def14a
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY
STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.
)
Filed by the Registrant
x
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant
o
Check the appropriate box:
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o Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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o Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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x Definitive
Proxy Statement
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o Definitive
Additional Materials
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o Soliciting
Material under Rule 14a-12
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Paxson Communications Corporation
(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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No fee required.
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act
Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1) |
Title of each class of securities to which
transaction applies:
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(2) |
Aggregate number of securities to which
transaction applies:
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(3) |
Per unit price or other underlying value of
transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11
(set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and
state how it was determined):
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(4) |
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as
provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the
filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously.
Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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(1) |
Amount Previously Paid:
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(2) |
Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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April 29, 2005
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of Paxson Communications Corporation (the
Company), which will be held at the West Palm Beach
Marriott Hotel, 1001 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach,
Florida 33401, on June 10, 2005, at 11:00 a.m., local
time.
Please note that attendance at the Annual Meeting will be
limited to stockholders as of the record date (or their
authorized representatives) and to our invited guests. If your
shares are registered in your name and you plan to attend the
Annual Meeting, please mark the appropriate box on the enclosed
proxy card and you will be pre-registered for the meeting (if
your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other
nominee and you plan to attend the meeting, you must also
pre-register by returning the registration card forwarded to you
by your bank or broker). Stockholders who are not pre-registered
will only be admitted to the Annual Meeting upon verification of
stock ownership.
The notice of the meeting and proxy statement on the following
pages contain information concerning the business to be
considered at the meeting. Please give these proxy materials
your careful attention. It is important that your shares be
represented and voted at the Annual Meeting regardless of the
size of your holdings. Accordingly, whether or not you plan to
attend the Annual Meeting, please complete, sign, and return the
accompanying proxy card in the enclosed envelope in order to
make sure your shares will be represented at the Annual Meeting.
Stockholders who attend the Annual Meeting will have the
opportunity to vote in person.
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Sincerely, |
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LOWELL W. PAXSON |
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Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer |
PAXSON COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
601 Clearwater Park Road
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401-6233
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
JUNE 10, 2005
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Paxson Communications
Corporation will be held at the West Palm Beach Marriott Hotel,
1001 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401, on
June 10, 2005, at 11:00 a.m., local time, for the
following purposes:
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1. |
To elect two Class II directors to serve for a term of
three years, and until their successors have been duly elected
and qualified; |
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2. |
To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our
independent registered certified public accountants for
2005; and |
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the
Meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on
April 15, 2005, as the record date for the determination of
stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual
Meeting.
Stockholders are requested to vote, date, sign and promptly
return the enclosed proxy in the envelope provided for that
purpose, WHETHER OR NOT THEY INTEND TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING.
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By Order of the Board of Directors |
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/s/ Adam K. Wernsting |
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Adam K. Weinstein, Secretary |
West Palm Beach, Florida
April 29, 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PAXSON COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
601 Clearwater Park Road
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401-6233
PROXY STATEMENT
We are providing this proxy statement and the accompanying proxy
card to our stockholders beginning on or about April 29,
2005, in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the
Board of Directors of Paxson Communications Corporation (the
Company), to be voted at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders to be held on June 10, 2005, and at any
adjournment thereof (the Meeting). The Board of
Directors has fixed the close of business on April 15,
2005, as the record date for the determination of stockholders
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. At the close
of business on the record date, we had outstanding
(i) 61,768,584 shares of $0.001 par value
Class A Common Stock (Class A Common
Stock), entitled to one vote per share,
(ii) 8,311,639 shares of $0.001 par value
Class B Common Stock (Class B Common
Stock, and with the Class A Common Stock,
collectively, the Common Stock), entitled to ten
votes per share, and (iii) 14,450 shares of
93/4%
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock), entitled to 625 votes per
share.
Voting
Shares represented by duly executed proxies in the accompanying
form received by us prior to the Meeting will be voted at the
Meeting in accordance with the directions given. If a proxy card
is signed and returned without specifying a vote or an
abstention on any proposal, it will be voted according to the
recommendation of the Board of Directors on that proposal. The
Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the election of
the nominees for election as Class II directors and the
ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as
our independent registered certified public accountants for
2005. The Board of Directors knows of no business to be
transacted at the Meeting other than the proposals set forth in
this Proxy Statement. If other matters are properly presented
for action, it is the intention of the persons named as proxies
to vote on such matters according to their best judgment.
If you hold your shares through an intermediary you must provide
instructions on voting as requested by your bank or broker. If
you sign and return a proxy, you may revoke it at any time
before it is voted by taking one of the following three actions:
(i) giving written notice of the revocation to the
Secretary of the Company; (ii) executing and delivering a
proxy with a later date; or (iii) voting in person at the
Meeting. Attendance at the Meeting will not in itself constitute
revocation of a proxy.
The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of shares of
stock possessing the power to cast a majority of the votes which
could be cast by all outstanding shares of stock entitled to
vote at the Meeting constitutes a quorum for the transaction of
business at the Meeting. The election of directors will require
the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast at the
Meeting, if a quorum is present. The affirmative vote of at
least a majority of the votes cast in person or by properly
executed proxy is required to approve each of the other
proposals to be considered at the Meeting. Votes cast by proxy
or in person at the Meeting will be tabulated by one or more
inspectors of election appointed at the Meeting, who will also
determine whether a quorum is present for the transaction of
business. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as
shares present at the Meeting for purposes of determining
whether a quorum is present. As to matters to be considered at
the Meeting, abstentions will be treated as votes AGAINST,
and broker non-votes will not be counted as shares voting for
the purpose of determining whether a proposal has been approved.
Lowell W. Paxson, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and
the beneficial owner of a majority of the voting power of our
outstanding stock, has advised us that he intends to vote all
shares which he is entitled to vote in favor of the proposals
being submitted at the Meeting, therefore approval of the
proposals by our stockholders is assured.
PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF CLASS II
DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes. A class of
directors is elected each year to serve for a three year term
and until their successors are elected and qualified. Any
director appointed by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy
on the Board serves the balance of the unexpired term of the
class of directors in which the vacancy occurred. The terms of
the Class II directors (Messrs. Burnham, Oxendine and
Patrick) expire at the Meeting. The terms of the Class I
directors (Messrs. Paxson and Brandon and Ms. Hudson)
expire upon the election and qualification of directors at the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2007. Our former
Class III directors, all of whom were employees of NBC,
resigned during November and December, 2001, and we currently
have no Class III directors. The terms of any
Class III directors who may be appointed by the Board of
Directors will expire upon the election and qualification of
directors at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in
2006. We currently do not intend to fill these vacancies on our
Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors has nominated Dean M. Goodman and W.
Lawrence Patrick for election as Class II directors. The
Class II directors elected at the Meeting will serve for a
term of three years expiring upon the election and qualification
of their successors at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be
held in 2008 or until their earlier resignation or removal.
Because the terms of three Class II directors will expire
at the Meeting, we expect to have one vacant Class II
director position following the Meeting. Our By-laws provide
that any vacancy on our Board of Directors may be filled by a
majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors and,
in such event, the new director will serve for the remainder of
the unexpired term of the class of directors to which he or she
is assigned. As a result, the term of any Class II director
who may be appointed by the Board of Directors to fill this
vacancy will expire upon the election and qualification of
directors at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in
2008. We expect that, from time to time after the Meeting, our
Board of Directors will consider qualified candidates to fill
this vacancy as any such candidates may be identified.
Each of the nominees has indicated his willingness to serve, if
elected. Should any nominee become unable or unwilling to accept
nomination or election for any reason, the persons named as
proxies may cast votes for a substitute nominee designated by
the Board of Directors, which has no reason to believe the
nominees named will be unable or unwilling to serve if elected.
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The Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders
vote FOR the Nominees listed below.
Biographical and other information concerning our directors and
the nominees for election at the Meeting is set forth below.
Nominees for Election as Class II Directors (Term to
Expire at the Annual Meeting in 2008)
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Director | |
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Age | |
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Position, Principal Occupation, Business Experience and Directorships |
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Dean M. Goodman
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57 |
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President of the Company since December 2002, and Chief
Operating Officer since September 2001. Executive Vice President
of the Company from September 2001 to December 2002, and
President of the Companys PAX TV network television
operations from February 1998 to December 2002. Mr. Goodman
held other positions with the Company from 1993 to February
1998. Member of the Executive Committee of the National
Association of Broadcasters, a trade association, since 2001,
and member of its Board of Directors during 16 of the past
25 years. |
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W. Lawrence Patrick(1)
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55 |
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President since 1984 of Patrick Communications, LLC, a media
investment banking and brokerage firm, and Legend
Communications, a radio group owner. |
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2005 |
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Class I Directors Continuing in Office (Term to Expire
at the Annual Meeting in 2007)
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Director | |
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Position, Principal Occupation, Business Experience and Directorships |
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Lowell W. Paxson
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Chairman of the Board since 1991 and Chief Executive Officer of
the Company since December 2002 and from 1991 to 1998.
President, Home Shopping Network, Inc. from 1985 to 1990. |
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Henry J. Brandon
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Managing Director since October 2004 of Oracle Capital Partners,
LLC, a private investment firm and merchant bank. Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer of Leeward Islands Lottery
Holding Company, Inc., a lottery management and production
company from August 2002 to August 2004. Principal, William E.
Simon & Sons, LLC, a private investment firm and
merchant bank, from 1995 to 2002. |
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Elizabeth J. Hudson
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Senior Vice President of Communications of National Geographic
Society, a non-profit educational and publishing organization,
since September 2000. Senior Vice President of Corporate
Communications of iVillage, Inc., a media company, from 1999 to
2000. Director of the global communications and media practice
of Spencer Stuart, an executive search firm, from 1998 to 1999.
Director of AFLAC, Inc. |
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2004 |
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(1) |
James L. Greenwald resigned as a member of the Board of
Directors effective February 28, 2005. On March 17,
2005, the Board of Directors appointed W. Lawrence Patrick as a
Class II director to fill the vacancy on the Board
resulting from Mr. Greenwalds resignation. |
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Class III Directors Continuing in Office (Term to Expire
at the Annual Meeting in 2006)
None; seats are currently vacant.
Other Executive Officers
Richard Garcia, 42, has been our Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer since April 2004 and served as our
Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer from
September 2003 until April 2004. From May 2002 to September
2003, Mr. Garcia was Controller of DirectTV Latin America,
LLC. From August 1998 to May 2002, Mr. Garcia was
Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of Claxson Interactive
Group, an owner of television and radio broadcasting assets.
Adam K. Weinstein, 41, has been our Senior Vice
President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer since
January 1, 2005. From August 2000 through December 31,
2004, Mr. Weinstein served as our Assistant General
Counsel, Vice President and Assistant Secretary. From 1995 to
2000, Mr. Weinstein was Assistant General Counsel of Oxbow
Corporation, a privately owned power development and petroleum
products trading company.
Tammy G. Hedge, 44, has been our Vice President,
Controller and Chief Accounting Officer since July 2004. From
November 2000 to June 2004, Ms. Hedge served as Financial
Controller of Dycom Industries, Inc., a provider of specialty
contracting services. From August 1999 to November 2000,
Ms. Hedge served as SEC Reporting Manager of Dycom
Industries, Inc.
The Board of Directors and its Committees
Each of the members of the Board of Directors other than
Mr. Paxson is independent, as that term is
defined under the rules of the American Stock Exchange. During
2004, the Board of Directors held ten meetings and a two day
workshop with management. Each incumbent director attended at
least 75% of the total number of Board meetings and meetings of
committees of which he is a member. In addition, the Board of
Directors took action ten times during 2004 by unanimous written
consent in lieu of a meeting, as permitted by applicable state
law.
The Compensation Committee currently consists of Henry J.
Brandon, Bruce L. Burnham, John E. Oxendine and W. Lawrence
Patrick. James L. Greenwald resigned as one of our directors on
February 28, 2005. During 2004 and until his resignation,
Mr. Greenwald was the chairman of the Compensation
Committee. On March 11, 2005, the Board of Directors
appointed Mr. Brandon as Chairman of the Compensation
Committee. The Board of Directors appointed W. Lawrence Patrick
as a member of the Compensation Committee on April 4, 2005.
The Compensation Committee reviews and approves base salary and
bonus compensation for our officers other than our Chief
Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee establishes the
annual performance goals under our Executive Bonus Program and
is responsible for the administration of our stock-based
compensation plans. See Compensation Committee Report on
Executive Compensation. During 2004, the Compensation
Committee held 16 meetings and a two day workshop with
management.
The Audit Committee currently consists of Bruce L. Burnham, John
E. Oxendine, Henry J. Brandon, Elizabeth J. Hudson and W.
Lawrence Patrick. Mr. Burnham is the chairman of the Audit
Committee. During 2004 and until his resignation,
Mr. Greenwald was a member of the Audit Committee. The
Board of Directors appointed W. Lawrence Patrick as a member of
the Audit Committee on April 4, 2005. The Audit Committee
operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of
Directors. Each of the members of the Audit Committee is an
independent director as defined under the rules of the American
Stock Exchange and is independent, as that term is
defined in Section 10A of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. The Board of Directors has determined that
Henry J. Brandon is an audit committee financial
expert (as defined in the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission). Each of the current members of the Audit
Committee is able to read and understand fundamental financial
statements and is financially sophisticated as that
term is defined under applicable American Stock Exchange rules.
This committee is primarily concerned with the accuracy and
effectiveness of the audits of our financial statements by our
independent
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registered certified public accountants. The duties of the Audit
Committee are to select, retain, oversee and evaluate our
independent registered certified public accountants, to meet
with our independent registered certified public accountants to
review the scope and results of the audit, to approve non-audit
services provided to us by our independent registered certified
public accountants, and to consider various accounting and
auditing matters related to our system of internal controls,
financial management practices and other matters. During 2004,
the Audit Committee held 24 meetings.
In December 2004, the Board of Directors formed a Special
Committee to consider, evaluate and act upon any proposed
strategic transaction related to our company. The Special
Committee currently consists of Bruce L. Burnham, John E.
Oxendine, Henry J. Brandon and Elizabeth J. Hudson.
Mr. Burnham is the chairman of the Special Committee.
During 2004 and until his resignation on February 28, 2005,
Mr. Greenwald was a member of the Special Committee. During
2004, the Special Committee held two meetings.
We do not have a nominating committee or a nominating committee
charter at this time. Nominations of directors are made by our
full Board of Directors. Each of Dean M. Goodman, who is our
President and Chief Operating Officer and is a nominee for
election as a Class II director at the Meeting, and W.
Lawrence Patrick, who was appointed as a Class II director
on March 17, 2005 and is a nominee for election as a
Class II director at the Meeting, was recommended for
election by Mr. Paxson. While the Board will consider
nominees recommended by stockholders, it has not actively
solicited recommendations from stockholders. Nominations by
stockholders should be submitted to our Secretary and must
comply with certain procedural and informational requirements
set forth in our Bylaws. Please see Stockholder Proposals
for 2006 Annual Meeting below.
Lead Independent Director
In May 2004, our Board of Directors created the position of lead
independent director. The Lead Independent Director is
responsible for coordinating the activities of the other
independent directors and performing various other duties. The
general authority and responsibilities of the Lead Independent
Director are established in resolutions adopted by our Board of
Directors.
Our Board designated Bruce L. Burnham as our initial Lead
Independent Director because of the valuable counsel and
guidance he provides based on his depth of experience related to
having served as a member of our Board of Directors since 1996.
Mr. Burnham is the Chairman of the Audit Committee and a
member of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Burnham is not
standing for reelection as a director and his term will expire
at the Meeting. The Board of Directors has not appointed a
successor to Mr. Burnham to serve as Lead Independent
Director following the Meeting.
Communication with the Board of Directors and Director
Attendance at Annual Meetings
Our Board of Directors believes that it is important for us to
have a process whereby our stockholders may send communications
to the Board. Accordingly, stockholders who wish to communicate
with the Board of Directors or a particular director may do so
by sending a letter to our Secretary at 601 Clearwater Park
Road, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401. The mailing envelope must
contain a clear notation indicating that the enclosed letter is
a Stockholder-Board Communication or
Stockholder-Director Communication. All such letters
must identify the author as a stockholder and clearly state
whether the intended recipients are the full Board of Directors
or certain specified individual directors. The Secretary will
make copies of all such letters and circulate them to the
appropriate director or directors.
Although we do not have a policy with respect to attendance by
the directors at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, directors
are encouraged to attend. Four of the six current members of the
Board of Directors attended the 2004 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. Mr. Patrick was not a member of the Board of
Directors at the time of the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
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Compensation of Directors
Directors who are not our employees receive an annual retainer
of $24,000 and are paid fees of $1,500 for each board meeting
attended, $1,000 for each committee meeting attended and $500
for each meeting chaired. All directors receive reimbursement of
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with
attending meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees.
In September 2004, Messrs. Burnham, Greenwald, Oxendine and
Brandon and Ms. Hudson participated in our stock option
exchange offer, under which they each exchanged 80,000
outstanding unvested shares of Class A Common Stock for
unvested options to purchase 80,000 shares of our
Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per
share, which options vest on the same schedule as the unvested
shares tendered for exchange.
In July 2004, Ms. Hudson received and exercised options to
purchase 80,000 unvested shares of Class A Common
Stock. The shares acquired upon exercise of the options vest
ratably over a five year period that commenced on May 21,
2004.
Each member of the Board of Directors other than
Mr. Patrick also participated in the 2005 stock option
amendment transaction described below under Stock
Incentive Plans.
Certain Transactions Involving Directors and Officers
NBC Transactions. On September 15, 1999, our
company, NBC and Mr. Paxson, our Chairman and controlling
stockholder, entered into a series of agreements which created a
significant strategic and financial relationship between the two
companies and under which, subject to various conditions
including FCC approval, NBC has the ability to acquire voting
and operational control of our company. We also entered into an
agreement with NBC pursuant to which NBC serves as our exclusive
sales representative to sell our PAX TV Network advertising time
for agreed compensation. We have also entered into joint sales
agreements with NBC with respect to 14 of our stations serving
12 markets also served by an NBC owned and operated station, and
with 27 independently owned NBC affiliated stations serving our
markets. In March 2005, we notified substantially all of our JSA
partners other than NBC that we were exercising our right to
terminate the JSAs, effective June 30, 2005, and began
discussions with NBC as to the termination of each of the JSAs
with NBC. We also notified NBC that we were removing, effective
June 30, 2005, all of our stations from the national sales
agency agreement pursuant to which NBC sells national spot
advertisements for 49 of our 60 stations, and we began
discussions with NBC as to the termination of our network sales
agency agreement with NBC. Prior to their resignation in
November and December 2001, we had three Class III
directors who were employees of NBC.
The Christian Network, Inc. We have entered into several
agreements with The Christian Network, Inc. (referred to herein
as CNI). CNI is a section 501(c)(3)
not-for-profit corporation to which Mr. Paxson has been a
substantial contributor and of which he was a member of the
Board of Stewards through 1993.
We entered into an agreement with CNI in May 1994 (the CNI
Tax Agreement) under which we agreed that, if the tax
exempt status of CNI were jeopardized by virtue of its
relationship with us, we would take certain actions to ensure
that CNIs tax exempt status would no longer be so
jeopardized. These steps could include rescission of one or more
transactions or additional payments by us. We believe that our
agreements with CNI have been on terms as favorable to CNI as it
would obtain in arms length transactions, and we intend
any future agreements with CNI to be as favorable to CNI as CNI
would obtain in arms length transactions. Accordingly, if
our activities with CNI are consistent with the terms governing
our relationship, we should not be required to take any actions
under the CNI Tax Agreement. We cannot be sure, however, that we
will not be required to take any actions under the CNI Tax
Agreement which might have a material cost to us.
In September 2004, we purchased from CNI for $1.65 million
a television production and distribution facility located in
Clearwater, Florida. Mr. Paxson had personally guaranteed
the mortgage debt incurred by CNI in 1994 in connection with its
acquisition of this facility. This debt was repaid from the
proceeds of our
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acquisition of the facility. We utilize this facility primarily
as our network operations center from which we originate our PAX
TV network signal. Prior to purchasing this facility, we leased
it from CNI for a term expiring on June 30, 2008 at a rent
rate of $16,700 per month. During the years ended
December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, we incurred
rental charges of $147,000 and $212,000 respectively, in
connection with this lease.
In March 1999, we entered into an agreement with CNI to license
CNIs programming, which agreement expired on May 31,
2002 without being renewed. During the year ended
December 31, 2002 we paid license fees in connection with
this agreement of $93,000.
On September 10, 1999, we entered into a Master Agreement
with CNI for overnight programming and use of a portion of the
digital broadcasting capacity of our television stations in
exchange for CNIs providing public interest programming.
The Master Agreement has a term of 50 years and is
automatically renewable for successive ten year periods unless
CNI ceases to exist, commences action to liquidate, ceases
family values programming or the FCC revokes the licenses of a
majority of our stations. Pursuant to the Master Agreement, we
broadcast CNI overnight programming on each of our stations
seven days a week from 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. When our
stations begin digital programming in multiple channels, we are
obligated to make a digital channel available for CNIs
use. CNI will have the right to use the digital channel for
24 hour CNI digital programming.
Officer Loans. During December 1996, we approved a
program to extend loans to members of our senior management to
finance their purchase of shares of Class A Common Stock in
the open market. The loans were evidenced by full recourse
promissory notes bearing interest at 5.75% per annum and
were collateralized by a pledge of the shares of Class A
Common Stock purchased with the loan proceeds. The largest
aggregate amounts of indebtedness outstanding during 2004 under
these loans to our Named Executive Officers were as follows:
Mr. Goodman, $352,594; Mr. Morrison, $73,438; and
Mr. Grossman, $131,695. As of December 31, 2004 these
loans to our Named Executive Officers had been repaid in full.
During 2004, we received payments of $352,594 from
Mr. Goodman, $73,651 from Mr. Morrison and $131,695
from Mr. Grossman in respect of their loan balances.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
requires our directors and officers and persons who own more
than ten percent of our Common Stock (Reporting
Persons) to file initial reports of ownership and reports
of changes in ownership of Common Stock and our other equity
securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to
furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they
file. Based on our review of the copies of such reports received
by us and written representations from certain Reporting
Persons, we believe that during 2004, all required reports were
filed on a timely basis.
7
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management
The following table sets forth information as to our equity
securities beneficially owned on April 22, 2005 by
(i) each director and nominee for director, (ii) each
person identified as a Named Executive Officer below
under Executive Compensation, (iii) all of our
directors, nominees and executive officers as a group, and
(iv) any person we know to be the beneficial owner of more
than five percent of any class of our voting securities.
Beneficial ownership means sole or shared voting power or
investment power with respect to a security. We have been
informed that all shares shown are held of record with sole
voting and investment power, except as otherwise indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount and | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nature of | |
|
|
|
Aggregate | |
|
|
|
|
Beneficial | |
|
|
|
Voting | |
Class of Stock |
|
Name of Beneficial Owner(1) |
|
Ownership | |
|
% of Class | |
|
Power(%) | |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Class A Common Stock
|
|
National Broadcasting Company, Inc.(2) |
|
|
63,928,159 |
|
|
|
49.8% |
|
|
|
29.0% |
|
|
|
Mario J. Gabelli(3) |
|
|
3,491,075 |
|
|
|
5.4% |
|
|
|
2.2% |
|
|
|
Directors and Nominees: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lowell W. Paxson(4) |
|
|
15,455,062 |
|
|
|
24.0% |
|
|
|
9.9% |
|
|
|
Bruce L. Burnham(5)(6) |
|
|
155,058 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
John E. Oxendine(5)(6) |
|
|
102,312 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Henry J. Brandon(5)(6) |
|
|
80,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Elizabeth J. Hudson(6) |
|
|
80,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Dean M. Goodman(5)(7) |
|
|
910,128 |
|
|
|
1.4% |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
W. Lawrence Patrick |
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Certain Executive Officers: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anthony L. Morrison(5) |
|
|
325,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Seth A. Grossman(5) |
|
|
364,821 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
Richard Garcia(5)(7) |
|
|
210,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
All directors, nominees and executive officers as a group(10
persons)(8) |
|
|
18,019,073 |
|
|
|
27.7% |
|
|
|
11.5% |
|
Class B Common Stock
|
|
Lowell W. Paxson |
|
|
8,311,639 |
|
|
|
100% |
|
|
|
53.1% |
|
|
|
All directors and executive officers as a group |
|
|
8,311,639 |
|
|
|
100% |
|
|
|
53.1% |
|
|
|
(1) |
Unless otherwise specified in the footnotes to this table, the
address of each person in this table is c/o Paxson
Communications Corporation, 601 Clearwater Park Road, West Palm
Beach, Florida 33401-6233. |
|
(2) |
Consists of 31,896,032 shares of Class A Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of shares of Series B Convertible
Exchangeable Preferred Stock held by NBC Palm Beach
Investment I, Inc., and 32,032,127 shares of
Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding
warrants held by NBC Palm Beach Investment II, Inc. The
holders rights to acquire shares of Class A Common
Stock upon conversion and exercise, respectively, of those
securities, although currently exercisable, are subject to
material conditions, including compliance with the rules of the
Federal Communications Commission. This amount does not include
shares of Class B Common Stock beneficially owned by
Mr. Paxson that NBC Palm Beach Investment II, Inc. has
the right to acquire. According to information contained in an
amendment to Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the Commission), dated
February 15, 2002, each of such holders is a subsidiary of
National Broadcasting Company, Inc. (NBC), the
address of which is 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York
10112, and NBC and its parent entity, General Electric Company,
Inc., each disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities. |
|
(3) |
According to information contained in an amendment to
Schedule 13D filed with the Commission on March 24,
2005 and dated March 22, 2005, various investment funds and
other entities controlled by or affiliated with Mario J. Gabelli
and Marc J. Gabelli, each of whose address is c/o Gabelli
Asset Management, Inc., One Corporate Center, Rye, New York
10580, acquired such shares for investment for one or more
accounts over which they have shared or sole investment and
voting power or for their own account. Further, according to
information contained in such amendment to Schedule 13D,
the number of shares reported includes 162,000 shares of
Class A Common Stock with respect to which one of such
holders does not have voting power. |
|
(4) |
Does not include 8,311,639 shares of Class B Common
Stock, each share of which is convertible into one share of
Class A Common Stock. Mr. Paxson is the beneficial
owner of all reported shares, other than 100 shares of
Class A Common Stock, through his control of Second Crystal
Diamond, Limited Partnership and Paxson Enterprises, Inc. |
8
|
|
(5) |
Includes shares which may be acquired within 60 days
through the exercise of stock options granted under the
Companys Stock Incentive Plans as follows: Dean M.
Goodman 154,328; Anthony L. Morrison
325,000; Seth A. Grossman 54,133; Richard
Garcia 20,000; Bruce L. Burnham 29,750;
John E. Oxendine 16,000; and Henry J.
Brandon 16,000. |
|
(6) |
Includes, with respect to each of Messrs. Brandon, Burnham
and Oxendine, 64,000 shares subject to vesting in equal
annual installments of 16,000 shares over the four year
period commencing on October 2, 2004. Includes, with
respect to Ms. Hudson, 80,000 shares subject to
vesting in equal annual installments of 16,000 shares over
the five year period commencing on May 21, 2004. The
holders possess voting power with respect to these shares. These
shares will vest immediately upon the occurrence of certain
events, including a change of control of our company. |
|
(7) |
Includes, in addition to the shares referred to in note 5
above, shares subject to vesting as follows:
Mr. Goodman 573,333 shares vesting at
various dates through October 2, 2008, 360,000 of which
shares will vest on October 2, 2008; and Mr. Garcia
190,000 shares vesting at various dates through
October 2, 2008, 90,000 of which shares will vest on
October 2, 2008. The holders possess voting power with
respect to these shares. These shares will vest immediately upon
the occurrence of certain events, including a change of control
of our company. |
|
(8) |
Includes the shares described in notes 5, 6 and 7 above. |
Potential Change in Control
On September 15, 1999, NBC, through subsidiaries, purchased
$415 million aggregate liquidation preference of shares of
our Series B Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock,
which are convertible into 31,896,032 shares of
Class A Common Stock, and acquired warrants to purchase an
additional 32,032,127 shares of Class A Common Stock.
Concurrently, NBC entered into an agreement with
Mr. Paxson, our Chairman and controlling stockholder, and
certain of his affiliates, pursuant to which NBC was granted the
right to purchase all (but not less than all)
8,311,639 shares of our outstanding Class B Common
Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Paxson, which shares are
entitled to ten votes per share on all matters submitted to a
vote of our stockholders.
Pursuant to these agreements and the related agreements entered
into in connection with the transaction, NBC has the right to
acquire voting and operational control of our company, subject
to various conditions including approval of the Federal
Communications Commission, or FCC. Exercise of these rights by
NBC would result in a change in control of our company.
We believe it is highly unlikely that NBC would elect to acquire
control of our company under the terms of our existing
agreements. At the same time, NBC retains its investment in us
and its ability to exercise a significant influence over our
operations.
On November 13, 2003, NBC notified us that it was
exercising its right under its investment agreement with us to
demand that we redeem or arrange for a third party to acquire
(the Redemption), by payment in cash, all 41,500
outstanding shares of our Series B preferred stock held by
NBC. The aggregate redemption price payable in respect of the
41,500 preferred shares, including accrued dividends thereon,
was approximately $600.7 million as of December 31,
2004. Between November 13, 2003 and November 13, 2004
we were unable to consummate the Redemption as the terms of our
outstanding debt and preferred stock prohibited the Redemption
and we did not have sufficient funds on hand to consummate the
Redemption. We are involved in litigation with NBC in the
Delaware Court of Chancery in which we are seeking a declaratory
ruling that we are not obligated to consummate the Redemption
and are not in default under our agreement with NBC by virtue of
not having done so.
As we did not effect the Redemption by November 13, 2004,
NBC generally is permitted to transfer, without restriction, any
of our securities acquired by it, its right to acquire
Mr. Paxsons Class B Common Stock, the
contractual rights described with respect to the NBC investment
agreement under Business NBC
Relationship, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2004 and its other rights under
the related transaction agreements, provided that Warrant A,
Warrant B and the right to acquire Mr. Paxsons
Class B Common Stock will expire, to the extent
unexercised, 30 days after any such transfer. If NBC
transfers any of our securities or its right to acquire
Mr. Paxsons Class B Common Stock, the transferee
will remain subject to the terms and conditions of such
securities, including those limitations on exercise described
above.
9
Executive Compensation
The following table presents information concerning the
compensation received or accrued for services rendered during
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 for
our Chief Executive Officer and our four most highly compensated
executive officers, other than the Chief Executive Officer, who
were serving as of December 31, 2004 (collectively, the
Named Executive Officers).
Summary Compensation Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long Term | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation(2) | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Compensation | |
|
Number of | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Securities | |
|
All Other | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Annual | |
|
Underlying | |
|
Compensation | |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year | |
|
Salary(1) | |
|
Bonus | |
|
Compensation | |
|
Options | |
|
(3)(4)(5)(6) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Lowell W. Paxson
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
$ |
880,000 |
|
|
$ |
660,000 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
$ |
27,501 |
(7) |
Chairman of the Board, Chief |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
818,565 |
|
|
|
409,283 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
24,477 |
(7) |
Executive Officer |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
744,150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
33,513 |
(7) |
|
Dean M. Goodman
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
523,000 |
|
|
|
438,013 |
|
|
|
94,500 |
(8) |
|
|
80,000 |
|
|
|
32,372 |
|
President, Chief Operating |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
455,333 |
|
|
|
182,133 |
|
|
|
789,750 |
(9) |
|
|
815,000 |
|
|
|
18,536 |
|
Officer |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
455,333 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
48,147 |
|
|
Anthony L. Morrison
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
349,000 |
|
|
|
292,288 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
6,520 |
|
Executive Vice President, |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
303,188 |
|
|
|
106,116 |
|
|
|
525,330 |
(8) |
|
|
474,500 |
|
|
|
13,058 |
|
Secretary, Chief Legal |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
303,188 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
214,550 |
(8) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
32,36 |
|
Officer(10) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seth A. Grossman
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
297,000 |
|
|
|
248,738 |
|
|
|
78,750 |
(8) |
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
1,233 |
|
Executive Vice President, |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
259,875 |
|
|
|
77,963 |
|
|
|
215,865 |
(9) |
|
|
343,500 |
|
|
|
3,472 |
|
Chief Strategic Officer(11) |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
259,875 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
Richard Garcia
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
265,000 |
|
|
|
97,150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
1,633 |
|
Senior Vice President, Chief |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
55,417 |
|
|
|
56,083 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
110,000 |
|
|
|
1,372 |
|
Financial Officer |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Includes amounts Named Executive Officers elected to defer under
our Profit Sharing Plan. |
|
|
(2) |
None of the Named Executive Officers held any shares of
restricted stock as of December 31, 2004. As a result of
the 2005 stock option amendment transaction described below
under Stock Incentive Plans, and the related
exercise of stock options for unvested shares, the aggregate
restricted stock holdings of the Named Executive Officers as of
April 22, 2005 were as follows:
Mr. Goodman 573,333 shares with a fair
market value of $584,800; and Mr. Garcia
190,000 shares with a fair market value of $193,800. Fair
market value is based on the closing sale price of the
Class A Common Stock of $1.02 on April 22, 2005. |
|
|
(3) |
Includes contributions to supplemental retirement plans as
follows: during 2004, Mr. Goodman $26,150;
Mr. Morrison $3,490; during 2003,
Mr. Goodman $11,383;
Mr. Morrison $7,580; during 2002,
Mr. Goodman $45,533;
Mr. Morrison $30,319. |
|
|
(4) |
Includes $1,000 contributions by us to the Profit Sharing Plan
during 2004, 2003 and 2002. |
|
|
(5) |
Includes cost of term life insurance equivalent for life
insurance policies as follows: during 2004,
Mr. Paxson $6,139; Mr. Goodman
$1,880; Mr. Morrison $1,207; during 2003,
Mr. Paxson $6,414; Mr. Goodman
$1,753; Mr. Morrison $1,131; during 2002,
Mr. Paxson $4,967; Mr. Goodman
$1,614; Mr. Morrison $1,041. |
|
|
(6) |
Includes income from payment of stock option exercise price
related to April 2004 and October 2003 grants as follows: during
2004, Mr. Garcia $400; during 2003,
Mr. Goodman $4,400;
Mr. Morrison $2,500;
Mr. Grossman $2,200;
Mr. Garcia $1,100 . |
10
|
|
|
|
(7) |
Includes the economic benefits of the premiums we paid under a
split dollar life insurance policy. We are entitled to recover
the premiums from any amounts paid by the insurer on the split
dollar life policy and have retained an interest in the policy
to the extent of the premiums paid. |
|
|
(8) |
Represents the fair market value of shares of restricted stock
that vested during 2004, based on the closing sale price of the
Class A Common Stock as of the applicable vesting date(s). |
|
|
(9) |
Represents the difference between the price paid by the Named
Executive Officer upon the exercise of stock options and the
fair market value of the underlying common stock at the time of
exercise. |
|
|
(10) |
Mr. Morrisons employment with us was terminated
effective January 29, 2005. |
|
(11) |
Mr. Grossman resigned his employment with us effective
March 13, 2005. |
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
The table below presents information regarding each of the Named
Executive Officers who was granted options to purchase shares of
our capital stock during the year ended December 31, 2004.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares | |
|
% of Total | |
|
|
|
|
|
Market | |
|
Grant | |
|
|
of Common Stock | |
|
Options Granted | |
|
Exercise | |
|
|
|
Price at | |
|
Date | |
|
|
Underlying Options | |
|
to Employees in | |
|
Price per | |
|
Expiration | |
|
Date of | |
|
Present | |
Name |
|
Granted | |
|
Fiscal Year | |
|
Share | |
|
Date | |
|
Grant | |
|
Value(1) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Lowell W. Paxson
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Dean M. Goodman
|
|
|
80,000 |
|
|
|
7.7 |
|
|
|
.01 |
|
|
|
10/2/14 |
|
|
|
1.48 |
|
|
|
117,600 |
|
Anthony L. Morrison
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
4.8 |
|
|
|
.01 |
|
|
|
10/2/14 |
|
|
|
1.48 |
|
|
|
73,500 |
|
Seth A. Grossman
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
3.9 |
|
|
|
.01 |
|
|
|
10/2/14 |
|
|
|
1.48 |
|
|
|
58,800 |
|
Richard Garcia
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
3.9 |
|
|
|
.01 |
|
|
|
6/8/04 |
|
|
|
3.68 |
|
|
|
146,800 |
|
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
1.9 |
|
|
|
.01 |
|
|
|
10/2/14 |
|
|
|
1.48 |
|
|
|
29,400 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Based on the closing price on the grant date and the option
exercise price, as determined using the Black-Scholes option
pricing model assuming a dividend yield of 0%, expected
volatility range of 72% to 73%, risk free interest rates of 3.2%
to 3.4% and a weighted average expected option term of one day
to 6 years. |
The information in the table above does not reflect the October
2004 issuance of options (the Exchange Options) to
purchase unvested shares, which Exchange Options were issued in
exchange for outstanding unvested shares in connection with the
2004 stock option exchange offer transaction described below
under Stock Incentive Plans. All Exchange Options
had a ten year exercise period and an exercise price of
$0.01 per share, vested on a schedule identical to the
vesting schedule of the unvested shares for which they were
exchanged and were exercisable for shares of our Class A
Common Stock. All Exchange Options that were unvested as of
April 22, 2005 were exercised for unvested shares on
April 22, 2005 in connection with the 2005 stock option
amendment transaction described below under Stock
Incentive Plans. As a result, there are no Exchange
Options outstanding as of the date of this proxy statement.
11
2004 Aggregated Option Exercises and Fiscal Year-end Option
Values
The following table sets forth information with respect to stock
options exercised by the Named Executive Officers during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 and stock options held
as of December 31, 2004 by each Named Executive Officer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities | |
|
Value of | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Underlying | |
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Unexercised | |
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|
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|
|
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Unexercised | |
|
in the Money | |
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Shares | |
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Market | |
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Options at | |
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Options at | |
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Acquired | |
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Price at | |
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Exercise | |
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December 31, 2004 | |
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December 31, 2004(1) | |
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on | |
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Date of | |
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Price | |
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Value | |
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| |
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| |
Name |
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Exercise | |
|
Exercise | |
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Per Share | |
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Realized | |
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Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable(2) | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable(3) | |
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| |
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| |
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| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Lowell W. Paxson
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Dean M. Goodman
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
154,328 |
|
|
|
413,333 |
|
|
|
36,534 |
|
|
|
675,866 |
|
Anthony L. Morrison
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
166,667 |
|
|
|
283,333 |
|
|
|
22,834 |
|
|
|
388,166 |
|
Seth A. Grossman
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
54,133 |
|
|
|
246,667 |
|
|
|
18,266 |
|
|
|
337,934 |
|
Richard Garcia
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
3.02 |
|
|
|
.01 |
|
|
|
120,400 |
(4) |
|
|
6,667 |
|
|
|
163,333 |
|
|
|
9,134 |
|
|
|
223,766 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Based on the closing sale price of the Class A Common Stock
of $1.38 on December 31, 2004. |
|
(2) |
Includes shares issued to the Named Executive Officers as
unvested shares upon the exercise of options on April 22,
2005 as follows: Mr. Goodman
493,333 shares; and Mr. Garcia
150,000 shares. |
|
(3) |
Includes value of shares issued to the Named Executive Officers
as unvested shares upon the exercise of options on
April 22, 2005 as follows: Mr. Goodman
$675,866; and Mr. Garcia $205,500. |
|
(4) |
A portion of this value realized is attributable to
13,333 shares which vested on April 6, 2005. |
Stock Incentive Plans
We established our Stock Incentive Plan, 1996 Stock Incentive
Plan and 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (collectively, the
Stock Incentive Plans) to provide incentives to
officers, employees and others who perform services for us
through awards of options and shares of restricted stock. Awards
are granted under the Stock Incentive Plans at the discretion of
our Compensation Committee and may be in the form of either
incentive or nonqualified stock options or awards of restricted
stock. As of December 31, 2004, 3,444,603 shares of
Class A Common Stock were available for additional awards
under the Stock Incentive Plans. Awards covering an additional
569,000 shares of Class A Common Stock were granted by
the Compensation Committee in January and February 2005. To
date, all options we have granted under our Stock Incentive
Plans have been nonqualified stock options. Substantially all of
the options we granted under the Stock Incentive Plans during
the year ended December 31, 2004, including all of the
options granted to our Named Executive Officers, had a ten year
exercise period and an exercise price of $0.01 per share,
vest pro-rata over a three year period and are exercisable for
shares of our Class A Common Stock. These unvested options
are subject to restrictions on transfer and to a risk of
forfeiture, including the risk that the participant will not
satisfy vesting conditions that apply to the options.
The exercise price per share of Class A Common Stock,
vesting schedule and expiration date of each stock option
granted under the Stock Incentive Plans is determined by the
Compensation Committee at the date the option is granted and as
provided in the terms of the Stock Incentive Plans. The
Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate
the time at which any stock option may be exercised. Holders of
more than ten percent (10%) of the combined voting power of our
capital stock may be granted stock options, provided that if any
of such options are intended to be incentive stock options, the
exercise price must be at least 110% of the fair market value of
the Class A Common Stock as of the date of the grant and
the term of the option may not exceed five years. Options
granted under the Stock Incentive Plans may be exercised by the
participant to whom granted or by his or her legal
representative. If a participants employment is terminated
for cause, each option which has not been exercised shall
terminate, and each unvested share held by that participant
shall be forfeited.
12
The Compensation Committee also has the discretion to award
restricted stock, consisting of shares of Class A Common
Stock which vest over a period determined by the Committee and
are subject to forfeiture in whole or in part if the
recipients employment is terminated prior to the end of
the restricted period. Prior to vesting, the participant may
transfer the restricted stock to a trust for the benefit of the
participant or an immediate family member, but may not otherwise
sell, assign, transfer, give or otherwise dispose of, mortgage,
pledge or encumber the restricted stock. The Compensation
Committee may, in its discretion, provide that a participant
shall be vested in whole or with respect to any portion of the
participants award not previously vested upon the
occurrence of such events or conditions as the Compensation
Committee deems appropriate and are specified in the applicable
restricted stock agreement. To date, we have not awarded any
restricted stock under the Stock Incentive Plans, although we
have granted options with a one business day term which were
exercisable for unvested shares of Class A Common Stock,
which shares are treated as restricted stock under our Stock
Incentive Plans.
In September 2004, we offered participants, including our Named
Executive Officers, the opportunity to exchange their
outstanding unvested shares for options to purchase an equal
number of shares of our Class A Common Stock at an exercise
price of $0.01 per share and vesting on the same vesting
schedule as the unvested shares they exchanged. We conducted
this exchange offer so that the holders of unvested shares would
have more flexibility in satisfying their obligation to
reimburse us for tax withholding payments we are required to
make at the time a holder recognizes taxable income with respect
to an award (which, for holders of unvested shares, is generally
upon the date the shares become vested and are no longer subject
to a substantial risk of forfeiture). The exchange offer was
consummated in October 2004.
Recently enacted section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the Code) made significant
changes to the tax treatment of deferred compensation. Our
Compensation Committee has typically granted stock option awards
under the Stock Incentive Plans with an exercise price that is
less than the fair market value of the underlying stock on the
date of grant and which vest over a period of three to five
years. Under new section 409A, those of the options that
were unvested as of December 31, 2004 would be considered
deferred compensation because of their discounted exercise price
and, unless certain requirements were met, the holders of the
options will recognize taxable income when the options vest (as
opposed to when they are exercised) and will be liable for an
additional 20% excise tax and possible interest on deemed
underpayments of tax.
In order to provide our employees, including our Named Executive
Officers, with an opportunity to avoid the adverse tax
consequences of new section 409A on their unvested options,
in March 2005 our Compensation Committee approved an amendment
of the options to permit them to be exercised prior to the dates
they would otherwise have become vested. Holders were offered
the opportunity, during a one business day period in April 2005,
to exercise their options and receive unvested shares of
Class A Common Stock. The unvested shares issued to holders
who exercised their options under this program will vest
according to the vesting schedule originally applicable to the
options which they exercised, and will be treated as restricted
stock under our Stock Incentive Plans. Restricted stock is
subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture prior to vesting, is
not treated as deferred compensation under new section 409A
and is therefore not subject to the adverse tax consequences of
this new law.
The option amendment in March 2005 and the early exercise of
unvested options essentially unwound, for those holders who
elected to exercise their options (which included all of our
Named Executive Officers), the stock option exchange offer we
conducted in September 2004. When the unvested shares issued in
April 2005 under this program become vested, the recipients will
recognize taxable income, we will be obligated to make tax
withholding payments to the Internal Revenue Service in respect
of such income, and the recipients will be obligated to
reimburse us for these payments. Recipients will be required to
satisfy their tax withholding reimbursement obligations to us in
cash, and will not be permitted to satisfy such obligations
through the surrender to us of shares of Class A Common
Stock.
13
Employment Agreements
Mr. Paxson is employed as our Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, pursuant to an employment agreement for a three year
term commencing October 16, 1999, and renewing thereafter
for successive one year periods so long as Mr. Paxson
remains our Single Majority Shareholder as such term
is defined under the rules of the FCC. Mr. Paxsons
base salary under the agreement is $968,000 for calendar year
2005 and increases at a rate of 10% per year thereafter.
With respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004,
Mr. Paxson received a cash bonus of $660,000. With respect
to each fiscal year thereafter, Mr. Paxson may receive an
annual bonus up to 100% of his base salary, 65% of which will be
determined based on our achievement of financial targets
established by our Compensation Committee for the award of
bonuses to our senior management, and up to 35% of which will be
determined based upon an evaluation by the non-management
members of our Board of Directors as to whether Mr. Paxson
has satisfactorily performed the tasks associated with his
position as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Paxson is eligible to participate in all employee
benefit plans and arrangements that are generally available to
our other senior executives. The Board of Directors may
terminate Mr. Paxsons employment agreement before
expiration for good cause, and Mr. Paxson may terminate the
agreement for good reason, each as defined in the agreement. If
Mr. Paxson dies, becomes permanently disabled, terminates
his employment for good reason or is terminated other than for
good cause during the term of the agreement, we will pay
Mr. Paxson or his estate, as the case may be, his then
existing salary for 12 months, in the case of disability,
termination for good reason or termination other than for good
cause, or 18 months, in the case of death, in each case
commencing six months after his last day of employment.
Mr. Goodman is employed as our President and Chief
Operating Officer under an employment agreement that expires on
December 31, 2006. Mr. Goodmans base salary
under the agreement is $538,690 for calendar year 2005. With
respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004,
Mr. Goodman received a cash bonus of $438,013. With respect
to each fiscal year thereafter, Mr. Goodman may receive an
annual bonus of up to 100% of his base salary, 65% of which will
be determined based on our achievement of financial targets
established by our Compensation Committee for the award of
bonuses to our senior management, and up to 35% of which will be
determined based upon an evaluation by our Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, with the concurrence of our Compensation
Committee, as to whether Mr. Goodman has satisfactorily
performed the tasks associated with his position.
Mr. Goodman is also eligible to participate in all employee
benefit plans and arrangements that are generally available to
our other senior executives and to receive such other cash and
non-cash bonus awards and compensation, including awards under
our stock incentive plans, as we may determine. We may terminate
Mr. Goodmans employment for cause, as defined in the
agreement. If Mr. Goodmans employment is terminated
by reason of his death or disability or other than for cause, or
if Mr. Goodman terminates his employment for good reason,
as defined in the agreement, we will continue to pay
Mr. Goodman or his estate, as the case may be, his base
salary for one year (or two years, in the case of any such
termination occurring within six months before or two years
after a change of control) commencing six months after his last
day of employment.
Mr. Garcia is employed as our Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer under an employment agreement that
expires on December 31, 2006. Mr. Garcias base
salary under the agreement is $298,700 for calendar year 2005.
With respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004,
Mr. Garcia received a cash bonus of $97,150. With respect
to each fiscal year thereafter, Mr. Garcia may receive an
annual bonus of up to 80% of his base salary, 65% of which will
be determined based on our achievement of financial targets
established by our Compensation Committee for the award of
bonuses to our senior management, and up to 35% of which will be
determined based upon an evaluation by our Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, with the concurrence of our Compensation
Committee, as to whether Mr. Garcia has satisfactorily
performed the tasks associated with his position.
Mr. Garcia is also eligible to participate in all employee
benefit plans and arrangements that are generally available to
our other senior executives and to receive such other cash and
non-cash bonus awards and compensation, including awards under
our Stock Incentive Plans, as we may determine. We may terminate
Mr. Garcias employment for cause, as defined in the
agreement. If Mr. Garcias employment is terminated by
reason of his death or disability or other than for cause, or if
Mr. Garcia terminates his employment for good reason, as
defined in the agreement, we will continue to pay
14
Mr. Garcia or his estate, as the case may be, his base
salary for one year (or two years, in the case of any such
termination occurring within six months before or two years
after a change of control) commencing six months after his last
day of employment.
Adam K. Weinstein was appointed to the positions of Senior Vice
President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer effective
January 1, 2005. Mr. Weinstein was not a Named
Executive Officer for 2004 for purposes of this proxy
statement. Mr. Weinsteins employment agreement
expires on December 31, 2006. Mr. Weinsteins
base salary under the agreement is $260,000 for calendar year
2005. For 2005 and each fiscal year thereafter,
Mr. Weinstein may receive an annual bonus of up to 100% of
his base salary, 65% of which will be determined based on our
achievement of financial targets established by our Compensation
Committee for the award of bonuses to our senior management, and
up to 35% of which will be determined based upon an evaluation
by our senior management, with the concurrence of our
Compensation Committee, as to whether Mr. Weinstein has
satisfactorily performed the tasks associated with his position.
Mr. Weinstein is also eligible to participate in all
employee benefit plans and arrangements that are generally
available to our other senior executives and to receive such
other cash and non-cash bonus awards and compensation, including
awards under our Stock Incentive Plans, as we may determine. We
may terminate Mr. Weinsteins employment for cause, as
defined in the agreement. If Mr. Weinsteins
employment is terminated by reason of his death or disability or
other than for cause, or if Mr. Weinstein terminates his
employment for good reason, as defined in the agreement, we will
continue to pay Mr. Weinstein or his estate, as the case
may be, his base salary for one year (or two years, in the case
of any such termination occurring within six months before or
two years after a change of control) commencing six months after
his last day of employment.
The terms of each of the employment agreements described above
were approved by our Compensation Committee.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
The Compensation Committee was composed of
Messrs. Greenwald, Burnham and Oxendine during 2004. None
of our executive officers served on the compensation committee
of another entity or on any other committee of the board of
directors of another entity performing similar functions during
2004.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of
our previous filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
that might incorporate future filings, including this Proxy
Statement, in whole or in part, the following Compensation
Committee Report on Executive Compensation and the Performance
Graph shall not be incorporated by reference into any such
filings.
Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation
This report is submitted by the Compensation Committee of our
Board of Directors, which currently comprises Mr. Brandon,
Mr. Burnham, Mr. Oxendine and Mr. Patrick, each
of whom, in the opinion of our Board of Directors, is an
independent, non-employee director of the Company. During 2004
and until his resignation on February 28, 2005,
Mr. Greenwald was the Chairman of the Compensation
Committee. On March 11, 2005, the Board of Directors
appointed Mr. Brandon as Chairman of the Compensation
Committee, and on April 4, 2005 the Board of Directors
appointed Mr. Patrick as a member of the Compensation
Committee.
The Compensation Committee reviews and approves the compensation
of our executive officers. Our executive officers are those
persons whose job responsibilities and policy-making authority
are the broadest in our company, and include the Chairman and
Chief Operating Officer and the President and Chief Executive
Officer. The Committee is also responsible for administering our
Executive Bonus Program and Stock Incentive Plans, and for
reviewing other compensation plans and making recommendations to
the Board of Directors. In each of the past three years, the
Committee engaged an outside compensation consulting firm to
assist the Committee in its review of the compensation of our
executive officers.
15
|
|
|
Compensation Philosophy and Practices |
The Committees executive compensation philosophy is
intended to ensure that we are able to attract and retain highly
qualified executives who are compensated in a manner that aligns
their interests with those of our stockholders. This philosophy
is based upon the following core principles:
|
|
|
|
|
Total compensation must be competitive and commensurate with the
individual executives contribution to our overall
performance. |
|
|
|
Bonus compensation must be linked to the individual
executives performance and to our overall financial
performance. |
|
|
|
Compensation must align the interests of our executives and
stockholders, both in the short term and in the long term. |
|
|
|
Compensation must be consistent with the retention of
executives, given the financial and operational challenges
facing us. |
The Committee seeks to recommend compensation levels for our
executives which are competitive with the compensation offered
to executives performing similar functions by other companies in
the broadcasting industry, and to link a significant portion of
an executives total potential cash compensation to the
achievement of overall company financial performance goals and
individual performance criteria. In formulating its
recommendations as to awards under the stock incentive plans,
the Committee seeks to provide a means for our executives to
realize substantial additional compensation through the receipt
of nominally-priced stock options to acquire shares which become
vested over time as the executive remains in our employment. The
Committee has sought to use the grant of discounted stock
options as a means of retaining key executives the Committee has
determined to be crucial to our future success.
The Committee annually surveys the executive compensation
practices of a group of peer companies in the television
broadcasting industry and uses this information to assure that
our executive compensation levels are competitive. The
Committees philosophy is that total compensation (cash and
stock) should be at or above the average of this peer group of
companies, with the potential for higher than average total
compensation if we perform well. In addition to reviewing
executive officers compensation against the peer group,
the Committee also considers information provided by management
consisting of historical and prospective breakdowns of the total
compensation components for each executive officer. Further, in
the case of each Named Executive Officer other than
Mr. Paxson, the Committee considers the recommendations of
Mr. Paxson regarding each such officers entitlement
to the individual performance component of such officers
annual bonus.
|
|
|
Components of Compensation Program |
The compensation program for each executive officer consists of
base salary, an annual performance bonus, and awards of stock
options. In the course of the Committees annual review of
each Named Executive Officers compensation, the Committee
reviews a summary sheet describing the historical compensation
paid to that executive, including that executives total
compensation for the immediately preceding year.
Base Salary
The 2004 base salaries of the Named Executive Officers have been
established pursuant to an employment agreement entered into
between us and each such officer. As to each Named Executive
Officer other than Mr. Paxson, that officers base
salary is subject to review by the Committee on an annual basis
and to increase based on the Committees evaluation and
managements recommendations. In making this evaluation,
the Committee takes into account the following factors:
|
|
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|
|
the executives individual performance; |
|
|
|
changes in market salaries for executives in comparable
positions with comparable companies; and |
|
|
|
changes in the executives level of responsibility. |
16
In assessing market salaries, the Committee seeks to pay base
salaries that are, overall, competitive with the salaries that
are paid by the peer group of companies referred to above.
As to each Named Executive Officer other than Mr. Paxson,
the Committee approved base salary increases effective
January 1, 2004. In establishing annual base salaries for
2004, the Committee took into account that, as part of our cost
containment efforts, the Named Executive Officers, other than
Mr. Paxson, received no base salary increases in 2003 over
2002 levels. The Committee also considered the recommendation of
its outside compensation advisor and the recommendations of our
management. Mr. Garcias annual base salary was
increased substantially in May 2004 in connection with his
promotion to Chief Financial Officer.
As described below under Chief Executive
Officer Compensation, Mr. Paxsons base salary
was established pursuant to the employment agreement between
Mr. Paxson and us, and increases at a rate of 10% per
year in accordance with that agreement. This increase is not
subject to a determination by the Committee.
Annual Performance Bonus
Under the Executive Bonus Program, members of our senior
management approved by the Compensation Committee may earn cash
bonus compensation on an annual basis based upon the achievement
of financial performance goals and individual performance
criteria. The terms of our Executive Bonus Program are set forth
by contract with each member of our senior management. The bonus
calculation criteria are established on an annual basis by the
Committee, and generally consist of a set of financial
performance goals which we must meet and individualized
performance criteria and bonus levels for each participant
(generally expressed as a percentage of the participants
base salary). Under the terms of their employment agreements,
each of our executive officers has the opportunity to earn an
annual bonus of up to 25% to 100% of base salary, 50% to 65% of
which is earned if we meet the financial performance goals
established annually by the Committee and 35% to 50% of which is
earned if, in the opinion of our Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer with the concurrence of the Committee (or, in
Mr. Paxsons case, in the opinion of the
non-management members of our Board of Directors), the officer
satisfactorily performs the tasks associated with his or her
position. Bonuses awarded with respect to a fiscal year are paid
during the following year.
For the 2004 fiscal year, the Committee established target
levels of adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization (EBITDA) as the financial
performance goals to be used to determine that portion of bonus
compensation under the Executive Bonus Program which is
dependent upon our performance results. The EBITDA targets
established by the Committee were based upon the annual budget
approved by the Board of Directors, with the participants being
entitled to receive 100% of their full bonus opportunity if our
EBITDA results for 2004 met budget, and declining percentages at
various levels of EBITDA below budget. Based upon our actual
adjusted EBITDA for the 2004 fiscal year, each of the Named
Executive Officers was entitled to receive bonus compensation
equal to 75% of the maximum bonus amount the executive could
earn based upon our performance (i.e., 75% of 65% of the
executives total bonus opportunity).
For the 2004 fiscal year, the Committee concurred with
Mr. Paxsons determination that each Named Executive
Officer (other than Mr. Paxson) was entitled to receive the
full amount of bonus compensation the executive could earn based
upon his individual performance (i.e., 100% of 35% of the
executives total bonus opportunity). Bonus compensation
earned with respect to the 2004 fiscal year was paid in January
2005 and April 2005.
Stock Options
The objectives of the Stock Incentive Plans are to help us
attract and retain outstanding employees, and to promote the
growth and success of our business by aligning the financial
interests of our employees with those of our other stockholders.
The Committee has historically granted options under the Stock
Incentive Plans at a discount to market price in order to
increase the value to executives of stock-based compensation,
seeking thereby to further align the executives interests
with those of our other stockholders. Further, by
17
granting discounted options which either vest over time, or are
exercisable immediately for unvested shares which then vest over
time, the Committee has sought to use stock-based compensation
as a means of retaining our executives and other employees.
In October 2003, the Committee initiated a retention program
whereby it sought to use significant stock-based compensation
awards as a means of encouraging our executives and other key
employees to remain in our employment. The Committee awarded a
significant number of stock options that were exercisable
immediately for unvested shares of stock that were scheduled to
vest on a cliff basis (i.e., all at once) five years
after the grant date. The Committee also awarded a lesser number
of options that were exercisable immediately for unvested shares
that were scheduled to vest ratably over the three years
following the grant date. All of the options awarded under this
program were exercisable at a price of $.01 per share.
In September 2004, the Committee approved an offer to those of
our employees, including the Named Executive Officers, who had
received stock option grants in October 2003, to exchange the
shares of restricted stock they had acquired upon exercise of
those options for new options to purchase an equal number of
shares at an exercise price of $0.01 per share, which would
vest on the same vesting schedule as the shares of restricted
stock tendered for exchange. The Committee approved this offer
in order to allow participants to avoid any hardship associated
with satisfying tax withholding obligations which would have
arisen in connection with the vesting of unvested shares, which
vesting was scheduled to commence in October 2004.
In October 2004, the Committee awarded additional stock options
to the Named Executive Officers. The options are exercisable for
ten years at an exercise price of $0.01 per share and are
subject to vesting restrictions. All of the options issued to
the Named Executive Officers in the October 2004 award will vest
in equal annual installments over a three year period, and will
vest immediately upon a change of control and upon the
holders death, disability or termination of employment by
us without cause. The October 2004 awards were made as part of
the retention program adopted by the Committee in October 2003,
and were intended to create significant incentives for our
executives and other key employees to remain in our employment.
The terms of the Stock Incentive Plans under which the options
described above were issued are described above under
Stock Incentive Plans.
Profit Sharing Plan
We have a profit sharing plan under Section 401(k) of the
Code under which our employees must complete six months of
service in order to be eligible to defer salary and, if
available, receive matching contributions under the
Section 401(k) portion of the plan. Participants may elect
to contribute a specified percentage of their compensation to
the plan on a pre-tax basis. We may, at our discretion, make
matching contributions based on a percentage of deferred salary
contributions at a rate to be determined by certain of our
officers, which matching contributions may be paid in our stock.
In addition, we may make supplemental profit sharing
contributions in such amounts as certain of our officers may
determine. Participants earn a vested right to their profit
sharing contribution in increasing amounts over a period of five
years. After five years of service, a participants right
to his or her profit sharing contribution is fully vested.
Thereafter the participant may receive a distribution of the
entire value of his or her account at age 55, 62 or 65 or
upon termination of employment, death or disability. Each of our
Named Executive Officers and other executive officers is
entitled to participate in the profit sharing plan.
Other Benefits
We provide other benefits, such as medical, dental and life
insurance and disability benefits, to each Named Executive
Officer and each other executive officer, in a similar fashion
to those provided to all other employees.
18
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer Compensation |
The compensation of Mr. Paxson, our Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, has been established pursuant to an
employment agreement entered into in October 1999, the material
terms of which were established by negotiation with NBC, which
made a significant investment in us at that time. The terms of
the agreement are described above under
Employment Agreements. Under the
agreement, Mr. Paxson receives a stated annual base salary
with annual 10% increases. Mr. Paxsons base salary in
2004 was $880,000, a 10% increase over his 2003 base salary.
Because Mr. Paxsons base salary was established as a
matter of contract, the Committee did not consider adjustments
to Mr. Paxsons base salary based on our performance
or any other factors. Under Mr. Paxsons employment
agreement, the maximum bonus for which Mr. Paxson was
eligible for the 2004 fiscal year was 100% of his base salary,
up to 65% of which could be earned if we met the financial
performance goals established by the Committee and up to 35% of
which could be earned if, in the opinion of the non-management
members of our Board of Directors, Mr. Paxson
satisfactorily performed the tasks associated with his position.
Based on our actual adjusted EBITDA for the 2004 fiscal year and
the financial performance goals established by the Committee,
the Committee determined that Mr. Paxson was entitled to a
bonus of $429,000, or 75% of the maximum bonus amount
Mr. Paxson could earn based upon our performance (i.e., 75%
of 65% of his total bonus opportunity). A portion of this bonus
was paid to Mr. Paxson in January 2005, and the remainder
was paid in April 2005. The non-management members of our Board
of Directors determined that Mr. Paxson was entitled to a
bonus of $231,000, or 75% of the maximum bonus amount
Mr. Paxson could earn based upon his individual performance
(i.e., 75% of 35% of his base salary) in 2004, which was paid in
January 2005. Mr. Paxson therefore received total cash
bonus compensation of $660,000, or 75% of his base salary, with
respect to the 2004 fiscal year.
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Limit on Tax Deductible Compensation |
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code places a limit
of $1,000,000 on the amount of compensation that we may deduct
in any one year with respect to each of our five most highly
paid executive officers. There is an exception to the $1,000,000
limitation for performance-based compensation meeting certain
requirements. While the Committee will continue to give due
consideration to the deductibility of compensation payments
under future compensation arrangements with our executive
officers, the Committee has not adopted a policy requiring all
compensation to be deductible. We have in the past, and may in
the future, enter into compensation arrangements under which
payments are not fully deductible under Section 162(m) of
the Code. The Committee will make its compensation decisions
based upon what it believes to be in our best interests, giving
due consideration to all relevant factors.
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Submitted by the Compensation Committee |
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Henry J. Brandon, Chairman |
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Bruce L. Burnham |
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John E. Oxendine |
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W. Lawrence Patrick |
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19
Stock Performance Graph
The graph below compares the cumulative total return on our
Class A Common Stock from December 31, 1999 through
December 31, 2004 with the cumulative total return of the
American Stock Exchange Market Value Index (the American
Stock Exchange Index) and The Kagan TV Station Average
index (the Media Index). The Stock Performance Graph
that was included in the proxy statement for our 2004 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders did not include the Media Index, and
instead included an industry peer group index compiled by us
based on a peer group that consisted of Granite Broadcasting
Corp., Hearst-Argyle Television Inc., Sinclair Broadcast Group,
Inc., Univision Communications, Inc., Young Broadcasting, Inc.
and LIN TV Corp. (the Peer Group). We have
decided to use the Media Index instead of the Peer Group index
for purposes of the Stock Performance Graph in this proxy
statement because we have determined that it more appropriately
reflects the industry in which we operate. Unlike our company,
the companies constituting the Peer Group do not operate their
consolidated station groups as part of a television broadcasting
network.
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Company Name/ Index(1) |
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12/31/99 | |
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12/31/00 | |
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12/31/01 | |
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12/31/02 | |
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12/31/03 | |
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12/31/04 | |
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Paxson Communications Corp.-Class A
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$ |
100.00 |
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$ |
100.00 |
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$ |
87.54 |
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$ |
17.26 |
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$ |
32.25 |
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$ |
11.56 |
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American Stock Exchange Index
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$ |
100.00 |
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$ |
92.76 |
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$ |
86.34 |
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$ |
70.57 |
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$ |
95.52 |
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$ |
110.38 |
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Media Index(2)
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$ |
100.00 |
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$ |
73.68 |
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$ |
69.84 |
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$ |
60.19 |
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$ |
72.46 |
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$ |
57.57 |
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(1) |
The comparison assumes $100 was invested at the per share
closing price of our Class A Common Stock on
December 31, 1999. Similar calculations were made with
respect to the American Stock Exchange Market Value Index and
the Media Index for the relevant periods assuming that all
dividends were reinvested. |
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(2) |
Assuming $100 was invested on December 31, 1999 in each of
our Class A Common Stock, the shares constituting the Media
Index and the shares constituting the Peer Group index, the
value of those investments at December 31, 2004 would have
been $11.56, $57.57 and $60.15, respectively. LIN TV Corp.,
a corporate entity that owns 100% of LIN Television, completed
its initial public offering in May 2002 and the shares of common
stock of LIN TV Corp. are listed for trading on the New
York Stock Exchange under the symbol TVL. LIN TV Corp. was
included in the Peer Group index beginning as of
December 31, 2003, and not for prior years, because it did
not become a reporting company until May 2002. If LIN TV
Corp. were excluded from the Peer Group index, the cumulative
total return of the Peer Group index for December 31, 2003
and December 31, 2004 would have been $82.09 and $61.54 |
20
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respectively, and the return for other years would have been
unchanged. Calculations for the Peer Group were weighted on the
basis of the respective companies market capitalizations. |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of
the Companys previous filings under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, that might incorporate future filings, including this
Proxy Statement, in whole or in part, the following Audit
Committee Report shall not be incorporated by reference into any
such filings.
Audit Committee Report
This report is submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors, which currently consists of five independent
directors and operates under a written charter adopted by the
Board of Directors. The members of the Committee are Bruce L.
Burnham, John E. Oxendine, Henry J. Brandon, Elizabeth J. Hudson
and W. Lawrence Patrick. Mr. Burnham is the chairman of the
Audit Committee. The Board of Directors appointed
Mr. Patrick as a member of the Audit Committee on
April 4, 2005. During 2004 and until his resignation on
February 28, 2005, Mr. Greenwald was a member of the
Audit Committee. Our Board of Directors has determined that each
of the members of the Audit Committee is an independent director
as defined under the rules of the American Stock Exchange and is
independent, as that term is defined in
Section 10A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
The Audit Committee is primarily concerned with the accuracy and
effectiveness of the audits of our financial statements by our
independent registered certified public accountants. The duties
of the Audit Committee are to select, retain, oversee and
evaluate our independent registered certified public
accountants, to meet with our independent registered certified
public accountants to review the scope and results of the audit,
to approve non-audit services provided to us by our independent
registered certified public accountants, and to consider various
accounting and auditing matters related to our system of
internal controls, financial management practices and other
matters.
Management is responsible for our internal controls and the
financial reporting process. The independent accountants are
responsible for performing an audit of our consolidated
financial statements in accordance with auditing standards
generally accepted in the United States of America and to issue
a report thereon. The Audit Committees responsibility is
to monitor and oversee these processes and to review and discuss
managements report on our internal control over financial
reporting.
During the course of 2004, management completed the
documentation, testing and evaluation of our system of internal
control over financial reporting in response to the requirements
set forth in Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
and related regulations. The Audit Committee was kept apprised
of the progress of the evaluation and provided oversight and
advice to management during the process. In connection with this
oversight, the Audit Committee received periodic updates
provided by management and the independent auditors at each
regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting. At the conclusion
of the process, management provided the Audit Committee with and
the Audit Committee reviewed a report on the effectiveness of
our internal control over financial reporting. The Audit
Committee also reviewed the report of management contained in
our Annual Report on Form 10-K/ A for the year ended
December 31, 2004 filed with the SEC, as well as
Ernst & Young LLPs Report of Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm included in our Annual Report
on Form 10-K/ A related to its audit of (i) the
consolidated financial statements and financial statement
schedule, (ii) managements assessment of the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and
(iii) the effectiveness of internal control over financial
reporting.
The Audit Committee has met and discussed the fiscal 2004
audited financial statements with management and our independent
accountants. Management represented to the Audit Committee that
our consolidated financial statements were prepared in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America. The Audit Committee discussed with our
independent accountants matters required to be discussed by
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, entitled
Communications with Audit Committees.
21
Our independent accountants also provided to the Audit Committee
the written disclosures and the letter required by Independence
Standards Board Standard No. 1, entitled Independence
Discussions with Audit Committees, and the Audit Committee
discussed with our independent accountants that firms
independence.
Based on the Audit Committees discussion with management
and our independent accountants and the Audit Committees
review of the representation of management and the report of our
independent accountants to the Audit Committee, the Audit
Committee recommended that the Board of Directors include the
audited financial statements for fiscal 2004 in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K/ A for the year ended
December 31, 2004 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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Submitted by the Audit Committee |
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Bruce L. Burnham, Chairman |
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John E. Oxendine |
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Henry J. Brandon |
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Elizabeth J. Hudson |
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W. Lawrence Patrick |
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PROPOSAL 2 RATIFICATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
During March 2003, the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors
decided to request proposals from each of the four largest
public accounting firms, including PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
(PwC), for engagement by us to conduct the
independent audit of our financial statements for the year
ending December 31, 2003. PwC audited our consolidated
financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2002.
On April 4, 2003, PwC informed us that it declined to be
considered for retention as our independent accountants.
The report of PwC on our consolidated financial statements for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 did not contain an
adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified
or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting
principle.
In connection with its audit for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2002, there were no disagreements with PwC on
any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial
statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which
disagreements if not resolved to the satisfaction of PwC, would
have caused them to make reference thereto in their report on
the financial statements for such year. During the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2002, there were no reportable events as
defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K with
respect to us.
On April 10, 2003, the Audit Committee of our Board of
Directors approved the engagement of Ernst & Young LLP
(E&Y) to act as our independent accountants to
audit our financial statements for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2003. E&Y acted as independent accountants
to audit our financial statements for the fiscal years ending
December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004. During the
two most recent fiscal years and through April 28, 2005, we
have not consulted with E&Y regarding either (i) the
application of accounting principles to a specified transaction,
either completed or proposed; or the type of audit opinion that
might be rendered on our financial statements, and neither a
written report was provided to us nor was oral advice provided
that E&Y concluded was an important factor considered by us
in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or
financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was
either the subject of a disagreement, as that term is defined in
Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related
instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K, or a
reportable event, as that term is defined in
Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
22
We are recommending that stockholders ratify the appointment of
E&Y as our independent registered certified public
accountants for 2005. As of April 28, 2005, however, we and
E&Y have not agreed upon the terms of any engagement of
E&Y by our company with respect to 2005.
Representatives of E&Y are expected to be present at the
Meeting to answer questions from stockholders, and will have an
opportunity to make a statement if they wish to do so.
Compensation of Independent Registered Certified Public
Accountants
During the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, the
Company retained E&Y to provide services in the following
categories and amounts:
Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed to us by E&Y
for its services in connection with the audit of our annual
consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004 and 2003, and its review of the quarterly
financial statements included in our reports on Form 10-Q
filed during the 2004 and 2003 fiscal years were $2,507,532 and
$1,620,874, respectively. The 2004 amount includes fees for
Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404 attestation services. The
2003 amount also includes fees for services provided by E&Y
in connection with its audit of our consolidated financial
statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 in
connection with our January 2004 offering of senior secured
notes.
Audit-Related Fees. Fees for professional services
provided by E&Y during the years ended December 31,
2004 and 2003 were $135,568 and $1,693, respectively.
Audit-related fees related to Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Section 404 assistance in 2004 and internal audit services
which were concluded in 2002.
Tax Fees. Fees for professional services provided by
E&Y during the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003
were $155,150 and $147,000, respectively. Tax fees include
professional services provided for preparation of federal and
state tax returns, review of tax returns prepared by the Company
and tax advice, exclusive of tax services rendered in connection
with the audit.
All Other Fees. Fees for professional services provided
by E&Y during the years ended December 31, 2004 and
2003, were $249,437 and $89,334, respectively. Other fees
consist primarily of consultation on tax matters during 2004 and
2003, respectively.
The charter of the Audit Committee provides that the Committee
is responsible for the pre-approval of all auditing services and
permitted non-audit services to be performed for us by the
independent accountants, subject to the requirements of
applicable law. In accordance with the charter, the Committee
has delegated the authority to grant such pre-approvals to the
Committee chair, which approvals are then reviewed by the full
Committee at its next regular meeting. Typically, however, the
Committee itself reviews the matters to be approved. The
procedures for pre-approving all audit and non-audit services
provided by the independent accountants include the Committee
reviewing a budget for audit services, audit-related services,
tax services and other services. The budget includes a
description of, and a budgeted amount for, particular categories
of non-audit services that are anticipated at the time the
budget is submitted. Committee approval would be required to
exceed the budgeted amount for a particular category of services
or to engage the independent accountants for any services not
included in the budget. The Committee periodically monitors the
services rendered by and actual fees paid to the independent
accountants to ensure that such services are within the
parameters approved by the Committee.
During 2004 and 2003, all of E&Ys services described
in Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees and All
Other Fees, were approved by the Audit Committee in
accordance with our formal policy on auditor independence.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the
ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as
our independent registered certified public accountants for
2005.
23
OTHER INFORMATION
Stockholder Proposals for 2006 Annual Meeting
Proposals of stockholders intended for presentation at the 2006
annual meeting must be received by us on or before
December 30, 2005, in order to be included in our proxy
statement and form of proxy for that meeting.
In addition, our By-laws provide that for any stockholder
proposal to be properly presented at the 2006 annual meeting, we
must receive notice of the matter not fewer than 60 days
before June 10, 2006. Thus, any such proposal will be
considered untimely for purposes of Exchange Act
Rule 14a-5(e)(2), and any proxy granted with respect to the
2006 annual meeting will confer discretionary authority to vote
with respect to such proposal, if notice of such proposal is not
received by us before April 11, 2006.
Expenses of Solicitation
We will bear the expense of preparing, printing, and mailing
proxy materials to our stockholders. In addition to
solicitations by mail, our employees may solicit proxies on
behalf of the Board of Directors in person or by telephone. We
will also reimburse brokerage houses and other nominees for
their expenses in forwarding proxy material to beneficial owners
of our stock.
Other Matters
The financial statements, financial information and management
discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of
operations set forth in our 2004 Annual Report are incorporated
by reference. We will provide to any stockholder upon written
request a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, including
the financial statements and the schedules thereto, for our
fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 13a-1
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We will not charge
for copies of our annual report, but will assess a reasonable
charge for copies of the exhibits, if requested.
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By Order of the Board of Directors |
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/s/ Adam K. Wernsting |
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Adam K. Weinstein, Secretary |
West Palm Beach, Florida
April 29, 2005
24
PROXY
PAXSON COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
601 Clearwater Park Road
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401-6233
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Adam K. Weinstein and William L.
Watson, or either of them, as Proxies, each with the power to
appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them or their
substitutes to represent and to vote, as designated below, all
the shares of stock of Paxson Communications Corporation held of
record by the undersigned on April 15, 2005, at the annual
meeting of stockholders to be held on June 10, 2005, or any
adjournment thereof.
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1. |
ELECTION OF CLASS II DIRECTORS |
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o FOR all nominees listed below |
o WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY (except as marked to the contrary below) |
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(INSTRUCTION: To withhold
authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a line
through the nominees name in the list below) |
Dean M. Goodman, W. Lawrence Patrick
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2. |
PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST &
YOUNG LLP AS THE COMPANYS INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANTS FOR 2005 |
o FOR o AGAINST o ABSTAIN
(continued and to be signed on other side)
(Continued from other side)
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3. |
In their discretion the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such
other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner
directed herein by the undersigned stockholder. If no
direction is made, this proxy will be voted for Proposal 1
and for Proposal 2.
Dated ________________________, 2005
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Signature |
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Signature if held jointly |
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PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS NAME APPEARS BELOW. WHEN SHARES ARE HELD
BY JOINT TENANTS, BOTH SHOULD SIGN. When signing as attorney, as
executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full
title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate
name by President or other authorized officer. If a partnership,
please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY
USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
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o |
I plan to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in person.
Please pre-register me for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders |