SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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[X] |
Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-11(c) or Sec. 240.14a-12 |
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Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation |
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant) |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11. |
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share |
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held 10/30/03. |
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): N/A |
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: N/A |
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Total fee paid: N/A |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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Page 1 of 18
BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY WAREHOUSE CORPORATION
1830 ROUTE 130
BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY 08016
___________________________________
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
___________________________________
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation (the "Company") to be held at 11:00 A.M., New Jersey time, on Thursday, October 30, 2003 at the offices of the Company, 1830 Route 130, Burlington, New Jersey 08016 for the following purposes:
| 1. |
To elect seven directors. |
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2. |
To vote on a proposal to approve the annual award of 100 shares of Company common stock, $1 par value, to each member of the Audit Committee for their service on the Audit Committee. |
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3. |
To vote on a proposal to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent public accountants. |
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4. |
To transact such other business as may properly come before such meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on September 12, 2003 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting. If you do not expect to be present at the meeting, but wish your shares to be voted, please fill in, date, sign and return the enclosed proxy which is solicited by, and on behalf of, the Board of Directors.
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Sincerely, |
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Paul C. Tang |
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Secretary |
Burlington, New Jersey
September 16, 2003
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
You are urged to sign, date and mail your proxy promptly in the enclosed envelope.
Page 2 of 18
BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY WAREHOUSE CORPORATION
1830 ROUTE 130
BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY 08016
________________________________
PROXY STATEMENT
________________________________
Approximate Mailing Date:
September 23, 2003
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation (the "Company") to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on Thursday, October 30, 2003, at the offices of the Company, 1830 Route 130, Burlington, New Jersey 08016 at 11:00 o'clock in the morning, New Jersey time, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on September 12, 2003, as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the forthcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders or any adjournment thereof. Any person giving a proxy in the form accompanying this statement has the power to revoke it at any time prior to its exercise. A proxy may be revoked by attendance and voting at the meeting or by written notice to the Secretary of the Company received at the Company's offices at 1830 Route 130, Burlington, New Jersey 08016 prior to the date of the Annual Meeting. When proxies are returned properly executed, the shares represented thereby will be voted as directed in the executed proxy.
The expenses for soliciting proxies for the forthcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders are to be paid by the Company. Solicitation of proxies may be made by means of personal calls upon, or telephonic or telegraphic communications with, stockholders or their personal representatives by directors, officers and employees of the Company, who will not be specially compensated for such services.
The Bylaws of the Company provide that, except as provided by law or by the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Neither Delaware law nor the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company provides for a different quorum for the matters to be submitted to a vote of the Stockholders at the forthcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders. For the purposes of determining the presence of a quorum at the forthcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders, all shares of stock represented by ballots or proxies presented at the meeting shall be counted whether or not such ballots or proxies shall include stockholder directed abstentions or broker non-votes on one or more matters; provided, however, that a ballot or proxy presented by a broker on which it has indicated that it does not have discretionary authority to vote on any matter shall not be counted towards the presence of a quorum.
Page 3 of 18
Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares of stock cast by stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote, assuming there is a quorum. Thus assuming there is a quorum, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on determining the outcome of the election of directors. With respect to approval of the annual award of shares to the members of the Audit Committee, for purposes of New York Stock Exchange listing requirements, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting where a majority of the outstanding Stock has voted on the proposal is required; therefore, abstentions will be counted as negative votes, and broker non-votes will have the effect of negative votes if the total number of votes cast does not constitute a majority of the outstanding stock of the Company. With respect to the ratification of the appointment of auditors, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of stock held by stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote is required; therefore, abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as negative votes.
All stockholder meeting proxies, ballots and tabulations that identify individual stockholders are kept confidential, and no such documents shall be available for examination, nor shall the identity of any stockholder be disclosed, except as may be required by law. Votes are counted by the employees of American Stock Transfer Company, the Company's independent transfer agent and registrar, and certified by the Inspector of Election, who is also an employee of American Stock Transfer Company.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL SECURITY HOLDERS
As of August 15, 2003, the Company had outstanding and entitled to vote (exclusive of treasury shares) 44,543,866 shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Common Stock"). The holders of the Common Stock are entitled to vote as a single class and to one vote per share, exercisable in person or by proxy, at all meetings of stockholders.
To the knowledge of the Company, as of August 15, 2003, the following table sets forth the ownership of the Company's Common Stock by each person owning more than 5% of such Common Stock, by each director and by all executive officers and directors as a group:
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Number of Shares |
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Samgray, L.P. (2)(3) |
12,000,000 |
26.9 |
% |
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Monroe G. Milstein (2)(4)(5) |
7,216,110 |
(6)(7) |
16.2 |
% |
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Andrew R. Milstein (2)(3)(4)(5) |
2,916,463 |
(8)(9) |
6.5 |
% |
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Stephen E. Milstein (2)(3)(4)(5) |
2,634,388 |
(8)(10) |
5.9 |
% |
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Lazer Milstein (3)(4) |
1,941,901 |
(8) |
4.4 |
% |
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Mark A. Nesci (2)(5) |
164,706 |
(11)(12) |
0.4 |
% |
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Harvey Morgan (5) |
1,300 |
- |
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Irving Drillings (5) |
1,000 |
- |
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Roman Ferber (5) |
100 |
- |
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Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. (13) |
2,370,920 |
5.3 |
% |
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All directors and officers as group (9 persons) |
26,450,573 |
(14) |
59.0 |
% |
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Page 4 of 18
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(1) |
Except as otherwise indicated, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by them. |
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(2) |
Business address is 1830 Route 130, Burlington, New Jersey 08016. |
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(3) |
Samgray, L.P. ("Samgray") is a Delaware limited partnership whose general partner is Latzim Family LLC ("Latzim"), a Delaware limited liability company. Latzim is controlled by its members, Messrs. Andrew Milstein, Stephen Milstein and Lazer Milstein who may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock owned by Samgray. |
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(4) |
Monroe G. Milstein is the father of Andrew, Lazer and Stephen Milstein. Each member of the Milstein family disclaims beneficial ownership of each other's shares of Common Stock. |
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(5) |
A director of the Company. |
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Excludes (i) 308,014 shares of Common Stock representing Monroe G. Milstein's proportionate interest in 1,400,000 shares of Common Stock owned by MHLAS Limited Partnership Number One, of which Monroe G. Milstein is a limited partner and (ii) 11,784,000 shares of Common Stock representing Monroe G. Milstein's proportionate interest in 12,000,000 shares of Common Stock owned by Samgray, L.P., of which Monroe G. Milstein is a limited partner. |
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Includes 6,738,984 shares of Common Stock that were owned by Henrietta Milstein, the late wife of Monroe G. Milstein, and that have been bequeathed to a trust established under Mrs. Milstein's last will and testament for the benefit of certain family members. Mr. Monroe G. Milstein, as executor of Mrs. Milstein's estate and as a testamentary trustee thereunder, has voting and dispositive power over these shares, but disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. |
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Does not include 12,000,000 shares of Common Stock owned by Samgray, L.P. Messrs. Andrew Milstein, Stephen Milstein and Lazer Milstein may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of these shares through their positions as members of Latzim Family, LLC, the general partner of Samgray, L.P. |
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(9) |
Includes 79,945 shares of Common Stock held by Andrew Milstein as trustee of the Stephen Milstein 1994 Trust, and 13,032 shares of Common Stock held by Andrew Milstein as Trustee of the SGM 1995 Trust, trusts established for the benefit of the children of Stephen Milstein. Mr. Andrew Milstein holds voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares but disclaims any pecuniary interest in such shares. Also includes 50,400 shares of Common Stock underlying options granted to Andrew Milstein. Excludes 93,115 shares of Common Stock donated by Mr. Andrew Milstein to various trusts established for the benefit of the children of Andrew Milstein, as to which shares Andrew Milstein disclaims beneficial ownership. |
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(10) |
Includes (a) 7,218 shares of Common Stock held by Stephen Milstein as trustee under trust agreement dated December 31, 1984 for the benefit of the niece of Mr. Stephen Milstein and daughter of Mr. Andrew R. Milstein and (b) 8,591 shares of Common Stock held by Stephen Milstein as trustee under trust agreement dated November 4, 1988 for the benefit of the nephew of Mr. Stephen Milstein and son of Mr. Andrew R. Milstein. Mr. Stephen Milstein holds voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares but disclaims any pecuniary interest in such shares. Also includes 50,400 shares of Common Stock underlying options granted to Stephen Milstein. Excludes 127,542 shares of Common Stock donated by Mr. Stephen Milstein to a trust established for the benefit of his children, as to which shares Mr. Stephen Milstein disclaims beneficial ownership. |
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(11) |
Includes 128,920 shares of Common Stock underlying options granted to such individual. |
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(12) |
Includes 3,600 shares of Common Stock held by the minor children of Mr. Mark Nesci. Excludes 1,800 shares of Common Stock held by the wife of Mr. Mark Nesci, as to which shares Mr. Mark Nesci disclaims beneficial ownership. |
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(13) |
Based on information contained in the Amendment to Schedule 13G filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission by Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. on February 10, 2003. |
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(14) |
Includes 12,000,000 shares of Common Stock owned by Samgray, L.P., with respect to which Andrew Milstein and Stephen Milstein may be deemed to share beneficial ownership. See footnote 8 above. Also includes an aggregate of 258,920 shares of Common Stock underlying options granted to certain officers and directors. Also includes 77,306 shares held by an officer of the Company as trustee of the Andrew Milstein 1994 Trust, a trust established for the benefit of Andrew Milstein's children. Also includes 1,400,000 shares of Common Stock held by MHLAS Limited Partnership Number One ("MHLAS") and 10,000 shares of Common Stock held by MH Family LLC ("MHLLC"). MHLAS is a Delaware limited partnership whose general partner is MHLLC, a Delaware limited liability company. MHLLC is controlled by the Henrietta Milstein 2000 Revocable Trust. Mr. Paul Tang, the general counsel of the Company, is the trustee of such trust and in such capacity has voting and dispositive power over the shares of Common Stock owned by MHLAS but disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares. |
Page 5 of 18
PROPOSAL NUMBER ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Seven directors are to be elected to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. The persons named in the accompanying form of Proxy have advised management that it is their intention to vote for the election of the following nominees as directors:
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Monroe G. Milstein |
Andrew R. Milstein |
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Stephen E. Milstein |
Irving Drillings |
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Harvey Morgan |
Roman Ferber |
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Mark A. Nesci |
If at the time of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders any nominee is unable or declines to serve, the discretionary authority provided in the proxy will be exercised to vote for a substitute. Management has no reason to believe that any substitute nominee will be required.
The following is certain information concerning each nominee:
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Nominee, year |
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Monroe G. Milstein (1) |
President and Chief Executive Officer since 1972. |
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Andrew R. Milstein (1) |
Executive Vice President and Assistant Secretary since 1989 and Executive Merchandise Manager since 1992. |
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Stephen E. Milstein (1) |
Executive Vice President since 1978 and General Merchandise Manager since 1990. |
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Harvey Morgan |
Principal and Director of Shattuck Hammond Partners, LLC, an investment banking firm, since October 2001. From January 2001 to October 2001, Managing Director of PricewaterhouseCoopers Securities, an investment banking firm. From March 1996 to January 2001, Executive Managing Director of JWGenesis Capital Markets, Inc., an investment banking firm. Director of Cybex International, Inc. since January 2003. |
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Mark A. Nesci |
Executive Vice President since 1989 and Chief Operating Officer since 1990. |
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Irving Drillings |
Retired clothing manufacturer and industrialist. For more than 35 years, from 1955 to 1991, Mr. Drillings was president of Arlette Fashions, Inc., a manufacturer of ladies' coats. |
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Roman Ferber |
Business consultant. From 1969 to 1999, Mr. Ferber served the City of New York in various official capacities. Mr. Ferber also holds an M.P.A. and a Ph.D. from New York University. |
_________________
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(1) |
See Note 4 to "Voting Securities and Principal Security Holders" for information concerning the family relationship of certain directors. |
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(2) |
Each person listed as an Executive Vice President was named to such position in August 1999. Prior to that time, each such person was a Vice President. |
Page 6 of 18
During the fiscal year ended May 31, 2003, the Board of Directors held four meetings. Each director attended seventy-five percent or more of the meetings of the Board of Directors held during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2003. The Board of Directors has established an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, and a Stock Incentive Committee, but has not established any nominating or compensation committee or any other committee performing similar functions. The Executive Committee consists of Monroe G. Milstein and Andrew R. Milstein. The Executive Committee acts, within certain limits, in the absence of the full Board on matters other than major corporate transactions, when convening the full Board is impractical. During the fiscal year ended May 31, 2003, the Executive Committee took actions by unanimous written consent in lieu of formal meetings. The Stock Incentive Committee consists of Monroe G. Milstein and Harvey Morgan and administers the Company's 2002 Stock Incentive Plan. The Audit Committee oversees the general policies and practices of the Company concerning accounting, financial reporting, and internal auditing and financial controls and works with the Company's independent auditors. During the year ended May 31, 2003, the members of the Audit Committee were Harvey Morgan, Irving Drillings and Roman Ferber. The Audit Committee held eight meetings during the year ended May 31, 2003.
Audit Committee Report
The Audit Committee is comprised of three outside directors, all of whom are independent under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. The Board of Directors has approved and adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee setting forth the Audit Committee's duties and responsibilities. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the Company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2003 with management and with the Company's independent auditors, Deloitte & Touche LLP. The Audit Committee has discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 relating to the conduct of the audit. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees, and has discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP their independence. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2003, Deloitte & Touche LLP charged Company audit fees of $491,527 and non-audit service fees of $107,110, none of which was for financial information systems design and implementation. The non-audit services fees include the following: $54,800 for the audit of the Company's 401(k) and profit sharing plans; $40,950 for tax services; and $11,360 for planning services related to the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Audit Committee has considered the compatability of the provision of non-audit services with maintaining the auditor's independence. Based on the Audit Committee's review of the audited financial statements and the review and discussions described in this report, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2003 be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2003 for filing with the S.E.C.
This report is submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors:
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Harvey Morgan, Chairman |
Irving Drillings |
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Roman Ferber |
Page 7 of 18
Executive Officers and Key Personnel
The executive officers and key personnel of the Company as of September 12, 2003 are set forth in the table below. All executive officers and key personnel serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
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Name |
Age |
Office (1) |
Period Served |
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Monroe G. Milstein |
76 |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
Since 1972 |
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Andrew R. Milstein |
50 |
Executive Vice President, Executive Merchandise Manager (since 1992), Assistant Secretary and Director |
Since 1989 |
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Stephen E. Milstein |
47 |
Executive Vice President, General Merchandise Manager (since 1990) and Director |
Since 1978 |
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Mark A. Nesci |
47 |
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer (since 1990) and Director |
Since 1989 |
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Paul C. Tang |
50 |
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
Since 1993 |
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Robert L. LaPenta, Jr. |
49 |
Vice President (since 1999) and Chief Accounting Officer |
Since 1986 |
Monroe G. Milstein is the father of Andrew R. Milstein and Stephen E. Milstein. No other family relationship exists among any of the named directors or executive officers.
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(1) |
Each person listed as an Executive Vice President was named to such position in August |
Page 8 of 18
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and the four other most highly compensated executive officers who served in such capacities as of May 31, 2003.
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Annual Compensation |
Long-Term Compensation |
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Awards |
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Position |
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Monroe G. Milstein, |
2003 |
322,400 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
14,000 |
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Mark A. Nesci, |
2003 |
335,605 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
14,000 |
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Andrew R. Milstein, |
2003 |
222,576 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
14,000 |
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Stephen E. Milstein, |
2003 |
224,898 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
14,000 |
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Paul C. Tang, |
2003 |
238,077 |
9,423 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
14,000 |
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Option Grants During the Fiscal Year Ended May 31, 2003
During the fiscal year ended May 31, 2003, the Company made no grants of stock options to the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table.
Page 9 of 18
Option Exercises and Fiscal Year-End Values
The following table sets forth the value realized upon exercise of options during the preceding year and the number and value of unexercised stock options held by the named executives on May 31, 2003.
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(1) |
Value realized is calculated on the difference between the option exercise price and the closing market price of the Company's Common Stock on the date of exercise multiplied by the number of shares to |
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(2) |
The closing price of the Company's Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite tape on May 30, 2003 was $17.05 and is used in calculating the value of unexercised options. |
Page 10 of 18
Report on Executive Compensation
The Company's current executive compensation program consists of primarily two elements: (1) base salary, reviewed annually and adjusted in light of the Company's performance for the year and the individual executive's contribution to that performance, and (2) incentive compensation consisting of stock awards, principally stock options. Additionally, Company executives participate in the Company's 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (a defined contribution retirement plan).
Executive compensation is determined primarily by Monroe G. Milstein, the Company's founder and Chairman. In making decisions on compensation, Monroe Milstein consults with certain of the Company's principal executive officers, namely, Andrew R. Milstein, Stephen E. Milstein and Mark A. Nesci, who, together with Monroe G. Milstein, act as an informal compensation committee. However, the decision on executive compensation is made by Monroe Milstein, based on his evaluation of the executive's performance for the Company, subject to review by the Board of Directors.
An executive's performance at the Company is evaluated based upon the executive's areas of responsibility at the Company. While objective factors such as increase in sales and profitability in areas under an executive's management are considered, subjective factors such as the executive's ability to manage people and to contribute to the cohesiveness of the management structure as well as the creativity and innovativeness with which an executive performs his duties for the Company are weighed. The executive's compensation then, in turn, is linked to his or her performance and tied to the long-term financial success of the Company, as measured by stock performance, by the use of stock awards. The Company believes that the value of such stock awards will, in the long-term, reflect the financial performance of the Company.
In determining an executive's compensation, the executive's ownership of a substantial amount of stock of the Company and familial relationship to the Company's founder are considered in addition to such executive's performance at the Company. For this reason, such executives are relatively less well compensated in terms of salary than such individuals otherwise might be.
In keeping with this philosophy, the salary of Monroe G. Milstein, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, has not been increased in the past three years, and, in fact, is approximately $72,000 less than his salary was in 1983, the year of the Company's initial public offering. Net income of the Company was approximately $12 million at the end of fiscal 1983 and approximately $65 million at the end of fiscal 2003. Stockholders equity at the end of fiscal 1983 was approximately $79,504,000 and at the end of fiscal 2003 was $788,021,000. For fiscal 2003, the Company's Common Stock traded in a range from $15.40 to $22.91 and traded at $17.05 at the end of the fiscal year.
This report is submitted by the Board of Directors:
|
Monroe G. Milstein, Chairman |
Harvey Morgan |
|
Mark A. Nesci |
Irving Drillings |
|
Andrew R. Milstein |
Roman Ferber |
|
Stephen E. Milstein |
Page 11 of 18
Insider Participation
Monroe G. Milstein, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, is principally responsible for determining compensation for all executive officers of the Company. In making compensation decisions, Monroe G. Milstein consults from time to time with Andrew R. Milstein, Stephen E. Milstein and Mark A. Nesci, who are officers of the Company. In addition, Monroe G. Milstein is a member of the Stock Incentive Committee. However, he is not eligible to receive options under the Company's 2002 Stock Incentive Plan.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
During the fiscal year ended May 31, 2003, no officer, director, nominee for director, five percent stockholder or family member of such person engaged in, or proposed to engage in, any transaction with the Company or its affiliates which are reportable under Reg. Section 229.404 promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except as follows: During the fiscal year ended May 31, 2003, the Company paid a total of $229,679 to Richard Mandel for real estate tax appeal services. Mr. Mandel is the brother-in-law of Andrew Milstein, a director and executive officer of the Company. Mr. Mandel retained approximately one-third of the amount paid to him, with the remainder paid to other third parties who performed services under Mr. Mandel's direction. The Company believes that the terms of these transactions were at least as favorable to the Company as those that could have been obtained from unrelated third parties
On November 16, 1999, the Company made a loan to Mark A. Nesci, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Director of the Company, in the amount of $204,345. The loan was made in the form of a demand note having an annual interest rate of 5.57% for the purpose of enabling Mr. Nesci to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock pursuant to expiring options. On June 1, 2002, the demand note was replaced with a five-year term note with a principal balance of $204,345 and an annual interest rate of 4.64%. As of July 31, 2003, the aggregate amount of Mr. Nesci's indebtedness to the Company was $157,605. The loan is secured by a mortgage on Mr. Nesci's residence.
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph sets forth the yearly percentage change in the cumulative total return on the Company's Common Stock during the preceding five fiscal years ended May 31, 2003 compared with the cumulative total returns of the S&P 500 Index and the published retail industry index. The comparison assumes $100 was invested on May 31, 1998 in the Company's Common Stock and in each of the foregoing indices and assumes reinvestment of dividends.
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1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
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Burlington Coat Factory |
100.00 |
84.20 |
63.06 |
99.79 |
114.70 |
85.49 |
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S&P 500 |
100.00 |
121.03 |
133.71 |
119.6 |
103.04 |
94.73 |
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Retail Stores Comp. |
100.00 |
130.43 |
150.45 |
146.80 |
151.27 |
129.61 |
Page 12 of 18
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
AMONG BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY WAREHOUSE
CORPORATION, THE S&P 500 INDEX AND
RETAIL STORES COMPOSITE INDEX(1)
*$100 INVESTED ON MAY 31, 1998 IN STOCK OR INDEX -
INCLUDING REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS.
FISCAL YEAR ENDING MAY 31
(1) Includes the following groups and companies:
RETAIL (DEPT. STORES) - Dillard Dept. Stores; May Dept. Stores; Nordstrom; Penney (J.C.).
RETAIL (DRUG STORES) - CVS Corp.; Longs Drug; Rite Aid; Walgreen Co.
RETAIL (FOOD CHAINS) - Albertson's; Great A&P; Kroger; Winn-Dixie.
RETAIL (GEN. MERCHANDISE) - Target Corp.; Sears, Roebuck; Wal-Mart Stores.
RETAIL (SPECIALTY) - Circuit City Stores; Home Depot; Lowe's Cos.; Pep Boys; RadioShack Corp.; Toys R Us; Foot Locker, Inc..
RETAIL (SPECIALTY-APPAREL) - Charming Shoppes; Limited Inc.; TJX Companies.
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Compensation of Directors
For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2003, each director who was not an employee of the Company received a fee of $15,000 for his services as a director. Each director who served on the Audit Committee received 100 shares of the Company's common stock, $1.00 par value, and $1,000 for service as a member of the Audit Committee. No additional compensation is paid for membership on any other committee established by the Board of Directors. The Company also reimburses directors for travel and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the directors' services to the Company.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
REPORTING COMPLIANCE
SECTION 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), requires the Company's officers and directors and persons who own more than ten percent of a class of the Company's equity securities registered under the Exchange Act (collectively, the "Reporting Persons") to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to furnish the Company with these reports.
Based upon the Company's review of the copies of reports received by it and upon written representations received from the Reporting Persons, the Company believes that all filings required to be made by the Reporting Persons during the period from June 2, 2002 to May 31, 2003 were made on a timely basis.
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PROPOSAL NUMBER TWO
APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL AWARD OF 100 SHARES OF COMPANY COMMON STOCK TO MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
On June 24, 2002, the Board of Directors adopted a resolution, by unanimous vote of disinterested directors, setting the annual compensation for service as a member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors at 100 shares (the "Shares") of Company common stock and $1,000. The Shares are to be issued in each fiscal year after the first fiscal quarter of the Company out of the treasury stock of the Company. The Shares will not be registered and, accordingly, shall constitute "restricted securities" under Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933. Recently enacted changes to the rules of the New York Stock Exchange require that the award of the Shares must be approved by the Company's stockholders.
The Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote FOR approval of the annual award of 100 shares of Company common stock to members of the Audit Committee.
Equity Compensation Plans
The following table provides certain information about the Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation 1993 Stock Incentive Plan, the Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation 1998 Stock Incentive Plan and the Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation 2002 Stock Incentive Plan as of May 31, 2003. These plans are the Company's only equity compensation plans and were both approved by the Company's stockholders. Currently, the only securities outstanding under the plans are options.
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(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
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Equity compensation |
502,740 |
$14.88 |
104,100 |
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Equity compensation |
-0- |
N/A |
-0- |
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Total |
502,740 |
$14.88 |
104,100 |
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PROPOSAL NUMBER THREE
RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Stockholders are being asked to vote for a proposal to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent public accountants of the Company for the fiscal year ending May 29, 2004. Neither the firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP nor any of its associates has any relationship with the Company except as independent certified public accountants of the Company. If the stockholders, by affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast, do not ratify this appointment, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors will reconsider its action and select other independent public accountants without further stockholder action.
A representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate questions and will be given the opportunity to make a statement if such representative desires to do so.
The Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders vote FOR ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent public accountants of the Company.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Proposals of stockholders to be presented at the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the Company at its principal executive offices, 1830 Route 130, Burlington, New Jersey 08016, no later than May 30, 2004 in order to be included in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting. Any proposal by a stockholder to be presented at the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and NOT to be included in the Company's proxy statement must be received at the Company's executive offices, 1830 Route 130, Burlington, New Jersey 08016, no later than the close of business August 7, 2004. Proposals shall be sent to the attention of the Secretary.
OTHER MATTERS
Management is not aware of any matters to be presented for action at the meeting other than those set forth in this Proxy Statement. However, should any other business properly come before the meeting, or any adjournment thereof, the enclosed Proxy confers upon the persons entitled to vote the shares represented by such Proxy, discretionary authority to vote the same in respect of any such other business in accordance with their best judgment in the interest of the Company.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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[FORM OF PROXY]
BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY WAREHOUSE CORPORATION
1830 ROUTE 130
BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY 08016
PROXY -- Annual Meeting of Stockholders -- October 30, 2003 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The undersigned hereby appoints Monroe G. Milstein and Andrew R. Milstein as Proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated below, all the shares of Common Stock of Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation held of record by the undersigned on September 12, 2003, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on October 30, 2003 or any adjournment thereof.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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FOR o |
WITHHOLD o |
(INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE LIST BELOW.)
MONROE G. MILSTEIN, ANDREW R. MILSTEIN, HARVEY MORGAN, STEPHEN E. MILSTEIN, MARK A. NESCI, IRVING DRILLINGS, ROMAN FERBER
2. PROPOSAL TO APPROVE ANNUAL AWARD OF 100 SHARES OF COMPANY COMMON STOCK, 1$ PAR VALUE, TO EACH MEMBER OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE FOR THEIR SERVICE ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE..
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FOR o AGAINST o ABSTAIN o |
3. PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS OF THE COMPANY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MAY 29, 2004.
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FOR o AGAINST o ABSTAIN o |
4. In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment.
Page 17 of 18
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF ALL NOMINEES LISTED FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTORS AND FOR PROPOSALS 2 AND 3.
Please sign exactly as name appears above. When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
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PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. |
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