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DUCOMMUN INC /DE/ Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2002

Mar 15, 2002

31979_psi_2002-03-15_c695455d-341c-4b46-b2af-02c6b9b8bf1f.zip

Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement

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DEF 14A 1 a79367def14a.htm DEF 14A Definitive Proxy Statement PAGEBREAK

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

(AMENDMENT NO.___)

Filed by the Registrant [X]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:

[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to sec. 240.14a-11(c) or sec. 240.14a-12

DUCOMMUN INCORPORATED

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

N/A

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

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[ ] Fee not required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the
amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined):
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the
filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date Filed:

PAGEBREAK

DUCOMMUN INCORPORATED

111 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 900

Long Beach, California 90802

(562) 624-0800

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

May 1, 2002

To the Shareholders of

Ducommun Incorporated:

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Ducommun Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), will be held at the Renaissance Long Beach Hotel, 111 East Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, California, on Wednesday, May 1, 2002, at the hour of 9:00 o’clock A.M. for the following purposes:

| 1. To elect two directors to serve for
three-year terms ending in 2005. |
| --- |
| 2. To transact any other business that may
properly be brought before the meeting or any adjournments or
postponements thereof. |

March 11, 2002 has been established 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 meeting in person.

To insure your representation at the meeting, please complete and mail your Proxy Card in the return envelope provided, as soon as possible. This will not prevent you from voting in person, should you so desire, but will help to secure a quorum and will avoid added solicitation costs.

By Order of the Board of Directors
James S. Heiser
Secretary

Long Beach, California

March 20, 2002

PAGEBREAK

DUCOMMUN INCORPORATED

111 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 900

Long Beach, California 90802

(562) 624-0800

link1 "PROXY STATEMENT"

PROXY STATEMENT

This Proxy Statement is being mailed on or about March 20, 2002 to shareholders of Ducommun Incorporated (the “Corporation”) who are such of record on March 11, 2002, in connection with the solicitation of proxies for use at the Corporation’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 9:00 o’clock A.M. on May 1, 2002, or at any adjournments or postponements thereof (the “Annual Meeting”), for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting. The accompanying proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. Solicitation will be made by mail, interview, telephone and telegraph. D. F. King & Co., Inc. has been retained to assist in the solicitation of proxies for which it will be paid a fee of $4,500 plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. Brokers, nominees, banks and other custodians will be reimbursed for their costs incurred in forwarding solicitation material to beneficial owners. All expenses incident to the proxy solicitation will be paid by the Corporation.

Proxies in the accompanying form will be voted in accordance with the instructions given therein. If no instructions are given, the proxies will be voted for the election as directors of the management nominees, and in favor of each of the proposals described herein. Any shareholder may revoke his proxy at any time prior to its use by filing with the Secretary of the Corporation a written notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or by voting in person at the Annual Meeting.

The close of business on March 11, 2002 has been fixed as the record date (the “Record Date”) for the determination of holders of shares of Common Stock entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. At the close of business on the Record Date, the Corporation had outstanding 9,702,244 shares (excluding treasury shares) of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”). In the election of directors, each holder of Common Stock will be entitled to a number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of shares held. The votes so determined may be cast for one candidate or distributed among one or more candidates. Votes may not be cast, however, for a greater number of candidates than the number of nominees named herein. On all other matters to come before the Annual Meeting, each holder of Common Stock will be entitled to one vote for each share owned.

A majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock will constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum has been obtained. In the election of directors, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted. On all other matters, abstentions will be counted, but broker non-votes will not be counted, for purposes of determining whether a proposal has been approved.

In the election of directors, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be elected to fill the vacancies on the Board of Directors.

The Corporation’s 2001 Annual Report to Shareholders is being mailed to shareholders with this Proxy Statement.

1 PAGEBREAK

link1 "1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS"

1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Two directors (out of a total of eight) are to be elected at the forthcoming Annual Meeting to serve for three-year terms expiring at the Annual Meeting in 2005 and thereafter until their successors are elected and qualified. The nominees for such positions are Robert C. Ducommun and Thomas P. Mullaney. In the absence of a contrary direction, proxies in the accompanying form will be voted for the election of the foregoing nominees. Management does not contemplate that any of the nominees will be unable to serve as directors, but if that should occur the persons designated in the proxies will cast votes for other persons in accordance with their best judgment. In the event that any person other than the nominees named herein should be nominated for election as a director, the proxy holders may vote for less than all of the nominees and in their discretion may cumulate votes. Should any of the directors whose terms continue past the 2002 Annual Meeting cease to serve as directors prior to the Annual Meeting, the authorized number of directors will be reduced accordingly. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR MESSRS. DUCOMMUN AND MULLANEY.

The following information is furnished as of March 11, 2002, with respect to each of the two persons who are nominees for election to the Board of Directors, as well as for the other six directors of the Corporation whose terms of office will continue after the 2002 Annual Meeting.

Name, Principal Occupation and Other Directorships Age Director — Since Term — Expires
Norman A. Barkeley 72 1987 2004
Chairman Emeritus of the Board of the Corporation
Joseph C. Berenato 55 1997 2003
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer
and President of the Corporation; Director, SMALLCAP World Fund;
Trustee, New Economy Fund of the Capital Research &
Management Company
H. Frederick Christie 68 1985 2004
Consultant; Retired President and Chief Executive
Officer, The Mission Group (subsidiary of SCEcorp); Director,
Valero, L.P., AECOM Technology Corp., IHOP Corp., Southwest
Water Company, Capital Income Builder, Inc., SMALLCAP World
Fund, AMCAP Fund, Capital World Growth and Income Fund, Inc.,
and American Mutual Fund, Inc.; Trustee, American Variable
Insurance and New Economy Fund; and Director or Trustee of
twelve fixed income funds of the Capital Research &
Management Company
Eugene P. Conese, Jr. 42 2000 2003
President and Chief Executive Officer, Aero
Capital LLC (private investment firm); Director, World Air
Lease, Inc. and Fast Channel Network, Inc.
Ralph D. Crosby, Jr. 54 2000 2003
Retired President, Integrated Systems Sector of
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Robert C. Ducommun 50 1985 2005
Management Consultant; Director, American Metal
Bearing Company and Inventa Technologies Corporation

2 PAGEBREAK

Name, Principal Occupation and Other Directorships Age Director — Since Term — Expires
Kevin S. Moore 47 1994 2004
President, The Clark Estates, Inc. (private
investment firm); Director, 3D Systems Corporation and
National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum, Inc.
Thomas P. Mullaney 68 1987 2005
General Partner, Matthews, Mullaney & Company
(private investment firm); Director, Breuner’s Home
Furnishings Corporation, Lucas Arts Entertainment Company, Lucas
Digital Ltd. and New Bristol Farms, Inc.

The Board of Directors met six times in 2001. All incumbent directors attended seventy-five percent or more of the meetings of the Board of Directors and Committees of the Board on which they served during 2001. Each of the persons named above was elected by the shareholders at a prior annual meeting. Mr. Mullaney was previously a director of the Corporation in 1984 and 1985.

Directors who are not employees of the Corporation or a subsidiary are paid an annual retainer of $12,500 and receive $1,000 for each Board of Directors meeting, Shareholders meeting or Committee meeting they attend. Under the Directors Deferred Income and Retirement Plan, a director may elect to defer payment of all or part of his fees for service as a director until he retires as a director, at which time the deferred fees will be paid to him with interest. A retiring director will also receive the annual retainer fee in effect at the time of retirement or at the time of payment, whichever is higher, for life or for a period of years equal to his service as a director, whichever is shorter, provided that the director retires after the age of 65, has served as a director for at least five years and is not an employee of the Corporation when he retires (the “retirement benefits”). In 1997, accrual of additional retirement benefits under the Directors Deferred Income and Retirement Plan was terminated, but existing directors remain eligible for retirement benefits accrued to such date. Directors are also eligible to participate in the Corporation’s 1994 Stock Incentive Plan and 2001 Stock Incentive Plan. Directors who are not employees of the Corporation or a subsidiary, following each annual meeting of shareholders, in 2001 were granted stock options to purchase 3,000 shares, and in 2002 will be granted stock options to purchase 3,000 shares, of Common Stock of the Corporation at an exercise price equal to 100% of the closing price of the Corporation’s Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of grant. link1 "SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE"

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), requires the Corporation’s officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of the Corporation’s equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and to furnish copies of such forms to the Corporation. Based solely on a review of the copies of such forms furnished to the Corporation, and on written representations that no Forms 5 were required, the Corporation believes that during its past fiscal year all of its officers, directors and greater than 10% owners complied with the filing requirements of Section 16(a). link1 "COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS"

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Corporation has standing Executive, Audit, Compensation and Nominating Committees. The members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Barkeley, Berenato and Mullaney. The Executive Committee, which met formally once during 2001, performs the same function as the Board of Directors, subject to certain limitations, including limitations on the power to amend or repeal the Certificate of

3 PAGEBREAK

Incorporation or Bylaws, adopt an agreement of merger or consolidation, or recommend to the shareholders the sale, lease or exchange of substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation.

The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Christie, Ducommun and Moore. The Audit Committee, which met formally six times during 2001, reviews the scope of audits, audit procedures and the results of audits with the corporate staff and the independent accountants. The Audit Committee is governed by a charter which it has adopted. The Corporation’s securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are governed by its listing standards. All of the members of the Audit Committee meet the independence standards of Sections 303.01(B)(2) and (3) of the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards.

The members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Barkeley, Crosby, Moore and Mullaney. The Compensation Committee, which met formally four times during 2001, reviews and recommends compensation for officers, grants stock options and administers stock option programs.

The members of the Nominating Committee were Messrs. Berenato, Conese and Ducommun until May 2, 2001, and thereafter were Messrs. Barkeley, Berenato and Conese. The Nominating Committee, which did not formally meet during 2001, reviews and recommends to the Board of Directors the nominees for election as directors of the Corporation at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders or otherwise by the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee may, in its discretion, consider nominees recommended by Shareholders. link1 "SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT"

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The tables below show the name and address of the beneficial owners, amount and nature of beneficial ownership and percentage ownership of persons or groups known by the Corporation to be the beneficial owners of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock as of March 11, 2002. The tables below also show the name, amount and nature of beneficial ownership and percentage ownership of each director and nominee for director, each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table contained in this Proxy Statement, and all directors and executive officers as a group as of March 11, 2002. Unless otherwise indicated, such shareholders have sole voting and investment power (or share such power with their spouse) with respect to the shares set forth in the tables. The Corporation knows of no contractual arrangements which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of the Corporation.

For the purposes of the tables, beneficial ownership of shares has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the SEC, under which a person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of securities if he or she has or shares voting or investment power with respect to such securities or has the right to acquire ownership thereof within 60 days. Accordingly, the amounts shown in the tables do not purport to represent beneficial ownership for any purpose other than compliance with SEC reporting requirements.

4 PAGEBREAK

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

Name and Address Number of Percentage
of Shareholders Shares of Class
Robert C. Ducommun 835,366(1) 8.6 %
1155 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10128
The Clark Estates, Inc. 1,578,428(2) 16.3 %
One Rockefeller Plaza, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10020
Kevin S. Moore 1,591,928(2) 16.4 %
One Rockefeller Plaza, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10020
Neuberger & Berman, LLC 543,375(3) 5.6 %
605 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10158
Royce & Associates, Inc. 1,181,000(4) 12.2 %
1414 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019

| (1) | The number of shares includes (i) 75,148
shares held by a foundation of which Mr. Ducommun is an
officer, (ii) 238,818 shares as to which Mr. Ducommun
has been granted a proxy to exercise voting power by his sister,
Electra D. de Peyster, (iii) 2,900 shares owned
by Mr. Ducommun’s wife and step-daughters and 3,000
shares owned by his nephews, as to which he disclaims any
beneficial interest, (iv) 1,000 shares held in an IRA for
the benefit of himself, and (v) 13,500 shares issuable upon
exercise of stock options. Mr. Ducommun has sole voting and
sole investment power as to 515,500 shares, shared voting power
as to 238,818 shares and shared investment power as to 81,048
shares. |
| --- | --- |
| (2) | The information is based on a Schedule 13D
filed with the SEC dated July 29, 1992, an amendment to
Schedule 13D filed with the SEC dated April 5, 2000,
and other information provided by The Clark Estates, Inc. The
Clark Estates, Inc. provides administrative and investment
services to a number of Clark family accounts which beneficially
own an aggregate of 1,578,428 shares, including The Clark
Foundation which owns 586,053 shares. Kevin S. Moore,
President of The Clark Estates, Inc., has been granted powers of
attorney to exercise voting and investment power as to 1,578,428
shares, as to which he disclaims any beneficial interest. The
Clark Estates, Inc. and Mr. Moore have shared voting and
investment power as to 1,578,428 shares. Mr. Moore’s
shares include 13,500 shares issuable upon exercise of stock
options. |
| (3) | The information is based on a Schedule 13G
filed with the SEC dated February 11, 2002. Neuberger &
Berman, LLC has sole voting power as to 263,875 shares, shared
voting power as to 270,950 shares, and shared investment power
as to 543,375 shares. |
| (4) | The information is based on a Schedule 13G
filed with the SEC dated February 7, 2002. |

5 PAGEBREAK

Security Ownership of Management

Name Number — of Shares(1) of Class
Norman A. Barkeley 69,827 *
Joseph C. Berenato 203,188 2.1 %
H. Frederick Christie 18,000 *
Eugene P. Conese, Jr. 11,000 *
Ralph D. Crosby, Jr. 6,000 *
Robert C. Ducommun 835,366 (2) 8.6 %
Kevin S. Moore 1,591,928 (3) 16.4 %
Thomas P. Mullaney 15,000 *
Robert A. Borlet 60,475 *
Paul L. Graham 11,500 *
Robert B. Hahn 38,892 *
James S. Heiser 31,876 *
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group
(17 persons) 2,941,198 29.4 %
  • Less than one percent.

| (1) | The number of shares includes the following
shares that may be purchased within 60 days after
March 11, 2002 by exercise of outstanding stock options:
16,500 by Mr. Barkeley, 137,500 by Mr. Berenato,
15,999 by Mr. Borlet, 11,500 by Mr. Graham, 19,250 by
Mr. Hahn, 21,250 by Mr. Heiser, 13,500 by each of
Messrs. Christie, Ducommun, Moore and Mullaney, 6,000 by
each of Messrs. Conese and Crosby, and 315,986 by all
directors and executive officers as a group. The number of
shares for Mr. Berenato includes 9,750 held in an IRA for
the benefit of himself, 11,250 held in trust for the benefit of
his children, and 425 held in an IRA for the benefit of his wife. |
| --- | --- |
| (2) | See the information set forth in Note 1 to
the table under “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners.” |
| (3) | See the information set forth in Note 2 to
the table under “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners.” |

6 PAGEBREAK

link1 "COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS"

COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Summary Compensation Table

The following table discloses compensation received by the Corporation’s chief executive officer and the other four most highly-paid executive officers of the Corporation (including subsidiary presidents) for the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2001. Columns have been omitted from the table when there has been no compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to any of the named executive officers required to be reported in that column in any fiscal year covered by the table. In the following tables, the number of shares underlying stock options and the exercise price per share for stock options have been adjusted to reflect the 3-for-2 stock split in June 1998.

Long-Term
Annual Compensation Compensation
Stock Option All Other
Name and Principal Position Year Salary($) Bonus($) Awards Compensation(1)
Joseph C. Berenato 2001 $ 350,012 $ 210,000 60,000 $ 3,400
Chairman of the Board, 2000 350,012 0 15,000 3,400
President and Chief Executive Officer 1999 350,012 100,000 50,000 6,544
Robert A. Borlet 2001 185,000 40,000 15,000 3,400
Vice President, Manufacturing Operations 2000 178,942 0 1,000 3,400
1999 179,384 0 4,000 3,200
Paul L. Graham 2001 176,712 45,000 26,000 3,400
President, Ducommun 2000 178,365 65,000 2,000 3,400
Technologies, Inc.(2) 1999 66,634 30,000 18,000 458
Robert B. Hahn 2001 196,000 120,000 20,000 3,400
President, MechTronics of Arizona
Corp. 2000 188,185 0 4,000 3,400
1999 181,458 65,000 8,000 3,200
James S. Heiser 2001 210,115 135,000 30,000 3,400
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, 2000 191,350 0 4,000 3,400
General Counsel, Secretary and Treasurer 1999 185,000 70,000 10,000 12,958

| (1) | This column includes the Corporation’s
matching contributions under its 401(k) plan. This column also
includes above-market interest earned on deferred compensation
for Messrs. Berenato and Heiser of $3,344 and $9,758,
respectively, in 1999. |
| --- | --- |
| (2) | Mr. Graham was employed by a subsidiary of
the Corporation only for a part of 1999. |

7 PAGEBREAK

Stock Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year

Potential Realizable
Individual Grants Value at Assumed
Annual Rates of Stock
Percent of Total Price Appreciation for
Number of Options Granted to Exercise or Option Term(3)
Securities Underlying Employees in Base Price Expiration
Name Options Granted(1) Fiscal Year ($/Sh)(2) Date 5% 10%
Joseph C. Berenato 50,000 12.6 % $ 13.20 8/01/08 $ 268,686 $ 626,153
10,000 2.5 % 13.00 1/23/08 52,923 123,333
Robert A. Borlet 15,000 3.8 % 13.20 8/01/08 80,606 187,846
Paul L. Graham 20,000 5.0 % 13.20 8/01/08 107,474 250,461
6,000 1.5 % 13.00 1/23/08 31,754 74,000
Robert B. Hahn 20,000 5.0 % 13.20 8/01/08 107,474 250,461
James S. Heiser 25,000 6.3 % 13.20 8/01/08 134,343 313,077
5,000 1.3 % 13.00 1/23/08 26,461 61,667

| (1) | The stock options granted to the named executive
officers become exercisable in increments of 25% of the number
of shares granted on the anniversary date of the date of grant
and have a term of seven years. However, the stock options
become fully exercisable immediately in the event of a change of
control of the Corporation. A change of control of the
Corporation is defined in the stock option agreements to mean a
change in control of a nature that would be required to be
reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of
Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act. Such a
change in control is deemed conclusively to have occurred in the
event of certain tender offers, mergers or consolidations, the
sale, lease, exchange or transfer of substantially all of the
assets of the Corporation, the acquisition by a person or group
of 25% (or in the case of The Clark Estates, Inc., 30%) or more
of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation, the
approval by the shareholders of a plan of liquidation or
dissolution of the Corporation, or certain changes in the
members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation. |
| --- | --- |
| (2) | The exercise price may be paid by delivery of
already owned shares. |
| (3) | These amounts represent certain assumed rates of
annual appreciation specified in the regulations adopted by the
SEC and, therefore, are not intended to forecast future price
performance of the Corporation’s Common Stock. |

Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option Values

The following table provides information on stock option exercises in 2001 by the named executive officers and the value of such executive officers’ unexercised stock options at December 31, 2001.

Number of
Securities Underlying Value of Unexercised
Unexercised Options In-the-Money Options
at Fiscal Year-End(#) at Fiscal Year-End($)
Shares Acquired Value
Name on Exercise(#) Realized($) Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
Joseph C. Berenato 39,000 $ 231,531 131,875 105,625 $ 462,033 $ 5,344
Robert A. Borlet 0 0 12,124 20,375 17,644 356
Paul L. Graham 0 0 9,500 36,500 238 713
Robert B. Hahn 12,000 42,320 13,437 29,813 475 1,425
James S. Heiser 11,250 142,726 13,875 40,625 475 1,425

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Key Executive Severance Agreements

Messrs. Berenato, Borlet, Graham, Hahn and Heiser are parties to key executive severance agreements entered with the Corporation. The key executive severance agreements provide that if the employment of an executive officer is terminated without cause (as defined in the agreements), except in the event of disability or retirement, he shall be entitled to receive the following: (i) if the employment of the executive is terminated within two years following a change in control of the Corporation, then the executive shall be entitled to receive payment of his full base salary for a period of two years, payment of the amount of any bonus for a past fiscal year which has not yet been awarded or paid, and continuation of benefits for a period of two years, or (ii) if the employment of the executive is terminated other than within two years following a change in control of the Corporation, then the executive shall be entitled to receive payment of his full base salary for a period of one year, payment of the amount of any bonus for a past fiscal year which has not yet been awarded or paid, and continuation of benefits for a period of one year. A change in control of the Corporation is defined in the key executive severance agreements to mean a change in control of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act. Such a change in control is deemed conclusively to have occurred in the event of certain tender offers, mergers or consolidations, the sale, lease, exchange or transfer of substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, the acquisition by a person or group of 25% (or in the case of The Clark Estates, Inc., 30%) or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation, the approval by the shareholders of a plan of liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation, or certain changes in the members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation. In the event of a change in the executive’s position or duties, a reduction in the executive’s base salary as increased from time to time, a removal from eligibility to participate in the Corporation’s bonus plan and other events as described in the agreements, then the executive shall have the right to treat such event as a termination of his employment by the Corporation without cause and to receive the payments and benefits described above. link1 "COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION"

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Decisions relating to compensation of the Corporation’s executive officers generally are made by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Each member of the Compensation Committee is a nonemployee director of the Corporation.

Compensation Policies Applicable to Executive Officers

The Compensation Committee’s executive compensation policies are designed to provide competitive levels of compensation that relate pay to the achievement of the Corporation’s financial goals, recognize individual initiative and performance, and assist the Corporation in attracting and retaining qualified executives. Overall compensation of executive officers is set at levels that the Compensation Committee believes to be competitive with other companies of similar size in the Los Angeles area.

In addition, executive officer compensation reflects the importance to the Corporation of achieving growth in sales, net income and cash flow. As a result, executive officer compensation emphasizes cash compensation consisting of a base salary and an annual bonus, and long-term noncash stock option awards. The Corporation generally does not provide any long-term cash incentive plans, pension, profit-sharing or other retirement benefits, or many of the executive perquisites typically provided by other companies to their senior executives.

9 PAGEBREAK

Annual bonuses are awarded on a discretionary basis by the Compensation Committee with consideration given to the Corporation achieving specified levels of sales, net income, return on assets and cash flow and on the individual performance of executive officers. The Corporation’s subsidiary presidents are also measured based upon the financial performance of their operating units. Annual bonuses are targeted at 30% — 50% of base salary depending on the particular executive officer involved, with an upper range of annual bonus eligibility of twice the targeted amount.

Bonuses were awarded for 2001 to the executive officers of the Corporation, including the Chief Executive Officer, in amounts generally in excess of the targeted levels because the Corporation exceeded the targeted financial performance measures in 2001, including completing two acquisitions. The bonuses awarded to the two subsidiary presidents (who are considered executive officers of the Corporation for purposes of this Proxy Statement) also considered the financial performance of their operating units in 2001.

Stock option awards are made periodically to provide management with an ownership interest in the Corporation and significant stock-based performance compensation. Stock option awards are made based on the responsibilities and performance of the particular executive officers, and are designed to provide a substantial portion of total compensation in a form tied directly to the Corporation’s stock performance. All stock options are granted at the market price of the Corporation’s common stock on the date of grant and, as such, will have value only in the event of an increase in the Corporation’s stock price. Stock option awards in 2001 were larger than in recent years, reflecting the Corporation’s commitment to provide competitive levels of compensation, while aligning executive compensation with the Corporation’s stock performance.

Compensation of Chief Executive Officer

The determination of the Chief Executive Officer’s salary, bonus and grant of stock options in 2001 followed all of the policies, and were based on the considerations, set forth above with respect to executive officers generally.

Compensation Committee
Thomas P. Mullaney, Chairman
Norman A. Barkeley
Ralph D. Crosby, Jr.
Kevin S. Moore

Audit Fees

For the nine-month period ended September 29, 2001 and the year ended December 31, 2001, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Corporation’s independent public accountants, billed the Corporation an aggregate of $19,500 and $295,000, respectively, for professional services rendered for the reviews of the financial statements included in the Corporation’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q during such period and the audit of the Corporation’s financial statements for such period.

Financial Information Systems and Design Implementation Fees

For the year ended December 31, 2001, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP did not bill the Corporation any fees for financial information systems and design implementation.

10 PAGEBREAK

All Other Fees

For the year ended December 31, 2001, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP billed the Corporation an aggregate of $578,000 for all other services not described above under the captions “Audit Fees” and “Financial Information Systems and Design Implementation Fees.”

Report of the Audit Committee

The Audit Committee reviews the Corporation’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process. The Corporation’s independent auditors are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the audited financial statements to generally accepted accounting principles.

In this context, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management and the independent auditors the audited financial statements. The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees). In addition, the Audit Committee has received from the independent auditors the written disclosures required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees) and discussed with them their independence from the Corporation and its management. The Audit Committee has considered whether the independent auditors provision of information technology services and other non-audit services to the Corporation is compatible with the auditor’s independence.

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board has approved, that the audited financial statements be included in the Corporation’s Annual Report on SEC Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Submitted by the Audit Committee,

H. Frederick Christie — Chair

Robert C. Ducommun

Kevin S. Moore

The above report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Corporation specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not be deemed filed under such Acts.

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link1 "PERFORMANCE GRAPH"

PERFORMANCE GRAPH

The following graph compares the yearly percentage change in the Corporation’s cumulative total shareholder return with the cumulative total return of the Russell 2000 Index and an Aerospace/ Defense Industry Peer Group for the periods indicated. The graph is not necessarily indicative of future price performance.

Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative

Total Return Among Ducommun Incorporated,

Russell 2000 Index and

Aerospace/ Defense Industry Peer Group(1)

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Ducommun Incorporated $ 100.00 LOG $ 161.56 O $ 95.81 $ 75.43 $ 76.73 $ 76.99
Russell 2000 Index $ 100.00 LOGO $ 122.36 $ 119.24 $ 144.59 $ 140.22 $ 143.71
Peer Group $ 100.00 $ 121.09 LOGO $ 82.41 $ 72.37 $ 71.86 $ 79.39

(1) The Aerospace/ Defense Industry Peer Group used in the Performance Graph in 1997 consisted of: AAR Corp., EDO Corporation, Hexcel Corporation, Hi-Shear Industries, Inc., Moog Inc., Nichols Research Corporation, Sparton Corp., TransTechnology Corporation, United Industrial Corp., Watkins-Johnson Company and Wyman-Gordon Company. Since 1997, several of these companies have been acquired and their performance has been omitted from the Aerospace/ Defense Industry Peer Group performance results since the year of acquisition: Nichols Research Corporation and Wyman-Gordon Company in 1999, and Watkins-Johnson Company in 2000.

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link1 "REPORTS"

REPORTS

The Annual Report of the Corporation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, describing the Corporation’s operations and including audited financial statements and information about the Executive Officers of the Company, has been mailed prior to or concurrently with this Proxy Statement. The Corporation will provide a copy of its most recent report to the SEC on Form 10-K upon the written request of any beneficial owner of the Corporation’s securities as of the Record Date for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders without charge except for the cost of reproducing Exhibits. Such request should be addressed to Ducommun Incorporated, 111 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 900, Long Beach, California 90802-7901, Attn: James S. Heiser, Secretary.

Only one Annual Report and Proxy Statement is being delivered to multiple shareholders sharing an address unless the Corporation has received contrary instructions from one or more of the shareholders. The Corporation will deliver promptly upon a written or oral request a separate copy of the Annual Report and Proxy Statement to a shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the documents was delivered. Such request should be addressed to Ducommun Incorporated, 111 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 900, Long Beach, California 90802-7901, Attn: James S. Heiser, Secretary, or by telephone at (562) 624-0800. Shareholders sharing an address also may request delivery of a single copy of Annual Reports and/or Proxy Statements if they are receiving multiple copies of Annual Reports and/or Proxy Statements by notifying the Corporation at the address listed above. link1 "INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS"

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

The Corporation’s independent accountants for the current fiscal year, as well as for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, are PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. A representative of such firm will be afforded the opportunity to make a statement if he desires and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders in attendance. link1 "SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS"

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

From time to time individual shareholders of the Corporation may submit proposals which they believe should be voted upon by the shareholders. The SEC has adopted regulations which govern the inclusion of such proposals in the Corporation’s annual proxy materials. All such proposals must be submitted to the Secretary of the Corporation in writing no later than November 27, 2002 and comply with the SEC regulations, in order to be considered for inclusion in the Corporation’s 2003 proxy materials.

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link1 "OTHER BUSINESS"

OTHER BUSINESS

The Board of Directors does not know of any other business which will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. If any other business properly comes before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the proxy holders will vote in regard thereto according to their discretion insofar as such proxies are not limited to the contrary.

By Order of the Board of Directors
James S. Heiser
Secretary

Long Beach, California

March 20, 2002

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PROXY

DUCOMMUN INCORPORATED 111 WEST OCEAN BOULEVARD — LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA 90802

PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS ON MAY 1, 2002

The undersigned hereby appoints JAMES S. HEISER, SAMUEL D. WILLIAMS, and KENNETH R. PEARSON, and each of them (with full power to act without the other), the agents and proxies of the undersigned, each with full power of substitution, to represent and to vote, as specified below, all of the shares of Common Stock of Ducommun Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, held of record by the undersigned on March 11, 2002, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 1, 2002, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

(CONTINUED ON OTHER SIDE)

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Please mark your votes as indicated in the example. [X]

  1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS FOR [ ] WITHHELD FOR ALL [ ]

Nominees: Robert C. Ducommun and Thomas P. Mullaney

(Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write that nominee’s name on the space provided below.)
2. In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSAL 1.

This proxy may be revoked at any time prior to the voting thereof. All other proxies heretofore given by the undersigned are hereby expressly revoked.

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

Signature(s) Dated: , 2002

Please sign exactly as the name appears below. When shares are held by joint- tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.

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