Unassociated Document
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 2 )
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive Proxy Statement
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Definitive Additional Materials
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12
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AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP, INC.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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þ No fee required.
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¨ Fee computed on the table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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¨ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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¨ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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Date Filed:
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AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP, INC.
1479 North Clinton Avenue
Bay Shore, NY 11706
June 18, 2013
Dear Stockholders:
On behalf of the Board of Directors, you are cordially invited to attend the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Air Industries Group, Inc. The Annual Meeting will be held on Monday, July 29, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time at the offices of Air Industries Group, Inc., 110 Plant Avenue, Hauppauge, New York 11788. The formal Notice of Annual Meeting is set forth in the enclosed material.
The matters expected to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting are described in the attached Proxy Statement. During the Annual Meeting, stockholders will have the opportunity to ask questions and comment on our business operations.
It is important that your views be represented. If you request a proxy card, please mark, sign and date the proxy card when received and return it promptly in the self-addressed, stamped envelope we will provide. No postage is required if this envelope is mailed in the United States. You also have the option of voting your proxy via the Internet at www.proxyvote.com or by calling toll free via a touch-tone phone at 1-800-690-6903. Proxies submitted by telephone or over the Internet must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 28, 2013. Although we encourage you to complete and return a proxy prior to the Annual Meeting to ensure that your vote is counted, you can attend the Annual Meeting and cast your vote in person. If you vote by proxy and also attend the Annual Meeting, there is no need to vote again at the Annual Meeting unless you wish to change your vote.
We appreciate your investment in Air Industries Group, Inc. and urge you to cast your vote as soon as possible.
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Sincerely,
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Peter D. Rettaliata
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President and Chief Executive Officer
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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General Information; Frequently Asked Questions About the Annual Meeting and Voting
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1
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Proposal One — Election of Directors
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4
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Information Concerning the Board of Directors
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6
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Information Concerning Executive Officers
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9
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Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
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12
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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
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13
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Audit Committee Report
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14
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Proposal Two — Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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15
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Proposal Three — Air Industries Group, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan
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16
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Proposal Four — Agreement and Plan of Merger Between our Company and our Recently Formed Wholly-Owned Nevada Subsidiary as a Result of which We will Become a Nevada Corporation Named Air Industries Group
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21
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Stockholder Proposals
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33
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Other Matters
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33
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Annual Report
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33
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Delivery of Documents to Stockholders Sharing an Address
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33
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Appendix A — 2013Equity Incentive Plan
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A-1
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Appendix B — Agreement and Plan of Merger
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B-1
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Appendix C — Articles of Incorporation of Air Industries Group, a Nevada corporation
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C-1
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Appendix D — By-laws of Air Industries Group, a Nevada corporation
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D-1
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Appendix E — Appraisal Rights of Dissenting Stockholders Under Delaware General Corporation Law
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E-1
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AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP, INC.
1479 North Clinton Avenue
Bay Shore, NY 11706
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
The 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Air Industries Group, Inc. will be held at the offices of Air Industries Group, Inc., 110 Plant Avenue, Hauppauge, New York 11788 on July 29, 2013, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time for the following purposes:
1. to elect seven directors;
2. to ratify the appointment of Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger & Guttilla, P.C as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013;
3. to approve our 2013 Equity Incentive Plan;
4. to approve an Agreement and Plan of Merger between our Company and our newly-organized wholly-owned Nevada subsidiary as a result of which our Company will become a Nevada corporation named Air Industries Group; and
5 . to transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on June 4, 2013 as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.
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By order of the Board of Directors,
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Peter D. Rettaliata
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President and Chief Executive Officer
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June 18, 2013
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
Please vote via the Internet or telephone.
Internet: www.proxyvote.com
Phone: 1-800-690-6903
If you request a proxy card, please mark, sign and date the proxy card when received and
return it promptly in the self-addressed, stamped envelope we will provide.
AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP, INC.
1479 North Clinton Avenue
Bay Shore, NY 11706
General Information
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of Air Industries Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”), of proxies to be voted at our 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting” or the “Meeting”) and at any adjournment or postponement of the Meeting. The Annual Meeting will take place on July 29, 2013, beginning at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, at our offices, 110 Plant Avenue, Hauppauge, New York 11788.
This Proxy Statement, the Notice of Annual Meeting, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, and accompanying proxy are being mailed to holders of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), on or about June 18, 2013. Web links and addresses contained in this Proxy Statement are provided for convenience only, and the content on the referenced websites does not constitute a part of this Proxy Statement.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Annual Meeting and Voting
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Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?
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Holders of Common Stock at the close of business on June 4, 2013 are entitled to receive the Notice of Annual Meeting and to vote their shares at the Meeting. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote on each matter properly brought before the Annual Meeting.
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How many shares of Common Stock are “outstanding”?
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As of June 4, 2013, there were 5,711,093 shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to be voted at the Annual Meeting.
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What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner?
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If your shares are registered in your name with our transfer agent, Pacific Stock Transfer Company, you are the “stockholder of record” of those shares. This Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement and any accompanying materials have been provided directly to you by Air Industries Group, Inc.
If your shares are held through a broker, bank or other holder of record, you hold your shares in “street name” and you are considered the “beneficial owner” of those shares. This Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement and any accompanying documents have been provided to you by your broker, bank or other holder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other holder of record how to vote your shares by using the voting instruction card or by following their instructions for voting by telephone or on the Internet. Absent instructions from you, under applicable regulatory requirements, your broker may vote your shares on the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2013, but may not vote your shares on the election of directors or any of the other proposals to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.
You may vote using any of the following methods:
By mail
Complete, sign and date the accompanying proxy or voting instruction card and return it in the prepaid envelope. If you are a stockholder of record and return your signed proxy card but do not indicate your voting preferences, the persons named in the proxy card will vote the shares represented by your proxy card as recommended by the Board of Directors.
By telephone or on the Internet
Air Industries Group, Inc. has established telephone and Internet voting procedures for stockholders of record. These procedures are designed to authenticate your identity, to allow you to give your voting instructions and to confirm that those instructions have been properly recorded. Telephone and Internet voting facilities for stockholders of record will be available 24 hours a day until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on July 28, 2013.
The availability of telephone and Internet voting for beneficial owners will depend on the voting processes of your broker, bank or other holder of record. We therefore recommend that you follow the voting instructions in the materials you receive.
If you vote by telephone or on the Internet, you do not have to return your proxy or voting instruction card.
Telephone. You can vote by calling the toll-free telephone number on your proxy card. Please have your proxy card handy when you call. Easy-to-follow voice prompts will allow you to vote your shares and confirm that your instructions have been properly recorded.
Internet. The website for Internet voting is www.proxyvote.com. Please have your proxy card handy when you go to the website. As with telephone voting, you can confirm that your instructions have been properly recorded. If you vote on the Internet, you also can request electronic delivery of future proxy materials.
In person at the Annual Meeting
Stockholders who attend the Annual Meeting may vote in person at the Meeting. You may also be represented by another person at the Meeting by executing a proper proxy designating that person. If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you must obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other holder of record and present it to the inspector of election with your ballot to be able to vote at the Annual Meeting.
Your vote is important. Please complete your proxy card promptly to ensure that your vote is received timely.
5.
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What can I do if I change my mind after I vote?
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If you are a stockholder of record, you can revoke your proxy before it is exercised by:
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giving written notice to the Corporate Secretary of the Company;
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delivering a valid, later-dated proxy, or a later-dated vote by telephone or on the Internet, in a timely manner; or
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voting by ballot at the Annual Meeting.
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If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you may submit new voting instructions by contacting your broker, bank or other holder of record. All shares for which proxies have been properly submitted and not revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting.
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What is a broker non-vote?
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If you are a beneficial owner whose shares are held of record by a broker, you must instruct the broker how to vote your shares. If you do not provide voting instructions, your shares will not be voted on any proposal on which the broker does not have discretionary authority to vote. This is called a “broker non-vote.” In these cases, the broker can register your shares as being present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum but will not be able to vote on those matters for which specific authorization is required under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.
If you are a beneficial owner whose shares are held of record by a broker, your broker has discretionary voting authority under NYSE rules to vote your shares on the ratification of Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger & Guttilla, P.C as our independent registered public accounting firm, even if the broker does not receive voting instructions from you. However, your broker does not have discretionary authority to vote on the election of directors, the approval of our 2013 Equity Incentive Plan or the approval of the Agreement and Plan of Merger between our Company and our newly-formed wholly-owned Nevada subsidiary as a result of which we will become a Nevada corporation named Air Industries Group, in which case a broker non-vote will occur and your shares will not be voted on these matters.
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What is a quorum for the Annual Meeting?
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The presence of the holders of Common Stock representing a majority of the voting power of all shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, in person or represented by proxy, is necessary to constitute a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum.
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What are the voting requirements to elect the directors and to approve each of the proposals discussed in this Proxy Statement?
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Vote
Required
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Broker
Discretionary
Voting
Allowed
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Election of Directors
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Plurality of
Votes Cast
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No
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Ratification of Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger & Guttilla, P.C as our independent registered public accounting firm
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Majority of
Votes Cast
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Yes
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Approval of our 2013 Equity Incentive Plan
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Majority of
Votes Cast
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No
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Approval of the Agreement and Plan of Merger between our company and our newly formed wholly-owned Nevada subsidiary as a result of which our Company will become a Nevada corporation named Air Industries Group
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Majority of
Outstanding Shares
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No
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Except with respect to the merger proposal. if you abstain from voting or there is a broker non-vote on any matter, your abstention or the broker non-vote will not affect the outcome of such vote, because abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered to be votes cast. In the case of the merger proposal,abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as votes “against” that proposal.
Election of Directors
Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting. This means that the seven persons receiving the highest number of affirmative "for" votes at the Annual Meeting will be elected. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not counted as votes “for” or “against” a director nominee.
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Ratification of Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger & Guttilla, P.C as our independent registered public accounting firm
The votes cast “for” must exceed the votes cast “against” to approve the ratification of Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger & Guttilla, P.C as our independent registered public accounting firm. Abstentions are not counted as votes “for” or “against” this proposal.
Approval of 2013 Equity Incentive Plan
The votes cast “for” must exceed the votes cast “against” to approve our 2013 Equity Incentive Plan. Abstentions are not counted as votes “for” or “against” this proposal.
Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger between our Company and our newly-formed wholly-owned Nevada subsidiary, as a result of which our Company will become a Nevada corporation named Air Industries Group
A majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock must be cast “for” approval of the Agreement and Plan of Merger between our Company and our newly-formed wholly-owned Nevada subsidiary, as a result of which our Company will become a Nevada corporation named Air Industries Group. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as votes “against” this proposal.
9.
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How will my shares be voted at the Annual Meeting?
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At the Meeting, the Board of Directors (the persons named in the proxy card or, if applicable, their substitutes) will vote your shares as you instruct. If you sign your proxy card and return it without indicating how you would like to vote your shares, your shares will be voted as the Board of Directors recommends, which is:
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FOR the election of each of the director nominees named in this Proxy Statement;
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FOR the ratification of the appointment of Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger & Guttilla, P.C as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013;
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FOR the approval of the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan; and |
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FOR the approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger between our company and our newly-formed wholly-owned Nevada subsidiary as a result of which our company will become a Nevada corporation named Air Industries Group . |
10.
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Could other matters be decided at the Annual Meeting?
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As of the date of this Proxy Statement, we did not know of any matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting, other than those referred to in this Proxy Statement.
If you return your signed and completed proxy card or vote by telephone or on the Internet and other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting for consideration, the individuals named as proxies on the enclosed proxy card will have the discretion to vote for you.
11.
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Who will pay for the cost of the Annual Meeting and this proxy solicitation?
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The Company will pay the costs associated with the Annual Meeting and solicitation of proxies, including the costs of mailing the proxy materials. In addition to solicitation by mail, our directors, officers and regular employees (who will not be specifically compensated for such services) may solicit proxies by telephone or otherwise. Arrangements will be made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward proxies and proxy materials to their principals, and we will reimburse them for their expenses. We have retained Broadridge Financial Solutions to assist in the mailing, collection and administration of proxies. We have not retained a soliciting agent to assist in the solicitation of proxies.
MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING
PROPOSAL ONE:
Election of Directors
Nominees
At the Annual Meeting, seven directors, who have been nominated by the Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors, are to be elected, each to hold office (subject to our By-Laws) until the next annual meeting and until his successor has been elected and qualified. All of the nominees for director currently serve as directors.
Each nominee has consented to being named as a nominee in this proxy statement and to serve if elected. If any nominee listed in the table below should become unavailable for any reason, which the Board of Directors does not anticipate, the proxy will be voted for any substitute nominee or nominees who may be selected by the Board of Directors prior to or at the Annual Meeting, or, if no substitute is selected by the Board of Directors prior to or at the Annual Meeting, for a motion to reduce the membership of the Board of Directors to the number of nominees available. The seven nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative "for" votes at the Annual Meeting will be elected. The information concerning the nominees and their security holdings has been furnished by them to us.
Our directors are nominated by our Board of Directors, based on the recommendations of the Nominating Committee. As discussed elsewhere in this proxy statement, in evaluating director nominees, the Nominating Committee considers characteristics that include, among others, integrity, business experience, financial acumen, leadership abilities, familiarity with our businesses and businesses similar or analogous to ours, and the extent to which a candidate’s knowledge, skills, background and experience are already represented by other members of our Board of Directors. Listed below are our director nominees with their biographies.
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Michael N. Taglich
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47
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2008
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Peter D. Rettaliata
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62
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2005
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Seymour G. Siegel
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70
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2005
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Robert F. Taglich
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46
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2008
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David J. Buonanno
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58
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2009
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Robert C. Schroeder
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46
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2008
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Michael Brand |
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May 2012
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Michael N. Taglich has been Chairman of our Board of Directors since September 22, 2008. He is Chairman and President of Taglich Brothers, Inc. ("Taglich Brothers"), a New York City based securities firm which he co-founded in 1992 and which is focused on public and private micro-cap companies. From 1987 to 1992, Mr. Taglich served as a vice president at Weatherly Securities. He brings a broad depth and breadth of capital and business background to the Board, with extensive experience in exit strategies. Mr. Taglich is currently Chairman of the Board of SCOLR Pharma Inc, a publicly traded pharmaceutical company, and BioVentrix, Inc., a privately held medical device company whose products are directed at heart failure. He also serves as a director of Autonet Mobile, Inc. Mr. Taglich holds a B.S. degree in General and International Business from New York University and holds Series 27 and Series 7 securities licenses. Mr. Taglich’s extensive experience in the capital markets and his knowledge of the aerospace industry qualify him to serve as a director.
Peter D. Rettaliata has been our President and Chief Executive Officer since November 30, 2005. He also has been the President of our wholly-owned subsidiary, AIM, since 1994. Prior to his involvement at AIM, Mr. Rettaliata was employed by Grumman Aerospace Corporation for twenty-two years. Professionally, Mr. Rettaliata is the Chairman of "ADAPT", an organization of regional aerospace companies, a past member of the Board of Governors of the Aerospace Industries Association, and a member of the Executive Committee of the AIA Supplier Council. He is a graduate of Niagara University where he received a B.A. in History and the Harvard Business School where he completed the PMD Program. Mr. Rettaliata’s extensive experience in the aerospace industry and his knowledge of our operations qualify him to serve as a director.
Seymour G. Siegel is a CPA, inactive, and a principal emeritus at Rothstein Kass, a national firm of accountants and consultants, where he is a trusted advisor to business owners and responsible for business introductions. Mr. Siegel was a founder of Siegel Rich & Co. CPA’s, which eventually merged into what is now known as WeiserMazars LLP, a large regional firm. He was a senior partner there until selling his interest and co-founding a business advisory firm, which later became a part of Rothstein Kass. He has been a director and officer of numerous businesses, philanthropic and civic organizations. As a professional director, he has served on the boards of about a dozen public companies over the last 25 years, generally as audit committee chairman. He is currently a director and chairman of the audit committees of Hauppauge Digital, Inc., Stratus Media Group, Inc., and Premier Alliance Group, Inc. He was formerly a director of Oak Hall Capital Fund, Prime Motor Inns Limited Partnership, Noise Cancellation Technologies and Emerging Vision, Inc., among others. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the Bernard M. Baruch School of the City College of New York. Mr. Siegel is the Chairman of the Audit Committee of our Board. Mr. Siegel’s extensive knowledge and experience in accounting matters and familiarity with the issues of manufacturing businesses qualify him to serve as a director of our company.
Robert F. Taglich is a managing director of Taglich Brothers, a New York City based securities firm which he co-founded in1992. Prior to founding Taglich Brothers, Mr. Taglich was a vice president at Weatherly Securities. Mr. Taglich has served in various positions in the brokerage securities industry for the past 25 years. He currently sits on the board of privately held BioVentrix, Inc., a medical device company whose products are directed at heart failure. Mr. Taglich holds a Bachelor’s degree from New York University. Mr. Taglich’s extensive experience in the capital markets and his knowledge of the aerospace industry qualify him to serve as a director.
David J. Buonanno is the Founder and President of Buonanno Enterprises Consulting, providing strategic management, supply chain/operations and recruitment services to aerospace and defense industry clients. He is a member of the Executive Advisory Board of Bridgeways, Inc. Mr. Buonanno has extensive experience in manufacturing, supply management and operations. He was employed by Sikorsky Aircraft, Inc., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, as Vice President, Supply Management and International Offset (from January 1997 to July 2006) and as Director, Systems Subcontracts (from November 1992 to January 1997). From May 1987 to November 1992, he was employed by General Electric Company serving as Operations Manager and Manager, Program Materials Management of GE’s Astro Space Division. From June 1977 to May 1987, he was employed by RCA and affiliated companies. Mr. Buonanno attended Lehigh University College of Electrical Engineering and holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Rutgers University. He completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School in 1996. Mr. Buonanno’s extensive experience in the aerospace and defense industries and familiarity with the operations of companies in the industry qualify him to serve as a director.
Robert C. Schroeder is Vice President - Investment Banking of Taglich Brothers, Inc. and specializes in advisory services and capital raising for small public and private companies. Prior to that, Mr. Schroeder served as Senior Equity Analyst publishing sell-side research. Prior to joining Taglich Brothers, he served in various positions in the brokerage and public accounting industry. Mr. Schroeder received a B.S. degree in accounting and economics from New York University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the Association for Investment Management and Research and a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts. Mr. Schroeder’s extensive experience in the capital markets qualify him to serve as a director
Michael Brand was the President of Goodrich Landing Gear, a unit of Goodrich Corporation, from July 2005 to June 2012. Prior to joining Goodrich for over 25 years he held senior management positions in the Aerospace industry. He began his career at General Electric Corporation and rose to senior management in its jet engine manufacturing operations. Mr. Brand is a graduate of Clarkson University, with advanced degrees and certificates from Xavier University and the Wharton School. Mr. Brand’s extensive experience in the aerospace and defense industries and familiarity with the operations of companies in the industry qualify him to serve as a director.
Michael N. Taglich and Robert F. Taglich are brothers.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
THE ELECTION OF EACH NOMINEE UNDER PROPOSAL ONE
Information Concerning the Board of Directors
Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight
The Board does not have a policy requiring separation of the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairrnan of the Board. Nevertheless, Michael N. Taglich is Chairman of the Board and Peter D. Rettaliata is Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
The Board has determined that a non-employee director serving as Chairman is in the best interests of our stockholders at this time. This structure ensures a greater role of non-employee directors in the active oversight of our business, including risk management oversight, and in setting agendas and establishing Board priorities and procedures. This structure also allows the Chief Executive Officer to focus to a greater extent on the management of our day-to-day operations.
The Board of Directors as a whole is responsible for consideration and oversight of risks facing the Company, and is responsible for ensuring that material risks are identified and managed appropriately. Certain risks are overseen by committees of the Board of Directors and these committees make reports to the full Board of Directors, including reports on noteworthy risk-management issues. Members of the Company’s senior management team regularly report to the full Board about their areas of responsibility and a component of these reports is risk within the area of responsibility and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures. Additional review or reporting on risks is conducted as needed or as requested by the Board or committee.
Board Independence
Our Board of Directors has determined that Robert Schroeder, Seymour G. Siegel, David Buonanno and Michael Brand are "independent directors" within the meaning of New York Stock Exchange Rule 303A.02.
Board Meetings; Committees and Membership
The Board of Directors held four meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 (“fiscal 2012”). During fiscal 2012, each of the directors then in office attended more than 75% of the aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and (ii) the total number of meetings of all committees of the Board on which such director served.
We maintain the following committees of the Board of Directors: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee. Each committee is comprised entirely of directors who are “independent” within the meaning of New York Stock Exchange Rule 303A.02. Each committee acts pursuant to a separate written charter, and each such charter has been adopted and approved by the Board of Directors. Copies of the committee charters are available on our website at airindustriesgroup.com under the heading “Investor Relations.”
Audit Committee. Messrs. Siegel, Schroeder and Buonanno are members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Siegel serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee and also qualifies as an "audit committee financial expert," as that term is defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K. The Board has determined that each member of our Audit Committee meets the financial literacy requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and SEC rules and the independence requirements under New York Stock Exchange Rule 303A.02. The Audit committee held one meeting during fiscal 2012.
Our Audit Committee is responsible for preparing reports, statements and charters required by the federal securities laws, as well as:
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overseeing and monitoring the integrity of our consolidated financial statements, our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as they relate to financial statements or accounting matters, and our internal accounting and financial controls;
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preparing the report that SEC rules require be included in our annual proxy statement;
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overseeing and monitoring our independent registered public accounting firm's qualifications, independence and performance;
|
·
|
providing the Board with the results of its monitoring and its recommendations; and
|
·
|
providing to the Board additional information and materials as it deems necessary to make the Board aware of significant financial matters that require the attention of the Board.
|
Compensation Committee. Our Compensation Committee is composed of Messrs. Siegel, Buonanno and Brand. The Compensation Committee is responsible for:
·
|
establishing the Company’s general compensation policy, in consultation with the Company’s senior management, and overseeing the development and implementation of compensation programs.
|
·
|
reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the CEO, and evaluating the performance of the CEO at least annually in light of those goals and objectives and communicating the results of such evaluation to the CEO and the Board, and has the sole authority to determine the CEO’s compensation level based on this evaluation, subject to ratification by the independent directors on the Board. In determining the incentive component of CEO compensation, the Committee will consider, among other factors, the Company’s performance and relative stockholder return , the value of similar incentive awards to CEOs at comparable companies, the awards given to the CEO in past years, and such other factors as the Committee may determine to be appropriate.
|
·
|
reviewing and approving the compensation of all other executive officers of the Company, such other managers as may be directed by the Board, and the directors of the Company.
|
·
|
overseeing the Board’s benefit and equity compensation plans, overseeing the activities of the individuals and committees responsible for administering these plans, and discharging any responsibilities imposed on the Committee by any of these plans.
|
·
|
approving issuances under, or any material amendments to, any stock option or other similar plan pursuant to which a person not previously an employee or director of the Company, as an inducement material to the individual’s entering into employment with the Company, will acquire stock or options.
|
·
|
in consultation with management, overseeing regulatory compliance with respect to compensation matters, including overseeing the Company’s policies on structuring compensation programs to preserve related tax objectives.
|
·
|
reviewing and approving any severance or similar termination payments proposed to be made to any current or former officer of the Company.
|
·
|
preparing an annual report on executive compensation for inclusion in our proxy statement for the election of directors, if required under the applicable SEC rules.
|
Since we were not required to file reports under the Exchange Act and to have a Compensation Committee during 2012, the Board of Directors performed all of the responsibilities associated with the Company’s compensation policy.
Nominating Committee. Our Nominating Committee was organized in April 2013 and is composed of Messrs. Schroeder, Siegel and Brand. The purpose of the Nominating Committee is to seek and nominate qualified candidates for election or appointment to our Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee will seek candidates for election and appointment that possess the integrity, leadership skills and competency required to direct and oversee the Company’s management in the best interests of its stockholders, customers, employees, communities it serves and other affected parties.
A candidate must be willing to regularly attend Committee and Board of Directors meetings, to develop a strong understanding of the Company, its businesses and its requirements, to contribute his or her time and knowledge to the Company and to be prepared to exercise his or her duties with skill and care. In addition, each candidate should have an understanding of all corporate governance concepts and the legal duties of a director of a public company.
Stockholders may contact the Nominating Committee Chairman, the Chairman of the Board or the Corporate Secretary in writing when proposing a nominee. This correspondence should include a detailed description of the proposed nominee’s qualifications and a method to contact that nominee if the Nominating Committee so chooses.
Stockholder Communications
Any stockholder who desires to contact any of our Directors can write to Air Industries Group, Inc., 1479 North Clinton Avenue, Bay Shore, NY 11706 Attention: Stockholder Relations. Your letter should indicate that you are an Air Industries Group, Inc. stockholder. Depending on the subject matter, our stockholder relations personnel will:
|
•
|
forward the communication to the Director(s) to whom it is addressed;
|
|
•
|
forward the communication to the appropriate management personnel;
|
|
•
|
attempt to handle the inquiry directly, for example where it is a request for information about the Company, or it is a stock-related matter; or
|
|
•
|
not forward the communication if it is primarily commercial in nature or if it relates to an improper or irrelevant topic.
|
Director Compensation
Employee directors do not receive any compensation for their services as directors. Non-employee directors are entitled to receive compensation for serving as directors and may receive option grants from our company. The compensation committee will assist the directors in reviewing and approving the compensation structure for our directors. In addition, non-employee directors are entitled to be reimbursed for their actual travel expenses for each Board of Directors meeting attended.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the compensation paid to our non-employee directors during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
|
|
Name
|
|
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)
|
|
|
Stock Awards ($)
|
|
|
Option Awards ($)
|
|
|
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)
|
|
|
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)
|
|
|
All Other Compensation ($)
|
|
|
Total ($)
|
|
Michael N. Taglich
|
|
|
57,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
4,196
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
61,696
|
|
Robert F. Taglich
|
|
|
57,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
4,196
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
61,969
|
|
Robert Schroeder
|
|
|
24,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
4,196
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
28,196
|
|
David J. Buonanno
|
|
|
24,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
4,196
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
28,196
|
|
Seymour G. Siegel
|
|
|
36,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
4,196
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
40,196
|
|
Michael Brand
|
|
|
19,750
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
6,497
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
26,247
|
|
Policy Regarding Attendance of Directors at Annual Meetings of Stockholders
We have not established a formal policy regarding director attendance at our annual meetings of stockholders, although we encourage our directors to attend the annual meeting.
Information Concerning Executive Officers
Our executive officers are set forth in the table below along with their ages and positions. Each executive officer holds the offices set forth opposite his name until his successor is chosen and qualified at the regular meeting of the Board of Directors to be held on the date of the Annual Meeting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peter D. Rettaliata
|
|
|
58
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer, President and a Director
|
Dario Peragallo
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
President, Air Industries Machining, Corp
|
Gary Settoducato
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
President, Welding Metallurgy, Inc.
|
Scott A. Glassman
|
|
|
36
|
|
|
Chief Accounting Officer
|
Peter D. Rettaliata is our Chief Executive Officer, President and a Director. See “Proposal One: Election of Directors — Nominees” for a discussion of Mr. Rettaliata’s business experience.
Dario Peragallo has been President of AIM since December 8, 2008. Prior to becoming President of AIM, he was Executive Vice President of Manufacturing for AIM. Mr. Peragallo has been associated with AIM for over 25 years. He became AIM's Director of Manufacturing in 2000. Mr. Peragallo became Executive Vice President with overall responsibility for engineering, manufacturing and customer-critical technical matters in 2003. He has been an active member of Diversity Business since 2000, an organization specializing in the promotion of small and minority owned businesses. He is a graduate of SUNY Farmingdale where he received a B.A. in Manufacturing Engineering. Mr. Peragallo oversees all engineering and production matters relating to AIM.
Gary Settoducato has been the President of WMI since August 2007. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Settoducato had been a senior executive of Air Industries Machining, Corp., the Company's primary operating subsidiary, and was responsible for contracts, procurement and integration. Mr. Settoducato has been associated with Air Industries for 17 years, and has been in the aerospace industry for a total of 28 years. He is a graduate of Northrop Grumman’s procurement training program, and has held senior management positions at several other aerospace manufacturers prior to his current tenure at Air Industries. Mr. Settoducato graduated summa cum laude from the C.W. Post Center of Long Island University in 1983 with a double major in marketing and management, and was the Valedictorian of his graduating class.
Scott Glassman has been our Chief Accounting Officer since December 8, 2008. Mr. Glassman had served as Controller of the Company since February 2007. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Glassman was employed by First Data Corporation as Accounting Manager from June 2005 to January 2007, by Veeco Instruments Inc. as an SEC Reporting Specialist from January 2004 to May 2005, and by Grant Thornton LLP in a variety of positions from June 1999 to December 2003, most recently as an audit manager.
Summary Compensation Table
The following summary compensation table shows, for the periods indicated, information regarding the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our principal executive officer and our three most highly compensated executive officers other than our principal executive officer, including the presidents of AIM and WMI. We refer to the individuals named in the following table collectively as our “named executive officers.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
|
|
|
Bonus
|
|
|
Stock
awards
|
|
|
Option
awards
|
|
|
Non Equity
Incentive
Plan
Information
|
|
|
Nonqualified
deferred
compensation
earnings
|
|
|
All other
compensation
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
($)
|
|
Peter D. Rettaliata
|
|
2012
|
|
|
230,90 1 |
|
|
|
32,500 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
263,401 |
|
CEO
|
|
2011
|
|
|
240,246 |
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
280,246 |
|
Dario A. Peragallo
|
|
2012
|
|
|
228,236 |
|
|
|
32,500 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
5,988 |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
266,724 |
|
President of AIM
|
|
2011
|
|
|
237,809 |
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
5,988 |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
283,797 |
|
Scott A. Glassman
|
|
2012
|
|
|
124,100 |
|
|
|
8,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
135,100 |
|
Chief Accounting Officer
|
|
2011
|
|
|
127,404 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
137,404 |
|
Gary Settoducato
|
|
2012
|
|
|
178,365 |
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
6,348 |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
219,713 |
|
President of WMI
|
|
2011
|
|
|
175,000 |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
6,108 |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
211,108 |
|
__
(1) Represents car allowance.
|
None of our executive officers or key employees named in the above table has an employment agreement providing for a fixed term of employment. All are employees at will terminable at any time without any severance, other than that payable to employees generally.
The annual base compensation of Messrs. Rettalliata, Peragallo, Glassman and Settaducotto is $240,000, $240,000, $127,000 and $175,000, respectively, and each individual is eligible for such cash bonuses and equity incentive awards as the Board from time to time determines to be appropriate. In addition, each of these individuals receives a car allowance of no more than $7,500 per annum and is eligible to participate in such health and welfare plans as are made available to our executives generally.
Equity Awards – 2012
We did not grant any awards of equity, whether in the form of shares or options, to any of the named executive officers during 2012 and consequently have omitted the table which would have described such awards.
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2012 Fiscal Year-End
The following table shows certain information regarding outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2012.
|
|
Option Awards
|
Stock Awards
|
Name
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
|
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
|
|
|
Option
Exercise
Price
|
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned Shares,
Units or Other
Rights That Have
Not Vested (#)
|
Equity Incentive Plan
Awards: Market or
Payout Value of
Unearned Shares,
Units or Other Rights
That Have Not Vested
|
Peter D. Rettaliata
|
|
|
375
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
88.00
|
|
9/26/15
|
-
|
-
|
Peter D. Rettaliata
|
|
|
375
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
171.20
|
|
9/15/15
|
-
|
-
|
Peter D. Rettaliata
|
|
|
375
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
190.80
|
|
9/15/15
|
-
|
-
|
Peter D. Rettaliata
|
|
|
375
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
114.00
|
|
9/15/15
|
-
|
-
|
Peter D. Rettaliata
|
|
|
1,200
|
|
|
|
300
|
|
|
|
90.00
|
|
9/15/15
|
-
|
-
|
Peter D. Rettaliata
|
|
|
51,716
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
4.50
|
|
7/29/15
|
-
|
-
|
Dario Peragallo
|
|
|
375
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
88.00
|
|
9/26/15
|
-
|
-
|
Dario Peragallo
|
|
|
375
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
171.20
|
|
9/15/15
|
-
|
-
|
Dario Peragallo
|
|
|
375
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
190.80
|
|
9/15/15
|
-
|
-
|
Dario Peragallo
|
|
|
375
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
114.00
|
|
9/15/15
|
-
|
-
|
Dario Peragallo
|
|
|
1,200
|
|
|
|
300
|
|
|
|
90.00
|
|
9/15/15
|
-
|
-
|
Dario Peragallo
|
|
|
51,716
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
4.50
|
|
7/29/15
|
-
|
-
|
Scott Glassman
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
110.40
|
|
12/31/15
|
-
|
-
|
Scott Glassman
|
|
|
12,168
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
4.50
|
|
7/29/15
|
-
|
-
|
Gary Settaducato
|
|
|
75
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
96.00
|
|
12/31/15
|
-
|
-
|
Gary Settaducato
|
|
|
113
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
110.40
|
|
12/31/15
|
-
|
-
|
Gary Settaducato
|
|
|
44,589
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
4.50
|
|
12/31/15
|
-
|
-
|
Transactions with Related Persons
Under Item 404 of SEC Regulation S-K, a related person transaction is any actual or proposed transaction, arrangement or relationship or series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships, including those involving indebtedness not in the ordinary course of business, since the beginning of our two most recently completed fiscal years, to which we or our subsidiaries were or are a party, or in which we or our subsidiaries were or are a participant, in which the amount involved exceeded or exceeds $120,000 and in which any of our directors, nominees for director, executive officers, beneficial owners of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities, or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
Although we have not adopted a formal written policy concerning transactions with related persons, our Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing, approving and overseeing any transaction between the Company and any related person (as defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K), including the propriety and ethical implications of any such transactions, as reported or disclosed to the Committee by the independent auditors, employees, officers, members of the Board or otherwise.
In connection with the private placement of our common stock in connection with the NTW Acquisition, we paid Taglich Brothers, Inc., as placement agent, a commission of 8.0% or $569,208. In addition, we agreed to issue to Taglich Brothers, Inc., 12,000 shares of our common stock as a non-accountable expense allowance and five-year warrants to purchase an additional 118,585 shares of common stock, 10.0% of the number of shares sold in the 2012 Financing, at an exercise price of $6.30.
Michael N. Taglich, Chairman of our Board of Directors, is President and Chairman of Taglich Brothers, Inc. Robert F. Taglich, a member of our Board of Directors, is a Managing Director of Taglich Brothers, Inc., and Robert Schroeder, a member of our Board of Directors, is Vice President - Investment Banking of Taglich Brothers, Inc. We believe that the terms of the placement agent agreement with Taglich Brothers, Inc. were not less favorable than could have been obtained from an unaffiliated third party.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a written code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officers, senior financial officers and persons performing similar functions. A copy of our code of ethics is available on our website at airindustriesgroup.com under the heading “Investor Relations.” Upon written request to our corporate secretary, we will provide you with a copy of our code of ethics, without cost.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth information known to us regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock as of June 4, 2013 by (i) each person known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our outstanding common stock, (ii) each of our directors and executive officers, and (iii) all of our officers and directors as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, we believe, based on information provided by each of the individuals named in the table below, that such individuals have sole investment and voting power with respect to such shares, subject to community property laws, where applicable. As of June 4, 2013, we had outstanding 5,711,093 shares of our common stock. Except as stated in the table, the address of the holder is c/o our company, 1479 North Clinton Avenue, Bay Shore, New York 11706.
Name
|
|
Number of Shares
|
|
|
Percent of Class
|
|
Owner of More than 5% of Class:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hillson Partners LP (1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hillson Private Partners II, LLLP (1)
|
|
|
331,556
|
|
|
|
5.81
|
%
|
110 North Washington Street, Suite 401
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rockville, MD 20850
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors and Executive Officers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peter D. Rettaliata
|
|
|
56,961
|
(2)
|
|
|
*
|
|
Michael N. Taglich
|
|
|
421,423
|
(3)
|
|
|
7.33
|
%
|
Seymour G. Siegel
|
|
|
8,789
|
(4)
|
|
|
*
|
|
David J. Buonanno
|
|
|
8,539
|
(4)
|
|
|
*
|
|
Robert F. Taglich
|
|
|
439,924
|
(3)
|
|
|
7.65
|
%
|
Robert Schroeder
|
|
|
78,059
|
(5)
|
|
|
1.37
|
%
|
Michael Brand
|
|
|
7,500
|
(6)
|
|
|
*
|
|
Dario Peragallo
|
|
|
57,500
|
(2)
|
|
|
*
|
|
Gary Settoducato
|
|
|
44,796
|
(7)
|
|
|
*
|
|
Scott Glassman
|
|
|
12,205
|
(8)
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All directors and officers
|
|
|
1,073,270
|
(9)
|
|
|
17.97
|
%
|
as a group (10 persons)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
______
(1) The general partner of Hillson Partners LP and Hillson Private Partners II, LLP is Daniel H. Abramowitz, who has the sole power to vote and dispose of the shares.
(2) Includes 54,416 shares we may issue upon exercise of options.
(3) Includes 30,736 shares owned by Taglich Brothers, Inc. and other entities controlled by Mr. Taglich, 31,190 shares we may issue upon exercise of warrants and 7,500 shares we may issue upon exercise of options.
(4) Includes 8,000 shares we may issue upon exercise of options.
(5) Includes 20,005 shares we may issue upon exercise of warrants and 7,500 shares we may issue upon exercise of options.
(6) Includes 7,500 shares we may issue upon exercise of options.
(7) Includes 44,777 shares we may issue upon exercise of options.
(8) Includes 12,193 shares we may issue upon exercise of options.
(9) Includes 51,195 shares we may issue upon exercise of warrants and 211,802 shares we may issue upon exercise of options.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 10% of our common stock to file with the SEC reports of their holdings of, and transactions in, our common stock. Based solely upon our review of copies of such reports and written representations from reporting persons that were provided to us, we believe that our officers, directors and 10% stockholders complied with these reporting requirements with respect to fiscal 2012, except that that the initial report of beneficial ownership on Form 3 filed by Michael N. Taglich was filed two days late.
Pursuant to rules adopted by the SEC designed to improve disclosures related to the functioning of corporate audit committees and to enhance the reliability and credibility of financial statements of public companies, the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors submits the following report:
Audit Committee Report to Stockholders
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for providing independent, objective oversight of the Company’s accounting functions and internal controls. The Audit Committee is composed of three directors, each of whom is independent within the meaning of New York Stock Exchange Rule 303A.02. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board of Directors.
Management is responsible for the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures and the financial reporting process. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) standards and to issue reports thereon. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes. The Audit Committee has established a mechanism to receive, retain and process complaints on auditing, accounting and internal control issues, including the confidential, anonymous submission by employees, vendors, customers and others of concerns on questionable accounting and auditing matters.
In connection with these responsibilities, the Audit Committee met with management and the independent registered public accounting firm to review and discuss the December 31, 2012 audited consolidated financial statements. The Audit Committee also discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required by Statement on Auditing Standards Update No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1, AU section 380), as adopted by the PCAOB in Rule 3200T. In addition, the Audit Committee received the written disclosures from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and the Audit Committee has discussed the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence from the Company and its management.
Based upon the Audit Committee’s discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, and the Audit Committee’s review of the representations of management and the independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee recommended that the Board of Directors include the audited consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2012 filed with the SEC.
The Audit Committee also has appointed, subject to stockholder ratification, Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger & Guttilla, P.C as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013.
|
Seymour G. Siegel, Chairman
Robert C. Schroeder
David J. Buonanno
|
The Report of the Audit Committee should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates the Report of the Audit Committee therein by reference.
PROPOSAL TWO:
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Audit Committee has appointed Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger & Guttilla, P.C. to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm and to audit our consolidated financial statements. Representatives of Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger & Guttilla, P.C. are expected to be present at the meeting of stockholders and will be given an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire. They are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
We are asking our stockholders to ratify the selection of Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger & Guttilla, P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013. Although ratification is not required by our By-laws or otherwise, the Board is submitting the selection of Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger & Guttilla, P.C. to our stockholders for ratification because we value our stockholders’ views on our independent registered public accounting firm and as a matter of good corporate practice. In the event that our stockholders fail to ratify the selection, it will be considered as a direction to the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee to consider the selection of a different firm. 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 our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
As required by our Audit Committee charter, our Audit Committee pre-approved the engagement of Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger & Guttilla, P.C. for all audit and permissible non-audit services. The Audit Committee annually reviews the audit and permissible non-audit services performed by our principal accounting firm and reviews and approves the fees charged by our principal accounting firm. The Audit Committee has considered the role of Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger & Guttilla, P.C. in providing tax and audit services and other permissible non-audit services to us and has concluded that the provision of such services, if any, was compatible with the maintenance of such firm's independence in the conduct of its auditing functions.
During fiscal year 2012 and fiscal year 2011, the aggregate fees which we paid to or were billed by Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger & Guttilla, P.C. for professional services were as follows:
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit Fees (1)
|
|
$
|
276,703
|
|
|
$
|
297,368
|
|
Audit-Related Fees (2)
|
|
|
41,411
|
|
|
|
--
|
|
Tax Fees (3)
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
|
42,193
|
|
All Other Fees (4)
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
|
30,721
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
363,409
|
|
|
$
|
370,282
|
|
____
(1) Fees for services to perform an audit or review in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and services that generally only our independent registered public accounting firm can reasonably provide, such as the audit of our consolidated financial statements, the review of the financial statements included in our quarterly reports and for services that are normally provided by independent registered public accounting firms in connection with statutory and regulatory engagements.
(2) Fees for assurance and related services that are traditionally performed by our independent registered public accounting firm, such as audit attest services not required by statute or regulation, and consultation concerning financial accounting and reporting standards. The fees in 2012 are for services rendered relating to the filing of our Form 10.
(3) Fees for tax compliance. Tax compliance generally involves preparation of original and amended tax returns, claims for refunds and tax payment planning services.
(4) Fees in 2011 were for services for an agreed upon procedures engagement.
The proposal to ratify the Audit Committee’s selection of Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger & Guttilla, P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock cast in person or by proxy.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS
A VOTE FOR THE ADOPTION OF PROPOSAL TWO
PROPOSAL THREE:
Air Industries Group, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan
On June 3, 2013, our Board of Directors adopted, our 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2013 Plan"). The 2013 Plan is virtually identical to, and is intended to replace, the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”), adopted in July 2010. The Board is submitting the 2013 Plan to stockholders for their approval at the Annual Meeting. The proposal to approve the 2013 Plan will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock cast in person or by proxy. If the 2013 Plan is not approved by stockholders, the Company will continue to use the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan.
The material features of the 2013 Plan are outlined below. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the 2013 Plan. Shareholders are urged to read the actual text of the 2013 Plan in its entirety, which is set forth as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.
Background and Purpose
The terms of the 2013 Plan provide for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock units, bonus stock, dividend equivalents, other stock related awards and performance awards that may be settled in cash, stock, or other property.
We adopted the 2013 Plan to provide a means by which employees, directors, and consultants of our Company and those of our subsidiaries and other designated affiliates, which we refer to together as our affiliates, may be given an opportunity to purchase our Common Stock, to assist in retaining the services of such persons, to secure and retain the services of persons capable of filling such positions, and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for our success and the success of our affiliates.
Summary of the 2013 Plan
Shares Available for Awards
The total number of shares of our Common Stock that may be subject to awards under the 2013 Plan is 600,000 shares. Under the 2013 Plan, the terms and number of options or other awards to be granted in the future are to be determined in the discretion of the plan administrator. Since no such determination regarding awards or grants has yet been made, the benefits or amounts that will be received by or allocated to our non-employee directors, executive officers and other eligible employees cannot be determined at this time. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company granted options to purchase 3,000 shares of Common Stock under the 2010 Plan to each of our six non-employee directors at an exercise price of $6.00 per share, and also granted Michael Brand, one of our non-employee directors, options to purchase an additional 3,000 shares of Common Stock under the 2010 Plan at an exercise price of $3.27 per share upon his becoming a director. On April 26, 2013, the Company granted each of our six non-employee directors options to purchase 3,000 shares of Common Stock under the 2010 Plan at an exercise price of $6.00 per share. Except for the stock options granted to the non-employee-directors, the Company did not make any stock awards or grant any stock options during the year ended December 31, 2012.
Limitations on Awards
The plan administrator may, in its discretion, proportionately adjust the number of shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the number of shares which have been authorized for issuance under the 2013 Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or which have been returned to the 2013 Plan, the exercise or purchase price of each such outstanding Award, as well as any other terms that the plan administrator determines require adjustment for (1) any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the shares, (2) any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, or (3) as the plan administrator may determine in its discretion, any other transaction with respect to Common Stock to which Section 424(a) of the Internal revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), applies. Such adjustment shall be made by the plan administrator and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.
Eligibility
The persons eligible to receive awards under the 2013 Plan consist of officers, directors, employees, and consultants of our company and those of our affiliates. However, incentive stock options may be granted under the 2013 Plan only to our employees, including officers, and those of our affiliates. An employee on leave of absence may be considered as still in our employ or in the employ of an affiliate for purposes of eligibility under the 2013 Plan. Approximately 250 of our employees are eligible to participate in the 2013 Plan.
Administration
The 2013 Plan is administered by our Compensation Committee or other committee appointed by our Board of Directors, or in the absence of any such committee, the Board of Directors (together, our Board of Directors and any committee(s) delegated to administer the Plan, including the Compensation Committee, are referred to as the “plan administrator”). The Compensation Committee, or such other committee appointed from time to time by the Board of Directors to administer the 2013 Plan, is intended to consist of three or more Non-Employee Directors, each of whom will be, to the extent required by Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, a non-employee director as defined in Rule 16b-3, an “outside director” as defined under Section 162(m) of the Code and an “independent” director within the meaning of New York Stock Exchange Rule 303A.02. If for any reason the plan administrator does not meet the requirements of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or Section 162(m) of the Code, the validity of the awards, grants, interpretation or other actions of the plan administrator will not be affected. The plan administrator has the full authority to select those individuals eligible to receive awards and the amount and type of awards. Subject to the terms of the 2013 Plan, the plan administrator is authorized to select eligible persons to receive awards, determine the type and number of awards to be granted and the number of shares of our Common Stock to which awards will relate, specify times at which awards will be exercisable or may be settled (including performance conditions that may be required as a condition thereof), set other terms and conditions of awards, prescribe forms of award agreements, interpret and specify rules and regulations relating to the 2013 Plan, and make all other determinations that may be necessary or advisable for the administration of the 2013 Plan. The plan administrator may amend the terms of outstanding awards, in its discretion; provided that any amendment that adversely affects the rights of the award recipient must receive the approval of such recipient.
Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights
The plan administrator is authorized to grant stock options, including both incentive stock options, which we refer to as ISOs, and nonqualified stock options. In addition, the plan administrator is authorized to grant stock appreciation rights, which entitle the participant to receive the appreciation in our Common Stock between the grant date and the exercise date of the stock appreciation right. The plan administrator determines the exercise or purchase
price per share subject to an option and the grant price of a stock appreciation right. However, the per share exercise price of an ISO and a non-qualified stock option must not be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of our Common Stock on the grant date; provided, however, that in the case of an ISO granted to an employee who owns more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or affiliates, the exercise or purchase price must not be less than 110% of the fair market value of a share of our Common Stock on the grant date. The plan administrator generally will fix the maximum term of each option or stock appreciation right, the times at which each stock option or stock appreciation right will be exercisable, and provisions requiring forfeiture of unexercised stock options or stock appreciation rights at or following termination of employment or service, except that no ISO may have a term exceeding ten years. Stock options may be exercised by payment of the exercise price in any form of legal consideration specified by the plan administrator, including cash, shares and outstanding awards or other property having a fair market value equal to the exercise price. The plan administrator determines methods of exercise and settlement and other terms of the stock appreciation rights.
Restricted Stock
The plan administrator is authorized to grant restricted stock. Restricted stock is a grant of shares of our Common Stock, subject to restrictions on transfers, rights of first refusal, repurchase provisions, forfeiture provisions and other terms and conditions as may be established by the plan administrator. A grantee granted restricted stock generally has all of the rights of one of our shareholders, unless otherwise determined by the plan administrator.
Stock Based Awards
The plan administrator is authorized to grant awards under the 2013 Plan that are denominated or payable in, valued by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to shares of our Common Stock. Such awards might include convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into shares of our Common Stock, purchase rights for shares of our Common Stock, awards with value and payment contingent upon our performance or any other factors designated by the plan administrator, and awards valued by reference to the book value of shares of our Common Stock or the value of securities of or the performance of specified subsidiaries or business units. The plan administrator determines the terms and conditions of such awards.
Performance Awards
The plan administrator is authorized to grant awards which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment or performance criteria and which may be settled for cash, shares of our Common Stock, other securities or a combination of cash, shares of our Common Stock or other securities. The right of a grantee to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of an award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to satisfaction of performance criteria, which may be based on any one, or combination of, the following factors: increase in share price, earnings per share, total shareholder return, return on equity, return on assets, return on investment, net operating income, cash flow, revenue, economic value added, or personal management objectives. Partial achievement of the specified criteria may result in a partial payment or vesting as specified in the award agreement.
Other Terms of Awards
The plan administrator shall have the authority to determine the provisions, terms, and conditions of each award including, but not limited to, the award vesting schedule, repurchase provisions, rights of first refusal, forfeiture provisions, form of payment (cash, shares of our Common Stock, or other consideration) upon settlement of the award, payment contingencies, and satisfaction of any performance criteria. The plan administrator may establish one or more programs under the 2013 Plan to permit selected grantees the opportunity to elect to defer receipt of consideration upon exercise of an award, satisfaction of performance criteria, or other event that absent the election would entitle the grantee to payment or receipt of shares of our Common Stock or other consideration under an award. The plan administrator may establish the election procedures, the timing of such elections, the mechanisms for payments of, and accrual of interest or other earnings, if any, on amounts, shares of our Common Stock or other consideration so deferred, and such other terms, conditions, rules and procedures that the plan administrator deems advisable for the administration of any such deferral program.
The plan administrator may establish one or more programs under the 2013 Plan to permit selected grantees to exchange an award under the 2013 Plan for one or more other types of awards under the 2013 Plan on such terms and conditions as determined by the plan administrator from time to time. The plan administrator may establish one or more separate programs under the 2013 Plan for the purpose of issuing particular forms of awards to one or more classes of grantees on such terms and conditions as determined by the plan administrator from time to time.
Awards granted under the 2013 Plan generally may not be pledged or otherwise encumbered and are not transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, or to a designated beneficiary upon the participant's death, except that the plan administrator may, in its discretion, permit transfers of nonqualified stock options for estate planning or other purposes subject to any applicable legal restrictions. The plan administrator may also provide that, in the event that a grantee terminates employment with the Company to assume a position with a governmental, charitable, educational or similar non-profit institution, a third party, including but not limited to a "blind" trust, may be authorized by the plan administrator to act on behalf of and for the benefit of the respective grantee with respect to any outstanding awards.
Acceleration of Vesting; Change in Control
The plan administrator shall have the authority, exercisable either in advance of any actual or anticipated corporate transaction (as defined in the 2013 Plan) or at the time of an actual corporate transaction and exercisable at the time of the grant of an award under the 2013 Plan or any time while an Award remains outstanding, to provide for the full automatic vesting and exercisability of one or more outstanding unvested awards under the 2013 Plan and the release from restrictions on transfer and repurchase or forfeiture rights of such Awards in connection with a corporate transaction, on such terms and conditions as the plan administrator may specify. The plan administrator also shall have the authority to condition any such award vesting and exercisability or release from such limitations upon the subsequent termination of the continuous service of the grantee within a specified period following the effective date of the corporate transaction. Effective upon the consummation of a corporate transaction, all outstanding awards under the 2013 Plan shall remain fully exercisable until the expiration or sooner termination of the award.
Amendment and Termination
Our Board of Directors may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the 2013 Plan, except shareholder approval shall be obtained for any amendment or alteration if such approval is required by law or regulation or under the rules of any stock exchange or quotation system on which shares of our Common Stock are then listed or quoted. No award may be granted during any suspension of the 2013 Plan or after termination of the 2013 Plan. Any amendment, suspension or termination of the 2013 Plan shall not affect Awards already granted, and such awards shall remain in full force and effect as if the 2013 Plan had not been amended, suspended or terminated, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the grantee and the plan administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the grantee and the Company.
Unless earlier terminated by our board of directors, the 2013 Plan will terminate ten years after the earlier of (i) its adoption by our Board of Directors or (ii) the approval by the stockholders of the Company.
Federal Income Tax Consequences of Awards
The information set forth herein is a summary only and does not purport to be complete. In addition, the information is based upon current federal income tax rules and therefore is subject to change when those rules change. Moreover, because the tax consequences to any recipient may depend on his or her particular situation, each recipient should consult the recipient's tax adviser regarding the federal, state, local, and other tax consequences of the grant or exercise of an award or the disposition of stock acquired as a result of an award. The 2013 Plan is not qualified under the provisions of Section 401(a) of the Code and is not subject to any of the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
Nonqualified Stock Options
Generally, there is no taxation upon the grant of a nonqualified stock option where the option is granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the underlying stock on the grant date. On exercise, an optionee will recognize ordinary income equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value on the date of exercise of the stock over the exercise price. If the optionee is our employee or an employee of an affiliate, that income will be subject to withholding tax. The optionee's tax basis in those shares will be equal to their fair market value on the date of exercise of the option, and the optionee's capital gain holding period for those shares will begin on that date.
Incentive Stock Options
The 2013 Plan provides for the grant of stock options that qualify as "incentive stock options," which we refer to as ISOs, as defined in Section 422 of the Code. Under the Code, an optionee generally is not subject to ordinary income tax upon the grant or exercise of an ISO. In addition, if the optionee holds a share received on exercise of an ISO for at least two years from the date the option was granted and at least one year from the date the option was exercised, which we refer to as the Required Holding Period, the difference, if any, between the amount realized on a sale or other taxable disposition of that share and the holder's tax basis in that share will be long-term capital gain or loss.
If, however, an optionee disposes of a share acquired on exercise of an ISO before the end of the Required Holding Period, which we refer to as a Disqualifying Disposition, the optionee generally will recognize ordinary income in the year of the Disqualifying Disposition equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the share on the date the ISO was exercised over the exercise price. However, if the sales proceeds are less than the fair market value of the share on the date of exercise of the option, the amount of ordinary income recognized by the optionee will not exceed the gain, if any, realized on the sale. If the amount realized on a Disqualifying Disposition exceeds the fair market value of the share on the date of exercise of the option, that excess will be short-term or long-term capital gain, depending on whether the holding period for the share exceeds one year.
For purposes of the alternative minimum tax, the amount by which the fair market value of a share of stock acquired on exercise of an ISO exceeds the exercise price of that option generally will be an adjustment included in the optionee's alternative minimum taxable income for the year in which the option is exercised. If, however, there is a Disqualifying Disposition of the share in the year in which the option is exercised, there will be no adjustment for alternative minimum tax purposes with respect to that share. If there is a Disqualifying Disposition in a later year, no income with respect to the Disqualifying Disposition is included in the optionee's alternative minimum taxable income for that year. In computing alternative minimum taxable income, the tax basis of a share acquired on exercise of an ISO is increased by the amount of the adjustment taken into account with respect to that share for alternative minimum tax purposes in the year the option is exercised.
We are not allowed an income tax deduction with respect to the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option or the disposition of a share acquired on exercise of an incentive stock option after the Required Holding Period. However, if there is a Disqualifying Disposition of a share, we are allowed a deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income includible in income by the optionee, provided that amount constitutes an ordinary and necessary business expense for us and is reasonable in amount, and either the employee includes that amount in income or we timely satisfy our reporting requirements with respect to that amount.
Stock Awards
Generally, the recipient of a stock award will recognize ordinary compensation income at the time the stock is received equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the stock received over any amount paid by the recipient in exchange for the stock. If, however, the stock is not vested when it is received (for example, if the employee is required to work for a period of time in order to have the right to sell the stock), the recipient generally will not recognize income until the stock becomes vested, at which time the recipient will recognize ordinary compensation income equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the stock on the date it becomes vested over any amount paid by the recipient in exchange for the stock. A recipient may, however, file an election with the Internal Revenue Service, within 30 days of his or her receipt of the stock award, to recognize ordinary compensation income, as of the date the recipient receives the award, equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the stock on the date the award is granted over any amount paid by the recipient in exchange for the stock.
The recipient's basis for the determination of gain or loss upon the subsequent disposition of shares acquired from stock awards will be the amount paid for such shares plus any ordinary income recognized either when the stock is received or when the stock becomes vested.
Stock Appreciation Rights
We may grant stock appreciation rights separate from any other award, which we refer to as stand-alone stock appreciation rights, or in tandem with options.
With respect to stand-alone stock appreciation rights, where the rights are granted with a strike price equal to the fair market value of the underlying stock on the grant date and the recipient receives the appreciation inherent in the stock appreciation rights in shares of stock, the recipient will recognize ordinary compensation income equal to the excess of the fair market value of the stock on the day it is received over any amounts paid by the recipient for the
stock.
With respect to stand-alone stock appreciation rights, if the recipient receives the appreciation inherent in the stock appreciation rights in cash or the strike price of the rights is less than the fair market value of the underlying stock on the grant date (whether the appreciation is paid in cash or stock), the cash or stock will be taxable as ordinary compensation income to the recipient at the time that the payment is received, so long as the payment may only be received upon one of the following events: a fixed calendar date, separation from service, death, disability or a change of control. If delivery occurs on another date, the taxable event will be on the date the stock appreciation right is vested and there will be an additional twenty percent excise tax and interest on any taxes owed.
At this time, due to the complex and unfavorable tax consequences, we do not plan on granting any tandem stock appreciation rights.
Dividend Equivalent Rights
Generally, the recipient of an award consisting of dividend equivalent rights will recognize ordinary compensation income each time a dividend is paid pursuant to the dividend equivalent rights award equal to the fair market value of the dividend received. If the dividends are deferred, additional requirements must be met to ensure that the dividend is taxable upon actual delivery of the shares, instead of the grant of the dividend.
We anticipate filing a Registration Statement on Form S-8 with the SEC to register the 600,000 shares of our Common Stock issuable pursuant to the 2013 Plan, effective upon and subject to stockholder approval of the 2013 Plan, as soon as practicable upon such stockholders’ approval of the 2013 Plan.
The following table summarizes shares of our Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of options and warrants, the weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options and warrants and options available for future issuance pursuant to our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2012:
|
|
Number of
Securities to
be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options, Warrants
and Rights
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
of Outstanding
Options,
Warrants and
Rights
|
|
|
Number of
Securities Remaining
Available for Future
Issuance Under Equity
Compensation Plans
|
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
|
|
|
327,316 |
|
|
$ |
9.97 |
|
|
|
1,677,634 |
* |
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
|
|
118,335 |
|
|
$ |
6.38 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
446,151 |
|
|
$ |
9.01 |
|
|
|
1,677,634 |
|
______
* If stockholders approve the 2013 Plan, no future awards will be made or stock options granted under the 2010 Plan or the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan.
The proposal to approve the 2013 Plan will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock cast in person or by proxy.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS
A VOTE FOR THE ADOPTION OF PROPOSAL THREE
Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger Between our Company and our Newly-Organized Wholly-Owned Nevada Subsidiary as a Result of which our Company will Become a Nevada Corporation Named Air Industries Group
We have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which Air Industries Group, Inc. (“Air Industries Delaware”) would be merged with and into its newly-formed wholly-owned subsidiary, Air Industries Group, a Nevada corporation (“Air Industries Nevada”), as a result of which our state of incorporation will be changed from Delaware to Nevada (the “Reincorporation Merger”). The Merger Agreement and the Reincorporation Merger was approved by our Board of Directors on June 3, 2013. The Reincorporation Merger is subject to the approval of stockholders owning a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock at the Annual Meeting. A copy of the Merger Agreement is annexed as Appendix B to this Proxy Statement.
Reason for the Reincorporation Merger
We are effectuating the reincorporation from Delaware to Nevada to eliminate our obligation to pay the annual Delaware franchise tax which we expect will result in significant savings to us over the long term. Under Delaware law, the annual franchise tax is based upon the authorized capital of a company, or alternatively, upon the product of the authorized capital stock of a company and a fraction determined by the relationship between a company’s total assets and the number of authorized shares it has issued. At December 31, 2012 and at March 31, 2013, our authorized capital stock consisted of 20,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value, of which 5,711,093 shares were issued and outstanding, and 8,003,716 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value, none of which are outstanding, and our total assets were $53,156,000 at December 31, 2012 and $51,422,000 at March 31, 2013. Due to the amount of our total assets, our franchise tax liability for the year ended December 31, 2012, was approximately $86,000. Delaware will not accept the filing of the Certificate of Merger we file in connection with the Reincorporation Merger until we pay Delaware the franchise tax for 2013 through the date the Reincorporation Merger is effectuated. Under Nevada law, there is no annual franchise tax.
The Reincorporation Merger is not being effected to prevent a change in control, nor is it in response to any present attempt known to our board of directors to acquire control of the Company or obtain representation on our board. Nevertheless, certain effects of the proposed reincorporation may be considered to have anti-takeover implications simply by virtue of being subject to Nevada law. For example, in responding to an unsolicited bidder, the Nevada Revised Statutes authorizes directors to consider not only the interests of stockholders, but also the interests of employees, suppliers, creditors, customers, the economy of the state and nation, the interests of the community and society in general, and the long-term as well as short-term interests of the corporation and its stockholders, including the possibility that these interests may be best served by the continued independence of the corporation. For a discussion of these and other differences between the laws of Delaware and Nevada, see “Significant Differences between Delaware and Nevada Law,” below.
Consequences of the Reincorporation Merger
The Reincorporation Merger will effect a change in the legal domicile of the Company from Delaware to Nevada, a change in the name of the Company to Air Industries Group and other changes of a legal nature, the most significant of which are described below under the heading "Significant Differences between Delaware and Nevada Law." However, the Reincorporation Merger will not result in any change in headquarters, business, management, location of our offices, assets, liabilities or net worth, other than as a result of the costs incident to the Reincorporation Merger. Our management, including all directors and officers, will remain the same in connection with the Reincorporation Merger and will assume identical positions with Air Industries Nevada. There will be no employment agreements for executive officers or other direct or indirect interest of the current directors or executive officers of the Company in the Reincorporation Merger as a result of the reincorporation. Upon the effective time of the Reincorporation Merger, your shares of Air Industries Delaware common stock will be converted into an equal number of shares of common stock of Air Industries Nevada.
The authorized capital stock of Air Industries Delaware consists of 8,003,716 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 20,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share. The authorized capital stock of Air Industries Nevada will consist of 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 25,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share. Holders of Air Industries Nevada common stock will be entitled to equal voting rights, consisting of one vote per share on all matters submitted to a stockholder vote. Holders of Air Industries Nevada common stock will not have cumulative voting rights. Therefore, holders of a majority of the shares of Air Industries Nevada common stock voting for the election of directors will be able to elect all of the directors. The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Air Industries Nevada stock entitled to vote will be required to constitute a quorum at any meeting of Air Industries Nevada stockholders. A vote by the holders of a majority of Air Industries Nevada’s outstanding shares will be required to effectuate certain fundamental corporate changes such as liquidation, merger or an amendment to our articles of incorporation. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, either voluntarily or involuntarily, each outstanding share of Air Industries Nevada common stock will be entitled to share equally in the assets of Air Industries Nevada.
Holders of Air Industries Nevada common stock will not have pre-emptive rights or conversion rights and there will be no redemption provisions applicable to Air Industries Nevada common stock. Holders of Air Industries Nevada common stock will be entitled to receive dividends when and as declared by Air Industries Nevada’s board, out of funds legally available therefor.
The articles of incorporation of Air Industries Nevada, like the certificate of incorporation of Air Industries Delaware, gives its board of directors the power to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series without stockholder approval. The board of directors has the discretion to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, of each series of preferred stock. The purpose of authorizing the board of directors to issue preferred stock and determine its rights and preferences is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing desirable flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or could discourage a third party from acquiring, a majority of a corporation’s outstanding voting stock. Air Industries Nevada has no present plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.
Operating as a Nevada corporation will not interfere with, or differ substantially from, our present corporate activities. As a Nevada corporation, we will be governed by Nevada corporate law, while the Company is presently governed by Delaware law. Nevada law may constitute a comprehensive, flexible legal structure under which to operate. However, because of differences in the laws of these states, your rights as stockholders will change in several material respects as a result of the reincorporation. These matters are discussed in greater detail immediately below.
Potential Disadvantages of Reincorporation
A potential disadvantage of reincorporating from Delaware to Nevada is that Delaware for many years has followed a policy of encouraging incorporation in that state and, in furtherance of that policy, has adopted comprehensive, modern and flexible corporate laws that Delaware periodically updates and revises to meet changing business needs. Because of Delaware’s prominence as a state of incorporation for many large corporations, the Delaware courts have developed considerable expertise in dealing with corporate issues and a substantial body of case law has developed construing Delaware law and establishing public policies with respect to Delaware corporations. Because Nevada case law concerning the governing and effects of its statutes and regulations is more limited, the Company and its stockholders may experience less predictability with respect to legality of corporate affairs and transactions and stockholders’ rights to challenge them.
Significant Differences between Delaware and Nevada Law
The rights of the Company’s stockholders and the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws are currently governed by Delaware law. The reincorporation shall be effectuated through a merger of Air Industries Delaware with and into Air Industries Nevada, its wholly owned subsidiary, a Nevada corporation, with Air Industries Nevada as the surviving corporation. Air Industries Nevada, as the surviving corporation, will file articles of merger with the Office of the Secretary of State of Nevada and Air Industries Delaware, together with Air Industries Nevada, will file a certificate of merger with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Accordingly, after the effective time of the Reincorporation Merger, your rights as a stockholder will be governed by Nevada law and the articles of incorporation and bylaws of Air Industries Nevada. The statutory corporate laws of the State of Nevada, as governed by Chapters 78 and 92A (concerning Mergers) of the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”), are similar in many respects to those of Delaware, as governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”). However, there are certain differences that may affect your rights as a stockholder, as well as the corporate governance of the corporation. The following are summaries of material differences between the current rights of stockholders of Air Industries Delaware and the rights of stockholders of Air Industries Nevada following the consummation of the Reincorporation Merger.
The following discussion is a summary. It does not give you a complete description of the differences that may affect you. You should also refer to Chapters 78 (concerning Corporations, generally) and 92A (concerning Mergers) of the NRS, as well as the forms of the articles of incorporation and the bylaws of Air Industries Nevada, which are attached as Appendices C and D, respectively, to this Proxy Statement, and which will come into effect concurrently with the consummation of the Reincorporation Merger.
General. As discussed above under “Potential Disadvantages of the Reincorporation,” Delaware for many years has followed a policy of encouraging incorporation in that state and, in furtherance of that policy, has adopted comprehensive, modern and flexible corporate laws that Delaware periodically updates and revises to meet changing business needs. Because of Delaware’s prominence as a state of incorporation for many large corporations, the Delaware courts have developed considerable expertise in dealing with corporate issues and a substantial body of case law has developed construing Delaware law and establishing public policies with respect to Delaware corporations. Because Nevada case law concerning the governing and effects of its statutes and regulations is more limited, the Company and its stockholders may experience less predictability with respect to legality of corporate affairs and transactions and stockholders’ rights to challenge them.
Removal of Directors. Under Delaware law, directors of a corporation without a classified board may be removed with or without cause by the holders of a majority of shares then entitled to vote in an election of directors. Under Nevada law, any one or all of the directors of a corporation may be removed by the holders of not less than two-thirds of the voting power of a corporation's issued and outstanding stock. Nevada does not distinguish between removal of directors with or without cause.
Fiduciary Duty and Business Judgment. Nevada, like most jurisdictions, requires that directors and officers of Nevada corporations exercise their powers in good faith and with a view to the interests of the corporation. As a matter of law, directors and officers are presumed to act in good faith, on an informed basis, and with a view to the interests of the corporation in making business decisions. In performing such duties, directors and officers may exercise their business judgment through reliance on information, opinions, reports, financial statements, and other financial data prepared or presented by corporate directors, officers, or employees who are reasonably believed to be reliable and competent. Professional reliance may also be extended to legal counsel, public accountants, advisers, bankers, or other persons reasonably believed to be competent, and to the work of a committee (on which the particular director or officer does not serve) if the committee was established and empowered by the corporation’s board of directors, and if the committee’s work was within its designated authority and was about matters on which the committee was reasonably believed to merit confidence. However, directors and officers may not rely on such information, opinions, reports, books of account, or similar statements if they have knowledge concerning the matter in question that would make such reliance unwarranted.
In Delaware, directors and members of any committee designated by the board are similarly entitled to rely in good faith upon the records of the corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports, and statements presented to the corporation by corporate officers, employees, committees of the board of directors, or other persons as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence, provided that other person has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the corporation. Unlike Nevada, Delaware does not extend the statutory protection for reliance on such persons to corporate officers.
Flexibility for Decisions, including Takeovers. Nevada provides directors with more discretion than Delaware in making corporate decisions, including decisions made in takeover situations. In Nevada, director and officer actions taken in response to a change or potential change in control that do not disenfranchise stockholders are granted the benefits of the business judgment rule. However, in the case of an action that impedes the rights of stockholders to vote for or remove directors, directors will only be given the advantages of the business judgment rule if the directors have reasonable grounds to believe a threat to corporate policy and effectiveness exists and the action taken that impedes the exercise of the stockholders’ rights is reasonable in relation to such threat. In exercising their powers in response to a change or potential change of control, directors and officers of Nevada corporations may consider the effect of the decision on several corporate constituencies in addition to the stockholders, including the corporation’s employees, the interests of the community, and the economy.
Delaware does not provide a similar list of statutory factors that corporate directors and officers may consider in making decisions. In fact, in a number of cases, Delaware law has been interpreted to provide that fiduciary duties require directors to accept an offer from the highest bidder regardless of the effect of such sale on the corporate constituencies other than the stockholders. Thus, the flexibility granted to directors of Nevada corporations in the context of a hostile takeover are greater than those granted to directors of Delaware corporations.
Limitation on Personal Liability of Directors. Under Nevada law it is not necessary to adopt provisions in the articles of incorporation limiting personal liability as this limitation is provided by statute. A Delaware corporation is permitted to adopt provisions in its certificate of incorporation limiting or eliminating the liability of a director to a company and its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such liability does not arise from certain proscribed conduct, including breach of the duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or liability to the corporation based on unlawful dividends or distributions or improper personal benefit.
While Nevada law has a similar provision permitting the adoption of provisions in the articles of incorporation limiting personal liability, the Nevada provision differs in three respects. First, the Nevada provision applies to both directors and officers. Second, while the Delaware provision excepts from the limitation on liability a breach of the duty of loyalty, the Nevada counterpart does not contain this exception. Third, Nevada law with respect to the elimination of liability for directors and officers expressly applies to liabilities owed to creditors of the corporation. Thus, the Nevada provision expressly permits a corporation to limit the liability of officers, as well as directors, and permits limitation of liability arising from a breach of the duty of loyalty and from obligations to the corporation’s creditors.
Indemnification of Officers and Directors and Advancement of Expenses. Although Delaware and Nevada law have substantially similar provisions regarding indemnification by a corporation of its officers, directors, employees and agents, Nevada provides broader indemnification in connection with stockholder derivative lawsuits. Delaware and Nevada law differ in their provisions for advancement of expenses incurred by an officer or director in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding. Delaware law provides that expenses incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation. A Delaware corporation has the discretion to decide whether or not to advance expenses, unless its certificate of incorporation or bylaws provide for mandatory advancement. Under Nevada law,
the articles of incorporation, bylaws or an agreement made by the corporation may provide that the corporation must pay advancements of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit or proceedings upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation.
Action by Written Consent of Directors. Both Delaware and Nevada law provide that, unless the articles or certificate of incorporation or the bylaws provide otherwise, any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the directors or a committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the board or committee, as the case may be, consent to the action in writing.
Actions by Written Consent of Stockholders. Both Delaware and Nevada law provide that, unless the articles or certificate of incorporation provides otherwise, any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting if the holders of outstanding stock having at least the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take the action at a meeting of stockholders consent to the action in writing. Nevada law also permits a corporation to prohibit stockholder action by written consent in lieu of a meeting of stockholders by including such prohibition in its by-laws. The Air Industries Nevada by-laws contain such a prohibition.
Dividends. Delaware law is more restrictive than Nevada law with respect to when dividends may be paid. Under Delaware law, unless further restricted in the certificate of incorporation, a corporation may declare and pay dividends out of surplus, or if no surplus exists out of net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year (provided that the amount of capital of the corporation is not less than the aggregate amount of the capital represented by the issued and outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets). In addition, Delaware law provides that a corporation may redeem or repurchase its shares only if the capital of the corporation is not impaired and such redemption or repurchase would not impair the capital of the corporation.
Nevada law provides that no distribution (including dividends on, or redemption or repurchases of, shares of capital stock) may be made if, after giving effect to such distribution, the corporation would not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business, or, except as specifically permitted by the articles of incorporation, the corporation’s total assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities plus the amount that would be needed at the time of a dissolution to satisfy the preferential rights of preferred stockholders.
Restrictions on Business Combinations. Both Delaware and Nevada law contain provisions restricting the ability of a corporation to engage in business combinations with an interested stockholder. Under Delaware law, a corporation that is listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders, is not permitted to engage in a business combination with any interested stockholder for a three-year period following the time the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless: (i) the transaction resulting in a person becoming an interested stockholder, or the business combination, is approved by the board of directors of the corporation before the person becomes an interested stockholder; (ii) the interested stockholder acquires 85% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation in the same transaction that makes it an interested stockholder (excluding shares owned by persons who are both officers and directors of the corporation, and shares held by certain employee stock ownership plans); or (iii) on or after the date the person becomes an interested stockholder, the business combination is approved by the corporation’s board of directors and by the holders of at least two-thirds of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock at an annual or special meeting, excluding shares owned by the interested stockholder. Delaware law defines “interested stockholder” generally as a person who owns 15% or more of the outstanding shares of a corporation’s voting stock.
Nevada law regulates business combinations more stringently. Nevada law defines an interested stockholder as a beneficial owner (directly or indirectly) of 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding shares of the corporation. In addition, combinations with an interested stockholder remain prohibited for three years after the person became an interested stockholder unless (i) the transaction is approved by the board of directors or the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares not beneficially owned by the interested party, or (ii) the interested stockholder satisfies certain fair value requirements. As in Delaware, a Nevada corporation may opt-out of the statute with appropriate provisions in its articles of incorporation. The Air Industries Nevada Articles of Incorporation do not include a provision by which Air Industries Nevada elects to opt out of these provisions.
Stockholder Vote for Mergers and Other Corporate Reorganizations. Delaware law requires authorization by an absolute majority of outstanding shares entitled to vote, as well as approval by the board of directors, with respect to the terms of a merger or a sale of substantially all of the assets of the corporation. Under Nevada law, Board approval and authorization of stockholders by an absolute majority of outstanding shares entitled to vote is required for a merger or sale of all of the assets of a corporation. However it is not entirely clear under Nevada law if stockholder authorization is required for the sale of less than all of the assets of a corporation. Although a substantial body of law has been developed under Delaware law as to what constitutes the “sale of substantially all of the assets” of a corporation, it is not as easy to determine at what point a sale of virtually all, but less than all, of the assets of a corporation’s assets would be considered a “sale of all the corporation’s assets” requiring stockholder approval under Nevada law, although it is likely that many sales of less than all of the assets of a corporation requiring stockholder authorization under Delaware law would not require stockholder authorization under Nevada law.
Delaware law does not require a stockholder vote of the surviving corporation in a merger (unless the corporation provides otherwise in its certificate of incorporation) if: (a) the plan of merger does not amend the existing certificate of incorporation; (b) each share of stock of the surviving corporation outstanding immediately before the effective date of the merger is an identical outstanding share after the merger; and (c) either no shares of common stock of the surviving corporation and no shares, securities or obligations convertible into such stock are to be issued or delivered under the plan of merger, or the authorized unissued shares or shares of common stock of the surviving corporation to be issued or delivered under the plan of merger plus those initially issuable upon conversion of any other shares, securities or obligations to be issued or delivered under such plan do not exceed 20% of the shares of common stock of such constituent corporation outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger. Nevada law does not require a stockholder vote of the surviving corporation in a merger under substantially similar circumstances.
Dissenters’ Rights. In both Delaware and Nevada, dissenting stockholders of a corporation engaged in certain major corporate transactions are entitled to appraisal rights. Appraisal rights permit a stockholder to receive cash equal to the fair market value of the stockholder’s shares (as determined by agreement of the parties or by a court) in lieu of the consideration such stockholder would otherwise receive in any such transaction.
Under Nevada law, a stockholder is entitled to dissent from, and obtain payment for the fair value of his or her shares in the event of (i) certain acquisitions of a controlling interest in the corporation, (ii) consummation of a plan of merger, if approval by the stockholders is required and the stockholder is entitled to vote on the merger or if the domestic corporation is a subsidiary and is merged with its parent, (iii) a plan of exchange in which the corporation is a party, or (iv) any corporate action taken pursuant to a vote of the stockholders, if the articles of incorporation, bylaws or a resolution of the board of directors provides that voting or nonvoting stockholders are entitled to dissent and obtain payment for their shares. Holders of securities listed on a national securities exchange or held by at least 2,000 stockholders of record are generally not entitled to dissenters’ rights. This exception is not, however, available if the articles of incorporation of the corporation issuing the shares state that it is not available, or if the holders of the class or series are required under the plan of merger or exchange to accept for the shares anything except cash, shares of stock as described in Nev. Rev. Stat. § 92A.390(b), or a combination thereof. Nevada law prohibits a dissenting shareholder from voting his shares or receiving certain dividends or distributions after his dissent.
Under Delaware law, appraisal rights are generally available for the shares of any class or series of stock of a Delaware corporation in a merger or consolidation, provided that no appraisal rights are available for the shares of any class or series of stock that, at the record date for the meeting held to approve such transaction, were either (1) listed on a national securities exchange or (2) held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders. Even if the shares of any class or series of stock meet the requirements of subsections (1) or (2) above, appraisal rights are available for such class or series if the holders thereof receive in the merger or consolidation anything except cash, shares of stock of the issuing corporation or shares of stock of a corporation that is either listed on a national securities exchange or whose stock is held of record by more than 2,000 holders, or a combination thereof.
Delaware allows beneficial owners of shares to file a petition for appraisal without the need to name a nominee as a nominal plaintiff and makes it easier to withdraw from the appraisal process and accept the terms offered in the merger or consolidation. No appraisal rights are available to stockholders of the surviving corporation if the merger did not require their approval.
Special Meetings of the Stockholders. Delaware law permits special meetings of stockholders to be called by the board of directors or by any other person authorized in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws to call a special stockholder meeting. Nevada law permits special meetings of stockholders to be called by the entire board of directors, any two directors, or the President, unless the articles of incorporation or bylaws provide otherwise. Under the by-laws of Air Industries Delaware, a special meeting of stockholders may be called upon the request of stockholders holding of record at least 28% of the voting power of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at such meeting. The by-laws of Air Industries Nevada require the calling of a special meeting of stockholders upon the written demand of holders representing not less than ten percent of all votes entitled to be cast on any issue that may be properly proposed to be considered at such a special meeting.
Special Meetings Pursuant to Petition of Stockholders. Delaware law provides that a director or a stockholder of a corporation may apply to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware if the corporation fails to hold an annual meeting for the election of directors or there is no written consent to elect directors instead of an annual meeting for a period of 30 days after the date designated for the annual meeting or, if there is no date designated, within 13 months after the last annual meeting. Nevada law is more restrictive. Under Nevada law, stockholders having not less than 15% of the voting interest may petition the district court to order a meeting for the election of directors if a corporation fails to call a meeting for that purpose within 18 months after the last meeting at which directors were elected. The reincorporation may make it more difficult for our stockholders to require that an annual meeting be held without the consent of the Board.
Adjournment of Stockholder Meetings. Under Delaware law, if a meeting of stockholders is adjourned due to lack of a quorum and the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting must be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. At the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. Under Nevada law, a corporation is not required to give any notice of an adjourned meeting or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting, other than by announcement at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless the board fixes a new record date for the adjourned meeting or the meeting date is adjourned to a date more than 60 days later than the date set for the original meeting, in which case a new record date must be fixed and notice given.
Duration of Proxies. Under Delaware law, a proxy executed by a stockholder will remain valid for a period of three years, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. Under Nevada law, a proxy is effective only for a period of six months, unless it is coupled with an interest or unless otherwise provided in the proxy, which duration may not exceed seven years. Nevada law also provides for irrevocable proxies, without limitation on duration, in limited circumstances.
Increasing or Decreasing Authorized Shares. Nevada law allows the board of directors of a corporation, unless restricted by the articles of incorporation, to increase or decrease the number of authorized shares in aclass or series of the corporation’s shares and correspondingly effect a forward or reverse split of any class or series of the corporation’s shares without a vote of the stockholders, so long as the action taken does not change or alter any right or preference of the stockholder and does not include any provision or provisions pursuant to which only money will be paid or script issued to stockholders who hold 10% or more of the outstanding shares of the affected class and series, and who would otherwise be entitled to receive fractions of shares in exchange for the cancellation of all of their outstanding shares. Delaware law contains no such similar provision.
Stockholder Inspection Rights. Under Delaware law, any stockholder or beneficial owner of shares may, upon written demand under oath stating the proper purpose thereof, either in person or by attorney, inspect and make copies and extracts from a corporation's stock ledger, list of stockholders and its other books and records for any proper purpose. Under Nevada law, certain stockholders have the right to inspect the books of account and records of a corporation for any proper purpose. The right to inspect the books of account and all financial records of a corporation, to make copies of records and to conduct an audit of such records is granted only to a stockholder who owns at least 15% of the issued and outstanding shares of a Nevada corporation, or who has been authorized in writing by the holders of at least 15% of such shares. A Nevada corporation may require a stockholder to furnish the corporation with an affidavit that such inspection is for a proper purpose related to his or her interest as a stockholder of the corporation.
Air Industries Group (Nevada)
Air Industries Group (“Air Industries Nevada”), our wholly owned subsidiary, was incorporated under the Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes on June 3, 2013 for the purpose of merging with the Company. The address and phone number of Air Industries Nevada’s principal office are the same as those of the Company. Prior to the reincorporation merger, Air Industries Nevada will have no material assets or liabilities and will not have carried on any business.
Upon completion of the Reincorporation Merger, the rights of the stockholders of Air Industries Nevada will be governed by Chapters 78 and 92A (concerning Mergers) of the NRS and the articles of incorporation and the bylaws of Air Industries Nevada (the "Nevada Articles of Incorporation" and the "Nevada Bylaws," respectively). The Nevada Articles of Incorporation and the Nevada Bylaws are attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendices C and D, respectively. Except as described above under the caption “Significant Differences between Delaware and Nevada Law,” the rights of stockholders under the Nevada Articles of Incorporation and the Nevada Bylaws are substantially the same as under Air Industries Delaware’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws.
The Merger Agreement
The Merger Agreement provides that we will merge with and into Air Industries Nevada, with Air Industries Nevada being the surviving corporation. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Air Industries Nevada will assume all assets and liabilities of the Company, including obligations under our outstanding indebtedness and contracts. Our existing board of directors and officers will become the board of directors and officers of Air Industries Nevada for identical terms of office.
At the effective time of the Reincorporation Merger, each outstanding share of common stock, automatically will be converted into one share of common stock, par value $0.001, of Air Industries Nevada ("Nevada common stock"). You will not have to exchange your existing stock certificates of the Company for stock certificates of Air Industries Nevada. However, after consummation of the Reincorporation Merger, any shareholder desiring a new form of stock certificate (at their option and at their expense) may submit the existing stock certificate to Air Industries Nevada’s transfer agent for cancellation, and obtain a new Nevada form of certificate.
The Merger Agreement was unanimously approved by the board of directors of our company and by the board of directors of Air Industries Nevada and by our company, as the sole stockholder of Air Industries Nevada. The Merger Agreement and the Reincorporation Merger is subject to approval by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock at the Annual Meeting.
The Merger Agreement may be terminated and abandoned by action of the board of directors of our company at any time prior to the effective time of the Reincorporation Merger, if the board of directors of our company determines for any reason, in its sole judgment and discretion, that the consummation of the Reincorporation Merger would be inadvisable or not in the best interests of our company and its shareholders.
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Reincorporation.
Air Industries Delaware intends the reincorporation to be a tax-free reorganization under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Assuming the Reincorporation Merger qualifies as a tax-free reorganization, the holders of the Air Industries Delaware common stock will not recognize any gain or loss under the Federal tax laws as a result of the consummation of the Reincorporation Merger, and neither will Air Industries Delaware nor Air Industries Nevada. Each stockholder will have the same basis in Air Industries Nevada’s common stock received as a result of the reincorporation as that holder has in the common stock of Air Industries Delaware held at the time the Reincorporation Merger is consummated. Each holder’s holding period in Air Industries Nevada’s common stock received as a result of the Reincorporation Merger will include the period during which such holder held the common stock of Air Industries Delaware at the time the Reincorporation Merger is consummated, provided the latter was held by such holder as a capital asset at the time of consummation of the Reincorporation Merger.
This Proxy Statement only discusses U.S. federal income tax consequences and has done so only for general information. It does not address all of the federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to particular stockholders based upon individual circumstances or to stockholders who are subject to special rules, such as, financial institutions, tax-exempt organizations, insurance companies, dealers in securities, foreign holders or holders who acquired their shares as compensation, whether through employee stock options or otherwise. This Information Statement does not address the tax consequences under state, local or foreign laws.
This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code, laws, regulations, rulings and decisions in effect as of the date of this Proxy Statement, all of which are subject to differing interpretations and change, possibly with retroactive effect. The Company has neither requested nor received a tax opinion from legal counsel or rulings from the Internal Revenue Service regarding the consequences of reincorporation. There can be no assurance that future legislation, regulations, administrative rulings or court decisions would not alter the consequences discussed above.
You should consult your own tax advisor to determine the particular tax consequences to you of the reincorporation, including the applicability and effect of federal, state, local, foreign and other tax laws.
Required Stockholder Approval
Approval of the Reincorporation Merger requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
Effective Time
It is anticipated that the Reincorporation Merger, and consequently the reincorporation, will become effective at the time set forth in each of the Articles of Merger to be filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of Nevada in accordance with Section 200 of Chapter 92A of the Nevada Revised Statutes and the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Office of the Secretary of State of Delaware in accordance with §252 of the DGCL.
Securities Act Consequences
The shares of Air Industries Nevada common stock to be issued in exchange for shares of Air Industries Delaware common stock are not being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). In that respect, Air industries Nevada is relying on Rule 145(a)(2) under the Securities Act, which provides that a merger which has as its sole purpose a change in the domicile of the corporation does not involve the sale of the securities for purposes of the Securities Act. After the Merger, Air Industries Nevada will be a publicly held company, and it will file with the SEC and provide to its stockholders the same type of information that we have previously filed and provided. Stockholders whose shares of Common Stock in Air Industries Delaware is freely tradable before the Reincorporation Merger will continue to have freely tradable shares of common stock of Air Industries Nevada. Stockholders holding restricted shares of common stock of Air Industries Nevada will be subject to the same restrictions on transfer as those to which their present shares of Common Stock in Air Industries Delaware are subject. In summary, Air Industries Nevada and its stockholders will be in the same respective positions under the federal securities laws after the Reincorporation Merger as they were in Air Industries Delaware and its stockholders prior to the Reincorporation Merger.
No Exchange of Stock Certificates Required
Stockholders are not required to exchange their stock certificates for new certificates representing shares of Air Industries Nevada common stock. New stock certificates representing shares of Air Industries Nevada common stock will not be issued to a stockholder until such stockholder submits one or more existing certificates for transfer, whether pursuant to sale or other disposition. However, stockholders (at their option and at their expense) may exchange their stock certificates for new certificates representing shares of Air Industries Nevada common stock following the Effective Time of the Reincorporation Merger.
Accounting Treatment of the Reincorporation Merger
The Reincorporation Merger will be accounted for as a reverse merger whereby, for accounting purposes, Air Industries Delaware will be considered the accounting acquiror and Air Industries Nevada will be treated as the successor to the historical operations of Air Industries Delaware. Accordingly, the historical financial statements of Air Industries Delaware, which previously have been reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, among others, as of and for all periods through the date of this information statement, will be treated as the financial statements of Air Industries Nevada.
Appraisal and Dissenters' Rights
Under applicable Delaware law regarding dissenting stockholder appraisal rights, Air Industries Delaware stockholders who do not vote “for” the approval of the Merger Agreement and the Reincorporation Merger may, under certain conditions, become entitled to be paid cash for the fair market value of their Air Industries Delaware common stock in lieu of receiving shares of Air Industries Nevada common stock in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.
Summarized below are the dissenters’ rights of the holders of Air Industries Delaware common stock and the statutory procedures required to be followed in order to perfect such rights. A copy of Section 262 of the DGCL, which governs dissenters’ rights under the DGCL, is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix E. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to Section 262 of the DGCL, and such Section should be reviewed carefully by holders of Air Industries Delaware common stock. Failure to comply strictly with all conditions for asserting rights as a dissenting stockholder, including the time limits, will result in loss of such dissenters’ rights by the dissenting stockholder.
The Merger Agreement provides that shares of Air Industries Delaware common stock that are outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger and have not been voted in favor of the Merger will not be entitled to receive shares of Air Industries Nevada common stock if the holder of the shares validly exercises and perfects statutory appraisal rights with respect to the shares. However, the shares will be automatically converted into the right to receive shares of Air Industries Nevada common stock on the same basis that all other shares of Air Industries Delaware capital stock are converted in the Merger when and if the holder of those shares withdraws his, her or its demand for appraisal or otherwise becomes legally ineligible to exercise appraisal rights.
Because Air Industries Group, Inc. is a Delaware corporation, the availability of dissenting stockholder appraisal rights for Air Industries Group, Inc. stockholders is governed by the DGCL, which is summarized below.
Holders of Air Industries Delaware common stock who dissent and do not vote in favor of the Merger are entitled to certain dissenter’s appraisal rights under the DGCL in connection with the Merger as described in Appendix D hereto. Such holders who perfect their dissenter’s rights and follow certain procedures in the manner prescribed by the DGCL will be entitled to have their shares converted into the right to receive from the Company such cash consideration due pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL. Any stockholder who wishes to exercise dissenter’s appraisal rights under the DGCL or who wishes to preserve his, her or its right to do so should review Appendix E carefully. Failure to comply with the procedures set forth therein will result in the loss of such rights.
Under the DGCL, you must follow the procedures set forth in Section 262 in order to be entitled to have your shares of Air Industries Delaware common stock appraised by the Delaware Court of Chancery and to receive a cash payment of the fair value of those shares, exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the Merger, together with a fair rate of interest, as determined by the Court of Chancery. You should be aware that the fair value of your shares of Air Industries Delaware common stock as determined by Section 262 could be more than, the same as or less than the shares of Air Industries Nevada common stock you would have received in the Merger if you did not seek appraisal of your shares.
Only holders of record of shares of Common Stock may exercise dissenter’s appraisal rights. The following discussion is not a complete statement of the law pertaining to dissenter’s appraisal rights under the DGCL and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of Section 262 which is attached as Appendix E to this Proxy Statement.
Under Section 262, where a merger is to be submitted to stockholders for approval by written consent in lieu of a meeting, as in this case, the corporation, either before the effective date of the merger or within 10 days thereafter, must notify each of its stockholders entitled to dissenter’s appraisal rights of the approval of the merger and that dissenter’s appraisal rights are available and include in the notice a copy of Section 262. This ProxyStatement will constitute such notice to the holders of Air Industries Delaware common stock, and the applicable statutory provisions are attached as Appendix E to this Information Statement. Holders of Air Industries Delaware common stock who wish to exercise dissenter’s appraisal rights or to preserve their right to do so should review the following discussion and Appendix E carefully. Holders who fail to timely and properly comply with the procedures specified, will lose their dissenter’s appraisal rights.
If you wish to exercise dissenter’s appraisal rights, then you must:
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not vote to approve the Merger Agreement;
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(2)
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deliver to the Company, within 20 days after the mailing of this Proxy Statement (which constitutes notice to you), a written demand for appraisal; and
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(3)
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continuously hold of record your shares of Air Industries Delaware common stock from the date of delivering a demand for appraisal through the effective time of the Merger.
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If you fail to comply with any of these conditions and the Merger becomes effective, then you will lose your dissenter’s appraisal rights and receive instead the shares of Air Industries Nevada common stock you are entitled to receive in accordance with the Merger Agreement.
All written demands for appraisal under Section 262 must be sent or delivered to Air Industries Group, Inc., 1479 North Clinton Avenue, Bay Shore, NY 11706, Attention: Corporate Secretary.
Within 10 days after the effective time of the Merger, Air Industries Delaware must notify each holder of Air Industries Delaware common stock who has complied with Section 262 and has not voted in favor of or consented to the Merger as of the date that the Merger has become effective. At any time within 60 days after the effective time of the Merger, holders of Air Industries Delaware common stock have the right to withdraw their demand for appraisal and to accept the shares of Air Industries Nevada common stock which such holders were entitled to receive in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.
Within 120 days after the effective time of the Merger, but not after that time, Air Industries Delaware or any holder of Air Industries Delaware common stock who is entitled to appraisal rights may file a petition in the Delaware Court of Chancery demanding a determination of the fair value of the dissenting shares. Air Industries Delaware is under no obligation to file this petition. Accordingly, it is the obligation of the holders of Air Industries Delaware common stock to initiate all necessary action to perfect appraisal rights within the time prescribed in Section 262.
After determining the holders of Air Industries Delaware common stock entitled to appraisal, the Delaware Court of Chancery will appraise the fair value of their shares, together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid upon the amount determined to be the fair value. The costs of the action may be determined by the Court and taxed upon the parties as the Court deems equitable. Upon application by a holder of Air Industries Delaware common stock, the Court also may order that all or a portion of the expenses incurred by any holder of Air Industries Delaware common stock in connection with an appraisal, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and the fees and expenses of experts utilized in the appraisal proceeding, be charged pro rata against the value of all the shares entitled to be appraised.
If you fail to follow the steps required by Section 262 of the DGCL for perfecting dissenter’s appraisal rights, then you may lose these rights. In that case, you will receive the shares of Air Industries Nevada common stock to which you are entitled in accordance with the Merger Agreement.
Air Industries Delaware stockholders considering whether to seek appraisal should note that the fair value of their Air Industries Delaware common stock determined under Section 262 of the DGCL could be more than, the same as or less than the value of the shares of Air Industries Nevada common stock to be issued in the Merger as set forth in the Merger Agreement. Also, the Company reserves the right to assert in any appraisal proceeding that, for purposes thereof, the “fair value” of the Company’s common stock is less than the value of the shares of Air Industries Nevada common stock to be issued in the Merger as set forth in the Merger Agreement.
The process of dissenting and exercising appraisal rights requires strict compliance with technical prerequisites. Stockholders wishing to dissent should consult with their own legal counsel in connection with compliance with Section 262 of the DGCL.
Any stockholder who fails to comply with the requirements of Section 262 of the DGCL, attached as Appendix E to this Proxy Statement, will forfeit his, her or its rights to dissent from the Merger and exercise appraisal rights and will receive the shares of Air Industries Nevada common stock to be issued in the Merger as set forth in the Merger Agreement.
The proposal to approve the Reincorporation Merger will require the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS
A VOTE FOR THE ADOPTION OF PROPOSAL FOUR
Stockholders wishing to include proposals in the proxy materials in relation to our 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must submit the same in writing, by mail, first-class postage pre-paid, to Air Industries Group, Inc., 1479 North Clinton Avenue, Bay Shore, NY 11706, Attention: Corporate Secretary, which must be received at our executive office on or before March 20, 2014 (unless the Company holds its annual meeting more than 30 days earlier next year, in which case the deadline will be a reasonable period of time prior to the date we begin to print and send our proxy materials for the annual meeting). The Company’s Board of Directors will review any stockholder proposals that are filed as required and, with the assistance of the Company’s Corporate Secretary, will determine whether such proposals meet the criteria prescribed by Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act for inclusion in the Company’s 2014 proxy solicitation materials or consideration at the 2014 annual meeting If the stockholder does not also comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-4(c) under the Exchange Act, we may exercise discretionary voting authority under proxies we solicit to vote in accordance with our best judgment on any such stockholder proposal or nomination.
Our Board of Directors does not know of any matter to be brought before the Annual Meeting other than the matters set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and matters incident to the conduct of the Annual Meeting. If any other matter should properly come before the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy card will have discretionary authority to vote all proxies with respect thereto in accordance with their best judgment.
ANNUAL REPORT
A copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the “2012 Form 10-K”) is enclosed with this Proxy Statement and is available on the Company’s website (http://www.airindustriesgroup.com). The Company will provide copies of the exhibits to the 2012 Form 10-K upon payment of a nominal fee to cover the reasonable expenses of providing those exhibits. Requests should be directed to our Corporate Secretary by phone at (631) 968-5000 or by mail to Air Industries Group, Inc., 1479 North Clinton Avenue, Bay Shore, NY 11706. The 2012 Form 10-K and the exhibits thereto also are available free of charge from the SEC website (http://, www.sec.gov.). The Annual Report is not to be considered as proxy solicitation material.
DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO STOCKHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS
To the extent we deliver a paper copy of the proxy materials to stockholders, the SEC rules allow us to deliver a single copy of proxy materials to any household at which two or more stockholders reside, if we believe the stockholders are members of the same family.
We will promptly deliver, upon oral or written request, a separate copy of the proxy materials to any stockholder residing at the same address as another stockholder and currently receiving only one copy of the proxy materials who wishes to receive his or her own copy. Requests should be directed to our Corporate Secretary by phone at (631) 968-5000 or by mail to Air Industries Group, Inc., 1479 North Clinton Avenue, Bay Shore, NY 11706.
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By Order of the Board of Directors,
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Peter D. Rettaliata
President and Chief Executive Officer
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June 18, 2013
YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF VOTING YOUR PROXY VIA THE INTERNET AT WWW.PROXYVOTE.COM OR TOLL FREE VIA TOUCH-TONE PHONE AT 1-800-690-6903. YOU MAY VOTE UP UNTIL 11:59 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON JULY 28, 2013.
ALTERNATIVELY, STOCKHOLDERS MAY CHOOSE TO VOTE BY MAIL VIA PROXY. IF YOU WISH TO VOTE BY PROXY, WE WILL PROMPTLY DELIVER, UPON ORAL OR WRITTEN REQUEST, A COPY OF THE PROXY MATERIALS TO YOU. WE WILL FILL YOUR REQUEST IN THREE BUSINESS DAYS. YOU MAY REQUEST PAPER OR E-MAIL DELIVERY BY CALLING 1-800-579-1639 OR BY MAIL TO AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP, INC., 1479 NORTH CLINTON AVENUE, BAY SHORE, NY 11706.
UPON RECEIPT OF A PROXY CARD, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO DATE AND SIGN THE PROXY AND RETURN IT IN THE SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE WHICH WE WILL PROVIDE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE WILL BE HELPFUL, AND YOUR COOPERATION WILL BE APPRECIATED.
AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP, INC.
2013 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Purposes of the Plan.
The purposes of this Equity Incentive Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel, to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors and Consultants and to promote the success of the Company's business.
2. Definitions.
As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) "Administrator" means the Board or any Committee appointed to administer the Plan.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
(c) "Applicable Laws" means the legal requirements relating to the administration of stock incentive plans, if any, under applicable provisions of federal securities laws, state corporate and securities laws, the Code, the rules of any applicable stock exchange or national market system, and the rules of any foreign jurisdiction applicable to Awards granted to residents therein.
(d) "Award" means the grant of an Option, SAR, Dividend Equivalent Right, Restricted Stock, Performance Unit, Performance Share, or other right or benefit under the Plan.
(e) "Award Agreement" means the written agreement evidencing the grant of an Award executed by the Company and the Grantee, including any amendments thereto.
(f) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(g) "Cause" means, with respect to the termination by the Company or a Related Entity of the Grantee's Continuous Service, that such termination is for "Cause" as such term is expressly defined in a then-effective written agreement between the Grantee and the Company or such Related Entity, or in the absence of such then-effective written agreement and definition, is based on, in the determination of the Administrator, the Grantee's:
(i) refusal or failure to act in accordance with any specific, lawful direction or order of the Company or a Related Entity;
(ii) unfitness or unavailability for service or unsatisfactory performance (other than as a result of Disability);
(iii) performance of any act or failure to perform any act, in bad faith and to the detriment of the Company or a Related Entity;
(iv) dishonesty, intentional misconduct or material breach of any agreement with the Company or a Related Entity; or
(v) commission of a crime involving dishonesty, breach of trust, or physical or emotional harm to any person.
(h) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(i) "Committee" means any committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.
(j) "Common Stock" means the common stock of the Company.
(k) "Company" means Air Industries Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
(l) "Consultant" means any person (other than an Employee or a Director, solely with respect to rendering services in such person's capacity as a Director) who is engaged by the Company or any Related Entity to render consulting or advisory services to the Company or such Related Entity.
(m) "Continuous Service" means that the provision of services to the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or Related Entity, (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or among the Company, any Related Entity, or any successor, in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant, or (iii) any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant (except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement). For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such approved leave of absence may exceed ninety (90) days, unless re-employment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract.
(n) "Corporate Transaction" means any of the following transactions:
(i) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state in which the Company is incorporated;
(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (including the capital stock of the Company's subsidiary corporations) in connection with the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
(iii) any reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which securities possessing more than eighty percent (80%) of the total combined voting power of the Company's outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different from those who held such securities immediately prior to such merger; or
(iv) an acquisition by any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than eighty percent (80%) of the total combined voting power of the Company's outstanding securities, but excluding any such transaction that the Administrator determines shall not be a Corporate Transaction.
(o) "Director" means a member of the Board or the board of directors of any Related Entity.
(p) "Disability" means that a Grantee is permanently unable to carry out the responsibilities and functions of the position held by the Grantee by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment. A Grantee will not be considered to have incurred a Disability unless he or she furnishes proof of such impairment sufficient to satisfy the Administrator in its discretion.
(q) "Dividend Equivalent Right" means a right entitling the Grantee to compensation measured by dividends paid with respect to Common Stock.
(r) "Employee" means any person, including an Officer or Director, who is an employee of the Company or any Related Entity. The payment of a director's fee by the Company or a Related Entity shall not be sufficient to constitute "employment" by the Company.
(s) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(t) "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:
(i) Where there exists a public market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be (A) the closing price for a Share for the last market trading day prior to the time of the determination (or, if no closing price was reported on that date, on the last trading date on which a closing price was reported) on the stock exchange or national market system determined by the Administrator to be the primary market for the Common Stock, or (B) if the Common Stock is not traded on any such exchange or national market system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices of a share on the OTC Bulletin Board or other inter-dealer quotation service for the day prior to the time of the determination (or, if no such prices were reported on that date, on the last date on which such prices were reported), in each case, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or (ii) in the absence of an established market for the Common Stock of the type described in subparagraph (i), above, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Administrator in good faith.
(u) "Grantee" means an Employee, Director or Consultant who receives an Award pursuant to an Award Agreement under the Plan.
(v) "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
(w) "Non-Qualified Stock Option" means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
(x) "Officer" means a person who is an officer of the Company or a Related Entity within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(y) "Option" means an option to purchase Shares pursuant to an Award Agreement granted under the Plan.
(z) "Parent" means a "parent corporation", whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(aa) "Performance Shares" means Shares or an Award denominated in Shares which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of performance criteria established by the Administrator.
(bb) "Performance Units" means an Award which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of performance criteria established by the Administrator and which may be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of cash, Shares or other securities as established by the Administrator.
(cc) "Plan" means this 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.
(dd) "Related Entity" means any Parent, Subsidiary and any business, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary holds a substantial ownership interest, directly or indirectly.
(ee) "Restricted Stock" means Shares issued under the Plan to the Grantee for such consideration, if any, and subject to such restrictions on transfer, rights of first refusal, repurchase provisions, forfeiture provisions, and other terms and conditions as established by the Administrator.
(ff) "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor thereto.
(gg) "SAR" means a stock appreciation right entitling the Grantee to Shares or cash compensation, as established by the Administrator, measured by appreciation in the value of Common Stock.
(hh) "Share" means a share of the Common Stock.
(ii) "Subsidiary" means a "subsidiary corporation", whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
(jj) "Related Entity Disposition" means the sale, distribution or other disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's interests in any Related Entity effected by a sale, merger or consolidation or other transaction involving that Related Entity or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of that Related Entity.
3. Stock Subject to the Plan.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 10, below, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to all Awards (including Incentive Stock Options) is 600,000 Shares. The Shares to be issued pursuant to Awards may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.
(b) Any Shares covered by an Award (or portion of an Award) which is forfeited or canceled, expires or is settled in cash, shall be deemed not to have been issued for purposes of determining the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan. If any unissued Shares are retained by the Company upon exercise of an Award in order to satisfy the exercise price for such Award or any withholding taxes due with respect to such Award, such retained Shares subject to such Award shall become available for future issuance under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). Shares that actually have been issued under the Plan pursuant to an Award shall not be returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future issuance under the Plan, except that if unvested Shares are forfeited, or repurchased by the Company at their original purchase price, such Shares shall become available for future grant under the Plan.
4. Administration of the Plan.
(a) Plan Administrator.
(i) Administration with Respect to Directors and Officers. With respect to grants of Awards to Directors or Employees who are also Officers or Directors of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the Applicable Laws and to permit such grants and related transactions under the Plan to be exempt from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act in accordance with Rule 16b-3. Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board.
(ii) Administration With Respect to Consultants and Other Employees. With respect to grants of Awards to Employees or Consultants who are neither Directors nor Officers of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the Applicable Laws. Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board. The Board may authorize one or more Officers to grant such Awards and may limit such authority as the Board determines from time to time. Except for the power to amend the Plan as provided in Section 13 and except for determinations regarding Employees who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or certain key Employees who are, or may become, as determined by the Board or the Committee, subject to Section 162(m) of the Code compensation deductibility limit, and except as may otherwise be required under applicable stock exchange rules, the Board or the Committee may delegate any or all of its duties, powers and authority under the Plan pursuant to such conditions or limitations as the Board of the Committee may establish to any Officer or Officers of the Company
(iii) Administration Errors. In the event an Award is granted in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of this subsection, such Award shall be presumptively valid as of its grant date to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.
(b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to Applicable Laws and the provisions of the Plan (including any other powers given to the Administrator hereunder), and except as otherwise provided by the Board, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion:
(i) to select the Employees, Directors and Consultants to whom Awards may be granted from time to time hereunder;
(ii) to determine whether and to what extent Awards are granted hereunder;
(iii) to determine the number of Shares or the amount of other consideration to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(iv) to approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan;
(v) to determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder;
(vi) to amend the terms of any outstanding Award granted under the Plan, provided that any amendment that would adversely affect the Grantee's rights under an outstanding Award shall not be made without the Grantee's written consent;
(vii) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, including without limitation, any notice of Award or Award Agreement, granted pursuant to the Plan;
(viii) to establish additional terms, conditions, rules or procedures to accommodate the rules or laws of applicable foreign jurisdictions and to afford Grantees favorable treatment under such laws; provided, however, that no Award shall be granted under any such additional terms, conditions, rules or procedures with terms or conditions which are inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan; and
(ix) to take such other action, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator deems appropriate.
(c) Effect of Administrator's Decision. All decisions, determinations and interpretations of the Administrator shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.
5. Eligibility, Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary. An Employee, Director or Consultant who has been granted an Award may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional Awards. Awards may be granted to Employees, Directors or Consultants who are residing in foreign jurisdictions.
6. Terms and Conditions of Awards.
(a) Type of Awards. The Administrator is authorized under the Plan to award any type of arrangement to an Employee, Director or Consultant that is not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan and that by its terms involves or might involve the issuance of (i) Shares, (ii) an Option, a SAR or similar right with a fixed or variable price related to the Fair Market Value of the Shares and with an exercise or conversion privilege related to the passage of time, the occurrence of one or more events, or the satisfaction of performance criteria or other conditions, or (iii) any other security with the value derived from the value of the Shares. Such awards include, without limitation, Options, SARs, sales or bonuses of Restricted Stock, Dividend Equivalent Rights, Performance Units or Performance Shares, and an Award may consist of one such security or benefit, or two (2) or more of them in any combination or alternative.
(b) Designation of Award. Each Award shall be designated in the Award Agreement. In the case of an Option, the Option shall be designated as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares subject to Options designated as Incentive Stock Options which become exercisable for the first time by a Grantee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such excess Options, to the extent of the Shares covered thereby in excess of the foregoing limitation, shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options. For this purpose, Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the date the Option with respect to such Shares is granted.
(c) Conditions of Award. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator shall determine the provisions, terms, and conditions of each Award including, but not limited to, the Award vesting schedule, repurchase provisions, rights of first refusal, forfeiture provisions, form of payment (cash, Shares, or other consideration) upon settlement of the Award, payment contingencies, and satisfaction of any performance criteria. The performance criteria established by the Administrator may be based on any one of, or combination of, increase in share price, earnings per share, total stockholder return, return on equity, return on assets, return on investment, net operating income, cash flow, revenue, economic value added, personal management objectives, or other measure of performance selected by the Administrator. Partial achievement of the specified criteria may result in a partial payment or vesting as specified in the Award Agreement.
(d) Acquisitions and Other Transactions. The Administrator may issue Awards under the Plan in settlement, assumption or substitution for, outstanding awards or obligations to grant future awards in connection with the Company or a Related Entity acquiring another entity, an interest in another entity or an additional interest in a Related Entity whether by merger, stock purchase, asset purchase or other form of transaction.
(e) Deferral of Award Payment. The Administrator may establish one or more programs under the Plan to permit selected Grantees the opportunity to elect to defer receipt of consideration upon exercise of an Award, satisfaction of performance criteria, or other event that absent the election would entitle the Grantee to payment or receipt of Shares or other consideration under an Award. The Administrator may establish the election procedures, the timing of such elections, the mechanisms for payments of, and accrual of interest or other earnings, if any, on amounts, Shares or other consideration so deferred, and such other terms, conditions, rules and procedures that the Administrator deems advisable for the administration of any such deferral program.
(f) Award Exchange Programs. The Administrator may establish one or more programs under the Plan to permit selected Grantees to exchange an Award under the Plan for one or more other types of Awards under the Plan on such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator from time to time.
(g) Separate Programs. The Administrator may establish one or more separate programs under the Plan for the purpose of issuing particular forms of Awards to one or more classes of Grantees on such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator from time to time.
(h) Early Exercise. The Award Agreement may, but need not, include a provision whereby the Grantee may elect at any time while an Employee, Director or Consultant to exercise any part or all of the Award prior to full vesting of the Award. Any unvested Shares received pursuant to such exercise may be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company or a Related Entity or to any other restriction the Administrator determines to be appropriate.
(i) Term of Award. The term of each Award shall be the term stated in the Award Agreement, provided, however, that the term of an Incentive Stock Option shall be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof. However, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Grantee who, at the time the Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.
(j) Transferability of Awards. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, all Awards under the Plan shall be nontransferable and shall not be assignable, alienable, saleable or otherwise transferable by the Grantee other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution except pursuant to a domestic relations order entered by a court of
competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Board or the Committee may provide that any Award of Non-Qualified Stock Options may be transferable by the recipient to family members or family trusts established by the Grantee. The Board or the Committee may also provide that, in the event that a Grantee terminates employment with the Company to assume a position with a governmental, charitable, educational or similar non-profit institution, a third party, including but not limited to a "blind" trust, may be authorized by the Board or the Committee to act on behalf of and for the benefit of the respective Grantee with respect to any outstanding Awards. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, during the life of the Grantee, Awards under the Plan shall be exercisable only by him or her except as otherwise determined by the Board or the Committee. In addition, if so permitted by the Board or the Committee, a Grantee may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise the rights of the Grantee and receive any distributions under the Plan upon the death of the Grantee.
(k) Time of Granting Awards. The date of grant of an Award shall for all purposes be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination to grant such Award, or such other date as is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the grant determination shall be given to each Employee, Director or Consultant to whom an Award is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.
7. Award Exercise or Purchase Price, Consideration, Taxes and Reload Options.
(a) Exercise or Purchase Price. The exercise or purchase price, if any, for an Award shall be as follows:
(i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option: (A) granted to an Employee who, at the time of the grant of such Incentive Stock Option owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant; or (B) granted to any Employee other than an Employee described in the preceding clause, the per Share exercise price shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
(ii) In the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, the per Share exercise price shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant unless otherwise determined by the Administrator.
(iii) In the case of other Awards, such price as is determined by the Administrator.
(iv) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7(a),in the case of an Award issued pursuant to Section 6(d), above, the exercise or purchase price for the Award shall be determined in accordance with the principles of Section 424(a) of the Code.
(b) Consideration. Subject to Applicable Laws, the consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise or purchase of an Award including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Administrator (and, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, shall be determined at the time of grant). In addition to any other types of consideration the Administrator may determine, the Administrator is authorized to accept as consideration for Shares issued under the Plan the following, provided that the portion of the consideration equal to the par value of the Shares must be paid in cash or other legal consideration permitted by the applicable laws of the jurisdiction in which the Company is then incorporated.
(i) cash;
(ii) check;
(iii) delivery of Grantee's promissory note with such recourse, interest, security, and redemption provisions as the Administrator determines is appropriate;
(iv) surrender of Shares or delivery of a properly executed form of attestation of ownership of Shares as the Administrator may require including withholding of Shares otherwise deliverable upon exercise of the Award) which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender or attestation equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Award shall be exercised (but only to the extent that such exercise of the Award would not result in an accounting compensation charge with respect to the Shares used to pay the exercise price unless otherwise determined by the Administrator);
(v) with respect to options, payment through a broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which the Grantee (A) shall provide written instructions to a Company designated brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of some or all of the purchased Shares and remit to the Company, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased Shares and (B) shall provide written directives to the Company to deliver the certificates for the purchased Shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale transaction; or
(vi) with respect to options provided there is then an established market for the Common Stock, by a “cashless exercise” as a result of which the Grantee shall be entitled to receive that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient of (i) the number of Options surrendered for exercise and (ii) the difference between the Fair Market Value (determined in accordance with clause (i) of Section 2(t) hereof) and the exercise price of the Option, in which case the number of Options surrendered for exercise shall be cancelled;
(vii) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.
(c) Taxes. No Shares shall be delivered under the Plan to any Grantee or other person until such Grantee or other person has made arrangements acceptable to the Administrator for the satisfaction of any foreign, federal, state, or local income and employment tax withholding obligations, including, without limitation, obligations incident to the receipt of Shares or the disqualifying disposition of Shares received on exercise of an Incentive Stock Option. Upon exercise of an Award, the Company shall withhold or collect from Grantee an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations.
(d) Reload Options. In the event the exercise price or tax withholding of an Option is satisfied by the Company or the Grantee's employer withholding Shares otherwise deliverable to the Grantee, the Administrator may issue the Grantee an additional Option, with terms identical to the Award Agreement under which the Option was exercised, but at an exercise price as determined by the Administrator in accordance with the Plan.
8. Exercise of Award.
(a) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder.
(i) Any Award granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator under the terms of the Plan and specified in the Award Agreement.
(ii) An Award shall be deemed to be exercised upon the later of (x) receipt by the Company of written notice of such exercise in accordance with the terms of the Award by the person entitled to exercise the Award and (y) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Award is exercised, including, to the extent selected, use of the broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure to pay the purchase price as provided in Section 7(b)(v).
(iii) Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the stock certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to Shares subject to an Award, notwithstanding the exercise of an Option or other Award. The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such stock certificate promptly upon exercise of the Award. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in the Award Agreement or Section 10, below.
(b) Exercise of Award Following Termination of Continuous Service.
(i) An Award may not be exercised after the termination date of such Award set forth in the Award Agreement and may be exercised following the termination of a Grantee's Continuous Service only to the extent provided in the Award Agreement.
(ii) Where the Award Agreement permits a Grantee to exercise an Award following the termination of the Grantee's Continuous Service for a specified period, the Award shall terminate to the extent not exercised on the last day of the specified period or the last day of the original term of the Award, whichever occurs first.
(iii) Any Award designated as an Incentive Stock Option to the extent not exercised within the time permitted by law for the exercise of Incentive Stock Options following the termination of a Grantee's Continuous Service shall convert automatically to a Non-Qualified Stock Option and thereafter shall be exercisable as such to the extent exercisable by its terms for the period specified in the Award Agreement.
(c) Buyout Provisions. The Administrator may at any time offer to buy out for a payment in cash or Shares, an Award previously granted, based on such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and communicate to the Grantee at the time that such offer is made.
9. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.
(a) Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all Applicable Laws, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.
(b) As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any Applicable Laws.
10. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the Administrator may, in its discretion, proportionately adjust the number of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the number of Shares which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan, the exercise or purchase price of each such outstanding Award, as well as any other terms that the Administrator determines require adjustment for (a) any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Shares, (b) any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, or (c) as the Administrator may determine in its discretion, any other transaction with respect to Common Stock to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies; provided, however that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected without receipt of consideration." Such adjustment shall be made by the Administrator and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as the Administrator determines, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason hereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject to an Award.
11. Corporate Transactions and Related Entity Dispositions. Except as may be provided in an Award Agreement:
(a) The Administrator shall have the authority, exercisable either in advance of any actual or anticipated Corporate Transaction or Related Entity Disposition or at the time of an actual Corporate Transaction or Related Entity Disposition and exercisable at the time of the grant of an Award under the Plan or any time while an Award remains outstanding, to provide for the full automatic vesting and exercisability of one or more outstanding unvested Awards under the Plan and the release from restrictions on transfer and repurchase or forfeiture rights of such Awards in connection with a Corporate Transaction or Related Entity Disposition, on such terms and conditions as the Administrator may specify. The Administrator also shall have the authority to condition any such Award vesting and exercisability or release from such limitations upon the subsequent termination of the Continuous Service of the Grantee within a specified period following the effective date of the Corporate Transaction or Related Entity Disposition. Effective upon the consummation of a Corporate Transaction or Related Entity Disposition, all outstanding Awards under the Plan, shall remain fully exercisable until the expiration or sooner termination of the Award.
(b) The portion of any Incentive Stock Option accelerated under this Section 11 in connection with a Corporate Transaction or Related Entity Disposition shall remain exercisable as an Incentive Stock Option under the Code only to the extent the $ 100,000 dollar limitation of Section 422(d) of the Code is not exceeded. To the extent such dollar limitation is exceeded, the accelerated excess portion of such Option shall be exercisable as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
12. Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the stockholders of the Company. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated. Subject to Section 13 below, and Applicable Laws, Awards may be granted under the Plan upon its becoming effective.
13. Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan.
(a) The Board may at any time amend, suspend or terminate the Plan. To the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Laws, the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required.
(b) No Award may be granted during any suspension of the Plan or after termination of the Plan.
(c) Any amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan (including termination of the Plan under Section 12, above) shall not affect Awards already granted, and such Awards shall remain in full force and effect as if the Plan had not been amended, suspended or terminated, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Grantee and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Grantee and the Company.
14. Reservation of Shares.
(a) The Company, during the term of the Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
(b) The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company's counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.
15. No Effect on Terms of Employment/Consulting Relationship. The Plan shall not confer upon any Grantee any right with respect to the Grantee's Continuous Service, nor shall it interfere in any way with his or her right or the Company's right to terminate the Grantee's Continuous Service at any time, with or without cause.
16. Unfunded Plan. Unless otherwise determined by the Board or the Committee, the Plan shall be unfunded and shall not create (or construed to create) a trust or a separate fund or funds. The Plan shall not establish any fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Grantee or other person. To the extent any person holds any rights by virtue of an Award granted under the Plan, such right (unless otherwise determined by the Board or the Committee) shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.
17. No Effect on Retirement and Other Benefit Plans. Except as specifically provided in a retirement or other benefit plan of the Company or a Related Entity, Awards shall not be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits or contributions under any retirement plan of the Company or a Related Entity, and shall not affect any benefits under any other benefit plan of any kind or any benefit plan subsequently instituted under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to level of compensation. The Plan is not a "Retirement Plan" or "Welfare Plan" under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
18. Stockholder Approval. The grant of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan shall be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board excluding Incentive Stock Options issued in substitution for outstanding Incentive Stock Options pursuant to Section 424(a) of the Code. Such stockholder approval shall be obtained in the degree and manner required under Applicable Laws. The Administrator may grant Incentive Stock Options under the Plan prior to approval by the stockholders, but until such approval is obtained, no such Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable. In the event that stockholder approval is not obtained within the twelve (12) month period provided above, all Incentive Stock Options previously granted under the Plan shall be exercisable as Non-Qualified Stock Options.
APPENDIX B
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (hereinafter called this "Agreement"), dated as of June__, 2013, is entered into between Air Industries Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and Air Industries Group, a Nevada corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company ("Newco").
Preliminary Statement
The Company, whose shares of common stock are registered under Section 12(g) of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), desires to reincorporate as a Nevada corporation. The Company has formed Newco in order to effect the reincorporation.
The board of directors of each of the Company and Newco deems it advisable and in the best interests of such corporations and their respective stockholders, that the Company be merged with and into Newco, upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein stated, and that Newco be the surviving corporation (the "Reincorporation Merger").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the agreements of the parties hereto contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE REINCORPORATION MERGER; EFFECTIVE TIME
1.1. The Reincorporation Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.2), the Company shall be merged with and into Newco whereupon the separate existence of the Company shall cease. Newco shall be the surviving corporation (sometimes hereinafter referred to as the "Surviving Corporation") in the Reincorporation Merger and shall continue to be governed by the laws of the State of Nevada. The Reincorporation Merger shall have the effects specified in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended (the "DGCL") and in the Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, as amended (the "NRS"), and the Surviving Corporation shall succeed, without other transfer, to all of the assets and property (whether real, personal or mixed), rights, privileges, franchises, immunities and powers of the Company, and shall assume and be subject to all of the duties, liabilities, obligations and restrictions of every kind and description of the Company, including, without limitation, all outstanding indebtedness of the Company.
1.2. Effective Time. Provided that the conditions set forth in Section 5.1 have been fulfilled in accordance with this Agreement and that this Agreement has not been terminated or abandoned pursuant to Section 6.1, on the date of the closing of the Reincorporation Merger, the Company and Newco shall cause Articles of Merger to be executed and filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of Nevada (the "Nevada Articles of Merger") and a Certificate of Merger to be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware (the "Delaware Certificate of Merger"). The Reincorporation Merger shall become effective upon the date and time specified in the Nevada Articles of Merger and the Delaware Certificate of Merger (the "Effective Time").
CHARTER AND BYLAWS OF THE SURVIVING CORPORATION
2.1. The Certificate of Incorporation. The articles of incorporation of Newco in effect at the Effective Time shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, until amended in accordance with the provisions provided therein or applicable law.
2.2. The Bylaws. The bylaws of Newco in effect at the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation, until amended in accordance with the provisions provided therein or applicable law.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF THE SURVIVING CORPORATION
3.1. Officers. The officers of Newco at the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.
3.2. Directors. The directors of Newco at the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors of the Surviving Corporation, until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.
ARTICLE IV
EFFECT OF MERGER ON CAPITAL STOCK
4.1. Effect of Merger on Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, as a result of the Reincorporation Merger and without any action on the part of the Company, Newco or the stockholders of the Company:
(a) Each share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 [other than shares ("Dissenting Shares") that are owned by shareholders ("Dissenting Stockholders") exercising dissenters' rights pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time] shall be converted (without the surrender of stock certificates or any other action) into one fully paid and non-assessable share of common stock, par value $0.001, of Newco ("Nevada common stock"), with the same rights, powers and privileges as the shares so converted and all shares of common stock of the Company shall be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist.
(b) Each option, warrant, or other security of the Company issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be (i) converted into and shall be an identical security of Newco, and (ii) in the case of securities to acquire common stock, converted into the right to acquire the number of shares of Nevada common stock equal to the number of shares of Delaware common stock that were acquirable pursuant to such option, warrant, or other security at the Effective Date. The same number of shares of Nevada common stock shall be reserved for purposes of the exercise of such options, warrants, or other securities as is equal to the number of shares of the common stock so reserved as of the Effective Time.
(c) Each share of Nevada common stock owned by the Company shall no longer be outstanding and shall be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist.
4.2. Certificates. At and after the Effective Time, all of the outstanding certificates which immediately prior thereto represented shares of Delaware common stock (other than Dissenting Shares), or options, warrants, or other securities of the Company shall be deemed for all purposes to evidence ownership of and to represent a number of shares of Nevada common stock equal to the number of shares of Delaware common stock represented thereby or that were acquirable pursuant to such options, warrants, or other securities of Newco, as the case may be, into which the shares of common stock, options, warrants, or other securities of the Company represented by such certificates have been converted as herein provided and shall be so registered on the books and records of the Surviving Corporation or its transfer agent. The registered owner of any such outstanding certificate shall, until such certificate shall have been surrendered for transfer or otherwise accounted for to the Surviving Corporation or its transfer agent, have and be entitled to exercise any voting and other rights with respect to, and to receive any dividends and other distributions upon, the shares of Delaware common stock, options, warrants, or other securities of Newco, as the case may be, evidenced by such outstanding certificate, as above provided.
4.3 Dissenters' Rights. No Dissenting Stockholder shall be entitled to shares of Nevada common stock under this Article IV unless and until the holder thereof shall have failed to perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost such holder's right to dissent from the Reincorporation Merger under Section 262 of the DGCL, and any Dissenting Stockholder shall be entitled to receive only the payment provided by Section 262 of the DGCL with respect to Dissenting Shares owned by such Dissenting Stockholder (“Dissenter Rights”). If any person or entity who otherwise would be deemed a Dissenting Stockholder shall have failed to properly perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost the right to dissent with respect to any shares which would be Dissenting Shares but for that failure to perfect or withdrawal or loss of the right to dissent, such Dissenting Shares shall thereupon be treated as though such Dissenting Shares had been converted into shares of Nevada common stock pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof.
ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS
5.1. Shareholder Approval of Reincorporation Merger. The respective obligation of each party hereto to effect the Reincorporation Merger is subject to approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the common stock of the Company pursuant to Section 228 of the DGCL at the Company’s 2013 annual meeting of stockholders.
5.2 Proxy Statement. The Company shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and distribute to its stockholders a proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act soliciting proxies “for” approval of this Agreement and the Reincorporation Merger at the Company’s 2013 annual meeting of stockholders, which proxy statement shall discuss the terms of the Reincorporation Merger and advise stockholders of their Dissenter’s Rights.
TERMINATION
6.1. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated, and the Reincorporation Merger may be abandoned, at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after approval of this Agreement by the stockholders of the Company, if the board of directors of the Company determines for any reason, in its sole judgment and discretion, that the consummation of the Reincorporation Merger would be inadvisable or not in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. In the event of the termination and abandonment of this Agreement, this Agreement shall become null and void and have no effect, without any liability on the part of either the Company or Newco, or any of their respective stockholders, directors or officers.
MISCELLANEOUS AND GENERAL
7.1. Modification or Amendment. Subject to the provisions of applicable law, at any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties hereto may modify or amend this Agreement; provided, however, that an amendment made subsequent to the approval of this Agreement by the holders of common stock of the Company shall not (i) alter or change the amount or kind of shares and/or rights to be received in exchange for or on conversion of all or any of the shares or any class or series thereof of the Company, (ii) alter or change any provision of the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation to be effected by the Reincorporation Merger, or (iii) alter or change any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement if such alteration or change would adversely affect the holders of any class or series of capital stock of any of the parties hereto.
7.2. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts shall together constitute the same agreement.
7.3. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be made in and in all respects shall be interpreted, construed and governed by and in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of law principles thereof.
7.4. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties both written and oral, among the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
7.5. No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is not intended to confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.
7.6. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any person or any circumstance, is determined by any court or other authority of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application thereof, in any other jurisdiction.
7.7. Headings. The headings therein are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of the parties hereto as of the date first written above.
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Air Industries Group, Inc.
a Delaware corporation
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By:
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/s/ Peter D. Rettaliata
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Peter D. Rettaliata
Chief Executive Officer
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Air Industries Group
a Nevada corporation
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By: |
/s/ Peter D. Retaliatta
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Peter D. Rettaliata
Chief Executive Officer
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APPENDIX C
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation is Air Industries Group (which is hereinafter referred to as the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE II
PERIOD OF DURATION
The Corporation shall continue in existence perpetually unless sooner dissolved in accordance with the law.
ARTICLE III
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Corporation shall be to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized and incorporated under the laws of the state of Nevada.
ARTICLE IV
AUTHORIZED SHARES
The Corporation shall be authorized to issue 26,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which 25,000,000 shares shall be shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value (“Common Stock”), and 1,000,000 shares shall be shares of Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value (“Preferred Stock”).
Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more classes or series. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) is hereby authorized to fix by resolution or resolutions the classes, series, and number of each class or series of stock as provided in Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”) 78.195, 78.1955, and 78.196, as well as prescribe the voting powers, if any, designations, powers, preferences, and the relative, participating, optional, or other rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions thereof, of any unissued class or series of Preferred Stock; to fix the number of shares constituting such class or series; and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any such class or series, but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding.
Except as otherwise provided by law or by the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors designating the powers, designations, preferences, limitations, restrictions, and relative rights of any Preferred Stock, the Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and for all other purposes. Each share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on all matters on which stockholders are entitled generally to vote, and the holders of Common Stock shall vote together as a single class.
ARTICLE V
DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors shall initially consist of seven members and thereafter shall consist of the number of directors that, from time to time shall be fixed by, or in the manner provided in the bylaws of the corporation. The names and addresses of the individuals who are to serve as the initial Board of Directors of the corporation until the next annual meeting of stockholders, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified are as follows:
Name
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Address
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Peter D. Rettaliata
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1479 North Clinton Avenue, Bay Shore, NY 11706
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Michael N. Taglich
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700 New York Avenue, Suite B, Huntington, NY 11743
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Seymour G. Siegel
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1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019
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David J. Buonanno
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8213 Bay Shore Drive West, Margate City, NJ 08402
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Robert F. Taglich
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700 New York Avenue, Suite B, Huntington, NY 11743
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Robert C. Schroeder
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700 New York Avenue, Suite B, Huntington, NY 11743
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Michael Brand
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4196 Majestic Circle, Medina, OH 44256
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Elections of directors need not be done by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the corporation shall otherwise provide.
Each director shall serve until his successor is elected and qualified or until his death, resignation or removal; and no decrease in the authorized number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors, or any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, removal or other causes, shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the new directorship was created or the vacancy occurred and until such director's successor shall have been elected and qualified or until such director's death, resignation or removal, whichever first occurs.
In addition to the powers and authority hereinbefore or by statute expressly conferred upon them, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the NRS, these Articles of Incorporation, and any Bylaws.
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION ON LIABILITY
Unless otherwise provided by law, a director or officer is not individually liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or creditors for any damages as a result of any act or failure to act in his individual capacity as a director or officer unless it is proven that his act or failure to act constituted a breach of his fiduciary duties as a director or officer and his breach of those duties involved intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of law. If the NRS is amended to further eliminate or limit or authorize corporate action to further eliminate or limit the liability of directors or officers, the liability of directors and officers of the corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the NRS as so amended from time to time. Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article VI, nor the adoption of any provision of these Articles of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article VI, shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of a director or officer of the corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or adoption of such an inconsistent provision.
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
Every person who was or is a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by the reason of the fact that he or she, or a person with whom he or she is a legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or who is serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, or is a representative in a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall be indemnified and held harmless to the fullest extent legally permissible under the laws of the State of Nevada from time to time against all expenses, liability and loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid or to be paid in a settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by him or her in connection therewith. The right of indemnification shall be a contract right which may be enforced in any manner desired by such person. The expenses of officers and directors incurred in defending a civil suit or proceeding must be paid by the Corporation as incurred and in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding, under receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation. Such right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other right of such directors, officers or representatives may have or hereafter acquire, and, without limiting the generality of such statement, they shall be entitled to their respective rights of indemnification under any bylaw agreement, vote of stockholders, provision of law, or otherwise, as well as their rights under this article.
Without limiting the application of the foregoing, the Board of Directors may adopt bylaws from time to time with respect to indemnification, to provide at all times the fullest indemnification permitted by the laws of the State of Nevada, and may cause the corporation to purchase or maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation or who is serving at the request of the corporation as an officer, director or representative of any other entity or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred in any such capacity or arising out of such status, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person.
Any repeal or modification of the above provisions of this Article VII, approved by the stockholders of the corporation shall be prospective only, and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the liability of a director or officer of the corporation existing as of the time of such repeal or modification. In the event of any conflict between the above indemnification provisions, and any other Article of the Articles, the terms and provisions of this Article VII shall control.
ARTICLE VIII
CONTRACTS OR OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH INTERESTED PERSONS
No contract or other transaction of the corporation with any other person, firm or corporation, or in which this corporation is interested, shall be affected or invalidated by: (i) the fact that any one or more of the directors or officers of the corporation is interested in or is a director or officer of such other firm or corporation; or, (ii) the fact that any director or officer of the corporation, individually or jointly with others, may be a party to or may be interested in any such contract or transaction, so long as the contract or transaction is authorized, approved or ratified at a meeting of the Board of Directors by sufficient vote thereon by directors not interested therein, to which such fact of relationship or interest has been disclosed, or the contract or transaction has been approved or ratified by vote or written consent of the stockholders entitled to vote, to whom such fact of relationship or interest has been disclosed, or so long as the contract or transaction is fair and reasonable to the corporation. Each person who may become a director or officer of the corporation is hereby relieved from any liability that might otherwise arise by reason of his contracting with the corporation for the benefit of himself or any firm or corporation in which he may in any way be interested.
ARTICLE IX
ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
The bylaws of the Corporation shall be adopted by the Board of Directors. The power to alter, amend, or repeal the bylaws or adopt new bylaws shall be vested in the board of directors, but the stockholders of the Corporation may also alter, amend, or repeal the bylaws or adopt new bylaws. The bylaws may contain any provisions for the regulation or management of the affairs of the Corporation not inconsistent with the laws of the state of Nevada now or hereafter existing.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change, or repeal all or any portion of the provisions contained in these articles of incorporation from time to time in accordance with the laws of the state of Nevada, and all rights conferred on stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.
ARTICLE XI
INCORPORATOR
The name and mailing address of the incorporator is:
Vincent J. McGill, Esq.
Eaton & Van Winkle LLP
3 Park Avenue, 16th floor
New York, New York 10016
The undersigned incorporator hereby acknowledges that the foregoing certificate is his act and deed and that the facts stated herein are true.
Dated: June 3, 2013
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INCORPORATOR
/s/ Vincent J. McGill
Vincent J. McGill
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APPENDIX D
BYLAWS
OF
AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP
(A Nevada corporation)
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1.1. Annual Meetings. If required by applicable law or under the rules or regulations of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation service upon or through which the securities of the Corporation are listed or quoted (a “Listing Body”), an annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year at such date, time and place, as may be designated by the board of directors (the “Board of Directors”) from time to time. At such meeting, the holders of the Corporation’s voting securities entitled to vote thereon shall elect the Board of Directors and shall transact such other business as may be brought properly before the meeting.
Section 1.2. Special Meetings.
1.2.1. Special meetings of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President (if he is also a member of the Board of Directors) or the Board of Directors, to be held at such date, time and place as may be determined by such person or persons calling the meeting and stated in the notice of the meeting. A special meeting shall be called by the President or the Secretary upon one or more written demands (which shall state the purpose or purposes therefore) signed and dated by the holders of shares representing not less than ten percent of all votes entitled to be cast on any issue(s) that may be properly proposed to be considered at the special meeting. If no place is designated in the notice, the place of the meeting shall be the principal office of the Corporation.
1.2.2. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of such meeting.
Section 1.3. Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the meeting stating the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. Notice may be given by any means permitted by law. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.
Section 1.4. Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time, to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time, place thereof, if any, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 1.5. Quorum. At each meeting of stockholders, except where otherwise provided by law or the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote on a matter at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. Shares entitled to vote as a separate class or series may take action on a matter at a meeting only if a quorum of those shares is present. For purposes of the foregoing, where a separate vote by class or classes or a series or multiple series is required for any matter, unless stated elsewhere the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or classes or a series or multiple series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum to take action with respect to that vote on that matter. In the absence of a quorum of the holders of any class or series of stock entitled to vote on a matter, the holders of such class or series so present or represented may, by majority vote, adjourn the meeting of such class or series with respect to that matter from time to time in the manner provided by Section 1.4 of these Bylaws until a quorum of such class or series shall be so present or represented. Shares of its own capital stock belonging on the record date for a meeting to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to vote stock, including but not limited to its own stock, held by it in a fiduciary capacity.
Section 1.6. Organization.
1.6.1. The chairman of the annual or any special meeting of the stockholders shall be the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or in the absence of the Chairman, any person designated by the Board of Directors. The Secretary, or in the absence of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, shall act as the secretary of the meeting, but in the absence of the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
1.6.2. The order of business at each such meeting shall be as determined by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts and things as are necessary or desirable for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, the adjournment of any meeting, the establishment of procedures for the maintenance of order and safety, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments on the affairs of the Corporation, restrictions on entry to such meeting after the time prescribed for the commencement thereof and the opening and closing of the voting polls. The chairman of the meeting shall have absolute authority over matters of procedure and there shall be no appeal from a ruling of the chairman.
1.6.3. If disorder shall arise that prevents continuation of the legitimate business of the meeting, the chairman may announce the adjournment of the meeting and quit the chair and upon the chairman so doing the meeting is immediately adjourned.
1.6.4. The chairman may ask or require that anyone who is not a bona fide stockholder or proxyholder leave the meeting.
Section 1.7. Inspectors. Prior to any meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors may, and shall if required by law, appoint one or more inspectors to act at such meeting and make a written report thereof and may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at the meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting may, and shall if required by law, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. The inspectors need not be stockholders of the Corporation, and any director or officer of the Corporation may be an inspector on any matter other than a vote for or against such director’s or officer’s election to any position with the Corporation or on any other matter in which such officer or director may be directly interested. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, determine the shares represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, count all votes and ballots, determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors and certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons to assist them in the performance of their duties. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting. No ballot, proxy or vote, nor any revocation thereof or change thereto, shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law.
Section 1.8. Voting; Proxies.
1.8.1. Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, or any certificate of designation authorizing the issuance of any series or class of capital stock of the Corporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after six months from its date, unless coupled with an interest or unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or another duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the Secretary of the Corporation. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of all classes of stock entitled to vote thereon present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting shall so determine. Except where applicable law, the rules or regulations of a Listing Body, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws require a different vote, if a quorum exists, action on a matter other than the election of directors is approved if the votes cast favoring the action exceed the votes cast opposing the action. In an election of directors, a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at a meeting and entitled to vote for directors is required in order to elect a director. For purposes of these Bylaws, “votes cast” shall mean all votes cast in favor of and against a particular proposal or matter, but shall not include “abstentions or broker non-votes.
1.8.2. The voting rights of shares of Common Stock shall only be as required by applicable law or the Articles of Incorporation.
Section 1.9 Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) by or at the direction of the Chairman of the Board or the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation that is entitled to vote at the meeting with respect to the election of directors or the business to be proposed by such stockholder, as the case may be, who complies with the notice procedures set forth below and that is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation as provided below.
For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such business must be a proper subject for stockholder action under applicable law. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 75 days nor more than 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days, or delayed by more than 60 days, from such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the ninetieth day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the seventy-fifth day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (A) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (B) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (C) as to the stockholder giving the notice and a beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner and (ii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner.
Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of the preceding paragraph to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least 80 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by the preceding paragraph also shall be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected (i) by or at the direction of the Chairman of the Board or the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation that is entitled to vote at the meeting with respect to the election of directors, that complies with the notice procedures set forth in the second paragraph of this Section and that is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation as provided below. Nominations by stockholders of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders if the stockholder’s notice as required by the preceding paragraph shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the ninetieth day prior to the special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the sixtieth day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.
Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section.
Except as otherwise provided by law, the Articles of Incorporation or this Section, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section, to declare that such defective nomination or proposal shall be disregarded.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section. Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to affect any rights (i) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to a meeting of stockholders pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under Exchange Act or (ii) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock or any other series or class of stock as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation to elect directors under specified circumstances or to consent to specific actions taken by the Corporation.
Section 1.10. Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.
1.10.1. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
1.10.2. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not be more than ten days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Nevada, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
1.10.3. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 1.11. Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting Prohibited. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may not be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting.
Section 1.12. Meeting by Remote Communication. If authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication: (a) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and (b) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that (i) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder, (ii) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (iii) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.
ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 2.1. Powers; Number; Qualifications. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise provided by law or in the Articles of Incorporation. The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than one member, the number thereof to be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. Directors must be natural persons at least eighteen years of age but need not be stockholders of the Corporation.
Section 2.2. Election; Term of Office; Resignation; Removal; Newly Created Directorships; Vacancies; Director Emeritus.
2.2.1. Election; Term of Office. The Board of Directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders by the holders of the shares of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon. Each director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders, and until the director’s successor is elected and qualified or until the director’s prior death, resignation, removal or disqualification.
2.2.2. Resignation. Any director may resign at any time upon written notice to the Board of Directors or to the President or the Secretary of the Corporation. Unless otherwise specified in such written notice, such resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Board of Directors or such officer, and the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
2.2.3. Removal. Except as otherwise provided by law, any director may be removed, with or without cause, at any time by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding of record in the aggregate at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation. A vacancy on the Board of Directors caused by any such removal may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors at any time before the end of the unexpired term.
2.2.4. Newly Created Directorships; Vacancies. Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors between annual meetings shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors even if the remaining directors constitute less than a quorum. A director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of such director’s predecessor in office.
Section 2.3. Annual and Regular Meetings. The Board of Directors shall hold its annual meeting without notice on the same day and the same place as, but just following, the annual meeting of stockholders, or at such other date, time and place as may be determined by the Board of Directors. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held without notice at such dates, times and places as may be determined by the Board of Directors by resolution.
Section 2.4. Special Meetings; Notice.
2.4.1. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held, with proper notice, upon the call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors or by at a majority of the Board of Directors, at such time and place as specified in the notice.
2.4.2. Notice of the date, time and place of each special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director at least 24 hours prior to such meeting. The notice of a special meeting of the Board of Directors need not state the purposes of the meeting. Notice to each director of any special meeting may be given in person; by telephone, electronically transmitted facsimile, electronic mail or other means of wire or electronic transmission; or by mail or private carrier. Oral notice to a director of any special meeting is effective when communicated. Written notice to a director of any special meeting is effective at the earliest of: (i) the date received; (ii) five days after it is mailed; (iii) the date shown on the return receipt if mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, if the return receipt is signed by or on behalf of the director to whom the notice is addressed; (iv) or two business days after delivery by a nationally recognized carrier.
Section 2.5. Participation in Meetings by Conference Telephone Permitted. Directors or members of any committee designated by the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or of such committee, as the case may be, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Bylaw shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.6. Quorum; Vote Required for Action. At all meetings of the Board of Directors a majority of the directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting. The vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. In case at any meeting of the Board of Directors a quorum shall not be present, a majority of the directors present may, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum can be obtained.
Section 2.7. Organization. The Board of Directors shall elect a Chairman of the Board of Directors from among its members. If the Board of Directors deems it necessary, it may elect a Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors from among its members to perform the duties of the Chairman of the Board of Directors in such chairman’s absence and such other duties as the Board of Directors may assign. The Chairman of the Board of Directors or, in his absence, the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, or in his absence, any director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as chairperson of the meetings of the Board of Directors. The Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, or any other person appointed by the chairperson shall act as secretary of each meeting of the Board of Directors.
Section 2.8. Action by Directors Without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmission are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee. Such filings shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
Section 2.9. Compensation of Directors. The Board of Directors shall determine and fix the compensation, if any, and the reimbursement of expenses which shall be allowed and paid to the directors. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity or any of its subsidiaries in any other capacity and receiving proper compensation therefore.
Section 2.10. Committees. The Board of Directors may, by a vote of the majority of the directors then in office, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint
another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors or in these Bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation.
Section 2.11. Committee Rules. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may adopt, amend and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of a provision by the Board of Directors or a provision in the rules of such committee to the contrary, a majority of the entire authorized number of members of such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, the vote of a majority of the members present at a meeting at the time of such vote if a quorum is then present shall be the act of such committee, and in other respects each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to Article II of these Bylaws. Each committee shall prepare minutes of its meetings which shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation for inclusion in the Corporation’s records.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
Section 3.1. Officers; Election. The Board of Directors shall, annually or at such times as the Board of Directors may designate, appoint a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and elect from among its members a Chairman. The Board of Directors may also appoint one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries, and one or more Assistant Treasurers and such other officers as the Board of Directors may deem desirable or appropriate and may give any of them such further designations or alternate titles as it considers desirable. The Board of Directors may delegate, by specific resolution, to an officer the power to appoint other specified officers or assistant officers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. Each officer shall be a natural person who is eighteen years of age or older.
Section 3.2. Term of Office; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. Unless otherwise provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors appointing any officer, each officer shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors at which such officer’s successor is appointed and qualified or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Any officer may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, and unless otherwise specified therein no acceptance of such resignation shall be necessary to make it effective. The Board of Directors may remove any officer with or without cause at any time. Any such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the Corporation, but the appointment of an officer shall not of itself create contractual rights. The Board of Directors may also delegate to an officer the power to remove other specified officers or assistant officers. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors. An officer appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the unexpired term of such officer’s predecessor, or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal.
Section 3.3. Temporary Delegation of Duties. In the case of the absence of any officer, or his inability to perform his duties, or for any other reason deemed sufficient by the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors may delegate the powers and duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director temporarily, provided that a majority of the directors then in office concur and that no such delegation shall result in giving to the same person conflicting duties.
Section 3.4. Chairman. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders at which he or she shall be present and shall have and may exercise such powers as may, from time to time, be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or as may be provided by law.
Section 3.5. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”), if one is appointed by the Board of Directors, shall perform all duties customarily delegated to the chief executive officer of a corporation and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to the CEO by the Board of Directors and these Bylaws.
Section 3.6. President. If there is no separate CEO, the President shall be the CEO of the Corporation; otherwise, the President shall be responsible to the CEO for the day-to-day operations of the Corporation. The President shall have general and active management of the business of the Corporation; shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect; and shall perform all duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors or the CEO.
Section 3.7. Vice Presidents. The Vice President or Vice Presidents shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as may, from time to time, be assigned to him or her or them by the Board of Directors, the CEO or the President or as may be provided by law.
Section 3.8. Secretary. The Secretary shall have the duty to record the proceedings of the meetings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and any committees thereof in a book to be kept for that purpose, shall authenticate records of the Corporation, shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law, shall be custodian of the records of the Corporation, may affix the corporate seal to any document the execution of which, on behalf of the Corporation, is duly authorized, and when so affixed may attest the same, and, in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of secretary of a corporation and such other duties as may, from time to time, be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the CEO or the President or as may be provided by law.
Section 3.9. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge of and be responsible for all funds, securities, receipts and disbursements of the Corporation and shall deposit or cause to be deposited, in the name of the Corporation, all moneys or other valuable effects in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall, from time to time, be selected by or under authority of the Board of Directors. If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties, with such surety or sureties as the Board of Directors may determine. The Treasurer shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate records of all receipts and
disbursements in books of the Corporation, shall maintain books of account and records and exhibit such books of account and records to any of the directors of the Corporation at any reasonable time, shall receive and give receipts for monies due and payable to the Corporation from any source whatsoever, shall render to the CEO, the President and to the Board of Directors, whenever requested, an account of the financial condition of the Corporation, and, if called to do so, make a full financial report at the annual meeting of the stockholders, and, in general, shall perform all the duties incident to the office of treasurer of a corporation and such other duties as may, from time to time, be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the CEO or the President or as may be provided by law.
Section 3.10. Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers. The Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers, if any, shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the Secretary or the Treasurer, respectively, or by the President, the CEO or the Board of Directors. In the absence or at the request of the Secretary or the Treasurer, the Assistant Secretaries or Assistant Treasurers, respectively, shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary or Treasurer, as the case may be.
Section 3.11. Other Officers. The other officers, if any, of the Corporation shall have such powers and duties in the management of the Corporation as shall be stated in a resolution of the Board of Directors which is not inconsistent with these Bylaws and, to the extent not so stated, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.12. Compensation. The salaries and other compensation of the officers shall be fixed or authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors. No officer shall be prevented from receiving such salary or other compensation by reason of the fact that he is also a director of the Corporation.
ARTICLE IV
STOCK
Section 4.1. Stock Certificates and Uncertificated Shares. The shares of stock in the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate theretofore issued until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the Board of Directors, every holder of stock represented by certificates, and upon request every holder of uncertificated shares, shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, or the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Corporation, representing the number of shares of stock registered in certificate form owned by such holder. Any and all the signatures on the certificate may be by a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
Section 4.2. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond in such form and amount (not exceeding twice the value of the stock represented by such certificate) and with such surety and sureties as the Secretary may require in order to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
Section 4.3. Transfer of Stock. Subject to any transfer restrictions set forth or referred to on the stock certificate or of which the Corporation otherwise has notice, shares of the Corporation shall be transferable on the books of the Corporation upon presentation to the Corporation or to the Corporation’s transfer agent of a stock certificate signed by, or accompanied by an executed assignment form, from the holder of record thereof, his duly authorized legal representative, or other appropriate person as permitted by Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes or other applicable law. The Corporation may require that any transfer of shares be accompanied by proper evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation or to the Corporation’s transfer agent that such endorsement is genuine and effective. Upon presentation of shares for transfer as provided above, the payment of all taxes, if any, therefor, and the satisfaction of any other requirement of law, including inquiry into and discharge of any adverse claims of which the Corporation has notice, the Corporation shall issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto and cancel the old certificate. Every transfer of stock shall be entered on the stock books of the Corporation to accurately reflect the record ownership of each share. The Board of Directors may make such additional rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer, and registration of certificates for shares of the capital stock of the Corporation.
Section 4.4. Preferred Stock. Shares of preferred stock shall be issued by the Corporation only after filing a certificate of designation as described in the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation with the Nevada Secretary of State and satisfying all other requirements of the Articles of Incorporation and Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes with respect thereto.
Section 4.5. Holders of Record. The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share of stock as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as may be required by the laws of Nevada.
ARTICLE V
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS; CHECKS AND ENDORSEMENTS; DEPOSITS; ETC.
Section 5.1. Execution of Instruments. Except as otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, the Chairman, the CEO, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary shall have the power to execute and deliver on behalf of and in the name of the Corporation any instrument requiring the signature of an officer of the Corporation. Unless authorized to do so by these Bylaws or by the Board of Directors, no assistant officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Corporation in any way, to pledge its credit or to render it liable pecuniarily for any purpose or in any amount.
Section 5.2. Checks and Endorsements. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, obligations, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation and other such instruments shall be signed or endorsed for the Corporation by such officers or agents of the Corporation as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors, which resolution may provide for the use of facsimile signatures.
Section 5.3. Deposits. All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the Corporation’s credit in such banks or other depositories as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors, which resolution may specify the officers or agents of the Corporation who shall have the power, and the manner in which such power shall be exercised, to make such deposits and to endorse, assign and deliver for collection and deposit checks, drafts and other orders for the payment of money payable to the Corporation or its order.
Section 5.4. Voting of Securities and Other Entities. Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, or the President, or any officer designated in writing by any of them, is authorized to attend in person, or may execute written instruments appointing a proxy or proxies to represent the Corporation, at all meetings of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, or other entity in which the Corporation holds any securities or other interests and may execute written waivers of notice with respect to any such meetings. At all such meetings, any of the foregoing officers, in person or by proxy as aforesaid and subject to the instructions, if any, of the Board of Directors, may vote the securities or interests so held by the Corporation, may execute any other instruments with respect to such securities or interests, and may exercise any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of said securities or interests. Any of the foregoing officers may execute one or more written consents to action taken in lieu of a formal meeting of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, or other entity.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 6.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 6.2. Seal. The Corporation may have a corporate seal in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors. The corporate seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced. The impression of the seal may be made and attested by either the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary for the authentication of contracts or other papers requiring the seal.
Section 6.3. Waiver of Notice of Meetings of Stockholders, Directors and Committees. Whenever notice is required to be given by law or under any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except (i) in the case when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened and (ii) in the case when the person attends the meeting for the purpose of objecting to consideration of a particular matter at the meeting that is not within the purpose or purposes described in the notice of the meeting, the person objects to considering the matter when it is presented. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
Section 6.4. Dividends and Other Distributions. Subject to the provisions of Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, dividends and other distributions may be declared by the Board of Directors in such form, frequency and amounts as the condition of the affairs of the Corporation shall render advisable.
Section 6.5. Form of Records. Any records maintained by the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device or method, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time.
Section 6.6. Record of Stockholders. The Secretary shall maintain, or shall cause to be maintained, a record of the names and addresses of the Corporation’s stockholders, in a form that permits preparation of a list of stockholders that is arranged by class of stock entitled to vote and, within each such class, by series of shares, that is alphabetical within each class or series, and that shows the address of, and the number of shares of each class or series held by, each stockholder.
Section 6.7. Addresses of Stockholders. Each stockholder shall furnish to the Secretary of the Corporation or the Corporation’s transfer agent an address to which notices from the Corporation, including notices of meetings, may be directed and if any stockholder shall fail so to designate such an address, it shall be sufficient for any such notice to be directed to such stockholder at such stockholder’s address last known to the Secretary or transfer agent.
Section 6.8. Amendment of Bylaws. The Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal, from time to time, these Bylaws. The holders of shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon also may adopt additional Bylaws and may amend or repeal any Bylaw, whether or not adopted by them, at an annual stockholders meeting or a special meeting called, wholly or in part, for such purpose. The power of the Board of Directors to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws may be limited by an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation or an amendment to the Bylaws adopted by the holders of shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon that provides that a particular Bylaw or Bylaws may only be adopted, amended or repealed by the holders of shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon.
APPENDIX E
DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW - APPRAISAL RIGHTS
§ 262. Appraisal rights.
(a) Any stockholder of a corporation of this State who holds shares of stock on the date of the making of a demand pursuant to subsection (d) of this section with respect to such shares, who continuously holds such shares through the effective date of the merger or consolidation, who has otherwise complied with subsection (d) of this section and who has neither voted in favor of the merger or consolidation nor consented thereto in writing pursuant to § 228 of this title shall be entitled to an appraisal by the Court of Chancery of the fair value of the stockholder’s shares of stock under the circumstances described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section. As used in this section, the word “stockholder” means a holder of record of stock in a stock corporation and also a member of record of a nonstock corporation; the words “stock” and “share” mean and include what is ordinarily meant by those words and also membership or membership interest of a member of a nonstock corporation; and the words “depository receipt” mean a receipt or other instrument issued by a depository representing an interest in one or more shares, or fractions thereof, solely of stock of a corporation, which stock is deposited with the depository.
(b) Appraisal rights shall be available for the shares of any class or series of stock of a constituent corporation in a merger or consolidation to be effected pursuant to § 251 (other than a merger effected pursuant to § 251(g) of this title), § 252, § 254, § 257, § 258, § 263 or § 264 of this title:
(1) Provided, however, that no appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares of any class or series of stock, which stock, or depository receipts in respect thereof, at the record date fixed to determine the stockholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting of stockholders to act upon the agreement of merger or consolidation, were either (i) listed on a national securities exchange or designated as a national market system security on an interdealer quotation system by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or (ii) held of record by more than 2,000 holders; and further provided that no appraisal rights shall be available for any shares of stock of the constituent corporation surviving a merger if the merger did not require for its approval the vote of the stockholders of the surviving corporation as provided in subsection (f) of § 251 of this title.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares of any class or series of stock of a constituent corporation if the holders thereof are required by the terms of an agreement of merger or consolidation pursuant to §§ 251, 252, 254, 257, 258, 263 and 264 of this title to accept for such stock anything except:
a. Shares of stock of the corporation surviving or resulting from such merger or consolidation, or depository receipts in respect thereof;
b. Shares of stock of any other corporation, or depository receipts in respect thereof, which shares of stock (or depository receipts in respect thereof) or depository receipts at the effective date of the merger or consolidation will be either listed on a national securities exchange or designated as a national market system security on an interdealer quotation system by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or held of record by more than 2,000 holders;
c. Cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional depository receipts described in the foregoing subparagraphs a. and b. of this paragraph; or
d. Any combination of the shares of stock, depository receipts and cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional depository receipts described in the foregoing subparagraphs a., b. and c. of this paragraph.
(3) In the event all of the stock of a subsidiary Delaware corporation party to a merger effected under § 253 of this title is not owned by the parent corporation immediately prior to the merger, appraisal rights shall be available for the shares of the subsidiary Delaware corporation.
(c) Any corporation may provide in its certificate of incorporation that appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares of any class or series of its stock as a result of an amendment to its certificate of incorporation, any merger or consolidation in which the corporation is a constituent corporation or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the corporation. If the certificate of incorporation contains such a provision, the procedures of this section, including those set forth in subsections (d) and (e) of this section, shall apply as nearly as is practicable.
(d) Appraisal rights shall be perfected as follows:
(1) If a proposed merger or consolidation for which appraisal rights are provided under this section is to be submitted for approval at a meeting of stockholders, the corporation, not less than 20 days prior to the meeting, shall notify each of its stockholders who was such on the record date for such meeting with respect to shares for which appraisal rights are available pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) hereof that appraisal rights are available for any or all of the shares of the constituent corporations, and shall include in such notice a copy of this section. Each stockholder electing to demand the appraisal of such stockholder’s shares shall deliver to the corporation, before the taking of the vote on the merger or consolidation, a written demand for appraisal of such stockholder’s shares. Such demand will be sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of the identity of the stockholder and that the stockholder intends thereby to demand the appraisal of such stockholder’s shares. A proxy or vote against the merger or consolidation shall not constitute such a demand. A stockholder electing to take such action must do so by a separate written demand as herein provided. Within 10 days after the effective date of such merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting corporation shall notify each stockholder of each constituent corporation who has complied with this subsection and has not voted in favor of or consented to the merger or consolidation of the date that the merger or consolidation has become effective; or
(2) If the merger or consolidation was approved pursuant to § 228 or § 253 of this title, then either a constituent corporation before the effective date of the merger or consolidation or the surviving or resulting corporation within 10 days thereafter shall notify each of the holders of any class or series of stock of such constituent corporation who are entitled to appraisal rights of the approval of the merger or consolidation and that appraisal rights are available for any or all shares of such class or series of stock of such constituent corporation, and shall include in such notice a copy of this section. Such notice may, and, if given on or after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, shall, also notify such stockholders of the effective date of the merger or consolidation. Any stockholder entitled to appraisal rights may, within 20 days after the date of mailing of such notice, demand in writing from the surviving or resulting corporation the appraisal of such holder’s shares. Such demand will be sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of the identity of the stockholder and that the stockholder intends thereby to demand the appraisal of such holder’s shares. If such notice did not notify stockholders of the effective date of the merger or consolidation, either (i) each such constituent corporation shall send a second notice before the effective date of the merger or consolidation notifying each of the holders of any class or series of stock of such constituent corporation that are entitled to appraisal rights of the effective date of the merger or consolidation or (ii) the surviving or resulting corporation shall send such a second notice to all such holders on or within 10 days after such effective date; provided, however, that if such second notice is sent more than 20 days following the sending of the first notice, such second notice need only be sent to each stockholder who is entitled to appraisal rights and who has demanded appraisal of such holder’s shares in accordance with this subsection. An affidavit of the secretary or assistant secretary or of the transfer agent of the corporation that is required to give either notice that such notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. For purposes of determining the stockholders entitled to receive either notice, each constituent corporation may fix, in advance, a record date that shall be not more than 10 days prior to the date the notice is given, provided, that if the notice is given on or after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, the record date shall be such effective date. If no record date is fixed and the notice is given prior to the effective date, the record date shall be the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the notice is given.
(e) Within 120 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting corporation or any stockholder who has complied with subsections (a) and (d) hereof and who is otherwise entitled to appraisal rights, may file a petition in the Court of Chancery demanding a determination of the value of the stock of all such stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time within 60 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, any stockholder shall have the right to withdraw such stockholder’s demand for appraisal and to accept the terms offered upon the merger or consolidation. Within 120 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, any stockholder who has complied with the requirements of subsections (a) and (d) hereof, upon written request, shall be entitled to receive from the corporation surviving the merger or resulting from the consolidation a statement setting forth the aggregate number of shares not voted in favor of the merger or consolidation and with respect to which demands for appraisal have been received and the aggregate number of holders of such shares. Such written statement shall be mailed to the stockholder within 10 days after such stockholder’s written request for such a statement is received by the surviving or resulting corporation or within 10 days after expiration of the period for delivery of demands for appraisal under subsection (d) hereof, whichever is later.
(f) Upon the filing of any such petition by a stockholder, service of a copy thereof shall be made upon the surviving or resulting corporation, which shall within 20 days after such service file in the office of the Register in Chancery in which the petition was filed a duly verified list containing the names and addresses of all stockholders who have demanded payment for their shares and with whom agreements as to the value of their shares have not been reached by the surviving or resulting corporation. If the petition shall be filed by the surviving or resulting corporation, the petition shall be accompanied by such a duly verified list. The Register in Chancery, if so ordered by the Court, shall give notice of the time and place fixed for the hearing of such petition by registered or certified mail to the surviving or resulting corporation and to the stockholders shown on the list at the addresses therein stated. Such notice shall also be given by 1 or more publications at least 1 week before the day of the hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Wilmington, Delaware or such publication as the Court deems advisable. The forms of the notices by mail and by publication shall be approved by the Court, and the costs thereof shall be borne by the surviving or resulting corporation.
(g) At the hearing on such petition, the Court shall determine the stockholders who have complied with this section and who have become entitled to appraisal rights. The Court may require the stockholders who have demanded an appraisal for their shares and who hold stock represented by certificates to submit their certificates of stock to the Register in Chancery for notation thereon of the pendency of the appraisal proceedings; and if any stockholder fails to comply with such direction, the Court may dismiss the proceedings as to such stockholder.
(h) After determining the stockholders entitled to an appraisal, the Court shall appraise the shares, determining their fair value exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the merger or consolidation, together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid upon the amount determined to be the fair value. In determining such fair value, the Court shall take into account all relevant factors. In determining the fair rate of interest, the Court may consider all relevant factors, including the rate of interest which the surviving or resulting corporation would have had to pay to borrow money during the pendency of the proceeding. Upon application by the surviving or resulting corporation or by any stockholder entitled to participate in the appraisal proceeding, the Court may, in its discretion, permit discovery or other pretrial proceedings and may proceed to trial upon the appraisal prior to the final determination of the stockholder entitled to an appraisal. Any stockholder whose name appears on the list filed by the surviving or resulting corporation pursuant to subsection (f) of this section and who has submitted such stockholder’s certificates of stock to the Register in Chancery, if such is required, may participate fully in all proceedings until it is finally determined that such stockholder is not entitled to appraisal rights under this section.
(i) The Court shall direct the payment of the fair value of the shares, together with interest, if any, by the surviving or resulting corporation to the stockholders entitled thereto. Interest may be simple or compound, as the Court may direct. Payment shall be so made to each such stockholder, in the case of holders of uncertificated stock forthwith, and the case of holders of shares represented by certificates upon the surrender to the corporation of the certificates representing such stock. The Court’s decree may be enforced as other decrees in the Court of Chancery may be enforced, whether such surviving or resulting corporation be a corporation of this State or of any state.
(j) The costs of the proceeding may be determined by the Court and taxed upon the parties as the Court deems equitable in the circumstances. Upon application of a stockholder, the Court may order all or a portion of the expenses incurred by any stockholder in connection with the appraisal proceeding, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees and the fees and expenses of experts, to be charged pro rata against the value of all the shares entitled to an appraisal.
(k) From and after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, no stockholder who has demanded appraisal rights as provided in subsection (d) of this section shall be entitled to vote such stock for any purpose or to receive payment of dividends or other distributions on the stock (except dividends or other distributions payable to stockholders of record at a date which is prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation); provided, however, that if no petition for an appraisal shall be filed within the time provided in subsection (e) of this section, or if such stockholder shall deliver to the surviving or resulting corporation a written withdrawal of such stockholder’s demand for an appraisal and an acceptance of the merger or consolidation, either within 60 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation as provided in subsection (e) of this section or thereafter with the written approval of the corporation, then the right of such stockholder to an appraisal shall cease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no appraisal proceeding in the Court of Chancery shall be dismissed as to any stockholder without the approval of the Court, and such approval may be conditioned upon such terms as the Court deems just.
(l) The shares of the surviving or resulting corporation to which the shares of such objecting stockholders would have been converted had they assented to the merger or consolidation shall have the status of authorized and unissued shares of the surviving or resulting corporation. (8 Del. C. 1953, § 262; 56 Del. Laws, c. 50; 56 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 24; 57 Del. Laws, c. 148, §§ 27-29; 59 Del. Laws, c. 106, § 12; 60 Del. Laws, c. 371, §§ 3-12; 63 Del. Laws, c. 25, § 14; 63 Del. Laws, c. 152, §§ 1, 2; 64 Del. Laws, c. 112, §§ 46-54; 66 Del. Laws, c. 136, §§ 30-32; 66 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 9; 67 Del. Laws, c. 376, §§ 19, 20; 68 Del. Laws, c. 337, §§ 3, 4; 69 Del. Laws, c. 61, § 10; 69 Del. Laws, c. 262, §§ 1-9; 70 Del. Laws, c. 79, § 16; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 299, §§ 2, 3; 70 Del. Laws, c. 349, § 22; 71 Del. Laws, c. 120, § 15; 71 Del. Laws, c. 339, §§ 49-52; 73 Del. Laws, c. 82, § 21.)
AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP, INC.
1479 North Clinton Avenue
Bay Shore, NY 11706
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AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP, INC.
The Board of Directors recommends you vote
FOR the following:
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For
All
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Withhold All
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For All Except
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To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.
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1. Election of Directors
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¨
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¨
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¨
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Nominees:
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01)
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Michael N. Taglich
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06) Robert C. Schroeder.
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02)
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Peter D. Rettaliata
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07) Michael Brand
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03)
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Seymour G. Siegel
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04)
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David J. Buonanno
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.
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05)
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Robert F. Taglich
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Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposals 2, 3 and 4:
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For
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Against
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Abstain
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2.
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Ratification of the appointment of Rotenberg Meril Solomon Bertiger & Guttilla, P.C as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013.
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¨
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¨
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¨
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3.
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Approval of the Company’s 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.
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¨
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¨
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4.
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Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger between the Company and its newly-formed wholly-owned Nevada subsidiary resulting in the Company becoming a Nevada corporation named Air Industries Group
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¨
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¨
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NOTE: The shares represented by this proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned Stockholder(s) and, in the discretion of the proxies, upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR the nominees for the Board of Directors listed in item 1, and FOR items 2, 3 and 4 .
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Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting.
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Yes
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No
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Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name, by authorized officer.
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Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]
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Date
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Signature (Joint Owners)
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Date
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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:
The Annual Report to Stockholders, including Annual Report on Form 10-K, Notice of Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and Proxy Statement are available at www.proxyvote.com.
M46400-P18838
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AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP, INC.
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
July 29, 2013
This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors
The stockholder(s) hereby appoint(s) Peter D. Rettaliata and Scott A. Glassman, and each of them, as proxies, each with the power of substitution, and hereby authorize(s) them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this ballot, all of the shares of Common Stock of Air Industries Group, Inc. (the “Company”) that the stockholder(s) is/are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 2:00 P.M., Eastern Time, on July 29, 2013, at the offices of the Company, 110 Plant Avenue, Hauppauge , New York 11788, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY THE STOCKHOLDER(S). IF NO SUCH DIRECTIONS ARE MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS LISTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE, AND FOR PROPOSALS 2, 3 AND 4 .
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED REPLY ENVELOPE.
Continued and to be signed on reverse side
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Unassociated Document
Eaton & Van Winkle llp
3 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10016
Vincent J. McGill
Partner
Telephone: (212) 779-9910
Direct: (212) 561-3604
Fax: (212) 779-9928
E-mail: vmcgill@evw.com
June 13, 2013
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attention: Tonya Aldave
Re. |
Air Industries Group, Inc.
Revised Preliminary Schedule 14A
File No. 000-29245
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Dear Ms. Aldave:
I do not believe that the “say-on-pay” proposals set forth in Item 21(a) of Schedule 14A are applicable to the revised preliminary proxy statement filed by our client, Air Industries Group, Inc. (the “Company”), on June 11, 2013 (the “June 11 Filing”) since it is an “emerging growth company.”
Although the “say and pay” proposals are mandated by Section 14A (a)(1) and (2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and are now applicable to smaller reporting issuers, Section 14A (e)(2) of the Exchange Act specifically exempts “emerging growth companies” from the requirements of Section 14A (a)(1) and (2), as set forth below:
“(2) Treatment of emerging growth companies
An emerging growth company shall be exempt from the requirements of subsections (a) and (b).”
Section 3(a) (80) of the Exchange Act defines a “emerging growth company” as follows:
“80) Emerging growth company.—The term “emerging growth company” means an issuer that had total annual gross revenues of less than $1,000,000,000 (as such amount is indexed for inflation every 5 years by the Commission to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, setting the threshold to the nearest 1,000,000) during its most recently completed fiscal year. An issuer that is an emerging growth company as of the first day of that fiscal year shall continue to be deemed an emerging growth company until the earliest of—
(A) the last day of the fiscal year of the issuer during which it had total annual gross revenues of $1,000,000,000 (as such amount is indexed for inflation every 5 years by the Commission to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, setting the threshold to the nearest 1,000,000) or more;
(B) the last day of the fiscal year of the issuer following the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of common equity securities of the issuer pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933;
(C) the date on which such issuer has, during the previous 3-year period, issued more than $1,000,000,000 in non-convertible debt; or
(D) the date on which such issuer is deemed to be a “large accelerated filer”, as defined in section 240.12b–2 of title 17, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto.”
The Company believes that it qualifies as an emerging growth company, and has so stated in its Form 10 registering its common stock under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, as amended, its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and its registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-188228), which was declared effective on May 9, 2013.
The Company’s net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2012, were $64,215,000. No sale of the Company’s common stock pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, occurred on or before December 8, 2011.
In view of the foregoing, I am submitting a revised preliminary Schedule 14A (Amendment No. 2) in connection with the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled for July 29, 2013, which deletes the material included in the July 11 Filing concerning the “say-on pay” proposals (Proposals Five and Six).
Please direct your comments, if any, or questions concerning this filing to the undersigned (212) 561-3604, or in my absence, Mark Orenstein (212) 561-3638, or fax them to (212) 779-9928, 9930 or 9931.
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Very truly yours,
/s/ Vincent J. McGill
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