AARON RENTS, INC.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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(as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to
Section 240.14a-12 |
AARON RENTS, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
N/A
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Registrant)
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Aggregate number of class of securities to which transaction
applies: N/A |
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act
Rule 0-11 (set
forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state
how it was determined): N/A |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as
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Aaron Rents, Inc.
309 E. Paces Ferry Road, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30305-2377
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held May 2, 2006
The 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Aaron Rents, Inc.
(the Company), will be held on Tuesday, May 2,
2006, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, at the SunTrust Plaza,
4th Floor, 303 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia
30303, for the purpose of considering and voting on the
following:
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(1) The election of ten directors to constitute the Board
of Directors until the next annual meeting and until their
successors are elected and qualified; |
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(2) The approval of an amendment to the Companys
Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized
shares of Common Stock of the Company from 50,000,000 to
100,000,000; and |
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(3) Such other matters as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
Information relating to the above items is set forth in the
accompanying Proxy Statement.
Only shareholders of record of the Class A Common Stock at
the close of business on March 10, 2006 are entitled to
vote at the meeting.
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BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF |
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DIRECTORS |
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JAMES L. CATES |
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Senior Group Vice President |
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and Corporate Secretary |
Atlanta, Georgia
April 7, 2006
PLEASE COMPLETE AND
RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD PROMPTLY
SO THAT YOUR VOTE MAY BE RECORDED AT THE MEETING
IF YOU DO NOT ATTEND PERSONALLY.
No postage is required if mailed
in the United States in the accompanying envelope.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Aaron Rents, Inc.
309 E. Paces Ferry Road, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30305-2377
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held May 2, 2006
GENERAL INFORMATION
The enclosed proxy is being solicited by the Board of Directors
of Aaron Rents, Inc. (the Company) for use at the
2006 annual meeting of shareholders to be held on Tuesday,
May 2, 2006 (the Annual Meeting), and any
adjournment or postponement of the annual meeting.
Each proxy that is properly executed and returned by a
shareholder will be voted as specified thereon by the
shareholder unless it is revoked. Shareholders are requested to
execute the enclosed proxy and return it in the enclosed
envelope. If no direction is specified on the proxy as to any
matter being acted upon, the shares represented by the proxy
will be voted in favor of such matter. Any shareholder giving a
proxy has the power to revoke it at any time before it is voted
by executing another proxy bearing a later date or by written
notification to the Secretary of the Company. Shareholders who
are present at the Annual Meeting may revoke their proxy and
vote in person.
The presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares of the Companys Class A Common
Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is necessary to
constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of a plurality of the
holders of shares of the Companys Class A Common
Stock present, in person or represented by proxy, at the Annual
Meeting will be necessary to elect the nominees for director
listed in this Proxy Statement. The affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of
Class A Common Stock in person or represented by proxy, at
the Annual Meeting will be necessary to approve the proposed
amendment to the Companys Articles of Incorporation to
increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from
50,000,000 to 100,000,000 as described in this Proxy Statement.
For other matters that may be properly presented at the Annual
Meeting, the matter will also be approved if more shares of
Class A Common Stock are voted in favor of the matter than
against it, unless a greater vote is required by law.
Abstentions and broker non-votes will be included in determining
whether a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting, but will
otherwise have no effect on the election of the nominees for
director. Abstentions and broker non-votes have the effect of
negative votes with respect to the proposed amendment to the
Companys Articles of Incorporation. Broker non-votes are
proxies received from brokers or other nominees holding shares
on behalf of their clients who have not received specific voting
instructions from their clients with respect to non-routine
matters.
Only shareholders of record of Class A Common Stock at the
close of business on the Record Date are entitled to vote at the
Annual Meeting. A list of all shareholders entitled to vote will
be available for inspection at the Annual Meeting. As of the
Record Date, the Company had 8,396,233 shares of
Class A Common Stock and 41,981,802 shares of Common
Stock outstanding. Each share of Class A Common Stock
entitles the holder thereof to one vote for the election of
directors, one vote for approval of the proposal to amend the
Companys Articles of Incorporation to increase the number
of authorized shares of Common Stock and any other matters that
may properly come before the Annual Meeting. The holders of the
Common Stock are not entitled to vote with respect to the
election of directors or the other proposal described herein or
with respect to most other matters presented to the shareholders
for a vote.
The Company will bear the cost of soliciting proxies, including
the charges and expenses of brokerage firms, banks, and others
for forwarding solicitation material to beneficial owners of
shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock. The
principal solicitation is being made by mail; however,
additional solicitation may be made by telephone, facsimile, or
personal interview by officers of the Company who will not be
additionally compensated therefore. It is anticipated that this
Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy will first be mailed
to shareholders on April 7, 2006.
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK
The following table sets forth, as of January 1, 2006
(except as otherwise noted), the beneficial ownership of the
Companys Class A Common Stock and Common Stock by
(i) each person who owns of record or is known by
management to own beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding
shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock,
(ii) each of the Companys directors, (iii) the
Companys Chief Executive Officer and the other four most
highly compensated executive officers of the Company who are
listed in the Summary Compensation Table below (the Named
Executive Officers), and (iv) all executive officers
and directors of the Company as a group.
Except as otherwise indicated, all shares shown in the table
below are held with sole voting and investment power. The
Percent of Class column represents the percentage that the named
person or group would beneficially own if such person or group,
and only such person or group, exercised all currently
exercisable options to purchase shares of the applicable class
of common stock held by him, her, or it.
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Amount and Nature | |
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Title of Class | |
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of Beneficial | |
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Beneficial Owner |
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of Common Stock | |
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Ownership(1) | |
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Percent of Class(1) | |
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R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr.
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Class A |
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5,358,627 |
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63.82 |
% |
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309 E. Paces Ferry Road
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Common |
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2,604,878 |
(2) |
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6.26 |
% |
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Atlanta, Georgia
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Gabelli Asset Management, Inc.
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Class A |
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903,953 |
(3) |
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10.77 |
% |
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One Corporate Center
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Rye, New York
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T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
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Class A |
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761,575 |
(4) |
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9.07 |
% |
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100 E. Pratt Street
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Baltimore, MD
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Gilbert L. Danielson
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Class A |
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4,500 |
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Common |
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422,135 |
(5) |
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1.01 |
% |
Ronald W. Allen
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Class A |
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11,250 |
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* |
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Common |
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3,750 |
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Earl Dolive
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Class A |
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188,841 |
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2.25 |
% |
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Common |
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189,383 |
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* |
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Robert C. Loudermilk, Jr.
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Class A |
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3,375 |
(6) |
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* |
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Common |
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1,032,854 |
(7) |
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2.48 |
% |
William K. Butler, Jr.
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Common |
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131,064 |
(8) |
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* |
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Leo Benatar
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Class A |
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10,725 |
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* |
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Common |
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8,940 |
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John Schuerholz
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Class A |
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-0- |
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N/A |
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Common |
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-0- |
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N/A |
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Ray M. Robinson
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Common |
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3,750 |
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David L. Kolb
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Common |
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36,656 |
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K. Todd Evans
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Common |
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45,456 |
(9) |
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All executive officers and directors as a group
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Class A |
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5,578,697 |
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66.44 |
% |
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(a total of 18 persons)
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Common |
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4,713,891 |
(10) |
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11.32 |
% |
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(1) |
Amounts shown do not reflect that the Common Stock is
convertible, on a share for share basis, into shares of
Class A Common Stock (i) by resolution of the Board of
Directors if, as a result of the existence of the Class A
Common Stock, either class is excluded from listing on The New
York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which
the Common Stock is then listed and (ii) automatically
should the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock fall
below 10% of the aggregate outstanding shares of both classes. |
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(2) |
Includes currently exercisable options to
purchase 187,500 shares of Common Stock and
11,788 shares of Common Stock held by
Mr. Loudermilk, Sr.s spouse. |
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(3) |
As reported on Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on December 31, 2005 by Gabelli Asset
Management, Inc. |
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(4) |
As reported on Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on February 14, 2006 by T. Rowe Price
Associates, Inc. |
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Includes currently exercisable options to
purchase 414,000 shares of Common Stock and
1,575 shares of Common Stock held by
Mr. Danielsons spouse. |
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Includes 3,375 shares of Class A Common Stock held by
certain trusts for the benefit of
Mr. Loudermilk, Jr.s children, of which
Mr. Loudermilk, Jr. serves as trustee. |
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Includes currently exercisable options to
purchase 225,000 shares of Common Stock,
226,760 shares of Common Stock held by certain trusts for
the benefit of Mr. Loudermilk, Jr.s children, of
which Mr. Loudermilk, Jr. serves as trustee, and
38,798 shares of Common Stock held by
Mr. Loudermilk, Jr.s spouse. |
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Includes currently exercisable options to
purchase 85,000 shares of Common Stock and
10,000 shares of Common Stock held by
Mr. Butlers spouse. |
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(9) |
Includes currently exercisable options to
purchase 45,000 shares of Common Stock. |
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(10) |
Includes currently exercisable options to
purchase 1,139,500 shares of Common Stock. |
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, requires the Companys directors and executive
officers, and persons who own more than 10% of either class of
the Companys common stock, to file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission certain reports of beneficial ownership of
the Companys common stock. Based solely on copies of such
reports furnished to the Company and written representations
that no other reports were required, the Company believes that
all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements were
complied with by its directors, officers, and more than 10%
shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2005.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
(Item 1)
The Board of Directors is responsible for directing the
management of the Company. The Companys Bylaws provide for
the Board of Directors to be composed of eleven members. The
Board recommends the election of the ten nominees listed below
to constitute the entire Board, who will hold office until the
next annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors
are elected and qualified. If, at the time of the Annual
Meeting, any of such nominees should be unable to serve, the
persons named in the proxy will vote for such substitutes or
will vote to reduce the number of directors for the ensuing
year, as the Board recommends, but in no event will the proxy be
voted for more than ten nominees. Management has no reason to
believe any substitute nominee or reduction in the number of
directors for the ensuing year will be required. The Board has
not named an eleventh nominee for director, which will result in
a vacancy on the Board until the Board names additional nominees
or reduces the size of the Board to ten members.
On January 26, 2006, Mr. John Schuerholz was elected
to the board of directors of the Company. Mr. Schuerholz
came to the attention of the Board as a director candidate
through a referral made to the Chairman of the Board.
All of the nominees listed below are now directors of the
Company and have consented to serve as directors if elected. The
following information relating to age, positions with the
Company, principal occupation, directorships in companies with a
class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, subject to the
requirements of Section 15(d) of that Act or registered as
an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
has been furnished by the respective nominees.
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Principal Occupation for Past |
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Director | |
Name |
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Age | |
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Five Years and Other Directorships |
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Since | |
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R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr
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78 |
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Mr. Loudermilk, Sr. has served as Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company since the Companys
incorporation in 1962. From 1962 to 1997, he was also President
of the Company. He has been a director of Americas Mart
Corporation, owner and manager of the Atlanta Merchandise Mart,
since 1996. He is one of the founders and Chairman of the Board
of The Buckhead Community Bank, and formerly the Chairman of the
Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit
Authority. |
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1962 |
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Robert C. Loudermilk, Jr.
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46 |
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Mr. Loudermilk, Jr., has served in various positions since
joining the Company as an Assistant Store Manager in 1985. He
has served as a Director of the Company since 1983, and as
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company since 1997. |
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1983 |
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Gilbert L. Danielson
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59 |
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Mr. Danielson has served as Vice President, Finance and Chief
Financial Officer and Director of the Company since 1990. He was
named Executive Vice President in 1998. He has also served as a
Director of Abrams Industries, Inc. since 2000. |
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1990 |
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Ronald W. Allen(1)
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64 |
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Mr. Allen has served as a Director of the Company since 1997. He
was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Delta Air Lines, an
international air passenger carrier, from 1987 to 1997. He also
served as President of Delta from 1983 to 1987 and from 1993 to
1997, and Chief Operating Officer from 1983 to 1997. He
currently serves as a Director of The Coca-Cola Company. |
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1997 |
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Leo Benatar(2)(3)
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76 |
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Mr. Benatar has served as a Director of the Company since 1994.
He is currently a Principal with Benatar & Associates.
Previously, he has been an associated consultant with A.T.
Kearney, Inc., a management consulting and executive search
company since 1996. He was Chairman of Engraph, Inc., and served
as Chief Executive Officer of that company from 1981 to 1995.
Mr. Benatar serves as a Director of Interstate
Bakeries Corporation, Mohawk Industries, Inc., and Paxar
Corporation. He previously served as Chairman of the Federal
Reserve Bank of Atlanta. |
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1994 |
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Earl Dolive(1)
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88 |
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Mr. Dolive has served as a Director of the Company since 1977.
He currently serves as a Director of Greenway Medical
Technologies, Inc. and as Director Emeritus of Genuine Parts
Company, a distributor of automobile replacement parts. Prior to
his retirement in 1988, he was Vice Chairman of the Board of
Genuine Parts Company. |
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1977 |
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Ray M. Robinson(2)
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58 |
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Mr. Robinson is President Emeritus of the East Lake Golf Club
and Vice Chairman of the East Lake Community Foundation. He has
served as a Director of the Company since 2002. Prior to his
retirement in 2003 as Southern Region President,
Mr. Robinson was employed with AT&T from 1968.
Mr. Robinson currently serves on the Board of Directors for
Avnet, Inc., Acuity Brands, Inc., Citizens Trust Bank, American
Airlines and ChoicePoint, Inc. |
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2002 |
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Principal Occupation for Past |
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Director | |
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Five Years and Other Directorships |
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Since | |
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John Schuerholz
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65 |
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Mr. Schuerholz is Executive Vice President and General Manager
of the Atlanta Braves professional baseball organization. Prior
to joining the Atlanta Braves in 1990, he was employed from 1968
with the Kansas City Royals professional baseball organization
in various management positions until being named Executive Vice
President and General Manager of that organization in 1981. |
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2006 |
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William K. Butler, Jr.
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53 |
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Mr. Butler joined the Company in 1974 as a Store Manager. He
served as Vice President of the Aarons Rental Purchase
Division from 1986 to 1995 and currently is President of that
Division, now known as the Aarons Sales & Lease
Ownership Division. Mr. Butler has served as a Director of
the Company since 2000. |
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2000 |
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David L. Kolb(1)(3)
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67 |
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Mr. Kolb was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mohawk
Industries, Inc., a manufacturer of flooring products, from 2001
until 2004. Prior to his retirement as Chairman in 2004, he also
served as CEO from 1988 to 2001. Mr. Kolb has been a
Director of the Company since August of 2003. He also serves on
the Board of Directors for Chromcraft Revington Corporation and
Paxar Corporation. |
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2003 |
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(1) |
Member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. |
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(2) |
Member of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. |
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(3) |
Member of the Special Committee on Corporate Governance of the
Board of Directors. |
There are no family relationships among any of the executive
officers, directors, and nominees of the Company, except that
Robert C. Loudermilk, Jr. is the son of R. Charles
Loudermilk, Sr.
The Board held four meetings during the year ended
December 31, 2005 with each director attending at least 75%
of the meetings of the Board and committees on which they
served. The Board has determined that Messrs. Allen,
Benatar, Dolive, Kolb, Robinson and Schuerholz are independent
directors under the listing standards of the New York Stock
Exchange. The Board believes that it should be sufficiently
represented at the Companys annual meetings of
shareholders. Last year all of the Boards then incumbent
members attended the annual meeting.
Board Recommendation
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE
ELECTION OF ALL 10 NOMINEES.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The Board has a standing Audit Committee which is composed of
Messrs. Allen, Dolive, and Kolb. All of the members of the
Committee are independent within the meaning of the
listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, and the Board
has determined that both Mr. Dolive and Mr. Kolb are
audit committee financial experts within the meaning
of the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
function of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of
Directors in fulfilling their oversight
5
responsibility relating to: the integrity of the Companys
financial statements; the financial reporting process; the
systems of internal accounting and financial controls; the
performance of the Companys internal audit function and
independent auditors; the independent auditors
qualifications and independence; and the Companys
compliance with ethics policies and legal and regulatory
requirements. Among other responsibilities, the Audit Committee
is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation,
retention, and termination of the independent auditors, who
report directly to the Committee. The Audit Committee operates
pursuant to a written charter adopted by the board. The Audit
Committee held four meetings during the year ended
December 31, 2005. Please see page 17 for the 2005
Audit Committee Report.
In 2005 the Board instituted a Compensation Committee, which is
currently composed of Messers. Benatar and Robinson. The
Compensation Committee is responsible for approving the
executive compensation plans for the Named Executive Officers,
and for approving the equity incentives for all employees. The
Compensation Committee replaced the Stock Option Committee,
which had two meetings in 2005. The Compensation Committee held
one meeting during the year ended December 31, 2005.
At its May 2, 2005 meeting, the Board established a Special
Committee on Corporate Governance, initially composed of
Messers. Benatar and Kolb, to examine certain corporate
governance matters on behalf of the Board.
The Board does not have a nominating committee. Certain New York
Stock Exchange listing criteria related to nominating and
compensation committees and the composition of the Board are not
applicable to the Company because a majority of its voting
Class A Common Stock is beneficially owned by the Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Loudermilk, Sr.
In addition to these committees, the non-management and
independent members of the Board meet from to time to time in
executive session, without management present. Mr. Benatar
currently chairs these meetings as lead director.
Director Nominations
The Board of Directors is responsible for considering and making
recommendations to the shareholders concerning nominees for
election as director at the Companys meetings of
shareholders, and nominees for appointments to fill any vacancy
on the Board. Because of the practical necessity that a
candidate for director must be acceptable to
Mr. Loudermilk, Sr., in his capacity as holder of a
majority of the Companys voting stock, in order to be
elected, the Board believes it is desirable for the nominations
function to be fulfilled by the full Board, including
Mr. Loudermilk, Sr., rather than by a nominating
committee that does not include him.
To fulfill its nominations responsibilities, the Board
periodically considers the experience, talents, skills and other
characteristics the Board as a whole should possess in order to
maintain its effectiveness. In determining whether to nominate
an incumbent director for reelection, the Board evaluates each
incumbents continued service, in light of the Boards
collective requirements. When the need for a new director arises
(whether because of a newly created Board seat or vacancy), the
Board proceeds by whatever means it deems appropriate to
identify a qualified candidate or candidates. The Board
evaluates the qualifications of each candidate. Final candidates
are generally interviewed by one or more Board members before
the Board makes a decision.
At a minimum, directors should have high moral character and
personal integrity, demonstrated accomplishment in his or her
field and the ability to devote sufficient time to carry out the
duties of a director. In addition to these minimum
qualifications, in evaluating candidates the Board may consider
all information relevant in its business judgment to the
decision of whether to nominate a particular candidate for a
particular Board seat, taking into account the then current
composition of the Board. These factors may include: a
candidates professional and educational background,
reputation, industry knowledge and business experience, and the
relevance of those characteristics to the Company and the Board;
whether the candidate will complement or contribute to the mix
of talents, skills and other characteristics needed to maintain
the
6
Boards effectiveness; the candidates ability to
fulfill the responsibilities of a director and of a member of
one or more of the Boards standing committees; and input
from the Companys majority shareholder.
Nominations of individuals for election to the Board at any
meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected may
be made by any shareholder entitled to vote for the election of
directors at that meeting by complying with the procedures set
forth in Article III, Section 3 of the Companys
Bylaws. Article III, Section 3 generally requires that
shareholders submit nominations by written notice to the
President setting forth certain prescribed information about the
nominee and nominating shareholder. That section also requires
that the nomination be submitted at a prescribed time in advance
of the meeting, as described below in SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR
2007 ANNUAL MEETING.
The Board will consider including in its slate of director
nominees for an annual shareholders meeting a nominee
submitted to the Company by a shareholder. In order for the
Board to consider such nominees, the nominating shareholder
should submit the information about the nominee and nominating
shareholder described in Article III, Section 3 of the
Bylaws to the President at the Companys principal
executive offices at least 120 days before the first
anniversary of the date that the Companys Proxy Statement
was released to shareholders in connection with the previous
years annual meeting of shareholders. The nominating
shareholder should expressly indicate that such shareholder
desires that the Board consider such shareholders nominee
for inclusion with the Boards slate of nominees for the
meeting. The nominating shareholder and shareholders
nominee should undertake to provide, or consent to the Company
obtaining, all other information the Board requests in
connection with its evaluation of the nominee.
The shareholders nominee must satisfy the minimum
qualifications for director described above. In addition, in
evaluating shareholder nominees for inclusion with the
Boards slate of nominees, the Board may consider all
relevant information, including the factors described above;
whether there are or will be any vacancies on the Board; and the
size of the nominating shareholders holdings in the
Company and the length of time such shareholder has owned such
holdings.
PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE COMPANYS ARTICLES OF
INCORPORATION TO INCREASE
THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF THE COMPANYS COMMON
STOCK
(Item 2)
The Board of Directors resolved to amend the Companys
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the
Amendment) to increase the number of shares of the
Companys authorized Common Stock, $.50 par value per
share from 50,000,000 to 100,000,000, and to submit the
Amendment to the shareholders at the Annual Meeting for their
approval.
The Board of Directors believes that it is in the Companys
best interests to increase the number of shares of authorized
Common Stock to have additional shares available to meet needs
if they arise. As of the Record Date, 41,981,802 shares of
Common Stock were issued and outstanding. Of the remaining
authorized shares of Common Stock, 3,026,272 shares were
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options previously
granted or available to be granted under the Companys
option plans, 3,007,800 shares were held in treasury and
1,984,126 shares remained unissued, unreserved and
available for future corporate purposes.
The purpose of increasing the authorized number of shares of
Common Stock is to give the Board of Directors greater
flexibility in connection with the Companys capital
structure, possible future financing requirements, employee
compensation and other corporate matters. If the Amendment is
approved, the Board of Directors would be permitted to issue
Common Stock for any proper corporate purpose
including stock splits, stock dividends, acquisitions of other
businesses or properties, raising additional capital, or
issuances under current or future stock option or other employee
benefit plans without obtaining approval of the shareholders.
Shares of Common Stock could be issued publicly or privately.
Holders of the Common Stock do not have preemptive or similar
rights to subscribe for additional securities which may be
issued by the Company, and the issuance of additional securities
may have a dilutive effect on existing holders of the Common
Stock. The Company does not presently have any agreements,
understandings or arrangements regarding the possible issuance
of any Common Stock subject to approval
7
under this Amendment. The Amendment is not intended as an
anti-takeover device and it is not proposed in response to any
specific takeover threat known to the Board of Directors.
The Amendment does not affect the other classes of the
Companys capital stock, including its Class A Common
Stock, $.50 par value per share, of which
25,000,000 shares are authorized for issuance, and as of
the Record Date, 8,396,233 were issued and outstanding and
3,667,623 were held in treasury, or the Companys Preferred
Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of which
1,000,000 shares are authorized for issuance and none are
issued or outstanding. Holders of Common Stock generally have no
right to vote at meetings of shareholders, except where required
by law or the Companys Articles of Incorporation. Pursuant
to Georgia law and the Companys Articles of Incorporation,
the number of authorized shares of Common Stock may be increased
by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes which may be
collectively cast by holders of the Class A Common
Stock consequently, the holders of Common Stock are
not entitled to vote on the Amendment.
Although the Company presently intends to file the Amendment
with the Georgia Secretary of State as promptly as practicable
after the Amendment is approved by the shareholders, the Board
reserves the right to delay or abandon the Amendment at its
discretion.
Approval of the Amendment will require the affirmative vote of a
majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Class A
Common Stock.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT, AND THE ENCLOSED PROXY WILL BE VOTED
IN THAT MANNER UNLESS THE SHAREHOLDER EXECUTING THE PROXY
SPECIFICALLY VOTES TO THE CONTRARY OR ABSTAINS FROM VOTING ON
THIS PROPOSAL.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
The following table sets forth aggregate information as of
December 31, 2005 about the Companys compensation
plans under which our equity securities are authorized for
issuance.
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Number of Securities to | |
|
|
|
Number of Securities | |
|
|
be Issued Upon | |
|
Weighted-Average | |
|
Remaining Available for | |
|
|
Exercise of Outstanding | |
|
Exercise Price of | |
|
Future Issuance Under | |
|
|
Options, Warrants and | |
|
Outstanding Options, | |
|
Equity Compensation | |
Plan Category |
|
Rights | |
|
Warrants and Rights | |
|
Plans | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Shareholders
|
|
|
3,026,276 |
|
|
$ |
11.73 |
|
|
|
954,000 |
|
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Shareholders
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
REMUNERATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Executive Officers
Set forth below are the names and ages of all executive officers
of the Company as of February 24, 2006. All positions and
offices with the Company held by each such person are also
indicated. Officers are elected annually for one-year terms or
until their successors are elected and qualified. All executive
officers are United States citizens.
The Company has adopted a code of ethics applicable to its Chief
Executive, Financial and Accounting Officers. The Company will
provide to any person without charge, upon request, a copy of
the code of ethics.
8
Request should be made in writing to the Corporate Secretary,
Aaron Rents, Inc., 309 E. Paces Ferry Road, N.E.,
Atlanta, Georgia 30305-2377.
|
|
|
|
|
Position with the Company and Principal Occupation During the |
Name (Age) |
|
Past Five Years |
|
|
|
R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr. (78)
|
|
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
of the Company.* |
|
Robert C. Loudermilk, Jr. (46)
|
|
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company.* |
|
Gilbert L. Danielson (59)
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the
Company.* |
|
James L. Cates (55)
|
|
Mr. Cates has served as Director of Risk Management since 1990,
Vice President since 1994, Secretary of the Company since 1999
and Senior Group Vice President since 2002. |
|
William K. Butler, Jr. (53)
|
|
President of the Aarons Sales & Lease Ownership
Division.* |
|
Eduardo Quinones (45)
|
|
Mr. Quinones joined the Company in 1985 as a Store Manager. He
served as Vice President of the Corporate Furnishings Division
from 1989 until becoming President of that Division in 2000. |
|
Christopher M. Champion (35)
|
|
Mr. Champion has served as Vice President, General Counsel since
2005. Prior to then he was employed since 1997 with Russell
Corporation, an apparel and sporting goods manufacturer serving
most recently as Deputy General Counsel. |
|
B. Lee Landers (47)
|
|
Mr. Landers has served as Vice President, Chief Information
Officer since 1999. Prior to 1999, he held various engineering
and technology management positions with The Southern Company. |
|
Robert P. Sinclair, Jr. (44)
|
|
Mr. Sinclair has served as Controller of the Company since 1990,
Chief Financial Officer of the Aarons Sales &
Lease Ownership Division from 1995 to 1999, and Vice President,
Corporate Controller since 1999. |
Mitchell S. Paull (47)
|
|
Mr. Paull served as Vice President, Treasurer of the Company
from 1991 until 1999. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Paull served
as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President Finance and
Administration of Winter, a construction management company and
as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President-Finance for Career
Fair, a computer software company. Mr. Paull rejoined the
Company as Senior Vice President in 2001 and in 2005 was
appointed to Senior Vice President, Merchandising and Logistics,
Aarons Sales & Lease Ownership Division. |
9
|
|
|
|
|
Position with the Company and Principal Occupation During the |
Name (Age) |
|
Past Five Years |
|
|
|
K. Todd Evans (42)
|
|
Mr. Evans served as Director of Franchise Development for the
Company from 1991 until 1998 and Vice President from 1998 to
2000. From March 2000 to October 2000, Mr. Evans served as
President of Her-Kel Investments, a franchisee of the Company.
Mr. Evans rejoined the Company in October 2000 as Vice
President, Business Development and was promoted to Vice
President, Franchising in 2001. |
Marc S. Rogovin (46)
|
|
Mr. Rogovin served as Director of Real Estate and Construction
for the Company from 1997 to 1998, and has served as Vice
President, Real Estate and Construction since 1998. |
|
|
* |
For additional information concerning these individuals, see
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (Item 1) above. |
10
Executive Compensation Summary
The following table provides certain summary information for the
last three fiscal years of the Company concerning compensation
paid or accrued by the Company and its subsidiaries to or on
behalf of the Companys Chief Executive Officer and the
other Named Executive Officers of the Company.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
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Long-Term | |
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Compensation | |
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Awards | |
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| |
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Number of | |
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|
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|
|
Annual Compensation | |
|
Securities | |
|
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|
Fiscal | |
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| |
|
Underlying | |
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|
|
|
Year | |
|
|
|
Other Annual | |
|
Stock Options | |
|
All Other | |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Ended | |
|
Salary | |
|
Bonus | |
|
Compensation(1) | |
|
(#) | |
|
Compensation | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr.
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
454,000 |
|
|
$ |
932,821 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
47,234 |
(2) |
|
Chairman of the Board and |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
454,000 |
|
|
|
853,435 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
48,450 |
|
|
|
47,861 |
(3) |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
454,000 |
|
|
|
584,459 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
105,000 |
|
|
|
141,368 |
(4) |
Robert C. Loudermilk, Jr.
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
92,429 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,697 |
(5) |
|
President and Chief |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
325,000 |
|
|
|
84,590 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
48,450 |
|
|
|
2,078 |
(5) |
|
Operating Officer |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
282,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
105,000 |
|
|
|
2,707 |
(5) |
Gilbert L. Danielson
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
92,429 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,686 |
(5) |
|
Executive Vice President and |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
325,000 |
|
|
|
84,590 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
48,450 |
|
|
|
2,011 |
(5) |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
105,000 |
|
|
|
2,870 |
(5) |
William K. Butler, Jr.
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
425,000 |
|
|
|
172,084 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,615 |
(5) |
|
President, Aarons Sales & |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
400,000 |
|
|
|
199,825 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
96,900 |
|
|
|
2,777 |
(5) |
|
Lease Ownership Division |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
375,000 |
|
|
|
156,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
105,000 |
|
|
|
3,646 |
(5) |
K. Todd Evans
|
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|
2005 |
|
|
|
180,000 |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,520 |
|
|
|
1,908 |
(5) |
|
Vice President, Franchising |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
167,923 |
|
|
|
133,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,520 |
|
|
|
2,030 |
(5) |
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
160,000 |
|
|
|
136,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
2,730 |
(5) |
|
|
(1) |
Excludes perquisites that do not exceed the lesser of $50,000 or
10% of the executives salary and bonus. |
|
(2) |
Represents a portion of the premiums paid, and reimbursement of
the executives resulting income tax liability, with
respect to the split dollar life insurance policies described in
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS below. |
|
(3) |
Includes a matching contribution of $1,647 made by the Company
to the executives account in the Companys 401(k)
plan, and $46,214 representing a portion of the premiums paid,
and reimbursement of the executives resulting income tax
liability, with respect to the split dollar life insurance
policies described in RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS below. |
|
(4) |
Includes a matching contribution of $2,692 made by the Company
to the executives account in the Companys 401(k)
plan, and $138,676 representing a portion of the premiums paid,
and reimbursement of the executives resulting income tax
liability, with respect to the split dollar life insurance
policies described in RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS below. |
|
(5) |
Represents a matching contribution made by the Company to the
executives account in the Companys 401(k) plan. |
Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation
General. Beginning with the establishment of the
Compensation Committee in 2005, decisions on compensation of the
Companys Named Executive Officers generally are made by
the Compensation Committee based upon the recommendation of the
Chief Executive Officer. The objectives of the Companys
compensation program are to enhance the profitability of the
Company, and thus shareholder value, by aligning executive
compensation with the Companys business goals and
performance and by attracting,
11
retaining and rewarding executive officers who contribute to the
long-term success of the Company. In determining the
compensation to be paid to the executive officers of the
Company, the Committee and the Board rely upon their own
knowledge of compensation paid to executives of companies of
comparable size and complexity. Such companies are not limited
to those comprising the Peer Group in the Five-Year Shareholder
Return Comparison graph. They also consider the performance of
the Company and the merits of the individual under consideration.
Salary. The Chief Executive Officer makes recommendations
annually to the Compensation Committee regarding the base
salary, if any, for the Companys Named Executive Officers,
including himself, based upon the profitability of the Company
and the level of responsibility, time with the Company,
contribution and performance of the Named Executive Officer.
With respect to the other executive officers, the Chief
Executive Officer makes these salary determinations. The
beginning point for determining such salaries is the salary the
executive officer received in the prior fiscal year. The Chief
Executive Officer received a salary of $454,000 for the year
ended December 31, 2005, which represented no change in his
salary from fiscal 2004 or 2003. The other Named Executive
Officers received raises as set forth in the Summary
Compensation Table, in accordance generally with the principles
set forth above.
Bonus. In 2005, the Companys shareholders approved
the Aaron Rents, Inc. Executive Bonus Plan. The purpose of the
Executive Bonus Plan is to further the growth and financial
success of the Company by offering performance incentives to
designated executives who have significant responsibility for
such success. For 2005, the Companys annual incentive
bonus program was based solely on the Companys financial
performance. The Board of Directors Compensation Committee
approved incentive bonus plans for the following Named Executive
Officers: Messrs. Loudermilk, Sr.,
Loudermilk, Jr., Danielson, and Butler. In addition,
Messrs. Loudermilk, Sr. and Butler established a bonus
plan for Mr. Evans. The bonus plans for
Messrs. Loudermilk, Sr., Loudermilk, Jr., and
Danielson provided for the payment to them of cash incentives
equal to specified percentages of the pre-tax earnings of the
Company for its 2005 fiscal year (without giving effect to
bonuses), provided that 2005 pre-tax earnings exceeded those of
2004 (after giving effect to bonuses). The bonus plans for
Messrs. Butler and Evans were similar, except that their
bonuses depended, in Mr. Butlers case, on the cash
basis pre-tax earnings of the Aarons Sales &
Lease Ownership Division, and in Mr. Evans case, on
achievement of quarterly pre-tax profit objectives for the
Aarons Sales & Lease Ownership Divisions
franchise operations and on new franchise store opening goals.
Mr. Loudermilk, Sr.s bonus opportunity was equal
to 1% of the Companys pre-tax earnings for fiscal 2005.
Factors considered in setting his bonus opportunity included the
successful acceleration of the Companys growth plans and
continued improvement in the Companys financial condition.
In accordance with these previously established incentive plans,
the Board of Directors approved the payment of the incentive
bonuses for 2005 to the Named Executive Officers in the amounts
set forth in the Summary Compensation Table, as it had been
determined that the objectives had been met.
Stock Options. The Company in the past has used grants of
stock options to its key employees and executive officers to
more closely align the interests of such employees and officers
with the interests of its shareholders. Options and awards
equivalent to 102,080 shares of Common Stock were awarded
to officers and employees during the year ended
December 31, 2005. Details on options granted to the Named
Executive Officers in 2005 are set forth in the Option Grants in
Last Fiscal Year table. The amount and nature of prior awards
are generally considered in determining new option awards for
executive officers, although other factors, such as the need to
retain experienced managers, are also considered.
Compensation Deductibility. An income tax deduction under
federal law will generally be available for annual compensation
in excess of $1 million paid to the Named Executive
Officers only if that compensation is
performance-based and complies with certain other
tax law requirement. Although the Board considers deductibility
issues when approving executive compensation, the Board believes
that other compensation objectives, such as attracting,
retaining and providing incentives to qualified executives, are
important and may supersede the goal of maintaining
deductibility. Consequently, the Board may make compensation
decisions without regard to deductibility when it is in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders to do so. The
adoption and shareholder approval of the Executive Bonus Plan in
2005 and the establishment of the
12
Compensation Committee in that year were partly undertaken for
purposes of maintaining deductibility of executive compensation.
|
|
|
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE |
|
Leo Benatar |
|
Ray M. Robinson |
Five-Year Shareholder Return Comparison
Set forth below is a line graph comparing, for the last five
fiscal years of the Company, the yearly percentage change in the
cumulative total shareholder return (assuming reinvestment of
dividends) on the Companys Common Stock with that of
(i) the S&P Small Cap 600 Index and (ii) a group
of publicly traded rental purchase companies (the Peer
Group). For 2005, the Peer Group consisted of
Rent-A-Center, Inc. and
Rent-Way, Inc. The stock price performance shown on the graph
below is not necessarily indicative of future price performance.
COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG AARON RENTS, INC., THE S & P SMALLCAP 600
INDEX
AND A PEER GROUP
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Cumulative Total Return | |
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12/00 |
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12/01 |
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12/02 |
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12/03 |
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12/04 |
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12/05 |
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Aaron Rents, Inc.
|
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|
|
100.00 |
|
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|
|
116.19 |
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|
156.23 |
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215.98 |
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403.09 |
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340.75 |
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S & P SmallCap 600
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100.00 |
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106.54 |
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90.95 |
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126.23 |
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154.82 |
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166.71 |
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Peer Group
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100.00 |
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101.55 |
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137.97 |
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215.11 |
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191.66 |
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137.96 |
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|
Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers
Messrs. Loudermilk, Sr., Loudermilk, Jr.,
Danielson, Butler and Evans have each entered into employment
agreements with the Company. The agreements provide that each
executives employment with the Company will continue until
terminated by either party for any reason upon 60 days
notice, or by either party for just cause at any time. Each such
executive has agreed not to compete with the Company for a
period of one year after the termination of his employment.
13
Director Compensation
Effective January 1, 2006, each outside director receives
$3,000 or the equivalent amount in shares of the Companys
Common Stock for each Board meeting attended. Each outside
director is also paid a quarterly retainer of $2,000 or the
equivalent amount in shares of the Companys Common Stock.
Audit Committee members receive $1,000 for each Audit Committee
meeting attended with the Chairman of the Audit Committee
receiving $1,500 for each meeting attended. Each member of the
Compensation Committee receives $500 for each Compensation
Committee meeting attended. Mr. Benatar, as Lead Director,
receives in addition to this Board and Committee fees, an annual
retainer of $15,000, paid quarterly for his role as Lead
Director. Directors who are employees of the Company receive no
compensation for attendance at Board or Committee meetings.
Option Grants
The following table lists grants of stock options made by the
Company during the last fiscal year to the Named Executive
Officers.
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Potential Realizable | |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value at Assumed | |
|
|
Number of | |
|
Percent of Total | |
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Rates of Stock | |
|
|
Securities | |
|
Options | |
|
|
|
|
|
Price Appreciation for | |
|
|
Underlying | |
|
Granted to | |
|
Exercise or | |
|
|
|
Option Term(1) | |
|
|
Options | |
|
Employees in | |
|
Base Price | |
|
Expiration | |
|
| |
Name |
|
Granted(#) | |
|
Fiscal Year | |
|
($/Sh) | |
|
Date | |
|
5%($) | |
|
10%($) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
Robert C. Loudermilk, Jr.
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
Gilbert L. Danielson
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
William K. Butler, Jr.
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
K. Todd Evans
|
|
|
1,600 |
(2) |
|
|
1.57 |
% |
|
$ |
22.47 |
|
|
|
5/16/2005 |
|
|
$ |
19,926 |
|
|
$ |
53,025 |
|
|
|
|
1,920 |
(2) |
|
|
1.88 |
% |
|
|
24.94 |
|
|
|
8/15/2005 |
|
|
|
30,144 |
|
|
|
76,316 |
|
|
|
(1) |
These amounts represent assumed rates of appreciation only.
Actual gains, if any, on stock option exercises and holdings of
Class A Common Stock and Common Stock are dependent upon
the future performance of the shares and overall market
conditions. There can be no assurance that the amounts reflected
in this table will be achieved. |
|
(2) |
These options were granted pursuant to the Companys 2001
Stock Option and Incentive Award Plan and consist of options to
acquire Common Stock. Such options have terms of ten years from
the date of grant and will vest on the third anniversary of the
date of grant, or earlier upon the occurrence of a change of
control of the Company. |
Option Exercises and Fiscal Year-End Values
The following table shows for the Companys Chief Executive
Officer and the other Named Executive Officers information with
respect to the exercise of options for Common Stock during the
year ended December 31, 2005, the number of shares covered
by both exercisable and non-exercisable stock options for Common
Stock as of December 31, 2004 and the values of
in-the-money
options, based on the positive
14
spread between the exercise price of any such existing stock
options and the year-end price of the Companys Common
Stock.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities | |
|
|
|
|
Shares | |
|
|
|
Underlying Unexercised | |
|
Value of Unexercised In-the | |
|
|
Acquired | |
|
|
|
Options at December 31, | |
|
Money Options at | |
|
|
on | |
|
Value | |
|
2005 (No. of Shares) | |
|
December 31, 2005(1) | |
|
|
Exercise | |
|
Realized | |
|
| |
|
| |
Name |
|
(#) | |
|
($) | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
187,500 |
|
|
|
153,450 |
|
|
$ |
2,792,815 |
|
|
$ |
1,164,192 |
|
Robert C. Loudermilk, Jr.
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
225,000 |
|
|
|
153,450 |
|
|
|
3,602,379 |
|
|
|
1,164,192 |
|
Gilbert L. Danielson
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
414,000 |
|
|
|
153,450 |
|
|
|
6,524,001 |
|
|
|
1,164,192 |
|
William K. Butler, Jr.
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
$ |
769,710 |
|
|
|
85,000 |
|
|
|
201,900 |
|
|
|
911,666 |
|
|
|
1,524,985 |
|
K. Todd Evans
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
704,850 |
|
|
|
34,400 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Aggregate market value (based on December 31, 2005 closing
stock price of $21.08 per share for the Common Stock) of
the shares covered by the options, less aggregate exercise price
payable by the executive. |
Compensation Committee Interlocks
None of the members of our Compensation Committee has served as
an officer or an employee of the Company during the previous
fiscal year. No interlocking relationship exists between the
Companys Board of Directors, Compensation Committee or
executive officers and the board of directors, compensation
committee or executive officers of another company, nor has such
relationship existed in the past.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
As part of its marketing program, the Company sponsors
professional driver Michael Waltrips Aarons Dream
Machine in the NASCAR Busch Series. In 2005, as a part of this
marketing program, the Company began sponsoring a driver
development program implemented by Mr. Waltrips
company. The two drivers participating in the driver development
program for 2005 are both the sons of Mr. Butler. The
portion of the Companys sponsorship of Michael Waltrip
attributable to the driver development program was $890,000 for
2005 and is projected to be approximately $983,000 for 2006.
In May 2005, Crown Holdings, LLC (Crown Holdings)
owned by Mr. Loudermilk, Sr.s
sister-in-law and her
husband entered into a franchise and area development agreement
to open three Aaron Sales & Lease Ownership stores. The
terms of the agreement are the same as with all new franchisees.
In 2005, the Company received $100,000 in franchise and area
development fees from Crown Holdings. No franchise fee or
royalty income was recorded by the Company in 2005, as Crown
Holdings first store was not opened until January 2006.
The Company purchased a parcel of land in 2000 and finished
construction in 2001 of an approximately 50,000 square foot
building which accommodates the Companys financial and
information technology operations. The cost of this land and
building was approximately $6.1 million. During April 2002,
the Company sold the land and building to a limited liability
company whose sole owners are Mr. Loudermilk, Sr. and
Mr. Loudermilk, Jr. for approximately
$6.3 million. The Company loaned the limited liability
company approximately $1 million to partially finance the
acquisition, and the loan plus interest was paid back to the
Company shortly after closing. The Company is leasing this
facility from the limited liability company under a
15-year lease with a
current rent of approximately $617,000 annually.
Aaron Ventures I, LLC (Aaron Ventures) was
formed in December 2002 for the purpose of acquiring properties
from the Company and leasing them.
Messrs. Loudermilk, Sr., Butler, Rogovin and Cates are
the managers of Aaron Ventures, and its owners are all officers
of the Company, including all of the Named Executive Officers
and six other executive officers. The combined ownership
interest for all Named Executive
15
Officers represents 47.37% of which Mr. Loudermilk
Sr.s interest is 10.53%. In December 2002, Aaron Ventures
purchased eleven properties from the Company, all former
Heilig-Meyers stores, for a total purchase price of $5,000,000.
The Company acquired these properties from Heilig-Meyers in 2001
and 2002 for an aggregate purchase price of approximately
$4,000,000. The price paid by Aaron Ventures was arrived at by
adding the Companys acquisition cost to the cost of
improvements made by the Company to the properties prior to the
sale to Aaron Ventures. In September of 2004, Aaron Ventures
purchased an additional eleven properties from the Company for a
total purchase price of $6,895,000. The Company had acquired
these properties over a period of several years. The purchase
price paid by Aaron Ventures was determined from the individual
fair market valuation and the results of current formal written
appraisals completed for each location. Aaron Ventures currently
leases 21 of the above properties to the Company for
15-year terms at an
annual rental of approximately $1,345,000.
Each of two irrevocable trusts holds a cash value life insurance
policy on the life of Mr. Loudermilk, Sr., the
aggregate face value of which is $4,400,000. The Company and the
Trustee of such trusts are parties to split-dollar agreements
pursuant to which the Company has agreed to make all payments on
the policies until Mr. Loudermilk, Sr.s death.
Upon his death, the Company will receive the aggregate cash
value of those policies, which as of December 31, 2005
represented $2,497,209 and the balance of such policies will be
payable to the trusts or beneficiaries of such trusts. The
premiums paid by the Company on these policies during the year
ended December 31, 2005 totaled $264,790.
The Audit Committee of the Companys Board of Directors
reviews all material transactions between the Company and the
Companys directors and executive officers.
AUDIT MATTERS
Ernst & Young LLP served as auditors of the Company for
the year ended December 31, 2005, and has been selected by
the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors to continue as the
Companys auditors for the current fiscal year. A
representative of that firm is expected to be present at the
Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement
and respond to appropriate questions. The following table sets
forth the Ernst & Young fees for services to the
Company in the last two fiscal years.
FEES BILLED IN LAST TWO FISCAL YEARS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Audit(1)
|
|
$ |
1,374,342 |
|
|
$ |
1,198,100 |
|
Audit-Related(2)
|
|
|
37,900 |
|
|
|
13,500 |
|
Tax(3)
|
|
|
196,472 |
|
|
|
143,302 |
|
All Other
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,608,714 |
|
|
$ |
1,354,902 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Audit fees represent fees for professional services provided in
connection with the audit of the Companys financial
statements and internal control over financial reporting, review
of quarterly financial statements and audit services provided in
connection with statutory and regulatory filings. |
|
(2) |
Includes fees for the audit of the Companys 401(k) plan
and advice regarding new SEC and GAAP disclosure requirements. |
|
(3) |
Includes fees for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning
services. |
Approval of Auditor Services
The Audit Committee is responsible for pre-approving all audit
and permitted non-audit services provided to the Company by its
independent public accountants. To help fulfill this
responsibility, the Committee has adopted an Audit and Non-Audit
Services Pre-Approval Policy (Policy). Under the
Policy, all auditor services must be pre-approved by the Audit
Committee either (1) before the commencement of
16
each service on a case-by-case basis called
specific pre-approval or (2) by the
description in sufficient detail in the Policy of particular
services which the Audit Committee has generally approved,
without the need for case-by-case consideration
called general pre-approval. Unless a particular
service has received general pre-approval, it must receive the
specific pre-approval of the Committee or the Chairman of the
Committee. The Policy describes the audit, audit-related and tax
services which have received general pre-approval
these general pre-approvals allow the Company to engage the
independent accountants for the enumerated services for
individual engagements up to the fee levels prescribed in the
Policy. The annual audit engagement for the Company is subject
to the specific pre-approval of the Committee. Any engagement of
the independent accountants pursuant to a general pre-approval
must be reported to the Audit Committee at its next regular
meeting. The Audit Committee periodically reviews the services
that have received general pre-approval and the associated fee
ranges. The Policy does not delegate the Audit Committees
responsibility to pre-approve services performed by the
independent public accountants to management.
REPORT OF AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee is composed of three independent
members of the Board of Directors as defined under the listing
standards of the New York Stock Exchange and operates pursuant
to a written charter adopted by the Board and available through
the Companys website, www.aaronrents.com.
Management has primary responsibility for the financial
statements and the reporting process, including the systems of
internal controls. The Companys independent auditors for
2005, Ernst & Young LLP, are responsible for performing
an audit of the Companys consolidated financial statements
in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the
United States and for expressing an opinion as to their
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. The
Audit Committees responsibility is to monitor and oversee
these processes.
In keeping with its responsibilities, the Audit Committee has
reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 with management and has
discussed with Ernst & Young the matters required to be
discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61
(Communication with Audit Committees), as amended. The Audit
Committee has also received the written disclosures and the
letter from Ernst & Young required by Independence
Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions
with Audit Committees) and has discussed with Ernst &
Young their independence.
The Committee discussed with the Companys independent
auditors the overall scope and plans for their audit. The
Committee meets with the internal and independent auditors, with
and without management present, to discuss the results of their
examinations, their evaluations of the Companys internal
controls, and the overall quality of the Companys
financial reporting.
This report is respectfully submitted by the Audit Committee of
the Board of Directors.
|
|
|
David L. Kolb, Chairman |
|
Earl Dolive |
|
Ronald W. Allen |
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2007 ANNUAL MEETING
In accordance with the provisions of
Rule 14a-8(a)(3)(i)
of the Securities and Exchange Commission, proposals of
shareholders intended to be presented at the Companys 2007
annual meeting must be received by December 13, 2006 to be
eligible for inclusion in the Companys proxy statement and
form of proxy for that meeting. The Company retains discretion
to vote proxies it receives with respect to director nominations
or any other business proposals received after February 21,
2007. The Company retains discretion to vote proxies it receives
with respect to such proposals received prior to
February 21, 2007 provided (a) the Company includes in
its proxy statement advice on the nature of the proposal and how
it intends to exercise its voting discretion, and (b) the
proponent does not issue its own proxy statement.
17
COMMUNICATING WITH THE BOARD AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
DOCUMENTS
The Companys security holders and other interested parties
may communicate with the Board, the non-management or
independent directors as a group, or individual directors by
writing to them in care of the Corporate Secretary, Aaron Rents,
Inc., 309 E. Paces Ferry Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia
30305-2377. Correspondence will be forwarded as directed by the
writer. The Company may first review, sort, and summarize such
communications, and screen out solicitations for goods or
services and similar inappropriate communications unrelated to
the Company or its business. All concerns related to audit or
accounting matters will be referred to the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee Charter, the Companys Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics, its Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive
Officer and the senior financial officers and employees and its
Corporate Governance Guidelines can each be viewed by clicking
the Corporate Governance tab on the Investor
Relations area of the website at
http://www.aaronrents.com. You may also obtain a copy of
any of these documents without charge by writing to the
Corporate Secretary, Aaron Rents, Inc., 309 East Paces Ferry
Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30305-2377.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors of the Company knows of no other matters
to be brought before the Annual Meeting. However, if other
matters should properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is
the intention of each person named in the proxy to vote such
proxy in accordance with his judgment of what is in the best
interest of the Company.
THE COMPANYS ANNUAL REPORT ON
FORM 10-K FILED
WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WILL BE FURNISHED TO
SHAREHOLDERS UPON REQUEST WITHOUT CHARGE. REQUESTS FOR
FORM 10-K REPORTS
SHOULD BE SENT TO GILBERT L. DANIELSON, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, AARON RENTS, INC.,
309 E. PACES FERRY ROAD, N.E., ATLANTA, GEORGIA
30305-2377.
|
|
|
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
|
|
JAMES L. CATES |
|
Senior Group Vice President |
|
and Corporate Secretary |
April 7, 2006
18
Aaron Rents, Inc.
Aaron Rents, Inc.
This Proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be Held on May 2, 2006
CLASS A COMMON STOCK PROXY
The undersigned shareholder of Aaron Rents, Inc. hereby constitutes and appoints R.
Charles Loudermilk, Sr. and James L. Cates, or either of them, the true and lawful attorneys and
proxies of the undersigned with full power of substitution and appointment, for and in the name,
place and stead of the undersigned, to vote all of the undersigneds shares of Class A Common Stock
of Aaron Rents, Inc., at the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders to be held in Atlanta, Georgia on
Tuesday, the 2nd day of May 2006, at 10:00 a.m., and at any and all adjournments
thereof as follows:
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(1) |
o |
|
FOR all nominees listed below (except as
marked to the contrary below):
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o |
|
WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed. |
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NOMINEES:
|
|
R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr., Robert C. Loudermilk, Jr., Gilbert
L. Danielson, William K. Butler, Jr., Ronald W. Allen, Leo
Benatar, Earl Dolive, David L. Kolb, Ray M. Robinson and John
Schuerholz. |
(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write that nominees name in the space provided below.)
(2) |
|
FOR approval of an amendment to the Companys Articles of
Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of
Common Stock of the Company from 50,000,000 to 100,000,000; |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
o FOR
|
|
o AGAINST
|
|
o ABSTAIN |
(3) |
|
FOR the transaction of such other business as may lawfully come before the
meeting, hereby revoking any proxies as to said shares heretofore given by
the undersigned and ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and
proxies may lawfully do by virtue thereof. |
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS FAVORS A VOTE FOR EACH OF THE NOMINEES
LISTED ABOVE AND A VOTE FORAPPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, AND UNLESS INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CONTRARY ARE INDICATED IN THE SPACE PROVIDED, THE PROXY WILL BE SO VOTED.
(Continued and to be dated and signed on reverse side)
It is understood that this proxy confers discretionary authority in respect to matters not
known or determined at the time of the mailing of the notice of the meeting to the undersigned.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
dated April 7, 2006 and the Proxy Statement furnished therewith.
|
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Dated and signed
|
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|
, 2006 |
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(Signature should agree with the name(s) hereon. Executors,
administrators, trustees, guardians and attorneys should
so indicate when signing. For joint accounts each owner
should sign. The full name of a corporation should be signed by
a duly authorized officer.) |
This proxy is revocable at or at any time prior to the meeting. Please sign and return this
proxy to SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, Attn: Corporate Trust Department, P.O. Box 4625, Atlanta, Georgia
30302, in the accompanying prepaid envelope.