the scope of its
duties, with the power to retain outside counsel for this purpose if,
in its judgment, that is appropriate.
E-2
SERVOTRONICS, INC. PROXY
1110 Maple Street THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON
P.O. Box 300 BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Elma, New York 14059
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The undersigned hereby appoints Dr. Nicholas D. Trbovich and Lee D. Burns,
and either of them, Proxies for the undersigned, with full power of
substitution, to vote all shares of Servotronics, Inc. which the undersigned
would be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at
2:30 p.m., Buffalo time, July 2, 2004, at the Center for Tomorrow, North Campus,
State University of New York at Buffalo, Flint Road (off Maple Road), Amherst,
New York 14226, or any adjournments thereof, and directs that the shares
represented by this Proxy shall be voted as indicated below:
1. Election of Directors
[ ] FOR all nominees listed below [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for
(except as otherwise marked all nominees listed below
to the contrary below)
INSTRUCTION. TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE,
STRIKE A LINE THROUGH HIS NAME IN THE LIST BELOW:
Dr. William H. Duerig, Donald W. Hedges, Nicholas D.
Trbovich, Jr. and Dr. Nicholas D. Trbovich.
2. In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments
thereof.
(CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON THE REVERSE SIDE)
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(CONTINUED FROM OTHER SIDE)
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY THE
SHAREHOLDER. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FAVORS A VOTE FOR THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR
LISTED ABOVE. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THOSE
NOMINEES.
Please date and sign your name exactly as it appears below and return this
Proxy promptly in the enclosed envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in
the United States.
Dated , 2004
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Signature
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Signature
Joint owners should each sign.
Executors, administrators, trustees,
guardians and corporate officers
should indicate their title.