SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_]
Check the appropriate box:
[_] Preliminary Proxy Statement [_] Soliciting Material Under Rule
[_] Confidential, For Use of the 14a-12
Commission Only (as permitted
by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[x] Definitive Proxy Statement
[_] Definitive Additional Materials
LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
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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)
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LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
Day: | Wednesday, August 16, 2006 | |
Time: | 11:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time | |
Place: | La-Z-Boy Incorporated Auditorium | |
1284 North Telegraph Road | ||
Monroe, Michigan | ||
Monroe, Michigan | ||
July 7, 2006 |
To our shareholders:
We invite you to attend our 2006 annual meeting of shareholders at the time and place shown above. The purposes of the meeting are:
We are mailing this notice and the accompanying proxy statement and proxy card to our shareholders on or about July 7, 2006. We also are enclosing a copy of our 2006 Annual Report, which contains financial statements for the fiscal year ended April 29, 2006. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on June 30, 2006 will be entitled to vote at the meeting.
Whether you plan to attend the meeting in person or not, please date, sign, and return the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying envelope. You may also vote by telephone or on the Internet (see the instructions attached to the proxy card). Even though you vote by one of these methods prior to the meeting, you may still vote your shares in person at the meeting, which will revoke your previous vote.
BY ORDER OF THE | |
BOARD OF DIRECTORS | |
James P. Klarr, Secretary |
July 7, 2006
2006 PROXY STATEMENT OF LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
Questions and Answers
Q: | What is a proxy? | |
A: |
A proxy is a document, also referred to as a proxy card, on which you authorize someone else to vote for you at the upcoming annual meeting in the way that you want to vote. You also may choose to abstain from voting. La-Z-Boys board of directors is soliciting the proxy card enclosed. | |
Q: |
What are the purposes of this annual meeting? | |
A: |
At the annual meeting, shareholders will elect three directors for three-year terms expiring in 2009. The boards nominees are: John H. Foss, Richard M. Gabrys, and Nido R. Qubein (See page 4). Shareholders will also vote on ratifying our selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2007. Other than routine or procedural matters, we do not expect any other business will be brought up at the meeting, but if any other business is properly brought up, the persons named in the enclosed proxy will have authority to vote on it as they see fit. | |
Q: | Who is entitled to vote? | |
A: |
Only record holders of our common shares at the close of business on the record date for the meeting, June 30, 2006, are entitled to vote at the annual meeting. Each common share has one vote. | |
Q: | How do I vote? | |
A: |
Sign and date each proxy card that you receive and return it in the enclosed envelope. Proxies will be voted as you specify on each card. If you sign and return a proxy card without specifying how to vote, your shares will be voted FOR the election of the director nominees identified in this proxy statement, and FOR ratification of our selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2007. Your shares also will be voted on any other business that comes before the meeting. | |
Q: | Can I vote by telephone or on the Internet? | |
A: |
Yes. If you hold your shares in your own name, you may vote by telephone or on the Internet by following the instructions attached to your proxy card. If your shares are held through a broker, bank, or other nominee, they will contact you to request your voting instructions and should provide you with information on voting those shares by telephone or on the Internet. | |
Q: | Can I change my vote after I have voted? | |
A: |
A later vote by any means will cancel any earlier vote. For example, if you vote by telephone and later vote differently on the Internet, the Internet vote will count, and the telephone vote will be canceled. If you wish to change your vote by mail, you should write our Secretary to request a new proxy card. The last vote we receive before the meeting will be the one counted. You also may change your vote by voting in person at the meeting. |
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Q: |
What does it mean if I get more than one proxy card? | ||||
A: |
It means that your shares are registered in more than one way. Sign and return all proxy cards or vote each group of shares by telephone or on the Internet to ensure that all your shares are voted. | ||||
Q: |
Why did our household receive only one proxy statement and annual report this year? | ||||
A: |
If there are two or more shareholders sharing the same address and you did not withhold your consent to householding, we are only sending your household a single copy of our annual report and proxy statement unless we have received contrary instructions from one or more of the shareholders at your address. We believe this householding program will provide you greater convenience and save us the cost of mailing duplicate documents to your home. We will promptly provide additional copies of our 2006 annual report or this proxy statement to the other shareholders in your household if you send a written request to: Office of the Secretary, La-Z-Boy Incorporated, 1284 North Telegraph Road, Monroe, Michigan 48162, or you may call us at 734-241-4418 to request additional copies. Copies of the annual report, proxy statement and other reports we file with the SEC are also available on our Web site at www.la-z-boy.com or through the SECs Web site at www.sec.gov. | ||||
You may revoke your consent to householding at any time by contacting ADP, either by calling toll-free 800-542-1061, or by writing to ADP, Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717. If you revoke your consent, you will be removed from the householding program within 30 days of receipt of your revocation, and each shareholder at your address will then begin receiving individual copies of our disclosure documents. |
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If you have not been contacted previously for this option, the householding election appears on the enclosed proxy card. If you wish to participate in the householding program to receive only one copy of our annual reports, proxy statements, prospectuses and other disclosure documents, please indicate YES when voting your proxy. Your affirmative consent will be perpetual unless you revoke it, which you can do by calling or writing ADP as described in the paragraph above. We strongly encourage your participation in the householding program, and believe that it will benefit both you and La-Z-Boy. Not only will it reduce the volume of duplicate information that you receive in your household, but it will also reduce our printing and mailing costs. | |||||
Q: | What makes up a quorum? | ||||
A: |
There were 52,110,102 common shares outstanding on the record date for the meeting. A majority of those shares present or represented by proxy at the meeting makes a quorum. A quorum is necessary to conduct the meeting. | ||||
Q: |
How does the voting work? | ||||
A: |
Directors will be elected by plurality vote. The nominees receiving the highest through third highest numbers of votes will be elected, regardless of the total number of votes cast or withheld. You may withhold votes from one or more directors by writing their names in the space provided for that purpose on your proxy card. If you vote by telephone or on the Internet, follow the instructions attached to the proxy card. Each share is entitled to one vote for each director; cumulative voting is not permitted. |
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We are asking you to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm as a matter of good corporate practice. If the Audit Committees selection does not receive a majority of the shares actually voted in favor of the proposal, it will reconsider the selection. You may vote or abstain from voting on the proposal on your proxy card. If you vote by telephone or on the Internet, follow the instructions on the proxy card. Each share is entitled to one vote on the proposal. | ||
Q: |
Where is La-Z-Boys principal executive office? | |
A: |
The meeting will be held at our principal executive office, 1284 North Telegraph Road, Monroe, Michigan 48162. |
PROPOSAL NO. 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our board of directors is divided into three classes, one consisting of four directors and two consisting of three directors each. Directors in each class serve for three-year, staggered terms. The terms of the three directors in one of the classes expire at this years annual meeting, so three directors will be elected at the meeting. The three directors elected will serve until our annual meeting of shareholders in 2009.
Under the applicable Michigan corporate law, directors will be elected at the meeting by a plurality of votes cast from among those persons duly nominated. Thus, the nominees who receive the highest through third highest numbers of votes will be elected, regardless of the number of votes that for any reason, including abstention, broker non-votes, or withholding of authority, are not cast for the election of those nominees.
The boards director nominees include two of the current directors whose terms are scheduled to expire at the meeting and Nido R. Qubein. In the absence of other instruction, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy will vote in favor of these nominees. If any nominee becomes unable or unwilling to serve, which we do not expect, the proxy holders will vote for a substitute nominee designated by the board.
Information about each nominee for election at the meeting and each director continuing in office is given below. Unless otherwise indicated, the principal occupation of each director or director nominee has been the same for at least five years. All of the nominees have consented to serve if elected.
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Director Nominees for Terms to Expire In 2009
John H. Foss, age 63 | Director since 2001 | |||
l | Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of Tecumseh Products Company until retirement in 2001 | |||
l | Director of United Bancorp, Inc. | |||
Richard M. Gabrys, age 64 | Director since 2006 | |||
l | Dean of the School of Business of Wayne State University since January 2006 | |||
l | President and Chief Executive Officer of Mears Investments LLC, a personal family investment company, since 2004 | |||
l | Vice Chairman of Deloitte & Touche LLP, a professional services firm providing audit and financial advisory services, from 1995 until retirement in 2004 | |||
l | Director of Dana Corporation (automotive supplier) | |||
l | Director of CMS Energy Corp. (electric and gas utility) | |||
Nido R. Qubein, age 57 | First term nominee | |||
l | President of High Point University since January 1, 2005 | |||
l | Chairman of Creative Services, Inc. (international management consulting) since 1973 | |||
l | Chairman of McNeil Lehman, Inc. (public relations and advertising) since 1992 | |||
l | Chairman of Great Harvest Bread Company since 2001 | |||
l | Chairman of Business Life, Inc. (publishing) since 2001 | |||
l | Director of BB&T Corporation (banking and financial services) | |||
Directors with Terms Expiring in 2007 | ||||
David K. Hehl, age 59 | Director since 1977 | |||
l | Member of the public accounting firm of Cooley Hehl Wohlgamuth & Carlton P.L.L.C. | |||
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Rocque E. Lipford, age 67 | Director since 1979 | |||
l | Senior Principal in the law firm of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C. | |||
l | Director of MBT Financial Corp. | |||
Jack L. Thompson, age 67 | Director since 2001 | |||
l | Chairman of the Board of The Plastics Group, Inc. since 2005 (manufacturer and designer of highly engineered plastic molded products) | |||
l | Chairman of Penda Corporation from 2004 until 2005 (manufacturer and marketer of truck bedliners and accessories). Previously CEO of Penda Corporation from March 2004 until retirement in August 2004. Prior to March 2004, CEO and President of Penda Corporation | |||
l | Director of Union Corrugating Company (metal roofing products) | |||
l | Founder of The Profit Optimization Group (business consulting) | |||
Directors with Terms Expiring in 2008 | ||||
Kurt L. Darrow, age 51 | Director since 2003 | |||
l | Our President and Chief Executive Officer since 2003 | |||
l | Formerly, President of our La-Z-Boy Residential division (20012003), our Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing (19992001), and Vice President of Sales (1987- 1999) | |||
l | Trustee of Adrian College | |||
James W. Johnston, age 67 | Director since 1991 | |||
l | Private investor | |||
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H. George Levy, M.D., age 57 | Director since 1997 | |||
l | Otorhinolaryngologist. | |||
l | Director of Michigan Trust Bank | |||
Donald L. Mitchell, age 62 | Director since 2002 | |||
l | Our Senior Vice President and President of the Casegoods Group from 2001 until retirement in 2002 | |||
l | Executive Vice President of LADD Furniture, Inc. (our wholly owned subsidiary since 2000) until retirement in 2002 | |||
l | President of LADDs casegoods group until 2001 | |||
Director Not Standing for Reelection
Mr. Patrick H. Norton has served on our board since 1981 when he joined La-Z-Boy as our senior vice president of sales and marketing. He has been chairman of the board since 1997. His current term of office as a director expires at the annual meeting, and he has chosen to retire and is not seeking reelection. His last official act as chairman will be to chair the 2006 annual meeting of the shareholders.
Mr. Norton has agreed to continue his relationship with the company as Chairman Emeritus. While he will no longer be a member of the board of directors, he will attend meetings where he can continue to offer his advice and counsel. The directors, management, and employees of La-Z-Boy would like to express their gratitude to Mr. Norton for his truly dedicated service to La-Z-Boy, which helped grow the company into a world-renowned furniture company.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
We believe it is important to disclose a summary of our major corporate governance practices. We will continue to assess and refine our corporate governance practices and share them with shareholders.
Director Independence
A majority of our directors must be independent directors under the NYSE Listed Company rules. The NYSE rules provide that no director can qualify as independent unless the board affirmatively determines that the director has no material relationship with the listed company. The board has adopted the following standards for determining whether or not a director has a material relationship with the Company:
If a director is an executive officer, director, or shareholder of another company that does business with us and the annual revenues derived from that business are less than 1% of either companys total revenues.
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If a director is an executive officer, director, or shareholder of another company that is indebted to us, or to which we are indebted, and the total amount of either companys indebtedness to the other is less than 1% of the total consolidated assets of each company; or if the director is an executive officer, director, or shareholder of a bank or other financial institution (or its holding company) that extends credit to us on normal commercial terms and the total amount of our indebtedness to the bank or other financial institution is less than 3% of our total consolidated assets.
If a director is an executive officer or director of another company in which we own common stock, and the amount of our common stock interest is less than 5% of the total shareholders equity of the other company.
If a director is a director, officer, or trustee of a charitable organization, our annual charitable contributions to the organization (exclusive of gift-match payments) are less than 1% of the organizations total annual charitable receipts, all of our contributions to the organization were approved through our normal approval process, and no contribution was made on behalf of any of our officers or directors; or if a director is a director of the La-Z-Boy Foundation.
If a director is a member of, employed by, or of counsel to a law firm or investment banking firm that performs services for us, payments made by us to the firm during a fiscal year do not exceed 1% of the firms gross revenues for the fiscal year, and the directors relationship with the firm is such that his or her compensation is not linked directly or indirectly to the amount of payments the firm receives from us.
Applying these standards, the board of directors has determined that each of the following directors and director nominees, comprising all of the non-management directors and nominees, meets the criteria for independent directors set forth in the listing standards of the NYSE and is (or will be if elected) an independent director under those standards: Messrs. Foss, Gabrys, Hehl, Johnston, Lipford, Mitchell, Qubein and Thompson, and Dr. Levy.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
We have adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines and have published them on our website (www.la-z-boy.com/about/corp_governance.aspx). These guidelines include: a limitation on the number of boards on which a director may serve, qualifications for directors, director orientation, continuing education, and a requirement that the board and each of its committees perform an annual self-evaluation.
Committee Charters and Codes of Business Conduct
We have published on our website (www.la-z-boy.com/about/corp_governance.aspx) the charter of each of the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance Committees of the board, as well as our Code of Business Conduct, which applies to all directors, officers, and employees. Any waiver of the Code of Business Conduct for directors or executive officers may be made only by the Audit Committee, and any waivers or amendments will be disclosed promptly by posting on our website. Copies of each of the committee charters and the Code of Business Conduct are also available by writing to our Office of the Secretary, La-Z-Boy Incorporated, 1284 North Telegraph Road, Monroe, Michigan 48162.
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Executive Sessions of Non-Employee Directors
Non-employee directors ordinarily meet in executive session without management present at regularly scheduled board meetings and no less than four times annually. The sessions are chaired by the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Any non-employee director can request that an executive session be scheduled or place an item on the agenda.
Independent Audit
The lead partner of our independent registered public accounting firm is rotated at least every five years.
Board Committees
Only independent directors serve on the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance Committees, in accordance with the independence standards of the NYSE rules and our corporate governance guidelines. The board, and each committee of the board, has the authority to engage independent consultants and advisors at our expense.
Communications with the Board; Annual Meeting Attendance
Interested parties wishing to communicate their comments, concerns or questions about La-Z-Boy to the Chairman or to the non-employee directors may do so by U.S. mail addressed to the Chairman or to the non-employee directors at:
Office of the Corporate Secretary
La-Z-Boy Incorporated
1284 North Telegraph Road
Monroe, Michigan 48162
The Corporate Secretary will compile the communications, summarize lengthy or repetitive communications, and forward them to the appropriate director or directors. He will furnish complete copies of such communications to the directors upon their request.
Stock Ownership Guidelines for Senior Executives
In June of 2005, we implemented guidelines for approximately 30 of our senior executives requiring minimum levels of ownership of our shares. The levels established vary from 8,200 shares to 144,000 shares, depending on the employees responsibilities. The ownership levels represent about one years salary for the lowest level and four times annual salary for the CEO. The Compensation Committee monitors compliance with these guidelines.
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DIRECTORS MEETINGS AND STANDING COMMITTEES
During fiscal 2006, our board of directors held nine meetings of the full board. The non-employee directors met four times in executive session. Each director attended at least 75% of the total number of all fiscal 2006 board meetings and 75% of the total number of all fiscal 2006 meetings of board committees on which the director served that were held during his or her period of service.
The standing committees of the board include the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, a subcommittee of the Compensation Committee informally referred to as the Compensation Subcommittee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and the Investment Performance Review Committee. We provide more information about each of them below.
Audit Committee - Members: David K. Hehl (Chairman), John H. Foss, James W. Johnston, and Richard M. Gabrys.
The Audit Committee met eight times during the fiscal year 2006. As provided in its charter (attached as Exhibit A), the Audit Committee assists the Board in its oversight of the quality and integrity of the Companys financial reporting and internal controls. The Audit Committee oversees the independent registered public accounting firm including their appointment, retention and compensation. The Audit Committee does not provide any expert or special assurance about the financial statements or any professional certification of the outside auditors work. For further discussion of the Audit Committees activities see the Audit Committee Report. In addition, the Audit Committee discusses the quality and adequacy of
internal controls with management and the outside auditor. To assure itself of the auditors independence, the Audit Committee annually requests from the outside auditor a written statement of relationships between the auditor and La-Z-Boy as provided in Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1. The Audit Committee discusses with the outside auditor any relationships disclosed and their impact on the auditors independence, and recommends that the board take appropriate action in response to the report.
Compensation Committee - Members: Jack L. Thompson (Chairman), David K. Hehl, Dr. H. George Levy, and Rocque E. Lipford.
The Compensation Committee met six times during fiscal 2006 to review and determine the cash and other remuneration of the directors and executive officers (except for plans administered by the Compensation Subcommittee). The Compensation Committee also administers our cash incentive compensation plan for employees.
Compensation Subcommittee - Members: David K. Hehl, Dr. H. George Levy, and Jack L. Thompson
The Compensation Subcommittee was established to administer the stock-based employee incentive plans. The Compensation Subcommittee is composed entirely of directors who are both non-employee directors under SEC Rule 16b-3 and outside directors under Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) regulations. The Compensation Subcommittee met jointly with the Compensation Committee six times during fiscal 2006.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee- Members: James W. Johnston (Chairman), Dr. H. George Levy, and Rocque E. Lipford
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met six times during fiscal 2006. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee identifies, evaluates, and recommends to the board candidates for its slate of director nominees for election by shareholders or appointment to fill vacancies on the board. In addition to considering prospective candidates identified by the committees own members or
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referred to it by other board members, management, or outside sources, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider candidates recommended by shareholders. (For information on how to propose a candidate to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and on the requirements for a shareholders own nomination of a director, see Director Nominations and Shareholder Proposals for Next Annual Meeting on page 30.) The committee identifies potential nominees through recommendations made by executive officers and non-management directors and evaluates them based on their resumes and through references and personal interviews. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also considers and makes recommendations to the board on other matters relating to the boards practices, policies, and procedures and on the size, structure, and composition of the board and its committees.
Investment Performance Review Committee - Members: David K. Hehl (Chairman), John H. Foss, Jack L. Thompson, and Donald L. Mitchell
The Investment Performance Review Committees primary purpose is to assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibility to oversee the investment of the assets of employee benefit plans and the La-Z-Boy Foundation. Pursuant to its charter the Investment Performance Review Committee established and reviews the investment policy for each of the plans under its oversight. The Investment Performance Review Committee met four times in fiscal 2006.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Directors who also are our employees receive no additional compensation for serving on the board. For fiscal 2007, Directors who are not our employees will receive:
Cash Compensation
We also reimburse our directors for travel, lodging and related expenses they incur in attending Board and committee meetings.
Equity
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At each annual organizational meeting of the board while still a director, 2,000 common shares similarly discounted
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our executive officers and directors, some over 10% owners of our common shares, and some persons who formerly were directors, executive officers, or over 10% owners, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC and the NYSE and furnish us with a copy of each report filed. Based solely on our review of copies of the reports filed by some of those persons and written representations from others that no reports were required, we believe that during fiscal 2006 all Section 16(a) filing requirements were complied with in a timely fashion.
SHARE OWNERSHIP INFORMATION
The tables below provide information about beneficial owners of our common shares at the record date for the annual meeting. Under applicable SEC rules, anyone that has or shares the right to vote any of our common shares or has or shares dispositive power over any of them is a beneficial owner of those shares. The settlor of a trust with a right to revoke the trust and regain the shares or a person who can acquire shares by exercising an option or a conversion right sometimes also is considered a beneficial owner under these rules. Consequently, more than one person can be considered the beneficial owner of the same common shares. Unless otherwise indicated below, each owner named in a table has sole voting and sole dispositive power over the shares reported for that person.
Security Ownership of
Known Over 5% Beneficial Owners
Number | Percent | ||||
Name and Address | of Shares | of Class | |||
Barclays Global Investors, NA and related companies | |||||
San Francisco, CA 94105 | 4,093,661 | 7.9 | |||
Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. | |||||
Santa Monica, CA 90401 | 3,666,681 | 7.0 | |||
First Trust Portfolios, L.P. and related companies | |||||
Lisle, IL 60532 | 6,355,937 | 12.2 | |||
Royce & Associates, LLC | |||||
New York, NY 10019 | 3,784,600 | 7.3 | |||
Snyder Capital Management, L.P. and related company | |||||
San Francisco, CA 94105 | 4,003,499 | 7.7 |
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Information about Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. is based on a Schedule 13G it filed after December 31, 2005, in which it reported that as of that date it had sole voting and dispositive power over 3,666,681 common shares. It also reported that it is an investment advisor, that it furnishes investment advice to four investment companies and serves as an investment manager over various trusts and accounts, and that the shares are owned by its clients, no one of which, to the knowledge of Dimension Fund Advisors, Inc., owns more than 5% of the class. Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. disclaims beneficial ownership of all the shares.
Information about First Trust Portfolios, L.P. and related companies is based on an amended Schedule 13G they filed jointly after December 31, 2005, in which they reported that as of that date they had shared voting and dispositive powers over 6,355,937 common shares. They reported that First Trust Portfolios, L.P. sponsors several unit investment trusts which own the common shares, and no unit investment trust owns more than 5% of our common shares. They also reported that First Trust Advisors, L.P., an affiliate, acts as portfolio supervisor. The Charger Corporation is the general partner of both.
Information about Royce & Associates, LLC is based on an amended Schedule 13G it filed after December 31, 2005, in which it reported that as of that date it had sole voting and dispositive power over 3,784,600 common shares.
Information about Snyder Capital Management, L.P. and a related company, Snyder Capital Management, Inc., is based on an amended Schedule 13G they filed after December 31, 2005, in which they reported that as of that date each of them had shared voting power over 3,651,999 common shares, shared dispositive power over 4,003,499 common shares, and sole voting or dispositive power over no shares. They also reported that Snyder Capital Management, L.P. is an investment adviser, that its general partner is Snyder Capital Management, Inc., and that Snyder Capital Management, Inc. is a subsidiary of IXIS Asset Management North America, L.P.
Security Ownership of Current and Fiscal 2006
Executive Officers, Current Directors, and Nominees
Number | Percent | ||||
Name | of Shares | of Class | |||
Kurt L. Darrow | 243,410 | * | |||
Rodney D. England | 278,748 | * | |||
John H. Foss | 11,100 | * | |||
Richard M. Gabrys | 5,000 | * | |||
David K. Hehl | 32,772 | * | |||
James W. Johnston | 1,442,454 | 2.768 | |||
Steven M. Kincaid | 111,908 | * | |||
H. George Levy | 15,000 | * | |||
Rocque E. Lipford | 20,700 | * | |||
Donald L. Mitchell | 15,871 | * | |||
Patrick H. Norton | 381,124 | * | |||
Nido R. Qubein | -0- | * | |||
David M. Risley | 119,541 | * | |||
Jack L. Thompson | 11,400 | * | |||
All current directors and current executive officers as a group (13 persons) | 2,689,028 | 5.115 |
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* | less than 1% |
For purposes of calculating the percentage ownership of the group in the table above, all shares subject to options held by any group member that currently are exercisable or that will become exercisable within 60 days of June 30, 2006 are treated as outstanding, but for purposes of calculating the percentage of ownership of any individual group member only the optioned shares held by that group member are treated as outstanding. The table includes the following numbers of optioned shares:
Mr. Darrow | 107,525 | |
Mr. England | 59,325 | |
Mr. Kincaid | 59,325 | |
Mr. Norton | 134,850 | |
Mr. Risley | 102,350 | |
All current directors and executive officers as a group | 463,375 |
The table also includes the following numbers of shares owned by a named persons wife or held in trust, beneficial ownership of which is disclaimed by him:
Mr. Hehl | 5,616 |
Mr. Johnston | 474,504 |
Mr. Lipford | 2,400 |
Mr. England | 13,172 |
Shares shown in the table for Mr. Lipford do not include 130,600 common shares held by the Edwin J. and Ruth M. Shoemaker Foundation. Mr. Lipford acts as one of the six members of the Board of Directors of the Foundation. He disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to these shares.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation
The following table sets forth the compensation for fiscal 2006 of our Chief Executive Officer and of our four other most highly compensated current executive officers. In the rest of this proxy statement, we sometimes call these individuals named executives.
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Summary Compensation Table | |||||||||||||||
Long-Term Compensation | |||||||||||||||
Annual Compensation | Restricted | Shares | |||||||||||||
Stock | Underlying | LTIP | All Other | ||||||||||||
Salary | Bonus | Award(s) | Options | Payouts | Compensation | ||||||||||
Name and Principal Position | Year | $ | $ | $ | # | $ | $ | ||||||||
Kurt L. Darrow | 2006 | 630,513 | 286,746 | 310,753 | 88,400 | -0- | 48,409 | ||||||||
President and Chief | 2005 | 604,080 | 316,794 | 206,584 | 44,800 | -0- | 91,998 | ||||||||
Executive Officer | 2004 | 491,321 | 209,425 | 50,000 | -0- | 76,806 | |||||||||
Patrick H. Norton | 2006 | 444,860 | 165,029 | 153,341 | 43,800 | -0- | 34,965 | ||||||||
Chairman of the Board | 2005 | 427,532 | 182,322 | 128,282 | 27,800 | -0- | 65,657 | ||||||||
2004 | 425,027 | 156,907 | 40,000 | -0- | 65,862 | ||||||||||
Rodney D. England | 2006 | 333,274 | 137,444 | 78,706 | 22,600 | -0- | 25,045 | ||||||||
Senior Vice President and | 2005 | 321,320 | 133,760 | 66,640 | 14,400 | -0- | 48,326 | ||||||||
President La-Z-Boy Non- | 2004 | 310,289 | 142,398 | 16,900 | -0- | 46,839 | |||||||||
branded Upholstered | |||||||||||||||
Product | |||||||||||||||
Steven M. Kincaid | 2006 | 333,268 | 86,353 | 78,706 | 22,600 | -0- | 26,871 | ||||||||
Senior Vice President and | 2005 | 321,314 | 38,080 | 66,640 | 14,400 | -0- | 49,683 | ||||||||
President - La-Z-Boy | 2004 | 297,705 | 28,757 | 16,900 | -0- | 14,006 | |||||||||
Casegoods Products | |||||||||||||||
David M. Risley | 2006 | 339,386 | 114,148 | 100,418 | 28,700 | -0- | 25,519 | ||||||||
Senior Vice President and | 2005 | 326,644 | 121,548 | 83,300 | 18,200 | -0- | 48,911 | ||||||||
Chief Financial Officer | 2004 | 311,193 | 97,206 | 31,300 | -0- | 46,862 |
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Value at | ||||||||||||||||
Vesting Dates | Apr. 29, 2006 | |||||||||||||||
Name | Shares | Grant Date | August 2007 | August 2008 | August 2009 | August 2010 | ($15.32) | |||||||||
Kurt L. Darrow | 22,900 | Aug. 2005 | 5,725 | 5,725 | 11,450 | 350,828 | ||||||||||
12,400 | Aug. 2004 | 3,100 | 3,100 | 6,200 | 189,968 | |||||||||||
Patrick H. Norton | 11,300 | Aug. 2005 | 2,825 | 2,825 | 5,650 | 173,116 | ||||||||||
7,700 | Aug. 2004 | 1,925 | 1,925 | 3,850 | 117,964 | |||||||||||
Rodney D. England | 5,800 | Aug. 2005 | 1,450 | 1,450 | 2,900 | 88,856 | ||||||||||
4,000 | Aug. 2004 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 2,000 | 61,280 | |||||||||||
Steven M. Kincaid | 5,800 | Aug. 2005 | 1,450 | 1,450 | 2,900 | 88,856 | ||||||||||
4,000 | Aug. 2004 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 2,000 | 61,280 | |||||||||||
David M. Risley | 7,400 | Aug. 2005 | 1,850 | 1,850 | 3,700 | 113,368 | ||||||||||
5,000 | Aug. 2004 | 1,250 | 1,250 | 2,500 | 76,600 |
Amounts reported under Long-Term Incentive Plan Payouts relate to performance awards under our Performance-Based Stock Plan. No awards have been earned for the relevant periods.
Amounts reported under All Other Compensation include amounts allocated for named executives to our deferred compensation plan and/or profit-sharing plan (Amounts Allocated to Plans), and the cash value at date of contribution of matching contributions made for their accounts under our matched retirement savings plan (Match Contributions), which we made in the form of common shares or cash. A breakdown of these amounts for fiscal 2006 is provided below:
Amounts | |||||
Allocated | Match | ||||
to Plans | Contributions | ||||
Name | $ | $ | |||
Kurt L. Darrow | 46,349 | 2,060 | |||
Patrick H. Norton | 32,831 | 2,134 | |||
Rodney D. England | 24,720 | 325 | |||
Steven M. Kincaid | 24,720 | 2,151 | |||
David M. Risley | 25,106 | 413 |
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Option Grants
The table below reports on stock options granted to named executives during fiscal 2006 and the potential realizable value of those grants, assuming stock price appreciation rates of 5% and 10% annually over the term of the options. The 5% and 10% rates of appreciation used in the table are not intended to forecast possible future actual appreciation, if any, in our stock price.
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Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
Potential Realizable Value at | ||||||||||||||
Individual Grants | Assumed Annual Rates of Stock | |||||||||||||
Number of | % of Total | Prices Appreciation | ||||||||||||
Securities | Options | for Option Terms | ||||||||||||
Underlying | Granted to | 5% Per Year | 10% Per Year | |||||||||||
Options | Employees | Exercise | Aggregate | Aggregate | ||||||||||
Granted | In Fiscal | Price | Expiration | Value | Value | |||||||||
Name | (#) | Year | ($/SH) | Date | ($) | ($) | ||||||||
Kurt L. Darrow | 88,400 | 12.70 | 13.57 | 08/23/2010 | 331,424 | 732,360 | ||||||||
Patrick H. Norton | 43,800 | 6.29 | 13.57 | 08/23/2010 | 164,212 | 362,866 | ||||||||
Rodney D. England | 22,600 | 3.25 | 13.57 | 08/23/2010 | 84,731 | 187,232 | ||||||||
Steven M. Kincaid | 22,600 | 3.25 | 13.57 | 08/23/2010 | 84,731 | 187,232 | ||||||||
David M. Risley | 28,700 | 4.12 | 13.57 | 08/23/2010 | 107,600 | 237,769 |
All options reported in the table are non-qualified stock options on common shares granted under our long-term equity award plan. Options become exercisable in 25% increments on the first through fourth anniversaries of grant, and once exercisable, remain exercisable through the fifth anniversary of grant.
However, in the event of a grantees death or retirement at age 65 (or earlier with the consent of the board), each of the grantees options would become immediately exercisable in full and continue to be exercisable for three years or, if earlier, until the options scheduled expiration date.
In addition, all options will become immediately exercisable in full in the event of a sale, exchange, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the total assets of the Company or all or substantially all of the outstanding shares. Termination of an executives employment under any circumstances other than those described above would cause all of his options to terminate 30 days after employment ends.
Options Exercised and Held
The following table contains information concerning exercise of stock options during the last completed fiscal year by each of the named executive officers, and the fiscal year-end value of unexercised stock options held by such executive officers:
Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
and Fiscal Year-End Option Values
Number of Securities | Value of Unexercised | |||||||||||||
Shares | Underlying Unexercised | In-the-Money Options | ||||||||||||
Acquired | Value | Options at Fiscal Year End | at Fiscal Year End | |||||||||||
on Exercise | Realized | Exercisable | Unexercisable | Exercisable | Unexercisable | |||||||||
Name | # | $ | # | # | $ | $ | ||||||||
Kurt L. Darrow | -0- | -0- | 65,775 | 151,225 | -0- | 154,700 | ||||||||
Patrick H. Norton | -0- | -0- | 96,950 | 94,650 | -0- | 76,650 | ||||||||
Rodney D. England | -0- | -0- | 41,625 | 46,075 | -0- | 39,550 | ||||||||
Steven M. Kincaid | -0- | -0- | 41,625 | 46,075 | -0- | 39,550 | ||||||||
David M. Risley | -0- | -0- | 74,975 | 65,825 | -0- | 50,225 |
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Long-Term Incentive Compensation Target Awards
Shareholders approved our 2004-Long-term Equity Award Plan in August 2004. This plan authorizes the Compensation Subcommittee to grant contingent target awards to key employees, the potential pay-outs on which (performance awards) are linked to achievement over a performance cycle of three fiscal years of goals established by the Subcommittee at or near the beginning of the cycle. All performance awards under the plan are structured as outright grants of our common shares.
The plan requires the Subcommittee to establish a single objectively determinable and uniform performance goal for all target awards it grants for a given performance cycle and to establish the maximum number of shares a grantee may be granted as a performance award if the performance goal is achieved during the cycle. The plan also authorizes the Subcommittee to establish any number of subordinate goals, the non-achievement of which may reduce (but never increase) the performance award a grantee may receive after the end of the cycle.
Normally, the Subcommittee grants target awards at or about the same time it establishes the goals for a performance cycle, but it also has discretion to grant a mid-cycle target award to a newly-hired or newly-eligible employee, as long as there are at least twelve months remaining in the cycle. If a mid-cycle target award is granted, the pre-established performance goal for the cycle would apply to that award, as would any subordinate goals the Subcommittee elects to establish. The potential pay-out on the mid-cycle award would be the same as the grantee would have received had he been eligible to receive a target award when the initial target awards for the cycle were granted, reduced proportionately based on the number of months in the cycle that already had occurred before grant of the mid-cycle award.
Early in fiscal 2006, the Compensation Subcommittee granted target awards under the plan for the performance cycle ending April 26, 2008. The Subcommittee set as the performance goal achieving at least a specified level of cumulative diluted earnings per share, and it established three weighted subordinate goals relating to sales growth, operating margin, and accounts receivables and inventories relative to sales. Each subordinate goal has a target payout and a sliding scale that provides a payout from 50 to 200 percent of the related target payout. The subordinate goals are not evenly weighted. We provide more information about the target awards granted to named executives in the table below.
Long-Term Incentive Plan - Awards in Last Fiscal Year
Estimated Future Payouts | |||||||||||
Period Until | Under Non-Stock Price-Based Plans | ||||||||||
Number of | Maturation | Threshold | Target | Maximum | |||||||
Name | Shares (#) | or Payout | (#) | (#) | (#) | ||||||
Kurt L. Darrow | 91,400 | 3 years | 22,850 | 45,700 | 91,400 | ||||||
Patrick H. Norton | 45,400 | 3 years | 11,350 | 22,700 | 45,400 | ||||||
Rodney D. England | 23,400 | 3 years | 5,850 | 11,700 | 23,400 | ||||||
Steven M. Kincaid | 23,400 | 3 years | 5,850 | 11,700 | 23,400 | ||||||
David M. Risley | 29,800 | 3 years | 7,450 | 14,900 | 29,800 |
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The maximum performance award potential for any target award, which would be awarded after the end of the three-year cycle if the performance goal is achieved and all subordinate goals are fully achieved, is an outright grant of the Maximum number of shares established for that target award, as shown on the table. The minimum potential performance award (Threshold on the table shown above), for achievement of the performance goal and meeting the threshold for just one subordinate goal, is an outright grant of 25% of the maximum number of shares under the target award. The final award will be determined after April 26, 2008 by first determining whether the performance goal was achieved and, if it was, then determining the degree to which each (if any) of the subordinate goals were met. If the performance goal is not achieved, or if that goal is achieved but no subordinate goal is achieved, there will be no payout on the target award.
With respect to each target award reflected in the table:
If the named grantee dies while employed, or retires with the consent of the board and then dies, the plan permits his executor or personal representative to elect payment of a performance award for his estate before the end of the performance cycle. If early payment is elected and the grantee died within the first half of the performance cycle, the estate would receive an outright grant of 35% of the maximum number of shares specified for the grantees target award. If early payment is elected and the grantee died during the second half of the performance period, the estate would receive an outright grant of 50% of the maximum number of shares specified for the grantees target award.
In all other circumstances, a performance award held by an employee where employment terminates due to death, disability, or retirement with our consent remains in effect in accordance with its original terms.
If employment terminates by reasons other than retirement or death, generally all performance awards are immediately canceled.
In the case of a merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution, or sale of substantially all our assets, the Compensation Subcommittee in its sole discretion may take certain actions with respect to the awards, including the payout of performance awards, the purchase of outstanding awards, the substitution, assumption or replacement of any awards, and other similar adjustments to facilitate any such transaction. The Compensation Subcommittee may also provide that all awards will terminate following such event.
Change in Control Agreements
We have change in control agreements currently in effect with Messrs. Darrow, England, Kincaid, Norton, and Risley. These agreements are designed primarily to aid in ensuring continued management in the event of an actual or threatened change in control of the Company (as defined in the agreements). The agreements provide that in the event the covered employee is terminated other than upon his death, disability or for cause (as defined in the agreements) within three years after a change in control of La-Z-Boy Incorporated, that person will be entitled to receive a lump sum severance payment equal to three times his annualized salary and three times the average bonus amount paid to him in the previous three years. The
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covered employee also would be entitled to continuation of employee welfare benefit payments and reimbursement of certain legal fees and expenses incurred by the employee in enforcing the agreement following a change in control.
In consideration of these obligations, each covered employee has agreed to remain in our employ pending the resolution of any proposal for change in control. Each agreement expires December 31, 2006, but automatically renews for an additional one-year period unless either party gives the other 90 days prior notice of non-extension. If a change in control occurs, the agreements automatically extend for 36 months.
Deferred Compensation Plan
Under the terms of our 2005 La-Z-Boy Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, senior executive employees of La-Z-Boy and its subsidiaries (including our named executives) may elect to defer the payment of from 5% to 100% of their base salary and/or from 5% to 100% of their cash bonus under the Management Incentive Plan for each fiscal year.
In addition, any company match and/or profit sharing contributions that cannot be credited to executives accounts under the qualified retirement plans, due to Internal Revenue Code limitations, are credited to their accounts maintained in this plan.
All executives deferrals and any non-qualified company match or profit sharing amounts are added to a recordkeeping account and credited with earnings or losses, depending upon actual performance of the mutual-fund-type options the participant has chosen for the deemed investment of their account.
Payment of a participants account balance will be deferred until a date designated by the participant upon making the deferral election. The deferral amounts are paid either in one lump sum or in annual installments for up to 15 years, also as designated in the participants deferral election. Upon the death of the participant, any remaining balance in the participants account will be paid to the participants designated beneficiary.
Related Party Transactions
Culp, Inc. Patrick Norton is a member of the Board of Directors of Culp, Inc. Culp provided 24.9% of the total fabric purchased by us during the fiscal year. The purchases from Culp were at prices comparable to other vendors and under similar terms. Mr. Norton has no involvement in our selection or purchase processes related to fabrics.
Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone. The law firm of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C. in which Rocque E. Lipford is a senior principal, provides us with legal services and has done so for many years. Miller, Canfield has advised us that the revenues paid to Miller, Canfield during the past fiscal year were less than 0.5% of their total revenues for the same period. We believe that the transactions with the firm are on terms no less favorable than those that could be obtained from unrelated third parties.
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Kevin Norton. Kevin Norton, the son of Patrick Norton, is an independent sales representative for La-Z-Boy residential products under an agreement providing for the payment of commissions at various rates. The terms of his agreement, including the commission rates, are identical to those of our agreements with all of our approximately 87 other La-Z-Boy U.S. residential sales representatives.
Stefanie (England) Tull. Stephanie Tull, the daughter of Rodney England, is the Vice President of Store Development for our England, Inc. operations and received salary and bonus for fiscal 2006 totaling $99,537.
Tim Tull. Tim Tull, the son-in-law of Rodney England, is the Vice President of Sales for our England, Inc. operations and received salary and bonus for fiscal 2006 totaling $182,468.
Rodney England and Stefanie (England) Tull. In fiscal 2006, we paid Rodney England $47,630 to reimburse him for our business use of his personal airplane, and we paid Mr. England and Stefanie (England) Tull, his daughter, $528 for the rental of another plane owned by them. They sold the jointly owned plane during fiscal 2006. We are continuing to make payments to Mr. England under a similar arrangement this year for his remaining personal airplane. The amounts we pay are no more than the amounts we would pay to unrelated third parties for similar services and rentals.
Kincaid Galleries Inc. Kincaid Galleries Inc. was a retail furniture outlet owned by Rebecca Adderholdt and Kathy McAteer, both of whom are sisters of Steven Kincaid. During fiscal 2005, Kincaid Galleries, Inc. liquidated its inventories and went out of business. At that time, it owed us approximately $560,000 for inventory we had supplied in previous years, for which we established a reserve. We continue to pursue a recovery of the debt.
PERFORMANCE COMPARISON
The graph below shows the return for our last five fiscal years that would have been realized (assuming reinvestment of dividends) by an investor who invested $100 on April 28, 2001 in our common shares, in the S&P 500 Composite Index, and in a peer group comprised of the following publicly traded furniture industry companies: Bassett Furniture, Chromcraft Revington, Inc., Ethan Allen Interiors, Flexsteel Industries, Furniture Brands International, Hooker Furniture Company, Rowe Companies, and Stanley Furniture. The stock performance of each company in the peer group has been weighted according to its relative stock market capitalization for purposes of arriving at group averages.
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Assumes $100 Invested on April 28, 2001
Assumes Dividends Reinvested
Company/Index/Market | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | |||||||
La-Z-Boy Incorporated | $100.00 | $ 170.74 | $103.93 | $ 127.97 | $ 74.74 | $ 99.74 | |||||||
Peer Group | 100.00 | 142.67 | 95.01 | 127.79 | 97.90 | 125.07 | |||||||
S&P 500 Composite Index | 100.00 | 87.38 | 75.75 | 93.08 | 102.13 | 117.87 |
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
THE MEMBERS
With the addition of a new member in May 2006, the Audit Committee currently consists of four independent directors, as defined by the New York Stock Exchange and the SEC. Furthermore, each committee member has the minimum financial expertise required under the New York Stock Exchange rules. The board of directors has designated John Foss and Richard Gabrys as audit committee financial experts, within the meaning of the SEC rules.
OPERATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee operates under a written charter as approved by the full board. The charter details the committees recurring responsibilities, which the Committee annually reviews and changes as appropriate. The most recent changes were made in June 2006. We post the current charter on our web site at www.la-z-boy.com/about/corp_governance. It is attached as Exhibit A.
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COMMITTEE DUTIES
La-Z-Boys board oversees, counsels and directs management in promoting the long-term interests of the Company and its shareholders. The Audit Committee assists the board in carrying out its duty by overseeing the financial reporting, internal controls and audit of the Companys financial statements. The consolidated financial statements, internal controls, financial reporting process and compliance with laws, regulations and ethical business standards are the inherent responsibilities of management. To ensure that the Audit Committee can effectively perform its duties, the Committee has the independent authority to, and does, engage its own professional advisors, at the Companys expense.
The Audit Committee retains the sole authority to select or replace the independent registered public accounting firm, i.e. the independent auditor. The Committee annually evaluates, selects, agrees to the engagement fees of and otherwise manages the relationship with the independent auditor. The Audit Committee selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as La-Z-Boys independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2007. The Audit Committee, as required by its charter, pre-approves all services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, including audit, audit related, tax, and other services. The Audit Committee may provide approval of a given service for an entire fiscal year when appropriate. The Audit Committee has also authorized the Chairman of the Audit Committee to pre-approve some services in limited circumstances. The Chairman reports any services he pre-approves to the full Audit Committee at the next meeting. The Company continues to reduce the scope of non-audit services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
It is not the Audit Committees duty to conduct audits or accounting reviews. The Committee relies on the independent auditor to audit, in accordance with auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Companys consolidated financial statements as prepared by management. The Audit Committee also relies on the independent auditors opinions on managements assessment of the effectiveness of the Companys internal financial reporting controls as well as the effectiveness of La-Z-Boys internal financial reporting controls.
COMMITTEE ACTIONS
The Audit Committee met eight times during fiscal 2006. At least quarterly, the Audit Committee meets to review the financial results and statements; internal controls over financial reporting; and significant accounting, environmental and legal issues. The Audit Committee also reviewed the procedures for receiving and handling whistleblower complaints regarding the Companys accounting, internal controls or audit matters. The Audit Committee meetings regularly include separate private sessions with the independent auditors, the head of the internal audit department and various members of management. The Committee also meets in executive session with only committee members present, as it deems appropriate.
The Audit Committee discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP those matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees). As part of the Audit Committees independence review, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP provided to the Audit Committee the written disclosures and the letter required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees). In discussions with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP about their independence, the Audit Committee also reviewed the non-audit services provided by
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PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (see Proposal 2, under the caption Audit Fees). The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP its attestation report on managements assessment and its report on the Companys internal controls over financial reporting.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the fiscal year 2006 financial statements and the internal controls over financial reporting. The review and discussions included managements assessment of internal controls, the acceptability and quality of the accounting principles utilized, the reasonableness of the significant accounting estimates and judgments, and the clarity of disclosures. Based upon the discussions with, representations of, and reports from, management and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Audit Committee recommended to the board to accept the audited consolidated financial statements for inclusion in the Corporations Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 29, 2006 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Audit Committee | |
David K. Hehl, Chairman | |
John H. Foss | |
Richard M. Gabrys* | |
James W. Johnston |
* | Joined the Committee in May 2006, after the end of the fiscal year. |
JOINT REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee of the board is composed of four non-employee Directors who are not eligible to participate in management compensation programs and whose names are listed at the end of this report. The Committee sets the principles and strategies that serve to guide the design of our employee compensation programs. The Compensation Subcommittee is composed of three independent non-employee Directors and is responsible for equity-based plans.
This is a joint report by the Committee and Subcommittee on the policies they followed and the decisions they made for fiscal 2006. The Subcommittee provides information about decisions made by the Subcommittee only. The Committee provides all other information.
In performing their respective duties, the Committee and Subcommittee rely on the assistance of professionals in our Human Resources Division, outside compensation consultants, legal counsel, and where appropriate, senior management.
Compensation Committee Responsibilities
The Committee and Subcommittee determine the compensation of executive officers and review the compensation program for other employees. The Subcommittee is charged with administering the equity-based employee plans in which executive officers and other specified employees may participate. The Compensation Committee determines all executive officer compensation not assigned to the Subcommittee. The Committee also annually evaluates the performance of the CEO.
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The Committee regularly meets in executive sessions without members of management present and reports to the Board of Directors on its actions and recommendations following each meeting. In furtherance of these objectives, the Compensation Committee is responsible for, among other things:
Approving our corporate compensation philosophy, including overseeing and monitoring our executive compensation policies, plans and programs for our executive officers to ensure that they are consistent with that compensation philosophy and the long-term interests of our stockholders;
Annually reviewing and approving the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our CEOs compensation, and evaluating the CEOs performance in light of these goals and objectives;
Based on the foregoing evaluation, determining and approving the CEOs compensation;
Annually reviewing and approving the compensation, including incentive compensation, for our other executive officers;
Reviewing our policies regarding the tax deductibility of compensation paid to our executive officers, including establishing performance goals and certifying that performance goals have been attained;
Approving and administering incentive compensation plans, including stock-based plans (through the Subcommittee), applicable to our executive officers;
Evaluating, reviewing and approving, as appropriate under the facts and circumstances, employment agreements, change-in-control agreements, or severance agreements for any of our executive officers;
At least annually, in consultation with the independent members of the board and the CEO, reviewing succession planning and management development activities and strategies regarding the CEO and other members of senior management, and assessing our overall management resources; and
At least annually, reviewing and evaluating the compensation of the board.
Compensation Philosophy
La-Z-Boy strives to create value for shareholders through superior growth and profitability. The executive compensation program supports this goal by linking the major components of base pay and short-term and long-term incentives to superior results in business performance and profitability.
Our compensation program is intended to attract and retain highly qualified individuals by providing executives the opportunity to earn market-median compensation while creating value to the shareholders. The compensation program comprises three components: base pay, short-term incentive (bonus), and long-term incentive (equity-based) compensation. We will reward individual executives at market-median compensation levels for attaining targeted performance, with a substantial portion of the executives total
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compensation opportunity payable in the form of Company shares. Superior performance exceeding pre-established targets will be appropriately rewarded in both cash (bonus) and equity payouts. Sub-par performance will result in reduced bonus and equity compensation.
Compensation Plan Overview
La-Z-Boys executive compensation program is based on a pay-for-performance philosophy. With a strong emphasis on performance-based incentive award opportunities and sustained stock ownership by senior executives, La-Z-Boy strives to link the short- and long-term growth and profitability of the Company to executive pay.
The competitive marketplace (i.e., industry, size, and geographic location) for executive talent is defined primarily as furniture manufacturers, supplemented by general industry, particularly for staff positions; similarly-sized companies, as measured by annual revenues; and national in scope for executives (regional or local for non-executives). In general, total compensation levels will be targeted at market-median levels.
The executive compensation program supports La-Z-Boys business strategy (i.e., create value for shareholders through superior growth and profitability) by linking compensation to business performance and profitability. It also impacts La-Z-Boys ability to attract, motivate, and retain highly qualified executives.
The incentive plans, designed based on market challenges and La-Z-Boys objectives, provide executives with the majority of their compensation opportunity. The incentive plans are goal-based and, generally, are designed to provide executives a realistic opportunity to earn market-median awards for commensurate performance. The plans provide for awards at the market median for performance at expected levels, awards at the market 75th percentile for performance significantly above expected levels, and no awards for performance below specified minimum levels.
We intend to pay for performance and we place more of the executives compensation at risk as their levels of responsibility increase. An executives compensation opportunity is dependent on improving the Companys long-term performance or potential.
Base Salaries
Annual base salary increases for the executive officers are established based on the scope of their job responsibilities, individual performance, competitive market data of the peer companies, the Companys overall salary budget guidelines, and the most recent recommendations of our compensation consultants. Salary guidelines are set each year to reflect the competitive environment and to control the overall cost of salary growth. Merit increases are based on individual performance. At the beginning of the fiscal year 2006, Mr. Darrow and other named executives received base salary increases of 3%. In fiscal 2006, base salaries for the executive officers were, on average, below the market median.
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Short-Term Incentive Awards
The use of annual bonuses creates a link between executive compensation and individual and business performances. La-Z-Boys Management Incentive Plan is a cash-based plan that rewards annual performance measured against pre-established targets. Target awards are set as a percentage of base salary by job responsibilities. In fiscal 2006, the percentages were competitive with, or in some cases below, annual incentives provided by other companies in our competitive marketplace. At the start of the fiscal year, we establish short-term performance criteria and weightings for the various criteria. The award paid at the end of the fiscal year is a result of actual performance compared to the established performance targets, based on an assessment of each executives individual performance for the year, the Companys overall performance, and the financial, operational, and strategic performance of the business unit for which the executive is responsible.
For fiscal 2006, the maximum award opportunity was 160% of salary for Mr. Darrow, while the maximum award opportunity for the other named executives ranged between 100% and 130% of salary. We structured the awards based 80% on the attainment of business unit financial goals and 20% on individual performance goals. The business unit financial goals were further weighted one-third on an increase in sales revenue and two-thirds on operating income. The business unit financial goals were either on a consolidated basis or on the basis of combined specific business units, depending on the executives responsibilities. The business unit financial goal and the individual performance goal were independent so that achievement of the individual performance goal could be rewarded regardless of the results related to the business unit financial goal and vice versa. Actual performance yielded payouts shown as bonus in the Summary Compensation Table.
Long-Term Incentives
We believe that in order to maximize shareholder value, equity-based awards are an important component of executive compensation because they particularly link executives and shareholders financial interests. The Companys 2004 Long-Term Equity Plan is designed to tie executive rewards to shareholder value over time. Early in fiscal 2006, the Subcommittee granted awards under the Plan, with a fixed allocation that varied by salary grade, consisting of (i) non-qualified stock options, (ii) restricted shares, with restriction periods ranging from 3 to 5 years depending on salary grade, the higher salary grades having longer restriction periods, and (iii) performance-based stock awards.
The performance-based stock awards the Subcommittee granted were target awards for the three-year performance cycle ending April 26, 2008, and the number of shares grant recipients actually receiveand whether they ultimately receive any shares at allwill depend on Company performance over that time period. The Subcommittee set a performance goal of achieving at least a specified level of cumulative diluted earnings per share and three unevenly weighted subordinate goals relating to sales growth, operating margin, and accounts receivable and inventory relative to sales. The Subcommittee established a target payout for each subordinate goal, with a sliding scale that provided a payout from 50 to 200 percent of the related target payout based on the Companys future performance.
After considering the recommendation of the outside consultants, the Subcommittee granted to Mr. Darrow 22,900 restricted shares and non-qualified stock options on 88,400 shares. The Subcommittee also awarded Mr. Darrow the opportunity to earn 45,700 shares if the Company performs at target over the three-year cycle ending in April 2008, up to a maximum of 91,400 shares if the Company exceeds the
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targeted performance goal. The other named executives received non-qualified stock options covering a total of 117,700 shares, 30,300 restricted shares, and 61,000 performance-based target awards for the cycle ending in April 2008.
As reported in the Summary Compensation Table, there were no performance-based stock payouts to the named executives under the 2004 Long-Term Equity Award Plan for the performance cycle that concluded at the end of fiscal 2006. In accordance with the Plan, we established at the beginning of the cycle a performance goal and three subordinate goals and granted target awards tied to those goals to all named executives. After the end of the cycle, the Companys actual performance, measured against the predetermined goal, resulted in no payouts.
Compensation Consultant
The executive compensation group in La-Z-Boys Corporate Human Resources Department supports the Committee in its work. In addition, the Committee has the authority under its charter to engage the services of outside advisors, experts, and others to assist the Committee. In accordance with this authority, the Committee engages an independent outside compensation consultant to advise the Committee on all matters related to CEO and other executive compensation.
Federal Income Tax Considerations
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally precludes La-Z-Boy and other public companies from taking a tax deduction for compensation over $1 million paid (or otherwise taxable) to a named executive officer unless such compensation is performance-based. The 1997 Incentive Stock Option Plan (under which some options granted before fiscal 2006 are still outstanding) and the Long-term Equity Award Plan contain provisions designed to permit certain awards to qualify as performance-based compensation and so to exempt such awards from the deduction limitation.
We intend to continue to monitor the executive compensation programs with respect to the present federal tax law to maximize the deductibility of compensation paid to named executives, but we may pay compensation in excess of the Section 162(m) limitation if we determine that doing so would be in the best interests of La-Z-Boy and its shareholders.
The Compensation Committee | |
Jack L. Thompson, Chairman * | |
David K. Hehl * | |
Rocque E. Lipford | |
H. George Levy, M. D. * |
* | Members of the Compensation Subcommittee |
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND
INSIDER PARTICIPATION
Each current member of the Compensation Committee and the Compensation Subcommittee served throughout fiscal 2006, and Helen Petrauskas, until her death, was the only other director, other than the current members, to serve on either the Compensation Committee or the Compensation Subcommittee at any time during fiscal 2006.
The law firm of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C., in which Rocque E. Lipford is a senior principal, provides us with legal services and has done so for many years.
PROPOSAL NO. 2: TO RATIFY THE SELECTION OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee selects and hires our independent registered public accounting firm, and it has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2007. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP acted as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2006, and we believe it is well qualified to act in that capacity again this year. Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will be present at the meeting with the opportunity to make a statement and to answer questions.
We are asking you to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. Although ratification is not required by our bylaws or otherwise, the board is submitting the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to you for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the Audit Committees selection is not ratified, it will reconsider the selection. Even if the selection is ratified, the audit committee in its discretion may select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of La-Z-Boy and our shareholders.
Audit Fees
For professional services rendered to us for fiscal years 2006 and 2005, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has billed us as follows:
Fiscal 2006 | Fiscal 2005 | |||
Audit Fees | $1,665,000 | $1,747,550 | ||
Audit Related Fees | 45,000 | 209,225 | ||
Tax Fees | 209,000 | 333,580 | ||
All Other Fees | 1,500 | 1,500 | ||
Total | $1,920,500 | $2,291,855 |
Audit fees represent fees for audit work performed on our annual financial statements, our internal controls over financial reporting, managements assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting, and reviews of the quarterly financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as audit services that are normally provided in connection with our statutory and regulatory filings.
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Audit-related fees relate to audits of our employee benefit plans, retail store acquisitions audit procedures, as well as Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 controls project assistance.
Tax fees include fees for domestic and foreign tax compliance and advisory services.
All other fees represent accounting research software subscription fees.
The Audit Committees current policy requires pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent auditors before the engagement of the independent auditors to perform them. A limited amount of tax services have been pre-approved. Services, including tax services not covered by the general pre-approval, require specific pre-approval by the committee.
Our management will present the following resolution to the meeting:
RESOLVED, that the Audit Committees selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for La-Z-Boy Incorporated for fiscal 2007 is ratified.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposal No. 2.
MISCELLANEOUS
Director Nominations and Shareholder Proposals for Next Annual Meeting
If you would like to recommend a director candidate for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, you should send your recommendation to the Secretary, who will forward it to the Committee. If you would like your recommendation to be considered for director nominations at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held in calendar 2007, you should submit it no later than March 9, 2007. Your recommendation should include a description of your candidates qualifications for board service, your candidates consent to be considered for nomination and to serve if nominated and elected, and addresses and telephone numbers for contacting you and the candidate for more information.
If you would prefer to nominate a director candidate at the meeting yourself, our bylaws require that you notify us of your intention to do so no later than May 18, 2007. Your notice must include your nominees name, age, residence and business addresses, and principal occupation, the number of common shares beneficially owned by the nominee, and all other information about the nominee that would be required by SEC rules in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for election of the nominee.
If you would like to submit a proposal for inclusion in our proxy materials for the calendar 2007 annual meeting, you must submit it to us no later than March 9, 2007. Even if a proposal is submitted by that date, we will have the right to omit it if it does not satisfy the requirements for inclusion under SEC Rule 14a-8.
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Any shareholder proposal for the calendar 2007 annual meeting that is submitted outside the processes of Rule 14a-8 will be considered untimely for purposes of SEC Rule 14a-4(c)(1) if it is not submitted to us on or before May 23, 2007. Proxies for that meeting may confer discretionary authority to vote on any untimely proposal without express direction from the shareholders giving the proxies.
Any shareholder proposal or nomination should be sent to our principal offices in Monroe, Michigan, addressed to the attention of the Secretary.
Costs of Proxy Solicitation
We will pay the expense of soliciting proxies pursuant to this proxy statement. That expense is expected to be limited to the cost of preparing and mailing this proxy statement and accompanying documents.
This year you may vote by mail, by telephone or on the Internet. Your vote is important. Even if you plan to attend the meeting, please vote by proxy card, telephone or computer as soon as possible.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF | |
DIRECTORS | |
James P. Klarr, Secretary | |
Monroe, Michigan | |
July 7, 2006 |
We will send you a copy of our Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended April 29, 2006 without charge if you send a written request to: Office of the Secretary, La-Z-Boy Incorporated, 1284 North Telegraph Road, Monroe, Michigan 48162. You also can obtain copies of our Form 10-K and the other reports we file with the SEC on our Web site at www.la-z-boy.com or through the SECs Web site at www.sec.gov.
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Exhibit A
LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
Purpose of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in its oversight of (a) the integrity and quality of the processes and practices of the company with respect to financial reporting, (b) compliance with significant legal, regulatory and ethical requirements, (c) the qualifications and independence of the independent registered public accounting firm, and (d) the effectiveness of the Companys independent registered public accounting firm and internal audit function.
Responsibilities
The Committee, in its capacity as a committee of the Board of Directors, is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of the work of the Companys independent registered public accounting firm (including resolution of any disagreements between management and the independent registered public accounting firm regarding financial reporting). The independent registered public accounting firm shall report directly to the Committee. With respect to all other matters, the role of the Audit Committee is one of oversight and as such the Committee relies on the expertise and knowledge of management, internal auditors, the independent registered public accounting firm and other experts. Management of the Company is responsible for determining that the Companys financial statements are fairly presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for auditing and reporting on the Companys financial statements. It is not the responsibility of the Committee to plan or conduct audits, to determine the fairness or accuracy of financial statements, to provide assurance of compliance with laws and regulations, or to provide assurance with respect to the adequacy of internal policies, practices, procedures or controls.
Membership
The Committee shall consist of at least three Directors who have no relationship with the Company that might interfere with the exercise of their independent judgment. The Committee members shall satisfy the independence, financial literacy and expertise requirements of the New York Stock Exchange as interpreted by the Board of Directors and any rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Committee pursuant to Section 10A(m)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Committee members, including the Chairman, shall be appointed by the Board of Directors.
Authority and Funding
The Committee has the authority to engage independent counsel and other advisers, as it determines necessary to carry out its duties. In discharging its oversight role, the Committee is empowered to investigate any matter brought to its attention with full access to all Company books, records, facilities and personnel.
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The Company will provide appropriate funding for the Committee, as determined by the Committee, in its capacity as a committee of the board of directors, for payment of:
(i) Compensation to any independent registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review, or attest services for the Company;
(ii) Compensation to any advisers employed by the Committee under the first paragraph of this section; and
(iii) Ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
Duties
The Committees specific duties are set forth in the following table:
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l | Select and retain the independent registered public accounting firm. | Annually | ||||||
l | Pre-approve audit fees charged by the independent registered public accounting firm. | Annually | ||||||
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Evaluate the performance, qualifications and independence of the independent registered public accounting firm, including obtaining and reviewing (1) the public version of the independent registered public accounting firms most recent inspection report issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and (2) a report by the independent registered public accounting firm describing |
Annually | ||||||
a) | the firms internal quality-control procedures, | |||||||
b) | any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the firm, by its most recent inspection report issued by the PCAOB, or by any other inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues, and | |||||||
c) | (to assess the auditors independence) all relationships between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Company. | |||||||
l | Assure regular rotation of lead audit partner as required by law | Annually | ||||||
l | Approve, as appropriate, audit, audit-related and non-audit services proposed to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm. | As Needed | ||||||
l | Review the annual audit plan of the independent registered public accounting firm | Annually |
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Minimum | |||||||
Duty | Frequency | ||||||
l | Meet in separate executive session with the independent registered public accounting firm to provide a forum for private comments including discussion of any restrictions on audit scope or access to required information or resources. | Annually | |||||
l | Establish hiring policies with respect to employees or former employees of the independent registered public accounting firm. | Annually | |||||
With Respect to Accounting and Financial Control Matters: | |||||||
l | Review with financial management and the independent registered public accounting firm any significant accounting developments including emerging issues. | As Needed | |||||
l | Review with financial management and the independent registered public accounting firm the companys critical accounting policies. | Annually | |||||
l | Review with management, the independent registered public accounting firm and the internal auditor | Quarterly | |||||
a) | the adequacy of the Companys internal controls and | ||||||
b) | significant findings and recommendations of the auditors and managements responses thereto. | ||||||
l | Review and discuss with the Companys counsel significant legal and environmental matters. | Quarterly | |||||
l | Review with financial management and the independent registered public accounting firm, | Annually | |||||
a) | the Companys annual financial results and disclosure, including the Companys disclosures under Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, | ||||||
b) | the independent registered public accounting firms audit of the financial statements and its report thereon, | ||||||
c) | the independent registered public accounting firms report on managements assessment and report on the Companys internal controls for financial reporting, | ||||||
d) | any significant changes required in the audit plan, | ||||||
e) | any audit problems or difficulties and managements response thereto and any disputes with management encountered during the audit, and resolve any such disputes, and | ||||||
f) | other matters related to the audit which are to be communicated to the Committee under the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. |
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Minimum | |||||||
Duty | Frequency | ||||||
l | Review with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, | Quarterly | |||||
a) | the Companys interim financial results and disclosure, including the Companys disclosures under Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, prior to the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the related Form 10-Q, | ||||||
b) | changes to internal control systems for financial reporting, and | ||||||
c) | discuss any items required to be communicated by the independent registered public accounting firm under the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. | ||||||
l | With respect to each periodic filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission review a) managements disclosure to the Committee under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and b) the contents of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer certificates to be filed under Sections 302 and 906 of that Act. | Quarterly | |||||
l | Review with management and the independent registered public accounting firm policies and practices with respect to the preparation and dissemination of earnings press releases, as well as financial information and earnings guidance. | Quarterly | |||||
l | Discuss the Companys earnings press releases, as well as financial information and earnings guidance. | As Needed | |||||
l | Review with management the Companys compliance with applicable laws and regulations and the results of examinations conducted by regulatory agencies. | Annually | |||||
l | Meet in executive session with financial management to provide a forum for their private comments. | Quarterly | |||||
l | Review procedures, and monitor responses thereto, for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, auditing matters, or general ethical conduct, and the confidential anonymous submissions by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting controls, auditing matters, or ethical behavior. | Quarterly | |||||
l | Discuss with management general policies for the assessment and management of major financial risks. | Annually | |||||
l | Review with management the results of monitoring the Companys code of conduct. | Annually | |||||
With Respect to the Internal Audit Function: | |||||||
l | Review the performance of the head of the Internal Audit department | Annually | |||||
l | Review the appointment, compensation and replacement of the head of the Internal Audit department. | Annually | |||||
l | Review the Internal Audit departments annual audit plan, including any subsequent significant modifications to that plan. | Annually | |||||
l | Review the Internal Audit department budget and adequacy of staffing. | Annually |
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Minimum | |||||
Duty | Frequency | ||||
l | Review and discuss with the head of the Internal Audit department the results of audits conducted and management responses thereto. | Quarterly | |||
l | Meet in executive session with the head of the Internal Audit department to provide a forum for private comments including discussion of any restrictions on audit scope or access to required information or resources . | Semiannually | |||
With Respect to the Audit Committee: | |||||
l | Meet at least 4 times per year and more frequently if circumstances require. | Quarterly and as needed | |||
l | Evaluate the performance of the Audit Committee. | Annually | |||
l | Review this charter and recommend any proposed changes to the Board of Directors. | Annually | |||
With Respect to Communications: | |||||
l | Report to the Board of Directors on significant matters covered at each Audit Committee meeting. | As Needed | |||
l | Prepare the report that the Securities and Exchange Commission rules require be included in the Companys annual proxy statement. | Annually |
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LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED 1284 NORTH TELEGRAPH ROAD MONROE, MI 48162-3390 |
VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE SHAREHOLDER VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 VOTE BY MAIL |
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TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: | ||
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LAZBY1 |
KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS |
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THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. |
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1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. |
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01) John H. Foss 02) Richard M. Gabrys 03) Nido R. Qubein |
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When shares are held by joint tenants both should sign. When signing as attorney, as executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
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HOUSEHOLDING ELECTION - Please indicate if you consent to receive certain future investor communications in a single package per household |
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Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] |
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PROXY |
The undersigned hereby appoints Kurt L. Darrow and Patrick H. Norton, and both of them, Proxies with power of substitution to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of La-Z-Boy Incorporated to be held at the La-Z-Boy Incorporated Auditorium, 1284 North Telegraph Road, Monroe, Michigan, August 16, 2006 at 11:00 o'clock A.M., Eastern Daylight Time, and any adjournment thereof, and thereat to vote all shares now or hereafter standing in the name of the undersigned.
This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed by the undersigned shareholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR all director nominees listed in Proposal 1 and FOR Proposal 2.
(Continued and TO BE SIGNED on other side)