SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment
No. )
Filed by
the Registrant x
Filed by
a Party other than the Registrant ¨
Check the
appropriate box:
¨ Preliminary
Proxy Statement
¨ Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
ý Definitive
Proxy Statement
¨ Definitive
Additional Materials
¨ Soliciting
Material Pursuant to §240.14a-11(c) or §240.14a-12
(Name of
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
¨ Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
0-11.
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(1) |
Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
applies: |
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_____________________________________________________________ |
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(2) |
Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction
applies: |
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_____________________________________________________________ |
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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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_____________________________________________________________ |
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(4) |
Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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_____________________________________________________________ |
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_____________________________________________________________ |
¨ |
Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials. |
¨ |
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. |
|
(1) |
Amount
Previously Paid: |
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____________________________________________________________ |
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(2) |
Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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____________________________________________________________ |
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____________________________________________________________ |
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____________________________________________________________ |
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
OF
BEL
FUSE INC.
NOTICE IS
HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Bel Fuse Inc. will be
held at the Hyatt Regency Jersey City, 2 Exchange Place, Jersey City, New Jersey
07302, on Thursday, May 12, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. for the following purposes:
1. |
To
elect two directors for three-year terms. |
2. |
To
consider and act upon other matters which may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
The Board
of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 11, 2005 as the date for
determining the shareholders of record entitled to receive notice of, and to
vote at, the Annual Meeting.
By Order
of the Board of Directors
COLIN
DUNN, Secretary
Jersey
City, New Jersey
April 18,
2005
WE
URGE YOU TO SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE, WHETHER
OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON. IF YOU DO ATTEND THE MEETING,
YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY AND VOTE IN PERSON.
THIS
NOTICE AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT ARE FURNISHED TO THE HOLDERS OF THE
COMPANY’S CLASS B COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.10 PER SHARE, FOR INFORMATIONAL
PURPOSES. HOLDERS OF CLASS B COMMON STOCK ARE NOT ENTITLED TO VOTE AT THE ANNUAL
MEETING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMPANY’S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION, AS
AMENDED.
BEL
FUSE INC.
The
following statement is furnished to the holders of the Class A Common Stock, par
value $0.10 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), of Bel Fuse Inc. (“Bel” or
the “Company”), a New Jersey corporation with its principal executive offices at
206 Van Vorst Street, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302, in connection with the
solicitation by the Board of Directors of Bel of proxies to be used at Bel’s
Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Annual Meeting will be held at the Hyatt
Regency Jersey City, 2 Exchange Place, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302, on
Thursday, May 12, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. This Proxy Statement is also furnished to
the holders of Bel’s Class B Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share (the “Class
B Common Stock”), for informational purposes. Holders of Class B Common Stock
are not entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting in accordance with Bel’s
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended. This Proxy Statement and, as to
holders of the Class A Common Stock, the enclosed form of proxy are first being
sent to shareholders on or about April 18, 2005. As used in the remainder of
this Proxy Statement, the term “shareholders” shall refer to the holders of
Bel’s Class A Common Stock.
Voting;
Revocation Of Proxies
A form of
proxy is enclosed for use at the Annual Meeting if a shareholder is unable to
attend in person. Each proxy may be revoked at any time before it is exercised
by giving written notice to the secretary of the meeting. A subsequently dated
proxy will, if properly presented, revoke a prior proxy. Any shareholder may
attend the meeting and vote in person whether or not he has previously given a
proxy. All shares represented by valid proxies pursuant to this solicitation
(and not revoked before they are exercised) will be voted as specified in the
form of proxy. If a proxy is signed but no specification is given, the shares
will be voted “FOR” the Board’s nominees to the Board of Directors.
Proxy
Solicitation
The
entire cost of soliciting these proxies will be borne by Bel. In following up
the original solicitation of the proxies by mail, Bel may make arrangements with
brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to send proxies
and proxy materials to the beneficial owners of stock held of record by such
persons and may reimburse them for their expenses in so doing. If necessary, Bel
may also use its officers and their assistants to solicit proxies from the
shareholders, either personally or by telephone or special letter.
Vote
Required; Shares Entitled To Vote; Principal Shareholders
The
presence in person or by proxy of holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock will constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business at the Company’s Annual Meeting. Assuming that a quorum
is present, the election of directors will require the affirmative vote of a
plurality of the shares of Class A Common Stock represented and entitled to vote
at the Annual Meeting. For purposes of determining the votes cast with respect
to any matter presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting, only those cast
“for” or “against” are included. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted
only for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present at the Annual
Meeting. Holders of Class A Common Stock are not entitled to cumulative voting
in the election of directors.
Holders
of record of the Class A Common Stock at the close of business on April 11, 2005
(the record date fixed by the Board of Directors) will be entitled to receive
notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. At the close of business on the
record date, there were 2,702,677 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding and
entitled to vote at the meeting. Each such share is entitled to one vote on all
matters to come before the meeting.
The
Company’s management is not aware of any individual or entity that owned of
record or beneficially more than five percent of the Class A Common Stock as of
the record date other than Sybil Bernstein, Howard B. Bernstein, FMR Corp, Third
Avenue Management LLC and Black River Global Equity Arbitrage Fund Ltd. Sybil
Bernstein was the wife of Elliot Bernstein, the Chairman of the Board and a
Director of the Company until his death in July 2001. Howard B. Bernstein is a
Director of the Company. The business address for Howard B. Bernstein is 206 Van
Vorst Street, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302. For information regarding the
number of shares owned by Howard B. Bernstein, see “Election of Directors.”
Name
and Address of
Beneficial
Owner |
|
Amount
and Nature
of
Beneficial Ownership |
|
Percent
of
Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sybil
Bernstein |
|
251,132(1) |
|
9.3% |
206
Van Vorst Street |
|
|
|
|
Jersey
City, NJ 07302 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FMR
Corp. |
|
408,563(2) |
|
15.1% |
82
Devonshire Street |
|
|
|
|
Boston,
MA 02109 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Third
Avenue Management LLC |
|
290,438(3) |
|
10.7% |
622
Third Avenue |
|
|
|
|
32nd
Floor |
|
|
|
|
New
York, NY 10017-6715 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Black
River Global Equity Arbitrage Fund Ltd.
P.O.
Box 309 GT, Ugland House
South
Church Street
George
Town, Grand Cayman |
|
141,637(4) |
|
5.2% |
(1) |
The
shares of Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by Ms. Bernstein
include: (i) 18,800 shares owned by a not-for-profit foundation of which
Ms. Bernstein is President and Trustee and (ii) 192,770 owned by a trust
of which Ms. Bernstein is the beneficiary and trustee. Ms. Bernstein also
owns 521,198 shares of Class B Common Stock, or 6.0% of the outstanding
shares. The shares of Class B Common Stock beneficially owned by Ms.
Bernstein include: (i) 74,874 shares owned by a not-for-profit foundation
of which Ms. Bernstein is President and Trustee, and (ii) 370,799 shares
owned by a trust of which Ms. Bernstein is the beneficiary and
trustee. |
(2) |
Pursuant
to a filing made by FMR Corp. with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
Fidelity Management & Research Company (“Fidelity”), 82 Devonshire
Street, Boston, MA 02109, a wholly-owned subsidiary of FMR Corp. and a
registered investment adviser, is the beneficial owner of the shares
listed above as the result of acting as investment advisor to various
investment companies. Pursuant to such filing, the ownership of one
investment company, Fidelity Low Priced Stock Fund, amounted to 408,563
shares or 15.1% of the Class A Common Stock outstanding. Edward C. Johnson
3d, FMR Corp., through its control of Fidelity, and the funds each has
sole power to dispose of the 408,563 shares. The filing states that the
sole power to vote these shares resides with the boards of trustees of the
various funds. |
(3) |
Pursuant
to a filing made by Third Avenue Management LLC. with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, Third Avenue Management LLC, a registered investment
adviser, is the beneficial owner of the shares listed above as the result
of acting as investment advisor to various investment companies. Pursuant
to such filing, the ownership of three investment companies,
Aegon/Transamerica Series - Third Avenue Portfolio, amounted to 121,800
shares or 4.1%, Met Investors - Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio,
amounted to 111,088 shares or 4.1% and Third Avenue Variable Series Trust
- Value Portfolio amount to 42,500 shares or 1.6% of the Class A Common
Stock outstanding. Third Avenue Management, LLC, through its control of
these funds has sole power to dispose of the 275,388 shares.
|
(4) |
Pursuant
to a filing made by Black River Global Equity Arbitrage Fund Ltd. with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, Black River Global Equity Arbitrage
Fund Ltd. has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the
141,637 shares. |
2006
Annual Meeting; Nominations
Shareholders
intending to present proposals at the 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must
deliver their written proposals to the Company no later than December 19, 2005
in order for such proposals to be eligible for inclusion in the Company’s proxy
statement and proxy card relating to next year’s meeting and no later than March
4, 2006 in order for such proposals to be considered at next year’s meeting (but
not included in the proxy statement for such meeting).
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
The
Company’s directors are elected on a staggered term basis, with each class of
directors being as nearly equal as possible, and standing for re-election once
in each three-year period. At the Annual Meeting, the holders of the Class A
Common Stock will elect two directors for three year terms.
Unless a
shareholder either indicates “withhold authority” on his proxy or indicates on
his proxy that his shares should not be voted for certain nominees, it is
intended that the persons named in the proxy will vote for the election as
directors of the nominees listed below to serve until the expiration of their
terms and thereafter until their successors shall have been duly elected and
shall have qualified. Discretionary authority is also solicited to vote for the
election of a substitute or substitutes for said nominees if either of them, for
any reason presently unknown, cannot be a candidate for election.
The
following sets forth information as of April 1, 2005 concerning the nominees for
election to the Board of Directors and comparable information with respect to
those directors whose terms of office will continue beyond the date of the
Annual Meeting. Unless otherwise indicated, positions have been held for more
than five years.
NOMINEES
FOR DIRECTOR FOR A TERM WHICH
WILL
EXPIRE AT THE 2008 ANNUAL MEETING
Name |
|
Age |
|
Director
Since |
|
Business
Experience |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Avi
Eden |
|
57 |
|
May
2004
|
|
Independent
Consultant for Business Development, including Mergers and Acquisitions
(2004 to Present); Of Counsel to the law firm of Eckert Seamans Cherin
& Mellott, LLC (2004 to Present); Vice Chairman of the Board of
Directors, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Vishay
Intertechnology, Inc. (1996 to 2003); Of Counsel to the law firm of Eckert
Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC (prior years). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
H. Simandl |
|
76 |
|
1967 |
|
Practicing
Attorney; Member of the law firm of Simandl & Gerr (January 1992 to
January 1995); member of the law firm of Robert H. Simandl, Counselor of
Law (prior years); Secretary of the Company (prior years to May 2003).
|
CONTINUING
DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE AT THE 2006 ANNUAL MEETING
Name |
|
Age |
|
Director
Since |
|
Business
Experience |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Howard
B. Bernstein* |
|
78 |
|
1954 |
|
Retired. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
F. Tweedy |
|
59 |
|
1996 |
|
Independent
consultant (February 2000 to Present); Director of Public Relations of
GlobeSpan Semiconductor Inc. (supplier of semiconductor integrated circuit
products) (January 1999 to February 2000); Director of Corporate
Communi-cations of Standard Microsystems Corp. (supplier of semiconductor
integrated circuit products) (July 1995 to January
1999). |
CONTINUING
DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE AT THE 2007 ANNUAL MEETING
Name |
|
Age |
|
Director
Since |
|
Business
Experience |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel
Bernstein* |
|
51 |
|
1986
|
|
President
(June 1992 to Present) and Chief Executive Officer (May 2001 to Present)
of the Company; Vice President and Treasurer of the Company (prior years
to June 1992); Managing Director of the Company’s Macau subsidiary (1991
to Present). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peter
Gilbert |
|
57 |
|
1987 |
|
Director
(1987 to Present), Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (1997
to 2004) of PCA Aerospace, Inc. (a manufacturer of machined components for
the aerospace industry); Executive Vice President (2000 to May 2003) of
PCA Industries (manufacturer of cast aluminum automobile wheels);
President and Chairman of the Board (prior years to 1996) of Gilbert
Manufacturing Co. (a manufacturer of electrical
components). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
S. Johnson |
|
75 |
|
1996 |
|
Independent
consultant (April 1993 to Present) for various companies, including the
Company (during 1995); Corporate Controller of AVX Corporation
(manufacturer of electronic components) (1978 to March 1993).
|
* Daniel
Bernstein is Howard B. Bernstein’s nephew.
Executive
Officers
The
following sets forth information as of March 1, 2005 concerning the Company’s
executive officers. Unless otherwise indicated, positions have been held for
more than five years.
|
|
Officer |
|
Positions
with Offices with the |
Name
and Age |
|
Since |
|
Company/Business
Experience |
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel
Bernstein, 51 |
|
1985 |
|
President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director |
Colin
Dunn, 60 |
|
1992 |
|
Vice
President of Finance and Treasurer; Secretary (May 2003 to
present) |
Joseph
Meccariello, 54 |
|
1995 |
|
Vice
President of Manufacturing |
Dennis
Ackerman, 42 |
|
2001 |
|
Vice
President of Operations |
Dwayne
Vasquez, 42 |
|
2001 |
|
Vice
President of Sales |
Daniel
Bernstein has served the Company as President since June 1992. He previously
served as Vice President (1985-1992) and Treasurer (1986-1992) and has served as
a Director since 1986. He has occupied other positions with the Company since
1978. He was appointed Managing Director of the Company’s Macau subsidiary
during 1991.
Colin
Dunn joined the Company in 1991 as Finance Manager and in 1992 was named Vice
President of Finance and Treasurer. He was appointed Secretary of the Company in
May 2003. He is currently a director of Bel Fuse Ltd. and Bel Fuse Macau LDA.
Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Dunn was Vice President of Finance and
Operations at Kentek Information Systems, Inc. from 1985 to 1991 and had
previously held a series of senior management positions with Braintech Inc. and
Weyerhaeuser Company.
Joseph
Meccariello joined the Company in 1979 as a Manager of Mechanical Engineering
and in 1994 became the Deputy Managing Director of the Company’s Hong Kong
subsidiary, Bel Fuse Ltd. In 1995 he was named Vice President of Manufacturing
with responsibility for Far East production operations.
Dennis
Ackerman joined the Company in 1986 and has held the positions of customer
service manager, sales manager, purchasing manager and operations manager. In
2001 he was named Vice President of Operations.
Dwayne
Vasquez joined the Company in 2001 as Director of Sales. In October 2001 he was
promoted to Vice President of Sales with responsibility for the Company’s
worldwide sales organization. From 1997 to 2001 he was Director of Sales and
Marketing at Ericson Microelectronics, Power Module Division in Richardson,
Texas where he was responsible for driving revenue in the DC/DC and board
mounted power product markets.
Beneficial
Ownership of the Company’s Stock
The
following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership of Bel’s
Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock as of April 1, 2005 by (a) each
director and nominee; (b) each of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the
four other most highly compensated executive officers of Bel during 2004 (the
“Named Officers”) and (c) all directors and executive officers as a group.
Unless otherwise stated in the footnotes following the table, the nominees,
directors and Named Officers listed in the table have sole power to vote and
dispose of the shares which they beneficially owned as of April 1, 2005.
|
|
Aggregate
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned (1) |
|
|
|
Class
A Common Stock |
|
Class
B Common Stock |
|
|
|
No.
of Shares |
|
Percent
of Outstanding Shares |
|
No.
of Shares |
|
Percent
of Outstanding Shares |
|
Daniel
Bernstein (2) |
|
|
131,076 |
|
|
4.8 |
% |
|
369,986 |
|
|
4.3 |
|
Howard
B. Bernstein (3) |
|
|
140,000 |
|
|
5.2 |
% |
|
349,000 |
|
|
4.0 |
|
Colin
Dunn (4) |
|
|
2,928 |
|
|
* |
|
|
13,906 |
|
|
* |
|
Avi
Eden |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
Peter
Gilbert (5) |
|
|
500 |
|
|
* |
|
|
8,000 |
|
|
* |
|
John
S. Johnson (6) |
|
|
1,900 |
|
|
* |
|
|
14,700 |
|
|
* |
|
Joseph
Meccariello (7) |
|
|
338 |
|
|
* |
|
|
1,277 |
|
|
* |
|
Robert
H. Simandl (8) |
|
|
1,585 |
|
|
* |
|
|
8,755 |
|
|
* |
|
Dwayne
Vasquez (9) |
|
|
15 |
|
|
* |
|
|
8,348 |
|
|
* |
|
John
F. Tweedy (10) |
|
|
250 |
|
|
* |
|
|
5,250 |
|
|
* |
|
Dennis
Ackerman (11) |
|
|
850 |
|
|
* |
|
|
3,970 |
|
|
* |
|
All
directors, nominees and executive officers as a group (10
persons)(12) |
|
|
279,442 |
|
|
10.3 |
|
|
783,192 |
|
|
9.0 |
|
(1) |
As
of April 1, 2005, there were 2,702,677 and 8,703,089 shares of Class A
Common Stock and Class B Common Stock outstanding, respectively.
|
(2) |
The
shares of Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by Daniel Bernstein
include 11,500 shares held by Mr. Bernstein as trustee for his children
and 1,577 shares allocated to Mr. Bernstein in the Company’s 401(k) Plan
over which he has voting but no investment power. The shares of Class B
Common Stock beneficially owned by Daniel Bernstein include 19,349 shares
owned by a family partnership of which Mr. Bernstein is a general partner,
36,500 shares held by Mr. Bernstein as trustee for his children and 7,140
shares allocated to Mr. Bernstein in the Company’s 401(k) Plan over which
he has no voting or investment power. |
(3) |
The
shares of Class B Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Howard Bernstein
include 2,000 shares which may be acquired by him on or before June 1,
2005 upon the exercise of stock options. |
(4) |
The
shares of Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by Colin Dunn include
1,178 shares allocated to him in the Company’s 401(k) Plan over which he
has voting but no investment power. The shares of Class B Common Stock
beneficially owned by Mr. Dunn include 4,156 shares allocated to him in
the Company’s 401(k) Plan over which he has no voting or investment power.
|
(5) |
The
shares of Class B Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Gilbert include
1,250 shares held of record by Mr. Gilbert’s wife and 4,000 shares which
may be acquired by him on or before June 1, 2005 upon the exercise of
stock options. |
(6) |
The
shares of Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Johnson include
150 shares held by Mr. Johnson as custodian for his grandchildren. The
shares of Class B Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Johnson include
4,000 shares which may be acquired by him on or before June 1, 2005 upon
the exercise of stock options and 1,450 shares held by Mr. Johnson as
custodian for his grandchildren. |
(7) |
The
shares of Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Meccariello
include 288 shares allocated to him in the Company’s 401(k) Plan over
which he has voting but no investment power. The shares of Class B Common
Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Meccariello include 414 shares allocated
to him in the Far East Plan over which he has no voting or investment
power and 863 shares allocated to him in the Company’s 401(k) Plan over
which he has no voting or investment power. |
(8) |
The
shares of Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Simandl include
1,200 shares held of record by Mr. Simandl’s wife. The shares of Class B
Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Simandl include 4,000 shares which
may be acquired by him on or before June 1, 2005 upon the exercise of
stock options and 3,600 shares held of record by Mr. Simandl’s wife.
|
(9) |
The
shares of Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Vasquez include
15 shares allocated to him in the Company’s 401(k) Plan over which he has
voting but no investment power. The shares of Class B Common Stock
beneficially owned by Mr. Vasquez include 7,500 shares which may be
acquired by Vasquez on or before June 1, 2005 upon the exercise of stock
options and 848 shares allocated to him in the Company’s 401(k) Plan over
which he has voting but no investment power. |
(10) |
Includes
2,000 shares of Class B Common Stock which may be acquired by Mr. Tweedy
on or before June 1, 2005 upon the exercise of stock options.
|
(11) |
The
shares of Class A Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Ackerman include
850 shares allocated to him in the Company’s 401(k) Plan over which he has
voting but no investment power. The shares of Class B Common Stock owned
by Mr. Ackerman include 3,970 shares allocated to him in the Company’s
401(k) Plan over which he has no voting or investment power.
|
(12) |
Includes
25,500 shares of Class B Common Stock which may be acquired on or before
June 1, 2005 upon the exercise of stock options and 3,908 and 17,391
shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, respectively,
allocated in the Company’s 401(k) Plan and Far East Plan over which such
persons have with respect to the Class A Common Stock, voting but no
investment power and with respect to the Class B Common Stock, no voting
or investment power. |
* |
Shares
constitute less than one percent of the shares of Class A Common Stock or
Class B Common Stock outstanding. |
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s directors,
executive officers and greater than 10 percent beneficial owners to file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission certain reports regarding such persons’
ownership of the Company’s securities. Directors, officers and greater than 10
percent beneficial owners are required by applicable regulations to furnish Bel
with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely upon a review of
the copies of the forms or information furnished to Bel, the Company believes
that during 2004 all filing requirements applicable to its directors, officers
and greater than 10 percent beneficial owners were satisfied on a timely basis,
except that Colin Dunn (an executive officer of the Company) reported late an
intra-plan transfer in the 401(k) plan that occurred in June 2004, Avi Eden (a
director of the Company) filed late his initial report of beneficial ownership
upon becoming a director, Howard Bernstein (a director of the Company) reported
late an option exercise and sale that occurred in June 2004 and Joseph
Meccariello (an executive officer of the Company) filed an amendment to correct
the number of shares of Class A Common Stock he held at the end of February
2004. The failures to file were inadvertent and the filings were made promptly
after the failures to file were noted.
Summary
of Cash and Certain Other Compensation
The
following table sets forth, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2002, 2003
and 2004, the annual and long-term compensation of the Company’s Chief Executive
Officer and the four other most highly compensated executive officers of Bel
during 2004 (the “Named Officers”):
SUMMARY
COMPENSATION TABLE |
Name
and |
|
|
|
Annual
Compensation |
|
Long-Term
Compensation
Awards Securities
Underlying |
|
All
Other |
|
Principal
Position |
|
Year |
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
Other
(1) |
|
Options/SARs
(#) |
|
Compensation
(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel
Bernstein |
|
|
2004 |
|
$ |
204,875 |
|
$ |
90,618 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
$ |
6,350 |
|
President
and |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
204,888 |
|
|
63,028 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
6,496 |
|
Chief
Executive Officer |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
204,881 |
|
|
4,268 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
10,496 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colin
Dunn |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
164,248 |
|
|
72,648 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
5,278 |
|
Vice
President and |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
164,256 |
|
|
50,538 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
5,278 |
|
Treasurer |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
164,225 |
|
|
3,422 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
5,277 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph
Meccariello |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
157,805 |
|
|
70,574 |
|
$ |
60,562 |
|
|
— |
|
|
11,046 |
|
Vice
President |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
157,077 |
|
|
49,094 |
|
|
57,076 |
|
|
— |
|
|
10,995 |
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
157,077 |
|
|
3,422 |
|
|
64,266 |
|
|
—
|
|
|
10,995 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dwayne
Vasquez (3) |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
28,846 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
4,850 |
|
Vice
President |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
14,423 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
4,850 |
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
150,012 |
|
|
3,125 |
|
|
—
|
|
|
— |
|
|
4,850 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis
Ackerman |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
151,000 |
|
|
66,788 |
|
|
—
|
|
|
— |
|
|
4,880 |
|
Vice
President |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
143,848 |
|
|
46,461 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
4,880 |
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
116,644 |
|
|
2,430 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
3,849 |
|
(1) |
During
the periods presented above, no Named Officer received perquisites (i.e.,
personal benefits) in excess of 10% of such individual’s reported salary
and bonus, except that Mr. Meccariello received housing allowances of
$55,178, $51,692, and $58,882, during 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively,
and a travel allowance of $5,384 during 2004, 2003 and 2002.
|
(2) |
Compensation
reported under this column for 2004 includes: (i) contributions of $11,046
for Joseph Meccariello to the Company’s Far East Retirement Plan and
contributions of $6,350, $5,278, $4,850 and $4,880, for Daniel Bernstein,
Colin Dunn, Dwayne Vasquez and Dennis Ackerman, respectively, to the
Company’s 401(k) Plan, to match 2004 pre-tax elective deferral
contributions (included under “Salary”) made by each Named Officer to such
Plans, such contributions currently being made in shares of the Company’s
Class B Common Stock. |
Stock
Options
The
Company maintains a Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) for employees. The options
granted under the Plan generally have terms of five years and terminate at or
within a specified period of time after the optionee’s employment with the
Company ends. Options are exercisable in installments determined at the date of
grant. No stock options were granted to the Named Officers during the year ended
December 31, 2004.
Option
Exercises and Holdings
The
following table provides data regarding option exercises by the Named Officers
during 2004 and the number of shares covered by both exercisable and
non-exercisable stock options at December 31, 2004. Also reported are the values
for “in-the-money” options, which represent the positive spread between the
exercise price of existing options and either $29.30 or $33.79, the closing sale
price of the Company’s Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock,
respectively, on December 31, 2004.
AGGREGATE
OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND
FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
of |
|
|
|
|
Shares
of |
|
Value
realized |
|
Class
A / Class B |
|
Value
of |
|
|
Class
A/
Class
B Stock |
|
(Market
Price
on
Exercise |
|
Securities
Underlying Unexercised |
|
Unexercised
In-the-Money
|
|
|
Acquired
on |
|
Date
Less |
|
Options/SARs
at Year-End (#) |
|
Options/SARs
at Year-End ($) |
Name |
|
Exercise(#) |
|
Exercise
Price) ($) |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel
Bernstein |
|
—/
— |
|
—/
— |
|
—/
32,000 |
|
—/
— |
|
—/
1,081,286 |
|
—/
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colin
Dunn |
|
1,014/
14,986 |
|
13,283/
207,932 |
|
—/
— |
|
—/
— |
|
—/
— |
|
—/
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph
Meccariello |
|
—/
16,000 |
|
—/
288,320 |
|
—/
— |
|
—/
— |
|
—/
— |
|
—/
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dwayne
Vasquez |
|
—/
— |
|
—/
— |
|
—/
7,500 |
|
—/
2,500 |
|
—/
253,425 |
|
—/
84,475 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis
Ackerman |
|
—/
12,000 |
|
—/
241,200 |
|
—/
— |
|
—/
— |
|
—/
— |
|
—/
— |
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
The
following table provides information as of December 31, 2004 with respect to
shares of Class A and Class B Common Stock that may be issued under the
Company’s existing equity compensation plans, which consist of the 2002 Equity
Compensation Program and the Company’s prior stock option plan (which prior plan
expired in April 2002), each of which has been approved by the Company’s
stockholders.
Plan
Category |
|
(a)
Number
Of Securities To Be Issued Upon Exercise Of Outstanding Options, Warrants
and Rights |
|
(b)
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price Of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights |
|
(c)
Number
Of Securities Remaining Available For Future Issuance Under Equity
Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected In Column
(a)) |
Equity
Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders |
|
Class
A:
Class
B: |
0
495,289 |
|
Class
A:
Class
B: |
$
$ |
0
23.17 |
|
Class
A:
Class
B: |
0
941,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
|
Class
A:
Class
B: |
0
495,289 |
|
Class
A:
Class
B: |
$
$ |
0
23.17 |
|
Class
A:
Class
B: |
0
941,000 |
The
Board of Directors; Committees of the Board; Directors’
Compensation
Since the
adoption of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in July 2002, there has been a growing public
and regulatory focus on the independence of directors. Nasdaq has adopted
amendments to its definition of independence. Additional requirements relating
to independence are imposed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with respect to members of
the Audit Committee. As noted below, the Board has determined that the members
of the Audit Committee satisfy all such definitions of independence. The Board
has also determined that the following members of the Board satisfy the Nasdaq
definition of independence: Howard Bernstein, Peter Gilbert, John S. Johnson,
John F. Tweedy, Robert Simandl and Avi Eden.
The
Company’s Board of Directors holds a regular meeting immediately before the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders and meets regularly throughout the year. During
2004, the Board held five meetings.
Bel’s
Board has an Executive Committee, a Compensation Committee, an Audit Committee
and a Nominating Committee. The Executive Committee is composed of Daniel
Bernstein, Robert H. Simandl and John F. Tweedy; the Compensation Committee is
composed of Peter Gilbert and Robert H. Simandl; and the Audit Committee is
composed of Peter Gilbert, John S. Johnson and John F. Tweedy. The function of
the Executive Committee is to act in the place of the Board when the Board
cannot be convened. The Nominating Committee is composed of Howard Bernstein,
Robert H. Simandl and John F. Tweedy.
The
Compensation Committee is charged with the responsibility of administering the
Company’s Stock Option Plan and also reviews the compensation of Bel’s executive
officers.
The Audit
Committee reviews significant audit and accounting principles, policies and
practices, and meets with the Company’s independent auditors. The Board of
Directors has determined that John S. Johnson constitutes an “audit committee
financial expert”, as such term is defined by the SEC. As noted above, Mr.
Johnson — as well as the other members of the Audit Committee — has been
determined to be “independent” within the meaning of SEC and Nasdaq regulations.
During
2004, the Executive Committee held two meetings, the Audit Committee held five
meetings, the Compensation Committee held one meeting and the Nominating
Committee held one meeting.
In 2004,
non-employee directors of the Company received an annual retainer of $15,000,
plus $1,000 for each Board meeting they attended and $750 for each committee
meeting they attended. In 2004, directors who were executive officers of the
Company did not receive directors’ fees. In 2004, directors of the Company’s
foreign subsidiaries did not receive a retainer.
In 2004,
Avi Eden, a director of the Company, was granted an option to purchase 8,000
shares of Class B Common Stock in consideration of his service as a director.
For a description of legal services provided to the Company by Robert H. Simandl
during 2004, see “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation.”
Nominating
Committee Matters
Nominating
Committee Charter. The
Board has adopted a Nominating Committee charter to govern its Nominating
Committee. The charter was filed as Appendix A to the Company’s 2004 proxy
statement.
Independence
of Nominating Committee Members. All
members of the Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors have been
determined to be “independent directors” pursuant to the definition contained in
Rule 4200(a)(15) of the National Association of Securities Dealers’ Marketplace
rules.
Procedures
for Considering Nominations Made by Shareholders. The
Nominating Committee’s charter describes procedures for nominations to be
submitted by shareholders and other third-parties, other than candidates who
have previously served on the Board or who are recommended by the Board. The
charter states that a nomination must be delivered to the Secretary of the
Company at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the
close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the
120th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting;
provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days
before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice to be timely
must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day
prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the
later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the close of business on
the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such
meeting is first made by the Company. The public announcement of an adjournment
or postponement of an annual meeting will not commence a new time period (or
extend any time period) for the giving of a notice as described above. The
charter requires a nomination notice to set forth as to each person whom the
proponent proposes to nominate for election as a director: (a) all information
relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of
proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise
required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (including such person’s written consent to being named
in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected),
and (b) information that will enable the Nominating Committee to determine
whether the candidate or candidates satisfy the criteria established pursuant to
the charter for director candidates.
Qualifications. The
charter describes the minimum qualifications for nominees and the qualities or
skills that are necessary for directors to possess. Each nominee:
· |
must
satisfy any legal requirements applicable to members of the Board;
|
· |
must
have business or professional experience that will enable such nominee to
provide useful input to the Board in its deliberations;
|
· |
must
have a reputation for honesty and ethical conduct;
|
· |
must
have a working knowledge of the types of responsibilities expected of
members of the board of directors of a public company; and
|
· |
must
have experience, either as a member of the board of directors of another
public or private company or in another capacity, that demonstrates the
nominee’s capacity to serve in a fiduciary position.
|
Identification
and Evaluation of Candidates for the Board.
Candidates to serve on the Board will be identified from all available sources,
including recommendations made by shareholders. The Nominating Committee’s
charter provides that there will be no differences in the manner in which the
Nominating Committee evaluates nominees recommended by shareholders and nominees
recommended by the Committee or management, except that no specific process
shall be mandated with respect to the nomination of any individuals who have
previously served on the Board. The evaluation process for individuals other
than existing Board members will include:
· |
a
review of the information provided to the Nominating Committee by the
proponent; |
· |
a
review of reference letters from at least two sources determined to be
reputable by the Nominating Committee; and |
· |
a
personal interview of the candidate, together with a review of such other
information as the Nominating Committee shall determine to be relevant.
|
Third
Party Recommendations. In
connection with the 2004 Annual Meeting, the Nominating Committee did not
receive any nominations from any shareholder or group of shareholders which
owned more than 5% of the Company’s Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock
for at least one year.
Audit
Committee Matters
Audit
Committee Charter. The
Audit Committee performed its duties during 2004 under a written charter
approved by the Board of Directors. The charter was filed as Appendix B to the
Company’s 2004 proxy statement.
Independence
of Audit Committee Members. The
Class A and Class B Common Stock are listed on the Nasdaq National Market and
the Company is governed by the listing standards applicable thereto. All members
of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors have been determined to be
“independent directors” pursuant to the definition contained in Rule 4200(a)(15)
of the National Association of Securities Dealers’ Marketplace Rules and under
the SEC’s Rule 10A-3.
Audit
Committee Report. In
connection with the preparation and filing of the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004:
(1) |
the
Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements
with the Company’s management; |
(2) |
the
Audit Committee discussed with the Company’s independent auditors the
matters required to be discussed by SAS 61; |
(3) |
the
Audit Committee received and reviewed the written disclosures and the
letter from the Company’s independent auditors required by the
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with
Audit Committees) and discussed with the Company’s independent auditors
any relationships that may impact their objectivity and independence and
satisfied itself as to the auditors’ independence; and
|
(4) |
based
on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee
recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included
in the 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K. |
By: The
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
Peter
Gilbert
John
S. Johnson
John
F. Tweedy
Shareholder
Communication With the Board
The Board
of Directors has established a procedure that enables shareholders to
communicate in writing with members of the Board. Any such communication should
be addressed to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and should be sent to such
individual c/o Bel Fuse Inc., 206 Van Vorst Street, Jersey City, New Jersey
07302. Any such communication must state, in a conspicuous manner, that it is
intended for distribution to the entire Board of Directors. Under the procedures
established by the Board, upon the Chief Executive Officer’s receipt of such a
communication, the Company’s Secretary will send a copy of such communication to
each member of the Board, identifying it as a communication received from a
shareholder. Absent unusual circumstances, at the next regularly scheduled
meeting of the Board held more than two days after such communication has been
distributed, the Board will consider the substance of any such communication.
Board
members are encouraged, but not required by any specific Board policy, to attend
the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders. All of the members of the Board
attended the Company’s 2004 annual meeting of shareholders.
Performance
Graph
The
following graph compares the cumulative total return on a hypothetical $100
investment made at the close of business on December 31, 1999 in Bel’s Class A
Common Stock and Class B Common Stock with the Nasdaq Stock Index and the Nasdaq
Electronic Components Stock Index. The graph is calculated assuming that all
dividends are reinvested during the relevant periods. The graph shows how a $100
investment in either the Class A Common Stock or the Class B Common Stock would
increase or decrease in value over time, based on dividends and increases or
decreases in market prices. The market prices of the Class A Common Stock and
the Class B Common Stock were averaged.
Compensation
Committee Report on Executive Compensation
Decisions
on compensation of Bel’s executive officers generally are made by the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”). Pursuant to
Securities and Exchange Commission rules designed to enhance disclosure of
corporate policies regarding executive compensation, Bel has set forth below a
report submitted by the Committee addressing Bel’s compensation policies for
2004 as they affected Daniel Bernstein, the Chief Executive Officer, and the
other Named Officers.
The goals
of Bel’s compensation policies for executive officers are to provide a
competitive level of base salary and other benefits to attract, retain and
motivate high caliber personnel.
The
Company’s compensation program consists primarily of base salary, bonus and
long-term incentive awards. In making its compensation decisions, the Committee
analyzes the Company’s performance, the individual’s performance in terms of the
fulfillment of responsibilities related to the applicable position, and the
individual’s contribution to the Company.
Executive
officers receive performance and salary reviews each year. Salary increases are
based on an evaluation of the extent to which a particular executive officer is
determined to have assisted the Company in meeting its business objectives and
in contributing to the growth and performance of the Company.
Daniel
Bernstein’s salary and Colin Dunn’s salary remained virtually unchanged from
2003 to 2004. Bonuses to the Named Officers were increased in 2004, reflecting
the improvement in the Company’s financial performance and the contributions
made by various individuals, including Daniel Bernstein and Colin Dunn, to such
performance.
The
Company’s long-term incentive award program includes the grant of stock options.
Stock options only produce value to executives if the price of the Company’s
stock appreciates, thereby directly linking the interests of executives with
those of stockholders. All of the Company’s outstanding stock options have been
granted at exercise prices at least equal to the market price on the grant date.
None of the Named Officers was granted a stock option during 2004.
Pursuant
to the Company’s domestic 401(k) Plan and Far East Retirement Plan, the Company
makes matching contributions of pre-tax elective deferral contributions made by
employees, including executive officers. The Company’s matching contributions
under the 401(k) Plan are currently made in shares of Bel’s Class B Common Stock
and under the Far East Retirement Plan are currently made partly in shares of
Bel’s Class B Common Stock (approximately 10% of the Company’s contribution) and
partly in cash (approximately 90% of the contribution). Bel believes that these
plans are an important element in executive long-term compensation and foster
the retention and motivation of qualified executives.
During
1993, the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1993 was enacted. This Act includes
potential limitations on the deductibility of compensation in excess of $1
million paid to the Company’s five highest paid officers beginning in 1994.
Based on regulations issued by the Internal Revenue Service and an analysis by
the Company to date, the Company believes that any compensation realized in
connection with the exercise of stock options granted by the Company will
continue to be deductible as performance-based compensation. The Committee and
the entire Board of Directors will continue to evaluate the impact of this
legislation on Bel’s compensation program and intends to submit appropriate
proposals to stockholders at future meetings if necessary in order to maintain
the deductibility of executive compensation.
|
Respectfully
submitted,
Robert H. Simandl
Peter Gilber |
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Peter
Gilbert and Robert H. Simandl served as members of the Compensation Committee of
the Company’s Board of Directors during 2004.
Mr.
Simandl served as the Company’s Secretary through May 2003. Mr. Simandl and his
predecessor firms have served as general counsel to the Company for more than
five years. Fees received by Mr. Simandl’s firm from the Company during 2004
were not material. The Company will retain Mr. Simandl in 2005.
Mr. Eden
served as a special consultant on matters related to potential acquisitions
during 2004. Fees received by Mr. Eden from the Company in 2004 were not
material. The Company expects Mr. Eden to continue in this role in
2005.
Relationship
With Independent Public Accountants
Deloitte
& Touche LLP, independent certified public accountants, has been selected by
the Board of Directors to audit and report on Bel’s financial statements for the
year ending December 31, 2005.
Deloitte
& Touche LLP began auditing Bel in 1983. A representative of Deloitte &
Touche LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have an
opportunity to make a statement if he so desires. The representative is expected
to be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.
Audit
Fees and Related Matters
In
accordance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the Audit
Committee’s charter, all audit and audit-related work and all non-audit work
performed by the Company’s independent accountants, Deloitte & Touche LLP
(“Deloitte”), is approved in advance by the Audit Committee, including the
proposed fees for such work. The Audit Committee is informed of each service
actually rendered.
Audit
Fees. Audit
fees billed or expected to be billed to the Company by Deloitte for the audit of
the financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K,
and reviews of the financial statements included in the Company’s Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q, for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004 totaled
approximately $396,625 and $528,159 respectively.
Audit-Related
Fees. The
Company was billed $53,911 and $16,268 by Deloitte for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2003 and 2004, respectively, for assurance and related services
that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the
Company’s financial statements and are not reported under the caption “Audit
Fees” above.
Tax
Fees. The
Company was billed an aggregate of $321,370 and $196,820 by Deloitte for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004, respectively, for tax services,
principally advice regarding the preparation of income tax returns.
All
Other Fees. The
Company was billed an aggregate of $-0- and $-0- by Deloitte for the fiscal
years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004, respectively, for permitted non-audit
services.
Other
Matters. The
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has considered whether the provision
of the Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees and All Other Fees are compatible with
maintaining the independence of the Company’s principal accountant.
Applicable
law and regulations provide an exemption that permits certain services to be
provided by the Company’s outside auditors even if they are not pre-approved.
The Company has not relied on this exemption at any time since the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act was enacted.
Other
Matters
At the
time this Proxy Statement was mailed to shareholders, management was not aware
that any matter other than the election of directors would be presented for
action at the Annual Meeting. If other matters properly come before the Meeting,
it is intended that the shares represented by proxies will be voted with respect
to those matters in accordance with the best judgment of the persons voting
them.
By Order
of the Board of Directors
Colin
Dunn, Secretary
Dated:
April 18, 2005
A
copy of the Company’s annual report for the year ended December 31, 2004,
including financial statements, accompanies this Proxy Statement. The annual
report is not to be regarded as proxy soliciting material or as a communication
by means of which any solicitation is to be made.
A
copy of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is available (excluding
exhibits) without cost to shareholders upon written request made to Jerry
Kimmel, Bel Fuse Inc., 206 Van Vorst Street, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302.
BEL
FUSE INC.
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS,
MAY
12, 2005
The
undersigned hereby appoints Daniel Bernstein, Robert H. Simandl and Colin Dunn,
and each of them, attorneys and proxies, with power of substitution in each of
them, to vote for and on behalf of the undersigned at the annual meeting of the
shareholders of the Company to be held on May 12, 2005, and at any adjournment
thereof, upon matters properly coming before the meeting, as set forth in the
related Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement, both of which have been received
by the undersigned. Without otherwise limiting the general authorization given
hereby, said attorneys and proxies are instructed to vote as
follows:
1. Election
of the Board's nominees for Director. (The Board of Directors recommends a vote
"FOR".)
¨ FOR the
nominees listed below (except as marked to the contrary below)
¨ WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY to vote for the nominees listed below
Nominees:
Avi Eden
Robert H.
Simandl
INSTRUCTION:
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee listed above, write the
nominee's name in the space provided below.
2. Upon all
such other matters as may properly come before the meeting and/or any
adjournment or adjournments thereof, as they in their discretion may determine.
The Board of Directors is not aware of any such other matters.
UNLESS
OTHERWISE SPECIFIED IN THE SQUARES OR SPACE PROVIDED IN THIS PROXY, THIS PROXY
WILL BE VOTED FOR THE BOARD'S NOMINEES.
Dated:
_______________________, 2005
Signed_____________________________
___________________________________
Please
sign this proxy and return it promptly whether or not you expect to attend the
meeting. You may nevertheless vote in person if you attend.
Please
sign exactly as you name appears hereon. Give full title if an Attorney,
Executor, Administrator, Trustee, Guardian, etc.
For an
account in the name of two or more persons, each should sign, or if one signs,
he should attach evidence of his authority.