Your prompt return of the enclosed  proxy card will save the postage  expense of
additional  mailings.  Your  immediate  attention  to these  materials  would be
greatly appreciated.


                                ITRON


Johnny M. Humphreys
President and
Chief Executive Officer
April 4, 1997


Dear Shareholder:

    On behalf of the Board of Directors,  it is my pleasure to extend to you an
invitation to attend the 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders  of Itron,  Inc. We
hope you can join us. The Annual Meeting will be held:

                  At:          Red Lion Hotel - Spokane City Center
                               Spokane Falls Ballroom - Suite A
                               322 North Spokane Falls Court
                               Spokane, Washington 99201

                  On:          Tuesday, April 29, 1997

                  At:          9:00 a.m.

     For  our  shareholders'   convenience,  a  continental  breakfast  will  be
available  beginning  at 8:30  a.m.,  at which  time  shareholders  will have an
opportunity  to meet  personally  with the Company's  directors and officers and
discuss any questions  they may have.  The Annual Meeting will begin promptly at
9:00 a.m.  The Notice of the Annual  Meeting and the Proxy  Statement  accompany
this letter.

     We know that many of our  shareholders  will be unable to attend the Annual
Meeting.  Proxies are solicited so that each  shareholder  has an opportunity to
vote on all matters that are  scheduled  to come before the meeting.  Whether or
not you plan to attend, please take the time now to read the Proxy Statement and
vote your shares by signing,  dating and  returning  your proxy card promptly in
the enclosed postage-paid envelope. You may revoke your proxy at any time before
it is  exercised.  Regardless  of the  number of Company  shares  you own,  your
presence by proxy is  important  for quorum  purposes and your vote is important
for proper corporate action.

     Thank you for your continuing  interest in Itron. We look forward to seeing
as many of you as possible at our Annual Meeting.

                                   Sincerely,



                                   Johnny M. Humphreys
                                   President and Chief Executive Officer

Itron, Inc., P.O. Box 15288, Spokane, Washington 99215-5288; (509)924-9900 or
(800)392-3185








                                   ITRON, INC.
                            2818 North Sullivan Road
                            Spokane, Washington 99216



                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                          TO BE HELD ON APRIL 29, 1997


     NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders  of Itron,
Inc.,  will be held at Red Lion  Hotel -  Spokane  City  Center,  Spokane  Falls
Ballroom - Suite A, 322 North Spokane Falls Court, Spokane,  Washington, at 9:00
a.m.,  local time,  on Tuesday,  April 29, 1997 (the "Annual  Meeting")  for the
following purposes:

         (1)    To elect four directors of the Company;

         (2)    To approve the amendment of the Company's 1989 Restated Stock 
                Option Plan;

         (3)    To ratify the appointment of the auditors of the Company; and

         (4)    To transact  such other  business as may come before the meeting
                and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

     The Board of  Directors  has fixed the close of business  on  February  28,
1997,  as the record  date for the  determination  of  shareholders  entitled to
notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.

     All  shareholders  are  cordially  invited to attend the Annual  Meeting in
person.

     To ensure  representation at the Annual Meeting,  shareholders are urged to
mark, sign, date and return the enclosed Proxy as promptly as possible,  even if
they plan to attend the Annual  Meeting.  A return  envelope,  which requires no
postage  if mailed in the United  States,  is  enclosed  for this  purpose.  Any
shareholder  attending  the  Annual  Meeting  may  vote in  person  even if such
shareholder has returned a Proxy.



                               By order of the Board of Directors



                               MariLyn R. Blair
                               Corporate Secretary

Spokane, Washington
April 4, 1997






                                      ITRON

                                 PROXY STATEMENT

     This Proxy  Statement is furnished in connection  with the  solicitation by
the Board of Directors of Itron, Inc. (the "Company"), of proxies for use at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting") to be held at the Red Lion
Hotel - Spokane Falls Ballroom, Suite A, 322 North Spokane Falls Court, Spokane,
Washington,  at 9:00 a.m.,  local time,  on  Tuesday,  April 29,  1997,  for the
purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
The  principal  executive  offices  of the  Company  are  located  at 2818 North
Sullivan  Road,  Spokane,  Washington  99216.  It is  expected  that this  Proxy
Statement  and  accompanying  Proxy will be mailed to  shareholders  on or about
April 4, 1997.

Record Date and Outstanding Shares

     Holders of the Company's common stock (the "Common Stock") of record at the
close of business on February 28, 1997, are entitled to notice of and to vote at
the Annual Meeting.  On that date, there were 13,420,879  shares of Common Stock
outstanding.

Revocability of Proxies

     Shares  represented at the Annual Meeting by properly  executed  Proxies in
the  accompanying  form  will be voted at the  Annual  Meeting  and,  where  the
shareholder  giving  the Proxy  specifies  a choice,  the Proxy will be voted in
accordance with the  specification  so made. A Proxy given for use at the Annual
Meeting may be revoked by the shareholder  giving the Proxy at any time prior to
the exercise of the powers conferred  thereby.  A Proxy may be revoked either by
(i) filing with the Secretary of the Company prior to the Annual Meeting, at the
Company's  principal  executive  offices,  either a written revocation or a duly
executed  Proxy bearing a later date or (ii)  attending  the Annual  Meeting and
voting in person,  regardless  of  whether a Proxy has  previously  been  given.
Presence at the Annual  Meeting will not revoke the  shareholder's  Proxy unless
such shareholder votes in person.

Quorum and Voting

     Holders of Common  Stock will be  entitled  to one vote per share of Common
Stock held. Holders of Common Stock are not entitled to cumulative voting rights
in the election of directors.  Under  Washington  law,  action may be taken on a
matter  submitted to  shareholders  only if a quorum exists with respect to such
matter.  A majority  of the votes  entitled to be cast on a matter by holders of
outstanding  shares of Common  Stock  constitutes  a quorum  for  action on such
matter.

     Directors are elected by a plurality of the shares of Common Stock present,
in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting.  Abstention from voting and broker
non-votes  on the  election of  directors  will have no impact on the outcome of
this  proposal  since  they  have not been  cast in  favor of any  nominee.  The
affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present,
in person or by proxy,  and  entitled to vote at the Annual  Meeting is required
for the approval of the amendment of the 1989 Restated Stock Option Plan and the
ratification  of independent  auditors.  Abstention from voting on these matters
will have the practical  effect of voting against these  proposals  because such
shares are present at the meeting and entitled to vote and are therefore counted
in the number of shares a  majority  of which are  required  for  approval  of a
proposal,  but are not voting in favor of it. Broker  non-votes  with respect to
the  amendment  of 1989  Restated  Stock  Option Plan will have no effect on the
outcome of this proposal since they are not considered  shares  entitled to vote
on this proposal,  whereas broker  non-votes with respect to the ratification of
the Company's  auditors will have the  practical  effect of voting  against this
proposal since they are considered shares present at the meeting and entitled to
vote but are not voting in favor of the proposal.






Solicitation of Proxies

     The Company has  retained  Corporate  Investor  Communications,  Inc.,  111
Commerce Road, Carlstadt,  New Jersey, to aid in the solicitation of Proxies. It
is estimated that the cost of these services will be  approximately  $4,000 plus
expenses.  The cost of soliciting Proxies will be borne by the Company.  Proxies
will be solicited by personal interview,  mail and telephone.  In addition,  the
Company may reimburse brokerage firms and other persons representing  beneficial
owners of shares of Common Stock for their  expenses in forwarding  solicitation
materials to such beneficial owners. Proxies may also be solicited by certain of
the Company's  directors,  officers and regular  employees,  without  additional
compensation, personally or by telephone.


                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     The Board of Directors is divided into three classes, with each director of
the Company  generally  holding office for a three-year term or until his or her
successor has been elected and qualified.  At the Annual Meeting, four directors
are to be elected,  one to hold  office for a term of two years until 1999,  and
three to hold  office  for a term of three  years  until  2000 or, in each case,
until  his/her  respective  successor  shall be elected and shall  qualify.  One
nominee,  Stuart  Edward White,  was appointed a director in April 1996,  and is
being  nominated for a shorter term in order to keep all classes of directors as
equal in size as possible, as required by Washington state law. Unless authority
to do so is withheld,  the persons  named as proxies in the  accompanying  Proxy
will vote for the election of the nominees listed below.  The Board of Directors
has no  reason to  believe  that any such  nominee  will be unable to serve as a
director.  If,  however any such nominee shall become  unavailable,  the persons
named as proxies  will have  discretionary  authority  to vote for a  substitute
nominee.

Nominee to Serve Until 1999

     Stuart Edward White (age 46) has been a director of the Company since 1996.
Mr.  White is  President,  Utility  Translation  Systems,  Inc.  ("UTS").  Itron
acquired  UTS in March  1996.  Mr.  White  has been  President  of UTS since its
inception in 1980.  Prior to founding UTS, Mr. White held  numerous  engineering
and marketing management positions with Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Meter
Division, for 13 years.

Nominees to Serve Until 2000

     Michael B. Bracy (age 55) has been a director  of the  Company  since 1992.
Mr. Bracy is Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and a director of
NorAm Energy Corp.  ("NorAm"),  previously  known as Arkla,  Inc., an integrated
natural gas company.  Since joining NorAm in 1984, he has held various executive
positions,  most recently Chief  Executive  Officer of the Arkla Pipeline Group.
Prior to his joining  NorAm,  Mr. Bracy served as Executive  Vice  President and
Chief Financial Officer of El Paso Natural Gas Company, which he joined in 1977.

     Graham M. Wilson  (age 52) has been a director  of the Company  since 1990.
Mr. Wilson has been employed by Westcoast  Energy Inc., a major Canadian natural
resource company, since 1988, where he is currently Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer.  From 1983 to 1988, he was Vice President,  Finance and
Administration  of  Petro-Canada  Inc.  Mr.  Wilson also serves as a director of
Union Gas Limited,  Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. and Centra Gas, Inc., all of which
are affiliates of Westcoast Energy, Inc.

     Mary Ann Peters (age 52) has been a director of the Company since 1994. Ms.
Peters is  Managing  Director  of  McGillicuddy  and  Peters,  a  marketing  and
consulting  firm,  which she founded in 1984.  Ms.  Peters  began her  marketing
career with International Business Machines Corporation in 1972 and subsequently
held marketing positions with General Electric Company, Wells Fargo and Company,
Inc., Atari Corp. and Apple Computer, Inc.




Continuing Directors

     Paul A.  Redmond  (age 60) has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors
of the Company since 1984. Mr.  Redmond's term as a director expires in 1998. He
is Chairman of the Board and Chief  Executive  Officer of The  Washington  Water
Power  Company  ("WWP").  Mr.  Redmond  joined  WWP in  1965,  where he has held
numerous  management and executive  positions  prior to his being elected to his
current  position in 1985.  Mr.  Redmond  also  serves as a director  Washington
RoundTable,   U.S.  Bancorp  and  Pentzer   Corporation,   as  well  as  various
subsidiaries and affiliates of WWP.

     Johnny M. Humphreys (age 59) has been President,  Chief  Executive  Officer
and a director of Itron since 1987. Mr. Humphrey's term as a director expires in
1998. From 1975 to 1986, Mr. Humphreys was employed by Datachecker Systems, Inc.
("Datachecker"),  a subsidiary of National Semiconductor Corporation ("NSC"), in
various executive positions, including President from 1980 to 1986. In 1986, Mr.
Humphreys was appointed Senior Vice President of NSC's Information Systems Group
and was  responsible  for  strategic  planning  for three  operating  divisions,
National Advanced Systems, Microcomputer Products Group and Datachecker.

     Ted C.  DeMerritt  (age 64) has been a director of the Company  since 1994.
Mr.  DeMerritt's  term as a director  expires in 1999.  Mr.  DeMerritt  has been
employed by  Olivetti  North  America,  which  develops  and  implements  system
solutions for the financial services and retail industries, and its predecessor,
ISC Systems  Corporation,  since 1980, where he currently serves as its Chairman
and Chief Executive  Officer.  From 1963 to 1980, he was with Sacramento Savings
and Loan  Association,  where he served as  Controller/Senior  Vice President in
charge of the Savings and Operations Division. Mr. DeMerritt is a Trustee of the
Washington State University Foundation.

     Jon E. Eliassen (age 49) has been a director of the Company since 1987. Mr.
Eliassen's  term as a director  expires in 1999.  Mr.  Eliassen  is Senior  Vice
President  and Chief  Financial  Officer of WWP.  He joined WWP in 1970 and held
numerous  positions within the finance  department prior to assuming his current
responsibilities  in 1986.  He also  serves as a  director  of  Spokane  Capital
Management  Corporation and Pentzer Corporation as well as various affiliates of
WWP.

Compensation of Directors

     Nonemployee  directors  receive an annual $8,000  retainer which is payable
quarterly.  In  addition,  nonemployee  directors  receive  $800 for each  Board
meeting  attended  ($900  for the  Chairman  of the  Board)  and  $800  for each
Committee  meeting attended ($900 for each of those Committee  meetings at which
they serve as  chairperson).  Under the  Company's  1992 Stock  Option  Plan for
Nonemployee  Directors,  nonemployee  directors  receive  stock option grants to
purchase  10,000  shares  of the  Company's  Common  Stock  upon  their  initial
appointment or election as a director and option grants to purchase 2,000 shares
of the Company's  Common Stock annually  thereafter.  The exercise price of such
options is the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.  Such
options are fully vested and immediately exercisable on the date of grant.

Information on Committees of the Board of Directors and Meetings

     The Company's Board of Directors has established an Audit/Finance Committee
and a Compensation Committee.

     The  Audit/Finance  Committee reviews the Company's  accounting  practices,
internal  accounting  controls and financial results and oversees the engagement
of the Company's independent auditors.  The Audit/Finance  Committee consists of
Jon E.  Eliassen,  Graham M. Wilson and Ted C.  DeMerritt and held nine meetings
during 1996.





     The Compensation  Committee is responsible for setting  compensation levels
for the Company's executive  officers,  overseeing the administration of various
incentive  compensation  and benefit plans and performing  such other  functions
regarding  compensation as the Board may delegate.  The  Compensation  Committee
consists  of Paul A.  Redmond,  Michael  B.  Bracy  and  Mary  Ann  Peters.  The
Compensation Committee held seven meetings in 1996.

     During 1996 there were six Board  meetings.  All Board members,  except Mr.
Wilson, attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and each committee of
which they were a member. Mr. Wilson attended four of the six Board meetings and
seven of the nine Audit/Finance Committee meetings.


                PROPOSAL TO AMEND RESTATED 1989 STOCK OPTION PLAN

     The  Company's  Restated  1989 Stock Option Plan (the "1989  Option  Plan")
provides  a means  whereby  selected  employees,  directors,  officers,  agents,
consultants,  advisors and independent contractors of the Company may be granted
incentive  stock options  ("ISOs") or  nonqualified  stock  options  ("NSOs") to
purchase  shares of Common Stock.  Approximately  1,200 persons are eligible for
participation in the 1989 Option Plan. Currently, subject to adjustment required
in the event of any  recapitalization  of the Company,  the aggregate  amount of
Common Stock that may be issued upon  exercise of all options  granted under the
1989  Option Plan may not exceed  2,250,000  shares.  On  February 3, 1997,  the
Company's Board of Directors unanimously adopted an amendment to the 1989 Option
Plan that,  subject to  shareholder  approval,  would  authorize  an  additional
1,800,000  shares to be  available  for the  granting of options  under the 1989
Option  Plan.  As of the date of this  Proxy  Statement,  approximately  115,000
shares  remained  available  for future  grant under the 1989 Option  Plan,  and
options  to  purchase  approximately  1,312,000  shares  of  Common  Stock  were
outstanding.  On March 26, 1997,  the average of the high and low sale prices of
the  Company's  Common  Stock was $19.81 per share,  as  reported  by the Nasdaq
National  Market.  In addition,  the Board  extended the term of the 1989 Option
Plan by ten  years  from  the date of  amendment  by the  Board,  which is until
February 3, 2007.

     The Board believes that the additional  options would,  among other things,
promote the  interests  of the Company and its  shareholders  by  assisting  the
Company in attracting, retaining and stimulating the performance of officers and
key  employees.  The Board believes that the existing  options have  contributed
substantially  to the  successful  achievement  of the above  objectives and the
granting of stock options for these purposes is comparable  with other high-tech
companies. The complete text of the 1989 Option Plan, as proposed to be amended,
is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix A.

        The  Compensation  Committee of the Board of Directors is currently  the
administrator of the 1989 Option Plan (the "Plan Administrator"). Subject to the
terms of the 1989 Option Plan, the Plan  Administrator  determines the terms and
conditions of options granted under the 1989 Option Plan, including the exercise
price. The 1989 Option Plan provides that the Plan  Administrator must establish
an exercise price for ISOs that is not less than the fair market value per share
at the date of  grant.  Each ISO must  expire  within  ten  years of the date of
grant.  However,  if ISOs are  granted  to persons  owning  more than 10% of the
voting  stock of the  Company,  the 1989  Option  Plan and the tax laws for ISOs
provides  that the  exercise  price may not be less than 110% of the fair market
value  per  share  at the  date of  grant  and that the term of the ISOs may not
exceed  five  years.  NSOs  expire  ten  years  from the date of  grant.  Unless
otherwise  provided by the Plan  Administrator,  options  granted under the 1989
Option  Plan  vest at a rate of 25% per year over a four  year  period.  For ISO
purposes,  the amendment of the 1989 Option Plan by the Board is considered  the
adoption of a new option plan.





        No option may be  transferred  by the optionee other than by will or the
laws of  descent or  distribution,  except for  certain  transfers  which may be
permitted by the Plan  Administrator.  An optionee whose  relationship  with the
Company or any related corporation ceases for any reason (other than termination
for cause,  death or total  disability,  as such  terms are  defined in the 1989
Option Plan),  may exercise  options in the  three-month  period  following such
cessation (unless such options terminate or expire sooner by their terms), or in
such  longer  period  determined  by the Plan  Administrator.  In the  event the
optionee is  terminated  for cause,  the options  terminate  upon the  Company's
discovery  of such  cause.  In the event the  optionee  dies or becomes  totally
disabled,  options  vested  as of the date of death or total  disability  may be
exercised prior to the earlier of the option's specified  expiration date or one
year from the date of the optionee's death or disability.

        Unexercised  options  granted under the 1989 Option Plan  terminate upon
the occurrence of certain events,  including certain mergers.  Immediately prior
to such a  transaction,  optionees may exercise such options  without  regard to
whether the vesting  requirements  have been satisfied.  In a stock merger,  the
options would convert into options to purchase  shares of the other  corporation
involved in the merger, unless the Company and such other corporation,  in their
sole  discretion,  determine  that such options shall  terminate.  The converted
options would be fully vested without regard to whether the vesting requirements
in the option agreements have been satisfied.

        Shares subject to options  granted under the 1989 Option Plan which have
lapsed or  terminated  may again be subject to  options  granted  under the 1989
Option  Plan.  Furthermore,  the Plan  Administrator  may offer to exchange  new
options for existing  options,  with the shares subject to the existing  options
being  again  available  for grant  under the 1989  Option  Plan.  Assuming  the
approval of this  proposal by the Company's  shareholders,  the 1989 Option Plan
will  terminate on February 3, 2007,  unless  sooner  terminated by the Board of
Directors.

Federal Income Tax Consequences

        The  federal  income tax  consequences  to the Company and to any person
granted  an option  under the 1989  Option  Plan under the  existing  applicable
provisions  of the Code and the  regulations  thereunder  are  substantially  as
follows.  Under present law and  regulations,  no income will be recognized by a
participant upon the grant of stock options.

        Upon  the  exercise  of an NSO,  the  optionee  will  recognize  taxable
ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the
shares  acquired over the option price.  Upon a later sale of those shares,  the
optionee will have short-term or long-term capital gain or loss, as the case may
be, in an amount  equal to the  difference  between the amount  realized on such
sale and the tax basis of the shares  sold.  If  payment of the option  price is
made  entirely in cash,  the tax basis of the shares will be equal to their fair
market value on the exercise date (but not less than the option price),  and the
shares' holding period will begin on the day after the exercise date.

        If the optionee uses already-owned shares to exercise an option in whole
or in part, the transaction  will not be considered to be a taxable  disposition
of the already-owned  shares. The optionee's tax basis and holding period of the
already-owned  shares will be carried  over to the  equivalent  number of shares
received upon  exercise.  The tax basis of the additional  shares  received upon
exercise  will be the fair market value of the shares on the exercise  date (but
not less than the amount of cash,  if any,  used in  payment),  and the  holding
period for such additional shares will begin on the day after the exercise date.

        The rules for the tax  treatment  of an NSO also apply to an ISO that is
exercised more than three months after the optionee's  termination of employment
(or  more  than  12  months  thereafter  in the  case  of  permanent  and  total
disability, as defined in the Code).






        Upon the  exercise of an ISO during  employment  or within  three months
after  the  optionee's  termination  of  employment  (12  months  in the case of
permanent  and total  disability,  as  defined  in the Code),  for  regular  tax
purposes the optionee will recognize no income at the time of exercise (although
the optionee  will have income for  alternative  minimum  income tax purposes at
that time equal to the excess of the fair  market  value of the shares  over the
exercise  price. If the acquired shares are sold or exchanged after the later of
(a) one year from the date of  exercise of the option and (b) two years from the
date of grant of the option,  the difference  between the amount realized by the
optionee  on that sale or  exchange  and the  option  price will be taxed to the
optionee  as a long-term  capital  gain or loss.  If the shares are  disposed of
before such holding period  requirements  are satisfied,  then the optionee will
recognize  taxable ordinary income in the year of disposition in an amount equal
to the  excess  of the fair  market  value on the  exercise  date of the  shares
received over the option price paid (or  generally,  if less,  the excess of the
amount  realized  on the sale of the  shares  over the  option  price),  and the
optionee will have capital gain or loss,  long-term or  short-term,  as the case
may be, in an amount equal to the difference  between (i) the amount realized by
the optionee upon that  disposition of the shares and (ii) the option price paid
by the  optionee  increased  by the  amount  of  ordinary  income,  if  any,  so
recognized by the optionee.

        In all the  foregoing  cases the Company will be entitled to a deduction
at the same time and in the same amount as the participant  recognizes  ordinary
income, subject to the following limitations.  Under Section 162(m) of the Code,
certain  compensation  payments  in  excess  of  $1  million  are  subject  to a
limitation on  deductibility  for the Company.  The limitation on  deductibility
applies  with respect to that  portion of a  compensation  payment for a taxable
year in excess of $1 million to either the Company's Chief Executive  Officer or
any one of the other four most highly compensated  executive  officers.  Certain
performance-based   compensation   is  not   subject   to  the   limitation   on
deductibility.  Options can qualify for this  performance-based  exception,  but
only if they are granted at fair market  value,  the total number of shares that
can be granted to an executive for a specified period is stated, and shareholder
and Board  approval is obtained.  The 1989 Option Plan has been drafted to allow
compliance with those performance-based criteria.


The Board of Directors  recommends  that  shareholders  vote FOR approval of the
amendment of the Company's Restated 1989 Stock Option Plan.








                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Summary

     The  following  table sets forth  certain  information  as to Itron's Chief
Executive Officer and each of the four other most highly  compensated  executive
officers who were executive officers at December 31, 1996, for services rendered
in all  capacities  for the Company  during the fiscal years ended  December 31,
1996, 1995 and 1994.
Summary Compensation Table Long-Term Annual Compensation Compensation ---------------------------------------------------- ---------------- Securities Name and Principal Other Annual Underlying All Other Position Year Salary Bonus Compensation(1) Options#(2) Compensation(3) -------- ------- --------- ---------- ----------------- -------------- -------------- Johnny M. Humphreys 1996 $363,142 $ 0 $ 0 - $ 14,958 President and Chief 1995 306,633 140,190 - - 12,556 Executive Officer 1994 250,570 141,261 54,877 - 11,292 Carl Robert Aron 1996 299,986 - - 70,000 56,778 Executive Vice President 1995 27,500 163,379 - 60,000 - and Chief Operating Officer(4) Richard G. Geiger 1996 200,000 - - 22,000 21,181 Senior Vice President and 1995 188,468 72,128 - 12,000 6,803 Chief Technical Officer 1994 179,442 83,062 - 5,000 6,256 Michael J. O'Callaghan 1996 206,494 - - 17,500 9,206 Senior Vice President, 1995 176,597 66,730 - 10,000 6,307 Services 1994 160,269 75,942 - 10,000 5,483 David G. Remington 1996 208,654 - - 45,000 8,708 Vice President and Chief Financial Officer(5) - -----------
(1) Represents compensation paid under an employment agreement. See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions." (2) The number of securities underlying options for 1996 does not include options to purchase 30,000 shares, 10,000 shares, 7,500 shares and 45,000 shares that were granted to Messrs. Aron, Geiger, O'Callaghan and Remington, respectively, in 1996, but were canceled in connection with the repricing in November 1996. The number of securities underlying options for 1995 does include options to purchase 40,000 shares, 12,000 shares and 10,000 shares that were granted to Messrs. Aron, Geiger and O'Callaghan respectively, in 1995, but were canceled in connection with the repricing in November 1996. See "Ten Year Option Repricing." (3) For the year ended December 31, 1996, consists of matching contributions to a 401(k) savings plan ($4,750 for Messrs. Humphreys, Geiger and O'Callaghan and $1,417 for Mr. Aron) and matching contributions to a deferred compensation plan ($10,208, $9,883, $4,721, and $4,456 for each of Messrs. Humphreys, Aron, Geiger and O'Callaghan, respectively). Also includes $45,478 of reimbursed relocation and other expenses for Mr. Aron, $11,710 for reimbursed medical and other expenses for Mr. Geiger and $8,708 of reimbursed relocation expenses for Mr. Remington. (4) Mr. Aron joined the Company in November 1995. (5) Mr. Remington joined the Company in February 1996. Option Grants The following table sets forth certain information regarding options granted during the year ended December 31, 1996 to the Company's executive officers for whom compensation is reported in this Proxy Statement.
Option Grants in 1996 Individual Grants ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------- Percent of Potential Realizable Number of Total Options Exercise Expiration Value at Assumed Annual Options Granted to Price Date Rates of Stock Price Name Granted Employees in ($/Share) Appreciation Fiscal Year for Option Term - ------------------------ -------------- ---------------- -------------- ------------- --------------------------- ------------- ------------- 5% 10% ------------- ------------- Carl Robert Aron 70,000 11.37% $17.75 11/25/06 $781,402 $1,980,225 Richard G. Geiger 22,000 3.57% 17.75 11/25/06 245,583 622,356 Michael J. O'Callaghan 17,500 2.84% 17.75 11/25/06 195,350 495,056 David G. Remington 45,000 7.31% 17.75 11/25/06 502,330 1,273,002
(1) The options vest on a four-year schedule, with the options becoming fully exercisable on November 25, 2000, provided the holder remains employed by the Company. The exercise price of the options is the fair market value of the Company's stock on the date of grant. These options were granted in exchange for the cancellation of options that had been previously granted in 1995 and 1996. See "Ten Year Option Repricing." (2) The number of options granted does not include options to purchase 30,000 shares, 10,000 shares, 7,500 shares and 45,000 shares that were granted to Messrs. Aron, Geiger, O'Callaghan and Remington, respectively, in 1996, but were canceled in connection with the repricing. Similarly, options granted in 1996 but canceled in connection with the repricing were not included in the total number of options granted to employees for purposes of determining the percentage of options granted to the named executive officers during 1996. See "Ten Year Option Repricing." (3) Future value of current year grants assuming appreciation of 5% and 10% per year over the ten-year option period. The actual value realized may be greater than or less than the potential realizable values set forth on the table. Option Exercises and Year-End Values The following table sets forth certain information regarding options held as of December 31, 1996 by each of the Company's executive officers for whom compensation is reported in this Proxy Statement. None of such executive officers exercised any stock options during 1996.
Aggregated 1996 Fiscal Year-End Option Values Value of Unexercised Total Number of Unexercised in-the-Money Options Options at Fiscal Year-End at Fiscal Year-End(1) -------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Name Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable - ---------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------- ---------------- Carl Robert Aron 15,000 115,000 $ 0 $ 0 Richard G. Geiger 63,750 22,000 445,663 - Michael J. O'Callaghan 40,000 17,500 170,750 - David G. Remington - 45,000 - -
(1) Calculated based on a price of $17.75 per share (the closing price of the Company's Common Stock on December 31, 1996 as reported by the Nasdaq National Market), less the exercise price. Option Repricing The following table sets forth information concerning any repricing of stock options held by any executive officer of the Company during the period commencing November 1993 (when the Company became a reporting company pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) and ending on December 31, 1996.
Ten-Year Option Repricing --------- ----------- ------------- ------------- ----------- -------------------------- Market Price Number of of Stock at Exercise New Length of Original Option Options Time of Price at Time Exercise Term Remaining at Date Name Date Repriced Repricing of Pricing Price of Repricing --------- ----------- ------------- ------------- ----------- -------------------------- Carl Robert Aron 11/25/96 40,000 $17.75 $28.06 $17.75 9 yrs. 11/25/96 30,000 $17.75 51.19 $17.75 9 yrs. 5 months Richard G. Geiger 11/25/96 12,000 $17.75 24.25 $17.75 8 yrs. 5 months 11/25/96 10,000 $17.75 51.19 $17.75 9 yrs. 5 months Klaus O. Huschke 11/25/96 8,000 $17.75 24.25 $17.75 8 yrs. 5 months 11/25/96 7,000 $17.75 51.19 $17.75 9 yrs. 5 months Robert D. Neilson 11/25/96 20,000 $17.75 24.25 $17.75 8 yrs. 5 months 11/25/96 13,000 $17.75 51.19 $17.75 9 yrs. 5 months Leroy D. Nosbaum 11/25/96 20,000 $17.75 50.25 $17.75 9 yrs. 4 months Michael J. O'Callaghan 11/25/96 10,000 $17.75 24.25 $17.75 8 yrs. 5 months 11/25/96 7,500 $17.75 51.19 $17.75 9 yrs. 5 months Larry A. Panattoni 11/25/96 15,000 $17.75 24.25 $17.75 8 yrs. 5 months 11/25/96 12,000 $17.75 51.19 $17.75 9 yrs. 5 months David G. Remington 11/25/96 45,000 $17.75 43.50 $17.75 9 yrs. 3 months Russel E. Vanos 11/25/96 10,000 $17.75 51.19 $17.75 9 yrs. 5 months
Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation The Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Committee") annually reviews and recommends to the full Board compensation levels for executive officers of the Company. The Committee is comprised of Board members who are not employees of the Company. The Committee's primary objective in establishing compensation opportunities for the Company's executive officers is to support the Company's goal of maximizing the value of shareholders' interests in the Company. To achieve this objective, the Committee believes it is critical to: o Pay competitively to attract, retain and motivate a highly competent executive team; o Provide incentive opportunities that link corporate performance and executive pay and pay executives competitive levels of incentive compensation when corporate financial performance expectations are achieved; and o Align executives' financial interests with the creation of shareholder value by providing long-term incentives in the form of options to acquire Common Stock. The Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors pertaining to the Company's executive compensation plans which promote the objectives detailed above. The Committee periodically engages outside consultants to determine approximate compensation levels among executives in comparable jobs in comparable high-tech companies. The Committee believes that the Company's current compensation plans support the Company's business mission and contribute to the Company's financial success. It is the Company's policy to meet the requirements for deductibility of compensation for tax purposes under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Company intends to meet these requirements by paying performance-based compensation when appropriate. In the event it is not possible to meet the requirements of Section 162(m), the Company intends to minimize any compensation in excess of the limit. Base Salary The Committee annually reviews each executive officer's base salary. The factors that the Committee considers in making recommendations regarding base salary include: levels of pay among executives in similar jobs within similar high-tech companies, level of responsibility, prior experience, breadth of knowledge and job performance. Base salaries are targeted at the median of the market. The market is defined as similar high-tech companies, nationwide, the annual revenues of which are approximately $175 million and which have similar executive level jobs. These companies are not necessarily the same as the companies included in the Nasdaq Computer Manufacturers Stock Index used in the performance graph. In general, in 1996, base salaries for the executive officers are near the median of the market. With respect to the Chief Executive Officer's compensation in 1996, the Committee determined that a $360,000 base salary for Mr. Humphreys was appropriate and consistent with the Company's overall salary plan. The Committee believes that it is important that Mr. Humphreys' base salary be competitive with those of other chief executive officers with similar responsibilities and broad leadership experience in the market defined above because the Committee recognizes and highly values Mr. Humphreys' visionary leadership, breadth of knowledge, and business and utility experience, all of which have contributed significantly to the success of the Company. Executive Incentive Compensation Plan ("EIC Plan") The EIC plan provides the opportunity for executive officers to earn both annual and long-term incentives in addition to their base salaries. The Committee believes that having as much as 50% of an executive officer's total compensation at risk fosters achievement of the Company's short-term and long-term financial performance goals. Annual Incentives: The Compensation Committee each year establishes annual financial goals which relate to one or more indicators of corporate financial performance and targets amounts as a specified percentage of the executive officer's salary. For 1996, such percentages ranged from 42% to 50% of base salary. Incentive awards are paid to participating executives under the EIC Plan only when the established financial goals are achieved. Depending on the extent to which corporate goals are achieved, an executive officer may be entitled to receive from zero up to 150% of such targeted award. For 1996, the annual incentive award opportunity was contingent upon attaining an established level of revenues and net profit after tax. These goals were not met in 1996 and consequently no payments were made. Long-Term Incentives: Long-term incentives consist of stock options. The number of stock options granted is determined by the recipient's position and amount of options currently held, and is intended to recognize different levels of responsibility. All options are granted with an option exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant. This closely links a significant portion of executive compensation to benefits produced for all shareholders. As in prior years, the Company's Chief Executive Officer was not granted any options in 1996 because the provisions of a Stock Purchase Agreement entered into by the Company and Mr. Humphreys provided Mr. Humphreys with long-term equity incentives. This Stock Purchase Agreement terminated in 1996, and in future years the Compensation Committee expects to grant options to Mr. Humphreys. Compensation Committee Report on 1996 Cancellation and Regrant of Options During October 1996, the Compensation Committee determined that factors affecting the Company's stock had made it necessary for the Company to implement a program to cancel and regrant certain options to purchase Common Stock held by the company's executive officers and certain other employees. A cancellation/regrant program was implemented whereby certain outstanding options were canceled and new options for the same number of shares were granted with a lower exercise price per share equal to the fair market price of the Company's Common Stock on the regrant date. The Compensation Committee determined that this program was necessary because equity incentives are a significant component of the total compensation of each employee and play a substantial role in the Company's ability to retain the services of individuals essential to the Company's long-term financial success. The market price of the Company's Common Stock had risen substantially during the previous 12 months and then declined significantly prior to the implementation of the program. This significant fluctuation in market price left several key executives of the Company with few, if any, stock options that provided meaningful incentives. Furthermore, the Compensation Committee did not believe that such market price reflected the progress made by the Company in operations, product development, market development or financing. The Compensation Committee felt that the Company's ability to retain key employees would be significantly impaired unless the value of such employees' options was restored by regranting options for the Company's Common Stock at the then current market price. Further, a review of other companies in the technology industry indicated that some of these companies had been confronted with this problem and have made similar adjustments in options prices to motivate and retain their employees. This is the first time that the Compensation Committee has approved the cancellation and regrant of options and the Committee considers this an unusual event for the Company. Accordingly, on October 29, 1996, the Compensation Committee approved the cancellation and regrant of all outstanding options with an exercise price in excess of $19.25 per share held by current employees. Each person holding such an option had the opportunity to either retain the old option or accept a new option with an exercise price of $17.75, the fair market value of the Common Stock on November 25, 1996 (the exchange date), and cancel the older higher-priced option. Each regranted option was for the same number of shares and vesting length as the canceled option. However, vesting time earned on the original option was forfeited and vesting of the regranted option began on November 25, 1996. The Compensation Committee believes the regranted options and new vesting schedule strikes an appropriate balance between the interests of the option holders and the shareholders. The lower exercise prices of the regranted options made the options once again valuable to the executive officers and key employees who are critical to the Company's financial performance. However, those individuals will enjoy the benefits of the regranted options only if they remain employed by the Company and contribute to the Company's and investors' financial success. Members of the Compensation Committee Paul A. Redmond Michael B. Bracy Mary Ann Peters Performance Graph The following graph compares the cumulative total return to shareholders on the Company's Common Stock with the cumulative total return of the Nasdaq US Stock Market and the Nasdaq Computer Manufacturers Stocks for the period beginning on November 5, 1993, the first day of trading as a public company and ending on December 31, 1996, the end of the Company's latest fiscal year. Comparison of Cumulative Total Return Among Itron, Inc., Nasdaq Computer Manufacturers Stocks and Nasdaq US Stock Market (For the period November 5, 1993 to December 31, 1996)
5-Nov-93 31-Dec-93 30-Dec-94 29-Dec-95 31-Dec-96 Itron, Inc. $100 $133 $150 $250 $130 Nasdaq Computer Manufacturers Stock $100 $108 $119 $187 $251 Nasdaq U.S. Stock Market $100 $105 $102 $144 $178
The above presentation assumes $100 invested on November 5, 1993, in Itron Common Stock, Nasdaq Computer Manufacturers Stock and Nasdaq U.S. Market Stock, with all dividends reinvested. Stock prices shown above for the Common Stock are historical and not necessarily indicative of future price performance. Section 16 (a) Beneficial Ownership Compliance Reporting Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company's equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders are required by Commission regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by the Company, or written representations from certain reporting persons, the Company believes that during the 1996 fiscal year all filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and beneficial owners of greater than 10% were complied with by such persons. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT The following table sets forth as of February 28, 1997 certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock by (i) each director of the Company, (ii) each of the Company's executive officers for whom compensation is reported in this Proxy Statement, (iii) all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group, and (iv) each person known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the Common Stock. Except as otherwise noted, the Company believes that the beneficial owners of the Common Stock listed below, based on information furnished by such owners, have sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares.
Shares Beneficially Owned Name Number Percent - ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------- Directors and Executive Officers: Johnny M. Humphreys (1) 230,324 1.72% Richard G. Geiger (2) 65,020 * Michael J. O'Callaghan (3) 40,877 * Carl Robert Aron (4) 29,049 * David G. Remington 4,000 * Paul A. Redmond (5) 20,000 * Jon E. Eliassen (6) 14,000 * Michael B. Bracy (7) 15,000 * Graham M. Wilson (8) 15,000 * Ted C. DeMerritt (9) 14,300 * Mary Ann Peters (10) 12,000 * All directors and executive officers as a group (17 persons) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) 1,268,683 9.45% Greater than 5% Shareholders: Kopp Investment Advisors, Inc. (12) 6600 France Ave. South, Suite 672 Edina, MN 55435 1,915,742 14.27% Arkla Finance Corporation P.O. Box 2628 Houston, TX. 77252 1,502,547 11.20% Pentzer Corporation (a subsidiary of WWP) W. 818 Riverside, Suite 350 Spokane, WA 99201 792,767 5.91% - ------------------ * Less than 1%.
1. Includes 2,595 shares of Common Stock held for Mr. Humphreys' individual account under the Company's 401(k) employee savings plan. Also includes 300 shares held by Mr. Humphreys as custodian under UGMA for his granddaughter and 300 shares held by Mr. Humphreys as custodian under UGMA for his grandson. 2. Includes 63,750 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options that are exercisable by Mr. Geiger within 60 days at a weighted average exercise price of $10.77 per share. Also includes 1,270 shares of Common Stock held for Mr. Geiger's individual account under the Company's 401(k) employee savings plan. 3. Includes 40,000 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options that are exercisable by Mr. O'Callaghan within 60 days at a weighted average exercise price of $13.51 per share. Also includes 877 shares of Common Stock held for Mr. O'Callaghan's individual account under the Company's 401(k) employee savings plan. 4. Includes 15,000 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options that are exercisable by Mr. Aron within 60 days at a weighted average exercise price of $28.06 per share. Also includes 49 shares of Common Stock held for Mr. Aron's individual account under the Company's 401(k) employee savings plan. 5. Includes 17,500 shares issuable to Mr. Redmond upon exercise of outstanding options at a weighted average exercise price of $23.93 per share. Excludes 792,767 shares held by Pentzer Corporation, a subsidiary of WWP, as to which Mr. Redmond disclaims beneficial ownership. Mr. Redmond is a director of WWP. 6. Includes 14,000 shares issuable to Mr. Eliassen upon exercise of outstanding options at a weighted average exercise price of $28.43 per share. Excludes 792,767 shares held by Pentzer Corporation, a subsidiary of WWP, as to which Mr. Eliassen disclaims beneficial ownership. 7. Includes 15,000 shares issuable to Mr. Bracy upon exercise of outstanding options at a weighted average exercise price of $27.43 per share. Excludes 1,502,547 shares held by Arkla Finance Corporation, as to which Mr. Bracy disclaims beneficial ownership. Mr. Bracy is a director of Arkla Finance Corporation. 8. Includes 15,000 shares issuable to Mr. Wilson upon exercise of outstanding options at a weighted average exercise price of $27.43 per share. Excludes 608,340 shares held by Centra, as to which Mr. Wilson disclaims beneficial ownership. Mr. Wilson is a director of Centra Gas Inc. 9. Includes 14,000 shares issuable to Mr. DeMerritt upon exercise of outstanding options at a weighted average exercise price of $28.32 per share. 10. Includes 12,000 shares issuable to Ms. Peters upon exercise of outstanding options at a weighted average exercise price of $30.21 per share. 11. Includes 286,791 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options that are held by executive officers and are exercisable within 60 days. Also includes 11,992 shares of Common Stock held for such officers' individual accounts under the Company's 401(k) employee savings plan and 61 shares held for such officers' individual accounts under the Company's employee stock ownership plan. 12. Information is based on a Schedule 13G dated January 29, 1997 which was filed by Kopp Investment Advisors, Inc., with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such filing indicates that the investor exercises investment discretion over these shares but is record owner of only 5,000 of the shares. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS Change of Control Agreements The Company has entered into Change of Control Agreements with some of its executive officers to provide compensation and benefits in the event of a change of control of the Company. Pursuant to such agreements, executive officers agree to remain employed by the Company on an annual basis and are compensated by an annual salary and bonus as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. In the event the employment relationship is terminated by the Company for other than cause or by the executive officer for good reason within the one year period following a change of control, the executive officer will receive any salary or bonus due to such executive officer, group insurance benefits for one year after termination and severance pay equal to the annual base salary for the fiscal year in which the termination occurs. The executive officers will also receive such payments if their employment continues for the full one year period following a change of control. Employment Agreements Johnny M. Humphreys, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is party to an Employment Agreement and a related Stock Purchase Agreement with the Company. The Employment Agreement, dated February 9, 1987, provides for an initial base salary of $165,000, which has been increased annually. The agreement also provides for annual incentive and employment bonus payments. There were no bonus amounts for 1995 and 1996, and there are no further bonus amounts due Mr. Humphreys in the future. The Employment Agreement may be terminated by either party at any time. If termination is by the Company, it is obligated to pay Mr. Humphreys' base salary and benefits for a six-month period. In conjunction with his Employment Agreement, Mr. Humphreys executed a Stock Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which he was granted rights to acquire shares of Common Stock. Mr. Humphreys has purchased an aggregate of 392,129 shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement. The Company made loans to Mr. Humphreys for the purchase of such shares of Common Stock, all of which have been repaid. Carl Robert Aron, who joined the Company as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in November 1995, is party to an Employment Agreement with the Company. The Agreement provides for an initial base salary of $275,000, which was increased to $300,000 in 1996 and may be increased in future years by the Chief Executive Officer, subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee. In addition, a signing bonus of $150,000 was paid to Mr. Aron in January 1996. The Agreement also provides for annual incentive bonus payments which range from 50% to 75% of base salary depending on the Company's performance. The Agreement may be terminated by either party. If termination is by the Company for reasons other than cause by Mr. Aron for good reason or under certain other conditions, the Company is required to pay to Mr. Aron the greater of (a) $500,000 or 150% of Mr. Aron's then current base salary and (b) an amount (depending on the market value of options granted) that will not exceed the greater of $250,000 or 75% of Mr. Aron's then current base salary. The Agreement also provided for an option grant of 100,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock at the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant. These options become vested ratably over a four year period. The Agreement contains certain vesting acceleration clauses for termination, death, disability and changes in control. David G. Remington, who joined the Company as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in February 1996, is party to an Employment Agreement with the Company. The Agreement provides for an initial base salary of $250,000 which may be increased annually by the Chief Executive Officer, subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee. The Agreement also provides for annual incentive bonus payments. The Agreement may be terminated by either party under certain conditions. If termination is by the Company for other than cause the Company is required to pay Mr. Remington an amount equal to his then current annual base salary. The Agreement also provided for an option grant of 45,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock at the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on the date of the grant. These options become vested ratably over a three year period. The Agreement contains certain vesting acceleration clauses for termination, death or disability. Other Related Party Agreements In July 1995 and May 1996, the Company purchased its principal office and manufacturing facilities and additional manufacturing space in Spokane, Washington, from Pentzer Development Corporation. Pentzer Development Corporation is a subsidiary of Pentzer Corporation, a significant shareholder of the Company and a subsidiary of WWP. Cash paid at closing was $3.2 million. The Company has two long-term notes payable to Pentzer for $6.4 million related to the purchases. The principal balances of the notes bear interest at rates of 7.5% through July 1998 and May 1999 and 9% and 8.5% thereafter. Monthly payments of interest only are due through August 1998 with payments of principal and interest due from September 1998 to maturity in August 2015 and June 2019. RATIFICATION OF AUDITORS Shareholders are asked to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent auditors for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1997. Unless instructed otherwise, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying Proxy to vote shares represented by properly executed Proxies for ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent auditors. Deloitte & Touche LLP audited the books and records of the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996. It is anticipated that representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting. Such representatives will have the opportunity to make a statement, if they so desire, and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders. The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent auditors. OTHER BUSINESS The Board of Directors does not intend to present any business at the Annual Meeting other than as set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and has no present knowledge that any others intend to present business at the meeting. If, however, other matters requiring the vote of the shareholders properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy will have discretionary authority to vote the proxies held by them in accordance with their judgment as to such matters. SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS Shareholder proposals intended for inclusion in the proxy materials for the Company's 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be received by the Company no later than December 1, 1997. Such proposals should be directed to the Corporate Secretary, Itron, Inc., 2818 North Sullivan Road, P.O. Box 15288, Spokane, Washington 99216. ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS A copy of the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year 1996, including financial statements, accompanies this Proxy Statement. --------------------------- A copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, as filed with the Commission, will be furnished without charge to beneficial shareholders or shareholders of record on February 28, 1997, upon request to investor relations at the Company's principal executive offices. This page intentionally left blank. APPENDIX A ITRON 1989 RESTATED STOCK OPTION PLAN As amended and restated on February 3, 1997 Section 1. Purpose The purpose of the 1989 Restated Stock Option Plan (this "Plan") is to provide a means whereby selected employees, directors, officers, agents, consultants, advisors and independent contractors of Itron, Inc. (the "Company"), or of any parent or subsidiary (as defined in subsection 5.8 and referred to hereinafter as "related corporations") thereof, may be granted incentive stock options and/or nonqualified stock options to purchase the Common Stock (as defined in Section 3) of the Company, in order to attract and retain the services or advice of such employees, directors, officers, agents, consultants, advisors and independent contractors and to provide added incentive to such persons by encouraging stock ownership in the Company. Section 2. Administration This Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") or a committee or committees (which term includes subcommittees) appointed by and consisting of two or more members of the Board. The administrator of this Plan shall hereinafter be referred to as the "Plan Administrator." So long as the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), the Board shall consider, in selecting the Plan Administrator and the membership of any committee acting as Plan Administrator of this Plan with respect to any persons subject or likely to become subject to Section 16 under the Exchange Act, the provisions regarding (a) "outside directors," as contemplated by Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and (b) "nonemployee directors," as contemplated by Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. The Board may delegate the responsibility for administering this Plan with respect to designated classes of eligible participants to different committees, subject to such limitations as the Board deems appropriate. Committee members shall serve for such term as the Board may determine, subject to removal by the Board at any time. The members of any committee serving as Plan Administrator shall be appointed by the Board for such term as the Board may determine. The Board may from time to time remove members from, or add members to the committee. Vacancies on the committee, however caused, may be filled by the Board. 2.1 Procedures The Board shall designate one of the members of the Plan Administrator as chairman. The Plan Administrator may hold meetings at such times and places as it shall determine. The acts of a majority of the members of the Plan Administrator present at meetings at which a quorum exists, or acts reduced to or approved in writing by all Plan Administrator members, shall be valid acts of the Plan Administrator. 2.2 Responsibilities Except for the terms and conditions explicitly set forth in this Plan, the Plan Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion, to determine all matters relating to the options to be granted under this Plan, including selection of the individuals to be granted options, the number of shares to be subject to each option, the exercise price, and all other terms and conditions of the options. Grants under this Plan need not be identical in any respect, even when made simultaneously. The interpretation and construction by the Plan Administrator of any terms or provisions of this Plan or any option issued hereunder, or of any rule or regulation promulgated in connection herewith, shall be conclusive and binding on all interested parties, so long as such interpretation and construction with respect to incentive stock options correspond to the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations thereunder and any amendments thereto. 2.3 Rule 16b-3 Compliance and Bifurcation of Plan Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, the Board, in its absolute discretion, may bifurcate this Plan so as to restrict, limit or condition the use of any provision of this Plan to participants who are officers and directors subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act without so restricting, limiting or conditioning this Plan with respect to other participants. Section 3. Stock Subject to This Plan 3.1 Authorized Number of Shares The stock subject to this Plan shall be the Company's Common Stock (the "Common Stock"), presently authorized but unissued or subsequently acquired by the Company. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7, the aggregate amount of Common Stock to be delivered upon the exercise of all options granted under this Plan shall not exceed 4,050,000 shares. 3.2 Limitations Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7, not more than an aggregate of 100,000 shares of Common Stock may be made subject to options granted under the Plan to any individual in any fiscal year of the Company, such limitation to be applied in a manner consistent with the requirements of, and only to the extent required for compliance with, the exclusion from the limitation on deductibility of compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code. 3.3 Reuse of Shares If any option granted under this Plan shall expire or be surrendered, exchanged for another option, canceled or terminated for any reason without having been exercised in full, the unpurchased shares subject thereto shall thereupon again be available for purposes of this Plan, including for replacement options which may be granted in exchange for such expired, surrendered, exchanged, canceled or terminated options. Section 4. Eligibility An incentive stock option may be granted only to any individual who, at the time the option is granted, is an employee of the Company or any related corporation. A nonqualified stock option may be granted to any employee, director, officer, agent, consultant, advisor or independent contractor of the Company or any related corporation, whether an individual or an entity. Any party to whom an option is granted under this Plan shall be referred to hereinafter as an "Optionee." Section 5. Terms and Conditions of Options Options granted under this Plan shall be evidenced by written agreements which shall contain such terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions as the Plan Administrator shall deem advisable and which are not inconsistent with this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, options shall include or incorporate by reference the following terms and conditions: 5.1 Number of Shares and Price The maximum number of shares that may be purchased pursuant to the exercise of each option and the price per share at which such option is exercisable (the "exercise price") shall be as established by the Plan Administrator, provided that the Plan Administrator shall act in good faith to establish the exercise price which shall be not less than the fair market value per share of the Common Stock at the time the option is granted with respect to incentive stock options and also provided that, with respect to incentive stock options granted to greater than 10% shareholders, the exercise price shall be as required by subsection 6.1. 5.2 Term and Maturity Subject to the restrictions contained in Section 6 with respect to granting incentive stock options to greater than 10% shareholders, the term of each incentive stock option shall be as established by the Plan Administrator and, if not so established, shall be 10 years from the date it is granted but in no event shall it exceed 10 years. The term of each nonqualified stock option shall be as established by the Plan Administrator and, if not so established, shall be 10 years. To ensure that the Company or related corporation will achieve the purpose and receive the benefits contemplated in this Plan, any option granted to any Optionee hereunder shall, unless the condition of this sentence is waived or modified in the agreement evidencing the option or by resolution adopted at any time by the Plan Administrator, be exercisable according to the following schedule:
Period of Optionee's Continuous Relationship with the Company or Related Corporation from the Date the Portion of Total Option Option is Granted Which is Exercisable - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- after one year 25% after two years 50% after three years 75% after four years 100%
5.3 Exercise Subject to the vesting schedule described in subsection 5.2, each option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time and from time to time; provided, however, that no fewer than 100 shares (or the remaining shares then purchasable under the option, if less than 100 shares) may be purchased upon any exercise of option rights hereunder and that only whole shares will be issued pursuant to the exercise of any option. Options shall be exercised by delivery to the Company of notice of the number of shares with respect to which the option is exercised, together with payment of the exercise price. 5.4 Payment of Exercise Price Payment of the option exercise price shall be made in full at the time the notice of exercise of the option is delivered to the Company and shall be in cash, bank certified or cashier's check or personal check (unless at the time of exercise the Plan Administrator in a particular case determines not to accept a personal check) for the Common Stock being purchased. The Plan Administrator can determine at any time before exercise that additional forms of payment will be permitted. Unless the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion determines otherwise, either at the time the option is granted or at any time before it is exercised, and to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations (including, but not limited to, federal tax and securities laws and regulations and state corporate law), an option may be exercised by a combination of cash and/or check and one or more of the following alternative forms: (a) tendering (either actually or by attestation) shares of stock of the Company held by an Optionee having a fair market value equal to the exercise price, such fair market value to be determined in good faith by the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that payment in stock held by an Optionee shall not be made unless the stock shall have been owned by the Optionee for a period of at least six months (or any shorter period necessary to avoid a charge to the Company's earnings for financial accounting purposes); (b) delivery of a full-recourse promissory note executed by the Optionee; provided that (i) such note delivered in connection with an incentive stock option shall, and such note delivered in connection with a nonqualified stock option may, in the sole discretion of the Plan Administrator, bear interest at a rate specified by the Plan Administrator but in no case less than the rate required to avoid imputation of interest (taking into account any exceptions to the imputed interest rules) for federal income tax purposes, and (ii) the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion shall specify the term and other provisions of such note at the time an incentive stock option is granted or at any time prior to exercise of a nonqualified stock option, and (iii) the Plan Administrator may require that the Optionee pledge the Optionee's shares to the Company for the purpose of securing the payment of such note and may require that the certificate representing such shares be held in escrow in order to perfect the Company's security interest, and (iv) the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion may at any time restrict or rescind this right upon notification to the Optionee; or (c) delivery of a properly executed exercise notice, together with irrevocable instructions to a broker, all in accordance with the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board, to promptly deliver to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the exercise price and any federal, state or local withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the exercise. 5.5 Withholding Tax Requirement The Company may require the Optionee to pay to the Company the amount of any withholding taxes that the Company is required to withhold with respect to the grant or exercise of any option. Subject to the Plan and applicable law, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may permit an Optionee to satisfy withholding obligations, in whole or in part, by paying cash, by electing to have the Company withhold shares of Common Stock or by transferring shares of Common Stock to the Company, in such amounts as are equivalent to the fair market value of the withholding obligation. The Company shall have the right to withhold from any shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to an option or from any cash amounts otherwise due or to become due from the Company to the Optionee, an amount equal to such taxes. 5.6 Holding Periods 5.6.1 Securities and Exchange Act Section 16 If a director or officer subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act sells shares of Common Stock obtained upon the exercise of a stock option within six months after the date the option was granted, such sale may result in short-swing profit liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. 5.6.2 Taxation of Stock Options In order to obtain certain tax benefits afforded to incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code, an Optionee must hold the shares issued upon the exercise of an incentive stock option for two years after the date of grant of the option and one year from the date of exercise. An Optionee may be subject to the alternative minimum tax at the time of exercise of an incentive stock option. The Plan Administrator may require an Optionee to give the Company prompt notice of any disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired by the exercise of an incentive stock option prior to the expiration of such holding periods. Tax advice should be obtained when exercising any option and prior to the disposition of the shares issued upon the exercise of any option. 5.7 Nontransferability of Options Options granted under this Plan and the rights and privileges conferred thereby may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any manner (whether by operation of law or otherwise) other than by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution, and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. During an Optionee's lifetime, any options granted under this Plan are personal to him or her and are exercisable solely by such Optionee or a permitted assignee or transferee of such Optionee (as provided below). Any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any option under this Plan or of any right or privilege conferred hereby, contrary to the Code or to the provisions of this Plan, or the sale or levy or any attachment or similar process upon the rights and privileges conferred hereby, shall be null and void. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by Section 422 of the Code, the Plan Administrator may permit an Optionee to (a) during the Optionee's lifetime, designate a person who may exercise the option after the Optionee's death by giving written notice of such designation to the Plan Administrator (such designation may be changed from time to time by the Optionee by giving written notice to the Plan Administrator revoking any earlier designation and making a new designation), or (b) transfer the option and the rights and privileges conferred hereby; provided, however, that any option so assigned or transferred shall be subject to all the same terms and conditions contained in the instrument evidencing the award. 5.8 Termination of Relationship If the Optionee's relationship with the Company or any related corporation ceases for any reason, then the portion of the Optionee's option that is not exercisable at the time of such cessation shall terminate immediately upon such cessation, unless the Plan Administrator determines otherwise. If the Optionee's relationship with the Company or any related corporation ceases for any reason other than termination for cause, death or total disability, and unless by its terms the option sooner terminates or expires, then the Optionee may exercise, for a three-month period, that portion of the Optionee's option which is exercisable at the time of such cessation, but the Optionee's option shall terminate at the end of such period following such cessation as to all shares for which it has not theretofore been exercised, unless such provision is waived in the agreement evidencing the option or at any time prior to the expiration of the option by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion. If, however, in the case of an incentive stock option, the Optionee does not exercise the Optionee's option within three months after cessation of employment, the option will no longer qualify as an incentive stock option under the Code. If an Optionee is terminated for cause, any option granted hereunder shall automatically terminate as of the first discovery by the Company of any reason for termination for cause, and such Optionee shall thereupon have no right to purchase any shares pursuant to such option. "Termination for cause" shall mean dismissal for dishonesty, conviction or confession of a crime punishable by law (except minor violations), fraud, misconduct or disclosure of confidential information. If an Optionee's relationship with the Company or any related corporation is suspended pending an investigation of whether or not the Optionee shall be terminated for cause, all the Optionee's rights under any option granted hereunder likewise shall be suspended during the period of investigation. If an Optionee's relationship with the Company or any related corporation ceases because of a total disability, the portion of the Optionee's option that is exercisable at the time of such cessation may be exercised for a period of one year following such cessation (unless by its terms it sooner terminates and expires). As used in this Plan, the term "total disability" refers to a mental or physical impairment of the Optionee which is expected to result in death or which has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months or more and which causes the Optionee to be unable, in the opinion of the Company and two independent physicians, to perform his or her duties for the Company and to be engaged in any substantial gainful activity. Total disability shall be deemed to have occurred on the first day after the Company and the two independent physicians have fumished their opinion of total disability to the Plan Administrator. Any change of relationship with the Company shall not constitute a termination of the Optionee's relationship with the Company for purposes of this Section 5.8 so long as the Optionee continues to be an employee, director, officer, agent, consultant, advisor or independent contractor of the Company or of a related corporation. The Plan Administrator, in its absolute discretion, may determine all questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute a termination of services; provided, however, that with respect to incentive stock options, such determination shall be subject to any requirements contained in the Code. The foregoing notwithstanding, with respect to incentive stock options, employment shall not be deemed to continue beyond the first 90 days of such leave, unless the Optionee's reemployment rights are guaranteed by statute or by contract. As used herein, the term "related corporation," when referring to a subsidiary corporation, shall mean any corporation (other than the Company) in, at the time of the granting of the option, an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company, if stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of each of the corporations other than the Company is owned by one of the other corporations in such chain. When referring to a parent corporation, the term "related corporation" shall mean any corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if, at the time of the granting of the option, each of the corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. For purposes of nonqualified stock options, "subsidiary" shall also include any partnership in which the Company has an ownership interest. 5.9 Death of Optionee If an Optionee dies while he or she has a relationship with the Company or any related corporation or within the three-month period (or 12-month period in the case of totally disabled Optionees) following cessation of such relationship, any option held by such Optionee to the extent that the Optionee would have been entitled to exercise such option, may be exercised within one year after his or her death by the personal representative of his or her estate or by the person or persons to whom the Optionee's rights under the option shall pass by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution. 5.10 No Status as Shareholder Neither the Optionee nor any party to which the Optionee's rights and privileges under the option may pass shall be, or have any of the rights or privileges of, a shareholder of the Company with respect to any of the shares issuable upon the exercise of any option granted under this Plan unless and until such option has been exercised. 5.11Continuation of Relationship Nothing in this Plan or in any option granted pursuant to this Plan shall confer upon any Optionee any right to continue in the employ or other relationship of the Company or of a related corporation, or to interfere in any way with the right of the Company or of any such related corporation to terminate his or her employment or other relationship with the Company at any time. 5.12 Modification and Amendment of Option Subject to the requirements of Code Section 422 with respect to incentive stock options and to the terms and conditions and within the limitations of this Plan, the Plan Administrator may modify or amend outstanding options granted under this Plan. The modification or amendment of an outstanding option shall not, without the consent of the Optionee, impair or diminish any of his or her rights or any of the obligations of the Company under such option. Except as otherwise provided in this Plan, no outstanding option shall be terminated without the consent of the Optionee. 5.13 Limitation on Value for Incentive Stock Options As to all incentive stock options granted under the terms of this Plan, to the extent that the aggregate fair market value of the stock (determined at the time the incentive stock option is granted) with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for the first time by the Optionee during any calendar year (under this Plan and all other incentive stock option plans of the Company, a related corporation or a predecessor corporation) exceeds $100,000, such options shall be treated as nonqualified stock options. The previous sentence shall not apply if the Internal Revenue Service issues a public rule, issues a private ruling to the Company, any Optionee or any legatee, personal representative or distribute of an Optionee or issues regulations changing or eliminating such annual limit. Section 6. Greater Than 10% Shareholders 6.1 Exercise Price and Term of Incentive Stock Options If incentive stock options are granted under this Plan to employees who own more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any related corporation, the term of such incentive stock options shall not exceed five years and the exercise price shall be not less than 110% of the fair market value of the Common Stock at the time the incentive stock option is granted. This provision shall control notwithstanding any contrary terms contained in an option agreement or any other document. 6.2 Attribution Rule For purposes of subsection 6. 1, in determining stock ownership, an employee shall be deemed to own the stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for his or her brothers, sisters, spouse, ancestors and lineal descendants. Stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for a corporation, partnership, estate or trust shall be deemed to be owned proportionately by or for its shareholders, partners or beneficiaries. If an employee or a person related to the employee owns an unexercised option or warrant to purchase stock of the Company, the stock subject to that portion of the option or warrant which is unexercised shall not be counted in determining stock ownership. For purposes of this Section 6, stock owned by an employee shall include all stock actually issued and outstanding immediately before the grant of the incentive stock option to the employee. Section 7. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization The aggregate number and class of shares for which options may be granted under this Plan, the maximum annual grant to an Optionee set forth in Section 3.2, the maximum number and class of shares for which options may be granted to an individual under this Plan, the number and class of shares covered by each outstanding option and the exercise price per share thereof (but not the total price), and each such option, shall all be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock of the Company resulting from a split-up or consolidation of shares or any like capital adjustment, or the payment of any stock dividend. 7.1 Effect of Liquidation or Reorganization 7.1.1 Cash, Stock or Other Property for Stock Except as provided in subsection 7.1.2, upon a merger (other than a merger of the Company in which the holders of Common Stock immediately prior to the merger have the same proportionate ownership of Common Stock in the surviving corporation immediately after the merger), consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization (other than a mere reincorporating or the creation of a holding company) or liquidation of the Company, as a result of which the shareholders of the Company receive cash, stock or other property in exchange for or in connection with their shares of Common Stock, any option granted hereunder shall terminate, but the Optionee shall have the right immediately prior to any such merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization or liquidation to exercise such Optionee's option in whole or in part whether or not the vesting requirements set forth in the option agreement have been satisfied. 7.1.2 Conversion of Options on Stock for Stock Exchange If the shareholders of the Company receive capital stock of another corporation ("Exchange Stock") in exchange for their shares of Common Stock in any transaction involving a merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation or reorganization, all options granted hereunder shall be converted into options to purchase shares of Exchange Stock unless the Company and the corporation issuing the Exchange Stock, in their sole discretion, determine that any or all such options granted hereunder shall not be converted into options to purchase shares of Exchange Stock but instead shall terminate in accordance with the provisions of subsection 7.1.1. The amount and price of converted options shall be determined by adjusting the amount and price of the options granted hereunder in the same proportion as used for determining the number of shares of Exchange Stock the holders of the Common Stock receive in such merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation or reorganization. In any such transaction, other than a merger of the Company in which the holders of Common Stock immediately prior to the merger have the same proportionate ownership of Common Stock in the surviving corporation immediately after the merger or a mere reincorporating or the creation of a holding company, the converted options shall be fully vested whether or not the vesting requirements set forth in the option agreement have been satisfied. 7.2 Fractional Shares In the event of any adjustment in the number of shares covered by any option, any fractional shares resulting from such adjustment shall be disregarded and each such option shall cover only the number of full shares resulting from such adjustment. 7.3 Determination of Board to Be Final All Section 7 adjustments shall be made by the Board, and its determination as to what adjustments shall be made, and the extent thereof, shall be final, binding and conclusive. Unless an Optionee agrees otherwise, any change or adjustment to an incentive stock option shall be made in such a manner so as not to constitute a "modification" as defined in Code Section 425(h) and so as not to cause his or her incentive stock option issued hereunder to fail to continue to qualify as an incentive stock option as defined in Code Section 422(b). Section 8. Securities Regulation Shares shall not be issued with respect to an option granted under this Plan unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and delivery of such shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, any applicable state securities laws, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the shares may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance, including the availability of an exemption from registration for the issuance and sale of any shares hereunder. Inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, the authority deemed by the Company's counsel to be necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of any shares hereunder or the unavailability of an exemption from registration for the issuance and sale of any shares hereunder shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the nonissuance or sale of such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Company may require the Optionee to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any relevant provision of the aforementioned laws. At the option of the Company, a stop-transfer order against any shares of stock may be placed on the official stock books and records of the Company, and a legend indicating that the stock may not be pledged, sold or otherwise transferred unless an opinion of counsel is provided (concurred in by counsel for the Company) stating that such transfer is not in violation of any applicable law or regulation, may be stamped on stock certificates in order to assure exemption from registration. The Plan Administrator may also require such other action or agreement by the Optionees as may from time to time be necessary to comply with the federal and state securities laws. THIS PROVISION SHALL NOT OBLIGATE THE COMPANY TO UNDERTAKE REGISTRATION OF THE OPTIONS OR STOCK HEREUNDER. Should any of the Company's capital stock of the same class as the stock subject to options granted hereunder be listed on a national securities exchange, all stock issued hereunder if not previously listed on such exchange shall be authorized by that exchange for listing thereon prior to the issuance thereof. Section 9. Amendment and Termination 9.1 Board Action The Board may, at any time, suspend, amend or terminate this Plan, provided that to the extent required by Section 422 of the Code or any applicable law or regulation, the Company's shareholders must approve any amendment which will: (a) increase the total number of shares that may be issued under this Plan; (b) modify the class of participants eligible for participation in this Plan, or (c) otherwise require shareholder approval under any applicable law or regulation. Such shareholder approval must be obtained within 12 months of the adoption by the Board of such amendment. Any amendment made to this Plan since its original adoption which would constitute a "modification" to incentive stock options outstanding on the date of such amendment shall not be applicable to such outstanding incentive stock options, but shall have prospective effect only, unless the Optionee agrees otherwise. 9.2 Automatic Termination Unless sooner terminated by the Board, this Plan shall terminate on February 3, 2007. No option may be granted after such termination or during any suspension of this Plan. The amendment or termination of this Plan shall not, without the consent of the option holder, alter or impair any rights or obligations under any option theretofore granted under this Plan. Section 10. Effectiveness of This Plan This Plan shall become effective upon adoption by the Board so long as it is approved by the Company's shareholders at any time within 12 months of the adoption of this Plan or, if earlier and to the extent required for compliance with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, at the next annual meeting of shareholders after adoption by the Board. Original Plan adopted by the Company's Board of Directors on February 14, 1989 and approved by the Company's shareholders on May 23, 1989. Plan amended and restated by the Company's Board of Directors on May 1, 1992 and approved by the Company's shareholders on May 22, 1992. Plan further amended and restated by the Company's Board of Directors on January 30, 1995 and approved by the Company's shareholders on April 25, 1995. Plan further amended and restated by the Company's Board of Directors on February 3, 1997 with approval pending by the Company's shareholders.