Def 14A
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
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by
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Check
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appropriate box:
[
]
Preliminary Proxy Statement
[
]
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
[
X ]
Definitive Proxy Statement
[
]
Definitive Additional Materials
[
]
Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
TANDY
LEATHER FACTORY, INC.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name
of
Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name
of
Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box)
[
X ] No
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[
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computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11
1) |
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applies:
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2) |
Aggregate
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to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing
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calculated and state how it was
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transaction:
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and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously.
Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form
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TANDY
LEATHER FACTORY, INC.
3847
East Loop 820 South
Fort
Worth, Texas 76119
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Time
and Date
|
11:00
a.m. local time on Tuesday, May 22, 2007
|
Place
|
Stohlman
Museum and Gallery
Tandy
Leather Factory, Inc.
3847
East Loop 820 South
Fort
Worth, Texas 76119
|
Items
of Business
|
(1)
To elect directors
(2)
To ratify the 2007 Director Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan
(3)
To consider such other business as may properly come before the
meeting
|
Adjournments
and
Postponements
|
Any
action on the items of business described above may be considered
at the
time and on the date specified above or at any time and date to which
the
annual meeting may be properly adjourned or postponed.
|
Record
Date
|
You
are entitled to vote only if you were a shareholder of our common
stock at
the close of business on April 20, 2007.
|
Voting
|
Your
vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend the annual
meeting, we encourage you to read this proxy statement and submit
your
proxy or voting instructions as soon as possible. You may submit
your
proxy or voting instructions for the annual meeting by completing,
signing, dating and returning your proxy or voting instruction card
in the
pre-addressed envelope provided. For specific instructions on how
to vote
your shares, please refer to the section titled "Questions and Answers"
in
this proxy statement and the instructions on the proxy or voting
instruction card.
|
Please
advise our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, 350 Indiana Street,
Suite 800, Golden, Colorado 80401, of any change in your address.
By
Order
of the Board of Directors,
/s/
William M. Warren
William
M. Warren
General
Counsel and Secretary
This
notice of annual meeting and proxy statement and proxy card are being
distributed on or about April 25, 2007.
[THIS
PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY]
To
our
Stockholders:
On
behalf
of the board of directors, it is my pleasure to invite you to attend the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of Tandy Leather Factory, Inc. on Tuesday, May 22,
2007
in Fort Worth, Texas.
At
the
meeting, in addition to the formal items of business to be brought before the
meeting, members of management will report on our operations and respond to
stockholder questions.
Your
vote
is very important. We encourage you to read this proxy statement and vote your
shares as soon as possible regardless of whether or not you plan to attend
the
annual meeting. A return envelope for your proxy card is enclosed for your
convenience. Voting now by written proxy will ensure your representation at
the
annual meeting regardless of whether you attend in person.
Thank
you
for your continued support of Tandy Leather Factory. We look forward to seeing
you at the meeting on May 22.
Sincerely,
/s/
Wray
Thompson
Wray
Thompson
Chairman
of the Board of Directors
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Why
did I receive this proxy statement?
Because
you are a stockholder of Tandy Leather Factory, Inc. as of the record date
and
entitled to vote at the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, our board of
directors is soliciting your proxy to vote at the meeting.
This
Proxy Statement summarizes the information you need to know to vote at the
Annual Meeting. This Proxy Statement and form of proxy were first mailed to
stockholders on or about April 25, 2007.
What
am I voting on?
You
are
voting on two items:
· |
Election
of seven directors for a term of one year,
and
|
· |
Ratification
of the 2007 Director Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (“2007 Director
Plan”).
|
What
are the voting recommendations of the board of directors?
· |
The
board recommends a vote FOR each of the director nominees,
and
|
· |
The
board recommends a vote FOR the ratification of the 2007 Director
Plan.
|
Will
any other matters be voted on?
We
do not
know of any other matters that will be brought before the stockholders for
a
vote at the Annual Meeting. If any other matter is properly brought before
the
meeting, your signed proxy card gives authority to William Warren, our
Secretary, and Robin Morgan, our Vice-President of Administration, our Proxy
Committee, to vote on such matters at their discretion.
Who
is entitled to vote?
Stockholders
of record as of the close of business on April 20, 2007 (the record date) are
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each share of common stock is entitled
to one vote.
What
is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as
a
beneficial owner?
Many
stockholders hold their shares through a stockbroker, bank, or other nominee
rather than directly in their own name. As summarized below, there are some
distinctions between shares held of record and those owned
beneficially.
Stockholder
of Record. If
your
shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent,
Computershare Transfer Corporation, you are considered, with respect to those
shares, the stockholder of record, and these proxy materials are being sent
directly to you by us.
Beneficial
Owner. If
your
shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee,
you
are considered the beneficial
owner
of
shares held in street name, and these proxy materials are being forwarded to
you
by your broker or nominee which is considered, with respect to those shares,
the
stockholder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct
your broker how to vote and are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting.
However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote these
shares in person at the meeting, unless you bring with you a legal proxy from
the stockholder of record. Your broker or nominee has enclosed a voting
instruction card for you to use in directing the broker or nominee how to vote
your shares.
How
do I vote?
If
you
are a stockholder of record, there are three ways to vote:
· |
By
Internet at www.proxyvote.com;
|
· |
By
completing and mailing your proxy card;
or
|
· |
By
written ballot at the meeting.
|
If
you
vote by Internet, your vote must be received by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on May
21st, the business day before the meeting. Your shares will be voted as you
indicate. If you return your proxy card, but you do not indicate your voting
preferences, the Proxy Committee will vote your shares
affirmatively.
If
your
shares are held in a brokerage account in your broker’s name (this is called
street name), you should follow the voting directions provided by your broker
or
nominee. You may complete and mail a voting instruction card to your broker
or
nominee or, in most cases, submit voting instructions via the Internet to your
broker or nominee. If you provide specific voting instructions by mail or the
Internet, your shares should be voted by your broker or nominee as you have
directed.
We
will
distribute written ballots to anyone who wants to vote at the meeting. If you
hold your shares in street name, you must request a legal proxy from your broker
to vote at the meeting.
Is
my vote confidential?
Yes.
It
is our policy that all proxies, ballots, and vote tabulations that identify
the
vote of a stockholder will be kept confidential from us and our directors,
officers, and employees until after the final vote is tabulated and announced,
except in limited circumstances including any contested solicitation of proxies,
when required to meet a legal requirement, to defend a claim against us or
to
assert a claim by us, and when written comments by a stockholder appear on
a
proxy card or other voting material.
Who
counts the votes?
We
will
appoint two persons as inspectors of election for the meeting who will count
the
votes cast.
What
is the quorum requirement of the meeting?
A
majority of the outstanding shares determined on April 20, 2007, represented
in
person or by proxy at the meeting constitutes a quorum for voting on items
at
the Annual Meeting. If you vote, your shares will be part of the quorum.
Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted in determining the quorum,
but
neither will be counted as votes cast. On April 20, 2007, there were 10,919,568
shares outstanding.
What
are broker non-votes?
Broker
non-votes occur when nominees, such as banks and brokers holding shares on
behalf of beneficial owners, do not receive voting instructions from the
beneficial holders at least ten days before the meeting. In general, the broker
or nominee would have the discretion to vote these shares. Should there be
any
“broker non-votes,” they will be counted as shares that are present in
determining the presence or absence of a quorum. At present, we are not aware
of
anything that will come before the meeting involving matters where American
Stock Exchange rules bar brokers and nominees from voting if the beneficial
owner fails to execute and return a proxy.
What
vote is required to approve each proposal?
In
the
election of directors, each nominee must receive a majority of “FOR” votes cast
to be elected. The other proposal requires the approving vote of holders of
at
least a majority of the outstanding shares.
What
does it mean if I get more than one proxy card?
It
means
your shares are in more than one account. You should vote the shares on all
of
your proxy cards.
How
can I consolidate multiple accounts registered in variations of the same
name?
If
you
have multiple accounts, we encourage you to consolidate your accounts by having
all your shares registered in exactly the same name and address. You may do
this
by contacting our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Corporation, by phone
(303/262-0703) or by mail to 350 Indiana Street, Suite 800, Golden, Colorado
80401.
What
if I want to change my vote?
You
can
change your vote on a proposal at any time before the meeting for any reason
by
revoking your proxy. Proxies may be revoked by:
· |
Filing
a written notice of revocation, bearing a date later than the proxy
date,
with our secretary at or before the
meeting;
|
· |
Properly
executing a later proxy relating to the same shares;
or
|
· |
Attending
the meeting and voting in person; however, attendance at the meeting
will
not in and of itself constitute a revocation of a
proxy.
|
Any
written notice revoking a proxy should be sent to: Secretary, Tandy Leather
Factory, Inc., P.O. Box 50429, Fort Worth, Texas 76105-0429.
Where
can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?
We
plan
to announce preliminary voting results at the meeting and publish final results
in our quarterly report on SEC Form 10-Q for the second quarter of
2007.
How
can I receive a copy of the annual report?
We
provide a free copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K that includes the
financial statements and schedules, but does not include the exhibits. If you
would also like the report’s exhibits, we will provide copies of the exhibits.
We may charge a reasonable fee for providing these exhibits.
In
order
to receive this report, you must request a report in writing and mail the
request to Tandy Leather Factory, Inc., P.O. Box 50429, Fort Worth, Texas
76105-0429, Attention: Shannon L. Greene, Chief Financial Officer. In addition,
information concerning obtaining our complete Form 10-K with exhibits and other
securities filings from the Securities and Exchange Commission and our website
is contained in Item 1 of the enclosed Form 10-K.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The
following table sets forth information regarding the following as of March
31,
2007:
· |
Beneficial
owners of more than 5 percent of the outstanding shares of our stock,
other than our officers and
directors;
|
· |
Beneficial
ownership by our current directors and the named executive officers
set
forth in the Summary Compensation table on page 14;
and
|
· |
Beneficial
ownership by all our current directors and executive officers as
a
group.
|
The
information provided in the table is based on our records, information filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission and information provide to us,
except where otherwise noted.
Name
and Address
|
Shares
beneficially
owned
(1)
|
Percent
of Class
|
Tandy
Leather Factory, Inc. Employees’ Stock Ownership Plan &
Trust(2)
PO
Box 50429, Fort Worth, TX 76105-0429
|
929,069
|
8.51%
|
Wellington
Management Company, LLP (3)
75
State Street, Boston, MA 02109
|
1,330,025
|
12.18%
|
Austin
W. Marxe and David M. Greenhouse (4)
527
Madison Avenue, Suite 2600,New York, NY 10022
|
800,000
|
7.33%
|
Nery
Capital Partners, L.P. (5)
959
Merrimon Avenue, Suite 6 - Box 9, Asheville, NC 28804
|
1,005,000
|
9.09%
|
|
|
|
Wray
Thompson(6)
|
221,496
|
2.00%
|
Ron
& Robin Morgan(7)
|
1,798,932
|
16.27%
|
Shannon
L. Greene(8)
|
166,681
|
1.51%
|
T.
Field Lange(9)
|
7,000
|
*
|
Joseph
R. Mannes(10)
|
23,000
|
*
|
L.
Edward Martin III(11)
|
-
|
*
|
|
|
|
All
Current Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (8
persons)
|
3,222,109
|
29.14%
|
|
|
|
*
Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1% of our outstanding common
shares.
(1) |
The
amounts reflected in this column include common shares owned directly
or
indirectly in which there is sole voting and/or vote investment power,
except as otherwise noted. To our knowledge, none of these shares
have
been pledged. The inclusion herein of shares listed as beneficially
owned
does not constitute an admission of beneficial ownership. In accordance
with SEC rules, the amounts reflected in this column also include
options
to acquire the underlying common shares within 60 days following
March 31,
2007.
|
(2) |
The
Trustee of the Employees' Stock Ownership Plan & Trust ("ESOP") votes
the 929,069 shares held by the ESOP that are allocated to participant
accounts as directed by the participants or beneficiaries of the
ESOP.
Except in certain limited circumstances, the Trustee may acquire
and
dispose of the assets of the ESOP only as the ESOP Committee directs.
The
ESOP Committee is made up of certain officers and other employee
participants of ours and presently consists of Robin L. Morgan, Shannon
L.
Greene, and three other employees. As members of this Committee,
these
persons may be deemed to share investment power with respect to the
allocated shares held by the ESOP. Each member of the ESOP Committee
disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by the ESOP
except
for those that have been allocated to the member as a participant
in the
ESOP. The total number of shares held by the ESOP includes 269,841
shares
that are beneficially owned by the Executive Officers and are also
included in the directors and executive officers ownership amounts
as
being owned by those persons.
|
(3) |
We
have received a copy of a report on Schedule 13G, with a signature
dated
March 12, 2007 disclosing 385,800 shares with shared voting power
and
1,330,025 shares with shared dispositive
power.
|
(4) |
We
have received a copy of a statement of changes in beneficial ownership
on
Form 4, with a signature dated February 26,
2007.
|
(5) |
Michael
A. Nery, one of our directors, is the owner of an investment advisory
firm
that directs the investments of Nery Capital Partners, L.P., which
is the
record holder of the shares
indicated.
|
(6) |
Wray
Thompson, Chairman of the Board, holds 145,187 shares directly and
76,309
shares in the ESOP.
|
(7) |
Ron
Morgan, a director and our Chief Executive Officer and President,
and
Robin Morgan, our Vice President of Administration and Assistant
Secretary, are married. Shares beneficially owned by Mr. and Mrs.
Morgan
are held as community property. They hold 1,617,810 shares directly
and
181,122 shares in the ESOP.
|
(8) |
Shannon
Greene, a director and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, holds
39,270
shares directly, 12,411 shares in the ESOP, and 115,000 shares that
can be
acquired within 60 days of March 31,
2007.
|
(9) |
T.
Field Lange, a director, holds 1,000 shares directly and 6,000 shares
in
options that will vest within 60 days of March 31,
2007.
|
(10) |
Joseph
R. Mannes, a director, holds 7,000 shares directly and 16,000 shares
in
options that will vest within 60 days of March 31,
2007.
|
(11) |
L.
Edward Martin was named a director effective January 23, 2007.
|
PROPOSAL
ONE: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The
Board of Directors Recommends a Vote “FOR” All
Nominees.
All
directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting to hold office until the
next
annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors have been duly elected
and qualified. Currently there are seven directors. It is the intention of
the
persons named in the accompanying form of proxy card to vote for the election
of
all seven nominees listed below for election as our directors unless authority
to so vote is withheld. All nominees have indicated their willingness to serve
for the ensuing term. If any nominee is unable or declines to serve as a
director at the date of the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the proxy
card
have the right to use their discretion to vote for a substitute.
Wray
Thompson,
75, has
served as our Chairman of the Board since June 1993. He also served as Chief
Executive Officer from June 1993 to December 2006 and as President from June
1993 to January 2001. Mr. Thompson was one of our co-founders.
Shannon
L. Greene,
41, has
served as our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since May 2000 and as a
director since January 2001. From September 1997 to May 2000, Ms. Greene served
as our controller and assistant controller. Ms. Greene, a certified public
accountant, is a member of our Employees’ Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Committee.
Her professional affiliations include the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants, the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Fort Worth
Association of Financial Professionals, the National Investor Relations
Institute, and Financial Executives International.
T.
Field Lange,
39, has
served as a director of ours since May 2003. Mr. Lange, a certified public
accountant, is the president of Lange & Associates, P.C., a public
accounting firm in Fort Worth, Texas. His professional affiliations include
the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of
Certified Public Accountants.
Joseph
R. Mannes,
48, has
served as a director of ours since May 1998. Currently, Mr. Mannes serves as
the
managing director in the corporate finance department of SAMCO Capital Markets,
a Dallas, Texas broker-dealer. He also serves on the advisory board of
Conchemco, Inc. and is chairman of HiTech Creations, Inc. Mr. Mannes holds
a
Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
L.
Edward Martin III, 40,
has
served as a director of ours since January 2007. Since 2000, Mr. Martin has
served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of The Dunlap
Company, a private company operating a chain of 40 department stores in 8
states. He joined The Dunlap Company in 1998 as Senior Vice President and
General Counsel. He holds a law degree from the University of Texas School
of
Law in Austin, Texas. Mr. Martin is a Board Member of the Texas Retailers
Association and a member of the State Bar of Texas.
Ronald
C. Morgan,
59, has
served as our President since January 2001 and has served as Chief Operating
Officer and director since June 1993. Mr. Morgan was also one of our
co-founders.
Michael
A. Nery,
34, has
served as a director of ours since December 2003. Since September 1999, his
investment advisory firm has directed the investments of Nery Capital Partners,
L.P., an investment fund based in Ashville, NC.
The
information relating to the occupations and security holdings of our directors
is based upon information received from them.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION CONCERNING OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
During
fiscal 2006, the board of directors held five meetings. All current directors
who served during 2006 attended 75% or more of the aggregate of the total number
of meetings of the board of directors and of committees of the board of which
he
or she was a member. Although we do not have a formal policy regarding director
attendance at our Annual Meeting, all directors are expected to attend the
meeting and in 2006, all directors were in attendance.
The
board
of directors has considered the listing requirements of the American Stock
Exchange for "independence" of directors, and it has determined that T. Field
Lange, Joseph R. Mannes, L. Edward Martin III and Michael A. Nery, our
non-employee directors, are independent. Our independent directors hold
executive sessions at least once a year.
Non-employee
directors receive $1,000 for each board meeting attended in person, $500 for
each board meeting attended via telephone and $500 for each committee meeting
attended, with the exception of the committee chairman who receives $750 for
each committee meeting attended. We entered into a consulting agreement with
Wray Thompson effective January 1, 2007, pursuant to which we pay Mr. Thompson
$100,000 per year for serving as our Chairman of the Board. If the stockholders
approve our 2007 Director Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan at the annual meeting,
we will issue options to acquire 3,000 shares of our common stock to each of
our
independent directors each year beginning in 2007. The 2007 Director Plan is
described in more detail below.
2006
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE
The
table
below summarizes the compensation paid by us to our non-employee directors
during the year ended December 31, 2006. Our directors who are also employees
(and Wray Thompson, who now serves us as a consultant) receive no additional
compensation for serving as directors.
Name
|
Fees
Earned or Paid in Cash ($)
|
Total
($)
|
Joseph
R. Mannes
|
$7,750
|
$7,750
|
T.
Field Lange
|
6,000
|
6,000
|
Michael
A. Nery
|
5,750
|
5,750
|
H.W.
Markwardt(1)
|
5,000
|
5,000
|
Michael
Markwardt(2)
|
5,500
|
5,500
|
________________
(1)
Resigned in September 2006
(2)
Resigned in January 2007
If
the
stockholders approve our 2007 Director Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan at the
annual meeting, we will issue options to acquire 3,000 shares of our common
stock to each of our independent directors each year beginning in 2007. The
2007
Director Plan is described in more detail below.
As
of the
date of this proxy statement, our board has four committees: (1) Audit, (2)
Compensation, (3) Nominating, and (4) 2007 Director Non-Qualified Stock Option
Plan Committee. The membership during the last fiscal year and the function
of
each committee are described below.
Name
of Director
|
Audit
|
Compensation
|
Nominating
|
Director
Non-Qualified Stock
Option Plan
|
Non-Employee
Directors:
|
|
|
|
|
T.
Field Lange
|
X
|
C
|
C
|
|
Joseph
R. Mannes
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
L.
Edward Martin, III
|
C
|
X
|
X
|
|
Michael
A. Nery
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
Employee
Directors:
|
|
|
|
|
Shannon
L. Greene
|
|
|
|
X
|
Ron
Morgan
|
|
|
|
X
|
Wray
Thompson (1)
|
|
|
|
C
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
of Meetings in Fiscal 2006
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
_________________
X
=
Committee member; C = Committee Chairman
(1)
We
treat Wray Thompson as an Employee Director for the purposes of his compensation
as a director although he resigned as our CEO and as an employee effective
December 31, 2006. He continues to serve as our Chairman of the Board under
a
consulting arrangement pursuant to which we pay Mr. Thompson $100,000 per
year.
Nominating
Committee
We
have a
nominating committee consisting of five directors, all of whom are "independent"
under the American Stock Exchange rules. The committee met one time during
2006.
The
board
of directors has adopted a written charter for the Nominating Committee, which
is available on our website at www.leatherfactory.com. This charter provides
that the Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying individuals
qualified to become directors consistent with criteria established by the board
of directors. Although the board of directors has not yet established these
criteria, the charter also provides that the Nominating Committee shall take
into account such additional factors as it deems appropriate in evaluating
candidates. These factors may include strength of character, mature judgment,
career specialization, relevant technical skills, diversity and the extent
to
which a candidate would fill a present need on the committee. In addition,
the
charter states that the committee will consider stockholder recommendations
of
director nominees, as well as nominations by our senior officers. The committee
plans to evaluate all director nominees in a like manner without regard as
to
who recommended the nomination. Traditionally, we have not engaged third parties
to identify or evaluate potential directors or to assist in that process. In
addition, the Nominating Committee makes a review and evaluation at least
annually of the board of directors and the committee's own performance. Further,
the committee recommends persons to serve on the committee as members, as well
as the possible removal of any incumbent committee members.
Stockholders
may nominate director nominees for consideration by writing to our corporate
secretary at 3847 East Loop 820 South, Fort Worth, Texas 76119. Any such
nomination must include:
· |
As
to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election
or
re-election as a director, all information relating to such person
that is
required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election
of
directors, or as otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation
14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any
successor regulation thereto (including such person’s written consent to
being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as
a
director if elected); and
|
· |
The
nominating stockholder’s name and address, as they appear on our books,
and the class and number of our shares beneficially owned by
him.
|
In
order
to be considered by the Nominating Committee with respect to nominees for the
2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, prospective nominee recommendations must
be
received by the corporate secretary no later than 30 days and no earlier than
60
days before such meeting.
Audit
Committee
The
Audit
Committee’s basic role is to assist the board in fulfilling its fiduciary
responsibility pertaining to our accounting policies and reporting practices.
Among other duties, the Audit Committee is to be the board's principal agent
in
assuring the independence of our outside auditor, the integrity of management,
and the adequacy of disclosures to stockholders. The board has determined that
all members of the Audit Committee are "independent" under the applicable rules
of the American Stock Exchange and that Joseph R. Mannes, chairman of the Audit
Committee in 2005 and 2006, and T. Field Lange, committee member, both qualify
as an "audit committee financial expert" as defined by the SEC. The board of
directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, which is
available on our website at www.leatherfactory.com. The committee met five
times
during 2006. The Report of the Audit Committee for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2006 appears below.
Our
Audit
Committee selected Weaver & Tidwell, LLP to serve as our independent public
accountant for the year ended December 31, 2006. A representative of Weaver
& Tidwell is expected to attend our annual meeting. The representative will
have the opportunity to make a statement at the meeting and respond to
appropriate questions from you, our stockholders. The Audit Committee has not
made a recommendation to the board regarding the retention or non-retention
of
Weaver & Tidwell, LLP as independent outside auditor for 2007. The committee
historically meets in the fall to discuss the selection of auditors for the
current year.
Audit
Fees.
Weaver
& Tidwell performed the audits of our 2005 and 2006 financial statements, as
well as the reviews of our Forms 10-Q for the same periods. The amounts shown
below are the aggregate amounts paid to Weaver & Tidwell during 2005 and
2006 for services in the categories indicated.
Types
of Fees
|
2005
|
2006
|
Audit
fees
|
$58,700
|
$85,000
|
Audit-related
fees
|
4,745
|
-
|
Tax
fees
|
-
|
-
|
All
other fees
|
-
|
-
|
Total
|
$63,445
|
$80,000
|
The
audit-related fees paid in 2005 related to Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 work.
In
accordance with the charter of our Audit Committee as in effect at the relevant
times and the rules of the SEC, the Audit Committee approved all of the fees
indicated above before the services were provided.
Report
of the Audit Committee
As
members of the Audit Committee, we oversee the company's financial reporting
process on behalf of our board of directors. Management is responsible for
the
preparation, presentation, and integrity of our financial statements, accounting
and financial reporting principles, internal controls, and procedures designed
to ensure compliance with accounting standards, applicable laws, and
regulations.
During
2006, we analyzed the service provided by and associated costs of our external
auditing firm. As a result, we recommended and the board approved the
appointment of Weaver & Tidwell, LLP as independent auditors for the year
ended December 31, 2006. Our auditors are responsible for performing an
independent audit of the consolidated financial statements and expressing an
opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States.
The
Audit
Committee has reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements for the
year ended December 31, 2006 with our management and has discussed with Weaver
& Tidwell, LLP the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing
Standards Board Standard No. 61, as amended, “Communication
with Audit Committees.”
In
addition, Weaver & Tidwell, LLP has provided the audit committee with the
written disclosures and the letter required by Independence Standards Board
Standards No. 1, “Independence
Discussions with Audit Committees,”
and
the
audit committee has discussed with Weaver & Tidwell, LLP their independence
from Tandy Leather Factory, Inc. and our management.
Based
on
these reviews and discussions, the audit committee recommended to the board
of
directors that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE:
JOSEPH
R.
MANNES, Chairman
T.
FIELD
LANGE
MICHAEL
A.
NERY
COMPENSATION
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The
primary focus of our executive compensation programs is to improve our
performance year over year and over a longer-term period. The compensation
programs were designed to provide the tools ncessary to hire executives with
the
skills needed to manage the company to meet these goals and to retain them
over
the long-term. In developing the programs, a key consideration was to have
plans
that were easy to understand and administer while being competitive with
companies of similar size and philosophy. Over the past several years,
management and the Compensation Committee have worked to refine the compensation
programs used to ensure that they support these goals and our ongoing business
goals. Our philosophy has been to reward team performance, measured by our
overall results. Each executive officer’s compensation is linked to their
individual contribution toward increases in the size of our operations, our
income, and increases in stockholder value.
The
Compensation Committee is responsible for recommending to the board of directors
the compensation program of the executive officers. The committee submits all
issues concerning executive compensation to the full board of directors for
approval. This committee does not review or approve stock option
grants.
Compensation
for our executive officers consists of the following components:
· |
Annual
incentive bonus;
|
· |
Long-term
incentives in the form of stock option
grants;
|
· |
Retirement
and other benefits.
|
Each
of
these elements of pay is described below.
Base
salary.
Base
salaries are intended to reward our executive officers based upon their roles
within the company and for their performance in those roles. Base salaries
are
established when an executive officer is hired, based on prior experience and
compared to salaries for comparable positions in other companies. Base salaries
are generally increased annually assuming our financial performance is
satisfactory.
Bonuses.
Historically, we award discretionary bonuses to our executive officers as well
as certain other employees. We determine these bonuses on a subjective basis,
considering prior bonus amounts awarded, business prospects for the upcoming
year, and the improvement in our net income for the year in question. The
Compensation Committee determines the bonuses awarded to the executive officers,
while the executive officers determine bonuses awarded to non-officer
employees.
Stock
options.
Stock
options are used to promote an ongoing focus on improvements in our total return
to stockholders, by ensuring that, over time, a significant amount of each
executive officer’s total wealth opportunities are dependent upon this return.
Ms. Greene is the only executive officer who is eligible for stock option grants
as our stock option plan specifically prohibits grants of stock options to
Mr.
Thompson, Mr. Morgan and Ms. Morgan. No options were granted to Ms. Greene
during 2006.
Retirement
and other benefits.
Our
benefits program includes retirement plans and group insurance plans. The
objective of the program is to provide Executive Officers with reasonable and
competitive levels of protection against the four contingencies (retirement,
death, disability and ill health) that could interrupt the Executive Officer’s
employment and/or income received as an active employee. Our retirement plans
are designed to provide a competitive level of retirement income to our
executive officers and to reward them for continued service with the company.
The retirement program for executive officers consists of two tax-qualified
plans (an Employee Stock Ownership Plan and a 401(k) Plan) that cover all
full-time employees. The group insurance program consists of life and health
insurance benefits plans that cover all full-time employees.
Certain
executive officers have roles in the compensation process as
follows:
Our
CEO
generally makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding salary
increases and annual bonus awards for other executive officers during the
regular merit process. Other executive officers, at the request of the
committee, provide data about past practices, awards, costs and participation
in
various plans, as well as information about the Company’s annual and longer-term
goals When requested by the Committee, selected executive officers may also
participate in discussions with the Committee regarding plan design and
structure and provide a perspective to the Committee on how these
recommendations may affect recruitment, retention and motivation of our
employees.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None
of
the committee members was an officer or former officer of ours nor was any
committee member a party to any material transaction or relationship with us
during the past year. In addition, none of our executive officers served as
a
member of the compensation or similar committee or board of directors of any
other entity of which an executive officer served on our Compensation Committee
or our board of directors.
Report
of the Compensation Committee
The
Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the foregoing Compensation
Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) with management and, based on such review
and discussion, recommended to the Board that the CD&A be included in Tandy
Leather Factory’s Form 10-K and Proxy Statement.
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE:
T.
FIELD
LANGE, Chairman
JOSEPH
R.
MANNES
MICHAEL
A. NERY
COMPENSATION
TABLES AND OTHER INFORMATION
The
following table includes information concerning annual and other compensation
for all executive services for the year ended December 31, 2006 paid to our
executive officers.
2006
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Name
and Principal Position
|
Salary
($)
|
Bonus
($)
|
Option
Awards
($)(2)
|
All
Other Compensation ($) (1)
|
Total
($)
|
Wray
Thompson, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
(3)
|
$170,000
|
-
|
-
|
$6,242
|
$176,242
|
Shannon
L. Greene, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
|
$120,000
|
$60,000
|
$21,285
|
$7,230
|
$208,515
|
Ron
Morgan, President & Chief Operating Officer
(4)
|
$165,000
|
-
|
-
|
$8,992
|
$173,992
|
Robin
Morgan, Vice President-Admin & Assistant
Secretary
|
$85,000
|
$15,000
|
-
|
$4,395
|
$104,395
|
(1) |
The
amounts in this column represent the amounts accrued on behalf of
the
named individuals for the annual contribution to our ESOP and 401(k)
plan
company matching contribution.
|
(2) |
The
amounts in this column reflect the dollar amount recognized for financial
statement reporting purposes for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2006,
in accordance with FAS 123(R) of awards pursuant to the 1995 Stock
Option
Plan and thus includes amounts from awards granted prior to 2006.
Assumptions used in the calculation of this amount for fiscal year
ended
December 31, 2006 are included in footnote 1 to our audited financial
statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, included
in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on March 27, 2007.
|
(3) |
Mr.
Thompson resigned as our CEO in December 2006. We
have entered into a one year consulting agreement with Wray Thompson
which
began effective January 1, 2007, pursuant to which we will pay Mr.
Thompson $100,000 per year for his continued service as our Chairman
of
the Board. The consulting agreement automatically renews for additional
one year periods unless terminated by Mr. Thompson or us.
|
(4) |
Mr.
Morgan served as our President and COO in 2006. Mr. Morgan was elected
our
CEO effective on January 1, 2007.
|
We
made
no
grants
of plan-based awards to any of our named Executive Officers during the year
ended December 31, 2006.
The
following table provides information about outstanding equity awards at December
31, 2006 for each of the named Executive Officers:
OUTSTANDING
EQUITY AWARDS AT 2006 FISCAL YEAR-END
|
Option
Awards
|
Name
|
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#) Exercisable
|
Number
of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#) Unexercisable
|
Option
Exercise
Price ($)
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
Wray
Thompson, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
(1)
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Shannon
L. Greene,
Chief
Financial Officer & Treasurer
|
40,000
60,000
15,000
|
-
-
10,000
|
$0.9375
$1.35
$4.24
|
9/13/10
5/24/11
9/16/13
|
Ron
Morgan, President & Chief Operating Officer
(2)
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Robin
Morgan, Vice President-Admin & Asst Secretary
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
(1) |
Mr.
Thompson resigned as our CEO in December 2006. We
have entered into a one year consulting agreement with Wray Thompson
which
began effective January 1, 2007, pursuant to which we will pay Mr.
Thompson $100,000 per year for his continued service as our Chairman
of
the Board. The consulting agreement automatically renews for additional
one year periods unless terminated by Mr. Thompson or us.
|
(2) |
Mr.
Morgan served as our President and COO in 2006. Mr. Morgan was elected
our
CEO effective on January 1, 2007.
|
The
following table summarizes options exercised and stock awards that vested during
the year ended December 31, 2006 for each of the named Executive
Officers:
OPTION
EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED IN 2006
|
Option
Awards
|
Name
|
Number
of Shares
Acquired
on Exercise
(#)
|
Value
Realized
on
Exercise
($)
|
Wray
Thompson
Chairman
& Chief Executive Officer
(1)
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Shannon
L. Greene
Chief
Financial Officer & Treasurer
|
10,000
|
$62,625
|
Ron
Morgan
President
& Chief Operating Officer
(2)
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Robin
Morgan
Vice
President-Admin & Asst Secretary
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
(1) |
Mr.
Thompson resigned as our CEO in December 2006. We
have entered into a one year consulting agreement with Wray Thompson
which
began effective January 1, 2007, pursuant to which we will pay Mr.
Thompson $100,000 per year for his continued service as our Chairman
of
the Board. The consulting agreement automatically renews for additional
one year periods unless terminated by Mr. Thompson or us.
|
(2) |
Mr.
Morgan served as our President and COO in 2006. Mr. Morgan was elected
our
CEO effective on January 1, 2007.
|
RELATIONSHIPS
AND TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS
Since
the
beginning of our last fiscal year, there have been no transactions, and there
is
no currently proposed transaction, in which we were or are to be a participant
and the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and in which any related person,
as
defined under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, had or will have a direct
or indirect material interest. Such related persons include our directors and
executive officers, nominees for director and their immediate family members.
SECTION
16(a)
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Sections
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our
directors, executive officers and holders of more than 10% of our common stock
to file reports regarding their ownerships and changes in ownership of our
securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We believe that, during
fiscal 2006, our directors, executive officers and 10% stockholders complied
with all Section 16(a) filing requirements, with the following exceptions:
Form
4's were not filed timely on three transactions during the year - two occurring
on November 15, 2006 (Directors, H.W. Markwardt and Michael Markwardt) and
one
on December 11, 2006 (Director and Officer Shannon Greene). We believe that
the
lack of timely filing was a result of an oversight by the parties involved.
Late
filings on these transactions were made on November 20, 2006 and December 15,
2006, respectively. Our disclosure on this topic is based solely on review
of
the information provided to us by persons subject to these
requirements.
PROPOSAL
TWO: RATIFICATION OF THE 2007 DIRECTOR NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN
The
Board of Directors Recommends a Vote “FOR” the Ratification of the 2007 Director
Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan.
Our
Board
of Directors of the Company adopted the Tandy Leather Factory, Inc. 2007
Director Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (the “2007 Director Plan”), effective
March 22, 2007. The 2007 Director Plan is submitted for stockholder approval
at
the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, because under Rule 16b-3 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), stockholder
approval is required to permit future stock option grants to non-employee
directors under the 2007 Director Plan to be exempt from the Securities and
Exchange Commission regulations on short-swing trading. These regulations
provide that all profits realized from a purchase and a sale or a sale and
a
purchase of a company’s securities within any six month period by a director, an
officer, or the owner of more than 10% of any registered class of a company’s
capital stock must be returned to the company. The receipt of an option grant
is
deemed to be a purchase for the purposes of such regulations unless the option
grant is exempt under Rule 16b-3. An option grant that is not exempt must
therefore be matched with any sale of common stock to determine whether a
short-swing profit was earned. The lack of an exemption from the short-swing
trading regulations for an option grant could cause a new non-employee director
inadvertently to violate the short-swing trading result by receiving an
automatic grant under the 2007 Director Plan, if such director had sold any
shares of common stock during the period beginning six months prior to, and
ending six months after, the date of the option grant. Even an inadvertent
violation would cause a new non-employee director to be required to return
any
short-swing profits to the company. The lack of an exemption could make it
more
difficult to attract outside directors to us.
Stockholder
approval of the 2007 Director Plan is also required by the rules of the American
Stock Exchange.
The
2007
Director Plan is not subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). The 2007 Director Plan is not a “qualified plan”
within the meaning of Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the “Code”). The 2007 Director Plan will terminate on March 22, 2017,
and thereafter no options may be granted thereunder. The Board of Directors
may
amend or discontinue the 2007 Director Plan without the approval of the
stockholders, subject to certain limitations. See “Amendment of the 2007
Director Plan” below.
The
holder of an option granted pursuant to the 2007 Drrector Plan does not have
any
of the rights or privileges of a stockholder except with respect to shares
that
have been actually issued. Nothing in the 2007 Director Plan or in any option
granted pursuant to the 2007 Director Plan may be construed as to create an
employer-employee relationship between us and the participant. The proceeds
from
the sale of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of options granted under
the
2007 Director Plan will be added to our general funds and used for general
corporate purposes.
The
provisions of the 2007 Director Plan are summarized below. All such statements
are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the 2007
Director Plan, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
Purpose
and Eligibility. Only
our
directors who are not our employees (“outside directors”) are eligible to
receive options under the 2007 Director Plan. Mr. Thompson, the current Chairman
of the Board, is specifically excluded from eligibility. At the present time,
this group of outside directors consists of four members: Mr. Lange, Mr. Mannes,
Mr. Martin, and Mr. Nery.
The
purposes of the 2007 Director Plan are to attract outside directors and to
encourage performance by providing such persons with a proprietary interest
in
the company through the granting of stock options. The 2007 Director Plan is
designed to help achieve those purposes through the use of stock-based
compensation strategies that will attract and retain outside directors who
can
contribute to our long-term success.
Administration
of the 2007 Director Plan. The
2007
Director Plan shall be administered by the Director Plan Committee appointed
by
our Board of Directors. The current members of the Director Plan Committee
are
Ms. Greene, Mr. Morgan, and Mr. Thompson. Members of the Director Plan Committee
serve at the will of the Board and may be removed, with or without cause, from
the Director Plan Committee at any time at the Board’s discretion. The Director
Plan Committee will make such rules and regulations as it deems appropriate.
Any
interpretation, determination or other actions made or taken by the Director
Plan Committee will be final, binding and conclusive on all
parties.
Stock Options. The
maximum number of shares of Common Stock presently authorized for issuance
under
the 2007 Director Plan is 100,000, subject to adjustment for stock splits and
similar events. Shares to be optioned and sold may be made available from either
authorized but unissued Common Stock or Common Stock held by us in our treasury.
If an option granted under the 2007 Director Plan terminates or expires without
having been exercised in full, the unexercised shares subject to that option
will be available for further grants or options under the 2007 Director
Plan.
All
stock
options granted under the 2007 Director Plan are designated as stock options
that are not intended to qualify for special tax treatment under Section 422
of
the Code (“non-qualified stock options”). See “Certain Federal Income Tax
Aspects” below. Each non-qualified stock option granted under the 2007 Director
Plan is required to be evidenced by a stock option agreement, which sets forth
the material terms and provisions of the stock option.
Upon
approval by the stockholders, under the 2007 Director Plan, a one-time stock
option for 3,000 shares of Common Stock shall be granted to each individual
who
is serving as an outside director of ours on that date. In
future
years, a stock option for 3,000 shares of Common Stock shall be granted to
each
individual who is serving as an outside director of ours on that date, and
if an
individual first becomes an outside director of ours within six months after
March 22 of a year, such individual shall be granted a Stock Option for 3,000
shares of Common Stock immediately upon becoming an outside director. In no
event may a director receive more than one grant of a stock option for the
same
year under the 2007 Director Plan. The exercise price for all stock options
granted under the 2007 Director Plan is 100% of the fair market value of the
Common Stock on the date of grant. The option period extends for ten years
from
the date the option is granted, subject to earlier forfeiture in the event
a
director ceases to serve as such. See “Restrictions” below.
On
the
date that the participant desires to exercise stock options, the participant
is
required to deliver to us the total exercise price of the shares to be
purchased, in cash, or by means of a certified check, a bank draft, a money
order or any other form of payment which is acceptable to the Director Plan
Committee. If the participant fails to pay for any of the option shares or
fails
to accept delivery of those shares, the participant’s right to purchase shares
may be terminated by us.
Restrictions.
The
options granted and to be granted under the 2007 Director Plan, without the
prior written consent of the Director Plan Committee, are not transferable
or
assignable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or
pursuant to the terms of a qualified domestic relations order as defined in
the
Code.
Stock
options may be exercised at any time during the option period after the
expiration of six months from the Date of Grant. Upon termination of the
participant’s service as a director with us due to death or total and permanent
disability, his or her option may be exercised for a period of 12 months after
such termination of service, unless the expiration of the original option period
is sooner. Total and permanent disability is defined as the inability to engage
in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable
physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that
has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period for not less
than
12 months. Upon the termination of the participant’s service as a director with
us by reason of retirement after attaining our normal retirement age, he or
she
may exercise such option for a period of three months after such
retirement.
In
the
event of a termination of a participant’s service as a director other than as a
result of death, retirement after attaining our normal retirement age or total
and permanent disability, the participant will forfeit all previously vested
and
unexercised stock options on the 30th day after the date of termination. In
the
event of termination of employment prior to the date of such stockholder
approval, however, this 30-day period will commence on the date of such
stockholder approval.
We
are
not required to sell or issue shares of Common Stock under any stock option
if
the issuance of Common Stock would violate any provisions of any law or
regulation of any governmental authority or any national securities exchange
or
other forum in which shares of Common Stock are traded (including Section 16
of
the 1934 Act). As a condition of any sale or issuance of shares of Common Stock
under a stock option, the Director Plan Committee may require such agreements
or
undertakings, if any, as may deem necessary or advisable to assure compliance
with any such law or regulation.
Adjustments.
The
2007
Director Plan provides that the number of shares issuable under the 2007
Director Plan and upon exercise of outstanding options and the exercise prices
of such options are subject to such adjustments as are appropriate to reflect
any stock dividend, stock split, share combination, exchange of shares,
recapitalization or increase or decrease in shares of Common Stock without
receipt of consideration of or by the Company. If we merge or consolidate,
transfer all or substantially all of our assets to another entity or dissolve
or
liquidate, then under certain circumstances a holder of an option will be
entitled to purchase the equivalent number of shares of stock, other securities,
cash or property that the option holder would have been entitled to receive
had
he or she exercised his or her option immediately prior to such event.
Notwithstanding these adjustment provisions, all stock options granted under
the
2007 Director Plan may be canceled by us upon a merger or consolidation of
the
company in which we are not the surviving or resulting corporation, or the
reorganization, dissolution or liquidation of the company, subject to each
optionee’s right to exercise his or her option as to the shares of Common Stock
covered by that option for a period of 30 days immediately preceeding the
effective date of such event. Upon the occurrence of an event requiring
adjustment of the exercise price or shares issuable upon exercise, we are
required to mail a copy of our computation of the adjustment to all optionees,
which will be binding on each optionee.
If
we
make a partial distribution of our assets in the nature of a partial liquidation
(except for certain cash dividends) then the exercise prices then in effect
with
respect to each outstanding stock option will be reduced in proportion to the
percentage reduction in the tangible book value of the shares of our Common
Stock as a result of such distribution.
Amendment
of the 2007 Director Plan. The
2007
Director Plan provides that the Board of Directors may from time to time
discontinue or amend the 2007 Director Plan without the consent of the
stockholders unless such discontinuance or amendment (i) materially increases
the benefits accruing to participants under the 2007 Director Plan, (ii)
materially increases the number of securities that may be issued under the
2007
Director Plan or (iii) materially modifies the requirements as to eligibility
for participation in the 2007 Director Plan. In addition, if an amendment would
adversely affect an outstanding stock option, the consent of the participant
holding that option must be obtained, unless the Board of Directors determines
that the application to outstanding options of an accounting standard in
accordance with any statement issued by the Financial Accounting Standards
Board
concerning the treatment of stock options would have a significant, adverse
effect on our financial statements. The Board of Directors may cancel and revoke
all outstanding stock options that are deemed to cause such adverse effect,
and
the holders of these options will not have any further rights to the options.
The provisions of the 2007 Director Plan governing the eligibility of
participants and the amount, timing and exercise price of options to be granted
under the 2007 Director Plan cannot be amended more than once every six months
other than to comport with changes in the Code, ERISA or rules
thereunder.
Certain
Federal Income Tax Aspects. The
granting of a non-qualified stock option plan will not result in federal income
tax consequences to either us or the optionee. Upon the exercise of a
non-qualified stock option, the optionee will recognize ordinary income in
an
amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares
on
the date of exercise and the exercise price, and we will be entitled to a
corresponding deduction.
For
purposes of determining gain or loss realized upon a subsequent sale or exchange
of such shares, the optionee’s tax basis will be the sum of the exercise price
paid and the amount of ordinary income, if any, recognized by the optionee
upon
the exercise of the option. Any gain or loss realized by an optionee on
disposition of such shares generally will be a long-term capital gain or loss
(if the shares are held as a capital asset for at least one year) and will
not
result in any tax deduction to us. Long-term capital gains are currently taxed
at a maximum rate of 20% and short-term capital gains are currently taxed as
ordinary income. Ordinary income is currently taxed at six rates, depending
upon
a taxpayer’s income level.
Withholding
of federal taxes at applicable rates may be required in connection with any
ordinary income realized by an optionee by reason of the exercise of stock
options granted pursuant to the 2007 Director Plan. We shall have the right
to
deduct from all amounts hereunder paid in cash or other form, any Federal,
state, or local taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such
payments.
Vote
Required. The
affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person or represented
by
proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter is required
to
adopt the 2007 Director Plan.
NEW
PLAN BENEFITS
The
following table provides information with respect to equity to be granted to
the
non-employee directors pursuant to the 2007 Director Plan, if it is approved
by
our stockholders.
2007
Director Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan
|
Name
and Position
|
Dollar
Value ($) (1)
|
Number
of units (1)
|
Wray
Thompson
Chairman
& Chief Executive Officer (2)
(4)
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Shannon
L. Greene
Chief
Financial Officer & Treasurer
(4)
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Ron
Morgan
President
& Chief Operating Officer (3)
(4)
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Robin
Morgan
Vice
President-Admin & Asst Secretary
(5)
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Executive
Group
|
-
|
-
|
Non-Executive
Director Group
|
$16,466
|
12,000
|
Non-Executive
Officer Employee Group
|
-
|
-
|
(1) If
the
2007 Director Plan is approved, each year beginning in 2007, each of our
non-employee directors shall receive 10-year options to acquire 3,000 shares
of
our common stock, up to a limit of 100,000 shares issuable under the plan.
The
amounts shown for the Non-Executive Director Group above assumes that options
to
purchase 3,000 shares were granted to each of our four non-employee directors
on
March 22, 2007.
(2)
Mr.
Thompson resigned as our CEO in December 2006. We
have
entered into a one year consulting agreement with Wray Thompson which began
effective January 1, 2007, pursuant to which we will pay Mr. Thompson $100,000
per year for his continued service as our Chairman of the Board. The consulting
agreement automatically renews for additional one year periods unless terminated
by Mr. Thompson or us.
(3)
Mr.
Morgan served as our President and COO in 2006. Mr. Morgan was elected our
CEO
effective on January 1, 2007.
(4)
Not
eligible for options under the 2007 Director Plan because of employee status
with us.
(5)
Not
eligible for options under the 2007 Director Plan because of employee and
non-director status with us.
EXISTING
BENEFIT PLANS
The
following table sets forth information regarding our equity compensation plans
(including individual compensation arrangements) that authorize the issuance
of
shares of our common stock. The information is aggregated in two categories:
plans previously approved by our stockholders and plans not approved by our
stockholders. The table includes information for officers, directors, employees
and non-employees. All information is as of December 31, 2006. The table below
excludes the 2007 Director Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan which is described
above.
Plan
Category
|
Column
(a)
Number
of Securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options,
warrants
and rights
|
Column
(b)
Weighted-average
exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and
rights
|
Column
(c)
Number
of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity
compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in Column
(a)
|
Equity
compensation plans approved by stockholders
|
296,200
|
$2.05
|
-
|
Equity
compensation plans not approved by stockholders (1)
|
98,300
|
3.65
|
-
|
TOTAL
|
561,000
|
$2.39
|
44,000
|
(1)
Warrants to acquire up to 100,000 shares of common stock at $3.10 per share
were
issued in conjunction with a consulting agreement to an unrelated entity in
February 2003. The warrants may be exercised at anytime until expiration on
February 12, 2008. Warrants to acquire up to 50,000 shares of common stock
at
$5.00 per share were issued in conjunction with a consulting
agreement to an unrelated entity in February 2004. The warrants may be exercised
at anytime until expiration on February 24, 2009. 51,700 of the 150,000 shares
underlying such warrants have been previously exercised.
OTHER
MATTERS
Solicitation
of Proxies
We
will
pay for the cost of soliciting proxies. Our directors, officers and employees
may solicit proxies. They will not be paid for soliciting the proxies but may
be
reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses related to the proxy solicitation. Proxies
may be solicited in person, by mail, by telephone, by telegram or other means
of
communication. We will make arrangements with custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries in order to forward proxy solicitation materials to beneficial
owners of common stock.
Stockholder
Proposals for 2007
If
you
wish to present a proposal for consideration at an annual meeting, you must
send
written notice of the proposal to our corporate secretary not less than ten
days
before such annual meeting. We have not received notice of any stockholder
proposals to be presented at this year’s meeting.
If
you
would like your proposal to be included in next year’s proxy statement, you must
submit it to our corporate secretary by no later than December 20, 2007. We
will
include your proposal in our next annual proxy statement if it is a proposal
that we would be required to include pursuant to the rules of the Securities
and
Exchange Commission. You may write to our corporate secretary at 3847 East
Loop
820 South, Fort Worth, Texas 76119 to present a proposal for
consideration.
If
a
stockholder raises a matter at the meeting that requires a stockholder vote,
the
person to whom you have given your proxy will use his or her discretion to
vote
on the matter on your behalf. According to our by-laws, any proposal properly
raised at the meeting by a stockholder will require the affirmative vote of
a
majority of the shares deemed present at the meeting, whether in person or
by
proxy.
Stockholder
Communications with Board
Stockholders
who wish to communicate with the Chairman or with the independent directors
as a
group may do so by writing to the corporate secretary at Tandy Leather Factory,
Inc., PO Box 50429, Fort Worth, Texas 76105-0429. The corporate secretary will
forward your communication to the independent directors or Chairman as requested
by the stockholder. All appropriate communications addressed to directors will
be reviewed by the corporate secretary. Because other appropriate avenues of
communication exist for matters that are not of stockholder interest, such
as
general business complaints or employee grievances, communications that do
not
relate to matters of stockholder interest will not be forwarded to the board.
The corporate secretary has the option, but not the obligation, to forward
these
other communications to appropriate channels within the company.
Householding
of Annual Meeting Materials
The
SEC
has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries such as brokers
to
satisfy delivery requirements for proxy statements with respect to two or more
stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement
addressed those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as
“householding”, potentially provides extra convenience for stockholders and cost
savings for companies. We and some brokers household proxy materials, delivering
a single proxy statement to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless
contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once
you have received notice from your broker or us that they or we will be
householding materials to your address, householding will continue until you
are
notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no
longer wish to participate in householding and would prefer to receive d a
separate Proxy Statement, or if you are receiving multiples copies of the Proxy
Statement and wish to receive only one, please notify your broker if your shares
are held in a brokerage account or us if you hold registered shares. You can
notify us by sending a written request addressed to Investor Relations
Department, Tandy Leather Factory, Inc., PO Box 50429, Fort Worth, Texas
76105-0429, by calling Investor Relations at 817-496-4414, or by sending an
e-mail to Investor Relations at sgreene@tandyleather.com.
We will
deliver promptly, upon written or oral request, a separate copy of the Proxy
Statement to a registered stockholder at a shared address to which a single
copy
of the document was delivered.
General
Information
A
COPY OF
FORM 10-K AS FILED WITH THE SEC WILL BE SENT TO ANY STOCKHOLDER WITHOUT CHARGE
UPON WRITTEN REQUEST ADDRESSED TO SHANNON L. GREENE, CFO, TANDY LEATHER FACTORY,
INC., PO BOX 50429, FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76105-0429.
Management
knows of no other business which may be properly brought before the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders. However if any other matters shall properly come before
such meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed Proxy
to
vote such Proxy in accordance with their best judgment on such
matters.
IT
IS
IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. THEREFORE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU
EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, YOU ARE URGED TO FILL IN, SIGN AND
RETURN THE PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, OR TO VOTE ELECTRONICALLY AS
DESCRIBED ON PAGE 1 OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
EXHIBIT
A
TANDY
LEATHER FACTORY, INC.
2007
DIRECTOR NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN
The
2007
Director Non-qualified Stock Option Plan of Tandy Leather Factory, Inc.
(hereinafter called the "Plan") was adopted by the Board of Directors of
Tandy
Leather Factory, Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the "Company),
EFFECTIVE AS OF March 22, 2007, subject to approval by the Company’s
stockholders at the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
ARTICLE
1
PURPOSE
The
purpose of the Plan is to attract and retain key outside directors of Tandy
Leather Factory, Inc. and to provide such persons with a proprietary interest
in
the Company through the granting of Non-qualified Stock Options that will:
(a)
|
increase
the interest of such persons in the Company's welfare;
|
(b)
|
furnish
an incentive to such persons to continue their services for the
Company;
and
|
(c)
|
provide
a means through which the Company may attract able persons as
directors.
|
ARTICLE
2
DEFINITIONS
For
the
purpose of the Plan, unless the context requires otherwise, the following
terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
2.1
"Board" means the board of directors of the Company.
2.2
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2.3
"Committee" means the committee appointed or designated by the Board to
administer the Plan in accordance with Article 3 of this Plan.
2.4
"Common Stock" means the common stock, $0.0024 par value, which the Company
is
currently authorized to issue or may in the future be authorized to issue.
2.5
"Company" means Tandy Leather Factory, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
2.6
"Date
of Grant" means the effective date on which a Stock Option is awarded to
an
outside director as set forth in the applicable Stock Option Agreement.
2.7
"Fair
Market Value" of a share of Common Stock means (i) the closing price per
share
on any stock exchange on which the Common Stock is traded, or (ii) the mean
between the closing or average (as the case may be) bid and asked prices
per
share of Common Stock on the over-the-counter market, whichever is applicable.
2.8
"Option Period" means the period during which a Stock Option may be exercised.
2.9
"Option Price" means the price which must be paid by a Participant upon exercise
of a Stock Option to purchase a share of Common Stock.
2.10
"Participant" shall mean an outside director of the Company to whom a Stock
Option is granted under this Plan.
2.11
"Plan" means this 2007 Director Non-qualified Stock Option Plan of Tandy
Leather
Factory, Inc., as amended from time to time.
2.12
"Retirement" means Termination of Service at or after the Company's normal
retirement age.
2.13
"Stock Option" means a non-qualified option to purchase Common Stock of the
Company granted under this Plan.
2.14
"Stock Option Agreement" means a written agreement between a Participant
and the
Company which sets out the terms of the grant of a Stock Option.
2.15
"Subsidiary" means any corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations
beginning with the Company if each of the corporations other than the last
corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50% or more of the
total
combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations
in the chain, and "Subsidiaries" means more than one of any such corporations.
2.16
"Termination of Service as a Director" occurs when a Participant who is an
outside director of the Company or any Subsidiary shall cease to serve as
a
director of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for any reason.
2.17
"Total and Permanent Disability" means total and permanent disability as
defined
in Section 22(e) of the Code.
ARTICLE
3
ADMINISTRATION
The
Plan
shall be administered by a committee appointed by the Board ("the Committee").
The Committee shall consist of not fewer than two persons. Any member of
the
Committee may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by resolution
of
the Board. Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the Committee may be
filled by appointment by the Board.
The
Committee shall select one of its members to act as its Chairman and shall
make
such rules and regulations for its operation as it deems appropriate. A majority
of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the act of a majority of
the
members of the Committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present
shall
be the act of the Committee. The Committee, in its discretion, shall (i)
interpret the Plan, (ii) prescribe, amend, and rescind any rules and regulations
necessary or appropriate for the administration of the Plan, and (iii) make
such
other determination and take such other action as it deems necessary or
advisable in the administration of the Plan. Any interpretation, determination,
or other action made or taken by the Committee shall be final, binding, and
conclusive on all interested parties.
ARTICLE
4
ELIGIBILITY:
GRANT OF OPTIONS
The
Committee must grant Stock Options as follows: (i) on March 22, 2008, the
Committee would grant each Participant a Stock Option of 5,000 shares; and
(ii)
on March 22 of each calendar year thereafter, a Stock Option for 3,000 shares
of
Common Stock shall be granted to each individual who is serving as an outside
director of the Company or any Subsidiary on that date; and (iii) if an
individual first becomes an outside director of the Company or any Subsidiary
within six months after March 22 of a year, such individual shall be granted
a
Stock Option for 3,000 shares of Common Stock immediately upon becoming an
outside director. The Committee shall not grant Stock Options under any other
circumstances.
The
grant
of a Stock Option shall be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement setting
forth
the total number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Option, the
Option Price, the maximum term of the Stock Option, the Date of Grant, and
such
other terms and provisions as are approved by the Committee, but not
inconsistent with the Plan. The Company shall execute a Stock Option Agreement
with a Participant after the issuance of a Stock Option. Any Stock Option
granted pursuant to this Plan must be granted within ten (10) years of the
date
of adoption of this Plan. The Plan shall be submitted to the Company's
stockholders for approval. The Committee may grant Stock Options under the
Plan
prior to the time of stockholder approval; however, notwithstanding anything
to
the contrary herein this Plan or in any Stock Option Agreement, no Stock
Option
may be exercised under the Plan prior to the time of stockholder approval.
ARTICLE
5
SHARES
SUBJECT TO PLAN
The
Committee may not grant Stock Options under the Plan for more than 100,000
shares of Common Stock of the Company (as may be adjusted in accordance with
Articles 12 and 13 hereof), all of which are designated as non-qualified
stock
options. Shares of Common Stock to be optioned and sold may be made available
from either authorized but unissued Common Stock or Common Stock held by
the
Company in its treasury. Shares of Common Stock previously subject to Stock
Options which are forfeited, terminated, or settled in cash in lieu of Common
Stock, or expired unexercised, shall immediately become available Stock Options
under the Plan.
During
the term of this Plan, the Company will at all times reserve and keep available
the number of shares of Common Stock that shall be sufficient to satisfy
the
requirements of this Plan.
ARTICLE
6
OPTION
PRICE
The
Option Price for any share of Common Stock which may be purchased under a
Stock
Option shall be One Hundred Percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the
share
on the Date of Grant.
ARTICLE
7
OPTION
PERIOD; FORFEITURE
7.1
Option
Period. A Stock Option may be exercised in whole or in part at
any time during its
term.
However, in no event may a Stock Option be exercised within six (6) months
after
its Date of Grant. The Option Period for a Stock Option may be reduced or
terminated upon Termination of Service as a Director in accordance with Article
7. No Stock Option granted under the Plan may be exercised at any time after
the
end of its Option Period. Each Stock Option will terminate at the first of
the
following to occur:
|
(a)
|
5
p.m. on the tenth anniversary of the Date of
Grant;
|
|
(b)
|
5
p.m. on the date which is twelve (12) months following the Participant's
Termination of Service as a Director due to death or Total and
Permanent
Disability;
|
|
(c)
|
5
p.m. on the date which is three (3) months following the Participant's
Termination of Service as a Director due to Retirement, except
as provided
in Section 8.2 below; or
|
|
(d)
|
5
p.m. on the 30th day after the day of any other Termination of
Service as
a Director, except as provided in Section 8.3 below.
|
7.2
Forfeiture. In
the
event of a Participant's Termination of Service as a Director other than
as a
result of death, Retirement, or Total and Permanent Disability, the unexercised
portion of the Stock Option previously granted to such Participant shall
terminate and be forfeited as of 5 p.m. on the 30th day after the day of
the
termination; provided, however, that if such termination occurs after the
date
on which this Plan is approved by the Board of Directors but before it is
approved by the stockholders of the Company, such 30-day period shall begin
to
run on the effective date of such stockholder approval rather than on the
date
of termination.
ARTICLE
8
TERMINATION
OF SERVICE AS A DIRECTOR
In
the
event of Termination of Service as a Director of a Participant, the Option
Period for any Stock Option of the Participant shall be amended in accordance
with this Article 8 and such Stock Option may only be exercised as follows:
8.1
Death. In
the
event of the Participant's death while serving as a non-employee director,
his
Stock Option may be exercised for a period of twelve (12) months after the
Participant's death or until expiration of the original Option Period (if
sooner); such Stock Option may be exercised by the Participant's estate or
personal representative, or by the person who acquired the right to exercise
the
Stock Option by bequest or inheritance or by reason of the Participant's
death.
8.2
Disability or Retirement. Upon
the
Termination of the Participant's Service as a Director by reason of Total
and
Permanent Disability, the Participant or his guardian may exercise such
Participant's Stock Option within twelve (12) months after the date of such
Termination of Service as a Director. Upon the Termination of the Participant's
Service as a Director by reason of Retirement, the Participant may exercise
such
Participant's Stock Option within three (3) months after his Termination
of
Service as a Director; provided, however, that if such termination occurs
after
the date on which this Plan is approved by the Board of Directors but before
it
is approved by the stockholders of the Company, such three month period shall
begin to run on the effective date of such stockholder approval rather than
on
the date of termination.
8.3
Other Termination. Upon
the
Termination of the Participant's Service as a Director for any reason other
than
as a result of death, Retirement, or Total and Permanent Disability, the
Participant may, before 5 p.m. on the 30th day after the day of such Termination
of Service as a Director, exercise any Stock Options to the extent such Stock
Options were exercisable at the date of such Termination of Service as a
Director; provided, however, that if such termination occurs after the date
on
which this Plan is approved by the Board of Directors but before it is approved
by the stockholders of the Company, such 30-day period shall begin to run
on the
effective date of such stockholder approval rather than on the date of
termination.
ARTICLE
9
EXERCISE
OF OPTION
Stock
Options may be exercised during the Option Period, subject to limitations
and
restrictions set forth in Article 8. Stock Options may be exercised at such
times and in such amounts as provided in this Plan and the applicable Stock
Option Agreements, subject to the terms, conditions, and restrictions of
the
Plan.
In
no
event may a Stock Option be exercised or shares of Common Stock be issued
pursuant to a Stock Option if a necessary listing of the shares on a stock
exchange or any registration under state or federal securities laws required
under the circumstances has not been accomplished. No Stock Option may be
exercised for a fractional share of Stock. The granting of a Stock Option
shall
impose no obligation upon the Participant to exercise that Stock Option.
Subject
to such administrative regulations as the Committee may from time to time
adopt,
a Stock Option may be exercised by the delivery of written notice to the
Committee setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock with respect
to
which the Stock Option is to be exercised and the date of exercise thereof
(the
"Exercise Date") which shall be at least three (3) days after giving such
notice
unless an earlier time shall have been mutually agreed upon. On the Exercise
Date, the Participant shall deliver to the Company consideration with a value
equal to the total Option Price of the shares of Common Stock to be purchased,
payable as follows: (a) cash, certified check, bank draft, or money order
payable to the order of the Company, (b) Common Stock, valued at its Fair
Market
Value on the date of exercise, and/or (c) any other form of payment which
is
acceptable to the Committee.
Upon
payment of all amounts due from the Participant, the Company shall cause
certificates for the Common Stock then being purchased to be delivered to
the
Participant (or the person exercising the Participant's Stock Option in the
event of his death) at its principal business office within ten (10) business
days after the Exercise Date. The obligation of the Company to deliver shares
of
Common Stock shall, however, be subject to the condition that if at any time
the
Committee shall determine in its discretion that the listing, registration,
or
qualification of the Stock Option or the Common Stock upon any securities
exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of
any
governmental regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of,
or in
connection with, the Stock Option or the issuance or purchase of shares of
Common Stock thereunder, the Stock Option may not be exercised in whole or
in
part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent, or approval
shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable
to
the Committee.
If
the
Participant fails to pay for any of the Common Stock specified in such notice
or
fails to accept delivery thereof, the Participant's right to purchase such
Common Stock may be terminated by the Company.
ARTICLE
10
AMENDMENT
OR DISCONTINUANCE
The
Plan
may be amended or discontinued by the Board without the approval of the
stockholders of the Company unless stockholder approval is required under
the
terms of the Plan or by any stock exchange on which the shares of Common
Stock
to be issued upon exercise of the Stock Options are listed. Any amendment
to the
Plan shall be approved by stockholders if the amendment would:
(a)
materially increase the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan;
(b)
materially increase the number of securities which may be issued under the
Plan;
or
(c)
materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in
the
Plan.
In
addition, no amendment may adversely affect an outstanding Stock Option without
the consent of the Participant; provided,
however, that
if
the Board after consulting with the management of the Company determines
that
application of an accounting standard in compliance with any statement issued
by
the Financial Accounting Standards Board concerning the treatment of stock
options would have a significant, adverse effect on the Company's financial
statements because of the fact that Stock Options granted before the issuance
of
such a statement are then outstanding, then the Board in its absolute discretion
may cancel and revoke all outstanding Stock Options to which such adverse
effect
is attributed and the holders of those Stock Options shall have no further
rights in respect thereof. Such cancellation and revocation shall be effective
upon written notice by the Board to the holders of such Stock Options. Articles
4 and 6 shall not be amended more than once every six months, other than
to
comport with changes in the Code, the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of
1974, or the rules thereunder.
ARTICLE
11
TERM
The
Plan
shall be effective from the date that this Plan is approved by the Board.
Unless
sooner terminated by action of the Board, the Plan will terminate on March
22,
2017, but Stock Options granted before the date will continue to be effective
in
accordance with their terms and conditions.
ARTICLE
12
CAPITAL
ADJUSTMENTS
If
at any
time while the Plan is in effect or unexercised Stock Options are outstanding
there shall be any increase or decrease in the number of issued and outstanding
shares of Common Stock resulting from (1) the declaration or payment of a
stock
dividend, (2) any recapitalization resulting in a stock split-up, combination,
or exchange of shares of Common Stock, or (3) other increase or decrease
in such
shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company,
except any such increase or decrease in the number of issued and outstanding
shares of Common Stock into which shares of Senior Cumulative Convertible
Preferred stock, $0.10 par value, of the Company may be converted, then and
in
such event: (i)
An
appropriate adjustment shall be made in the maximum number of shares of Common
Stock then subject to being awarded under the Plan, to the end that the same
proportion of the Company's issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock
shall
continue to be subject to being so awarded; and (ii) Appropriate adjustments
shall be made in the number of shares of Common Stock and the Option Price
thereof then subject to purchase pursuant to each such Stock Option previously
granted and unexercised, to the end that the same proportion of the Company's
issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock in each such instance shall
remain
subject to purchase at the same aggregate Option Price. Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, the issuance by the Company of shares of its capital
stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of capital stock
of
any class, either in connection with direct sale or upon the exercise of
rights
or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations
of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, shall not
affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to,
the
number of or Option Price of shares of Common Stock then subject to outstanding
Stock Options granted under the Plan.
Upon
the
occurrence of each event requiring an adjustment of the Option Price or the
number of shares of Common Stock purchasable pursuant to Stock Options granted
pursuant to the terms of this Plan, the Company shall mail to each Participant
its computation of such adjustment which shall be conclusive and shall be
binding upon each such Participant.
ARTICLE
13
RECAPITALIZATION.
MERGER AND CONSOLIDATION
The
existence of this Plan and Stock Options granted hereunder shall not affect
in
any way the right or power of the Company or its stockholders to make or
authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations, or
other
changes in the Company's capital structure and its business, or any merger
or
consolidation of the Company, or any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred
or
preference stocks ranking prior to or otherwise affecting the Common stock
or
the rights thereof (or any rights, options, or warrants to purchase same),
or
the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of
all or
any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding,
whether of a similar character or otherwise.
Subject
to any required action by the stockholders, if the Company shall be the
surviving or resulting corporation in any merger or consolidation, any Stock
Option granted hereunder shall pertain to and apply to the securities or
rights
(including cash, property, or assets) to which a holder of number of shares
of
Common Stock subject to the Stock Option would have been entitled.
In
the
event of any merger or consolidation pursuant to which the Company is not
the
surviving or resulting corporation, there shall be substituted for each share
of
Common Stock subject to the unexercised portions of such outstanding Stock
Options, that number of shares of each class of stock or other securities
or
that amount of cash, property, or assets of the surviving or consolidated
company which were distributed or distributable to the stockholders of the
Company in respect to each share of Common Stock held by them, such outstanding
Stock Options to be thereafter exercisable for such stock, securities, cash,
or
property in accordance with their terms. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however,
all such Stock Options may be canceled by the Company as of the effective
date
of any such reorganization, merger, consolidation, or any dissolution or
liquidation of the Company by giving notice to each holder thereof or his
personal representative of its intention to do so and by permitting the purchase
during the thirty (30) day period next preceding such effective date of all
of
the shares of Common Stock subject to such outstanding Stock Options.
Upon
the
occurrence of each event requiring an adjustment of the Option Price or the
number of shares of Common Stock purchasable pursuant to Stock Options granted
pursuant to the terms of this Plan, the Company shall mail to each Participant
its computation of such adjustment which shall be conclusive and shall be
binding upon each such Participant.
ARTICLE
14
LIQUIDATION
OR DISSOLUTION
In
case
the Company shall, at any time while any Stock Option under this Plan shall
be
in force and remain unexpired, (i) sell all or substantially all of its
property, or (ii) dissolve, liquidate, or wind up its affairs, then each
Participant may thereafter receive upon exercise hereof (in lieu of each
share
of Common Stock of the Company which such Participant would have been entitled
to receive) the same kind and amount of any securities or assets as may be
issuable, distributable, or payable upon any such sale, dissolution,
liquidation, or winding up with respect to each share of Common Stock of
the
Company. If the Company shall, at any time prior to the expiration of any
Stock
Option, make any partial distribution of its assets, in the nature of a partial
liquidation, whether payable in cash or in kind (but excluding the distribution
of a cash dividend payable out of earned surplus and designated as such)
then in
such event the prices then in effect with respect to each Stock Option shall
be
reduced, on the payment date of such distribution, in proportion to the
percentage reduction in the tangible book value of the shares of the Company's
Common Stock (determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles) resulting by reason of such distribution.
ARTICLE
15
OPTIONS
IN SUBSTITUTION FOR
STOCK
OPTIONS GRANTED BY OTHER CORPORATIONS
Stock
Options may be granted under the Plan from time to time in substitution for
such
options held by directors of a corporation who become or are about to become
outside Directors of the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of a merger
or
consolidation of the employing corporation with the Company or the acquisition
by the Company of stock of the employing corporation. The terms and conditions
of the substitute options so granted may vary from the terms and conditions
set
forth in this Plan to such extent as the Board at the time of grant may deem
appropriate to conform, in whole or in part, to the provisions of the options
in
substitution for which they are granted.
ARTICLE
16
MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
16.1
Investment Intent. The
Company may require that there be presented to and filed with it by any
Participant under the Plan, such evidence as it may deem necessary to establish
that the options granted or the shares of Common Stock to be purchased or
transferred are being acquired for investment and not with a view to their
distribution.
16.2
No Employment Relationship. The
Participant is not an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary. Nothing
herein
shall be construed to create an employer-employee relationship between the
Company and the Participant.
16.3
Indemnification of Board and Committee. No
member
of the Board or the Committee, nor any officer or employee of the Company
acting
on behalf of the Board or the Committee, shall be personally liable for any
action, determination, or interpretation taken or made in good faith with
respect to the Plan, and all members of the Board or the Committee and each
and
any officer or employee of the Company acting on their behalf shall, to the
extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company
in
respect of any such action, determination, or interpretation.
16.4
Effect of the Plan. Neither
the adoption of this Plan nor any action of the Board or the Committee shall
be
deemed to give any person any right to be granted a Stock Option to purchase
Common Stock of the Company or any other rights except as may be evidenced
by a
Stock Option Agreement, or any amendment thereto, duly authorized by the
Committee and executed on behalf of the Company, and then only to the extent
and
upon the terms and conditions expressly set forth therein.
16.5
Compliance With Other Laws and Regulations. Notwithstanding
anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required
to
sell or issue shares of Common Stock under any Stock Option if the issuance
thereof would constitute a violation by the Participant or the Company of
any
provisions of any law or regulation of any governmental authority or any
national securities exchange or other forum in which shares of Common Stock
are
traded (including Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934); and,
as a
condition of any sale or issuance of shares of Common Stock under a Stock
Option, the Committee may require such agreements or undertakings, if any,
as
the Committee may deem necessary or advisable to assure compliance with any
such
law or regulation. The Plan, the grant and exercise of Stock Options hereunder,
and the obligation of the Company to sell and deliver shares of Common Stock,
shall be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations
and to such approvals by any government or regulatory agency as may be required.
16.6
Tax Requirements. The
Company shall have the right to deduct from all amounts hereunder paid in
cash
or other form, any Federal, state, or local taxes required by law to be withheld
with respect to such payments. The Participant receiving shares of Common
Stock
issued upon exercise of any Stock Option shall be required to pay the Company
the amount of any taxes which the Company is required to withhold with respect
to such shares of Common Stock. Such payments shall be required to be made
prior
to the delivery of any certificate representing such shares of Common Stock.
Such payment may be made in cash or by check.
16.7
Non-Assignability. Without
the prior written consent of the Committee, a Stock Option granted to a
Participant may not be transferred or assigned other than by will or by the
laws
of descent and distribution or pursuant to the terms of a qualified domestic
relations order as defined in Code Section 411(a)(13). If the Participant
attempts to alienate, assign, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of
his
Stock Option or any right thereunder, except as provided for in this Plan
or the
Stock Option Agreement, or in the event of any levy, attachment, execution,
or
similar process upon the right or interest conferred by this Plan or the
Stock
Option Agreement, the Committee may terminate the Participant's Stock Option
by
notice to him, and it shall thereupon become null and void.
16.8
Use of Proceeds. Proceeds
from the sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Stock Options granted
under
this Plan shall constitute general funds of the Company.
16.9
Legend. Each
certificate representing shares of Common Stock issued to a Participant upon
exercise of a Stock Option shall bear the following legend, or a similar
legend
deemed by the Company to constitute an appropriate notice of the provisions
hereof and the applicable security laws (any such certificate not having
such
legend shall be surrendered upon demand by the Company and so endorsed):
On
the
face of the certificate:
"Transfer
of this stock is restricted in accordance with conditions printed on the
reverse
of this certificate."
On
the
reverse:
"The
shares of stock evidenced by this certificate are subject to and transferrable
only in accordance with that 2007 Director Non-qualified Stock Option Plan
of
Tandy Leather Factory, Inc., dated as of March 22, 2007, as amended from
time to
time, a copy of which is on file at the principal office of the Company in
Fort
Worth, Texas. No transfer or pledge of the shares evidenced hereby may be
made
except in accordance with and subject to the provisions of said Plan. By
acceptance of this certificate, any holder, transferee or pledge hereof agrees
to be bound by all of the provisions of said Plan."
Insert
the following legend on the certificate if the shares were not issued in
a
transaction registered under the applicable federal and state securities
laws:
"Shares
of stock represented by this certificate have been acquired by the holder
for
investment and not for resale, transfer or distribution, have been issued
pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of applicable state
and federal securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold or
transferred other than pursuant to effective registration under such laws,
or in
transactions otherwise in compliance with such laws, and upon evidence
satisfactory to the Company of compliance with such laws, as to which the
Company may rely upon an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company."
A
copy of
this Plan shall be kept on file in the principal office of the Company in
Fort
Worth,
Texas.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed as
of
March 22, 2007, by its Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and Secretary
pursuant to prior action taken by the Board.
TANDY
LEATHER FACTORY, INC.
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By:
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/s/
Shannon L. Greene
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Shannon
L. Greene
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Attest:
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Chief
Financial Officer & Treasurer
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/s/
William M. Warren
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William
M. Warren
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Secretary
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EXHIBIT
B
STOCK
OPTION AGREEMENT
2007
DIRECTOR NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN
OF
TANDY LEATHER FACTORY. INC.
1.
Grant
of Option.
Pursuant
to the 2007 Director Non-qualified Stock Option Plan of Tandy Leather Factory,
Inc. (the "Plan") for directors of Tandy Leather Factory, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company") and its Subsidiaries, the Company grants to
_______________________________________________
(Name of Participant)
an
option
to purchase from the Company a total of _____ full shares ("Optioned Shares")
of
Common Stock ("Common Stock") of the Company at $______ per share (being
the
fair market value per share of the Common Stock on this Date of Grant), in
the
amounts, during the periods, and upon the terms and conditions set forth
in this
Agreement. The Date of Grant of this Stock Option is __________, 20_.
2.
Subject
to Plan.
This
Stock Option and its exercise are subject to the terms and conditions of
the
Plan, but the terms of the Plan shall not be considered an enlargement of
any
benefits under this Agreement. The capitalized terms used herein that are
defined in the Plan shall have the same meanings assigned to them in the
Plan.
In addition, this Stock Option is subject to any rules promulgated pursuant
to
the Plan by the Board or the Committee and communicated to the Participant
in
writing.
3.
Time
of Exercise.
Except
as specifically provided in this Agreement and subject to certain restrictions
and conditions set forth in the Plan, this Stock Option is exercisable in
whole
or in part at any time during its term.
4.
Term;
Forfeiture.
Subject
to Articles 7 and 8 of the Plan, this Stock Option, and all unexercised Optioned
Shares granted to the Participant hereunder, will terminate and be forfeited
at
the first of the following to occur:
(a)
5
p.m. on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant;
(b)
5
p.m. on the date which is twelve (12) months following the Participant's
Termination of Service as a Director due to death or Total and Permanent
Disability;
(c)
5
p.m. on the date which is three (3) months following the Participant's
Termination of Service as a Director due to retirement, except as provided
in
Section 8.2 of the Plan; or
(d)
5
p.m. on the 30th day after the day of any other Termination of Service as
a
Director, except as provided in Section 8.3 of the Plan.
5.
Who
May Exercise.
Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth in Sections 3 and 4 above, during the
lifetime of the Participant, this Stock Option may be exercised only by the
Participant, or by the Participant's guardian. If the Participant's Service
as a
Director terminates as a result of death or Total and Permanent Disability
prior
to the termination date specified in Section 4(a) hereof and the Participant
has
not exercised this Stock Option in full as of the date of death or Total
and
Permanent Disability, the following persons may exercise this Stock Option
on
behalf of the Participant at any time prior to the earlier of the dates
specified in Sections 4(a) or (b) hereof: (i) if the Participant is disabled,
the guardian of the Participant; or (ii) if the Participant dies, the personal
representative of his estate, or the person who acquired the right to exercise
this Stock Option by bequest or inheritance or by reason of the death of
the
Participant; provided that this Stock Option shall remain subject to the
other
terms of this Agreement, the Plan, and applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
6.
Restrictions.
This
Stock Option may be exercised only with respect to full shares, and no
fractional share of stock shall be issued.
7.
Manner
of Exercise.
Subject
to such administrative regulations as the Board or the Committee may from
time
to time adopt, this Stock Option may be exercised by the delivery of written
notice to the Committee setting forth the number of shares with respect to
which
the Stock Option is to be exercised and the date of exercise thereof (the
"Exercise Date") which shall be at least three (3) days after giving such
notice
unless an earlier time shall have been mutually agreed upon. On the Exercise
Date, the Participant shall deliver to the Company consideration with a value
equal to the total Option Price of the shares to be purchased, payable as
follows: (a) cash, certified check, bank draft, or money order payable to
the
order of the Company, and/or (b) any other form of payment which is acceptable
to the Committee.
Upon
payment of all amounts due from the Participant, the Company shall cause
certificates for the Optioned Shares then being purchased to be delivered
to the
Participant (or the person exercising the Participant's Stock Option in the
event of his death) at its principal business office within ten (10) business
days after the Exercise Date. The obligation of the Company to deliver shares
shall, however, be subject to the condition that if at any time the Committee
shall determine in its discretion that the listing, registration, or
qualification of the Stock Option or the Optioned Shares upon any securities
exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of
any
governmental regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of,
or in
connection with, the Stock Option or the issuance or purchase of shares
thereunder, the Stock Option may not be exercised in whole or in part unless
such listing, registration, qualification, consent, or approval shall have
been
effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.
If
the
Participant fails to pay for any of the Optioned Shares specified in such
notice
or fails to accept delivery thereof, the Participant's right to purchase
such
Optioned Shares may be terminated by the Company.
8.
Non-Assignability.
Except
as provided under the Plan, this Stock Option is not assignable or transferable
by the Participant except (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution
or (ii) pursuant to the terms of a qualified domestic relations order (as
defined in Section 411 (a) (13) of the Code or Section 206(d) (3) of the
Employee Retirement Income Act of 1974, as amended).
9.
Rights
as Stockholder.
The
Participant will have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares
covered by this Stock Option until the issuance of a certificate or certificates
to the Participant for the shares. Except as otherwise provided in Section
10
hereof, no adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights for which
the
record date is prior to the issuance of such certificate or certificates.
10.
Adjustment
of Number of Shares and Related Matters.
The
number of shares of Common Stock covered by this Stock Option, and the Option
Price thereof, shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with Article
12 of
the Plan.
11.
Participant's
Representations.
Notwithstanding any of the provisions hereof, the Participant hereby agrees
that
he will not exercise the Stock Option granted hereby, and that the Company
will
not be obligated to issue any shares to the Participant hereunder, if the
exercise thereof or the issuance of such shares shall constitute a violation
by
the Participant or the Company of any provision of any law or regulation
of any
governmental authority. Any determination in this connection by the Board
shall
be final, binding, and conclusive. The obligations of the Company and the
rights
of the Participant are subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
Participant further represents that Participant will not exercise any Stock
Option granted to Participant under this Agreement during the six (6) months
following the Date of Grant.
12.
Investment Representation.
Unless
the Common Stock is issued to him in a transaction registered under applicable
federal and state securities laws, by his or her execution hereof, the
Participant represents and warrants to the Company that all Common Stock
which
may be purchased hereunder will be acquired by the Participant for investment
purposes for his or her own account and not with any intent for resale or
distribution in violation of federal or state securities laws. Unless the
Common
Stock is issued to him in a transaction registered under the applicable federal
and state securities laws, all certificates issued with respect to the Common
Stock shall bear an appropriate restrictive investment legend.
13.
Participant's
Acknowledgments.
The
Participant acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan, which is annexed
hereto,
and represents that he or she is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof,
and hereby accepts this Option subject to all the terms and provisions thereof.
The Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive, and final
all
decisions or interpretations of the Board, as that term is defined in the
Plan,
upon any questions arising under the Plan or this Agreement.
14.
Law
Governing.
This
Agreement shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with
the
laws of the state of Texas (excluding any conflicts of law rule or principle
of
Texas law that might refer the governance, construction, or interpretation
of
this agreement to the laws of another state).
15.
No
Employment Relationship.
The
Participant is not an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Nothing herein shall be construed to create an employer-employee relationship
between the Company and the Participant.
16.
Legal
Construction.
In the
event that any one or more of the terms, provisions, or agreements that are
contained in this Agreement shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction
to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the
invalid, illegal, or unenforceable term, provision, or agreement shall not
affect any other term, provision, or agreement that is contained in this
Agreement and this Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if the
invalid, illegal, or unenforceable term, provision, or agreement had never
been
contained herein.
17.
Covenants and Agreements as Independent Agreements.
Each of
the covenants and agreements that is set forth in this Agreement shall be
construed as a covenant and agreement independent of any other provision
of this
Agreement. The existence of any claim or cause of action of the Participant
against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall
not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of the covenants
and
agreements that are set forth in this Agreement.
18.
Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement together with the Plan supersede any and all other prior
understandings and agreements, either oral or in writing, between the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof and constitute the sole and only
agreements between the parties with respect to the said subject matter. All
prior negotiations and agreements between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof are merged into this Agreement. Each party to this
Agreement acknowledges that no representations, inducements, promises, or
agreements, orally or otherwise, have been made by any party or by anyone
acting
on behalf of any party, which are not embodied in this Agreement or the Plan
and
that any agreement, statement or promise that is not contained in this Agreement
or the Plan shall not be valid or binding or of any force or effect.
19.
Parties
Bound.
The
terms, provisions, representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements
that
are contained in this Agreement shall apply to, be binding upon, and inure
to
the benefit of the parties and their respective heirs, executors,
administrators, legal representatives, and permitted successors and assigns.
20.
Modification.
No
change or modification of this Agreement shall be valid or binding upon the
parties unless the change or modification is in writing and signed by the
parties. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Company may amend the
Plan
or revoke this Stock Option to the extent permitted in the Plan.
21.
Headings.
The
headings that are used in this Agreement are used for reference and convenience
purposes only and do not constitute substantive matters to be considered
in
construing the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
22.
Gender
and Number.
Words
of any gender used in this Agreement shall be held and construed to include
any
other gender, and words in the singular number shall be held to include the
plural, and vice versa, unless the context requires otherwise.
23.
Notice.
Any
notice required or permitted to be delivered hereunder shall be deemed to
be
delivered only when actually received by the Company or by the Participant,
as
the case may be, at the addresses set forth below, or at such other addresses
as
they have theretofore specified by written notice delivered in accordance
herewith:
(A)
|
Notice
to the Company shall be addressed and delivered as:
|
|
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TANDY
LEATHER FACTORY, INC.
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3847
EAST LOOP 820 SOUTH
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FORT
WORTH, TEXAS 76119
|
|
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ATTENTION:
SHANNON GREENE
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CHIEF
FINANCIAL OFFICER
|
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(B)
|
Notice
to the Participant shall be addressed and delivered as
follows:
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by
its
duly authorized officer, and the Participant, to evidence his or her consent
and
approval of all the terms hereof, has duly executed this Agreement, as
of the
date specified in Section 1 hereof.
|
TANDY
LEATHER FACTORY, INC.
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BY:
______________________________
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TITLE:
___________________________
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Participant:
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__________________________________
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PROXY
CARD
TANDY
LEATHER FACTORY, INC.
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR
THE ANNUAL MEETING ON MAY 22, 2007
The
undersigned hereby appoint(s) Robin L. Morgan and William M. Warren, and
each of
them, proxies or proxy of the undersigned with full power of substitution
and
revocation, to act and vote all of the undersigned's shares of Tandy Leather
Factory, Inc. common stock, with all the powers that the undersigned would
possess if personally present, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
Tandy
Leather Factory, Inc. at Fort Worth, Texas on May 22, 2007, or any resumption
of
the Annual Meeting after any adjournment thereof, as indicated on this
proxy,
and in their discretion on any other matters which may properly come before
the
meeting. If no directions are given, this proxy will be voted “FOR” Items 1 and
2.
TO
VOTE
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ RECOMMMENDATIONS,
JUST
SIGN
ON THE REVERSE SIDE - NO BOXES NEED TO BE CHECKED.
CONTINUED
AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE
-
- - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR:
1.
Election of seven directors.
NOMINEES:
Shannon L. Greene, T. Field Lange, Joseph
R.
Mannes, L. Edward Martin III, Michael
A. Nery, Ronald C. Morgan, Wray Thompson
[
] FOR ALL NOMINEES
[
] WITHHELD FROM ALL NOMINEES
________________________________________________________________________________________________
For
all
nominees except those written on line above
2.
Proposal to ratify the 2007 Director Non-Qualified
Stock Options Plan of Tandy Leather Factory, Inc.
[
] FOR [
] AGAINST [
] ABSTAIN
Mark
here for
address
change [ ]
and
note at
left
Please
sign exactly as your name appears on this Proxy. Date and promptly return
this
Proxy in the enclosed envelope.
Signature:
_________________________________ Signature:
__________________________________
Date:
__________________________, 2007 Date:
______________________________, 2007