SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant x
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
o |
Preliminary Proxy Statement |
PRO-DEX,
INC.
(Name of
Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the
Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
x No fee required
o Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules
14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
1. Title of each class of
securities to which transaction applies:
2. Aggregate number of securities
to which transaction applies:
3. Per unit price or other
underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act
Rule 0-11
(set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined):
4. Proposed maximum aggregate value
of transaction:
5. Total fee paid:
o Fees paid previously with preliminary materials.
o Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1. Amount
Previously Paid:
2. Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
3. Filing
Party:
4. Date
Filed:
151 E Columbine
Avenue
Santa Ana, California 92707
______________________
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD DECEMBER 6, 2004
To the shareholders of Pro-Dex, Inc.:
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Pro-Dex, Inc. (the "Company") will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel Santa Ana, 201 E. MacArthur Blvd, Santa Ana, California, on Monday, December 6, 2004, at 8:00 A.M. Pacific Time, for the following purposes:
1. To elect two persons to serve as Class I directors of the Company for a term of three years each. The Class I nominees for election to the Board are named in the attached Proxy Statement, which is part of this Notice.
2. To ratify the appointment of Moss Adams, LLP as independent public accountants of the Company for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005.
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on October 15, 2004, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting.
All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please sign the enclosed proxy and return it in the enclosed addressed envelope. Your promptness in returning the proxy will assist in the expeditious and orderly processing of the proxy and will assure that you are represented at the Annual Meeting. If you return your proxy card, you may nevertheless attend the Annual Meeting and vote your shares in person.
By Order of the Board of Directors, PRO-DEX INC.
/s/ Jeffrey J. Ritchey |
151 E Columbine
Avenue
Santa Ana, California 92707
______________________
ANNUAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD
DECEMBER 6, 2004
______________________
PROXY STATEMENT
________________________
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
The accompanying proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Pro-Dex, Inc. (the "Company") for use at the Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at the DoubleTree Hotel Santa Ana, 201 E. MacArthur Blvd, Santa Ana, California, on Monday, December 6, 2004, at 8:00 A.M. Pacific Time, and at any and all adjournments thereof. Shareholders are requested to complete, date and sign the accompanying proxy card and promptly return it in the accompanying envelope or otherwise mail it to the Company. All shares represented by each properly executed and unrevoked proxy received in advance of the Annual Meeting, and that are not revoked, will be voted in the manner specified therein, and if no direction is indicated, "for" each of the proposals described on the proxy card.
Any shareholder has the power to revoke his or her proxy at any time before it is voted. A proxy may be revoked by delivering a written notice of revocation to the Secretary of the Company, by submitting prior to or at the annual meeting a later dated proxy executed by the person executing the prior proxy, or by attendance at the Annual Meeting and voting in person by the person executing the proxy.
Any shareholder, who would like to vote in person at the Annual Meeting and owns shares in street name, should inform his/her broker bank of such plans and request a legal proxy from the broker. Such shareholders will need to bring the legal proxy with them to the Annual Meeting and valid picture identification such as a driver's license or passport in addition to documentation indicating share ownership. Such shareholders who do not receive the legal proxy in time, should bring with them to the Annual Meeting their most recent brokerage account statement showing that they owned Pro-Dex, Inc. stock as of the record date. Upon submission of proper identification and ownership documentation, the Company will be able to verify ownership of its Common Stock and admit the shareholder to the Annual Meeting; however, such shareholder will not be able to vote his/her shares at the Annual Meeting without a legal proxy. Shareholders are advised that if they own shares in street name and request a legal proxy, any previously executed proxy will be revoked, and such shareholder's vote will not be counted unless he/she appears at the Annual Meeting and votes in person.
The Company's Board of Directors does not presently intend to bring any business before the Annual Meeting other than the proposals referred to in this proxy statement and specified in the Notice of Meeting. So far as is known to the Company's Board of Directors, no other matters are to be brought before the meeting. As to any business that may properly come before the meeting, however, it is intended that shares represented by proxies held by management will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting the shares.
Page 1
This proxy statement, the accompanying proxy card and the Company's Annual Report are being mailed to the Company's shareholders on or about October 29, 2004. The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. The solicitation will be made by mail and expenses will include reimbursement paid to brokerage firms and others for their expenses in forwarding solicitation material regarding the Annual Meeting to beneficial owners of the Company's Common Stock. Further solicitation of proxies may be made by telephone or oral communications with some shareholders. The Company's regular employees, who will not receive additional compensation for the solicitation, will make such further solicitations.
OUTSTANDING SHARES AND VOTING RIGHTS
Only holders of record of the 8,891,869 shares of the Company's Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on October 29, 2004, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Under Colorado law, the Company's Articles of Incorporation and the Company's Bylaws, a majority of the shares entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of shareholders. However, with respect to Proposal 2, under Colorado law, a majority of the votes entitled to be cast, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum for purposes of the transaction of business. Shares of the Company's common stock represented in person or by proxy (regardless of whether the proxy has authority to vote on all matters), as well as abstentions and broker non-votes, will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the meeting.
An "abstention" is the voluntary act of not voting by a shareholder who is present at a meeting and entitled to vote. "Broker non-votes" are shares of voting stock held in record name by brokers and nominees concerning which: (i) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote; (ii) the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power under applicable rules or the instrument under which it serves in such capacity; or (iii) the record holder has indicated on the proxy or has executed a proxy and otherwise notified the Company that it does not have authority to vote such shares on that matter.
All proxies delivered to the Company will be counted in determining the presence of a quorum, including those providing for abstention or withholding of authority and those delivered by brokers voting without beneficial owner instruction and exercising a non-vote on certain matters. Assuming a quorum is present, for Proposal 1 (the election of directors) the two nominees for director for the Class I position receiving the highest number of affirmative votes will be elected; votes withheld and votes against a nominee have no practical effect. In matters other than election of directors, assuming that a quorum is present, the affirmative votes of a majority of the shares represented and voting at a meeting (which shares voting affirmatively also constitute at least a majority of the required quorum) is required for approval; in such matters, abstentions and broker non-votes are not counted. All other proposals require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Company's shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Company's annual meeting; provided, that a majority of votes entitled to be cast, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum for purposes of the transaction of business with respect to Proposal 2. Each shareholder will be entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy, for each share of Common Stock held of record on the record date. Votes cast at the meeting will be tabulated by the person or persons appointed by the Company to act as inspectors of election for the meeting.
Recommendation of the Company's Board of Directors
The Company's Board of Directors recommends that the Company's shareholders vote "for" each of the proposals described in this Proxy Statement and the accompanying Notice of Meeting.
Page 2
THE PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED UPON AT THE MEETING ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT. YOU ARE STRONGLY URGED TO READ AND CONSIDER CAREFULLY THIS PROXY STATEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of September 30, 2004 by (i) each person known by the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (ii) each of the Company's current directors, (iii) each of the Named Executive Officers (as hereinafter defined), and (iv) all current directors and Named Executive Officers of the Company as a group:
Name of Beneficial Owner(1) |
Number of Shares of Common |
Percent of Common Stock |
Ronald G. Coss
|
1,903,579(4) |
21.2% |
Glacier Partners |
475,300 |
5.3% |
George J. Isaac |
119,900(4) |
1.3% |
Michael A. Mesenbrink |
35,000(4) |
* |
Mark P. Murphy |
48,200(4) |
* |
Valerio L. Giannini |
35,000(4) |
* |
Patrick Johnson |
505,650(4) |
5.4% |
Jeffrey J. Ritchey |
57,000(4) |
* |
All Executive Officers and directors as a group (6 persons) |
800,750(4) |
8.3% |
|
|
|
__________________________
* Less than 1%.
1. Unless otherwise indicated, the address is c/o Pro-Dex, Inc., 151 E. Columbine Avenue, Santa Ana, California 92707.
2. Unless otherwise indicated, to the Company's knowledge, the persons named in the table have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares beneficially owned, subject to community property and similar laws, where applicable.
3. Applicable percentage ownership is based on 8,891,869 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of September 30, 2004. Any securities not outstanding but subject to options exercisable as of September 30, 2004 or exercisable within 60 days after such date are deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of outstanding Common Stock beneficially owned by the person holding such options but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of Common Stock beneficially owned by any other person.
4. Includes shares of Common Stock subject to stock warrants and options which were exercisable as of September 30, 2004 or exercisable within 60 days after September 30, 2004, and are as follows: Mr. Coss, 100,000 shares, Mr. Isaac, 115,000 shares; Mr. Murphy, 35,000 shares; Mr. Mesenbrink, 35,000 shares; Mr. Giannini, 35,000 shares; Mr. Johnson, 495,250 shares; Mr. Ritchey, 55,000 shares and all directors and Executive Officers as a group, 770,250 shares.
Page 3
BENEFICIAL
SHAREHOLDINGS OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AND OWNERS OF MORE
THAN
5% OF PREFERRED STOCK
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of the Company's Preferred Stock as of September 30, 2004 by (i) each person known by the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, (ii) each of the Company's current directors and nominees for director, (iii) each of the Named Executive Officers (as hereinafter defined), and (iv) all current directors and Named Executive Officers of the Company as a group:
Name of Beneficial Owner(1) |
Number of Shares of Preferred |
Percent of Preferred Stock |
Kent E. Searl |
19,900 |
25.5% |
Professional Sales Associates, Inc. |
58,229 |
74.5% |
All Named Executive Officers and directors as a Group (6 persons) |
0 |
0 % |
__________________________
1. Unless otherwise indicated, the address is c/o Pro-Dex, Inc., 151 E. Columbine Avenue, Santa Ana, California 92707.
2. Unless otherwise indicated, to the Company's knowledge, following the conversion of the Preferred Stock, the persons named in the table have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares beneficially owned, subject to community property and similar laws, where applicable.
3. Applicable percentage ownership is based on 78,129 shares of Preferred Stock outstanding as of September 30, 2004.
Proposal No. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's Articles of Incorporation provide for the classification of the Company's Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, which currently is composed of four (4) members, is divided into three (3) classes. Generally, absent earlier resignation of a Class member, one Class stands for re-election at each annual meeting of shareholders. The Board of Directors currently is comprised of two Class I directors (George J. Isaac and Michael A. Mesenbrink), one Class II director (Valerio L. Giannini), and one Class III director (Mark P. Murphy). The term of the Class I directors expires in 2004 and upon election, the term of each such director shall expire again in 2007. The term of the Class II director expires in 2005. The term of the Class III director expires in 2006.
Certain information with respect to each of the nominees who will be presented at the Annual Meeting by the Board of Directors for election as a director is set forth below. Although it is anticipated that each nominee will be available to serve as a director, should that nominee become unavailable to serve, the proxies will be voted for such other person as may be designated by the Company's Board of Directors.
Page 4
Unless the authority to vote for directors has been withheld in the proxy, the persons named in the enclosed proxy intend to vote at the Annual Meeting for the election of the nominees presented below. In the election of directors, assuming a quorum is present, the two Class I nominees receiving the highest number of votes cast at the meeting will be elected as a director of the Company.
DIRECTORS
Set forth below is certain information with respect to the Company's continuing directors and director nominees.
Name |
Age |
Position with Company |
Class |
Class Expiration Year |
George J. Isaac |
59 |
Director and Nominee |
Class I |
2007 |
Michael A. Mesenbrink |
57 |
Director and Nominee (1) |
Class I |
2007 |
Mark P. Murphy |
45 |
Director (1) |
Class III |
2006 |
Valerio L. Giannini |
66 |
Director (1) |
Class II |
2005 |
__________________________
(1) Member of the Audit and Compensation Committees
Messrs. Giannini, Mesenbrink and Murphy are "independent" directors as such term is defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the NASD listing standards.
The Board of Directors is of the opinion that the election to the Company's Board of Directors of each of the Class I Director nominees identified herein, each of whom has consented to serve if elected, would be in the Company's best interests. The names of the Class I Director nominees to be elected are George J. Isaac and Michael A. Mesenbrink.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES NAMED BELOW AS CLASS I DIRECTORS.
George J. Isaac (59), Class I Director and nominee, served as a consultant to the Company and its predecessor since 1978, became a member of the Company's Board of Directors in July 1995 and was the Company's prior Chief Financial Officer during the period from August 1995 to July 2002 and Secretary during the period from July 2002 to October 2003. Mr. Isaac is a Certified Public Accountant and was a principal in the certified public accounting firm of Joseph B. Cohan and Associates, Worcester, Massachusetts. Mr. Isaac is a director of Professional Sales Associates, Inc. ("PSA") and Commerce Bank & Trust. Mr. Isaac has been a director of the Company since 1995.
Michael A. Mesenbrink (57), Class I Director and nominee, is currently CEO of The N.E.W. Program, a large national bariatric surgery practice/company, and has been in the medical device and health care industry for 30 years. He was co founder of Medical Imaging Centers of America (MICA) which he assisted in guiding through its public offering. Mr. Mesenbrink was formerly with Johnson & Johnson; Becton-Dickinson and has founded several companies and held many senior management roles in cardiovascular, surgery, and radiology product based companies. Mr. Mesenbrink received a BA degree in Zoology/Chemistry from San Jose State University in 1970 and did postgraduate studies at the Menai Bridge Ocean Science Laboratories, University of Wales, U.K. Mr. Mesenbrink has been a director of the Company since 2002.
Page 5
CONTINUING DIRECTORS
Mark P. Murphy (45), Class III Director, is the Chief Operating Officer and a director of Kyocera Tycom Corporation, a manufacturing company that develops and sells precision cutting tools. Its 400 employees operate out of North America and China. Mr. Murphy began with Tycom in 1995 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and became Chief Operating Officer in January of 2000. Mr. Murphy's career includes 17 years as a senior corporate executive, having held the top positions in sales, finance, and operations. Mr. Murphy earned a BA in Business Administration and an MBA in Finance from California State University at Fullerton. He became a California Certified Public Accountant in 1983. Mr. Murphy has been a director of the Company since 2002.
Valerio L. Giannini (66), Class II Director, since 1995 has been a principal of Newcap Partners, a Los Angeles based private investment banking firm. He previously served as CEO of a subsidiary of the Geneva Companies, then a subsidiary of Chemical Bank. Mr. Giannini joined Geneva from Cumberland Investment Group, a New York based private investment banking partnership. Prior to Cumberland, he held appointments as Director of White House Operations, and as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce. Mr. Giannini was also previously with the Corporate Planning Division of IIT Research Institute (Chicago) and the Corporate Finance department of Kidder, Peabody & Co. New York. Mr. Giannini holds a BSE from Princeton University. Mr. Giannini has been a director of the Company since 2002.
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE OF KEY MANAGEMENT
Set forth below is information concerning certain key management personnel of the Company.
Patrick L. Johnson (43), is the Company's Chief Executive Officer and President. In addition to this position assumed in September 2002, he joined the Company's Micro Motors subsidiary as Vice President and General Manager in March 2000. Mr. Johnson has significant experience in medical device manufacturing, having served as General Manager of Analytic Endodontics, Inc. (a division of Sybron Dental) from 1997 to 2000 and General Manager of Tycom Dental, Inc. from 1996 to 1997, both dental related product manufacturers. Prior to that, Mr. Johnson served as Vice-President and General Manager of Dabico, Inc., a manufacturing company that specialized in the design and manufacture of in-ground service equipment for commercial and military aircraft. Mr. Johnson received B.A. degrees in Legal Studies and Philosophy from the University of California in Santa Cruz and a MBA degree from Pepperdine University.
Jeffrey J. Ritchey (41), is the Company's Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary. Mr. Ritchey joined the Company's Micro Motors subsidiary as Controller in August 2001 and assumed the Chief Financial Officer position in July 2002 and Secretary position in October 2003. Mr. Ritchey's previous experience includes serving as the Controller and Finance Director of Tycom Corporation from 1997 to 2001 and Corporate and operational positions at Hughes Electronics and DIRECTV (subsidiaries of General Motors) from 1990 to 1997. Mr. Ritchey received a M.S. degree in Finance from the University of Arizona and is a Chartered Financial Analyst ("CFA") charterholder.
Page 6
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Pursuant to the merger of Micro Motors with the Company's subsidiary in 1995, Ronald G. Coss entered into a Non-Competition Agreement, pursuant to which he is to be paid $1 million over five years, with payment commencing on the termination of his employment agreement with the Company in the sixth year after closing. Due to the fact that the term of Mr. Coss' employment with the Company had been extended, the Board of Directors and Mr. Coss agreed that the Company's performance obligations under the Non-Competition Agreement be extended to commence on September 30, 2001. Mr. Coss' employment agreement ended in June 2002. $200,000 of payments were made to Mr. Coss pertaining to the Non-Competition Agreement in the year ending June 30, 2004, leaving a balance of $400,000 to be paid through the year ending June 30, 2006. In addition, the Company received $121,600 pertaining to a note receivable from Mr. Coss, leaving a balance of $243,200 under such note to be received through the year ending June 30 2006. The note bears an interest rate of 7% and is due and payable in quarterly principal and interest installments of $30,400.
The Company's shareholders have approved a Director's Stock Option Plan (the "Directors' Plan") pursuant to which non-employee directors may be granted options to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock. In accordance with the Directors' Plan's provisions, the Board of Directors previously adopted a policy to grant each outside director an initial option to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock on the date of his commencement of service as a director and an option to purchase 15,000 shares annually, exercisable at the closing price on each anniversary date of such service. The maximum term of each option is ten years. The options fully vest after 6 months and expire 90 days from the termination of the director's service on the Company's Board of Directors.
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004, one of the Company's prior Directors, Mr. Coss, and four of the Company's current Directors, Messrs. Isaac, Mesenbrink, Murphy, and Giannini, were each granted options to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock, exercisable at share prices of $1.40, $1.40, $1.77, $1.60 and $2.18 per share, respectively.
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004, 15,000 common stock options previously provided to current and former Directors expired. The expired options are detailed in the table below:
Name |
Plan |
Number of Options |
Exercise Price ($/Share) |
Ronald G. Coss |
Directors |
15,000 |
$1.40 |
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS AND RELATED MATTERS
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004, the Board of Directors held six meetings and there were two actions by unanimous written consent. No director attended less than 75% of the aggregate of all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of committees of the Board of Directors upon which he served.
The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee that consists of three Board members, Michael A. Mesenbrink, Mark P. Murphy and Valerio L. Giannini. The Audit Committee is comprised entirely of non-employee, "independent" (as defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the NASD listing standards) directors and operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The duties of the Audit Committee include meeting with the independent public accountants of the Company to review the scope of the annual audit and to review the quarterly and annual financial statements of the Company before the statements are released to the Company's shareholders. The Audit Committee also evaluates the independent public accountants' performance and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors as to whether the independent public accounting firm should be retained by the Company for the ensuing fiscal year. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews the Company's internal accounting and financial controls and reporting systems practices. A copy of the Audit Committee's current charter may be found at the Company's website at www.pro-dex.com. The charter may be found as follows: From our main web page, first click on "Governance", and then click on "Audit Committee Charter". The Audit Committee and Board of Directors have confirmed that the Audit Committee does and will continue to include at least three members and has confirmed that Mr. Murphy meets applicable NASD listing standards for designation as an "Audit Committee Financial Expert" and being "independent" based upon his experience noted herein. The Audit Committee held seven meetings and approved one measure by unanimous consent during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004.
Page 7
The Board of Directors has a Compensation Committee that consists of three Board members, Michael A. Mesenbrink, Mark P. Murphy and Valerio L. Giannini. The Compensation Committee is comprised entirely of non-employee, "independent" (as defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the NASD listing standards) directors and operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, a copy of which may be found at the Company's website at www.pro-dex.com. The charter may be found as follows: From our main web page, first click on "Governance", and then click on "Compensation Committee Charter". The Compensation Committee is comprised entirely of non-employee, independent directors operating under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee is responsible for ensuring that senior management will be accountable to the Board through the effective application of compensation policies. The Compensation Committee establishes compensation policies applicable to the Company's Executive Officers. The Compensation Committee held one meeting and approved one measure by unanimous consent during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004.
The entire Board of Directors performs the functions of a nominating committee. In such capacity, the Board identifies and reviews the qualifications of candidate nominees to the Board of Directors. The Board will consider candidate nominees for election as director who are recommended by shareholders. Recommendations should be sent to the Secretary of the Company and should include the candidate's name and qualifications and a statement from the candidate that he or she consents to being named in the Proxy Statement and will serve as a director if elected. In order for any candidate to be considered for nomination and, if nominated, to be included in the Proxy Statement, such recommendation must be received by the Secretary not less than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the Company's mailing of its Proxy Statement for the most recent annual meeting of shareholders
The Board of Directors believes that it is desirable that directors possess an understanding of the Company's business environment and have the knowledge, skills, expertise and such diversity of experience that the Board's ability to manage and direct the affairs and business of the Company is enhanced. Additional considerations may include an individual's capacity to enhance the ability of committees of the Board to fulfill their duties and/or satisfy any independence requirements imposed by law, regulation or listing requirements. The Board of Directors may receive candidate nomination suggestions from current Board members, Company executive officers or other sources, which may be either unsolicited or in response to requests from the Board for such candidates. The Board may also, from time to time, engage firms that specialize in identifying director candidates. Once a person has been identified by the Board as a potential candidate, the Board may collect and review publicly available information regarding the person to assess whether the person should be considered further. If the Board determines that the candidate warrants further consideration, a member of the Board may contact the person. Generally, if the person expresses a willingness to be considered and to serve on the Board, the Board may request information from the candidate, review the person's accomplishments and qualifications and may conduct one or more interviews with the candidate. The Board may consider all such information in light of information regarding any other candidates that the Board might be evaluating for nomination to the Board of Directors. Board members may also contact one or more references provided by the candidate or may contact other members of the business community or other persons that may have greater first-hand knowledge of the candidate's accomplishments. With the nominee's consent, the Board may also engage an outside firm to conduct background checks on candidates as part of the nominee evaluation process. The Board's evaluation process does not vary based on the source of the recommendation, though in the case of a shareholder nominee, the Board may take into consideration the number of shares held by the recommending shareholder and the length of time that such shares have been held.
Page 8
In compiling the Board nominees appearing in this Proxy Statement, nominee referrals as well as nominee recommendations were received from existing directors. Three of the four members of the Board are "independent" directors (as defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the NASD listing standards). No paid consultants were engaged by the Company, the Board or any of its committees for the purposes of identifying qualified, interested Board candidates. A copy of the Board Procedures Concerning Nominations may be found at the Company's website at www.pro-dex.com. The Procedures may be found as follows: From our main web page, first click on "Governance", and then click on "Procedures Governing the Nominating Function".
Directors of the Company who are not also employees received a fee of $3,000 per quarter plus $1,000 per board meeting attended, plus $750 per each day of committee meetings attended, together with reasonable expenses of attendance at committee meetings.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
No other director or executive officer of the Company serves as an officer, director or member of a compensation committee of any other entity for which an executive officer or director thereof is also a member of the Company's Board of Directors.
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain compensation information for the three fiscal years ended June 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, by the Chief Executive Officer and the other highest paid executive officers of the Company (up to four) serving as such at the end of the 2004 fiscal year whose aggregate total annual salary and bonus for such year exceeded $100,000 (the "Named Executive Officers").
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Annual Compensation |
Long Term |
||||
Name and |
Fiscal |
Salary |
Bonus (1) |
All Other |
Securities |
Patrick Johnson (3)
|
2004 |
$188,964 |
-- |
$18,468 |
-- |
Jeffrey J. Ritchey
(4) |
2004 |
$113,846 |
-- |
$10,230 |
-- |
(1) | Represents amounts earned in prior year and paid in year reported. |
(2) |
Consists of: for Mr. Johnson, $4,154 in automotive reimbursement in 2004, and $8,655 in 2003 and 2002; and $12,004, $11,591, and $8,214 of health insurance and related payments for the years 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. For Mr. Ritchey, health insurance and related payments for the years 2004 and 2003 of $8,867 and $7,509, respectively, and matching contributions made by the Company under the Company's 401(k) plan of $1,363 in 2004 and $1,333 in 2003. |
(3) |
Mr. Johnson commenced employment with the Company April 2000 and was named President and Chief Executive Officer as of September 2002. |
(4) |
Mr. Ritchey commenced employment with the Company in August 2001, and was named Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer as of July 2002 and Secretary in October 2003. |
Page 9
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
There were no option grants in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004 to the Named Executive Officers.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
The following table provides information on option exercises in fiscal year ended June 30, 2004 by the Named Executive Officers and unexercised options held by each of them at the close of such fiscal year.
Name |
Shares |
Value |
Number of
Securities |
Value of
Unexercised |
||
|
|
Exercisable |
Unexercisable |
Exercisable |
Unexercisable |
|
Patrick Johnson |
62,000 |
$147,560 |
319,215 |
106,250 |
$351,135 |
$82,125 |
Jeffrey J. Ritchey |
0 |
$0 |
35,000 |
65,000 |
$39,850 |
$83,350 |
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN AWARDS
In fiscal 2004, no awards were given to the Named Executive Officers under long-term incentive plans.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table sets forth information about the Company's common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options under all of the Company's equity compensation plans as of June 30, 2004.
Plan Category |
Number of Securities |
Weighted Average |
Number of
Securities |
|
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders |
|||
● Employee Plan |
1,221,405 |
$1.29 |
216,595 |
● Director Plan |
220,000 |
$0.82 |
260,000 |
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders |
262,000 |
$1.42 |
-- |
Total |
1,703,405 |
$1.25 |
476,595 |
Page 10
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AND CHANGE IN CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
Mr. Johnson has an Employment Agreement ("Employment Agreement") with the Company dated April 3, 2000 (as amended September 6, 2002 and further amended October 1, 2003), concerning his employment as the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer through October 1, 2005 with a base rate of pay, commencing October 1, 2003, of $205,000 per annum and, a grant of 300,000 stock options, 200,000 of which are exercisable at $0.35 per share and 100,000 exercisable commencing September 6, 2004 at $1.42 per share. Mr. Johnson is also eligible to receive additional performance-based compensation. If Mr. Johnson is terminated without "cause" during the term of his employment, he shall be entitled to compensation under its terms for the remainder of the Employment Agreement term. The Employment Agreement may be terminated by either party, upon sixty (60) days notice, if a Change of Control shall have occurred, and Mr. Johnson shall be entitled to (i) his salary and (ii) to the extent permitted by the Company's insurance policies, insurance benefits for a period of one year from the date of termination. In addition, upon a Change in Control, the unvested portion of Mr. Johnson's stock options shall immediately vest. "Change in Control" is defined to mean either one of the following: (i) when any "person," as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than a shareholder of the Company on the date of the Agreement), the Company, a subsidiary or a Company Employee Benefit Plan, (including any trustee of such Plan acting as trustee) becomes, after the date of the Agreement, the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 35% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities; or (ii) the occurrence of a transaction requiring shareholder approval, and involving the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or the merger of the Company with or into another corporation.
For options and warrants other than those discussed above, the Board of Directors, as the administrator of the Company's 2004 Employee Stock Option Plan and Director Stock Option Plan, has the discretion to accelerate any outstanding options held by the employees and directors in the event of an acquisition of the Company by a merger or asset sale in which the outstanding options under each such plan are not to be assumed by the successor corporation or substituted with options to purchase shares of such corporation.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Company applies a consistent philosophy to compensation for all employees, including senior management. This philosophy is based on the premise that the achievements of the Company result from the coordinated efforts of all individuals working toward common objectives. The Company strives to achieve those objectives through teamwork that is focused on meeting the expectations of customers and shareholders.
Compensation Philosophy
The goals of the compensation program are to align compensation with business objectives and performance, and to enable the Company to attract, retain and reward executive officers that contribute to the long-term success of the Company. The Company's compensation program for executive officers is based on the same four principles applicable to compensation decisions for all employees of the Company:
The Company pays competitively. The Company is committed to
providing a pay program that helps attract and retain highly qualified people
in the industry. To ensure that pay is competitive, the Company compares its
pay practices with those of other leading companies of similar size and sets
its pay parameters based on this review.
The Company pays for relative sustained performance. Executive officers are rewarded based upon corporate performance and individual performance. Corporate performance is evaluated by the Board of Directors by reviewing the extent to which strategic and business plan goals are met, including such factors as revenues, operating profit and cash flow.
Page 11
The Company strives for fairness in the administration of pay and
to achieve a balance of the compensation paid to a particular individual with
the compensation paid to other executives both inside the Company and at
comparable companies.
The Company believes that employees should understand the performance evaluation and pay administration process. The process of assessing performance is as follows:
1. At the beginning of the performance cycle, the Chief Executive Officer or other evaluating manager sets objectives and key goals.
2. The evaluating manager gives the employee ongoing feedback on performance.
3. At the end of the performance cycle, the manager objectively and subjectively evaluates the accomplishment of objectives/key goals.
4. The manager compares the results to the results of peers within the Company.
5. The evaluating manager communicates the comparative results to the employee.
6. The comparative result affects decisions on salary and, if applicable, bonus and, if applicable, stock options.
Compensation Vehicles
The Company has historically used a compensation program that consists of cash and equity based compensation. The vehicles are:
Salary. The Company sets base salary for its employees by reviewing the base salary for competitive positions in the market in order to attract, retain, and motivate highly talented individuals at all levels in the organization.
Bonus. The Company utilizes incentive compensation plans for selected employees to reward achievement of key objectives and goals.
Employee Stock Option Program. The purpose of this program is to provide additional incentives to selected employees to work to maximize shareholder value. The Board of Directors makes all stock option grants. Stock options generally are granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the underlying Common Stock on the date of grant and vest in equal annual installments over a four-year period.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Valerio L. Giannini Michael A. Mesenbrink Mark P. Murphy
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee reports to and acts on behalf of the Board of Directors in providing oversight to the financial management, independent auditors, and financial reporting procedures of the Company. The Company's management is responsible for preparing the Company's financial statements and the independent auditors are responsible for auditing those statements. In this context, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements contained in the 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB with management and the independent auditors.
Page 12
The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 ("Communication with Audit Committees"), as amended. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), as amended, and has discussed with the independent auditors their independence. In concluding that the auditors are independent, the Committee considered, among other factors, whether the non-audit services provided by Moss Adams, LLP were compatible with maintaining their independence.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended June 30, 2004, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Audit Committee has retained Moss Adams, LLP to serve as the Company's independent auditors for the year ending June 30, 2005.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Valerio L. Giannini Michael A. Mesenbrink Mark P. Murphy
DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION
Directors of the Company who are not also employees received a fee of $3,000 per quarter plus $1,000 per board meeting, plus $750 per each day of committee meetings attended, together with reasonable expenses of attendance at committee meetings. The Directors fees paid in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004 are as follows:
Director |
Director's
Fees received in the |
Ronald G. Coss |
$10,131 |
George Isaac |
$16,500 |
Mark P. Murphy |
$22,500 |
Michael Mesenbrink |
$22,500 |
Valerio Giannini |
$22,500 |
The Company's shareholders have approved the Director's Plan pursuant to which non-employee directors may be granted options to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock. In accordance with the Directors' Plan's provisions, the Board of Directors previously adopted a policy to grant each outside director an initial option to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock on the date of his commencement of service as a director and an option to purchase 15,000 shares annually, exercisable at the closing price on each anniversary date of such service. The maximum term of each option is ten years. The options fully vest after 6 months and expire 90 days from the termination of the director's service on the Company's Board of Directors.
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004, one of the Company's prior Directors, Mr. Coss, and four of the Company's current Directors, Messrs. Isaac, Mesenbrink, Murphy, and Giannini, were each granted options to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock, exercisable at share prices of $1.40, $1.40, $1.77, $1.60 and $2.18 per share, respectively.
Page 13
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the directors and officers of the Company and any person who owns more than ten percent of the Company's Common Stock are required to report their initial ownership of the Company's Common Stock and any subsequent changes in that ownership to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and the NASDAQ Small Cap Market. Officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all forms they file in accordance with Section 16(a). Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it, or written representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms 5 were required for those persons, the Company believes that, during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004, its officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders complied with all filing requirements applicable to such persons, except that Mr. Ronald G. Coss, a beneficial owner of greater than ten percent of the Company's Common Stock, filed three Reports on Form 4 concerning three sales of the Company's Common Stock, that were late.
COMMUNICATIONS WITH DIRECTORS
The Board has established a process to receive communications from shareholders. Shareholders and other interested parties may contact any member (or all members) of the Board, or the independent directors as a group, any Board committee or any Chair of any such committee by mail or electronically. To communicate with the Board of Directors, any individual directors or any group or committee of directors, correspondence should be addressed to the Board of Directors or any such individual directors or group or committee of directors by either name or title. All such correspondence should be sent "c/o Corporate Secretary" at 151 E. Columbine Avenue, Santa Ana, California 92707. To communicate with any of our directors electronically, a shareholder should send an email to the Company's Secretary: jefrit@pro-dex.com.
All communications received as set forth in the preceding paragraph will be opened by the Company's Secretary for the sole purpose of determining whether the contents represent a message to one or more of the directors. Any contents that are not in the nature of advertising, promotions of a product or service, patently offensive material or matters deemed inappropriate for the Board of Directors will be forwarded promptly to the addressee. In the case of communications to the Board or any group or committee of directors, the Company's Secretary will make sufficient copies (or forward such information in the case of e-mail) of the contents to send to each director who is a member of the group or committee to which the envelope or e-mail is addressed.
It is the Company's policy that its directors are invited and encouraged to attend the 2004 Annual Meeting. All of the directors were in attendance at the 2003 Annual Meeting.
Proposal No. 2
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Audit Committee of the Company has appointed the firm of Moss Adams, LLP as the Company's independent certified public accountants for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, and requests the shareholders to ratify this appointment by the holders of a majority of the shares represented either in person or proxy at the Annual Meeting. In the event that the shareholders do not ratify the selection of Moss Adams, LLP as the Company's independent public accountants, the Board of Directors will consider the selection of another independent public accounting firm. McGladrey & Pullen, LLP audited the Company's financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2003 that were included in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-KSB.
A representative of Moss Adams, LLP is expected to be present at the annual meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if such representative desires to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Page 14
ACCOUNTING FEES
The Audit Committee's policy is to pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for the Company by its independent auditor, subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which are approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the audit. The Audit Committee considers whether the performance of any service by the Company's independent auditors is compatible with maintaining such auditor's independence.
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed to the Company for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2004 and June 30, 2003 by the Company's auditors, all of which were preapproved by the Audit Committee:
Fiscal 2004 |
Fiscal 2003 |
|||||
Audit Fees(1) |
$ |
104,000 |
|
$ |
136,000 |
|
Audit-Related Fees(2) |
$ |
46,069 |
|
$ |
30,000 |
|
Tax Fees(3) |
$ |
39,852 |
|
$ |
30,000 |
|
All Other Fees(4) |
$ |
1,875 |
|
$ |
--- |
(1) Audit Fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company's consolidated annual financial statements and review of the interim consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports and services that are normally provided by Moss Adams LLP (current independent auditors) and McGladrey & Pullen LLP (previous independent auditors) in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
(2) Audit-Related Fees consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company's consolidated financial statements and are not reported under "Audit Fees." This category includes fees related to due diligence services pertaining to potential business acquisitions/disposition; and consultation regarding accounting or disclosure treatment of transactions or events and/or the actual or potential impact of final or proposed rules, standard or interpretation by the SEC, FASB or other regulatory or standard-setting bodies as well as general assistance with implementation of the requirements of SEC rules or listing standards promulgated pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
(3) Tax Fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. These services include assistance regarding federal state and local tax compliance, planning and advice.
(4) All Other Fees consist of fees for products and services other than the services reported above.
Page 15
CHANGES IN THE COMPANY'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
On October 16, 2003, the Company dismissed McGladrey & Pullen, LLP ("McGladrey") as its independent accountant. The reports of McGladrey on the Company's financial statements for the past two fiscal years contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. The Company's decision to change accountants was approved by its Audit Committee. In connection with its audits for the two most recent fiscal years and through October 16, 2003, there have been no disagreements with McGladrey on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements if not resolved to the satisfaction of McGladrey would have caused them to make reference thereto in their report on the financial statements for such years. During the two most recent fiscal years and through October 16, 2003, there have been no reportable events (as defined in Regulation S-K Item 304(a)(1)(v)).
The Company's Audit Committee approved the engagement of Moss Adams, LLP ("Moss Adams") as its new independent accountant, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004 to replace McGladrey. During the two most recent fiscal years and through October 16, 2003, the Company has not consulted with Moss Adams regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed; or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's financial statements; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement, as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K, or a reportable event, as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K. The Company has authorized McGladrey to respond fully to any inquiries from Moss Adams relating to its engagement as the Company's independent accountant.
Required Vote and Board Recommendation
The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the Company's common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on this proposal will constitute shareholder ratification of the appointment. If shareholder approval of this proposal is not obtained, the Company's Audit Committee may reconsider the Company's appointment of Moss Adams, LLP as the Company's independent auditors.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF MOSS ADAMS, LLP TO SERVE AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2005.
ANNUAL REPORT
The Company's Annual Report containing audited financial statements for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2004 accompanies this Proxy Statement. Such report is not incorporated herein and is not deemed to be a part of this proxy solicitation material.
PROPOSALS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Securities and Exchange Commission, proposals by shareholders which are intended for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement and proxy and to be presented at the Company's next Annual Meeting must be received by the Company by June 30, 2005, in order to be considered for inclusion in the Company's proxy materials. Such proposals should be addressed to the Company's Secretary and may be included in next year's proxy materials if they comply with certain rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission governing shareholder proposals. The Shareholder Notice must also comply with certain other requirements set forth in the Company's Bylaws, a copy of which may be obtained by written request delivered to the Company's Secretary.
Page 16
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors knows of no other matters which will be acted upon at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters are presented properly for action at the Annual Meeting or at any adjournment thereof, it is intended that the proxy will be voted with respect thereto in accordance with the best judgment and in the discretion of the proxy holder.
THE COMPANY'S SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN AND RETURN PROMPTLY THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
By
Order of the Board of Directors,
PRO-DEX, INC.
/s/ Jeffrey J. Ritchey
Corporate Secretary
Santa Ana, California
October 15, 2004
SHAREHOLDERS MAY OBTAIN FREE OF CHARGE A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-KSB FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED June 30, 2004, (WITHOUT EXHIBITS) AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION BY WRITING TO: INVESTOR RELATIONS, PRO-DEX, INC., 151 E. COLUMBINE AVE, SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92707 OR CALL (714) 241-4411.
Page 17
THIS PROXY IS
SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD DECEMBER 6, 2004
The undersigned hereby appoints Valerio L. Giannini and Patrick L. Johnson, and each of them, individually, as attorneys and proxies, with full power of substitution, to represent and vote, as designated below, all shares of common stock of Pro-Dex, Inc. held of record by the undersigned on October 15, 2004, at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held at the DoubleTree Hotel Santa Ana, 201 E. MacArthur Blvd, Santa Ana, California 92707 on December 6, 2004, at 8:00 a.m., local time, and at any and all adjournments thereof.
1. To elect two Class I directors as follows:
FOR |
WITHHOLD AUTHORITY |
George J. Isaac Michael A. Mesenbrink
Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, line through or otherwise strike out the nominee's name above.
2. To ratify the appointment of Moss Adams, LLP as the Company's independent auditors for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005 (circle one).
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
3. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned shareholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted "FOR" all Proposals.
Page 18
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
Dated:____________, 2004 Name:_________________ Common Shares:_________ _______________________ Signature _______________________ Signature (if jointly held)
|
|
Please sign exactly as name appears in the records of Pro-Dex, Inc. When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, as executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
End of Filing
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