prelim14a.htm
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by
the Registrant __X__
Filed by
a party other than the Registrant
Check the
appropriate box:
Definitive Proxy
Statement
Air
T,
Inc.
(Name of
Registrant as specified in its charter)
____________
(Name of
person(s) filing Proxy Statement, if other than Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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:
|
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:
AIR T,
INC.
NOTICE OF
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE
HELD SEPTEMBER 25, 2008
To Our
Stockholders:
The annual meeting of stockholders of
Air T, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at One Independence Center, 101 North
Tryon Street, Suite 1900, Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday, September 25,
2008 at 10:00 a.m. local time, for the purpose of considering and acting on the
following matters:
|
1.
|
To
elect nine directors to serve until their successors are duly elected and
qualified;
|
|
2.
|
To
approve a proposed amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation
to eliminate personal liability of a director to the Company and its
stockholders for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by
law;
|
|
3.
|
To
ratify the appointment of Dixon Hughes PLLC as the independent registered
public accountants of the Company for the current fiscal year;
and
|
|
4.
|
To
transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting, or
any adjournment or adjournments
thereof.
|
Only stockholders of record as of the
close of business on August 1, 2008 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the
annual meeting and adjournments thereof. You may examine a list of
those stockholders at our principal executive offices at 3524 Airport Road,
Maiden, North Carolina 28650, during the 10-day period preceding the annual
meeting. Each share of our outstanding common stock will entitle the
holder to one vote on each matter that properly comes before the annual
meeting.
The
accompanying proxy statement provides you with a summary of the proposals on
which our stockholders will vote at the annual meeting. We encourage
you to read this entire document before voting.
Your
vote is important no matter how large or small your holdings may
be. To ensure your representation at the meeting, please complete,
sign, date and return your enclosed proxy card as soon as possible in the
postage-paid envelope provided. If your shares are held in “street
name” by your broker or other nominee, only that holder can vote your shares,
and the vote cannot be cast unless you provide instructions to your
broker. You should follow instructions provided by your broker
regarding how to instruct your broker to vote your shares. If you choose to
attend the annual meeting, you may revoke your proxy and personally cast your
votes at the annual meeting.
The 2008 annual report of the Company
also accompanies this notice.
By Order of the Board of
Directors
John
Parry
Secretary
August
14, 2008
[Intentionally
left blank.]
Air
T, Inc.
3524
Airport Road
Maiden,
North Carolina 28650
Telephone
(828) 464-8741
PROXY
STATEMENT
The enclosed proxy is solicited on
behalf of the Board of Directors of Air T, Inc. (referred to as the “Company”)
in connection with the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company to be held
on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at 101 Independence Center, 101
North Tryon Street, Suite 1900, Charlotte, North Carolina. The proxy
is for use at the meeting if you do not attend or if you wish to vote your
shares by proxy even if you do attend. You may revoke your proxy at
any time before it is exercised by
·
|
giving
a written notice of revocation to the Secretary of the
Company,
|
·
|
submitting
a proxy having a later date, or
|
·
|
appearing
at the meeting and requesting to vote in
person.
|
All
shares represented by valid proxies and not revoked before they are exercised
will be voted as specified. If no specification is made, proxies will be voted
"FOR" electing all nominees for director listed on the proxy in Item 1, “FOR”
the proposed amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation set forth
in Annex C to this proxy statement and "FOR" ratifying Dixon Hughes PLLC as the
Company’s independent registered public accountants for the 2009 fiscal
year. The Board of Directors knows of no matters, other than those
stated above, to be presented for consideration at the annual
meeting. If, however, other matters properly come before the annual
meeting or any adjournment thereof, it is the intention of the persons named in
the accompanying proxy to vote such proxy in accordance with their best judgment
on any such matters. The persons named in the accompanying proxy may
also, if it is deemed advisable, vote such proxy to adjourn the annual meeting
from time to time, including if there is not a quorum on the date set for the
annual meeting.
This
proxy statement, the enclosed proxy card and the Company’s 2008 Annual Report to
Stockholders are being first mailed to our stockholders on or about August 14,
2008. The Annual Report does not constitute "soliciting material” and
is not to be deemed "filed" with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
The
Company will pay the costs of preparing this proxy statement and of soliciting
proxies in the enclosed form. Our employees may solicit proxies, either
personally, by letter or by telephone. Our employees will not be specifically
compensated for these services. In addition, the Company has
retained Morrow & Co., LLC. to assist in soliciting proxies from
stockholders, including brokers, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries, and will
pay that firm fees estimated at $3,500 for its services, plus the firm’s
expenses and disbursements.
VOTING
SECURITIES
Only stockholders of record at the
close of business on August 1, 2008 will be entitled to vote at the annual
meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof. The number of
outstanding shares entitled to vote at the stockholders meeting is
2,423,506. The presence of a majority of the outstanding shares of
the Company’s Common Stock, par value $.25 per share (the “Common Stock”),
represented in person or by proxy at the meeting will constitute a quorum
necessary to conduct business at the meeting. Directors will be
elected by a plurality of the votes cast. Cumulative voting is not
allowed. Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes will not
affect the outcome of the election of directors. The affirmative vote
of a majority of the shares entitled to vote at the meeting is required to
approve the proposed amendment to the certificate of
incorporation. Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes, if any,
will have the effect of votes cast against the proposed
amendment. The ratification of independent auditors and any other
business coming before the meeting, requires the affirmative vote of a majority
of the shares present or represented at the meeting and entitled to
vote. On such matters, an abstention will have the same effect as a
negative vote but, because shares held by brokers will not be considered
entitled to vote on matters as to which the brokers withhold authority, a broker
non-vote will have no effect on votes on these matters.
CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF COMMON STOCK
The following table sets forth
information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock
(determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange
Commission) of the Company as of June 1, 2008 by each person that beneficially
owns five percent or more of the shares of Common Stock. Each person
named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to all
shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned, except as otherwise set
forth in the notes to the table.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
|
|
Title
of
Class
|
Name and Address of Beneficial
Owner
|
|
Amount
of
Beneficial
Ownership
as of June 1, 2008
|
|
|
Percent
Of Class
|
|
Common
Stock, par value $.25 per share
|
Walter
Clark
3524
Airport Road
Maiden,
North Carolina 28650
|
|
|
159,089 |
(1) |
|
|
6.5 |
% |
_____________________________
(1)
|
Includes
76,500 shares controlled by Mr. Clark as one of the executors of the
estate of David Clark and also includes 16,667 shares which Mr. Clark has
the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of stock
options.
|
PROPOSAL
1 -- ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Under the Company’s certificate of
incorporation and bylaws, directors are elected at each annual meeting and hold
office until their respective successors are elected and have
qualified. The number of directors constituting the Board of
Directors has been set at nine by a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors
pursuant to the Company’s bylaws. Accordingly, up to nine directors
may be elected at the annual meeting. All of the incumbent directors
were elected by the stockholders at the last annual meeting.
The
following sets forth certain information with respect to the individuals who are
nominated by the Board of Directors, upon recommendation of its Nominating
Committee, for election to the Board of Directors at the annual
meeting. Each of the following is currently a director of the
Company. Mr. Parry is the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and his
employment agreement requires that he continue to be considered by the
Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors for nomination for election as a
director for so long as he continues to serve as the Company’s Chief Financial
Officer.
The Board of Directors recommends a
vote “FOR” all of the
nominees listed below for election as directors (Item 1 on the enclosed proxy
card).
Walter Clark, age 51, has
served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company and Chief Executive
Officer since April 1997. Mr. Clark also serves as a director of
Mountain Air Cargo, Inc. (“MAC”) and CSA, Air, Inc. (“CSA”), subsidiaries of the
Company, and as the Chief Executive Officer of MAC, Executive Vice President of
Global Ground Support, LLC (“GGS”) and Global Aviation Services, LLC (“GAS”),
other subsidiaries of the Company, President of CSA and Executive Vice President
of MAC Aviation Services, LLC (“MACAS”), a Company subsidiary. Mr.
Clark was elected a director of the Company in April 1996. Mr. Clark
was self-employed in the real estate development business from 1985 until April
1997.
John Parry, age 51, has served
as Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since
November 2006 and as a director of the Company since September
2007. Mr. Parry also serves as Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer
and a director of MAC and CSA, Chief Financial Officer of MAC, GGS and GAS and
as Vice President-Finance, Treasurer and Secretary of GGS, GAS and
MACAS. Mr. Parry is a Certified Public Accountant and served as Chief
Financial Officer for Empire Airlines, Inc., a privately held FedEx feeder
airline from 2001 until joining the Company.
William H. Simpson, age 61,
has served as Executive Vice President of the Company since June 1990, as Vice
President from June 1983 to June 1990, and as a director of the Company since
June 20, 1985. Mr. Simpson is also the President and a director of
MAC, the Chief Executive Officer and a director of CSA and Executive Vice
President of GGS.
Claude S. Abernethy, Jr., age
81, was first elected as director of the Company in June 1990. Mr.
Abernethy serves as a Senior Vice President of Wachovia Securities, a securities
brokerage and investment banking firm, and its predecessor. Mr.
Abernethy is also a director of Carolina Mills, Inc., a privately held textile
manufacturing company.
Sam Chesnutt, age 73, was
first elected a director of the Company in August 1994. Mr. Chesnutt
serves as President of Sam Chesnutt and Associates, an agribusiness consulting
firm. From November 1988 to December 1994, Mr. Chesnutt served as
Executive Vice President of AgriGeneral Company, L.P., an agribusiness
firm.
Allison T. Clark, age 52, has
served as a director of the Company since May 1997. Mr. Clark has
been self-employed in the real estate development business since
1987.
George C. Prill, age 85, has
served as a director of the Company since June 1982, as Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman of the Board of Directors from August 1982 until June 1983, and as
President from August 1982 until spring 1984. Mr. Prill has served as
an Editorial Director for General Publications, Inc., a publisher of magazines
devoted to the air transportation industry, from November 1992 until
2001. Since 1979, Mr. Prill has served as President of George C.
Prill & Associates, Inc., which performs consulting services for the
aerospace and airline industry. Mr. Prill has served as President of
Lockheed International Company, as Assistant Administrator of the FAA, as a
Senior Vice President of the National Aeronautic Association and Chairman of the
Aerospace Industry Trade Advisory Committee.
Dennis A. Wicker, age 55, has
served as a director of the Company since October 2004. Mr. Wicker is
a partner and member of the managing committee of the law firm Schottenstein Zox
& Dunn Co., LPA, which he joined in March 2008. Prior to that he
was a member of the law firm of Helms, Mullis & Wicker PLLC, which he joined
in 2001 following eight years of service as Lieutenant Governor of the State of
North Carolina. Mr. Wicker is a member of the boards of directors of
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated and First Bancorp.
J. Bradley Wilson, age 55, has
served as a director of the Company since September 2005. Mr. Wilson
serves as Chief Operating Officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North
Carolina, a health benefits company. He joined Blue Cross and Blue
Shield of North Carolina in December 1995 and previously served as Executive
Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Senior Vice President and General
Counsel until his appointment as Chief Operating Officer in November
2006. Prior to joining Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina,
Mr. Wilson served as General Counsel to Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. of North
Carolina and in private practice as an attorney in Lenoir, North
Carolina. Mr. Wilson currently serves on the Board of Governors of
the University of North Carolina and is a past Chairman of that board and he
previously served as Chairman and on the Board of Directors of the North
Carolina Railroad Company.
Allison
Clark and Walter Clark are brothers.
Director
Compensation
During
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, each director received a director’s fee of
$1,000 per month and an attendance fee of $500 paid to outside directors for
each meeting of the board of directors or a committee
thereof. Commencing April 1, 2006, members of the Audit Committee
received, in lieu of the $500 meeting fee, a monthly fee of $500, while the
Chairman of the Audit Committee received a monthly fee of
$700. Pursuant to the Company’s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the
“Plan”), upon stockholder approval of the Plan, each director who was not an
employee of the Company received an option to purchase 2,500 shares of Common
Stock at an exercise price of $10.15 per share (the closing bid price per share
on the date of stockholder approval of the Plan.) The Plan provides
for a similar option award to any director first elected to the board after the
date the stockholders approved the Plan. Such options vest one year
after the date they were granted and expire ten years after the date they were
granted. All outstanding options under the Plan vested in
2006.
The
following table sets forth the compensation paid to each of the Company’s
non-employee directors in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008.
|
|
Fees
Earned or Paid in Cash
|
|
|
|
|
Claude
S. Abernethy, Jr.
|
|
$ |
23,900 |
|
|
$ |
23,900 |
|
Sam
Chesnutt
|
|
|
21,000 |
|
|
|
21,000 |
|
Allison
T.
Clark
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
John
J.
Gioffre(1)
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
George
C.
Prill
|
|
|
21,000 |
|
|
|
21,000 |
|
Dennis
A.
Wicker
|
|
|
15,500 |
|
|
|
15,500 |
|
J.
Bradley
Wilson
|
|
|
14,500 |
|
|
|
14,500 |
|
_________________________
|
(1)
|
Mr.
Gioffre ceased serving as an employee of the Company in December 2006 and
as a director in September 2007.
|
Committees
The Board of Directors has four
standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee,
the Nominating Committee and the Executive Committee. The Audit
Committee consists of Messrs. Abernethy, Chesnutt and Prill, with Mr. Abernethy
serving as chairman. The Audit Committee met four times during the fiscal
year. On May 18, 2000, the Board of Directors adopted a charter
for the Audit Committee. The Charter was most recently approved by
the Board of Directors on July 29, 2005. A copy of the current
Charter is included with this Proxy Statement as Annex A and additional copies
will be provided to stockholders upon written request to the Secretary of the
Company. The principal functions of the Audit Committee, included in
the charter, are to select and retain the firm of independent auditors to serve
the Company each fiscal year, to review and approve the scope, fees and results
of the audit performed by the independent auditors, to review the adequacy of
the Company’s system of internal accounting controls and the scope and results
of internal auditing procedures, to review and periodically discuss with the
independent auditor all significant relationships that may affect the auditor’s
independence, to meet at least quarterly to review the Company’s financial
results with management and the independent auditors prior to the release of
quarterly financial information, to prepare and issue to the Board of Directors
annually a summary report suitable for submission to the stockholders and to
establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints
regarding accounting internal controls and auditing matters, including
confidential, anonymous submissions by employees. A copy of the Audit
Committee’s report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 is included in
this Proxy Statement. The Company has certified to NASDAQ the
Company’s compliance with NASDAQ’s audit committee charter requirements and
compliance with the audit committee structure and composition
requirements.
The Compensation Committee consists of
Messrs. Abernethy, Chesnutt and Prill, with Mr. Chesnutt serving as
chairman. The functions of the Compensation Committee include
establishing policies for the compensation of the Company’s executive officers
and determining the types and amounts of remuneration to be paid to the
Company’s executive officers. The Compensation Committee met once
during the fiscal year.
The Nominating Committee consists of
Messrs. Abernethy, Chesnutt and Wicker, with Mr. Wicker serving as
chairman. The Nominating Committee is responsible for evaluating
potential nominees for election as directors and recommending nominees to the
Board of Directors, as well as recommending the functions and the membership of
the committees of the Board of Directors. A copy of the charter of
the Nominating Committee is attached as Annex B to this Proxy Statement and
additional copies will be provided to stockholders upon written request to the
Secretary of the Company. The charter of the Nominating Committee is
not available on the Company’s website. The Nominating Committee met
once during the fiscal year.
The Executive Committee consists of
Messrs. Walter Clark, Abernethy, Chesnutt and Prill, with Mr. Clark serving as
chairman. The Executive Committee is authorized to exercise the
powers of the Board of Directors between meetings of the Board of Directors to
the extent permitted by Delaware law and not otherwise specifically delegated to
another committee. The Executive Committee did not meet during the
fiscal year.
Director
Independence
The Board
of Directors has determined that none of the nominees for election to the Board
of Directors other than Messrs. Walter Clark, Parry and Simpson (all members of
management) and Mr. Allison Clark (who is Mr. Walter Clark’s brother) has any
relationship that, in the Board’s opinion, would interfere with the exercise of
independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director, and
that each of these individuals is “independent” within the meaning of rules of
the Nasdaq Capital Market. All of the members of the Company’s Audit
Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating Committee are independent
directors under these standards. In addition, the Board of Directors
has determined that the members of the Audit Committee meet the heightened
standards of independence applicable to members of an audit
committee.
Attendance
of Meetings
During the fiscal year ended March 31,
2008, the Board of Directors met six times. Each of the directors
attended at least 75% of all of the meetings of the Board of Directors and
committees thereof on which such director served during such period, except for
Mr. Chesnutt. The Company does not have a policy with respect to
attendance of members of the Board of Directors at the annual meeting of
stockholders. Historically, few, if any, stockholders have attended
the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders other than stockholders who are
also officers of the Company. At the annual meeting of stockholders
held in 2007, two members of the Board of Directors, who are also officers of
the Company, attended the annual meeting of stockholders.
Director
Qualifications and Nominations
The
Nominating Committee has adopted a policy that candidates nominated for election
or re−election to the
Board of Directors generally should meet the following
qualifications:
·
|
candidates
should possess broad training and experience at the policy−making level
in business, government, education, technology or
philanthropy;
|
·
|
candidates
should possess expertise that is useful to the Company and complementary
to the background and experience of other members of the Board of
Directors, so that an optimum balance in Board membership can be achieved
and maintained;
|
·
|
candidates
should be of the highest integrity, possess strength of character and the
mature judgment essential to effective decision
making;
|
·
|
candidates
should be willing to devote the required amount of time to the work of the
Board of Directors and one or more of its
committees;
|
·
|
candidates
should be willing to serve on the Board of Directors over a period of
several years to allow for the development of sound knowledge of the
Company and its principal operations;
and
|
·
|
candidates
should be without any significant conflict of interest or legal impediment
with regard to service on the Board of
Directors.
|
When a
vacancy exists on the Board of Directors, the Nominating Committee seeks out
appropriate candidates, principally by canvassing current directors for
suggestions. The Nominating Committee evaluates candidates on the
basis of the above qualifications and other criteria that may vary from time to
time. The Nominating Committee does not have a formal policy on the
consideration of director candidates recommended by stockholders. The
Board of Directors believes that such a formal policy is unnecessary and that
the issue is more appropriately dealt with on a case−by−case
basis.
Director
and Executive Officer Stock Ownership
The following table sets forth
information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock of the
Company by each director of the Company and by all directors, nominees and
executive officers of the Company as a group as of June 1, 2008. Each
person named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to
all shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned, except as otherwise set
forth in the notes to the table.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS, NOMINEES AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
and Percent of Common Stock Beneficially
Owned as of June 1, 2008
|
|
Name
|
Position with Company
|
|
No. of Shares
|
|
|
Percent
|
|
Walter
Clark
|
Chairman
of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
159,089 |
(1)(2) |
|
|
6.5 |
% |
John
Parry
|
Vice
President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, Treasurer and
Director
|
|
|
5,000 |
(2) |
|
|
- |
|
William
H.
Simpson
|
Executive
Vice President, Director
|
|
|
12,004 |
(2) |
|
|
* |
|
Claude
S. Abernethy, Jr.
|
Director
|
|
|
2,500 |
(2) |
|
|
* |
|
Sam
Chesnutt
|
Director
|
|
|
2,500 |
(2) |
|
|
* |
|
Allison
T.
Clark
|
Director
|
|
|
2,500 |
(2) |
|
|
* |
|
George
C.
Prill
|
Director
|
|
|
3,500 |
(2) |
|
|
* |
|
Dennis
A.
Wicker
|
Director
|
|
|
3,500 |
(2) |
|
|
* |
|
J.
Bradley
Wilson
|
Director
|
|
|
2,500 |
(2) |
|
|
* |
|
All
directors, nominees and executive officers as a group (9
persons)
|
N/A
|
|
|
193,093 |
(2) |
|
|
7.8 |
% |
________________________
* Less
than one percent.
(1)
|
Includes
76,500 shares controlled by Mr. Clark as one of the executors of the
estate of David Clark.
|
(2)
|
Includes
shares which the following executive officers and non-employee directors
have the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of stock
options issued by the Company: Mr. Walter Clark, 16,667 shares; Mr. Parry,
5,000 shares; Mr. Simpson, 10,000 shares; Mr. Abernethy, 2,500 shares; Mr.
Chesnutt, 2,500 shares; Mr. Allison Clark, 2,500 shares; Mr. Prill, 3,500
shares; Mr. Wicker, 3,500 shares; Mr. Wilson, 2,500 shares; all directors
and executive officers as a group,
48,667.
|
SECTION
16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
To the
Company’s knowledge, based solely on review of the copies of reports under
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that have been furnished to
the Company and written representations that no other reports were required,
during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 all executive officers, directors
and greater than ten-percent beneficial owners have complied with all applicable
Section 16(a) filing requirements.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
The
following table sets forth a summary of the compensation paid during each of the
two most recent fiscal years to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and to the
two other most highly compensated executive officers as of March 31,
2008.
SUMMARY
COMPENSATION TABLE
Name
and Principal Position
|
Year
|
|
Salary
($) (1)
|
|
|
Option
Awards ($) (2)
|
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation ($) (3)
|
|
|
Change
in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings
($)(4)
|
|
|
All
Other Compensation ($)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Walter
Clark
|
2008
|
|
$ |
206,000 |
|
|
$ |
81,619 |
|
|
$ |
116,495 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
25,943 |
(5) |
|
$ |
430,057 |
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
2007
|
|
|
206,000 |
|
|
|
51,013 |
|
|
|
88,399 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
25,490 |
(5) |
|
|
370,902 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Parry (8)
|
2008
|
|
|
135,211 |
|
|
|
27,524 |
|
|
|
87,371 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
18,989 |
(6) |
|
|
269,095 |
|
Vice
President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer(Principal Financial
Officer)
|
2007
|
|
|
52,985 |
|
|
|
10,321 |
|
|
|
33,150 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
19,888 |
(6) |
|
|
116,344 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William
H. Simpson
|
2008
|
|
|
206,000 |
|
|
|
48,978 |
|
|
|
116,495 |
|
|
$ |
118,822 |
|
|
|
18,924 |
(7) |
|
|
509,219 |
|
Executive
Vice President
|
2007
|
|
|
206,000 |
|
|
|
30,608 |
|
|
|
88,399 |
|
|
|
(27,548 |
) |
|
|
18,594 |
(7) |
|
|
316,053 |
|
_______________________
(1) Includes
annual director fees of $6,000 each for Mr. Clark and Mr.
Simpson. Mr. Parry was elected to Board of Directors in September
2007 and received $3,000 in fiscal 2008.
(2) The
estimated value of the stock options has been developed solely for purposes of
comparative disclosure in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC
and is consistent with the assumptions we used for Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards 123(R) reporting during fiscal 2008 and 2007 and do not
reflect risk of forfeiture or restrictions on transferability. The estimated
value has been determined by application of the Black-Scholes option-pricing
model, based upon the terms of the option grants and our stock price performance
history as of the date of the grant. See Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements in Item 8 for a complete description of the option plan and the key
assumptions used to determine estimated value of the stock
options.
(3) Pursuant
to their employment agreements, Mr. Clark and Mr. Simpson are entitled to
receive incentive compensation equal to two percent (2%) of the earnings before
income taxes or extraordinary items reported each year by the Company in its
Annual Report on Form 10-K. Mr. Parry is entitled to receive incentive
compensation equal to one and one-half percent (1.5%) of the earnings before
income taxes or extraordinary items. The amount for Mr. Parry is
prorated in fiscal 2007 to reflect a partial year of employment. This
compensation is paid out in June following the fiscal year
end.
(4) Represents
the aggregate change in the actuarial present value of Mr. Simpson’s accumulated
benefit under the retirement provisions of his employment
agreement.
(5) For
fiscal 2008, includes $4,650 for Company matching contributions under the Air T,
Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan, $12,654 for personal use of corporate airplane,
$4,800 for auto allowance and $3,839 for personal auto expenses. For
fiscal 2007, includes $3,506 for Company matching contributions under the Air T,
Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan, $15,802 for personal use of corporate airplane,
$4,800 for auto allowance and $1,382 for personal auto
expenses.
(6) For
fiscal 2008, includes, $3,110 for Company matching contributions under the Air
T, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan, $4,800 for auto allowance, $6,079 for personal
auto expenses, $2,000 for temporary housing allowance and $3,000 for
supplemental pay in lieu of directors’ fees. For fiscal 2007,
includes $2,000 for auto allowance, $2,690 for personal auto expenses, $5,500
temporary housing allowance, $2,750 for supplemental pay in lieu of directors’
fees and $6,948 for relocation expenses.
(7) For
fiscal 2008, includes $5,804 for Company matching contributions under the Air T,
Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan, $4,800 for auto allowance, $4,915 for personal auto
expenses and $3,405 for country club dues. For fiscal 2007, includes
$6,000 for Company matching contributions under the Air T, Inc. 401(k)
Retirement Plan, $4,800 for auto allowance, $4,794 for personal auto expenses
and $3,000 for country club dues.
(8) Mr.
Parry was hired by the Company in October 2006. Accordingly,
fiscal 2007 amounts do not reflect a full year of employment.
On August
15, 2006, the Company awarded Mr. Clark and Mr. Simpson options to acquire,
respectively, 50,000 and 30,000 shares of common stock. The exercise
price of these options is $8.29 per share. On December 6, 2006, the
Company awarded Mr. Parry options to acquire 15,000 shares of common
stock. The exercise price of these options is $9.30 per
share. These options become vested and exercisable in three equal
annual installments beginning with the date of grant, or if earlier, upon a
change of control of the Company or the date the employee terminates employment
due to death, disability or retirement. The options expire ten years
following the date of grant or, if earlier, one year from the date the executive
officer terminates employment due to death, disability or
retirement.
OUTSTANDING
EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR END TABLE
|
|
Option
Awards (1)
|
Name
|
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)
Exercisable
|
|
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)
Unexercisable
|
|
|
Option
Exercise Price ($)
|
|
Option
Expiration Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Walter
Clark
|
|
|
16,667 |
|
|
|
33,333 |
(2) |
|
$ |
8.29 |
|
08/15/16
|
John
Parry
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
(3) |
|
|
9.30 |
|
12/06/16
|
William
H. Simpson
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
(2) |
|
|
8.29 |
|
08/15/16
|
|
(1)
|
All
option awards were made under the Company’s 2005 Equity Incentive
Plan. Under the terms of the plan, option awards were made
without any corresponding transfer of consideration from the
recipients.
|
|
(2)
|
Stock
options vest at the rate of 33-1/3% per year with vesting dates of
08/15/07, 08/15/08 and 08/15/09.
|
|
(3)
|
Stock
options vest at the rate of 33-1/3% per year with vesting dates of
12/06/07, 12/06/08 and 12/06/09.
|
Executive
Officer Employment Agreements
Chief Executive
Officer. On July 8, 2005, the Company entered into an
employment agreement with Walter Clark to provide for his continued employment
as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The agreement has an
initial term of two years and renews for successive additional one-year periods
on each anniversary of the date of the agreement unless either the Company or
Mr. Clark gives notice of non-renewal within 90 days prior to that anniversary
date. The agreement provides for an annual base salary of $200,000,
subject to increases as subsequently determined by the Company’s Board of
Directors or its Compensation Committee. In addition, the agreement
provides for annual bonus compensation equal to 2% of the Company’s consolidated
earnings before income taxes and extraordinary items as reported by the Company
in its Annual Report on Form 10-K. Under the agreement, Mr. Clark is
entitled to participate in the Company’s general employee benefit plans, to
receive four weeks of vacation per year and to use corporate passenger aircraft
for personal use, with the requirement that he reimburse the Company for its
costs in connection with his personal use of the aircraft to the extent those
costs exceed $50,000 in any fiscal year.
Other Executive
Officers. Effective January 1, 1996, the Company entered into
an employment agreement with William H. Simpson, an Executive Vice President of
the Company. In the absence of any notice from one party to the other
to terminate automatic extensions of the term of the agreement, the agreement is
automatically extended each December 1 so that upon each automatic extension the
remaining term of the agreement is three years and four months. The
agreement provided for an initial annual base salary of $165,537, which was
subsequently increased and is subject to further increases as determined by the
Compensation Committee. In addition, the agreement provides for
annual bonus compensation equal to 2% of the Company’s consolidated earnings
before income taxes and extraordinary items as reported by the Company in its
Annual Report on Form 10-K. Under the agreement, Mr. Simpson is
entitled to participate in the Company’s general employee benefit plans, to
receive four weeks of vacation per year and to receive an annual automobile
allowance of $4,800.
The
agreement provides that upon the Mr. Simpson’s retirement he will be entitled to
receive an annual benefit equal to $75,000, reduced by three percent for each
full year that his retirement precedes the date he reaches age
65. The retirement benefits under this agreement are to be paid, at
Mr. Simpson’s election in the form of a single life annuity or a joint and
survivor annuity or a life annuity with a ten-year period certain. In
the alternative, Mr. Simpson may elect to receive the entire retirement benefit
in a lump sum payment equal to the then present value of the benefit based on
standard insurance annuity mortality tables and an interest rate equal to the
90-day average of the yield on ten-year U.S. Treasury Notes.
Retirement
benefits are to be paid commencing on his 65th birthday, provided that Mr.
Simpson may elect to receive benefits earlier on the later of his 62nd birthday
or the date on which his employment terminates, in which case benefits will be
reduced as described above, provided that notice of his termination of
employment is given at least one year prior to the termination of
employment. Any retirement benefits due under the employment
agreement are to be offset by any other retirement benefits that Mr. Simpson
receives under any other plan maintained by the Company. In the event
Mr. Simpson becomes totally disabled prior to retirement, he will be entitled to
receive retirement benefits calculated as described above.
In the
event of Mr. Simpson’s death before retirement, the agreement provides that the
Company will be required to pay an annual death benefit to his estate equal to
the single life annuity benefit such he would have received if he had terminated
employment on the later of his 65th birthday or the date of his death, payable
over ten years; with the amount reduced by five percent for each year his death
occurs prior to age 65.
Effective
October 6, 2006, the Company entered into an employment agreement with John
Parry, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, which has a three-year
term. The agreement provides for an annual base salary of $125,000,
subject to periodic review and increases as subsequently determined by the
Company. In addition, the agreement provides for annual bonus
compensation equal to 1.5% of the Company’s consolidated earnings before income
taxes as reported by the Company in its Annual Report on Form
10-K. Under the agreement, Mr. Parry is entitled to participate in
the Company’s general employee benefit plans, to receive four weeks of vacation
per year and to receive a monthly automobile allowance of $400 plus
reimbursement for fuel, repair expense and insurance for his primary automobile
upon presentation of documentation in accordance with the Company’s expense
reimbursement policies.
Severance and Change-in-control
Provisions. Mr. Clark’s employment agreement provides that the
Company may terminate Mr. Clark’s employment at any time and for any
reason. However, if the Company terminates Mr. Clark’s employment
other than for “disability” or “cause,” both as defined in the agreement, the
Company is obligated to continue to pay Mr. Clark his then-current base salary
for a period of two and one-half years, or at its election the Company can pay
this amount in one lump-sum payment at the net present value of those payments,
calculated by assuming an 8% discount rate. In addition, during that
two and one-half year period the Company must continue to provide to Mr. Clark
all health and welfare benefits as existed on the date of termination of Mr.
Clark’s employment or, in the event that continuation of health benefits are not
permitted under the Company’s health insurance policies, to pay for COBRA health
insurance coverage. Mr. Clark is entitled to terminate his employment
under the agreement at any time and for any reason. However,
following a “change in control” of the Company, as defined in the agreement, if
Mr. Clark terminates his employment for “good reason,” which is defined in the
agreement and includes a substantial reduction in responsibilities, relocation,
increased travel requirements and adverse changes in annual or long-term
incentive compensation plans, he is entitled to receive the same base salary
payments and continued health and welfare benefits as described
above. The agreement provides that these base salary payments and
continued health and welfare benefits are Mr. Clark’s sole remedy in connection
with a termination of his employment.
Mr.
Simpson’s employment agreement provides that if the Company terminates his
employment other than for “cause” (as defined in the agreement), he will be
entitled to receive a lump sum cash payment equal to the amount of base salary
payable for the remaining term of the agreement (at the then current rate) plus
one-half of the maximum incentive bonus compensation that would be payable if he
continued his employment through the date of the expiration of the agreement
(assuming for such purposes that the amount of incentive bonus compensation
would be the same in the remaining period under the agreement as was paid for
the most recent year prior to termination of employment). The
agreement further provides that if any payment on termination of employment
would not be deductible by the Company under Section 280G(b)(2) of the Internal
Revenue Code, the amount of such payment would be reduced to the largest amount
that would be fully deductible by the Company. Mr. Simpson’s
employment agreement automatically renews for a one-year term each March 31
unless he or the Company’s Board of Directors gives notice of termination by
December 1 of the prior year.
Mr.
Parry’s employment agreement provides that if the Company terminates Mr. Parry’s
employment other than for “cause” (as defined in the agreement), Mr. Parry is
entitled to receive his base salary for a period of twelve months and a
pro-rated incentive bonus for that fiscal year.
401(k) Plan. The
Company sponsors the Air T, Inc. 401(k) Plan (the “Plan”), a tax-qualified
Internal Revenue Code Section 401(k) retirement savings plan, for the benefit of
substantially all of its employees, including its executive
officers. The Plan encourages saving for retirement by enabling
participants to make contributions on a pre-tax basis and to defer taxation on
earnings on funds contributed to the Plan. The Company makes matching
contributions to the Plan.
CERTAIN
TRANSACTIONS
The
Company leases its corporate and operating facilities at the Little Mountain,
North Carolina airport from Little Mountain Airport Associates, Inc. (“Airport
Associates”), a corporation whose stock is owned by William H. Simpson, the
estate of David Clark three unaffiliated third parties and two former executive
officers. On June 16, 2006, the Company and Airport Associates
entered into an agreement
to continue the lease of these facilities until May 31, 2008 at a monthly rental
payment of $12,737. The Company paid aggregate rental payments of
$152,844 to Airport Associates pursuant to such lease during the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2008. The lease agreement includes an option
permitting the Company to renew the lease for an additional two-year period,
with the monthly rental payment to be adjusted to reflect the Consumer Price
Index (CPI) change from June 1, 2006 to April 1, 2008. The Company
exercised the two-year option on April 16, 2008, with the new monthly
rental amount of $13,437. The lease agreement provides that the
Company shall be responsible for maintenance of the leased facilities and for
utilities, ad valorem taxes and insurance. The Company believes that
the terms of such leases are no less favorable to the Company than would be
available from an independent third party.
PROPOSAL
2 – PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware
General Corporation Law permits a Delaware corporation to include in its
certificate of incorporation a provision eliminating or limiting the personal
liability of a director to a corporation or its stockholders for monetary
damages resulting from certain breaches of the director's fiduciary duties to
the corporation. The Board of Directors has adopted a resolution to
amend the Company’s certificate of incorporation to provide for the elimination
of personal liability of a director to the Company and its stockholders for
monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by law. To be
effective, this amendment to the certificate of incorporation must be approved
by the stockholders in the manner described in this proxy
statement. The Board of Directors is requesting stockholder approval
of this amendment. The amendment would add Article 9 to the Company’s
certificate of incorporation, which Article 9 is set forth in Annex C to this
proxy statement.
Background
and Reasons for the Proposed Amendment
In order for a corporation to function
properly, the directors of the corporation must be able to exercise independent
business judgment without the fear of being second-guessed by courts and held
liable for mistakes of judgment. Directors' decisions are protected
from being second-guessed by the so-called "business judgment
rule." The business judgment rule is a presumption that directors
acted in what they determined in good faith, after appropriate consideration, to
be in the best interests of the corporation and its
stockholders. Under the business judgment rule, a court will not hold
directors liable for mistakes of judgment unless the presumption is rebutted, as
long as the directors did not engage in self-dealing or otherwise have conflicts
of interest. Thus, the business judgment rule protects directors from
personal liability to the corporation and its stockholders when their business
decisions are subsequently challenged in court.
However, the business judgment rule
alone is often not sufficient due to the too frequent occurrence of unwarranted
litigation against corporate directors, the expense of defending or settling
lawsuits, and the inevitable uncertainties in applying the business judgment
rule to particular facts and circumstances. As a result, corporations
such as the Company, extend indemnity to, and provide insurance for, directors
to protect them from litigation expenses and unforeseen
liabilities.
As additional protection against such
litigation expenses and unforeseen liabilities, the Delaware General Corporation
Law allows Delaware corporations to eliminate or limit directors' personal
monetary liability for certain breaches of fiduciary duty by including such a
provision in the corporation’s certificate of incorporation. Under
Delaware law, such a provision could provide that a corporation's directors are
not personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary
damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for:
·
|
any
breach of the directors' duty of loyalty to the corporation or its
stockholders;
|
·
|
acts
or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or
a knowing violation of law;
|
·
|
any
transaction from which the directors derive an improper personal benefit;
or
|
·
|
unlawful
dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions under Section 174
of the Delaware General Corporation
Law.
|
The risk of investigations, claims,
actions, suits or proceedings (including derivative actions) seeking to impose
liability on directors of corporations is not uncommon. In this
environment, an individual may conclude that the potential exposure to the costs
and risks of proceedings in which the individual may become involved as a
director exceed any benefit to the individual from serving as a
director. The Board of Directors believes that, for this reason,
provisions similar to the proposed amendment are routinely included in the
certificate of incorporation of publicly traded Delaware
corporations. The Board of Directors believes that the adoption of
the proposed amendment would reduce the costs and risks related to serving as a
director and increase the Company's ability to continue to attract and retain
qualified individuals to serve as directors.
Effect
of Proposed Amendment
The proposed amendment would protect
the Company's directors against personal liability to the Company and its
stockholders for monetary damages for certain breaches of fiduciary
duty. However, as indicated above, directors would remain liable for
breaches of their duty of loyalty to the Company and its stockholders, for acts
or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of law, and for transactions from which a director derives an
improper personal benefit. Also, the proposed amendment would not absolve
directors of liability under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law, which imposes liability on directors for unlawful dividends or unlawful
stock repurchases or redemptions. Finally, the proposed amendment
would not eliminate or limit the liability of directors arising in causes of
action brought under federal laws, including federal securities
laws.
While the proposed amendment would
protect directors from awards of monetary damages for certain breaches of
fiduciary duty, it would not eliminate a director's fiduciary
duty. In other words, a director is still required to exercise
appropriate diligence, act in good faith and otherwise comply with the standards
of Delaware corporation law in carrying out the director's
duties. Accordingly, the proposed amendment would have no effect on
the availability of equitable remedies such as an injunction or rescission based
on a director's breach of fiduciary duty. Also, under Section
102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, adoption of the proposed
amendment would not eliminate or limit the liability of a director for any act
or omission occurring prior to the amendment becoming effective, so directors
would remain potentially liable for monetary damages in connection with any acts
or omissions occurring prior to the effectiveness of the amendment.
The proposed amendment would provide
that any repeal or modification of the provisions added to the certificate of
incorporation by the amendment would be prospective only and would not adversely
affect any limitation on the personal liability of a director of the Company
existing at the time of any such repeal or modification.
If approved, the amendment will become
effective upon the filing of a certificate of amendment to the Company’s
certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of
Delaware. The approval and effectiveness of the amendment would not
entitle stockholders to rights of dissent and appraisal under the Delaware
General Corporation Law.
Vote
Required to Approve the Amendment
Approval of the amendment requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote at the
meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect
as votes against this proposal.
Recommendation
The
directors acknowledge that they and future directors would personally benefit
from approval of the amendment. However, for the reasons given in the
section titled "Background and Reasons for Proposed Amendment," the Board of Directors recommends a
vote “FOR” the proposal
to amend the Company’s certificate of incorporation to add Article 9 thereto as
set forth in Annex C to this proxy statement (Item 2 on the enclosed proxy
card).
Because
approval of the proposed amendment requires the affirmative vote of a majority
of the shares entitled to vote at the meeting, and abstentions and broker
non-votes will have the same effect as votes against this proposal, your vote is
important.
PROPOSAL
3 -- RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors recommends that
the stockholders ratify the appointment of Dixon Hughes PLLC to serve as the
independent registered public accountants for the Company and its subsidiary
corporations for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009. If the
stockholders do not ratify this appointment, the Audit Committee will consider
other independent registered public accountants.
Dixon
Hughes PLLC has served as the independent registered public accountants for the
Company since November 17, 2005. Representatives of Dixon Hughes PLLC
are expected to be present at the annual meeting and will have an opportunity to
make a statement and will be available to respond to appropriate
questions.
The Board of Directors recommends a
vote “FOR” the proposal
to ratify the selection of Dixon Hughes PLLC as independent auditors for the
fiscal year ending March 31, 2009 (Item 3 on the enclosed proxy
card).
Audit
Committee Pre-approval of Auditor Engagements
It is the
policy of the Audit Committee that all audit and permitted non-audit services
provided to the Company by its independent registered public accountants are
approved by the Audit Committee in advance. In addition, it is the
Company’s practice that any invoices not covered by the annual engagement letter
that are subsequently submitted by its independent registered public accountants
are provided to the Chairman of the Audit Committee for approval prior to
payment. The independent auditor, management and the Audit Committee
must meet on at least an annual basis to review the plans and scope of the audit
and the proposed fees of the independent auditor.
Audit
Fees
Fees
billed to the Company by its independent registered public accountant, Dixon
Hughes PLLC, for each of the past two fiscal years were as follows:
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit
Fees
(1)
|
|
$ |
150,000 |
|
|
$ |
136,050 |
|
Audit
Related Fees
(2)
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
43,000 |
|
Tax
Fees
(3)
|
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
|
73,620 |
|
All
Other
Fees
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
_____________________
(1)
|
Audit
fees consist of fees incurred for professional services rendered for the
audit of our annual financial statements and review of the quarterly
financial statements that are provided by Dixon Hughes PLLC in connection
with regulatory filings or
engagements.
|
(2)
|
Audit-related
fees relate to professional services rendered that are related to the
performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not
reported under “Audit Fees.” Audit-related fees also include
fees associated with the audit of the Company’s employee benefit
plan.
|
(3)
|
Tax
fees consist of professional services for tax compliance, tax advice and
tax planning.
|
Report
of the Audit Committee
The Audit
Committee reviews the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the
Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the
financial statements and the reporting process. The Company’s
independent registered public accountants are responsible for expressing an
opinion on the conformity of the Company’s audited financial statements to
generally accepted accounting principles.
In this
context, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management and the
independent registered public accountants the audited financial statements as of
and for the year ended March 31, 2008. The Audit Committee has
discussed with the independent registered public accountants the matters
required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61
(Communication with Audit Committees). In addition, the Audit
Committee has received from the independent registered public accountants the
written disclosures and letter required by Independence Standards Board
No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees) and discussed with
them their independence from the Company and its management. The
Audit Committee also has considered whether the independent registered public
accountants provision of non-audit services to
the Company is compatible with their independence.
Based on
the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended
to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in
the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2008 for
filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Claude S.
Abernethy, Jr., Chair
Sam
Chesnutt
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE
TO EACH STOCKHOLDER OF THE COMPANY, AND TO EACH PERSON REPRESENTING THAT AS OF
THE RECORD DATE FOR THE MEETING HE OR SHE WAS A BENEFICIAL OWNER OF SHARES
ENTITLED TO BE VOTED AT THE MEETING, IF SOLICITED BY WRITTEN REQUEST, A COPY OF
THE COMPANY’S 2008 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION, INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. SUCH WRITTEN REQUESTS
SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO AIR T, INC., 3524 AIRPORT ROAD, MAIDEN, NORTH CAROLINA
28650, ATTENTION: MR. JOHN PARRY, SECRETARY.
STOCKHOLDER
COMMUNICATIONS
The Board
of Directors has established a process for stockholders and other interested
parties to communicate with the Board of Directors or a particular
director. Such individual may send a letter to Air T, Inc.,
Attention: Corporate Secretary, 3524 Airport Road, Maiden, North Carolina 28650.
The mailing envelope should contain a clear notation indicating that the
enclosed letter is a “Board Communication” or “Director
Communication.” All such letters should state whether the intended
recipients are all members of the Board or just certain specified individual
directors. The Secretary of the Company will circulate the communications (with
the exception of commercial solicitations) to the appropriate director or
directors. Communications marked “Confidential” will be forwarded
unopened.
STOCKHOLDER
PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS FOR 2009 MEETING
Proposals by stockholders for
nominations for directors or other matters intended to be presented at the 2009
annual meeting of stockholders must be received by the Company’s Corporate
Secretary no later than April 16, 2009 in order to be included in the proxy
statement and on the proxy card that will be solicited by the Board of Directors
in connection with that meeting. The inclusion of any proposal will
be subject to applicable rules of the SEC. In addition, the Company’s
bylaws establish an advance notice requirement for any proposal of business to
be considered at an annual meeting of stockholders, including the nomination of
any person for election as director. In general, written notice must
be received by the Company’s Corporate Secretary at the Company’s principal
executive office, 3524 Airport Road, Maiden, North Carolina 28650, not less than
90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding
year’s annual meeting and must contain specified information concerning the
matter to be brought before such meeting and concerning the stockholder
proposing such a matter. Accordingly, to be considered at the 2008
annual meeting of stockholders, proposals must be received by the Corporate
Secretary no earlier than May 28, 2009 and no later than June 27,
2009. Any waiver by the Company of these requirements with respect to
the submission of a particular stockholder proposal shall not constitute a
waiver with respect to the submission of any other stockholder proposal nor
shall it obligate the Company to waive these requirements with respect to future
submissions of the stockholder proposal or any other stockholder
proposal. Any stockholder desiring a copy of the Company’s bylaws
will be furnished one without charge upon written request to the Corporate
Secretary at 3524 Airport Road, Maiden, North Carolina 28650.
Individuals
appointed as proxies in connection with the annual meeting of stockholders to be
held in 2009 will have discretion to vote on any proposal presented at the
meeting by a stockholder unless the stockholder gives the Company written notice
of the proposal no later than June 27, 2009.
OTHER
MATTERS
The Board of Directors knows of no
other matters that may be presented at the meeting.
AIR T,
INC.
August
14, 2008
Annex
A
AIR
T, INC.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE CHARTER
(RESTATED)
There shall be a committee of the Board
of Directors to be known as the audit committee.
Role
and independence
The audit
committee of the board of directors assists the board in fulfilling its
responsibility for oversight of:
(1)
|
the
quality and integrity of the accounting, auditing and reporting practices
of the corporation;
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(2)
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the
audits of the corporation’s financial statements and the independent
auditor’s qualifications, independence and
performance;
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(3)
|
the
corporation’s systems of internal control over financial
reporting;
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(4)
|
the
corporation’s compliance with legal and regulatory
requirements;
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(5)
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the
performance of the corporation’s internal audit
function;
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and such
other duties as directed by the board. The membership of the
committee shall consist of at least three directors who are generally
knowledgeable in financial and auditing matters, and including at least one
member who is an “audit committee financial expert” under Securities Exchange
Commission regulations if one or more members of the board would qualify as an
“audit committee financial expert” and would be eligible to serve on the audit
committee. Each member shall be free of any relationship that, in the
opinion of the board, would interfere with his or her individual exercise of
independent judgment and shall meet the independence requirements of the NASDAQ
Stock Market applicable to membership on the audit committee.
The
committee is expected to maintain free and open communication (including regular
private executive sessions) with the independent auditor, the internal auditors
and the management of the corporation and to provide each group with full access
to the committee (and the board) to report on any and all appropriate
matters. In discharging its oversight role, the committee is
empowered to investigate any matter brought to its attention, with full power to
retain outside counsel or other experts for this purpose and to have the
corporation pay all reasonable fees of such advisors.
Responsibilities
The audit
committee’s primary responsibilities include:
·
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Selecting
and retaining the independent accounting firm that audits the financial
statements of the corporation and approving the scope of the proposed
audit for each fiscal year and the fees and other compensation to be paid
therefor. In so doing, the committee will discuss and consider
the auditor’s written affirmation that the auditor is in fact independent
and the nature and rigor of the audit process and receive and review all
reports from management and the current auditor relevant to these
determinations.
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·
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Reviewing
and periodically discussing with the independent auditor all significant
relationships the firm and members of the engagement team have with the
corporation and others that may affect the auditor’s
independence.
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·
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Preapproving
all auditing services and permitted non-audit services (including the fees
and terms thereof) to be performed for the corporation by its independent
auditor, subject to such exceptions for non-audit services as permitted by
applicable laws and regulations. The committee may form and
delegate authority to subcommittees consisting of one or more members when
appropriate, including the authority to grant preapprovals of audit and
permitted non-audit services, provided that decisions of such subcommittee
to grant preapprovals shall be presented to the full committee at its next
scheduled meeting.
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·
|
Providing
guidance and oversight to the internal audit function of the corporation,
including review of the organization, budget, staffing, plans and results
of such activity.
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·
|
Reviewing
financial statements (including quarterly reports) with management and the
independent auditor. It is anticipated that these discussions
will include quality of earnings, review of reserves and accruals,
consideration of the suitability of accounting principles, review of
highly judgmental areas, audit adjustments (whether or not recorded) and
such other inquiries as may be appropriate. Annually, after
satisfactory review by the committee, the company’s audited financial
statements will be approved by the board of directors for inclusion in the
annual report of Form 10-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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·
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Reviewing
with management Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations to be included in the corporation’s
annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as
applicable.
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·
|
Discussing
with management and the auditors the quality and adequacy of the company’s
internal controls over financial reporting and reporting
processes.
|
·
|
Discussing
with the independent auditor its judgments about the quality and
appropriateness of the Corporation’s accounting principles as applied in
its financial reporting.
|
·
|
Reviewing
and discussing with management and the independent auditor, as
appropriate, earnings press releases, and financial information and
earnings guidance provided by the Corporation to analysts and rating
agencies.
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·
|
Discussing
with management, the internal auditors and the independent auditor
policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, significant
risks or exposures of the corporation and the steps that have been taken
to minimize such risks. It is anticipated that such discussions
will include the status of pending litigation, taxation matters and other
areas of oversight of the legal and compliance area as may be
appropriate.
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·
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Establishing
procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received
by the corporation regarding accounting, internal control over financial
reporting or auditing matters, and the confidential, anonymous submission
by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing
matters.
|
·
|
Approving
any letter to be included in the Corporation’s annual report or proxy
statement that describes the Committee’s composition and responsibilities
and how they were discharged.
|
·
|
Reporting
on audit committee activities to the full board and issuance annually of a
summary report (including appropriate oversight conclusion) suitable for
submission to the shareholders.
|
·
|
Reviewing
any “related party transactions,” as defined by applicable NASDAQ rules,
and determining whether to ratify or approve such
transactions.
|
·
|
Performing
any other activities consistent with this charter, the corporation’s
bylaws and governing law that the committee or the board may deem
necessary or appropriate.
|
·
|
Conducting
an annual review of this charter and updating it as
appropriate.
|
Revised
and restated as of August 3, 2004.
Annex
B
AIR
T, INC.
CHARTER
OF
THE
NOMINATING
COMMITTEE
OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The
primary function of the Nominating Committee (the “Committee”) is to
assist the Corporation’s Board of Directors in identifying qualified individuals
to become Board members, in determining the composition of the Board and its
committees, and in monitoring a process to assess Board and Board committee
effectiveness.
The
Committee shall be comprised of three or more directors, appointed by the Board,
who meet the independence requirements of applicable regulations, NASDAQ rules
and such other criteria as the Board may establish.
Unless
the Board appoints a Chair of the Committee, the members of the Committee may
designate a Chair by majority vote of the full Committee
membership.
The
Committee shall meet as frequently as circumstances dictate. The
Committee may ask members of management or others to attend any meeting and
provide information or advice as needed.
To
fulfill its responsibilities, the Committee shall:
(1) Make
recommendations to the Board regarding the size and composition of the Board and
the criteria for the selection of candidates for membership on the
Board.
(2) Oversee
the search for individuals qualified to become members of the Board, including
by evaluating persons suggested by stockholders or others, and supervise
appropriate inquiries into the backgrounds and qualifications of possible
candidates.
(3) Recommend
to the Board director nominees to be presented for stockholder approval at each
annual meeting of stockholders and to fill any vacancies between annual
meetings.
(4) Monitor
and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the functions of the
various committees of the Board.
(5) Recommend
to the Board the membership of the various Board committees.
(6) Develop
and recommend to the Board for its approval an annual self-evaluation process
for the Board and each of its committees, and oversee the annual
self-evaluations.
(7) Periodically
review the frequency, structure and content of Board meetings and recommend
changes to the Board as appropriate.
V. PROCESSES
After each Committee meeting, the
Committee shall report its actions and recommendations to the
Board.
The
Committee shall conduct and present to the Board an annual review of its
performance. In addition, the Committee shall review this Charter
periodically and recommend any proposed revisions to the Board for its
approval.
The
Committee shall have the authority to delegate any of its responsibilities to
subcommittees. The Committee shall also have the authority to engage
a search firm to assist in identifying director candidates and to engage outside
counsel and other advisors, in each case as it deems appropriate, and to set the
terms (including fees) of all such engagements. The Corporation shall
provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, for paying fees
to outside advisors engaged by the Committee.
Annex
C
Proposed
Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Air T, Inc.
Article 9 would be added to the
certificate of incorporation to read as follows:
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9.
|
To
the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of
the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation, its
stockholders or otherwise for monetary damage for breach of his or her
duty as a director. Any repeal or modification of this Article
shall be prospective only and shall not adversely affect any limitation on
the personal liability of a director of the corporation existing at the
time of such repeal or
modification.
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[Intentionally
left blank.]
[Missing Graphic Reference]
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AIR T,
INC.
NOTICE OF
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE
HELD SEPTEMBER 25, 2008
AND
PROXY
STATEMENT
AUGUST
14, 2008
Front
AIR T,
INC.
Revocable Proxy ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
to be held on
September 25, 2008
This proxy is
solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors.
The
undersigned hereby appoints Walter Clark, John Parry and Erlene Geddes as
Proxies, each with the power to appoint a substitute, and hereby authorizes them
to represent and to vote, as designated below, all the shares of common stock of
Air T, Inc. (the “Company”) held on record by the undersigned on August 1,
2008, at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held on September 25, 2008 or
any adjournment thereof.
1. ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS for terms expiring in 2009
______FOR all nominees listed
below ______ WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY
(except as marked to the contrary
below) to
vote for all nominees listed below
(INSTRUCTION: To
withhold authority to vote for any nominee(s) strike a line through the name(s)
in the list below.)
Walter
Clark John
Parry William
H.
Simpson Claude
S. Abernethy, Jr.
Sam
Chesnutt
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Allison
T. Clark
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George
C. Prill
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Dennis
A. Wicker
|
J.
Bradley Wilson
|
2.
|
PROPOSAL
TO AMEND THE COMPANY’S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION as set forth in Annex
C to the Company’s Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement dated August 14,
2008
|
__________FOR
|
__________AGAINST
|
_________ABSTAIN
|
3.
|
PROPOSAL
TO RATIFY THE SELECTION OF DIXON HUGHES PLLC as the Company’s independent
registered public accountants
|
__________FOR
|
__________AGAINST
|
_________ABSTAIN
|
4. In
their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as
may properly come before the meeting.
Please
sign and date on the reverse side and return in the enclosed postage-prepaid
envelope.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR EACH OF THE PROPOSALS AND THIS PROXY
WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE DIRECTORS LISTED ON THE OPPOSITE
SIDE OF THIS PROXY, FOR THE PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND FOR THE PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE SELECTION OF
DIXON HUGHES PLLC UNLESS THE STOCKHOLDER DIRECTS OTHERWISE, IN WHICH CASE IT
WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED.
The
undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement
dated August 14, 2008, and revokes all proxies heretofore given by the
undersigned.
Please
sign exactly as name appears below. When shares are held by joint
tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, as executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as
such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by
President or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign
in partnership name by authorized person.
DATED:
,
2008
Signature
Signature if held jointly
|
PLEASE
MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED
POSTAGE-PREPAID ENVELOPE
|