UNITED STATES
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Winnebago Industries, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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Notice of Annual Meeting
of Shareholders
to be held January 9, 2007
To the Shareholders of
Winnebago Industries, Inc.
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Winnebago Industries, Inc. will be held on Tuesday, January 9, 2007, at 4:00 p.m., Central Standard Time, in Winnebago Industries South Office Complex Theater, 605 West Crystal Lake Road, Forest City, Iowa, for the following purposes:
1. | to elect two Class I directors to hold office for three-year terms; and | |
2. | to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof. |
The Board of Directors of the Company has fixed the close of business on October 31, 2006, as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at this meeting and at any and all adjournments thereof.
By Order of the Board of Directors
RAYMOND M. BEEBE
Secretary
Forest City, Iowa
November 10, 2006
Your Vote Is Important
Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting in person, please date, sign and return the proxy card in the enclosed envelope to appoint your proxy to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting, or you may do so electronically via the Internet or telephone. A prompt response is helpful and your cooperation is appreciated.
WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.
PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of Winnebago Industries, Inc., an Iowa corporation (the Company ), P.O. Box 152, Forest City, Iowa 50436, of proxies to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held in the Companys South Office Complex Theater, 605 West Crystal Lake Road, Forest City, Iowa on January 9, 2007, at 4:00 p.m., Central Standard Time, and at any and all adjournments thereof (the Annual Meeting or the Meeting). This Proxy Statement was first mailed to shareholders on or about November 10, 2006.
Only holders of Common Stock of record at the close of business on October 31, 2006 will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. At such date, the Company had outstanding 31,364,089 shares of Common Stock, par value $.50 per share (Common Stock). Each share of Common Stock entitles the holder to one vote upon each matter to be voted upon at the meeting. A majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock represented in person or by proxy will constitute a quorum for the Annual Meeting.
If you have returned valid proxy instructions or attend the Meeting in person, your Common Stock will be counted for the purpose of determining whether there is a quorum.
If you hold shares in your own name, by submitting a proxy you may either vote for or withhold authority to vote for each nominee for the Board of Directors. If you withhold authority to vote with respect to any nominee, your shares will still be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum but will have no effect on the election of that nominee. If you sign and submit your proxy card without voting instructions, your shares will be voted for each director nominee.
If you hold shares through a broker, follow the voting instructions provided by your broker. If you want to vote in person, a legal proxy must be obtained from your broker and brought to the Meeting. If you do not submit voting instructions to your broker, generally your broker is permitted to vote your shares in the election of directors in its discretion.
Directors must be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the Meeting. This means that the two nominees receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected as directors. Votes withheld from any nominee have no legal effect on the election of directors due to the fact that such elections are by a plurality of the votes cast.
The Company is not now aware of any matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting other than the election of the two nominees described in this Proxy Statement. If any matters not described in this Proxy Statement are properly presented at the Meeting, the proxies will use their personal judgment to determine how to vote your shares. If the Meeting is adjourned, the proxies can vote your Common Stock on the new Meeting date as well, unless you have revoked your proxy instructions.
A form of proxy is enclosed for use at the Annual Meeting. Before the Meeting, you can appoint a proxy to vote your shares of Common Stock (i) by completing and signing the enclosed proxy card and mailing it in time to be received before the Annual Meeting, (ii) by using the Internet (http://www.eproxy.com/wgo/) or (iii) by calling the toll-free telephone number (1-800-560-1965).
The electronic proxy appointment procedures are designed to confirm your identity and to allow you to give your proxy your voting instructions. If you wish to vote by the Internet or telephone, please follow the enclosed instructions.
If the enclosed proxy card is executed and returned, it may nevertheless be revoked at any time insofar as it has not been exercised. A person may revoke a proxy electronically by entering a new vote via the Internet or by telephone or the enclosed proxy may be revoked by (i) giving written notice to the
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Secretary of the Company (the Secretary), (ii) subsequently granting a later-dated proxy or (iii) attending the Meeting and voting in person. You may also be represented by another person at the Meeting by executing a proper proxy designating that person. Unless revoked, the shares represented by validly executed proxies will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the instructions indicated thereon. To revoke a proxy by telephone or the Internet, you must do so by 12:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on January 8, 2007 (following the directions on the enclosed instructions). Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked unless you specifically so request.
If no instructions are indicated on a proxy that is signed and mailed to the Company, it will be voted: (i) for the election of the two nominees for director named below (Item 1) and (ii) in the discretion of the named proxies upon such other matters as may properly come before the Meeting.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
The following table contains information with respect to the ownership of the Common Stock by each person known to the Company who is the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the outstanding Common Stock.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Shares of Common Stock Owned Beneficially at October 31, 2006 |
Percent of Common Stock (%)(1) | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Royce & Associates, LLC 1414 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10019 |
4,437,080 | (2) | 14.1 | |||||||
EARNEST Partners, LLC 75 Fourteenth Street, Suite 2300 Atlanta, Georgia 30309 |
3,839,529 | (3) | 12.2 | |||||||
FMR Corp. 82 Devonshire Street Boston, Massachusetts 02109 |
3,556,100 | (4) | 11.3 | |||||||
Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Inc. 2200 Ross Avenue, 31st Floor Dallas, Texas 75201 |
2,571,060 | (5) | 8.2 | |||||||
Vanguard Whitehall Funds Vanguard Selected Value Fund 100 Vanguard Boulevard Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355 |
2,205,700 | (6) | 7.0 | |||||||
Hanson Capital Partners, L.L.C. c/o Mr. John V. Hanson 7019 SE Harbor Circle Stuart, Florida 34996 |
2,003,012 | (7) | 6.4 | |||||||
Delaware Management Holdings 2005 Market Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 |
1,776,047 | (8) | 5.7 |
(1) | Based on 31,364,089 outstanding shares of Common Stock on October 31, 2006. |
(2) | The number of shares owned as of December 31, 2005 according to Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC ) on February 1, 2006. Royce & Associates, LLC, an investment adviser, is the beneficial owner of all 4,437,080 shares of Common Stock and has sole voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to all shares. The information contained in this footnote is derived from information contained in the Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13G filed by Royce & Associates, LLC with the SEC referred to herein. |
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(3) | The number of shares owned as of December 31, 2005 according to Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 8, 2006. EARNEST Partners, LLC, an investment adviser, is the beneficial owner of all 3,839,529 shares of Common Stock and has sole voting power, shared voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to 1,169,556 shares, 1,133,573 shares and 3,839,529 shares, respectively. The information contained in this footnote is derived from information contained in the Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 13G filed by EARNEST Partners, LLC with the SEC referred to herein. |
(4) | The number of shares owned as of July 31, 2006 according to the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on August 10, 2006. Edward C. Johnson III serves as Chairman of FMR Corp. Members of the Edward C. Johnson III family own shares of common stock representing approximately 49% of the voting power of FMR Corp. Mr. Johnson and members of his family may be deemed to form a controlling group with respect to the common voting stock of FMR Corp. |
Of these 3,556,100 shares of Common Stock: |
| 3,496,000 are beneficially owned by Fidelity Management & Research Company, an investment adviser and a wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR Corp. Mr. Johnson and FMR Corp., through its control of Fidelity Management & Research Company, each has sole dispositive power with respect to these shares. |
| 60,100 are beneficially owned by Fidelity Management Trust Company, a bank and a wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR Corp. Mr. Johnson and FMR Corp., through its control of Fidelity Management Trust Company, each has sole voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to these shares. |
The information contained in this footnote is derived from information contained in the Schedule 13G filed by FMR Corp. with the SEC referred to herein. |
(5) | The number of shares owned as of December 31, 2005 according to the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 7, 2006. Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Inc., an investment adviser, is the beneficial owner of all 2,571,060 shares of Common Stock and has sole voting power, shared voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to 312,860 shares, 2,258,200 shares and 2,571,060 shares, respectively. The information contained in this footnote is derived from information contained in the Schedule 13G filed by Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Inc. with the SEC referred to herein. |
(6) | The number of shares owned as of December 31, 2005 according to the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 13, 2006. Vanguard Whitehall FundsVanguard Selected Value Fund is the beneficial owner of all 2,205,700 shares of Common Stock and has sole voting power with respect to all shares. The information contained in this footnote is derived from information contained in the Schedule 13G filed by Vanguard Whitehall FundsVanguard Selected Value Fund with the SEC referred to herein. |
(7) | The number of shares owned according to Amendment No. 51 to Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on November 9, 2004. Hanson Capital Partners, L.L.C. (HCP ) is a Delaware limited liability company whose members are the Luise V. Hanson Qualified Terminable Interest Property Marital Deduction Trust (the QTIP Trust ), which has a 34.8% membership interest in HCP, and the Luise V. Hanson Revocable Trust, dated September 22, 1984 (the Revocable Trust ), which has a 64.6% membership interest in HCP. Additionally, John V. Hanson, Mary Joan Boman (the sister of John V. Hanson) and Paul D. Hanson (the brother of John V. Hanson) each have, in their individual capacity, a .2% membership interest in HCP. John V. Hanson (a director of the Company), Mary Joan Boman and Paul D. Hanson (each an Individual Trustee and collectively, the Individual Trustees ) and Bessemer Trust Company, N.A. (the Corporate Trustee ) act as co-trustees under the QTIP Trust and the Revocable Trust. By virtue of the Revocable Trusts 64.6% membership interest in HCP, a majority of the Individual Trustees together with the Corporate Trustee have sole voting power with respect to the 2,003,012 shares of Common Stock of which HCP is the beneficial owner. A majority of the Individual Trustees together with the Corporate Trustee have sole dispositive power with respect to the 2,003,012 shares of Common Stock of which HCP is the beneficial owner, except that disposition of all or substantially all of those shares requires the unanimous approval of all members of HCP. The information contained in this footnote is derived from information contained in the Amendment No. 51 to Schedule 13D filed by HCP with the SEC referred to herein. |
(8) | The number of shares owned as of December 31, 2005 according to the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 9, 2006. Delaware Management Holdings, a parent holding company or control person, is the beneficial owner of all 1,776,047 shares of Common Stock and has sole voting power, shared voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to 1,766,558 shares, 336 shares and 1,776,047 shares, respectively. The information contained in this footnote is derived from information contained in the Schedule 13G filed by Delaware Management Holdings with the SEC referred to herein. |
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The following table contains information with respect to the ownership of Common Stock by (i) each director, (ii) each nominee for election as a director, (iii) each executive officer listed in the Summary Compensation Table and (iv) the group named below.
Name | Shares of Common Stock Owned Beneficially at October 31, 2006(1) |
Percent of Common Stock (%)(2) |
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
||||||||
Irvin E. Aal | 27,542 | (3)(4) | (5) | |||||||
Edwin F. Barker | 126,901 | (3) | (5) | |||||||
Raymond M. Beebe | 35,599 | (3) | (5) | |||||||
Jerry N. Currie | 31,000 | (3) | (5) | |||||||
Joseph W. England | 46,534 | (3)(4) | (5) | |||||||
Lawrence A. Erickson | 12,510 | (3)(4) | (5) | |||||||
John V. Hanson | 48,260 | (3)(6) | (5) | |||||||
John E. Herlitz | 12,510 | (3)(4) | (5) | |||||||
Bruce D. Hertzke | 376,959 | (3) | 1.2 | |||||||
Gerald C. Kitch | 60,736 | (3)(4) | (5) | |||||||
William J. OLeary | 38,999 | (3) | (5) | |||||||
Robert J. Olson | 52,249 | (3) | (5) | |||||||
Directors and officers as a group (18 persons) |
1,007,446 | (3)(4) | 3.1 |
(1) | Includes shares held jointly with or by spouse and shares held as custodian, beneficial ownership of which is disclaimed. |
(2) | Based on 31,364,089 outstanding shares of Common Stock on October 31, 2006, together with shares representing the 42,832 Winnebago Stock Units held by directors under the Companys Directors Deferred Compensation Plan as of October 31, 2006 and 773,132 shares that directors and officers as a group have the right to acquire within 60 days of October 31, 2006 through the exercise of stock options. |
(3) | Includes 24,000, 82,193, 27,499, 28,000, 36,000, 10,000, 48,000, 10,000, 315,417, 28,000, 27,499, 36,245 and 773,132 shares, which Messrs. Aal, Barker, Beebe, Currie, England, Erickson, Hanson, Herlitz, Hertzke, Kitch, OLeary, Olson and the directors and officers as a group, respectively, have the right to acquire within 60 days of October 31, 2006 through the exercise of stock options. |
(4) | Includes 3,542, 10,534, 2,510, 2,510 and 23,736 Winnebago Stock Units, held by Messrs. Aal, England, Erickson, Herlitz and Kitch, respectively, under the Companys Directors Deferred Compensation Plan as of October 31, 2006. Pursuant to an election made by the reporting person on December 6, 2005, the Winnebago Stock Units are accrued under the Companys Deferred Compensation Plan and are to be settled 100% in Common Stock upon the earliest of the following events: reporting persons termination of service as a director, death or disability or a change in the effective control of the Company as defined in said Plan. |
(5) | Less than one percent. |
(6) | See Note (7) to the preceding table. |
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ITEM 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of the Company is divided into three classes with staggered terms, each consisting of approximately one-third of the total number of the members of the Board of Directors. Directors are elected for a term of three years. At the Annual Meeting, the term of office of the Class I directors will expire, and two persons will be elected to serve in that class until the Companys fiscal year 2009 Annual Meeting or until their respective successors are elected. The terms of office of the Class II and Class III directors will expire at the Companys fiscal year 2007 and 2008 Annual Meetings, respectively.
Discretionary authority is solicited to vote for the election of a substitute for either of said nominees who, for any reason currently unknown, cannot be a candidate for election. The shares represented by the enclosed proxy will be voted for the election as directors of the nominees for Class I directors named below if no direction is made otherwise. Both nominees are currently directors of the Company and were elected by the shareholders at the Companys 2004 Annual Meeting.
Name (Age)(1) | Principal Occupation and Other Directorships Held |
Year First Became a Director | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Class I Nominees for Directors to be Elected to Serve Until the Fiscal Year 2009 Annual Meeting | ||||
Irvin E. Aal (67) |
Retired; former General Manager of Case Tyler Business Unit of CNH Global and predecessor corporation, manufacturer of banded application business equipment; previously President and Chief Executive Officer of Tyler Industries, privately owned specialized agricultural equipment manufacturing company | 2004(2) | ||
Joseph W. England (66) |
Retired; former Senior Vice President Accounting Control of Deere & Company (a mobile power equipment
manufacturer) Mr. England is a director of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. |
2001(2) | ||
Class II Directors Whose Terms Expire at the Fiscal Year 2007 Annual Meeting | ||||
Jerry N. Currie (61) |
President & Chief Executive Officer of both Curries Company, manufacturer of steel doors and frames for nonresidential construction, and Graham Manufacturing, manufacturer of wood doors for nonresidential construction | 1996 |
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Name (Age)(1) | Principal Occupation and Other Directorships Held |
Year First Became a Director | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Lawrence A. Erickson (57) |
Retired; former Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of Rockwell Collins, Inc., provider of communication and aviation electronic solutions for commercial and military applications | 2005 | ||
John E. Herlitz (63) |
Retired; former Senior Vice President - Design of DaimlerChrysler AG, automobile manufacturer | 2005 | ||
Class III Directors Whose Terms Expire at the Fiscal Year 2008 Annual Meeting | ||||
John V. Hanson (64) |
Retired; former Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Winnebago Industries, Inc. | 1996(3) | ||
Bruce D. Hertzke (55) |
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Winnebago Industries, Inc. Mr. Hertzke is a director of Gehl Company |
1997 | ||
Gerald C. Kitch (68) |
Retired; former Executive Vice President, Pentair, Inc., diversified manufacturer of tools, equipment and ammunition | 1996 |
(1) | Reference is made to Voting Securities and Principal Holders Thereof herein. |
(2) | The Nominating and Governance Committee recommended, and the Board approved, the nomination of such person. |
(3) | Also served as a director from 1967 to 1979 and from 1985 to 1989. |
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All of the foregoing have been employed in their principal occupation or other responsible positions with the same organization for at least the last five years or are currently retired after having served in responsible positions with the organization indicated.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Board has established standing Audit, Human Resources and Nominating and Governance Committees to assist it in the discharge of its responsibilities. Each of such Committees is governed by a written charter, each of which is available for review on the Companys website at http://www.winnebagoind.com/company/investor/governance.php. The principal responsibilities of each of these committees are described below.
Audit Committee. The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. England, Aal and Currie, all of whom are independent directors under criteria established by the SEC and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE ). Based on the attributes, education and experience requirements set forth in Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and associated regulations, the Board of Directors has determined that Joseph W. England qualifies as an Audit Committee Financial Expert. Each year, the committee appoints independent public accountants to examine the books of the Company. It reviews with representatives of the independent public accountants the auditing arrangements and scope of the independent public accountants examination of the books, results of those audits, any non-audit services, their fees for all such services and any problems identified by and recommendations of the independent public accountants regarding internal controls. The Audit Committee is also prepared to meet privately at any time at the request of the independent public accountants or members of management to review any special situation arising on any of the above subjects. The Audit Committee also performs the duties set forth in its written charter which was amended as of June 21, 2006 by the Board of Directors, a copy of which is attached hereto as Appendix A. The Audit Committee regularly reviews its written charter and recommends to the Board changes to the charter. Reference is also made to the Report of the Audit Committee herein. In fiscal 2006, as required by its charter, the Audit Committee conducted an annual self-evaluation of its performance. The committee met eight times in fiscal 2006.
Human Resources Committee. The current members of the Human Resources Committee are Messrs. Kitch, Aal and Currie, all of whom are independent directors within the meaning of the NYSE listing requirements and the Companys Policy Regarding Nominations of Directors. This committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors as to the salary of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO ) and sets the salaries and bonus payments, if any, of all other employee-directors and elected officers. It also has responsibility for administration of the Companys Incentive Compensation Plan and certain other employee incentive plans. In fiscal 2006, as required by its charter, the Human Resources Committee conducted an annual self-evaluation of its performance. The committee met four times in fiscal 2006.
Nominating and Governance Committee. The current members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Messrs. Currie, England and Kitch, all of whom are independent directors within the meaning of NYSE listing requirements and the Companys Policy Regarding Nominations of Directors. This committee recommended to the Board the director-nominees proposed in this Proxy Statement for election by the shareholders. It reviews the qualifications of, and recommends to the Board, candidates to fill Board vacancies as they may occur during the year. The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider suggestions from all sources, including shareholders, regarding possible candidates for director in accordance with the Companys Policy Regarding Nominations of Directors as discussed below. See also Fiscal Year 2007 Shareholder Proposals for a summary of the procedures that shareholders must follow. In fiscal 2006, as required by its charter, the Nominating and Governance Committee conducted an annual self-evaluation of its performance. The committee met once in fiscal 2006.
The Board of Directors of the Company held eight meetings during fiscal 2006. Actions taken by any committee of the Board are reported to the Board of Directors, usually at its next meeting. During fiscal 2006, all of the directors attended more than 75 percent of the aggregate of Board of Directors
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meetings and meetings of committees of the Board on which they served. The Corporate Governance Policy of the Company, discussed below, encourages, but does not require, Board members to attend the Annual Meeting. At the last annual meeting, all of the then-incumbent directors and director nominees were in attendance. Additionally, in fiscal 2006, in accordance with the Companys Corporate Governance Policy described below, the Board of Directors conducted an annual self-evaluation to determine whether it and its committees are functioning effectively. The Nominating and Governance Committee received comments from all directors and reported to the Board with an assessment of the Boards performance.
Executive Sessions of Non-employee Directors The directors who are not employees of the Company or a subsidiary (the Non-employee Directors) meet privately in executive sessions to consider such matters as they deem appropriate, without management being present, as a routinely scheduled agenda item for every Board meeting. An executive session including only independent directors, as defined by the NYSE listing standards, is held at least once a year. During fiscal 2006, except for Mr. Erickson, all other Non-employee Directors were independent. Director Gerald C. Kitch was chosen as Lead Director to preside at such executive sessions.
The Board has adopted and annually reviews the Corporate Governance Policy which incorporates the corporate governance principles by which the Company operates. A copy of the Companys Corporate Governance Policy is available on the Companys website at http://www.winnebagoind.com/company/investor/governance.php.
Policy Regarding Nominations of Directors. The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider director nominations from shareholders in accordance with the Policy Regarding Nominations of Directors, a copy of which is attached hereto as Appendix B. Briefly, the Nominating and Governance Committee will consider as a candidate any director of the Company who has indicated to the Nominating and Governance Committee that he or she is willing to stand for re-election, and who has not reached the age of 70 years prior to the date of re-election to the Board, as well as any other person who is recommended by any shareholder of the Company who provides the required information and certifications within the specified time requirements, as set forth in Section 1 of the Policy Regarding Nominations of Directors. The Nominating and Governance Committee may also undertake its own search process for candidates and may retain the services of professional search firms or other third parties to assist in identifying and evaluating potential nominees.
In considering a potential nominee for the Board, shareholders should note that in recommending candidates, the Nominating and Governance Committee endeavors to find individuals of high integrity who have a solid record of accomplishment in their chosen fields and who display the qualifications, skills and independence to effectively represent the best interests of all shareholders. Candidates are selected for their ability to exercise good judgment, and to provide practical insights and diverse perspectives. Although the Nominating and Governance Committee may seek candidates that have different qualities and experiences at different times in order to maximize the aggregate experience, qualities and strengths of the Board members, nominees for each election or appointment of directors will be evaluated using a substantially similar process and under no circumstances will the Nominating and Governance Committee evaluate nominees recommended by a shareholder of the Company pursuant to a process substantially different than that used for other nominees for the same election or appointment of directors.
The Nominating and Governance Committee considers the following qualifications at a minimum to be required of any Board members in recommending to the Board potential new Board members, or the continued service of existing members:
| the highest professional and personal ethics; | |
| broad experience in business, government, education or technology; | |
| ability to provide insights and practical wisdom based on their experience and expertise; | |
| commitment to enhancing shareholder value; | |
| sufficient time to effectively carry out their duties; their service on other boards of public companies should be limited to a reasonable number; |
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| ability to develop a good working relationship with other Board members and contribute to the Boards working relationship with senior management of the Company; and | |
| independence; a majority of the Board shall consist of independent directors, as defined by the Companys Policy Regarding Nominations of Directors. See Corporate Governance Director Independence below. |
The Nominating and Governance Committee continues to evaluate the Companys and the Boards governance practices at least annually. Other than the foregoing, there are no stated minimum criteria for director nominees, although the Nominating and Governance Committee may also consider such other factors as it may deem are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. The Nominating and Governance Committee does, however, believe it appropriate for at least one member of the Board to meet the criteria for an Audit Committee Financial Expert as defined by SEC rules.
Corporate Governance. Corporate Governance Policies and Codes of Conduct The Board of Directors has adopted a Corporate Governance Policy, a Policy Regarding Nominations of Directors, a Shareholder and Other Interested Party Communications Policy and written charters for its Audit Committee, Human Resources Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee.
The Board of Directors also has adopted the Companys Code of Ethics applicable to all of the Companys directors, officers and employees and the Code of Ethics for CEO and Senior Financial Officers. These policies, charters, codes and other items relating to the governance of the Company are available on the Companys website at http://www.winnebagoind.com/company/investor/governance.php. These documents are also available in print free of charge to any shareholder who requests them in writing from: Winnebago Industries, Inc., Attn: Vice President-General Counsel and Secretary, 605 West Crystal Lake Road, Forest City, Iowa 50436. Information contained on the Companys website is not incorporated into this Proxy Statement or other securities filings.
Director Independence Under the Companys Corporate Governance Policy and NYSE rules, the Board must have a majority of directors who meet the standards for independence under the Companys Policy Regarding Nominations of Directors and applicable NYSE rules, respectively. The Board must determine, based on all of the relevant facts and circumstances, whether each director satisfies the criteria for independence. The Board of Directors has determined, after careful review and upon consideration of the following, that Mr. Aal (nominee for election as a Class I director), Mr. England (nominee for election as a Class I director), Mr. Currie (Class II director), Mr. Hanson (Class III director), Mr. Herlitz (Class II director) and Mr. Kitch (Class III director), are independent as defined by the relevant provisions of applicable law, the NYSE listing standards and the Companys Policy Regarding Nominations of Directors and that each independent director has no material relationship with the Company, determined in accordance with the standards disclosed below.
Under the Companys Policy Regarding Nominations of Directors, an independent director is one who:
| has no material relationship with the Company, either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company; | |
| is not an employee of the Company and no member of his or her immediate family is an executive officer of the Company; | |
| has not been employed by the Company and no member of his or her immediate family has been an executive officer of the Company during the past three years; | |
| has not received and no member of his or her immediate family has received more than $100,000 per year in direct compensation from the Company in any capacity other than as a director during the past three years; | |
| (i) is not and no member of his or her immediate family is a current partner of a firm that is the Companys internal or external auditor; (ii) is not a current employee of the Companys internal or external auditor; (iii) does not have an immediate family member who is a current employee |
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of the Companys internal or external auditor and who participates in that firms audit, assurance or tax compliance (but not tax planning) practice; and (iv) within the last three years was not and no member of his or her immediate family was (and no longer is), a partner or employee of the Companys internal or external auditor and personally worked on the Companys audit within that time; | ||
| is not and no member of his or her immediate family is currently, and for the past three years has not been, and no member of his or her immediate family has been, part of an interlocking directorate in which an executive officer of the Company serves on the compensation committee of another company that employs the director or an immediate family member of the director; | |
| is not an executive officer or an employee, and no member of his or her immediate family is an executive officer, of another company that makes payments to, or receives payments from, the Company for property or services in an amount which, in any single year, exceeds the greater of $1 million, or 2 percent of such other companys consolidated revenues during any of the past three years; | |
| is free of any relationships with the Company that may impair, or appear to impair his or her ability to make independent judgments; and | |
| is not and no member of his or her immediate family is employed by or serves as a director, officer or trustee of a charitable organization that receives contributions from the Company or a Company charitable trust, in an amount which exceeds the greater of $1 million or 2 percent of such charitable organizations total annual receipts. |
This policy may be modified temporarily if, due to unforeseen circumstances, strict adherence would be detrimental to the Boards performance.
For purposes of determining a material relationship, the following standards are utilized:
| any payments by the Company to a directors primary business affiliation or the primary business affiliation of an immediate family member of a director for goods or services, or other contractual arrangements, must be made in the ordinary course of business and on substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with non-affiliated persons; and | |
| the aggregate amount of such payments must not exceed 2 percent of the Companys consolidated gross revenues. |
For purposes of these independence standards, (i) immediate family members of a director include the directors spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother- and father-in-law, sons- and daughters-in-law, and brothers- and sisters-in-law and anyone (other than domestic employees) who shares the directors home and (ii) the term primary business affiliation means an entity of which the director is a principal/executive officer or in which the director holds at least a 5 percent equity interest.
Mr. Erickson is not considered independent under the NYSE listing standards and the Companys Policy Regarding Nominations of Directors solely because his son, Thad Erickson, is employed by the Companys independent accountants as an audit manager. Thad Erickson has not personally worked on any audits of the Company or any other work involving the Company. Mr. Hertzke is not considered independent because of his employment as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
Shareholder and Other Interested Party Communications with Directors The Nominating and Governance Committee has adopted a policy for shareholders and other interested parties to send communications to the Board. Shareholders and other interested parties who desire to communicate with the Companys directors or a particular director may write to: Winnebago Industries, Inc., Attn: Vice President-General Counsel and Secretary, 605 West Crystal Lake Road, Forest City, Iowa 50436; or send an e-mail to: rbeebe@winnebagoind.com. All communications must be accompanied by the following information (i) if the person submitting the communication is a shareholder, a statement of the number of shares of the Companys Common Stock that the person holds; (ii) if the person submitting
10
the communication is not a shareholder and is submitting the communication to the non-management directors as an interested party, the nature of the persons interest in the Company; (iii) any special interest, meaning an interest not in the capacity of a shareholder of the Company, of the person in the subject matter of the communication; and (iv) the address, telephone number and e-mail address, if any, of the person submitting the communication. Communications received from shareholders and other interested parties to the Board of Directors will be reviewed by the Vice President-General Counsel and Secretary, or such other person designated by all non-management members of the Board, and if they are relevant to, and consistent with, the Companys operations and policies that are approved by all non-management members of the Board, they will be forwarded to the Lead Director or applicable Board member or members as expeditiously as reasonably practicable.
Director Compensation. Employee directors receive no additional compensation for serving on the Board or its Committees. In fiscal 2006, Non-employee Directors received an annual retainer of $25,000 (paid in monthly installments), a $1,000 per day attendance fee for Board and Committee meetings, and a $500 fee for participation in Board meetings held telephonically. Additionally, the Audit Committee Chairman received an annual retainer of $5,000 (paid in monthly installments) and the Chairmen of other Board Committees received an annual retainer of $4,000 (paid in monthly installments). Each Non-employee Director received an annual stock option grant of 4,000 shares.
Effective April 1, 1997, the Board of Directors adopted the Winnebago Industries, Inc. Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (as amended, the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan ). The purpose of the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan is to enable Non-employee Directors (the Participants ) to receive their fees and retainers as members of the Board of Directors and Committees of the Board (the Deferred Compensation ) in a form other than as direct payments. A Participant may elect to apply either 50 or 100 percent of his or her Deferred Compensation to either, but not both, of the following forms: Money Credits or Winnebago Stock Units. Money Credits are units credited in the form of dollars in accordance with the Participants election to such Participants account established by the Company. The Money Credits accrue interest from the credit date. The interest rate to be applied to the Participants Money Credits is the 30-year Treasury bond yield as of the first business day of the plan year. The Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe additional methods for the accrual of interest on Money Credits with respect to Deferred Compensation. Winnebago Stock Units are units credited in the form of Common Stock of the Company in accordance with the Participants election to such Participants account established by the Company. The Common Stock utilized for purposes of the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan will be treasury shares of the Company and like all Common Stock, generally, will accrue dividends paid by the Company. Winnebago Stock Units will be recorded in such Participants account on the basis of the mean between the high and the low prices of the Common Stock of the Company on the date upon which the account is to be credited, as officially reported by the NYSE. Any Participant investing Deferred Compensation in Winnebago Stock Units will receive a matching contribution in the form of Winnebago Common Stock from the Company equal to 25 percent of the Deferred Compensation so invested.
The matching contribution to a Participants Winnebago Stock Unit account will vest on a graduated basis at the rate of 33-1/3 percent for each complete 12-month period of service as a director following the effective date of the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan. Any matching Winnebago Stock Units thereafter recorded in the Participants account after the Participants completion of 36 months of service after the effective date of the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan will be fully vested and nonforfeitable. Notwithstanding the above, the Participants Winnebago Stock Unit account will become fully vested upon his or her attainment of age 69-1/2 while serving as a director. In the event that a Participant terminates his or her service as a director, any unvested Winnebago Stock Units will be forfeited by the director. The Winnebago Stock Units credited to Participants accounts are included in the Common Stock ownership table under the caption Voting Securities and Principal Holders Thereof.
In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company by reason of any stock dividend or split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization, combination or exchange of shares or other similar corporate change, then if the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan administrator determines, in its sole discretion, that such change equitably requires an adjustment
11
in the number of Winnebago Stock Units then held in a Participants Winnebago Stock Unit account, such adjustments will be made by the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan administrator and will be conclusive and binding for all purposes of said plan.
In the event of a change in the control of the Company, as defined in the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan, a Participant will receive a lump sum distribution of his or her account within 30 days following his or her termination of service as a director after such change in control. Notwithstanding the above, in no event will a Participants receipt of a distribution of Winnebago Stock Units from his or her accounts precede the six-month anniversary of his or her election to convert Deferred Compensation into Winnebago Stock Units.
Unless terminated earlier by the Board of Directors, the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan terminates on June 30, 2013.
The Winnebago Industries, Inc. 2004 Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended (the Incentive Compensation Plan ) provides that Non-employee Directors may receive Stock Awards, Performance Awards or Non-qualified Stock Options each as defined under the Incentive Compensation Plan (collectively, Director Awards ) and may not be granted incentive stock options. Terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any Stock Awards or Performance Awards granted to a Non-employee Director pursuant to this Plan shall be determined by the Board. On the grant date, the grant price of a Non-qualified Stock Option shall be not less than the fair market value of the Common Stock subject to such Option. The term of the Non-qualified Stock Option shall extend no more than 10 years after the grant date. Non-qualified Stock Options may not include provisions that reload the option upon exercise. Subject to the foregoing provisions, the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any Non-qualified Stock Options awarded to directors pursuant to the Incentive Compensation Plan, including the grant price, the term of the Non-qualified Stock Options, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Non-qualified Stock Option and the date or dates upon which they become exercisable, shall be determined by the Human Resources Committee. No participant may be granted, during any fiscal year, Director Awards consisting of Stock Awards or Performance Awards covering or relating to more than 10,000 shares of Common Stock or Non-qualified Stock Options for more than 20,000 shares of Common Stock during any fiscal year.
The following table sets forth the total compensation paid to each Non-employee Director during fiscal 2006.
Name | Fees Paid in Cash ($) |
Fees Paid In Deferred Stock Units ($)(1) |
All Other Compensation ($)(2) |
Total ($) |
Option Awards (#)(3) |
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Irvin E. Aal | 0 | 50,979 | 5,406 | 56,385 | 4,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Jerry N. Currie | 41,667 | 0 | 0 | 41,667 | 4,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Joseph W. England | 0 | 51,583 | 0 | 51,583 | 4,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Lawrence A. Erickson | 0 | 42,938 | 1,088 | 44,026 | 4,000 | |||||||||||||||||
John V. Hanson | 39,667 | 0 | 0 | 39,667 | 4,000 | |||||||||||||||||
John E. Herlitz | 0 | 42,938 | 0 | 42,938 | 4,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Gerald C. Kitch | 0 | 49,104 | 942 | 50,046 | 4,000 |
(1) | Represents the part of the cash retainer and fees that is deferred in Winnebago Stock Units at the election of the director and are accrued under the Companys Deferred Compensation Plan. This figure also includes a matching contribution from the Company equal to 25% of the deferred compensation so invested. The Stock Units are to be settled 100% in Common Stock upon the earliest of the following events: directors termination of service, death or disability or a change in the effective control of the Company as defined in said Plan. Also, see discussion under Director Compensation above. |
(2) | Represents the Companys cost for personal usage of the Companys motor homes in the case of Messrs. Aal and Erickson and travel expenses for Mr. Kitchs wife to attend the Companys Dealer Days event. |
(3) | Represents the annual stock option grant of 4,000 shares of Common Stock, at an option price of $33.63 per share, granted on January 11, 2006 to each Non-employee Director under the Incentive Compensation Plan. All options become exercisable on or after January 11, 2007. |
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table contains certain information with respect to compensation for services in all capacities paid by the Company and its subsidiaries for the past three fiscal years, to or on behalf of (i) the Chief Executive Officer of the Company at August 26, 2006 and (ii) each of the four other most highly compensated executive officers of the Company serving at August 26, 2006.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Annual Compensation(1) | Long Term Compensation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Name and Principal Position |
Fiscal Year |
Salary($) | Bonus($)(2) | Options Granted(3)(4) |
LTIP Payouts ($)(5) |
All Other Compensation ($)(6) |
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Bruce D. Hertzke | 2006 | 516,257 | 58,377 | 50,000 | 167,825 | 7,541 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Chairman and Chief | 2005 | 497,583 | 440,646 | 70,000 | 199,674 | 9,745 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Executive Officer | 2004 | 481,072 | 1,197,401 | 60,000 | 368,630 | 9,100 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Edwin F. Barker | 2006 | 358,885 | 31,465 | 25,000 | 89,126 | 8,553 | |||||||||||||||||||||
President | 2005 | 289,670 | 156,070 | 45,000 | 106,040 | 9,632 | |||||||||||||||||||||
2004 | 255,480 | 372,971 | 30,000 | 173,473 | 8,663 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert J. Olson | 2006 | 249,810 | 15,942 | 12,500 | 78,557 | 4,598 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Senior Vice President, | 2005 | 232,911 | 117,832 | 12,500 | 93,464 | 6,249 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Operations | 2004 | 225,183 | 320,175 | 15,000 | 173,473 | 4,838 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Raymond M. Beebe | 2006 | 240,157 | 30,150 | 12,500 | 78,557 | 5,550 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Vice President, General | 2005 | 232,911 | 132,463 | 12,500 | 93,464 | 7,523 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Counsel and Secretary | 2004 | 225,183 | 334,293 | 15,000 | 173,473 | 6,505 | |||||||||||||||||||||
William J. OLeary | 2006 | 228,251 | 15,545 | 12,500 | 73,140 | 7,289 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Vice President, | 2005 | 218,931 | 111,608 | 12,500 | 84,968 | 8,995 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Product Development | 2004 | 208,077 | 296,647 | 15,000 | 148,210 | 8,492 |
(1) | None of the named executive officers received personal benefits in excess of the lesser of 10% of cash compensation or $50,000. |
(2) | The bonus amounts include bonuses paid pursuant to the Companys Officers Incentive Compensation Plan as well as bonuses paid in the discretion of the Board of Directors, all as described under the caption Report of the Human Resources Committee on Executive Compensation. |
(3) | The numbers in the table above represent options for the purchase of shares of the Companys Common Stock granted to the named persons under the Companys 2004 Incentive Compensation Plan. |
(4) | Option figures for fiscal year 2004 are adjusted to reflect the 2 for 1 split of the Companys Common Stock effective March 5, 2004. |
(5) | Awards consisted of cash and are valued at the aggregate market value of the Common Stock as of the respective determination dates. The awards in fiscal 2006 were made pursuant to the Officers Long-Term Incentive Plan Fiscal Three-Year Period 2004, 2005 and 2006, the awards in fiscal 2005 were made pursuant to the Officers Long-Term Incentive Plan Fiscal Three-Year Period 2003, 2004 and 2005, and the awards in fiscal 2004 were made pursuant to the Officers Long-Term Incentive Plan Fiscal Three-Year Period 2002, 2003 and 2004. |
(6) | Company contributions to 401(k) Plan. |
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STOCK OPTIONS GRANTED IN FISCAL 2006
The following table provides information on options to purchase shares of the Companys Common Stock granted in fiscal 2006 to the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table.
Individual Grants | Potential Realizable Value at Assumed Annual Rates of Stock Price Appreciation For Option Term |
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Name | Options Granted |
Percent of Total Options Granted to Employees in Fiscal 2006 |
Exercise Price per Share ($) |
Expiration Date |
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5% ($) | 10% ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bruce D. Hertzke | 50,000 | (1) | 16.0 | (2) | 26.93 | (3) | 10/12/2015 | 846,800 | 2,145,950 | ||||||||||||||||||
Edwin F. Barker | 25,000 | (1) | 8.0 | (2) | 26.93 | (3) | 10/12/2015 | 423,400 | 1,072,975 | ||||||||||||||||||
Robert J. Olson | 12,500 | (1) | 4.0 | (2) | 26.93 | (3) | 10/12/2015 | 211,700 | 536,488 | ||||||||||||||||||
Raymond M. Beebe | 12,500 | (1) | 4.0 | (2) | 26.93 | (3) | 10/12/2015 | 211,700 | 536,488 | ||||||||||||||||||
William J. OLeary | 12,500 | (1) | 4.0 | (2) | 26.93 | (3) | 10/12/2015 | 211,700 | 536,488 |
(1) | Stock options granted on October 12, 2005 under the Companys 2004 Incentive Compensation Plan, become exercisable in annual increments of one-third commencing October 12, 2006. |
(2) | Based on total grants during fiscal 2006 of 312,000 shares. |
(3) | The exercise price per share represents the mean between the high and low prices for a share of the Companys Common Stock on the NYSE on October 12, 2005. |
AGGREGATED OPTION SHARES EXERCISED IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND
FISCAL
YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
The following table provides information related to the stock options exercised during fiscal 2006 and the number and value of unexercised options at August 26, 2006, by the named executive officers.
Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise |
Value Realized(1) |
Number of Unexercised Options Held at August 26, 2006 |
Value of Unexercised, In-the-Money Options at August 26, 2006(2) |
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Exercisable | Unexercisable | Exercisable | Unexercisable | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bruce D. Hertzke | 5,478 | $ | 67,927 | 362,381 | 50,001 | $ | 4,276,519 | $ | 49,334 | ||||||||||||||||||
Edwin F. Barker | 5,268 | 70,473 | 82,193 | 25,001 | 161,672 | 24,667 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Robert J. Olson | 0 | 0 | 36,245 | 12,501 | 123,750 | 12,334 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Raymond M. Beebe | 0 | 0 | 32,299 | 12,501 | 83,659 | 12,334 | |||||||||||||||||||||
William J. OLeary | 13,600 | 183,032 | 27,499 | 12,501 | 34,891 | 12,334 |
(1) | The value realized is the difference between the closing market price of the Companys Common Stock on the date such options were exercised and the exercise price. |
(2) | Represents the amount by which $28.41 (the closing price of the Companys Common Stock on August 25, 2006 (August 26, 2006 being a non-business day)) exceeded the exercise prices of unexercised options. There is no guarantee that, if and when these options are exercised, they will have this value. |
Long-Term Incentive PlanAwards in Fiscal 2006
The following table provides information concerning the participation of the named executive officers in a long-term compensation plan called the Officers Long-Term Incentive Plan Fiscal Three-Year Period 2006, 2007 and 2008. Under this Plan, they were awarded the right to stock grants made in restricted shares of the Companys Common Stock (or at the election of the participating officer, in cash) payable in fiscal 2009 based upon the achievement of long-term performance results as measured at the end of the three-year fiscal period. Actual payouts of incentive compensation, if any, will be determined based upon the financial performance of the Company as established by a three-year plan approved by the Human Resources Committee, as administrator of this Plan. Under the Plan, the financial performance measurements are earnings per share and return on equity of the Company for the three-year period. Reference is made to the description of the plan under the caption Report of the Human Resources Committee on Executive Compensation below.
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Name | Incentive Compensation (1) |
Performance Period (or Other Period Until Maturation of Payment) (2) |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Stock Price-Based Plans (3) |
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Bruce D. Hertzke | | Fiscal 2006-2008 | 1.6 | 25 | 37.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Edwin F. Barker | | Fiscal 2006-2008 | 1.6 | 25 | 37.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Robert J. Olson | | Fiscal 2006-2008 | 1.6 | 25 | 37.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Raymond M. Beebe | | Fiscal 2006-2008 | 1.6 | 25 | 37.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
William J. OLeary | | Fiscal 2006-2008 | 1.6 | 25 | 37.5 |
(1) | The actual incentive compensation, if any, that will be paid out after the conclusion of the three-year period cannot be determined because the incentive compensation earned by the named executive officers will be based on the Companys future performance. The incentive compensation will be a percentage of the officers annualized base salary, which is the salary in place for each officer as of January 2006. The annualized base salary as of January 2006 for each of the named officers is as follows: Mr. Hertzke $523,615; Mr. Barker $364,000; Mr. Olson $259,237; Mr. Beebe $242,740; and Mr. OLeary $231,504. |
(2) | Payouts will be made in Common Stock or cash, as elected by the officer, in fiscal 2009 depending on the level of attainment of the Plan approved by the Human Resources Committee for achievement of earnings per share for the three-year period. |
(3) | Shown in these columns are the percentages of the named executive officers annualized base salary as of January 2006 that would be payable under the Plan if the Company attains the threshold, target or maximum achievement of financial objectives of earnings per share. If actual Company performance falls below an established level, no payments are made. |
Pension Plans
The Companys Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Program permitted key employees to annually elect (via individual contracts) to defer a portion of their compensation until their retirement. The plan has been closed to any additional deferrals since January 2001. The retirement benefit to be provided is based upon the amount of compensation deferred and the age of the individual at the time of the contracted deferral. An individual generally vests at the later of age 55 and five years of service since the deferral was made. For deferrals prior to December 1992, vesting occurs at the later of age 55 and five years of service from first deferral or 20 years of service.
To assist in funding the deferred compensation liability, the Company invested in corporate-owned life insurance policies.
The following table sets forth the estimated annual benefits payable for 15 years upon the following named executive officers reaching age 65:
Named Executive Officer | Estimated Annual Benefits Payable ($) |
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Bruce D. Hertzke | 241,922 | |||||
Edwin F. Barker | 254,242 | |||||
Robert J. Olson | 82,176 | |||||
Raymond M. Beebe | 163,545 |
William J. OLeary did not participate in this program.
Report of the Human Resources Committee on Executive Compensation
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Companys previous or future filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that might incorporate this Proxy Statement in whole or in part, the following report and the Performance Graph which follows shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any such filings.
The Human Resources Committee of the Board is the compensation committee of the Company. This Committee reviews and approves compensation plans for all corporate officers, including salaries, profit sharing awards and stock option grants.
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In designing its compensation programs, the Company follows its belief that compensation should reflect the value created for shareholders while furthering the Companys strategic goals. In doing so, the compensation programs reflect the following goals:
| align the interests of management with those of shareholders; | |
| provide fair and competitive compensation; | |
| integrate compensation with the Companys business plans; | |
| reward both business and individual performance; and | |
| attract and retain key executives critical to the success of the Company. |
The Companys executive compensation is primarily based on the following three components, each of which is intended to help achieve the overall compensation philosophy: base salary, quarterly incentive awards and long-term incentives.
Base salary levels for the Companys named executive officers are set by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. In determining base salary levels and annual salary adjustments for the named executive officers, including the CEO, the Committee considers market compensation levels of similarly sized manufacturing companies as well as individual performance and contributions.
The base salary of Mr. Hertzke, as the CEO, was $503,476 for the period from the beginning of fiscal 2006 until January 2, 2006 and $523,615 thereafter and in fiscal 2005 was $486,450 for the period from the beginning of fiscal 2005 until January 3, 2005 and $503,476 thereafter. The CEO participates in the quarterly incentive award program for officers and other key management personnel described below. The Committee has not found it practicable to, and has not attempted to, assign relative weights to the specific factors considered in determining the CEOs compensation.
The Companys officers including the CEO are eligible for quarterly incentive awards under the Companys Officers Incentive Compensation Plan Fiscal Period 2006 (the Officers Incentive Compensation Plan ). Under the Officers Incentive Compensation Plan, the incentive awards are based upon financial performance of the Company, as established by the Board of Directors. The Officers Incentive Compensation Plan is an annual program that provides for quarterly cumulative measurements of financial performance and an opportunity for quarterly incentive payments based on financial results measured against the management plan adopted by the Board of Directors (the Management Plan ).
In fiscal 2006, the Human Resources Committee recommended that the Officers Incentive Compensation Plan utilize the same plan format that had been used in prior years, but that the manner of calculating the financial targets for the officers be changed such that the financial performance measurement for the Plan is solely earnings per share (EPS ). Additionally, the 100% target bonus payout was set to be the same as the actual EPS for the prior fiscal year, the 200% target bonus payout (maximum) was set at 10% above the best EPS in the Companys history, payout under the Officers Compensation Plan would begin only after EPS for the year reached 75% of the prior years EPS and an appropriate target bonus matrix was developed for 75%100%200% based upon EPS. The Committee believes that the Officers Incentive Compensation Plan provides an excellent link between the value created for shareholders and incentives paid to participants.
Under the Officers Incentive Compensation Plan, the amount of the participants incentive compensation for the quarter shall be in direct proportion to the Companys financial performance expressed as a percentage (Financial Factor) against compensation targets (Target) for each participant as determined by the Board of Directors prior to the commencement of the fiscal year.
The Officers Incentive Compensation Plan provides for a bonus (Target) of 60% of base salary (comprised of 2/3 cash and 1/3 stock (or in cash at the participants election)) at 100% achievement of the financial objectives of EPS for participating officers, except the CEO. The Officers Incentive Compensation Plan provides for a bonus (Target) of 105% of base salary (comprised of 2/3 cash and 1/3 stock (or in cash at the participants election)) at 100% achievement of the financial objectives of EPS for the CEO. Fifty percent (50%) of the quarterly calculated incentive is paid within 45 days after the close of each quarter. The remaining fifty percent (50%) of the quarterly calculated incentive is held back and carried forward into the next quarter on a cumulative basis. At the end of the fourth fiscal quarter (fiscal year end), a final year-end accounting is made prior to the payment of any remaining
16
incentive holdback for the year. Fifty percent (50%) of a participants cash incentive compensation earned for the year, as described above, is matched annually (in the form of restricted stock or cash, as elected by the participant). The Target bonus is inclusive of this matched incentive compensation. The annual supplementary cash payment is paid as soon as practical after the final fiscal year-end compensation accounting and payment of any remaining incentive compensation holdback for the fiscal year.
The Committee reserves the right to modify the Financial Factor used in determining the incentive compensation by plus or minus 20% based upon strategic organizational priorities. Strategic performance is measured only at the end of the fiscal year. Strategic measurements may focus on one or more of the following strategic factors, but are not limited to those stated:
Revenue Growth | Customer Satisfaction | |
Market Share | Inventory Management | |
Product Quality | Technical Innovation | |
Product Introductions | Ethical Business Practices |
For purposes of the Officers Incentive Compensation Plan, the Board determined that industry performance, market share, product quality and planning (both strategic and succession) would be the strategic factors used in determining this compensation.
In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the Officers Incentive Compensation Plan) participants are entitled to receive awards (including the annual supplementary cash match payment described above) within 15 days of the Effective Date (as defined in the Officers Incentive Compensation Plan) based on the Committees estimate of the Companys financial performance through the end of the fiscal year in which such Change in Control occurs.
Financial performance of less than 75% of the Target for EPS results in no bonus and the maximum bonus of 200% of the Target will be paid at attainment of approximately 120% of the Target.
As provided by the Officers Incentive Compensation Plan, the Committee has the discretion and authority to make any and all determinations necessary or advisable for administration of the Officers Incentive Compensation Plan.
Mr. Hertzke received $39,638 in cash in fiscal 2006 and $421,908 in cash in fiscal 2005 pursuant to the Officers Incentive Compensation Plan and the Officers Incentive Compensation Plan Fiscal Period 2005, respectively.
The Companys officers (including the CEO) are eligible for annual incentive awards under the Companys Officers Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Long-Term Incentive Plan ). The purpose of the Long-Term Incentive Plan is to promote the long-term growth and profitability of the Company and to attract and retain officers by providing the officers of the Company an opportunity for an incentive award consisting of stock grants made in restricted shares of the Companys Common Stock (or at the election of a participating officer, in cash) with compensation based on the achievement of long-term performance results as measured at the end of a three-year fiscal period.
The awards under the Long-Term Incentive Plan are based upon the Companys financial performance as measured against the three-year management plan established by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The financial performance measurements for the Long-Term Incentive Plan are EPS and a minimum average return on equity (ROE ) of the Company (collectively, the Long-Term Financial Target ). Stockholders equity at the start of the Companys fiscal year of the applicable plan period is used as the basis figure for the calculation of ROE.
Under the Long-Term Incentive Plan, the amount of the participants long-term incentive award for the three-year fiscal period is in direct proportion to the Companys financial performance expressed as a percentage (Financial Factor) against award targets for each participant established by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors prior to the commencement of the three-year fiscal period. The Companys financial results for the three-year fiscal period are used in determining the Financial Factor to be used for that plan period when calculating the participants long-term incentive awards. In fiscal 2006, the Human Resources Committee determined that the year one target under the Long-Term Incentive Plan would be the same as that defined for such year in the annual plans, the target for 150% would be set at 10% above the best EPS year in the Companys history, the second year target would
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be the first year target EPS increased by 10% and the third year target would be the second year target EPS increased by 10%, subject, however, to the further requirement that a minimum average ROE would be identified to insure that officers also focus on ROE financial factors and that if such minimum threshold was not reached there would be no payout under the Long-Term Incentive Plan regardless of the amount of bonus the officer would be entitled by meeting certain EPS targets.
The long-term incentive for the officers provides for an opportunity of 25% of the annualized base salary (Target) to be awarded in restricted stock or cash at 100% achievement of the Long-Term Financial Target. The annualized base salary figure used is the salary in place for each participant as of January 2006. The resultant incentive award (at 100% of the three-year fiscal management plan) will be adjusted up or down as determined by actual financial performance expressed as a percentage (Financial Factor) at the end of the three-year fiscal period.
Financial performance of less than 80% of the Long-Term Financial Target results in no incentive award under the Long-Term Incentive Plan and the maximum incentive award of 150% of the target will be paid at attainment of 120% of the Long-Term Financial Target.
In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the Long-Term Incentive Plan) participants are entitled to receive awards within 15 days of the Effective Date (as defined in the Long-Term Incentive Plan) based on the Committees estimate of the Companys financial performance through the end of the Long-Term Incentive Plan three-year fiscal period in which such Change in Control occurs.
A participant must be employed by the Company at the end of the three-year fiscal period to be eligible for any long-term incentive award except for a Change in Control as described above or as waived by the Committee for normal retirement and disability.
Mr. Hertzke received $167,825 in cash in fiscal 2006 and $199,674 in cash in fiscal 2005 pursuant to the Long-Term Incentive Plans for the three-year fiscal periods ended August 26, 2006 and August 27, 2005, respectively. These Long-Term Incentive Plans provided for incentive awards consisting of stock grants made in restricted shares of the Companys Common Stock, or at the election of a participating officer, in cash. The Board of Directors amended the Long-Term Incentive Plan Fiscal Three-Year Period 2004, 2005 and 2006 to provide that all awards payable under such Plan shall be made in cash. Awards under the Long-Term Incentive Plan Fiscal Three-Year Periods 2005, 2006 and 2007, 2006, 2007 and 2008, and 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively, are payable in restricted shares of the Companys Common Stock or in cash upon the election of the participant.
Other long-term incentives, provided through grants of stock options to the named executives and others, are intended to retain and motivate executives to seek to improve long-term stock market performance. Stock options are granted at the prevailing market price on the date of grant by the Human Resources Committee and will only have value if the Companys stock price increases. No option is exercisable until six months after the date such option is granted. Thereafter, options are exercisable during the period thereof at such time or times and in such amount or amounts as determined by the Committee. No option may be exercised more than ten years from the date of its grant. Executives must be employed by the Company at the time of vesting in order to exercise options. The Committee awarded Mr. Hertzke stock options for 50,000 shares of the Companys Common Stock in fiscal 2006 and stock options for 70,000 shares in fiscal 2005 under the Incentive Compensation Plan.
Since all options are granted at the then-current market price, the value of an option bears a direct relationship to the Companys stock price and is an effective incentive for executives to create value for shareholders. The Committee, therefore, views stock options as an important component of its long-term performance-based compensation philosophy, but does not believe that granting options every year is necessary to achieve such goals.
No member of the Human Resources Committee is a current or former officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Gerald C. Kitch (Chair) Irvin E. Aal Jerry N. Currie
Members of the Human Resources Committee
of the Board of Directors
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PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares the five-year cumulative total shareholder return (including reinvestment of dividends) of the Company with the cumulative total return on the Standard & Poors 500 Index and a peer group.(1) It is assumed in the graph that $100 was invested in the Companys Common Stock, in the stock of the companies in the Standard & Poors 500 Index and in the stocks of the peer group companies on August 25, 2001 and that all dividends received within a quarter were reinvested in that quarter. In accordance with the guidelines of the SEC, the shareholder return for each entity in the peer group index have been weighted on the basis of market capitalization as of each annual measurement date set forth in the graph.
COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Winnebago Industries, Inc., the S&P 500 Index and a Peer Group
Company Name/Index | 8/25/01 | 8/30/02 | 8/30/03 | 8/28/04 | 8/27/05 | 8/26/06 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Winnebago Industries, Inc. | 100.00 | 136.99 | 177.46 | 231.60 | 238.05 | 210.33 | |||||||||||||||||||||
S&P 500 Index | 100.00 | 82.01 | 91.90 | 102.43 | 115.29 | 125.53 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Peer Group | 100.00 | 105.21 | 148.28 | 158.66 | 150.55 | 156.78 |
(1) | The peer group companies, consisting of Coachmen Industries, Inc., Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc., Monaco Coach Corporation, National R.V. Holdings, Inc. and Thor Industries, Inc. were selected by the Company on the basis of the similarity of their business to that of the Company. |
* | $100 invested on 8/25/01 in Winnebago Industries or Peer Group stock or on 8/31/01 in the S&P 500 Indexincluding reinvestment of dividends. Said Index is calculated on a month-end basis. |
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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Companys previous or future filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that might incorporate this Proxy Statement in whole or in part, the information set forth above under Board of Directors, Committees of the Board and Corporate GovernanceAudit Committee, relating to the charter of the Audit Committee and the independence of the Audit Committee members, and the following report shall not be deemed to be soliciting material or filed with the SEC or incorporated by reference into any such previous or future filings.
The Audit Committee reviews the Companys financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements to be included in the 2006 Annual Report on SEC Form 10-K with the Companys management and the independent accountants. Management is responsible for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the system of internal controls. The independent accountants are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The Audit Committee hereby reports as follows:
1. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 26, 2006 of Winnebago Industries, Inc. (the Audited Financial Statements ) with Winnebago Industries, Inc.s management.
2. The Audit Committee has discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Companys independent accountants, the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees), as in effect on the date of this Proxy Statement.
3. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures from Deloitte & Touche LLP required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), as in effect on the date of this Proxy Statement, and has discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP its independence.
4. Based on the review and discussion referred to in paragraphs (1) through (3) above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors of Winnebago Industries, Inc., and the Board has approved, that the Audited Financial Statements be included in Winnebago Industries, Inc.s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 26, 2006, for filing with the SEC.
A copy of the Audit Committee Charter, as last amended as of June 21, 2006, is available on the Companys website at http://www.winnebagoind.com/company/investor/governance.php and in print free of charge to any shareholder who requests a copy in writing from: Winnebago Industries, Inc., Attn: Vice President-General Counsel and Secretary, 605 West Crystal Lake Road, Forest City, Iowa 60436.
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE:
Joseph W. England (Chair)
Irvin E. Aal
Jerry N. Currie
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PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP for the audit of the Companys annual financial statements for fiscal years ended August 26, 2006 and August 27, 2005, and fees billed for other services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP during those periods.
Fiscal 2006 | Fiscal 2005 | |||||||||
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Audit Fees(1) | $ | 520,000 | $ | 670,000 | ||||||
Audit-Related Fees(2) | 16,000 | 73,905 | ||||||||
Tax Fees(3) | 126,120 | 136,909 | ||||||||
All Other Fees | | | ||||||||
|
|
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Total | $ | 662,120 | $ | 880,814 | ||||||
|
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(1) | Audit Fees represent fees for professional services provided for the audit of the Companys annual financial statements and review of the Companys quarterly financial statements. |
(2) | Audit-Related Fees represent fees for the benefit plan audit and accounting related consulting matters. |
(3) | Tax Fees represent fees for professional services related to tax compliance and tax planning. |
The Audit Committee considered whether the provision of tax, benefit plan audit and accounting consulting services by Deloitte & Touche LLP to the Company is compatible with maintaining the independence of Deloitte & Touche and concluded that the independence of Deloitte & Touche is not compromised by the provision of such services.
Policy Regarding the Approval of Independent Accountants Provision of Audit and Non-Audit Services The Companys Audit Committee Charter requires the Audit Committee to pre-approve the fees and other significant compensation to be paid to the independent auditors as well as pre-approve all non-audit engagements with the independent auditors. The Audit Committee shall consult with management but shall not delegate these responsibilities, except that pre-approvals of non-audit services may be delegated to a single member of the Audit Committee, who shall then inform the entire Audit Committee of the engagement of such services. The Audit Committee pre-approved under that policy 100 percent of the fees, if any, for services covered under the captions Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees and All Other Fees for fiscal years 2005 and 2006.
CHANGE IN CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
During fiscal 2001, the Board of Directors approved Executive Change of Control Agreements (the Agreements ) for each of the named executive officers in the Summary Compensation Table and, at later dates, approved Agreements for certain other executive officers. The purpose of the Agreements is to reinforce and encourage such executives to maintain objectivity and a high level of attention to their duties without distraction from the possibility of a change of control of the Company. These Agreements provide that in the event of a Change of Control of the Company, as that term is defined in the Agreements and summarized below, each such executive (provided such Change of Control occurs when the executive is in the employ of the Company) would receive, in the event he ceases to be employed by the Company within three years following a Change of Control of the Company (for a reason other than death, disability, willful misconduct, normal retirement or under certain circumstances a voluntary termination of employment by the executive), a lump sum equal to three times the average of the aggregate annual compensation paid to the executive during the three fiscal years preceding the Change of Control.
In addition, under the Agreements, if an executives employment is terminated (other than as described above) within three years following a Change of Control (provided the Change of Control occurs when the executive is in the employ of the Company) the executive would be entitled to (i) life, dental, vision, long term disability and health insurance benefits for three years following such Change of Control (provided that in the case of the dental, vision and health insurance benefits, such benefits shall be extended to the time the executive reaches age 65), (ii) transfer of title to the company car, if
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any, then utilized by such executive to such executive, (iii) continued coverage, at the Companys expense, in the Executive Split Dollar Life Insurance Program, under certain circumstances until the later of the time the executive reaches age 55 or three years following the executives termination, (iv) immediate vesting under the Companys Deferred Compensation and Deferred Bonus Plans and immediate vesting of all stock options and rights, (v) purchase by the Company, at the option of the executive, of any restricted stock then owned by the executive at the fair market value thereof and (vi) a cash payment of the amount necessary to ensure that the payments or value of the benefits listed in this paragraph and the immediately preceding paragraph are not subject to net reduction due to the imposition of federal excise taxes.
Under the Agreements, a Change of Control occurs when (i) any person or other entity (except for the Company and certain Hanson family members or certain related persons or entities to the Company or such Hanson family members) acquires 20 percent or more of the outstanding stock of the Company or (ii) individuals who shall qualify as Continuing Directors (as defined below) shall have ceased for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, that in the case of either clause (i) or (ii) a Change of Control shall not be deemed to have occurred if the event shall have been approved prior to the occurrence thereof by a majority of the Continuing Directors who shall then be members of such Board of Directors. Continuing Director means (i) any member of the Companys Board of Directors, while such person is a member of the Board, who is not an affiliate or associate of any person or group described in clause (i) of the preceding sentence (an acquiring person) or of any such acquiring persons affiliate or associate and was a member of the Board prior to the time when such acquiring person shall have become an acquiring person and (ii) any successor of a Continuing Director, while such successor is a member of the Board, who is not an acquiring person or any affiliate or associate of any acquiring person or a representative or nominee of an acquiring person or of any affiliate or associate of such acquiring person and is recommended or elected to succeed the Continuing Director by a majority of the Continuing Directors.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
The Company maintains normal banking relations on customary terms with Manufacturers Bank & Trust Company (the Bank ), Forest City and Crystal Lake, Iowa. Manufacturers Bank & Trust Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of MBT Corp. John V. Hanson owns approximately 33-1/3 percent of MBT Corp.s outstanding stock. Mr. Hanson is also Chairman of the Board of the Bank and is a director of MBT Corp.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act ) requires the Companys officers and directors and persons who own more than ten percent of the Companys Common Stock (collectively, Reporting Persons ) to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC and the NYSE. Reporting Persons are required by the SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received or written representations from certain Reporting Persons that no Forms 5 were required for those persons, the Company believes that, during fiscal year 2006, all Reporting Persons complied with all applicable filing requirements, with the exception of Jerry N. Currie who, due to an inadvertent administrative error, filed one late Form 4 reporting two transactions.
FISCAL YEAR 2007 SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
If a shareholder intends to present a proposal at the Companys fiscal year 2007 Annual Meeting scheduled for December 18, 2007 and desires that the proposal be included in the Companys proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting, the proposal must be in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and received at the Companys principal executive offices no later than July 13, 2007.
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The Companys By-Laws and the Policy Regarding Nominations of Directors require that in order to nominate persons to the Companys Board of Directors, a shareholder must provide advance written notice in the form set forth therein to the Secretary, which notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the Companys principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days before the anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, except in the case of candidates recommended by shareholders of more than 5 percent of the Companys Common Stock who may also submit nominations in accordance with the procedures in the Policy Regarding Nominations of Directors and except as otherwise provided in the Companys By-Laws. The Companys By-Laws also require that in order to present a proposal for action by shareholders at an annual meeting, a shareholder must provide advance written notice to the Secretary, which notice must contain detailed information specified in the Companys By-Laws. This notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the Companys principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days before the anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting. As to any proposal that a shareholder intends to present to shareholders without inclusion in the Companys proxy statement for the Companys fiscal year 2007 annual meeting, the proxies named in managements proxy for that meeting will be entitled to exercise their discretionary authority on that proposal by advising shareholders of such proposal and how they intend to exercise their discretion to vote on such matter, unless the shareholder making the proposal solicits proxies with respect to the proposal to the extent required by Rule 14a-4(c)(2) under the Exchange Act. The specific procedures to be used by shareholders, including those to be used by shareholders of more than 5 percent of the Common Stock, to recommend nominees for director are set forth in the Companys Policy Regarding Nominations of Directors, a copy of which is attached hereto as Appendix A, and the Companys By-Laws. A copy of the Companys By-Laws may be obtained by written request to: Winnebago Industries, Inc., Attn: Vice President-General Counsel and Secretary, 605 West Crystal Lake Road, Forest City, Iowa 50436.
GENERAL
Deloitte & Touche LLP has been selected as the Companys accountants for the current fiscal year by the Audit Committee. Deloitte & Touche LLP has been the Companys accountants for more than 20 years. Representatives of that firm are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting with the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
The cost of this proxy solicitation will be borne by the Company. Solicitation will be made primarily through the use of the mail, but officers, directors or regular employees of the Company may solicit proxies personally or by telephone or telegraph without additional remuneration for such activity. In addition, the Company will reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees or fiduciaries for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxies and proxy material to the beneficial owners of such shares.
A copy of the Companys Annual Report for the fiscal year ended August 26, 2006, which includes audited financial statements, has accompanied this Proxy Statement. The financial statements contained therein are not deemed material to the exercise of prudent judgment in regard to any matter to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting and, therefore, such financial statements are not incorporated in this Proxy Statement by reference.
A COPY OF THE COMPANYS MOST RECENT ANNUAL REPORT TO THE SEC ON FORM 10-K (WITHOUT EXHIBITS) WILL BE FURNISHED, WITHOUT CHARGE, TO SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC., ATTN: VICE PRESIDENT-GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY, 605 WEST CRYSTAL LAKE ROAD, FOREST CITY, IOWA 50436.
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, INCLUDING THE COMPANYS ANNUAL, QUARTERLY AND CURRENT REPORTS ON SEC FORMS 10-K, 10-Q AND 8-K, RESPECTIVELY, PLEASE VISIT THE COMPANYS HOME PAGE ON THE INTERNET http://www.winnebagoind.com. INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE COMPANYS WEBSITE IS NOT INCORPORATED INTO THIS PROXY STATEMENT OR OTHER SECURITIES FILINGS.
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As of the date of this Proxy Statement, management knows of no other matters to be brought before the Annual Meeting. However, if any other matters should properly come before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote thereon in accordance with their best judgment.
By Order of the Board of Directors
RAYMOND M. BEEBE
Secretary
November 10, 2006
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Appendix A
WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
I. PURPOSE
The Audit Committee is established by the Board of Directors for the primary purpose of assisting the Board in:
1. Overseeing the integrity of the Companys financial statements.
2. Overseeing the Companys compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
3. Overseeing the independent auditors qualifications and independence.
4. Overseeing the performance of the Companys independent auditor and internal audit function.
5. Overseeing the Companys system of disclosure controls and procedures, internal controls over financial reporting, and compliance with ethical standards adopted by the Company.
In discharging this oversight role, the Audit Committee is empowered to investigate any matter brought to its attention or to obtain advice and assistance as deemed appropriate to perform its duties and responsibilities, with full power to retain external auditors, outside counsel or other experts for this purpose.
The Company shall at all times make adequate provisions for the payment of all fees and other compensation approved by the Audit Committee to the independent auditors in connection with the issuance of their audit report and to any consultants or experts employed by the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee will primarily fulfill its responsibilities by carrying out the activities enumerated in Section III of this Charter. The Audit Committee shall report its activities to the Board of Directors on a regular basis and make such recommendations as the Committee may deem necessary or appropriate.
II. AUDIT COMMITTEE COMPOSITION AND MEETINGS
The Audit Committee shall be comprised of three or more directors as determined by the Board, each of whom shall satisfy the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE ), Section 10A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and the rules promulgated thereunder and the Companys Policy Regarding Nominations of Directors. The members of the Audit Committee shall meet the applicable requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC ) and NYSE. At least one member of the Audit Committee shall qualify as a financial expert within the meaning of the rules of the SEC and have accounting or related financial management expertise within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE.
Audit Committee members shall not simultaneously serve on the audit committees of more than three public companies. Directors fees (including fees for attendance at meetings of committees of the Board) are the only compensation that an Audit Committee member may receive from the Company.
The Audit Committee Chair shall be responsible for leadership of the Committee, including overseeing the agenda, presiding over the meetings and reporting to the Board. The Audit Committee shall meet at least four times each year (or more frequently if circumstances require) and hold such other meetings from time to time as may be called by its Chair, the Chief Executive Officer or any two members of the Committee. Meetings may also be held telephonically or actions may be taken by unanimous written consent. Each regularly scheduled meeting will conclude with an executive session of the Audit Committee absent members of management. The Audit Committee will meet at least annually with the Chief Financial Officer, the internal auditors and the independent auditors in separate executive sessions. In addition, the Audit Committee will meet with the independent auditors and management to discuss the annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements,
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including the Companys disclosures under Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Audit Committee members shall be appointed by the Board on recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee. A majority of the members of the Audit Committee shall constitute a quorum of the Committee. The vote of a majority of the members of the full Audit Committee shall be the act of the Committee. Except as expressly provided in this Charter or the By-Laws of the Company or as required by law, regulations or NYSE listing standards, the Audit Committee shall fix its own rules of procedure.
III. AUDIT COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
To fulfill its responsibilities and duties, the Audit Committee will:
Documents/Reports/Accounting Information Review
1. Review this Charter annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval.
2. Review and discuss with management and the independent auditors the annual audited financial statements to be included in the Companys Form 10-K filing (prior to the Companys 10-K filing) and quarterly financial statements (prior to the Companys 10-Q filings or release of earnings), including the Companys disclosures under Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. Review other relevant reports or financial information submitted by the Company to any governmental body or the public, including management certifications as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Review relevant reports rendered by the independent auditor.
3. Recommend to the Board whether the Companys annual financial statements, together with the report of their independent auditors as to their examination, should be included in the Companys Form 10-K.
4. Discuss the type and presentation of information to be included in earnings press releases (paying particular attention to any use of pro forma, or adjusted non-GAAP, information), as well as financial information and earnings guidance, if any, provided to analysts and rating agencies.
5. Review the regular internal audit reports to management (or summaries thereof) prepared by the internal auditing department, as well as managements response.
Independent Auditor
6. The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent auditors employed by the Company (including resolution of disagreements between management and the auditors regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work. The independent auditors shall report directly to the Audit Committee. In the process, the Audit Committee will provide to the independent auditors full access to the Audit Committee (and the Board) to report on any and all appropriate matters. The Audit Committee will discuss results of the annual audit and quarterly reviews with the independent auditors and the matters required to be discussed under Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 61, as modified or supplemented.
7. Obtain and review a report from the independent auditors at least annually regarding:
(i) the independent auditors internal quality-control procedures;
(ii) any material issues raised by the most recent quality-control review, or peer review, of the firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm, any steps taken to deal with any such issues; and
(iii) all relationships between the independent auditors and the Company, addressing the matters set forth in Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1.
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Evaluate the independent auditors qualifications, performance, and independence. Further, the Audit Committee will review and evaluate the lead partner and other senior members of the independent audit team each year. Ensure the rotation of audit partners as required by law.
8. Ensure that the independent auditors submit on a quarterly basis to the Audit Committee a statement delineating all relationships between the independent auditors and the Company and actively engage in a dialogue with the independent auditors with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the auditors objectivity and independence; and, if deemed appropriate by the Audit Committee, recommend that the Board of Directors take appropriate action to ensure the independence of the auditors.
9. Review the independent auditors audit plan discuss scope, staffing, budget, locations, reliance upon management and internal audit and general audit approach. Approve the fees and other significant compensation to be paid to the independent auditors as well as pre-approve all permitted non-audit engagements with the independent auditors. The Audit Committee shall consult with management but shall not delegate these responsibilities, except that pre-approvals of non-audit services may be delegated to a single member of the Audit Committee.
10. Review with the independent auditors any problems, difficulties or differences encountered in the course of the audit work, including any disagreements with management or restrictions on the scope of the independent auditors activities or on access to requested information and managements response thereto.
11. Hold timely discussions with the independent auditors regarding the following:
(i) critical accounting policies and practices;
(ii) alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles that have been discussed with management, ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures and treatments, and the treatment preferred by the independent auditor; and
(iii) other material written communications between the independent auditor and management, including, but not limited to, the management letter.
12. Recommend to the Board policies for the Companys hiring of employees or former employees of the independent auditors.
13. Discuss with the independent auditors any communications between the audit team and the audit firms national office respecting auditing or accounting issues presented by the engagement.
Financial Reporting Processes, Accounting Policies and Internal Control Structure
14. Obtain and review disclosures made by the Companys principal executive officer and principal financial officer regarding compliance with their certification obligations as required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder, including the Companys disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls for financial reporting and evaluations thereof.
15. Review managements assertion on its assessment of the effectiveness of internal controls as of the end of the most recent fiscal year and the independent auditors report on managements assertion.
16. Review major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentations, including any significant changes in the Companys selection or application of accounting principles, and reports from management and the independent auditors as to the Companys internal controls over financial reporting and any special audit steps adopted in light of control deficiencies.
17. Review analyses prepared by management or the independent auditors setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, including analyses of the effects of alternative GAAP methods on the financial statements.
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18. Review the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the financial statements of the Company.
Ethical Compliance, Legal Compliance, and Risk Management
19. Review with the Companys General Counsel legal matters that may have a material impact on the financial statements, the Companys compliance policies and any material reports or inquiries received from regulators or governmental agencies.
20. Review the Companys policies and practices related to compliance with the Companys codes of ethical conduct and conflicts of interest, to be satisfied that such policies are adequate and adhered to by the Company and its directors and executive officers.
21. Maintain and review annually procedures for:
(i) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters; and
(ii) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
22. Review with management policies and analyses with respect to financial risk and fraud risk assessment and related risk management.
Internal Audit
23. Ensure that the Company maintains an internal audit function and review the activities, organization structure, qualifications and performance of this function. Periodically review with the internal auditor any significant difficulties, disagreements with management, or scope restrictions encountered in the course of the functions work.
24. Review the appointment, replacement, reassignment or dismissal of the internal audit manager (if any) or approve the retention of, and engagement terms for, any third party provider of internal audit services.
25. Review the internal auditors audit plan discuss scope, staffing, budget, locations, and general audit approach.
Other Responsibilities
26. Annually prepare a report to shareholders as required by the SEC. The report should be included in the Companys annual proxy statement.
27. Annually conduct a self-evaluation of the Audit Committee.
28. Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Companys By-Laws, and governing law, as the Board of Directors deems necessary or appropriate.
While the Audit Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in this Charter, the Audit Committees function is one of oversight. The Companys management is responsible for preparing the Companys financial statements and, along with the internal auditors, for developing and maintaining systems of internal accounting and financial controls, while the independent auditors will assist the Audit Committee and the Board in fulfilling their responsibilities for their review of these financial statements and internal controls. The Audit Committee expects the independent auditors to call to its attention any accounting, auditing, internal accounting control, regulatory or other related matters that they believe warrant consideration or action. The Audit Committee recognizes that the financial management and the internal and independent auditors have more knowledge and information about the Company than do Audit Committee members. Consequently, in carrying out its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee does not provide any expert or special assurance as to the Companys financial statements or internal controls or any professional certification as to the independent auditors work.
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Appendix B
WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC.
NOMINATIONS OF DIRECTORS
The Nominating and Governance Committee (Committee ) has adopted the following policy (the Director Nomination Policy ) to assist it in fulfilling its duties and responsibilities as provided in its charter (the Charter ). This Director Nomination Policy may be amended and/or restated from time to time by the Committee in accordance with the Charter and as provided herein.
1. | Recommended Candidates. The Committee shall consider any and all candidates recommended as nominees for directors to the Committee by any directors, officers, shareholders of the Company, third party search firms and other sources. Under the terms of the Companys By-Laws, the Committee will consider director nominations from shareholders of record who provide timely written notice along with prescribed information to the Secretary of the Company. To be timely, the notice must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than 90 or earlier than 120 days prior to the anniversary of the previous years annual meeting, except in the case of candidates recommended by shareholders of more than 5% of the Companys Common Stock who may also submit nominations in accordance with the procedures in Section 2 under 5% Shareholder Recommendations and except as otherwise provided in the Companys By-Laws. The shareholders notice must set forth (1) all information relating to such director nominee that is required to be disclosed under the federal securities laws in solicitation of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, including the persons written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (2) the name and address of the shareholder and any beneficial owner giving the notice as they appear on the Companys books together with the number of shares of the Companys Common Stock which are owned beneficially and of record by the shareholder and any beneficial owner; and (3) a signed statement by the nominee agreeing that, if elected, such nominee will (a) represent all Company shareholders in accordance with applicable laws and the Companys By-Laws and (b) comply with the Companys Code of Ethics. | |
2. | 5% Shareholder Recommendations. For purposes of facilitating disclosure required in the Proxy Statement, the Committee and the Corporate Secretary shall identify any candidates recommended by shareholders owning more than 5% of the Companys Common Stock, and identify the shareholder making such recommendation, as provided in and to the extent required by the federal securities laws. In addition to the procedures for shareholders to recommend nominees described in Section 1 above, shareholders or a group of shareholders who have owned more than 5% of the Companys Common Stock for at least one year as of the date the recommendation was made, may recommend nominees for director to the Committee provided that (1) written notice from the shareholder(s) must be received by the Secretary of the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than 120 days prior to the anniversary of the date the Companys proxy statement was released to shareholders in connection with the previous years annual meeting, except as otherwise provided in the Companys By-Laws; (2) such notice must contain the name and address of the shareholder(s) and any beneficial owner(s) giving the notice as they appear on the Companys books, together with evidence regarding the number of shares of the Companys Common Stock together with the holding period and the written consent of the recommended candidate and the shareholder(s) to being identified in the Companys proxy statement; (3) such notice must contain all information relating to such director nominee that is required to be disclosed under federal securities laws in solicitation of proxies for election of directors in an election contest; and (4) such notice must contain a signed statement by the nominee agreeing that, if elected, such nominee will (a) represent all Company shareholders in accordance with applicable laws and the Companys By-Laws and (b) comply with the Companys Code of Ethics. |
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3. | Desired Qualifications, Qualities and Skills. The Committee shall endeavor to find individuals of high
integrity who have a solid record of accomplishment in their chosen fields and who possess the qualifications, qualities and
skills to effectively represent the best interests of all shareholders. Candidates will be selected for their ability to exercise
good judgment, and to provide practical insights and diverse perspectives. The Committee considers the following qualifications at a minimum to be required of any Board members in recommending to the Board of Directors potential new Board members, or the continued service of existing members: |
| the highest professional and personal ethics; | ||
| broad experience in business, government, education or technology; | ||
| ability to provide insights and practical wisdom based on their experience and expertise; | ||
| commitment to enhancing shareholder value; | ||
| sufficient time to effectively carry out their duties; their service on other boards of public companies should be limited to a reasonable number; | ||
| ability to develop a good working relationship with other Board members and contribute to the Boards working relationship with senior management of the Company; and | ||
| independence; a majority of the Board shall consist of independent directors, as defined in this Director Nomination Policy. |
Other than the foregoing, there are no stated minimum criteria for director nominees, although the Committee may also consider such other factors as it may deem are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. The Committee does, however, believe it appropriate for at least one member of the Board to meet the criteria for an audit committee financial expert as defined by Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
4. | Independence. The Committee believes and it is the policy of the Company that a majority of the members of the Board meet the definition of independent director set forth in this Director Nomination Policy. The Committee shall annually assess each nominee for director by reviewing any potential conflicts of interest and outside affiliations, based on the criteria for independence set out below. |
An independent director is one who:
(1) | has no material relationship with the Company, either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company; | ||
(2) | is not an employee of the Company and no member of his or her immediate family is an executive officer of the Company; | ||
(3) | has not been employed by the Company and no member of his or her immediate family has been an executive officer of the Company during the past three years; | ||
(4) | has not received and no member of his or her immediate family has received more than $100,000 per year in direct compensation from the Company in any capacity other than as a director during the past three years; | ||
(5) | (A) is not and no member of his or her immediate family is a current partner of a firm that is the Companys internal or external auditor; (B) is not a current employee of the Companys internal or external auditor; (C) does not have an immediate family member who is a current employee of the Companys internal or external auditor and who participates in that firms audit, assurance or tax compliance (but not tax planning) practice; and (D) within the last three years was not and no member of his or her immediate family was (and no longer is), a partner or employee of the Companys internal or external auditor and personally worked on the Companys audit within that time. |
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(6) | is not and no member of his or her immediate family is currently, and for the past three years has not been, and no member of his or her immediate family has been, part of an interlocking directorate in which an executive officer of the Company serves on the compensation committee of another company that employs the director or an immediate family member of the director; | ||
(7) | is not an executive officer or an employee, and no member of his or her immediate family is an executive officer, of another company that makes payments to, or receives payments from, the Company for property or services in an amount which, in any single year, exceeds the greater of $1 million, or 2% of such other companys consolidated revenues during any of the past three years; | ||
(8) | is free of any relationships with the Company that may impair, or appear to impair, his or her ability to make independent judgments; and | ||
(9) | is not and no member of his or her immediate family is employed by or serves as a director, officer or trustee of a charitable organization that receives contributions from the Company or a Company charitable trust, in an amount which exceeds the greater of $1 million or 2% of such charitable organizations total annual receipts. |
This policy may be modified temporarily if, due to unforeseen circumstances, strict adherence would be detrimental to the Boards performance.
For purposes of determining a material relationship, the Committee shall utilize the following standards:
1. | Any payments by the Company to a directors primary business affiliation or the primary business affiliation of an immediate family member of a director for goods or services, or other contractual arrangements, must be made in the ordinary course of business and on substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with non-affiliated persons. | ||
2. | The aggregate amount of such payments must not exceed 2% of the Companys consolidated gross revenues. |
For purposes of these independence standards, (i) immediate family members of a director include the directors spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother- and father-in-law, sons- and daughters-in-law, and brothers and sisters-in-law and anyone (other than domestic employees) who shares the directors home and (ii) the term primary business affiliation means an entity of which the director is a principal/executive officer or in which the director holds at least a 5% equity interest.
5. | Nominee Evaluation Process. The Committee will consider as a candidate any director of the Company who has indicated to the Committee that he or she is willing to stand for re-election as well as any other person who is recommended by any shareholders of the Company in accordance with the procedures described under Recommended Candidates in Section 1 and under 5% Shareholder Recommendations in Section 2. The Committee may also undertake its own search process for candidates and may retain the services of professional search firms or other third parties to assist in identifying and evaluating potential nominees and, if fees are paid to such persons in any year, such fees shall be disclosed in the next annual Proxy Statement relating to such year. The Committee may use any process it deems appropriate for the purpose of evaluating candidates which is consistent with the policies set forth in the Charter, Corporate Governance Policy and this Director Nomination Policy, which process may include, without limitation, personal interviews, background checks, written submissions by the candidates and third party references. Although the Committee may seek candidates that have different qualities and experiences at different times in order to maximize the aggregate experience, qualities and strengths of the Board members, nominees for each election or appointment of directors shall be evaluated using a substantially similar process and under no circumstances shall the Committee evaluate nominees recommended by a |
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shareholder of the Company pursuant to a process substantially different than that used for other nominees for the same election or appointment of directors. | ||
6. | Categorize Recommendations. For purposes of facilitating disclosure required in the Proxy Statement, the Committee and the Corporate Secretary shall identify and organize the recommendations for nominees received by the Committee (other than nominees who are executive officers or who are directors standing for re-election) in accordance with one or more of the following categories of persons or entities that recommended that nominee: |
(1) | a shareholder, a 5% shareholder, independent director, chief executive officer, or other executive officer of the Company; | ||
(2) | a third-party search firm used by or on behalf of the Company; and | ||
(3) | any other specified source. |
7. | Material Changes to Nomination Procedures. For purposes of facilitating disclosure required in Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, the Committee and the Corporate Secretary shall identify any material changes to the procedures for shareholder nominations of directors for the reporting period in which such material changes occur. | |
8. | Posting of Policy. This Director Nomination Policy shall be posted to the Companys website in accordance with the Companys Corporate Governance Policy. | |
9. | Amendments to This Policy. Any amendments to this Director Nomination Policy must be approved by the Committee and ratified by the Board. |
January 12, 2005
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ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
Tuesday, January 9, 2007 4:00 p.m. Central Standard Time
Winnebago Industries South Office Complex Theater,
605 W. Crystal Lake Road, Forest City, Iowa
DIRECTIONS: 1) From I-35 | ||
| From I-35, take exit number 203, and turn right (West) on IA-9 towards Forest City. | |
| At Forest City turn left (South) on US-69 at the junction of IA-9 and US-69. | |
| Take US-69 South 1.4 miles to the junction of US-69 and County Road B14. | |
| Turn right (West) on B14 and continue approximately 1/2 mile to Gate #1. | |
| Turn right (North) into the center lane and Winnebago Industries Security will check you in and direct you to the Theater. | |
2) From I-80 | ||
| From I-80, take exit number 137B, turning onto I-35 North towards Minneapolis. | |
| Take exit number 203, IA-9 West towards Forest City. | |
| At Forest City turn left (South) on US-69 at the junction of IA-9 and US-69. | |
| Take US-69 South 1.4 miles to the junction of US-69 and County Road B14. | |
| Turn right (West) on B14 and continue approximately 1/2 mile to Gate #1. | |
| Turn right (North) into the center lane and Winnebago Industries Security will check you in and direct you to the Theater. | |
3) From I-90 | ||
| From I-90, take exit number 159A, turning onto I-35 South towards Albert Lea. | |
| Exit I-35 on exit number 203, IA-9 right (West) towards Forest City. | |
| At Forest City turn left (South) on US-69 at the junction of IA-9 and US-69. | |
| Take US-69 South 1.4 miles to the junction of US-69 and County Road B14. | |
| Turn right (West) on B14 and continue approximately 1/2 mile to Gate #1. | |
| Turn right (North) into the center lane and Winnebago Industries Security will check you in and direct you to the Theater. |
Winnebago Industries, Inc.
Forest City, Iowa |
proxy |
Proxy solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company for Annual Meeting on January 9, 2007.
The undersigned hereby appoints Bruce D. Hertzke and Edwin F. Barker, or either one of them, the undersigneds attorneys and proxies, with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of Common Stock of Winnebago Industries, Inc. which the undersigned is entitled to vote, as fully as the undersigned could do if personally present, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of said corporation to be held at Winnebago Industries South Office Complex Theater, 605 W. Crystal Lake Road, Forest City, Iowa on the 9th day of January, 2007, at 4:00 p.m., Central Standard Time, and at any and all adjournments thereof.
(Continued, and to be signed and dated, on the other side.)
COMPANY # |
Three Ways to Appoint Your Proxy to Vote
To appoint your proxy electonically by telephone: 1-800-560-1965
1) Read the Proxy Statement and have the proxy card below at hand.
2) Call 1-800-560-1965.
3) Follow the instructions.
To appoint your proxy electronically via the Internet: www.eproxy.com/wgo/
1) Read the Proxy Statement and have the proxy card below at hand.
2) Go to website www.eproxy.com/wgo/.
3) Follow the instructions provided on the website.
To appoint your proxy by mail
1) Read the Proxy Statement.
2) Check the appropriate boxes on the proxy card below.
3) Sign and date the proxy card.
4) Return the proxy card in the envelope provided.
The deadline for telephone or Internet voting is 12:00 p.m. (CST) on Monday, January 8, 2007.
Your Vote Is Important
Do not return this proxy card if you appoint your proxy to vote by telephone or Internet. Your electronic appointment of a proxy by telephone or via the Internet authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.
\/ Please detach here \/
The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR Item 1.
1. Election of directors: | 01 Irvin E. Aal 02 Joseph W. England |
o Vote FOR all nominees (except as marked) |
o Vote WITHHELD from all nominees |
(Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any indicated nominee,
write the number(s) of the nominee(s) in the box provided to the right.) |
|
Address Change? Mark Box o Indicate changes below:
Date ______________________________________________
| |
|
|
Signature(s) in Box Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears on Proxy. If held in joint tenancy, all persons must sign. Trustees, administrators, etc., should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the proxy. |