SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 1)
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Check the appropriate box: |
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Under Section 240.14a-12 |
INFOUSA
INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
N/A
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form
or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preliminary Copy
infoUSA INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2006 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of infoUSA Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
Company), will be held on Friday, May 26, 2006,
at 9:00 a.m. local time, at the Companys facility
located at 4001 South Business Park Avenue, Marshfield,
Wisconsin 54449, for the following purposes, as more fully
described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice:
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1. To elect three directors to the Board of Directors for a
term of three years; |
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2. To vote on a stockholder proposal, described in the
Proxy Statement, if properly presented at the meeting; and |
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3. To transact such other business as may properly come
before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on
April 4, 2006 are entitled to receive notice of and to vote
at the meeting.
All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual
Meeting in person. However, to assure your representation at the
Annual Meeting, you are urged to mark, sign, date and return the
enclosed proxy card as promptly as possible in the
postage-prepaid envelope included for that purpose. Stockholders
attending the Annual Meeting may vote in person even if they
have previously returned a proxy.
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Sincerely, |
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Fred Vakili |
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Secretary |
Omaha, Nebraska
April 17, 2006
Preliminary Copy
infoUSA INC.
PROXY STATEMENT
INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING
General
The enclosed proxy is solicited on behalf of infoUSA
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), for use
at its 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Friday,
May 26, 2006, at 9:00 a.m., local time, or at any
adjournments or postponements thereof, for the purposes set
forth in this Proxy Statement and in the accompanying Notice of
Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Annual Meeting will be held
at the Companys facility located at 4001 South Business
Park Avenue, Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449. The Companys
principal executive offices are located at 5711 South
86th Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68127. The Companys
telephone number is (402) 593-4500.
These proxy solicitation materials are being mailed on or about
April 17, 2006, to all stockholders entitled to vote at the
meeting. The Companys Annual Report for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2005, including audited financial
statements, is being mailed to stockholders concurrently with
this Proxy Statement.
Record Date; Outstanding Shares
Stockholders of record at the close of business on April 4,
2006 (the Record Date) are entitled to receive
notice of and vote at the meeting. On the Record Date,
55,140,753 shares of the Companys common stock,
$.0025 par value per share, were issued and outstanding.
For information regarding beneficial ownership of the
Companys common stock by directors, executive officers and
holders of more than five percent of the outstanding common
stock, see Security Ownership.
Revocability of Proxies
Proxies given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked at
any time before they are voted at the meeting or any adjournment
thereof by delivering written notice of revocation to the
Secretary of the Company or by executing a later dated proxy.
Stockholders may also revoke such proxies by attending the
meeting and voting in person, although attendance at the meeting
will not, in and of itself, constitute revocation of a proxy.
Voting and Solicitation
The presence in person or by proxy of holders of a majority of
the shares of stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting
constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. Every
holder of record of common stock on the Record Date is entitled,
for each share held, to one vote on each proposal or item that
comes before the meeting. In the election of directors, each
stockholder will be entitled to vote for three nominees and, if
a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting, the three nominees
with the greatest number of votes will be elected. If a quorum
is present at the Annual Meeting, approval of the stockholder
proposal would require an affirmative vote of a majority of the
shares represented at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy
and entitled to vote.
The election inspectors will treat abstentions as shares that
are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining
whether a quorum is present. With respect to the election of
directors (elected by a plurality of the votes), abstentions
will not be taken into account in determining the outcome of the
election. With respect to other matters being considered,
abstentions will have the same effect as negative votes. If a
broker indicates on the proxy that it does not have
discretionary authority as to certain shares to vote on a
particular matter, those shares will not be considered as
present and entitled to vote with respect to that matter and
will not be taken into account in determining the outcome of the
votes on that matter.
This Proxy Statement is being furnished in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by the Companys Board of
Directors. Original solicitation of proxies by mail may be
supplemented by telephone or personal solicitation by directors,
officers, or other regular employees of the Company. No
additional compensation will be paid to directors, officers or
other regular employees for their services. The Company will
bear the entire cost of solicitation of proxies, which is
estimated at $700,000, including the fees and expenses payable
to its professional proxy solicitor, which are described below,
and the preparation, assembly, printing and mailing of this
Proxy Statement, the notice of the annual meeting of
stockholders, the enclosed proxy card and any additional
information furnished to stockholders. This estimate excludes
salaries and wages of regular employees and officers.
The Company has engaged the services of MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
to solicit proxies and to assist in the distribution of proxy
materials. In connection with its retention by the Company,
MacKenzie Partners, Inc. has agreed to provide consulting and
analytic services and to assist in the solicitation of proxies.
The Company estimates that approximately 35 employees of
MacKenzie Partners, Inc. will be involved in the solicitation of
proxies and revocations on behalf of the Company. The Company
has agreed to pay MacKenzie Partners, Inc. for its services a
fee not to exceed $200,000 plus reimbursement of reasonable
out-of-expenses estimated at $200,000.
Copies of solicitation materials will also be furnished to
banks, brokerage houses, fiduciaries and custodians holding in
their names shares of the Companys common stock
beneficially owned by others to forward to these beneficial
owners. The Company may reimburse persons representing
beneficial owners of the Companys common stock for their
costs of forwarding solicitation materials to the beneficial
owners.
Information Concerning Persons Who May Solicit Proxies
Under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) rules, the directors and director nominees and
certain executive officers of the Company may be deemed to be
participants in the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the
Company (Participants). Appendix A to this
Proxy Statement identifies each of the Participants and sets
forth, with respect to each such Participant, the name and
business address of the Participant; the Participants
present principal occupation or employment and the name,
principal business and address of any corporation or other
organization in which such employment is carried on.
The number of shares owned by each Participant (other than
Stormy L. Dean) is set forth below in the table entitled
Security Ownership. Except as otherwise disclosed in
this Proxy Statement, the shares set forth in that table
opposite such Participants name are directly or indirectly
beneficially owned by such Participant, and no Participant owns
any shares of record but not beneficially. Mr. Dean is the
beneficial owner of 2,641 shares of Company common stock.
Within the past two years, except as set forth on Appendix A,
none of the Participants has engaged in any purchase or sale of
shares of Company common stock.
Except as otherwise described in this Proxy Statement, none of
the Participants nor any of their respective affiliates or
associates (together, the Participant Affiliates)
(i) directly or indirectly beneficially owns any securities
of the Company, or (ii) has had any relationship with the
Company in any capacity other than as a stockholder, employee,
officer or director. Furthermore, except as otherwise described
in this Proxy Statement, no Participant or Participant Affiliate
is or was either a party to any transaction or series of
transactions since the beginning of fiscal 2005 or has knowledge
of any currently
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proposed transaction or series of transactions (i) to which
the Company was or is to be a party, (ii) in which the
amount involved exceeds $60,000, and (iii) in which any
Participant or Participant Affiliate had or will have a direct
or indirect material interest. Except as otherwise described in
this Proxy Statement, no Participant or Participant Affiliate
has entered into any agreement or understanding with any person
respecting any (i) future employment by the Company or any
of its affiliates, or (ii) any transaction to which the
Company or any of its affiliates will or may be a party. Except
as otherwise described in this Proxy Statement, there have been
no contracts, arrangements or understandings by any Participant
or Participant Affiliate within the past year with any person
with respect to any securities of the Company other than the
Confidentiality Agreement between Vinod Gupta and the Company
dated July 14, 2005 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the
Report on Form 8-K
filed by the Company on July 22, 2005) and the standstill
letter from Mr. Gupta to the Company dated
September 12, 2005 (filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the
Report on Form 8-K
filed by the Company on September 14, 2005).
Deadlines for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals
The proxy rules of the SEC permit stockholders, after timely
notice to a company, to present proposals for stockholder action
in a companys proxy statement where such proposals are
consistent with applicable law, pertain to matters appropriate
for stockholder action and are not properly omitted by corporate
action in accordance with the proxy rules. Stockholder proposals
that are intended to be presented at the Companys 2007
Annual Meeting must be received by the Company no later than
December 18, 2006 to be included in the proxy statement and
form of proxy for that meeting.
The Companys Bylaws provide that certain requirements be
met for business to properly come before the stockholders at the
Annual Meeting. Among other things, stockholders intending to
bring business before the Annual Meeting must provide written
notice of such intent to the Secretary of the Company. Such
notice must be received by the Company no later than the close
of business on the 10th day following the day on which
notice of the date of the Annual Meeting was mailed or public
disclosure of the same was made. The Companys proxy for
this years Annual Meeting may confer on the proxy holder
discretionary authority to vote on any stockholder proposals
that are intended to be presented at the Annual Meeting that are
received after such date. Additionally, the chairman of the
Annual Meeting may declare that such business was not properly
brought before the Annual Meeting and shall not be transacted.
The chairman may exclude from the 2007 Annual Meeting, and the
Companys proxy for the 2007 Annual Meeting may confer on
the proxy holder discretionary authority to vote on, any
stockholder proposals that are intended to be presented at the
2007 Annual Meeting that are received after the close of
business on the 10th day following the day on which notice
of the date of the Annual Meeting was mailed or public
disclosure of the same was made. Stockholders desiring to bring
matters for action at an Annual Meeting should contact the
Companys Secretary for a copy of the relevant requirements.
Additionally, any stockholder intending to nominate candidates
for Board membership must send written notice of such nomination
to the Secretary of the Company at least 30 but no more than
60 days prior to the Annual Meeting, with the submitting
stockholders name, address and stockholdings and pertinent
information about the proposed nominee similar to that set forth
for nominees named herein. If less than 40 days
notice of public disclosure of the date of the Annual Meeting is
given or made, such stockholder notice must be received not
later than the close of business on the 10th day following
the day on which such notice of the date of the meeting was
mailed or such public disclosure was made.
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PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
General
The Companys Board of Directors presently consists of nine
directors and is divided into three classes of three directors
each, with the term of office of one class expiring each year.
The terms of office of Vinod Gupta, Dr. George F. Haddix
and Dr. Vasant H. Raval expire at this years Annual
Meeting. The terms of office of Bill L. Fairfield, Anshoo S.
Gupta and Elliot S. Kaplan expire at the 2007 Annual Meeting.
The terms of office of Martin F. Kahn, Bernard W. Reznicek and
Dennis P. Walker expire at the 2008 Annual Meeting.
The Company is proposing that the stockholders re-elect the
three directors whose terms expire this year (Mr. Vinod
Gupta, Dr. Haddix and Dr. Raval), for terms expiring
at the 2009 Annual Meeting.
Vote Required
The three nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative
votes of the shares represented at the Annual Meeting in person
or by proxy and entitled to vote will be elected to the Board of
Directors. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of
persons than the number of directors to be elected.
Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote the
proxies received by them for the Companys three nominees
named below. If any nominee of the Company is unable or declines
to serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the
proxies will be voted for any nominee who is designated by the
Board of Directors to fill the vacancy. It is not expected that
any nominee will be unable or will decline to serve as a
director.
The Board of Directors Recommends That Stockholders Vote
For each Nominee Listed Below.
Nominees for Election at the Annual Meeting
The names of the Companys nominees, and certain
information about them, are set forth below:
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Director |
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Nominated for |
Name of Nominee |
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Age |
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Position/Principal Occupation |
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Term Expiring |
Vinod Gupta
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59 |
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Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company |
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1972 |
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2009 |
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Dr. George F. Haddix(1)(2)
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67 |
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Director; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PKW Holdings,
Inc. and PKWARE, INC. |
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1995 |
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2009 |
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Dr. Vasant H. Raval(3)(4)
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66 |
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Director; Professor and Chair, Department of Accounting, at
Creighton University |
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2002 |
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2009 |
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Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. |
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Member of the Compensation Committee. |
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Member of the Audit Committee |
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Member of the Finance Committee. |
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Vinod Gupta founded the Company in
February 1972 and has been Chairman of the Board since its
incorporation. Mr. Gupta served as Chief Executive Officer
of the Company from the time of its incorporation in 1972 until
September 1997 and since August 1998. Mr. Gupta holds a
B.S. in Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology,
Kharagpur, India, and an M.S. in Engineering and an M.B.A. from
the University of Nebraska. Mr. Gupta also was awarded an
Honorary Doctorate from the Monterey Institute of International
Studies, an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Nebraska
and an Honorary Doctorate from the Indian Institute of
Technology. Mr. Gupta was nominated and confirmed to be the
United States Consul General to Bermuda. Then, the President
nominated him to be the United States Ambassador to Fiji. Due to
business commitments, he withdrew his name from consideration.
He was appointed by President Clinton to serve as a Trustee of
the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Gupta is also a director of a mutual fund in the
Everest mutual fund family.
Dr. George F. Haddix has served as a director
of the Company since March 1995. Dr. Haddix is Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of PKW Holdings, Inc. and PKWARE, INC.,
computer software companies headquartered in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. From November 1994 to December 1997, Dr. Haddix
served as President of CSG Holdings, Inc. and CSG Systems
International, Inc., companies providing software and
information services to the communications industry.
Dr. Haddix holds a B.A. from the University of Nebraska, an
M.A. from Creighton University and a Ph.D. from Iowa State
University, all in Mathematics.
Dr. Vasant H. Raval has served as a director
of the Company since October 2002. Dr. Raval has been
Professor and Chair of the Department of Accounting at Creighton
University since July 2001. He joined the Creighton University
faculty in 1981 and has served as Professor of Accounting and
Associate Dean and Director of Graduate Programs at the College
of Business Administration. Dr. Raval is a director of
Syntel Inc., an electronic business solutions provider based in
Troy, Michigan. Dr. Raval holds a Bachelor of Commerce
degree from the University of Bombay, an M.B.A. from Indiana
State University, and a Doctor of Business Administration degree
from Indiana University.
Incumbent Directors Whose Terms of Office Continue after the
Annual Meeting
The names and certain other information about the directors
whose terms of office continue after the Annual Meeting are set
forth below:
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Director |
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Name of Director |
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Position/Principal Occupation |
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Expires |
Bill L. Fairfield(1)(2)(3)
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59 |
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Director; Chairman of DreamField Capital Ventures, LLC |
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2005 |
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2007 |
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Anshoo S. Gupta(3)(5)
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59 |
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Director; President of JAG Operations, L.L.C. |
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2005 |
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2007 |
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Elliot S. Kaplan(4)
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69 |
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Director; Senior Partner in law firm of Robins, Kaplan,
Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. |
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1988 |
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2007 |
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Martin F. Kahn(1)(4)
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56 |
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Director; Managing Director, Cadence Information Associates
L.L.C. |
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2004 |
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2008 |
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Bernard W. Reznicek(1)(3)
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69 |
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Director; President and Chief Executive Officer, Premier
Enterprises |
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2006 |
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2008 |
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Dennis P. Walker(1)(2)
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60 |
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Director; President and Chief Executive Officer of Jet Linx
Aviation |
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2003 |
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2008 |
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Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. |
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Member of the Compensation Committee. |
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Member of the Audit Committee. |
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Member of the Finance Committee. |
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Anshoo S. Gupta is not related to Vinod Gupta |
Bill L. Fairfield has served as a director of the
Company since November 2005. He is currently the Chairman of
DreamField Capital Ventures, LLC, a company focused on economic
development of the Mid-Plains region through management services
and venture capital assistance. Mr. Fairfield currently
serves on the Board of Directors of The Buckle, Inc., a retailer
of casual apparel, footwear and accessories for young men and
women based in Kearney, Nebraska. From 2002 to 2004
Mr. Fairfield was the Executive Vice President of Sitel
Corporation, a global provider of outsourced customer support
services based in Omaha, Nebraska, and from 1991 to 2000,
Mr. Fairfield was President and Chief Executive Officer of
Inacom Corp., an Omaha-based technology management services
company. Prior to 1991 Mr. Fairfield was CEO of Valcom, the
predecessor company to Inacom Corp. Mr. Fairfield holds a
B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering from Bradley University
and an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business.
Anshoo S. Gupta has served as a director of the
Company since April 2005. He is currently the President of JAG
Operations, L.L.C., a management consulting company which he
founded in 2003. Mr. Gupta was President of Production
Systems Group at Xerox Corporation, a technology and services
enterprise based in Stamford, Connecticut, from 1999 to 2002.
From 1969 through 1998, Mr. Gupta held a series of
financial, marketing, strategic planning, and general management
positions at Xerox. He currently serves on the Board of
Directors of Docucorp International, Inc., a Dallas, Texas-based
company specializing in the development, marketing and support
of customer communication management solutions. Mr. Gupta
also serves on the Advisory Board of the Indian Institute of
Technology, Kharagpur, India. Mr. Gupta holds a B.S. in
Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology,
Kharagpur, India and an M.S.E.E. and an M.B.A. from the
University of Rochester, New York.
Elliot S. Kaplan has served as a director of the
Company since May 1988. He is a name partner and former Chairman
of the Executive Board of the law firm of Robins, Kaplan,
Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. and has practiced law
continuously with that firm since 1961. Mr. Kaplan is also
a director and officer of Best Buy Co., Inc. Mr. Kaplan
holds a B.A. in Business Administration and a J.D. from the
University of Minnesota.
Martin F. Kahn has served as a director of the
Company since October 2004. He is currently Managing Director of
Cadence Information Associates L.L.C., where he has been
employed since 1996. Mr. Kahn was interim Chief Executive
Officer of OneSource Information Services, Inc. from February
2004 until it was acquired by the Company in June 2004. He was
Chairman of the Board of OneSource Information Services, Inc.
from September 1993 until June 2004. Mr. Kahn was Chairman
of the Board of Ovid Technologies, Inc., a producer of online,
CD-ROM and networked medical and scientific information
services, from 1990 to 1998, and Chairman of the Board of Vista
Information Solutions, Inc., a supplier of geographically-based
risk information, from 1992 to 1996. Mr. Kahn holds a B.A.
from Yale University and an M.B.A from the Harvard Business
School.
Bernard W. Reznicek has served as a director of
the Company since March 2006. Mr. Reznicek is currently
President and Chief Executive Officer of Premier Enterprises
Inc., a consulting, investment, and real estate development
company. Mr. Reznicek was National Director-Special
Markets, of Central States Indemnity Company, a specialty
insurance company that is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway
Insurance Group, from January 1997 until January 2003.
Mr. Reznicek served as Dean of the College of Business of
Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska from July 1994 until
January 1997 and served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of Boston Edison, a utility company, from September 1987 to July
1994. Mr. Reznicek serves as the Chairman of the Board of
Directors of CSG Systems International, Inc. and is a director
of Pulte Homes, Inc. Mr. Reznicek holds a B.S. in Business
Administration from Creighton University and an M.B.A. from the
University of Nebraska.
6
Dennis P. Walker has served as a director of the
Company since February 2003. Mr. Walker has been President
and Chief Executive Officer of Jet Linx Aviation, a corporate
jet fractional ownership company, since May 1999. From 1988 to
2002, he was Executive Vice President of Memberworks, Inc., a
consumer services direct marketing company which he co-founded.
Mr. Walker has also held senior level marketing positions
with First Data Resources and IBM. Mr. Walker holds a B.A.
from the University of Nebraska.
Notice of Stockholder Nominees
Dolphin Limited Partnership I, L.P., a stockholder of the
Company, has notified the Company of its intention to nominate
three individuals in opposition to the three nominees
recommended by the Board. According to information provided by
Dolphin, for which the Company disclaims any responsibility,
these individuals are: Malcolm Mick M. Aslin, 58,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Gold Banc Corporation,
Inc., 7092 Placida Road, Cape Haze, Florida 33946; Karl L.
Meyer, 68, retired Chairman of the Board of Ermis Maritime
Holdings Ltd., Two Sound View Drive, Greenwich, Connecticut
06830; and Robert A. Trevisani, 72, Of Counsel to Gadsby Hannah
LLP, 225 Franklin Street, Suite 2200, Boston Massachusetts
02110.
Board Meetings and Committees
The Board of Directors of the Company met 12 times during 2005,
including 8 telephonic meetings. The Board of Directors has an
Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Finance Committee,
and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the duties
and activities of which are described below. The Board has
determined that each member of the Board and each nominee for
election to the Board, other than Vinod Gupta, is independent,
as defined by the rules of the National Association of
Securities Dealers (NASD) for companies listed on
the Nasdaq National Market.
The Audit Committee currently consists of Dr. Vasant H.
Raval (Chair), Bill L. Fairfield, Anshoo S. Gupta and Bernard W.
Reznicek. The Audit Committee met 11 times during 2005,
including 3 telephonic meetings. Among other duties, the
Committee selects the Companys independent auditors,
reviews and evaluates significant matters relating to the audit
and internal controls of the Company, reviews the scope and
results of audits by, and the recommendations of, the
Companys independent auditors, and pre-approves all audit
and permissible non-audit services provided by the auditors.
Before the Companys independent accountant is engaged by
the Company to render audit or non-audit services, the
engagement is approved by the Committee. The Audit Committee
Charter is posted on the Companys website at
www.infousa.com under the caption Investor
Relations. A report of the Committee is also contained in
this Proxy Statement. Each member of the Committee is
independent, as independence for audit committee members is
defined by the rules of the NASD, and otherwise satisfies the
NASDs requirements for audit committee membership. The
Board has determined that Dr. Raval, Mr. Anshoo Gupta and
Mr. Reznicek are audit committee financial
experts under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
The Compensation Committee, which currently consists of
directors Bill L. Fairfield (Chair), Dr. George F. Haddix,
and Dennis P. Walker, met 8 times during 2005, including 2
telephonic meetings. The Committee has been delegated the duties
of establishing the compensation of the Companys executive
officers and administering existing and future stock and option
plans of the Company, including the Companys 1997 Stock
Option Plan. The Compensation Committee Charter is posted on the
Companys website at www.infousa.com under the caption
Investor Relations. Each member of the Committee is
independent, as defined by the rules of the NASD.
The Finance Committee, which currently consists of Martin F.
Kahn (Chair), Elliot S. Kaplan, and Dr. Vasant H. Raval,
met 4 times during 2005. The Committee assists the Board in
fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to the
Companys financial resources, capital structure, and
financial strategies by reviewing and making recommendations
regarding the Companys financial resources, organizational
capital strategies, investment practices, and other financial
matters, as well as related regulatory
7
developments. The Finance Committee Charter is posted on the
Companys website at www.infousa.com under the caption
Investor Relations.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which
currently consists of Dr. George F. Haddix (Chair), Bill L.
Fairfield, Martin F. Kahn, Bernard W. Reznicek and Dennis P.
Walker, met 7 times during 2005, including 1 telephonic meeting.
The Committee identifies and recommends to the Board of
Directors qualified director candidates, makes recommendations
to the Board regarding Board committee membership, establishes,
implements, and monitors practices and processes regarding
corporate governance matters, and makes recommendations
regarding management succession planning. The Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee Charter is posted on the
Companys website at www.infousa.com under the caption
Investor Relations. Each member of the Committee is
independent, as defined by the rules of the NASD.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee identifies
director candidates primarily by considering recommendations
made by directors, management, and stockholders. The Committee
also has the authority to retain third parties to identify and
evaluate director candidates and to approve any associated fees
or expenses. The Committee will consider director candidates
recommended by stockholders. The criteria applied by the
Committee in the selection of director candidates is the same
whether the candidate was recommended by a Board member, an
executive officer, a stockholder, or a third party, and
accordingly, the Board has not deemed it necessary to adopt a
formal policy regarding consideration of candidates recommended
by stockholders. Director candidates are evaluated on the basis
of a number of factors, including the candidates
background, skills, judgment, diversity, industry experience
applicable to the Companys business, experience with
companies of comparable complexity and size, the interplay of
the candidates experience with the experience of other
Board members, the candidates independence or lack of
independence, and the candidates qualifications for
committee membership. The Committee does not assign any
particular weighting or priority to any of these factors, and
considers each director candidate in the context of the current
needs of the Board as a whole. Upon the recommendation of the
Committee, the Board has selected Mr. Vinod Gupta,
Dr. Haddix and Dr. Raval as nominees for election as
directors at the Annual Meeting. Messrs. Gupta, Haddix and
Raval are incumbent directors.
Attendance at Board Meetings and Annual Meeting
All of the directors of the Company attended at least 75% of the
aggregate of the total number of meetings of the Board and the
total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on
which they served at that time. Three directors attended the
2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Board Compensation
Non-employee directors receive an annual cash retainer of
$48,000, payable in monthly installments of $4,000 each.
Mr. Vinod Gupta does not receive compensation for his
service on the Board.
The chair of each standing Board committee other than the Audit
Committee receives, in addition to other compensation he
receives for services as a director, an annual cash retainer of
$12,000, payable in monthly installments of $1,000 each. The
chair of the Audit Committee receives, in addition to other
compensation he receives for services as a director, an annual
cash retainer of $24,000, payable in monthly installments of
$2,000 each.
In June 2005, the Board created a Special Committee of
independent directors, consisting of Martin F. Kahn
(Chair), Anshoo S. Gupta, Dr. Vasant H. Raval and Charles
W. Stryker, to respond to a proposal by Vinod Gupta to purchase
all of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company.
Following the withdrawal by Mr. Gupta of this proposal in
August 2005, the Special Committee was dissolved. The members of
the Special Committee each received, in addition to other
compensation for
8
services as a director, a cash retainer of $75,000 in
recognition of their additional responsibilities. The chair of
the Special Committee received an additional $25,000 for his
services.
Board Contact Information
If you would like to contact the Board or any committee of the
Board, you can write to the Company, c/o Secretary, 5711
South 86th Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68127. All
communications will be compiled by the Secretary of the Company
and submitted to the Board or the applicable committee or
director on a periodic basis.
Code of Conduct
The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
that applies to all of its directors, officers and employees,
including its principal executive officer, principal financial
officer, and principal accounting officer. The Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics is posted on the Companys website at
www.infousa.com under the caption Investor Relations.
9
SECURITY OWNERSHIP
The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of the
Companys common stock as of the Record Date (i) by
each of the executive officers named in the table under
Executive Compensation Summary Compensation
Table, (ii) by each director, (iii) by all
current directors and executive officers as a group, and
(iv) by all persons known to the Company to be the
beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Companys common
stock:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stock |
|
Percent of |
|
|
Beneficially |
|
Outstanding Shares |
Beneficial Owners |
|
Owned(1) |
|
of Common Stock |
|
|
|
|
|
Vinod Gupta(2)
|
|
|
22,984,566 |
|
|
|
41.0 |
% |
|
5711 South 86th Circle
Omaha, Nebraska 68127 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Columbia Wanger Asset Management, L.P.(3)
|
|
|
3,370,000 |
|
|
|
6.1 |
% |
|
227 West Monroe Street, Suite 3000
Chicago, Illinois 60606 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cardinal Capital Management, LLC(4)
|
|
|
3,336,810 |
|
|
|
6.1 |
% |
|
One Fawcet Place
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bill L. Fairfield
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
** |
|
Anshoo S. Gupta
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
** |
|
Dr. George F. Haddix(5)
|
|
|
287,300 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Martin F. Kahn
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Elliot S. Kaplan
|
|
|
236,580 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Dr. Vasant H. Raval(6)
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Bernard W. Reznicek
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
** |
|
Dennis P. Walker
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Ray Butkus
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
** |
|
Edward C. Mallin
|
|
|
85,416 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Monica Messer(7)
|
|
|
536,545 |
|
|
|
1.0 |
% |
D.J. Thayer
|
|
|
36,159 |
|
|
|
** |
|
Fred Vakili
|
|
|
333,076 |
|
|
|
** |
|
All directors, nominees and executive officers as a group
(13 persons)
|
|
|
24,532,283 |
|
|
|
43.4 |
% |
|
|
|
(1) |
Includes the following shares that may be purchased within
60 days of the Record Date pursuant to the exercise of
outstanding options: Mr. Vinod Gupta, 924,994 shares;
Dr. Haddix, 20,000 shares; Mr. Kaplan,
26,000 shares; Dr. Raval, 6,000 shares;
Mr. Mallin, 55,416 shares; Ms. Messer,
306,248 shares; Mr. Thayer, 14,365 shares;
Mr. Vakili, 24,791 shares; and all directors and
executive officers as a group, 1,377,814 shares. |
|
|
|
(2) |
Includes shares held by the following trusts, with respect to
which Mr. Gupta has sole voting and dispositive powers: Vinod
Gupta Revocable Trust (18,769,071 shares); Vinod Gupta
Irrevocable Annuity Trust (799,656 shares); Vinod Gupta
Charitable Trust (107,500 shares); Vinod Gupta Family Foundation
(200,000 shares); and irrevocable trusts for three adult
children (2,104,557 shares). Also includes 33,788 shares held by
the Jess A. Gupta Revocable Trust, with respect to which Vinod
Gupta has shared voting and dispositive powers, and 45,000
shares held by Mr. Guptas spouse. Mr. Gupta
disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the Vinod
Gupta Charitable Trust, the Vinod Gupta Family Foundation, the
trusts for his children, including the Jess A. Gupta Revocable
Trust, and the shares held by his spouse. |
|
|
(3) |
Based on a Schedule 13G/ A filed by Columbia Wanger Asset
Management, L.P. (WAM) and WAM Acquisition GP, Inc.,
the general partner of WAM (WAM GP) on
February 14, 2006. WAM and WAM GP have shared voting and
dispositive power with respect to all of these shares. |
10
|
|
(4) |
Based on a Schedule 13D/ A filed by Cardinal Capital
Management, L.P. (Cardinal Capital), on
March 22, 2006. Cardinal Value Equity Partners, an
affiliate of Cardinal Capital, has sole voting and dispositive
power over 154,500 of these shares. |
|
(5) |
Includes 267,300 shares owned jointly by Dr. Haddix
with his spouse. |
|
(6) |
Includes 4,000 shares owned jointly by Dr. Raval with
his spouse. |
|
(7) |
Includes 9,633 shares owned by Ms. Messers
daughter. |
11
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
KPMG LLP served as the Companys independent auditors for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 and has been
selected as the Companys independent auditors for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2006. A representative of
KPMG is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have
an opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so
and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Audit Fees
The following table presents the aggregate fees billed to the
Company for professional services rendered by KPMG for the audit
of the Companys fiscal year 2005 and 2004 annual financial
statements and for other professional services rendered by KPMG
in fiscal year 2005 and 2004.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year | |
|
|
| |
Type of Fee |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Audit Fees
|
|
$ |
740,770 |
|
|
$ |
911,376 |
|
Audit-Related Fees(1)
|
|
|
227,779 |
|
|
|
177,108 |
|
Tax Fees(2)
|
|
|
177,020 |
|
|
|
60,425 |
|
All Other Fees
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total fees
|
|
$ |
1,145,569 |
|
|
$ |
1,148,909 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Audit-Related Fees consists of fees for statutory audits of a
foreign subsidiary, employee benefit plan audits, due diligence,
and assistance with
Form 8-K filings. |
|
(2) |
Tax Fees consists of fees for state and federal income tax
preparation for a Company subsidiary, tax research, and
preparation of refund claims. |
The above amounts include
out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by KPMG. The Audit Committee pre-approved all non-audit
services described above. A copy of the Audit Committees
pre-approved policy with respect to non-audit services is
attached as Appendix B to this Proxy Statement. The Audit
Committee has considered whether the provision of the services
described above was and is compatible with maintaining the
independence of KPMG.
12
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company
oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the
Company and the audits of the financial statements of the
Company. The Committee operates under a written charter adopted
by the Board, which is posted on the Companys website at
www.infousa.com under the caption Investor
Relations. The charter provides that the Audit Committee
shall consist of at least three directors who are independent,
as independence for audit committee members is defined by the
rules of the NASD. Management is responsible for the
Companys internal controls and the financial reporting
process. The independent accountants are responsible for
performing an independent audit of the Companys
consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards and to issue a report thereon. The
Committees responsibility is to monitor and oversee these
processes.
In this context, the Committee met and held discussions with
management and the independent accountants. Management
represented to the Committee that the Companys
consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, and the Committee
reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements
with management and the independent accountants. The Committee
also discussed with management, the internal auditors and the
independent accountants the quality and adequacy of the
Companys internal controls and the internal audit
departments organization, responsibilities, budget and
staffing. The Committee reviewed both with the independent
accountants and internal auditors their audit plans, audit
scope, and identification of audit risks. The Committee
discussed with the independent accountants matters required to
be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61
(Communication with Audit Committees). The Companys
independent accountants also provided to the Committee the
written disclosures required by Independence Standard No. 1
(Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), and the
Committee discussed with the independent accountants that
firms independence.
Based upon the Committees discussion with management and
the independent accountants and the Committees review of
the representations of management and the report of the
independent accountants, the Committee recommended that the
Board include the audited consolidated financial statements in
the Companys Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the SEC.
Audit Committee
Dr. Vasant H. Raval (Chair)
Bill L. Fairfield
Anshoo S. Gupta
Bernard W. Reznicek*
* Mr. Reznicek became a member of the Committee on
March 30, 2006 and did not participate in the actions
described above.
13
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following Performance Graph compares the cumulative total
return to stockholders of the Companys common stock from
December 31, 2000 to December 31, 2005 to the
cumulative total return over such period of (i) The Nasdaq
Stock Market (U.S. Companies) Index, and (ii) the
S&P Data Processing & Outsourced Services Index.
The performance graph is not necessarily indicative of future
investment performance.
COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
AMONG INFOUSA INC., NASDAQ STOCK MARKET INDEX, AND
S&P DATA PROCESSING OUTSOURCED SERVICES INDEX
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
31-Dec-00 |
|
|
31-Dec-01 |
|
|
31-Dec-02 |
|
|
31-Dec-03 |
|
|
31-Dec-04 |
|
|
31-Dec-05 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
infoUSA Common Stock
|
|
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
|
$ |
205.33 |
|
|
|
$ |
147.04 |
|
|
|
$ |
219.23 |
|
|
|
$ |
331.07 |
|
|
|
$ |
323.37 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NASDAQ (U.S. Companies)
|
|
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
|
$ |
79.32 |
|
|
|
$ |
54.84 |
|
|
|
$ |
81.99 |
|
|
|
$ |
89.23 |
|
|
|
$ |
91.12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S&P Data Processing &
Outsourced Services Index
|
|
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
|
$ |
108.86 |
|
|
|
$ |
77.38 |
|
|
|
$ |
90.56 |
|
|
|
$ |
95.49 |
|
|
|
$ |
100.75 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
Assumes $100 invested on December 31, 2000 in
infoUSA Inc. common stock, Nasdaq Stock Market
(U.S. Companies) Index, and S&P Data
Processing & Outsourced Services Index. |
The information contained in the Performance Graph will not be
deemed to be soliciting material or to be
filed with the SEC, nor will such information be
incorporated by reference into any future filing under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities
Act), or the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the Exchange Act), except to the extent
that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference into
any such filing.
14
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth the compensation paid by the
Company for fiscal years 2005, 2004 and 2003 to the
Companys Chief Executive Officer, each of the other four
most highly compensated executive officers of the Company for
fiscal year 2005, and one other executive officer who would have
been among the four most highly compensated executive officers
of the Company had he been employed at the end of fiscal year
2005 (collectively, the Named Executive Officers):
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-Term |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Compensation |
|
Compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock |
|
All Other |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
Salary($) |
|
Bonus($) |
|
Options(#) |
|
Compensation($)(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vinod Gupta
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
750,000 |
(2) |
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
Chairman of the Board and |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
768,846 |
(2) |
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
6,500 |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
500,770 |
(2) |
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
Ray Butkus(3)
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
305,846 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
184,946 |
(5) |
|
President, Donnelly Group |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
373,462 |
|
|
|
332,917 |
(4) |
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
239,231 |
|
|
|
195,525 |
(4) |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
3,877 |
|
Edward C. Mallin
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
524,076 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
President, Donnelley |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
338,077 |
|
|
|
657,016 |
(6) |
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
6,500 |
|
|
Marketing Division |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
165,270 |
(6) |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
Monica Messer
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
358,846 |
|
|
|
240,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
Chief Operations Officer |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
342,692 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
(7) |
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
6,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
323,558 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
D.J. Thayer
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
259,231 |
|
|
|
120,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
President, infoUSA Group |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
247,577 |
|
|
|
149,000 |
(8) |
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
6,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
219,327 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
Fred Vakili
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
404,731 |
|
|
|
240,000 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
Executive Vice President, Chief |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
281,134 |
|
|
|
183,040 |
(9) |
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
6,500 |
|
|
Administrative Officer, and Secretary |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
237,404 |
|
|
|
182,000 |
(9) |
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Except as otherwise noted, represents payments for the
Companys 401(k) match. |
|
(2) |
Excludes certain amounts paid to Annapurna Corporation for
reimbursement of Company related travel and entertainment
expenses and to Everest Investment Management for rent and
investment advisory fees, all as more particularly set forth
under Certain Transactions in this Proxy Statement. |
|
(3) |
Mr. Butkus employment ended in September 2005. |
|
(4) |
Bonus for 2004 includes $200,000 paid in 2005 and $106,250 paid
to White Oaks Consulting, which is wholly-owned by
Mr. Butkus. Bonus for 2003 includes $195,525 paid to White
Oaks Consulting in 2004 for services in 2003. |
|
(5) |
Includes payments totaling $7,000 for the Companys 401(k)
match, a payment of $44,614 to Mr. Butkus for accrued
vacation, and payment of $133,332 to White Oak Consulting, which
is wholly-owned by Mr. Butkus, from September 2005 through
December 2005 for consulting services. Payments to White Oak
Consulting were made pursuant to the Separation and Consulting
Agreement between Mr. Butkus and the Company, which is
described under the heading Employment Contracts,
Termination of Employment and
Change-in-Control
Arrangements Ray Butkus Separation and Consulting
Agreement. |
|
(6) |
Bonus for 2004 includes $365,894 paid in 2005 for services in
2004. |
15
|
|
(7) |
Includes $75,000 paid in 2005 for services in 2004 and $50,000
paid to Growth Quest Ventures, which is wholly-owned by
Ms. Messer. |
|
(8) |
Includes $50,000 paid in 2005 for services in 2004 and $99,000
paid to LMDT LLC, which is wholly-owned by Mr. Thayer. |
|
(9) |
Bonus for 2004 includes $75,000 paid in 2005 for services in
2004 and $108,040 paid to Alborz Corp., which is wholly-owned by
Mr. Vakili. Bonus for 2003 includes $182,000 paid to Alborz
Corp. |
Option Grants in the Last Fiscal Year
The following table sets forth each grant of stock options made
during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 to each of
the Named Executive Officers:
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Individual Grants |
|
Potential Realizable Value at |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assumed Annual Rates of Stock |
|
|
|
|
Percent of Total |
|
|
|
Price Appreciation for Option |
|
|
|
|
Options Granted to |
|
|
|
Market Price |
|
|
|
Term($)(2) |
|
|
Options |
|
Employees in |
|
Exercise |
|
on Grant |
|
Expiration |
|
|
Name |
|
Granted(#) |
|
Fiscal Year |
|
Price($) |
|
Date($) |
|
Date |
|
5% |
|
10% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vinod Gupta
|
|
|
500,000 |
(1) |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
$ |
12.60 |
|
|
$ |
10.08 |
|
|
|
03/10/15 |
|
|
$ |
1,909,626 |
|
|
$ |
6,772,462 |
|
Ray Butkus
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edward C. Mallin
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monica Messer
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D.J. Thayer
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fred Vakili
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
This option was granted under the 1997 Stock Option Plan, has an
exercise price equal to 125% of the fair market value of the
Companys common stock on the grant date and vests and
becomes exercisable as follows: 30% of the option shares vest
after three years, and an additional 10% of the option shares
vest each year after that, such that the option becomes fully
vested after 10 years, provided that the Mr. Gupta
continues to be employed by the Company. To receive the options,
Mr. Gupta was also required to purchase at fair market
value, on or around the grant date, a number of shares of the
Companys common stock equal to 10% of the shares covered
by the options, and is required to hold those shares for a
period of at least one year. |
|
(2) |
Potential realizable value is based on an assumption that the
market price of the underlying security appreciates at the
annual rate shown (compounded annually) from the date of grant
until the end of the option term. These numbers are calculated
based on the requirements promulgated by the SEC and do not
reflect the Companys estimate of future stock price growth. |
16
Option Exercises and Fiscal Year-End Option Values
The following table sets forth, for each of the Named Executive
Officers, the value realized on options exercised during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, and the year-end value
of unexercised options:
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES
AND DECEMBER 31, 2005 OPTION VALUES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities |
|
Value of Unexercised |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying Unexercised |
|
In-the-Money Options at |
|
|
Shares |
|
|
|
Options at 12/31/05(#) |
|
12/31/05($)(1) |
|
|
Acquired on |
|
Value |
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Exercise(#) |
|
Realized($) |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vinod Gupta
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
$ |
-0- |
|
|
|
2,010,407 |
|
|
|
789,593 |
|
|
$ |
4,318,796 |
|
|
$ |
718,204 |
|
Ray Butkus
|
|
|
31,249 |
|
|
|
148,067 |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
Edward C. Mallin
|
|
|
8,000 |
|
|
|
35,138 |
|
|
|
48,122 |
|
|
|
21,878 |
|
|
|
101,845 |
|
|
|
57,755 |
|
Monica Messer
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
-0- |
|
|
|
293,787 |
|
|
|
80,213 |
|
|
|
516,499 |
|
|
|
186,821 |
|
D.J. Thayer
|
|
|
21,876 |
|
|
|
74,609 |
|
|
|
11,199 |
|
|
|
12,031 |
|
|
|
31,581 |
|
|
|
33,927 |
|
Fred Vakili
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
80,140 |
|
|
|
42,145 |
|
|
|
13,855 |
|
|
|
142,159 |
|
|
|
39,071 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Based on the closing market price of $10.93 per share of
common stock on December 30, 2005. |
Severance Agreements
In February 2006, the Company entered into Severance Agreements
with Edward C. Mallin, Monica Messer, Fred Vakili, and Stormy L.
Dean. Each of the Severance Agreements provides that if the
executives employment is terminated either (i) by the
Company for any reason other than Cause (as defined in the
Severance Agreement), or (ii) by the executive for Good
Reason (as defined), the Company will make payments to the
executive at a rate equal to the executives Total
Compensation for a period from 6 months to 24 months,
depending on the length of service completed by the Executive.
In addition, if the executive elects to continue health and/or
dental insurance coverage under COBRA, the Company will pay the
employer portion of the monthly premium until the executive
obtains substantially equivalent insurance coverage, but not for
more than 12 months. Total Compensation means
the executives base salary as in effect at the time of
termination, plus the average of the executives annual
bonus amount for the three calendar years preceding the year in
which the executives employment terminates. If the Company
becomes subject to a Change in Control (as defined) and within
twelve (12) months after such Change in Control, the
executives employment is terminated either (i) by the
Company for any reason other than Cause, or (ii) by the
executive for Good Reason, the Company shall pay to the
executive a lump sum based on the executives Total
Compensation. The amount of the lump sum will be from one time
up to three times the executives Total Compensation,
depending on the length of service completed by the executive,
together with additional payments sufficient to compensate for
certain federal excise taxes. In addition, if the executive
elects to continue health and/or dental insurance coverage under
COBRA, the Company will pay the employer portion of the monthly
premium until the executive obtains substantially equivalent
insurance coverage, but not for more than 12 months. Also,
all shares of capital stock, stock options, performance units,
stock appreciation rights, or other derivative securities of the
Company held by the executive at the time of termination will
become fully vested and exercisable. If the executives
employment terminates as a result of the executives death
or Disability (as defined), the Company shall pay the
executives accrued compensation through the termination
date, and a pro rata portion of the executives target
bonus for the year in which termination occurs. To receive any
severance benefits, the executive must execute a general release
of all claims against the Company, and must refrain from
competing with the Company and from soliciting the
Companys employees for a period of up to 12 months
after the date of termination.
17
For purposes of the Severance Agreements, a Change in
Control includes (i) the consummation of a merger or
consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or any
other corporate reorganization, if persons who were not
stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger,
consolidation or other reorganization own immediately after such
merger, consolidation or other reorganization 50% or more of the
voting power of the outstanding securities of each of
(A) the continuing or surviving entity and (B) any
direct or indirect parent corporation of such continuing or
surviving entity; (ii) the sale, transfer or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the Companys
assets; (iii) a change in the majority of the board of
directors without the approval of the incumbent board;
(iv) any incumbent director who beneficially owns more than
twenty percent (20%) of the total voting power represented by
the Companys then outstanding voting securities
involuntarily ceasing to be a director; or (v) any
transaction as a result of which any person first becomes the
beneficial owner (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company representing at least
15% of the total voting power represented by the Companys
then outstanding voting securities.
Ray Butkus Separation and Consulting Agreement
Ray Butkus served as President of the Companys Donnelley
Group until September 1, 2005. On August 19, 2005,
Mr. Butkus entered into a Separation and Consulting
Agreement with the Company. Pursuant to the agreement,
Mr. Butkus received his regular compensation and benefits
through August 31, 2005 and the Company has engaged him as
a consultant for the period ending on the earlier of
August 31, 2006, or the date he secures employment or other
compensable work. The Company will pay Mr. Butkus a
consulting fee of $33,333 per month during the consulting
period. Mr. Butkus agrees that he will not compete with the
Company or solicit the Companys customers for a competing
business for a period of one year after termination of his
employment. The agreement also includes a release by
Mr. Butkus of any claims he may have against the Company
relating to his employment. A copy of the Separation and
Consulting Agreement is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to the
Current Report on
Form 8-K filed by
the Company on August 31, 2005.
18
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Company reviews and makes recommendations to the Board of
Directors with respect to the compensation of the Companys
Chief Executive Officer, and reviews and approves salaries,
bonuses and other compensation payable to the Companys
other executive officers. The Compensation Committee operates
under a written charter adopted by the Board, which is posted on
the Companys website at www.infousa.com under the caption
Investor Relations. The Charter provides that the
Committee shall consist of at least two directors who are
independent, as defined by the rules of the NASD,
and that each member of the Committee shall also be a
non-employee director within the meaning of
Rule 16b-3 under
the Exchange Act and an outside director within the
meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. In
2005, the members of the Compensation Committee were
Dr. George F. Haddix, Dennis P. Walker, Harold W. Andersen
(who served as a member and Chair of the Committee until his
retirement from the Board in November 2005), and Bill L.
Fairfield (who was appointed a member and Chair of the Committee
in November 2005, succeeding Mr. Andersen). None of these
persons is an employee of the Company.
The Compensation Committees policy with respect to
compensation arrangements for Vinod Gupta, Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, is to provide a base salary commensurate
with his office and long-term incentives in the form of stock
options. In fiscal 2005, the Committee recommended and the Board
approved a base salary of $750,000 for Mr. Gupta, unchanged
from 2004. No bonus program was in effect for the Chief
Executive Officer in 2005, and no discretionary bonus was paid
to him for 2005. In addition, in March 2005 the Committee
recommended and the Board approved the granting of a stock
option to Mr. Gupta for 500,000 shares at an exercise
price of $12.60 per share, which was 125% of the closing
market price of the common stock at the date of grant. The
option vests and becomes exercisable as follows: 30% of the
option shares will vest three years after the date of grant, and
an additional 10% of the option shares vest each year after
that, such that the option becomes fully vested after
10 years. To receive the options, Mr. Gupta was also
required to purchase at fair market value, on or around the
grant date, a number of shares of the Companys common
stock equal to at least 10% of the shares covered by the
options, and is required to hold those shares for a period of at
least one year. Mr. Gupta has satisfied this requirement.
The Compensation Committee believes the terms of this stock
option serve to further align Mr. Guptas incentives
with the interests of all of the Companys stockholders.
The Compensation Committees policy in establishing
compensation for other executive officers is to reward sustained
performance through the payment of base salaries and reward
current performance through annual bonuses. Although stock
options have been granted in prior years, the Committee has
focused its compensation policy for other executive officers on
cash compensation and has deemphasized equity-based compensation
programs. As a result, the base salaries and cash bonuses for
the Companys executive officers (other than the Chief
Executive Officer) tend to be higher than the cash compensation
of officers at similar companies, and the equity-based component
tends to be less. When establishing the amounts of such
compensation, the Compensation Committee considers publicly
available information concerning executive compensation levels
paid by other companies in the Omaha, Nebraska area and in the
industry generally.
The Compensation Committee reviewed and approved compensation
packages for all executive officers in fiscal 2005, including
base salaries and bonus plans. For executive officers other than
the Chief Executive Officer, base salaries are based on each
officers responsibilities and historical performance.
During 2005, bonuses were paid to executive officers based on
the achievement of business goals by the business group for
which the executive had management responsibility, or by the
Company as a whole. These business goals included the
consummation of certain acquisitions by the Company in 2005.
The information contained in this report shall not be deemed to
be soliciting material or to be filed
with the SEC nor shall such information be incorporated by
reference into any future filing under the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically
incorporates it by reference into any such filing.
Compensation Committee
Bill L. Fairfield (Chair)
Dr. George F. Haddix
Dennis P. Walker
19
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING
COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the
Companys officers and directors, and persons who own more
than 10% of a registered class of the Companys equity
securities, to file reports of ownership on Form 3 and
changes in ownership on Form 4 or Form 5 with the SEC.
Such officers, directors and 10% stockholders are also required
by SEC rules to furnish the Company with copies of all
Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received
by it, or written representations from certain reporting
persons, the Company believes that, during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2005, all Section 16(a) filing
requirements applicable to its officers, directors and 10%
stockholders were timely complied with, except that a
Form 5 disclosing previous holdings was not filed by Ray
Butkus and the following reports were filed late: a Form 4
reporting one transaction by Vinod Gupta and an option grant to
him; a Form 4 reporting the exercise of an option by Vinod
Guptas spouse; a Form 4 reporting the exercise of an
option by Dennis P. Walker; Form 4s reporting one
transaction by each of Martin F. Kahn and Fred Vakili; a
Form 4 reporting the exercise of two stock options and the
concurrent sale of the option shares by Edward C. Mallin; and
five Form 4s reporting the exercise of eight stock options
and the sale of the option shares by D.J. Thayer.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
The Company owns a fractional interest in an aircraft used by
the employees and executive officers of the Company in
connection with Company business. The fractional ownership
interest in the aircraft was purchased during 2005 from NetJets
at a total cost of $2.6 million. The fractional interest in
the airplane was previously owned by Annapurna Corporation.
Mr. Vinod Gupta, the Companys Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, is the owner of Annapurna Corporation. Prior
to the purchase of its fractional interest from NetJets, the
Company paid Annapurna Corporation $297 thousand as
reimbursement for operating expenses, hourly costs and a
proportionate amount of fixed expenses associated with the use
of this aircraft during 2005 by Company employees and officers
for corporate purposes. The Company believes that the payments
made to Annapurna Corporation were at rates comparable to those
charged by other aircraft service providers, such as Marquis and
NetJets, who customarily require a commitment for plane use. In
2005, the Company also entered into a long-term capital lease
with a lender for use of a boat that was previously under a
lease arrangement with the same lender to Annapurna Corporation.
The Companys seven year commitment under the lease is
payable in monthly installments, which fluctuate based on
changes in the LIBOR rate, and ranged from $25,510 to $27,963 in
2005. The Company utilizes the boat for corporate events and
client development purposes. During 2005, the Company made lease
payments totaling $240,457.
Laurel Gupta, the Companys Director of Investor Relations
and Business Development, is the spouse of Vinod Gupta, the
Companys Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer, and received $123,846 in salary and compensation for
fiscal year 2005. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Gupta
was employed by Cameron Associates in New York as an Investor
Relations Executive and worked in institutional equity sales
with Morgan Stanley. Ms. Gupta holds an M.B.A. in Finance
from Stern School of Business at NYU.
Jess Gupta, the Advertising Manager for SalesGenie at the
Company, is the son of Vinod Gupta, and received $60,000 in
salary and compensation for fiscal year 2005. Prior to working
at the Company, Mr. Gupta worked as an Advertising Manager
for Touchpoint. Mr. Gupta received his B.A. from NYU and
was an Intern at the White House after receiving his B.A.
The Company has retained the law firm of Robins, Kaplan,
Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. to provide certain legal
services. Elliot S. Kaplan, a director of the Company, is a name
partner and former Chairman of the Executive Board of Robins,
Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.
In fiscal 2005, Edward C. Mallin, Monica Messer, and Fred Vakili
were each indebted to the Company in an amount in excess of
$60,000 pursuant to the Companys October 2001 loans to
executive
20
officers to facilitate stock option exercises. The loans were
evidenced by promissory notes secured by the option shares, with
interest at a rate of 5%, payable annually. The maximum amounts
owed during fiscal 2005 by Messrs. Mallin and Vakili and
Ms. Messer, and the amounts owed at December 31, 2005,
were $120,000, $115,000 and $100,000, respectively.
PROPOSAL TWO
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL
The Companys Bylaws provide that stockholders intending to
bring business before the Annual Meeting must have provided
written notice of such intent to the Secretary of the Company no
later than the close of business on the 10th day following the
day on which notice of the date of the Annual Meeting was mailed
or public disclosure of the same was made. On March 10,
2006, the Company filed its 2005 Form 10-K with the SEC and
disclosed therein that the 2006 Annual Meeting would be held on
May 26, 2006. On March 17, 2006, Dolphin Limited
Partnership I, L.P., 96 Cummings Point Road, Stamford,
Connecticut 06902, a stockholder of the Company, notified the
Company that it intends to propose the following resolution at
the Annual Meeting:
|
|
|
RESOLVED: That Section 3 of Article III of the
Companys Bylaws be amended by adding the following
provision at the end thereof: |
|
|
|
provided, however, that the Board of Directors
shall be prohibited from (i) designating any person to fill
a vacancy occurring on the Board of Directors for whatever
reason, whether by expansion of the size of the Board or
otherwise, or (ii) nominating any person to stand for
election as a director of the Company, whether at an annual or
special meeting of shareholders or in a written consent
solicitation in lieu of a meeting, if such person (x) was
previously nominated by the Board of Directors to stand for
election as a director, whether at an annual or special meeting
of shareholders or in a written consent solicitation in lieu of
a meeting, and (y) failed to be elected by shareholders at
such meeting or in such consent solicitation, such prohibition
to continue for a period of three years from the date of the
meeting, or of the effectiveness of the consent solicitation, at
or in which such person was previously nominated for election. |
The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote Against this
Proposal for the Following Reasons:
The Company believes the proposed bylaw amendment is invalid
because it limits the discretion of the Board of Directors to
fill vacancies as provided in the Companys Certificate of
Incorporation. The Company has received the written opinion of
Potter Anderson and Corroon LLP that the proposed bylaw
amendment, to the extent it limits the ability of the Board to
fill vacancies occurring on the Board, would be invalid under
Delaware law. Article VIII.B of the Companys
Certificate of Incorporation provides in relevant part that
[a]ny vacancies in the Board of Directors for any reason,
and any directorships resulting from any increase in the number
of Directors, may be filled by the Board of Directors, acting by
a majority of the Directors then in office, although less than a
quorum, and any Director so chosen shall hold office until the
next election of the class for which such Director shall have
been chosen. Under Section 109(b) of the Delaware
General Corporation Law and related case law, a bylaw cannot
conflict with a provision of a corporations certificate of
incorporation.
Section 141(b) of the Delaware General Corporation Law does
permit the adoption of a bylaw that prescribes qualifications
for directors, but Proposal No. 2 is not a
qualifications bylaw. Under the proposed bylaw
amendment, a candidate whose nomination or selection by the
Board would be prohibited by the bylaw amendment would
nonetheless be eligible for nomination by a stockholder. Since
the candidates eligibility is based on who makes the
selection or nomination, and not on the qualities or
characteristics of the candidate, the bylaw amendment does not
prescribe qualifications for directors. Rather,
Proposal No. 2 is a direct limitation on the authority
granted to the Board of Directors in the Certificate of
Incorporation. The Company therefore believes that
Proposal No. 2 conflicts with the
21
Companys Certificate of Incorporation by limiting the
ability of the Board of Directors to fill vacancies, would be
invalid if adopted, and recommends a vote against this proposal.
The Company further believes that, even if
Proposal No. 2 were valid, the categorical
disqualification of certain persons from eligibility for
nomination by the Board or selection by the Board to fill
vacancies is not in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders. The Company and the Board have devoted significant
attention to developing an effective process for identifying
qualified director candidates. Specifically, the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, which consists
entirely of independent directors and is described in greater
detail under the heading Board Meetings and
Committees, is empowered to identify and recommend
qualified director candidates pursuant to the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee Charter adopted by the Board. The
Committee identifies candidates primarily by considering
recommendations made by directors, management, and stockholders.
The Company believes the discretion granted to the Committee in
considering potential candidates enhances the Committees
ability to identify and recommend the most qualified director
candidates. Proposal No. 2 would limit this
discretion. While the Committee and the Board would give weight
to the fact that a potential director candidate was previously
nominated but not elected, it is possible that in certain
instances, such candidate may nonetheless be the most qualified
candidate for the position.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote AGAINST
Proposal No. 2 because the Company believes that it is
invalid under Delaware law and that the categorical
disqualification of certain persons from eligibility for
nomination or selection by the Board is not in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders. In the event
Proposal No. 2 is approved, the Company may challenge
the validity of the proposed bylaw amendment in court.
OTHER MATTERS
The Company knows of no other matters to be submitted to the
meeting. If any other matters properly come before the meeting,
it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy
card to vote the shares they represent as the Board of Directors
may recommend.
|
|
|
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
Omaha, Nebraska
April 17, 2006
22
APPENDIX A
Information Regarding Participants
Set forth below are the name and principal occupation or
employment of each Participant and the name, principal business
and address of such employer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Business Address of Participant/ |
|
|
Name and Principal Occupation |
|
Address of Employer |
|
Principal Business of Employer |
|
|
|
|
|
Vinod Gupta, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer,
infoUSA Inc. |
|
infoUSA Inc.
5711 South 86th Circle
Omaha, Nebraska 68127 |
|
Business and consumer information provider |
|
Dr. George F. Haddix, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
PKW Holdings, Inc. and PKWARE, INC. |
|
PKW Holdings, Inc.
PKWARE, INC.
648 N Plankinton Ave, Suite 220
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203 |
|
Computer software |
|
Dr. Vasant H. Raval, Professor and Chair, Department of
Accounting, Creighton University |
|
Creighton University
Eppley Building BA449
Omaha, Nebraska 68178 |
|
Higher education |
|
Bill L. Fairfield, Chairman, Dreamfield Capital Ventures LLC |
|
Dreamfield Capital Ventures, LLC
206 Fairacres Road
Omaha, Nebraska 68132 |
|
Equity venture capital |
|
Anshoo S. Gupta, President of JAG Operations, L.L.C. |
|
JAG Operations, L.L.C.
P.O. Box 94323
Las Vegas, Nevada 89193 |
|
Management consulting |
|
Elliot S. Kaplan, Senior Partner, Robins, Kaplan,
Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. |
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Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.
2800 LaSalle Plaza
800 LaSalle Avenue
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402 |
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Legal services |
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Martin F. Kahn, Managing Director, Cadence Information
Associates L.L.C. |
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Cadence Information Associates L.L.C.
152 W 57th St., 23rd Fl.
New York, New York 10019 |
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Venture capital and investment advisory services |
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Bernard W. Reznicek, President and Chief Executive Officer,
Premier Enterprises |
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Premier Enterprises
1524 North 141th Avenue
Omaha, Nebraska 68154 |
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Residential real estate development and investment |
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Dennis P. Walker, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jet
Linx Aviation |
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Jet Linx Aviation
Eppley Airfield
3910 Amelia Earhart Drive
Omaha, Nebraska 68110 |
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Air transportation |
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Fred Vakili, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative
Officer, and Secretary |
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infoUSA Inc.
5711 South 86th Circle
Omaha, Nebraska 68127 |
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Business and consumer information provider |
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Stormy Dean, Chief Financial Officer |
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infoUSA Inc.
5711 South 86th Circle
Omaha, Nebraska 68127 |
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Business and consumer information provider |
A-1
In the past two years, none of the Participants has engaged in
any purchase or sale of shares of the Company common stock,
except as follows:
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Name |
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Description of Transactions |
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Vinod Gupta
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Mr. Gupta purchased shares of the Companys common stock as
follows: 10,000 shares on January 21, 2004; 5,000 shares on
January 29, 2004; 400,000 shares on April 20, 2004 (option
exercise); 1,246 shares on August 11, 2004; 8,754 shares on
August 12, 2004; 50,000 shares on March 10, 2005; 11,000 shares
on March 14, 2005; and 1,200,000 shares on March 30, 2006
(option exercise). Mr. Gupta currently owes $13,773,362 to
commercial lenders relating to the exercise of options on April
20,2004 and March 30, 2006. On June 15, 2005,
Mr. Guptas spouse exercised an option covering
10,000 shares. |
Dr. George F. Haddix
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On May 7, 2004, Mr. Haddix exercised options covering 37,000
shares, and on February 6, 2006, Mr. Haddix exercised options
covering 10,000 shares. |
Dr. Vasant H. Raval
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On each of November 1, 2004 and March 23, 2006, Dr. Raval
exercised options covering 2,000 shares. |
Elliot S. Kaplan
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On June 22, 2004, Mr. Kaplan exercised options covering 12,000
shares, and on October 14, 2004, Mr. Kaplan exercised options
covering 15,000 shares. |
Martin F. Kahn
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On February 18, 2005, Mr. Kahn purchased 10,000 shares. |
Dennis P. Walker
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On January 28, 2005, Mr. Walker exercised options
covering 10,000 shares. |
Fred Vakili
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Mr. Vakili exercised options covering 20,000 shares on March 18,
2005 and options covering 21,000 shares on February 3, 2006. |
Stormy Dean
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Mr. Dean purchased 1,000 shares on December 17, 2004, and
purchased 1,641 shares in 2005 through the Companys 401(k)
plan. |
A-2
APPENDIX B
infoUSA Inc.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES PRE-APPROVAL POLICY
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1. |
Statement of Principles. |
The Audit Committee of infoUSA Inc. (the
Company) is required to pre-approve the audit and
non-audit services performed by the Companys independent
auditor. As part of the pre-approval process, the Audit
Committee shall consider whether the services to be performed by
the auditor are consistent with the SECs rules on auditor
independence. Unless a type of service to be provided by the
independent auditor has received pre-approval under this Policy,
it will require separate pre-approval by the Audit Committee.
The pre-approval requirement does not apply to the provision of
non-audit services for which the de minimis exception described
in Section 7 applies.
The Audit Committee shall pre-approve, by resolution, the type
and amount of Audit, Audit-related, Tax and all other services
to be performed by the Companys independent auditor. The
term of such pre-approval is 12 months from the date of
pre-approval, unless otherwise specified in such resolutions.
The Audit Committee will periodically review its pre-approval
resolutions and modify the types and amount of services as it
determines in its discretion. To assist the Audit Committee, the
independent auditor will provide the Audit Committee with
detailed back-up
documentation regarding the specific services to be pre-approved
under this Policy.
The Audit Committee hereby delegates to the Chairman of the
Audit Committee the authority to approve the engagement of the
independent auditor to provide non-audit services as permitted
by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to the extent that such
non-audit services are not pre-approved as set forth in this
Policy and if such engagement is less than $25,000. The Chairman
shall report, for informational purposes only, any pre-approval
decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
The annual Audit services engagement terms and fees will be
subject to the specific pre-approval of the Audit Committee.
Audit services include the annual financial statement audit
(including required quarterly reviews), subsidiary audits and
other procedures required to be performed by the independent
auditor to be able to form an opinion on the Companys
consolidated financial statements. These other procedures
include information systems and procedural reviews and testing
performed in order to understand and place reliance on the
systems of internal control, and consultations relating to the
audit or quarterly review. Audit services also include the
attestation engagement for the independent auditors report
on managements report on internal controls for financial
reporting. The Audit Committee will monitor the Audit services
engagement as necessary, but no less than on a quarterly basis,
and will also approve, if necessary, any changes in terms,
conditions and fees resulting from changes in audit scope,
Company structure or other items.
In addition to the annual Audit services engagement approved by
the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee may pre-approve other
Audit services, which are those services that only the
independent auditor reasonably can provide. Other Audit services
may include statutory audits or financial audits for
subsidiaries or affiliates of the Company and services
associated with SEC registration statements, periodic reports
and other documents filed with the SEC or other documents issued
in connection with securities offerings.
B-1
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4. |
Audit-related Services. |
Audit-related services are assurance and related services that
are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review
of the Companys financial statements or that are
traditionally performed by the independent auditor. The Audit
Committee may pre-approve Audit-related services, including,
among others, due diligence services pertaining to potential
business acquisitions/dispositions; accounting consultations and
audits in connection with acquisitions and dispositions;
accounting consultations related to accounting, financial
reporting or disclosure matters not classified as Audit
services; assistance with understanding and implementing
new accounting and financial reporting guidance from rulemaking
authorities; financial audits of employee benefit plans;
agreed-upon or expanded audit procedures related to accounting
and/or billing records required to respond to or comply with
financial, accounting or regulatory reporting matters; and
assistance with internal control reporting requirements.
The Audit Committee may pre-approve those Tax services that have
historically been provided by the auditor, that the Audit
Committee has reviewed and believes would not impair the
independence of the auditor, and that are consistent with the
SECs rules on auditor independence. The Audit Committee
may consult with management or its independent advisors,
including counsel, to determine that the tax planning and
reporting positions are consistent with this Policy.
The Audit Committee may pre-approve those non-audit services
classified as All Other Services that it believes are routine
and recurring services and would not impair the independence of
the auditor.
The pre-approval requirements for non-audit services is waived
provided that all such services: (1) do not aggregate to
more than five percent (5%) of the total revenues paid by the
Company to its independent auditor in the fiscal year in which
such services are provided; (2) were not recognized as
non-audit services by the Company at the time of the engagement,
and (3) are promptly reported to the Audit Committee and
approved prior to completion of the audit.
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8. |
Prohibited Non-Audit Services. |
The Company may not retain its independent auditor to provide
any of the prohibited non-audit services listed in
Appendix A to this Policy. The SECs rules and
relevant guidance should be consulted to determine the precise
definitions of these services and the applicability of
exceptions to certain of the prohibitions. The Audit Committee
will review the list of prohibited non-audit services at least
annually to determine whether any additions or deletions should
be made to Appendix A.
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9. |
Pre-Approval Fee Levels or Budgeted Amounts. |
Pre-approval fee levels or budgeted amounts for all services to
be provided by the independent auditor will be established
annually by the Audit Committee and reviewed as the Audit
Committee deems appropriate. Attached to this Policy as Exhibits
are forms that may be attached by the Audit Committee to their
pre-approval resolutions, if desired, to reflect the approved
services and associated budgeted fee levels. Any proposed
services exceeding these levels or amounts will require specific
pre-approval by the Audit Committee, or its designee pursuant to
Section 2 hereof. The Audit Committee is mindful of the
overall relationship of fees for audit and non-audit services in
determining whether to pre-approve any such services. For each
fiscal year, the Audit Committee shall consider the appropriate
ratio between the total amount of fees for Audit, Audit-related
and Tax services, and the total amount of fees for services
classified as All Other services.
B-2
All requests or applications for services to be provided by the
independent auditor will be submitted to the Chief Financial
Officer and shall include a description of the services to be
rendered. The Chief Financial Officer will determine whether
such services are included within the list of services that have
been pre-approved by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee
will be informed on a periodic basis of the services rendered by
the independent auditor. The Chief Financial Officer shall
consult as necessary with the Chairman of the Audit Committee in
determining whether any particular service has been pre-approved
by the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee has designated the Chief Financial Officer
to monitor the performance of all services provided by the
independent auditor and to determine whether such services are
in compliance with this Policy. The Chief Financial Officer will
report to the Audit Committee on a periodic basis on the results
of such monitoring. The Chief Financial Officer will immediately
report to the Chairman of the Audit Committee any breach of this
Policy that comes to the attention of the Chief Financial
Officer.
APPENDIX A
Prohibited Non-Audit Services
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Bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records
or financial statements of the audit client |
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Financial information systems design and implementation |
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Appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions or
contribution-in-kind
reports |
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Actuarial services |
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Internal audit outsourcing services |
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Management functions |
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Human resources |
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Broker-dealer, investment adviser or investment banking services |
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Legal services |
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Expert services unrelated to the audit |
B-3
Preliminary
Copy
infoUSA INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Friday, May 26, 2006
9:00 a.m.
at: 4001 South Business Park Avenue
Marshfield, Wisconsin 54449
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infoUSA
Inc. |
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proxy |
5711
South 86th Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68127
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This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting
of Stockholders of infoUSA Inc. (the
Company) to be held on May 26, 2006 or
any adjournments thereof.
The shares of the Companys Common Stock you hold as of the record date on
April 4, 2006 will be voted as you specify below.
By signing the proxy, you revoke all prior proxies and appoint Fred
Vakili and Stormy Dean, or either of them, as proxies with full power of substitution, to vote
all shares of Common Stock of the Company of record in the name of the undersigned at
the close of business on April 4, 2006 at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
The undersigned stockholder hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting to be
held on May 26, 2006.
See reverse for voting instructions.
Preliminary
Copy
ò Please
detach here ò
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The Board of Directors
Recommends a Vote FOR Proposal 1 and AGAINST Proposal 2. |
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1. |
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Election of directors (with |
01 |
Vinod Gupta |
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Vote FOR |
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Vote WITHHELD |
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terms expiring 2009): |
02 |
Dr. George F. Haddix |
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all nominees |
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from all
nominees |
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03 |
Dr. Vasant H. Raval |
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(except as marked) |
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(Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any indicated nominee, |
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write the
number(s) of the nominee(s) in the box provided to the
right.) |
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2. |
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Stockholder
proposal, if properly presented at the Annual |
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For |
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Against |
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Abstain |
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Meeting, to approve the
amendment of the Companys Bylaws to limit nomination of
director candidates by the Board of Directors. |
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THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO
DIRECTION IS GIVEN, WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSAL ONE AND
AGAINST
PROPOSAL TWO. IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE
PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY BE
PROPERLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF.
Address
Change? Mark Box o
Indicate changes below:
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Date
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Signature(s)
in Box
Please sign exactly as your
name(s) appear on the proxy. If
held in joint tenancy, all
persons must sign. Trustees,
administrators, etc., should
include title and authority.
Corporations should provide
full name of corporation and
title of authorized officer
signing the proxy. |
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