def14a
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
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Check the appropriate box: |
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12 |
Somanetics Corporation
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): |
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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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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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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Total fee paid: |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials |
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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 the registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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Amount Previously Paid: |
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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Date Filed: |
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1653 East Maple Road
Troy, Michigan 48083-4208
NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD APRIL 19, 2007
To the Shareholders of Somanetics Corporation:
THIS IS OUR NOTICE TO YOU that the annual meeting of shareholders of Somanetics Corporation
will be held at the Troy Marriott, 200 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, Michigan 48084, at 10:00 a.m.
eastern standard time on Thursday, April 19, 2007 for the following purposes:
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To select one director, to serve until the 2010 annual meeting of shareholders and until his
successor is elected and qualified. |
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To consider and act upon a proposal to approve an amendment to the Somanetics Corporation
2005 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of common shares reserved for issuance under
the plan by 600,000 shares, from 600,000 to 1,200,000 shares. |
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment
thereof. |
Only shareholders of record on February 19, 2007 will be entitled to notice of the meeting or
any adjournment of the meeting and to vote at the meeting or any adjournment of the meeting.
All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting. Whether or not you expect to
attend the meeting, please complete, date and sign the enclosed proxy and return it as promptly as
possible to ensure your representation at the meeting. A return postage-prepaid envelope is
enclosed for that purpose. If you return the proxy, you may withdraw your proxy and vote your
shares in person if you attend the meeting.
Your attention is called to the attached proxy statement and the accompanying proxy. A copy
of our annual report for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006 accompanies this notice.
By order of the board of directors
Bruce J. Barrett
President and Chief Executive Officer
Troy, Michigan
February 28, 2007
SOMANETICS CORPORATION
1653 East Maple Road
Troy, Michigan 48083-4208
PROXY STATEMENT
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
April 19, 2007
General Information
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the board
of directors of Somanetics Corporation. The proxies are being solicited for use at the 2007 annual
meeting of shareholders to be held at the Troy Marriott, 200 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, Michigan
48084, at 10:00 a.m. eastern time on Thursday, April 19, 2007, and at any adjournment of that
meeting. The 2007 annual meeting of shareholders is being held for the purposes described in the
notice of annual meeting of shareholders on the prior page. We expect that this proxy statement
and accompanying proxy will be first sent or given to shareholders on or about February 28, 2007.
Solicitation
We will bear the entire cost of soliciting proxies in the enclosed form, including the costs
of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing this proxy statement, the accompanying proxy and any
additional information we furnish to shareholders. We may supplement our solicitation of proxies
by mail with telephone, telegraph, facsimile, e-mail or personal solicitation by our directors,
officers or other regular employees. We will not pay any additional compensation to our directors,
officers or other regular employees for these services. We will request that brokers, nominees and
other similar record holders forward soliciting material, and we will reimburse them upon request
for their out-of-pocket expenses.
Voting Securities and Principal Holders
Voting Rights and Outstanding Shares
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on February 19, 2007 will be entitled to
notice of the annual meeting or any adjournment of the meeting and to vote at the annual meeting or
any adjournment of the meeting. As of the close of business on February 19, 2007, we had
13,165,127 outstanding common shares, $0.01 par value, the only class of our stock outstanding and
entitled to vote.
Each common share is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted for a vote at the meeting.
The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding
common shares entitled to vote, or 6,582,564 shares, is necessary to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business at the meeting or any adjournment of the meeting.
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Revocability of Proxies
A shareholder giving a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is voted by giving written
notice of revocation to our Secretary or by executing and delivering to our Secretary a later dated
proxy. A shareholders attendance at the meeting will not have the effect of revoking any proxy
given by that shareholder unless the shareholder gives written notice of revocation to our
Secretary before the proxy is voted. Any written notice revoking a proxy, and any later dated
proxy, should be sent to Somanetics Corporation, 1653 East Maple Road, Troy, Michigan 48083-4208,
Attention: Investor Relations Department.
Valid proxies in the enclosed form that are returned in time for the meeting and executed and
dated in accordance with the instructions on the proxy will be voted as specified in the proxy. If
no specification is made, the proxies will be voted FOR the election as director of the nominee
listed below, and FOR the proposed increase in the number of common shares reserved for issuance
under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan.
Principal Holders of Our Voting Securities
The following table contains information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our
common shares as of February 19, 2007 by each person known to us to beneficially own more than five
percent of our common shares, our only outstanding class of voting shares:
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Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
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Beneficial Ownership |
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Owned (1) |
FMR Corp. |
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1,953,310 |
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14.8 |
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82 Devonshire Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109 |
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Bruce J. Barrett |
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746,610 |
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5.4 |
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1653 East Maple Road
Troy, Michigan 48083-4208 |
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James E. Flynn |
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742,000 |
(4) |
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5.6 |
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780 Third Avenue, 37th Floor
New York, New York 10017
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MFC Global Investment Management (U.S.), LLC |
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685,190 |
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101 Huntington Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02199 |
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Based on 13,165,127 common shares outstanding as of February 19, 2007. |
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The information with respect to FMR Corp. is based solely on a Schedule 13G report, dated
February 14, 2007. FMR Corp. is a parent holding company. Fidelity Management & Research Company
(Fidelity), 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
FMR Corp. and an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Fidelity
is the beneficial owner of the common shares reported above as a result of acting as investment
adviser to various investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The
ownership of one registered investment company, Fidelity Aggressive Growth Fund, 82 Devonshire
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, amounted to 991,100 shares, or 7.5% of the |
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common shares outstanding. The ownership of one registered investment company, Fidelity Small Cap
Stock Fund, 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, amounted to 770,305 shares, or 5.9%
of the common shares outstanding. Edward C. Johnson 3d and FMR Corp., through its control of
Fidelity and the funds, each has sole power to dispose of the shares owned by the funds. Members
of the family of Edward C. Johnson 3d, Chairman of FMR Corp., are the predominant owners, directly
or through trusts, of Series B shares of common stock of FMR Corp., representing 49% of the voting
power of FMR Corp. The Johnson family group and all other Series B shareholders have entered into
a shareholders voting agreement under which all Series B shares will be voted in accordance with
the majority vote of the Series B shares. Accordingly, through their ownership of voting common
stock and the execution of the shareholders voting agreement, members of the Johnson family may be
deemed, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, to form a controlling group with respect to FMR
Corp. Neither FMR Corp. nor Edward C. Johnson 3d, Chairman of FMR Corp., has the sole power to
vote or direct the voting of the shares owned directly by the Fidelity funds, which power resides
with the funds Boards of Trustees. Fidelity carries out the voting of the shares under written
guidelines established by the funds Boards of Trustees. |
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Includes 711,610 common shares that Mr. Barrett has the right to acquire within 60 days of
February 19, 2007, 18,000 restricted common shares that vest in five equal annual installments
beginning June 29, 2007, and 17,000 common shares owned jointly with his wife. |
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The information with respect to James E. Flynn and the other entities described in this
footnote is based solely on a Schedule 13G report, dated February 15, 2007. Deerfield Capital,
L.P. (Deerfield Capital) is a Delaware partnership that has shared voting and dispositive power
over 264,304 common shares. Deerfield Partners, L.P. (Deerfield Partners) is a Delaware
partnership that has shared voting and dispositive power over 117,294 common shares. Deerfield
Special Situations Fund, L.P. (Deerfield Special Situations) is a Delaware partnership that has
shared voting and dispositive power over 147,010 common shares. Deerfield Management Company, L.P.
(Deerfield Management) is a New York partnership that has shared voting and dispositive power
over 477,696 common shares. Deerfield International Limited (Deerfield International) is a
British Virgin Islands corporation that has shared voting and dispositive power over 182,706 common
shares. Deerfield Special Situations Fund International Limited (Deerfield Special Situations
International) is a British Virgin Islands corporation that has shared voting and dispositive
power over 294,990 common shares. Deerfield Capitals, Deerfield Partners, Deerfield Special
Situations, and Deerfield Managements principal business offices are located at 780 Third Avenue,
37th Floor, New York, New York 10017. Deerfield Internationals and Deerfield Special
Situations Internationals principal business offices are located at c/o Bisys Management, Bison
Court, Columbus Centre, P.O. Box 3460, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. None of these
entities individually own more than five percent of the outstanding common shares. Due to the
relationships between them, James E. Flynn and the other entities described in this footnote may be
deemed to constitute a group with one another for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. |
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The information with respect to MFC Global Investment Management (U.S.), LLC (MFC Global
(U.S.)) is based solely on a Schedule 13G report, dated February 8, 2007. Manulife Financial
Corporation (MFC), 200 Bloor Street, East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4W 1E5, is a Canadian
parent holding company. MFC owns common shares through its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries,
MFC Global (U.S.), MFC Global Investment Management (U.S.A.) Limited (MFC Global), 200 Bloor
Street, East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4W 1E5, and John Hancock Advisers, LLC (JHA), 601
Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, all of which are investment advisers registered under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. MFC Global has sole voting and investment power over 455
common shares. JHA shares voting and investment power with MFC Global (U.S.) over 550,000 common
shares. MFC Global (U.S.) has sole voting and investment power over an additional 135,190 common
shares. Through its parent-subsidiary relationship to MFC Global, JHA and MFC Global (U.S.), MFC
may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of these same shares. |
I. ELECTION OF DIRECTOR
Our board of directors proposes that the person named below as nominee for election as one of
our directors for a three-year term be elected as one of our directors, to hold office until the
annual meeting of shareholders to be held in 2010 and until his successor is elected and
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qualified. Mr. Barrett was last elected as a director at the 2004 annual meeting of shareholders
on March 31, 2004. If a quorum is present, the nominee receiving the greatest number of votes cast
at the meeting or its adjournment will be elected. Withheld votes and broker non-votes will not be
deemed votes cast in determining which nominee receives the greatest number of votes cast, but will
be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present. The persons named in the
accompanying proxy intend to vote all valid proxies received by them FOR the election of the
nominee listed below unless the person giving the proxy withholds authority to vote for this
nominee. The nominee listed below has consented to serve if elected. If the nominee is unable or
declines to serve, which we do not expect to happen, the proxy holders intend to vote the proxies
in accordance with their best judgment for another qualified person.
The following information is furnished as of February 19, 2007 with respect to our nominee for
election as one of our directors, with respect to each person whose term of office as one of our
directors will continue after the meeting, with respect to each of our executive officers who is
named in the Summary Compensation Table below, and with respect to all of our directors and
executive officers as a group:
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Director |
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With Us and Other |
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Owned(1) |
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Expire |
NOMINEE FOR ELECTION AS ONE OF OUR DIRECTORS FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM
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Bruce J. Barrett |
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6/94 |
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47 |
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President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director |
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746,610 |
(2) |
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5.4 |
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2010 |
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DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE
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Dr. James I. Ausman |
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6/94 |
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69 |
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Director, Somanetics, Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of California at Los
Angeles, Consultant for Sg2 LLC, and Editor of Surgical Neurology |
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48,791 |
(3) |
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* |
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2008 |
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Richard R. Sorensen |
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6/06 |
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51 |
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Director and Financial Advisor USB Financial Services, Inc. |
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0.0 |
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2008 |
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Daniel S. Follis |
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4/89 |
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69 |
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Director, President of Verschuren & Follis, Inc. and President of Follis Corporation |
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21,770 |
(4) |
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2009 |
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Robert R. Henry
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12/98 |
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66 |
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Director and President of
Robert R. Henry & Co., Inc. |
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283,200 |
(5) |
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2.1 |
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2009 |
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OTHER EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
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William M. Iacona |
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120,525 |
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Dominic J. Spadafore |
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130,180 |
(7) |
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1.0 |
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Mary Ann Victor |
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167,361 |
(8) |
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1.3 |
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All directors and executive officers as a group (8 persons) |
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1,527,737 |
(9) |
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10.7 |
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Less than 1 percent |
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Based on 13,165,127 common shares outstanding as of February 19, 2007. For purposes of the
table above, and in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we
deem common shares that are subject to options that are currently exercisable or exercisable
within 60 days of February 19, 2007 to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person
holding the options for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but
we do not treat them as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of
any other person. Except as otherwise noted, the persons or entities in this table have sole
voting and investment power with respect to all of the common shares beneficially owned by
them. |
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Includes 711,610 common shares that Mr. Barrett has the right to acquire within 60 days of
February 19, 2007, 18,000 restricted common shares that vest in five equal annual installments
beginning June 29, 2007, and 17,000 common shares owned jointly with his wife. |
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Includes 34,011 common shares that Dr. Ausman has the right to acquire within 60 days of
February 19, 2007, 10,250 common shares owned jointly with his wife, and 4,530 shares held in
an individual retirement account over which Dr. Ausman exercises sole voting and investment
control. |
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Includes 13,500 common shares that Mr. Follis has the right to acquire within 60 days of
February 19, 2007. The 21,770 common shares shown above as beneficially owned by Mr. Follis
include 8,270 common shares owned by The Infinity Fund, a limited partnership in which Mr.
Follis is a 24.7 percent limited partner and a 50 percent general partner and which is
administered by Verschuren & Follis, Inc., a corporation in which Mr. Follis is a 50 percent
shareholder, a director and the President. |
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Includes 26,500 common shares that Mr. Henry has the right to acquire within 60 days of
February 19, 2007. |
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Includes 111,525 common shares that Mr. Iacona has the right to acquire within 60 days of
February 19, 2007 and 9,000 restricted common shares that vest in five equal annual
installments beginning June 29, 2007. |
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Includes 117,680 common shares that Mr. Spadafore has the right to acquire within 60 days of
February 19, 2007, 9,000 restricted common shares that vest in five equal annual installments
beginning June 29, 2007, and 3,500 common shares that Mr. Spadafore owns jointly with his
spouse. |
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Includes 153,261 common shares that Ms. Victor has the right to acquire within 60 days of
February 19, 2007, 9,000 restricted common shares that vest in five equal annual installments
beginning June 29, 2007, 2,000 common shares held by Ms. Victors husband and 3,100 common
shares held by Ms. Victors husband jointly with his mother. |
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Includes 1,168,087 common shares that all executive officers and directors as a group have
the right to acquire within 60 days of February 19, 2007 and 45,000 restricted common shares
that vest in five equal annual installments beginning June 29, 2007. |
Biographical Information
The following is a brief account of the business experience during the past five years of the
nominee for our board of directors and of each of our directors whose term of office will continue
after the meeting:
Bruce J. Barrett. Mr. Barrett has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and as
one of our directors since June 1994. Earlier in his career, Mr. Barrett served as the Director,
Hospital Products Division, for Abbott Laboratories, Ltd., a health care equipment
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manufacturer and distributor, and as the Director, Sales and Marketing, for Abbott Critical Care
Systems, a division of Abbott Laboratories, Inc., a health care equipment manufacturer and
distributor. While at Abbott Critical Care Systems, Mr. Barrett managed Abbotts invasive oximetry
products for approximately four years. Prior to joining Abbott Laboratories, he served as the
group product manager of hemodynamic monitoring products of Baxter Edwards Critical Care, an
affiliate of Baxter International, Inc., another health care equipment manufacturer and
distributor. Mr. Barrett received a B.S. degree in marketing from Indiana State University and an
M.B.A. degree from Arizona State University. Mr. Barrett is a party to an employment agreement
with us that requires us to elect him to the offices he currently holds.
James I. Ausman, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Ausman has served as one of our directors since June 1994.
He has been Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of California at Los Angeles since
2004 and Professor of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago since
1991 and served as its head from 1991 until September 2001. Since June 2006, he has served as a
consultant for Sg2 LLC, a healthcare consulting firm. Since 1994, he has also been the editor of
Surgical Neurology. He serves as the medical expert for KMIR 6 TV in Palm Desert, California. He
and his wife, Carolyn, are the creators and executive producers of the PBS television show The
Leading Gen: What will you do with the rest of your life? From July 2002 until December 2005, he
served as a consultant for Navigant Consulting, Inc. (formerly The Tiber Group), a healthcare
strategic planning and market research company. From September 1978 until August 1991, he was
Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. From December 1987
until July 1991, he served as Director of the Henry Ford Neurosurgical Institute, also at Henry
Ford Hospital. In addition, he was Clinical Professor of Surgery, Section of Neurosurgery at the
University of Michigan in Ann Arbor from 1980 until 1991. Dr. Ausman received a B.S. degree in
chemistry and biology from Tufts University, a Doctorate of Medicine from Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine, a Masters of Arts in Physiology from the State University of New York at
Buffalo, and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from George Washington University. He has also received
graduate training in neurosurgery at the University of Minnesota and has obtained board
certification from the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Richard R. Sorensen. Mr. Sorensen has served as one of our directors since June 2006. Since
June 2005, he has served as a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services, Inc., a firm providing
financial advisory and brokerage services. From September 1998 to June 2005, he served at Superior
Consultant Holdings Corporation, a publicly-traded provider of information technology, consulting
and outsourcing to hospitals and healthcare systems, most recently as its Chief Financial Officer
from October 2000 to June 2005. Superior Consultant Holdings Corporation merged with Affiliated
Computer Services, Inc. in January 2005. Previously he served as an audit partner with Plante &
Moran LLP, a professional service firm, including an independent registered public accounting firm,
providing tax, assurance and business consulting services in Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. Mr.
Sorensen received a BBA degree in accounting from University of Michigan.
Daniel S. Follis. Mr. Follis has served as one of our directors since April 1989. Since
1981, he has served as President of Verschuren & Follis, Inc., which advises and administers The
Infinity Fund, a limited partnership that invests in emerging growth companies. Since 1995 he
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has also served as President of Follis Corporation, a sales and marketing company engaged in media
sales, television production, serving as a manufacturers representative and investment management.
Mr. Follis received a B.A. degree in business from Michigan State University.
Robert R. Henry. Mr. Henry has served as one of our directors since December 1998. He has
been President of Robert R. Henry & Co., Inc., a financial consulting and investment firm, since
1989. Mr. Henry served as an advisory director of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated from 1989
until March 2006, and from 1977 to 1989 was a managing director of Morgan Stanley. He received an
M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.A. from Williams College.
Corporate Governance
Independence
Our board of directors has determined that Dr. Ausman and Messrs. Follis, Henry and Sorensen
are independent under the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. Marketplace Rules, as
those standards have been modified or supplemented.
Board Meetings and Annual Meeting Attendance Policy
During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006, our board of directors held 12 meetings.
We encourage all of our directors to attend the annual meeting of shareholders, if possible.
All four of our then current directors attended the 2006 annual meeting of shareholders.
Audit Committee
Our board of directors has established a separately-designated, standing Audit Committee that
consists of four directors and is established for the purpose of overseeing our accounting and
financial reporting processes and audits of our financial statements. Mr. Henry (Chairman), Dr.
Ausman, Mr. Follis and Mr. Sorensen are the current members of this committee. The Audit
Committee:
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is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight
of the work of any registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of
preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest
services for us, including responsibility for the resolution of disagreements between
management and the auditor regarding financial reporting; each such registered public
accounting firm must report directly to the Audit Committee; |
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ensures that before the independent accountant is engaged by us to render audit or
non-audit services, the engagement is approved by the Audit Committee or the engagement
to render the service is entered into pursuant to pre-approval policies and |
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procedures established by the Audit Committee; this pre-approval authority may be
delegated to one or more members of the Audit Committee; |
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takes, or recommends that the full board takes, appropriate action to oversee the
independence of our independent accountants; |
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oversees our independent accountants relationship by discussing with our
independent accountants the nature, scope and rigor of the audit process, receiving and
reviewing audit and other reports from the independent accountants and providing our
independent accountants with full access to the committee and the board to report on
any and all appropriate matters; |
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reviews and discusses the audited financial statements and the matters required to
be discussed by SAS 61 with management and the independent accountants, including
discussions concerning the independent accountants judgments about the quality of our
accounting principles, applications and practices as applied in our financial
reporting; |
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recommends to the board whether the audited financial statements should be included
in our Annual Report on Form 10-K; |
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reviews with management and the independent accountants the quarterly financial
information before we file our Form 10-Qs; this review is performed by the committee or
its chairperson; |
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discusses with management and the independent accountants the quality and adequacy
of our internal controls; |
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establishes procedures for (1) the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints
received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters,
and (2) confidential, anonymous submission by our employees of concerns regarding
questionable accounting or auditing matters; |
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reviews related party transactions required to be disclosed in our proxy statement
for potential conflict of interest situations and approves all such transactions; |
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discusses with management the status of pending litigation as it pertains to the
financial statements and disclosure and other areas of oversight as the committee deems
appropriate; and |
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reports committee activities to the full board. |
During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006, our Audit Committee held eight meetings.
Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, a current copy
of which is available to shareholders on our website, at http://www.somanetics.com.
Audit Committee Financial Experts
Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Henry and Mr. Sorensen are Audit Committee
financial experts, as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, serving on our Audit
Committee. Mr. Henry and Mr. Sorensen are independent as independence for audit committee members
is defined in the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. Marketplace Rules. Mr.
Henrys experience that qualifies him as our Audit Committee financial expert includes investment
banking experience serving as managing director of Morgan Stanley from 1977 to 1989, corporate
securities underwriting experience with Morgan Stanley from 1965
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to 1977 and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1964. Mr. Sorensons experience that
qualifies him as our Audit Committee financial expert includes his former position as Chief
Financial Officer of Superior Consult Holdings Corporation, a publicly-traded company, and his
service as an audit partner with Plante& Moran LLP. See Biographical Information.
Audit Committee Report
Our Audit Committee has:
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reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2006 with our management; |
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discussed with our independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by the
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards,
Vol. 1. AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
in Rule 3200T; |
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received the written disclosures and the letter from our independent accountants
required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Standards Board
Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), as adopted by the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3600T; and |
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discussed with our independent accountants our independent accountants
independence. |
Based on the review and discussions described above in this paragraph, our Audit Committee
recommended to our board of directors that the audited financial statements for the fiscal year
ended November 30, 2006 be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2006 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Management is responsible for the Companys financial reporting process including its system
of internal control, and for the preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles. The Companys independent auditors are responsible
for auditing those financial statements. Our responsibility is to monitor and review these
processes. It is not our duty or our responsibility to conduct auditing or accounting reviews or
procedures. We are not employees of the Company and we may not be, and we may not represent
ourselves to be or to serve as, accountants or auditors by profession or experts in the field of
accounting or auditing. Therefore, we have relied, without independent verification, on
managements representation that the financial statements have been prepared with integrity and
objectivity and in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America and on the representations of the independent auditors included in their report on the
Companys financial statements. Our oversight does not provide us with an independent basis to
determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles
or policies, or appropriate internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with
accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations.
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Furthermore, our considerations and discussions with management and the independent auditors
do not assure that the Companys financial statements are presented in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, that the audit of our Companys financial statements has been
carried out in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards or that our Companys
independent accountants are in fact independent.
By the Audit Committee
Robert R. Henry, Chairman
James I. Ausman, M.D., Ph.D.
Daniel S. Follis
Richard R. Sorensen
Compensation Committee
Our board of directors has a standing Compensation Committee which consists of four directors.
Mr. Follis (Chairman), Dr. Ausman, Mr. Henry and Mr. Sorensen are the current members of this
Committee. The Compensation Committee makes recommendations to the board of directors with respect
to compensation arrangements and plans for executive officers and directors of the Company and
administers the Companys 1991 Incentive Stock Option Plan, 1997 Stock Option Plan, and 2005 Stock
Incentive Plan. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006, the Compensation Committee held
ten meetings.
Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee, a current
copy of which is available to shareholders on our website, at http://www.somanetics.com.
The Committee generally meets in connection with regularly scheduled quarterly and annual
meetings of the board of directors, with additional meetings held as often as its members deem
necessary to perform its responsibilities. The Committee generally considers an annual bonus plan
near the beginning of the year, in connection with, or after, review and approval of our business
plan for the year, with payouts usually reviewed and determined at the regular meeting held after
the end of each quarter. In fiscal 2006, however, the Committee deferred recommendation of the
annual bonus plan until after completion of our public offering of common shares in March 2006.
The Committee generally considers annual equity incentive grants at the time of the annual meeting
of shareholders, although it may be earlier or later in the year, depending various factors, such
as the date of the last award and Committee deliberations about proposed awards or other
compensation. The Committee generally considers annual salary changes at its first meeting after
August 1 each year.
The Committee may delegate any of its responsibilities to subcommittees as the Committee deems
appropriate, provided that subcommittees are composed entirely of independent directors. The
Committee has the authority to retain a compensation consultant to assist in the evaluation of
compensation, and has the sole authority to retain and terminate such firm and to approve its fees
and other retention terms. The Committee also has authority to retain other advisors. We must
provide appropriate funding for payment of compensation to any consulting firm or other advisors
employed by the Committee.
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The Committee has not retained a compensation consultant or other advisor. Proposals
regarding compensation of executive officers and directors (including recommending bonus formulas
and plans, performance measures, compensation and award levels, and payout amounts) are generally
made by management. Our Secretary generally prepares materials and agendas for Committee meetings,
attends the meetings and keeps the minutes of the meetings. Our Chief Executive Officer generally
attends Committee meetings, but is not present during voting or deliberations regarding his
compensation.
In evaluating these proposals, the Compensation Committee relies primarily on its members
reviews of information from proxy statements of companies with the same Standard Industrial
Classification Code number as ours, comparable market capitalization and comparable revenues as
selected and gathered by management and the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, its members
reviews of summaries of past salaries and bonuses of, and equity awards to, our executive officers,
and previous bonus plans and employment and severance agreements, its members reviews of the
information contained in our proxy statement, and its members subjective review of the
reasonableness and fairness of proposed compensation in light of our size and results of operations
and the objectives of such compensation. In fiscal 2006, the Compensation Committee also reviewed
a report management purchased from the Investor Responsibility Research Center regarding stock plan
dilution and information received by management from executive recruiters.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006, Dr. Ausman, Mr. Follis (Chairman) and Mr.
Henry served as the members of our Compensation Committee. None of the members of our Compensation
Committee was, during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006, one of our officers or employees, or
one of our former officers. None of the committee members had any relationship requiring
disclosure by us pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission rules regarding disclosure of
related-party transactions.
Compensation Committee Report
Our Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis
set forth below under the caption Executive Compensation Compensation Discussion and Analysis
with our management. Based on this review and discussion, our Compensation Committee recommended
to our board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy
statement and incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended November 30, 2006.
By the Compensation Committee
Daniel S. Follis, Chairman
James I. Ausman, M.D., Ph.D.
Robert R. Henry
Richard R. Sorensen
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Nominating Committee
Our board of directors has a standing Nominating Committee which consists of three directors.
Dr. Ausman (Chairman), Mr. Follis and Mr. Henry are the current members of this committee. The
Nominating Committee identifies individuals to become board members and selects, or recommends for
the boards selection, director nominees to be presented for shareholder approval at the annual
meeting of shareholders or to fill any vacancies. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006,
the Nominating Committee held six meetings.
Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for the Nominating Committee, a current
copy of which is available to shareholders on our website, at http://www.somanetics.com.
The Nominating Committees policy is to consider any director candidates recommended by
shareholders. Such recommendations must be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to our
Secretary, at Somanetics Corporation, 1653 East Maple Road, Troy, Michigan 48083-4208. To be
timely, the notice must be received at our offices at least 120 days before the anniversary of the
mailing of our proxy statement relating to the previous annual meeting of shareholders. The notice
must set forth:
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with respect to the director candidate, |
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the candidates name, age, business address and residence address, |
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the candidates principal occupation or employment, |
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the number of our common shares beneficially owned by the candidate, |
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information with respect to the candidates independence, as defined under
Nasdaqs listing standards for independent directors in general and with
respect to Audit Committee members, |
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information with respect to other boards on which the candidate serves, |
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information with respect to direct or indirect transactions, relationships,
arrangements and understandings between the candidate and us and between the
candidate and the shareholder giving the notice, and |
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any other information relating to the candidate that we would be required to
disclose in our proxy statement if we were to solicit proxies for the election
of the candidate as one of our directors or that is otherwise required under
Securities and Exchange Commission rules, including the candidates written
consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a
director if elected, and |
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with respect to the shareholder giving the notice, |
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the name and address of the shareholder as they appear on our stock transfer
records, and |
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the number of our common shares beneficially owned by the shareholder (and
the period they have been held). |
The Nominating Committee has not established specific, minimum qualifications for recommended
nominees or specific qualities or skills for one or more of our directors to possess. The
Nominating Committee uses a subjective process for identifying and evaluating nominees for
director, based on the information available to, and the subjective judgments of, the members
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of the Nominating Committee and our then current needs, although the committee does not believe
there would be any difference in the manner in which it evaluates nominees based on whether the
nominee is recommended by a shareholder. Historically, nominees have been existing directors or
business associates of our directors or officers. Mr. Sorensen was appointed by the board of
directors in June 2006 to fill a newly-created vacancy in the board based on the Nominating
Committees recommendation. Mr. Sorensen was recommended to the Nominating Committee by one of our
executive officers, other than our Chief Executive Officer.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our employees,
officers and directors, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer,
principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. Our Code of
Business Conduct and Ethics contains written standards that we believe are reasonably designed to
deter wrongdoing and to promote:
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Honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent
conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; |
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Full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents
that we file with, or submit to, the Securities and Exchange Commission and in other
public communications we make; |
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Compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations; |
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The prompt internal reporting of violations of the code to an appropriate person or
persons named in the code; and |
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Accountability for adherence to the code. |
This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is attached to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended November 30, 2003 as Exhibit 14.1. We have also posted it on our website at
http://www.somanetics.com. We will provide to any person without charge, upon request, a copy of
our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. Requests for a copy of our Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics should be made to our Secretary at Somanetics Corporation, 1653 East Maple Road, Troy,
Michigan 48083-4208. We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K
regarding an amendment to, or a waiver from, a provision of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting
officer or controller or persons performing similar functions and that relates to any element of
the code definition enumerated in Securities and Exchange Commission, Regulation S-K, Item 406(b)
by posting such information on our website at http://www.somanetics.com within four business days
following the date of the amendment or waiver.
Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
Our board of directors has adopted a written Related Party Transactions Policy. We have
posted it on our website at http://www.somanetics.com. In general, it is our policy to avoid
related-party transactions. If a Related Party Transaction is offered that appears to be in our
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best interests, then the policy provides a process to review and approve the transaction. Under
this policy, a Related Party Transaction will be consummated or will continue only if:
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our Audit Committee approves or ratifies the transaction and the transaction is on
terms comparable to, or more beneficial to us than, those that could be obtained in
arms length dealings with an unrelated third party; or |
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the transaction is approved by disinterested members of our board of directors; or |
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the transaction involves compensation approved by our Compensation Committee. |
For purposes of this policy, Related Party has the same meaning as related person under
Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and includes:
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any of our directors or executive officers, |
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any person who is known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent
of any class of our voting securities, and |
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any immediate family member of one of our directors or executive officers or person
known to us to be a more than five percent shareholder. |
For purposes of this policy, a Related Party Transaction is a transaction in which we are a
participant and in which any Related Party had or will have a direct or indirect material
interest (including any transactions requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K), other
than:
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transactions available to all salaried employees generally, and |
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transactions involving less than $5,000 when aggregated with all similar
transactions. |
Management will present to the Audit Committee for approval by the next regularly scheduled
Audit Committee meeting any Related Party Transactions proposed to be entered into by us, including
the proposed aggregate value of such transactions, if applicable, or Related Party Transactions may
preliminarily be entered into by management subject to ratification by the Audit Committee. The
Audit Committee will review and approve or disapprove such transactions, and at each subsequent
regularly-scheduled Audit Committee meeting, management will update the Audit Committee as to any
material change to the approved transactions. If such transactions are not ratified, management
must make all reasonable efforts to cancel or annul the transaction.
The policy also covers opportunities that are presented to an executive officer or director
that may be available to us, either directly or by referral. Before the executive officer or
director may consummate such an opportunity, it must be presented to the board of directors for
consideration.
The policy also requires that all Related Party Transactions be disclosed in our filings with
the SEC to the extent required by the SECs rules, and that they be disclosed to the Audit
Committee and, if material, to the full board of directors.
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Shareholder Communications with the Board
Our board of directors has a process for shareholders to send communications to the board of
directors, its Nominating Committee or its Audit Committee, including complaints regarding
accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters. Communications can be sent to the
board of directors, its Nominating Committee or its Audit Committee or specific directors either by
regular mail to the attention of the board of directors, its Nominating Committee, its Audit
Committee or specific directors, at our principal executive offices at 1653 East Maple Road, Troy,
Michigan 48083-4208, or by e-mail to directors01@somanetics.com. All of these communications will
be reviewed by our Secretary (1) to filter out communications that our Secretary deems are not
appropriate for our directors, such as spam and communications offering to buy or sell products or
services, and (2) to sort and relay the remainder (unedited) to the appropriate directors.
Executive Compensation
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
General Compensation Objectives. The Compensation Committees overall compensation objectives
applicable to our executive officers are to provide a compensation package intended to attract,
motivate and retain qualified executives and to provide them with incentives to achieve our annual
goals and increase shareholder value. The Committee reviews these objectives each year in
connection with its review of our proxy statement and has approved this philosophy. The
Compensation Committee implements these objectives through salaries, bonuses, equity incentives, a
401(k) plan, employment and change in control agreements and miscellaneous personal benefits. We
do not maintain any non-qualified deferred compensation plans or retirement or pension plans, other
than our 401(k) Plan for our executive officers. Our objectives and reasons for selecting each of
these elements are described below under the heading for the particular element.
Our compensation philosophy is to emphasize compensation that provides executives with
incentives to achieve our annual goals and increase shareholder value. To that end, as described
below, we adopted a bonus plan that is tied directly to achieving net revenues and net income
targets and individual executive goals (net revenues and operating income targets for fiscal 2007)
(described below under Bonuses), and we award equity incentives designed for executive retention
and to provide executives with incentives to increase shareholder value. Each is intended to
represent a potentially significant portion of our executives total compensation. We strive to
maintain an appropriate balance between incentives to achieve our financial performance and
incentives to increase shareholder value, with the largest incentive to increase shareholder value.
Target bonuses and severance payments are generally determined based on the executives salary, as
described below under Bonuses. Therefore, changes in an executives salary generally change the
amounts of these other elements of executive compensation. Equity incentives are generally
determined based on the executives position.
See Corporate Governance Compensation Committee for a discussion of the members of the
Compensation Committee, their independence, the Compensation Committee
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Charter, the Compensation Committees meetings and procedures, and the role of executive officers
in determining executive compensation.
Benchmarking. In May 2006, in connection with the proposed annual award of equity incentives,
the Committee reviewed information from approximately 35 proxy statements of companies with the
same Standard Industrial Classification Code number as ours, comparable market capitalization and
comparable revenues as selected and gathered by management and the Chairman of the Compensation
Committee to assist the Committee in evaluating the reasonableness and fairness of our executive
compensation. The Committee considers salaries, bonuses and annual equity incentive awards to be
reasonable if they are in the range of those amounts at comparable companies in our industry,
adjusted in the Committees subjective judgment for the size of the company (in terms of market
capitalization, revenues and numbers of employees), the duties and experience of the applicable
executive and our performance, unless there is a reason for the applicable compensation to be
higher or lower.
In fiscal 2006, the Compensation Committee also reviewed a report management purchased from
the Investor Responsibility Research Center regarding stock plan dilution, which showed higher
average annual dilution from equity compensation awards in high technology companies than those
approved by the Committee in fiscal 2006. In fiscal 2006, the Committee also reviewed information
received by management from executive recruiters regarding salary ranges for comparable executives.
Based on its reviews, the Committee determined that Mr. Spadafores salary and commission
compensation were at the lower end of the range and potentially lower than what would be offered by
other companies and in September 2006 recommended a bigger increase in his salary in fiscal 2006
than those of the other executive officers. The Committee also determined that Mr. Barretts total
salary, bonus and equity compensation was at the higher end of the range, but was reasonable in
light of our recent revenues and net income, Mr. Barretts position as Chief Executive Officer, and
his overall performance, including his overall direction of the Company and its product development
and our successful public offering that closed in March 2006. The Committee determined that the
salaries and total salary, bonus and equity compensation of other executive officers were in the
range and that the equity compensation for fiscal 2006 was reasonable and fair. Based on its
reviews, the Committee believes our executive officers total salaries, bonuses and equity
compensation in fiscal 2006 was consistent with our financial performance and the individual
performance of each of our executive officers and believes that such executive compensation is
reasonable and fair.
Salaries. The Compensation Committees policy is to provide salaries that it believes are
necessary to attract and retain qualified executives. In determining its recommendations for
executive officer salaries, the Compensation Committee generally relies to a significant extent on
Mr. Barretts recommendations as our Chief Executive Officer and the Committees review of salaries
paid to similar officers at comparable companies in our industry as described above under
Benchmarking. In fiscal 2006, the Committee also reviewed information received by management
from executive recruiters regarding salary ranges for comparable executives. The Compensation
Committee also considers individual performance, the executives position and
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experience, our financial resources, performance and prospects, the executives existing salary and
the salaries of our other officers and employees.
In January 2006, the Committee recommended increases of $10,000 each in the salaries of Mr.
Iacona and Ms. Victor primarily because of their promotions effective January 27, 2006 and the
Committees evaluation of Mr. Barretts recommendations. In April 2006, in connection with the
amendment and restatement of his employment agreement, the Compensation Committee recommended that
Mr. Barretts salary increase from $258,544 to $300,000 and that his target bonus under our bonus
plan decrease from 80% of his salary to 65% of his salary. The increase in his salary was
primarily due to the Committees evaluation of our financial performance through March 2006 and Mr.
Barretts negotiation in connection with the proposed amendment and restatement of his employment
agreement.
In September 2006, the Committee recommended salary increases of approximately an additional
five percent effective August 1, 2006 for all executive officers (approximately 13 percent for Mr.
Spadafore), based primarily on the Committees subjective evaluation of Mr. Barretts
recommendations, our significant profitability in fiscal 2005, our performance in fiscal 2006
through the third quarter, the Committees review of salaries at comparable companies and
information received by management from executive recruiters regarding salary ranges for comparable
executives described under Benchmarking above and the Committees determination that Mr.
Spadafores salary was at the lower end of the range of salaries for Vice Presidents of Sales and
Marketing at comparable companies.
Bonuses. The Compensation Committees policy is to make a meaningful portion of an
executives compensation contingent on achieving our net revenues and net income targets and an
executives individual objectives for the year (net revenues and operating income targets for
fiscal 2007). These targets were chosen because the Committee believes they are key measures of
our success. If targeted levels are reached, bonuses are generally 55% to 65% of the executives
salary, varying based on the executives position and related influence on achievement of the
objectives. In addition, the Compensation Committees policy is to consider discretionary bonuses,
determined near the end of the fiscal year, to compensate executive officers for performance or
achievements during the fiscal year not covered by bonuses paid earlier in the year. We do not
have a policy regarding adjustment of bonus payments if the relevant performance measures upon
which they are based are restated or otherwise adjusted in a manner that would reduce the size of
the payment, but we have not had such a restatement or adjustment.
For fiscal 2006, we adopted the 2006 Incentive Compensation Plan for all non-commissioned
officers and non-commissioned, full-time employees selected to participate in the plan by the
Compensation Committee, including all of our executive officers, except Mr. Spadafore, who
participates in a sales commission incentive program.
Eighty percent of the potential bonuses under the plan were based on our net revenues (40%)
and net income (40%), determined and payable quarterly (Part A). The quarterly bonus equaled (1)
the percentage of our year-to-date net revenues compared to our net revenues targets, (2)
multiplied by a factor, (3) multiplied by the employees salary, (4) multiplied by a pay-out
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rate, and (5) multiplied by .1 (i.e., eighty percent of the potential bonus, divided among the
four quarters, divided between the net revenues and net income targets), plus (1) the percentage of
our year-to-date net income compared to our net income targets, (2) multiplied by a factor, (3)
multiplied by the employees salary, (4) multiplied by a pay-out rate, and (5) multiplied by .1
(i.e., eighty percent of the potential bonus, divided among the four quarters, divided between the
net revenues and net income targets). No bonus was payable for net revenues or net income less
than 85 percent of the net revenues or net income targets. The formula required an improvement
over fiscal 2005 in net revenues and net income for every quarter.
The factors ranged from .50 for net revenues and net income from 85 percent to 90 percent of
the net revenues and net income targets to 1.25 for net revenues and net income in excess of 110
percent of the net revenues and net income targets. The factor equaled 1.00 for net revenues and
net income equal to 100 percent of the net revenues and net income targets. These factors cause
the related bonuses to increase or decrease as a percentage more than the percentage difference
between actual net revenues and net income and their targets to provide executives with extra
incentives to meet and exceed targets. The dollar increases in net revenues and net income,
however, are significantly greater than the resulting dollar increase in bonuses, so we still
benefit from meeting and exceeding targets. Pay-out rates were 65 percent for Mr. Barrett, 55
percent for Ms. Victor and 55 percent for Mr. Iacona. Bonuses based on net revenues and net income
in excess of 100 percent of the net revenues and net income targets were paid after the end of the
fiscal year.
The other twenty percent of the bonuses under the plan was based on objectives for each
employee (Part B). This portion of the bonus equaled (1) the percentage of objectives achieved,
(2) multiplied by the employees salary, (3) multiplied by the pay-out rate, (4) multiplied by .2
(i.e., twenty percent of the total potential bonus), (5) multiplied by the percentage of our
year-to-date net revenues compared to our net revenues target, and (6) multiplied by the percentage
of our net income compared to our net income target. The individual objectives related to net
income targets, the completion of our public offering and maintaining compliance with significant
regulatory requirements.
The Compensation Committee retained discretion to increase or decrease performance bonuses for
executives under Part B, but decided not to increase or decrease performance bonuses for executives
under Part B. In fiscal 2006, we met 98.5 percent, 102.2 percent, 102.5 percent and 96 percent of
our cumulative net revenue targets and 134 percent, 176.4 percent, 137.2 percent and 129 percent of
our cumulative net income targets through the first, second, third and fourth quarters,
respectively, and, therefore, paid bonuses to our executive officers under Part A and Part B
aggregating $445,614.
For fiscal 2007, we have adopted a similar incentive compensation plan for executive officers,
except that (1) targets are based on operating income, rather than net income, because the
Committee believes operating income better reflects our ongoing business, (2) the portion of the
bonus determined and payable after the end of the fiscal year separates the net revenues and
operating income components and does not include individual objectives, because the Committee
believes the individual executive officers should be focused on achieving net revenues and
operating income results, rather than individual projects, and (3) lowered the threshold for
18
bonuses to 80% and increased the factors to .60 to 1.80, because the Committee believes the 80%
threshold promotes retention of executives and stability and additional incentives should be
provided for exceeding the targets for fiscal 2007. The fiscal 2007 targets are consistent with
our business plan so that executives have incentives to achieve our annual plans.
For fiscal 2006, we adopted a sales commission arrangement that applied to Mr. Spadafore, our
Vice President, Sales and Marketing. Under the arrangement, Mr. Spadafore received a commission
equal to a fixed base amount, adjusted up or down by a percentage of the difference between our
actual U.S. net revenues and our monthly net revenues targets. The commission was determined
monthly and payable by the end of the following month. The targets were based on our initial
fiscal 2006 business plan and required an improvement over fiscal 2005 in net revenues for every
month. In addition, Mr. Spadafore was entitled to receive an additional percentage of our U.S. net
revenues that exceeded the net revenues target for the year, although actual U.S. net revenues did
not exceed the net revenues target for the year. This over-achievement commission was to be
determined and payable after the end of the fiscal year based on the fiscal 2006 net revenues and
targets. In fiscal 2006, we paid Mr. Spadafore bonuses aggregating $62,139 under this plan. The
Compensation Committee reserved the right to make discretionary payments to Mr. Spadafore beyond
those, if any, called for by this arrangement, but did not exercise that discretion.
For fiscal 2007, we adopted a sales commission arrangement that applies to Mr. Spadafore.
Under the arrangement, Mr. Spadafore receives a monthly commission equal to (1) (a) the percentage
of our year-to-date U.S. net revenues compared to our U.S. net revenues targets for the applicable
year-to-date period, up to 100%, (b) multiplied by a factor, (c) multiplied by approximately 56% of
Mr. Spadafores salary, (d) multiplied by a fraction equal to the number of months in the
year-to-date period, divided by 12, plus (2) one and one-half percent of the amount by which our
year-to-date U.S. net revenues exceeds our U.S. net revenues target for the applicable year-to-date
period, minus (3) any bonuses already paid under the plan for fiscal 2007. No bonus is payable for
net revenues less than 80% of the net revenues targets. The factors range from .60 for net
revenues and operating income from 80% to 84% of the net revenues targets to 1.00 for net revenues
equal to, or greater than 99% of the net revenues targets. The commission is determined monthly
and payable by the end of the following month. The targets require an improvement over fiscal 2006
in net revenues for every month consistent with our business plan.
In addition, Mr. Spadafore receives an additional over-achievement commission equal to one and
one-half percent of the amount by which our U.S. net revenues for fiscal 2007 exceeds our U.S. net
revenues target for fiscal 2007. This over-achievement commission is determined and payable after
the end of the fiscal year, provided that the payment shall be made on or before March 14, 2008.
Our Compensation Committee also reserves the right to make discretionary payments to Mr. Spadafore
beyond those, if any, called for by this arrangement. Net revenues will be as reported in the
Companys financial statements. Mr. Spadafore must be a full-time employee in good standing at the
time of actual payment to receive payments under this arrangement.
19
Equity Incentives. The Compensation Committees policy is to award stock options and/or
restricted stock to each of our officers, employees and directors under our shareholder-approved
2005 Stock Incentive Plan to retain them and provide a long-term incentive to increase shareholder
value. The Committees policy is that these equity incentives should be the largest portion of an
executives or directors potential compensation because it believes that increasing shareholder
value is managements primary objective.
In fiscal 2006, the Committee recommended that the annual equity incentive awards to executive
officers include an award of restricted stock to increase the retention value of the equity
compensation, because restricted stock has some value even if the stock price declines, and to
provide executives with incentives to increase shareholder value even if the stock price declines
after the award date. While the significant unrealized value relating to in the money options held
by our executives also causes them to have unrealized gains and losses when shareholder value
increases or decreases, most of these options are fully vested, and provide limited incentives for
executives to remain with us. Because executives are likely to have to sell restricted shares when
they vest to pay the related taxes, the Compensation also granted stock options to executives in
fiscal 2006 to maintain a long-term incentive to increase shareholder value and to retain
executives even if their restricted stock is sold.
The Committees policy is to fix the exercise price of the options at the fair market value of
the underlying shares on the date of grant. The 2005 Stock Incentive Plan provides that subject to
the anti-dilution provisions of the plan, without the approval of shareholders, we will not amend
or replace previously granted options in a transaction that constitutes a repricing under Nasdaq
Stock Market Marketplace Rules. Therefore, such options only provide compensation if the price of
the underlying shares increases. The Committee previously determined fair market value based on
the average of the high and low sales prices of the shares on the date of grant. As a result of
the SECs new executive compensation disclosure rules the Committee began with its September 2006
grants to determine fair market value based on the closing sale price of the shares on the date of
grant.
The Committee does not have a policy of timing option grants in coordination with the release
of material non-public information. The Committee generally considers annual equity incentive
grants at the time of the annual meeting of shareholders, although it may be earlier or later in
the year, depending on various factors, such as the date of the last award and Committee
deliberations about proposed awards or other compensation. In fiscal 2006, because of further
deliberations by the Committee, the annual option grant was made after the third quarter news
release was published and in fiscal 2005, the annual option grant was made at the time of the
annual meeting of shareholders.
In fiscal 2006, the number of shares underlying options granted and the number of shares of
restricted stock awarded to executives was determined based on the Committees judgment after
reviewing managements recommendations, the number of options previously granted to such person,
the number of options granted in total and to persons in similar positions both at our company and
at other companies deemed comparable to us (based on the report management purchased from the
Investor Responsibility Research Center regarding stock plan dilution, which showed higher average
annual dilution from equity compensation awards in high technology
20
companies than those approved by the Committee in fiscal 2006, and the members review of proxy
statements of comparable companies, as described in Benchmarking above), adjusted, in the
Committees judgment, for differences in the size of our company and the number and duties of our
executives, and the number of options remaining available for grant.
Managements recommendations were calculated so that the dilution from equity compensation
would be substantially less than the average for high technology companies in the report purchased
by management regarding stock plan dilution, primarily because we have fewer employees.
Managements recommendation allocated equal amounts to executive officers, except for the Chief
Executive Officer, who received twice as much, primarily based on his position as Chief Executive
Officer and ability to influence our overall performance, including his overall direction of the
Company and its product development, and allocated half as many shares to restricted stock as were
allocated to options. The Committee determined that such amounts were appropriate, reasonable and
fair.
We are seeking shareholder approval to increase the number of common shares reserved for
issuance under our 2005 Stock Incentive Plan by 600,000 shares, as described in more detail in Part
II of this proxy statement. Only 193,284 remain available for issuance under the 2005 Stock
Incentive Plan, and the amendment is proposed to permit us to continue to make awards of stock
options, restricted stock and restricted stock units under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan. We
estimate that the additional shares will allow us to continue to make awards for approximately
three years before we will need to seek shareholder approval for additional shares.
In addition, the Committees policy has been to grant options and restricted stock that vest
over a specific period (five years in fiscal 2006) to provide the executive with an incentive to
remain with us, to provide a long-term incentive and to lessen the accounting charge for such
options (which is generally amortized over the vesting period). We do not, however, require that
any portion of the shares acquired be held until retirement, we do not have any stock ownership
requirements for executive officers or directors and we do not have a policy prohibiting a director
or executive officer from hedging the economic risks of his or her stock ownership position.
However, each of our executives has a significant number of exercisable options and we do not
believe that any executive officer or director has hedged the economic risks of his or her stock
ownership position.
In addition, the vesting of all of our option and restricted share awards accelerate upon a
change in control to provide a greater incentive for all optionees to complete change in control
transactions that benefit shareholders by allowing them to participate in the benefits of the
transaction regardless of whether their employment will continue. Also, the vested portion of
options granted to executives and directors generally remain exercisable after termination of
employment (other than termination for cause) until their original expiration date. The
Committees policy is also to provide new executives with options to attract them to us based on
negotiations with new executives, managements recommendations and the Committees subjective
judgment primarily after reviewing the number of options granted to our other executives.
21
401(k) Plan. We have adopted a 401(k) plan to provide all eligible employees a means to
accumulate retirement savings on a tax-advantaged basis, and our executive officers are eligible to
participate in this plan on the same basis as other participants. Participants may defer specified
portions of their compensation and (1) we match 200 percent of employee contributions up to a
contribution by us equal to 4 percent of the employees compensation and (2) we may, but are not
required to, make additional discretionary contributions. The amount of additional discretionary
contributions are based on the Committees subjective judgment of what is appropriate, after
reviewing managements recommendation. As a result of the matching contribution implemented in
2004 to reward employees for their collective efforts in making us profitable, the Committee
recommended that we not make an additional discretionary contribution to the 401(k) plan for fiscal
2006.
Employment and Change in Control Agreements. The Compensation Committees policy is to have
employment agreements with Messrs. Barrett and Spadafore initially because they were necessary to
attract these officers. These agreements are continued (1) for Mr. Barrett, in part because
expiration of the agreement would trigger a severance payment and to provide him with a specified
minimum position and period of employment, and (2) to retain these officers and to provide them
with specified minimum salaries, fringe benefits and severance benefits. We do not consider gains
from prior option or stock exercises or awards in setting severance benefits.
In June 2005, the Compensation Committee also recommended that we enter into Change in
Control, Invention, Confidentiality, Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation Agreements with our other
executive officers to provide them with specified severance benefits in the event of termination of
employment by us without cause or by the employee for good reason in connection with a change in
control. These benefits are intended to encourage these executives to remain employed through any
transition period relating to a change in control and to permit these executive officers to focus
their attention on performing their duties to us, rather than on the security of their employment.
We do not consider gains from prior option or stock awards in setting severance benefits.
See Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment and Change-in-Control Arrangements
below for a description of the terms of our employment agreements and Change in Control, Invention,
Confidentiality, Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation Agreements.
Miscellaneous Personal Benefits. Our policy with respect to personal benefits (other than
severance pay) is that they should be kept to a minimum.
Section 162(m) Policy. Generally, the Compensation Committee reserves the right to pay
compensation to our executives in amounts it deems appropriate regardless of whether such
compensation is deductible for federal income tax purposes. Equity incentives granted to
executives are subject to limits on permitted federal income tax deductions related to those equity
incentives, including under current treasury regulations concerning the $1,000,000 cap on executive
compensation deductions under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The
Committee believes that such awards are more important to us than the potential loss of related
compensation deductions relating to those equity incentives, especially
22
in light of our net operating loss carryforwards and the non-cash nature of deductions available
relating to some of these equity incentives.
Nonetheless, we attempt to comply with Section 162(m) with respect to the grant of stock
options to our executives by having them granted under shareholder approved plans with exercise
prices equal to the fair market value of the underlying shares on the date of grant and having them
granted (or recommended to the board for grant), by our Compensation Committee. We do not believe
that Section 162(m) has prevented us from deducting compensation paid to our executive officers.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006
concerning compensation of (1) all individuals serving as our principal executive officer during
the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006, (2) all individuals serving as our principal financial
officer during fiscal 2006, and (3) our other executive officers in fiscal 2006 who were serving as
executive officers as of November 30, 2006 and whose total compensation exceeded $100,000:
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
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Non-Equity |
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Incentive |
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Plan |
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All Other |
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Stock |
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Option |
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Compen- |
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Compen- |
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Salary |
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Bonus |
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Awards |
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Awards |
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sation |
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sation |
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Total |
Name and Principal Position |
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Year |
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($) (1) |
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($) (2) |
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($) (3) |
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($) (3) |
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($) (2) |
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($) (4) |
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($) |
Bruce J. Barrett, President
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2006 |
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288,174 |
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41,367 |
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27,090 |
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30,630 |
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219,778 |
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20,580 |
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627,619 |
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and Chief Executive Officer |
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William M. Iacona, Vice
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2006 |
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119,336 |
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13,080 |
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13,545 |
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15,315 |
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74,502 |
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8,636 |
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244,414 |
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President, Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer and Controller |
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Dominic J.
Spadafore, Vice President, Sales and Marketing |
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2006 |
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148,172 |
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16,074 |
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13,545 |
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15,315 |
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46,065 |
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18,363 |
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257,534 |
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Mary Ann Victor, Vice President
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2006 |
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132,182 |
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14,469 |
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13,545 |
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15,315 |
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82,418 |
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9,697 |
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267,626 |
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and Chief Administrative
Officer and Secretary |
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(1) |
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As described under Compensation Discussion and Analysis, Mr. Iacona and Ms. Victor each
received a $10,000 increase in salary upon their promotions effective January 27, 2006, and Mr.
Barretts salary increased from $258,544 to $300,000 effective April 19, 2006 in connection with
the amendment and restatement of his employment agreement. Effective August 1, 2006, the salaries
of the following executives were increased to the amount set forth next to his or her name: Bruce
J. Barrett: $315,000; William M. Iacona: $124,852; Dominic J. Spadafore: $160,477; and Mary Ann
Victor: $138,117. See Compensation Discussion and Analysis for an explanation of the amount of
salary and bonuses in proportion to total compensation. |
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(2) |
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The 2006 Incentive Compensation Plan and the sales commission arrangement for Dominic Spadafore
were adopted in March 2006, after completion of the first quarter and, therefore, the targets for
the first quarter were not substantially uncertain at the time the target was established.
Therefore, bonuses and commissions paid with respect to the first quarter are shown under the
caption Bonus. The balance of the bonuses payable under the 2006 Incentive Compensation Plan and
the sales commission arrangement are shown under the caption Non-Equity Incentive Plan
Compensation. See Compensation Discussion and Analysis Bonuses for a description of our bonus
plans for executive officers. |
23
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(3) |
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For a discussion of the assumptions made in the valuation of the Stock Awards and Option
Awards, see Note 7 of the Notes to Financial Statements, included in our annual report to
shareholders for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006, which accompanies this proxy statement.
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(4) |
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Amounts for fiscal 2006 include (a) the following amounts paid by us for automobiles provided
by us to Mr. Barrett and Mr. Spadafore (including amounts paid for lease or loan payments,
maintenance and repair costs, and gasoline and other costs): $8,606 for Mr. Barrett and $7,200 for
Mr. Spadafore; (b) the following matching contributions paid by us into our 401(k) plan on behalf
of the following persons: $8,800 for Mr. Barrett, $8,296 for Mr. Iacona, $8,382 for Mr. Spadafore
and $8,800 for Ms. Victor, and (c) the following premiums paid for additional disability insurance
for the following persons: $3,174 for Mr. Barrett, $340 for Mr. Iacona, $2,781 for Mr. Spadafore
and $897 for Ms. Victor. |
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table sets forth information concerning each grant of an award made during the
fiscal year ended November 30, 2006 to each of our executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table above.
GRANTS
OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2006
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All Other |
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All Other |
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Grant |
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Stock |
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Option |
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Closing |
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Date Fair |
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Awards: |
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Awards: |
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Exercise |
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Market |
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Value |
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Estimated Future Payouts |
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Number |
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Number of |
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or Base |
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Price |
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of Stock |
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Under Non-Equity Incentive |
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of Shares |
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Securities |
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Price |
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on the |
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and |
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Plan Awards (1) |
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of Stock |
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Underlying |
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of Option |
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Date of |
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Option |
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Grant |
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Threshold |
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Target |
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Maximum |
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or Units |
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Options |
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Awards |
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Grant |
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Awards |
Name |
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Date |
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($) |
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($) |
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($) |
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(#) (2) |
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(#) (3) |
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($/Sh) (4) |
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($/Sh) (4) |
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($) |
Bruce J. Barrett |
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94,112 |
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203,217 |
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272,667 |
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6/29/06 |
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18,000 |
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325,080 |
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6/29/06 |
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36,000 |
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$ |
18.06 |
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$ |
18.79 |
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367,560 |
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William M. Iacona |
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31,226 |
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67,361 |
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90,355 |
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6/29/06 |
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9,000 |
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162,540 |
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6/29/06 |
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18,000 |
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$ |
18.06 |
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$ |
18.79 |
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183,780 |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dominic J. Spadafore |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
78,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6/29/06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
162,540 |
|
|
|
|
6/29/06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,000 |
|
|
$ |
18.06 |
|
|
$ |
18.79 |
|
|
|
183,780 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mary Ann Victor |
|
|
|
|
|
|
34,543 |
|
|
|
74,517 |
|
|
|
99,955 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6/29/06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
162,540 |
|
|
|
|
6/29/06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,000 |
|
|
$ |
18.06 |
|
|
$ |
18.79 |
|
|
|
183,780 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
See Compensation Discussion and Analysis Bonuses for a description of our bonus plans for
executive officers and the Summary Compensation Table under the Bonus and Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Compensation columns for the amounts actually paid under our bonus plans for fiscal 2006 to
our executive officers. Non-equity incentive plan awards to Messrs. Barrett and Iacona and Ms.
Victor were made under the 2006 Incentive Compensation Plan. Non-equity incentive plan awards to
Mr. Spadafore were made under a sales commission arrangement. The 2006 Incentive Compensation Plan
does not have a maximum bonus because one of the factors in the quarterly and year-end bonus
formulas is the percentage of our year to date net revenues and net income compared to our net
revenues and net income targets, and the percentage is not capped (although the percentage of
objectives achieved in the year-end Part B of the bonuses under the 2006 Incentive Compensation
Plan cannot exceed 100%). The amount shown in the maximum column is based on net revenues and net
income at 110% of target amounts because that level results in the highest factor in the bonus
formula. Also, there is no minimum year-end Part B of the bonuses under the 2006 Incentive
Compensation Plan. The amount shown in the minimum column is based on achieving 85% of the
executives individual objectives and 85% of our net |
24
|
|
|
|
|
revenues and net income targets, because 85% is the threshold for percentage of net revenues and
net income to target amounts for the quarterly bonuses. The numbers in the above table also assume
no exercise of the Compensation Committees discretion to increase or decrease performance bonuses
for executives under Part B. Mr. Spadafores commission arrangement did not have thresholds or
maximums in fiscal 2006. His commission bonus increases or decreases with our net revenues
compared to our net revenues targets. Therefore, the table shows only the amounts payable upon
achievement of our targeted level of sales. As described in note 2 to the Summary Compensation
Table, because of the timing of the adoption of the 2006 Incentive Compensation Plan and Mr.
Spadafores commission arrangement, bonuses with respect to the first quarter of 2006 might not be
pursuant to non-equity incentive plans. The table, however, includes the portion of the bonuses
under the 2006 Incentive Compensation Plan and Mr. Spadafores commission arrangement with respect
to the first quarter of fiscal 2006. |
|
(2) |
|
The stock awards listed in the table were awards of restricted shares to Messrs. Barrett,
Iacona and Spadafore and Ms. Victor in fiscal 2006 under our 2005 Stock Incentive Plan. Each of
these restricted share awards vests in five equal annual installments beginning June 29, 2007. The
restrictions also lapse in full upon a Change in Control as defined in the 2005 Stock Incentive
Plan. Restricted shares are entitled to any dividends paid with respect to our outstanding common
shares, although we have never paid cash dividends on our common shares and do not expect to pay
such dividends in the foreseeable future. |
|
(3) |
|
The options listed in the table are ten-year, non-qualified stock options granted to Messrs.
Barrett, Iacona and Spadafore and Ms. Victor in fiscal 2006 under our 2005 Stock Incentive Plan,
exercisable at the then current fair market value of the underlying common shares. Each of these
options is exercisable in five equal annual installments beginning June 29, 2007. Each option also
becomes immediately exercisable in full upon a Change in Control as defined in the 2005 Stock
Incentive Plan. The portion of these options that is exercisable at the date of termination of
employment remains exercisable until the expiration date of the option, unless termination is for
cause. If, upon exercise of any of the options, we must pay any amount for income tax withholding,
in the Compensation Committees or the board of directors sole discretion, either the optionee
will pay such amount to us or we will appropriately reduce the number of common shares we deliver
to the optionee to reimburse us for such payment. The Compensation Committee or the board may also
permit the optionee to choose to have these shares withheld or to tender common shares the optionee
already owns. The Compensation Committee or the board may also make such other arrangements with
respect to income tax withholding as it shall determine. |
|
(4) |
|
We previously determined fair market value for purposes of determining the exercise price of
options granted under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan based on the average of the high and low sales
prices of the underlying shares on the date of grant. As a result of the SECs new executive
compensation disclosure rules we began with our September 2006 grants (none of which were granted
to directors or executive officers) to determine fair market value based on the closing sale price
of the shares on the date of grant. |
Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment and Change-in-Control Arrangements
Bruce J. Barrett. Pursuant to an employment agreement entered into in May 1994 and amended
and restated in April 2006, we employ Bruce J. Barrett as our President and Chief Executive
Officer. His employment under the agreement expires on April 30, 2009, unless earlier terminated
as provided in the agreement. Mr. Barretts annual salary is currently $315,000, which may be
increased, but not decreased, in the discretion of our board of directors. The agreement provides
that the board of directors must establish a bonus plan in which Mr. Barrett is eligible to
participate for each fiscal year during the term of the agreement, and that Mr. Barretts target
bonus (the bonus payable if targets are 100 percent met, but not necessarily the actual amount of
the bonus payable under the plan) under the plan must be at least 65 percent of Mr. Barretts
salary, which percentage is subject to increase, but not decrease by the Board of Directors.
Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Barrett is entitled to various fringe benefits under the
agreement, including (1) insurance, vacation, other employee benefit plans and business expense
reimbursement applicable to our other similar employees, (2) an automobile, with all expenses paid
by us, up to $20,000 a year, subject to increase, but not decrease, in the discretion of our board
of directors, and (3) reimbursement for all costs of a cellular phone and related phone service and
Internet access through an air card in his laptop computer, both primarily in connection with our
business.
25
Upon termination of employment by us without cause, by Mr. Barrett for good reason or because
the agreement expires without our offering to renew it on the same terms for at least one year, Mr.
Barrett is entitled to (1) continuation of the fringe benefits applicable to similar employees,
including insurance and applicable employee benefit plans, but not vacation and business expense
reimbursement, for one year after termination, at our expense, (2) a lump sum payment within 10
business days after termination equal to (a) one years salary, plus (b) the target bonus for the
year in which termination occurs plus an additional pro rata portion of the target bonus for the
portion of the year through the date of termination (less any amounts already paid), plus (c) an
amount equal to the cost of his automobile, cellular phone and Internet access for one year. Mr.
Barrett has agreed not to compete with us during the term of his employment and for one year
following termination of his employment, and not to solicit our employees during the term of his
employment and for five years following termination of his employment. He has also agreed to
various confidentiality and assignment of invention obligations.
Dominic J. Spadafore. Pursuant to an employment agreement entered into in August 2002 and
amended and restated in June 2005, we employ Dominic J. Spadafore as our Vice President of Sales
and Marketing, or in such other position as the board of directors determines. His employment
under the agreement expires upon his death, termination by us upon his disability or with or
without cause or termination by Mr. Spadafore. Mr. Spadafores annual salary is currently
$160,477, which may be increased, but not decreased, by the board of directors. Mr. Spadafore is
also entitled to participate in commission incentive plans. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr.
Spadafore is entitled to various fringe benefits under the agreement, including insurance,
vacation, other employee benefit plans and business expense reimbursement applicable to our other
similar employees.
The agreement provides for severance benefits equal to one years salary upon termination of
employment without cause or for good reason 90 days before to one year after a change of control of
the Company that occurs by June 13, 2008. Mr. Spadafore has agreed not to compete with us during
the term of his employment and for one year following termination of his employment, and not to
solicit our employees during the term of his employment and for five years following termination of
his employment. He has also agreed to various confidentiality and assignment of invention
obligations.
Change in Control, Invention, Confidentiality, Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation Agreements.
In June 2005, we entered into Change in Control, Invention, Confidentiality, Non-Compete and
Non-Solicitation Agreements with two of our executive officers: William M. Iacona and Mary Ann
Victor. These agreements provide for severance benefits equal to one years salary upon
termination of employment without cause or for good reason 90 days before to one year after a
change of control of the Company that occurs by June 13, 2008. Each of these officers has agreed
not to compete with us during the term of his or her employment and for one year following
termination of his or her employment, and not to solicit our employees during the term of his or
her employment and for five years following termination of his or her employment. Each of these
officers has also agreed to various confidentiality and assignment of invention obligations.
26
Equity Award Terms. All options and restricted stock granted under our stock option plans
that are not already 100 percent exercisable immediately, including options and restricted stock
granted to Messrs. Barrett, Iacona and Spadafore and Ms. Victor, become 100 percent exercisable
upon specified changes in control of our company.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
The following table sets forth information concerning unexercised options and stock that has
not vested for each of our executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table above that is
outstanding as of November 30, 2006:
OUTSTANDING
EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END NOVEMBER 30, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
Stock Awards |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market |
|
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Value of |
|
|
Securities |
|
Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares or |
|
Shares or |
|
|
Underlying |
|
Underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Units of |
|
Units of |
|
|
Unexercised |
|
Unexercised |
|
Option |
|
|
|
|
|
Stock That |
|
Stock That |
|
|
Options |
|
Options |
|
Exercise |
|
Option |
|
Have Not |
|
Have Not |
|
|
(#) |
|
(#) |
|
Price |
|
Expiration |
|
Vested |
|
Vested |
Name |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
($) |
|
Date |
|
(#) |
|
($) |
Bruce J. Barrett |
|
|
129,691 |
(1) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
5.88 |
|
|
|
04/02/08 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60,000 |
(2) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
3.56 |
|
|
|
05/20/09 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,000 |
(3) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
2.88 |
|
|
|
02/16/10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
(4) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
1.97 |
|
|
|
12/04/10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
168,000 |
(5) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
2.00 |
|
|
|
03/05/11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
(6) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
2.95 |
|
|
|
05/10/12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
132,000 |
(7) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
3.89 |
|
|
|
08/13/13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31,919 |
(8) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
13.55 |
|
|
|
04/21/15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
36,000 |
(9) |
|
$ |
18.06 |
|
|
|
06/29/16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,000 |
(9) |
|
|
349,200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William M. Iacona |
|
|
60,000 |
(6) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
2.95 |
|
|
|
05/10/12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,000 |
(7) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
3.89 |
|
|
|
08/13/13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,525 |
(8) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
13.55 |
|
|
|
04/21/15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
18,000 |
(9) |
|
$ |
18.06 |
|
|
|
06/29/16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,000 |
(9) |
|
|
174,600 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dominic J. Spadafore |
|
|
70,000 |
(10) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
2.30 |
|
|
|
08/01/12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36,000 |
(7) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
3.89 |
|
|
|
08/13/13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,680 |
(8) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
13.55 |
|
|
|
04/21/15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
18,000 |
(9) |
|
$ |
18.06 |
|
|
|
06/29/16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,000 |
(9) |
|
|
174,600 |
|
27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
Stock Awards |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market |
|
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Value of |
|
|
Securities |
|
Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares or |
|
Shares or |
|
|
Underlying |
|
Underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Units of |
|
Units of |
|
|
Unexercised |
|
Unexercised |
|
Option |
|
|
|
|
|
Stock That |
|
Stock That |
|
|
Options |
|
Options |
|
Exercise |
|
Option |
|
Have Not |
|
Have Not |
|
|
(#) |
|
(#) |
|
Price |
|
Expiration |
|
Vested |
|
Vested |
Name |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
($) |
|
Date |
|
(#) |
|
($) |
Mary Ann Victor |
|
|
14,000 |
(1) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
5.88 |
|
|
|
04/02/08 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
(2) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
3.56 |
|
|
|
05/20/09 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,000 |
(3) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
2.88 |
|
|
|
02/16/10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
(4) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
1.97 |
|
|
|
12/04/10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,400 |
(5) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
2.00 |
|
|
|
03/05/11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
46,000 |
(6) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
2.95 |
|
|
|
05/10/12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
44,000 |
(7) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
3.89 |
|
|
|
08/13/13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,861 |
(8) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
13.55 |
|
|
|
04/21/15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
18,000 |
(9) |
|
$ |
18.06 |
|
|
|
06/29/16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,000 |
(9) |
|
|
174,600 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The option vested in one third cumulative annual increments beginning April 2, 1999. |
|
(2) |
|
The option vested in one third cumulative annual increments beginning May 20, 2000. |
|
(3) |
|
The option vested in one third cumulative annual increments beginning February 16, 2001. |
|
(4) |
|
The option vested in one third cumulative annual increments beginning December 4, 2001. |
|
(5) |
|
The option vested in one twenty-fourth cumulative monthly increments beginning March 5, 2001. |
|
(6) |
|
The option vested in one third cumulative annual increments beginning May 10, 2003. |
|
(7) |
|
The option vested in one third cumulative annual increments beginning August 13, 2004. The
vesting was accelerated and the option became 100% exercisable on November 30, 2005. |
|
(8) |
|
The option vested 100% on November 30, 2005. |
|
(9) |
|
The option and restricted stock vest in one-fifth cumulative annual increments beginning June
29, 2007. |
|
(10) |
|
The option vested in one third cumulative annual increments beginning August 1, 2003. |
Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
The following table sets forth information concerning each exercise of stock options during
the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006 by each of our executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table above on an aggregated basis (there was no vesting of restricted stock during
the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006 for any of our named executive officers):
28
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
Shares |
|
Value |
|
|
Acquired |
|
Realized |
|
|
on |
|
on |
|
|
Exercise |
|
Exercise |
Name |
|
(#) |
|
($) (1) |
Bruce J. Barrett |
|
|
50,309 |
|
|
|
744,645 |
|
William M. Iacona |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Dominic J. Spadafore |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Mary Ann Victor |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Value Realized represents the market price of the underlying securities at exercise, based on
the closing sale prices on the date of exercise, minus the aggregate exercise price of the options. |
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control
We have entered into agreements and we maintain plans that will require us to provide
compensation to our officers named in the Summary Compensation Table above in the event of a
termination of employment or a change in control of us. See Employment Contracts and Termination
of Employment and Change-in-Control Arrangements for a description of our Employment Agreements
with Messrs. Barrett and Spadafore, our Change in Control, Invention, Confidentiality, Non-Compete
and Non-Solicitation Agreements with Mr. Iacona and Ms. Victor, the terms of our options and
restricted stock awards that become 100 percent exercisable upon specified changes in control of us
and how the payment and benefit levels are determined in connection with terminations of
employment. The amount of compensation payable to each named executive officer in each situation
is listed in the tables below.
The following table describes and quantifies the estimated payments and benefits that would be
provided upon termination or a change in control of us for Bruce J. Barrett, our President and
Chief Executive Officer:
29
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employment |
|
|
Agreement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change |
|
|
|
Agreement |
|
|
No |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
in |
|
Benefits and Payments (1) |
|
Severance (2) |
|
|
Severance (3) |
|
|
Death |
|
|
Disability |
|
|
Control (4) |
|
Base Salary ($315,000) |
|
$ |
315,000 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Bonus (65% of Base Salary) (5) |
|
|
287,067 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Options (Accelerated
Vesting) (4) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
48,240 |
|
Restricted Stock (Accelerated
Vesting) (4) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
349,200 |
|
Life Insurance Proceeds (6) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Disability Insurance Proceeds (7) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
3,471,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Insurance Premiums (Life, Health
and Disability) (8) |
|
|
22,952 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Company Car |
|
|
8,605 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Cell Phone |
|
|
1,809 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Internet Access |
|
|
964 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
636,397 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
200,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,471,000 |
|
|
$ |
397,440 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
For purposes of this analysis, we have assumed that Mr. Barrett is terminated on November 30,
2006, when his base salary was $315,000, his target bonus was 65% of his base salary, and $119,367
of his bonus for fiscal 2006 had been paid (the quarterly sales portion of his bonus for the first
three quarters of fiscal 2006). The base salary, bonus, company car, cell phone and Internet
access payments are due in a lump sum from us. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Barretts employment agreement provides him with the same severance payments upon (1)
termination of employment by us without Cause, (2) termination of employment by Mr. Barrett for
Good Reason, or (2) the employment agreement expiring without our offering to renew it on the same
terms for at least one year. |
|
(3) |
|
This column covers termination of Mr. Barretts employment under his employment agreement by us
for Cause or by Mr. Barrett without Good Reason. |
|
(4) |
|
See Accelerated Vesting of Options and Restricted Stock Upon a Change in Control below for a
description of the assumptions underlying the calculation of the value of accelerated vesting of
unvested options and restricted stock. The above table does not include the benefit of the
continuation of vested options after termination. Mr. Barrett had vested options to purchase
711,610 common shares as of November 30, 2006, with a value of $11,039,017 at that date. The
change in control benefits increase the termination benefits payable in connection with termination
of employment that are in connection with a change in control. |
|
(5) |
|
Mr. Barretts employment agreement provides him with the target bonus for the year of
termination ($203,217, see Grants of Plan-Based Awards) plus a pro rata portion of the target
bonus for the portion of the year through the date of termination ($203,217 if termination is
November 30, 2006), less amounts already paid ($119,367 through November 30, 2006). Mr. Barretts
target bonus for fiscal 2007 is currently higher (65% of $315,000, or $204,750, subject to increase
if his salary or target bonus percentage increases during the year). |
|
(6) |
|
The life insurance proceeds represent the aggregate face value of life insurance policies for
which we pay the premiums and Mr. Barrett designates the beneficiary. The payments are actually
paid by the life insurance company in a lump sum. The policy pays twice as much as shown in the
table if Mr. Barrett dies in an accident. |
|
(7) |
|
The disability insurance proceeds represent the sum of the disability benefits payable to Mr.
Barrett until he reaches age 65 assuming he became totally and permanently disabled on November 30,
2006. The payments are actually paid by our disability insurers and by us (for the $6,500
self-insured short-term disability portion) in monthly installments. The long-term disability
insurance payments provide for a three percent cost of living increase each year that is not
reflected in the table. The numbers in the table are not discounted to present value. |
|
(8) |
|
These premiums are paid by us when due for one year after termination, except with respect to
vision benefits, which are self-insured. The numbers in the table are based on the premiums paid
in fiscal 2006, except for the vision benefits, which are based on the estimated maximum benefits
payable by us in fiscal 2007. |
30
The following table describes and quantifies the estimated payments and benefits that
would be provided upon termination or a change in control of us for William M. Iacona, our Vice
President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Controller:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CIC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CIC |
|
|
Agreement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change |
|
|
|
Agreement |
|
|
No |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
in |
|
Benefits and Payments (1) |
|
Severance (2) |
|
|
Severance (3) |
|
|
Death |
|
|
Disability |
|
|
Control (4) |
|
Base Salary ($124,852) |
|
$ |
124,852 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Options (Accelerated
Vesting) (4) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
24,120 |
|
Restricted Stock (Accelerated
Vesting) (4) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
174,600 |
|
Life Insurance Proceeds (5) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Disability Insurance Proceeds (6) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
3,819,800 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
124,852 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
200,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,819,800 |
|
|
$ |
198,720 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
For purposes of this analysis, we have assumed that Mr. Iacona is terminated on November 30,
2006, when his base salary was $124,852. The base salary is due in a lump sum from us. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Iaconas Change in Control, Invention, Confidentiality, Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation
Agreement provides him with the same severance payments upon termination of employment by us
without Cause or by Mr. Iacona for Good Reason 90 days before to one year after a Change of Control
of the Company that occurs by June 13, 2008. |
|
(3) |
|
This column covers termination of Mr. Iaconas employment under his Change in Control,
Invention, Confidentiality, Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation Agreement (1) by us for Cause, (2) by
Mr. Iacona without Good Reason, or (3) for any reason (other than death or disability) if such
termination is not 90 days before to one year after a Change of Control of the Company that occurs
by June 13, 2008. |
|
(4) |
|
See Accelerated Vesting of Options and Restricted Stock Upon a Change in Control below for a
description of the assumptions underlying the calculation of the value of accelerated vesting of
unvested options and restricted stock. The above table does not include the benefit of the
continuation of vested options after termination. Mr. Iacona had vested options to purchase
111,525 common shares as of November 30, 2006, with a value of $1,674,821 at that date. The change
in control benefits increase the termination benefits payable in connection with termination of
employment that are in connection with a change in control. |
|
(5) |
|
The life insurance proceeds represent the aggregate face value of life insurance policies for
which we pay the premiums and Mr. Iacona designates the beneficiary. The payments are actually
paid by the life insurance company in a lump sum. The policy pays twice as much as shown in the
table if Mr. Iacona dies in an accident. |
|
(6) |
|
The disability insurance proceeds represent the sum of the disability benefits payable to Mr.
Iacona until he reaches age 65 assuming he became totally and permanently disabled on November 30,
2006. The payments are actually paid by our disability insurers and by us (for the $6,500
self-insured short-term disability portion) in monthly installments. The long-term disability
insurance payments provide for a three percent cost of living increase each year that is not
reflected in the table. The numbers in the table are not discounted to present value. |
The following table describes and quantifies the estimated payments and benefits that
would be provided upon termination or a change in control of us for Dominic J. Spadafore, our Vice
President, Sales and Marketing:
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employment |
|
|
Agreement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change |
|
|
|
Agreement |
|
|
No |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
in |
|
Benefits and Payments (1) |
|
Severance (2) |
|
|
Severance (3) |
|
|
Death |
|
|
Disability |
|
|
Control (4) |
|
Base Salary ($160,477) |
|
$ |
160,477 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Options (Accelerated
Vesting) (4) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
24,120 |
|
Restricted Stock (Accelerated
Vesting) (4) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
174,600 |
|
Life Insurance Proceeds (5) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Disability Insurance Proceeds (6) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
3,172,850 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
160,477 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
200,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,172,850 |
|
|
$ |
198,720 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
For purposes of this analysis, we have assumed that Mr. Spadafore is terminated on November 30,
2006, when his base salary was $160,477. The base salary is due in a lump sum from us. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Spadafores employment agreement provides him with the same severance payments upon
termination of employment by us without Cause or by Mr. Spadafore for Good Reason 90 days before to
one year after a Change of Control of the Company that occurs by June 13, 2008. |
|
(3) |
|
This column covers termination of Mr. Spadafores employment under his employment agreement (1)
by us for Cause, (2) by Mr. Spadafore without Good Reason, or (3) for any reason (other than death
or disability) if such termination is not 90 days before to one year after a Change of Control of
the Company that occurs by June 13, 2008. |
|
(4) |
|
See Accelerated Vesting of Options and Restricted Stock Upon a Change in Control below for a
description of the assumptions underlying the calculation of the value of accelerated vesting of
unvested options and restricted stock. The above table does not include the benefit of the
continuation of vested options after termination. Mr. Spadafore had vested options to purchase
117,680 common shares as of November 30, 2006, with a value of $1,823,688 at that date. The change
in control benefits increase the termination benefits payable in connection with termination of
employment that are in connection with a change in control. |
|
(5) |
|
The life insurance proceeds represent the aggregate face value of life insurance policies for
which we pay the premiums and Mr. Spadafore designates the beneficiary. The payments are actually
paid by the life insurance company in a lump sum. The policy pays twice as much as shown in the
table if Mr. Spadafore dies in an accident. |
|
(6) |
|
The disability insurance proceeds represent the sum of the disability benefits payable to Mr.
Spadafore until he reaches age 65 assuming he became totally and permanently disabled on November
30, 2006. The payments are actually paid by our disability insurers and by us (for the $6,500
self-insured short-term disability portion) in monthly installments. The long-term disability
insurance payments provide for a three percent cost of living increase each year that is not
reflected in the table. The numbers in the table are not discounted to present value. |
The following table describes and quantifies the estimated payments and benefits that
would be provided upon termination or a change in control of us for Mary Ann Victor, our Vice
President and Chief Administrative Officer and Secretary:
32
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CIC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CIC |
|
|
Agreement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change |
|
|
|
Agreement |
|
|
No |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
in |
|
Benefits and Payments (1) |
|
Severance (2) |
|
|
Severance (3) |
|
|
Death |
|
|
Disability |
|
|
Control (4) |
|
Base Salary ($138,117) |
|
$ |
138,117 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Options (Accelerated
Vesting) (4) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
24,120 |
|
Restricted Stock (Accelerated
Vesting) (4) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
174,600 |
|
Life Insurance Proceeds (5) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Disability Insurance Proceeds (6) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
2,205,950 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
138,117 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
200,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,205,950 |
|
|
$ |
198,720 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
For purposes of this analysis, we have assumed that Ms. Victor is terminated on November 30,
2006, when her base salary was $138,117. The base salary is due in a lump sum from us. |
|
(2) |
|
Ms. Victors Change in Control, Invention, Confidentiality, Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation
Agreement provides her with the same severance payments upon termination of employment by us
without Cause or by Ms. Victor for Good Reason 90 days before to one year after a Change of Control
of the Company that occurs by June 13, 2008. |
|
(3) |
|
This column covers termination of Ms. Victors employment under her Change in Control,
Invention, Confidentiality, Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation Agreement (1) by us for Cause, (2) by
Ms. Victor without Good Reason, or (3) for any reason (other than death or disability) if such
termination is not 90 days before to one year after a Change of Control of the Company that occurs
by June 13, 2008. |
|
(4) |
|
See Accelerated Vesting of Options and Restricted Stock Upon a Change in Control below for a
description of the assumptions underlying the calculation of the value of accelerated vesting of
unvested options and restricted stock. The above table does not include the benefit of the
continuation of vested options after termination. Ms. Victor had vested options to purchase
153,261 common shares as of November 30, 2006, with a value of $2,319,177 at that date. The change
in control benefits increase the termination benefits payable in connection with termination of
employment that are in connection with a change in control. |
|
(5) |
|
The life insurance proceeds represent the aggregate face value of life insurance policies for
which we pay the premiums and Ms. Victor designates the beneficiary. The payments are actually
paid by the life insurance company in a lump sum. The policy pays twice as much as shown in the
table if Ms. Victor dies in an accident. |
|
(6) |
|
The disability insurance proceeds represent the sum of the disability benefits payable to Ms.
Victor until she reaches age 65 assuming she became totally and permanently disabled on November
30, 2006. The payments are actually paid by our disability insurers and by us (for the $6,500
self-insured short-term disability portion) in monthly installments. The long-term disability
insurance payments provide for a three percent cost of living increase each year that is not
reflected in the table. The numbers in the table are not discounted to present value. |
Below is a description of the assumptions used in creating the tables above and the
definitions, conditions and obligations relating to the agreements described in those tables.
Unless otherwise noted the descriptions of the payments below are applicable to all of the above
tables relating to potential payments upon termination or change in control.
401(k) Plan. The above tables do not include benefits under our 401(k) plan, because that
plan does not discriminate in scope, terms or operation in favor of our executive officers and is
available generally to all of our salaried employees.
Accelerated Vesting of Options and Restricted Stock Upon a Change in Control. Options and
restricted stock granted under our plans accelerate upon a Change in Control (as defined below)
regardless of whether employment also terminates.
33
The numbers in the tables assume that the benefit of acceleration for the options equals the
difference between the closing sales price of our common shares on November 30, 2006 ($19.40 per
share) and the exercise price of the unvested options multiplied by the number of common shares
underlying the unvested options held by the executive at November 30, 2006.
The numbers in the tables assume that the benefit of acceleration for the restricted stock
equals the closing sales price of our common shares on November 30, 2006 ($19.40 per share)
multiplied by the number of common shares subject to the unvested restricted stock held by the
executive at November 30, 2006.
In addition, terminated executive officers vested options do not expire upon termination of
their employment, unless such termination is by us for cause. The above tables do not include the
benefit of the continuation of such vested options after termination because that value can be
realized before termination by exercise of the options. Footnotes to the above tables, however,
disclose the difference between the market value of the common shares underlying vested options
held by the executive at November 30, 2006 (valued at the closing sales price of our common shares
at November 30, 2006) and the exercise prices of those options.
Cause. For purposes of Mr. Barretts and Mr. Spadafores employment agreements and Mr.
Iaconas and Ms. Victors Change in Control, Invention, Confidentiality, Non-Compete and
Non-Solicitation Agreements, Cause means (1) the executives continued failure (after notice and
at least 30 days to cure such failure) to make a good faith effort to perform the executives
employment duties, (2) any breach by the executive of his or her invention, confidentiality,
non-competition and non-solicitation covenants, or (3) the executives conviction of a felony
involving dishonesty or fraud.
Good Reason. For purposes of Mr. Barretts and Mr. Spadafores employment agreements and Mr.
Iaconas and Ms. Victors Change in Control, Invention, Confidentiality, Non-Compete and
Non-Solicitation Agreements, Good Reason means (1) a decrease (without the executives consent)
in the executives compensation, incentives and benefits, (2) a substantial change (without the
executives consent) in the executives duties or responsibilities, (3) any requirement (to which
the executive does not consent) that the executive change his or her primary place of business to
be outside the metropolitan Detroit area, or (4) the failure of a successor to our business to
assume our obligations under the applicable agreement.
Change in Control. For purposes of Mr. Barretts and Mr. Spadafores employment agreements,
Mr. Iaconas and Ms. Victors Change in Control, Invention, Confidentiality, Non-Compete and
Non-Solicitation Agreements, and our 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, Change in Control means
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the acquisition by any person or group of beneficial ownership of 40% or more of our
outstanding common shares (generally excluding acquisitions directly from us, by us, or
by employee benefit plans sponsored by us). |
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|
individuals who constituted the board at the date of the applicable agreement or
plan (together with directors approved by at least a majority of those individuals who
are |
34
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still serving and directors previously so approved) cease to constitute at least a
majority of the board members. |
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|
the consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation of us, or a sale or
other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, unless |
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|
our shareholders continue to own (in substantially the same proportions) at
least 60% of the outstanding voting securities of the entity resulting from that
transaction, |
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|
there is no new 40% owner (other than us, our benefit plans, our subsidiaries,
and the entity resulting from the transaction), and |
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individuals who were members of the incumbent board constitute at least a
majority of the members of the board of the entity resulting from the transaction,
or |
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the consummation of a plan of our complete liquidation or dissolution. |
Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation, Confidentiality and Assignment of Inventions. Mr. Barrett
and Mr. Spadafore, under their employment agreements, and Mr. Iacona and Ms. Victor, under their
Change in Control, Invention, Confidentiality, Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation Agreements have
agreed, in part in exchange for the severance benefits provided in those agreements:
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that during the term of his or her employment and for one year after termination of
his or her employment, he or she will not, directly or indirectly, |
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engage in activities in connection with patches for ventricular restoration,
cerebral (for Mr. Barrett: and/or somatic) oximeters, related sensors or products
sold by us during the term of his or her employment, |
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be employed by or have a financial interest in any person or entity that
manufactures, assembles or sells any of those products (except for investments in
up to three percent of the stock of public companies with which he is she is not
otherwise affiliated), or |
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solicit any entity that he or she knows was one of our customers during the year
before his or her employment terminated to supply such products |
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that during the term of his or her employment and for five years after termination
of his or her employment, he or she will not, directly or indirectly, |
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|
solicit or attempt to hire one of our employees or consultants or any person he
or she knows was an employee or consultant during the year before his or her
employment terminated (except, for Mr. Barrett, persons terminated by us and
persons terminated for at least six months), or |
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encourage any such person to terminate his or her employment or consultation
with us, |
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not to disclose or appropriate our confidential information at any time, and that
all materials pertaining to the confidential information are our property, and |
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that any inventions that the employee makes during his or her employment with us and
relating to our business are our property. |
Breach of these provisions can generally be waived by amending the applicable agreement by mutual
agreement of the parties.
35
Compensation of Directors
The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of our directors for
the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006:
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2006
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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Fees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earned |
|
|
|
|
|
|
or Paid |
|
Option |
|
|
|
|
in Cash |
|
Awards |
|
Total |
Name (1) |
|
($) |
|
($) (2) |
|
($) |
James I. Ausman, M.D., Ph.D |
|
|
13,500 |
|
|
|
8,508 |
|
|
|
22,008 |
|
Daniel S. Follis |
|
|
13,500 |
|
|
|
8,508 |
|
|
|
22,008 |
|
Robert R. Henry |
|
|
13,500 |
|
|
|
8,508 |
|
|
|
22,008 |
|
Richard R. Sorensen (3) |
|
|
8,000 |
|
|
|
8,660 |
|
|
|
16,660 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Bruce J. Barrett is not included in the table because he is also a named executive officer in
the Summary Compensation Table above. He receives no additional compensation for his service as
one of our directors. |
|
(2) |
|
The grant date fair values of the option awards listed in the table above were as follows for
the following directors: Dr. Ausman 102,100, Mr. Follis 102,100, Mr. Henry 102,100, and Mr.
Sorensen 86,600. For a discussion of the assumptions made in the valuation of the Option Awards,
see Note 7 of the Notes to Financial Statements, included in our annual report to shareholders for
the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006, which accompanies this proxy statement. As of November
30, 2006, the following directors listed in the table above have the following number of option
awards outstanding: Dr. Ausman 44,011, Mr. Follis 23,500, Mr. Henry 36,500, and Mr. Sorensen
10,000. |
|
(3) |
|
Mr. Sorensen became one of our directors on June 13, 2006. |
We refer to our directors who are not our officers or employees as Outside Directors.
Effective July 1, 2006, each Outside Director receives a fee of $1,500 a month and reimbursement of
reasonable expenses of attending board and board committee meetings. In addition, the board of
directors may grant options to Outside Directors on a case by case basis.
On June 13, 2006, we granted 10,000 non-qualified stock options to Mr. Sorensen under the 2005
Stock Incentive Plan in connection with his appointment as a new director. The options are 10-year
options, exercisable at $15.33 a share, the average of the high and low sales prices of the common
shares on June 13, 2006. The options vest in one-fifth cumulative annual installments beginning
June 13, 2007 and continue to be exercisable after termination of the directors service unless the
director is terminated for cause.
On June 29, 2006, we granted a total of 30,000 non-qualified stock options to our three
Outside Directors (other than Mr. Sorensen) under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan. The options
36
are 10-year options, exercisable at $18.06 a share, the average of the high and low sales prices of
the common shares on June 29, 2006. The options vest in one-fifth cumulative annual installments
beginning June 29, 2007 and continue to be exercisable after termination of the directors service
unless the director is terminated for cause.
Until June 30, 2006, our Outside Directors received a fee of $1,000 a month and reimbursement
of reasonable expenses of attending board and board committee meetings. In addition, the board of
directors may grant options to Outside Directors on a case by case basis.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our officers and directors, and
persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities, to file
reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Officers, directors and greater than ten-percent shareholders are required by Securities and
Exchange Commission regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file.
Based solely on review of the copies of such reports furnished to us during or with respect to
fiscal 2006, or written representations that no Forms 5 were required, we believe that during the
fiscal year ended November 30, 2006 all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to our
officers, directors and greater than ten-percent beneficial owners were complied with.
II. PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE
SOMANETICS CORPORATION 2005 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
TO INCREASE AUTHORIZED SHARES
We seek to increase the number of shares subject to the Somanetics Corporation 2005 Stock
Incentive Plan. You are being asked to consider and approve an amendment to the plan to increase
the number of common shares reserved for issuance under the plan by 600,000 shares, from 600,000 to
1,200,000 shares. The Board of Directors adopted the proposed amendment to the plan on January 17,
2007, subject to the approval of our shareholders, in order to continue to attract and retain
officers, other employees, non-employee directors, consultants, advisors, independent contractors
and agents. The board of directors believes that is in our best interests and in the interests of
our shareholders to approve the proposed amendment to the plan to allow us to continue grant
options and award restricted stock and restricted stock units under the plan.
Pursuant to the plan, 600,000 common shares are currently reserved for issuance upon the
exercise of stock options granted under the plan or the award of restricted stock or restricted
stock units under the plan. As of February 19, 2007, (1) options to purchase 338,716 common shares
were outstanding under the plan, (2) no options granted under the plan had been exercised, (3)
68,000 restricted shares had been awarded and not forfeited under the plan, and (4) 193,284 common
shares remained available for issuance upon the exercise of stock options to be granted to
participants in the plan or the award of restricted stock or restricted stock units to participants
in the plan. The proposed amendment would increase the number of common shares reserved for
issuance under the plan by 600,000 shares.
37
General
The purposes of the plan are (1) to align the interests of our shareholders and recipients of
awards by increasing the recipients proprietary interest in our growth and success, (2) to advance
our interests by attracting and retaining officers, other employees, non-employee directors,
consultants, advisors, independent contractors and agents and (3) to motivate such persons to act
in the long-term best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
The plan permits us to grant stock options, including both nonqualified options and incentive
options, restricted stock and restricted stock units, or RSUs, to officers, other employees,
non-employee directors, consultants, advisors, independent contractors and agents of the Company
and its subsidiaries.
Persons deemed to be our affiliates, i.e., persons who directly or indirectly through one or
more intermediaries, control, are controlled by, or are under common control with, us, must resell
securities acquired under the plan pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act of
1933 and the related rules and regulations, Rule 144 under the Securities Act or an applicable
exemption under the Securities Act.
We are the issuer of the securities offered pursuant to the plan. The common shares, par
value $0.01 per share, we issue under the plan may be either our authorized and unissued or
reacquired common shares. The plan is not subject to any provisions of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 and is not qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986.
As of February 16, 2007, the closing sales price of our common shares was $19.77.
Approval of the Plan Amendment
Shareholder approval of the proposed amendment to the plan requires the approval by a majority
of the votes cast by the holders of common shares at the meeting and entitled to vote on the
action. Abstentions, withheld votes and broker non-votes will not be deemed votes cast in
determining approval of this proposal, but will be counted in determining the number of common
shares present or represented by proxy in determining whether a quorum is present. We do not
intend to place the proposed amendment to the plan into effect unless approval is obtained at the
meeting, and such approval is sought, in part, to exempt the awards of equity incentives under the
plan from the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and in order to
comply with the shareholder approval requirements for securities traded on the Nasdaq Global
Market.
The board of directors recommends a vote FOR approval of the proposed amendment to the plan,
and your proxy will be so voted unless you specify otherwise.
The following is a summary of the plan as proposed to be amended, which is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the full text of the plan as proposed to be amended and marked to show the
proposed changes, which is set forth on Exhibit A to this Proxy Statement.
38
Administration; Plan Participants
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors or such other committee as may be
designated by the Board of Directors or the Board of Directors itself (the Committee) will
administer the plan. The plan authorizes the Committee to interpret the plan, to make rules
relating to the plan, and to make all other determinations that the Committee believes are
necessary to administer the plan. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee may
delegate some or all of its power and authority to administer the plan to our chief executive
officer or any other of our executive officers, but has not done so. The persons administering the
plan are entitled to indemnification and reimbursement by us in respect of claims, loss, damage or
expense to the full extent permitted by law, except as otherwise may be provided under our Articles
of Incorporation or bylaws, and under directors and officers liability insurance.
Officers, other employees, non-employee directors, consultants, advisors, independent
contractors and agents of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible to participate in the plan.
Approximately eight officers, 64 other employees, four non-employee directors, and one consultant
or advisor are currently eligible to participate in our existing equity incentive plans, most of
whom have been granted stock options or awarded restricted stock under our plans or independent of
our plans. The Committee, in its discretion, will choose participants in the plan from and among
the officers, other employees, non-employee directors, consultants, advisors, independent
contractors and agents of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Committee will select the
participants to be granted awards and determine the type and terms and conditions of awards.
Amendment or Termination of the Plan
The plan may be terminated at any time by our Board of Directors. Unless sooner terminated,
the plan will terminate ten years after it was adopted by our Board of Directors, which was on
February 24, 2005. No awards may be granted after termination of the plan, but termination of the
plan will not affect the validity of any award outstanding on the date of termination.
The Board of Directors may amend the plan at any time, subject to any requirement of
shareholder approval required by applicable law, rule or regulation, including Section 162(m) and
Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. No amendment may impair any award which has been granted
under the plan without the consent of the holder.
Maximum Awards
Awards may be granted for a maximum of 600,000 common shares currently, and that amount is
proposed to be amended to be 1,200,000 common shares. Any shares subject to any award granted
under the plan that are forfeited or not delivered due to the termination of such award or the
settlement of such award in cash, and any shares that are delivered to us by a participant or
withheld from delivery to a participant for purposes of paying the exercise price or tax
withholding obligations with respect to an award granted under the plan will become
39
available for future awards under the plan. To the extent necessary for an award to be exempt from
the deduction limits under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as discussed below,
the maximum number of shares subject to options granted to any individual during any calendar year
may not exceed 300,000 shares. The total fair market value (determined at the time an incentive
option is granted) of shares for which incentive options are exercisable for the first time by any
individual during any calendar year cannot exceed $100,000.
The Committee will appropriately adjust the number of shares which may be made the subject of
new awards or are then subject to outstanding awards, the option price of each outstanding stock
option, and the aggregate number of shares available at any time under the plan to reflect such
events as a stock split, stock dividend, or other extraordinary corporate event.
Awards
Awards granted under the plan will be evidenced by a written agreement between us and each
participant, which will be in accordance with the plan and may contain restrictions and limitations
that do not violate the terms of the plan. The Committee may grant a participant one or more of
the following awards or any combination of them.
Stock Options.
The Committee may grant either incentive options meeting the definition of incentive stock
option under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or nonqualified options not meeting
that definition, or any combination of incentive and nonqualified options. The exercise price for
options may not be less than 100% (110% in the case of an incentive option granted to a participant
owning more than 10% of our voting shares) of the fair market value of our common shares on the
grant date. Incentive options may only be granted to our employees or employees of any of our
subsidiaries in which we own directly or indirectly 50% or more of the combined voting power of all
classes of its stock.
Incentive options are generally nontransferable by a participant other than by will or the
laws of descent and distribution and stock options will be exercisable, during the lifetime of the
participant, only by the participant. However, the Committee may allow in an award agreement for
the transfer of a nonqualified option.
The Committee will determine the conditions to the exercisability of each option and the terms
relating to the exercise or cancellation of an option upon a termination of employment or service.
Each option will be exercisable for no more than ten years after its date of grant, except that an
incentive option granted to a participant owning more than 10% of our voting shares will be
exercisable for no more than five years after its date of grant.
Upon exercise of an option, the purchase price may be paid in cash, by delivery of previously
owned common shares or, to the extent permitted by law, under a cashless exercise program with a
brokerage firm.
40
The Committee will not amend or replace previously granted options in a transaction that
constitutes a repricing under the Nasdaq Stock Market Marketplace Rules without the approval of
our shareholders.
Restricted Stock Awards and RSUs.
The Committee may grant restricted stock or RSUs to a participant. Restricted stock and RSUs
are nontransferable and will have an established restriction period that may differ for each
participant and with respect to all or any portion of the same award. An award of restricted stock
or RSUs will be subject to the participants continued employment or service during the restriction
period. Participants are entitled to all dividend and voting rights with respect to restricted
stock. A participant will have no stock ownership interest as a result of being granted RSUs, but
the Committee may allow a participant to receive dividend equivalents on such units.
At the expiration of the restriction period, (1) with respect to restricted stock, we will
reissue stock certificates to the participant or the legal representative of the participants
estate without a legend, and (2) with respect to RSUs, we will pay a participant an amount equal to
the fair market value of that number of shares to which such RSU relates. The amount paid with
respect to an RSU may be paid in cash, common shares (including restricted stock), or any
combination, and may be paid currently or on a deferred basis with provision for the payment or
crediting of a dividend equivalent. All of the terms relating to the termination of a restriction
period, or the forfeiture and cancellation of a restricted stock award or RSU upon a termination of
employment or service, whether by reason of disability, retirement, death or any other reason, will
be determined by the Committee.
Change in Control
For purposes of the plan, we would undergo a change in control in the event of certain
acquisitions of 40% or more of our common shares, a change in a majority of the Board of Directors,
or the consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or disposition of all or
substantially all of our assets (unless, among other conditions, our shareholders receive 60% or
more of the stock of the surviving company) or the consummation of our liquidation or dissolution.
Unless otherwise specified in the agreement relating to an award, in the Committees
discretion, either (1) (a) each restricted stock award and RSU and performance share award will be
cancelled in exchange for a cash payment for each share subject to the award in an amount equal to
the highest price paid to our shareholders in connection with the change in control, or the fair
market value per common share on the date of the change in control, whichever is greater, and (b)
each outstanding option will be cancelled in exchange for a cash payment for each share subject to
the award in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the amount determined as described in clause
(a) over the applicable exercise price of the option, or (2) all restricted stock and RSUs will
become fully vested, all outstanding options will become fully exercisable and an appropriate
number of shares, if any, received by our shareholders in any such transaction will be substituted
for our common shares subject to outstanding options and other awards, and an appropriate
adjustment will be made to any applicable exercise price.
41
Federal Income Tax Consequences
The rules governing the tax treatment of stock options, restricted stock awards and RSUs are
quite technical. Therefore, the description of the tax consequences set forth below is necessarily
general in nature and does not purport to be complete. Also, the statutory provisions are subject
to change, as are their interpretations, and their application may vary in individual
circumstances. Finally, the tax consequences under applicable state and local income tax laws may
not be the same as under the federal income tax laws.
Stock Options.
Incentive options granted pursuant to the plan are intended to qualify as Incentive Stock
Options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. If the
participant makes no disposition of the shares acquired pursuant to exercise of an incentive option
within one year after the transfer of the shares to such participant or within two years from the
grant of the option, the participant will realize no taxable income as a result of the grant or
exercise of such option (except for purposes of the alternative minimum tax upon the exercise of
such option), and any gain or loss that is subsequently realized may be treated as long-term
capital gain or loss, as the case may be. Under these circumstances, we will not be entitled to a
deduction for federal income tax purposes with respect to either the grant of such incentive
options or the transfer of shares upon their exercise.
If incentive option shares are disposed of prior to the expiration of these time periods, the
participant will recognize ordinary income in the year in which the disqualifying disposition
occurs, the amount of which will generally be the lesser of (1) the excess of the market value of
the shares on the date of exercise over the option price, or (2) the gain recognized on such
disposition. In general, this amount will be deductible by us for federal income tax purposes in
the same year, as long as the amount constitutes reasonable compensation. In addition, the excess,
if any, of the amount realized on a disqualifying disposition over the market value of the shares
on the date of exercise will be treated as capital gain.
A participant who acquires shares by exercise of a nonqualified option generally realizes as
taxable ordinary income, at the time of exercise, the excess of the fair market value of the shares
on the date of exercise over the exercise price. In general, this amount will be deductible by us
in the same year, as long as the amount constitutes reasonable compensation and we satisfy federal
income tax withholding requirements. Subsequent appreciation or decline in the value of the shares
on the sale or other disposition of the shares will generally be treated as capital gain or loss.
Restricted Stock Awards.
A participant who is granted a restricted stock award under the plan is not required to
include the value of the shares subject to such award in ordinary income until the first time the
participants rights in the shares are transferable or are not subject to substantial risk of
forfeiture, whichever occurs earlier, unless the participant timely files an election under
42
Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to be taxed on the receipt of the shares. In either
case, the amount of income will equal the fair market value of the shares at the time the income is
recognized. We will ordinarily be entitled to a deduction, in the amount of the ordinary income
recognized by the participant, at the same time the participant recognizes such income, as long as
the amount constitutes reasonable compensation and we satisfy federal income tax withholding
requirements.
RSUs.
A participant who is granted an RSU will generally not recognize any income upon the grant of
the award. The participant will generally recognize as ordinary income an amount equal to the
amount of any cash received and the fair market value of any shares transferred to the participant
upon the vesting of such award. We will ordinarily be entitled to a deduction, in the amount of
the ordinary income recognized by the participant, at the same time the participant recognizes such
income, as long as the amount constitutes reasonable compensation and we satisfy federal income tax
withholding requirements.
Section 162(m).
Section 162(m) of the Code denies a deduction to any publicly-held corporation for
compensation paid to the following employees in a taxable year to the extent such compensation
exceeds $1 million: our chief executive officer and our four highest compensated executive officers
(other than our chief executive officer). Compensation attributable to awards under the plan to a
covered employee, alone or when combined with other types of compensation received by the covered
employee from us, may cause this limitation to be exceeded in any particular year. Certain types
of compensation, however, including so-called performance-based compensation, are disregarded for
purposes of the deduction limitation. Compensation attributable to stock options having an
exercise price not less than the fair market value of our common shares on the grant date may
qualify as performance-based compensation under the plan.
Withholding Payments.
If, upon the grant, release of restrictions or settlement of or in respect of an award, or
upon any other event or transaction under or relating to the plan, we must pay amounts for federal
income or employment tax withholding, the Committee will determine whether we appropriately reduce
the amount of stock, cash or other property to be paid to the participant or whether the
participant must pay such amount to us to enable us to pay or to reimburse us for paying such
income or employment tax withholding. We may permit withholding taxes to be paid by the
participant in cash, by delivery of previously owned common shares, by withholding common shares
or, to the extent permitted by law, under a cashless exercise program with a brokerage firm.
43
Section 409A
Section 409A was added to the Code at the end of 2004 by the American Job Creation Act of
2004. Section 409A makes significant changes to the tax treatment of certain types of deferred
compensation. Failure to comply with the requirements of Section 409A results in current income of
amounts deferred, along with interest and a significant tax penalty. Certain types of equity-based
compensation are exempt from Section 409A. We intend to operate the plan so that all grants under
the plan are exempt from Section 409A. The tax discussion above assumes that the plan is in fact
operating in this manner.
The foregoing general tax discussion is intended for the information of shareholders
considering how to vote with respect to this proposal and not as tax guidance to participants in
the plan. Different tax rules may apply to specific participants and transactions under the plan,
and participants are strongly urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the federal, state,
local and any other tax consequences to them of participating in the plan.
Accounting Treatment
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised), Share Based Payment requires
that compensation costs related to share-based payment transactions, including stock options,
restricted stock and RSUs, be recognized in the financial statements at their fair value on the
date of grant spread over any applicable vesting period.
New Plan Benefits
If the shareholders do not approve the amendment to the plan, any awards granted under the
amendment to the plan will be void. The actual amounts that would be awarded under the amendment
to the plan, including the actual benefits or amounts that would be received by or allocated to
executive officers, directors, and non-executive officer employees, cannot be determined at this
time.
The following table sets forth, as to Bruce J. Barrett, William M. Iacona, Dominic J.
Spadafore, Mary Ann Victor, all current executive officers as a group, all current directors who
are not executive officers as a group, all employees (including officers who are not executive
officers) as a group, and all other consultants and advisors, as a group, the options granted and
restricted stock awarded under the plan during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006:
44
NEW PLAN BENEFITS
Somanetics Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Common |
|
Number of Common |
|
|
Shares Subject to Options |
|
Shares Subject to Restricted |
|
|
Granted Under the Plan |
|
Stock Awards Under the Plan |
|
|
In the Fiscal Year Ended |
|
In the Fiscal Year Ended |
Name and Position |
|
November 30, 2006 |
|
November 30, 2006 |
Bruce J. Barrett, President and Chief
Executive Officer |
|
|
36,000 |
|
|
|
18,000 |
|
William M. Iacona, Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer, Treasurer and Controller |
|
|
18,000 |
|
|
|
9,000 |
|
Dominic J. Spadafore, Vice President, Sales
and Marketing |
|
|
18,000 |
|
|
|
9,000 |
|
Mary Ann Victor, Vice President and Chief
Administrative Officer and Secretary |
|
|
18,000 |
|
|
|
9,000 |
|
All current executive officers as a
group (4 persons) |
|
|
90,000 |
|
|
|
45,000 |
|
All current directors who are not executive
officers as a group (4 persons) |
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
All employees (including officers) who
are not executive officers as a
group (21 persons) |
|
|
104,000 |
|
|
|
23,000 |
|
All other consultants and advisors as
a group (1 person) |
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
The dollar values of these options cannot be determined because they depend on the market
value of the underlying shares on the date of exercise. No associate of any director, nominee or
executive officer has been granted options or awarded restricted stock under the plan. In
addition, no person not named above has received five percent or more of the options authorized
under the plan, in the aggregate.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following information is provided as of November 30, 2006 with respect to compensation
plans, including individual compensation arrangements, under which our equity securities are
authorized for issuance:
45
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(c) |
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Number of securities |
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(a) |
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(b) |
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|
remaining available for |
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|
Number of securities to |
|
|
Weighted-average |
|
|
future issuance under |
|
|
|
be issued upon exercise |
|
|
exercise price of |
|
|
equity compensation plans |
|
|
|
of outstanding options, |
|
|
outstanding options |
|
|
(excluding securities |
|
Plan category |
|
warrants and rights |
|
|
warrants and rights |
|
|
reflected in column (a)) |
|
Equity compensation
plans approved by
security holders (1) |
|
|
2,000,490 |
|
|
$ |
6.14 |
|
|
|
193,284 |
|
Equity compensation
plans not approved by
security holders (2) |
|
|
71,500 |
|
|
$ |
2.35 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
2,071,990 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
193,284 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
These plans consist of: (a) the 1991 Incentive Stock Option Plan, which terminated in 2001
except for the options granted before that date, (b) the Somanetics Corporation 1997 Stock Option
Plan, which terminated in 2007 except for the options granted before that date, and (c) the
Somanetics Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan. All of the securities disclosed in column (c)
are available for issuance under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, which permits us to grant stock
options, restricted stock and restricted stock units. The table does not include the proposed
amendment to the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan described in this Part II. |
|
(2) |
|
These plans consist of non-qualified options to purchase 71,500 common shares granted to one
current executive officer and one advisor, independent of our stock option plans (including one
option granted in fiscal 2002 as an inducement essential to a new executive officer entering into
an employment agreement with us, which currently represents the right to purchase 70,000 common
shares ). The options are subject to anti-dilution adjustments. |
The options granted independent of our stock option plans were granted on April 24, 1997 and
August 1, 2002. All of the options have vested. Options granted to one current officer and vested
at the time of termination of employment, continue to be exercisable until the original termination
date notwithstanding such termination, unless such termination is for cause, in which case such
options expire at the date of such termination. The option expires at the date of termination of
consultation, unless extended in the discretion of the Compensation Committee of our board of
directors.
The non-plan options expire 10 years after they were granted. The exercise prices of these
options, which were at least the fair market value of the underlying common shares on the date of
grant, range from $2.30 to $4.75. At the time these options are exercised, the optionee must pay
the full option price for all shares purchased:
|
|
|
in cash, or |
|
|
|
|
with the consent of the Compensation Committee or the board of directors, in its
discretion, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, |
46
|
|
|
in common shares, |
|
|
|
|
by a promissory note payable to the order of us that is acceptable to the
Compensation Committee or the board of directors, |
|
|
|
|
by a cash down payment and a promissory note for the unpaid balance, |
|
|
|
|
subject to any conditions established by the Compensation Committee or the
board of directors, by having us retain from the shares to be delivered upon
exercise of the stock option that number of shares having a fair market value
on the date of exercise equal to the option price, |
|
|
|
|
by delivery to us of written notice of the exercise, in such form as the
Compensation Committee or the board of directors may prescribe, accompanied by
irrevocable instructions to a stock broker to promptly deliver to us full
payment for the shares with respect to which the option is exercised from the
proceeds of the stock brokers sale of the shares or loan against them, |
|
|
|
|
in such other manner as the Compensation Committee or the board of directors
determines is appropriate, in its discretion. |
Specified consolidations, mergers, transfers of substantially all of our properties and
assets, dissolutions, liquidations, reorganizations or reclassifications in such a way that holders
of common shares are entitled to receive stock, securities, cash or other assets with respect to,
or in exchange for, their common shares, are each referred to as a Transaction. If we engage in
a Transaction, then each holder of a non-plan option after consummation of the Transaction will be
entitled to receive (for the same aggregate exercise price) the stock and other securities, cash
and assets the holder would have received in the Transaction if he or she had exercised the option
in full immediately before consummation of the Transaction.
In addition, in connection with a Transaction, the Compensation Committee or the board of
directors, acting in its discretion without the consent of any holder of any non-plan option and
regardless of any other provision of the option, may:
|
|
|
permit such options to be exercised in full for a limited period of time, after
which all unexercised options and all rights of holders of such options would
terminate, |
|
|
|
|
permit such options to be exercised in full for their then remaining terms, or |
|
|
|
|
require all such options to be surrendered to us for cancellation and payment to
each holder in cash of the excess of the fair market value of the underlying common
shares as of the date the Transaction is effective over the exercise price, less any
applicable withholding taxes. |
The Compensation Committee or the board of directors may not select an alternative for a holder
that would result in his or her liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, without the
holders consent. If all of the alternatives have such a result, the Compensation Committee or
board of directors will take action to put the holder in as close to the same position as he or she
would have been in if one of the alternatives described above had been selected, but without
resulting in any payment by the holder under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. With the consent
of each holder, the Compensation Committee or board of directors may make such provision with
respect to any Transaction as it deems appropriate.
47
The options may not be transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution, and during the optionees lifetime, the option is exercisable only by the optionee.
III. OTHER MATTERS
Annual Report
A copy of our Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006
accompanies this proxy statement. We file an Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. We will provide, without charge, to each person being solicited by this proxy
statement, upon the written request of any such person, a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006 (as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
excluding exhibits for which a reasonable charge shall be imposed). All such requests should be
directed to Somanetics Corporation, 1653 East Maple Road, Troy, Michigan 48083-4208, Attention:
Investor Relations Department.
Independent Accountants
Deloitte & Touche LLP are our independent accountants, have reported on the financial
statements in our 2006 Annual Report to Shareholders, which accompanies this proxy statement, and
have served as our independent accountants for many years. Our independent accountants are
appointed by the Audit Committee of our board of directors. We will not select our independent
accountants for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2007 until later in our fiscal year.
A representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders and will have the opportunity to make a statement at the meeting if she desires to do
so. The representative will also be available to respond to appropriate questions.
The following table presents aggregate fees billed for each of the years ended November 30,
2006 and 2005 for professional services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP in the following
categories:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended |
|
|
November 30, |
|
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
Audit Fees (1) |
|
$ |
299,825 |
|
|
$ |
306,850 |
|
Audit-Related Fees |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Tax Fees (2) |
|
$ |
46,350 |
|
|
$ |
60,550 |
|
All Other Fees |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Consists of fees for the audit of our annual financial statements and the audit of our internal
controls over financial reporting, review of financial statements included in our Form 10-Qs, and
services provided in connection with our Registration Statement on Form S-8 in connection with our
2005 Stock Incentive Plan in fiscal 2005. |
48
|
|
|
(2) |
|
Consists of tax return preparation fees. |
In accordance with Section 10A(i) of the Exchange Act, before Deloitte & Touche LLP is engaged
by us to render audit or non-audit services, the engagement is approved by our Audit Committee.
None of the audit-related, tax and other services described in the table above were approved by the
Audit Committee pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X.
Shareholder Proposals
Proposals of shareholders that are intended to be presented at our 2008 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders must be received by our Secretary at our offices, 1653 East Maple Road, Troy, Michigan
48083-4208, no later than October 31, 2007 to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement
and proxy relating to that meeting. Such proposals should be sent by certified mail, return
receipt requested.
We must receive notice of any proposals of shareholders that are intended to be presented at
our 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, but that are not intended to be considered for inclusion
in our proxy statement and proxy related to that meeting, no later than January 14, 2008 to be
considered timely. Such proposals should be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested and
addressed to Somanetics Corporation, 1653 East Maple Road, Troy, Michigan 48083-4208, Attention:
Investor Relations Department. If we do not have notice of the matter by that date, our form of
proxy in connection with that meeting may confer discretionary authority to vote on that matter,
and the persons named in our form of proxy will vote the shares represented by such proxies in
accordance with their best judgment.
Other Business
Neither we nor the members of our board of directors intend to bring before the annual meeting
any matters other than those set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and none of
us has any present knowledge that other matters will be presented for action at the annual meeting
by others. However, if other matters are properly presented to the meeting, the persons named in
the enclosed proxy intend to vote the shares represented by the proxy in accordance with their best
judgment.
By order of the board of directors
Bruce J. Barrett
President and Chief Executive Officer
Troy, Michigan
February 28, 2007
49
EXHIBIT A
AMENDED AND RESTATED
SOMANETICS CORPORATION
2005 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Introduction
1.1 Purposes.
The purposes of the Somanetics Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (this Plan) are (1) to
align the interests of the Companys shareholders and the recipients of awards under this Plan by
increasing the proprietary interest of such recipients in the Companys growth and success, (2) to
advance the interests of the Company by attracting and retaining officers, other employees,
non-employee directors, consultants, advisors, independent contractors and agents and (3) to
motivate such persons to act in the long-term best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
1.2 Definitions.
Agreement shall mean the written agreement evidencing an award under this Plan between the
Company and the recipient of such award.
Board shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
Change in Control shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(b).
Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Committee shall mean the Board or the committee designated by the Board to perform any of
the functions and duties of the Committee under the Plan.
Common Shares shall mean the common shares, par value $.01 per share, of the Company.
Company shall mean Somanetics Corporation, a Michigan corporation, or any successor to
Somanetics Corporation.
Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Fair Market Value shall mean the average of the high and low transaction prices of a Common
Share on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market on the date as of which such value is being determined or, if
the Common Shares are not listed on The Nasdaq SmallCap, the average of the high and low
transaction prices of a Common Share on the principal market on which the Common Shares are traded
on the date as of which such value is being determined, or if there shall be no reported
transaction for such date, on the next preceding date for which a transaction was reported;
provided, however, that if Fair Market Value for any date cannot be so determined,
Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee by whatever means or method as the
Committee, in the good faith exercise of its discretion, shall at such time deem appropriate.
Incentive Stock Option shall mean an option to purchase Common Shares that meets the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code, or any successor provision, and that is intended by the
Committee to constitute an Incentive Stock Option.
Incumbent Board shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(b)(2).
Mature Shares shall mean previously-acquired Common Shares for which the holder has good
title, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, and which such holder either (1) has held for
at least six months or (2) has purchased on the open market.
Non Qualified Stock Option shall mean an option to purchase Common Shares that is not an
Incentive Stock Option.
Outstanding Common Shares shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(b)(1).
Outstanding Voting Securities shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(b)(1).
Person shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(b)(1).
Restricted Stock shall mean Common Shares that are subject to a Restriction Period.
Restricted Stock Award shall mean an award of Restricted Stock under this Plan.
Restricted Stock Unit shall mean a right that entitles the holder to receive, upon vesting,
one Common Share (which may be Restricted Stock) or cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market
Value of one Common Share on the date of vesting.
Restricted Stock Unit Award shall mean an award of Restricted Stock Units under this Plan.
Restriction Period shall mean any period designated by the Committee during which (1) the
Common Shares subject to a Restricted Stock Award may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged,
hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or disposed of, except as provided in this Plan or the
Agreement relating to such award, or (2) the restrictions applicable to a Restricted Stock Unit
Award shall remain in effect.
Stock Award shall mean a Restricted Stock Award or a Restricted Stock Unit Award.
Subsidiary shall mean any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture
or similar entity in which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, an equity interest possessing
more than 25% of the combined voting power of the total outstanding equity interests of such
entity.
Tax Date shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.5.
Ten Percent Holder shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
2
1.3 Administration.
This Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Any one or a combination of the following
awards may be made under this Plan to eligible persons: (1) options to purchase Common Shares in
the form of Incentive Stock Options or Non Qualified Stock Options, and (2) Stock Awards in the
form of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units. The Committee shall, subject to the terms of
this Plan, select eligible persons for participation in this Plan and determine the form, amount
and timing of each award to such persons and, if applicable, the number of Common Shares and the
number of Restricted Stock Units subject to such an award, the exercise price associated with the
award, the time and conditions of exercise or settlement of the award and all other terms and
conditions of the award, including, without limitation, the form of the Agreement evidencing the
award. The Committee may, in its sole discretion and for any reason at any time, subject to the
requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder in the case of an award
intended to be qualified performance-based compensation, take action such that (1) all or any
outstanding options shall become exercisable in part or in full, or (2) all or a portion of the
Restriction Period applicable to any outstanding Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit
Award shall lapse. The Committee shall, subject to the terms of this Plan, interpret this Plan and
its application and establish rules and regulations it deems necessary or desirable for the
administration of this Plan and may impose, incidental to the grant of an award, conditions with
respect to the award, such as limiting competitive employment or other activities. All such
interpretations, rules, regulations and conditions shall be final, binding and conclusive.
The Committee may, subject to the applicable law (including Section 162(m) of the Code and the
regulations thereunder in the case of an award intended to be qualified performance-based
compensation), delegate some or all of its power and authority under this Plan to the Chief
Executive Officer or other executive officer of the Company as the Committee deems appropriate.
No member of the Board or Committee, and neither the Chief Executive Officer nor any other
executive officer to whom the Committee delegates any of its power and authority under this Plan,
shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in
connection with this Plan in good faith, and the members of the Board and the Committee and the
Chief Executive Officer or other executive officer shall be entitled to indemnification and
reimbursement by the Company in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including attorneys
fees) arising therefrom to the full extent permitted by law, except as otherwise may be provided in
the Companys Articles of Incorporation and/or Bylaws, and under any directors and officers
liability insurance that may be in effect from time to time.
A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. The acts of the Committee shall be
either (1) acts of a majority of the members of the Committee present at any meeting at which a
quorum is present or (2) acts approved in writing by all of the members of the Committee without a
meeting.
3
1.4 Eligibility.
Participants in this Plan shall consist of such officers, other employees, non-employee
directors, consultants, advisors, independent contractors and agents, and persons expected to
become officers, other employees, non-employee directors, consultants, advisors, independent
contractors and agents, of the Company or a Subsidiary as the Committee in its sole discretion may
select from time to time. For purposes of this Plan, references to employment shall also mean an
agency or independent contractor relationship and references to employment by the Company shall
also mean employment by a Subsidiary. The Committees selection of a person to participate in this
Plan at any time shall not require the Committee to select such person to participate in this Plan
at any other time.
1.5 Shares Available.
(a) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.7, the number of Common Shares that
shall be available for awards under this Plan shall be
600,000 1,200,000.
(b) The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate
counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of substitute awards) and make
adjustments if the number of Common Shares actually delivered differs from the number of
shares previously counted in connection with an award. To the extent that Common Shares
subject to an outstanding award granted under this Plan are not issued or delivered to the
holder of the award or are returned to the Company by the holder of the award by reason of
(1) the expiration, termination, cancellation or forfeiture of such award, (2) the
settlement of such award in cash, or (3) the delivery or withholding of Common Shares to pay
all or a portion of the exercise price of an award, if any, or to satisfy all or a portion
of the tax withholding obligations relating to an award, then such Common Shares shall again
be available under this Plan. This Section 1.5(b) shall apply to Incentive Stock Options
only to the extent consistent with application Internal Revenue Service regulations relating
to Incentive Stock Options under the Code.
(c) Common Shares shall be made available from authorized and unissued Common Shares,
or authorized and issued Common Shares reacquired and held as treasury shares or otherwise
or a combination thereof.
(d) To the extent necessary for an award to be qualified performance based compensation
under Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, the maximum number of
Common Shares with respect to which options may be granted during any calendar year to any
person shall be 300,000, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.7. All shares with
respect to which an award is granted under this Plan shall be counted for purposes of the
per-person share limitation of this Section 1.5(d), regardless of whether the recipient of
the award does not realize the benefit of the award as a result of forfeiture, cancellation,
expiration, termination or other event. If a stock option is modified after grant to reduce
its exercise price, the modified stock option shall be treated as a newly granted stock
option for purposes of this per-person share limitation, with the shares covered by both the
original and the modified grant counting against the number of available shares under this
per-person share limitation.
4
2. Stock Options
2.1 Stock Options.
The Committee may, in its discretion, grant options to purchase Common Shares to such eligible
persons as may be selected by the Committee. Each option, or portion thereof, that is not an
Incentive Stock Option shall be a Non-Qualified Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option may not be
granted to any person who is not an employee of the Company or any subsidiary (as defined in
Section 424 of the Code). Each Incentive Stock Option shall be granted within ten years of the
date this Plan is adopted by the Board. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value
(determined as of the date of grant) of Common Shares with respect to which options designated as,
or intended to be, Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a participant
during any calendar year (under this Plan or any other plan of the Company, or any parent or
subsidiary as defined in Section 424 of the Code) exceeds the maximum amount (currently $100,000)
established by the Code, such options shall constitute Non-Qualified Stock Options.
Options shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall be subject to such
additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, as the Committee
shall deem advisable:
(a) Number of Shares and Purchase Price. The number of Common Shares subject to an
option and the purchase price per Common Share purchasable upon exercise of the option shall
be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that the purchase price per Common Share
purchasable upon exercise of an option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value
of a Common Share on the date of grant of such option; provided further, that if an
Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any person who, at the time such option is
granted, owns capital stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting
power of all classes of capital stock of the Company (or of any parent or subsidiary as
defined in Section 424 of the Code) (a Ten Percent Holder), the purchase price per Common
Share shall not be less than the minimum price (currently 110% of Fair Market Value)
required by the Code in order for the option to constitute an Incentive Stock Option.
(b) Exercise Period and Exercisability. The period during which an option may be
exercised shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that no option shall be
exercised later than ten years after its date of grant; provided further, that if an
Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to a Ten Percent Holder, such option shall not be
exercised later than five years after its date of grant. The Committee may, in its
discretion, establish Performance Measures which shall be satisfied or met as a condition to
the grant of an option or to the exercisability of all or a portion of an option. The
Committee shall determine whether an option shall become exercisable in cumulative or
non-cumulative installments and in part or in full at any time. An exercisable option, or
portion thereof, may be exercised only with respect to whole Common Shares.
(c) Method of Exercise. An option may be exercised (1) by giving written notice to the
Company specifying the number of whole Common Shares to be purchased
5
and by accompanying such notice with payment therefor in full (or by arranging for such
payment to the Companys satisfaction) either (A) in cash, (B) by delivery (either actual
delivery or by attestation procedures established by the Company) of Mature Shares having an
aggregate Fair Market Value, determined as of the date of exercise, equal to the aggregate
purchase price payable by reason of such exercise, (C) except as may be prohibited by
applicable law, in cash by a broker-dealer acceptable to the Company to whom the optionee
has submitted irrevocable instructions to promptly deliver to the Company full payment for
the Common Shares with respect to which the option is exercised from the proceeds of the
stockbrokers sale of or loan against some or all of the Common Shares, or (D) any
combination of the foregoing, in each case to the extent set forth in the Agreement relating
to the option, and (2) by executing such documents as the Company may reasonably request.
Any fraction of a Common Share which would be required to pay such purchase price shall be
disregarded and the remaining amount due shall be paid in cash by the optionee. No
certificate representing Common Shares shall be delivered until the full purchase price
therefor and any withholding taxes thereon, as described in Section 4.5, have been paid (or
arrangement made for such payment to the Companys satisfaction).
2.2 Termination of Employment or Service.
Subject to the requirements of the Code, all of the terms relating to the exercise,
cancellation, disposition or other treatment of an option upon a termination of employment or
service with the Company of the holder of such option, whether by reason of disability, retirement,
death or any other reason, shall be determined by the Committee.
2.3 No Repricing of Awards.
Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary and subject to Section 4.7, without the
approval of shareholders, the Committee will not amend or replace previously granted options in a
transaction that constitutes a repricing, as such term is used in the Nasdaq Stock Market
Marketplace Rules and related interpretations or, if the Common Shares are not listed on The Nasdaq
Stock Market, in the rules of the principal market on which the Common Shares are traded.
3. Stock Awards
3.1 Stock Awards.
The Committee may, in its discretion, grant Stock Awards to such eligible persons as may be
selected by the Committee. The Committee may grant Stock Awards under this Plan independently, in
lieu of, or in conjunction with, any cash bonus award otherwise payable to an employee pursuant to
any bonus or incentive plan maintained by the Company from time to time.
3.2 Terms of Stock Awards.
Stock Awards shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall be subject to
such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, as the
Committee shall deem advisable.
6
(a) Number of Shares and Other Terms. The number of Common Shares subject to a
Restricted Stock Award or a Restricted Stock Unit Award, and the Restriction Period
applicable to a Restricted Stock Award or a Restricted Stock Unit Award, shall be determined
by the Committee.
(b) Vesting and Forfeiture. The Agreement relating to a Restricted Stock Award or a
Restricted Stock Unit Award shall provide, in the manner determined by the Committee, in its
discretion, and subject to the provisions of this Plan, for the vesting of the Common Shares
subject to such Restricted Stock Award or the vesting of such Restricted Stock Unit Award if
the holder of such award remains continuously in the employment or service of the Company
during the specified Restriction Period and for the forfeiture of all or a portion of the
Common Shares subject to such Restricted Stock Award or the forfeiture of such Restricted
Stock Unit Award if the holder of such award does not remain continuously in the employment
or service of the Company during the specified Restriction Period.
(c) Share Certificates. During the Restriction Period, a certificate or certificates
representing a Restricted Stock Award may be registered in the holders name or a nominee
name at the discretion of the Company and may bear a legend, in addition to any legend which
may be required pursuant to Section 4.6, indicating that the ownership of the Common Shares
represented by such certificate is subject to the restrictions, terms and conditions of this
Plan and the Agreement relating to the Restricted Stock Award. All certificates registered
in the holders name shall be deposited with the Company, together with stock powers or
other instruments of assignment (including a power of attorney), each endorsed in blank with
a guarantee of signature if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company, which would
permit transfer to the Company of all or a portion of the Common Shares subject to the
Restricted Stock Award in the event such award is forfeited in whole or in part. Upon
termination of any Restriction Period (and the satisfaction of any continuation of
employment or service requirements) applicable to a Restricted Stock Award or to a
Restricted Stock Unit Award payable in whole or in part in Common Shares, in each case
subject to the Companys right to require payment of any taxes in accordance with Section
4.5, a certificate or certificates evidencing ownership of the requisite number of Common
Shares shall be delivered to the holder of such award.
(d) Rights with Respect to Restricted Stock Awards. Unless otherwise set forth in the
Agreement relating to a Restricted Stock Award, and subject to the terms and conditions of a
Restricted Stock Award, the holder of such award shall have all rights as a shareholder of
the Company, including, but not limited to, voting rights, the right to receive dividends
and the right to participate in any capital adjustment applicable to all holders of Common
Shares; provided, however, that a distribution with respect to Common Shares, other than a
regular cash dividend, shall be deposited with the Company and shall be subject to the same
restrictions as the Common Shares with respect to which such distribution was made.
(e) Settlement of Vested Restricted Stock Unit Awards. The Agreement relating to a
Restricted Stock Unit Award (1) shall specify whether such award may be
7
settled in Common Shares (including Restricted Stock) or cash or a combination thereof
and (2) may specify whether the holder thereof shall be entitled to receive, on a current or
deferred basis, dividend equivalents, and, if determined by the Committee, interest on, or
the deemed reinvestment of, any deferred dividend equivalents, with respect to the number of
Common Shares subject to such award. Prior to the settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit
Award in Common Shares, the holder of such award shall have no rights as a shareholder of
the Company with respect to the Common Shares subject to such award.
3.3 Termination of Employment or Service.
All of the terms relating to the termination of the Restriction Period relating to a
Restricted Stock Award or a Restricted Stock Unit Award, or any forfeiture and cancellation of such
award upon a termination of employment or service with the Company of the holder of such award,
whether by reason of disability, retirement, death or any other reason, shall be determined by the
Committee.
4. General
4.1 Effective Date and Term of Plan.
This Plan shall be effective on the date the Board of Directors of the Company adopts this
Plan, provided that the shareholders of the Company approve the Plan within 12 months after its
adoption by the Board of Directors. This Plan shall terminate ten years after its effective date,
unless terminated earlier by the Board. Termination of this Plan shall not affect the terms or
conditions of any award granted prior to termination. If this Plan is not approved by the
shareholders of the Company, this Plan and any awards granted under this Plan shall be null and
void.
4.2 Amendments.
The Board may amend this Plan as it shall deem advisable, subject to any requirement of
shareholder approval required by applicable law, rule or regulation, including Section 162(m) and
Section 422 of the Code and the regulations thereunder and any rule of The Nasdaq Stock Market or,
if the Common Shares are not listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market, any rule of the principal market on
which the Common Shares are then traded. No amendment may impair the rights of a holder of an
outstanding award without the consent of such holder.
4.3 Agreement.
Each award shall be evidenced by an Agreement executed by the Company and the recipient of
such award and, upon execution by each party and delivery of the executed Agreement to the Company,
such award shall be effective as of the effective date set forth in the Agreement.
4.4 Non-Transferability of Awards.
Unless otherwise specified in the Agreement relating to an award, no award shall be
transferable other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to beneficiary
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designation procedures approved by the Company. Except to the extent permitted by the
foregoing sentence or the Agreement relating to an award, each award may be exercised or settled
during the holders lifetime only by the holder or the holders legal representative or similar
person. Except to the extent permitted by the second preceding sentence or the Agreement relating
to an award, no award may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, hypothecated, encumbered or
otherwise disposed of (whether by operation of law or otherwise) or be subject to execution,
attachment or similar process. Upon any attempt to so sell, transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate,
encumber or otherwise dispose of any such award, such award and all rights thereunder shall
immediately become null and void.
4.5 Tax Withholding.
The Company shall have the right to require, prior to the issuance or delivery of any Common
Shares or the payment of any cash pursuant to an award made under this Plan, payment by the holder
of such award of any Federal, state, local or other taxes which may be required to be withheld or
paid in connection with such award. In the discretion of the Company (1) the Company may withhold
whole Common Shares which would otherwise be delivered to a holder, having an aggregate Fair Market
Value determined as of the date the obligation to withhold or pay taxes arises in connection with
an award (the Tax Date), or withhold an amount of cash which would otherwise be payable to a
holder, in the amount necessary to satisfy any such obligation or (2) the holder may be permitted
to satisfy any such obligation by any of the following means: (A) a cash payment to the Company,
(B) delivery (either actual delivery or by attestation procedures established by the Company) to
the Company of Mature Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value, determined as of the Tax Date,
equal to the amount necessary to satisfy any such obligation, (C) in the case of the exercise of an
option, except as may be prohibited by applicable law, a cash payment by a broker-dealer acceptable
to the Company to whom the optionee has submitted irrevocable instructions to promptly deliver to
the Company an amount (in addition to the option exercise price) equal to the withholding tax owing
in respect of such option exercised from the proceeds of the stockbrokers sale of or loan against
some or all of the Common Shares subject to the option, or (D) any combination of the foregoing.
Any fraction of a Common Share which would be required to satisfy such an obligation shall be
disregarded and the remaining amount due shall be paid in cash by the holder.
4.6 Restrictions on Shares.
Each award made under this Plan shall be subject to the requirement that if at any time the
Company determines that the listing, registration or qualification of the Common Shares subject to
such award upon any securities market or under any law, or the consent or approval of any
governmental body, or the taking of any other action is necessary or desirable as a condition of,
or in connection with, the exercise or settlement of such award or the delivery of shares
thereunder, such award shall not be exercised or settled and such shares shall not be delivered
unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent, approval or other action shall have been
effected or obtained, free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company. The Company may
require that certificates evidencing Common Shares delivered pursuant to any award made under this
Plan bear a legend indicating that the sale, transfer or other disposition thereof by the holder is
prohibited except in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder.
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4.7 Adjustment.
In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger,
consolidation, combination, exchange of shares, liquidation, spin-off or other similar change in
capitalization or event, or any distribution to holders of Common Shares other than a regular cash
dividend, the number and class of securities available under this Plan, the number and class of
securities subject to each outstanding award, the purchase price per security of each outstanding
option, and the maximum number of securities with respect to which awards may be granted in any
calendar year to any person shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, such adjustments to
be made in the case of outstanding options without an increase in the aggregate purchase price.
The decision of the Committee regarding any such adjustment shall be final, binding and conclusive;
provided, however, that no fractional shares shall be issued pursuant to the Plan, no awards may be
granted under the Plan with respect to fractional shares, and any fractional shares resulting from
such adjustments shall be eliminated from any outstanding award.
4.8 Change in Control.
(a) Actions Upon A Change In Control. Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan,
unless otherwise specified in the Agreement relating to an award, in the event of a Change
in Control, in the Committees discretion, either (1) (a) all outstanding options shall
immediately become exercisable in full, (b) the Restriction Period applicable to any
outstanding Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit Award shall lapse, and (c) there
shall be substituted for each Common Share available under this Plan, whether or not then
subject to an outstanding award, the number and class of shares into which each outstanding
Common Share shall be converted pursuant to such Change in Control, if any; provided that in
the event of any such substitution, the purchase price per share in the case of an option
shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee (whose determination shall be final,
binding and conclusive), such adjustments to be made in the case of outstanding options
without an increase in the aggregate purchase price, or (2) each outstanding award shall be
surrendered to the Company by the holder thereof, and each such award shall immediately be
canceled by the Company, and the holder shall receive, within ten days of the occurrence of
a Change in Control, a cash payment from the Company in an amount equal to (a) in the case
of an option, the number of Common Shares then subject to such option, multiplied by the
excess, if any, of the greater of (I) the highest per share price offered to shareholders of
the Company in any transaction whereby the Change in Control takes place, or (II) the Fair
Market Value of a Common Share on the date of occurrence of the Change in Control. over the
purchase price per Common Share subject to the option, and (b) in the case of a Restricted
Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit Award the number of Common Shares or the number of
Restricted Stock Units, as the case may be, then subject to such award, multiplied by the
greater of (A) the highest per share price offered to shareholders of the Company in any
transaction whereby the Change in Control takes place or (B) the Fair Market Value of a
Common Share on the date of occurrence of the Change in Control.
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(b) Change in Control shall mean:
(1) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (a Person), including
any person within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act,
of beneficial ownership within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act, of 40% or more of either (1) the then outstanding Common Shares of the
Company (the Outstanding Common Shares) or (2) the combined voting power of the
then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (the Outstanding Voting Securities); excluding, however, the
following: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding any acquisition
resulting from the exercise of an exercise, conversion or exchange privilege unless
the security being so exercised, converted or exchanged was acquired directly from
the Company), (B) any acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by an employee
benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any
corporation controlled by the Company, or (D) any acquisition by any corporation
pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (1), (2) and (3) of subsection
(3) of this Section 4.8(b); provided further, that for purposes of clause (B), if
any Person (other than the Company or any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company)
shall become the beneficial owner of 40% or more of the Outstanding Common Shares or
40% or more of the Outstanding Voting Securities by reason of an acquisition by the
Company, and such Person shall, after such acquisition by the Company, become the
beneficial owner of any additional Outstanding Common Shares or any additional
Outstanding Voting Securities and such beneficial ownership is publicly announced,
such additional beneficial ownership shall constitute a Change in Control;
(2) individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the
Incumbent Board) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of such
Board; provided that any individual who becomes a director of the Company subsequent
to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election, by the Companys
shareholders was approved by the vote of at least a majority of the directors then
comprising the Incumbent Board shall be deemed a member of the Incumbent Board;
(3) the consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, or sale or
other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, of the Company (a
Corporate Transaction); excluding, however, a Corporate Transaction pursuant to
which (1) all or substantially all of the individuals or entities who are the
beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Common Shares and the
Outstanding Voting Securities immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction will
beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the
outstanding Common Shares, and the combined voting power of the outstanding
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may
be, of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction (including, without
limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company
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or all or substantially all of the Companys assets either directly or
indirectly) in substantially the same proportions relative to each other as their
ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of the Outstanding
Common Shares and the Outstanding Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no
Person (other than: the Company; any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company;
the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction; and any Person which
beneficially owned, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, directly or
indirectly, 40% or more of the Outstanding Common Shares or the Outstanding Voting
Securities, as the case may be) will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 40%
or more of, respectively, the outstanding Common Shares of the corporation resulting
from such Corporate Transaction or the combined voting power of the outstanding
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors and (3) individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board will
constitute at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the
corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction; or
(4) the consummation of a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the
Company.
4.9 Deferrals.
The Committee may determine that the delivery of Common Shares or the payment of cash, or a
combination thereof, upon the exercise or settlement of all or a portion of any award made under
this Plan shall be deferred, or the Committee may, in its sole discretion, approve deferral
elections made by holders of awards. Deferrals shall be for such periods and upon such terms as
the Committee may determine in its sole discretion.
4.10 No Right of Participation, Employment or Service.
No person shall have any right to participate in this Plan. Neither this Plan nor any award
made under this Plan shall confer upon any person any right to continued employment by or service
with the Company, any Subsidiary or any affiliate of the Company or affect in any manner the right
of the Company, any Subsidiary or any affiliate of the Company to terminate the employment or
service of any person at any time without liability under this Plan.
4.11 Rights as Shareholder.
No person shall have any right as a shareholder of the Company with respect to any Common
Shares or other equity security of the Company which is subject to an award under this Plan unless
and until such person becomes a shareholder of record with respect to such Common Shares or equity
security.
4.12 Designation of Beneficiary.
If permitted by the Company, a holder of an award may file with the Committee a written
designation of one or more persons as such holders beneficiary or beneficiaries (both primary and
contingent) in the event of the holders death. To the extent an outstanding option granted
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under this Plan is exercisable after the holders death, such beneficiary or beneficiaries
shall be entitled to exercise such option pursuant to procedures prescribed by the Committee.
Each beneficiary designation shall become effective only when filed in writing with the
Committee during the holders lifetime on a form prescribed by the Committee. The spouse of a
married holder domiciled in a community property jurisdiction shall join in any designation of a
beneficiary other than such spouse. The filing with the Committee of a new beneficiary designation
shall cancel all previously filed beneficiary designations.
If a holder fails to designate a beneficiary, or if all designated beneficiaries of a holder
predecease the holder, then each outstanding option under this Plan held by such holder at the time
of the holders death, to the extent then or thereafter exercisable, may be exercised by such
holders executor, administrator, legal representative or similar person, or as otherwise
prescribed under the laws of descent and distribution.
4.13 Governing Law.
This Plan, each award under this Plan and the related Agreement, and all determinations made
and actions taken pursuant thereto, to the extent not otherwise governed by the Code or the other
laws of the United States, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Michigan and construed in
accordance therewith without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws.
4.14 Foreign Employees.
Without amending this Plan, the Committee may grant awards to eligible persons who are subject
to the laws of foreign countries or jurisdictions on such terms and conditions different from those
specified in this Plan as may in the judgment of the Committee be necessary or desirable to foster
and promote achievement of the purposes of this Plan and, in furtherance of such purposes, the
Committee may make such modifications, amendments, procedures, subplans and the like as may be
necessary or advisable to comply with provisions of laws of other countries or jurisdictions in
which the Company or its Subsidiaries operate or have employees.
4.15 Section 409A of the Code.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, no award under the Plan shall have any terms
or features (including, without limitation, terms or features relating to the type of award, time
of or events triggering vesting, method of exercise or payment of withholding tax, method of
settlement, form and timing of consideration payable in settlement, or deferral or other
elections), whether at the time of grant or subsequent to the time of grant, that would cause the
award to be nonqualified deferred compensation that fails to comply with the requirements under
Section 409A of the Code and the guidance and regulations issued thereunder. Moreover,
notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, no action may be taken by the Committee or the
Board under or in respect of the Plan (including, without limitation, Plan amendments under Section
4.2 or adjustments under Section 4.7) that would cause the Plan or any award under the Plan to be a
nonqualified deferred compensation plan that fails to comply with the requirements of Section 409A
of the Code and the guidance and regulations issued thereunder.
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SOMANETICS CORPORATION
PROXY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING APRIL 19, 2007
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SOMANETICS CORPORATION
The undersigned hereby appoints Bruce J. Barrett and Mary Ann Victor, and each of them, attorneys and proxies with full power of substitution in each of them, in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to vote as proxy all the common shares, par value $0.01 per share, of the undersigned in Somanetics
Corporation (the Company) which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held on April 19, 2007, and at any and all adjournments thereof.
(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF DIRECTOR AND FOR PROPOSAL 2. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE
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Election of Director: |
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2. Amendment to the Somanetics Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of common shares reserved for issuance under the plan by 600,000 shares, from 600,000 to 1,200,000 shares
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FOR THE NOMINEE
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NOMINEE: |
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Bruce J. Barrett |
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FOR o |
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WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR
THE NOMINEE
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3. In their discretion with respect to any other matters that may properly come before the meeting.
The shares represented by this proxy will be voted in accordance with the specifications made herein. The shares represented by this proxy will be voted for the election of the director named in Proposal 1 and for Proposal 2 if no instructions to the contrary are indicated or if no instruction is given.
PLEASE DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. |
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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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Signature of Shareholer: |
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Date:
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Signature of Shareholer:
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Date:
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NOTE: 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. |