UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934
Filed
by
the registrant
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Filed
by
a Party other than the Registrant
o
Check
the
appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy
Statement
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Confidential, For Use
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Definitive Proxy
Statement
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of the Commission Only
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Definitive Additional
Materials
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(as permitted by Rule
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o
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Soliciting Material under
Rule 14a-12
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14a-6(e)(2))
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DIGITALFX
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Name
of
the 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)(4) and
0-11.
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(1)
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
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(2)
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3)
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Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11:
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(4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5)
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Total
fee paid:
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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)
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Amount
Previously Paid:
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Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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Filing
Party:
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DIGITALFX
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
_____________________________________________________
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
_____________________________________________________
DATE
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Wednesday,
July 23, 2008
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TIME
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4:00
p.m. Pacific Time
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PLACE
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Panevino
Ristorante
Chianti/Brunello
Meeting Rooms
246
Via Antonio
Las
Vegas, Nevada 89119
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ITEMS
OF BUSINESS
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(1)
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To
elect three directors to our board of
directors;
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(2)
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To
amend our 2006 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of authorized
shares from 1,537,501 to 5,000,000;
and
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(3)
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To
transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual
Meeting and any adjournment or
postponement.
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RECORD
DATE
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You
can vote if, at the close of business on June 12, 2008 you were
a
shareholder of the company.
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PROXY
VOTING
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All
shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting
in person.
However, to ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting, you
are
urged to vote promptly by signing and returning the enclosed Proxy
card.
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July
1, 2008
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Craig Ellins
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Chairman, Chief Executive Officer &
President
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DigitalFX
International, Inc.
3035
East Patrick Lane, Suite 9
Las
Vegas, Nevada 89120
(702)
938-9300
These
Proxy materials are delivered in connection with the solicitation by the
board
of directors of DigitalFX International, Inc., a Florida corporation
(“DigitalFX,” the “company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), of Proxies to be voted at
our 2008 Annual Meeting of shareholders and at any adjournments or postponements
thereof.
You
are
invited to attend our Annual Meeting of shareholders on July 23, 2008, beginning
at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time. The meeting will be held at Panevino Ristorante,
Chianti/Brunello Meeting Rooms, located at 246 Via Antonio, Las Vegas, Nevada
89119
.
It
is
anticipated that the 2007 Annual Report and this Proxy Statement and the
accompanying Proxy will be mailed to shareholders on or about
July
3,
2008.
Shareholders
Entitled to Vote.
Holders
of our common stock at the close of business on June 12, 2008 are entitled
to
receive this notice and to vote their shares at the Annual Meeting. Common
stock
is the only outstanding class of our securities entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting. As of June 12, 2008, there were 24,927,710 shares of common stock
outstanding.
Proxies.
Your
vote
is important. If your shares are registered in your name, you are a shareholder
of record. If your shares are in the name of your broker or bank, your shares
are held in street name. We encourage you to vote by Proxy so that your shares
will be represented and voted at the meeting even if you cannot attend. All
shareholders can vote by written Proxy card. Your submission of the enclosed
Proxy will not limit your right to vote at the Annual Meeting if you later
decide to attend in person.
If
your shares are held in street name, you
must
obtain a Proxy, executed in your favor, from the holder of record in order
to be
able to vote at the meeting
.
If you
are a shareholder of record, you may revoke your Proxy at any time before
the
meeting either by filing with our corporate Secretary, at our principal
executive offices, a written notice of revocation or a duly executed Proxy
bearing a later date, or by attending the Annual Meeting and expressing a
desire
to vote your shares in person. All shares entitled to vote and represented
by
properly executed Proxies received prior to the Annual Meeting, and not revoked,
will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions
indicated on those Proxies. If no instructions are indicated on a properly
executed Proxy, the shares represented by that Proxy will be voted as
recommended by our board of directors.
Quorum.
The
presence, in person or by Proxy, of a majority of the votes entitled to be
cast
by the shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is necessary to
constitute a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be included in
the
number of shares present at the Annual Meeting for determining the presence
of a
quorum. Broker non-votes occur when brokers, who hold their customers’ shares in
street name, sign and submit proxies for such shares and vote such shares
on
some matters, but not others. Typically, this would occur when brokers have
not
received any instructions from their customers, in which case the brokers,
as
the holders of record, are permitted to vote on “routine” matters, which
typically include the election of directors.
Voting.
Each
share of our common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter properly
brought before the meeting. Abstentions will be counted toward the tabulation
of
votes cast on proposals submitted to shareholders and will have the same
effect
as negative votes, while broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast
for
or against such matters.
At
the
Annual Meeting, the shareholders will consider and vote upon proposals to
(1)
elect three directors to our board of directors and (2) amend our 2006 Stock
Incentive Plan to increase the number of authorized shares from 1,537,501
to
5,000,000, and such other proposals as may properly come before the Annual
Meeting or any adjournment thereof. The three nominees for directors who
receive
the highest number of votes will be elected. The ratification of the amendment
of our 2006 Stock Incentive Plan requires the affirmative vote of a majority
of
the total votes cast on the proposal.
Solicitation
of Proxies
All
expenses of our solicitation of proxies, including the cost of mailing this
Proxy Statement to our shareholders, will be borne by us. In addition to
solicitation by use of the mails, proxies may be solicited from shareholders
by
our directors, officers and employees in person or by telephone or other
means
of communication. Such directors, officers and employees will not be
additionally compensated, but may be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses in connection with such solicitation. We may retain a proxy
solicitation firm for assistance in connection with the solicitation of proxies
for the Annual Meeting. Arrangements will also be made with brokerage houses,
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for the forwarding of proxy solicitation
materials to beneficial owners of shares held of record by such brokerage
houses, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries, and we will reimburse such
brokerage houses, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable
expenses incurred in connection therewith.
Other
Matters
In
the
event a shareholder proposal was not submitted to us prior to the date of
this
Proxy Statement, the enclosed Proxy will confer authority on the Proxyholders
to
vote the shares in accordance with their best judgment and discretion if
the
proposal is presented at the Annual Meeting. As of the date hereof, no
shareholder proposal has been submitted to us, and management is not aware
of
any other matters to be presented for action at the Annual Meeting. However,
if
any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, the Proxies solicited
hereby will be voted by the Proxyholders in accordance with the recommendations
of our board of directors. Such authorization includes authority to appoint
a
substitute nominee for any board of directors’ nominee identified herein where
death, illness or other circumstance arises which prevents such nominee from
serving in such position and to vote such Proxy for such substitute
nominee.
ITEM
1:
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
Item
1 is
the election of three members to our board of directors. Our board of directors
currently consists of four members. At each annual meeting of our shareholders,
directors are elected for a one-year term. At the 2008 Annual Meeting, each
director will be elected for a term expiring at the 2009 Annual Meeting.
Our
bylaws presently provide that our board of directors will consist of three
to
five members with the actual number to be determined by resolution of our
board
of directors. The number of directors is currently fixed at four and our
board
of directors intends to fix the number at three upon the conclusion of the
2008
Annual Meeting.
Unless
otherwise instructed, the Proxyholders will vote the Proxies received by
them
for the nominees named below. If any nominee is unable or unwilling to serve
as
a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, or any postponement or adjournment
thereof, the Proxies will be voted for such other nominee(s) as shall be
designated by the then current board of directors to fill any vacancy. We
have
no reason to believe that any nominee will be unable or unwilling to serve
if
elected as a director.
Our
board
of directors proposes the election of the following nominees as
directors:
Craig
Ellins
Jerry
Haleva
Kevin
R.
Keating
The
three
nominees for election as directors at the Annual Meeting who receive the
highest
number of affirmative votes will be elected.
The
principal occupation and certain other information about the nominees and
certain executive officers are set forth on the following pages.
Recommendation
OUR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF THE
NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE.
DIRECTORS
AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The
following table sets forth the names, positions and ages of our current
executive officers and director nominees. At each annual meeting of our
shareholders, directors are elected for a one-year term. At the 2008 Annual
Meeting, each director will be elected for a term expiring at the 2009 Annual
Meeting. Officers are appointed by our board of directors and their terms
of
office are, except to the extent governed by an employment contract, at the
discretion of our board of directors.
Name
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Age
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Position
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Craig
Ellins
(1),
(2)
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56
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Chairman
of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President
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Mickey
Elfenbein
(3)
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60
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Chief
Operating Officer and Secretary
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Tracy
Sperry
(4)
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38
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Acting
Chief Financial Officer
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Amy
Black
(1),
(2)
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48
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President
of VMdirect, L.L.C.
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Jerry
Haleva
(1)
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61
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Director
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Kevin
R. Keating
(5)
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68
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Director
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(1)
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These
persons were appointed to their respective positions effective
June 15,
2006.
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(2)
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Craig
Ellins and Amy Black are
husband
and wife.
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(3)
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Mr.
Elfenbein was appointed to his position on August 24, 2007 and
commenced
service as of September 17, 2007.
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(4)
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Ms.
Sperry was appointed to her position on February 1,
2008.
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(5)
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Mr.
Keating was elected as a director on June 22,
2004.
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Directors
Craig
Ellins
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Mr.
Ellins currently serves as our Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive
Officer and President, and has served as the Chief Executive Officer
of
VMdirect since November 2001. Prior to his employment with VMdirect,
Mr.
Ellins provided consulting services to various companies related
to their
direct marketing activities.
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Jerry
Haleva
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Mr.
Haleva is President of Sergeant Major Associates, Inc., which he
founded
in 1990. Mr. Haleva also serves on numerous charitable and issue-based
boards and commissions, including the Executive Committees of both
the
Yosemite National Institute (YNI) and the American Israel Public
Affairs
Committee (AIPAC), as well as on the California International Relations
Foundation. Mr. Haleva is a 20-year veteran as a professional staff
person
with the California Legislature, and has held appointments on the
Capitol
Area Committee, as Chief Counsel to the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Fire
Commission, the Long-range Planning Committee of the FCC, the Safety
Belt
Task Force and, most recently, as Chairman of the California Highway
Patrol Citizens’ Oversight Committee. Beginning as a Ford Foundation
Fellow, he served both houses and both parties during his public
service
career. From 1972 through 1974, he served as the Legislature’s chief
consultant on the state prison system. In 1976, as Chief of Staff
to the
Senate Minority Leader, he helped create and supervised the Joint
Committee on Fire, Police, Emergency and Disaster Services. Additionally,
he oversaw the Select Committee on Business Development and the
Joint
Legislative Budget Committee. Mr. Haleva holds a B.A. in Government
and a
general secondary teaching credential from California State University
at
Sacramento
.
|
Kevin
R. Keating
|
Mr.
Keating, our former President, Secretary and Treasurer from June
22, 2004
through June 15, 2006,
is
the Managing Member of Vero Management, LLC, which provides managerial,
administrative, and financial consulting services for micro-cap
public
companies. For more than 40 years he has been engaged in various
aspects
of the investment business. Mr. Keating began his Wall Street career
with
the First Boston Corporation in New York in 1965. From 1967 through
1974,
he was employed by several institutional research boutiques where
he
functioned as Vice President Institutional Equity Sales. From 1974
until
1982, Mr. Keating was the President and Chief Executive Officer
of Douglas
Stewart, Inc., a New York Stock Exchange member firm. From 1982
through
2006, he was associated with a variety of securities firms as a
registered
representative servicing the investment needs of high net worth
individual
investors
.
Mr. Keating
also
serves on the board of directors of Blue Holdings, Inc., Catalyst
Lighting
Group, Inc., Wentworth IV, Inc. and Wentworth V, Inc. Wentworth
VI, Inc.,
Wentworth VII, Inc. Wentworth VIII, Inc., Frezer, Inc., Quikbyte,
Inc.,
and Bonds.com Group, Inc.
|
Executive
Officers
Mickey
Elfenbein
|
Mr.
Elfenbein currently serves as our Chief Operating Officer and was
appointed as our Secretary on February 1, 2008. From and after
2005 Mr.
Elfenbein served as President of SaySwap, Inc., a business focused
on
internet peer to peer trading of console games. Prior thereto,
from 2000
to 2005 Mr. Elfenbein served as the Chief Executive Officer of
Tundershot,
LLC where he expanded marketing and distribution channels, built
a
financial services agency with direct sales, and gained experience
as a
distributor in a multi-level marketing business. From 1996 to 2000,
as
Chief Executive Officer of Simitar Entertainment, Inc., Mr. Elfenbein
lead
the company into a growth oriented global entertainment product
and
marketing enterprise. Prior thereto, Mr. Elfenbein served as the
Chief
Executive Officer and President of K-tel International, Inc. from
1992 to
1996, and as its President from 1985 to 1992. Mr. Elfenbein graduated
from
the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honors)
degree.
|
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Tracy
Sperry
|
Ms.
Sperry currently serves as our Acting Chief Financial Officer and
has
served as our Director of Finance since 2006. From 2002 to 2006,
Ms.
Sperry worked as a Controller and Financial Reporting Manager for
Aristocrat Technologies, Inc., an international gaming manufacturer
and
Australian public company. Prior thereto, Ms. Sperry spent eight
years as
an auditor, most recently with McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, where she was
employed from 1997 to 2002. Ms. Sperry is a Certified Public Accountant
and member of the AICPA.
|
|
|
Amy
Black
|
Ms.
Black has served as the President of VMdirect since November 2001.
Ms.
Black was a founder of helloNetwork, Inc. in 1996 and served as
its Vice
President of Public Relations and Advertising. From 1992 to 1996,
Ms.
Black was President of Academic
Connections.
|
None
of
our officers or directors, nor any of their affiliates have been involved
in any
transaction with us or any of our directors, executive officers or affiliates
that is required to be disclosed pursuant to the rules and regulations of
the
SEC, other than with respect to the transactions that have been described
herein. None of our officers and directors have been involved in a petition
under Federal bankruptcy laws or state insolvency laws, convicted in a criminal
proceeding, excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors, nor have
they
been a party to any judicial or administrative proceeding during the past
five
years, except for matters that were dismissed without sanction or settlement,
that resulted in a judgment, decree or final order enjoining the person from
future violations of, or prohibiting activities subject to, Federal or state
securities laws, or a finding of any violation of Federal or state securities
laws.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Governance
Practices
Our
board
of directors has adopted several corporate governance policies to enhance
its
own effectiveness and to implement best practices for our corporate governance.
These policies are reviewed from time to time for possible revision to respond
to changing regulatory requirements, evolving best practices and the knowledge
obtained from operating in accordance with these practices over time. Highlights
of our corporate governance practices are described below.
Independence
of our Board of Directors
Since
June 29, 2007, the majority of our board of directors has been comprised
of
“independent” directors as that term is defined in Section 803(A)(2) of the
American Stock Exchange (“AMEX”) Company Guide as required by AMEX. During 2007,
our board of directors determined that each of Emanuel Gerard, Jerry Haleva
and
Kevin Keating were independent.
Board
Committees and Charters
Our
board
of directors delegates various responsibilities and authority to different
committees. Committees regularly report on their activities and actions to
the
full board of directors. Our board of directors currently has, and appoints
the
members of, standing audit and compensation committees. The independent members
of our board of directors also serve in the capacity of our nominating and
governance committee. Our board of directors determined each member of the
audit
and compensation committees to be an independent director in accordance with
NASDAQ standards. Each of the committees has a written charter approved by
our
board of directors. We post copies of each charter on our website at
www.digitalfx.com
under
the “Investor Relations” section. Each committee can engage outside experts,
advisers, and counsel to assist the committee in its work.
Our
board
of directors held 13 meetings during fiscal 2007. Our board of directors
also
acted four times by unanimous written consent during fiscal 2007. All directors
attended 75% or more of all the meetings of our board of directors and those
committees on which they served in fiscal 2007.
While
we
do not require members of our board of directors to attend our Annual Meeting,
each director is encouraged to do so. Our shareholders last acted by written
consent on June 22, 2006.
Audit
Committee
Our
board
of directors has a separately designated standing audit committee (“Audit
Committee”). Our Audit Committee currently consists of Emanuel Gerard (whose
term will expire at the Annual Meeting), Jerry Haleva and Kevin R. Keating.
We
have determined that each member of our Audit Committee is “independent” as that
term is defined in Section 803(A)(2) of the AMEX Company Guide as required
by
AMEX. Our Audit Committee is responsible for selecting and engaging our
independent accountant, establishing procedures for the confidential, anonymous
submission by our employees of, and receipt, retention and treatment of concerns
regarding accounting, internal controls and auditing matters, reviewing the
scope of the audit to be conducted by our independent public accountants,
and
periodically meeting with our independent public accountants and our chief
financial officer to review matters relating to our financial statements,
our
accounting principles and our system of internal accounting controls. Our
Audit
Committee reports its recommendations as to the approval of our financial
statements to our board of directors. The role and responsibilities of our
Audit
Committee are more fully set forth in a written charter adopted by our board
of
directors in August 2006. Our Audit Committee reviews and reassesses the
Audit
Committee Charter annually and recommends any changes to our board of directors
for approval. Our Audit Committee held three meetings during fiscal
2007.
Audit
Committee Financial Expert
Our
board
of directors has determined that our Audit Committee does not include a person
who is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of the rules and
regulations of the SEC. Our board of directors has further determined that
each
member of the Audit Committee is able to read and understand fundamental
financial statements and has substantial business experience that results
in
such member’s financial sophistication. Accordingly, our board of directors
believes that each member of our Audit Committee has sufficient knowledge
and
experience necessary to fulfill such member’s duties and obligations on our
Audit Committee.
Audit
Committee Report
The
Audit
Committee currently consists of Messrs. Gerard, Haleva and Keating. Messrs.
Gerard, Haleva and Keating are “independent,” within the meaning of
the
applicable rules for companies traded on AMEX
.
In
fulfilling its responsibilities for our financial statements for fiscal 2007,
the Audit Committee:
|
·
|
Reviewed
and discussed our audited financial statements for the year ended
December
31, 2007 with management and Weinberg & Company, P.A. (“Weinberg”),
our independent registered public accounting
firm;
|
|
·
|
Discussed
with Weinberg the matters required to be discussed by Statement
on
Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended, relating to the conduct
of the
audit; and
|
|
·
|
Received
written disclosures and a letter from Weinberg regarding its independence
as required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, and
has
discussed with Weinberg their
independence.
|
Based
on
its review of the audited financial statements and discussions with management
and Weinberg, the Audit Committee recommended to our board of directors that
our
audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
for
the year ended December 31, 2007 for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Audit Committee:
|
Emanuel Gerard
|
|
Jerry
Haleva
Kevin
R. Keating
|
Nominating
Procedures
We
do not
have a nominating committee or nominating committee charter for persons to
be
proposed as directors for election to our board of directors. The duties
and
functions performed by such committee are performed by the independent members
of our board of directors pursuant to resolutions adopted by our board of
directors. Currently, our entire board of directors decides on nominees on
the
recommendation of a majority of the independent members of our board of
directors.
We
do not
have any restrictions on shareholder nominations under our articles of
incorporation or bylaws. The only restrictions are those applicable generally
under the Florida Business Corporation Act and the federal proxy rules. Our
shareholders may nominate one or more persons for election as a director
at an
annual meeting of shareholders. Candidates nominated by shareholders will
be
reviewed according to the criteria set forth below.
In
carrying out their function to nominate candidates for election to our board
of
directors, the independent members of our board of directors consider the
mix of
skills, experience, character, commitment, and diversity of background, all
in
the context of the requirements of our board of directors at that point in
time.
The independent members of our board of directors believe that each candidate
should be an individual who has demonstrated integrity and ethics in such
candidate’s personal and professional life, has an understanding of elements
relevant to the success of a publicly-traded company and has established
a
record of professional accomplishment in such candidate’s chosen field. Each
candidate should be prepared to participate fully in board activities, including
attendance at, and active participation in, meetings of our board of directors,
and not have other personal or professional commitments that would, in the
judgment of the independent members of our board of directors, interfere
with or
limit such candidate’s ability to do so.
Notwithstanding
the provisions set forth above, if we are legally required by contract or
otherwise to provide third parties with the ability to nominate directors
(e.g.,
preferred stock rights to elect directors upon a dividend default, shareholder
agreements and management agreements), the selection and nomination of such
directors need not be subject to the nominating and review process of the
independent members of our board of directors. The independent members of
our
board of directors did not act in their capacity as our nominating committee
in
2007.
Compensation
Committee
The
compensation committee of our board of directors (“Compensation Committee”)
currently consists of Messrs. Gerard, Haleva and Keating. Generally, the
Compensation Committee is responsible for considering and making recommendations
to our board of directors regarding executive compensation and is responsible
for administering our stock incentive plan. The role and responsibilities
of the
Compensation Committee are more fully set forth in a written charter adopted
by
our board of directors in August 2006. The Compensation Committee reviews
and
reassesses the Compensation Committee Charter annually and recommends any
changes to our board of directors for approval. Our Compensation Committee
held
one meeting during fiscal 2007.
Code
of Ethical Conduct
Our
board
of directors has adopted a Code of Ethical Conduct (the “Code of Conduct”). We
require all employees, directors and officers, including our Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to adhere to the Code of Conduct in
addressing legal and ethical issues encountered in conducting their work.
The
Code of Conduct requires that these individuals avoid conflicts of interest,
comply with all laws and other legal requirements, conduct business in an
honest
and ethical manner and otherwise act with integrity and in our best interest.
The Code of Conduct contains additional provisions that apply specifically
to
our Chief Financial Officer and other financial officers with respect to
full
and accurate reporting. The Code of Conduct is available on our website at
www.digitalfx.com
.
Shareholder
Communications with our Board of Directors
Our
board
of directors has adopted two methods by which our shareholders may communicate
with our board of directors regarding matters of substantial importance to
us.
These methods are as follows:
1.
Procedures
for Submission of Communications Regarding Audit and Accounting
Matters
.
Pursuant to the duties and responsibilities delegated to the Audit Committee
in
its Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee adopted procedures for (a)
the
receipt, retention, and treatment of communications received by us regarding
accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters; and (b) the
submission by our employees, on a confidential and anonymous basis, of
communications regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. These
procedures allow any person to submit a good faith communication regarding
these
various audit, internal accounting control and accounting matters to the
Audit
Committee, or to our management, and any employee to do so on a confidential
and
anonymous basis, without fear of dismissal or retaliation of any kind.
Ultimately, the Audit Committee will oversee treatment of communications
in this
area, and therefore any submissions would be reviewed by those members of
our
board of directors serving on the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee also
may
submit such communications to our board of directors for review and oversight
as
well.
2.
Code
of Ethical Conduct
.
Our
Code of Ethical Conduct identifies the e-mail addresses for each of our Chief
Operating Officer, board of directors and Audit Committee. This allows
individuals to contact those parties in connection with matters concerning
the
code and our overall ethical values and standards. We have also listed the
contact information of our independent corporate counsel should individuals
wish
to contact our board of directors on an anonymous basis.
COMPENSATION
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The
following discussion and analysis relates to the compensation paid to our
named
executive officers in the Summary Compensation Table set forth below during
fiscal 2007.
Compensation
Philosophy and Objectives
Our
executive compensation program is designed to (i) attract, as needed,
executives with the skills necessary for us to achieve our business plan
priorities, (ii) reward our executives fairly over time, (iii) retain
those executives who continue to perform at or above expected levels of
performance, and (iv) align the compensation of our executives with our
performance.
Compensation
for our named executive officers has both short-term and long-term components,
as well as a benefits component, and is dependent on performance. The short-term
components are base salary and cash bonuses. The long-term component consists
of
stock options. Our 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (“Plan”), which was adopted by our
shareholders in 2006, also permits the granting of restricted stock.
Historically we have granted only stock options to our named executive officers.
In establishing future executive officer compensation packages, the Compensation
Committee may utilize the other types of awards available under the Plan,
and/or
adopt additional long-term incentive and/or annual incentive plans to meet
the
needs of changing employment markets and economic, accounting and tax
conditions. It is anticipated that any such new plans would be submitted to our
shareholders for approval.
Our
compensation program does not rely to any significant extent on welfare benefits
or perquisites. The benefits offered under these plans and programs to named
executive officers serve a different purpose than do the other components
of
compensation. In general, they are designed to provide a safety net of
protection against the financial catastrophes that can result from illness,
disability or death, and to provide a reasonable level of retirement income
based on compensation and years of service. Benefits offered to named executive
officers are those that are offered to the general employee population.
Perquisites are limited and generally consist of automobile
allowances.
Our
management, the Compensation Committee and our board of directors work in
a
cooperative fashion. Management advises the Compensation Committee and our
board
of directors on compensation developments, compensation packages and our
overall
compensation program. The Compensation Committee and/or our board of directors
then review and are required to approve the same prior to their adoption
by us.
Our board of directors also approves any material changes in our Chief Executive
Officer’s compensation arrangements. Management works with the Compensation
Committee and our board of directors to report on executive performance,
particular business issues facing an executive or his or her division, and
management’s views on the efficacy of and incentives behind the compensation
program in order to assist in the establishment of appropriate performance
goals, the adjustment of salaries, the award of discretionary bonuses and
related matters.
Our
compensation program and the compensation package of each named executive
officer are reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee. On a program-wide
basis, the Compensation Committee considers whether our incentive plans provide
appropriate means of compensating our executives (e.g., cash versus stock,
time-based versus performance-based incentives, etc.), stock availability
under
existing plans and developments in the field of incentive compensation.
Historically, we have not had bonus or other incentive compensation plans,
other
than the Plan. Furthermore, we were limited (and continue to be limited)
in the
number of options (and other equity awards) we could grant to individuals
as the
Plan is subject to limitations regarding the maximum number of awards that
we
may grant. Our compensation program does not provide for a specific mix of
base
salary, cash bonuses and equity awards. We seek to establish our executive
compensation at levels we believe will enable us to hire and retain executives
in a competitive environment and to reward executives for their contribution
to
our overall business success.
The
Compensation Committee’s annual review also includes consideration of the
various elements of our executive compensation packages, including whether
there
should be general or specific salary increases, whether potential payouts
as a
percentage of salary should change, and whether to alter the mix between
cash
and equity compensation. This review also addresses the more specific issues
of
setting performance targets and whether an individual executive’s performance,
promotion or change in circumstances warrant changes to his or her compensation
package that are different from the other executives as a group.
Elements
of Compensation
In
setting the compensation for each named executive officer, the Compensation
Committee considers (i) the level of compensation paid to executive
officers in positions of similar digital communications companies, (ii) the
responsibility and authority of each position relative to other positions
within
the company, (iii) the individual performance of each executive officer,
and (iv) the experience and skills of the named executive
officer.
Base
Salary
In
establishing base salaries for named executive officers, the Compensation
Committee considers the comparative data described above as well as overall
performance, the performance of each individual named executive officer,
and the
performance of their division for operational executives, as well as considering
market forces, peer data and other general factors believed to be relevant,
including time between salary increases, promotion, expansion of
responsibilities, advancement potential, and the execution of special or
difficult assignments. Additionally, the Compensation Committee will take
into
account the relative salaries of the executive officers and determine what
it
believes are appropriate compensation level distinctions between and among
the
executive officers, including between the Chief Executive Officer and the
other
named executive officers and among the other named executive officers. While
the
Compensation Committee considers our financial performance, there is no specific
relationship between achieving or failing to achieve budgeted estimates or
our
stock or financial performance and the annual salaries determined by the
Compensation Committee for any of the executive officers. No specific weight
is
attributed to any of the factors considered by the Compensation Committee;
the
Compensation Committee considers all factors and makes a subjective
determination, based upon the experience of its members and the recommendations
of our management.
Salaries
for executives are reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee and may
be
adjusted by the Compensation Committee in accordance with the criteria described
above. Management participates in setting base salaries as described
above.
Cash
Bonuses
Our
named
executive officers are eligible to receive cash bonuses at the discretion
of the
Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee believes cash bonuses
serve
to motivate our named executive officers to meet performance goals envisioned
by
management and the Compensation Committee in order to benefit all of our
stakeholders. The Compensation Committee awards cash bonuses based on management
recommendations, the comparative data described above as well as individual
performance, the functions performed by the named executive officer, the
scope
of the named executive officer’s on-going duties, general changes in industry
compensation for comparable positions, and our overall financial
performance.
Equity
Compensation
Our
officers and other employees are eligible to participate in the Plan. The
Plan
was established to provide an incentive for employees, including executive
officers, to maximize our long-term performance, and permits our board of
directors or the Compensation Committee to grant stock options and restricted
stock purchase rights to employees, including executive officers, on such
terms
as our board of directors or the Compensation Committee may
determine.
Our
overall long-term equity incentive strategy is to grant stock options, which
reward the executive when shareholder value is created via stock appreciation.
We believe that stock options are an effective way to motivate executives
to
deliver consistent operational performance to increase our long-term
value.
The
Compensation Committee considers the grant of stock-based compensation to
all
officers. The Compensation Committee determines the size of an executive’s
equity grant by considering a number of factors, such as: (i) market
benchmarking, including the size of competitive grants based on the value
delivered, percent of the company and absolute size of the grant,
(ii) prior grants and the unvested retention value of the grants,
(iii) retention objectives for the specific executive, and
(iv) guidelines established by the Compensation Committee for equity usage
company-wide. Such grants are then made on the basis of a subjective analysis
of
an executive’s individual performance, our financial performance, and the number
of shares subject to the executive’s existing options, as well as the extent to
which the executive’s existing equity awards have current value.
These
annual grants are reviewed with the Compensation Committee and approved by
the
Compensation Committee or our board of directors on the grant date. The exercise
price for stock options is greater than or equal to the closing price of
the
underlying common stock on the grant date.
Benefits
and Other Compensation
We
maintain broad-based benefits that are provided to all employees, including
health and dental insurance, life and disability insurance. Executives are
eligible to participate in all of our employee benefit plans, in each case
on
the same basis as other employees. Currently, we do not have a pension plan
or
any defined contribution or defined benefit retirement plans.
Tax
Considerations
The
Compensation Committee has considered the potential future effects of Internal
Revenue Code Section 162(m) on its compensation program.
Section 162(m) limits the deductibility by public companies of certain
executive compensation in excess of $1.0 million per executive per year,
but
excludes from the calculation of such $1.0 million limit certain elements
of
compensation, including performance-based compensation, provided that certain
requirements are met. None of our executive officers approached the $1.0
million
limit in fiscal 2007 and we do not expect any executive officer to approach
such
limit in fiscal 2008.
Compensation
of Chief Executive Officer
We
paid
our Chief Executive Officer and President, Craig Ellins, $125,000 for services
rendered during 2007. We considered the level of compensation paid to chief
executive officers of similar digital communication companies, the
responsibility and authority of our chief executive officer relative to other
officers within the company, (iii) the performance of our chief executive
officer, and (iv) the experience and skills of our chief executive
officer.
Compensation
of Other Named Executive Officers
The
specific amounts of compensation we paid to our other named executive officers
are set forth in the summary compensation table below. We believe that these
amounts were competitive with respect to compensation in our industry and
met
the elements described under our compensation objectives and
philosophy.
EXECUTIVE
& DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Summary
Compensation Table
The
following table sets forth, as to our named executive officers, information
concerning all compensation paid to our named executive officers for services
rendered during our fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. No other
executive officers received total compensation in excess of $100,000 for
the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
Name
and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
Option
Awards ($)
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Craig
Ellins
Chairman,
Chief Executive Officer and President
(1)
|
|
|
2007
2006
|
|
$
$
|
125,000
83,467
|
|
$
|
--
15,478
|
|
|
--
--
|
|
$
$
|
125,000
98,945
|
|
Mickey
Elfenbein
Chief
Operating Officer and Secretary
(2)
|
|
|
2007
2006
|
|
$
|
59,119
--
|
|
$
|
6,000
--
|
|
$
|
76,691
--
|
|
$
|
141,810
--
|
|
Lorne
Walker
Chief
Financial Officer and Secretary
(3)
|
|
|
2007
2006
|
|
$
$
|
116,562
101,922
|
|
$
$
|
6,000
13,898
|
|
$
|
39,772
14,399
|
|
$
$
|
162,334
132,019
|
|
Amy
Black
President
of VMdirect, L.L.C
.(4)
|
|
|
2007
2006
|
|
$
$
|
125,000
107,628
|
|
$
|
--
15,246
|
|
|
--
--
|
|
$
$
|
125,000
122,874
|
|
|
(1)
|
Mr.
Ellins became our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
on June
15, 2006 upon the closing of a stock exchange transaction (the
“Exchange
Transaction”) with VMdirect, LLC (“VMdirect”). The compensation disclosed
for Mr. Ellins in the table above for the year ended December 31,
2006
includes $22,476 paid as salary for services rendered by Mr. Ellins
to
VMdirect as its Chief Executive Officer during the period from
January 1
through June 15, 2006. Mr. Ellins’ current annual salary is $100,000 and
he may also receive a discretionary bonus as determined by the
compensation committee of our board of directors. Mr. Ellins does
not have
an employment agreement with us.
|
|
(2)
|
Mr.
Elfenbein was appointed as our Chief Operating Officer on August
24, 2007
and commenced service as of September 17, 2007. Mr. Elfenbein was
appointed as our Secretary on February 1. 2008. Mr. Elfenbein was
granted
an option to purchase 300,000 shares of our common stock at a per
share
price of $3.80.
The
other material terms of the option are discussed below.
The
fair value of options was estimated on the date of grant using
the
Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average
assumptions for the year ended December 31, 2007: risk-free interest
rate
of 4.64%; expected dividend yield of zero percent; expected option
life of
five years; and current volatility of 68.38%. On May 13, 2008,
these
options were cancelled and we issued Mr. Elfenbein two new options
to
purchase 125,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of
$1.21 and
175,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.55 with
the same
vesting provisions as the cancelled options, and each terminating
on May
12, 2018. Mr. Elfenbein is party to an employment agreement with
us
pursuant to which Mr. Elfenbein will receive base compensation
for the
first six months of the term at an annual rate of no less than
$200,000,
and thereafter, will receive compensation at an annual rate of
no less
than $250,000. The employment agreement has a term of three years
subject
to automatic one-year renewals unless either party provides 120
days prior
written notice to the other of non-renewal. Mr. Elfenbein is also
entitled
to participate in our bonus pool at the discretion of our board
of
directors. Mr. Elfenbein is also entitled to three weeks paid vacation
and
reimbursement of expenses, including a non-accountable amount of
$750 per
month to cover additional expenses. Additionally, Mr. Elfenbein
has agreed
to relocate from his current residence to Las Vegas, Nevada and
in
connection with such relocation, we have agreed to pay to Mr. Elfenbein
an
amount of up to $55,000 to be applied to costs related to his relocation.
If we terminate Mr. Elfenbein’s employment for any reason other than for
cause (as defined in the employment agreement), his death or his
permanent
disability, or if Mr. Elfenbein terminates his employment due to
a
constructive termination (as defined in the employment agreement),
we are
required to pay Mr. Elfenbein his then current base salary for
a period of
12 months, and to continue his benefits (covering Mr. Elfenbein
and his
family) for the same period, unless Mr. Elfenbein commences other
employment pursuant to which he receives comparable benefits. If
Mr.
Elfenbein’s employment is terminated for any reason other than for cause,
Mr. Elfenbein’s option will vest with respect to an additional 50,000
shares of our common stock.
|
|
(3)
|
Ms.
Walker served as our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary from
June 15,
2006 through February 1, 2008. The compensation disclosed for Ms.
Walker
in the table above for the year ended December 31, 2006 includes
$47,499
paid as salary for services rendered by Ms. Walker to VMdirect
as its
Chief Financial Officer during the period from January 1 through
June 15,
2006. Ms. Walker’s annual salary was $125,000 and she was eligible to
receive a discretionary bonus as determined by the compensation
committee
of our board of directors. Ms. Walker was granted an option by
VMdirect
which we assumed and which entitled Ms. Walker to purchase 376,419
shares
of our common stock at a per share exercise price of $0.26. The
fair value
of options was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes
option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions
for
the year ended December 31, 2007: risk-free interest rate of 4.5%;
expected dividend yield of zero percent; expected option life of
four
years; and current volatility of 50%. Ms. Walker was also granted
an
additional option to purchase 30,000 shares of our common stock
at a per
share exercise price of $3.65. The fair value of options was estimated
on
the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model
with the
following weighted-average assumptions for the year ended December
31,
2007: risk-free interest rate of 4.64%; expected dividend yield
of zero
percent; expected option life of five years; and current volatility
of
42%. The other material terms of the options are discussed below.
Ms.
Walker did not have an employment agreement with us. Ms. Walker’s options
terminated on May 1, 2008.
|
|
(4)
|
Ms.
Black’s current annual salary is $100,000 and she may receive a
discretionary bonus as determined by the compensation committee
of our
board of directors. Ms. Black does not have an employment agreement
with
us.
|
Except
as
previously disclosed, we have no agreements with our named executive officers
that provide for payments to such named executive officers at, following
or in
connection with the resignation, retirement or other termination of such
named
executive officers, or a change in control of our company or a change in
the
responsibilities of such named executive officers following a change in
control.
Grants
of Plan Based Awards Table
The
following table presents information regarding plan based option grants to
our
named executive officers during our fiscal year ending December 31,
2007.
Name
|
|
Grant
Date
|
|
All
Other Option Awards: Number of Shares of Stocks of Units
(#)
|
|
Exercise
or Base Price of Option Awards ($/Sh)
|
|
Grant
Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards
|
|
Craig
Ellins
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
Mickey
Elfenbein
(1)
|
|
|
8/24/07
|
|
|
300,000
|
|
$
|
3.80
|
|
$
|
690,218
|
|
Lorne
Walker
(2)
|
|
|
6/29/07
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
$
|
3.65
|
|
$
|
52,254
|
|
Amy
Black
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
(1)
|
Consists
of options issued in conjunction with Mr. Elfenbein’s employment
agreement. The options entitled Mr. Elfenbein to purchase an aggregate
of
300,000 shares of common stock at a per share exercise price of
$3.80.
These options, which were granted on August 24, 2007, vested over
three
years as follows: 33.4% on September 17, 2008, 33.3% on each of
the second
and third anniversaries of the grant date. The fair value of options
was
estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing
model with the following weighted-average assumptions for the year
ended
December 31, 2007: risk-free interest rate of 4.64%; expected dividend
yield of zero percent; expected option life of five years; and
current
volatility of 68.38%. On May 13, 2008, these options were cancelled
and we
issued Mr. Elfenbein two new options to purchase 125,000 shares
of common
stock at an exercise price of $1.21 and 175,000 shares of common
stock at
an exercise price of $0.55 with the same vesting provisions as
the
cancelled options, and each terminating on May 12,
2018.
|
|
(2)
|
Consists
of options issued to Ms. Walker on June 29, 2007. The options entitled
Ms.
Walker to purchase an aggregate of 30,000 shares of common stock
at a per
share exercise price of $3.65. The options vest as follows: 25%
on June
29, 2007 and 25% on June 29, 2008 and the remainder monthly thereafter
on
a ratable basis for 24 months. These options terminated on May
1, 2008.
The fair value of options was estimated on the date of grant using
the
Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average
assumptions for the year ended December 31, 2007: risk-free interest
rate
of 4.64%; expected dividend yield of zero percent; expected option
life of
five years; and current volatility of
42%.
|
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table
The
following table presents information regarding outstanding options held by
our
named executive officers as of the end of our fiscal year ending December
31,
2007.
Name
|
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)
Exercisable
|
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)
Unexercisable
|
|
Option
Exercise Price ($)
|
|
Option
Expiration Date
|
|
Craig
Ellins
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
Mickey
Elfenbein
(1)
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
300,000
|
|
$
|
3.80
|
|
|
8/23/2017
|
|
Lorne
Walker
(2)
|
|
|
274,472
|
|
|
101,947
|
|
$
|
0.26
|
|
|
12/31/2015
|
|
Lorne
Walker
(3)
|
|
|
7,500
|
|
|
22,500
|
|
$
|
3.65
|
|
|
06/28/2017
|
|
Amy
Black
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
(1)
|
Consists
of options issued in conjunction with Mr. Elfenbein’s employment
agreement. The options entitle Mr. Elfenbein to purchase an aggregate
of
300,000 shares of common stock at a per share exercise price of
$3.80.
These options, which were granted on August 24, 2007, vest over
three
years as follows: 33.4% on September 17, 2008, 33.3% on each of
the second
and third anniversaries of the grant date. On May 13, 2008, these
options
were cancelled and we issued Mr. Elfenbein two new options to purchase
125,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.21 and
175,000
shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.55 with the same
vesting
provisions as the cancelled options, and each terminating on May
12,
2018.
|
|
(2)
|
Consists
of options originally issued by VMdirect and assumed by us in the
Exchange
Transaction with VMdirect which entitled Ms. Walker to purchase
an
aggregate of 376,419 shares of common stock at a per share exercise
price
of $0.26. These options vested as follows: 25% on December 31,
2005, and
25% on December 31, 2006, and the remainder monthly thereafter
on a
ratable basis for 24 months. These options terminated on May 1,
2008.
|
|
(3)
|
Consists
of options issued to Ms. Walker on June 29, 2007. The options entitled
Ms.
Walker to purchase an aggregate of 30,000 shares of common stock
at a per
share exercise price of $3.65. The options vested as follows: 25%
on June
29, 2007 and 25% on June 29, 2008 and the remainder monthly thereafter
on
a ratable basis for 24 months. These options terminated on May
1,
2008.
|
Director
Compensation
The
following table details the total compensation earned by our non-employee
directors in 2007.
Name
|
|
Fees
Earned or Paid in Cash
($)
|
|
Option
Awards
($)
(1)
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Emanuel
Gerard
(2)
|
|
$
|
5,000
|
|
$
|
17,892
|
|
$
|
22,892
|
|
Jerry
Haleva
(3)
|
|
$
|
22,000
|
|
$
|
21,174
|
|
$
|
43,174
|
|
Kevin
Keating
(4)
|
|
$
|
22,000
|
|
$
|
21,174
|
|
$
|
43,174
|
|
|
(1)
|
The
fair value of options was estimated on the date of grant using
the
Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average
assumptions for the year ended December 31, 2007: grant date fair
value of
$3.45- $4.20; dividend yield of 0; risk free interest rate of 4.5%;
expected volatility of 42.0-68.38% and an expected life of 5
years
.
|
|
(2)
|
Mr.
Gerard had 30,000 options outstanding at December 31, 2007, of
which 7,500
were exercisable at an exercise price of $3.45
.
The remaining options vest in equal annual installments over a
three-year
period from the date of grant, which was September 30, 2007. On
May 13,
2008, these options were cancelled and we issued Mr. Gerard a new
option
to purchase 30,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price
of $1.21
with the same vesting provisions as the cancelled option, terminating
on
May 12, 2018.
|
|
(3)
|
Mr.
Haleva had 30,000 options outstanding at December 31, 2007, of
which 7,500
were exercisable at an exercise price of $4.20. The remaining options
vest
in equal annual installments over a three-year period from the
date of
grant, which was April 27, 2007. On May 13, 2008, these options
were
cancelled and we issued Mr. Haleva a new option to purchase 30,000
shares
of common stock at an exercise price of $1.21 with the same vesting
provisions as the cancelled option, terminating on May 12,
2018.
|
|
(4)
|
Mr.
Keating had 30,000 options outstanding at December 31, 2007, of
which
7,500 were exercisable at an exercise price of $4.20. The remaining
options vest in equal annual installments over a three-year period
from
the date of grant, which was April 27, 2007. On May 13, 2008, these
options were cancelled and we issued Mr. Keating a new option to
purchase
30,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.21 with
the same
vesting provisions as the cancelled option, terminating on May
12,
2018.
|
The
general policy of our board of directors is that compensation for independent
directors should be a mix of cash and equity-based compensation. We do not
pay
management directors for board service in addition to their regular employee
compensation. The compensation committee of our board of directors, which
consists of Messrs Gerard, Haleva and Keating, all of whom are “independent” as
that term is defined in Section 803(A)(2) of the AMEX Company Guide as required
by AMEX, has the primary responsibility for reviewing and considering any
revisions to director compensation. The Board reviews the committee’s
recommendations and determines the amount of director compensation. The
committee can engage the services of outside advisers, experts, and others
to
assist the committee in determining director compensation. During 2007, the
committee did not use an outside adviser to aid in setting director
compensation.
During
2007 the committee recommended and our board of directors approved the payment
of $10,000 as compensation to our independent directors for services rendered
during fiscal 2006, and the following compensation for services rendered
or to
be rendered during fiscal 2007:
|
·
|
quarterly
cash retainer of $2,500;
|
|
·
|
in
person attendance fee of $1,000;
|
|
·
|
telephonic
attendance fee of $500; and
|
|
·
|
stock
option grant of 30,000 shares.
|
Directors’
options vest in equal annual installments over a three-year period from the
date
of grant.
CERTAIN
TRANSACTIONS WITH SIGNIFICANT SHAREHOLDERS,
DIRECTORS
AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Reportable
Related Person Transactions
.
Other
than the employment agreements described elsewhere in this Proxy Statement
and
the transactions described below, since January 1, 2006, there has not been,
nor
is there currently proposed, any transaction or series of similar transactions
to which we were or will be a party:
|
·
|
in
which the amount involved exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or one
percent of
the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed
fiscal years; and
|
|
·
|
in
which any nominee for director named in this Proxy Statement, executive
officer, other shareholders of more than 5% of our common stock
or any
member of their immediate family had or will have a direct or indirect
material interest.
|
On
June
10, 2004, we entered into a contract with Vero Management, LLC (“Vero”) for
managerial and administrative services. Vero was not engaged to provide,
and
Vero did not render, legal, accounting, auditing, investment banking or capital
formation services. Kevin R. Keating is the manager of Vero. The term of
the
contract was for one year. In consideration of the services provided, Vero
was
paid $1,000 for each month in which services were rendered. Furthermore,
Vero
paid $25,439 of our expenses during the three months ended March 31, 2006.
As of
March 31, 2006, we owed Vero $31,439, which amount was paid by us at
consummation of our acquisition of VMdirect. We terminated our agreement
with
Vero on June 15, 2006.
We
engaged Garisch Financial, Inc. in July 2004 to perform consulting services
for
us while we were a public shell and to assist in due diligence, structuring
and
negotiating acquisition transactions to which we were party. We did not enter
into a written consulting services agreement with Garisch Financial, Inc.
Upon
the consummation of the acquisition of VMdirect, we paid Garisch Financial,
Inc.
a sum of $60,000 for consulting services rendered to us. Garisch Financial,
Inc.
no longer provides consulting services to us.
At
the
closing of our acquisition of VMdirect, we entered into a financial advisory
agreement with Keating Securities, LLC (“Keating Securities”), a registered
broker-dealer, under which Keating Securities was compensated by us for advisory
services rendered to us in connection with our acquisition of VMdirect. The
transaction advisory fee of $500,000 was paid at the closing of the
acquisition.
Kevin
R.
Keating, one of our directors, is the father of the principal member of Keating
Investments, LLC. Keating Investments, LLC is the managing member of Keating
Reverse Merger Fund, LLC. Keating Investments, LLC is also the managing member
and 90% owner of Keating Securities, LLC, a registered broker-dealer. Keating
Investments, LLC is also the managing member and 100% owner of Keating After
Market Support, LLC. Kevin R. Keating is not affiliated with and has no equity
interest in Keating Investments, LLC, Keating Reverse Merger Fund, LLC, Keating
Securities, LLC or Keating After Market Support, LLC and disclaims any
beneficial interest in the shares of our common stock owned by Keating Reverse
Merger Fund, LLC. Similarly, Keating Investments, LLC, Keating Reverse Merger
Fund, LLC, Keating Securities, LLC and Keating After Market Support, LLC
disclaim any beneficial interest in the shares of our common stock currently
owned by Kevin R. Keating.
Immediately
following the closing of our acquisition of VMdirect, we entered into an
agreement with Keating After Market Support, LLC to provide investor relations
and after market support services to us for a period of not less than six
months
following the closing of the acquisition. Under this agreement, Keating After
Market Support, LLC was paid a monthly fee of $7,500 during the
term.
On
January 29, 2007, we entered into an Amended and Restated License, Hosting
and
Services Agreement (the “Amended Agreement”) with RazorStream, a company
controlled by VM Investors, LLC, our majority shareholder, which is in turn
managed by Craig Ellins, our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President,
and Richard Kall, the Chairman of VMdirect. The Amended Agreement amends
and
restates the Licensing, Hosting and Services Agreement effective May 1, 2005
with RazorStream.
Pursuant
to the terms of the Amended Agreement, RazorStream will provide hosting,
maintenance and support services for each individual website operated by
us or
any third party authorized by us. While the initial term of the Amended
Agreement ended on January 15, 2008, the Amended Agreement remains operative
thereafter unless terminated by either party upon 60 days prior written notice.
Under the terms of the Amended Agreement, for each individual website operated
by us or any third party authorized by us, RazorStream (a) charges us $5
per new
subscriber account exceeding 20,000 accounts (purchasable in 20,000 account
increments); (b) is entitled to (1) ten percent (10%) of our total gross
revenue
from all active subscriber accounts, with a minimum amount of $0.69 per each
such subscriber account per month, and (2) terms to be mutually agreed upon
by
the parties for all advertising-based “free” subscriber accounts, provided,
however that such terms will provide for a minimum amount of $0.25 per each
such
subscriber account per month; and (c) effective February 1, 2007, is entitled
to
a minimum guarantee of $50,000 per month that is non-refundable but that
will be
credited against the above fees. We may, from time to time, engage RazorStream
for non-recurring engineering services at a rate of $200 per hour. The fees
above apply independently to each individual website operated by us or any
third
party authorized by us, and no fees charged with respect to any individual
website, and no subscriber account applied with respect to any individual
website, shall be aggregated with any fees or subscriber accounts, respectively,
applied to any other website. In connection with the services discussed above,
we incurred expenses of $2,029,000 during the year ended December 31,
2007.
In
addition, in conjunction with RazorStream, we are in process of developing
a
unique internet appliance (the “Set Top Box”) which will allow users the ability
to access their DigitalFX Studio features, stream high resolution on demand
audio and video content and participate in the social network, all from their
television. During the year ended December 31, 2007, we made payments to
RazorStream of $225,000 for development costs associated with the Set Top
Box.
On
June
8, 2007, we entered into a Subscription, Loan and Rights Agreement (the “SaySwap
Agreement”) with SaySwap, Inc. (“SaySwap”) pursuant to which we agreed to
purchase a Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Note (the “SaySwap Note”)
issued by SaySwap in the principal amount of $225,000 and a warrant (the
“SaySwap Warrant”) to purchase 26.1 shares of SaySwap’s common stock. SaySwap is
a company that is 60% owned by Mickey Elfenbein, our Chief Operating Officer,
and members of his immediate family.
The
SaySwap Note accrues interest at a rate of 8% per annum and has a maturity
date
of April 24, 2009, provided, however, that if SaySwap consummates a qualified
financing (as defined in the SaySwap Note), SaySwap is required to repay
the
outstanding principal amount and all accrued interest on the SaySwap Note
within
10 days of the consummation of such qualified financing. We may also declare
the
outstanding principal and accrued interest due and payable in the event of
a
default under the SaySwap Note. The SaySwap Note is convertible, at our option,
into shares of SaySwap’s common stock, at any time prior to 30 days before the
maturity date or three days before the consummation of a qualified financing.
As
security for SaySwap’s obligations under the SaySwap Note, SaySwap also granted
to us a first priority security interest in all of SaySwap’s
assets.
The
SaySwap Warrant entitles us to purchase 26.1 shares of SaySwap’s common stock at
a per share price of $3,831. The SaySwap Warrant expires on May 31, 2010.
In
February 2008 we exercised the SaySwap Warrant for an aggregate purchase
price
of $100,000.
During
the year ended December 31, 2007, we made payments to Vayan Marketing, LLC
totaling $225,000 under an agreement to provide auto-responder services to
us.
The agreement expired in December, 2007 and has been renewed on a month to
month
basis by us at a monthly rate of $5,000. Laura Kall, an officer of Vayan
Marketing Group, LLC is an immediate family member of Richard Kall, the Chairman
of VMdirect.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The
following table sets forth certain information regarding our common stock
beneficially owned on June 30, 2008 for (i) each shareholder known to be
the
beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common stock, (ii) each
named executive officer, current executive officer and director, and (iii)
all
executive officers and directors as a group. In general, a person is deemed
to
be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares the power to
vote or direct the voting of such security, or the power to dispose or to
direct
the disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial
owner of any securities of which the person has the right to acquire beneficial
ownership within 60 days.
Under
the
terms of the Amended and Restated Notes and the Amended and Restated Warrants
described in the section captioned “Private Placement of Convertible Notes and
Warrants,” a holder of such securities may not convert or exercise such
securities to the extent such conversion or exercise would cause such holder,
together with its affiliates, to beneficially own a number of shares of our
common stock which would exceed 4.99% of our then outstanding shares of common
stock following such conversion or exercise, excluding for purposes of such
determination shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the
Amended
and Restated Notes which have not been converted and upon exercise of the
Amended and Restated Warrants that have not been exercised. The shares of
our
common stock and percentage ownership listed in the following table for Portside
Growth & Opportunity Fund do not reflect these contractual limitations on a
holder’s ability to acquire shares of our common stock upon conversion of its
Amended and Restated Note or exercise of its Amended and Restated
Warrant.
Unless
otherwise indicated, to our knowledge, each person in the table has sole
voting
and investment power with respect to the shares shown. The following table
assumes a total of 24,927,710 shares of common stock outstanding as of June
30,
2008.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
Beneficially Owned
|
|
Name
of Beneficial Owner
(1)
|
|
Number
|
|
Percent
of Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Craig
Ellins
(2)
|
|
|
16,110,669
|
|
|
64.6
|
%
|
Mickey
Elfenbein
|
|
|
500
|
|
|
*
|
|
Tracy
Sperry
(3)
|
|
|
5,521
|
|
|
*
|
|
Lorne
Walker
(4)
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
*
|
|
Amy
Black
(5)
|
|
|
16,110,669
|
|
|
64.6
|
%
|
Kevin
R. Keating
(6)
|
|
|
57,500
|
|
|
*
|
|
Jerry
Haleva
(7)
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
*
|
|
Emanuel
Gerard
(8)
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
*
|
|
All
Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (8 persons)
(9)
|
|
|
16,205,190
|
|
|
64.9
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5%
Shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VM
Investors, LLC
(10)
|
|
|
16,108,169
|
|
|
64.6
|
%
|
Richard
Kall
(11)
|
|
|
16,113,169
|
|
|
64.6
|
%
|
Portside
Growth and Opportunity Fund
(12)
c/o
Ramius Capital Group, L.L.C.
666
Third Avenue, 26th Floor
New
York, NY 10017
|
|
|
2,321,430
|
|
|
8.7
|
%
|
*
Less
than
1%
|
1.
|
Unless
otherwise stated, the address is c/o DigitalFX International, Inc.,
3035
East Patrick Lane, Suite 9, Las Vegas, Nevada
89120.
|
|
2.
|
Includes
16,108,169 shares of common stock held by VM Investors, LLC. Craig
Ellins
is a member and one of the managers of VM Investors, LLC and disclaims
beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock held by VM Investors,
LLC except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. Mr.
Ellins
currently serves as our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President,
and as a manager of VMdirect.
|
|
3.
|
Consists
of 5,521 shares of common stock that may be acquired from us within
60
days of June 30, 2008 upon the exercise of outstanding stock options.
Tracy Sperry currently serves as our Acting Chief Financial
Officer.
|
|
4.
|
Lorne
Walker served as our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary from
June 2006
through February 1, 2008, and previously served as the Chief Financial
Officer of VMdirect from September 2005 through June
2006.
|
|
5.
|
Consists
of 16,108,169 shares of common stock held by VM Investors, LLC
and 2,500
shares of common stock held by Craig Ellins. Amy Black is a member
of VM
Investors, LLC and is the spouse of Craig Ellins, one of the managers
of
VM Investors, LLC. Amy Black disclaims beneficial ownership of
the shares
of common stock held by VM Investors, LLC except to the extent
of her
pecuniary interest therein. Ms. Black currently serves as the President
of
VMdirect.
|
|
6.
|
Includes
15,000 shares of common stock that may be acquired from us within
60 days
of June 30, 2008 upon the exercise of outstanding stock options.
Kevin R.
Keating, one of our directors, is the father of Timothy Keating,
the
principal member of Keating Investments, LLC. Keating Investments,
LLC is
the managing member of Keating Reverse Merger Fund, LLC, one of
our
shareholders. Keating Investments, LLC is also the managing member
and 90%
owner of Keating Securities, LLC, a registered broker-dealer. Kevin
R.
Keating is not affiliated with and has no equity interest in Keating
Investments, LLC, Keating Reverse Merger Fund, LLC or Keating Securities,
LLC and disclaims any beneficial interest in the shares of our
common
stock owned by Keating Reverse Merger Fund, LLC. Similarly, Keating
Investments, LLC, Keating Reverse Merger Fund, LLC and Keating
Securities,
LLC disclaim any beneficial interest in the shares of our common
stock
currently owned by Kevin R. Keating. Kevin R. Keating served as
our
President, Secretary and treasurer from June 2004 through June
2006. Kevin
R. Keating is an investment executive and the Branch Manager of
the Vero
Beach, Florida, office of Brookstreet Securities Corporation, a
registered
broker-dealer. Kevin R. Keating also has an immediate family member,
Timothy Keating, who is an affiliate of a registered broker-dealer.
Kevin
R. Keating purchased or otherwise acquired his shares in the ordinary
course of business and, at the time of such purchase/acquisition,
had no
agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any
person, to
distribute the securities to be
resold.
|
|
7.
|
Includes
15,000 shares of common stock that may be acquired from us within
60 days
of June 30, 2008 upon the exercise of outstanding stock options.
Jerry
Haleva currently serves as one of our
directors.
|
|
8.
|
Includes
7,500 shares of common stock that may be acquired from us within
60 days
of June 30, 2008 upon the exercise of outstanding stock options.
Emanuel
Gerard currently serves as one of our
directors.
|
|
9.
|
Includes
43,021 shares of common stock that may be acquired from us within
60 days
of June 30, 2008 upon the exercise of outstanding stock
options.
|
|
10.
|
Craig
Ellins and Richard Kall, the managers of VM Investors, LLC, exercise
voting and investment authority over the shares of common stock
held by VM
Investors, LLC.
|
|
11.
|
Includes
16,108,169 shares of common stock held by VM Investors, LLC. Craig
Ellins
is a member and one of the managers of VM Investors, LLC and disclaims
beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock held by VM Investors,
LLC except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. Mr.
Kall
currently serves as the Chairman of
VMdirect.
|
|
12.
|
Includes
1,071,429 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of
an
Amended and Restated Note and 535,715 shares of common stock issuable
upon
the exercise of an Amended and Restated Warrant. Ramius Capital
Group, LLC
(“Ramius Capital”) is the investment adviser of Portside Growth and
Opportunity Fund (“Portside”) and consequently has voting control and
investment discretion over securities held by Portside. Ramius
Capital
disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by Portside.
Peter A.
Cohen, Morgan B. Stark, Thomas W. Strauss and Jeffrey M. Solomon
are the
sole managing members of C4S& Co., LLC, the sole managing member of
Ramius Capital. As a result, Messrs. Cohen, Stark, Strauss and
Solomon may
be considered beneficial owners of any shares deemed to be beneficially
owned by Ramius Capital. Messrs. Cohen, Stark, Strauss and Solomon
disclaim beneficial ownership of these
shares.
|
Changes
in Control
Under
the
terms of certain Amended and Restated Notes and Amended and Restated Warrants,
we provided to the investors therein anti-dilution protection whereby in the
event we issue securities (other than certain exempt securities) for a
consideration per share less than the per share conversion price or exercise
price (as applicable) in effect immediately prior to such issuance, immediately
after such issuance the per share conversion price or exercise price (as
applicable) then in effect will be reduced to the issuance price per share
of
such newly issued securities. This anti-dilution protection could result
in a
change in control to the extent that we are required to issue a large enough
number of shares of our common stock upon the conversion of the Amended and
Restated Notes or exercise of the Amended and Restated Warrants at a low
enough
per share conversion price or exercise price (as applicable).
SECTION
16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our directors
and executive officers and the holders of more than 10% of our common stock
to
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission initial reports of ownership
and reports of changes in ownership of our equity securities. Based solely
on
our review of the copies of the forms received by us and written representations
from certain reporting persons that they have complied with the relevant
filing
requirements, we believe that, during the year ended December 31, 2007, all
of
our executive officers, directors and the holders of 10% or more of our common
stock complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements, except for Emanuel
Gerard, who did not timely file a Form 4 reporting one transaction, Jerry
Haleva, who did not timely file a Form 4 reporting one transaction, Kevin
Keating, who did not timely file a Form 4 reporting one transaction, and
Lorne
Walker, our former Chief Executive Officer, who did not timely file two Form
4s
reporting three transactions.
SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS
Any
shareholder who intends to present a proposal at the 2009 Annual Meeting
of
shareholders for inclusion in our Proxy Statement and Proxy form relating
to
such Annual Meeting must submit such proposal to us at our principal executive
offices by March 2, 2009. In addition, in the event a shareholder proposal
is
not received by us by May 23, 2009, the Proxy to be solicited by our board
of
directors for the 2009 Annual Meeting will confer discretionary authority
on the
holders of the Proxy to vote the shares if the proposal is presented at the
2009
Annual Meeting without any discussion of the proposal in the Proxy Statement
for
such meeting.
SEC
rules
and regulations provide that if the date of our 2009 Annual Meeting is advanced
or delayed more than 30 days from the date of the 2008 Annual Meeting,
shareholder proposals intended to be included in the proxy materials for
the
2009 Annual Meeting must be received by us within a reasonable time before
we
begin to print and mail the proxy materials for the 2009 Annual Meeting.
Upon
determination by us that the date of the 2009 Annual Meeting will be advanced
or
delayed by more than 30 days from the date of the 2008 Annual Meeting, we
will
disclose such change in the earliest possible Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q.
INDEPENDENT
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Weinberg
& Company, P.A. served as our independent registered public accounting firm
for fiscal 2007 and will serve as our independent registered public accounting
firm for fiscal 2008. We do not anticipate that a representative of Weinberg
will attend the Annual Meeting.
On
June
15, 2006, we dismissed KBA Group LLP (“KBA Group”) as our independent registered
public accounting firm. The decision was approved by our board of directors.
The
reports of KBA Group on our financial statements for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2005 and 2004 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer
of
opinion and were not modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting
principles, except the report did contain an explanatory paragraph related
to
our ability to continue as a going concern. During our fiscal years ended
December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the interim period from January 1, 2006 through
June 15, 2006, there were no disagreements with KBA Group 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
KBA Group would have caused KBA Group to make reference to the subject matter
of
the disagreements in connection with its report on the financial statements
for
such years. We requested that KBA Group furnish us with a letter addressed
to
the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) stating whether or not it agrees
with the our statements in our filings with the SEC. A copy of the letter
furnished by KBA Group in response to that request, dated October 3, 2006,
is
filed as Exhibit 16.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC
on
October 3, 2006.
On
June
15, 2006, we engaged Weinberg & Company, P.A. as our new independent
registered public accounting firm to audit our financial statements. The
appointment of Weinberg was approved by the unanimous written consent of
our
board of directors.
Audit
Fees
Weinberg
billed us an aggregate of approximately $131,000 and $116,000 in fees for
professional services rendered during 2007 and 2006, respectively, for the
audit
of our annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31,
2007
and 2006 and for the reviews of the financial statements included in our
Form
10QSB for each quarter of Fiscal 2007 and 2006.
Audit-Related
Fees
Weinberg
billed us an aggregate of approximately $26,000 and $29,000 in fees for
assurance and related services performed in 2007 and 2006, respectively related
to the audit of our annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2007 and 2006.
Our
Audit
Committee is directly responsible for interviewing and retaining our independent
registered public accounting firm, considering the accounting firm’s
independence and effectiveness, and pre-approving the engagement fees and
other
compensation to be paid to, and the services to be conducted by, the independent
registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee does not delegate
these
responsibilities. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, our Audit
Committee pre-approved 100% of the services described above for
Weinberg.
ITEM
2:
AMENDMENT
TO THE 2006 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Item
2 is
the ratification of an amendment to our 2006 Stock Incentive Plan to increase
the authorized number of shares under the Plan from 1,537,501 to 5,000,000.
The
amendment to increase the number of shares authorized to be issued pursuant
to
the Plan is being proposed to permit us to ensure that we have adequate shares
authorized under the Plan to continue to provide stock based compensation
to our
directors, officers, employees and consultants. Our board of directors believes
that the ability to grant stock-based compensation, such as stock options,
is
important to our future success. The grant of stock-based compensation, such
as
stock options, can motivate high levels of performance and provide an effective
means of recognizing employee and consultant contributions to our success.
In
addition, stock-based compensation can be valuable in recruiting and retaining
highly qualified technical and other key personnel who are in great demand,
as
well as rewarding and providing incentives to our current employees and
consultants.
Because
awards under the Plan are discretionary, benefits or amounts that will
hereinafter be received by or allocated to our chief executive officer, our
named executive officers, our current executive officers as a group, our
non-executive directors as a group, and our employees who are not executive
officers, are not presently determinable.
Our
board
of directors believes it is in our best interest to continue to make substantial
use of stock-based incentives to attract, retain and motivate qualified
personnel. Accordingly, on June 27, 2008 our board of directors resolved
to
amend the Plan to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance under
the
Plan. As of the Record Date, options to purchase 949,000 shares were
outstanding under the Plan and no shares have been issued to participants
upon
exercise of options issued under the Plan. As such, as of the Record Date,
588,501 shares were available for future grants.
At
June
30, 2008, the last reported sales price of our common stock on AMEX was $0.40
per share.
Principal
Features of the Plan
The
principal terms and features of the Plan are summarized below. The following
is
a summary description of the salient terms, conditions and features of the
Plan.
As a summary, the description below is not a complete description of all
of the
terms and features of the Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference
to
the full text of the Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto as Appendix
A in
the form proposed.
General;
Types of Awards; Number of Shares
The
Plan
provides for the grant of options to purchase shares of common stock, restricted
stock, stock appreciation rights and stock units. Incentive stock options
(“ISOs”) may be granted only to employees. Nonstatutory stock options and other
stock-based awards may be granted to employees, non-employee directors, advisors
and consultants. Our board of directors will be able to amend or modify the
Plan
at any time, although certain amendments or modifications may require
shareholder approval.
Subject
to certain adjustments, 1,537,501 shares of our common stock are currently
authorized for issuance under the Plan. Shares authorized under the Plan
will be
available for issuance pursuant to options or awards granted under the
Plan.
Administration
The
Plan
will be administered by our board of directors or a committee of our board
of
directors, as provided in the Plan. Our board of directors (or such committee)
has the authority to select the eligible participants to whom awards will
be
granted, to determine the types of awards and the number of shares covered
and
to set the terms, conditions and provisions of such awards, to cancel or
suspend
awards under certain conditions, and to accelerate the exercisability of
awards.
The administrator of the Plan will be authorized to interpret the Plan, to
establish, amend, and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Plan,
to
determine the terms of agreements entered into with recipients under the
Plan,
and to make all other determinations that may be necessary or advisable for
the
administration of the Plan. Our board of directors may at its discretion
delegate the responsibility for administering the Plan to any committee or
subcommittee of the board of directors.
Eligibility
Options
and other awards may be granted under the Plan to our officers, directors,
employees and consultants and any of our subsidiaries. At the date of this
Proxy
Statement, all of our officers, directors, employees and consultants are
eligible to receive awards under the Plan.
Stock
Option Grants
The
exercise price per share of our common stock purchasable under any stock
option
will be determined by the Plan administrator, but cannot in any event be
less
than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date the option
is
granted. Our board of directors (or committee designated by our board of
directors) will determine the term of each stock option (subject to a maximum
term of 10 years) and each option will be exercisable pursuant to a vesting
schedule determined by our board of directors (or the committee, as provided
in
the Plan). The grants and the terms of ISOs will be restricted to the extent
required for qualification as ISOs by the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as
amended. Subject to approval of the Plan administrator, options may be exercised
by payment of the exercise price in cash, shares of common stock, which have
been held for at least six months, or pursuant to a “cashless exercise” through
a broker-dealer under an arrangement approved by our board of directors.
We may
require the grantee to pay to us any applicable withholding taxes that we
are
required to withhold with respect to the grant or exercise of any option.
The
withholding tax may be paid in cash or, subject to applicable law, our board
of
directors (or committee designated by our board of directors) may permit
the
grantee to satisfy these obligations by the withholding or delivery of shares
of
our common stock. We may withhold from any shares of our common stock that
may
be issued pursuant to an option or from any cash amounts otherwise due from
us
to the recipient of the option an amount equal to such taxes.
Stock
Units
Stock
units are generally treated similar to stock options with respect to
exercise/purchase price, exercisability and vesting.
Restricted
Stock Grants
Restricted
shares may be sold or awarded for consideration determined by our board of
directors (or committee designated by our board of directors), including
cash,
full-recourse promissory notes, as well as part and future services. Any
award
of restricted shares will be subject to a vesting schedule determined by
our
board of directors (or the committee, as provide in the Plan). Any restricted
shares that are not vested will be subject to rights of repurchase, rights
of
first refusal or other restrictions as determined by our board of directors
(or
the committee, as provided in the Plan). In general, holders of restricted
shares will have the same voting, dividend and other rights as our other
shareholders. However, holders of restricted shares may be required to invest
any cash dividends received in additional restricted shares, which will be
subject to the same conditions and restrictions as the restricted shares
with
respect to which the dividends were paid.
Adjustments
In
the
event of any change affecting shares of our common stock by reason of any
stock
dividend or split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off,
combination or exchange of shares or other similar corporate change, or any
distribution to shareholders other than cash dividends, our board of directors
(or committee designated by our board of directors) will make such substitution
or adjustment in the aggregate number of shares that may be distributed under
the Plan and in the number and option price (or exercise or purchase price,
if
applicable) as it deems to be appropriate in order to maintain the purpose
of
the original grant.
Transferability
No
award
will be assignable or otherwise transferable by the grantee other than by
will
or the laws of descent and distribution and, during the grantee’s lifetime, an
award may be exercised only by the grantee.
Termination
of Service
If
a
grantee’s provision of services to us terminates on account of death, disability
or retirement, then the grantee’s unexercised awards, if exercisable immediately
before the grantee’s death or disability, may be exercised in whole or in part,
not later than one year after this event. If a grantee’s provision of services
to us terminates for cause, then the grantee’s unexercised awards terminate
effective immediately upon such termination. If a grantee’s provision of
services to us terminates for any other reason, then the grantee’s unexercised
awards, to the extent exercisable immediately before such termination, will
remain exercisable, and may be exercised in whole or in part, for a period
of
three months after such termination of employment.
Change
of Control and Certain Corporation Transactions
Under
the
Plan, the occurrence of a “Change of Control” can affect options and other
awards granted under the Plan. Generally, the Plan defines a “Change of Control”
to include the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with
or
into another entity or any other corporate reorganization, if immediately
after
the merger, consolidation or reorganization more than 50% of the combined
voting
power of the outstanding securities of each of the surviving entity and any
direct or indirect parent is owned by persons who were not our shareholders
immediately before the merger, consolidation or other reorganization. “Change of
Control” also includes the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of our assets. A transaction will not constitute a Change
of
Control if its sole purpose is to change the state of our incorporation or
to
create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same
proportions by the persons who held our securities immediately before such
transaction.
If
a
“Change of Control” were to occur, our board of directors would determine, in
its sole discretion, whether to accelerate any vested or unvested portion
of any
award. Additionally, if a Change of Control were to occur, any agreement
between
us and any other party to the Change of Control could provide for (1) the
continuation of any outstanding awards, (2) the assumption of the Plan or
any
awards by the surviving corporation or any of its affiliates, (3) cancellation
of awards and substitution of other awards with substantially the same terms
or
economic value as the cancelled awards, or (4) cancellation of any vested
or
unvested portion of awards, subject to providing notice to the option
holder.
Amendment
and Termination
Our
board
of directors (or committee designated by our board of directors) may amend
the
Plan in any and all respects without shareholder approval, except as such
shareholder approval may be required under applicable law or pursuant to
the
listing requirements of any national market system or securities exchange
on
which our equity securities may be listed or quoted. Unless sooner terminated
by
our board of directors, the Plan will terminate on July 25, 2016.
Effect
of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
.
The
acquisition and disposition of our common stock by our officers, directors
and
more than 10% stockholders (“Insiders”) pursuant to awards granted to them under
the Plan may be subject to Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
Pursuant to Section 16(b), a purchase of our common stock by an Insider within
six months before or after a sale of our common stock by the Insider could
result in our recovery of all or a portion of any amount by which the sale
proceeds exceed the purchase price. Insiders are required to file reports
of
changes in beneficial ownership under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 upon acquisitions and dispositions of shares. Rule 16b-3 provides
an
exemption from Section 16(b) liability for certain transactions pursuant
to
certain employee benefit plans. The Plan is designed to comply with Rule
16b-3.
Tax
Aspects of the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan
Federal
Income Tax Consequences
The
following discussion summarizes the material federal income tax consequences
to
us and the participants in connection with the Plan under existing applicable
provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)
and the regulations adopted pursuant to the Code. This discussion is general
in
nature and does not address issues relating to the income tax circumstances
of
any specific individual employee or holder. Also, the discussion is limited
to
the tax implications of options, but not other types of awards under the
Plan.
The discussion is subject to possible future changes in the law. The discussion
does not address the consequences of state, local or foreign tax
laws.
Nonqualified
Stock Options
A
recipient will not have any taxable income at the time a nonqualified stock
option (“NSO”) is granted nor will we be entitled to a deduction at that time.
When an NSO is exercised, the grantee will have taxable ordinary income (whether
the option price is paid in cash or by surrender of already owned shares
of
common stock), and we will be entitled to a tax deduction, in an amount equal
to
the excess of the fair market value of the shares to which the option exercise
pertains over the option exercise price.
Incentive
Stock Options
A
grantee
will not have any taxable income at the time an ISO is granted. Furthermore,
a
grantee will not have income taxable for federal income tax purposes at the
time
the ISO is exercised. However, the excess of the fair market value of the
shares
at the time of exercise over the exercise price will be a tax preference
item in
the year of exercise that could create an alternative minimum tax liability
for
the year of exercise. If a grantee disposes of the shares acquired on exercise
of an ISO after the later of two years after the grant of the ISO and one
year
after exercise of the ISO, the gain (i.e., the excess of the proceeds received
over the option price), if any, will be long-term capital gain eligible for
favorable tax rates under the Code.
If
the
grantee disposes of the shares within two years of the grant of the ISO or
within one year of exercise of the ISO, the disposition is a “disqualifying
disposition,” and the grantee will have taxable ordinary income in the year of
the disqualifying disposition equal to the lesser of (a) the difference between
the fair market value of the shares and the exercise price of the shares
at the
time of option exercise, or (b) the difference between the sales price of
the
shares and the exercise price of the shares. Any gain realized from the time
of
option exercise to the time of the disqualifying disposition would be long-term
or short-term capital gain, depending on whether the shares were sold more
than
one year or up to and through one year respectively, after the ISO was
exercised.
We
are
not entitled to a deduction as a result of the grant or exercise of an ISO.
If
the grantee has ordinary income taxable as compensation as a result of a
disqualifying disposition, we will then be entitled to a deduction in the
same
amount as the grantee recognizes ordinary income.
Recommendation
The
approval of this amendment to the Plan will require the affirmative vote
of a
majority of the shares of our common stock present or represented and entitled
to vote at the Annual Meeting.
All
Proxies will be voted to approve this amendment unless a contrary vote is
indicated on the enclosed Proxy card.
OUR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE AMENDMENT TO THE 2006
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE
UNDER THE PLAN TO 5,000,000.
EQUITY
COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The
following table sets forth information concerning our equity compensation
plans
as of December 31, 2007.
Plan
Category
|
|
Number
of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options,
warrants
and rights
(a)
|
|
Weighted-average
exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and
rights
(b)
|
|
Number
of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity
compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column
(a))
(c)
|
|
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders
|
|
|
1,374,710
|
(1
)
|
$
|
3.14
|
|
|
719,063
|
|
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
Total
|
|
|
1,374,710
|
|
$
|
3.14
|
|
|
719,063
|
|
|
(1)
|
Includes
options originally issued by VMdirect and assumed by us which currently
entitle the holders thereof to purchase shares of our common stock
as
follows: an aggregate of 534,090 shares at a per share exercise
price of
$0.26 expiring on December 31, 2015; and an aggregate of 21,782
shares at
a per share exercise price of $0.33 expiring from January 3, 2016
through
March 27, 2016.
|
SOLICITATION
OF PROXIES
It
is
expected that the solicitation of Proxies will be by mail. The cost of
solicitation by management will be borne by us. We will reimburse brokerage
firms and other persons representing beneficial owners of shares for their
reasonable disbursements in forwarding solicitation material to such beneficial
owners. Proxies may also be solicited by certain of our directors and officers,
without additional compensation, personally or by mail, telephone, telegram
or
otherwise.
ANNUAL
REPORT ON FORM 10-KSB
OUR
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-KSB, WHICH HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007, WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE
TO SHAREHOLDERS WITHOUT CHARGE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO US AT 3035 EAST PATRICK
LANE, SUITE 9, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89120.
|
ON
BEHALF OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Craig
Ellins
Chairman,
Chief
Executive Officer and
President
|
Las
Vegas, Nevada
July
1,
2008
APPENDIX
A
DIGITALFX
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
2006
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(As
of
June 27, 2008)
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
|
|
Page
|
|
|
|
SECTION
1.
|
ESTABLISHMENT
AND PURPOSE
|
1
|
|
|
|
SECTION
2.
|
DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
“Affiliate”
|
1
|
(b)
|
“Award”
|
1
|
(c)
|
“Board
of Directors”
|
1
|
(d)
|
“Change
in Control”
|
1
|
(e)
|
“Code”
|
2
|
(f)
|
“Company”
|
2
|
(g)
|
“Consultant”
|
2
|
(h)
|
“Employee”
|
2
|
(i)
|
“Exchange
Act”
|
3
|
(j)
|
“Exercise
Price”
|
3
|
(k)
|
“Fair
Market Value”
|
3
|
(l)
|
“ISO”
|
3
|
(m)
|
“Nonstatutory
Option” or “NSO”
|
3
|
(n)
|
“Offeree”
|
3
|
(o)
|
“Option”
|
3
|
(p)
|
“Optionee”
|
3
|
(q)
|
“Outside
Director”
|
4
|
(r)
|
“Parent”
|
4
|
(s)
|
“Participant”
|
4
|
(t)
|
“Plan”
|
4
|
(u)
|
“Post-Reverse
Split Basis”
|
4
|
(v)
|
“Purchase
Price”
|
4
|
(w)
|
“Restricted
Share”
|
4
|
(x)
|
“Restricted
Share Agreement”
|
4
|
(y)
|
“SAR”
|
4
|
(z)
|
“SAR
Agreement”
|
4
|
(aa)
|
“Service”
|
4
|
(bb)
|
“Share”
|
4
|
(cc)
|
“Stock”
|
4
|
(dd)
|
“Stock
Option Agreement”
|
4
|
(ee)
|
“Stock
Unit”
|
4
|
(ff)
|
“Stock
Unit Agreement”
|
5
|
(gg)
|
“Subsidiary”
|
5
|
|
|
|
SECTION
3.
|
ADMINISTRATION
|
5
|
(a)
|
General;
Committee Composition
|
5
|
(b)
|
Committee
for Non-Officer Grants
|
5
|
(c)
|
Committee
Procedures
|
5
|
(d)
|
Administrator
Responsibilities
|
5
|
SECTION
4.
|
ELIGIBILITY
|
7
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
General
Rule
|
7
|
(b)
|
Ten-Percent
Shareholders
|
7
|
(c)
|
Attribution
Rules
|
7
|
(d)
|
Outstanding
Stock
|
7
|
|
|
|
SECTION
5.
|
STOCK
SUBJECT TO PLAN
|
7
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
Basic
Limitation
|
7
|
(b)
|
Award
Limitation
|
7
|
(c)
|
Additional
Shares
|
8
|
|
|
|
SECTION
6.
|
RESTRICTED
SHARES
|
8
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
Restricted
Stock Agreement
|
8
|
(b)
|
Payment
for Awards
|
8
|
(c)
|
Vesting
|
8
|
(d)
|
Voting
and Dividend Rights
|
8
|
(e)
|
Restrictions
on Transfer of Shares
|
8
|
|
|
|
SECTION
7.
|
TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS
|
9
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
Stock
Option Agreement
|
9
|
(b)
|
Number
of Shares
|
9
|
(c)
|
Exercise
Price
|
9
|
(d)
|
Withholding
Taxes
|
9
|
(e)
|
Exercisability
and Term
|
9
|
(f)
|
Exercise
of Options
|
10
|
(g)
|
Effect
of Change in Control
|
10
|
(h)
|
Leaves
of Absence
|
10
|
(i)
|
No
Rights as a Shareholder
|
10
|
(j)
|
Modification,
Extension and Renewal of Options
|
10
|
(k)
|
Restrictions
on Transfer of Shares
|
10
|
(l)
|
Buyout
Provisions
|
11
|
|
|
|
SECTION
8.
|
PAYMENT
FOR SHARES
|
11
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
General
Rule
|
11
|
(b)
|
Surrender
of Stock
|
11
|
(c)
|
Services
Rendered
|
11
|
(d)
|
Cashless
Exercise
|
11
|
(e)
|
Exercise/Pledge
|
11
|
(f)
|
Promissory
Note
|
11
|
(g)
|
Other
Forms of Payment
|
11
|
(h)
|
Limitations
under Applicable Law
|
12
|
SECTION
9.
|
STOCK
APPRECIATION RIGHTS
|
12
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
SAR
Agreement
|
12
|
(b)
|
Number
of Shares
|
12
|
(c)
|
Exercise
Price
|
12
|
(d)
|
Exercisability
and Term
|
12
|
(e)
|
Effect
of Change in Control
|
12
|
(f)
|
Exercise
of SARs
|
12
|
(g)
|
Modification
or Assumption of SARs
|
13
|
|
|
|
SECTION
10.
|
STOCK
UNITS
|
13
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
Stock
Unit Agreement
|
13
|
(b)
|
Payment
for Awards
|
13
|
(c)
|
Vesting
Conditions
|
13
|
(d)
|
Voting
and Dividend Rights
|
13
|
(e)
|
Form
and Time of Settlement of Stock Units
|
13
|
(f)
|
Death
of Recipient
|
14
|
(g)
|
Creditors’
Rights
|
14
|
|
|
|
SECTION
11.
|
ADJUSTMENT
OF SHARES
|
14
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
Adjustments
|
14
|
(b)
|
Dissolution
or Liquidation
|
14
|
(c)
|
Reorganizations
|
15
|
(d)
|
Reservation
of Rights
|
15
|
|
|
|
SECTION
12.
|
DEFERRAL
OF AWARDS
|
15
|
|
|
|
SECTION
13.
|
AWARDS
UNDER OTHER PLANS
|
16
|
|
|
|
SECTION
14.
|
PAYMENT
OF DIRECTOR’S FEES IN SECURITIES
|
16
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
Effective
Date
|
16
|
(b)
|
Elections
to Receive NSOs, Restricted Shares or Stock Units
|
16
|
(c)
|
Number
and Terms of NSOs, Restricted Shares or Stock Units
|
16
|
|
|
|
SECTION
15.
|
LEGAL
AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
|
16
|
|
|
|
SECTION
16.
|
WITHHOLDING
TAXES
|
17
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
General
|
17
|
(b)
|
Share
Withholding
|
17
|
|
|
|
SECTION
17.
|
OTHER
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS
|
17
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
Transferability
|
17
|
(b)
|
Qualifying
Performance Criteria
|
17
|
SECTION
18
.
|
NO
EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS
|
18
|
|
|
|
SECTION
19
.
|
DURATION
AND AMENDMENTS
|
18
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
Term
of the Plan
|
18
|
(b)
|
Right
to Amend or Terminate the Plan
|
18
|
(c)
|
Effect
of Termination
|
18
|
|
|
|
SECTION
20
.
|
EXECUTION
|
18
|
DIGITALFX
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
2006
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION
1.
ESTABLISHMENT
AND PURPOSE.
The
Plan
(as hereinafter defined) was adopted by the Board of Directors on June
22, 2006,
amended by the Board of Directors on June 27, 2008, and shall become
effective
as of July 23, 2008 (the “Effective Date”). The purpose of the Plan is to
promote the long-term success of the Company (as hereinafter defined)
and the
creation of shareholder value by (a) encouraging Employees (as hereinafter
defined), Outside Directors (as hereinafter defined) and Consultants
(as
hereinafter defined) to focus on critical long-range objectives, (b)
encouraging
the attraction and retention of Employees, Outside Directors and Consultants
with exceptional qualifications and (c) linking Employees, Outside Directors
and
Consultants directly to shareholder interests through increased stock
ownership.
The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards (as hereinafter
defined) in the form of restricted shares, stock units, options (which
may
constitute incentive stock options or nonstatutory stock options) or
stock
appreciation rights. The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator,
as
provided in Section 3 hereof. For the purposes hereof, “Administrator” shall
mean the Board of Directors (as defined hereinafter) or any committee
authorized
by the Board of Directors to administer the Plan, pursuant to the terms
hereof.
SECTION
2.
DEFINITIONS.
(a)
“Affiliate”
shall mean any entity other than a Subsidiary, if the Company and/or
one of more
Subsidiaries own not less than 50% of such entity.
(b)
“Award”
shall mean any award of an Option, a SAR, a Restricted Share or a Stock
Unit
under the Plan.
(c)
“Board
of
Directors” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from
time to time.
(d)
“Change
in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following
events:
(i)
A
change
in the composition of the Board of Directors occurs, as a result of which
fewer
than one-half of the incumbent directors are directors who either:
(A)
Had
been
directors of the Company on the “look-back date” (as defined below) (the
“original directors”); or
(B)
Were
elected, or nominated for election, to the Board of Directors with the
affirmative votes of at least a majority of the aggregate of the original
directors who were still in office at the time of the election or nomination
and
the directors whose election or nomination was previously so approved
(the
“continuing directors”); or
(ii)
Any
“person” (as defined below) who by the acquisition or aggregation of securities,
is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing
50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding
securities ordinarily (and apart from rights accruing under special
circumstances) having the right to vote at elections of directors (the
“Base
Capital Stock”); except that any change in the relative beneficial ownership of
the Company’s securities by any person resulting solely from a reduction in the
aggregate number of outstanding shares of Base Capital Stock, and any
decrease
thereafter in such person’s ownership of securities, shall be disregarded until
such person increases in any manner, directly or indirectly, such person’s
beneficial ownership of any securities of the Company; or
(iii)
The
consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into
another
entity or any other corporate reorganization, if persons who were not
shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger, consolidation
or
other reorganization own immediately after such merger, consolidation
or other
reorganization 50% or more of the voting power of the outstanding securities
of
each of (A) the continuing or surviving entity and (B) any direct or
indirect
parent corporation of such continuing or surviving entity; or
(iv)
The
sale,
transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s
assets.
For
purposes of subsection (d)(i) above, the term “look-back” date shall mean the
later of (1) the Effective Date or (2) the date 24 months prior to the
date of
the event that may constitute a Change in Control.
For
purposes of subsection (d)(ii) above, the term “person” shall have the same
meaning as when used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act
but shall
exclude (1) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an
employee
benefit plan maintained by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary and
(2) a
corporation owned directly or indirectly by the shareholders of the Company
in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Stock.
Any
other
provision of this Section 2(d) notwithstanding, a transaction shall not
constitute a Change in Control if its sole purpose is to change the state
of the
Company’s incorporation or to create a holding company that will be owned in
substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s
securities immediately before such transaction.
(e)
“Code”
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(f)
“Company”
shall mean DigitalFX International, Inc.
(g)
“Consultant”
shall mean a consultant or advisor who provides bona fide services to
the
Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate as an independent contractor
or
a member of the board of directors of a Parent or a Subsidiary who is
not an
Employee.
(h)
“Employee”
shall mean any individual who is a common-law employee of the Company,
a Parent
or a Subsidiary.
(i)
“Exchange
Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(j)
“Exercise
Price” shall mean, in the case of an Option, the amount for which one Common
Share may be purchased upon exercise of such Option, as specified in
the
applicable Stock Option Agreement. “Exercise Price,” in the case of a SAR, shall
mean an amount, as specified in the applicable SAR Agreement, which is
subtracted from the Fair Market Value of one Common Share in determining
the
amount payable upon exercise of such SAR.
(k)
“Fair
Market Value” with respect to a Share, shall mean the market price of one Share
of Stock, determined by the Administrator as follows:
(i)
If
the
Stock was traded over-the-counter on the date in question but was not
traded on
The Nasdaq Stock Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be equal to
the last
transaction price quoted for such date by the OTC Bulletin Board or,
if not so
quoted, shall be equal to the mean between the last reported representative
bid
and asked prices quoted for such date by the principal automated inter-dealer
quotation system on which the Stock is quoted or, if the Stock is not
quoted on
any such system, by the “Pink Sheets” published by the National Quotation
Bureau, Inc.;
(ii)
If
the
Stock was traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market, then the Fair Market Value
shall be
equal to the last reported sale price quoted for such date by The Nasdaq
Stock
Market;
(iii)
If
the
Stock was traded on a United States stock exchange on the date in question,
then
the Fair Market Value shall be equal to the closing price reported for
such date
by the applicable composite-transactions report; and
(iv)
If
none
of the foregoing provisions is applicable, then the Fair Market Value
shall be
determined by the Administrator in good faith on such basis as it deems
appropriate.
In
all
cases, the determination of Fair Market Value by the Administrator shall
be
conclusive and binding on all persons.
(l)
“ISO”
shall mean an employee incentive stock option described in Section 422
of the
Code.
(m)
“Nonstatutory
Option” or “NSO” shall mean an employee stock option that is not an
ISO.
(n)
“Offeree”
shall mean an individual to whom the Administrator has offered the right
to
acquire Shares under the Plan (other than upon exercise of an
Option).
(o)
“Option”
shall mean an ISO or Nonstatutory Option granted under the Plan and entitling
the holder to purchase Shares.
(p)
“Optionee”
shall mean an individual or estate who holds an Option or SAR.
(q)
“Outside
Director” shall mean a member of the Board of Directors who is not a common-law
employee of, or paid consultant to, the Company, a Parent or a
Subsidiary.
(r)
“Parent”
shall mean any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain
of
corporations ending with the Company, if each of the corporations other
than the
Company owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting
power of
all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
A
corporation that attains the status of a Parent on a date after the adoption
of
the Plan shall be a Parent commencing as of such date.
(s)
“Participant”
shall mean an individual or estate who holds an Award.
(t)
“Plan”
shall mean this DigitalFX International, Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan,
as
amended from time to time.
(u)
“Post-Reverse
Split Basis” shall mean subsequent to the consummation on or about August 1,
2006, of a reverse stock split by the Company of the outstanding Stock
whereby
each holder of Stock receives one (1) Share for each fifty (50) Shares
held by
such holder.
(v)
“Purchase
Price” shall mean the consideration for which one Share may be acquired under
the Plan (other than upon exercise of an Option), as specified by the
Administrator.
(w)
“Restricted
Share” shall mean a Share awarded under the Plan.
(x)
“Restricted
Share Agreement” shall mean the agreement between the Company and the recipient
of a Restricted Share which contains the terms, conditions and restrictions
pertaining to such Restricted Shares.
(y)
“SAR”
shall mean a stock appreciation right granted under the Plan.
(z)
“SAR
Agreement” shall mean the agreement between the Company and an Optionee which
contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to his or
her
SAR.
(aa)
“Service”
shall mean service as an Employee, Consultant or Outside Director.
(bb)
“Share”
shall mean one share of Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section
8 (if
applicable).
(cc)
“Stock”
shall mean the Common Stock of the Company.
(dd)
“Stock
Option Agreement” shall mean the agreement between the Company and an Optionee
that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to his
Option.
(ee)
“Stock
Unit” shall mean a bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent of one Share,
as awarded under the Plan.
(ff)
“Stock
Unit Agreement” shall mean the agreement between the Company and the recipient
of a Stock Unit which contains the terms, conditions and restrictions
pertaining
to such Stock Unit.
(gg)
“Subsidiary”
shall mean any corporation, if the Company and/or one or more other Subsidiaries
own not less than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes
of
outstanding stock of such corporation. A corporation that attains the
status of
a Subsidiary on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered
a
Subsidiary commencing as of such date.
SECTION
3.
ADMINISTRATION.
(a)
General;
Committee Composition. The Plan shall be administered by the Board of
Directors.
The Board of Directors may also designate a committee of the Board of
Directors
to administer the Plan, which committee shall consist of two or more
directors
of the Company, who shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. In
addition,
to the extent that the Company has a class of stock registered under
Section 12
of the Exchange Act or is subject to the reporting obligations under
Section
13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the composition of the committee
shall satisfy (i) such requirements as the Securities and Exchange Commission
may establish for administrators acting under plans intended to qualify
for
exemption under Rule 16b-3 (or its successor) under the Exchange Act;
and (ii)
such requirements as the Internal Revenue Service may establish for outside
directors acting under plans intended to qualify for exemption under
Section
162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.
(b)
Committee
for Non-Officer Grants. The Board of Directors may also appoint one or
more
separate committees of the Board of Directors, each composed of one or
more
directors of the Company who need not satisfy the requirements of Section
3(a),
who may administer the Plan with respect to Employees who are not considered
officers or directors of the Company under Section 16 of the Exchange
Act, may
grant Awards under the Plan to such Employees and may determine all terms
of
such grants. The Board of Directors may also authorize one or more officers
of
the Company to designate Employees, other than officers under Section
16 of the
Exchange Act, to receive Awards and/or to determine the number of such
Awards to
be received by such persons; provided, however, that the Board of Directors
shall specify the total number of Awards that such officers may so
award.
(c)
Committee
Procedures. The Board of Directors shall designate one of the members
of each
committee provided for hereunder as chairman. Each committee may hold
meetings
at such times and places as it shall determine. The acts of a majority
of a
committee’s members present at meetings at which a quorum exists, or acts
reduced to or approved in writing by all of a committee’s members, shall be
valid acts of such committee.
(d)
Administrator
Responsibilities. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator
shall
have full authority and discretion to take the following actions:
(i)
To
interpret the Plan and to apply its provisions;
(ii)
To
adopt,
amend or rescind rules, procedures and forms relating to the Plan;
(iii)
To
authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the Company, any instrument
required to carry out the purposes of the Plan;
(iv)
To
determine when Awards are to be granted under the Plan;
(v)
To
select
the Offerees and Optionees;
(vi)
To
determine the number of Shares to be made subject to each Award;
(vii)
To
prescribe the terms and conditions of each Award, including (without
limitation)
the Exercise Price and Purchase Price, and the vesting or duration of
the Award
(including accelerating the vesting of Awards, either at the time of
the Award
or thereafter, without the consent of the Participant), to determine
whether an
Option is to be classified as an ISO or as a Nonstatutory Option, and
to specify
the provisions of the agreement relating to such Award;
(viii)
To
amend
any outstanding Award agreement, subject to applicable legal restrictions
and to
the consent of the Participant if the Participant’s rights or obligations would
be materially impaired;
(ix)
To
prescribe the consideration for the grant of each Award or other right
under the
Plan and to determine the sufficiency of such consideration;
(x)
To
determine the disposition of each Award or other right under the Plan
in the
event of a Participant’s divorce or dissolution of marriage;
(xi)
To
determine whether Awards under the Plan will be granted in replacement
of other
grants under an incentive or other compensation plan of an acquired
business;
(xii)
To
correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency
in the
Plan or any Award agreement;
(xiii)
To
establish or verify the extent of satisfaction of any performance goals
or other
conditions applicable to the grant, issuance, exercisability, vesting
and/or
ability to retain any Award; and
(xiv)
To
take
any other actions deemed necessary or advisable for the administration
of the
Plan.
Subject
to the requirements of applicable law, the Administrator may designate
persons
other than members of the Administrator to carry out its responsibilities
and
may prescribe such conditions and limitations as it may deem appropriate,
except
that the Administrator may not delegate its authority with regard to
the
selection for participation of or the granting of Options or other rights
under
the Plan to persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. All decisions,
interpretations and other actions of the Administrator shall be final
and
binding on all Offerees, all Optionees, and all persons deriving their
rights
from an Offeree or Optionee. No member of the Administrator shall be
liable for
any action that he has taken or has failed to take in good faith with
respect to
the Plan, any Option, or any right to acquire Shares under the
Plan.
SECTION
4.
ELIGIBILITY.
(a)
General
Rule. Only Employees shall be eligible for the grant of ISOs. Only Employees,
Consultants and Outside Directors shall be eligible for the grant of
Restricted
Shares, Stock Units, Nonstatutory Options or SARs.
(b)
Ten-Percent
Shareholders. An Employee who owns more than 10% of the total combined
voting
power of all classes of outstanding stock of the Company, a Parent or
Subsidiary
shall not be eligible for the grant of an ISO unless such grant satisfies
the
requirements of Section 422(c)(5) of the Code.
(c)
Attribution
Rules. For purposes of Section 4(b) above, in determining stock ownership,
an
Employee shall be deemed to own the stock owned, directly or indirectly,
by or
for such Employee’s brothers, sisters, spouse, ancestors and lineal descendants.
Stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for a corporation, partnership,
estate or trust shall be deemed to be owned proportionately by or for
its
shareholders, partners or beneficiaries.
(d)
Outstanding
Stock. For purposes of Section 4(b) above, “outstanding stock” shall include all
stock actually issued and outstanding immediately after the grant. “Outstanding
stock” shall not include shares authorized for issuance under outstanding
options held by the Employee or by any other person.
SECTION
5.
STOCK
SUBJECT TO PLAN.
(a)
Basic
Limitation. Shares offered under the Plan shall be authorized but unissued
Shares or treasury Shares. The aggregate number of Shares authorized
for
issuance as Awards under the Plan shall not exceed Five Million (5,000,000)
Shares on a Post-Reverse Split Basis, plus an annual increase on the
first day
of each fiscal year during the term of the Plan, beginning January 1,
2007, in
each case in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 1,000,000 Shares, (ii)
5% of
the outstanding Shares on the last day of the immediately preceding year,
or
(iii) an amount determined by the Board of Directors. The limitations
of this
Section 5(a) shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 11. The
number
of Shares that are subject to Options or other rights outstanding at
any time
under the Plan shall not exceed the number of Shares which then remain
available
for issuance under the Plan. The Company, during the term of the Plan,
shall at
all times reserve and keep available sufficient Shares to satisfy the
requirements of the Plan.
(b)
Award
Limitation. Subject to the provisions of Section 11, and without limiting
the
powers of the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors may limit the
number of
Shares underlying or relating to Options, SARs, Restricted Shares or
Stock Units
that a Participant may receive under the Plan in any calendar year, or
place any
other limitations on the number and types of Awards (or the Shares underlying
or
relating to Awards) that may be granted to a Participant under the
Plan.
(c)
Additional
Shares. If Restricted Shares or Shares issued upon the exercise of Options
are
forfeited, then such Shares shall again become available for Awards under
the
Plan. If Stock Units, Options or SARs are forfeited or terminate for
any other
reason before being exercised, then the corresponding Shares shall again
become
available for Awards under the Plan. If Stock Units are settled, then
only the
number of Shares (if any) actually issued in settlement of such Stock
Units
shall reduce the number available under Section 5(a) and the balance
shall again
become available for Awards under the Plan. If SARs are exercised, then
only the
number of Shares (if any) actually issued in settlement of such SARs
shall
reduce the number available in Section 5(a) and the balance shall again
become
available for Awards under the Plan.
SECTION
6.
RESTRICTED
SHARES.
(a)
Restricted
Stock Agreement. Each grant of Restricted Shares under the Plan shall
be
evidenced by a Restricted Stock Agreement between the recipient and the
Company.
Such Restricted Shares shall be subject to all applicable terms of the
Plan and
may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the
Plan. The
provisions of the various Restricted Stock Agreements entered into under
the
Plan need not be identical.
(b)
Payment
for Awards. Subject to the following sentence, Restricted Shares may
be sold or
awarded under the Plan for such consideration as the Administrator may
determine, including (without limitation) cash, cash equivalents, full-recourse
promissory notes, past services and future services. To the extent that
an Award
consists of newly issued Restricted Shares, the Award recipient shall
furnish
consideration with a value not less than the par value of such Restricted
Shares
in the form of cash, cash equivalents, or past services rendered to the
Company
(or a Parent or Subsidiary), as the Administrator may determine.
(c)
Vesting.
Each Award of Restricted Shares may or may not be subject to vesting.
Vesting
shall occur, in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions
specified in the Restricted Stock Agreement. A Restricted Stock Agreement
may
provide for accelerated vesting in the event of the Participant’s death,
disability or retirement or other events. The Administrator may determine,
at
the time of granting Restricted Shares of thereafter, that all or part
of such
Restricted Shares shall become vested in the event that a Change in Control
occurs with respect to the Company.
(d)
Voting
and Dividend Rights. The holders of Restricted Shares awarded under the
Plan
shall have the same voting, dividend and other rights as the Company’s other
shareholders. A Restricted Stock Agreement, however, may require that
the
holders of Restricted Shares invest any cash dividends received in additional
Restricted Shares. Such additional Restricted Shares shall be subject
to the
same conditions and restrictions as the Award with respect to which the
dividends were paid.
(e)
Restrictions
on Transfer of Shares. Restricted Shares shall be subject to such rights
of
repurchase, rights of first refusal or other restrictions as the Administrator
may determine. Such restrictions shall be set forth in the applicable
Restricted
Stock Agreement and shall apply in addition to any general restrictions
that may
apply to all holders of Shares.
SECTION
7.
TERMS
AND
CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.
(a)
Stock
Option Agreement. Each grant of an Option under the Plan shall be evidenced
by a
Stock Option Agreement between the Optionee and the Company. Such Option
shall
be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may
be subject
to any other terms and conditions which are not inconsistent with the
Plan and
which the Administrator deems appropriate for inclusion in a Stock Option
Agreement. The Stock Option Agreement shall specify whether the Option
is an ISO
or an NSO. The provisions of the various Stock Option Agreements entered
into
under the Plan need not be identical. Options may be granted in consideration
of
a reduction in the Optionee’s other compensation.
(b)
Number
of
Shares. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the number of Shares
that are
subject to the Option and shall provide for the adjustment of such number
in
accordance with Section 11.
(c)
Exercise
Price. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price.
The
Exercise Price of an ISO shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market
Value of
a Share on the date of grant, except as otherwise provided in 4(c), and
the
Exercise Price of an NSO shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market
Value of
a Share on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Stock
Option
Agreement may specify that the exercise price of an NSO may vary in accordance
with a predetermined formula. Subject to the foregoing in this Section
7(c), the
Exercise Price under any Option shall be determined by the Administrator
at its
sole discretion. The Exercise Price shall be payable in one of the forms
described in Section 8.
(d)
Withholding
Taxes. As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Optionee shall
make such
arrangements as the Administrator may require for the satisfaction of
any
federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may
arise in
connection with such exercise. The Optionee shall also make such arrangements
as
the Administrator may require for the satisfaction of any federal, state,
local
or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with
the
disposition of Shares acquired by exercising an Option.
(e)
Exercisability
and Term. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the date when all
or any
installment of the Option is to become exercisable. The Stock Option
Agreement
shall also specify the term of the Option; provided that the term of
an ISO
shall in no event exceed 10 years from the date of grant (five years
for
Employees described in Section 4(b)). A Stock Option Agreement may provide
for
accelerated exercisability in the event of the Optionee’s death, disability, or
retirement or other events and may provide for expiration prior to the
end of
its term in the event of the termination of the Optionee’s Service. Options may
be awarded in combination with SARs, and such an Award may provide that
the
Options will not be exercisable unless the related SARs are forfeited.
Subject
to the foregoing in this Section 7(e), the Administrator at its sole
discretion
shall determine when all or any installment of an Option is to become
exercisable and when an Option is to expire.
(f)
Exercise
of Options Upon Termination of Service. Each Stock Option Agreement shall
set
forth the extent to which the Optionee shall have the right to exercise
the
Option following termination of the Optionee’s Service with the Company and its
Subsidiaries, and the right to exercise the Option of any executors or
administrators of the Optionee’s estate or any person who has acquired such
Option(s) directly from the Optionee by bequest or inheritance. Such
provisions
shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator, need
not be
uniform among all Options issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect
distinctions based on the reasons for termination of Service.
(g)
Effect
of
Change in Control. The Administrator may determine, at the time of granting
an
Option or thereafter, that such Option shall become exercisable as to
all or
part of the Shares subject to such Option in the event that a Change
in Control
occurs with respect to the Company.
(h)
Leaves
of
Absence. An Employee’s Service shall cease when such Employee ceases to be
actively employed by, or a Consultant to, the Company (or any subsidiary)
as
determined in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors. For purposes
of
Options, Service does not terminate when an Employee goes on a bona fide
leave
of absence, that was approved by the Company in writing, if the terms
of the
leave provide for continued service crediting, or when continued service
crediting is required by applicable law. However, for purposes of determining
whether an Option is entitled to ISO status, an Employee’s Service will be
treated as terminating 90 days after such Employee went on leave, unless
such
Employee’s right to return to active work is guaranteed by law or by a contract.
Service terminates in any event when the approved leave ends, unless
such
Employee immediately returns to active work. The Company determines which
leaves
count toward Service, and when Service terminates for all purposes under
the
Plan.
(i)
No
Rights
as a Shareholder. An Optionee, or a transferee of an Optionee, shall
have no
rights as a shareholder with respect to any Shares covered by his Option
until
the date of the issuance of a stock certificate for such Shares. No adjustments
shall be made, except as provided in Section 11.
(j)
Modification,
Extension and Renewal of Options. Within the limitations of the Plan,
the
Administrator may modify, extend or renew outstanding options or may
accept the
cancellation of outstanding options (to the extent not previously exercised),
whether or not granted hereunder, in return for the grant of new Options
for the
same or a different number of Shares and at the same or a different exercise
price, or in return for the grant of the same or a different number of
Shares.
The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of an Option shall, without
the
consent of the Optionee, materially impair his or her rights or obligations
under such Option.
(k)
Restrictions
on Transfer of Shares. Any Shares issued upon exercise of an Option shall
be
subject to such special forfeiture conditions, rights of repurchase,
rights of
first refusal and other transfer restrictions as the Administrator may
determine. Such restrictions shall be set forth in the applicable Stock
Option
Agreement and shall apply in addition to any general restrictions that
may apply
to all holders of Shares.
(l)
Buyout
Provisions. The Administrator may at any time (a) offer to buy out for
a payment
in cash or cash equivalents an Option previously granted or (b) authorize
an
Optionee to elect to cash out an Option previously granted, in either
case at
such time and based upon such terms and conditions as the Administrator
shall
establish.
SECTION
8.
PAYMENT
FOR SHARES.
(a)
General
Rule. The entire Exercise Price or Purchase Price of Shares issued under
the
Plan shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America
at the
time when such Shares are purchased, except as provided in Section 8(b)
through
Section 8(g) below.
(b)
Surrender
of Stock. To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement so provides, payment
may
be made all or in part by surrendering, or attesting to the ownership
of, Shares
which have already been owned by the Optionee or his representative.
Such Shares
shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date when the new Shares
are
purchased under the Plan. The Optionee shall not surrender, or attest
to the
ownership of, Shares in payment of the Exercise Price if such action
would cause
the Company to recognize compensation expense (or additional compensation
expense) with respect to the Option for financial reporting
purposes.
(c)
Services
Rendered. At the discretion of the Administrator, Shares may be awarded
under
the Plan in consideration of services rendered to the Company or a Subsidiary
prior to the award. If Shares are awarded without the payment of a Purchase
Price in cash, the Administrator shall make a determination (at the time
of the
award) of the value of the services rendered by the Offeree and the sufficiency
of the consideration to meet the requirements of Section 6(b).
(d)
Cashless
Exercise. To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement so provides, payment
may
be made all or in part by delivery (on a form prescribed by the Administrator)
of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker to sell Shares and
to deliver
all or part of the sale proceeds to the Company in payment of the aggregate
Exercise Price.
(e)
Exercise/Pledge.
To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement so provides, payment may
be made all
or in part by delivery (on a form prescribed by the Administrator) of
an
irrevocable direction to a securities broker or lender to pledge Shares,
as
security for a loan, and to deliver all or part of the loan proceeds
to the
Company in payment of the aggregate Exercise Price.
(f)
Promissory
Note. To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement or Restricted Stock
Agreement
so provides, payment may be made all or in part by delivering (on a form
prescribed by the Company) a full-recourse promissory note. However,
the par
value of the Common Shares being purchased under the Plan, if newly issued,
shall be paid in cash or cash equivalents.
(g)
Other
Forms of Payment. To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement or Restricted
Stock Agreement so provides, payment may be made in any other form that
is
consistent with applicable laws, regulations and rules.
(h)
Limitations
under Applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything herein or in a Stock Option
Agreement or Restricted Stock Agreement to the contrary, payment may
not be made
in any form that is unlawful, as determined by the Administrator in its
sole
discretion.
SECTION
9.
STOCK
APPRECIATION RIGHTS.
(a)
SAR
Agreement. Each grant of a SAR under the Plan shall be evidenced by a
SAR
Agreement between the Optionee and the Company. Such SAR shall be subject
to all
applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that
are not
inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of the various SAR Agreements
entered
into under the Plan need not be identical. SARs may be granted in consideration
of a reduction in the Optionee’s other compensation.
(b)
Number
of
Shares. Each SAR Agreement shall specify the number of Shares to which
the SAR
pertains and shall provide for the adjustment of such number in accordance
with
Section 11.
(c)
Exercise
Price. Each SAR Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price. A SAR Agreement
may
specify an Exercise Price that varies in accordance with a predetermined
formula
while the SAR is outstanding.
(d)
Exercisability
and Term. Each SAR Agreement shall specify the date when all or any installment
of the SAR is to become exercisable. The SAR Agreement shall also specify
the
term of the SAR. A SAR Agreement may provide for accelerated exercisability
in
the event of the Optionee’s death, disability or retirement or other events and
may provide for expiration prior to the end of its term in the event
of the
termination of the Optionee’s service. SARs may be awarded in combination with
Options, and such an Award may provide that the SARs will not be exercisable
unless the related Options are forfeited. A SAR may be included in an
ISO only
at the time of grant but may be included in an NSO at the time of grant
or
thereafter. A SAR granted under the Plan may provide that it will be
exercisable
only in the event of a Change in Control.
(e)
Effect
of
Change in Control. The Administrator may determine, at the time of granting
a
SAR or thereafter, that such SAR shall become fully exercisable as to
all Common
Shares subject to such SAR in the event that a Change in Control occurs
with
respect to the Company.
(f)
Exercise
of SARs. Upon exercise of a SAR, the Optionee (or any person having the
right to
exercise the SAR after his or her death) shall receive from the Company
(a)
Shares, (b) cash or (c) a combination of Shares and cash, as the Administrator
shall determine. The amount of cash and/or the Fair Market Value of Shares
received upon exercise of SARs shall, in the aggregate, be equal to the
amount
by which the Fair Market Value (on the date of surrender) of the Shares
subject
to the SARs exceeds the Exercise Price.
(g)
Modification
or Assumption of SARs. Within the limitations of the Plan, the Administrator
may
modify, extend or assume outstanding SARs or may accept the cancellation
of
outstanding SARs (whether granted by the Company or by another issuer)
in return
for the grant of new SARs for the same or a different number of shares
and at
the same or a different exercise price. The foregoing notwithstanding,
no
modification of a SAR shall, without the consent of the holder, materially
impair his or her rights or obligations under such SAR.
SECTION
10.
STOCK
UNITS.
(a)
Stock
Unit Agreement. Each grant of Stock Units under the Plan shall be evidenced
by a
Stock Unit Agreement between the recipient and the Company. Such Stock
Units
shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject
to any
other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of
the
various Stock Unit Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be
identical.
Stock Units may be granted in consideration of a reduction in the recipient’s
other compensation.
(b)
Payment
for Awards. To the extent that an Award is granted in the form of Stock
Units,
no cash consideration shall be required of the Award recipients.
(c)
Vesting
Conditions. Each Award of Stock Units may or may not be subject to vesting.
Vesting shall occur, in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of
the
conditions specified in the Stock Unit Agreement. A Stock Unit Agreement
may
provide for accelerated vesting in the event of the Participant’s death,
disability or retirement or other events. The Administrator may determine,
at
the time of granting Stock Units or thereafter, that all or part of such
Stock
Units shall become vested in the event that a Change in Control occurs
with
respect to the Company.
(d)
Voting
and Dividend Rights. The holders of Stock Units shall have no voting
rights.
Prior to settlement or forfeiture, any Stock Unit awarded under the Plan
may, at
the Administrator’s discretion, carry with it a right to dividend equivalents.
Such right entitles the holder to be credited with an amount equal to
all cash
dividends paid on one Share while the Stock Unit is outstanding. Dividend
equivalents may be converted into additional Stock Units. Settlement
of dividend
equivalents may be made in the form of cash, in the form of Shares, or
in a
combination of both. Prior to distribution, any dividend equivalents
which are
not paid shall be subject to the same conditions and restrictions (including
without limitation, any forfeiture conditions) as the Stock Units to
which they
attach.
(e)
Form
and
Time of Settlement of Stock Units. Settlement of vested Stock Units may
be made
in the form of (a) cash, (b) Shares or (c) any combination of both, as
determined by the Administrator. The actual number of Stock Units eligible
for
settlement may be larger or smaller than the number included in the original
Award, based on predetermined performance factors. Methods of converting
Stock
Units into cash may include (without limitation) a method based on the
average
Fair Market Value of Shares over a series of trading days. Vested Stock
Units
may be settled in a lump sum or in installments. The distribution may
occur or
commence when all vesting conditions applicable to the Stock Units have
been
satisfied or have lapsed, or it may be deferred to any later date. The
amount of
a deferred distribution may be increased by an interest factor or by
dividend
equivalents. Until an Award of Stock Units is settled, the number of
such Stock
Units shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 11.
(f)
Death
of
Recipient. Any Stock Units Award that becomes payable after the recipient’s
death shall be distributed to the recipient’s beneficiary or beneficiaries. Each
recipient of a Stock Units Award under the Plan shall designate one or
more
beneficiaries for this purpose by filing the prescribed form with the
Company. A
beneficiary designation may be changed by filing the prescribed form
with the
Company at any time before the Award recipient’s death. If no beneficiary was
designated or if no designated beneficiary survives the Award recipient,
then
any Stock Units Award that becomes payable after the recipient’s death shall be
distributed to the recipient’s estate.
(g)
Creditors’
Rights. A holder of Stock Units shall have no rights other than those
of a
general creditor of the Company. Stock Units represent an unfunded and
unsecured
obligation of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the
applicable
Stock Unit Agreement.
SECTION
11.
ADJUSTMENT
OF SHARES.
(a)
Adjustments.
In the event of a subdivision of the outstanding Stock, a declaration
of a
dividend payable in Shares, a declaration of a dividend payable in a
form other
than Shares in an amount that has a material effect on the price of Shares,
a
combination or consolidation of the outstanding Stock (by reclassification
or
otherwise) into a lesser number of Shares, a recapitalization, a spin-off
or a
similar occurrence, the Administrator shall make such adjustments as
it, in its
sole discretion, deems appropriate in one or more of:
(i)
The
number of Options, SARs, Restricted Shares and Stock Units available
for future
Awards under Section 5;
(ii)
The
limitations set forth in Sections 5(a) and (b);
(iii)
The
number of Shares covered by each outstanding Option and SAR;
(iv)
The
Exercise Price under each outstanding Option and SAR; or
(v)
The
number of Stock Units included in any prior Award which has not yet been
settled.
Except
as
provided in this Section 11, a Participant shall have no rights by reason
of any
issue by the Company of stock of any class or securities convertible
into stock
of any class, any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of
any class,
the payment of any stock dividend or any other increase or decrease in
the
number of shares of stock of any class.
(b)
Dissolution
or Liquidation. To the extent not previously exercised or settled, Options,
SARs
and Stock Units shall terminate immediately prior to the dissolution
or
liquidation of the Company.
(c)
Reorganizations.
In the event that the Company is a party to a merger or other reorganization,
outstanding Awards shall be subject to the agreement of merger or
reorganization. Such agreement shall provide for:
(i)
The
continuation of the outstanding Awards by the Company, if the Company
is a
surviving corporation;
(ii)
The
assumption of the outstanding Awards by the surviving corporation or
its parent
or subsidiary;
(iii)
The
substitution by the surviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary
of its own
awards for the outstanding Awards;
(iv)
Full
exercisability or vesting and accelerated expiration of the outstanding
Awards;
or
(v)
Settlement
of the full value of the outstanding Awards in cash or cash equivalents
followed
by cancellation of such Awards.
(d)
Reservation
of Rights. Except as provided in this Section 11, an Optionee or Offeree
shall
have no rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of shares
of stock
of any class, the payment of any dividend or any other increase or decrease
in
the number of shares of stock of any class. Any issue by the Company
of shares
of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock
of any
class, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be
made with
respect to, the number or Exercise Price of Shares subject to an Option.
The
grant of an Option pursuant to the Plan shall not affect in any way the
right or
power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations
or
changes of its capital or business structure, to merge or consolidate
or to
dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business
or
assets.
SECTION
12.
DEFERRAL
OF AWARDS.
The
Administrator (in its sole discretion) may permit or require a Participant
to:
(a)
Have
cash
that otherwise would be paid to such Participant as a result of the exercise
of
a SAR or the settlement of Stock Units credited to a deferred compensation
account established for such Participant by the Administrator as an entry
on the
Company’s books;
(b)
Have
Shares that otherwise would be delivered to such Participant as a result
of the
exercise of an Option or SAR converted into an equal number of Stock
Units;
or
(c)
Have
Shares that otherwise would be delivered to such Participant as a result
of the
exercise of an Option or SAR or the settlement of Stock Units converted
into
amounts credited to a deferred compensation account established for such
Participant by the Administrator as an entry on the Company’s books. Such
amounts shall be determined by reference to the Fair Market Value of
such Shares
as of the date when they otherwise would have been delivered to such
Participant.
A
deferred compensation account established under this Section 12 may be
credited
with interest or other forms of investment return, as determined by the
Administrator. A Participant for whom such an account is established
shall have
no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company. Such
an account
shall represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company and
shall be
subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable agreement between
such
Participant and the Company. If the deferral or conversion of Awards
is
permitted or required, the Administrator (in its sole discretion) may
establish
rules, procedures and forms pertaining to such Awards, including (without
limitation) the settlement of deferred compensation accounts established
under
this Section 12.
SECTION
13.
AWARDS
UNDER OTHER PLANS.
The
Company may grant awards under other plans or programs. Such awards may
be
settled in the form of Shares issued under this Plan. Such Shares shall
be
treated for all purposes under the Plan like Shares issued in settlement
of
Stock Units and shall, when issued, reduce the number of Shares available
under
Section 5.
SECTION
14.
PAYMENT
OF DIRECTOR’S FEES IN SECURITIES.
(a)
Effective
Date. No provision of this Section 14 shall be effective unless and until
the
Board of Directors has determined to implement such provision.
(b)
Elections
to Receive NSOs, Restricted Shares or Stock Units. An Outside Director
may elect
to receive his or her annual retainer payments and/or meeting fees from
the
Company, if any, in the form of cash, NSOs, Restricted Shares or Stock
Units, or
a combination thereof, as determined by the Board of Directors. Such
NSOs,
Restricted Shares and Stock Units shall be issued under the Plan. An
election
under this Section 14 shall be filed with the Company on the prescribed
form.
(c)
Number
and Terms of NSOs, Restricted Shares or Stock Units. The number of NSOs,
Restricted Shares or Stock Units to be granted to Outside Directors in
lieu of
annual retainers and meeting fees that would otherwise be paid in cash
shall be
calculated in a manner determined by the Board of Directors. The terms
of such
NSOs, Restricted Shares or Stock Units shall also be determined by the
Board of
Directors.
SECTION
15.
LEGAL
AND
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.
Shares
shall not be issued under the Plan unless the issuance and delivery of
such
Shares complies with (or is exempt from) all applicable requirements
of law,
including (without limitation) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder, state securities laws and regulations
and the regulations of any stock exchange on which the Company’s securities may
then be listed, and the Company has obtained the approval or favorable
ruling
from any governmental agency which the Company determines is necessary
or
advisable. The Company shall not be liable to a Participant or other
persons as
to: (a) the non-issuance or sale of Shares as to which the Company has
been
unable to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority
deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale
of any Shares under the Plan; and (b) any tax consequences expected,
but not
realized, by any Participant or other person due to the receipt, exercise
or
settlement of any Award granted under the Plan.
SECTION
16.
WITHHOLDING
TAXES.
(a)
General.
To the extent required by applicable federal, state, local or foreign
law, a
Participant or his or her successor shall make arrangements satisfactory
to the
Company for the satisfaction of any withholding tax obligations that
arise in
connection with the Plan. The Company shall not be required to issue
any Shares
or make any cash payment under the Plan until such obligations are
satisfied.
(b)
Share
Withholding. The Administrator may permit a Participant to satisfy all
or part
of his or her withholding or income tax obligations by having the Company
withhold all or a portion of any Shares that otherwise would be issued
to him or
her or by surrendering all or a portion of any Shares that he or she
previously
acquired. Such Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the
date
when taxes otherwise would be withheld in cash. In no event may a Participant
have Shares withheld that would otherwise be issued to him or her in
excess of
the number necessary to satisfy the legally required minimum tax
withholding.
SECTION
17.
OTHER
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS.
(a)
Transferability.
Unless the agreement evidencing an Award (or an amendment thereto authorized
by
the Administrator) expressly provides otherwise, no Award granted under
this
Plan, nor any interest in such Award, may be sold, assigned, conveyed,
gifted,
pledged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred in any manner (prior to
the
vesting and lapse of any and all restrictions applicable to Shares issued
under
such Award), other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution;
provided, however, that an ISO may be transferred or assigned only to
the extent
consistent with Section 422 of the Code. Any purported assignment, transfer
or
encumbrance in violation of this Section 17(a) shall be void and unenforceable
against the Company.
(b)
Qualifying
Performance Criteria. The number of Shares or other benefits granted,
issued,
retainable and/or vested under an Award may be made subject to the attainment
of
performance goals for a specified period of time relating to one or more
of the
following performance criteria, either individually, alternatively or
in any
combination, applied to either the Company as a whole or to a business
unit or
Subsidiary, either individually, alternatively or in any combination,
and
measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an
absolute
basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to
a designated comparison group or index, in each case as specified by
the
Administrator in the Award: (a) cash flow, (b) earnings per share, (c)
earnings
before interest, taxes and amortization, (d) return on equity, (e) total
shareholder return, (f) share price performance, (g) return on capital,
(h)
return on assets or net assets, (i) revenue, (j) income or net income,
(k)
operating income or net operating income, (l) operating profit or net
operating
profit, (m) operating margin or profit margin, (n) return on operating
revenue,
(o) return on invested capital, or (p) market segment shares (“Qualifying
Performance Criteria”). The Administrator may appropriately adjust any
evaluation of performance under a Qualifying Performance Criteria to
exclude any
of the following events that occurs during a performance period: (i)
asset
write-downs, (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (iii)
the effect
of changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions
affecting reported results, (iv) accruals for reorganization and restructuring
programs and (v) any extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in
Accounting
Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in managements’ discussion and analysis
of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s
annual report to shareholders for the applicable year. The Administrator
shall
determine the Qualifying Performance Criteria not later than the 90th
day of the
performance period, and shall determine and certify, for each Participant,
the
extent to which the Qualifying Performance Criteria have been met. The
Administrator may not in any event increase the amount of compensation
payable
under the Plan upon the attainment of a Qualifying Performance Goal to
a
Participant who is a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of
the Code.
SECTION
18.
NO
EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.
No
provision of the Plan, nor any right or Option granted under the Plan,
shall be
construed to give any person any right to become, to be treated as, or
to remain
an Employee. The Company and its Subsidiaries reserve the right to terminate
any
person’s Service at any time and for any reason, with or without
notice.
SECTION
19.
DURATION
AND AMENDMENTS.
(a)
Term
of
the Plan. The Plan, as set forth herein, shall terminate automatically
on July
31, 2016 and may be terminated on any earlier date pursuant to Subsection
(b)
below.
(b)
Right
to
Amend or Terminate the Plan. The Board of Directors may amend the Plan
at any
time and from time to time. Rights and obligations under any Award granted
before amendment of the Plan shall not be materially impaired by such
amendment,
except with consent of the Participant. An amendment of the Plan shall
be
subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders only to the extent
required by applicable laws, regulations or rules.
(c)
Effect
of
Termination. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the termination
thereof. The termination of the Plan shall not affect Awards previously
granted
under the Plan.
SECTION
20.
EXECUTION.
To
record
the adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors, the Company has caused
its
authorized officer to execute the same.
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DigitalFX
International, Inc.
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By:
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Craig
Ellins
Chairman,
Chief Executive Officer &
President
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DIGITALFX
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
PROXY
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The
undersigned, a shareholder of DIGITALFX INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Florida
corporation (the “Company”), hereby nominates, constitutes and appoints Craig
Ellins and Mickey Elfenbein, or either one of them, as proxy of the undersigned,
each with full power of substitution, to attend, vote and act for the
undersigned at the Annual Meeting of shareholders of the Company, to be held
on
July 23, 2008, and any postponements or adjournments thereof, and in connection
therewith, to vote and represent all of the shares of the Company which the
undersigned would be entitled to vote with the same effect as if the undersigned
were present, as follows:
Our
board
of directors recommends a FOR vote on all proposals listed below.
Proposal
1. To elect the following three nominees as directors:
Craig
Ellins
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Jerry
Haleva
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Kevin
R. Keating
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_____
FOR
NOMINEES LISTED (except as marked to the contrary below)
_____
WITHHELD
(INSTRUCTION:
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write that nominee’s
name in the space below:)
The
undersigned hereby confer(s) upon the proxies and each of them discretionary
authority with respect to the election of directors in the event that any
of the
above nominees is unable or unwilling to serve.
Proposal
2. To approve an amendment of the Company’s 2006 Stock Incentive Plan to
increase the number of authorized shares under the plan from 1,537,501 to
5,000,000.
¨
FOR
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¨
AGAINST
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ABSTAIN
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The
undersigned hereby revokes any other proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting,
and
hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys and proxies, and each
of
them, may lawfully do by virtue hereof. With respect to matters not known
at the
time of the solicitation hereof, said proxies are authorized to vote in
accordance with their best judgment.
THIS
PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE OR,
TO
THE EXTENT NO CONTRARY DIRECTION IS INDICATED, WILL BE TREATED AS A GRANT
OF
AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ALL PROPOSALS. IF ANY OTHER BUSINESS IS PRESENTED AT
THE
ANNUAL MEETING, THIS PROXY CONFERS AUTHORITY TO AND SHALL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PROXIES.
The
undersigned acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Notice of Annual Meeting
and
accompanying Proxy Statement dated July 1, 2008, relating to the Annual
Meeting.
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Dated:___________________________,
2008
Signature:_____________________________
Signature:_____________________________
Signature(s)
of Shareholder(s)
(See
Instructions Below)
The
signature(s) hereon should correspond exactly with the name(s)
of the
shareholder(s) appearing on the Share Certificate. If stock is
held
jointly, all joint owners should sign. When signing as attorney,
executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such.
If
signer is a corporation, please sign the full corporation name,
and give
title of signing officer.
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¨
Please
indicate by checking this box if you anticipate attending the Annual
Meeting.
PLEASE
MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD
PROMPTLY
USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE