SCHEDULE
14A
(Rule
14a-101)
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 1)
Filed by the Registrant x
Filed by a Party other than the
Registrant ¨
Check the appropriate
box:
¨ Preliminary Proxy
Statement
¨ Confidential,
for Use of the,
Commission Only (as permitted
by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
x Definitive Proxy
Statement
¨ Definitive Additional
Materials
¨ Soliciting Material
Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
Universal Security Instruments,
Inc.
(Name of
Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
N/A
(Name of
Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
¨ 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:
¨ Fee paid previously
with preliminary materials.
¨ 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.:
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Party:
Universal
Security Instruments, Inc.
11407
Cronhill Drive, Suite A
Owings
Mills, Maryland 21117
Notice
of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
to
be held
October
4, 2010
To
the Shareholders of Universal Security Instruments, Inc.:
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
Universal Security Instruments, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”)
will be held at the Hilton Pikesville, 1726 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville,
Maryland, on Monday, October 4, 2010 at 8:30 a.m., local time, for the following
purposes:
|
1.
|
To
elect two directors to serve until the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to
be held in 2013 and until his successor is duly elected and
qualified.
|
|
2.
|
To
consider and act upon a proposal to approve the Company’s 2010
Non-Qualified Stock Option
Plan.
|
|
3.
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To
transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or
any adjournments or postponements
thereof.
|
The Board of Directors has fixed August
9, 2010 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to
notice of, and to vote at, the meeting.
Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held on October 4, 2010
Pursuant to rules and regulations
adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, we have elected to provide
access to our proxy materials over the Internet, allowing us to provide the
information shareholders need, while lowering delivery and printing
expenses. On or about August 13, 2010, we mailed to our shareholders
a notice containing instructions on how our shareholders may access online our
2010 Proxy Statement and 2010 Annual Report to Shareholders. Our
Annual Report to Shareholders does not constitute a part of the proxy
solicitation material, but provides you with additional information about the
Company. These materials are available on the following website:
http://www.usiannualmeeting.com.
We invite your attention to each of
these documents, and we invite you to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders,
in person.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors
|
|
|
|
James
B. Huff
|
|
Secretary
|
Owings
Mills, Maryland
August
13, 2010
EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING
IN PERSON, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE A PROXY CARD, WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO
YOU ONLINE, OR UPON REQUEST, AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY TO US. IF YOU
ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY AND VOTE IN PERSON AT
THE MEETING.
Universal
Security Instruments, Inc.
11407
Cronhill Drive, Suite A
Owings
Mills, Maryland 21117
(410)
363-3000
Proxy
Statement
The accompanying proxy is solicited by
the Board of Directors of Universal Security Instruments, Inc., a Maryland
corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held on October 4, 2010, or at any adjournments or
postponements thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying notice of
the meeting. The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business
on August 9, 2010 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for the determination
of shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the
meeting. On that date, there were outstanding 2,387,887 shares of the
Company’s Common Stock par value $.01 per share (the “Shares”).
Pursuant to the e-proxy rules and
regulations adopted by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”), we have elected to provide access to our proxy materials over the
Internet. On or about August 13, 2010, we mailed to our shareholders
a notice (the “E-Proxy Notice”) containing instructions on how to access online
our 2010 Proxy Statement, and Annual Report to Shareholders. If you
would like to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials, you should follow
the instructions for requesting proxy materials included in the E-Proxy
Notice. These materials will be available free of charge and will be
sent to you within three business days of your request. Our Annual
Report to Shareholders does not constitute a part of the proxy solicitation
material, but provides you with additional information about the
Company.
Each record holder of Shares on the
Record Date is entitled to one vote for each Share held on all matters to come
before the meeting, including the election of directors. Because most
of our shareholders cannot attend the Annual Meeting in person, it is necessary
for a large number to be represented by proxy. Shareholders may vote
by completing a proxy card and mailing it to us at our address
above. Please check the information forwarded by your bank, broker or
other holder of record to see what options are available to you. A
proxy may be revoked at any time before its exercise by the filing of a written
revocation with James B. Huff, Corporate Secretary of the Company, by timely
providing a later-dated proxy or by voting by ballot at the Annual
Meeting. Mere attendance at the Annual Meeting will not revoke a
proxy, and if you are a beneficial owner of shares not registered in your own
name, you will need additional documentation from your record holder to vote
personally at the Annual Meeting.
Beneficial
Ownership
The following table reflects the names
and addresses of the only persons known to the Company to be the beneficial
owners of 5% or more of the Shares outstanding as of the Record
Date. For purposes of calculating beneficial ownership, Rule 13d-3 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) requires
inclusion of Shares that may be acquired within sixty days of the Record
Date. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table,
beneficial ownership of Shares represents sole voting and investment power with
respect to those Shares.
Name and Address
of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Shares
Beneficially Owned
|
|
|
Percent
of Class
|
|
FMR
Corp.
|
|
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241,255 |
|
|
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10.10 |
% |
82
Devonshire Street
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Boston,
MA 02109
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|
|
|
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First
Manhattan Co.
|
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146,175 |
|
|
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6.12 |
% |
437
Madison Avenue
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|
|
|
|
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New
York, NY 10022
|
|
|
|
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North
Star Investment Management Corp.
|
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123,209 |
|
|
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5.16 |
% |
20
North Wacker Drive
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Chicago,
IL 60606
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The Board of Directors currently
consists of four directors. The Company’s directors are divided into
three classes and are elected for terms of three years each and until their
successors are elected and qualify. The Board has nominated Mr. Cary
Luskin and Mr. Ira F. Bormel for election as directors at the 2010 Annual
Meeting to serve for a term of three years and until their successors are
elected and qualify. A quorum for the Annual Meeting consists of a
majority of the issued and outstanding Shares present in person or by proxy and
entitled to vote. Under Maryland law, unless a corporation’s charter
or bylaws provide otherwise, directors are elected by a plurality of all votes
cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present. The Company’s Bylaws
provide that the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote is necessary for the election of
directors. If no nominee receives the requisite vote, Mr. Luskin and
Mr. Bormel will continue to serve as a directors until their successors are duly
elected and qualified. Consequently, withholding of votes,
abstentions and broker non-votes with respect to Shares otherwise present at the
Annual Meeting in person or by proxy will have the effect of a vote
withheld.
Unless contrary instruction is given,
the person(s) named in the proxies solicited by the Board of Directors will vote
each such proxy for the election of the named nominee. If the nominee
is unable to serve, the Shares represented by all properly executed proxies
which have not been revoked will be voted for the election of such substitute as
the Board of Directors may recommend or the Board of Directors may reduce the
size of the Board to eliminate the vacancy. At this time, the Board
does not anticipate that the nominee will be unavailable to serve.
The following table sets forth, for the
nominees and each continuing director, his name, age as of the Record Date, the
year he first became a director of the Company, the expiration of his current
term, and whether such individual has been determined by the Board to be
“independent” as defined in Section 803.A. of the NYSE Amex Company
Guide. There are no known arrangements or understandings between any
director or nominee for director of the Company and any other person pursuant to
which such director or nominee has been selected as a director or
nominee.
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Director
Since
|
|
Current Term
to Expire
|
|
Independent
|
Board
Nominees for Term to Expire in 2013
|
|
|
|
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Cary
Luskin
|
|
|
53
|
|
2002
|
|
2010
|
|
Yes
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Ira
F. Bormel
|
|
|
49
|
|
2008
|
|
2010
|
|
Yes
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Directors
Continuing in Office
|
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|
|
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Ronald
A. Seff, M.D.
|
|
|
62
|
|
2002
|
|
2012
|
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Yes
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Harvey
B. Grossblatt
|
|
|
63
|
|
1996
|
|
2011
|
|
No
|
Presented
below is certain information concerning the nominees and directors continuing in
office. Unless otherwise stated, all directors and nominees have held the
positions indicated for at least the past five years.
Harvey B. Grossblatt was Chief
Financial Officer of the Company from 1983 until August 2004, Secretary and
Treasurer of the Company from 1988 until August 2004, Chief Operating Officer of
the Company from April 2003 through August 2004, and Chief Executive Officer
since August 2004.
Mr. Grossblatt is well qualified to
serve as a member of the Company’s Board due to his more than a quarter century
experience as a member of the Company’s senior management and detailed knowledge
of the Company’s operations and home safety products industry.
Ronald A. Seff, M.D. has been
in the private practice of ophthalmology since 1977. From 1977 until
1998, Dr. Seff practiced with, and was a senior executive of, a large medical
practice with four offices in Maryland.
Dr. Seff is well qualified to serve as
a member of the Company’s Board due to his extensive practical business
experience gained as a senior executive of a large medical practice in which Dr.
Seff had responsibility for a wide range of business functions. Dr.
Seff has served on the Audit and Compensation Committees of the Company for
eight years and has a broad understanding of the Company and its management and
operations.
Cary Luskin has been in the
retail electronic business since 1978. Since 1998, Mr. Luskin has
been President of The Big Screen Store, Inc., a chain of large-screen television
retail stores.
Mr. Luskin is well qualified to serve
as a member of the Company’s Board due to his extensive experience in the retail
electronics business and senior executive of a public company.
Ira F. Bormel was appointed by
the Board on July 24, 2008 to serve the remaining portion of Dr. Howard B.
Silverman’s term of office following Dr. Silverman’s passing in March
2008. Since 1999, Mr. Bormel has served as chief financial officer of
Berman Enterprises LLC and related companies, a Maryland based owner, developer
and manager of office and retail commercial properties. Mr. Bormel is
also a former chief financial officer of the Company.
Mr. Bormel is well qualified to serve
as a member of the Company’s Board due to his experience as chief financial
officer of a multi-million dollar business and his familiarity with the
Company’s business and industry.
Corporate
Governance
Board of
Directors. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010, the
Board met four times. No incumbent director attended fewer than 75%
of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company held
during the year and the total number of meetings held by all committees on which
the director served during such year. Board members are expected to
attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and all incumbent directors, other
than Mr. Luskin, attended the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
The Board
has the following committees, each of which meets at scheduled
times:
Audit
Committee. The Audit Committee is appointed by the Board to
assist the Board in its duty to oversee the Company’s accounting, financial
reporting and internal control functions and the audit of the Company’s
financial statements. The Committee’s responsibilities include, among
others, direct responsibility for hiring, firing, overseeing the work of and
determining the compensation for the Company’s independent auditors, who report
directly to the Audit Committee. The members of the Audit Committee
during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010 were Mr. Bormel (Chairman), Dr. Seff
and Mr. Luskin. None of the Audit Committee members is an employee of
the Company and each is independent under existing NYSE Amex and SEC
requirements. The Board has examined the SEC’s definition of “audit
committee financial expert” and determined that Mr. Bormel satisfies this
definition. Accordingly, Mr. Bormel has been designated by the Board
as the Company’s audit committee financial expert. During the fiscal
year ended March 31, 2010, the Audit Committee met four times. The
Board has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee.
Nominations. The
independent members of the Company’s Board of Directors acts as a nominating
committee for the annual selection of its nominees for election as directors,
and the Board held one meeting during the 2010 fiscal year in order to make
nominations for directors. The Board has not adopted a charter with
respect to the nominating committee function. The Board of Directors
believes that the interests of the Company’s shareholders are served by
relegating the nominations process to the Board members who are independent from
management. While the Board will consider nominees recommended by
shareholders, it has not actively solicited recommendations from the Company’s
shareholders for nominees, nor established any procedures for this
purpose. In considering prospective nominees, the Board will consider
the prospect’s relevant financial and business experience, the integrity and
dedication of the prospect, his independence and other factors the Board deems
relevant. The Board of Directors will apply the same criteria to
nominees recommended by shareholders as those recommended by the full
Board. Nominations for director may be made by shareholders, provided
such nominations comply with certain timing and informational requirements set
forth in the Company’s Bylaws. See “Other Matters” elsewhere in this
Proxy Statement.
Compensation
Committee. The Board’s Compensation Committee consists of Mr.
Luskin (Chairman), Dr. Seff and Mr. Bormel, none of whom is an employee of the
Company and each of whom is independent under existing NYSE Amex and SEC
requirements. The Compensation Committee is charged with reviewing
and determining the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and the other
executive officers of the Company. The Board has not adopted a
charter with respect to the Compensation Committee. The Compensation
Committee met one time during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010.
Director
Compensation
During
the Company’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2010, Mr. Grossblatt, the Company’s
president and chief executive officer, received no additional compensation for
serving as a director. For the Company’s fiscal year ended March 31,
2010, each outside director was entitled to a $10,000 annual fee for annual
service as a director. Directors’ compensation is payable in cash or
Shares (computed at the closing price as reported by the NYSE Amex on the date
of the payment).
The
following table summarizes the compensation paid to directors for the fiscal
year ended March 31, 2010:
Name
|
|
Fees Earned or
Paid in
Cash
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
|
|
|
Total
|
|
(a)
|
|
(b)
|
|
|
(c)
|
|
|
(h)
|
|
Cary
Luskin
|
|
$ |
10,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
10,000 |
|
Ronald
A. Seff, M.D.
|
|
$ |
10,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
10,000 |
|
Ira
F. Bormel
|
|
$ |
10,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
10,000 |
|
Transactions
with Management
Pursuant to its written charter, the
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company reviews all
transactions with related persons that are required to be disclosed under
applicable regulation. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010,
there were no transactions with related persons which are required to be
disclosed.
Code
of Ethics
The
Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that is designed to
promote the highest standards of ethical conduct by the Company’s directors,
executive officers and employees. The Company will furnish, without
charge, a copy of its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics to each shareholder
who forwards a written request to the Secretary, Universal Security Instruments,
Inc., 11407 Cronhill Drive, Suite A, Owings Mills, Maryland 21117.
Communications
with the Board
Any shareholder desiring to contact the
Board, or any specific director(s), may send written communications to: Board of
Directors (Attention: (Name(s) of director(s), as applicable)), c/o the
Company’s Secretary, 11407 Cronhill Drive, Suite A, Owings Mills, Maryland
21117. Any proper communication so received will be processed by the
Secretary. If it is unclear from the communication received whether
it was intended or appropriate for the Board, the Secretary will (subject to any
applicable regulatory requirements) use his judgment to determine whether such
communication should be conveyed to the Board or, as appropriate, to the
member(s) of the Board named in the communication.
Leadership
Structure and Risk Oversight
While the Board believes that there are
various structures which can provide successful leadership to the Company, the
Company’s Bylaws provide that the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected by
the Board, serves as Chief Executive Officer, and if a Chairman is not so
elected, the President of the Company serves as Chief Executive
Officer. Currently, the Board has not elected a Chairman and,
accordingly, the Company’s President is Chief Executive Officer and is also a
member of the Board. All other members of the Board are
independent. The Company’s independent directors bring experience,
oversight and expertise from outside the Company, while the Chief Executive
Officer brings company-specific experience and expertise. The Board
believes that the strong emphasis on Board independence provides effective
independent oversight of management.
Management is responsible for the
day-to-day management of risks the Company faces, while the Board, as a whole
and through its committees, has responsibility for the oversight of risk
management. In its risk oversight role, the Board of Directors has
the responsibility to satisfy itself that the risk management processes designed
and implemented by management are adequate and functioning as
designed. To do this, management discusses with the Board members
strategy and the risks facing the Company. The independent members of
the Board provide strong, independent oversight of the Company’s management and
affairs through its standing committees and, when necessary, meetings of
independent directors in executive session.
Information
Regarding Share Ownership of Management
The following table sets forth
information with respect to the beneficial ownership of the Shares as of the
Record Date by (i) each executive officer of the Company named in the Summary
Compensation Table included elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, (ii) each current
director and each nominee for election as a director and (iii) all directors and
executive officers of the Company as a group. For purposes of
calculating beneficial ownership, Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act requires
inclusion of Shares that may be acquired within sixty days of the Record
Date. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table,
beneficial ownership of Shares represents sole voting and investment power with
respect to those Shares.
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Shares Beneficially Owned
|
|
|
Percent of Class
|
|
Harvey
B. Grossblatt (1)
|
|
|
117,068 |
|
|
|
4.81 |
% |
Cary
Luskin (2)
|
|
|
63,423 |
|
|
|
2.61 |
% |
Ronald
A. Seff, M.D. (3)
|
|
|
81,469 |
|
|
|
3.35 |
% |
James
B. Huff (4)
|
|
|
21,243 |
|
|
|
0.87 |
% |
Bryan
Knepper (5)
|
|
|
70,091 |
|
|
|
2.88 |
% |
Ira
F. Bormel
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
All
directors and executive officers
as
a group (6 persons) (6)
|
|
|
353,294 |
|
|
|
14.52 |
% |
____________________________________________
|
(1)
|
Includes
6,666 Shares Mr. Grossblatt has the right to acquire through the exercise
of stock options.
|
|
(2)
|
Includes
4,000 Shares Mr. Luskin has the right to acquire through the exercise of
stock options.
|
|
(3)
|
Includes
4,000 Shares Dr. Seff has the right to acquire through the exercise of
stock options.
|
|
(4)
|
Includes
4,000 Shares Mr. Huff has the right to acquire through the exercise of
stock options.
|
|
(5)
|
Includes
25,000 shares Mr. Knepper has the right to acquire through the exercise of
stock options.
|
|
(6)
|
See
footnote 1-5 above.
|
Compliance
with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
requires that the Company’s directors and executive officers and each person who
owns more than 10% of the Company’s Shares, file with the SEC an initial report
of beneficial ownership and subsequent reports of changes in beneficial
ownership of the Shares. To the Company’s knowledge, based solely
upon the review of the copies of such reports furnished to us, all of these
reporting persons complied with the Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable
to them with respect to transactions during the fiscal year ended March 31,
2010.
Executive
Compensation
Introduction
The individuals who served as the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer during the fiscal
year ended March 31, 2010 as well two of the Company’s most highly compensated
employees whose total compensation during the fiscal year exceeded $100,000
(listed in the Summary Compensation Table below), are referred to as the “named
executive officers.”
Summary
Compensation Table
The following table sets forth
information regarding the total compensation paid or earned by the named
executive officers as compensation for their services in all capacities during
the fiscal years ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.
Name and
Principal Position
(a)
|
|
Year
(b)
|
|
Base Salary
$
(c)
|
|
|
Bonus
$
(d)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
$
(e)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
$(1)
(f)
|
|
|
All Other
Compensation
$ (i)
|
|
|
Total
$
(j)
|
|
Harvey
B. Grossblatt,
|
|
2010
|
|
|
353,260 |
|
|
|
17,773 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
66,838 |
(2)
|
|
|
437,871 |
|
President
and CEO
|
|
2009
|
|
|
351,418 |
|
|
|
119,638 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
65,745 |
(2)
|
|
|
536,801 |
|
James
B. Huff,
|
|
2010
|
|
|
175,850 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
14,331 |
(3))
|
|
|
200,181 |
|
Secretary/Treasurer/CFO
|
|
2009
|
|
|
175,955 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
5,490 |
|
|
|
14,204 |
(3))
|
|
|
205,649 |
|
Bryan
Knepper
|
|
2010
|
|
|
197,855 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
19,850 |
(4)
|
|
|
217,705 |
|
Director
of Strategic Planning
|
|
2009
|
|
|
10,274 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
45,625 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
55,899 |
|
Ronald
Lazarus,
|
|
2010
|
|
|
220,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
36,120 |
(5)
|
|
|
256,120 |
|
President/USI
Electric, Inc.
|
|
2009
|
|
|
220,000 |
|
|
|
6,140 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
37,637 |
(5)
|
|
|
263,777 |
|
_______________________________________________
(1)
|
The
amounts shown on the “Option Awards” column reflect the compensation cost
related to stock option awards included in the Company’s financial
statements for the relevant fiscal year, computed in accordance with
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R) (“SFAS No.
123(R)”. For a discussion of valuation assumptions, see the
Company’s Annual Report for the year ended March 31,
2010. While these amounts are deductible for federal income tax
purposes, for financial statement purposes, these amounts are charged to
additional paid-in capital. There were no stock option awards
granted during 2010. As of March 31, 2010, the aggregate number
of stock options outstanding is: Harvey B. Grossblatt – 6,666; James B.
Huff – 4,000, Bryan Knepper – 25,000; and Ronald Lazarus –
4,000.
|
(2)
|
All
other compensation for Mr. Grossblatt for 2010 and 2009, respectively,
includes employer 401(k) contributions of $30,694 and $29,871, medical
reimbursement and health insurance premiums of $28,403 and $28,144, group
life and disability premiums of $6,889 and $6,878, and auto lease value of
$852 and $852.
|
(3)
|
All
other compensation for Mr. Huff for 2010 and 2009, respectively, includes
employer match of 401(k) contributions of $7,000 and $7,000, group life
and disability premiums of $4,281 and $4,154, and auto lease value or
reimbursement allowance of $3,050 and
$3,050.
|
(4)
|
All
other compensation for Mr. Knepper for 2010, includes medical
reimbursement and health insurance premiums of $11,615, group life and
disability premiums of $5,185, and auto reimbursement allowances of
$3,050.
|
(5)
|
All
other compensation for Mr. Lazarus for 2010 and 2009 respectively,
includes employer match of 401(k) contributions of $8,800 and $8,800,
medical reimbursement and health insurance premiums of $9,786 and $11,099,
group life and disability premiums of $3,247 and $5,738, and auto
reimbursement allowances of $12,000 and
$12,000
|
.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at 2010 Fiscal Year End
The following table sets forth, for
each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table,
information with respect to unexercised options as of the Company’s fiscal year
ended March 31, 2010:
Name
(a)
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable (1)
(b)
|
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
(c)
|
|
|
Option Exercise
Price ($)
(e)
|
|
Option
Expiration Date
(f)
|
Harvey
B. Grossblatt
|
|
|
6,666 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
16.09 |
|
3/23/2011
|
James
B. Huff
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
16.09 |
|
3/23/2011
|
Bryan
Knepper
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
3.25 |
|
3/17/2014
|
Ronald
Lazarus
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
16.09 |
|
3/23/2011
|
401(k)
Plan
The Company has a defined contribution
profit sharing plan covering eligible employees. The Plan is
voluntary with respect to participation and is subject to the provisions of
ERISA. The plan provides for participant contributions of up to 25%
of annual compensation, as defined by the plan. The Company
contributes an amount equal to a match of the first three percent (3%)
contributed by the employee plus fifty percent (50%) of the next two percent
(2%) contributed by the employee with a maximum contribution of four percent
(4%). The Company may contribute an additional amount from its
profits as authorized by the Board of Directors. The Company made no
additional contributions in 2010. Participants in the plan are
immediately vested in their and the Company’s contributions, plus actual
earnings thereon. The Company’s 2010 contributions to the plan on
behalf of named executive officers are included in the “All Other Compensation”
column in the “Summary Compensation Table” above.
Executive
Employment Agreements
The Chief Executive Officer’s
compensation is governed largely by his employment agreement with the Company,
originally effective April 1, 2002, as amended. The current
employment agreement expires on July 31, 2012. The employment
agreement currently provides that Mr. Grossblatt’s base annual salary beginning
July 18, 2005 was $300,000, increased to $325,000 on August 1, 2006, and
increasing to $350,000 on August 1, 2007. Additionally, Mr.
Grossblatt is entitled to bonus compensation for each fiscal year of the Company
in which the Company earned pre-tax net income in excess of an amount equal to
4% of shareholders’ equity as of the start of the fiscal year ending March 31,
2011, as follows: 3% of all (after the 4% threshold) pre-tax net income up to $1
million, 4% of pre-tax net income from $1-$2 million, 5% of pre-tax net income
from $2-$3 million, 6% of pre-tax net income from $3-$4 million, 7% of pre-tax
net income over $4 million. Mr. Grossblatt is also entitled to life,
health and disability insurance benefits, medical reimbursement, automobile
allowance, and Company paid retirement plan contributions.
If the Employment Agreement is not
renewed by the Company or is terminated by Mr. Grossblatt for good reason, Mr.
Grossblatt is entitled to receive his compensation through any balance of the
employment term plus a lump sum payment equal to his last 12 months base salary
and bonus, health benefits for three years, and an additional lump sum payment
payable on each of the first three anniversaries of the termination equal to the
401(k) plan contribution the Company would have made on behalf of the Company
had he remained employed by the Company.
If Mr. Grossblatt’s employment is
terminated following or in anticipation of a “change of control” of the Company,
Mr. Grossblatt will be entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to his base
salary for the balance of the Employment Agreement’s term and the amount of Mr.
Grossblatt’s last bonus. In addition, Mr. Grossblatt is entitled to
receive health benefits for three years, and an additional lump sum payment
payable on the anniversary of the termination equal to the 401(k) plan
contribution the Company would have made on behalf of the Company had he
remained employed by the Company. Furthermore, Mr. Grossblatt will
receive an amount equal to three times his base salary for the last 12 months
and the amount of his last bonus, limited to 2.99 times Mr. Grossblatt’s average
annual taxable compensation from the Company which is included in his gross
income for the five taxable years of the Company ending before the date on which
the change of control occurs.
If the Employment Agreement is
terminated by the Company due to Mr. Grossblatt’s death, Mr. Grossblatt’s estate
is entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to his base salary for the
greater of the balance of the Employment Agreement’s term or one year, reduced
by any individual life insurance benefits the premiums for which are paid for by
the Company, plus the amount of his last bonus and the amount of the Company’s
last 401(k) plan contribution made on behalf of Mr. Grossblatt. In
addition, Mr. Grossblatt’s estate is entitled to the health insurance and
medical reimbursement benefits for the longer of the balance of the term or
three years following the date of death, or the cash equivalent
thereof.
If the Employment Agreement is
terminated by the Company due to Mr. Grossblatt’s disability, Mr. Grossblatt is
entitled to the continuation of the payment of his base salary for the balance
of the term, reduced by any group or individual disability income insurance
benefits the premiums for which are paid for by the Company and Social Security
disability benefits paid to Mr. Grossblatt. In addition, Mr.
Grossblatt is entitled to the health insurance and medical reimbursement
benefits and a payment equal to the 401(k) plan contribution the Company would
have made on behalf of the Company had he remained employed by the Company, for
the longer of the balance of the term or three years following the date of
disability, or the cash equivalent thereof.
The Employment Agreement generally
prohibits Mr. Grossblatt from competing with the Company during the term and
during any subsequent period during which he receives compensation from the
Company.
Potential
Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
The table
below shows the estimated incremental value transfer to Harvey B. Grossblatt,
the only named executive officer who is contractually entitled to compensation
upon termination or a change in control, under various scenarios relating to a
termination of employment. Please refer to the discussion titled
“Executive Employment Agreements”, above, in this Executive Compensation Section
for a description of the circumstances that would trigger payments and
benefits upon termination or a change in control. The tables below
assume that such termination occurred on March 31, 2010, the last day of the
Company’s 2010 fiscal year. The Company’s stock price on the last
business day of its 2010 fiscal year was $6.41. The actual amounts
that would be paid to any named executive officer can only be determined at the
time of an actual termination of employment and would vary from those listed
below. The estimated amounts listed below are in addition to any other benefits
that are available to employees generally.
|
|
Non Renewal
|
|
|
Resignation
for
Good
Reason
|
|
|
Termination
Following
Change
in
Control (1)
|
|
|
Death
|
|
|
Disability
|
|
|
Severance
|
|
$ |
469,638 |
(2)
|
|
$ |
469,638 |
(2)
|
|
$ |
2,228,852 |
(5)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
162,667 |
(8)
|
Health
Benefits
|
|
$ |
85,209 |
(3)
|
|
$ |
85,209 |
(3)
|
|
$ |
85,209 |
(3)
|
|
$ |
85,209 |
(7)
|
|
$ |
85,209 |
(9)
|
401(k)
Contribution
|
|
$ |
27,000 |
(4)
|
|
$ |
27,000 |
(4)
|
|
$ |
27,000 |
(4)
|
|
$ |
9,000 |
(4)
|
|
$ |
27,000 |
(4)
|
Tax
gross up
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
404,334 |
|
|
$ |
1,626,631 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
_________________________________________________
|
(1)
|
Limited
to 2.99 times Mr. Grossblatt’s average annual taxable compensation from
the Company which is included in his gross income for the five taxable
years of the Company ending before the date on which the change of control
occurs.
|
|
(2)
|
Lump
sum payment equal to Mr. Grossblatt’s last 12 months base salary and
bonus.
|
|
(3)
|
The
aggregate of the health benefits for the first three years following the
termination.
|
|
(4)
|
The
aggregate of the respective annual lump sum payments, payable on each of
the first three anniversaries of the termination, equal to the 401(k) plan
contribution the Company would have made on behalf of the Company had Mr.
Grossblatt remained employed by the
Company.
|
|
(5)
|
Lump
sum payment equal to Mr. Grossblatt’s annual base salary for the balance
of the employment period and last bonus, plus three times Mr. Grossblatt’s
last 12 months base salary and
bonus.
|
|
(6)
|
Mr.
Grossblatt’s estate is entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to his
base salary for the greater of the balance of the employment term or one
year, reduced by any individual life insurance benefits the premiums for
which are paid for by the Company, plus the amount of his last bonus and
the amount of the Company’s last 401(k) plan contribution made on his
behalf.
|
|
(7)
|
Mr.
Grossblatt’s estate is entitled to the health insurance and medical
reimbursement benefits for the longer of the balance of the employment
term or three years following the date of death, or the cash equivalent
thereof.
|
|
(8)
|
Mr.
Grossblatt is entitled to the continuation of the payment of his base
salary for the balance of the term, reduced by any group or individual
disability income insurance benefits the premiums for which are paid for
by the Company and Social Security disability benefits paid to Mr.
Grossblatt.
|
|
(9)
|
Mr.
Grossblatt is entitled to the health insurance and medical reimbursement
benefits for the longer of the balance of the term or three years
following the date of disability, or the cash equivalent
thereof.
|
|
(10)
|
Mr.
Grossblatt is entitled to a payment equal to the 401(k) plan contribution
the Company would have made on behalf of the Company had he remained
employed by the Company, for the longer of the balance of the term or
three years following the date of disability, or the cash equivalent
thereof.
|
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
The following table provides
information, as of March 31, 2010, with respect to all compensation arrangements
maintained by the Company, including individual compensation arrangements, under
which Shares are authorized for issuance. The weighted-average
exercise price does not include restricted stock.
Plan Category
|
|
Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
|
|
|
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
|
|
|
Number of securities remaining
available for future issuance under
equity compensation plans
(excluding
securities reflected in
column (a)
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
|
|
(b)
|
|
|
(c)
|
|
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders
|
|
|
28,427 |
|
|
$ |
16.09 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
$ |
3.25 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
Total
|
|
|
53,427 |
|
|
$ |
10.08 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
Proposal
to Adopt the 2010 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan
The
Plan
From 1978 until 2008, the Company
maintained a Stock Option Plan for the grant of options to employees, officers
and directors of the Company and its subsidiaries to purchase
Shares. This plan expired in 2008.
The Company’s Board of Directors
has determined that it is advisable to provide equity-based incentive awards to
the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ employees, directors and consultants,
thereby continuing to align the interests of such individuals with those of the
stockholders. Accordingly, on July 21, 2010, the Board of Directors
approved and adopted the Company’s 2010 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (the
“Plan”), subject to shareholder approval. A total of 120,000 Shares
(as may be adjusted for stock dividends) have been reserved for issuance under
the Plan. Options may be granted under the Plan to employees,
officers and directors of the Company and its subsidiaries.
The Plan will be administered by
the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the
“Committee”). The Committee has the authority, within limitations as
set forth in the Plan, to interpret the terms of the Plan and establish rules
and regulations concerning the Plan, to determine the persons to whom options
may be granted, the number of Shares to be covered by each option, and the
exercise price and other terms and provisions of the option to be
granted. In addition, the Committee has the authority, subject to the
terms of the Plan, to determine the appropriate adjustments in the terms of each
outstanding option in the event of a change in the Common Stock or the Company’s
capital structure.
Options granted under the Plan are
non-qualified stock options (“NQSOs”). The exercise price of an
option will be fixed by the Committee on the date of grant. Any
options granted must expire within five years from the date of
grant. Shares subject to options granted under the Plan which expire,
terminate, or are canceled without having been exercised in full become
available again for option grants.
On August 3, 2010, the last sale
price per Share, as reported on NYSE Amex Equities, was $5.80.
Federal
Income Tax Aspects
Employees and non-employee
directors optionees generally do not recognize any taxable income upon the grant
of NQSOs, and the Company is not entitled to a federal income tax deduction by
reason of such grant. The optionee generally will recognize ordinary
compensation income at the time of exercise of the NQSO in an amount equal to
the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Shares on the date of
exercise over the exercise price. The Company may be required to
withhold income tax on this amount. When the optionee sells the
shares acquired through the exercise of a NQSO, he or she generally will
recognize a capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between
the amount realized upon the sale of the Shares and his or her basis in the
stock (generally, the exercise price plus the amount taxed to the optionee as
ordinary income). If the optionee’s holding period for the Shares
exceeds 12 months, such gain or loss will be a long-term capital gain or
loss.
The Company generally should be
entitled to a federal income tax deduction when ordinary income is recognized by
the optionee pursuant to the exercise of a NQSO, provided the Company timely
reports the income and timely provides the optionee with a Form W-2 or 1099,
whichever is applicable.
An optionee may be entitled to
exercise a NQSO by delivering Shares to the Company in payment of the exercise
price. If an optionee exercises a NQSO in such fashion, special rules
will apply. Special rules apply if the Shares acquired through the
exercise of a NQSO are subject to vesting, or are subject to certain
restrictions on resale under federal securities laws applicable to directors,
officers or 10% stockholders.
Board
Recommendation
The Board of Directors unanimously
recommends that you vote FOR approval of the proposed Plan. The
affirmative vote of a majority of the Company’s outstanding Shares is needed to
approve the proposed Plan. Consequently, the withholding of votes,
abstentions and broker non-votes with respect to Shares otherwise present at the
Annual Meeting in person or by proxy may have an effect on the outcome of this
vote.
Report
of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee has reviewed and
discussed with management the annual audited financial statements of the Company
and its subsidiaries.
The Audit Committee has discussed with
Grant Thornton LLP, the independent auditors for the Company for the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2010, the matters required to be discussed by Statement on
Auditing Standards 61, as amended, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board in Rule 3200T. The Audit Committee has received the
written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by
Rule 3526, Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence, as
adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and has discussed with
the independent auditors the independent auditors’ independence.
Based on the foregoing review and
discussions, the Board of Directors approved the inclusion of the audited
financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended March 31, 2010 for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
|
The
Audit Committee
|
|
Ira
F. Bormel, Chairman
|
|
Ronald
A. Seff, M.D.
|
|
Cary
Luskin
|
Independent
Public Accountants
The Audit Committee has selected the
firm of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent public accountants for
the current fiscal year. Grant Thornton LLP has served as the
Company’s independent public accountants since 1999. Representatives
of Grant Thornton LLP are expected to be present at the meeting, and will have
the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and to respond to
appropriate questions.
The following is a description of the
fees billed to the Company by Grant Thornton LLP (the “Auditor”) during the
fiscal years ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:
Audit
Fees
Audit fees include fees paid by the
Company to the Auditor in connection with the annual audit of the Company’s
consolidated financial statements, and review of the Company’s interim financial
statements. Audit fees also include fees for services performed by
the Auditor that are closely related to the audit and in many cases could only
be provided by the Auditor. Such services include consents related to
Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory filings. The
aggregate fees for audit services rendered to the Company for the years ended
March 31, 2010 and 2009 totaled $177,500 and $178,500,
respectively.
Audit
Related Fees
Audit related services include due
diligence services related to accounting consultations, internal control reviews
and employee benefit plan audits. There were no audit related
services provided in either year.
Tax
Fees
Tax fees include corporate tax
compliance, advisory and planning services. The aggregate fees billed
to the Company by the Auditor for the tax related services rendered to the
Company for the years ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 totaled $0 and $0,
respectively.
Approval
of Independent Auditor Services and Fees
The
Company’s Audit Committee reviews all fees charged by the Company’s independent
auditors, and actively monitors the relationship between audit and non-audit
services provided. The Audit Committee must pre-approve all audit and
non-audit services provided by the Company’s independent auditors and fees
charged.
Other
Matters
The Board of Directors is not aware of
any other matter which may be presented for action at the 2010 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, but should any other matter requiring a vote of the shareholders
arise at the 2010 Annual Meeting, it is intended that the proxies will be voted
with respect thereto in accordance with the best judgment of the person or
persons voting the proxies, discretionary authority to do so being included in
the proxy.
The cost of soliciting proxies will be
borne by the Company. Arrangements will be made with brokerage firms
and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward solicitation materials
to the beneficial owners of the Shares held of record by such persons, and the
Company will reimburse them for their reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses. Officers and directors may also solicit
proxies.
As a matter of policy, the Company will
accord confidentiality to the votes of individual shareholders, whether
submitted by proxy or ballot, except in limited circumstances, including any
contested election, or as may be necessary to meet legal
requirements. Votes cast by proxy or in person at the Annual Meeting
will be tabulated by the Company and will determine whether or not a quorum is
present. Abstentions will be treated as Shares that are present and
entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum but as
unvoted for purposes of determining the approval of any matter submitted to the
shareholders for a vote. If a broker indicates on the proxy that it
does not have discretionary authority as to certain Shares to vote on a
particular matter, those Shares will not be considered as present and entitled
to vote with respect to that matter.
Any shareholder desiring to present a
proposal at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and wishing to have that
proposal included in the proxy statement for that meeting must submit the same
in writing to the Secretary of the Company at 11407 Cronhill Drive, Suite A,
Owings Mills, Maryland 21117, in time to be received by April 15,
2011. In addition, if a shareholder desires to bring business
(including director nominations) before the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
that is not the subject of a proposal timely submitted for inclusion in the
Company’s Proxy Statement, written notice of such business, as currently
prescribed in the Company’s Bylaws, must be received by the Company’s Secretary
between March 16, 2011 and April 15, 2011. For additional
requirements, a shareholder should refer to Article I, Section 8 of the
Company’s Bylaws, “Advance Notice of Stockholder Nominees for Director and Other
Stockholder Proposals,” a copy of which may be obtained from the Company’s
Secretary or from the Company’s SEC filings. If the Company does not
receive timely notice pursuant to the Bylaws, the nomination or proposal will be
excluded from consideration at the meeting.
The persons designated by the Company
to vote proxies given by shareholders in connection with the Company’s 2011
Annual Meeting of Shareholders will not exercise any discretionary voting
authority granted in such proxies on any matter not disclosed in the Company’s
2011 proxy statement with respect to which the Company has received written
notice no later than June 29, 2011 that a shareholder (i) intends to present
such matter at the 2011 Annual Meeting, and (ii) intends to and does
distribute a proxy statement and proxy card to holders of such percentage of the
Shares required to approve the matter. If a shareholder fails to
provide evidence that the necessary steps have been taken to complete a proxy
solicitation on such matter, the Company may exercise its discretionary voting
authority if it discloses in its 2011 proxy statement the nature of the proposal
and how it intends to exercise its discretionary voting authority.
Shareholders who do not plan to attend
the Annual Meeting are urged to vote by telephone or to complete, date, sign and
return the enclosed proxy in the enclosed envelope, to which no postage need be
affixed if mailed in the United States. Prompt response is helpful
and your cooperation will be appreciated.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors,
|
|
|
|
JAMES
B. HUFF
|
|
Secretary
|
Owings
Mills, Maryland
August
13, 2010
THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT
CHARGE, A COPY OF ITS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31,
2010, TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO FORWARDS A WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY,
UNIVERSAL SECURITY INSTRUMENTS, INC., 11407 CRONHILL DRIVE, SUITE A, OWINGS
MILLS, MARYLAND 21117.
To the extent the rules and regulations
adopted by the SEC state that certain information included in this Proxy
Statement is not deemed “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC or subject
to Regulation 14A promulgated by the SEC or to the liabilities of Section 18 of
the Exchange Act, such information shall not be deemed incorporated by reference
by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into
any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under the Exchange
Act.
2010
VOTING PROXY
UNIVERSAL
SECURITY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
11407
Cronhill Drive, Suite A
Owings
Mills, Maryland 21117
This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of
the Board of Directors of Universal Security Instruments,
Inc. The undersigned hereby appoints Harvey B. Grossblatt as
proxy, with the power of substitution, to vote as designated below all of the
shares the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
to be held at the Hilton Pikesville, 1726 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville,
Maryland, on Monday, October 4, 2010 at 8:30 a.m., prevailing local time, and
any adjournments or postponements thereof, and otherwise to represent the
undersigned at the meeting, with all powers possessed by the undersigned if
personally present at the meeting.
1.
|
Election
of Directors:
|
To
elect two (2) directors for a three (3) year term ending at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2013 and until their respective
successors are duly elected and
qualify.
|
¨ FOR
all nominees listed below
|
|
¨ WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY to vote
|
(except
as marked to the contrary)
|
|
for
all nominees listed below
|
Ira
F. Bormel
|
|
Cary
Luskin
|
|
|
INSTRUCTION:
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), check or mark
the box above “For all nominees listed below” and strike a line through
the name of the nominee(s) above in respect of whom authority is to be
withheld.
|
2.
|
2010
Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan:
|
Proposal
to adopt the 2010 Non-Qualified Stock Option
Plan.
|
¨
For ¨
Against ¨Abstain
3.
|
In
his/their discretion, the proxy/proxies are authorized to vote upon any
other business which properly comes before the meeting and any
adjournments or postponements
thereof.
|
This
proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed hereby by
the undersigned shareholders. If no direction is made, this proxy
will be voted in favor of all nominees and in the discretion of the proxy or
proxies upon any other business which properly comes before the
meeting.
Please
sign exactly as your name appears on the Notice Regarding Availability of Proxy
Materials you previously received by mail. When shares are held by
joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as
such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by the
President or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign
in partnership name by an authorized person.
|
PLEASE
MARK, SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THE CARD TO US AT THE ADDRESS SPECIFIED
BELOW.
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DATED:
____________________, 2010
Signature______________________________________
DATED:
____________________, 2010
Signature_____________________________________
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PRINT
CONTROL NUMBER, NAME AND ADDRESS (as shown on the Notice Regarding
Availability of Proxy Materials you previously received by
mail).
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
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To
vote by proxy, mark, sign and date this 2010 Voting Proxy and return it to
us at:
Corporate
Secretary
Universal
Security Instruments, Inc.
11407
Cronhill Drive, Suite A
Owings Mills,
Maryland 21117
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Important
Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual
Meeting:
The
Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at
http://www.usiannualmeeting.com
APPENDIX
TO PROXY STATEMENT FILED VIA EDGAR
Universal
Security Instruments, Inc.
2010
Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan
1. purpose.
The purpose of the Universal
Security Instruments, Inc. (the “Company”) 2010 Non-Qualified
Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) is to promote the
financial interests of the Company, including its growth and performance, by
encouraging directors, officers, employees of and consultants to the Company and
its subsidiaries to acquire an ownership position in the Company, enhancing the
ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to attract and retain employees of
outstanding ability, and providing directors, employees and consultants with a
way to acquire or increase their proprietary interest in the Company’s
success.
2. shares
subject to the plan.
Subject to adjustment as provided in
Section 13 hereof, up to 120,000 of shares of common stock, par value $.01 per
share, of the Company (the “Shares”) shall be available
for the grant of options under the Plan. The Company shall reserve
and keep available such number of Shares as will satisfy the requirements of all
outstanding options granted under the Plan. Shares subject to an
option that expires unexercised, that is forfeited, terminated or canceled, in
whole or in part, shall thereafter again be available for grant under the
Plan.
The Plan shall be administered by
the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of
Directors of the Company (the “Board”) or, if the Board does
not create the Committee, by the Board which shall function as the
Committee. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and
the acts of a majority shall be the acts of the Committee.
Subject to the provisions of the
Plan, the Committee shall (i) from time to time select directors, officers and
employees of and consultants to the Company and its subsidiaries who will
participate in the Plan (the “Participants”), (ii) determine
the Shares subject to option, (iii) have the authority to interpret the Plan, to
establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Plan,
(iv) determine the terms and provisions of any agreements entered into
hereunder, and (v) make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the
administration of the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect,
supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any option
in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to carry it into
effect. The determinations of the Committee in the administration of
the Plan, as described herein, shall be final and
conclusive.
4. eligibility.
All directors, officers and
employees of the Company and its subsidiaries and, subject to the following
sentence, consultants to the Company and its subsidiaries, all as determined by
the Committee, are eligible to be Participants in the Plan. As used
herein, an eligible Participant which is a “consultant” means any
consultant or adviser to the Company and its subsidiaries if: (i) the
consultant or adviser renders bona fide services to the Company or any
subsidiary of the Company; (ii) the services rendered by the consultant or
adviser are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a
capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or
maintain a market for the Company’s securities; and (iii) the consultant or
adviser is a natural person who has contracted directly with the Company or any
subsidiary of the Company to render such services.
5. options;
exercise price.
Options under the Plan will be
non-qualified stock options. The Committee shall establish the
option price at the time each stock option is granted.
6. exercise
of options.
Except as herein provided, options
shall be exercisable for such period as specified by the
Committee. In no event may options be exercisable more than 10 years
after their date of grant. The option price of each Share as to which
a stock option is exercised shall be paid in full at the time of such
exercise. Such payment shall be made in cash, by tender of Shares
owned by the Participant valued at fair market value as of the date of exercise
and in such other consideration as the Committee deems appropriate, or by a
combination of cash, Shares and such other consideration. To exercise
the option, the optionee or his successor shall give written notice to the
Company’s Chief Financial Officer at the Company’s principal office, setting
forth the number of Shares being purchased and the date of exercise of the
option, which date shall be at least five days after the giving of such notice
unless otherwise agreed to by the Committee and the optionee. Such
notice shall be accompanied by full payment of the option exercise price for
Shares being purchased and a written statement that the Shares are purchased for
investment and not with a view toward distribution. However, this
statement shall not be required in the event the Shares subject to the option
are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If the
option is exercised by the successor of the optionee, following his death, proof
shall be submitted, satisfactory to the Committee, of the right of the successor
to exercise the option. Shares issued pursuant to this Plan which
have not been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission shall be
appropriately legended. No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the
Plan until full payment for such Shares has been made. The optionee
shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to optioned Shares until
the date of exercise of the option with respect to such Shares. No adjustment
shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash,
securities or other property) or distributions or other rights for which the
record date is prior to such date of exercise, except as otherwise provided
herein. The Company shall not be required to transfer or deliver any
certificates for Shares purchased upon any exercise of any option until after
compliance with all then applicable requirements of law. Any fraction of a Share
required to satisfy such obligation shall be disregarded and the amount due
shall instead be paid in cash to the Participant.
7. option
agreements.
The granting of an option shall
take place only when a written Option Agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit
A hereto is executed by the Company and the optionee and delivered to the
optionee. All options under this Plan shall be evidenced by such
written Option Agreement between the Company and the optionee. Such
Option Agreement shall contain such further terms and conditions, not
inconsistent with the foregoing, related to the grant or the time or times of
exercise of options as the Committee shall prescribe.
8. withholding.
The Company shall have the right to
deduct from any payment to be made pursuant to the Plan, or to require prior to
the issuance or delivery of any Shares or the payment of cash under the Plan,
any taxes required by law to be withheld therefrom. The Committee, in
its sole discretion, may permit a Participant to elect to satisfy such
withholding obligation by having the Company retain the number of Shares the
fair market value of which equals the mount required to be
withheld.
9. nontransferability.
No option shall be assignable or
transferable, and no right or interest of any Participant shall be subject to
any lien, obligation or liability of the Participant, except by will or the laws
of descent and distribution.
10. no
right to employment.
No person shall have any claim or
right to be granted an option, and the grant of an option shall not be construed
as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ or as a director
of the Company or its subsidiaries. Further, the Company and its
subsidiaries expressly reserve the right at any time to dismiss a Participant
free from any liability, or any claim under the Plan, except as provided
herein or in any agreement entered into hereunder.
11. termination
of rights; death.
All unexercised or unexpired options
granted or awarded under this Plan will terminate, be forfeited and will lapse
immediately if such Participant’s employment or relationship with the Company
and its subsidiaries is terminated for any reason, unless the Committee permits
the exercise of such options for a period not to exceed 90 days after the date
of such termination. If a Participant’s employment or relationship
with the Company is terminated by reason of his death, such Participant’s
personal representatives, estate or heirs (as the case may be) may exercise,
subject to any restrictions imposed by the Committee at the time of the grant,
any option which was exercisable by the Participant as of the date of his death
for a period of 180 days after the date of the Participant’s
death.
12 registration.
If the Company shall be advised by
its counsel that any Shares deliverable upon any exercise of an option are
required to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, or that the consent
of any other authority is required for the issuance of such Shares, the Company
may effect registration or obtain such consent, and delivery of Shares by the
Company may be deferred until registration is effected or such consent is
obtained.
13 adjustment
of and changes in shares.
In the event of any change in the
outstanding Shares by reason of any Share dividend or split, recapitalization,
merger, consolidation, spinoff, combination or exchange of Shares or other
corporate change, or any distributions to shareholders other than regular cash
dividends, the Committee may make such substitution or adjustment, if any, as it
deems to be equitable, as to the exercise price, number or kind of Shares or
other securities issued or reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan and to
outstanding options.
14. amendment.
The Board of Directors may amend or
terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, provided that no
amendment shall be made without shareholder approval if such approval is
necessary by law or regulation.
15. effective
date.
The Plan has been adopted by the
Board of Directors of the Company and, upon approval of the Shareholders of the
Company, shall be effective as of August 1, 2010. Unless extended or
earlier terminated by the Board of Directors, the Plan shall continue in effect
until, and shall terminate on, the tenth anniversary of the effective date of
the Plan. Unless so extended, no additional options may be granted on
or after the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the
Plan.
Exhibit
A
Universal
Security Instruments, Inc.
2010
Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan
Stock
Option Agreement
THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT is made
this ________________, 201__, by and between Universal
Security Instruments, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and
_____________________________ (the “Optionee”).
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of
the Company considers it desirable and in the Company’s interest that the
Optionee be given an opportunity to purchase its shares of common stock, par
value $.01 per share (the “Shares”), pursuant to the
terms and conditions of the Company’s 2010 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (the
“Plan”) to provide an
incentive for the Optionee and to promote the interests of the
Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed as
follows:
1. Incorporation of the Terms of the
Plan. This Stock Option Agreement is subject to all of the terms and
conditions of the Plan, and the terms of the Plan are hereby incorporated herein
by reference and made a part hereof.
2. Grant of
Option. The Company hereby grants to Optionee an option to
purchase from the Company ________ Shares (“Option Shares”) at the
exercise price per Share set forth below. Subject to earlier
expiration or termination of the option granted hereunder, this option shall
expire on the ___th anniversary of the date hereof.
3. Period of Exercise of
Option. The Optionee shall be entitled to exercise the option
granted hereunder to purchase Option Shares as follows:
Exercise
Date
No. of
Shares
Exercise Price per
Share
in
each case, together with the number of Option Shares which Optionee was
theretofore entitled to purchase.
4. Additional Exercise
Periods. In the event of the death of the Optionee, or if the
Optionee’s employment or relationship with the Company or its subsidiaries is
terminated for any reason, the option granted hereunder may be exercised as set
forth in the Plan.
5. Method of
Exercise. In order to exercise the options granted hereunder,
Optionee must give written notice to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company
at the Company’s principal place of business, accompanied by full payment of the
exercise price for the Option Shares being purchased, in accordance with the
terms and provisions of the Plan.
6. Manner of
Payment. An Optionee may pay the option price for Shares
purchased upon exercise of the option as set forth in the Plan.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have
caused this Agreement to be executed under seal, intending this to be a sealed
instrument, as of the date first above written.
WITNESS/ATTEST:
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Universal
Security Instruments, Inc.
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______________________________
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By:
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______________________________(SEAL)
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Optionee
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______________________________
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_____________________________________(SEAL)
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UNIVERSAL
SECURITY INSTRUMENTS, INC.
Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials
for
the Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on October 4, 2010.
This
communication presents only an overview of the more complete proxy materials
that are available to you on the Internet. We encourage you to access and review
all of the important information contained in the proxy materials before
voting.
The
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Proxy Statement, 2010 Voting
Proxy, 2010
Annual
Report and any other Annual Meeting materials are available
at
http://www.usiannualmeeting.com.
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The 2010
Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Universal Security Instruments, Inc. (the
“Company”) will be held at the Hilton Pikesville, 1726 reisterstown Road,
Pikesville, Maryland, on Monday, October 4, 2010 at 8:30 a.m., local time, for
the following purposes:
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1.
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To
elect two directors to serve until the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to
be held in 2013 and until his successor is duly elected and
qualified;
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2.
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To
approve the Company’s 2010 Non-Qualified Stock Option
Plan;
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3.
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To
transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or
any adjournments or postponements
thereof.
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The Board
of Directors recommends voting FOR the nominees for Directors and FOR approval
of the 2010 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan.
To vote
in person, you must attend the Annual Meeting.
If
you want to receive a paper or e-mail copy of these documents, you must request
one. There is no charge to you for requesting a copy. Please make your request
for a copy as instructed below on or before September 20, 2010 to facilitate
timely delivery.
To
request a paper copy of these materials for the 2010 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders and/or for all future meetings, please do one of the following (you
must reference your Shareholder Control Number listed on the label above your
name):
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Call our toll free
number 1-800-390-4321, Extension
211.
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Send your request by
e-mail to usiannualmeeting@universalsecurity.com
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Request a copy at
http://www.usiannualmeeting.com.
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TO
VOTE YOU MUST ACCESS YOUR PROXY MATERIALS AT
http://www.usiannualmeeting.com.
HAVE
THIS CARD IN HAND WHEN YOU ACCESS THE
WEBSITE.
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