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OMB APPROVAL |
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OMB Number:
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3235-0059 |
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Expires:
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January 31, 2008 |
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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. )
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Filed by the Registrant
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o |
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Check the appropriate box: |
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o 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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þ Definitive Proxy Statement |
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o Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
PLEXUS CORP.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy
Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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þ No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1)
and 0-11. |
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1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
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4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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o Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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o Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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1) Amount Previously Paid: |
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2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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SEC 1913 (11-01) |
Persons who are to respond to the collection of information
contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid
OMB control number. |
PLEXUS CORP.
55 Jewelers Park Drive
P.O. Box 156
Neenah, Wisconsin 54957-0156
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
OF SHAREHOLDERS
on February 13, 2008
To the Shareholders of Plexus Corp.:
Plexus Corp. will hold the annual meeting of its shareholders at the Pfister Hotel, located at
424 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 10:00 a.m., for
the following purposes:
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To elect eight directors to serve until the next annual meeting and until their
successors have been duly elected. |
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(2) |
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To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Plexus independent
auditors. |
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(3) |
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To consider and approve the Plexus Corp. 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan. |
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(4) |
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any
adjournment thereof. |
Plexus shareholders of record at the close of business on December 10, 2007 will be entitled
to vote at the meeting or any adjournment of the meeting.
We call your attention to the proxy statement accompanying this notice for a more complete
statement about the matters to be acted upon at the meeting.
By order of the Board of Directors
Angelo M. Ninivaggi
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Neenah, Wisconsin
December 11, 2007
You may vote in person or by using a proxy as follows:
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By internet:
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To vote your proxy by internet access, go to
www.proxyvote.com. Please have the notice we sent
to you in hand because it has your personal 12
digit control number(s) needed for your vote. |
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By mail:
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To vote your proxy by mail, please request written
materials as provided on page 2 of the proxy
statement. |
If you later find that you will be present at the meeting or for any other reason desire to revoke
your proxy, you may do so at any time before it is voted.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROXY STATEMENT
PLEXUS CORP.
55 Jewelers Park Drive
P.O. Box 156
Neenah, Wisconsin 54957-0156
* * * * * * *
SOLICITATION AND VOTING
The board of directors of Plexus Corp. (Plexus or the Company) is soliciting proxies for
the annual meeting of shareholders at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at the Pfister
Hotel at 424 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is furnishing this proxy statement in
connection with that solicitation. Shares which are represented by properly executed proxies
received by Plexus will be voted at the meeting and any adjournment thereof in accordance with the
terms of such proxies, unless revoked. Proxies may be revoked at any time prior to the voting
thereof either by written notice filed with the secretary or acting secretary of the meeting or by
oral notice to the presiding officer during the meeting.
Shareholders of record at the close of business on December 10, 2007 will be entitled to one
vote on each matter presented for each share so held. On that date there were 46,477,373 shares of
Plexus common stock outstanding. Any shareholder entitled to vote may vote either in person or by
duly authorized proxy. A quorum will be present if a majority of the outstanding shares are
represented at the meeting. Abstentions and shares which are the subject of broker non-votes will
be counted for the purpose of determining whether a quorum exists; shares represented at a meeting
for any purpose are counted in the quorum for all matters to be considered at the meeting. The
voted proxies will be tabulated by the persons appointed as inspectors of election.
Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of Plexus common stock
entitled to vote at the election at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Plurality means that
the individuals who receive the highest number of votes are elected as directors, up to the number
of directors to be chosen at the meeting. Any votes attempted to be cast against a candidate are
not given legal effect and are not counted as votes cast in the election of directors. Therefore,
any shares which are not voted, whether by withheld authority, broker non-vote or otherwise, have
no effect in the election of directors except to the extent that the failure to vote for any
individual results in another individual receiving a relatively larger number of votes.
Ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Plexus independent accountants will be
determined by a majority of the shares voting on that matter, assuming a quorum is present.
Therefore, abstentions and broker non-votes will not affect the vote, except insofar as they reduce
the number of shares which are voted.
Assuming a quorum is present, the proposed Plexus Corp. 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the
2008 Long-Term Plan) will be approved if the holders of a majority of the shares of Plexus
common stock voting on the matter vote For the plan. Any shares which are the subject of broker
non-votes are not deemed to be entitled to vote on the 2008 Long-Term Plan, and shares which
abstain as to the 2008 Long-Term Plan are not considered to be voting on that matter; therefore,
those shares will have no effect on the 2008 Long-Term Plan except as they affect the number of
shares voting.
Shareholders who own shares as part of Plexus 401(k) Savings Plan (the 401(k) Plan) and/or
the Plexus 2000 and 2005 Employee Stock Purchase Plans (the Purchase Plans) will receive a
separate means for proxy voting their shares held in each account. Shares held by the 401(k) Plan
for which participant designations are received will be voted in accordance with those
designations; those shares for which designations are not received will not be voted. Shares held
in accounts under the Purchase Plans will be voted in accordance with management recommendations
except for shares for which contrary designations from participants are received.
Plexus will pay the expenses in connection with the solicitation of proxies. Upon request,
Plexus will reimburse brokers, dealers, banks and voting trustees, or their nominees, for
reasonable expenses incurred in forwarding copies of the proxy material and annual report to the
beneficial owners of shares which such persons hold of record. Solicitation of proxies will be
principally by internet posting of these materials; paper copies will be
-1-
sent upon request, as provided below and in Plexus Notice of Internet Availability. Proxies
may be solicited in person, or by telephone, email or fax, by officers and regular employees of
Plexus who will not be separately compensated for those services.
This proxy material is being made available to Plexus shareholders by internet posting on or
about December 17, 2007. Shareholders may request that paper copies of the proxy material,
including an annual report and proxy card, be sent to them as follows:
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By internet:
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www.investorEconnect.com |
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By email:
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Send a blank email with your 12 digit control number(s) to
material@investorEconnect.com |
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By telephone:
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1-800-579-1635 |
When you make your request, please have your 12 digit control number(s) available; that control
number was included on the notice which was mailed to you. To assure timely delivery before the
annual meeting, you should make your request no later than January 30, 2008.
-2-
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table presents certain information as of December 1, 2007 regarding the
beneficial ownership of the Plexus common stock held by each director or nominee for director, each
executive officer or former executive officer appearing in the Summary Compensation Table in
Executive Compensation, all directors and executive officers as a group, and each known
5%-or-greater shareholder of Plexus.
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Shares |
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Percentage |
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Beneficially |
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of Shares |
Name |
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Owned (1) |
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Outstanding |
Ralf R. Böer |
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32,250 |
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Stephen P. Cortinovis |
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37,250 |
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David J. Drury |
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41,250 |
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Dean A. Foate |
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596,628 |
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1.3 |
% |
Peter Kelly |
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23,350 |
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* |
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John L. Nussbaum |
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265,162 |
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Michael V. Schrock |
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14,250 |
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Charles M. Strother |
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41,250 |
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* |
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Ginger M. Jones |
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3,000 |
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J. Robert Kronser |
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106,660 |
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Michael T. Verstegen |
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106,285 |
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Yong Jin Lim |
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14,000 |
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* |
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All executive officers and directors
as a group (20 persons) |
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1,421,030 |
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3.0 |
% |
F. Gordon Bitter |
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88,044 |
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* |
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Barclays Global Investors, NA. (2) |
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3,797,207 |
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8.2 |
% |
Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (3) |
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3,401,847 |
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7.3 |
% |
Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney &
Strauss, Inc. (4) |
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3,194,700 |
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6.9 |
% |
Vanguard Group, Inc. (5) |
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2,454,493 |
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5.3 |
% |
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Less than 1% |
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(1) |
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The specified persons have sole voting and sole dispositive powers as to all shares, except
as otherwise indicated. Mr. Foate shares these powers with an adult child as to 2,000 shares,
ownership of which he disclaims. The amounts include shares subject to options granted under
Plexus option plans which are exercisable currently or within 60 days. The options include
those held by Mr. Böer (27,250 shares), Mr. Cortinovis (33,250), Mr. Drury (36,250), Mr. Foate
(498,333), Mr. Kelly (21,250), Mr. Nussbaum (113,060), Mr. Schrock (11,250), Dr. Strother
(36,250), Mr. Kronser (77,428), Mr. Verstegen (93,500), Mr. Lim (14,000), all executive
officers and directors as a group (1,081,271), and Mr. Bitter (80,000). |
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Barclays Global Investors, NA. (Barclays) filed a report on Schedule 13G dated December 31,
2006 reporting sole voting power as to 4,423,481 shares, and sole dispositive power as to
4,951,029 shares of common stock. The report was filed jointly with Barclays Global
Investors, Ltd., Barclays Global Fund Advisors and Barclays Global Investors Japan Limited.
Barclays subsequently filed a Report on Form 13F for the quarter ended September 30, 2007
showing sole investment power as to 3,797,207 shares and sole voting power as to 3,599,826 of
those shares. The address of Barclays, a bank with investment advisor affiliates, is 45
Fremont Street, San Francisco, California 94105. |
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Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC filed an amended report on Schedule 13G dated February 12, 2007
reporting that it held sole voting power as to 5,127,546 shares and sole dispositive power as
to 5,451,446 shares of |
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common stock. Lord Abbett subsequently filed a Report on Form 13F for the quarter ended
September 30, 2007 showing sole investment power as to 3,401,847 shares and sole voting
power as to 3,179,077 shares. The address of Lord Abbett, an investment adviser, is 90
Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302. |
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(4) |
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Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Inc. filed a Report on 13F for the quarter ended
September 30, 2007 showing sole investment power as to 3,194,700 shares and sole voting power
as to 1,358,600 shares. The address of Barrow Hanley, an investment advisor, is 2200 Ross
Avenue, Suite 2100, Dallas, Texas 75201. |
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Vanguard Group, Inc. filed a Report on Form 13F for the quarter ended September 30, 2007
showing sole investment power as to 2,454,493 shares and sole voting power as to 50,720
shares. The address of Vanguard Group, an investment advisor, is P.O. Box 2600, Valley Forge,
Pennsylvania 19482. |
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Plexus believes that it needs to attract and retain talented, focused, and motivated
leadership to deliver the innovation and economic success its shareholders expect. For Plexus, the
concept of leadership is not limited to the leadership within the company; leadership also includes
the individuals who serve on Plexus board.
In accordance with Plexus bylaws, the board of directors has determined that there shall be
eight directors elected at the annual meeting of shareholders to serve until their successors are
duly elected and qualified. The persons who are nominated as directors, and for whom proxies will
be voted unless a shareholder specifies otherwise, are named below. If any of the nominees should
decline or be unable to act as a director, which is not foreseen, the proxies will be voted with
discretionary authority for a substitute nominee designated by the board of directors. Plexus
bylaws authorize up to nine directors, as determined by the board. The Plexus board may expand the
board up to that number and elect directors to fill empty seats, including those created by an
expansion, between shareholders meetings.
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Principal Occupation |
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Director |
Name and Age |
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And Business Experience (1) |
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Since |
Ralf R. Böer, 59
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Partner, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, Foley &
Lardner LLP (law firm) (2)
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2004 |
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Stephen P. Cortinovis, 57
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Private equity investor in
Lasco Foods Company;
previously also Partner,
Bridley Capital Partners
Limited (private equity group)
from 2001 to 2006 (3)
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2003 |
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David J. Drury, 59
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President and Chief Executive
Officer of Poblocki Sign
Company LLC (exterior and
interior sign systems) (2)(4)
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1998 |
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Dean A. Foate, 49
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President and Chief Executive
Officer of Plexus since 2002;
Chief Operating Officer and
Executive Vice President prior
thereto (5)
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2000 |
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Peter Kelly, 50
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Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer, UGI Corp.
(distributor and marketer of
energy products and services)
since 2007; previously, Chief
Financial Officer and
Executive Vice President,
Agere Systems
(semi-conductors) from 2005 to
2007, and Executive Vice
President of Ageres Global
Operations Group prior thereto
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2005 |
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John L. Nussbaum, 65
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Chairman of Plexus since 2002;
previously its Chief Executive
Officer
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1980 |
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Michael V. Schrock, 54
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President and Chief Operating
Officer, Pentair, Inc.
(diversified manufacturer)
since 2006; previously,
President and COO of Pentairs
Technical Products and
Filtration Divisions
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2006 |
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Charles M. Strother, MD, 67
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Physician; Professor-Emeritus
at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison since 2005;
previously Professor at Baylor
College of Medicine from 2002
to 2005, and Professor at the
University of
Wisconsin-Madison prior
thereto
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2002 |
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(1) |
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Unless otherwise noted, all directors have been employed in their principal occupation listed
above for the past five years or more. |
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(2) |
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Also a director of Fiskars Corporation (diversified consumer products). |
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(3) |
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Also a director of Insituform Technologies, Inc. (trenchless technology for underground
pipes). |
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(4) |
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Also a director of Journal Communications, Inc. (media holding company) and a trustee of The
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (insurance and financial products). |
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(5) |
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Also a director of Regal Beloit Corporation (electrical motors and mechanical products). |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Board of Directors Meetings
The board of directors held four meetings during fiscal 2007. As part of these meetings,
non-management directors regularly meet without management present. Each director attended at
least 75% of the total meetings of the board and the committees of the board on which that director
served during the year. The Plexus board of directors conducts an annual self-evaluation process,
reviewing the performance of each individual board member as well as the performance of the board
as a whole.
Plexus encourages all of its directors to attend the annual meeting of shareholders. Plexus
generally holds a board meeting coincident with the annual shareholders meeting to minimize
director travel obligations and facilitate their attendance at the shareholders meeting. All
directors attended the 2007 annual meeting of shareholders.
Director Independence
As a matter of good corporate governance, we believe that the board of directors should
provide a strong voice in the management of our company. Therefore, under our corporate governance
policies and in accordance with Nasdaq Global Select Market rules, at least a majority of our
directors must be independent directors.
When the board of directors makes its determination regarding which directors are independent,
the board first considers and follows the Nasdaq Global Select Stock Market rules. The board also
reviews other transactions and relationships, if any, involving Plexus and the directors or their
family members or related parties; these other matters are described in Certain Transactions.
Plexus expects its directors to inform it of any transaction, whether direct or indirect through an
immediate family member or any business entity controlled by any of them, involving the director;
Plexus also surveys directors quarterly to confirm this information. Plexus does not use any
dollar amount to screen transactions which should be reported to the Company. The board reviews
the information submitted by its directors for its separate determination of materiality and
compliance with Nasdaq and other standards when it determines independence.
In determining independence for the coming year, the board considered two relationships which,
upon review, the board did not believe affected the independence of the directors. The law firm of
which Mr. Böer is a partner and the CEO, Foley & Lardner LLP, began representing the Company in a
significant lawsuit and related matters in July 2007. During fiscal 2007, Foley & Lardners
accrued billings for fees and services to Plexus were $187,000. This amount represented
significantly less than one-tenth of one percent of either Foley & Lardners or Plexus annual
revenues. Also, Mr. Schrock is an executive officer of Pentair, Inc., which is a supplier to
Plexus. Pentairs sales to Plexus in fiscal 2007 were $513,000, which represented less than
one-tenth of one percent of either Plexus or Pentairs annual revenues.
Based on the applicable standards and the boards review and consideration, the board of
directors has determined that Messrs. Böer, Cortinovis, Drury, Kelly and Schrock and Dr. Strother
are each independent under applicable rules and guidelines. Mr. Foate, as chief executive
officer of the Company, and Mr. Nussbaum, who is a former chief executive officer of Plexus and
receives retirement payments from Plexus, are not considered to be independent.
Our independent directors meet in executive session, without the other directors or
management, as part of each regular board meeting.
-5-
Board Committees
The board of directors has three standing committees, all comprised solely of independent
directors: Audit, Compensation and Leadership Development, and Nominating and Corporate Governance.
The committees on which our directors currently serve, and the chairs of those committees, are
identified in the following table:
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Compensation |
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Nominating and |
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and Leadership |
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Corporate |
Director |
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Audit |
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Development |
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Governance |
Ralf R. Böer |
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Chair |
Stephen P. Cortinovis |
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X |
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Chair |
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David J. Drury |
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Chair |
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X |
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Peter Kelly |
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X |
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Michael V. Schrock |
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X |
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Charles M. Strother |
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X |
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X |
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Messrs. Foate and Nussbaum are not independent directors; therefore, they are not eligible to
serve on these committees under Nasdaq rules or the committees charters.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee met seven times in fiscal 2007. The Audit Committee chooses the Companys
independent auditors and oversees the audit process and the Companys accounting functions. Among
other things, the Committee also oversees the Companys ethics and whistle-blowing reporting
programs. See also Report of the Audit Committee.
Audit Committee Financial Experts
Mr. Drury is a certified public accountant who practiced from 1971 to 1989 with the firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. As a consequence of factors which include his educational background,
his experience with a public accounting firm, and his subsequent experience as a chief financial
officer, a chief executive officer and other executive positions, the board of directors has
determined that Mr. Drury is an audit committee financial expert. In addition, Mr. Kelly served
as chief financial officer of Agere Systems, a publicly-held company, from 2005 until its
acquisition in 2007, and has served as chief financial officer of UGI Corp., also publicly-held,
since September 2007. Mr. Kelly is also a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in
England and Wales. As a result of those factors, and Mr. Kellys other business experience, the
board has determined that Mr. Kelly is also an audit committee financial expert. For purposes of
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules, Mr. Drury and Mr. Kelly are, along with Mr.
Cortinovis, the other member of the Audit Committee, independent of Plexus for purposes of those
and Nasdaq rules. All members of the Audit Committee are financially literate and meet the other
SEC and Nasdaq requirements for Audit Committee membership.
Compensation and Leadership Development Committee
The Compensation and Leadership Development Committee (in this subsection, the Committee)
held six meetings during fiscal 2007. The Committee establishes the general compensation
philosophies and plans for Plexus, determines the CEOs compensation as well as that of other
executive officers, determines bonuses, approves grants and awards under compensation plans, and
considers and makes recommendations to the board of directors with respect to other executive
officer and employee compensatory arrangements. The Committee is also responsible for reviewing
Plexus leadership structure and executive succession plan. In addition to the following
subsection, see also Compensation Disclosure and Analysis and Compensation Committee Report
below for further information on the Committees philosophies and practices, and its determinations
in fiscal 2007.
-6-
Overview of the Compensation Decision-Making Process
In accordance with the philosophy and the goals described below in Compensation Discussion
and Analysis, Plexus compensates its executive officers through salaries and various other
compensation plans. The Committee considers many factors in its decision-making process about the
compensation of corporate leadership and the design of compensation plans company-wide.
When determining compensation in fiscal 2007, as in past years, the Committee compared the
compensation of the Companys executive officers with that paid by other companies in the general
industries in which Plexus recruits, comparable companies in the electronic manufacturing services
industry, companies with similar financial profiles and numerous general and electronics industry
published surveys. In this review, the Committee, with its compensation consultants, Sibson
Consulting (Sibson), chose comparable companies by filtering them by such criteria as industry
codes, peer groups, relative size and employee base, while also reviewing whether some companies
have anomalies or special circumstances (primarily acquisitions or significant size differences)
which cause them to not be in fact comparable. In addition, the Committee also identified
financial peers, which may not be in a similar business but which are similar in size and financial
performance.
Our resulting core peer list for fiscal 2007 consisted of: 3Com Corporation; Altera
Corporation; Amkor Technology, Inc.; Arris Group, Inc.; Atmel Corporation; Benchmark Electronics,
Inc.; Broadcom Corporation; Conexant Systems, Inc.; CTS Corporation; Integrated Device Technology,
Inc.; International Rectifier Corporation; Jabil Circuit, Inc.; Juniper Networks, Inc.; KLA-Tencor
Corporation; Linear Technology Corporation; Molex Incorporated; Novellus Systems, Inc.; and
Respironics, Inc. This peer group was also used in fiscal 2006. In conjunction with the peer
group proxy data, the Committee reviewed other information, such as Sibson database data and third
party surveys of past practices and future plans, to determine fair compensation.
In 2007, the Committee also considered data compiled through tally sheets, an accumulated
wealth analysis, and an internal fairness assessment. The tally sheets provide a comprehensive
view of Plexus compensation payout exposure under various termination scenarios; the Committee
also used these tally sheets to evaluate the reasonableness of compensation as a whole. The
accumulated wealth analysis examines the CEOs accumulation of value through the deferred
compensation plan and annual equity awards. The internal fairness assessment identifies the
proportionality of the CEOs pay to the pay of executives at other levels in the organization. The
assessment also compares compensation packages and levels of the executive officers with that
suggested by published survey data.
The Company and the Committee regularly review comparable information from peer group
companies and other sources as discussed above, and intends to maintain a competitive compensation
package which aids in executive retention and fairly compensates the executives for performance.
However, it does not aim for any numerical or percentile tests within this comparable information.
The Committee believes that it is important for it to take this information and then use its
judgment in applying it in individual cases, rather than arbitrarily attempting to aim for a
particular numerical equivalence. The Committee believes this approach best results in a
comprehensive and thoughtful compensation review process because it allows the Committee to use
discretion when appropriate in responding to particular circumstances. The Committee intends to
continue these practices in the future.
Management Participation. Members of management, particularly the CEO and human resources
personnel, regularly participate in the Committees meetings at the Committees request.
Managements role is to contribute recommendations to the Committee and provide staff support and
analysis for its discussions. However, management does not make the final determination of the
CEOs or the other executive officers amount or form of executive compensation, nor does
management make recommendations for the CEOs compensation. The CEO does recommend compensation
for the other executive officers to the Committee, subject to the Committees final decision. In
alignment with the compensation philosophy and goals, the CEO utilizes the same processes in
partnership with the human resources management team to assist in determining compensation
recommendations reviewed by the Committee for other executive officers. The Committee meetings in
which the CEO compensation decisions are made are in an executive session at which the Committee
members participate with select members of human resources management and staff to review
competitive practices and plan costs. The sessions generally focus on the CEOs performance
achievement and the terms and conditions associated with how to compensate the CEO.
-7-
Use of Consultants. The Committee uses outside compensation consultants to assist it in
analyzing Plexus compensation programs and determining appropriate levels of compensation and
benefits. The decision to retain consultants, and if so which consultant(s) to retain, is
determined solely by the Committee. Plexus human resources personnel also discuss results and
conclusions with the compensation consultants. Management has the authority to approve
compensation consultant fees on a project basis, although the Committee reviews all fees relating
to executive compensation.
In fiscal 2006, the Committee retained Sibson to conduct a total review of the executive
compensation program. Sibsons review was intended to help the Committee and Plexus maintain and
develop appropriate compensation programs to provide rewards based upon market competitiveness,
performance and internal fairness in a manner consistent with Plexus compensation philosophy.
Sibson analyzed all of Plexus compensation programs, and presented and discussed analysis and
recommendations with the Committee at the August 2006 meeting in preparation for 2007 compensation
decisions. Sibson also discussed the process for determining an appropriate peer group to be used
for reviewing Plexus compensation, as noted above.
In fiscal 2007, the Committee again retained Sibson to conduct a review of the executive
compensation program. Sibson analyzed all of Plexus compensation programs, and the analysis was
discussed with the CEO, human resources management and the Committee Chair. The analysis and
recommendations made by Sibson were presented in writing at a Committee meeting in August 2007.
Sibson was asked to be available by conference call during the meeting to discuss any questions or
issues that may have arisen as a result of their analysis and recommendations. Sibsons analysis
and other supporting competitive data compiled by Plexus human resources personnel, in accordance
with Sibsons methodologies, were used by the Committee in determining the appropriate CEO
compensation. The Sibson analysis and recommendations were also utilized by the CEO and human
resources management in conjunction with other survey data to make decisions regarding other
executive officer compensation.
Neither the Company nor the Committee places any limitations or restrictions on Sibson in
conducting its reviews. The Company does provide substantive information about Plexus to help
Sibson better understand the Company. Human resources personnel also meet with Sibson to discuss
Sibsons conclusions as to Plexus organizational matters, the duties and responsibilities of
particular positions, and overall conclusions based upon Plexus compensation principles and goals.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Each of the members of the Compensation Committee was an independent director and there were
no relationships or transactions in fiscal 2007 with those members requiring disclosure under SEC
rules. See, however, Director Independence above for certain other relationships which the Board
considered when determining the independence of the directors.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the Nominating Committee) met three times
in fiscal 2007. The Nominating Committee reviews board performance and considers nominees for
director positions, makes recommendations to the board regarding directors compensation, and
evaluates and oversees corporate governance and related issues.
The Nomination Process
The Nominating Committee has generally identified nominees based upon suggestions by outside
directors, management and/or shareholders; from time to time, it has utilized a director search
firm to identify candidates, but it has evaluated those persons on its own. Plexus corporate
board member selection criteria include integrity, high level of education and/or business
experience, broad-based business acumen, understanding of Plexus business and industry, strategic
thinking and willingness to share ideas, and network of contacts. The Nominating Committee also
considers the diversity of experiences, expertise and backgrounds among board members in
identifying areas which could be augmented by new members. The Nominating Committee has used these
criteria to evaluate potential nominees. To help assure that directors have the time to devote to
their duties, Plexus directors may not
-8-
serve on the boards of more than three additional public companies. The Nominating Committee
does not evaluate proposed nominees differently depending upon who has proposed the potential
nominee.
The Nominating Committee considers proposed nominees to the board submitted to it by
shareholders. If a qualified candidate expresses a serious interest, and if there is a position
available and the candidates experience indicates that the candidate may be an appropriate
addition to the board, the Nominating Committee reviews the background of the candidate and, if
appropriate, meets with the candidate. A decision is then made whether to nominate that person to
the board.
If a shareholder wishes to propose someone as a director for the Nominating Committees
consideration, the name of that nominee and related personal information should be forwarded to the
Nominating Committee, in care of the Secretary, at least six months before the next annual meeting
of shareholders to assure time for meaningful consideration by the Nominating Committee. See also
Shareholder Proposals and Notices for bylaw requirements for nominations. Plexus has not
rejected any candidates put forward by significant shareholders.
Communications with the Board
Any communications to the board of directors should be sent to it in care of Plexus
Secretary, Angelo Ninivaggi, at Plexus headquarters office. Any communication sent to the board
in care of the Chief Executive Officer, the Corporate Secretary or any other corporate officer is
forwarded to the board. There is no screening process and any communication will be delivered
directly to the director or directors to whom it is addressed. Any other procedures which may be
developed, and any changes in those procedures, will be posted as part of our Corporate Governance
Guidelines on Plexus website at www.plexus.com, under the link titled Investor Relations then
Corporate Governance (or at http://www.plexus.com/corporategovernanceguidelines.php).
Code of Ethics, Committee Charters and Other Corporate Governance Documents
Plexus regularly reviews and augments its corporate governance practices and procedures. In
particular, and as part of its corporate governance practices, Plexus has adopted a Code of Conduct
and Business Ethics and written charters for each of its board committees discussed above. Plexus
will be responding to and complying with related SEC and Nasdaq Global Select Stock Market
directives as they are finalized, adopted and become effective. Plexus has posted on its website,
at www.plexus.com, under the link titled Investor Relations then Corporate Governance (or at
http://www.plexus.com/corporategovernanceguidelines.php), copies of its Corporate Governance
Guidelines, its Code of Conduct and Business Ethics, the charters for its Audit, Compensation and
Leadership Development, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees, director selection
criteria (included as an appendix to our Corporate Governance Guidelines) and other corporate
governance documents. If those documents (including the committee charters and the Code of Conduct
and Business Ethics) are changed, waivers from the Code of Conduct and Business Ethics are granted,
or new procedures are adopted, those new documents, changes, waivers and/or procedures will be
posted on Plexus corporate website at the address above.
Directors Compensation
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the board of directors recommends,
subject to board approval, compensation paid to non-employee directors, including equity awards to
non-employee directors under the Plexus 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2005 Equity Plan). It
would make recommendations under the 2008 Long-Term Plan, if that plan is approved by shareholders.
In determining the compensation paid to the non-employee directors, the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee considers the same types of factors, including comparison with peer companies
and company performance, that are considered by the Compensation and Leadership Development
Committee when determining executive compensation.
During fiscal 2007, each Plexus director who was not a full-time Plexus officer or employee
(all directors except Mr. Foate) received an annual directors fee of $26,000, which will increase
to $35,000 in fiscal 2008, plus meeting fees of $2,000 for each board meeting attended in person
($1,000 if attended other than in person), and an additional $1,000 for each committee meeting
attended in person ($500 if other than in person). Each committee chair received an additional
$5,000 annually for service as a committee chair, except the chair of the Audit Committee who
received $9,000. For fiscal 2008, the fees for chairing the Audit, Compensation and Leadership
-9-
Development and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees will increase to $12,000,
$10,000 and $7,000, respectively.
Directors may also participate in the 2005 Equity Plan, which permits the grant of options,
restricted stock and/or restricted stock units to officers, key employees and directors. On
December 1, 2006, each non-employee director was awarded fiscal 2007 options for 10,000 shares, at
$23.855 per share, 5,000 of which vested immediately and 5,000 of which vested on the first
anniversary of the grant (other than for Thomas Prosser, a former director, whose options all
vested immediately in view of his upcoming retirement). On November 23, 2007, each non-employee
director was awarded options for 2,500 shares, at $27.465 per share, half of which vested
immediately and the balance of which vest on the first anniversary of the grant. The date, five
business days after the boards November meeting, was chosen in advance. In the past, directors
options were granted on December 1 of a year, continuing the date used in the formulaic provision
in a predecessor plan. For fiscal 2008, the directors determined to adopt a quarterly schedule for
option grants to directors. It is anticipated that the November 2007 first quarter grant will be
followed by similar quarterly grants for the fiscal year on the same schedule as grants are made to
officers and key employees.
If the 2008 Long-Term Plan is approved by shareholders, directors will be eligible to
participate in that plan; see Approval of the 2008 Long-term Incentive Plan later in this proxy
statement.
Director Compensation Table
The following table sets forth the compensation which was paid by Plexus to each of our
non-employee directors in fiscal 2007:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees Earned |
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
or Paid in |
|
Option |
|
Benefits |
|
|
Name |
|
Cash ($)(1) |
|
Awards ($)(2) |
|
($)(3) |
|
Total ($) |
Ralf R. Böer |
|
$ |
49,000 |
|
|
$ |
118,626 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
167,626 |
|
Stephen P. Cortinovis |
|
|
51,500 |
|
|
|
118,626 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
170,126 |
|
David J. Drury |
|
|
55,000 |
|
|
|
118,626 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
173,626 |
|
Peter Kelly |
|
|
43,000 |
|
|
|
118,626 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
161,626 |
|
John L. Nussbaum |
|
|
109,000 |
|
|
|
118,626 |
|
|
$ |
307,793 |
|
|
|
535,419 |
|
Thomas J. Prosser (4) |
|
|
16,623 |
|
|
|
128,956 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
145,579 |
|
Michael V. Schrock |
|
|
41,448 |
|
|
|
109,360 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
150,808 |
|
Charles M. Strother |
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
|
118,626 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
163,626 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Includes annual retainer, meeting, committee and chairmanship fees and, in the case of Mr.
Nussbaum, his fee as Chairman of the Board. See below regarding Mr. Nussbaum. |
|
(2) |
|
The amounts shown represent the expensed amounts in fiscal 2007 for grants and awards in 2007
and prior years. The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued a Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 123(R)-Shared Based Payments (SFAS 123(R)), which requires us to
recognize compensation expense for stock options and other stock-related awards granted to our
employees and directors based on the estimated fair value of the equity instrument at the time
of grant. Compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period. Plexus adopted SFAS
123(R) effective October 5, 2005. The assumptions used to determine the valuation of the
awards are discussed in footnote 10 to our consolidated financial statements. |
-10-
|
|
|
|
|
The table below provides cumulative information about the fair value of options granted to
directors in 2007, determined as of the options grant date under SFAS 123(R). It also provides
the number of outstanding stock options which were held by our non-employee directors at
September 29, 2007. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
Grant Date |
|
Securities |
|
|
Fair Value of |
|
Underlying |
|
|
2007 Option |
|
Unexercised |
Name |
|
Awards ($) |
|
Options (#) |
Mr. Böer |
|
$ |
119,689 |
|
|
|
26,000 |
|
Mr. Cortinovis |
|
|
119,689 |
|
|
|
32,000 |
|
Mr. Drury |
|
|
119,689 |
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
Mr. Kelly |
|
|
119,689 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
Mr. Nussbaum |
|
|
119,689 |
|
|
|
111,810 |
|
Mr. Schrock |
|
|
119,689 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
Mr. Strother |
|
|
119,689 |
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
These options are now fully vested and expire on the earlier of (a) ten years from the date of
grant, or (b) one year after termination of service as a director. |
|
(3) |
|
Other than Mr. Nussbaum, the non-employee directors do not receive any additional benefits
although they are reimbursed for their actual expenses of attending board, committee and
shareholder meetings. For Mr. Nussbaum, this represents the amounts paid to him in fiscal
2007 under his deferred compensation arrangements plus the value of the health and other
welfare benefits provided to him. See the discussion immediately below. |
|
(4) |
|
Mr. Prosser retired as a director at the 2007 annual meeting of shareholders on January 22,
2007. |
Compensation of Current and Former Executive Officers who Serve on the Board
See Executive Compensation for Mr. Foates compensation as an executive officer of Plexus
generally and his employment and change in control agreements.
Mr. Nussbaum is a former executive officer of Plexus. He ceased being considered an executive
officer or employee of Plexus when he retired as its Chief Executive Officer on July 1, 2002.
However, as a consequence of his many years of service as an executive officer of Plexus, he
continues to be compensated under deferred compensation arrangements which were put in place during
his service as an executive officer and as the non-executive Chairman of the Board.
In 1996, the Compensation and Leadership Development Committee established special retirement
arrangements for Mr. Nussbaum and for two other executive officers and directors who subsequently
retired. Those arrangements were both to reward past service and to maintain an additional
incentive for those officers continued performance on behalf of Plexus. The related supplemental
retirement agreement for Mr. Nussbaum is designed to provide specified retirement and death
benefits to him in addition to those provided under the 401(k) Plan. Plexus commitment was fully
funded in fiscal 2002. Mr. Nussbaum has received payments under the special retirement
arrangements since 2002, including payments of $301,068 for fiscal 2007. Future payments may be
adjusted, depending upon the performance of underlying investments.
The contributions for Mr. Nussbaums special retirement arrangement are invested in life
insurance policies acquired by Plexus on his life. The supplemental retirement agreement provides
for a 15-year annual installment payment stream to Mr. Nussbaum. Lump sum payments to Mr. Nussbaum
based on policy cash values become due if at any time after a change in control Plexus
consolidated tangible net worth drops below $35 million, or if the ratio of Plexus consolidated
total debt to consolidated tangible net worth becomes greater than 2.5 to 1. To the
-11-
extent that any of the payments constitute excess parachute payments subjecting Mr. Nussbaum
to an excise tax, the agreement provides for an additional payment (the gross-up payment) to be
made by Plexus to him so that after the payment of all taxes imposed on the gross-up payment, he
retains an amount of the gross-up payment equal to the excise tax imposed. If Mr. Nussbaum dies
prior to receiving all of the 15-year annual installment payments, specified death benefit payments
become due.
Mr. Nussbaum also received $72,000 in fiscal 2007 and health and other welfare benefits, in
addition to the above retirement payments and his regular board fees, for his service as Plexus
non-executive Chairman of the Board. For fiscal 2008, Mr. Nussbaums annual fee as Chairman is
being changed to $52,000. Since his retirement, Mr. Nussbaum has been eligible to receive
additional options or stock awards in his capacity as a non-employee director and has received the
same awards as other non-employee directors under Plexus stock incentive plans.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires Plexus officers and directors,
and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of Plexus common stock, to file reports of
ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These insiders
are required by SEC regulation to furnish Plexus with copies of all forms they file under Section
16(a).
All publicly-held companies are required to disclose the names of any insiders who fail to
make any such filing on a timely basis within the preceding fiscal year, and the number of
delinquent filings and transactions, based solely on a review of the copies of the Section 16(a)
forms furnished to Plexus, or written representations that no such forms were required. On the
basis of filings and representations received by Plexus, Plexus believes that during fiscal 2007
Plexus insiders have complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements which were applicable to
them.
-12-
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The Compensation and Leadership Development Committee (in this section, the Committee) of
the Plexus board of directors sets general compensation policies for Plexus. The Committee makes
decisions with respect to compensation of the Chief Executive Officer. Decisions on compensation
for other Plexus executive officers are recommended to the Committee by the CEO for the Committees
review and final determination. Plexus other compensation programs for executives, such as the
401(k) Plan, the 2005 Equity Plan and the proposed 2008 Long-Term Plan, are approved by the
Committee; the Committee also grants stock options, restricted stock units and other awards, under
the 2005 Equity Plan and will do so under the proposed 2008 Long-Term Plan.
Fiscal 2007 Committee Highlights
Among the key compensation issues addressed by the Committee in fiscal 2007, which are
discussed further below, were the following:
|
|
New Long-Term Incentive Plan. The Committee adopted the 2008 Long-Term Plan, subject to
shareholder approval at the 2008 annual meeting of shareholders. The 2008 Long-Term Plan was
adopted due to the limited number of shares remaining for issuance under the 2005 Equity Plan
and the Committees continued desire to provide long-term incentives to Plexus employees. |
|
|
|
New Long-Term Incentive Mix and Issuance Process. In fiscal 2007, the Committee approved a
new approach to issuing long-term incentives that will utilize a portfolio of equity awards
for executive officers: restricted stock units (the right to receive shares of Plexus common
stock in the future, if conditions are met) (RSUs), non-qualified stock options (options),
and long-term cash awards. This new program balances the objectives of attracting and
retaining key talent, promoting ownership among executives, and aligning executive interests
with those of shareholders along with the Companys cost considerations such as expense,
dilution and tax implications. Previous long-term incentives to Plexus executive officers
consisted of stock options only. |
|
|
|
Under this program, the Committee plans to issue to executives RSUs and long-term cash awards on
an annual basis and options on a quarterly basis. Issuing options on a quarterly basis will
assist Plexus in managing the associated expense of these equity awards due to the historically
high volatility of Plexus stock price. Relative to a single annual grant, the quarterly grant
process for options will also reduce the risk to Plexus and its employees of experiencing either
intermittently high or low exercise prices. Plexus continued granting options, and commenced
issuing RSUs in the first fiscal quarter of 2008 under the 2005 Equity Plan, and made related
cash-awards, and plans to do so in the future under the 2008 Long-Term Plan if approved by the
shareholders. The Committee also decided that it will grant employees who are not executive
officers stock appreciation rights (the right to receive, in shares of Plexus common stock, the
value of the appreciation of a stated number of shares of Plexus common stock) (SARs) rather
than options. |
|
|
|
At the August 2007 meeting, the Committee approved a grant schedule to support the new
quarterly grant process which states that the grant date will be three days subsequent to
the release of Plexus quarterly earnings, not including the day of the release. Since
this methodology is specific and formula driven, there is no margin for subjectivity or
consideration of the volatility of the stock price during this time period. |
Executive Compensation Philosophy, Goals and Process
The Committees philosophy is to fairly compensate all individuals, including executives, for
their contributions to Plexus, appropriately motivate employees to provide value to Plexus
shareholders, and consider the ability of Plexus to fund any compensation decisions, plans or
programs. Fair compensation must balance both short-term and long-term considerations and take
into consideration competitive forces, best practices, and the performance of Plexus and the
individual. Compensation packages should also motivate executives to make decisions and pursue
opportunities that are aligned with the interests of our shareholders. Finally, the Committee
considers Plexus financial condition, the conditions in Plexus industry and end-markets, and the
effects of those conditions on Plexus sales and profitability in making compensation decisions.
-13-
Plexus executive compensation program is designed to provide a rational, consistent reward
system that:
|
|
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attracts, motivates and retains the talent needed to lead a global organization; |
|
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|
|
drives global financial and operational success that creates shareholder value; |
|
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|
|
creates an ownership mindset and drives behaviors that improve profitability and
maximize shareholder value; and |
|
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|
appropriately balances Company performance and individual contribution towards the
achievement of success. |
For a discussion of the Committees decision-making process, its use of consultants and the
role of Plexus executive officers and staff, see Corporate Governance Board Committees
Compensation and Leadership Development Committee Overview of the Compensation Decision-Making
Process above in this proxy statement.
Elements and Analysis of Executive Officer Compensation Direct Compensation
Overview
Plexus uses three primary components of total direct compensation salary, annual cash
incentive payments under the Variable Incentive Compensation Plan (VICP) and long-term
equity-based awards under the 2005 Equity Plan, and in the future under the proposed 2008 Long-Term
Plan. Each of these components is complementary to the others, addressing different aspects of
direct compensation and seeking to motivate employees, including executive officers, in varying
ways.
|
|
|
Base salary is intended to provide compensation which is not at risk; however, salary
levels and subsequent increases are not guaranteed. For example, from October 2001 to
December 2002, there was a 10% salary reduction in effect for all executive officers due to
weak industry conditions. Thereafter, a salary freeze was in effect until October 1, 2004. |
|
|
|
|
The opportunity to earn annual cash incentive payments under the VICP provides a
substantial portion of compensation which is at risk and that depends upon the achievement
of measurable corporate financial goals and individual objectives. We use payouts from the
VICP to provide further incentives for our executive officers and employees to achieve
these corporate financial goals and individual objectives. |
|
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|
|
A substantial part of compensation, which is also at risk, is longer-term equity-based
compensation typically awarded to date in the form of stock options. Those awards are
intended to provide incentives to enhance corporate performance as well as to further align
the interests of our executive officers with those of our shareholders. Total
compensation, consistent with practices in our industry, has placed particular emphasis on
equity-based compensation; the reported values of the long-term incentive opportunities
under equity plans can vary significantly from year to year as a percentage of total direct
compensation because they are determined by valuing the equity-based awards on the same
basis we use for financial statement purposes, which depends significantly on our stock
price and its volatility at the time of the awards. |
|
|
|
|
Going forward under the proposed 2008 Long-Term Plan, the Committee intends to continue
using stock options but plans to supplement this at-risk element with RSUs and long-term
cash awards. The Committee believes that RSUs and long-term cash awards will provide
complementary incentives to executives and other personnel to achieve corporate financial
goals. For most non-executive officers who previously received options, the Committee now
intends to grant stock-settled SARs because that practice would reduce dilution and further
the preservation of shares under Company plans. |
The Committee does not use any specific numerical or percentage test to determine what
percentage of direct compensation will be paid in base salary versus the compensation at risk
through the VICP or equity-based compensation. However, the Committee believes that a meaningful
portion of compensation should be at risk. VICP targets for executive officers other than the CEO
ranged from 30% to 60% of base salary in fiscal 2007 with the opportunity to earn a bonus beyond
the target if company financial goals are met or exceeded. In the case of the
-14-
CEO, the percentage of potential compensation at risk was 80%, reflecting his overall greater
responsibility for the corporation. Long-term incentives were in the form of stock options which
contain an inherent amount of risk since no value is received unless there is an appreciation in
stock price. After determining each element, the Committee also reviews the resulting total
compensation to determine that it is reasonable as a whole.
In addition, we provide all of our employees in the United States with various other benefits,
such as health and life insurance. We generally provide these benefits to our executive officers
on the same basis as other salaried employees in the United States, although some benefit programs,
as discussed elsewhere, are specifically targeted to our executive officers specific
circumstances.
Beyond direct compensation, we believe it is important to provide the 401(k) Plan as a means
for our employees to save for their retirement. To attract qualified employees and meet
competitive conditions, Plexus also contributes to that plan. As a consequence of Internal Revenue
Code limitations on compensation which may be attributed to tax-qualified retirement plans, we have
also developed a supplemental executive retirement plan for our executive officers to address their
particular circumstances and promote long-term loyalty to Plexus until retirement.
Plexus does not generally have employment agreements with its executive officers, although we
have such an agreement with our Chief Executive Officer in order to recognize his specific
position, help assure Plexus of the continuing availability of his services and protect Plexus from
post-employment competition by him, in conjunction with his change in control agreement. As with
many other publicly-held companies, we have change in control agreements with our executive
officers and certain other key employees. We have these in place to both help assure that
executive officers will not be distracted by personal interests if Plexus were to be the subject of
a potential acquisition as well as to maintain their continuing loyalty to Plexus. We also believe
that competitive factors require us to provide these protections to attract and retain talented
executive officers and key employees.
Base Salary
|
|
|
Purpose. Our base salaries are designed to provide regular compensation for the
fulfillment of the duties and responsibilities associated with job roles. Fixed salaries
provide bi-weekly compensation to meet the living needs of our executives and their
families. They are also important because they provide most persons with a starting point
for considering compensation when we seek to attract and retain talented individuals. |
|
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|
Structure. The Company and the Committee use market-based comparisons, peer group
analysis and other third-party survey data to establish appropriate base salaries for its
executive officers. An in-depth total rewards analysis, including base salary, is
completed annually for each executive position using the peer group and survey data as
indicated above. While we do not aim for particular numerical or percentage tests as
compared to the peer group or the surveys, we generally target base salaries within ranges
near market medians of those groups, with adjustments made to reflect individual
circumstances. The effective date of any base salary increase is typically at or near the
start of the fiscal year. |
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Determination Process; Factors Considered. Prior to establishing base salary increases
for the CEO and confirming salary levels for other executive officers, the Committee takes
into consideration various factors. These factors include compensation data from the
proxies of our peer group, salary increase trends for executive base pay and other
information provided in published surveys. The Committee also considers the individual
executive officers duties and responsibilities and their relative authority within Plexus. |
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Executive officer base salary increases may include two componentscompetitive adjustments
and merit increases. If executive officer salaries are found to fall below the competitive
median range when we compare them to our peer group and survey data, we consider increasing
the salaries to a more competitive level. In some cases these competitive adjustments may
take place over a multi-year period and may depend on individual performance. If executive
officer salaries are found to be at an appropriate level when we compare them to the peer
group and general industry survey data for the position, then a merit increase is provided
if appropriate. The merit increase amount is based on individual performance. |
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With respect to increases in CEO base salary (as well as other compensation actions that
impact our CEO), the Committee uses this input and meets in executive session to discuss
appropriate pay positioning and |
-15-
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pay mix based on the data gathered. With respect to the other executive officers, the CEO
uses similar data and submits his recommendations to the Committee for final determination.
The data gathered in the determination process helps the Committee to test for fairness,
reasonableness and competitiveness. However, taking into account the compensation policies
and goals and a holistic approach to executive compensation packages, the Committees final
determination may incorporate the subjective judgments of its members as well. |
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2007 Determinations. For fiscal 2007, the Committee approved a base salary adjustment
of $40,000 for the CEO, increasing his annual salary to $570,000. This was a 7.5% increase
from his fiscal 2006 base salary and reflected strong company performance in fiscal 2006,
as well as the competitiveness of the CEOs salary as compared to the market. Our CEOs
base salary is higher than that of other executive officers because of his more extensive
and challenging duties and responsibilities. |
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Increases for other executive officers varied from 3.6% to 25.0%, and were as follows for
the other named executive officers: Mr. Kronser-3.6%; Mr. Verstegen-4.0%; Mr. Lim-5.0%; Mr.
Bitter-5.1%; and Mr. Ehlers-8.0%. The salary determinations for the executive officers
reflected the factors discussed above; some of the higher increases resulted from increased
duties and responsibilities. Ms. Jones was hired during the fiscal year as an executive and
subsequently was named Chief Financial Officer. Her salary was determined as part of the
hiring process; her salary was below the salary of Mr. Bitter, primarily as a reflection of
Mr. Bitters many years of experience as a chief financial officer, including with Plexus.
Mr. Ehlers salary reflected a more substantial increase due to the increasing
responsibilities he was undertaking. The compensation and benefits package of Mr. Lim, who
was not an executive officer at the time, was set using the same process as for the
executive officers by using regional survey data reflecting Malaysian markets. Under
Malaysian custom, Mr. Lim was paid the equivalent of a thirteenth month salary as an
additional annual payment; we have included this amount in his reported base salary. Other
variations between the executive officers reflect competitive conditions and the Committees
view of the executive officers duties, responsibilities and performance. |
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For fiscal 2008, the CEOs salary is $675,000, an 18.4% increase from fiscal 2007. The
Committee believed that the CEOs compensation was below market based on peer group survey
information, particularly in view of the Companys strong financial performance. Therefore,
it approved this increase to provide base compensation at a more competitive level. The
fiscal 2008 salary increases for the other executive officers ranged from no increase to
12.5%. Of those increases, the smaller ones reflect merit increases for performance over
the past year when salaries were otherwise in line with the market; larger increases
represent a combination of competitive adjustments and merit increases. Mr. Kronser did not
receive a salary increase. The increases for Ms. Jones and Messrs. Verstegen and Lim were
10%, 4% and 10%, respectively; both Ms. Jones and Mr. Lim also assumed significant new
duties during fiscal 2007. |
Annual Incentive
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Purpose. Our annual cash incentive compensation plan, the VICP, is designed to reward
employees for the achievement of important corporate financial goals. There is also a small
component of the VICP that rewards employees for the attainment of individual objectives.
The establishment of the specific corporate financial goals is derived from our annual
financial plan. The design of the VICP provides incentives based on our direct
performance, as distinguished from equity-based compensation, which is significantly
affected by market factors that may be unrelated to our results. |
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Plan Structure. The VICP provides annual cash incentives to approximately 2,400
participants, including our CEO and other executive officers. The VICP operates the same
for all participants. Each participant has a targeted award that is expressed as a
percentage of base salary. For example, in fiscal 2007 the targeted award opportunity for
the CEO was 80% of base salary, and the opportunities for other executive officers varied
from 30% to 60% of base salaries. Higher levels of duties and responsibilities within
Plexus led to higher bonus opportunities under the VICP because the Committee believed that
the higher ranking the position, the more influence the individual can have on corporate
performance. In addition, market information indicated that competitive factors make
relatively higher reward possibilities important for those positions. In fiscal 2007, as a
consequence of his promotion to Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Ehlers had the opportunity to
earn up to 60% of his salary as a VICP bonus at target; other officers percentages |
-16-
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were 50% for Mr. Bitter and Ms. Jones and 40% for Messrs. Kronser and Verstegen. Mr. Lims
target was 30%, set before he became an executive officer. The opportunities for
non-executive officer participants varied from 3% to 30% of base salaries. For each
participant, 80% of the targeted award is keyed to the corporate financial goals; the
remaining 20% of the targeted award is keyed to the achievement of individual objectives. |
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The VICP provides for payments relating to corporate financial goals both below and over the
targeted awards by establishing specific threshold levels for which payments begin to be
earned and maximum levels beyond which no further payment is earned. The payout at the
maximum level, which is based solely on achieving the corporate financial goals, is 180%
of the targeted award for the CEO and the other executive officers. For Mr. Lim, this
maximum was 130% because he was not an executive officer at the time the levels were set. |
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Under the VICP, the Committee has the authority to adjust results, for example, to reflect
acquisitions or unusual gains or charges; the only discretion which the Committee used for
fiscal 2007 related to restructuring and stock option charges. |
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2007 Plan Design Company Goals |
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The specific corporate financial goals for fiscal 2007, each of which stands independently
of the other with regard to award opportunities, were revenue and return on capital employed
(ROCE). These goals were chosen because they align performance-based compensation to the
key financial metrics which the Company uses internally to measure its ongoing performance
and which it uses in its financial plans. ROCE is defined as annual operating income
excluding unusual charges and equity-based compensation costs divided by the five-point
quarterly average of Capital Employed during the year. Capital Employed is defined as
equity plus debt less cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. The Company
excludes the costs of equity grants because that can influence results due to external
market factors. Also, ROCE for VICP purposes is calculated excluding the impact of any
restructuring and/or non-recurring charges because these factors do not reflect the
operating performance of the Company, which the VICP is intended to reward. Our revenue
growth and ROCE targets for fiscal 2007 represented a significant planned improvement from
the fiscal 2006 results. We also established for each of the corporate financial goals of
the VICP, specific threshold and maximum levels of achievement as part of the annual
financial planning process. All of these goals are set as part of that process. |
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No award is paid for any component of the VICP if Plexus incurs a net loss for the fiscal
year (excluding non-recurring or restructuring charges and stock option expense). Awards
for performance between the threshold level and targeted level are calculated by
straight-line interpolation, as are awards between the targeted level and the maximum
level. |
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The following table sets forth the fiscal 2007 potential financial targets and VICP payout
amounts (as a percent of targeted VICP bonus) for the named executive officers who were
executive officers at the beginning of the fiscal year, at the threshold, targeted and
maximum performance levels. |
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Threshold |
|
Target |
|
Maximum |
Component |
|
Goal |
|
Payout |
|
Goal |
|
Payout |
|
Goal |
|
Payout |
Revenue |
|
$1,572 million |
|
|
0 |
% |
|
$1,726 million |
|
|
40 |
% |
|
$1,765 million |
|
|
90 |
% |
ROCE |
|
|
24.8 |
% |
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
27.0 |
% |
|
|
40 |
% |
|
|
29.5 |
% |
|
|
90 |
% |
Individual Objectives |
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|
0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
up to 20 |
% |
|
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|
|
up to 20 |
% |
Total Potential
Incentive = Revenue
+ ROCE + Individual
Objectives |
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0 |
% |
|
|
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|
|
100 |
% |
|
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|
|
|
|
200 |
% |
-17-
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In fiscal 2007, revenue was $1.546 million and ROCE was 24.3%. Therefore, Plexus did not
achieve the corporate financial goals established for revenue or ROCE and therefore did not
pay any awards to executive officers or any other employees based on those two components. |
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2007 Plan Design Individual Objectives |
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Individual participants typically have several individual objectives for the plan year,
which have been developed with, reviewed by and approved by the participants manager.
Attainment of the individual objectives represents 20% of the potential targeted award. The
Committee determines and approves the individual objectives established for the CEO. The
Committee also reviews and approves, with input from the CEO, the individual objectives
established for the other executive officers. The Committees assessment of all executive
officers individual objectives is based on their likely impact on the achievement of the
annual financial plan and other longer-term strategic priorities, their effect on
shareholder value and their alignment with one another. |
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The following are summaries of the individual objectives for our named executive officers in
fiscal 2007: |
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Dean A. Foate: Mr. Foates individual objectives related to refining
Plexus long-term strategic planning process and global vision, refining the sector
focused sales and marketing approach, organizational development, succession
planning, and continuing to develop a lean enterprise culture that emphasizes
efficiency. |
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Ginger M. Jones: Ms. Jones was not an executive officer or Plexus employee
at the beginning of the plan year. However, upon her hiring, her initial individual
objectives related to preparing to assume further responsibilities, including the
chief financial officer role and investor relations, development of the 2008 annual
financial plan and improving the forecasting process. |
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J. Robert Kronser: Mr. Kronsers individual objectives related to customer
development, strategic planning, and reengineering Plexus sales commission program. |
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Michael T. Verstegen: Mr. Verstegens individual objectives related to
assessing Plexus business development capability in certain regions, developing an
effective solution-selling competency, refining the sector focused sales and
marketing approach, and succession planning. |
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Yong Jin Lim: Mr. Lims individual objectives related to the expansion of
operations in Asia, alignment of the Asian sites with standard company processes and
regulatory best practices, completing Malaysian FDA Class III certification and
enhancing customer satisfaction. |
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F. Gordon Bitter: Mr. Bitters individual objectives related to succession
planning, educating management regarding key financial performance measures,
reviewing Plexus capital structure, the successful implementation of measures to
streamline Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, and reviewing and recommending changes to, if
appropriate, Plexus financial organization to support strategic direction. |
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Paul L. Ehlers: Mr. Ehlers individual objectives related to personal
development, succession planning, improving the costing/pricing process in order to
acquire new business, re-engineering the performance review process to identify and
develop Plexus talent, and integrating internal organizations. |
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Achievement of individual objectives, for which there was a potential payout equivalent to
20% of the targeted bonus award, varied among executive officers from 12.3% to 20% of the
total targeted amount. These percentages were based upon the Committees determination of
the degree to which the executive achieved his or her objectives. The CEO provided the
Committee with an assessment of the performance of all of the executive officers other than
himself and recommended resultant bonus levels based on the achievement by each executive
officer of his or her individual objectives. Individual determinations were as follows for
the named executive officers: Mr. Foate 17.6%; Ms. Jones 17.5%; Mr. Kronser 20%; Mr.
Verstegen 15.7%; and Mr. Lim 19.6%. For Mr. Ehlers, in view of his strong efforts early
in the |
-18-
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fiscal year but untimely death, the Committee paid a full 20%. Because the Committee
determined that Mr. Bitter had met all of his objectives prior to his retirement, he also
was paid 20% for his personal objectives. |
Long-Term Incentives
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|
Purpose. Our long-term incentives are designed to tie the major part of our key
executives total compensation opportunities to Plexus market performance and the
long-term enhancement of shareholder value. The 2005 Equity Plan is also designed to
encourage the long-term retention of these executives. |
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Plan Structure. The shareholder-approved 2005 Equity Plan allows for various award
types, including options, restricted stock, RSUs, and performance awards (payable in cash
and/or equity). Through fiscal 2007, the Committee granted only time-vested stock options,
although it continued to study the potential use of other forms of long-term incentive
compensation. The Committee has generally used stock options because of their prevalence
in our industry. In addition, with stock options recipients receive value only when the
value of the shares held by Plexus shareholders increases. The Committees policy is to
not back-date equity grants and no equity grant was back-dated in fiscal 2007. |
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As noted previously and discussed below, the Committee has, subject to shareholder approval
of the 2008 Long-Term Plan, approved a new long-term incentive strategy that will allow for
use of a portfolio approach using grants of options, RSUs and long-term cash. We began to
issue RSUs under the 2005 Equity Plan in the first quarter of fiscal 2008. We also used
SARs for two non-named executive officers and for non-executive officer key employees. |
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Determination Process. |
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Option Pool Determination. Each year the Committee is presented a
recommended total pool of options to be awarded to eligible participants. The
Committee reviews the estimated cost of the pool, as well as the recommended grant
guidelines; the Committee has used a relatively constant pool size because it wished to
control the expense to the Company under SFAS 123(R) and manage dilution to
shareholders. The options granted to executive officers and employees in fiscal 2007
were for a total of 363,352 shares. (Those shares exclude the options for 80,000
shares awarded to non-employee directors.) The total grant in fiscal 2007 was
approximately half of the amount granted annually in prior years, because quarterly
grants were made only in the third and fourth fiscal quarters. |
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Option Pool Allocation. The Committee determines the grants for the
CEO and other executive officers. Those awards are developed considering the total
pool of options to be awarded, which is recommended by management, subject to the
Committees review and approval. The Committee chose that grant size to balance the
need to provide fair compensation with the desire to keep related compensation expense
relatively stable from period to period and to manage shareholder dilution. For fiscal
2007, options for 75,000 shares were granted to the CEO, and options for 62,000 shares
were granted to the other executive officers as a group. The numbers granted to each
executive officer primarily vary according to the executive officers duties and
responsibilities within the Company and also include a review of performance. Those in
positions with more responsibility tended to receive more options to reflect their role
in the Company and the market comparisons for their compensation. The CEO provides the
Committee with initial recommendations as to the number of options to be granted to
each other executive officer. The remaining pool is then allocated based upon
recommendations by executive officers to superior performing key employees based on a
grant range grid, which indicates a range of option grant sizes assigned to each target
grouping. Mr. Ehlers did not receive grants in fiscal 2007 because he was on medical
leave; Mr. Bitter did not receive them due to his announced plans to retire. Ms. Jones
received a grant on her hiring that was intended to cover the balance of the fiscal
year. |
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Basis for Determination of Timing of Grants. As indicated above, option grants have
been made pursuant to the grant date timing approved by the Committee in 2005, after
shareholder approval of the 2005 Equity Plan. This mechanism provides that the stock option
determination will generally be made at the May Committee meeting, and the grant date will
be five business days subsequent to the approval of the annual stock option grant, not
including the day of approval. |
-19-
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In fiscal 2007, the Committee began a policy of making quarterly grants rather than annual
grants due to the volatility of the stock market, including for Plexus stock in particular,
since granting stock options all on one date in the year can make the strike price and
related expense vary significantly in ways that do not necessarily reflect long-term
performance of Plexus stock. At the August 2007 meeting the Committee approved a new
formula to support the new quarterly grant strategy which states the grant date will occur
three days subsequent to the release of quarterly earnings, not including the day of the
release. The Committee uses a future date, as is permitted by the 2005 Equity Plan, because
that minimizes the opportunity to choose a date based upon market performance known or
knowable at the time of grant. The 2005 Equity Plan provides that the exercise price of a
stock option is not less than the fair market value on the stock option grant date. |
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From time to time, in the case of new hires, options have been granted at other times of the
year. Going forward, new hire grants will occur commencing on the next quarterly grant date
following the date of hire. |
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|
2008 Awards. In the first quarter of 2008, the Compensation Committee made option
awards in the same manner as in the prior two quarters. On an annual basis, in most cases
the Committee reduced the number of options so that it would maintain similar SFAS 123(R)
expense in view of the additional awards discussed below. In addition, the Committee
granted RSUs under the 2005 Equity Plan, and made related grants of long-term cash bonuses,
to executive officers and certain other key employees. Both types of grants will vest on
the third anniversary of the grant, subject to early vesting of options upon change in
control. |
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The Committee granted RSUs to provide an additional type of equity-based long-term
compensation, further aligning executives interests with the interests of shareholders.
The Committee believed that granting RSUs would further promote a long-term ownership
mentality by, and thus retention of, executive officers because of their increased stake in
the long-term value of the Company by providing the opportunity to receive shares; thus,
compensation and motivation does not solely depend upon increases in the shares market
price over an option period. The Committee also determined that granting RSUs in addition
to options provides advantages in that further compensation can be provided by a relatively
smaller number of shares. The long-term cash is intended to defray tax effects to the
grantees upon the vesting of the restricted stock, as an incentive to those persons to
continue to hold their shares upon vesting. |
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|
For other employees (and two executive officers) receiving awards, the Committee granted
SARs rather than options, to reduce the number of shares subject to issuance, thereby
preserving more shares for future issuance under Company plans and reducing potential
dilution. |
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|
In the first quarter of fiscal 2008, the Committee made a quarterly grant of options and an
annual grant of RSUs and long-term cash to the named executive officers (other than Mr.
Kronser, who did not receive awards) as follows: |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options |
|
RSUs |
|
Long-Term |
Executive |
|
(Quarterly) |
|
(Annual) |
|
Cash |
Officer |
|
(#) |
|
(#) |
|
(Annual) ($) |
Mr. Foate |
|
|
18,750 |
|
|
|
21,375 |
|
|
$ |
320,625 |
|
Ms. Jones |
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
4,560 |
|
|
|
68,400 |
|
Mr. Verstegen |
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
3,420 |
|
|
|
51,300 |
|
Mr. Lim |
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
3,420 |
|
|
|
51,300 |
|
Equity Ownership Guidelines. To complement the 2005 Equity Plans goal of increasing the alignment
between the interests of management and shareholders, the Committee has approved executive stock
ownership guidelines. These guidelines require most executive officers to own, at a minimum, Plexus
stock with a market value equal to one times their annual base salary. While there is no specific
time requirement to meet these guidelines, until the ownership requirement is met, an executive
officer is not permitted to sell Plexus shares which the person acquired while an executive
officer, except to finance the exercise of stock options when the shares will be held or with prior
approval under special circumstances.
-20-
Benefits. Consistent with competitive practice, the Committee has approved perquisites and other
benefits for our CEO and the other executive officers in addition to those received by all U.S.
salaried employees. Substantially all U.S. employees receive health insurance benefits. In
addition, the other benefits for certain of our executive officers are: a reimbursement account
valued at up to $10,000 per year to be used for miscellaneous expenses such as personal financial
planning, spouse travel costs in connection with business-related travel, club memberships and/or
tax and estate advice, which amount is grossed up for taxes; a company car; and additional
disability insurance for the CEO, due to the dollar limits of the Companys disability insurance
policies. As a result of local law and custom, different but comparable insurance programs and
other benefits may apply to personnel, including Mr. Lim, who are located in countries outside of
the United States.
Elements and Analysis of Executive Officer Compensation Other Compensation
In addition to direct compensation, Plexus uses several other types of compensation some of
which are not subject to annual Committee action. These include retirement plans, other stock
ownership opportunities, and employment or change in control agreements. These are intended to
supplement the previously described compensation methodologies by focusing on long-term employee
security and retention. Certain of these plans allow employees to acquire Plexus stock.
Retirement Planning 401(k) Plan
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|
|
Purpose. Plexus maintains the 401(k) Plan, which is available to substantially all U.S.
salaried employees, to help our employees provide for their retirement. The 401(k) Plan
includes a Plexus stock fund as one of its choices to permit employees to maintain Plexus
ownership if they wish. |
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|
Plan Structure. The 401(k) Plan allows employees to defer a portion of their annual
salaries into their personal accounts maintained under the 401(k) Plan. In addition,
Plexus matches a portion of each employees contributions, up to a maximum of $5,625 per
year. Employees have a choice of investment vehicles, including a Plexus stock fund, in
which to invest those funds. |
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
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|
Purpose. Plexus supplemental executive retirement plan (the SERP) is a deferred
compensation plan which allows participants to defer taxes on current income. Most
executive officers, including all of the continuing named executive officers other than Mr.
Lim, participate in this program. Additionally, the Company can credit a participants
account with a discretionary employer contribution. Such opportunities are common practice
in general industry. The SERP also provides a vehicle for the Company to restore the lost
deferral and matching opportunity caused by tax regulation limitations on such deferrals
and matched contributions for highly compensated individuals. The Committee believed that
further retirement compensation through the SERP was appropriate to meet the market for
executive compensation and to provide a stronger incentive for executives to remain with
Plexus through retirement. |
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|
Plan Structure. During fiscal 2000, the Committee established the current SERP
arrangement. Under this plan, several key executives including the continuing named
executive officers (other than Mr. Lim) may elect to defer some or all of their
compensation. Additionally, Plexus may make discretionary contributions. A rabbi trust
arrangement was established under this plan and allows investment of deferred compensation
amounts on behalf of the participants into individual accounts and within these accounts,
into one or more designated mutual funds or investments. These investment choices do not
include Plexus stock. Deferred amounts and any earnings which may be credited become
payable upon termination or retirement from Plexus. Plexus has purchased Company-owned
life insurance on the lives of certain executives to meet the economic commitments
associated with this plan. |
-21-
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Fiscal 2007 Plan Activity. |
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|
Contribution Formula. In fiscal 2006, the Committee modified the SERP
to provide for an annual discretionary contribution of the greater of (a) 7% of the
executives total targeted cash compensation, minus Plexus permitted contributions to
the executive officers account in the 401(k) Plan, or (b) $13,500. Total targeted
cash compensation is defined as base salary plus the targeted annual incentive plan
bonus at the time of the Companys contribution. The Committee changed its approach
for discretionary contributions to reflect competitive practices based on the research,
analysis and recommendations of Towers Perrin, its compensation consultant for that
program. |
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|
Employer Contributions. For fiscal 2007, the total employer
contributions to the SERP accounts was $217,929 for all participants as a group,
including $66,195 for the CEO. See footnote 5 to Summary Compensation Table. |
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|
Special Contribution. The SERP also allows the Committee to make
discretionary contributions. In fiscal 2007, the Committee made an additional
discretionary contribution of $150,000 for Mr. Bitter. The Committee decided to make
that award in recognition of Mr. Bitters years of service to the Company and his
coming retirement. The Committee made this special contribution in this form in lieu
of any other special retirement or severance arrangements, in significant part because
of the tax advantages to Mr. Bitter of this approach. |
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|
Foreign Arrangements. Because Mr. Lim is not a United States resident, he does not
participate in the SERP or the 401(k) Plan. Rather, he participates in the Employer
Provident Fund which is mandated by Malaysian law. Under law, minimum contributions of 12%
of an employees wages (salary plus bonus) are required to be made by an employer; Plexus
chose to make a contribution of 17% in fiscal 2007 in Mr. Lims case since it is Plexus
practice in Malaysia to make higher contributions than the statutory minimum for personnel
with relatively high levels of seniority and responsibility. |
Employee Stock Purchase Plans
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|
Purpose, Structure and Termination. The Committee believed it was useful to provide all
employees with opportunities to own Plexus stock and therefore established the Purchase
Plans as a means of facilitating purchases with a small discount available to substantially
all employees in the United States and certain other locations on the same terms. The
Purchase Plans have allowed employees to purchase stock at a 5% discount from the fair
market value of the shares at the end of the purchase period. However, the Purchase Plans
utility and attractiveness have diminished as a result of recent accounting changes.
Therefore, the Committee has decided to terminate further purchases under the Purchase
Plans in January 2008 at the end of the current purchase period. |
Employment and Change in Control Agreements.
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|
|
Purpose. Plexus maintains an employment agreement with its Chief Executive Officer in
order to recognize the importance of his position, to help assure Plexus of continuing
availability of Mr. Foates services over a period of time, and to protect the Company from
competition post-employment. All executive officers have change in control agreements, to
both help assure that executive officers will not be distracted by personal interests in
the case of a potential acquisition of Plexus as well as to maintain their continuing
loyalty. |
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|
The Agreements. Mr. Foates employment agreement is described below at Executive
Compensation - Employment Agreements and Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in
Control Mr. Foates Employment Agreement. The change in control agreements with our
executive officers are described below at Executive Compensation - Employment Agreements
and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control Change in Control
Arrangements. Please refer to those discussions for a further explanation of those
agreements. |
-22-
|
|
|
Determination of Benefit Levels. In general, the change in control agreements with
executive officers provide that, upon termination in the event of a change in control,
executive officers will receive compensation equaling two or three times annual salary plus
targeted bonus, a continuation of health and retirement benefits for that period, and a
gross-up payment for excise taxes. (The executive officers with three year agreements are
generally those in more senior positions, with greater seniority in those positions.) In
addition, under the 2005 Equity Plan, upon a change in control, all unvested stock options
will automatically vest for all option and award holders. Certain other key employees also
have change in control agreements on substantially the same terms, although generally with
only one to two years coverage. The Committee believes it is important that executives
and key employees have protection of their livelihood in the face of a potential
acquisition to help them maintain their focus on the best interests of the Companys
shareholders even if it may have adverse consequences to them personally. |
|
|
|
|
The Committee set these levels of benefits in 2003. Benefit levels, particularly the use of
a measurement of up to three-times salary and a gross up for excise taxes, were adopted by
the Committee at that time because it believed that, while the amounts were generous to the
executive officers, they were in line with competitive standards and necessary and
appropriate to attract and retain executive talent, particularly since most executives do
not have an employment agreement. The Committee also believes that it is general market
practice to provide that unvested stock options will vest on a change in control, which is
the case under the 2005 Equity Plan, as approved by Plexus shareholders. The Committee
believes that it is important to maintain its executive officers focus on performance for
the Companys shareholders even in the event of a potential change in control. The
Committee believed that offering a generous package, but one that was consistent with market
practices, was appropriate to help motivate executives to focus on the Companys
shareholders, even when the circumstance might jeopardize their employment. The Committee
did, however, adopt a double trigger so that the benefits would only be paid to the
executive officers in the event of a substantial impact upon their employment and
compensation. |
|
|
|
|
The Committee periodically reviews the scope and context of the change in control
agreements. In those reviews, the Committee has determined that the level of benefits,
combined with the double trigger, continue to provide an appropriate balancing of
interests of the Company, its shareholders and its executives. The Committee continues to
believe that the change in control agreements will help motivate the executive officers to
respond appropriately, for the benefit of the Company and its shareholders, in the case of a
proposed acquisition of the Company which they might perceive would jeopardize their
employment. |
Tax Aspects of Executive Compensation
The Committee generally attempts to preserve the tax deductibility under the Internal Revenue
Code (the Code) of all executive compensation. However, at times and under certain
circumstances, it believes that it is more important to provide appropriate incentives irrespective
of tax consequences.
Section 162(m) of the Code generally limits the corporate tax deduction for compensation paid
to the executive officers that is not performance-based to $1 million annually per executive
officer. Plexus has taken action with respect to the provisions of Section 162(m) so that
compensation income relating to stock options under the 2005 Equity Plan (and predecessor plans)
and purchases under the Purchase Plans is exempt. Assuming shareholder approval of the proposed
2008 Long-Term Plan, similar grants and stock options, SARs and performance-based restricted stock
under that plan would also be exempt; in addition, because the 2008 Long-Term Plan provides for
cash bonuses upon the achievement of objective standards at the beginning of each fiscal year, such
cash awards on that basis would also be exempt. Compensation under these shareholder approved
plans which is performance-based is generally not subject to the $1 million limitation; however,
the grant of restricted shares without performance goals would not be considered to be
performance-based and therefore would be subject to the limit along with cash salaries and bonuses.
As a result of the shareholders approval of the 2005 Equity Plan (and its predecessor) and the
Purchase Plans, and assuming approval of the 2008 Long-Term Plan, the Committee believes that most
compensation income under these plans (other than any awards in the future of restricted stock or
RSUs without performance goals, as is the case for the time vested RSUs granted in fiscal 2008)
would not be subject to the Codes deduction limitation. However, if such restricted stock awards
are made and/or any executive earns a sufficiently high VICP bonus, the covered compensation of
some individuals could exceed $1 million and, in those cases, the excess would not be tax
deductible. Although the Company has in the past foregone a portion of its tax
-23-
deduction as a result of the size of a high VICP bonus, that was not the case for fiscal 2007
compensation. The Company is considering strategies for dealing with these tax consequences in the
future.
Other provisions of the Code also can affect the decisions which we make. Section 280G of the
Code imposes a 20% excise tax upon executive officers who receive excess payments upon a change
in control of a publicly-held corporation to the extent the payments received by them exceed an
amount approximating three times their average annual compensation. The excise tax applies to all
payments over one times average annual compensation. Plexus would also lose its tax deduction for
excess payments. Our change in control agreements provide that benefits under them will be
grossed up so that we also reimburse the executive officer for these tax consequences. Although
these gross up provisions and loss of deductibility would increase Plexus tax expense, the
Committee believes it is important that the effects of this Code provision not negate the
protections which it provides by means of the agreements.
The Code also was recently amended to provide a surtax under Section 409A, relating to various
features of deferred compensation arrangements of publicly-held corporations for compensation
deferred after December 31, 2004. We have made changes to our benefit plans and employment
arrangements to help assure there are no adverse affects on Plexus or our executive officers as a
result of these Code amendments. We do not expect these changes to have a material tax or
financial consequence on Plexus.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The duties and responsibilities of the Compensation and Leadership Development Committee of
the board of directors are set forth in a written charter adopted by the board, as set forth on the
Companys website as described above under Corporate Governance Board Committees Compensation
and Leadership Development Committee. The Committee reviews and reassesses this charter annually
and recommends any changes to the board for approval.
As part of the exercise of its duties, the Committee has reviewed and discussed with
management the above Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this proxy statement.
Based upon that review and those discussions, the Committee recommended to the board of directors
that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be incorporated by reference in Plexus annual report
to shareholders on Form 10-K and included in this proxy statement.
Members of the Compensation and Leadership Development Committee:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stephen P. Cortinovis, Chair
|
|
Ralf R. Böer (resigned from Committee 7/07) |
|
|
Michael V. Schrock (effective 11/06)
|
|
Thomas J. Prosser (retired from Board 1/07) |
|
|
Charles M. Strother, MD |
|
|
-24-
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
This section provides further information about the compensation paid to, and other
compensatory arrangements with, our executive officers.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth a summary of the compensation which we paid for fiscal 2007 to
our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer and the three executive officers who had
the highest compensation of our other executive officers. In addition, we include that information
for our former Chief Financial Officer who retired in August 2007 and our former Chief Operating
Officer who passed away in June 2007. More detailed information is presented in the other tables
and explanations which follow the following table.
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option |
|
Plan |
|
All Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
Awards |
|
Compensation |
|
Compensation |
|
Total |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
($)(1) |
|
($)(2) |
|
($)(3) |
|
($)(2) |
|
($)(4) |
|
($) |
|
Dean A. Foate, |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
$ |
569,231 |
|
|
$ |
80,148 |
|
|
$ |
815,226 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
95,013 |
|
|
$ |
1,559,618 |
|
President and Chief
Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ginger M. Jones |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
132,212 |
|
|
|
11,569 |
|
|
|
13,906 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
12,429 |
|
|
|
170,116 |
|
Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer (5) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Robert Kronser |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
265,322 |
|
|
|
21,226 |
|
|
|
113,385 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
58,395 |
|
|
|
458,328 |
|
Executive Vice President
and Chief Technology and
Strategy Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael T. Verstegen |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
247,817 |
|
|
|
15,530 |
|
|
|
117,657 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
34,973 |
|
|
|
415,977 |
|
Senior Vice President,
Global Market Development |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yong Jin Lim |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
232,693 |
|
|
|
12,528 |
|
|
|
60,252 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
73,102 |
|
|
|
378,575 |
|
Regional President
Plexus Asia Pacific (6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Gordon Bitter |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
326,692 |
|
|
|
32,669 |
|
|
|
212,533 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
207,615 |
|
|
|
779,509 |
|
Retired Chief Financial
Officer (7) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul L. Ehlers |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
238,596 |
|
|
|
27,856 |
|
|
|
212,533 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
120,347 |
|
|
|
599,332 |
|
Deceased Chief Operating
Officer (8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Includes amounts voluntarily deferred by the named persons under the Plexus Corp. 401(k)
Savings Plan (the 401(k) Plan) and the Plexus supplemental executive retirement plan (the
SERP). The amounts deferred under the SERP are also included in the Executive
Contributions in Last FY column of the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table below. |
|
(2) |
|
Both the Bonus and the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation columns represent amounts
which were earned during the fiscal year under our Variable Incentive Compensation Plan
(VICP). Under the VICP, annual bonuses for executive officers are determined by a
combination of the degree to which Plexus achieves specific pre-set corporate financial goals
during the fiscal year and individual objectives. To the extent a payment was based on
individual objectives, it is in the Bonus column. To the extent that the bonus resulted
from corporate financial performance, that portion of the bonus is included under the
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column. We include more information about the VICP
under Grants of Plan-Based Awards below. The amounts shown were earned in fiscal 2007 but
will be paid in fiscal 2008. |
|
(3) |
|
This column represents the value of stock options awarded under the 2005 Equity Plan, which
is explained further below under Grants of Plan-Based Awards. The amounts shown represent
the expensed amounts in |
-25-
|
|
|
|
|
fiscal 2007 for grants and awards in 2007 and prior years. SFAS 123(R) requires us to
recognize compensation expense for stock options and other stock-related awards granted to our
employees and directors based on the estimated fair value of the equity instrument at the time
of grant. Compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period. The requirements of
SFAS 123(R) became effective for Plexus beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2006. The
assumptions which we used to determine the valuation of the awards are discussed in footnote 10
to our consolidated financial statements. Please also see the Grants of Plan-Based Awards
table below for further information about the options granted in fiscal 2007, and the
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End table below relating to all outstanding option
awards at the end of fiscal 2007. |
|
(4) |
|
The amounts listed under the column entitled All Other Compensation in the table include
Company contributions to the 401(k) Plan and the SERP (for Mr. Lim, this represents the
Companys contribution to the Malaysian Employer Provident Fund), reimbursement made by Plexus
in fiscal 2007 under its executive reimbursement program, the value of the company car
provided to the executive, accrued vacation pay-out upon Mr. Ehlers death, and additional
life and disability insurance coverage for Mr. Foate and Mr. Lim. Per person detail is listed
in the table below: |
|
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|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matching |
|
|
|
|
|
Executive |
|
|
|
|
|
Payout |
|
Additional |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contribution |
|
Company |
|
Reim- |
|
Company |
|
of |
|
Life and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
to 401(k) |
|
Contribution |
|
bursement |
|
Car |
|
Accrued |
|
Disability |
|
Total |
|
|
Year |
|
Plan |
|
to SERP |
|
Program |
|
Allowance |
|
Vacation |
|
Insurance |
|
($) |
|
Mr. Foate |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
$ |
5,625 |
|
|
$ |
66,195 |
|
|
$ |
11,803 |
|
|
$ |
2,045 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
9,345 |
|
|
$ |
95,013 |
|
Ms. Jones |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,625 |
|
|
|
2,804 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,429 |
|
Mr. Kronser |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
4,304 |
|
|
|
20,394 |
|
|
|
25,115 |
|
|
|
8,582 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
58,395 |
|
Mr. Verstegen |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
5,674 |
|
|
|
18,679 |
|
|
|
9,461 |
|
|
|
1,159 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34,973 |
|
Mr. Lim |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,791 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,272 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,039 |
|
|
|
73,102 |
|
Mr. Bitter |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
5,558 |
|
|
|
178,710 |
|
|
|
12,522 |
|
|
|
10,825 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
207,615 |
|
Mr. Ehlers |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
3,933 |
|
|
|
24,006 |
|
|
|
23,386 |
|
|
|
9,449 |
|
|
|
59,573 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
120,347 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
As a matter of policy, Plexus avoids providing perquisites beyond a company car to its executive
officers. However, under the executive reimbursement program, most executive officers may be
reimbursed for expenses up to $10,000 (plus a gross up for taxes) in a calendar year for
miscellaneous expenses such as personal financial planning, spouse travel costs in connection
with business-related travel, club memberships and/or tax and estate advice. The amounts in
this column include the reimbursements under that program, including the related tax gross-up
amounts. |
|
(5) |
|
Ms. Jones joined Plexus on April 9, 2007, became an executive officer on May 10, 2007, and
was named Plexus Chief Financial Officer on August 29, 2007. Includes all compensation paid
by Plexus to Ms. Jones in the fiscal year. |
|
(6) |
|
Mr. Lim was designated an executive officer on August 29, 2007. |
|
(7) |
|
Mr. Bitter served as Plexus Chief Financial Officer until August 29, 2007, when he retired
from that position. Mr. Bitter continues to be a Plexus employee but is no longer an
executive officer. Includes all compensation paid by Plexus to Mr. Bitter in the fiscal year. |
|
(8) |
|
Mr. Ehlers became Plexus chief operating officer on November 26, 2006, after previously
having served as its executive vice president; he died on June 10, 2007. |
-26-
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
2007
The following table sets forth information about option awards which were granted to the named
executive officers in fiscal 2007 under the 2005 Equity Plan as well as information about the
potential cash bonus awards dependent on quantifiable corporate performance goals which those
executive officers could earn for fiscal 2007 performance (to be paid in fiscal 2008) under the
VICP. As a result of fiscal 2007 corporate performance, no bonuses based on these criteria were
earned in 2007, as set forth under the Non-Equity Incentive Compensation column in Summary
Compensation Table above. We provide further information about both potential compensation under
the VICP and awards under the 2005 Equity Plan in fiscal 2007 in the table below, and additional
information about those plans below the table.
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under |
|
All Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards |
|
Option |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards: |
|
|
|
|
|
Closing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Exercise or |
|
Market |
|
Grant Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities |
|
Base Price |
|
Price on |
|
Fair Value |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying |
|
of Option |
|
Grant |
|
of Stock |
|
|
Award |
|
Grant |
|
Threshold |
|
Target |
|
Maximum |
|
Options |
|
Awards |
|
Date |
|
and Option |
Name |
|
Type |
|
Date |
|
($)(1) |
|
($)(1) |
|
($)(1) |
|
(#) |
|
($/sh) (2) |
|
($/sh) (2) |
|
Awards ($) |
|
Mr. Foate |
|
VICP* |
|
|
10/20/06 |
|
|
$ |
1 |
|
|
$ |
364,308 |
|
|
$ |
819,693 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option |
|
|
05/17/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37,500 |
|
|
$ |
21.41 |
|
|
$ |
21.42 |
|
|
$ |
71,837 |
|
|
|
Option |
|
|
08/01/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37,500 |
|
|
|
23.83 |
|
|
|
24.00 |
|
|
|
34,944 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ms. Jones |
|
VICP* |
|
|
04/09/07 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
52,885 |
|
|
|
118,991 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option |
|
|
04/09/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
18.19 |
|
|
|
18.12 |
|
|
|
13,906 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Kronser |
|
VICP* |
|
|
10/20/06 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
84,903 |
|
|
|
191,032 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option |
|
|
05/17/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
21.41 |
|
|
|
21.42 |
|
|
|
4,789 |
|
|
|
Option |
|
|
08/01/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
23.83 |
|
|
|
24.00 |
|
|
|
2,330 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Verstegen |
|
VICP* |
|
|
10/20/06 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
79,301 |
|
|
|
178,428 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option |
|
|
05/17/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
21.41 |
|
|
|
21.42 |
|
|
|
7,663 |
|
|
|
Option |
|
|
08/01/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
23.83 |
|
|
|
24.00 |
|
|
|
3,727 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Lim |
|
VICP* |
|
|
10/20/06 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
51,209 |
|
|
|
83,214 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option |
|
|
05/17/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
21.41 |
|
|
|
21.42 |
|
|
|
4,789 |
|
|
|
Option |
|
|
08/01/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
23.83 |
|
|
|
24.00 |
|
|
|
2,330 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Bitter |
|
VICP* |
|
|
10/20/06 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
130,677 |
|
|
|
294,023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Ehlers |
|
VICP* |
|
|
10/20/06 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
161,049 |
|
|
|
362,361 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Represents a potential bonus payment for fiscal 2007 at various performance levels under the
VICP to the extent they would result from corporate performance; other grants are stock
options under the 2005 Equity Plan. Based on Plexus actual performance in fiscal 2007, no
bonuses were earned based on corporate financial performance. |
|
(1) |
|
Amounts reflect potential bonus payments which would depend upon Plexus meeting corporate
financial goals; these exclude potential bonus amounts for individual objectives. The amount
at threshold indicates a payment for performance just above the threshold; there is no
minimum payment once the threshold has been exceeded. |
|
(2) |
|
Options were granted at the average of the high and low trading prices on the date of grant.
Under the 2005 Equity Plan, fair market value may be determined either as the closing price or
the average of the high and low trading prices, either on the date of grant or as an average
for a short period of time prior to the grant. The stock options which were granted in fiscal
2007 vest over a two year period, with 50% of the options vesting on the first anniversary of
their grant and the remainder vesting on the second anniversary. |
VICP
Under the VICP, our executive officers may earn bonuses which depend in substantial part upon
the degree to which Plexus achieves corporate financial goals which are set by our Compensation and
Leadership Development Committee shortly after the beginning of our fiscal year. Each executive
officer also may earn a portion of his or
-27-
her bonus by achieving individual objectives set for that executive officer. The amounts
included in the table are potential future payouts under non-equity incentive awards which could be
earned pursuant to the corporate financial goals under the VICP. The amounts in the columns
represent, respectively, the amount which could be earned in the event minimum results were
achieved so as to result in a threshold payment to the executive officer, the amounts which could
be received if each performance target was exactly met at the targeted level, and the maximum
amount which could be earned under the VICP. Actual corporate performance was below the threshold,
so no related amounts were earned, as reported in the Non-Equity Incentive Compensation column in
Summary Compensation Table above.
In addition, a portion of each individuals award could be earned based on individual
objectives applicable specifically to that individual. These awards are intended to reflect in
each instance an individuals performance which may not be reflected in financial performance for
the entire company. The maximum amounts which could be earned based on individual performance was
$91,077 for Mr. Foate (which would have been 20% of his bonus at targeted levels) and varied from
$40,262 to $12,802 for the other named executive officers (also representing 20%). The actual
amounts earned by these persons are included above in the Bonus column in Summary Compensation
Table above.
2005 Equity Plan
Under the 2005 Equity Plan, the Compensation and Leadership Development Committee of the board
of directors may grant executive officers, directors and key employees of Plexus stock options,
SARs, RSUs and/or shares of restricted stock in periodic grants. Through the end of fiscal 2007,
the Committee only granted stock options under the 2005 Equity Plan; however, see the discussion in
Compensation Discussion and Analysis above relating to the additional use of RSUs and SARs
beginning in fiscal 2008. Through fiscal 2006, the Committee made annual grants of options
approximately one week after the May board meeting, on a date set in advance to help avoid the
possibility of market timing. In fiscal 2007, as a result of the volatility of the stock market,
particularly for Plexus stock, the Committee began the practice of making quarterly option grants;
again, these dates are determined in advance. This also facilitates overall compensation planning
near the beginning of the fiscal year, as the total target amounts for grants for a year will be
set at that time. Option grants must be at the fair market value of the underlying shares when the
grant is made.
As described elsewhere in this proxy statement, the board of directors has proposed for
shareholder approval the Plexus Corp. 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2008 Long-Term Plan) to
replace the 2005 Equity Plan. See Approval of the 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan for further
information about that plan. If the 2008 Long-Term Plan is approved by shareholders, no further
grants would be made under the 2005 Equity Plan except, in certain circumstances, to employees in
the United Kingdom.
-28-
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
September 29, 2007
The following table sets forth information about Plexus stock options held by the named
executive officers which were outstanding at the end of fiscal 2007. There were no outstanding
shares of restricted stock or other equity securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
|
Number of Securities |
|
Number of Securities |
|
Option |
|
|
|
|
Underlying Unexercised |
|
Underlying Unexercised |
|
Exercise |
|
Option |
|
|
Options (#) (1) |
|
Options (#) (1) |
|
Price |
|
Expiration |
Name |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
($) |
|
Date |
|
Mr. Foate |
|
|
4,870 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
10.594 |
|
|
|
04/23/08 |
|
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15.125 |
|
|
|
04/21/09 |
|
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35.547 |
|
|
|
04/24/10 |
|
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23.55 |
|
|
|
04/06/11 |
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25.285 |
|
|
|
04/22/12 |
|
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.975 |
|
|
|
01/30/13 |
|
|
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14.015 |
|
|
|
08/14/13 |
|
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15.825 |
|
|
|
04/28/14 |
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12.94 |
|
|
|
05/18/15 |
|
|
|
|
33,333 |
|
|
|
66,667 |
|
|
|
42.515 |
|
|
|
05/17/16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37,500 |
|
|
|
21.41 |
|
|
|
05/17/17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37,500 |
|
|
|
23.83 |
|
|
|
08/01/17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ms. Jones |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
18.185 |
|
|
|
04/09/17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Kronser |
|
|
10,130 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
10.594 |
|
|
|
04/23/08 |
|
|
|
|
9,108 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15.125 |
|
|
|
04/21/09 |
|
|
|
|
18,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35.547 |
|
|
|
04/24/10 |
|
|
|
|
19,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23.55 |
|
|
|
04/06/11 |
|
|
|
|
9,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25.285 |
|
|
|
04/22/12 |
|
|
|
|
7,190 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.975 |
|
|
|
01/30/13 |
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
42.515 |
|
|
|
05/17/16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
21.41 |
|
|
|
05/17/17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
23.83 |
|
|
|
08/01/17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Verstegen |
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35.547 |
|
|
|
04/24/10 |
|
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23.55 |
|
|
|
04/06/11 |
|
|
|
|
9,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25.285 |
|
|
|
04/22/12 |
|
|
|
|
13,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.975 |
|
|
|
01/30/13 |
|
|
|
|
13,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14.015 |
|
|
|
08/14/13 |
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15.825 |
|
|
|
04/28/14 |
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12.94 |
|
|
|
05/18/15 |
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
42.515 |
|
|
|
05/17/16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
21.41 |
|
|
|
05/17/17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
23.83 |
|
|
|
08/01/17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Lim |
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.975 |
|
|
|
01/30/13 |
|
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12.94 |
|
|
|
05/18/15 |
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
42.515 |
|
|
|
05/17/16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
21.41 |
|
|
|
05/17/17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
23.83 |
|
|
|
08/01/17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Bitter (2) |
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14.015 |
|
|
|
08/14/13 |
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15.825 |
|
|
|
04/28/14 |
|
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12.94 |
|
|
|
05/18/15 |
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
42.515 |
|
|
|
05/17/16 |
|
-29-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
|
Number of Securities |
|
Number of Securities |
|
Option |
|
|
|
|
Underlying Unexercised |
|
Underlying Unexercised |
|
Exercise |
|
Option |
|
|
Options (#) (1) |
|
Options (#) (1) |
|
Price |
|
Expiration |
Name |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
($) |
|
Date |
|
Mr. Ehlers (2) |
|
|
18,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35.547 |
|
|
|
04/24/10 |
|
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23.55 |
|
|
|
04/06/11 |
|
|
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25.285 |
|
|
|
04/22/12 |
|
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
42.515 |
|
|
|
05/17/16 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Option award, under the 2005 Equity Plan or its predecessor plan. All options have an
exercise price equal to the market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Since
2005, the market price has been determined using the average of the high and low trading
prices on the grant date. Prior to that date, market price was determined by an average of
the high and low trading prices over a period of five to ten trading days prior to the grant
date. Options granted in fiscal 2005 vested immediately. Options granted in fiscal 2006 vest
one-third on each of the first three anniversaries of the grants. Options granted in fiscal
2007 vest one-half on each of the first two anniversaries of the grant. |
|
(2) |
|
Due to his retirement, Mr. Bitters options will expire no later than three years after the
effective date of his retirement from employment with Plexus, which effective date is expected
to be in February 2008. Mr. Ehlers estate may exercise his options, which fully vested upon
death, for stated periods after his death. |
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED
2007
The following table sets forth information about the Plexus stock options which were exercised
by the named executive officers in fiscal 2007. There were no outstanding awards of restricted
stock or similar awards which vested in fiscal 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
|
|
|
Acquired on |
|
Value Realized on |
Name |
|
Exercise (#) |
|
Exercise ($) (1) |
|
Mr. Foate |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ms. Jones |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Kronser |
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
$ |
216,874 |
|
Mr. Verstegen |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Lim |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Bitter |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Ehlers |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Based on the average of the high and low trading prices on the date of exercise. |
-30-
NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION
2007
Plexus does not maintain any defined benefit pension plans. Plexus only retirement savings
plans are defined contribution plans: the 401(k) Savings Plan (the 401(k) Plan) for all
qualifying U.S. employees; and the supplemental executive retirement plan (the SERP) for
designated executive officers and certain other key employees. Because these are defined
contribution plans, Plexus obligations are fixed at the time contributions are made, rather than
Plexus being liable for future potential shortfalls in plan assets to cover the fixed benefits that
are promised in defined benefit plans.
The 401(k) Plan is open to all U.S. Plexus employees meeting specified service and related
requirements. Under the plan, employees may voluntarily contribute up to 50% of their annual
compensation, up to a maximum tax code mandated limit of $15,500; Plexus will match 100% of the
first 2.5% of salary which an employee defers, up to $5,625 in fiscal 2007. There are several
investment options available to participants under the 401(k) Plan, including a Plexus stock fund.
Plexus maintains the SERP as an additional deferred compensation mechanism for most executive
officers and certain other key employees; the persons covered in fiscal 2007 include Messrs. Foate,
Bitter, Kronser, Verstegen and Ehlers and Ms. Jones. Mr. Lim does not participate because he is
not a United States resident. Under the SERP, a covered executive may elect to defer some or all
of his or her compensation through the plan, and Plexus may credit the participants account with a
discretionary employer contribution. Participants are entitled to payment of deferred amounts and
any earnings which may be credited thereon upon termination or retirement from Plexus. The rabbi
trust arrangement established under the SERP allows investment of deferred compensation held on
behalf of the participants into individual accounts and, within these accounts, into one or more
designated mutual funds or investments. These investment choices do not include Plexus stock.
Executive officers personal voluntary deferrals to the SERP for fiscal year 2007 totaled
$1,624,965, including those by the named executive officers as set forth in the table below. In
addition, the plan allows for discretionary Plexus contributions. Since fiscal 2006, discretionary
contributions have been the greater of (a) 7% of the executives total targeted cash compensation,
minus Plexus permitted contributions to the executive officers account in the 401(k) Plan, or (b)
$13,500. The Committee may also choose to make additional or special contributions; it did so for
Mr. Bitter upon his retirement from the chief financial officer position in 2007 to recognize his
substantial contributions to the Company in a tax-advantaged manner and in lieu of any other
special retirement payment.
Mr. Lim does not participate in these plans because he is a resident of Malaysia and is
covered by a different system. Under Malaysian law, an employer must make a contribution to the
fund of at least 12% of every employees salary during the year to the Employer Provident Fund,
which is a retirement savings program established under Malaysian law. In accordance with its
practice in Malaysia, Plexus made a contribution of 17% for Mr. Lim to reflect his seniority and
responsibilities.
-31-
The following table includes information as to contributions under the SERP or, in the case of
Mr. Lim, the Malaysian Employee Provident Fund. Since the 401(k) Plan is a tax-qualified plan
generally available to all employees, contributions on behalf of the executive officers and
earnings in that plan are not included in this table; however, company contributions under both are
among the items included in the All Other Compensation column in Summary Compensation Table
above.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive |
|
Registrant |
|
Aggregate |
|
Aggregate |
|
Aggregate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contributions in |
|
Contributions |
|
Earnings in |
|
Withdrawals/ |
|
Balance at |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Last FY |
|
in Last FY |
|
Last FY |
|
Distributions |
|
Last FYE |
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
($) (1) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Foate |
|
$ |
515,609 |
|
|
$ |
66,195 |
|
|
$ |
121,796 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,279,171 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ms. Jones |
|
|
6,346 |
|
|
|
9,625 |
|
|
|
523 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,494 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Kronser |
|
|
284,567 |
|
|
|
20,394 |
|
|
|
109,048 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,016,439 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Verstegen |
|
|
12,382 |
|
|
|
18,679 |
|
|
|
22,517 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
295,948 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Lim (2) |
|
|
27,521 |
|
|
|
40,791 |
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
605,034 |
(4) |
|
|
|
|
Mr. Bitter |
|
|
376,381 |
|
|
|
178,710 |
|
|
|
124,179 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,221,617 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Ehlers |
|
|
327,361 |
|
|
|
24,006 |
|
|
|
61,885 |
|
|
$ |
915,324 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Includes contributions by named executive officers that are included in the Salary column
in Summary Compensation Table above, as follows: Mr. Foate - $98,000: Ms. Jones $6,346; Mr.
Kronser - $92,976; Mr. Verstegen - $12,382; Mr. Lim - $27,521; Mr. Bitter - $75,000; and Mr.
Ehlers - $29,349. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Lims information relates to the Malaysian Employer Provident Fund. |
|
(3) |
|
This information is not yet available to Mr. Lim or the Company from the Employer Provident
Fund. |
|
(4) |
|
Based on the latest information that is available to Mr. Lim. His fund account also includes
contributions prior to his employment with Plexus and related earnings since the Employer
Provident Fund is not an employer-sponsored plan. |
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS AND POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR
CHANGE IN CONTROL
In this section, we are providing information about specific agreements with our executive
officers relating to employment and their post-employment compensation. As discussed further
below, only Mr. Foate has an employment agreement. All of our executive officers have change in
control agreements which will provide, in certain circumstances, for payments to the executive
officers in the event of a change in control of Plexus.
Mr. Foates Employment Agreement
Plexus does not generally have employment agreements with its executive officers. However,
when Mr. Foate became Plexus Chief Executive Officer in 2002, the Compensation and Leadership
Development Committee and the Board believed it was important to enter into an agreement with Mr.
Foate to set forth the terms of his employment and to provide incentives for him to continue with
the Company over the long term. Mr. Foates employment agreement was for an initial term of three
years and automatically extends (unless terminated) by one year every year, so that it maintains a
rolling three-year term. The agreement specifies when Plexus may terminate Mr. Foate for cause, or
when Mr. Foate may leave the Company for good reason, and determines the compensation payable upon
termination. The definition of cause and good reason are substantially similar to those under
the change in control agreements, as described below, although good reason would also include a
failure of Plexus to renew the employment agreement. If Mr. Foate is terminated for cause or
voluntarily leaves without good reason, dies or becomes disabled, or the agreement is not renewed,
Plexus is not required to make any further payments to Mr. Foate other than with respect to
obligations accrued on the date of termination. If Plexus terminates Mr. Foate
-32-
without cause, or he resigns with good reason, Mr. Foate is entitled to receive compensation
including his base salary and benefits for the remainder of the agreement or a three-year term,
whichever is longer, and bonuses for that period at the target-level bonus payments provided under
the annual cash incentive plan.
Mr. Foate also has a change in control agreement with Plexus, as described below. In the
event of a change in control of the Company, Mr. Foate is entitled to the greater of the benefits
under his employment agreement or his change in control agreement, but not both.
Under Mr. Foates employment agreement, Plexus is also protected from competition by Mr. Foate
after his employment with Plexus would cease. Upon termination, Mr. Foate agrees to not interfere
with the relationships between the customers, suppliers or employees of Plexus for two years, and
that he will not compete with Plexus over the same period and in geographical locations proximate
to Plexus operations. Further, Mr. Foate has agreed to related confidentiality requirements after
the termination of his employment.
Under the 2005 Equity Plan and predecessor plans, optionholders (or their representatives)
have a period of time in which they may exercise vested stock options after death, disability,
retirement or other termination of employment, except in the case of termination with cause.
Options do not continue to vest after termination except for full vesting upon a change in control
or, when provided in related option agreements, upon death or disability. See Outstanding Equity
Awards at Fiscal Year End above for information as to Mr. Foates outstanding stock options at
September 29, 2007. Mr. Foate would also receive accrued and vested benefits under the 401(k) Plan
and the SERP, and payment for accrued but unused vacation, upon a termination of employment for any
reason; those amounts are not included in Potential Benefits Table below. See Nonqualified
Deferred Compensation above for further information.
Change in Control Agreements
Plexus has change in control agreements with Messrs. Foate, Kronser, Verstegen and Lim, Ms.
Jones, and its other executive officers and certain other key employees. Under the terms of these
agreements, if there is a change in control of Plexus, as defined in the agreement, the executive
officers authorities, duties and responsibilities shall remain at least commensurate in all
material respects with those prior to the change in control. Their compensation may not be
reduced. Their benefits must be commensurate with those of similarly situated executives of the
acquiring firm, and their location of employment must not be changed significantly as a result of
the change in control.
After a change in control, in the event that any covered executive officer is terminated other
than for cause, death or disability, or an executive officer terminates his or her employment with
good reason, Plexus is obligated to pay the executive officer, in a cash lump sum, an amount equal
to either two or three times (for executive officers, including all of the named executive
officers; from one to two times for others) the executive officers base salary plus targeted bonus
payment, and to continue retirement payments and certain other benefits. The agreements further
provide for payment of additional amounts which may be necessary to gross up the amounts due to
such executive officer in the event of the imposition of an excise tax upon the payments. The
agreements do not preclude termination of the executive officer, or require payment of any benefit,
if there has not been a change in control of Plexus, nor do they limit the ability of Plexus to
terminate these persons thereafter for cause.
Under our change in control agreements:
|
|
|
A termination for a cause would occur if the executive officer wilfully and
continually fails to perform substantial duties or wilfully engages in illegal conduct
or gross misconduct which injures Plexus. |
|
|
|
|
After a change in control, an executive may terminate for good reason which would
include: requiring the executive to perform duties inconsistent with the duties
provided under his or her agreement; Plexus not complying with provisions of the
agreement; the Company requiring the executive to move; or any attempted termination of
employment which is not permitted by the agreement. |
-33-
|
|
|
A change in control would occur in the event of a successful tender offer for
Plexus, a merger or other business combination involving the Company, a sale of
substantial assets of the Company, a contested directors election or a combination of
the actions followed by any or all of the following actions: change in management or a
majority of the board of the Company or a declaration of a change in control by the
board of directors. |
Also, under the 2005 Equity Plan and predecessor plans, optionholders (or their
representatives) have a period of time in which they may exercise vested stock options after death,
disability, retirement or other combination of employment, except in the case of termination with
cause). Options do not continue to vest after termination, except for full vesting upon death or
permanent disability when provided in related option agreements or upon a change in control. See
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End above for information as to executive officers
outstanding stock options at September 29, 2007. Executives would also receive accrued and vested
benefits under the 401(k) Plan and the SERP, and payment for accrued but unused vacation, upon a
termination of employment for any reason; those amounts are not included in the table. See
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation above for further information.
Plexus does not have employment agreements with its executive officers other than Mr. Foate.
It also does not have a formal severance plan for other types of employment termination, except in
the event of a change in control as described above. Although Plexus has a general practice of
providing U.S. salaried employees with two weeks severance pay for every year worked in the case
of termination without cause, actual determinations are made on a case-by-case basis. Therefore,
whether and to what extent Plexus would provide severance benefits to the named executive officers,
or other executive officers, upon termination (other than due to death, permanent disability or a
change in control) would depend upon the facts and circumstances at that time. As such, we are
unable to estimate the potential payouts under other employment termination scenarios.
Potential Benefits Table
The following table provides information as to the amounts which will be payable (a) to Mr.
Foate under his employment agreement if he is terminated by Plexus for cause or without cause,
(b) to the named executive officers in the event of death or permanent disability, and (c) to the
named executive officers in the event they were terminated without cause, or the executive
terminated with good reason, in the event of a change in control. The payments are calculated
assuming a termination as of September 29, 2007, the last day of our previous fiscal year. The
table includes only benefits that would result from death or permanent disability, a termination or
a change in control, not vested benefits that are payable irrespective of a change. Since Messrs.
Bitter and Ehlers ceased to serve as executive officers of Plexus prior to the end of fiscal 2007,
they were no longer eligible on that date to receive payments under their change in control
agreements.
-34-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Officer; |
|
Cash |
|
|
|
|
|
Retirement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Context of |
|
Payments |
|
Early Vesting of |
|
Benefits |
|
Other Benefits |
|
Tax |
|
|
Termination |
|
(1) |
|
Stock Options (2) |
|
(3) |
|
(4) |
|
Gross-up (5) |
|
Total |
Mr. Foate
Termination by
Plexus for Cause |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Mr. Foate Death
or Disability |
|
|
|
(6) |
|
$ |
358,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
68,025 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
426,525 |
|
Mr. Foate
Termination by
Plexus without
Cause |
|
$ |
3,078,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
215,460 |
|
|
|
68,025 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,361,485 |
|
Mr. Foate Change
in Control |
|
|
3,078,000 |
|
|
|
358,500 |
|
|
|
215,460 |
|
|
|
68,025 |
|
|
|
1,325,416 |
|
|
|
5,045,401 |
|
Ms. Jones Death
or
Disability |
|
|
|
(6) |
|
|
92,150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,159 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
125,309 |
|
Ms. Jones Change
in Control |
|
|
1,237,500 |
|
|
|
92,150 |
|
|
|
28,875 |
|
|
|
33,159 |
|
|
|
493,803 |
|
|
|
1,885,487 |
|
Mr. Kronser Death
or Disability |
|
|
|
(6) |
|
|
23,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
129,027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
152,927 |
|
Mr. Kronser
Change
in Control |
|
|
1,115,100 |
|
|
|
23,900 |
|
|
|
74,095 |
|
|
|
129,027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,342,122 |
|
Mr. Verstegen
Death
or Disability |
|
|
|
(6) |
|
|
38,240 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
58,577 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
96,817 |
|
Mr. Verstegen
Change
in Control |
|
|
1,041,600 |
|
|
|
38,240 |
|
|
|
73,058 |
|
|
|
58,577 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,211,475 |
|
Mr. Lim Death
or
Disability |
|
|
|
(6) |
|
|
23,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
64,622 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
88,522 |
|
Mr. Lim Change
in
Control |
|
|
554,763 |
|
|
|
23,900 |
|
|
|
81,582 |
|
|
|
64,622 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
724,867 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
This amount represents payments relating to the executives base salary and VICP bonus to the
extent they would be paid after termination, based on the salary in effect at the end of
fiscal 2007 and the target VICP bonus for 2007. Under the change in control agreements, this
payment equals three years salary, as it was in effect at the time of termination, plus three
times the targeted VICP compensation for the year of termination. There are similar
provisions for a termination without cause in Mr. Foates employment agreement. |
|
(2) |
|
All outstanding unvested stock options would become vested upon a change in control, and the
unvested options also would vest upon death or disability. The amount shown represents the
difference in value of the unvested options between their exercise price and market price,
based on Plexus closing stock price of $27.40 per share on September 28, 2007, the last
trading date of fiscal 2007. These are in addition to the already fully vested stock options
discussed above. See Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End. |
|
(3) |
|
Under the change in control agreements, the Company would be required to continue payments to
the 401(k) Plan and SERP for three years at the same level during the year preceding the
change in control. There are similar provisions for a termination without cause in Mr.
Foates employment agreement. This column represents the total amount of those payments. The
executive officers would also receive accrued and vested benefits under the 401(k) Plan and
the SERP, and payment for accrued but unused vacation, upon a termination |
-35-
|
|
|
|
|
of employment for any reason; those amounts are not included in the table. See Nonqualified
Deferred Compensation for further information. |
|
(4) |
|
These amounts include continuing payments of health and welfare benefits, accrued vacation,
executive reimbursement plan expenses, company car and other benefits for three years, as
provided in the agreement. |
|
(5) |
|
In the event of a change in control in Plexus, the change in control agreements with our
executive officers provide that we will pay them an additional benefit to reimburse the
golden parachute excise taxes which they would owe pursuant to Internal Revenue Code
Section 280G. This column provides an estimate of these payments, reflecting each executives
base compensation under Section 280G. |
|
(6) |
|
Excludes life or disability insurance payments from third party insurers. |
APPROVAL OF THE
2008 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
The information in this proxy statement with respect to the proposed Plexus Corp. 2008
Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2008 Long-Term Plan) is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the text of the 2008 Long-Term Plan, which is attached hereto as Appendix A.
General
At the annual meeting, shareholders will be asked to approve the 2008 Long-Term Plan. The
2008 Long-Term Plan was adopted by the Plexus board on November 15, 2007, subject to shareholder
approval at the annual meeting. The 2008 Long-Term Plan is intended to constitute a cash and
stock-based incentive plan for Plexus, and includes provisions by which Plexus may grant directors,
executive officers and other officers and key employees stock options, stock appreciation rights
(SARs), restricted stock, which may be designated as restricted stock awards or restricted stock
unit awards, performance stock awards, which may be settled in cash or stock, and cash bonus
awards. No options or awards have yet been granted under the 2008 Long-Term Plan, and will not be
granted prior to shareholder approval of the 2008 Long-Term Plan. See Executive Compensation
above for information on awards previously made under the 2005 Equity Plan and predecessor plans,
and Corporate GovernanceDirectors Compensation for information on awards previously made under
the 1995 Directors Stock Option Plan and the 2005 Equity Plan.
The board believes that adoption of the 2008 Long-Term Plan is desirable because it will
promote the interests of Plexus and its shareholders by continuing and strengthening Plexus
ability to retain and attract officers, key salaried employees and directors by encouraging them to
maintain a personal interest in Plexus continued success and progress, and by providing a means of
linking personal compensation to creation of value for Plexus shareholders. The 2008 Long-Term
Plan also provides the ability to couple awards with specific performance goals.
The 2008 Long-Term Plan is intended to continue and extend the incentives which have been
provided under the 2005 Equity Plan and its predecessors. At December 1, 2007, only 547,267 shares
were available for future grants under the 2005 Equity Plan. If the 2008 Long-Term Plan is
approved by shareholders, the 2005 Equity Plan will only be used to make grants to employees
covered by the approved sub-plan for United Kingdom employees, which was established under the 2005
Equity Plan. Upon the approval of a new sub-plan for United Kingdom employees, no further awards
will be granted under the 2005 Equity Plan. Awards previously granted under the 2005 Equity Plan
or its predecessors will remain in effect until they have been exercised or have expired and will
be administered in accordance with their terms and the 2005 Equity Plan or the appropriate
predecessor plan. See Equity Compensation Plan Information below for a summary at September 29,
2007 of shares subject to options granted under Plexus existing plans and shares available under
existing plans on that date.
In response to current market compensation trends, the board of directors determined it was in
the best interests of Plexus to create a new incentive plan. The 2008 Long-Term Plan will continue
to provide a means to compensate Plexus officers, directors and employees in a way that is
performance-driven, because the value of many of the awards will depend on performance either of
our stock or our corporate performance. Also, using Plexus stock helps us further the
identification of our officers, directors and employees with our shareholders. Structuring such a
plan may also have tax benefits to Plexus; see Tax Consequences below. The board also determined
to
-36-
include in it provisions for restricted stock awards, performance stock awards and cash bonus
awards, as well as provisions that allow awards to be coupled with performance goals, and to
accommodate changes in tax and accounting treatment of equity-based plans and awards.
The Plexus board of directors has adopted the 2008 Long-Term Plan as in the best interests of
Plexus and its shareholders. The board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR
approval of the 2008 Long-Term Plan.
2008 Long-Term Plan
The 2008 Long-Term Plan provides for the grant of:
|
|
|
incentive stock options (ISOs), intended to qualify within the meaning of Section
422 of the Code; |
|
|
|
|
non-qualified stock options (NSOs) that do not meet the requirements of Section
422 of the Code; |
|
|
|
|
stock appreciation rights (SARs), which may be cash settled stock appreciation
rights or stock settled appreciation rights; |
|
|
|
|
restricted stock awards, which may be restricted stock shares or restricted stock
units (RSUs); |
|
|
|
|
performance stock awards, which are conditioned upon the satisfaction of
pre-established performance goals; and |
|
|
|
|
cash bonus awards. |
In this proxy statement, we refer to ISOs and NSOs as options, and options, SARs, restricted
stock awards, performance stock awards and cash bonus awards collectively as awards.
Under the 2008 Long-Term Plan the maximum number of shares of Plexus common stock that may be
issued pursuant to awards is five million five hundred thousand (5,500,000) shares. Shares may be
original issue shares, treasury shares held by Plexus, treasury shares that have been repurchased
by Plexus or an independent agent in the open market to be used for awards, or from a combination
of any of the foregoing. Additionally, if any award granted under the 2008 Long-Term Plan is
canceled, terminates, expires, or lapses for any reason, any shares subject to the award will be
available for the grant of other awards under the 2008 Long-Term Plan. If a SAR is exercised only
the number of shares issued upon exercise are counted against the share limit (not the number of
shares subject to the SAR). Furthermore, any awards or portions thereof that are settled in cash
and not in shares will not be counted against the share limit. The total number of shares that may
be issued under the 2008 Long-Term Plan represents approximately 11.8% of the number of shares of
common stock outstanding. The 2008 Long-Term Plan has a term of ten (10) years. On December 3,
2007, the fair market value of Plexus common stock, as determined under the definition in the 2008
Long-Term Plan, using the average of the high and low trading prices on that day, was $29.65 per
share.
Following the approval of the 2008 Long-Term Plan by shareholders, the 2005 Equity Plan will
only be used to make grants to employees covered by the approved sub-plan for United Kingdom
employees under the 2005 Equity Plan. Any shares or options which are granted to United Kingdom
employees after the 2008 Long-Term Plan has been approved by shareholders will be counted against
the 2008 Long-Term Plan share limit as one share for every one share subject thereto.
The 2008 Long-Term Plan will be administered by the Compensation and Leadership Development
Committee. The Committee, in its discretion, will designate the persons to whom awards will be
made, grant the awards in the form and amount as it determines, and impose such limitations,
restrictions and conditions upon any such award as it deems appropriate; the Committee may delegate
certain of these decisions relating to awards to other Plexus officers, directors or employees.
However, the Committee itself will make these decisions related to any awards made to executive
officers, and the full board of directors will make these decisions with respect to any awards made
to directors. We refer to the Committee, its designees and the board acting in these capacities as
the Administrators.
-37-
Officers, salaried exempt employees and directors of Plexus or any subsidiary are eligible to
receive awards. No person may receive awards for more than 1,000,000 shares in any calendar year.
Plexus estimates that the number of persons currently eligible to participate in the 2008 Long-Term
Plan is in the range of 1,250 to 1,750, including each of the executive officers and the directors.
Plexus cannot determine at this time the number of awards to be granted in the future to persons
named in Summary Compensation Table above, to any other specific officer or employee, to all
current executive officers as a group, to all employees as a group, or to all directors.
The exercise price of options and SARs granted under the 2008 Long-Term Plan may not be less
than 100% of the fair market value of the shares on the date the option is granted. The 2008
Long-Term Plan defines fair market value as the mean between the high and low trading value of
Plexus common stock on the date of grant or the average of high and low trading prices for a period
of trading days ending on the grant date determined by the Administrators. The vesting schedule
for awards will be determined in connection with their grant. Unless a particular award provides
otherwise, options and SARs will have maximum exercise terms of ten and seven years, respectively,
from the date of grant. Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving Plexus
(including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend,
recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or
exchange of shares) the Administrators do not have the authority to reprice awards or to cancel
outstanding awards in exchange for cash or other awards with an exercise price that is less than
the exercise price of the original awards; such a repricing or exchange would require shareholder
approval.
No person may receive an ISO if, at the time of grant, the person owns, directly or indirectly
shares representing, more than 10% of the total combined voting power of Plexus, unless the
exercise price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the shares and the exercise period of
such ISO is limited to five years. The maximum fair market value, determined at time of grant, of
shares covered by ISOs that first become exercisable by any employee in any one calendar year is
limited to $100,000.
Awards of SARs may be made alone or together with other awards under the 2008 Long-Term Plan.
The Administrators will determine the terms of any SAR grants.
Any option or SAR granted generally will be non-transferable by the grantee other than by will
or the laws of descent and will be exercisable during the grantees lifetime solely by the grantee
or the grantees duly appointed guardian or personal representative. However, the Administrators
may permit a grantee to transfer a NSO or SAR to a family member or a trust or partnership for the
benefit of a family member, in accordance with rules established by the Administrators.
Restricted stock awards may be issued either alone or in addition to other awards granted
under the 2008 Long-Term Plan. The Administrators will determine the eligible persons to whom and
the times at which restricted stock awards will be made, the number of shares to be awarded, the
time or times within which such awards may be subject to forfeiture, and any other terms and
conditions of the awards. Grants of restricted stock may also be made as RSUs, which may be
conditioned upon the attainment of specified performance goals which are described in the 2008
Long-Term Plan, or other criteria determined by the Administrators, and the provisions of
restricted stock shares or restricted stock units do not need to be the same with respect to each
recipient.
Each restricted stock or RSU award will be confirmed by, and be subject to the terms of, an
agreement identifying the restrictions applicable to the award. Until the applicable restrictions
lapse or the conditions are satisfied, the individual will not be permitted to sell, assign,
transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber the restricted stock award. Unless otherwise provided in
the applicable agreement, the portion of the restricted stock award still subject to restriction
will be forfeited by the individual upon termination of the individuals service for any reason.
If and when the applicable restrictions lapse, unrestricted shares will be issued to the
individual.
The Administrators may grant restricted stock awards as restricted stock units under the 2008
Long-Term Plan subject to specified performance goals that are based on the attainment of goals
relating to one or more of the following business criteria measured on an absolute basis or in
terms of growth or reduction (the Performance Goals): income (pre-tax or after-tax and with
adjustments as stipulated), earnings per share, return on equity, return on capital employed,
return on assets, return on tangible book value, operating income, earnings before depreciation,
interest, taxes and amortization (EBDITA), expense ratio, increase in stock price, return on
invested capital (ROIC), total shareholder return, shareholder value added (or a derivative
thereof) and operating cash flow.
-38-
The Performance Goals may be based solely by reference to the performance of Plexus or the
performance of an affiliate, division, business segment or business unit or subsidiary of Plexus,
or based upon the relative performance of other companies or upon comparison of any of the
indicators of performance relative to other companies. The Administrators may exclude charges
related to an event or occurrence which the Administrators determine should be appropriately
excluded, including restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items, and other unusual
or non-recurring items.
It is intended that any Performance Goal will be in a form that relates the award to an
increase in the value of Plexus to its shareholders. Performance Goals will be established in
writing by the Administrators not later than 90 days after the commencement of the period of
service to which the Performance Goal relates. Typically, these would be set either before the
beginning of the fiscal year or within 45 days thereafter. The preestablished Performance Goals
must state, in terms of an objective formula or standard, the method for computing the amount of
compensation payable to any employee if the goal is attained. If Performance Goals established by
the Administrators are not met, the restricted stock award will be forfeited.
The Administrators may grant performance stock awards either alone or in addition to other
awards granted under the 2008 Long-Term Plan. It is anticipated that performance stock awards will
be subject to both a performance condition and a condition related to the individuals continued
employment. The Administrators will determine the eligible employees to whom and the times at
which performance stock awards will be made, the number of shares subject to the award, the time
within which such awards will be subject to forfeiture and any other terms and conditions of the
awards.
The performance stock awards will be conditioned upon the attainment of one or more
preestablished, objective corporate Performance Goals that apply to the individual, a business
unit, or Plexus as a whole.
The performance stock awards may also be conditioned upon such other conditions, restrictions
and contingencies as the Administrators may determine, including the individuals continued
employment. The provisions of performance stock awards need not be the same with respect to each
recipient. Until all conditions for a performance stock award have been satisfied, the individual
is not be permitted to sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber the award. Any portion
of an award still subject to restriction upon termination of an individual for any reason must be
forfeited. If and when the applicable restrictions lapse, unrestricted shares will be issued to
the individual.
Cash bonus awards may be issued either alone or in addition to other awards granted under the
2008 Long-Term Plan. The Administrators will determine the employees to whom and the times at
which cash bonus awards will be granted, and the conditions upon which the awards will be paid.
The maximum cash bonus award payable to an employee in any fiscal year will not exceed $1,500,000.
Cash bonus awards under the 2008 Long-Term Plan would be paid solely on account of the
attainment of one or more preestablished, objective Performance Goals that apply to the individual,
a business unit, or Plexus as a whole. The 2008 Long-Term Plan does not limit the authority of the
Company, the board or the Committee to award other bonuses or compensation to any person.
In the event of any recapitalization, stock split or reverse split, stock dividend, merger in
which Plexus is the surviving entity, combination or exchange of shares, or other capital change
affecting Plexus common stock, appropriate changes in the number and kind of shares available for
grant under the 2008 Long-Term Plan and in the number, price and kind of shares covered by other
outstanding awards shall be made. In the case of an acquisition of Plexus, the related agreement
may provide for conversion of options in an equitable manner comparable to the consideration
received by shareholders and may permit Plexus to cash out any options upon a change in control.
The 2008 Long-Term Plan also provides that all options, RSUs and SARs will become fully vested upon
a change in control of Plexus.
Payment for shares acquired through the exercise of options issued under the 2008 Long-Term
Plan may be made either in cash or in shares of Plexus common stock beneficially owned by the
optionee for at least six months prior to exercise, valued at their fair market value as of the
exercise date, or in a combination thereof.
-39-
Each award under the 2008 Long-Term Plan will be evidenced by an agreement containing such
terms and conditions as the Administrators may establish from time to time.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table chart gives aggregate information regarding grants under all Plexus equity
compensation plans through September 29, 2007:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
remaining available |
|
|
|
Number of securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
for future issuance under |
|
|
|
to be issued upon |
|
|
Weighted-average |
|
|
equity compensation |
|
|
|
exercise of |
|
|
exercise price of |
|
|
plans (excluding |
|
|
|
outstanding options, |
|
|
outstanding options, |
|
|
securities reflected |
|
Plan category |
|
warrants and rights (1) |
|
|
warrants and rights |
|
|
in 1st column) (2) |
|
Equity compensation
plans approved by
securityholders |
|
|
3,378,369 |
|
|
$ |
25.13 |
|
|
|
777,223 |
* |
Equity compensation
plans not approved
by securityholders |
|
|
-0- |
|
|
$ |
n/a |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
3,378,369 |
|
|
$ |
25.13 |
|
|
|
777,223 |
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Only 547,267 shares were available for future awards at December 1, 2007. If the 2008
Long-Term Plan is approved we will not make further grants under the 2005 Equity Plan,
except to employees covered by the sub-plan for United Kingdom employees. Any such awards
will be subtracted from the number of awards which may be granted under the 2008 Long-Term
Plan. |
|
(1) |
|
Represents options granted under the 2005 Equity Plan, or its predecessors the 1998 Stock
Option Plan and the 1995 Directors Stock Option Plan, all of which were approved by
shareholders. No further awards may be made under the predecessor plans. |
|
(2) |
|
In addition to options that may be granted under the 2005 Equity Plan, there are 1,178,023
authorized shares which have not yet been purchased by employees under the Plexus 2005
Employee Stock Purchase Plan. These shares may be purchased at a 5% discount to market price
at the end of a six-month contribution period; the number of shares which may be purchased by
any employee is limited by the Internal Revenue Code. The Company will terminate further
purchases under this Purchase Plan, due to recent accounting changes, in January 2008, at the
end of the current enrollment period. |
Tax Consequences
Plexus is requesting shareholder approval of the 2008 Long-Term Plan as a matter of corporate
governance best practices and so that certain awards under the 2008 Long-Term Plan can qualify as
performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) and
not adversely affect Plexus tax deduction. Section 162(m) in part requires shareholder approval
of a compensation plan once every five years. Section 162(m) generally limits the corporate tax
deduction for compensation paid to executive officers that is not performance-based to $1 million
per executive officer. Performance-based compensation meeting certain requirements is not counted
against the $1 million limit and remains fully deductible for tax purposes. The requirements
include the obligation that the compensation be paid solely on account of the attainment of one or
more preestablished, objective performance goals. Shareholder approval of the general business
criteria of the 2008 Long-Term Plan and the maximum amounts that may be awarded under the 2008
Long-Term Plan, even without shareholder approval of specific targeted levels of performance, will
permit qualifying awards under the 2008 Long-Term Plan to qualify as performance-based compensation
and is expected to allow full tax deductibility of any performance-based awards under the 2008
Long-Term Plan for the next five years.
The following is a brief summary of the other principal federal income tax consequences of
awards made under the 2008 Long-Term Plan based upon the applicable provisions of the Code in
effect on the date hereof.
-40-
Incentive Stock Options. An optionee will not recognize taxable income at the time an ISO is
granted. Further, an optionee will not recognize taxable income upon exercise of an ISO if the
optionee complies with two separate holding periods: shares acquired upon exercise of an ISO must
be held for at least two years after the date of grant and for at least one year after the date of
exercise. The difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the stock at the
date of exercise is, however, a tax preference item. When the shares of stock received pursuant to
the exercise of an ISO are sold or otherwise disposed of in a taxable transaction, the optionee
will recognize a capital gain or loss, measured by the difference between the exercise price and
the amount realized.
Ordinarily, an employer granting ISOs will not be allowed any business expense deduction with
respect to stock issued upon exercise of an ISO. However, if all of the requirements for an ISO
are met except for the holding period rules set forth above, the optionee will be required, at the
time of the disposition of the stock, to treat the lesser of the gain realized or the difference
between the exercise price and the fair market value of the stock at the date of exercise as
ordinary income and the excess, if any, as capital gain. Plexus will be allowed a corresponding
business expense deduction to the extent of the amount of the optionees ordinary income.
Non-Qualified Stock Options. An optionee will not recognize taxable income at the time an NSO
is granted. Upon exercise of an NSO, an optionee will recognize taxable income in an amount equal
to the difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the shares at the date of
exercise. The amount of such difference will be a deductible expense to Plexus for tax purposes.
On a subsequent sale or exchange of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an NSO, the
optionee will recognize a taxable gain or loss, measured by the difference between the amount
realized on the disposition and the tax basis of such shares. The tax basis will, in general, be
the amount paid for the shares plus the amount treated as compensation income at the time the
shares were acquired pursuant to the exercise of the option.
Stock Appreciation Rights. A SAR award holder will not recognize taxable income at the time a
SAR is granted. An award holder will recognize ordinary income upon exercise of a SAR in an amount
determined by multiplying (1) the excess of the fair market value of a share of stock on the SAR
exercise date over the fair market value of a share of stock on the SAR grant date, by (2) the
number of SARs becoming vested. Plexus will be entitled to a tax deduction in the same amount.
Restricted Stock. A grantee receiving a restricted stock or RSU award will generally
recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the stock at the time the
stock is no longer subject to forfeiture. While the restrictions are in effect, the grantee will
recognize compensation income equal to the amount of any dividends received and Plexus will be
allowed a deduction for that amount. Plexus will generally be entitled to a deduction equal to the
amount that is taxable as ordinary income to the grantee in the year that such income is taxable.
Performance Stock Awards. The grant of performance stock awards will create no income tax
consequences for Plexus or the recipient. Assuming the specified performance goals are attained,
upon the receipt of shares at the end of the applicable performance period, the recipient will
recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares received. Plexus will
generally be entitled to a deduction in the same amount and at the same time as income is
recognized by the recipient, subject to the application of Section 162(m) of the Code. Under
certain circumstances involving a change in control, Plexus may not be entitled to a deduction with
respect to performance stock awards granted to certain of its executive officers. Upon the
recipients subsequent disposition of the shares, the recipient will recognize capital gain or loss
(long-term or short-term depending on the holding period) to the extent the amount realized from
the disposition differs from the shares tax basis, i.e., the fair market value of the shares on
the date the recipient received the shares.
Cash Bonus Award. An employee who is paid a cash bonus award will recognize ordinary income
equal to the amount of cash paid. Plexus will be entitled to a deduction in the same amount and at
the same time as income is recognized by the employee, subject to the application of Section 162(m)
of the Code.
Withholding. Plexus has the right to deduct or withhold, or require a grantee to remit to
Plexus, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes (including the grantees
FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising or as a
result of the 2008 Long-Term Plan. With respect to withholding required upon the exercise of
options or SARs, upon the lapse of restrictions on restricted stock or the payment of performance
stock awards, executive officers may elect, subject to the approval of the Administrators, to
-41-
satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having Plexus withhold shares
having a fair market value on the date the tax is to be determined equal to the minimum statutory
total tax which could be imposed on the transaction or by using cash.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Plexus has a written policy requiring that transactions, if any, between Plexus on the one
hand and its executive officers, directors or employees (or related parties) on the other hand must
be on a basis that is fair and reasonable to the Company and in accordance with Plexus Code of
Conduct and Business Ethics and other policies. Plexus policy focuses on related party
transactions in which its insiders or their families have a significant economic interest; while
the policy requires disclosure of all transactions, it recognizes that there may be situations
where Plexus has ordinary business dealings with other large companies in which insiders may have
some role but little if any stake in a particular transaction. Although these transactions are not
prohibited, any such transaction must be approved by either a disinterested majority of the board
of directors or by the Audit Committee.
In connection with his hiring by Plexus and relocation to Neenah, Wisconsin, Plexus purchased
the Minnesota residence of Michael Buseman who subsequently became an executive officer of Plexus.
During fiscal 2007, Plexus purchased Mr. Busemans former residence for $475,000; Plexus later sold
the residence for $467,500, and incurred costs of approximately $32,000 in connection with the
transactions. There were no such other reportable transactions in an amount or of a nature which
were reportable under applicable SEC rules in fiscal 2007. However, please also see Corporate
Governance-Director Independence for certain other transactions and relationships which the board
considered when determining the independence of the directors.
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee of the board of directors, which was established in accordance with
Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act, oversees and monitors the participation of
Plexus management and independent auditors throughout the financial reporting process and approves
the hiring and retention of and fees paid to the independent auditors. The Audit Committee also
generally reviews other transactions between the Company and interested parties which may involve a
potential conflict of interest. No member of the Audit Committee is employed or has any other
material relationship with Plexus. The members are independent directors as defined in Rule
4200(a)(15) of the NASD listing standards applicable to the Nasdaq Global Select Stock Market and
relevant SEC rules. The Plexus board of directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit
Committee, and the current version is available on Plexus website.
In connection with its function to oversee and monitor the financial reporting process of
Plexus and in addition to its quarterly review of interim unaudited financial statements, the Audit
Committee has done the following:
|
|
|
reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the fiscal year
ended September 29, 2007 with Plexus management; |
|
|
|
|
discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Plexus independent auditors, those
matters which are required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards 61
(Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, AU §380); and |
|
|
|
|
received the written disclosure and the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussion with
Audit Committees) and has discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP its independence. |
Based on the foregoing, the Audit Committee recommended to the board of directors that the
audited financial statements be included in Plexus annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended September 29, 2007. The Audit Committee further confirmed the independence of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members of the Audit Committee:
|
|
David J. Drury, Chair
|
|
Stephen P. Cortinovis |
|
|
|
|
Peter Kelly |
|
|
-42-
AUDITORS
Subject to ratification by shareholders, the Audit Committee intends to reappoint the firm of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent auditors to audit the financial statements of Plexus for
fiscal 2008. Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are expected to be present at the
annual meeting of shareholders to respond to questions and make a statement if they desire to do
so.
Fees and Services
Fees (including reimbursements for out-of-pocket expenses) paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
for services in fiscal 2007 and 2006 were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
Audit fees: |
|
$ |
1,057,200 |
|
|
$ |
1,196,900 |
|
Audit-related fees: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax fees: |
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
53,000 |
|
All other fees: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The above amounts relate to services provided in the indicated fiscal years, irrespective of when
they were billed. Audit fees related to Plexus annual audit and quarterly professional reviews;
in fiscal 2007 and 2006, audit fees also included substantial work related to the certification of
Plexus internal controls as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Tax services consisted primarily
of compliance and other tax advice regarding special Plexus projects. The Audit Committee
considered the compatibility of the non-audit services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with
the maintenance of that firms independence.
The Audit Committee generally approves all engagements of the independent auditor in advance,
including approval of the related fees. The Audit Committee approves an annual budget (and may
from time to time approve amendments thereto), which specifies projects and the approved levels of
fees for each. To the extent that items are not covered in the annual budget or fees exceed the
budget, management must have such items approved by the Audit Committee or, if necessary between
Audit Committee meetings, by the Audit Committee chairman on behalf of the Audit Committee.
Projects of the types approved for which fees total less than $10,000 in each case may be approved
by management, subject to review and approval by the Audit Committee at its next meeting. There
were no services in fiscal 2007 or 2006 which were not approved in advance by the Audit Committee
under this policy.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS AND NOTICES
Shareholder proposals must be received by Plexus no later than August 19, 2008 in order to be
considered for inclusion in next years annual meeting proxy statement. In addition, the Plexus
bylaws provide that any proposal for action, or nomination to the board of directors, proposed
other than by the board of directors must be received by Plexus in writing, together with specified
accompanying information, at least 70 days prior to an annual meeting in order for such action to
be considered at the meeting. The 2009 annual meeting of shareholders is tentatively scheduled for
February 12, 2009, and any notice of intent to consider other questions and/or nominees, and
related information, must therefore be received by December 4, 2008. The purpose of the bylaw is
to assure adequate notice of, and information regarding, any such matter as to which shareholder
action may be sought. The persons holding proxies may vote in their discretion on any matter as to
which notice is not received by that date.
By order of the Board of Directors
Angelo M. Ninivaggi
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Neenah, Wisconsin
December 11, 2007
-43-
A copy (without exhibits) of Plexus annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2007 will be provided without charge to each
record or beneficial owner of shares of Plexus common stock as of December 10, 2007 on the written
request of that person directed to: Dianne Boydstun, Executive Assistant to the Chief Financial
Officer, Plexus Corp., 55 Jewelers Park Drive, P.O. Box 156, Neenah, Wisconsin 54957-0156. See
also page 2 of this proxy statement. In addition, copies are available on Plexus website at
www.plexus.com, following the links at Investor Relations, then SEC Filings, then Plexus SEC
Reports (or http://www.plexus.com/annualreport.php).
To save printing and mailing costs, in some cases only one notice, annual report and/or proxy
statement will be delivered to multiple holders of securities sharing an address unless Plexus has
received contrary instructions from one or more of those security holders. Upon written or oral
request, we will promptly deliver a separate copy of the annual report or proxy statement, as
applicable, to any security holder at a shared address to which a single copy of the document was
delivered. You may request additional copies by written request to the address set forth in the
paragraph above or as set forth on page 2 of this proxy statement. You may also contact Ms.
Boydstun at that address or telephone number if you wish to receive a separate annual report and/or
proxy statement in the future, or if you share an address with another security holder and wish for
delivery of only a single copy of the annual report and/or proxy statement if you are currently
receiving multiple copies.
-44-
Appendix A
PLEXUS CORP.
2008 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
|
(a) |
|
Purposes. The purposes of the 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan are to
provide a means to attract and retain talented personnel and to provide to
participating directors, officers and other key employees long-term incentives for high
levels of performance and for successful efforts to improve the financial performance
of the corporation. These purposes may be achieved through the grant of options to
purchase Common Stock of Plexus Corp., the grant of Stock Appreciation Rights, the
grant of Restricted Stock, the grant of Performance Stock Awards and the grant of Cash
Bonus Awards, as described below. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Effect on Prior Plans. If the 2008 Plan is approved by shareholders,
the Plexus Corp. 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2005 Plan) will only be used to make
grants to employees covered by the approved sub-plan for United Kingdom employees which
has been established under the 2005 Plan. If and when a sub-plan for United Kingdom
employees under the 2008 Plan is approved, no further awards will be granted under the
Plexus Corp. 2005 Plan. Awards granted previously under the 2005 Plan will remain in
effect until they have been exercised or have expired. The awards shall be
administered in accordance with their terms and the 2005 Plan. |
|
(a) |
|
1934 Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from
time to time. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Award means an Incentive Stock Option, Non-Qualified Stock Option, Stock
Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock grant, Performance Stock Award or Cash Bonus
Award, as appropriate. |
|
|
(c) |
|
Award Agreement means the agreement between the Corporation and the Grantee
specifying the terms and conditions as described thereunder. |
|
|
(d) |
|
Board means the Board of Directors of Plexus Corp. |
|
|
(e) |
|
Cash Bonus Award means a cash bonus award under Article 17 of the Plan. |
|
|
(f) |
|
Cause means a violation of the Corporations Code of Conduct and Business
Ethics, or substantial and continued failure of the employee to perform, which results
in, or was intended to result in (i) demonstrable injury to the Corporation, monetary
or otherwise or (ii) gain to, or enrichment of, the Grantee at the Corporations
expense. |
|
|
(g) |
|
Change in Control means an event which shall be deemed to have occurred in
the event that any person, entity or group shall become the beneficial owner of such
number of shares of Common Stock, and/or any other class of stock of the Corporation
then outstanding that is entitled to vote in the election of directors (or is
convertible into shares so entitled to vote) as together possess more than 50% of the
voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of all such classes of stock of the
Corporation so entitled to vote. For purposes of the preceding sentence, person,
entity or group shall not include (i) any employee benefit plan of the Corporation, or
(ii) any person, entity or group which, as of the Effective Date of this Plan, is the
beneficial owner of such number of shares of Common Stock and/or such other class of
stock of the Corporation as together possess 5% of such voting power; and for these
purposes group shall mean persons who act in concert as described in Section 14(d)(2)
of the 1934 Act. |
|
|
(h) |
|
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be amended from time
to time. |
A-1
|
(i) |
|
Committee means the committee described in Article 4 or the person or persons
to whom the committee has delegated its power and responsibilities under Article 4. |
|
|
(j) |
|
Common Stock or Stock means the common stock of the Corporation having a
par value of $.01 per share. |
|
|
(k) |
|
Corporation means Plexus Corp., a Wisconsin corporation. |
|
|
(l) |
|
Fair Market Value means for purposes of the Plan an amount deemed to be equal
to the mean between the highest and lowest sale prices of Common Stock traded on such
date, or an average of trading days, as determined by the Committee, for sales made and
reported through the National Market System of the National Association of Securities
Dealers or such national stock exchange on which such Stock may then be listed and
which constitutes the principal market for such Stock, or, if no sales of Stock shall
have been reported with respect to that date, on the next preceding date with respect
to which sales were reported. |
|
|
(m) |
|
Grant Date means the date on which an Award is deemed granted, which shall be
the date on which the Committee authorizes the Award or such later date as the
Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. |
|
|
(n) |
|
Grantee means an individual who has been granted an Award. |
|
|
(o) |
|
Incentive Stock Option means an option that is intended to meet the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code and regulations thereunder. |
|
|
(p) |
|
Non-Qualified Stock Option means an option other than an Incentive Stock
Option. |
|
|
(q) |
|
Option means an Incentive Stock Option or Non-Qualified Stock Option, as
appropriate. |
|
|
(r) |
|
Performance Goal means a performance goal established by the Committee prior
to the grant of any Award of Restricted Stock or Performance Stock that is based on the
attainment of goals relating to one or more of the following business criteria measured
on an absolute basis or in terms of growth or reduction: income (pre-tax or after-tax
and with adjustments as stipulated), earnings per share, return on equity, return on
capital employed, return on assets, return on tangible book value, operating income,
earnings before depreciation, interest, taxes and amortization (EBITDA), expense ratio,
increase in stock price, return on invested capital (ROIC), total shareholder return,
shareholder value added (or a derivative thereof) and operating cash flow. Such
performance goals may be based solely by reference to the Corporations performance or
the performance of an affiliate, division, business segment or business unit of the
Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, or based upon the relative performance of other
companies or upon comparisons of any of the indicators of performance relative to other
companies. The Committee may also exclude charges related to an event or occurrence
which the Committee determines should appropriately be excluded, including (i)
restructurings, discontinued operations, impairment of goodwill or long-lived assets,
extraordinary items, and other unusual or non-recurring charges, (ii) an event either
not directly related to the operations of the Corporation or not within the reasonable
control of the Corporations management, or (iii) the cumulative effects of tax or
accounting changes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. |
|
|
(s) |
|
Performance Stock Award means an Award under Article 16 of the Plan that is
conditioned upon the satisfaction of pre-established Performance Goals. |
|
|
(t) |
|
Plan means the Plexus Corp. 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan as set forth
herein, as it may be amended from time to time. |
|
|
(u) |
|
Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act, and any future
regulation amending or superseding such regulation. |
A-2
|
(v) |
|
Restricted Stock means shares or units of Common Stock which are subject to
restrictions established by the Committee. Restricted Stock Awards may consist of shares issued subject to forfeiture if specified conditions are not satisfied
(Restricted Stock Shares) or agreements to issue shares of Common Stock in the future
if specified conditions are satisfied (Restricted Stock Units). |
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(w) |
|
Stock Appreciation Right or SAR means the right to receive cash or shares
of Common Stock in an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share
of Common Stock on the date the SAR is exercised over (1) the Fair Market Value of one
share of Common Stock on the Grant Date (the exercise price) or (2) if the SAR is
related to an Option, the purchase price of a share of Common Stock specified in the
related Option. An SAR settled in cash may be referred to as a Cash Settled Stock
Appreciation Right and an SAR settled in stock may be referred to as a Stock Settled
Stock Appreciation Right. |
3. |
|
Shares Subject to Award. |
Subject to adjustment as provided in Article 19 hereunder, the number of shares of Common
Stock of the Corporation that may be issued under the Plan shall not exceed five million five
hundred thousand (5,500,000) shares (the Share Limit), all of which may be issued in the form of
Incentive Stock Options. No Plan Participant may receive Awards for more than 1,000,000 Shares in
any calendar year. Shares issued under the Plan may come from authorized but unissued shares, from
treasury shares held by the Corporation, from shares purchased by the Corporation or an independent
agent in the open market for such purpose, or from any combination of the foregoing. The Share
Limit shall be subject to the following rules and adjustments:
|
(a) |
|
If an SAR is exercised pursuant to Article VI, only the number of shares of
Common Stock issued upon exercise shall be counted against the Share Limit (not the
number of shares subject to the SAR). |
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(b) |
|
If any Award granted under this Plan is canceled, terminates, expires, or
lapses for any reason, any shares subject to such Award again shall be available for
the grant of an Award under the Plan. Any Awards or portions thereof that are settled
in cash and not in shares of Common Stock shall not be counted against the foregoing
Share Limit. |
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|
(c) |
|
Following the approval of the 2008 Plan by shareholders, the 2005 Plan may be
used to make grants to employees covered by the approved sub-plan for United Kingdom
employees under the 2005 Plan. Any shares of Common Stock subject to options which are
granted to United Kingdom employees after the 2008 Plan has been approved by
shareholders shall be counted against the 2008 Plan Share Limit as one share for every
one share subject thereto. |
4. |
|
Administration of the Plan. |
For purposes of the power to grant Awards to directors, the Committee shall consist of the
entire Board. For other Plan purposes, the Plan shall be administered by the Compensation and
Leadership Development Committee of the Board, or any other committee the Board may subsequently
appoint to administer the Plan, as herein described. The Committee shall have full and final
authority, in its discretion, but subject to the express provisions of the Plan to:
|
(a) |
|
grant Awards, to determine the terms of each Award, the individuals to whom,
the number of shares subject to, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be
granted; |
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(b) |
|
interpret the Plan; |
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(c) |
|
prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; |
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(d) |
|
determine the terms and provisions of the respective agreements (which need not
be identical) by which Awards shall be evidenced; |
A-3
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(e) |
|
make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the
administration of the Plan; |
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(f) |
|
require withholding from or payment by a Grantee of any federal, state or local
taxes; |
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(g) |
|
impose, on any Grantee, such additional conditions, restrictions and
limitations upon exercise and retention of Awards as the Committee shall deem
appropriate; |
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(h) |
|
treat any Grantee who retires as a continuing employee for purposes of the
Plan; and |
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(i) |
|
modify, extend or renew any Award previously granted; provided, however, that
this provision shall not provide authority to reprice Awards to a lower exercise price. |
Any action of the Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan shall be taken
pursuant to a majority vote or by the unanimous written consent of its members. The Committee may
delegate all or any part of its responsibilities and powers to any executive officer or officers of
the Corporation selected by it. Any such delegation may be revoked by the Board or by the
Committee at any time.
Options may be granted to directors, officers and key employees of the Corporation and any of
its subsidiaries. In selecting the individuals to whom Options shall be granted, as well as in
determining the number of Options granted, the Committee shall take into consideration such factors
as it deems relevant pursuant to accomplishing the purposes of the Plan. A Grantee may, if
otherwise eligible, be granted an additional Option or Options if the Committee shall so determine.
The officers of the Corporation are authorized and directed, upon receipt of notice from the
Committee of the granting of an Option, to deliver on behalf of the Corporation, by mail or
otherwise, to the Grantee an Option upon the terms and conditions specified under the Plan and in
the form of the Award Agreement. The Award Agreement shall be dated as of the date of approval of
the granting of an Option by the Committee. If the Grantee fails to accept the Award within 30
days after the date of its delivery to Grantee, the Option grant may be deemed withdrawn.
Where an Option has been granted under the provisions of the HM Revenue & Customs Approved
Rules for UK Employees (the Sub-Plan) and the number of shares of Common Stock subject to that
Option is limited by virtue of Rule 17 of the Sub-Plan, there shall be deemed to have been granted
a separate Option (for the avoidance of doubt, not granted under the provisions of the Sub-Plan) on
the same date and time and under the same terms for the number of shares of Common Stock in excess
of the limit set out in Rule 17 of the Sub-Plan.
7. |
|
Option Exercise Price. |
The purchase price of the Common Stock covered by each Option shall be not less than the Fair
Market Value of such Stock on the Grant Date. Such price shall be subject to adjustment as
provided in Article 19 hereof.
At the time of the grant of each Option, the Committee shall designate the Option as (a) an
Incentive Stock Option or (b) a Non-Qualified Stock Option, as described in Sections (a) and (b)
below, respectively.
|
(a) |
|
Incentive Stock Options: Any Option designated as an Incentive Stock
Option shall comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, including the
requirement that incentive stock options may only be granted to individuals who are
employed by the Corporation, a parent or a subsidiary corporation of the Corporation.
If an Option is so designated, the Fair Market Value (determined as of the Grant Date)
of the shares of Stock with respect to which that and any other Incentive Stock Option
first becomes exercisable during any calendar year under this Plan or any |
A-4
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|
|
other stock option plan of the Corporation or its affiliates shall not exceed
$100,000; provided, however, that the time or times of exercise of an Incentive
Stock Option may be accelerated pursuant to Article 12, 13 or 19 hereof, terms of
the Plan and, in the event of such acceleration, such Incentive Stock Option shall
be treated as a Non-Qualified Option to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market
Value (determined as of the Grant Date) of the shares of stock with respect to which
such Option first becomes exercisable in the calendar year (including Options under
this Plan and any other Plan of the corporation or its affiliates) exceeds $100,000,
the extent of such excess to be determined by the Committee taking into account the
order in which the Options were granted, or such other factors as may be consistent
with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and rules promulgated thereunder.
Furthermore, no Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any individual who,
immediately before the Option is granted, directly or indirectly owns (within the
meaning of Section 425(d) of the Code, as amended) shares representing more than 10%
of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation or its
subsidiaries, unless, at the time the option is granted, and in accordance with the
provisions of Section 422, the option exercise price is 110% of the Fair Market
Value of shares of Stock subject to the Option and the Option must be exercised
within 5 years of the Grant Date. |
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|
(b) |
|
Non-Qualified Stock Options: All Options not subject to or in
conformance with the additional restrictions required to satisfy Section 422 shall be
designated Non-Qualified Stock Options. |
9. |
|
Stock Appreciation Rights. |
The Committee may, in its discretion, grant SARs to directors, officers and key employees of
the Corporation and any of its subsidiaries. If any unexercised SAR for any reason terminates or
expires in whole or in part prior to termination of the Plan, such unexercised SARs shall become
available for granting under the Plan. The Committee may grant SARs at any time and from time to
time to any Grantee, designate such SARs as related to Options then being granted or granted within
six months prior to the Grant Date of the SAR, and set such terms and conditions upon the exercise
of the SARs as it may determine in its discretion, provided that the written agreement evidencing
such SARs shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
|
(a) |
|
No SAR granted hereunder shall be exercisable until the expiration of six
months from the Grant Date of the SAR unless the Grantee terminates employment by
reason of death or disability prior to the expiration of such six-month period. |
|
|
(b) |
|
A Grantees right to exercise an SAR shall terminate when the Grantee is no
longer an employee of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries unless such right is
extended as provided under Article 13 hereunder. |
|
|
(c) |
|
In the event adjustments are made to the number of shares, exercise price, or
time or times of exercise of outstanding Options upon the occurrence of an event
described in Article 19 hereunder, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the number
of SARs available for future grant, the number of SARs under existing grants, the
exercise price of the existing SARs, and the time or times of exercise of such SARs. |
|
|
(d) |
|
Unless the written agreement expressly provides otherwise, if and to the extent
an SAR is granted in relation to an Option, exercise of the SAR or Option shall result
in the extinguishment of the related right to the extent such SAR or Option for shares
is exercised. |
|
|
(e) |
|
Unless the written agreement expressly provides otherwise, any SARs granted
shall be exercisable in accordance with Article 12. |
|
|
(f) |
|
Upon the exercise of SARs, the Grantee shall be entitled to receive an amount
determined by multiplying (1) the difference obtained by subtracting the Fair Market
Value of the share of Common Stock as of the Grant Date of the SAR or, in the case of a
SAR which is related to an Option, the purchase price per share of Common Stock under
such Option, from the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of
exercise, by (2) the number of SARs exercised. At the discretion of the Committee, the
payment upon the exercise of the SARs may be in cash, in |
A-5
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|
|
shares of Common Stock of equivalent value, or in some combination thereof. The
number of available shares under Award shall not be affected by any cash payments. |
10. |
|
Non-transferability of Options and SARs. |
Any Option or SAR granted hereunder shall, by its terms, be non-transferable by a Grantee
other than by will or the laws of descent and shall be exercisable during the Grantees lifetime
solely by the Grantee or the Grantees duly appointed guardian or personal representative.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may permit a Grantee to transfer a Non-Qualified Stock
Option or SAR to a family member or a trust or partnership for the benefit of a family member, in
accordance with rules established by the Committee.
11. |
|
Substituted Options or SARs. |
In the event the Committee cancels any Option or SAR granted under this Plan, and a new Option
or SAR is substituted therefore, the Grant Date of the canceled Option or SAR (except to the extent
inconsistent with the restrictions described in Article 8, if applicable) shall be the date used to
determine the earliest date for exercising the new substituted Option under Article 12 hereunder so
that the Grantee may exercise the substituted Option or SAR at the same time as if the Grantee had
held the substituted Option or SAR since the Grant Date of the canceled Option. Except in
connection with a corporate transaction involving the Corporation (including, without limitation,
any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization,
merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of shares), the terms of
outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Options or SARs
or cancel outstanding Options or SARS in exchange for cash, other awards or Options or SARs with an
exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Options or SARs without
stockholder approval. Nothing in this Section 11 shall provide authority to substitute Awards in a
manner which will have the effect of repricing Awards to a lower exercise price.
12. |
|
Vesting of Options and SARs. |
The Committee shall have the power to set the time or times within which each Option and SAR
shall be exercisable, and to accelerate the time or times of exercise. If an SAR is related to an
Option, the Grant Date of such SAR for purposes of this Article 12 shall be the Grant Date of the
related Option. No Option or SAR may be exercised if in the opinion of counsel for the Corporation
the issuance or sale of Stock or payment of cash by the Corporation, as appropriate, pursuant to
such exercise shall be unlawful for any reason, nor after the expiration of 10 years from the Grant
Date. In no event shall the Corporation be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise
of an Option.
13. |
|
Exercise Period for Options and SARs. |
Unless otherwise provided herein or in a specific Option or SAR Agreement which may provide
longer or shorter periods during which the Award may be exercised, no Option or SAR shall be
exercisable after the earliest of:
|
(a) |
|
in the case of an Incentive Stock Option: |
|
(i) |
|
10 years from the date the option is granted, or five years
from the date the option is granted to an individual owning (after the
application of the family and other attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the
Code) at the time such option was granted, more than 10% of the total combined
voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation, |
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|
(ii) |
|
three months after the date the Grantee ceases to perform
services for the Corporation or its subsidiaries, if such cessation is for any
reason other than death, disability (within the meaning of Code Section
22(e)(3)), retirement or Cause, |
|
|
(iii) |
|
three years after the date the Grantee ceases to perform
services for the Corporation or its subsidiaries, if such cessation is by
reason of the Grantees death, disability (within the meaning of Code Section
22(e)(3)) or retirement in accordance with normal Corporation retirement
practices, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion (provided that |
A-6
|
|
|
such Option must be exercised within the time period prescribed by Section
422 of the Code to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option); or |
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|
(iv) |
|
the date the Grantee ceases to perform services for the
Corporation or its subsidiaries, if such cessation is for Cause, as determined
by the Corporation or the Committee in its sole discretion; |
|
(b) |
|
in the case of a Nonqualified Stock Option: |
|
(i) |
|
ten (10) years from the date of grant, |
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|
(ii) |
|
ninety days after the date the Grantee ceases to perform
services for the Corporation or its subsidiaries, if such cessation is for any
reason other than death, permanent disability, retirement or Cause, |
|
|
(iii) |
|
three years after the date the Grantee ceases to perform
services for the Corporation or its subsidiaries, if such cessation is by
reason of the Grantees death, permanent disability or retirement in accordance
with normal Corporation retirement practices, as determined by the Committee in
its sole discretion; or |
|
|
(iv) |
|
the date the Grantee ceases to perform services for the
Corporation or its subsidiaries, if such cessation is for Cause, as determined
by the Corporation or the Committee in its sole discretion; |
|
(c) |
|
in the case of an SAR: |
|
(i) |
|
seven (7) years from the date of grant, |
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|
(ii) |
|
ninety days after the date the Grantee ceases to perform
services for the Corporation or its subsidiaries, if such cessation is for any
reason other than death, permanent disability, retirement or Cause, |
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|
(iii) |
|
one year after the date the Grantee ceases to perform services
for the Corporation or its subsidiaries, if such cessation is by reason of
death or permanent disability, |
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(iv) |
|
three years after the date the Grantee ceases to perform
services for the Corporation or its subsidiaries, if such cessation is by
reason of the Grantees retirement in accordance with normal Corporation
retirement practices, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion; or |
|
|
(v) |
|
the date the Grantee ceases to perform services for the
Corporation or its subsidiaries, if such cessation is for Cause, as determined
by the Corporation or the Committee in its sole discretion; |
provided, that, unless otherwise provided in a specific grant agreement or determined by the
Committee, an Option or SAR shall only be exercisable for the periods above following the date an
optionee ceases to perform services to the extent the option was exercisable on the date of such
cessation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Option or SAR shall be exercisable after the date of
expiration of its term.
To the extent that the right to purchase shares pursuant to an Option or to exercise an SAR
has accrued hereunder, such Option or SAR may be exercised as follows:
|
(a) |
|
Options: Options may be exercised in whole or in part from time to
time as specified in the Option agreement. The exercise notice shall state the number
of shares being purchased and be |
A-7
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|
accompanied by the payment in full of the exercise price for such shares. Such
payment shall be made in cash, outstanding shares of the Common Stock which the
Grantee, the Grantees spouse or both have beneficially owned for at least six
months prior to the time of exercise, or in combinations thereof. If shares of
Common Stock are used in part or full payment for the shares to be acquired upon
exercise of the Option, such shares shall be valued for the purpose of such exchange
as of the date of exercise of the Option at the Fair Market Value of the shares. |
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|
(b) |
|
SARs: SARs may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time as
specified in the SAR agreement. |
15. |
|
Restricted Stock Awards. |
The Committee may, in its discretion, grant Restricted Stock to directors, officers and key
employees of the Corporation and any of its subsidiaries. Restricted Stock Awards may consist of
shares issued subject to forfeiture if specified conditions are not satisfied (Restricted Stock
Shares) or agreements to issue shares of Common Stock in the future if specified conditions are
satisfied (Restricted Stock Units). The Committee may condition the grant of Restricted Stock
upon the attainment of Performance Goals so that the grant qualifies as performance-based
compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee may also condition
the grant of Restricted Stock upon such other conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the
Committee may determine. The provisions of Restricted Stock Awards need not be the same with
respect to each recipient. Restricted Stock Awards shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions:
|
(a) |
|
Each Restricted Stock Award shall be confirmed by, and be subject to the terms
of, an Award Agreement identifying the restrictions applicable to the Award. |
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|
(b) |
|
Until the applicable restrictions lapse or the conditions are satisfied, the
Grantee shall not be permitted to sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber
the Restricted Stock Award. |
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|
(c) |
|
Except to the extent otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement and
(d) below, the portion of the Restricted Stock Award still subject to restriction shall
be forfeited by the Grantee upon termination of the Grantees service for any reason. |
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|
(d) |
|
In the event of hardship or other special circumstances of a Grantee whose
service is terminated (other than for Cause), the Committee may waive in whole or in
part any or all remaining restrictions with respect to such Grantees Restricted Stock
Award. |
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|
(e) |
|
If and when the applicable restrictions lapse, unrestricted shares of Common
Stock shall be issued to the Grantee. |
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(f) |
|
A Grantee receiving an Award of Restricted Stock Shares shall have all of the
rights of a shareholder of the Corporation, including the right to vote the shares and
the right to receive any cash dividends. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee,
cash dividends shall be paid in cash and dividends payable in stock shall be paid in
the form of additional Restricted Stock Shares. |
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|
(g) |
|
A Grantee receiving an Award of Restricted Stock Units shall not be deemed the
holder of any shares covered by the Award, or have any rights as a shareholder with
respect thereto, until such shares are issued to him/her. |
16. |
|
Performance Stock Awards. |
The Committee may grant Performance Stock Awards either alone or in addition to other Awards
granted under the Plan. The Committee anticipates that the Performance Stock Awards will be
subject to both a performance condition and a condition related to the Grantees continued
employment. The Committee shall determine the eligible employees to whom and the time or times at
which Performance Stock Awards will be made, the number of shares subject to the Award, the time or
times within which such Awards will be subject to forfeiture
A-8
and any other terms and conditions of the Awards. Performance Stock Awards shall be subject
to the following terms and conditions:
|
(a) |
|
The Performance Stock Awards will be conditioned upon the attainment of one or
more preestablished, objective corporate Performance Goals so that the Award qualifies
as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
Performance Goals shall be based on one or more business criteria that apply to the
individual, a business unit, or the Corporation as a whole. It is intended that any
Performance Goal will be in a form that relates the Performance Stock Award to an
increase in the value of the Corporation to its shareholders. |
|
|
(b) |
|
Performance Goals shall be established in writing by the Committee not later
than 90 days after the commencement of the period of service to which the Performance
Goal relates The preestablished Performance Goal must state, in terms of an objective
formula or standard, the method for computing the number of shares earned or subject to
further vesting conditions if the goal is attained. |
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(c) |
|
Following the close of the performance period, the Committee shall determine
whether the Performance Goal was achieved, in whole or in part, and determine the
number of shares earned or subject to further vesting conditions. |
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|
(d) |
|
The Performance Stock Awards may be conditioned upon such other conditions,
restrictions and contingencies as the Committee may determine, including the Grantees
continued employment. The provisions of Performance Stock Awards need not be the same
with respect to each recipient. |
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|
(e) |
|
Until all conditions for a Performance Stock Award have been satisfied, the
Grantee shall not be permitted to sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber
the Award. |
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|
(f) |
|
Except to the extent otherwise provided by the Committee and (g) below, the
portion of the Award still subject to restriction shall be forfeited by the Grantee
upon termination of a Grantees service for any reason. |
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(g) |
|
In the event of hardship or other special circumstances of a Grantee whose
employment is terminated (other than for Cause), the Committee may waive in whole or in
part any or all remaining restrictions with respect to such Grantees Performance Stock
Award. |
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|
(h) |
|
If and when the applicable restrictions lapse, unrestricted shares of Common
Stock for such shares shall be issued to the Grantee. |
A Grantee receiving a Performance Stock Award shall not be deemed the holder of any shares
covered by the Award, or have any rights as a shareholder with respect thereto, until such shares
are issued to him/her following the lapse of the applicable restrictions.
The Committee may establish Cash Bonus Awards either alone or in addition to other Awards
granted under the Plan. The Committee shall determine the employees to whom and the time or times
at which Cash Bonus Awards shall be granted, and the conditions upon which such Awards will be
paid. The maximum Cash Bonus Award payable to an employee in any fiscal year shall not exceed
$1,500,000. Cash Bonus Awards shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
|
(a) |
|
A Cash Bonus Award under the Plan shall be paid solely on account of the
attainment of one or more preestablished, objective Performance Goals. Performance
Goals shall be based on one or more business criteria that apply to the individual, a
business unit, or the Corporation as a whole. It is intended that any Performance Goal
will be in a form that relates the bonus to an increase in the value of the Corporation
to its shareholders. |
A-9
|
(b) |
|
Performance Goals shall be established in writing by the Committee not later
than 90 days after the commencement of the period of service to which the Performance
Goal relates The pre-established Performance Goal must state, in terms of an
objective formula or standard, the method for computing the amount of compensation
payable to any employee if the goal is attained. |
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(c) |
|
Following the close of the performance period, the Committee shall determine
whether the Performance Goal was achieved, in whole or in part, and determine the
amount payable to each employee. |
This Plan does not limit the authority of the Corporation, the Board or the Committee, or any
Subsidiary to award bonuses or authorize any other compensation to any person.
The Corporation shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Grantee
to remit to the Corporation, an amount sufficient to satisfy Federal, state, and local taxes
(including the Grantees FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any
taxable event arising or as a result of this Plan. With respect to withholding required upon the
exercise of Options or SARs, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock or the payment of
Performance Stock Awards, Grantees may elect, subject to the approval of the Committee, to satisfy
the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Corporation withhold shares having
a Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined equal to the minimum statutory total
tax which could be imposed on the transaction.
19. |
|
Effect of Change in Stock Subject to Plan. |
In the event of a reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend, merger,
consolidation, rights offering or like transaction, the Committee will make such adjustment in the
number of and class of shares which may be delivered under the Plan, and in the number and class of
and/or price of shares subject to outstanding Options, SARs, Restricted Stock and Performance Stock
granted under the Plan as it may deem to be equitable. While the Committee must make such an
adjustment, the determination by the Committee as to what is equitable shall be at its discretion.
Notwithstanding, in the event of the merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into
another corporation or corporations in which the Corporation is not the surviving corporation, the
adoption of any plan for the dissolution of the Corporation, or the sale or exchange of all or
substantially all the assets of the Corporation for cash or for shares of stock or other securities
of another corporation, the Committee may, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of
the Corporation, or the board of directors of any corporation assuming the obligations of the
Corporation hereunder, take action regarding each outstanding and unexercised Option and SAR
pursuant to either clause (a) or (b) below:
|
(a) |
|
Appropriate provision may be made for the protection of such Option and SAR by
the substitution on an equitable basis of appropriate shares of the surviving or
related corporation, provided that the excess of the aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares subject to such Award immediately before such substitution over the exercise
price thereof is not more than the excess of the aggregate fair market value of the
substituted shares made subject to Award immediately after such substitution over the
exercise price thereof; or |
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(b) |
|
The Committee may cancel such Award. In the event any Option or SAR is
canceled, the Corporation, or the corporation assuming the obligations of the
Corporation hereunder, shall pay the Grantee an amount of cash (less normal withholding
taxes) equal to the excess of the highest Fair Market Value per share of the Stock
during the 60-day period immediately preceding the merger, consolidation or
reorganization over the exercise price, multiplied by the number of shares subject to
such Option or SAR. In the event any other Award is canceled, the Corporation, or the
corporation assuming the obligations of the Corporation hereunder, shall pay the
Grantee an amount of cash or stock, as determined by the Committee, based upon the
value, as determined by the Committee, of the property (including cash) received by the
holder of a share of Common Stock as a result of such event. No payment shall be made
to a Grantee for any Option or SAR if the exercise price for such Option or SAR exceeds
the value, as determined by the Committee, of |
A-10
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|
|
the property (including cash) received by the holder of a share of Common Stock as a
result of such event. |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event a Change in Control should occur, all
Options, SARs, Restricted Stock Shares and Restricted Stock Units then outstanding shall become
immediately vested or exercisable upon the date of the Change in Control. Further, the Committee
shall have the right to cancel such Options or SARs and pay the Grantee an amount determined under
(b) above.
Upon the complete liquidation of the Corporation, any unexercised Options and SARs theretofore
granted under this Plan shall be deemed canceled.
21. |
|
No Employment or Retention Agreement Intended. |
Neither the establishment of, nor the awarding of Awards under this Plan shall be construed to
create a contract of employment or service between any Grantee and the Corporation or its
subsidiaries; nor does it give any Grantee the right to continued service in any capacity with the
Corporation or its subsidiaries or limit in any way the right of the Corporation or its
subsidiaries to discharge any Grantee at any time and without notice, with or without Cause, or to
any benefits not specifically provided by this Plan, or in any manner modify the Corporations
right to establish, modify, amend or terminate any profit sharing or retirement plans.
Grantee shall not, by reason of any Options granted hereunder, have any right of a shareholder
of the Corporation with respect to the shares covered by the Options until shares of Stock have
been issued to Grantee.
The law of the State of Wisconsin, except its law with respect to choice of law, shall be
controlling in all matters relating to the Plan.
In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have, the members of the
Committee and other Corporation employees administering the Plan and the Board members shall be
indemnified by the Corporation against the reasonable expenses, including attorneys fees actually
and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in
connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any
action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan or any Option granted
thereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is
approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Corporation) or paid by them in satisfaction
of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it
shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such member acted in bad faith in the
performance of his duties; provided that within 20 days after institution of any such action, suit
or proceeding, the member shall in writing offer the Corporation the opportunity, at its own
expense, to handle and defend the same.
The proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Options granted under the
Plan shall constitute general funds of the Corporation.
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Amendment of the Plan. |
The Board may from time to time amend, modify, suspend or terminate the Plan; provided,
however, that no such action shall be made without shareholder approval where such change would be
required in order to comply with Rule 16b-3 or the Code.
A-11
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Effective Date of Plan. |
The Plan shall become effective on the date it approved by the shareholders of the Corporation
(the Effective Date).
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Termination of the Plan. |
The Plan will expire ten (10) years after the Effective Date, solely with respect to the
granting of Incentive Stock Options or such later date as may be permitted by the Code for
Incentive Stock Options; provided, however, that the Plan shall terminate at such earlier time as
the Board may determine. Any such termination, either partially or wholly, shall not affect any
Awards then outstanding under the Plan.
A-12
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VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for
electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time
the day before the meeting date. Have your proxy
card in hand when you access the web site and follow the
instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic
voting instruction form. |
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55 JEWELERS PARK DRIVE
P.O. BOX 156
NEENAH, WI 54957-0156
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ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE SHAREHOLDER
COMMUNICATIONS
If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by Plexus Corp. in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to
receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet.
To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted,
indicate that you agree to receive or access shareholder communications electronically in future years. |
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VOTE BY MAIL
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or
return it to Plexus Corp., c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.
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TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS
FOLLOWS:
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PLEXU1
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KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS |
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DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY |
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.
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PLEXUS CORP. |
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Vote on Directors
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(1) |
Election of Directors: |
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Nominees: |
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For 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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01) |
Ralf R. Böer |
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05) |
Peter Kelly |
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02) |
Stephen P. Cortinovis |
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06) |
John L. Nussbaum |
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03) |
David J. Drury |
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07) |
Michael V. Schrock |
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04) |
Dean A. Foate |
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08) |
Dr. Charles M. Strother |
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Vote On Proposals |
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For |
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Abstain |
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Ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Independent Auditors; |
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(3) |
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Approval of the Plexus Corp. 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan; |
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(4) |
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In their discretion on such other matters as
may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof; |
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all as set out in the Notice and Proxy Statement relating to the annual meeting, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged. |
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This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned shareholder(s). If you do not provide a direction, this proxy will be voted "FOR" each of the
nominees for director who are listed in Proposal (1) and "FOR" Proposals (2) and (3). |
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Note: |
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Please sign exactly as your name or names appear(s) on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
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For address changes, please check this box and write them on the |
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back where indicated. |
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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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Signature
[PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] |
Date |
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Signature (Joint
Owners) |
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ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
PLEXUS CORP.
February 13, 2008
Please date, sign and mail
your proxy card in the
envelope provided as soon
as possible.
â Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided. â
PLEXUS CORP.
PROXY FOR 2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints John L. Nussbaum, Dean A. Foate and Angelo M. Ninivaggi, and any of
them, proxies, with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of stock which the undersigned
is entitled to vote at the annual meeting of shareholders of Plexus Corp. to be held at the Pfister
Hotel, located at 424 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, February 13, 2008
at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, or at any adjournment thereof, as follows, hereby revoking any proxy
previously given.
(If you noted any Address Changes above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.)
(Continued and to be signed on reverse side)