Definitive Proxy Statement

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.    )

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REALNETWORKS, 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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LOGO

RealNetworks, Inc. 2601 Elliott Avenue, Suite 1000, Seattle, WA 98121

October 21, 2011

Dear Shareholder:

I cordially invite you to attend the RealNetworks, Inc. 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”). Our focus is already on plans for 2012 and I have decided to refrain from reviewing the history of last year’s operations in a shareholder’s letter. Your company’s management team will discuss our strategy for growth and improved performance at the Annual Meeting.

The Annual Meeting will be held at 11:00 a.m., Pacific Standard Time, on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at the World Trade Center, 4th Floor, 2200 Alaskan Way, Seattle, Washington 98121 for the following purposes:

 

  1.

To elect Janice Roberts and Michael B. Slade as Class 2 directors, each to serve for a three-year term;

 

  2.

To consider an advisory vote on executive compensation;

 

  3.

To consider an advisory vote on whether a shareholder advisory vote regarding executive compensation should be held every year, every two years or every three years;

 

  4.

To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as RealNetworks, Inc.’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011; and

 

  5.

To transact any other business properly presented at the meeting.

Detailed information as to the business to be transacted at the Annual Meeting is contained in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement.

We encourage you to join us and participate in the meeting. If you are unable to do so, you have the option to vote in one of three ways:

 

  1.

Sign and return the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible in the envelope provided;

 

  2.

Call the toll-free telephone number shown on your proxy card; or

 

  3.

Vote via the Internet as described in the accompanying proxy statement.

I would like to express our appreciation for your support of RealNetworks. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Sincerely,

LOGO

MICHAEL LUNSFORD

Interim Chief Executive Officer


REALNETWORKS, INC.

2601 Elliott Avenue, Suite 1000

Seattle, Washington 98121

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON

November 16, 2011

11:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time

To the Shareholders of RealNetworks, Inc.:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of RealNetworks, Inc., a Washington corporation, will be held on Wednesday, November 16, 2011, at 11:00 a.m., Pacific Standard Time, at the World Trade Center, 4th Floor, 2200 Alaskan Way, Seattle, Washington 98121 for the following purposes, as more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”):

 

  1.

To elect Janice Roberts and Michael B. Slade as Class 2 directors, each to serve for a three-year term;

 

  2.

To consider an advisory vote on executive compensation;

 

  3.

To consider an advisory vote on whether a shareholder advisory vote regarding executive compensation should be held every year, every two years or every three years;

 

  4.

To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as RealNetworks, Inc.’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011; and

 

  5.

To transact any other business properly presented at the meeting.

The accompanying Proxy Statement is being issued in connection with the solicitation of a proxy on the enclosed form by the Board of Directors of RealNetworks, Inc. for use at RealNetworks, Inc.’s 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. You are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting if you were a shareholder of record at the close of business on October 4, 2011. A list of shareholders as of that date will be available at the meeting and for ten days prior to the meeting at the principal executive offices of RealNetworks, Inc. located at 2601 Elliott Avenue, Suite 1000, Seattle, Washington 98121.

The 2010 Annual Report and this Proxy Statement can be viewed at http://www.RRDEZProxy.com/2011/RealNetworks in accordance with the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

LOGO

TRACY D. DAW

Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary

Seattle, Washington

October 21, 2011

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!

All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Regardless of whether you plan to attend the meeting, please vote by telephone or Internet, as described in the accompanying Proxy Statement, or complete, date, sign and return the enclosed proxy card as promptly as possible in order to ensure your representation at the meeting. A return envelope (which is postage prepaid if mailed in the United States) is enclosed for that purpose. You may still vote in person if you attend the meeting, even if you have given your proxy. Please note, however, that if a broker, bank or other nominee holds your shares of record and you wish to vote at the meeting, you must obtain from the record holder a proxy card issued in your name.


REALNETWORKS, INC.

 

 

2011 PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

INFORMATION CONCERNING PROXY SOLICITATION AND VOTING

General

The enclosed proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of RealNetworks, Inc. for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held Wednesday, November 16, 2011, at 11:00 a.m., Pacific Standard Time, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Annual Meeting will be held at the World Trade Center, 4th Floor, 2200 Alaskan Way, Seattle, Washington 98121.

These proxy solicitation materials and RealNetworks’ Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, including financial statements, were mailed on or about October 21, 2011, to all shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

Record Date and Quorum

Shareholders of record at the close of business on October 4, 2011, the record date, are entitled to notice of and to vote their shares at the Annual Meeting. At the record date, 34,206,624 shares of RealNetworks’ common stock, $0.001 par value per share, were issued and outstanding. The common stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol RNWK. The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote is required to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes (which occur when a broker indicates on a proxy card that it is not voting on a matter) are considered as shares present at the Annual Meeting for the purpose of determining a quorum.

How to Vote

Registered shareholders can vote by telephone, by the Internet or by mail, as described below. If you are a beneficial shareholder, please refer to your proxy card or the information forwarded by your broker, bank or other holder of record to see what options are available to you.

Registered shareholders may cast their vote by:

 

  (1)

Signing, dating and promptly mailing the proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope;

 

  (2)

Accessing the Internet website www.proxyvoting.com/rnwk and following the instructions provided on the website; or

 

  (3)

Calling 1-866-540-5760 and voting by following the instructions provided on the phone line.

We encourage you to vote your shares in advance of the Annual Meeting date even if you plan on attending the Annual Meeting.

Vote Required, Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes

Each holder of record of common stock on the record date is entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.

 

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If a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting, the two candidates for director who receive the highest number of affirmative votes will be elected. Shareholders are not entitled to cumulate votes for the election of directors.

Proposal 2 asks for a non-binding, advisory vote on executive compensation. If a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting, Proposal 2 will be approved, on an advisory basis, if the number of votes cast in favor of this proposal exceeds the number of votes cast against this proposal. Although an advisory vote, the Company values the opinions expressed by its shareholders, and the Compensation Committee, which is responsible for overseeing and administering the Company’s executive compensation programs, will consider the outcome of the advisory vote when designing the Company’s compensation programs and making future compensation decisions for the Company’s named executive officers.

Proposal 3 also calls for a non-binding, advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of named executive officers. If a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting, the frequency that receives the most votes will be approved on an advisory basis. The Company’s Board of Directors has recommended that an advisory vote on the compensation of named executive officers be held every year. If another frequency receives more votes, the Company’s Board of Directors will take the result into account when making its decision on how often to hold executive compensation advisory votes.

If a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting, Proposal 4 will be approved if the number of votes cast in favor of such proposal exceeds the number of votes cast against such proposal.

Brokers who hold shares for the accounts of their clients may vote such shares either as directed by their clients or, in the case of “uninstructed shares,” in their own discretion if permitted by the stock exchange or other organization of which they are members. Certain types of proposals are “non-discretionary,” however, and brokers who have received no instructions from their clients do not have discretion to vote such uninstructed shares on those items. At this year’s meeting, brokers will have discretion to vote uninstructed shares on the ratification of the appointment of the independent registered accounting firm only (Proposal 4). Brokers do not have discretionary voting authority to vote uninstructed shares in the election of directors or to vote on Proposals 2 or 3 absent voting instructions from their clients. Therefore, if you do not provide voting instructions to your broker with respect to the election of directors (Proposal 1) or with respect to Proposals 2 or 3, your broker cannot vote your shares on these proposals.

The failure of a brokerage firm or other intermediary to vote its customers’ shares at the Annual Meeting will have no effect on voting on the nominees for director or on Proposals 2, 3 or 4 because the approval of those proposals is based on the number of votes actually cast for or against such proposal (as applicable).

Shareholders may abstain from voting on the nominees for director and on Proposals 2, 3 and 4. Abstention from voting on the nominees for director and on Proposals 2, 3 and 4 will have no effect, because the approval of each matter is based solely on the number of votes actually cast for or against the proposal (as applicable).

Votes cast by proxy or in person at the Annual Meeting will be tabulated by the inspector of election appointed for the Annual Meeting. The inspector of election will determine whether or not a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting.

Revocability of Proxies

Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person giving it at any time before its use by delivering to the Corporate Secretary of RealNetworks at RealNetworks’ principal offices as set forth above in the Notice of Annual Meeting a written notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

 

2


Proxy Solicitation

The expense of preparing, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement and the proxies solicited hereby will be borne by RealNetworks. Proxies will be solicited by mail and may also be solicited by RealNetworks’ directors, officers and other employees, without additional remuneration, in person or by telephone, electronic mail or facsimile transmission. RealNetworks will also request brokerage firms, banks, nominees, custodians and fiduciaries to forward proxy materials to the beneficial owners of shares of common stock as of the record date and will reimburse such persons for the cost of forwarding the proxy materials in accordance with customary practice. Your cooperation in promptly voting your shares and submitting your proxy by telephone, Internet or by completing and returning the enclosed proxy card will help to avoid additional expense.

Shareholder Proposals for 2012 Annual Meeting

An eligible shareholder who desires to have a qualified proposal considered for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy prepared in connection with RealNetworks’ 2012 annual meeting of shareholders must deliver a copy of the proposal to the Corporate Secretary of RealNetworks, at the principal offices of RealNetworks, not less than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the date that this Proxy Statement was released to RealNetworks’ shareholders, or, if the date of RealNetworks’ 2012 Annual Meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of RealNetworks’ 2011 Annual Meeting, then no later than a reasonable time before RealNetworks begins to print and mail its proxy materials. To be eligible to submit a proposal for inclusion in our proxy statement, a shareholder must have continually been a record or beneficial owner of shares of common stock having a market value of at least $2,000 (or representing at least 1% of the shares entitled to vote on the proposal), for a period of at least one year prior to submitting the proposal, and the shareholder must continue to hold the shares through the date on which the meeting is held.

A shareholder of record who intends to submit a proposal at the 2012 annual meeting of shareholders that is not eligible or not intended for inclusion in RealNetworks’ proxy statement must provide written notice to RealNetworks, addressed to the Corporate Secretary at the principal offices of RealNetworks, not less than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the date that this Proxy Statement was released to RealNetworks’ shareholders, or, if the date of RealNetworks’ 2012 Annual Meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of RealNetworks’ 2011 Annual Meeting, then no later than a reasonable time before RealNetworks begins to print and mail its proxy materials. The notice must also satisfy certain additional requirements specified in RealNetworks’ Bylaws. A copy of the Bylaws will be sent to any shareholder upon written request to the Corporate Secretary of RealNetworks.

Shareholder Communication with the Board of Directors

Shareholders who wish to communicate with RealNetworks’ Board of Directors, or with any individual member of the Board, may do so by sending such communication in writing to the attention of the Corporate Secretary at the address of our principal executive office with a request to forward the same to the intended recipient. Shareholder communications must include confirmation that the sender is a shareholder of RealNetworks. All such communications will be reviewed by RealNetworks’ Corporate Secretary or Chief Financial Officer in order to create an appropriate record of the communication, to assure director privacy, and to determine whether the communication relates to matters that are appropriate for review by RealNetworks’ Board of Directors or by any individual director. Communications will not be forwarded to Board members that (i) are unrelated to RealNetworks’ business, (ii) contain improper commercial solicitations, (iii) contain material that is not appropriate for review by the Board of Directors based upon RealNetworks’ Bylaws and the established practice and procedure of the Board, or (iv) contain other improper or immaterial information.

 

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Householding Information

If you share an address with another shareholder, each shareholder may not receive a separate copy of our Annual Report, proxy materials or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials. Shareholders who do not receive a separate copy of our Annual Report, proxy materials or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, but would like to receive a separate copy or additional copies, may request these materials by calling 1-206-892-6320 or writing to: Investor Relations, RealNetworks, Inc., 2601 Elliott Avenue, Suite 1000, Seattle, WA 98121.

Shareholders who share an address and receive multiple copies of our Annual Report, proxy materials or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials may also request to receive a single copy by following the instructions above. Current and prospective investors can also access our Form 10-K, proxy statement and other financial information on the “Financial Information” section of our website at http://investor.realnetworks.com.

 

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PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

RealNetworks’ Amended and Restated Bylaws provide for a Board of Directors that consists of not less than two and no more than nine members. RealNetworks’ Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, provide that when the Board of Directors consists of four or more members, the directors will be divided into three classes (each class being as nearly equal in number as possible), with directors serving for staggered, three-year terms. The authorized number of directors is currently set at eight, and eight directors currently serve on the Board. After the Annual Meeting, if the two Class 2 nominees described further below are elected, the Board of Directors will consist of six directors and the size of the Board will be reduced to six effective immediately following the Annual Meeting.

The current Class 2 directors, Edward Bleier, Pradeep Jotwani and Jonathan Klein, are not standing for re-election to the Board at the Annual Meeting. Michael B. Slade and Janice Roberts are the nominees for election as Class 2 directors to serve until the 2014 annual meeting of shareholders, and each director elected will serve until the expiration of his or her term or until his or her earlier retirement, resignation, removal, or the election of his or her successor.

Mr. Slade is a new nominee to the Company’s Board of Directors. Ms. Roberts presently serves as a Class 1 director with a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders in 2013. However, in order to maintain classes that are as equal in number as possible as required under Washington law and the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, the Board has approved a reclassification of Ms. Roberts from Class 1 to Class 2, subject to and effective upon the election of Ms. Roberts as a Class 2 director at the Annual Meeting. If Ms. Roberts is not elected to serve as a Class 2 director at the Annual Meeting, she will continue as a Class 1 director. If elected as Class 2 directors at the Annual Meeting, Mr. Slade and Ms. Roberts will each be elected to serve a three-year term expiring at the 2014 annual meeting of shareholders.

Kalpana Raina and Dominique Trempont are the two remaining Class 1 directors whose terms expire at the 2013 annual meeting of shareholders. Eric Benhamou and Robert Glaser are Class 3 directors whose terms expire at the 2012 annual meeting of shareholders.

Mr. Slade and Ms. Roberts have been nominated by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors, comprised of non-management directors, and recommended to the shareholders by the Board of Directors for election at the Annual Meeting. The accompanying proxy will be voted FOR the election of Mr. Slade and Ms. Roberts to the Board of Directors, except where authority to so vote is withheld. Proxies may not be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named. The nominees have consented to serve as directors of RealNetworks if elected. If at the time of the Annual Meeting a nominee is unable or declines to serve as a director, the discretionary authority provided in the enclosed proxy will be exercised to vote for a substitute candidate designated by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unable, or will decline, to serve as a director.

 

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Nominees for Director

Class 2 Director Nominees

 

   

Biographical Information

 

Specific Experience,
Qualifications and Skills
Considered by our Board

Michael B. Slade

Age 54

  Michael B. Slade has been nominated to serve as a Class 2 director and his term will commence subject to, and effective upon, his election as a director at the Annual Meeting. Mr. Slade is a co-founder of Second Avenue Partners, a provider of management, strategy and capital for early stage companies, where he has served as a partner since 2000. From 2005 to October 2006, Mr. Slade served as a Strategic Advisor for RealNetworks. From 2002 to May 2007, Mr. Slade served as a director of aQuantive, Inc., a publicly traded digital marketing service and technology company that was acquired by Microsoft Corporation in May 2007. From 1998 to 2004, Mr. Slade served as a consultant and member of the executive team at Apple Inc. From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Slade was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Starwave Corp., a Paul Allen-funded startup that was sold to The Walt Disney Corp. From 1992 to 1998, Mr. Slade held various executive and leadership positions with technology companies including Microsoft Corporation, Central Point Software, NeXT Computer, Inc. and Asymetrix Corp. Mr. Slade holds a B.A. in Economics from Colorado College and an M.B.A. from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.  

Senior executive leadership and business strategy experience with a variety of technology companies

 

Management advisory experience

 

Experience through service as a director of public and private companies

Janice Roberts

Age 55

Director since 2010

  Janice Roberts has served as a Managing Director of Mayfield Fund, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm, since 2000. Ms. Roberts’ current areas of investment interest include mobility, wireless communications, networking and consumer companies. From 1992 to 2002, Ms. Roberts was employed by 3Com Corporation, a network management company that was acquired by Hewlett Packard in April 2010, where she held various executive positions, most recently serving as President of 3Com Ventures, the investment division of 3Com Corporation, and Senior Vice President, Business Development and Global Marketing. Ms. Roberts managed a number of the new business initiatives at 3Com, including its Palm Computing subsidiary. Previously, Ms. Roberts was managing Director and President of BICC Data Networks Ltd., a network management company that was acquired by 3Com in 1992. Ms. Roberts’ early career was based in Europe and included various technology-related marketing and general management positions. Ms. Roberts serves on the boards of ARM Holdings, plc, a technology and software company, several private companies and the advisory boards of Illuminate Ventures and SALT Branding. Ms. Roberts teaches Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital at the Stanford School of business. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (Honours) from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.  

Senior leadership experience

 

Management advisory experience

 

Executive-level experience with technology companies, including companies focused on mobile and wireless communications technologies

 

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Director Independence

The Board has determined that (i) Mr. Slade and Ms. Roberts are independent under the Nasdaq listing standards and (ii) all directors who are not standing for election at the Annual Meeting, other than Mr. Glaser, are independent under the Nasdaq listing standards and the applicable rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE NOMINEES NAMED IN PROPOSAL 1.

 

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The business of RealNetworks is managed under the direction of a Board of Directors, which has responsibility for establishing broad corporate policies and for the overall performance of RealNetworks. It is not, however, involved in operating details on a day-to-day basis.

Identification, Evaluation and Qualification of Director Nominees

In general, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews director candidates identified by Board members and any third-party search firms engaged by the Committee as part of the director nomination process. The Committee will consider candidates presented, and those candidates that meet the criteria for serving as determined by the Committee will be interviewed and evaluated by members of the Committee who will review each nominee’s qualifications and references and such other information as the Committee may deem relevant. The other directors and the third party search firm, if one is engaged, are also given the opportunity to meet with and interview the candidates. The Committee will then recommend to the full Board the nominees that it has determined best suit the Board’s needs. The Board ultimately makes all nominations for directors to be considered and voted upon at RealNetworks’ annual meetings of shareholders.

One new director nominee is being presented to the shareholders for election at the Annual Meeting. Michael B. Slade was initially identified as a potential nominee by one of the Company’s directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee evaluated Mr. Slade as a director nominee as part of a broader search process for potential candidates overseen by the Committee. As part of this search process, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee engaged a third-party search firm to assist the Committee in identifying and screening potential director nominees, including Mr. Slade, and to coordinate interview schedules and other logistics relating to the evaluation of candidates, including interviews with the Company’s Chairman and other directors. Following this process, Mr. Slade was recommended for appointment to the Board of Directors by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Qualifications required of individuals who are considered as board nominees will vary according to the particular areas of expertise being sought as a complement to RealNetworks’ existing board composition at the time of any vacancy. All directors should possess the background, skills, expertise, and commitment necessary to make a significant contribution to RealNetworks. Relevant qualifications for RealNetworks’ directors include: (1) exemplary personal and professional ethics and integrity; (2) the ability to engage in objective, fair and forthright deliberations; (3) operating experience at a policy-making level in business(es) relevant to RealNetworks’ current and future plans; (4) independent judgment; (5) adequate time and personal commitment to provide guidance and insight to management; (6) a commitment to provide long-term value to RealNetworks’ shareholders; (7) sophisticated business skills to enable rigorous and creative analysis of complex issues; and (8) understanding and experience in relevant markets, technology, operations, finance or marketing in the context of an assessment of the perceived needs of the Board as determined from time to time.

While RealNetworks does not have a formal policy or guidelines regarding diversity of membership of its Board of Directors, the Board recognizes the value of having a Board of Directors that encompasses a broad range of skills, expertise, contacts, industry knowledge and diversity of opinion. Therefore, the Board gives consideration to obtaining a diversity of experience and perspective within the Board and solicits directors’ views on a variety of topics, including whether directors as a whole have the appropriate mix of characteristics, attributes, business experience and background to effectively serve as a director of RealNetworks.

Shareholder Nominations and Recommendations for Director Candidates

Shareholder Nominations for Director

Pursuant to RealNetworks’ Amended and Restated Bylaws, shareholders who wish to nominate one or more candidates for election as directors at an annual meeting of shareholders must give notice of the proposal to nominate such candidate(s) in writing to the Corporate Secretary of RealNetworks not less than 120 days before

 

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the first anniversary of the date that RealNetworks’ proxy statement was released to shareholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting, or, if the date of the annual meeting at which the shareholder proposes to make such nomination is more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the previous year’s annual meeting, then the shareholder must give notice in a reasonable time before RealNetworks begins to print and mail its proxy materials. The notice must satisfy certain requirements specified in RealNetworks’ Amended and Restated Bylaws, a copy of which will be sent to any shareholder upon written request to the Corporate Secretary of RealNetworks. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will evaluate shareholder nominees using the same standards it uses to evaluate other nominees.

No shareholder has presented a timely notice of a proposal to nominate a director this year. Accordingly, the only directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting are Mr. Slade and Ms. Roberts. No other nominations are before, or may be brought at, the Annual Meeting.

Shareholder Recommendations for Director

In addition to the general nomination rights of shareholders, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors will consider Board candidates recommended by qualified shareholders in accordance with a written policy adopted by the Board. To be a qualified shareholder eligible to recommend a candidate to serve on the Board, a shareholder must have continuously held at least 2% of RealNetworks’ outstanding securities for at least 12 months prior to the date of the submission of the recommendation.

A qualified shareholder may recommend a Board candidate for evaluation by the Committee by delivering a written notice to the Committee subject to the requirements set forth below. The notice must be received by the Committee not less than 120 days before the first anniversary of the date that RealNetworks’ proxy statement was released to shareholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting. Where RealNetworks changes its annual meeting date by more than 30 days from year to year, the notice must be received by the Committee no later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which notice of the date of the upcoming annual meeting is publicly disclosed.

Any Board candidate recommended by a shareholder must be independent of the recommending shareholder in all respects (e.g., free of material personal, professional, financial or business relationships from the proposing shareholder), as determined by the Committee or applicable law. Any Board candidate recommended by a shareholder must also qualify as an “independent director” under applicable Nasdaq rules.

The notice shall also contain or be accompanied by (i) proof of the required stock ownership (including the required holding period) of the proposing shareholder, (ii) a written statement that the qualified shareholder intends to continue to own the required percentage of shares through the date of the annual meeting with respect to which the Board candidate is proposed to be nominated, (iii) the name or names of each shareholder submitting the proposal, the name of the Board candidate, and the written consent of each such shareholder and the Board candidate to be publicly identified, (iv) the recommending shareholder’s business address and contact information, and (v) all other information that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

With respect to the proposed Board candidate, the following information must be provided:

 

   

name, age, business and residence addresses;

 

   

principal occupation or employment;

 

   

number of shares of RealNetworks’ stock beneficially owned (if any);

 

   

a written resume of personal and professional experiences;

 

   

a statement from the recommending shareholder in support of the candidate, references for the candidate, and an indication of the candidate’s willingness to serve, if elected;

 

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all other information relating to the proposed Board candidate that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder; and

 

   

information, documents or affidavits demonstrating to what extent the proposed Board candidate meets the required minimum criteria established by the Committee, and the desirable qualities or skills, described in the RealNetworks policy regarding director nominations.

The notice must also include a written statement that the recommending shareholder and the proposed Board candidate will make available to the Committee all information reasonably requested in furtherance of the Committee’s evaluation as well as the signature of each proposed Board candidate and of each shareholder submitting the recommendation.

The notice must be delivered in writing, by registered or certified, first-class mail, postage prepaid, to Chair, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, RealNetworks, Inc., c/o Corporate Secretary, 2601 Elliott Avenue, Suite 1000, Seattle, WA 98121.

Board Leadership Structure

Currently, the positions of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board are held by two different individuals. Michael Lunsford presently serves as Interim Chief Executive Officer, and Robert Glaser serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board has determined that, although no formal policy is in place, the separation of these positions allows Mr. Lunsford to devote his time to the Company’s key strategic objectives. Moreover, the Board recognized the value of leveraging Mr. Glaser’s longtime leadership and knowledge of the Company through the role of Chairman. The Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will continue to assess the appropriateness of this structure as part of the Board’s broader strategic planning process.

In 2008, prior to the separation of the positions of CEO and Chairman, our Board determined that it was appropriate to appoint a lead independent director. Since that time, Eric Benhamou has served as the Company’s lead independent director, providing leadership among the independent directors of our Board. As lead independent director, Mr. Benhamou is responsible for presiding over executive sessions of the independent directors, advising as to the quality, quantity and timeliness of the flow of information from management necessary for independent directors to effectively and responsibly perform their duties, coordinating the activities of the other independent directors, and acting as principal liaison between independent directors and management.

The Board believes that its current leadership structure consisting of a separate Chairman and CEO, and a lead independent director gives the Board flexibility to meet varying business, personnel and organizational needs over time, and demonstrates its commitment to good corporate governance.

 

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Continuing Directors — Not Standing for Election This Year

The following individuals are Class 1 Directors whose terms continue until 2013:

 

   

Biographical Information

 

Specific Experience,
Qualifications and Skills
Considered by our Board

Kalpana Raina

Age 56

Director since 2001

  Ms. Raina is the managing partner of 252 Solutions, LLC, an advisory firm. Previously, Ms. Raina was a senior executive with The Bank of New York, a global financial services company. She joined The Bank of New York in 1989 and held a variety of leadership positions, most recently Executive Vice President and Head of European Country Management and Corporate Banking. Prior to that, she served in Mumbai, India as the bank’s Executive Vice President, International. During her eighteen-year career with the bank she had responsibility for clients in the media, telecommunications, healthcare, retailing, hotels and leisure and financial services industries in Asia, Europe, and the United States. Ms. Raina has served as a director of John Wiley & Sons, Inc., a publicly-traded global publisher of print and electronic products, since September 2009 and as a director of Information Services Group, Inc., a publicly-traded company specializing in the assessment, evaluation, negotiation, and management of service contracts between clients and their outside contractors, since August 2009. Ms. Raina is a member of Women Corporate Directors and The National Association of Corporate Directors and a past member of The US-India Business Council. Ms. Raina holds a B.A. Honors degree from Panjab University (India) and an M.A. degree in English Literature from McMaster University (Canada).  

Senior executive leadership and business strategy experience

 

Management advisory experience

 

Significant experience, expertise and background with regard to business, accounting and financial matters

 

Experience through service as a director of public companies

Dominique Trempont

Age 57

Director since 2010

  Mr. Trempont has served as a director of Daily Mail and General Trust plc, a producer of content, information analytics and events for businesses and consumers, since February 2011, and as a director of on24, Inc., a leader in webcast and virtual solutions, since February 2010. Mr. Trempont has also served as a director of Finisar Corporation, a company that develops and markets high speed data communication systems and software for networking and storage, since 2005, and as a director of Energy Recovery, Inc., a manufacturer of efficient energy recovery devices utilized in the water desalination industry, since July 2008. From October 2006 to April 2010, Mr. Trempont served as a director of 3Com Corporation, a network management company that was acquired by Hewlett Packard in April 2010. From 2003 to 2005, Mr. Trempont was CEO-in-Residence at Battery Ventures, a venture capital firm. Prior to joining Battery Ventures, Mr. Trempont was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kanisa, Inc., a software-as-a-service company focused on enterprise self-service applications, from 1999 to 2002. Mr. Trempont was President and CEO of Gemplus Corporation, a smart card company, from 1997 to 1999. Prior to Gemplus, Mr. Trempont served as Chief Financial Officer and head of Operations at NeXT Software. Mr. Trempont began his career at Raychem Corporation, a materials science and engineering company focused on telecommunications, electronics, automotive and other industries. Mr. Trempont earned an undergraduate degree in Economics from College St. Louis (Belgium), a B.A. with high honors in Business Administration and Software Engineering (LSM) from the University of Louvain (Belgium) and a master’s degree in Business Administration from INSEAD (France/Singapore).  

Senior leadership experience

 

Management advisory experience

 

Financial experience

 

Executive-level experience with technology companies

 

Experience through service as a director of public companies

 

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The following individuals are Class 3 Directors whose terms continue until 2012:

 

   

Biographical Information

 

Specific Experience,
Qualifications and Skills
Considered by our Board

Eric A. Benhamou

Age 56

Director since 2003

  Mr. Benhamou was appointed lead independent director of RealNetworks’ Board of Directors in 2008. Mr. Benhamou has served as chairman of the board of directors of Cypress Semiconductor, Inc., a publicly-traded semiconductor company, since 1993 and as chairman of the board of directors from 1994 to April 2010 of 3Com Corporation, a network management company that was acquired by Hewlett Packard in April 2010. He served as chief executive officer of Palm, Inc., a provider of mobile products and solutions, from 2001 until 2003 and as chairman of the board of directors until October 2007. He also served as chief executive officer of 3Com from 1990 to 2000. From March 2007 to February 2011, Mr. Benhamou served as a director of Voltaire Ltd., a provider of server, storage switching and software solutions that was acquired by Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. in 2011. Mr. Benhamou co-founded Bridge Communications, an early networking pioneer, and was vice president of engineering until its merger with 3Com in 1987. He has served as a director of SVB Financial Group, a publicly-traded financial services company, since 2005. Mr. Benhamou serves as vice chairman of the board of governors of Ben Gurion University of the Negev, and as director of Stanford University’s School of Engineering and of Arts et Métiers ParisTech. He is the chief executive officer of Benhamou Global Ventures, an investment firm he founded in 2003, and serves on the boards of directors of several private companies. Mr. Benhamou holds a M.S. degree from Stanford University’s School of Engineering and a Diplôme d’Ingénieur and a Doctorate from Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Arts et Métiers (Paris, France).  

Experience with technology companies through service on the boards of directors of various public and private companies

 

Senior leadership/CEO experience

 

Service as Chairman of the Board of various public companies

 

Management advisory experience

 

Financial and accounting experience

Robert Glaser

Age 49

Director since 1994

  Mr. Glaser has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of RealNetworks since its inception in 1994 and as Chief Executive Officer of RealNetworks from 1994 until January 2010. Mr. Glaser has served as a venture partner at Accel Partners, a venture capital firm, since May 2010. Mr. Glaser’s professional experience also includes ten years of employment with Microsoft Corporation where he focused on the development of new businesses related to the convergence of the computer, consumer electronics and media industries. Mr. Glaser holds a B.A. and an M.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Computer Science from Yale University.  

Senior executive leadership and business strategy experience gained through founding a company and through service as an executive at technology companies

 

Historical knowledge of RealNetworks through 16 years of service as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

 

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Meetings of the Board and Committees

The Board meets on a regularly scheduled basis during the year to review significant developments affecting RealNetworks and to act on matters requiring Board approval. It also holds special meetings when an important matter requires Board action between regularly scheduled meetings. The Board of Directors met 22 times during RealNetworks’ fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and took action by unanimous written consent on five occasions. The independent members of the Board of Directors regularly met in executive session without management present. No incumbent member attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board of Directors held during the period for which he or she has been a director. No incumbent member attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of any Board committees on which he or she served held during the periods that he or she served during the fiscal year.

Committees of the Board

The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and a Strategic Transactions Committee, and it may create special committees from time to time. Applying the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market and the SEC, the Board has determined that all members of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are “independent.” Committee membership of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Strategic Transactions Committee as of October 4, 2011, the record date, was as follows:

 

Audit Committee

  

Nominating and Corporate
    Governance Committee    

  

Compensation Committee

  

Strategic Transactions
          Committee          

Eric A. Benhamou*

   Edward Bleier    Eric A. Benhamou    Robert Glaser*

Pradeep Jotwani

   Jonathan Klein    Pradeep Jotwani    Jonathan Klein

Kalpana Raina

   Kalpana Raina*    Janice Roberts*    Eric A. Benhamou

Dominique Trempont

   Janice Roberts    Dominique Trempont   

 

*

Chairperson

Audit Committee.    The Audit Committee provides oversight of our accounting and financial reporting processes and financial statement audits, reviews RealNetworks’ internal accounting procedures and consults with and reviews the services provided by its independent auditors. All of the members of our Audit Committee are financially literate pursuant to Nasdaq rules, and our Board has designated Mr. Benhamou as the Audit Committee Financial Expert, as defined by the SEC and applicable listing standards. Prior to July 23, 2010, the Audit Committee was composed of Messrs. Benhamou and Jotwani and Ms. Raina. From July 23, 2010 to December 31, 2010, the Audit Committee was composed of Messrs. Benhamou, Jotwani, and Trempont and Ms. Raina. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee which can be found on our corporate website at http://investor.realnetworks.com under the caption “Corporate Governance.” The Audit Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and took action by unanimous written consent on one occasion.

Compensation Committee.    The Compensation Committee establishes, reviews and recommends to the Board the compensation and benefits to be provided to the executive officers of RealNetworks and reviews general policy matters relating to employee compensation and benefits. Prior to July 23, 2010, the Compensation Committee was composed of Messrs. Benhamou and Jotwani. From July 23, 2010 to August 26, 2010, the Compensation Committee was composed of Messrs. Benhamou, Jotwani and Trempont. From August 27, 2010 through December 31, 2010, the Compensation Committee was composed of Messrs. Benhamou, Jotwani and Trempont and Ms. Roberts. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee which can be found on our corporate website at http://investor.realnetworks.com under the caption “Corporate Governance.” The Compensation Committee met ten times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and took action by unanimous written consent on three occasions.

 

13


The Compensation Committee has the authority to retain a compensation consultant to assist in the evaluation of executive compensation and has the authority to approve the consultant’s fees and retention terms. In 2010, the Compensation Committee engaged Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. (“Cook”) as its compensation consultant to provide analyses and make recommendations concerning non-management director compensation.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.    The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee searches for and recommends to the Board potential nominees for Board positions, makes recommendations to the Board regarding size and composition of the Board, and develops and recommends to the Board the governance principles applicable to RealNetworks. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee which can be found on our corporate website at http://investor.realnetworks.com under the caption “Corporate Governance.” The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met nine times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. Ms. Roberts was added to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in July 2011, and so she did not serve on this Committee during 2010.

Strategic Transactions Committee.    Pursuant to our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, the approval of the Strategic Transactions Committee is required before the Board of Directors may:

 

   

adopt a plan of merger;

 

   

authorize the sale, lease, exchange or mortgage of (a) assets representing more than 50% of the book value of RealNetworks’ assets prior to the transaction or (b) any other asset or assets on which the long-term business strategy of RealNetworks is substantially dependent;

 

   

authorize the voluntary dissolution of RealNetworks; or

 

   

take any action that has the effect of the foregoing clauses.

From January 1, 2010 to September 3, 2010, the Strategic Transactions Committee was composed of Messrs. Glaser and Klein. From September 4, 2010 to December 31, 2010, the Strategic Transactions Committee was composed of Messrs. Benhamou, Glaser and Klein. A written charter for the Strategic Transactions Committee can be found on our corporate website at http://investor.realnetworks.com under the caption “Corporate Governance.”

Board Oversight of Risk

The Company’s management team is responsible for the day-to-day management of risks the Company faces, while the Board of Directors oversees the Company’s risk management, both as a full Board of Directors and through its committees. The Board obtains information and insight on the Company’s risk management from the Company’s senior executives who attend Board meetings and are available to address any questions or concerns raised by the Board on risk management-related and any other matters. The Board also gains information from presentations prepared by senior management on strategic and significant operational matters involving our business. The Board of Directors also periodically reviews and approves the Company’s strategic plans and initiatives, including the related expected opportunities and challenges facing the business and the execution of those plans.

The Board of Directors has delegated the oversight of certain risk areas to Board committees that assist the Board in fulfilling its risk oversight responsibility. For example, the Audit Committee has the responsibility to consider and discuss the Company’s major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control these risks. The Audit Committee also monitors compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, reviews legal matters that could have a significant financial impact on the Company and oversees the performance of the Company’s internal audit function. In addition, the Audit Committee monitors the Company’s code of ethics and oversees the Company’s procedures for handling employee complaints regarding accounting, accounting controls and auditing matters.

The Audit Committee also reviews the annual comprehensive enterprise risk assessment performed by the Company’s internal audit department that encompasses a number of significant areas of risk, including strategic, operational, compliance, investment and financial risks. This assessment process is designed to gather data

 

14


regarding the most important risks that could impact the Company’s ability to achieve its objectives and execute its strategies and entails reviewing critical Company policies and strategies as well as monitoring of emerging industry trends and issues. The assessment is reviewed by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and presented to the Audit Committee to facilitate discussion of any high risk areas.

The Board of Directors has also delegated to other committees the oversight of risk within their areas of responsibilities and expertise. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves the compensation for the Company’s executive officers (other than the Chief Executive Officer) and its relationship to the Company’s strategy and business plans and, in connection with those responsibilities, conducts an annual review of the Company’s risk assessment of its compensation policies and practices for its employees. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee oversees the risk associated with the Company’s corporate governance policies and practices. Each Board Committee is responsible for reporting its findings and recommendations, as appropriate, to the full Board of Directors.

Policy Regarding Director Attendance at Annual Meetings of Shareholders

We have a policy that at least one member of our Board of Directors will attend each annual meeting of shareholders, and all directors are encouraged to attend shareholder meetings. We will reimburse directors for reasonable expenses incurred in attending annual meetings of shareholders. Two directors attended the annual meeting of shareholders held on October 18, 2010.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

RealNetworks has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of RealNetworks’ employees, officers and directors. RealNetworks’ Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is publicly available on its website (http://investor.realnetworks.com under the caption “Corporate Governance”), or can be obtained without charge by written request to RealNetworks’ Corporate Secretary at the address of RealNetworks’ principal executive office. RealNetworks intends to satisfy the disclosure requirements under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding an amendment to or waiver from the application of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer, and any other applicable accounting and financial employee, by posting such information on its website at http://investor.realnetworks.com under the caption “Corporate Governance.”

 

15


VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

The following table sets forth, as of October 4, 2011, information regarding beneficial ownership of the Common Stock by (a) each person known to RealNetworks to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of RealNetworks’ outstanding common stock, (b) each director, (c) each Named Executive Officer, and (d) all of RealNetworks’ executive officers and directors as a group. Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 34,206,624 shares outstanding as of October 4, 2011. The mailing address for each named executive officer and director in the table below is c/o RealNetworks, Inc., 2601 Elliott Avenue, Suite 1000, Seattle, Washington 98121. Unless otherwise stated, all share amounts provided in this proxy statement reflect the 1-for-4 reverse split of RealNetworks’ common stock effective August 30, 2011.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

   Number of
Shares of Common
Stock Beneficially
Owned(1)
     Percentage of
Common Stock
Outstanding
 

Robert Glaser(2)

     12,949,254         37.7

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.(3)

     3,094,944         9.1   

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP(4)

     2,093,013         6.1   

Eric A. Benhamou(5)

     92,659         *   

Edward Bleier(6)

     124,679         *   

Pradeep Jotwani(7)

     34,429         *   

Robert Kimball(8)

     421,395         1.2   

Jonathan D. Klein(9)

     109,206         *   

Kalpana Raina(10)

     102,514         *   

Janice Roberts(11)

     12,757         *   

Dominique Trempont(12)

     13,586         *   

Michael Eggers(13)

     169,457         *   

Michael Lunsford(14)

     166,879         *   

Hank Skorny(15)

     17,439         *   

Tracy D. Daw(16)

     65,093         *   

John Barbour

     0         *   

All directors and executive officers as a group (12 persons)(17)

     14,316,849         40.2

 

   *

Less than 1%.

 

  (1)

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with rules of the SEC and includes shares over which the beneficial owner exercises voting or investment power. Shares of Common Stock subject to options currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of October 4, 2011 are deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of the person holding the options, but are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Except as otherwise indicated, and subject to community property laws where applicable, RealNetworks believes, based on information provided by such persons, that the persons named in the table above have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by them.

 

  (2)

Includes 459,101 shares of Common Stock owned by the Glaser Progress Foundation, of which Mr. Glaser is trustee. Mr. Glaser disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. Also includes 156,250 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of October 4, 2011.

 

  (3)

Information is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 10, 2011 by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“T. Rowe Price”). T. Rowe Price reported that as of December 31, 2010, it beneficially

 

16


 

owned an aggregate of 12,379,779 shares of common stock (before giving effect to the Company’s 1-for-4 reverse stock split effective August 30, 2011) and that its address is 100 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. These securities are owned by various individual and institutional investors including T. Rowe Price Science & Technology Fund, Inc. which owns 7,866,660 shares (before giving effect to the Company’s 1-for-4 reverse stock split effective August 30, 2011) representing 5.7% of the shares outstanding, for which T. Rowe Price serves as investment adviser with power to direct investments and/or sole power to vote the securities. For purposes of the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, T. Rowe Price is deemed to be a beneficial owner of such securities; however, T. Rowe Price expressly disclaims that it is the beneficial owner of such securities.

 

  (4)

Information is based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 11, 2011 by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (“Dimensional”). Dimensional reported that as of December 31, 2010, it beneficially owned an aggregate of 8,372,054 shares of common stock (before giving effect to the Company’s 1-for-4 reverse stock split effective August 30, 2011) and that its address is Palisades West, Building One, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Austin, Texas 78746. Dimensional furnishes investment advice to four investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and serves as investment manager to certain other commingled group trusts and separate accounts. While Dimensional possesses investment and/or voting power over these shares and therefore may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such shares, Dimensional disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.

 

  (5)

Includes 8,230 shares of common stock owned by the Eric and Illeana Benhamou Living Trust. Also includes 78,750 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of October 4, 2011 and 5,679 restricted stock units that are scheduled to vest and be released within 60 days of October 4, 2011.

 

  (6)

Includes 87,500 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of October 4, 2011 and 5,679 restricted stock units that are scheduled to vest and be released within 60 days of October 4, 2011.

 

  (7)

Includes 28,750 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of October 4, 2011 and 5,679 restricted stock units that are scheduled to vest and be released within 60 days of October 4, 2011.

 

  (8)

Includes 388,487 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of October 4, 2011.

 

  (9)

Includes 87,500 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of October 4, 2011 and 5,679 restricted stock units that are scheduled to vest and be released within 60 days of October 4, 2011.

 

(10)

Includes 96,250 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of October 4, 2011 and 5,679 restricted stock units that are scheduled to vest and be released within 60 days of October 4, 2011.

 

(11)

Includes 6,770 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of October 4, 2011 and 5,679 restricted stock units that are scheduled to vest and be released within 60 days of October 4, 2011.

 

(12)

Includes 7,291 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of October 4, 2011 and 5,679 restricted stock units that are scheduled to vest and be released within 60 days of October 4, 2011.

 

(13)

Includes 159,707 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of October 4, 2011.

 

(14)

Includes 162,282 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of October 4, 2011.

 

(15)

Includes 64,314 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of October 4, 2011.

 

17


(16)

Includes 61,908 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of October 4, 2011.

 

(17)

Includes an aggregate of 1,407,636 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of October 4, 2011 and 39,753 restricted stock units that are scheduled to vest and be released within 60 days of October 4, 2011.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires RealNetworks’ executive officers, directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of RealNetworks’ equity securities to file reports of ownership and changes of ownership with the SEC. Executive officers, directors and greater than ten percent shareholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all such reports they file. Specific due dates have been established by the SEC, and the Company is required to disclose any failure to file by those dates.

Based solely on the Company’s review of the copies of such reports the Company received, and on written representations by the executive officers and directors of RealNetworks regarding their compliance with the applicable reporting requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, the Company believes that, with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, all of the executive officers and directors of RealNetworks, and all of the persons known to RealNetworks to own more than ten percent of its common stock, complied with all such reporting requirements.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

From January 1, 2010 to July 22, 2010, the Compensation Committee was composed of Messrs. Benhamou and Jotwani. From July 23, 2011 to August 26, 2010, the Compensation Committee was composed of Messrs. Benhamou, Jotwani and Trempont. From August 27, 2010 to December 31, 2010, the Compensation Committee was composed of Messrs. Benhamou, Jotwani and Trempont and Ms. Roberts. In 2010, no executive officer of RealNetworks served as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that had one or more executive officers serving as a member of RealNetworks’ Board of Directors or Compensation Committee. In addition, no interlocking relationship existed between any member of our Compensation Committee and any member of the compensation committee of any other company.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

This compensation discussion and analysis discusses the principles underlying our executive compensation program and the important factors relevant to the analysis of the compensation of our executive officers. We refer to the individuals who served as our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer during 2010, as well as the other individuals included in the Summary Compensation Table on page 40, as our “Named Executive Officers.” The Named Executive Officers are included in the group of individuals identified as “executives” or “executive officers.”

 

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Business Context for Compensation Decisions

The 2010 compensation program for named executive officers was influenced by extraordinary events that began at the start of 2010 and created rapid change in the business and leadership structure of the Company. In 2010, RealNetworks focused on transformational activities following the resignation in January 2010 of the Chief Executive Officer, Robert Glaser, who continues to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors appointed Robert Kimball President and Acting Chief Executive Officer in January 2010 and commenced a search for a permanent Chief Executive Officer. Following this search, Mr. Kimball was appointed Chief Executive Officer in July 2010.

The Company implemented a company-wide restructuring and simplification of the business, which included a separation of our Rhapsody joint venture and a reorganization of the management of our businesses and product lines. As a result of these changes, we reduced our headcount, overhead and other operating costs and discontinued certain unprofitable products and services offerings. These changes were difficult and internally disruptive, creating uncertainty for officers and employees.

As a result of the Company’s first ever change in Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee developed 2010 executive compensation programs that were designed to encourage the retention and commitment of our remaining key senior executive team during this challenging time, including the following:

 

   

determination of fair and competitive overall annual compensation for the President and Acting Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers;

 

   

establishment of new retention and change-in-control arrangements with key executive officers;

 

   

determination of fair and competitive compensation of the Chief Executive Officer upon the conclusion of the CEO search; and

 

   

payment of fair severance to certain officers whose employment terminated in connection with the Company’s strategic business changes.

The discussion that follows elaborates on the decision-making process governing the compensation of our Named Executive Officers, our compensation philosophy, and the specific elements of compensation paid to our Named Executive Officers in 2010.

Role of the Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for the oversight of our executive compensation program. Each director who served on the Compensation Committee in 2010 was, and each current member of the Compensation Committee is, a non-employee Director within the meaning of SEC Rule 16b-3, an outside Director within the meaning of IRC Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and an independent Director under Nasdaq stock exchange listing rules. The Compensation Committee’s purpose is to discharge the Board’s responsibilities relating to compensation of our executive officers and to adopt policies that govern our compensation and benefit programs in a manner that supports our business strategy. The Compensation Committee has overall responsibility for approving and evaluating our executive officer compensation plans, policies and programs, including:

 

   

periodically reviewing and making recommendations to the independent members of our Board of Directors regarding the agreements with, and compensation of, the Chief Executive Officer;

 

   

periodically reviewing and establishing the agreements with, and compensation of, our executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer;

 

   

establishing and revising employee incentive compensation plans (other than with respect to the Chief Executive Officer);

 

19


   

carrying out duties assigned to the Compensation Committee under any stock option plan or other plan and granting stock options and other equity awards to officers of the Company (other than the Chief Executive Officer);

 

   

overseeing the Company’s compensation programs, including programs for the Board of Directors and non-executive employees;

 

   

conducting an annual risk assessment related to the Company’s employee compensation policies and practices; and

 

   

performing duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.

The Compensation Committee may delegate authority to subcommittees, retain or terminate any compensation consultant and obtain advice and assistance from internal or external legal, accounting or other advisers. In 2010, the Compensation Committee retained Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. (“Cook”) as its independent third party consultant.

Role of Management in Compensation Decisions

The Compensation Committee invites our Chief Executive Officer, and/or certain other executives including our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and our Vice President, Global Human Resources, to attend its meetings and also convenes executive sessions without management present. Our Chief Executive Officer, together with the Compensation Committee, assesses the performance of our executive officers. Our Chief Executive Officer consults with other members of management and makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding base salaries, bonus targets and actual payments, performance goals and weightings and equity compensation awards for executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee can consider these recommendations and the recommendations provided by independent compensation consultants, but the Compensation Committee has final authority to exercise its discretion in setting compensation amounts or awards for executives other than the Chief Executive Officer and is bound by neither the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer nor those of any consultant. The Compensation Committee meets without the Chief Executive Officer or other members of management present during deliberations concerning the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation and makes recommendations regarding CEO compensation for approval by the independent members of the Board of Directors in compliance with the Compensation Committee Charter.

Compensation Objectives

In establishing executive compensation in 2010, the Compensation Committee was generally guided by the following objectives:

 

   

Attract, motivate and retain the best executives.    Given the complexity of our industry, the compensation packages provided to our executive officers should be sufficient to attract, motivate and retain the exceptional leaders needed to achieve RealNetworks’ corporate business goals and drive long-term shareholder value.

 

   

Establish executive compensation that is linked to both company and individual performance.    Executive compensation should include compensation elements that reward individual performance as measured against established annual and strategic business goals.

 

   

Consider individual executive responsibility and accountability.    Executive compensation should appropriately reflect varying degrees of responsibility, accountability and impact on the overall business.

 

   

Ensure compensation is competitive.    Executive compensation should be established at levels that are competitive with the compensation paid by similarly situated companies with which RealNetworks competes for talent and shareholder investment.

 

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Provide pay incentives that closely align executives’ interests with the long-term interests of our shareholders.    Executive compensation should be designed to motivate executives to build a growing, profitable and sustainable business. This can best be achieved by encouraging our executive officers to conceive, develop and market the best products and services in our chosen markets and to exceed customer expectations.

 

   

Support the Company’s leadership and business transition.    Executive compensation should encourage the retention and commitment of the Company’s key executive officers through a period of rapid change in the business and leadership structure of the Company, including the Company’s first transition at the CEO position.

Elements of Compensation

For 2010, the principal elements of compensation for our Named Executive Officers were:

 

   

base salary as compensation for services provided to RealNetworks generally established based on competitive benchmarking, comparative compensation levels of the senior executive officers and individual performance;

 

   

performance-based short-term cash incentive compensation through the RealNetworks, Inc. 2010 Executive MBO Plan (the “2010 MBO Plan”) to provide rewards for the achievement of key short-term financial performance of RealNetworks and the completion of specified business milestones given RealNetworks’ restructuring activities planned for 2010;

 

   

long-term equity incentive compensation to align the interests of our executive officers with those of RealNetworks’ shareholders; and

 

   

benefits, including retention, severance and change in control benefits to encourage the continued employment and commitment of the key senior executive team during an unprecedented period of change at RealNetworks.

RealNetworks does not have established programs under which executive perquisites are offered. RealNetworks does not offer guaranteed payouts under its performance-based cash incentive compensation plans or executive retirement plans that are not provided to the broad U.S. employee population.

2010 Named Executive Officers

The Named Executive Officers in 2010 are listed below. There are more than five Named Executive Officers due to the Company’s reorganization efforts during the year.

Robert Glaser, Founder, Chairman of the Board and Former Chief Executive Officer: Mr. Glaser resigned as the Chief Executive Officer in January 2010, having served in that capacity since 1994 when he founded the Company. He continues to serve as Chairman of the Board.

Robert Kimball, President and Chief Executive Officer: Mr. Kimball was promoted to President from Executive Vice President, Legal and Business Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary in January 2010, upon the resignation of Mr. Glaser as Chief Executive Officer. Concurrent with the promotion to President, Mr. Kimball was also appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer in January 2010 while the Company conducted a search for a Chief Executive Officer to replace Mr. Glaser. Mr. Kimball was ultimately chosen as the Chief Executive Officer in July 2010 and was promoted to that role. Mr. Kimball resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer in March 2011.

Michael Eggers, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer: Mr. Eggers continues to serve as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, a role in which he has served since February 2006.

 

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Michael Lunsford, Interim Chief Executive Officer:    Mr. Lunsford served as Executive Vice President, Technology Products and Solutions and Media Software and Services in 2010 and was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer in March 2011 following Mr. Kimball’s resignation as President and Chief Executive Officer.

Hank Skorny, Senior Vice President, and Chief Strategy Officer:    Mr.Skorny served as Senior Vice President, Media Cloud Computing and Services in 2010 and was appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer in January 2011. Mr. Skorny resigned from RealNetworks effective September 16, 2011.

Tracy D. Daw, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary:    Mr. Daw began 2010 as Vice President, Corporate Development, Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, which was one of the Company’s top legal positions after the promotion of Mr. Kimball. In August 2010, Mr. Daw was promoted to Chief Legal Officer in light of his performance since taking over for Mr. Kimball.

John Barbour, Former President, Games Division:    Mr. Barbour was hired in October 2008 for the purpose of becoming the Chief Executive Officer of the Games division following a planned separation of that business. The separation of the Games division was delayed and ultimately did not occur following the Company’s reorganization in 2010 and Mr. Barbour’s employment was terminated in August 2010.

2010 Base Salary.    We provide Named Executive Officers and other employees with base salary to compensate them for services rendered to RealNetworks, to pay their for day-to-day role and responsibilities, and to meet our objective of attracting and retaining the executive talent needed to run our business. Base salaries for Named Executive Officers are determined for each executive based on position, responsibility, experience and competitive market data. When determining base salaries, the Compensation Committee also considers other factors including the salaries established for comparable positions in companies in our industry, salaries paid to executives at other companies with which we compete for comparable talent, the historical and relative compensation levels of our executives and the executive’s performance in the preceding year. Base salaries are adjusted from time to time to recognize various levels of responsibility, promotions, individual performance, market conditions and internal equity issues. Certain Named Executive Officers were provided two adjustments during 2010 to recognize promotions that occurred as a result of the business reorganization.

In February 2010, the Compensation Committee approved the following increases in the annual base salaries of Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny and Daw based on individual performance and in recognition of the increased scope of their roles and responsibilities as RealNetworks entered into a transition period following Mr. Glaser’s resignation as Chief Executive Officer in January 2010:

 

Name

   Salary Increase     Base Salary      Effective Date  

Robert Kimball

     14.9   $ 425,000         February 2010   

Michael Eggers

     20.0   $ 350,000         February 2010   

Michael Lunsford

     8.1   $ 400,000         February 2010   

Hank Skorny

     6.0   $ 350,000         February 2010   

Tracy D. Daw

     4.3   $ 245,000         February 2010   

The annual base salary of Mr. Kimball, who was Acting Chief Executive Officer in February 2010, was established at slightly above the median of the annual base salaries of presidents and the second highest paid officer in a peer group of 14 companies used to survey the competitive market in which RealNetworks competes for executive talent (the “2010 Compensation Peer Group”). The companies comprising the 2010 Compensation Peer Group are set forth in the section captioned “Benchmarking” beginning on page 35. The rationale was that if Mr. Kimball was not promoted to Chief Executive Officer, the Company would have the ability to retain his services as a President at a market rate (which was above the median to reflect the fact that most presidents do not have experience acting as public company chief executive officers). In recognition of Mr. Kimball’s potentially temporary service as Acting Chief Executive Officer of RealNetworks, he was also provided a milestone award consisting of a cash bonus in the amount of $100,000 that was payable in July 2010. The Compensation Committee also offered Mr. Kimball the choice of receiving an additional award of either options

 

22


for the purchase of 15,000 shares of RealNetworks common stock, or a cash bonus award of $75,000 payable in July 2010. Mr. Kimball elected to receive an award of 15,000 stock options that vested as to 50% of the shares subject to the options on July 12, 2010, with the remaining options vesting on January 12, 2011. The stock options granted to Mr. Kimball were granted with an exercise price equal to the closing price of RealNetworks common stock on the grant date of February 17, 2010. The purpose of this additional $175,000-equivalent in cash milestone payments and options was to bridge the gap between Mr. Kimball’s compensation as President and the median for a full time chief executive officer. The one-time bonus and option arrangement was viewed as a way to pay for the temporary role without a permanent increase in compensation to a chief executive officer level. The milestone bonus was made payable six months into his tenure as Acting Chief Executive Officer because the Compensation Committee believed that the new Chief Executive Officer would be known by that time.

The annual base salary of Mr. Eggers effective in February 2010 was established at approximately the 30th percentile of the annual base salaries of similarly situated chief financial officers in the 2010 Compensation Peer Group. The size of the increase reflected the fact that he had historically been paid below the market rate for chief financial officers and that leadership in the areas of finance and investor relations was going to be critical in 2010 following the departure of the Company’s founder and Chief Executive Officer. The annual base salary of Mr. Lunsford effective in February 2010 was established at between the median and the average of the annual base salaries of peer company division heads in the 2010 Compensation Peer Group. The annual base salary of Mr. Skorny effective in February 2010 was established at approximately the median of the annual base salaries of similarly situated executives in the 2010 Compensation Peer Group and was also set to be equal to Mr. Eggers’ salary for internal parity. The annual base salary of Mr. Daw effective in February 2010 was established based on a review of the salaries of internal peers having similar roles and responsibilities, together with market data derived from the WorldatWork Salary Budget Survey and the Radford executive compensation survey. Mr. Daw was not a senior officer in February 2010, which was before his August 2010 promotion to Chief Legal Officer. The Compensation Committee did not adjust Mr. Barbour’s annual base salary in February 2010 because it believed that Mr. Barbour was already paid properly for his role and responsibilities at the time and because the separation of the Games business had been delayed.

Effective July 2010, the Compensation Committee and the independent members of the Board of Directors approved the following increase in the annual base salary of Mr. Kimball in connection with his appointment as Chief Executive Officer upon the conclusion of the CEO search process:

 

Name

   Salary Increase     Base Salary      Effective Date  

Robert Kimball

     23.5   $ 525,000         July 2010   

The annual base salary of Mr. Kimball effective in July 2010 was established at the 25th percentile of chief executive officers in the 2010 Compensation Peer Group. This below-median position was chosen to reflect the fact that he did not have experience as a chief executive officer, with the expectation that salary would be increased to median over time as he gained experience in the role.

In August 2010, the Compensation Committee approved the following increase in the annual base salary of Mr. Daw in connection with his promotion to Chief Legal Officer, which role was vacant following Mr. Kimball’s promotion:

 

Name

   Salary Increase     Base Salary      Effective Date  

Tracy D. Daw

     16.3   $ 285,000         August 2010   

The annual base salary of Mr. Daw effective in August 2010 was established at approximately the 50th percentile of competitive market rates for similarly situated executives in a peer group of companies having target annual revenues of between $200 million and $500 million as described under the caption “Benchmarking-Tracy D. Daw” on page 35.

 

23


2010 Performance-based Cash Incentive Compensation.    The Compensation Committee and the other independent members of the Board of Directors of RealNetworks approved the 2010 MBO Plan, which is a bonus plan that pays cash awards to participants based on performance targets that are established at the beginning of each six-month measurement period during the 2010 calendar year. The 2010 MBO Plan was a transitional cash incentive plan and was designed to recognize (i) the achievement of financial stability of RealNetworks, (ii) the effective execution of transformational strategic milestones and (iii) the outstanding performance of the key executives necessary to achieve desired business results. The Compensation Committee determined that establishing six-month measurement periods under the 2010 MBO Plan would effectively align rewards with the achievement of short-term goals that are required to achieve long-term shareholder value. The six-month horizon was chosen because the rapid changes in the business shortened the planning horizon and made it necessary to emphasize the importance of shorter-term milestones that supported the business and leadership reorganization. The Committee also wanted to be able to re-consider the business strategy in the second half of the year, after the planned restructuring of the Rhapsody business, with new incentive goals to match the evolving business. The Committee also determined that while Mr. Eggers had participated in a separate discretionary CFO cash bonus program in the past, it was now appropriate to include him as an eligible participant in the 2010 MBO Plan in order to achieve alignment with the other members of the senior executive team during the Company’s transformational business period.

Participants in the 2010 MBO Plan include Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny, Daw and Barbour, and certain other officers and employees of RealNetworks. Mr. Barbour participated in the 2010 MBO Plan for the First Measurement Period (as defined below), but his subsequent employment termination effective August 13, 2010 precluded his participation in the Second Measurement Period.

In the first quarter of 2010, the Compensation Committee and the other non-employee members of the Board approved performance targets and payout mechanics under the 2010 MBO Plan for the first six-month measurement period beginning January 1, 2010 and ending on June 30, 2010 (the “First Measurement Period”). In August 2010, the Compensation Committee approved performance targets and payout mechanics under the 2010 MBO Plan for the second six-month measurement period beginning July 1, 2010 and ending December 31, 2010 (the “Second Measurement Period”). For the First and Second Measurement Periods, cash awards were based on financial metrics consisting of revenue, operating expenses and adjusted EBITDA, as defined and reported externally by the Company, as well as on key business milestones. The Compensation Committee believed that balanced financial performance will drive sustained value creation, and therefore, the 2010 MBO Plan was established with multiple financial metrics on which performance was measured.

The target payout under the 2010 MBO Plan for the First and Second Measurement Periods for each of Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny and Daw, and for the First Measurement Period for Mr. Barbour, was based 75% on the achievement of RealNetworks’ consolidated revenue, operating expense and EBITDA targets, with each financial metric having equal weight to reflect the importance of maintaining shareholder value, and 25% on the achievement of business milestones related to the simplification and reorganization strategy. Under the 2010 MBO Plan, for the First and Second Measurement Periods, consolidated (i) revenue was included as a performance metric because it was a key element of RealNetworks’ 2010 business plan, (ii) operating expenses were included as a performance metric because 2010 was a transformational year for RealNetworks and reducing operating costs was a key element of achieving financial stability, and (iii) EBITDA was included as a performance metric in order to provide rewards to our Named Executive Officers for achieving short-term profitability.

 

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The 2010 Executive MBO Plan was divided into two equal planning and measurement periods in order to support setting appropriate goals during a year of rapid change. However, the Company managed compensation using annual target bonus as expressed as a percent of annual salary and then dividing the target bonus into two equal parts to reflect the six-month performance periods. The following table shows the 2010 target and actual performance-based cash incentive compensation under the 2010 MBO Plan for the Named Executive Officers, including the President and Chief Executive Officer:

 

Name

   2010 MBO Plan Target
Annual Cash Incentive
Compensation
     2010 MBO Plan Actual
Annual Cash Incentive
Earned
     2010 MBO Plan
Average Annual
Target Cash  Incentive
Compensation

(as a percentage of
annual base salary)
    2010 MBO Plan Actual
Annual Cash Incentive
Earned

(as a percentage of
annual base salary)
 

Robert Kimball(1)

   $ 462,708       $ 523,221         98     111.2

Michael Eggers(2)

   $ 251,556       $ 281,766         73     81.6

John Barbour(3)

   $ 450,000       $ 224,483         100     99.8

Tracy D. Daw(4)

   $ 91,750       $ 98,940         35     38.3

Michael Lunsford

   $ 298,125       $ 332,625         75     83.7

Hank Skorny(5)

   $ 156,750       $ 166,988         45     47.9

 

(1)

In January 2010, the target performance-based cash incentive compensation under the 2010 MBO Plan for Mr. Kimball was 75% of his annual base salary and was increased to 100% of his annual base salary in February 2010 in connection with his promotion to President and Acting Chief Executive Officer.

 

(2)

In January 2010, the target performance-based cash incentive compensation under the 2010 MBO Plan for Mr. Eggers was 45% of his annual base salary and was increased to 75% of his annual base salary in February 2010 in connection with his expanded role and responsibilities following the resignation of Mr. Glaser as Chief Executive Officer in January 2010.

 

(3)

The target performance-based cash incentive compensation shown for Mr. Barbour represents his full-year target award under the 2010 MBO Plan. The actual performance-based cash incentive compensation shown for Mr. Barbour represents his 2010 MBO payout for the First Measurement Period. Mr. Barbour did not earn a 2010 MBO payout for the Second Measurement Period because the Company terminated his employment effective August 13, 2010.

 

(4)

The target payout under the 2010 MBO Plan as a percentage of annual base salary for Mr. Daw was 30% in the First Measurement Period and for the portion of the Second Measurement Period beginning July 1, 2010 through September 1, 2010. Effective August 18, 2010, Mr. Daw was promoted to Chief Legal Officer and his target payout under the 2010 MBO plan was increased to 45% for the remainder of the Second Measurement Period, which is consistent with the target payout for executive officers having similar roles and responsibilities.

 

(5)

In 2010, Mr. Skorny was eligible to earn additional performance-based cash incentive compensation equal to 30% of his annual base salary as described below.

The corporate revenue, EBITDA, and expense goals for the First and Second Measurement Periods were established to reflect our budget for each period, which evolved during the year following the separation of the Rhapsody joint venture, as well as other efforts to reduce costs, simplify and rationalize operations. The 2010 transformation caused the Compensation Committee to establish performance goals for the First and Second Measurement Periods that are conservative compared to the Company’s previous performance-based cash incentive plans. The Compensation Committee recognized the importance of incentivizing the Company’s executives to achieve financial stability of the organization and effective execution of transformational strategic milestones in 2010, and therefore it designed the 2010 MBO Plan to be a transitional plan that included both business milestones and quantitative financial metrics. The general design of the 2010 MBO Plan was substantially the same in the First and Second Measurement Periods, with differences in specific business milestones as well as the EBITDA-based payout mechanics that were attributed to significant differences in budgeted EBITDA in the First and Second Measurement Periods.

 

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The corporate revenue, EBITDA and operating expense goals against which performance under the 2010 MBO Plan was measured in the First and Second Measurement Periods were as follows:

 

     First Half 2010
$ (in millions)
     Second Half 2010
$ (in millions)
 

Corporate Revenue

     217.2         197.8   

Corporate EBITDA

     0.4         9.7   

Corporate Operating Expense

     171.8         155.7   

The business milestones for the First Measurement Period were established in connection with the transition following the resignation of Mr. Glaser as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and included milestones related to the reduction of operating costs, the reorganization of the business and the achievement of specific restructuring and transformational objectives. The business milestones of (a) operating the Company through the leadership transition, (b) simplifying the Company’s operations, (c) restructuring the business and (d) growing the business, each constituted 6.25% of the 25% weight attributed to the achievement of business milestones in the First Measurement Period.

The business milestones for the Second Measurement Period included the development of new product initiatives, the achievement of additional reductions in operating costs, continued efforts related to the reorganization of the business and the consolidation and simplification of the Company’s international operations. The business milestones of (a) simplifying the Company’s operations, (b) restructuring the business and (c) growing the business, each constituted 8.33% of the 25% weight attributed to the achievement of business milestones in the Second Measurement Period.

The 2010 MBO Plan was designed to focus all executive officers on the achievement of a uniform set of key objectives and performance was measured against established goals on the same basis for all executive officers.

For the First Measurement Period, for Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny, Daw and Barbour, no portion of the target payout based on revenue and operating expense goals would have been paid if less than 90% of the revenue and operating expense targets had been achieved. For achievement of 90% or greater of the revenue and operating expense targets, each of Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny, Daw and Barbour were paid linearly such that the payout corresponded to the level of achievement of the revenue and operating expense targets. For example, 95% goal achievement would fund 95% of the target bonus for that goal. The payouts based on revenue and operating expense goals were uncapped in the First and Second Measurement Periods because the Compensation Committee determined that the likelihood of overachievement of the budgeted revenue and operating expense targets was low. In addition, the Compensation Committee desired to provide for increased payouts for incremental revenue generation and reduced operating expenses in order to align the level of rewards with the level of attainment of these key financial objectives. Payouts to each of Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny, Daw and Barbour based on achievement of the EBITDA target were capped at 100%, and no portion of the payout based on EBITDA would have been paid if less than 100% of the EBITDA target had been achieved. This binary arrangement was to reflect the fact that the corporate EBITDA goal was lower than past periods and was a small number established at less than one million dollars.

A summary of the 2010 MBO Plan payout mechanics based on financial metrics for the First Measurement Period is as follows:

 

Revenue and Operating Expense   EBITDA

Attainment

  Incentive Payout   Attainment   Incentive Payout
<90%   No payout   <100%   No payout
90%+   Linear Payout   >100%+   Capped at 100%

For the Second Measurement Period, for Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny and Daw, no portion of the target payout based on revenue and operating expense goals would have been paid if less than 90% of the revenue and operating expense targets had been achieved. For achievement of 90% or greater of the revenue and

 

26


operating expense targets, each of Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny and Daw were paid linearly such that the payout corresponded to the level of achievement of the revenue and operating expense targets. For each of Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny and Daw, no portion of the target payout based on EBITDA would have been paid if less than 50% of the EBITDA target had been achieved. The payout threshold for achievement of the EBITDA target was 100% for the First Measurement Period because the EBITDA target for that period was a small number and accordingly, the target performance would either be attained or not. The EBITDA target for the Second Measurement Period was a higher number, reflecting significant improvement over the first half, so the Compensation Committee determined to structure payouts on a linear basis for achievement above a minimum 50% attainment threshold. For achievement of 50% or greater of the EBITDA target, each of Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny and Daw were paid linearly such that the payout corresponded to the level of achievement of the EBITDA target. The EBITDA-based payouts to Messrs. Kimball, Eggers and Lunsford were capped at 200% and the EBITDA-based payouts to Messrs. Skorny and Daw were capped at 160%. A higher cap on the EBITDA-based payout was established for Messrs. Kimball, Eggers and Lunsford to reflect their responsibilities and the impact and importance of their positions within RealNetworks.

A summary of the 2010 MBO Plan payout mechanics based on financial metrics for the Second Measurement Period is as follows:

 

Revenue and Operating Expense   EBITDA

Attainment

  Incentive Payout   Attainment   Incentive Payout
<90%   No payout   <50%   No payout
90%+   Linear Payout   50% - 100%+   Linear Payout*

 

*

Capped at 200% for Messrs. Kimball, Eggers and Lunsford; capped at 160% for Messrs. Skorny and Daw.

For achievement of business milestones that were established at the beginning of the First and Second Measurement Periods, the Compensation Committee reviewed and approved attainment results at the end of such measurement period and considered, but was not bound by, the recommendations of our President and Chief Executive Officer in determining the level of such attainment.

Performance target and actual attainment in the First and Second Measurement Periods under the 2010 MBO Plan were as follows:

 

Performance Metric

  First
Measurement
Period Target
Goal
$(in millions)
    First
Measurement
Period Actual
Attainment
$(in millions)
    First
Measurement
Period Payout
Attainment
    Second
Measurement
Period Target
Goal
$(in millions)
    Second
Measurement
Period Actual
Attainment
$(in millions)
    Second
Measurement
Period Payout
Attainment
 

Corporate Revenue

    217.2        217.5        100.14     197.8        183.3        92.66%   

Corporate EBITDA

    0.4        6.3        1,806.44 %(1)      9.7        19.9        205.76% (2) 

Corporate Operating Expense

    171.8        167.3        102.68     155.7        129.5        102.25%   

Corporate Milestones

    (3     (3     96.25     (3     (3     80.00%   

Overall Attainment

        99.77 %          123.23% /113.23% (4) 

 

(1)

The payout attainment based on corporate EBITDA in the First Measurement Period was capped at 100% for all Named Executive Officers.

 

(2)

The payout attainment based on corporate EBITDA in the Second Measurement Period was capped at 200% for Messrs. Kimball, Eggers and Lunsford, and 160% for Messrs. Daw and Skorny.

 

(3)

The business milestones for the First Measurement Period were established in connection with the transition following the resignation of Mr. Glaser as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and included milestones related to the reduction of operating costs, the reorganization of the business and the achievement of specific restructuring and transformational objectives. The business milestones for the Second Measurement Period included the development of new product initiatives, the achievement of additional reductions in operating costs, continued efforts related to the reorganization of the business and the consolidation and simplification

 

27


 

of the Company’s international operations. The weighting of the business milestones in the First and Second Measurement Periods is described under the caption “2010 Performance-based Cash Incentive Compensation” beginning on page 24.

 

(4)

The overall payout attainment in the Second Measurement Period for Messrs. Kimball, Eggers and Lunsford was 123.23%. The overall payout attainment in the Second Measurement Period for Messrs. Daw and Skorny was 113.23%.

In 2010, Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny, Daw and Barbour earned performance-based cash incentive compensation under the 2010 MBO Plan as follows:

 

Name

   First
Measurement
Period Target
Payout
     First
Measurement
Period Actual
Payout
     Second
Measurement
Period Target
Payout
     Second
Measurement
Period Actual
Payout
     Total 2010
Performance-Based
Cash Incentive
Earned
 

Robert Kimball

   $ 200,208       $ 199,748       $ 262,500       $ 323,473       $ 523,221   

Michael Eggers

   $ 120,306       $ 120,030       $ 131,250       $ 161,736       $ 281,766   

Michael Lunsford

   $ 148,125       $ 147,784       $ 150,000       $ 184,841       $ 332,625   

Hank Skorny

   $ 78,000       $ 77,821       $ 78,750       $ 89,167       $ 166,988   

Tracy D. Daw

   $ 36,750       $ 36,665       $ 55,000       $ 62,275       $ 98,940   

John Barbour(1)

   $ 225,000       $ 224,483                       $ 224,483   

 

(1)

Mr. Barbour did not earn a 2010 MBO payout for the Second Measurement Period because the Company terminated his employment effective August 13, 2010.

Mr. Skorny.    In 2010, Mr. Skorny was eligible to earn additional performance-based cash incentive compensation having a payout target equal to 30% of his annual base salary (the “Skorny Incentive Plan”) in consideration of his leadership of the development of the Company’s media cloud service offering. This additional incentive was agreed to in 2010 based on the potential importance of the new media cloud offering to the Company’s future value and the necessity of properly building out the related technology and services. For the First Measurement Period, payout attainment under the Skorny Incentive Plan was based equally on the achievement of special project-related milestones and operating expense targets. For the Second Measurement Period, payout attainment under the Skorny Incentive Plan was based on revenue and operating expense targets and special project-related milestones. In the First Measurement Period, no portion of the target payout based on operating expense goals would have been paid if less than 90% of the operating expense goals had been achieved. The Compensation Committee reviewed and approved attainment results under the Skorny Incentive Plan at the end of the First and Second Measurement Periods and considered, but was not bound by, the recommendations of our President and Chief Executive Officer in determining the level of such attainment. Notwithstanding the performance and payout targets established under the Skorny Incentive Plan, the Compensation Committee had the discretion to increase, decrease or eliminate an award before it was paid.

The Compensation Committee determined that attainment of the performance goals under the Skorny Incentive Plan in the First Measurement Period was 100% because actual operating expenses were below budget and the other media cloud-based business milestones established for the First Measurement Period had been achieved. The Compensation Committee determined that attainment of the performance goals under the Skorny Incentive Plan in the Second Measurement Period was 50% because certain milestones related to the development and launch of the Company’s media cloud product were not achieved.

In 2010, Mr. Skorny earned performance-based cash incentive compensation under the Skorny Incentive Plan as follows:

 

First Measurement

Period Attainment

  

First Measurement
Period Payout Amount

  

Second Measurement
Period Attainment

  

Second Measurement
Period Payout Amount

100%    $52,000    50%    $26,250

 

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2010 Retention Arrangements.    In light of the transitional activities resulting from the departure in January 2010 of the Company’s only Chief Executive Officer since its founding and the desire to retain the key senior executive team, as well as to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and commitment of certain key executives to their duties without distraction during a challenging period for the Company, the Compensation Committee approved retention letter agreements in January 2010 between the Company and certain key employees, including Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny and Daw (the “Retention Agreements”). The Compensation Committee engaged Cook to provide analysis and advice with respect to the development of the Retention Agreements, which were viewed as a pragmatic necessity during the period of rapid change in leadership and business priorities that followed Mr. Glaser’s departure as CEO and the subsequent CEO search. The amounts were determined following a review of other companies with market cap below $4.0 billion that had used retention awards during periods of uncertainty, with an eye towards balancing the cost to the Company with materiality to executives and the potential cost to replace key employees that may choose to leave rather than work through a difficult period. The agreements provide for the payment of cash bonuses to the Named Executive Officers as described below:

 

Name

   Retention Bonus Amount       

Robert Kimball

   $ 850,000       (2x February 2010 salary)

Michael Eggers

   $ 700,000       (2x February 2010 salary)

Michael Lunsford

   $ 800,000       (2x February 2010 salary)

Hank Skorny

   $ 700,000       (2x February 2010 salary)

Tracy D. Daw

   $ 285,000       (1x February 2011 salary)

Two-thirds of each of the retention bonuses for Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford and Skorny was payable on February 1, 2011. The remaining one-third of the total amount of each such bonus was payable on August 1, 2011, subject to the continued employment of the respective executive officer through each such date. For Mr. Daw, whose target bonus was considerably lower since he had not yet been promoted to Chief Legal Officer, 100% of his retention bonus was paid on February 1, 2011. Following his resignation as President and Chief Executive Officer in March 2011, Mr. Kimball received 100% of the portion of his retention bonus that was scheduled to be paid on August 1, 2011, which was pursuant to the terms of Mr. Kimball’s Retention Agreement and a Separation and Release Agreement between RealNetworks and Mr. Kimball, effective April 15, 2011, in connection with his resignation (the “Kimball Separation Agreement”).

The amounts of the retention bonuses for Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny and Daw were determined based on a multiple of annual base salary. The multiple, which ranged from 1.0 to 2.0, is based upon the Named Executive Officer’s relative level of responsibility and potential impact on RealNetworks’ overall performance. The payment schedule and payment amounts were determined for Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford and Skorny in consideration of their critical roles within RealNetworks, to ensure executive continuity and retention for up to 18 months, and in recognition that the first 12 months of RealNetworks’ transformational activities were expected to present the most difficult challenges. The Company believed that these periods would provide sufficient time to find the permanent CEO and effect much of the business transformation.

Under the Retention Agreements, one-half of the maximum amount is guaranteed to be paid. On each scheduled payment date, subject to the continued employment of the respective executive officer, Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny and Daw were each to receive 50% of the scheduled amount of his respective bonus, and the remaining 50% (or lesser amount) was to be paid only if approved by the Compensation Committee, at its discretion. The Committee chose to retain this ability to exercise discretion as to the performance of executives in order to ensure the full award was not paid to anyone whose performance during the retention period was not up to expectations. In the event of the termination of Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny or Daw without “cause” or resignation for “good reason” (as such terms are defined in the Change in Control and Severance Agreement for each of Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny and Daw as described under the caption “Severance and Change in Control Benefits” on page 32), the terminated executive officer is entitled to receive the unpaid portion of the maximum retention bonus amount that otherwise is scheduled to be paid after such termination. In the event of the death or permanent disability of

 

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Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny or Daw, the Company will pay a prorated amount of the respective retention bonus (less any amounts previously paid), with any payout of the discretionary portion remaining subject to the Compensation Committee’s discretion.

On January 31, 2011, after considering the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee approved 100% of the discretionary portion of the retention bonus payments scheduled to be paid on February 1, 2011 for Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford and Daw based on the quality of their overall performance and their high degree of effort in their respective areas of responsibility and oversight, and 85% of the discretionary portion of the bonus payment scheduled to be paid on February 1, 2011 for Mr. Skorny based on his achievement of objectives related to the development and launch of RealNetworks’ media cloud service offering. On July 21, 2011, the Compensation Committee approved 100% of the discretionary portion of the retention bonus payments scheduled to be paid on August 1, 2011 for Messrs. Eggers and Skorny based on the quality of their overall performance and high degree of effort in their respective areas of responsibility and oversight. On July 22, 2011 and based on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors approved 100% of the discretionary portion of the retention bonus payment scheduled to be paid on August 1, 2011 for Mr. Lunsford.

Long-term Equity Incentive Compensation.    RealNetworks’ long-term incentive program is designed to motivate our executive officers to focus on long-term company performance through equity awards and to serve as a tool in attracting and retaining key executive officers. The Company grants annual officer equity awards between the median and the 75th percentile of peer companies and also provides equity at the time of senior officer promotions to align executive interests with their new roles.

The equity awards granted to the Named Executive Officers in 2010 are as follows (share numbers are presented in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis after giving effect to (i) adjustments to equity awards made in connection with the special dividend of $1.00 per share paid on August 23, 2011 and (ii) the 1-for-4 reverse split of the Company’s common stock effective August 30, 2011):

 

Name

 

Type of Award

  No. Granted    

Grant Date

 

Grant Purpose

Robert Kimball(1)

  Stock Options     103,750      February 2010   Annual President Award

Robert Kimball(1)

  Stock Options     21,250      February 2010   Promotion to President

Robert Kimball

  Stock Options     15,000      February 2010   In lieu of $75,000 cash for Acting CEO duties

Robert Kimball

  Restricted Stock Units     47,962      September 2010   Promotion to CEO

Michael Eggers

  Stock Options     100,000      February 2010   Annual CFO Award

Michael Lunsford

  Stock Options     100,000      February 2010   Annual Large Division Head Award

Hank Skorny

  Stock Options     33,750      February 2010   Annual Small Division Head Award

Tracy D. Daw

  Stock Options     27,500      January 2010   Annual VP Award

Tracy D. Daw

  Stock Options     40,000      September 2010   Promotion to Chief Legal Officer

 

(1)

The annual award of 103,750 stock options and the promotion award of 21,250 stock options granted to Mr. Kimball in February 2010 were granted as a single award of 125,000 stock options.

In February 2010, Messrs. Kimball, Eggers and Lunsford were awarded 125,000, 100,000 and 100,000 stock options, respectively, in connection with their expanded roles and responsibilities as RealNetworks entered into a transitional period following the resignation of RealNetworks’ former Chief Executive Officer and in recognition of their individual performance. Mr. Kimball’s award was specifically sized to recognize his promotion to President (21,250 options) and to provide a competitive ongoing annual award for his President role (103,750 options). Mr. Skorny was awarded 33,750 stock options in February 2010 and Mr. Daw was awarded

 

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27,500 stock options in January 2010. The stock options awarded to Messrs. Skorny and Daw were granted in connection with the annual executive performance review process. The Compensation Committee determined the size of the equity awards granted to Messrs. Kimball, Eggers and Lunsford in February 2010 based on Cook’s analysis and advice provided in 2010 with respect to the compensation of certain of our executive officers, including Messrs. Kimball, Eggers and Lunsford (the “2010 Cook Data”) and granted equity awards to these executives at the 75th percentile of similarly situated executives in the 2010 Compensation Peer Group. This position was to provide a reward opportunity for successfully executing the next generation strategy and increasing shareholder value. When these February 2010 equity awards were subsequently benchmarked by Cook in October 2010, they were found to be below the 75th percentile of the new peer group, which was updated to reflect the Company’s smaller size following the separation of Rhapsody. The Compensation Committee also considered the existing equity holdings of Messrs. Kimball, Eggers and Lunsford when determining the size of the equity awards granted to these executives in February 2010, specifically the retentive value, the opportunity to benefit from future equity appreciation and the vested versus unvested equity holdings of each executive officer. The Compensation Committee determined the size of the equity awards granted to Messrs. Skorny and Daw in February 2010 and January 2010, respectively, based on individual performance and equity award guidelines established for executives having similar roles and responsibilities.

In September 2010, Mr. Kimball was awarded 47,962 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) in connection with his promotion to Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Daw was awarded 40,000 stock options in connection with his promotion to Chief Legal Officer. With respect to Mr. Kimball, the independent members of the Board of Directors determined that the size of Mr. Kimball’s RSU award, together with the increases in his compensation approved earlier in 2010, appropriately recognized his promotion to Chief Executive Officer and provided sufficient incentive in his role as President and Chief Executive Officer. The Committee chose to use RSUs to enhance retention and limit dilution from the award. With respect to Mr. Daw, the Compensation Committee considered the size of a typical stock option grant to a newly hired Senior Vice President and granted a stock option award to Mr. Daw that, together with the stock options granted to Mr. Daw in January 2010, appropriately recognized Mr. Daw’s promotion to Chief Legal Officer. In both cases, the mid-year promotion award amounts were offset by grants already provided during the year, so that the annual total was consistent with the desired grant position.

The exercise price of each of the stock options granted to Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny and Daw is equal to the closing price of RealNetworks common stock on the respective grant dates. The vesting schedule applicable to each of the equity awards granted to the Named Executive Officers in 2010 is described in the table captioned “Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2010” beginning on page 45.

RealNetworks does not have any program, plan or obligation that requires the granting of stock options or other equity awards to any executive officer on specified dates, or that requires the Named Executive Officers to hold stock options or restricted stock units beyond their vesting dates. All stock options are granted with exercise prices that are equal to the last sale price of RealNetworks’ common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on the respective date of grant. The Compensation Committee typically grants equity awards to corporate and executive officers at its scheduled meetings or by unanimous written consent. From time to time, the Compensation Committee may authorize the future grant of an equity award to a corporate or executive officer in advance of the commencement of such officer’s employment by RealNetworks, in which case the Compensation Committee’s approval of the award is subject to and effective upon the employment of such officer by RealNetworks, and the exercise price of such stock option is equal to the last sale price of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on the respective date of grant, which would be the first day of the employment of such officer. Pursuant to the terms of the RealNetworks, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (the “2005 Plan”), the Board of Directors has delegated authority to each of our Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer to grant awards under the 2005 Plan to employees who are not directors or officers of RealNetworks, and such awards are typically approved on a weekly basis.

 

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Benefits and Perquisites.    Benefits are part of a competitive compensation package to attract and retain employees, including executives. Our executive officers are eligible to participate in all of our benefit programs. These programs include medical, dental, vision, group life and disability insurance, a medical reimbursement plan, a transportation subsidy and an employee stock purchase plan that permits employees to purchase RealNetworks stock at a 15% discount from the closing sale price of our Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on the last trading day of each offering period.

Our employees, including the Named Executive Officers, are also eligible to participate in our 401(k) savings plan, a tax-qualified retirement savings plan pursuant to which all U.S. based employees are able to contribute the lesser of up to 50% of their cash compensation (including base salary, bonuses, commissions and overtime pay) or the limit prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service to the plan on a before-tax basis. RealNetworks will match 50% of the first 3% of pay that is contributed to the 401(k) savings plan. All employee contributions to the 401(k) savings plan are fully vested upon contribution. Matching contributions by RealNetworks become fully vested after three years.

Our executive officers participate in the benefit programs described above on the same basis as our other employees. We may offer other benefits to our employees and executive officers from time to time, including relocation packages. In connection with Mr. Barbour’s acceptance of an offer of employment by RealNetworks as President of the Games division in October 2008, RealNetworks agreed to pay the costs of temporary housing and certain commuting expenses during the first twelve months of Mr. Barbour’s employment. RealNetworks also agreed to reimburse Mr. Barbour for the income tax liability associated with the temporary housing and commuting benefits in an amount not to exceed $100,000, including any tax liability resulting from such reimbursement. It was anticipated that the Company would spin-off its Games division and that Mr. Barbour would be chief executive officer of the resulting stand-alone public Games company and re-locate permanently at that time. However, following the postponement of the Company’s planned separation of the Games business from RealNetworks, in December 2009 the Compensation Committee approved the reimbursement of additional temporary housing and commuting expenses for up to an additional six months following November 1, 2009, with such expense reimbursements to be capped at $130,000 (consisting of $80,000 for commuting and temporary housing benefits and $50,000 for the associated tax liability). In 2010, Mr. Barbour was reimbursed for commuting and temporary housing expenses in the amount of $79,799 and the associated income tax liability in the amount of $45,769. This assistance was cancelled when Mr. Barbour’s employment was terminated in August 2010.

Since 2002, the imputed costs associated with the occupancy of vacant office space in our headquarters by the Glaser Progress Foundation, a charitable foundation of which Mr. Glaser is Trustee, and by Mr. Glaser’s personal assistant, have been reported as income to Mr. Glaser. Other than as described above, there were no special benefits or perquisites provided to any other Named Executive Officer in 2010.

Severance and Change in Control Benefits.    It is the Company’s policy to request our executive officers to provide notice to RealNetworks prior to voluntarily terminating their employment with RealNetworks for the purpose of transitioning responsibilities. The Compensation Committee believes that this is an important element of the executive compensation program, as it provides executive officers reasonable assurance of transitional employment support and it benefits RealNetworks by ensuring continuity during these transitions. During 2010, in the event an executive officer provided six months’ notice prior to voluntarily terminating his or her employment, he or she would have received a severance payment equal to six months of such executive’s annual base salary, even if RealNetworks did not require the continued services of the executive officer for all or part of such six month notice period. In the event an executive officer provided notice of less than six months prior to voluntarily terminating his or her employment, he or she would have received a severance payment equal to the number of months’ notice provided, up to a maximum severance payment equal to six months of the executive’s annual base salary, even if RealNetworks did not require the continued services of the executive officer for all or part of such notice period. These severance payments would be in addition to any base salary earned during these periods and would have been paid following the last day worked by an executive officer, and executive officers who received such severance payments provided a waiver and release of all claims against RealNetworks.

 

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Mr. Glaser.    In April 2010, the Compensation Committee approved payments in the aggregate amount of $400,000 to Mr. Glaser in connection with his resignation on January 12, 2010 as RealNetworks’ Chief Executive Officer. Of this amount, $250,958 represents the amount Mr. Glaser would have been eligible for as performance-based cash incentive compensation under the 2009 annual cash incentive plan had he remained employed by RealNetworks on the date payments were made under the Company’s cash incentive plans (which was scheduled to occur within the next 45 days having already completed the performance period), and $149,042 represents an additional severance payment in recognition of his service to the Company and because Mr. Glaser remains Chairman of the Board of Directors. In addition and for the same reason, the Compensation Committee approved the extension of the exercisability period of stock options previously granted to Mr. Glaser with respect to those shares subject to stock options that were vested as of January 12, 2010 (the “Vested Options”), such that the Vested Options will remain exercisable until the earlier of the (x) expiration date of the option grant pursuant to the applicable stock option agreement, or (y) expiration of the post-termination exercise period set forth in the applicable stock option agreement following termination of Mr. Glaser’s service as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. This was to recognize that service continued as Chairman of the Board even though service as an employee was ending. All unvested shares subject to the stock options were canceled as of Mr. Glaser’s resignation date in accordance with the terms of the applicable award agreement and the 2005 Plan.

Mr. Barbour.    Pursuant to the terms of the Offer Letter dated October 28, 2008 between RealNetworks and Mr. Barbour (the “Barbour Offer Letter”), in the event that Mr. Barbour’s employment was terminated by the Company other than for Cause or by Mr. Barbour for Good Reason (as such terms are defined in the Barbour Offer Letter), or if RealNetworks’ Board of Directors decided not to proceed with a spin-off of its Games business and Mr. Barbour elected to terminate his employment thereafter, Mr. Barbour would be entitled to receive: (a) any bonus award for which he is eligible under the Company’s Executive MBO Plan; (b) a lump-sum cash payment in an amount equal to (i) one year’s base salary at the rate in effect as of the date Mr. Barbour’s employment terminates, plus (ii) 12 months of his target annual bonus award; and (c) additional vesting and exercisability of each outstanding equity-based award as described below.

Mr. Barbour’s employment was terminated by RealNetworks effective August 13, 2010, and based upon the terms of the Barbour Offer Letter, which was provided upon his hire in 2008, Mr. Barbour was paid severance payments in the aggregate amount of $900,000, representing twelve months of his annual base salary and 100% of his target annual bonus award, together with additional vesting and exercisability of his outstanding stock option awards calculated on a pro rata basis for the portion of the year elapsed since the last vesting date of such options, expressed in full months. In addition, RealNetworks reimbursed Mr. Barbour for the costs associated with his temporary housing in Seattle, Washington through month end, and paid Mr. Barbour tax gross-up compensation on the imputed income related to such reimbursements. In exchange for the severance payments made to Mr. Barbour, Mr. Barbour provided a waiver and release of all claims against RealNetworks.

Messrs. Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny and Daw.    In 2010, the Compensation Committee approved “double-trigger” change in control and severance arrangements with respect to certain key employees including Messrs. Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny and Daw to encourage the retention and commitment of these executives during the Company’s leadership transition and restructuring activities. In the event of a “change in control” of RealNetworks, if the employment of Messrs. Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny or Daw is terminated without “cause” or any of such executives resigns for “good reason” (as such terms are defined in the Change in Control and Severance Agreement between RealNetworks and each of Messrs. Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny or Daw) within three months prior to or 24 months following such change in control, Messrs. Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny or Daw are each entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to 125% of the sum of his base salary and target bonus, a lump sum payment of his prorated target bonus for any partial annual incentive bonus period, 100% accelerated vesting of his equity awards granted on or after (i) February 1, 2010 with respect to Messrs. Kimball, Eggers, Lunsford and Skorny, and (ii) August 26, 2010 with respect to Mr. Daw, extension of the post-termination exercisability of all vested nonqualified stock options that are outstanding as of the date of the executive’s termination of employment for up to 12 months, and 18 months of Company-paid health coverage. In order for each such executive to receive such severance benefits, he must (i) execute a release of claims in favor of RealNetworks, (ii) agree to a nondisparagement obligation, and (iii) agree to non-solicitation and no-hire

 

33


obligations for a period of 12 months following termination. For purposes of each of these agreements, “cause” includes, for example, the substantial and continuing failure of the executive, after written notice thereof, to render services to RealNetworks in accordance with the terms or requirements of his employment for reasons other than illness or incapacity, and his violation of any confidentiality or non-competition agreements with RealNetworks or its subsidiaries that results in material harm to RealNetworks. The term “good reason” includes, for example, a material reduction (of more than 10%) in the executive’s annual base compensation as in effect immediately prior to such reduction, a material reduction in his annual target bonus opportunity (of more than 10%) and a material change (of more than 50 miles) in the geographic location where he is required to perform his work. RealNetworks has no further obligation to provide benefits to Mr. Skorny under his Change in Control and Severance Agreement following Mr. Skorny’s resignation from RealNetworks effective September 16, 2011.

Mr. Kimball.    In 2010, the Compensation Committee approved the terms of a double-trigger Change in Control and Severance Agreement between RealNetworks and Mr. Kimball (the “Kimball CIC Agreement”) having substantially the same terms as the change in control and severance arrangements described above with respect to Messrs. Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny and Daw. Pursuant to the Kimball CIC Agreement, Mr. Kimball was entitled to certain additional severance benefits. In the event of Mr. Kimball’s termination of employment without “cause” or resignation for “good reason” other than during the change in control period (as such terms are defined in the Kimball CIC Agreement and described above), Mr. Kimball was entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to 100% of his base salary, accelerated vesting of up to 62,500 shares subject to his option covering 125,000 shares granted on February 1, 2010, 100% accelerated vesting of his option covering 15,000 shares, and extension of post-termination exercisability of all equity awards for up to 12 months (upon the later of (i) termination of his employment or (ii) termination of his Board service, but no later than the option’s original term). In order to receive the severance benefits under the Kimball CIC Agreement, Mr. Kimball was required to (i) execute a release of claims in favor of the Company, (ii) agree to a nondisparagement obligation, and (iii) agree to non-solicitation and no-hire obligations for a period of 12 months following termination. Mr. Kimball’s rights and obligations under the Kimball CIC Agreement were superseded by a Separation and Release Agreement described under the caption “Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer-Mr. Kimball” beginning on page 36.

Under our equity incentive plans, if we terminate the employment of a Named Executive Officer for any reason other than for cause, and any of such Named Executive Officer’s outstanding stock options or restricted stock units are not fully vested, the individual award agreements entered into with such Named Executive Officer provide that the next vesting installment of such stock options or restricted stock units will vest on a pro rata basis for the portion of the year elapsed since the date on which the vesting of the option commenced or the last anniversary thereof, expressed in full months, provided that the Named Executive Officer executes and delivers a settlement agreement and release satisfactory to us on or before the date of such termination. If the employment of a Named Executive Officer terminates due to such executive officer’s death, any stock options or restricted stock units that are unvested as of the date of such executive officer’s death will fully vest on such date and may be exercised by the estate or legal representative of such executive officer for a period of one year following such date. For purposes of the award agreements, “cause” includes, for example, the substantial and continuing failure of the award holder after written notice to render services to the Company in accordance with the terms or requirements of the award holder’s employment for reasons other than illness or incapacity, willful violation by the award holder of a policy or procedure of the Company, resulting in any case in significant harm to the Company, and the award holder’s violation of any confidentiality or non-competition agreements with the Company or its subsidiaries.

In addition, our executive officers may be eligible to receive certain benefits with respect to outstanding awards granted under our equity incentive plans in the event of a change in control of RealNetworks. A change in control of a corporation is often accompanied by changes in the corporate culture and job losses due to redundancy, especially at the executive levels. If a change in control of RealNetworks were under consideration, we expect that our executives could be faced with personal uncertainties and distractions about how the transaction may affect their continued employment with us. By granting awards under our equity incentive plans that include change in control benefits before any such transaction is contemplated, we hope to focus our

 

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executive’s full attention and dedication to our shareholders’ best interests in the event of a threatened or pending change in control, and to encourage the executive to remain employed by RealNetworks through the completion of any such transaction.

Benchmarking

Our Human Resources department periodically obtains executive compensation data from outside compensation consultants and/or salary surveys that reflect a peer group of other technology companies and considers this data when making recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding employment offers to and compensation packages for our executive officers.

• Messrs. Kimball, Eggers and Lunsford.    The 2010 Cook Data provided the primary foundation for the establishment of compensation of Messrs. Kimball, Eggers and Lunsford that was in effect throughout 2010.

As part of its compensation analysis, Cook utilized compensation data from the 2010 Compensation Peer Group. The companies comprising the 2010 Compensation Peer Group are:

 

Avid Technologies, Inc.

   Move Inc.    Shutterfly Inc.    ValueClick, Inc.

F5 Networks, Inc.

   Netflix, Inc.    Take-Two Interactive, Inc.    WebMD Health Corp.

Harmonic Inc.

   Red Hat, Inc.    THQ Inc.   

Interactive Data Corp.

   Scholastic Corporation    TiVo Inc.   

Cook created compensation benchmarks using data disclosed in regulatory reports by companies in the 2010 Compensation Peer Group and conducted a review of total target annual cash compensation consisting of annual base salary and target cash incentive compensation and the long-term incentive compensation of executives in the 2010 Compensation Peer Group.

Cook utilized peer company data for non-founder chief executive officers and the second highest paid officers in the 2010 Compensation Peer Group in formulating a recommendation for Mr. Kimball’s 2010 compensation as President, Acting Chief Executive Officer and Chief Executive Officer. Peer company data for non-founder chief financial officers in the 2010 Compensation Peer Group were used to formulate a recommendation for the 2010 compensation of Mr. Eggers. Peer company non-founder data for division heads and the third highest paid officers in the 2010 Compensation Peer Group, regardless of title, were used to formulate a recommendation for Mr. Lunsford’s 2010 compensation.

• John Barbour.    John Barbour served as RealNetworks’ President, Games Division, from October 2008 until his employment terminated in August 2010. In 2008, the Compensation Committee determined Mr. Barbour’s compensation in the context of RealNetworks’ previously announced intention to separate the Games division from the Company, after which RealNetworks expected Mr. Barbour would be the chief executive officer of the new entity. Mr. Barbour’s annual base salary and performance-based cash incentive compensation remained the same from October 2008 through the termination of his employment in August 2010.

Tracy D. Daw.    In 2010, Mr. Daw served as the Company’s Vice President, Corporate Development, Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary from January to August and was promoted to Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary effective August 2010. Mr. Daw’s compensation as Vice President, Corporate Development, Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary was determined by RealNetworks’ Human Resources department and its Chief Executive Officer primarily on the basis of internal comparators and individual performance.

In August 2010, the Compensation Committee approved an annual base salary for Mr. Daw of $285,000, which was established at approximately the 50th percentile of competitive market rates, in connection with Mr. Daw’s promotion to Chief Legal Officer, and established Mr. Daw’s target performance-based cash incentive compensation at 45% of his annual base salary, which is consistent with the target performance-based cash incentive compensation of similarly situated executive officers of RealNetworks. The Compensation Committee

 

35


considered (but was not obligated to take) the recommendations of RealNetworks’ Human Resources department in establishing Mr. Daw’s compensation, which recommendations were based on internal comparators, Radford executive compensation survey data, and executive compensation data from a peer group of companies having target annual revenues of between $200 million and $500 million as set forth below:

 

Blue Coat Systems Inc.

  

Newport Corp.

     

Coherent Inc.

  

Rovi Corp.

     

Infinera Corp.

  

Websense Inc.

     

Move Inc.

        

Hank Skorny.    Mr. Skorny served as Senior Vice President, Media Cloud Computing and Services in 2010 and was appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer in January 2011. In January 2010, the Compensation Committee approved an annual base salary for Mr. Skorny of $350,000, an increase of approximately 6%, based primarily on internal comparators and individual performance.

Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Glaser.    Effective January 12, 2010, Mr. Glaser resigned from his position as Chief Executive Officer of RealNetworks. Mr. Glaser continues to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors. As a nonemployee director of RealNetworks, in 2010 Mr. Glaser was compensated for his services as a director under RealNetworks’ director compensation program described on page 48. In April 2010, the Compensation Committee approved severance arrangements for Mr. Glaser as described under the caption “Severance and Change in Control Benefits-Mr. Glaser” on page 33. Mr. Glaser resigned from his position as Chief Executive Officer of RealNetworks prior to the date payments were made under the 2010 MBO Plan and was not eligible to earn performance-based cash incentive compensation in 2010.

Mr. Kimball.    In January 2010, Mr. Kimball was promoted to President and Acting Chief Executive Officer of RealNetworks following the resignation of Mr. Glaser as Chief Executive Officer, after previously serving as RealNetworks’ Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Law, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Mr. Kimball was then appointed as RealNetworks’ Acting Chief Executive Officer and was included as a candidate for the position of Chief Executive Officer during the Board of Directors’ search for a permanent Chief Executive Officer in the first half of 2010. The Compensation Committee and the other independent directors of RealNetworks recognized that Mr. Kimball’s role as Acting Chief Executive Officer would be challenging during this transitional time and determined to compensate Mr. Kimball fairly for his role as Acting Chief Executive Officer while providing the Board the time and flexibility to conduct a search for a Chief Executive Officer.

In January 2010, the Compensation Committee engaged Cook to provide analysis and advice with respect to Mr. Kimball’s compensation as President and Acting Chief Executive Officer. As part of their analysis, Cook utilized compensation data for the second highest paid officer of each company in the 2010 Compensation Peer Group. Based on Cook’s analysis, the Compensation Committee recognized that Mr. Kimball’s compensation prior to his appointment as President reflected his previous role as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Law, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, and therefore approved an increase in Mr. Kimball’s overall compensation to reflect his promotion to President. Based on Cook’s analysis, the ongoing compensation for Mr. Kimball was targeted at slightly above the median to reflect his experience and the fact that not all of the second highest paid officers in the 2010 Compensation Peer Group served in the role of President.

The Compensation Committee also approved additional temporary compensation for Mr. Kimball in recognition of his short-term and challenging role as Acting Chief Executive Officer. The difference between Mr. Kimball’s new compensation as President and a median annual Chief Executive Officer compensation program for the estimated duration of Mr. Kimball’s service as Acting Chief Executive Officer was the basis for the determination of Mr. Kimball’s compensation as Acting Chief Executive Officer. Compensation data for non-founder chief executive officers in the 2010 Compensation Peer Group were used to determine Mr. Kimball’s compensation as Acting Chief Executive Officer.

 

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Pursuant to authority granted to the Compensation Committee by the Board of Directors, in January 2010 the Compensation Committee approved an increase in the annual base salary of Mr. Kimball to $425,000, an increase of approximately 15%, based on his individual performance and in recognition of the increased scope of his role and responsibilities as President and Acting Chief Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee also established Mr. Kimball’s target performance-based cash incentive compensation at 100% of his annual base salary, resulting in target annual cash compensation between the median and the 75th percentile for the second highest paid officer in the 2010 Compensation Peer Group. At the same time, the Committee set up a temporary mechanism to pay for the Acting Chief Executive Officer role. This was in the form of a $100,000 cash milestone bonus after six months and an award for 15,000 options (which was provided in lieu of $75,000 cash). The $175,000 in cash equivalent payment was to provide the difference between his President level compensation and the median for a chief executive officer over a six month period. This special compensation was provided to Mr. Kimball for six months of service as Acting Chief Executive Officer because that was the expected Chief Executive Officer search period.

In recognition of Mr. Kimball’s promotion to President, Mr. Kimball was also awarded options for the purchase of 125,000 shares of RealNetworks common stock. Of these options, 103,750 were granted as an annual long-term equity incentive award for serving as President, which was the 75th percentile for annual awards granted to the second highest paid officer in the 2010 Compensation Peer Group after taking into account adjustments based on RealNetworks’ capitalization. The remaining 21,250 options were awarded to Mr. Kimball in recognition of his promotion to President.

In light of the transitional activities resulting from the departure in January 2010 of RealNetworks’ former Chief Executive Officer and the desire to retain the key senior executive team, as well as to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and commitment of certain key executives to their duties without distraction during a challenging period for RealNetworks, the Compensation Committee approved retention letter agreements in 2010 between RealNetworks and certain key employees of the Company, including Mr. Kimball. The Kimball Retention Agreement is described under the caption “2010 Retention Arrangements” in the section entitled “Elements of Compensation” beginning on page 21.

At the conclusion of the Board’s search for a Chief Executive Officer in July 2010, Mr. Kimball was appointed Chief Executive Officer of RealNetworks and continued to serve as its President. In connection with Mr. Kimball’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors authorized and directed the Compensation Committee to enter into negotiations with Mr. Kimball regarding Mr. Kimball’s compensation package (the “CEO Compensation Package”) within certain parameters for such compensation previously set by the members of the Board, excluding Mr. Kimball. The Compensation Committee conducted deliberations as to the appropriate composition and amount of compensation to be included in the CEO Compensation Package, considering the parameters established by the Board and based on the analysis and advice of Cook. The Compensation Committee kept the Board informed of its deliberations with respect to the CEO Compensation Package, but Mr. Kimball did not participate in any of the Compensation Committee’s deliberations and had no knowledge of the details of such deliberations.

The Compensation Committee recognized that an internal promotion to Chief Executive Officer should be accompanied by competitive compensation for the role. It also determined that it was appropriate to consider amounts paid earlier in 2010 when Mr. Kimball was promoted to President and Acting Chief Executive Officer in establishing the CEO Compensation Package. Therefore, it established a framework for the CEO Compensation Package that included the evaluation of market data for a Chief Executive Officer promotion and a review of compensation approved in February 2010 in connection with Mr. Kimball’s promotion to President and Acting Chief Executive Officer. In September 2010, the independent members of the Board of Directors approved an annual base salary for Mr. Kimball of $525,000, an increase of approximately 24%, effective July 2010 and consistent with the 25th percentile of chief executive officers in the 2010 Compensation Peer Group. The 25th percentile was chosen to recognize Mr. Kimball’s status as a new Chief Executive Officer and to allow room for future increases as his experience grew. Mr. Kimball was also awarded 47,962 RSUs vesting in equal increments every six months over a four year period. The Board of Directors determined that the increase in

 

37


Mr. Kimball’s annual base salary and the award of RSUs, together with compensation for Mr. Kimball that was approved earlier in 2010, appropriately recognized Mr. Kimball’s promotion to Chief Executive Officer and sufficiently incentivized Mr. Kimball in his role as President and Chief Executive Officer.

In 2010, Mr. Kimball earned performance-based cash incentive compensation under the 2010 MBO Plan as described under the caption “2010 Performance-based Cash Incentive Compensation” in the section entitled “Elements of Compensation” beginning on page 21. All executive officers of RealNetworks participated in the 2010 MBO Plan in order to achieve alignment among the senior executive team in working to achieve the Company’s transformational business goals and objectives in 2010.

In 2010, the Compensation Committee approved change in control and severance arrangements with respect to Mr. Kimball described under the caption “Severance and Change in Control Benefits” in the section entitled “Elements of Compensation” beginning on page 21.

On March 28, 2011, Mr. Kimball resigned from his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of RealNetworks and he also resigned from RealNetworks’ Board of Directors. Mr. Kimball’s rights and obligations under the Kimball CIC Agreement, as well as the Kimball Retention Agreement, were superseded by the Kimball Separation Agreement. Pursuant to the Kimball Separation Agreement, Mr. Kimball received a severance payment equal to approximately $1.7 million, which was recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the independent members of the Board of Directors, based on eighteen months of Mr. Kimball’s annual base salary and target bonus payment under the RealNetworks, Inc. 2011 Executive MBO Plan and the pro-rata portion of Mr. Kimball’s target payout under the 2011 Executive MBO Plan. In addition, Mr. Kimball received the remaining payment of $283,000 under the Kimball Retention Agreement pursuant to the original terms of that agreement. Mr. Kimball has also agreed to provide consulting services to RealNetworks for a period of 90 days from April 15, 2011 (the “Consulting Period”) at a rate equal to $43,666 per month (his last monthly salary rate). The Kimball Separation Agreement further provides for the acceleration of the vesting applicable to all of Mr. Kimball’s outstanding equity awards with respect to shares of RealNetworks’ common stock such that all such equity awards became fully exercisable as of April 15, 2011, and the exercisability period of all of the stock options to purchase shares of RealNetworks’ common stock held by Mr. Kimball (the “Kimball Options”) will be extended such that the Kimball Options will remain exercisable until the earlier of (x) eighteen months following the expiration of the Consulting Period, or (y) the expiration date of the option grant pursuant to the applicable stock option agreement. Pursuant to the Kimball Separation Agreement, Mr. Kimball is entitled to receive reimbursements for up to eighteen months of COBRA health insurance premiums. In exchange for the payments made to Mr. Kimball pursuant to the Kimball Separation Agreement, Mr. Kimball provided a waiver and release of all claims against RealNetworks. The Compensation Committee and the independent members of the Board of Directors approved the severance arrangements set forth in the Kimball Separation Agreement in recognition of Mr. Kimball’s significant achievements during his long service to the Company and his efforts and performance during a year of transition for the Company.

Tax and Accounting Implications

Deductibility of Executive Compensation. Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, generally limits the federal corporate income tax deduction for compensation paid by a public company to its Chief Executive Officer and certain other executive officers to $1 million in the year the compensation becomes taxable to the executive, unless the compensation is “performance-based compensation” or qualifies under certain other exceptions. The Compensation Committee seeks to balance its objective of ensuring an effective compensation package with the need to maximize the deductibility of executive compensation, and intends to qualify executive compensation for deductibility under Section 162(m) to the extent consistent with the best interests of RealNetworks. Since corporate objectives may not always be consistent with the requirements for full deductibility, it is conceivable that we may enter into compensation arrangements in the future under which payments are not deductible under Section 162(m). Deductibility will not be the sole factor used by the Compensation Committee in ascertaining appropriate levels or modes of compensation.

 

38


Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. RealNetworks accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with the requirements of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation. Under the fair value provisions of this statement, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period.

Pre-Set Diversification Plans

RealNetworks has authorized its executive officers to enter into pre-set diversification plans established according to Section 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act with an independent broker-dealer. These plans include specific instructions for the broker to exercise stock options and/or sell stock on behalf of the executive on a pre-determined schedule. The purpose of such plans is to enable executive officers to recognize the value of their compensation and diversify their holdings of RealNetworks common stock during periods in which the officer would otherwise be unable to buy or sell such stock because important information about RealNetworks had not been publicly released. As of October 4, 2011, Mr. Eggers had such a plan.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis for fiscal year 2010 with RealNetworks’ management. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to our Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in RealNetworks’ annual report on Form 10-K and proxy statement relating to the 2011 annual meeting of shareholders.

 

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors  

Janice Roberts, Chair

Eric A. Benhamou

 

Pradeep Jotwani

Dominique Trempont

 

 

39


Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year     Salary
($)(1)
    Bonus
($)(2)
    Stock
Awards
($)(3)
    Option
Awards
($)(3)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(4)
    All Other
Compensation
($)(5)
    Total ($)  

Robert Glaser(6)

    2010        53,766                                    601,086        654,852   

Chairman of the Board and Former Chief Executive Officer

   
 
2009
2008
  
  
   
 
275,000
236,672
  
  
   

 


  

  

   

 


  

  

   

 


  

  

   

 


93,285

  

  

   
 
36,903
35,125
  
  
   
 
311,903
365,082
  
  

Robert Kimball(7)

    2010        469,902        100,000        361,250        1,163,338        523,220        3,933        2,621,643   

Former President and Chief Executive Officer

    2009        380,000        1,000               178,360        224,605        3,963        787,928   
    2008        327,038        750,000        135,225        157,768        116,937        3,684        1,490,652   

Michael Eggers

    2010        344,577                      827,840        281,766        3,899        1,458,082   

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

    2009        291,500        140,588                             3,866        435,954   
    2008        288,884        91,725        350,581                      3,657        734,847   

Michael Lunsford(8)

    2010        397,219                      827,840        332,626        3,933        1,561,618   

Interim Chief Executive Officer

    2009        370,000                             141,510        3,927        515,437   
    2008        336,602        257,500        274,400        1,193,200        106,527        66,838        2,235,067   

Hank Skorny(9)

    2010        348,333                      279,396        245,237        3,901        876,867   

Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer

    2009        321,327        150,000               456,510        120,194        3,893        1,051,924   
    2008                                                    

Tracy D. Daw(10)

    2010        259,722        1,000               466,100        98,941        3,842        829,605   

Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary

    2009                                                    
    2008                                                    

John Barbour(11)

    2010        281,250                             224,483        1,029,416        1,535,149   

Former President, Games Division

    2009        450,000                             288,631        215,163        953,794   
    2008                                                    

 

  (1)

Of the $53,766 earned by Mr. Glaser as salary in 2010, $42,308 was paid to Mr. Glaser as compensation for accrued but unused vacation following his resignation as Chief Executive Officer effective January 12, 2010. Of the $329,956 earned by Mr. Glaser as performance-based cash incentive compensation in 2008, $236,671 was paid to Mr. Glaser in the form of salary between January 1, 2008 and July 2008. After the Compensation Committee determined to set Mr. Glaser’s annual salary for 2008 at $1, the amount paid to Mr. Glaser as salary in excess of $1 was applied to Mr. Glaser’s performance-based cash incentive compensation payout at the time it was determined by the Compensation Committee in March 2009. The remaining $93,285 of Mr. Glaser’s 2008 performance-based cash incentive compensation was paid in March 2009.

 

  (2)

The amounts reported in this column represent discretionary cash bonus awards.

 

  (3)

The amounts reported in these columns reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of awards granted in the year shown pursuant to the 2005 Plan, determined in accordance with financial statement reporting rules rather than an amount paid to or realized by the executive officer.

 

    

In accordance with current SEC disclosure requirements, stock option awards for fiscal 2008, previously reported as amounts recognized, or “expensed,” for the fiscal year, are now being reported above as grant date fair values. For a discussion of valuation assumptions, see Note 2, “Stock-Based Compensation,” to our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

  (4)

The amounts reported in this column represent cash incentive compensation which is based on performance in fiscal 2008, 2009 and 2010. Of the $329,956 earned by Mr. Glaser as performance-based cash incentive compensation in 2008, $236,671 was paid to Mr. Glaser in the form of salary between January 1, 2008 and July 2008. These payments were applied to Mr. Glaser’s performance-based cash incentive compensation payout at the time it was determined by the Compensation Committee in March 2009. The remaining $93,285 of Mr. Glaser’s 2008 performance-based cash incentive compensation was paid in March 2009. Mr. Glaser resigned as Chief Executive Officer effective January 12, 2010, and therefore he did not receive performance-based cash incentive compensation for 2009 or 2010. With respect to the Named Executive

 

40


 

Officers other than Mr. Glaser, cash incentive compensation was determined by the Compensation Committee (a) in August 2008 with respect to payments for the first half of 2008; (b) in March 2009 with respect to payments for the second half of 2008; (c) in July 2009 with respect to payments for the first half of 2009; (d) in January 2010 with respect to payments for the second half of 2009, (e) in July 2010 with respect to payments for the first half of 2010; and (f) in January 2011 with respect to payments for the second half of 2010, with payments made shortly after each such determination. This performance-based cash compensation is discussed in further detail under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 18. The estimated possible threshold, target and maximum amounts for these awards are reflected in the “2010 Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table on page 43.

 

  (5)

Amounts reported for 2008, 2009 and 2010 that represent “All Other Compensation” for each of the Named Executive Officers are described in the table below captioned “Detail of ‘All Other Compensation’ in the Summary Compensation Table.”

 

  (6)

Mr. Glaser served as RealNetworks’ Chief Executive Officer through January 12, 2010. Compensation earned by Mr. Glaser for services provided to RealNetworks as a non-employee member of the Board of Directors from January 13, 2010 through December 31, 2010 is reflected in the “2010 Director Compensation Table” on page 47.

 

  (7)

Mr. Kimball served as RealNetworks’ President and Acting Chief Executive Officer from January 13, 2010 to July 20, 2010, and as President and Chief Executive Officer from July 20, 2010 through March 28, 2011. Mr. Kimball resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer of RealNetworks on March 28, 2011.

 

  (8)

Mr. Lunsford served as Executive Vice President, Music, Media and Technology Solutions until March 28, 2011 when he was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer of RealNetworks.

 

  (9)

Mr. Skorny joined RealNetworks on January 12, 2009 and was first designated as a Named Executive Officer of RealNetworks in 2009. Mr. Skorny resigned from RealNetworks effective September 16, 2011.

 

(10)

Mr. Daw has not previously been designated as a Named Executive Officer of RealNetworks.

 

(11)

Mr. Barbour joined RealNetworks on October 28, 2008 and was first designated as a Named Executive Officer of RealNetworks in 2009. Mr. Barbour’s employment was terminated by RealNetworks effective August 13, 2010.

 

41


Detail of “All Other Compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table

 

Name

  Year     Company
Contribution
401(k) Plan
($)(1)
    Term Life
Insurance
Premium
($)
    Taxable
Temporary
Housing,
Relocation and
Commuting
Benefits
($)
    Tax
Gross-Up
Payment
Related to
Temporary
Housing
and
Commuting
Benefits
($)
    Severance
Payments
($)(2)
    Costs
Associated
With
Personal
Use of
Office
Space
($)(3)
    Non-
Employee
Director
Compensation(4)
    Total
($)
 

Robert Glaser

    2010               59                      411,963        12,564        176,500        601,086   
    2009               198                             36,705               36,903   
    2008               288                             34,837               35,125   

Robert Kimball

    2010        3,675        258                                           3,933   
    2009        3,675        288                                           3,963   
    2008        3,450        234                                           3,684   

Michael Eggers

    2010        3,675        224                                           3,899   
    2009        3,675        191                                           3,866   
    2008        3,450        207                                           3,657   

Michael Lunsford

    2010        3,675        258                                           3,933   
    2009        3,675        252                                           3,927   
    2008               238        66,600 (5)                                  66,838   

Hank Skorny(6)

    2010        3,675        226                                           3,901   
    2009        3,675        218                                           3,893   
    2008                                                           

Tracy D. Daw(7)

    2010        3,675        167                                           3,842   
    2009                                                           
    2008                                                           

John Barbour(8)

    2010        3,675        173        79,799 (9)      45,769        900,000                      1,029,416   
    2009        3,675        288        134,218 (9)      76,982                             215,163   
    2008                                                           

 

(1)

Under RealNetworks’ 401(k) plan, RealNetworks matches 50% of the first 3% of pay that is contributed to the plan. Matching contributions by RealNetworks become fully vested after three years.

 

(2)

Of the amount reported for Mr. Glaser for 2010, $400,000 represents severance payments and $11,963 represents COBRA health insurance premiums paid by RealNetworks on behalf of Mr. Glaser from May 2010 to December 2010. The amount reported for Mr. Barbour for 2010 represents severance payments representing twelve months of his annual base salary ($450,000) and 100% of his target annual bonus award ($450,000).

 

(3)

The amounts reported in this column represent costs associated with the occupancy of office space in RealNetworks’ headquarters by the Glaser Progress Foundation, a charitable foundation of which Mr. Glaser is Trustee, and Mr. Glaser’s personal assistant. The cost per square foot of occupied space in RealNetworks’ headquarters was multiplied by the square footage of the office space occupied by the Glaser Progress Foundation and Mr. Glaser’s personal assistant to determine the costs associated with the occupancy of such office space. In 2010, the Glaser Progress Foundation and Mr. Glaser’s personal assistant occupied office space in RealNetworks’ headquarters from January 2010 to May 2010.

 

(4)

The amount reported for Mr. Glaser represents fees earned by Mr. Glaser in connection with his service as a non-employee director of RealNetworks. Following his resignation as Chief Executive Officer in January 2010, Mr. Glaser remained Chairman of the Board of Directors and was compensated for his services as a non-employee director of RealNetworks as described under the caption “Compensation of Directors” on page 48.

 

42


(5)

The amount reported for Mr. Lunsford for 2008 represents reimbursement to Mr. Lunsford in the amount of $65,500 for the loss realized on the sale of his residence in Atlanta, Georgia in connection with his relocation to Seattle, Washington, pursuant to the terms of an employment offer letter between RealNetworks and Mr. Lunsford. In calculating the amount of this reimbursement and the incremental cost to RealNetworks, each of RealNetworks and Mr. Lunsford obtained a separate appraisal of the subject property, and the average of the two appraisals provided the basis on which the reimbursement was calculated. The difference between the sale price and the average of the two appraisals was equal to $65,500 and constituted the amount reimbursed to Mr. Lunsford pursuant to this arrangement. The remaining $1,100 reported for Mr. Lunsford represents taxable travel and lodging expense reimbursements associated with his relocation. These amounts constitute taxable income to Mr. Lunsford.

 

(6)

Mr. Skorny joined RealNetworks on January 12, 2009 and was first designated as a Named Executive Officer of RealNetworks in 2009. Mr. Skorny resigned from RealNetworks effective September 16, 2011.

 

(7)

Mr. Daw has not previously been designated as a Named Executive Officer of RealNetworks.

 

(8)

Mr. Barbour joined RealNetworks on October 28, 2008 and was first designated as a Named Executive Officer of RealNetworks in 2009. Mr. Barbour’s employment was terminated by RealNetworks effective August 13, 2010.

 

(9)

The amounts reported in this column for Mr. Barbour represent temporary housing and commuting expenses paid by RealNetworks, which expenses constitute taxable income to Mr. Barbour. Of the amount reported for 2010, $45,517 represents temporary housing expenses and $34,282 represents commuting expenses paid by RealNetworks. Of the amount reported for 2009, $64,912 represents temporary housing expenses and $69,306 represents commuting expenses paid by RealNetworks.

2010 Grants of Plan-Based Awards

On August 23, 2011, RealNetworks paid a special dividend of $1.00 per share to its shareholders and on August 30, 2011, a 1-for-4 reverse split of RealNetworks’ common stock became effective. The data in the following table is presented after giving effect to (i) adjustments to equity awards made in connection with the special dividend and (ii) the reverse stock split.

 

Name

   Grant
Date
     Approval
Date
     Estimated
Future
Payouts
Under
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards(1)

Target ($)
     All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units
(#)
     All Other
Option Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#)(2)
     Exercise or
Base Price
of Option
Awards
($/sh)
     Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
and Option
Awards
($)(3)
 
                    

Robert Kimball

     02/01/10         01/29/10         462,708            125,000       $ 13.08         1,034,800   
     02/17/10         01/29/10               15,000       $ 13.68         128,538   
     09/09/10         09/09/10            47,962                         361,250   

Robert Glaser(4)

                                                       

Michael Eggers

     02/01/10         01/29/10         251,556                 100,000       $ 13.08         827,840   

Michael Lunsford

     02/01/10         01/29/10         298,125                 100,000       $ 13.08         827,840   

Hank Skorny

     02/01/10         01/29/10         261,250                 33,750       $ 13.08         279,396   

Tracy D. Daw

     01/25/10         01/25/10         91,750            27,500       $ 14.40         245,828   
     09/09/10         08/26/10                    40,000       $ 7.56         220,272   

John Barbour(5)

                     450,000                                   

 

(1)

There are no threshold or maximum payouts under the Company’s 2010 performance-based cash incentive compensation plans. The actual amounts paid for 2010 are shown in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the “Summary Compensation Table” on page 40. These awards are described in further detail under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 18.

 

43


(2)

The amount reported in this column represents stock options granted pursuant to the 2005 Plan. With the exception of the 15,000 stock options granted to Mr. Kimball on February 17, 2010 (the “Kimball Options”), the stock options reflected in this column vest over a period of four years. The Kimball Options vest over a period of one year. All of the stock options expire seven years after the date of grant and the exercise price of the stock options is equal to the fair market value of RealNetworks’ Common Stock on the date of grant. If a Named Executive Officer’s employment terminates for any reason other than death, upon a change of control, or upon the termination of employment by RealNetworks without cause (provided that the Named Executive Officer delivers a settlement agreement and release upon such termination), the unvested portion of the stock options will not vest and all rights to the unvested portion will terminate. The stock options are described in further detail under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 18 and in the “Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2010” table on page 45.

 

(3)

The amount reported in this column reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of the award granted in 2010 pursuant to the 2005 Plan, determined in accordance with financial statement reporting rules rather than an amount paid to or realized by the executive officer. For a discussion of valuation assumptions, see Note 2, “Stock-Based Compensation,” to our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. The option exercise price has not been deducted from the amounts indicated above. Regardless of the value placed on a stock option on the grant date, the actual value of the option will depend on the market value of RealNetworks common stock at such date in the future when the option is exercised. The proceeds to be paid to the individual following the exercise of the option do not include the option exercise price.

 

(4)

Mr. Glaser resigned from his position as Chief Executive Officer of RealNetworks on January 12, 2010, and therefore he was not eligible to earn non-equity incentive plan compensation in 2010.

 

(5)

The target performance-based cash incentive compensation shown for Mr. Barbour represents his full-year target award under the 2010 MBO Plan. Mr. Barbour did not earn a 2010 MBO payout for the Second Measurement Period because the Company terminated his employment effective August 13, 2010.

 

44


Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2010

On August 23, 2011, RealNetworks paid a special dividend of $1.00 per share to its shareholders and on August 30, 2011, a 1-for-4 reverse split of RealNetworks’ common stock became effective. The data in the following table is presented after giving effect to (i) adjustments to equity awards made in connection with the special dividend and (ii) the reverse stock split.

 

     Option Awards     Stock 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
($)
    Option
Expiration
Date
    Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
    Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
($)(1)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares,
Units
or Other
Rights  That
Have Not
Vested (#)
  Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested ($)

Robert Kimball(2)

    20,000                      29.08        03/15/13        3,236 (3)      35,431       
    17,500                      41.52        11/09/13        47,962 (4)      525,000       
    29,532        4,216 (5)             26.76        04/06/14           
    14,064        4,687 (6)             21.96        09/18/14           
    10,548        6,327 (7)             20.04        02/22/15           
    16,250        16,250 (8)             7.00        02/14/16           
    15,625        109,375 (9)             13.08        02/01/17           
    7,500        7,500 (10)             13.68        02/17/17           
    15,362                      19.76        10/12/21           
    50,000                      24.88        08/31/21           
    3,750                      24.88        08/31/21           
    10,000                      24.88        08/31/21           
    2,500                      11.04        08/05/22           
    2,500                      8.92        01/27/23           
    12,500                      20.48        07/04/23           
    12,500                      19.36        01/18/25           

Robert Glaser

    125,000 (11)                    28.00        11/14/12           
    31,250 (11)                    26.76        04/06/14           

Michael Eggers

    25,000                      30.12        02/14/13        8,392 (3)      91,867       
    10,625                      41.52        11/09/13           
    29,532        4,218 (5)             26.76        04/06/14           
    12,500        87,500 (9)             13.08        02/01/17           
    8,750                      24.88        08/31/21           
    175                      24.88        08/31/21           
    1,250                      11.04        08/05/22           
    6,250                      20.48        07/24/23           
    7,500                      22.52        10/03/23           
    3,500                      19.00        02/11/24           
    10,000                      19.36        01/18/25           

Michael Lunsford

    78,125        46,875 (12)             20.36        02/05/15        7,674 (13)     84,000       
    12,500        87,500 (9)            13.08        02/01/17           

Hank Skorny

    28,125        46,875 (14)             8.20        02/02/16           
    4,219        29,531 (9)            13.08        02/01/17           

Tracy D. Daw

    3,333                      10.52        12/17/16        2,637 (3)      28,667       
    15,000                      10.52        12/17/16           
    790                      10.52        12/17/16           
    2,775                      10.52        12/17/16           
    2,775                      10.52        12/17/16           
    2,775                      10.52        12/17/16           
    1,333                      10.52        12/17/16           
    1,500        500 (15)             10.52        12/17/16           
    1,094        156 (16)             10.52        12/17/16           
    3,438        24,062 (17)             14.40        01/25/17           
           40,000 (18)             7.56        09/09/17           

John Barbour

                                          

 

45


 

  (1)

Represents the closing price of a share of our common stock on December 31, 2010 ($12.80) multiplied by the number of shares or units that have not vested.

 

  (2)

All of Mr. Kimball’s outstanding equity awards became fully vested and exercisable as of April 15, 2011 pursuant to the terms of the Kimball Separation Agreement, which is described under the caption “Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer — Mr. Kimball” beginning on page 36.

 

  (3)

Represents restricted stock units that vest in equal increments on February 22, 2011, August 22, 2011 and February 22, 2012, subject to the recipient’s continued employment with RealNetworks.

 

  (4)

Represents restricted stock units that vested as to 5,995 shares on January 1, 2011, with an additional 5,995 restricted stock units vesting every six months thereafter until the restricted stock units become fully vested on July 1, 2014, subject to the recipient’s continued employment with RealNetworks.

 

  (5)

The options became fully vested and exercisable on April 6, 2011.

 

  (6)

The options vested and became exercisable as to 12.5% of the total grant on March 18, 2008, with an additional 12.5% vesting upon the completion of each successive six months of employment until the options become fully vested and exercisable on September 18, 2011, subject to the recipient’s continued employment with RealNetworks.

 

  (7)

The options vested and became exercisable as to 12.5% of the total grant on August 22, 2008, with an additional 12.5% vesting upon the completion of each successive six months of employment until the options become fully vested and exercisable on February 22, 2012, subject to the recipient’s continued employment with RealNetworks.

 

  (8)

The options vested and became exercisable as to 12.5% of the total grant on April 1, 2009, with an additional 12.5% vesting upon the completion of each successive six months of employment until the options become fully vested and exercisable on October 1, 2012, subject to the recipient’s continued employment with RealNetworks.

 

  (9)

The options vested and became exercisable as to 12.5% of the total grant on August 1, 2010, with an additional 12.5% vesting upon the completion of each successive six months of employment until the options become fully vested and exercisable on February 1, 2014, subject to the recipient’s continued employment with RealNetworks.

 

(10)

The options became fully vested and exercisable on January 12, 2011.

 

(11)

Unvested options as of the date of Mr. Glaser’s resignation in January 2010 were canceled in accordance with the terms of the stock option agreement evidencing the options. Mr. Glaser continues to hold all options that were vested as of January 12, 2010 as a continuing director of RealNetworks.

 

(12)

The options vested and became exercisable as to 25% of the total grant on January 28, 2009, with an additional 12.5% vesting upon the completion of each successive six months of employment until the options become fully vested and exercisable on January 28, 2012, subject to the recipient’s continued employment with RealNetworks.

 

(13)

Represents restricted stock units that vested as to 1,918 shares on June 24, 2011, with an additional 1,918 restricted stock units vesting every six months thereafter until the restricted stock units become fully vested on December 24, 2012, subject to the recipient’s continued employment with RealNetworks.

 

(14)

The options vested and became exercisable as to (i) 25% of the total grant on January 12, 2010, with an additional 12.5% vesting upon the completion of each successive six months of employment until the options become fully vested and exercisable on January 12, 2013, subject to the recipient’s continued employment with RealNetworks.

 

(15)

The options vested and became exercisable as to 250 shares on March 18, 2011 and the remaining 250 options vested and became exercisable on September 18, 2011.

 

(16)

The options vested and became exercisable as to the remaining 156 shares on January 18, 2011.

 

46


(17)

The options vested and became exercisable as to 12.5% of the total grant on July 25, 2010, with an additional 12.5% vesting upon the completion of each successive six months of employment until the options become fully vested and exercisable on January 25, 2014, subject to the recipient’s continued employment with RealNetworks.

 

(18)

The options vested and became exercisable as to 12.5% of the total grant on February 18, 2011, with an additional 12.5% vesting upon the completion of each successive six months of employment until the options become fully vested and exercisable on August 18, 2014, subject to the recipient’s continued employment with RealNetworks.

2010 Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

     Option Awards      Stock Awards  

Name

   Number of Shares
Acquired on Exercise
(#)
     Value Realized
on Exercise
($)
     Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting

(#)(1)
     Value Realized
on  Vesting

($)(2)
 

Robert Kimball

                     4,396         41,426   

Robert Glaser

                               

Michael Eggers

                     6,954         67,674   

Michael Lunsford

                     3,837         37,400   

Hank Skorny

                               

Tracy D. Daw

                     1,758         17,453   

John Barbour

                               

 

(1)

On August 23, 2011 RealNetworks paid a special dividend of $1.00 per share to its shareholders and on August 30, 2011, a 1-for-4 reverse split of RealNetworks’ common stock became effective. The share numbers in the preceding table are presented after giving effect to (i) adjustments to equity awards made in connection with the special dividend and (ii) the reverse stock split.

 

(2)

Represents the number of shares vesting multiplied by the fair market value of RealNetworks common stock on the vesting date.

2010 Director Compensation Table

 

Name

   Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
    Option
Awards
($)(1)
     Restricted Stock
Unit Awards
($)(1)
     Total
($)
 

Eric Benhamou(2)

     167,500        36,033         44,998         248,531   

Edward Bleier

     107,250        36,033         44,998         188,281   

Robert Glaser

     176,500 (3)                      176,500   

Pradeep Jotwani(4)

     98,625        36,033         44,998         179,656   

Robert Kimball(5)

                              

Jonathan Klein

     66,250 (6)      36,033         44,998         147,281   

Kalpana Raina(7)

     127,000        36,033         44,998         208,031   

Janice Roberts(8)

     19,666        39,035         48,746         107,447   

Dominique Trempont(9)

     29,583        42,037         52,498         124,118   

 

(1)

The amounts reported in these columns reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of awards granted in the year shown pursuant to the 2005 Plan, determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For a discussion of valuation assumptions, see Note 2, “Stock-Based Compensation,” to our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

47


(2)

Audit Committee Chair and Lead Independent Director.

 

(3)

Of the amount reported for Mr. Glaser, $76,500 constitutes meeting and retainer fees and $100,000 constitutes cash in lieu of annual equity awards as described under the caption “Compensation of Directors” below. See “Summary Compensation Table” on page 40 for Mr. Glaser’s compensation for services provided as RealNetworks’ Chief Executive Officer in 2010. Mr. Glaser resigned as Chief Executive Officer of RealNetworks on January 12, 2010 and continues to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

 

(4)

Mr. Jotwani served as the Chair of the Compensation Committee until March 14, 2011.

 

(5)

See “Summary Compensation Table” on page 40 for Mr. Kimball’s compensation for services provided as RealNetworks’ President and Chief Executive Officer in 2010. Mr. Kimball did not receive additional compensation for his service as a member of the Board of Directors in 2010.

 

(6)

The amount reported for Mr. Klein represents the value of shares of RealNetworks Common Stock issued to Mr. Klein in lieu of director fees earned in fiscal year 2010. Mr. Klein elected to receive 100% of his fiscal year 2010 director fees in shares of RealNetworks Common Stock. Mr. Klein received (a) 879 shares valued at approximately $17,000 as compensation for Board service in the first quarter of 2010, (b) 1,647 shares valued at approximately $21,750 as compensation for Board service in the second quarter of 2010, (c) 1,131 shares valued at approximately $14,750 as compensation for Board service in the third quarter of 2010, and (d) 758 shares valued at approximately $12,750 as compensation for Board service in the fourth quarter of 2010 ((in each of (a)-(d), after giving effect to the 1-for-4 reverse stock split effective August 30, 2011).

 

(7)

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chair.

 

(8)

Ms. Roberts joined the Board of Directors on August 27, 2010 and was appointed Chair of the Compensation Committee on March 14, 2011.

 

(9)

Mr. Trempont joined the Board of Directors on July 23, 2010.

Compensation of Directors

For the first quarter of 2010, each director who was not an employee of RealNetworks (an “Outside Director”) was paid $5,000 per quarter for his or her services as a director. Outside Directors were also paid (i) $1,000 for participation in each meeting of the Board, (ii) $1,000 for participation in each meeting of a Board committee, and (iii) $3,000 per quarter for serving as chairperson of the Audit Committee, $1,500 per quarter for serving as chairperson of the Compensation Committee and $750 per quarter for serving as chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. In addition, the lead independent director received $1,000 for participation in each meeting between such director and the Chief Executive Officer. Directors were also reimbursed for their reasonable expenses incurred in attending Board of Directors or Committee meetings.

In April 2010, the Board of Directors approved changes to the Company’s compensation program for Outside Directors based on analysis and advice provided by Cook in 2009 and the Board’s desire to better align total compensation paid to Outside Directors with total compensation paid to non-employee directors of similarly situated companies. The results of Cook’s analysis showed that cash compensation paid to our Outside Directors was below the median, equity compensation was at the 25th percentile and overall compensation was below the 25th percentile of similarly situated companies as identified by Cook based on the relative size of the Company’s market capitalization. In addition, Cook’s analysis indicated RSUs were typically included as a component of non-employee director compensation among such similarly situated companies.

Effective April 1, 2010, each Outside Director is paid a retainer in the amount of $8,750 per quarter for his or her services as a director. Outside Directors are also paid (i) $1,000 for participation in each meeting of the Board, (ii) $1,000 for participation in each meeting of a Board committee, and (iii) $5,000 per quarter for serving as chairperson of the Audit Committee, $3,125 per quarter for serving as chairperson of the Compensation Committee and $2,500 per quarter for serving as chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. In addition, the lead independent director is paid an additional retainer of $5,000 per quarter. From

 

48


time to time, the Board forms non-standing committees to perform limited functions. In 2010, the Board formed several such committees and each director serving on these committees was paid the $1,000 committee meeting fee for each meeting in which he or she participated.

Pursuant to the RealNetworks, Inc. 2007 Director Compensation Stock Plan (the “Director Plan”), a sub-plan administered under the 2005 Plan, an Outside Director may make an irrevocable election prior to the commencement of each plan year to receive all or a portion of the cash compensation payable to such Outside Director for the coming year in shares of RealNetworks common stock. In 2010, the number of shares issued to an Outside Director who elected to receive all or a portion of his or her 2010 compensation in shares of RealNetworks common stock was determined by dividing the total fees to be paid in shares of RealNetworks common stock during a fiscal quarter, as elected by an Outside Director, by the fair market value of a share of RealNetworks common stock on the last trading day of such fiscal quarter, with cash paid in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares.

Outside Directors other than the Chairman of the Board also receive equity awards under the 2005 Plan on the third business day following each annual meeting of shareholders. The equity awards consist of (i) nonqualified stock options to purchase 6,250 shares of RealNetworks common stock (the “Options”) that, once vested, will remain exercisable for three years following an Outside Director’s separation from the Board or until the Option’s earlier expiration, and (ii) RSUs valued at $45,000 on the grant date. The Options and RSUs vest monthly in equal increments over a twelve month period following the award’s grant date assuming continued service as a director, with the RSU share distribution date occurring on the first anniversary of the grant date. Before the RSUs are granted, Outside Directors may make an annual irrevocable election to defer the RSU share distribution date to a date that is (i) five years following the RSU grant date, or (ii) concurrent with an Outside Director’s separation from the Board. Options and RSUs granted to Outside Directors who have served on the Board for less than twelve months at the time of the annual meeting of shareholders will receive Options and RSUs that are pro-rated based on the number of completed months of service leading up to the first annual meeting of shareholders following his or her appointment to the Board.

In addition to approving the foregoing changes to the Outside Director compensation program, the Board also approved stock ownership guidelines applicable to Outside Directors designed to achieve long-term alignment between Outside Directors and the Company’s shareholders. Under these guidelines, each Outside Director is required to own a number of shares of the Company’s common stock equal to three times the Outside Director’s annual retainer within five years of service on the Company’s Board. The RSU awards granted to the Outside Directors as described in the preceding paragraph are designed to enable each Outside Director to achieve the minimum stock ownership threshold after five years of service as an Outside Director.

On October 21, 2010, Messrs. Benhamou, Bleier, Jotwani, Klein and Trempont, Ms. Raina and Ms. Roberts were each granted 5,679 RSUs and an option to purchase 6,250 shares of Common Stock having an exercise price of $8.16 per share, which RSUs and options vest as described above. In addition, Mr. Trempont was granted options to purchase 1,041 shares of Common Stock having an exercise price of $8.16 per share and 946 RSUs, and Ms. Roberts was granted options to purchase 520 shares of Common Stock having an exercise price of $8.16 per share and 473 RSUs, which awards were fully vested on the grant date. These awards were granted to Mr. Trempont and Ms. Roberts as compensation for Board service from the respective commencement dates of their Board service through the annual meeting of shareholders held on October 18, 2010.

Mr. Glaser is paid the same cash compensation as the Outside Directors, together with an additional retainer in the amount of $6,250 per quarter for serving as the Chairman of the Board. Mr. Glaser is not eligible to make an election to receive his cash compensation in shares of RealNetworks common stock pursuant to the Director Plan. Mr. Glaser is also paid an annual cash award (the “Cash Award”) in lieu of the annual grant of Options and RSUs. The Cash Award will have an aggregate value equal to (a) $55,000, which amount is paid in lieu of the Options and was fixed in 2010 (but is subject to re-evaluation at the discretion of the Compensation Committee), and (b) $45,000, which amount is paid in lieu of the RSUs.

 

49


2010 Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or Change-in-Control

The following table reflects the amount of compensation that would have been payable to each of the Named Executive Officers in the event of the termination of such executive’s employment under certain circumstances, assuming that (1) the triggering event took place on December 31, 2010, the last business day of the 2010 fiscal year, (2) the price per share of our common stock was $12.80 (after giving effect to the special dividend of $1.00 per share paid by RealNetworks on August 23, 2011 and (ii) the 1-for-4 reverse stock split effective August 30, 2011), which was the closing market price on December 31, 2010, and (3) that all cash payments are made in a lump sum.

 

Name

 

Benefit

   Before Change
in Control
Termination
Without Cause or
For Good
Reason($)(1)
     In Connection With
Change in Control
Termination

Without Cause or
For Good
Reason($)(2)
     Voluntary
Termination($)(3)
     Death($)      Disability($)  

Robert Kimball

  Severance      525,000         656,250         262,500                   
  Bonus      1,112,500         1,768,750                 842,486         842,486   
  Equity award vesting acceleration      81,353         654,681                 654,681         73,500   

Robert Glaser(4)

  Severance                                        
  Bonus                                        
  Equity award vesting acceleration                                        

Michael Eggers(5)

  Severance              437,500         175,000                   
  Bonus      700,000         1,159,375                 589,158         589,158   
  Equity award vesting acceleration      20,416         91,867                 91,867         20,416   

Michael Lunsford(5)

  Severance              500,000         200,000                   
  Bonus      800,000         1,325,000                 673,324         673,324   
  Equity award vesting acceleration              84,000                 84,000           

Hank Skorny

  Severance              437,500         175,000                   
  Bonus      700,000         1,159,375                 89,167         89,167   
  Equity award vesting acceleration      35,938         215,625                 215,625           

Tracy D. Daw(5)

  Severance              356,250         142,500                   
  Bonus      285,000         500,313                 323,070         323,070   
  Equity award vesting acceleration      23,879         239,963                 239,963         6,413   

John Barbour(6)

  Severance      900,000         900,000                           
  Bonus                                        
  Equity award vesting acceleration                                        

 

(1)

The amounts reported in this column as Bonus represent payments that would have been made to the Named Executive Officers (other than Mr. Barbour) pursuant to the Retention Agreement between RealNetworks and each such Named Executive Officer, and, with respect to Mr. Kimball, includes amounts that would have been paid to Mr. Kimball pursuant to the Kimball CIC Agreement.

 

50


(2)

If Mr. Kimball’s employment had terminated for Good Reason because Mr. Kimball no longer retained the title of President or Chief Executive Officer following his transition out of the role of Acting Chief Executive Officer, then the amount reported in this column as Severance would have been reduced by $131,250. If the employment of Messrs. Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny or Daw had terminated for Good Reason as a result of a reduction in annual base compensation of greater than 10%, then the amounts reported in this column as Severance would have been reduced by (a) $87,500 for Messrs. Eggers and Skorny, (b) $100,000 for Mr. Lunsford and (c) $71,250 for Mr. Daw. If the employment of Messrs. Eggers, Lunsford, Skorny or Daw had terminated for Good Reason as a result of a reduction in annual target bonus opportunity of greater than 10%, then the amounts reported in this column as Bonus would have been reduced by (a) $131,250 for Mr. Kimball, (b) $65,625 for Messrs. Eggers and Skorny, (c) $75,000 for Mr. Lunsford and (d) $32,063 for Mr. Daw.

 

(3)

Assumes the Named Executive Officer has provided a notice period of six months prior to voluntarily terminating his employment with RealNetworks.

 

(4)

Mr. Glaser resigned as Chief Executive Officer on January 12, 2010.

 

(5)

In May 2011, the Company entered into severance letter agreements with each of Messrs. Lunsford, Eggers and Daw. Pursuant to the agreements with Messrs. Lunsford and Eggers, if the Company terminates their employment without cause (as defined), the Company will pay them a severance payment equal to 21 months of their annual base salaries. In addition, if Messrs. Lunsford or Eggers voluntarily terminates his employment, he must provide at least 90-days notice to transition his responsibilities and he will be entitled to receive a severance payment equal to 12 months of his annual base salary. Pursuant to the severance agreement between the Company and Mr. Daw, if the Company terminates Mr. Daw’s employment without cause, the Company will pay Mr. Daw a severance payment equal to 12 months of his annual base salary. If Mr. Daw voluntarily terminates his employment, he must provide at least six-months notice to transition his responsibilities and he will be entitled to receive a severance payment equal to six months of his annual base salary.

 

(6)

Amounts reported for Mr. Barbour reflect a severance payment to Mr. Barbour in connection with the termination of his employment on August 13, 2010.

Severance Payments

As of December 31, 2010, it was RealNetworks’ policy to request certain executive officers to provide a notice period of six months prior to voluntarily terminating their employment with RealNetworks for the purpose of transitioning responsibilities. In the event an executive officer provided six months’ notice prior to voluntarily terminating his employment, he would receive a severance payment equal to six months of such executive’s annual base salary, even if RealNetworks did not require the continued services of the executive officer for all or part of such six month notice period. In the event an executive officer provided notice of less than six months prior to voluntarily terminating his employment, he would receive a severance payment equal to the number of months’ notice provided, up to a maximum severance payment equal to six months of the executive’s annual base salary, even if RealNetworks did not require the continued services of the executive officer for all or part of such notice period. Severance payments are made following the last day worked by an executive officer. Severance amounts shown in the above table under the caption “Voluntary Termination” assume that each Named Executive Officer had provided six months’ notice prior to voluntarily terminating his employment on December 31, 2010.

RealNetworks has entered into Severance and Change in Control Agreements (the “CIC Agreements”) with each of Messrs. Eggers, Lunsford, and Daw pursuant to which certain payments would be made in the event the employment of these Named Executive Officers terminates under certain circumstances. RealNetworks also entered into CIC Agreements with each of Messrs. Kimball and Skorny, which agreements are no longer in effect following the termination of the employment of these executives effective April 15, 2011 and September 16, 2011, respectively. The CIC Agreements are described under the caption “Severance and Change in Control Benefits” in the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 18.

 

51


Bonus Payments

If the employment of a Named Executive Officer had terminated on December 31, 2010 due to death or disability, such Named Executive Officer or his beneficiary would have been entitled to receive the portion of the performance-based cash incentive or discretionary bonus compensation earned in 2010 but not paid as of December 31, 2010.

In the event the employment of Messrs. Eggers, Lunsford, and Daw terminates under certain circumstances, these Named Executive Officers are each entitled to receive certain bonus payments as described in the CIC Agreements, as well as retention bonus payments pursuant to the Retention Agreement between RealNetworks and each of these Named Executive Officers. The CIC Agreements are described under the caption “Severance and Change in Control Benefits” in the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 18.

Acceleration of Vesting of Equity Awards

Termination by RealNetworks Other than for Cause.    If we terminate the employment of a Named Executive Officer for any reason other than for cause, and any of such Named Executive Officer’s outstanding stock options or restricted stock units are not fully vested, the next vesting installment of such stock options or restricted stock units will vest on a pro rata basis for the portion of the year elapsed since the date on which the vesting of the option commenced or the last anniversary thereof, expressed in full months, provided that the Named Executive Officer executes and delivers a settlement agreement and release satisfactory to us on or before the date of such termination.

Death of Executive Officer.    If the employment of a Named Executive Officer terminates due to such executive officer’s death, any stock options or RSUs that are unvested as of the date of such executive officer’s death will fully vest on such date and may be exercised by the estate or legal representative of such executive officer for a period of one year following such date, but not later than the expiration date of such stock options or RSUs.

Change in Control.    If stock options or restricted stock units granted to a Named Executive Officer under the 2005 Plan are continued, assumed, converted or substituted for on substantially the same terms and conditions immediately following a change in control and within 24 months after such change in control the executive officer’s employment is terminated by RealNetworks or its successor without cause or by the executive officer for good reason, all of the shares subject to the stock options or RSUs will be vested immediately, and such stock options may be exercised at any time within 24 months following such termination, but not later than the expiration date of the stock options. In addition, if such stock options or RSUs are not continued, assumed, converted or substituted for immediately following the change in control, all of the shares subject to the stock options or RSUs will vest immediately upon the change in control, and such stock options may be exercised at any time within 12 months thereafter.

Severance and Change in Control Agreements.    Outstanding equity awards granted to Messrs. Eggers, Lunsford and Daw will become fully vested under certain circumstances as described in the CIC Agreements. As of December 31, 2010, these benefits were also applicable to Messrs. Kimball and Skorny pursuant to the CIC Agreements between RealNetworks and each of these executives. The CIC Agreements are described under the caption “Severance and Change in Control Benefits” in the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 18.

Policies and Procedures With Respect to Related Person Transactions

It is the policy of RealNetworks not to enter into any related person transaction unless the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors reviews and approves such transaction in accordance with guidelines set forth in the RealNetworks, Inc. Policy Regarding Related Party Transactions, or the transaction is approved by a majority of

 

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RealNetworks’ disinterested directors. In reviewing and approving any related person transaction, the Audit Committee will satisfy itself that it has been fully informed as to the related person’s relationship and interest including all material facts of the proposed transaction, and determine that the transaction is fair to RealNetworks.

All related person transactions of which RealNetworks management is aware will be disclosed to the Audit Committee. At least annually, RealNetworks management will elicit information from RealNetworks’ executive officers and directors as to existing and potential related person transactions, and will seek to obtain such information from 5% shareholders who do not file reports with the SEC on Schedule 13G. An executive officer or director will promptly inform the Chairman of the Audit Committee when the officer or director becomes aware of a potential related person transaction in which the officer or director would be a related person.

Equity Award Burn Rate During 2009, 2010 and 2011

In order to address potential shareholder concerns regarding the number of equity awards that may be granted under the RealNetworks, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated, on July 24, 2009 our Compensation Committee adopted a policy stating the Compensation Committee’s general intention to structure equity-based awards granted by RealNetworks during calendar years 2009, 2010 and 2011 (other than grants assumed or substituted in a merger, acquisition or similar transaction and grants made in RealNetworks’ 2009 stock option exchange program) such that the average annual burn rate for such three (3)-year period will not exceed 6.76%. For this purpose, the “annual burn rate” for any year means the total number of shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise or payment, as the case may be, of the equity-based awards granted by RealNetworks in that year, divided by the weighted average shares of our common stock issued and outstanding for that particular year. In calculating the annual burn rate for the entire three (3)-year period, shares issuable upon exercise or payment, as the case may be, of awards other than options or stock appreciation rights shall be counted as equivalent to (1) 1.5 option shares if our annual stock price volatility is 53% or higher, (2) 2.0 option shares if our annual stock price volatility is between 25% and 52%, and (3) 4.0 option shares if our annual stock price volatility is less than 25%. Shares underlying performance share awards will not be included in the burn rate until the year in which such shares are earned and then only to the extent so earned. Awards settled in cash will not be included in the calculation of the burn rate.

PROPOSAL 2 — ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

In accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act, RealNetworks is providing its shareholders with the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on executive compensation as more fully described below. As an advisory vote, this proposal is not binding on RealNetworks or its Board of Directors. However, the Board of Directors and its Compensation Committee, which is responsible for designing and administering the Company’s executive compensation program, value the opinions expressed by shareholders in their vote on this proposal and will review and consider the voting results of this vote when making future decisions regarding the compensation of our named executive officers.

As described in more detail in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this Proxy Statement, the Company’s executive compensation program is designed to attract, motivate and retain executive officers critical to the long-term success of RealNetworks and the creation of shareholder value. The Company’s executive compensation program links competitive levels of compensation to Company performance as compared to performance goals to ensure accountability and to motivate executives to achieve a higher level of performance.

 

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The Compensation Discussion and Analysis, beginning on page 18 of this Proxy Statement, describes the Company’s executive compensation program and the decisions made by the Compensation Committee regarding 2010 compensation in more detail. The Compensation Committee has implemented practices that it believes are indicative of its executive compensation philosophy and its desire to maintain good corporate governance, including:

 

   

Establishing executive compensation that is competitive and linked to both company and individual performance;

 

   

Providing for a substantial portion of executive compensation to be in the form of incentive compensation that is “at risk” and dependent upon the Company’s business results;

 

   

Providing pay incentives that closely align the interests of executives with the long-term interests of RealNetworks’ shareholders;

 

   

Formalizing an annual process to assess risks associated with our compensation policies and programs; and

 

   

Hiring independent compensation consultants to assist the Compensation Committee with its compensation decisions.

RealNetworks requests shareholder approval of the compensation of its named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to the SEC’s compensation disclosure rules as set forth in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the executive compensation tables and the narrative disclosures that accompany the compensation tables.

Accordingly, the Company asks that you vote “FOR” the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

“RESOLVED, that the shareholders of RealNetworks, Inc. approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers, as disclosed in RealNetworks, Inc.’s proxy statement for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the 2010 Summary Compensation Table, and the other related tables and disclosure within this Proxy Statement.”

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL 2.

PROPOSAL 3 — ADVISORY VOTE ON FREQUENCY OF FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON THE COMPENSATION OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

As described in Proposal 2 above, the Company’s shareholders are being provided the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on our executive compensation program. This advisory vote is referred to herein as the “Say-on-Pay” vote.

In accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act, this Proposal 3 affords shareholders the opportunity to cast a non-binding, advisory vote on how often RealNetworks should include a Say-on-Pay vote in its proxy materials for future annual meetings of shareholders (or a special shareholder meeting in lieu of an annual meeting of shareholders). Under the federal securities laws, the opportunity for shareholders to vote on the frequency of our Say-on-Pay votes is required at least every six years. Shareholders may vote to indicate their preference that RealNetworks conduct future advisory votes on the compensation of named executive officers every one, two, or three years.

The Board of Directors has determined that holding an advisory vote on the compensation of named executive officers every year is the most appropriate policy at this time, and recommends that future advisory votes on the compensation of named executive officers occur annually. While the Company’s executive compensation program is designed to promote a long-term focus, the Board of Directors and the Compensation

 

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Committee recognize that executive compensation is determined annually and that holding an annual advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers will provide the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee with more direct and immediate feedback on executive compensation decisions.

Although this advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of named executive officers is nonbinding, the Board of Directors will review and consider the voting results when determining the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of named executive officers. The Board of Directors may decide that it is in the best interests of the Company’s shareholders and the Company to hold an advisory vote on executive compensation more or less frequently than the frequency receiving the most votes cast by our shareholders.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO CONDUCT FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON THE COMPENSATION OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS ANNUALLY.

PROPOSAL 4 — RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee of the Board has appointed the firm of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for RealNetworks’ fiscal year ending December 31, 2011, and the Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote for the ratification of such appointment. Although ratification by our shareholders is not required by law, RealNetworks has determined that it is desirable to request shareholder approval of this appointment. Notwithstanding its selection, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may appoint a new independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee believes that such change would be in the best interests of RealNetworks and its shareholders. If the shareholders do not ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP, the Audit Committee may reconsider its selection.

KPMG LLP has audited the consolidated financial statements of RealNetworks since 1994. KPMG LLP performed audit services in connection with the audit of the consolidated financial statements of RealNetworks for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. In addition, KPMG LLP has rendered other services, including the review of financial statements and related information in various registration statements and filings with the SEC.

Fees Billed by KPMG LLP During 2009 and 2010

The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, for the audit of our annual financial statements for 2009 and 2010, and fees billed for other services rendered by KPMG LLP.

 

     2009      2010  

Audit Fees(1)

   $ 1,855,499       $ 1,611,250   

Audit-Related Fees

     0         0   

Tax Fees

     0         0   

All Other Fees

     0         0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Fees

   $ 1,855,499       $ 1,611,250   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

Fees in connection with the audit of RealNetworks’ annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010, reviews of the financial statements included in RealNetworks’ quarterly reports on Form 10-Q during the 2009 and 2010 fiscal years, Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 attestation services and statutory and other audits for subsidiaries of RealNetworks.

 

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Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

The Audit Committee approves in advance all audit and non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditors. As part of its pre-approval procedures, the Audit Committee considers whether the provision of any proposed non-audit services is consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence. In accordance with its pre-approval procedures, the Audit Committee has pre-approved certain specified audit and non-audit services to be provided by KPMG LLP for up to twelve (12) months from the date of the pre-approval. If there are any additional services to be provided, a request for pre-approval must be submitted by management to the Audit Committee for its consideration. In 2009 and 2010, the Audit Committee approved all fees of KPMG LLP identified in the above table in accordance with SEC requirements.

Representatives of KPMG LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so. It is also expected that they will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE APPOINTMENT OF KPMG LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011.

Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors

The following is the report of the Audit Committee with respect to RealNetworks’ audited financial statements, which include the consolidated balance sheets of RealNetworks as of December 31, 2009 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010, and the notes thereto.

As part of fulfilling its responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2010 with management and has discussed those matters required by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, “Communication with Audit Committees,” as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1. AU Section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T, with KPMG LLP. The Audit Committee received the written disclosures and the letter from KPMG LLP required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding KPMG LLP’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with KPMG LLP its independence from RealNetworks.

Based on the Audit Committee’s review of the audited consolidated financial statements and its discussions with management, the internal audit function and KPMG LLP, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2010 be included in the RealNetworks Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors

Eric A. Benhamou, Chairman

Pradeep Jotwani

Kalpana Raina

Dominique Trempont

 

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OTHER BUSINESS

The Board of Directors does not intend to bring any other business before the meeting, and, so far as is known to the Board, no matters are to be brought before the meeting except as specified in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders. However, as to any other business that may properly come before the meeting, it is intended that proxies, in the form enclosed, will be voted in respect to those proxies in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting such proxies.

The information contained above under the captions “Compensation Committee Report” and “Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors” shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act except to the extent that RealNetworks specifically incorporates it by reference into such filing.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES ARE RETURNED PROMPTLY AND THAT YOUR SHARES ARE REPRESENTED. SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO MARK, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND MAIL IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED RETURN ENVELOPE.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

LOGO

TRACY D. DAW

Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary

October 21, 2011

Seattle, Washington

A COPY OF REALNETWORKS’ ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE 2010 FISCAL

YEAR, AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, IS

AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE TO ANY SHAREHOLDER UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO:

INVESTOR RELATIONS DEPARTMENT

REALNETWORKS, INC.

P.O. BOX 91123

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98111-9223

 

57


LOGO

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE VOTE TODAY.

We encourage you to take advantage of Internet or telephone voting.

Both are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Internet and telephone voting are available through 11:59 PM Eastern Time the day prior to the annual meeting day.

INTERNET http://www.proxyvoting.com/rnwk

Use the Internet to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site.

REALNETWORKS, INC. OR

TELEPHONE 1-866-540-5760

Use any touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card in hand when you call.

If you vote your proxy by Internet or by telephone, you do NOT need to mail back your proxy card.

To vote by mail, mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.

Your Internet or telephone vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.

07327

FOLD AND DETACH HERE

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ALL THE LISTED NOMINEES, FOR PROPOSAL 2,

Please mark your votes as

FOR “EVERY 1 YEAR” ON PROPOSAL 3 AND FOR PROPOSAL 4. indicated in this example X

FOR WITHHOLD *EXCEPTIONS

1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS ALL FOR ALL

Class 2 Director 01 Janice Roberts Nominees: 02 Michael B. Slade

(INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark the “Exceptions” box above and write that nominee’s name in the space provided below.)

*Exceptions

FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN

2. Non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation.

Every Every Every

1 year 2 years 3 years ABSTAIN

3. Non-binding advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation.

FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN

4. Ratification of KPMG LLP as independent registered public accounting firm.

5. In their discretion the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

Mark Here for Address Change or Comments

SEE REVERSE

NOTE: Please sign as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such.

Signature Signature (if held jointly) Date


LOGO

 

You can now access your RealNetworks, Inc. account online.

Access your RealNetworks, Inc. account online via Investor ServiceDirect® (ISD).

BNY Mellon Shareowner Services, the transfer agent for RealNetworks, Inc., now makes it easy and convenient to get current information on your shareholder account.

• View account status

• View payment history for dividends

• View certificate history

• Make address changes

• View book-entry information

• Obtain a duplicate 1099 tax form

Visit us on the web at http://www.bnymellon.com/shareowner/equityaccess For Technical Assistance Call 1-877-978-7778 between 9am-7pm Monday-Friday Eastern Time

Investor ServiceDirect®

Available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week

TOLL FREE NUMBER: 1-800-370-1163

Choose MLinkSM for fast, easy and secure 24/7 online access to your future proxy materials, investment plan statements, tax documents and more. Simply log on to Investor ServiceDirect® at www.bnymellon.com/shareowner/equityaccess where step-by-step instructions will prompt you through enrollment.

Important notice regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Proxy Statement are available at: http://www.RRDEZProxy.com/2011/RealNetworks

FOLD AND DETACH HERE

PROXY FOR 2011 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS REALNETWORKS, INC.

2601 Elliott Avenue, Suite 1000, Seattle, Washington 98121 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned shareholder of RealNetworks, Inc., a Washington corporation (the “Company”), hereby appoints Michael Lunsford and Tracy D. Daw, and each of them, with power to act without the other and with power of substitution, as proxies and attorneys-in-fact, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as provided on the other side, all the shares of common stock of the Company which the undersigned is entitled to vote, and, in their discretion, to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held November 16, 2011, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, with all powers which the undersigned would possess if present at the Annual Meeting.

The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Company’s Proxy Statement in connection with the Annual Meeting and hereby revokes any proxy or proxies previously given.

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES AS TO ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT ARE PROPERLY PRESENTED. UNLESS DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSAL 4, OR AS THE PROXIES DEEM ADVISABLE ON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING, INCLUDING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, CONSIDERATION OF ANY MOTION MADE FOR ADJOURNMENT OF THE MEETING.

Address Change/Comments

(Mark the corresponding box on the reverse side)

BNY MELLON SHAREOWNER SERVICES P.O. BOX 3550 SOUTH HACKENSACK, NJ 07606-9250

(Continued and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side) 07327