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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K/A
(Mark One)
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007
Or
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission file number: 0-19598
infoGROUP Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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47-0751545 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
5711 South 86th Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68127
(Address of principal executive offices)
(402) 593-4500
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Common Stock, $0.0025 par value
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule
405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section
13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed
by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or
for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been
subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation
S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants knowledge, in
definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K
or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated
filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large
accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act. (Check one):
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Large accelerated filer o
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Accelerated filer þ
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Non-accelerated filer o
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Smaller reporting company o |
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(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of
the Act). Yes o No þ
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates
computed by reference to the last reported sales price of the common stock on June 29, 2007 (the
last business day of the registrants most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was $267.3
million.
As of August 4, 2008 the registrant had outstanding 56,807,996 shares of Common Stock.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None
EXPLANATORY NOTE
infoGROUP Inc. is filing this Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A (this
Amendment) to amend our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2008 (the Original Filing). This Amendment is being filed
solely for the purpose of amending Item 9A of Part II and Item 11 and
Item 13 of Part III. This
Amendment is filed in response to comment letters we received from the staff of the Securities and
Exchange Commission in connection with the staffs review of the Original Filing. In addition, as
required by Rule 12b-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, new certifications by
our principal executive officer and principal financial officer are filed as exhibits to this
Amendment.
Except as described above, no other changes have been made to the Original Filing, and this
Amendment does not amend, update or change the financial statements or disclosures in the Original
Filing. This Amendment does not involve a restatement of our financial statements included in the
Original Filing. This Amendment does not reflect events occurring after the filing of the Original
Filing and unless otherwise stated herein, the information contained in the Amendment is current
only as of the time of the Original Filing. Accordingly, the Amendment should be read in
conjunction with our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission subsequent to the
filing of the Original Filing, including any amendments to those filings.
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Item 9A. Controls and
Procedures
A. INVESTIGATION BY THE SPECIAL LITIGATION COMMITTEE
Effective December 24, 2007, the Board of Directors
of the Company formed the Special
Litigation Committee in response to the consolidated complaint in In re infoUSA, Inc. Shareholders
Litigation, Consol. Civil Action No. 1956-CC (Del. Ch.) (the Derivative Litigation), and in
response to an informal investigation of the Company by the SEC and the related SEC request for the
voluntary production of documents concerning related party transactions, expense reimbursement,
other corporate expenditures and certain trading in the Companys securities. The Special
Litigation Committee is composed of five members of the Board of Directors, Robin S. Chandra, Bill
L. Fairfield, George Krauss, Bernard W. Reznicek
and Clifton T. Weatherford. Messrs. Chandra,
Krauss and Weatherford were appointed to the Board in December 2007 at the time the Special
Litigation Committee was formed. The Special Litigation Committee retained the law firm of
Covington & Burling LLP as independent legal counsel to assist with conducting an internal
investigation of these matters.
The Special Litigation Committees investigation began in January 2008,
lasted five months,
and consumed over 15,000 hours of attorney and staff time
.. The scope of the Committees
investigation encompassed more than twenty discrete issues and was informed by the claims raised
in
the Derivative Litigation, the Committees conversations with
the Companys external auditors, and
the investigation itself.
In the course of
investigating these issues, the Special Litigation Committee collected and
searched more than one million pages of electronic documents
, and collected and reviewed more than
280,000 pages of hard-copy documents. The documents included invoices and statements provided to
the Company as support
for related party transactions, expense reimbursements
, and corporate
expenditures; reports from the Companys accounting system
; documents from Company advisors,
including auditors and accountants; and calendars and
itineraries maintained by Mr. Gupta.
The Special Litigation Committee interviewed approximately 80 witnesses
.. These witnesses,
some of whom were interviewed on more than
one occasion, included current and former Company
employees such as internal auditors, controllers, and
accountants; the Companys external auditors;
individuals who were employed by Mr. Gupta or one of
his related entities and whose
responsibilities included expense reimbursement, accounting, and tax preparation;
and Mr. Gupta,
whom the Special Litigation Committee interviewed twice.
Aided in part
by an expert engaged by the Special Litigation Committee
, National Economic
Research Associates, Inc., the Special Litigation Committee undertook an
analysis of potential
damages based on available records and the testimony of
witnesses. Based on its investigation and
its analysis of potential damages, the Special Litigation Committee determined that various
related
party transactions, expense reimbursements and corporate expenditures were excessive
.. The Special
Litigation Committee concluded the following:
Private Aircraft:
The Special Litigation Committee examined the usage of
the private planes from 1998
2007. Exact information about the approximately
1820 flights infoGROUP paid for on
private jets during this period was not available. Therefore, the Special Litigation
Committee examined flights in several categories, including: (1) flights
described in
the consolidated complaint filed in the Derivative Litigation, as well as flights
that
were part of the same itinerary; (2) flights taken
by former President Clinton and his
family; (3) flights taken by other prominent individuals; (4) flights to
international
destinations and Hawaii; and (5) flights
from selected time periods. In order to
assess these categories of flights, the Special Litigation Committee collected
documents, including invoices, infoGROUP travel
forms, and Mr. Guptas calendar
and
itineraries. The Special Litigation Committee also spoke to Mr. Gupta,
his counsel,
and other witnesses about the purpose of various
flights.
The Special Litigation Committee determined that a portion
of the expenditures related
to private jet use were excessive, including, for example, flights
to Aspen for Mr.
Gupta and his sons; flights to Hawaii
for Mr. Gupta, his family, and
several guests;
flights for former President Bill Clinton after
infoGROUP had signed a consulting
agreement with him; and
flights for former President Clintons family members and
other third parties.
Expenses:
The Special Litigation Committee examined Mr. Guptas
credit card spending and
requests for Company reimbursement of expenses from
2000 2007. Exact information
about the purpose of credit card spending during this period
was not available.
Therefore, the Special Litigation Committee carefully examined
expenses in several
categories, including: (1) expenses in selected
time periods; (2) a sample of
expenses over $1,000; and (3) all expenses
over $15,000. In order to assess these
expenses, the Special Litigation Committee collected documentation, including
invoices, Mr. Guptas calendar,
and his itineraries. The Special Litigation Committee
also
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spoke to Mr. Gupta
and/or his counsel and other witnesses about select expenses so
that they could provide additional information about the
circumstances surrounding the
expense. The Special Litigation Committee determined that certain expenses relating
to lodging, flights, meals, and
various other expense categories were excessive.
The Special Litigation Committee also examined Mr. Guptas
golf club memberships from
2000-2007, for
which the Company paid a portion of the
membership and usage fees.
Exact information was not available on the purposes for
which Mr. Guptas more than 30
private club memberships were used. The Special Litigation Committee determined that
expenditures related to most of
these clubs were excessive.
The Special Litigation Committee examined the salaries and expense
reimbursements for
the following employees who worked in part for infoGROUP
and in part for Mr. Gupta
personally: (1) an individual who at the time of the
investigation was an accountant for
Everest, Inc. and was formerly employed by infoGROUP; (2) an individual who at the
time of the investigation was Director of
Special Projects and Trade Shows for infoGROUP; and (3) an individual
who for the majority of the time of the
investigation
was an accountant for Everest, Inc. and prior to that was employed by infoGROUP. The
Special Litigation Committee determined that portions of these individual
s salaries
and expense reimbursements were excessive.
In January 2007, Mr. Gupta
submitted to infoGROUP one invoice
for personal legal
services from Kirkland & Ellis LLP. The Special Litigation Committee determined
that
remedial action was appropriate with respect to this issue.
Yacht:
The Special Litigation Committee examined yacht usage from
2002 2007. Exact information about infoGROUPs yacht usage during this period was not available
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Special Litigation Committee assessed yacht use by examining the yacht log
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and reviewing documents, and conducting interviews with the crew of the yacht
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individuals who used the yacht, and Company staff responsible
for booking usage on the
yacht.
The Special Litigation Committee determined that expenditures related to the yacht
were excessive because the yacht is rarely used
for business or any other purpose.
Residences:
The Special Litigation Committee examined usage of 10 private residences owned or
rented by Mr. Gupta and his family from
2001 2007. Specifically, the Special
Litigation Committee assessed usage of private residences
at the following locations
owned by Mr. Gupta, and
paid for during various periods by infoGROUP: (1)
Hillsborough, California; (2) Napa, California; (3) Aspen,
Colorado; and (4) a
condominium owned by Mr. Guptas son,
Jess Gupta, in Maui, Hawaii. In addition
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Special Litigation Committee examined the use of a
Washington, D.C. apartment rented
directly by infoGROUP on Mr
.. Guptas behalf. Finally, the Special Litigation
Committee examined the use of Mr. Guptas
homes in the following locations for which
the Company has never paid rent: (1) Omaha; (2) Kauai; (3) Miami; (4)
Las Vegas; and
(5) Washington, D.C.
Exact information about infoGROUPs private residence usage during this period was not
available. The nature and magnitude of the
usage of the residences was assessed by
examination of the Companys property logs
.. Further, Mr. Gupta requested that
his
employees and former employees submit, via email
, available details on stays at his
residences. This information was compiled and supplemented
with employee interviews.
The Special Litigation Committee determined that infoGROUPs payments
for the
residences were excessive, where documentation evidencing use by Company employees
or
customers was lacking and the Audit Committee was
unaware of such use.
From 2004 2008,
the manager of Mr. Guptas
D.C. residence, was paid a
salary by
infoGROUP. She also received
expense reimbursements from the Company. The Special
Litigation Committee determined that these expenditures were excessive.
A former infoGROUP employee from 2000
2002, currently serves as the property manager
of Mr. Guptas residence
in Kauai, Hawaii. After his employment at infoGROUP, he
received expense reimbursements from the Company. The Special Litigation Committee
determined that these expenditures were excessive.
Automobiles:
The Special Litigation Committee investigated the usage of
six cars leased through
Aspen Leasing, as well as the
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usage of 15 additional
vehicles leased or purchased by infoGROUP.
Exact information
about infoGROUPs automobile usage during this
period was not available. The Special
Litigation Committee examined usage by conducting employee interviews as well as
reviewing insurance information that listed authorized drivers for certain of the
automobiles. The Special Litigation Committee determined that payments for
14 of
these 21 vehicles were excessive because these vehicles were used primarily by Mr.
Gupta.
Insurance:
The Special Litigation Committee investigated whether infoGROUP paid premiums on life
insurance policies of which the Company was not the
beneficiary.
The Special Litigation Committee found that from 2000
2005, infoGROUP made various
payments on three life insurance policies for Mr. Gupta.
The Gupta Family 1999
Irrevocable Trust was the beneficiary of all
of these policies. The Special
Litigation Committee determined that remedial action was appropriate with respect to
this issue.
Everest Building Mortgage:
The Special Litigation Committee investigated the circumstances surrounding the
sale
of the Everest Building to the Company by Everest Investment Management LLC,
an entity
owned by Mr. Gupta.
In the spring of 2001,
the Everest Building was constructed by Everest Investment
Management LLC. Everest Investment Management LLC had a $2.4 million
loan from U.S.
Bank to finance the Everest building construction.
After the completion of
construction, infoGROUP entered into a 10-year agreement with
Everest Investment
Management LLC to lease office space from Everest Investment Management LLC
in the
Everest Building for $30,000 per month. On October 9,
2001, infoGROUP purchased the
Everest Building from Everest Investment Management LLC for $2.62 million, an amount
equal to Everest Investment Management LLCs total construction costs
.. The amount
outstanding on the mortgage note was $2.4
million. Thus, infoGROUP paid Everest
Investment Management LLC $220,000 and assumed Everest Investment Managements
obligations under the mortgage. On October 15, 2001,
the Audit Committee and the
Board approved the Companys acquisition of the
building from Everest Investments,
after being informed that infoGROUP acquired
the Everest Building by assuming the
mortgage on the building.
The Special Litigation Committee determined that remedial action was appropriate with
respect to amounts paid by the Company that
were in excess of the amount of the
mortgage on the Everest Building.
Office Space and Administrative Support
:
The Special Litigation Committee investigated whether Mr. Gupta
provided free office
space to related-party entities, as
well as whether infoGROUP paid a salary to
the
secretary to an infoGROUP
director.
On October 9, 2001, infoGROUP acquired the Everest Building. From October 2001
December 2004, Annapurna Corporation and Everest Investment Management LLC occupied
space in the Everest Building without paying rent to
infoGROUP. Beginning in January
2005, Everest Investment Management LLC and Annapurna paid a combined $1,600 per month
to infoGROUP pursuant to a rental
agreement.
From October 2001
November 2005, director Harold Andersen and his secretary occupied
space in the Everest Building without paying rent to
infoGROUP. infoGROUP also paid a
third of Andersens secretarys salary from 1996
2005. In December 2005, infoGROUP
signed a consulting agreement with Andersen that provided for office space and
secretarial services.
The Special Litigation Committee determined that the provision
of free office space to
companies owned by Mr. Gupta was excessive. The
Special Litigation Committee also
determined that the provision of secretarial services
to an infoGROUP director was
excessive prior to December 2005, when the
director signed a consulting contract with
the Company.
Stock Options:
The Special Litigation Committee investigated the circumstances surrounding stock
option grants to an outside company named Mindspirit LLC.
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In 2001, infoGROUP entered into a consulting agreement with Mindspirit LLC
(Mindspirit) to provide advice and
guidance to Vin Gupta, CEO of infoGROUP, on
strategic issues associated with the growth and sustainability of
the company. Under
the agreement, Mindspirit was entitled to 200,000 stock options; all of
these options
were exercised. These options were not approved by the Board or any Board committee.
According to Mr. Gupta,
Mindspirit was created by the wives of Rajat Gupta
and Anil
Kumar, two employees of McKinsey & Company who were rendering business advice to
Mr.
Gupta and infoGROUP. The
Special Litigation Committee determined that remedial action
was appropriate with respect to this issue.
Corporate
Avengers:
The Special Litigation Committee investigated the circumstances
surrounding
infoGROUPs payments to Corporate Avengers, LLC, a company owned and controlled by the
son of Mr. Guptas wife, Laurel Gupta.
In early 2006, Corporate Avengers signed a consulting agreement with
infoGROUP. From
February 2006 to December 2006,
Laurel Guptas son received $2,000 per month for
viral marketing and social networking services. No infoGROUP employees were able
sufficiently to describe services provided by Corporate Avengers. The
contract was
not renewed at the end of the term.
The Special Litigation Committee determined that expenditures related to Corporate
Avengers were excessive.
On July 16, 2008, the Special Litigation Committee approved a series of remedial actions and
decisions that are described below.
The Special Litigation Committee continues to cooperate with the SEC, with respect to its findings
from the investigation and related remedial actions.
Remedial Actions Approved by the Special Litigation Committee
Based on its investigation of the matters described above, the Special Litigation Committee
approved a series of remedial actions described below, which have been updated since the filing of
the Companys Current report on Form 8-K on July 23, 2008. The Special Litigation Committees
remedial framework is designed to continue in effect at least until December 31, 2013 (other than
the standstill and voting agreements with Mr. Gupta described in the second and third bullet points
below, which have expiration dates as set forth therein).
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In connection with the Derivative Litigation, Mr. Gupta orally agreed
to pay the Company $9 million over five years pursuant to a payment
schedule, subject to the execution of a definitive settlement
agreement and upon court approval of the settlement. |
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The Company entered into an amendment (the Second Amendment) with
Mr. Gupta to extend the original standstill agreement between the
Company and Mr. Gupta, dated July 21, 2006 (the Original Agreement),
as amended on July 20, 2007 by the first amendment (the First
Amendment). Pursuant to the Original Agreement, as amended by the
First Amendment, Mr. Gupta had agreed that, for a period ending on
July 21, 2008 (the Covered Period), he would not directly or
indirectly acquire any additional securities of the Company, except
for acquisitions pursuant to the exercise of stock options that had
been granted to him by the Company. The Second Amendment amended the
Original Agreement (as amended by the First Amendment) to extend the
Covered Period to include the period from 12:00 a.m. on July 22, 2008
to and including 11:59 p.m. on July 21, 2009. All other terms of the
Original Agreement remain in effect without modification. |
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The Special Litigation Committee and Mr. Gupta orally agreed that,
subject to the execution of a definitive settlement agreement and upon
court approval of the settlement, Mr. Gupta will enter into a voting
agreement with the Company, pursuant to which Mr. Gupta will agree to
support, through and including the 2010 annual stockholders meeting,
the election of the nominees for election as directors recommended by
the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board. |
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The Special Litigation Committee approved the separation of the
positions of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board and the
appointment of Bill L. Fairfield, who was serving at the time as the
Boards lead independent director, to serve as the chairman of the
Board effective July 16, 2008. Mr. Gupta continues to serve as the
chief executive officer of the Company. |
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The Audit Committee of the Board, in consultation with the chief
executive officer, will identify and hire a new chief financial
officer. The termination or replacement of the new chief financial
officer (or any successor) will require the concurrence of the Audit
Committee of the Board. The current chief financial officer of the
Company, Stormy L. Dean, will continue to serve as chief financial
officer of the Company until a new chief financial officer is hired,
at which time Mr. Dean is expected to assume a new position with the
Company with responsibilities in the area of corporate strategy and
planning. The Company is currently conducting a search process to fill
this position. |
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The Special Litigation Committee approved the creation of a new
position of executive vice president for business conduct and general
counsel (the EVP for Business Conduct and General Counsel). The EVP
for Business Conduct and General Counsel will, among other things: |
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supervise all legal and compliance functions and have
responsibility for coordinating with internal auditors regarding
the review of related party transactions; |
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develop and administer business conduct and ethics policies for the
Company (relating to insider trading, conflicts of interest,
related party transactions and other matters) and monitor
compliance with such policies; |
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approve certain expense reimbursement requests at or above
specified dollar amounts, as determined by the independent
directors of the Board; and |
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serve on the Companys Disclosure Committee. |
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The EVP for Business Conduct and General Counsel is retained by the independent directors
of the Board and reports directly to the chairman of the Board under terms and conditions
of employment determined exclusively by the independent directors of the Board. On
July 16, 2008, John H. Longwell, the Companys general counsel and secretary, was
appointed to serve as the acting EVP for Business Conduct and General Counsel. The
Company is currently conducting a search process to fill permanently this position. |
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The independent directors of the Board will develop and approve a new
delegation of authority protocol to specify the size of transactions each
officer is permitted to enter into on behalf of the Company. Pursuant to the
protocol, the following will require prior approval by the EVP for Business
Conduct and General Counsel: consulting agreements in excess of specified
dollar amounts as determined by the independent directors of the Board;
charitable contributions in excess of a specified per-gift or aggregate annual
amount; the purchase or lease of aircraft (including whole or partial
interests) or motor vehicles (not including conventional car rentals);
mortgage or rental payments on offices, homes, apartments or any other real
property not used exclusively for business purposes; and club membership fees.
The EVP for Business Conduct and General Counsel will also report to the Audit
Committee on the above transactions. |
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The Company will sell its yacht and will not own or lease yachts in the future. |
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All Company reimbursements for expenses will be subject to uniform,
company-wide policies and procedures. The independent directors of the Board
will approve and implement a business expense policy applicable to all
employees of the Company. The policy will prohibit the reimbursement of any
expense that is not authorized under the Companys business expense policy.
The policy will also provide clear guidance as to determining what is and what
is not a proper business expenditure. In this regard, the policy will prohibit
the use of Company resources (including corporate credit cards) for personal
travel or entertainment; prohibit the personal use of yachts or airplanes at
Company expense; and require restitution of any expenditure later deemed
personal and include a compensation hold-back feature to ensure that
restitution is made when necessary. |
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The independent directors of the Board will approve and implement detailed
policies governing all employees regarding perquisites. Such policies will
prohibit home office allowances. |
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The independent directors of the Board will approve and implement a new
related party transaction policy. Among other measures, the new policy will: |
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require pre-approval by the disinterested members of the Audit
Committee of the Board (or, if necessary to reach a decision, the
disinterested, independent directors of the Board) for all
transactions with amounts in excess of $120,000 involving the
Company and a director or executive officer (or family member of
such person), a stockholder owning more than 5% of any class of
Company voting securities or an entity in which a related party is
an executive officer or in which a related party owns beneficially
more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities; |
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eliminate the exception in the current policy permitting management
to enter into related party transactions when circumstances
require, subject to later ratification; |
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require the Audit Committee of the Board to make a finding, as a
condition to its pre-approval of a covered related party
transaction, that the transaction has a legitimate business purpose; |
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require the Audit Committee of the Board to make a finding, as a
condition to its pre-approval of a covered related party transaction
(other than a charitable contribution), that either the terms of the
transaction were determined through a competitive bidding process or
that the terms are no less favorable than those generally available
to unaffiliated third parties under the same or similar
circumstances; |
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require the Audit Committee of the Board to pre-approve any related
party transaction that would result in the aggregate amount of
transactions for that related party exceeding $120,000 in a fiscal
year and for all additional related party transactions for the
remainder of the fiscal year and condition such pre-approval on a
finding by the Audit Committee of the Board that the transaction has a
legitimate business purpose and that either the terms of the
transaction were determined through a competitive bidding process or
that the terms are no less favorable than those generally available to
unaffiliated third parties under the same or similar circumstances; |
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require pre-approval of any proposed related party transaction by
the EVP for Business Conduct and General Counsel (or, in appropriate
circumstances, his delegee) in circumstances where no pre-approvals
or findings of the Audit Committee of the Board are required; and |
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(vii) |
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require implementation of procedures for monitoring the interests of
related parties that are subject to transactions with the Company on
a regular basis (for example, through the use of director and
officer questionnaires), including requiring all officers and
directors of the Company to provide the Company with a complete list
of any affiliated entities that have a relationship with the Company
and the nature of such relationship. |
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The family members of the chief executive officer or any director of
the Company will be prohibited from serving as a director, officer or
employee of, or a consultant to, the Company. Pre-approval by the EVP
for Business Conduct and General Counsel, the Audit Committee or the
Board, as appropriate, will be required before a family member of an
officer of the Company (who is not a director of the Company or the
chief executive officer of the Company) may serve as director, officer
or employee of, or as a consultant to, the Company. Any such approval
will be reported to the Audit Committee. |
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A mandatory director and executive officer training program addressing
fiduciary duties will be instituted, which will include an orientation
program for new directors, internal corporate governance tutorials
conducted by outside experts selected by the Special Litigation
Committee and continuing corporate governance education. |
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The Audit Committee of the Board will approve and implement a best
practices guide regarding disclosure controls and procedures. |
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The independent directors of the Board will meet at least four times
annually. The minutes of such meetings will be circulated to the
entire Board in advance of the next Board meeting. |
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Within 60 days of the entry of judgment in connection with the
Derivative Litigation, the Compensation Committee of the Board will
endeavor to negotiate and approve employment agreements with executive
officers of the Company, including compensation terms commensurate
with those of executive officers of similarly situated companies. The
Compensation Committee of the Board will retain an independent
compensation consultant to provide advice with respect to executive
officer and director compensation. |
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All future equity grants will be approved by a majority vote of the
disinterested independent directors of the Board. Further, the
Companys 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan will be amended to clarify the
number of shares available to be granted pursuant to the plan, and the
amendment of the plan will be submitted to a stockholder vote for
ratification. |
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The Company will hire a new investor relations officer who will report
to the chief financial officer to improve and coordinate
communications with stockholders, investors, analysts and the media. |
In addition, in connection with its findings, the Special Litigation Committee asked directors
George Haddix, Elliot Kaplan and Vasant Raval to resign from the Board. At this time no director
has agreed to resign.
B. EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Company is responsible for maintaining disclosure controls and other procedures that are
designed so that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or
submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and communicated to management,
including the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer, to allow timely decisions
regarding required disclosure within the time periods specified in the SECs rules and forms.
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In connection with the preparation of this Form 10-K, management performed an evaluation of
the Companys disclosure controls and procedures. The evaluation was performed, under the
supervision of and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial
Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Companys disclosure controls and
procedures, as
defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e), as of December 31, 2007. As described below,
management identified material weaknesses in the Companys internal control over financial
reporting, which is an integral component of its disclosure controls and procedures. Based on this
evaluation, the Companys Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that
the Companys disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2007.
The principal factors contributing to the material weaknesses that led to the conclusion that the disclosure controls and
procedures were not effective were (1) the Company did not maintain an effective control
environment, (2) the Company did not maintain adequate policies and procedures with respect to
Company disbursements, and (3) the Company did not maintain effective procedures to monitor its
disbursement-related controls and whether such controls remained adequately designed,
specifically procedures to ensure that the Board of Directors and management are provided
sufficient information to enable them to evaluate the adequacy of the Companys disclosures,
including appropriately monitoring the activities of senior management, including the Chief
Executive Officer.
These factors resulted in information with regard to disclosure of disbursements being
insufficiently available to management and the Board of Directors, or not available at all.
Management and the Board of Directors were therefore unable to determine the adequacy of the
disclosures with respect to disbursements in the Companys reports filed under the Exchange Act,
including disclosures concerning expense reimbursements, corporate expenditures, personal
utilization of Company assets by the Chief Executive Officer, issuance of stock options, and
payments to related parties.
Based upon managements conclusion that there were material weaknesses in the Companys
internal control over financial reporting, the Company has taken measures it deemed necessary to
conclude its consolidated financial statements as of and for the year-ended December 31, 2007 do
not contain a material misstatement.
C. MANAGEMENTS REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management of infoGROUP is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal
control over financial reporting and for the assessment of the effectiveness of internal control
over financial reporting. As defined by rules of the SEC, internal control over financial reporting
is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Companys principal executive and
principal financial officers and effected by the Companys Board of Directors, management and other
personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles.
Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1)
pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, should accurately and fairly
reflect the Companys transactions and dispositions of the Companys assets; (2) provide reasonable
assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the consolidated
financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts
and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of the
Companys management and directors; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or
timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Companys assets that could
have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
In connection with the preparation of the Companys annual consolidated financial statements,
management undertook an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control
Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (the COSO Framework). Managements evaluation included the design of the Companys
internal control over financial reporting and testing of the operational effectiveness of those
controls.
Managements evaluation and assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial
reporting did not include the internal controls of Guideline, Inc., which the Company acquired on
August 20, 2007 and is included in the 2007 consolidated financial statements of the Company.
Guideline constituted 7% of consolidated total assets and 2% of consolidated total sales included
in the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries as of and for the year
ended December 31, 2007.
Material Weaknesses in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of control deficiencies, in internal
control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material
misstatement of annual or interim financial statements would not be prevented or detected on a
timely basis. In connection with managements evaluation of the Companys internal control over
financial reporting, management identified the following material weaknesses in the Companys
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007:
9
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The Board of Directors and Management did not maintain an effective
control environment as a result of ineffective oversight of internal
control over financial reporting. |
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The Company did not maintain adequate policies and procedures to
ensure that disbursements of the Company were made in accordance with
authorizations of management and the directors of the Company.
Contributing to this material weakness was inadequate segregation of
duties and ineffective policies and procedures to ensure that the
processing of payments requires appropriate supporting documentation
and authorization. The nature of transactions subject to this material
weakness included expense reimbursements, corporate expenditures,
personal utilization of Company assets by the Chief Executive Officer,
issuance of stock options, and payments to related parties. |
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The Company did not maintain effective procedures to monitor its
disbursement-related controls and whether such controls remain
adequately designed, specifically procedures to ensure that the Board
of Directors is provided sufficient information to enable it to
appropriately monitor the activities of senior management, including
the Chief Executive Officer. |
Because of the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting described
above, management has concluded that the Company did not maintain effective internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2007 based on Internal Control Integrated Framework
published by COSO.
KPMG LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm that audited the financial
statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K, has issued an Audit Report on the
effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007.
D. CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
There were not any changes during the fourth quarter of 2007 in our internal control over
financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act that materially affected,
or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
E. REMEDIATION STEPS TO ADDRESS MATERIAL WEAKNESSES
The Company, with oversight from the Special Litigation Committee and the Audit Committee and
Compensation Committee of the Companys Board of Directors, has dedicated significant resources,
including the use of outside legal counsel, to support the Companys efforts to improve the control
environment and to remedy the identified material weaknesses.
The Company expects that full implementation of the remedial measures set forth herein will
take significant effort, due to the complexity and extensive nature of some of the remediation
required, a need to coordinate remedial efforts within the organization, and the Special Litigation
Committee mandate that such remedial measures be reviewed and approved by the independent members
of the Board of Directors.
Of the various remedial actions adopted by the Special Litigation Committee, the following are
expected to remedy the identified material weaknesses in internal controls and to improve the
control environment. The Company expects to implement all of these remedial actions during the
third and fourth quarters of 2008.
Executive Vice President for Business Conduct and General Counsel. As described above, the
Special Litigation Committee approved the creation of a new position of executive vice president
for business conduct and general counsel that will report directly to the chairman of the Board
under terms and conditions of employment determined exclusively by the independent directors of the
Board. This individual will be retained by the independent members of the Board and will, among
other things:
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supervise all legal and compliance functions and have responsibility
for coordinating with internal auditors regarding the review of
related party transactions; |
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develop and administer business conduct and ethics policies for the
Company (relating to insider trading, conflicts of interest, related
party transactions and other matters) and monitor compliance with such
policies; and |
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approve certain expense reimbursement requests at or above specified
dollar amounts, as determined by the independent directors to the
Board. |
10
On July 16, 2008, John H. Longwell, the Companys general counsel and secretary, was appointed
to serve as the acting EVP for Business Conduct and General Counsel. The Company is currently
conducting a search process to fill permanently this position.
Audit Committee Concurrence Required for Hiring and Replacement of the Chief Financial
Officer. The Audit Committee of the Board, in consultation with the chief executive officer, will
identify and hire a new chief financial officer. The termination or replacement of the new chief
financial officer (or any successor) will require the concurrence of the Audit Committee of the
Board. The current chief financial officer of the Company, Stormy L. Dean, will continue to serve
as chief financial officer of the Company until a new chief financial officer is hired. The Company
is currently conducting a search process to fill this position.
New Delegation of Authority Protocol. The independent directors of the Board will develop and
approve a new delegation of authority protocol to specify the size of transactions each officer is
permitted to enter into on behalf of the Company. The protocol will require the sale of the Company
yacht and prohibit the future ownership or leasing of yachts. Pursuant to the protocol, the
following will require prior approval by the EVP for Business Conduct and General Counsel:
consulting agreements in excess of specified dollar amounts as determined by the independent
directors of the Board; charitable contributions in excess of a specified per-gift or aggregate
annual amount; the purchase or lease of aircraft (including whole or partial interests) or motor
vehicles (not including conventional car rentals); mortgage or rental payments on offices, homes,
apartments or any other real property not used exclusively for business purposes; and club
membership fees. The EVP for Business Conduct and General Counsel will also report to the Audit
Committee on the above transactions.
Policy on Company Reimbursement of Expenses. All company reimbursements for expenses will be
subject to uniform, company-wide policies and procedures.
New Business Expense Policy. The independent directors of the Board will approve and
implement a business expense policy applicable to all employees of the Company. The policy will
prohibit the reimbursement of any expense that is not authorized under the Companys business
expense policy. The policy will also provide clear guidance as to determining what is and what is
not a proper business expenditure. In this regard, the policy will prohibit the use of Company
resources (including corporate credit cards) for personal travel or entertainment; prohibit the
personal use of yachts or airplanes at Company expense; and require restitution of any expenditure
later deemed personal and include a compensation hold-back feature to ensure that restitution is
made when necessary.
New Policies Regarding Perquisites. The independent directors of the Board will approve and
implement detailed policies governing all employees regarding perquisites. Such policies will
prohibit home office allowances.
New Related Party Transactions. The independent directors of the Board will approve and
implement a new related party transaction policy. Among other measures, the new policy will:
(i) require pre-approval by the disinterested members of the Audit Committee of the Board (or,
if necessary to reach a decision, the disinterested, independent directors of the Board) for all
transactions with amounts in excess of $120,000 involving the Company and a director or executive
officer (or family member of such person), a stockholder owning more than 5% of any class of
Company voting securities or an entity in which a related party is an executive officer or in which
a related party owns beneficially more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities;
(ii) eliminate the exception in the current policy permitting management to enter into related
party transactions when circumstances require, subject to later ratification;
(iii) require the Audit Committee of the Board to make a finding, as a condition to its
pre-approval of a covered related party transaction, that the transaction has a legitimate business
purpose;
(iv) require the Audit Committee of the Board to make a finding, as a condition to its
pre-approval of a covered related party transaction (other than a charitable contribution), that
either the terms of the transaction were determined through a competitive bidding process or that
the terms are no less favorable than those generally available to unaffiliated third parties under
the same or similar circumstances;
(v) require the Audit Committee of the Board to pre-approve any related party transaction that
would result in the aggregate amount of transactions for that related party exceeding $120,000 in a
fiscal year and for all additional related party transactions for the remainder of the fiscal year
and condition such pre-approval on a finding by the Audit Committee of the Board that the
transaction has a legitimate business purpose and that either the terms of the transaction were
determined through a competitive bidding process or that the terms are no less favorable than those
generally available to unaffiliated third parties under the same or similar circumstances;
(vi) require pre-approval of any proposed related party transaction by the EVP for Business
Conduct and General Counsel (or, in
11
appropriate circumstances, his delegee) in circumstances where
no pre-approvals or findings of the Audit Committee of the Board are required; and
(vii) require implementation of procedures for monitoring the interests of related parties
that are subject to transactions with the Company on a regular basis (for example, through the use
of director and officer questionnaires), including requiring all officers and directors of the
Company to provide the Company with a complete list of any affiliated entities that have a
relationship with the Company and the nature of such relationship.
Family Members. The family members of the chief executive officer or any director of the
Company will be prohibited from serving as a director, officer or employee of, or a consultant to,
the Company. Pre-approval by the EVP for Business Conduct and General Counsel, the Audit Committee
or the Board, as appropriate, will be required before a family member of an officer of the Company
(who is not a director of the Company or the chief executive officer of the Company) may serve as
director, officer or employee of, or as a consultant to, the Company. Any such approval will be
reported to the Audit Committee.
New Training Program. A mandatory director and executive officer training program addressing
fiduciary duties will be instituted, which will include an orientation program for new directors,
internal corporate governance tutorials conducted by outside experts selected by the Special
Litigation Committee and continuing corporate governance education.
Employment Agreements. Within 60 days of the entry of judgment in connection with the
Derivative Litigation, the Compensation Committee of the Board will endeavor to negotiate and
approve employment agreements with executive officers of the Company, including compensation terms
commensurate with those of executive officers of similarly situated companies. The Compensation
Committee of the Board will retain an independent compensation consultant to provide advice with
respect to executive officer and director compensation.
Independent Director Approval of Option Grants. All future equity grants will be approved by
a majority vote of the disinterested independent directors of the Board. Further, the Companys
2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan will be amended to clarify the number of shares available to be granted
pursuant to the plan, and the amendment of the plan will be submitted to a stockholder vote for
ratification.
12
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
infoGROUP Inc. (formerly known as infoUSA Inc.):
We have audited infoGROUP Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
The Companys management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial
reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting,
included in the accompanying Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting (Item
9A (C)). Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Companys internal control over
financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was
maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal
control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing
and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed
risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the
circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A companys internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles. A companys internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and
procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately
and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide
reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and
expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and
directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely
detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the companys assets that could have
a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent
or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are
subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that
the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control
over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement
of the companys annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a
timely basis. Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting (Item 9A (C)) has
identified material weaknesses related to the (1) control environment, (2) policies and procedures
over disbursements, and (3) monitoring activities over such disbursements.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31,
2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders equity and
comprehensive income, cash flows, and financial statement schedule for each of the years in the
three-year period ended December 31, 2007. These material weaknesses were considered in determining
the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the 2007 consolidated
financial statements, and this report does not affect our report dated August 8, 2008, which
expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
In our opinion, because of the effect of the aforementioned material weaknesses on the
achievement of the objectives of the control criteria, the Company has not maintained effective
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in
Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of
the Treadway Commission.
We do not express an opinion or any other form of assurance on managements statements
referring to corrective or remedial actions taken after December 31, 2007, relative to the
aforementioned material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting.
The Company acquired Guideline, Inc. (Guideline) on August 20, 2007, and management excluded
from its assessment of the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting
as of December 31, 2007, Guidelines internal control over financial reporting associated with 7%
of the Companys total assets and 2% of the Companys consolidated total sales included in the
financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2007. Our audit of
internal control over financial reporting of the Company also excluded an evaluation of the
internal control over financial reporting of Guideline.
Omaha, Nebraska
August 8, 2008
13
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A) should be read in conjunction with the
Summary Compensation Table and related discussion under this Item 11 of this Annual Report. The
term Named Executive Officers (NEOs) refers to the executive officers listed in the Summary
Compensation Table. Our CD&A addresses the following items:
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overview of executive compensation; |
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how we determine executive compensation; |
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our philosophy regarding executive compensation; |
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objectives of executive compensation elements; |
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executive compensation decisions for fiscal year 2007; |
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severance and change in control considerations; and |
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tax and accounting considerations. |
Overview of Executive Compensation
The Compensation Committee (the Committee) of our Board of Directors is responsible for
establishing, implementing and monitoring the administration of our executive compensation programs
in accordance with the Companys compensation philosophy and strategy, and for approving executive
compensation and equity plan awards. The Committee seeks to reward the Companys executive officers
in a fair, reasonable and competitive manner. The compensation program consists of base salary,
annual short-term incentives (both performance-based and discretionary), long-term equity-based
incentive compensation (used from time to time), and personal benefits and perquisites.
During fiscal year 2007, the members of the Committee who determined the compensation of our
executive officers for 2007 were Bernard W. Reznicek (Chair), Anshoo S. Gupta and Dennis P. Walker.
In December 2007, Mr. Anshoo Gupta passed away, and in January 2008, Mr. Walker resigned from the
Board of Directors. Effective January 25, 2008, Messrs. George F. Haddix and Robin S. Chandra were
appointed to the Committee.
How We Determine Executive Compensation
The Role of the Committee. Executive compensation is determined by the Committee, which meets
at least quarterly to consider issues relating to executive compensation. It draws on internal and
external resources to provide necessary information and recommendations, as appropriate. In 2007,
the Committee met six times (in February, April, June, July, September and October). Each year, the
Committee reviews its Charter to ensure that it remains consistent with stockholder interests and
good corporate governance principles. In 2007, the Committee engaged in the following activities
related to executive compensation to ensure it carried out its responsibilities as outlined in the
Charter:
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reviewed each element of compensation of the NEOs; |
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reviewed and approved corporate goals and objectives relevant to the
compensation of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), evaluated the CEOs
performance in light of those goals and objectives, and set the CEOs
compensation levels based on this evaluation; |
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administered and managed all equity compensation programs of the Company; |
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considered and made recommendations to the Board of Directors with
respect to the adoption, amendment, administration or termination of
compensation, welfare, benefit, pension and other plans related to
compensation of current and former employees of the Company; |
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reviewed and approved the CD&A as required by the SEC and certified the
CD&A and its contents through the issuance of the Compensation Committee
Report; and |
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retained legal, accounting and other relevant advisors as it deemed
necessary to carry out its fiduciary responsibilities at the Companys
expense. |
14
In addition, each member of the 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.
For the benefit of our stockholders, the Compensation Committee Charter is posted on the
Companys website at www.infoUSA.com under the caption About Us.
The Role of Executive Officers. Our CEO annually reviews the performance of each of the other
NEOs. Based on this review, the CEO makes compensation recommendations to the Committee, including
recommendations for salary adjustments, annual cash incentives and long-term equity-based incentive
awards. Although the Committee considers these recommendations, it retains full discretion to set
all compensation for the NEOs. The Committee may, in its discretion, invite the CEO to be present
during the Committees deliberations on the compensation of the NEOs.
The Committee, in carrying out the responsibilities as outlined in its Charter, is wholly
responsible for determining the compensation paid to our CEO. The CEO is not present during
Committee deliberations on the compensation of the CEO.
The Role of the Compensation Consultant. Under the Committees Charter, the Committee has the
authority to retain consultants to aid in its duties from time to time. Pursuant to this authority,
in 2007, the Committee retained Pearl Meyer & Partners (PM&P), an outside executive compensation
consulting firm. PM&P assists the Compensation Committee with the collection and interpretation of
competitive market data and prevalence information with regard to executive compensation levels and
executive compensation plan design. PM&P is engaged by, and reports directly to, the Committee.
PM&P works with the Committee, in conjunction with management, to structure the Companys
compensation programs. In addition, PM&P periodically provides the Committee and management with
market data on a variety of compensation-related topics. PM&P also participates in the executive
session of Committee meetings where no members of Company management are present.
In 2007, PM&P provided the Committee with objective, independent counsel concerning the types
and levels of compensation to be paid to the CEO and the other senior executives, including each of
the NEOs. PM&P assisted the Committee by providing market compensation data (e.g., industry
compensation surveys and benchmarking data) on base pay, as well as annual and long-term
incentives.
As part of the Special Litigation Committees remedial measures, which are described in
greater detail under Item 9A, Controls and Procedures of this Annual Report, the Committee will
retain an independent compensation consultant to provide advice with respect to executive officer
and director compensation.
Employment Agreements. As part of the Special Litigation Committees remedial measures, which
are described in greater detail under Item 9A, Controls and Procedures of this Annual Report,
within 60 days of the entry of judgment in connection with the Derivative Litigation, the Committee
will endeavor to negotiate and approve employment agreements with the executive officers of the
Company, including compensation terms commensurate with those of executive officers of similarly
situated companies.
Compensation Benchmarking. It is crucial to our long-term performance that we are able to
attract and retain a strong leadership team. To facilitate retention of executive officers, it is
critical that we are able to offer compensation opportunities competitive with those available to
them in equivalent positions in our industry or at other publicly-traded or similarly-situated
companies. The Committee considers publicly-available information concerning executive compensation
levels paid by other companies in our industry and in relevant labor markets as one factor in
determining appropriate compensation levels.
Peer Group. The Company primarily competes for talent in the information collection and
distribution industry and benchmarks executive compensation levels against publicly-traded
companies in this industry. In 2007, the Committee referred to the following peer group of
publicly-traded companies in the information collection and distribution industry for benchmarking
executive compensation.
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Acxiom Corporation |
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Dun & Bradstreet Corporation |
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Equifax Incorporated |
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FactSet Research Systems, Inc. |
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Fair Isaac Corporation |
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Gartner Incorporated |
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Harte-Hanks Incorporated |
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Lamar Advertising Company |
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MSC Industrial Direct |
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Salesforce.com |
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Valassis Communications, Incorporated |
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This peer group was developed to reflect the size and growth profile of the Company. Data is
generally size-adjusted as appropriate to account for the size of the companies in the peer group
relative to the Company. |
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Other Market Comparisons. PM&P also provides the Committee with competitive data from
compensation surveys conducted by other compensation consulting firms. These surveys collect
compensation information from hundreds of companies for different positions in a variety of
industries. These compensation surveys were queried to analyze the types and levels of compensation
paid to executive officers (with responsibilities similar to those of our executive officers) of
companies comparable in size and growth profile to the Company.
The Committee considers the competitive data from the peer group and from the compensation
surveys but does not rely on it exclusively in making decisions with regard to executive
compensation levels. Because the Company does not rely on compensation surveys exclusively, the
specific compensation survey participants were not material to our decisions regarding executive
compensation. Finally, the Committee was not aware of any individual participant in these surveys.
Our Philosophy Regarding Executive Compensation
We believe that it is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to employ
talented, committed, high-performing leaders who can sustain and improve the Companys performance.
We believe that executive compensation must serve to:
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attract and retain top executives; |
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reward executives for meeting financial and strategic business goals and objectives; |
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motivate executives to perform at their highest potential; |
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reinforce a sense of teamwork through common objectives and shared rewards for
performance; and |
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align the interests of executives and stockholders. |
The Committee doesnt necessarily target a specific position within the external market (i.e.,
the 50th percentile) but rather evaluates total compensation within the context of a number of
factors described in greater detail below.
Objectives of Executive Compensation Elements
Each NEOs annual total compensation is composed of a mix of fixed and variable compensation
elements, consisting of:
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base salary; |
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annual cash incentive plan; |
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from time to time, long-term equity incentives; and |
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benefits and perquisites. |
We expect that this mix can and should change from time to time as our business needs and
objectives evolve, and as external business and market circumstances change. The Committee reviews
the combined value of all of the elements of compensation awarded in previous years, both targeted
and actual, when considering proposed compensation for the current year.
We believe that it is appropriate to take a holistic view of each executive officers total
compensation opportunity and review it annually on a prospective basis. The Company believes the
value of an executives performance cannot be measured solely by reference to objective performance
indicators or based on a simple formulaic approach; compensation should be awarded based on
consideration of both objective and subjective factors. Therefore, we retain discretion to adjust
different compensation elements based on particular facts and circumstances and consider other
subjective factors which are addressed in this CD&A under the heading Executive Compensation
Decisions for Fiscal Year 2007.
Base Salary. The objectives of the Companys base salary element are to allow the Company to
attract and retain qualified executives and to recognize and reward individual performance. The
following items are considered when determining actual base salaries and making adjustments to base
salaries:
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our past performance and expectations of future performance; |
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individual scope of responsibility, performance and experience; |
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competitive compensation data from the peer group and other market comparisons; |
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historical salary levels; and |
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the recommendations of the CEO (only with respect to other NEOs). |
Annual Cash Incentive Plan. The objectives of our Annual Cash Incentive Plan, which consists
of annual performance-based cash incentives and discretionary bonuses, are to:
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reward executives for meeting financial and strategic business goals and objectives; |
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motivate executives to perform at their highest potential; |
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reinforce a sense of teamwork through common objectives and shared rewards for
performance; and |
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align the interests of executives and stockholders. |
For performance-based cash incentives, target award opportunities are established at the
beginning of each year. Actual awards of performance-based cash incentives are predicated on:
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the Companys and individuals performance against goals and
objectives established at the beginning of the year, which rewards
executives for meeting financial and strategic business goals and
objectives; and |
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the Committees assessment of individual performance, which motivates
executives to perform at their highest potential. |
Each year the Committee selects performance measures and goals for the performance-based cash
incentive portion of the Annual Cash Incentive Plan. The Company believes the performance measures
and goals support stockholder value creation and align the interests of executives and
stockholders.
With limited exceptions, all executive officers are measured against the same financial
performance goals, which reinforces a sense of teamwork. For business unit heads, performance goals
are often based on business unit-specific performance goals to reward executives when their
business unit meets financial and strategic business goals and objectives.
The Committee considers a number of factors in determining who will receive a discretionary
bonus award and the size of the award. Historically, discretionary cash bonuses have been made to
recognize extraordinary efforts in the context of:
|
|
|
actual performance not warranting a formulaic incentive award because of changing business
conditions; or |
|
|
|
|
the completion of special projects (such as a business acquisition) or strategic initiatives. |
The Committee believes it is important that it retain the authority to consider the strategic
importance of items with respect to the payment of discretionary bonuses, as these items are not
necessarily part of any business or strategic plan developed at the beginning of the year.
Long-term Equity Incentives. Although stock options [and other equity awards]
have been
granted in prior years, more recently the Committee has focused on cash compensation for our
executive officers. In 2007, no stock option grants or other equity awards were made. During 2008,
the Committee plans to review its prior focus on cash compensation with a view to adding an
equity-based component. The equity-based component would be designed to provide significant
incentives directly linked to the long-term performance of the Company.
As part of the Special Litigation Committees remedial measures, which are described in
greater detail under Item 9A, Controls and Procedures of this Annual Report, all future equity
grants will be approved by a majority vote of the disinterested independent directors of the Board.
Benefits and Perquisites. We offer a variety of health, welfare and qualified retirement
programs to all employees, including our NEOs. The health, welfare and retirement programs
available to our NEOs are the same as those offered to all employees. The
Company believes that offering a competitive benefits program is necessary to attract
high-caliber executive talent. The Company does not offer any supplemental benefit programs, such
as a supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP), to any NEO.
17
As part of the total compensation program, the Company also has offered certain perquisites
which are generally restricted to NEOs. Please see All Other Compensation column in the Summary
Compensation Table and related discussion in the footnotes thereto under this Item 11, Executive
Compensation of this Annual Report for more detailed information on the perquisites and personal
benefits received by the NEOs during fiscal years 2006 and 2007.
As described in greater detail under Item 9A, Controls and Procedures of this Annual Report,
the Special Litigation Committee reviewed, among other things, certain expense reimbursements
(including those for lodging, flights, meals, private club memberships, the use of the chief
executive officers residences, and legal fees incurred by the chief executive officer) and certain
other corporate expenditures (including for the usage of aircraft, a yacht and automobiles,
premiums for life insurance policies, salaries of several employees and grants of stock options).
Based on its review, the Special Litigation Committee found that various expense reimbursements and
corporate expenditures were excessive and approved a series of remedial measures relating to
perquisites and personal benefits, including the following, which are designed to continue in
effect at least until December 31, 2013:
|
|
|
A new position of EVP for Business Conduct and General Counsel has
been created. The EVP for Business Conduct and General Counsel will,
among other things, approve certain expense reimbursement requests at
or above specified dollar amounts, as determined by the independent
directors to the Board. |
|
|
|
|
A new delegation of authority protocol to be approved by the
independent directors of the Board will be developed to specify the
size of transactions each officer is permitted to enter into on behalf
of the Company. Among other things, pursuant to the protocol, the
following will require prior approval by the EVP for Business Conduct
and General Counsel: the purchase or lease of aircraft (including
whole or partial interests) or motor vehicles (not including
conventional car rentals); mortgage or rental payments on offices,
homes, apartments or any other real property not used exclusively for
business purposes; and club membership fees. |
|
|
|
|
All company reimbursements for expenses will be subject to uniform,
company-wide policies and procedures. |
|
|
|
|
The independent directors of the Board will approve and implement a
business expense policy applicable to all employees of the Company.
The policy will prohibit the reimbursement of any expense that is not
authorized under the Companys business expense policy. The policy
will also provide clear guidance as to determining what is and what is
not a proper business expenditure. In this regard, the policy will
prohibit the use of Company resources (including corporate credit
cards) for personal travel or entertainment; prohibit the personal use
of yachts or airplanes at Company expense; require restitution of any
expenditure later deemed personal and include a compensation hold-back
feature to ensure that restitution is made when necessary. |
|
|
|
|
The independent directors of the Board will approve and implement
detailed policies governing all employees regarding perquisites. Such
policies will prohibit home office allowances. |
Executive Compensation Decisions for Fiscal Year 2007
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, the principal components of compensation for the
NEOs were: base salary; annual incentive plan consisting of performance-based cash incentive
awards; discretionary cash bonuses; and other personal benefits and perquisites.
Base Salary. On an annual basis (and/or at the time of promotion), the Committee reviews
individual base salaries of the NEOs. Salary increases are based on the Companys overall
performance and the executives attainment of individual objectives during the preceding year in
the context of competitive market data.
The Committee does not assign relative weights or rankings to the different factors described
under the heading Objectives of Executive Compensation Elements Base Salary, but instead makes
a determination based upon the consideration of all of these factors.
18
At its meeting in February 2007, the Committee considered
base salary levels for the NEOs.
Effective for fiscal year 2007, the Committee approved changes to NEO salaries as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
Percent Increase |
|
|
|
|
|
Annualized |
|
|
Annualized |
|
|
(Decrease) for |
|
NEO |
|
2007 Position |
|
Base Salary |
|
|
Base Salary |
|
|
Fiscal Year 2007 |
|
Vinod Gupta |
|
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer |
|
$ |
750,000 |
|
|
$ |
840,000 |
|
|
|
(11 |
)% |
Stormy L. Dean(1) |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
271,000 |
|
|
|
11 |
% |
Edward C. Mallin |
|
President, Services Group |
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Fred Vakili |
|
Executive Vice President of
Administration and Chief Administrative Officer |
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
John H. Longwell(2) |
|
General Counsel and Secretary |
|
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total: |
|
|
|
|
2,480,000 |
|
|
|
2,541,000 |
|
|
|
(2 |
)% |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
During 2006, Mr. Deans salary was increased from $240,000 to $280,000
in recognition of his additional responsibilities associated with
being named the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Longwell was hired November 27, 2006. |
In determining Mr. Guptas salary adjustment, the Committee decided to shift a larger portion
of Mr. Guptas compensation to performance-based incentives and away from base salary.
Annual Cash Incentive Plan. The 2007 annual cash incentive plan was designed to motivate and
reward the NEOs for achievement of high levels of operating performance and to motivate executives
to perform at their highest potential. NEOs were eligible for performance-based cash incentives
under the plan based primarily upon achievement, both by the individual officer and the Company, of
performance goals established for each year, as well as on the Committees assessment of individual
performance.
The Committee set minimum (threshold), target and maximum levels for each performance measure.
With the exception of Mr. Mallin, the 2007 financial performance metric was growth in pre-tax
income. For Mr. Mallin, the 2007 financial performance goal was operational performance relative to
a pre-established group of key accounts.
As a general rule, we believe that performance goals should be set at levels that reflect
excellent performance, superior to the results of median-performing companies in our industry.
Achieving performance goals requires significant effort on the part of the NEOs and the Company. At
the same time, performance goals should be realistically achievable to provide the appropriate
degree of motivation. To achieve this objective, in making the annual determination of the minimum,
target and maximum performance goals, the Committee considers:
|
|
|
the specific circumstances facing the Company in the current year; |
|
|
|
|
financial objectives of our strategic plan; and |
|
|
|
|
stockholder expectations regarding the Companys performance. |
The minimum performance goal reflects the Committees minimum level of acceptable performance.
If the Company does not achieve the minimum performance goal, performance-based cash incentive
awards will not be made. The maximum performance goal reflects a level of performance that would
significantly exceed the Committees, and the Companys expectations of performance.
At the end of each fiscal year, the Committee also completes an assessment of individual
performance relative to the goals that were set at the beginning of each year. These individual
performance goals motivate and reward strong Company performance in relation to key metrics such as
EBITDA, revenue and earnings per share. Specifically, the Committee compared the actual performance
to the benchmarks set, and interpolated the amount of bonus to be paid to each individual based on
actual company performance.
For 2007, the Committee determined the CEO earned a performance-based cash incentive award of
$995,625. The metrics were slightly different than those for other individuals; specifically, the
Committee focused on EBITDA and free cash flow. The interpolation process used by the Committee to
determine the final amount was the same for the CEO and all NEOs.
19
2007 Levels
NEOs Other Than CEO
For 2007, the Committee set the following performance measures and the performance levels
required in order for the NEOs,
other than the CEO, to earn the indicated cash bonus. Each of the performance measures was
weighted equally.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance Measures |
|
Threshold |
|
Target |
|
Maximum |
Revenue |
|
$625 million |
|
$630 million |
|
$636 million |
EBITDA |
|
$119 million |
|
$125 million |
|
$131 million |
EPS |
|
69¢ per share |
|
76¢ per share |
|
81¢ per share |
Year End Bonus As % of Salary |
|
25% of salary |
|
60% of salary |
|
100% of salary |
For 2007, the Committee set the following performance measures and performance levels required
to be achieved in order for the CEO to earn the indicated cash bonus.
CEO
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance Levels |
|
Performance Measures |
|
Award Potential |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA + |
|
EBITDA + |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Target Cash |
|
Above Target |
|
|
EBITDA |
|
Cash Flow |
|
EBITDA Only |
|
Flow |
|
Cash Flow |
Threshold |
|
$119.0 m |
|
$75.0 m |
|
$375,000 |
|
$375,000 |
|
$375,000 |
|
|
|
$122.0 m |
|
$76.6 m |
|
$656,250 |
|
$656,250 |
|
$656,250 |
|
Target |
|
$125.0 m |
|
$78.1 m |
|
$937,500 |
|
$937,500 |
|
$937,500 |
|
|
|
$128.0 m |
|
$79.8 m |
|
$1,031,250 |
|
$1,218,750 |
|
$1,500,000 |
|
Maximum |
|
$131.0 m |
|
$81.5 m |
|
$1,125,000 |
|
$1,500,000 |
|
$1,500,000 |
The Committee used straight line interpolation in determining performance between threshold, target
and maximum performance levels. The performance measures and targets disclosed above are done so
solely in the context of the annual cash incentive plan for 2007 and are not statements of
managements expectations or estimates of future results or other guidance. Investors are cautioned
not to apply these statements to other contexts.
The exhibit below shows the threshold, target, maximum performance-based cash incentive
opportunity and actual performance-based cash award for each executive (after interpolation).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Actual |
|
|
Annual Performance-Based Cash |
|
Performance-Based |
|
|
Incentive Opportunity |
|
Cash Award (After |
NEO |
|
Threshold |
|
Target |
|
Maximum |
|
Interpolation) |
Vinod Gupta |
|
$ |
375,000 |
|
|
$ |
937,500 |
|
|
$ |
1,500,000 |
|
|
$ |
995,625 |
|
Stormy L. Dean |
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
180,000 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
236,100 |
|
Edward C. Mallin |
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
360,000 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
472,200 |
|
Fred Vakili |
|
|
120,000 |
|
|
|
288,000 |
|
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
377,760 |
|
John H. Longwell |
|
|
87,500 |
|
|
|
210,000 |
|
|
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
275,450 |
|
As previously discussed, the Committee also retains the authority to provide discretionary
cash bonuses to NEOs based on several factors, including actual performance not warranting an
incentive award because of changing business conditions and the completion of special projects
(such as a business acquisition) or strategic initiatives, among others. For fiscal year 2007, the
Committee awarded discretionary cash bonuses to each NEO, other than Mr. Gupta and Mr. Mallin.
Messrs. Dean, Longwell and Vakili received $100,000, $25,000 and $100,000, respectively for their
performances related to the Naviant Settlement. Mr. Longwell also was awarded a cash bonus of
$7,500 because he was unable to participate in the Companys 401(k) program when he first joined
our Company. In addition, Mr. Longwell also received a cash award of $75,000 as part of his
employment arrangement with the Company.
20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total 2007 Base Salary, |
|
|
2007 |
|
Performance |
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive Award |
NEO |
|
Base Salary |
|
Incentive Award |
|
Cash Bonus |
|
and Cash Bonus |
Vinod Gupta |
|
$ |
750,000 |
|
|
$ |
995,625 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
1,745,625 |
|
Stormy L. Dean |
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
236,100 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
636,100 |
|
Edward C. Mallin |
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
472,200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,072,200 |
|
Fred Vakili |
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
377,760 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
957,760 |
|
John H. Longwell |
|
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
275,450 |
|
|
|
107,500 |
|
|
|
732,950 |
|
Long-term Equity Incentives. As discussed above, no stock option grants or other equity
awards were made in fiscal year 2007. During 2008, the Committee plans to review its prior focus on
cash compensation with a view to adding an equity-based component. The equity-based component would
be designed to provide significant incentives directly linked to the long-term performance of the
Company.
Other Personal Benefits and Perquisites. Our NEOs are entitled to participate in the same
health, welfare and retirement programs offered to all employees. These coverages include a
tax-qualified 401(k), medical, dental and vision coverage, wellness programs, use of our employee
assistance program, short and long-term disability, and paid time off in accordance with company
policies. For programs to which employees contribute premiums, executives are subject to the same
premium structure as other exempt employees.
In addition to the benefits programs described above, we also provide our executives with
certain perquisites of a more personal nature, to the extent they serve a legitimate business
function. However, the Special Litigation Committees review, described in greater detail under
" Objectives of Executive Compensation Elements Benefits and Perquisites, has found that
various expense reimbursements and corporate expenditures were excessive. Based on its review, the
Special Litigation Committee has approved a series of remedial measures relating to perquisites and
personal benefits, including a new review and approval process. We are in the process of
implementing these remedial measures. For information on the perquisites and personal benefits
received by the NEOs during fiscal years 2006 and 2007, please see the All Other Compensation
column in the Summary Compensation Table and related discussion in the footnotes thereto under
this Item 11, Executive Compensation of this Annual Report. See Item 9A, Controls and
Procedures of this Annual Report for more information on the Special Litigation Committees
findings and remedial measures.
The Special Litigation Committees review, described in greater detail under Investigation of
the Special Committee in Item 9A has found that various expense reimbursements and corporate
expenditures were excessive. The policies on personal benefits and perquisites were not detailed
and the decision making process on the award of personal benefits was inadequate to assure
communication to financial management to prevent excessive expense reimbursements and corporate
expenditures, including personal benefits and perquisites with respect to yachts, aircraft,
automobiles, and club memberships. Based on its review, the Special Litigation Committee has
approved a series of remedial measures relating to perquisites and personal benefits, including a
new review and approval process. We are in the process of implementing these remedial measures.
Remedial actions adopted by the Special Litigation Committee covering these policies and
procedures include actions discussed on page 11 of the 10-K/A that require:
|
|
|
expense reimbursements to be subject to uniform, company-wide policies and
procedures, see Policy on Company Reimbursement of Expenses and Executive Vice
President for Business Conduct and General Counsel; |
|
|
|
|
independent directors to approve and implement detailed policies regarding
perquisites, see New Policies Regarding Perquisites ; and |
|
|
|
|
independent directors to approve and implement a new related party transaction
policy, see New Related Party Transaction. |
Additional information with respect to the new policies to be implemented is also provided in the
bullet points on page 7 of the Form 10-K/A.
Severance and Change in Control Considerations
Each NEO, other than Mr. Gupta and Mr. Longwell, is a party to a severance agreement with the
Company that provides for certain payments upon termination of employment and/or change in control.
These severance agreements were entered into with the NEOs in February 2006.
When the Company entered into these severance agreements, it was determined that such
arrangements were appropriate based
21
on their prevalence within the information collection and distribution industry, as well as
for public companies in general, and the dynamic nature of mergers and acquisitions activity within
the industry. Given the nature of the responsibilities of the NEOs, we also recognize that they
could be involved in critical decisions relating to a potential change in control transactions and
responsible for the successful implementation of such transactions, while being at risk of losing
their jobs if a change in control occurs. The severance agreements are intended to provide
sufficient protection for the NEOs to permit them to consider potential transactions that are in
the best interest of our stockholders without being unduly influenced by the possible effects of
the transaction on their personal employment situation and individual compensation.
As part of the Special Litigation Committees remedial measures, which are described in
greater detail under Item 9A, Controls and Procedures of this Annual Report, within 60 days of
the entry of judgment in connection with the Derivative Litigation, the Committee will endeavor to
negotiate and approve employment agreements with the executive officers of the Company, including
compensation terms commensurate with those of executive officers of similarly situated companies.
The Committee plans to review the existing severance agreements in the context of reviewing and
approving employment agreements with the executive officers.
The severance agreements are described in greater detail in this Item 11, Executive
Compensation under the heading Other Potential Post-Employment Payments Severance Agreements.
Tax and Accounting Considerations
The Committee considers the tax impact and accounting considerations of our compensation
programs on the Company as well as on the NEOs from a personal perspective. For example, the
Committee has considered the impact of tax provisions such as Section 162(m) in structuring our
executive compensation program and, to the extent reasonably possible, in consideration of
compensation goals and objectives, the compensation paid to the NEOs has been structured so as to
qualify as performance-based and deductible for federal income tax purposes under Section 162(m).
However, in consideration of the competitive nature of the market for executive talent, the
Committee believes it is more important to deliver situation-appropriate and competitive
compensation to drive shareholder value than to use a particular compensation practice or structure
solely to ensure tax deductibility. Tax and accounting considerations are one of the many key
elements of the Committees decision-making process.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis
required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management and, based on such review and discussion,
the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion
and Analysis be included in this Annual Report.
Respectfully submitted by the Compensation Committee*:
Bernard W. Reznicek (Chair)
Dr. George F. Haddix**
The information contained in the Compensation Committee Report in this Form 10-K is not deemed
to be soliciting material or to be filed with the SEC or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C under
the Exchange Act or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and will not be deemed to
be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the
Exchange Act, except to the extent we specifically incorporate it by reference into such a filing.
|
|
|
* |
|
Mr. Robin S. Chandra became a member of the Companys Board of Directors in December 2007
and a member of the Compensation Committee effective January 25, 2008. As a result, he did not
participate in, or oversee as a member of the Board of Directors, the decisions of the Compensation
Committee with respect to the compensation of the Companys executive officers during fiscal year
2007. |
|
** |
|
Dr. Haddix became a member of the Compensation Committee effective January 25, 2008. |
22
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth the compensation paid by the Company for fiscal year 2007 and
2006 to the Companys Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and each of the Companys
three most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers as of
December 31, 2007 and whose total compensation exceeded $100,000 for fiscal year 2007
(collectively, the Named Executive Officers or NEOs):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option |
|
Incentive Plan |
|
All Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
Awards |
|
Compensation |
|
Compensation |
|
Total |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
($)(1) |
|
($)(4) |
|
($)(5) |
|
($)(4) |
|
($)(6) |
|
($) |
Vinod Gupta |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
$ |
750,000 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
746,738 |
|
|
$ |
995,625 |
|
|
$ |
818,248 |
|
|
$ |
3,310,611 |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
836,539 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
987,546 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
646,931 |
|
|
|
2,471,016 |
|
(Principal Executive
Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stormy L. Dean |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
236,100 |
|
|
|
48,250 |
|
|
|
684,350 |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
270,769 |
(2) |
|
|
46,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
144,000 |
|
|
|
9,600 |
|
|
|
470,369 |
|
(Principal Financial
Officer; Principal
Accounting Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edward C. Mallin |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,312 |
|
|
|
472,200 |
|
|
|
102,750 |
|
|
|
1,178,262 |
|
President, Services Group |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
597,692 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
22,931 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
102,600 |
|
|
|
1,023,223 |
|
Fred Vakili |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
2,321 |
|
|
|
377,760 |
|
|
|
81,808 |
|
|
|
1,041,889 |
|
Executive
Vice President of |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
475,385 |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
15,762 |
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
69,452 |
|
|
|
840,599 |
|
Administration & Chief
Administrative Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John H. Longwell |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
107,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
275,450 |
|
|
|
12,338 |
|
|
|
745,288 |
|
General Counsel & Secretary |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
26,923 |
(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
126,923 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The dollar amount for the base salary of each executive officer varies
slightly from that presented under the heading Compensation
Discussion and Analysis due to the timing of the Companys pay cycle. |
|
(2) |
|
During 2006, Mr. Deans salary was increased from $240,000 to $280,000
in recognition of his additional responsibilities associated with
being named the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. |
|
(3) |
|
Mr. Longwell was hired November 27, 2006. |
|
(4) |
|
See Compensation Discussion and Analysis Executive Compensation
Decisions for Fiscal Year 2007 for a discussion of how the bonus and
incentive award amounts were determined. |
|
(5) |
|
Represents the amount recognized for financial statement reporting
purposes with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 in
accordance with SFAS 123R for awards of options under our 1997 Stock
Option Plan, as amended. The following table summarizes the
assumptions used in the valuation of option awards. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 Fiscal |
|
|
2006 Fiscal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
Assumptions |
|
|
Year |
|
|
Year |
|
|
|
Grant |
|
|
Shares of |
|
|
Dividend |
|
|
Risk-Free |
|
|
Expected |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forfeiture |
|
|
Compensation |
|
|
Compensation |
|
Name |
|
Date |
|
|
Stock Granted |
|
|
Yield Rate |
|
|
Rate |
|
|
Term |
|
|
Volatility |
|
|
Rate |
|
|
Cost |
|
|
Cost |
|
V. Gupta |
|
|
05/03/2002 |
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
|
% |
|
|
2.87 |
% |
|
|
4.67 |
|
|
|
89.06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
10,317 |
|
|
|
|
07/24/2003 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.87 |
|
|
|
4.67 |
|
|
|
89.06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39,728 |
|
|
|
270,226 |
|
|
|
|
03/10/2005 |
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
1.71 |
|
|
|
4.42 |
|
|
|
7.50 |
|
|
|
76.99 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
707,010 |
|
|
|
707,003 |
|
E. Mallin |
|
|
05/03/2002 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.87 |
|
|
|
4.67 |
|
|
|
89.06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
413 |
|
|
|
|
07/24/2003 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.87 |
|
|
|
4.67 |
|
|
|
89.06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,312 |
|
|
|
22,518 |
|
F. Vakili |
|
|
07/24/2003 |
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.87 |
|
|
|
4.67 |
|
|
|
89.06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,321 |
|
|
|
15,762 |
|
|
|
|
(6) |
|
The following tables summarize the benefits included in the All Other
Compensation column. As described in greater detail under
Compensation Discussion and Analysis Objectives of Executive
Compensation Elements Benefits and Perquisites, the Special
Litigation Committee reviewed, among other things, certain expense
reimbursements and certain other corporate expenditures and concluded
that certain reimbursements and corporate expenditures were excessive.
Based on its review, the Special Litigation Committee has approved a
series of remedial measures relating to perquisites and personal
benefits, including a new review and approval process. The Company is
in the process of implementing these remedial measures. In light of
the Special Litigation Committees findings and the incomplete status
of implementation of new remedial measures, the Company has taken a
conservative approach to the disclosure of perquisites and personal
benefits received by the NEOs for fiscal year 2007 and revised the
disclosure for fiscal year 2006. The Company has attributed the value
of such expenses to the relevant NEO as a perquisite or a personal
benefit for purposes of this Annual Report disclosure. See Item 9A,
Controls and Procedures of this Annual Report for more information
on the Special Litigation Committees findings and remedial measures. |
23
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
Mr. Gupta(a) |
|
|
Mr. Dean |
|
|
Mr. Mallin |
|
|
Mr. Vakili |
|
|
Mr. Longwell |
|
Benefit from Company yacht(b) |
|
$ |
5,836 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Benefit from Company
automobiles(c) |
|
|
66,354 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,022 |
|
|
|
|
|
Benefit from Company aircraft(d) |
|
|
152,903 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,036 |
|
|
|
5,588 |
|
Benefit from club memberships(e) |
|
|
63,528 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expense reimbursement(f) |
|
|
156,682 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Personnel services(g) |
|
|
124,285 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Personal legal fees(h) |
|
|
145,910 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prize money
in a Company-sponsored contest(i) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home office allowance(j) |
|
|
96,000 |
|
|
|
24,000 |
|
|
|
96,000 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Automobile allowance(k) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
401(k) plan contributions(l) |
|
|
6,750 |
|
|
|
6,750 |
|
|
|
6,750 |
|
|
|
6,750 |
|
|
|
6,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
818,248 |
|
|
$ |
48,250 |
|
|
$ |
102,750 |
|
|
$ |
81,808 |
|
|
$ |
12,338 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
Mr. Gupta(a) |
|
|
Mr. Dean |
|
|
Mr. Mallin |
|
|
Mr. Vakili |
|
Benefit from Company yacht(b) |
|
$ |
11,376 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Benefit from Company automobiles(c) |
|
|
81,588 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,968 |
|
Benefit from Company aircraft(d) |
|
|
125,708 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,884 |
|
Benefit from club memberships(e) |
|
|
67,551 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expense reimbursement(f) |
|
|
123,512 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Personnel services(g) |
|
|
124,596 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home office allowance(j) |
|
|
96,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
96,000 |
|
|
|
48,000 |
|
Automobile allowance(k) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
401(k) plan contributions(l) |
|
|
6,600 |
|
|
|
6,600 |
|
|
|
6,600 |
|
|
|
6,600 |
|
Executive compensation consultant(m) |
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
646,931 |
|
|
$ |
9,600 |
|
|
$ |
102,600 |
|
|
$ |
69,452 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) |
|
As described under Item 13 Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions, and Director Independence of this Annual Report, the
Company made payments during 2006 and 2007 to Jess Gupta, Mr. Guptas
son, of approximately $48,000 for rent and $11,000 for condominium
association dues for a residence owned by Jess Gupta and used on
occasion by Company employees and other persons with a business
relationship with the Company. However, after these payments are
reduced by (1) amounts attributable to the use of the property for
business purposes by Company employees or other persons with a
business relationship with the Company, as calculated on a per-day
basis using the rates of nearby hotels, and (2) amounts attributable
to the use of other properties owned by Mr. Gupta for business
purposes by Company employees or other persons with a business
relationship with the Company for which the Company was not charged a
rental fee, as calculated on a per-day basis using the rates of hotels
in comparable locations, no net benefit to Mr. Gupta remains, and
therefore no amount has been included in the table above. |
|
(b) |
|
Represents the aggregate incremental cost to the Company during the
fiscal year of use of a Company-owned yacht by Mr. Gupta and his
guests. We calculated the incremental cost of the use of the yacht by
adding the operational cost of the yacht (including fuel, crew cost
and catering), the depreciation recorded with respect to the yacht and
the interest expenses associated with the yacht, in each case
pro-rated based on the number of days spent on board. Mr. Gupta
believes that the Company has listed in this category expenses that
were reasonable business expenses and that were integrally and
directly related to the performance of his executive duties and/or did
not provide any personal benefit to him. |
24
|
|
|
|
(c) |
|
Represents the aggregate incremental cost to the Company during the
fiscal year of use of Company-owned or leased automobiles by
Messrs. Gupta and Vakili. We calculated the cost of the use of the
automobiles by adding the lease payments with respect to
Company-leased automobiles, the depreciation recorded with respect to
Company-owned automobiles and the insurance premiums. Mr. Gupta
believes that the Company has listed in this category expenses that
were reasonable business expenses and that were integrally and
directly related to the performance of his executive duties and/or did
not provide any personal benefit to him. |
|
(d) |
|
Represents the cost to the Company of use of Company-owned fractional
ownership interests in aircraft by Messrs. Gupta, Vakili, and Longwell
and their respective guests during 2007 and by Messrs. Gupta and
Vakili and their respective guests during 2006. With respect to
flights undertaken for business purposes, no value has been attributed
to additional passengers (including friends, family members and other
guests) because the Company is billed for flights by the hour,
regardless of the number of passengers, and therefore such passengers
add only de minimis cost to such flights. Mr. Gupta believes that the
Company has listed in this category expenses that were reasonable
business expenses and that were integrally and directly related to the
performance of his executive duties and/or did not provide any
personal benefit to him. |
|
(e) |
|
Represents payments by the Company during the fiscal year of usage
fees, entertainment expenses and other expenses, as well as of one
half of periodic dues, in connection with the use by Mr. Gupta, his
guests, and Company employees of golf club and country club
memberships (the remainder of the periodic dues are paid directly by
Mr. Gupta). Mr. Gupta believes that the Company has listed in this
category expenses that were reasonable business expenses and that were
integrally and directly related to the performance of his executive
duties and/or did not provide any personal benefit to him. |
|
(f) |
|
Represents payments by the Company during the fiscal year of expenses
charged by Mr. Gupta to various credit cards for expense
reimbursement. The Company reviewed credit cards statements in detail
based on the information available, and classified as perquisite
entries with respect to which the Company was unable to identify
adequate support to conclude that the expenditures were integrally and
directly related to the performance of Mr. Guptas duties. Mr. Gupta
believes that the Company has listed in this category expenses that
were reasonable business expenses and that were integrally and
directly related to the performance of his executive duties and/or did
not provide any personal benefit to him. |
|
(g) |
|
Represents payments by the Company during the fiscal year of salaries
and expenses related to the rendering of property management and other
services to assist Mr. Gupta including, with respect to 2006, payments
by the Company pursuant to a services contract with a company
affiliated with a relative of Mr. Gupta. Mr. Gupta believes that the
Company has listed in this category expenses that were reasonable
business expenses and that were integrally and directly related to the
performance of his executive duties and/or did not provide any
personal benefit to him. |
|
(h) |
|
Represents payments by the Company during the fiscal year of personal
legal fees incurred by Mr. Gupta. |
|
(i) |
|
Represents prize money paid by the Company to Mr. Dean as the winner
of a Company-sponsored contest. |
|
(j) |
|
Represents payments by the Company during 2007 with respect to
Messrs. Gupta, Dean, Mallin and Vakili and during 2006 with respect to
Messrs. Gupta, Mallin and Vakili of costs associated with enabling
them to perform their business responsibilities from their homes. |
|
(k) |
|
Represents payments by the Company during the fiscal year of costs
associated with the use by Mr. Dean of his personal automobile. |
|
(l) |
|
Represents matching Company contributions to the Company 401(k) plan. |
|
(m) |
|
Represents payments by the Company during 2006 of expenses associated
with retaining an executive compensation consultant for Mr. Gupta. |
25
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan |
|
|
Awards(1) |
Name |
|
Threshold($) |
|
Target($) |
|
Maximum($) |
V. Gupta |
|
$ |
375,000 |
|
|
$ |
937,500 |
|
|
$ |
1,500,000 |
|
S. Dean |
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
180,000 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
E. Mallin |
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
360,000 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
F. Vakili |
|
|
120,000 |
|
|
|
288,000 |
|
|
|
480,000 |
|
J. Longwell |
|
|
87,500 |
|
|
|
210,000 |
|
|
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
These columns reflect potential awards under our 2007 Plan. The
components of this plan are discussed in more detail under the heading
Compensation Discussion and Analysis Executive Compensation for
Fiscal Year 2007. Actual payouts for 2007 are disclosed in the
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary
Compensation Table. The grant date for these awards was February 1,
2007 for all NEOs, except with respect to Mr. Gupta, whose award grant
date was April 17, 2007. |
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities |
|
Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying |
|
Underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unexercised |
|
Unexercised |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options |
|
Options |
|
Option |
|
Option |
|
|
(#) |
|
(#) |
|
Exercise |
|
Expiration |
Name |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
Price($) |
|
Date |
V. Gupta |
|
|
|
|
|
|
500,000 |
(1) |
|
|
12.60 |
|
|
|
3/10/2015 |
|
S. Dean |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Mallin |
|
|
50,000 |
(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.11 |
|
|
|
7/24/2008 |
|
F. Vakili |
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.11 |
|
|
|
7/24/2008 |
|
J. Longwell |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
These options were granted under the Companys 1997 Stock Option Plan,
as amended, on March 10, 2005. These options will vest 30% on March 10,
2008, 15% on March 10, 2009, 15% on March 10, 2010, 15% on March 10,
2011, 15% on March 10, 2012 and 10% on March 10, 2013. These options
have a term of 10 years. Options for 500,000 shares granted on May 3,
2002, expired on May 3, 2007. |
|
(2) |
|
Options for 20,000 shares granted on May 3, 2002, expired on May 3, 2007. |
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED IN FISCAL YEAR 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
Value Realized |
|
|
Acquired on Exercise |
|
on Exercise |
Name |
|
(#) |
|
($)(1) |
V. Gupta |
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
$ |
708,000 |
|
S. Dean |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Mallin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Vakili |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Longwell |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The value realized is calculated based on the difference between the
market price of the Companys common stock on the date of exercise and
the exercise price. |
OTHER POTENTIAL POST-EMPLOYMENT PAYMENTS
Severance Agreements
In February 2006, the Company entered into severance agreements with Edward C. Mallin, Fred
Vakili and Stormy L. Dean. Each of the severance agreements provides that if the executives
employment is terminated either (i) by the Company for any reason other than Cause (as defined in
the severance agreement), or (ii) by the executive for Good Reason (as defined in the severance
26
agreement), the Company will make payments to the executive at a rate equal to the executives
Total Compensation (as defined below) for a period from 6 months to 24 months, depending on the
length of service completed by the executive. In addition, if the executive elects to continue
health and/or dental insurance coverage under COBRA, the Company will pay the employer portion of
the monthly premium until the executive obtains substantially equivalent insurance coverage, but,
in any event, for not more than 12 months. Total Compensation means the executives base salary
as in effect at the time of termination, plus the average of the executives annual bonus amount
for the three calendar years preceding the year in which the executives employment terminates. If
the Company becomes subject to a Change in Control (as defined below) and within twelve (12) months
after such Change in Control, the executives employment is terminated either (i) by the Company
for any reason other than Cause, or (ii) by the executive for Good Reason, the Company shall pay to
the executive a lump sum based on the executives Total Compensation. The amount of the lump sum
will be from one time up to three times the executives Total Compensation, depending on the length
of service completed by the executive, together with additional payments sufficient to compensate
for certain federal excise taxes. In addition, if the executive elects to continue health and/or
dental insurance coverage under COBRA, the Company will pay the employer portion of the monthly
premium until the executive obtains substantially equivalent insurance coverage, but, in any event,
for not more than 12 months. Also, all shares of capital stock, stock options, performance units,
stock appreciation rights or other derivative securities of the Company held by the executive at
the time of termination will become fully vested and exercisable. If the executives employment
terminates as a result of the executives death or Disability (as defined in the severance
agreement), the Company shall pay the executives accrued compensation through the termination
date, and a pro rata portion of the executives target bonus for the year in which termination
occurs. To receive any severance benefits, the executive must execute a general release of all
claims against the Company and must refrain from competing with the Company and from soliciting the
Companys employees for a period of up to 12 months after the date of termination. If it is
determined that any payment or distribution will be subject to the excise tax imposed under
Internal Revenue Code Section 280G, then the executive will be entitled to receive an additional
payment or gross up to ensure that severance payments are not diminished.
For purposes of the severance agreements, a Change in Control includes (i) the consummation
of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or any other corporate
reorganization, if persons who were not stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such
merger, consolidation or other reorganization own immediately after such merger, consolidation or
other reorganization 50% or more of the voting power of the outstanding securities of each of (A)
the continuing or surviving entity and (B) any direct or indirect parent corporation of such
continuing or surviving entity; (ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Companys assets; (iii) a change in the majority of the board of directors
without the approval of the incumbent board; (iv) any incumbent director who beneficially owns more
than twenty percent (20%) of the total voting power represented by the Companys then outstanding
voting securities involuntarily ceasing to be a director; or (v) any transaction as a result of
which any person first becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing at least 15% of the total
voting power represented by the Companys then outstanding voting securities.
Potential Payments under the Severance Agreements
The following tables set forth the payments the NEOs, other than Mr. Gupta and Mr. Longwell,
who are not a party to a severance agreement with the Company, would receive if they were
terminated as of December 31, 2007.
Potential Payments to Stormy L. Dean upon the Occurrence of Certain Events
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Control of |
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company with |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination |
|
Termination |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
the Executives |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination |
|
by the |
|
by the |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination |
|
|
|
|
|
|
by the |
|
Executive |
|
Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
for Good |
|
|
Voluntary |
|
Company |
|
for Good |
|
without |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reason or |
Component of Compensation |
|
Termination |
|
for Cause |
|
Reason |
|
Cause |
|
Disability |
|
Death |
|
without Cause |
Cash Severance (base
salary + bonus) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
592,033 |
|
|
$ |
592,033 |
|
|
$ |
156,100 |
|
|
$ |
748,133 |
|
|
$ |
592,033 |
|
Stock Options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Health Insurance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,893 |
|
|
|
11,893 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,893 |
|
Life Insurance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Disability Pay |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,757,260 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued Vacation Pay |
|
|
34,615 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34,615 |
|
|
|
34,615 |
|
|
|
34,615 |
|
|
|
34,615 |
|
|
|
34,615 |
|
Potential Payments to Edward C. Mallin upon the Occurrence of Certain Events
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
Change in |
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|
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|
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Control of |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company with |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination |
|
Termination |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
the Executives |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination |
|
by the |
|
by the |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination |
|
|
|
|
|
|
by the |
|
Executive |
|
Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
for Good |
|
|
Voluntary |
|
Company |
|
for Good |
|
without |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reason or |
Component of Compensation |
|
Termination |
|
for Cause |
|
Reason |
|
Cause |
|
Disability |
|
Death |
|
without Cause |
Cash Severance (base
salary + bonus) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
1,557,400 |
|
|
$ |
1,557,400 |
|
|
$ |
112,200 |
|
|
$ |
1,669,600 |
|
|
$ |
1,557,400 |
|
Stock Options(1) |
|
|
41,000 |
|
|
|
41,000 |
|
|
|
41,000 |
|
|
|
41,000 |
|
|
|
41,000 |
|
|
|
41,000 |
|
|
|
41,000 |
|
Health Insurance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,488 |
|
|
|
8,488 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,488 |
|
Life Insurance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Disability Pay |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
854,795 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Stock option payments for voluntary termination and termination for
cause are based on the amount of options vested on the termination
date. For all other termination events, the payments are based on
accelerating all options to vest on the termination date. The value of
the stock option payments are calculated based on the difference
between the closing price of the Companys common stock on the NASDAQ
Global Select Market on December 31, 2007 and the exercise price. |
Potential Payments to Fred Vakili upon the Occurrence of Certain Events
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
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|
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|
Change in |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Control of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company with |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination |
|
Termination |
|
by the |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
the Executives |
|
|
|
|
|
|
by the |
|
by the |
|
Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination for |
|
|
Voluntary |
|
Company |
|
Executive for |
|
without |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good Reason or |
Component of Compensation |
|
Termination |
|
for Cause |
|
Reason |
|
Cause |
|
Disability |
|
Death |
|
without Cause |
Cash Severance (base
salary + bonus) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
1,259,253 |
|
|
$ |
1,259,253 |
|
|
$ |
189,760 |
|
|
$ |
1,449,013 |
|
|
$ |
1,259,253 |
|
Stock Options(1) |
|
|
28,700 |
|
|
|
28,700 |
|
|
|
28,700 |
|
|
|
28,700 |
|
|
|
28,700 |
|
|
|
28,700 |
|
|
|
28,700 |
|
Health Insurance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,488 |
|
|
|
8,488 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,488 |
|
Life Insurance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Disability Pay |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,293,370 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued Vacation Pay |
|
|
55,385 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
55,385 |
|
|
|
55,385 |
|
|
|
55,385 |
|
|
|
55,385 |
|
|
|
55,385 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Stock option payments for voluntary termination and termination for
cause are based on the amount of options vested on the termination
date. For all other termination events, the payments are based on
accelerating all options to vest on the termination date. The value of
the stock option payments are calculated based on the difference
between the closing price of the Companys common stock on the NASDAQ
Global Select Market on December 31, 2007 and the exercise price. |
BOARD COMPENSATION
Effective October 1, 2007, non-employee directors receive an annual cash retainer of $120,000,
payable in monthly installments of $10,000 each. For the period from January 1, 2007 through
September 30, 2007, non-employee directors received an annual cash retainer of $48,000, payable in
monthly installments of $4,000 each. Mr. Vinod Gupta does not receive compensation for his service
on the Board of Directors.
Currently, the chair of each standing Board committee, in addition to other compensation he
receives for services as a director, receives an annual cash retainer of $20,000, payable in
monthly installments of $1,667 each. The Lead Independent Director receives, in addition to other
compensation he receives for services as a director or a committee chair, an additional annual cash
retainer of $5,000, payable in monthly installments of $417 each. Members of a non-standing Board
committee, including the Special Litigation Committee, each receive a cash retainer of $50,000,
payable at the creation date of that committee, and an additional per meeting fee of $4,000 if
travel is required or $2,000 if travel is not required.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees |
|
|
|
|
Earned or |
|
|
|
|
Paid in Cash |
|
Total |
Name |
|
($) |
|
($) |
Bill L. Fairfield |
|
$ |
208,250 |
|
|
$ |
208,250 |
|
Bernard W. Reznicek |
|
|
190,000 |
|
|
|
190,000 |
|
Dr. George F. Haddix |
|
|
180,000 |
|
|
|
180,000 |
|
Dr. Vasant H. Raval |
|
|
89,000 |
|
|
|
89,000 |
|
Elliot S. Kaplan |
|
|
66,000 |
|
|
|
66,000 |
|
Dennis P. Walker(1) |
|
|
66,000 |
|
|
|
66,000 |
|
Anshoo Gupta(2) |
|
|
66,000 |
|
|
|
66,000 |
|
John N. Staples III(3) |
|
|
17,333 |
|
|
|
17,333 |
|
Martin F. Kahn(4) |
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
Clifton T. Weatherford(5) |
|
|
4,581 |
|
|
|
4,581 |
|
George Krauss(6) |
|
|
4,581 |
|
|
|
4,581 |
|
Robin S. Chandra(7) |
|
|
4,581 |
|
|
|
4,581 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Mr. Walker resigned from the Board of Directors effective January 25, 2008. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Anshoo Gupta died December 19, 2007. |
|
(3) |
|
Mr. Staples was elected to the Board of Directors effective November 9, 2007. |
28
|
|
|
(4) |
|
Mr. Kahn resigned from the Board of Directors effective February 2, 2007. |
|
(5) |
|
Mr. Weatherford was elected to the Board of Directors effective December 24, 2007. |
|
(6) |
|
Mr. Krauss was elected to the Board of Directors effective December 24, 2007. |
|
(7) |
|
Mr. Chandra was elected to the Board of Directors effective December 24, 2007. |
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR EQUITY AWARDS
AT FISCAL YEAR-END
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Option |
|
|
Awards |
Name |
|
(#)(1) |
Bill L. Fairfield |
|
|
|
|
Bernard W. Reznicek |
|
|
|
|
Dr. George F. Haddix |
|
|
10,000 |
|
Dr. Vasant H. Raval |
|
|
|
|
Elliot S. Kaplan |
|
|
10,000 |
|
Dennis P. Walker |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Certain Board members have in the past received awards of options
under our 1997 Stock Option Plan, as amended. These options were all
granted prior to 2007, had a five-year term, and vested on their
respective grant dates. |
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
Currently, the following individuals serve as members of the Compensation Committee: Bernard
W. Reznicek (Chair), Dr. George F. Haddix and Robin S. Chandra. Prior members of the Compensation
Committee in 2007 included Anshoo Gupta, Dennis P. Walker and Bill L. Fairfield. No member of the
Compensation Committee is or ever has been an executive officer or employee of the Company (or any
of its subsidiaries), and no compensation committee interlocks existed during fiscal year 2007.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Laurel Gupta, the spouse of
Vinod Gupta, is an employee of the Company and received $129,996
in salary and compensation for fiscal year 2007. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Gupta was
employed by Cameron Associates in New York as an Investor Relations Executive and worked in
institutional equity sales with Morgan Stanley. Ms. Gupta holds an M.B.A. in Finance from Stern
School of Business at NYU.
As described in greater detail under Item 9A of this Annual Report,
the Special Litigation
Committee reviewed, among other things, certain related party transactions. Based on its
review,
the Special Litigation Committee determined that various related party transactions were excessive
and approved a series of remedial measures relating to related party transactions. See Item 9A of
this Annual Report for more information on the Special Litigation Committees findings and related
remedial measures.
The Special Litigation Committee was not able to confirm the Companys adoption
of any policy
governing related party transactions prior to December 2004. In that month, the
Audit Committee of
the Board of Directors approved a new policy requiring pre-approval of any transaction, whether
individually or in series, amounting to more than $60,000 (the policy was later changed to allow
for any exception to the pre-approval rule in some circumstances). Most of the Companys payments
to related parties had ceased prior to this policys adoption. Payments in two categories found by
the Special Litigation Committee to be excessive continued: payments for a private residence and
payments for a yacht. The private residence payments continued until 2008, and totaled less than
$60,000 per year. The payments for a yacht continued for approximately six months following
December 2004, and also amounted to less than $60,000. Because these payments totaled less than
$60,000 per year, their pre-approval was not required under the new policy.
The Company continued to make payments to at least one related party in a series of
transactions exceeding $60,000, in categories not found by the Special Litigation Committee to be
excessive, after December 2004. Those transactions are discussed further below. The Company did
not have an effective pre-approval process in place; thus, these transactions generally were not
pre-approved by the Audit Committee. The Companys related persons transaction policy has now been
amended, and an effective pre-approval process for material transactions is in place.
As of December 31, 2007, the Companys Code of Business Conduct and Ethics required
authorization of transactions which involved, or gave the appearance of involving, a conflict of
interest, and such authorization had to be provided in accordance with
29
guidelines set and approved by the Board of Directors. According to the Code, such a
conflict might arise when an employee, officer, or director had an interest in a transaction
involving the Corporation. In the absence of authorization of such a transaction in accordance
with approved guidelines, a waiver of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, either by the Board
or its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, was required.
Prior to December 2004, the Board of Directors had not established any policy governing
related party transactions and, therefore, any such transaction would have required a waiver of the
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. The Special Litigation Committee identified a number of these
types of transactions prior to December 2004; however, no waivers of the
Code of Business Conduct
and Ethics were sought or granted.
Under the related party transaction policy established by the Audit Committee of the Board in
December 2004, transactions that totaled less than $60,000 a year would not require pre-approval by
the Audit Committee (and, as such, would not require a waiver of the Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics in the absence of such approval). However, the policy did require approval
of the Audit
Committee of such transactions that exceeded $60,000. If the required approval under these
guidelines was not obtained, a wavier of the Code of Business Conduct
and Ethics would have been
required.
During the course of its investigation, the Special
Litigation Committee determined that at
least one related party relationship with transactions in excess of
$60,000 occurred after the
implementation of the related party transactions policy in 2004, in categories not found by the
Special Litigation Committee to be excessive. The Company retained the law firm of Robins, Kaplan,
Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. to provide certain legal services. Elliot S. Kaplan, a director of the
Company, is a named partner and former Chairman of the Executive Board of Robins, Kaplan, Miller &
Ciresi L.L.P. The Company paid a total of $1,679,484 to this law firm during 2007, which included
$634,750 for its representation, on a contingent fee basis, of the Company in the Naviant
litigation, the settlement of which resulted in net proceeds of $9.9 million to the Company. See
Item 3 Legal Proceedings to this Form 10-K. The existence and amounts of these transactions were
disclosed to, and reviewed and discussed by the Audit Committee. However, we can not determine if
these transactions were approved in strict accordance with the specific requirements of the related
party transactions policy as it existed at the time. Because we can not make that determination,
we also can not determine whether a waiver of the Code of Business Conduct, with respect to these
transactions, was required. No such waiver was sought or granted.
The Company paid $48 thousand for rent, and $11 thousand for association dues during 2007 for
a condominium owned by Jess Gupta, and used by the Company. Jess Gupta is the son of Vinod Gupta.
The Company has adopted a written policy that the Audit Committee pre-approve all transactions
between the Company and our officers, directors, principal stockholders and their affiliates with a
value equal to or greater than $120,000. Any transactions between the Company and our officers,
directors, principal stockholders and their affiliates with a value of less than $120,000 are
reviewed by the Audit Committee but may be approved by the EVP for Business Conduct and General
Counsel (or, in appropriate circumstances, his delegee).
The required information regarding director independence is included in Item 10 of Part III under
the caption Director Independence and Board Committees in this Annual Report.
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
3. Exhibits. The following
Exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into,
this
report:
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit |
|
|
|
|
No. |
|
|
|
Description |
|
|
|
|
|
*23.1
|
|
|
|
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, filed herewith
|
|
|
|
|
|
*31.1
|
|
|
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
*31.2
|
|
|
|
Certification of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
30
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this Report
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto
duly authorized.
|
|
|
|
|
|
infoGROUP Inc.
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ THOMAS OBERDORF
|
|
|
|
Thomas Oberdorf |
|
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
Dated: March 16, 2009
Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report on
Form 10-K/A has been signed below by the following persons on
behalf of the Registrant and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
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Signature |
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Title |
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Date |
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/s/ BERNARD W. REZNICEK
Bernard W. Reznicek
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Chairman of the Board
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March 16, 2009 |
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/s/ BILL L. FAIRFIELD
Bill L. Fairfield
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Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
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March 16, 2009 |
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/s/ THOMAS OBERDORF
Thomas Oberdorf
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Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial and
accounting officer)
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March 16, 2009 |
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/s/ VINOD GUPTA
Vinod Gupta
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Director
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March 16, 2009 |
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/s/ ELLIOT S. KAPLAN
Elliot S. Kaplan
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Director
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March 16, 2009 |
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/s/ GEORGE KRAUSS
George Krauss
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Director
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March 16, 2009 |
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/s/ GARY MORIN
Gary Morin
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Director
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March 16, 2009 |
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/s/ ROGER SIBONI
Roger Siboni
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Director
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March 16, 2009 |
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/s/ JOHN N. STAPLES III
John N. Staples III
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Director
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March 16, 2009 |
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/s/ THOMAS L. THOMAS
Thomas L. Thomas
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Director
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March 16, 2009 |
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/s/ CLIFTON T. WEATHERFORD
Clifton T. Weatherford
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Director
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March 16, 2009 |
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