DEFINITIVE NOTICE & PROXY

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant x Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ¨

Check the appropriate box:

 

¨ Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

¨ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

x Definitive Proxy Statement

 

¨ Definitive Additional Materials

 

¨ Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

CIRCOR INTERNATIONAL, 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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¨ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

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  (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

 

 

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¨ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

¨ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

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LOGO

25 Corporate Drive, Suite 130

Burlington, MA 01803

(781) 270-1200

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held on Wednesday, April 30, 2008

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting (the “Annual Meeting”) of Stockholders of CIRCOR International, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held on Wednesday, April 30, 2008, at 1:00 p.m. Central Daylight Savings Time (2:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Savings time), at the offices of the Company’s subsidiary, Circor Energy Products, Inc.,1500 South East 89th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Annual Meeting is being called for the purpose of considering and voting upon:

 

  1. The election of three Class III Directors for a term of three years each;

 

  2. Ratification of the selection by the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008; and

 

  3. Such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 12, 2008 as the record date for determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. Only holders of record of the Company’s common stock, par value $.01 per share, at the close of business on that date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

In the event there are not sufficient shares to be voted in favor of any of the foregoing proposals at the time of the Annual Meeting, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned in order to permit further solicitation of proxies.

Directions to the offices of Circor Energy Products, Inc. are included on the outside back cover of this Proxy Statement.

WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. YOUR PROXY IS REVOCABLE UP TO THE TIME IT IS VOTED, AND, IF YOU ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU MAY VOTE IN PERSON EVEN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY RETURNED YOUR PROXY CARD.

By Order of the Board of Directors

LOGO

Alan J. Glass

Secretary

Burlington, Massachusetts

March 26, 2008


LOGO

25 Corporate Drive, Suite 130

Burlington, MA 01803

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held on Wednesday, April 30, 2008

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of CIRCOR International, Inc. (the “Company”) for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on Wednesday, April 30, 2008, at 1:00 p.m. Central Daylight Savings Time (2:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Savings Time), and any adjournments or postponements thereof (the “Annual Meeting”). The Annual Meeting will be held at the offices of the Company’s subsidiary, Circor Energy Products, Inc., 1500 South East 89th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders of the Company will be asked to consider and vote upon the following matters:

 

  1. The election of three Class III Directors for a three-year term each, such term to continue until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2011 and until each such Director’s successor is duly elected and qualified;

 

  2. Ratification of the selection by the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008; and

 

  3. Such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

The Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and Proxy Card are first being mailed to stockholders of the Company on or about March 26, 2008 in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 12, 2008 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting (the “Record Date”). Only holders of record of the Company’s common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), at the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. As of the Record Date, there were 16,691,978 shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and approximately 95 stockholders of record. Each holder of a share of Common Stock outstanding as of the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record with respect to each matter submitted at the Annual Meeting.

The presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of at least a majority of the total number of outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. A quorum being present, the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast is necessary to elect each nominee as a Class III Director of the Company and a majority of the votes cast is necessary to ratify the selection of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.


Shares that reflect abstentions or “broker non-votes” (i.e., shares represented at the meeting held by brokers or nominees as to which instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote such shares and with respect to which the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power to vote such shares) will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. With respect to the election of the Directors, votes may be cast for or withheld from the nominee. Votes cast for the nominee will count as “yes” votes; votes that are withheld from the nominee will not be voted with respect to the election of the nominee although they will be counted when determining whether there is a quorum. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of a particular proposal.

Stockholders of the Company are requested to complete, date, sign and return the accompanying Proxy Card in the enclosed envelope. Common Stock represented by properly executed proxies received by the Company and not revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions contained therein. If instructions are not given therein, properly executed proxies will be voted “FOR” the election of the nominees for Director listed in this Proxy Statement and “FOR” ratification of the selection of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the 2008 fiscal year. It is not anticipated that any matters other than the election of three Class III Directors and ratification of the selection of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the 2008 fiscal year will be presented at the Annual Meeting. If other matters are presented, proxies will be voted in accordance with the discretion of the proxy holders.

Any properly completed proxy may be revoked at any time before it is voted on any matter (without, however, affecting any vote taken prior to such revocation) by giving written notice of such revocation to the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, or by signing and duly delivering a proxy bearing a later date, or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy.

The Annual Report to stockholders of the Company, which includes a letter to stockholders from our Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers, together with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 (“Fiscal 2007”), is being mailed to stockholders of the Company concurrently with this Proxy Statement. Except where otherwise incorporated by reference, the Annual Report is not a part of the proxy solicitation material.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Independence of Directors

The Company’s Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that each Director, other than David A. Bloss, Sr., our recently retired Chief Executive Officer, and A. William Higgins, our newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, is independent of the Company. In evaluating the independence of each Director, the Board applied the standards and guidelines set forth in the applicable New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) regulations in determining that each non-management Director has no material relationship with the Company, either directly or as a partner, shareholder or affiliate of an organization that has a relationship with the Company. The bases for the Board’s determination include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

   

Other than Mr. Higgins, no Director is an employee of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates.

 

   

No Director has an immediate family member who is an officer of the Company or its subsidiaries or has any other current or past material relationship with the Company.

 

   

Other than Mssrs. Bloss and Higgins, no Director receives, or in the past three years, has received any compensation from the Company other than compensation for services as a Director.

 

   

No Director has a family member who has received any compensation during the past three years from the Company.

 

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No Director, during the past three years, has been affiliated with, or had an immediate family member who has been affiliated with a present or former internal or external auditor of the Company.

 

   

No executive officer of the Company serves on the compensation committee or the board of directors of any corporation that employs a Director or a member of any Director’s immediate family.

 

   

No Director is an officer or employee (or has an immediate family member who is an officer or employee) of an organization that sells products and services to, or receives products and services from the Company in excess of the greater of $1 million or 2% of such organization’s consolidated gross revenues in any fiscal year.

In making its determination, the Board also considered the fact that one of our Directors, David F. Dietz, is a partner in Goodwin Procter LLP (“Goodwin Procter”), a law firm that provides legal services to the Company. After considering the insignificant fees paid by the Company to Goodwin Procter in proportion to Goodwin Procter’s overall revenues (less than one percent), as well as considering both the independent judgment that Mr. Dietz has exhibited during his eight and one-half year tenure as a Director and his ability to maintain such independent judgment, the Board determined that the relationship between Goodwin Procter and the Company does not result in Mr. Dietz having a material relationship with the Company and does not compromise his independence.

Principles of Corporate Governance

The Board’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has developed, and the full Board of Directors has adopted, a set of Principles of Corporate Governance. The Principles of Corporate Governance are available on the Company’s website at www.circor.com under the Investors/Corporate Governance sub link, and a hardcopy will be provided by the Company free of charge to any shareholder who requests it by writing to the Company’s Secretary at the Company’s corporate headquarters.

Code of Conduct and Business Ethics/Compliance Training/Reporting of Concerns

The Company has implemented and regularly monitors compliance with a comprehensive Code of Conduct and Business Ethics which applies uniformly to all directors, executive officers and employees. Among other things, the Code of Conduct and Business Ethics addresses such issues as conflicts of interest, corporate opportunities, confidentiality, fair dealing, protection and proper use of company assets, compliance with applicable law (including insider trading laws), and reporting of illegal or unethical behavior. The Code of Conduct and Business Ethics is available on the Company’s website at www.circor.com under the Investors/Corporate Governance sub link, and a hardcopy will be provided by the Company free of charge to any shareholder who requests it by writing to the Company’s Secretary at the Company’s corporate headquarters.

In order to enhance understanding of and compliance with the Code of Conduct and Business Ethics, the Company (through a third-party provider) also maintains an on-line training program pursuant to which all directors and officers, and most managerial level employees, must take a series of courses designed to demonstrate the ways in which certain activities might run afoul of the Code of Conduct and Business Ethics. In addition, although all employees are encouraged to personally report any ethical concerns without fear of retribution, the Company, through a third-party provider, maintains the CIRCOR International Help Line, a toll-free “hotline” through which employees may report concerns confidentially and anonymously. In addition to facilitating communication of ethical concerns, the Help Line serves as the vehicle through which employees may communicate with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors confidentially and anonymously regarding any accounting or auditing concerns. Finally, employees also have the option of communicating any concerns via email to a designated email address that is regularly checked by the Company’s chief legal and compliance officer.

 

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Meetings of and Communications with the Non-Management Directors

The Board has determined that its non-management members will meet a minimum of two times per year to discuss any issues that might more properly be raised outside of the presence of management and has appointed David F. Dietz as Lead Director to facilitate these meetings. The Board also has established a process through which interested parties, including stockholders, may communicate directly with Mr. Dietz. In particular, confidential communications may be sent directly to Mr. Dietz at the following address: P.O. Box 146699, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.

Nomination of Directors/Director Presence at Annual Meetings

General Criteria

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recognizes that the challenges and needs of the Company will vary over time and, accordingly, believes that the selection of director nominees should be based on skill sets most pertinent to the issues facing or likely to face the Company at the time of nomination. Accordingly, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not believe it is in the best interests of the Company to establish rigid criteria for the selection of nominees to the Board. Generally speaking, however, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that the Company will benefit from a diversity of background and experience on the Board and, therefore, will consider and seek nominees who, in addition to general management experience and business knowledge, possess, among other attributes, an expertise in one or more of the following areas: finance, manufacturing technology, international business, investment banking, business law, corporate governance, risk assessment, business strategy, organizational development and investor relations. In addition, there are certain general attributes that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes all director candidates must possess including:

 

   

A commitment to ethics and integrity;

 

   

A commitment to personal and organizational accountability;

 

   

A history of achievement that reflects superior standards for themselves and others; and

 

   

A willingness to express alternate points of view while, at the same time, being respectful of the opinions of others and working collaboratively with colleagues.

As noted in the Principles of Corporate Governance, a majority of directors must be independent. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, however, also believes that, absent special circumstances, all directors other than the Chief Executive Officer should be independent. The Board of Directors determined that the transition of the office of Chief Executive Officer from Mr. Bloss to Mr. Higgins, effective March 1, 2008, warranted Mr. Bloss remaining as our Chairman through a transition period.

Shareholder Nominations

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider nominations submitted by shareholders, provided that such nominations are submitted to the Company not less than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary date on which the Company’s proxy statement was released to shareholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting. To submit any such nomination, a shareholder must deliver notice of such nomination to the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal executive offices. Therefore, in order to be considered by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for nomination and inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement for its annual meeting to be held in 2009, shareholder recommendations for director must be received by CIRCOR’s Secretary prior to November 26, 2008 Any such notice also must include (i) the name and address of record of the shareholder; (ii) a representation that the shareholder is a record holder of the Company’s Common Stock, or if the shareholder is not a record holder, evidence of ownership in accordance with Rule 14a-8(b)(2) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934; (iii) the name, age, business and residential address, educational background, current principal occupation or employment, and principal

 

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occupation or employment for the preceding five full fiscal years of the proposed director candidate; (iv) a description of the qualifications of the proposed director candidate which address the general criteria for directors as expressed in the Company’s most recent proxy statement; (v) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the shareholder and the proposed director candidate; and (vi) the consent of the proposed director candidate to be named in the proxy statement and to serve as a director if elected at such meeting. Shareholders must also submit any other information regarding the proposed candidate that is required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the rules of the SEC. Nominations that meet the criteria described above will be forwarded to the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for further review and consideration by such committee.

Evaluation of Candidates

In evaluating candidates for director, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee applies the skills, experience, qualifications and demeanor of the individual against the general criteria set forth above, including the particular needs of and issues facing the Company at the time. In addition, with regard to current Directors, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee takes into consideration such individuals’ performance as a Director. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee intends to evaluate any shareholder candidates in the same manner as candidates from all other sources.

Director Attendance at Annual Meetings

To date, our Board has not adopted a formal policy regarding director attendance at annual meetings. However, the Board typically schedules a Board meeting either on or the day before the date of the annual meeting, and our Directors, therefore, are encouraged to and typically do attend the annual meeting. At our last annual meeting, which was held on May 2, 2007, all of our Directors were in attendance. We anticipate that all of our Directors will be in attendance at the April 30, 2008 Annual Meeting.

Our Board and Committee Structure

The Board

Our Board of Directors currently consists of eight members who are divided into three classes, with three Directors in Class I, two Directors in Class II and three Directors in Class III.1 Directors serve for staggered three-year terms with one class of Directors being elected by the Company’s stockholders at each annual meeting. Our Board maintains three committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

 

 

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Prior to October 31, 2007, our Board of Directors consisted of six members. However, effective October 31, 2007, our Board voted to increase the number of directors to seven and appoint C. William Zadel as a director. Effective February 20, 2008, our Board voted to increase the number of directors to eight and appoint A. Williams Higgins as a director in connection with Mr. Higgins’ becoming our newly elected Chief Executive Officer.

 

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The table below sets forth the name, age, director class and committee membership for each of our directors as of March 12, 2008:

 

Director

   Age    Director
Class
   Audit
Committee
   Compensation
Committee
   Nom/Corporate
Governance
Committee
   Non-Mgmt
Directors

David A. Bloss, Sr.  

   57    III            

C. William Zadel

   64    III    O    O       O

A. William Higgins

   49    III            

Jerome D. Brady

   64    II       +    O    O

Dewain K. Cross

   70    II    +       O    O

David F. Dietz

   58    I          O    +

Douglas M. Hayes

   64    I    O    O    +    O

Thomas E. Naugle

   69    I    O    O    O    O

 

+ Chairman of Committee

   Director Class Term Expires at annual meeting:    I = 2009

O Committee Member

      II = 2010
      III = 2011

David A. Bloss, Sr.    Mr. Bloss was employed as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since our inception in July 1999 until his retirement effective March 1, 2008 and also served as our President until November 2006. In addition, from June 1993 until our October 1999 spin-off from Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (“Watts”), Mr. Bloss was employed by Watts, first as Executive Vice President and then as President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining Watts, Mr. Bloss was associated for five years with the Norton Company, a manufacturer of abrasives and cutting tools, serving as President of the Superabrasives Division.

Jerome D. Brady.    Mr. Brady has served as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors since April 2003. Prior to retiring in 2000, Mr. Brady served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of C&K Components, Inc., a manufacturer of electronic components located in Watertown, Massachusetts. He also previously served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of AM International, Inc., a global manufacturer of printing equipment, headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois. Mr. Brady is also a director of Franklin Electric Company, Inc.

Dewain K. Cross.    Mr. Cross has served as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors since its inception in July 1999. Mr. Cross retired from Cooper Industries, Inc. in 1995 after serving fifteen years as Cooper Industries’ Senior Vice President, Finance and eight years prior to that as Vice President, Finance. Mr. Cross began his career with Cooper Industries in 1966 and held various accounting, taxation and treasury positions until he was named Vice President, Finance in 1972. Mr. Cross is also a director of Magnetek, Inc.

David F. Dietz.    Mr. Dietz has served as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors since its inception in July 1999. Mr. Dietz or his professional corporation has been a partner of the law firm of Goodwin Procter since 1984. Mr. Dietz is also a director of the Andover Companies, a property and casualty insurance company, and High Liner Foods (USA), Inc., a frozen food company.

Douglas M. Hayes.    Mr. Hayes has served as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors since October 2002. Since 1997, Mr. Hayes has been the President of Hayes Capital Corporation, a private investment firm, and from 1997 through 2001, he also served as Chairman of Compass Aerospace Corporation, an aerospace parts manufacturer. From 1986 through 1997, Mr. Hayes was a Managing Director of the investment firm Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. Mr. Hayes currently is a member of the board of directors of Reliance Steel and Aluminum Co. and also is a former director of Sands Regency, Inc.

A. William Higgins.    Mr. Higgins has served as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors since March 2008. Mr. Higgins has been employed as our Chief Executive Officer since March 1, 2008 and joined us

 

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as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in January 2005 and was elevated to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer in November 2006. Prior to joining us, Mr. Higgins spent thirteen years in a variety of senior management positions with Honeywell International and AlliedSignal, most recently serving as Vice President and General Manager, Americas for the Honeywell Building Solutions Business, and prior to that, as Vice President and General Manager of the AlliedSignal Grimes Aerospace Business, General Manager of the AlliedSignal Aerospace Services Anniston Repair and Overhaul Business, and Director of East Asia Business Development for the Electronic Materials Business unit.

Thomas E. Naugle.    Mr. Naugle has served as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors since October 2002. Mr. Naugle has been the President of Naugle & Company, a private investment and management firm, since August 1982. From 1984 until 1999, Mr. Naugle also served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Barrett Trailers, Inc., a manufacturer of semi-trailers, and from 1986 through 1996, he was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tulsa Winch, Inc. From 1967 through 1980, Mr. Naugle held a series of senior management positions at Cooper Industries, Inc. Mr. Naugle currently serves as a director of the Tulsa Boys’ Home and previously served as a director or AAON, Inc.

C. William Zadel.    Mr.Zadel has served as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors since October of 2007. In December of 2004, Mr. Zadel retired from Mykrolis Corp. From August of 2001 until December of 2004, Mr. Zadel was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mykrolis Corp., a multinational company focused on developing, manufacturing and marketing technically advanced filtration, purification and control products for the global semiconductor industry. Mykrolis was the former microelectronics division of Millipore Corporation. Before becoming CEO of Mykrolis at its separation from Millipore in August, 2001, Mr. Zadel was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Millipore since April of 1996. Mr. Zadel also serves as a director of Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc., and Matritech, Inc.

Committees

Audit Committee.    The Audit Committee, which consists of Messrs. Cross, Hayes, Naugle and Zadel, is directly responsible for overseeing the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the firm of independent auditors that audits the Company’s financial statements and performs services related to the audit. Among other responsibilities, the Audit Committee also reviews the scope and results of the audit with the independent auditors, reviews with management and the independent auditors the Company’s annual and quarterly operating results, considers the adequacy of the Company’s internal accounting procedures and controls, and considers the effect of such procedures on the auditors’ independence. The Audit Committee also is responsible for overseeing the Company’s internal audit function and for overseeing the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. In accordance with the requirements of the NYSE, the Audit Committee operates in accordance with a Charter which is available on the Company’s website at www.circor.com under the Investors/Corporate Governance sub link; the Company also will provide a hardcopy of the Audit Committee Charter to shareholders free of charge upon written request to the Company’s Secretary at the Company’s corporate headquarters. Each member of the Audit Committee is “independent” as that term is defined in both the applicable listing standards of the NYSE and the rules of the SEC. Each member also meets the financial literacy requirements of the NYSE, and, in addition, the Board has determined that at least one of the Committee’s members, Mr. Cross, is an “audit committee financial expert” under the disclosure standards adopted by the SEC.

Compensation Committee.    The Compensation Committee, which consists of Messrs. Brady, Hayes, Naugle and Zadel (all of whom have been affirmatively determined by the full Board to be independent directors), reviews and recommends the compensation arrangements for the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and for all other officers and senior level employees, reviews general compensation levels for other employees as a group, determines the awards to be granted to eligible persons under the Company’s Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan and takes such other action as may be required in connection with the Company’s compensation and incentive plans. The Compensation Committee operates in accordance with a

 

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Charter which is available on the Company’s website at www.circor.com under the Investors/Corporate Governance sub link; the Company also will provide a hardcopy of the Compensation Committee Charter to shareholders free of charge upon written request to the Company’s Secretary at the Company’s corporate headquarters.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.    The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which consists of Messrs. Hayes, Brady, Cross, Dietz and Naugle (all of whom have been affirmatively determined by the full Board to be independent directors), is responsible for establishing criteria for selection of new directors, identifying individuals qualified to become directors, and recommending candidates to the Board for nomination as directors. In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for recommending to the Board a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the Company, overseeing the evaluation of the Board and management, recommending to the Board appropriate levels of director compensation and (together with the Audit Committee) monitoring compliance with the Company’s Code of Conduct and Business Ethics. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee operates in accordance with a Charter which is available on the Company’s website at www.circor.com under the Investors/Corporate Governance sub link; the Company also will provide a hardcopy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Charter to shareholders free of charge upon written request to the Company’s Secretary at the Company’s corporate headquarters.

Board and Committee Meetings

The following table sets forth the number of meetings held during Fiscal 2007 by the Board and by each committee. Each of the Directors attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and of the committees of which he was a member during the time each such individual was a member of the Board.

 

     Number of Meetings Held

Board of Directors

   6

Audit Committee

   7

Compensation Committee

   5

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

   2

 

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PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

At the Annual Meeting, three Class III Directors will be elected to serve until the annual meeting of Stockholders in 2011 and until each such Director’s successor is duly elected and qualified. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors has recommended, and the full Board of Directors has nominated David A. Bloss, Sr., C. William Zadel and A. William Higgins, the current Class III Directors, for re-election. Unless otherwise specified in the proxy, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy to vote the shares represented by each properly executed proxy for the election of David A. Bloss, Sr., C. William Zadel and A. William Higgins as Directors. Messrs. Bloss, Zadel and Higgins have each agreed to stand for re-election and to serve, if re-elected, as Directors. However, if any of the persons nominated by the Board of Directors fails to stand for election or is unable to accept election, the proxies will be voted for the election of such other person as the Board of Directors may recommend.

Vote Required For Approval

A quorum being present, the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast is necessary to elect each nominee as a Director of the Company.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AS DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY.

MANAGEMENT

Executive Officers and Key Employees

Our executive officers and key employees, and their respective ages and positions as of March 12, 2008, are as follows:

 

Name

   Age   

Position

A. William Higgins

   49    President and Chief Executive Officer

Frederic M. Burditt

   57    Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Richard A. Broughton

   41    Vice President, Chief Information Officer

John F. Kober, III

   38    Vice President, Corporate Controller and Assistant Secretary

Alan J. Glass

   44    Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Susan M. McCuaig

   50    Vice President, Human Resources

Christopher R. Celtruda

   39    Vice President and General Manager, Circor Aerospace Products

John W. Cope

   58    Group Vice President, Thermal Fluid Controls

Paul M. Coppinger

   46    Group Vice President, Circor Energy Products

Wayne F. Robbins

   56    Vice President and General Manager, Circor Instrumentation Technologies

A. William Higgins.    Mr. Higgins has served as our Chief Executive Officer since March 1, 2008. Mr. Higgins joined us as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in January 2005 and was elevated to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer in November 2006. Prior to joining us, Mr. Higgins spent thirteen years in a variety of senior management positions with Honeywell International and AlliedSignal, most recently serving as Vice President and General Manager, Americas for the Honeywell Building Solutions Business, and prior to that, as Vice President and General Manager of the AlliedSignal Grimes Aerospace Business, General Manager of the AlliedSignal Aerospace Services Anniston Repair and Overhaul Business, and Director of East Asia Business Development for the Electronic Materials Business unit.

Frederic M. Burditt.    Mr. Burditt joined us as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer in February 2008. For the past seven years, Mr. Burditt has served as Chief Financial Officer of Danaher Tool

 

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Group, a large division of Danaher Corporation, a diversified manufacturer known for its world-class implementation of lean operating principles. Prior to joining Danaher in 2001, Mr. Burditt had served as Chief Financial Officer of MedSource Technologies, Inc., a contract medical device manufacturing and engineering services provider, and prior to that, he spent eighteen years in positions of increasing responsibility with The Stanley Works, including financial responsibility for a $2.5 billion manufacturing organization operating in 30 countries.

Richard A. Broughton.    Mr. Broughton joined us in December 2006 as Vice President and Chief Information Officer. From June 2004 to December 2006, Mr. Broughton served as the Director, IT Strategy and Vice President, Information Technology for Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. and from January 1997 until June 2004, he served as Chief Information Officer at Computerworld, Inc.

John F. Kober, III.    Mr. Kober has served as our Vice President, Corporate Controller and Assistant Secretary since February 2006, as Vice President and Corporate Controller from September 2005 until February 2006, and as Assistant Corporate Controller since joining the Company in April, 2004 until September 2005. From November 2002 until April 2004, Mr. Kober was Director of Corporate Accounting at Manufacturers’ Services Limited, a global electronics manufacturer, where he had responsibility for the company’s internal and external accounting functions. Prior to joining Manufacturers’ Services Limited he worked as a Manager for the public accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers where he focused on managing accounting due diligence engagements for various public and private company clients.

Alan J. Glass.    Mr. Glass has served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since February 2006, as General Counsel and Assistant Secretary from February 2003 until February 2006, and as Corporate Counsel and Assistant Secretary from February 2000 until February 2003. Mr. Glass served as Corporate Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Wyman-Gordon Company, an aerospace manufacturer, from June 1996 to February 2000. Prior to that time, he spent seven years in private practice as a general corporate attorney.

Susan M. McCuaig.    Ms. McCuaig has served as our Vice President, Human Resources since joining the Company in May 2005. Previous to that, from December 2003 until May 2005, Ms. McCuaig served as Assistant Vice President Human Resources for State Street Corporation where she supported State Street’s Wealth Managers Services and Securities Finance divisions. From February 2003 through December 2003, she was a human resources advisor to Radius Capital Partners, LLC, a buyout firm engaged in strategic mergers and acquisitions in the telecommunications, technology and financial services industries. From November 2001 through February 2003, she served as Vice President of Human Resources for Color Kinetics Incorporated, a full spectrum digital lighting company. From February 2001 through November 2001, she was a partner in Website000 LLC, a business specializing in strategic and organizational development of start-up and emerging growth companies and, prior to that, served as Vice President of Human Resources and Investor Relations for Send.com.

Christopher R. Celtruda.    Mr. Celtruda, who joined us in June 2006 as Group Vice President—Circor Aerospace Products, has over eighteen years of experience in the aerospace and fluid power industries including eleven years with Honeywell and Allied Signal. From October 2004 until June 2006, he served as Group Vice President and Director of the $600 million Integrated Supply Chain for Honeywell Aerospace Mechanical Components. Prior to that, from October 2001 until October 2004, he served as General Manager of Operations for a $250 million Engine Systems and Accessories business unit of Honeywell. Mr. Celtruda began his career with General Dynamics and is a Six Sigma Black Belt.

John W. Cope.    Mr. Cope has served as our Group Vice President—Thermal Fluid Controls since joining the Company in August 2005. Prior to joining us, Mr. Cope spent five years with Honeywell as Vice President of Integrated Supply Chain where he was responsible for a $300 million business unit with six manufacturing facilities. Previous to that, Mr. Cope spent fourteen years with Honda of America, serving in positions of increasing managerial responsibility in the areas of purchasing and operations.

 

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Paul M. Coppinger.    Mr. Coppinger joined us in July 2001 as Group Vice President—Circor Energy Products (f/k/a Petrochemical Products). From October 1999 until July 2001, Mr. Coppinger was an owner and President of Copprex, Inc., a manufacturer of commercial appliances. Prior to that, he spent thirteen years with Baker Hughes, most recently serving as Vice President Sales & Marketing of EIMCO, its $200-million process equipment division. While at Baker Hughes, Mr. Coppinger had significant international experience, spending five years in Singapore and Indonesia in support of the Pacific Rim activities of the Baker Tools division.

Wayne F. Robbins.    Mr. Robbins, who joined us as Group Vice President—Circor Instrumentation Technologies in March 2006, has over twenty-nine years of experience in the fluid controls industry. From March 2002 through June 2005, Mr. Robbins was employed by Precision Castparts Corp. (“PCC”) where he served as President of PCC’s $350-million Flow Technologies Division until PCC sold the various companies comprising this division in 2005. From March 1994 until September 2001, he worked for DeZurik, Inc., a $180-million manufacturer of industrial valves, actuators and instruments, serving first as Vice President Marketing/Research & Development and then as President. Prior to DeZurik, Mr. Robbins spent fifteen years in progressively more senior management positions with Fisher Controls including six years in overseas assignments.

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

Review and Approval of Related Person Transactions

The Company’s Code of Conduct and Business Ethics includes our written policy that any transaction with our directors (or their immediate family members) be approved by our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and then by the remaining disinterested members of our Board of Directors, and be on terms no less favorable to us than we could obtain from non-affiliated parties.

Related Person Transactions

As noted above under “Corporate Governance—Independence of Directors,” David F. Dietz is a Director of the Company and is also a partner in Goodwin Procter, a law firm that provides legal services to the Company. In 2007, the Company paid Goodwin Procter $212,637.83 in legal fees and disbursements. We engage Goodwin Procter, from time to time in the ordinary course of our business, on an arm’s length basis. Under NYSE rules, the Board determines annually, based on all of the relevant facts and circumstances, whether each Director satisfies the criteria for independence and periodically evaluates related person transactions involving directors in connection with such process. In 2007, the relationship described above was reviewed, considered and approved in the course of the Board’s annual review and determination of director independence, and after considering the insignificant fees paid by the Company to Goodwin Procter in proportion to Goodwin Procter’s overall revenues (less than one percent), as well as considering both the independent judgment that Mr. Dietz has exhibited during his eight and one-half year tenure as a Director and his ability to maintain such independent judgment, the Board determined that the relationship between Goodwin Procter and the Company does not compromise Mr. Dietz’s independence.

Other than as described above, during Fiscal 2007, the Company was not a party to any other transaction where the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and in which an executive officer, director, director nominee or 5% stockholder (or their immediate family members) had a material direct or indirect interest and no such person was indebted to the Company.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our Compensation Committee. In addition, none of our executive officers serves as a member of the compensation committee of any entity that has

 

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one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our Board of Directors. As we have noted above, Mr. Dietz is a partner of Goodwin Procter, a law firm which provides legal services to the Company. As also noted, our Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that this relationship does not compromise Mr. Dietz’ independence.

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Overview of Compensation Program

The following Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the material elements of compensation for the individuals who served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer during Fiscal 2007, as well as the other individuals included in the Summary Compensation Table on page 20 (such individuals are referred to herein as the “Named Executive Officers”). The Compensation Committee of the Board makes all decisions for the total direct compensation of the Named Executive Officers based on the factors described below and, for Named Executive Officers other than our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations.

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

We believe that the most effective executive compensation program is one that is designed to reward the achievement of specific annual, long-term and strategic goals that promote the profitable growth of the Company and improve stockholder value.

The Company’s current executive compensation programs are intended to achieve two fundamental objectives: (1) attracting and retaining qualified executives by offering compensation and benefits (including retirement benefits) that are competitive with industry peers; and (2) motivating executives to achieve results that improve stockholder value by aligning executives’ interests with the interests of our stockholders.

As described in more detail below, the material elements of our current executive compensation program for Named Executive Officers include a base salary, an annual bonus opportunity, a long-term incentive opportunity, retirement benefits, perquisites and other benefits, and severance protection for certain actual or constructive terminations of the Named Executive Officers’ employment. We believe that each element of our executive compensation program helps us to achieve one or both of the compensation objectives noted above.

Setting Executive Compensation

To assist the Compensation Committee in assessing and determining competitive compensation packages structured based on the foregoing objectives, through the end 2005 we engaged CFS Consulting, Inc. (“CFS Consulting”) as an independent compensation consultant to conduct reviews of our total compensation program for our Chief Executive Officer as well as for other key executives. Compensation decisions for the year ended December 31, 2007 were, in part, based on the reviews and information compiled by CFS Consulting. CFS Consulting reviewed and identified peer group companies, obtained and evaluated then current executive compensation data for these peer group companies, made recommendations regarding the base salary and bonus levels of named executive officers for 2006 in light of compensation data for our peer group companies and made recommendations concerning the appropriate level of long-term incentive compensation for our senior executive officers for 2006. Based on the recommendations of CFS Consulting, the Company selected as its peer companies for 2006, publicly-traded manufacturing companies that are reasonably similar to the Company in structure and complexity and which have total annual revenue under $1 billion (collectively, the “Compensation Peer Group”).

We believe that the Compensation Peer Group provides relevant comparative compensation data for the Company. While we review the compensation data for our Compensation Peer Group in determining the

 

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compensation levels of Named Executive Officers, we do not set compensation levels by reference to any certain percentile or benchmark within the Compensation Peer Group. Rather, our goal is to provide each Named Executive Officer with a current executive compensation program that is market-derived and market-driven consistent with our compensation philosophies described above. Additionally, in establishing compensation for our Named Executive Officers in 2007 the Compensation Committee utilized industry group data furnished in the following report by the The Survey Group: Merit Increase Budget Structure Movement 2007 Projections (All Industries). The report data presented a range of compensation increases that the Compensation Committee used to assist it in making decisions on total direct compensation for our Named Executive Officers.

In 2006 we engaged Watson Wyatt Worldwide (“Watson Wyatt”) to advise with respect to the implementation of a new long-term equity incentive program for 2007, certain revisions to our qualified noncontributory defined benefit pension plan for eligible salaried employees and to act as our independent compensation consultant for future years.

As a result of the compensation philosophies, described above, a significant percentage of total compensation is allocated to incentives. There is no pre-established policy or target for the allocation between either cash and non-cash or short-term and long-term incentive compensation. Rather, the Compensation Committee reviewed information provided by CFS Consulting to determine the appropriate level and mix of incentive compensation.

2007 Executive Compensation Components

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, the principal components of compensation for Named Executive Officers were:

 

   

base salary;

 

   

performance-based annual incentive compensation;

 

   

long-term equity incentive compensation;

 

   

retirement and other benefits; and

 

   

perquisites and other personal benefits.

Base Salary

The Company provides the Named Executive Officers and other employees with base salary to compensate them for services rendered during the fiscal year. In October of each year, the Compensation Committee generally reviews and establishes the base salaries for each Named Executive Officer for the ensuing fiscal year.

As part of our annual review process, in October 2006, the Compensation Committee reviewed the information compiled by CFS Consulting in connection with determinations of compensation for fiscal year 2006 and supplementally reviewed other current market data provided in the survey data from The Survey Group to set base salaries that were market-derived, market-driven, reflected general market increases across all industries as well as a Named Executive Officer’s individual performance during the prior fiscal year, a subjective assessment of the nature of the position, the contribution and experience of the executive and our Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations. Based on this review, the Compensation Committee determined that the appropriate base salary for each Named Executive Officer for 2007 was the amount reported for such officer in Column (c) of the Summary Compensation Table on page 20. The Compensation Committee determined that the elevation of Mr. Higgins to the position of President in November of 2006 warranted a comparatively larger increase in base salary for him in Fiscal 2007.

For the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee separately reviewed the chief executive officer compensation information compiled by CFS Consulting in connection with determinations of

 

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compensation for fiscal year 2006 and supplementally reviewed other current market data provided in the survey data from The Survey Group to set a base salary for our Chief Executive Officer that was market-derived, market-driven, reflected general market increases in chief executive compensation across all industries as well as our Chief Executive Officer’s individual performance during the prior fiscal year, a subjective assessment of the nature of the position and the contribution and experience of our Chief Executive Officer. Based on this review, the Compensation Committee determined that the appropriate base salary for the Chief Executive Officer for 2007 was the amount reported for such officer in Column (c) of the Summary Compensation Table on page 20.

Performance-Based Annual Incentive Compensation

Consistent with the principle that our executives should be motivated to achieve results that improve stockholder value, we believe that an important portion of the overall cash compensation for executive officers should be contingent upon the successful achievement of certain annual corporate goals that we believe drive improvement in stockholder value. Our 2007 management bonus plan provided for a target cash bonus, achievement of which is dependent upon the attainment of certain performance goals. The actual target bonus for each executive officer is based on a percentage of the officer’s base salary. Based on the recommendation of CFS Consulting made in connection with determinations of compensation for fiscal year 2006, the Compensation Committee set the target bonus awards for 2007 at the same levels as used for fiscal year 2006, specifically, at 75% of base salary for our Chief Executive Officer, 55% of base salary for our Chief Financial Officer, 60% of base salary for our Chief Operating Officer, 45% of base salary for our Group Vice President—Circor Energy Products and 40% of base salary for our Group Vice President—Circor Aerospace Products. Depending on the achievement of the predetermined goals, the annual bonus may be less than or greater than the target bonus. For example, a minimum, target, and maximum level of achievement are pre-determined by the Compensation Committee with respect to each goal with respective payouts of 0%, 100% and 200%. The maximum possible payout under the 2007 management bonus plan was 200% of the target bonus.

The targets are set at aggressive levels each year in order to motivate high business performance and require substantial effort and commitment by our executives to achieve results that would significantly contribute towards increasing stockholder value. At the same time, the targets are intended to represent achievable goals in order to keep management motivated. Generally these goals fell into one or more of the following three categories: (i) a corporate performance component (with specific factors including earnings per share, net sales, inventory turns, on-time delivery and acquisition achievements); and (ii) a business unit component (with specific factors including earnings, sales, on-time delivery and inventory turns). For Fiscal 2007, the following were the specific goals, weighing and degree of attainment, for the corporate performance component and business unit components, respectively, as approved by the Compensation Committee:

Target Performance Range

 

Company Goals

 

Weight

  Threshold     Target     Maximum     Result     Payout Factor
for Fiscal 2007
 

Earnings Per Share

  50%   $ 1.68     $ 2.10     $ 2.52     $ 2.47     188.3 %

Net Sales

  20%   $ 589,108,596     $ 620,114,312     $ 651,120,028     $ 648,672,829     192.1 %

Inventory Turns

  10%, 15%(1)     3.38       3.38       3.72       2.80     0 %

On-Time Delivery

  10%(2)     85 %     88 %     95 %     82 %   0 %

Acquisitions

  20%, 10%, 15%(3)     (4 )     (4 )     (4 )     (5 )   100 %

 

(1) Inventory turns was weighted at 10% for our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer, and 15% for our Chief Financial Officer.
(2) On-time delivery was a measure for our Chief Operating Officer only.
(3) Acquisitions was weighted at 20% for our Chief Executive Officer, 10% for our Chief Operating Officer and 15% for our Chief Financial Officer.

 

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(4) The Compensation Committee determined that the target goal and degree of attainment for the acquisition performance measure would be qualitative.
(5) Based on the qualitative nature of the acquisition performance measure and upon consideration of the Company’s acquisition activity, the quality of analysis presented and demonstrated financial discipline related thereto, the Compensation Committee determined that the acquisition performance measure was met.

Target Performance Range

 

Circor Energy

Products Group Goals(1)

   Weight    Threshold    Target    Maximum    Result    Payout Factor
for Fiscal 2007
 

Operating Earnings

   50%    $ 32,399,822    $ 40,499,777    $ 48,599,732    $ 50,761,426    200% (2)

Net Sales

   20%    $ 281,817,606    $ 296,650,112    $ 311,482,618    $ 312,138,395    200% (2)

Inventory Turns

   20%      4.43      4.43      4.87      3.40    0%  

On-Time Delivery

   10%      85%      88%      95%      73%    0%  

 

(1) The 2007 bonus opportunity for our for our Group Vice President—Circor Energy Products was based on attainment of goals with a weighted average of certain measures within his business unit component.
(2) Although the actual payout factor was 226.7%, this amount reflects that the maximum possible payout under the 2007 management bonus plan was 200% of the target bonus.
(2) Although the actual payout factor was 204.4%, this amount reflects that the maximum possible payout under the 2007 management bonus plan was 200% of the target bonus.

Target Performance Range

 

Circor Aerospace

Products Group Goals(1)

   Weight    Threshold    Target    Maximum    Result    Payout Factor
for Fiscal 2007
 

Operating Earnings

   50%    $ 8,110,697    $ 10,138,371    $ 12,166,045    $ 11,336,932    159.1%  

Net Sales

   20%    $ 77,636,850    $ 81,723,000    $ 85,809,150    $ 89,053,189    200% (2)

Inventory Turns

   15%      4.09      4.09      4.50      4.17    118.7%  

On-Time Delivery

   15%      85%      88%      95%      77%    0%  

 

(1) The 2007 bonus opportunity for our for our Group Vice President—Circor Aerospace Products was based on attainment of goals with a weighted average of certain measures within his business unit component.
(2) Although the actual payout factor was 279.4%, this amount reflects that the maximum possible payout under the 2007 management bonus plan was 200% of the target bonus.

The metrics and measures presented in the tables above were derived and evaluated using internal criteria which do not necessarily correlate with the Company’s GAAP reported results.

Based on the Company’s results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Group Vice President—Circor Energy Products and Group Vice President—Circor Aerospace Products earned 153%, 143%, 148%, 140% and 137.4% of their respective target bonuses and which amounts are reflected in Column (g) of the Summary Compensation Table on page 20.

In order to more closely align the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders, our executives are also eligible to participate in our Management Stock Purchase Plan (“MSPP”). Under the MSPP, which is a component plan of our Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, executives may make an advance election to receive restricted stock units (“RSUs”) in lieu of a specified percentage or dollar amount of such executive’s earned annual cash bonus. Such RSUs are issued on the basis of a 33% discount to the closing price of the Company’s stock on the day the incentive bonuses are paid or otherwise would be paid and generally vest in whole after a three-year period, at which time they are converted into shares of our Common Stock unless

 

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the executive previously has elected a longer deferral period. Dividends equal to any dividends paid on shares of our Common Stock are accrued to the account of an RSU holder and are paid to the holder at the time such RSUs actually vest. Based on elections made prior to December 31, 2006, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Group Vice President—Circor Energy Products and Group Vice President—Circor Aerospace Products elected to defer 100%, 100%, 100%, 50% and 50% of their respective bonuses into RSUs.

Long-Term Equity Incentives

The Company’s policy is that executives’ long-term compensation should promote both the long-term retention of key executives as well as improvements to the value provided to stockholders by aligning executives’ interests with the interests of our stockholders. The following is a summary of the Company’s long-term equity incentive program in effect through 2006. The Company implemented a new long-term equity incentive program for 2007, as further described below.

Under the program in effect through 2006, based on the recommendation of CFS Consulting, the Company’s prior independent compensation consultant, the Compensation Committee set the value to be awarded in 2006 based on 125% of base salary for the Chief Executive Officer, 100% of base salary for the Chief Operating Officer, 90% of base salary for the Chief Financial Officer, and 70% of base salary for certain Group Vice Presidents.

In consultation with Watson Wyatt, the Compensation Committee developed and approved a revision to our long-term equity incentive program beginning in 2007. To further promote the Company’s goals of retaining key executives and motivating such executives to achieve results that improve stockholder value by more closely aligning the executives’ interests with the interests of our stockholders, our revised long-term equity incentive program transitions, over a four-year period, from the Company’s practice of grants of time-vested RSUs to grants of a mixture of time-vested RSUs and performance stock units (“PSUs”). PSU payouts will be in the form of our Common Stock but will be contingent on the Company’s performance against a pre-set objective (currently anticipated to be a targeted return on invested capital (“ROIC”) goal to be set by the Compensation Committee). It is expected that the attainment of the ROIC goal will result in 100% of the shares covered by the applicable PSU grant to be earned, and the Compensation Committee will determine the percentage of shares that will be earned at various achievement levels below or above the targeted ROIC. Any shares of our Common Stock earned pursuant to any PSU grant will be subject to ratable vesting over a four year period from the date of the PSU grant.

Under the initial phase-in period in 2007, our recently retired Chief Executive Officer received grants of RSUs equal to the same percentage of base salary received in 2006 as set forth above and our Named Executive Officers (other than the Chief Executive Officer) received grants of RSUs equal to two times the percentage of their respective base salary received in 2006 as set forth above. However, unlike the three-year vesting for RSUs granted in 2006, RSUs granted in February 2007 to our Named Executive Officers other than our recently retired Chief Executive Officer will vest ratably over a six-year period. The RSUs granted at that time to our recently retired Chief Executive Officer were to vest ratably over a four-year period;however, in connection with his March 1, 2008 retirement, the vesting of all of his outstanding equity awards was accelerated to the retirement date.

In light of applicable tax regulations and accounting principles and in order to provide equity-based awards to the Named Executive Officers that are competitive with our peer group companies, beginning in 2006 we chose to denominate 100% of the long-term incentive awards in the form of RSUs. The amount of RSUs awarded to each Named Executive Officer is determined by dividing the amount of such Named Executive Officer’s long-term incentive award by the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock at the time of grant. Based on this calculation, in 2007 our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Group

 

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Vice President—Circor Energy Products and Group Vice President—Circor Aerospace Products received 18,631, 13,414, 15,457, 8,463 and 8,269 RSUs respectively. These RSUs vest one-sixth per year over a six-year period with the recipient becoming entitled to one share of our Common Stock for each RSU upon vesting. At the time of the RSU grant, the recipient may elect to defer receipt of shares upon vesting until a later date. As with any RSUs granted in lieu of cash bonus compensation, cash dividends are credited to the RSU holder’s account for each non-vested RSU and are paid in cash upon vesting, whether or not actual receipt of the shares has been deferred until a later date.

In connection with his elevation to the position of Chief Executive Officer, as of March 1, 2008, Mr. Higgins received 8,232 RSUs, which will vest one-fifth per year over a five year period. This RSU award was granted to Mr. Higgins to align the measure of his long term equity incentive compensation with his increased base salary and performance-based incentive compensation resulting from his elevation to the position of Chief Executive Officer. In addition, to compensate Mr. Higgins for his willingness to forfeit participation in the Company’s supplemental executive retirement plan, it is expected that he will receive a RSU award with the number of units equal to $1,400,000 divided by the closing market price of the Company’s stock on the award date. These RSUs will vest 15% immediately upon award with the remainder to vest in equal installments over a thirteen-year period from the date of the award. The above described RSU award to our newly elected Chief Executive Officer in lieu of participation in the supplemental executive retirement plan is discussed more fully in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26, 2008 (the “February 26 Form 8-K”), however, such award has not yet been granted by the Company.

We do not expect that the Named Executive Officers (other than the Chief Executive Officer) will receive any grants of RSUs in 2008, but they will be eligible for awards of PSUs if the Company’s actual ROIC achievement for 2008 exceeds a target to be set by the Compensation Committee. In 2009 we expect that for all Named Executive Officers, 75% of the long-term equity incentive awards will be granted in the form of RSUs and 25% will be granted in the form of PSUs. Both RSU and PSU grants made in 2009 would vest ratably over a four-year period. In 2010 we expect that for all Named Executive Officers, 50% of the long-term equity incentive awards will be granted in the form of RSUs and 50% will be granted in PSUs.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

To further align the interests of the directors and executive officers of the Company with the interests of the stockholders, the Company has adopted Stock Ownership Guidelines for Directors and Executive Officers. These guidelines, which were formally adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors on February 21, 2006, establish an expectation that, within a five-year period, each director and executive officer shall achieve and maintain an equity interest in the Company at least equal to a specified multiple of such individual’s annual base salary or director’s fee. The applicable multiples are as follows:

 

Position

  

Target

Chief Executive Officer

   5x annual base salary

Chief Operating Officer

   3x annual base salary

Chief Financial Officer

   3x annual base salary

Group and Corporate Vice Presidents

   2x annual base salary

Non-employee Director

   3x value of annual retainer

In calculating an individual’s equity interest, credit is given for the value of actual shares of Common Stock owned beneficially, the after-tax value of all vested stock options and RSU awards, and the after-tax value of RSUs which the individual has received in lieu of either bonus compensation or annual director’s retainer.

Retirement Benefits

Consistent with the Company’s philosophy that compensation should promote the long-term retention of key executives and be competitive with industry peers, the Company has sponsored a qualified noncontributory

 

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defined benefit pension plan for eligible salaried employees (the “Retirement Plan”) and a nonqualified noncontributory defined benefit supplemental plan for certain highly compensated employees (the “SERP”). The eligibility requirements of the Retirement Plan are generally the attainment of age 21 and the completion of at least 1,000 hours of service in a specified 12-month period. The assets of the pension plan are maintained in a trust fund at an independent investment firm. The Retirement Plan is administered by a retirement plan committee comprised of Company executives appointed by the Board. The Retirement Plan provides for monthly benefits to, or on behalf of, each participant at age 65 and has provisions for early retirement after age 55 and five years of service and surviving spouse benefits after five years of service. Participants in the Retirement Plan who terminate employment prior to retirement with at least five years of service are vested in their accrued retirement benefit. The Retirement Plan is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. The normal retirement benefit for participants in the pension plan is an annuity payable monthly over the participant’s life. If the participant is married, he or she will receive a spousal joint and 50% survivor annuity, unless an election out is made. Generally, the annual normal retirement benefit is an amount equal to 1.67% of the participant’s final average compensation (as defined in the Retirement Plan), reduced by the maximum offset allowance (as defined in the Retirement Plan) multiplied by years of service (with a maximum of 25 years). Compensation recognized under the Retirement Plan for purposes of the calculation above generally includes base salary and annual bonus. Annual compensation in excess of $225,000 per year is disregarded for all purposes under the Retirement Plan. However, benefits accrued prior to the 1994 plan year may be based on compensation in excess of $225,000. The SERP provides additional monthly benefits to (i) a select group of key executives, which includes our recently retired Chief Executive Officer and recently retired Chief Financial Officer, (ii) individuals who were projected to receive reduced benefits as a result of changes made to the pension plan to comply with the Tax Reform Act of 1986, (iii) executives who will be affected by Internal Revenue Service limits on compensation under the Retirement Plan, and (iv) individuals who deferred compensation under the qualified Retirement Plan. The SERP is not a tax-qualified plan, and is subject to certain provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. The SERP is not funded. Tier one benefits are provided under the SERP to a select group of key executives, which includes our recently retired Chief Executive Officer and recently retired Chief Financial Officer. The annual benefit payable at normal retirement is equal to the difference between (x) 2% of the highest three year average compensation multiplied by years of service up to ten years, plus 3% of average compensation times years of service in excess of ten years, to a maximum of 50% of average compensation, less (y) the annual benefit payable under the Retirement Plan formula described above. Normal retirement age under tier one is age 62.

Based on a desire for cost and funding predictability and consultation with Watson Wyatt, as of July 1, 2006, we froze the accrued pension benefits of the Retirement Plan participants. Under the revised Retirement Plan, such participants generally do not accrue any additional benefits under the Retirement Plan after July 1, 2006 (although vesting for unvested participants continues until full vesting) and will instead receive enhanced benefits associated with our defined contribution 401(k) plan described below. In order to provide continuity and honor commitments made to key executives in connection with their retention, the SERP was not frozen in connection with the revisions to the Retirement Plan and benefits under the SERP continue to accrue. SERP participants are also eligible to participate in our defined contribution 401(k) plan described below; however, due to the benefits provided under the SERP, such participants do not receive the enhanced benefits under our 401(k) plan that were implemented in connection with the revisions to the Retirement Plan.

The Company maintains a defined contribution 401(k) plan in which substantially all of our U.S. employees, including the Named Executive Officers are eligible to participate. In conjunction with the freeze of the Retirement Plan on July 1, 2006 and the enhancements to the qualified 401(k) plan, we implemented a nonqualified 401(k) excess plan in 2007 to provide benefits that would have otherwise been provided under the qualified 401(k) plan to certain participants but for the imposition of certain maximum statutory limits imposed on qualified plan benefits (for example, annual limits on eligible pay and contributions). Company employees, including the Named Executive Officers, who reach the maximum limits in the qualified 401(k) plan will generally be eligible for the 401(k) excess plan. As mentioned above, in connection with the freeze of the Retirement Plan on July 1, 2006, our employees receive enhanced benefits under our 401(k) plan. Each year,

 

18


commencing with fiscal year 2008, the Company will make an automatic core contribution on behalf of each participant equal to 2.5% of the participant’s compensation during the recently concluded fiscal year (regardless of whether the participant contributes to the plan). In addition, the Company makes an additional matching contribution on behalf of each participant equal to 50% of the first 5% of compensation contributed to the plan by the participant. As described above, the Named Executive Officers eligible to participate in the SERP do not receive core or matching contributions from the Company.

Perquisites and Other Benefits

The Company provides the Named Executive Officers with certain limited perquisites and other personal benefits that the Company and the Compensation Committee believe are reasonable and consistent with the overall compensation program objective of enabling the Company to attract and retain superior employees for key positions. The Compensation Committee periodically reviews the levels of perquisites and other personal benefits provided to the Named Executive Officers. In 2006 our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Group Vice President—Circor Energy Products received monthly car allowances of $1,250, $1,000, $1,000 and $700 respectively. In addition, with respect to our Chief Executive Officer, the Company also pays for tax preparation and planning services and the initiation and annual dues associated with a country club membership of his choice. In the case of the country club membership fees, we believe this perquisite to be appropriate in that it provides an appropriate forum for off-site business meetings as well as customer and supplier entertainment.

Tax Deductibility of Compensation

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code limits the deductibility on the Company’s tax return of compensation over $1 million to any of the Named Executive Officers unless, in general, the compensation is paid pursuant to a plan which is performance-related, non-discretionary and has been approved by our stockholders. The Company’s policy with respect to Section 162(m) is to make every reasonable effort to ensure that compensation is deductible to the extent permitted while simultaneously providing our executives with appropriate rewards for their performance.

SUMMARY OF CASH AND CERTAIN OTHER COMPENSATION AND

OTHER PAYMENTS TO THE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following sections provide a summary of cash and certain other amounts we paid for the year ended December 31, 2007 to the Named Executive Officers. Except where noted, the information in the Summary Compensation Table generally pertains to compensation to the Named Executive Officers for the year ended December 31, 2007. Therefore, we encourage you to read the following tables closely. The narratives preceding the tables and the footnotes accompanying each table are important parts of each table. Also, we encourage you to read this section in conjunction with the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, above.

 

19


COMPENSATION SUMMARY

The following table details the compensation of (i) our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer and (ii) our three other most highly compensated executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007. For a discussion of the material factors in determining executive compensation and the amounts presented below see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis on pages 12 and 13 under the headings “Setting Executive Compensation” and “2007 Executive Compensation Components.”

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and

Principal Position

  Year   Salary ($)   Stock Awards
($) (1)
  Option
Awards ($)
(2)
  Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($) (3)
    Change in
Pension

Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings

($) (4)
  All Other
Compensation
($) (5)
  Total ($)
(a)   (b)   (c)   (e)   (f)   (g)     (h)   (i)   (j)

David A. Bloss, Sr.,

  2007   $ 563,000   $ 2,451,491   $ 620,315   $ 644,150 (6)   $ 569,687   $ 39,739   $ 4,888,382

Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer

  2006     540,000     515,085     383,818     560,669 (6)     721,858     35,683     2,757,113

Kenneth W. Smith,

  2007     278,000     315,563     214,850     225,607 (7)     117,343     17,533     1,168,896

Senior Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer

  2006     270,000     148,900     123,962     190,729 (7)     151,307     15,815     900,713

A. William Higgins,

  2007     310,000     306,951     60,787     287,242 (8)     47,171     14,655     1,026,807

President and Chief Operating Officer

  2006     280,000     181,156     60,787     198,976 (8)     53,373     13,275     787,567

Paul M. Coppinger,

  2007     230,000     159,976     39,100     144,900 (9)     —       17,076     591,053

Group Vice President, Circor Energy Products

  2006     219,000     120,444     56,829     167,970 (9)     30,176     12,394     606,813

Christopher R. Celtruda,(10)

               

Vice President and
General Manager Aerospace
Products Group

  2007     207,000     68,865       113,735 (11)     —       137,148     526,748

 

  (1) The amounts shown in this column reflect the dollar amounts recognized in accordance with SFAS 123R for financial statement reporting purposes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 with respect to RSU awards under the Company’s Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan and RSUs purchased under the MSPP and thus include amounts attributable to RSUs granted in and prior to 2007. During 2007, Messrs. Bloss and Smith entered into retirement agreements which provided for accelerated vesting of certain RSUs. The amounts shown in this column for Messrs. Bloss and Smith respectively include $1,778,922 and $39,960 associated with retirement related accelerated vesting expenses. For a discussion of the assumptions related to the calculation of the amounts in this column, please refer to Note 11 (Share-Based Compensation) to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2008.
  (2)

The amounts shown in this column reflect the dollar amounts recognized in accordance with SFAS 123R for financial statement reporting purposes for the year ended December 31, 2007 in connection with stock options granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan. The Company ceased granting stock options to employees and directors in 2005, and thus the amounts shown in this column are attributable to stock options granted prior to 2006. During 2007, Messrs. Bloss and Smith entered into retirement agreements which provided for accelerated vesting of certain options. The amounts shown in this column for Messrs. Bloss and Smith respectively include $367,291 and $135,210 associated with retirement related accelerated vesting expenses. For a discussion of the assumptions related to the calculation of the amounts in this

 

20


 

column, please refer to Note 11 (Share-Based Compensation) to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2008.

  (3) The amounts shown in this column reflect amounts earned for performance under our 2006 management bonus plan. Our executives are also eligible to participate in our MSPP, a component plan of our Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, pursuant to which executives may make an advance election to receive RSUs in lieu of a specified percentage or dollar amount of such executive’s annual cash bonus. Such RSUs are issued on the basis of a 33% discount to the closing price of the Company’s stock on the day the incentive bonuses are paid or otherwise would be paid and generally vest in whole after a three-year period, at which time they are converted into shares of our Common Stock unless the executive previously has elected a longer deferral period. Based on elections made prior to December 31, 2006, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, Messrs. Bloss, Smith, Higgins, Coppinger and Celtruda elected to defer 100%, 100%, 100%, 50% and 50% respectively of their respective bonus amounts shown above into RSUs. RSUs were issued as of February 26, 2008 by dividing the named executive officer’s election amount by $32.60 (the “2007 RSU Cost”), which was 67% of $48.66, the closing price of our Common Stock on February 25, 2008, the trading day immediately preceding the award date. The compensation expense associated with the 33% discounted purchase price of these RSUs will be recognized over the three-year vesting period. Accordingly, these amounts will be included in column (e)—”Stock Awards” of the Summary Compensation Table in future years as such amounts are recognized.
  (4) The amounts shown in this column reflect the aggregate change in actuarial present value of the named executive officer’s accumulated benefit under our Retirement Plan and the SERP from December 31, 2006 to December 31, 2007. There were no above-market or preferential earnings on compensation that was deferred on a basis that is not tax-qualified. Present values as of December 31, 2006 are based on a 5.80% discount rate. Present values as of December 31, 2007 are based on a 6.25% discount rate. Both present values assume commencement at normal retirement age with no mortality before commencement and RP-200.
  (5) See “Supplemental All Other Compensation Table” for specific items in this category.
  (6) Mr. Bloss received 19,757 and 23,097 RSUs in lieu of receiving his entire incentive bonus of $644,150 and $560,669 for 2007 and 2006, respectively. The number of RSUs was determined by dividing $644,150 and $560,669 by the 2007 and 2006 RSU costs, respectively.
  (7) Mr. Smith received 6,919 and 3,928 RSUs in lieu of receiving 100% and 50% of his incentive bonus of $225,607 and $190,729 for 2007 and 2006, respectively. The number of RSUs was determined by dividing $225,607 and $95,349 by the 2007 and 2006 RSU costs, respectively.
  (8) Mr. Higgins received 8,810 and 8,197 RSUs in lieu of receiving his entire incentive bonus of $287,242 and $198,976 for 2007 and 2006, respectively. The number of RSUs was determined by dividing $287,242 and $198,976 by the 2007 and 2006 RSU costs, respectively.
  (9) Mr. Coppinger received 2,222 and 3,459 RSUs in lieu of receiving 50% of his incentive bonus of $144,900 and $167,970 for 2007 and 2006, respectively. The number of RSUs was determined by dividing $72,450 and $83,964 by the 2007 and 2006 RSU costs, respectively.
(10) Compensation for Mr. Celtruda is provided only for 2007 because he was not a Named Executive Officer in 2006.
(11) Mr. Celtruda received 1,744 RSUs in lieu of receiving his 50% of his 2007 incentive bonus of $113,735. This number of RSUs was determined by dividing his $56,867 by the 2007 RSU cost.

 

21


2007 All Other Compensation Table

 

Name

  Year   Perquisites
and Other
Personal

Benefits
($) (1)
  Tax
Preparation

and
Financial

Planning
($)
  Insurance
Premiums
($) (2)
  Severance
Payments/
Accruals
($)
  Relocation
Payments
($)
  Payments
Relating to
Employee
Savings
Plan

($) (3)
  Other
($) (4)
  Total ($)
(a)   (b)   (c)   (d)   (e)   (f)   (g)   (h)   (i)   (j)

David A. Bloss, Sr.  

  2007
2006
  $
 
24,575
24,350
  $
 
1,280
2,843
  $
 
2,322
2,322
  —  
—  
   

 

—  

—  

   

 

—  

—  

  $
 
11,562
6,168
  $
 
39,739
35,683

Kenneth W. Smith

  2007
2006
   
 
12,000
12,000
   

 

—  

—  

   
 
2,322
2,322
  —  
—  
   

 

—  

—  

   

 

—  

—  

   
 
3,211
1,493
   
 
17,533
15,815

A. William Higgins

  2007
2006
   
 
12,000
12,000
   

 

—  

—  

   
 
810
810
  —  
—  
   

 

—  

—  

   

 

—  

—  

   
 
1,845
465
   
 
14,655
13,275

Paul M. Coppinger

  2007
2006
   
 
8,400
8,400
   

 

—  

—  

   
 
721
419
  —  
—  
   

 

—  

—  

  $
 
4,903
2,394
   
 
3,052
1,181
   
 
17,076
12,394

Christopher R. Celtruda

  2007     —       —       392   —     $ 130,908     5,707     141     137,148

 

(1) The amounts shown in this column reflect each executive’s annual car allowance, except for Mr. Bloss’ amount which also includes annual country club membership dues in the amount of $8,975.
(2) The amounts shown in this column reflect group term life insurance premiums paid on behalf of each executive.
(3) The amounts shown in this column reflect company matching contributions to the named executive’s 401(k) savings account of 2.5% of pay up to the limitations imposed by IRS regulations. Employees became eligible for the company match beginning on July 1, 2006 in connection with revisions to the defined benefit Retirement Plan and enhancements to the Company’s defined contribution Savings Plan. Named Executive Officers eligible to participate in the SERP (Messrs. Bloss, Higgins and Smith) do not receive the Company match. See Retirement Benefits on page 17.
(4) The amounts shown in this column reflect dividend equivalents paid on RSUs.

 

22


2007 Grants of Plan-Based Awards

The following table summarizes the grant of plan-based awards made to our Named Executive Officers. For a discussion of these grants please see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis on pages 14 and 16 under the headings “Performance-Based Annual Incentive Compensation” and “Long-Term Equity Incentives.”

 

Name

  Grant
Date
  Board
Approval
Date
  Estimated Future
Payouts Under
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Awards (1)
  Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units

(#)
    Closing
Price of
Stock
on
Grant
Date
($/Sh)
  Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
Awards ($)
(2)
      Threshold
($)
  Target
($)
  Maximum
($)
     
(a)   (b)   (c)   (d)   (e)   (f)   (g)     (h)   (i)

David A. Bloss, Sr.

  —     2/20/07   0   $ 422,250   $ 844,500   —         —       —  
  2/26/07   2/20/07   —       —       —     18,631 (3)   $ 36.23   $ 675,001
  2/26/07   2/20/07   —       —       —     23,097 (4)   $ 36.23     836,804

Kenneth W. Smith

  —     2/20/07   0     152,900     305,800   —         —       —  
  2/26/07   2/20/07   —       —       —     13,414 (3)   $ 36.23     486,989
  2/26/07   2/20/07   —       —       —     3,928 (5)   $ 36.23     142,311

A. William Higgins

  —     2/20/07   0     201,500     402,000   —         —       —  
  2/26/07   2/20/07   —       —       —     15,457 (3)   $ 36.23     560,007
  2/26/07   2/20/07   —       —       —     8,197 (6)   $ 36.23     296,977

Paul M. Coppinger

  —     2/20/07   0     93,150     186,300   —         —       —  
  2/26/07   2/20/07   —       —       —     8,463 (3)   $ 36.23     306,614
  2/26/07   2/20/07   —       —       —     3,459 (7)   $ 36.23     125,320

Christopher R. Celtruda

  —     2/20/07   0     82,800     165,600   —         —       —  
  2/26/07   2/20/07   —       —       —     7,728 (3)   $ 36.23     279,985
  2/26/07   2/20/07   —       —       —     898 (8)   $ 36.23     32,535

 

(1) The amounts shown in these columns reflect the potential value of the payout for each Named Executive Officer under our 2007 management bonus plan if the threshold, target or maximum goals are satisfied for all performance measures. The potential payouts are performance-driven and therefore completely at risk. The general performance goals are described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis on page 14 under the heading “Performance-Based Annual Incentive Compensation.” The amounts actually earned for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 are reported in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table. Subject to elections to defer such amounts into RSUs as described in footnote 3 of the Summary Compensation Table, amounts earned were paid during March 2008.
(2) For 2007, equity incentive plan awards were made based on a percentage of the Named Executive Officer’s base salary as of December 31, 2006 and are not tied to performance goals. Accordingly, time vesting is the only condition to realization of the underlying shares and the amounts shown in this column therefore reflect the grant date fair value of each equity award as determined in accordance with SFAS 123R.
(3) The amounts reflect long term incentive grants in form of RSUs pursuant to our Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.
(4) Mr. Bloss received 23,097 RSUs in lieu of receiving his entire fiscal 2006 incentive bonus of $560,669.
(5) Mr. Smith received 3,928 RSUs in lieu of receiving 50% of his fiscal 2006 incentive bonus of $190,729.
(6) Mr. Higgins received 8,197 RSUs in lieu of receiving his entire fiscal 2006 incentive bonus of $198,976.
(7) Mr. Coppinger received 3,459 RSUs in lieu of receiving 50% of his fiscal 2006 incentive bonus of $167,970.
(8) Mr. Celtruda received 898 RSUs in lieu of receiving 50% of his fiscal 2006 incentive bonus of $43,616.

 

23


Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-End

 

Option Awards

   Stock Awards  

Name

  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#) (1)
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#) (1)
    Option
Exercise
Price ($)
   Option
Expiration
Date
   Stock
Award
Grant
Date
   Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested (#)
    Market Value
of Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested ($) (2)
 
  Exercisable   Unexercisable               
(a)   (b)   (c)     (d)    (e)    (f)    (g)     (h)  

David A. Bloss, Sr.  

  20,000       $ 13.90    10/23/2012              
    12,000 (5)     23.80    1/06/2014              
    24,000 (5)     24.90    2/18/2015              
                2/18/2005    4,434 (7)   $ 205,560 (3)
                2/27/2006    15,522 (7)     719,600 (3)
                2/26/2007    18,631 (7)     863,733 (3)
                2/18/2005    1,679 (7)     77,838 (4)
                2/27/2006    38,260 (7)     1,773,734 (4)
                2/26/2007    23,097 (7)     1,070,777 (4)

Kenneth W. Smith

  5,000         13.90    10/23/2012              
    4,600 (6)     23.80    1/06/2014              
    8,520 (6)     24.90    2/18/2015              
                2/18/2005    1,566       72,600 (3)
                2/27/2006    5,609 (8)     260,033 (3)
                2/26/2007    13,414 (9)     621,873 (3)
                2/18/2005    307       14,233 (4)
                2/27/2006    2,816       130,550 (4)
                2/26/2007    3,928       182,102 (4)

A. William Higgins

  11,120   16,680       24.90    02/18/2015              
                2/18/2005    3,100       143,716 (3)
                2/27/2006    5,993       277,835 (3)
            2/26/2007    15,457       716,587 (3)
                2/27/2006    13,541       627,761 (4)
            2/26/2007    8,197       380,013 (4)

Paul M. Coppinger

  2,000         16.32    10/29/2011              
  2,000         13.90    10/23/2012              
    2,520       23.80    1/06/2014              
    3,780       24.90    2/18/2015              
    840       22.97    4/21/2015              
                2/18/2005    700       32,452 (3)
                4/21/2005    166       7,696 (3)
                2/27/2006    3,557       164,903 (3)
                2/26/2007    8,463       392,345 (3)
                2/18/2005    1,198       55,539 (4)
                2/27/2006    9,728       450,990 (4)
                2/26/2007    3,459       160,359 (4)

Christopher R. Celtruda

                          
                6/15/2006    1,878       87,064 (3)
                2/26/2007    7,728       358,270 (3)
                2/26/2007    898       41,631 (4)

 

(1)

All stock options listed in this column were granted pursuant to our Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan. All such stock options have a ten-year option term and vest ratably 20% per year generally beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant indicated below. However, commencement of the five-year vesting with respect to the stock options granted to Mr. Coppinger on 10/29/2001 was triggered by attainment of certain performance criteria applicable to grants to Mr. Coppinger and certain other employees on that date; as a result, the first 20% of such stock options became vested on 12/5/03 with an additional 20% vesting on each subsequent December 5th until fully vested on 12/5/2007.

 

24


Expiration Date

   Grant Date

10/18/2009

   10/18/1999

04/17/2010

   04/17/2000

08/02/2010

   08/02/2000

10/29/2011

   10/29/2001

10/23/2012

   10/23/2002

01/06/2014

   01/06/2004

02/18/2015

   02/18/2005

04/21/2015

   04/21/2005

08/03/2015

   08/03/2005

 

(2) The amounts shown in this column reflect the market value of unvested RSUs calculated by multiplying the number of such unvested RSUs by $46.36, the closing price of our Common Stock on December 31, 2007, the last trading day in 2007.
(3) The amounts reflect the unvested portion of long term incentive grants in form of RSUs pursuant to our Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan. Such grants vest in equal installments of one-third or one-sixth per year generally beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant, subject to any longer deferral period selected by the executive.
(4) The amounts reflect the unvested portion of RSUs pursuant to the MSPP provisions allowing executives to receive RSUs in lieu of a specified percentage or dollar amount of their annual incentive cash bonus. Such RSUs vest in whole on the date that is three years from the date of the grant, at which time they convert into shares of Common Stock unless the executive has selected a longer deferral period. Awards with a grant date of February 26, 2007 vested on February 26, 2010.
(5) Mr. Bloss accelerated vesting of all stock options upon his retirement date of March 1, 2008, pursuant to his September 27, 2007 Amended and Restated Retirement Agreement.
(6) Mr. Smith accelerated vesting of all stock options upon his retirement date of March 1, 2008, pursuant to his December 17, 2007 Amended and Restated Retirement Agreement.
(7) Mr. Bloss accelerated vesting of all RSUs upon his retirement date of March 1, 2008 pursuant to his September 27, 2007 Amended and Restated Retirement Agreement.
(8) Mr. Smith accelerated vesting of 2,804 RSUs upon his retirement date of March 1, 2008 pursuant to his December 17, 2007 Amended and Restated Retirement Agreement.
(9) Mr. Smith accelerated vesting of 2,235 RSUs upon his retirement date of March 1, 2008 pursuant to his December 17, 2007 Amended and Restated Retirement Agreement.

 

25


2007 Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

     Option Awards    Stock Awards

Name

   Number of Shares
Acquired on
Exercise (#) (1)
   Value Realized
on
Exercise ($) (2)
   Number of Shares
Acquired on
Vesting (#) (3) (4)
   Value Realized
on

Vesting ($) (5)
(a)    (b)    (c)    (d)    (e)

David A. Bloss, Sr. (6)

   210,500    $ 4,852,926    32,346    $ 1,117,067

Kenneth W. Smith (7)

   121,580      3,087,252    8,160      283,718

A. William Higgins (8)

   —        —      6,067      214,366

Paul M. Coppinger (9)

   10,860      208,385    8,259      284,651

Christopher R. Celtruda (10)

   —        —      939      40,978

 

  (1) All stock option exercises consisted of cashless exercises performed through open market transactions effected by a stockbroker of the named executives choosing.
  (2) The amounts shown in this column reflect the value realized on exercise of stock options computed by multiplying the number stock options exercised times the difference in value between the market price at which the underlying shares were sold and the grant price of the stock options prior to withholding of income taxes.
  (3) With respect to shares acquired upon vesting of restricted stock units, each named executive elected to have shares withheld to pay associated income taxes. The number of shares reported represents the gross number prior to withholding of such shares.
  (4) As indicated in the notes below, in certain cases, the actual receipt of shares underlying vested restricted stock units may have been deferred pursuant to a previous election made by the executive. This table reports the number of shares vested regardless of whether distribution actually was made.
  (5) The amounts shown in this column reflect the value realized upon vesting of RSUs computed by multiplying the number RSUs vested (prior to withholding of any shares to pay associated income taxes) times the fair market value of the our Common Stock on the date of vesting.
  (6) Mr. Bloss exercised 31,200 stock options on March 21, 2007 with an exercise price of $13.90 and a market price of $35.76; 3,300 stock options on March 22, 2007 with an exercise price of $13.90 and a market price of $35.75; 5,700 stock options on March 23, 2007 with an exercise price of $13.90 and a market price of $35.75; 7,100 stock options on March 26, 2007 with an exercise price of $13.90 and a market price of $35.75; 9,500 stock options on March 30, 2007 with an exercise price of $13.90 and a market price of $35.75; 8,100 stock options on April 2, 2007 with an exercise price of $13.90 and a market price of $35.75; 15,100 stock options on April 3, 2007 with an exercise price of $13.90 and a market price of $35.75; 26,500 stock options on April 3, 2007 with an exercise price of $10.38 and a market price of $35.75;4,000 stock options on August 27, 2007 with an exercise price of $16.32 and a market price of $43.75; 66,000 stock options on August 29, 2007 with an exercise price of $16.32 and a market price of $42.25; 10,6000 stock options on August 29, 2007 with an exercise price of $23.80 and a market price of $42.25; 7,400 stock options on August 30, 2007 with an exercise price of $23.80 and a market price of $42.27; 4,500 stock options on August 30, 2007 with an exercise price of $24.90 and a market price of $42.27; 11,500 stock options on August 31, 2007 with an exercise price of $24.90 and a market price of $42.31. Mr. Bloss acquired 3,334 shares with a market price of $35.22 on January 6, 2007, 4,433 shares with a market price of 35.41 on February 18, 2007, 7,761 shares with a market price of $34.90 on March 29, 2007, and 16,818 shares with a market price of $34.00 on March 5, 2007, each upon the vesting of RSUs.
  (7)

Mr. Smith exercised 600 stock options on May 17, 2007 with an exercise price of $7.50 and a market price of $37.00; 18,000 stock options on May 18, 2007 with an exercise price of $7.50 and a market price of $37.00; 5,400 stock options on May 21, 2007 with an exercise price of $7.50 and a market price of $37.00; 40,000 stock options on May 21, 2007 with an exercise price of $13.50 and a market price of $37.00; 23,700 stock options on August 17, 2007 with an exercise price of $16.32 and a market price of $42.00; 780 stock options on August 27, 2007 with an exercise price of $16.32 and a market price of $44.00; 520 stock options on August 30, 2007 with an exercise price of $16.32 and a market price of $42.27; 10,980 stock options on August 30, 2007 with an exercise price of $13.90 and a market price of $42.27; 8,500

 

26


 

stock options on August 31, 2007 with an exercise price of $13.90 and a market price of $42.32; 520 stock options on August 31, 2007 with an exercise price of $13.90 and a market price of $42.31; 6,900 stock options on August 31, 2007 with an exercise price of $23.80 and a market price of $42.31; 3,280 stock options on August 31, 2007 with an exercise price of $24.90 and a market price of $42.31; and 2,400 stock options on September 4, 2007 with an exercise price of $24.90 and a market price of $42.29. Mr. Smith vested in 1,267 shares with a market price of $35.22 on January 6, 2007, 1,567 shares with a market price of $35.41 on February 18, 2007, 2,805 shares with a market price of $34.90 on March 29, 2007 and 2,522 shares with a market price of $34.00 on March 5, 2007, each upon the vesting of RSUs. Mr. Smith has elected to defer receipt of shares representing the entire $283,718 of the value recognized on vesting as follows: 1,267 shares until January 6, 2010, 1,567 shares until February 18, 2011, 2,805 shares until February 27, 2011 and 2,522 shares until March 5, 2009.

  (8) Mr. Higgins vested in 3,100 shares with a market price of $35.41 on February 18, 2007 and 2,997 shares with a market price of $34.90 on March 29, 2007, each upon the vesting of RSUs.
  (9) Mr. Coppinger exercised 2,000, 2,000, 3,780, 2,520, and 560 stock options on August 6, 2007 with exercise prices of $16.32, $13.90, $23.80, $24.90, and $22.90, respectively, and each with a market price of $40.00. Mr. Coppinger acquired 700 shares with a market price of $35.22 on January 6, 2007, 700 shares with a market price of $35.41 on February 17, 2007, 167 shares with a market price of $36.41 on April 21, 2007, 1,779 shares with a market price of $34.90 on March 29, 2007, and 4,913 shares with a market price of $34.00 on March 5, 2007, each upon the vesting of RSUs.
(10) Mr. Celtruda vested in 939 shares with a market price of $43.64 on July 15, 2007, upon the vesting of RSUs.

2007 Pension Benefits

The following table provides information with respect to each pension plan that provides for payments or other benefits at, following, or in connection with retirement. This includes tax-qualified defined benefit plans and supplemental executive retirement plans, but does not include defined contribution plans (whether tax qualified or not). For a discussion of these plans please see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis on page 17 under the heading “Retirement Benefits.”

 

Name

   Plan Name (1) (2) (3)    Number of Years
Credited Service
(#) (4)
   Present Value
of Accumulated
Benefit ($) (5)
   Payments During
Last Fiscal Year ($)
(a)    (b)    (c)    (d)    (e)

David A. Bloss, Sr.

   Qualified & Excess    14    $ 1,171,064    0
   SERP    15      1,709,014    0

Kenneth W. Smith

   Qualified & Excess    7      230,088    0
   SERP    8      308,458    0

A. William Higgins

   Qualified & Excess    2      54,619    0
   SERP    3      71,647    0

Paul M. Coppinger

   Qualified & Excess    6      83,671    0
   SERP    —        —      0

Christopher R. Celtruda

   Qualified & Excess          0
   SERP    —        —      0

 

(1) Participants are eligible for the Qualified and Excess Plans if they are at least 21 years of age and were hired before 2/1/2006.
(2) Participants are eligible for the Supplemental Plan if named in the plan document.
(3) Participants are eligible for early retirement at age 55 with 5 years of vested service.
(4) A full year of service is earned in plan years where the participant worked over 1,000 hours. Partial years of service are granted for years where the participant worked less than 1,000 hours. There have been no ad-hoc additional years of service granted to any participants. No additional years of service are earned under the Qualified and Excess Plans after June 30, 2006 when those plans were frozen (see Compensation Discussion and Analysis on page 17 under the heading “Retirement Benefits.”
(5) The present value of accumulated benefits is calculated based on the same assumptions as noted in Note 13 (Employee Benefit Plans) to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2008.

 

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2007 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

As discussed above in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis under the heading “Retirement Benefits,” in conjunction with the freeze of the Retirement Plan on July 1, 2006 and the enhancements to the qualified 401(k) plan, in 2007 we implemented a nonqualified 401(k) excess plan to provide benefits that would have otherwise been provided under the qualified 401(k) plan to certain participants but for the imposition of certain maximum statutory limits imposed on qualified plan benefits (for example, annual limits on eligible pay and contributions). Company employees, including the Named Executive Officers, who reach the maximum limits in the qualified 401(k) plan will generally be eligible for the 401(k) excess plan. As discussed above, each year commencing in fiscal year 2007, the Company will make a matching contribution on behalf of each participant equal to 50% of the first 5% of compensation contributed to the plan by the participant. The Named Executive Officers eligible to participate in the SERP will not receive core or matching contributions from the Company. In addition, each year, commencing with fiscal year 2008, the Company will make an automatic core contribution on behalf of each participant equal to 2.5% of the participant’s prior year compensation during the recently concluded fiscal year (regardless of whether the participant contributes to the plan). To the extent that a matching contribution or core contribution made by the Company would cause a participant to exceed a certain maximum statutory limit imposed on qualified benefits, such matching contribution or core contribution will be contributed to the 401(k) excess plan.

SEVERANCE AND OTHER BENEFITS UPON

TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR CHANGE IN CONTROL

In order to achieve our compensation objective of attracting, retaining and motivating qualified executives, we believe that we need to provide our Named Executive Officers (and other executive officers) with severance protections that are consistent with the severance protections offered by our Compensation Peer Group. The following section describes the particular benefits that may become payable to the Named Executive Officers, depending on the circumstances surrounding their termination of employment with us. In calculating the amount of any potential payments to the Named Executive Officers under the arrangements described below, we have assumed that the applicable triggering event (i.e., termination of employment or change in control) occurred on December 31, 2007 and that the price per share of our common stock is equal to $46.36, the closing price on December 31, 2007, the last trading day in 2007.

Retirement Agreement with David A. Bloss, Sr.

In connection with the March 1, 2008 retirement of our Chief Executive Officer, David A. Bloss, Sr. (the “Retirement Date”), we entered into a Retirement Agreement (the “Bloss Retirement Agreement”) with our Chief Executive Officer. Under the terms of the Bloss Retirement Agreement, contingent upon Mr. Bloss’ re-election to our Board of Directors as a non-employee director, Mr. Bloss will continue as the non-employee Chairman of our Board of Directors for up to one year thereafter. In consideration for the services to be provided by Mr. Bloss as non-employee Chairman, we have agreed to pay Mr. Bloss an annual stipend of $50,000. Mr. Bloss will also be eligible to receive the annual retainer, meeting fees, equity grants, and other benefits available to our non-employee directors. In addition, the Bloss Retirement Agreement provides that all unvested stock option and restricted stock unit awards previously granted to Mr. Bloss shall vest and become exercisable on the Retirement Date.

Retirement Agreement with Kenneth W. Smith

In connection with the retirement of our Chief Financial Officer, Kenneth W. Smith, we entered into a Retirement Agreement which was subsequently amended and restated to reflect Mr. Smith’s agreement to extend his retirement date from December 31, 2007 to March 1, 2008 (the “Smith Retirement Agreement”). Under the terms of the Smith Retirement Agreement, Mr. Smith shall receive a one time payment equal to two-twelfths of

 

28


what his target bonus would have been for the 2008 fiscal year were he not retiring. Under the terms of our management bonus plan, Mr. Smith’s target bonus is 55% of his current base salary of $278,000. As a result, the value of this one-time payment to Mr. Smith is $25,483. In addition, the Smith Retirement Agreement provides for the acceleration of vesting of certain stock options and restricted stock units previously granted to Mr. Smith.

Severance Agreement with A. William Higgins

Consistent with the philosophy stated above and with the Severance Agreement (the “Severance Agreement”) we entered into with our newly elected Chief Executive Officer, A. William Higgins as of March 24, 2008, we believe that severance should be payable to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company if the Chief Executive Officer’s employment is terminated by us without cause or by the executive for a “good reason” that we believe results in a constructive termination of his employment. If the Chief Executive Officer’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by the executive for good reason, we believe that providing the Chief Executive Officer with cash severance benefits is consistent with our peer group companies and provides him with financial security during a period of time when he is likely to be unemployed and seeking new employment.

Severance Benefits—Termination of Employment Other than in Connection with Change in Control

Under Mr. Higgins’ Severance Agreement, in the event Mr. Higgins’ employment is terminated during the employment term either by the Company other than for “Cause” or “Disability” or by Mr. Higgins for “Good Reason” (as those terms are defined in the Severance Agreement), Mr. Higgins will be entitled to severance pay that generally includes: (1) accrued and unpaid base salary and accrued and unpaid incentive compensation, if any, through the date of termination; (2) an amount equal to two times the sum of Mr. Higgins’ then effective base salary and target bonus opportunity; (3) an amount equal to the product of (x) the bonus compensation Mr. Higgins would have received had he remained with the Company through the entire fiscal year in which the date of termination occurs, times (y) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of calendar days elapsed in the fiscal year as of the termination date and the denominator of which is 365; such amount shall be paid at such later time as bonus payments on account of the fiscal year in question are generally paid; (3) the option to continue medical and dental insurance for a period of up to eighteen (18) months from the termination date or as otherwise provided by law under COBRA. Prior to entering into the Severance Agreement, Mr. Higgins was is entitled to severance equal to one time his annual base salary in the event he was terminated without cause by the Company. This benefit was granted in connection with the hiring of Mr. Higgins as our Chief Operating Officer, is not currently otherwise available to other executive officers, and is no longer available to Mr. Higgins under the terms of his Severance Agreement.

Expected Amended and Restated Change of Control Agreement with A. William Higgins

As discussed more fully in the February 26 Form 8-K, in connection with the elevation of Mr. Higgins to Chief Executive Officer, we expect that the Company will enter into an amended and restated executive change of control agreement with Mr. Higgins. It is intended that the material terms of such amended and restated executive change in control agreement will be the same as those applicable to Mr. Higgins’ existing change of control agreement entered into on February 15, 2005, the terms of which are described below, except that the payment due to Mr. Higgins upon a change of control will be an amount equal to three times the sum of his then effective base salary plus his highest annual incentive compensation received in the three immediately preceding fiscal years. While the Company intends to enter into the amended and restated change of control agreement with Mr. Higgins as described above, the agreement has not yet been finalized or executed.

Change in Control Agreements with Other Named Executive Officers

Currently, our executive officers including our Named Executive Officers (other than our Chief Executive Officer, who is entitled to severance in the circumstances described above) generally receive severance only upon certain terminations of employment in connection with a change in control, as described below. We believe

 

29


that the occurrence, or potential occurrence, of a change in control transaction will create uncertainty regarding the continued employment of our executive officers including our Named Executive Officers. This uncertainty results from the fact that many change in control transactions result in significant organizational changes, particularly at the senior executive level. In order to encourage our executive officers to remain employed with the Company during an important time when their prospects for continued employment following the transaction are often uncertain, we provide our executive officers with severance benefits pursuant to a change in control agreement if their employment is terminated by us without cause or by the executive for good reason within twelve months following a change in control. We believe that such executive officers should receive their change in control severance benefits if their employment is constructively terminated in connection with a change in control. Given that none of our executive officers has an employment agreement that provides for fixed positions or duties, or for a fixed base salary or actual or target annual bonus, absent some form of constructive termination severance trigger, potential acquirors could constructively terminate an executive officer’s employment and avoid paying severance. For example, following a change in control, an acquiror could materially demote an executive officer, significantly reduce his salary and/or eliminate his annual bonus opportunity to force the executive officer to terminate his own employment and thereby avoid paying severance. Because we believe that constructive terminations in connection with a change in control are conceptually the same as actual terminations, and because we believe that acquirors would otherwise have an incentive to constructively terminate executive officers to avoid paying severance, the change in control agreements we have entered into with our executive officers permit executive officers to terminate their employment in connection with a change in control for certain “good reasons” that we believe result, in those circumstances, in the constructive termination of the executive officers’ employment. In the event the employment of an executive officer is terminated by the Company following a change in control, we believe that providing these executive officers with cash severance benefits is consistent with our peer group companies and provides them with financial security during a period of time when they are likely to be unemployed and seeking new employment.

The Company therefore has entered into change in control agreements with our executive officers including our Chief Executive Officer (which agreement was entered into when he was our Chief Operation Officer), Chief Financial Officer, Group Vice President—Circor Energy Products and Group Vice President—Circor Aerospace Products. The agreements are substantially identical and provide for certain benefits to be paid to such executive officers in connection with a termination of employment with the Company under the circumstances described below.

Severance Benefits—Termination of Employment in Connection with Change in Control

If within twelve months after a change in control, an executive officer’s employment is terminated by the Company without “Cause” or such executive officer terminates his employment for “Good Reason” (as those terms are defined in the change in control agreements), such executive officer will be entitled to severance pay that generally includes: (1) (a) for our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer an amount equal to two times and (b) for our other executive officers including our Group Vice President—Circor Energy Products and Group Vice President—Circor Aerospace Products an amount equal to one times the sum of (i) such executive officer’s current base salary and (ii) the highest annual incentive compensation received by such executive officer in any of the three immediately preceding fiscal years (excluding any sign-on bonus, retention bonus or any other special bonus); (2) the immediate acceleration of vesting of all stock options and other stock-based awards (including RSUs); (3) (a) for our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer full vesting in thier accrued benefits under the SERP plus the crediting of an additional twenty-four months of benefit service under the SERP and (b) for our other executive officers including our Group Vice President—Circor Energy Products and Group Vice President—Circor Aerospace Products full vesting in their accrued benefits, if any, under the SERP; (4) (a) for our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer the payment of such health insurance premiums as may be necessary to allow them and their spouses and dependents to continue to receive health insurance coverage substantially similar to the coverage they received prior to the date of termination for a period of two years and (b) for our other executive officers including our Group Vice President—Circor Energy Products and Group Vice President—Circor Aerospace Products the payment of such health insurance premiums

 

30


as may be necessary to allow them and their spouses and dependents to continue to receive health insurance coverage substantially similar to the coverage they received prior to the date of termination for a period of one year; and (5) for our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer the payment of expenses incurred in leasing an automobile (at least equal to the car allowance received prior to termination) for a period of two years. The aggregate amount payable to the Named Executive Officers under items (1) through (5) may, in certain instances, trigger the payment of excise taxes under the Internal Revenue Code. In the event that the applicable Named Executive Officer would receive a greater economic benefit by receiving payments up to the maximum amount that would not require the payment of excise taxes instead of the full amounts due under items (1) through (5) above, the change in control agreements provide that the aggregate payments to the Named Executive Officer will be reduced to the maximum amount that would not require the payment of excise taxes.

The following tables list the estimated amounts that the Named Executive Officers would have become entitled to under a change in control agreement for the Named Executive Officers (other than our recently retired Chief Executive Officer and recently retired Chief Financial Officer) had their employment with the Company terminated on December 31, 2007 under circumstances described above:

 

Payments and Benefits

   Termination after
Change-in-Control
 

A. William Higgins (1)

  

Cash Severance

   $ 1,124,626 (2)

Stock Options

   $ 357,952 (3)

Restricted Stock Units

   $ 1,694,594 (4)

Health Care Benefits

   $ 21,042 (5)

Pension Benefits

   $ 85,392 (6)

Other Perquisites

   $ 24,000 (7)

Tax Cutback

   $ 0  

Total

   $ 3,307,606  

 

(1) As discussed above in addition to the benefits listed in this table, in the event Mr. Higgins would have been terminated without cause by the Company on December 31, 2007, Mr. Higgins would have been entitled to a severance payment equal to his then effective annual base salary ($280,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007). This benefit was granted in connection with the Mr. Higgins’ hiring as our Chief Operating Officer and is not currently otherwise available to other senior executives.
(2) This amounts reflects payment to Mr. Higgins that would be equal to two times the sum of (A) his then effective base salary and (B) his highest annual incentive compensation in any of the three immediately preceding years. This payment is payable in a lump sum following termination.
(3) This amount reflects the incremental value to which Mr. Higgins would be entitled due to the immediate vesting of all unvested stock options using the closing stock price of $46.36 on December 31, 2007 (the last trading day of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007).
(4) This amount reflects the incremental value to which Mr. Higgins would be entitled due to the immediate vesting of all unvested RSUs using the closing stock price of $46.36 on December 31, 2007 (the last trading day of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007).
(5) This amounts reflects payment to Mr. Higgins that would be equal to the cost of the health insurance premiums necessary to allow Mr. Higgins, his spouse and dependents to continue to receive health insurance coverage substantially similar to the coverage they received prior to the date of termination for a period of two years from the date of termination.
(6) This amount reflect the incremental value to which Mr. Higgins would be entitled due to the crediting of an additional twenty-four months of service under the SERP.
(7) This amount reflect payment to Mr. Higgins that would be equal to the cost of his then effective monthly car allowance for a period of two years from the date of termination.

 

31


Payments and Benefits

   Termination after
Change-in-Control
   

Payments and Benefits

   Termination after
Change-in-Control
 

Paul M. Coppinger

     Christopher C. Celtruda   

Cash Severance

   $ 411,260 (1)   Cash Severance    $ 250,616 (1)

Stock Options

   $ 157,617 (2)   Stock Options    $ 0  

Restricted Stock Units

   $ 979,229 (3)   Restricted Stock Units    $ 465,162  

Health Care Benefits

   $ 7,882 (4)   Health Care Benefits    $ 7,882 (4)

Tax Cutback

   $ 0     Tax Cutback    $ 0  

Total

   $ 1,555,988     Total    $ 723,660  

 

(1) These amounts reflect payments to Messrs. Coppinger and Celtruda that would be equal to the sum of (A) their respective current base salary and (B) their respective highest annual incentive compensation in any of the three immediately preceding years. This payment is payable in a lump sum following termination.
(2) These amounts reflect the incremental value to which Messrs. Coppinger and Celtruda would be entitled due to the immediate vesting of all unvested stock options using the closing stock price of $46.36 on December 31, 2007 (the last trading day of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007).
(3) These amounts reflect the incremental value to which Messrs. Coppinger and Celtruda would be entitled due to the immediate vesting of all unvested RSUs using the closing stock price of $46.36 on December 31, 2007 (the last trading day of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007).
(4) These amounts reflect payments to Messrs. Coppinger and Celtruda that would be equal to the cost of the health insurance premiums necessary to allow Messrs. Coppinger and Celtruda and their respective spouses and dependents to continue to receive health insurance coverage substantially similar to the coverage they received prior to the date of termination for a period of one year from the date of termination.

 

32


DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The Company uses a combination of cash and stock-based incentive compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on the Board. Further, each director is reimbursed for reasonable travel and other expenses incurred in attending meetings. In setting director compensation, the Company considers the significant amount of time that Directors expend in fulfilling their duties to the Company as well as the skill-level required by the Company of members of the Board. Directors are subject to the “Stock Ownership Guidelines” described above.

Commencing with the 2008 fiscal year, our non-employee directors will receive cash compensation as follows:

 

Annual Retainer

   $  40,000

Chairman Fee (Audit Committee)

   $ 7,500

Chairman Fee (Nominating and Corporate Governance and Compensation Committees)

   $ 5,000

Lead Director

   $ 5,000

Committee Meeting Attendance (all Committees)

   $ 1,200

Telephonic Committee Meetings (all Committees)

   $ 1,000

Directors also are eligible to receive an annual equity incentive grant under our Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan. Currently, the targeted value of such grant is $50,000. As a result, with respect to the most recent grants which were made on February 26, 2008, each non-employee director received a grant of 1,028 RSUs which are convertible into shares of Common Stock on a one-for-one basis and which vest in equal one-third portions over a three-year period. The number of RSUs was determined by dividing $50,000 by the closing price of our Common Stock on the trading day immediately preceding the award date. At his election, each Director, under the MSPP, may elect to defer all or part of such Director’s annual cash retainer for the purchase of RSUs at a 33% discount from the closing price of our Common Stock on the date of the fee payments. Those directors who are our employees do not receive compensation for their services as directors.

The table below summarizes the compensation paid by the Company to non-employee Directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.

2007 Director Compensation

 

Name

   Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($) (1)
   Stock
Awards
($) (2)
   Option
Awards
($) (3)
   Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
   Change
in Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings

($)
   All Other
Compensation
($) (4)
   Total ($)
(a)    (b)    (c)    (d)    (e)    (f)    (g)    (h)

Jerome D. Brady

   $ 47,000    $ 41,557    $ 5,467    —      —      $ 992    $ 95,016

Thomas E. Callahan(5)

     1,000      86,652      7,341    —      —        —        94,993

Dewain K. Cross

     50,750      36,974      5,467    —      —        2,033      95,224

David F. Dietz

     43,000      41,557      5,467    —      —        1,042      91,066

Douglas M. Hayes

     50,750      41,557      5,467    —      —        967      98,741

Thomas E. Naugle

     47,750      41,557      5,467    —      —        967      95,741

C. William Zadel

     13,400      3,410      —      —      —        —        16,810

 

(1)

The amounts shown in this column reflect the fees paid in 2007 for Board and committee service and annual retainer fees of $33,500. Our Directors are also eligible to participate in our MSPP, a component plan of our Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, pursuant to which Directors may make an

 

33


 

advance election to receive RSUs in lieu of all or part of such Director’s fees. Such RSUs are issued on the basis of a 33% discount to the closing price of the Company’s stock on the day the fees are paid or otherwise would be paid and generally vest ratably over a three-year period, at which time they are converted into shares of our Common Stock unless the Director previously has elected a longer deferral period. Based on elections made prior to December 31, 2007, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, Mr. Dietz, Mr. Naugle, Mr. Hayes and Mr. Brady elected to defer all of their fees shown above into RSUs whereas Mr. Cross elected to be paid in cash. Mr. Callahan did not participate due to his resignation effective January 3, 2007 nor did Mr. Zadel who was elected to the board on October 31, 2007. RSUs were issued as of February 26, 2008 by dividing the Director’s election amount by $32.60 (the “2007 RSU Cost”), which was 67% of $48.66 the closing price of our Common Stock on February 23, 2008, the trading day immediately preceding the award date. The dollar amounts recognized for financial statement reporting purposes in accordance with SFAS 123R in connection with the issuance of such RSUs will be included in column (c)—”Stock Awards” of the Director Compensation Table in future years as such amounts are recognized.

(2) The amounts shown in this column reflect the dollar amounts recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 in accordance with SFAS 123R of RSU awards under the Company’s Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan and RSUs purchased under the MSPP and thus include amounts attributable to RSUs granted in and prior to 2007. In connection with Mr. Callahan’s January 3, 2007 resignation, his outstanding unvested RSU awards became immediately vested on his resignation date. Mr. Zadel was elected to the board on October 31, 2007 and was granted an award of 1,250 RSUs. These items account for the primary differences. For a discussion of the assumptions related to the calculation of the amounts in this column, please refer to Note 11 (Share-Based Compensation) to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2008.
(3) The amounts shown in this column reflect the dollar amounts recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for the year ended December 31, 2007 in accordance with SFAS 123R in connection with stock options granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan. The Company ceased granting stock options to employees and directors in 2005, and thus the amounts shown in this column are attributable to stock options granted prior to 2006. For a discussion of the assumptions related to the calculation of the amounts in this column, please refer to Note 11 (Share-Based Compensation) to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2008. In connection with Mr. Callahan’s January 3, 2007 resignation, his outstanding unvested stock options became immediately vested and Mr. Zadel had no outstanding stock options which accounts for the differences in stock option amounts. The following Directors have stock option awards outstanding at the end of fiscal year 2007: Mr. Brady (13,000), Mr. Cross (8,000), Mr. Dietz (22,000), Mr. Hayes (16,000) and Mr. Naugle (16,000). Mr. Callahan and Mr. Zadel had no stock option awards outstanding at the end of fiscal year 2007.
(4) The amounts shown in this column reflect dividend equivalents paid on RSUs.
(5) Effective January 3, 2007, Thomas E. Callahan resigned from our Board for personal reasons. In recognition of his service, the Board accelerated his equity.

 

34


COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors

on Executive Compensation

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2007 with management. Based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2007.

Submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors

Jerome D. Brady

Douglas M. Hayes

Thomas E. Naugle

C. William Zadel

Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors

The Audit Committee has furnished the following report on Audit Committee matters:

The Audit Committee acts pursuant to a written charter which initially was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on May 24, 2000. During Fiscal 2003 and again during Fiscal 2004, minor revisions were made to the Audit Committee Charter to ensure compliance with revised NYSE and SEC requirements and to more clearly delineate the delegation of certain board functions as between the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Pursuant to this Charter, the Audit Committee is primarily responsible for overseeing and monitoring the accounting, financial reporting and internal controls practices of the Company and its subsidiaries. Its primary objective is to promote and preserve the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and the independence and performance of the Company’s independent auditors. The Audit Committee also oversees the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

It is important to note, however, that the role of the Audit Committee is one of oversight, and the Audit Committee relies, without independent verification, on the information provided to it and the representations made by management, the internal auditors and the independent auditors. Management retains direct responsibility for the financial reporting process, system of internal controls and system of disclosure controls and procedures.

In furtherance of its role, the Audit Committee has an annual agenda which includes periodic reviews of the Company’s internal controls and of areas of potential exposure for the Company such as environmental and litigation matters. The Audit Committee meets at least quarterly and reviews the Company’s interim financial results and earnings releases prior to their publication. The Audit Committee also reviews the Company’s periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and 10-K prior to their filing.

The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent auditors. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Pre-approval generally is provided for up to one year and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and generally is subject to a specific budget. The Audit Committee has delegated pre-approval authority to its Chairperson when expediting of services is necessary. The independent auditors and management report annually to the Audit Committee regarding the extent of services provided by the independent auditors in accordance with this pre-approval, and the fees for the services performed. All of the audit, audit-related, tax and other services provided by KPMG LLP in Fiscal 2006 and related fees were approved in accordance with the Audit Committee’s policy.

 

35


The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 with management and it has discussed with Grant Thornton LLP, the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees) relating to the conduct of the audit. The Audit Committee also has received written disclosures and a letter from Grant Thornton LLP regarding its independence from the Company as required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees) and has discussed with Grant Thornton LLP the independence of that firm. Based upon these materials and discussions, the Audit Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.

Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors

Dewain K. Cross

Douglas M. Hayes

Thomas E. Naugle

C. William Zadel

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of February 29, 2008, by:

 

   

all persons known by us to own beneficially 5% or more of our Common Stock;

 

   

each of our directors;

 

   

our Chief Executive Officer and the other named executive officers; and

 

   

all directors and executive officers as a group.

The number of shares beneficially owned by each stockholder is determined under rules issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission and includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Under these rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual or entity has sole or shared voting power or investment power and includes any shares as to which the individual or entity has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within sixty (60) days after February 29, 2008 through the exercise of any warrant, stock option or other right. The inclusion in this Proxy Statement of such shares, however, does not constitute an admission that the named stockholder is a direct or indirect beneficial owner of such shares. As of February 29, 2008 a total of 16,676,503 shares of Common Stock were outstanding.

 

36


Unless otherwise indicated below, to our knowledge, all persons listed below have sole voting and investment power with respect to their shares of Common Stock except to the extent authority is shared by spouses under applicable law.

 

     Shares of Common
Stock Beneficially Owned
 

Name of Beneficial Owner (1)

   Number (2)    Percent (2)  

Gabelli Entities (3)

   2,357,576    14.1 %

Keeley Asset Management Corp. (4)

   1,646,136    9.9 %

Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. (5)

   1,288,932    7.7 %

Franklin Resources, Inc. (6)

   1,056,910    6.3 %

FMR LLC (7)

   1,150,751    6.9 %

David A. Bloss, Sr. (8)

   225,336    1.4 %

David F. Dietz (9)

   43,033    *  

Douglas M. Hayes (10)

   25,307    *  

Thomas E. Naugle (11)

   23,068    *  

Dewain K. Cross (12)

   22,488    *  

Paul M. Coppinger (13)

   16,417    *  

Jerome D. Brady (14)

   18,571    *  

A. William Higgins (15)

   29,439    *  

Christopher R. Celtruda (16)

   1,844    *  

C. William Zadel

   0    *  

All executive officers and directors as a group (eighteen persons) (17)

   456,547    2.7 %

 

   * Less than 1%.

  (1)

The address of each stockholder in the table is c/o CIRCOR International, Inc., 25 Corporate Drive, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803, except that the Gabelli Entities’ address is One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580; Franklin Resources’ address is One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403; Morgan Stanley’s address is 1585 Broadway, New York, NY 10036; Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc.’s address is 1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor, Santa Monica, CA 90401; and Keeley Asset Management’s address is 401 South Lasalle Street, Suite 1201, Chicago, IL 60605.

  (2) The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding used in calculating the percentage for each listed person and the directors and executive officers as a group includes the number of shares of Common Stock underlying stock options, warrants and convertible securities held by such person or group that are exercisable or convertible within 60 days from February 29, 2006, the date of the above table, but excludes shares of Common Stock underlying stock options, warrants or convertible securities held by any other person.
  (3) The information is based on an amended Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2006 on behalf of Mario J. Gabelli and various entities which Mr. Gabelli directly or indirectly controls or for which he acts as chief investment officer including, but not limited to, Gabelli Funds LLC, GAMCO Investors, Inc. and Gabelli Securities, Inc. (the “Gabelli Entities”). According to the Schedule 13D, the Gabelli entities engage in various aspects of the securities business, primarily as investment advisor to various institutional and individual clients, including registered investment companies and pension plans, as broker/dealer and as general partner of various private investment partnerships. Certain Gabelli entities may also make investments for their own accounts. As of November 13, 2006, Gabelli Funds LLC, GAMCO Investors, Inc., and Gabelli Securities, Inc. held 737,000, 1,618,576 and 2,000 shares, respectively. Subject to certain limitations, each of the foregoing has all investment and/or voting power in the shares except that GAMCO Investors does not have the authority to vote 50,800 of the shares.
  (4)

The information is based on an amended Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2008 on behalf of Keeley Asset Management Corp. and Keeley Small Cap Value Fund, a series of Keeley Funds, Inc. According to the filing, Keeley Asset Management Corp. is an

 

37


 

investment advisor and has sole dispositive power over all 1,646,136 of these shares and sole voting power with respect to 1,585,011 of these shares.

  (5) The information is based on an amended Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 6, 2008. According to the filing, Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. (“Dimensional”) is an investment advisor that furnishes investment advice to four investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and serves as investment manager to certain other commingled group trusts and separate accounts (collectively, the “Funds”). In such capacity, Dimensional has sole voting and dispositive power over all 1,288,932 shares but disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares as all such shares are owned by the Funds.
  (6) The information is based on an amended Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 4, 2008 on behalf of Franklin Resources, Inc. (a parent holding company), Charles B. Johnson and Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. as principal shareholders of Franklin Resources, Inc., and Franklin Advisory Services, LLC as Reporting Persons. According to this filing, the 1,056,910 shares reported on are beneficially owned by one or more open or closed-end investment companies or other managed accounts which are advised by Franklin Advisory Services, LLC, an investment advisory subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. Franklin Advisory Services, LLC holds sole dispositive power with respect to all 1,150,751 of these shares.
  (7) The information is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2008 on behalf of FMR LLC as Reporting Person. The schedule 13G reported that Fidelity Management and Research Company is the beneficial owner of 1,150,751 shares. Edward C. Johnson, 3d and FMR, through its control of Fidelity, each has sole power to dispose of 1,150,751 shares.
  (8) Includes 34,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options that will be exercisable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 and 101,653 shares of Common Stock issuable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 on account of RSUs that will have vested.
  (9) Includes 22,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options that will be exercisable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 and 333 shares of Common Stock issuable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 on account of RSUs that will have vested.
(10) Includes 16,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options that will be exercisable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 and 333 shares of Common Stock issuable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 on account of RSUs that will have vested.
(11) Includes 16,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options that will be exercisable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 and 333 shares of Common Stock issuable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 on account of RSUs that will have vested.
(12) Includes 8,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options that will be exercisable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 and 333 shares of Common Stock issuable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 on account of RSUs that will have vested. Of the shares that Mr. Cross holds outright, 3,761 of these shares are held in a margin account with a brokerage firm the terms of which require that all shares held in such account serve as collateral for any margin loans made with respect to such account.
(13) Includes 6,800 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options that will be exercisable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 and 1,576 shares of Common Stock issuable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 on account of RSUs that will have vested.
(14) Includes 13,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options that will be exercisable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 and 333 shares of Common Stock issuable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 on account of RSUs that will have vested.
(15) Includes 16,680 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options that will be exercisable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 and 2,576 shares of Common Stock issuable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 on account of RSUs that will have vested.
(16) Includes 1,288 shares of Common Stock issuable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 on account of RSUs that will have vested.
(17) Includes 150,420 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options that will be exercisable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 and 117,780 shares of Common Stock issuable within 60 days of February 29, 2008 on account of RSUs that will have vested.

 

38


EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

 

Plan category

   Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
    Weighted average
exercise price of
outstanding options,

warrants and rights
   Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation

plans (excluding
securities reflected

in column (a)
     (a)     (b)    (c)

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

   704,498 (1)   $ 23.58    986,658

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

   N/A       N/A    N/A

Total

   704,498 (1)   $ 23.58    986,658

 

(1) Represents 273,100 stock options, and 431,398 restricted stock units under the Company’s Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.

PROPOSAL 2

RATIFICATION OF AUDITORS

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed the firm of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for Fiscal 2008. Grant Thornton LLP, which has no direct or indirect interest in the Company or any affiliate of the Company,. Although action by the stockholders in this matter is not required, the Board believes that it is appropriate to seek stockholder ratification of this appointment in light of the critical role played by independent auditors in maintaining the integrity of the Company’s financial controls and reporting. The Board of Directors therefore recommends to the stockholders that they ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as independent auditors of the Company for Fiscal 2008. Should the stockholders not ratify the selection of Grant Thornton LLP, the Audit Committee will consider the vote and the reasons therefore in future decisions on the selection of independent auditors.

Auditor Presence at Annual Meeting / Selection of Auditor for Fiscal 2008

A representative of Grant Thornton LLP (our independent auditor for the current year) is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will be given the opportunity to make a statement, if he or she so desires, and to respond to appropriate questions.

Changes in Certifying Accountant

On February 26, 2007 the Audit Committee selected Grant Thornton LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007 and dismissed KPMG LLP, which had audited the Company’s books and records from its inception in 1999 through completion of the audit for Fiscal 2006, as its independent registered public accounting firm effective as of such date. Prior to its dismissal, KPMG LLP completed its audit of the Company’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2006. The decision to engage Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm was the result of a competitive selection process involving several firms.

Regarding the Former Independent Auditor

KPMG LLP’s report on the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles, except as follows: KPMG LLP’s report on the consolidated financial

 

39


statements of Circor International. Inc. as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006, contained a separate paragraph stating that, “As discussed in note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), “Share—Based Payment” on January 1, 2006. As discussed in note 13 to the consolidated financial statements, during the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans”. KPMG LLP’s reports on management’s assessment of effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles except as follows: “CIRCOR International, Inc. acquired Hale Hamilton Valves Limited (“Hale Hamilton”) and Sagebrush Pipeline Equipment Co. (“Sagebrush”) during 2006, and management excluded from its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, Hale Hamilton’s and Sagebrush’s internal control over financial reporting associated with aggregate total assets of $104,737,876 and aggregate total revenues of $75,888,877 included in the consolidated financial statements of CIRCOR International, Inc. as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006. KPMG’s audit of internal control over financial reporting of CIRCOR International, Inc. also excluded an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Hale Hamilton and Sagebrush.” During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 and through February 26, 2007, there were no disagreements with KPMG LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements if not resolved to the satisfaction of KPMG LLP would have caused KPMG LLP to make reference thereto in its reports on the Company’s financial statements for such periods. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 and through February 26, 2007, there were no “reportable events” with respect to the Company as such term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K. On February 26, 2007, the Company requested that KPMG LLP furnish it with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not it agrees with the above statements as of February 26, 2007. A copy of such letter, dated February 27, 2007, was filed as an exhibit to a Form 8-K filed by the Company on March 2, 2007.

Regarding the Newly-Engaged Independent Auditor

During the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, and through February 26, 2007, the Company did not consult with Grant Thornton LLP regarding either (1) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed; or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and neither a written report was provided to the Company or oral advice was provided that Grant Thornton LLP concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (2) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement or reportable event as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) and (v) of SEC Regulation S-K.

Fees Paid to Auditors, Independence

Audit Fees

Fiscal 2007

The Company will pay an aggregate of $1,624,000 for professional services rendered by Grant Thornton LLP for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for Fiscal 2007, for review of the financial statements included in the Company’s quarterly reports of Form 10-Q for that year, and for conduct of the independent auditor’s obligations relative to attestation of internal controls under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Fiscal 2006

The Company has paid or accrued an aggregate of $2,082,458 for professional services rendered by KPMG LLP for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for Fiscal 2006, for review of the financial statements included in the Company’s quarterly reports of Form 10-Q for that year, and for conduct of the independent auditor’s obligations relative to attestation of internal controls under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

40


Audit Related Fees

Fiscal 2007

The Company has paid an aggregate of $36,450 for audit related services performed by Grant Thornton LLP during Fiscal 2007. Such audit related services consisted of the performance of due diligence in connection with merger and acquisition activity.

Fiscal 2006

The Company has paid or accrued an aggregate of $33,163 for audit related services performed by KPMG LLP during Fiscal 2006. Such audit related services consisted of audits of the Company’s pension and 401(k) plans.

Tax Fees

Fiscal 2007

The Company did not engage Grant Thornton LLP to perform tax services performed during Fiscal 2007.

Fiscal 2006

The Company has paid or accrued an aggregate of $159,670 to KPMG LLP for tax services performed during Fiscal 2006. Such tax services included advice related to state, local and international tax compliance and the review and signing of tax returns.

All Other Fees

Fiscal 2007 and Fiscal 2006

The Company did not engage Grant Thornton LLP to perform any other services during Fiscal 2007 or Fiscal 2006.

Independence

The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services by Grant Thornton LLP is compatible with maintaining Grant Thornton LLP’s independence and has determined that these services had no adverse effect on such independence.

Vote Required for Approval

A quorum being present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast is necessary to ratify the selection of Grant Thornton LLP as the independent auditors of the Company for Fiscal 2008.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF GRANT THORNTON LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS OF THE COMPANY FOR FISCAL 2008.

MARKET VALUE

On December 31, 2007 (the last trading day of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007), the closing price of a share of the Company’s Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $46.36.

 

41


EXPENSES OF SOLICITATION

The Company will pay the entire expense of soliciting proxies for the Annual Meeting. In addition to solicitations by mail, certain directors, officers and regular employees of the Company (who will receive no compensation for their services other than their regular compensation) may solicit proxies by telephone, telegram or personal interview. Banks, brokerage houses, custodians, nominees and other fiduciaries have been requested to forward proxy materials to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by them and such custodians will be reimbursed for their expenses.

SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR

ANNUAL MEETING IN 2009

Stockholder proposals intended to be presented at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2009 must be received by the Company on or before November 26, 2008 in order to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting. These proposals must also comply with the rules of the SEC governing the form and content of proposals in order to be included in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy.

In addition, a stockholder who wishes to present a proposal at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2009 must deliver the proposal to the Company so that it is received on or after December 31, 2008 and not later than January 30, 2009 in order to be considered at that annual meeting. The Company’s By-laws provide that any stockholder of record wishing to have a stockholder proposal considered at an annual meeting must provide written notice of such proposal and appropriate supporting documentation, as set forth in the By-laws, to the Company at its principal executive office not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting. In the event, however, that the annual meeting is scheduled to be held more than 30 days before such anniversary date or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day after the date of public disclosure of the date of such meeting is first made. Proxies solicited by the Board of Directors will confer discretionary voting authority with respect to these proposals, subject to SEC rules governing the exercise of this authority.

Any stockholder proposals should be mailed to: Secretary, CIRCOR International, Inc., 25 Corporate Drive, Burlington, MA 01803.

COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock (collectively, “Section 16 Persons”), to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the NYSE. Section 16 Persons are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it, or written representations from certain Section 16 Persons that no Section 16(a) reports were required for such persons, the Company believes that during Fiscal 2007, the Section 16 Persons complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to them.

 

42


OTHER MATTERS

The Board of Directors does not know of any matters other than those described in this Proxy Statement that will be presented for action at the Annual Meeting. If other matters are duly presented, proxies will be voted in accordance with the best judgment of the proxy holders.

WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.

 

43


Annual Meeting of CIRCOR International, Inc.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

1:00 p.m.

at

Circor Energy Products

1500 S.E. 89th Street

Oklahoma City, OK 73149

405-631-1533

Directions:

From Will Rogers Airport: Take Meridian north from airport to 2nd light (Airport Road—approx. 1 mile); turn right into Airport Road and continue to Interstate 44 West (approx. 1 mile); take Interstate 44 West to Interstate 240 East (approx. 2 miles); continue on Interstate 35 South to S.E. 89th Street Exit (1 mile); Bear left onto S I-35 Service Road; Turn Left on SE 89th Street. Circor Energy Products is on the right side as the road dead ends.

From Downtown Oklahoma City: Take I-35/I-40 East ramp; Follow the ramp to Dallas (I-35 S); Continue on I-35 South; Take the S.E. 89th St. Exit towards I-35 Service Road; Bear left onto S I-35 Service Road; Turn Left on SE 89th Street. Circor Energy Products is on the right side as the road dead ends.


   ¨                     ¢  

CIRCOR INTERNATIONAL, INC.

25 Corporate Drive, Suite 130, Burlington, MA 01803

Proxy for Common Stock

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned hereby appoints Frederic M. Burditt and Alan J. Glass as proxies, each of them acting solely, with power of substitution and with all powers the undersigned would possess if personally present, to represent and vote, as designated on the reverse side, all the shares of Common Stock of CIRCOR International, Inc. which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of CIRCOR International, Inc. to be held at the offices of the Company’s subsidiary, Circor Energy Products, Inc., 1500 S.E. 89th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. local time (2:00 p.m. Eastern Time), and at any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof, upon the matters set forth on the reverse side hereof and described in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and accompanying Proxy Statement.

(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)

 

¢    14475    ¢  


ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF

CIRCOR INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Please date, sign and mail

your proxy card in the

envelope provided as soon

as possible.

i Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided. i

 

¢ 20330000000000001000 8    043008   

 

 

PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS

SHOWN HERE x

 

 

1.   To elect three Class III Directors, each to hold office for a 3-year term until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2011 and until such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified.

      FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN

 

¨  FOR ALL NOMINEES

 

¨  WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ALL NOMINEES

 

¨  FOR ALL EXCEPT

     (See instructions below)

  

NOMINEES:

O      David A. Bloss, Sr.

O      A. William Higgins

O      C. William Zadel

     

2.   To ratify the selection of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.

   ¨    ¨    ¨
        

 

The undersigned hereby revokes any proxy previously given in connection with such meeting and acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement for the aforesaid meeting and the 2007 Annual Report to Stockholders.

        

 

This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder. If no instruction is indicated with respect to items 1 and 2, the undersigned's votes will be cast in favor of items 1 and 2.

INSTRUCTION:    To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and fill in the circle next to each nominee you wish to withhold, as shown here:   l

           
 
               Please check here if you plan to attend the meeting.  ¨
To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method.    ¨              

 

             
Signature of Stockholder        Date :       Signature of Stockholder        Date:     

 

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Note: Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.

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