DEF 14A 1 ddef14a.htm DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT Definitive Proxy Statement

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.      )

 

 

Filed by the Registrant x Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

¨    Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

¨    Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

x    Definitive Proxy Statement

 

¨    Definitive Additional Materials

 

¨    Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

 

 

IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY


(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 

 


(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

x   No fee required.

 

¨    Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

 

  (1)    Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 
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¨    Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

¨    Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

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LOGO

 

December 19, 2006

 

Dear Shareholder:

 

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on Tuesday, January 30, 2007, at 8:00 a.m., Central time, at the Marriott Town Square, 16090 City Walk, Sugar Land, Texas 77479. At the meeting we will elect three directors and act on the selection of auditors. You are cordially invited to attend.

 

Your Board of Directors joins me in urging you to attend the meeting to hear a report on the Company’s progress and to meet with members of management. However, even if you plan to attend the meeting in person, I hope you will sign, date and return your proxy as soon as possible. Your vote is always important.

 

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Robert A. Peiser

 

 

 

 

LOGO


IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY

 

Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders

To Be Held January 30, 2007

 

To the Shareholders of Imperial Sugar Company:

 

The 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Imperial Sugar Company (the “Company”) will be held on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at 8:00 a.m., Central time, at the Marriott Town Square, 16090 City Walk, Sugar Land, Texas 77479, for the following purposes:

 

  (1)   to elect three directors;

 

  (2)   to consider and act on a proposal to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for its fiscal year ending September 30, 2007; and

 

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

 

Shareholders of record at the close of business on December 6, 2006 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.

 

The By-Laws of the Company require that the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote be represented in person or by proxy at the meeting in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Therefore, regardless of the number of shares you hold, it is important that your shares be represented at the meeting.

 

WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND MAIL IT PROMPTLY IN THE POSTAGE PREPAID ENVELOPE PROVIDED.

 

By order of the Board of Directors

 

 

William F. Schwer

Secretary

 

Sugar Land, Texas

December 19, 2006


IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY

P.O. Box 9

Sugar Land, Texas 77487-0009

 


 

PROXY STATEMENT

 


 

2007 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

The accompanying proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Imperial Sugar Company (the “Company”) to be voted at the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held at the time and place and for the purposes set forth in the foregoing notice. In addition to the original solicitation by mail, certain regular employees of the Company may solicit proxies by telephone, by facsimile, by other electronic correspondence or in person. The Company has retained D. F. King & Co., Inc. on customary terms and at an estimated fee of $5,000, plus reasonable expenses, to assist in soliciting proxies. All expenses of soliciting proxies, including the cost of preparing and mailing this proxy statement and the reimbursement of brokerage firms and other nominees for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy material to beneficial owners of stock, will be borne by the Company. If you attend the meeting, you may vote in person if you wish, even though you have mailed in your proxy. This proxy statement and the accompanying proxy are being mailed to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 6, 2006.

 

All duly executed proxies will be voted as indicated by the instructions on the proxies. However, shareholders who execute proxies retain the right to revoke them at any time before they are voted. The revocation of a proxy will not be effective until written notice of the revocation has been given to the Secretary of the Company, unless the person granting the proxy votes in person.

 

Unless otherwise indicated on the proxy, shares will be voted by the persons named in the accompanying proxy as follows:

 

  (1)   for the election of the three directors named below; and

 

  (2)   for ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for its fiscal year ending September 30, 2007.

 

The majority of the outstanding shares of common stock, without par value, of the Company (“Common Stock”) entitled to vote must be present in person or by proxy at the meeting in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Shares underlying a proxy marked “Abstain” on a matter will be considered to be represented at the meeting for quorum purposes.

 

Shares registered in the names of brokers or other “street name” nominees for which proxies are voted on, some but not all, matters will be considered to be present at the meeting for quorum purposes, but will be considered to be voted only as to those matters actually voted, and will not be considered as voting for any purpose as to the matters with respect to which no vote is indicated (commonly referred to as “broker non-votes”).

 

Directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast; accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect in the election of directors. The affirmative vote of the majority of the shares present and entitled to vote

 

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on the matter is required for adoption of the remaining proposals; accordingly, abstentions applicable to shares represented at the meeting will have the same effect as votes against the proposal, and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the proposal.

 

The persons named in the accompanying proxy may act with discretionary authority should any director nominee become unavailable for election, although management is unaware of any circumstances likely to render any of the nominees unavailable. Management does not intend to bring any other matters before the meeting and has not been informed that any other matters are to be presented to the meeting by others.

 

At the close of business on December 6, 2006, the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting, the Company had outstanding and entitled to vote 11,295,949 shares of Common Stock, which is the only class of stock of the Company outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting. Each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held and cumulative voting is not allowed in the election of directors.

 

PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

The Board of Directors recommends a vote

FOR the election of the persons nominated herein.

 

The Company’s Board of Directors is divided into three classes designated Class I, Class II and Class III, with staggered terms of office. The number of directors in each of the three classes is to be as nearly equal as possible. After the election of directors at the 2007 Annual Meeting, the terms of office of Class II directors extend until the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2010, and until their successors are qualified. The terms of office of Class III directors extend until the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2008 and the terms of office of Class I directors extend until the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2009, and, in each case, until their successors are qualified. The Company has determined the following directors to be independent under rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”): Curtis G. Anderson; Gaylord O. Coan; James J. Gaffney; Yves-Andre Istel; Robert J. McLaughlin; David C. Moran and John K. Sweeney.

 

Nominees

 

At the 2007 Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors of the Company proposes to elect Curtis G. Anderson, James J. Gaffney and Yves-Andre Istel as Class II directors. All of the nominees currently serve as directors of the Company. Set forth below is certain information concerning the nominees, including the business experience of each during the past five years and the age of each nominee on December 6, 2006.

 

Directors in Class II

(Terms expiring at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders)

 

Curtis G. Anderson, age 65, has been a director of the Company since June 2002. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Anderson Capital Corporation, a Savannah, Georgia-based privately held investment company that he founded in 1986. From 1994 to 1999, Mr. Anderson served as President, Chief Operating Officer and a director of Kuhlman Corporation, a diversified manufacturing company then listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

James J. Gaffney, age 66, has been a director of the Company since August 2001 and has served as Chairman since February 2003. From 1997 to June 2003, Mr. Gaffney served as a consultant to private

 

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investment funds affiliated with Goldman, Sachs & Co. in relation to investments by those funds in Viking Pacific Holdings Ltd. and Vermont Investments Limited, both New Zealand-based diversified holding companies. Mr. Gaffney also is a director of Armstrong World Industries (a global leader in the design and manufacture of floors, ceilings and cabinets), SCP Pool Corporation and Beacon Roofing Inc.

 

Yves-Andre Istel, age 70, has been a director of the Company since August 2001. Mr. Istel is a Senior Advisor to Rothschild, Inc., and was Vice Chairman of Rothschild, Inc. from 1993 to April 2002. He is a director of Valeo S. A. (a company which designs, produces and sells components, systems and modules for cars and trucks) and Richemont S.A. (the parent group owning luxury good companies, including Cartier and Montblanc). He was previously Chairman of Wasserstein Perella & Co. International and Managing Director of Wasserstein Perella & Co., Inc. from 1988 to 1992.

 

Continuing Directors

 

Set forth below is certain information concerning the five directors of the Company whose present terms of office are scheduled to continue until 2008 or 2009, including the business experience of each during the past five years and the age of each director on December 6, 2006.

 

Director in Class III

(Term expiring at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders)

 

Gaylord O. Coan, age 71, has been a director of the Company since August 2001. Mr. Coan was Chairman of the Management Executive Committee and Chief Executive Officer of Gold Kist Inc., the nation’s second largest poultry processing company, from 1995 until his retirement in 2001. He is also a director of Cotton States Life Insurance Company and Chairman of the Board of Golden Peanut Company.

 

David C. Moran, age 48, has been a director since in December 2005. Mr. Moran is presently the Executive Vice President of H.J. Heinz Company and the Chief Executive Officer and President of its North American U.S. Consumer Products division. Mr. Moran has been with the Heinz companies since 1998 when he started as Vice President of Heinz, USA. He was with The Clorox Company from 1984 to 1998 in various sales related and executive positions.

 

Directors in Class I

(Terms expiring at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders)

 

Robert J. McLaughlin, age 73, has been a director of the Company since August 2001 and served as Chairman from August 2001 to February 2003. Mr. McLaughlin served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company from October 2001 to April 2002. He founded The Sutter Group in 1982, a management consulting company that focuses on enhancing stockholder value, and currently serves as its President. Previously, Mr. McLaughlin served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Fibreboard Corporation, a manufacturer of lumber, plywood and paper products. Mr. McLaughlin is a director of Grubb & Ellis Company, a commercial real estate advisory firm.

 

Robert A. Peiser, age 58, joined the Company as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director in April 2002. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Peiser served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vitality

 

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Beverages, Inc. of Tampa, Florida, a privately owned beverage company, from July 1999 to February 2002. Mr. Peiser is a Director of Team, Inc., a leading provider of specialty maintenance and construction services required in maintaining high temperature and high pressure piping systems and vessels.

 

John K. Sweeney, age 54, has been a director of the Company since August 2001. Mr. Sweeney is a Managing Director at Lehman Brothers Inc., where he is involved in high yield, distressed and special situation investments. He has been with Lehman Brothers and predecessor firms since 1974.

 

Board Meetings and Committees

 

The Company’s Board of Directors met ten times during the year ended September 30, 2006. Each incumbent director attended at least 90% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees on which the director served except David C. Moran who attended 56% due to his responsibilities with his employer, H.J. Heinz and Company, which throughout much of 2006 was involved in a proxy contest with a major shareholder. At intervals between formal meetings, members of the Board of Directors and each committee are provided with information regarding the operations of the Company and are consulted on an informal basis with respect to pending business. Such consultation may lead to Board or committee action between meetings being taken by unanimous written consent.

 

The Board of Directors has three standing committees: Audit, Executive Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance. The membership and principal responsibilities of the committees are described below.

 

Audit Committee

 

Members:   Gaylord O. Coan, Chairman
    Curtis G. Anderson
    Yves-Andre Istel

 

The Audit Committee consists of members who are not officers or employees of the Company or its subsidiaries and who are independent under rules established by NASDAQ. The Audit Committee reviews with the Company’s internal audit staff and independent registered public accounting firm the scope and results of their audits; monitors the adequacy of the Company’s system of internal controls and procedures; selects, subject to ratification by the shareholders, the independent registered public accounting firm; and reviews and approves the fees paid for services rendered by such accountants. During the year ended September 30, 2006, the Audit Committee met four times. Additional information about the Audit Committee and its responsibilities is included in the section of this proxy statement entitled “Audit Committee Report” and in the Audit Committee Charter, which is available free of charge on the Company’s web site located at www.imperialsugar.com.

 

Executive Compensation Committee

 

Members:   John K. Sweeney, Chairman
    Gaylord O. Coan
    James J. Gaffney
    David C. Moran

 

The Executive Compensation Committee consists of members who are not officers or employees of the Company or its subsidiaries and who are independent under rules established by NASDAQ. The Committee

 

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establishes the salaries, bonuses and other compensation for the Company’s directors, executive officers and certain other managerial and professional personnel. The Committee reviews and approves or, in some cases, recommends to the Board the Company’s compensation plans. The Executive Compensation Committee also administers the granting of incentives to eligible employees under the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan and administers the Company’s incentive bonus plans. The Executive Compensation Committee met six times during the year ended September 30, 2006. Additional information about the Executive Compensation Committee and its responsibilities is included in the section of this proxy statement entitled “Executive Compensation Committee Report” and in the Company’s Executive Compensation Committee Charter, which is available free of charge on the Company’s web site located at www.imperialsugar.com.

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

 

Members:  

Yves-Andre Istel, Chairman

    Curtis G. Anderson
    Robert J. McLaughlin

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee currently consists of members who are not officers or employees of the Company or its subsidiaries and who are independent under rules established by NASDAQ. The Committee’s primary purpose is to provide oversight on the broad range of issues surrounding the composition and operation of the Board of Directors, including identifying individuals qualified to become Board members, recommending director nominees to the Board and recommending to the Board a set of corporate governance guidelines applicable to the Company. The Committee also provides assistance to the Board in the areas of committee member selection, evaluation of the overall effectiveness of the Board and committees of the Board, and review and consideration of corporate governance practices and regulatory policies. This Committee met two times during the year ended September 30, 2006. Additional information about the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is included in the section of this proxy statement entitled “Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Report” and in the Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter, which is available free of charge on the Company’s web site located at www.imperialsugar.com.

 

Director Remuneration

 

Each director who is not an officer or employee of the Company receives an annual retainer of $30,000 payable quarterly, $1,500 for each board meeting attended in person and $750 for each board meeting attended by telephone. The Chairman of the Board of Directors receives an annual retainer of $60,000 in lieu of the standard retainer. Additionally, each director who is not an officer or employee receives $1,000 for each committee meeting attended in person and $500 for each committee meeting attended by telephone. Each member of the Audit Committee also receives an additional $5,000 annually in recognition of the additional time commitment due to its increased scope. Each committee chairman also receives an annual fee of $5,000. The Company reimburses each director for travel expenses incurred in connection with his attendance at Board or committee meetings or other Company business meetings.

 

In addition to cash compensation described above, Mr. Gaffney was granted 4,000 shares of restricted stock and all other directors received 2,000 shares of restricted stock on February 10, 2006. Additionally, Mr. Moran was granted 5,000 shares of restricted stock on December 6, 2005, when he became a member of the Board of Directors. Restricted shares granted to directors in fiscal 2006 vest ratably over a four-year period with the initial vesting occurring on the first anniversary of the grant date.

 

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Executive Compensation

 

The following table presents the compensation for services rendered in all capacities of the chief executive officer and four other most highly compensated executive officers of the Company serving as of September 30, 2006 (collectively, the “named officers”).

 

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

          Annual Compensation

  

Long-term

Compensation

Awards


Name and Principal Positions


  

Fiscal

Year


  

Salary

$


  

Bonus

$


  

Other Annual

Compensation (1)

$


  

Restricted

Stock

Awards (2)

$


  

Shares

Underlying

Options/SARs


Robert A. Peiser

   2006    630,000    1,234,800       528,000   

President and Chief Executive

   2005    627,308          173,722    35,000

Officer

   2004    521,923    578,177         

T. Kay Hastings

   2006    250,000    243,750       132,000   

Senior Vice President—

   2005    247,769          111,675    22,500

Human Resources

   2004    204,385    117,647    66,369      

Patrick D. Henneberry

   2006    324,480    324,480       220,000   

Senior Vice President—

   2005    331,600          62,047    12,500

Commodities

   2004    257,308    210,538         

H. P. Mechler

   2006    250,000    240,000       220,000   

Senior Vice President and

   2005    230,288          86,853    17,500

Chief Financial Officer

   2004    178,625    59,978         

William F. Schwer

   2006    331,664    295,180       132,000   

Senior Vice President, Secretary

   2005    342,240          62,047    12,500

and General Counsel

   2004    320,621    178,318         

(1)   Amounts are less than $50,000 and 10% of the sum of salary and bonus, except Ms. Hastings in 2004, which represents moving expenses and a related tax gross-up.
(2)   Value of restricted stock at grant date based on the closing price of $22.00 per share on February 10, 2006 and $14.89 per share on March 1, 2005. As of September 30, 2006, aggregate restricted stock holdings were 31,778 shares for Mr. Peiser, 11,000 shares for Ms. Hastings, 12,778 shares for Mr. Henneberry, 13,889 shares for Mr. Mechler and 8,778 shares for Mr. Schwer. The value of aggregate restricted stock holdings as of September 30, 2006, based on a closing price on that day of $31.12 per share, was $988,931 for Mr. Peiser, $342,320 for Ms. Hastings, $397,651 for Mr. Henneberry, $432,226 for Mr. Mechler and $273,171 for Mr. Schwer.

 

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Stock Options

 

No stock options or SARs were granted to named officers during 2006. The following table sets forth information regarding stock option and SARs exercised by the named officers during 2006, as well as unexercised options and SARs held at September 30, 2006 by the named officers.

 

AGGREGATE OPTIONS/SARs EXERCISED AND

FISCAL YEAR-END OPTIONS/SARs VALUES

 

Name


  

Shares Acquired

on Exercise

(#)


  

Value

Realized
($)


  

Number of Unexercised

Options/SARs at

September 30, 2006


  

Value of Unexercised in-the-

Money Options/SARs at

September 30, 2006 (1)


         Exercisable

   Unexercisable

   Exercisable

   Unexercisable

Options:

                                 

Robert A. Peiser

   144,166    3,086,165    155,000    23,334    $ 4,350,850    $ 439,613

T. Kay Hastings

   20,000    370,900    27,497    15,003      667,643      282,657

Patrick D. Henneberry

   57,500    1,361,797    12,922    8,335      342,011      157,031

H. P. Mechler

   16,000    343,680    16,303    11,669      425,273      219,844

William F. Schwer

   115,000    2,316,676    9,165    8,335      218,694      157,031

SARs:

                                 

Robert A. Peiser

   37,500    157,500                

William F. Schwer

   15,000    63,000    5,000         21,000     

(1)   Based on the September 30, 2006 closing price per share of $31.12, as reported by NASDAQ. SAR values are based on a maximum value of $5.55 per unit less a base price of $1.35.

 

The following table provides information regarding shares covered by the Company’s equity compensation plans as of September 30, 2006.

 

Plan Category


  

Number of

Shares to be

Issued on

Exercise of

Outstanding

Options


  

Weighted-

average

Exercise

Price of

Outstanding

Options


  

Number of

Shares

Remaining

Available for

Future

Issuance

Under Equity

Compensation

Plans


Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders

   537,883    $ 6.50    337,132

Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders

            
    
         

Total

   537,883           337,132
    
         

 

Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

The Company adopted the Imperial Sugar Company Long-Term Incentive Plan which became effective in August 2001. The Plan was amended and restated with shareholder approval, effective February 2005, and reserves a total of 2,284,568 shares of Common Stock. The Long-Term Incentive Plan is designed to attract and retain key employees and directors and to stimulate the active interest of key employees in the Company’s financial success. Key employees who hold positions of responsibility and whose performance, in the judgment

 

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of the Executive Compensation Committee (or other committee designated by the Board of Directors), can

significantly affect the Company’s success are eligible for awards under the Long-Term Incentive Plan. Non-employee directors are also eligible under the Plan. In addition, individuals expected to become employees within six months of the award date may receive awards conditioned on the individual actually becoming an employee during the six-month period.

 

The Company’s Executive Compensation Committee, or another committee designated by the Board of Directors, has the discretion to determine the types of awards to be made under the Long-Term Incentive Plan. Awards under the Long-Term Incentive Plan may consist of one or more of the following:

 

    incentive options and nonqualified stock options with an exercise price not less than fair market value on the grant date;

 

    SARs;

 

    stock, including restricted stock and conditional stock units; and

 

    cash.

 

An award also may be in the form of a performance award that may be based on one or more of the following: increased revenue; economic value added; cash flow measures; stock price; market share; return on equity or capital; return on revenue measures; costs; and safety and environmental performance measures. The performance award need not be based on an increase or positive result, but may be based on maintaining the status quo or limiting economic losses, as determined by the Executive Compensation Committee or another board designated committee.

 

The following limitations apply to any award made under the Long-Term Incentive Plan. In any one calendar year, the Company may not grant to any person:

 

    options or SARs that are exercisable for more than 300,000 shares of common stock;

 

    stock awards covering or relating to more than 300,000 shares of common stock; or

 

    cash awards or any other awards permitted by the Long-Term Incentive Plan (other than options, SARs and stock) having a value determined on the grant date in excess of $3,000,000.

 

Annual Pension Benefits

 

Retirement Plan

 

The Company’s Retirement Plan (the “Retirement Plan”) is a tax qualified benefit plan covering non-union employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, including Messrs. Mechler and Schwer. The Company has also adopted a Benefit Restoration Plan for certain participants (including Mr. Schwer) to supplement the benefits payable under the Retirement Plan to the extent that the limitations on qualified plan benefits mandated by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), reduce retirement benefits that would otherwise be payable under the Retirement Plan. The Company froze benefits under the Retirement Plan and benefit accruals and participation ceased under both the Retirement Plan and Benefit Restoration Plan as of March 31, 2003.

 

Benefits payable under the Retirement Plan are limited by various provisions of the Code that restrict the amount of compensation that may be taken into account to calculate benefits under qualified plans and other

 

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limits on the maximum benefit payable from qualified plans. To the extent the pension calculated pursuant to the Retirement Plan would exceed the maximum amount permitted by the Code, the difference would be payable from the Benefit Restoration Plan as a discounted lump sum on the participant’s retirement.

 

Annual benefits under the Retirement Plan are based on a five-year average of base pay plus bonuses. Benefits equal 1% of average compensation plus 0.5% of such compensation in excess of social security covered compensation per each of the first 35 years of service, with service measured through March 31, 2003. Messrs. Mechler and Schwer are subject to certain grandfathered provisions under the prior plan. Benefits are defined in terms of a five-year certain and life annuity; several other payment options are available to employees. The projected total annual benefits payable from the Retirement Plan and/or, as applicable, the Benefit Restoration Plan to Mr. Schwer is $89,485 and $29,062 to Mr. Mechler. Messrs. Peiser and Henneberry and Ms. Hastings are not participants in either plan.

 

Deferred Compensation Plans

 

The Company agreed to provide lump sum supplemental retirement and death benefits to participants (including Mr. Schwer) in the Salary Continuation Plan. The plan also provides for monthly salary continuation payments in the “event of disability” (as defined in the Salary Continuation Plan). If a participant’s employment terminates prior to retirement for any reason other than death, disability or “cause” (as defined in the plan), the participant will be entitled to receive the actuarial equivalent (as defined in the Salary Continuation Plan) of the payment he would have received had he retired at age 62. No amounts will be due under the plan to a participant who is terminated for cause. The Salary Continuation Plan allows participants who are 100% vested and who have attained the age of 55 to receive their benefits without termination of employment if approved by the Executive Compensation Committee. The estimated amount payable on retirement at or after age 62 to Mr. Schwer is $217,099.

 

Agreements with Certain Executive Officers

 

The Company has entered into employment, severance or change of control agreements with the following named officers, which as currently in effect provide for the following annual salaries:

 

Executive Officer


   Salary

Robert A. Peiser

   $ 630,000

T. Kay Hastings

   $ 250,000

Patrick Henneberry

   $ 324,480

H.P. Mechler

   $ 250,000

William F. Schwer

   $ 331,663

 

Messrs. Peiser and Schwer have employment agreements with the Company that provide that those individuals will receive severance payments equal to two times their annual salary in the event of a termination by the Company without cause as defined therein. Ms. Hastings and Mr. Henneberry have agreements that provide a severance payment equal to one-time their annual salary in the event of termination by the Company without cause as defined therein. The Company entered into Change of Control Agreements (the “Agreements”) during December 2005 with each named officer. Each Agreement has a base term of 18 months, and will be automatically renewed and extended for successive one-year terms unless the Company provides notice otherwise.

 

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Each Agreement provides, among other things, for a lump sum payment within 30 days after the later of the employee’s termination and the effectuation of the change in control (as defined therein) equal to the lesser of (i) a specified number of months (36 months for Mr. Peiser, 24 months for Mr. Schwer, 18 months for Ms. Hastings and Messrs. Henneberry and Mechler) of the employee’s then current base salary amount or (ii) the maximum amount that the employee could receive pursuant to the change of control without becoming subject to excise taxes. The Company is required to make such payments if during the “protected period” (which generally commences 90 days prior to and ends 18 months after a change in control) (a) the Company terminates the employee’s employment without cause (as defined therein) or (b) the employee terminates his or her own employment for “good reason” which includes (1) a material reduction of the employee’s authority, duties or responsibilities, (2) a reduction in the employee’s salary or bonus potential or a material reduction in other compensation or benefits, (3) a relocation of the employee’s primary office or (4) the failure by the Company to obtain the unconditional assumption of the Company’s obligations to the employee under the Agreement by any successor.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

During fiscal 2006, the Executive Compensation Committee consisted of John K. Sweeney (Chairman), Gaylord O. Coan, James J. Gaffney and David C. Moran. There are no compensation committee interlocks and no insider participation in compensation decisions that are required to be reported under the rules and regulations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

10


Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the ownership as of December 6, 2006 of (1) Common Stock and (2) warrants to purchase Common Stock, of each director of the Company, each named officer, each person known to the Company to beneficially own 5% or more of Common Stock and all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, the beneficial owners have sole voting and investment power, as applicable, over the shares of Common Stock and warrants listed below.

 

    

Beneficial Ownership of

Common Stock


   

Beneficial Ownership of

Warrants to Purchase

Common Stock


    

Number of

Shares (1)(2)(3)


  

Percentage

of Class


   

Number of

Warrants


  

Percentage

of Class


Curtis G. Anderson

   74,986    *           

Gaylord O. Coan

   23,666    *           

James J. Gaffney

   7,612    *           

T. Kay Hastings

   40,526    *           

Patrick D. Henneberry

   26,827    *           

Yves-Andre Istel

   58,539    *           

Robert McLaughlin

   6,166    *           

H.P. Mechler

   31,769    *           

David C. Moran

   12,000    *           

Robert A. Peiser

   186,778    1.63 %         

William F. Schwer

   20,077    *     618    *

John K. Sweeney (4)(5)

   43,666    *           

All directors and executive officers as a group (13 persons) (4)

   540,840    4.63 %   618    *

Lehman Brothers Inc. (5)

   3,317,992    29.37 %         

745 Seventh Avenue

                    

New York, New York 10019

                    

Barclay’s Global Investors, N.A. (6)

   1,218,005    10.78 %         

45 Fremont St., 17th Floor

                    

San Francisco, CA 94105

                    

Fidelity Management and Research (7)

   610,660    5.41 %         

82 Devonshire Street

                    

Boston, MA 02109

                    

* Percentage of shares of Common Stock or warrants to purchase Common Stock beneficially owned does not exceed 1% of the applicable class.

(1)   Includes shares subject to stock options exercisable within 60 days as follows: Mr. Anderson, 42,068 shares; Mr. Coan, 20,833 shares; Mr. Gaffney, 2,500 shares; Ms. Hastings, 27,497 shares; Mr. Henneberry, 12,922 shares; Mr. Istel, 36,250 shares; Mr. McLaughlin, 3,333 shares; Mr. Mechler, 16,303 shares; Mr. Moran, 5,000 shares; Mr. Peiser 155,000 shares; Mr. Schwer 9,165 shares; Mr. Sweeney, 40,833 shares; all officers and directors as a group, 374,870 shares.
(2)   Includes shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants as shown in the warrants column.
(3)  

Includes restricted stock which is not fully vested, for which the grantee has voting rights as follows: Mr. Anderson, 2,556 shares; Mr. Coan, 2,556 shares; Mr. Gaffney, 5,112 shares; Ms. Hastings, 11,000

 

11


 

shares; Mr. Henneberry, 12,778 shares; Mr. Istel, 2,556 shares; Mr. McLaughlin, 2,556 shares; Mr. Mechler, 13,889 shares; Mr. Moran, 5,334 shares; Mr. Peiser, 31,778 shares; Mr. Schwer, 8,778 shares; Mr. Sweeney, 2,556 shares; all officers and directors as a group, 106,061 shares.

(4)   Mr. Sweeney, a Managing Director of Lehman Brothers Inc., disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares owned by Lehman Brothers Inc., over which he does not have voting or investment power.
(5)   As reported on Form 4 dated July 6, 2006, Lehman Brothers Inc. has sole voting and investment power for all 3,317,992 shares.
(6)   As reported on Form 13G dated November 9, 2006, Barclay’s Global Investors, N.A. has sole voting power for 1,174,057 shares.
(7)   As reported on Form 13F dated November 13, 2006, Fidelity Management and Research has sole investment power for all 610,660 shares and sole voting power for 960 shares.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires officers and directors of the Company and beneficial owners of more than 10% of its Common Stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders are required to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

 

Based on a review of Forms 3 and 4 and amendments thereto filed during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006 and Forms 5 and amendments thereto, or written representations that no Forms 5 were required, the Company believes during the year ended September 30, 2006, its officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements, with the exception of Schultze Asset Management, LLC which had a late-filed Form 4.

 

12


SHAREHOLDER RETURN PERFORMANCE GRAPH

 

On August 29, 2001, the Company emerged from bankruptcy and consummated its plan of reorganization under which all outstanding shares of Common Stock existing prior to the reorganization were canceled. The Company’s Common Stock issued in the reorganization did not begin trading until October 11, 2001.

 

The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return on the Common Stock to the cumulative total return of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index and the American Stock Exchange Consumer Staple Index (“IXR”) for the period from October 11, 2001 to September 30, 2006. The graph assumes that the value of the investment in the Common Stock and each index was $1.00 at October 11, 2001 and that all dividends were reinvested on a quarterly basis.

 

 

LOGO

 

13


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The following report has been provided by the Executive Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors. This report summarizes the Company’s current overall compensation philosophy and program objectives. Descriptions of the Company’s compensation programs are provided as well as the basis for the Company’s fiscal 2006 compensation for the Company’s named executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”).

 

Overall Objectives of the Executive Compensation Program

 

The Company’s executive compensation philosophy and program objectives primarily are directed by two guiding principles. First, the program is intended to provide competitive levels of compensation, at expected levels of performance, in order to attract, motivate and retain talented executives. Second, the program is intended to create an alignment of interests between the Company’s executives and shareholders so that a significant portion of each executive’s compensation is linked to maximizing stockholder value.

 

In support of this philosophy, the executive compensation program is designed to reward performance that is directly relevant to the Company’s short-term and long-term success. The Company attempts to provide both short-term and long-term incentive compensation that varies based on corporate and individual performance.

 

The executive compensation program has been structured with three primary components: base salary, annual incentives (via a bonus plan), and long-term incentives (via stock options and restricted stock). The following sections of this report describe the Company’s plans by component of compensation and discuss how each component relates to the Company’s overall executive compensation philosophy.

 

In this report, reference is made to the use of competitive market data as a criterion for establishing targeted compensation levels. The Company utilizes published survey data and data obtained from independent consultants for general industry and food industry companies similar in size to the Company, but not necessarily to companies in the American Stock Exchange Consumer Staple Index. In 2006, the Executive Compensation Committee engaged an independent consultant to advise the Committee on total director compensation and long-term incentive programs.

 

Base Salary Program

 

The Company’s base salary program is based on a philosophy of providing base compensation levels at or near the market 50th percentile. The Company periodically reviews its executive compensation levels to assure consistency with the external market since the Company believes it is important to provide competitive salaries over time in order to attract and retain talented executives.

 

Annual base salary adjustments for the Company are based on several factors: general levels of market salary increases, individual performance, competitive base salary levels and the Company’s overall financial results. For purposes of determining base salary adjustments, the Company reviews performance qualitatively, the level of earnings, and each individual’s contributions. These criteria are assessed qualitatively and are not weighted. All base salary adjustments are based on a philosophy of pay-for-performance and an individual’s value to the Company. As a result, employees with higher levels of performance sustained over time will be paid correspondingly higher salaries.

 

14


None of the Company’s named executive officers received a base salary increase effective during Fiscal 2006.

 

Management Incentive Plan

 

The Company’s annual cash bonus plan is intended to (a) reward key employees based on Company and individual performance, (b) motivate key employees and (c) provide competitive cash compensation opportunities to plan participants. Under the annual bonus plan, target award opportunities vary by individual position and are expressed as a percent of base salary. The amount a particular executive may earn is directly dependent on the individual’s position, responsibility and ability to impact the Company’s financial success.

 

The Company has adopted Management Incentive Plans for Fiscal 2006 and 2007 for executive officers and certain other participants. The plans provide for cash bonuses based on achievement of a combination of individual performance goals and corporate profitability targets. The corporate profitability targets for Fiscal 2006 are based on the Company’s attainment of certain EBITDA goals. EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The achievement of individual performance goals and corporate profitability targets results in an incentive payment based on a participant’s bonus opportunity, which is set at a percentage of the participant’s base salary, ranging from 10% to 100% at the target EBITDA level and based on participants responsibilities and position within the Company.

 

Fiscal 2006 Plan

 

A specified portion of the target bonus opportunity is allocated to individual performance goals which are quantifiable and result in payment only if the individual performance goals are reached and a profitability target based on EBITDA is achieved. Actual EBITDA must exceed a certain threshold amount to permit any payment on individual performance goals; at that level, the bonus payment would be at 50% of the individual performance component, increasing ratably to 200% for officer participants if actual EBITDA reaches approximately 147% of the EBITDA target and 250% for non-officer participants if actual EBITDA reaches approximately 220% of the EBITDA target.

 

Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

The Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan is designed to focus executive efforts on the long-term goals of the Company and to maximize total return to shareholders. The long-term incentive device used by the Committee is stock options and restricted stock since they align the interests of employees and shareholders by providing value to the executive through stock price appreciation. Restricted stock granted in fiscal 2006 vests ratably over four years.

 

Grants of restricted stock were made to executive officers in 2006, as described under Stock Options and SARs above, and it is anticipated that stock option awards and/or restricted stock grants will be made periodically at the discretion of the Committee in the future. The number of options and shares of restricted stock granted to individual participants would be based on the individual’s position and level of responsibility within the Company. These factors are assessed subjectively and are not weighted.

 

Section 162(m)

 

Under Section 162(m) of the Code, public companies are precluded from receiving a tax deduction on compensation paid to certain executive officers in excess of $1,000,000 that does not meet the definition under

 

15


the Code of “qualified performance based compensation”. The Committee’s intent is to structure compensation awards that will be deductible without limitation where doing so will further the purposes of the Company’s executive compensation programs. The Committee also considers it important to retain flexibility to design compensation programs, even where compensation payable under such programs may not be fully deductible, if such programs effectively recognize a full range of criteria important to the Company’s success and result in a gain to the Company that would outweigh the limited negative tax effect.

 

Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer

 

The Committee administers the compensation programs of the CEO, Robert A. Peiser, consistent with the objectives enumerated for the other executive officers. Mr. Peiser joined the Company in April 2002 and since then his compensation has been targeted to be at or near the market average for the top-paid executive in similarly capitalized companies in the food products and services industry. The Committee approved the total compensation package for Mr. Peiser after reviewing available compensation information regarding such top-paid executives at the time Mr. Peiser joined the Company. Mr. Peiser’s current salary is $630,000 per year and he was granted a merit increase of 4% commencing January 2007. The Committee awarded Mr. Peiser a performance-based bonus for fiscal 2006 in the amount of $1,234,800. The Committee granted 24,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Peiser during 2006.

 

Executive Compensation Committee

 

John K. Sweeney, Chairman

Gaylord O. Coan

James J. Gaffney

David C. Moran

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Report

 

The primary purpose of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is to provide oversight on the broad range of issues surrounding the composition and operation of the Board of Directors, including identifying qualified individuals who might be nominated as a board member. This Committee has also been charged with the responsibility of monitoring the Company’s corporate governance profile, with the intent of seeking to maintain “best practices” in the area of corporate governance. To assist the Committee in fulfilling this responsibility, it has selected a Chief Governance Officer, William F. Schwer, who is a senior executive and general counsel for the Company and whose duties include corporate governance matters. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met two times in fiscal 2006. The Charter of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee as adopted by the Board of Directors is available free of charge on the Company’s website located at www.imperialsugar.com. The Board amended the Corporate Governance Guidelines (the “Guidelines”) on December 6, 2004, to state a director must resign before the annual meeting following his or her 75th birthday. Mr. Schlindwein was the only director over age 75 and he resigned from the Board, effective December 6, 2005. The Guidelines are posted on the Company’s website.

 

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines require that at least a majority of all of our directors meet the criteria for independence established by NASDAQ for continued listing, including its listing standards, and all other legal requirements. Under NASDAQ listing standards, to be considered independent, a director must not have a relationship, which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent

 

16


judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In addition, certain specified relationships preclude a finding of independence. The standards specify the criteria by which independence of directors will be determined.

 

The Board of Directors has determined that all of its non-management members are independent under NASDAQ listing standards. It has also determined that each member of the Audit Committee, Executive Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is independent. The non-management directors meet in executive session without members of management present at every regular board meeting and the Chairman of the Board, James J. Gaffney, presides at these executive sessions.

 

All directors standing for election at the 2007 annual meeting of shareholders are directors currently serving on the Board, were recommended by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and were approved by all of the independent directors. The Committee also considers qualified nominees recommended by shareholders; any recommendation for the 2008 election of directors should be submitted in writing to the Committee in care of the Secretary of the Company at P.O. Box 9, Sugar Land, Texas 77487.

 

Interested parties with questions or comments may communicate with Mr. Gaffney and other non-management member of the Board by confidential email. The email address is accessible in the investor relations section of the Company’s website under the caption, “Contact the Board”.

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

 

Yves-Andre Istel, Chairman

Curtis G. Anderson

Robert J. McLaughlin

 

17


PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Board of Directors unanimously

recommends a vote FOR this proposal.

 

The Audit Committee has appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for its year ending September 30, 2007. Deloitte & Touche LLP has served as auditors for the Company for over 25 years.

 

A representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP is expected to attend the 2007 Annual Meeting and be available to respond to appropriate questions raised during the meeting by shareholders. Such representative will also have an opportunity to make a statement during the meeting if he so desires.

 

Should the shareholders not ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Audit Committee will reconsider the appointment.

 

Audit Fees

 

The aggregate fees paid to Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, for fiscal 2005 and 2006 are noted in the following table.

 

    

Fiscal

2006


  

Fiscal

2005


Audit Fees (1)

   $ 910,750    $ 1,285,000

Audit-Related Fees (2)

     88,050      36,000

Tax Fees (3)

     83,194      126,000

(1)   Includes audit fees related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in 2005 and 2006.
(2)   Fiscal 2006 includes USDA agreed upon procedures report, accounting consultation and SEC matters.
(3)   Includes tax compliance services and tax consulting related to strategic transactions.

 

All audit-related fees, tax fees and other fees were pre-approved by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee, as provided in its charter, delegated to the Chairman of the Audit Committee the authority to grant pre-approvals of permitted non-audit services, provided that such pre-approvals are presented to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of the non-audit services referenced above are compatible with maintaining Deloitte & Touche LLP’s independence.

 

18


AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

 

The Audit Committee is composed of three independent directors. The general objectives of the Audit Committee are to monitor (1) the integrity of the financial statements of the Company, (2) the compliance by the Company with legal and regulatory requirements, (3) the compliance by the Company with the internal controls as found in Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and (4) the independence and performance of the Company’s internal and external auditors. The Audit Committee has adopted a policy that it must pre-approve all audit and non-audit services of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and the specific duties of the Audit Committee are described in the Audit Committee Charter as adopted by the Board of Directors. The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics and the Audit Committee has adopted a charter and both are available free of charge on the Company’s web site located at www.imperialsugar.com. The Company’s Code of Ethics requires management to make reports to the Audit Committee. The Company’s management is primarily responsible for the Company’s financial statements and the quality and integrity of the reporting process. Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, is responsible for auditing those financial statements and for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors and recommending to the Board of Directors that the Company’s financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

The Company’s Board of Directors does not have an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by SEC Regulation S-K Item 401(h). The Company believes that the members of the Audit Committee, based on their respective experience as chief executive officers with financial oversight responsibilities or investment bankers, are able to read and understand financial statements and have an understanding of generally accepted accounting principles. The Company also believes each member of the Audit Committee has experience evaluating financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to those issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Company’s financial statements.

 

The Audit Committee took a number of steps in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities and making its recommendation for fiscal 2006. First, the Audit Committee has met and held discussions with Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2006, regarding those matters that Deloitte & Touche LLP communicated to the Audit Committee as required by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61. These communications and discussions are intended to assist the Audit Committee in overseeing the financial reporting and disclosure process. Second, the Audit Committee discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP their independence and received written disclosures and a letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP regarding independence as required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1. This discussion and disclosure assisted the Audit Committee in evaluating Deloitte & Touche LLP’s independence. Finally, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP (on some occasions with the Company’s management present and sometimes in private sessions) the Company’s audited financial statements. Based on discussions with Deloitte & Touche LLP concerning the audit, the independence discussions, the financial statement review and other matters deemed relevant and appropriate by the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2006 for filing with the SEC.

 

Audit Committee

 

Gaylord O. Coan, Chairman

Curtis G. Anderson

Yves-Andre Istel

 

19


OTHER MATTERS

 

A copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, including financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, accompanies this proxy statement but is not a part of the proxy soliciting material.

 

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

 

Proposals of shareholders intended to be presented at the Company’s 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and otherwise eligible, must be received by the Company (at the address indicated on the first page of this proxy statement) no later than August 21, 2007 to be eligible for inclusion in the Company’s proxy material relating to that meeting. Additionally, the proxy solicited by the Board of Directors for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will confer discretionary authority to vote on any shareholder proposal raised at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders that is not described in the proxy statement for that meeting unless the Company has received notice of the proposal on or before November 5, 2007.

 

 

REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES OWNED, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING, AND YOU ARE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTED TO SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE.

 

By order of the Board of Directors

 

WILLIAM F. SCHWER

Secretary

 

20


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY

2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Proxy Solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors

 

The undersigned hereby appoints Robert A. Peiser and William F. Schwer and each of them, with full power of substitution, the attorneys and proxies of the undersigned to vote all of the shares of Common Stock, without par value, of Imperial Sugar Company (the “Company”) that the undersigned would be entitled to vote, with all powers that the undersigned would possess if personally present, at the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Imperial Sugar Company scheduled to be held on January 30, 2007 and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, on the matters as designated herein and, in their discretion, on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or adjournments thereof, all as set forth in the accompanying Proxy Statement.

 

This Proxy when properly executed will be voted as specified on the reverse side. Unless otherwise specified, this Proxy will be voted FOR election as directors of all of the nominees listed on the reverse and FOR ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007. A majority (or if only one, then that one) of the proxies or substitutes acting at the meeting, or at any adjournment or postponement, may exercise the powers conferred by this Proxy. Receipt of the Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement is hereby acknowledged. This Proxy revokes all prior proxies given by the undersigned.

 

(Continued, and to be signed and dated, on the reverse side.)

 

IMPERIAL SUGAR COMPANY

P.O. BOX 11110

NEW YORK, N.Y. 10203-0110


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

¨

   Ú    DETACH PROXY CARD HERE    Ú     

 

    

Please Sign, Date and Return

the Proxy Card Promptly

Using the Enclosed Envelope.

  

x

Votes must be indicated (x) in Black or Blue ink.

                             

1.   Election of three directors to serve for the terms set forth in the proxy statement.

   FOR all nominees listed below    ¨    WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below    ¨    *EXCEPTIONS    ¨

 

Nominees:

   Class II
     Curtis G. Anderson
     James J. Gaffney
     Yves-Andre Istel
(INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark the “Exceptions” box and write that nominee’s name in the space provided below.)

 

*Exceptions ____________________________________________________________________________

 

     FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN               

2.   Proposal to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for its fiscal year ending September 30, 2007.

   ¨    ¨    ¨               

 

To change your address, please mark this box.    ¨

 

         

 

S C A N    L I N E

 

    

Please sign exactly as name or names appear on the proxy. If stock is held jointly, each holder should sign. If signing as attorney, trustee, executor, administrator, custodian, guardian, or corporate officer, please give full title:

 

                          
          Date    Share Owner sign here         Co-Owner sign here