WWW.EXFILE.COM, INC. -- 15021 -- J2 GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. -- PRE 14A
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
PROXY
STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF
THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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j2
GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
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j2
Global
Communications, Inc.
6922
Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 500
Los
Angeles, California 90028
Dear
Stockholder:
We
cordially invite you to attend the j2 Global Communications, Inc. 2007 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders. The meeting will be held on Thursday, May 3, 2007,
at
10:00 a.m. local time at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, 1755 N. Highland
Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90028.
At
the
meeting, stockholders will vote on important matters. Please take the time
to
carefully read the proposals described in the attached proxy
statement.
Thank
you
for your support of j2 Global Communications.
|
Sincerely,
Richard
S. Ressler
Chairman
of the Board
|
_________________
This
proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card are being mailed to j2
Global
stockholders
beginning about April __, 2007.
j2
Global Communications, Inc.
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To
Be Held on May 3, 2007
We
will
hold the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of j2 Global Communications, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation, at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, 1755 N. Highland
Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90028, on Wednesday, May 3, 2007, at 10:00
a.m.
local time, for the following purposes:
1. |
To
elect five directors to serve for the ensuing year and until their
successors are elected and qualified;
|
2. |
To
approve j2 Global’s 2007 Stock Plan;
and
|
3. |
To
transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
and
any adjournment(s) and postponement(s)
thereof.
|
The
foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement
which is attached to and made a part of this Notice.
The
Board
of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 23, 2007 as the record
date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of and to
vote
at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.
All
stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person.
However, whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting in person, you
are
urged to mark, date, sign and return the enclosed proxy card as promptly as
possible to ensure your representation and the presence of a quorum at the
Annual Meeting. If you submit your proxy and then decide to attend the Annual
Meeting to vote your shares in person, you may still do so. Your proxy is
revocable in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Proxy Statement.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors,
Jeffrey
D. Adelman
Vice
President, General Counsel and
Secretary
|
April
__,
2007
Los
Angeles, California
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ABOUT
THE ANNUAL MEETING
|
1
|
|
|
PROPOSAL
1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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3
|
|
|
PROPOSAL
2 — APPROVAL OF 2007 STOCK PLAN
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5
|
|
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CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
|
7
|
|
|
MEETINGS
AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
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8
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|
|
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION
|
10
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|
|
EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
|
11
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|
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SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
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12
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|
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EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
|
14
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|
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COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE REPORT
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17
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COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
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18
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|
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AUDIT
COMMITTEE REPORT
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24
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|
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INFORMATION
ABOUT J2 GLOBAL’S AUDITORS
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25
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|
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CERTAIN
TRANSACTIONS
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26
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|
|
DEADLINE
FOR SUBMITTING STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND DIRECTOR
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NOMINATIONS
FOR THE NEXT ANNUAL MEETING
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27
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|
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COST
OF ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY SOLICITATION
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27
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HOUSEHOLDING
|
28
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|
|
OTHER
MATTERS
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28
|
j2
Global Communications, Inc.
6922
Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 500, Los Angeles, California 90028
April
__,
2007
_____________
PROXY
STATEMENT
_____________
ABOUT
THE ANNUAL MEETING
Who
Is Soliciting My Vote?
The
Board
of Directors of j2 Global Communications, Inc. (“j2 Global” or the “Company”) is
soliciting your vote at the 2007 Annual Meeting of j2 Global’s
stockholders.
What
Will I Be Voting On?
1. A
proposal to elect five members to the j2 Global Board of Directors (see page
3);
and
2. A
proposal to approve the 2007 Stock Plan (see page 5).
How
Many Votes Do I Have?
You
will
have one vote for every share of j2 Global common stock you owned on March
23,
2007 (the record date).
How
Many Votes Can Be Cast By All Stockholders?
_____________,
which represents the total number of shares of j2 Global common stock that
were
outstanding on the record date.
How
Many Votes Must Be Present to Hold the Meeting?
A
majority of the votes that can be cast, or ____________ votes. We urge you
to
vote by proxy even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, so that we will
know as soon as possible that enough votes will be present for us to hold the
Meeting.
What
is the Required Vote to Approve Each Proposal?
1. For
Proposal 1 - the Election of Directors - the five nominees receiving the highest
number of votes will be elected to the j2 Global Board of Directors, whether
or
not such number of votes for any individual represents a majority of the votes
cast.
2. For
Proposal 2 - Approval of 2007 Stock Plan - approval requires the
affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of common stock present
or represented and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
How
Do I Vote?
You
can
vote either in person at the Annual Meeting, by proxy without attending the
Annual Meeting or as otherwise provided in this mailing.
To
vote
by proxy, you must fill out the enclosed proxy card, date and sign it, and
return it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
If
you
want to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, and you hold your j2 Global stock
through a securities broker (that is, in street name), you must obtain a proxy
from your broker and bring that proxy to the Annual Meeting.
Can
I Revoke My Proxy?
Yes.
Just
send in a new proxy card with a later date or send a written notice of
revocation to j2 Global’s Secretary at 6922 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 500, Los
Angeles, California 90028. In addition, if you attend the Annual Meeting and
want to vote in person, you can request that your previously submitted proxy
not
be used. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not by itself revoke a
proxy.
What
If I Don’t Vote For a Matter Listed On My Proxy Card?
If
you
return a proxy card without indicating your vote, your shares will be voted
FOR
the director nominees listed on the card and FOR approval of j2 Global’s 2007
Stock Plan, and otherwise in accordance with the judgment of the person or
persons voting the proxy on any other matter properly brought before the Annual
Meeting.
What
If I Vote “Abstain”?
Abstentions
are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present for
transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. An abstention has no effect
on
the outcome of Proposal 1 - the Election of Directors. An abstention has the
same effect as a vote against Proposal 2 - Approval of the 2007 Stock
Plan.
Can
My Shares Be Voted If I Don’t Return My Proxy Card and Don’t Attend the Annual
Meeting?
If
you
don’t vote your shares held in street name, your broker may be able to vote your
shares on the matters scheduled to come before the Annual Meeting.
If
your
broker does not have discretion to vote your shares held in street name on
a
particular proposal and you don’t give your broker instructions on how to vote
your shares, or your broker has such discretion but does not exercise it, the
votes will be broker non-votes, which will be counted for purposes of
determining whether a quorum is present for transaction of business at the
Annual Meeting. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the vote for Proposal
1
- the Election of Directors or Proposal 2 - Approval of the 2007 Stock Plan.
If
you
don’t vote your shares held in your name, your shares will not be voted and will
not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present for
transaction of business at the Annual Meeting.
What
Happens if the Meeting is Postponed or Adjourned?
Your
proxy will still be good and may be voted at the postponed or adjourned meeting.
You will still be able to change or revoke your proxy until it is
voted.
Who
Can I Contact if I Have Questions Concerning the Annual
Meeting?
If
you
have any further questions about voting your shares or attending the Annual
Meeting please call or email our Investor Relations Department at 323-657-5371
or investor@j2global.com.
PROPOSAL
1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
General
A
board
of five directors is to be elected at the j2 Global Annual Meeting. Unless
otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote the proxies received by them
for j2 Global’s five nominees named below, each of whom is currently a director
of j2 Global. In the event that any nominee is unable or declines to serve
as a
director at the time of the Annual Meeting, neither of which is expected to
occur, the proxies will be voted for such nominee as shall be designated by
the
current j2 Global Board of Directors to fill the vacancy.
Vote
Required
Each
share of j2 Global common stock may vote for up to five director-nominees.
Votes
may not be cumulated. If a quorum is present, the five nominees receiving the
highest number of votes will be elected to the j2 Global Board of Directors,
whether or not such number of votes for any individual represents a majority
of
the votes cast.
The
term
of office of each person elected as a director will continue until the next
j2
Global Annual Meeting or until his successor has been elected and
qualified.
THE
j2 GLOBAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE NOMINEES LISTED
BELOW.
Nominees
The
names
of the nominees, their ages at the record date and certain other information
about them are set forth below:
Name
|
Age
|
|
Principal
Occupation
|
Director
Since
|
Richard
S. Ressler(3)
|
48
|
|
President,
Orchard Capital Corporation
|
1997
|
John
F. Rieley(4)
|
63
|
|
Entrepreneur
|
1995
|
Michael
P. Schulhof(1)(2)(3)
|
64
|
|
Private
Investor
|
1997
|
Robert
J. Cresci(1)(2)(3)
|
63
|
|
Managing
Director of Pecks Management Partners Ltd.
|
1998
|
Douglas
Y. Bech(1)(2)
|
61
|
|
Chairman
and CEO of Raintree Resorts International, Inc.
|
2000
|
________________
(1)
Member of the Audit Committee
(2)
Member of the Compensation Committee
(3)
Member of the Executive Committee
(4)
Member of the Investor Relations Committee
There
are
no family relationships among any of the directors or executive officers of
j2
Global.
Richard
S. Ressler
has been
Chairman of the Board and a director since 1997 and served as the Company's
Chief Executive Officer from 1997 to 2000, serving in each of these capacities
pursuant to a consulting agreement between the Company and Orchard Capital
Corporation (“Orchard Capital”). Mr. Ressler is the founder and President of
Orchard Capital, a firm that provides investment capital and advice to companies
(including j2 Global) in which Orchard Capital or its affiliates invest. He
has
been President of Orchard Capital since 1994. Mr. Ressler is a Co-Founder and
Principal of CIM Group, Inc. (a real estate investor and manager). Mr. Ressler
is a Co-Founder and Chairman of Orchard First Source Asset Management, LLC
(a
debt investor and manager). Mr. Ressler also serves as a board member for
various private companies.
John
F. Rieley
is a
co-founder and has been a director of j2 Global since 1995. From December 1995
when j2 Global was founded until March 1997, he held various offices with j2
Global. Between March 1997 and December 2004, Mr. Rieley provided consulting
services to j2 Global under an agreement between j2 Global and Boardrush Media
LLC, of which he is the President. In January 2006, Mr. Rieley individually
entered into a consultancy agreement with j2 Global. Mr.
Rieley has managed, marketed and consulted on other projects in the media field,
the airline industry and in public affairs including as President of Flasher
Factory, Inc.
Michael
P. Schulhof
has been
a director of j2 Global since 1997. Mr. Schulhof is a private investor in
the media, communications and entertainment industry and the Chief Executive
Officer of Global Technology Investments, LLC. From 1993 to 1996, he was
President and Chief Executive Officer of Sony Corporation of America.
Mr. Schulhof is a trustee of the New York University Medical Center and the
Brookings Institution.
Robert
J. Cresci
has been
a director of j2 Global since 1998. Mr. Cresci has been a Managing Director
of Pecks Management Partners Ltd., an investment management firm, since 1990.
Mr. Cresci currently serves on the boards of Sepracor, Inc., Luminex
Corporation, Inc., Continucare Corporation and several private
companies.
Douglas
Y. Bech
has
served as a director of j2 Global since November 2000. From August 1988 through
November 2000, he served as a director of eFax.com. Since August 1997,
Mr. Bech has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Raintree
Resorts International, Inc., a company that owns and operates luxury vacation
ownership resorts. Mr. Bech was a founding partner of and, since August
1994, has served as a Managing Director of Raintree Capital, LLC, a merchant
banking firm. Prior to his present position, Mr. Bech practiced law, most
recently from October 1994 to October 1997 as a partner with Akin, Gump,
Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. Mr. Bech currently serves on the board of
Frontier Oil Corporation.
PROPOSAL
2 — APPROVAL OF 2007 STOCK PLAN
On
February 14, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the j2 Global
Communications, Inc. 2007 Stock Plan (the “2007 Plan”). The 2007 Plan is
intended to replace the Company’s Second Amended and Restated 1997 Stock
Option Plan (the “1997 Plan”). The 1997 Plan, which the stockholders previously
approved, will expire in November 2007 in accordance with its terms, but will
continue to govern options previously granted under it. A copy of the 2007
Plan
is attached to this Proxy Statement as “Exhibit A”.
j2
Global
believes that approval of the 2007 Plan is important in attracting and retaining
employees, directors and consultants in a competitive labor market, which is
essential to the Company’s long-term growth and success.
The
2007
Plan appoints the Compensation Committee of j2 Global’s Board of Directors as
the 2007 Plan administrator and provides the Compensation Committee
discretionary authority from time to time to give to employees of j2 Global
or a
subsidiary, members of the Company’s Board of Directors and consultants selected
by the Compensation Committee certain awards in the form of stock options,
including incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, stock appreciation rights, restricted
stock, restricted stock units, performance shares and share units and other
stock-based awards.
As
the
2007 Plan administrator, the Compensation Committee would determine the terms
of
the awards granted, including the exercise price of each option, the number
of
shares subject to each option and covered by each restricted stock or other
award and the vesting or similar terms of each option and restricted stock
or
other award. The 2007 Plan administrator also has the full power to select
the
individuals to whom options and restricted stock or other awards will be granted
and to make any combination of grants to any participants.
In
addition, the 2007 Plan would permit grants of options under it in substitution
for options held by employees of other companies who become eligible to receive
options under the 2007 Plan as a result of a merger, consolidation,
reorganization or similar event. The terms and conditions of those sorts of
2007
Plan options may vary from the terms and conditions otherwise contemplated
by
the 2007 Plan, to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee in order to
conform the terms and conditions of the new options with those of the options
they replace.
Subject
to adjustment for recapitalization events, Section 3.2 of the 2007 Plan
currently sets the maximum number of shares of common stock that may be used
for
2007 Plan purposes at five million. Available shares can be used for any of
the
purposes authorized by the 2007 Plan.
The
2007
Plan provides that any shares subject to 2007 Plan options that expire or are
cancelled unexercised, and any restricted shares that are forfeited on which
no
dividends have been paid (or on which dividends have been paid if the dividends
also are forfeited) again would become available for 2007 Plan purposes.
Having
considered these matters, the Company’s Board of Directors has determined that
it is in the best interests of j2 Global and its stockholders to approve the
2007 Plan. Stockholder approval of the 2007 Plan is required by federal tax
provisions relating to incentive stock options and by NASD rules that apply
to
us.
Although
j2 Global’s Board adopted the 2007 Plan primarily for the reasons discussed
above, you should keep in mind that any or all of the shares authorized under
the 2007 Plan also could be used for grants to any of the Company’s current
executive officers, other officers or directors, as well as to other employees
or consultants. Due to the discretionary nature of the 2007 Plan, j2 Global
cannot predict the extent of additional
benefits
that any individual or category of eligible individual ultimately will receive
under it.
If
the
2007 Plan is not approved by the stockholders at the 2007 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, it will not become effective, and j2 Global will not have any
stock option plan available for the issuance of stock options or other equity
awards to its employees, directors or consultants after the expiration of the
1997 Plan in November 2007.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR”
APPROVAL OF THE 2007 STOCK PLAN.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
j2
Global’s Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Principles and a
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which are both posted, along with the
charters for the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee, on the corporate
governance page of the Company’s Website. The corporate governance page can be
accessed under Investor — Corporate Governance on the Company’s Website at
www.j2global.com.
Corporate
Governance Principles
j2
Global’s Corporate Governance Principles provide guidelines which govern the
qualifications and conduct of the Board. The Principles are consistent with
the
corporate governance requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and the
corporate governance listing requirements applicable to companies whose
securities are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (referred to as the “Nasdaq
listing standards”). The j2 Global Corporate Governance Principles address,
among other things:
· |
the
independence and other qualifications of j2 Global board members.
The
Corporate Governance Principles provide that a majority of the directors
shall be independent of j2 Global and its management;
|
· |
how
persons are nominated by the Board for election as directors;
|
· |
the
functions of the Board in relation to oversight of j2 Global;
|
· |
the
approval of compensation of senior management;
|
· |
the
organization and basic function of Board committees; and
|
· |
the
authority of the Board and committees to engage outside
advisors.
|
Code
of Business Conduct
and Ethics
j2
Global’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applies to all directors, officers
and employees of j2 Global, including our Co-President and Chief Operating
Officer, Co-President and Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, General
Counsel & Secretary and Chief Accounting Officer. The Code embodies j2
Global’s commitment to conduct its business in accordance with all applicable
laws, rules and regulations, and the highest ethical standards. The code is
posted on the corporate governance page of the Company’s Website, which can be
accessed under Investor —
Corporate
Governance at www.j2global.com.
Director
Independence
Douglas
Y. Bech, Robert J. Cresci and Michael P. Schulhof are independent directors,
as
defined in the Nasdaq listing standards and as determined by the Company’s Board
of Directors.
Identifying
Director Nominees;
Consideration of Nominees of the Stockholders
The
Board
of Directors does not have a standing nominating committee or committee
performing similar functions. The Board of Directors has determined that it
is
appropriate not to have a nominating committee because of the relatively small
size of the Board of Directors, and because the entire Board of Directors
effectively functions in the capacity of a nominating committee. In evaluating
and determining whether to recommend a person as a candidate for election as
a
director, the Board of Directors considers the qualifications set forth in
j2
Global’s Corporate Governance Principles and follows the procedures set forth
below when filling vacancies or adding a new Board member:
· |
The
Chairman of the Board identifies a need to add a new board member
who
meets specific criteria or to fill a vacancy on the
Board.
|
· |
The
entire Board of Directors, including a majority of the independent
directors, confirms this need by voting in favor of the
search.
|
· |
The
Board of Directors establishes an ad hoc search committee to coordinate
the search, which will be chaired by the Chairman of the Board and
have a
majority of its members be independent
directors.
|
· |
The
search committee initiates a broad ranging search for suitable candidates.
In doing so, the committee may use the services of outside search
firms
and will consider recommendations from members of the Board of Directors,
senior executives and stockholders.
|
· |
The search
committee will recommend a candidate to the full Board of
Directors, who will vote on the recommendation, with the requirement
that a majority of the independent directors
make the final selection.
|
The
Board
of Directors will consider candidates recommended by stockholders when the
nominations are properly submitted under the criteria in j2 Global’s Corporate
Governance Principles. The deadlines and procedures for stockholder submissions
of director nominees are described below under “Deadline for Submitting
Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations for the Next Annual Meeting.”
Following verification of the stockholder status of persons proposing
candidates, the Chairman of the Board makes an initial analysis of the
qualifications of any candidate recommended by stockholders to determine whether
the candidate is qualified for service on the Company’s Board before deciding to
undertake a complete evaluation of the candidate. Other than the verification
of
compliance with procedures and stockholder status, and the initial analysis
performed by the Chairman, a potential candidate nominated by a stockholder
is
considered in the same manner as any other potential candidate during the review
process by the Board.
Communications
with the Board and
the Audit Committee
The
Board
welcomes communications from stockholders and has adopted a procedure for
receiving and addressing them. Interested parties may also submit complaints
regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters to the
Company’s Audit Committee. Stockholders may send written communications to the
entire Board, to the Audit Committee or to individual members, addressing them
to j2 Global Communications, Inc., 6922 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 500, Los
Angeles, California 90028, Attention: Corporate Secretary. Communications by
e-mail should be addressed to investor@j2global.com and marked “Attention:
Corporate Secretary” in the “Subject” field.
The
Board
has instructed the Secretary to review all communications so received (via
e-mail or otherwise), and to exercise his discretion not to forward to the
Board
members correspondence that is inappropriate such as business solicitations,
frivolous communications and advertising, routine business matters (i.e.,
business inquiries, complaints or suggestions) and personal grievances. However,
any director may at any time request the Secretary to forward any and all
communications received by the Secretary but not forwarded to the
Board.
MEETINGS
AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
Board
Meetings and Attendance
at Annual Meeting
The
Board
of Directors of j2 Global held a total of 14 meetings during 2006 and conducted
business by written consent as well. During 2006, each director, except Mr.
Rieley, attended at least seventy-five percent (75%) of all of the meetings
of
the
Board of Directors and the committees of which he was a member. Mr. Rieley
attended seventy-one percent (71%). The Company encourages, but does not
require, members of
the
Board
of Directors to attend annual stockholder meetings.
Three
of j2 Global’s directors attended last year’s Annual Meeting.
Executive
Sessions
In
accordance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Principles, executive
sessions of non-management directors are held at least two times a year. The
sessions are scheduled and chaired by the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
Any
non-management director can request that an additional executive session be
scheduled.
Board
Committees
The
Board
of Directors has established four standing committees: Audit, Compensation,
Executive and Investor Relations. The Audit and Compensation Committees are
composed solely of independent directors as defined in the Nasdaq listing
standards. The charters of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee are
posted under “Corporate Governance” in the Investor Relations portion of j2
Global’s Website at www.j2global.com.
Audit
Committee
The
Audit
Committee currently consists of Messrs. Bech, Schulhof and Cresci, who is
the Chairman of the Committee. The Audit Committee is comprised solely of
directors who meet all the independence standards for audit committee members,
as set forth in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules of the Securities
and Exchange Commission adopted pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the
Nasdaq listing standards. The Board has determined that Mr. Cresci is an “audit
committee financial expert” as that term is defined in the SEC rules adopted
pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Audit Committee is responsible for,
among other things, retaining and overseeing j2 Global’s independent auditors,
approving the services performed by them and reviewing j2 Global’s financial
reporting process, accounting principles and its system of internal accounting
controls. The Audit Committee held four formal meetings in 2006 and participated
with management in numerous meetings regarding internal controls, corporate
taxes and internal audit. The Audit Committee conducted business by written
consent as well. See the “Report of the Audit Committee” below.
Compensation
Committee
The
members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Bech, Cresci and
Schulhof, who is the Chairman of the Committee. The
Compensation Committee is responsible for, among other things, administering
the
Company’s compensation programs, including its stock and benefit plans, for
making recommendations to the Board, for approval by a majority of independent
directors, with respect to compensation of the Company’s executives and for
recommending to the Board changes in the policies that govern the Company’s
compensation programs. The
Compensation Committee held one meeting in 2006 and conducted business by
written consent as well. See the “Report of the Compensation Committee” below.
Executive
Committee
The
members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Cresci, Schulhof and Ressler,
who
is the Chairman of the Committee. The Executive Committee may take certain
action permitted by law and the bylaws in the intervals between meetings of
the
full Board. Although the Executive Committee held no formal meetings during
2006, the Committee advised the Board of Directors on various issues delegated
to it throughout the year.
Investor
Relations Committee
Mr.
Rieley is the sole member of the Investor Relations Committee. The Investor
Relations Committee is responsible for monitoring and assisting management
with
the strategic direction and overall status of the Company’s investor relations
program and associated activities. Although
the Investor Relations Committee
held
no
formal meetings during 2006,
throughout the year Mr. Rieley conducted regular informal meetings with senior
management and provided oversight and guidance regarding all material investor
relations issues.
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION
Each
director, except Richard S. Ressler, receives an annual retainer of $50,000.
In
addition to the annual retainer, the Chair of each of the Audit, Compensation
and Investor Relations Committees receives $10,000 per annum.
Mr.
Ressler is separately compensated for his services as Chairman of the Board
pursuant to a consulting agreement between the Company and Orchard
Capital Corporation, a company controlled by Mr. Ressler.
Under
this consulting arrangement, which runs for consecutive six-month terms, Orchard
Capital receives compensation of $275,000 per year. The agreement is terminable
by either party by written notice delivered at least 30 days prior to
commencement of the next six-month term.
j2
Global’s directors are eligible to participate in the Company’s Second Amended
and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan. If approved, j2 Global’s directors will
also be eligible to participate in the 2007 Stock Plan. During 2006, j2 Global
did not make any equity-based awards to its directors and no directors exercised
any j2 Global
options
or warrants.
In
order
to avoid potential taxation under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A, in
December 2006 the Company offered each named executive officer and director
the
option to increase the exercise price of certain of their stock options. In
connection with these amendments, in 2007 the Company made compensating payments
to each such named executive officer and Board member to reflect the decreased
value of their stock options due to the increase in exercise price.
The
following table contains information with respect to the compensation of the
Company’s directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.
Director
Compensation Table
Name
|
|
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
|
|
Stock Awards
($)
|
|
Option Awards
($)
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)
|
|
Change
in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
Earnings
($)
|
|
All
Other
Compensation
($)
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard
S. Ressler
|
|
$275,000
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
$275,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
F. Rieley
|
|
$60,000
|
(1)
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
$60,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael
P. Schulhof
|
|
$60,000
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
$60,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
J. Cresci
|
|
$60,000
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
$60,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Douglas
Y. Bech
|
|
$50,000
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
$50,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Mr.
Rieley also received consulting fees of $100,000 for international
public
relations services. See “Certain Transactions - Consulting Agreements” for
a more detailed description of this
arrangement.
|
EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
The
following sets forth certain information regarding j2 Global’s executive
officers (ages are as of the record date):
Nehemia
Zucker,
50,
became Co-President in April 2005 and Co-President and Chief Operating Officer
in August 2005. From
December 2000 to August 2005, Mr. Zucker served as Chief
Marketing Officer. He served both as the Company’s Chief Marketing Officer and
its Chief Financial Officer from December 2000 through May 2003. From 1996
through December 2000, he served exclusively as j2 Global’s Chief Financial
Officer. Prior to joining j2 Global in 1996, Mr. Zucker was Chief Operations
Manager of Motorola’s EMBARC division, which packages CNBC and ESPN for
distribution to paging and wireless networks. From 1980 to 1996, he held various
positions in finance, operations and marketing at Motorola in the United States
and abroad.
R.
Scott Turicchi,
43,
became Co-President and Chief Financial Officer in August 2005. From May
2003
to August 2005, Mr. Turicchi served as j2 Global’s Chief Financial Officer, and
from March 2000 through May 2003 he served as the Company’s Executive Vice
President, Corporate Development. Mr. Turicchi served as a director of j2 Global
from 1998 through 2000. From 1990 to 2000, he was a Managing Director in
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation’s investment banking
department. Mr. Turicchi is a member of the Board of Directors of Greenhills
Software, Inc., a privately held company that develops real time operating
systems. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Reed
Institute of Decision Sciences.
Jeffrey
D. Adelman,
40, has
been j2 Global’s Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since September
2000. Prior to joining j2 Global, Mr. Adelman practiced corporate, securities
and mergers and acquisition law with the Detroit law firm of Miller, Canfield,
Paddock & Stone, PLC. Mr. Adelman is a member of the state bars of
California and Michigan.
Greggory
Kalvin,
47, has
been j2 Global’s Chief Accounting Officer since May 2003. Prior to becoming
Chief Accounting Officer, Mr. Kalvin served as the Company’s Vice President of
Finance from December 2000 through May 2003, and as the Company’s Controller
from May 1997 until December 2000. Prior to joining j2 Global in 1997, Mr.
Kalvin served as a Senior Audit Manager at KPMG LLP and then as Managing Audit
Director for Prudential Healthcare, Inc.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS
AND MANAGEMENT
Information
Regarding Beneficial Ownership
of Principal Stockholders
The
following table contains information regarding the beneficial ownership of
the
Company’s common stock as of December 31, 2006 (except where another date is
indicated) by the shareholders the Company knows to beneficially own more than
five percent of the Company’s outstanding
shares of common stock. The percentage of ownership is calculated using the
number of outstanding shares on February 28, 2007.
Name
|
|
Number
of Shares
Beneficially
Owned(1)
|
|
Approximate
Percentage
|
FMR
Corp.
82
Devonshire Street,
Boston,
Massachusetts 02109
|
|
3,217,762(2)
|
|
6.57%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Munder
Capital Management
480
Pierce Street
Birmingham,
Michigan 48009
|
|
4,193,612(3)
|
|
8.56%
|
|
|
|
|
|
William
Blair & Company, L.L.C.
222
W. Adams
Chicago,
Illinois 60606
|
|
7,025,781(4)
|
|
14.35%
|
(1) |
As
of February 28, 2007, 48,968,601 shares of j2 Global common stock
were
outstanding.
|
(2)
|
Based
upon information as of December 31, 2006 set forth in stockholder's
Schedule13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
February
14, 2007.
|
(3)
|
Based
upon information as of December 31, 2006 set forth in stockholder's
Schedule13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
February 14, 2007.
|
(4) |
Based
upon information as of December 31, 2006 set forth in stockholder's
Schedule13G/A filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on January 17,
2007.
|
Information
Regarding Beneficial
Ownership of Management
The
following table sets forth certain information that has been provided to the
Company with respect to beneficial ownership of shares of the Company's common
stock as of February 28, 2007 by: (i) each director and nominee for director
of
the Company, (ii) each of the named executive officers and (iii) all directors
and executive officers of the Company as a group:
Name(1)
|
|
Number
of Shares
Beneficially
Owned(2)
|
|
Approximate
Percentage
|
Richard
S. Ressler
|
|
2,390,850(3)
|
|
4.8%
|
Douglas
Y. Bech
|
|
279,468(4)
|
|
*
|
Robert
J. Cresci
|
|
297,000(5)
|
|
*
|
John
F. Rieley
|
|
43,000
(6)
|
|
*
|
Michael
P. Schulhof
|
|
57,000
(7)
|
|
*
|
Nehemia
Zucker
|
|
108,940
(8)
|
|
*
|
R.
Scott Turicchi
|
|
813,710
(9)
|
|
1.6%
|
Jeffrey
D. Adelman
|
|
47,287
(10)
|
|
*
|
Greggory
Kalvin
|
|
15,000
(11)
|
|
*
|
All
directors and named executive officers
as
a group (9 persons)
|
|
4,052,255(12)
|
|
8.3%
|
_________
*
Less
than 1%
(1) |
The
address for all executive officers, directors and director nominees
is c/o
j2 Global Communications, Inc., 6922 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 500,
Los
Angeles, CA 90028.
|
(2)
|
As
of February 28, 2007, 48,968,601 shares of j2 Global common stock
were
outstanding.
|
(3) |
Consists
of 1,153,850 shares of stock, including 18,000 shares of unvested
restricted stock, and options to acquire 1,237,000 shares of j2 Global
common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of the record date
for
the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
|
(4) |
Consists
of 91,404 shares of j2 Global common stock, including 18,000 shares
of
unvested restricted stock, owned by Douglas Y. Bech, 10,052 shares
of
stock owned by the AYBech Trust of 1984, 10,052 shares of stock owned
by
the KEBech Trust of 1984, and options to acquire 188,064 shares of
j2
Global common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of the record
date
for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Mr. Bech is the trustee
of
the AYBech Trust of 1984 and of the KEBech Trust of 1984, but has
disclaimed beneficial ownership of any shares of j2 Global common
stock in
which he has no pecuniary interest.
|
(5) |
Consists
of 20,000 shares of j2 Global common stock, including 18,000 shares
of
unvested restricted stock, and options to acquire 277,000 shares
of j2
Global common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of the record
date
for the 2007 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
|
(6) |
Consists
of 18,000 shares of unvested restricted stock and options to acquire
25,000 shares of j2 Global common stock that are exercisable within
60
days of the record date for the 2007 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
|
(7) |
Consists
of 20,000 shares of j2 Global common stock, including 18,000 shares
of
unvested restricted stock, and options to acquire 37,000 shares of
j2
Global common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of the record
date
for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
|
(8) |
Consists
of 54,000 shares of unvested restricted stock and options to acquire
54,940 shares of j2 Global common stock that are exercisable within
60
days of the record date for the 2007 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
|
(9) |
Consists
of 216,710 shares of j2 Global common stock, including 22,500
shares of
unvested restricted stock, and options to acquire 597,000 shares
of j2
Global common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of the
record date
for the 2007 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
|
(10)
|
Consists
of 19,955 shares of j2 Global common stock, including 18,000 shares
of
unvested restricted stock, and options to acquire 8,047 shares of
j2
Global common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of the record
date
for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
|
(11)
|
Consists
of options to acquire 15,000 shares of j2 Global common stock that
are
exercisable within 60 days of the record date for the 2007 Annual
Meeting
of Stockholders.
|
(12) |
Consists
of 1,593,919 shares of j2 Global common stock, including 211,500
shares of
unvested restricted stock, and options to acquire 2,439,051 shares of j2
Global common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of the record
date
for the 2007 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
|
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires j2 Global’s officers (as
defined in Rule 16a-1(f)), directors and persons who own more than 10% of a
registered class of j2 Global’s equity securities to file reports of ownership
and changes in ownership with the SEC. Such persons are required by SEC
regulations to furnish j2 Global with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they
file. Based solely on j2 Global’s review of the copies of such forms received by
j2 Global and written representations from certain reporting persons that they
have complied with the relevant filing requirements, the Company believes that
all filing requirements applicable to the Company’s officers, directors and 10%
stockholders were complied with during the fiscal year ended December 31,
2006.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Compensation
Disclosure and Analysis
General
The
Compensation Committee of j2 Global’s Board of Directors:
· |
administers
the Company’s compensation programs, including its stock
option and employee stock purchase plans;
|
· |
recommends
to the Board, for approval by a majority of independent directors,
the
compensation to be paid to the Company’s executives;
|
· |
recommends
to the Board of Directors changes to j2 Global’s compensation policies and
benefits programs; and
|
· |
otherwise
seeks to ensure that j2 Global’s compensation philosophy is consistent
with j2 Global’s best interests and is properly implemented.
|
The
Compensation Committee currently is comprised of three non-employee directors
whom the Board has determined are independent for purposes of Nasdaq Marketplace
Rule 4350.
Compensation
Philosophy and Objectives
The
Company’s executive compensation program is designed to attract, retain and
motivate the Company’s executive officers in a manner that is tied directly to
achievement of the Company’s overall operating and financial goals, and thereby
increase j2 Global’s overall equity value.
Compensation
for j2 Global’s executives, including for 2006, consists of salary,
participation in an executive bonus program and stock option grants and
restricted stock awards. The Company’s Compensation Committee has not adopted
any formal policy for allocating compensation between long-term and short-term,
between cash and non-cash,
or
among
different forms of non-cash compensation. Rather,
the
Committee helps the Board of Directors assess past performance and anticipated
future contribution of each executive officer in recommending to the Board
of
Directors, for approval by a majority of independent directors, the total amount
and mix of each element of compensation. The Co-Presidents as well as the
Chairman of the Board participate actively in this process, with the
Co-Presidents being primarily responsible for establishing compensation payable
to non-executive officers. In setting compensation for any given year, the
Compensation Committee generally does not consider the amount of compensation
from prior periods or amounts realizable from prior compensation.
The
Company’s compensation objective is to link compensation to continuous
improvements in corporate performance and increase in stockholder value. The
Company’s executive compensation program goals include the
following:
|
• |
To
establish pay levels that attract, retain and motivate highly
qualified
executive officers while considering the overall market competitiveness
for such executive talent and balancing the relationship
between total
stockholder return and direct compensation;
|
|
• |
To align
executive officer renumeration with the interests of the stockholders;
|
|
• |
To
recognize superior individual performance;
|
|
•
|
To
balance base and incentive compensation to complement the Company’s annual
and longer term business objectives and strategies and encourage
the
fulfillment of those objectives and strategies through executive
officer
performance; and
|
|
• |
To
provide compensation opportunities based on the Company’s performance.
|
Compensation
Components
Executive
compensation consists of the following elements:
Salary.
Base
salaries are evaluated annually for all executive officers. In determining
appropriate salary levels for such officers to recommend to the Board of
Directors for its approval, the Compensation Committee considers, among other
factors, the officer’s scope of responsibility, prior experience, and past
performance and data on prevailing compensation levels in relevant markets
for
executive talent. The Compensation Committee generally targets executive
salaries above the 25th
percentile for comparable positions based upon compensation survey information
j2 Global purchases which discloses aggregated compensation data for a group
of
unidentified companies with similar characteristics as j2 Global in terms of
revenues, number of employees and other similar factors. The Compensation
Committee conducts an annual review of executive salaries against this survey
information to help ensure that executive salaries remain in line with the
Compensation Committee’s target range. In approving salary increases during
2006, the Compensation Committee considered not only the survey information,
but
also the Company’s and individuals’ performance.
Bonus.
j2
Global has established an executive bonus program for awarding bonuses to the
Company’s senior executives, including the named executive officers. Bonus
guidelines under the program are established each year and are designed to
encourage and reward senior management for (a) attaining Company-wide financial
goals, (b) improving the financial and operational health of j2 Global, and
(c)
meeting or exceeding individually defined goals and objectives for each
executive. The plan provides guidelines only as to payment of bonuses to
executive program participants and is non-binding and does not create any
contract right between the Company and the participants.
The
process under this program begins with development of corporate financial
targets and individual goals and objectives for each program participant. The
financial objectives are generally in alignment with the Company’s budget for
the year. The individual goals and objectives are designed to help the Company
achieve its financial goals. The corporate financial objectives and all
individual goals and objectives are recommended by the Compensation Committee
for approval by the Board of Directors and approved by a majority of independent
directors.
Under
the
program, j2 Global establishes a “bonus pool” based upon an aggregate of
specified percentages of base salary of all eligible executives. For the
Co-Presidents, the “target” bonus percentage is 50% of their base salary. For
the Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, the target is 30% and for
the
Chief Accounting Officer, the target is 25%. The bonus pool is “funded” only if
the Company achieves at least 97.5% of the budgeted net income and earnings
per
diluted share targets (the “Threshold Earnings Targets”). Even if those earnings
targets are achieved, the pool will be funded only if they are achieved in
a
manner consistent with the Company achieving the pre-determined revenue and
net
income before taxes results (the “Other Corporate Objectives”). Once funded, it
is anticipated - although not guaranteed - that the entire pool will be
distributed among the eligible participants.
If
the
Threshold Earnings Targets are achieved, the bonus pool is funded at 100%.
If
less than 97.5% of the Threshold Earnings Targets are achieved, the bonus pool
is not funded at all. If more than 107.51% of the Threshold Earnings Targets
are
achieved, the bonus pool can be funded up to 135% of the target pool
amount.
The
Compensation Committee and Board retain discretion to increase or decrease
the
funding of the bonus pool notwithstanding the achievement of these criteria
based on factors they deem appropriate. In both 2005 and 2006, the Compensation
Committee recommended for approval by the Board of Directors, and the three
independent members of the Board of Directors approved, funding the bonus pool
at 100%.
Once
the
bonus pool has been funded, individual bonuses are established by evaluating
each executive’s relative contribution to the success of the Company as a whole,
as well as his or her success in meeting his or her individual objectives.
Individual bonus amounts are recommended by the Compensation Committee for
approval by the Board of Directors and approved by a majority of independent
directors. As a result of this process, in 2006 the named executive officers
were awarded the following bonuses under the 2005 executive bonus
program:
|
Nehemia Zucker: |
$135,000 |
|
R. Scott Turicchi: |
$105,000 |
|
Jeffrey D. Adelman: |
$46,000 |
|
Greggory Kalvin: |
$10,000 |
As
of
March 20, 2007, no amounts under the 2006 bonus program had been
paid.
j2
Global
does not have any policy regarding the adjustment or recovery of awards under
the bonus program in the event that the relevant performance measures are later
restated or adjusted.
Stock
Options and Restricted Stock.
Stock
option and restricted stock awards are designed to align the interests of
executives and employees with the long-term interests of the stockholders.
The
Compensation Committee approves option grants and restricted stock awards
subject to vesting periods to retain executives and employees and encourage
sustained contributions. Awards of restricted stock are generally reserved
for
the most senior and critical executives. The Company does not follow a practice
of making annual stock option grants or restricted stock awards. Rather, it
makes these awards every few years based upon the amount of previously approved
awards that have not yet vested. The Company also sometimes approves awards
in
connection with promotions or significant increases in responsibility of
executive officers. The Compensation Committee determines the size of option
grants and restricted stock awards based upon the expected future value of
those
awards over the vesting period that it considers appropriate to incentivize
and
retain the services of executive officers while preserving shareholder value.
The typical vesting period of options is four or five years, with a pro rata
portion vesting on each anniversary of the date of grant. The exercise price
of
options is the closing market price on the date of grant. The typical vesting
period of restricted stock awards is five years, vesting on the following
graduated schedule on each anniversary of the date of award: 10% on the first
anniversary, 15% on the second anniversary, 20% on the third anniversary, 25%
on
the fourth anniversary and 30% on the fifth anniversary.
Employee
Stock Purchase Plan.
j2
Global offers all of its employees, including the Company’s executive officers,
the opportunity to purchase the Company’s common stock through a tax-qualified
employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”). Under the ESPP, eligible employees can
withhold up to 15% of their earnings, up to certain maximums, to be used to
purchase shares of j2 Global’s common stock at certain plan-defined dates. The
price of the common stock purchased under the ESPP for the offering periods
is
equal to 95% of its fair value at the end of the offering period.
Other
Compensation.
j2
Global’s executive officers are entitled to participate in the Company’s health,
vision, dental, life and disability insurance plans, and the Company’s tax
qualified 401(k) plan to the same extent that the Company’s other employees are
entitled to participate. Participants in the 401(k) plan are eligible for up
to
a $500 annual Company match, which vests over a three-year period. In addition,
the Company pays a higher portion of employer contributions toward premiums
for
executives to participate in the health, vision and dental plans.
In
order
to avoid potential taxation under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A, in
December 2006, the Company offered each named executive officer and Board member
the option to increase the exercise price of certain of their stock options.
In
January 2007, the Company made compensating payments to each such named
executive officer and Board member to reflect the decreased value of their
stock
options due to the increase in exercise price.
Change
in Control and Severance Arrangements.
j2
Global has not provided change in control or severance arrangements to any
of
the Company’s executive officers, except that Mr. Zucker has an employment
contract with the company that contains a severance arrangement if he is
terminated without cause. Mr. Zucker’s employment agreement has no specified
term and is terminable at will by either party, but provides for severance
payments equal to six months’ salary in the event of a termination by j2 Global
without cause. In addition, in the event of a change of control, each option
and
each share of restricted stock will become immediately exercisable in full
unless the Board of Directors determines that the holder has been offered
substantially identical replacement options or replacement shares of restricted
stock, as the case may be, and a comparable position at the acquiring
company.
Summary.
After
its review of all existing programs, consideration of current market and
competitive conditions, and alignment with the Company’s overall compensation
objectives and philosophy, the Compensation Committee believes that the total
compensation program for the Company’s executive officers is focused on
increasing value for stockholders and enhancing the Company’s performance. The
Compensation Committee currently believes that a significant portion of
compensation of executive officers is properly tied to stock appreciation or
stockholder value through stock options, restricted stock awards and annual
incentive bonus measures. The Company’s Compensation Committee believes that its
executive compensation levels are competitive with the compensation programs
offered by other corporations with which it competes for executive talent.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth in any of j2 Global’s filings under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that might incorporate
future filings, including this Proxy Statement, in whole or in part, the
following Compensation Committee Report shall not be deemed to be “Soliciting
Material,” is not deemed “filed” with the SEC and shall not be incorporated by
reference into any filings under the Securities Act or Exchange Act whether
made
before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation
language in such filings.
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE REPORT
Management
of the Company has prepared the Compensation Discussion and Analysis as required
by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K, and the Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors has reviewed and discussed it with management. Based on
this
review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board
of
Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the
proxy
statement for j2 Global’s 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
|
Submitted
by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors,
Michael
P. Schulhof, Chairman
Douglas
Y. Bech
Robert
J. Cresci
|
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The
j2
Global Compensation Committee currently consists of Messrs. Bech, Cresci
and Schulhof. j2 Global has no interlocking relationships or other transactions
involving any of its Compensation Committee members that are required to be
reported pursuant to applicable SEC rules. No member of the Compensation
Committee has ever been an officer or employee of j2 Global.
Summary
Compensation Table
The
table
below summarizes the total compensation earned by each of the named executive
officers in 2006.
Name
and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
|
|
Option
Awards
($)
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)
|
|
Change
in
Pension
Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
|
|
All
Other
Compensation
($)
|
|
Total
($)
|
Nehemia
Zucker
Co-President
& COO
|
|
2006
|
|
$366,154
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$135,000
|
|
—
|
|
$10,493
|
|
$511,674
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott
Turicchi
Co-President
& CFO
|
|
2006
|
|
$313,846
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$105,000
|
|
—
|
|
$10,493
|
|
$429,339
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey
D. Adelman
Vice
President, General Counsel & Secretary
|
|
2006
|
|
$191,923
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$46,000
|
|
—
|
|
$8,815
|
|
$246,738
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greggory
Kalvin
Chief
Accounting Officer
|
|
2006
|
|
$137,308
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$10,000
|
|
—
|
|
$7,703
|
|
$155,011
|
All
Other
Compensation
The
following table and related footnotes describe each component of the column
entitled “All Other Compensation” in the Summary Compensation
Table.
Name
|
|
Year
|
|
Perquisites
and
Other
Personal
Benefits
($)
|
|
Tax
Reimbursements
($)
|
|
Insurance
Premiums
($)
|
|
Company
Contributions
to Retirement and
401(k)
Plans
($)
|
|
Severance
Payments /
Accruals
($)
|
|
Change
in Control
Payments /
Accruals(1)
($)
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nehemia
Zucker
|
|
2006
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$9,993
|
(2)
|
$500
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$10,493
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R.
Scott Turicchi
|
|
2006
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$9,993
|
(2)
|
$500
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$10,493
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey
D. Adelman
|
|
2006
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$8,315
|
(3)
|
$500
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$8,815
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greggory
Kalvin
|
|
2006
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$7,203
|
(4)
|
$500
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$7,703
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Mr.
Zucker has a severance agreement with the Company pursuant to which
he is
entitled to receive severance payments equal to six months’ salary in the
event of a termination by j2 Global without cause.
|
(2) |
Consists
of $9,951 in medical, dental and vision insurance premium contributions
and $41 in life insurance premium contributions for $10,000 in life
insurance benefits.
|
(3) |
Consists
of $8,273 in medical, dental and vision insurance premium contributions
and $41 in life insurance premium contributions for $10,000 in life
insurance benefits.
|
(4) |
Consists
of $7,161 in medical, dental and vision insurance premium contributions
and $41 in life insurance premium contributions for $10,000 in life
insurance benefits.
|
Grants
of Plan-Based
Awards Table
Name
|
|
Grant
Date
(1)
|
|
Estimated
Future Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity
Incentive Plan Awards
|
|
All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of
Shares
of
Stock
or
Units
(#)
|
|
All
Other
Option
Awards:
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#)
|
Exercise or
Base
Price
of
Option
Awards
($ / Sh)
|
|
Grant
Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards
($)
|
|
|
|
|
Threshold
($)
|
|
Target
($)
|
|
Maximum
($)
|
|
Threshold
(#)
|
|
Target
(#)
|
|
Maximum
(#)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nehemia
Zucker
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$183,077
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R.
Scott Turicchi
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$156,923
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey
D. Adelman
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$57.577
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greggory
Kalvin
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$34,327
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
The
Company did not grant any equity awards during the fiscal year ended December
31, 2006.
Outstanding
Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-End
The
following table provides information on the holdings of stock options and
restricted stock by the named executive officers at December 31, 2006. All
share
numbers and share prices have been retroactively restated to reflect a May
2006
two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend.
|
|
Option
Awards
|
|
Stock
Awards
|
Name
|
|
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
(1)
Exercisable
|
|
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Unexercisable
|
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#)
|
|
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
|
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
|
Number of
Shares
or
Units
of
Stock That
Have
Not
Vested
(2)
(#)
|
|
Market
Value of
Shares or
Units
of
Stock That
Have
Not
Vested
(3)
($)
|
|
Equity Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units
or
Other
Rights
That
Have
Not
Vested
(#)
|
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market
or
Payout
Value
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units
or
Other
Rights
That
Have
Not
Vested
($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nehemia
Zucker
|
|
46,754
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$ 3.53
|
|
6/25/2012
|
|
54,000
|
|
$
1,471,500
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
13,246
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$ 3.53
|
|
6/25/2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,840
|
|
21,312
|
|
—
|
|
$
18.77
|
|
8/31/2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,160
|
|
122,688
|
|
—
|
|
$
18.77
|
|
8/31/2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R.
Scott Turicchi
|
|
126,296
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$ 2.07
|
|
4/14/2010
|
|
49,500
|
|
$
1,348,875
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
37,500
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$ 0.94
|
|
12/28/2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$ 3.53
|
|
6/25/2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
44,500
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$ 6.88
|
|
5/8/2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
193,704
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$ 2.07
|
|
4/14/2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,328
|
|
21,312
|
|
—
|
|
$
18.77
|
|
8/31/2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,672
|
|
110,688
|
|
—
|
|
$
18.77
|
|
8/31/2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,500
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$ 1.17
|
|
12/28/2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
89,000
|
|
44,500
|
|
—
|
|
$ 8.95
|
|
5/8/2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$ 4.47
|
|
6/25/2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey
D. Adelman
|
|
4,200
|
|
21,312
|
|
—
|
|
$
18.77
|
|
8/31/2015
|
|
18,000
|
|
$ 490,500
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
7,800
|
|
26,688
|
|
—
|
|
$
18.77
|
|
8/31/2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,000
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$ 4.47
|
|
6/25/2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greggory
Kalvin
|
|
6,000
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
$ 4.47
|
|
6/25/2012
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
5,667
|
|
—
|
|
$ 8.95
|
|
5/8/2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
9,333
|
|
—
|
|
$ 8.95
|
|
5/8/2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
All
stock options granted have 10-year terms. For options granted before
August 2005, one-quarter of the options vest and are exercisable
on the
one-year anniversary of the grant date and each of the remaining
one-quarter portions of the options vest and are exercisable on each
annual anniversary of the grant date thereafter. For options granted
during or after August 2005, 20% of the options vest and are exercisable
on the one-year anniversary of the grant date and each of the remaining
20% portions of the options vest and are exercisable on each annual
anniversary of the grant date thereafter.
|
(2) |
The
restricted shares are subject to a five-year restricted period, which
commences on the award date, with restrictions lapsing as to 10%
of the
shares on the first anniversary of the award date, 15% of the shares
on
the second anniversary of the award date, 20% on the third anniversary
of
the award date, 25% on the fourth anniversary of the award date,
and 30%
on the fifth anniversary of the award
date.
|
(3) |
The
market value is determined by multiplying the number of shares
by $27.25,
the closing trading price of the company’s common stock on the Nasdaq
Global Market on December 29, 2006, the last trading day of the
fiscal
year.
|
Option
Exercises and Stock Vested
The
following table sets forth certain information with respect to stock options
exercised and vested stock awards by j2 Global’s executive officers during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. All
share
numbers and share prices have been retroactively restated to reflect a May
2006
two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend.
|
|
Option
Awards
|
|
Stock
Awards
|
Name
|
|
Number of Shares
Acquired on Exercise
(#)
|
|
Value Realized
on
Exercise
($)
|
|
Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting
(#)
|
|
Value Realized
on
Vesting
($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nehemia
Zucker
|
|
12,500
|
|
$288,250
|
|
6,000
|
|
$
170,640
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R.
Scott Turicchi
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
5,500
|
|
$
156,420
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey
D. Adelman
|
|
12,500
|
|
$259,955
|
|
2,000
|
|
$ 56,880
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greggory
Kalvin
|
|
22,500
|
|
$422,963
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
During
2006, the Company’s named executive officers elected to delay vesting of their
first tranche of restricted stock from August 31, 2006 to December 4, 2006
to
account for an extended trading blackout that resulted from the independent
investigation by a special committee of the Board of Directors into the
Company’s stock option grants and related procedures.
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
The
following table provides information as of December 31, 2006 regarding shares
outstanding and available for issuance under j2 Global’s existing stock option
plans (in millions, except per share amounts):
Plan
Category
|
Number
of Securities
to
be Issued Upon
Exercise
of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants
and Rights
(a)
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise
Price of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants
and
Rights
(b)
|
Number
of Securities
Remaining
Available for
Future
Issuance Under
Equity
Compensation
Plans
(Excluding
Securities
Reflected in
Column
(a))
(c)
|
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders(1)
|
4,639,614
|
$8.58
|
3,858,596
(2)
|
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
_________________
(1) |
These
plans consist of the Second Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option
Plan
and the 2001 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan.
|
(2) |
Of
these, 2,172,347 shares remained available for grant under the Second
Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan and 1,689,249 shares
remained
available for grant under the 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as
of
December 31, 2006. The Second Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option
Plan
terminates in November 1997, and no additional shares will be available
for grant under that plan after November 1997.
|
Second
Amended and Restated 1997
Stock Option Plan
j2
Global’s 1997 Stock Option Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors and
approved by the stockholders in November 1997. In May 2001, j2 Global amended
and restated the Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan for a second time
to permit the issuance of restricted stock under the plan (the “1997 Plan”). A
total of twelve million shares of j2 Global’s common stock have been reserved
for issuance under the 1997 Plan. As of December 31, 2006, there were
2,172,347 additional shares
underlying options and shares of restricted stock available for grant under
the
1997 Plan, 4,847,699 shares had been issued upon exercise of previously granted
options and 4,639,614 options and 307,840 shares
of
restricted stock were outstanding under the 1997 Plan.
The
1997
Plan provides for grants to employees, including officers and employee
directors, of “incentive stock options” within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and for grants of non-statutory
stock
options and restricted stock awards to employees, including officers and
employee directors, and consultants, who may be non-employee
directors.
The
1997
Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of j2 Global’s Board of
Directors. The 1997 Plan administrator determines the terms of the options
granted and restricted stock awarded, including the exercise price of each
option, the number of shares subject to each option and covered by each
restricted stock award and the vesting of each option and restricted stock
award. The 1997 Plan administrator also has the full power to select the
individuals to whom options and restricted stock will be granted and to make
any
combination of grants to any participants. Notwithstanding the powers bestowed
on the Compensation Committee under the terms of the 1997 Plan, the Company
has
adopted a policy for equity compensation grants and awards to Board members,
executive officers, other employees and consultants that, among other things,
requires that all stock option grants and restricted stock awards be finally
approved by a majority of independent directors.
Options
generally have a term of 10 years. For options granted in 1999 and prior years,
one-third of the options vested on the one-year anniversary of the grant date
and each of the remaining one-third portions of the options vested on each
annual anniversary of the grant date thereafter. For options granted after
1999
but before August 2005, one-quarter of the options vest on the one-year
anniversary of the grant date and each of the remaining one-quarter portions
of
the options vest on each annual anniversary of the grant date
thereafter.
For options granted during or after August 2005, 20% of the options vest on
the
one-year anniversary of the grant date and each of the remaining 20% portions
of
the options vest on each annual anniversary of the grant date thereafter.
The
option exercise price may not be less than the higher of the par value or 100%
of the fair market value of j2 Global’s common stock on the grant date. However,
non-statutory options may be granted at exercise prices of not less than the
higher of the par value or 85% of the fair market value of j2 Global’s common
stock on the date the option is granted. In the case of an incentive option
granted to a person who at the time of the grant owns stock representing more
than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of j2 Global’s common
stock, the option exercise price for each share of common stock covered by
such
option may not be less than 110% of the fair market value of a share of j2
Global’s common stock on the grant date of such option.
Restricted
stock awards are generally subject to a five-year restricted period, which
commences on the award date, with restrictions lapsing as to 10% of the shares
on the first anniversary of the award date, 15% of the shares on the second
anniversary of the award date, 20% on the third anniversary of the award date,
25% on the fourth anniversary of the award date, and 30% on the fifth
anniversary of the award date.
In
the
event of a change of control of the Company, each option and each share of
restricted stock will become immediately exercisable in full unless the Board
of
Directors determines that the holder has been offered substantially identical
replacement options or replacement shares of restricted stock, as the case
may
be, and a comparable position at the acquiring company.
The
1997
Plan will expire in November 2007 in accordance with its terms, except that
the
1997 plan continues to govern options previously granted under it. We have
submitted a proposal to our shareholders for approval of the 2007 Stock Plan
to
replace the 1997 Plan.
2001
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
j2
Global’s 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) was adopted by the Board
of Directors and approved by the stockholders in May and June 2001,
respectively. In May 2006, the Company amended and restated the ESPP to change
the purchase price from 90%
of
the lesser of (a) the fair market value of a share of common stock on the
commencement of the offering or (b) the fair market value of a share of common
stock on the date of purchase to 95%
of
the fair market value of a share of common stock at the end of the offering
period.
A
total
of two million shares of j2 Global’s common stock have been reserved for
issuance under the ESPP. As of December 31, 2006, 313,751 shares had been issued
under the ESPP and 1,686,249 shares were available for future issuance. The
ESPP
is administered by the Compensation Committee of j2 Global’s Board of
Directors.
The
ESPP
is implemented through sequential offerings, each of which is referred to as
an
“offering,”
the
terms
of which are referred to herein as “offering periods.” Generally, each offering
period is for three months or such other duration as the Compensation Committee
shall determine, not to exceed 27 months. Offering periods commence on or about
February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 of each year and end on or about
the
next April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31, respectively.
By
executing an agreement to participate in the ESPP, an eligible employee is
entitled to purchase shares under the ESPP, or a “purchase right”. The purchase
right consists of an option to purchase a maximum number of shares of common
stock determined by either (1) dividing 15% of such eligible employee’s
compensation during the offering period by the purchase price of a share of
common stock for such offering period or (2) dividing $12,500 by the fair market
value of a share of common stock on the last date of such offering period,
whichever is less. If the aggregate number of shares to be purchased upon
exercise of purchase rights granted in the offering would exceed the maximum
aggregate number of shares available for issuance under the ESPP, the
Compensation Committee would make a pro rata allocation of shares available
in a
uniform and equitable manner. Unless the employee’s participation is
discontinued, his or her right to purchase shares is exercised automatically
at
the end of each offering period.
Any
employee of j2 Global or of any parent or subsidiary corporation of j2 Global
designated by the Compensation Committee for inclusion in the ESPP is eligible
to participate in an offering under the ESPP so long as the employee has been
employed by j2 Global or any designated parent or subsidiary corporation of
j2
Global for at least 30 days and is customarily employed at least 20 hours per
week and five months per calendar year. However, no employee who owns or holds
options to purchase, or as a result of participation in the ESPP would own
or
hold options to purchase, five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting
power or value of all classes of stock of j2 Global or of any parent or
subsidiary corporation of j2 Global is entitled to participate in the ESPP.
In
addition, no employee is entitled to purchase more than $25,000 worth of stock
(determined based on the fair market value of the shares at the time such rights
are granted) under all
employee
stock purchase
plans
of j2
Global in any calendar year.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth in any of j2 Global’s filings under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that might incorporate
future filings, including this Proxy Statement, in whole or in part, the
following Audit Committee Report shall not be deemed to be “Soliciting
Material,” is not deemed “filed” with the SEC and shall not be incorporated by
reference into any filings under the Securities Act or Exchange Act whether
made
before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation
language in such filings.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE REPORT
Each
member of the Audit Committee is an independent director as determined by the
Company’s Board of Directors, based on the Nasdaq Global Market listing rules.
Each member of the Audit Committee also satisfies the Securities and Exchange
Commission’s additional independence requirement for members of audit
committees. In addition, the Company’s Board of Directors has determined that
Robert J. Cresci is an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined by SEC
rules. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a Charter that was last amended
and restated by the Board in October 2004 and is available in the investor
section of the Company’s website www.j2global.com
under
the Corporate Governance tab.
The
Audit
Committee reviews j2 Global’s financial reporting process on behalf of the
Board. Management has the primary responsibility for establishing and
maintaining adequate internal financial controls, for preparing the financial
statements and for the public reporting process. Deloitte & Touche LLP
(“Deloitte”), the
Company’s independent auditor for 2006, was responsible for expressing opinions
on the conformity of the Company’s 2006 audited financial statements with
generally accepted accounting principles and on management’s assessment of the
effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2006. In addition, Deloitte expressed its own opinion on the
effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2006.
In
this
context, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management and Deloitte
the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2006,
management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control
over financial reporting and Deloitte’s evaluation of the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee discussed with Deloitte
the matters that are required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards
No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees), as may be modified or
supplemented. Deloitte provided to the Audit Committee the written disclosures
and the letter required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1
(Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), as may be modified or
supplemented, and the Audit Committee discussed with Deloitte that firm’s
independence. The Audit Committee concluded that Deloitte’s provision of audit
and non-audit services to j2 Global and its affiliates through December 31,
2006
was compatible with Deloitte’s independence.
Based
on
the considerations referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the
Company’s Board of Directors that the audited financial statements for the year
ended December 31, 2006 be included in j2 Global’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for 2006.
Effective
March 14, 2007, the Audit Committee replaced Deloitte as the Company’s
independent auditor with Singer Lewak Greenbaum & Goldstein LLP (“Singer”).
Singer’s services will commence with the review of j2 Global’s financial
statements for the first fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2007.
|
Submitted
by the Audit Committee of j2 Global’s Board of Directors,
Robert
J. Cresci, Chairman
Douglas
Y. Bech
Michael
P. Schulhof
|
INFORMATION
ABOUT j2
GLOBAL’S AUDITORS
Deloitte
& Touche LLP has served as j2 Global’s independent auditors since 2002. The
fees billed to the Company by Deloitte & Touche for services rendered during
fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2006 are set forth below.
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
Audit
Fees (a)
|
|
$
|
1,276,678 |
|
$
|
731,462
|
(d) |
Audit-Related
Fees (b)
|
|
|
43,684 |
|
|
61,618
|
|
Tax
Fees (c)
|
|
|
560,020 |
|
|
295,580
|
|
All
Other Fees
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
¾
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,880,382 |
|
$
|
1,088,660
|
|
________________
|
(a)
|
Includes
professional
services rendered in connection with the annual audit and quarterly
reviews of the financial
statements.
|
|
(b)
|
Includes
fees for services related to benefit plan
audit.
|
|
(c)
|
Includes
fees for services related to tax compliance and tax
planning.
|
|
(d)
|
Reflects
adjustment of ($100,485) versus amount reported in 2006 Annual
Meeting
Proxy Statement.
|
Changes
in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
On
March
14, 2007, j2 Global’s Audit Committee recommended, approved and directed the
dismissal of Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) as j2 Global’s independent
accountants. Also on March 14, 2007, the Audit Committee recommended, approved
and directed the selection of Singer Lewak Greenbaum & Goldstein LLP
(“Singer”) as j2 Global’s new independent accountants. Singer’s services will
commence with the review of j2 Global’s financial statements for the first
fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2007.
The
audit
reports of Deloitte on j2 Global’s consolidated financial statements for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, and on management’s assessment of
internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, did not
contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified
or
modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles, except for
the following:
During
the two most recent fiscal years, and through the subsequent interim period
preceding the dismissal of Deloitte, there were no disagreements with Deloitte
on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreement(s), if not
resolved to the satisfaction of Deloitte, would have caused it to make reference
to the subject matter of the disagreement(s) in connection with its report.
During the two most recent fiscal years, and through the subsequent interim
period preceding the dismissal of Deloitte, there were no reportable events
described under Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K, except for the adverse
opinion on the effectiveness of j2 Global’s internal control over financial
reporting described above.
During
the two most recent fiscal years, and the subsequent interim period prior to
the
engagement of Singer, neither j2 Global, nor anyone on its behalf, consulted
Singer regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a
specified transaction, either completed or proposed; or the type of audit
opinion that might be rendered on the j2 Global’s financial statements, where
either a written report was provided to j2 Global or oral advice was provided,
that Singer concluded was an important factor considered by j2 Global in
reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue;
or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement (as defined
in
paragraph 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) or
a
reportable event (as described in paragraph 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation
S-K).
On
March
14, 2007, j2 Global provided Deloitte with a copy of the disclosure it is making
herein in response to Item 304(a) of Regulation S-K, and has requested that
Deloitte furnish it with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”), pursuant to Item 304(a)(3) of Regulation S-K, stating
whether it agrees with the statements made by j2 Global in this report. A copy
of Deloitte’s letter to the SEC dated March 19, 2007 is attached as Exhibit 16
to j2 Global’s Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 20, 2007.
Availability
of Representatives of Independent Accountant at the Annual
Meeting
Representatives
of Singer
are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, and will have the opportunity
to make a statement at the meeting if they desire to do so. In addition, they
are expected to be available at the meeting to respond to appropriate questions.
Representatives of Deloitte may also attend, although we do not expect them
to
do so. If they attend, they will have the opportunity to make a statement and
respond to questions.
Pre-Approval
Procedure
for Services
The
Audit
Committee pre-approves all audit and audit-related services. The Audit Committee
has delegated to its Chairman, Mr. Cresci, the authority to approve certain
non-audit services. Pre-approval shall not be required for the provision of
non-audit services if (1) the aggregate amount of all such non-audit services
constitute no more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid by the Company
to the auditors during the fiscal year in which the non-audit services are
provided, (2) such services were not recognized by the Company at the time
of
engagement to be non-audit services, and (3) such services are promptly brought
to the attention of the Audit Committee and approved prior to the completion
of
the audit. No services were provided by Deloitte & Touche LLP pursuant to
these exceptions.
CERTAIN
TRANSACTIONS
Consulting
Agreements
j2
Global
has entered into the following consulting agreements with directors, officers
and beneficial owners of more than five percent (5%) of j2 Global’s common
stock:
· Richard
S. Ressler’s services as Chairman are provided pursuant to a consulting
arrangement with Orchard Capital Corporation, a company controlled by
Mr. Ressler. Under this consulting arrangement, which runs for consecutive
six-month terms, Orchard Capital receives compensation of $275,000 per year.
The
agreement is terminable by either party by written notice delivered at least
30
days prior to commencement of the next six-month term.
· On
January 16, 2006, j2 Global entered into a Consultancy Agreement with Mr.
Rieley, pursuant to which Mr. Rieley assisted the Company in expanding its
public relations efforts internationally, with an initial emphasis on Europe,
and created and recommended to the Company for its adoption, an overall public
relations program. The Consultancy Agreement had a one year term, which was
renewed for an additional year
effective
January 16, 2007, and is terminable by either party at any time and for any
reason. Under the Agreement, Mr. Rieley will receive annual compensation of
$100,000, payable quarterly in advance.
Office
Lease
j2
Global
currently leases approximately 37,000 square feet of office space with monthly
lease payments of approximately $69,400 for its headquarters in Los Angeles,
California under a lease that expires in January 2010. j2 Global leases the
space from CIM/Hollywood, LLC, a limited liability company indirectly controlled
by j2 Global’s Chairman, Richard S. Ressler.
Investments
in j2 Global by Officers, Directors and Principal Stockholders
Between
December 1995 and March 1997, j2 Global issued a total of 3,455,000 shares
of
common stock to j2 Global’s founders, Messrs. Muller and Rieley, 2,687,500
of which were canceled in March 1997 and reissued to Boardrush Media LLC. Also
in March 1997, j2 Global issued 5,030,000 shares of common stock to Orchard/JFAX
Investors, LLC, and 110,000 shares of common stock to Nehemia Zucker. In
connection with these issuances, j2 Global entered into a registration rights
agreement with those investors. Under this agreement, the investors have the
right to participate in registrations initiated by j2 Global, but do not have
the right to demand that j2 Global effect a registration. These registration
rights expired on March 17, 2007.
The
Company believes that the “Certain Transactions” described above were made on
terms no less favorable than could have been obtained from third parties. All
transactions were negotiated at arms’ length. j2 Global intends to have all
future transactions between j2 Global and its officers, directors and affiliates
approved by a majority of independent and disinterested members of j2 Global’s
Board of Directors or one of its committees, as appropriate, in a manner
consistent with Nasdaq listing standards, Delaware law and the fiduciary duties
of j2 Global’s directors.
DEADLINE
FOR SUBMITTING STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE NEXT
ANNUAL MEETING
Under
Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, certain stockholder proposals may be
eligible for inclusion in j2 Global’s proxy statement and form of proxy. The
date by which stockholder proposals must be received by j2 Global so that they
may be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy for
the
Company’s 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is December 31, 2007 (or if the
date of the next j2 Global Annual Meeting is changed by more than 30 days
from the date of the 2007 Annual Meeting, a reasonable time before j2 Global
begins to print and mail its proxy materials). Under j2 Global’s Bylaws,
stockholder proposals which a stockholder does not seek to include in the proxy
statement and form of proxy pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act must
be received by j2 Global not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days
prior to the date of the next j2 Global Annual Meeting (unless there are fewer
than 70 days between the date the next Annual Meeting is announced and the
date
it is held, in which case such advance notice must be given at least 10 days
after the date of the announcement). Notice of a stockholder’s intent to
nominate candidates for election as directors must be submitted within the
deadline for submission of stockholder proposals. Stockholder proposals or
notices of intent to nominate candidates for election as directors should be
submitted to j2 Global Communications, Inc. at 6922 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite
500, Los Angeles, California 90028.
COST
OF ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY SOLICITATION
j2
Global
is paying the expenses of this solicitation. The Company also will reimburse
brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their
reasonable expenses in sending proxy material
to
principals and obtaining their instructions. In addition to solicitation by
mail, the directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies in person or
by
telephone, fax, email or similar means.
HOUSEHOLDING
As
permitted by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, only one copy of this Proxy
Statement is being delivered to stockholders residing at the same address,
unless such stockholders have notified j2 Global of their desire to receive
multiple copies of the Proxy Statement.
j2
Global
will promptly deliver, upon oral or written request, a separate copy of the
Proxy Statement to any stockholder residing at an address to which only one
copy
was mailed. Requests for additional copies should be directed to j2 Global’s
Secretary, 6922 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 500, Los Angeles, California 90028,
(323) 860-9200.
OTHER
MATTERS
The
Board
of Directors knows of no other business that will be presented at the Annual
Meeting. If any other business is properly brought before the Annual Meeting,
proxies in the enclosed form will be voted in respect thereof as the proxy
holders deem advisable.
It
is
important that the proxies be returned promptly and that your shares be
represented. Stockholders are urged to mark, date, sign and promptly return
the
accompanying proxy card in the enclosed envelope.
The
form
of proxy and this Proxy Statement have been approved by the Board of Directors
and are being mailed and delivered to stockholders by its authority.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors,
Richard
S. Ressler
Chairman
of the Board
|
Los
Angeles, California
Dated:
April __, 2007
PROXY
j2
GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
ANNUAL
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - MAY 3, 2007
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The
undersigned stockholder(s) of j2 Global Communications Inc., a Delaware
corporation, hereby acknowledge(s) receipt of the Proxy Statement dated April
__, 2007, and hereby appoint(s) Nehemia Zucker, R. Scott Turicchi, and Jeffrey
D. Adelman, and each of them, proxies and attorneys-in-fact, with full power
to
each of substitution, on behalf and in the name of the undersigned, to represent
the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of j2 Global
Communications, Inc., to be held May 3, 2007 at 10:00 a.m., local time, at
the
Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, 1755 N. Highland Avenue, Los Angeles, California
90028, and at any continuation or adjournment thereof, and to vote all shares
of
Common Stock which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if then and there
personally present, on all matters set forth below.
THIS
PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, OR IF NO CONTRARY DIRECTION IS INDICATED,
WILL
BE VOTED FOR THE APPROVAL OF ALL PROPOSALS SET OUT BELOW, INCLUDING FOR THE
ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES TO BE DIRECTORS OF j2 GLOBAL, FOR THE APPROVAL OF
j2
GLOBAL’S 2007 STOCK PLAN AND AS SAID PROXIES DEEM ADVISABLE ON SUCH OTHER
MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY CONTINUATION OR
ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.
THE
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ALL PROPOSALS BELOW
[X]
PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTES AS IN THIS EXAMPLE.
1.
To
elect five directors to serve the ensuing year and until their successors are
elected.
[_]
FOR [_]
WITHHELD
[_]
ABSTAIN
For all Nominees listed
below, |
|
Withhold authority to vote
for |
except as specified to the |
|
all Nominees listed below. |
contrary below. |
|
|
Nominees: Douglas
Y. Bech, Robert J. Cresci, John F. Rieley, Richard S. Ressler, Michael P.
Schulhof.
(INSTRUCTION:
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee write that nominee’s
name on the lines provided below.)
2.
|
To
approve j2 Global’s 2007 Stock
Plan.
|
[_]
FOR [_]
WITHHELD
[_]
ABSTAIN
3.
|
To
transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
or
any postponements or adjournments
thereof.
|
[_]
FOR [_]
WITHHELD
[_]
ABSTAIN
[_]
Mark
here for address change and note in the space provided.
|
Signature(s):_______________________
Date:_____________
Note:
This proxy should be marked, dated and signed by the stockholder(s)
exactly as his or her name appears hereon and returned promptly in
the
enclosed envelope. Persons in a fiduciary capacity should so indicate.
If
shares are held by joint tenants or as community property, each person
should sign.
|
Please
date, sign and mail your proxy card back as soon as
possible.
(CONTINUED
AND TO BE SIGNED ON THE REVERSE SIDE)
EXHIBIT
A
J2
GLOBAL
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
2007
STOCK PLAN
ARTICLE
I
PURPOSES
1.1 Purpose
of Plan.
The
purposes of the j2 Global Communications, Inc. 2007 Stock Plan (the “Plan”) are
to advance the interests of j2 Global Communications, Inc. (the “Company”) and
its shareholders by providing significant incentives to selected officers,
employees, and consultants of the Company who contribute and are expected to
contribute to the success of the Company, and to enhance the interest of such
officers and employees in the Company’s success and progress by providing them
with an opportunity to become shareholders of the Company. Further, the Plan
is
designed to enhance the Company’s ability to attract and retain qualified
employees necessary for the success and progress of the Company.
ARTICLE
II
DEFINITIONS
2.1 Definitions.
Certain
terms used herein shall have the meaning below stated, subject to the provisions
of Section 7.1 hereof.
(a) “Award”
means an award under the Plan as described in Article V. Awards may be made
under the Plan in the form of stock options, including Incentive Stock Options,
stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance
shares and share units and other stock-based Awards, as set forth in
Article V.
(b) “Award
Agreement” means a written agreement entered into between the Company and a
Grantee in connection with an Award.
(c) “Board”
or “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the
Company.
(d) “Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(e) “Committee”
means either (i) the Board of Directors or (ii) the Compensation Committee
of
the Board of Directors or such other committee of the Board as shall be
appointed by the Board to administer the Plan pursuant to Article VII hereof.
Except as otherwise determined by the Board, the members of the Committee,
or
the members of the Board who participate in decision making with respect to
the
Plan, shall be “non-employee directors” under Rule 16b-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and “outside directors” under
Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee may delegate any of its powers under
the Plan to a subcommittee of the
Committee
consisting of non-employee directors and outside directors. The Committee may
also authorize certain officers of the Company to carry out the day-to-day
administration of the Plan in accordance with the Committee’s
instructions.
(f) “Common
Stock” means, subject to the provisions of Section 9.3, the authorized common
stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share.
(g) “Company”
means j2 Global Communications, Inc.
(h) “Effective
Date” means the date on which the Company’s 2007 Stock Plan is adopted by the
Board or the date the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company,
whichever is earlier.
(i) “Employee”
means (i) any individual who is a common-law employee of the Company or of
a
Subsidiary, (ii) a member of the Board of Directors, or (iii) any consultant
or
other persons to the extent permitted by the instructions to Form S-8 under
the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, who performs services for the Company or
a
Subsidiary. Service as a member of the Board of Directors or as a consultant
shall be considered employment for all purposes under the Plan except the third
sentence of Section 4.1.
(j) “Fair
Market Value” means, in respect of a share of Common Stock on any date, the last
reported sales price regular way on such date or, in case no such reported
sale
takes place on such date, the last reported sales price regular way on the
day
preceding such date on which a reported sale occurred, in either case on the
New
York Stock Exchange or, if at the time the Common Stock is not listed or
admitted to trading on such Exchange, on the principal national securities
exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if
at
the time the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, in the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
Quotations (“Nasdaq”) National Market System or, if at the time the Common Stock
is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange or
quoted on such National Market System, the average of the closing bid and asked
prices in the over-the-counter market as furnished by any New York Stock
Exchange member firm selected from time to time by the Company for that purpose
or, if the Common Stock is not traded over-the-counter, as determined by the
Committee using any reasonable valuation method.
(k) “Grantee”
means an Employee who receives a grant of Options or other Award under the
Plan.
(l) “Incentive
Stock Option” means an Option to purchase Common Stock, granted by the Company
to an Employee pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, which meets the requirements
of
Section 422 of the Code.
(m) “Nonstatutory
Stock Option” means an Option to purchase Common Stock, granted by the Company
to an Employee pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, which does not meet the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code or which provides, as of the time the
Option is granted, that it will not be treated as an Incentive Stock
Option.
(n) “Option”
means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(o) “Option
Agreement” means an agreement between the Company and a Grantee evidencing the
terms of an Option granted under the Plan.
(p) “Plan”
means the j2 Global Communications, Inc. 2007 Stock Plan, as set forth herein
and as from time to time amended.
(q) “Restricted
Stock Agreement” means an agreement between the Company and a Grantee evidencing
the terms of Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan.
(r) “Subsidiary”
means a subsidiary of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the
Code.
(s) “Termination
of Employment” means, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, that a
Grantee shall be deemed to have a “Termination of Employment” upon ceasing
employment with the Company or a Subsidiary (or, in the case of a Grantee who
is
not an employee, upon ceasing association with the Company or a Subsidiary
as a
director, consultant or otherwise). The Committee in its discretion may
determine (a) whether any leave of absence constitutes a Termination of
Employment for purposes of the Plan, (b) the impact, if any, of any such
leave of absence on Awards theretofore made under the Plan, and (c) when a
change in a Grantee’s association with the Company constitutes a Termination of
Employment for purposes of the Plan. The Committee may also determine whether
a
Grantee’s Termination of Employment is for Cause (as hereinafter defined) and
the date of termination in such case.
ARTICLE
III
EFFECTIVE
DATE OF THE PLAN; RESERVATION OF SHARES
3.1 Effective
Date.
The
Plan shall become effective as of the Effective Date.
3.2 Shares
Reserved Under Plan.
The
total number of shares of Common Stock which may be transferred pursuant to
Awards granted under the Plan shall not exceed 5,000,000 shares and, as an
individual limitation, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect
to which Options may be granted to a Grantee in any one-year period may not
exceed 400,000 shares. Such shares may be authorized but unissued Common Stock
or authorized and issued Common Stock held in the Company’s treasury or acquired
by the Company for the purposes of the Plan. The Committee may direct that
any
stock certificate evidencing shares issued pursuant to the Plan shall bear
a
legend setting forth such restrictions on transferability as may apply to such
shares pursuant to the Plan. If any Award is forfeited or otherwise terminates
or is canceled without the delivery of shares of Common Stock, shares of Common
Stock are surrendered or withheld from any Award to satisfy a Grantee’s income
tax withholding obligations, or shares of Common Stock owned by a Grantee are
tendered to pay the exercise price of options or other Awards granted under
the
Plan, then the shares covered by such forfeited, terminated or canceled Award
or
which are equal to the number of shares surrendered, withheld or tendered shall
again become available for transfer pursuant to Awards granted or to
be
granted under this Plan. Any shares of Common Stock delivered by the Company,
any shares of Common Stock with respect to which Awards are made by the Company
and any shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Company becomes
obligated to make Awards, through the assumption of, or in substitution for,
outstanding awards previously granted by an acquired entity, shall not be
counted against the shares available for Awards under this Plan. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the case of the cancellation or forfeiture of Restricted
Stock
or other Award with respect to which dividends have been paid or accrued, the
number of shares with respect to such Restricted Stock or other Award shall
not
be available for subsequent grants hereunder unless, in the case of shares
with
respect to which dividends were accrued by unpaid, such dividends are also
canceled or forfeited. The Company shall at all times while the Plan is in
effect reserve such number of shares of Common Stock as will be sufficient
to
satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
3.3 Award
Agreements.
Each
Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which
shall contain such provisions as the Committee in its discretion deems necessary
or desirable. The Committee may grant Awards in tandem with or in substitution
for any other Award or Awards granted under this Plan or any award granted
under
any other plan of the Company. Payments or transfers to be made by the Company
upon the grant, exercise or payment of an Award may be made in such form as
the
Committee shall determine, including cash, shares of Common Stock, other
securities, other Awards or other property and may be made in a single payment
or transfer, in installments or on a deferred basis. A Grantee shall have no
rights with respect to an Award unless such Grantee accepts the Award within
such period as the Committee shall specify by executing an Award Agreement
in
such form as the Committee shall determine and, if the Committee shall so
require, makes payment to the Company in such amount as the Committee may
determine. The Committee shall determine if loans (whether or not secured by
shares of Common Stock) may be extended or guaranteed by the Company with
respect to any Awards. No Grantee of an Award (or other person having rights
pursuant to such Award) shall have any of the rights of a shareholder of the
Company with respect to shares subject to such Award until the issuance of
a
stock certificate to such person for such shares. Except as otherwise provided
in the applicable Award Agreement, no adjustment shall be made for dividends,
distributions or other rights (whether ordinary or extraordinary, and whether
in
cash, securities or other property) for which the record date is prior to the
date such stock certificate is issued.
ARTICLE
IV
PARTICIPATION
IN PLAN
4.1 Eligibility.
Options
or other Awards under the Plan may be granted to any key Employee of the Company
or a Subsidiary who performs services for the Company or a Subsidiary that
the
Committee deems to be of special importance to the growth and success of the
Company. The Committee shall determine those Employees to whom Options or other
Awards shall be granted, the type of Option or other Award to be granted to
each
such person, and, subject to Section 3.2 hereof, the number of shares of Common
Stock subject to each such Option or other Award. Only individuals who are
employed as common-law employees by the Company or a Subsidiary shall be
eligible for the grant of Incentive Stock Options.
4.2 Participation
Not Guarantee of Employment or Retention.
Nothing
in this Plan or in any Option Agreement or any other Award Agreement shall
in
any manner be construed to limit in any way the right of the Company or any
Subsidiary to terminate an Employee’s employment at any time, without regard to
the effect of such termination on any rights such Employee would otherwise
have
under this Plan, or give any right to an Employee to remain employed by the
Company or a Subsidiary thereof in any particular position or at any particular
rate of compensation.
ARTICLE
V
GRANT
AND EXERCISE OF OPTIONS; RESTRICTED STOCK; OTHER AWARDS
5.1 Grant
of Options.
The
Committee may from time to time in its discretion grant Incentive Stock Options
and/or Nonstatutory Stock Options to Employees at any time after the Effective
Date. All Options under the Plan shall be granted within ten (10) years from
the
date the Plan is adopted by the Board or the date the Plan is approved by the
stockholders of the Company, whichever is earlier.
5.2 Option
Terms.
Options
granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following
requirements:
(a) Option
Price.
The
exercise price of each Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than the higher
of the par value or 100% of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock
subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted. The exercise price
of
each Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be the amount determined by the Committee
as set forth in the applicable Option Agreement, provided that such amount
shall
not be less than the higher of the par value or 85% of the Fair Market Value
of
the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is
granted, provided further that options may only be granted at less than 100%
of
the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option on
the
date of grant if the discount is expressly in lieu of a reasonable amount of
salary or cash bonus, as determined by the Board of Directors or the Committee
in its sole discretion. The exercise price of an Option may be subject to
adjustment pursuant to Section 9.3 hereof.
(b) Term
of Option.
The
term during which an Option is exercisable shall be that period determined
by
the Committee as set forth in the applicable Option Agreement, provided that
no
Option shall have a term that exceeds a period of 10 years from the date of
its
grant.
(c) Nontransferability
of Option.
No
Option granted under the Plan shall be transferable by the Grantee otherwise
than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and each such Option
shall
be exercisable during the Grantee’s lifetime only by him. No transfer of an
Option by a Grantee by will or by the laws of descent and distribution shall
be
effective to bind the Company unless the Company shall have been furnished
with
written notice thereof and a copy of the will and/or such other evidence as
the
Committee may determine necessary to establish the validity of the transfer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its discretion, permit
a
Grantee to transfer any Option,
which
is
not an Incentive Stock Option, to one or more of the Grantee’s immediate family
members or to trusts established in whole or in part for the benefit of the
Grantee and/or one or more of such immediate family members. For purposes of
the
Plan, the term “immediate
family”
shall
mean the Grantee’s spouse and issue (including adopted and step
children).
(d) Exercise
of Option.
Unless
the Option Agreement pursuant to which an Option is granted provides otherwise,
each Option shall become exercisable, on a cumulative basis, with respect to
25%
of the aggregate number of the shares of Common Stock covered thereby on the
first anniversary of the date of grant and with respect to an additional 25%
of
the shares of Common Stock covered thereby on each of the next three (3)
succeeding anniversaries of the date of grant; provided,
however, the Committee may establish a different vesting schedule for any
optionee or group of optionees. Any portion of an Option which has become
exercisable shall remain exercisable until it is exercised in full or terminates
pursuant to the terms of the Plan or the Option Agreement pursuant to which
it
is granted.
(e) Acceleration
of Exercise on Change of Control.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (d) of this Section or any other
restrictions limiting the number of shares of Common Stock as to which an Option
may be exercised, each Option shall become immediately exercisable in full
upon
and simultaneously with any “Change of Control” of the Company unless the Board
determines that the optionee has been offered substantially identical
replacement options and a comparable position at any acquiring company. For
purposes of this Plan, a “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred
if:
(i) any
“person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than the Company,
any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company, any trustee or other
fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company,
or
any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the
Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of
the
Company), is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then
outstanding securities;
(ii) during
any period of two consecutive years individuals who at the beginning of such
period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director
designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to
effect a transaction described in clause (i), (iii) or (iv) of this Section)
whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s
stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors
then
still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or
whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease
for
any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof;
(iii) the
stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company
with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would
result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior
thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of
the
combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving
entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation;
or
(iv) the
stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the
Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or
substantially all of the Company’s assets. For the purposes of this subsection
(iv), “substantially all” of the Company’s assets shall mean assets for which
the price or consideration upon sale or disposition equals or exceeds
seventy-five percent (75%) or more of the fair market value of the
Company.
(f) Incentive
Stock Options Granted to Ten Percent Shareholders.
No
Incentive Stock Options shall be granted to any Employee who owns, directly
or
indirectly within the mean of Section 424(d) of the Code, stock possessing
more
than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or any Subsidiary, unless at the time the Incentive Stock Option is
granted, the exercise price of the Incentive Stock Option is at least 110%
of
the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to such Incentive Stock Option
and such Incentive Stock Option, by its terms, is not exercisable after the
expiration of five years from the date such Incentive Stock Option is
granted.
(g) Limitation
on Incentive Stock Options.
To the
extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Common Stock with respect
to
which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Grantee
during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its parent and
subsidiary corporations) exceeds $100,000 (or the then applicable maximum under
Section 422 of the Code), such Options shall be treated as Nonstatutory
Stock Options. For this purpose, Options shall be taken into account in the
order in which they were granted and the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock
shall be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Common Stock
is granted.
5.3 Payment
of Exercise Price and Delivery of Shares.
(a) Notice
and Payment for Shares.
Each
Option shall be exercised by delivery of a written notice to the Company in
such
form as the Committee shall approve stating the number of the whole shares
of
Common Stock as to which the Option is being exercised and accompanied by
payment therefor. No Option shall be deemed exercised in the event that payment
therefor is not received and shares of Common Stock shall not be issued upon
the
exercise of an Option unless the exercise price is paid in full. Payment for
shares of Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of an Option shall be made
by
(i) cash, (ii) certified check payable to the order of the Company, (iii)
outstanding shares of Common Stock duly endorsed to the Company (which shares
of
Common Stock shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the day preceding
the date of such exercise),
(iv)
any
combination of the foregoing, or (v) such other method of payment as may be
provided in the applicable Option Agreement.
(b) Rights
of Grantee in Stock.
Neither
any Grantee nor the legal representatives, heirs, legatees or distributees
of
any Grantee, shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights
of a holder with respect to, any shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
of an Option granted hereunder unless and until such shares are issued to him
or
them and such person or persons have received a certificate or certificates
therefor. Upon the issuance and receipt of such certificate or certificates,
such Grantee or the legal representatives, heirs, legatees or distributees
of
such Grantee shall have absolute ownership of the shares of Common Stock
evidenced thereby, including the right to vote such shares, to the same extent
as any other owner of shares of Common Stock, and to receive dividends thereon,
subject, however, to the terms, conditions and restrictions of this
Plan.
5.4 Restricted
Stock.
The
Committee may from time to time in its discretion grant award shares of
restricted stock (“Restricted Stock”) to Employees at any time after the
Effective Date. Each award of Restricted Stock under the Plan shall be evidenced
by a written Restricted Stock Agreement between the Company and the Grantee,
in
such form as the Committee shall from time to time approve, and shall comply
with the following terms and conditions (and with such other terms and
conditions not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan as the Committee, in
its
discretion, shall establish):
(a) Number
of Shares.
Each
Restricted Stock Agreement shall state the number of shares of Restricted Stock
to be subject to an award.
(b) Restrictions.
Shares
of Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged,
hypothecated or otherwise disposed of, except by will or the laws of descent
and
distribution, for such period as the Committee shall determine from the date
on
which the award is granted (the “Restricted Period”). The Committee may also
impose such other restrictions and conditions on the shares as it deems
appropriate including the satisfaction of performance criteria. Certificates
for
shares of stock issued pursuant to Restricted Stock awards shall bear an
appropriate legend referring to such restrictions, and any attempt to dispose
of
any such shares of stock in contravention of such restrictions shall be null
and
void and without effect. During the Restricted Period, such certificates shall
be held in escrow by an escrow agent appointed by the Committee. In determining
the Restricted Period of an award, the Committee may provide that the foregoing
restrictions shall lapse with respect to specified percentages of the awarded
shares on successive anniversaries of the date of such award.
(c) Forfeiture.
Subject
to such exceptions as may be determined by the Committee, if the Grantee’s
continuous employment with the Company or any Subsidiary shall terminate for
any
reason prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period of an award, any shares
remaining subject to restrictions (after taking into account the provisions
of
Section 5.4(e) hereof) shall thereupon be forfeited by the Grantee and
transferred to, and reacquired by, the Company or a Subsidiary at no cost to
the
Company or Subsidiary.
(d) Ownership.
During
the Restricted Period the Grantee shall possess all incidents of ownership
of
such shares, subject to Section 5.4(b) hereof, including the right to receive
dividends with respect to such shares and to vote such shares.
(e) Accelerated
Lapse of Restrictions.
The
Committee shall have the authority (and the Restricted Stock Agreement may,
but
need not, so provide) to cancel all or any portion of any outstanding
restrictions prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect
to
any or all of the shares of Restricted Stock awarded on such terms and
conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.
(f) Accelerated
Lapse of Restrictions on Change of Control.
Notwithstanding anything else provided in this Agreement, all outstanding
restrictions on each share of Restricted Stock shall immediately be canceled
in
full upon and simultaneously with any “Change of Control” of the Company unless
the Board determines that the Grantee has been offered substantially identical
replacement restricted stock and a comparable position at any acquiring
company.
5.5 Grant
of Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) The
Committee may grant stock appreciation rights to such Employees, in such amounts
and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine
in
its discretion. Stock appreciation rights may be granted in connection with
all
or any part of, or independently of, any stock option granted under the Plan.
A
stock appreciation right may be granted at or after the time of grant of such
option. A stock appreciation right shall become exercisable at such time or
times as determined by the Committee.
(b) The
Grantee of a stock appreciation right shall have the right, subject to the
terms
of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, to receive from the Company
an
amount equal to (a) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common
Stock on the date of exercise of the stock appreciation right over (b) the
exercise price of such right as set forth in the Award Agreement (or over the
option exercise price if the stock appreciation right is granted in connection
with a stock option), multiplied by (c) the number of shares with respect to
which the stock appreciation right is exercised. Payment to the Grantee upon
exercise of a stock appreciation right shall be made in cash or in shares of
Common Stock (valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of
the
stock appreciation right) or both, as the Committee shall determine in its
discretion. Upon the exercise of a stock appreciation right granted in
connection with a stock option, the number of shares subject to the option
shall
be correspondingly reduced by the number of shares with respect to which the
stock appreciation right is exercised. Upon the exercise of a stock option
in
connection with which a stock appreciation right has been granted, the number
of
shares subject to the stock appreciation right shall be correspondingly reduced
by the number of shares with respect to which the option is
exercised.
5.6 Grant
of Restricted Stock Units.
(a) The
Committee may grant Awards of restricted stock units to such Employees, in
such
amounts, and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall
determine in its discretion, subject to the provisions of the Plan. Restricted
stock units may be awarded independently of or in connection with any other
Award under the Plan.
(b) At
the
time of grant, the Committee shall specify the date or dates on which the
restricted stock units shall become vested, and may specify such conditions
to
vesting as it deems appropriate. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee,
in the event of the Grantee’s Termination of Employment for any reason,
restricted stock units that have not vested shall be forfeited and canceled.
The
Committee at any time may accelerate vesting dates and otherwise waive or amend
any conditions of an Award of restricted stock units.
(c) At
the
time of grant, the Committee shall specify the maturity date applicable to
each
grant of restricted stock units, which may be determined at the election of
the
Grantee. Such date may be later than the vesting date or dates of the Award.
On
the maturity date, the Company shall transfer to the Grantee one unrestricted,
fully transferable share of Common Stock for each vested restricted stock unit
scheduled to be paid out on such date and as to which all other conditions
to
the transfer have been fully satisfied. The Committee shall specify the purchase
price, if any, to be paid by the Grantee to the Company for such shares of
Common Stock.
5.7 Grant
of Performance Shares and Share Units.
The
Committee may grant performance shares in the form of actual shares of Common
Stock or share units having a value equal to an identical number of shares
of
Common Stock to such Employees, in such amounts, and subject to such terms
and
conditions as the Committee shall determine in its discretion, subject to the
provisions of the Plan. In the event that a stock certificate is issued in
respect of performance shares, such certificates shall be registered in the
name
of the Grantee but shall be held by the Company until the time the performance
shares are earned. The performance conditions and the length of the performance
period shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee shall determine
in
its sole discretion whether performance shares granted in the form of share
units shall be paid in cash, Common Stock, or a combination of cash and Common
Stock.
5.8 Other
Stock-Based Awards.
The
Committee may grant other types of stock-based Awards to such Employees, in
such
amounts and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Committee shall in
its
discretion determine, subject to the provisions of the Plan. Such Awards may
entail the transfer of actual shares of Common Stock, or payment in cash or
otherwise of amounts based on the value of shares of Common Stock.
5.9 Grant
of Dividend Equivalent Rights.
The
Committee may in its discretion include in the Award Agreement with respect
to
any Award a dividend equivalent right entitling the Grantee to receive amounts
equal to the ordinary dividends that would be paid, during the time such Award
is outstanding and unexercised, on the shares of Common Stock covered by
such
Award if such shares were then outstanding. In the event such a provision is
included in an Award Agreement, the Committee shall determine whether such
payments shall be made in cash, in shares of Common Stock or in another form,
whether they shall be conditioned upon the exercise of the Award to which they
relate, the time or times at which they shall be made, and such other terms
and
conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.
ARTICLE
VI
TERMINATION
AND DEATH
6.1 Termination
Other Than by Death or for Cause.
If a
Grantee’s position as an Employee of the Company or a Subsidiary terminates for
any reason other than death or for Cause (as defined in Section 6.2) he may,
unless the applicable Option Agreement provides otherwise, exercise an Option
previously granted and vested within three months after the date of such
termination, but in no event later than the date on which the Option would
have
expired in accordance with its terms. To the extent the Option is not so
exercised, it shall expire at the end of such three-month period.
6.2 Termination
for Cause.
If a
Grantee’s position as an Employee of the Company or a Subsidiary is terminated
for Cause, any Option theretofore granted to him shall expire and cease to
be
exercisable on the date notice of such termination is delivered to the Grantee.
“Cause” shall mean (a) the willful and continued failure by a Grantee to
substantially perform his duties with the Company (other than any such failure
resulting from his incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after a
written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Grantee by the
Board, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Board
believes that the Grantee has not substantially performed his duties, or (b)
the
willful engaging by the Grantee in conduct which is demonstrably and materially
injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise. For purposes of this Section
6.2, no act, or failure to act, shall be deemed “willful” unless done, or
omitted to be done, not in good faith and without reasonable belief that such
action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.
6.3 Death.
If a
Grantee dies (i) while he is an Employee of the Company or a Subsidiary or
(ii)
during the three-month period after the termination of his position as an
Employee of the Company or a Subsidiary, and at the time of his death the
Grantee was entitled to exercise an Option theretofore granted to him, such
Option shall, unless the applicable Option Agreement provides otherwise, expire
one year after the date of his death, but in no event later than the date on
which the Option would have expired if the Grantee had lived. During such
one-year period the Option may be exercised by the Grantee’s executor or
administrator or by any person or persons who shall have acquired the Option
directly from the Grantee by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent
that
the Grantee was entitled to exercise the Option at the date of his death and,
to
the extent the Option is not so exercised, it shall expire at the end of such
one-year period.
6.4 Applicability
to Other Awards.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Committee determines
in
its discretion that a Grantee’s Termination of Employment is for Cause, then the
Committee shall also have the power to determine in its discretion that any
outstanding stock options and stock appreciation rights or other Awards, whether
or not
exercisable
at the time of such termination, shall be terminated as of the date of such
termination and shall be of no further force and effect. The Committee shall
also have the power to determine in its discretion the applicability of the
principles in this Article VI to Awards other than stock
options.
ARTICLE
VII
ADMINISTRATION
OF PLAN
7.1 Administration.
The
Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors or such other committee as may be appointed by the Board of Directors
of the Company, which Committee shall consist of not less than two members,
all
of whom are members of the Board of Directors. A majority of the Committee
shall
constitute a quorum thereof and the actions of a majority of the Committee
at a
meeting at which a quorum is present, or actions unanimously approved in writing
by all members of the Committee, shall be the actions of the Committee.
Vacancies occurring on the Committee shall be filled by the Board. The Committee
shall have full and final authority (i) to interpret the Plan and each of the
Option Agreements and other Award Agreements, (ii) to prescribe, amend and
rescind rules and regulations, if any, relating to the Plan, (iii) to make
all
determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan and
(iv) to correct any defect, supply any omission and reconcile any inconsistency
in the Plan and any Option Agreement or any other Award Agreement. The
Committee’s determination in all matters referred to herein shall be conclusive
and binding for all purposes and upon all persons including, but without
limitation, the Company, the shareholders of the Company, the Committee, and
each of the members thereof, Employees and their respective successors in
interest.
7.2 Liability.
No
member of the Committee shall be liable for anything done or omitted to be
done
by him or by any other member of the Committee in connection with the Plan,
except for his own willful misconduct or gross negligence. The Committee shall
have power to engage outside consultants, auditors or other professional help
to
assist in the fulfillment of the Committee’s duties under the Plan at the
Company’s expense.
7.3 Determinations.
In
making its determinations concerning the key Employees who shall receive Options
or other Awards as well as the number of shares to be covered by such Options
or
other Awards and the time or times at which they shall be granted, the Committee
shall take into account the nature of the services rendered by such key
Employees, their past, present and potential contribution to the Company’s
success and such other factors as the Committee may deem relevant. The Committee
shall determine the form of Option Agreements and Award Agreement under the
Plan
and the terms and conditions to be included therein, provided such terms and
conditions are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan. The Committee may
waive any provisions of any Option Agreement or any other Award Agreement,
provided such waiver is not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan as then
in
effect. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and
may be made by it selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to
receive, Options or other Awards under the Plan, whether or not such persons
are
similarly situated.
ARTICLE
VIII
AMENDMENT
AND TERMINATION OF PLAN
8.1 Amendment
of Plan.
(a) Generally.
The
Board of Directors may amend the Plan at any time and from time to time. Rights
and obligations under any Option or other Award granted before amendment of
the
Plan shall not be materially altered, or impaired adversely, by such amendment,
except with consent of the Grantee (or, after the Grantee’s death, the person
having the right to exercise or receive payment of the Award). For purposes
of
the Plan, any action of the Board or the Committee that alters or affects the
tax treatment of any Award shall not be considered to materially impair any
rights of any Grantee. An amendment of the Plan shall be subject to the approval
of the Company’s stockholders only to the extent required by applicable laws
(including Section 422 of the Code), regulations or rules (including applicable
rules of any stock exchange or of Nasdaq).
(b) Amendments
Relating to Incentive Stock Options.
To the
extent applicable, the Plan is intended to permit the issuance of Incentive
Stock Options to Employees in accordance with the provisions of Section 422
of
the Code. Subject to paragraph 8.1(a) above, the Plan, Option Agreements and
other Award Agreements may be modified or amended at any time, both
prospectively and retroactively, and in a manner that may affect Incentive
Stock
Options previously granted, if such amendment or modification is necessary
for
the Plan and Incentive Stock Options granted hereunder to qualify under said
provisions of the Code.
8.2 Termination.
The
Board may at any time terminate the Plan as of any date specified in a
resolution adopted by the Board. If not earlier terminated, the Plan shall
terminate on February 14, 2017 (but in any event not later than the day before
the 10th
anniversary of Board approval of the Plan). No Options or other Awards may
be
granted after the Plan has terminated, but the Committee shall continue to
supervise the administration of Options or other Awards previously
granted.
ARTICLE
IX
MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
9.1 Restrictions
upon Grant of Awards.
If the
listing upon any stock exchange or Nasdaq or the registration or qualification
under any federal or state law of any shares of Common Stock to be issued on
the
exercise of Awards granted under this Plan (whether to permit the grant of
Awards or the resale or other disposition of any such shares of Common Stock
by
or on behalf of Grantees receiving such shares) should be or become necessary
or
desirable, the Board in its sole discretion may determine that delivery of
the
certificates for such shares of Common Stock shall not be made until such
listing, registration or qualification shall have been completed. The Company
agrees that it will use its best efforts to effect any such listing,
registration or qualification, provided, however, that the Company shall not
be
required to use its best efforts to effect such registration under the
Securities Act of 1933 other than on
Form
S-8
or such other forms as may be in effect from time to time calling for
information comparable to that presently required to be furnished under Form
S-8.
9.2 Restrictions
upon Resale of Unregistered Stock.
Each
Grantee shall, if the Company deems it advisable, represent and agree in writing
(i) that any shares of Common Stock acquired by such Grantee pursuant to this
Plan will not be sold except pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act of 1933 or pursuant to an exemption from registration
under said Act, (ii) that such Grantee is acquiring such shares of Common Stock
for his own account and not with a view to the distribution thereof, and (iii)
to such other customary matters as the Company may request. In such case, no
shares of Common Stock shall be issued to such Grantee unless such Grantee
provides such representations and agreements and the Company is reasonably
satisfied that such representations and agreements are correct.
9.3 Adjustments.
(a) General.
In the
event of a subdivision of the outstanding Common Stock, a declaration of a
dividend payable in shares of Common Stock, a declaration of a dividend payable
in a form other than shares in an amount that has a material effect on the
value
of shares of Common Stock, a combination or consolidation of the outstanding
Common Stock into a lesser number of shares of Common Stock, a recapitalization,
a reclassification or a similar occurrence, the Committee shall make appropriate
adjustments in one or more of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock available
for future grants of Options or other Awards under Section 3.2, (ii) the number
of shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding Option or other Award,
or
(iii) the exercise price of each outstanding Option or other Award.
(b) Reorganizations.
In the
event that the Company is a party to a merger or reorganization, outstanding
Options and other Awards shall be subject to the agreement of merger or
reorganization.
(c) Reservation
of Rights.
Except
as provided in this Section 9.3, a Grantee shall have no rights by reason of
(i)
any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, (ii) the
payment of any dividend, or (iii) any other increase or decrease in the number
of shares of stock of any class. Any issue by the Company of shares of stock
of
any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall
not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect
to,
the number or exercise price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option
or
other Award. The grant of any Option or other Award pursuant to the Plan shall
not affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments,
reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business
structure, to merge or consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer
all or any part of its business or assets.
9.4 Withholding
of Taxes; Tax Elections.
(a) Each
Grantee who exercises a Nonstatutory Stock Option and each Grantee who holds
Restricted Stock or other Award that has vested shall agree that no later than
the date of exercise or receipt of shares of Common Stock pursuant to such
Option
and no later than the date such Restricted Stock or other Award vests (in whole
or in part) he will pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to
the
Committee regarding payment of, any Federal, state or local taxes of any kind
required by law to be withheld with respect to the transfer to him or vesting
in
him of such shares of Common Stock.
(b) The
applicable Option Agreement or other Award Agreement may provide that a Grantee
may satisfy, in whole or in part, the requirements of paragraph
(a):
(i) by
delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the Grantee for at least six months
(or such shorter or longer period as the Committee may approve) having a Fair
Market Value (determined as of the date of such delivery) equal to all or part
of the amount to be so withheld, or
(ii) by
electing to have the Company withhold the requisite number of shares from shares
otherwise deliverable pursuant to the exercise of the Option or vesting of
Restricted Stock or other Award giving rise to the tax withholding obligation
provided, however, that
(A) the
Grantee’s election and the withholding pursuant thereto take effect during the
period beginning on the third business day following the date of release for
publication of the quarterly and annual summary statements of the Company’s
sales and earnings and ending on the twelfth business day following such date,
and six months have elapsed since the date the Option or Restricted Stock or
other Award was granted, or
(B) such
election was irrevocably made by the Grantee and filed with the Committee in
writing at least six months in advance of the date on which such withholding
occurs. The Committee may require, as a condition of accepting any such delivery
of Common Stock or any such election by the Grantee, that the Grantee furnish
to
the Company an opinion of counsel to the effect that such delivery or election
will not result in the Grantee incurring any liability under Section 16(b)
of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(c) If
the
Grantee, in connection with the acquisition of shares of Common Stock under
the
Plan, is permitted under the terms of his Option Agreement or other Award
Agreement to make the election permitted under Section 83(b) of the Code (i.e.,
an election to include in gross income in the year of transfer the amounts
specified in Section 83(b) of the Code notwithstanding the continuing transfer
restrictions) and if the Grantee makes such election, the Grantee shall submit
to the Company a copy of the notice filed by the Grantee with the Internal
Revenue Service within ten (10) days of filing such notice, and shall pay,
or
make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee regarding payment of, any
federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld as
a
result of such election, all in accordance with the provisions of clauses (a)
and (b) of this section 9.4.
(d) If
any
Grantee shall make any disposition of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant
to
the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option under the circumstances described
in
Section 421(b) of the Code (relating to certain disqualifying dispositions),
such Grantee shall notify the Company of such disposition within ten (10) days
thereof.
9.5 Use
of
Proceeds.
The
proceeds from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Options or other Awards
granted under the Plan shall constitute general funds of the Company and may
be
used for such corporate purposes as the Company may determine.
9.6 Substitution
of Options.
(a) The
Committee may, with the consent of the holder of any Option granted under the
Plan, cancel such Option and grant a new Option in substitution therefor,
provided that the Option as so substituted shall satisfy all of the requirements
of the Plan as of the date such new Option is granted.
(b) Options
may be granted under this Plan in substitution for options held by individuals
who are employees of another corporation and who become Employees of the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company eligible to receive Options pursuant to the
Plan as a result of a merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event.
The terms and conditions of any Options so granted may vary from those set
forth
in the Plan to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee in order to
conform the provisions of Options granted pursuant to the Plan to the provisions
of the options in substitution for which they are granted.
9.7 Notices.
Any
notice required or permitted hereunder shall be sufficiently given only if
sent
by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
addressed to the Company at its principal place of business, and to the Grantee
at the address on file with the Company at the time of grant hereunder, or
to
such other address as either party may hereafter designate in writing by notice
similarly given by one party to the other.
9.8 Nature
of Payments.
Any and
all grants of Awards and issuances of shares of Common Stock under the Plan
shall constitute a special incentive payment to the Grantee and shall not be
taken into account in computing the amount of salary or compensation of the
Grantee for the purpose of determining any benefits under any pension,
retirement, profit-sharing, bonus, life insurance or other benefit plan of
the
Company or under any agreement with the Grantee, unless such plan or agreement
specifically provides otherwise.
9.9 Non-Uniform
Determinations.
The
Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be
made by it selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive,
Awards (whether or not such persons are similarly situated). Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall be entitled, among other
things, to make non-uniform and selective determinations, and to enter into
non-uniform and selective Award Agreements, as to the persons to receive Awards
under the Plan, and the terms and provisions of Awards under the
Plan.
9.10 Waiver
of Claims.
Prior
to being selected by the Committee to receive an Award, an Employee has no
right
to any benefits hereunder. In consideration of a Grantee’s receipt of
any
Award
hereunder, the Committee may require, in its sole discretion, that each such
Grantee expressly waive any right to contest the amount of any Award, the terms
of any Award Agreement, any determination, action or omission hereunder or
under
any Award Agreement by the Committee, the Company or the Board, or any amendment
to the Plan or any Award Agreement (other than an amendment to this Plan or
an
Award Agreement to which his or her consent is expressly required by the express
terms of the Plan or an Award Agreement).
9.11 Governing
Law.
The
Plan and all determinations made and actions taken hereunder, to the extent
not
otherwise governed by the Code or the laws of the United States of America,
shall be governed by the laws of the State of California and construed
accordingly.