MCRAE INDUSTRIES, INC.
 

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant Filed by a Party other than the Registrant TM
Check the appropriate box:
o Preliminary Proxy Statement
o Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
þ Definitive Proxy Statement
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o Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12
McRae Industries, Inc.
 
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
 
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
                         
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McRAE INDUSTRIES, INC.
400 North Main Street
Mount Gilead, North Carolina 27306
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD DECEMBER 15, 2005
To: The Stockholders of McRae Industries, Inc.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of McRae Industries, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at 3:00 p.m. on the 15th day of December, 2005, at the offices of the Company located at 400 North Main Street, Mount Gilead, North Carolina, for the following purposes:
  1.   To elect the Board of Directors consisting of seven persons, of whom five are to be elected by the holders of the Class B Common Stock and of whom two are to be elected by the holders of the Class A Common Stock.
 
  2.   To ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as independent certified public accountants for the current fiscal year.
 
  3.   To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on October 28, 2005 as the record date for the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and only holders of Class A or Class B Common Stock of record at such date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
     
 
  By Order of the Board of Directors
 
   
 
  /s/ James W. McRae
 
   
 
  James W. McRae
 
  Secretary
 
  November 15, 2005
IMPORTANT
Whether you expect to attend the meeting or not, please vote, sign, date, and return the enclosed proxy in the enclosed self-addressed envelope as promptly as possible. If you attend the meeting, you may vote your shares in person, even though you have previously signed and returned your proxy.

 


 

McRAE INDUSTRIES, INC.
400 North Main Street
Mount Gilead, North Carolina 27306
PROXY STATEMENT
General
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of proxies to be used at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of McRae Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), to be held at 3:00 p.m., local time, on December 15, 2005 at its principal office, 400 North Main Street, Mount Gilead, North Carolina. This Proxy Statement and accompanying proxy are being sent to the stockholders of the Company on or about November 15, 2005.
The cost of preparing, assembling and mailing the proxy material and of reimbursing brokers, nominees, and fiduciaries for the out-of-pocket and clerical expenses of transmitting copies of the proxy material to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by such persons will be borne by the Company. The Company does not intend to solicit proxies otherwise than by use of the mail, but certain officers and regular employees of the Company or its subsidiaries, without additional compensation, may use their personal efforts, by telephone or otherwise, to obtain proxies.
A stockholder signing and returning a proxy on the enclosed form has the power to revoke it at any time before the shares subject to it are voted by filing with the Secretary of the Company an instrument revoking it, by filing a duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the Secretary of the Company or by attending the meeting and voting in person. If a stockholder specifies how the proxy is to be voted with respect to any of the proposals for which a choice is provided, the proxy will be voted in accordance with such specifications. If a stockholder fails to so specify with respect to such proposals, the proxy will be voted FOR the proposals.
Required Voting and Record Date
Only stockholders of the Class A and Class B Common Stock of record at the close of business on October 28, 2005 are entitled to vote at the meeting. On that date, the Company had outstanding and entitled to vote a total of 2,240,841 shares of Class A Common Stock and 527,658 shares of Class B Common Stock. Each share of Class B Common Stock is freely convertible into a share of Class A Common Stock at the election of the holder.
On November 17, 2005, the Company will hold a Special Stockholder’s Meeting to vote on a proposal to approve a transaction through which stockholders owning less than 200 shares of a class of common stock (Class A or Class B) would have such shares cancelled and converted into the right to receive $14.25 in cash for each such share owned before the transaction. If the transaction is approved by the stockholders at the special meeting, it is anticipated that the transaction will be implemented shortly thereafter. If the transaction is implemented prior to the Annual Meeting, shares that are cashed out in the transaction will not be deemed outstanding shares for the purpose of voting or determining the total number of shares entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

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The Company’s Bylaws provide that where a class vote is required, a quorum consists of the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of a particular class entitled to vote as a class at the meeting, and that where a class vote is not required, a quorum consists of the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of all classes of stock entitled to vote at the meeting (with each share of Class A Common Stock being counted as one tenth of a share and each share of Class B Common Stock being counted as one share). Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum. A broker non-vote occurs when a broker holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the broker does not have discretionary voting power for that particular item and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.
The Bylaws of the Company provide for seven directors, two of whom are elected by the holders of the Class A Common Stock voting as a separate class and five of whom are elected by the holders of the Class B Common Stock voting as a separate class. Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes of the applicable class of Common Stock cast by the holders of shares of such class present and entitled to vote at a meeting. This means that the director nominees that receive the most votes will be elected to fill the open slots. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not counted in the election of directors and only votes “for” or “withheld” affect the outcome of the election. Cumulative voting for directors is not permitted.
With respect to the approval of the Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent auditors and on all other matters (except matters required by law or the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws to be approved by a different vote), the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock vote together as a single class with each share of Class A Common Stock entitled to one-tenth vote and each share of Class B Common Stock entitled to one vote. A vote by the holders of a majority of the shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock present at the meeting, in person or by proxy, voting together as a single class, is required to approve any such matters, including the approval of Grant Thornton LLP as independent auditors to audit the financial statements of the Company.
Director Attendance at Annual Meetings and Communications with Board of Directors
The annual meeting of stockholders provides an opportunity each year for stockholders to ask questions of or otherwise communicate directly with members of the Board of Directors on matters relevant to the Company. As such, each of the Corporation’s directors is requested to attend in person the annual meeting. Each of the Company’s directors, except for Harold W. Smith whose term as director expired at the 2004 annual meeting, attended the Company’s 2004 annual meeting. Additionally, it is the policy of the Company that stockholders may, at any time, communicate with the Company’s Board of Directors or any one director by mailing a written communication to the Board of Directors or any such director(s) c/o the Office of the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office address, which is Post Office Box 1239, 400 North Main Street, Mount Gilead, North Carolina 27306.

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Stockholder Proposals for Next Annual Meeting
To be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy for the 2006 annual meeting of stockholders, a stockholder proposal must be received by the Office of the Secretary of the Company, Post Office Box 1239, 400 North Main Street, Mount Gilead, North Carolina 27306, no later than July 18, 2006. In addition, if the Company receives notice of stockholder proposals after October 1, 2006, then the persons named as proxies in such proxy statement and form of proxy will have discretionary authority to vote on such stockholder proposals.
Principal Stockholders and Holdings of Management
The following table sets forth the equity securities of the Company beneficially owned by the only beneficial owners, known to the Company as of October 28, 2005, of more than five percent of the Company’s $1 par value Class A and Class B Common Stock by the directors and executive officers as a group. Beneficial ownership of equity securities of the Company by individual directors and the Named Executive Officers (as defined below) is disclosed under Election of Directors, below.
                                                 
    Class A Common   Class B Common   Class A and Class B Common
    Stock   Stock   Stock
                    Amount and                   Percent
    Amount and Nature           Nature of   Percent           of
Name and Address of   of Beneficial   Percent Of   Beneficial   of Class   Total   Total
Beneficial Owner   Ownership(1)   Class A   Ownership(1)   B   Votes(2)   Votes
D. Gary McRae
    738,223 (3)(4)(5)     32.9 %(4)     323,711 (6)     61.3 %     397,533       52.9 %
P.O. Box 1239
                                               
Mount Gilead, NC 27306
                                               
 
                                               
James W. McRae
    713,755 (3)(7)(8)     31.9 %(7)     323,711 (6)     61.3 %     395,087       52.6 %
P.O. Box 1239
                                               
Mt. Gilead, NC 27306
                                               
 
                                               
McRae A Investment
    430,734       19.2 %                 43,073       5.7 %
Company, LLC
                                               
400 North Main Street
                                               
Mt. Gilead, NC 27306
                                               
 
                                               
McRae B Investment
    219,000 (9)     9.8 %(9)     323,711       61.3 %     345,611       46.0 %
Company, LLC
                                               
400 North Main Street
                                               
Mt. Gilead, NC 27306
                                               
 
                                               
Branch Banking & Trust Co.
    283,697 (10)(11)     12.7 %(10)     71,967 (11)     13.6 %     100,337       13.3 %
P.O. Box 29542
                                               
Raleigh, NC 27626
                                               
 
                                               
Dimensional Fund Advisors
    113,300 (12)     5.1 %                 11,330       1.5 %
1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th
                                               
Floor
                                               
Santa Monica, CA 90401
                                               
 
                                               
All Directors and Executive
    813,849 (3)(5)(13)     36.3 %(13)     324,211 (6)     61.4 %     405,596       54.0 %
Officers as a group
                                               
(7 persons)
                                               

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(1)   All shares owned directly and with sole voting and investment power except as otherwise noted.
 
(2)   On all matters, except the election of directors and matters required by law to be approved by separate class votes, the holders of Class A shares and the holders of Class B shares vote together as a single class with each Class A share entitled to one-tenth vote and each Class B share entitled to one full vote. In calculating the total votes and percentage of total votes, no effect is given to conversion of Class B shares into Class A shares.
 
(3)   Includes 430,734 Class A shares held by McRae A Investment Company, LLC and 219,000 Class A shares held by McRae B Investment Company, LLC as to which D. Gary McRae and James W. McRae have shared voting and investment power as Managers.
 
(4)   Excludes 323,711 shares issuable upon conversion of 323,711 Class B shares held by McRae B Investment Company, LLC as to which D. Gary McRae and James W. McRae have shared voting and investment power as Managers. Including such shares D. Gary McRae beneficially owns a total of 1,061,934 Class A shares representing 41.4% of the class.
 
(5)   Includes 1,111 shares owned by D. Gary McRae’s wife. Does not include any interest in shares held by the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “ESOP”).
 
(6)   Includes 323,711 Class B shares held by McRae B Investment Company, LLC as to which D. Gary McRae and James W. McRae have shared voting and investment power as Managers.
 
(7)   Excludes 323,711 shares issuable upon conversion of 323,711 Class B shares held by McRae B Investment Company, LLC as to which D. Gary McRae and James W. McRae have shared voting and investment power as Managers. Including such shares James W. McRae beneficially owns a total of 1,037,466 Class A shares representing 40.5% of the class.
 
(8)   Does not include any interest in shares held by the ESOP.
 
(9)   Excludes 323,711 shares issuable upon conversion of 323,711 Class B shares held by McRae B Investment Company, LLC. Including such shares McRae B Investment Company, LLC beneficially owns a total of 542,711 Class A shares representing 21.2% of the class.
 
(10)   Excludes 71,967 shares issuable upon conversion of 71,967 Class B shares held by Branch Banking & Trust Co. (“BB&T”). Including such shares BB&T beneficially owns a total of 355,664 Class A shares representing 15.4% of the class.
 
(11)   These shares represent shares held by BB&T as trustee for the ESOP. BB&T has sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares. Information with respect to BB&T is as of October 26, 2005 and was provided to the Company by BB&T via email on October 27, 2005.
 
(12)   Such information is derived from a Schedule 13G dated February 9, 2005 filed by Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. (“Dimensional”), which has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to such shares. Such shares are owned by certain investment companies, commingled group trusts and accounts with respect to which Dimensional acts as an investment advisor or manager. Dimensional disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares.
 
(13)   Excludes 323,711 shares issuable upon conversion of 323,711 Class B shares held by McRae B Investment Company, LLC as to which D. Gary McRae and James W. McRae have shared voting and investment power as Managers and 500 shares issuable upon conversion of 500 Class B shares owned jointly by Hilton J. Cochran and his wife. Including such shares the Company’s directors and executive officers beneficially own as a group a total of 1,138,060 Class A shares representing 44.4% of the class.

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Election of Directors
The Bylaws of the Company provide for seven directors, two of whom are elected by the holders of the Class A Common Stock voting as a separate class and five of whom are elected by the holders of the Class B Common Stock voting as a separate class. Directors elected at the Annual Meeting will serve, subject to the provisions of the Bylaws, until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. If for any reason any nominee shall not become a candidate for election as a director at the meeting, an event not now anticipated, the enclosed proxy will be voted for such substitute as shall be designated by the Board of Directors.
It is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying Proxy to vote all proxies solicited by the Board of Directors FOR the seven nominees listed below unless authority to vote for the nominees is withheld by a stockholder in such stockholder’s proxy.
The Board of Directors has nominated Brady W. Dickson and Marvin G. Kiser, Sr. for election as directors by the holders of Class A Common Stock. Mr. Dickson and Mr. Kiser were elected to their current terms, which expire at the 2005 Annual Meeting, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on December 16, 2004. Set forth below is additional information about these nominees.
Directors to be Elected by Holders of Class A Common Stock
                                                     
                    Class A Common     Class B Common   Class A and Class B  
                    Stock     Stock   Common Stock  
                    Amount and           Amount and                    
            First   Nature of           Nature of                 Percent  
Name and Principal           Became   Beneficial     Percent of     Beneficial     Percent of   Total   of Total  
Occupation or Employment   Age   Director   Ownership (1)     Class A     Ownership(1)     Class B   Votes(2)   Votes  
Brady W. Dickson
    60       1997     9,960 (3)   (4)   (4)   (4)   996   (4)
     Retired;President,Standard
Packaging and Printing Corp.,
Mount Gilead, North Carolina
(printed packaging manu-
facturer) from 1972 to 1995
                                                   
 
                                                   
Marvin G. Kiser, Sr.
    57       2004                        
     Controller since September
1996; Vice President of
Finance since May 2002;
Treasurer of Robert W.
Chapman & Company from
1988 to 1996
                                                   
 
(1)   All shares owned directly and with sole voting and investment power as of October 28, 2005 except as otherwise noted. Does not include any interest in shares held by the Company’s ESOP.
 
(2)   On all matters, except the election of directors and matters required by law to be approved by separate class votes, the holders of Class A shares and the holders of Class B shares vote together as a single class with each Class A share entitled to one-tenth vote and each Class B share entitled to one full vote. In calculating the total votes and percentage of total votes, no effect is given to conversion of Class B shares into Class A shares.

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(3)   Includes 9,960 shares owned by Mr. Dickson’s wife.
 
(4)   Less than 1%.
The Board of Directors has nominated Hilton J. Cochran, Victor A. Karam, D. Gary McRae, James W. McRae and William H. Swan for election as directors by the holders of Class B Common Stock. Each of the nominees is currently a member of the Board of Directors. Each was elected to his respective term, which expires at the 2005 Annual meeting, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on December 16, 2004. Set forth below is additional information about these nominees.
Directors to be Elected by Holders of Class B Common Stock
                                                             
                    Class A Common   Class B Common   Class A and Class B
                    Stock   Stock   Common Stock
                    Amount and           Amount and                    
            First   Nature of           Nature of                   Percent
Name and Principal           Became   Beneficial   Percent of   Beneficial   Percent of   Total   of Total
Occupation or Employment   Age   Director   Ownership(1)   Class A   Ownership(1)   Class B   Votes(2)   Votes
Hilton J. Cochran
    74       1985     400 (3)   (5) 500 (4)   (5)   540       (5)
     Retired; Part-Owner of
J. Morris & Associates,
Inc., Troy, North Carolina
(general insurance agency)
since 1952; President 1952–98
                                                           
 
                                                           
Victor A. Karam
    71       1972       312     (5)     (5)   31     (5)
     President-Footwear Division
since 1998; General Manager,
Footwear Division since 1969
                                                           
 
                                                           
D. Gary McRae (6)(7)
    54       1979     738,223 (8)     32.9 %   323,711 (8)     61.3 %   397,533       52.9 %
     President of the Company since
1997, Treasurer since 1991 and
Vice President 1980-1997
                                                           
 
                                                           
James W. McRae(6)
    52       1985     713,755 (8)     31.9 %   323,711 (8)     61.3 %   395,087       52.5 %
     Vice President since 1986;
Secretary since 1991; Plant
Manager Footwear Division
since 1985
                                                           
 
                                                           
William H. Swan
    64       2001     933 (4)   (5)     (5)   93     (5)
     Retired; President of Bob Swan
Company, Inc., Mount Gilead,
North Carolina (timber dealers
and foresters) 1965-2002
                                                           
 
(1)   All shares owned directly and with sole voting and investment power as of October 28, 2005 except as otherwise noted. Does not include any interest in shares held by the Company’s ESOP.

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(2)   On all matters, except the election of directors and matters required by law to be approved by separate class votes, the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock vote together as a single class with each share of Class A Common Stock entitled to one-tenth vote and each share of Class B Common Stock entitled to one full vote. In calculating the total votes and percentage of total votes, no effect is given to conversion of Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock.
 
(3)   Excludes 500 shares issuable upon conversion of 500 shares of Class B Common Stock which are owned jointly with Mr. Cochran’s wife. Including such shares Mr. Cochran beneficially owns a total of 900 shares of Class A Common Stock representing less than 1% of the class.
 
(4)   Owned jointly with his wife.
 
(5)   Less than 1%.
 
(6)   D. Gary McRae and James W. McRae are brothers.
 
(7)   D. Gary McRae is a director of Fidelity Bank, Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina.
 
(8)   Information as to beneficial ownership of these shares is provided in the table of principal stockholders on page 4.
Director Compensation
Outside directors are paid $1,250 for attending regularly scheduled quarterly meetings of the Board of Directors and $250 for telephone meetings. Directors who are also officers or employees of the Company are paid $500 for attending such meetings. In addition, directors are paid $500 for attending committee meetings, and Brady W. Dickson receives $1,000 per quarter for his service as Chairman of the Audit Committee.
Executive Officers
D. Gary McRae, James W. McRae, Victor A. Karam, and Marvin G. Kiser, Sr. are executive officers as well as directors. The executive officers of the Company serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. Biographical information on the executive officers, including offices held and their respective ages can be found in the tables under the Election of Directors section above.
The Board of Directors and its Committees
The Board of Directors held eight meetings during the past year. Each director attended more than 75% of the aggregate total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and the total number of meetings of any Committee on which he served. The full Board of Directors has determined that William H. Swan, Brady W. Dickson and Hilton J. Cochran are independent under applicable Securities Exchange Commission regulations and the listing standards of the American Stock Exchange. The Board of Directors has an audit committee and a compensation committee but no nominating committee. The Board of Directors is not required to have a nominating committee because the Company qualifies as a “controlled company,” under the applicable rules of the American Stock Exchange. The Company currently qualifies as a controlled company because more than 50% of the Company’s voting power, and the power to elect five of the Company’s seven directors, is controlled by a group comprised of D. Gary McRae, James W. McRae, McRae A Investment Company, LLC and McRae B Investment Company, LLC (the “McRae Group”). The Board of Directors has determined that since the McRae Group controls

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the selection of five of the Company’s seven directors it is appropriate that the Company not have a nominating committee. The entire Board of Directors participates in the consideration of director nominees.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is composed of William H. Swan, Brady W. Dickson and Hilton J. Cochran, each of whom the Board of Directors has determined is independent under applicable Securities Exchange Commission regulations and the listing standards of the American Stock Exchange. The Board of Directors has also determined that Mr. Dickson is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in regulations adopted by the Securities Exchange Commission. The Audit Committee is responsible for appointing, retaining and terminating the independent auditors for the Company, reviewing the Company’s financial statements, internal financial controls, and accounting policies, reviewing the independent auditor’s audit plan and report, and reviewing and approving services to be performed by the Company’s independent auditors. The Audit Committee met eight times during the last fiscal year. The Audit Committee currently operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors on October 26, 2004, a copy of which was attached to the proxy statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting.
Audit Committee Report
In connection with its financial oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee has:
  1.   Reviewed and discussed with management the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended July 30, 2005.
 
  2.   Discussed with Grant Thornton LLP, the Company’s independent auditors, the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communications with Audit Committees, as amended.
 
  3.   Received the written disclosures and the letter from Grant Thornton LLP required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees, and has discussed with Grant Thornton LLP their independence.
 
  4.   Considered whether the provision of non-audit services by Grant Thornton LLP is compatible with maintaining auditor independence.
Based on these actions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors of the Company that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 30, 2005.
This report has been provided by the Audit Committee:
Brady W. Dickson—Chairman
William H. Swan
Hilton J. Cochran

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Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee is composed of William H. Swan, Brady W. Dickson and Hilton J. Cochran. It is responsible for administering and selecting key employees to whom stock options and stock appreciation rights will be awarded under the Company’s Incentive Equity Plan, for reviewing any transactions or arrangements between the Company and any of its affiliates, and for recommending executive compensation to the Board of Directors. D. Gary McRae typically participates in meetings of the Compensation Committee for purposes of consulting with the committee regarding compensation decisions for Company personnel other than himself, but does not vote as a member of the committee. The committee met two times during the fiscal year.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During the last fiscal year, no executive officer of the Company served as a director or member of the compensation committee (or committee performing similar functions) of any other entity of which an executive officer of that other entity served on the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee of the Company.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
The Company leases administrative and sales office space in Clarksville, Tennessee for the western boot business from Ken O. Moore, who is the President of Dan Post Boot Company. The annual rental is $52,800 per year, which is comparable to other similar properties in that area.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s directors and executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of the Company’s Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of such Class A and Class B Common Stock. Executive officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required to furnish the Company with copies of all such reports they file. To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company and written representations that no other reports were required, during the fiscal year ended July 30, 2005, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its executive officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners were complied with except that McRae B Investment Company did not timely file one Form 4 covering one transaction.
Codes of Ethics
The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics for directors and Executive Officers and a Code of Ethics for Non-executive Employees (the “Codes of Ethics”). Upon written request, the Company will furnish without charge copies of the Codes of Ethics. Such request should be submitted to Office of the Secretary, McRae Industries, Inc., P.O. Box 1239, Mount Gilead, North Carolina 27306.

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Executive Compensation
The table below shows the compensation paid or accrued by the Company, for the three fiscal years ended July 30, 2005 to or for the account of D. Gary McRae, the only person who has served as Chief Executive Officer during the fiscal year, and James W. McRae, Victor A. Karam, and Marvin G. Kiser, Sr. (collectively, the “Named Executive Officers”). At fiscal year-end, no Named Executive Officer held any unexercised options or stock appreciation rights, nor was any restricted stock held by or awarded to any Named Executive Officer.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
                                                                 
                                    Long-term  
            Annual Compensation     Compensation  
                            Other     Awards     Payouts        
                            Annual     Restricted                    
Name and                           Compen-     Stock     Options/     LTIP     All Other  
Principal   Fiscal     Salary     Bonus     sation     Award(s)     SARs     payouts     Compensation  
Position   Year     ($)     ($)     ($)(1)     ($)     (#)     ($)     ($)(2)  
D. Gary McRae
    2005       204,903       52,003                               5,082  
President and
    2004       196,524       25,000                               6,276  
Treasurer
    2003       188,939       53,902                               3,576  
 
                                                               
Victor A. Karam
    2005       179,772       41,411                               6,551  
President—
    2004       174,319       41,130                               6,073  
Footwear
    2003       165,818       37,882                               4,170  
 
                                                               
James W. McRae
    2005       129,068       29,568                               4,678  
Vice President
    2004       123,642       29,369                               4,668  
and Secretary
    2003       119,449       28,477                               2,184  
 
                                                               
Marvin G. Kiser
                                                               
Vice President of
    2005       114,060       25,548                               3,849  
Finance and
    2004       105,706       17,000                               3,066  
Controller
    2003       91,596       19,387                               1,083  
 
(1)   No Named Executive Officer received personal benefits during the listed years in excess of 10% of his respective annual salary and bonus.
 
(2)   Company match on 401(k) contributions.

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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
             
            Number of securities
            remaining available for
            future issuance under
    Number of Securities to   Weighted-average   equity compensation
    be issued upon exercise   exercise price of   plans (excluding
    of outstanding options,   outstanding options,   securities reflected in
Plan Category   warrants and rights   warrants and rights   first column)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
    N/A   100,000(1)
 
           
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
    N/A  
 
           
Total:
    N/A   100,000(1)
 
(1)   Represents shares of Class A Common Stock available for issuance under the Company’s Incentive Equity Plan.
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee, whose members are named above make recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning the Company’s compensation arrangements. In connection with such arrangements, William H. Swan, Brady W. Dickson and Hilton J. Cochran have provided the following report:
The Company’s overall compensation philosophy is as follows:
    Attract and retain quality talent, which is critical to both the short-term and long-term success of this Company;
 
    Reinforce strategic performance objectives through the use of annual and long-term incentive compensation programs; and
 
    Create a mutuality of interest between executive officers and stockholders through compensation structures that share the rewards and risks of strategic decision making.
Base Compensation - The Company’s approach to base compensation is to offer competitive salaries in comparison to market practices. The 2005 aggregate amount expended for the base salaries of the Named Executive Officers other than the President increased an average of 4.8 percent in 2005.
The Committee, consisting of three outside directors, annually examine market compensation levels and trends observed in the labor market. For its purposes, the Committee has defined the labor market as the pool of executives who are currently employed in similar positions in companies with similar sales and market capitalization. Market information is used as a frame of reference for annual salary adjustments and starting salaries.

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The Committee makes salary decisions in the annual review process with input from the President. This annual review considers the decision-making responsibilities of each position and the experience, work performance, and team-building skills of position incumbents. The Committee views work performance as the single most important measurement factor and places most of the weight in this area. The remaining measurement factors, decision-making responsibilities and team-building skills, are weighted equally.
Incentive Compensation - The Compensation Committee annually make recommendations to the Board of Directors whether to pay and the amount of cash incentive bonuses. For executive officers other than the President, consideration is given to overall corporate performance and performance of the specific areas of the Company under a participant’s direct control. This balance supports the accomplishment of overall objectives and rewards individual contributions by our executive officers. Individual annual bonus level targets are consistent with market practices for positions with comparable decision-making responsibilities. Target performance levels are based upon historic patterns of Company performance and strategic objectives. All annual bonus-level performance targets are set above normal expectations of performance. Such performance measure threshold ensures that bonuses are not paid for substandard accomplishments. Total bonuses paid in fiscal 2005 to the Named Executive Officers other than the President were 22.8% percent of their total salaries paid for fiscal 2005 compared to 18.9 percent in 2004.
Long-term incentives provide another key element of executive compensation. Previously, the Company has granted non-qualified options from time to time under the Company’s 1985 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan. To expand the Company’s flexibility to offer long-term incentives to its key employees, the Stockholders and the Board of Directors have adopted the Incentive Equity Plan, which replaced the Company’s 1985 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan. No awards were made under the Incentive Equity Plan during 2005.
President Compensation - As indicated in the discussion above, the Company’s total compensation program is based upon market conditions and business performance. A portion of an executive’s yearly compensation is dependent upon the Company’s performance for the fiscal year based upon the executive’s level of responsibility and authority. In fiscal 2005, D. Gary McRae received a bonus equal to 26.5 percent of his total salary paid for fiscal 2005 (and his base salary rate was increased 4.3 percent over 2004).
             
 
  Hilton J. Cochran   William H. Swan    
 
  Brady W. Dickson        

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Stock Performance Graph
The accompanying graph and table set forth the cumulative total stockholder return to the Company’s stockholders during the five year period ended July 30, 2005, for each of the Company’s Class A and Class B Common Stock, as well as an overall stock market index (AMEX Index) and the Dow Jones Industry Group Index for each of footwear and industrial technology, the principal industry segments in which the Company is actively involved. The graph and table assume an investment of $100 on July 29, 2000 in each of the stocks and/or index. Each indices assumes that all dividends were reinvested.
(STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH)
                                                 
Equity/Index   2000   2001   2002   2003   2004   2005
McRae Class A Common Stock
    100       84       152       141       198       266  
McRae Class B Common Stock
    100       78       142       136       188       252  
AMEX Index
    100       95       89       100       131       170  
Dow Jones Industrial Group Index – Industrial Technology
    100       36       24       31       37       41  
Dow Jones Industrial Group Index – Footwear
    100       115       103       122       165       198  

14


 

Ratification of Appointment of Independent Certified Public Accountants
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company has appointed Grant Thornton LLP as independent certified public accountants for the 2006 fiscal year and recommends to the stockholders that they vote FOR ratification of that appointment. The Audit Committee will reconsider the selection of independent certified public accountants if the stockholders do not ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP. A representative of Grant Thornton LLP is expected to attend the annual meeting with the opportunity to make a statement if the representative desires to do so, and is expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Audit and Non-Audit Fees.
The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by Grant Thornton LLP for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for the years ended July 30, 2005 and July 31, 2004 and fees billed for other services rendered by Grant Thornton LLP during those periods.
                 
    2005   2004
     
Audit Fees
  $ 316,989     $ 179,310  
Audit-Related Fees
  $     $  
Tax Fees (1)
  $ 83,459     $ 154,585  
All Other Fees(2)
  $ 7,600     $  
 
  $ 408,048     $ 333,895  
 
(1)   Tax services provided by Grant Thornton LLP principally included review of and consultation regarding the Company’s federal, state and foreign tax returns and tax planning.
 
(2)   Other fees include fees for review of the financial information contained in the proxy statement for the proposed going-private transaction.
The Audit Committee’s current practice is to pre-approve all audit services and all non-audit services to be provided to the Company by it’s independent auditor.
Auditor Independence. The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of services by Grant Thornton LLP other than the audit of the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending July 30, 2005 and the review of the financial statements for the first three quarters of the fiscal year ending July 30, 2005 is compatible with maintaining auditor independence. Grant Thornton LLP has advised the Company that it has no direct or indirect financial interest in the Company.
The Board of Directors of the Company recommends a vote FOR ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as its independent certified public accountants to audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending July 29, 2006, and proxies solicited by the Board of Directors will be so voted unless stockholders specify otherwise.
Other Matters
The Board of Directors is not aware of any other matters which may be presented for action at the meeting, but if other matters do properly come before the meeting, it is intended that shares represented

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by proxies in the accompanying form will be voted in accordance with the best judgment of the person or persons voting the proxy.
Annual Report Filed with Securities and Exchange Commission
Upon written request of a stockholder, the Company will furnish without charge a copy of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 30, 2005 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 28, 2005. Such request should be submitted to the Office of the Secretary, McRae Industries, Inc., P.O. Box 1239, Mount Gilead, North Carolina 27306.

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FOR USE BY CLASS A STOCKHOLDERS
McRAE INDUSTRIES, INC.
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD
DECEMBER 15, 2005
The undersigned hereby appoints D. Gary McRae and James W. McRae and each or either of them, with full power of substitution, with all the powers which the undersigned would possess if personally present, to vote as designated below, all shares of the $1 par value Class A Common Stock of the undersigned in McRae Industries, Inc. at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 3:00 p.m. on the 15th day of December, 2005, and at any adjournment thereof.
Unless otherwise specified, this proxy will be voted FOR the election of all nominees for Director and FOR ratification of the selection of Grant Thornton LLP as independent accountants. The Board of Directors recommends voting FOR all items.
1.   Election of Directors: Nominees are Brady W. Dickson and Marvin G. Kiser, Sr.
 
o   FOR all listed nominees (except do not vote for nominee(s) whose name(s) I have written below)
 
o   WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all listed nominees
2.   Ratification of appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as accountants.
     FOR
o
  AGAINST
o
  ABSTAIN
o
                   
The proxies are authorized to vote in their discretion upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Receipt of Notice of Annual Meeting and accompanying Proxy Statement is hereby acknowledged.
Please date, sign exactly as printed and return promptly in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.

      
         
Date:       , 2005
         
 
       
 
 
(When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, etc. give title as such. If a joint account, each joint owner should sign personally.)


 


 

FOR USE BY CLASS B STOCKHOLDERS
McRAE INDUSTRIES, INC.
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD
DECEMBER 15, 2005
The undersigned hereby appoints D. Gary McRae and James W. McRae and each or either of them, with full power of substitution, with all the powers which the undersigned would possess if personally present, to vote as designated below, all shares of the $1 par value Class B Common Stock of the undersigned in McRae Industries, Inc. at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 3:00 p.m. on the 15th day of December, 2005, and at any adjournment thereof.
Unless otherwise specified, this proxy will be voted FOR the election of all nominees for Director and FOR ratification of the selection of Grant Thornton LLP as independent accountants. The Board of Directors recommends voting FOR all items.
1.   Election of Directors: Nominees are William H. Swan, Hilton J. Cochran, Victor A. Karam, D. Gary McRae and James W. McRae.
 
o   FOR all listed nominees (except do not vote for nominee(s) whose name(s) I have written below)
 
o   WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all listed nominees
 
2.   Ratification of appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as accountants.
     FOR
o
  AGAINST
o
  ABSTAIN
o
                   
The proxies are authorized to vote in their discretion upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Receipt of Notice of Annual Meeting and accompanying Proxy Statement is hereby acknowledged.
Please date, sign exactly as printed and return promptly in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.

      
         
Date:       , 2005
         
 
       
 
 
(When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, etc. give title as such. If a joint account, each joint owner should sign personally.)