def14a
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant o
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
infoUSA Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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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
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infoUSA INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JUNE 7, 2007
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2007 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders (the Annual Meeting) of infoUSA
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), will be
held on June 7, 2007, at 4:00 p.m. local time, at the
Companys facility located at 11785 Beltsville Drive,
Calverton, Maryland 20705, for the following purposes, as more
fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice:
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1. To elect three directors to the Board of Directors for a
term of three years; |
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2. To approve the infoUSA Inc. 2007 Omnibus
Incentive Plan; |
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3. To ratify the selection of KPMG LLP, independent
certified public accountants, as auditors of the Company for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2007; and |
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4. To transact such other business as may properly come
before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on
April 13, 2007 are entitled to receive notice of and to
vote at the Annual 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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John H. Longwell |
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Secretary |
Omaha, Nebraska
April 27, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on
June 7, 2007, at 4:00 p.m., local time, or at any
adjournments or postponements thereof (the Annual
Meeting), 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 11785 Beltsville Drive,
Calverton, Maryland 20705. 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
May 4, 2007, to all stockholders entitled to vote at the
Annual Meeting. The Companys Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, 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 13, 2007 (the Record Date) are entitled
to receive notice of and vote at the Annual Meeting. On the
Record Date, 55,551,379 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.
Proxies; Revocability of Proxies
The persons named as the proxy holders, Fred Vakili and Stormy
L. Dean (the proxy holders), were selected by the
Companys Board of Directors (the Board of
Directors) and are the Companys officers. All
properly executed proxies returned in time to be counted at the
Annual Meeting will be voted. All proxies will be voted in
accordance with the stockholders instructions, and if no
choice is specified, the proxy holders will vote the proxies
received by them (i) in favor of the nominees named in this
Proxy Statement, (ii) in favor of the infoUSA Inc.
2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan and (iii) in favor of
ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP, independent certified
public accountants, as auditors of the Company for the fiscal
year ending December 31, 2007. The proxy holders are
authorized to vote, in their discretion, with respect to such
other matters as may be properly brought before the Annual
Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Proxies given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked at
any time before they are voted at the Annual 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 Annual Meeting and voting in person, although attendance at
the Annual Meeting will not, in and of itself, constitute
revocation of a proxy. See also the How to Vote
section of this Proxy Statement.
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 Annual 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, an affirmative vote of
a majority of the shares represented at the Annual Meeting in
person or by proxy and entitled to vote would be required for
the (i) approval of the infoUSA Inc. 2007 Omnibus
Incentive Plan and (ii) ratification of the selection of
KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants, as auditors
of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007.
The election inspectors will treat abstentions as shares that
are present and entitled to vote for the 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 card 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 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, 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, the enclosed
proxy card and any additional information furnished to
stockholders.
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 has agreed to pay MacKenzie Partners, Inc. for its
services a fee not to exceed $12,500 plus reimbursement of
reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses.
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 such 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.
Deadlines for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals
The proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (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 2008
Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the Company
no later than January 5, 2007 to be included in the proxy
statement and form of proxy for that meeting. Any such proposal
received after that date will be considered untimely and may be
excluded from the Companys proxy materials.
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
2
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 chairman of the Annual Meeting will declare
that any business introduced at the Annual Meeting that did not
comply with the advance notice requirement described in the
preceding sentence was not properly brought before the Annual
Meeting and shall not be transacted. 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.
How to Vote
Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting you are encouraged
to vote by proxy. You may vote by proxy in one of the following
ways:
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by Internet at the address listed on the proxy card; |
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by telephone using the toll-free number listed on the proxy
card; and |
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by returning the enclosed proxy card (signed and dated) in the
envelope provided. |
If you vote by the Internet or telephone, your electronic vote
authorizes the named proxy holders in the same manner as if you
signed, dated and returned your proxy card. If you vote by the
Internet or telephone, do not return your proxy card.
You may change your vote at any time before the proxy is
exercised. If you voted by mail, you may revoke your proxy at
any time before it is voted by executing and delivering a timely
and valid later-dated proxy, by voting by ballot at the Annual
Meeting or by giving written notice of revocation to the
Secretary. If you voted by the Internet or telephone you may
also change your vote with a timely and valid later Internet or
telephone vote, as the case may be, or by voting by ballot at
the Annual Meeting. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not
have the effect of revoking a proxy unless you give proper
written notice of revocation to the Secretary before the proxy
is exercised or you vote by written ballot at the Annual Meeting.
3
PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
General
The Board of Directors presently consists of eight directors and
is divided into three classes with the term of office of one
class expiring each year. The Company presently has two classes
of three directors each and one class of two directors. The
terms of office of Bill L. Fairfield, Anshoo S. Gupta
and Elliot S. Kaplan expire at this years Annual
Meeting. The terms of office of Bernard W. Reznicek and
Dennis P. Walker expire at the 2008 Annual Meeting. The terms of
office of Vinod Gupta, Dr. George F. Haddix and
Dr. Vasant H. Raval expire at the 2009 Annual Meeting.
The Company is proposing that the stockholders re-elect the
three directors whose terms expire this year (Bill L.
Fairfield, Anshoo S. Gupta and Elliot S. Kaplan), for
terms expiring at the 2010 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 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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Term Expiring | |
Bill L. Fairfield(1)(2)
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60 |
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Director; Chairman
of DreamField Capital Ventures, LLC |
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2005 |
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2010 |
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Anshoo S. Gupta(2)(3)(4)
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60 |
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Director; President
of JAG Operations, L.L.C. |
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2005 |
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2010 |
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Elliot S. Kaplan
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70 |
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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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2010 |
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(1) |
Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. |
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Member of the Audit Committee. |
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Member of the Compensation Committee. |
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Anshoo S. Gupta is not related to Vinod Gupta. |
4
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. 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 is
Vice-Chair of the University of Minnesota Foundation, Chairman
of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Naples, and a director
of the Minnesota Historical Society. Mr. Kaplan holds a
B.A. in Business Administration and a J.D. from the University
of Minnesota.
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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Bernard W. Reznicek(1)(2)(3)
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70 |
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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(2)
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61 |
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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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Vinod Gupta
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60 |
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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)
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68 |
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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)
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67 |
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Director; Professor, 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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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.
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.
Vinod Gupta founded the Company in February 1972
and has been Chairman of the Board of Directors 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 is a Professor
in the Department of Accounting at Creighton University and was
the Chair of the department from July 2001 to June 2006. 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.
Board Meetings and Committees
The Board of Directors of the Company met 10 times during 2006,
including six telephonic meetings. In addition, the Board of
Directors acted once by written consent during 2006. Our
independent directors have the opportunity to meet in an
executive session following each regularly scheduled Board
meeting. During 2006, our independent directors held 11
executive sessions in which only the independent directors
participated.
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The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, a Compensation
Committee, and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee,
the duties and activities of which are described below. The
Board of Directors 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 Global Select 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 eight times during 2006,
including two telephonic meetings. Among other duties, the Audit
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 Audit Committee. The Audit
Committee Charter is posted on the Companys website at
www.infousa.com under the caption Investor
Relations. A report of the Audit Committee is also
contained in this Proxy Statement. Each member of the Audit
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 of Directors has determined that
Dr. Raval and Mr. Anshoo Gupta are audit
committee financial experts as that term is defined in
Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of
Regulation S-K.
The Compensation Committee, which currently consists of
directors Bernard W. Reznicek (Chair), Anshoo S. Gupta and
Dennis P. Walker, met six times during 2006, including two
telephonic meetings. The Compensation 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 details of
determining the compensation of its executive officers are
described in the Compensation Discussion and
Analysis section of this Proxy Statement. The Compensation
Committee Charter is posted on the Companys website at
www.infousa.com under the caption Investor
Relations. Each member of the Compensation Committee is
independent, as defined by the rules of the NASD.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which
currently consists of Bill L. Fairfield (Chair), Dr. George
F. Haddix and Bernard W. Reznicek, met seven times during 2006,
including three telephonic meetings. The Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee identifies and recommends to the
Board of Directors qualified director candidates, makes
recommendations to the Board of Directors 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 Nominating and Corporate
Governance 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 Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee also has the authority to
retain third parties to identify and evaluate director
candidates and to approve any associated fees or expenses. The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider
director candidates recommended by stockholders. The criteria
applied by the Nominating and Corporate Governance 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
7
for committee membership. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance 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 Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee, the Board of Directors has selected Bill
L. Fairfield, Anshoo S. Gupta and Elliot S. Kaplan as nominees
for election as directors at the Annual Meeting.
Messrs. Fairfield, Gupta and Kaplan 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 of
Directors and the total number of meetings held by all
committees of the Board of Directors on which they served at
that time, except for Mr. Walker who attended 61% of such
meetings. Two directors attended the 2006 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
Board Contact Information
If you would like to contact the Board of Directors or any
committee of the Board of Directors, 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 Business Conduct and Ethics
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.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
This discussion should be read in conjunction with the tables
and related discussion in beginning on page 15 of this
Proxy Statement.
Our Compensation Discussion and Analysis addresses our
philosophy regarding executive compensation, how we determine
executive compensation, including a discussion of each of its
components, and our compensation decisions for fiscal year 2006
and, as appropriate, their impact on compensation programs in
2007.
In this section, the terms, we, our, and
us, refer to the Company.
|
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Our Executive Compensation Philosophy |
We believe that it is in the best interest of the Company and
its stockholders to employ talented, committed, high-performing
leaders who can sustain and improve the Companys
performance. We believe that executive compensation must serve
to:
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attract and retain top executives; |
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motivate executives to perform at their highest potential; |
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reward executives for meeting financial and strategic business
goals and objectives; |
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reinforce a sense of teamwork through common objectives and
shared rewards for performance; and |
8
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align the interests of executives and stockholders. |
We believe that the executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table on page 15 of this Proxy Statement
(named executive officers or NEOs) and
our other executive officers are vital to the success of our
business. Our NEOs have been with the Company, on average, for
nearly 22 years. Senior executives who know the Company and
its culture, who have industry knowledge and operational
experience, and who have a track record of success are extremely
valuable. Such individuals are attractive to competitors. As a
result, these executives have many other opportunities. The cost
of replacing these executives is high. It is therefore key to
our long-term success that we set compensation effectively.
We also believe in structuring executive compensation in a way
that minimizes associated costs, including tax, accounting
expense and potential stockholder dilution.
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How We Determine Executive Compensation |
Executive compensation is determined by the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee
meets quarterly to consider issues relating to executive
compensation. It draws on internal and external resources to
provide necessary information and recommendations, as
appropriate. Each year, the Compensation Committee reviews its
charter to ensure that it remains consistent with stockholder
interests and principles of good corporate governance.
The Compensation Committee has from time to time retained
consultants to aid it in its duties. In 2006, the Compensation
Committee considered information provided by Mercer Human
Resource Consulting (Mercer) and Pearl
Meyer & Partners (Pearl Meyer). The
Compensation Committee retained Mercer to provide market
information and guidance regarding typical practices for
severance and
change-in-control
protections for key executives. Pearl Meyer has been retained to
conduct a review of the compensation of our Chief Executive
Officer for 2007. The results of the study are being used in
establishing the total compensation program for our Chief
Executive Officer, as well as in refining our compensation
strategy and setting executive officer compensation in general.
This process is expected to be completed by the Compensation
Committee in 2007. In determining compensation of executive
officers other than the Chief Executive Officer, the
Compensation Committee also seeks recommendations from the Chief
Executive Officer.
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Consideration of Objective and Subjective Factors |
We believe that it is appropriate to take a holistic view of
each executive officers total compensation opportunity,
reviewed annually on a prospective basis, and that compensation
should be awarded based on consideration of both objective and
subjective factors.
A significant portion of each executive officers total
compensation opportunity should be performance-based, reflecting
both upside potential and downside risk, with higher proportions
of at-risk compensation for the most senior executives.
Therefore, each executive officers compensation is, to a
significant extent, contingent upon the achievement of specific
pre-determined corporate objectives.
However, the value of an executives performance cannot be
measured solely by reference to objective performance
indicators, and a strictly formulaic approach would not provide
the flexibility we need to make compensation decisions.
Therefore, we retain discretion to adjust compensation based on
particular facts and circumstances.
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Elements of Executive Compensation |
Each NEOs annual total compensation is composed of a mix
of compensation elements, consisting of base salary, annual
performance-based cash incentive and, in some instances,
longer-term equity incentives and certain personal benefits and
perquisites. We expect that this mix can and should change from
time to
9
time as our needs and objectives, and external market
circumstances, change. The Compensation Committee reviews the
combined value of all of the elements of compensation awarded in
previous years when considering proposed compensation for the
current year.
When determining the proportion of total compensation that each
element represents, the Compensation Committee, in the exercise
of its business judgment, reviews current market practices and
industry trends. Within the performance-based compensation
category, the Compensation Committee seeks to focus the efforts
of the NEOs on company goals related to continued growth and
increasing stockholder value. In addition, the Compensation
Committee considers the NEOs perceived value of the
various elements of compensation and seeks input from the Chief
Executive Officer (but only with respect to compensation for
other NEOs) and its independent compensation consultants.
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Market Comparisons and Peer Group Selection |
It is critical to our long-term performance to offer our
executive officers compensation opportunities that are
competitive with those available to them in equivalent positions
in our industry or at other publicly traded or similarly
situated companies. The Compensation Committee considers
publicly-available information concerning executive compensation
levels paid by other companies in our industry and in relevant
labor markets. As compared to the companies in our peer group,
we have historically made a relatively high percentage of each
executive officers compensation contingent upon
achievement of performance goals.
In 2006, with the assistance of Pearl Meyer, the Compensation
Committee referred to the following peer group of
publicly-traded companies in the information collection and
distribution industry for benchmarking executive compensation in
fiscal year 2007:
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aQuantive, Inc. |
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Choice Point, Inc. |
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CoStar Group, Inc. |
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Digitas Inc. |
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FactSet Research Systems, Inc. |
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Fair Isaac Corporation |
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First Advantage Corporation |
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Gartner, inc. |
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Harte-Hanks, Inc. |
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Move, Inc. (formerly Homestore) |
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Infospace, Inc. |
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ProQuest Company |
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Jack Henery & Associates |
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MIVA, Inc. |
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R H Donnelly Corporation |
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Salesforce.com |
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webMethods, Inc. |
10
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Executive Compensation for Fiscal Year 2006 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, the principal
components of compensation for the NEOs were: base salary;
performance-based cash incentive award and discretionary cash
bonus; and other personal benefits and perquisites.
Although stock options have been granted in prior years, more
recently the Compensation Committee has focused on cash
compensation and has deemphasized equity-based compensation
programs. The Compensation Committee determined that, in
general, the grants of stock options had not adequately rewarded
executives for their performance. No stock option grants or
other equity awards were made in fiscal year 2006. Overall, the
base salaries and cash bonuses for our executive officers tend
to be higher than the cash compensation of officers at similar
companies, and the equity-based component tends to be less, to
achieve a balance that provides a competitive overall
compensation package.
Base salaries for each of our executive officers, including the
Chief Executive Officer, are generally set within a range of
salaries paid to industry peers with comparable qualifications,
experience, responsibilities and performance at similar
companies. In setting compensation levels, the Compensation
Committee takes into account such factors as (i) our past
performance and expectations of future performance,
(ii) individual scope of responsibility, performance and
experience, (iii) the executive compensation reports of
independent consultants engaged by the Compensation Committee,
(iv) past salary levels and (v) the recommendations of
the Chief Executive Officer (only with respect to other
executive officers). The Compensation Committee does not assign
relative weights or rankings to these factors, but instead makes
a determination based upon the consideration of all of these
factors, as well as the progress made with respect to our
long-term goals and strategies. As noted above, cash
compensation tends to be above market medians to offset
equity-based compensation that is below market medians.
At its meeting in January 2006, the Compensation Committee
considered base salary levels for the NEOs. Effective for fiscal
year 2006, the Compensation Committee approved increases in NEO
salaries as follows:
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Annual | |
|
Increase from | |
Name and Position |
|
Base Salary | |
|
Previous Year | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Vinod Gupta
|
|
$ |
840,000 |
|
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|
12% |
|
|
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer |
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Stormy Dean
|
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|
240,000 |
(1) |
|
|
0% |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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Edward Mallin
|
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|
600,000 |
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14.5% |
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President, Services Group |
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Monica Messer
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480,000 |
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33.7% |
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Chief Operations Officer and President, Database Group |
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Fred Vakili
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480,000 |
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18.6% |
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Executive Vice President of Administration and
Chief Administrative Officer |
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(1) |
As explained below, Mr. Deans Annual Base Salary was
increased during 2006 from $240,000 to $280,000. |
In determining Mr. Guptas salary adjustment, the
Compensation Committee considered that he elected not to accept
an annual bonus for fiscal year 2005. In determining the salary
increases for the remaining NEOs, the Compensation Committee
considered that the NEOs did not receive any equity grants for
the services provided to the Company in 2005. During 2006, the
Compensation Committee
11
increased Mr. Deans salary from $240,000 to $280,000
in recognition of his additional responsibilities associated
with being named the Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
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Performance-Based Cash Incentive Award; Discretionary Cash
Bonus |
Our annual cash incentive plan (the 2006 Plan) was
intended to focus the NEOs attention on shorter-term
attainment of high levels of operating and financial
performance. NEOs were eligible for annual cash incentive
compensation under the 2006 Plan based primarily upon the level
of achievement, both by the individual officer and the Company,
of performance targets established for each year, as well as on
the Compensation Committees assessment of individual
performance.
Our annual incentive payments for NEOs are determined based on a
combination of performance elements, including growth in annual
revenues and profitability. All metrics were approved by the
Compensation Committee to provide the balanced measurement of
current external results to stockholders, efficient and
effective internal decisions to generate future stockholder
returns, and strategic and operational initiatives.
The Compensation Committee set minimum, target and maximum
levels for each component of the corporate financial objective
portion of the 2006 Plan. As a general rule, we believe that
performance targets should be set at levels that reflect
excellent performance, superior to the results of typical
companies in our industry, but that the targets should be
achievable that is, significant, creative effort on
the part of the executive team should be required in order to
attain the targets, while at the same time the targets should
represent a reasonable expectation of performance assuming the
team delivers the effort. To achieve this, targets are set in
such a way to encourage high levels of performance and to be
reasonably aligned with our strategic plan. In making the annual
determination of the minimum, target and maximum levels, the
Compensation Committee considers: (i) the specific
circumstances facing the Company in the current year,
(ii) financial objectives of our strategic plan and
(iii) stockholders expectations regarding the
Companys performance. Depending upon the nature of the
specific performance indicator, this can mean a progressive
increase in target from year to year, no change, or a reduction,
where external or other factors impact the expected level of an
indicator, such as the impact of capital investments,
divestitures or acquisitions.
For 2006, the quantitative criteria for incentive awards to the
NEOs, except for Mr. Mallin, were based on increases in the
Companys 2006 pre-tax income over 2005 pre-tax income. For
Mr. Mallin, the quantitative criteria were based on
operational performance relative to a pre-established group of
key accounts. The maximum incentive payment under the 2006 Plan
was 100% of the executives base salary for 2006. No
payment was awarded under the 2006 Plan unless a threshold level
of performance was achieved. For fiscal year 2006, the
Compensation Committee provided incentive awards based on
quantitative factors to Ms. Messer and Messrs. Vakili
and Dean.
The Compensation Committee also bases cash bonuses on
discretionary factors, including changing business conditions,
special projects (such as acquisitions) and strategic
initiatives, among others. For fiscal year 2006, the
Compensation Committee awarded discretionary cash bonuses to
Ms. Messer and Messrs. Dean, Mallin and Vakili.
Mr. Mallin received a discretionary cash bonus in
recognition of his contributions in connection with the
Companys acquisition activities and his superior
performance as the Company reorganized its operations resulting
in changes to his
day-to-day
responsibilities. Ms. Messer and Messrs. Dean and
Vakili also received discretionary cash bonuses in recognition
for their contributions in connection with the Companys
acquisition activities.
At the beginning of the 2006 fiscal year, Mr. Gupta
requested that the Compensation Committee not award any
incentive or bonus payments to him for his services provided to
the Company during that year. At the end of the 2006 fiscal
year, the Compensation Committee advised Mr. Gupta that he
was eligible for an annual bonus of $510,000 based on the same
pre-tax income performance criteria that were used for
12
the other NEOs. Notwithstanding the Compensation
Committees determination regarding the proposed bonus,
Mr. Gupta elected not to receive any bonus award for his
service to the Company in 2006.
For fiscal year 2006, the NEOs performance incentive
awards and discretionary cash bonuses were as follows:
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|
Total 2006 | |
|
|
2006 | |
|
Performance | |
|
Cash Bonus | |
|
Incentive Award | |
Named Executive Officer |
|
Base Salary | |
|
Incentive Award | |
|
(Discretionary) | |
|
and Cash Bonus | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Stormy Dean
|
|
$ |
240,000 |
|
|
$ |
144,000 |
|
|
$ |
46,000 |
|
|
$ |
190,000 |
|
Edward Mallin
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
Monica Messer
|
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
270,000 |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
Fred Vakili
|
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
280,000 |
|
The amounts set forth above for the NEOs 2006 performance
incentive awards and discretionary cash bonuses are also set
forth in the Summary Compensation Table on page 15 of this
Proxy Statement.
|
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|
Other Personal Benefits and Perquisites |
The compensation of our NEOs includes certain benefits and
arrangements that provide a personal benefit and are generally
available to all employees. The NEOs are eligible for the same
retirement savings, health and welfare programs offered to
exempt employees, including a 401(k) plan, medical, dental and
vision coverage, wellness programs, use of our employee
assistance program, short and long-term disability, and paid
time off in accordance with company policies. For programs to
which employees contribute premiums, executives are subject to
the same premium structure as other exempt employees.
In addition to the benefits program described above, our policy
is to provide our executives with only those benefits that are
related to bona fide business activities. We provide home office
allowances to certain executive officers to increase their
accessibility and to allow them to perform their business
responsibilities from their homes. Ms. Messer and
Messrs. Gupta, Mallin and Vakili received home office
allowances during fiscal year 2006. Mr. Dean received an
automobile allowance during fiscal year 2006. Other benefits
include the use for business travel of aircraft in which the
Company has a fractional ownership interest. The Companys
policy provides that the aircraft be used for business purposes
only. The Chief Executive Officer, however, may authorize
additional passengers to travel on the aircraft as long as any
incremental increase in the cost is de minimis. The same policy
is applicable for the use of a boat that is leased by the
Company for customer and business development activities, such
as client entertainment. The Company also pays for certain
country club memberships for the Chief Executive Officer, which
memberships are used for business entertainment purposes only.
In 2006, the Company reimbursed Mr. Gupta for the $10,000
fee paid to an executive compensation consultant engaged by him
during his discussions with the Compensation Committee regarding
his 2006 compensation, including his decision not to receive any
incentive award or bonus payments for fiscal year 2006.
See footnote 5 to the All Other Compensation
column in the Summary Compensation Table on page 16 of this
Proxy Statement for a description of other personal benefits and
perquisites provided to some or all of the NEOs.
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Severance and Change in Control Arrangements |
Each NEO, other than Mr. Gupta, is party to a Severance
Agreement with the Company that provides for certain payments
upon termination of employment and/or change in control. The
Compensation Committee determined that such arrangements were
appropriate based on their prevalence
13
within the information collection and distribution industry, as
well as for public companies in general, and the dynamic nature
of mergers and acquisitions activity within this industry.
Given the nature of the responsibilities of the NEOs, we also
recognize that they could be involved in critical decisions
relating to a potential change in control transaction and
responsible for the successful implementation of such
transactions, while being at risk of losing their jobs if a
change in control transaction is consummated. The Severance
Agreements are intended to provide sufficient protection for the
NEOs to permit them to consider potential transactions that are
in the best interest of our stockholders without being unduly
influenced by the possible effects of the transaction on their
employment and compensation.
In 2006, the Compensation Committee engaged Mercer to provide
data and information to establish severance arrangements between
the Company and certain key officers. The Compensation Committee
reviewed information provided by Mercer relating to market
practices for severance arrangements. As a result of this
review, the Compensation Committee authorized the Company to
enter into Severance Agreements with Ms. Messer and
Messrs. Dean, Mallin and Vakili.
The Severance Agreements are described in greater detail in the
Other Potential Post-Employment Payments
Severance Agreements section of this Proxy Statement.
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|
Tax and Accounting Considerations |
The Compensation Committee carefully considers the tax impact of
our compensation programs on the Company as well as on the NEOs.
For example, the Compensation Committee has considered the
impact of tax provisions such as Section 162(m) in
structuring our executive compensation program and, to the
extent reasonably possible in light of compensation goals and
objectives, the compensation paid to the NEOs has been
structured so as to qualify as performance-based and deductible
for federal income tax purposes under Section 162(m).
However, in light of the competitive nature of the market for
executive talent, the Compensation Committee believes that it is
more important to encourage the NEOs to remain focused on
building stockholder value than to use a particular compensation
practice or structure solely to ensure tax deductibility, and
thus retains discretion to address tax deductibility of
executive compensation as one key element of compensation
decisions.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the
Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by
Item 402(b) of
Regulation S-K
with management and, based on such review and discussion, the
Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors
that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in
this Proxy Statement.
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Respectfully submitted by the |
|
Compensation Committee: |
|
|
Bernard W. Reznicek (Chair) |
|
Anshoo S. Gupta |
|
Dennis P. Walker |
14
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth the compensation paid by the
Company for fiscal year 2006 to the Companys Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and each of the
Companys three most highly compensated executive officers
who were serving as executive officers as of December 31,
2006 and whose total compensation exceeded $100,000 for fiscal
year 2006 (collectively, the Named Executive
Officers or NEOs):
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option | |
|
Incentive Plan | |
|
All Other | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary | |
|
Bonus | |
|
Awards | |
|
Compensation | |
|
Compensation | |
|
Total | |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year | |
|
($)(1) | |
|
($)(3) | |
|
($)(4) | |
|
($)(3) | |
|
($)(5) | |
|
($) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Vinod Gupta
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
$ |
836,539 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
987,546 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
112,600 |
|
|
$ |
1,936,685 |
|
|
Chairman of the Board
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and Chief Executive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officer (Principal
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stormy L. Dean
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
270,769 |
(2) |
|
|
46,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
144,000 |
|
|
|
9,600 |
|
|
|
470,369 |
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Principal Financial
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officer; Principal
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
Accounting Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edward C. Mallin
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
597,692 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
22,931 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
102,600 |
|
|
|
1,023,223 |
|
|
President, Services Group
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monica Messer
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
489,231 |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
71,682 |
|
|
|
270,000 |
|
|
|
54,600 |
|
|
|
915,513 |
|
|
Chief Operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officer & President,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Database Group
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fred Vakili
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
475,385 |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
15,762 |
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
54,600 |
|
|
|
825,747 |
|
|
Executive Vice President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Administration &
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Administrative
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
The dollar amount for the base salary of each executive officer
varies slightly from that presented in the Compensation
Discussion and Analysis due to the timing of the
Companys pay cycle. |
|
(2) |
During 2006, Mr. Deans salary was increased from
$240,000 to $280,000 in recognition of his additional
responsibilities associated with being named the Chief Financial
Officer of the Company. |
|
(3) |
See the Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Executive Compensation for Fiscal Year 2006 for a
discussion of how the bonus and incentive award amounts were
determined. |
|
(4) |
Represents the amount recognized for financial statement
reporting purposes with respect to the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2006 in accordance with
SFAS No. 123R for awards of options under our 1997
Stock Option Plan, as amended. The following table summarizes
the assumptions used in the valuation of option awards. |
15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assumptions | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares | |
|
Dividend | |
|
Risk-Free | |
|
Expected | |
|
|
|
Forfeiture | |
|
2006 Fiscal Year | |
Name |
|
Grant Date | |
|
of Stock Granted | |
|
Yield Rate | |
|
Rate | |
|
Term | |
|
Volatility | |
|
Rate | |
|
Compensation Cost | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
V. Gupta
|
|
|
05/03/2002 |
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
|
% |
|
|
2.87 |
% |
|
|
4.67 |
|
|
|
89.06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
10,317 |
|
|
|
|
07/24/2003 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.87 |
|
|
|
4.67 |
|
|
|
89.06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
270,226 |
|
|
|
|
03/10/2005 |
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
1.71 |
|
|
|
4.42 |
|
|
|
7.50 |
|
|
|
76.99 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
707,003 |
|
E. Mallin
|
|
|
05/03/2002 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.87 |
|
|
|
4.67 |
|
|
|
89.06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
413 |
|
|
|
|
07/24/2003 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.87 |
|
|
|
4.67 |
|
|
|
89.06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,518 |
|
M. Messer
|
|
|
05/03/2002 |
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.87 |
|
|
|
4.67 |
|
|
|
89.06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,125 |
|
|
|
|
07/24/2003 |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.87 |
|
|
|
4.67 |
|
|
|
89.06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
67,557 |
|
F. Vakili
|
|
|
07/24/2003 |
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.87 |
|
|
|
4.67 |
|
|
|
89.06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,762 |
|
|
|
(5) |
The following table summarizes the benefits included in the
All Other Compensation column. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
V. Gupta | |
|
S. Dean | |
|
E. Mallin | |
|
M. Messer | |
|
F. Vakili | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Executive compensation consultant fees
|
|
$ |
10,000 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Home office allowance
|
|
|
96,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
96,000 |
|
|
|
48,000 |
|
|
|
48,000 |
|
Automobile allowance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
401(k) contributions
|
|
|
6,600 |
|
|
|
6,600 |
|
|
|
6,600 |
|
|
|
6,600 |
|
|
|
6,600 |
|
|
Total*
|
|
|
112,600 |
|
|
|
9,600 |
|
|
|
102,600 |
|
|
|
54,600 |
|
|
|
54,600 |
|
|
|
* |
No value has been attributed to the travel of additional
passengers (including friends and family members of NEOs) on
Company aircraft pursuant to the Companys policy that such
travel may be allowed when it adds only de minimis cost to
flights undertaken for legitimate business purposes. See the
Compensation Discussion and Analysis Executive
Compensation for Fiscal Year 2006 Other Personal
Benefits and Perquisites for a discussion of personal
benefits and perquisites provided to the NEOs. |
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity | |
|
|
Incentive Plan Awards(1) | |
|
|
| |
Name |
|
Threshold($) | |
|
Target($) | |
|
Maximum($) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
V. Gupta
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
S. Dean
|
|
|
67,500 |
|
|
|
270,000 |
|
|
|
270,000 |
|
E. Mallin
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
M. Messer
|
|
|
120,000 |
|
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
480,000 |
|
F. Vakili
|
|
|
120,000 |
|
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
(1) |
These columns reflect potential awards under our 2006 Plan. The
components of this plan are discussed in more detail in
Compensation Discussion and Analysis Executive
Compensation for Fiscal Year 2006 section of this Proxy
Statement. Actual payouts for 2006 are disclosed in the
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the
Summary Compensation Table. |
16
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards | |
|
|
| |
|
|
Number of | |
|
Number of | |
|
|
|
|
Securities | |
|
Securities | |
|
|
|
|
Underlying | |
|
Underlying | |
|
|
|
|
Unexercised | |
|
Unexercised | |
|
|
|
|
Options | |
|
Options | |
|
Option | |
|
Option | |
|
|
(#) | |
|
(#) | |
|
Exercise | |
|
Expiration | |
Name |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
Price($) | |
|
Date | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
V. Gupta
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
10.00 |
|
|
|
5/3/2007 |
|
|
|
|
512,494 |
|
|
|
87,506 |
(1) |
|
|
8.11 |
|
|
|
7/24/2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
500,000 |
(2) |
|
|
12.60 |
|
|
|
3/10/2015 |
|
S. Dean
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Mallin
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.00 |
|
|
|
5/3/2007 |
|
|
|
|
42,706 |
|
|
|
7,294 |
(1) |
|
|
8.11 |
|
|
|
7/24/2008 |
|
M. Messer
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.00 |
|
|
|
5/3/2007 |
|
|
|
|
128,122 |
|
|
|
21,878 |
(1) |
|
|
8.11 |
|
|
|
7/24/2008 |
|
F. Vakili
|
|
|
29,894 |
|
|
|
5,106 |
(1) |
|
|
8.11 |
|
|
|
7/24/2008 |
|
|
|
(1) |
These options were granted under the Companys 1997 Stock
Option Plan, as amended, on July 23, 2003. These options
will be fully vested on July 24, 2007. These options have a
term of 5 years. |
|
(2) |
These options were granted under the Companys 1997 Stock
Option Plan, as amended, on March 10, 2005. These options
will vest 30% on March 10, 2008, 15% on March 10,
2009, 15% on March 10, 2010, 15% on March 10, 2011,
15% on March 10, 2012 and 10% on March 10, 2013. These
options have a term of 10 years. |
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED IN FISCAL YEAR 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards | |
|
|
| |
|
|
Number of Shares | |
|
Value Realized | |
|
|
Acquired on Exercise | |
|
on Exercise | |
Name |
|
(#) | |
|
($)(1) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
V. Gupta
|
|
|
1,200,000 |
|
|
$ |
5,268,000 |
|
S. Dean
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Mallin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Messer
|
|
|
24,000 |
|
|
|
89,760 |
|
F. Vakili
|
|
|
21,000 |
|
|
|
78,540 |
|
|
|
(1) |
The value realized is calculated based on the
difference between the market price of the Companys common
stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price. |
17
OTHER POTENTIAL POST-EMPLOYMENT PAYMENTS
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 in the Severance Agreement), the Company will
make payments to the executive at a rate equal to the
executives Total Compensation (as defined below) for a
period from 6 months to 24 months, depending on the
length of service completed by the executive. In addition, if
the executive elects to continue health and/or dental insurance
coverage under COBRA, the Company will pay the employer portion
of the monthly premium until the executive obtains substantially
equivalent insurance coverage, but, in any event, for not more
than 12 months. Total Compensation means the
executives base salary as in effect at the time of
termination, plus the average of the executives annual
bonus amount for the three calendar years preceding the year in
which the executives employment terminates. If the Company
becomes subject to a Change in Control (as defined below) and
within twelve (12) months after such Change in Control, the
executives employment is terminated either (i) by the
Company for any reason other than Cause, or (ii) by the
executive for Good Reason, the Company shall pay to the
executive a lump sum based on the executives Total
Compensation. The amount of the lump sum will be from one time
up to three times the executives Total Compensation,
depending on the length of service completed by the executive,
together with additional payments sufficient to compensate for
certain federal excise taxes. In addition, if the executive
elects to continue health and/or dental insurance coverage under
COBRA, the Company will pay the employer portion of the monthly
premium until the executive obtains substantially equivalent
insurance coverage, but, in any event, for not more than
12 months. Also, all shares of capital stock, stock
options, performance units, stock appreciation rights, or other
derivative securities of the Company held by the executive at
the time of termination will become fully vested and
exercisable. If the executives employment terminates as a
result of the executives death or Disability (as defined
in the Severance Agreement), the Company shall pay the
executives accrued compensation through the termination
date, and a pro rata portion of the executives target
bonus for the year in which termination occurs. To receive any
severance benefits, the executive must execute a general release
of all claims against the Company, and must refrain from
competing with the Company and from soliciting the
Companys employees for a period of up to 12 months
after the date of termination. If it is determined that any
payment or distribution will be subject to the excise tax
imposed under Internal Revenue Code Section 280G, then the
executive will be entitled to receive an additional payment or
gross up to ensure that severance payments are not
diminished.
For purposes of the Severance Agreements, a Change in
Control includes (i) the consummation of a merger or
consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or any
other corporate reorganization, if persons who were not
stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger,
consolidation or other reorganization own immediately after such
merger, consolidation or other reorganization 50% or more of the
voting power of the outstanding securities of each of
(A) the continuing or surviving entity and (B) any
direct or indirect parent corporation of such continuing or
surviving entity; (ii) the sale, transfer or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the Companys
assets; (iii) a change in the majority of the board of
directors without the approval of the incumbent board;
(iv) any incumbent director who beneficially owns more than
twenty percent (20%) of the total voting power represented by
the Companys then outstanding voting securities
involuntarily ceasing to be a director; or (v) any
transaction as a result of which any person first becomes the
beneficial owner (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under
the 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.
18
Potential Payments under the Severance Agreements
The following tables set forth the payments the NEOs, other than
Mr. Gupta, who is not a party to a Severance Agreement with
the Company, would receive if they were terminated as of
December 31, 2006.
Potential Payments to Stormy L. Dean upon the Occurrence of
Certain Events
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Control of | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company with | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination | |
|
Termination | |
|
|
|
|
|
the Executives | |
|
|
|
|
Termination |
|
by the | |
|
by the | |
|
|
|
|
|
Termination | |
|
|
|
|
by the |
|
Executive | |
|
Company | |
|
|
|
|
|
for Good | |
Component of |
|
Voluntary | |
|
Company |
|
for Good | |
|
without | |
|
|
|
|
|
Reason or | |
Compensation |
|
Termination | |
|
for Cause |
|
Reason | |
|
Cause | |
|
Disability | |
|
Death | |
|
without Cause | |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Cash Severance (base salary + bonus)
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
343,333 |
|
|
$ |
343,333 |
|
|
$ |
144,000 |
|
|
$ |
487,333 |
|
|
$ |
343,333 |
|
Stock Options
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Health Insurance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,893 |
|
|
|
11,893 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,893 |
|
Life Insurance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Disability Pay
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,877,260 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued Vacation Pay
|
|
|
35,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,538 |
|
|
|
35,538 |
|
|
|
35,538 |
|
|
|
35,538 |
|
|
|
35,538 |
|
Potential Payments to Edward C. Mallin upon the Occurrence of
Certain Events
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Control of | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company with | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination | |
|
Termination | |
|
|
|
|
|
the Executives | |
|
|
|
|
Termination | |
|
by the | |
|
by the | |
|
|
|
|
|
Termination | |
|
|
|
|
by the | |
|
Executive | |
|
Company | |
|
|
|
|
|
for Good | |
Component of |
|
Voluntary | |
|
Company | |
|
for Good | |
|
without | |
|
|
|
|
|
Reason or | |
Compensation |
|
Termination | |
|
for Cause | |
|
Reason | |
|
Cause | |
|
Disability | |
|
Death | |
|
without Cause | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Cash Severance (base salary + bonus)
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
1,619,005 |
|
|
$ |
1,619,005 |
|
|
$ |
270,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,889,005 |
|
|
$ |
1,619,005 |
|
Stock Options(1)
|
|
|
200,483 |
|
|
|
200,483 |
|
|
|
228,200 |
|
|
|
228,200 |
|
|
|
228,200 |
|
|
|
228,200 |
|
|
|
228,200 |
|
Health Insurance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,488 |
|
|
|
8,488 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,488 |
|
Life Insurance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Disability Pay
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
974,795 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued Vacation Pay
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Stock option payments for voluntary termination and termination
for cause are based on the amount of options vested on the
termination date. For all other termination events the payments
are based on accelerating all options to vest on the termination
date. The value of the stock option payments are calculated
based on the difference between the closing price of the
Companys common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market
on December 29, 2006 and the exercise price. |
19
Potential Payments to Monica Messer upon the Occurrence of
Certain Events
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Control of | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination | |
|
|
|
|
|
Company with | |
|
|
|
|
Termination | |
|
Termination | |
|
by the | |
|
|
|
|
|
the Executives | |
|
|
|
|
by the | |
|
by the | |
|
Company | |
|
|
|
|
|
Termination | |
Component of |
|
Voluntary | |
|
Company | |
|
Executive for | |
|
without | |
|
|
|
|
|
for Good Reason | |
Compensation |
|
Termination | |
|
for Cause | |
|
Good Reason | |
|
Cause | |
|
Disability | |
|
Death | |
|
or without Cause | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Cash Severance (base salary + bonus)
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
1,301,667 |
|
|
$ |
1,301,667 |
|
|
$ |
270,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,571,667 |
|
|
$ |
1,301,667 |
|
Stock Options(1)
|
|
|
868,864 |
|
|
|
868,864 |
|
|
|
952,000 |
|
|
|
952,000 |
|
|
|
952,000 |
|
|
|
952,000 |
|
|
|
952,000 |
|
Health Insurance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,256 |
|
|
|
7,256 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,256 |
|
Life Insurance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Disability Pay
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,436,493 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued Vacation Pay
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Stock option payments for voluntary termination and termination
for cause are based on the amount of options vested on the
termination date. For all other termination events the payments
are based on accelerating all options to vest on the termination
date. The value of the stock option payments are calculated
based on the difference between the closing price of the
Companys common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market
on December 29, 2006 and the exercise price. |
Potential Payments to Fred Vakili upon the Occurrence of
Certain Events
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Control of | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination | |
|
|
|
|
|
Company with | |
|
|
|
|
Termination | |
|
Termination | |
|
by the | |
|
|
|
|
|
the Executives | |
|
|
|
|
by the | |
|
by the | |
|
Company | |
|
|
|
|
|
Termination for | |
Component of |
|
Voluntary | |
|
Company | |
|
Executive for | |
|
without | |
|
|
|
|
|
Good Reason or | |
Compensation |
|
Termination | |
|
for Cause | |
|
Good Reason | |
|
Cause | |
|
Disability | |
|
Death | |
|
without Cause | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Cash Severance (base salary + bonus)
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
1,194,347 |
|
|
$ |
1,194,347 |
|
|
$ |
250,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,444,347 |
|
|
$ |
1,194,347 |
|
Stock Options(1)
|
|
|
113,597 |
|
|
|
113,597 |
|
|
|
133,000 |
|
|
|
133,000 |
|
|
|
133,000 |
|
|
|
133,000 |
|
|
|
133,000 |
|
Health Insurance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,488 |
|
|
|
8,488 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,488 |
|
Life Insurance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Disability Pay
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,413,370 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued Vacation Pay
|
|
|
86,769 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
86,769 |
|
|
|
86,769 |
|
|
|
86,769 |
|
|
|
86,769 |
|
|
|
86,769 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Stock option payments for voluntary termination and termination
for cause are based on the amount of options vested on the
termination date. For all other termination events the payments
are based on accelerating all options to vest on the termination
date. The value of the stock option payments are calculated
based on the difference between the closing price of the
Companys common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market
on December 29, 2006 and the exercise price. |
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 of Directors.
The chair of each standing Board committee, in addition to other
compensation he receives for services as a director, receives an
annual cash retainer of $12,000, payable in monthly installments
of $1,000 each. Each of the chair of the Audit Committee and the
Lead Independent Director receives, in
20
addition to other compensation he receives for services as a
director or a committee chair, an additional annual cash
retainer of $12,000, payable in monthly installments of $1,000
each.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees | |
|
|
|
|
Earned or | |
|
|
|
|
Paid in Cash | |
|
Total | |
Name |
|
($) | |
|
($) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Dr. Vasant H. Raval
|
|
$ |
72,000 |
|
|
$ |
72,000 |
|
Bill L. Fairfield
|
|
|
65,000 |
|
|
|
65,000 |
|
Dr. George F. Haddix
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
Martin F. Kahn(1)
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
Elliot S. Kaplan
|
|
|
48,000 |
|
|
|
48,000 |
|
Dennis P. Walker
|
|
|
48,000 |
|
|
|
48,000 |
|
Anshoo Gupta
|
|
|
48,000 |
|
|
|
48,000 |
|
Bernard W. Reznicek(2)
|
|
|
36,000 |
|
|
|
36,000 |
|
Charles W. Stryker(3)
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Mr. Kahn resigned from the Board of Directors effective
February 2, 2007. |
|
(2) |
Mr. Reznicek was elected to the Board of Directors
effective March 30, 2006. |
|
(3) |
Mr. Stryker resigned from the Board of Directors effective
January 23, 2006. |
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR EQUITY AWARDS
AT FISCAL YEAR-END
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Option | |
|
|
Awards | |
Name |
|
(#)(1) | |
|
|
| |
Dr. Vasant H. Raval
|
|
|
|
|
Bill L. Fairfield
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. George F. Haddix
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
Elliot S. Kaplan
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
Dennis P. Walker
|
|
|
|
|
Anshoo Gupta
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Certain Board members have in the past received awards of
options under our 1997 Stock Option Plan, as amended. These
options were all granted prior to 2006, had a five-year term,
and vested on their respective grant dates. |
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER
PARTICIPATION
In 2006, the following individuals served as members of the
Compensation Committee: Bill L. Fairfield (Chair),
Dr. George F. Haddix and Dennis P. Walker. No member of the
Compensation Committee is or ever has been an executive officer
or employee of the Company (or any of its subsidiaries), and no
compensation committee interlocks existed during
fiscal year 2006.
21
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 |
|
|
23,050,772 |
(2) |
|
|
40.4 |
% |
|
5711 South 86th Circle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Omaha, Nebraska 68127
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cardinal Capital Management, LLC |
|
|
3,125,790 |
(3) |
|
|
5.5 |
% |
|
One Fawcet Place
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bill L. Fairfield
|
|
|
600 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Anshoo S. Gupta
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Dr. George F. Haddix
|
|
|
287,300 |
(4) |
|
|
* |
|
Elliot S. Kaplan
|
|
|
230,580 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Dr. Vasant H. Raval
|
|
|
10,000 |
(5) |
|
|
* |
|
Dennis P. Walker
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Bernard W. Reznicek
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Edward C. Mallin
|
|
|
100,608 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Stormy Dean
|
|
|
7,626 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Monica Messer
|
|
|
589,389 |
(6) |
|
|
1.0 |
% |
Fred Vakili
|
|
|
342,570 |
|
|
|
* |
|
All directors, nominees and executive officers as a group
(12 persons)
|
|
|
24,630,445 |
|
|
|
43.1 |
% |
|
|
(1) |
Includes the following shares that may be purchased within
60 days of the Record Date pursuant to the exercise of
outstanding options: Mr. Vinod Gupta,
1,074,992 shares; Dr. Haddix, 20,000 shares;
Mr. Kaplan, 20,000 shares; Mr. Mallin,
67,915 shares; Ms. Messer, 343,748 shares;
Mr. Vakili, 33,540 shares; and all directors and
executive officers as a group, 1,560,195 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 (17,965,924 shares); Vinod
Gupta 2004 Irrevocable Annuity Trust (597,799 shares);
Vinod Gupta 2006 Irrevocable Annuity Trust
(1,000,000 shares); Vinod Gupta Charitable Remainder Trust
(107,500 shares); Vinod Gupta Family Foundation
(200,000 shares); and irrevocable trusts for three adult
children (2,104,557 shares). Also includes
34,455 shares held by the Jess A. Gupta Revocable Trust,
with respect to which Vinod Gupta has shared voting and
dispositive powers, and 55,000 shares held by
Mr. Guptas spouse. Mr. Gupta disclaims
beneficial ownership of the shares held by the Vinod Gupta
Charitable Remainder 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. |
|
|
|
Of the foregoing total shares, Mr. Gupta has pledged a
total of 5,967,407 shares to secure repayment of loans from
unaffiliated lenders. |
|
|
(3) |
Based on information contained in a report on Form 13F that
Cardinal Capital Management, LLC filed with the SEC on
February 6, 2007, which contained information as of
December 31, 2006. |
22
|
|
(4) |
Includes 267,300 shares owned jointly by Dr. Haddix
with his spouse. |
|
(5) |
Includes 10,000 shares owned jointly by Dr. Raval with
his spouse. |
|
(6) |
Includes 10,633 shares owned by Ms. Messers
daughter. |
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
During 2006, prior to the acquisition of Opinion Research
Corporation by the Company, the Company purchased
33,000 shares of Opinion Research Corporation common stock
from the Vinod Gupta Revocable Trust for $236,231. Vinod Gupta
Revocable Trust is 100% owned by Vinod Gupta, the Companys
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. In addition,
the Company received a payment for $94,869 from the Vinod Gupta
Revocable Trust associated with gains the trust had previously
received on sale of Opinion Research Corporation common stock.
During 2006, the Company received a payment from the Vinod Gupta
Revocable Trust for $132,300 for reimbursement for short-swing
profits the trust had previously received on sale of the Company
common stock.
Laurel Gupta, the spouse of Vinod Gupta, is an employee of the
Company and received $159,996 in salary and compensation for
fiscal year 2006. 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.
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. The Company paid a total
of $1,092,211 to this law firm during 2006.
The Company has adopted a written policy that the Audit
Committee pre-approve all transactions between the Company and
our officers, directors, principal stockholders and their
affiliates that are over $120,000. Any transactions between the
Company and our officers, directors, principal stockholders and
their affiliates that are less than $120,000 are reviewed by the
Audit Committee but may be approved by the Companys Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief
Administrative Officer.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING
COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, 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, 2006, all Section 16(a) filing
requirements applicable to its officers, directors and 10%
stockholders were timely complied with, except that the
following reports were filed late: two Forms 4 reporting
stock option exercises for each of Fred Vakili and Dennis
Walker; two Forms 4 reporting multiple transactions for
Vinod Gupta not previously reported; and a Form 4 reporting
one transaction by each of Martin Kahn and Vinod Gupta.
23
PROPOSAL TWO
APPROVAL OF THE infoUSA Inc. 2007 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE
PLAN
This section provides a summary of the terms of the
infoUSA Inc. 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the 2007
Omnibus Incentive Plan) and the proposal to approve the
2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
The Board of Directors approved the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan
on April 20, 2007, subject to approval from our
stockholders at the Annual Meeting. We are asking our
stockholders to approve our 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan as we
believe that approval of the plan is essential to our continued
success. The purpose of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan is to
attract and retain highly qualified officers, directors, key
employees and other key individuals, and to motivate these
individuals to serve the Company and to expend maximum effort to
improve the business results and earnings of the Company by
providing these individuals an opportunity to acquire or
increase a direct proprietary interest in the operations and
future success of the Company. In the judgment of the Board of
Directors, an initial or increased grant under the 2007 Omnibus
Incentive Plan will be a valuable incentive and will serve to
the ultimate benefit of stockholders by aligning more closely
the interests of 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan participants with
those of our stockholders.
If our stockholders approve the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, the
number of shares of the Companys common stock reserved for
issuance under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan will equal
(i) the number of shares remaining available for issuance
under the Companys 1997 Option Plan, as amended (the
1997 Plan), which, as of the Record Date was
3,526,282 shares, plus (ii) any shares of common stock
that are subject to outstanding awards granted under the 1997
Plan that expire or are forfeited, canceled or settled for cash
after the effective date of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan
without delivery of shares of common stock. If our stockholders
approve the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, no further awards will
be made pursuant to the 1997 Plan.
On the Record Date, the closing price of the Companys
common stock was $10.14 per share.
Because participation and the types of awards under the 2007
Omnibus Incentive Plan are subject to the discretion of the
Compensation Committee, the benefits or amounts that will be
received by any participant or group of participants if the 2007
Omnibus Incentive Plan is approved are not currently
determinable. On the Record Date, there were approximately eight
executive officers, 3,869 employees and seven non-employee
directors of the Company and its subsidiaries who were eligible
to participate in the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote the
proxies received in favor of the proposal to approve the 2007
Omnibus Incentive Plan.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS
VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE
infoUSA Inc. 2007 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
Equity Compensation Plan Information
All of our outstanding options have been granted under the 1997
Plan, which was approved by our stockholders. The Company does
not have any warrants or stock appreciation rights outstanding.
The following table summarizes information about our equity
compensation plans at December 31, 2006:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of securities | |
|
|
Weighted-average | |
|
remaining available for | |
Number of securities to be issued | |
|
exercise price of | |
|
future issuance under | |
upon exercise of outstanding options | |
|
outstanding options | |
|
equity compensation plans | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
2,313,711 |
|
|
$ |
9.67 |
|
|
|
3,526,282 |
|
24
Description of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan
A description of the provisions of the 2007 Omnibus Incentive
Plan is set forth below. This summary is qualified in its
entirety by the detailed provisions of the 2007 Omnibus
Incentive Plan, a copy of which is attached as
Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.
Administration. The 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan is
administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors. Subject to the terms of the plan, the Compensation
Committee may select participants to receive awards, determine
the types of awards and terms and conditions of awards, and
interpret provisions of the plan. Members of the Compensation
Committee are appointed by the Board of Directors.
Common Stock Reserved for Issuance under the Plan. The
Companys common stock issued or to be issued under the
2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan consists of authorized but unissued
shares and treasury shares. If any shares covered by an award
are not purchased or are forfeited, or if an award otherwise
terminates without delivery of any common stock, then the number
of shares of common stock counted against the aggregate number
of shares available under the plan with respect to the award
will, to the extent of any such forfeiture or termination, again
be available for making awards under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive
Plan.
Eligibility. Awards may be made under the 2007 Omnibus
Incentive Plan to employees of or consultants to the Company or
any of our affiliates, including any such employee who is an
officer or director of the Company or of any affiliate, and to
any other individual whose participation in the plan is
determined to be in the best interests of the Company by the
Board of Directors.
Amendment or Termination of the Plan. The Board of
Directors may terminate or amend the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan
at any time and for any reason. The 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan
shall terminate, in any event, ten years after its effective
date. Amendments will be submitted for stockholder approval to
the extent required by the Internal Revenue Code or other
applicable laws, rules or regulations.
Options. The 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan permits the
granting of options to purchase shares of the Companys
common stock intended to qualify as incentive stock options
under the Internal Revenue Code and stock options that do not
qualify as incentive stock options.
The exercise price of each stock option may not be less than
100% of the fair market value of the Companys common stock
on the date of grant. The fair market value is generally
determined as the closing price of the common stock on the date
of grant. In the case of certain 10% stockholders who receive
incentive stock options, the exercise price may not be less than
110% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of
grant. An exception to these requirements is made for options
that the Company grants in substitution for options held by
employees of companies that the Company acquires. In such a case
the exercise price is adjusted to preserve the economic value of
the employees stock option from his or her former employer.
The term of each stock option is fixed by the Compensation
Committee and may not exceed 10 years from the date of
grant. The Compensation Committee determines at what time or
times each option may be exercised and the period of time, if
any, after retirement, death, disability or termination of
employment during which options may be exercised. Options may be
made exercisable in installments. The exercisability of options
may be accelerated by the Compensation Committee.
In general, an optionee may pay the exercise price of an option
by cash, certified check, by tendering shares of Companys
common stock, or by means of a broker-assisted cashless exercise.
No amendment or modification may be made to an outstanding stock
option or stock appreciation right that would be treated as a
repricing under the rules of the stock exchange on which the
shares of common stock are listed (currently the Nasdaq Global
Select Market), without the approval of the Companys
stockholders.
25
Stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under the
2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan may not be sold, transferred,
pledged or assigned other than by will or under applicable laws
of descent and distribution. However, the Company may permit
limited transfers of non-qualified options for the benefit of
immediate family members of grantees to help with estate
planning concerns.
Other Awards. The Compensation Committee may also award:
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shares of unrestricted stock, which are shares of common stock
at no cost or for a purchase price determined by the
Compensation Committee which are free from any restrictions
under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan. Unrestricted shares
of common stock may be issued to participants in recognition of
past services or other valid consideration, and may be issued in
lieu of cash compensation to be paid to participants; |
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restricted stock, which is shares of common stock subject to
restrictions; |
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stock units, which are common stock units subject to
restrictions; |
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dividend equivalent rights, which are rights entitling the
recipient to receive credits for dividends that would be paid if
the recipient had held a specified number of shares of common
stock; |
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stock appreciation rights, which are a right to receive a number
of shares or, in the discretion of the Compensation Committee,
an amount in cash or a combination of shares and cash, based on
the increase in the fair market value of the shares underlying
the right during a stated period specified by the Compensation
Committee; and |
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performance and annual incentive awards, ultimately payable in
common stock or cash, as determined by the Compensation
Committee. The Compensation Committee may grant multi-year and
annual incentive awards subject to achievement of specified
goals tied to business criteria (described below). The
Compensation Committee may specify the amount of the incentive
award as a percentage of these business criteria, a percentage
in excess of a threshold amount or as another amount which need
not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to these business
criteria. The Compensation Committee may modify, amend or adjust
the terms of each award and performance goal. Awards to
individuals who are covered under Section 162(m) of the
Internal Revenue Code, or who the Compensation Committee
designates as likely to be covered in the future, will comply
with the requirement that payments to such employees qualify as
performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the
Internal Revenue Code to the extent that the Compensation
Committee so designates. Such employees include the chief
executive officer and the four highest compensated executive
officers (other than the chief executive officer) determined at
the end of each year (the covered employees). |
Effect of Certain Corporate Transactions. Certain change
of control transactions involving the Company, such as a sale of
the Company, may cause awards granted under the 2007 Omnibus
Incentive Plan to vest, unless the awards are continued or
substituted for in connection with the change of control
transaction.
Adjustments for Stock Dividends and Similar Events. The
Compensation Committee will make appropriate adjustments in
outstanding awards and the number of shares available for
issuance under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, including the
individual limitations on awards, to reflect stock splits and
other similar events.
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code limits
publicly-held companies such as the Company to an annual
deduction for federal income tax purposes of $1 million for
compensation paid to their covered employees. However,
performance-based compensation is excluded from this limitation.
The 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan is designed to permit the
Compensation Committee to grant awards that qualify as
performance-based for purposes of satisfying the conditions of
Section 162(m).
26
To qualify as performance-based:
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(i) the compensation must be paid solely on account of the
attainment of one or more pre-established, objective performance
goals; |
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(ii) the performance goal under which compensation is paid
must be established by a compensation committee comprised solely
of two or more directors who qualify as outside directors for
purposes of the exception; |
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(iii) the material terms under which the compensation is to
be paid must be disclosed to and subsequently approved by
stockholders of the corporation before payment is made in a
separate vote; and |
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(iv) the compensation committee must certify in writing
before payment of the compensation that the performance goals
and any other material terms were in fact satisfied. |
In the case of compensation attributable to stock options, the
performance goal requirement (summarized in (i) above) is
deemed satisfied, and the certification requirement (summarized
in (iv) above) is inapplicable, if the grant or award is
made by the compensation committee; the plan under which the
option is granted states the maximum number of shares with
respect to which options may be granted during a specified
period to an employee; and under the terms of the option, the
amount of compensation is based solely on an increase in the
value of the common stock after the date of grant.
Under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, one or more of the
following business criteria, on a consolidated basis, and/or
with respect to specified subsidiaries or business units (except
with respect to the total stockholder return and earnings per
share criteria), are used exclusively by the Compensation
Committee in establishing performance goals:
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total stockholder return; |
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such total stockholder return as compared to total return (on a
comparable basis) of a publicly available index such as, but not
limited to, the Standard & Poors 500 Stock Index; |
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net income; |
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pretax earnings; |
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earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and
amortization; |
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pretax operating earnings after interest expense and before
bonuses, service fees and extraordinary or special items; |
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operating margin; |
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earnings per share; |
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return on equity; |
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return on capital; |
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return on investment; |
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operating earnings; |
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working capital; |
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ratio of debt to stockholders equity; |
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free cash flow (which is calculated by adding capital
expenditures to the cash flows from operating activities set
forth in the Companys consolidated cash flow
statement); and |
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revenue. |
27
Business criteria may be measured on an absolute or relative
basis and on a GAAP or non-GAAP basis.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, a director is an outside
director of the Company if he or she is not a current
employee of the Company; is not a former employee who receives
compensation for prior services (other than under a qualified
retirement plan); has not been an officer of the Company; and
does not receive, directly or indirectly (including amounts paid
to an entity that employs the director or in which the director
has at least a five percent ownership interest), remuneration
from the Company in any capacity other than as a director.
The maximum number of shares of the Companys common stock
subject to options or stock appreciation rights that can be
awarded under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan to any person is
1,000,000 per year. The maximum number of shares of common
stock that can be awarded under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan
to any person, other than pursuant to an option or stock
appreciation right, is 1,000,000 per year. The maximum
amount that may be earned as an annual incentive award or other
cash award in any fiscal year by any one person is $1,500,000,
and the maximum amount that may be earned as a performance award
or other cash award in respect of a performance period by any
one person is $4,500,000.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
Incentive Stock Options. The grant of an option will not
be a taxable event for the grantee or for the Company. A grantee
will not recognize taxable income upon exercise of an incentive
stock option (except that the alternative minimum tax may
apply), and any gain realized upon a disposition of the
Companys common stock received pursuant to the exercise of
an incentive stock option will be taxed as long-term capital
gain if the grantee holds the shares of common stock for at
least two years after the date of grant and for one year after
the date of exercise (the holding period
requirement). We will not be entitled to any business
expense deduction with respect to the exercise of an incentive
stock option, except as discussed below.
For the exercise of an option to qualify for the foregoing tax
treatment, the grantee generally must be our employee or an
employee of our subsidiary from the date the option is granted
through a date within three months before the date of exercise
of the option.
If all of the foregoing requirements are met except the holding
period requirement mentioned above, the grantee will recognize
ordinary income upon the disposition of the common stock in an
amount generally equal to the excess of the fair market value of
the common stock at the time the option was exercised over the
option exercise price (but not in excess of the gain realized on
the sale). The balance of the realized gain, if any, will be
capital gain. We will be allowed a business expense deduction to
the extent the grantee recognizes ordinary income, subject to
our compliance with Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code and to certain reporting requirements.
Non-Qualified Options. The grant of an option will not be
a taxable event for the grantee or the Company. Upon exercising
a non-qualified option, a grantee will recognize ordinary income
in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise price
and the fair market value of the common stock on the date of
exercise. Upon a subsequent sale or exchange of shares acquired
pursuant to the exercise of a non-qualified option, the grantee
will have taxable capital gain or loss, measured by the
difference between the amount realized on the disposition and
the tax basis of the shares of common stock (generally, the
amount paid for the shares plus the amount treated as ordinary
income at the time the option was exercised).
If we comply with applicable reporting requirements and with the
restrictions of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code, we will be entitled to a business expense deduction in the
same amount and generally at the same time as the grantee
recognizes ordinary income.
28
A grantee who has transferred a non-qualified stock option to a
family member by gift will realize taxable income at the time
the non-qualified stock option is exercised by the family
member. The grantee will be subject to withholding of income and
employment taxes at that time. The family members tax
basis in the shares of the Companys common stock will be
the fair market value of the shares of common stock on the date
the option is exercised. The transfer of vested non-qualified
stock options will be treated as a completed gift for gift and
estate tax purposes. Once the gift is completed, neither the
transferred options nor the shares acquired on exercise of the
transferred options will be includable in the grantees
estate for estate tax purposes.
In the event a grantee transfers a non-qualified stock option to
his or her ex-spouse incident to the grantees divorce,
neither the grantee nor the ex-spouse will recognize any taxable
income at the time of the transfer. In general, a transfer is
made incident to divorce if the transfer occurs
within one year after the marriage ends or if it is related to
the end of the marriage (for example, if the transfer is made
pursuant to a divorce order or settlement agreement). Upon the
subsequent exercise of such option by the ex-spouse, the
ex-spouse will recognize taxable income in an amount equal to
the difference between the exercise price and the fair market
value of the shares of common stock at the time of exercise. Any
distribution to the ex-spouse as a result of the exercise of the
option will be subject to employment and income tax withholding
at this time.
Restricted Stock. A grantee who is awarded restricted
stock will not recognize any taxable income for federal income
tax purposes in the year of the award, provided that the shares
of common stock are subject to restrictions (that is, the
restricted stock is nontransferable and subject to a substantial
risk of forfeiture). However, the grantee may elect under
Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code to recognize
compensation income in the year of the award in an amount equal
to the fair market value of the common stock on the date of the
award (less the purchase price, if any), determined without
regard to the restrictions. If the grantee does not make such a
Section 83(b) election, the fair market value of the common
stock on the date the restrictions lapse (less the purchase
price, if any) will be treated as compensation income to the
grantee and will be taxable in the year the restrictions lapse
and dividends paid while the common stock is subject to
restrictions will be subject to withholding taxes. If we comply
with applicable reporting requirements and with the restrictions
of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, we will be
entitled to a business expense deduction in the same amount and
generally at the same time as the grantee recognizes ordinary
income.
Stock Units. There are no immediate tax consequences of
receiving an award of stock units under the 2007 Omnibus
Incentive Plan. A grantee who is awarded stock units will be
required to recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the
fair market value of shares issued to such grantee at the end of
the restriction period or, if later, the payment date. If we
comply with applicable reporting requirements and with the
restrictions of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code, we will be entitled to a business expense deduction in the
same amount and generally at the same time as the grantee
recognizes ordinary income.
Dividend Equivalent Rights. Participants who receive
dividend equivalent rights will be required to recognize
ordinary income in an amount distributed to the grantee pursuant
to the award. If we comply with applicable reporting
requirements and with the restrictions of Section 162(m) of
the Internal Revenue Code, we will be entitled to a business
expense deduction in the same amount and generally at the same
time as the grantee recognizes ordinary income.
Stock Appreciation Rights. There are no immediate tax
consequences of receiving an award of stock appreciation rights
under the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan. Upon exercising a stock
appreciation right, a grantee will recognize ordinary income in
an amount equal to the difference between the exercise price and
the fair market value of the common stock on the date of
exercise. If we comply with applicable reporting requirements
and with the restrictions of Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code, we will be entitled to a business expense
deduction in the same amount and generally at the same time as
the grantee recognizes ordinary income.
29
Performance and Annual Incentive Awards. The award of a
performance or annual incentive award will have no federal
income tax consequences for us or for the grantee. The payment
of the award is taxable to a grantee as ordinary income. If we
comply with applicable reporting requirements and with the
restrictions of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code, we will be entitled to a business expense deduction in the
same amount and generally at the same time as the grantee
recognizes ordinary income.
Unrestricted Common Stock. Participants who are awarded
unrestricted common stock will be required to recognize ordinary
income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares
of common stock on the date of the award, reduced by the amount,
if any, paid for such shares. If we comply with applicable
reporting requirements and with the restrictions of
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, we will be
entitled to a business expense deduction in the same amount and
generally at the same time as the grantee recognizes ordinary
income.
Section 280(G). To the extent payments which are
contingent on a change in control are determined to exceed
certain Code limitations, they may be subject to a 20%
nondeductible excise tax and the Companys deduction with
respect to the associated compensation expense may be disallowed
in whole or in part.
Section 409A. The Company intends for awards granted
under the plan to comply with Section 409A of the Code. To
the extent a grantee would be subject to the additional 20%
excise tax imposed on certain nonqualified deferred compensation
plans as a result of a provision of an award under the plan, the
provision will be deemed amended to the minimum extent necessary
to avoid application of the 20% excise tax.
PROPOSAL THREE
RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF AUDITORS
KPMG LLP (KPMG) served as the Companys
independent auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2006, and has been selected as the Companys independent
auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007. 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.
The Audit Committee has the responsibility for selecting our
independent accountants, and stockholder ratification is not
required. However, the selection is being submitted for
ratification at the Annual Meeting with a view towards
soliciting the stockholders opinions, which the Audit
Committee will take into consideration in future deliberations.
If the selection of KPMG is not ratified at the Annual Meeting,
the Audit Committee will consider the engagement of other
independent accountants. The Audit Committee may terminate the
engagement of KPMG as the Companys independent accountants
without the approval of the stockholders, whenever in its sole
discretion the Audit Committee deems termination necessary or
appropriate.
30
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 2006 and 2005 annual financial
statements and for other professional services rendered by KPMG
in fiscal year 2006 and 2005.
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Fiscal Year | |
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Type of Fee |
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2006 | |
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2005 | |
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Audit Fees
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$ |
952,637 |
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$ |
737,770 |
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Audit-Related Fees(1)
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263,486 |
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227,779 |
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Tax Fees(2)
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67,397 |
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182,270 |
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All Other Fees
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Total fees
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$ |
1,283,520 |
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$ |
1,147,819 |
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(1) |
Audit-Related Fees consists of fees for statutory audits,
employee benefit plan audits, due diligence and assistance with
Form 8-K filings. |
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(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.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company
oversees 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 of Directors, 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.
31
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 of Directors include the audited consolidated financial
statements in the Companys Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2006 filed with the SEC.
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Audit Committee |
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Dr. Vasant H. Raval (Chair) |
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Bill L. Fairfield |
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Anshoo S. Gupta |
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Bernard W. Reznicek |
Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote the
proxies in favor of the proposal to ratify the selection of KPMG
LLP as auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2007.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE
FOR
THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF KPMG LLP AS AUDITORS FOR
THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2007
OTHER MATTERS
Except as described in this Proxy Statement, the Company knows
of no other matters to be submitted to the Annual Meeting. If
any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is
the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy card to
vote the shares they represent in their discretion.
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BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
Omaha, Nebraska
April 27, 2007
32
APPENDIX A
infoUSA INC.
2007 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
A-1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page | |
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1. |
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PURPOSE |
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A-5 |
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2. |
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DEFINITIONS |
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A-5 |
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3. |
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ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN |
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A-8 |
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3.1. Board |
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A-8 |
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3.2. Committee |
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A-8 |
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3.3. Terms of Awards |
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A-9 |
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3.4. Deferral Arrangement |
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A-9 |
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3.5. No Liability |
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A-9 |
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3.6. Share Issuance/ Book-Entry |
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A-9 |
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4. |
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STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN |
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A-10 |
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5. |
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EFFECTIVE DATE, DURATION AND AMENDMENTS |
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A-10 |
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5.1. Effective Date |
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A-10 |
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5.2. Term |
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A-10 |
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5.3. Amendment and Termination of
the Plan |
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A-10 |
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6. |
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AWARD ELIGIBILITY AND LIMITATIONS |
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A-10 |
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6.1. Service Providers and Other
Persons |
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A-10 |
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6.2. Successive Awards and
Substitute Awards |
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A-10 |
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6.3. Limitation on Shares of Stock
Subject to Awards and Cash Awards |
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A-11 |
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7. |
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AWARD AGREEMENT |
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A-11 |
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8. |
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS |
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A-11 |
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8.1. Option Price |
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A-11 |
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8.2. Vesting |
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A-11 |
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8.3. Term |
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A-11 |
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8.4. Termination of Service |
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A-12 |
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8.5. Limitations on Exercise of
Option |
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A-12 |
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8.6. Method of Exercise |
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A-12 |
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8.7. Rights of Holders of Options |
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A-12 |
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8.8. Delivery of Stock Certificates |
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A-12 |
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8.9. Transferability of Options |
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A-12 |
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8.10. Family Transfers |
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A-12 |
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8.11. Limitations on Incentive Stock Options |
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A-13 |
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9. |
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS |
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A-13 |
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9.1. Right to Payment and Grant
Price |
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A-13 |
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9.2. Other Terms |
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9.3. Term |
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9.4. Transferability of SARS |
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9.5. Family Transfers |
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10. |
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK AND STOCK UNITS |
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10.1. Grant of Restricted Stock or Stock Units |
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10.2. Restrictions |
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10.3. Restricted Stock Certificates |
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10.4. Rights of Holders of Restricted Stock |
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10.5. Rights of Holders of Stock Units |
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10.5.1. Voting and Dividend Rights |
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10.5.2. Creditors Rights |
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10.6. Termination of Service |
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10.7. Purchase of Restricted Stock |
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10.8. Delivery of Stock |
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11. |
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS |
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12. |
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FORM OF PAYMENT FOR OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED STOCK |
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12.1. General Rule |
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12.2. Surrender of Stock |
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12.3. Cashless Exercise |
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12.4. Other Forms of Payment |
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13. |
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS |
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13.1. Dividend Equivalent Rights |
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13.2. Termination of Service |
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14. |
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PERFORMANCE AND ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS |
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14.1. Performance Conditions |
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14.2. Performance or Annual Incentive Awards
Granted to Designated Covered Employees |
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14.2.1. Performance Goals Generally |
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14.2.2. Business Criteria |
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14.2.3. Timing For Establishing Performance
Goals |
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14.2.4. Settlement of Performance or Annual
Incentive Awards; Other Terms |
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14.3. Written Determinations |
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14.4. Status of Section 14.2 Awards Under
Code Section 162(m) |
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15. |
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PARACHUTE LIMITATIONS |
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16. |
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REQUIREMENTS OF LAW |
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16.1. General |
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16.2. Rule 16b-3 |
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17. |
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EFFECT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION |
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17.1. Changes in Stock |
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17.2. Reorganization in Which the Company Is
the Surviving Entity Which does
not Constitute a
Corporate Transaction |
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17.3. Corporate Transaction |
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17.4. Adjustments |
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17.5. No Limitations on Company |
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18. |
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GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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18.1. Disclaimer of Rights |
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18.2. Nonexclusivity of the Plan |
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18.3. Withholding Taxes |
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18.4. Captions |
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18.5. Other Provisions |
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18.6. Number and Gender |
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18.7. Severability |
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18.8. Governing Law |
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18.9. Section 409A of the Code |
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A-4
infoUSA Inc.
2007 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
infoUSA Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
Company), sets forth herein the terms of its 2007
Omnibus Incentive Plan (the Plan), as follows:
The Plan is intended to enhance the Companys and its
Affiliates (as defined herein) ability to attract and
retain highly qualified officers, directors, key employees, and
other persons, and to motivate such persons to serve the Company
and its Affiliates and to expend maximum effort to improve the
business results and earnings of the Company, by providing to
such persons an opportunity to acquire or increase a direct
proprietary interest in the operations and future success of the
Company. To this end, the Plan provides for the grant of stock
options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock
units, unrestricted stock, dividend equivalent rights and cash
awards. Any of these awards may, but need not, be made as
performance incentives to reward attainment of annual or
long-term performance goals in accordance with the terms hereof.
Stock options granted under the Plan may be non-qualified stock
options or incentive stock options, as provided herein.
For purposes of interpreting the Plan and related documents
(including Award Agreements), the following definitions shall
apply:
2.1 Affiliate
means, with respect to the Company, any company or other trade
or business that controls, is controlled by or is under common
control with the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 of
Regulation C under the Securities Act, including, without
limitation, any Subsidiary.
2.2 Annual Incentive
Award means an Award made subject to attainment of
performance goals (as described in Section 14) over
a performance period of up to one year (the Companys
fiscal year, unless otherwise specified by the Committee).
2.3 Award means
a grant of an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted
Stock, Unrestricted Stock, Stock Unit, Dividend Equivalent
Rights, or cash award under the Plan.
2.4 Award
Agreement means the written agreement between the
Company and a Grantee that evidences and sets out the terms and
conditions of an Award.
2.5 Benefit
Arrangement shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 15 hereof.
2.6 Board means
the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.7 Cause means,
as determined by the Board and unless otherwise provided in an
applicable agreement with the Company or an Affiliate,
(i) gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection
with the performance of duties; (ii) conviction of a
criminal offense (other than minor traffic offenses); or
(iii) material breach of any term of any employment,
consulting or other services, confidentiality, intellectual
property or non-competition agreements, if any, between the
Service Provider and the Company or an Affiliate.
2.8 Code means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now in effect or as
hereafter amended.
2.9 Committee
means a committee of, and designated from time to time by
resolution of, the Board, which shall be constituted as provided
in Section 3.2.
2.10 Company
means infoUSA, Inc.
A-5
2.11 Corporate
Transaction means (i) the dissolution or
liquidation of the Company or a merger, consolidation, or
reorganization of the Company with one or more other entities in
which the Company is not the surviving entity, (ii) a sale
of substantially all of the assets of the Company to another
person or entity, or (iii) any transaction (including
without limitation a merger or reorganization in which the
Company is the surviving entity) which results in any person or
entity (other than persons who are stockholders or Affiliates
immediately prior to the transaction) owning 50% or more of the
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company.
2.12 Covered
Employee means a Grantee who is a covered employee
within the meaning of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code.
2.13 Disability
means the Grantee is unable to perform each of the essential
duties of such Grantees position by reason of a medically
determinable physical or mental impairment which is potentially
permanent in character or which can be expected to last for a
continuous period of not less than 12 months; provided,
however, that, with respect to rules regarding expiration of an
Incentive Stock Option following termination of the
Grantees Service, Disability shall mean the Grantee is
unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason
of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which
can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be
expected to last for a continuous period of not less than
12 months.
2.14 Dividend Equivalent
Right means a right, granted to a Grantee under
Section 13 hereof, to receive cash, Stock, other
Awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with
respect to a specified number of shares of Stock, or other
periodic payments.
2.15 Effective
Date means June 7, 2007, the date the Plan is
approved by the Companys stockholders.
2.16 Exchange
Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as now
in effect or as hereafter amended.
2.17 Fair Market
Value means the value of a share of Stock, determined
as follows: if on the Grant Date or other determination date the
Stock is listed on an established national or regional stock
exchange, is admitted to quotation on The Nasdaq Stock Market,
Inc. or is publicly traded on an established securities market,
the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing
price of the Stock on such exchange or in such market (if there
is more than one such exchange or market the Board shall
determine the appropriate exchange or market) on the Grant Date
or such other determination date (or if there is no such
reported closing price, the Fair Market Value shall be the mean
between the highest bid and lowest asked prices or between the
high and low sale prices on such trading day) or, if no sale of
Stock is reported for such trading day, on the next preceding
day on which any sale shall have been reported. If the Stock is
not listed on such an exchange, quoted on such system or traded
on such a market, Fair Market Value shall be the value of the
Stock as determined by the Board in good faith in a manner
consistent with Code Section 409A.
2.18 Family
Member means a person who is a spouse, former spouse,
child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent,
niece, nephew,
mother-in-law,
father-in-law,
son-in-law,
daughter-in-law,
brother, sister,
brother-in-law, or
sister-in-law,
including adoptive relationships, of the Grantee, any person
sharing the Grantees household (other than a tenant or
employee), a trust in which any one or more of these persons
have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest, a
foundation in which any one or more of these persons (or the
Grantee) control the management of assets, and any other entity
in which one or more of these persons (or the Grantee) own more
than fifty percent of the voting interests.
2.19 Grant Date
means, as determined by the Board, the latest to occur of
(i) the date as of which the Board approves an Award,
(ii) the date on which the recipient of an Award first
becomes eligible to receive an Award under Section 6
hereof, or (iii) such other date as may be specified by
the Board.
A-6
2.20 Grantee
means a person who receives or holds an Award under the Plan.
2.21 Incentive Stock
Option means an incentive stock option
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, or the
corresponding provision of any subsequently enacted tax statute,
as amended from time to time.
2.22 Non-qualified Stock
Option means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock
Option.
2.23 Option
means an option to purchase one or more shares of Stock pursuant
to the Plan.
2.24 Option
Price means the exercise price for each share of Stock
subject to an Option.
2.25 Other
Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 15 hereof.
2.26 Outside
Director means a member of the Board who is not an
officer or employee of the Company.
2.27 Performance
Award means an Award made subject to the attainment of
performance goals (as described in Section 14) over
a performance period of up to ten (10) years.
2.28 Plan means
this infoUSA Inc. 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
2.29 Purchase
Price means the purchase price for each share of Stock
pursuant to a grant of Restricted Stock or Unrestricted Stock.
2.30 Reporting
Person means a person who is required to file reports
under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.
2.31 Restricted
Stock means shares of Stock, awarded to a Grantee
pursuant to Section 10 hereof.
2.32 SAR Exercise
Price means the per share exercise price of an SAR
granted to a Grantee under Section 9 hereof.
2.33 Securities
Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as now in effect
or as hereafter amended.
2.34 Service
means service as a Service Provider to the Company or an
Affiliate. Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award
Agreement, a Grantees change in position or duties shall
not result in interrupted or terminated Service, so long as such
Grantee continues to be a Service Provider to the Company or an
Affiliate. Subject to the preceding sentence, whether a
termination of Service shall have occurred for purposes of the
Plan shall be determined by the Board, which determination shall
be final, binding and conclusive.
2.35 Service
Provider means an employee, officer or director of the
Company or an Affiliate, or a consultant or adviser currently
providing services to the Company or an Affiliate.
2.36 Stock means
the common stock, par value $.0025 per share, of the
Company.
2.37 Stock Appreciation
Right or SAR means a right granted
to a Grantee under Section 9 hereof.
2.38 Stock Unit
means a bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent of one
share of Stock awarded to a Grantee pursuant to
Section 10 hereof.
2.39 Subsidiary
means any subsidiary corporation of the Company
within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.
A-7
2.40 Substitute
Awards means Awards granted upon assumption of, or in
substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a
company or other entity acquired by the Company or any Affiliate
or with which the Company or any Affiliate combines.
2.41 Ten Percent
Stockholder means an individual who owns more than ten
percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes
of outstanding stock of the Company, its parent or any of its
Subsidiaries. In determining stock ownership, the attribution
rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall be applied.
2.42 Unrestricted
Stock means an Award pursuant to Section 11
hereof.
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3. |
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN |
3.1. Board
The Board shall have such powers and authorities related to the
administration of the Plan as are consistent with the
Companys certificate of incorporation and by-laws and
applicable law. The Board shall have full power and authority to
take all actions and to make all determinations required or
provided for under the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement,
and shall have full power and authority to take all such other
actions and make all such other determinations not inconsistent
with the specific terms and provisions of the Plan that the
Board deems to be necessary or appropriate to the administration
of the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement. All such actions
and determinations shall be by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the members of the Board present at a meeting or by
unanimous consent of the Board executed in writing in accordance
with the Companys certificate of incorporation and by-laws
and applicable law. The interpretation and construction by the
Board of any provision of the Plan, any Award or any Award
Agreement shall be final, binding and conclusive.
3.2. Committee.
The Board from time to time may delegate to the Committee such
powers and authorities related to the administration and
implementation of the Plan, as set forth in Section 3.1
above and other applicable provisions, as the Board shall
determine, consistent with the certificate of incorporation and
by-laws of the Company and applicable law.
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(i) Except as provided in Subsection (ii) and
except as the Board may otherwise determine, the Committee, if
any, appointed by the Board to administer the Plan shall consist
of two or more Outside Directors of the Company who:
(a) qualify as outside directors within the
meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and who (b) meet
such other requirements as may be established from time to time
by the Securities and Exchange Commission for plans intended to
qualify for exemption under
Rule 16b-3 (or its
successor) under the Exchange Act and who (c) comply with
the independence requirements of the stock exchange on which the
Common Stock is listed. |
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(ii) The Board may also appoint one or more separate
committees of the Board, each composed of one or more directors
of the Company who need not be Outside Directors, who may
administer the Plan with respect to employees or other Service
Providers who are not officers or directors of the Company, may
grant Awards under the Plan to such employees or other Service
Providers, and may determine all terms of such Awards. |
In the event that the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement
entered into hereunder provides for any action to be taken by or
determination to be made by the Board, such action may be taken
or such determination may be made by the Committee if the power
and authority to do so has been delegated to the Committee by
the Board as provided for in this Section. Unless otherwise
expressly determined by the Board, any such action or
determination by the Committee shall be final, binding and
conclusive. To the extent permitted by law, the Committee may
delegate its authority under the Plan to a member of the Board.
A-8
3.3. Terms of Awards.
Subject to the other terms and conditions of the Plan, the Board
shall have full and final authority to:
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(i) designate Grantees, |
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(ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be made to a
Grantee, |
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(iii) determine the number of shares of Stock to be subject
to an Award, |
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(iv) establish the terms and conditions of each Award
(including, but not limited to, the exercise price of any
Option, the nature and duration of any restriction or condition
(or provision for lapse thereof) relating to the vesting,
exercise, transfer, or forfeiture of an Award or the shares of
Stock subject thereto, and any terms or conditions that may be
necessary to qualify Options as Incentive Stock Options), |
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(v) prescribe the form of each Award Agreement evidencing
an Award, and |
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(vi) amend, modify, or supplement the terms of any
outstanding Award. Such authority specifically includes the
authority, in order to effectuate the purposes of the Plan but
without amending the Plan, to modify Awards to eligible
individuals who are foreign nationals or are individuals who are
employed outside the United States to recognize differences in
local law, tax policy, or custom. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
no amendment, modification or supplement of any Award shall,
without the consent of the Grantee, impair the Grantees
rights under such Award. |
The Company may retain the right in an Award Agreement to cause
a forfeiture of the gain realized by a Grantee on account of
actions taken by the Grantee in violation or breach of or in
conflict with any employment agreement, non-competition
agreement, any agreement prohibiting solicitation of employees
or clients of the Company or any Affiliate thereof or any
confidentiality obligation with respect to the Company or any
Affiliate thereof or otherwise in competition with the Company
or any Affiliate thereof, to the extent specified in such Award
Agreement applicable to the Grantee. Furthermore, the Company
may annul an Award if the Grantee is an employee of the Company
or an Affiliate thereof and is terminated for Cause as defined
in the applicable Award Agreement or the Plan, as applicable.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification may
be made to an outstanding Option or SAR that would be treated as
a repricing under the rules of the stock exchange on which the
Stock is listed, without the approval of the stockholders of the
Company.
3.4. Deferral Arrangement.
The Board may permit or require the deferral of any award
payment into a deferred compensation arrangement, subject to
such rules and procedures as it may establish, which may include
provisions for the payment or crediting of interest or dividend
equivalents, including converting such credits into deferred
Stock equivalents, restricting deferrals to comply with hardship
distribution rules affecting 401(k) plans. Any such deferrals
shall be made in a manner that complies with Code
Section 409A.
3.5. No Liability.
No member of the Board or of the Committee shall be liable for
any action or determination made in good faith with respect to
the Plan or any Award or Award Agreement.
3.6. Share Issuance/ Book-Entry
Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, the
issuance of the Stock under the Plan may be evidenced in such a
manner as the Board, in its discretion, deems appropriate,
including, without limitation, book-entry registration or
issuance of one or more Stock certificates.
A-9
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4. |
STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN |
Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 17
hereof, the number of shares of Stock available for issuance
under the Plan shall be (i) the number of shares remaining
available for issuance under the Companys 1997
Class A Common Stock Option Plan (the Prior
Plan) as of the Effective Date, and (ii) shares of
Stock that are subject to outstanding awards granted under the
Prior Plan that expire or are forfeited, canceled or settled for
cash after the Effective Date without delivery of shares of
Stock. Stock issued or to be issued under the Plan shall be
authorized but unissued shares; or, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, issued shares that have been reacquired by the
Company. If any shares covered by an Award are not purchased or
are forfeited, or if an Award otherwise terminates without
delivery of any Stock subject thereto, then the number of shares
of Stock counted against the aggregate number of shares
available under the Plan with respect to such Award shall, to
the extent of any such forfeiture or termination, again be
available for making Awards under the Plan. The number of shares
available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the
number of shares subject to SARs.
The Board shall have the right to substitute or assume Awards in
connection with mergers, reorganizations, separations, or other
transactions to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies.
The number of shares of Stock reserved pursuant to
Section 4 may be increased by the corresponding
number of Awards assumed and, in the case of a substitution, by
the net increase in the number of shares of Stock subject to
Awards before and after the substitution.
5. EFFECTIVE DATE, DURATION AND
AMENDMENTS
5.1. Effective Date.
The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date. After the
Effective Date, no further awards will be made under the Prior
Plan.
5.2. Term.
The Plan shall terminate automatically ten (10) years after
the Effective Date and may be terminated on any earlier date as
provided in Section 5.3.
5.3. Amendment and Termination of the Plan
The Board may, at any time and from time to time, amend,
suspend, or terminate the Plan as to any shares of Stock as to
which Awards have not been made. An amendment shall be
contingent on approval of the Companys stockholders to the
extent stated by the Board, required by applicable law or
required by applicable stock exchange listing requirements. No
Awards shall be made after termination of the Plan. No
amendment, suspension, or termination of the Plan shall, without
the consent of the Grantee, impair rights or obligations under
any Award theretofore awarded under the Plan.
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6. |
AWARD ELIGIBILITY AND LIMITATIONS |
6.1. Service Providers and Other Persons
Subject to this Section 6, Awards may be made under
the Plan to: (i) any Service Provider to the Company or of
any Affiliate, including any Service Provider who is an officer
or director of the Company, or of any Affiliate, as the Board
shall determine and designate from time to time and
(ii) any other individual whose participation in the Plan
is determined to be in the best interests of the Company by the
Board.
6.2. Successive Awards and Substitute Awards.
An eligible person may receive more than one Award, subject to
such restrictions as are provided herein. Notwithstanding
Sections 8.1 and 9.1, the Option Price of an
Option or the grant price of an SAR
A-10
that is a Substitute Award may be less than 100% of the Fair
Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the original date of
grant; provided, that, the Option Price or grant price is
determined in accordance with the principles of Code
Section 424 and the regulations thereunder.
6.3. Limitation on Shares of Stock Subject to
Awards and Cash Awards.
During any time when the Company has a class of equity security
registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act:
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(i) the maximum number of shares of Stock subject to
Options or SARs that can be awarded under the Plan to any person
eligible for an Award under Section 6 hereof is one
million (1,000,000) per calendar year; |
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(ii) the maximum number of shares that can be awarded under
the Plan, other than pursuant to an Option or SARs, to any
person eligible for an Award under Section 6 hereof
is one million (1,000,000) per calendar year; and |
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(iii) the maximum amount that may be earned as an Annual
Incentive Award or other cash Award in any calendar year by any
one Grantee shall be $1,500,000 and the maximum amount that may
be earned as a Performance Award or other cash Award in respect
of a performance period by any one Grantee shall be $4,500,000. |
The preceding limitations in this Section 6.3 are
subject to adjustment as provided in Section 17
hereof.
Each Award granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by an
Award Agreement, in such form or forms as the Board shall from
time to time determine. Award Agreements granted from time to
time or at the same time need not contain similar provisions but
shall be consistent with the terms of the Plan. Each Award
Agreement evidencing an Award of Options shall specify whether
such Options are intended to be Non-qualified Stock Options or
Incentive Stock Options, and in the absence of such
specification such options shall be deemed Non-qualified Stock
Options.
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8. |
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS |
8.1. Option Price
The Option Price of each Option shall be fixed by the Board and
stated in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option. The Option
Price of each Option shall be at least the Fair Market Value on
the Grant Date of a share of Stock; provided,
however, that in the event that a Grantee is a Ten
Percent Stockholder, the Option Price of an Option granted to
such Grantee that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option
shall be not less than 110 percent of the Fair Market Value
of a share of Stock on the Grant Date. In no case shall the
Option Price of any Option be less than the par value of a share
of Stock.
8.2. Vesting.
Subject to Sections 8.3 and 17.3 hereof, each Option
granted under the Plan shall become exercisable at such times
and under such conditions as shall be determined by the Board
and stated in the Award Agreement. For purposes of this
Section 8.2, fractional numbers of shares of Stock
subject to an Option shall be rounded down to the next nearest
whole number.
8.3. Term.
Each Option granted under the Plan shall terminate, and all
rights to purchase shares of Stock thereunder shall cease, upon
the expiration of ten years from the date such Option is
granted, or under
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such circumstances and on such date prior thereto as is set
forth in the Plan or as may be fixed by the Board and stated in
the Award Agreement relating to such Option; provided,
however, that in the event that the Grantee is a Ten
Percent Stockholder, an Option granted to such Grantee that is
intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall not be
exercisable after the expiration of five years from its Grant
Date.
8.4. Termination of Service.
Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the
Grantee shall have the right to exercise the Option following
termination of the Grantees Service. Such provisions shall
be determined in the sole discretion of the Board, need not be
uniform among all Options issued pursuant to the Plan, and may
reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of
Service.
8.5. Limitations on Exercise of Option.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in no event may
any Option be exercised, in whole or in part, prior to the date
the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company as
provided herein or after the occurrence of an event referred to
in Section 17 hereof which results in termination of
the Option.
8.6. Method of Exercise.
An Option that is exercisable may be exercised by the
Grantees delivery to the Company of written notice of
exercise on any business day, at the Companys principal
office, on the form specified by the Company. Such notice shall
specify the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the
Option is being exercised and shall be accompanied by payment in
full of the Option Price of the shares for which the Option is
being exercised plus the amount (if any) of federal and/or other
taxes which the Company may, in its judgment, be required to
withhold with respect to an Award. The minimum number of shares
of Stock with respect to which an Option may be exercised, in
whole or in part, at any time shall be the lesser of
(i) 100 shares or such lesser number set forth in the
applicable Award Agreement and (ii) the maximum number of
shares available for purchase under the Option at the time of
exercise.
8.7. Rights of Holders of Options
Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, an
individual holding or exercising an Option shall have none of
the rights of a stockholder (for example, the right to receive
cash or dividend payments or distributions attributable to the
subject shares of Stock or to direct the voting of the subject
shares of Stock) until the shares of Stock covered thereby are
fully paid and issued to him. Except as provided in
Section 17 hereof, no adjustment shall be made for
dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record
date is prior to the date of such issuance.
8.8. Delivery of Stock Certificates.
Promptly after the exercise of an Option by a Grantee and the
payment in full of the Option Price, such Grantee shall be
entitled to the issuance of a stock certificate or certificates
evidencing his or her ownership of the shares of Stock subject
to the Option.
8.9. Transferability of Options
Except as provided in Section 8.10, during the
lifetime of a Grantee, only the Grantee (or, in the event of
legal incapacity or incompetency, the Grantees guardian or
legal representative) may exercise an Option. Except as provided
in Section 8.10, no Option shall be assignable or
transferable by the Grantee to whom it is granted, other than by
will or the laws of descent and distribution.
8.10. Family Transfers.
If authorized in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee may
transfer, not for value, all or part of an Option which is not
an Incentive Stock Option to any Family Member. For the purpose
of this
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Section 8.10, a not for value transfer
is a transfer which is (i) a gift, (ii) a transfer
under a domestic relations order in settlement of marital
property rights; or (iii) a transfer to an entity in which
more than fifty percent of the voting interests are owned by
Family Members (or the Grantee) in exchange for an interest in
that entity. Following a transfer under this
Section 8.10, any such Option shall continue to be
subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable
immediately prior to transfer. Subsequent transfers of
transferred Options are prohibited except to Family Members of
the original Grantee in accordance with this
Section 8.10 or by will or the laws of descent and
distribution. The events of termination of Service of
Section 8.4 hereof shall continue to be applied with
respect to the original Grantee, following which the Option
shall be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent, and
for the periods specified, in Section 8.4.
8.11. Limitations on Incentive Stock Options.
An Option shall constitute an Incentive Stock Option only
(i) if the Grantee of such Option is an employee of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; (ii) to the
extent specifically provided in the related Award Agreement; and
(iii) to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value
(determined at the time the Option is granted) of the shares of
Stock with respect to which all Incentive Stock Options held by
such Grantee become exercisable for the first time during any
calendar year (under the Plan and all other plans of the
Grantees employer and its Affiliates) does not exceed
$100,000. This limitation shall be applied by taking Options
into account in the order in which they were granted.
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9. |
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS |
9.1. Right to Payment and Grant Price.
A SAR shall confer on the Grantee to whom it is granted a right
to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the
Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of exercise
over (B) the grant price of the SAR as determined by the
Board. The Award Agreement for a SAR shall specify the grant
price of the SAR, which shall be at least the Fair Market Value
of a share of Stock on the date of grant. SARs may be granted in
conjunction with all or part of an Option granted under the Plan
or at any subsequent time during the term of such Option, in
conjunction with all or part of any other Award or without
regard to any Option or other Award; provided that an SAR that
is granted subsequent to the Grant Date of a related Option must
have an SAR Price that is no less than the Fair Market Value of
one share of Stock on the SAR Grant Date.
9.2. Other Terms.
The Board shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter,
the time or times at which and the circumstances under which an
SAR may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on
achievement of performance goals and/or future service
requirements), the time or times at which SARs shall cease to be
or become exercisable following termination of Service or upon
other conditions, the method of exercise, method of settlement,
form of consideration payable in settlement, method by or forms
in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to
Grantees, whether or not an SAR shall be in tandem or in
combination with any other Award, and any other terms and
conditions of any SAR.
9.3. Term.
Each SAR granted under the Plan shall terminate, and all rights
to purchase shares of Stock thereunder shall cease, upon the
expiration of ten years from the date such SAR is granted, or
under such circumstances and on such date prior thereto as is
set forth in the Plan or as may be fixed by the Board and stated
in the Award Agreement relating to such SAR.
9.4. Transferability of SARS
Except as provided in Section 9.5, during the
lifetime of a Grantee, only the Grantee (or, in the event of
legal incapacity or incompetency, the Grantees guardian or
legal representative) may exercise a SAR.
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Except as provided in Section 9.5, no SAR shall be
assignable or transferable by the Grantee to whom it is granted,
other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
9.5. Family Transfers.
If authorized in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee may
transfer, not for value, all or part of a SAR to any Family
Member. For the purpose of this Section 9.5, a
not for value transfer is a transfer which is
(i) a gift, (ii) a transfer under a domestic relations
order in settlement of marital property rights; or (iii) a
transfer to an entity in which more than fifty percent of the
voting interests are owned by Family Members (or the Grantee) in
exchange for an interest in that entity. Following a transfer
under this Section 9.5, any such SAR shall continue
to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were
applicable immediately prior to transfer. Subsequent transfers
of transferred SARs are prohibited except to Family Members of
the original Grantee in accordance with this Section 9.5
or by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
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10. |
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK AND STOCK UNITS |
10.1. Grant of Restricted Stock or Stock Units.
Awards of Restricted Stock or Stock Units may be made for no
consideration (other than par value of the shares which is
deemed paid by Services already rendered).
10.2. Restrictions.
At the time a grant of Restricted Stock or Stock Units is made,
the Board may, in its sole discretion, establish a period of
time (a restricted period) applicable to such
Restricted Stock or Stock Units. Each Award of Restricted Stock
or Stock Units may be subject to a different restricted period.
The Board may, in its sole discretion, at the time a grant of
Restricted Stock or Stock Units is made, prescribe restrictions
in addition to or other than the expiration of the restricted
period, including the satisfaction of corporate or individual
performance objectives, which may be applicable to all or any
portion of the Restricted Stock or Stock Units in accordance
with Section 14.1 and 14.2. Neither
Restricted Stock nor Stock Units may be sold, transferred,
assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of during
the restricted period or prior to the satisfaction of any other
restrictions prescribed by the Board with respect to such
Restricted Stock or Stock Units.
10.3. Restricted Stock Certificates.
The Company shall issue, in the name of each Grantee to whom
Restricted Stock has been granted, stock certificates
representing the total number of shares of Restricted Stock
granted to the Grantee, as soon as reasonably practicable after
the Grant Date. The Board may provide in an Award Agreement that
either (i) the Secretary of the Company shall hold such
certificates for the Grantees benefit until such time as
the Restricted Stock is forfeited to the Company or the
restrictions lapse, or (ii) such certificates shall be
delivered to the Grantee, provided, however, that
such certificates shall bear a legend or legends that comply
with the applicable securities laws and regulations and makes
appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed under the Plan
and the Award Agreement.
10.4. Rights of Holders of Restricted Stock.
Unless the Board otherwise provides in an Award Agreement,
holders of Restricted Stock shall have the right to vote such
Stock and the right to receive any dividends declared or paid
with respect to such Stock. The Board may provide that any
dividends paid on Restricted Stock must be reinvested in shares
of Stock, which may or may not be subject to the same vesting
conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock.
All distributions, if any, received by a Grantee with respect to
Restricted Stock as a result of any stock split, stock dividend,
combination of shares, or other similar transaction shall be
subject to the restrictions applicable to the original Grant.
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10.5. Rights of Holders of Stock Units.
10.5.1. Voting and Dividend Rights.
Holders of Stock Units shall have no rights as stockholders of
the Company. The Board may provide in an Award Agreement
evidencing a grant of Stock Units that the holder of such Stock
Units shall be entitled to receive, upon the Companys
payment of a cash dividend on its outstanding Stock, a cash
payment for each Stock Unit held equal to the per-share dividend
paid on the Stock. Such Award Agreement may also provide that
such cash payment will be deemed reinvested in additional Stock
Units at a price per unit equal to the Fair Market Value of a
share of Stock on the date that such dividend is paid.
10.5.2. Creditors Rights.
A holder of Stock Units shall have no rights other than those of
a general creditor of the Company. Stock Units represent an
unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, subject to the
terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement.
10.6. Termination of Service.
Unless the Board otherwise provides in an Award Agreement or in
writing after the Award Agreement is issued, upon the
termination of a Grantees Service, any Restricted Stock or
Stock Units held by such Grantee that have not vested, or with
respect to which all applicable restrictions and conditions have
not lapsed, shall immediately be deemed forfeited. Upon
forfeiture of Restricted Stock or Stock Units, the Grantee shall
have no further rights with respect to such Award, including but
not limited to any right to vote Restricted Stock or any right
to receive dividends with respect to shares of Restricted Stock
or Stock Units.
10.7. Purchase of Restricted Stock.
The Grantee shall be required, to the extent required by
applicable law, to purchase the Restricted Stock from the
Company at a Purchase Price equal to the greater of (i) the
aggregate par value of the shares of Stock represented by such
Restricted Stock or (ii) the Purchase Price, if any,
specified in the Award Agreement relating to such Restricted
Stock. The Purchase Price shall be payable in a form described
in Section 12 or, in the discretion of the Board, in
consideration for past Services rendered to the Company or an
Affiliate.
10.8. Delivery of Stock.
Upon the expiration or termination of any restricted period and
the satisfaction of any other conditions prescribed by the
Board, the restrictions applicable to shares of Restricted Stock
or Stock Units settled in Stock shall lapse, and, unless
otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, a stock certificate
for such shares shall be delivered, free of all such
restrictions, to the Grantee or the Grantees beneficiary
or estate, as the case may be. Neither the Grantee, nor the
Grantees beneficiary or estate, shall have any further
rights with regard to a Stock Unit once the share of Stock
represented by the Stock Unit has been delivered.
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11. |
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS |
The Board may, in its sole discretion, grant (or sell at par
value or such other higher purchase price determined by the
Board) an Unrestricted Stock Award to any Grantee pursuant to
which such Grantee may receive shares of Stock free of any
restrictions (Unrestricted Stock) under the Plan.
Unrestricted Stock Awards may be granted or sold as described in
the preceding sentence in respect of past services and other
valid consideration, or in lieu of, or in addition to, any cash
compensation due to such Grantee.
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12. |
FORM OF PAYMENT FOR OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED STOCK |
12.1. General Rule.
Payment of the Option Price for the shares purchased pursuant to
the exercise of an Option or the Purchase Price for Restricted
Stock shall be made in cash or in cash equivalents acceptable to
the Company.
12.2. Surrender of Stock.
To the extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the
Option Price for shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an
Option or the Purchase Price for Restricted Stock may be made
all or in part through the tender to the Company of shares of
Stock, which shall be valued, for purposes of determining the
extent to which the Option Price or Purchase Price has been paid
thereby, at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise or
surrender.
12.3. Cashless Exercise.
With respect to an Option only (and not with respect to
Restricted Stock), to the extent permitted by law and to the
extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option
Price for shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option
may be made all or in part by delivery (on a form acceptable to
the Board) of an irrevocable direction to a licensed securities
broker acceptable to the Company to sell shares of Stock and to
deliver all or part of the sales proceeds to the Company in
payment of the Option Price and any withholding taxes described
in Section 18.3.
12.4. Other Forms of Payment.
To the extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the
Option Price for shares purchased pursuant to exercise of an
Option or the Purchase Price for Restricted Stock may be made in
any other form that is consistent with applicable laws,
regulations and rules.
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13. |
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS |
13.1. Dividend Equivalent Rights.
A Dividend Equivalent Right is an Award entitling the recipient
to receive credits based on cash distributions that would have
been paid on the shares of Stock specified in the Dividend
Equivalent Right (or other award to which it relates) if such
shares had been issued to and held by the recipient. A Dividend
Equivalent Right may be granted hereunder to any Grantee. The
terms and conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be
specified in the grant. Dividend equivalents credited to the
holder of a Dividend Equivalent Right may be paid currently or
may be deemed to be reinvested in additional shares of Stock,
which may thereafter accrue additional equivalents. Any such
reinvestment shall be at Fair Market Value on the date of
reinvestment. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in cash
or Stock or a combination thereof, in a single installment or
installments, all determined in the sole discretion of the
Board. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of
another Award may provide that such Dividend Equivalent Right
shall be settled upon exercise, settlement, or payment of, or
lapse of restrictions on, such other award, and that such
Dividend Equivalent Right shall expire or be forfeited or
annulled under the same conditions as such other award. A
Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another
Award may also contain terms and conditions different from such
other award.
13.2. Termination of Service.
Except as may otherwise be provided by the Board either in the
Award Agreement or in writing after the Award Agreement is
issued, a Grantees rights in all Dividend Equivalent
Rights or interest equivalents shall automatically terminate
upon the Grantees termination of Service for any reason.
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14. |
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PERFORMANCE AND ANNUAL INCENTIVE
AWARDS |
14.1. Performance Conditions
The right of a Grantee to exercise or receive a grant or
settlement of any Award, and the timing thereof, may be subject
to such performance conditions as may be specified by the Board.
The Board may use such business criteria and other measures of
performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any
performance conditions, and may exercise its discretion to
reduce the amounts payable under any Award subject to
performance conditions, except as limited under
Sections 14.2 hereof in the case of a Performance
Award or Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify under Code
Section 162(m). If and to the extent required under Code
Section 162(m), any power or authority relating to a
Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify
under Code Section 162(m), shall be exercised by the
Committee and not the Board.
14.2. Performance or Annual Incentive Awards
Granted to Designated Covered Employees
If and to the extent that the Committee determines that a
Performance or Annual Incentive Award to be granted to a Grantee
who is designated by the Committee as likely to be a Covered
Employee should qualify as performance-based
compensation for purposes of Code Section 162(m), the
grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance or Annual
Incentive Award shall be contingent upon achievement of
pre-established performance goals and other terms set forth in
this Section 14.2.
14.2.1. Performance Goals Generally.
The performance goals for such Performance or Annual Incentive
Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria and a
targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of
such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with
this Section 14.2. Performance goals shall be
objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Code
Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder including the
requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by
the Committee result in the achievement of performance goals
being substantially uncertain. The Committee may
determine that such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards shall
be granted, exercised and/or settled upon achievement of any one
performance goal or that two or more of the performance goals
must be achieved as a condition to grant, exercise and/or
settlement of such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards.
Performance goals may differ for Performance or Annual Incentive
Awards granted to any one Grantee or to different Grantees.
14.2.2. Business Criteria.
One or more of the following business criteria for the Company,
on a consolidated basis, and/or specified subsidiaries or
business units of the Company (except with respect to the total
stockholder return and earnings per share criteria), shall be
used exclusively by the Committee in establishing performance
goals for such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards:
(1) total stockholder return; (2) such total
stockholder return as compared to total return (on a comparable
basis) of a publicly available index such as, but not limited
to, the Standard & Poors 500 Stock Index;
(3) net income; (4) pretax earnings; (5) earnings
before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization;
(6) pretax operating earnings after interest expense and
before bonuses, service fees, and extraordinary or special
items; (7) operating margin; (8) earnings per share;
(9) return on equity; (10) return on capital;
(11) return on investment; (12) operating earnings;
(13) working capital; (14) ratio of debt to
stockholders equity, (15) free cash flow (which is
calculated by adding capital expenditures to the cash flows from
operating activities set forth in the Companys
consolidated cash flow statement) and (16) revenue.
Business criteria may be measured on an absolute basis or on a
relative basis (i.e., performance relative to peer companies)
and on a GAAP or non-GAAP basis. The Committee may provide, in a
manner that meets the requirements of Code Section 162(m)
that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of
the following events that occur during the applicable
performance period: (a) asset write-downs;
(b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements;
(c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting
principles or other laws or
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provisions affecting reported results; (d) any
reorganization or restructuring programs; (e) extraordinary
nonrecurring items; (f) acquisitions or divestitures; and
(g) foreign exchange gains and losses.
14.2.3. Timing For Establishing Performance Goals.
Performance goals shall be established not later than
90 days after the beginning of any performance period
applicable to such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards, or at
such other date as may be required or permitted for
performance-based compensation under Code
Section 162(m).
14.2.4. Settlement of Performance or Annual Incentive
Awards; Other Terms.
Settlement of such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards shall
be in cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, in the
discretion of the Committee. The Committee may, in its
discretion, reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to be
made in connection with such Performance or Annual Incentive
Awards. The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which
such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards shall be paid or
forfeited in the event of termination of Service by the Grantee
prior to the end of a performance period or settlement of
Performance Awards.
14.3. Written Determinations.
All determinations by the Committee as to the establishment of
performance goals, the amount of any potential Performance
Awards and as to the achievement of performance goals relating
to Performance Awards, and the amount of any potential
individual Annual Incentive Awards and the amount of final
Annual Incentive Awards, shall be made in writing in the case of
any Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m). To
the extent permitted by Section 162(m), the Committee may
delegate any responsibility relating to such Performance Awards
or Annual Incentive Awards.
14.4. Status of Section 14.2 Awards Under
Code Section 162(m)
It is the intent of the Company that Performance Awards and
Annual Incentive Awards under Section 14.2 hereof
granted to persons who are designated by the Committee as likely
to be Covered Employees within the meaning of Code
Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder shall, if so
designated by the Committee, constitute qualified
performance-based compensation within the meaning of Code
Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, the
terms of Section 14.2, including the definitions of
Covered Employee and other terms used therein, shall be
interpreted in a manner consistent with Code Section 162(m)
and regulations thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding,
because the Committee cannot determine with certainty whether a
given Grantee will be a Covered Employee with respect to a
fiscal year that has not yet been completed, the term Covered
Employee as used herein shall mean only a person designated by
the Committee, at the time of grant of Performance Awards or an
Annual Incentive Award, as likely to be a Covered Employee with
respect to that fiscal year. If any provision of the Plan or any
agreement relating to such Performance Awards or Annual
Incentive Awards does not comply or is inconsistent with the
requirements of Code Section 162(m) or regulations
thereunder, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended
to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.
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15. |
PARACHUTE LIMITATIONS |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or of any other
agreement, contract, or understanding heretofore or hereafter
entered into by a Grantee with the Company or any Affiliate,
except an agreement, contract, or understanding that expressly
addresses Section 280G or Section 4999 of the Code (an
Other Agreement), and notwithstanding any formal or
informal plan or other arrangement for the direct or indirect
provision of compensation to the Grantee (including groups or
classes of Grantees or beneficiaries of which the Grantee is a
member), whether or not such compensation is deferred, is in
cash, or is in the form of a benefit to or for the Grantee (a
Benefit Arrangement), if the Grantee is a
disqualified individual, as defined in
Section 280G(c) of the Code, any Option, Restricted Stock
or Stock Unit held
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by that Grantee and any right to receive any payment or other
benefit under this Plan shall not become exercisable or vested
(i) to the extent that such right to exercise, vesting,
payment, or benefit, taking into account all other rights,
payments, or benefits to or for the Grantee under this Plan, all
Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements, would cause any
payment or benefit to the Grantee under this Plan to be
considered a parachute payment within the meaning of
Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code as then in effect (a
Parachute Payment) and (ii) if, as a
result of receiving a Parachute Payment, the aggregate after-tax
amounts received by the Grantee from the Company under this
Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements would
be less than the maximum after-tax amount that could be received
by the Grantee without causing any such payment or benefit to be
considered a Parachute Payment. In the event that the receipt of
any such right to exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit under
this Plan, in conjunction with all other rights, payments, or
benefits to or for the Grantee under any Other Agreement or any
Benefit Arrangement would cause the Grantee to be considered to
have received a Parachute Payment under this Plan that would
have the effect of decreasing the after-tax amount received by
the Grantee as described in clause (ii) of the preceding
sentence, then the Grantee shall have the right, in the
Grantees sole discretion, to designate those rights,
payments, or benefits under this Plan, any Other Agreements, and
any Benefit Arrangements that should be reduced or eliminated so
as to avoid having the payment or benefit to the Grantee under
this Plan be deemed to be a Parachute Payment.
16.1. General.
The Company shall not be required to sell or issue any shares of
Stock under any Award if the sale or issuance of such shares
would constitute a violation by the Grantee, any other
individual exercising an Option, or the Company of any provision
of any law or regulation of any governmental authority,
including without limitation any federal or state securities
laws or regulations. If at any time the Company shall determine,
in its discretion, that the listing, registration or
qualification of any shares subject to an Award upon any
securities exchange or under any governmental regulatory body is
necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with,
the issuance or purchase of shares hereunder, no shares of Stock
may be issued or sold to the Grantee or any other individual
exercising an Option pursuant to such Award unless such listing,
registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been
effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to
the Company, and any delay caused thereby shall in no way affect
the date of termination of the Award. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, in connection with the Securities
Act, upon the exercise of any Option or the delivery of any
shares of Stock underlying an Award, unless a registration
statement under such Act is in effect with respect to the shares
of Stock covered by such Award, the Company shall not be
required to sell or issue such shares unless the Board has
received evidence satisfactory to it that the Grantee or any
other individual exercising an Option may acquire such shares
pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities
Act. Any determination in this connection by the Board shall be
final, binding, and conclusive. The Company may, but shall in no
event be obligated to, register any securities covered hereby
pursuant to the Securities Act. The Company shall not be
obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the
exercise of an Option or the issuance of shares of Stock
pursuant to the Plan to comply with any law or regulation of any
governmental authority. As to any jurisdiction that expressly
imposes the requirement that an Option shall not be exercisable
until the shares of Stock covered by such Option are registered
or are exempt from registration, the exercise of such Option
(under circumstances in which the laws of such jurisdiction
apply) shall be deemed conditioned upon the effectiveness of
such registration or the availability of such an exemption.
16.2. Rule 16b-3.
During any time when the Company has a class of equity security
registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, it is the
intent of the Company that Awards pursuant to the Plan and the
exercise of Options granted hereunder will qualify for the
exemption provided by
Rule 16b-3 under
the Exchange Act. To the extent that any provision of the Plan
or action by the Board does not comply with the requirements
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of Rule 16b-3, it
shall be deemed inoperative to the extent permitted by law and
deemed advisable by the Board, and shall not affect the validity
of the Plan. In the event that
Rule 16b-3 is
revised or replaced, the Board may exercise its discretion to
modify this Plan in any respect necessary to satisfy the
requirements of, or to take advantage of any features of, the
revised exemption or its replacement.
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EFFECT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION |
17.1. Changes in Stock.
If the number of outstanding shares of Stock is increased or
decreased or the shares of Stock are changed into or exchanged
for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of
the Company on account of any recapitalization,
reclassification, stock split, reverse split, combination of
shares, exchange of shares, stock dividend or other distribution
payable in capital stock, or other increase or decrease in such
shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company
occurring after the Effective Date, the number and kinds of
shares for which grants of Options and other Awards may be made
under the Plan shall be adjusted proportionately and accordingly
by the Company. In addition, the number and kind of shares for
which Awards are outstanding shall be adjusted proportionately
and accordingly so that the proportionate interest of the
Grantee immediately following such event shall, to the extent
practicable, be the same as immediately before such event. Any
such adjustment in outstanding Options or SARs shall not change
the aggregate Option Price or SAR Exercise Price payable with
respect to shares that are subject to the unexercised portion of
an outstanding Option or SAR, as applicable, but shall include a
corresponding proportionate adjustment in the Option Price or
SAR Exercise Price per share. The conversion of any convertible
securities of the Company shall not be treated as an increase in
shares effected without receipt of consideration.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any distribution
to the Companys stockholders of securities of any other
entity or other assets (including an extraordinary dividend but
excluding a non-extraordinary dividend of the Company) without
receipt of consideration by the Company, the Company shall, in
such manner as the Company deems appropriate, adjust
(i) the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding
Awards and/or (ii) the exercise price of outstanding
Options and Stock Appreciation Rights to reflect such
distribution.
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Reorganization in Which the Company Is the Surviving Entity
Which does not Constitute a Corporate Transaction. |
Subject to Section 17.3 hereof, if the Company shall
be the surviving entity in any reorganization, merger, or
consolidation of the Company with one or more other entities
which does not constitute a Corporate Transaction, any Option or
SAR theretofore granted pursuant to the Plan shall pertain to
and apply to the securities to which a holder of the number of
shares of Stock subject to such Option or SAR would have been
entitled immediately following such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation, with a corresponding proportionate adjustment of
the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price per share so that the
aggregate Option Price or SAR Exercise Price thereafter shall be
the same as the aggregate Option Price or SAR Exercise Price of
the shares remaining subject to the Option or SAR immediately
prior to such reorganization, merger, or consolidation. Subject
to any contrary language in an Award Agreement evidencing an
Award, any restrictions applicable to such Award shall apply as
well to any replacement shares received by the Grantee as a
result of the reorganization, merger or consolidation. In the
event of a transaction described in this Section 17.2,
Stock Units shall be adjusted so as to apply to the securities
that a holder of the number of shares of Stock subject to the
Stock Units would have been entitled to receive immediately
following such transaction.
17.3. Corporate Transaction.
Subject to the exceptions set forth in the last sentence of this
Section 17.3 and the last sentence of
Section 17.4, upon the occurrence of a Corporate
Transaction:
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(i) all outstanding shares of Restricted Stock shall be
deemed to have vested, and all Stock Units shall be deemed to
have vested and the shares of Stock subject thereto shall be
delivered, immediately prior to the occurrence of such Corporate
Transaction, and |
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(ii) either of the following two actions shall be taken: |
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(A) fifteen days prior to the scheduled consummation of a
Corporate Transaction, all Options and SARs outstanding
hereunder shall become immediately exercisable and shall remain
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(B) the Board may elect, in its sole discretion, to cancel
any outstanding Awards of Options, Restricted Stock, Stock
Units, and/or SARs and pay or deliver, or cause to be paid or
delivered, to the holder thereof an amount in cash or securities
having a value (as determined by the Board acting in good
faith), in the case of Restricted Stock or Stock Units, equal to
the formula or fixed price per share paid to holders of shares
of Stock and, in the case of Options or SARs, equal to the
product of the number of shares of Stock subject to the Option
or SAR (the Award Shares) multiplied by the amount,
if any, by which (I) the formula or fixed price per share
paid to holders of shares of Stock pursuant to such transaction
exceeds (II) the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price
applicable to such Award Shares. |
With respect to the Companys establishment of an exercise
window, (i) any exercise of an Option or SAR during such
fifteen-day period shall be conditioned upon the consummation of
the event and shall be effective only immediately before the
consummation of the event, and (ii) upon consummation of
any Corporate Transaction the Plan, and all outstanding but
unexercised Options and SARs shall terminate. The Board shall
send written notice of an event that will result in such a
termination to all individuals who hold Options and SARs not
later than the time at which the Company gives notice thereof to
its stockholders. This Section 17.3 shall not apply
to any Corporate Transaction to the extent that provision is
made in writing in connection with such Corporate Transaction
for the assumption or continuation of the Options, SARs, Stock
Units and Restricted Stock theretofore granted, or for the
substitution for such Options, SARs, Stock Units and Restricted
Stock for new common stock options and stock appreciation rights
and new common stock, stock units and restricted stock relating
to the stock of a successor entity, or a parent or subsidiary
thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number of shares
(disregarding any consideration that is not common stock) and
option and stock appreciation right exercise prices, in which
event the Plan, Options, SARs, Stock Units and Restricted Stock
theretofore granted shall continue in the manner and under the
terms so provided.
17.4. Adjustments.
Adjustments under this Section 17 related to shares
of Stock or securities of the Company shall be made by the
Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final,
binding and conclusive. No fractional shares or other securities
shall be issued pursuant to any such adjustment, and any
fractions resulting from any such adjustment shall be eliminated
in each case by rounding downward to the nearest whole share.
The Board shall determine the effect of a Corporate Transaction
upon Awards other than Options, SARs, Stock Units and Restricted
Stock, and such effect shall be set forth in the appropriate
Award Agreement. The Board may provide in the Award Agreements
at the time of grant, or any time thereafter with the consent of
the Grantee, for different provisions to apply to an Award in
place of those described in Sections 17.1, 17.2 and
17.3.
17.5. No Limitations on Company.
The making of Awards pursuant to the Plan shall not affect or
limit in any way the right or power of the Company to make
adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of
its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate,
dissolve, or liquidate, or to sell or transfer all or any part
of its business or assets.
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18.1. Disclaimer of Rights
No provision in the Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement
shall be construed to confer upon any individual the right to
remain in the employ or service of the Company or any Affiliate,
or to interfere in any way with any contractual or other right
or authority of the Company either to increase or decrease the
compensation or other payments to any individual at any time, or
to terminate any employment or other relationship between any
individual and the Company. In addition, notwithstanding
anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, unless otherwise
stated in the applicable Award Agreement, no Award granted under
the Plan shall be affected by any change of duties or position
of the Grantee, so long as such Grantee continues to be a
director, officer, consultant or employee of the Company or an
Affiliate. The obligation of the Company to pay any benefits
pursuant to this Plan shall be interpreted as a contractual
obligation to pay only those amounts described herein, in the
manner and under the conditions prescribed herein. The Plan
shall in no way be interpreted to require the Company to
transfer any amounts to a third party trustee or otherwise hold
any amounts in trust or escrow for payment to any Grantee or
beneficiary under the terms of the Plan.
18.2. Nonexclusivity of the Plan
Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the submission of the Plan
to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be
construed as creating any limitations upon the right and
authority of the Board to adopt such other incentive
compensation arrangements (which arrangements may be applicable
either generally to a class or classes of individuals or
specifically to a particular individual or particular
individuals) as the Board in its discretion determines
desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock
options otherwise than under the Plan.
18.3. Withholding Taxes
The Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be, shall have the
right to deduct from payments of any kind otherwise due to a
Grantee any federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required
by law to be withheld with respect to the vesting of or other
lapse of restrictions applicable to an Award or upon the
issuance of any shares of Stock upon the exercise of an Option
or pursuant to an Award. At the time of such vesting, lapse, or
exercise, the Grantee shall pay to the Company or the Affiliate,
as the case may be, any amount that the Company or the Affiliate
may reasonably determine to be necessary to satisfy such
withholding obligation. Subject to the prior approval of the
Company or the Affiliate, which may be withheld by the Company
or the Affiliate, as the case may be, in its sole discretion,
the Grantee may elect to satisfy such obligations, in whole or
in part, (i) by causing the Company or the Affiliate to
withhold shares of Stock otherwise issuable to the Grantee or
(ii) by delivering to the Company or the Affiliate shares
of Stock already owned by the Grantee. The shares of Stock so
delivered or withheld shall have an aggregate Fair Market Value
equal to such withholding obligations. The Fair Market Value of
the shares of Stock used to satisfy such withholding obligation
shall be determined by the Company or the Affiliate as of the
date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined.
A Grantee who has made an election pursuant to this
Section 18.3 may satisfy his or her withholding
obligation only with shares of Stock that are not subject to any
repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting, or other similar
requirements. The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be
withheld from any Award to satisfy any federal, state or local
tax withholding requirements upon the exercise, vesting, lapse
of restrictions applicable to such Award or payment of shares
pursuant to such Award, as applicable, cannot exceed such number
of shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum
statutory amount required by the Company to be withheld and paid
to any such federal, state or local taxing authority with
respect to such exercise, vesting, lapse of restrictions or
payment of shares.
18.4. Captions
The use of captions in this Plan or any Award Agreement is for
the convenience of reference only and shall not affect the
meaning of any provision of the Plan or such Award Agreement.
A-22
18.5. Other Provisions
Each Award granted under the Plan may contain such other terms
and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be
determined by the Board, in its sole discretion.
18.6. Number and Gender
With respect to words used in this Plan, the singular form shall
include the plural form, the masculine gender shall include the
feminine gender, etc., as the context requires.
18.7. Severability
If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be
determined to be illegal or unenforceable by any court of law in
any jurisdiction, the remaining provisions hereof and thereof
shall be severable and enforceable in accordance with their
terms, and all provisions shall remain enforceable in any other
jurisdiction.
18.8. Governing Law
The validity and construction of this Plan and the instruments
evidencing the Awards hereunder shall be governed by the laws of
the State of Delaware, other than any conflicts or choice of law
rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or
interpretation of this Plan and the instruments evidencing the
Awards granted hereunder to the substantive laws of any other
jurisdiction.
18.9. Section 409A of the Code
The Board intends to comply with Section 409A of the Code
(Section 409A), or an exemption to
Section 409A, with regard to Awards hereunder that
constitute nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning
of Section 409A. To the extent that the Board determines
that a Grantee would be subject to the additional 20% tax
imposed on certain nonqualified deferred compensation plans
pursuant to Section 409A as a result of any provision of
any Award granted under this Plan, such provision shall be
deemed amended to the minimum extent necessary to avoid
application of such additional tax. The nature of any such
amendment shall be determined by the Board.
* * *
A-23
APPENDIX B
infoUSA Inc.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES PRE-APPROVAL POLICY
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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
B-2
amount of fees for Audit, Audit-related and Tax services, and
the total amount of fees for services classified as All Other
services.
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
TO
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES PRE-APPROVAL
POLICY
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
infoUSA INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
June 7, 2007
4:00 p.m.
at:
11785 Beltsville Drive,
Calverton, Maryland 20705
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infoUSA Inc. |
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proxy |
11785 Beltsville Drive, |
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Calverton, Maryland 20705
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This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of infoUSA Inc. (the Company) to be held on June 7, 2007 or any adjournments or
postponements thereof.
The shares of the Companys common stock you hold as of the record date on April 13, 2007 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 13, 2007 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 June 7, 2007.
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, WILL BE
VOTED FOR PROPOSALS ONE, TWO AND THREE. IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE PROXY HOLDERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO
VOTE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY BE PROPERLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY
ADJOURNMENTS OR POSTPONEMENTS THEREOF.
See reverse for voting instructions.
There are three ways to vote your Proxy
Your telephone or Internet vote authorizes the Named Proxies to vote your shares in the same
manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.
VOTE BY PHONE TOLL FREE 1-800-560-1965 QUICK ««« EASY ««« IMMEDIATE
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Use any touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, until 12:00 p.m. (CT) on June 6, 2007. |
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Please have your proxy card and the last four digits of your Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number
available. Follow the simple instructions the voice provides you. |
VOTE
BY INTERNET http://www.eproxy.com/iusa/ QUICK ««« EASY ««« IMMEDIATE
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Use the Internet to vote your proxy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until 12:00 p.m. (CT) on June 6, 2007. |
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Please have your proxy card and the last four digits of your Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number
available. Follow the simple instructions to obtain your records and create an electronic ballot. |
VOTE BY MAIL
Mark,
sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid
envelope weve provided or return to InfoUSA, c/o Shareowner
ServicesSM, P.O. Box 64873, St. Paul, MN 55164-0873.
ò Please detach here ò
The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR Proposals 1, 2 and 3.
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1. Election of directors (with terms expiring 2010):
Nominees: 01 Bill L. Fairfield, 02 Anshoo S. Gupta, and 03 Elliot S. Kaplan.
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Vote FOR
all nominees (except as marked)
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Vote WITHHELD
from all nominees |
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(Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any indicated
nominee, write the number(s) of the nominee(s) in the box
provided to the right.)
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2. To approve the infoUSA Inc. 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
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o For
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o Against
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o Abstain |
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3. To ratify the selection of KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants,
as auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007.
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o For
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o Against
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o Abstain |
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, WILL BE
VOTED FOR EACH PROPOSAL.
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Address Change? Mark Box o
Indicate changes below:
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Date: |
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Signature(s) in Box
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Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear on the proxy.
If held in joint tenancy, all persons should sign.
Trustees, administrators, etc., should include title
and authority. Corporations should provide full name of
corporation and title of authorized officer signing the proxy. |