Preformed Line Products DEF 14A
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment
No. )
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o Preliminary
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o Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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þ Definitive
Proxy Statement
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o Definitive
Additional Materials
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o Soliciting
Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
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PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if
other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required.
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act
Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1) |
Title of each class of securities to which
transaction applies:
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(2) |
Aggregate number of securities to which
transaction applies:
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(3) |
Per unit price or other underlying value of
transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11
(set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and
state how it was determined):
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(4) |
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as
provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing
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previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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Preformed Line Products Company
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To our shareholders:
The 2006 annual meeting of shareholders of Preformed Line
Products Company will be held at the offices of the Company, 660
Beta Drive, Mayfield Village, Ohio, on Monday, April 24,
2006, at 9:00 a.m., local time, for the following purposes:
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To elect three directors, each for a term expiring in 2008; |
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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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Any other matters that properly come before the meeting. |
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on
March 13, 2006, are entitled to notice of and to vote at
the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Shareholders are urged
to complete, date and sign the enclosed proxy and return it in
the enclosed envelope. The principal address of Preformed Line
Products Company is 660 Beta Drive, Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143.
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By order of the Board of Directors, |
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R. Steven Kestner,
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Secretary |
Dated: March 24, 2006
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY
PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS COMPANY
PROXY STATEMENT
Our Board of Directors is sending you this proxy statement to
ask for your vote as a Preformed Line Products Company
shareholder on the matters to be voted on at the annual meeting
of shareholders. The annual meeting of shareholders will be held
at 660 Beta Drive, Mayfield Village, Ohio, 44143, on Monday,
April 24, 2006, at 9:00 a.m., local time. We are
mailing this proxy statement and the accompanying notice and
proxy to you on or about March 24, 2006.
Annual Report. A copy of our Annual Report to
Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005,
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. In addition to solicitation of proxies by mail,
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. 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 13, 2006, 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 5,718,777 common shares, $2 par
value, each of which is entitled to one vote at the meeting.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT
The following table shows the amount of the Companys
Common Shares beneficially owned as of March 13, 2006 by
(a) the Companys directors, (b) each other
person known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of
the outstanding Common Shares, (c) the Companys Chief
Executive Officer and the other four most highly compensated
executive officers named in the Summary Comparison Table, and
(d) the Companys executive officers and directors as
a group.
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Number of | |
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Shares Beneficially | |
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Percent | |
Name of Beneficial Owner |
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Owned | |
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of Class | |
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Barbara P. Ruhlman (1)
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2,042,023 |
(2) |
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35.5 |
% |
Thomas F. Peterson, Jr.
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464,783 |
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8.1 |
% |
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3060 Lander Road
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Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124
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Robert G. Ruhlman (1)
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414,418 |
(4) |
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7.2 |
% |
Randall M. Ruhlman
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259,578 |
(5) |
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4.5 |
% |
KeyCorp (6)
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405,952 |
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7.1 |
% |
John D. Drinko
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555,178 |
(7) |
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9.6 |
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1900 East Ninth Street
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3200 National City Center
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Cleveland, Ohio 44114
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Wilber C. Nordstrom
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200 |
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Frank B. Carr
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6,000 |
(8) |
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Eric R. Graef
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10,450 |
(3) |
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* |
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William H. Haag III
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11,560 |
(3) |
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Robert C. Hazenfield
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500 |
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* |
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Dennis F. McKenna
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7,500 |
(3) |
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* |
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All executive officers and directors as a Group (15 persons)
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3,227,745 |
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56.1 |
% |
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* |
Represents less than 1%. |
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(1) |
The mailing address for each of Barbara P. Ruhlman and Robert G.
Ruhlman is 660 Beta Drive, Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143. |
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(2) |
Includes 87,551 shares held by The Thomas F. Peterson
Foundation, of which Barbara P. Ruhlman is President and a
Trustee. |
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(3) |
Includes the following number of shares that may be acquired
pursuant to currently exercisable stock options for Eric R.
Graef, 10,000; William H. Haag III, 8,690; and Dennis F.
McKenna, 7,290. |
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(4) |
Includes 125,938 shares held by the Preformed Line Products
Company Profit Sharing Trust, and 93,312 shares held in
trust for the benefit of Robert G. Ruhlman and his children
(these 93,312 shares are also shown as being beneficially
owned by Randall M. Ruhlman) and 14,768 shares owned by his
wife or held by her as custodian or trustee. |
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(5) |
Includes 93,312 shares held in trust for the benefit of
Randall M. Ruhlman and his children and for the benefit of
Robert G. Ruhlman and his children (these 93,312 shares are
also shown as being beneficially owned by Robert G. Ruhlman). |
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The mailing address for KeyCorp is 127 Public Square, Cleveland,
Ohio 44114. |
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Includes 400,452 shares held in the Ethel B. Peterson Trust
of which KeyCorp is the trustee and for which John D. Drinko
acts as Trust Advisor and has voting control. Also includes
34,000 held in Mr. Drinkos Trust, 10,400 shares
held in Mr. Drinkos IRA and 2,000 shares held by
his wife. |
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(8) |
Includes 2,000 shares held in Mr. Carrs IRA. |
2
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
In accordance with our current Code of Regulations, the number
of directors has been fixed at eight. The Company has classified
its Board of Directors into two classes composed of four members
each, both serving staggered terms. Three of our current eight
directors, John D. Drinko, Randall M. Ruhlman, and Glenn E.
Corlett, are serving a term that expires at this years
annual meeting of shareholders and have been nominated for
re-election at the meeting. One director, Wilber C. Nordstrom,
whose term expires at this years annual meeting of
shareholders, has not been nominated. As a result, there will be
a vacancy in the class of directors whose term will expire at
the 2008 annual meeting of shareholders. Four directors, Barbara
P. Ruhlman, Frank B. Carr, Robert G. Ruhlman, and John P.
OBrien, are currently serving a term that expires in 2007.
The Board of Directors proposes that the nominees described
below, all of whom are currently serving as directors, be
re-elected to the Board of Directors. At the annual meeting of
shareholders, the shares represented by proxies, unless
otherwise specified, will be voted for the election of the three
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 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.
3
Nominees for Election at the Annual Meeting
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Expiration |
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Period | |
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of Term |
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Principal Occupation |
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of Service | |
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for Which |
Name and Age |
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and Business Experience |
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as a Director | |
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Proposed |
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John D. Drinko, 84
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Senior Partner Baker & Hostetler LLP |
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1954 to date |
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2008 |
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Randall M. Ruhlman, 47
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President of Ruhlman Motorsports since 1987 |
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1998 to date |
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2008 |
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Glenn E. Corlett, 62
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Since July 1997, Mr. Corlett has served as the Dean and the
Philip J. Gardner Leadership Professor at The College of
Business at Ohio University. |
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2004 to date |
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2008 |
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Mr. Corlett currently serves as a Director and Chairman of the
audit committee for Rocky Shoes & Boots, Inc.
Mr. Corlett also serves as a director of the following
companies: Inn-Ohio, Inc., Copernicus Therapeutics, Inc., Grange
Insurance Companies and Palmer-Donavin Manufacturing Corporation. |
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Current directors whose terms will not expire at the annual
meeting of shareholders:
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Period | |
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Principal Occupation |
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of Service | |
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Term |
Name and Age |
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and Business Experience |
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as a Director | |
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Expiration |
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Frank B. Carr, 78
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Private investor. Retired from McDonald Financial Investments,
Inc. (formerly McDonald & Company) in 1990. Positions
held included Partner-in-Charge of Corporate Finance and
Managing Director of Corporate Finance. |
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1975 to date |
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2007 |
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Robert G. Ruhlman, 49
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Mr. Ruhlman was elected Chairman of the Company in July 2004.
Mr. Ruhlman has served as Chief Executive Officer since
July 2000, and as President since 1995 (positions he continues
to hold). |
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1992 to date |
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2007 |
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Barbara P. Ruhlman, 73
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President of the Thomas F. Peterson Foundation since 1988. |
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1988 to date |
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2007 |
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John P. OBrien, 64
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Since April 1990, Mr. OBrien has been a Managing
Director of Inglewood Associates, Inc., a private investment and
consulting firm. |
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2004 to date |
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2007 |
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Mr. OBrien currently serves as a director for the
following companies and organizations: Allied Construction
Products, LLC; Century Aluminum Corporation; Oglebay Norton
Company; Cleveland Sight Center and MainStreet-Chagrin Falls. |
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The Board has determined that Messrs. Drinko, Carr,
OBrien, and Corlett are independent under the
NASDAQs corporate governance rules. In the opinion of the
Board, Mr. Drinkos affiliation with Baker &
Hostetler LLP, a law firm that regularly provides legal services
to the Company, does not interfere with Mr. Drinkos
exercise of independent judgment in carrying out his duties as a
director.
Barbara P. Ruhlman is the mother of Randall M. Ruhlman and
Robert G. Ruhlman.
4
The Board of Directors has determined that the Company is a
controlled company pursuant to the NASDAQ corporate
governance rules. A controlled company includes a company in
which more than 50% of the voting power is held by a group. The
Board has determined that the Company is a controlled company
because a group, which includes the Ruhlman family and certain
members of management, controls more than 50% of the
Companys Common Shares. A Schedule 13D has been filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission related to the
control group of the Company. As a controlled company the
Company is exempt from certain NASDAQ corporate governance
rules, including the requirement that a majority of its Board be
composed of independent directors and the rule that requires
that nominees for election of director be selected (or
recommended for selection) by a nominating committee composed of
only independent directors or by a majority of the independent
directors. Because the Company is a controlled company, the
Board believes that it is appropriate for the Board not to have
a nominating committee. Rather, the entire Board participates in
the consideration of director nominees. Similarly, as a
controlled company and because of the historically small
turnover of its members, it is the view of the Board that it is
appropriate for the Board not to consider director candidates
recommended by shareholders.
The Board of Directors has appointed an Audit Committee and a
Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors does not have a
finance committee. The Audit Committee is presently comprised of
Messrs. OBrien (chairman), Carr and Corlett, each of
whom qualify as independent for audit committee purposes under
the NASDAQ rules. The Audit Committee financial expert is John
P. OBrien. The Compensation Committee is presently
comprised of Messrs. Carr, OBrien and Corlett
(chairman).
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors engages the
independent public accountants for the Company, reviews with the
independent public accountants the plans and results of audit
engagements, preapproves all professional services provided by
the independent public accountants including audit and non-audit
related services, reviews the independence of the independent
public accountants, approves the range of audit and non-audit
fees, reviews the independent public accountants
management letters and managements responses, reviews with
management their conclusions about the effectiveness of the
Companys disclosure controls and procedures, and reviews
significant accounting or reporting changes. Management does not
approve professional services provided by the independent public
accountants for audit and non-audit-related services.
The Compensation Committee reviews employment, development,
reassignment and compensation matters involving corporate
officers and other executive level employees, including matters
related to salary, bonus and incentive arrangements. The
Compensation Committee also administers the Companys
equity award (stock option) plan.
In 2005, the Board of Directors held five meetings. In 2005, the
Audit Committee held three formal meetings and the Compensation
Committee held three meetings. In 2005, each member of the Board
of Directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board
of Directors and of the committees on which he or she serves.
Directors Compensation. Each director who is not an
employee of the Company receives $3,300 per quarter for
being a director, $1,540 for attending each meeting of the Board
of Directors and each meeting of any committee. Directors who
are also employees are not paid any directors fee. The
Company reimburses
out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by all directors in connection with attending Board of
Directors and committee meetings.
Compensation Committee Report
The Companys executive compensation program is
administered by the Compensation Committee which has
responsibility for reviewing all aspects of the compensation
program for the executive officers of the Company. The Committee
is comprised of the three directors listed at the end of this
report, none of whom is an employee of the Company.
The Committees primary objective with respect to executive
compensation is to establish programs which attract and retain
key officers and managers and align their compensation with the
Companys overall business strategies, values, and
performance. To this end, the Committee has established and the
Board of Directors has
5
endorsed an executive compensation philosophy to compensate
executive officers based on their responsibilities and the
Companys overall annual and longer-term performance.
The primary components of the Companys executive
compensation program are (a) base salaries, (b) annual
cash incentive opportunities, and (c) stock options. These
components are discussed below.
Base Salaries. Base salaries for each of the
Companys executive officers are reviewed every year by the
Committee using as a guide one or more widely accepted salary
evaluation systems, taking into account the size of the Company,
expectations for the annual bonus plan described below and
Company performance, and competitive, inflationary, and internal
equity considerations. The Committee considers relevant trends
in executive compensation practices, the Companys
compensation practices for employees in general, the
Companys financial performance and business condition, and
recommendations of executive management on compensation of
executive officers. The salary of Robert G. Ruhlman, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer, was set by the Committee to be
within a range that is competitive with the fixed salaries of
chief executive officers of similar size public companies with
comparable profitability. The Committee believes that
Mr. Ruhlmans performance exceeded expectations.
During 2005, the Chief Executive Officers annual salary
was $400,000, maintaining Mr. Ruhlmans salary to what
the Committee believes is nearly the mid-level range of salaries
at comparable companies.
Annual Cash Incentives. All officers of the Company,
including Robert G. Ruhlman, are eligible to receive annual cash
bonus awards based on a set percentage of their base salary with
a maximum bonus attainable equal to 50% of base salary. The
percentage of base salary is determined on a sliding scale,
based on the return on shareholders equity. The bonus
awards for all officers for the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 were
25%, 45% and 45%, respectively, of base salary.
Stock Options. The Committee has awarded options to
purchase 258,000 shares of the Companys Common
Stock. The Committee has had the opportunity to grant stock
options for six years and it believes that option grants are a
valuable motivating tool and provide a long-term incentive to
management. Share option grants reinforce long-term goals by
providing the proper nexus between the interests of management
and the interests of the Companys shareholders. All
options were awarded to retain qualified personnel in positions
of significant responsibility with the Company. No options were
granted to employees who had been with the Company for less than
two years and all options contained provisions for periodic
vesting. One new executive officer was granted options to
purchase 5,000 common shares during 2005. All option grants
had exercise prices at least equal to the fair market value of
the Companys Common Shares on the date of the grant.
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Glenn E. Corlett, Chairman |
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Frank B. Carr |
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John P. OBrien |
Audit Committee Report
In accordance with its written charter adopted by the Board of
Directors, 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 NASDAQ, Securities and
Exchange Commission or the public. Management is responsible for
the financial statements and the reporting process, including
the system of internal controls. The independent auditors are
responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the
audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting
principles. The Audit Committee is comprised of three directors
who are not officers or employees of the Company and are
independent under the current NASDAQ rules.
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, 2005, with the Companys management. The
Audit Committee discussed the matters required to be discussed
by Statement on Auditing Standard No. 61, as amended, and
other regulations, with the independent auditors. The Audit
6
Committee also obtained a formal written statement from the
independent auditors that described all relationships between
the independent auditors 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
auditors any relationships that might affect 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 Deloitte & Touche
LLP (Deloitte) is compatible with maintaining
Deloittes independence. Management has the responsibility
for the preparation of the Companys financial statements,
and the independent auditors have the responsibility for the
examination of those statements.
Based on the above-referenced review and discussions with
management and the independent accountants, 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, 2005, for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
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John P. OBrien, Chairman |
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Frank B. Carr |
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Glenn E. Corlett |
7
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The table below describes the compensation earned for the last
three fiscal years for our Chief Executive Officer and the four
other most highly compensated executive officers. We sometimes
refer to the persons 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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Other | |
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Annual | |
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Share | |
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All Other | |
Name and |
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Bonus | |
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Compensation | |
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Options | |
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Compensation | |
Principal Position |
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Year | |
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# | |
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($) (3) (4) | |
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Robert G. Ruhlman
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2005 |
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$ |
400,000 |
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$ |
180,000 |
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$ |
89,173 |
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Chairman of the Company, |
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2004 |
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375,000 |
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190,750 |
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78,206 |
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President and |
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2003 |
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350,000 |
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87,500 |
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62,996 |
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Chief Executive Officer
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Eric R. Graef
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2005 |
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225,000 |
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101,250 |
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51,840 |
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Vice President Finance |
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2004 |
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209,500 |
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106,275 |
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44,857 |
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and Treasurer
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2003 |
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194,000 |
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48,500 |
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36,540 |
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William H. Haag III
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2005 |
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204,000 |
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91,800 |
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45,339 |
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Vice President International |
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2004 |
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|
|
196,250 |
|
|
|
99,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,887 |
|
|
Operations
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
180,000 |
|
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32,127 |
|
Dennis F. McKenna
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
170,000 |
|
|
|
76,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36,223 |
|
|
Vice President Global |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
140,300 |
|
|
|
75,625 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26,308 |
|
|
Business Development
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
113,175 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,848 |
|
Robert C. Hazenfield
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
162,000 |
|
|
|
72,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
211,621 |
(5) |
|
Vice President Research |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
156,000 |
|
|
|
79,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32,138 |
|
|
and Engineering
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
37,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26,968 |
|
|
|
(1) |
The Bonus Plan for all named executive officers is discussed in
the Compensation Committee Report. |
|
(2) |
No named executive officer received perquisites and other
personal benefits above the threshold amounts specified in the
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
|
(3) |
Reflects the Companys contributions to the Profit Sharing
Plan in 2005 for Robert G. Ruhlman, $32,221; Eric R. Graef,
$31,702; William H. Haag III, $32,048; Dennis F. McKenna
$31,846; and Robert C. Hazenfield, $32,019. Also includes
accruals to the related Supplemental Plan in 2005 for Robert G.
Ruhlman, $54,483; Eric R. Graef, $16,813; William H. Haag III,
$12,458; Dennis F. McKenna, $3,776; and Robert C. Hazenfield,
$3,401. |
|
(4) |
Reflects premiums paid for group term life insurance for 2005:
Robert G. Ruhlman, $2,469; Eric R. Graef, $3,325; William H.
Haag III, $833; Dennis F. McKenna, $601; and Robert C.
Hazenfield, $1,201. |
|
(5) |
Reflects the amount accrued for payments of $175,000 under
Mr. Hazenfields retirement agreement (see section on
Retirement Agreement for additional information). |
8
Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
and Fiscal Year-End Option Values
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|
Number of | |
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Value of | |
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|
|
Unexercised | |
|
Unexercised In-the- | |
|
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Shares | |
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Options at Fiscal | |
|
Money Options at | |
|
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Acquired | |
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Year-End | |
|
Year-End ($) | |
|
|
on | |
|
Value | |
|
Exercisable/ | |
|
Exercisable/ | |
Name |
|
Exercise (#) | |
|
Realized ($) | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Robert G. Ruhlman
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
167,125 |
|
|
|
0/0 |
|
|
|
0/0 |
|
Eric R. Graef
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000/0 |
|
|
|
276,650/0 |
|
William H. Haag III
|
|
|
660 |
|
|
|
11,864 |
|
|
|
8,690/0 |
|
|
|
240,409/0 |
|
Dennis F. McKenna
|
|
|
210 |
|
|
|
3,031 |
|
|
|
1,500/0 |
|
|
|
132,515/0 |
|
Robert C. Hazenfield
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
126,943 |
|
|
|
5,000/0 |
|
|
|
69,275/0 |
|
Retirement Agreement
The Company has entered into a retirement agreement with Robert
C. Hazenfield effective January 1, 2006, including
retirement payments of $35,000 annually for five years or until
death if earlier. In addition the Company will continue to pay
the Companys portion of medical insurance, if elected, and
provide life insurance coverage in the amount of $10,000 for the
term of the agreement. The retirement agreement is contingent
upon a noncompetition/confidentiality clause.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
There are no Compensation Committee interlocks or insider
participation.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
The Audit Committee has approved all related party transactions.
The Company is a sponsor of Ruhlman Motorsports. Ruhlman
Motorsports is owned by Randall M. Ruhlman, a director of the
Company, and by his wife. The Company paid sponsorship fees of
$658,000, annually, to Ruhlman Motorsports during 2003, 2004 and
2005. In addition, in 2003, 2004, and 2005 the Companys
Canadian subsidiary, Preformed Line Products (Canada) Ltd., paid
$99,000, $106,000, and $101,000, respectively, to Ruhlman
Motorsports in sponsorship fees. This sponsorship provides the
Company with a unique venue to entertain the Companys
customers and to advertise on the racecar, which participates on
the Trans-Am racing circuit. The Company believes that its
sponsorship contract with Ruhlman Motorsports is as favorable to
the Company as a similar contract with a similar independent
third-party racing team would be. The Company intends to
continue to sponsor Ruhlman Motorsports in 2006; however, it
will be in the Grand American Road Racing Series, because the
Trans-Am racing circuit has dissolved. The Company further
believes that the sponsorship has great marketing value because
it entertains users of the Companys products, such as
linemen and their supervisors, and thus provides a grassroots
sales approach.
Mr. John D. Drinko, one of the Companys directors, is
a senior partner of Baker & Hostetler LLP, which acts
as the Companys general outside counsel. The Company
expects that Baker & Hostetler will continue to provide
legal services in that capacity in 2006.
9
Performance Graph
Set forth below is a line graph comparing the cumulative total
return of a hypothetical investment in the Companys Common
Shares with the cumulative total return of hypothetical
investments in the NASDAQ Market Index and the CoreData,
Inc. Industry Group 627 (Industrial Electrical
Equipment) Index based on the respective market price of each
investment at December 31, 2000, December 31, 2001,
December 31, 2002, December 31, 2003,
December 31, 2004, and December 31, 2005, assuming in
each case an initial investment of $100 on December 31,
2000, and reinvestment of dividends.
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|
COMPANY / INDEX / MARKET |
|
12/31/2000 | |
|
12/31/2001 | |
|
12/31/2002 | |
|
12/31/2003 | |
|
12/31/2004 | |
|
12/31/2005 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS CO.
|
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
146.93 |
|
|
|
134.64 |
|
|
|
261.83 |
|
|
|
262.10 |
|
|
|
382.55 |
|
COREDATA GROUP INDEX
|
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
76.23 |
|
|
|
56.61 |
|
|
|
79.03 |
|
|
|
86.72 |
|
|
|
112.08 |
|
NASDAQ MARKET INDEX
|
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
79.98 |
|
|
|
55.69 |
|
|
|
83.90 |
|
|
|
91.96 |
|
|
|
92.62 |
|
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2007 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 2007 annual meeting of shareholders must be
received by the Company at 660 Beta Drive, Mayfield Village,
Ohio 44143, on or before November 24, 2006, for inclusion
in our proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the 2007
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 the Company
at the address listed in the immediately preceding sentence not
later than February 7, 2007.
10
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING
COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the
Companys directors and executive officers, and owners of
more than 10% of our Common Shares, to file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the SEC) 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 the Company with copies
of all forms they file pursuant to Section 16(a).
Based solely on a review of these reports and written
representations from the executive officers and directors, the
Company believes that there was compliance with all such filing
requirements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.
OTHER MATTERS
Independent Auditors
The Company has not selected the independent auditors for the
current fiscal year. The Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors will make this selection later in the year.
Representatives of Deloitte, which served as the independent
auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, 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
Deloitte for the audit of the Companys annual financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 2005,
Deloittes reviews of the financial statements included in
the Companys
Forms 10-Q filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and Deloittes
attestation of managements assessment on internal
controls, as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, were
$1,440,000. The aggregate fees billed for professional services
rendered by Deloitte for the audit of the Companys annual
financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2004,
and for Deloittes reviews of the financial statements
included in the Companys
Forms 10-Q filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission were $513,000.
Audit-Related Fees
The incremental fees billed for professional services rendered
by Deloitte for audit-related services for the year ended
December 31, 2005 were $8,100. Fees included in 2005 were
for advisory services rendered for compliance with
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The
incremental fees billed for professional services rendered by
Deloitte for audit-related services for the year ended
December 31, 2004 were $13,000. Fees included in 2004 were
for services rendered for compliance with Section 404 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Tax Fees
The incremental fees billed for professional services rendered
by Deloitte for tax-related services for the year ended
December 31, 2005 were $74,000. Fees included in 2005 were
for tax services related to federal income tax return
assistance, consultation on tax issues related to the foreign
tax credits, transfer pricing analysis at the Companys
Mexican and Great Britain subsidiaries, tax consulting regarding
United Kingdom withholding tax, professional fees related to a
research and development tax study, consultation for our Great
Britain subsidiarys tax computation and income tax returns
for the Companys Australian and Canadian subsidiaries. The
incremental fees billed for professional services rendered by
Deloitte for tax-related services for the year ended
December 31, 2004 were $107,000. Fees included in 2004 were
for tax services related to federal income tax return assistance
and preparation, state tax consultation, sales tax compliance,
employee benefit plan changes, consultation on foreign
subsidiary acquisition and ownership, consultation on foreign
subsidiary investments, consultation on tax issues related to
the Japanese joint venture, a transfer pricing analysis at our
Mexican subsidiary, tax consulting regarding financial
restructuring for the Companys Australian subsidiary, and
income tax return for our Great Britain, Canadian and Australian
subsidiaries.
11
All Other Fees
The incremental fees billed for professional services rendered
by Deloitte for all other services for the year ended
December 31, 2005 were $6,500. The fees included in 2005
were for a workers compensation audit for our Australian
subsidiary and for filing the Companys financial
statements in Puerto Rico. The incremental fees billed for
professional services rendered by Deloitte for all other
services for the year ended December 31, 2004 were $2,000.
The fees included in 2004 were for a workers compensation
audit for our Australian subsidiary.
Communication with the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of the Company 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 of Directors or a particular
director may do so by sending a letter to:
|
|
|
|
|
R. Steven Kestner
|
|
-or - |
|
John P. OBrien |
Secretary
|
|
|
|
Chairman, Audit Committee |
Baker & Hostetler LLP
|
|
|
|
14 Water Street |
1900 East Ninth Street
|
|
|
|
Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022 |
3200 National City Center
|
|
|
|
|
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
|
|
|
|
|
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 stockholder and clearly state whether the intended
recipients are all members of the Board of Directors or certain
specified individual directors. The Secretary and
Mr. OBrien, as applicable, 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.
Miscellaneous
The Company expects its directors to attend the Companys
annual meeting of shareholders. All of the directors attended
last years annual meeting of shareholders.
If the enclosed proxy card is executed and returned to the
Company, 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. Under Ohio law
and our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, 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.
|
|
|
By order of the Board of Directors, |
|
|
R. Steven Kestner, |
|
Secretary |
Dated: March 15, 2006
12
PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS COMPANY
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
The undersigned hereby appoints Robert G. Ruhlman, Eric R. Graef and R. Steven Kestner, and
each of them, attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to attend
the annual meeting of shareholders of Preformed Line Products Company to be held at 660 Beta Drive,
Mayfield Village, Ohio, on Monday, April 24, 2006, at 9:00 a.m., local time, or any adjournment
thereof, and to vote the number of common shares of Preformed Line Products Company which the
undersigned would be entitled to vote, and with all the power the undersigned would possess if
personally present as directed on the reverse. Receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of
Shareholders and Proxy Statement dated March 24, 2006, is hereby acknowledged.
|
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Dated
|
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|
|
, 2006 |
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Signature(s) |
(Please sign exactly as your name or names appear hereon,
indicating, where proper, official position or representative capacity.)
PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS COMPANY
PROXY
The Proxies will vote as specified below, or if a choice is not specified, they will vote FOR the
nominees listed in Item 1.
1. ___FOR (except as noted below), or ___WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for, the following
nominees for election as directors, each to serve until the 2008 annual meeting of the
shareholders and until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified: Randall M.
Ruhlman, Glenn E. Corlett and John D. Drinko.
(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any
particular nominee, write that nominees name on the line provided below.)
2. On such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
2