DEF 14A 1 proxy03.htm NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS PROXY

Abatix Corp.

8201 Eastpoint Drive, Suite 500

Dallas, Texas 75227

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO THE HOLDERS OF THE COMMON STOCK:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the 2003 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Abatix Corp., a Delaware corporation, will be held at the Holiday Inn LBJ Northeast, 11350 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75238 on Thursday, May 15, 2003 at 9:00 A.M. Central Time, or at any and all adjournments thereof, for the following purposes:

  1. To elect six directors to the Board of Directors;

  2. To ratify of the appointment of independent auditors; and

  3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

The Proxy Statement dated April 28, 2003 is attached.

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 14, 2003 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote, at the meeting.

Stockholders who do not expect to be present at the meeting are urged to complete, date, sign and return the enclosed proxy. No postage is required if the enclosed envelope is used and mailed in the United States.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Gary L. Cox, Secretary
Dallas, Texas
April 28, 2003


Abatix Corp.
8201Eastpoint Drive, Suite 500
Dallas,Texas 75227

PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

The Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of Abatix Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), of proxies for use at the 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (“Annual Meeting”) to be held at the Holiday Inn LBJ Northeast, 11350 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75238 on Thursday, May 15, 2003 at 9:00 A.M., Central Time, or at any and all adjournments thereof. The cost of this solicitation will be borne by the Company. Directors, officers and employees of the Company may solicit proxies by telephone, telegraph or personal interview. The Annual Report of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 is being mailed together with this Proxy Statement and form of Proxy. The approximate date of mailing of this Proxy Statement and form of Proxy is April 28, 2003.

OUTSTANDING STOCK AND VOTING RIGHTS

In accordance with the By-Laws of the Company, the Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 14, 2003 as the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. Only stockholders of record on that date, through which the transfer books of the Company remained open, will be entitled to vote. A stockholder who submits a proxy on the accompanying form has the power to revoke it by notice of revocation directed to the proxy holders of the Company at any time before it is voted. Unless authority is withheld in writing, proxies that are properly executed will be voted for the proposals thereon. Although a stockholder may have given a proxy, such stockholder may nevertheless attend the meeting, revoke the proxy and vote in person. The affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares of Common Stock present or represented at the meeting is required to elect Directors. The ratification of the appointment of the Company’s auditors will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the Company’s Common Stock voting at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy.

As of April 14, 2003, the record date for determining the stockholders of the Company entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, approximately 1,711,148 shares of the Common Stock of the Company, $.001 par value (“Common Stock”), were issued and outstanding. Each share of Common Stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters brought before the Annual Meeting. The quorum necessary to conduct business at the Annual Meeting consists of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the record date.

Brokers who hold shares for the accounts of their clients may vote such shares either as directed by their clients or in their own discretion if permitted by the stock exchange or other organization of which they are members. Members of the New York Stock Exchange are permitted to vote their client’s proxies in their own discretion as to the election of directors if the client has not furnished voting instructions within ten days of the meeting. Certain proposals other than the election of directors are “non-discretionary” and brokers who have received no instructions from their clients do not have discretion to vote on those items. When brokers vote proxies on some but not all of the proposals at a meeting, the missing votes are referred to as “broker non-votes.” If any such proposals were on the agenda for this meeting, broker non-votes would be included in determining the presence of a quorum at the meeting, but they would not be considered “shares present” for voting purposes and would have no impact on the outcome of such proposals.


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth Common Stock ownership information as of March 31, 2003, with respect to (i) each person known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s Common Stock, (ii) each director and executive officer of the Company and (iii) all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. This information as to beneficial ownership was furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the persons named. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each person listed is 8201 Eastpoint Drive, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas 75227.

   Shares   
   Beneficially  Percent of
Name  Owned (1)  Class (2)
Terry W. Shaver (3)  542,000  31.7%
Gary L. Cox (4)  301,003  17.6%
Frank J. Cinatl (5)  18,500  1.1%
Donald N. Black (6)  5,100   0.3%
Daniel M. Birnley (6)  -  0.0%
Eric A. Young (6)  3,000  0.2%
All executive officers and directors     
    as a group (6 persons)  869,603  50.8%
Avocet Capital Management, L.P., et al. (7)  257,800  15.1%
  1. Unless otherwise provided, amount represents shares for which the beneficial owner has sole voting and investment power and includes options currently exercisable or exercisable within sixty (60) days.

  2. The percentage of class is calculated assuming that the beneficial owner has exercised any options or other rights to subscribe which are currently exercisable within sixty (60) days and that no other options or rights or warrants to subscribe have been exercised by anyone else.

  3. Mr. Shaver is President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company.

  4. Mr. Cox is Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Secretary and a Director of the Company. Mr. Cox's wife, who is also an employee of the Company, owns approximately 1,400 shares in the Company's 401k Profit Sharing Plan.

  5. Mr. Cinatl is Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and a Director of the Company. Mr. Cinatl's shares beneficially owned include approximately 4,500 shares held in the Company's 401k Profit Sharing Plan.

  1. Mr. Black, Mr. Birnley and Mr. Young are Directors of the Company.

  2. These shares are owned by Avocet Capital Management, L.P., Blackpool Enterprises, LLC, Raymond S. Ingelby and Avocet Investment Partners, L.P. Each member of the group has shared voting and dispositive power over the stock. The business address of the group is 5508 Highway 290 West, Suite 207, Austin, Texas 78735. The information included in this table is derived from a report on Form 13G filed by the group with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 20, 2003.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

The June 2002 Form 4 for Terry W. Shaver was inadvertently filed 78 days late on September 26, 2002 instead of July 10, 2002.

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors is responsible for the overall affairs of the Company. The names of the nominees, their principal occupations and the year in which they became Directors, are set forth.

NOMINEES FOR ELECTION

Name and Principal  Director
Occupation
Age
Since
Terry W. Shaver, President and 45 1988
Chief Executive Officer
Gary L. Cox, Executive Vice President, 49 1988
Chief Operating Officer and Secretary
Frank J. Cinatl, IV, Vice 42 1999
President and Chief Financial Officer
Donald N. Black 51 1998
President, Turnkey Concepts
Daniel M. Birnley, President/Founder, 53 2000
North State Supply Co. of Pennsylvania
Eric A. Young, Vice President-Sales 45 2001
    & Marketing, QuietFlex Manufacturing Co., LP

Each Director is elected for a period of one year at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders. Executive officers are appointed annually and, except to the extent governed by employment contracts, serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors.


TERRY W. SHAVER has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company since its incorporation in December 1988 and of its predecessor, T&T Supply Company, Inc., since its organization in May 1983. From February 1979 until May 1983, Mr. Shaver was a Sales Representative with Global Safety Resources, Inc., Dallas, Texas, a distributor of industrial safety equipment and supplies. From July 1978 to January 1979, Mr. Shaver was a Sales Representative with Continental Industrial Supply Corp., Richardson, Texas, a distributor of industrial equipment and supplies. Between January 1977 and July 1978, Mr. Shaver was a Sales Representative with Briggs-Weaver, Inc., Dallas, Texas, a distributor of industrial equipment and supplies.

GARY L. COX has been Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and a Director of the Company since its organization and Vice President and a Director of its predecessor company, T&T Supply Company, Inc., since February 1985. From April 1984 to December 1985, Mr. Cox also was Vice President of Diamond Built, Inc., Dallas, Texas, a real estate investment and construction company. Between January 1980 and March 1984, Mr. Cox was President of W.R. Cox Electric, Inc., Dallas, Texas, an electrical contracting firm and was with that company in various capacities commencing in June 1974.

FRANK J. CINATL, IV has been Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since 1994 and was appointed to the Board of Directors in February 1999. From 1989 to 1994, Mr. Cinatl was Manager of External Financial Reporting for The LTV Corporation, Dallas, Texas, a steel, aerospace/defense and energy company. Between 1983 and 1989, Mr. Cinatl was an auditor for an international public accounting firm.

DONALD N. BLACK was appointed a Director of the Company in February 1998, and was elected a Director at the 1998 annual meeting. Currently, Mr. Black is a partner and President of Turnkey Concepts, a health and beauty aid product development company. Between 1979 and 1996, Mr. Black was employed by and owned Gena Laboratories Inc. (“Gena”), a manufacturer and distributor of professional beauty products. Mr. Black originally joined Gena in December 1979 as General Manager, became Vice President in 1985, then served as President from 1989 until November 1996, when Styling Technology Corporation acquired Gena. Prior to Gena, Mr. Black was a regional manager for Professional Beauty Supply from 1977 to 1979 and a regional manager for Milo Beauty Co., from 1974 to 1977, both Salon Product Distribution Companies.

DANIEL M. BIRNLEYwas appointed a Director of the Company in March 2000 to fill a vacancy. From 1977 to 1999, Mr. Birnley was employed by and owned North State Supply. Mr. Birnley originally joined North State Supply Co. of Pennsylvania in 1977 as an outside salesperson, became General Manager in 1978, and then became the owner in 1988. He moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1990 and founded North State Supply Co. of Phoenix where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer until June 1999.

ERIC A. YOUNG was elected a Director of the Company in May 2001. Since 2000, Mr. Young has been the Vice President-Sales & Marketing at QuietFlex Manufacturing Co., LP in Houston, Texas. In 1990 he was President of Comfort Supply, Inc., a subsidiary of Watsco, Inc. in Houston, Texas, and, in 1999, he became Group Vice President of Watsco, Inc. of Miami, Florida. Between 1986 and 1990, Mr. Young was the Vice President and Controller for TCC Industries in Dallas, Texas. Between 1982 and 1986, Mr. Young was an auditor for an international public accounting firm.

Messrs. Young, Black and Birnley comprise the Company's audit committee. Its duties include the selection and recommendation of independent auditors subject to the approval of the stockholders, review of the scope and results of the annual audit, and review of the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company's internal control structure. The audit committee met twice during 2002. The Board of Directors has determined that all members of the audit committee are independent, and that Mr. Young meets the requirements of a financial expert, as required and defined by the standards of the National Association of Securities Dealers.


The Company has not established a standing nominating or compensation committee of the Board of Directors at the present time. During 2002, the Board of Directors held two meetings that were attended by all of the Directors.

All Directors who are not otherwise employed by the Company receive an annual fee of $7,500. Directors will also be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with their attendance at meetings. There are no family relationships among the Company’s Executive Officers and Directors.

Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware permits the indemnification of directors, officers, employees and agents of Delaware corporations. The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws provide that the Company shall indemnify its Directors and Officers to the full extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS SET FORTH ABOVE.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

BOARD COMPENSATION REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The compensation program for Abatix is administered in a manner that promotes the attainment of reasonable profits on a consistent basis in order to preserve job protection and job security; that promotes and rewards productivity and dedication to the success of Abatix; that accomplishes internal equity among its people; and that responds to the influence of external market forces.

The above principles are applied to all employees, including executive officers. The Board of Directors reviews the compensation of Abatix’s executive officers on an annual basis. The Board considers the total compensation (both salary and incentives), as well as the recommendation of the Company’s President, in establishing each element of compensation.

At current cash compensation levels, the Board does not expect Internal Revenue Service regulations regarding maximum deductibility of executive compensation to have any application to the Company.

The principal elements of compensation for Abatix’s executive officers are the following:

Base Salary. As a rule, base salary for the executive officers of Abatix is comparable to the salaries for comparable positions in comparably sized companies. The Board bases this determination on information obtained for similarly situated businesses; its impression of the prevailing business climate; and the advice of the Company’s President. Annual salary increases, if any, for executive officers as a group are not more, on a percentage basis, than those received by other employees.


Annual Incentive Bonus. The Board of Directors determines the amount of each bonus for executive officers at the end of each year.

In fixing the salary and bonus amounts for 2002, the Board considered the performance of each individual, his or her level of responsibility within the Company, the Company’s profitability, the longevity in office of each officer, and each officer’s performance as a team member. However, no mathematical weighing formulae were applied with respect to any of these factors. In evaluating an individual’s performance, the Board relied on the recommendation of the President, whose recommendation is based on his own perception of such officer’s performance.

The Company does not use defined performance targets in establishing compensation, nor does it employ minimum, targeted or maximum amounts of bonuses or total compensation levels for the executive officers and the final determination of compensation is subjective.

Automobiles. Each of the three executive officers of the Company is supplied with vehicles owned and maintained by the Company.

Stock Options. In an effort to provide a long-term incentive for future performance that aligns officers’ interests with shareholders in general, the Company has granted stock options to executive officers and other key employees in the past or may in the future. Currently, there are no options outstanding, nor are there any options available for grant.

Executive officers, including the President, participate in the Abatix 401(K) Profit Sharing Plan, which is available to all Abatix employees on the same basis.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Terry W. Shaver
Gary L. Cox
Frank J. Cinatl, IV
Daniel M. Birnley
Donald N. Black
Eric A. Young

All of the Company’s Executive Officers are full-time employees. Total cash compensation paid to all Executive Officers as a group for services provided to the Company in all capacities during the fiscal year ended in December 31, 2002 aggregated to $646,200. Set forth below is a summary compensation table in the tabular format specified in the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to all Executive Officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries who received total salary and bonus that exceeded $100,000 during the periods reflected.


SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

     Annual Compensation
  Long Term Compensation
  
              Securities     
Name and principal           Restricted  underlying    
position         Other annual  stock  Options/  LTIP  All other
 
 Year
  Salary
  Bonus
  compensationa
  award(s)
  SARs (#)
  payouts
  compensation
Terry W. Shaver,  2002  $206,400  $40,000b  $12,000  -  -  -  -
President and CEO  2001  $195,000  $          -b  $12,000  -  -  -  -
  2000  $185,000  $  20,000  $12,000  -  -  -  -
 
Gary L. Cox,  2002  $206,400  $40,000c  $12,000  -  -  -  -
Exec. V.P. and COO  2001  $195,000  $20,000c  $12,000  -  -  -  -
  2000  $185,000  $15,000c  $12,000  -  -  -  -
 
Frank J. Cinatl,  2002  $128,400  $25,000d  $  8,000  -  -  -  -
V.P. and CFO  2001  $122,140  $          -d  $  8,000  -  -  -  -
  2000  $100,000  $    7,500  $13,140  -  -  -  -
  1. Amounts represent the estimated annual value of vehicles and related maintenance benefits provided to such Executive Officers in all years presented.

  2. Mr. Shaver elected to defer the payment of his 2001 bonus of $40,000 until January 2002 and his 2002 bonus of $45,000 until January 2003.

  3. Mr. Cox elected to defer the payment of his $15,000 bonus for 1999 until January 2000, his $20,000 bonus for 2000 until January 2001 and his $40,000 bonus for 2001 until January 2002 and his $45,000 bonus for 2002 until January 2003.

  4. Mr. Cinatl elected to defer the payment of his 2001 bonus of $25,000 until January 2002 and his 2002 bonus of $29,000 until January 2003.

There are currently no stock options, stock appreciation rights or long-term compensation plans for any employees, including the executives, of the Company.

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

Messrs. Shaver and Cox are parties to employment agreements with the Company expiring December 31, 2004. These agreements provide for minimum annual compensation of $216,000 each. Such employment agreements preclude each individual from competing with the Company for a period of twelve months following termination of his employment for cause or by reason of his voluntarily leaving the employ of the Company. The employment agreements also require them to maintain the confidentiality of proprietary data relating to the Company and its activities and services. The employment agreements also provide for certain executive benefits such as the use of an automobile, reimbursement of business expenses, health insurance and related benefits.

PERFORMANCE GRAPH

The following graph compares total stockholder returns for the Company over the last five years to the CRSP Total Return Index for The NASDAQ Stock Market and for the Russell 2000 Value Index assuming a $100 investment made on December 31, 1996. The stock performance shown on the graph below is not necessarily indicative of future price performance. The closing price is used to compute the return for Abatix Corp.


  1997
  1998
  1999
  2000
  2001
  2002
 
Abatix Corp.  100  138.10  75.01   52.38  189.71  266.67
Nasdaq Total Return Index   100  141.02  262.07  157.68  125.08  86.43 
Russell 2000 Value Index  100  93.55  92.16  113.19  129.07  114.32 
 

RETIREMENT PLANS

The Company has a 401(K) Plan, pursuant to which the Company contributed $115,617, $50,046, and $46,346 during 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. At this time, Terry W. Shaver, Gary L. Cox, Frank J. Cinatl and 100 other employees are eligible to participate in the 401(K) Plan, which requires all employees to have performed services to the Company for at least one year. Contributions by an employee in any one year may not exceed the Internal Revenue Service specified limits. The Company currently contributes 50% of the employees’ contributions up to 5% of their salary on an ongoing basis, but the Board of Directors may approve an increase or a decrease in the matching portion at any time in the future.

APPOINTMENT OF THE COMPANY’S AUDITORS

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

In accordance with its written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, the Audit Committee of the Board assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibility for oversight of the quality and integrity of the accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices of the Company.

In discharging its oversight responsibility for the audit process, the Audit Committee discussed with the independent auditors all relationships between the auditors and the Company that might bear on the auditors’ independence consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, “Independence Discussions with Audit Committees,” discussed with the independent auditors any other relationships that may impact their objectivity and independence and satisfied itself as to the auditors’ independence. The Audit Committee also discussed with management and the independent auditors, the quality and adequacy of the Company’s internal controls. The Audit Committee reviewed with the independent auditors their audit plans, audit scope and identification of audit risks.

The Audit Committee discussed and reviewed with the independent auditors all communications required by generally accepted auditing standards, including those described in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended, “Communication with Audit Committees” and, with and without management present, discussed and reviewed the results of the independent auditors’ examination of the financial statements.


The Audit Committee reviewed the audited financial statements of the Company as of and for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2002, with management and the independent auditors. Management has the responsibility for the preparation of the Company’s financial statements and the independent auditors have the responsibility for the examination of those statements.

Based on the above-mentioned review and discussions with management and the independent auditors, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Company’s audited financial statements be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2002, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Audit Committee also recommended the reappointment, subject to stockholder approval, of the independent auditors and the Board concurred in such recommendation.

AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Donald N. Black, Chairman
Eric A. Young
Daniel M. Birnley

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FIRM FEES

Aggregate fees billed to the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2002, by the Company’s principal accounting firm, KPMG LLP, were as follows:

Audit Fees  $56,000
Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees  $    -
All Other Fees  $    -

The appointment of KPMG LLP as independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 will be ratified.

Although the Board of Directors of the Company is submitting the appointment of KPMG LLP for stockholder approval, it reserves the right to change the selection of KPMG LLP as auditors, at any time during the fiscal year, if it deems such change to be in the best interest of the Company, even after stockholder approval.

Representatives of KPMG LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting with the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPOINTMENT OF THE COMPANY’S AUDITORS.


INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN

OPPOSITION TO MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON

The Company is not aware of any substantial interest, direct or indirect, by securities holdings or otherwise of any officer, director or associate of the foregoing persons in any matter to be acted on, as described herein, other than elections to offices.

OTHER MATTERS

Management is not aware of any other business that may come before the meeting. However, if additional matters properly come before the meeting, proxies will be voted at the discretion of the proxy holders.

STOCKHOLDER’S PROPOSALS TO BE PRESENTED AT
THE COMPANY’S NEXT ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS

Stockholder proposals intended to be presented at the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company must be received by the Company, at its principal executive offices no later than December 31, 2003, for inclusion in the Proxy Statement and Proxy relating to the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

AVAILABILITY OF FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT

Printed copies of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, are available without charge to stockholders upon request to Mr. Frank J. Cinatl, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Abatix Corp., 8201 Eastpoint Drive, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas 75227. On-line copies are also available at the Company’s website, www.abatix.com/investor/SEC_Filings.html.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Gary L. Cox, Secretary
Dallas, Texas
April 28, 2003


ANNUAL MEETING PROXY CARD


This Proxy Is Solicited By
And On Behalf Of The Board of Directors of ABATIX CORP.
Proxy - Annual Meeting of Stockholders - May 15, 2003

The undersigned, revoking all previous proxies, hereby appoints(s) Terry W. Shaver and Gary L. Cox, or any one of them, Proxies, with full power of substitution to represent and to vote all Common Stock of Abatix Corp. owned by the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in Dallas, Texas on Thursday, May 15, 2003, including any original or subsequent adjournment thereof, with respect to the proposals set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement. No business other than matters described below is expected to come before the meeting, but should any other matter requiring a vote of stockholders arise, the persons named herein will vote thereon in accordance with their best judgment. All powers may be exercised by both of said proxies or substitutes voting or acting or, if only one votes or acts, then by that one. Receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement is hereby acknowledged. The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR Each of the Following.

1.   Election of Directors.  Nominees:   Terry W. Shaver    Gary L. Cox    Daniel M. Birnley   Donald N. Black  Eric A. Young   Frank J. Cinatl

  FOR ALL NOMINESS LISTED         OR  WITHHOLDING AUTHORITY to
      (Except as specified here:                                      vote for all nominees listed above.
)
 

2.   Proposal to Ratify the Appointment of Independent Auditors.   FOR        AGAINST        ABSTAIN

The shares represented by this proxy will be voted as directed. IF NO SPECIFIC DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES NAMES IN PROPOSAL 1 AND FOR PROPOSAL 2.


Dated
 
 

(Signature)
 
 

(Signature)
 
Where there is more than one owner, each should sign. When signing as an attorney, administrator, executor, guardian or trustee, please add your full title as such. If executed by a corporation or partnership, the proxy should be signed in the corporate or partnership name by a duly authorized officer or other duly authorized person, indicating such officer’s or person’s title.

PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.