1.
|
To elect three directors to serve until the Annual Meeting of shareholders in 2018 and until each of their successors is duly elected and shall qualify;
|
2.
|
To ratify the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016; and
|
3.
|
To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE 2015 ANNUAL MEETING
|
1
|
PROPOSAL ONE: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
|
4
|
Information Concerning Directors
|
4
|
BOARD GOVERNANCE
|
6
|
Independent Directors
|
6
|
Leadership Structure
|
6
|
Board Oversight of Risk Management
|
7
|
Committees and Meeting Data
|
7
|
Nominating Procedures
|
8
|
Board Attendance at Meetings
|
8
|
Shareholder Communication With the Board
|
8
|
Report of the Audit Committee
|
8
|
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
|
10
|
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
|
11
|
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
|
11
|
Report of the Compensation Committee
|
15
|
Summary Compensation Table
|
16
|
Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2015
|
17
|
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2015 Fiscal Year-End
|
17
|
Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal Year 2015
|
18
|
Pension Benefits
|
18
|
Compensation of Directors
|
19
|
Compensation Committee Interlocks
|
19
|
Certain Transactions and Relationships
|
20
|
OWNERSHIP OF COMPANY STOCK
|
21
|
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
|
21
|
Security Ownership of Management and Directors
|
24
|
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
|
26
|
PROPOSAL TWO: RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
|
|
ACCOUNTING FIRM
|
26
|
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
|
26
|
OTHER MATTERS
|
27
|
DIRECTORS' AND OFFICERS' INDEMNIFICATION INSURANCE
|
27
|
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2016 ANNUAL MEETING
|
27
|
Proposals for the Company's Proxy Material
|
27
|
Proposals to be Introduced at the Annual Meeting but not Intended to be Included
|
|
in the Company's Proxy Material
|
27
|
·
|
By Mail:Vote, sign, date your card and mail it in the postage-paid envelope.
|
·
|
In Person:At the Annual Meeting.
|
PROPOSAL ONE: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
|
In accordance with our Bylaws, the Board of Directors has fixed the number of directors at nine. The Board of Directors is divided into three classes, as equal in number as possible, having staggered terms of three years each. Therefore, at this annual meeting three directors will be elected to serve until the annual meeting in 2018 and until each of their successors is duly elected and shall qualify.
|
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the election of each of the nominees listed below. Messrs. Baer, Kayser and Paulson are currently serving as directors of the Company and were elected at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
|
Unless instructed otherwise, proxies will be voted FOR the election of the three nominees listed below. Although the directors do not contemplate that any of the nominees will be unable to serve prior to the Meeting, if such a situation arises, the enclosed proxy will be voted in accordance with the best judgment of the person or persons voting the proxy.
|
Information Concerning Directors
|
The following biographies of each of the Director nominees, as well as the Directors whose terms continue beyond the Annual Meeting, contains information regarding that person's principal occupation, tenure with the Company, business experience, other director positions currently held or held at any time during the past five years, and the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led to the conclusion by the Board of Directors that such person should serve as a Director of the Company.
|
Nominees Standing for Election at the Annual Meeting
|
Arthur H. Baer, age 68 − Mr. Baer has served as a director of the Company since 1998. He is a Legislator in Columbia County, New York and previously served as the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors from January 2008 to December 2009. Mr. Baer's business background also includes experience in managing businesses, senior leadership development and the evaluation of strategic opportunities and challenges. He was President of Hudson Valley Publishing from 2003 to 2008 and also held the position from 1998 to 1999. He was President of Arrow Electronics Europe from 2000 to 2002 and President of XYAN Inc. from 1996 to 1998. He holds a B.A. and M.B.A. from Columbia University.
|
Kraig H. Kayser, age 54 − Mr. Kayser is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and has served in that capacity since 1993. From 1991 to 1993 he was Chief Financial Officer of the Company. He has served as a director of the Company since 1985. Mr. Kayser has served as an officer and/or director of the Company for over 30 years, providing continuity of executive leadership through all phases of the food processing industry and economic cycles. Mr. Kayser is also a director of Moog Inc. where he serves on the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee. Mr. Kayser is currently serving on the Board of Trustees of Cornell University. He received a B.A. from Hamilton College and an M.B.A. from Cornell University.
|
Thomas Paulson, age 58 − Mr. Paulson has served as a director of the Company since 2004. He has significant experience in financial reporting and financial controls as a chief financial officer. Mr. Paulson has been the Chief Financial Officer of Tennant Corporation, an industrial cleaning company, since 2006 and he was Chief Financial Officer of Innovex, Inc., a supplier of flexible circuits and assemblies, from February 2001 to March 2006. In addition, he was Vice President of Finance of The Pillsbury Company from 1998-2000. In these roles, Mr. Paulson was involved in numerous merger and acquisition transactions and financing transactions. Mr. Paulson serves on the Board of Directors of Merisant Inc. and also serves on their Audit Committee. Mr. Paulson received his B.A. and M.B.A from the University of St. Thomas.
|
Directors whose Terms Expire in 2016
|
John P. Gaylord, age 53 − Mr. Gaylord has operating and management experience in manufacturing and distribution businesses, including experience as President of Jacintoport Terminal Company since 1992. He currently serves as a director and member of the conflicts committee, audit committee, nominating committee and compensation committee, along with being a general partner of Martin Midstream Partners L.P., a publicly traded limited partnership with a diverse set of operations focused primarily in the United States Gulf Coast region. Mr. Gaylord holds a B.A. from Texas Christian University and an M.B.A. from Southern Methodist University. He has served as a director of the Company since October 2009.
|
Susan A. Henry, age 68 − Dr. Henry has served as a director of the Company since 2007 and has extensive experience in the management and administration of a large non-profit organization. She is Dean Emeritus of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University and a professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics. Prior to her appointment at Cornell, Dr. Henry was dean of science of the Mellon College of Science at Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Henry also has experience serving on the boards of other publicly-traded companies including as a member of the Board of Directors of Tompkins Financial Corporation and Agrium, Inc., where she serves on the Human Resources and Compensation Committee, and as Chair of the Environmental Health and Safety Committee. Dr. Henry received her B.S. degree from the University of Maryland and her Ph.D. degree from the University of California at Berkeley.
|
Susan W. Stuart, age 59 − Ms. Stuart is a marketing consultant and private investor. In her role as a consultant, Ms. Stuart brings her knowledge from a broad range of marketing experience. Ms. Stuart is the daughter of our founder and Chairman, Arthur S. Wolcott. In addition to her extensive knowledge of the Company, Ms. Stuart controls a significant shareholding interest in the Company. She has served as a director of the Company since 1986. Ms. Stuart received her M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.
|
Directors whose Terms Expire in 2017
|
Peter R. Call, age 58 − Mr. Call is President of My-T Acres, Inc., a vegetable and grain farm. He was President of Pro-Fac Cooperative, Inc. from 2003-2013 and a member of its board of directors from 2000-2013. Mr. Call also serves as president of Farm Fresh First, LLC, and has done so since 2007. Farm Fresh First, LLC, is an agricultural business that manages fruit and vegetable production and marketing. Mr. Call also served on the Board of Directors of Birds Eye Foods from 2002-2009. He has served as a director of the Company since 2011. Mr. Call received his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree from Cornell University in 1979.
|
Samuel T. Hubbard, Jr., age 65 − Mr. Hubbard was elected President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Genesee Corp., a NASDAQ listed company in 1999. He was subsequently elected Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Genesee and in late 2000 led a management buyout of Genesee Brewing Company which later became High Falls Brewing Company, LLC. He served as Chairman and CEO of High Falls from 2001 through 2007 and subsequently as Chairman until 2009. Mr. Hubbard has served as CEO of Alling and Cory Company from 1986-1998. He served as COO of Homewise, Inc., a not-for-profit provider of affordable housing services including real estate development until 2011. He has served on the public boards of M&T Bank Corp., RGS, Inc. and Genesee Corp. He has served as a director of the Company since 2011. Mr. Hubbard received a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from Denison University and his Master of Business Administration (M.B.A) degree from the University of Rochester.
|
Arthur S. Wolcott, age 89 − Mr. Wolcott founded the Company and has served as a director and as the Chairman of the Board since 1949. His leadership experience and extensive industry knowledge provide valuable insight to the Board of Directors in formulating and executing the Company's strategy. In 2008, Mr. Wolcott received the Forty-Niner Service Award, the food processing industry's highest award in recognition of his career spanning six decades in the food processing industry. Mr. Wolcott graduated from Cornell University with a B.A. degree in Economics and is currently on the President's Council of Cornell University. He is the father of Susan W. Stuart, a director of the Company.
|
BOARD GOVERNANCE
|
Independent Directors
|
Under the NASDAQ Global Market listing standards, at least a majority of the Company's directors and all of the members of the Company's Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee must meet the test of "independence" as defined by NASDAQ. The NASDAQ standards provide that, to qualify as an "independent" director, in addition to satisfying certain criteria, the Board of Directors must affirmatively determine that a director has no relationship which would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. The Board of Directors has determined that each Director nominee and Director whose term will continue beyond the Annual Meeting, other than Mr. Wolcott, the Company's Chairman, his daughter, Ms. Stuart, Mr. Kayser, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Call, is "independent" as defined by the listing standards of the NASDAQ Global Market.
|
In making its determination with respect to Mr. Call, the Board considered his relationship with the Company as fully described in "Certain Transactions and Related Relationships" below on page 20. It concluded that Mr. Call does not satisfy the criteria under NASDAQ standards inasmuch as the Company purchased raw vegetables from My-T Acres, Inc., under an arm's length contract, above the $200,000 threshold permitted under the NASDAQ standards in determining "independence".
|
With respect to the five independent directors and nominees, there are no transactions, relationships or arrangements not requiring disclosure pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K that were considered by the Board in determining that these individuals are independent under the NASDAQ listing standards.
|
Leadership Structure
|
Mr. Wolcott serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and has served in that capacity since 1949. Mr. Kayser serves as the Chief Executive Officer and has served in that capacity since 1993. Our Board of Directors has no specific policy regarding separation of the offices of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Although our bylaws permit the Chairman to serve as Chief Executive Officer, our Board has determined that separating these positions is currently in the best interest of the Company and our shareholders. As Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kayser focuses on the strategy, leadership and day-to-day execution of our business plan while Mr. Wolcott provides oversight, direction and leadership to the Board.
|
Our Board of Directors believes that it is able to effectively provide independent oversight of the Company's business and affairs, including the risks we face, without an independent Chairman through the composition of our Board of Directors, the strong leadership of the independent Directors and the independent committees of our Board of Directors, and the other corporate governance structures and processes already in place. Five of the nine current Directors are independent under the NASDAQ listing standards. All of our Directors are free to suggest the inclusion of items on the agenda for meetings of our Board of Directors or raise subjects that are not on the agenda for that meeting. In addition, our Board of Directors and each committee have complete and open access to any member of management and the authority to retain independent legal, financial and other advisors as they deem appropriate without consulting or obtaining the approval of any member of management. Our Board of Directors also holds regularly scheduled executive sessions of only independent or non-management Directors, as appropriate, in order to promote discussion among such Directors and assure independent oversight of management. Moreover, our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, all of which are comprised entirely of independent Directors, also perform oversight functions independent of management.
|
Board Oversight of Risk Management
|
The Company believes that its leadership structure allows the Directors to provide effective oversight of the Company's risk management function by receiving and discussing regular reports prepared by the Company's senior management on areas of material risk to the Company, including market conditions, matters affecting capital allocation, compliance with debt covenants, significant regulatory changes that may affect the Company's business operations, access to debt and equity capital markets, existing and potential legal claims against the Company and various other matters relating to the Company's business. Additionally, the Board of Directors administers its risk oversight function through (i) the required approval by the Board of Directors (or a committee thereof) of significant transactions and other decisions, including, among others, major acquisitions and divestitures, new borrowings and the appointment and retention of the Company's senior management, (ii) the coordination of the direct oversight of specific areas of the Company's business by the Compensation, Audit and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees, and (iii) periodic reports from the Company's auditors and other outside consultants regarding various areas of potential risk, including, among others, those relating to the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
|
Committees and Meeting Data
|
The Board of Directors has a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Each member of each of these committees is "independent" as that term is defined in the NASDAQ Global Market listing standards. The Board has adopted a written charter for each of these committees, which is available on our website at www.senecafoods.com.
|
The Audit Committee currently consists of Messrs. Baer, Gaylord, Hubbard and Paulson. The Audit Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015. The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the engagement of independent auditors, reviews with the auditors the scope and results of the audit, reviews with management or the internal auditor the scope and results of the Company's internal auditing procedures, reviews the independence of the auditors and any non-audit services provided by the auditors, reviews with the auditors and management the adequacy of the Company's system of internal accounting controls and makes inquiries into other matters within the scope of its duties. Messrs. Baer, Hubbard, and Paulson have been designated as the Company's "audit committee financial experts" in accordance with the SEC rules and regulations. Shareholders should understand that this designation is a disclosure requirement of the SEC related to the member's experience and understanding with respect to certain accounting and auditing matters. The designation does not impose any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than are generally imposed on them as members of the Audit Committee and the Board, and this designation as an audit committee financial expert pursuant to this SEC requirement does not affect the duties, obligations or liability of any member of the Audit Committee or the Board. See "Report of the Audit Committee" below.
|
The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Paulson and Gaylord and Dr. Henry. The Compensation Committee's function is to review and recommend to the Board of Directors appropriate executive compensation policy and compensation of the Company's directors and officers. The Compensation Committee also reviews and makes recommendations with respect to executive and employee benefit plans and programs. The Compensation Committee met two times during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015.
|
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee currently consists of Messrs. Hubbard and Paulson and Dr. Henry. The responsibilities of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee include assessing Board membership needs and identifying, screening, recruiting, and presenting director candidates to the Board, implementing policies regarding corporate governance matters, making recommendations regarding committee memberships and sponsoring and overseeing performance evaluations for the Board as a whole and the directors. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee met two times during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015.
|
Nominating Procedures
|
The Board has not adopted specific minimum criteria for director nominees and although the Company does not have a formal policy or guidelines regarding diversity, the Company recognizes the value of having a Board that encompasses a broad range of skills, expertise, contacts, industry knowledge and diversity of opinion. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee identifies nominees by first evaluating the current members of the Board of Directors willing to continue in service. Current members of the Board with skills and experience that are relevant to the Company's business and who are willing to continue in service are considered for re-nomination. If any member of the Board does not wish to continue in service, or if the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee decides not to nominate a member for re-election, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee first considers the appropriateness of the size of the Board. If the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee determines the Board seat should remain and a vacancy exists, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considers factors that it deems are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders in identifying and evaluating a new nominee. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider nominees suggested by incumbent Board members, management and shareholders.
|
Shareholder recommendations must be in writing and sent within the time periods set forth under the heading "Shareholder Proposals for the 2016 Annual Meeting addressed to the Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, c/o Corporate Secretary, 3736 South Main Street, Marion, New York 14505, and should include a statement setting forth the qualifications and experience of the proposed candidates and basis for nomination. Any person recommended by shareholders of the Company will be evaluated in the same manner as any other potential nominee for director.
|
Board Attendance at Meetings
|
The Board of Directors held four meetings and acted by unanimous written consent two times during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015. Each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and meetings held by all committees of the Board of Directors on which he or she served. Each director is expected to attend the Annual Meeting of shareholders. In 2014, the Annual Meeting of Shareholders was attended by all nine directors who were serving on the Board at that time.
|
Shareholder Communication With the Board
|
The Company provides an informal process for shareholders to send communications to the Board of Directors. Shareholders who wish to contact the Board of Directors or any of its members may do so in writing to Seneca Foods Corporation, 3736 South Main Street, Marion, New York 14505. Correspondence directed to an individual board member will be referred, unopened, to that member. Correspondence not directed to a particular board member will be referred, unopened, to the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
|
Report of the Audit Committee
|
The following Report of the Audit Committee does not constitute soliciting material and should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other filing by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates this Report by reference therein.
|
The Audit Committee of the Company is composed of four directors, each of whom meets the current independence and experience requirements of the NASDAQ Global Market and the SEC. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter which was originally adopted on May 27, 2004 and reviewed and reapproved on May 21, 2015. A complete copy of the Audit Committee charter is available on the Company's website at www.senecafoods.com. The Board has determined that Arthur H. Baer, Samuel T. Hubbard and Thomas Paulson are designated as the Company's "audit committee financial experts" as defined in the current rules of the SEC.
|
Management is primarily responsible for the Company's financial statements and reporting process. BDO USA, LLP (BDO USA) is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company's financial statements and internal control over the financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ("PCAOB") and issuing reports on those statements and internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee's responsibilities include oversight of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm and internal audit department, as well as oversight of the Company's financial reporting process on behalf of the full Board of Directors. It is not the duty or the responsibility of the Audit Committee to conduct auditing or accounting reviews or related procedures.
|
The Audit Committee meets at least quarterly and at such other times as it deems necessary or appropriate to carry out its responsibilities. Those meetings include, whenever appropriate, executive sessions with BDO USA without management being present. The Audit Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015. In the course of fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee met with management, internal audit personnel and BDO USA to review and discuss all annual financial statements and quarterly operating results prior to their issuance. Management advised the Audit Committee that all financial statements were prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The Audit Committee also discussed with BDO USA matters required to be discussed, pursuant to, Auditing Standard No. 16, Communication with Audit Committees, issued by the PCAOB, including the reasonableness of judgments and the clarity and completeness of financial disclosures. In addition, the Audit Committee discussed with BDO USA matters relating to its independence and has received from BDO USA the written disclosures and letter required by PCAOB Rule 3526, Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence.
|
On the basis of the reviews and discussions the Audit Committee has had with BDO USA and management, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Board approve the inclusion of the Company's audited financial statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, for filing with the SEC.
|
Submitted by:
|
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
|
Arthur H. Baer, Chair
John P. Gaylord Samuel T. Hubbard, Jr. Thomas Paulson |
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
|
The following provides certain information regarding our executive officers. Each individual's name and position with the Company is indicated. In addition, the principal occupation and business experience for the past five years is provided for each officer and, unless otherwise stated, each person has held the position indicated for at least the past five years.
|
Arthur S. Wolcott, age 89 − Mr. Wolcott has served as the Chairman of the Board of the Company since 1949.
|
Kraig H. Kayser, age 54 − Mr. Kayser is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and has served in that capacity since 1993. From 1991-1993 he served as the Company's Chief Financial Officer.
|
Paul L. Palmby, age 52 − Mr. Palmby has been Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company since 2006. Prior to that, he served as President of the Vegetable Division of the Company from 2005 to 2006 and Vice President of Operations of the Company from 1999-2004. Mr. Palmby joined the Company in March 1987.
|
Timothy J. Benjamin, age 56 − Mr. Benjamin has served as the Company's Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since June 2012. Prior to that he served as Corporate Treasurer at North American Breweries in Rochester, New York, since 2011 and was Director of Treasury and Tax Operations at IEC Electronics Corporation in 2010. Prior to that Mr. Benjamin was with Birds Eye Foods, Inc. for 15 years in increasingly responsible financial positions, reaching the position of Vice President and Treasurer in 2008.
|
Carl A. Cichetti, age 57 − Mr. Cichetti has served as Senior Vice President Technology and Planning since 2009 and Chief Information Officer of the Company since 2006. He was a Senior Consultant of Navint (Technology Consulting) from 2004-2005 and Senior Vice President of Technology of Citigroup from 2001-2004.
|
Dean E. Erstad, age 52 − Mr. Erstad has been Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing of the Company since 2001 and Vice President of Private Label Sales during 2000.
|
John D. Exner, age 52 − Mr. Exner has been General Counsel of the Company since 2006 and Assistant Secretary since 2007. He was Legal Counsel/Vice President from 1991-2002 and Legal Counsel/President from 2002 to 2005 of Midwest Food Processors Association, Inc.
|
Cynthia L. Fohrd, age 52 − Ms. Fohrd has been Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the Company since 2007. Ms. Fohrd has held various positions since joining the Company in 1988 including Financial Analyst, Internal Auditor, Risk Management and Vice President of Human Resources.
|
Aaron M. Girard, age 44 – Mr. Girard has been Senior Vice President of Logistics since 2010.
|
Jeffrey L. Van Riper, age 58 − Mr. Van Riper has been Vice President since 2008 and Corporate Controller, Principal Accounting Officer and Secretary of the Company since 1986. He joined the Company as Accounting Manager in 1978.
|
Sarah S. Mortensen, age 70 − Ms. Mortensen has been Assistant Secretary since 1986. She joined the Company as Administrative Assistant in 1968.
|
·
|
attract and retain highly-qualified executives,
|
·
|
motivate our executives to achieve our business objectives,
|
·
|
reward our executives appropriately for their individual and collective contributions, and
|
·
|
align our executives' interests with the long-term interests of our shareholders.
|
Bonus Target
|
Potential Bonus Payment
(Percent of Base Salary) |
7.5%
|
10%
|
10%
|
15%
|
12.5%
|
20%
|
15%
|
25%
|
20%
|
50%
|
Summary Compensation Table
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
The following table summarizes, for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the amount of compensation earned by the named executive officers.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Name and Principal Position
|
Year
|
Salary
|
Stock Awards (1)
|
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation
|
All Other Compensation (2)
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||
Arthur S. Wolcott
|
2015
|
$
|
581,792
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
581,792
|
||||||||||
Chairman of the Board
|
2014
|
562,552
|
-
|
56,622
|
-
|
619,174
|
|||||||||||||||
2013
|
517,933
|
-
|
103,839
|
-
|
621,772
|
||||||||||||||||
Kraig H. Kayser
|
2015
|
$
|
581,575
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
5,200
|
$
|
586,775
|
||||||||||
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
2014
|
562,668
|
-
|
56,622
|
5,100
|
624,390
|
|||||||||||||||
2013
|
518,030
|
-
|
103,839
|
5,000
|
626,869
|
||||||||||||||||
Timothy J. Benjamin
|
2015
|
$
|
216,876
|
$
|
12,500
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
5,088
|
$
|
234,464
|
||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer (3)
|
2014
|
210,927
|
12,500
|
21,115
|
2,927
|
247,469
|
|||||||||||||||
2013
|
165,577
|
12,500
|
34,167
|
-
|
212,244
|
||||||||||||||||
Paul L. Palmby
|
2015
|
$
|
345,594
|
$
|
50,000
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
5,690
|
$
|
401,284
|
||||||||||
Chief Operating Officer
|
2014
|
336,471
|
50,000
|
33,647
|
5,595
|
425,713
|
|||||||||||||||
2013
|
318,367
|
50,000
|
63,816
|
3,184
|
435,367
|
||||||||||||||||
Dean E. Erstad
|
2015
|
$
|
234,200
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
5,601
|
$
|
239,801
|
||||||||||
Senior Vice President, Sales
|
2014
|
228,511
|
-
|
22,902
|
5,595
|
257,008
|
|||||||||||||||
and Marketing
|
2013
|
221,855
|
-
|
44,471
|
5,000
|
271,326
|
_______________
|
||||||||||||
(1)
|
|
Represents the total grant date fair value of stock awards on the date of the award. The fair values of these awards were based on the closing price of the Company's Class A common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on the date of grant.
|
||||||||||
(2)
|
|
Company's matching contribution to its 401(k) Plan for each named executive officer and the amount of premium paid by the Company for group term life insurance on the named executive officer's life. The value of perquisites and other personal benefits are not shown in the table because the aggregate amount of such compensation, if any, is less than $10,000 for each named executive officer.
|
||||||||||
(3)
|
|
Mr. Benjamin was appointed Chief Financial Officer on June 11, 2012.
|
Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2015
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Name
|
Grant Date
|
Threshold
|
Target
|
Maximum
|
|||||||||||||||||
Arthur S. Wolcott
|
April 1, 2014
|
$
|
58,321
|
-
|
$
|
291,604
|
|||||||||||||||
Chairman of the Board
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Kraig H. Kayser
|
April 1, 2014
|
$
|
58,321
|
-
|
$
|
291,604
|
|||||||||||||||
President and Chief Executive
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Officer
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Timothy J. Benjamin
|
April 1, 2014
|
$
|
21,749
|
-
|
$
|
108,743
|
|||||||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer
|
August 7, 2014
|
421
|
$
|
12,500
|
|||||||||||||||||
Paul L. Palmby
|
April 1, 2014
|
$
|
34,657
|
-
|
$
|
173,283
|
|||||||||||||||
Chief Operating Officer
|
August 7, 2014
|
1,682
|
$
|
50,000
|
|||||||||||||||||
Dean E. Erstad
|
April 1, 2014
|
$
|
23,475
|
-
|
$
|
117,375
|
|||||||||||||||
Senior Vice President, Sales
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
and Marketing
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
(1
|
)
|
Represents the possible payouts under the Company's Executive Profit Sharing Bonus Plan discussed in further detail on page 13. For fiscal year 2015, the Company's pre-tax profits on a FIFO basis did not meet or exceed the threshold performance measure, accordingly no bonuses were accrued or paid for fiscal year 2015.
|
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2015 Fiscal Year-End | ||||||||||||
Stock Awards
|
||||||||||||
Number of Shares of Restricted Stock That Have Not Vested
|
Market Value of Shares of Restricted Stock That Have Not Vested (1)
|
|||||||||||
Name
|
(#
|
)
|
($)
|
|||||||||
Arthur S. Wolcott
|
--
|
--
|
||||||||||
Chairman of the Board
|
||||||||||||
Kraig H. Kayser
|
--
|
--
|
||||||||||
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
||||||||||||
Timothy J. Benjamin
|
950
|
(2
|
)
|
$
|
28,320
|
|||||||
Chief Financial Officer
|
||||||||||||
Paul L. Palmby
|
4,406
|
(3
|
)
|
$
|
131,343
|
|||||||
Chief Operating Officer
|
||||||||||||
Dean E. Erstad
|
--
|
--
|
||||||||||
Senior Vice President, Sales
|
||||||||||||
and Marketing
|
||||||||||||
_______________
|
||||||||||||
(1)
|
Determined based on the closing price of the Company's Class A Common Stock ($29.81) on March 31, 2015.
|
|||||||||||
(2)
|
Mr. Benjamin's restricted stock holdings as of March 31, 2015 vest as follows, provided that he remains employed by the Company on such dates: 322 shares on August 10, 2015, 322 shares on August 10, 2016; 200 shares on August 10, 2017 and 106 shares on August 10, 2018.
|
|||||||||||
(3)
|
Mr. Palmby's restricted stock holdings as of March 31, 2015 vest as follows, provided that he remains employed by the Company on such dates: 1,897 shares on August 10, 2015; 1,291 shares on August 10, 2016; 799 shares on August 10, 2017 and 419 shares on August 10, 2018.
|
Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal 2015
|
||||||||
Stock Awards
|
||||||||
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting
|
Value Realized on Vesting
|
|||||||
Name
|
(#
|
)
|
($)
|
|||||
Arthur S. Wolcott
|
--
|
--
|
||||||
Chairman of the Board
|
||||||||
Kraig H. Kayser
|
--
|
--
|
||||||
President and Chief Executive
|
||||||||
Officer
|
||||||||
Timothy J. Benjamin
|
217
|
$
|
6,449
|
|||||
Chief Financial Officer
|
||||||||
Paul L. Palmby
|
1,948
|
$
|
57,895
|
|||||
Chief Operating Officer
|
||||||||
Dean E. Erstad
|
--
|
--
|
||||||
Senior Vice President, Sales
|
||||||||
and Marketing
|
||||||||
Name
|
Number of Years Credited Service
(#) |
Present Value of Accumulated Benefit as of 3/31/15 (1)
($) |
Present Value of Accumulated Benefit as of 3/31/14 (1)
($) |
Payments During Last Fiscal Year
($) |
||||||||||||
Arthur S. Wolcott
|
66
|
$
|
728,446
|
$
|
670,205
|
$
|
98,370
|
|||||||||
Kraig H. Kayser
|
24
|
525,464
|
420,636
|
--
|
||||||||||||
Paul L. Palmby
|
27
|
532,615
|
427,944
|
--
|
||||||||||||
Dean E. Erstad
|
19
|
318,981
|
242,340
|
--
|
||||||||||||
Timothy J. Benjamin
|
2
|
29,471
|
8,420
|
--
|
(1)
|
Please see Note 8, "Retirement Plans," in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended March 31, 2015 for the assumptions used in calculating the present value of the accumulated benefit. Pension Plan service credit and actuarial values are calculated as of March 31, 2015, which is the pension plan measurement date that we use for financial statement reporting purposes.
|
Name
|
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash
|
|||
Arthur H. Baer
|
$
|
25,000
|
||
Peter R. Call
|
$
|
25,000
|
||
John P. Gaylord
|
$
|
25,000
|
||
Susan A. Henry
|
$
|
25,000
|
||
Samuel T. Hubbard
|
$
|
25,000
|
||
Susan W. Stuart
|
$
|
25,000
|
||
Thomas Paulson
|
$
|
25,000
|
Compensation Committee Interlocks
|
As noted above, the Compensation Committee is comprised of Messrs. Paulson and Gaylord and Dr. Henry. No member of the Compensation Committee is or was formerly an officer or an employee of the Company. No executive officer of the Company serves as a member of the board of directors and compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of the Company's Board of Directors, nor has such interlocking relationship existed in the past three years.
|
Certain Transactions and Relationships
|
According to written policy of the Audit Committee, any related party transactions, excluding compensation, which is delegated to the Compensation Committee, involving one of the Company's directors or executive officers, must be reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee. Any member of the Audit Committee who is a related party with respect to a transaction under review may not participate in the deliberations or vote on the approval or ratification of the transaction. Related parties include any of the Company's directors or executive officers, certain of the Company's stockholders and their immediate family members. To identify any related party transactions, each year, the Company submits and requires each director and officer to complete director and officer questionnaires identifying any transactions with the Company in which the executive officer or director or their family members has an interest. In addition, the Board of Directors determines, on an annual basis, which members of the Board meet the definition of independent director as defined in the NASDAQ listing standards and reviews and discusses any relationships with a director that would potentially interfere with his or her exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.
|
A small percentage (less than 1% in fiscal year 2015) of vegetables supplied to the Company's New York processing plants are grown by My-T Acres, Inc. Peter R. Call, a Director, is the President of My-T Acres, Inc., which supplied the Company approximately $834,000 pursuant to a raw vegetable grower contract in fiscal 2015. The Chairman of the Audit Committee reviewed the relationship and determined that My-T Acres contract were negotiated at arm's length and on no more favorable terms than to other growers in the marketplace.
|
OWNERSHIP OF COMPANY STOCK
|
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
|
To the best of the Company's knowledge, no person or group (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) beneficially owned, as of June 5, 2015, more than five percent of the shares of any class of the Company's voting securities, except as set forth in the following table. Beneficial ownership for these purposes is determined in accordance with applicable SEC rules and includes shares over which a person has sole or shared voting power or investment power. The holdings of Common Stock listed in the table do not include the shares obtainable upon conversion of the 10% Series A Preferred Stock and the 10% Series B Preferred Stock, which currently are convertible into both Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on the basis of 20 and 30 shares of Preferred Stock, respectively, for each share of Common Stock.
|
Amount of Shares and Nature
|
|||||||
of Beneficial Ownership
|
|||||||
Title of Class
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
|
Sole Voting/ Investment Power
|
Shared Voting/ Investment Power
|
Total
|
Percent of Class (1)
|
||
6% Preferred Stock
|
Arthur S. Wolcott
|
||||||
1605 Main Street
|
|||||||
Sarasota, Florida
|
32,844
|
--
|
32,844
|
(2)
|
16.42
|
%
|
|
Kurt C. Kayser
|
|||||||
Bradenton, Florida
|
27,536
|
--
|
27,536
|
13.77
|
|||
Susan W. Stuart
|
|||||||
Fairfield, Connecticut
|
25,296
|
--
|
25,296
|
12.65
|
|||
Bruce S. Wolcott
|
|||||||
Canandaigua, New York
|
25,296
|
--
|
25,296
|
12.65
|
|||
Grace W. Wadell
|
|||||||
Wayne, Pennsylvania
|
25,292
|
--
|
25,292
|
12.65
|
|||
Mark S. Wolcott
|
|||||||
Pittsford, New York
|
25,292
|
--
|
25,292
|
12.65
|
|||
L. Jerome Wolcott, Jr.
|
|||||||
Costa Mesa, California
|
15,222
|
--
|
15,222
|
7.61
|
|||
Peter J. Wolcott
|
|||||||
Bridgewater, Connecticut
|
15,222
|
--
|
15,222
|
7.61
|
|||
10% Series A Preferred Stock
|
Kraig H. Kayser
|
||||||
418 East Conde Street
|
|||||||
Janesville, Wisconsin
|
32,168
|
141,644
|
173,812
|
(3)
|
42.68
|
%
|
|
Bruce S. Wolcott
|
26,605
|
26,605
|
53,210
|
13.07
|
|||
Susan W. Stuart
|
26,605
|
26,605
|
53,210
|
13.07
|
|||
Mark S. Wolcott
|
26,605
|
26,605
|
53,210
|
13.07
|
|||
Grace W. Wadell
|
26,605
|
26,605
|
53,210
|
13.07
|
|||
Hannelore Wolcott-Bailey
|
|||||||
Penn Yan, New York
|
20,588
|
--
|
20,588
|
5.06
|
10% Series B Preferred Stock
|
Kraig H. Kayser
|
--
|
165,080
|
165,080
|
(4)
|
41.27
|
%
|
Arthur S. Wolcott
|
45,700
|
45,700
|
91,400
|
(5)
|
22.85
|
||
Bruce S. Wolcott
|
15,100
|
15,100
|
30,200
|
7.55
|
|||
Susan W. Stuart
|
15,100
|
15,100
|
30,200
|
7.55
|
|||
Mark S. Wolcott
|
15,100
|
15,100
|
30,200
|
7.55
|
|||
Grace W. Wadell
|
15,100
|
15,100
|
30,200
|
7.55
|
|||
Hannelore Wolcott-Bailey
|
22,720
|
--
|
22,720
|
5.68
|
|||
Class A Common Stock
|
BlackRock Inc.
|
||||||
40 East 52nd Street
|
|||||||
New York, New York
|
750,683
|
--
|
750,683
|
(6)
|
9.47
|
||
I. Wistar Morris, III
|
|||||||
4 Tower Bridge, Suite 300
|
|||||||
200 Barr Harbor Drive
|
|||||||
West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
|
194,470
|
513,531
|
708,001
|
(7)
|
8.93
|
||
Seneca Foods 401(k) Plan
|
652,678
|
--
|
652,678
|
8.23
|
|||
Franklin Resources, Inc.
|
|||||||
One Franklin Parkway
|
|||||||
San Mateo, California
|
564,104
|
--
|
564,104
|
(8)
|
7.12
|
||
Royce & Associates, LLC
|
|||||||
745 Fifth Avenue
|
|||||||
New York, New York
|
497,653
|
--
|
497,653
|
(9)
|
6.28
|
||
Kraig H. Kayser
|
68,942
|
157,104
|
226,046
|
(10)
|
2.85
|
||
Susan W. Stuart
|
57,214
|
105,288
|
162,502
|
(11)
|
2.05
|
||
Arthur S. Wolcott
|
--
|
96,936
|
96,936
|
(12)
|
1.22
|
||
Class B Common Stock
|
Seneca Foods Pension Plan
|
428,890
|
--
|
428,890
|
21.79
|
%
|
|
Kraig H. Kayser
|
90,294
|
157,930
|
248,224
|
(13)
|
12.61
|
||
Susan W. Stuart
|
63,492
|
134,666
|
198,158
|
(14)
|
10.07
|
||
I. Wistar Morris, III
|
43,500
|
90,130
|
133,630
|
(15)
|
6.79
|
||
Franklin Resources, Inc.
|
121,500
|
--
|
121,500
|
(16)
|
6.17
|
||
Bruce S. Wolcott
|
63,492
|
49,530
|
113,022
|
(17)
|
5.74
|
||
Grace W. Wadell
|
61,752
|
47,790
|
109,542
|
(18)
|
5.57
|
||
Seneca Foods 401(k) Plan
|
106,816
|
--
|
106,816
|
5.43
|
|||
Mark S. Wolcott
|
63,492
|
39,318
|
102,810
|
(19)
|
5.22
|
||
Arthur S. Wolcott
|
8,551
|
83,508
|
92,059
|
(20)
|
4.68
|
||
(1)
|
The applicable percentage of beneficial ownership is based on the number of shares of each class of voting stock outstanding as of June 5, 2015. With respect to certain persons, the percentage of beneficial ownership of Class A Common Stock includes the shares of Class A Common Stock that may be acquired upon conversion of the Company's Convertible Participating Preferred Stock but such shares are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
|
(2)
|
Does not include 101,176 shares of 6% Preferred Stock held directly by Mr. and Mrs. Wolcott's offspring, as to which Mr. Wolcott disclaims beneficial ownership.
|
(3)
|
Mr. Kayser has shared voting and investment power with respect to 141,644 shares of 10% Series A Preferred Stock held in two trusts of which he is a co-trustee and in which he and members of his family are beneficiaries. The total 173,812 shares of 10% Series A Preferred Stock are convertible into 8,690 shares of Class A Common Stock and 8,690 shares of Class B Common Stock.
|
(4)
|
Mr. Kayser has shared voting and investment power with respect to 165,080 shares of 10% Series B Preferred Stock held in two trusts of which he is a co-trustee and in which he and members of his family are beneficiaries. The total 165,080 shares of 10% Series B Preferred Stock are convertible into 5,502 shares of Class A Common Stock and 5,502 shares of Class B Common Stock.
|
(5)
|
The shares in the table include 45,700 shares of 10% Series B Preferred Stock held by Mr. Wolcott's wife. Does not include 120,800 shares of 10% Series B Preferred Stock held directly by Mr. and Mrs. Wolcott's offspring, as to which Mr. Wolcott disclaims beneficial ownership. The shares in the table are convertible into 3,046 shares of Class A Common Stock and 3,046 shares of Class B Common Stock.
|
(6)
|
Based on a statement on Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 22, 2015 by BlackRock Inc.
|
(7)
|
Based on a statement on Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on April 19, 2010 by I. Wistar Morris, III. Of the 708,001 shares beneficially owned by Morris individually and through his immediate family, 90,000 shares are held in his name, 104,470 shares are held in nominees' name for his benefit; 20,000 shares are held in nominee name in a trust for his benefit, 141,100 shares are held in his wife's name, and 43,639 shares are held in nominee's name for her benefit; 36,200 shares are held in nominee name in a trust for her benefit, 120,000 shares are held in the name of a partnership for the benefit of his children, 42,200 shares are held in nominee name for their benefit; 28,300 shares are held in nominee name for his children's trusts, 58,592 shares are held in the name of a Foundation in which Morris is co-trustee and 11,900 shares are held in nominee name for the Foundation; and 1,600 shares are held in nominee name for a trust in which he is trustee.
|
(8)
|
Based on a statement on Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 5, 2015 by Franklin Resources, Inc., Charles B. Johnson, Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. and Franklin Advisory Services, LLC.
|
(9)
|
Based on the statement on Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 21, 2015 by Royce and Associates.
|
(10)
|
Mr. Kayser has sole voting and investment power over 65,628 shares of Class A Common Stock owned by him and sole voting but no investment power over 5,550 shares owned by his siblings and their children, which are subject to a voting trust agreement of which Mr. Kayser is a trustee. The shares in the table include personal 401(k) holdings of 3,314 shares. The shares in table include 2,375 shares for which Mr. Kayser is the custodian. Mr. Kayser has shared voting and investment power with respect to 72,243 shares held in two trusts of which he is a co-trustee and in which he and members of his family are beneficiaries. The shares reported in the table include 76,936 shares held by the Seneca Foods Foundation (the "Foundation"), of which Mr. Kayser is a director. The shares reported in the table do not include (i) 24,025 shares held by the Pension Plan (ii) 14,521 shares owned by Mr. Kayser's mother, (iii) 19,000 shares held in trust for Mr. Kayser's mother, (iv) 6,619 shares held by Mr. Kayser's brothers, or (v) 652,678 shares held by the Seneca Foods Corporation Employee Savings Plan (the "401(k) Plan"), over which the Company's officers may be deemed to have shared voting and investment power. Mr. Kayser has shared voting and investment power with respect to the shares held by the Foundation. He disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by his mother and in trust for his mother, the shares held by his brother and the shares held by the 401(k) Plan.
|
(11)
|
The shares in the table include (i) 12,616 shares of Class A Common Stock held by Ms. Stuart's husband, (ii) 15,736 shares owned in trust for her sister's children, of whom Ms. Stuart is the trustee, (iii) 76,936 shares held by the Foundation, of which Ms. Stuart is a director. The shares in the table do not include 24,025 shares held by the Pension Plan, of which Ms. Stuart is a trustee. Ms. Stuart has shared voting and investment power with respect to the shares held by the Foundation and sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares owned in trust for her sister's children. She disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by her husband.
|
(12)
|
The shares in the table include (i) 20,000 shares of Class A Common Stock held by Mr. Wolcott's wife, (ii) 76,936 shares held by the Foundation, of which Mr. Wolcott is a director. The shares reported in the table do not include (i) 24,025 shares held by the Pension Plan, (ii) 308,528 shares of Class A Common Stock held directly by Mr. and Mrs. Wolcott's offspring and their families, or (iii) 652,678 shares held by the 401(k) Plan, over which the Company's officers may be deemed to have shared voting and investment power. Mr. Wolcott has shared voting and investment power with respect to the shares held by the Foundation. He disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to the shares held by his wife, his offspring and their families and the 401(k) Plan.
|
(13)
|
Mr. Kayser has sole voting and investment power over 89,752 shares of Class B Common Stock he owns and sole voting but no investment power over 9,950 shares owned by his siblings and their children, which are subject to a voting trust agreement of which Mr. Kayser is a trustee. The shares in the table include personal 401(k) holdings of 542 shares. Mr. Kayser has shared voting and investment power with respect to 74,956 shares held in two trusts of which he is a co-trustee and in which he and members of his family are beneficiaries. The shares in the table include 74,924 shares held by the Foundation, of which Mr. Kayser is a director. The shares in the table do not include (i) 428,890 shares held by the Pension Plan, of which Mr. Kayser is a trustee, (ii) 14,521 shares owned by Mr. Kayser's mother, (iii) 19,000 shares held in trust for Mr. Kayser's mother or (iv) 106,816 shares held by the 401(k) Plan. Mr. Kayser has shared voting and investment power with respect to the shares held by the Pension Plan, the 401(k) Plan and the Foundation. He disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by his mother and in trust for his mother.
|
(14)
|
The shares reported in the table include (i) 18,894 shares of Class B Common Stock held by Ms. Stuart's husband, (ii) 40,848 shares owned by her sister's children, of which Ms. Stuart is the trustee and (iii) 74,924 shares held by the Foundation, of which Ms. Stuart is a director. The shares in the table do not include 428,890 shares held by the Pension Plan, of which Ms. Stuart is a trustee. Ms. Stuart has shared voting and investment power with respect to the shares held the Pension Plan and the Foundation and sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares owned by her sister's children. She disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by her husband.
|
(15)
|
Based on a statement on Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on April 19, 2010 by I. Wistar Morris, III. Of the 133,630 shares beneficially owned by Mr. Morris individually and through his immediate family, 41,098 shares are held nominees' name for the benefit of his wife; 1,100 shares are held in nominee name in a trust for her benefit; 31,000 shares are held in nominee name in a partnership for the benefit of his children, 1,500 shares are held in nominee name for the benefit of his daughter, 1,500 shares are held in nominee name in a trust for his daughter's benefit and 13,932 shares are held in nominee name in a Foundation in which Morris is co-trustee.
|
(16)
|
Based on a statement on Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 2, 2010 by Franklin Resources, Inc., Charles B. Johnson, Rupert H. Johnson, Jr., and Franklin Advisory Services, LLC.
|
(17)
|
The shares in the table include (i) 18,894 shares of Class B Common Stock held by Mr. Wolcott's wife and (ii) 30,636 shares of Class B Common Stock owned by his brother's children. The shares in the table do not include 428,890 shares held by the Pension Plan, of which Mr. Wolcott is a trustee.
|
(18)
|
The shares in the table include (i) 17,154 shares of Class B Common Stock held by Ms. Wadell's husband and (ii) 30,636 shares of Class B Common Stock owned by her sister's children.
|
(19)
|
The shares in the table include (i) 18,894 shares of Class B Common Stock held by Mr. Wolcott's wife and (ii) 20,424 shares of Class B Common Stock owned by his brother's children.
|
(20)
|
The shares in the table include (i) 8,584 shares of Class B Common Stock held by Mr. Wolcott's wife and (ii) 74,924 shares held by the Foundation, of which Mr. Wolcott is a director. The shares in the table do not include (i) 448,608 shares of Class B Common Stock held directly by Mr. and Mrs. Wolcott's offspring and their families, (ii) 428,890 shares held by the Pension Plan, of which Mr. Wolcott is a trustee or (iii) 106,816 shares held by the 401(k) Plan. Mr. Wolcott has shared voting and investment power with respect to the shares held by the Pension Plan, the 401(k) Plan and the Foundation. He disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to the shares held by his wife, his offspring and their families.
|
Security Ownership of Management and Directors
|
The following table sets forth certain information available to the Company with respect to shares of all classes of the Company's voting securities owned by each director, each nominee for director, each executive officer and all directors, nominees and executive officers as a group, as of June 5, 2015. Beneficial ownership for these purposes is determined in accordance with applicable SEC rules and includes shares over which a person has sole or shared voting power or investment power. The holdings of Common Stock listed in the table do not include the shares obtainable upon conversion of the 10% Series A Preferred Stock and the 10% Series B Preferred Stock, which currently are convertible into both Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on the basis of 20 and 30 shares of Preferred Stock, respectively, for each share of Common Stock.
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Name of Beneficial Owner
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Title of Class
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Shares Beneficially Owned
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Percent of Class (1)
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Arthur H. Baer
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Class B Common Stock
|
2,000
|
*
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Peter R. Call
|
Class A Common Stock
|
1,767
|
*
|
Class B Common Stock
|
1,667
|
||
John P. Gaylord
|
Class A Common Stock
|
1,000
|
*
|
Samuel T. Hubbard
|
Class A Common Stock
|
500
|
*
|
Kraig H. Kayser
|
Class A Common Stock (2)
|
226,046
|
2.85
|
Class B Common Stock (2)
|
248,224
|
12.61
|
|
6% Preferred Stock (2)
|
8,000
|
4.00
|
|
10% Series A Preferred Stock (2)
|
173,812
|
42.68
|
|
10% Series B Preferred Stock (2)
|
165,080
|
41.27
|
|
Thomas Paulson
|
Class A Common Stock
|
1,250
|
*
|
Susan W. Stuart
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Class A Common Stock (3)
|
162,502
|
2.05
|
Class B Common Stock (3)
|
198,158
|
10.07
|
|
6% Preferred Stock (3)
|
25,296
|
12.65
|
|
10% Series A Preferred Stock (3)
|
53,210
|
13.07
|
|
10% Series B Preferred Stock (3)
|
30,200
|
7.55
|
|
Arthur S. Wolcott
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Class A Common Stock (4)
|
96,936
|
1.22
|
Class B Common Stock (4)
|
92,059
|
4.68
|
|
6% Preferred Stock (4)
|
32,844
|
16.42
|
|
10% Series B Preferred Stock (4)
|
91,400
|
22.85
|
|
Dean E. Erstad
|
Class A Common Stock
|
1,947
|
*
|
Class B Common Stock
|
318
|
*
|
|
Paul L. Palmby
|
Class A Common Stock
|
16,987
|
*
|
Class B Common Stock
|
979
|
*
|
|
Timothy J. Benjamin
|
Class A Common Stock
|
1,507
|
*
|
Class B Common Stock
|
411
|
*
|
|
All directors and executive officers as a group
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Class A Common Stock (5)
|
1,015,384
|
12.59
|
Class B Common Stock (5)
|
926,925
|
47.10
|
|
6% Preferred Stock (5)
|
66,140
|
33.07
|
|
10% Series A Preferred Stock (5)
|
227,022
|
55.75
|
|
10% Series B Preferred Stock (5)
|
286,680
|
71.67
|
(1)
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The applicable percentage of beneficial ownership is based on the number of shares of each class of voting stock outstanding as of June 5, 2015. With respect to certain persons, the percentage of beneficial ownership of Class A Common Stock includes the shares of Class A Common Stock that may be acquired upon conversion of the Company's Convertible Participating Preferred Stock but such shares are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
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(2)
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See notes 3, 4, 10, and 13 to the table under the heading " -- Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners."
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(3)
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See notes 11 and 14 to the table under the heading " -- Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners."
|
(4) | See notes 2, 5, 12, and 20 to the table under the heading " -- Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners." |
(5) | See notes 2 through 4 to above. With respect to the Class A Common Stock, also includes 652,678 shares held by the 401(k) Plan over which the Company's officers may be deemed to have shared voting and investment power. With respect to the Class B Common Stock, also includes 428,890 shares related to the Pension Plan and 106,816 shares held by the 401(k) Plan. |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
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Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that the Company's directors, officers and shareholders owning more than 10% of a registered class of equity securities of the Company file reports regarding their ownership and changes in that ownership with the SEC. The Company believes that all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its directors, executive officers and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were met for fiscal 2015 except for one filing each for Mr. Wolcott and Ms. Stuart related to gift transactions which were not timely made. All reports are current as of the date hereof.
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2015
|
2014
|
|||||||
Audit Fees (1)
|
$
|
621,371
|
$
|
633,320
|
||||
Audit-Related Fees
|
--
|
--
|
||||||
All Other Fees
|
--
|
--
|
||||||
Total
|
$
|
621,371
|
$
|
633,320
|
(1)
|
Includes fees and expenses related to the fiscal year audit and interim reviews, notwithstanding when the fees and expenses were billed or when the services rendered.
|
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE
2016 ANNUAL MEETING |
Proposals for the Company's Proxy Material
|
Any Company shareholder who wishes to submit a proposal for presentation at the Company's 2016 Annual Meeting must submit such proposal to the Company at its office at 3736 South Main Street, Marion, New York 14505, Attention: Secretary, no later than March 3, 2016, in order to be considered for inclusion, if appropriate, in the Company's proxy statement and form of proxy relating to its 2016 Annual Meeting.
|
Proposals to be Introduced at the Annual Meeting but not Intended to be Included in the Company's Proxy Material
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For any shareholder proposal to be presented in connection with the 2016 Annual Meeting, including any proposal relating to the nomination of a director to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Company, a shareholder must give timely written notice thereof to the Company in compliance with the advance notice provisions of the federal securities laws. To be timely, a qualified shareholder must give written notice to the Company at the Company's offices not later than May 17, 2016.
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BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
|
JEFFREY L. VAN RIPER
Secretary |