UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed
by the Registrant [X]
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check
the appropriate box:
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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[ ]
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Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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[X]
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Definitive
Proxy Statement
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[ ]
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Definitive
Additional Materials
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[ ]
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Soliciting
Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12
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OMEGA
FLEX, INC.
(Name
of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X]
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No
fee required.
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[ ]
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Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1)
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2)
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3)
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Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5)
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Total
fee paid:
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[ ]
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials.
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[ ]
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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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(1)
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Amount
Previously Paid:
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(2)
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Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3)
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Filing
Party:
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(4)
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Date
Filed:
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Dear
Shareholders:
It
is my pleasure to invite you to the 2017 annual meeting of the OmegaFlex shareholders. We will hold the meeting on Wednesday,
June 7, 2017, at 1:00 p.m., at the Reed Institute, 152 Notre Dame Street, Westfield, Massachusetts. At the annual meeting, we
will discuss each item of business described in the notice of annual meeting and in the accompanying proxy statement and give
a report on our business operations. There will also be time for your questions.
You
will have received a notice of internet availability, which directs you to our website to access the proxy statement and annual
report through the internet at www.envisionreports.com/OFLX for registered shareholders, or www.edocumentview.com/OFLX for shares
held through a banker or broker.
You
can also request a paper copy of these documents by following the instructions in that notice. This booklet contains the proxy
statement and a notice of annual meeting. The proxy statement provides information about the business we will conduct at the annual
meeting, in addition to describing our directors and management. Also available on our website is a copy of our Annual Report,
which includes information about our business and our 2016 financial results.
We
hope you will be able to attend the annual meeting. If you need special assistance at the meeting, please contact the Company
secretary at the address shown on the next page. Whether or not you expect to attend, please vote your shares using any of the
following methods:
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vote
by telephone or the internet, as described in the instructions on the notice of internet availability;
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request
a proxy card or voting instruction card; sign, date and return it in the prepaid envelope; or
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vote
in person at the meeting.
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We
look forward to seeing you at the annual meeting, and thank you for investing in Omega Flex, Inc.
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Sincerely,
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Kevin
R. Hoben,
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President
and Chief Executive Officer
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NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To
Be Held June 7, 2017
To
The Shareholders of Omega Flex, Inc.:
Please
take notice that the annual meeting of the shareholders of Omega Flex, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at the Reed
Institute, 152 Notre Dame Street, Westfield, Massachusetts, on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. local time, for the following
purposes:
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1.
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to
elect two Class 3 directors for a three year term expiring at the 2020 annual meeting of shareholders;
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2.
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to
ratify the appointment by the audit committee of the board of directors of RSM US LLP, as independent auditors for the Company
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017; and
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3.
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to
transact such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.
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Pursuant
to the by-laws of the Company, the board of directors has by resolution fixed the close of business on April 3, 2017 as the record
date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting and any postponement or adjournment
thereof. In accordance with rules instituted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the notice of internet availability has
been mailed to all shareholders. The notice contains instructions on accessing the proxy statement and the annual report of the
Company on our website – www.envisionreports.com/OFLX for registered shareholders, or www.edocumentview.com/OFLX for shares
held through a banker or broker. If you wish to obtain a paper copy of the proxy statement and annual report, please follow the
instructions on the notice of internet availability. Please refer to the proxy statement and annual report for information concerning
the affairs of the Company. The annual report does not constitute proxy soliciting material.
It
is important that your shares be represented at the annual meeting.
All
shareholders are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting in person. Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting
in person, please vote your shares in accordance with the instructions on the notice of internet availability. If you voted by
internet or by telephone, that vote will not limit your right to vote in person at the annual meeting.
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By
Order of the Board of Directors
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Omega
Flex, Inc.
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Timothy
P. Scanlan,
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Secretary
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Principal
Executive Office:
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213
Court Street, Suite 1001
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Middletown,
CT 06457
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April
26, 2017
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OMEGA
FLEX, INC.
Corporate
Offices
213
Court Street, Suite 1001
Middletown,
CT 06457
PROXY
STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD
Wednesday,
June 7, 2017, 1:00 p.m. local time
SOLICITATION
AND REVOCATION OF PROXIES
This
proxy statement is being provided to shareholders of record of the Company as of April 3, 2017 in connection with the solicitation
of proxies by the board of directors for use at the annual meeting of the shareholders to be held on Wednesday, June 7, 2017.
The
accompanying proxy is solicited by and on behalf of the board of directors of Omega Flex, Inc., hereinafter referred to as “OmegaFlex”
or the “Company”.
The cost of the solicitation of proxies will be borne entirely by the Company. Regular employees
of the Company may solicit proxies by personal interview, mail or telephone and may request brokerage houses and other custodians,
nominees and fiduciaries to forward soliciting material to the beneficial owners of the stock held of record by such intermediaries.
Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions and Georgeson has been retained by the Company to assist in the distribution of proxy
materials and the solicitation of proxies by mail, for a total estimated fee of $4,000, plus expenses to be paid by the Company.
This proxy statement and the enclosed form of proxy are first being mailed to shareholders on or about April 26, 2017.
If
a proxy is voted pursuant to the instructions in the notice of internet availability, the shares represented will be voted at
the annual meeting and where a choice is specified, will be voted in accordance with the specification made. Proxies may be revoked
at any time prior to voting by (1) executing and delivering a later dated proxy to the secretary of the Company at or before the
annual meeting, (2) voting in person at the annual meeting or (3) giving written notice of revocation to the secretary of the
Company at or before the annual meeting.
PROPOSALS
FOR SHAREHOLDERS’ VOTE
The
following proposals are being submitted to the shareholders for a vote to approve or disapprove these measures. Please read each
of the proposals carefully before voting your shares.
Proposal
1 - Election of Directors
Pursuant
to the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation, our board of directors is divided into three classes, with
members of each class holding office for staggered three-year terms (in all cases, subject to the election and qualification of
their successor, resignation or removal). Unless authority to vote for the election of any or all of the nominees is withheld
by marking the proxy to that effect, the persons named in the proxy will vote to elect Kevin R. Hoben and Mark F. Albino as Class
3 directors for a term expiring at the 2020 annual meeting of shareholders. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons
than the number of nominees named. Each of the nominees is currently a Class 3 director whose term expires at the 2017 annual
meeting of shareholders. All of the nominees have indicated their willingness to serve if elected, but if any should be unable
or unwilling to stand for election, proxies may be voted for a substitute nominee designated by our board of directors.
The
nominees for directors for a three-year term expiring at the 2020 annual meeting of shareholders (Class 3 Directors) are:
Kevin
R. Hoben
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Age
69
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Director
of OmegaFlex since 1996
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Mark
F. Albino
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Age
64
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Director
of OmegaFlex since 1996
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For
complete biographical information concerning each of the Class 3 directors, please refer to the information under the caption
“Directors’ Background Information”
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE AS DIRECTORS.
Proposal
2 – Ratification of Audit Committee’s Appointment of Auditors.
To
ratify the appointment of RSM US, LLP (RSM) by the audit committee of the board of directors as independent auditors for the Company
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017. Although action by the shareholders in this matter is not required, the board believes
that it is appropriate to seek shareholder ratification of this appointment in light of the critical role played by independent
auditors in maintaining the integrity of our financial controls and reporting. If a majority of the shares present and entitled
to vote on the proposal do not ratify the appointment of RSM, the audit committee will consider the vote and the reasons therefor
in future decisions on the selection of independent auditors. A representative of RSM is expected to attend the annual meeting.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE’S APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS.
No
business other than that set forth in the attached notice of annual meeting is expected to be acted upon. Should any other matters
requiring a vote of shareholders be properly brought before the annual meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof, the
persons named in the accompanying proxy card will vote thereon according to their best judgment in the interest of the Company.
Vote
Required
The
Company’s by-laws provide that the presence of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding stock of the Company
entitled to vote at the annual meeting, in person or represented by a proxy, constitutes a quorum for the annual meeting; and
that the vote of the shareholders who hold a majority of the voting power present in person or represented by proxy at the annual
meeting and entitled to vote will decide any question brought before the annual meeting, unless otherwise provided by statute
or the Company’s restated articles of incorporation or by-laws.
The
nominees for election as directors of the Company at the annual meeting who receive the greatest number of votes cast will be
elected as directors for the two positions on the board of directors of the Company to be filled. Abstentions and non-votes will
have no effect on the outcome of the election of directors.
For
proposal 2, the vote of a majority of the shares present at the annual meeting and entitled to vote FOR the ratification of the
selection by the audit committee of RSM as independent auditors for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017 will
pass the proposal. Any abstentions and non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the Proposal. If a majority of the shares
present and entitled to vote on the proposal do not ratify the appointment of RSM, the audit committee will consider the vote
and the reasons therefor in future decisions on the selection of independent auditors.
If
you do not provide your broker or other nominee with instructions on how to vote your shares held in “street name,”
your broker or nominee will not be permitted to vote your shares on non-routine matters (a broker non-vote), and your shares will
not affect the outcome of proposals concerning non-routine matters. Please note that the rules regarding how brokers may vote
your shares have changed, such that the election of directors is a “non-discretionary” item. This means that your
broker may no longer vote your shares in connection with the election of directors in the absence of your specific instructions
as to how to vote. If you hold your shares beneficially through a broker or nominee, we strongly encourage you to provide instructions
regarding the voting of your shares as your broker cannot vote your shares with respect to these proposals without instructions
from you.
Voting
Rights
The
shareholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting will be those whose names appeared on the records of the Company as holders
of its common stock at the close of business on April 3, 2017, the record date. As of April 3, 2017, there were issued and outstanding
10,091,822 shares of common stock of the Company, all of which are entitled to vote. The Company is not entitled to vote the shares
of common stock held in the treasury nor are such shares considered “issued and outstanding.” As of April 3, 2017,
there were 61,811 shares of common stock held in the treasury.
Shareholders
are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be considered and acted upon at the annual meeting. Cumulative
voting is not permitted. There are two directors to be elected at the annual meeting to be held on June 7, 2017. Unless otherwise
indicated on the proxy cards, the votes represented by such proxies will be voted in favor of the nominees listed thereon and
in favor of the other proposals set forth above under the caption “Proposals for Shareholders’ Vote.”
Shareholder
Proposals
Proposals
that shareholders wish to present for consideration at the annual meeting to be held in 2018 pursuant to SEC Rule 14a-5(e) must
be received at the Company’s corporate offices no later than 120 days before the anniversary of this proxy statement’s
mailing date in order to be included in the Company’s proxy statement and proxy relating to such meeting. Upon receipt of
any proposal, the Company will determine whether or not to include such proposal in next year’s proxy statement and proxy
in accordance with regulations governing the solicitation of proxies.
In
order for a shareholder to bring other business before a shareholders’ meeting, timely notice must be received by the Company
within the time limits described above. Such notice must include a description of the proposed business, the reasons therefor
and other specified matters. These requirements are separate from the requirements a shareholder must meet to have a proposal
included in the Company’s proxy statement and proxy.
Nominations
by a shareholder for the election of a person or persons to the board of directors at an annual meeting of the shareholders must
be delivered to the chairman of the board of directors not later than 180 days prior to the date of the next annual shareholder
meeting. Please refer to the report of the nominating/governance committee on page 10 for further information and requirements.
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
General
Information
The
OmegaFlex board of directors currently consists of seven directors. The nominating/ governance committee reviewed the disclosures
submitted by the seven board members and determined that directors David K. Evans, J. Nicholas Filler, Derek W. Glanvill, Bruce
C. Klink, and Stewart B. Reed were “independent” directors under the requirements set forth in the corporate governance
guidelines of the board, applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules and the NASDAQ listing standards. The Company’s
corporate governance guidelines can be found at the Company’s website at
www.omegaflexcorp.com
. The Company will
provide any person, without charge, upon filing a written request with the Secretary of the Company at its general offices, with
a copy of the Company’s corporate governance guidelines. The process by which directors are considered for nomination is
more fully described in the report of the nominating/governance committee below.
During
the calendar year of 2016 the board of directors held four meetings. All current directors were present at all of the meetings.
At each meeting non-management, independent directors had the opportunity to meet in executive session. The Company’s corporate
governance guidelines sets forth the policy that all directors are encouraged, but not required to attend the annual meeting of
shareholders, and all of the directors attended the annual meeting of shareholders in June 2016.
The
board of directors has adopted a code of business ethics, applicable to all employees of the Company, including its principal
executive officer, its principal financial officer, its principal accounting officer or financial controller and persons performing
similar functions. This code of business ethics can be found at the Company’s website at
www.omegaflexcorp.com
. The
Company will provide any person, without charge, upon filing a written request with the Secretary of the Company at its general
offices, with a copy of the Company’s code of business ethics. Amendments to and waivers from the code of business ethics
will be disclosed on the Company’s website within four business days following the date of amendment or waiver.
The
Company is not aware of any material proceeding in which any director or executive officer, or any associate of any director or
executive officer, is a party adverse to the Company or has any material interest adverse to the Company. The Company is not aware
of having made any charitable contribution to an entity of which any Director is a director, trustee or executive, in excess of
the reporting thresholds of $200,000 or 5% of such entity’s gross revenues. The Company is not aware of any agreement or
arrangement between any of the directors and any third party that provides for compensation or payment to the director in connection
with the director’s service as a director.
Board
Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight
The
board of directors exercises oversight of the Company and its business through the Company’s executive management. Under
the Company’s bylaws, the board annually elects a chairman of the board, who may or may not be an officer of the Company,
and who presides at all meetings of the shareholders and the directors, and a chief executive officer, who has the general and
active management of the business of the Company. Since 2005, when Omega Flex, Inc. became a publicly-traded corporation and continuing
to the present time, the position of chairman of the board, and the position of the Company’s chief executive officer have
been held by two different persons. The board of directors has determined that this leadership structure is appropriate in that
the separation of the offices of chairman of the board and chief executive officer enhances board independence and oversight.
Moreover, the separation of the chairman of the board and chief executive officer allows the chief executive officer to focus
on his responsibilities of the day-to-day running of the Company and expanding and strengthening the Company, and allows the chairman
of the board to lead the board in its fundamental role of providing advice to and independent oversight of management.
Risk
is inherent in every business and the Company is subject to many risks which have been described in our periodic filings. Management
is responsible for the day-to-day management of the risks that the Company faces and the board of directors is responsible for
the oversight of risk management. While the board is ultimately responsible for risk oversight at the Company, our board committees
assist the board in these oversight responsibilities in certain areas of risk. Most notably, the audit committee has general oversight
with respect to risk management in the areas of financial reporting, internal controls and compliance with legal and regulatory
requirements and reports to the board on these matters regularly.
Communication
with the Board
Shareholders
who wish to communicate with the Company’s board of directors may do so in writing, addressed to the chairman of the board
of directors, or to any individual director, at the Company’s corporate headquarters at Omega Flex, Inc., 213 Court St.,
Suite 1001, Middletown, CT, 06457. Shareholders wishing to communicate with the director presiding over the executive session
of the Company’s non-management directors may direct such communications to the chairman of the board, at the address set
forth above. All such correspondence will be forwarded to the Company’s investor relations department, which will review
the correspondence. The board has delegated to the investor relations personnel discretion to review such correspondence, and
forward any matters dealing with current, specific business or customer matters to the appropriate senior management in the Company.
All other correspondence will be forwarded to the appropriate director designated by the shareholders.
Director
Background Information
The
following persons constitute the Company’s board of directors. Only the Class 3 directors are standing for election for
a three-year term and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified. The specific experience, qualifications,
attributes or skills that have led the board to conclude that each of the directors should serve in that role in light of the
Company’s business and structure are included in each of their respective biographies. In the past ten-year period, no director
(a) has filed or has been subject to a petition for bankruptcy or insolvency, or (b) was convicted in a criminal proceeding or
is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding. No other candidates for election to the board of directors have been proposed
or nominated.
Director
Biographies
Mark
F. Albino
, Age 64
Mr.
Albino is currently Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, serving in that position since 2005. Mr. Albino has
served as our director since 1996, and has also served as director of Omega Flex Limited since 2001. Mr. Albino has over 30 years
of experience and extensive knowledge of manufacturing operations in our industry, product design, and the technical requirements
for bringing new products to market, and is the inventor of several patents covering important components of our products. Mr.
Albino is a Class 3 director with a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders in 2017, and is a candidate for election.
David
K. Evans
, Age 62
Mr.
Evans has served as a director of the Company since 1996. He is currently the President and CEO of Partners Mechanical, Inc.,
a mechanical contractor in Raleigh, North Carolina. Mr. Evans has extensive experience in construction and installation of mechanical
systems in construction, including products manufactured by the Company. Mr. Evans is a Class 1 Director with a term expiring
at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2018.
J.
Nicholas Filler
, Age 65
Mr.
Filler has served as a director since 2009. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Filler served as an executive of Argotec, Inc., a manufacturing
firm in Greenfield, Massachusetts, serving as the Chief Operating Officer from 2007, and President from 2011 to 2014 when he retired.
Previously, Mr. Filler was the Senior Vice President – Corporate and Legal of Mestek, Inc., the Company’s former parent
corporation, from 2001 to 2007. Mr. Filler is also a director and vice chairman at Mestek, Inc., and also serves as a director
at Channing Bete Co., and Bete Fog Nozzle Co. Mr. Filler received a JD degree from Boston University Law School, and has extensive
experience in directing and leading manufacturing firms, and also has extensive experience in accounting, finance, and financial
reporting, as well as being an attorney with a practice in corporate law and corporate financing. Mr. Filler is a Class 2 Director
with a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders in 2019.
Derek
W. Glanvill
, Age 55
Mr.
Glanvill has served on our board since 2016. He was formerly President and Chief Operating Officer of McCarthy Holdings, Inc.,
a large commercial construction company headquartered in St. Louis, MO, from 2007 until his retirement in 2015. In his position
as President and COO of a large commercial construction company, Mr. Glanvill had extensive experience in managing a large commercial
organization, experience in the construction industry, and expertise in analyzing and using financial statements of a large commercial
organization. Currently Mr. Glanvill serves as a senior advisor to Oaktree Capital Management, LP, a private equity firm and as
executive chairman to several portfolio companies within that firm. Mr. Glanvill is also a director of Mestek, Inc., the company’s
former parent corporation, and DPR Construction, a national privately-held construction company. Mr. Glanvill is a Class 2 Director
with a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders in 2019.
Kevin
R. Hoben
, Age 69
Mr.
Hoben is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of OmegaFlex, and has served in that position since 2005, and prior to
that he served as President since 1996. Mr. Hoben also has served as our director since 1996 and as a director and chairman of
our United Kingdom subsidiary, Omega Flex Limited, since 2001. Mr. Hoben has over 30 years of experience in the sale and distribution
of flexible metal hose products in positions of increasing scope and responsibility, and is a significant shareholder. Mr. Hoben
is a Class 3 Director with a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders in 2017, and is a candidate for election.
Bruce
C. Klink
, Age 66
Mr.
Klink has served as a director since 1996. Until his retirement in 2009, Mr. Klink served as President of Dominion East Ohio,
Inc., a subsidiary of Dominion, Inc., a diversified energy producer headquartered in Richmond, Virginia from 2008, and was previously
Vice President – Gas Regulations and Vice President –Pricing and Business Development from 2000 to 2008. Mr. Klink
has extensive experience and knowledge (a) of the natural gas utility market, which is an important factor in our flexible gas
piping business, (b) managing and leading large and sophisticated companies in regulated markets, (c) experience and knowledge
of regulatory and compliance issues, and (d) finance, financial accounting and auditing. Mr. Klink is a Class 2 Director with
a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders in 2019.
Stewart
B. Reed
, Age 69
Mr.
Reed has served as a director of the Company since 2005, and was elected chairman of the board in April 2014. Since 2013, Mr.
Reed has served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mestek, Inc., the Company’s former parent corporation. From
2009 to 2013, he was Mestek’s Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Reed has extensive knowledge and experience
in managing and leading large manufacturing enterprises supplying the HVAC industry in which most of our products are distributed,
and in corporate finance and accounting, and he is also a significant shareholder. Mr. Reed is a Class 1 director with a term
expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders in 2018.
Executive
Officers
The
executive officers of the Company in addition to Mr. Hoben and Mr. Albino, whose biographies appear in the section entitled “Director
Background Information” above, are the following:
Paul
J. Kane
, Age 49
Mr.
Kane is currently Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer, which he has held since 2008. Mr. Kane joined OmegaFlex
in September 2005, serving as Controller until 2007, and was named Principal Accounting Officer in 2007. He is currently a director
of the Company’s subsidiary, Omega Flex Limited, and a director of Shannon Chemical Corporation, a privately held manufacturing
company, based in Exton, Pennsylvania. He has been a certified public accountant since 1996.
Steven
A. Treichel
, Age 66
Mr.
Treichel is currently the Senior Vice President-Corporate Development and Facilities Management, which he assumed in early 2006.
Previously he served as Vice President – TracPipe® Operations from 1996 to 2002, where he was responsible for engineering
for the TracPipe® and CounterStrike® product lines and research and development.
Timothy
P. Scanlan
, Age 61
Mr.
Scanlan is currently General Counsel, a position he has held since he joined the Company in 2006, and is also the Company’s
corporate secretary. He is currently a director of the Company’s subsidiary, Omega Flex Limited. Previously, Mr. Scanlan
was Associate General Counsel with Mestek, Inc., the Company’s former parent corporation, from 1993 to 2006. Mr. Scanlan
is an attorney admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The
following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of the Company’s common stock
held by each person known to the Company to own five percent or more of the Company’s common stock, and each current director
and nominee for director of the Company, each of the Company’s executive officers and the current directors and executive
officers of the Company as a group. As of April 3, 2017, there were 10,091,822 shares of common stock outstanding.
Beneficial Owner
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Number
of
Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned
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Percent
of
Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned
(1)
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5% Owners
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Estate
of John E. Reed
(2)
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2,672,899
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26.49
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%
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Directors
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Stewart
B. Reed
(3)
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3,114,596
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30.86
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%
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Kevin R. Hoben
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1,006,269
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9.97
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%
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Mark F. Albino
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406,145
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4.02
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%
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David
K. Evans
(4)
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1,040
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*
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J. Nicholas Filler
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1,200
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*
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Derek Glanvill
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3,000
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*
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Bruce C. Klink
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1,650
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*
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|
|
Executive
Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul J. Kane
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Timothy P. Scanlan
|
|
|
250
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Steven
A. Treichel
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
All executive
officers and directors as a group (10 persons)
|
|
|
4,534,200
|
|
|
|
44.93
|
%
|
*
indicates less than 1% ownership of the issued and outstanding common stock.
Except
as otherwise noted in the footnotes below, the entity, individual director or executive officer or their family members or principal
shareholder has sole voting and investment power with respect to such securities.
|
(1)
|
The
percentage of ownership is based on 10,091,822 shares of common stock outstanding at December 31, 2016.
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
Based
on a Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2014. Mr. Stewart Reed is acting as an executor
for the estate but he disclaims beneficial ownership to those shares. The business address of the Estate of John E. Reed is
260 North Elm St., Westfield, Massachusetts, 01085.
|
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
Based
on a Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2014. Includes (a) 814,005 shares of common
stock owned by various family trusts, of which Mr. Reed is a trustee but for which he disclaims beneficial ownership, and
(b) excludes 2,672,899 shares of common stock held by the Estate of John E. Reed (which are reported separately) for which
Mr. Stewart Reed is acting as an executor but for which he disclaims beneficial ownership. The business address of Mr. Reed
is 260 North Elm St., Westfield, Massachusetts, 01085.
|
|
|
|
|
(4)
|
Includes
790 shares held by a corporation of which Mr. Evans is an officer and shareholder, and to which beneficial ownership is disclaimed
except to the extent of Mr. Evans’ pecuniary interest in that corporation.
|
BOARD
COMMITTEES
The
board of directors has four (4) standing committees: nominating/governance, audit, executive and compensation.
Nominating/Governance
Committee
The
board of directors has established the nominating/governance committee pursuant to the Company’s by-laws and the NASDAQ
listing standards. The nominating/governance committee’s responsibilities are as set forth in its charter, which can be
found at the Company’s website at
www.omegaflexcorp.com.
The committee’s responsibilities include (a) evaluating
and recommending nominees for election as directors to the board of directors, (b) recommending to the board of directors criteria
for membership on the board, (c) proposing nominees to fill vacancies on the board of directors as they occur, and (d) recommending
principles of corporate governance pursuant to which the board and its committees perform their respective duties. The Company
does not have a formal policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying candidates for director but the nominating
committee strives to nominate directors with a variety of skills and qualifications such that the board, as a whole, will possess
the appropriate expertise to oversee the Company’s business. The committee held one meeting in 2016. The current members
of the committee are Messrs. Klink (Chairman), Evans, Glanvill and Reed. The board of directors determined that the committee
members are independent directors in accordance with the Company’s corporate governance guidelines, applicable SEC rules
and the requirements of the NASDAQ listing standards. In selecting candidates for election to the board of directors at future
annual meetings of shareholders, the Committee will consider prospective candidates whose names have been submitted by shareholders
in accordance with the procedures described in the committee’s report, below. Such submissions should be in writing and
directed to the secretary of the Company at 213 Court Street, Suite 1001, Middletown, Connecticut, 06457.
Audit
Committee
The
board of directors has established and maintains an audit committee comprised of four of the Company’s independent directors.
No member of the audit committee serves on the audit committee of more than three public companies.
The
audit committee’s responsibilities are as set forth in its charter, which can be found at the Company’s website at
www.omegaflexcorp.com
. These responsibilities include assisting the board of directors in its oversight of the accounting
and financial controls of the Company, reviewing the process and procedures underlying management’s assessment of the effectiveness
of the Company’s systems and financial controls, and the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
The audit committee selects the independent auditors, reviews the scope of the audit and the results of the audit, approves permitted
non-audit services (such as tax services), and reviews the financial and disclosure controls procedures. The audit committee also
oversees management’s efforts to establish and maintain a process for handling complaints or concerns relating to accounting
or financial matters, as well as compliance issues generally.
As
part of its oversight role relating to the Company’s systems, controls and procedures, the audit committee also oversees
management’s response to relevant risk factors that potentially face the Company. On an annual basis, the committee reviews
those risks to the Company and its businesses that have been identified by management, and reviews the analysis and plans prepared
by management to eliminate, mitigate or address those potential risks.
The
audit committee acts pursuant to the Company’s by-laws and the audit committee charter. The audit committee charter is reviewed
annually by the audit committee to determine the charter’s adequacy to respond to the issues raised in the course of the
audit committee’s activities. The audit committee has acted under its charter. The committee held nine meetings in 2016,
at which all members attended in person or by telephone, and consulted with each other and management as necessary to discharge
its duties. Please see the report of the audit committee set forth in this proxy statement. The current members of the audit committee
are Messrs. Filler (Chairman), Evans, Glanvill and Klink. The board of directors has determined that (a) Messers. Filler and Klink
are each an “audit committee financial expert” under SEC rules, and (b) all of the audit committee members are “financially
sophisticated” as required by the NASDAQ Listing Standards.
Executive
Committee
To
the extent permitted by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the executive committee has and may exercise all the powers
and authorities of the board of directors as follows: (a) to take action on behalf of the board of directors during intervals
between regularly scheduled meetings of the board of directors if it is impracticable to delay action on a matter until the next
regularly scheduled meeting of the board of directors, and (b) to take action on all matters of the Company that have been delegated
for action by the board of directors. The executive committee meets from time to time, irregularly, and consults with each other
and management as necessary to discharge its duties. The current members of the committee are Messrs. Reed (chairman), Albino,
and Hoben.
Compensation
Committee
The
compensation committee’s responsibilities are as set forth in its charter, which can be found at the Company’s website
at
www.omegaflexcorp.com.
The committee’s duties include establishing a compensation philosophy to guide the committee
in executive compensation decisions, establishing and approving executive compensation plans, reviewing the compensation of the
chief executive officer and the executive officers of the Company, and recommending to the board of directors the amount of compensation
to be paid to the chief executive officer and the executive officers of the Company. Please see the report of the compensation
committee set forth in this proxy statement. The committee met three times in 2016, with all members in attendance, to consider
and recommend compensation matters to the board of directors. The current members of the committee are Messrs. Reed (chairman),
Evans, Filler, and Klink, each of whom have been determined to be independent directors in accordance with the Company’s
corporate governance guidelines, applicable SEC rules and the requirements of NASDAQ listing standards.
BOARD
REPORTS
Nominating/Governance
Committee Report
And
Director Nomination Process
This
report of the nominating/governance committee shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or subject to Regulations
14A or 14C of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of
1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating
by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) or under the
Exchange Act, notwithstanding any general incorporation by reference of this proxy statement into any other document, and shall
not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts. The Company will provide any person, without charge, upon filing a written request
to the secretary of the Company at its general offices, with a copy of the Company’s nominating/governance committee charter.
REPORT
The
nominating/governance committee met once in 2016 to review director qualifications, nominate directors for election at the annual
meeting of shareholders, to review the corporate governance issues for the board, and discuss the adoption of certain policies
by the Company.
The
Company has a policy, as set forth in its by-laws, of considering candidates for election to the board of directors who may be
nominated by the shareholders. The board of directors recognizes and fully appreciates its position of stewardship of the Company
for the benefit of the shareholders, and the board firmly subscribes to the proposition that the shareholders should be free to
exercise their franchise to select and elect the persons who direct the Company in which the shareholders have invested. To that
end, the by-laws of the Company provide for a process by which shareholders may nominate individuals for election to the board
of directors. This process requires that such shareholder nomination be made in writing by a shareholder holding, or by a group
of shareholders who in the aggregate hold, five percent (5%) or more of the Company’s common stock continuously for at least
one year prior to the date of the submission of such candidate, and delivered to the chairman of the board of directors not later
than 180 days prior to the date of the next annual shareholders’ meeting. Such nomination must also include (a) the name
and residence of each proposed nominee and of the nominating shareholder, (b) the principal occupation of each proposed nominee,
(c) the written consent of each nominee to serve as a director of the Company, if elected, and (d) any information regarding each
nominee proposed by a shareholder that would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and applicable
NASDAQ listing standards.
Any
candidate for election to the board of directors nominated by a shareholder shall possess the minimum qualifications, as required
by the by-laws and by the corporate governance guidelines, to wit: (a) be a natural person, (b) be not less than 21 years of age,
and (c) not be a director, officer, employee or agent of a competitor of the Company. The specific skills or expertise of a shareholder
nominee should complement the needs of the board at the time of the election. These needs will vary from time to time based on
the composition of the board. In reviewing and identifying candidates for the board of directors, the nominating/governance committee
is charged with a mandate under the Company’s corporate governance guidelines to identify and consider candidates having
significant skills or experience in any one or more of the following areas: understanding of the application and use of some or
all of the Company’s products, understanding of various manufacturing technologies, an understanding of general accounting
principles as applied in the preparation and reporting of financial statements of a public company, and expertise and knowledge
of management of a large multi-facility organization, international experience, and other pertinent characteristics – all
in the context of an assessment of the then current perceived needs of the Company. To that extent, the committee will seek to
identify and consider candidates who may have a diverse background and not limited strictly to the markets in which the Company
competes or to manufacturing industries generally.
Identification
of persons to become nominees for the board of directors are obtained through a variety of sources, including the directors, the
executive officers of the Company, and trade or industry groups in which the Company participates. Once a candidate has been identified,
the nominating/ governance committee evaluates such candidate based upon his or her length and breadth of business experience,
specific skills or knowledge, values, and other qualities which the Company may deem pertinent. The committee’s review may
include personal interviews and/or reference checks. This process is applied regardless of whether the potential nominee has been
identified and proposed by a shareholder or by any other person.
As
of the date of this proxy statement neither the chairman of the board nor the nominating/ governance committee had received from
shareholders owning more than 5% of the Company’s common stock a nomination of any individual to the board of directors.
There are no nominees included on the Company’s proxy card who are not standing for re-election.
Bruce
C. Klink,
Chairman
, David K. Evans, Derek W. Glanvill, Stewart B. Reed,
Members
Audit
Committee Report
This
report of the audit committee shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or subject to Regulations 14A or 14C
of the Securities and Exchange Commission or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act and shall not be deemed incorporated
by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act
or under the Exchange Act, notwithstanding any general incorporation by reference of this proxy statement into any other document,
and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts. The audit committee furnished the following report as required under
the revised proxy rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company will provide any person, without charge,
upon filing a written request to the secretary of the Company at its general offices, with a copy of the Company’s audit
committee charter.
REPORT
The
audit committee met nine times during 2016, and discussed with the Company’s management the interim financial statements
of the Company for each applicable reporting period prior to the filing or distribution of such financial statements. The audit
committee met in March 2017 to review and discuss with the Company’s management and the independent auditors, together and
separately, the audited financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. Management has the responsibility
for preparation of the Company’s financial statements, and the independent auditors have the responsibility for examining
those statements and expressing an opinion thereon. The audit committee’s primary responsibility with respect to the Company’s
financial statements is one of review and oversight.
The
committee has acted, pursuant to its charter, and has during the year, (a) reviewed with the independent auditors their internal
quality control procedures and independence from management, (b) reviewed with management and the independent auditors recent
accounting pronouncements and their effect on the financial statements of the Company, (c) reviewed the Company’s financial
and disclosure control procedures instituted by management, and (d) reviewed with chief financial officer and the independent
auditors the Company’s internal system of financial and accounting controls.
The
audit committee also discussed with the independent auditors matters required to be discussed by PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 16,
“Communications with Audit Committees,” and received from the independent auditors written disclosures regarding the
independence of the independent auditors from the Company as required by PCAOB Rule 3526, titled “Communications with Audit
Committees Concerning Independence.” The audit committee considered the compatibility of the non-audit services the Company
received from its independent auditor and the effect of such engagements on the independence of the independent auditors.
Based
on all of the above, the audit committee recommended that the board of directors include the audited consolidated financial statements
in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
J.
Nicholas Filler,
Chairman
, David K. Evans, Derek W. Glanvill, Bruce C. Klink,
Members
.
NOTE
:
If any person wishes to communicate with the Company’s audit committee regarding any question or concern arising out of
the Company’s accounting, internal financial controls, or auditing matters, such questions or concerns should be forwarded
to the Company under its compliance reporting policy, a copy of which is available for viewing at www.omegaflex.com/compliance.asp
.
Compensation
Committee Report
This
report of the compensation committee shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or subject to Regulations 14A
or 14C of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act and shall not be deemed
incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities
Act or under the Exchange Act, notwithstanding any general incorporation by reference of this proxy statement into any other document,
and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts. The compensation committee furnishes the report on executive compensation
as required under the proxy rules on executive compensation adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The compensation
committee charter is available on the Company’s website at www.omegaflex.com. The Company will provide any person, without
charge, upon filing a written request to the secretary of the Company at its general offices, with a copy of the Company’s
compensation committee charter.
REPORT
The
compensation committee of the board of directors consists entirely of independent, non-employee directors. The committee has the
responsibility for: (a) fixing the elements of a comprehensive compensation program for the chief executive officer and the executive
officers of the Company that provide rewards and create incentives for their performance in maintaining and improving the profitability
of the Company and enhancing long-term shareholder value; (b) reviewing the levels of compensation to be paid or granted to the
chief executive officer and the executive officers of the Company; and (c) recommending to the entire board of directors the levels
of such compensation to be paid or awarded.
The
compensation committee is fully committed to the proposition that compensation paid to the chief executive officer and the executive
officers of the Company should be fashioned in a manner so as to encourage initiatives by those officers that will promote the
long-term growth and enhancement of the intrinsic value of the Company. The committee believes that growth of the Company’s
intrinsic value will ultimately translate into the growth and enhancement of the interests of the shareholders in the Company.
This compensation program is further intended to provide incentives to the executive officers that are linked to the financial
results of the Company. The committee is also mindful of the need to attract and retain individuals possessing the vision and
leadership skills necessary to continue the Company’s growth into the future. With these propositions in mind, the compensation
committee has based the compensation of the Company’s executive officers upon three pillars: base salary, performance-related
annual bonuses based on the actual financial results of the Company measured against its pre-established business plans, and long-term
incentives, such as phantom stock units.
Base
salary
. The committee annually reviews the annual base salary of the chief executive officer, the chief operating officer
and the chief financial officer. The committee also reviews the recommendations of the chief executive officer for the annual
base salary of the Company’s other executive officers. The factors upon which the committee determines the base salary of
the chief executive officer and the Company’s other executive officers include the performance in the preceding year in
meeting pre-established business plan goals for sales and net income, the level of responsibility within the Company, and the
contributions of the chief executive officer and each of the Company’s executive officers that will enhance the long range
prospects of the Company, but the effects of which may not be immediately apparent. Effective January 1, 2016, the annual base
salary of the chief executive officer was increased by approximately 3% from $392,500 in 2015 to $400,000 in 2016. The committee
believes that the salary policy of the company should be at a rate that may be considered “below market,” with the
view of encouraging superior performance with “above market” short-term incentive awards.
Incentive
Bonus Plan
. Effective January 2012, the committee adopted a performance measurement for the plan based on earnings before
interest and taxes (“EBIT”) because the committee determined that EBIT represented the true measure of management
performance of the Company’s continuing operations. For fiscal year 2016, the bonus pool earned by management was approximately
$4.1 million, which decreased from the prior year due to the impact of changes in currency exchange rates at our European opperations
and increased adminstrative / legal costs. Each year the compensation committee also establishes performance targets for Mr. Hoben
as the chief executive officer and Mr. Albino as the chief operating officer in the form of the maximum share for each of the
respective officers to the total amount accrued for the incentive bonus pool (which itself is a simple percentage of the Company’s
earnings before interest and taxes). For the year 2016, the maximum share percentages were 45% for Mr. Hoben and 35% for Mr. Albino;
however, each year the committee retains the discretion to reduce those percentages based on the executive’s performance,
and the performance of other executives participating in the incentive bonus plan, during the relevant year. It should be noted
that in 2017, both Mr. Hoben and Mr. Albino voluntarily requested that the compensation committee reduce their respective percentages
share of the 2016 bonus pool for redistribution to other participants in the bonus program. The committee granted this request
and commended Mr. Hoben and Mr. Albino for their generous and far-sighted actions. As can be seen from the Summary Compensation
Table on page 21, the amounts allocated from the incentive bonus plan to Mr. Hoben and Mr. Albino account for over 50% of their
total compensation, and as the incentive bonus plan is calculated as a percentage of the Company’s earnings before interest
and taxes, a majority of the annual compensation paid to those executives is directly tied to the annual financial results of
the Company. In 2014, the employment agreements with each of Mr. Hoben and Mr. Albino were amended to add a “clawback”
provision. Under the amended employment agreements, any amount of incentive compensation that is subject to recovery under any
law, rule or listing requirement and based on an overstatement of earnings is subject to repayment by the employee to the Company.
This “clawback” provision in the employment agreements of the chief executive officer and the chief operating officer
is a safeguard against improper manipulation of the company’s earnings.
Long-term
Compensation
. The Omega Flex, Inc. 2006 Phantom Stock Plan is designed to function as the long term component of our compensation
program. Under the phantom stock plan, select members of the management team may receive units of phantom stock. The value of
the phantom stock is tied to the value of our common stock. The phantom stock units have a vesting schedule, typically three years.
After the phantom stock units have vested, the executive would receive the value of the phantom stock, which would be equal to
the then current value of the company’s common stock on the maturity date of the phantom stock units. This amount could
either be full value (the phantom stock unit is equal to the common stock) or it could be appreciation only (the phantom stock
unit is equal to any increase in the value of the common stock). The outstanding phantom stock units also accrue amounts equal
to any cash or stock dividends declared on the company’s common stock. If the executive voluntarily leaves the company or
is terminated, then any unvested awards of phantom stock units are forfeited. Awards to employees are at the discretion of the
committee and upon recommendation by the chief executive officer. We do not have a formal program on the timing of the phantom
stock awards, but we do review decisions on whether to grant phantom stock units on an annual basis in the first quarter, and
then during the year depending on circumstances. Generally, the awards will be made either outside any black-out period applicable
to insider trading of our common stock, or in conjunction with the calculation and payment of our annual bonus program, which
occurs in the first quarter of each year.
After
considering all of the factors and making recommendations upon the annual base compensation and bonus formulae and percentage
participations for the chief executive officer and each of the other executive officers of the Company, the committee presents
this report to the full membership of the board of directors at its December meeting each year. The recommendations of the compensation
committee was presented, discussed and voted upon, and approved in an executive session of the board of directors of the Company,
with Messrs. Hoben and Albino abstaining.
Other
Compensation.
In addition, each year the entire board of directors, based upon the recommendation of the compensation committee,
considers the percentage participation of all employees (including the chief executive officer and the other executive officers
of the Company) in the Company’s Profit Sharing Plan. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, the committee recommended
and the board of directors voted in favor of a Company contribution of 3% of annual base salary for all eligible employees up
to the maximum of $118,500 and in favor of a Company contribution of six percent 6% of annual base salary for all eligible employees
for amounts in excess of the maximum of $118,500 (as limited in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act).
Stewart
B. Reed,
Chairman,
David K. Evans, J. Nicholas Filler, Bruce C. Klink, ,
Members
.
COMPENSATION
DISCLOSURE AND ANALYSIS
Introduction
.
Our business is built upon a strategy of leveraging our ability to design and introduce new products using flexible metal
hose that take advantage of our superior engineering and manufacturing capabilities. These advantages allow us to compete in markets
with competitors that are much larger companies. As a smaller competitor, we must be able to identify opportunities and react
quickly to those opportunities. This strategy places a premium on performance of all of our employees, from the chief executive
officer on down. Our compensation philosophy is intended to attract people who can work and succeed in a lean and nimble organization,
to motivate our employees to achieve our short-term and long-term goals, and to retain those employees who contribute to our success.
New
Developments
.
In 2016, the shareholders approved the company’s executive compensation policies and practices,
voting 90% in favor, which demonstrated continued shareholder support of the company’s executive compensation program. The
committee did not take any specific action in response to the vote at the 2016 annual meeting.
In
2016, the compensation committee established a peer group of other publicly traded companies with which to compare executive compenation,
primarily for use in comparing CEO compensation levels. The committee examined specific performance measurements in comparing
the OmegaFlex financial performance to the peer group, including (a) returns on capital, including returns on equity, returns
on investment and returns on asssets; (b) sales, sales growth and 5 year historical sales growth; (c) and financial measures such
as EBITDA, cash flow and net income. The committee did not weigh any specific measurement results over others.
Review
of Company Performance
In
2016, the company had net sales of $94,051,000, which were slightly higher than the prior year net sales of $93,278,000. Net income
in 2016 was $14,377,000, slightly lower than 2015 of $15,788,000 due to the effects of currency exchange rates stemming from its
British subsidiaries, and higher administrative legal-related costs.
At
its meeting in December 2016, the compensation committee reviewed the executive compensation for the chief executive officer,
and compared it to a peer group of 12 publicly traded companies within the industrial products sector and with sales ranging from
$50 million to $250 million. The peer group consisted of the following companies:
Avalon Holdings
|
|
Core Moldng Tech
|
|
CTI Industries
|
|
Hudson Tech
|
Hurco Co Inc
|
|
Lakeland Inds
|
|
Landauer Inc
|
|
Napco Security
|
Pioneer Pwr Sol
|
|
Superior Uniform
|
|
Taser Intl Inc
|
|
UFP Tech Inc
|
The
committee reviewed the financial performance of OmegaFlex in 2015 as compared to the median of the financial results of the companies
in the peer group for the same period. Overall, the performance of the company exceeded median levels of the peer group, and in
areas such as returns on capital, the company outperformed the median by several times. Finally, the committee reviewed the total
shareholder return of OmegaFlex as compared to the S&P 500 and the S&P Building Products Index.
The
total shareholder return for Omega Flex common stock over the last five years was $458.10, as compared to the S&P500 ($198.18)
and the S&P Building Products Index ($356.08).
Based
on this review, the compensation committee has concluded that the total compensation to the chief executive officer is appropriate
and reasonable.
Types
of Compensation
.
Our executive compensation program is comprised of several components listed in the table below.
The table also describes the reasons why we use each of the compensation components, and results that we intend to reward through
each of the components.
Compensation Component
|
|
|
Purpose for Component
|
|
|
Results that are Rewarded
|
Salary
|
|
●
|
Fixed payments that are consistent with industry practices and similar organizations
|
|
●
|
Attracting key personnel who will be instrumental in executing our objectives
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Incentive Performance Bonus
|
|
●
|
Motivate individual performance that contributes to the company’s financial results
|
|
●
|
Bonus pool is equal to 16.2% of the company’s earnings before interest and taxes
|
|
|
●
|
Deliver strong bottom line performance to shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long Term Incentives/
Phantom Stock Plan
|
|
●
|
Promote a long-term and strategic viewpoint in terms of markets, product development and organizational growth
|
|
●
|
Sustained stock price appreciation
|
|
|
●
|
Retain certain employees who provide critical skills for our businesses
|
|
●
|
Continued employment with our company during the vesting period
|
|
|
●
|
Align interests of executives and other key employees with shareholders in improving stock price appreciation
|
|
|
|
Employment Contract/
Termination Benefits
|
|
●
|
Retention of key employees to provide continuity of management
|
|
●
|
Continued employment with the
company; currently only the CEO and the COO have employment contracts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee Benefits
|
|
●
|
Standard employee benefits, including medical, dental, life, and disability insurance, and retirement programs
|
|
●
|
Assures executives of protection against unexpected costs for medical care
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Benefits are offered to all employees
|
|
●
|
Institutes a retirement program for employees in which they can save for retirement
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional Benefits and Perquisites
|
|
●
|
Certain club memberships allow us to use facilities for business meetings and functions
|
|
●
|
Employment contracts with CEO and COO require certain benefits
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Use of company car or reimbursement of car expenses are for availability and efficiency
|
|
|
|
Determination
of Amounts
.
Each of the components of the compensation program is set by the compensation committee of the board
of directors. Because each of the components in our compensation program functions differently, the ways in which each compensation
element is determined is slightly different from one element to the next.
Salary
and Employee Benefits
The
compensation committee had initially retained a compensation consultant, that examined the cash compensation program for our executives.
Based on the statistical peer group information provided by the consultant, the committee adjusted the salaries of the CEO, COO
and CFO to the median level of the peer group. Since that time, the compensation committee has limited salary increases for the
CEO and other named executive officers to the 3% to 4% range each year, with authorized increases to 2017 salary levels of 3.5%.
In
reviewing the CEO compensation of the review group, the committee determined that the annual salary of OmegaFlex’s CEO,
Kevin Hoben, was in line with the median of the review group CEO salary, which was $ 414,000 for Mr. Hoben as compared to $ 421,750
for the median CEO salary of the review group. The base salaries established by the compensation committee for our named executive
officers as of January 1, 2017 are set forth below:
Officer
|
|
Annual Salary
|
|
Kevin R. Hoben, President & CEO
|
|
$
|
414,000
|
|
Mark F. Albino, Exec. VP & COO
|
|
$
|
342,747
|
|
Steven A. Treichel, Sr. VP
|
|
$
|
176,644
|
|
Paul J. Kane, VP – Finance & CFO
|
|
$
|
181,834
|
|
Timothy P. Scanlan, General Counsel & Secretary
|
|
$
|
207,600
|
|
The
company provides a standard arrangement of employee benefits to all of our employees, including our executive officers. The employee
benefits include insurance programs for medical, dental, life, and disability, as well as retirement plans consisting of a 401(k)
and profit sharing plan. The executive officers participate in these plans on the same basis as all of our other employees.
Omega
Flex, Inc. Executive Incentive Plan
Description
.
Our executive officers, participate in the Omega Flex, Inc. Executive Incentive Plan, while certain sales employees participate
in a separate sales incentive program. The executive incentive plan is used to motivate individual employees to contribute to
the overall success of our company. The incentive plan uses a basic formula of 16.2% of the company’s earnings before interest
and taxes (and excluding the bonus itself) to generate the total amount to be accrued for the executive incentive bonus pool.
Purpose
.
The purpose for using a performance bonus based on earnings before interest and taxes is based on the premise that management
is placed in charge of the shareholder’s investment, and must diligently manage that investment and achieve earnings from
the operation of the business. Only items relating to interest and taxes are excluded as those charges relate to the board’s
decision to incur debt to expand the company’s operations or other purposes, This bonus plan is significant in that it requires
management to marshal and manage the assets used in the business in the most economical way to generate higher earnings and a
return on the capital investment.
Calculation.
Participating salaried employees receive a percentage of that pool that is designated by their manager. In the case of the
CEO and the COO, that maximum percentage is set in advance on an annual basis by the compensation committee, and is subject to
reduction by the committee at its discretion. For 2016, the compensation committee set the maximum percentage of the incentive
bonus pool that could be awarded to Mr. Hoben and Mr. Albino at 45% and 35%, respectively. At a meeting on February 14, 2017,
the compensation committee, at the request of Mr. Hoben and Mr. Albino, exercised its discretion and reduced the percentage of
the incentive bonus pool, with percentage awards Mr. Hoben at 35% and to Mr. Albino at 31%. All other executive officers receive
a participating share in the bonus pool based on the recommendations of the CEO, and subject to review and approval by, the compensation
committee. The following cash incentive bonuses were awarded by the compensation committee based on the company’s financial
performance and individual performance in 2016 for each named executive officer:
Officer
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Percentage of
Bonus Pool
1
|
|
Kevin R. Hoben, President & CEO
|
|
$
|
1,457,040
|
|
|
|
35
|
%
|
Mark F. Albino, Exec. VP & COO
|
|
$
|
1,270,240
|
|
|
|
31
|
%
|
Steven A. Treichel, Sr. VP
|
|
$
|
340,000
|
|
|
|
8
|
%
|
Paul J. Kane, VP – Finance & CFO
|
|
$
|
126,999
|
|
|
|
3
|
%
|
Timothy P. Scanlan, General Counsel & Secretary
|
|
$
|
149,440
|
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
1
Other executive officers also participate in the executive incentive bonus program.
Long
Term Incentive Plans — Phantom Stock
Description.
The phantom stock plan was instituted in 2006. It is designed to function as the long term component of our compensation program.
Under the plan, select numbers of the management team may receive units of phantom stock. The value of the phantom stock is tied
to the value of our common stock. The phantom stock units have a vesting schedule, typically three years. After the phantom stock
units have vested, the executive would receive the value of the phantom stock which would be equal to the then current value of
the company’s common stock on the maturity date of the phantom stock units. This amount could either be full value (the
phantom stock unit is equal to the common stock) or it could be appreciation only (the phantom stock unit is equal to any increase
in the value if the common stock). If the executive voluntarily leaves the company or is terminated, then any unvested awards
of phantom stock units are forfeited.
Determination
of Awards.
The basis for determining the size of the awards is limited by the total amount of the phantom stock units authorized
under the phantom stock plan. The phantom stock plan was implemented in 2006 with 1 million phantom stock units, and once the
units are granted, they are deducted from the total authorized amount. Awards to employees are at the discretion of the compensation
committee and upon recommendation by the CEO. Each year, approximately 8,000 to 10,000 phantom stock units are granted to participating
executives. The number of phantom stock units granted at any one time is targeted between 5% to 15% of total compensation. The
compensation committee believes that this level of periodic grants of phantom stock units to select key employees is appropriate
to achieve the goal of promoting long-term stategic goals and retention of key executives. We do not have a formal program on
the timing of the phantom stock awards, but we do review decisions on whether to grant phantom stock units on an annual basis
in the first quarter, and then during the year depending on circumstances. Generally, the awards will be made either outside any
black-out period applicable to insider trading of our common stock, or in conjunction with the calculation and payment of our
annual bonus program, which occurs in the middle of the first quarter of each year. For 2017, the following “full value”
phantom stock unit awards were approved by the compensation committee on February 14, 2017 to the named executive officers.
Officer
|
|
Number of Units
|
|
|
Value at
Grant Date
|
|
Kevin R. Hoben, President & CEO
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
Mark F. Albino, Exec. VP & COO
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
Steven A. Treichel, Sr. VP
|
|
|
2,000
|
|
|
$
|
88,460
|
|
Paul J. Kane, VP – Finance & CFO
|
|
|
1,200
|
|
|
$
|
53,076
|
|
Timothy P. Scanlan, General Counsel & Secretary
|
|
|
1,200
|
|
|
$
|
53,076
|
|
Employee
Benefits and Perqusites
All
of our named executive officers participate in employee benefit programs that are offered to other company employees, including
the OmegaFlex Profit Sharing 401(k) plan, and medical, dental, and life insurance plans. In addition, Mr. Hoben has use of an
automobile leased by the company, and Mr. Albino receives payments to cover the cost of an automobile. Mr. Hoben also has the
use of one club membership, which is paid for by the company, but which also allows the company to utilize the club facilities
for meetings and events. There is one supplemental executive retirement program in place for Mr. Treichel. This program was in
place when the company was acquired in 1996. It provides for monthly payments to the executive or his designated beneficiary upon
the employee’s retirement or death. The payment benefits are $3,000 per month with the term of such payments limited to
15 years after the executive’s retirement at age 65.
Role
of Management
As
stated above, the compensation committee has the primary role in setting the compensation level for the CEO and the COO. Some
elements of compensation are set forth in employment agreements with the CEO and the COO, and we are required to comply with those
contractual obligations. For other executive officers, the CEO is responsible for making recommendations to the compensation committee
regarding annual salary increases and annual performance bonuses. The compensation committee reviews those recommendations and
after discussion with the CEO, may accept, modify or reject those recommendations.
Coordination
of Compensation Elements with Overall Objectives
Salary
.
Our base salary levels reflect on a combination of factors, including the executive’s assigned responsiblities, experience
and length of company service, individual performance, and competitive pay levels. As previously noted, the base salaries of our
CEO, COO and CFO were initially brought up to the median level of the comparison group, with the CEO salary at parity with the
medial salary level of the peer group. The salary levels of all executive officers have been adjusted annually at substantially
the same rate as all management personnel within the range of 3% to 4%.
Performance
Bonus.
Our annual executive incentive bonus program is intended to motivate all of our salaried employees to actively
contribute to the financial success of our business. Further, because our annual performance bonus is a large component of the
overall compensation of our executive officers, more of their compensation is “at risk,” and this risk factor is an
additional motivating factor to improve the performance of our businesses and achieve the targeted returns. In this manner, our
executive officers are paid for performance. We believe that this system focuses management on the growth of the business, and
that this compensation arrangement is appropriate for a high growth company such as ours. The risk to the shareholders is minimized
with the CEO and the COO both holding significant positions in the company’s common stock, and having their long-term interests
aligned with those of all other shareholders.
Long
Term Incentives – Phantom Stock
. The phantom stock plan fits into our compensation objectives in three different
ways:
|
●
|
Creating a long term perspective
for management
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Aligning the interests of management with the
shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Retention of key employees
|
Long
term perspective
. Because the amounts awarded under the phantom stock plan are not paid for several years, we expect that
participants in the plan would view their participation in the program on a long term basis and use the time to foster conditions
in the company or the markets in which we operate that favor the growth of the company over a long term basis. Therefore, strategic
initiatives that require enormous amounts of planning to carry out properly would still be pursued by management because they
would improve the chances that the value of the phantom stock unit would increase in value.
Alignment
with shareholders
. Also, the company is fortunate to have the CEO and the COO as significant shareholders in the company,
and therefore the interests of the two highest executive officers are aligned with that of the other shareholders. However to
increase this perspective among other members of management, we may use the phantom stock units to increase the executives’
appreciation of the shareholders’ interest. On receipt of full-value phantom stock units, the management’s long term
compensation will increase or decrease in unison with the value of the shareholders’ investment. This provides a powerful
incentive to increase the value of the phantom stock units while also enabling a discipline through the three year vesting period
so that short term gains are not achieved at the expense of long term growth.
Retention
of key employees
. Because the other elements of compensation are biased towards short term goals, the ability to retain key
management personnel is crucial. Our primary method of retaining key people is to grant phantom stock units that have a moderate
vesting schedule with a payout over three or four years. The employee may not voluntarily terminate his or her employment with
us without forfeiting their rights under the phantom stock plan. The phantom stock therefore functions as a retention tool to
retain key employees who are necessary to the smooth and profitable operation of the company.
Tax
and Accounting Treatments.
The
accounting and tax treatment of compensation have not been a factor in determining the types or amounts of compensation for our
executive officers. As can be seen, we heavily favor cash compensation as the biggest components of executive compensation, and
these amounts have a fairly straight-forward accounting and tax treatment. We have likewise chosen to use the phantom stock plan
for the primary purpose that it is non-dilutive to the shareholders – that is, no new shares of common stock are issued
to executives that could decrease the shareholder’s interests in the company. The phantom stock units are treated as general
unsecured liabilities of the company.
Stock
Ownership Requirements
We
do not have a formal requirement that the executive officers hold any certain amount of shares of our common stock. As previously
noted, both the CEO and the COO are significant shareholders of the company, through the 1996 stock option plan. That plan has
been terminated and is no longer in effect.
Executive
Compensation
The
following table sets forth all of the compensation earned by the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial
officer, and the three other most highly compensated executive officers for all services rendered by them to the Company in all
capacities for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
Summary
Compensation Table
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary ($)
|
|
|
Stock Awards ($)
(1)
|
|
|
Non-equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)
(2)
|
|
|
All Other Comp ($)
(3)
|
|
|
Total ($)
|
|
Kevin R. Hoben
|
|
2016
|
|
|
400,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
1,457,040
|
|
|
|
47,860
|
|
|
|
1,904,900
|
|
President & CEO
|
|
2015
|
|
|
392,533
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
1,500,000
|
|
|
|
43,885
|
|
|
|
1,936,418
|
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
381,100
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
1,629,705
|
|
|
|
44,194
|
|
|
|
2,054,999
|
|
Mark F. Albino
|
|
2016
|
|
|
331,157
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
1,270,240
|
|
|
|
31,875
|
|
|
|
1,633,272
|
|
Exec. Vice President & COO
|
|
2015
|
|
|
321,147
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
1,379,960
|
|
|
|
27,900
|
|
|
|
1,729,007
|
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
305,910
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
1,271,965
|
|
|
|
27,570
|
|
|
|
1,605,445
|
|
Steven A. Treichel
|
|
2016
|
|
|
175,056
|
|
|
|
84,201
|
|
|
|
340,000
|
|
|
|
38,363
|
|
|
|
637,620
|
|
Sr. Vice President
|
|
2015
|
|
|
172,602
|
|
|
|
79,713
|
|
|
|
407,800
|
|
|
|
30,385
|
|
|
|
690,500
|
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
164,370
|
|
|
|
51,510
|
|
|
|
397,489
|
|
|
|
47,153
|
|
|
|
660,522
|
|
Paul J. Kane
|
|
2016
|
|
|
175,686
|
|
|
|
59,436
|
|
|
|
126,999
|
|
|
|
20,568
|
|
|
|
382,689
|
|
Vice President – Finance
|
|
2015
|
|
|
169,745
|
|
|
|
56,268
|
|
|
|
146,333
|
|
|
|
13,727
|
|
|
|
386,073
|
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
164,800
|
|
|
|
36,360
|
|
|
|
119,246
|
|
|
|
13,601
|
|
|
|
334,008
|
|
Timothy P. Scanlan
|
|
2016
|
|
|
202,796
|
|
|
|
59,436
|
|
|
|
149,440
|
|
|
|
21,506
|
|
|
|
433,178
|
|
General Counsel
|
|
2015
|
|
|
200,372
|
|
|
|
56,268
|
|
|
|
188,120
|
|
|
|
15,834
|
|
|
|
460,594
|
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
190,780
|
|
|
|
36,360
|
|
|
|
158,995
|
|
|
|
14,774
|
|
|
|
400,909
|
|
Footnotes
:
(1)
All stock awards are in the form of
full value
phantom stock units issued pursuant to the Omega Flex, Inc. 2006 Phantom
Stock Plan. In 2016, the number of
full value
phantom stock units issued to Mr. Treichel was 2,550, and 1,800 to each of
Mr. Kane and Mr. Scanlan. The value of the stock award is the closing price of the OmegaFlex common stock as of the grant date.
The closing price on the 2016 grant date was $33.02.
(2)
Amounts are calculated were paid under the Omega Flex, Inc. Executive Incentive Plan.
(3)
Amounts reflected in this column include:
Company
contributions
to the Omega Flex Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan. The matching contributions paid in 2016 for each of the named
executive officers was $12,345.
Supplemental
executive retirement
– Mr. Treichel is the beneficiary of a supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”)
that was in place prior to acquisition of the company by Mestek, Inc. in 1997; accruals in 2016 for the benefits to be paid after
his retirement were $16,240.
Company
car -
For Mr. Hoben and Mr. Albino, this amount also includes the use of a company car, valued on an annual basis at $18,305
and $9,600 respectively.
Benefits
– All Other Compensation includes amounts relating to employee benefit programs, including life and disability insurance,
and medical and dental benefits, that are offered to all employees on equivalent terms.
(4)
The salary amount reported in the 2016 proxy report was in error.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
(1)
Name
|
|
Number of share or units of stock that have not vested (#)
(2)
|
|
|
Market value of shares of units of stock that have not vested ($)
(3)
|
|
|
Equity incentive plan awards; number of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested (#)
|
|
|
Equity incentive plan awards; market or payout value of of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested ($)
|
|
Kevin R. Hoben,
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Mark F. Albino
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Steven A. Treichel
|
|
|
5,100
|
|
|
|
284,376
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Paul J. Kane
|
|
|
3,600
|
|
|
|
200,736
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Timothy P. Scanlan
|
|
|
3,600
|
|
|
|
200,736
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Footnotes
:
|
(1)
|
All
equity awards are in the form of phantom stock units issued pursuant to the Omega Flex, Inc. 2006 Phantom Stock Plan, as described
in the compensation committee report which begins on page 16.
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
The vesting of the
phantom stock awards occur in three approximately equal installments beginning one year after the grant date.
|
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
The market value
is computed by multiplying the closing market price of the Company’s stock at December 30, 2016 ($55.76) by the number
of unvested phantom stock units.
|
Employment
Agreements
On
December 15, 2008, Omega Flex, Inc. entered into an employment agreement with each of Kevin R. Hoben, President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, and Mark F. Albino, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. As of January
1, 2014, those employment agreements were amended in part to add a “clawback” provision.
The
agreements with Mr. Hoben and Mr. Albino contain the following terms:
Duties
and Term
. Mr. Hoben will be employed by the Company as President and CEO, and Mr. Albino will be employed as Executive Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Each of the executives will be employed for a period of two years, and that
term will be automatically extended for consecutive one-year periods unless the Company provides six-months advance notice of
termination. In each case, the agreements are also subject to earlier termination by the Company or by the executive.
Compensation
.
The agreements provide for compensation in the form of: (1) annual base salary (at present approximately for Mr. Hoben –
$400,000, and for Mr. Albino – $331,000) subject to annual review and adjustment by the compensation committee of the board
of directors; (2) annual incentive bonus awards in accordance with the bonus programs established by the board; (3) twenty days
of paid vacation; (4) a car allowance; and (5) other employment benefits provided by the Company to all of its employees, such
as retirement plans, medical and life insurance programs, and short- and long-term disability plans, in accordance with the terms
of those employee benefit plans. In addition, the company pays for a club membership for Mr. Hoben. The executive will be reimbursed
for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in performing his duties. The 2014 amendments to the employment agreements
each included a “clawback” provision, whereby any amount of incentive compensation that is subject to recovery under
any law, rule or listing requirement and based on an overstatement of earnings is subject to repayment by the employee to the
Company.
Termination
.
Each of the agreements may be terminated in any of the following circumstances: (1) death, (2) permanent disability, (3) for
“cause” (as defined below) at the option of the Company, (4) without “cause” at the option of the Company,
(5) for “good reason” (as defined below) at the option of the executive, (6) by resignation or retirement at the option
of the executive, or (7) by the Company’s decision not to renew the agreement.
Payments
on Termination.
The executive will receive payments under his agreement as a result of the termination of the agreement, as
follows:
|
●
|
Death
or disability
– accrued and unpaid base salary and vacation, and severance in an amount equal to the average incentive
bonuses paid to the executive in the three previous fiscal years;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
For cause, retirement
or resignation
- accrued and unpaid base salary and vacation as of the date of termination, retirement, or resignation;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Without cause
or for good reason
- accrued and unpaid base salary and vacation, severance (as described above), one year’s base
salary, and continuation of health benefits and car allowance for one year; or
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Non
-
renewal
– accrued and unpaid base salary and vacation, severance (as described above), one year’s base salary, and
continuation of health benefits and car allowance for one year.
|
For
purposes of the agreements, “
cause
” is defined under the agreements as (a) the willful failure to perform the
executive duties under the agreement; (b) willful or gross misconduct; (c) conviction of, or plea of guilty or
nolo contendere
to, a felony; or (d) a material breach of the executive’s obligations under the agreement, including confidentiality
and non-competition.
In
addition, “
good reason
” is defined under the agreements to mean (a) a reduction in annual base salary; (b)
a material reduction in bonus compensation related to factors other than (i) business or economic conditions, (ii) poor performance,
(iii) limits on executive compensation imposed by law or regulation, or (iv) new requirements in the Internal Revenue Code or
Employee Retirement Income Security Act; (c) a relocation of the place of employment greater than twenty five (25) miles from
the current place of employment, or (d) a material reduction in principal duties and responsibilities.
Change
in Control
. Each of the agreements provides that if the agreement is terminated without cause or for good reason, or is not
renewed by the Company, anytime in an 18 month period following a change in control, the executive will receive an amount equal
to two years’ base salary and two times the average incentive bonus amounts paid or earned in the prior three years. These
amounts are in addition to any payments that may be received in respect of the termination of the agreement. A “change in
control” may occur through (1) a merger or consolidation of the Company with another entity, where the Company’s shareholders
prior to the transaction will not hold a majority of the voting power of the equity interests of the successor entity; (2) a sale
or transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; (3) acquisition by a person or group of persons acting
together in a transaction or series of transaction resulting in that person or persons’ owning 50% or more of the voting
power of the voting securities of the Company; (4) a change in the composition of the board of directors in a two year period
where a majority of the board members as of the date of determination have changed from the beginning date; and (5) the liquidation
or dissolution of the Company (excluding however, any bankruptcy of the Company).
Restrictive
Covenants
. During the term of each agreement and for one year after termination of each agreement, the executive may not solicit
or induce any employee to leave the employment of the Company, or to solicit or induce any customer or supplier of the Company
to terminate or modify their business relationship with the Company. Further, during the term of the agreement and for one year
after termination of the agreement, the executive may not engage, either individually or as an employee, director, owner or consultant
of any entity, in any business that is engaged in the manufacture and sale of flexible metal hose and braid products, or other
line of business in which the Company is engaged at the time of termination.
Miscellaneous
.
The agreement will be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, including deferral of any payments
to the executive if he is deemed to be a “specified employee” under §409A. Any payments under the agreements
that may be subject to an excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the IRC will be reduced to a level so that the payment will
not be subject to that excise tax. The agreements supersede and replace the prior executive employment agreements.
Retirement
Plans
All
of the executive officers of the Company are participants in the Omega Flex, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan.
Director
Compensation
Directors
who are also employees of the Company receive no separate compensation for serving as directors or as members of any committees
of the board. Each non-employee director receives the following compensation:
Annual Retainer
|
|
$
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retainer – Chairman of the board
|
|
$
|
10,000
|
|
Retainer – Chairman of Audit committee
|
|
$
|
10,000
|
|
Retainer – Chairman of board committee
|
|
$
|
3,000
|
|
Retainer – Audit committee member
|
|
$
|
6,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Attendance –Board meeting
|
|
$
|
3,000
|
|
Attendance – Committee meeting
|
|
$
|
3,000
|
|
Attendance – Telephonic meeting
|
|
$
|
1,000
|
|
Directors
are also reimbursed for their reasonable expenses in attending or participating in a board or committee meeting. The compensation
of each director for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 is set forth in the table below:
Name
|
|
Fees earned or
paid in cash ($)
|
|
|
Total ($)
|
|
David K. Evans
|
|
|
52,000
|
|
|
|
52,000
|
|
J. Nicholas Filler
|
|
|
62,000
|
|
|
|
62,000
|
|
Derek W. Glanvill
|
|
|
43,000
|
|
|
|
43,000
|
|
Bruce C. Klink
|
|
|
55,000
|
|
|
|
55,000
|
|
Stewart B. Reed
|
|
|
51,000
|
|
|
|
51,000
|
|
The
non-management directors do not receive any equity compensation, incentive plan compensation, or non-qualified deferred compensation.
TRANSACTIONS
WITH RELATED PERSONS
There
were no transactions with any related persons in 2016.
SECTION
16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires directors and certain officers of the Company, as well as persons who own
more than ten percent (10%) of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes
in ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on
its review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company and related written representations, during the fiscal year
ended December 31, 201, all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements were satisfied on a timely basis, with the exception
of the reports and transactions described below.
|
●
|
A
Form 4 report was filed by each of Steven A. Treichel and Paul J. Kane on April 11, 2016 to report the acquisition on February
16, 2016 of derivative securities in the form of phantom stock units (all of which are exclusively payable in cash).
|
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS
The
members of the compensation committee are Messrs. Reed (chairman), Evans, Filler and Klink. None of the members of the compensation
committee was or has been an officer or employee of the Company. No member of the compensation committee is an executive officer
of a company in which one of our executive officers sits as a director or serves on the compensation committee of that company.
PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The
audit committee approved the retention of RSM to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 2016. The Audit Committee has restricted the non-audit services that RSM may provide primarily to special projects
relating to prospective tax issues. The following table sets forth the aggregate amounts invoiced to the Company for the years
ended December 31 of 2016, 2015 and 2014:
Description
|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
2014
|
|
Audit Fees:
|
|
$
|
203,940
|
|
|
$
|
195,529
|
|
|
$
|
132,117
|
|
Tax Fees
|
|
$
|
2,500
|
|
|
$
|
3,000
|
|
|
$
|
1,500
|
|
All Other Fees (Form 11-K)
|
|
$
|
28,153
|
|
|
$
|
27,957
|
|
|
$
|
25,460
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
234,593
|
|
|
$
|
226,486
|
|
|
$
|
159,077
|
|
“Audit
Fees” are fees billed to the Company for professional services for the audit of the Company’s financial statements
included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, review of financial statements included in Quarterly Reports on Forms
10-Q, audit of the Company’s financial controls, or for services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection
with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. “Tax Fees” related to tax consulting services based on the review
of the company’s tax returns. All Other Fees represents professional services for the audit of the Company’s employee
benefit plan (Form 11-K).
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
The
Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, including selected financial data and management’s
discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, are included
in the Company’s annual report to shareholders which is available on the internet at www.omegaflexcorp.com. The annual report
does not constitute proxy soliciting material.
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