Thor Industries, Inc. DEF 14A
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment
No. )
Filed by the
Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the
Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
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o Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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o Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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þ Definitive
Proxy Statement
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o Definitive
Additional Materials
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o Soliciting
Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
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Thor Industries, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if
other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required.
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act
Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1) |
Title of each class of securities to which
transaction applies:
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(2) |
Aggregate number of securities to which
transaction applies:
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(3) |
Per unit price or other underlying value of
transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11
(set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and
state how it was determined):
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(4) |
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as
provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing
for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the
previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or
Schedule and the date of its filing.
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(1) |
Amount Previously Paid:
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(2) |
Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
THOR INDUSTRIES, INC.
419 West Pike Street Jackson Center, Ohio 45334-0629
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
December 6, 2005
The 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Thor Industries, Inc. (the Company) will be held
at 230 Park Avenue, Suite 618, New York, N.Y., on December 6, 2005, at 1:00 p.m., local time,
for the purpose of considering and voting upon the following:
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the election of two directors; |
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such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment
of the meeting. |
Stockholders of record at the close of business on October 18, 2005 will be entitled to notice and
to vote at the meeting. A list of such stockholders will be available for examination by any
stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting, during normal business hours, at the office of
the Company for a period of ten days prior to the meeting.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE
COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Walter L. Bennett
Secretary
October 28, 2005
1
THOR INDUSTRIES, INC.
419 West Pike Street Jackson Center, Ohio 45334-0629
Proxy Statement
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board
of Directors of Thor Industries, Inc. (the Company) for use at the 2005 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders to be held at 230 Park Avenue, Suite 618, New York City, on December 6, 2005, at 1:00
p.m., local time (the Meeting), and any adjournment thereof. The cost of such solicitation is
being borne by the Company. This proxy statement and the accompanying form of proxy are being sent
to stockholders on November 4, 2005.
Representatives of Deloitte & Touche, LLP, the Companys principal independent accountants, will be
present at the Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and
will be available to respond to any stockholder questions that may be asked.
Voting by Stockholders
A proxy in the form accompanying this proxy statement that is properly executed, duly returned
to the Company and not revoked prior to the Meeting will be voted in accordance with the
instructions contained therein. If no instructions are given with respect to the proposals to be
voted upon, proxies will be voted in favor of such proposals. Each proxy may be revoked by a
stockholder at any time until exercised by giving written notice to the Secretary of the Company,
by voting in person at the Meeting, or by submitting a later-dated proxy.
The Common Stock of the Company constitutes its only outstanding security entitled to vote on the
matters to be voted upon at this meeting. Each share of Common Stock entitles the holder to one
vote. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on October 18, 2005 are entitled to
notice of and to vote at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. As of that date, 56,679,483 shares
of Common Stock were outstanding. The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority
of all the issued and outstanding Common Stock is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Meeting.
Abstentions and broker non-votes (i.e., shares held by a broker for its customers that are not
voted because the broker does not receive instructions from the customer or because the broker does
not have discretionary voting power with respect to the item under consideration) will be counted
as present for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of
business.
In accordance with the By-laws of the Company and the Delaware General Corporation Law, a plurality
of the votes duly cast is required for the election of directors. Under the Delaware General
Corporation Law, although abstentions and broker non-votes are deemed to be present for the purpose
of determining whether a quorum is present at a meeting, abstentions and broker non-votes are not
deemed to be votes duly cast. As a result, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be included
in the tabulation of voting results with respect to Proposal #1, and therefore will have no impact
on the voting on such proposal.
A copy of the Companys Annual Report for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005 (fiscal 2005) is
being sent to each stockholder of record. The Annual Report is not to be considered a part of this
proxy soliciting material.
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Proposal #1
Election of Directors
The Companys By-laws provide that the Board of Directors may set the number of directors at
no less than one (1) and no more than fifteen (15). The Board of Directors of the Company currently
consists of eight directors who are divided into three classes. H. Coleman Davis III, Peter B.
Orthwein and William C. Tomson currently serve as Class B directors; their terms expire in 2007.
Wade F. B. Thompson and Jan H. Suwinski currently serve as Class A Directors; their terms expire in
2005. Neil D. Chrisman, Alan Siegel and Geoffrey A. Thompson currently serve as Class C directors;
their terms expire in 2006.
In accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, Wade F. B. Thompson
and Jan H. Suwinski, have been nominated to stand for election as Class A directors. The Companys
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, has proposed these nominations. If elected, Messrs.
Thompson and Suwinski will serve on the board until the annual meeting in 2008 and until their
successors are duly elected and qualified.
The persons named in the enclosed proxy intend to vote FOR the election of the nominees listed
below. In the event that a nominee becomes unavailable for election (a situation the Companys
management does not now anticipate), the shares represented by proxies will be voted, unless
authority is withheld, for such other persons as may be designated by the Nominating Committee.
The nominees, as set forth below, are now directors of the Company and have continuously served in
such capacity since their first election or appointment to the Board.
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First Year |
Nominee |
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Age |
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Principal Occupation |
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as Director |
Wade F. B. Thompson
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65 |
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President, CEO, Chairman
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1980 |
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Jan H. Suwinski
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64 |
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Professor, Cornell University
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1999 |
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE ABOVE NOMINEES.
Business Experience of Directors and Executive Officers
Wade F. B. Thompson, age 65, has been the President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director
of the Company since its founding in 1980. He currently serves as Chairman, President, Chief
Executive Officer and Director of the Company. Mr. Thompson is not related to Geoffrey A. Thompson.
Peter B. Orthwein, age 60, has served as Treasurer and a Director of the Company since its founding
in 1980. He currently serves as Vice Chairman, Treasurer and Director of the Company.
Walter L. Bennett, age 59, has been with the Company and its predecessor since July 1977. He became
Vice President, Finance, of Airstream, Inc., in September 1980; Vice President, Finance, of the
Company in September 1983; Chief Administrative Officer/Secretary of the Company in November 1985;
Senior Vice President of the Company in February, 1989; Chief Financial Officer of the Company in
March 1999 and Executive Vice President of the Company in January 2004.
Ted J. Bartus, age 38, has been employed with the Company since May 1999 and was appointed as Vice
President, Purchasing, of the Company in August 2003. From May 1999 to July 2003, Mr. Bartus
served
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as purchasing director of the Company and, from April 1998 to April 1999, he was employed as a
purchasing agent for Valeo, a tier 1 supplier to the automotive industry.
H. Coleman Davis, III, age 56, who was appointed as a Director in January 2004, is the founder of
Keystone RV Company and served as its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman during its five year
history prior to Thors acquisition in November 2001. Mr. Davis continues to serve as Chairman of
Keystone RV Company.
Neil D. Chrisman, age 68, who was appointed as a Director in July 1999, is a retired Managing
Director of J. P. Morgan & Co. Mr. Chrisman retired from J. P. Morgan in 1993.
Alan Siegel, age 70, who became a Director in September 1983, has been a partner of the law firm of
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP since August 1995. Mr. Siegel is also a Director of The Wet
Seal, Inc. and Ermenegildo Zegna Corporation.
Jan H. Suwinski, age 64, who was appointed as a Director in July 1999, has been a Professor of
Business Operations at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University
since 1997. From 1990 to 1996, Mr. Suwinski was Executive Vice President, Opto Electronics Group
at Corning, Incorporated and Chairman of Siecor, a Siemens/Corning joint venture. Mr. Suwinski is
a Director of Tellabs, Inc. and Ohio Casualty Group.
Geoffrey A. Thompson, age 65, who was appointed as a Director in September 2003, has been a partner
at Palisades Advisors, LLC, a private equity firm since January 2004. From 1998 to 2004 Mr.
Thompson served as an independent business consultant. From 1995 to 1998, he served as a principal
at Kohlberg & Company. He retired as Chief Executive Officer of Marine Midland Banks, Inc. in 1992.
Mr. Thompson is not related to Wade F. B. Thompson. Mr. Thompson is a Director of Guardian Trust
Company.
William C. Tomson, age 69, who became a Director in June 1988, is the Vice Chairman of Board
Member, Inc. Mr. Tomson has been with the firm for the past ten years. Board Member, Inc.
publishes Bank Director and Corporate Board Member magazines.
Executive officers serve at the discretion of the Company.
Board of Directors, Committees and Attendance at Meetings
The Board of Directors has the responsibility for establishing broad corporate policies and
for the overall management of the business of the Company. Members of the Board are kept informed
of the Companys performance by various reports sent to them at regular intervals by management, as
well as by operating and financial reports presented by management at Board meetings.
It is the Companys policy that directors attend all Board meetings and the annual meeting of
stockholders, unless excused by the Chairman. All elected directors were in attendance at the 2004
Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
The Board has three committees with the principal functions described below. The Charters of each
of these committees are posted on our website at www.thorindustries.com.
Audit Committee
The principal functions of the Audit Committee are to recommend engagement of the Companys
independent public accountants and to maintain communications among the Board of Directors, such
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independent public accountants and the Companys internal accounting staff with respect to
accounting and auditing procedures, the implementation of recommendations by such independent
accountants, the adequacy of the Companys internal controls and related matters. During fiscal
2005, the Audit Committee had private meetings with the Chief Financial Officer, the Internal Audit
Director and the outside audit partners. The Board of Directors has determined that Geoffrey A.
Thompson, a member of the committee, is an audit committee financial expert as defined in Section
407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter as revised on June
16, 2005 by the Board of Directors, is set forth in Appendix A to this Proxy Statement. In
addition a copy of the Charter is available on the Companys website at www.thorindustries.com and
is available in print to any stockholder who requests it.
Compensation Committee
The principal functions of the Compensation Committee are to establish executive compensation
policies and guiding principles; establish the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and
review and approve the compensation of the other executive officers; evaluate the design of
compensation and benefit programs; and review all components of compensation for independent
directors. The Compensation Committee also acts as administrator under the Companys 1999 Stock
Option Plan, the Companys Restricted Stock Plan, the Companys Management Incentive Plan and the
Companys Select Executive Incentive Plan. In its capacity as administrator of the 1999 Stock
Option Plan and the Restricted Stock Plan, the Compensation Committee grants options and restricted
stock, determines which employees and other individuals performing substantial service for the
Company may be granted options and/or restricted stock, and determines the rights and limitations
attendant to options and restricted stock granted under these plans. In its capacity as
administrator under the Select Executive Incentive Plan, the Compensation Committee awards
supplemental deferred compensation to eligible employees in amounts determined by the Committee. A
copy of the Compensation Committee Charter is available on the Companys website and is available
in print to any stockholder who requests it.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The principal functions of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are to address all
matters of corporate governance; evaluate qualifications and candidates for positions on the Board
of Directors; evaluate the performance of the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors;
review succession plans and senior management performance; establish criteria for selecting new
directors, nominees for Board membership and the positions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
and whether a director should be invited to stand for re-election. The nominating Committee
evaluates candidates on, among other things, possession of such knowledge, experience, skills,
expertise and diversity as may enhance the Boards ability to manage and direct the affairs and
business of the Company, and as applicable, the satisfaction of any independence requirements
imposed by law, regulation, the NYSE and the Companys Corporate Governance Guidelines. Copies of
the Charter of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Companys Corporate
Governance Guidelines are available on the Companys website and are available in print to any
stockholder who requests it.
The Board does not consider stockholder nominations of director candidates, because it believes
that this is not an efficient or effective means of identifying qualified individuals. In addition,
the Board has a long history of being able to attract and maintain a membership with the variety of
skills necessary to properly oversee the affairs of the Corporation.
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Membership of Committees
The following table summarizes the current membership of the Board of Directors and each of its
committees.
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Nominating and |
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Corporate |
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Compensation |
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Governance |
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Board |
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Audit Committee |
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Committee |
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Committee |
Wade F. B. Thompson
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Chairman |
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Peter B. Orthwein
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Vice Chairman |
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H. Coleman Davis
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X |
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Neil D. Chrisman
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X
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X |
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Alan Siegel
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X
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X
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Chair |
Jan H. Suwinski
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X
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Chair |
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Geoffrey A. Thompson
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X
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X |
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William C. Tomson
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X
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Chair
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X |
The Board of Directors has affirmatively determined, by resolution of the Board of Directors
as a whole, that the following directors have no direct or indirect material relationship with the
Company and satisfy the requirements to be considered independent under the Companys Director
Independence Standards which were adopted in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock
Exchange and are set forth on Appendix B to this Proxy Statement: Messrs. Neil D. Chrisman,
Alan Siegel, Jan H. Suwinski, Geoffrey A. Thompson and William C. Tomson. As a result, each of the
Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
is comprised entirely of independent directors, as determined by the Board.
Board and Committee Meetings
The Board of Directors as a whole met in person, by telephone or took action by unanimous written
consent eight times during fiscal 2005. The Audit Committee met in person or by tele-
phone eleven times during fiscal 2005. The Compensation Committee met in person or by
telephone four times during fiscal 2005. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met once
in fiscal 2005.
Each of the directors attended all meetings of the Board of Directors and the respective Board
committees on which they served during fiscal 2005, except for Mr. Davis who was excused from one
meeting of the Board of Directors.
In addition, regularly scheduled meetings of the non-management directors are held four times each
year. A non-management director is chosen to preside at each of these meetings on a rotating basis.
Stockholder Communications
Although the Company has not to date developed formal processes by which stockholders may
communicate directly to directors, it believes that the informal process, in which any
communication sent to the Board of Directors in care of the Company is forwarded to the Board, has
served the Boards and its stockholders needs. Until any other procedures are developed, any
communications to the Board should be sent to it in care of the Secretary of the Company.
Any communications from interested parties directed toward non-management directors specifically
may be sent to Alan Siegel, one of the Companys non-management directors, who forwards any such
communications to each of the other non-management directors that, in the opinion of Mr. Siegel,
deal
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with the functions of the Board of Directors or the committees thereof or that he otherwise
determines require their attention. Mr. Siegels address for this purpose is c/o the Company, 419
W. Pike St., Jackson Center, OH 45334.
Code of Ethics
The Company has adopted a written code of ethics, the Thor Industries, Inc. Business Ethics
Policy, which is applicable to all directors, officers and employees of the Company, including the
Companys principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or
controller and other executive officers identified in this proxy statement who perform similar
functions (collectively, the Selected Officers). A copy of the code of ethics has been posted on
the Companys website and is available in print to any stockholder who requests it. The Company
intends to disclose any changes in or waivers from its code of ethics applicable to any Selected
Officer on its website or by filing a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Ownership of Common Stock
The following table sets forth information as of September 30, 2005 with respect to the
beneficial ownership, as defined in Rule 13(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the Exchange Act), of the Companys Common Stock by (i) each person known by the Company
to beneficially own, as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, 5% or more of the outstanding
Common Stock; (ii) each director of the Company; (iii) each executive officer of the Company named
in the Summary Compensation Table below; and (iv) all of such executive officers and directors of
the Company as a group. As of September 30, 2005, there were 56,679,483 shares of Common Stock
issued and outstanding.
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Beneficial Ownership (1) |
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Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
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Number of Shares |
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Percent |
Wade F. B. Thompson
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16,678,020 |
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29.4 |
% |
419 West Pike Street |
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Jackson Center, Ohio 45334-0629 |
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Peter B. Orthwein
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2,624,400 |
(2) |
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4.6 |
% |
419 West Pike Street |
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Jackson Center, Ohio 45334-0629 |
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Walter L. Bennett
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56,355 |
(3) |
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419 West Pike Street |
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Jackson Center, Ohio 45334-0629 |
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Ted Bartus
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5,754 |
(4) |
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419 West Pike Street |
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Jackson Center, Ohio 45334-0629 |
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H. Coleman Davis, III
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1,107,784 |
(5) |
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2.0 |
% |
419 West Pike Street |
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Jackson Center, Ohio 45334-0629 |
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Neil D. Chrisman
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25,334 |
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* |
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419 West Pike Street |
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Jackson Center, Ohio 45334-0629 |
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Alan Siegel
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601,068 |
(7) |
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1.1 |
% |
419 West Pike Street |
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Jackson Center, Ohio 45334-0629 |
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Beneficial Ownership (1) |
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Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
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Number of Shares |
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Percent |
Jan H. Suwinski
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41,334 |
(8) |
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* |
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419 West Pike Street |
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Jackson Center, Ohio 45334-0629 |
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Geoffrey A. Thompson
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5,734 |
(9) |
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* |
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419 West Pike Street |
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Jackson Center, Ohio 45334-0629 |
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William C. Tomson
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54,334 |
(10) |
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* |
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419 West Pike Street |
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Jackson Center, Ohio 45334-0629 |
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FMR Corp.
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3,687,300 |
(11) |
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6.5 |
% |
82 Devonshire Street |
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Boston, MA 02109 |
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All directors and executive officers as a group (ten persons)
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21,200,117 |
(12) |
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37.4 |
% |
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* |
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less than 1%. |
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(1) |
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Except as otherwise indicated, the persons in the table have sole voting and investment
power with respect to all shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by them. |
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(2) |
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Includes 58,800 shares owned by Mr. Orthweins wife, 124,000 shares owned of record by
a trust for the benefit of Mr. Orthweins children, of which Mr. Orthwein is a trustee,
30,000 shares owned of record by a trust for the benefit of Mr. Orthweins half brother, of
which Mr. Orthwein is a trustee, 149,400 shares of record owned by Mr. Orthweins minor
children for which Mrs. Orthwein acts as custodian and 320,000 shares owned of record by
the Orthwein Investment Group D, L.P., in which Mr. Orthwein has a 0.51% economic interest
but a 51% general partnership interest. 141,400 shares held by a charitable annuity trust
of which Mr. and Mrs. Orthwein are the sole trustees. |
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(3) |
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Includes 20,000 non-vested restricted shares and options to acquire 26,667 shares under
the 1999 Stock Option Plan. |
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(4) |
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Includes options to acquire 5,334 shares under the 1999 Stock Option Plan. |
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(5) |
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Includes 301,118 shares owned of record by a trust of which Mr. Davis is a trustee. |
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(6) |
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Includes options to acquire 21,334 shares under the 1999 Stock Option Plan. |
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(7) |
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Includes 594,400 shares owned of record by a trust for the benefit of Mr. Orthweins
adult children, of which Mr. Siegel is co-trustee and as to which Mr. Siegel has shared
voting power with Mr. Orthweins brother. Mr. Siegel disclaims beneficial ownership of such
shares. Also includes options to acquire 6,668 shares under the 1999 Stock Option Plan. |
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(8) |
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Includes options to acquire 31,334 shares under the 1999 Stock Option Plan. |
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(9) |
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Includes options to acquire 3,334 shares under the 1999 Stock Option Plan. |
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(10) |
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Includes options to acquire 33,334 shares under the 1999 Stock Option Plan. |
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(11) |
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The number of shares shown for FMR Corp. is based on a Schedule 13G filed on
September 12, 2005. |
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(12) |
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Includes 128,005 shares issuable under stock options which are currently exercisable or
will become exercisable within 60 days from October 1, 2005. |
Executive Compensation
Information is furnished below concerning the compensation of the President and Chief
Executive Officer and the three highest paid executive officers of the Company other than the
President and Chief Executive Officer serving as executive officers at the end of the last fiscal
year (collectively, the Named Executive Officers).
Summary Compensation Table
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual |
|
Long-term |
|
All Other |
|
|
Compensation |
|
Compensation |
|
Compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock |
|
Restricted |
|
|
|
|
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
Salary |
|
Bonus (1) |
|
Options (#)(2) |
|
Stock ($)(3) |
|
|
|
|
Wade F. B. Thompson |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
271,584 |
|
|
$ |
500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
$ |
271,667 |
|
|
$ |
730,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Chairman, President |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
$ |
271,584 |
|
|
$ |
830,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peter B. Orthwein |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
101,032 |
|
|
$ |
500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Vice Chairman, Treasurer |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
$ |
101,032 |
|
|
$ |
800,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
$ |
101,032 |
|
|
$ |
660,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Walter L. Bennett |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
101,032 |
|
|
$ |
900,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
32,430 |
|
Executive Vice President, Chief |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
$ |
96,032 |
|
|
$ |
800,000 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
$ |
53,820 |
|
|
$ |
27,864 |
|
Financial Officer, Secretary |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
$ |
91,032 |
|
|
$ |
665,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
32,630 |
|
|
$ |
23,583 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ted Bartus |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
80,216 |
|
|
$ |
118,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Vice President, Purchasing |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
$ |
80,224 |
|
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
$ |
70,141 |
|
|
$ |
77,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Messrs. Thompsons, Orthweins, Bennetts and Bartuss bonuses are discretionary and
depend on the Companys profits. |
|
(2) |
|
All option grants have been adjusted to reflect the Companys 2 for 1 stock split
effective January 26, 2004. |
|
(3) |
|
The numbers in this column represent the value of restricted stock grants during fiscal
years 2005, 2004 and 2003 calculated by multiplying the number of shares of restricted
stock granted by the share price on the date of grant. As of July 31, 2005, Mr. Bennett
held 21,500 shares of restricted stock which were granted under the Thor Industries, Inc.
Restricted Stock Plan which had a total value of $769,700 at July 31, 2005. Mr. Bennett, as
holder of restricted stock shares, is entitled to receive dividends and other distributions
paid with respect to such shares while they are so restricted. All shares and share prices
have been adjusted to reflect the Companys 2 for 1 stock split effective January 26, 2004. |
9
|
|
|
(4) |
|
Mr. Bennett was credited with supplemental deferred compensation earned under the
Companys Select Executive Incentive Plan. The amount credited shall vest and be payable
six years after the effective date of such eligible executives participation, provided,
however, that the amount shall vest immediately upon death or age 65. The amounts shown in
this column for each year represent the amount credited to each executive plus or minus the
change in the value of such executives account in the Select Executive Incentive Plan
during that year. |
Option Grants in the Last Fiscal Year
There were no options granted to any of the named Executive Officers of the Company during
fiscal year 2005.
The following table sets forth information regarding the exercise of options by the Named Executive
Officers during fiscal year 2005. The table also shows the number and value of unexercised options
held by these officers as of July 31, 2005.
Aggregated Option Exercises in the Last Fiscal Year
and Option Values at July 31, 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities Underlying |
|
Value of Unexercised In-the- |
|
|
Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
Unexercised Options at |
|
Money Options at |
|
|
acquired on |
|
Value |
|
Fiscal Year End |
|
Fiscal Year End |
Name |
|
exercise |
|
Realized |
|
Exercisable/Unexercisable |
|
Exercisable/Unexercisable (1) |
Wade F. B. Thompson |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
/ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
Peter B. Orthwein |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
/ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
Walter L. Bennett |
|
|
16,668 |
|
|
$ |
454,782 |
|
|
|
26,667 |
|
|
|
/ |
|
|
|
13,333 |
|
|
$ |
518,070 |
|
|
|
/ |
|
|
$ |
118,530 |
|
Ted Bartus |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
5,334 |
|
|
|
/ |
|
|
|
2,666 |
|
|
$ |
103,619 |
|
|
|
/ |
|
|
$ |
23,701 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Represents the market value of shares underlying in-the-money options on July 29,
2005 less the option exercise price. Options are in-the-money at the fiscal year end if
the fair market value of the underlying securities on such date exceeds the exercise or
base price of the option. |
Director Compensation
Directors who are not employees of the Company are paid an annual retainer of $30,000, payable
quarterly, plus expenses. Audit Committee members are paid an annual retainer of $20,000, plus
expenses, except for the chair of the Audit Committee, who is paid an annual retainer of $30,000,
plus expenses. Members of the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee are each paid an annual retainer of $10,000, plus expenses. All such committee retainers
are paid quarterly. In addition, non-employee directors are awarded non-incentive stock options
from time to time under the Companys 1999 Stock Option Plan, including a grant of 5,000 options to
each then incumbent non-employee director in March 2005.
Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation
The Company consists of a corporate parent, Thor Industries, Inc., and several operating
subsidiaries, including, Airstream, Inc., Crossroads RV, Damon Corporation, Dutchmen Manufacturing,
Inc., Four Winds International, Inc., Keystone RV Company, Komfort Corp., Citair, Inc., Thor
California, Inc., Champion Bus, Inc., ElDorado National California, Inc., ElDorado National Kansas,
Inc., and Goshen Coach, Inc. The Compensation Committee believes that the Company has been
successful in attracting
10
and retaining management of its operating subsidiaries because of its policy of compensating
management personnel based upon the profitability of such operating subsidiaries. The management of
each operating subsidiary is provided with incentive based compensation consisting generally of 13%
to 20% of their operating subsidiarys pre-tax profits in excess of targets established by the
Companys President and Chief Executive Officer. The executive officers of the corporate parent,
Thor Industries, Inc., Messrs. Thompson, Orthwein, Bennett and Bartus, receive low fixed salaries
in addition to bonuses relating to profitability of the Company as a whole, which are reviewed and
approved by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has reconsidered these
arrangements and has concluded that it is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders
that such arrangements continue without any substantial change.
The Compensation Committee
Alan Siegel
William C. Tomson
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Siegel and Tomson, neither of whom is, or has
been, an officer or employee of the Company.
Certain Relationships and Transactions with Management
Messrs. Thompson and Orthwein own all the stock of Cash Flow Management, Inc. The Company
pays Cash Flow Management a fee of $192,000 per annum, which is used to defray expenses, including
the rent of offices used by Messrs. Thompson and Orthwein.
Alan Siegel, a director of the Company, is a share partner of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP,
one of the law firms regularly employed by the Company. In addition, Mr. Siegel, in his capacity as
director, has been issued exercisable options to acquire 6,668 shares under the 1999 Stock Option
Plan.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table provides information as of July 31, 2005 about the Companys Common Stock
that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants and rights granted to employees or
members of the Board of Directors under all the Companys existing equity compensation plans,
including the 1999 Stock Option Plan and the Thor Industries, Inc. Restricted Stock Plan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of securities |
|
|
Number of securities |
|
|
|
remaining available for |
|
|
to be issued |
|
Weighted-average |
|
future issuance under |
|
|
upon exercise of |
|
exercise price of |
|
equity compensation plans |
|
|
outstanding options, |
|
outstanding options, |
|
(excluding securities |
Plan category |
|
warrants and rights |
|
warrants and rights |
|
reflected in column (a)) |
|
|
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
(c) |
Equity compensation plans
approved by security
holders |
|
700,708 |
|
$19.60 |
|
669,336 |
Equity compensation plans
not approved by
security holders |
|
0 |
|
NA |
|
393,813 |
|
|
|
Total |
|
700,708 |
|
$19.60 |
|
1,063,149 |
|
|
|
11
1999 Stock Option Plan
The Thor Industries, Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan (the 1999 Plan) was adopted by the
Companys Board of Directors in July 1999 and by the Companys shareholders in September 1999. The
purpose of the Plan is to enhance the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to attract and
retain employees and directors of outstanding ability and to provide employees and directors with
an interest in the Company parallel to that of the Companys stockholders. The 1999 Plan is
administered and managed by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the Committee).
The Common Stock subject to the options granted under the 1999 Plan will be authorized from
unissued shares of Common Stock of the Company, $0.10 value, or shares reacquired by the Company in
any manner. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which may be acquired upon the grant of
options under the 1999 Plan will not exceed 2,000,000, subject to adjustment in certain
circumstances. If any option granted under the 1999 Plan expires or terminates for any reason
without having been exercised in full or ceases for any reason to be exercisable in whole or in
part, the unpurchased shares subject to such option shall again be available for grant under the
1999 Plan. Subject to adjustment, no employee may be granted an option to acquire more that
500,000 shares of Common Stock in any one year.
Employees and directors of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible to receive grants of
options under the 1999 Plan. Eligible participants may be granted both nonqualified stock options
(Nonqualified Stock Options) and incentive stock options (ISOs) and, together with
Nonqualified Stock Options, (Options), provided that only employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries may receive ISOs. The exercise price per share of the shares of Common Stock to be
purchased pursuant to any Option shall be fixed by the Committee at the time such Option is
granted. In no event shall the exercise price for ISOs be less than the fair market value of a
share on the day on which the ISO is granted (110% of the fair market value in the case of an ISO
granted to an employee owning stock with more that 10% of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company or its subsidiaries (a 10% Shareholder)). Subject to termination,
the duration of each Option will be determined by the Committee, but may not exceed 10 years from
the date of grant; provided, however, that in the case of ISOs granted to 10% Shareholders, the
term of such Option shall not exceed 5 years from the date of grant. An Option will be exercisable
by the Option holder at such rate and times as may be determined by the Committee at or subsequent
to the time of grant. Each Option may be exercised in whole or in part by giving written notice of
exercise to the Company. Payment in full of the Option exercise price will be made upon delivery of
such notice in cash or through additional methods, if any, prescribed by the Committee. Options are
assignable or transferable only in limited circumstances.
Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in the 1999 Plan), all Options will
automatically become vested and exercisable in full and all restrictions or conditions, if any, on
any Options will automatically lapse.
Under certain circumstances, in the event option holders engage in certain prohibitive behavior,
options can be forfeited at the discretion of the Committee. In addition, any gains realized by
option holders may have to be repaid under certain circumstances.
Restricted Stock Plan
The Company has adopted the Thor Industries, Inc. Restricted Stock Plan (the Stock Plan)
effective September 29, 1997. The Stock Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee. The
Stock Plan is intended to advance the interests of the Company, its stockholders, its subsidiaries
and its affiliates by
12
encouraging and enabling inside directors, officers and other employees to acquire and retain a
proprietary interest in the Company by ownership of its stock.
The total number of shares available for grants under the Stock Plan may not exceed 600,000 subject
to adjustment in certain circumstances and subject to increase by the Board of Directors. Subject
to adjustment, no more than 100,000 shares may be granted in any one calendar year. If a grant, or
any portion thereof, is forfeited, the forfeited shares will be made available again for grants
under the Stock Plan. The Compensation Committee may, at any time and from time to time, make
grants to such participants and in such amounts as it shall determine. Each grant shall be made
pursuant to a written instrument which must be executed by the grantee in order to be effective.
The Board of Directors may at any time suspend or terminate the Stock Plan or any portion thereof
or may amend it from time to time in such respects as the Board may deem to be in the best
interests of the Company.
No shares granted under the Stock Plan may be transferred by the recipient thereof until such
shares have vested; such shares shall vest on the date specified by the Compensation Committee in
the underlying written agreement pursuant to which the grant was made. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the shares of a recipient who has not previously forfeited any nonvested shares granted
to him under the Stock Plan shall automatically vest upon the earliest of (x) the termination by
the Company of the recipient other than for cause and (y) the recipients death, disability or
retirement. The Stock Plan contains non-competition and non-solicitation provisions which restrict
recipients from competing with the Company. Non-compliance with such provisions will result in the
forfeiture of non vested benefits.
During the applicable period of restriction, the recipient of shares under the Stock Plan is the
record owner thereof and is entitled to vote such shares and to receive all dividends and other
distributions paid with respect to such shares. However, if any such dividends or distributions are
paid in shares of Company stock during an applicable period of restriction, the shares received
shall be subject to the same restrictions as the shares with respect to which they were issued.
Moreover, the Compensation Committee may provide in any written agreement pursuant to which the
grant was made such other restrictions, terms and conditions as it may deem advisable with respect
to the treatment and holding of any stock, cash or property that is received in exchange for the
restricted shares.
Select Executive Incentive Plan
The Company has adopted the Thor Industries, Inc. Select Executive Incentive Plan (the
Incentive Plan) effective September 29, 1997. The Incentive Plan is administered by an
Administrative Committee chosen by the Board of Directors, which is currently the Compensation
Committee. The purpose of the Incentive Plan is to provide its eligible executives with
supplemental deferred compensation in addition to their current compensation. It is intended that
the Incentive Plan shall constitute an unfunded deferred compensation arrangement for the benefit
of a select group of management or highly compensated employees of the Company and its designated
subsidiaries and affiliates.
The Compensation Committee will designate those employees of the Company (which may include
employees of any subsidiary or affiliate thereof) who will be eligible executives under the
Incentive Plan. For each year of participation, each eligible executive shall be credited with the
amount(s), if any, determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion. The amount(s)
will be credited to an account maintained for each eligible executive, which will also be credited
with earnings and losses as if the amounts were invested in specific investment funds selected by
the Compensation Committee (or by the eligible executive if the Compensation Committee establishes
a procedure permitting the eligible executive to credit his or her account with respect to the
results of one or more of the index funds selected by the Compensation Committee). The Compensation
Committee is not obligated to comply with the investment request of an eligible executive, and
retains the sole discretion regarding the decision to credit
13
earnings with regard to the results of the index funds selected by any eligible executive. The
amount(s) credited to the account of an eligible executive shall vest and be payable six years
after the effective date of such eligible executives participation; provided, however, that the
amounts vest immediately upon death or age 65. The Incentive Plan contains non-competition and
non-solicitation provisions which prohibit eligible executives from competing with the Company
within the United States or Canada during the term of such eligible executives participation and
for a period of eighteen months after termination of employment with the Company for any reason.
Non-compliance with such provisions will result in a total forfeiture of vested benefits. The
Company may establish a trust for payment of benefits under the Incentive Plan; such trust shall be
a grantor trust for tax purposes. Payment of benefits will generally be made following termination
of employment in one of the following forms: (a) lump sum; (b) substantially equal annual
installments for five years; (c) substantially equal installments for ten years; or (d) any other
actuarially equivalent form approved by the Compensation Committee.
Annual Incentive Plan
The Company has adopted the Thor Industries, Inc. Annual Incentive Plan (the Annual Incentive
Plan) effective October 2, 2003. The Annual Incentive Plan is administered by a committee (the
Committee) comprised of at least two members of the Board of Directors of the Company who qualify
as outside directors within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder (the Code). The purposes of the Plan are to
provide an incentive to executive officers and other key employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries to contribute to the growth, profitability and increased shareholder value of the
Company, to retain such executives and key employees and endeavor to qualify the compensation paid
under the Annual Incentive Plan for tax deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code.
The committee designates those executive officers of the Company and its subsidiaries, and such
other key employees of the Company and it subsidiaries, who are eligible to receive awards
(Performance Awards) under the Annual Incentive Plan (Eligible Executives). The Committee
determines which Eligible Executives, if any, will become
participants in the Annual Incentive Plan
(the Participants).
A Performance Award represents the conditional right of a Participant to receive a cash award
following the completion of a Performance Period (as defined below) based upon performance in
respect of one or more of the Performance Goals (as defined below) during the Performance Period.
For purposes of the Plan, Performance Period means the fiscal year, or such other shorter or
longer period designated by the Committee, during which performance is measured in order to
determine a Participants entitlement to receive payment of a Performance Award. Performance goals
(Performance Goals) include any of the following business criteria: revenue, earnings before
taxes, funds from operations, funds from operations per share, operating income, pre or after tax
income, cash available for distribution, cash available for distribution per share, cash and/or
cash equivalents available for operations, net earnings, earnings per share, return on equity,
return on assets, return on invested capital, share price performance, improvements in the
Companys attainment of expense levels, implementing or completion of critical projects, including,
without limitation, implementation of strategic plan(s), improvement in investor relations,
marketing and manufacturing of key products, improvement in cash-flow (before or after tax),
development of critical projects or product development, or progress relating to research and
development. A performance goal may be measured over a Performance Period on a periodic, annual,
cumulative or average basis and may be established on a corporate-wide basis or established with
respect to one or more operating units, divisions, subsidiaries, acquired businesses, minority
investments, partnerships or joint ventures. The level or levels of performance specified with
respect to a Performance Goal may be established in absolute terms, as objectives relative to
performance in prior periods, as an objective compared to the performance of one or more comparable
companies or an index covering multiple companies, or otherwise as the Committee may determine.
14
The Committee may establish performance objectives (Performance Objective) for each Performance
Award, consisting of one or more business criteria permitted as Performance Goals, one or more
levels of performance with respect to each such criteria, and the amount or amounts payable upon
achievement of such levels of performance. Performance Objectives are established by the Committee
prior to, or reasonably promptly following the inception of, a Performance Period but, to the
extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code, by no later than the earlier of the date that is
ninety (90) day after the commencement of the Performance Period or the day prior to the date on
which twenty-five percent (25% of the Performance Period has elapsed. The amount of compensation
payable upon the attainment of a Performance Objective may not be increased at the discretion of
the Committee. The Committee may, however, at its discretion, reduce or eliminate the amount of
compensation payable upon the attainment of a Performance Objective.
Performance Awards are subject to such conditions, including risks of forfeiture, restrictions on
transferability and other terms and conditions as specified by the Committee.
A Participant may not be granted Performance Awards for all of the Performance Periods commencing
in a fiscal year that permit the Participant in the aggregate to earn a cash payment in any fiscal
year in excess of $3,000,000.
15
Stock Price Performance Graph
The performance graph set forth below compares the cumulative total stockholder returns on the
Companys Common Stock (assumes $100 invested on July 31, 2000 and that all dividends are
reinvested) against the cumulative total returns of the Standard and Poor Corporations S&P 500
composites stock price index (S&P 500) and a Peer Group of companies selected by the Company
whose primary business is recreation vehicles or mid-size buses for the five year period ended July
31, 2005. The peer group consists of the following companies: Coachmen Industries, Inc.; Fleetwood
Enterprises, Inc.; Winnebago Industries, Inc.; Monaco Coach, Inc.; and Supreme Industries, Inc. The
Company cautions that stock price performance noted below should not be considered indicative of
potential future stock price performance. The Company changed its peer group in fiscal 2003 to
include Monaco Coach, Inc. and remove Collins Industries, Inc.
Performance Graph
Thor Industries, Inc. Common Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7/31/2000 |
|
|
7/31/2001 |
|
|
7/31/2002 |
|
|
7/31/2003 |
|
|
7/31/2004 |
|
|
7/31/2005 |
|
|
|
|
Thor Industries, Inc. |
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
146.93 |
|
|
|
257.83 |
|
|
|
375.92 |
|
|
|
536.98 |
|
|
|
614.40 |
|
Peer Group |
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
174.16 |
|
|
|
203.22 |
|
|
|
201.96 |
|
|
|
351.39 |
|
|
|
362.46 |
|
S&P 500 Composite Index |
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
84.65 |
|
|
|
63.71 |
|
|
|
69.21 |
|
|
|
77.00 |
|
|
|
86.26 |
|
Report of the Audit Committee
Working under the guidance of a written charter approved by the Board of Directors, the Audit
Committee, which is comprised of Messrs. Neil D. Chrisman, Jan H. Suwinski and Geoffrey A.
Thompson, is primarily responsible for assisting the Board in overseeing the Companys financial
reporting process as well as the internal controls that management and the Board have established.
The Board of Directors adopted a revised charter for the Audit Committee on June 16, 2005, a copy
of which may be found in Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.
Management is responsible for the financial reporting process, including the system of internal
control, and for the preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The Companys independent auditors
are responsible for auditing those financial statements. The Audit Committees responsibility is to
monitor and review these processes, acting in an oversight capacity. The Audit Committee relies,
without independent verification, on the information provided to it and on the representations made
by management and the independent auditors.
16
During the past fiscal year, the Audit Committee met in person or by telephone and met in separate
executive sessions with the Companys Chief Financial Officer, the Companys senior internal
auditing executive and the independent auditing partner for the Company. The Audit Committee also
met privately on a quarterly basis.
In carrying out its duties, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the Companys audited
consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005 with the Companys
management and Deloitte & Touche, LLP (Deloitte), the Companys independent auditors. The Audit
Committee has also discussed with Deloitte the matters required to be discussed by Statement on
Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit Committees, as amended. In addition, the
Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from Deloitte required by
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees and
has discussed with Deloitte its independence from the Company and its management. Based on the
foregoing reports and discussions and subject to the limitations on the role and responsibilities
of the Audit Committee referred to above and in the Charter of the Audit Committee, the Audit
Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors has approved, that the
audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005.
The Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that each of the members of the Audit Committee
is independent as defined under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.
The Audit Committee
Neil D. Chrisman
Jan H. Suwinski
Geoffrey A. Thompson
The foregoing report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in
any previous or future documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Security Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company incorporates the
report by reference in any such document.
17
Independent Auditor Fees
The following table represents aggregate fees billed to the Company for fiscal 2005 and 2004
by Deloitte & Touche (Deloitte), the Companys principal accounting firm.
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|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal 2005 |
|
|
Fiscal 2004 |
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|
Audit Fees |
|
$ |
2,369,785 |
|
|
$ |
682,125 |
|
Audit-Related Fees |
|
|
177,650 |
|
|
|
254,568 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal |
|
|
2,547,435 |
|
|
|
936,693 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax Fees |
|
|
828,237 |
|
|
|
793,969 |
|
All Other Fees |
|
|
20,985 |
|
|
|
13,960 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Fees |
|
$ |
3,396,657 |
|
|
$ |
1,744,622 |
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Audit Fees. Represents fees for professional services provided for the audit of the Companys
annual financial statements and review of the Companys quarterly financial statements, and audit
services provided in connection with other statutory or regulatory filings. Included in Fiscal 2005
audit fees is $1,563,950 for Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 attestation.
Audit-Related Fees. Represents fees for assurance services related to the audit of the Companys
financial statements. The amount shown consists of fees for benefit plan audits, the audit of the
closing balance sheet for Damon in Fiscal 2004 and the audit of the closing balance sheets of
CrossRoads and agreed upon procedure for Goshen Coach in Fiscal 2005.
Tax Fees. Represents fees for professional services related to taxes including the preparation of
domestic and international returns, tax examinations assistance and tax planning.
All Other Fees. Represents fees for products and services provided to the Company not otherwise
included in the categories above. The amounts shown consist of fees for benefit plan tax
consultation.
The Audit Committee has considered whether performance of services other than audit services is
compatible with maintaining the independence of Deloitte.
In 2003, the Audit Committee adopted a formal policy concerning the approval of audit and non-audit
services to be provided by the independent auditor to the Company. The policy requires that all
services Deloitte, the Companys independent auditor, may provide to the Company, including audit
services and permitted audit-related and non-audit services, be pre-approved by the Audit
Committee. The Audit Committee approved all audit and non-audit services provided by Deloitte
during fiscal 2005.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
The federal securities laws require the filing of certain reports by officers, directors and
beneficial owners of more than ten percent (10%) of the Companys securities with the Securities
and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange. Specific due dates have been established
and the Company is required to disclose in this Proxy Statement any failure to file by these dates.
Based solely on a review of copies of the filings furnished to the Company, or written
representations that no such filings were required, the Company believes that all filing
requirements were satisfied by each of the Companys officers, directors and ten percent (10%)
stockholders for fiscal 2005.
18
Stockholder Proposals
Proposals by stockholders that are intended to be presented at the 2006 annual meeting must be
received by the Company on or before July 2, 2006 to be included in the proxy statement and form of
proxy for the 2006 annual meeting.
Notice of a shareholder proposal submitted outside the processes of Rule 14a-8 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which is not received on or before September 15, 2006 will be
considered untimely. The Company reserves the right to reject, rule out of order or take other
appropriate action with respect to any proposal that does not comply with applicable requirements.
Other Matters
Management knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the meeting.
However, if any other matters are properly brought before the meeting, it is the intention of the
persons named in the proxy to vote the proxy in accordance with their best judgment.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
WALTER L. BENNETT
419 West Pike Street Jackson Center, Ohio 45334-0629 (937) 596-6849
19
Appendix A
Audit Committee Charter
AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THOR INDUSTRIES, INC. CHARTER
As revised by the Board of Directors, October 11, 2005
I. PURPOSE
The Audit Committee is established by and among the Board of Directors for the primary purpose of
assisting the board in:
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Overseeing the integrity of the Companys financial statements, |
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Overseeing the Companys compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, |
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Overseeing the independent auditors qualifications and independence, |
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Overseeing the performance of the Companys independent auditor, and internal audit function, |
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Overseeing the Companys system of disclosure controls and procedures, internal controls over financial reporting, and
compliance with ethical standards adopted by the Company. |
Consistent with this function, the Audit Committee should encourage continuous improvement of, and
should foster adherence to, the Companys policies, procedures, and practices at all levels. The
Audit Committee should also provide for open communication among the independent auditor, financial
and senior management, the internal auditing function, and the Board of Directors.
The Audit Committee has the authority to obtain advice and assistance from outside legal,
accounting, or other advisors as deemed appropriate to perform its duties and responsibilities.
The Company will provide appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit Committee, for
compensation to the independent auditor, to any advisors that the Audit Committee chooses to
engage, and for payment of ordinary administrative expenses of the Audit Committee that are
necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
The Audit Committee will primarily fulfill its responsibilities by carrying out the activities
enumerated in Section III of this Charter. The Audit Committee will report regularly to the Board
of Directors regarding the execution of its duties and responsibilities.
II. COMPOSITION AND MEETINGS
The Audit Committee will comprise three or more directors as determined by the Board. Each Audit
Committee member will have no material relationship with the Company (either directly or as a
partner, shareholder, or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company other
than as a Board member), as affirmatively determined by the Board. All committee members must be
independent, including being free of disallowed compensation agreements, under all applicable rules
and regulations.
All members of the Committee must comply with all financial literacy requirements of the New York
Stock Exchange. The Board will determine whether at least one member of the committee qualifies as
an audit committee financial expert in compliance with the criteria established by the SEC. The
existence of such a member, including his or her name and whether or not he or she is independent,
will be disclosed in periodic filings as required by the SEC. Committee members are encouraged to
enhance their familiarity with finance and accounting by participating in educational programs,
including those conducted by the Company or outside consultants.
20
The members of the Committee will be elected by the Board at the annual organizational meeting of
the Board to serve until their successors are elected. Unless a Chairperson is elected by the full
Board, the members of the Committee may designate a Chairperson by majority vote.
The Committee will meet four times annually, or more frequently as circumstances dictate. Each
regularly scheduled meeting will include an executive session of the Committee absent members of
management. As part of its responsibility to foster open communication, the Committee will meet
periodically with management, the director of the internal auditing function, and the independent
auditor in separate executive sessions. In addition, the Committee will meet with the independent
auditor and management to discuss the annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial
statements, including the Companys disclosure under Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
III. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
To fulfill its responsibilities and duties, the Audit Committee will:
Documents/Reports/Accounting Information Review
1. |
|
Review this Charter periodically, at least annually, and recommend to the Board of
Directors any necessary amendments. |
|
2. |
|
Review and discuss with management and the independent auditor the Companys annual
financial statements, quarterly financial statements (prior to the Companys 10-Q
filings or release of earnings), and all internal controls reports (or summaries
thereof). Review other relevant reports or financial information submitted by the
Company to any governmental body or the public, including management certifications as
required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and relevant reports rendered by the
independent auditors (or summaries thereof). |
|
3. |
|
Recommend to the Board whether the financial statements should be included in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K. |
|
4. |
|
Discuss earnings press releases, including the type and presentation of information,
paying particular attention to any pro forma or adjusted non-GAAP information. Such
discussions may be in general terms (i.e., discussion of the types of information to be
disclosed and the type of presentations to be made). |
|
5. |
|
Discuss financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and ratings
agencies. Such discussions may be in general terms (i.e., discussion of the types of
information to be disclosed and the type of presentations to be made). |
|
6. |
|
Review the regular internal reports to management (or summaries thereof) prepared by
the internal auditing department, as well as managements response. |
Independent Auditors
7. |
|
Appoint (and recommend that the Board submit for shareholder ratification, if
applicable), compensate, retain, and oversee the work performed by the independent
auditor for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work. Review
the performance of the independent auditors and remove the independent auditors if
circumstances warrant. The independent auditor will report directly to the Audit
Committee and the Audit Committee will oversee the resolution of disagreements between
management and the independent auditors if they arise. Consider whether the auditors
performance of permissible nonaudit services is compatible with the auditors
independence. Discuss with the independent auditor the matters required to be discussed
under Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 61, as amended by SAS No. 84 and SAS
No. 90. |
|
8. |
|
Review with the independent auditor any problems or difficulties and managements
response; review the independent auditors attestation and report on managements
internal control report, from the |
21
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|
time that such reports are prepared; and hold timely discussions with the independent
auditors regarding the following: |
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|
All critical accounting policies and practices; |
|
|
|
|
All alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted
accounting principles that have been discussed with management, ramifications of the use of
such alternative disclosures and treatments, and the treatment preferred by the independent
auditor; |
|
|
|
|
Other material written communications between the independent auditor and management,
including, but not limited to, the management letter and schedule of unadjusted
differences. |
9. |
|
At least annually, obtain and review a report by the independent auditor describing: |
|
|
|
The firms internal quality-control procedures; |
|
|
|
|
Any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review or peer
review, or by any inquiry or investigation conducted by governmental or professional
authorities during the preceding five years with respect to independent audits carried out
by the firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues; and |
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All relationships between the independent auditor and the Company, addressing the
matters set forth in Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1. |
|
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|
This Report should be used to evaluate the independent auditors qualifications,
performance, and independence. Further, the committee will review the experience and
qualifications of the lead partner and other senior members of the independent audit team
each year and determine that all partner rotation requirements, as promulgated by applicable
rules and regulations, are executed. The committee will also consider whether there should
be rotation of the firm itself. |
10. |
|
Actively engage in dialogue with the independent auditor with respect to any disclosed
relationships or services that may affect the independence and objectivity of the auditor and
take, or recommend that the full board take, appropriate actions to oversee the independence of
the outside auditor. |
11. |
|
Review and pre-approve (which may be pursuant to pre-approval policies and procedures) both
audit and nonaudit services to be provided by the independent auditor. The authority to grant
pre-approvals may be delegated to one or more designated members of the Audit Committee whose
decisions will be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
Approval of nonaudit services will be disclosed to investors in periodic reports required by
Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
12. |
|
Set clear hiring policies, compliant with governing laws and regulations, for employees or
former employees of the independent auditor. |
Financial Reporting Processes, Accounting Policies, and Internal Control Structure
13. |
|
In consultation with the independent auditor and the internal auditor, review the integrity of
the Companys financial reporting processes (both internal and external), and the internal
control structure (including disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over
financial reporting). |
14. |
|
Receive and review any disclosure from the Companys CEO or CFO made in connection with the
certification of the Companys quarterly and annual reports filed with the SEC of: a) all
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control
over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Companys ability
to record, process, summarize, and report financial data; and b) any fraud, whether or not
material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the
Companys internal controls. |
15. |
|
Review major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentations,
including any significant changes in the Companys selection or application of accounting
principles; major |
22
|
|
issues as to the adequacy of the Companys internal controls; and any special audit steps
adopted in light of material control deficiencies. |
|
16. |
|
Review analyses prepared by management (and the independent auditor as noted in item 8 above)
setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the
preparation of the financial statements, including analyses of the effects of alternative GAAP
methods on the financial statements. |
17. |
|
Review the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance-sheet
structures, on the financial statements of the Company. |
18. |
|
Review and approve all related-party transactions, defined as those transactions required to
be disclosed under item 404 of
Regulation S-K. |
19. |
|
Establish procedures for the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints regarding
accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters. |
20. |
|
Establish procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by Company employees
regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. |
Internal Audit
21. Review and advise on the selection and removal of the internal audit director.
22. |
|
Review activities, organizational structure, and qualifications of the internal audit
function. |
23. Annually, review and recommend changes (if any) to the internal audit charter.
24. |
|
Periodically review, with the internal audit director any significant difficulties,
disagreements with management, or scope restrictions encountered in the course of the
functions work. |
Ethical Compliance, Legal Compliance, and Risk Management
25. |
|
Establish, review and update periodically a code of business conduct and ethics and determine
whether management has established a system to enforce this code. Determine whether the code
is in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations. |
26. |
|
Review managements monitoring of the Companys compliance with its code of business conduct
and ethics, and determine whether management has the proper review system in place such that
the Companys financial statements, reports, and other financial information disseminated to
governmental organizations, and the public, satisfy legal requirements. |
27. |
|
Review, with the Companys counsel, legal compliance matters, including corporate securities
trading policies. |
28. |
|
Review, with the Companys counsel, any legal matter that could have a significant impact on
the Companys financial statements. |
29. |
|
Discuss policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including appropriate
guidelines and policies to govern the process, as well as the Companys major financial risk
exposures and the steps management has undertaken to control them. |
Other Responsibilities
30. |
|
Review with the independent auditor, the internal auditing department, and management the
extent to which changes or improvements in financial or accounting practices have been
implemented. |
31. |
|
Prepare the report that the SEC requires be included in the Companys annual proxy statement. |
23
32. |
|
Conduct an annual performance assessment relative to the Audit Committees purpose, duties,
and responsibilities outlined herein. |
33. |
|
Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Companys by-laws, and
governing law, as the Board deems necessary or appropriate. |
Appendix B
Director Independence Standards
As adopted by the Board of Directors of Thor Industries, Inc.
A director will not be considered independent if, within the preceding three years:
|
|
|
The director is an employee, or whose immediate family member is an executive officer,
of the Company. |
|
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|
The director receives, or whose immediate family member receives, more than $100,000 per
year in direct compensation from the Company, other than director and committee fees and
pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such
compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service). |
|
|
|
|
The director is affiliated with or employed by, or whose immediate family member is
affiliate with or employed in a professional capacity by, a present or former internal or
external auditor of the Company. |
|
|
|
|
The director is employed, or whose immediate family member is employed, as an executive
officer of another company where any of the Companys present executives serve on that
companys compensation committee. |
|
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|
|
The director is an executive officer or an employee, or whose immediate family member is
an executive officer, of another company that makes payments to, or receives payments from,
the Company for property or services in an amount which, in any single fiscal year, exceeds
the greater of $1 million or 2% of such other companys consolidated gross revenues. |
For relationships not covered by the guidelines above, or for relationships that are covered, but
as to which the Board believes a director may nonetheless be independent, the determination of
independence shall be made by the directors who satisfy the NYSE independence rules and the
guidelines set forth above. However, any determination of independence for a director who does not
meet these standards must be specifically explained in the Companys proxy statement for a meeting
of shareholders at which directors are to be elected.
419 West Pike Street Jackson Center, Ohio 45334-0629 (937) 596-6849
24
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MR A SAMPLE
DESIGNATION (IF ANY)
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Mark this box with an X if you have
made changes to your name or address details
above. |
Annual Meeting Proxy Card
A |
Election of Directors (Class A term
expires 2008) |
1. The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the listed nominees.
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For
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Withhold
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01-Wade F. B. Thompson |
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02-Jan H. Suwinski |
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In their discretion, upon the
transaction of such other business as may come before the
meeting.
B |
Authorized Signatures Sign Here This section must be completed for your instructions to be executed. |
(Stockholder(s) should sign
here exactly as name appears hereon.)
Signature 1 Please keep signature
within the box
Signature 2 Please keep signature
within the box
1 U P X H H H P
P P P 006737
Proxy Thor Industries, Inc.
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS, DECEMBER 6, 2005
The
undersigned stockholder of Thor Industries, Inc. hereby appoints WADE
F. B. THOMPSON and PETER B. ORTHWEIN or each of them, with power of
substitution and revocation to each, as proxies to appear and vote
all shares of the Company which the undersigned would be entitled to
vote if personally present at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to
be held on December 6, 2005 and any adjournments thereof, hereby
revoking any proxy heretofore given, notice of which meeting and
related proxy statement have been received by the undersigned.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHALL
BE VOTED AS SPECIFIED HEREIN. IF NO SPECIFICATION IS MADE, THIS
PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSAL #1.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
(Continued and to be signed on reverse side.)