UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 1)
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ]
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12
Hickok Incorporated
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
3) Filing Party:
4) Date Filed:
HICKOK INCORPORATED
10514 Dupont Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44108
March 3,
2015
To the Shareholders of Hickok Incorporated:
The Company will hold its Annual Meeting of Shareholders at 10:00 a.m.,
EST., Thursday, April 2, 2015 at the offices of HICKOK INCORPORATED,
10514
Dupont Avenue, Cleveland,
Ohio 44108.
We hope that you are planning to attend the Annual Meeting in person,
and
we look forward to seeing you. Whether or not you expect to attend in
person,
the return of the enclosed Proxy as soon as possible would be greatly
appreciated. If you do attend the Annual Meeting you may, of course,
withdraw your Proxy
should you wish to vote in person.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and management of Hickok
Incorporated,
I would like to thank you for your continued support and confidence.
Sincerely,
/s/ Brian E. Powers
Brian E. Powers
Chairman of the Board
|
/s/ Robert L. Bauman
Robert L. Bauman
President and Chief
Executive Officer
|
Important Notice
regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Hickok
Incorporated
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be Held on Thursday, April 2,
2015:
The Proxy
Statement and
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 are available at our
website:
www.hickok-inc.com/about-us/financial-information.html
HICKOK INCORPORATED
10514 Dupont Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44108
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
OF SHAREHOLDERS
MAILED TO SHAREHOLDERS
ON OR ABOUT March 3, 2015
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Hickok Incorporated, an Ohio
corporation
(the "Company"), will be held at the offices of HICKOK INCORPORATED,
10514 Dupont Avenue, Cleveland,
Ohio, on Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 10:00 a.m., EST., for the
following
purposes:
1. To fix the number of Directors at nine and elect eight
Directors;
2. To authorize the issuance of Class B Common Shares upon conversion
of the convertible note;
3. To ratify the selection of the independent auditor for 2015; and
4. To transact such other
business as may properly come before the
meeting
or any adjournment thereof.
Only shareholders of record, as of the close of business on February
27,
2015,
will be entitled to receive notice of and to vote at this meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors.
/s/ Robert L. Bauman
Robert L. Bauman
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
March 3, 2015
IMPORTANT
Please fill in and sign the enclosed Proxy and return it in the
accompanying
envelope regardless of whether you expect to attend the Annual Meeting
or
not. If you attend the Annual Meeting you may vote your shares in
person,
even though you have previously signed and returned your Proxy.
HICKOK INCORPORATED
10514 Dupont Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44108
PROXY STATEMENT
Mailed to shareholders on or about March 3, 2015
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation
of
proxies by the Board of Directors of Hickok Incorporated (hereinafter
the
"Company") to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
the
Company to be held on April 2, 2015, and any adjournments thereof.
The
time, place, and purpose of the meeting are stated in the Notice of
Annual
Meeting of Shareholders (the "Notice") which accompanies this
Proxy
Statement.
The expense of soliciting proxies, including the cost of preparing,
assembling,
and mailing the Notice, Proxy Statement, and Proxy will be paid by the
Company.
In addition to solicitation of proxies by mail, solicitation may be
made
personally, by telephone or other electronic means, and the Company may
pay
persons holding shares for others their expenses for sending proxy
materials
to their principals. While the Company presently intends that
solicitations
will be made only by Directors, officers, and employees of the Company,
the
Company may retain outside solicitors to assist in the solicitation of
proxies.
Any expenses incurred in connection with the use of outside solicitors
will be paid by the Company.
Any person giving a Proxy pursuant to this solicitation may revoke it.
The
General Corporation Law of Ohio provides that a shareholder, without
affecting
any vote previously taken, may revoke a Proxy not otherwise revoked by
a
later appointment received by the Company or by giving notice of
revocation to the Company in writing, in a verifiable communication, or
in open
meeting.
Mere presence at the Annual Meeting will not revoke a proxy.
All validly executed Proxies received by the Board of Directors of the
Company
pursuant to this solicitation will be voted at the Annual Meeting, and
the
directions contained in such Proxies will be followed in each instance.
If
no directions are given, the Proxy will be voted to fix the number of
Directors
at nine, for the election of all of the nominees listed in the
Proxy
and for the other proposals set forth in the Notice.
VOTING RIGHTS
At the close of business on February 27, 2015, the Company had
1,163,349
shares
of Class A Common Stock ("Class A Shares"),
outstanding
and entitled to vote. Additionally, on such date there were 474,866
shares
of Class B Common Stock ("Class B Shares"),
outstanding
and entitled to vote. The holders of the outstanding Class A
Shares as
of February 27, 2015 shall be entitled to one vote for each share held.
The
holders
of the outstanding Class B Shares as of said date shall be entitled to
three
votes for each share held. The General Corporation Law of Ohio
generally
provides that if notice in writing is given by any shareholder to the
President, Vice President or the Secretary of the Company not less than
48 hours before
the time fixed for holding the meeting that such shareholder desires
the voting at
such
election to be cumulative, and an announcement of the giving of such
notice
is made upon the convening of the meeting by the Chairman or Secretary
of
the meeting or by or on behalf of the shareholder giving such notice,
each
shareholder shall have cumulative voting rights in the election of
Directors,
enabling any shareholder to give one nominee for Director as many votes
as is equal
to
the number of Directors to be elected multiplied by the number of
shares
in respect of which such shareholder is voting, or to distribute his or
her
votes
on the same principle among two or more nominees, as he or she sees
fit. Only
shareholders
of record at the close of business on February 27, 2015 are entitled to
notice
of and to vote at this meeting.
At the Annual Meeting, in accordance with the General Corporation Law
of
Ohio, the inspectors of election appointed by the Board of Directors
for
the Annual Meeting will determine the presence of a quorum and will
tabulate
the results of shareholder voting. As provided by the General
Corporation
Law of Ohio and the Company's Amended Code of Regulations, holders of a
majority
of the outstanding shares of the Company, present in person or by proxy
at
the Annual Meeting, will constitute a quorum for such meeting. The
inspectors
of election intend to treat properly executed proxies marked "abstain"
as
"present" for these purposes. Such inspectors will also treat as
"present"
shares held in "street name" by brokers that are voted on at least one
proposal
to come before the Annual Meeting.
The vote required to approve the proposal regarding the election of
Directors
is included in the appropriate description below. Any additional
questions
and matters brought before the Annual Meeting will be, unless otherwise
provided
by the Amended Articles of Incorporation of the Company or the General
Corporation
Law of Ohio, decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding
votes thereon present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. In
voting for such other proposals, votes may be cast in favor, against or
abstained.
Abstentions will count as present for purposes of the item on which the
abstention
is noted and will have the effect of a vote against. Broker non-votes,
however,
are not counted as present for purposes of determining whether a
proposal
has been approved and will have no effect on the outcome of any such
proposal.
PRINCIPAL
SHAREHOLDERS
The shareholders named in the following table include the executive
officer
named in the Executive Compensation table below and those persons
known
by the Company to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the
outstanding
Common Shares of the Company as of February 27, 2015. In addition, this
table
includes the beneficial ownership of Common Shares by the Directors and
Executive
Officers of the Company as a group on February 27, 2015.
Title of Class
|
Name and Business Address
of Beneficial Owner
|
Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned (1)
|
Percent
of Class
|
Common Shares,
without par value,
Class A and Class B |
Janet H.
Slade (2)
5862 Briar Hill Drive
Solon, Ohio 44139
|
7,253
Class
A (3)
75,000 Class B (4)
|
*
15.8%
|
|
Gretchen L.
Hickok (2)
32127 Hamilton Court, Suite 208B
Solon, Ohio 44139
|
25,000
Class A
85,056
Class B
|
2.2%
17.9%
|
|
Patricia H.
Aplin (2)
1178 Bellingham Drive
Oceanside, California
92057
|
127,411
Class
A (5) (6)
118,042 Class B (5) (7)
|
|
|
Robert L.
Bauman
10514 Dupont Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44108
|
115,413
Class
A (8)
176,768 Class B (9)
|
9.1%
37.2%
|
|
Matthew V. Crawford
10514 Dupont Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44108
|
673,285
Class
A (13) (14)
20,000 Class B (15) |
44.4%
4.2%
|
|
Jennifer A. Elliott
1178 Bellingham Drive
Oceanside, California
92057
|
128,411
Class
A (5) (6) (10)
118,042 Class B (5) (7) |
11.0%
24.9% |
|
Intrinsic
Value Capital, L.P.
708 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10014
|
51,114
Class A (11)
|
4.4%
|
|
Robert E.
Robotti
6 East 43rd Street, 23rd
Floor
New York, New York 10017
|
119,149
Class
A (12)
|
10.2%
|
|
Steven H. Rosen
1660 West 2nd Street
Suite 1100
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
|
674,285
Class
A (13) (14) (16)
20,000 Class B (15) |
44.5%
4.2% |
|
Roundball, LLC
1660 West 2nd Street
Suite 1100
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
|
673,285
Class
A (13) (14)
20,000 Class B (15) |
44.4%
4.2% |
|
Kirin M. Smith
708 Greenwich Street, 2E
New York, New York 10014
|
61,049
Class A (11) (17) (18)
|
5.2%
|
|
Three Bears Trust
1660 West 2nd Street, Suite
1100
Cleveland, Ohio 44122
|
673,285
Class
A (13) (14)
20,000 Class B (15) |
44.4%
4.2%
|
|
James T. Martin
12700 Lake Avenue, Suite 2612
Lakewood, Ohio 44107
|
7,900 Class A (19)
|
*
|
|
All
Directors and Executive
Officers as a group (13
persons)
|
997,726
Class A (20)
389,810 Class B
|
61.0%
82.1%
|
|
|
|
|
* Less than one percent.
(1) Pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, a
person
is deemed to be a beneficial owner of a security if he or she has or
shares
voting or investment power with respect to such security or has the
right
to
acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. Accordingly, the amounts
shown
throughout this Proxy Statement do not purport to represent beneficial
ownership,
except as determined in accordance with said Rule.
(2) Daughter of the late Robert D. Hickok.
(3) Includes 7,000 Class A Common Shares which Ms. Slade, as a
Director,
has the right to acquire upon the exercise of immediately exercisable
options.
The ownership of 253 Class A Common Shares held by the Florence
Janet Slade Trust is
attributed to Ms. Slade pursuant to the Securities and
Exchange Commission rules.
(4) The ownership of 75,000 Class B Common Shares held by the Florence
Janet Slade Trust is
attributed to Ms. Slade pursuant
to the Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
(5) Shares are held by the Aplin Family Trust.
(6) The ownership
of 127,411 Class A Common Shares held by the Aplin Family
Trust
are attributed to Mrs. Elliott pursuant to the Securities and Exchange
Commission
rules.
(7) The ownership
of 118,042 Class B Common Shares held by the Aplin Family
Trust
are attributed to Mrs. Elliott pursuant to the Securities and Exchange
Commission
rules.
(8) Includes an aggregate of 100,000
Class A Common Shares which may be acquired by Mr. Bauman upon the
exercise of immediately exercisable warrants. The ownership of 15,413
Class A Common
Shares held by the Susan F. Bauman Revocable Trust are attributed to
Mr. Bauman pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
(9) The ownership of 176,768 Class B Common Shares held by the Robert
L.
Bauman Revocable Trust is attributed to Mr. Bauman pursuant to the
Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
(10) Includes 1,000 Class A Common Shares which Mrs. Elliott, as a
Director,
has the right to acquire upon the exercise of immediately exercisable
options.
(11) Based
on a Schedule 13D/A filed January 18, 2011 with the Securities and
Exchange
Commission. The Schedule 13D/A indicates that the following reporting
persons
have shared voting
and
shared dispositive power over 51,114 shares of the Company's Class A
Common Shares: Intrinsic Value Capital, L.P., Glaubman
&
Rosenberg Partners, LLC, Glaubman & Rosenberg Advisors, LLC, Joseph
Hain and Kirin Smith. According to a Form 4 filed January 18, 2011,
Joseph
Hain
has sole voting and dispositive power over an additional 4,150 such
shares (for a total, combined with the above mentioned 51,114 shares,
of 55,264 shares or 4.8%
of the Class), and Kirin
Smith has
sole voting and dispositive power over an additional 9,935 such shares
(for
a total, combined with the above mentioned 51,114 shares, of 61,049
shares or 5.2%
of the Class).
(12) Based on a Schedule 13D/A
filed December 12, 2014 with the Securities
and
Exchange Commission. According to the Schedule 13D/A, Robert E. Robotti
has shared voting and dispositive power over 113,649
shares of the Company's
Class
A Common Shares and sole voting and dispositive power over 5,500 Class
A Shares. According to the Schedule
13D/A, Robotti & Company, Incorporated, Robotti & Company
Advisors, LLC, Kenneth R. Wasiak and Ravenswood
Investment
Company,
L.L.C. have shared voting and shared dispositive power over 91,649
shares
of
the Company's Class A Common Shares (or 7.9% of the Class), and
The Ravenswood
Investment Company, L.P. has shared voting and
shared dispositive power over 58,351 shares of the Company's Class A
Common Shares (or 5.0% of
the Class). In addition, according to the Schedule 13D/A, Ravenswood
Investment III, L.P. has shared voting and
shared dispositive power over 33,298 shares of the Company's Class A
Common Shares (or 2.9% of
the Class), and R.N.P. Company G.P., Harriet M. Reilly, Joseph E.
Reilly, Patrick J. Reilly, Catherine Savvas, Nancy Seklir, PELK Company
and Kenneth M. Wasiak have shared voting and
shared dispositive power over 22,000 shares of the Company's Class A
Common Shares (or 1.9% of
the Class).
(13) Based on a Schedule
13D/A filed January 13, 2015 with the Securities
and
Exchange Commission. According to the Schedule 13D/A, Roundball LLC,
The Three Bears Trust and Matthew V. Crawford, and Steven H. Rosen have
shared voting and dispositive power over 673,285
shares of the Company's
Class
A Common Shares (or 44.4% of the Class), and Roundball LLC, The Three
Bears Trust and Matthew V. Crawford, and
Steven H. Rosen have shared voting and dispositive power over 20,000
shares of the Company's
Class B Common Shares (or 4.2% of the Class).
(14) Includes 252,367 Class
A Common Shares which may be
acquired
by Roundball, LLC upon the conversion of an immediately
convertible promissory note, 100,000 Class A Common Shares which
may be acquired upon the
exercise of immediately exercisable warrants, which are attributed to
Mr. Matthew V. Crawford, Three Bears Trust, and Mr. Rosen pursuant
to
the Securities and Exchange
Commission
rules. The
ownership
of 320,918 Class A Common Shares held by Roundball, LLC
are attributed to Mr. Matthew V. Crawford, Three Bears Trust, and Mr.
Rosen pursuant to the
Securities
and Exchange
Commission
rules.
(15) The ownership of 20,000 Class B Common Shares held by Roundball,
LLC is attributed to Mr. Matthew V. Crawford, Three Bears Trust, and
Mr. Rosen pursuant to
the
Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
(16) Includes 1,000 Class A Common Shares which Mr. Rosen, as a
Director,
has the right to acquire upon the exercise of immediately exercisable
options.
(17) The ownership of 51,114
Class A
Common Shares held by the Intrinsic Value Capital, L.P. (a member of a
Section 13(d) group) is attributed to Mr. Smith pursuant
to the Securities and
Exchange Commission rules. Mr. Smith disclaims beneficial ownership of
the securities beneficially owned by the other members of the group
except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. As managing
member of Glaubman & Rosenberg Partners, LLC and Glaubman &
Rosenberg Advisors, LLC, the general partner and investment manager of
Intrinsic Value Capital, L.P. , Mr. Smith
may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by Intrinsic Value Capital, L.P.
(18) Includes 3,000 Class A Common Shares which may be acquired upon
the
exercise
of immediately exercisable options.
(19) Includes 7,000 Class A Common Shares which may be acquired upon
the
exercise
of immediately exercisable options. Mr. Martin is currently a director
of Hickok Incorporated and has advised the Board of his intention to
retire as a
director and not stand for re-election at the annual meeting.
(20) Includes 472,367
Class
A
Common
Shares which the Directors and the Executive Officers of the Company
have
the right to acquire upon the exercise of immediately exercisable
options and warrants.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The number of Directors of the Company is presently fixed at nine. The
term
of office of each Director expires annually. The individuals elected to
the
office of Director at the Annual Meeting will hold office until the
next
Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors have been
duly
elected.
On December 10, 2014, Mr. James T. Martin advised the Board of his
intention to retire as a
director and not stand for re-election at the annual meeting.
Accordingly,
the Board has
determined that the number of Directors be
fixed
at nine, that eight of such directorships be filled by the vote of the
shareholders
at the Annual Meeting, and that the eight nominees hereinafter
named be
elected.
The Board of Directors believes that the election of one less Director
than
the number authorized will provide the Board with flexibility during
the year to
appoint
an additional member to the Board, when and if an individual whose
services
would be beneficial to the Company and its shareholders is identified.
Additionally, this flexibility will enable the Company to comply with
the director designating
rights described below. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of
persons than the number of nominees named herein.
Roundball, LLC and
the Aplin Family Trust
have been provided with certain rights
to nominate
individuals for election to the Company's Board under a Convertible
Loan Agreement. Upon conversion of one-half (1/2) of the Closing
Roundball Loan Amount into Conversion Shares, Roundball may, in its
sole discretion, cause the Company to include an individual designated
by Roundball as a nominee for election to the Board at all subsequent
annual meetings of the Company's shareholders that occur prior to the
maturity of the Roundball Note (the "Roundball Nominee Power").
Upon conversion of all of the Closing Roundball Loan Amount into
Conversion Shares, Roundball may, in its sole discretion, cause the
Company to include two individuals selected by Roundball as nominees
for election to the Board at all subsequent annual meetings of the
Company's shareholders that occur prior to the maturity of the
Roundball Note (the "Dual Roundball Nominee Power"). If
Roundball has exercised the Roundball Option in full and subsequently
converted the Roundball Note in full into Conversion Shares prior to
its maturity date, the Roundball Nominee Power and the Dual Roundball
Nominee Power shall remain in effect as follows: (i) the Dual Roundball
Nominee Power will continue until the earlier to occur of Roundball
owning shares representing less than fifteen percent (15%) of the total
voting power of the Company, or five (5) years from the closing date of
the Convertible Loan Agreement; and (ii) the Roundball Nominee Power
will continue until the earlier to occur of Roundball owning shares
representing less than ten percent (10%) of the total voting power of
the Company, or five (5) years from the closing date of the Convertible
Loan Agreement. The Aplin Trust will also have the right to cause the
Company to include an individual of its choice in the slate of nominees
for election to the Board as long as the Aplin Trust owns shares
representing ten percent (10%) or more of the total voting power of the
Company, however Jennifer Elliott's continuation on the Board shall
satisfy the Company's obligations under this provision. The Aplin
Trust's nomination rights also do not extend past five (5) years from
the closing date of the Convertible Loan Agreement.
The nominees receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected.
The
Proxy holders named in the accompanying Proxy or their substitutes will
vote
such Proxy at the Annual Meeting, or any adjournments
thereof, for the
election
as Directors of the nominees named below unless the shareholder
instructs,
by marking the appropriate space on the Proxy, that authority to vote
is
withheld. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the
election
of Directors. If cumulative voting is in effect, the Proxy holders
shall have
full discretion and authority to vote for any one or more of such
nominees.
In the event that the voting is cumulative, the Proxy holders will vote
the
shares represented by each Proxy so as to maximize the number of
nominees
elected to the Board of Directors. However, the shares represented by
each
Proxy cannot be voted by the Proxy holders for a greater number of
nominees
than those identified in this Proxy Statement. Each of the nominees has
indicated
his or her willingness to serve as a Director, if elected. If any
nominee
should become unavailable for election (which contingency is not now
contemplated
or foreseen), it is intended that the shares represented by the Proxy
will be voted for such substitute nominee as may be named by the Board
of Directors.
INFORMATION
CONCERNING NOMINEES
FOR DIRECTORS
Name and Age
|
Business
Experience (1)
|
Year in
which first
elected
Director
|
|
Common
Shares (2)
beneficially
owned as of
February 27,
2015
|
Percent
of class
beneficially
owned
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert L.
Bauman
Age: 74
|
President
and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company since
July 1993; Chairman of the Company from July 1993 to May
2001. Employed by the Company in 1962, Mr. Bauman has
served in engineering, sales/marketing, and as Vice President,
operations manager capacities prior to his election as President in
1991.
The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Bauman should
serve as a director because of his role as the Company's President
and Chief Executive Officer and his extensive experience and
knowledge of the Company.
|
1980
|
|
115,413 (3)
Class A
176,768 (4)
Class B
|
9.1%
37.2%
|
Edward
F. Crawford
Age: 74
|
Director, Chairman and
Chief
Executive Officer of Park-Ohio
Holdings Corp. since 1992 and President
from 1997 to
2003.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Crawford Group
(a
venture capital, management consulting company) since 1964.
Mr.
Crawford has amassed extensive knowledge of public and
private
company strategies and operations. Mr. Crawford brings
to the Board his
experience in leading a variety of private
enterprises for over 40
years.
|
2012
|
|
2,335 (5) Class A
|
*
|
Matthew V.
Crawford
Age: 45
|
President and Chief Operating
Officer of Park-Ohio
Holdings Corp. since 2003, Senior Vice President from 2001 to 2003,
and Assistant Secretary and Corporate Counsel from 1995 to 2001.
Mr. Crawford has also served as a director of Park-Ohio Holdings
Corp.
since 1997. President of The Crawford Group ( a venture capital,
management consulting company) since 1995. Mr. Crawford
has amassed extensive knowledge of public and private company
strategies and operations. Mr. Crawford has been
designated to
serve per the Roundball, LLC's contractual rights under
the
Convertible Loan Agreement. Matthew V. Crawford is the son of
Edward F. Crawford.
|
2014
|
|
673,285 (9)
Class A
20,000 (10)
Class B
|
44.4%
4.2%
|
Jennifer A.
Elliott
Age: 36
|
Managing Partner of the Aplin
Capital Investments, Ltd.
(fundamental equity investment fund) since
2010; Principal for
the Texas Womens Ventures Funds (group of mezzanine funds)
and has held
various positions at several private equity funds from
2004 to 2010.
Ms. Elliott brings
an extensive financial, accounting,
and consulting background to the Board. Ms.
Elliott has been
designated
to serve per the Aplin Family Trust's contractual rights under
the
Convertible Loan Agreement. Ms.
Elliott is the great granddaughter
of the Company's founder and a
representative of the Aplin family,
a major shareholder of the Company.
|
2011
|
|
128,411 (5) (6)
Class A
118,042 (7)
Class B |
11.0%
24.9% |
Brian E. Powers
Age: 51
|
Chief Administrative Officer and
General Counsel of Greencastle LLC
(developer of data centers and clean energy projects), since
July 2014; Managing Director of League Park
Advisors LLC
(mid-market investment banking firm) from 2010 to 2014;
Chief Executive Officer of Caxton Growth Partners LLC
(strategic management consulting firm) from 2001 to 2010.
Mr. Powers brings over 20 years of diverse experience as a
business executive, entrepreneur, management consultant,
corporate lawyer and investment banker to the Board.
|
2014
|
|
0 Class A |
* |
Steven H. Rosen
Age: 44
|
Co-Chief Executive Officer and
Co-Founder of Resilience
Capital Partners (private
equity firm) since 2001. Mr.
Rosen
brings to the Board an extensive background in mergers and acquisitions,
financial analysis and consulting as well as contacts throughout
the financial and investing field. Mr.
Rosen represents
Roundball, LLC and has been
designated to serve pursuant to
Roundball, LLC's contractual right under the Convertible Loan
Agreement
Mr.
Rosen serves on the Board of Directors for Park-Ohio Holdings
Corp., a local public company, and several private companies.
|
2012
|
|
674,285 (5) (9)
Class A
20,000 (10)
Class B
|
44.5%
4.2%
|
Janet H. Slade
Age: 71
|
Chairman of the Company from
2001 to 2013; Ms. Slade is the
granddaughter of the Company's founder and a representative of
the Hickok family, major shareholders of the Company. Ms. Slade
has
extensive experience with the Company, acting as a director since 1992.
The Board of Directors also believes that continuing participation by
qualified members of the Hickok family on the Board of Directors
is an important part of the Company's corporate culture that has
contributed significantly to its long-term success.
|
1992
|
|
7,253 (8)
(11)
Class A
75,000 (12)
Class B
|
*
15.8%
|
Kirin M.
Smith
Age: 36
|
Managing
Partner of Intrinsic Value Capital, L.P.
(fundamental equity investment fund) since November 2005;
Chief Operating Officer of ProActive Capital Group
(capital markets advisory firm) since January 2012;
Assistant Vice President of Financial Dynamics (business
and financial communications consultancies) for five years prior to
November 2005. Mr. Smith brings an extensive background in
financial analysis and consulting to the Board, as well as
contacts throughout
the financial and investing field. Mr. Smith also represents major
Class A Common Stock shareholders, bringing this perspective
to the Board as well.
|
2009
|
|
61,049
(13) (14)
Class A
|
5.2%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* Less than one
percent
|
|
|
|
|
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, the
principal
occupation shown for each of the Company's Directors has been the
principal
occupation of such person for at least the past five years. Each
Director
may be reached c/o the Company at 10514 Dupont Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio
44108.
(2) Class A Common Shares are indicated by "Class A"; Class B Common
Shares
are indicated by "Class B".
(3) Includes an aggregate of 100,000
Class A Common Shares which may be acquired by Mr. Bauman upon the
exercise of immediately exercisable warrants. The
ownership
of 15,413 Class A Common Shares held by the Susan F. Bauman Revocable
Trust
are attributed to Mr. Bauman pursuant to the Securities and Exchange
Commission
rules.
(4) The ownership of 176,768 Class B Common Shares held by the Robert
L.
Bauman Revocable Trust is attributed to Mr. Bauman pursuant to the
Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
(5) Includes 1,000 Class A
Common Shares which may be acquired upon the
exercise
of immediately exercisable options.
(6) The ownership
of 127,411 Class A Common Shares held by the Aplin Family
Trust
are attributed to Mrs. Elliott pursuant to the Securities and Exchange
Commission
rules.
(7) The ownership
of 118,042 Class B Common Shares held by the Aplin Family
Trust
are attributed to Mrs. Elliott pursuant to the Securities and Exchange
Commission
rules.
(8) Includes 7,000 Class A
Common Shares which may be acquired upon the
exercise
of immediately exercisable options.
(9) Includes 252,367 Class A Common Shares which may be
acquired
by Roundball, LLC upon the conversion of an immediately
convertible promissory note, and 100,000 Class A Common Shares which
may be acquired upon the
exercise of immediately exercisable warrants, which are attributed to
Mr. Matthew V. Crawford and Mr. Rosen pursuant
to
the Securities and Exchange
Commission
rules. The
ownership
of 320,918 Class A Common Shares held by Roundball, LLC
are attributed to Mr. Matthew V. Crawford and Mr. Rosen pursuant to the
Securities and Exchange
Commission
rules.
(10) The ownership of 20,000 Class B Common Shares held by Roundball,
LLC is attributed to Mr. Matthew V. Crawford and Mr. Rosen pursuant to
the
Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
(11) The ownership of 253 Class A Common Shares held by the Florence
Janet Slade Trust is
attributed to Ms. Slade pursuant to the Securities and
Exchange Commission rules.
(12) The ownership of 75,000 Class B Common Shares held by the Florence
Janet Slade Trust is attributed to Ms. Slade pursuant
to the Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
(13) The ownership of 51,114
Class A
Common Shares held by the Intrinsic Value Capital, L.P.
(a member of a Section 13(d) group) is attributed to Mr. Smith pursuant
to the Securities and
Exchange Commission rules. Mr. Smith disclaims beneficial ownership of
the securities beneficially owned by the other members of the group
except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. As managing
member of Glaubman & Rosenberg Partners, LLC and Glaubman &
Rosenberg Advisors, LLC, the general partner and investment manager of
Intrinsic Value Capital, L.P., Mr. Smith
may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by Intrinsic Value Capital, L.P.
(14) Includes 3,000 Class A Common
Shares which may be acquired upon
the
exercise
of immediately exercisable options.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the
Company's
officers and Directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of
the
Company's Class A Shares, to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Officers, Directors, and greater than ten percent shareholders are
required
by Securities and Exchange Commission regulations to furnish the
Company
with
copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely upon a review of the
copies
of such forms furnished to the
Company,
or written representations provided to the Company that no Form 5s were
required, the Company
believes
that, during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, all
Section 16(a)
filing
requirements applicable to its officers, Directors, and greater than
ten
percent beneficial owners were complied with except for: (i) a Form 3
filing for Brian E. Powers, which was not filed timely due to an
administrative error, and (ii) a Form 4 filing for Steven H.
Rosen (one transaction) and Robert
E. Robotti (two transactions),
each of which was not filed timely due to an administrative error.
TRANSACTIONS
WITH MANAGEMENT
During fiscal years 2013 and
2014, no transactions were proposed or occurred that are
required
to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation
S-K under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except as
follows:
Convertible Loan Agreement. On December 30,
2011, Hickok Incorporated (the "Company") entered into a
Convertible Loan Agreement (the "Initial Convertible Loan Agreement")
with Roundball, LLC, an Ohio limited liability company ("Roundball"),
and the Aplin Family Trust (the "Aplin Trust," and, together
with Roundball, the "Investors"),
and solely with respect to Section 3 thereof, Robert L. Bauman. Under
the Initial Convertible Loan Agreement, the Company issued a
convertible note
to Roundball (the "Roundball Note") in the principal amount of
$466,879.87 (the "Closing Roundball Loan Amount") and a
convertible note to the Aplin Trust in the principal amount of
$208,591.20 (the "Aplin Note," and, together with the Roundball
Note, the "Notes").
The Notes are unsecured, bear interest at a rate of 0.20% per annum
and were set to mature on December 30, 2012. The Notes rank pari passu
with
amounts outstanding under the Company's existing revolving credit
agreement.
Under the Initial Convertible Loan Agreement, at any
time prior to the maturity date of the
Roundball Note, Roundball has the right, exercisable at its
option, to cause the Company to borrow up to an additional $466,879.88
from Roundball (the "Roundball Option"). Each loan made pursuant
to the Roundball Option may be made on any business day in such amount
as Roundball may determine by notice to the Company and shall bear
interest from the date of disbursement of such additional loan.
However, Roundball may not exercise the Roundball Option with respect
to an amount less than $10,000 unless the aggregate amount of the
Roundball Option which has not been exercised is less than such amount,
in which case Roundball may only exercise the Roundball Option for the
entire remaining amount thereof.
The Notes may be converted by the Investors at any
time, in whole or in part, into Class A Common Shares of the Company
("Conversion
Shares")
at a conversion price of $1.85 per share. The Roundball Note, if the
Roundball Option has been exercised in full, may not be converted into
more than 504,735 Conversion Shares, and the Aplin Note may not be
converted into more than 112,752 Conversion Shares. If the Investors
have not fully converted either of the Notes into Conversion Shares by
their respective maturity dates, the Company may, at the discretion of
the Company's board of directors (the "Board"), either pay the
outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest outstanding under
the applicable Note or convert such Note, in whole, into Conversion
Shares.
The Investors also have been provided with certain
rights to nominate individuals for election to the Company's Board
under the Initial Convertible Loan Agreement. Upon conversion of
one-half (1/2)
of the Closing Roundball Loan Amount into Conversion Shares, Roundball
may, in its sole discretion, cause the Company to include an individual
designated by Roundball as a nominee for election to the Board at all
subsequent annual meetings of the Company's shareholders that occur
prior to the maturity of the Roundball Note (the "Roundball Nominee
Power").
Upon conversion of all of the Closing Roundball Loan Amount into
Conversion Shares, Roundball may, in its sole discretion, cause the
Company to include two individuals selected by Roundball as nominees
for election to the Board at all subsequent annual meetings of the
Company's shareholders that occur prior to the maturity of the
Roundball Note (the "Dual Roundball Nominee Power").
If
Roundball has exercised the Roundball Option in full and subsequently
converted the Roundball Note in full into Conversion Shares prior to
its maturity date, the Roundball Nominee Power and the Dual Roundball
Nominee Power shall remain in effect as follows: (i) the Dual Roundball
Nominee Power will continue until the earlier to occur of Roundball
owning shares representing less than fifteen percent (15%) of the total
voting power of the Company, or five (5) years from the closing date of
the Initial Convertible Loan Agreement; and (ii) the Roundball Nominee
Power
will continue until the earlier to occur of Roundball owning shares
representing less than ten percent (10%) of the total voting power of
the Company, or five (5) years from the closing date of the Initial
Convertible
Loan Agreement. The Aplin Trust will also have the right to cause the
Company to include an individual of its choice in the slate of nominees
for election to the Board as long as the Aplin Trust owns shares
representing ten percent (10%) or more of the total voting power of the
Company, however Jennifer Elliott's continuation on the Board shall
satisfy the Company's obligations under this provision. Beneficial
ownership of shares held by the Aplin Trust are attributable to
Jennifer Elliott under Securities and Exchange Commission rules. The
Aplin
Trust's nomination rights also do not extend past five (5) years from
the closing date of the Initial Convertible Loan Agreement.
The Initial Convertible Loan Agreement contains
certain
customary affirmative and negative covenants that expire upon the
maturity of the Notes, including a restriction on the Company incurring
any further indebtedness (subject to certain exceptions) and provisions
requiring the proceeds from the Notes to be used exclusively for
working capital purposes. The Company also agreed not to make any
material change in its business or its present method of conducting
business until the maturity dates of the Notes subject to consent.
Other material terms and conditions contained in
the Initial Convertible Loan Agreement include a restriction on the
transfer of
the Notes and Conversion Shares to nonaffiliates of the Investors for
one (1) year from the closing date, pre-emptive right for the Investors
with respect to issuances by the Company of securities prior to the
maturity of the Notes in order to allow the Investors to maintain their
ownership in the Company as calculated assuming the Notes have been
fully converted, and an obligation of the Company to provide monthly
financial statements to the Investors.
Ancillary Agreements. The Company
entered into certain other ancillary agreements in connection with the
Initial Convertible Loan Agreement. The Company sold 20,000 Class B
Shares held in treasury to Roundball at a price of $1.85 per share
pursuant to a subscription agreement between the Company and Roundball,
dated December 30, 2011 (the "Subscription Agreement"). The
Company also entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the
Investors, dated December 30, 2011 (the "Registration Rights
Agreement")
under which the Investors are provided with certain demand and
piggyback registration rights with respect to the Conversion Shares.
The Company has also entered into a Voting Agreement with the Investors
and the Class B Shareholders of the Company, dated December 30, 2011
(the "Voting Agreement") under which the Class B Shareholders of
the Company have agreed, for a period of three years following the date
of the Agreement, to vote in favor of any individuals nominated for
election to the Board by the Investors in accordance with the
Initial Convertible Loan Agreement. The Investors have also agreed
under the
Voting Agreement to vote in favor of all individuals nominated for
election to the Board by the Company during that same three-year
period.
On
December 30, 2011, Roundball converted $233,438.55 into Class A
Common
Shares
of the Company. In
addition, the Company sold 20,000 Class B Common Shares currently held
in
treasury to Roundball at a price of $1.85 per share per a subscription
agreement between the Company and Roundball dated December 30, 2011.
Roundball is a major shareholder of the Company's Class A Common
Shares and Class B Common Shares. In addition, on August 20, 2012
Roundball converted the remaining $233,441.32 under the Convertible
Loan Agreement into Class A Common
Shares
of the Company. The Company recorded interest expense on the Roundball
note of $303 through September 30, 2012. As of September 30, 2013 and
2014, no
interest was paid. On December 28, 2012, the Aplin Family Trust
converted the $208,591
convertible note into Class A Common Shares of the Company. The Company
recorded interest expense on the Aplin Family Trust note of $103 and
$314
for fiscal 2013 and 2012 respectively. As of September 30, 2013 and
2014, no
interest was
paid.
On December 30, 2012, the Company and
Roundball entered into Amendment No. 1
(“Amendment No. 1”) which amended the Initial Convertible Loan
Agreement to, among other
things, (i) extend the Roundball Option to December 30, 2013, (ii)
provide the Company with the right to cause Roundball to lend up to
$250,000 to it, less any amounts outstanding under the Roundball Option
(the “Borrower Option”) under a convertible note to Roundball (the
“Borrower Option Note”) on the terms and conditions applicable to any
borrowings that may be made under the terms of the Initial Convertible
Loan
Agreement pursuant to the exercise of the Roundball Option, and (iii)
extend the maturity date of the Roundball Note to December 30, 2013
with respect to any borrowings made under Amendment No. 1.
Amounts outstanding under loans made pursuant to the Roundball Option
and the Borrower Option shall bear interest at a rate of 0.24% per
annum and may be converted into Conversion Shares by Roundball and, at
maturity, the Company, at the $1.85 conversion price and on the other
terms and conditions set forth in the Initial Convertible Loan
Agreement.
In partial consideration for Amendment No. 1, the Company and Roundball
entered into a Warrant Agreement, dated December 30, 2012 (the
“Roundball Warrant Agreement”), whereby the Company issued a warrant to
the Roundball to purchase, at its option, up to 100,000 shares of Class
A Common Stock of the Company at an exercise price of $2.50 per share,
subject to certain anti-dilution and other adjustments. If not
exercised, this warrant will expire on December 30, 2015. Roundball is
an affiliate of Steven Rosen, a Director of the Company.
On December 30, 2013, the Company and Roundball entered into Amendment
No. 2 ("Amendment No. 2") which further amends the existing Initial
Convertible Loan
Agreement to, among other things, (i) extend the Roundball Option to
December 30, 2014, (ii) extend the Borrower Option to December 30, 2014
and (iii) specify that amounts outstanding under loans made pursuant to
the Roundball Option and the Borrower Option shall bear interest at a
rate of 0.25% per annum and may be converted into Conversion Shares by
Roundball and, at
maturity, the Company, at the $1.85 conversion price and on the other
terms and conditions set forth in the Convertible Loan Agreement.
During fiscal year ended September 30, 2014, the Company borrowed
$200,000 against
this agreement. The
Company recorded
interest expense on the Roundball note of $228 for fiscal 2014 and as
of September
30, 2014 no interest was paid. As of September 30, 2014, the
outstanding balance on
the
Roundball
convertible
note was $200,000.
On December 31, 2014, the Company and Roundball entered into Amendment
No. 3 ("Amendment No. 3") which further amends the existing Initial
Convertible Loan
Agreement to, among other things, (i) extend the Roundball Option to
December 30, 2015, (ii) extend the Borrower Option to December 30, 2015
and (iii) specify that amounts outstanding under loans made pursuant to
the Roundball Option and the Borrower Option shall bear interest at a
rate of 0.34% per annum and may be converted into Conversion Shares by
Roundball and, at
maturity, the Company, at the $1.85 conversion price and on the other
terms and conditions set forth in the Convertible Loan Agreement.
Additionally, Amendment No. 3 provides that all amounts outstanding
under the Convertible Loan Agreement may be converted into shares of
the Company's Class B stock, subject to shareholder approval. The
Company and Roundball also entered into an amendment to the
Registration Rights Agreement to provide for certain registration
rights if the conversion shares are Class B shares of the Company.
Revolving Credit Agreement. On
January 9, 2012,
the Company entered into a Revolving Credit Agreement (the
"2012 Revolving Credit Agreement") by and
between the Company and Robert L. Bauman, President and Chief Executive
Officer and a major shareholder of the Company, extending the due
date
of an existing line
of credit
agreement from April 2012 to April 2013. The original
credit agreement of $250,000 was entered into on April 13, 2011.
The 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement provided for a revolving credit
facility of $250,000 with
interest generally equal to three percent per annum plus prime and was
unsecured. The Company recorded interest expense of
$4,765 through September 30, 2011. As of September 30, 2011 interest in
the amount of $3,463 was paid. The Company had outstanding borrowings
of $250,000 under this loan facility at September 30, 2011.
The
Company repaid the outstanding balance of $250,000 on February 1, 2012.
The Company recorded interest expense of $5,338 through September 30,
2012. As of September 30, 2012 interest in the amount of $6,641 was
paid. The Company had no outstanding borrowings under this loan
facility at September 30, 2012.
On
December 30, 2012, the Company
extended the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement with Robert L. Bauman.
The terms and conditions of the agreement are set forth in a Revolving
Credit Agreement (the “2013 Revolving Credit Agreement”) and a Revolver
Credit
Promissory Note (the “Revolver Note” and, together with the 2013
Revolving Credit
Agreement and Revolver Note, the “Credit Arrangement
Documents”). The
Revolver Note provided for a revolving
credit facility of $250,000 with interest generally equal to 0.24% per
annum and was unsecured. The interest rate under the 2013 Revolving
Credit Agreement was a reduction from the three percent per annum plus
prime that was applicable under the prior agreement. The Company
recorded interest expense
of
$75 through September 30, 2013. As of September 30, 2013 no interest
was paid. The Company had no outstanding borrowings under this loan
facility at September 30, 2013. The Revolver Note expired on December
31, 2013.
In partial consideration for the extension of the revolving credit
facility pursuant to the Credit Arrangement Documents, the Company and
Bauman entered into a Warrant Agreement, dated December 30, 2012
(the “Bauman Warrant Agreement”), whereby the Company issued a warrant
to Bauman to purchase, at his option, up to 100,000 shares of Class A
Common Stock of the Company at an exercise price of $2.50 per share,
subject to certain anti-dilution and other adjustments. If not
exercised, this warrant will expire on December 30, 2015.
During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014, the Company
entered into various short-term unsecured demand notes with Robert L.
Bauman borrowing a total of $683,400 with interest at 4.0%. The
Company recorded interest expense of $6,364 for fiscal 2014. As of
September 30, 2014, $6,174 of interest was paid on
the above notes and line of credit. The
Company had no outstanding
borrowings on the various short-term demand notes at September 30,
2014.
Discussions
Regarding Potential Acquisition
The Company is engaged in discussions with First Francis Company,
Inc.,
an entity affiliated with Edward F. Crawford and Matthew V. Crawford,
directors of the Company, concerning a potential acquisition of Federal
Hose LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of First Francis. The Company has a
signed non-binding letter of intent with First Francis under the
terms of which it would acquire all of the membership interests of
Federal Hose in exchange for an aggregate of (i) 911,250 of the
Company’s Class A Common Shares; (ii) 303,750 of the Company’s Class B
Common Shares; and (iii) $4,268,662 in a note to be issued by the
Company, which will rank pari passu with its existing indebtedness,
bear interest at an annual rate of 4% payable quarterly, subject to
redemption over a mandatory 10-year amortization schedule and required
to be fully redeemed within six years of their issuance date. The
Company will not incur any additional debt greater than $250,000
without the note holder's approval.
Information
concerning this prospective transaction constitutes forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters
that are, to different degrees, uncertain. With respect to statements
relating to this proposed transaction, such uncertainties include,
among other things, the fact that no agreement has been reached between
the parties with respect to the terms of the proposed transaction, and
the fact that any such transaction would be subject to a number of
conditions precedent, including the negotiation of a satisfactory
purchase agreement, authorization by the Board of Directors of the
Company, receipt of third party consents, and the satisfaction of other
customary conditions precedent. In addition, shareholder approval of
the transaction may be required including, in the event that Class B
Common Shares are proposed to be issued, separate approval of the
holders of a majority of the Company’s Class A Shares. We cannot assure
you that any agreement will be reached with respect to the transaction
or as to the timing or terms thereof.
Proposal
to Authorize the Issuance of Class B Common Shares
The Company is asking shareholders to consider and approve a proposal
to authorize the issuance of Class B Common Shares upon conversion of
the convertible note issued to Roundball, LLC (the Roundball Note).
Under the terms of the convertible loan agreement between the Company
and Roundball, as amended, amounts currently and potentially
outstanding under the Roundball Note are convertible into 252,367 Class
A Common Shares, which are entitled to one vote per share. The
convertible loan agreement was amended effective December 30, 2014 to
extend the maturity date of the note to December 30, 2015 and to
provide, subject to approval of the holders of two-thirds of the Class
A Common Shares, for the issuance of up to an aggregate of 252,367
Class B Common Shares, which are entitled to three votes per share,
upon conversion.
Background and Reasons for the Proposal
During discussions surrounding a potential acquisition during
the fall of 2014, disagreements developed among members of the Board of
Directors concerning the Company’s capital structure and, in
particular, the continued existence of two classes of capital
stock. In order to facilitate a potential acquisition involving
an entity affiliated with Edward and Matthew Crawford, the holders of
Class B Common Shares (which have three votes per share) were asked to
consider converting their shares into shares of Class A Common Shares
(which have one vote per share). See “Transactions with Management -
Discussions Regarding Potential Acquisition” on page 13
of this proxy statement.
After considering this proposal, the directors who were holders of
Class B Common Shares (other than Roundball) indicated that they were
unwilling to convert their shares on a basis that resulted in a
reduction in their existing voting power.
Roundball is an affiliate of two directors of the Company, Steven Rosen
and Matthew Crawford. As a result of the Class B holders’ decision,
Roundball advised the Company that it believed that, as a current
provider of capital to the Company, the terms of its arrangements
should be amended to provide it with an opportunity to acquire the same
class of equity securities as that owned by the Company’s long-standing
Class B holders (including Mr. Bauman, Ms. Elliott and Ms. Slade).
Roundball also indicated that it was unwilling to voluntarily convert
its shares into Class A Common Shares. As a result, the Company
anticipated that it would repay its outstanding indebtedness to
Roundball at maturity.
During fiscal 2014, the Board of Directors was advised that due to
concerns regarding liquidity and projected sources of revenue for
fiscal 2015, its independent registered public accountants might be
required to include a going concern qualification in their opinion on
the Company’s audited financial statements for fiscal 2014. In order to
avoid such an eventuality, the Company’s auditors indicated that
certain assurances concerning the Company’s liquidity were necessary.
At meetings held on December 18, 2014 and December 23, 2014, the Board
of Directors considered alternatives for addressing the concerns raised
by the Company’s auditors. These included a proposal from Mr. Bauman
and Ms. Elliott to provide a 12 month unsecured line of credit in the
amount of up to $500,000, and a proposal from Roundball to extend the
maturity of the Roundball Note until December 30, 2015, subject to an
amendment of the terms of its convertible loan agreement with the
Company to provide for, among other things, the issuance of Class B
Common Shares upon conversion of the Roundball Note, subject to the
approval of the holders of two-thirds of the Class A Shares.
Under the terms of the Roundball Note, the Company had the ability to
cause the Roundball Note to be converted into Class A Shares at
maturity; however, because the Company anticipated that it would repay
the Roundball Note, and because the Board was evaluating and addressing
the potential
qualified opinion issue raised by the Company's auditors, it was not in
a
position to determine whether or not to exercise this option within the
20-day notice period specified in the convertible loan agreement.
On December 23, 2014, a majority of the Board of Directors determined
to reject the proposed unsecured line of credit with Mr. Bauman and Ms.
Elliott. At that same meeting, a majority of the Board of Directors
(including all of the directors not affiliated with Roundball or the
holders of the Class B Shares) determined to authorize the amendment to
the convertible loan agreement with Roundball.
- The Board determined that modification of the terms of the
Company’s arrangements with Roundball was preferable to the alternative
proposed by Mr. Bauman and Ms. Elliott because
it maintained a
source of capital for the Company that could ultimately be converted
into equity, as opposed to adding additional straight debt to the
Company’s balance sheet.
- The Board also believed that in light of the Class B
holders expressed unwillingness to convert their shares on a
share-for-share basis, any new third-party provider of equity capital
would insist on the right to acquire Class B Shares.
- In addition, the Board considered the dilutive effect on the
voting power of the current holders of Class B Shares, the increase in
Roundball’s total voting power and the increase in the total voting
power of the Class B Shares in comparison to the Class A Shares.
- Finally, the Board also took into account the fact that although
the issuance of Class B Shares to Roundball would require approval of
the Class A Shares, the extension of its convertible loan agreement
with the Company was not contingent on the receipt of that approval.
Terms of the Amended Convertible Loan
Agreement
The terms of the Roundball convertible loan agreement and
ancillary agreements are described in detail under the caption
Transactions with Management - Convertible Loan Agreement and -
Ancillary Agreements on page 11 of
this proxy statement and the following description is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such descriptions.
Under the initial convertible loan agreement entered into on December
30, 2011, the Company issued a convertible note to Roundball (the
Roundball Note) in the principal amount of $466,879.87. The convertible
loan agreement provides Roundball with the right, at any time prior to
the maturity date of the Roundball Note, to cause the Company to borrow
up to an additional $466,879.88 from Roundball (the Roundball Option).
Amounts outstanding under loans made pursuant to the Borrower Option
and the Roundball Option may be converted into Class A Common Shares by
Roundball and, at maturity, by the Company, at a conversion price of
$1.85 per share.
On December 30, 2012, Roundball converted $233,438.55 of the
outstanding principal amount of its note into Class A Common Shares of
the Company, and on August 20, 2013, Roundball converted the remaining
$233,441.32 outstanding under the initial convertible loan agreement
into Class A Common Shares of the Company.
Subsequent amendments to the convertible loan agreement extended the
maturity date of the Roundball Note to December 30, 2014, provided the
Company with the right to cause Roundball to lend up to an additional
$250,000 to it, less any amounts outstanding under the Roundball Option
(the Borrower Option) on the same terms and conditions applicable to
any other borrowings made under the convertible loan agreement, and
modified the interest rate payable on outstanding amounts based upon
changes in the IRS’s applicable federal rate for short-term borrowings.
In addition, as partial consideration for the first amendment to the
loan agreement, the Company and Roundball entered into a Warrant
Agreement, dated December 30, 2012 (the Roundball Warrant
Agreement), whereby the Company issued a warrant to the Roundball to
purchase, at its option, up to 100,000 shares of Class A Common Stock
of the Company at an exercise price of $2.50 per share, subject to
certain anti-dilution and other adjustments. If not exercised, this
warrant will expire on December 30, 2015.
As of December 30, 2014, an aggregate of $200,000 in principal amount
of borrowings were outstanding under the Borrower Option, and an
additional $266,879.88 could be the subject of borrowings made under
the Roundball Option.
Under the terms of the amended agreement, the maturity date of the
convertible note would be extended to December 30, 2015, the interest
rate would be adjusted to 0.34% (the Applicable Federal Rate for short
term borrowings in effect for the month of December 2014) and, subject
to the approval of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding Class A
Common Shares, would be convertible into shares of Class B Common Stock
(instead of Class A Common Stock) at the conversion price of $1.85 per
share.
Effects of the Proposal
As of the date of this proxy statement, Roundball owns of
record 20,000 Class B Common Shares and 320,918 Class A Common Shares,
and has the right to acquire an additional 252,367 Class A Common
Shares upon conversion of amounts outstanding or potentially
outstanding under the convertible loan agreement, and an additional
100,000 Class A Common Shares upon the exercise of its warrant.
Under the Company’s amended articles of incorporation, the Class
B Shares are entitled to three votes per share on all matters
submitted to shareholders, while the Class A Shares are entitled to one
vote per share. The articles also provide that the Class A shares are
entitled to receive non-cumulative cash dividends in the amount of
$0.10 per share for each full fiscal year before any dividends may be
paid to the holders of Class B Shares. After such dividend has been
paid, a like amount per share may be paid to the holders of Class B
Shares, and thereafter the Class A and Class B Shares will be entitled
to dividends at an equal rate with respect to such fiscal year. Unless
required by law or a provision of the articles of incorporation, all
matters submitted to the shareholders require the approval of the
holders representing a majority of the total voting power of the
Company, voting together as a single class. The articles provide that
no additional Class B Shares can be issued without the approval of the
holders of two-thirds of the Class A Shares. In addition, the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Class A Shares
would be required under the articles and Ohio law in connection with
certain proposed amendments to the Company’s articles, including
proposed changes in the par value of the shares, reclassification of
the outstanding shares into a greater or lesser number of shares,
substantial changes in the purposes of the corporation, certain
authorizations of securities convertible into Class A Shares, and
proposed changes in the terms of the Class A Shares or classes of
shares senior to such shares that are substantially prejudicial to the
holders thereof.
If the proposal is adopted, the potential voting power in the Company
that Roundball may acquire upon conversion of amounts outstanding under
the Roundball Option and the Borrower Option would be significantly
increased. As of the date of this proxy statement, there
were a combined total of 2,587,947 votes that could be cast by the
outstanding Class A and Class B Shares.
- The 380,918 votes represented by issued and outstanding Class A
and Class B shares owned by Roundball at that date represent
approximately 14.7% of the Company’s total voting power. Exercise of
outstanding warrants and the full amount potentially outstanding under
the Roundball Note would increase Roundball’s voting power at that date
to approximately 24.9% of the Company’s total voting power.
- If the proposal to allow conversion of the $466,879.88 in
principal amount potentially outstanding under the Roundball Note into
Class B Shares is approved, then Roundball’s total voting power would
increase to approximately 35.9% of the Company’s total voting power.
- If the proposal is approved, then the voting power of the current
holders of Class B Shares other than Roundball (including the Class A
Shares held by such persons) will be reduced from 59.1% of the total
voting power of the Company to 45.8%, while the voting power of the
Class B Shares (including shares held by Roundball) will increase from
55.0% to 65.4% of the total voting power of the Company.
Both before and after giving effect to the proposal, the holders of
Class B Shares have sufficient combined voting power to control the
outcome of all matters submitted to shareholders (other than those
matters for which a separate vote of the Class A Shares is required).
Adoption of the proposal would increase the percentage of the total
voting power of the Company represented by the Class B Shares and would
reduce the percentage of the total voting power of the Company
represented by the Class A Shares.
Adoption of the proposal would decrease the voting power of the current
holders of Class B Shares other than Roundball. At present, those
current holders of the Class B Shares have sufficient combined voting
power through their ownership of Class A and Class B Shares to control
the outcome of all matters submitted to shareholders (other than those
matters for which a separate vote of the Class A Shares is required).
If the proposal is adopted, the ownership of those holders will
decrease below a majority of the total voting power of the Company;
however, the aggregate voting power of all holders of the Class B
Shares (including Roundball) will increase in comparison to the voting
power of the Class A Shares.
Neither class of the Company’s common shares has any preemptive rights.
Recommendation; Required Vote
A majority of the Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote
FOR the proposal. The affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of
the Class A Shares issued and outstanding on the record date is
required to authorize the proposed issuance of Class B Common Shares
upon conversion of the Roundball Note.
INFORMATION REGARDING MEETINGS AND
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee and a Compensation
Committee.
The Board of Directors has determined that James T. Martin,
Chairman of the Audit Committee, satisfies the criteria adopted by the
Securities
and Exchange Commission to serve as "audit committee financial expert"
and
all three members of
such Committee are
independent directors. In addition, the
Board has a
Compensation Committee made up of three independent directors. The
Board
of
Directors has determined that all remaining directors are independent
except
for Mr. Robert L. Bauman, who is employed by the Company. The
determinations
of independence described above were made using the definition for
independence
of directors under NASDAQ listing standards.
Set forth below is the membership of the various committees with the
number
of meetings held during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 in
parentheses:
Audit Committee (1)
James T. Martin
Steven H. Rosen
Kirin M. Smith
|
Compensation Committee (1)
Edward F. Crawford
Jennifer A. Elliott
James T. Martin
|
|
The Audit Committee reviews the activities of the Company's independent
auditors
and various Company policies and practices. The Compensation Committee
determines
and reviews overall compensation matters affecting senior managers and
officers,
including the granting of stock options. The Compensation Committee
cannot
delegate its authority. The Compensation Committee
does not have a formal charter. During the year ended September 30,
2014, the Compensation Committee met once. Members of the
Compensation Committee periodically consult with Mr. Bauman concerning
his recommendations with respect to the compensation of the Company’s
officers, other than himself. Neither the Company nor the
Compensation Committee consulted any compensation consultants in
connection with determining the amount of director or executive
compensation with respect to the fiscal year ended September 30,
2014.
The Board of Directors does not have a nominating committee or
committee
performing similar functions because the Company believes that, as
a
small
business issuer traded on the Over The Counter Bulletin Board, it is
not
necessary to have a separate nominating committee. Rather, the full
Board
of Directors participates in the consideration of director nominees.
The Board considers experience and other qualifications of any nominee
as well as the need for diversity in the Board's expertise. At
this
time, the Board does not have a formal policy with regard to the
consideration
of any director candidates recommended by Company shareholders because
(i) historically, the Company has not received recommendations
from its shareholders and (ii)
the costs of establishing and maintaining procedures for the
consideration of
shareholder nominations would be unduly burdensome.
Qualifications for consideration as a Board nominee may vary according
to
the particular areas of expertise being sought as a complement to the
Board's existing composition. However, in making its nominations, the
Board of
Directors
considers, among other things, an individual's business experience,
industry
experience, financial background, breadth of knowledge about issues
affecting
the Company, availability for meetings and consultation regarding
Company
matters, and other particular skills and experience possessed by the
potential nominee.
The Company does not currently employ an executive search firm, or pay
a
fee to any other third party, to locate qualified candidates for
director
positions.
The Board of Directors held four
Board meetings and one Special Planning meeting during the
fiscal year
ended
September
30, 2014. During that fiscal year, no Director attended fewer than 75%
of
the aggregate of (i) the total
number of meetings of the Board of
Directors
held during the period he or she served as a Director and (ii) the
total
number of meetings held by committees of the Board on which he or she
served,
during the period that he or she served. The Company has not adopted a
formal
policy requiring
Directors to attend the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders. Eight
Directors attended the 2014 Annual Meeting.
The Board provides a process for shareholders to send communications to
the
Board or any of the individual Directors. Shareholders may send written
communications
to the Board or any Directors c/o Brian E. Powers, Hickok
Incorporated,
10514 Dupont Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44108. All shareholder
communications
will be compiled by Mr. Brian E. Powers and submitted to the Board or
the
individual
Director on a periodic basis.
Board
Leadership Structure
Although we have had a separate Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
since 2001, our Company’s Board of Directors does not have a current
requirement that the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of
the Board be either combined or separated. The Board believes
it is in the best interests of the shareholders to make this
determination based on the position and direction of the Company and
the composition of the Board and management team. Currently, the Board
of Directors has determined that it is in the best interests of the
shareholders at this time for the roles of Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board to be served by separate persons.
Oversight
of Risk Management
Management is responsible for day-to-day risk assessment and mitigation
activities, and the Board is responsible for risk oversight, focusing
on the Company’s overall risk management strategy and the steps
management is taking to manage the Company’s risks. While the Board as
a whole maintains the ultimate oversight responsibility for risk
management, the committees of the Board can be assigned responsibility
for risk management oversight of specific areas.
The Audit Committee reviews the Company’s portfolio of risk and
discusses
with management significant financial risks in conjunction with
enterprise risk exposures, the Company’s policies with respect to risk
assessment and risk management, and the actions management has
taken to
limit, monitor or control financial and enterprise risk exposure.
The Compensation Committee oversees risk management as it relates to
the Company's compensation plans, policies and practices in connection
with
structuring the Company's executive compensation programs.
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the compensation for services in all
capacities by Outside Directors to the Company.
|
Fees Earned
or Paid in Cash
(b)
|
Option
Awards (1)
(d)
|
Total
(h)
|
|
Edward F. Crawford (2)
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0 |
|
Matthew V. Crawford (3)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Jennifer A. Elliott (4)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
James T. Martin (5)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Brian E. Powers (6)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Steven H. Rosen (7)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Janet H. Slade (8)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Kirin M. Smith (9)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
|
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014, both employee and
non-employee Directors received no fees for attending any Board,
Committee or Special Planning meetings held during the year. No
other
compensation was paid to the Company's Directors.
The current year fees structure represents the continuation of the
fee elimination recommended by the Compensation
Committee and approved by the Board of Directors established in
response to the
current economic conditions of the Company. The Board noted
that the Directors
fees in place prior to such
elimination could be re-instituted if and when business conditions
improve.
(1) Option Awards (column (d)) represent stock option grants for which,
in
each case, the Company recorded 2014 compensation expense. Under
the
required
FASB Codification ASC Topic 718 methodology, the compensation expense
reflected in
column
(d)
is for grants made in 2014, which was $0. The assumptions used in
calculating the
Share-Based compensation expense are provided in the Company's Annual
Report on
Form
10-K, which is available by request or at www.hickok-inc.com.
(2) Mr. Edward F. Crawford has a total of 1,000 option awards
outstanding at
September 30, 2014
(3) Mr. Matthew V. Crawford has a total of 0 option awards outstanding
at September 30, 2014.
(4) Ms. Jennifer A. Elliott has a total of 1,000 option awards
outstanding at
September 30,
2014.
(5) Mr. James T. Martin has a total of 8,000 option awards outstanding
at
September 30, 2014.
(6) Mr. Brian E. Powers has a total of 0 option awards
outstanding at September 30, 2014.
(7) Mr. Steven H. Rosen has a total of 1,000 option awards outstanding
at
September 30, 2014.
(8) Ms. Janet H. Slade has a total of 8,000 option awards outstanding
at September
30, 2014.
(9) Mr. Kirin M. Smith has a total of 3,000 option awards outstanding
at September
30, 2014.
The Company's Outside Directors Stock Option Plans (collectively the
"Directors
Plans") provided for the automatic grant of options to purchase shares
of
Class A common stock over a three year period to members of the Board
of
Directors who are not employees of the Company, at the fair market
value
on the date of grant. The options are exercisable for up to 10 years.
All options granted under the Directors Plans become fully exercisable
on March 8, 2015. However,
upon the occurrence of a change in control,
any and
all
options granted shall become immediately exercisable. During
the fiscal
year ended September 30, 2014, there were no shares granted
to each Outside Director listed in the Director Compensation
Table. Under the
Company's 2013 Omnibus Equity Plan, the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has the authority to
grant options to members of the Board of Directors. During the fiscal
year ended 2014, there
were no stock options granted to the Named Outside Directors of the
Company under the 2013 Omnibus Equity Plan.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Audit Committee")
reports
to the Board and is responsible for overseeing the Company's accounting
functions,
the system of internal controls established by management, and the
processes
to assure compliance with applicable laws, regulations and internal
policies.
The Audit Committee is currently comprised of three directors, each of
whom
meet independence requirements under the current National Association
of
Securities Dealers corporate governance standards. The Audit Committee
operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors,
which is reviewed annually and is available on the Company's website at
www.hickok-inc.com/about-us/financial-information.html
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial
statements
with management. The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent
auditors
the matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing
Standards No. 61, as amended, as adopted by the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Audit
Committee members also discussed and reviewed the results of the
independent
auditors' examination of the financial statements, the quality and
adequacy
of the Company's internal controls, and issues relating to auditor
independence.
The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter
from the independent accountants required by applicable requirements of
the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent
accountants' communications with the Audit Committee concerning
independence, and has discussed with the independent
accountant
the independence of the accountant from the Company. Based on the
review
and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to
the
Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2014.
The Audit Committee of The Board of Directors
James T. Martin, Chairman
Steven H. Rosen
Kirin M. Smith
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, Meaden &
Moore,
Ltd. provided various audit services and non-audit services to the
Company.
Set forth below are the aggregate fees billed for these services:
|
2014
|
2013
|
Audit Fees
|
$80,300 |
$74,900
|
Audit-Related Fees |
-0-
|
-0-
|
Tax Fees
|
1,000
|
-0-
|
All Other Fees
|
6,100
|
48,500
|
|
|
|
Totals
|
$87,400
|
$123,400
|
|
|
|
Audit Fees: Fees for audit services include fees associated
with
the audit of the Company's annual financial statements and for the
reviews
of the financial statements included in the Company's quarterly reports
on
Form 10-Q. Audit fees also include fees associated with providing
consents
included with, and assistance with and review of, documents filed with
the
SEC.
Audit-Related Fees: There were no Audit-Related Fees.
Tax Fees: Tax Fees are for assistance in the preparation of various
tax forms and schedules.
All Other Fees: Other Fees are for services provided in
connection with
potential business transactions.
The Audit Committee has determined that the rendering of the non-audit
services
by Meaden & Moore, Ltd. is compatible with maintaining the
auditor's
independence.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy: It is the policy of the Company's
Audit Committee to approve all engagements of the Company's independent
auditor
to render audit and non-audit services prior to the initiation of such
services.
All services listed above were preapproved by the Audit Committee.
Proposal
to Ratify the Selection of the Independent Auditor
The Audit Committee has again selected the firm of Meaden & Moore,
Ltd. to act as
the
auditors for the Company for the current fiscal year. Although action
by the stockholders in this matter is not required, the Audit Committee
believes that it is appropriate to seek stockholders ratification of
this selection in light of the critical role played by independent
auditors. If our shareholders fail to vote on an advisory basis in
favor of the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether to
retain Meaden
& Moore, Ltd., and may retain that firm or another firm without
submitting the matter to our shareholders. A representative
of Meaden & Moore, Ltd. is expected to be present at the Annual
Meeting and will have
an
opportunity to make a statement, if desired. The representative also is
expected
to be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.
The following proposal will be presented for action at the Annual
Meeting by direction of the Board:
Resolved: that the selection by the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors of the firm of Meaden & Moore, Ltd., as independent
auditors for the Company for the year 2015 is hereby ratified.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR this proposal. The persons
named in the accompanying Proxy or their substitutes will vote such
Proxy for this proposal unless it is marked to the contrary. A
favorable vote of a majority of the combined outstanding Class A and
Class B Shares on the record date is required for ratification of the
proposal.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the compensation for services in all
capacities
to the Company of the Chief Executive Officer (the "Named Executive
Officer").
Summary
Compensation Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name and
Principal Position
(a)
|
Year
(b)
|
Salary
(c)
|
Bonus (1)
(d)
|
Option
Awards (2)
(f)
|
All
Other
Compensation
(i)
|
Total
(j)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert L. Bauman,
President & Chief
Executive Officer
|
2014
2013
|
$90,000
$87,250
|
0
0
|
|
0
0
|
$90,000
$87,250
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Named Executive Officer did
not receive personal benefits or
perquisites
during the last fiscal year in excess of $10,000 nor did the Named
Executive Officer receive such amounts in the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2013. Mr. Bauman's salary was reduced $50,000
per annum effective March 1, 2011 in addition to a 50% salary
reduction effective January 1, 2009.
(1) Represents bonuses earned from the plans described in the section
"Profit
Sharing Plans" below. Bonuses are normally paid after the end of the
year
for that year (e.g., bonus distributions that accrued in fiscal year
2014
will actually be paid in fiscal year 2015). There was no bonus accrued
in fiscal 2014 or 2013.
(2) Represents options to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock.
Under the Company's 2013 Omnibus Equity Plan, the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has the authority to
grant options to Key Employees. During fiscal 2014
and 2013 there
were no stock options granted to the Named Executive Officer under the
2013 Omnibus Equity Plan.
2014 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
There
are no outstanding employee equity
awards at September 30, 2014. Under the Company's 2013 Omnibus Equity
Plan, the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has the authority to
grant options to Key Employees. Upon a termination of service with the
Company as a result of death, disability or retirement, all stock
options and stock appreciation rights held by such participant under
this plan become immediately vested and such participant, or such
participant's estate as applicable, will be able to exercise the
options for the period of time stated in the 2013 Omnibus Equity Plan
or as otherwise stated in the agreement governing his or her award.
Except as otherwise provided in the 2013 Omnibus equity Plan or a
specific award agreement, upon a "change in control" (as defined under
the plan) all awards generally become fully exercisable, vested, earned
and payable. During fiscal 2014
and 2013, there
were no stock options granted to the Named Executive Officer under the
2013 Omnibus Equity Plan. During
the fiscal year ended September 30,
2014, there
were no stock options granted to the Named Executive Officer listed in
the
Summary Compensation Table.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table provides information as of September 30, 2014 with
respect
to compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements)
under
which Common Shares of the Company are authorized for issuance under
compensation
plans previously approved and not previously approved by shareholders
of
the Company.
|
(a)
|
(b)
|
(c)
|
Plan category
|
Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
|
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
|
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
(1)
|
|
Equity compensation
plans approved by
security holders
|
20,000
|
$5.54
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
|
Equity compensation
plans not approved by
security holders
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
20,000
|
|
150,000
|
(1) Represents
the total amount of securities available under the Hickok Incorporated
2013 Omnibus Equity Plan. Types of awards issuable under
the 2013
Omnibus Equity Plan
include stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted
shares, restricted share units, preference shares and Class A Common
Shares in such amounts determined by the Compensation Committee. No
securities have been issued under the 2013 Omnibus Equity Plan.
COMPENSATORY
ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN
OFFICERS
In light of the investments in the
Company by Roundball, LLC and the Aplin Family Trust, the recent
changes in the composition of the Board of Directors, and the
resignation of certain management employees, the Board of Directors
determined that it was in the best interests of the Company to enter
into new agreements with each of the named executive officers providing
for additional severance benefits in the event of the termination of
their
employment without cause. The Employment Agreements, dated January 9,
2012, provide that, for a
period of three (3)
years, if an executive officer's employment with the Company is
terminated for a reason other than "cause," as such term is defined in
the Employment Agreements, the executive officer will be entitled to a
lump sum payment from the Company in an amount equal to twelve (12)
months of such
executive officer's average base salary as paid to the executive
officer by the Company over the term of the applicable Employment
Agreement. In addition to this lump sum payment, if the terminated
executive officer is enrolled in the Company's medical insurance plan
on the date of termination and, provided that such executive
officer is
entitled to continue such participation under applicable law and plan
terms, the Company will reimburse the cost of the executive officer's
and his or her eligible dependents' participation in such plan pursuant
to any rights he or she may have under COBRA until the earlier of (a)
twelve (12) months from the date of the executive officer's termination
of employment with the Company; or (b) the date the executive officer
becomes eligible for similar benefits from a subsequent employer.
STOCK PERFORMANCE
GRAPH
The following data compares the value of $100 invested on October 1,
2009
in the Company's Class A Common Shares, the Nasdaq Composite Index, and
the
Nasdaq Industrial Index. The Nasdaq Composite Index represents a broad
market
group in which the Company participates, and the Nasdaq Industrial
Index
was chosen as having a representative peer group of companies. The
total return
includes reinvestment of dividends. The comparisons in this graph are
not
intended to forecast, or be indicative of, possible future performance.
The above graph was prepared using the following data:
SEPTEMBER 30
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HICKOK
|
$100
|
$85
|
$36
|
$26
|
$41
|
$42
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NASDAQ COMPOSITE
|
100
|
112
|
113
|
146
|
177
|
211
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NASDAQ INDUSTRIAL
|
100
|
117
|
125
|
156
|
207
|
221
|
Profit Sharing
Plans
Under
the Company's revised Charter
Documents bonus distributions will be determined
by
the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors after considering
such
factors as the employee's influence on Company results, performance
during
the preceding years (with emphasis on the previous year) and employee
long-term
anticipated contribution to corporate goals. The Company's Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors
provided no
bonuses in fiscal 2014.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS AND OTHER
MATTERS
The Board of Directors of the Company is not aware of any matter to
come
before the meeting other than those mentioned in the accompanying
Notice.
However, if other matters shall properly come before the meeting, it is
the
intention of the persons named in the accompanying Proxy to vote in
accordance
with their best judgment on such matters.
Any shareholder proposal intended to be presented at the 2016 Annual
Meeting
of Shareholders must be received by the Company's Secretary at its
principal
executive offices no later than September 30, 2015, for inclusion in
the Board of Directors' Proxy
Statement
and form of Proxy relating to that meeting. Each proposal submitted
should
be accompanied by the name and address of the shareholder submitting
the
proposal and the number of Common Shares owned. If the proponent is not
a shareholder of record, proof of beneficial ownership should also be
submitted.
All proposals must be a proper subject for action and comply with the
Proxy
rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Company may use its discretion in voting Proxies with respect to
Shareholders'
proposals not included in the Proxy Statement for fiscal year ended
September
30, 2015, unless the Company receives notice of such proposals prior to
December 14, 2015.
Upon the receipt of a written request
from
any shareholder entitled to vote at the forthcoming Annual Meeting, the
Company
will mail, at no charge to the shareholder, a copy of the Company's
Annual
Report on Form 10-K, including the financial statements and schedules
required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to Rule
13a-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for the
Company's
most recent fiscal year. Requests from beneficial owners of the
Company's
voting securities must set forth a good-faith representation that, as
of
the record date for the Annual Meeting, the person making the request
was
the beneficial owner of securities entitled to vote at such meeting.
Written
requests for such report should be directed to:
Mr. Gregory M. Zoloty
Hickok Incorporated
10514 Dupont Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44108
In addition, all
shareholders will have the ability to access this Proxy Statement and
the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
September
30, 2014 by visiting our website:
www.hickok-inc.com/about-us/financial-information.html
You are urged to sign and return your Proxy promptly in order to make
certain
your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting. For your convenience,
a
return envelope is enclosed requiring no additional postage if mailed
in
the United States.
By Order of the Board of Directors.
/s/ Robert L. Bauman
Robert L. Bauman
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
Dated March 3, 2015
(front)
(back)
Grafico Azioni Crawford United (PK) (USOTC:CRAWA)
Storico
Da Dic 2024 a Gen 2025
Grafico Azioni Crawford United (PK) (USOTC:CRAWA)
Storico
Da Gen 2024 a Gen 2025