Blueprint
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
(Amendment
No.___)
Filed
by the Registrant ☒
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check
the appropriate box:
☐ Preliminary Proxy Statement
☐ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (As
Permitted by Rule 14a-6(e) (2))
☒ Definitive Proxy Statement
☐ Definitive Additional Materials
☐ Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section
240.14a-12
SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES,
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):
☒ No fee required.
☐ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules
14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1)
Title of each class
of securities to which transaction applies:
(2)
Aggregate number of
securities to which transaction applies:
(3)
Per unit price or
other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange
Act Rule
0-11
(set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and
state ho it was determined):
(4)
Proposed maximum
aggregate value of transaction:
☐ Fee paid previously with preliminary
materials.
☐ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as
provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing
for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the
previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or
Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1)
Amount previously
paid:
(2)
Form, Schedule or
Registration Statement No.:
November
23, 2017
Dear
Fellow Stockholders:
You are
cordially invited to attend the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of Scientific Industries, Inc. which will be held at 11:00 a.m.
(New York time) on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at La Quinta Inn
& Suites, 10 Aero Road, Bohemia, New York, 11716.
Information
concerning the matters to be considered and voted upon at the
Annual Meeting is set out in the attached Notice of 2017 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement.
It is
important that your shares be represented at the 2017 Annual
Meeting, regardless of the number of shares you hold and whether or
not you plan to attend the meeting in person. Accordingly, please
complete, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it as
soon as possible in the accompanying business reply envelope so
that your shares will be represented at the Annual Meeting. This
will not limit your right to vote in person or to attend the
meeting.
Thank
you for your continued support.
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Sincerely,
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/s/
Joseph
G. Cremonese
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Joseph G.
Cremonese
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Chairman
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SCIENTIFIC
INDUSTRIES, INC.
80 Orville
Drive, Suite 102
Bohemia, New York 11716
_____________
NOTICE OF 2017 ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
January 17, 2018
Notice
is hereby given that the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the
“Annual Meeting”) of Scientific Industries, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), will be held on Wednesday,
January 17, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. (New York time) at La Quinta Inn
& Suites, 10 Aero Road, Bohemia, New York, 11716, for the
following purposes:
1. To elect two Class
C Directors to the Company's Board of Directors to serve until the
Company’s annual meeting of stockholders with respect to the
year ending June 30, 2020 and the election and qualification of
their respective successors.
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2. To ratify the
appointment of Nussbaum Yates Berg Klein & Wolpow, LLP as the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018.
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3. To transact such
other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and
any adjournments or postponements thereof.
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The
foregoing items of business are more fully described in the
accompanying proxy statement.
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The
Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on November 22,
2017, as the record date for determination of stockholders entitled
to notice of and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and at any
adjournments or postponements thereof.
A
complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting will be available for inspection by any stockholder of the
Company at the Annual Meeting. In addition, the list will be open
for examination by any stockholder of the Company for any purpose
germane to the Annual Meeting during ordinary business hours for a
period of ten days prior to the Annual Meeting at the offices of
the Company.
You are requested to fill in and sign the
enclosed form of proxy, which is being solicited by the Board of
Directors of the Company, and mail it promptly in the enclosed
postage paid envelope. Any proxy may be revoked by delivery of a
later dated proxy.
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By Order of your
Board of Directors,
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/s/
Robert
P. Nichols
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Robert P.
Nichols
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Secretary
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Bohemia,
New York
November
23, 2017
WHETHER
OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, WE KINDLY REQUEST
THAT YOU PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE, AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE
ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE POSTAGE PAID ENVELOPE PROVIDED. IF YOU
ARE A STOCKHOLDER OF RECORD AND YOU ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU
MAY VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU WISH, EVEN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY
RETURNED YOUR PROXY CARD.
YOUR VOTE IS
IMPORTANT
SCIENTIFIC
INDUSTRIES, INC.
80 Orville
Drive, Suite 102
Bohemia, New
York 11716
PROXY
STATEMENT
_________________
2017 ANNUAL
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 17, 2018
_________________
Solicitation of Proxies
This
proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by and on behalf of the Board of Directors (the
“Board”) of Scientific Industries, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), for use at the 2017 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") to be held at La Quinta Inn
& Suites, 10 Aero Road, Bohemia, New York, 11716, on Wednesday,
January 17, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. (New York time), and at any
adjournments or postponements thereof.
At the
Annual Meeting, stockholders of the Company will be asked to: (1)
elect two Directors of the Company to serve until the
Company’s annual meeting of stockholders with respect to the
fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, and the election and
qualification of their successors; (2) ratify the appointment of
Nussbaum Yates Berg Klein & Wolpow, LLP, as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 2018; and (3) transact such other business as may
properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or
postponements thereof.
Record Date, Voting Rights
Only
stockholders of record of the Company’s Common Stock, par
value $0.05 per share (the “Common Stock”), as of the
close of business on November 22, 2017 (the "Record Date"), are
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any
adjournments or postponements thereof. On the Record Date, there
were 1,494,112 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding. Each
share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote.
The
presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or by a properly executed
proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
the Company’s Common Stock as of the Record Date is necessary
to constitute a quorum. In the determination of the number of
shares of Common Stock present at the Annual Meeting for quorum
purposes abstentions and broker “non-votes” are
included. A broker "non-vote" occurs when a nominee holding shares
of Common Stock for a beneficial owner does not vote on a
particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary
voting power with respect to that item and has not received
instructions from the beneficial owner.
Voting of Proxies, Revocation, Solicitation
All
stockholders who deliver properly executed and dated proxies to the
Company prior to the Annual Meeting will be deemed present at the
Annual Meeting regardless of whether such proxies direct the proxy
holders to vote for or against, or to withhold or abstain from
voting. The proxies, when properly executed and returned to the
Company, will be voted in accordance with the instructions given
therein by the person executing the proxy. In the absence of
instructions, properly executed proxies other than with respect to
broker “non-votes” will be voted FOR (1) the
election of the Board’s nominees, Mr. Joseph G. Cremonese and
Mr. John F. F. Watkins as Class C Directors of the Company; and (2)
the ratification of the appointment by the Board of Directors of
Nussbaum Yates Berg Klein & Wolpow, LLP, as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 2018.
Any
stockholder who executes and delivers a proxy may revoke it at any
time before it is voted by delivering a written notice of such
revocation to the Secretary of the Company at the address of the
Company set forth in this proxy statement, by submitting a properly
executed proxy bearing a later date, or by appearing at the Annual
Meeting and requesting the return of the proxy or by voting in
person. In accordance with applicable rules, boxes and designated
spaces are provided on the proxy card for stockholders to mark if
they wish either to vote for or withhold authority to vote for the
nominees for Directors, or to vote for, against or to abstain from
voting for the proposal to ratify the appointment by the Board of
Directors of the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm.
A
stockholder’s attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, by
itself, revoke a proxy given by that stockholder. Stockholders vote
at the Annual Meeting by casting ballots (in person or by proxy),
which are tabulated by a person who is appointed by the Board of
Directors before the Annual Meeting to serve as inspector of
election at the Annual Meeting and who has executed and verified an
oath of office.
It is
anticipated that this proxy statement, the enclosed proxy card, and
the Company’s Annual Report will be mailed to the Company's
stockholders on or about December 11, 2017.
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The
following table sets forth as of November 22, 2017 certain
information as to each person who to the Company’s knowledge,
based upon such person’s representations or publicly
available filings, beneficially owned more than 5% of the
outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock as of that
date:
Name
|
Amount
and
Nature of Beneficial
Ownership**
|
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James S.
Segasture*
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162,500 (1)
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10.9%
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Joseph G.
Cremonese*
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138,262
(2)
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9.2%
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Roy T. Eddleman
Trustee
c/o Troy Gould
PC
1801 Century Park
East, Ste. 1600
Los Angeles, CA
90067
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124,736 (3)
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8.3%
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Fulcrum,
Inc.
100 Delawanna
Avenue
Clifton, NJ
07014
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117,370(4)
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7.9%
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Grace S.
Morin*
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97,450(5)
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6.5%
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Brookman P.
March*
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97,450(6)
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6.5%
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* His
or her address is c/o Scientific Industries, Inc., 80 Orville
Drive, Suite 102, Bohemia, New York 11716.
**
Percentages of ownership are based upon the number of shares of
Common Stock issued and outstanding. Shares of Common Stock that
may be acquired pursuant to options that are exercisable within 60
days of the date indicated above are deemed outstanding for
computing the percentage ownership of the person holding such
options, but are not deemed outstanding for the percentage
ownership of any other person.
(1)
Shares owned
jointly with his wife.
(2)
126,262 shares are
owned jointly with his wife, 7,000 shares are owned by his wife,
and 5,000 shares are issuable upon exercise of options
(3)
Based on reported
on Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on July 26, 2017
(4)
Stock issued in
connection with the acquisition of the Torbal division assets from
Fulcrum, Inc. on February 26, 2014.
(5)
Includes 14,500
shares issuable upon exercise of options held by her husband, Mr.
March.
(6)
Represents 82,950
shares owned by Ms. Morin, his wife and 14,500 shares issuable upon
exercise of options.
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
General
The
Company's Certificate of Incorporation provides for a classified
Board of Directors, consisting of three classes, each class serving
a three-year term on a staggered basis. Two are Class A Directors,
one is a Class B Director, and two are Class C Directors. At the
Annual Meeting, the two Class C Directors are to be elected to
serve until the annual meeting of stockholders with respect to the
fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, and until their successors are
duly elected and qualified. During the fiscal year ended June 30,
2017 (“fiscal 2017”), the Board held six meetings, at
each of which all Directors were present. Shares of Common Stock
represented by executed and returned proxies solicited by the Board
of Directors will be voted for the nominees hereinafter named if
authority to do so is not specifically withheld. If for any reason
said nominee shall become unavailable for election, which is not
now anticipated, the proxies will be voted for a substitute nominee
designated by the Board of Directors.
The
Directors of the Company are elected by the affirmative vote of the
holders of a plurality of the shares of Common Stock present in
person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled
to vote. A plurality means that the nominee with the largest number
of votes is elected as Director. In tabulating the vote,
abstentions and broker “non-votes” will be disregarded
and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.
The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote FOR the
election of the nominees identified below to the Board of
Directors.
Nominees
The
Board of Directors has designated Mr. Joseph G. Cremonese and Mr.
John F. F. Watkins, currently Class C directors, as their nominees
for election.
Joseph
G. Cremonese (age 81), a Director since November 2002 and Chairman
of the Board since February 2006, has been, through his affiliate,
a marketing consultant to the Company since 1996. Mr. Cremonese has
been since 1991, President of his affiliate, Laboratory Innovation
Company, Ltd, which is a vehicle for the consulting services for
the Company.
John F.
F. Watkins (age 50), is a corporate and securities attorney and has
been a member of Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt LLC since 2002.
Mr. Watkins was first elected to the Board of Directors of the
Company in January 2017.
Other Directors
Helena
R. Santos (age 53), a Director since 2009, has been employed by the
Company since 1994, and has served since August 2002 as its
President, Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer. She had served as
Vice President, Controller from 1997 and as Secretary from May
2001.
James
S. Segasture (age 81), a Director since 1991, has been retired for
the last five years.
Grace
S. Morin (age 69), a Director since December 4, 2006, had been
President, Director and principal stockholder of Altamira
Instruments, Inc. from December 2003 until its acquisition in
November 2006 by the Company. Ms. Morin had been employed by
Altamira to supervise its administrative functions at the
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania facility as a full-time employee through
March 31, 2009 and since that date as a part-time
consultant.
Stock Ownership
The
following table sets forth, as of November 22, 2017, relevant
information as to the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by
(I) each Director of the Company, (ii) each executive officer of
the Company identified in the Summary Compensation Table under
“Executive Officers and Key Personnel,” and (iii) all
directors and executive officers as a
group.
Beneficial
Owner
|
Number
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Percentage
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Joseph G.
Cremonese
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138,262
(1)
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9.2%
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Grace
S. Morin
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97,450
(2)
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6.5%
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James
S. Segasture
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162,500
(3)
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10.9%
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Helena
R. Santos
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40,779
(4)
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2.7%
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Robert
P. Nichols
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27,897
(5)
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1.9%
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Brookman P.
March
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97,450
(6)
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6.5%
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Karl
D. Nowosielski
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34,183
(7)
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2.2%
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All
current directors and executive officers as a group (8
persons)
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501,071(8)
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33.4%
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(1)
126,262 shares are owned jointly with his wife, 7,000 shares are
owned by his wife, and 5,000 shares are issuable upon exercise of
options.
(2)
Includes 14,500 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by
her husband, Mr. March.
(3)
Shares owned jointly with his wife.
(4)
Includes 25,000 shares issuable upon exercise of
options.
(5)
Includes 9,500 shares issuable upon exercise of
options.
(6)
Represents 82,950 shares owned by Ms. Morin, his wife and 14,500
shares issuable upon exercise of options.
(7)
Includes 9,683 stock issued in connection with the acquisition of
the Torbal Division in February 2014. Includes 24,500 shares
issuable upon exercise of options.
(8)
Includes 78,500 shares issuable upon exercise of
options.
Board Committees
The
Company’s Stock Option Committee administers the
Company’s 2012 Stock Option Plan. The members of the
committee are non-management Directors of the Company – James
S. Segasture and Joseph G. Cremonese. The members of the Committee
serve at the discretion of the Board. During fiscal 2017 the Stock
Option Committee held one meeting.
Grace
S. Morin and James S. Segasture are the current members of the
Company’s Compensation Committee serving at the discretion of
the Board. The Committee administers the Company’s
compensation policies. During fiscal 2017, the Compensation
Committee held one meeting.
The
Board of Directors acts as the Company’s Audit Committee,
which in its function as the Committee, held six meetings during
fiscal 2017. Ms. Santos and Ms. Morin, who are not
“independent” are “financial experts” as
defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Directors’ Compensation and Options
DIRECTORS’ COMPENSATION
For the Year Ended June 30, 2017
|
Fees Earned or Paid in
Cash
($)
(b)
|
|
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Non-Equity Incentive Plan
Comp-ensation
($)
(e)
|
Changes in Pension Value and
Non-qualified Deferred Compens-ation Earnings
($)
(f)
|
Non-qualified Deferred
Comp-ensation Earnings
($)
(g)
|
All Other
Comp-
ensation
($)
(h)
|
|
Joseph
G.Cremonese
|
35,900
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
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43,200
(1)
|
79,100
|
Roger B. Knowles
(3)
|
4,000
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
4,000
|
Grace
S.Morin
|
18,100
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
5,200
(2)
|
23,300
|
James
S.Segasture
|
18,100
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
18,100
|
John F.F. Watkins
(3)
|
7,600
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
7,600
|
(1)
Represents amount paid to his affiliate pursuant to a marketing
consulting agreement (see “Related
Transactions”).
(2)
Represents compensation received for her administrative services as
a consultant for Altamira
(see
“Related Transactions”).
(3) On
January 19, 2017 Mr. Knowles resigned and Mr. Watkins became his
duly elected successor.
The Company pays each Director who
is not an employee of the Company or a subsidiary a quarterly
retainer fee of $2,200 and $1,800 for each meeting attended. In
addition, the Company reimburses each Director for out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in connection with attendance at board meetings.
Mr. Cremonese, as Chairman of the Board receives an additional fee
of $1,600 per month. During fiscal 2017, total director
compensation to non-employee Directors aggregated $132,100,
including the consulting fees paid to Mr. Cremonese’s
affiliate, and to Ms. Morin.
Since December 1, 2003, Mr.
Joseph G. Cremonese, has been awarded a total of 45,000 stock
options under the Company's 2002 and 2012 Stock Option Plans of
which 5,000 remain unexercised. None of the other directors have
options outstanding.
Executive Officers and Key Personnel
See above for the employment
history of Ms. Santos.
Robert P. Nichols (age 56),
is the President of the Genie Products Division of the Benchtop
Laboratory Equipment Operations and Corporate Secretary and has
been employed by the Company since February 1998. Previously, he
had been since May 2001, the Company’s Vice President of
Engineering.
Brookman P. March (age 72),
has been since July 1, 2017 Vice President of Corporate Development
and Strategy and Vice President of Sales of Altamira. Previously he
had been President and Director of Sales and Marketing of Altamira.
He had been Vice President and a Director of Altamira from December
2003 until it was acquired by the Company in
2006. Mr. March is the husband of Ms. Morin, a Director of the
Company.
Karl D. Nowosielski (age 37),
is the President of the Torbal Products Division of the Benchtop
Laboratory Equipment Operations and Director of Marketing for the
Company. He had been until February 2014 Vice President of Fulcrum,
Inc. (the seller of the Torbal Products Division assets) since
2004.
The Compensation Committee reviews
and recommends to the Board of Directors the compensation to be
paid to each executive officer. Executive compensation, in all
instances except for the compensation for the Chief Executive
Officer (“CEO”), is based on recommendations from the
CEO. The CEO makes a determination by comparing the performance of
each executive being reviewed with objectives established at the
beginning of each fiscal year and with objectives established
during the business year with regard to the success of the
achievement of such objectives and the successful execution of
management targets and goals.
With respect to the compensation of
the CEO, the Committee considers performance criteria, 50% of which
is related to the direction, by the CEO, of the reporting
executives, the establishment of executive objectives as components
for the successful achievement of Company goals and the successful
completion of programs leading to the successful completion of the
Business Plan for the Company and 50% is based on the achievement
by the Company of its financial and personnel goals tempered by the
amount of the income or loss of the Company during the fiscal
year.
The compensation at times
includes grants of options under its stock option plan to the named
executives. Each officer is employed pursuant to a long-term
employment agreement, containing terms proposed by the Committee
and approved as reasonable by the Board of Directors. The Board is
cognizant that as a relatively small company, the Company has
limited resources and opportunities with respect to recruiting and
retaining key executives. Accordingly, the Company has relied upon
long-term employment agreements and grants of stock options to
retain qualified personnel.
Compensation for each of its executive officers
provided by their employment agreements were based on the foregoing
factors and the operating and financial results of the segments
under their management.
The
following table summarizes all compensation paid by the Company to
each of its executive officers for the fiscal years ended June 30,
2017 and 2016.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Name and Principal
Position
(a)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non- Equity Incentive Plan Comp-
ensation
($)
(g)
|
Non- Qualified Deferred
Compen-sation Earnings ($)
(h)
|
Changes in Pension
Value and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings
|
All Other Comp-
ensation
($)
(i)
|
|
Helena R.
Santos,
CEO, President,
CFO
|
2017
|
162,000
|
20,000
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
6,500
(1)
|
188,500
|
|
2016
|
157,100
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
6,300
(1)
|
163,400
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brookman P.
March,
Vice President Corporate Strategy,
VP, Sales of Altamira
|
2017
|
147,000
|
10,000
|
0
|
500(2)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
5,900(1)
|
162,900
|
|
2016
|
142,800
|
0
|
0
|
1,200(2)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
5,700(1)
|
149,700
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert P.
Nichols,
President of Genie Division and
Corporate Secretary
|
2017
|
146,000
|
10,000
|
0
|
500(2)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
5,800(1)
|
162,300
|
|
2016
|
141,800
|
0
|
0
|
1,200(2)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
5,700(1)
|
148,700
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Karl D.
Nowosielski,
President of Torbal Division and
Director of Marketing
|
2017
|
143,000
|
10,000
|
0
|
1,200(3)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
5,700(1)
|
159,900
|
|
2016
|
141,900
|
0
|
0
|
9,500(3)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
5,700(1)
|
157,100
|
(1) The
amounts represent the Company’s matching contribution under
the Company’s 401(k) Plans.
(2) The
amounts represent compensation expense for the 2014 stock options
granted valued utilizing the Black-Scholes-Merton options pricing
model, disregarding estimates of forfeitures related to
service-based vesting considerations. The 2014 option was valued at
a total of $3,500 of which $500 and $1,200 was expensed in fiscal
2017 and 2016 respectively.
(3) The
amounts represent compensation expense for the 2017, 2016 and 2015
stock options granted as part of his employment agreement, valued
utilizing the Black-Scholes-Merton options pricing model,
disregarding estimates of forfeitures related to service-based
vesting considerations. The options were valued at a total of
$10,500, $9,500 and $7,100, respectively.
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS IN FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,
2017
|
|
Estimated
Future
Payouts
Under
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
$
(c)
|
Estimated
Future
Payouts
Under
Equity
Incentive
Plan
$
(d)
|
All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
Of
Shares
Of Stock
Or Units
(#)
(e)
|
All Other
Option
Awards:
Number
Of
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#)
(f)
|
Exercise
Or Base
Price
Of Option
Awards
($/Sh)
(g)
|
Grant
Date
Fair
Value of
Stock
And
Option
Awards
(h)
|
Karl
D. Nowosielski
|
02/26/17
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
6,000
|
2.91
|
10,500
|
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
|
|
Number
of
Securities
Under-
lying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable
(b)
|
Number
of
Securities
Under-
lying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Unexerci-
sable
(c)
|
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned
Options (#)
(d)
|
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
(e)
|
Option
Expiration
Date
(f)
|
Brookman P.
March
|
7,000
|
0
|
0
|
3.71-3.96
|
|
Robert
P. Nichols
|
2,000
|
0
|
0
|
3.50
|
12/2023
|
Karl
D. Nowosielski
|
6,333
|
10,667
|
0
|
3.05-4.05
|
|
There
were no options exercised by officers during fiscal
2017.
Employment
Agreements
On July 1,
2017, the Company entered into a new employment agreement with Ms.
Helena R. Santos through June 30, 2020 with the option to extend
for two additional one-year periods. The agreements provide for an
annual base salary for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 of
$175,000 with annual increases thereafter of 3% per annum or the
percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index, whichever
is higher. The agreement also provides for a bonus of $25,000 for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 and on a discretionary basis
thereafter. A bonus of $20,000 was awarded during fiscal 2017 and
no bonus was awarded during fiscal 2016. The agreement also
provides for the grant of stock options to purchase 25,000 shares
during fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, subject to continued
employment.
On July
1, 2017, the Company also entered into a new employment agreement
with Mr. Robert P. Nichols through June 30, 2020 with the option to
extend for two additional one-year periods. The agreement provides
for an annual base salary for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018
of $153,000 with annual increases thereafter of 3% per annum or the
percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index, whichever
is higher. The agreement also provides for a bonus of $10,000 for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 and on a discretionary basis
thereafter. A bonus of $10,000 was awarded during fiscal 2017 and
no bonus was awarded during fiscal 2016. The agreement also
provides for the grant of stock options to purchase 7,500 shares
during fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, subject to continued
employment.
On July
1, 2017, the Company also entered into a new employment agreement
with Mr. Brookman P. March through June 30, 2020 with the option to
extend for two additional one-year periods. The agreement provides
for an annual base salary for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018
of $155,000 with annual increases thereafter of 3% per annum or the
percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index, whichever
is higher. The agreement also provides for a bonus of $10,000 for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 and on a discretionary basis
thereafter. A bonus of $10,000 was awarded during fiscal 2017 and
no bonus was awarded during fiscal 2016. The agreement also
provides for the grant of stock options to purchase 7,500 shares
during fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, subject to continued
employment. Mr. March is the husband of Grace S. Morin, a Director
of the Company and of Altamira and a former principal stockholder
of Altamira.
On July
1, 2017, the Company also entered into a new employment agreement
with Mr. Karl Nowosielski through June 30, 2020 with the option to
extend for two additional one-year periods. The agreement provides
for an annual base salary for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018
of $157,000 with annual increases thereafter of 4% per annum. The
agreement also provides for a bonus of $10,000 for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 2018 and $10,000 for each subsequent year, provided
a minimum 5% increase in the EBITDA of the Torbal Products Division
is achieved. A bonus of $10,000 was awarded during fiscal 2017 and
no bonus was awarded during fiscal 2016. The agreement also
provides for the grant of stock options to purchase 7,500 shares
during fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, subject to continued
employment.
The
employment agreements for Ms. Santos, Mr. Nichols, Mr. March, and
Mr. Nowosielski contain confidentiality and non-competition
covenants. The employment agreements for all the named executives
above contain termination provisions stipulating that if the
Company terminates the employment other than for death, disability,
or cause (as such term is defined therein), or if the relevant
employee resigns for “good reason” (as such term is
defined therein), the Company shall pay severance payments equal to
one year’s salary at the rate of the compensation at the time
of termination, and continue to pay the regular benefits provided
by the Company for a period of one year from termination. Ms.
Santos’ employment agreement also contains a provision that
within one year of a change of control, if either the Company
terminates her employment for any reason other than for
“cause” or she terminates her employment for
“good reason”, she will have the right to receive a
lump sum payment equal to three times the average of her total
annual compensation paid for the last five years immediately
preceding such termination, minus $1.00.
Related Transactions
Mr.
Joseph G. Cremonese, a Director since November 2002, through his
affiliate, Laboratory Innovation Company, Ltd., has been providing
independent marketing consulting services to the Company since
January 1, 2003 pursuant to a consulting agreement expiring
December 31, 2017. The agreement currently provides that Mr.
Cremonese and his affiliate shall render, at the request of the
Company, marketing consulting services for a monthly payment of
$3,600. The agreement contains confidentiality and non-competition
covenants. The Company paid fees of $43,200 pursuant to the
agreement for each of fiscal 2017 and 2016.
Ms.
Grace S. Morin, was elected a Director in December 2007 following
the sale of her 90.36% ownership interest in Altamira to the
Company in November 2006. Up until March 31, 2009, Ms. Morin had
been employed by Altamira as an administrative employee. Since
April 1, 2009, she has provided consulting services on a part-time
basis pursuant to an agreement expiring December 31, 2017 at the
rate of $85 per hour, resulting in payments of $5,200 and $5,800
for fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively. The agreement
contains confidentiality and non-competition
covenants.
Section 16(a) Reporting
The
Company believes that, for the year ended June 30, 2017, its
officers, directors and 10% stockholders
timely complied with all filing requirements of Section 16(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
PROPOSAL 2
APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM
The
Board of Directors, subject to stockholders’ approval,
appointed Nussbaum Yates Berg Klein & Wolpow, LLP (the
“Firm”) as the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018.
The Firm has audited the consolidated financial statements of the
Company since 1991. A representative of the Firm is expected to be
present at the Annual Meeting, and will have an opportunity to make
a statement to the stockholders and will be available to respond to
appropriate questions. The ratification of the appointment will
require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock present in person or represented
by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote. Abstentions
will be included in determining the number of shares of Common
Stock present or represented and entitled to vote for purposes of
approval and will have the effect of votes “against”
the proposal. Broker “non-votes” will not be counted in
determining the number of shares of Common Stock present or
represented and entitled to vote to approve the proposal and will
therefore not have the effect of votes either “for” or
“against”.
Stockholder
ratification of the appointment is not required by the
Company’s Certificate of
Incorporation
or By-laws or otherwise. If the stockholders fail to ratify the
appointment, the Board of Directors will reconsider whether to
retain that firm. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Board of
Directors in its discretion may direct the appointment of a
different independent registered public accounting firm at any time
during the year if the Audit Committee, currently the entire Board
of Directors, determines that such a change would be in the best
interest of the Company and its stockholders.
The
following is a description of the fees incurred by the Company for
services by the firm of Nussbaum Yates Berg Klein & Wolpow, LLP
(the “Firm”) during fiscal 2017 and fiscal
2016.
The
Company incurred for the services of the Firm fees of approximately
$69,000 and $67,000 for fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively,
in connection with the audit of the Company’s annual
financial statements and quarterly reviews; and $6,000 for each
fiscal year for the preparation of the Company’s corporate
tax returns.
In
approving the engagement of the independent registered public
accounting firm to perform the audit and non-audit services, the
Board of Directors as the Company’s audit committee evaluates
the scope and cost of each of the services to be performed
including a determination that the performance of the non-audit
services will not affect the independence of the firm in the
performance of the audit services.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that the stockholders
vote FOR the ratification of the appointment of Nussbaum Yates Berg
Klein & Wolpow, LLP as the independent registered public
accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending June 30,
2018.
OTHER MATTERS
The
Board of Directors are not aware of any matters other than those
set forth in this proxy statement that will be presented for action
at the Annual Meeting; however, if any other matters properly come
before the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxies intend to
vote the shares of Common Stock they represent in accordance with
their judgment on such matters.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The
Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended
June 30, 2017, includes its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on
September 28, 2017. The Annual Report to Stockholders on Form 10-K
is not part of this proxy material, but is being mailed to
stockholders with this proxy solicitation. Certain information
included herein is incorporated in the Report by
reference.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Proposals of
stockholders of the Company intended to be presented at the
Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders following the year
ending June 30, 2018 must be received by the Secretary of the
Company for inclusion in the appropriate proxy materials no later
than July 11, 2018.
EXPENSES AND SOLICITATION
The
entire cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. In
addition to the use of the mails, proxies may be solicited by
officers, directors and regular employees of the Company personally
or by telephone. No additional compensation will be paid to such
persons for any additional solicitations. The Company will also
request securities brokers, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries
who hold shares of Common Stock of record to forward solicitation
material to the beneficial owners of such shares, and will
reimburse them for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in
forwarding such soliciting materials.
|
By Order of your
Board of Directors,
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Robert
P. Nichols
|
|
|
Robert P.
Nichols
|
|
|
Secretary
|
|
Bohemia,
New York
November
23, 2017
SCIENTIFIC
INDUSTRIES, INC.
PROXY FOR ANNUAL
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
January 17,
2018
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
The
undersigned hereby appoints James S. Segasture and Helena R.
Santos, and each of them, with full power of substitution, to vote,
as a holder of the common stock, par value $0.05 per share
(“Common Stock”), of Scientific Industries, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”), all the shares of
Common Stock which the undersigned is entitled to vote, through the
execution of a proxy with respect to the 2017 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of the Company (the “Annual Meeting”), to
be held at La Quinta Inn & Suites, 10 Areo Road, Bohemia, New
York, on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. New York time,
and any and all adjournments or postponements thereof, and
authorizes and instructs said proxies to vote in the manner
directed below.
1.
Election of Class C Directors:
|
JOSEPH
G. CREMONESE
|
JOHN
F. F. WATKINS
|
|
|
|
|
|
WITHHOLD for both
nominees ☐
|
If you
wish your shares voted FOR one of the nominees, draw a line through
that person's name above.
2.
Ratify the appointment of Nussbaum Yates Berg Klein & Wolpow,
LLP, as the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30,
2018.
FOR
☐
|
AGAINST
☐
|
ABSTAIN
☐
|
3. In
their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such
other business as may properly come before such meeting or
adjournment or postponement thereof.
The
Board of Directors recommends the vote FOR the election of the
named nominees for Class C Directors and proposal 2.
THIS PROXY IS CONTINUED ON THE REVERSE SIDE,
PLEASE VOTE, SIGN AND DATE ON REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN
PROMPTLY.
|
PROPERLY EXECUTED AND RETURNED PROXY CARDS WILL BE VOTED IN THE
MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CONTRARY ARE MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR
THE ELECTION OF THE NAMED NOMINEES
AND TO APPROVE PROPOSAL NO. 2.
You may
revoke this proxy at any time before it is voted by (i) filing a
revocation with the Secretary of the Company, (ii) submitting a
duly executed proxy bearing a later date or time than the date or
time of the proxy being revoked; or (iii) attending the Annual
Meeting and voting in person. A stockholder’s attendance at
the Annual Meeting will not by itself revoke a proxy given by the
stockholder. (Please sign exactly as the name appears hereon. Joint
owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such.
If a corporation, please sign with full corporate name by the
president or other authorized
officer.
If a partnership, please sign in the partnership name by an
authorized person.)
|
Dated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature, if held by joint
owners
|
PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY
USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
|