Intelligent Systems Corp.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.
)
Filed by the Registrant
x
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant
o
Check the appropriate box:
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o Preliminary
Proxy Statement |
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o Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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x Definitive
Proxy Statement
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o Definitive
Additional Materials
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o Soliciting
Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
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Intelligent Systems Corp.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if
other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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x |
No fee required.
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o |
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act
Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
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(1) |
Title of each class of securities to which
transaction applies:
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(2) |
Aggregate number of securities to which
transaction applies:
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(3) |
Per unit price or other underlying value of
transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11
(set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and
state how it was determined):
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(4) |
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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o |
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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o |
Check box if any part of the fee is offset as
provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the
filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously.
Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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(1) |
Amount Previously Paid:
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(2) |
Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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4355 Shackleford Road
Norcross, Georgia 30093
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
YOU ARE INVITED TO attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Intelligent Systems Corporation on
Thursday, May 25, 2006 at 4:00 p.m., local time, at our corporate offices located at 4355
Shackleford Road, Norcross, Georgia 30093. At the Annual Meeting, shareholders will consider and
vote on:
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The election of two directors to the Board of Directors to serve until the 2009
Annual Meeting; and |
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2. |
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Other matters that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on Friday, April 7, 2006 will receive notice
of and be entitled to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
A Proxy Statement and a proxy solicited by the Board of Directors are enclosed with this mailing.
To ensure a quorum for the meeting and that your vote may be recorded, please sign, date and return
the proxy promptly in the enclosed business reply envelope. If you attend the meeting, you may
revoke your proxy and vote in person. Our 2005 Annual Report to Shareholders is enclosed in the
same document as the Proxy Statement.
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By order of the Board of Directors, |
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Bonnie L. Herron |
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Secretary |
April 14, 2006
Please complete and return the enclosed proxy promptly so that your vote may be recorded.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD MAY 25, 2006
We are sending this Proxy Statement to the shareholders of Intelligent Systems Corporation (the
company) in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors to be voted at
the 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Intelligent Systems Corporation and any adjournment
thereof. The Annual Meeting will be held on May 25, 2006 at our corporate offices located at 4355
Shackleford Road, Norcross, Georgia 30093 at 4:00 p.m. local time. We expect to first mail this
Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy to shareholders on or about April 14, 2006.
VOTING
General
The securities that can be voted at the Annual Meeting consist of common stock of Intelligent
Systems Corporation, $.01 par value per share. Each share entitles its owner to one vote on each
matter submitted to the shareholders. The record of shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting was taken as of the close of business on Friday, April 7, 2006. On that date, we had
outstanding and entitled to vote 4,478,971 shares of common stock with each share entitled to one
vote.
Quorum
A majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock must be present, in person or by proxy, to
constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. We will treat shares that are withheld or abstain from
voting as present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining a quorum. If a broker, bank,
custodian, nominee or other record holder of our common stock indicates on a proxy that it does not
have discretionary authority to vote certain shares on a particular matter, the shares held by that
record holder (referred to as broker non-votes) will also be counted as present in determining
whether we have a quorum.
Proxies
At the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxies will vote all properly executed proxy cards
delivered in connection with this solicitation and not revoked in accordance with the directions
given. Shareholders should specify their choices with regard to the proposal to be voted upon on
the accompanying proxy card. If no specific instructions are given with regard to the matter to be
voted upon, then the shares represented by a signed proxy card will be voted FOR the election of
the director nominees. If any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, the persons
named as proxies will vote upon such matters according to their judgment.
Some of our shareholders hold their shares through a broker, bank, custodian or other nominee,
rather than directly in their own name. This is commonly referred to as holding shares in street
name. If you hold shares in street name, these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by your
broker, bank, custodian or other nominee, which is considered, with respect to such shares, to be
the shareholder of record. As the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, you have the
right to direct the nominee how such shares should be voted. You also have the right to attend the
Annual Meeting. However, since you are not the shareholder of record, you must first obtain a
signed proxy from the shareholder of record giving you the right to vote the shares at the Annual
Meeting. Your broker, bank, custodian or other nominee has enclosed or provided you a voting
instruction card for you to use in directing the nominee how to vote your shares or obtain a proxy
from the nominee.
You may revoke your proxy card or voting instructions delivered in connection with this
solicitation at any time prior to voting at the Annual Meeting by:
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giving written notice to the Secretary of the company at 4355
Shackleford Road, Norcross, Georgia 30093, for shareholders of
record, or |
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executing and delivering to the Secretary a later dated proxy or,
for shares held in street name, by submitting new voting
instructions to your nominee, or |
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voting in person at the Annual Meeting. |
- 2 -
You cannot revoke your proxy or voting instructions as to any matter upon which, prior to such
revocation, a vote has been cast in accordance with the authority conferred by such proxy or voting
instructions.
We will pay all expenses incurred in connection with the solicitation of proxies. Such costs
include charges by brokers, fiduciaries and custodians for forwarding proxy materials to beneficial
owners of stock held in their names. We may solicit proxies by mail, telephone and personal
contact by directors, officers, and employees of the company without additional compensation.
Security Ownership of Principal Shareholders, Directors and Certain Executive Officers and Related
Stockholder Matters
The following table contains information concerning the only persons who are known to us to be
beneficial owners of more than 5 percent of our common stock as of March 31, 2006, and the
ownership of our common stock as of that date by each director, each executive officer named in the
Summary Compensation Table and by all directors and officers as a group.
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Shares |
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Percent |
Beneficial Owner |
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Address |
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Beneficially Owned
a, d |
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of Class
a |
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J. Leland Strange
Chairman of the Board, President, CEO
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4355 Shackleford Road
Norcross, GA 30093
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772,794 b
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17.1 |
% |
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Wallace R. Weitz & Company c
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1125 South 103rd St., Suite 600
Omaha, NE 68124
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858,499 |
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19.2 |
% |
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James V. Napier, Director
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30,100 |
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* |
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John B. Peatman, Director
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20,280 |
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* |
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Parker H. Petit, Director
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30,327 |
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* |
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Francis A. Marks, Vice President
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111,900 |
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2.6 |
% |
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Bonnie L. Herron
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Corporate Secretary
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83,825 |
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1.9 |
% |
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All Directors and Executive Officers
as a Group (7 persons)
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1,115,152 d
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25.0 |
% |
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a. |
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Except as otherwise noted, beneficial ownership is determined on the basis of 4,478,971
shares of common stock issued and outstanding plus securities deemed outstanding pursuant to
Rule 13d-3(d)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Pursuant to the rules on
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), a person is deemed to beneficially own
shares of the companys common stock if that person has or shares voting power, which
includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of a security, or investment power, which
includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of a security. An asterisk
indicates beneficial ownership of less than 1 percent. |
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b. |
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Includes 96,953 shares owned by Jane H. Strange, Mr. Stranges wife. Mr. Strange disclaims
any beneficial interest in the shares. |
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c. |
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Based on information set forth in a Schedule 13G filed January 13, 2006, in which Wallace R.
Weitz and Company, an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, reported beneficial ownership of 858,499 shares of common stock, of
which Wallace R. Weitz and Company has the sole power to vote and to dispose. |
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d. |
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Includes 181,014 shares reserved for issuance to officers and directors pursuant to stock
options that were exercisable at March 31, 2006 or within sixty days of such date which are
deemed beneficially owned by such person pursuant to Rule 13d-3(d)(1) of the Exchange Act.
The amounts reported above for Messrs. Napier, Peatman and Petit include 19,000 shares each
for shares underlying stock options exercisable at March 31, 2006 or within sixty days of such
date. The amounts reported above for Mr. Strange and Ms. Herron include 45,000 and 35,000
shares, respectively, for shares underlying stock options exercisable at March 31, 2006 or
within sixty days of such date. |
- 3 -
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
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(c) Number of securities remaining |
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(a) Number of securities to be |
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(b) Weighted-average |
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available for future issuance under |
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issued upon exercise of |
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exercise price of |
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equity compensation plans |
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outstanding options, warrants |
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outstanding options, |
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(excluding securities reflected in |
Plan category |
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and rights |
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warrants and rights |
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column (a)) |
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Equity compensation
plans approved by
security holders |
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152,680 |
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$ |
2.29 |
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350,000 |
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Equity compensation
plans not approved
by security holders |
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86,000 |
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$ |
3.04 |
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108,000 |
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Total |
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238,680 |
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$ |
2.56 |
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458,000 |
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The company instituted the 1991 Incentive Stock Plan (the 1991 plan) in December 1991 and
the 1991 Plan expired in December 2001. Effective August 22, 2000, the company adopted the
Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the Director Plan). Up to 200,000 shares of common stock
may be issued under the Director Plan to non-employee directors with each director receiving an
initial grant of 5,000 options followed by annual grants of 4,000 options on the date of each
subsequent Annual Meeting. The company instituted the 2003 Incentive Stock Plan (the 2003 Plan)
in March 2003. The 2003 Plan authorizes the issuance of up to 450,000 options to purchase shares
of common stock to officers and key employees. No options were granted under the 2003 Plan in
2004 or 2005. Non-qualified stock options are granted under the companys equity compensation
plans at fair market value on the date of grant and vest 50 percent on each of the first and second
anniversaries of the date of grant.
PROPOSAL 1 THE ELECTION OF TWO DIRECTORS
Nominees
At the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, shareholders will elect two directors to the Board of
Directors to serve a three-year term until the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The other
directors terms expire at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders listed in the following table for
each category of directors, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal from office.
Directors are elected by a plurality of the shares present and voting at the meeting. A
plurality means that the individuals who receive the largest number of votes cast are elected as
director up to the maximum number of directors to be chosen at the meeting. Therefore, shares that
are withheld or abstain from voting and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the
vote. Unless contrary instructions are given, the persons named as proxies will vote the shares
represented by a signed proxy card FOR the nominees.
If a nominee withdraws for any reason or is not able to serve as a director, the proxy will be
voted for another person designated by the Board of Directors as substitute nominee, but in no
event will the proxy be voted for more than two nominees. The Board of Directors has no reason to
believe that the nominees will not serve if elected.
The Board of Directors has nominated the persons named in the following table to serve as directors
of the company. The nominees are currently directors of the company. The nominees and other
directors gave us the following information concerning their current age, other directorships,
positions with the company, principal employment and shares of our common stock beneficially owned
as of March 31, 2006.
- 4 -
The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR the proposal to elect the two
nominees listed below as directors of the company.
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Shares of Common Stock |
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Beneficially Owned |
Name |
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Age |
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Position / Principal Occupation |
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(Percent of Class) |
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Nominees for election to serve until the 2009 Annual Meeting |
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James V. Napier 2 |
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69 |
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Director, former Chairman of the Board of Scientific Atlanta, Inc. |
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30,100 |
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* |
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J. Leland Strange |
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64 |
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Director, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer |
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772,794 |
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17.1 |
% |
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Incumbent director elected to serve until the 2008 Annual Meeting |
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Parker H. Petit 1 & 2 |
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66 |
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Director, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Matria Healthcare, Inc. |
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30,237 |
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* |
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Incumbent director elected to serve until the 2007 Annual Meeting |
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John B. Peatman 1 & 2 |
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71 |
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Director, Professor of Electrical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology |
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20,280 |
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* |
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* |
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Less than one percent; share amount includes 19,000 shares pursuant to stock options
exercisable at March 31, 2006 or within
sixty days of such date. |
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1. |
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Audit Committee |
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2. |
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Compensation Committee |
Mr. Napier has served as a director since 1982. Mr. Napier served as Chairman of the Board of
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., a firm involved in cable television electronics and satellite-based
communication networks, from 1993 until November 2000. He serves as a director of McKesson
Corporation, Vulcan Materials Company, Engelhard Corporation, Personnel Group of America, Inc. and
Wabtec Corporation. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Napier is an independent
director under applicable rules of the American Stock Exchange (the AMEX ).
Dr. Peatman has served as a director since 1979 and has been a Professor of Electrical Engineering
at the Georgia Institute of Technology since 1964. The Board of Directors has determined that Dr.
Peatman is an independent director under applicable rules of the AMEX.
Mr. Petit has served as a director since 1996. Mr. Petit has served as Chairman of the Board and a
director of Matria Healthcare, Inc., a comprehensive disease management services company listed on
the NASDAQ National Market, since March 1996 and he has served as President and CEO of Matria since
October 2000. Mr. Petit was founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Healthdyne, Inc.,
Matrias predecessor, from 1970 to 1996. He also serves as a director of Logility, Inc. The Board
of Directors has determined that Mr. Petit is an independent director under applicable rules of the
AMEX.
Mr. Strange has served as our President since 1983 and our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of
the Board of Directors since 1985. He serves as a director of Allied Holdings, Inc.
There are no family relationships among any of the companys directors and executive officers.
Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors met four times during the year ended December 31, 2005. The Board of
Directors has established an audit committee, a compensation committee, and a plan committee, but
has no nominating committee. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors met four times during
2005. During 2005, the Audit Committee consisted of Messrs. Peatman and Petit. In 2005, the Audit
Committee appointed the companys independent auditor, met with the independent auditor to review
its report on the 2004 audit and the 2005 quarterly reviews and carried out a number of other
responsibilities, as outlined in the Amended Audit Committee Charter.
Each of the members of the Audit Committee is independent, as such term is defined in the listing
standards of the AMEX and the rules of the SEC, and the Audit Committee meets the composition
requirements of AMEXs listing standards for Small Business
- 5 -
Issuers (as defined by the rules of AMEX). The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Petit is
an audit committee financial expert as defined by the rules of the SEC, and is financially
sophisticated as defined in the listing standards of AMEX. The Board of Directors based this
determination, in part, on Mr. Petits experience in actively supervising senior financial and
accounting personnel and in overseeing the preparation of financial statements as the Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of a publicly-traded company. The publicly traded companies with
which Mr. Petit is associated are larger and more complex than is the company.
The Board has a Compensation Committee consisting of Messrs. Napier, Petit and Peatman, which met
once during the last year. The Compensation Committee reviews and makes recommendations concerning
the appropriate compensation level for the officers of the company and any changes in the companys
various benefit plans.
The Plan Committee, which did not meet in 2005, is responsible for administering the 1991 Stock
Option Plan (the 1991 Plan) and the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2003 Incentive Plan). The
Plan Committee has the same members as the Compensation Committee.
All directors attended at least 75 percent of the meetings of the Committees of the Board on which
they serve and at least 75 percent of the meetings of the Board of Directors.
The company does not currently have a standing nominating committee. Please see Nominations
Process below for information regarding the companys policies and procedures for director
nominations.
Executive Officers
The following information is provided about our non-director executive officers as of March 31,
2006.
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Name |
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Age |
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Position / Principal Occupation |
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J. William Goodhew, III |
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68 |
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Vice President |
Bonnie L. Herron |
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58 |
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Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary |
Francis A. Marks |
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72 |
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Vice President |
Mr. Goodhew joined the company in 1997 as Vice President. He was President of Peachtree
Software, Inc. from 1985 through 1996. He is former Chairman of the Board of Navision Software
A/S.
Mr. Marks joined the company in May 1982 as Vice President of Product Line Programs after 26 years
with IBM Corporation in a variety of managerial and executive positions. He was appointed Vice
President in 1983 and also serves as President of ChemFree Corporation, one of our wholly owned
subsidiaries.
Ms. Herron joined the company in 1982 as Director of Planning at one of our subsidiaries and
subsequently at the corporate level. She was elected Corporate Secretary in 1987, Vice President
in 1990, and Chief Financial Officer in 1999.
The Board of Directors elects the executive officers to serve until they are removed, replaced or
resign.
- 6 -
Executive Compensation
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Summary Compensation Table |
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Annual Compensation |
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Salary |
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Bonus |
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Other Annual Compensation 1. |
Name and Principal Position |
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Year |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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J. Leland Strange |
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2005 |
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269,231 |
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4,038 |
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President & Chief Executive Officer |
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2004 |
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259,615 |
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3,894 |
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2003 |
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250,000 |
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3,385 |
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Francis A. Marks |
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2005 |
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130,000 |
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Vice President |
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2004 |
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135,000 |
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10,000 |
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2003 |
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130,000 |
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10,000 |
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Bonnie L. Herron |
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2005 |
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150,385 |
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2,256 |
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Vice President, Chief Financial Officer &
Secretary |
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2004 |
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140,192 |
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2,103 |
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2003 |
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135,000 |
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1,947 |
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1. |
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Includes matching contributions by the company to the respective accounts of the executive
officers pursuant to the terms of our Tax-Deferred Savings and Protection Plan (the 401(k)
Plan). Such amounts are fully vested. |
Option/SAR Grants in Last Fiscal Year
There were no options granted to officers in 2005.
Option Exercises and Year-End Values Table
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Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option Values |
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Value of Unexercised |
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Number of Unexercised |
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In-the-Money Options |
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Shares Acquired |
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Options at FY-End |
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at FY-End 1. |
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on Exercise |
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Value Realized |
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Exercisable/Unexercisable |
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Exercisable/Unexercisable |
Name |
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# |
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$ |
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# |
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$ |
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J. Leland Strange |
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- 0 - |
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- 0 - |
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30,000/15,000 |
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18,900/9,450 |
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Francis A. Marks |
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- 0 - |
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- 0 - |
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0/0 |
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0/0 |
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Bonnie L. Herron |
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- 0 - |
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- 0 - |
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23,333/11,667 |
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14,700/7,350 |
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Based on the difference between the exercise price and the closing sales price per share for the Common Stock on
December 31, 2005 of $2.14, as reported by the American Stock Exchange. |
Compensation of Directors
Non-employee directors earn $8,000 per year plus a fee of $2,000 per meeting day. Total
compensation is capped at $16,000 annually. Effective January 1, 1992, the company adopted the
Outside Directors Retirement Plan which provides for each non-employee director, upon resignation
from the Board after reaching the age of 65, to receive a lump sum cash payment equal to $5,000 for
each full year of service as a director of the company (and its predecessors and successors) up to
$50,000. Effective August 22, 2000, the company adopted the Non-Employee Director Stock Option
Plan which provides for an initial grant to each director of 5,000 options to purchase common stock
of the company and annual grants of 4,000 options on the date of each subsequent Annual Meeting.
Options are granted at fair market value on the date of grant.
Change-in-Control Arrangements
Effective January 1, 1992, we adopted the Change in Control Plan for Officers so that if control of
the company changes in the future, management would be free to act on behalf of the company and its
shareholders without undue concern for the possible loss of future compensation. A change in
control means either: (i) the accumulation by an unrelated person of beneficial ownership of more
than 25 percent of the companys common stock, (ii) the sale of all or substantially all of the
companys assets to an unrelated person, in a merger or otherwise, or (iii) a change of control
within the meaning of any rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
- 7 -
Under the Change in Control Plan, if the employment of an officer of the company terminates for any
reason within 12 months of a change in control, the officer would receive a lump sum cash payment
in an amount equal to twice the total of (i) such officers base annual salary at the time of
termination, (ii) the cash value of annual benefits, and (iii) such officers bonus for the most
recent year, if any. Additionally, upon a change in control, all options shall vest and the
exercise period for all options becomes the longer of (i) one year after the date of termination or
(ii) the exercise period specified in the officers option agreement. The right to such benefits
would lapse one year after the occurrence of the last change in control event to occur if there
were no actual termination during that period. Currently, J. Leland Strange, Francis A. Marks and
Bonnie L. Herron are the only officers designated by the Board to participate in the Change in
Control Plan.
Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors reviews and approves compensation paid by the
company to its executive officers. The Compensation Committee reviews compensation of the
executive officers annually with input from the Chief Executive Officer (other than for the Chief
Executive Officer). The Plan Committee is responsible for administering the 1991 Plan and the 2003
Incentive Plan, including selecting individuals who will receive stock option grants and
determining the timing, pricing and amounts of the options granted. Both committees are comprised
of three non-employee directors of the company.
Given our current level of executive compensation, it was not necessary for the Compensation
Committee to consider the cap on deductibility of compensation over $1 million for named executive
officers.
The basic goal of our compensation program for executive officers is to:
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fairly compensate executive officers in line with their responsibilities and contributions to the company; |
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reward management for achievement of financial or other measurable goals of the company and specified subsidiaries,
where the contribution of the executive is related to operations under his/her control; and |
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align managements compensation with shareholder interests as measured by stock price appreciation. |
The compensation of executive officers consists of a base salary, a cash bonus and long-term
compensation consisting of stock options. Because the company does not have readily identifiable
comparative companies, the Compensation Committee determines the base salary for non-CEO executive
officers with input from the Chief Executive Officer. The Committee intends the base salary to be
in the median range for persons with similar experience and scope of responsibility. The Committee
considers a number of subjective factors including the nature, scope and variety of
responsibilities of each executive as well as the companys financial results and condition. The
Committee considers an individual executives performance in a variety of functions which may
include line responsibility for established as well as start-up companies, corporate development
activities (including acquisitions and investments), completion of significant transactions,
contribution to and management of the companys minority-owned businesses and other corporate or
subsidiary functions.
Cash bonuses are earned on an irregular basis by the named executives based on achievement of goals
of the company as a whole or those subsidiaries or projects for which the named executive has
management responsibility.
Our long-term incentive compensation plan is based on the 2003 Incentive Plan, which is designed to
reward executives for increases in the market price of our stock, thus linking the interest of
executives and shareholders. The Plan Committee, in its sole discretion, grants options to those
individuals whose contribution is most likely to have an impact on our overall performance and
price of the companys common stock. The Committee intends for the number of options granted to an
individual executive to provide an adequate financial incentive over a three to five year time
frame and to provide the executives with an equity interest in the company. The number of options
granted to an executive officer depends upon a subjective evaluation of the individuals
contribution to the company. The Plan Committee granted an aggregate of 100,000 options to purchase
shares of the companys common stock in 2003. There were no options grants in 2004 or 2005. The
named executive officers currently have an aggregate of 80,000 unexercised stock options under the
2003 Plan.
It is our policy to provide executives with the same benefits provided to all other employees with
respect to medical, dental, life insurance and 401(k) plans.
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Chief Executive Officer Compensation
The Compensation Committee reviews the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer annually. Mr.
Strange, the second largest shareholder of the company, does not have an employment agreement with
the company. Since there have not been directly comparable peer group companies, the Compensation
Committee considers a number of subjective factors in setting Mr. Stranges compensation. The
Compensation Committee considered the nature, scope and variety of his responsibilities; his
contribution to increasing the value of the companys majority and minority-owned companies; his
performance as chief executive of the companys CoreCard Software subsidiary; and the companys
financial results and condition. The Compensation Committee believes Mr. Stranges compensation is
appropriate in consideration of the scope of his position, the performance of the company and the
value of his contribution to the companys operations and affiliate companies. Mr. Strange was
awarded stock options in 2003 under the same conditions as described above for all executive
officers. In determining the number of options granted, the Plan Committee considered his base
salary, the number of shares owned by Mr. Strange, and the number of options granted to other
executives.
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE |
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PLAN COMMITTEE |
James V. Napier (Chair)
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James V. Napier (Chair) |
Parker H. Petit
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Parker H. Petit |
John B. Peatman
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John B. Peatman |
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Messrs. Napier, Petit and Peatman served as members of the Compensation Committee and the Plan
Committee in 2005. None of these individuals is a present or former officer or employee of the
company. None of the companys executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or
compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of
the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.
Audit Committee Report
In March 2004, the Board of Directors amended the companys Audit Committee Charter. The Audit
Committee Charter includes organization and membership requirements, a statement of policy and the
Committees authority and responsibilities. All members of the Audit Committee currently meet the
independence and qualification standards set forth in the AMEX listing standards.
Management is responsible for our companys internal controls and the financial reporting process.
The independent auditors are responsible for performing an independent audit of the companys
consolidated financial statements in accordance with auditing standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and for issuing a report thereon. As outlined
in more detail in the Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committees responsibility is generally to
approve all services provided by and compensation paid to the independent auditors; review the
adequacy of the companys internal and disclosure controls and risk management practices; review
and monitor the annual audit of the financial statements including the financial statements
produced and notes thereto; review SEC filings containing the companys financial statements;
regularly meet with the independent auditors and management in separate sessions; and authorize
investigations into any matter within the scope of their responsibilities. During fiscal year
2005, among its other activities, the Audit Committee:
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engaged the independent auditors and established their compensation; |
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reviewed and discussed with management and the independent auditors the audited financial statements of the company as
of December 31, 2004 and for the year then ended; |
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discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by PCAOB standards (SAS No. 61); and |
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received from the independent auditors the written disclosures and written affirmation of their independence required
by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 and discussed with the auditors the firms independence. |
Based upon the reviews and discussions summarized above, the Audit Committee recommended to the
Board of Directors (and the Board of Directors has approved) that the audited financial statements
be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2005 for filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
- 9 -
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Parker H. Petit (Chair)
John B. Peatman
Nominations Process
The Board of Directors has not appointed a standing nominating committee or adopted a formal
nominating committee charter because the Board of Directors has determined that due to the size,
make-up, independence, long tenure and low turnover of the current Board of Directors, there would
be limited benefit to the company or its shareholders to do so. Currently, James V. Napier, Parker
H. Petit and John B. Peatman, all of whom meet the applicable AMEX independence requirements,
participate in the consideration of director nominees. They met once during 2005. Messrs. Napier,
Petit and Peatman also nominate the officers of the company for election by the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors has never received a recommendation from a shareholder as to a candidate for
nomination to the Board of Directors and therefore has not previously formed a policy with respect
to consideration of such a candidate. However, it is the Boards intent to consider any security
holder nominees that may be put forth in the future. The Board has not identified any specific,
minimum qualifications or skills that it believes must be met by a nominee for director. It is the
intent of the Board to review from time to time the appropriate skills and characteristics of
directors in the context of the current make-up of the Board and the requirements and needs of the
company at a given time. Given the current composition, stability and size of the Board of
Directors and the company, the fact that the director nominees are standing for re-election and the
fact that the Board has received no nominee candidates from security holders, the Board has not
considered other candidates for election at the upcoming Annual Meeting of Shareholders. There is
one vacancy on the Board of Directors at the present time due to the retirement of a director as of
December 31, 2003. The Board has not presently named a nominee for the vacant seat but may do so
in the future. Security holders wishing to nominate a candidate for consideration at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders in 2007 should submit the nominees name, affiliation and other pertinent
information along with a statement as to why such person should be considered for nomination. Such
nominations should be addressed to the Board of Directors in care of the Secretary of the company
and be received no later than 120 days before the date of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The
board will evaluate any such nominees in a manner similar to that for all director nominees.
Communication Between Security Holders and the Board of Directors
Security holders wishing to communicate with members of the Board of Directors should send a letter
to the Secretary of the company with instructions as to which director(s) is to receive the
communication. The Secretary will forward the written communication to each member of the Board of
Directors identified by the security holder or, if no individual director is identified, to all
members of the Board of Directors. The company has not in the past required members of the Board
of Directors to attend each Annual Meeting of Shareholders because the formal meetings have been
attended by very few shareholders, and have generally been very brief and procedural in nature.
One of the companys directors attended the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The board will
continue to monitor shareholder interest and attendance at future meetings and reevaluate this
policy as appropriate.
CODE OF ETHICS
The company has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all directors, officers, and employees.
The Code of Ethics is posted on our website at www.intelsys.com. The company discloses on its
website, within the time required by the rules of the SEC, any waivers of, or amendments to, the
Code of Ethics for the benefit of an executive officer.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and regulations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission thereunder require our executive officers and directors and persons who own
more than ten percent of our common stock, as well as certain affiliates of these persons, to file
initial reports of ownership of our common stock and changes in such ownership with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. The Securities and Exchange Commission also requires executive officers,
directors
and persons owning more than ten percent of our common stock to furnish us with copies of all
Section 16(a) forms they file.
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Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms received by
us, we believe that, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, the executive officers,
directors, and persons owning more than ten percent of our common stock complied with all
applicable filing requirements in a timely manner.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Effective November 24, 2004, the Audit Committee appointed Tauber & Balser, PC as the companys
independent public accountants. Prior to its engagement of Tauber & Balser, PC in 2004, the
company did not consult with Tauber & Balser, PC with respect to any of the matters or reportable
events set forth in Item 304(a)(2) of Regulation S-B.
Tauber & Balser, PC, Atlanta, Georgia, acted as our principal independent public accountants for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. We expect that representatives of Tauber & Balser, PC
will be present at the Annual Meeting. They will have the opportunity to make a statement if they
desire to do so and to respond to appropriate questions. The Audit Committee has not yet selected
auditors for the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2006 because historically this decision is
made in the second half of the year. The following is a summary of fees and expenses billed to the
company by BDO Seidman, LLP, our former auditor, and Tauber & Balser, PC for services rendered for
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005:
Audit
Fees Our former auditors, BDO Seidman, LLP, billed us $39,510 for reviews of the first
three quarters in the year ended December 31, 2004. We also incurred $18,250 for BDOs
services related to the transition to the new auditors and their consent related to the filing
of our Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2004, none of which had been billed
as of December 31, 2004. We were billed fees of $86,853 by Tauber & Balser, PC for the audit of
our Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2004, none of which had been billed as
of December 31, 2004. We incurred aggregate fees of $125,412 for reviews and audit services by
Tauber & Balser, PC in the year ended December 31, 2005, of which $28,109 had been billed as of
December 31, 2005. Such services were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
Audit-Related
Fees These fees consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that
are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our Financial Statements
and are not reported under Audit Fees. There were no such fees billed in the two years ended
December 31, 2005.
Fees
for Tax Services We did not pay any fees for tax services to our independent auditors
during the two years ended December 31, 2005.
All
Other Fees We were billed $1,942 for other services provided by our independent auditors
during the year ended December 31, 2005.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The lease on our headquarters and primary facility at 4355 Shackleford Road, Norcross, Georgia
expired May 31, 2004. The former landlord was unwilling to renew this lease and had instead
expressed a desire to sell the facility. On June 1, 2004, ISC Properties, LLC, an entity
controlled by our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, J. Leland Strange, purchased the facility
from the former landlord and leased approximately 45 percent of the facility to the company in
order to allow us to stay in the present facility and to avoid the disruption and expense of a
move. After careful consideration, the Board of Directors concluded that the lease transaction was
fair to the company and in the best interests of the company and its shareholders, and approved the
lease transaction between the company and ISC Properties, LLC effective June 1, 2004. Mr. Strange
recused himself from deliberations concerning, and voting to approve, the lease transaction. In
connection with this approval, the Board of Directors waived the conflict of interest provisions of
our Code of Ethics as they apply to Mr. Strange in connection with the lease transaction. We also
evaluated the arrangement to determine if ISC Properties, LLC should be considered a Variable
Interest Entity (VIE) within the guidance of Financial Accounting Standards Board FIN No. 46.
After carefully considering the characteristics of the relationship between the company and ISC
Properties, LLC, it was determined that ISC Properties, LLC did not meet the criteria of a VIE and,
as a result, ISC Properties, LLC is not consolidated with the company.
- 11 -
SHAREHOLDERS PROPOSALS FOR ANNUAL MEETING IN 2007
Shareholders who wish to submit a proposal for inclusion in our proxy statement for the 2007 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders must submit such proposals so that they are received by the company no
later than December 15, 2006. Such proposals must comply with Exchange Act Rule 14a-8 and all
other applicable proxy rules and requirements contained in our bylaws relating to shareholder
proposals to be included in our proxy materials. Shareholders intending to present proposals at
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2007 but who do not wish to submit the proposal for inclusion
in our proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 should submit these proposals to the Secretary of the
company by certified mail, return receipt requested, at our offices in Norcross, Georgia on or
before December 15, 2006. Our bylaws contain an advance notice provision that states that, among
other things, in order for business to be brought properly before an annual meeting of shareholders
by a shareholder, the shareholder must have given timely notice of the business in writing to the
Secretary of the company. To be timely under the Bylaws, a shareholders notice must be received
at our principal offices by December 15, 2006.
OTHER MATTERS WHICH MAY COME BEFORE THE MEETING
The Board of Directors is not aware of any matter other than those stated above that are to be
brought before the meeting. However, if any other matter should be presented for consideration and
voting, the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy intend to vote the proxy in accordance with
their judgment of what is in the best interest of the company.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Any record or beneficial owner of our common stock as of April 7, 2006 may request a copy of our
Annual Report on Form 10-KSB filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2005, including financial statements and schedules. Any request for the Form
10-KSB should be in writing addressed to: Bonnie L. Herron, Intelligent Systems Corporation, 4355
Shackleford Road, Norcross, Georgia 30093. If the person requesting the Form 10-KSB is not a
shareholder of record on April 7, 2006, the person must state that he or she is a beneficial owner
of our common stock on that date. Shareholders may also view and download a copy of our Annual
Report on Form 10-KSB from our web site at www.intelsys.com. We will provide copies of any
exhibits to the Form 10-KSB upon request and upon the payment of our reasonable expenses in
furnishing such exhibits.
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By order of the Board of Directors, |
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Bonnie L. Herron |
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Secretary |
Norcross, Georgia |
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April 14, 2006 |
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ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS CORPORATION
May 25, 2006
Please date, sign and mail
your proxy card in the
envelope provided as soon
as possible.
ê Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided. ê
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF TWO DIRECTORS.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE x
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Election of Directors: |
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NOMINEES: |
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for the nominees |
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James V. Napier
J. Leland Strange |
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withhold authority
for the nominees |
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for all except
(See instructions below) |
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INSTRUCTION: |
To withhold authority to vote for any individual
nominee(s), mark FOR ALL EXCEPT and fill in the
circle next to each nominee you wish to withhold, as shown here: l |
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To change the address on your account, please check the box at
right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the
account may not be submitted via this method. |
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This proxy will be voted as directed. If
no instructions are specific, the proxy will be voted FOR Proposal 1. |
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Signature of Shareholder
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Date:
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Signature of Shareholder
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Date:
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Note: |
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Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held
jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or
guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full
corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership,
please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS CORPORATION
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned, a
shareholder of common stock, $.01 par value (the
Common Stock) of Intelligent Systems Corporation, a Georgia corporation (the Company)
hereby appoints J. Leland Strange and Bonnie L. Herron, and each of them with full power of
substitution, proxies to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held
on May 25, 2006 at 4:00 p.m., local time, and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof, hereby
revoking any proxies heretofore given, to vote all shares of Common Stock of the Company held or
owned by the undersigned as of the record date, April 7, 2006 as directed on the reverse, and in
their discretion, upon such other matters as may come before the meeting.
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(To be Signed on Reverse Side) |
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SEE REVERSE SIDE |