def14a
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Soliciting Material Under Section 240.14a-12 |
INFOUSA INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
N/A
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
infoUSA INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2005 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of infoUSA Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
Company), will be held on Friday, April 29,
2005, at 4:00 p.m. local time, at the Companys Carter
Lake facility, 2200 Abbott Drive, Carter Lake, Iowa 51510, for
the following purposes, as more fully described in the Proxy
Statement accompanying this Notice:
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1. To elect three directors to the Board of Directors for a
term of three years; |
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2. To approve an amendment to the Companys 1997 Stock
Option Plan increasing the number of shares available for
issuance under the plan by 3,000,000; and |
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3. To transact such other business as may properly come
before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on
March 15, 2005 are entitled to receive notice of and to
vote at the meeting.
All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual
Meeting in person. However, to assure your representation at the
Annual Meeting, you are urged to mark, sign, date and return the
enclosed proxy card as promptly as possible in the
postage-prepaid envelope included for that purpose. Stockholders
attending the Annual Meeting may vote in person even if they
have returned a proxy.
Omaha, Nebraska
March 28, 2005
infoUSA INC.
PROXY STATEMENT
INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING
General
The enclosed Proxy is solicited on behalf of infoUSA
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), for use
at its 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Friday,
April 29, 2005, at 4:00 p.m., local time, or at any
adjournments or postponements thereof, for the purposes set
forth in this Proxy Statement and in the accompanying Notice of
Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Annual Meeting will be held
at the Companys Carter Lake facility, 2200 Abbott Drive,
Carter Lake, Iowa 51510. The Companys principal executive
offices are located at 5711 South 86th Circle, Omaha, Nebraska
68127. The Companys telephone number is
(402) 593-4500.
These proxy solicitation materials are being mailed on or about
March 28, 2005, to all stockholders entitled to vote at the
meeting. The Companys Annual Report for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2004, including audited financial
statements, is being mailed to stockholders concurrently with
this Proxy Statement.
Record Date; Outstanding Shares
Stockholders of record at the close of business on
March 15, 2005 (the Record Date) are entitled
to receive notice of and vote at the meeting. On the Record
Date, 53,262,791 shares of the Companys Common Stock,
$.0025 par value per share, were issued and outstanding.
For information regarding holders of more than five percent of
the outstanding Common Stock, see Security Ownership.
Revocability of Proxies
Proxies given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked at
any time before they have been voted. Proxies may be revoked by
delivering a written notice of revocation to the Company or by
duly executing and delivering to the attention of the Secretary
of the Company a proxy bearing a later date. Proxies may also be
revoked if the stockholder attends the meeting and votes in
person.
Voting and Solicitation
The presence in person or by proxy of holders of a majority of
the shares of stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting
constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. Every
holder of record of Common Stock on the Record Date is entitled,
for each share held, to one vote on each proposal or item that
comes before the meeting. In the election of directors, each
stockholder will be entitled to vote for three nominees and the
three nominees with the greatest number of votes will be
elected. Approval of the amendment to the 1997 Stock Option Plan
requires a vote of the majority of the shares represented at the
Annual Meeting in person or by proxy and entitled to vote.
The election inspectors will treat abstentions as shares that
are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining
whether a quorum is present. With respect to the election of
directors (elected by a plurality of the votes), abstentions
will not be taken into account in determining the outcome of the
election. With respect to the other matters being considered,
abstentions will have the same effect as negative votes. If a
broker indicates on the proxy that it does not have
discretionary authority as to certain shares to vote on a
particular matter, those shares will not be considered as
present and entitled to vote
with respect to that matter and will not be taken into account
in determining the outcome of the votes on that matter.
The cost of this solicitation will be borne by the Company. The
Company may reimburse expenses incurred by brokerage firms and
other persons representing beneficial owners of shares in
forwarding solicitation material to beneficial owners. Proxies
may be solicited by certain of the Companys directors,
officers, and regular employees personally, by telephone, or by
telegram and no additional compensation will be paid to such
individuals.
Deadlines for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals
The proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) permit stockholders, after timely notice to a
company, to present proposals for stockholder action in a
companys proxy statement where such proposals are
consistent with applicable law, pertain to matters appropriate
for stockholder action and are not properly omitted by corporate
action in accordance with the proxy rules. Stockholder proposals
that are intended to be presented at the Companys 2006
Annual Meeting must be received by the Company no later than
November 28, 2005 to be included in the proxy statement and
form of proxy for that meeting. The Companys proxy for the
2006 Annual Meeting may confer on the proxy holder discretionary
authority to vote on any stockholder proposals that are intended
to be presented at the Companys 2006 Annual Meeting that
are received after February 11, 2006.
The Companys Bylaws provide that certain requirements be
met for business to properly come before the stockholders at the
Annual Meeting. Among other things, stockholders intending to
bring business before the Annual Meeting must provide written
notice of such intent to the Secretary of the Company. Such
notice must be received by the Company no later than the close
of business on the 10th day following the date of this Proxy
Statement. Stockholders desiring to bring matters for action at
an Annual Meeting should contact the Companys Secretary
for a copy of the relevant requirements. Additionally, any
stockholder wishing to recommend candidates for Board membership
generally should submit the recommendation in writing to the
Secretary of the Company at least 30 but no more than
60 days prior to a date corresponding to the previous
years Annual Meeting, with the submitting
stockholders name, address and stockholdings and pertinent
information about the proposed nominee similar to that set forth
for nominees named herein. Any stockholder wishing to bring
matters for action at this years Annual Meeting should
note that, as permitted by the proxy rules, the persons named as
proxies may exercise discretionary voting authority with respect
to any such proposal because the proposals will have been
received after February 16, 2005 (as disclosed in the Proxy
Statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting).
2
PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
General
The Companys Board of Directors presently consists of
eight directors and is divided into three classes, one of which
has two directors and two of which have three directors, with
the term of office of one class expiring each year. The terms of
office of Richard J. Borda, Martin F. Kahn and Dennis P. Walker
expire at this years Annual Meeting. The terms of office
of Vinod Gupta, Dr. George F. Haddix and Dr. Vasant H.
Raval expire at the 2006 Annual Meeting, and the terms of office
of Harold W. Andersen and Elliot S. Kaplan expire at the 2007
Annual Meeting.
Mr. Borda has informed the Company that due to other
commitments he will retire from the Board upon the expiration of
his term at this years Annual Meeting. The Company is
proposing that the stockholders elect Dr. Charles W.
Stryker to succeed Mr. Borda, and re-elect the other two
directors whose terms expire this year (Messrs. Kahn and
Walker), for terms expiring at the 2008 Annual Meeting.
Vote Required
The three nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative
votes of the shares represented at the Annual Meeting in person
or by proxy and entitled to vote will be elected to the Board of
Directors. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of
persons than the number of nominees named.
Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote the
proxies received by them for the Companys three nominees
named below. If any nominee of the Company is unable or declines
to serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the
proxies will be voted for any nominee who is designated by the
Board of Directors to fill the vacancy. It is not expected that
any nominee will be unable or will decline to serve as a
director.
The Board of Directors Recommends That Stockholders Vote
For each Nominee Listed Below.
Nominees for Election at the Annual Meeting
The names of the nominees, and certain information about them,
are set forth below:
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Director |
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Nominated for |
Name of Nominee |
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Age |
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Position/Principal Occupation |
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Since |
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Term Expiring |
Martin F. Kahn(1)(2)
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54 |
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Director; Managing Director of Cadence Information Associates,
L.L.C. |
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2004 |
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2008 |
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Dr. Charles W. Stryker
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57 |
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Nominee; President of Venture Development Center, Inc. |
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N/A |
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2008 |
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Dennis P. Walker(1)(3)
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59 |
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Director; President and Chief Executive Officer of Jet Linx
Aviation |
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2003 |
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2008 |
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(1) |
Member of the Governance and Nominating Committee. |
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Member of the Finance Committee. |
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Member of the Compensation Committee. |
Martin F. Kahn has served as a director of the
Company since October 2004. He is currently Managing Director of
Cadence Information Associates, L.L.C., where he has been
employed since 1996. Mr. Kahn was interim Chief Executive
Officer of OneSource Information Services, Inc. from February
2004 until it was acquired by the Company in June 2004. He was
Chairman of the Board of OneSource Information Services, Inc.
from September 1993 until June 2004. Mr. Kahn was Chairman
of the Board of
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Ovid Technologies, Inc., a producer of online, CD-ROM and
networked medical and scientific information services, from 1990
to 1998, and Chairman of the Board of Vista Information
Solutions, Inc., a supplier of geographically-based risk
information, from 1992 to 1996. Mr. Kahn holds an M.B.A
from the Harvard Business School and a B.A. from Yale University.
Dr. Charles W. Stryker has been nominated for
election as a director of the Company at the 2005 Annual
Meeting. Dr. Stryker is the founder of Venture Development
Center, Inc., a professional advisory firm that assists
companies in creating, developing and commercializing database
properties, and has served as President of Venture Development
Center, Inc. since 1991. Dr. Stryker has served as a board
member of many of the companies to whom Venture Development,
Inc. has provided advisory services, and currently holds active
advisory and equity positions in more than 15 venture-backed
companies in the database industry. From 1991 to 1999,
Dr. Stryker was a part-time faculty member at the
University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School, where he taught a
number of courses in the Wharton Entrepreneurial Center.
Dr. Stryker holds a B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical
Engineering and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from New York
University.
Dennis P. Walker has served as a director of the
Company since February 2003. Mr. Walker has been President
and Chief Executive Officer of Jet Linx Aviation, a corporate
jet fractional ownership company, since May 1999. From 1988 to
2002, he was Executive Vice President of Memberworks, Inc., a
company which he co-founded. Mr. Walker has also held
senior level marketing positions with First Data Resources and
IBM.
Incumbent Directors Whose Terms of Office Continue after the
Annual Meeting
The names and certain other information about the directors
whose terms of office continue after the Annual Meeting are set
forth below:
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Director |
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Term |
Name of Director |
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Age |
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Position/Principal Occupation |
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Since |
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Expires |
Vinod Gupta
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58 |
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Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company |
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1972 |
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2006 |
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Dr. George F. Haddix(1)(2)
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66 |
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Director; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PKW Holdings,
Inc. and PKWARE, INC. |
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1995 |
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2006 |
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Dr. Vasant H. Raval(3)(4)
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65 |
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Director; Professor and Chair, Department of Accounting, at
Creighton University |
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2002 |
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2006 |
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Harold W. Andersen(1)(2)(3)
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81 |
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Director; Contributing Editor to Omaha World Herald and Retired
Publisher of Omaha World Herald Company |
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1993 |
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2007 |
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Elliot S. Kaplan(4)
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68 |
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Director; Senior Partner in law firm of Robins, Kaplan,
Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. |
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1988 |
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2007 |
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(1) |
Member of the Governance and Nominating Committee. |
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(2) |
Member of the Compensation Committee. |
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(3) |
Member of the Audit Committee. |
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Member of the Finance Committee. |
Vinod Gupta is the founder of the Company and has
been Chairman of the Board of the Company since its
incorporation in 1972. Mr. Gupta served as Chief Executive
Officer of the Company from the time of its incorporation in
1972 until September 1997 and since August 1998. Mr. Gupta
holds a B.S. in Engineering from the Indian Institute of
Technology, Kharagpur, India, and an M.S. in Engineering and
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an M.B.A. from the University of Nebraska. Mr. Gupta also
was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the Monterey Institute of
International Studies and an Honorary Doctorate from the
University of Nebraska. Mr. Gupta was nominated and
confirmed to be the United States Consul General to Bermuda.
Then, the President nominated him to be the United States
Ambassador to Fiji. Due to business commitments, he withdrew his
name from consideration. He was appointed by President Clinton
to serve as a Trustee on the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts
in Washington, D.C. Mr. Gupta is also a director of 2
mutual funds in the Everest mutual fund family.
Dr. George F. Haddix has served as a director
of the Company since March 1995. Dr. Haddix is Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of PKW Holdings, Inc. and PKWARE, INC.,
computer software companies headquartered in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. From November 1994 to December 1997, Dr. Haddix
served as President of CSG Holdings, Inc. and CSG Systems
International, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSGS), companies providing software
and information services to the communications industry.
Dr. Haddix is a director of CSG Systems International,
Inc., which is based in Englewood, Colorado. Dr. Haddix
holds a B.A. from the University of Nebraska, an M.A. from
Creighton University and a Ph.D. from Iowa State University, all
in Mathematics.
Dr. Vasant H. Raval has served as a director
of the Company since October 2002. Dr. Raval has been
Professor and Chair of the Department of Accounting at Creighton
University since July 2001. He joined the Creighton University
faculty in 1981 and has served as Professor of Accounting and
Associate Dean and Director of Graduate Programs at the College
of Business Administration. Dr. Raval is a director of
Syntel Inc., an electronic business solutions provider based in
Troy, Michigan.
Harold W. Andersen has served as a director of the
Company since September 1993. He is the former President, Chief
Executive Officer, Chairman and Publisher of the Omaha World
Herald Company, a newspaper publishing company.
Mr. Andersen is currently a Contributing Editor to the
Omaha World Herald. Mr. Andersen holds a Bachelor of
Science in Liberal Arts from the University of Nebraska.
Mr. Andersen is also a director of 2 mutual funds in the
Everest mutual fund family.
Elliot S. Kaplan has served as a director of the
Company since May 1988. He is a name partner and former Chairman
of the Executive Board of the law firm of Robins, Kaplan,
Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. and has practiced law
continuously with that firm since 1961. Mr. Kaplan is also
a director and officer of Best Buy Co., Inc. Mr. Kaplan
holds a B.A. in Business Administration and a J.D. from the
University of Minnesota.
Board Meetings and Committees
The Board of Directors of the Company met 11 times during 2004,
including 7 telephonic meetings. The Board of Directors has an
Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Finance Committee,
and a Governance and Nominating Committee, the duties and
activities of which are described in greater detail below. The
Board has determined that each member of the Board other than
Vinod Gupta, and each nominee for election to the Board, is
independent, as defined by the rules of the National Association
of Securities Dealers (NASD) for companies listed on
the Nasdaq National Market.
The Audit Committee, which consists of Dr. Vasant H. Raval
(Chair), Richard J. Borda, and Harold W. Andersen, met 9 times
during 2004, including 1 telephonic meeting. Among other duties,
the Committee selects the Companys independent auditors,
reviews and evaluates significant matters relating to the audit
and internal controls of the Company, reviews the scope and
results of audits by, and the recommendations of, the
Companys independent auditors, and pre-approves all audit
and permissible non-audit services provided by the auditors.
Before the Companys independent accountant is engaged by
the Company to render audit or non-audit services, the
engagement is approved by the Committee. The revised Audit
Committee Charter, which was adopted by the Board in October
2003, is posted on the Companys website at www.infousa.com
under the caption Investor Relations. A report of
the Committee is also contained in this Proxy Statement. Each
member of the Committee is independent, as independence for
audit committee members is defined by the rules of the NASD, and
otherwise satisfies
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the NASDs requirements for audit committee membership. The
Board has determined that Dr. Raval is an audit
committee financial expert under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
The Compensation Committee, which consists of directors Harold
W. Andersen (Chair), Dr. George F. Haddix, and Dennis P.
Walker, met 4 times during 2004. The Committee has been
delegated the duties of administering existing and future stock
and option plans of the Company, including the Companys
1997 Stock Option Plan, and establishing the compensation of the
Companys executive officers. The Compensation Committee
Charter, which was adopted by the Board in October 2003, is
posted on the Companys website at www.infousa.com under
the caption Investor Relations. Each member of the
Committee is independent, as defined by the rules of the NASD.
The Finance Committee, which consists of Richard J. Borda
(Chair), Martin F. Kahn, Elliot S. Kaplan, and Dr. Vasant
H. Raval, met 4 times during 2004. The Committee assists the
Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect
to the Companys financial resources, capital structure,
and financial strategies by reviewing and making recommendations
regarding the Companys financial resources, organizational
capital strategies, investment practices, and other financial
matters, as well as related regulatory developments. The Finance
Committee Charter, which was adopted by the Board in October
2003, is posted on the Companys website at www.infousa.com
under the caption Investor Relations.
The Governance and Nominating Committee, which consists of
Dr. George F. Haddix (Chair), Harold W. Andersen, Martin F.
Kahn and Dennis P. Walker, met 4 times during 2004. The
Committee identifies and recommends to the Board of Directors
qualified director candidates, makes recommendations to the
Board regarding Board committee membership, establishes,
implements, and monitors practices and processes regarding
corporate governance matters, and makes recommendations
regarding management succession planning. The Governance and
Nominating Committee Charter, which was adopted by the Board in
October 2003, is posted on the Companys website at
www.infousa.com under the caption Investor
Relations. Each member of the Committee is independent, as
defined by the rules of the NASD.
The Committee will consider director candidates recommended by
stockholders. The criteria applied by the Committee in the
selection of director candidates is the same whether the
candidate was recommended by a Board member, an executive
officer, a stockholder, or a third party, and accordingly, the
Board has not deemed it necessary to adopt a formal policy
regarding consideration of candidates recommended by
stockholders. Stockholders wishing to recommend candidates for
Board membership should submit the recommendations in writing to
the Secretary of the Company at least 30 but no more than
60 days prior to a date corresponding to the previous
years Annual Meeting, with the submitting
stockholders name, address, and stockholdings and
pertinent information about the proposed nominee similar to that
set forth for nominees named herein. A stockholder wishing to
recommend for nomination or nominate a director should contact
the Companys Secretary for a copy of the relevant
procedure. A stockholder intending to nominate an individual as
a director at an Annual Meeting, rather than recommend the
individual to the Committee for consideration as a nominee, must
comply with the advance notice requirements set forth in the
Companys Bylaws, which are described under Deadlines
for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals, above.
Upon the recommendation of the Nominating Committee, the Board
has selected Mr. Kahn, Dr. Stryker and Mr. Walker
as nominees for election as directors at the Annual Meeting.
Messrs. Kahn and Walker are incumbent directors.
Dr. Stryker was recommended to the Committee as a director
candidate by the Companys Chief Executive Officer. The
Committee identifies director candidates primarily by
considering recommendations made by directors, management, and
stockholders. The Committee also has the authority to retain
third parties to identify and evaluate director candidates and
to approve any associated fees or expenses. Director candidates
are evaluated on the basis of a number of factors, including the
candidates background, skills, judgment, diversity,
experience with companies of comparable complexity and size, the
interplay of the candidates experience with the experience
of other Board members, the candidates independence or
lack of independence, and the candidates qualifications
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for committee membership. The Committee does not assign any
particular weighting or priority to any of these factors, and
considers each director candidate in the context of the current
needs of the Board as a whole. Director candidates recommended
by stockholders are evaluated in the same manner as candidates
recommended by other persons.
Attendance at Board Meetings and Annual Meeting
All of the directors of the Company attended at least 75% of the
aggregate of the total number of meetings of the Board and the
total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on
which they served. Four directors attended the 2004 Annual
Meeting.
Board Compensation
Non-employee directors receive an annual cash retainer of
$48,000, payable in monthly installments of $4,000 each.
Mr. Gupta does not receive compensation for his service on
the Board.
The chair of each Board committee other than the Audit Committee
receives, in addition to other compensation he receives for
services as a director, an annual cash retainer of $12,000,
payable in monthly installments of $1,000 each. The chair of the
Audit Committee receives, in addition to other compensation he
receives for services as a director, an annual cash retainer of
$24,000, payable in monthly installments of $2,000 each. In
2004, the chair of the Audit Committee received additional cash
compensation of $24,000 in recognition of his responsibilities
relating to the Companys compliance with the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Board Contact Information
If you would like to contact the Board or any committee of the
Board, you can send an email to Fred.Vakili@infousa.com, or
write to the Company, c/o Secretary, 5711 South 86th
Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68127. All communications will be
compiled by the Secretary of the Company and submitted to the
Board or the applicable committee or director on a periodic
basis.
Code of Conduct
The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
that applies to all of its directors, officers and employees,
including its principal executive officer, principal financial
officer, and principal accounting officer. The Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics is posted on the Companys website at
www.infousa.com under the caption Investor Relations.
7
SECURITY OWNERSHIP
The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of the
Companys Common Stock as of the Record Date (i) by
each of the executive officers named in the table under
Executive Compensation Summary Compensation
Table, (ii) by each director, (iii) by all
current directors and executive officers as a group, and
(iv) by all persons known to the Company to be the
beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Companys Common
Stock:
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Common Stock |
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Percent of |
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Beneficially |
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Outstanding Shares |
Beneficial Owners |
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Owned(1) |
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of Common Stock |
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Vinod Gupta
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20,135,006 |
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36.6 |
% |
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5711 South 86th Circle |
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Omaha, Nebraska 68127 |
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Awad Asset Management, Inc.(2)
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3,808,111 |
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7.1 |
% |
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250 Park Avenue, 2nd Floor |
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|
|
New York, New York 10177 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, L.P.(3)
|
|
|
3,370,000 |
|
|
|
6.3 |
% |
|
227 West Monroe Street, Suite 3000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chicago, Illinois 60606 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Harold W. Andersen(4)
|
|
|
116,800 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Richard J. Borda
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Dr. George F. Haddix(5)
|
|
|
287,300 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Martin F. Kahn
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Elliot S. Kaplan
|
|
|
246,580 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Dr. Vasant H. Raval
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Dr. Charles W. Stryker
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
** |
|
Dennis P. Walker
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Ray Butkus
|
|
|
28,124 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Edward C. Mallin
|
|
|
74,873 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Monica Messer(6)
|
|
|
413,699 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Fred Vakili
|
|
|
293,525 |
|
|
|
** |
|
All directors, nominees and executive officers as a group
(15 persons)
|
|
|
21,686,241 |
|
|
|
39.1 |
% |
|
|
(1) |
Includes the following shares that may be purchased within
60 days of the Record Date pursuant to the exercise of
outstanding options: Mr. Gupta, 1,737,479 shares;
Mr. Andersen, 30,000 shares; Mr. Borda,
7,000 shares; Dr. Haddix, 30,000 shares;
Mr. Kaplan, 36,000 shares; Dr. Raval,
8,000 shares; Mr. Butkus, 28,124 shares;
Mr. Mallin, 44,873 shares; Ms. Messer,
239,622 shares; Mr. Vakili, 56,312 shares; and
all directors and executive officers as a group,
2,245,326 shares. |
|
(2) |
Based on a Schedule 13G filed by Awad Asset Management,
Inc. on January 27, 2005. |
|
(3) |
Based on a Schedule 13G/ A filed by Columbia Wanger Asset
Management, L.P. (WAM), WAM Acquisition GP, Inc.,
the general partner of WAM (WAM GP), and Columbia
Acorn Trust (Acorn) on February 11, 2005. WAM,
WAM GP and Acorn have shared voting and investment power over
3,370,000 shares, and sole voting and investment power over
no shares. |
|
(4) |
Includes 10,000 shares owned by Mr. Andersens
spouse. |
|
(5) |
Includes 257,300 shares owned jointly by Dr. Haddix
with his spouse. |
|
(6) |
Includes 9,633 shares owned by Ms. Messers
daughter. |
8
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
KPMG LLP served as the Companys independent auditors for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. The Audit
Committee is in the process of obtaining and reviewing audit
proposals and therefore has not selected independent auditors
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005. A
representative of KPMG is expected to be present at the Annual
Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they
desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate
questions.
Audit Fees
The following table presents the aggregate fees billed to the
Company for professional services rendered by KPMG for the audit
of the Companys fiscal year 2004 and 2003 annual financial
statements and for other professional services rendered by KPMG
in fiscal year 2004 and 2003.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year |
|
|
|
Type of Fee |
|
2004 |
|
2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
Audit Fees
|
|
$ |
880,876 |
|
|
$ |
257,067 |
|
Audit-Related Fees(1)
|
|
|
177,108 |
|
|
|
155,447 |
|
Tax Fees(2)
|
|
|
60,425 |
|
|
|
5,350 |
|
All Other Fees
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total fees
|
|
$ |
1,118,409 |
|
|
$ |
417,864 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Audit-Related Fees consists of fees for employee benefit plan
audits, due diligence, and assistance with Form 8-K filings. |
|
(2) |
Tax Fees consists of fees for state and federal income tax
preparation for a Company subsidiary, tax research, and
preparation of refund claims. |
The above amounts include out-of-pocket expenses incurred by
KPMG. The Audit Committee pre-approved all non-audit services
described above. The Audit Committee has considered whether the
provision of the services described above was and is compatible
with maintaining the independence of KPMG.
9
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company
consists of three directors who are independent, as independence
for audit committee members is defined by the rules of the NASD.
The Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the
Board. In October 2003, the Board adopted a new Audit Committee
Charter, which is posted on the Companys website at
www.infousa.com under the caption Investor
Relations. Management is responsible for the
Companys internal control and the financial reporting
process. The independent accountants are responsible for
performing an independent audit of the Companys
consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards and to issue a report thereon. The
Committees responsibility is to monitor and oversee these
processes.
In this context, the Committee met and held discussions with
management and the independent accountants. Management
represented to the Committee that the Companys
consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, and the Committee
reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements
with management and the independent accountants. The Committee
also discussed with management, the internal auditors and the
independent auditors the quality and adequacy of the
Companys internal controls and the internal audit
departments organization, responsibilities, budget and
staffing. The Committee reviewed both with the independent and
internal auditors their audit plans, audit scope, and
identification of audit risks. The Committee discussed with the
independent accountants matters required to be discussed by
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with
Audit Committees). The Companys independent accountants
also provided to the Committee the written disclosures required
by Independence Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions
with Audit Committees), and the Committee discussed with the
independent accountants that firms independence.
Based upon the Committees discussion with management and
the independent accountants and the Committees review of
the representations of management and the report of the
independent accountants, the Committee recommended that the
Board include the audited consolidated financial statements in
the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2004 filed with the SEC.
Audit Committee
Dr. Vasant H. Raval (Chair)
Harold W. Andersen
Richard J. Borda
10
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following Performance Graph compares the cumulative total
return to stockholders of the Companys Common Stock from
December 31, 1999 to December 31, 2004 to the
cumulative total return over such period of (i) The Nasdaq
Stock Market (U.S. Companies) Index, and (ii) the
S&P Data Processing & Outsourced Services Index.
The performance graph is not necessarily indicative of future
investment performance.
COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
AMONG INFOUSA INC., NASDAQ STOCK MARKET INDEX, AND
S&P DATA PROCESSING & OUTSOURCED SERVICES INDEX
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31-Dec-99 |
|
31-Dec-00 |
|
31-Dec-01 |
|
31-Dec-02 |
|
31-Dec-03 |
|
31-Dec-04 |
|
infoUSA Common Stock
|
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
$ |
24.22 |
|
|
$ |
49.79 |
|
|
$ |
35.66 |
|
|
$ |
53.17 |
|
|
$ |
80.29 |
|
NASDAQ (U.S. Companies)
|
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
$ |
60.31 |
|
|
$ |
47.84 |
|
|
$ |
33.07 |
|
|
$ |
49.45 |
|
|
$ |
53.81 |
|
S&P Data Processing &
Outsourced Services Index
|
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
$ |
120.77 |
|
|
$ |
131.48 |
|
|
$ |
93.45 |
|
|
$ |
109.37 |
|
|
$ |
115.32 |
|
|
|
|
|
* |
Assumes $100 invested on December 31, 1999 in
infoUSA Inc. Common Stock, Nasdaq Stock Market
(U.S. Companies) Index, and S&P Data
Processing & Outsourced Services Index. |
The information contained in the Performance Graph will not be
deemed to be soliciting material or to be
filed with the SEC, nor will such information be
incorporated by reference into any future filing under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities
Act), or the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the Exchange Act), except to the extent
that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference into
any such filing.
11
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth the compensation paid by the
Company for fiscal years 2004, 2003 and 2002 to the
Companys Chief Executive Officer and each of the other
four most highly compensated executive officers of the Company
(collectively, the Named Executive Officers):
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-Term |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock |
|
All Other |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
Salary($) |
|
Bonus($) |
|
Options(#) |
|
Compensation($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vinod Gupta
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
$ |
750,000 |
(1) |
|
$ |
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
$ |
6,500 |
|
|
Chairman of the Board and |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
500,770 |
(1) |
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
560,000 |
(1) |
|
|
430,000 |
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
5,500 |
|
|
Ray Butkus(2)
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
$ |
371,539 |
|
|
$ |
324,442 |
(3) |
|
|
-0- |
|
|
$ |
6,000 |
|
|
President, Donnelly Group |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
239,231 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
3,877 |
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
8,462 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
Edward C. Mallin
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
$ |
338,077 |
|
|
$ |
279,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
$ |
6,500 |
|
|
President, Walter Karl |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
196,767 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
176,980 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
5,500 |
|
|
Monica Messer
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
$ |
333,846 |
|
|
$ |
50,000 |
(4) |
|
|
-0- |
|
|
$ |
6,500 |
|
|
Chief Operations Officer |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
273,558 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
5,500 |
|
|
Fred Vakili
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
$ |
275,211 |
|
|
$ |
108,040 |
(5) |
|
|
-0- |
|
|
$ |
6,500 |
|
|
Executive Vice President of |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
237,404 |
|
|
|
182,000 |
(5) |
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
Administration and Chief |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
260,000 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
(5) |
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
5,500 |
|
|
Administrative Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Excludes certain amounts paid to Annapurna Corporation for
reimbursement of Company related travel and entertainment
expenses and to Everest Investment Management for rent and
investment advisory fees, all as more particularly set forth
under Certain Transactions in this Proxy Statement. |
|
(2) |
Mr. Butkus employment with the Company began in
December 2002. |
|
(3) |
Includes $301,775 paid to White Oaks Consulting, which is wholly
owned by Mr. Butkus. |
|
(4) |
Includes $50,000 paid to Growth Quest Ventures, which is wholly
owned by Ms. Messer. |
|
(5) |
Includes the following amounts paid to Alborz Corp., which is
wholly owned by Mr. Vakili: $108,040 in 2004; $182,000 in
2003; and $50,000 in 2002. |
Option Grants in the Last Fiscal Year
The Company did not grant stock options during the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2004 to any of the Named Executive
Officers.
12
Option Exercises and Fiscal Year-End Option Values
The following table sets forth, for each of the Named Executive
Officers, the value realized on options exercised during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, and the year-end value
of unexercised options:
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES
AND DECEMBER 31, 2004 OPTION VALUES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities |
|
Value of Unexercised |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying Unexercised |
|
In-the-Money Options at |
|
|
Shares |
|
|
|
Options at 12/31/04 (#) |
|
12/31/04($)(1) |
|
|
Acquired on |
|
Value |
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Exercise(#) |
|
Realized($) |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vinod Gupta
|
|
|
400,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,352,000 |
|
|
|
1,535,400 |
|
|
|
764,600 |
|
|
$ |
3,698,731 |
|
|
$ |
1,936,269 |
|
Ray Butkus
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
22,916 |
|
|
|
27,084 |
|
|
|
118,934 |
|
|
|
140,566 |
|
Edward C. Mallin
|
|
|
19,334 |
|
|
|
68,033 |
|
|
|
37,623 |
|
|
|
40,377 |
|
|
|
99,236 |
|
|
|
112,084 |
|
Monica Messer
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
205,288 |
|
|
|
168,712 |
|
|
|
413,694 |
|
|
|
386,866 |
|
Fred Vakili
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
52,519 |
|
|
|
23,481 |
|
|
|
225,036 |
|
|
|
73,294 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Based on the closing market price of $11.19 per share of
Common Stock on December 31, 2004. |
Equity Compensation Plan Table
The following table sets forth aggregate information regarding
grants under all equity compensation plans of the Company as of
December 31, 2004:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
remaining available for future |
|
|
Number of securities to be |
|
Weighted-average |
|
issuance under equity |
|
|
issued upon exercise of |
|
exercise price of |
|
compensation plans |
|
|
outstanding options, |
|
outstanding options, |
|
(excluding securities reflected |
|
|
warrants and rights |
|
warrants and rights |
|
in column (a)) |
Plan Category |
|
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
(c) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
|
|
|
3,789,692 |
|
|
$ |
8.38 |
|
|
|
770,709 |
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
3,789,692 |
|
|
$ |
8.38 |
|
|
|
770,709 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Option Program
In 2004, the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the
Compensation Committee, adopted a new stock option grant program
for members of senior management. The purpose of the program is
to provide management with an incentive to promote the sustained
growth of the Company over a period of years, and an opportunity
to participate in such growth by acquiring and holding Common
Stock of the Company. Participants in the program receive stock
options with an exercise price equal to 125% of the fair market
value of the Companys Common Stock on the grant date. The
options vest with respect to 30% of the option shares after
three years, and vest with respect to an additional 10% of the
option shares each year after that, becoming fully vested after
10 years. To receive the options, participants are also
required to purchase at fair market value, on or around the
grant date, a number of shares of the Companys Common
Stock equal to 10% of the shares covered by the options, and to
hold those shares for a period of at least one year. Grants
under the program are made under the Companys 1997 Stock
Option Plan. No options were granted to members of senior
management under this program in 2004. In March 2005,
Mr. Gupta was granted a stock option for
500,000 shares at an exercise price of $12.60 per
share. He purchased 61,000 shares to satisfy the purchase
condition described above.
13
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Company consists of at least two directors who are
independent, as defined by the rules of the NASD. In
addition, each member of the Compensation Committee is a
non-employee director within the meaning of
Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and an outside
director within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the
Internal Revenue Code. The Committee operates under a written
charter adopted by the Board in October 2003, which is posted on
the Companys website at www.infousa.com under the caption
Investor Relations. The Compensation Committee
reviews and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors with
respect to the compensation of the Companys Chief
Executive Officer, and reviews and approves salaries, bonuses
and other compensation payable to the Companys other
executive officers. The Compensation Committee consists of
Directors Harold W. Andersen (Chair), Dr. George F. Haddix
and Dennis P. Walker. None of these persons is an employee of
the Company.
The Compensation Committees policy in establishing
compensation for executive officers is to reward sustained
performance through the payment of base salaries, reward current
performance through annual bonuses, and provide long-term
incentives through stock options and other opportunities for
equity ownership. When establishing the amounts of such
compensation, the Compensation Committee considers publicly
available information concerning executive compensation levels
paid by other companies in the Omaha, Nebraska area and in the
industry generally.
The Compensation Committee reviewed and approved compensation
packages for all executive officers in fiscal 2004, including
base salaries and bonus plans. For executive officers other than
the Chief Executive Officer, base salaries are based on each
officers responsibilities and historical performance.
During 2004, bonuses were paid to executive officers based on
the achievement of business goals by the business group for
which the executive had management responsibility, or by the
Company as a whole. These business goals included the
consummation of certain acquisitions by the Company in 2004. At
the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board of
Directors established a stock option program for senior
executives, as described above under the caption Stock
Option Program. The program is intended to provide
management with an incentive to promote the sustained growth of
the Company over a period of years, and an opportunity to
participate in such growth by acquiring and holding Common Stock
of the Company. No stock options were granted to executive
officers under this program in 2004.
In fiscal 2004, the compensation program for Vinod Gupta, Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, consisted of a base salary of
$750,000, which is approximately the same as the total of his
base salary and discretionary bonus for 2003. No bonus program
was in effect for the Chief Executive Officer in 2004, and no
discretionary bonus was paid to him for 2004. Mr. Gupta
does not participate in the Companys other bonus programs.
The information contained in this report shall not be deemed to
be soliciting material or to be filed
with the SEC nor shall such information be incorporated by
reference into any future filing under the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically
incorporates it by reference into any such filing.
Compensation Committee
Harold W. Andersen (Chair)
Dr. George F. Haddix
Dennis P. Walker
14
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING
COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the
Companys officers and directors, and persons who own more
than 10% of a registered class of the Companys equity
securities, to file reports of ownership on Form 3 and
changes in ownership on Form 4 or Form 5 with the SEC.
Such officers, directors and 10% stockholders are also required
by SEC rules to furnish the Company with copies of all
Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received
by it, or written representations from certain reporting
persons, the Company believes that, during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004, all Section 16(a) filing
requirements applicable to its officers, directors and 10%
stockholders were timely complied with, except that Stormy L.
Dean filed a late Form 4 with respect to a sale of shares
in December 2004; Edward C. Mallin filed a late Form 4 with
respect to an option exercise and sale of option shares in
December 2004; and Richard J. Borda filed a late Form 4
with respect to an option exercise and sale of option shares in
October 2004.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Annapurna Corporation, which is 100% owned by Mr. Gupta,
the Companys Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, had
fractional ownership interests in certain aircraft with NetJets.
Annapurna Corporation billed the Company when the Companys
employees and officers used the aircraft. The Company paid a
total of $1.5 million, $2.2 million and
$2.2 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, to
Annapurna Corporation for usage of the aircraft. The Company
capitalized acquisition costs related to these payments of
$0.5 million, $0.7 million and $0.6 million in
2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The rates charged by
Annapurna Corporation to the Company are comparable to those
charged by other services such as Marquis, and without any
commitment by the Company.
During 2004, the Company purchased from NetJets fractional
ownership interests in two airplanes at a total cost of
$2.7 million. The fractional ownership interests in the two
airplanes were previously owned by Mr. Gupta, who sold them
to NetJets at the same time the Company purchased ownership
interest from NetJets.
During 2003, the Company purchased the rights to a skybox at the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln football stadium for
$617 thousand from Annapurna Corporation. The cost covers
the remaining 21 years of the lease and has been recorded
in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet accompanying
the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal
year 2004.
During 2003, the Company repurchased $31.2 million of its
91/2% Senior
Subordinated Notes from holders of such Notes, including
$11.5 million of Notes from Mr. Gupta. The purchase
from Mr. Gupta was made at the same terms and prices
offered to unrelated parties.
A note receivable from Mr. Gupta in the amount of
$0.5 million was satisfied in full in January 2004. The
note receivable was created in January 2002 in connection with
Mr. Guptas incentive compensation arrangements.
Mr. Gupta was eligible for a cash bonus in 2002 based on
Company performance. The criteria for Mr. Guptas
bonus specified that he would receive 10% of the Companys
adjusted EBITDA in excess of $80 million. In January 2002,
the Company paid an advance of $1.5 million to
Mr. Gupta (based on the Companys 2001 performance) to
be off set against any 2002 bonus payable to Mr. Gupta
pursuant to his bonus program. The advance was to be applied to
part or all of his 2002 bonus or repaid by Mr. Gupta by
January 2004. In May 2002, Mr. Gupta repaid
$0.6 million of the original advance, leaving an advance
balance of $0.9 million. Mr. Guptas 2002 bonus
was determined to be $0.4 million. The remaining balance of
$0.5 million was awarded as bonus for 2003 and prepaid
salary for 2004, resulting in payment in full of the note
receivable.
The Company paid a total of $108 thousand and
$182 thousand of discretionary bonus in 2004 and 2003,
respectively, to Alborz Corporation, which is 100% owned by Fred
Vakili, the Companys Executive Vice President of
Administration and Chief Administrative Officer. The Company
paid a total of
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$302 thousand of discretionary bonus in 2004 to White Oaks
Consulting, which is 100% owned by Ray Butkus, the
Companys President of the Donnelley Group. The Company
paid a total of $99 thousand of discretionary bonus in 2004
to LMDT, which is 100% owned by DJ Thayer, the Companys
President of the infoUSA Group. The Company paid a total
of $50 thousand of discretionary bonus in 2004 to Growth
Quest Ventures, which is 100% owned by Monica Messer, the
Companys Chief Operations Officer.
During 2002, the Company paid Everest Asset Management
$415 thousand for acquisition-related expenses on certain
acquisition transactions. Everest Asset Management is 100% owned
by Mr. Gupta.
During 2001, the Company invested $1 million in the
Everest3 Fund, a blend of three index funds (S&P 500,
Dow Jones and NASDAQ 100). Everest Funds Management LLC
manages the fund. Mr. Gupta owns 100% of the voting stock
in Everest Funds Management LLC. During 2004, the Company
liquidated its investment in the Everest3 Fund.
The Company employs Laurel Gupta, Mr. Guptas spouse,
as Director of Investor Relations, and Jess Gupta,
Mr. Guptas son, as a Business Development Manager.
The Company has retained the law firm of Robins, Kaplan,
Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. to provide certain legal
services. Elliot Kaplan, a director of the Company, is a name
partner and former Chairman of the Executive Board of Robins,
Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. The Company paid a total
of $576 thousand, $415 thousand and $685 thousand
to this law firm during 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
In fiscal 2004, Edward C. Mallin, Monica Messer, and Fred Vakili
were each indebted to the Company in an amount in excess of
$60,000 pursuant to the Companys October 2001 loans to
executive officers to facilitate stock option exercises. The
loans were evidenced by promissory notes secured by the option
shares, with interest at a rate of 5%, payable annually. The
maximum amounts owed during fiscal 2004 by Messrs. Mallin
and Vakili and Ms. Messer, and the amounts owed at
December 31, 2004, were $120,000, $110,250, and $103,750,
respectively.
PROPOSAL TWO
AMENDMENT OF 1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
Amendment of the 1997 Stock Option Plan
The infoUSA Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan (the 1997
Plan) was adopted by the Board of Directors in July 1997
and approved by the stockholders in October 1997. In May 1999,
the stockholders of the Company approved an amendment to the
1997 Plan to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance
under the 1997 Plan from 2,000,000 to 5,000,000. In March 2005,
the Board of Directors approved an amendment to the 1997 Plan
increasing the number of shares reserved for issuance under the
1997 Plan from 5,000,000 shares to 8,000,000 shares,
subject to stockholder approval. The Company is seeking
stockholder approval of this amendment at the Annual Meeting.
The following summary describes the terms of the 1997 Plan,
which terms are intended to meet the requirements imposed by the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code)
and other applicable laws. The Compensation Committee currently
intends, however, that all future option grants to members of
senior management under the 1997 Plan will be granted under and
consistent with the terms of the Companys stock option
grant program, which is described on page 13 under the
caption Stock Option Program. The stock option grant
program requires, among other things, that the exercise price of
such options be equal to 125% of the fair market value of the
Companys Common Stock on the grant date and that
participants purchase a number of shares of the Companys
Common Stock equal to the 10% of the shares covered by the
options and hold such shares for at least one year. The
Compensation Committee retains discretion to modify or make
exceptions to the stock option grant program, subject in all
respects to the terms of the 1997 Plan.
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Vote Required
Stockholder approval of the proposed amendment to the 1997 Plan
requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
the voting power of the Companys Common Stock represented
at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy and entitled to vote.
The Board of Directors Recommends That Stockholders Vote
For Approval of the Amendment to Increase the Number
of Shares Reserved Under the 1997 Plan.
Description of the 1997 Stock Option Plan
General. The purpose of the 1997 Plan is to attract and
retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial
responsibility with the Company, to provide additional incentive
to the employees and consultants of the Company and to promote
the success of the Companys business. Options granted
under the 1997 Plan may be either incentive stock
options, as defined in Section 422 of the Code, or
nonstatutory stock options.
Administration. The 1997 Plan may be administered by the
Board of Directors or a committee of the Board (the
Administrator), which Administrator shall, in the
case of options intended to qualify as performance-based
compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of
the Code, consist of two or more outside directors
within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. The
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors currently
serves as the Administrator. The Administrator has the power to
determine the terms of the options granted, including the
exercise price, the number of shares subject to each option, the
exercisability thereof, and the form of consideration payable
upon such exercise. In addition, the Administrator has the
authority to amend, suspend or terminate the 1997 Plan, provided
that no such action may affect any share of the Companys
Common Stock previously issued or any option previously granted
under the 1997 Plan.
Eligibility; Limitations. Nonstatutory stock options may
be granted under the 1997 Plan to directors, employees and
consultants of the Company and any parent or subsidiary of the
Company. Incentive stock options may be granted only to
employees. The Administrator, in its discretion, selects the
directors, employees and consultants to whom options may be
granted, the time or times at which such options shall be
granted, and the number of shares subject to each such grant.
Section 162(m) of the Code places limits on the
deductibility for federal income tax purposes of compensation
paid to certain executive officers of the Company. In order to
preserve the Companys ability to deduct the compensation
income associated with options granted to such persons, the 1997
Plan provides that no employee may be granted, in any fiscal
year of the Company, options and stock purchase rights to
purchase more than 900,000 shares of Common Stock (as
appropriately adjusted for changes in the capitalization of the
Company).
Terms and Conditions of Options. Each option is evidenced
by a stock option agreement between the Company and the
optionee, and is subject to the following additional terms and
conditions:
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Exercise Price. The Administrator determines the exercise
price of options at the time the options are granted. The
exercise price of an incentive stock option may not be less than
100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date
such option is granted; provided, however, the exercise price of
an incentive stock option granted to a 10% stockholder may not
be less than 110% of the fair market value of the Common Stock
on the date such option is granted. The fair market value of the
Common Stock is generally determined with reference to the
closing sale price for the Common Stock (or the closing bid if
no sales were reported) on the last market trading day prior to
the date the option is granted. |
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Exercise of Option; Form of Consideration. The
Administrator determines when options become exercisable, and
may in its discretion, accelerate the vesting of any outstanding
option. The means of payment for shares issued upon exercise of
an option is specified in each option agreement. The 1997 Plan
permits payment to be made by cash, check, promissory note,
other shares of Common |
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Stock of the Company (with some restrictions), cashless
exercises, a reduction in the amount of any Company liability to
the optionee, any other form of consideration permitted by
applicable law, or any combination thereof. |
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Term of Option. The term of an incentive stock option may
be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant;
provided that in the case of an incentive stock option granted
to a 10% stockholder, the term of the option may be no more than
5 years from the date of grant. No option may be exercised
after the expiration of its term. |
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Termination of Employment. If an optionees
employment or consulting relationship terminates for any reason
(other than death or disability), then all options held by the
optionee under the 1997 Plan expire on the earlier of
(i) 3 months after the date of termination, unless
otherwise provided in his or her notice of grant, or
(ii) the expiration date of such option. To the extent the
option is exercisable at the time of such termination, the
optionee may exercise all or part of his or her option at any
time before the option expires. |
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Death or Disability. If an optionees employment or
consulting relationship terminates as a result of death or
disability, then all options held by such optionee under the
1997 Plan expire on the earlier of (i) 12 months after
the date of termination, unless otherwise provided in his or her
notice of grant, or (ii) the expiration date of such
option. The optionee (or the optionees estate or the
person who acquires the right to exercise the option by bequest
or inheritance), may exercise all or part of the option at any
time before such expiration to the extent that the option was
exercisable at the time of such termination. |
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Nontransferability of Options. Unless otherwise
determined by the Administrator, options granted under the 1997
Plan are not transferable other than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution, and may be exercised during the
optionees lifetime only by the optionee. |
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Other Provisions. The stock option agreement may contain
other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the
1997 Plan as may be determined by the Administrator. |
Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization. In the event
that the Common Stock of the Company changes by reason of any
stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination,
reclassification or other similar change in the capital
structure of the Company effected without the receipt of
consideration, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the
number and class of shares of stock subject to the 1997 Plan,
the number and class of shares of stock subject to any option
outstanding under the 1997 Plan, and the exercise price of any
such outstanding option.
In the event of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, any
unexercised options will terminate. The Administrator may in its
discretion provide that each optionee shall have the right to
exercise all of the optionees options, including those not
otherwise exercisable, until the date 10 days prior to the
consummation of the liquidation or dissolution, or that any
rights of repurchase in the Company with respect to shares
purchased upon exercise of an option shall lapse provided the
proposed dissolution or liquidation takes place at the time and
in the manner anticipated. In connection with any merger,
consolidation, acquisition of assets or like occurrence
involving the Company, each outstanding option shall be assumed
or an equivalent option substituted by the successor
corporation. If the successor corporation refuses to assume the
options or to substitute substantially equivalent options, the
optionee shall have the vested right to exercise the option as
to all the option stock, including shares not otherwise vested
or exercisable. In such event, the Administrator shall notify
the optionee that the option is fully exercisable for
15 days from the date of such notice and that the option
terminates upon expiration of such period.
Amendment and Termination of the 1997 Plan. The Board may
amend, alter, suspend or terminate the 1997 Plan, or any part
thereof, at any time and for any reason. However, the Company
shall obtain stockholder approval for any amendment to the 1997
Plan to the extent necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3
under the Exchange Act and Section 162(m) and
Section 422 of the Code, or any similar rule or statute. No
such action by the Board or stockholders may alter or impair any
option previously granted
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under the 1997 Plan without the written consent of the optionee.
Unless terminated earlier, the 1997 Plan shall terminate on
July 28, 2007.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
Incentive Stock Options. An optionee who is granted an
incentive stock option does not recognize taxable income at the
time the option is granted or upon its exercise, although the
exercise may subject the optionee to the alternative minimum
tax. Upon a disposition of the shares of Common Stock issued
upon exercise that occurs more than two years after grant of the
option and one year after exercise of the option, any gain or
loss is treated as long-term capital gain or loss. If these
holding periods are not satisfied, the optionee recognizes
ordinary income at the time of disposition equal to the
difference between the exercise price and the lower of
(i) the fair market value of the shares at the date of the
option exercise or (ii) the sale price of the shares. Any
gain or loss recognized on such a premature disposition of the
shares in excess of the amount treated as ordinary income is
treated as long-term or short-term capital gain or loss,
depending on the holding period. The Company is entitled to a
deduction in the same amount as the ordinary income recognized
by the optionee.
Nonstatutory Stock Options. An optionee does not
recognize any taxable income at the time he or she is granted a
nonstatutory stock option. Upon exercise, the optionee
recognizes taxable income generally measured by the excess of
the then fair market value of the shares of Common Stock issued
upon exercise over the exercise price. Any taxable income
recognized in connection with an option exercise by an employee
of the Company is subject to tax withholding by the Company. The
Company is entitled to a deduction in the same amount as the
ordinary income recognized by the optionee. Upon a disposition
of such shares by the optionee, any difference between the sale
price and the optionees exercise price, to the extent not
recognized as taxable income as provided above, is treated as
long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending on the
holding period.
THE FOREGOING IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF FEDERAL INCOME
TAXATION UPON OPTIONEES AND THE COMPANY WITH RESPECT TO THE
GRANT AND EXERCISE OF OPTIONS UNDER THE 1997 PLAN. IT DOES NOT
PURPORT TO BE COMPLETE, AND DOES NOT DISCUSS THE TAX
CONSEQUENCES OF THE EMPLOYEES OR CONSULTANTS DEATH
OR THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME TAX LAWS OF ANY MUNICIPALITY,
STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY IN WHICH THE EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT MAY
RESIDE.
New Plan Benefits
The Administrator in its sole discretion will determine the
number of options that will be granted and the recipients of
such options. Thus, it is not possible to determine the benefits
that will be received by eligible participants in fiscal year
2005 if the proposed amendment to the 1997 Plan is approved by
the shareholders. No options have been granted under the 1997
Plan that are conditioned upon stockholder approval of the
proposed amendment.
OTHER MATTERS
The Company knows of no other matters to be submitted to the
meeting. If any other matters properly come before the meeting,
it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy
card to vote the shares they represent as the Board of Directors
may recommend.
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BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
Omaha, Nebraska
March 28, 2005
19
Appendix
infoUSA INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Friday, April 29, 2005
4:00 p.m.
at: The Companys Carter Lake facility
2200 Abbott Drive
Carter Lake, Iowa 51510
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infoUSA
Inc. |
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5711
South 86th Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68127
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proxy |
This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting
of Stockholders of infoUSA Inc. (the
Company) to be held on April 29, 2005 or
any adjournments thereof.
The shares of the Companys Common Stock you hold as of the record date on
March 15, 2005 will be voted as you specify below.
By signing the proxy, you revoke all prior proxies and appoint Raj Das and Fred
Vakili, or either of them, as proxies with full power of substitution, to vote
all shares of stock of the Company of record in the name of the undersigned at
the close of business on March 15, 2005 at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
The undersigned stockholder hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting to be
held on April 29, 2005.
See reverse for voting instructions.
\/ Please
detach here \/
The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR Items 1 and 2.
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1. |
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Election of directors (with |
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Martin F. Kahn |
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Vote FOR |
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Vote WITHHELD |
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terms expiring 2008): |
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Dr. Charles W. Stryker |
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all nominees |
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from all nominees |
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03 |
Dennis P. Walker |
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(except as marked) |
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(Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any indicated nominee, |
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write the number(s) of the nominee(s) in the box provided to the right.) |
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Proposal to approve an
amendment to the infoUSA 1997 Stock |
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Against |
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Abstain |
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Option Plan increasing the number of shares available for issuance under the plan by
3,000,000. |
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THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO
DIRECTION IS GIVEN, WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH PROPOSAL. IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE
PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY BE
PROPERLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF.
Address Change? Mark Box
Indicate changes below: o
Date
Signature(s) in Box
Please sign exactly as your
name(s) appear on Proxy. If
held in joint tenancy, all
persons must sign. Trustees,
administrators, etc., should
include title and authority.
Corporations should provide
full name of corporation and
title of authorized officer
signing the proxy.
Appendix
infoUSA Inc.
1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Stock Option Plan are:
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to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial
responsibility, |
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to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors and Consultants, and |
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to promote the success of the Companys business. |
Options granted under the Plan may be Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options, as
determined by the Administrator at the time of grant.
2. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) Administrator means the Board or any of its Committees as shall be administering the
Plan, in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.
(b) Applicable Laws means the requirements relating to the administration of stock option
plans under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock
exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws
of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Options are, or will be, granted under the Plan.
(c) Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(e) Committee means a committee of Directors appointed by the Board in accordance with
Section 4 of the Plan.
(f) Common Stock means the Common stock of the Company.
(g) Company means infoUSA, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
(h) Consultant means any person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or a Parent or
Subsidiary to render services to such entity.
(i) Director means a member of the Board.
(j) Disability means total and permanent disability as defined in Section
22(e)(3) of the Code.
1
(k) Employee means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or
any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. A Service Provider shall not cease to be an Employee in
the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of
the Company or between the Company, its Parent, any Subsidiary, or any successor. For purposes of
Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed ninety days, unless reemployment upon expiration
of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of
absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, on the 181st day of such leave any Incentive
Stock Option held by the Optionee shall cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall
be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option. Neither service as a Director nor
payment of a directors fee by the Company shall be sufficient to constitute employment by the
Company.
(l) Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(m) Fair Market Value means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as
follows:
(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national
market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq National Market or The Nasdaq
SmallCap Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales
price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such
exchange or system for the last market trading day prior to the time of determination, as
reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems
reliable;
(ii) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but
selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock shall be
the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the last market
trading day prior to the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or
such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or
(iii) In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market
Value shall be determined in good faith by the Administrator.
(n) Incentive Stock Option means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(o) Nonstatutory Stock Option means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock
Option.
(p) Notice of Grant means a written or electronic notice evidencing certain terms and
conditions of an individual Option grant. The Notice of Grant is part of the Option Agreement.
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(q) Officer means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16
of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(r) Option means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.
(s) Option Agreement means an agreement between the Company and an Optionee evidencing the
terms and conditions of an individual Option grant. The Option Agreement is subject to the terms
and conditions of the Plan.
(t) Option Exchange Program means a program whereby outstanding Options are surrendered in
exchange for Options with a lower exercise price.
(u) Optioned Stock means the Common Stock subject to an Option.
(v) Optionee means the holder of an outstanding Option granted under the Plan.
(w) Parent means a parent corporation, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in
Section 424(e) of the Code.
(x) Plan means this 1997 Stock Option Plan.
(y) Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in
effect when discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan.
(z) Section 16(b) means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
(aa) Service Provider means an Employee, Director or Consultant.
(bb) Share means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 12 of
the Plan.
(cc) Subsidiary means a subsidiary corporation, whether now or hereafter existing, as
defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
3. Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 12 of the Plan, the
maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be optioned and sold under the Plan is eight million
(8,000,000) Shares. The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.
If an Option expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full, or is
surrendered pursuant to an Option Exchange Program, the unpurchased Shares which were subject
thereto shall become available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has
terminated); provided, however, that Shares that have actually been issued under the Plan shall not
be returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future distribution under the Plan.
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4. Administration of the Plan.
(a) Procedure.
(i) Multiple Administrative Bodies. The Plan may be administered by different
Committees with respect to different groups of Service Providers.
(ii) Section 162(m). To the extent that the Administrator determines it to be
desirable to qualify Options granted hereunder as performance-based compensation within
the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Plan shall be administered by a Committee of
two or more outside directors within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
(iii) Rule 16b-3. To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as
exempt under Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder shall be structured to
satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3.
(iv) Other Administration. Other than as provided above, the Plan shall be
administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which committee shall be constituted to
satisfy Applicable Laws.
(b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and in the
case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the
Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion:
(i) to determine the Fair Market Value;
(ii) to select the Service Providers to whom Options may be granted hereunder;
(iii) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Option
granted hereunder;
(iv) to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan;
(v) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan,
of any Option granted hereunder. Such terms and conditions include, but are not limited to,
the exercise price, the time or times when Options may be exercised (which may be based on
performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and
any restriction or limitation regarding any Option or the shares of Common Stock relating
thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion,
shall determine;
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(vi) to reduce the exercise price of any Option to the then current Fair Market Value
if the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock covered by such Option shall have declined
since the date the Option was granted;
(vii) to institute an Option Exchange Program;
(viii) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and awards granted pursuant to
the Plan;
(ix) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan,
including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of
qualifying for preferred tax treatment under foreign tax laws;
(x) to modify or amend each Option (subject to Section 14(c) of the Plan), including
the discretionary authority to extend the post-termination exercisability period of Options
longer than is otherwise provided for in the Plan;
(xi) to allow Optionees to satisfy withholding tax obligations by electing to have the
Company withhold from the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option that number of
Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld. The Fair
Market Value of the Shares to be withheld shall be determined on the date that the amount of
tax to be withheld is to be determined. All elections by an Optionee to have Shares withheld
for this purpose shall be made in such form and under such conditions as the Administrator
may deem necessary or advisable;
(xii) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument
required to effect the grant of an Option previously granted by the Administrator;
(xiii) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering
the Plan.
(c) Effect of Administrators Decision. The Administrators decisions, determinations
and interpretations shall be final and binding on all Optionees and any other holders of Options.
5. Eligibility. Nonstatutory Stock Options may be granted to Service Providers.
Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.
6. Limitations.
(a) Each Option shall be designated in the Option Agreement as either an Incentive Stock
Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such designation, to the extent
that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options
are exercisable for the first time by the Optionee during any calendar year (under all plans of the
Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000,
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such Options shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section
6(a), Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted.
The Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the time the Option with respect to
such Shares is granted.
(b) Neither the Plan nor any Option shall confer upon an Optionee any right with respect to
continuing the Optionees relationship as a Service Provider with the Company, nor shall they
interfere in any way with the Optionees right or the Companys right to terminate such
relationship at any time, with or without cause.
(c) The following limitations shall apply to grants of Options:
(i) No Service Provider shall be granted, in any fiscal year of the Company, Options to
purchase more than nine hundred thousand (900,000) Shares.
(ii) The foregoing limitations shall be adjusted proportionately in connection with any
change in the Companys capitalization as described in Section 12.
(iii) If an Option is cancelled in the same fiscal year of the Company in which it was
granted (other than in connection with a transaction described in Section 12), the cancelled
Option will be counted against the limits set forth in subsections (i) and (ii) above. For
this purpose, if the exercise price of an Option is reduced, the transaction will be treated
as a cancellation of the Option and the grant of a new Option.
7. Term of Plan. Subject to Section 18 of the Plan, the Plan shall become effective
upon its adoption by the Board. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless
terminated earlier under Section 14 of the Plan.
8. Term of Option. The term of each Option shall be stated in the Option Agreement. In
the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the term shall be ten (10) years from the date of grant or
such shorter term as may be provided in the Option Agreement. Moreover, in the case of an Incentive
Stock Option granted to an Optionee who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns
stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be
five (5) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Option
Agreement.
9. Option Exercise Price and Consideration.
(a) Exercise Price. The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant
to exercise of an Option shall be determined by the Administrator, subject to the following:
(i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option
(A) granted to an Employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is
granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of
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the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or
Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair
Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
(B) granted to any Employee other than an Employee described in paragraph (A)
immediately above, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the
Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
(ii) In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option, the per Share exercise price shall be
determined by the Administrator. In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option intended to
qualify as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the
Code, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per
Share on the date of grant.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options may be granted with a per Share exercise
price of less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant pursuant to
a merger or other corporate transaction.
(b) Waiting Period and Exercise Dates. At the time an Option is granted, the
Administrator shall fix the period within which the Option may be exercised and shall determine any
conditions which must be satisfied before the Option may be exercised.
(c) Form of Consideration. The Administrator shall determine the acceptable form of
consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of payment. In the case of an
Incentive Stock Option, the Administrator shall determine the acceptable form of consideration at
the time of grant. Such consideration may consist entirely of:
(i) cash;
(ii) check;
(iii) promissory note;
(iv) other Shares which (A) in the case of Shares acquired upon exercise of an option,
have been owned by the Optionee for more than six months on the date of surrender, and (B)
have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of
the Shares as to which said Option shall be exercised;
(v) consideration received by the Company under a cashless exercise program implemented
by the Company in connection with the Plan;
(vi) a reduction in the amount of any Company liability to the Optionee, including any
liability attributable to the Optionees participation in any Company-sponsored deferred
compensation program or arrangement;
(vii) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment; or
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(viii) such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the
extent permitted by Applicable Laws.
10. Exercise of Option.
(a) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder. Any Option granted hereunder
shall be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions
as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Option Agreement. Unless the Administrator
provides otherwise, vesting of Options granted hereunder shall be tolled during any unpaid leave of
absence. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.
An Option shall be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (i) written or
electronic notice of exercise (in accordance with the Option Agreement) from the person
entitled to exercise the Option, and (ii) full payment for the Shares with respect to which
the Option is exercised. Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment
authorized by the Administrator and permitted by the Option Agreement and the Plan. Shares
issued upon exercise of an Option shall be issued in the name of the Optionee or, if
requested by the Optionee, in the name of the Optionee and his or her spouse. Until the
Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a
duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any
other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock,
notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued)
such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a
dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are
issued, except as provided in Section 12 of the Plan.
Exercising an Option in any manner shall decrease the number of Shares thereafter
available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of
Shares as to which the Option is exercised.
(b) Termination of Relationship as a Service Provider. If an Optionee ceases to be a
Service Provider, other than upon the Optionees death or Disability, the Optionee may exercise his
or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Option Agreement to the extent that
the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the
term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in
the Option Agreement, the Option shall remain exercisable for three (3) months following the
Optionees termination. If, on the date of termination, the Optionee is not vested as to his or her
entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan.
If, after termination, the Optionee does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified
by the Administrator, the Option shall terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option shall
revert to the Plan.
(c) Disability of Optionee. If an Optionee ceases to be a Service Provider as a result
of the Optionees Disability, the Optionee may exercise his or her Option within such
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period of time as is specified in the Option Agreement to the extent the Option is vested on
the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as
set forth in the Option Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Option Agreement, the
Option shall remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following the Optionees termination. If, on
the date of termination, the Optionee is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares
covered by the unvested portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan. If, after termination, the
Optionee does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option shall
terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option shall revert to the Plan.
(d) Death of Optionee. If an Optionee dies while a Service Provider, the Option may be
exercised within such period of time as is specified in the Option Agreement (but in no event later
than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Notice of Grant), by the
Optionees estate or by a person who acquires the right to exercise the Option by bequest or
inheritance, but only to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of death. In the absence
of a specified time in the Option Agreement, the Option shall remain exercisable for twelve (12)
months following the Optionees termination. If, at the time of death, the Optionee is not vested
as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option shall
immediately revert to the Plan. The Option may be exercised by the executor or administrator of the
Optionees estate or, if none, by the person(s) entitled to exercise the Option under the
Optionees will or the laws of descent or distribution. If the Option is not so exercised within
the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option shall
revert to the Plan.
(e) Buyout Provisions. The Administrator may at any time offer to buy out for a
payment in cash or Shares an Option previously granted based on such terms and conditions as the
Administrator shall establish and communicate to the Optionee at the time that such offer is made.
11. Non-Transferability of Options. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator,
an Option may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any
manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during
the lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee. If the Administrator makes an Option
transferable, such Option shall contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator
deems appropriate.
12. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Merger or Asset Sale.
(a) Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of
the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding Option, and the
number of shares of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to
which no Options have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or
expiration of an Option, as well as the price per share of Common Stock covered by each such
outstanding Option, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of
issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend,
combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the
number of issued shares of Common Stock effected
9
without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any
convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been effected without receipt of
consideration. Such adjustment shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect
shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the
Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any
class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number
or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option.
(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or
liquidation of the Company, the Administrator shall notify each Optionee as soon as practicable
prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. The Administrator in its discretion may
provide for an Optionee to have the right to exercise his or her Option until ten (10) days prior
to such transaction as to all of the Optioned Stock covered thereby, including Shares as to which
the Option would not otherwise be exercisable. In addition, the Administrator may provide that any
Company repurchase option applicable to any Shares purchased upon exercise of an Option shall lapse
as to all such Shares, provided the proposed dissolution or liquidation takes place at the time and
in the manner contemplated. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, an Option will
terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.
(c) Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of a merger of the Company with or into another
corporation, or the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, each outstanding Option
shall be assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or
Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to
assume or substitute for the Option, the Optionee shall fully vest in and have the right to
exercise the Option as to all of the Optioned Stock, including Shares as to which it would not
otherwise be vested or exercisable. If an Option becomes fully vested and exercisable in lieu of
assumption or substitution in the event of a merger or sale of assets, the Administrator shall
notify the Optionee in writing or electronically that the Option shall be fully vested and
exercisable for a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, and the Option shall
terminate upon the expiration of such period. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Option shall
be considered assumed if, following the merger or sale of assets, the option or right confers the
right to purchase or receive, for each Share of Optioned Stock subject to the Option immediately
prior to the merger or sale of assets, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities
or property) received in the merger or sale of assets by holders of Common Stock for each Share
held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of
consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding
Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the merger or sale of assets is
not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the
consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the
exercise of the Option, for each Share of Optioned Stock subject to the Option, to be solely common
stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share
consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the merger or sale of assets.
13. Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Option shall be, for all purposes, the date
on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Option or, on such other later
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date as is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the determination shall be provided to
each Optionee within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.
14. Amendment and Termination of the Plan.
(a) Amendment and Termination. The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend or
terminate the Plan.
(b) Stockholder Approval. The Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan
amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws.
(c) Effect of Amendment or Termination. No amendment, alteration, suspension or
termination of the Plan shall impair the rights of any Optionee, unless mutually agreed otherwise
between the Optionee and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the
Optionee and the Company. Termination of the Plan shall not affect the Administrators ability to
exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Options granted under the Plan prior to
the date of such termination.
15. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.
(a) Legal Compliance. Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option
unless the exercise of such Option and the issuance and delivery of such Shares shall comply with
Applicable Laws and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with
respect to such compliance.
(b) Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the
Company may require the person exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any
such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present
intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a
representation is required.
16. Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain authority
from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Companys counsel to
be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of
any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite
authority shall not have been obtained.
17. Reservation of Shares. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all
times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the
requirements of the Plan.
18. Stockholder Approval. The Plan shall be subject to approval by the stockholders of
the Company within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is adopted. Such stockholder approval
shall be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws.
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