BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC - DEF 14A - 19980320 - PROPOSAL_1
PROPOSAL 1 -- ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's certificate of incorporation divides the Board into three
classes. Each year, the directors in one of these three classes are elected to
serve a three-year term. The Board has nominated Pei-yuan Chia, Mary Johnston
Evans, Frank R. Frame, Arnold J. Levine, Ph.D., and Monroe E. Trout, M.D. for
election as directors at the 1998 Annual Meeting. All of the nominees
currently are directors of the Company. Each director elected will serve a
three-year term. If any nominee for director becomes unavailable for election,
the number of directors will be reduced.
Stockholders may nominate candidates for election as directors at an annual
meeting of stockholders by providing written notice of such nomination to the
Corporate Secretary of the Company and by complying with the related
procedures specified in the Company's bylaws. The Company's bylaws require the
notice to be submitted to the Company 60 to 90 days before the anniversary
date of the previous year's annual meeting. The bylaws also require the notice
to include specified information about the stockholder making the nomination
and specified information about the director candidate, including all
information that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement. No
nominations for director pursuant to this process were received for the 1998
Annual Meeting, and no other candidates are eligible for election as directors
at the 1998 Annual Meeting. A copy of the bylaws may be obtained from the
Corporate Secretary of the Company.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the General Counsel intend to
vote the shares represented by proxies for all of the Board's nominees, except
to the extent authority to vote for the nominees is withheld.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the election of all of the
nominees for director.
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Nominees for Election as Directors (Term Expires 2001)
[PHOTO] PEI-YUAN CHIA, age 59, has served as a director of the Company
since 1996. Mr. Chia was vice chairman of Citicorp and
Citibank, N.A., its principal subsidiary, from 1994 to 1996
when he retired. From 1993 to 1996, he served as a director of
Citicorp and Citibank, N.A., and assumed responsibility for
their global consumer business in 1992. Between 1974 and 1992,
Mr. Chia held various senior management positions in Citicorp
and Citibank, N.A. and was Citibank, N.A.'s senior customer
contact for corporate banking activities in Asia. Mr. Chia
serves as a director of American International Group, Inc. and
Case Corporation. He is a trustee of The Asia Society and of
the New York University Medical Center, both in New York City.
Mr. Chia also serves on the Wharton Graduate Executive Board
of the University of Pennsylvania and as a senior fellow at
its SEI Center for Advanced Studies in Management.
[PHOTO] MARY JOHNSTON EVANS, age 68, has served as a director of the
Company since 1986. Mrs. Evans is a director of Household
International, Inc., Sun Company, Inc., Delta Air Lines, Inc.,
The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation and Scudder New Europe Fund.
[PHOTO] FRANK R. FRAME, age 68, has served as a director of the
Company since 1992. Mr. Frame is an adviser to the board of
directors of HSBC Holdings plc, a financial institution.
Between 1976 and 1990, Mr. Frame held various senior
management positions in The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation Limited, a financial institution from which he
retired in 1990, including group legal adviser, executive
director, and deputy chairman. Mr. Frame also serves as
chairman of Wallem Group Limited, deputy chairman of Time
Products plc, and a director of Edinburgh Dragon Trust plc and
The British Investment Trust plc.
[PHOTO] ARNOLD J. LEVINE, PH.D., age 58, has served as a director of
the Company since 1994. Dr. Levine has been a professor of
biology and the chairman of the molecular biology department
at Princeton University since 1984. From 1979 to 1983, Dr.
Levine was a professor of biology and chairman of the
microbiology department at State University of New York. Since
1982, Dr. Levine has been the chairman of the Company's
scientific advisory board.
[PHOTO] MONROE E. TROUT, M.D., age 66, has served as a director of the
Company since 1995. Dr. Trout was chairman of the board,
president and chief executive officer of American Healthcare
Systems, a network of integrated health care systems, from
1987 to 1994 when he retired. He was elected president and
chief executive officer of American Healthcare Systems in
1986. Dr. Trout serves as chairman of the board of Cytyc
Corporation and as a director of Science Applications
International Corporation and The West Company, Inc.
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Directors Continuing in Office (Term Expires 1999)
[PHOTO] MARTHA R. INGRAM, age 62, has been a director of the Company
since 1987. Since 1995, Ms. Ingram has been the chairman of
the board of Ingram Industries Inc., an inland waterway
transportation company, a distributor of trade books and an
automobile insurance company. She was first elected a director
of Ingram Industries Inc. in 1981 and became its chief
executive officer in 1996. Ms. Ingram also serves as a
director of Ingram Micro, First American Corporation and
Weyerhaeuser Company.
[PHOTO] HARRY M. JANSEN KRAEMER, JR., age 43, has been a director of
the Company since 1995. Mr. Kraemer has been president of the
Company since 1997. From 1993 to 1997, he served as senior
vice president and chief financial officer of the Company.
Prior thereto, Mr. Kraemer was the vice president of finance
and operations for a subsidiary of the Company. Mr. Kraemer
also serves as a director of MedPartners, Inc., Comdisco Inc.
and Science Applications International Corporation.
[PHOTO] REED V. TUCKSON, M.D., age 47, has been a director of the
Company since 1996. Since 1997, Dr. Tuckson, an internist, has
been Group Vice President for Professional Standards at the
American Medical Association in Chicago, Illinois. From 1991
until 1997, Dr. Tuckson was president of the Charles R. Drew
University of Medicine and Science, a private academic health
sciences university. From 1990 to 1991, he was the senior vice
president for programs of the March of Dimes Birth Defects
Foundation. From 1986 to 1990, Dr. Tuckson was the
Commissioner of Public Health for the District of Columbia.
Dr. Tuckson also serves as president of the Association of
Minority Health Professional Schools.
[PHOTO] FRED L. TURNER, age 65, has been a director of the Company
since 1982. Mr. Turner is senior chairman of the board of
directors and chairman of the executive committee of
McDonald's Corporation, a restaurant licensor. Mr. Turner
previously was chairman of the board and chief executive
officer of McDonald's Corporation. He joined McDonald's in
1956. Mr. Turner also serves as a director of Ronald McDonald
House Children's Charities, Aon Corporation and W. W.
Grainger, Inc.
Directors Continuing in Office (Term Expires 2000)
[PHOTO] WALTER E. BOOMER, age 59, has been a director of the Company
since 1997. Since March 1997, General Boomer has served as
president and chief executive officer of Rogers Corporation, a
manufacturer of specialty materials in the communication,
transportation, imaging and computer markets. From 1994
through 1996, he served as executive vice president of
McDermott International Inc. and president of the Babcock &
Wilcox Power Generation Group. In 1994, General Boomer retired
as a general and assistant commandant of the United States
Marine Corps after 34 years of service. General Boomer also
serves as a director of Taylor Energy Company.
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[PHOTO] JOHN W. COLLOTON, age 67, has been a director of the Company
since 1989. From 1971 to 1993, Mr. Colloton served as the
director of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and
since 1993 he has been vice president of the University of
Iowa Statewide Health Services. Mr. Colloton also serves as a
director of Iowa State Bank & Trust, OncorMed Inc., Mid
American Energy Company, Wellmark Inc. (Iowa-South Dakota Blue
Cross and Blue Shield) and the University of Pennsylvania
Medical Center.
[PHOTO] SUSAN CROWN, age 39, has been a director of the Company since
1993. Since 1984, Ms. Crown has been a vice president of Henry
Crown and Company, which includes diversified manufacturing
operations, real estate and securities. Ms. Crown also serves
as a director of Illinois Tool Works, Inc. and The Northern
Trust Corporation.
[PHOTO] VERNON R. LOUCKS JR., age 63, has been a director of the
Company since 1975. Mr. Loucks has been chairman of the Board
of Directors since 1987 and chief executive officer of the
Company since 1980. Mr. Loucks was first elected an officer of
the Company in 1971. Mr. Loucks also serves as a director of
Affymetrix, Inc., Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., The Dun &
Bradstreet Corporation, Coastcast Corporation, Emerson
Electric Co. and The Quaker Oats Company.
[PHOTO] GEORGES C. ST. LAURENT, JR., age 61, has been a director of
the Company since 1992. From 1996 to 1998, Mr. St. Laurent
served as chairman of Western Bank, a division of Washington
Mutual, a financial institution. From 1988 to 1996, he served
as chairman and chief executive officer of Western Bank. Mr.
St. Laurent also serves as chairman of the board of Aames
Financial Corporation and as a director of Perkin Elmer
Corporation.
OPERATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Pursuant to Delaware law, under which the Company is organized, the
Company's business, property and affairs are managed under the direction of
the Board of Directors. During 1997, there were seven meetings of the Board.
Each current director attended 75% or more of the aggregate of (i) the
meetings of the Board held when he or she was a director and (ii) the meetings
held by all Board committees on which he or she served.
Committees of the Board
The Board of Directors has six committees, the duties of which are described
in the Company's bylaws.
The Executive Committee consists of three directors, a majority of whom are
not employees of the Company. The committee may exercise most of the powers of
the Board, except those reserved to
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the Board by the Company's bylaws or Delaware law. The Executive Committee did
not meet in 1997. The current members of the Executive Committee are Vernon R.
Loucks Jr. (chairman), Susan Crown and Fred L. Turner.
The Audit Committee consists of five directors who are not employees of the
Company. The committee assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibility for
the Company's accounting and financial reporting practices and provides a
channel of communication between the Board and the Company's independent
accountant. The Audit Committee met five times in 1997. The current members of
the Audit Committee are Monroe E. Trout, M.D. (chairman), John W. Colloton,
Frank R. Frame, Georges C. St. Laurent, Jr. and Fred L. Turner.
The Compensation Committee consists of four directors who are not employees
of the Company. The committee determines compensation for officers and makes
recommendations to the Board concerning compensation for the Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer and the President. It also exercises the
authority of the Board relating to the Company's employee benefit plans. The
Compensation Committee met four times in 1997. The current members of the
Compensation Committee are Georges C. St. Laurent, Jr. (chairman), Mary
Johnston Evans, Frank R. Frame and Martha R. Ingram.
The Finance Committee consists of five directors who are not employees of
the Company. Within limits established in the Company's bylaws, the committee
exercises the authority of the Board in connection with financial transactions
and assists and advises the Board regarding the financial affairs of the
Company. The Finance Committee met six times in 1997. The current members of
the Finance Committee are John W. Colloton (chairman), Pei-yuan Chia, Susan
Crown, Arnold J. Levine, Ph.D. and Reed V. Tuckson, M.D.
The Planning and Organization Committee consists of five directors who are
not employees of the Company. The committee assists and advises the Board in
connection with Board membership and Board committee structure and membership,
general organization and planning matters and corporate governance issues. The
Planning and Organization Committee considers director candidates. Under
guidelines followed by the committee, it seeks candidates with high integrity,
good judgment and breadth of experience, among other criteria. The Planning
and Organization Committee met five times in 1997. The current members of the
Planning and Organization Committee are Mary Johnston Evans (chairman), Walter
E. Boomer, Susan Crown, Monroe E. Trout, M.D. and Fred L. Turner.
The Public Policy Committee consists of five directors who are not employees
of the Company. The committee reviews the policies and practices of the
Company to ensure that they are consistent with its social responsibility to
employees, customers and society. The Public Policy Committee met three times
in 1997. The current members of the Public Policy Committee are Martha R.
Ingram (chairman), Walter E. Boomer, Pei-yuan Chia, Arnold J. Levine, Ph.D.
and Reed V. Tuckson, M.D.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Under the restricted stock plan for non-employee directors (the "Director
Stock Plan"), each non-employee director receives 3,000 restricted shares of
Common Stock upon election or re-election to a three-year term. These
restricted shares vest in 1,000-share installments on the dates of the three
annual meetings of stockholders following the date of election or re-election.
Each non-employee director receives an additional 1,000 restricted shares of
Common Stock upon election or re-election to a three-year term, pursuant to
the Director Stock Plan. These restricted shares vest at the expiration of the
director's term of office.
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Each non-employee director receives a $1,000 fee for each Board and each
committee meeting attended. Members of committees receive an annual retainer
of $3,000, and chairmen of committees receive an additional annual retainer of
$4,000, except that members of the Executive Committee do not receive a
retainer for their Executive Committee membership. Employee directors are not
compensated separately for their Board or committee activities.
Each non-employee director who retires at age 65 or after, with at least
five years of Board service, receives upon retirement 1,000 restricted shares
of Common Stock for each of his or her full years of service as a non-employee
director, pursuant to the Director Stock Plan. These restricted shares vest
six months after the grant date. Each non-employee director is eligible for
medical benefits and life insurance benefits. Medical benefit payments in 1997
totaled $1,787 for all non-employee directors. No non-employee director life
insurance benefits were paid in 1997.
Restricted stock awarded under the Director Stock Plan vests as described
above, unless specified corporate control changes occur. Until vested, the
restricted stock may not be transferred or sold by the director. During the
restriction period, the director has all of the other rights of a stockholder,
including rights to receive dividends and vote the shares.
In addition to the non-employee director compensation and benefits described
above, Arnold J. Levine, Ph.D. receives an annual consulting fee for his
services as chairman of the Company's scientific advisory board. The members
of the Company's scientific advisory board also receive, from time to time,
stock options which give them the opportunity to purchase Common Stock for a
limited period of time at the closing price of the Common Stock on the date of
grant. Dr. Levine received such a stock option grant in 1997 and has no other
outstanding stock options from the Company.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY
The following table shows, for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996, and
1995 the compensation provided by the Company and its subsidiaries to the
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and the four next most
highly compensated executive officers in all capacities in which they served.
The five individuals identified in the Summary Compensation Table are referred
to as the "named executive officers" throughout this proxy statement.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
-----------------------------------
ANNUAL COMPENSATION AWARDS PAYOUTS
------------------------------ --------------------- -------------
OTHER ALL
ANNUAL RESTRICTED SECURITIES OTHER
COMPEN- STOCK UNDERLYING COMPEN-
BONUS SATION AWARD(S) OPTIONS LTIP SATION
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY($)(1) ($)(1) ($)(2) ($)(3) (#)(4) PAYOUTS($)(5) ($)(6)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VERNON R. LOUCKS JR. 1997 $819,000 $950,000 $404,554 -0- 107,000 $6,196,398 $52,788
Chairman of the Board and 1996 $751,000 $800,000 $325,592 -0- 396,600 $1,774,234 $50,016
Chief Executive Officer 1995 $751,000 $800,000 $321,763 -0- 118,999 -0- $49,110
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARRY M. JANSEN KRAEMER, JR. 1997 $476,808 $600,000 $ 50,094 -0- 42,400 $1,184,323 $24,097
President 1996 $352,231 $320,000 $ 7,685 -0- 133,300 $ 340,956 $17,891
1995 $288,577 $240,000 $ 5,634 -0- 38,019 -0- $15,504
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DONALD W. JOSEPH 1997 $345,000 $275,000 $ 10,739 -0- 25,000 $ 566,817 $17,407
Group Vice President 1996 $306,000 $210,000 $ 11,920 -0- 107,900 $ 340,956 $15,108
Baxter Healthcare
Corporation 1995 $286,000 $175,000 $ 5,488 -0- 24,379 -0- $14,419
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JACK L. MCGINLEY 1997 $345,000 $275,000 $ 374 -0- 25,000 $ 565,959 $17,397
Group Vice President 1996 $311,538 $220,000 -- -0- 107,700 $ 340,956 $14,824
Baxter Healthcare
Corporation 1995 $277,500 $170,000 -- -0- 24,272 -0- $14,444
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARTHUR F. STAUBITZ (7) 1997 $321,000 $235,000 $ 9,688 -0- 20,000 $ 528,756 $17,536
Senior Vice President 1996 $302,000 $240,000 $ 3,692 -0- 96,600 $ 315,700 $15,869
1995 $280,000 $216,500 $ 106 -0- 25,024 -0- $14,400
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(1) Amounts shown include cash compensation earned by the named executive
officers during the year covered, including amounts deferred at the
election of those officers. Bonuses are paid in the year following the
year during which they are earned.
(2) As permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC") rules
regarding disclosure of executive compensation in proxy statements, this
column excludes perquisites and other personal benefits for the named
executive officer if their total cost in each of 1997, 1996 and 1995 did
not exceed the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of the total of annual salary and
bonus reported for the named executive officer for each of those years.
Accordingly, for all of the named executive officers except Mr. Loucks,
perquisites and other personal benefits have been excluded and the amounts
shown represent amounts reimbursed for the payment of taxes. Of the 1997,
1996, and 1995 amounts shown for Mr. Loucks, $112,636, $168,600 and
$170,755, respectively, represent the approximate incremental cost to the
Company of his use of Company aircraft for personal travel, which the
Company required for security reasons.
(3) Based on the $50.4375 closing price of the Common Stock on December 31,
1997, the number and value of the aggregate restricted stock holdings of
the named executive officers on that date are as follows: Mr. Loucks--
110,747 shares ($5,585,802); Mr. Kraemer--52,519 shares ($2,648,927); Mr.
Joseph--36,982 shares ($1,865,280); Mr. McGinley--21,179 shares
($1,068,216); and Mr. Staubitz--19,517 shares ($984,389). Dividends are
payable on all outstanding shares of restricted stock held by all Company
executives at the same rate and time and in the same form in which
dividends are payable on all outstanding shares of Common Stock.
(4) No Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) were granted by the Company in 1997,
1996 or 1995, and there are no outstanding SARs held by any employee or
director of the Company. The number shown represents the number of shares
of Common Stock for which options were granted to the named executive
officer.
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(5) Amounts shown represent the market value of earned restricted stock which
vested, under the Company's 1989 Long-Term Incentive Plan, on December 31,
1997 and 1996 (each a "Vesting Date"). The vested shares were earned as of
the December 31 preceding each Vesting Date. Mr. Loucks' 1997 amount also
includes 65,000 additional shares of restricted stock which he earned over
the five-year period ended December 31, 1996 and which vested on December
31, 1997. These shares were granted to Mr. Loucks in 1992 in lieu of
salary and bonus increases for the five-year period.
(6) Amounts shown represent the Company matching contributions in the
Company's Incentive Investment Plan, a qualified section 401(k) profit
sharing plan, additional matching contributions in the Company's deferred
compensation plan and the dollar value of split-dollar life insurance
benefits. Those three amounts, expressed in the same order as identified
above, for the named executive officers are as follows: Mr. Loucks--1997
($4,800, $43,770 and $4,218), 1996 ($4,500, $42,030 and $3,486) and 1995
($4,500, $42,030 and $2,580); Mr. Kraemer--1997 ($4,800, $19,104 and
$193), 1996 ($4,500, $13,267 and $124) and 1995 ($4,500, $10,907 and $97);
Mr. Joseph--1997 ($4,800, $11,850 and $757), 1996 ($4,500, $9,930 and
$678) and 1995 ($4,500, $9,330 and $589); Mr. McGinley--1997 ($4,800,
$12,150 and $447), 1996 ($4,500, $9,946 and $378) and 1995 ($4,500, $9,675
and $269); and Mr. Staubitz--1997 ($4,800, $12,030 and $706), 1996
($4,500, $11,055 and $314) and 1995 ($4,500, $9,900 and $0).
(7) Mr. Staubitz also served as the Company's General Counsel until December
1997.
STOCK OPTION GRANTS
The following table contains information relating to the stock option grants
made in 1997 to the named executive officers.
OPTION GRANTS TABLE
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR (1)
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
------------------------------------------------------ POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE AT
PERCENT OF ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES OF
NUMBER OF TOTAL OPTIONS STOCK PRICE APPRECIATION
SECURITIES GRANTED TO EXERCISE OR FOR OPTION TERM
UNDERLYING EMPLOYEES IN BASE PRICE EXPIRATION ----------------------------------------
NAME OPTIONS GRANTED FISCAL YEAR(2) ($/SH)(3)(7) DATE 0% ($) 5% ($)(4) 10% ($)(4)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Loucks 107,000 2.5% $47.125 11/16/07 $ 0 $ 3,581,290 $ 8,036,235
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Kraemer 42,400 1.0% $47.125 11/16/07 $ 0 $ 1,419,128 $ 3,184,452
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Joseph 25,000 0.6% $47.125 11/16/07 $ 0 $ 836,750 $ 1,877,625
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. McGinley 25,000 0.6% $47.125 11/16/07 $ 0 $ 836,750 $ 1,877,625
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Staubitz 20,000 0.5% $47.125 11/16/07 $ 0 $ 669,400 $ 1,502,100
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Stockholders N/A N/A N/A N/A $ 0 $9,372,907,338(5) $21,032,333,601(5)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Optionees 4,200,000 100% N/A N/A $ 0 $ 140,574,000(6) $ 315,441,000(6)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Optionee Gain as % of
All Stockholders'
Gain N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 1.50% 1.50%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) No Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) were granted by the Company in 1997.
(2) In 1997, the Company granted options on approximately 4.2 million shares
of Common Stock to approximately 2,700 employees at various exercise
prices at different times during the year.
(3) The exercise price shown is the closing price of the Common Stock on the
date of the grant, which was November 18, 1997.
(4) Potential realizable values are calculated net of the option exercise
price but before taxes associated with exercise. The assumed rates of
stock price appreciation are set by the SEC rules governing proxy
statement disclosure and are not intended to forecast the future
appreciation of the Common Stock.
(5) The potential realizable values for all stockholders were calculated based
on the approximately 280,039,060 shares of Common Stock outstanding on
December 31, 1997. The potential realizable values were calculated
assuming the stockholders purchased the Common Stock at $47.125, the
closing price of the Common Stock on November 18, 1997.
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(6) The potential realizable values for all optionees were calculated based on
the approximately 4.2 million options granted to employees of the Company
at various exercise prices at different times of the year. The potential
realizable values were calculated assuming that all of these options were
granted at the $47.125 exercise price.
(7) All options shown in this table as granted to the named executive officers
become exercisable three years from the date of grant. Some optionees
received options that become exercisable five years from the date of
grant, subject to accelerated vesting in certain circumstances. The
exercise price may be paid in cash or shares of Common Stock. If specified
corporate control changes occur, all outstanding options will become
exercisable immediately.
STOCK OPTION EXERCISES
None of the named executive officers exercised stock options in 1997. The
following table shows the number and value of the unexercised options held by
the named executive officers as of December 31, 1997.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES (1)
NUMBER OF SECURITIES VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY
OPTIONS AT OPTIONS AT
FISCAL YEAR-END (#)(2) FISCAL YEAR END ($)(3)
SHARES ACQUIRED VALUE ------------------------- -------------------------
NAME ON EXERCISE (#) REALIZED ($) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Loucks -0- N/A 291,546 503,600 $6,029,983 $1,808,250
Mr. Kraemer -0- N/A 67,560 175,700 $1,405,583 $ 659,669
Mr. Joseph -0- N/A 63,887 132,900 $1,386,929 $ 602,031
Mr. McGinley -0- N/A 56,222 132,700 $1,125,159 $ 602,031
Mr. Staubitz -0- N/A 35,441 116,600 $ 667,632 $ 481,625
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) No Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) were exercised by any Company employee
in 1997, and there are no outstanding SARs held by any employee or
director of the Company.
(2) The sum of the numbers under the Exercisable and Unexercisable columns of
this heading represents each named executive officer's total number of
outstanding options.
(3) The dollar amounts shown under the Exercisable and Unexercisable columns
of this heading represent the number of exercisable and unexercisable
options, respectively, which were "in-the-money" on December 31, 1997,
multiplied by the difference between the closing price of the Common Stock
on December 31, 1997, which was $50.4375 per share, and the exercise price
of the options. For purposes of these calculations, in-the-money options
are those with an exercise price below $50.4375 per share.
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors determined that
participants in the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Incentive Plan")
would not be eligible to earn any restricted stock during 1997 under the
Incentive Plan. Accordingly, no shares of restricted stock were granted to or
earned by the named executive officers under the Incentive Plan in 1997. After
reviewing the long-term incentive plans of comparable companies, the
Compensation Committee adopted a new Incentive Plan, and Proposal 4 in this
proxy statement seeks stockholder approval of this new plan. See pages 22-23
for more information about the new Incentive Plan and the recommended
stockholder approval.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors during 1997 consisted
of Georges C. St. Laurent, Jr. (chairman), Mary Johnston Evans, Frank R. Frame
and Martha R. Ingram.
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee"),
comprised of four non-employee directors, establishes and monitors the total
compensation program for the senior executives of the Company and its
subsidiaries.
Compensation Philosophy for Executive Officers
The Committee's philosophy is to provide compensation opportunities which
are structured to be competitive when compared to manufacturing companies of
similar size, including health care and non-health care companies. This
philosophy is intended to assist the Company in attracting, retaining and
motivating executives with superior leadership and management abilities.
Consistent with this philosophy, the Committee reviews compensation data from
surveys whose participants include the large companies in the Standard &
Poor's Medical Products and Supplies Index and other large non-health care
companies with which the Company and its subsidiaries compete for executive
talent ("comparable companies"). Based on the survey data, the Committee
determines a total compensation structure for each officer, including Mr.
Loucks, consisting primarily of salary, cash bonus, restricted stock, and
stock options. The proportions of these elements of compensation vary among
the officers depending upon their levels of responsibility. The senior
executive officers ordinarily receive a larger portion of their total
compensation through performance-based incentive plans, which place a greater
percentage of their compensation at risk while more closely aligning their
interests with the interests of the Company's stockholders.
The Committee's philosophy with respect to the $1 million cap on the tax-
deductibility of executive compensation is to maximize the benefit of tax laws
for the Company's stockholders by seeking performance-based exemptions and the
related stockholder approval where consistent with the Company's compensation
policies and practices. Proposals 3 and 4 in this proxy statement seek
stockholder approval of the Company's 1998 Incentive Compensation Program and
Long-Term Incentive Plan, respectively, for this purpose. See pages 18-23 for
more information about these proposals and the recommended stockholder
approvals.
Compensation Elements
Salaries
The Committee establishes salaries each year at a level intended to be
competitive with the 50th percentile of salaries paid to executive officers in
comparable companies. In addition, officer salaries are based on the officer's
individual performance and experience in the position. For this reason, actual
salaries for some executive officers are below the 50th percentile due to the
Company's practice of adjusting salaries over time rather than immediately
when there are promotions into executive officer positions.
Cash Bonuses
Bonuses are intended to provide executive officers with an opportunity to
receive additional cash compensation (which, when combined with salary,
provides total cash compensation up to the 60th percentile of total cash
compensation paid to executives in comparable companies), but only if they
earn it through achievement of specified Company performance goals. Each year,
the Committee establishes a bonus range for each executive officer by
utilizing the market data of comparable companies. The Committee also
establishes Company performance goals and incorporates them in the officer
cash bonus plan. After year-end results are reported, the Committee determines
each officer's
11
bonus based on the Company's achievement of the specified performance goals
and the officer's individual performance. The Company outperformed its net
income growth and operational cash flow goals for 1997. Consequently, actual
bonuses for 1997 ranged from 80 percent to 120 percent of the high end of the
executive officers' respective bonus ranges.
Long-Term Incentives
Since 1989, the Company has maintained a Long-Term Incentive Plan (the
"Incentive Plan") in which all executive officers and other selected
executives participate. The Incentive Plan has always been maintained under
one of the Company's stockholder-approved compensation programs. The Incentive
Plan incorporates performance-based restricted stock grants which participants
are eligible to earn in annual installments if the Company achieves the
specified Company performance goals established by the Committee and
incorporated in the plan.
For 1997, the Committee decided that no participants would be eligible to
earn any restricted stock under the Incentive Plan. The 1997 plan hiatus gave
the Committee the opportunity to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the
Company's Incentive Plan compared to the long-term incentive opportunities
offered by comparable companies. That review has now been completed, and the
Committee has adopted a new Incentive Plan for the Company. Proposal 4 in this
proxy statement seeks stockholder approval of the new Incentive Plan. See
pages 22-23 for more information about the new Incentive Plan and the
recommended stockholder approval.
The new Incentive Plan incorporates a combination of performance-based
restricted stock and stock options. The combined grant value of the restricted
stock and stock options is intended to be competitive with the 67th percentile
of the long-term incentive opportunities provided to the participants'
counterparts in comparable companies. The mix of restricted stock and stock
options also is designed to be competitive with comparable companies. Each
plan participant's total long-term incentive opportunity represents a mix of
approximately 35 percent performance-based restricted stock and 65 percent
stock options. The restricted stock and stock options provided through the
Incentive Plan are explained below.
Restricted Stock
Each participant in the Incentive Plan has a target number of restricted
shares that can be earned annually if the Company achieves specified
performance goals established by the Committee and incorporated in the plan.
The number of shares earned is then adjusted up or down based on the Company's
total rate of return to stockholders for the year compared to the total rate
of return achieved by the Standard & Poor's Medical Products and Supplies
Index for the same year. The shares ordinarily vest one year after they are
earned, if the participant remains employed by the Company or one of its
subsidiaries.
Stock Options
Stock options are granted annually to executive officers and the other
participants in the Incentive Plan. The number of stock options granted to
each executive officer and other participants in the Incentive Plan is
determined in combination with the participant's annual target award of
restricted stock based on market compensation data, as explained above under
"--Long-Term Incentives." Stock options represent an additional vehicle for
aligning management's and stockholders' interests, specifically motivating
executives to remain focused on the market value of the Common Stock in
addition to the specified performance goals in the cash bonus plan and
Incentive Plan.
12
Mr. Loucks' 1997 Compensation
Mr. Loucks participates in the same compensation plans provided to other
executive officers. The Committee's general approach to setting Mr. Loucks'
compensation is to be competitive with comparable companies and to have a
majority of his compensation dependent on achievement of both Company
performance goals established by the Committee and the performance of the
Common Stock. All compensation actions relating to Mr. Loucks are subject to
the approval of the Board. The actions described in this report have been
approved.
In 1997, Mr. Loucks received a salary increase for the first time since
1991. Until 1997, his salary was capped at its 1991 level, and his bonus was
capped at its 1990 level, in exchange for 65,000 shares of performance based
restricted stock which he earned over the five-year period beginning in 1992.
The 65,000 earned shares vested on December 31, 1997. Mr. Loucks' salary for
1997, which was $819,000, was established based on the Committee's desire to
target the 50th percentile of salaries paid to Mr. Loucks' counterparts in
comparable companies.
The Committee also determined that Mr. Loucks earned a bonus of $950,000 for
1997 because the Company outperformed its net income growth and operational
cash flow goals for 1997. The Company's success in 1997 reflects Mr. Loucks'
continued commitment to the Company's strategy of global expansion and
technological innovation.
Mr. Loucks, like other participants in the Incentive Plan, was not eligible
to earn any portion of his annual target award of restricted stock in the
Incentive Plan for 1997 performance, as explained above. Mr. Loucks' new
annual target award of restricted stock in the new Incentive Plan is 15,200
shares. This represents a significant reduction from the annual target award
of 28,100 shares under the prior Incentive Plan. The Committee approved this
reduction in order to realign the incentives offered to participants in the
Incentive Plan to provide more financial opportunity through stock options and
less through restricted stock. The Committee believes that this realignment is
consistent with the compensation practices of comparable companies. If the
Incentive Plan is not approved by the Company's stockholders, it will be
terminated and no awards under the Incentive Plan will be made to any of the
named executive officers.
Mr. Loucks also received a stock option for 107,000 shares of Common Stock
in November 1997. The number of stock options granted to Mr. Loucks in 1997
was determined in combination with his new annual target award of restricted
stock under the Incentive Plan, as explained in the preceding paragraph.
Relationship of Executive Compensation to Company Performance
The Committee believes that management should be motivated and compensated
based on the Company's financial and Common Stock performance. For this
reason, the Committee has historically emphasized the goals of net income
growth, operational cash flow and Common Stock performance when determining
compensation for all executive officers, as explained above. The Committee
believes that strong financial performance, as expressed by net income growth,
operational cash flow and Common Stock performance, were the appropriate focus
for 1997. For 1998, the Committee has added sales growth as a performance goal
in the new Incentive Plan. The Common Stock returns improved in 1997 despite
the continuing pressure on health-care costs. Total shareholder return, stock
price plus dividend, rose 26 percent during 1997. Over the last four years,
total shareholder return has increased at a compound annual growth rate of 27
percent--significantly higher than the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the
Standard & Poor's 500.
Georges C. St. Laurent, Jr. (Chairman)
Mary Johnston Evans Frank R. Frame Martha R. Ingram
13
PENSION PLAN, EXCESS PLANS AND SUPPLEMENTAL PLANS
The following table shows estimated annual retirement benefits payable to
participants in the Company's United States pension plan ("Pension Plan")
whose employment terminates at normal retirement (age 65). The normal
retirement benefit equals 1.75 percent of the average of an employee's five
highest consecutive calendar years of earnings out of his or her last ten
calendar years of earnings ("Final Average Pay"), multiplied by the employee's
years of Pension Plan participation. In general, the earnings covered by the
Pension Plan include salary, annual cash bonuses and other regular pay. The
figures shown include benefits payable under the Pension Plan, the Company's
related defined benefit excess pension plan and supplemental plans for certain
individuals. The estimates assume that benefit payments begin at age 65 under
a single life annuity form. The figures are net of the Social Security offset
specified by the Pension Plan's benefit formula and therefore do not include
Social Security benefits payable from the federal government. The primary
Social Security amount used in the calculations is that payable for an
individual attaining age 65 in 1997.
Although age 65 is the normal retirement age under the Pension Plan, the
Pension Plan has early retirement provisions based on a point system. Under
the point system, each participant is awarded one point for each year of
Pension Plan participation and one point for each year of age. Participants
who terminate employment after accumulating at least 65 points, and who wait
to begin receiving their Pension Plan benefits until they have 85 points,
receive an unreduced Pension Plan benefit regardless of their actual age when
they begin receiving their Pension Plan benefits.
(1) As of December 31, 1997, the named executive officers' years of Pension
Plan participation and Final Average Pay for purposes of calculating
annual retirement benefits payable under the Pension Plan are as follows:
Mr. Loucks--31 years and $1,448,866; Mr. Kraemer--14 years and $506,446;
Mr. Joseph--30 years and $461,008; Mr. McGinley--32 years and $450,002 and
Mr. Staubitz--17 years and $426,635.
(2) Before 1995, Mr. McGinley managed operations of the Company's subsidiaries
in Canada and Japan. While he resided in those two countries, he did not
accrue benefits in the Pension Plan. In 1995, in recognition of Mr.
McGinley's service for the Company outside the United States, the Company
provided Mr. McGinley with a non-qualified and unfunded pension
supplement. The pension supplement will provide Mr. McGinley with the
difference between (i) his actual accrued benefits under the Pension Plan
and the Company's
14
Canadian Pension Plan and (ii) the benefit he would have accrued under the
Pension Plan if his service in Canada and Japan were included in the
Pension Plan. Also, the pension supplement provides him with five
additional years of Pension Plan participation and five additional years of
age. The 32 years of Pension Plan participation shown for Mr. McGinley
includes the five additional years which he received through the pension
supplement. The pension supplement is payable to Mr. McGinley at the same
time he begins to receive his actual accrued benefit under the Pension
Plan.
COMPANY FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
The following graph compares the performance of the Common Stock with the
Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Index and the Standard & Poor's Medical
Products and Supplies Index. The comparison of total return (change in year
end stock price plus reinvested dividends) for each of the years assumes that
$100 was invested on December 31, 1992 in each of the Company, the Standard &
Poor's 500 Index and the Standard & Poor's Medical Index with investment
weighted on the basis of market capitalization. The 1996 Company dividend
includes the Allegiance Corporation stock dividend distributed in connection
with the spin-off of Allegiance Corporation by the Company on September 30,
1996. Historical results are not necessarily indicative of future performance.
[GRAPHIC CHART APPEARS HERE]
12/92 12/93 12/94 12/95 12/96 12/97
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baxter International Inc. $100 $78 $94 $144 $164 $207
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S&P 500 Index 100 110 112 153 189 252
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S&P Medical Products
and Supplies Index 100 76 90 153 175 219
Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
executive officers and directors to report to the SEC their ownership of the
Company's equity securities when they are first elected, and to report
subsequent changes in their ownership. Donald W. Joseph, an executive officer
of one of the Company's principal subsidiaries, inadvertently filed a Form 4
late. The Form 4, which reported one transaction for the sale of Common Stock
in August 1997, was filed in October 1997 instead of September 1997.
OWNERSHIP OF COMPANY SECURITIES
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
beneficial ownership of Common Stock by each director, nominee for director and
named executive officer, individually, and by all directors, nominees for
director and executive officers of the Company as a group, as of February 20,
1998. As of that date, no director, nominee for director or named executive
officer beneficially owned more than 1.0% of the outstanding Common Stock. All
directors, nominees for director and executive officers as a group owned
approximately 1.3% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock as of February 20,
1998. Except as otherwise indicated in the footnotes to the table, each
individual has sole investment and voting power with respect to the shares of
Common Stock set forth in the table. There are no outstanding equity securities
of the Company other than its Common Stock.
NUMBER OF SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK
BENEFICIALLY
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED(1)(2)(3)
------------------------------------------------
Walter E. Boomer 4,260
Pei-yuan Chia 4,380(4)
John W. Colloton 6,398(5)
Susan Crown 17,000(6)
Mary Johnston Evans 7,134
Frank R. Frame 4,565
Martha R. Ingram 36,000
Donald W. Joseph 243,466(5)
Harry M. Jansen Kraemer, Jr. 282,677(4)(5)
Arnold J. Levine, Ph.D. 6,386(5)
Vernon R. Loucks Jr. 728,665(5)
Jack L. McGinley 224,735
Georges C. St. Laurent, Jr. 255,165
Arthur F. Staubitz 178,346(4)
Monroe E. Trout, M.D. 5,100(7)
Reed V. Tuckson, M.D. 4,130
Fred L. Turner 9,539
All directors, nominees and
executive officers as a group
(34 persons) 3,558,411(4)(5)
------------------------------------------------
(1) Includes shares issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60
days of February 20, 1998 as follows: Mr. Joseph--63,887 shares; Mr.
Kraemer--67,560 shares; Mr. Loucks--172,748 shares; Mr. McGinley--56,222
shares; Mr. Staubitz--35,441 shares; and all directors, nominees and
executive officers as a group--988,558 shares.
(2) Includes shares which the individual has a right to acquire within 60 days
of February 20, 1998 pursuant to his or her participation in the Company's
Employee Stock Purchase Plan as follows: Mr. Joseph--190 shares; Mr.
Kraemer--280 shares; Mr. Loucks--90 shares; Mr. McGinley--190 shares; Mr.
Staubitz--180 shares; and all directors, nominees and executive officers
as group--2,675 shares.
16
(3) Includes shares beneficially owned as of January 31, 1998 by executive
officers under the Company's Incentive Investment Plan, a qualified 401(k)
profit sharing plan, over which such executive officers have voting and
investment power.
(4) Includes shares held in joint tenancy with spouse over which the named
individual shares investment and voting power as follows: Mr. Chia--1,000
shares; Mr. Kraemer--37,258 shares; Mr. Staubitz--23,388 shares; and all
directors, nominees and executive officers as a group--195,911 shares.
(5) Includes shares not held directly by the named individual but held by or
for the benefit of their spouses or minor children as follows: Mr.
Colloton--1,080 shares; Mr. Joseph--1,790 shares; Mr. Kraemer--170 shares;
Dr. Levine--2,200 shares; Mr. Loucks--3,750 shares; and all directors,
nominees and executive officers as a group--15,162 shares.
(6) Includes 4,000 shares held in a trust of which Ms. Crown is a co-trustee
and 1,000 shares held by a family partnership of which Ms. Crown is a
partner. Ms. Crown disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.
(7) Includes 3,100 shares held in a family trust with respect to which Dr.
Trout disclaims beneficial ownership.
As of December 31, 1997, the following persons were the beneficial owners of
five percent or more of the Company's Common Stock:
AMOUNT AND PERCENT
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL NATURE OF OF
OWNER BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP CLASS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FMR Corp. (1) 15,768,263 5.63%
Edward C. Johnson III
Abigail P. Johnson
82 Devonshire Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Putnam Investments, Inc. (2) 14,882,127 5.00%
Putnam Investment Management, Inc.
The Putnam Advisory Company, Inc.
One Post Office Square
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Based solely on information contained in the Schedule 13G filed with the
SEC by FMR Corp. ("FMR") on behalf of itself, Edward C. Johnson III and
Abigail P. Johnson. FMR reported that it had sole power to (a) vote or
direct the vote of 999,543 shares and (b) dispose or direct the disposition
of 15,768,263 shares. Pursuant to the rules under the Exchange Act, FMR is
deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares shown because it is the
parent company of various investment management companies which exercise
discretionary investment management authority over accounts holding such
shares. No managed account alone owns more than 5% of the Common Stock.
Edward C. Johnson III and Abigail P. Johnson may be deemed to be beneficial
owners of the shares shown because of their ownership of FMR Class B Common
Stock and the executive or director positions they hold with FMR.
(2) Based solely on information contained in the Schedule 13G filed with the
SEC by Putnam Investments, Inc. ("PI") on behalf of itself, its parent
company, Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. ("MMC"), and two investment
management subsidiaries of PI, Putnam Investment Management, Inc. ("PIM")
and The Putnam Advisory Company, Inc. ("PAC"). PI and PAC reported that
they had shared power to vote or direct the vote of 144,235 shares, and PI,
PIM and PAC reported that they had shared power to dispose or direct the
disposition of 14,882,127 shares. MMC reported no beneficial ownership of
any of these shares. Pursuant to the rules under the Exchange Act, PI, PIM
and PAC are deemed to be the beneficial owners of the shares shown because
PIM and PAC have dispository power over these shares as investment
managers, and PAC has shared voting power with various mutual funds over
the shares held by each fund.
17
PROPOSAL 2 -- APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT
The Board has reappointed Price Waterhouse LLP as independent accountant for
the Company in 1998. The Board recommends that the appointment be ratified. If
the resolution is not adopted, the Board will consider the selection of another
public accounting firm for 1998 and future years.
Fees for services performed by Price Waterhouse LLP during 1997 related to
the audit of the consolidated annual financial statements, including statutory
audits of foreign subsidiaries, aggregated approximately $2.6 million. In
addition to the audit of the consolidated financial statements, Price
Waterhouse LLP performed other audit related services, including: audits of
employee benefit plans, limited reviews of quarterly financial information,
reviews of officers' compensation, assistance with regulatory filings,
acquisition and divestiture reviews, and consultations in connection with
various financial reporting and accounting matters. Fees for these other audit
related services in 1997 aggregated approximately $836,000, and fees for other
consulting services in 1997 aggregated approximately $3.4 million.
A representative from Price Waterhouse LLP will attend the 1998 Annual
Meeting and will be prepared to respond to questions. The representative may
make a statement at the meeting if he or she so desires.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR ratification of the selection of
Price Waterhouse LLP as independent accountant for 1998.
PROPOSAL 3 -- ADOPTION OF THE 1998 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM
On February 17, 1998, the Board of Directors adopted the 1998 Incentive
Compensation Program (the "Program"), subject to approval by the Company's
stockholders. The Program is essentially identical to the 1994 Incentive
Compensation Program, which the Company's stockholders approved at the 1994
Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The complete text of the Program is included as
Exhibit A to this proxy statement. The following summary of the Program is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text.
GENERAL
The purpose of the Program is to increase stockholder value and to advance
the interests of the Company by providing a variety of economic incentives
("Incentives") designed to attract, retain and motivate employees of the
Company. Incentives may consist of the following: (a) stock options; (b)
restricted stock; (c) stock awards; (d) performance shares; and (e) other
incentives, including cash. Incentives may be granted to any employee of the
Company (including directors of the Company who are also employees of the
Company) selected from time to time by the Committee. As of December 31, 1997,
the Company had approximately 41,600 employees.
The Program will be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board
of Directors (the "Committee"). The Committee must consist of two or more
directors who qualify as disinterested persons under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange
Act and as outside directors under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code,
as amended (the "Code"). Section 162(m) prevents a publicly-traded corporation
from taking a tax deduction for certain compensation in excess of $1 million
per year which it or any subsidiary pays to specified executives. Those
specified executives are the Chief Executive Officer and the four next most
highly compensated executive officers for whom proxy disclosure is required
("Covered Employees"). Certain compensation, including compensation based on
the attainment of performance goals, is excluded from the deduction limit and,
therefore, is
18
deductible even if it exceeds $1 million per year. To qualify for this
performance-based exemption, the material terms pursuant to which the
compensation is to be paid, including the performance goals and the maximum
amount payable to the Covered Employees, must be approved by the stockholders
before payments are made.
The number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued under the Program
may not exceed 10,000,000 shares. This represents approximately 3.6% of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock on March 6, 1998. The closing market price
of the Common Stock on March 6, 1998 was $55.375 per share.
STOCK OPTIONS
Under the Program, the Committee may grant non-qualified and incentive stock
options to eligible employees to purchase shares of Common Stock from the
Company. The Program gives the Committee discretion, with respect to any such
stock option, to determine the number and purchase price of the shares subject
to the option, the term of each option and the time or times during its term
when the option becomes exercisable, subject to the following limitations. No
stock option may be granted with a purchase price less than the fair market
value of the shares subject to the option on the date of grant. The term of a
non-qualified option may not exceed 10 years and one day from the date of
grant. The term of an incentive stock option may not exceed ten years from the
date of the grant, and no incentive stock option may be transferred other than
by will or the laws of descent and distribution. No person may receive, in any
calendar year, stock options which, in the aggregate, represent more than
500,000 shares of Common Stock. Payment of the option price will be made in
such form and manner as the Committee may approve.
RESTRICTED STOCK
Restricted stock consists of the sale or transfer by the Company to an
eligible employee of one or more shares of Common Stock which are subject to
restrictions on their sale or other transfer by the employee. The price, if
any, at which restricted stock will be sold will be determined by the
Committee, and it may vary from time to time and among employees and may
require no payment or be less than the fair market value of the shares at the
date of sale. All shares of restricted stock granted to executive officers of
the Company and its principal subsidiaries will be subject to the attainment of
performance goals designed to satisfy the requirements under Section 162(m) of
the Code and other restrictions as the Committee may determine. Subject to
these restrictions and the other requirements of the Program, a participant
receiving restricted stock will have the rights of a stockholder (including
voting and dividend rights) as to those shares only to the extent the Committee
designates such rights at the time of the grant. No person may receive, in any
calendar year, more than 50,000 shares of restricted stock. The Committee, in
its sole discretion, may substitute cash for shares of Common Stock otherwise
required to be distributed.
STOCK AWARDS
Stock awards consists of the transfer by the Company to an eligible employee
of shares of Common Stock, without payment, as additional compensation for his
or her services to the Company or a subsidiary of the Company. Stock awards are
subject to the following limitations. No executive officers of the Company or
its principal subsidiaries may receive a stock award, and no person eligible to
receive a stock award may receive a stock award representing more than 2,500
shares of Common Stock in any calendar year.
19
PERFORMANCE SHARES
Performance shares consist of the grant by the Company to an eligible
employee of a contingent right to receive payment of shares of Common Stock.
Each performance share entitles the participant to one share of Common Stock,
subject to the attainment of performance goals and other terms and conditions
specified by the Committee. The performance shares will be paid in shares of
Common Stock (or cash, in the discretion of the Committee) to the extent
performance goals set forth in the grant are achieved. All performance shares
granted to executive officers of the Company and its principal subsidiaries
will be subject to the attainment of performance goals designed to satisfy the
requirements under Section 162(m) of the Code. The number of shares granted and
the performance goals will be determined by the Committee. No person may
receive, in any calendar year, more than 50,000 performance shares.
OTHER INCENTIVES
Other Incentives may consist of a payment in cash or in kind by the Company
to an eligible employee as additional compensation for his or her services to
the Company or a subsidiary of the Company. The form, amount and the terms and
conditions of other Incentives will be determined by the Committee. All other
Incentives granted to executive officers of the Company and its principal
subsidiaries will be subject to the attainment of performance goals designed to
satisfy the requirements under Section 162(m) of the Code.
SECTION 162(M) PERFORMANCE GOALS
Under the Program, all grants of restricted stock, performance shares, and
other Incentives granted to executive officers of the Company and its principal
subsidiaries will be subject to the attainment of performance goals in
compliance with the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code. The regulations
under Section 162(m) require the performance goals related to grants under the
Program to be approved separately by the Company's stockholders. The Company
expects to submit, for stockholder approval, the performance goals related to
grants under the Program, to the extent that stockholder approval is required
under Section 162(m). No grants have been made under the Program.
NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF MOST INCENTIVES
No restricted stock, performance share or other Incentive granted under the
Program will be transferable by its holder, except in the event of the holder's
death, by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Non-qualified stock
options may be transferred by the holder to the limited extent authorized by
the rules and procedures established by the Committee from time to time or by
will or the laws of descent and distribution.
AMENDMENT OF THE PROGRAM
The Board of Directors may amend or discontinue the Program at any time.
However, no amendment or discontinuance may (a) alter or impair, without the
consent of the recipient, an Incentive previously granted or (b) result in a
change which would disqualify awards made under the Program from the exemption
provided by Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act. In addition, the Board of Directors
may not amend the Program without approval of the Company's stockholders to the
extent such approval is required by law, agreement or any exchange on which the
Common Stock is traded.
20
ACCELERATION OF INCENTIVES
In the event of a change in control of the Company (as specified in the
Program), the restrictions on all outstanding shares of restricted stock will
lapse immediately, all outstanding stock options will become exercisable
immediately and all performance goals will be deemed to be met and payment made
immediately. The change in control provision in the Program is identical to the
change in control provision in the 1994 Incentive Compensation Program.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
Under existing federal income tax provisions, an employee who receives a
stock option or performance shares under the Program or who purchases or
receives shares of restricted stock under the Program will not normally realize
any income, nor will the Company normally receive any deduction for federal
income tax purposes in the year such incentive is granted. An employee who
receives a stock award under the Program consisting of shares of Common Stock
will realize ordinary income in the year of the award in an amount equal to the
fair market value of the shares of Common Stock covered by the award on the
date it is made, and the Company will be entitled to a deduction equal to the
amount the employee is required to treat as ordinary income. An employee who
receives a cash award will realize ordinary income at the time the award is
paid equal to the amount received, and the amount of the cash is expected to be
deductible by the Company.
When a non-qualified stock option granted pursuant to the Program is
exercised, the employee will realize ordinary income measured by the difference
between the aggregate purchase price of the shares of Common Stock as to which
the option is exercised and the aggregate fair market value of shares of the
Common Stock on the exercise date, and the Company will be entitled to a
deduction in the year the option is exercised equal to the amount the employee
is required to treat as ordinary income.
Options which qualify as incentive stock options are entitled to special tax
treatment. Because the capital gains rate is currently lower than the highest
individual rate, there are income tax advantages to receiving incentive stock
options rather than non-qualified options. Incentive stock options must be
exercised within ten years after the grant date or they expire. Incentive stock
options are not transferable, other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution, and are exercisable, during the optionee's lifetime, only by the
optionee. Under existing federal income tax law, if shares purchased pursuant
to the exercise of an incentive stock option are not disposed of by the
optionee within two years from the date of the option grant or within one year
after the transfer of the shares to the optionee, whichever is longer, then (i)
the optionee recognizes no income upon the exercise of the option; (ii) any
gain or loss will be recognized by the optionee only upon ultimate disposition
of the shares and, assuming the shares constitute capital assets in the
optionee's hands, will be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss; (iii)
the optionee's basis in the shares purchased will equal the amount of cash paid
for such shares; and (iv) the Company will not be entitled to a federal income
tax deduction in connection with the exercise of the option. The Company
understands that the difference between the option price and the fair market
value of the shares acquired upon exercise of an incentive stock option will be
treated as an "item of tax preference" for purposes of the alternative minimum
tax. In addition, incentive stock options exercised more than three months
after retirement are treated as non-qualified options.
The Company further understands that if the optionee disposes of the shares
acquired by exercise of an incentive stock option before expiration of the
holding period described above, the optionee must treat as ordinary income in
the year of that disposition an amount equal to the difference between the
optionee's basis in the shares and the lesser of the fair market value of the
shares on the date of exercise or the selling price. In addition, the Company
will be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount the employee is required to
treat as ordinary income.
21
If the exercise price of an option is paid by surrender of previously owned
shares, the basis of the shares received in replacement of the previously owned
shares is carried over. If the option is a nonstatutory option, the gain
recognized on exercise is added to the basis. If the option is an incentive
stock option, the optionee will recognize gain if the shares surrendered were
acquired through the exercise of an incentive stock option or through the
Company's employee stock purchase plan and have not been held for the
applicable holding period. This gain will be added to the basis of the shares
received in replacement of the previously owned shares.
An employee who receives restricted stock or performance shares will normally
realize taxable income on the date the shares become transferable or no longer
subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or on the date of their earlier
disposition. The amount of such taxable income will equal the amount by which
the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock on the date such
restrictions lapse (or any earlier date on which the shares are disposed of)
exceeds their purchase price, if any. An employee may elect, however, to
include in income in the year of purchase or grant the excess of the fair
market value of the shares of Common Stock (without regard to any restrictions)
on the date of purchase or grant over its purchase price. The Company expects
to be entitled to a deduction for compensation paid in the same year and in the
same amount as income is realized by the employee.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR adoption of the 1998 Incentive
Compensation Program.
PROPOSAL 4 -- ADOPTION OF LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
The Committee has adopted the Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Incentive
Plan"), which provides for a combination of performance-based restricted stock
and stock option awards to valued employees of the Company who are selected by
the Committee. The Incentive Plan was adopted in November 1997, subject to
stockholder approval in compliance with the provisions of Section 162(m) of the
Code.
The principal features of the Incentive Plan are described below. The
Incentive Plan is included as Exhibit B to this proxy statement. The following
summary of the Incentive Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
complete text. The Incentive Plan was adopted pursuant to the Baxter
International Inc. 1994 Incentive Compensation Program, which was approved by
the Company's stockholders at the 1994 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If the
Incentive Plan is not approved by the Company's stockholders, it will be
terminated and no awards under the Incentive Plan will be made to any Covered
Employee.
From time to time, the Committee establishes an annual target number of
shares of restricted stock (an "Annual Target Award") that can be earned by
each participant in the Incentive Plan. On or before March 31, of each year,
the Committee establishes Company performance goals for the year and the method
for determining the percentage of each participant's Annual Target Award that
is earned by the participant based upon the extent to which the Company
achieves the performance goals, which are described below. After year-end
results are reported, the Committee determines the percentage, if any, of each
participant's Annual Target Award that is earned for that year, based on its
certification of the extent to which the Company achieved the Company
performance goals for the year. The percentage earned is then adjusted up or
down based on the Company's total rate of return to stockholders for the year
compared to the total rate of return achieved by the Standard & Poor's Medical
Products and Supplies Index for the same year. The Committee has the discretion
to reduce the percentage of a participant's Annual Target Award otherwise
earned by such participant, consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code and the
regulations thereunder. No participant may earn more than
22
50,000 shares of restricted stock under the Incentive Plan in any year during
which the participant is considered a Covered Employee within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Code. Shares of restricted stock are earned as of
December 31 of the year in which the Company achieves the Company performance
goals incorporated in the Incentive Plan. Although participants are eligible to
earn shares annually, the actual performance period incorporated in the
Incentive Plan is a rolling multi-year period that ends each December 31.
Shares which have been earned ordinarily vest on December 31 of the year
following the year in which they are earned. When a participant's rights to
restricted stock become vested, the participant is entitled to shares of Common
Stock, free and clear of all restrictions.
The number of stock options granted annually to each participant in the
Incentive Plan is determined in combination with the participant's Annual
Target Award of restricted stock based on market compensation data, as
explained above. The Committee also has discretion to determine the number,
type and terms of any stock options to be awarded to participants in the
Incentive Plan, subject to the following limitations. Each stock option will
expire no later than ten years and one day after the date it is granted. The
option price per share for any stock option awarded under the Incentive Plan
may not be less than the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the
date the stock option is awarded. No participant may be awarded options under
the Incentive Plan which, in the aggregate, represent more than 500,000 shares
of Common Stock in any calendar year.
In November 1997, the Committee adopted Company performance goals under the
Incentive Plan. The Company performance goals for 1998 measure sales growth and
average annual operational cash flow generated over the three-year period
ending December 31, 1998. The named executives officers' Annual Target Awards
and target number of annual stock options for 1998 are as follows: Mr. Loucks--
15,200 shares of restricted stock and 107,000 stock options; Mr. Kraemer--6,000
shares of restricted stock and 42,400 stock options; Mr. Joseph--3,500 shares
of restricted stock and 25,000 stock options; Mr. McGinley--3,500 shares of
restricted stock and 25,000 stock options; and Mr. Staubitz--3,000 shares of
restricted stock and 20,000 stock options. There are a total of 175
participants in the Incentive Plan for 1998, including the named executive
officers. The aggregate 1998 Annual Target Awards and target number of annual
stock options for all 175 participants are 212,300 shares of restricted stock
and 1,485,300 stock options, including 42,900 shares of restricted stock and
297,000 stock options for executive officers as a group (excluding the named
executive officers listed above) and 138,200 shares of restricted stock and
968,500 stock options for non-executive participants as a group.
For 1999 and future years, the Committee will establish Company performance
goals under the Incentive Plan which will include one or more of the following
performance measures: net income growth, operational cash flow, sales growth,
the Common Stock price, earnings per share, total shareholder return, and
inventory turns. Currently, it is not possible to determine the number of
participants or participant Annual Target Awards and target number of stock
options under the Incentive Plan for 1999 and future years.
The Committee may amend or terminate the Incentive Plan at any time. No
amendment which requires stockholder approval to maintain the Incentive Plan's
compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code will be effective unless the
necessary stockholder approval is received.
For a description of the federal income tax consequences to the Company and
participants in the Incentive Plan of the options and restricted stock issuable
under the Incentive Plan, please see "Proposal 3--Adoption of the 1998
Incentive Compensation Program--Federal Income Tax Consequences" above.
The Board recommends a vote FOR adoption of the Long-Term Incentive Plan.
23
PROPOSAL 5 -- STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL RELATING TO CUMULATIVE VOTING IN THE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company has been informed that the following stockholder proposal will be
presented for a vote at the 1998 Annual Meeting. The Board recommends a vote
AGAINST the proposal; its reasons follow the stockholder's proposal and
supporting statement.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL
The Company has been advised that Margaret R. and/or John J. Gilbert, 29 East
64th Street, New York, New York 10021-7043, as co-trustees under the will of
Minnie D. Gilbert and as beneficial owners of 50 shares of Common Stock, and/or
Martin Glotzer, 7061 N. Kedzie, Chicago, Illinois 60645, as the owner of 50
shares of Common Stock will have the following resolution presented at the
annual meeting:
RESOLVED: That the stockholders of Baxter International Inc., assembled in
annual meeting in person and by proxy, hereby request the Board of Directors to
take the steps necessary to provide for cumulative voting in the election of
directors, which means each stockholder shall be entitled to as many votes as
shall equal the number of shares he or she owns multiplied by the number of
directors to be elected, and he or she may cast all of such votes for a single
candidate, or any two or more of them as he or she may see fit.
STOCKHOLDER'S STATEMENT SUPPORTING THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION
Continued very strong support along the lines we suggest were shown at the
last annual meeting when 32%, 4,889 owners of 67,079,054 shares, were cast in
favor of this proposal. The vote against included 3,724 unmarked proxies.
California law still requires that unless stockholders have voted not to have
cumulative voting they will have it. Ohio also has the same provision.
The National Bank Act provides for cumulative voting. In many cases companies
get around it by forming holding companies without cumulative voting. Banking
authorities have the right to question the capability of directors to be on
banking boards. In many cases authorities come in after and say the director or
directors were not qualified. We were delighted to see the SEC has finally
taken action to prevent bad directors from being on boards of public companies.
The SEC should have hearings to prevent such persons from becoming directors
before they harm investors.
Many successful corporations have cumulative voting. Example, Pennzoil
defeated Texaco in that famous case. Texaco's recent problems might have also
been prevented with cumulative voting, getting directors on the board to
prevent such things. Ingersoll-Rand, also having cumulative voting, won two
awards. FORTUNE magazine ranked it second in its industry as "America's Most
Admired Corporations" and the WALL STREET TRANSCRIPT noted "on almost any
criteria used to evaluate management, Ingersoll-Rand, excels." In 1994 and 1995
they raised their dividend.
Lockheed-Martin, as well as VWR Corporation, now have a provision that if
anyone has 40% or more of the shares cumulative voting applies; it does apply
at the latter company.
In 1995 American Premier adopted cumulative voting. Allegheny Power System
tried to take away cumulative voting, as well as put in a stagger system, and
stockholders defeated it, showing stockholders are interested in their rights.
Also, Hewlett Packard, a very successful company, has cumulative voting.
If you agree, please mark your proxy for this resolution; otherwise it is
automatically cast against it, unless you have marked to abstain.
24
BOARD OF DIRECTORS' STATEMENT OPPOSING STOCKHOLDER RESOLUTION
The Board believes that cumulative voting for the election of directors would
not serve the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Accordingly,
the Board recommends a vote AGAINST the proposed resolution for the reasons
explained below.
The Board firmly believes that cumulative voting would threaten to undermine
effective Board functioning in at least two important respects. First, it is
the Board's duty to represent the interests of all of the stockholders. To do
so, each director must feel a responsibility toward all stockholders, without
any special loyalty to any one group. From this perspective, cumulative voting
is undesirable since directors elected by a particular group of stockholders
may be principally concerned with representing the interests of the narrow
constituency that elected them rather than representing the interests of all
stockholders. Directors should be elected based on their ability and commitment
to represent the best interests of the Company and its stockholders as a whole.
This tenet is best served when each director is elected by a majority vote of
the stockholders.
Second, cumulative voting introduces the possibility of partisanship among
Board members, which could undermine the ability of the Board to work together
effectively. If narrow constituencies of stockholders were to elect "special
interest" directors through cumulative voting, the resulting inability of those
directors to exercise independent judgment could impair the Board's sound
analysis and timely conduct of the Company's business, to the detriment of the
Company and all of its stockholders. The variety and complexity of issues
facing the Company require that no actual or apparent "special influence" bring
into question the objectivity of the Board's insight, perspective or counsel.
The possibility of factionalism that cumulative voting presents has lead to a
trend against its adoption. Many companies have eliminated cumulative voting
over the years and, overall, its presence has declined. The State of
California, considered among the most protective of stockholder interests,
amended its state laws in 1989 to permit the repeal of cumulative voting. In
supporting the change, the Committee on Corporations of the Business Law
Section of the State Bar of California argued:
"While a healthy diversity of opinion and experience, as represented by
independent directors, is desirable, factionalism is not appropriate in the
board's essential executive function. The principal objective of a business
enterprise should be profit and gain for its shareholders, not political
accommodation of competing interests . . . Practical experience has shown
that effective management of a corporation requires candor and consensus in
the Boardroom, [not] rancor and contention."
No reason has been given, and the Board knows of none, why the present method
of voting should not continue to work as successfully in the future as it has
in the past. Twelve of Baxter's fourteen Board members are independent non-
employee directors, and the Board's Planning and Organization Committee, which
assists and advises the Board in connection with Board membership, consists
solely of non-employee directors. This ensures that the Board will continue to
act independently and in the best interests of all of the Company's
stockholders. The Board encourages stockholders to present director candidates
to the Planning and Organization Committee. A summary of the process by which
stockholders may present director candidates is included on page 2 of this
proxy statement.
For all of these reasons, the Board recommends a vote AGAINST cumulative
voting in the election of directors.
25
FUTURE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
From time to time stockholders present proposals which may be proper subjects
for inclusion in the proxy statement and for consideration at the annual
meeting. To be included in the proxy statement for the 1999 annual meeting,
proposals must be received by the Company no later than November 20, 1998.
Stockholders may present proposals which are proper subjects for
consideration at an annual meeting, even if the proposal is not submitted by
the deadline for inclusion in the proxy statement. To do so, the stockholder
must comply with the procedures specified by the Company's bylaws. The
Company's bylaws require all stockholders who intend to make proposals at an
annual stockholders meeting to submit their proposals to the Company 60 to 90
days before the anniversary date of the previous year's annual meeting. To be
eligible for consideration at the 1999 annual meeting, proposals which have not
been submitted by the deadline for inclusion in the proxy statement must be
received by the Company between February 4 and March 6, 1999. The provision is
intended to allow all stockholders to have an opportunity to consider business
expected to be raised at the meeting.
COST OF PROXY SOLICITATION
The Company will bear the costs of soliciting proxies. In addition to use of
the mails, proxies may be solicited by directors, officers and employees of the
Company personally, by telephone or by telegram. Such persons will not be
specially compensated for such solicitation. The Company will request banks and
brokers to solicit their customers who have Common Stock registered in their
names or the names of their nominees and will reimburse such banks and brokers
for their reasonable out-of-pocket costs.
In addition, the Company has retained Georgeson & Co. Inc., 88 Pine Street,
New York, New York 10005 to aid in soliciting proxies from brokers, bank
nominees and other institutional owners by personal interview, telephone,
telegram or mail. The Company will pay Georgeson & Co. Inc. $12,500 for
stockholder solicitation and distribution of proxy materials and will reimburse
it for expenses.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Company is not aware of any business to be presented at the 1998 Annual
Meeting other than the matters described above. If a stockholder vote is
necessary to transact any other business at the meeting, the proxyholders
intend to vote their proxies in accordance with their best judgment related to
such business.
By order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Jan Stern Reed
-----------------------
Jan Stern Reed
Corporate Secretary
Deerfield, Illinois
March 20, 1998
26
EXHIBIT A
BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC.
1998 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM
1. PURPOSE. The purpose of the Baxter International Inc. 1998 Incentive
Compensation Program ("Program") is to increase stockholder value and to
advance the interests of Baxter International Inc. ("Baxter") and its
subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") by providing a variety of
economic incentives designed to attract, retain and motivate employees.
As used in this Program, the term "subsidiary" means any business,
whether or not incorporated, in which Baxter has a direct or indirect
ownership interest.
2. ADMINISTRATION.
2.1 ADMINISTRATION BY COMMITTEE. The Program shall be administered by the
Compensation Committee of the Baxter Board of Directors ("Committee"),
which shall consist of two or more non-employee directors within the
meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
("Exchange Act") who also qualify as outside directors within the
meaning of Section 162(m) and the related regulations under the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, except as otherwise determined by the
Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may also exercise any or all
authority otherwise delegated to the Committee under the terms of the
Program with respect to the grant or administration of incentives.
2.2 AUTHORITY. Subject to the provisions of the Program, the Committee shall
have the authority to (a) interpret the provisions of the Program, and
prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and procedures relating to the
Program, (b) grant incentives under the Program, in such forms and
amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as it deems
appropriate, including, without limitation, incentives which are made in
combination with or in tandem with other incentives (whether or not
contemporaneously granted) or compensation or in lieu of current or
deferred compensation, (c) modify the terms of, cancel and reissue, or
repurchase outstanding incentives, subject to subsection 11.9(b), (d)
prescribe the form of agreement, certificate or other instrument
evidencing any incentive under the Program, (e) correct any defect or
omission and reconcile any inconsistency in the Program or in any
incentive hereunder, and (f) make all other determinations and take all
other actions as it deems necessary or desirable for the administration
of the Program; provided, however, that in no event shall the Committee
cancel any outstanding stock option for the purpose of reissuing an
option to the option holder at a lower exercise price. The determination
of the Committee on matters within its authority shall be conclusive and
binding on the Company and all other persons. The Committee shall comply
with all applicable law in administering the Plan.
3. PARTICIPATION. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Program, the
Committee shall determine and designate from time to time the employees
of the Company (including employees who are directors of Baxter) who
shall receive incentives under the Program ("Participants"). All
employees of the Company are eligible to receive incentives under the
Program. Participation, the grant of incentives and any related
performance goals for persons subject to section 16(a) of the Exchange
Act must be approved by the Committee. The Committee's authority with
respect to participation, the grant of incentives and related
performance objectives for others (persons not subject to section 16(a))
may be delegated.
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4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PROGRAM.
4.1 NUMBER OF SHARES RESERVED. Shares of common stock, $1.00 par value, of
Baxter ("Common Stock") shall be available for incentives under the
Program. To the extent provided by resolution of the Baxter Board of
Directors, such shares may be uncertificated. Subject to adjustment in
accordance with subsections 4.3 and 4.4, the aggregate number of shares
of Common Stock available for incentives under the Program shall be
10,000,000 shares.
4.2 TYPE OF COMMON STOCK. Common Stock issued under the Program in
connection with Stock Options and Performance Shares may be authorized
and unissued shares or issued shares held as treasury shares. Common
Stock issued under the Program in connection with Restricted Stock or
Stock Awards shall be issued shares held as treasury shares; provided,
however, that authorized and unissued shares may be issued in connection
with Restricted Stock or Stock Awards to the extent that the Committee
determines that past services of the Participant constitute adequate
consideration for at least the par value thereof.
4.3 REUSAGE OF SHARES.
(a) In the event of the exercise or termination (by reason of
forfeiture, expiration, cancellation, surrender or otherwise) of any
incentive under the Program, that number of shares of Common Stock
that was subject to the incentive but not delivered shall again be
available for incentives under the Program.
(b) In the event that shares of Common Stock are delivered under the
Program as Restricted Stock or pursuant to a Stock Award and are
thereafter forfeited or reacquired by the Company pursuant to rights
reserved upon the award thereof, such forfeited or reacquired shares
shall again be available for incentives under the Program.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) or (b), the
following shares of Common Stock shall not be available for
reissuance under the Program: (1) shares which are withheld from any
award or payment under the Program to satisfy tax withholding
obligations (as described in subsection 11.5(e)); (2) shares which
are surrendered to fulfill tax obligations (as described in
subsection 11.5(e)); and (3) shares which are surrendered in payment
of the Option Price (as defined in subsection 5.1) upon the exercise
of a Stock Option.
4.4 ADJUSTMENTS TO SHARES RESERVED. In the event of any merger,
consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, spinoff, stock
dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, exchange, or other
distribution with respect to shares of Common Stock or other change in
the corporate structure or capitalization affecting the Common Stock,
the type and number of shares of stock which are or may be subject to
incentives under the Program, the terms of any outstanding incentives
(including the price at which shares of stock may be issued pursuant to
an outstanding incentive) and the limitations set forth in Sections 5.1,
6, 7.1, and 8.1 shall be equitably adjusted by the Committee, in its
sole discretion, to preserve the value of incentives awarded or to be
awarded to Participants under the Program.
5. STOCK OPTIONS.
5.1 AWARDS. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Program, the
Committee shall designate the employees to whom options to purchase
shares of Common Stock ("Stock Options") are to be awarded under the
Program and shall determine the number, type, and terms of the Stock
Options to be awarded to each of them. Stock Option awards are subject
to the following
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specific limitations. Each Stock Option shall expire on the earlier of
the date provided by the option terms or the date which is 10 years and
one day after the date of grant. The option price per share ("Option
Price") for any Stock Option awarded shall not be less than the greater
of par value or the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the
date the Stock Option is awarded. Each Stock Option awarded under the
Program shall be a "nonqualified stock option" for tax purposes unless
the Stock Option satisfies all of the requirements of section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Committee designates
such Stock Option as an "Incentive Stock Option". No person shall
receive, in any calendar year, Stock Options which, in the aggregate,
represent more than 500,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment
as set forth in Section 4.4.
5.2 MANNER OF EXERCISE. A Stock Option may be exercised, in whole or in part,
by giving written notice to Baxter prior to the date on which the Stock
Option expires; provided, however, that a Stock Option may only be
exercised with respect to whole shares of Common Stock. Such notice shall
specify the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased and shall be
accompanied by payment of the Option Price for such shares in such form
and manner as the Committee may from time to time approve.
6. STOCK AWARDS. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Program, the
Committee shall designate the employees who shall be awarded shares of
Common Stock without restrictions ("Stock Awards"), under the Program and
shall determine the number and terms of the Stock Awards to be awarded to
each of them. Stock Awards are subject to the following specific
limitations. No person subject to section 16(a) of the Exchange Act may
receive a Stock Award, and no person eligible to receive a Stock Award
may receive a Stock Award representing more than 2,500 shares of Common
Stock in any calendar year, subject to adjustment as set forth in Section
4.4.
7. RESTRICTED STOCK.
7.1 AWARDS. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Program, the Committee
shall designate the employees to whom shares of Common Stock, subject to
restrictions ("Restricted Stock"), shall be awarded under the Program and
determine the number of shares and the terms and conditions of each such
award. Each Restricted Stock award shall entitle the Participant to
receive shares of Common Stock upon the terms and conditions specified by
the Committee and subject to the following provisions of this Section 7
and the provisions of Section 10, and no person eligible to receive
Restricted Stock may receive more than 50,000 shares in any calendar
year, subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 4.4.
7.2 RESTRICTIONS. All shares of Restricted Stock transferred or sold
hereunder shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may
determine, including, without limitation, any or all of the following:
(a) a required period of employment with the Company, as determined by
the Committee, prior to the vesting of the shares of Restricted
Stock;
(b) a prohibition against the sale, assignment, transfer, pledge,
hypothecation or other encumbrance of the shares of Restricted Stock
for a specified period as determined by the Committee;
(c) a requirement that the holder of shares of Restricted Stock forfeit
(or in the case of shares sold to a Participant, resell to the
Company at his or her cost) all or a part of such shares
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in the event of termination of his or her employment during any period
in which such shares are subject to restrictions; or
(d) a prohibition against employment of the holder of such Restricted Stock
by any competitor of the Company or against such holder's dissemination
of any secret or confidential information belonging to the Company.
All restrictions on shares of Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to the
Program shall expire at such time or times as the Committee shall specify.
7.3 REGISTRATION OF SHARES. Shares of Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to the
Program shall be registered in the name of the Participant and, if such
shares are certificated, in the discretion of the Committee, may be
deposited in a bank designated by the Committee or with Baxter. The
Committee may require a stock power endorsed in blank with respect to
shares of Restricted Stock whether or not certificated.
7.4 STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Program,
during any period in which shares of Restricted Stock are subject to
forfeiture or restrictions on transfer, each Participant who has been
awarded shares of Restricted Stock shall have such rights of a stockholder
with respect to such shares as the Committee may designate at the time of
the award, including the right to vote such shares and the right to receive
all dividends paid on such shares. Unless otherwise provided by the
Committee, stock dividends or non-cash dividends and, except as otherwise
provided by subsection 11.10, any other securities distributed with respect
to Restricted Stock shall be restricted to the same extent and subject to
the same terms and conditions as the Restricted Stock to which they are
attributable.
7.5 LAPSE OF RESTRICTIONS. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Program,
at the end of any time period during which the shares of Restricted Stock
are subject to forfeiture or restrictions on transfer, such shares will be
delivered free of all restrictions to the Participant (or to the
Participant's legal representative, beneficiary or heir).
7.6 SUBSTITUTION OF CASH. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, substitute
cash equal to the Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of the
distribution) of shares of Common Stock otherwise required to be
distributed to a Participant in accordance with this Section 7.
8. PERFORMANCE SHARES.
8.1 AWARDS. A performance share is an award which shall be paid in shares of
Common Stock, as described below. Subject to the terms and conditions of
the Program, the Committee shall designate the employees to whom
Performance Shares are to be awarded in accordance with this Section 8 and
the number of shares subject to the award and the terms and conditions of
such awards. No person eligible for a Performance Share Award shall receive
more than 50,000 shares in any calendar year, subject to adjustment as set
forth in Section 4.4. Each Performance Share awarded pursuant to this
Section 8 shall entitle the Participant to a payment in the form of one
share of Common Stock upon the attainment of such performance goals and
other terms and conditions as may be specified by the Committee.
8.2 NO ADJUSTMENTS. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, no
adjustment shall be made in Performance Shares awarded on account of cash
dividends which may be paid or other rights which may be provided to the
holders of Common Stock prior to the end of any period for which
performance goals were established.
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8.3 SUBSTITUTION OF CASH. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, substitute
cash equal to the Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of the
issuance) of shares of Common Stock otherwise required to be issued to a
Participant in accordance with this Section 8.
9. OTHER INCENTIVES. In addition to the incentives described in Sections 5
through 8 above and subject to the terms and conditions of the Program, the
Committee may grant other incentives ("Other Incentives"), payable in cash
or in kind, under the Program as it determines to be in the best interest
of the Company.
10. PERFORMANCE GOALS AND APPLICATION OF TAX DEDUCTION LIMITATIONS.
Compensation attributable to a Stock Option awarded to a Participant is
intended to satisfy the requirements of the exception for qualified
performance-based compensation within the meaning of section 162(m) and the
related regulations under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
All awards of Restricted Stock, Performance Shares, and Other Incentives
under the Program, to persons subject to section 16(a) of the Exchange Act,
shall be made subject to the attainment of performance goals relating to
one or more of the business criteria within the meaning of section 162(m)
identified above, including but not limited to, stock price, market share,
sales, earnings per share, return on equity, costs, and cash flow, as
determined by the Committee from time to time.
11. GENERAL.
11.1 EFFECTIVE DATE. The Program will become effective upon its approval by the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting stock of Baxter
at a meeting of its stockholders. Unless approved within one year after the
date of the Program's adoption by the Board of Directors, the Program shall
not be effective for any purpose. Prior to the approval of the Program by
Baxter's stockholders, the Committee may award incentives, but if such
approval is not received in the specified period, then such awards shall be
of no effect.
11.2 DURATION. The Program shall remain in effect until all incentives granted
under the Program have either been satisfied by the issuance of shares of
Common Stock or the payment of cash or been terminated in accordance with
the terms of the Program or the incentive and until all restrictions
imposed on shares of Common Stock issued under the Program have lapsed. No
incentive may be granted under the Program after the tenth anniversary of
the date the Program is approved by Baxter's stockholders.
11.3 NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF INCENTIVES. No share of Restricted Stock,
Performance Share, or Other Incentive under the Program may be transferred,
pledged, or assigned by the holder thereof (except, in the event of the
holder's death, by will or the laws of descent and distribution to the
limited extent provided in the Program or in the terms of the incentive),
and the Company shall not be required to recognize any attempted assignment
of such rights by any Participant. Stock Options may be transferred by the
holder thereof to the limited extent authorized by rules and procedures
established by the Committee from time to time.
11.4 EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR DEATH. If a Participant ceases to be
an employee of the Company for any reason, including death, any incentives
then outstanding may be exercised or shall expire in accordance with the
terms of the incentive.
11.5 COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND WITHHOLDING.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Program, Baxter shall have
no obligation to issue any shares of Common Stock under the Program if
such issuance would violate any
A-5
applicable law or any applicable regulation or requirement of any
securities exchange or similar entity.
(b) Prior to the issuance of any shares of Common Stock under the Program,
Baxter or the Company may require a written statement that the recipient is
acquiring the shares for investment and not for the purpose or with the
intention of distributing the shares and that the recipient will not
dispose of them in violation of the registration requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933.
(c) With respect to any person who is subject to section 16(a) of the Exchange
Act, the Committee may, at any time, add such conditions and limitations to
any incentive or payment under the Program or implement procedures for the
administration of the Program which it deems necessary or desirable to
comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act.
(d) If, at any time, Baxter, in its sole discretion, determines that the
listing, registration, or qualification (or any updating of any such
document) of any type of incentive, or the shares of Common Stock issuable
pursuant thereto, is necessary on any securities exchange or under any
federal or state securities or blue sky law, or that the consent or
approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a
condition of, or in connection with, any incentive, the issuance of shares
of Common Stock pursuant to any incentive, or the removal of any
restrictions imposed on shares subject to an incentive, such incentive
shall not be granted and the shares of Common Stock shall not be issued or
such restrictions shall not be removed, as the case may be, in whole or in
part, unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent, or
approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not
acceptable to Baxter.
(e) All incentives and payments under the Program are subject to withholding of
all applicable taxes and the Company shall have the right to withhold from
any award under the Program or to collect as a condition of any payment
under the Program, as applicable, any taxes required by law to be withheld.
To the extent provided by the Committee, a Participant may elect to have
any distribution, or a portion thereof, otherwise required to be made under
the Program to be withheld or to surrender to the Company previously owned
shares of Common Stock to fulfill any tax withholding obligation.
11.6 NO CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT. The Program does not constitute a contract of
employment or continued service, and participation in the Program will not
give any employee or Participant the right to be retained in the employ of
the Company or the right to continue as a director of the Company or any
right or claim to any benefit under the Program unless such right or claim
has specifically accrued under the terms of the Program or the terms of any
incentive under the Program.
11.7 TREATMENT AS A STOCKHOLDER. No incentive granted to a Participant under the
Program shall create any rights in such Participant as a stockholder of
Baxter until shares of Common Stock related to the incentive are registered
in the name of the Participant.
11.8 DEFERRAL PERMITTED. Payment of cash to a Participant or distribution of any
shares of Common Stock to which a Participant is entitled under any
incentive shall be made as provided in the terms of the incentive. Payment
may be deferred at the request of the Participant to the extent provided in
the incentive.
A-6
11.9 AMENDMENT OF THE PROGRAM. The Board may, at any time and in any manner,
amend, suspend, or terminate the Program or any incentive outstanding
under the Program; provided, however, that no such amendment or
discontinuance shall:
(a) be made without stockholder approval to the extent such approval is
required by law, agreement or the rules of any exchange or automated
quotation system upon which the Common Stock is listed or quoted;
(b) alter or impair the rights of Participants with respect to incentives
previously made under the Program without the consent of the holder
thereof; or
(c) make any change that would disqualify awards made under the Program,
intended to be so qualified, from the exemption provided by Rule
16b-3 of the Exchange Act.
11.10 ACCELERATION OF INCENTIVES. Notwithstanding any provision in this
Program to the contrary or the normal terms of vesting in any incentive,
(a) the restrictions on all shares of Restricted Stock awarded shall
lapse immediately, (b) all outstanding Stock Options will become
exercisable immediately, and (c) all performance goals shall be deemed
to be met and payment made immediately if a Change in Control occurs.
For purposes of this Program, a "Change in Control" shall have occurred
if:
(1) any "Person", as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Exchange Act (other than Baxter, any corporation owned, directly or
indirectly, by the stockholders of Baxter in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of stock of Baxter, and any trustee or
other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of
Baxter or such proportionately owned corporation), is or becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act),
directly or indirectly, of securities of Baxter representing 30% or
more of the combined voting power of Baxter's then outstanding
securities;
(2) during any period of not more than 24 months, individuals who at the
beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of Baxter,
and any new director (other than a director designated by a Person who
has entered into an agreement with Baxter to effect a transaction
described in paragraph (1), (3) or (4) of this subsection 11.10) whose
election by the board or nomination for election by Baxter's
stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the
directors then still in office who either were directors at the
beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election
was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at
least a majority thereof;
(3) the stockholders of Baxter approve a merger or consolidation of Baxter
with any other corporation, other than (A) a merger or consolidation
which would result in the voting securities of Baxter outstanding
immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the
surviving entity) more than 60% of the combined voting power of the
voting securities of Baxter or such surviving entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (B) a merger or
consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of Baxter (or
similar transaction) in which no Person acquires more than 30% of the
combined voting power of Baxter's then outstanding securities; or
A-7
(4) the stockholders of Baxter approve a plan of complete liquidation of
Baxter or an agreement for the sale or disposition by Baxter of all or
substantially all of Baxter's assets (or any transaction having a
similar effect).
11.11 DEFINITION OF FAIR MARKET VALUE. Except as otherwise determined by the
Committee, the "Fair Market Value" of a share of Common Stock as of any
date shall be equal to the closing sale price of a share of Common Stock
as reported on The National Association of Securities Dealers' New York
Stock Exchange Composite Reporting Tape (or if the Common Stock is not
traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the closing sale price on the
exchange on which it is traded or as reported by an applicable automated
quotation system) ("Composite Tape") on the applicable date or, if no
sales of Common Stock are reported on such date, the closing sale price of
a share of Common Stock on the date the Common Stock was last reported on
the Composite Tape (or such other exchange or automated quotation system,
if applicable).
A-8
EXHIBIT B
BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC.
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Adoption
This Long-Term Incentive Plan ("Plan") of Baxter International Inc. ("Baxter")
and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company"), is adopted pursuant to the
Baxter International Inc. 1994 Incentive Compensation Program ("Program") for
the purposes stated in the Program. It represents an amendment and restatement
of the Baxter International Inc. 1989 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The Plan is
intended to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 ("IRC"), as amended, and the related income tax regulations
issued thereunder.
2. Participants
Participants in this Plan are valued employees of the Company who have been
selected by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Baxter
("Committee"), and to whom the Committee makes awards ("Award") under this Plan.
Each Award may consist of any combination of Restricted Stock and Stock Options
as each is defined in the Program and under the terms and conditions contained
in the Program and this Plan.
3. Restricted Stock Awards
3.1 Upon the grant of an Award, a stock certificate for the shares of
Restricted Stock awarded shall be issued in the participant's name and
deposited, together with a stock power endorsed in blank by the participant,
with the Company. Each certificate will include a restrictive legend as provided
in the Program.
3.2 The Committee shall assign to each participant a target number of shares
of Restricted Stock ("Annual Target Award") that can be earned for a calendar
year (or portion of such calendar year) ("Plan Year"). The Committee also shall
establish a) Company performance goals for the Plan Year which will include one
or more of the following measures: net income growth, operational cash flow,
sales growth, the Common Stock price of Baxter, earnings per share, total
shareholder return, and inventory turns ("Company Performance Criteria"), and b)
the method for determining the percentage of each participant's Annual Target
Award that is earned by the participant based upon the achievement of the
Company Performance Criteria for the Plan Year. The terms described in the
preceding two sentences must be established by April 1 of the Plan Year, and
such terms shall not thereafter be changed, except as permitted by paragraph
3.3.
3.3 By March 31 of each year, the Committee shall assess the extent to which
the Company has achieved the Company Performance Criteria for the preceding Plan
Year, based on the Company's publicly reported results. The Committee shall
exclude the effect of acquisitions, divestitures, changes in accounting
principles, significant and unplanned currency rate fluctuations and other
extraordinary or non-recurring events which occurred during the Plan Year when
assessing the extent to which the Company has achieved the Company Performance
Criteria for such Plan Year, but only if such exclusion would enhance the
Company's performance relative to the Company Performance Criteria. The
exclusion authorized by the preceding sentence shall only apply to the extent it
is consistent with IRC Section 162(m)(4)(C) and the related regulations
described above. The Committee shall then determine the percentage of each
participant's Annual Target Award that is earned for the Plan Year based upon
the terms described in paragraph 3.2 above. The Committee, however, has the
discretion to reduce the earned percentage determined under the preceding
sentence. The Committee's determination shall be consistent with IRC Section
162(m)(4)(C) and the related regulations described
B-1
above. No participant shall earn more than 50,000 shares of Restricted Stock
under this Plan for any Plan Year for which the participant is subject to IRC
Section 162(m). The Committee may exercise discretion in the determination of
the percentage of the Annual Target Award that is earned under the Plan with
respect to participants who are not subject to IRC Section 162(m).
3.4 Shares of Restricted Stock are earned as of December 31 of the Plan Year
in which the Company achieves the Company Performance Criteria. Shares of
Restricted Stock which have been earned shall become vested, unless previously
vested or forfeited pursuant to sections 5.1 or 5.2 of this Plan, on December
31 of the Plan Year after the Plan Year in which they are earned.
3.5 When a participant's rights to Restricted Stock become vested, the
participant shall be entitled to shares of Baxter's common stock, $1.00 par
value, ("Common Stock"), free and clear of all restrictions, except as
otherwise provided in section 10.5 of the Program. The certificates
representing these shares shall be delivered to the participant within 30 days
after the date such rights become vested.
4. Stock Options
4.1 Upon the grant of an Award, a certificate for the Stock Options awarded
shall be issued in the participant's name advising the participant of the
number of Stock Options awarded to him or her.
4.2 Subject to the terms and conditions of the Program, the Committee shall
determine the number, type, and terms of the Stock Options to be awarded under
the Plan to each participant. Stock Option awards are subject to the following
specific limitations. Each Stock Option shall expire on the earlier of the date
provided by the option terms or the date which is 10 years and one day after
the date of grant. The option price per share ("Option Price") for any Stock
Option awarded shall not be less than the greater of par value or the Fair
Market Value (as defined in the Program) of a share of Common Stock on the date
the Stock Option is awarded. Each Stock Option awarded under the Program shall
be a "nonqualified stock option" for tax purposes unless the Stock Option
satisfies all of the requirements of section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, and the Committee designates such Stock Option as an
"Incentive Stock Option". No person shall receive, in any calendar year, Stock
Options which, in the aggregate, represent more than 500,000 shares of Common
Stock.
5. General Provisions
5.1 If a participant's employment by the Company is terminated, with or
without cause, for any reason other than death or disability before the
Restricted Stock vests as provided in section 3.4 (even if the shares of
Restricted Stock have been earned as provided in section 3.4), then the
participant shall forfeit all rights to Restricted Stock, except as otherwise
determined by the chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Baxter
(and, in the case of officers of Baxter, approved by the Committee).
5.2 If a participant's employment by the Company is terminated by death or
disability prior to such vesting, then all of the Restricted Stock awarded to
the participant under this Plan, but not previously vested, shall be vested on
the effective date of the participant's employment termination, whether or not
earned as provided in section 3.2.
B-2
5.3 Shares of Restricted Stock granted under the Baxter International Inc.
1989 Long-Term Incentive Plan, pursuant to the Baxter International Inc. 1987
Incentive Compensation Program ("1987 Program"), and which are not vested as
of the date on which this Plan is adopted by the Committee, shall be governed
by the provisions of this Plan to the extent that they do not conflict with
the 1987 Program. Shares of Restricted Stock previously granted under this
Plan, pursuant to the 1994 Program, and which are not vested as of the date on
which this Plan is adopted by the Committee, shall be governed by the
provisions of this Plan to the extent that they do not conflict with the 1994
Program.
5.4 This Plan does not constitute a contract of employment or continued
service. Participation in this Plan does not give any participant the right to
be retained as an employee of the Company or any right or claim to any benefit
under this Plan unless such right or claim has specifically accrued under the
terms of this Plan.
B-3
Baxter
Baxter International Inc.
One Baxter Parkway
Deerfield, IL 60015
847 948-2000
PROXY
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - MAY 5, 1998
Solicited by the Board of Directors of Baxter International Inc.
The undersigned hereby appoint(s) Vernon R. Loucks Jr. and Thomas J. Sabatino,
and each of them, as proxyholders, with the powers the undersigned would possess
if personally present and with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of
common stock of the undersigned in Baxter International Inc. (including shares
credited to the Dividend Reinvestment Plan or the Employee Stock Purchase Plan)
at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 5, 1998, and at any
adjournment thereof, upon all subjects that may properly come before the
meeting, subject to any directions indicated on the reverse side of this card.
If no directions are given, the proxyholders will vote: for the election of the
five nominees for director listed hereon; in accord with the Board of Directors'
recommendations on the matters listed on the reverse side of this card; and at
their discretion on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting.
-------------------------------- Comments/Change of Address
Election of Directors, Nominees:
---------------------------------------
01 Pei-yuan Chia
02 Mary Johnston Evans ---------------------------------------
03 Frank R. Frame
04 Arnold J. Levine, Ph.D. ---------------------------------------
05 Monroe E. Trout, M.D.
-------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
To vote by telephone, please see the instructions on the reverse side of this
card. To vote by mail, please sign and date this card on the reverse side and
mail promptly in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. You are encouraged to
specify your choices by voting by telephone or marking the appropriate boxes on
the reverse side of this card.
SEE REVERSE SIDE
. FOLD AND DETACH HERE .
Parking
Complimentary parking is available at the North Cove facility.
Walking Tour Information
Sign-up for the walking tours will take place at registration on the morning of
the meeting. The first tour will begin at 8:45 a.m. and the last tour will begin
at 9:15 a.m. Plant regulations specify that no open-toe shoes or shorts should
be worn by stockholders interested in taking the tour.
General Directions Within North Carolina
Marion is located approximately 50 miles east of Asheville and approximately 115
miles northwest of Charlotte. Please allow approximately one hour and 15 minutes
driving time from Asheville, and approximately two hours driving time from
Charlotte.
Closest airport locations are in Asheville or Charlotte.
Driving Directions from the Asheville Airport:
Take I-40 East to Old Fort Exit to Highway 70
Follow Highway 70 for 10 Miles to U.S. Route 221
Turn Left onto U.S. Route 221 North
Continue North on U.S. Route 221 for 10 Miles
Turn Right at the Stop Light by the Baxter Sign
(This will be the third stop light past the intersection on Highway 70 on U.S.
Route 221)
Turn Left at the Baxter Guard Station
Driving Directions from the Charlotte Airport:
Take I-85 South to Highway 74 West to Kings Mountain
Take Highway 74 (Bypass) to Shelby
Turn Right onto U.S. Route 226
U.S. Route 226 Eventually Joins U.S. Route 221
Follow U.S. Route 221 for 10 Miles Past the Intersection of Highway 70
Turn Right at the Stop Light by the Baxter Sign
(This will be the third stop light past the intersection on Highway 70 on U.S.
Route 221)
Turn Left at the Baxter Guard Station
[X] Please mark your vote 8552
as in this example.
This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed
herein. If no directions are given, this proxy will be voted FOR election
of directors, FOR proposals 2, 3 and 4 and AGAINST proposal 5.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR proposals 1, 2, 3 and 4.
FOR WITHHELD
1. Election of Directors (See Reverse). [_] [_]
For, except vote withheld from the following nominee(s):
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. Ratification of independent accountant. [_] [_] [_]
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
3. To adopt the Company's 1998 Incentive [_] [_] [_]
Compensation Program.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
4. To adopt the Company's Long-Term [_] [_] [_]
Incentive Plan.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Board of Directors recommends a vote AGAINST
proposal 5.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
5. Proposal relating to cumulative voting [_] [_] [_]
in the election of directors.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark the box if you want your votes treated as confidential. [_]
Mark the box if you will attend the Annual Meeting. [_]
Mark the box if you have more than one account and want to [_]
discontinue receiving multiple copies of future annual
reports.
SIGNATURE(S) DATE
NOTE: Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. Joint tenants should each
sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or
guardian, please give full title as such.
The signer hereby revokes all proxies heretofore given by the signer to vote at
said meeting or any adjournment thereof.
. FOLD AND DETACH HERE .
This year, Baxter offers vote-by-phone as a new and convenient way by which you
can vote your shares. Your telephone vote authorizes the proxyholders named in
your proxy card (above) to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked,
signed, dated and returned your proxy card. If you choose to vote by telephone,
there is no need for you to mail back your proxy card.
To vote by telephone, United States and Canadian stockholders may call
1-800-OK2-Vote (1-800-652-8683) from any touch-tone telephone. Telephone voting
is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Have your proxy card (above) in hand
when you call.
Option 1 To vote as the Board of Directors recommends on ALL proposals,
press 1. Your vote will be confirmed and cast as directed and the call
will end. If you wish to vote on each proposal separately, press 2.
Option 2 If you selected 2 to vote on each proposal separately, you will hear
these instructions:
Proposal 1 -- To vote FOR all nominees, press 1; to WITHHOLD for all
nominees, press 2; to WITHHOLD for AN INDIVIDUAL nominee, press 3 and
enter the two digit number that appears on the back of the proxy card
next to the name of the nominee that you DO NOT wish to vote for.
Proposals 2, 3, 4 and 5 -- To vote FOR, press 1; to vote AGAINST,
press 2; to ABSTAIN, press 3. Your vote selection will be repeated
and you will have an opportunity to confirm it.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. THANK YOU FOR VOTING.
Baxter International Inc.
Your Invitation to the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
You are cordially invited to attend the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
Baxter International Inc. on Tuesday, May 5, 1998, at 10:30 a.m., Eastern Time.
The meeting will be held at Baxter's North Cove facility in Marion, North
Carolina. For your convenience, directions are provided on the back of this
invitation.
Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and a continental breakfast will be
provided. One-hour walking tours of the manufacturing facility will be offered
for interested stockholders. Details regarding the walking tours are provided on
the back of this invitation.
IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER IS YOUR ADMISSION TICKET TO THE MEETING. Please show it
to the guard at the North Cove entrance to receive your parking permit, then
present this letter at the registration desk for admittance into the meeting.
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