STONERIDGE, INC. DEF 14A
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant 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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þ Definitive Proxy
Statement |
o Definitive
Additional Materials |
o Soliciting
Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12 |
o Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
STONERIDGE, 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):
þ 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: |
o 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: |
Not Applicable
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(2) |
Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
(4) Date Filed:
Not Applicable
STONERIDGE, INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To our Shareholders:
The 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Stoneridge, Inc. will
be held at 600 Golf Drive, Warren, Ohio 44483, on
Monday, April 18, 2005, at 10:00 a.m., local time, for
the following purposes:
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1. |
To elect ten directors, each for a term of one year; |
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2. |
To consider a proposal to approve the adoption of the
Directors Restricted Shares Plan; |
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3. |
To receive reports at the meeting. No action constituting
approval or disapproval of the matters referred to in the
reports is contemplated; and |
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To consider any other matters that properly come before the
meeting. |
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on
March 4, 2005 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the
meeting or any adjournment thereof. Shareholders are urged to
complete, sign and date the enclosed proxy and return it in the
enclosed envelope. The principal address of Stoneridge, Inc. is
9400 East Market Street, Warren, Ohio 44484.
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By order of the Board of Directors, |
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AVERY S. COHEN, |
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Secretary |
Dated: March 11, 2005
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY
STONERIDGE, INC.
PROXY STATEMENT
Our Board of Directors is sending you this proxy statement to
ask for your vote as a Stoneridge shareholder on certain matters
to be voted on at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Annual
Meeting of Shareholders will be held at 600 Golf Drive,
Warren, Ohio 44483, on Monday, April 18, 2005, at
10:00 a.m., local time. We are mailing this proxy statement
and the accompanying notice and proxy to you on or about
March 11, 2005.
Annual Report. A copy of our Annual Report to
Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004,
is enclosed with this proxy statement.
Solicitation of Proxies. Our Board of Directors is making
this solicitation of proxies and we will pay the cost of the
solicitation. We have retained Georgeson Shareholder, at an
estimated cost of $5,000, to assist us in the solicitation of
proxies from brokers, nominees, institutions and individuals. In
addition to solicitation of proxies by mail by Georgeson
Shareholder, our employees may solicit proxies by telephone,
facsimile or electronic mail.
Proxies; Revocation of Proxies. The shares represented by
your proxy will be voted in accordance with the instructions as
indicated on your proxy. In the absence of any such
instructions, they will be voted to elect the director nominees
set forth under Election of Directors and FOR
Proposal One. Your presence at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, without more, will not revoke your proxy. However,
you may revoke your proxy at any time before it has been
exercised by signing and delivering a later-dated proxy or by
giving notice to us in writing at our address indicated on the
attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, or in open
meeting.
Voting Eligibility. Only shareholders of record at the
close of business on the record date, March 4, 2005, are
entitled to receive notice of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
and to vote the common shares that they held on the record date
at the meeting. On the record date, our voting securities
outstanding consisted of 22,784,662 common shares, without
par value, each of which is entitled to one vote at the meeting.
1
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT
The following table describes certain information regarding the
beneficial ownership of our common shares as of
February 18, 2005, by: (a) our directors;
(b) each other person who is known by us to own
beneficially more than 5% of our outstanding common shares;
(c) our chief executive officer and the four other most
highly compensated executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table; and (d) our executive officers and
directors as a group.
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Number of | |
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Shares | |
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Percent | |
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Beneficially | |
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of | |
Name of Beneficial Owner(1) |
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Owned | |
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Class | |
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D.M. Draime(2)
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5,793,672 |
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25.4 |
% |
Jeffrey P. Draime(3)
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2,851,950 |
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12.5 |
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FMR Corp.(4)
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1,981,600 |
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8.7 |
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Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc.(5)
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1,927,400 |
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8.5 |
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Sky Bank NA(6)
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1,363,456 |
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6.0 |
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Scott N. Draime(7)
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1,172,788 |
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5.1 |
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Barclays Global Investors NA(8)
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1,142,891 |
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5.0 |
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Gerald V. Pisani(9)
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579,119 |
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2.5 |
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Avery S. Cohen(10)
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190,059 |
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* |
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Earl L. Linehan(11)
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146,579 |
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* |
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Sheldon J. Epstein(12)
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52,771 |
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* |
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Richard E. Cheney(13)
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42,571 |
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John C. Corey
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Douglas C. Jacobs
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William M. Lasky
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* |
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Edward F. Mosel(14)
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65,388 |
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* |
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Thomas A. Beaver(15)
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79,079 |
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Mark J. Tervalon(16)
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9,000 |
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All Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (13 persons)
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7,032,338 |
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30.9 |
% |
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Less than 1%. |
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(1) |
Unless otherwise indicated, the beneficial owner has sole voting
and investment power over such shares. |
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Represents 5,766,172 common shares held in trust for the benefit
of D.M. Draime, of which Mr. Draime is trustee, and
27,500 common shares held by the Draime Family Foundation, a
charitable foundation of which Mr. Draime is a co-trustee.
The address of D.M. Draime is 9400 East Market Street,
Warren, Ohio 44484. |
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(3) |
Represents 1,010,595 common shares held in trust for the
benefit of Jeffrey P. Draime of which Jeffrey P. Draime is
trustee, 1,785,855 common shares held in trust for the benefit
of Draime family members, of which Jeffrey P. Draime is trustee,
27,500 shares held by the Draime Family Foundation, a
charitable foundation of which Jeffrey P. Draime is a
co-trustee, and 28,000 common shares owned by Jeffrey P. Draime
directly. The address of Jeffrey P. Draime is 9400 East
Market Street, Warren, Ohio 44484. |
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According to a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) by FMR Corp., all common
shares are owned by clients of FMR Corp. The address of FMR
Corp. is 82 Devonshire Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02109. |
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According to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by
Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc., all common shares are owned by
advisory clients of Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc.
Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. has disclaimed beneficial
ownership of all such securities. The address of Dimensional
Fund Advisors, Inc. is 1299 Ocean Avenue,
11th Floor, Santa Monica, California 90401. |
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Represents shares held in trusts for the benefit of Draime
family members, of which Sky Bank NA is trustee. The address of
Sky Bank NA is 108 Main Avenue SW, Warren,
Ohio 44481. |
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Represents 1,172,767 common shares held in trusts for the
benefit of Draime family members, of which Scott N. Draime is
trustee, and 21 shares owned by Scott N. Draime directly.
The address of Scott N. Draime is 1209 Cerrito Grande,
El Paso, Texas 79912. |
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(8) |
According to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC by Barclays
Global Investors NA, all common shares are owned by clients of
Barclays Global Investors NA. The address of Barclays Global
Investors NA is 45 Fremont Street, San Francisco,
California 94105. |
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Represents 156,599 common shares held in trust for the
benefit of Gerald V. Pisani of which Mr. Pisani is trustee,
155,120 common shares held in separate trusts for the benefit of
Mr. Pisanis children of which Mr. Pisanis
wife is trustee, 254,000 common shares that Mr. Pisani has
the right to acquire upon the exercise of share options, 10,000
restricted shares that vest in equal increments on May 17,
2005, 2006 and 2007 and 3,400 restricted shares that vest in
equal increments on June 28, 2005, 2006 and 2007. |
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(10) |
Includes 124,480 common shares held under the Ohio Transfer
to Minors Act for the benefit of William M. Draime and John A.
Draime, of which Avery S. Cohen is trustee, 16,500 common shares
that Mr. Cohen has the right to acquire upon the exercise
of share options and 49,079 common shares that
Mr. Cohen owns directly. |
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Represents 16,500 common shares that Earl L. Linehan has the
right to acquire upon the exercise of share options and
130,079 common shares owned by Mr. Linehan directly. |
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Includes 1,500 common shares owned by Sheldon J. Epsteins
wife, 16,500 common shares that Mr. Epstein has the
right to acquire upon the exercise of share options and
34,771 common shares owned by Mr. Epstein directly. |
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Represents 500 common shares owned by Richard E.
Cheneys wife, 16,500 common shares that
Mr. Cheney has the right to acquire upon the exercise of
share options and 25,571 common shares owned by
Mr. Cheney directly. |
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Represents 31,388 common shares owned by Edward F. Mosel
directly, 24,000 common shares that Mr. Mosel has the
right to acquire upon the exercise of share options,
5,000 restricted shares that vest in equal increments on
May 17, 2005, 2006 and 2007, and 5,000 restricted
shares that vest in equal increments on June 28, 2005, 2006
and 2007. |
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Represents 29,079 common shares owned by Thomas A. Beaver
directly, 45,000 common shares that Mr. Beaver has the
right to acquire upon the exercise of share options and
5,000 restricted shares that vest in equal increments on
May 17, 2005, 2006 and 2007. |
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Represents 4,000 common shares that Mark J. Tervalon has the
right to acquire upon the exercise of share options and
5,000 restricted shares that vest in equal increments on
May 17, 2005, 2006 and 2007. |
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
In accordance with our Code of Regulations, the number of
directors has been fixed at ten. At the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, you will elect ten directors to hold office until
our next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their
successors are elected and qualified. The Board of Directors
elected Gerald V. Pisani, the Companys President and Chief
Executive Officer, to the Board of Directors on May 10,
2004 to fill a vacancy that existed on the Board of Directors on
that date. Pursuant to the Companys Code of Regulations,
the Board of Directors approved an increase in the size of the
Board of Directors to nine on July 6, 2004 and elected
Douglas C. Jacobs on that date to fill the vacancy created
by the increase. Pursuant to the Companys Code of
Regulations, the Board of Directors approved an increase in the
size of the Board of Directors to ten on February 11, 2005
and nominated Jeffrey P. Draime for election as a director
at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Jeffrey P. Draime is
the son of D.M. Draime, Chairman of the Companys Board of
Directors. The Board of Directors proposes that the nominees
described below, all of whom, except for Jeffrey P. Draime,
are currently serving as directors, be elected to the Board of
Directors. At the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the common
shares represented by proxies, unless otherwise specified, will
be voted for the election of the ten nominees hereinafter named.
The director nominees are identified in the following table. If
for any reason any of the nominees is not a candidate when the
election occurs (which is not expected), the Board of Directors
expects that proxies will be
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voted for the election of a substitute nominee designated by
management. The following information is furnished with respect
to each person nominated for election as a director.
The Board recommends that you vote FOR the following
nominees.
Nominees for Election at the Annual Meeting
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Expiration | |
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Period of |
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of Term | |
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Service as a |
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Name and Age |
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Principal Occupation and Business Experience |
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Director |
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Proposed | |
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Gerald V. Pisani 64
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President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company |
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2004 to date |
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2006 |
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Richard E. Cheney 83
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Psychoanalyst in private practice, retired in 1995 as Chairman
of Hill & Knowlton, Inc., a public relations firm |
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1988 to date |
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2006 |
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Avery S. Cohen 68
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Partner, Baker & Hostetler LLP, a law firm |
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1988 to date |
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2006 |
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John C. Corey 57
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President and Chief Executive Officer of Safety Components
International, a supplier of air bags and components |
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2004 to date |
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2006 |
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D.M. Draime 71
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Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Assistant Secretary of
the Company |
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1988 to date |
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2006 |
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Jeffery P. Draime 38
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Owner of Silent Productions, a concert promotions company, and
Owner of QSL Columbus, QSL Dayton, a restaurant franchise |
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2006 |
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Sheldon J. Epstein 66
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Managing Member, Epstein, Weber & Conover, P.L.C., an
independent public accounting firm |
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1988 to date |
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2006 |
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Douglas C. Jacobs 64
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Executive Vice President - Finance, Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer of the Cleveland Browns, a professional
football team |
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2004 to date |
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2006 |
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William M. Lasky 57
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Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of JLG
Industries, Inc., a diversified construction and industrial
equipment manufacturer |
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2004 to date |
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2006 |
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Earl L. Linehan 63
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President, Woodbrook Capital Inc., a venture capital and
investment firm |
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1988 to date |
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2006 |
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Each of the nominees for election as a director has engaged in
the principal occupation or activity indicated for at least five
years, except for the following:
Mr. D.M. Draime served as Interim President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company from January 2004 to May 2004,
when Mr. Pisani was named as President and Chief Executive
Officer.
Mr. Pisani has served as Vice President of the Company
since 1989 and President of the Stoneridge Engineered Products
Group since 1992. Mr. Pisani became the Companys
Chief Operating Officer in December 2003 and the Companys
President and Chief Executive Officer in May 2004.
Mr. Corey was the President and Chief Operating Officer of
Safety Components International from 1999 to 2000, when he
became that companys President and Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Jeffrey P. Draime was a North American Sales
Manager for the Alphabet Group from 1993 to 2000.
Mr. Epstein was a principal in the independent public
accounting firm Gaintner, Bandler & Reed, P.L.C., from
June 1999 to December 2001.
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Mr. Jacobs, a former partner of the accounting firm Arthur
Andersen LLP, was Vice President - Finance, Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer of the Cleveland Browns from 1999 to 2001,
when he became the organizations Executive Vice
President - Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.
Legal Proceedings. On April 10, 2000, Safety
Components International, the company for which Mr. Corey
was the President and Chief Operating Officer, and certain of
its U.S. subsidiaries (collectively, the Safety
Filing Group), filed a voluntary petition under
Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code
(Chapter 11) with the United States Bankruptcy
Court for the District of Delaware (the Bankruptcy
Court). On October 11, 2000, the Safety Filing Group
emerged from Chapter 11 pursuant to a plan of
reorganization confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court and at that
time Mr. Corey became President and Chief Executive Officer
of Safety Components International.
Directorships. Mr. Corey is a director of Safety
Components International. Mr. Jacobs is a director of
Standard Pacific Corporation, serves as chairman of its audit
committee and is a member of its nominating and corporate
governance committee. Mr. Lasky is the chairman of the
board of directors of JLG Industries, Inc. and is a member of
its executive committee.
Independent Directors. The New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE) rules require listed companies to have a
Board of Directors comprised of at least a majority of
independent directors. Under the NYSE rules, a director
qualifies as independent upon the affirmative
determination that the director has 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). The Board has determined that Messrs. Cheney,
Corey, Epstein, Jacobs, Lasky and Linehan are independent.
Committees of the Board and Meeting Attendance. In 2004,
our Board of Directors held ten meetings and took action by
unanimous written consent on one occasion. Our Board of
Directors has appointed a compensation committee, an audit
committee, and a nominating and corporate governance committee.
Each member of the compensation, audit, and nominating and
corporate governance committees is independent as defined under
the listing standards of the NYSE. The Board of Directors does
not currently have a finance committee. In 2004, each Board
member attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board of
Directors and of the committees on which he serves. In addition,
it is the Companys policy that all directors attend the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders. All directors who were directors
at the time attended the 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Mr. Lasky has been appointed as the presiding director by
the non-management directors to preside at the executive
sessions of the non-management and independent directors. It is
the Boards practice to have the non-management directors
meet regularly in executive session and to have the independent
directors meet at least once a year in executive session.
Compensation Committee. The compensation committee is
comprised of Messrs. Cheney, Lasky and Linehan. This
committee held six meetings during 2004. The compensation
committee reviews employment, development, reassignment and
compensation matters involving corporate officers and other
executive level employees, including issues related to salary,
bonus and incentive arrangements. The compensation committee
also administers our Long-Term Incentive Plan. Our Board of
Directors has adopted a charter for this committee, which is
available on our website at www.stoneridge.com.
Audit Committee. The audit committee is comprised of
Messrs. Cheney, Corey, Epstein and Jacobs. This committee
held six meetings during 2004. Information regarding the
functions performed by the audit committee is set forth in the
Audit Committee Report, included in this proxy
statement. The audit committee is governed by a written charter,
which was approved by the Board of Directors. This charter is
available on our website at www.stoneridge.com.
The Board of Directors has determined that all audit committee
members are financially literate under the current listing
standards of the NYSE. The Board also determined that
Mr. Epstein qualifies as an audit committee financial
expert as defined by the SEC rules adopted pursuant to the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. In addition, under the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the NYSE rules mandated by the
SEC, members of the audit committee must have no affiliation
with the issuer, other than their Board seat, and receive no
compensation in any capacity other than as a director or
committee member. Each member of our audit committee meets this
additional independence standard applicable to audit committee
members of NYSE listed companies.
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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The
nominating and corporate governance committee is comprised of
Messrs. Epstein, Lasky and Linehan. This committee held two
meetings in 2004. The purpose of the nominating and corporate
governance committee is to evaluate and recommend candidates for
election as directors, make recommendations concerning the size
and composition of the Board of Directors, develop and implement
the Companys corporate governance policies and assess the
effectiveness of the Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors
has adopted a written charter for this committee, which is
available on our website at www.stoneridge.com.
It is the policy of the nominating and corporate governance
committee to consider individuals recommended by shareholders
for membership on the Board. If a shareholder desires to
recommend an individual for membership on the Board, then that
shareholder must provide a written notice (the
Recommendation Notice) to the Secretary of the
Company at Stoneridge, Inc., 9400 East Market Street, Warren,
Ohio 44484, on or before January 15 for consideration by this
committee for that years election of directors at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders. No shareholder nominee
recommendations were received for this years Annual
Meeting of Shareholders.
In addition, in order for a recommendation to be considered by
the nominating and corporate governance committee, the
Recommendation Notice must contain, at a minimum, the following:
the name and address, as they appear on the Companys
books, and telephone number of the shareholder making the
recommendation, including information on the number of common
shares owned and date(s) acquired, and if such person is not a
shareholder of record or if such shares are owned by an entity,
reasonable evidence of such persons ownership of such
shares or such persons authority to act on behalf of such
entity; the full legal name, address and telephone number of the
individual being recommended, together with a reasonably
detailed description of the background, experience and
qualifications of that individual; a written acknowledgment by
the individual being recommended that he or she has consented to
that recommendation and consents to the Companys
undertaking of an investigation into that individuals
background, experience and qualifications in the event that the
committee desires to do so; any information not already provided
about the persons background, experience and
qualifications necessary for the Company to prepare the
disclosure required to be included in the Companys proxy
statement about the individual being recommended; the disclosure
of any relationship of the individual being recommended with the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, whether direct
or indirect; the disclosure of any relation of the individual
being recommended with the shareholder, whether direct or
indirect, and, if known to the shareholder, any material
interest of such shareholder or individual being recommended in
any proposals or other business to be presented at the
Companys Annual Meeting of Shareholders (or a statement to
the effect that no material interest is known to such
shareholder).
The nominating and corporate governance committee determines,
and reviews with the Board on an annual basis, the desired
skills and characteristics for directors as well as the
composition of the Board as a whole. This assessment considers
the directors qualifications and independence, as well as
diversity, age, skill and experience in the context of the needs
of the Board. At a minimum, directors should share the values of
the Company and should possess the following characteristics:
high personal and professional integrity; the ability to
exercise sound business judgment; an inquiring mind; and the
time available to devote to Board activities and the willingness
to do so. In addition to the foregoing considerations, generally
with respect to nominees recommended by shareholders, the
committee will evaluate such recommended nominees considering
the additional information regarding them contained in the
Recommendation Notices. When seeking candidates for the Board,
the committee may solicit suggestions from incumbent directors,
management and third-party search firms. Ultimately, the
nominating and corporate governance committee will recommend to
the Board prospective Board members who the nominating and
corporate governance committee believes will be effective, in
conjunction with the other members of the Board, in collectively
serving the long-term interests of the Companys
shareholders.
The nominating and corporate governance committee recommended to
the Board each of the nominees identified in Election of
Directors on page 4. In connection with the
appointment of Mr. Jacobs to fill the vacancy on the Board
in July 2004, a third party individual professional services
advisor recommended Mr. Jacobs to the Board. The nomination
of Jeffrey P. Draime was recommended to the Board by the
non-management directors.
6
Directors Compensation. Each director who is not an
employee of ours receives $35,000 per year for being a
director, $1,000 for attending each meeting of the Board of
Directors and $500 for each telephonic meeting of the Board of
Directors. There is no additional fee received for attending
committee meetings unless such meeting takes place on a day
other than the same day as a meeting of the Board of Directors,
in which case committee members receive $1,000 for attending
such meetings and $500 when the meetings are held
telephonically. The audit committee chairman receives additional
compensation of $7,500 and the compensation committee chairman
receives additional compensation of $4,000. Directors who are
also employees of ours are not paid any directors fee. We
reimburse out-of-pocket expenses incurred by all directors in
connection with attending Board and committee meetings. In 2004,
each non-employee director who served on the board (except for
Mr. Jacobs who did not become a board member until July of
2004) was granted an option to purchase 10,000 shares
at a price per share equal to the fair market value of the
common shares on the date of grant. These option grants to
non-employee directors were made on May 10, 2004 at an
exercise price of $15.73. These options expire in ten years and
become exercisable in one year.
Communications with the Board. Our Board of Directors
believes that it is important for shareholders to have a process
to send communications to the Board. Accordingly, shareholders
who wish to communicate with the Board or a particular director
may do so by sending a letter to the Secretary at 9400 East
Market Street, Warren, Ohio 44484. The mailing envelope must
contain a clear notation indicating that the enclosed letter is
a Stockholder-Board Communication or
Stockholder-Director Communication. All such letters
must identify the author as a shareholder and clearly state
whether the intended recipients are all members of the Board of
Directors or certain specified individual directors. The
Secretary will make copies of all such letters and circulate
them to the appropriate director or directors. The directors are
not spokespeople for the Company and shareholders should not
expect a response or reply to any communication.
Compensation Committee Report
Introduction. The compensation committee (the
Committee), which is comprised entirely of
independent and non-employee directors, is responsible for
determining the compensation to be paid to our executive
officers and for administering our Long-Term Incentive Plan (the
LTIP). The Committees philosophy with respect
to the compensation of our executive officers is (1) to
provide a competitive total compensation package that enables us
to attract and retain qualified executives and align their
compensation with our overall business strategies, and
(2) to provide each executive officer with a significant
economic stake in our success. To this end, the Committee
determines executive compensation with a focus on compensating
executive officers based on their responsibilities and
performance as well as our performance. The primary components
of our executive compensation program are (1) base
salaries, (2) bonuses, and (3) equity awards,
including share options and restricted shares under the LTIP.
The overall objectives of this strategy are not only to attract
and retain the best possible executive talent but also to
motivate our executives to achieve the goals inherent in our
business strategy, to link executive and shareholder interests
through equity-based plans and, finally, to provide a
compensation package that recognizes individual contributions
and overall business results.
Each year the Committee conducts a review of our executive
compensation program. In connection with the review of base
salary compensation for 2004, the Committee considered a
comprehensive report prepared by Ernst & Young LLP
(Ernst & Young) in December 2003 (the
2003 Compensation Report). The report compared the
compensation of our top executive officers to a peer group of
public corporations. The Committee also received a second
similar comprehensive report prepared by Towers Perrin in
December 2004 (the 2004 Compensation Report). The
Committee reviewed and considered the 2003 Compensation Report
in determining base salaries for 2004 and considered the 2004
Compensation Report in determining bonuses for 2004.
The Committee reviews the selection of peer companies used for
compensation analysis. The peer groups used for compensation
analysis are generally not the same as the peer group index in
the Performance Graph included in this proxy statement. The
Committee believes that our most direct competitors for
executive talent are not necessarily all of the companies that
would be included in the peer group established for comparing
shareholder returns.
7
The Committee determines the compensation of the most highly
compensated corporate executives, including the individuals
whose compensation is detailed in this proxy statement, and sets
policies for and reviews the compensation awarded to other
highly compensated corporate executives. This is designed to
ensure consistency throughout the executive compensation
program. In reviewing the individual performance of the
executives whose compensation is detailed in this proxy
statement, the Committee takes into account the views of
Mr. D. M. Draime, our Chairman and
Mr. Gerald V. Pisani, our President and Chief
Executive Officer.
Base Salaries and Other Annual Compensation. The
Committee sets base salary levels for our executive officers on
the basis of the executives responsibilities. However, in
each case, due consideration is given to personal factors, such
as the individuals experience, performance and
contributions. Also considered are external factors, such as
salaries paid to similarly situated executive officers by peer
companies. In the case of executive officers with responsibility
for a particular business unit, that units financial
results are also considered.
Annual adjustments to each executive officers salary are
determined based on the foregoing factors but with due
consideration also being given to the independent compensation
reports referred to above, prevailing economic conditions, to
the relationship of such adjustments to those being given to
other employees, to the performance of the executives
duties and responsibilities and to other individual
performance-related criteria that may be relevant with respect
to such executive officer at the time. Finally, the Committee,
where appropriate, also considers non-financial performance
measures. These include increases in market share, manufacturing
efficiency gains, improvements in product quality and
improvements in relations with customers, suppliers and
employees. The base salaries for the Companys named
executive officers appear in the Salary column of
the Summary Compensation Table.
When determining the appropriate level of Mr. Pisanis
2004 base salary, the Committee considered the 2003 Compensation
Report and the same factors that it considers when determining
compensation levels for our other executive employees.
Mr. Pisanis base salary for 2004 was set at $372,000.
On June 1, 2004, in connection with Mr. Pisanis
election as President and Chief Executive Officer,
Mr. Pisanis base salary was increased to $450,000.
Bonuses. Our executive officers are eligible for annual
cash bonuses. The Committee believes that a substantial portion
of each executives bonus should be tied to quantifiable
measures of the Companys financial performance. The
Committee used the 2004 Compensation Report to establish
targeted bonus levels for each position assuming achievement of
targeted financial performance. The amount of bonus granted for
2004 to each executive relative to the target depended in large
part on how the Company (or division) performed against certain
financial metrics. For 2004 the metrics chosen were attainment
of budgeted operating profit, performance relative to the flex
budget, and control of working capital. A portion of the annual
bonus was also based on the attainment of non-financial goals.
Based upon the above, Mr. Pisani was awarded a bonus of
$300,000. Bonuses for the Companys named executive
officers appear in the Bonus column of the Summary
Compensation Table.
Equity Awards. Under the Companys LTIP, all
executive officers may be granted Share Options and Restricted
Shares. We believe that equity awards are a valuable motivating
tool and provide a long-term incentive to management. The
Committee did not grant any Share Options in 2004, but instead
granted Restricted Shares. Information on the Restricted Shares
granted during 2004 to the Companys named executive
officers appear in the Restricted Share Awards
column of the Summary Compensation Table. The Committee granted
Mr. Pisani 13,400 restricted shares in 2004.
Conclusion. Through the programs described above, a
significant portion of our executive compensation is linked
directly to individual and Company performance. The Committee
intends to continue this policy and in the future also plans to
consider ways to better link the long-term incentive plan to
financial performance and returns to shareholders, recognizing
that the fluctuations of the business cycle from time to time
may result in an imbalance for a particular period.
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Earl L. Linehan |
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Richard E. Cheney |
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William M. Lasky |
8
Audit Committee Report
In accordance with its written charter, the audit committee
assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibility
relating to corporate accounting, reporting practices of the
Company, and the quality and integrity of the financial reports
and other financial information provided by the Company to any
governmental body or to the public. Management is responsible
for the financial statements and the reporting process,
including the system of internal controls. The independent
registered public accounting firm is responsible for expressing
an opinion on the conformity of the audited financial statements
with generally accepted accounting principles. Our audit
committee is comprised of four directors, all of whom are
independent for audit committee purposes under the
current listing standards of the NYSE.
In discharging its oversight responsibility as to the audit
process, the audit committee reviewed and discussed the audited
financial statements of the Company for the year ended
December 31, 2004, with the Companys management,
including a discussion of the quality, not just the
acceptability, of the accounting principles; the reasonableness
of significant judgments; and the clarity of disclosures in the
financial statements. The audit committee reviewed with the
independent registered public accounting firm their judgments as
to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the
Companys accounting principles and such other matters as
are required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards
No. 61, as amended by Statement on Auditing Standards
No. 90, Communication with Audit Committees.
The audit committee also obtained a formal written statement
from the independent registered public accounting firm that
described all relationships between the independent registered
public accounting firm and the Company that might bear on the
auditors independence consistent with Independence
Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence
Discussions with Audit Committee, as amended or
supplemented. The audit committee discussed with the independent
registered public accounting firm any relationships that might
impact their objectivity and independence and satisfied itself
as to the auditors independence. The audit committee also
considered whether the provision of non-audit services by
Ernst & Young is compatible with maintaining
Ernst & Youngs independence. Management has the
responsibility for the preparation of the Companys
financial statements, and the independent registered public
accounting firm has the responsibility for the examination of
those statements.
The audit committee discussed with the Companys internal
auditor and the independent registered public accounting firm
the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The
audit committee meets with the internal auditor and the
independent registered public accounting firm, with and without
management present, to discuss the results of their
examinations, their evaluations of the Companys internal
control, and the overall quality of the Companys financial
reporting.
Based on the above-referenced review and discussions with
management and the internal auditor and the independent
registered public accounting firm, the audit committee
recommended to the Board of Directors that the Companys
audited financial statements be included in its Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, for
filing with the SEC.
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Sheldon J. Epstein |
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Richard E. Cheney |
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John C. Corey |
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Douglas C. Jacobs |
9
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The table below describes the compensation paid for the last
three fiscal years to our chief executive officer and the four
other most highly compensated executive officers. We sometimes
refer to the people listed in the table below as our named
executive officers.
Summary Compensation Table
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Long-Term | |
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Compensation Awards | |
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Annual Compensation | |
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Restricted | |
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Number of | |
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Other Annual | |
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Share | |
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Securities | |
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All Other | |
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Fiscal | |
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Salary | |
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Bonus | |
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Compensation | |
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Awards | |
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Underlying | |
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Compensation | |
Name and Principal Position |
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Year | |
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($) | |
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($) | |
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($)(2) | |
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($)(3) | |
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Option (#) | |
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($)(4) | |
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D. M. Draime(1)
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2004 |
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200,000 |
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150,000 |
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13,420 |
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Chairman of the Board |
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2003 |
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200,000 |
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150,000 |
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11,706 |
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of Directors |
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2002 |
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200,000 |
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100,000 |
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6,316 |
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Gerald V. Pisani
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2004 |
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417,500 |
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300,000 |
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212,326 |
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13,942 |
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President and |
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2003 |
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300,000 |
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285,000 |
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40,000 |
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13,594 |
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Chief Executive Officer |
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2002 |
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250,000 |
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285,000 |
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40,000 |
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6,204 |
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Edward F. Mosel
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2004 |
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249,917 |
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160,000 |
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161,900 |
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17,110 |
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Executive Vice President and |
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2003 |
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205,300 |
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100,000 |
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10,000 |
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6,443 |
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Chief Operating Officer |
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2002 |
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192,000 |
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90,000 |
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10,000 |
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1,642 |
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Thomas A. Beaver
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2004 |
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236,000 |
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115,000 |
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77,450 |
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13,158 |
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Vice President of Global Sales |
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2003 |
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225,000 |
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100,000 |
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20,000 |
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12,664 |
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and Systems Engineering |
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2002 |
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185,000 |
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140,000 |
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20,000 |
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3,974 |
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Mark J. Tervalon
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2004 |
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202,974 |
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120,000 |
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77,450 |
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9,067 |
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Vice President and General Manager |
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2003 |
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177,200 |
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78,000 |
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4,000 |
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5,397 |
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of Stoneridge Electronics Group |
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2002 |
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114,911 |
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30,000 |
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848 |
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(1) |
Mr. Draime served as Interim President and Chief Executive
Officer from January 1, 2004 until May 10, 2004. |
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(2) |
No amounts are listed here as no perquisite payments in excess
of reporting thresholds were made. |
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(3) |
The dollar amount listed in this column represents the market
value of the restricted shares issued as of the date of grant.
The restrictions on these awards will lapse, provided the
executive is still employed by the Company, or in certain cases
if his employment ends earlier, according to the vesting
schedules included in their respective restricted share
agreements. |
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The amount listed for Mr. Pisani in 2004 is the market
value at the time of grant of 10,000 restricted shares granted
on May 10, 2004 and 3,400 restricted shares granted on
June 28, 2004. These shares will vest in equal increments
on May 10, 2005, 2006 and 2007 and June 28, 2005, 2006
and 2007, respectively. As of December 31, 2004, the
aggregate market value of the 13,400 outstanding restricted
shares granted to Mr. Pisani was $202,742. |
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The amount listed for Mr. Mosel in 2004 is the market value
at the time of grant of 5,000 restricted shares granted on
May 10, 2004 and 5,000 restricted shares granted on
June 28, 2004. These shares will vest in equal increments
on May 10, 2005, 2006 and 2007 and June 28, 2005, 2006
and 2007, respectively. As of December 31, 2004, the
aggregate market value of the 10,000 outstanding restricted
shares granted to Mr. Mosel was $151,300. |
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The amounts listed for Messrs. Beaver and Tervalon in 2004
are the market value at the time of grant of 5,000 restricted
shares granted to each of them respectively, on May 10,
2004. These shares will vest in equal increments on May 10,
2005, 2006 and 2007. As of December 31, 2004, the aggregate
market value of the 5,000 outstanding restricted shares granted
to both of Messrs. Beaver and Tervalon was $75,650. |
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(4) |
This column represents term life insurance premiums paid in 2004
to Mr. Draime of $3,757, Mr. Pisani of $1,204,
Mr. Mosel of $1,372, Mr. Beaver of $420 and
Mr. Tervalon of $385; and 401(k), profit sharing and |
10
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match paid in 2004 to Mr. Draime of $9,663, Mr. Pisani
of $12,738, Mr. Mosel of $15,738, Mr. Beaver of
$12,738 and Mr. Tervalon of $8,682. |
Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
and Fiscal Year-End Option Values
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Number of Securities | |
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Underlying Unexercised | |
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Value of Unexercised | |
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Shares | |
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Options at Fiscal | |
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In-the-Money Options | |
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Acquired on | |
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Value | |
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Year-End (#) | |
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at Fiscal Year-End ($) | |
Name |
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Exercise (#) | |
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Realized ($) | |
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Exercisable/Unexercisable | |
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Exercisable/Unexercisable | |
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D. M. Draime
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0 / 0 |
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0 / 0 |
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Gerald V. Pisani
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254,000 / 0 |
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1,177,945 / 0 |
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Edward F. Mosel
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24,000 / 0 |
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140,330 / 0 |
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Thomas A. Beaver
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45,000 / 0 |
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269,835 / 0 |
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Mark J. Tervalon
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4,000 / 0 |
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18,980 / 0 |
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Change of Control Agreements
Messrs. Pisani and Beaver have each entered into an
agreement with us that guarantees we will pay to each of them
two years of continued compensation (including bonuses) and
benefits upon a change of control regardless of whether they
remain employed by us. A change of control shall be deemed to
have occurred if any shareholder or group of shareholders
acquires more of our common shares than are owned by D.M. Draime
and his direct descendants and trusts for the benefit of D.M.
Draime and his direct descendants.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
Messrs. Cheney, Lasky and Linehan were the members of our
compensation committee in 2004 and there are no compensation
committee interlocks.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Hunters Square. D.M. Draime is a 50% owner of
Hunters Square, Inc. (HSI), an Ohio corporation,
which owns Hunters Square, an office complex and shopping mall
located in Warren, Ohio. We lease office space in Hunters Square
for use as the headquarters of our Alphabet Group. We pay all
maintenance, tax and insurance costs related to the operation of
the office. Lease payments made by us to HSI in 2004 were
$301,000. We will continue to make lease payments as required
under the lease agreement, which terminates in December 2009.
The Company believes the terms of the lease are no less
favorable to it than would be the terms of a third-party lease.
Relationship with Counsel. Avery S. Cohen, one of our
directors, is a partner in Baker & Hostetler LLP, a law
firm, which has served as general outside counsel for us since
1993 and is expected to continue to do so in the future.
Draime Family. Jeffrey P. Draime, a nominee for election
as a director, is the son of D.M. Draime, the Chairman of
the Board of Directors.
11
Performance Graph
Set forth below is a line graph comparing the cumulative total
return of a hypothetical investment in our common shares with
the cumulative total return of hypothetical investments in the
NYSE Market Index and the CoreData Industry Group
333 (Automotive Parts) Index based on the respective market
price of each investment at December 31, 1999, 2000, 2001,
2002, 2003 and 2004, assuming in each case an initial investment
of $100 on December 31, 1999, and reinvestment of dividends.
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1999 | |
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2000 | |
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2001 | |
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2002 | |
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2003 | |
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2004 | |
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Stoneridge, Inc
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100.00 |
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43.72 |
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58.95 |
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77.09 |
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97.49 |
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98.01 |
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Coredata Group Index
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100.00 |
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80.45 |
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101.53 |
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90.54 |
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133.71 |
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137.62 |
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NYSE Market Index
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100.00 |
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102.38 |
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93.26 |
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76.18 |
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98.69 |
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111.45 |
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12
PROPOSAL ONE ADOPTION OF DIRECTORS
RESTRICTED SHARES PLAN
Summary of the Plan
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The purpose of the Directors Restricted Shares Plan (the
Plan) is to advance the interests of the Company and
its shareholders by providing Eligible Directors (all
non-employee directors) with an opportunity to participate in
the Companys future prosperity and growth and an incentive
to increase the value of the Company based on the Companys
performance, development, and financial success. |
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The Plan will be administered by the Board of Directors (the
Board). The Board will have the power and authority
to approve the grant of common shares subject to forfeiture
(Restricted Shares) to Eligible Directors; approve
the terms and conditions; adopt, alter, and repeal such
administrative rules, guidelines, and practices governing the
Plan as it shall, from time to time, deem advisable; interpret
the terms and provisions of the Plan and any agreements related
thereto; and take any other actions the Board considers
appropriate. |
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The maximum aggregate number of common shares that may be issued
under the Plan as Restricted Shares shall be 300,000. The
Restricted Shares that may be issued under the Plan may be
authorized but unissued common shares or issued shares
reacquired by the Company and held as Treasury Shares. |
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The Restricted Shares granted under the Plan will be authorized
by the Board and will be evidenced by a written agreement in the
form approved by the Board, which will be dated as of the date
on which the Restricted Shares are granted, will be signed by an
officer of the Company, will be signed by the participant, and
will describe the terms and conditions to which the award of
Restricted Shares is subject. |
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The Plan provides for the forfeiture of rights granted under the
Plan of unvested shares on death, disability, resignation,
refusal to stand for reelection or failure to be elected, unless
otherwise determined by the Board. |
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The Board may modify, suspend or terminate the Plan as long as
it does not impair the rights thereunder of any participant. |
If this proposal is approved, the total number of common shares
authorized under the Plan would represent approximately 1.3% of
our outstanding common shares.
Vote Required for Approval
The affirmative vote of a majority of our common shares present
at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, either in person or by
properly executed proxy, is required to approve
Proposal One.
Under Ohio law and our Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation, as amended, abstentions and broker non-votes, if
any, with respect to Proposal One will, in effect, be votes
against the proposal.
The Board recommends that you vote FOR Proposal One.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2006 ANNUAL MEETING
Proposals of shareholders intended to be presented, pursuant to
Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
Exchange Act), at our 2006 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders must be received by us at 9400 East Market
Street, Warren, Ohio 44484, on or before November 11,
2005, for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy
relating to the 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. In order
for a shareholders proposal outside of Rule 14a-8
under the Exchange Act to be considered timely within the
meaning of Rule 14a-4(c) of the Exchange Act, such proposal
must be received by us at the address listed in the immediately
preceding sentence not later than January 25, 2006.
13
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING
COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors
and executive officers, and owners of more than 10% of our
common shares, to file with the SEC and the NYSE initial reports
of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our common
shares and other equity securities. Executive officers,
directors and owners of more than 10% of the common shares are
required by SEC regulations to furnish our Company with copies
of all forms they file pursuant to Section 16(a).
To our knowledge, based solely on our review of the copies of
such reports furnished to us and written representations that no
other reports were required during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004, all Section 16(a) filing
requirements applicable to our executive officers, directors and
greater-than-10% beneficial owners were complied with, except
for Mr. Michael J. Bagby, who filed one Form 4
reporting five transactions, four days after the required filing
date and Mr. Edward F. Mosel, who filed his initial
statement of beneficial ownership on Form 3 five days after
the required filing date.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Committee Charters. The Companys Corporate
Governance Guidelines, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Code
of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers and the charters of the
Boards audit, compensation and nominating and corporate
governance committees are posted on the Companys website
at www.stoneridge.com. Written copies of these documents will be
available to any shareholder upon request. Requests should be
directed to Investor Relations at the Companys address
listed on the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Corporate Financial Ethics Hotline. The Company
established a corporate financial ethics hotline as part of our
Whistleblower Policy and Procedures to allow persons to lodge
complaints about accounting, auditing and internal control
matters, and to allow an employee to lodge a concern,
confidentially and anonymously, about any accounting and
auditing matter. Information about lodging such complaints or
making such concerns known is contained in our Whistleblower
Policy and Procedures, which is posted on our website at
www.stoneridge.com.
OTHER MATTERS
We have not selected our independent registered public
accounting firm for the current fiscal year. The audit committee
of the Board of Directors will make this selection later in the
year. Representatives of Ernst & Young, which served as
our independent registered public accounting firm during 2004
and are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, will have an opportunity to make a statement if
they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate
questions.
Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by
Ernst & Young for the audit of the Companys
annual financial statements for the years ended
December 31, 2004 and 2003, including reviews of the
financial statements included in the Companys
Forms 10-Q filed with the SEC and statutory audits required
internationally during 2004 and 2003, were $1,555,000 and
$568,000, respectively. For 2004, these fees included
approximately $750,000 in fees related to Sarbanes-Oxley
Section 404 audit requirements.
Audit-Related Fees
The aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services
rendered by Ernst & Young that were reasonably related
to the performance of the audit or review of the Companys
financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2004
and 2003 were $83,000 and $118,000, respectively. These fees
primarily related to audits of employee benefit plans as well as
general assistance with the implementation of new regulatory
pronouncements, and review of the Companys standard cost
system and controls.
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Tax Fees
The aggregate fees billed for tax-related services rendered to
the Company by Ernst & Young for the years ended
December 31, 2004 and 2003 were $438,000 and $404,000,
respectively. These fees primarily related to tax audits, tax
compliance, tax consulting and both domestic and international
tax planning.
All Other Fees
The aggregate fees billed for all other services rendered by
Ernst & Young for the years ended December 31,
2004 and 2003 were $24,000 and $38,000, respectively. These fees
primarily related to advisory services provided to the
compensation committee of the Board of Directors.
Engagement of the Independent Auditor
In accordance with the SECs rules issued pursuant to the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the audit committee pre-approves all
audit and non-audit services provided by our independent
auditor. As such the audit committee approved all audit and
non-audit services provided to the Company by Ernst &
Young. The audit committee has not adopted a pre-approval policy
that would permit management to engage Ernst & Young.
The chair of the committee may pre-approve the rendering of
services on behalf of the committee, provided the matter is then
presented to the full committee at the next scheduled meeting.
Miscellaneous
If the enclosed proxy card is executed and returned to us, the
persons named in it will vote the shares represented by that
proxy at the meeting. The form of proxy permits specification of
a vote for the election of directors as set forth under
Election of Directors above, the withholding of
authority to vote in the election of directors, or the
withholding of authority to vote for one or more specified
nominees. When a choice has been specified in the proxy, the
shares represented will be voted in accordance with that
specification. If no specification is made, those shares will be
voted at the meeting to elect directors as set forth under
Election of Directors above and FOR
Proposal One. Under Ohio law and our Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation, as amended, broker non-votes and
abstaining votes will not be counted in favor of or against any
nominee but will be counted as present for purposes of
determining whether a quorum has been achieved at the meeting.
Director nominees who receive the greatest number of affirmative
votes will be elected directors. All other matters to be
considered at the meeting require for approval the favorable
vote of a majority of the shares voted at the meeting in person
or by proxy. If any other matter properly comes before the
meeting, the persons named in the proxy will vote thereon in
accordance with their judgment. We do not know of any other
matter that will be presented for action at the meeting and we
have not received any timely notice that any of our shareholders
intend to present a proposal at the meeting.
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By order of the Board of Directors, |
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AVERY S. COHEN, |
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Secretary |
Dated: March 11, 2005
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c/o National City Bank
Corporate Trust Operations
Locator 5352
P. O. Box 92301
Cleveland, OH 44101-4301
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
Regardless of whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders,
you can be sure your shares are represented at the meeting by promptly
returning your proxy in the enclosed envelope.
ê Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing. ê
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STONERIDGE, INC.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COMPANY |
The undersigned hereby appoints Gerald V. Pisani, Joseph M. Mallak and Avery S. Cohen, and
each of them, attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to attend
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Stoneridge, Inc. to be held at 600 Golf Drive, Warren, Ohio
44483, on Monday, April 18, 2005, at 10:00 a.m., local time, or any adjournment thereof, and to
vote the number of common shares of Stoneridge, Inc. which the undersigned would be entitled to
vote, and with all the power the undersigned would possess if personally present.
Receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement dated March 11, 2005, is hereby
acknowledged.
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Dated: , 2005
Signature(s)
Please sign exactly as your name or names appear hereon, indicating, where proper, official position or representative capacity.
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PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
ê Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing. ê
The Proxies will vote as specified below, or if a choice is not specified, they will vote FOR
the nominees listed in Item 1 and FOR the proposal listed in Item 2.
1. |
Nominees for election as directors, each to serve until the next annual meeting of the
shareholders and until his successor has been duly elected and qualified: |
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Richard E. Cheney, Avery S. Cohen, John C. Corey, D.M. Draime, Jeffrey P. Draime, Sheldon J.
Epstein, Douglas C. Jacobs, William M. Lasky, Earl L. Linehan and Gerald V. Pisani. |
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q FOR all nominees listed above
(except as marked to the contrary below)
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q WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
to vote for all nominees listed above |
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INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any particular nominee, write that nominees name on the line provided below: |
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2. |
Proposal to approve the adoption of the Directors Restricted Shares Plan. |
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q FOR
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q AGAINST
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q ABSTAIN |
3. |
On such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |