SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
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Scotts Liquid Gold |
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SCOTT'S LIQUID GOLD-INC.
4880 Havana Street
Denver, Colorado 80239
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held May 1, 2002
TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS:
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Scott's Liquid Gold-Inc., a Colorado corporation (the "Company"), will be held at 10:00 a.m., Mountain Time, on Wednesday, May 1, 2002 at the Company's offices, 4880 Havana Street, Denver, Colorado for the purpose of considering and acting upon the following:
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 6, 2002 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CAROLYN
J. ANDERSON
Corporate Secretary
Denver,
Colorado
March 22, 2002
THE FORM OF PROXY IS ENCLOSED. TO ASSURE THAT YOUR SHARES WILL BE VOTED AT THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED, POSTAGE PREPAID, ADDRESSED ENVELOPE. NO ADDITIONAL POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. THE GIVING OF A PROXY WILL NOT AFFECT YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING.
SCOTT'S LIQUID GOLD-INC.
4880 Havana Street
Denver, Colorado 80239
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held May 1, 2002
The enclosed Proxy is solicited by and on behalf of the Board of Directors of Scott's Liquid Gold-Inc., a Colorado corporation (the "Company"), for use at the Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 10:00 a.m., Mountain Time, on Wednesday, May 1, 2002 at the Company's offices, 4880 Havana Street, Denver, Colorado, or any adjournment thereof. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of Proxy are first being mailed or given to the shareholders of the Company on or about March 22, 2002.
Any shareholder signing and mailing the enclosed Proxy may revoke it at any time before it is voted by giving written notice of the revocation to the Company's Corporate Secretary, by voting in person at the meeting or by filing at the meeting a later executed proxy.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
All voting rights are vested exclusively in the holders of the Company's $0.10 par value common stock. Each share of the Company's common stock is entitled to one vote. Cumulative voting in the election of directors is not permitted. Holders of a majority of shares entitled to vote at the meeting, when present in person or by proxy, constitute a quorum. On March 6, 2002, the record date for shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting, the Company had 10,153,058 shares of its $0.10 par value common stock issued and outstanding.
When a quorum is present, in the election of directors, those six nominees having the highest number of votes cast in favor of their election will be elected to the Company's Board of Directors. Consequently, any shares not voted (whether by abstention, broker non-vote or otherwise) have no impact in the election of directors except to the extent the failure to vote for an individual results in another individual receiving a larger number of votes.
The following persons are the only persons known to the Company who on March 6, 2002, owned beneficially more than 5% of the Company's common stock, its only class of outstanding voting securities:
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership |
Percent of Class |
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Mark E. Goldstein 4880 Havana Street Denver, Colorado 80239 |
2,646,965 | (1)(2) | 25.8 | % | |
Scott's Liquid Gold-Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan 4880 Havana Street Denver, Colorado 80239 |
1,118,932 | (3) | 11.0 | % |
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trustee 20% of the outstanding stock of the Goldstein Family Corporation. Mr. Goldstein has the sole voting and disposition powers with respect to these shares of the Company owned by the Goldstein Family Partnership, Ltd. Also includes 120,500 shares underlying stock options granted by the Company, and 76,002 shares held by Mr. Goldstein's minor children. Includes 4,600 shares held jointly by Mr. Goldstein and his wife, and does not include 25,890 shares of the Company's common stock owned by Mr. Goldstein's spouse, as to which Mr. Goldstein disclaims any beneficial ownership.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
The following table shows as of March 6, 2002, the shares of the Company's common stock beneficially owned by each director and executive officer of the Company and the shares beneficially owned by all of the directors and executive officers as a group:
Name of Beneficial Owner |
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership(1) |
Percent of Class |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark E. Goldstein | 2,646,965 | (2)(3)(4) | 25.8 | % | |
Carolyn J. Anderson | 338,460 | (3)(4) | 3.3 | % | |
Jeffrey R. Hinkle | 228,878 | (3)(4)(5) | 2.2 | % | |
Jeffry B. Johnson | 85,000 | (3)(4)(6) | .8 | % | |
Carl A. Bellini | 105,000 | (3) | 1.0 | % | |
Dennis H. Field | 176,833 | (3) | 1.7 | % | |
All Directors and executive officers as a Group (six persons) | 3,581,136 | (3)(4) | 33.0 | % |
There has been no change in control of the Company since the beginning of the last fiscal year, and there are no arrangements known to the Company, including any pledge of securities of the Company, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of the Company.
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ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
Nominees
The Company's Board of Directors consists currently of six directors. Unless authority to vote is withheld, the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy will vote the shares represented by such proxy for the election of the six nominees for director named below. If, at the time of the Meeting, any of these nominees shall have become unavailable for any reason to serve as a director, the persons entitled to vote the proxy will vote for such substitute nominee or nominees, if any, as they determine in their discretion. If elected, the nominees for director will hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are elected and qualified. The nominees for director, each of whom has consented to serve if elected, are as follows:
Name of Nominee and Position in the Company |
Age |
Director Since |
Principal Occupation for Last Five Years |
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Mark E. Goldstein (Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer) |
45 | 1983 | Chairman of the Board of the Company since February 22, 2000, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since August, 1990. From 1982 to 1990, Vice PresidentMarketing of Company. Employed by the Company since 1978. | |||
Carolyn J. Anderson (Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary) |
63 |
1974 |
Executive Vice President since 1974, Chief Operating Officer of the Company since 1982 and Corporate Secretary since 1973. Employed by the Company since 1970. |
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Jeffrey R. Hinkle (Vice PresidentMarketing) |
48 |
2000 |
Vice PresidentMarketing of the Company since February 2000, Vice President of Marketing for the Company's subsidiaries from November 1992 to 2000. Employed by the Company since 1981. |
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Jeffry B. Johnson (Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer) |
56 |
2000 |
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since November 2000. From 1981 to 2000, Controller of Company. Employed by the Company since 1976. |
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Carl A. Bellini |
68 |
2000 |
Management Consultant since 1997. From 1987 to 1997, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Revco D.S., Inc. (a large drug store chain). |
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Dennis H. Field |
69 |
1991 |
Management Consultant since 1990. From 1984 to 1990, Executive Vice President/General Manager, Faberge USA, Inc. (mass market health and beauty aids). |
All of the foregoing persons are currently directors of the Company. Their positions on standing committees of the Board of Directors are shown below under "Directors' Meetings and Committees".
The Company's only executive officers are those who are described in the foregoing table. The officers of the Company are elected annually at the first meeting of the Company's Board of Directors held after each annual meeting of shareholders and serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
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There are no family relationships among the executive officers or directors of the Company. There are no arrangements or understandings pursuant to which any of these persons were elected as an executive officer or director.
Directors' Meetings and Committees
During the year ended December 31, 2001, the Company had four directors meetings, plus four actions by unanimous written consent. The Company's Board of Directors has both a Compensation Committee and an Audit Committee.
The primary responsibilities of the Compensation Committee include development of an executive compensation philosophy for the Company; origination of all executive compensation proposals; review of the appropriate mix of variable versus fixed compensation; and review of all transactions between the Company and any executive officer or director, whether or not involving compensation. The Committee consists of two outside directors of the Company and, in addition, the President of the Company. Current members of the Compensation Committee are Dennis H. Field (Chairperson), Carl A. Bellini, and Mark E. Goldstein (with Mr. Goldstein having no vote). The Compensation Committee met one time during 2001.
The Audit Committee has as its primary responsibilities the recommendation of an independent public accountant to audit the annual financial statements of the Company, the review of internal and external audit functions, the review of the systems of internal accounting controls, and the review of financial information which is provided to the shareholders and others. The Audit Committee consists of two outside directors. The current members of the Audit Committee are Carl A. Bellini (Chairperson) and Dennis H. Field. The Audit Committee met four times during 2001, plus had one action by unanimous consent.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Mr. Dennis Field serves on both the Compensation Committee and the Audit Committee. From 1978 to 1982, Mr. Field was President and Chief Operating Officer of Aquafilter Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company which manufactured cigarette filters. After leaving Aquafilter Corporation, Mr. Field had virtually no contact with the Company from the date of his resignation to 1991 when he was asked to join the Company's Board. Prior to 1991, he was Executive Vice President/General Manager, U.S. Division, of Faberge. Mr. Field has a distinguished career with significant consumer product companies.
Executive Compensation
Summary Compensation Table
The following Summary Compensation Table shows the annual and other compensation of the chief executive officer and all other executive officers of the Company at December 31, 2001, for services in all capacities provided to the Company and its subsidiaries for the past three years.
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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
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Annual Compensation |
Long Term Compensation |
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Name and Principal Position |
Year |
Salary $ |
Bonus $(1) |
Other Annual Compensation $ |
Securities Underlying Options (#) |
All Other Compensation ($)(2) |
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Mark E. Goldstein Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer |
2001 2000 1999 |
$ $ $ |
350,000 350,000 350,000 |
|
$ $ $ |
29,328 101,580 29,695 |
50,000 20,500 |
$ $ $ |
1,117 4,242 1,767 |
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Carolyn J. Anderson Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Secretary |
2001 2000 1999 |
$ $ $ |
300,000 300,000 300,000 |
|
$ $ $ |
76,214 30,341 36,303 |
50,000 20,500 |
$ $ $ |
1,117 4,242 1,767 |
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Jeffrey R. Hinkle(3) Vice PresidentMarketing |
2001 2000 |
$ $ |
200,000 200,000 |
|
$ $ |
12,148 96,755 |
50,000 |
$ $ |
1,117 4,242 |
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Jeffry B. Johnson(3) Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer |
2001 2000 |
$ $ |
190,000 147,600 |
|
$ $ |
87,683 7,087 |
50,000 |
$ $ |
1,117 3,841 |
Note: There were no restricted stock awards or long term incentive payouts during the last three fiscal years. During 1999, options to purchase 20,500 shares of the Company's common stock were awarded to each of the Company's then executive officers at an average price of $1.64 a share. In 2000, options to purchase 50,000 shares of the Company's common stock were awarded to each of the Company's then executive officers at an average price of $.70 a share. No options were granted to the executive officers during 2001.
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The dollar amount of Other Annual Compensation changes from year to year because of fluctuations in the costs of benefits and their timing. Other Annual Compensation in the table above for 1999 through 2001 is comprised of the following:
|
Mark E. Goldstein |
Carolyn J. Anderson |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
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Automobile purchase(1) | $ | | $ | 36,733 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 25,000 | ||||||
Income taxes on automobile purchase(1) | | 35,012 | | | | 23,244 | ||||||||||||
Other automobile expenses | 1,785 | 2,204 | 1,333 | 537 | 707 | 1,939 | ||||||||||||
Memberships | 13,017 | 14,170 | 13,565 | 5,417 | 3,673 | | ||||||||||||
Life insurance | 2,387 | 2,328 | 2,412 | 8,497 | 8,069 | 8,069 | ||||||||||||
Income taxes on life insurance | 2,286 | 2,142 | 2,175 | 8,338 | 7,423 | 7,277 | ||||||||||||
Medical plan(2) | 3,227 | 2,015 | 2,889 | 3,028 | | 238 | ||||||||||||
Disability plan(3) | 4,672 | 4,672 | 4,672 | 8,165 | 8,165 | 8,165 | ||||||||||||
Other | 2,321 | 2,304 | 2,282 | 2,321 | 2,304 | 2,282 | ||||||||||||
Total other compensation | $ | 29,695 | $ | 101,580 | $ | 29,328 | $ | 36,303 | $ | 30,341 | $ | 76,214 | ||||||
|
Jeffrey R. Hinkle |
Jeffry B. Johnson |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2000 |
2001 |
2000 |
2001 |
||||||||
Automobile purchase(1) | $ | 44,016 | $ | | $ | 1,100 | $ | 40,534 | ||||
Income taxes on automobile purchase(1) | 41,952 | | 1,012 | 37,687 | ||||||||
Other automobile expenses | 461 | 789 | 2,625 | 2,099 | ||||||||
Memberships | | | | | ||||||||
Life insurance | 1,344 | 1,344 | 1,146 | 1,592 | ||||||||
Income taxes on life insurance | 1,236 | 1,213 | 1,054 | 1,436 | ||||||||
Medical plan(2) | 3,113 | 3,642 | 150 | 3,279 | ||||||||
Disability plan(3) | 4,633 | 5,160 | | 1,056 | ||||||||
Other | | | | | ||||||||
Total other compensation | $ | 96,755 | $ | 12,148 | $ | 7,087 | $ | 87,683 | ||||
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by the Company under which the Company is the beneficiary. The table sets forth the premiums paid by the Company for this disability insurance.
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
No options were granted to the Company's executive officers during the 2001 year.
Outstanding Options
No options were exercised by any of the Company's executive officers during 2001. The following table summarizes information with respect to the value of each officer's unexercised stock options at December 31, 2001.
Fiscal Year End Option Values
|
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options at Year End |
In-the-Money Value of Unexercised Options at Year End(1) |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name |
||||||||
Exercisable |
Unexercisable |
Exercisable |
Unexercisable |
|||||
Mark E. Goldstein | 120,500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Carolyn J. Anderson | 120,500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Jeffrey R. Hinkle | 129,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Jeffry B. Johnson | 58,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Compensation Committee Report
Background
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is currently comprised of the Company's two outside directors and the Company's President (who serves as a non-voting member of the Committee). In February, 2001, when action was taken by the Committee on executive compensation for 2001, the Compensation Committee consisted of three outside directors who were Dennis H. Field (Chairperson), Carl A. Bellini and James F. Keane, as well as the Company's President, Mark E. Goldstein. The responsibilities of the Compensation Committee include the origination of all executive compensation proposals.
In making decisions regarding executive compensation, the Compensation Committee considers a number of factors. The Compensation Committee has also determined that an outside consultant on compensation matters should be used once every three years.
Organization Philosophy
The Committee believes that the Company's organization and the specific responsibilities of its executive officers are an essential part of analyzing compensation levels. The first important point concerning the management of the Company is that each executive subscribes to a team concept of executive management, and operates in accordance with this concept. Although each of the executive officers has his or her specific areas of responsibility and each is able to and often does make independent decisions, the executive officers operate as a collaborative team, and very few, if any, significant decisions are made without input from the group as a whole.
Second, each executive officer is responsible for a number of distinct areas and tasks. Each performs many tasks traditionally associated with "middle management" in other companies in addition
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to their respective duties of top level or executive management. As a result, the Company has very little "middle management" and operates as a fairly lean organization.
Mark E. Goldstein became President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in 1990 and Chairman of the Board in February, 2000. Mark E. Goldstein has the responsibilities associated with these positions at a public company. He is also actively involved in the sales and marketing efforts of the Company and its development of new products. For example, Mark Goldstein is the primary contact with the Company's largest account, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; and he, together with Jeffrey R. Hinkle, directs the Company's advertising and promotional efforts. He ultimately is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Company, although he relies on the Company's other executive officers for advice and counsel.
Carolyn J. Anderson has been employed by the Company for 31 years. She became Corporate Secretary in 1973; she was promoted to Executive Vice President in 1974; and Ms. Anderson was given the additional title and responsibilities of Chief Operating Officer in 1982. As Chief Operating Officer, Ms. Anderson has a direct responsibility for decision-making with respect to the day-to-day operations of the Company's plant and facilities. Additionally, Ms. Anderson directs the Company's research and development and quality control activities. Ms. Anderson is responsible for the Company's "human resources" decisions. Further, Ms. Anderson is, together with Mr. Johnson, the primary contact for the Company's legal matters.
Jeffrey R. Hinkle has been employed by the Company for 20 years. He joined the Company as a regional sales manager in 1981, held various sales positions at the Company's subsidiaries, including Vice PresidentMarketing of subsidiaries, and became Vice PresidentMarketing of the Company in February, 2000. Mr. Hinkle is responsible for the Company's sales force, marketing and, together with Mr. Goldstein, the Company's advertising and promotional efforts.
Jeffry B. Johnson was elected as the Company's Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer in November, 2000. Mr. Johnson has served the Company for 25 years. He joined the Company as internal auditor in 1976, was promoted to Controller in 1981, and to Chief Accounting Officer on October 1, 2000. Mr. Johnson performs all of the functions of Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, including negotiations and maintenance of relationships with creditors. He also supervises back office functions relating to accounting and, together with Mr. Goldstein, data processing and computer operations.
Factors and Policies
In determining its recommendations on executive compensation, the Committee considered the management organization as described above and the following factors, among others:
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The Company and the Compensation Committee have viewed the base salary as an important part of the compensation for the Company's executive officers as well as other employees. It is the general philosophy of the Company that good employees who are paid well are more likely to stay with the Company and contribute significantly to the successes of the Company's businesses.
The Company's 2001 executive bonus plan provided for a bonus pool based on 10% of pre-tax profits (excluding items that are infrequent, unusual or extraordinary) for a year in excess of $1 million. Any bonus amount payable under the plan would have been divided as follows: Mark E. Goldstein, 35%; Carolyn J. Anderson, 25%; Jeffrey R. Hinkle, 20%; and Jeffry B. Johnson, 20%. The Company had substantially the same plan in prior years and has implemented substantially the same plan for the year 2002. The Compensation Committee believes that this bonus plan is an important part of the incentives for the Company's executive officers and recognizes directly many of the factors considered important by the Compensation Committee as stated above.
The Company provides certain other benefits and perquisites to the executive officers. The Committee believes that the types of benefits offered to Company executives and the value of these benefits are similar to benefit packages provided by competitors. A number of the benefits are provided by the Company not only to the executive officers but also to other Company employees. The Company believes that these benefits are appropriate for their positions, to compensate them consistent with market levels and to facilitate performance of their jobs in a more efficient and effective manner.
Application of Factors
Utilizing these factors and policies, the Compensation Committee in February, 2001 recommended that the base salaries of the Company's executive officers remain the same in 2001 as in 2000 and that the components of other compensation provided to the Company's executive officers also remain the same in 2001 as in 2000. These recommendations were adopted by the Company's Board of Directors.
In making its recommendations for the compensation of executives in 2001, the Compensation Committee noted, among other things, that: (1) The executive officers devote considerable time to the Company, often more than full-time; (2) the base salaries of Mr. Goldstein and Ms. Anderson have not changed since 1995 when the Company increased the base salaries of the then four executive officers by 13.5% in the aggregate; (3) the Company's bonus plan emphasizes performance and successes achieved by executives; (4) the levels of the bonus plan and other components of compensation have been in effect for a number of years; (5) prior to the grant of options in December, 2000, the Company's officers were awarded only modest stock options in 1998 and 1999, having previously received none since 1994, and those options replaced options that either had expired or were about to expire; and (6) the anticipated amounts paid for the base salary and bonus in 2001 were and are expected to be tax deductible, without being subject to a limitation on the deductibility of certain compensation in excess of $1 million under the Internal Revenue Code. The Committee believed that the roles of the Company's officers continue to be difficult because of decreasing sales of the Company's products and competitive and market factors, including the consolidation of manufacturers, the consolidation of retailers and the state of art in business practices.
In terms of performance by the executives in 2000, the Committee noted in February, 2001, a number of factors, including, among others, the following:
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Since 1992, the Compensation Committee has engaged a consultant on compensation matters every three years. The Hay Group was most recently engaged in 2000 and issued a report in February, 2001. The report concluded that:
The comparison groups were a peer group comprised of perfumes, cosmetics, and other toilet preparation companies and selected specialty chemical companies with an average annual revenue of $39.25 million and a general industry group comprised of companies from a broad range of industries. The report stated that the Company's executive compensation places a greater emphasis on base salary than the comparison groups.
In conclusion, the Compensation Committee believes that the levels of compensation for the Company's executive officers have been fair and appropriate.
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE
Dennis H. Field, Chairman
Carl A. Bellini
Mark E. Goldstein
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Stock Performance Graph
There follows a graph, constructed for the Company, comparing the cumulative total shareholder return of Scott's Liquid Gold-Inc. common stock to the Media General Composite Index (see below), and to a selected peer group.
|
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scott's Liquid Gold | 100.00 | 212.50 | 98.16 | 49.08 | 38.41 | 27.31 | ||||||
Peer Group | 100.00 | 147.58 | 177.98 | 204.35 | 156.88 | 162.29 | ||||||
Media General Composite Index | 100.00 | 129.85 | 158.74 | 193.64 | 174.80 | 154.77 |
Fiscal year ended December 31
Assumes
$100 invested on January 1, 1997
in the Company, the Peer Group,
The Media General Composite Index
and assumes the reinvestment of any dividends
Note: The foregoing graph was prepared for the Company by Media General Financial Services of Richmond, Virginia. The peer group selected by the Company consists of companies which use the standard industrial classification of specialty cleaning and sanitation and which are publicly held, and other publicly held companies which are partially or entirely engaged in the cosmetics business. The Company believes that, within its industry classes, the assembly of a peer group is difficult because the Company competes with other companies that are significantly larger than Scott's Liquid Gold-Inc., including two major companies which are not publicly traded.
The following companies comprise the peer group: Avon Products, Inc., CCA Industries, Inc., Chattem, Inc., Clorox Co. (includes Armor All Products, acquired by Clorox Co. in 1997), Del Laboratories, Inc., and Procter & Gamble. The Media General Composite Index is based on the market value of all common stocks listed on the NYSE, AMEX and Nasdaq National Market. The index is adjusted for all stock splits and dividends.
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Compensation of Directors
Four directors are full-time executive officers of the Company and receive no additional compensation for service as a director. Carl A. Bellini, and Dennis H. Field are non-employee directors. The Company pays $2,500 per month to each non-employee director for his services as director.
On January 15, 1993, the Company's Board of Directors adopted the Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors (the "Plan"), which was approved by the Company's shareholders on May 5, 1993. The Plan provides for the granting of options to directors who are not employees of the Company. The purpose of the Plan is to further the growth and development of the Company by providing an incentive to outside directors of the Company, by increasing their involvement in the business and affairs of the Company, by helping the Company to attract and retain well qualified directors and/or by rewarding directors for their past dedication to the Company. The Plan became effective on January 15, 1993.
A maximum of 400,000 shares of the Company's common stock are available for issuance upon the exercise of options granted under the Plan. The number of shares available under the Plan, the number of shares subject to outstanding options, and the exercise price per share of such options are subject to adjustment on account of stock dividends, stock splits, mergers, consolidations, recapitalizations, combinations or exchanges of stock, or other similar circumstances. If any option under the Plan terminates or expires, the shares allocable to the unexercised portion of the option will again be available for purposes of the Plan.
The Plan is administered by the Board of Directors or a committee appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, consisting of no fewer than two directors. The Plan is currently administered by the Board of Directors. At March 6, 2002, options to purchase 281,666 shares of the Company's common stock were outstanding under the Plan, with an additional 18,334 shares available for options. Except for the exercise of options for 100,000 shares by a director, who resigned from the Board during 1999, no options had been exercised at or prior to March 6, 2002.
The non-employee directors are also eligible to receive grants of options under the 1998 Stock Option Plan. Other eligible persons under the 1998 Plan are all full-time employees of the Company, and the Plan has been used primarily to provide options to full-time employees. No options have been issued to non-employee directors under the 1998 Plan except for three options for a total of 75,000 shares granted to non-employee directors in December, 2000 and one option for a total of 50,000 shares to a non-employee director in February 2002. A maximum of 1,100,000 shares of common stock are available for issuance upon the exercise of options granted under the 1998 Plan. Options may be granted under the 1998 plan through November 8, 2008. The option price for non-qualified stock options granted under the 1998 Plan, which are the only type available to non-employee directors, must not be less than 85% of the fair market value as of the date of grant of the shares subject to the option. In other respects, the 1998 Plan is similar to the terms of the 1993 Stock Option Plan described above.
During 2001, the Company granted options to a non-employee director, under the 1993 plan, to purchase 5,000 shares ot an exercise price of $.62 per share (this replaced options that expired on August 19, 2001). The non-employee director who received this option was James F. Keane who died later in 2001. There were no options granted during 2001 under the 1998 Plan to non-employee directors. On February 19, 2002, each of the two non-employee directors received options under the 1993 and 1998 Plans with an exercise price of $0.57 per share, which was the fair market value on the date of grant, and an expiration date of February 18, 2007. Mr. Bellini's option was for 50,000 shares, and the option granted to Mr. Field, replacing options that expired on February 14, 2001, was for 100,000 shares. These options are fully vested.
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The following table summarizes information with respect to the value of each non-employee director's unexercised stock options at December 31, 2001:
|
Year End Option Values |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options at Year End |
In-the-Money Value of Unexercised Options at Year End(1) |
||||||
Name |
||||||||
Exercisable |
Unexercisable |
Exercisable |
Unexercisable |
|||||
Carl A. Bellini | 55,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Dennis H. Field | 73,333 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
James F. Keane Estate | 128,333 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The Company has indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers. These agreements provide for indemnification and advancement of expenses to the full extent permitted by law in connection with any proceeding in which the person is made a party because the person is a director or officer of the Company. They also state certain procedures, presumptions and terms relevant to indemnification and advancement of expenses.
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 10% of the outstanding shares of the Company to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission reports regarding changes in their beneficial ownership of shares in the Company. To the Company's knowledge, there was full compliance with all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to those persons for 2001.
Arthur Andersen LLP were selected by the Board of Directors as the Company's independent auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002. This firm has been the Company's independent auditors for each of the Company's fiscal years since the year ended December 31, 1988. A representative of Arthur Andersen LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders and to have the opportunity to make a statement if he so desires. Such representative also is expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions at that time.
March 22, 2002
To the Board of Directors of Scott's Liquid Gold-Inc.:
We have reviewed and discussed with management the Company's audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2001. We have discussed with Arthur Andersen, LLP, its independent auditors, the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit Committees, as amended, by the Auditing Standards Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. We have received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by Independence Standard No. 1, Independence
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Discussions with Audit Committees, as amended, by the Independence Standards Board, and have discussed with the auditors the auditors' independence.
Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, we recommend to the Board of Directors that the financial statements referred to above be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Audit Committee is composed of the two directors named below, all of whom are independent directors as defined in Rule 4200(a)(14) of the Nasdaq Stock Market listing standards.
The Board has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee.
Submitted by the members of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
Carl
A. Bellini, Chairman
Dennis H. Field
The following is a description of the fees billed to the Company by Arthur Andersen, LLP during the year ended December 31, 2001:
Shareholder proposals for inclusion in the Company's proxy materials relating to the next annual meeting of shareholders must be received by the Company on or before November 22, 2002. Also, persons named in the proxy solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company for its year 2003 annual meeting of shareholders may exercise discretionary authority on any proposal presented by a shareholder of the Company at that meeting if the Company has not received notice of the proposal by February 5, 2003.
2001 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-K REPORT FOR 2001 CONSISTS PRIMARILY OF CROSS REFERENCES TO INFORMATION IN THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS AND THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND IS FILED ELECTRONICALLY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. SHAREHOLDERS WHO WISH TO OBTAIN, WITHOUT CHARGE, A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-K REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001 IN THE FORM FILED WITH THE SEC SHOULD ADDRESS A WRITTEN REQUEST TO CAROLYN J. ANDERSON, CORPORATE SECRETARY, SCOTT'S LIQUID GOLD-INC., 4880 HAVANA STREET, DENVER, COLORADO 80239.
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The Company will pay the cost of soliciting proxies in the accompanying form. In addition to solicitation by mail, proxies may be solicited by officers and other regular employees of the Company by telephone, telegraph or by personal interview for which employees will not receive additional compensation. Arrangements also may be made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward solicitation materials to beneficial owners of the shares held of record by such persons, and the Company may reimburse such persons for reasonable out-of pocket expenses incurred by them in so doing.
As of the date of this Proxy Statement, Management was not aware that any business not described above would be presented for consideration at the meeting. If any other business properly comes before the meeting, it is intended that the shares represented by proxies will be voted in respect thereto in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting them.
The above Notice and Proxy Statement are sent by order of the Board of Directors.
CAROLYN J. ANDERSON Corporate Secretary |
Denver,
Colorado
March 22, 2002
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PROXY | SCOTT'S LIQUID GOLD-INC. | PROXY | ||
Proxy Solicited by the Board of Directors for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders To be held May 1, 2002 |
The undersigned hereby appoints Mark E. Goldstein, Carolyn J. Anderson, Jeffrey R. Hinkle, or Jeffry B. Johnson, and each of them, proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of common stock of Scott's Liquid Gold-Inc., which the undersigned is entitled to vote, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 1, 2002, at 10:00 a.m. and at any and all adjournments thereof for the following purposes:
(1) |
Election of Directors: |
FOR all nominees listed below (except as marked to the contrary below) / / |
WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below / / |
Mark E. Goldstein | Carolyn J. Anderson | Jeffrey R. Hinkle | Jeffry B. Johnson | Carl A. Bellini | Dennis H. Field |
(INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, WRITE THE NOMINEE'S NAME ON THE LINE IMMEDIATELY BELOW.)
(2) In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as properly may come before the meeting.
(back of card)
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER(S). IF NO DIRECTION IS INDICATED, THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AT THE MEETING "FOR" ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR AS SELECTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the Proxy Statement furnished therewith. The undersigned hereby revokes any proxies given prior to the date reflected below.
Dated | , 2002 | |||
SIGNATURE(S) OF SHAREHOLDER(S) |
||||
Please complete, date and sign exactly as your name appears hereon. If shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or corporate official, please add your title. |
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN THIS PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. THE GIVING OF A PROXY WILL NOT AFFECT YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING.