x
|
Preliminary
Proxy Statement
|
||
o
|
Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
|
||
o
|
Definitive
Proxy Statement
|
||
o
|
Definitive
Additional Materials
|
||
o
|
Soliciting
Material under 14a-12
|
x |
No
fee required.
|
o |
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:
|
o |
Fee
paid previously with preliminary
materials.
|
o |
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:
|
Sincerely, |
/s/ KEN MCBRIDE |
Ken McBride |
Chief Executive Officer |
1. |
To
elect one director to serve for a three-year term ending in the year
2011
or until his successor is duly elected and
qualified;
|
2. |
To
approve an amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to effect certain restrictions upon transfers in order
to
preserve tax treatment of our tax net operating losses (our “NOL
Protective Amendment”); and
|
3. |
To
ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent
auditors for 2008.
|
BY
ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
|
/s/
SETH WEISBERG
|
Seth
Weisberg
|
General
Counsel and Secretary
|
Name
|
Age
|
Position
|
||
Mohan
P. Ananda(2)(3)
|
62
|
Director
|
||
Kevin
G. Douglas(1)(2)
|
45
|
Director
|
||
G.
Bradford Jones(1)(2)
|
53
|
Director
|
||
Kenneth
McBride
|
40
|
Chief
Executive Officer, Director
|
||
Lloyd
I. Miller(1)(2)(3)
|
53
|
Director
|
Name
|
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
|
Option
Awards
($)
|
Total
($)
|
|||||||
Mohan
Ananda
|
26,300
|
33,356
|
59,656
|
|||||||
Bradford
Jones
|
36,000
|
33,356
|
69,356
|
|||||||
Kevin
Douglas
|
28,500
|
33,356
|
61,856
|
|||||||
Lloyd
Miller
|
37,400
|
33,356
|
70,756
|
· |
All
holders who each own less than five percent of a company's capital
stock
are generally (but not always) treated as a single "5-percent
shareholder." Transactions in the public markets among stockholders
who
are not "5-percent shareholders" are generally not included in the
calculation (but not always).
|
· |
There
are several rules regarding the aggregation and segregation of
stockholders who otherwise do not qualify as "5-percent shareholders."
Ownership of stock is generally attributed to its ultimate beneficial
owner without regard to ownership by nominees, trusts, corporations,
partnerships or other entities.
|
· |
Acquisitions
by a person which cause that person to become a "5-percent shareholder"
generally result in a five percentage (or more) point change in ownership,
regardless of the size of the final purchase(s) that caused the threshold
to be exceeded.
|
· |
The
redemption or buyback of shares by an issuer will increase the ownership
of any "5-percent shareholders" (including groups of shareholders
who are
not themselves "5-percent shareholders") and can contribute to an
“ownership change.” In addition, it is possible that a redemption or
buyback of shares could cause a holder of less than 5% to become
a
"5-percent shareholder”, resulting in a five percentage (or more) point
change in ownership.
|
· |
whether
the Prohibited Person is or would become a "5-percent shareholder"
under
Section 382 as a result of the proposed transfer;
|
· |
the
impact of the proposed transfer on our Section 382 shift in ownership
percentage;
|
· |
the
then existing level of our Section 382 shift in ownership percentage;
|
· |
the
timing of the expected “roll-off” of our existing ownership
shift;
|
· |
the
economic impact of any Section 382 limitation that might result,
taking
into account factors such as our market capitalization and cash
position;
|
· |
the
impact on possible future issuances or purchases of our common stock
by
us;
|
· |
any
changes or expected changes in applicable tax
law.
|
· |
The
NOL Protective Amendment will not prevent all transfers that might
result
in an "ownership change." For example, it will not prevent existing
Prohibited Persons from selling stock to persons other than Prohibited
Persons.
|
· |
The
NOL Protective Amendment does not limit certain changes in relationships
and other events which could cause us to undergo an "ownership change."
|
· |
Section
382 is an extremely complex provision with respect to which there
are many
uncertainties. We have not requested a ruling from the IRS regarding
the
effectiveness of the NOL Protective Amendment and we cannot assure
you
that the IRS will agree that the NOL Protective Amendment is effective
for
purposes of Section 382.
|
· |
Our
board of directors can permit a Transfer to a Prohibited Person that
results or contributes to an "ownership change" if it determines
that such
Transfer is in our best interests.
|
· |
A
court could find that some or all of the NOL Protective Amendment
is not
enforceable, either in general or as to a particular fact situation.
Under
the laws of the State of Delaware, our jurisdiction of incorporation,
a
corporation may provide in its certificate of incorporation or bylaws
for
restrictions on the transfer of securities for the purpose of maintaining
any tax advantage. Delaware law provides that transfer restrictions
are
effective (i) against shareholders holding shares of our common stock
that
were voted in favor of this proposal, (ii) against purported transferees
if the transfer restriction is conspicuously noted on the certificate(s)
representing the shares and (iii) against purported transferees with
actual knowledge of the restriction (even absent such conspicuous
notation). Under Delaware law, the restrictions on stock transfer
are
generally not binding with respect to shares issued prior to the
adoption
of the restrictions unless the holder of the shares voted in favor
of the
restrictions or acquired them from someone who did. For the purpose
of
determining whether a stockholder is subject to the NOL Protective
Amendment, we intend to take the position that all shares in a purported
transfer were voted in favor of the NOL Protective Amendment unless
the
contrary is established to our satisfaction. We also intend in certain
circumstances to assert the position that stockholders have waived
the
right to challenge or are estopped from challenging the enforceability
of
the NOL Protective Amendment, regardless of whether they voted in
favor of
the NOL Protective Amendment. Nonetheless, a court could find that
the
provision is unenforceable, either in general or as applied to a
particular shareholder or fact situation.
|
A:
|
Section
382 is a provision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which imposes
limitations on the future use of our NOLs if we undergo an "ownership
change" as defined in Section 382.
|
A:
|
If
there is an “ownership change,” we would only be allowed to use a limited
amount of our then existing NOLs and credits to offset our taxable
income
in any future year. The annual limit is obtained by multiplying (i)
the
aggregate value of our outstanding capital stock immediately prior
to the
"ownership change" (reduced by certain capital contributions made
during
the immediately preceding two years and certain other items) by (ii)
the
federal long-term tax-exempt interest rate in effect for the month
of the
"ownership change." In calculating this annual limit, numerous special
rules and limitations apply, including provisions dealing with “built-in
gains and losses.”
|
A:
|
Our
approximately $252 million federal NOLS and $149 million state NOLs
are a
significant asset that could save us up to almost $95 million in
taxes
over the next 15 years. Because the amount and timing of our future
taxable income, if any, cannot be accurately predicted, we cannot
estimate
the amount, if any, of our NOLs that we can ultimately use to reduce
our
income tax liability or the time period in which these restrictions
will
continue to be necessary. Although we are unable to quantify an exact
value of our NOLs due to the above factors, we believe the value
of our
NOL assets is significant.
|
A:
|
As
of December 31, 2007, we estimate that we were at an approximately
34%
level of ownership shift, compared with the 50% level that would
trigger
an "ownership change." We estimate that our ownership shift has increased
from approximately 25% as of March 31, 2007 to approximately 34%
as of
December 31, 2007. In addition, we estimate that approximately 22%
of the
current 34% shift will not “roll-off” until 2010.
|
A:
|
No,
some investors who file a 13-G or 13-D are not “5-percent shareholders”
under the Section 382 definition and hence would not affect our ownership
shift for purposes of Section 382. We have included those persons
in the
definition of Prohibited Person because most investors file 13-G
or 13-Ds
based on the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 definition and including
them
as Prohibited Persons allows us to identify that investor, verify
whether
they are a “5-percent shareholder” under the Section 382 definition and
make a determination as to how to proceed. We expect our board of
directors to grant waivers, if requested, to allow purchases by any
Prohibited Person who is not a “5-percent shareholder” under the Section
382 definition.
|
A:
|
If
the NOL Protective Amendment is adopted, we expect that proposed
waivers
could be submitted in writing to the Company who will submit the
matter to
our board of directors. You may be asked to supply certain information
so
that our board of directors can access whether the proposed waiver
is in
the best interests of our
stockholders.
|
A:
|
Yes,
if you meet the definition of Prohibited
Person.
|
A:
|
The
NOL Protective Amendment would not restrict sales
by
you, although it would restrict any purchaser from purchasing additional
shares to the extent that the purchaser is or would become a Prohibited
Person.
|
A:
|
The
NOL Protective Provision would expire on the earliest of (x) the
date
designated by our board of directors, if it determines that the
restrictions are no longer necessary after any repeal of Section
382, (y)
the beginning of a taxable year if our board of directors determines
that
no tax benefits may be carried forward, or (z) as otherwise determined
by
our board of directors. If no additional ownership shift happens
in the
next two years, we would expect that the board of directions would
suspend
enforcement of the NOL Protective Amendment in 2010, when its Section
382
ownership shift level is expected to materially decrease.
|
A:
|
Our
approximately $252 million federal NOLS and $149 million state NOLs
are a
significant asset that could save us up to almost $95 million in
taxes
over the next 15 years. At our current stock price, the value of
our NOLs
could be significantly impaired unless we avoid potential transfers
that
could trigger an “ownership change” under Section 382. Because our federal
NOLs do not start expiring until 2019 and our state NOLs do not start
expiring until 2012, we will have to continually manage our Section
382
risk for a significant period of time. Our board of directors believes
that the provisions of the NOL Protective Amendment will be an important
tool in avoiding adverse impacts from Section 382 limitations.
|
A:
|
The
NOL Protective Amendment could reduce the possibility of a takeover
of our
company, and could adversely impact the liquidity and value in our
stock
if certain buyers decide not to purchase our stock.
|
A:
|
Currently,
when we become aware of any new significant shareholders with the
potential to become a “5-percent shareholder”, we attempt to contact that
person to coordinate any additional purchases in a way that mitigates
the
Section 382 impact. However, we are not always successful and new
“5-percent shareholders” have been created despite our best efforts,
resulting in our current high level of Section 382 ownership shift.
Currently, if a shareholder makes a transfer that results in a “5-percent
shareholder”, there is nothing we can do to reverse the impact on the
ownership shift that results. In contrast, the NOL Protective Amendment
would provide a mechanism with the potential to reverse the impact
of the
transfer on the ownership shift while allowing the purchaser to receive
their money from the purchase back. Although we have been able to
avoid an
“ownership change” in the past, recent ownership shifts have raised
concerns about our ability to continue to manage our Section 382
risk in
the same manner as in the past. We estimate that our ownership shift
has
increased from approximately 25% as of March 31, 2007 to approximately
34%
as of December 31, 2007. In addition, we estimate that approximately
22%
of the current 34% shift will not “roll-off” until 2010. As a result, we
currently face an increased risk that we could experience an “ownership
change” between now and 2010 unless shareholders adopt the NOL Protective
Amendment.
|
A:
|
We
believe allowing our board of directors to suspend enforcement of
the NOL
Protective Amendment, when appropriate, is a more effective alternative
to
setting a pre-determined termination date for the NOL Protective
Amendment. Any automatic termination of the NOL Protective Amendment
could
expose our NOL assets to future risk. Although we expect our ownership
shift to materially decrease in 2010, we could subsequently experience
a
rapid ownership shift in a short period of time that could put our
NOL
assets at risk again before our stockholders would have an opportunity
to
reenact a new NOL protective measure. For example, during 2007, we
experienced a Section 382 ownership shift of approximately 17% during
a
one month period of time.
|
A:
|
Delaware
law provides that transfer restrictions are effective (i) against
shareholders holding shares of our common stock that were voted in
favor
of this proposal, (ii) against purported transferees if the transfer
restriction is conspicuously noted on the certificate(s) representing
the
shares and (iii) against purported transferees with actual knowledge
of
the restriction (even absent such conspicuous notation). Under Delaware
law, the restrictions on stock transfer are generally not binding
with
respect to shares issued prior to the adoption of the restrictions
unless
the holder of the shares voted in favor of the restrictions or acquired
them from someone who did. For the purpose of determining whether
a
stockholder is subject to the NOL Protective Amendment, we intend
to take
the position that all shares in a purported transfer were voted in
favor
of the NOL Protective Amendment unless the contrary is established
to our
satisfaction. We also intend in certain circumstances to assert the
position that stockholders have waived the right to challenge or
are
estopped from challenging the enforceability of the NOL Protective
Amendment, regardless of whether they voted in favor of the NOL Protective
Amendment. A court could find, however, that the NOL Protective Amendment
is unenforceable, either in general or as applied to a particular
shareholder or particular fact situation.
|
A: |
If
you have more questions about the NOL Protective Amendment, you should
contact:
|
Name
|
Age
|
Position
|
||
Kenneth
McBride
|
40
|
Chief
Executive Officer, Director
|
||
Kyle
Huebner
|
37
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
||
James
Bortnak
|
38
|
Chief
Marketing Officer
|
||
John
Clem
|
36
|
Vice
President, Product and Service Operations
|
||
Michael
Biswas
|
31
|
Vice
President, Development
|
Name
and Principal
Position
|
Year
|
Salary
|
Bonus(2)
|
Option
Awards
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation (2)
|
All
Other Compensation (1)
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||
Ken
McBride
|
2007
|
$
|
365,667
|
|
$30,099
|
$
|
250,258
|
$163,901
|
|
$4,400
|
$
|
814,325
|
||||||||||
Chief
Executive Officer
|
2006
|
$
|
341,667
|
|
$0
|
$
|
44,153
|
|
$200,000
|
|
$4,400
|
$
|
590,220
|
|||||||||
Kyle
Huebner
|
2007
|
$
|
246,250
|
|
$14,119
|
$
|
72,190
|
$76,881
|
|
$4,400
|
$
|
413,840
|
||||||||||
Chief
Financial Officer
|
2006
|
$
|
238,333
|
|
$0
|
$
|
4,089
|
$95,000
|
|
$4,400
|
$
|
341,822
|
||||||||||
James
Bortnak
|
2007
|
$
|
228,333
|
|
$14,895
|
$
|
144,379
|
|
$81,105
|
|
$4,400
|
$
|
473,112
|
|||||||||
Chief
Marketing Officer
|
2006
|
$
|
217,833
|
|
$0
|
$
|
75,643
|
|
$100,000
|
|
$4,237
|
$
|
397,713
|
|||||||||
John
Clem (2)
|
2007
|
$
|
173,599
|
|
$11,171
|
$
|
257,376
|
|
$60,829
|
$3,907
|
$
|
506,882
|
||||||||||
Vice
President, Product and
|
2006
|
$
|
162,193
|
|
$0
|
$
|
148,808
|
|
$60,000
|
|
$3,244
|
$
|
374,245
|
|||||||||
Service
Operations
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael
Biswas
|
2007
|
$
|
192,836
|
|
$10,861
|
$
|
197,504
|
|
$59,139
|
$4,400
|
$
|
464,740
|
||||||||||
Vice
President, Development
|
2006
|
$
|
158,851
|
|
$0
|
$
|
335,968
|
$73,000
|
$3,177
|
$
|
570,996
|
(1) |
Includes
contributions to our 401(k) plan that we made on behalf of the named
executive officer to match a portion of his elective deferred
contributions to such plan.
|
(2) |
In
2006, 100% of total cash bonus paid to all executive management was
covered under our non-equity incentive plan. In 2007, approximately
84% of
total cash bonuses paid to all executive management was covered under
our
non-equity incentive plan and the remainders were discretionary bonuses.
|
Estimated
Future Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards
(1)
|
All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
|
Exercise or
Base
Price
of
Option
|
Grant
Date
Fair
Value
of
Stock
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Name
|
Grant Date
|
Threshold
($)(2)
|
Target ($)(3)
|
Maximum
($)(4)
|
Options
(#)
|
Awards
($ / Sh)
|
and Option Awards
($)
|
|||||||||||||||
Ken McBride
|
03/02/07
|
|
165,952
|
|
202,381
|
299,524
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|||||||||||||
05/21/07
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
260,000
|
13.76
|
1,716,000
|
||||||||||||||||
Kyle Huebner
|
03/02/07
|
|
78,827
|
|
96,131
|
|
142,274
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
||||||||||||
05/21/07
|
75,000
|
13.76
|
495,000
|
|||||||||||||||||||
12/03/07
|
25,000
|
12.52
|
141,750
|
|||||||||||||||||||
James Bortnak
|
03/02/07
|
|
82,976
|
|
101,190
|
|
149,762
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
||||||||||||
05/21/07
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
150,000
|
13.76
|
990,000
|
||||||||||||||||
John
Clem
|
03/02/07
|
|
49,786
|
|
60,714
|
|
89,857
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
||||||||||||
05/21/07
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
75,000
|
13.76
|
495,000
|
||||||||||||||||
Michael Biswas
|
03/02/07
|
|
60,573
|
|
73,869
|
|
109,326
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
||||||||||||
05/21/07
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
100,000
|
13.76
|
660,000
|
(1) |
On
March 2, 2007, the Compensation Committee approved a non-equity incentive
plan for 2007 (the “2007 Plan”) under which our executive management was
eligible for cash bonus awards as described below under “Compensation
Discussion and Analysis.” The Compensation Committee set a single common
bonus pool under the 2007 Bonus Plan for all of our executive management,
including the CEO and CFO. The 2007 Plan set a base level aggregate
bonus
pool (the “2007 Base Pool”), which was to be adjusted based on our
performance relative to targets for 2007 revenue and 2007 earnings
per
share excluding stock-based compensation expenses. Depending on our
actual
2007 performance in these areas, the final bonus pool could have
ranged
from a reduction of 18%, to an increase of 48%, applied to the 2007
Base
Pool.
|
(2) |
The
amounts in this column assume (i) the minimum aggregate bonus pool
(equal
to 82% of the 2007 Base Pool) and (ii) that each executive received
the
same percentage share of the bonus pool which he received in 2006.
However, no individual executive is guaranteed any minimum amount,
so the
amount could in fact be zero.
|
(3) |
The
amounts in this column assume (i) that the actual bonus pool is equal
to
the 2007 Base Pool and (ii) that each executive received the same
percentage share of the bonus pool which he received in 2006.
|
(4) |
The
amounts in this column assume the maximum possible bonus pool (148%
of the
2007 Base Pool) and that each executive received the percentage share
of
the bonus pool which he received in 2006. However, in the unlikely
event
that no other executive received any bonus, and the compensation
committee
did not adjust the bonus pool as a result, any individual executive
could
in theory receive the total amount of the bonus pool.
|
Option
Awards
|
||||||||||||||||
Name
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Unexercisable
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#)
|
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
|||||||||||
Ken
McBride
|
6,000
|
—
|
—
|
23.38
|
4/26/2010
|
|||||||||||
Ken
McBride
|
198,157
|
—
|
—
|
7.08
|
5/02/2012
|
|||||||||||
Ken
McBride
|
26,667
|
—
|
—
|
9.82
|
10/27/2013
|
|||||||||||
Ken
McBride
|
75,000
|
—
|
—
|
17.50
|
11/3/2014
|
|||||||||||
Ken
McBride
|
30649
|
193016
|
13.76
|
5/21/2017
|
||||||||||||
Ken
McBride
|
7267
|
29068
|
13.76
|
5/21/2017
|
||||||||||||
Kyle
Huebner
|
7,499
|
—
|
—
|
4.26
|
10/20/2010
|
|||||||||||
Kyle
Huebner
|
91,265
|
—
|
—
|
7.08
|
5/2/2012
|
|||||||||||
Kyle
Huebner
|
9,446
|
—
|
—
|
9.82
|
10/27/2003
|
|||||||||||
Kyle
Huebner
|
38,762
|
—
|
—
|
17.50
|
11/3/2014
|
|||||||||||
Kyle
Huebner
|
3670
|
34995
|
13.76
|
5/21/2017
|
||||||||||||
Kyle
Huebner
|
7267
|
29068
|
13.76
|
5/21/2017
|
||||||||||||
Kyle
Huebner
|
0
|
25000
|
12.52
|
12/3/2017
|
James
Bortnak
|
7,501
|
—
|
—
|
62.00
|
10/11/2009
|
|||||||||||
James
Bortnak
|
8,750
|
—
|
—
|
23.38
|
4/26/2010
|
|||||||||||
James
Bortnak
|
9168
|
—
|
—
|
9.82
|
10/27/2013
|
|||||||||||
James
Bortnak
|
2,888
|
0
|
—
|
17.5
|
11/3/2014
|
|||||||||||
James
Bortnak
|
14,607
|
99,058
|
—
|
13.76
|
5/21/2017
|
|||||||||||
James
Bortnak
|
7,267
|
29,068
|
—
|
13.76
|
5/21/2017
|
|||||||||||
John
Clem
|
14,999
|
15,001
|
23.5
|
12/1/2005
|
||||||||||||
John
Clem
|
11,666
|
8,334
|
32.52
|
3/1/2006
|
||||||||||||
John
Clem
|
10,937
|
49,529
|
13.76
|
5/21/2007
|
||||||||||||
John
Clem
|
0
|
14,534
|
—
|
13.76
|
5/21/2007
|
|||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Michael
Biswas
|
2,000
|
0
|
—
|
6.7
|
5/1/2013
|
|||||||||||
Michael
Biswas
|
2,000
|
0
|
—
|
11.68
|
3/1/2014
|
|||||||||||
Michael
Biswas
|
122
|
0
|
—
|
17.5
|
11/3/2014
|
|||||||||||
Michael
Biswas
|
15,878
|
0
|
—
|
17.5
|
11/3/2014
|
|||||||||||
Michael
Biswas
|
9,482
|
4,173
|
—
|
20.57
|
11/1/2015
|
|||||||||||
Michael
Biswas
|
11,350
|
4,995
|
—
|
20.57
|
11/1/2015
|
|||||||||||
Michael
Biswas
|
14,583
|
62,587
|
13.76
|
5/21/2017
|
||||||||||||
Michael
Biswas
|
0
|
22,830
|
13.76
|
5/21/2017
|
Payment Upon
Termination without
Cause or Change in
Control
Benefit (1)
|
||||
Ken
McBride
|
$192,854
|
|||
Kyle
Huebner
|
|
$131,604
|
||
James
Bortnak
|
$122,854
|
(1)
|
Assumes
a monthly value of $1,309 for continued
benefits.
|
Peer
Group
Benchmark
|
Data
Source
|
Methodology
|
Culpepper
Weighted
Average
Benchmark
|
Culpepper
|
A
weighted average of three groupings within the Culpepper database:
(a) all
companies of similar size based on revenue (50% weighting); (b) all
companies located in Southern California or in areas with similar
cost-of-living levels if the number of companies in Southern California
is
not a sufficiently large enough sample (25% weighting); and (c) all
companies that are traded publicly in U.S. public markets (25% weighting).
|
Culpepper
Peer
Group
One
|
Culpepper
|
An
average of compensation at 28 publicly traded technology industry
companies based in California with a range of $30 to $100 million
in
revenue, as listed in Annex C. We benchmarked compensation of our
chief
executive officer, chief financial officer and General Counsel using
this
peer group (we did not have enough data for a meaningful comparison
in the
case of the other executive management positions).
|
Culpepper
Peer
Group
Two
|
Culpepper
|
An
average of compensation at 42 publicly traded technology industry
companies based in California with a range of $30 to $300 million
in
revenue and with fewer than 500 employees, as listed in Annex C.
This
benchmark was created in order to increase the size of the data sample
versus Culpepper Peer Group One. We benchmarked compensation of our
chief
executive officer, chief financial officer, General Counsel, and
Chief
Marketing Officer using this peer group (we did not have enough data
for a
meaningful comparison in the case of the other executive management
positions).
|
Equilar
Equity
Peer
Group
|
Equilar
|
For
each member of executive management a benchmark group was created
of
individuals with similar titles and responsibilities at other publicly
traded, California-based technology companies with revenue between
$50 and
$150 million, and that had filed their last proxy filing January
1, 2006
or later. In analyzing the data, any individuals that were founders
of
their respective company, or that were no longer current officers
as of
their proxy date, were excluded from the analysis.
|
Equilar
Total
Compensation
Peer
Group
|
Equilar
|
For
each member of executive management a benchmark group was created
of
individual with similar titles and responsibilities at companies
(i) with
$50 to $150 million in revenue; (ii) having market capitalization
of $100
million or more; (iii) located in higher cost-of living states (including,
CA, CA, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, MD, MA, MN, NH, NY, PA, VA, WA); and
(iv) in
industries that include Internet Commerce & Content, Internet
Infrastructure, Internet Service, or Software (for executive managers
other than the chief executive officer and chief financial officer,
the
industry group was broadened to include all technology companies
because
the narrower industry definition did not result in enough data for
a
meaningful analysis). Individuals at other companies who were founders,
who were interim, who had resigned, or that had received no cash
bonus
during the last fiscal year as of the date of the proxy were excluded
from
the analysis. Only proxies filed after January 1, 2007 or later were
included, and compensation was adjusted to today’s levels based on time
elapsed since each company’s proxy filing date and assuming 4% annual
increases. Some example peer groups are included in Annex C.
|
·
|
Base
Salary.
We pay a base salary to each of our senior managers in order to allow
them
to cover their living expenses and in order to correspond with the
standard practice of other employers. We establish base salaries
for each
individual on an annual basis based on a comparison to the benchmarks
discussed above. We typically seek to set individual base salaries
in a
range of 40th
to
60th
percentile versus the individual’s Culpepper Weighted Average Benchmark;
for 2007, each individual’s base salary ended up between the
43rd
and 57th
percentile. In particular, our chief executive officer and our chief
financial officer received base salaries for 2007 which were at
approximately the 45th
percentile and 49th
percentile, respectively, versus the Culpepper Weighted Average Benchmark
for chief executive officers and chief financial officers. In addition,
compared to Culpepper Peer Group One, our chief executive officer’s, our
chief financial officer’s and our general counsel’s 2007 base salaries
were at the 47th, 59th
and 71st
percentile, respectively. Finally, compared to Culpepper Peer Group
Two,
our chief executive officer’s, our chief financial officer’s, our general
counsel’s, and our chief marketing officer’s base salaries were at the
33rd,
47th,
57th,
and 41st
percentiles, respectively.
|
·
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation.
We pay non-equity incentive plan compensation to each of our executive
managers in order to provide incentives for them to drive the business
toward annual goals that are set by the Compensation Committee. Our
incentive-based compensation is based on a group bonus pool. The
total
bonus pool begins with a base pool amount which may then be adjusted
based
on our actual performance relative to certain financial targets for
the
year. Once the final group bonus pool is set after year end, it is
allocated to individual executive management based on (i) individual
performance and contributions during the year and (ii) individual
total
compensation relative to the compensation peer groups. No individual
member of management is guaranteed to receive a bonus.
|
·
|
Equity
Incentives.
We grant equity participation to each of our executive managers in
order
to provide incentives for them to guide the business toward our long-term
goal of increasing shareholder value. Historically, the primary form
of
equity participation that we have awarded our executive management
consisted of incentive stock options (ISOs) and non-qualified stock
options. We selected this form of equity participation because of
the
favorable accounting and tax treatments (particularly in past years),
and
the near universal expectation by executive management employed in
software and technology that they would receive stock options. When
we
grant stock options, our practice is for our chief executive officer
to
meet with the Compensation Committee to discuss appropriate levels
of
stock option grants for each executive manager. Timing of stock option
grants typically relates to (i) new employee hires, (ii) promotions
of
existing employees, (iii) year end performance reviews of employees,
or
(iv) company-wide option grants as deemed appropriate by the Compensation
Committee.
|
·
|
Post-Termination
Compensation Arrangements.
We provide post-termination compensation arrangements to certain
members
of our executive management as we believe that it is important to
give
them some limited protection in the event they are terminated without
cause or terminated following a change in control. Further, it is
our
belief that the interests of stockholders will be best served if
the
interests of our executive management are aligned with them, and
providing
change in control benefits should eliminate, or at least reduce,
the
reluctance of executive management to pursue potential change in
control
transactions that may be in the best interests of stockholders. The
cash
components of all of our executive management post-termination
compensation arrangements, if any, range from three to six months
of base
salary, and typically also include continuing health benefits during
the
same period. For example, our chief executive officer and our chief
financial officer each receive six months of base salary following
their
termination without cause or termination following a change in control.
In
addition, all of our unvested options vest on a termination following
a
change of control.
|
Name
of Beneficial Owner
|
Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned
|
Percentages of Shares
Beneficially Owned
|
|||||
Ken
McBride (1)
|
466,621
|
2.3
|
%
|
||||
Kyle
Huebner (2)
|
227,872
|
1.1
|
%
|
||||
James
Bortnak (3)
|
111,241
|
*
|
|||||
John
Clem (4)
|
51,515
|
*
|
|||||
Michael
Biswas (5)
|
80,681
|
*
|
|||||
Mohan
Ananda (6)
|
679,875
|
3.4
|
%
|
||||
Kevin
Douglas (7)
|
1,728,450
|
8.7
|
%
|
||||
G.
Bradford Jones (8)
|
125,822
|
*
|
|||||
Lloyd
Miller (9)
|
1,481,776
|
7.5
|
%
|
||||
Other
5% Stockholders:
|
|||||||
Putnam,
LLC d/b/a Putnam Investments
|
1,356,080
|
6.8
|
%
|
||||
82
Devonshire Street
|
|||||||
Boston,
MA 02109
|
|||||||
All
directors and executive offers as a group (9 people)
|
4,953,853
|
24.9
|
%
|
* |
Represents
beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the outstanding shares of
common
stock.
|
(1) |
Includes
365,410 shares subject to options, all of which are presently exercisable
or will become exercisable within 60 days of February 29,
2008.
|
(2) |
Includes
166,243 shares subject to options, all of which are presently exercisable
or will become exercisable within 60 days of February 29,
2008.
|
(3) |
Includes
62,685 shares subject to options, all of which are presently exercisable
or will become exercisable within 60 days of February 29,
2008.
|
(4) |
Includes
48,574 shares subject to options, all of which are presently exercisable
or will become exercisable within 60 days of February 29,
2008.
|
(5)
|
Includes
67,081 shares subject to options, all of which are presently exercisable
or will become exercisable within 60 days of February 29,
2008.
|
(6) |
Includes
480,048 shares held directly by Mohan Ananda; 21,250 shares subject
to
options; 750 shares held by Mr. Ananda's spouse and son, 20,000 shares
held by the Ananda Foundation and 157,827 shares held in trust for
the
benefit of Mr. Ananda's family.
|
(7) |
Includes
20,000 shares subject to options and includes 604,492 shares held
in the
Kevin & Michelle Douglas Trust. Includes 523,417 shares held directly
by the James Douglas and Jean Douglas Irrevocable Descendants' Trust
and
indirectly by Kevin Douglas. Kevin Douglas and Michelle Douglas,
husband
and wife, are each a co-trustee of the James Douglas and Jean Douglas
Irrevocable Descendants' Trust. Includes 547,791 shares held directly
by
the Douglas Family Trust and indirectly by Kevin Douglas. James E.
Douglas, Jr. and Jean A. Douglas, husband and wife, are each a co-trustee
of the Douglas Family Trust. Also includes 32,750 shares held directly
by
James E. Douglas, III and indirectly by Kevin
Douglas.
|
(8) |
Includes
21,250 shares subject to options.
|
(9) |
Includes
350,403 shares held directly by Lloyd I. Miller; 20,000 shares subject
to
options; 259,344 shares held by Trust A-4; 121,439 shares held by
Trust C;
55,000 of such shares are held by Milfam I, L.P.; 456,630 of such
shares
are held by Milfam II, L.P.; 1,000 of such shares are held by Alexandra
UGMA; 500 shares are held by Kimberley S. Miller; 1,000 of such shares
are
held by Lloyd IV UGMA; 65,827 of such shares are held by Trust Milgrat
I;
and 150,633 of such shares are managed by Marli
Miller.
|
of
the Board of Directors
|
Kevin
Douglas
|
G.
Bradford Jones
|
A.
|
Review
this Charter at least annually and recommend any changes to the Board
of
Directors.
|
B.
|
Review
the Corporation's annual financial statements and any other relevant
reports or other financial information.
|
C.
|
Review
the regular internal financial reports prepared by management.
|
D.
|
Select
the independent accountants and approve the fees and other compensation
to
be paid to the independent accountants.
|
E.
|
Pre-approve
all audit and permitted non-audit services to be performed by the
independent accountants.
|
F.
|
Review
and ensure the independence of the independent accountants. This
review
shall cover and include services, fees, quality control procedures
and a
formal written statement from the independent auditors regarding
relationships between the independent auditors and the Corporation,
consistent with Independence Standard Board Standard No. 1.
|
G.
|
Review
the performance of the independent accountants and discharge the
independent accountants if and when circumstances warrant.
|
H.
|
Following
completion of the annual audit, review separately with the independent
accountants and management any problems or difficulties encountered
during
the course of the audit.
|
I.
|
Establish
procedures for the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints
received by the Corporation regarding accounting, internal accounting
controls, or auditing matters.
|
J.
|
Establish
procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees
of the
Corporation of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing
matters.
|
K.
|
Perform
any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Corporation's
Bylaws and governing law, as the Audit Committee or the Board deems
necessary or appropriate.
|
·
|
Culpepper
Peer Group One (for
our executive management as set on March 2, 2007): Accelrys, Inc.;
AMICAS,
Inc. (VitalWorks); BroadVision; Centillium Communications, Inc.;
Echelon
Corporation; Electronic Clearing House, Inc.; Embarcadero Technologies,
Inc.; ILOG, Inc.; Intellisync Corp.; j2 Global Communications; LGE
MobileComm USA; LookSmart; Maxwell Technologies, Inc.; NetManage
Inc.;
Network Equipment Technologies; Occam Networks, Inc.; Overland Storage,
Inc.; PalmSource, Inc.; Phoenix Technologies, Ltd.; Saba Software,
Inc.;
SCM Microsystems, Inc.; Secure Computing Corp.; SSA Global Technologies;
SumTotal Systems; Tumbleweed Communications Corp.; VA Software Corp.;
Vitria Technology, Inc.; and ZiLOG.
|
·
|
Culpepper
Peer Group Two
(for our executive management as set on March 2, 2007): Actuate Corp.;
Agile Software Corp.; BroadVision; Centillium Communications, Inc.;
Cogent, Inc.; Directed Electronics, Inc.; Ditech Communications Corp.;
Dot
Hill Systems Corp.; DSP Group, Inc.; Echelon Corporation; Electronic
Clearing House, Inc.; Embarcadero Technologies, Inc.; Genesis Microchip;
ILOG, Inc.; Intellisync Corp.; j2 Global Communications; LGE MobileComm
USA; LookSmart; Maxwell Technologies, Inc.; MTI Technology Corporation;
NETGEAR, Inc.; NetManage Inc.; Network Equipment Technologies; Occam
Networks, Inc.; OmniVision Technologies, Inc.; Overland Storage,
Inc.;
Pac-West Telecomm, Inc.; PalmSource, Inc.; Power Integrations, Inc.;
Rambus, Inc.; SCM Microsystems, Inc.; Secure Computing Corp.; SimpleTech,
Inc.; SonicWALL, Inc.; SSA Global Technologies; Synaptics, Inc.;
Tivo,
Inc.; Tumbleweed Communications Corp.; VA Software Corp.; Vitria
Technology, Inc.; and Websense,
Inc.
|
·
|
Equilar
Total Compensation Peer Group (for
our CEO as set on March 5, 2008): Actuate Corp; Applix Inc; Art Technology
Group Inc; Bankrate Inc; Bottomlilne Technologies Inc; Callidus Software
Inc; Chordiant Software Inc; Concur Technologies Inc; eCollege.com;
Keynote Systems Inc; Moldflow Corp; Netlogic Microsystems Inc; Netratings
Inc; Netsmart Technologies Inc; OpenTV Corp; Phase Forward Inc; Quovadx
Inc; Shutterfly Inc; Sumtotal Systems Inc; Synplicity Inc; Taleo
Corp;
TheStreet.com; Ultimate Software Group Inc; Vasco Data Security
International Inc; Website Pros Inc..
|
·
|
Equilar
Total Compensation Peer Group (for
our CFO as set on March 5, 2008): Actividentity Corp; Applix Inc;
Art
Technology group Inc; Autobytel Inc; Bottomline Technologies Inc;
Chordiant Software Inc; Cogent, Inc; Concur Technologies Inc; Divx
Inc;
eCollege.com; Embarcadero Technologies Inc; Internet Capital Group
Inc;
Keynote Systems Inc; Knot Inc; Netlogic Microsystems Inc; Netratings
Inc;
Netsmart Technologies Inc; Online Resources Corp; Opentv Corp; Opnet
Technologies Inc; Opsware Inc; Phase Forward Inc; Quovadx Inc; Shutterfly
Inc; Smith Micro Software Inc; Spark Networks Plc; Sumtotal Systems
Inc;
Synchronoss Technologies Inc; Synplicity Inc; Ultimate Software Group
Inc;
Unica Corp; Vasco Data Security International Inc; Web.com, Inc;.
Website
Pros Inc.
|
1.
|
To
elect one director to serve for a three-year term ending in the
year 2011 or until his successor is duly elected and
qualified;
|
||||||||||||
FOR
|
WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY TO VOTE
|
||||||||||||
Kenneth
McBride
|
2.
|
To
approve an amendment to the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate
of
Incorporation which shall effect, upon filing, certain restrictions
upon
certain persons seeking to become five percent stockholders in
order to
preserve tax treatment of the Company’s tax net operating
losses.
|
FOR
o
|
AGAINST
o
|
ABSTAIN
o
|
|||||||||
3.
|
To
ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors of
the Company for 2008.
|
FOR
o
|
AGAINST
o
|
ABSTAIN
o
|
Please
print the name(s) appearing on each share certificate(s) over which
you
have voting authority:
|
|||||
(Print
name(s) on certificate)
|
Please
sign your name:
|
Date:
|
||||
(Authorized
Signature(s))
|