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 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant
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Check the appropriate box: |
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to 240.14a-12 |
Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. |
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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o Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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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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4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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5) Total fee paid: |
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Persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a SEC 1913(05-05) currently valid OMB control number. |
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o Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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o 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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1) Amount Previously Paid: |
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2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: Def 14A |
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3) Filing Party: Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. |
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4) Date Filed: June 20, 2006 |
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PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
8302 Dunwoody Place, Suite 250
Atlanta, Georgia 30350
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
To Be Held July 27, 2006
To the Stockholders of Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.:
Notice is hereby given that the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Meeting) of Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (the Company) will be held at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Sandestin, Florida 32550, on Thursday, July 27, 2006, at 1:00 p.m. (EDST), for the following purposes:
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To elect seven directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified; |
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To ratify the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the 2006 fiscal year; and |
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and at any adjournments thereof. |
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on June 2, 2006, will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting or at any postponement or adjournment thereof. A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be open to the examination of any stockholder for any purposes relevant to the meeting during ordinary business hours for 10 days prior to the meeting at the offices of the Company. The list will also be available at the meeting.
The Companys Annual Report for 2005 is enclosed for your convenience.
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By the order of the Board of Directors |
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/s/ Steven Baughman |
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Steven Baughman |
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Secretary |
Atlanta, Georgia |
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June 20, 2006 |
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It is important that your shares be represented at the meeting. Please complete, date, sign and return the accompanying Proxy or vote on the internet at www.continentalstock.com, whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person. The enclosed return envelope requires no additional postage if mailed in the United States. If a stockholder decides to attend the meeting, he or she may, if so desired, revoke the Proxy and vote in person.
PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
8302 Dunwoody Place, Suite 250
Atlanta, Georgia 30350
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE
2006 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Solicitation
This Proxy Statement is furnished to the holders of the common stock, par value $.001 (the Common Stock), of Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (the Company) in connection with the solicitation on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board of Directors or the Board) of proxies to be used in voting at the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Sandestin, Florida 32550, on Thursday, July 27, 2006, at 1:00 p.m. (EDST), and any adjournments thereof (the Meeting). The Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, this Proxy Statement and the accompanying Proxy Card were first mailed to stockholders on or about June 20, 2006.
The Company will pay the cost of preparing, printing, assembling and mailing this Proxy Statement and the Proxy Card. In addition to solicitation by use of the mail, certain of the Companys officers and employees may, without receiving additional compensation therefore, solicit the return of proxies by telephone, telegram or personal interview. The Company will reimburse brokerage houses and custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in forwarding soliciting materials to their principals, the beneficial owners of Common Stock.
Method of Voting Shares
Via Internet. You have the option of voting your shares electronically through the Internet, eliminating the need to return the proxy card. Your electronic vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed, dated and returned the proxy card. Votes submitted electronically over the Internet or by telephone must be received by 6:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time, on July 26, 2006. To vote your proxy by internet, have your proxy card available when you access the website at www.continentalstock.com and follow the prompts to vote your shares.
Via Written Ballot. You may also vote your shares by submitting the accompanying proxy card. Complete, date, sign and return the card. The enclosed return envelope requires no additional postage if mailed in the United States.
Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, please submit your vote either by internet or by written proxy card.
Revocation of Proxy
Any stockholder who executes a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is voted by delivering to the Companys Secretary either an instrument revoking the proxy or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. Any stockholder present at the Meeting who expresses a desire to vote his shares in person may also revoke a proxy.
Record Date and Voting Shares
Only the holders of Common Stock of record at the close of business on June 2, 2006 (the Record Date), will have the right to receive notice of, and be entitled to vote at, the Meeting. At the close of business on the Record Date, 45,321,400 shares (excluding 988,000 treasury shares) of Common Stock were issued and outstanding. Each stockholder of record, as of the Record Date, is entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock that the stockholder owned as of the Record Date on each matter to be voted upon at the Meeting. A majority of all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the holding of the Meeting. The failure of a quorum to be represented at the Meeting will necessitate adjournment and will subject the Company to additional expense.
Pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, only votes cast FOR a matter constitute affirmative votes, except proxies in which the stockholder fails to make a specification as to whether the stockholder votes FOR, AGAINST, ABSTAIN or WITHHOLD as to a particular matter shall be considered as a vote FOR that matter. Votes in which the stockholder specifies WITHHOLD or ABSTAIN are counted for quorum purposes. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered as votes FOR a particular matter. An inspector of election appointed by the Board of Directors will tabulate votes.
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PROPOSAL 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Companys Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, provides that each member of the Board of Directors shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and their successors have been elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. Successors to those Directors whose terms have expired are required to be elected by stockholder vote. The existing Board of Directors fills vacancies for an unexpired term and any additional positions created by the Board of Directors action.
The Companys Bylaws provide that the number of the Companys directors (the Directors) shall be at least three, and that the number of Directors may be increased or decreased by action of the Board. The Board of Directors currently has determined that the number of Directors shall be seven.
The seven Directors named below have been recommended by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (Nominating Committee) to the Board of Directors for election at the Meeting to serve until the next annual meeting of the stockholders and until their respective successors are elected and qualified. All nominees are incumbent Directors, except Mr. Larry M. Shelton is a new director nominee, who will replace Al Warrington, (who is not standing for re-election). Shares represented by the enclosed proxy will be voted FOR the election as Directors of the seven nominees named below, unless authority is withheld. Except as described below, if any nominee named below becomes unavailable for election, the proxies in the form solicited will be voted for a person who is recommended by the Nominating Committee and who the Board of Directors proposes to replace such nominee. Approval of each nominee for election to the Board of Directors will require the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of the Companys Common Stock, in person or by proxy.
Nominees for Directors
The following sets forth information concerning the seven nominees for election as Directors:
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Dr. Louis F. Centofanti |
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Dr. Centofanti has served as Chairman of the Board since he joined the Company in February 1991. Dr. Centofanti also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company from February 1991 until September 1995 and again in March 1996 was elected to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. From 1985 until joining the Company, Dr. Centofanti served as Senior Vice President of USPCI, Inc., a large hazardous waste management company, where he was responsible for managing the treatment, reclamation and technical groups within USPCI. In 1981 he founded PPM, Inc., a hazardous waste management company specializing in the treatment of PCB contaminated oils, which was subsequently sold to USPCI. From 1978 to 1981, Dr. Centofanti served as Regional Administrator of the U.S. Department of Energy for the southeastern region of the United States. Dr. Centofanti has a Ph.D. and a M.S. in Chemistry from the University of Michigan, and a B.S. in Chemistry from Youngstown State University. |
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Jon Colin |
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Mr. Colin has served as a Director since December 1996. Mr. Colin is currently Chief Executive Officer of Lifestar Response Corporation, a position he has held since April 2002. Mr. Colin served as Chief Operating Officer of Lifestar Response Corporation from October 2000 to April 2002, and a consultant for Lifestar Response Corporation from September 1997 to October 2000. From 1990 to 1996, Mr. Colin served as President and Chief Executive Officer for Environmental Services of America, Inc., a publicly traded environmental services company. Mr. Colin is also a Director at Lifestar Response Corporation and Bamnet Inc. Mr. Colin has a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Maryland. |
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Jack Lahav |
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Jack Lahav has served as a Director since September 2001. Mr. Lahav is a private investor, specializing in launching and growing businesses. Mr. Lahav devotes much of his time to charitable activities, serving as President, as well as, board member of several charities. Previously, Mr. Lahav founded Remarkable Products Inc. and served as its president from 1980 to 1993. Mr. Lahav was also co-founder of Lamar Signal Processing, Inc.; president of Advanced Technologies, Inc., a robotics company and director of Vocaltech Communications, Inc. |
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Joe R. Reeder |
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Mr. Reeder, a Director since April 2003 , has served as Shareholder in Charge of the Mid-Atlantic Region for Greenberg Traurig LLP, one of the nations largest law firms, with 28 offices and over 1500 attorneys, worldwide. His clientele has included sovereign nations, international corporations, and law firms throughout the U.S. As the 14th Undersecretary of the U.S. Army (1993-97), Mr Reeder also served for three years as Chairman of the Panama Canal Commissions Board of Directors where he oversaw a multibillion-dollar infrastructure program. He sits on the Board of Governors of the Natl Defense Industry Association (NDIA), the Armed Services YMCA, the USO, and many other corporate and charitable organizations, and is a frequent television commentator on legal and national security issues. A graduate of West Point who served in the 82d Airborne Division following Ranger School, Mr. Reeder also has a J.D. from the University of Texas and an L.L.M. from Georgetown University. |
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Dr. Charles E. Young |
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Dr. Charles E. Young has served as a Director since July 2003. Dr. Young was president of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, from April 2004 until December 2005. Dr. Young was president of the University of Florida, a position he held from November 1999 to January 2004. Dr. Young also served as chancellor of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) for 29 years until his retirement in 1997. Dr. Young was formerly the chairman of the Association of American Universities and served on numerous commissions including the American Council on Education, the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, and the Business-Higher Education Forum. Dr. Young serves on the board of directors of I-MARK, Inc., a software and professional services company. He previously served on the board of directors of Intel Corp., Nicholas-Applegate Growth Equity Fund, Inc., Fiberspace, Inc., and Student Advantage, Inc. Dr. Young has a Ph.D. and M.A. in political science from UCLA and a B.A. from the University of California at Riverside. |
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Mark A. Zwecker |
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Mark Zwecker has served as a Director since the Companys inception in January 1991. Mr. Zwecker has recently assumed the position of Chief Financial Officer of Plum Combustion, Inc., an engineering and manufacturing company developing high performance combustion technology. Mr. Zwecker served as president of ACI Technology, LLC, from 1997 until 2006 and was vice president of finance and administration for American Combustion, Inc., from 1986 until 1998. In 1983, Mr. Zwecker participated as a founder with Dr. Centofanti in the start up of PPM, Inc. He remained with PPM, Inc. until its acquisition in 1985 by USPCI. Mr. Zwecker has a B.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from Harvard University. |
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Larry M. Shelton |
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Mr. Shelton been nominated by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy on the Board, as a result of Mr. Warringtons retirement from the Board. Mr. Shelton is currently chief financial officer of S K Hart Management, LC, an investment holding company. He has held this position since 1999. Mr. Shelton was chief financial officer of Envirocare of Utah, Inc., a waste management company from 1995 until 1999. Mr. Shelton serves on the board of directors of Junior Achievement of Utah and on the boards of trustees of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System and the Leukemia Society of Oklahoma. Mr. Shelton has a B.A. in accounting from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE SEVEN NOMINEES AS THE COMPANYS DIRECTORS.
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Board Independence
The Board of Directors has determined that each of Messrs. Zwecker, Colin, Lahav, Shelton, Reeder, and Young is an independent director under the current listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (NASDAQ). Dr. Centofanti is not considered to be an independent director because of his employment as a senior executive of the Company.
Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors
During 2005, the Board of Directors held six meetings. No Director attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate number of meetings held by the Board of Directors and the committees on which he served during 2005, except Dr. Young and Joe Reeder were only able to attend 67% of the Board meetings and committee meetings on which they serve. The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, Compensation and Stock Option Committee and a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.
Audit Committee:
The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in monitoring the integrity of the financial statements of the Company, the independent auditors qualifications and independence, the performance of the Companys internal audit function and independent auditor, and the Companys compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. In carrying out these purposes, the Audit Committee, among other things:
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appoints, evaluates, and approves the compensation of, the Companys independent auditor; |
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pre-approves all auditing services and permitted non-audit services; |
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annually considers the qualifications and independence of the independent auditors; |
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reviews recommendations of independent auditors concerning the Companys accounting principles, internal controls and accounting procedures and practices; |
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reviews and approves the scope of the annual audit; |
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reviews and discusses with the independent auditors the audited financial statements; and |
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performs such other duties as set forth in the Audit Committee Charter. |
The Audit Committee acts under an Audit Committee Charter that was adopted by the Board of Directors on February 27, 2003, which replaced its previous charter. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is available on the website at www.perma-fix.com. The Audit Committee has established procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding accounting or auditing matters.
The Audit Committee members during 2005 were Al Warrington (Chairperson), Jon Colin and Mark Zwecker. The Board of Directors has determined that each of the three members of the Audit Committee is an audit committee financial expert. The Audit Committee meets at least quarterly and at such additional times as necessary or advisable and held six meetings in 2005. The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is independent as that term is defined by the current NASDAQ listing standards and as specified in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Mr. Warrington has notified us that he will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Mr. Shelton is the nominee recommended by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee that is expected to replace Mr. Warrington on the Board of Directors and to serve on the Audit Committee. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Shelton is independent as that term is defined by the current SEC rules and NASDAQ listing standards.
Compensation and Stock Option Committee:
The Compensation and Stock Option Committee reviews and recommends to the Board of Directors the compensation and benefits of all of the Companys officers and reviews general policy matters relating to compensation and benefits of the Companys employees. The Compensation and Stock Option Committee administers the Companys stock option plans, and its 2003 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which was terminated effective May 15, 2006. The members of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee during 2005 were Mark Zwecker (Chairperson), Jack Lahav, Joe Reeder, Dr. Charles Young and Jon Colin. The Compensation and Stock Option Committee held four meetings in 2005.
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Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee:
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee recommends to the Board of Directors candidates to fill vacancies on the Board, as well as, the nominees for election as the Companys directors by the stockholders at each annual meeting of stockholders. Members of the Nominating Committee during 2005 were Jack Lahav (Chairperson), Joe Reeder, Dr. Charles Young and Al Warrington. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee held two meetings in 2005. Effective after the second quarter of 2005, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will meet not less than quarterly. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee adopted a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Charter, which is available on our website at www.perma-fix.com. All members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee are independent as that term is defined
by the current NASDAQ listing standards.
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee does not have a formal policy with regard to the consideration of any director candidate recommended by security holders, because our Board of Directors believes that our by-laws and the procedures noted below provide sufficient guidance for the consideration of such persons so recommended. Although there is no formal procedure for stockholders to recommend nominees for the Board of Directors, the Nominating Committee will consider such recommendations if received in writing, together with all of the information described below as to the person so recommended, 120 days in advance of the annual meeting of stockholders. The Committee will consider appropriate factors such as experience with other organizations, skills, diversity, integrity, judgment and independence. Recommendations should be made in compliance with the Companys by-laws and be addressed to the Nominating Committee at the Companys address and provide all information relating to such person that the stockholder desires to nominate that is required to be disclosed in solicitation of proxies for the election of such nominee, including the nominees written consent to serve as a director if so elected. If the chairman of the Meeting determines that a person is not nominated in accordance with the nomination procedure, such nomination will be disregarded.
Code of Ethics
The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all executive officers. The Code of Ethics is available on our website at www.perma-fix.com. If any amendments are made to the Code of Ethics or any grants of waivers are made to any provisions of the Code of Ethics to any of its executive officers, the Company will promptly disclose the amendment or waiver and nature of such amendment or waiver on the Companys website.
Compensation of Directors
In 2005, we paid each of our outside directors $1,500 for each month of service. Beginning in May 2005, we began compensating our Audit Committee Chairman an additional $2,250 for each month of service as Chairman, as a result of the additional responsibilities placed on that position. This resulted in the six outside directors earning annual directors fees in the total amount of $126,000. As a member of the Board of Directors, each Director elects to receive either 65% or 100% of the directors fee in shares of our Common Stock based on 75% of the fair market value of the Common Stock determined on the business day immediately preceding the date that the fee is due. The balance of each directors fee, if any, is payable in cash. The aggregate amount of accrued directors fees at December 31, 2005, to be paid during 2006 to the six outside directors (Messrs.
Colin, Lahav, Reeder, Warrington, Young and Zwecker) was $68,000. Reimbursement of expenses for attending meetings of the Board are paid in cash at the time of the applicable Board meeting. Other than the additional fees for the Chairman of the Audit Committee, the outside directors do not receive additional compensation for committee participation or special assignments, except for reimbursement of expenses. We do not compensate the directors that also serve as our officers or employees of our subsidiaries for their service as directors. Although Dr. Centofanti is not compensated for his services provided as a director, Dr. Centofanti is compensated for his services rendered as an officer of the Company. See EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION Summary Compensation Table.
We believe that it is important for our directors to have a personal interest in our success and growth and for their interests to be aligned with those of our stockholders. Therefore, under our 2003 Directors Outside Directors Stock Plan (2003 Directors Plan), each outside director is granted a 10 year option to purchase up to 30,000 shares of Common Stock on the date such director is initially elected to the Board of Directors, and receives on each reelection date an option to purchase up to another 12,000 shares of Common Stock, with the exercise price being the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date that the option is granted. No option granted under the 2003 Directors Plan is exercisable until after the expiration of six months from the date the option is granted and no option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date the option is granted. Options to purchase 234,000 shares of Common Stock were granted and are outstanding under the 2003 Directors Plan.
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As of the date of this report, we have issued 224,733 shares of our Common Stock in payment of director fees under the 2003 Directors Plan, covering the period October 1, 2003, through December 31, 2005.
Our stock option plans provide that in the event of a change in control (as defined in the plans) of the Company, each outstanding option and award granted under the plans shall immediately become exercisable in full notwithstanding the vesting or exercise provisions contained in the stock option agreement. As a result, all outstanding stock options and awards granted under the plans to our executive officers and directors shall immediately become exercisable upon such a change in control of the Company.
Communications with the Board
The Companys Board of Directors believes that it is important for the Company to have a process that enables stockholders to send communications to the Board. Accordingly, stockholders who wish to communicate with the Board of Directors or a particular director may do so by sending a letter to the Secretary of the Corporation, at 8302 Dunwoody Place, Suite 250, Atlanta, Georgia 30350. The mailing envelope must clearly indicate that the enclosed letter is a Stockholder-Board Communication or Stockholder-Director Communication. All such letters must identify the author as a stockholder and clearly state whether the intended recipients are all members of the Board of Directors or only certain specified individual directors. The Secretary of the Corporation will make copies of all such letters and circulate them to the appropriate director or directors.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During 2005, the Compensation and Stock Option Committee for the Companys Board of Directors was composed of Mark Zwecker, Jack Lahav, Joe Reeder, Dr. Charles Young and Jon Colin. Messrs. Zwecker, Lahav, Reeder, Young and Colin were neither officers nor employees of the Company or any subsidiaries during 2005.
Certain Relationships
There are no family relationships between any of the Companys existing Directors, executive officers, or persons nominated or chosen to become a Director or executive officer. Dr. Centofanti is the only Director who is the Companys employee.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, and the regulations promulgated thereunder
require our executive officers and directors and beneficial owners of more than
10% of our Common Stock to file reports of ownership and changes of ownership of
our Common Stock with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and to furnish us
with copies of all such reports. Based solely on a review of the copies of
such reports furnished to us and written information provided to us, we believe
that during 2005 none of our executive officers and directors failed to timely
file reports under Section 16(a), except Robert Schreiber, Jr., inadvertently
failed to timely file a Form 3.
Capital BankGrawe Gruppe AG (Capital Bank) has advised us that it is a banking institution regulated by the banking regulations of Austria, which holds shares of our Common Stock as agent on behalf of numerous investors. Capital Bank has represented that all of its investors are accredited investors under Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Act. In addition, Capital Bank has advised us that none of its investors, individually or as a group, beneficially own more than 4.9% of our Common Stock. Capital Bank has further informed us that its clients (and not Capital Bank) maintain full voting and dispositive power over such shares. Consequently, Capital Bank has advised us that it believes it is not the beneficial owner, as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, of the shares of our Common Stock registered in the name of Capital Bank because it has neither voting nor investment power, as such terms are defined in Rule 13d-3, over such shares. Capital Bank has informed us that it does not believe that it is required (a) to file, and has not filed, reports under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act or (b) to file either Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G in connection with the shares of our Common Stock registered in the name of Capital Bank.
If the representations, or information provided, by Capital Bank are incorrect or Capital Bank was historically acting on behalf of its investors as a group, rather than on behalf of each investor independent of other investors, then Capital Bank and/or the investor group would have become a beneficial owner of more than 10% of our Common Stock on February 9, 1996, as a result of the acquisition of 1,100 shares of our Preferred Stock that were convertible into a maximum of 1,282,798 shares of our Common Stock. If either Capital Bank or a group of Capital Banks investors became a beneficial owner of more than 10% of our Common Stock on February 9, 1996, or at any time thereafter, and thereby required to file reports under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, then Capital Bank has failed to file a Form 3 or any Forms 4 or 5 for period from February 9, 1996, until the present.
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Audit Committee Report
The Audit Committee is responsible for providing independent objective oversight of the Companys accounting functions and internal controls. In accordance with rules adopted by the Commission, the Audit Committee of the Company states that:
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The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Companys audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. |
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The Audit Committee has discussed with BDO Seidman, LLP, the Companys independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communications with Audit Committees), as modified or supplemented. |
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The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from BDO Seidman, LLP, required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), as modified or supplemented, and has discussed with BDO Seidman, LLP, the independent registered public accounting firms independence. |
In connection with the Audit Committees discussion with BDO Seidman, LLP, as described above, the Audit Committee discussed and considered (a) that approximately 46% of the total hours spent on audit services for the Company for the year ended December 31, 2005, were spent by Cross, Fernandez & Riley, LLP (CFR), members of the BDO Seidman, LLP alliance network of firms, and (b) the nature and scope of the non-audit services performed by CFR, and determined that the audit and non-audit services provided by BDO Seidman, LLP and CFR were compatible with maintaining the independence of BDO Seidman, LLP.
Based upon the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Companys audited financial statements be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Audit Committee also appointed BDO Seidman, LLP as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for 2006.
This report is submitted on behalf of the members of the Audit Committee:
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Alfred C. Warrington, IV (Chairperson) |
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Jon Colin |
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Mark Zwecker |
The Report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed to be soliciting material or to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall it be incorporated by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth, as of the date hereof, information concerning our executive officers:
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Dr. Louis F. Centofanti |
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Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer |
Mr. Steven Baughman |
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47 |
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Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, and Secretary |
Mr. Larry McNamara |
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56 |
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Chief Operating Officer |
Mr. Robert Schreiber, Jr. |
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55 |
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President of SYA, Schreiber, Yonley & Associates, a subsidiary of the Company, and Principal Engineer |
Dr. Louis F. Centofanti
See Election of Directors for further information on Dr. Centofanti.
7
Mr. Steven Baughman
Mr. Baughman was elected Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer on May 15, 2006. Mr. Baughman was previously employed by Waste Management, Inc. from 1994 to 2005, serving in various capacities, including: Vice President Finance, Control and Analysis from 2001 to 2005, and Vice President, International Controller from 1999 to 2001. Mr. Baughman has BS degrees in Accounting and Finance from Miami University (Ohio), and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Mr. Larry McNamara
Mr. McNamara has served, in a newly created position, as Chief Operating Officer since October 2005. From October 2000 to October 2005, he served as President of the Nuclear Waste Management Services segment. From December 1998 to October 2000, he served as Vice President of the Companys Nuclear Waste Management Services Segment. Between 1997 and 1998, he served as Mixed Waste Program Manager for Waste Control Specialists (WCS) developing plans for the WCS mixed waste processing facilities, identifying markets and directing proposal activities. Between 1995 and 1996, Mr. McNamara was the single point of contact for the DOD to all state and federal regulators for issues related to disposal of Low Level Radioactive Waste and served on various National Committees and advisory groups. Mr. McNamara served, from 1992 to 1995, as Chief of the Department of Defense Low Level Radioactive Waste office. Between 1986
and 1992, he served as the Chief of Planning for the Department of Army overseeing project management and program policy for the Army program. Mr. McNamara has a B.S. from the University of Iowa.
Mr. Robert Schreiber, Jr.
Mr. Schreiber has served as President of SYA since we acquired the environmental engineering firm in 1992. Mr. Schreiber co-founded the predecessor of SYA, Lafser & Schreiber in 1985, and served in several executive roles in the firm until our acquisition of SYA. From 1978 to 1985, Mr. Schreiber served as Director of Air programs and all environmental programs for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Mr. Schreiber provides technical expertise in wide range of areas including the cement industry, environmental regulations and air pollution control. Mr. Schreiber has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Missouri Columbia.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the compensation of our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the Companys other executive officers whose compensation and bonus, as so determined, exceeded $100,000 during 2005.
Annual Compensation |
Long-Term Compensation |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
Other |
|
Restricted |
|
Securities |
|
All |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Louis F. Centofanti |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
218,808 |
|
|
45,801 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,500 |
|
Chairman of the Board, |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
190,000 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,695 |
|
President and Chief |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
183,069 |
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
11,503 |
|
Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard T. Kelecy (3) |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
180,762 |
|
|
35,400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,500 |
|
Vice President and Chief |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
175,000 |
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,250 |
|
Financial Officer |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
168,885 |
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
10,950 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Larry McNamara |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
189,761 |
|
|
93,913 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,500 |
|
Chief Operating Officer |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
173,000 |
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,569 |
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
167,231 |
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
11,457 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert Schreiber, Jr. |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
195,749 |
|
|
38,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,002 |
|
President of SYA |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
135,394 |
|
|
51,080 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,457 |
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
155,231 |
|
|
76,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
10,356 |
|
|
|
(1) |
The bonuses represent amounts paid in the respective year, but accrued for and expensed in the prior year. We have accrued for 2005, approximately $58,000 for performance bonuses to be paid in 2006. |
|
|
(2) |
Each named executive officer is provided either a monthly automobile allowance in the amount of $750 or a leased vehicle. Also included, where applicable, is our 401(k) matching contribution. |
|
|
(3) |
Mr. Kelecy resigned as our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company effective April 5, 2006. |
8
During 2005, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee approved a new compensation plan for the Companys CEO, CFO and COO. The new plan provided that the named executive officers received an increase in their annual base compensation and would further receive during the year incentive performance bonuses. Under the plan, the incentive performance bonuses would be payable only if certain thresholds and targets are met during the course of a year.
Option Grants in 2005
During 2005, there were no individual grants of stock options made to any of the named executive officers or other key employees named in the Summary Compensation Table.
Aggregated Option Exercises in 2005 and Fiscal Year-end Option Values
The following table sets forth the fiscal year-end value of unexercised options held by the named executive officers. None of the named executive officers exercised stock options during 2005.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
Shares |
|
Value |
|
Number of Unexercised |
|
Value of Unexercised |
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Name |
|
|
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Louis F. Centofanti |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
575,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
31,500 |
|
|
|
|
Richard Kelecy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
325,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
85,600 |
|
|
|
|
Larry McNamara |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
270,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
21,000 |
|
|
|
|
Robert Schreiber, Jr. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
210,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
58,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
No options were exercised during 2005. |
|
|
(2) |
Represents the difference between $1.67 (the closing price of our Common Stock reported on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (NASDAQ) Small Cap Market on December 31, 2005), and the option exercise price. The actual value realized by a named executive officer on the exercise of these options depends on the market value of our Common Stock on the date of exercise. |
Employment Contracts and Change-in-Control Arrangements
The Company does not have any employment
agreements with any of its executive officers. Nor does the Company have any
compensatory plan or arrangement that would result in any payments to any
executive officers upon such officers resignation, retirement or other
termination or from a change in control of the Company. However, the
Companys 1991 Performance Equity Plan, the 1993 Non-qualified Stock Option
Plan, and the 2004 Stock Option Plan, referenced under Report of the
Compensation and Stock Option Committee (c) Stock Options (collectively,
the Plans) provide that in the event of a change in control (as
defined in the Plans) of the Company, each outstanding option and award granted
under the Plans shall immediately become exercisable in full notwithstanding the
vesting or exercise provisions contained in the stock option agreement.
401(k) Plan
We adopted the Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. 401(k) Plan (the 401(k) Plan) in 1992, which is intended to comply with Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code and the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. All employees who have attained the age of 18 are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan. Participating employees may make annual pretax contributions to their accounts up to 100% of their compensation, up to a maximum amount as limited by law. We, at our discretion, may make matching contributions based on the employees elective contributions. Company contributions vest over a period of five years. We currently match up to 25% of our employees contributions. We contributed $347,000 in matching funds during 2005.
9
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Our 2003 Employee Stock Purchase Plan provided our eligible employees an opportunity to become stockholders and purchase our Common Stock through payroll deductions. The maximum number of shares issuable under this plan was 1,500,000. The Plan authorized the purchase of shares two times per year, at an exercise price per share of 85% of the market price of our Common Stock on the offering date of the period or on the exercise date of the period, whichever is lower. The first purchase period commenced July 1, 2004. The following table details the resulting employee stock purchase totals.
Purchase Period |
|
Proceeds |
|
Shares |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
July 1 December 31, 2004 |
|
$ |
47,000 |
|
|
31,287 |
|
January 1 June 30, 2005 |
|
|
51,000 |
|
|
33,970 |
|
July 1 December 31, 2005 |
|
|
44,000 |
|
|
31,123 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
142,000 |
|
|
96,380 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We previously issued stock to eligible employees under the Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (1996 Plan). The 1996 Plan contained terms and conditions similar to the current 2003 Plan. A total of 500,000 shares under the 1996 Plan were issued beginning with the purchase period July 1, 1997 to December 31, 1997 and ending with the January 1, 2004 to June 30, 2004 purchase period. Proceeds from the issuance of all shares under the 1996 Plan were approximately $750,000. No additional shares are available to issue under this 1996 Plan.
On May 15, 2006, the Board of Directors of the Company terminated the 2003 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Plan), effective on that date. The Plan originally was to continue in effect until all shares of the Companys common stock reserved for issuance under the Plan had been purchased unless terminated prior thereto by the Board of Directors of the Company. The Plan allows the Board of Directors to terminate the Plan at anytime without prior notice to the participants and without liability to the participants. Upon termination of the Plan, the balance, if any, then standing to the credit of each participant in the participant stock purchase account was refunded to the participant.
Equity Compensation Plans
The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2005, with respect to our equity compensation plans.
|
|
Equity Compensation Plan |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Plan Category |
|
Number of securities to |
|
Weighted average |
|
Number of securities |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) |
|
|
(b) |
|
|
(c) |
|
Equity compensation plans Approved by stockholders |
|
|
2,546,750 |
|
$ |
1.68 |
|
|
2,434,767 |
|
Equity compensation plans not Approved by stockholders (1) |
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
2.58 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
2,846,750 |
|
$ |
1.78 |
|
|
2,434,767 |
|
|
|
(1) |
These shares are issuable pursuant to options granted to Dr. Centofanti under his prior employment agreement. The options expire in October 2007. |
10
Report of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee
The Compensation and Stock Option Committee (the Compensation Committee) is responsible for reviewing and approving the Companys compensation policies and the compensation paid to the Companys executive officers, including the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table. The Companys compensation program for its executive officers is generally not formalized but is designed to provide levels of compensation required to assist the Company in attracting and retaining qualified executive officers. The Compensation Committee attempts to set an executive officers compensation at a level that is similar to such officers peers in the industry consistent with the size of the Company. Generally, executive officer compensation, including that of the Chief Executive Officer, is not directly related to the Companys performance.
Instead, the Compensation Committee has a philosophy that recognizes individual initiative and achievement in arriving at an officers compensation. The executive compensation program is comprised of salary, cash incentives and stock options. The following is a discussion of each of the elements of the executive compensation program.
Salary
Generally, base salary for each executive officer is similar to levels within the industry and comparable to the level which the Company believes could be attained for equal positions elsewhere, but consistent with the Companys size. Also taken into account are benefits, years of service, responsibilities, Company growth, future plans and the Companys current ability to pay. The Board of Directors increased Dr. Centofantis salary in 2005, in conjunction with a new compensation plan approved by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee compensation believed the salary was increased to a level that was consistent with salary levels of other Chief Executive Officers at similar situated and sized companies in the waste industry. Mr. McNamaras and Mr. Schreibers salaries were also increased in 2005, in conjunction with new compensation plans approved by the Compensation Committee. The
Compensation Committee reviewed executive officer salary levels at similarly sized and situated companies within the Companys industry to determine the new compensation plans. See below under Cash Incentives for discussion on the new compensation plans.
Cash Incentives
The cash incentive plan is a program through which cash bonuses may be paid on an annual basis to reward significant corporate accomplishments and individual initiative demonstrated by executive officers during the prior fiscal year. The Compensation Committee determines the amount of cash bonuses.
In May 2005, the Compensation Committee approved the adoption of the executive compensation plans for fiscal year 2005, that in addition to salary increases, also established a bonus plan for each executive officer. Establishes a quarterly and annual bonus compensation plan (the Bonus Plan) for each of the above listed executive officers of the Company. Each executive officer has a separate Bonus Plan, with eligible quarterly payments to that executive officer, if they meet the required criteria for a quarterly bonus payment, which shall be payable the subsequent month and an annual bonus payment to that executive officer, if they meet the required criteria for annual bonus payments, which shall be payable the subsequent month following the close of the Companys books for the year in question. Annual or quarterly bonus payments under a Bonus Plan is payable only if the Company meets a minimum threshold of 85% of its budgeted EBITDA for the quarter and year end. If the EBITDA criteria are met, the executive officer is eligible to receive quarterly and annual payments based on achieving certain targets set forth in the executive officers particular Bonus Plan during the quarter in question and the year in question. The amount of the quarterly and annual payments will vary depending on the target met and the percentage of meeting such target.
Stock Options
The Companys stock option plans were adopted for the purpose of promoting the interests of the Company and its stockholders by attracting and retaining executive officers and other key employees of outstanding ability. Options are granted to eligible participants based upon their potential impact on corporate results and on their individual performance. Generally, options are granted at market value, vest over a number of years, and are generally dependent upon continued employment. The Compensation Committee believes that the grant of time-vested options provides an incentive that focuses the executive officers attention on managing the Company from the perspective of owners with an equity stake in the Company. Options further motivate executive officers to maximize long-term growth and profitability because value is created in the options only as the Common Stock price increases after the option is
granted.
This report is submitted on behalf of the members of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee:
|
Mark Zwecker (Chairperson) |
|
Jack Lahav |
|
Jon Colin |
|
Joe Reeder |
|
Dr. Charles Young |
11
Common Stock Price Performance Graph
The following Common Stock price performance graph compares the yearly change in the Companys cumulative total stockholders returns on the Common Stock during the years 2001 through 2005, with the cumulative total return of the NASDAQ Market Index and the published industry index prepared by Hemscott and known as Hemscott Industry Group 637-Waste Management Index (Industry Index) assuming the investment of $100 on January 1, 2001.
Assumes $100 invested in the Company on January 1, 2001, the Industry Index and the NASDAQ Market Index, and the reinvestment of dividends. The above five-year Cumulative Total Return Graph shall not be deemed to be soliciting material or to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (collectively, the Acts), except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not be deemed to be soliciting material or to be filed under such Acts.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
The table below sets forth information as to the shares of voting securities beneficially owned as of June 2, 2006, by each person known by us to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities.
Name of Beneficial Owner |
|
Title |
|
Amount and |
|
Percent |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rutabaga Capital Management(2) |
|
|
Common |
|
|
5,707,072 |
|
|
12.60 |
% |
Pictet (London) Limited (3) |
|
|
Common |
|
|
4,467,360 |
|
|
9.86 |
|
|
|
(1) |
In computing the number of shares and the percentage of outstanding Common Stock beneficially owned by a person, the calculations are based upon 45,321,400 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on June 2, 2006 (excluding 988,000 Treasury Shares), plus the number of shares of Common Stock which such person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of within 60 days. Beneficial ownership by our stockholders has been determined in accordance with the rules promulgated under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. |
|
|
(2) |
This beneficial ownership amount is according to the Schedule 13F-HR, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), on April 27, 2006, which provides that Rutabaga Capital Management, an investment advisor, has sole voting power and sole dispositive power over all of these shares. The address of Rutabaga Capital Management is: 64 Broad Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02109. |
|
|
(3) |
This beneficial ownership amount is according to the Schedule 13F-HR filed with the SEC, on May 9, 2006, which provides that Pictet Asset Management, Ltd. and its parent Pictet (London) Limited, two non-U.S. investment funds have sole voting and dispositive power over all of these shares. The address of Pictet (London) Limited is: Tower 42 Level 37, 25 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1HQ, United Kingdom. |
12
Capital Bank represented to us that: |
|
|
Capital Bank owns shares of our Common Stock and rights to acquire shares of our Common Stock only as agent for certain of Capital Banks investors; |
|
All of the Capital Banks investors are accredited investors; |
|
None of Capital Banks investors beneficially own more than 4.9% of our Common Stock; |
|
Capital Banks investors maintain full voting and dispositive power over the Common Stock beneficially owned by such investors; and |
|
Capital Bank has neither voting nor investment power over the shares of Common Stock owned by Capital Bank, as agent for its investors. |
Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, if Capital Banks representations to us described above are incorrect or if Capital Banks investors are acting as a group, then Capital Bank or a group of Capital Banks investors could be a beneficial owner of more than 5% of our voting securities. If Capital Bank is deemed the beneficial owner of such shares, the following table sets forth information as to the shares of voting securities that Capital Bank may be considered to beneficially own on June 2, 2006.
Name of Record Owner |
|
Title |
|
Amount and |
|
Percent |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Capital Bank Grawe Gruppe (2) |
|
Common |
|
|
8,234,923 |
(2) |
|
17.18 |
% |
|
|
(1) |
This calculation is based upon 45,321,400 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on June 2, 2006 (excluding 988,000 Treasury Shares), plus the number of shares of Common Stock which Capital Bank, as agent for certain accredited investors has the right to acquire within 60 days. |
(2) |
This amount includes 5,623,503 shares that Capital Bank owns of record, as agent for certain accredited investors and 2,611,420 shares that Capital Bank has the right to acquire, as agent for certain investors, within 60 days under certain Warrants. The Warrants are exercisable at an exercise price of $1.75 per share of Common Stock. Capital Bank has also advised us that it is holding these Warrants and shares on behalf of numerous clients, all of which are accredited investors. Although Capital Bank is the record holder of the shares of Common Stock and Warrants described in this note, Capital Bank has advised us that it does not believe it is a beneficial owner of the Common Stock or that it is required to file reports under Section 16(a) or Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. Because Capital Bank (a) has advised us that it holds the Common Stock as a nominee only and that it does not exercise voting or investment power over the Common Stock held in its name and that no one investor of Capital Bank for which it holds our Common Stock holds more than 4.9% of our issued and outstanding Common Stock; (b) has no right to, and is not believed to possess the power to, exercise control over our management or its policies; (c) has not nominated, and has not sought to nominate, a director to our board; and (d) has no representative serving as an executive officer of the Company, we do not believe that Capital Bank is our affiliate. Capital Banks address is Burgring 16, 8010 Graz, Austria. Capital Bank has advised us that it is a banking institution. |
13
Security Ownership of Management
The following table sets forth information as to the shares of voting securities beneficially owned as of June 2, 2006, by each of our Directors and named executive officers and by all of our directors and executive officers as a group. Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with the rules promulgated under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. A person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of any voting securities for which that person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days.
Name of Beneficial Owner |
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
|
Percentage of Common Stock (1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Louis F. Centofanti (2)(3) |
|
|
1,414,934 |
(3) |
|
3.08% |
|
Jon Colin (2)(4) |
|
|
136,864 |
(4) |
|
* |
|
Jack Lahav (2)(5) |
|
|
1,251,401 |
(5) |
|
2.72% |
|
Joe Reeder (2)(6) |
|
|
278,170 |
(6) |
|
* |
|
Alfred C. Warrington, IV (2)(7) |
|
|
218,375 |
(7) |
|
* |
|
Dr. Charles E. Young (2)(8) |
|
|
77,891 |
(8) |
|
* |
|
Mark A. Zwecker (2)(9) |
|
|
314,638 |
(9) |
|
* |
|
Steven Baughman (2)(10) |
|
|
|
(10) |
|
* |
|
Larry McNamara (2)(11) |
|
|
270,000 |
(11) |
|
* |
|
Robert Schreiber, Jr. (2)(12) |
|
|
219,369 |
(12) |
|
* |
|
Richard T. Kelecy (2)(13) |
|
|
226,947 |
(13) |
|
* |
|
Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (11 persons) |
|
|
4,408,589 |
|
|
9.29% |
|
|
||
*Indicates beneficial ownership of less than one percent (1%). |
||
|
|
|
(1) |
See footnote (1) of the table under Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners. |
|
|
|
|
(2) |
The business address of such person, for the purposes hereof, is c/o Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc., 8302 Dunwoody Place, Suite 250, Atlanta, Georgia 30350. |
|
|
|
|
(3) |
These shares include (i) 535,934 shares held of record by Dr. Centofanti; (ii) options to purchase 275,000 shares which are immediately exercisable; (iii) options to purchase 300,000 shares granted pursuant to Dr. Centofantis prior employment agreement, which are immediately exercisable; and (iv) 304,000 shares held by Dr. Centofantis wife. This amount does not include options to purchase 100,000 shares of Common Stock granted in March 2006 pursuant to the 2003 Stock Option Plan, which are not exercisable within 60 days. Dr. Centofanti has sole voting and investment power of these shares, except for the shares held by Dr. Centofantis wife, over which Dr. Centofanti shares voting and investment power. |
|
|
|
|
(4) |
Mr. Colin has sole voting and investment power over these shares which include: (i) 55,864 shares held of record by Mr. Colin, and (ii) options to purchase 81,000 shares of Common Stock, which are immediately exercisable. |
|
|
|
|
(5) |
Mr. Lahav has sole voting and investment power over these shares which include: (i) 623,972 shares of Common Stock held of record by Mr. Lahav; (ii) options to purchase 56,000 shares, which are immediately exercisable, and (iii) 571,429 Warrants to purchase Common Stock, which are exercisable immediately. |
|
|
|
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(6) |
Mr. Reeder has sole voting and investment power over these shares which include: (i) 227,170 shares of Common Stock held of record by Mr. Reeder, and (ii) options to purchase 51,000 shares, which are immediately exercisable. |
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Mr. Warrington has sole voting and investment power over these shares which include: (i) 162,375 shares of Common Stock held of record by Mr. Warrington; and (ii) options to purchase 56,000 shares, which are immediately exercisable. Mr. Warrington has notified us that he will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. |
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(8) |
Dr. Young has sole voting and investment power over these shares which include: (i) 23,891 shares held of record by Dr. Young; and (ii) options to purchase 54,000 shares, which are immediately exercisable. |
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(9) |
Mr. Zwecker has sole voting and investment power over these shares which include: (i) 233,638 shares of Common Stock held of record by Mr. Zwecker; and (ii) options to purchase 81,000 shares, which are immediately exercisable. |
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Mr. Baughman has sole voting and investment power over these shares which include options to purchase 100,000 shares of Common Stock granted in May 2006 pursuant to the 2003 Stock Option Plan, which are not exercisable within 60 days. |
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Mr. McNamara has sole voting and investment power over these shares which include options to purchase 270,000 shares, which are immediately exercisable. This amount does not include options to purchase 250,000 shares of Common Stock granted in March 2006 pursuant to the 2003 Stock Option Plan, which are not exercisable within 60 days. |
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Mr. Schreiber has shared voting and investment power, with his spouse, over 69,369 shares of Common Stock beneficially held and sole voting and investment power over options to purchase 150,000 shares, which are immediately exercisable. This amount does not include options to purchase 25,000 shares of Common Stock granted in March 2006 pursuant to the 2003 Stock Option Plan, which are not exercisable within 60 days. |
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(13) |
Mr. Kelecy has sole voting and investment power over these shares which include: (i) 41,947 shares of Common Stock held of record by Mr. Kelecy; and (ii) options to purchase 185,000 shares, which are immediately exercisable. Mr. Kelecy resigned as our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company effective April 5, 2006 and currently assists us as a part-time employee. |
PROPOSAL 2 - RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Audit Committee has appointed BDO Seidman, LLP (BDO) as independent registered public accounting firm to audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company for fiscal year 2006. BDO has been the Companys independent auditor since December 18, 1996. It is expected that representatives of BDO will be present at the annual meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and will be available to answer appropriate questions.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Common Stock present in person or by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote is required for adoption of this proposal.
Audit Fees
The aggregate fees and expenses billed by BDO for professional services rendered for the audit of the Companys annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, for the reviews of the financial statements included in the Companys Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for those fiscal years, and for review of documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for those fiscal years were approximately $447,000 and $423,000, respectively. Audit fees for 2005 and 2004 include approximately $170,000 and $241,000, respectively, in fees to provide internal control audit services to the Company. Approximately 46% and 60% of the total hours spent on audit services for the Company for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, were spent by Cross, Fernandez and Riley, LLP (CFR), members of the BDO alliance network of firms. Such members are not full time,
permanent employees of BDO.
Audit-Related Fees
BDO was engaged to provide audit related services to the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. The aggregate fees billed by BDO for that period was $14,600. BDO was not engaged to provide audit related services to the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.
CFR audited the Companys 401(k) Plan during 2005 and 2004, and billed $8,000 and $8,000, respectively.
Tax Services
BDO was not engaged to provide tax services to the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004.
The aggregate fees billed by CFR for tax compliance services for 2005 and 2004 were approximately $39,000 and $34,000, respectively.
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All Other Fees
BDO was not engaged to provide any other services to the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004.
CFR was not engaged to provide any other services to the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004.
The Audit Committee of the Companys Board of Directors has considered whether BDOs provision of the services described above for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, is compatible with maintaining its independence. The Audit Committee also considered services performed by CFR to determine that it is compatible with maintaining independence.
Engagement of the Independent Auditor
The Audit Committee is responsible for approving all engagements with BDO and CFR to perform audit or non-audit services for us prior to us engaging BDO and CFR to provide those services. All of the services under the headings Audit Related Fees, Tax Services, and All Other Fees were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Exchange Act. The Audit Committees pre-approval policy provides as follows:
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The Audit Committee will review and pre-approve on an annual basis any known audit, audit-related, tax and all other services, along with acceptable cost levels, to be performed by BDO and CFR. The Audit Committee may revise the pre-approved services during the period based on subsequent determinations. Pre-approved services typically include: statutory audits, quarterly reviews, regulatory filing requirements, consultation on new accounting and disclosure standards, employee benefit plan audits, reviews and reporting on managements internal controls and specified tax matters. |
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Any proposed service that is not pre-approved on the annual basis requires a specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee, including cost level approval. |
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The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of the Audit Committee members. The delegated member must report to the Audit Committee, at the next Audit Committee meeting, any pre-approval decisions made. |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT OF BDO AS THE COMPANYS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2007 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Any stockholder who wishes to present a proposal for consideration at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2007 must submit such proposal in accordance with the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. In order for a proposal to be included in the Companys proxy materials relating to the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the stockholder must submit such proposal in writing to the Company so that it is received no later than February 21, 2007. Any stockholder proposal submitted with respect to the Companys 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders which proposal is received by the Company after February 21, 2007, will be considered untimely for purposes of Rule 14a-4 and 14a-5 under the Exchange Act and the Company may vote against such proposal using its discretionary voting authority as authorized by proxy. Such proposals should be addressed to the Secretary of the Corporation, Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc., 8302 Dunwoody Place, Suite 250, Atlanta, Georgia 30350.
OTHER MATTERS
Other Business
The Board of Directors has no knowledge of any business to be presented for consideration at the Meeting other than as described above. Should any such matters properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof, the persons named in the enclosed Proxy Card will have discretionary authority to vote such proxy in accordance with their best judgment on such matters and with respect to matters incident to the conduct of the Meeting.
Additional copies of the Annual Report and the Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and accompanying Proxy Card may be obtained from the Company.
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In order to assure the presence of the necessary quorum at the Meeting, please sign and mail the enclosed Proxy Card promptly in the envelope provided. No postage is required if mailed within the United States. The signing of the Proxy Card will not prevent your attending the Meeting and voting in person, should you so desire.
Annual Report on Form 10-K
A copy of the Companys 2005 Annual Report accompanies this Proxy Statement. Upon written request, the Company will send you, without charge, a copy of its Annual Report on Form 10-K (without exhibits) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, including the financial statements and schedules, which the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of the exhibits to the Form 10-K are available, but a reasonable fee per page will be charged to the requesting stockholder. Each written request must set forth a good faith representation that, as of the record date, the person making the request was a beneficial owner of the Companys Common Stock entitled to vote at the Meeting. Stockholders should direct the written request to the Companys Chief Financial Officer at 8302 Dunwoody Place, Suite 250, Atlanta, Georgia 30350
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Order of the Board of Directors |
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Steven Baughman |
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Secretary |
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Atlanta, Georgia |
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June 20, 2006 |
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6 FOLD AND DETACH HERE AND READ THE REVERSE SIDE 6 |
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PROXY
Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
For Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held July 27, 2006
The undersigned hereby appoints Dr. Louis F. Centofanti and Steven Baughman, and each of them severally, the undersigneds proxies, with full power of substitution, to attend the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (the Company) at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Sandestin, Florida 32550, at 1:00 p.m. (EDST), on July 27, 2006, and at any adjournment of that meeting, and to vote the undersigneds shares of Common Stock, as designated on the reverse side.
(Continued, and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)
VOTE BY INTERNET OR MAIL
QUICK * * * EASY * * * IMMEDIATE
Voting by Internet is quick, easy and immediate. As a Perma-Fix stockholder, you have the option of voting your shares electronically through the Internet, eliminating the need to return the proxy card. Your electronic vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed, dated and returned the proxy card. Votes submitted electronically over the Internet must be received by 6:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time, on July 26, 2006.
To Vote Your Proxy by Internet
www.continentalstock.com
Have your proxy card available when you access the above website. Follow the prompts to vote your shares.
PLEASE DO NOT RETURN THE CARD BELOW IF YOU ARE VOTING ELECTRONICALLY.
To Vote Your Proxy by Mail
Mark, sign, and date your proxy card below, detach it, and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided.
6 FOLD AND DETACH HERE AND READ THE REVERSE SIDE 6 |
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PROXY |
Please mark |
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THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS MADE IN ITEMS 1 AND 2. IF THE UNDERSIGNED MAKES NO SPECIFICATIONS, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR ITEMS 1 AND 2 AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER REFERRED TO IN ITEM 3. |
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ELECTION OF DIRECTORS |
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RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF BDO SEIDMAN, LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM OF THE COMPANY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006 |
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01 Dr. Louis F. Centofanti |
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05 Larry Shelton |
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02 Jon Colin |
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06 Dr. Charles E. Young |
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03 Jack Lahav |
07 Mark A. Zwecker |
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04 Joe R. Reeder |
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(To withhold authority to vote for an individual nominee, strike through the nominees name above) |
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In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
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Signature __________________________________________ Signature ___________________________________ Date _________ |
Please sign exactly as your name appears below, date and return this Proxy Card promptly, using the self-addressed, prepaid envelope enclosed for your convenience. Please correct your address before returning this Proxy Card. Persons signing in fiduciary capacity should indicate that fact and give their full title. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by the president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in the partnership name by an authorized person. If joint tenants, both should sign. |