UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
PROXY
STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by
the Registrant ý
Filed by
a Party other than the Registrant ¨
Check the
appropriate box:
¨ Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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¨ Confidential,
For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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ý Definitive
Proxy Statement
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¨ Definitive
Additional Materials
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¨ Soliciting
Materials Under Rule 14a-12
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RF
INDUSTRIES, LTD. |
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(Name
of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
Registrant) |
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Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
ý
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No
fee required.
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Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(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:
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¨ |
Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials.
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Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing 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: |
RF
INDUSTRIES, LTD.
7610
Miramar Road
San
Diego, California 92126-4202
NOTICE IS
HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
WILL BE
HELD ON JUNE 10, 2005
An Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of RF Industries, Ltd., a Nevada corporation (the
“Company”), will be held at the Company’s corporate office at Miramar Road,
Suite 6000, San Diego, California 92126-4202 on Friday, June 10, 2005, at 1:30
p.m., Pacific Standard Time, for the following purposes:
1. |
To
elect six directors of the Company who shall serve until the 2006 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders (and until the election and qualification of their
successors). |
2. |
To
ratify the selection of J.H. Cohn LLP as the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending October 31,
2005. |
3. |
To
transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders or any adjournment
thereof. |
The Board
of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 25, 2005 as the record
date for determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders or any adjournment thereof.
All
stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
in person. Regardless of whether you plan to attend the meeting, please sign and
date the enclosed Proxy and return it promptly in the accompanying envelope,
postage for which has been provided if mailed in the United States. The prompt
return of Proxies will ensure a quorum and save the Company the expense of
further solicitation. Any stockholder returning the enclosed Proxy may revoke it
prior to its exercise by voting in person at the meeting or by filing with the
Secretary of the Company a written revocation or a duly executed Proxy bearing a
later date.
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By Order of the Board of
Directors |
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Terrie A. Gross, |
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Corporate Secretary |
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San Diego, California |
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May 10, 2005 |
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RF
INDUSTRIES, LTD.
7610
Miramar Road
San
Diego, California 92126-4202
PROXY
STATEMENT
General
The
enclosed Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of RF
Industries, Ltd., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), for use at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders (“Annual Meeting”) to be held on Friday, June 10, 2005,
at 1:30 p.m., local time, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof. The
Annual Meeting will be held at the corporate office at 7610 Miramar Road, Suite
6000, San Diego, California 92126-4202. The Company mailed this Proxy Statement
and the accompanying Proxy and Annual Report to all stockholders entitled to
vote at the Annual Meeting on or about June 10, 2005.
Voting
Only
stockholders of record at the close of business on April 25, 2005, will be
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. On April 25, 2005,
there were 3,054,022 shares of Common Stock outstanding. The Company is
incorporated in Nevada, and is not required by Nevada corporation law or its
Articles of Incorporation to permit cumulative voting in the election of
directors.
With
regard to the election of directors, the six nominees receiving the greatest
number of votes cast will be elected provided a quorum is present. On each other
matter properly presented and submitted to a vote at the Annual Meeting, each
share will have one vote and an affirmative vote of a majority of the shares
represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote will be necessary to
approve the matter. Shares
represented by proxies that reflect abstentions or broker non-votes (that is,
shares held by a broker or nominee which are represented at the meeting, but
with respect to which such broker or nominee is not empowered to vote on a
particular proposal) will be counted as shares that are present and entitled to
vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. Abstentions
will be counted towards the tabulation of votes cast on matters properly
presented to the stockholders (except the election of directors) and will have
the same effect as negative votes. Broker non-votes will not be counted as votes
cast and, therefore, will have no effect on the outcome of the matters presented
at the Annual Meeting. If the enclosed proxy is properly executed and returned
to, and received by, the Company prior to voting at the Annual Meeting, the
shares represented thereby will be voted in accordance with the
instructions marked thereon. In the absence of instructions, the shares will be
voted “FOR” (i) the nominees of the Board of Directors in the election of the
six directors whose terms of office will extend until the 2006 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and until their respective successors are duly elected and
qualified, and (ii) the approval of the re-appointment of J.H. Cohn LLP as the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2005 fiscal
year.
Revocability
of Proxies
When the
enclosed Proxy is properly executed and returned, the shares it represents will
be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with any directions noted thereon,
and if no directions are indicated, the shares it represents will be voted in
favor of the proposals set forth in the notice attached hereto. Any person
giving a Proxy in the form accompanying this Proxy Statement has the power to
revoke it any time before its exercise. It may be revoked by filing with the
Secretary of the Company’s principal executive office, 7610 Miramar Road, San
Diego, California 92126-4202, an instrument of revocation or a duly executed
Proxy bearing a later date, or it may be revoked by attending the Annual Meeting
and voting in person. Please
note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other
nominee and you wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain
from the record holder a proxy issued in your name.
Solicitation
The
Company will bear the entire cost of solicitation of Proxies, including the
preparation, assembly, printing, and mailing of this Proxy Statement, the Proxy,
and any additional material furnished to stockholders. Copies of solicitation
material will be furnished to brokerage houses, fiduciaries, and custodians
holding shares in their names that are beneficially owned by others to forward
to such beneficial owners. In addition, the Company may reimburse such persons
for their cost of forwarding the solicitation material to such beneficial
owners. The solicitation of Proxies by mail may be supplemented by telephone,
telegram, and/or personal solicitation by directors, officers, or employees of
the Company. No additional compensation will be paid for any such services.
Except as described above, the Company does not intend to solicit Proxies other
than by mail.
PROPOSAL
1:
NOMINATION
AND ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Each
director to be elected will hold office until the next Annual Meeting and until
his or her successor is elected and has qualified, or until his or her death,
resignation, or removal. Six directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting.
All six nominees are currently members of the Board of Directors. There are
currently seven directors on the Board of Directors. Henry E. Hooper, currently
a director of the Company and a member of its Audit Committee, has decided not
to stand for re-election due to increased demands upon his time in his other
business enterprises and will, therefore, resign effective immediately prior to
the Annual Meeting. Accordingly, while the Company currently has seven
directors, the Board has decided to reduce the number of directors to six
members following the Annual Meeting.
The six
candidates receiving the highest number of affirmative votes cast at the Annual
Meeting shall be elected as directors of the Company. Each person nominated for
election has agreed to serve if elected. If any of such nominees shall become
unavailable or refuse to serve as a director (an event that is not anticipated),
the Proxy holders will vote for substitute nominees at their discretion. Unless
otherwise instructed, the Proxy holders will vote the Proxies received by them
for the six nominees named below.
Nominees
A
majority of the Directors are "independent directors" as defined by the listing
standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market, and the Board of Directors has determined
that such independent directors have no relationship with the Company that would
interfere with the exercise of their independent judgment in carrying out the
responsibilities of a director. The independent Director nominees are Messrs.
Ehret, Fink, Jacobs, Kester and Reynolds.
Set forth
below is information regarding the nominees, including information furnished by
them as to their principal occupations for the last five years, and their ages
as of October 31, 2004, the end of the Company’s last fiscal year.
Name |
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Age |
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Director
Since |
John
R. Ehret |
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67 |
|
1991 |
Marvin
H. Fink |
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68 |
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2001 |
Howard
F. Hill |
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64 |
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1979 |
Robert
Jacobs |
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53 |
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1997 |
Linde
Kester |
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59 |
|
2001 |
William
L. Reynolds |
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69 |
|
2005 |
John R.
Ehret is President, Chief Financial Officer, and co-owner of TPL Electronics of
Los Angeles, California. He holds a B.S. degree in Industrial Management from
the University of Baltimore. He has been in the electronics industry for over 36
years.
Marvin H.
Fink served as the Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board
of Recom Managed Systems, Inc. until March 2005. Mr. Fink was formerly President
of Teledyne’s Electronics Group, was at Teledyne for 39 years. He holds a B.E.E.
degree from the City College of New York, an M.S.E.E. degree from the University
of Southern California and a J.D. degree from the University of San Fernando
Valley. He is a member of the California Bar.
Howard F.
Hill, a founder of the Company in 1979, has credits in Manufacturing
Engineering, Quality Engineering and Industrial Management. He took over the
presidency of the Company in July 1993. He has held various positions in the
electronics industry over the past 36 years.
Robert
Jacobs is RF Industries’ Account Executive at Neil Berkman Associates and
coordinates the Company’s investor relations. He holds an MBA from the
University of Southern California and has been in the investor relations
industry for over 19 years.
Linde
Kester is the Proprietor of Oregon’s Chateau Lorane Winery. He was formerly
Chairman and CEO of Xentek, an electronics power conversion manufacturer that he
co-founded in 1972. Mr. Kester was also a co-founder of Hidden Valley National
Bank in Escondido, California. He holds an A.A. in Electron-Mechanical Design
from Fullerton College and has over two decades of experience in the electronics
industry.
William
L. Reynolds, until his retirement in 1997, was the Vice-President of Finance and
Administration of Teledyne Controls for three years. Prior thereto, for 22 years
he was the Vice-President of Finance and Administration of Teledyne
Microelectronics. Mr. Reynolds also was a program finance administrator of
Teledyne Systems Company for five years. He has a B.B.A. degree in
accounting.
Management
Howard F.
Hill is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. See
“Nominees,” above.
Terrie
Gross joined the Company in January 1992. She was elected as the Company’s
Corporate Secretary in February 1995, which position she continues to hold. From
May 1997 to March 2005, Ms. Gross was the Chief Financial Officer of the
Company.
On
February 24, 2005, the Company engaged the services of William T. Gochnauer as
its part-time, interim, acting Chief Financial Officer, subject to his
appointment as such by the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.
On March 16, 2005 the Audit Committee appointed Mr. Gochnauer to that post.
Board
of Director Meetings
All
members of the Board of Directors hold office until the next Annual Meeting of
Stockholders or the election and qualification of their successors. Executive
officers serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
During
the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004, the Board of Directors held four
meetings. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004, each director attended
at least 75% of the meetings of the Board of Directors and at least 75% of the
meetings of the committees on which he served.
Director
Attendance at Annual Meetings
Although
the Company does not have a formal policy regarding attendance by Board members
at the annual meeting of stockholders, directors are strongly encouraged to
attend annual meetings of the Company’s stockholders. All of the directors
attended the 2004 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders.
Board
Committees
During
fiscal 2004, the Board of Directors maintained two committees -- the
Compensation Committee and the Audit Committee. Each of these committees is
described as follows:
Audit
Committee. The
Audit Committee meets periodically with the Company’s management and independent
auditors to, among other things, review the results of the annual audit and
quarterly reviews and discuss the financial statements. The audit committee also
hires the independent registered public accounting firm, and receives and
considers that firm’s comments as to controls, adequacy of staff and management
performance and procedures. The Audit Committee is also authorized to review
related party transactions for potential conflicts of interest. As of the date
of this Proxy Statement, the Audit Committee consists of Mr. Hooper, Mr. Ehret,
Mr. Kester and Mr. Reynolds. Immediately before the Annual Meeting, Mr Hooper
will resign as a director and as a member of the Audit Committee. Accordinaly,
assuming that all of the nominees listed herein are elected, the Audit Committee
after the Annual Meeting will consist of Mr. Ehret, Mr. Kester and Mr. Reynolds.
Each of these individuals is a non-employee director and is independent as
defined under the Nasdaq Stock Market’s listing standards and each has
significant knowledge of financial matters (two of the members have received a
Masters of Business Administration degree, and one member has a B.B.A. degree in
accounting), Mr Reynolds has been designated by the Board as the “audit
committee financial expert” as defined under Item 401(e) (2) of Regulation S-B
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Audit Committee met five
times during fiscal 2004. The Audit Committee operates under a formal charter
that governs its duties and conduct.
Compensation
Committee. The
Compensation Committee currently consists of Messrs. Jacobs, Fink, and Kester,
each of whom is a non-employee director and is independent as defined under the
Nasdaq Stock Market’s listing standards. The Compensation Committee is
responsible for considering and authorizing remuneration arrangements for senior
management. The Compensation Committee held two formal meetings during fiscal
2004, each of which was attended by all committee members.
Nominating
Directors
To date,
all six of the Company's directors (five of whom are independent directors) have
participated in identifying qualified director nominees. As a result, the Board
of Directors has not found it necessary to have a separate Nominating Committee.
However, the Board of Directors now intends to form a Nominating Committee for
the purpose of nominating future director candidates. Each member of the
Nominating Committee will be “independent” as defined in the Nasdaq Stock
Market’s listing standards. The functions of the Nominating Committee will be to
assist the Board of Directors by identifying individuals qualified to become
members, and to recommend to the Board of Directors the director nominees for
the next annual meeting of stockholders, and to recommend to the Board of
Directors corporate governance guidelines and changes thereto.
The Board
of Directors has not established any specific minimum qualifications for
director candidates or any specific qualities or skills that a candidate must
possess in order to be considered qualified to be nominated as a director.
Qualifications for consideration as a director nominee may vary according to the
particular areas of expertise being sought as a complement to the existing board
composition. In making its nominations, the Board of Directors generally will
consider, among other things, an individual’s business experience, industry
experience, financial background, breadth of knowledge about issues affecting
our company, time available for meetings and consultation regarding company
matters and other particular skills and experience possessed by the
individual.
Stockholder
Recommendations of Director Candidates The
Board of Directors will consider Board nominees recommended by stockholders. In
order for a stockholder to nominate a candidate for director, timely notice of
the nomination must be given in writing to the Corporate Secretary of the
Company. To be timely, the notice must be received at the principal executive
offices of the Company as set forth under “Stockholder Proposals” below. Notice
of a nomination must include your name, address and number of shares you own;
the name, age, business address, residence address and principal occupation of
the nominee; and the number of shares beneficially owned by the nominee. It must
also include the information that would be required to be disclosed in the
solicitation of proxies for election of directors under the federal securities
laws, as well as whether the individual can understand basic financial
statements and the candidate’s other board memberships (if any). You must submit
the nominee’s consent to be elected and to serve. The Board of Directors may
require any nominee to furnish any other information that may be needed to
determine the eligibility and qualifications of the nominee.
Any
recommendations in proper form received from stockholders will be evaluated in
the same manner that potential nominees recommended by our Board members or
management are evaluated.
Stockholder
Communication with Board Members
Stockholders who wish to communicate with our Board members may contact us at
our principal executive office at 7610 Miramar Road, Suite 6000, San Diego,
California 92126-4202. Written communications specifically marked as a
communication for our Board of Directors, or a particular director, except those
that are clearly marketing or soliciting materials, will be forwarded unopened
to the Chairman of our Board, or to the particular director to whom they are
addressed, or presented to the full Board or the particular director at the next
regularly scheduled Board meeting.
Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics
The
Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the "Code") that
applies to all of the Company's Directors, officers and employees, including its
principal executive officer and principal financial officer. The Code is posted
on the Company's website at www.rfindustries.com. The
Company intends to disclose any amendments to the Code by posting such
amendments on its website. In addition, any waivers of the Code for Directors or
executive officers of the Company will be disclosed in a report on Form
8-K.
Executive
Compensation
Summary
of Cash and Other Compensation. The
following table sets forth compensation for services rendered in all capacities
to the Company for each person who served as the Company’s Chief Executive
Officer during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 (the “Named Executive
Officer”). No other executive officer of the Company received salary and bonus,
which exceeded $100,000 in the aggregate during the fiscal year, ended October
31, 2004.
Annual
Compensation |
Long-Term
Compensation Awards |
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Name
and Principal Position |
Year |
Salary
($) |
Bonus
($) |
Securities
Underlying Options/SARs (#) |
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Howard
F. Hill, President
Chief
Executive Officer,
Director |
2004
2003
2002 |
165,000
140,000
125,000 |
50,000
25,000
30,000 |
6,000
6,000
4,000 |
As
permitted by rules established by the SEC, no other annual compensation is shown
because perquisites and other non-cash benefits provided by the Company do not
exceed the lesser of 10% of bonus plus salary or $50,000 for the last three
fiscal years.
Option
Grants. The
following table contains information concerning the stock option grants to the
Company’s Named Executive Officer for the fiscal year ended October 31,
2004.
Option
Grants in Last Fiscal Year |
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Name |
Securities
Underlying Options Granted (#) |
%
of Total Options Granted to Employees in Fiscal
Year |
Base
Price
($/Share) |
Expiration
Date |
Howard
F. Hill, President |
|
|
|
Incentive
Stock Option |
2,000 |
9.2% |
$6.38 |
October
2014 |
Non-Qualified
Option |
4,000 |
11.1% |
$5.42 |
October
2014 |
Option
Exercises and Holdings. Mr.
Hill, the Named Executive Officer, exercised 8,000 options during the fiscal
year ended October 31, 2004. The following table sets forth information
concerning option exercises and option holdings and the value, at October 31,
2004, of unexercised options held by the Named Executive Officer:
Aggregated
Options/SAR Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
and
Fiscal Year-End Option/SAR Values |
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Shares
Acquired |
Value
Realized
Market
Price at
Exercise
Less |
Number
of Unexercised
Options/SARs
at Fiscal
Year-End
(#) |
Value
of Unexercised In-the-Money /SARs at Fiscal
Year-End
($) |
Name |
Exercise
# |
Exercise
Price ($) |
Exercisable |
Unexercisable |
Exercisable
(1) |
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Howard
F. Hill,
President |
8,000 |
$24,280 |
460,000 |
6,000 |
$2,821,680/
$38,280 |
(1) |
Represents
the closing price per share of the underlying shares on the last day of
the fiscal year less the option exercise price multiplied by the number of
shares. The closing value per share was $6.38 on the last
trading day of the fiscal year as reported on the Nasdaq Small Cap Market.
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During
the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004, the Company did not adjust or amend the
exercise price of stock options awarded to the Named Executive
Officers.
Employment
Agreement
The
Company has no employment or severance agreements with any of its executive
officers for payments of more than $100,000, other than with Howard Hill, the
Company’s President/Chief Executive Officer. On June 1, 1994, the Company
entered into a six-year, renewable employment contract with Mr. Hill calling for
a beginning annual compensation of $85,000, increased to $165,000 in fiscal
2004, plus a bonus to be determined by the Board. The employment contract
expired by its terms in January 2005. Mr. Hill and the Company have agreed to
continue that employment agreement until June 9, 2005, the date of the next
scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors. On June 9, 2005, the Board plans to
consider entering into a new employment contract with Mr. Hill. Under the
currently extended employment agreement, Mr. Hill was granted options to
purchase a total of 500,000 shares of common stock at $.10 per share. Under his
agreement, the options are exercisable for one year after the date of written
notice of termination. The shares underlying his options may be sold to the
Company at an agreed upon price, and the Company has a right of first refusal to
purchase such shares.
Compensation
of Directors
The
Company compensates its directors with an annual grant of options to purchase
2,000 shares of common stock. The exercise price of the options is set at 85% of
the closing price of the common stock on the last day of the fiscal year. During
the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004, options to purchase 2,000 shares of
common stock were granted to each of the following directors: Messrs. Ehret, Mr.
Fink, Hooper, and Mr. Jacobs. Mr. Hill and Mr. Kester each received a grant for
4,000 shares. All options granted were $5.42 per share. The directors are also
eligible for reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with attendance at
Board meetings and Board committee meetings. For the fiscal years ending after
October 31, 2004, the Board has voted to compensate all non-employee directors,
in addition to the foregoing options, with an annual cash payment of $5,000 per
director, and to pay the non-employee Chairman of the Board an additional annual
payment of $10,000.
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The
following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership of the
Company’s Common Stock as of April 25, 2005 by: (i ) each director and nominee
for director; (ii) the executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table
in Executive Compensation; (iii) all executive officers and directors of the
Company as a group; and (iv) all those known by the Company to be beneficial
owners of more than 5% of the Common Stock.
Name
and Address of
Beneficial
Owner |
Number
of Shares (1)
&( 2)
Beneficially
Owned |
Percentage
(2)
Beneficially
Owned |
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Howard
H. Hill
7610
Miramar Road, Ste. 6000
San
Diego, CA 92126-4202
|
420,000(2) |
13.8% |
John
R. Ehret
7610
Miramar Road, Ste. 6000
San
Diego, CA 92126-4202
|
22,000(3) |
* |
Robert
Jacobs 7610 Miramar Road, Ste. 6000
San
Diego, CA 92126-4202
|
2,000 |
* |
Henry
E. Hooper
7610
Miramar Road, Ste. 6000
San
Diego, CA 92126-4202
|
2,000(4) |
* |
Marvin
Fink
7610
Miramar Rd., Ste. 6000
San
Diego, CA 92126-4202
|
29,165(5) |
* |
Linde
Kester
7610
Miramar Rd., Ste. 6000
San
Diego, CA 92126-4202
|
62,072(6) |
2.0% |
William
L. Reynolds
7610
Miramar Rd. Ste. 6000
San
Diego, CA 92126-4202
|
-0- |
-0- |
All
Directors and Officers as a Group (8 Persons) |
537,237(7) |
17.6% |
(1) |
Shares
of Common Stock, which were not outstanding but which could be acquired
upon exercise of an option within 60 days, are considered outstanding for
the purpose of computing the percentage of outstanding shares beneficially
owned. However, such shares are not considered to be outstanding for any
other purpose. |
(2) |
Consists
of 420,000 shares, which Mr. Hill has the right to acquire upon exercise
of options exercisable within 60 days. |
(3) |
Includes
12,000 shares, which Mr. Ehret has the right to acquire upon exercise of
options exercisable within 60 days. |
(4) |
Consists
of 2,000 shares, which Mr. Hooper has the right to acquire upon exercise
of options exercisable within 60 days. |
(5) |
Includes
19,165 shares, which Mr. Fink has the right to acquire upon exercise of
options exercisable within 60 days. |
(6) |
Includes
20,170 shares, which Mr. Kester has the right to acquire upon exercise of
options exercisable within 60 days. |
(7) |
Includes
493,335 shares, which the directors and officers have the right to acquire
upon exercise of options exercisable within 60
days. |
* |
Represents
less than 1% of the outstanding shares. |
There is
no arrangement known to the Company, the operation of which may at a subsequent
date result in a change of control of the Company.
EQUITY
COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The
following table provides information as of October 31, 2004 with respect to the
shares of Company common stock that may be issued under the Company’s existing
equity compensation plans.
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A |
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B |
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B |
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Plan
Category |
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Number of Securities
to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options |
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Weighted Average
Exercise
Price of Outstanding Options ($) |
|
Number of Securities
Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under
Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in
Column A) |
Equity
Compensation
Plans
Approved by
Stockholders
(1) |
|
208,714 |
|
$3.82 |
|
108,851 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
Compensation
Plans
Not Approved by
Stockholders
(2) |
|
827,000 |
|
$1.08 |
|
-0- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
1,035,714 |
|
$1.63 |
|
108,851 |
(1) |
Consists
of options granted under the R.F. Industries, Ltd. (i) 2000 Stock Option
Plan, (ii) the 1990 Incentive Stock Option Plan, and (iii) the 1990
Non-qualified Stock Option Plan. The 1990 Incentive Stock Option Plan and
Non-qualified Stock Option Plan have expired, and no additional options
can be granted under these plans. Accordingly, the 108,851 shares
remaining available for issuance represent shares under the 2000 Stock
Option Plan. |
(2) |
Consists
of options granted to six executive officers and/or key employees of the
Company under employment agreements entered into by the Company with each
of these officers and employees. |
Compliance
with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s executive
officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class
of the Company’s equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Executive
officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by SEC
regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they
file.
Based
solely on its review of the copies of reporting forms received by the Company,
the Company believes that during its most recent fiscal year ended October 31,
2004, that its officers and directors complied with the filing requirements
under Section 16(a).
PROPOSAL
2:
SELECTION
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit
Committee of the Board has selected J.H. Cohn LLP to continue as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending October
31, 2005. A representative of J.H. Cohn LLP is expected to be present at the
Annual Meeting. The representative will have an opportunity to make a statement
and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from
stockholders.
Stockholder
ratification of the selection of J.H. Cohn LLP as the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm is not required by the Company’s Bylaws or
otherwise. However, the Board is submitting the selection of J.H. Cohn LLP to
the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the
stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the Board will request the Audit
Committee to reconsider whether or not to retain that firm. Even if the
selection is ratified, the Audit Committee of the Board in its discretion may
direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting
firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee of the Board determines
that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders.
The
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares represented and
voting at the meeting will be required to ratify the selection of J.H. Cohn
LLP.
The
following is a summary of the fees billed to the Company by J.H. Cohn LLP for
professional services for rendered for the fiscal years ended October 31,
2004 and 2003:
Fee
Category |
|
Fiscal
2004 Fees |
|
Fiscal
2003 Fees |
|
|
|
|
|
Audit
Fees |
|
$102,850 |
|
$76,859 |
|
|
|
|
|
Audit-Related
Fees |
|
26,361 |
|
8,411 |
|
|
|
|
|
Tax
Fees |
|
5,355 |
|
11,007 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Fees |
|
$134,566 |
|
$96,277 |
Audit
Fees. Consists
of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of RF
Industries, Ltd. financial statements and review of the interim financial
statements included in quarterly reports and services that are normally provided
by J.H. Cohn LLP in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or
engagements.
Audit-Related
Fees. Consists
of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to
the performance of the audit and review of RF Industries’ financial statements
and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” These services include professional
services requested by RF Industries in connection with its preparation for
compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, accounting
consultations in connection with acquisitions, and consultations concerning
financial accounting and reporting standards.
Tax
Fees. Consists
of fees billed for professional services for tax compliance, tax advice and tax
planning. These services include assistance regarding federal and state tax
compliance and assistance with tax reporting.
The Audit
Committee has determined that the provision of services, in addition to audit
services, rendered by J.H. Cohn LLP and the fees billed therefore in fiscal 2004
and 2003 were compatible with maintaining J.H. Cohn LLP’s independence.
THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF
PROPOSAL
2
REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Company’s previous or future
filings under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act that might
incorporate by reference previous or future filings, including this Proxy
Statement, in whole or in part, the following report shall not be incorporated
by reference into any of such filings.
The
responsibilities of the Audit Committee include providing oversight to the
financial reporting process of the Company through periodic meetings with the
Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm and
management to review accounting, auditing, internal controls, and financial
reporting matters. The Company’s management is responsible for the preparation
and integrity of the financial reporting information and related systems of
internal controls. The Audit Committee, in carrying out its role, relies on
senior management, including senior financial management, and its independent
registered
public accounting firm.
The
following is the report of the Audit Committee with respect to the Company’s
audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended October 31,
2004.
The Audit
Committee has reviewed and discussed the Company’s audited financial statements
with the management. The Audit Committee has discussed with J.H. Cohn LLP, the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to
be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit
Committees) which includes, among other items, matters related to the conduct of
the audit of the Company’s financial statements. The Audit Committee has also
received written disclosures and the letter from J.H. Cohn LLP required by
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, which relates to the auditor’s
independence from the Company and its related entities, and has discussed with
J. H. Cohn LLP their independence from the Company.
Based on
the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to
the Company’s Board of Directors that the Company’s audited financial statements
be included in the Company Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2004.
The Audit
Committee has retained J.H. Cohn LLP as the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2005.
It is not
the duty of the Audit Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that
the Company’s financial statements are complete and accurate and in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. That is the
responsibility of management and the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm. In
giving its recommendation to the Board of Directors, the Audit Committee has
relied on (i) management’s representation that such financial statements
have been prepared with integrity and objectivity and in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and (ii) the
report of the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm with
respect to such financial statements.
|
|
AUDIT COMMITTEE |
|
|
|
|
|
John Ehret |
|
|
Henry Hooper |
|
|
Linde Kester |
|
|
|
Stock
Performance Graph
The
following graph compares the cumulative total return for the Company, the NASDAQ
US Stock Index and the NASDAQ Electronic Components Stock Index during the last
five fiscal years. The graph shows the value, at the end of each calendar month,
of $100 invested in the Common Stock or the indices on October 31, 1999.
Historic stock price performance is not necessarily indicative of future stock
price performance.
· |
The
monthly return on investment for each of the periods for the Company is
based on the closing price on the last trading day of each month. The
Indices are based on their respective values on the final trading day of
each month. |
Notwithstanding
anything contained herein or in any other materials filed by the Company with
the SEC, neither the audit committee report nor the stock performance graph
shall be deemed to be “filed” with the SEC, and may not therefore be
incorporated by reference in any filing of the Company under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether
made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general
incorporation language in any such filing.
Certain
Transactions
On April
1, 1997, the Company loaned to Howard Hill, its President and Chief Executive
Officer, $70,000 pursuant to a Promissory Note which provides for interest at
the rate of 6% per annum and which has no specific due date for principal.
Interest on the loan is paid annually. The loan is evidenced by a promissory
note that is secured by a lien on certain of Mr. Hill’s personal
property.
Mr.
Jacobs, a director of the Company, is an employee of Neil Berkman Associates,
the Company’s public relations firm. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2004
and 2003, the Company paid to Neil Berkman Associates $43,050 and $39,360,
respectively, for services rendered.
STOCKHOLDERS’
PROPOSALS
Stockholders
who intend to submit proposals at the 2006 Annual Meeting must submit such
proposals to the Company no later than December
30, 2005 in order
for them to be included in the Proxy Statement and the form of Proxy to be
distributed by the Board of Directors in connection with that meeting.
Stockholders proposals should be submitted to RF Industries, Ltd., 7610 Miramar
Road, San Diego, CA 92126-4202.
FORM
10-KSB
The
Company will furnish without charge to each person whose proxy is being
solicited, upon request of any such person, a copy of the Annual Report of the
Company on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004, as filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including financial statements and
schedules thereto. Such report was filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on or about January 23, 2004. Requests for copies of such report
should be directed to the Chief Financial Officer, RF Industries, Ltd., 7610
Miramar Road, San Diego, CA 92126-4202. The Form 10-KSB may also be accessed
electronically by means of the SEC’s home page on the Internet at
http://www.sec.gov.
ANNUAL
REPORTS
The
Company’s 2004 Annual Report, which includes audited financial statements for
the Company’s fiscal year ended October 31, 2004, is being mailed with the Proxy
Statement to stockholders of record on or about April 25, 2005.
OTHER
MATTERS
The Board
of Directors knows of no other matters which will be brought before the Annual
Meeting. However, if any other matter properly comes before the Annual Meeting
of any adjournment thereof, it is intended that the persons named in the
enclosed form of Proxy will vote on such matters in accordance with their best
judgment.
|
|
Terrie A. Gross, |
|
|
Corporate Secretary |
|
|
|
San Diego, California |
|
|
May
10, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
THIS
PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, OR IF NO DIRECTION IS INDICATED, WILL BE VOTED
“FOR” THE PROPOSALS.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS.
1.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS:
(To
withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a line through
that nominee’s name in the list below.)
NOMINEES:
John R. Ehret, Marvin Fink, Howard F. Hill, Robert Jacobs, Linde Kester and
William L. Reynolds
2.
PROPOSAL TO RATIFY APPOINTMENT OF J.H. COHN LLP AS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
n their
discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may
properly come before the meeting.
This
Proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by
the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this Proxy will be voted
for Proposals 1 and 2. I understand that I may revoke this Proxy only by written
instructions to that effect, signed and dated by me, which must be actually
received by the Company prior to the commencement of the Annual
Meeting
COMPANY
ID:
PROXY
NUMBER:
ACCOUNT
NUMBER:
Signature_______________________________ |
Signature if Held
Jointly_______________________ |
Date_________________________________________ |
NOTE: Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. When
shares are held by joint owners, both should sign. When signing as
attorney, trustee or guardian, please give 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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
PROXY
RF
INDUSTRIES, LTD.
a
Nevada Corporation
ANNUAL
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
June
10, 2005
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The
undersigned hereby appoints Howard F. Hill and John Ehret, or either of them, as
proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitutes, and hereby authorizes
them to represent and vote, as designated below, all of the shares of Common
Stock of RF Industries, Ltd., held of record by the undersigned on April 25,
2005 at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 7610 Miramar Road,
Suite 6000, San Diego, California 92126-4202 on Friday, June 10, 2005, at 1:30
p.m. Pacific Standard Time, or any adjournments or postponement thereof with all
powers which the undersigned would possess if personally present, upon and in
respect of the following matters and in accordance with the following
instructions, with discretionary authority as to any and all other matters that
may properly come before the meeting.
(Continued
and to be marked, dated and signed on the other side.
Return
the Proxy promptly using the enclosed envelope.)