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
x
Filed by
a Party other than the Registrant
¨
Check the
appropriate box:
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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Confidential, for Use of the
Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
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x
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Definitive
Proxy Statement
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¨
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Definitive
Additional Materials
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Soliciting
Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
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AMERICAN
MEDICAL ALERT CORP.
(Name
of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
¨
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Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) 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 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was
determined):
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(4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of
transaction:
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¨
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary
materials.
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¨
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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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(2)
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Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement
No.:
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AMERICAN
MEDICAL ALERT CORP.
3265
LAWSON BOULEVARD
OCEANSIDE,
NEW YORK 11572
July 1,
2010
Dear
Shareholder:
You are
cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of American
Medical Alert Corp., a New York corporation (the “Company”), to be held on
Thursday, August 5, 2010, commencing at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time at
Moses & Singer LLP, 405 Lexington Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, New York
10174. The matters to be acted upon at the meeting are set forth and
described in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, which accompany
this letter. Please read these documents carefully.
We hope
that you plan to attend the meeting. However, if you are not able to
join us, we urge you to exercise your right as a shareholder and
vote. Please promptly mark, date, sign and return the enclosed proxy
card in the accompanying postage prepaid envelope. Even if you have voted by
proxy, you may, of course, still attend the meeting, and still vote in person if
you attend the meeting. Please note, however, that if your shares are
held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to vote at the
meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued in your name from that record
holder.
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Sincerely,
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HOWARD
M. SIEGEL
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Chairman
of the Board of
Directors
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***IMPORTANT
CHANGE TO VOTING RULES***
Due
to changes to New York Stock Exchange voting rules, your broker can no longer
vote your shares for the election of directors absent instructions from
you. If you do not provide voting instructions, the Company will face
additional solicitation costs and your shares will not be voted or counted on
several important matters. Please vote today using the enclosed proxy
card or the other means described in the proxy statement.
AMERICAN
MEDICAL ALERT CORP.
3265
LAWSON BOULEVARD
OCEANSIDE,
NEW YORK 11572
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON AUGUST 5, 2010
To the
Shareholders:
NOTICE IS
HEREBY GIVEN, that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of
American Medical Alert Corp. (the “Company”) will be held on Thursday, August 5,
2010, commencing at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time at Moses & Singer LLP,
405 Lexington Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10174 to
consider and act upon the following matters:
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The
election of seven directors to serve until the next annual meeting of
shareholders and until their respective successors are elected and
qualified;
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The
adoption of the American Medical Alert Corp. 2010 Equity Incentive
Plan;
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The
ratification of the appointment of Margolin, Winer & Evens LLP as the
Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2010; and
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The
transaction of such other business as may properly come before the Meeting
or any adjournment or postponement thereof, including adjournment of the
Meeting and any other matters incident to the conduct of the
Meeting.
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Information
regarding the matters to be acted upon at the Meeting is contained in the
accompanying proxy statement. The close of business on June 18, 2010
has been fixed as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled
to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting or any adjournments or postponements
thereof.
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By
Order of the Board of Directors,
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RICHARD
RALLO
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Secretary
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Oceanside,
New York
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July 1,
2010
Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the
Shareholder
Meeting to be Held on August 5, 2010
This
Proxy Statement and our 2009 Annual Report are available and can be accessed
directly at the following Internet address:
http://www.cstproxy.com/amac/2010.
PLEASE
SIGN, MARK, DATE AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ADDRESSED REPLY
ENVELOPE WHICH IS FURNISHED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.
THIS
ENVELOPE NEEDS NO POSTAGE IF MAILED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.
AMERICAN
MEDICAL ALERT CORP.
3265
LAWSON BOULEVARD
OCEANSIDE,
NEW YORK 11572
PROXY
STATEMENT
The Board
of Directors of American Medical Alert Corp., a New York corporation (the
“Company” or “AMAC”) is providing the enclosed proxy materials to you in
connection with its solicitation of proxies to be voted at the 2010 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) and any adjournment, postponement
or continuation of the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will be
held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 5, 2010, at the offices of Moses &
Singer LLP, 405 Lexington Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, New York
10174.
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
Why
did I receive this proxy statement?
The Board
of Directors is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting because you
were a shareholder at the close of business on June 18, 2010, the record date,
and are entitled to vote at the meeting. When AMAC asks for your
proxy, it must provide you with a proxy statement that contains certain
information specified by law. The proxy statement generally
summarizes the information you need to know to vote at the Annual
Meeting.
This
proxy statement and 2009 Annual Report (the “Proxy Material”), along with either
a proxy card or a voting instruction card, are being mailed beginning July 1,
2010 to all shareholders of record at the close of business on June 18,
2010.
What
is the difference between holding shares as a shareholder of record and as a
beneficial owner?
If your
shares are registered directly in your name with AMAC’s transfer agent,
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, you are considered, with respect
to those shares, the “shareholder of record.” The Proxy Material and
proxy card have been sent directly to you by AMAC.
If your
shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you
are considered the “beneficial owner” of shares held in street
name. The Proxy Material has been forwarded to you by your broker,
bank or nominee who is considered, with respect to those shares, the shareholder
of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your
broker, bank or nominee how to vote your shares by using the voting instruction
card included in the mailing or by following their instructions for voting by
telephone or the Internet.
What
am I voting on?
1. Election
of seven directors to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders and
until their respective successors are elected and qualified: Howard M. Siegel,
Jack Rhian, Frederic S. Siegel, John S.T. Gallagher, Ronald Levin, Yacov Shamash
and Gregory Fortunoff;
2. The
adoption of the American Medical Alert Corp. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan;
and
3. The
ratification of the appointment of Margolin, Winer & Evens LLP as the
Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2010.
The Board
of Directors recommends a vote
FOR
each of the nominees to
the Board of Directors,
FOR
the adoption of the
American Medical Alert Corp. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, and
FOR
the ratification of the
appointment of Margolin, Winer & Evens LLP as the Company’s independent
auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010.
How
do I vote?
You may
vote using any of the following methods:
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Proxy card or voting
instruction card.
Be sure to complete, sign
and date the card and return it in the prepaid envelope. If you are a
shareholder of record and you return your signed proxy card but do not
indicate your voting preferences, the persons named in the proxy card will
vote
FOR
each of
the nominees to the Board of Directors,
FOR
the adoption of the
American Medical Alert Corp. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, and
FOR
the ratification of
the appointment of Margolin, Winer & Evens LLP as the Company’s
independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2010.
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By telephone or the Internet
(for beneficial owners only).
Beneficial owners may be
able to vote using telephone and Internet voting, depending on the voting
processes of your broker, bank or nominee. Therefore, we recommend that
you follow the voting instructions in the materials you
receive.
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In person at the
Meeting.
All shareholders may vote in person at the
Meeting. You may also be represented by another person at the meeting by
executing a proper proxy designating that person. If you are a beneficial
owner of shares, you must obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or
nominee and present it to the inspectors of election with your ballot when
you vote at the meeting.
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What
can I do if I change my mind after I vote my shares?
If you
are a shareholder of record, you may revoke your proxy at any time before it is
voted at the Meeting by:
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sending
written notice of revocation to the Corporate Secretary of the
Company;
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submitting
a revised proxy after the date of the revoked proxy;
or
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attending
the Annual Meeting and voting in
person.
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If you
are a beneficial owner of shares, you may submit new voting instructions by
contacting your broker, bank or nominee. You may also vote in person
at the Annual Meeting if you obtain a legal proxy as described in the answer to
the previous question.
What
constitutes a quorum?
As of the
record date, 9,557,870 shares of AMAC’s common stock were issued and
outstanding. A majority of the total shares of AMAC’s common stock
issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, constitutes a quorum for the
purpose of adopting proposals at the Meeting. If you submit a
properly executed proxy, then you will be considered part of the
quorum.
Under the
rules of the New York Stock Exchange, if you are a beneficial owner of shares
and you do not provide your voting instructions to your broker, bank or nominee,
that firm has discretion to vote your shares for certain routine
matters. The ratification of the appointment of our independent
auditor (Proposal No. 3), is a routine matter. On the other hand,
your broker, bank or nominee does not have discretion to vote your shares for
non-routine matters. The election of directors (Proposal No. 1) and
the approval of the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (Proposal No. 2) are non-routine
matters and your broker, bank or nominee may not vote on those items absent your
instructions. When a broker, bank or nominee votes a beneficial
owner’s shares on some but not all of the proposals, because it is unable to
vote due to the beneficial owner’s failure to provide voting instructions on a
matter as to which the broker, bank or nominee has no discretion to vote
otherwise, the missing votes are referred to as “broker non-votes.” Those shares
will be included in determining the presence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting
so long as there is at least one routine matter that they can vote on, as is the
case with the Annual Meeting, but are not counted as votes “cast” on the
non-routine items.
In
addition, votes withheld in the election of directors, and abstentions, on any
matter, are included in determining the presence of a quorum.
What
is the voting requirement to elect the directors and to approve each of the
proposals?
In the
election of directors, each director nominee receiving a plurality of the votes
cast at the Annual Meeting will be elected. Votes withheld in the
election of directors and abstentions or broker non-votes, if any, will not be
counted towards the election of any person as a director.
The
proposals to approve the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and to ratify the
appointment of Margolin, Winer & Evens LLP as the Company’s independent
auditors require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast for
approval. If you are present or represented by proxy at the Meeting
and you abstain, your abstention, as well as broker non-votes, are not counted
as votes “cast” on these specified matters.
If
you hold your shares through a broker, bank or nominee, the Securities and
Exchange Commission has approved a New York Stock Exchange rule that changes the
manner in which your vote in the election of directors will be
handled.
Your
broker will no longer be permitted to vote on your behalf on the election of
directors unless you provide specific instructions by completing and returning
the voting instruction card or following the instructions provided to you to
vote your shares via telephone or the Internet. In the past, if you
did not transmit your voting instructions before the meeting, your broker was
allowed to vote on your behalf on the election of directors and other matters
considered to be routine, although your broker has not been permitted, for many
years, to vote on your behalf on the adoption of equity compensation plans such
as the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan. For your vote to be counted on the
election of directors, you now will need to communicate your voting decisions to
your broker, bank or nominee before the date of the shareholder meeting, in the
same manner as has been the case with respect to the adoption of equity
compensation plans such as the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan for many
years.
If any
other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, including
adjournment of the Meeting and any other matters incident to the conduct of the
Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy card and voting
instruction card to vote on such matters in accordance with their best
judgment. Discretionary authority for them to do so is contained in
the proxy card and voting instruction card. The Annual Meeting may be
adjourned from time to time by approval of a majority of votes cast by holders
of shares present at the Annual Meeting, whether or not a quorum
exists.
Your vote
is very important to us. Please review the Proxy Material and follow the
relevant instructions to vote your shares. We hope you will exercise your rights
and fully participate as a shareholder.
How
many votes do I have?
You are
entitled to one vote for each share of our common stock that you hold as of the
record date.
Do
I have the right to cumulate my votes in the election of directors?
Shareholders
of AMAC do not have the right to cumulative voting.
Who
will count the vote?
A
representative of Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company will tabulate
the votes and act as inspector of election.
Where
can I find the results of the vote at the Annual Meeting?
The
Company intends to disclose the final voting results on Form 8-K within four
business days after the Meeting.
Who
can attend the Annual Meeting?
All
shareholders as of the record date may attend the Annual Meeting but must have
valid photo identification and, if you are a beneficial owner (your shares are
held through a bank, broker or nominee), you must also provide current evidence
of your ownership of shares, which you can obtain from your broker, bank or
nominee.
How
much did this proxy solicitation cost and who bears this cost?
The
expense of this solicitation, including the cost of preparing, assembling and
mailing the Proxy Material and proxy cards, will be borne by AMAC. We
have hired Okapi Partners LLC, a proxy solicitation firm, to assist with the
solicitation of proxies, for a base fee of $6,250, plus additional service fees
and expenses, including charges for completed telephone calls, of up to
approximately $8,750. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by
use of the mails, some of the officers and regular employees of AMAC, without
extra remuneration, may solicit proxies personally, by telephone, by e-mail or
otherwise. In addition, arrangements will be made with brokerage houses and
other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward Proxy Material and proxy
cards to beneficial owners, and AMAC will reimburse them for their expenses in
forwarding these materials.
How
can I obtain the Company’s corporate governance information?
You may
go directly to AMAC’s website, at www.amac.com, and look under the “Investor
Relations, Corporate Governance” headings, to find the following
materials:
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Audit
Committee Charter;
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Nominating
Committee Charter; and
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Code
of Business Conduct & Ethics; and
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Related
Party Transaction Policy.
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PROPOSAL
NO. 1
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
At the
Annual Meeting, seven people will be elected to the Board of Directors to serve
until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors are
elected and qualified, or their earlier resignation or removal.
If any of
the nominees becomes unavailable for election, which we do not expect, votes
will be cast by the persons named on the proxy card as proxies for such
substitute nominee or nominees as may be designated by the Board of Directors,
unless the Board of Directors reduces the number of directors.
The
nominees for election to the Board of Directors are set forth below, together
with certain biographical information. Also included below is
information about each director’s specific experience, qualifications,
attributes or skills that led the Board of Directors to conclude that he should
serve as a director of AMAC at the time of filing this proxy
statement.
HOWARD M. SIEGEL
(age 76)
has been the
Company's Chairman of the Board of Directors and a director since June
1982. Mr. Siegel served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer from
June 1982 until December 2006. From January 2007 through December
2009, Mr. Siegel served as Senior Advisor to the Company and, since January
2010, Mr. Siegel has served as Senior Advisor to the President and Chief
Executive Officer. Mr. Siegel also served as the Company's President
from June 1982 through July 2004 and Chief Financial Officer from June 1982
through September 1996. Having founded the Company in 1981, Mr.
Siegel brings knowledge of the Company’s business, structure, history and
culture to the Board of Directors and the Chairman position. Howard
M. Siegel is Frederic S. Siegel’s father.
JACK RHIAN
(age 55)
has served as the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer since January 2007. Mr. Rhian has
been a director of the Company since October 2002 and has been the Company’s
President since July 2004. Prior to his appointment as President, Mr.
Rhian served as Executive Vice President beginning in August
2002. Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Rhian
served as Chief Operating Officer beginning in January 2000, when he joined the
Company. Beginning upon joining the Company through his promotion to
Executive Vice President in August 2002, Mr. Rhian served as Vice
President. From November 1994 until February 1999, he served as
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Transcare New York,
Inc., a medical transportation company. From March 1988 through
November 1994 he served as Chief Operating Officer of Nationwide Ambulance
Service. Previously, Mr. Rhian held senior management positions in
companies which deliver healthcare services. Mr. Rhian holds a
Masters degree in Public Administration from New York University. Mr. Rhian
joined the Company in early 2000, and has been promoted to positions of
increasing responsibility since then, culminating with his appointment as Chief
Executive Officer in 2007, bringing deep knowledge of the Company’s business and
operations. Mr. Rhian’s experience in senior management positions at
other companies in the healthcare industry enable him to provide the Board of
Directors with critical insight into organizational and operational management,
business strategy and financial matters.
FREDERIC S. SIEGEL (age 40)
has been a director of the Company since September 1998, and the Company’s
Executive Vice President since January 2007. Prior to that Mr. Siegel
was the Company’s Senior Vice President – Business Development, and prior to
that, beginning in July 1998, he served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing
for the Company. Mr. Siegel joined the Company in April 1994 and has
held various sales and marketing positions with the Company. From
October 1991 to October 1994, Mr. Siegel served as a benefits consultant for
J.N. Savasta Corp. Mr. Siegel also serves on the Performance Advisory
Committee of Metropolitan Jewish Health System. Having been at the
Company since 1994, and been promoted to positions of increasing responsibility
in sales and marketing, Mr. Siegel brings to the Board of Directors first hand
knowledge of the marketing challenges and opportunities for the Company’s
business. Frederic S. Siegel is Howard M. Siegel’s son.
RONALD LEVIN
(age 76)
has been a director
of the Company since August 2001. He has also been the President of
Ron Levin Associates, a financial consulting firm, since 1984. Since
1995, Mr. Levin has been a member of Eye Contact Optical LLC, and since June
2008, Mr. Levin has also been a member of Gaalexa Optics, LLC, each of which is
a Cohen’s Fashion Optical franchise. Mr. Levin served as Executive
Vice President of D.A. Campbell Co., an international institutional stock
brokerage firm, from 1964 through 1998. Mr. Levin’s experience with analyzing
public companies both at brokerage firms and as a financial consultant, enable
him to provide the Board of Directors with insight with respect to financial and
audit matters.
YACOV SHAMASH, PH.D.
(age 60)
has been a director
of the Company since August 2001. Since 1992, Dr. Shamash has served as Dean of
the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Stony Brook University. In
addition, since 2000, he has served as Vice President for Economic Development
at Stony Brook University. Prior to joining Stony Brook University in
1992, Dr. Shamash served as the Director of the School of Electrical Engineering
and Computer Science at Washington State University. He has also held faculty
positions at Florida Atlantic University, the University of Pennsylvania and Tel
Aviv University. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from
Imperial College of Science and Technology in London, England. Dr. Shamash has
been a member of the Board of Directors of (i) Key Tronic Corporation, a
contract manufacturer in the electronic manufacturing services market, since
1989, and (ii) Applied DNA Sciences, Inc., a provider of botanical-DNA based
security and authentication solutions, since March 2006. From January
2004 until March, 2007, Dr. Shamash served as a director of NetSmart
Technologies, a software solutions provider to the healthcare market. Having
served as Dean at Stony Brook and in faculty positions at other universities,
and having supervised Stony Brook’s technology incubators, Dr. Shamash brings to
the Board of Directors a unique point of view regarding organizational
management and engineering research and applications vital to a company
competing in the health care technology and services industry. Dr. Shamash also
has valuable experience gained from serving as a director at other public
companies.
JOHN S.T. GALLAGHER
(age 78)
has been a director
of the Company since May 2005. He is currently the Chairman of the
Board of Directors of Vanguard Health Care Management, LLC, a provider of
hospital-based medical transport solutions, a position he has held since
September 2006. Mr. Gallagher served as the deputy county executive
for health and human services in Nassau County, New York from 2002 to
2005. In January 2002, Mr. Gallagher became co-chairman of the North
Shore - Long Island Jewish Heath System Foundation and continues to serve in
this position. Prior to 2002, beginning in 1982, he was a senior
executive at North Shore University Hospital and North Shore - Long Island
Jewish Health System, having served as executive vice president of North Shore
from 1982 until 1992, president from 1992 until 1997 and chief executive officer
of the combined hospital system from 1997 until January 2002. Mr.
Gallagher currently serves as a director of Perot Systems Corporation, a
worldwide provider of information technology services, a position he has held
since May 2001. Mr. Gallagher also serves as a member of the Board of
Directors of Trustees of the United Way of Long Island, a position he has held
since February 2009. From March 2002 until March 2007, Mr. Gallagher
served as a director of NetSmart Technologies, a software solutions provider to
the healthcare market. Having served in numerous senior leadership
positions at a prestigious hospital, at Vanguard and at a local public health
agency, Mr. Gallagher provides a valuable combination of experience at the
highest levels of patient care, as well as organizational management skills and
public health policy expertise, making him an integral board member of a company
in the health care industry. Mr. Gallagher also has valuable
experience gained from serving as a director at other public
companies.
GREGORY FORTUNOFF (age 40)
has
been a director of the Company since April 2006. Mr. Fortunoff has
served as Chief Executive Officer, and has managed the day-to-day operations of,
G-2 Trading LLC, a registered broker-dealer, since October 2009. From May 2008
until May 2009, Mr. Fortunoff was a partner with First New York Securities,
L.L.C., an equity trading firm, where Mr. Fortunoff was previously employed in
the same capacity from December 1993 to August 2004. Mr. Fortunoff
was an equity trader at the Royal Bank of Canada from April 2006 to April 2008
and was a portfolio manager at XMark Funds, a health care hedge fund, from
November 2004 to September 2005. Mr. Fortunoff’s significant
experience and skills in investments and trading enable him to bring to the
Board of Directors a well-developed financial and business acumen which benefits
a public company.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE
FOR
THE ELECTION OF
THE NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Our
business is managed under the direction of our Board of
Directors. The primary mission of the Board of Directors is to
represent and protect the interests of the Company’s
shareholders. The Board of Directors has the legal responsibility for
overseeing the affairs of the Company and for the overall performance of the
Company. The Board of Directors selects and oversees senior management, who are
charged by the Board of Directors with conducting the daily business of the
Company.
Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics
Each of
AMAC’s directors and employees, including its Chief Executive Officer and its
senior financial and accounting executives, are required to comply with its Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”). The Code sets forth
policies covering a broad range of subjects and requires strict adherence to
laws and regulations applicable to AMAC’s business. The Code is
available on AMAC’s website at
www.amac.com
, under
the “Investor Relations, Corporate Governance” headings. A copy of
the Code may also be obtained, without charge, by any person upon written
request directed to the Corporate Secretary of AMAC c/o American Medical Alert
Corp., 3265 Lawson Boulevard, P.O. Box 40, Oceanside, NY 11572. AMAC
will post to its website any amendments to the Code, or waiver from its
provisions for principal executive officers or directors, at the same internet
address.
Director
Independence
In making
independence determinations, the Board of Directors observes all criteria for
independence established by the SEC and the Nasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”), and
considers all relevant facts and circumstances.
The Board
of Directors reviewed all relationships between the Company and each director
and director nominee and has determined that Messrs. Levin, Shamash, Gallagher
and Fortunoff are each “independent” directors under such standards and rules of
the SEC, and the additional independence requirements for members of the Audit
Committee contemplated by the NASDAQ Listing Standards and by Rule 10A-3 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”). The
Board of Directors has also determined that each member of the Audit Committee,
the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee is independent within
the meaning of the NASDAQ Listing Standards and rules of the SEC. In
making these determinations, the Board of Directors considered relationships
that exist between the Company and other organizations the directors serve, and
that in the ordinary course of business, transactions may occur between the
Company and such organizations.
Executive
Sessions
The
independent directors meet in executive sessions of the Board of Directors,
during which only the independent directors participate, at least twice
annually.
Considerations
for Director Nominees
Pursuant
to its charter, the Nominating Committee has established procedures for the
selection of nominees for election to the Board of Directors. If
nominations are required for election or re-election by the shareholders or for
any Board vacancies that are to be filled by the Board of Directors, the
Nominating Committee will identify, screen and review individuals qualified to
serve as directors, and then recommend such nominees to the Board of Directors
for approval. The Nominating Committee is not required to engage in a full
evaluation process unless (i) there is a vacancy on the Board of Directors, (ii)
a director is not standing for re-election, or (iii) the Nominating Committee
does not intend to recommend the nomination of a sitting director for
re-election. However, the Nominating Committee is required to
recommend for election or reelection any nominee for the Board of Directors,
irrespective of whether any of the three conditions mentioned in the preceding
sentence are present. The Nominating Committee has recommended to the
Board of Directors the nomination of each of the nominees for director included
in this proxy statement and such nominees were approved by the Board of
Directors pursuant to our Bylaws.
Although
the Nominating Committee does not have a standard set of fixed qualifications
that is applicable to all directors, under the Nominating Committee’s charter, a
nominee to the Board of Directors must have such experience in business or
financial matters as would make such nominee an asset to the Board of
Directors. In recommending director candidates, the Nominating
Committee will take into consideration such factors as it deems appropriate
based on the Company’s current needs. These factors may include
diversity, age, skills such as an understanding of the healthcare industry,
decision-making ability, interpersonal skills, experience with businesses and
other organizations of comparable size, community activities and relationships,
and the interrelationship between the candidate’s experience and business
background, and other Board of Directors members’ experience and business
background, as well as the candidate’s ability to devote the required time and
effort to serve on the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee
will also assess each candidate’s ability to satisfy any applicable legal or
listing requirements. The Nominating Committee does not have a formal
policy with respect to diversity, but does consider diversity of background,
experience and skills that are complementary among the members of the Board of
Directors. After review of candidates, the Nominating Committee will
conduct and clear any background checks, and then recommend such nominees to the
Board of Directors for approval pursuant to our Bylaws.
The
Nominating Committee’s charter provides that the Nominating Committee will
consider for nomination candidates recommended by shareholders entitled to vote
if the shareholders comply with the following requirements, as well as the
requirements set forth in Article II, Section 14 of the Company’s Bylaws (filed
as Exhibit 3(b) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2007). If a shareholder wishes to recommend a candidate
to the Nominating Committee for consideration as a Board of Directors’ nominee,
such shareholder must submit in writing to the Nominating Committee the
recommended candidate’s name, a brief resume setting forth the recommended
candidate’s business and educational background and qualifications for service,
any other information relating to the recommended candidate that is required to
be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is
otherwise required, in each case pursuant to the proxy rules of the SEC, and a
written consent signed by the recommended candidate stating the recommended
candidate’s willingness to be nominated and to serve. This
information must be delivered to the Nominating Committee c/o AMAC’s Corporate
Secretary at the Company’s address and must be received in a timely manner as
specified in our Bylaws (these notice and other procedural requirements are not
applicable to persons nominated by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors). The timing requirements with respect to next year’s
annual meeting of shareholders are described in the section of this proxy
statement entitled “Shareholder Proposals.” The Nominating Committee
may request further information if it determines a recommended candidate may be
an appropriate nominee.
Board
Leadership Structure
AMAC
currently has separate individuals serving in the roles of Chairman of the Board
of Directors and Chief Executive Officer in recognition of the differences
between the two roles. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for
the day-to-day leadership of AMAC while the Chairman of the Board of Directors
presides over meetings of the full Board of Directors in which the strategic
direction for AMAC is determined.
Board’s
Role in Oversight of Risk
Risk is
inherent in every business and how well a business manages risk can ultimately
determine its success. AMAC faces a number of risks, including, among
others, risks related to keeping up with technological advances and
competition. Management is responsible for the day-to-day management
of the risks AMAC faces, while the Board of Directors, as a whole and through
its committees, has responsibility for the oversight of risk
management. AMAC’s Board of Directors is in regular communication
with its President and Chief Executive Officer to discuss strategy and risks
facing AMAC. The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial
Officer regularly attend Board of Directors and committee meetings and are
available to address any questions or concerns raised by the directors regarding
risk management and any other matters. In addition, the Board of
Directors regularly receives presentations from senior management regarding
AMAC’s operations, including associated risks and mitigation
measures. The Audit Committee has oversight, under its charter, with
respect to significant risks or exposures to AMAC’s business and assets and the
steps management has taken to minimize such risks. The Audit
Committee also periodically reviews legal and regulatory matters that may have a
material impact on AMAC’s financial statements and the scope and effectiveness
of compliance policies and programs.
Communicating
with Directors
Shareholders
who wish to communicate with the Board of Directors, the non-management
directors or an individual director may do so by sending a letter to the
Corporate Secretary of the Corporate Secretary of AMAC c/o American Medical
Alert Corp., 3265 Lawson Boulevard, P.O. Box 40, Oceanside, NY
11572. The mailing envelope must contain a clear notation indicating
that the enclosed letter is a “Shareholder-Board Communication.” All
such letters must identify the author as a shareholder and clearly state whether
the intended recipients are all or individual members of the Board of
Directors.
Upon
receipt of any such communications, the Corporate Secretary will determine the
identity of the intended recipient and whether the communication is an
appropriate shareholder communication. An “appropriate shareholder
communication” is a communication from a person claiming to be a shareholder in
the communication, and the subject of which relates solely to the sender’s
interest as a shareholder and not to any other personal or business
interest.
The
Corporate Secretary will send all appropriate shareholder communications to the
intended director or directors. In the case of communications
addressed to the Board of Directors, the Corporate Secretary will send
appropriate shareholder communications to the Chairman of the Board of
Directors. In the case of communications addressed to the independent
directors, the Corporate Secretary will send appropriate shareholder
communications to the Chairman of the Audit Committee. In the case of
communications addressed to committees of the Board of Directors, the Corporate
Secretary will send appropriate shareholder communications to the Chairman of
such committee.
MEETINGS
AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The
Board of Directors
During
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 (“fiscal year 2009”), twelve meetings of
the Board of Directors were held and acted by written consent
twice. In addition, an aggregate of thirteen meetings of the
committees of the Board of Directors were held in that period. During
fiscal year 2009, no director attended less than 75% of the regularly scheduled
and special meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees on which he
served. Although AMAC does not have a formal, written attendance
policy requiring directors to attend the annual meeting of shareholders, the
Nominating Committee’s charter provides that all members of the Board of
Directors are encouraged to attend the Company’s annual meeting so that each
director may listen to any concerns that shareholders may have that are raised
at an annual meeting. The charter also provides that continued lack
of attendance at annual meetings without a valid excuse will be considered by
the Nominating Committee when determining those board members who will be
recommended to the Board of Directors for re-election. All of the members of the
Board of Directors who served during fiscal year 2009 attended the Company’s
2009 annual meeting of shareholders.
Committees
of the Board of Directors
AMAC’s
Board of Directors maintains an Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and
Nominating Committee. The Audit Committee and Nominating Committee
each operate pursuant to a charter approved by the Board of Directors, copies of
which are available on AMAC’s website at www.amac.com, under the “Investor
Relations, Corporate Governance” headings, or upon written request to the
Corporate Secretary of AMAC c/o American Medical Alert Corp., 3265 Lawson
Boulevard, P.O. Box 40, Oceanside, NY 11572. The Compensation
Committee does not have a formal written charter.
Audit
Committee
Members
: Mr.
Shamash, Mr. Levin, Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Fortunoff
AMAC has
a standing Audit Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A)
under the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors has determined that
each member of the Audit Committee is “independent” and financially literate as
required by the additional independence requirements for members of the Audit
Committee pursuant to the applicable NASDAQ Listing Standards and Rule 10A-3
under the Exchange Act. In addition, the Board of Directors has also
determined that Mr. Gallagher is an “audit committee financial expert” as
defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. During fiscal year 2009,
the Audit Committee held six meetings.
The
purpose and responsibilities of the Audit Committee are discussed in detail in
its charter and include, among other things:
|
·
|
overseeing
the conduct and integrity of AMAC’s financial reporting
process;
|
|
·
|
overseeing
AMAC’s compliance with legal and regulatory
requirements;
|
|
·
|
reviewing
and evaluating the qualifications, engagement, compensation, independence
and performance of AMAC’s independent auditor, their conduct of the annual
audit, and their engagement for any other
services;
|
|
·
|
reviewing
the performance of AMAC’s systems of internal accounting and financial and
disclosure controls; and
|
|
·
|
preparing
the Audit Committee report required to be included in AMAC’s annual proxy
statement.
|
In
addition, the Audit Committee has established procedures for complaints
regarding accounting, internal accounting controls and auditing matters, and the
confidential, anonymous submission by employees of AMAC of concerns regarding
questionable accounting or auditing matters.
Compensation
Committee
Members
: Mr.
Shamash, Mr. Levin, and Mr. Gallagher
During
fiscal year 2009, the Compensation Committee held six meetings. The
purposes and responsibilities of the Compensation Committee include the
following:
|
·
|
reviewing
and recommending to the Board of Directors compensation levels, including
incentive compensation, for AMAC’s executive officers, including the
President and Chief Executive
Officer;
|
|
·
|
reviewing
and recommending to the Board of Directors equity-based incentive plans;
and
|
|
·
|
attending
to such other matters relating to compensation as may be prescribed by the
Board of Directors.
|
For a
description of AMAC’s processes and procedures for the consideration and
determination of executive compensation, see the discussion contained herein
under the caption
“Executive
Compensation – Compensation Discussion and Analysis”
beginning on page
15.
Nominating
Committee
Members
: Mr.
Shamash, Mr. Levin, Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Fortunoff (Note that each such
director served as a member of the Nominating Committee from and after AMAC’s
2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on July 30, 2009. During the
first half of fiscal year 2009, through the date of such meeting, the Nominating
Committee was comprised of Mr. Levin and Mr. Shamash.)
During
fiscal year 2009, the Nominating Committee held one meeting. The
purposes and responsibilities of the Nominating Committee are discussed in
detail in its charter and include, among other things:
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·
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establishing
criteria for the selection of directors to serve on the Board of
Directors, taking into account at a minimum all applicable laws, rules,
regulations and listing standards, a potential candidate’s experience,
areas of expertise and any other factors the members of the Committee deem
appropriate;
|
|
·
|
identifying
individuals believed to be qualified as candidates to serve on the Board
of Directors and recommending that the Board of Directors (i) nominate
such candidates for election by the shareholders at an annual or special
meeting, or (ii) appoint such candidates as directors in the interim for
the purpose of filing vacancies.
|
|
·
|
performing
any other activities consistent with the Nominating Committee Charter, our
Bylaws and governing law as the Committee or the Board of Directors deem
appropriate.
|
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION
Director
Compensation Table
The table
below discloses the compensation for fiscal year 2009 paid to or earned by those
persons who served as a director during fiscal year 2009. Members of
AMAC’s Board of Directors who are employees of AMAC do not receive any
compensation from AMAC for their service as a director. Accordingly, they are
not listed in the table below:
Name
|
|
Fees
earned
or
paid in
cash
($)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
(1)
(2)
($)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Ronald
Levin
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
37,550
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
37,550
|
|
Yacov
Shamash Ph.D.
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
37,550
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
37,550
|
|
John
S.T. Gallagher
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
37,550
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
37,550
|
|
Gregory
Fortunoff
(3)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
33,050
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
33,050
|
|
(1)
|
Amounts
represent the aggregate full grant date fair value of restricted stock
awards granted in 2009 computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718 regarding
share-based payments. For restricted stock, fair value is
calculated by multiplying the number of shares of restricted stock by the
closing price of AMAC common stock on the date of grant, which was $5.78,
$5.11, $5.63, $5.89, and $6.63 on July 31, 2009 (the date of our 2009
annual meeting of shareholders), March 31, 2009, June 30, 2009, September
30, 2009 and December 31, 2009, respectively. For information
on the valuation assumptions, refer to the portion of Note 1 on
“Accounting for stock-based compensation” and Note 7 on “Common Stock and
Options” in the AMAC financial statements filed with the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. These amounts
may not necessarily represent the actual value realized by each
director.
|
(2)
|
At
December 31, 2009, the aggregate number of shares of restricted stock
awards outstanding as to which restrictions have not fully lapsed was: Mr.
Levin- 6,508; Dr. Shamash — 6,508; Mr. Gallagher — 6,508; and Mr.
Fortunoff — 5,727.
|
(3)
|
Mr.
Fortunoff does not serve on the Compensation Committee, and, as a result,
did not receive the restricted stock retainer grant for service on such
committee.
|
Narrative
Disclosure to Director Compensation Table
For
fiscal year 2009, our non-employee director compensation policy was as
follows:
|
·
|
an
annual grant of restricted shares of our common stock having a value
equivalent to the Black Scholes value of a grant of options to purchase
10,000 shares of our common stock on the date of election to the Board of
Directors at the annual meeting for that year (in fiscal year 2009, each
non-employee director was granted 2,343 shares of restricted stock upon
such election);
|
|
·
|
an
annual retainer of $15,000 for service on the full Board of Directors,
paid in the form of restricted shares of our common stock in four equal
$3,750 installments following each quarter of service, based on the
closing price of our common stock on the last trading day of the relevant
quarter;
|
|
·
|
an
annual retainer of $4,500 for service on the Audit Committee, paid in the
form of restricted shares of our common stock in four equal $1,125
installments following each quarter of service, based on the closing price
of our common stock on the last trading day of the relevant quarter;
and
|
|
·
|
an
annual retainer of $4,500 for service on the Compensation Committee, paid
in the form of restricted shares of our common stock in four equal $1,125
installments following each quarter of service, based on the closing price
of our common stock on the last trading day of the relevant
quarter.
|
Non-employee
directors do not receive additional compensation for service on the Nominating
Committee, nor do they receive meeting fees.
All
restricted shares of common stock issued to directors are subject to the terms
of the of American Medical Alert Corp. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, and are
subject to a one-year lock-up period from the grant date during which they are
not transferable.
Effective
for fiscal year 2010, in addition to the annual grant of restricted stock upon
election to the Board of Directors, each non-employee director will make an
election, which must be made at the beginning of each fiscal year and which will
remain in effect throughout that year, to receive his retainers for service on
the full Board of Directors, Audit Committee and Compensation Committee either
in the form of cash or restricted shares of our common stock, having the same
values and paid at the same times described above for the fiscal year 2009
policy.
The
Company reimburses all directors for travel and other reasonable and necessary
business expenses incurred in the performance of their services for the Company
and extends coverage to them under the Company’s directors’ and officers’
indemnity insurance policies.
During
fiscal year 2009, the Compensation Committee retained Compensation Resources,
Inc. (“CRI”), an independent compensation consultant, to conduct a competitive
analysis of compensation arrangements for comparable Boards of Directors and
Executive Chairs within the healthcare technology, communications equipment and
medical instruments industries. However, the Compensation Committee
did not rely on CRI’s analysis with respect to any determinations or
recommendations regarding the amount or form of executive or director
compensation during fiscal year 2009. The Board of Directors may
determine to modify director compensation in the future based on CRI’s
analysis. CRI did not provide any services other than the analysis
described above.
EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
Executive
Officers (Who Are Not Also Directors):
RICHARD RALLO (age
46)
joined the Company in February 2001 as the Controller and
became Chief Financial Officer in April 2003. Since January 2009, Mr.
Rallo has also served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Health and Safety
Monitoring Systems (HSMS) division of the Company. Since July 2009,
Mr. Rallo has served as the Company’s Corporate Secretary. From May
1997 to February 2001, Mr. Rallo served as the Chief Financial Officer of
Tradewell, Inc., a barter company. From October 1994 to April 1997,
Mr. Rallo served as the Controller of Connoisseur Communications Partners L.P.,
a company that owned and operated radio stations. From 1986 to 1994
Mr. Rallo worked in public accounting for Touche Ross & Co. and Margolin,
Winer & Evens LLP. Mr. Rallo is a Certified Public Accountant and
has a BS in accounting from the University of Denver.
RANDI BALDWIN (age 41)
has
been the Company’s Senior Vice President, Marketing and Program Development
since January 2007. Prior to that, she was the Company’s Vice
President – Marketing and Communications. Ms. Baldwin joined the
Company in March 1999 as the Director of Marketing. Additionally, Ms
Baldwin leads the Company’s telehealth operations. Prior to joining the Company,
she held executive level marketing and media positions at various advertising
agencies in the NY metropolitan area where she drove extensive consumer and B2B
campaigns, developed nationally relevant brand value propositions and
implemented integrated marketing communications programs.
COMPENSATION
OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Compensation
Discussion and Analysis
Overview of Compensation
Policy
The
Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending to the
Board of Directors compensation levels, including incentive compensation, for
AMAC’s executive officers, including the President and Chief Executive Officer;
reviewing and recommending to the Board of Directors equity-based incentive
plans; and attending to such matters relating to compensation as may be
prescribed by the Board of Directors. Among its principal duties, the
Compensation Committee ensures that the total compensation of the named
executive officers is fair, reasonable and competitive. For purposes
herein, “named executive officers” shall have the meaning given to such term in
the Summary Compensation Table below.
Objectives and Policies of
Compensation
The
primary objective of the Company’s compensation policy, including the executive
compensation policy, is to help attract and retain qualified, energetic
executives, officers and managers who are enthusiastic about the Company’s
mission and products. The policy is designed to reward the
achievement of specific annual and long-term strategic goals, aligning executive
remuneration with company growth and shareholder value. In addition, the Board
of Directors strives to promote an ownership mentality among key
personnel.
Setting Executive
Compensation
The
compensation policy is designed to reward the named executives officers based on
both individual and Company performance. In measuring named executive
officers’ contribution to the Company, the Compensation Committee considers
numerous factors including the named executive officer’s individual efforts,
Company’s growth and financial performance as measured by revenue and earnings
before interest and taxes of named executive officers among other key
performance indicators.
Stock
price performance has not been a factor in determining annual compensation
because the price of the Company’s common stock is subject to a variety of
factors outside of management’s control. The Company does not
subscribe to an exact formula for allocating between cash and non-cash
compensation or allocating between incentive or performance based compensation
and non-performance compensation, each of which is determined on a case by case
basis, balancing the need to offer competitive base salaries, with the goal of
incentivizing executives to contribute to the Company’s growth. A
portion of total compensation for each named executive officer, other than the
compensation of the Chief Financial Officer and the Senior Vice President,
Marketing and Program Development, is performance-based, taking into
consideration the nature of each executive’s position and the opportunity to
contribute to realizing the Company’s performance targets.
Elements of Company’s
Compensation Plan
The
principal components of compensation for the Company’s named executive officers
are:
·
base
salary
·
nonperformance-based
stock compensation
·
performance-based
incentive stock compensation
Base
Salary
The
Company provides named executive officers and other employees with base salaries
to compensate them for services rendered during the fiscal year. Base salary
ranges for named executive officers are determined for each executive based on
his or her position and responsibility.
During
its review of base salaries for executives, the Compensation Committee primarily
considers:
·
Comparable
salaries of executives of similar positions employed by companies of similar
size as the Company;
·
Internal
review of the executives’ compensation, both individually and relative to other
officers; and
·
Past
performance of the executive.
Salary
levels are typically evaluated annually as part of the Company’s performance
review process, as well as upon a promotion or other change in job
responsibility, but are usually set at the time of execution of the applicable
employment contracts. Employment contracts for named executive
officers range between three and five years in length and usually provide for a
graduated increase in base salary.
Non Performance-Based Stock
Compensation
As part
of executing employment agreements with its named executive officers, the
Company has granted stock options and made restricted stock grants to its named
executive officers. The restricted stock grant shares vest over time,
subject to the condition that the executive is employed by the Company at
particular yearly intervals. Holders of restricted stock generally
have the right to exercise all rights, powers and privileges of a holder of
Common Stock with respect to the restricted shares, including the right to vote,
receive stock or cash dividends (but subject to forfeiture with respect to
unvested shares), participate in stock splits or other recapitalizations and
exchange such shares in a merger, consolidation or other reorganization. These
grants are made to encourage longevity of service and to provide the executives
with an ownership interest in the Company.
The
majority of the stock options granted by the Board of Directors vest within two
years and have terms anywhere from five to ten years, although since 2005, all
options have been granted with a five year term. Under the 2000 Stock
Option Plan, option exercise rights cease 90 days after the termination of
employment for executives, and under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, option
exercise rights cease 30 days after the termination of employment for
executives. Prior to the exercise of an option, the holder has no
rights as a shareholder, including voting rights, with respect to the shares
subject to such option.
Performance-Based Incentive
Stock Compensation
The
Company’s stock and option plans give the Compensation Committee the ability to
design stock-based incentive compensation programs to promote high performance
and achievement of corporate goals, encourage the growth of shareholder value
and allow key employees to participate in the long-term growth and profitability
of the Company.
For
stock-based programs, the Compensation Committee may recommend granting to
participants stock, stock options and stock appreciation rights, which are the
only non-cash incentives currently approved by the shareholders of the
Company. In granting these stock, stock options and stock
appreciation rights, the Compensation Committee recommends parameters such as
vesting schedules and terms of the grants.
Equity
award levels are determined based on the Company’s assessment of the named
executive officer’s contribution to the achievement of the Company’s performance
targets, and vary among executives based on their positions within the
Company. These awards are granted or approved at the Board of
Directors’ regularly or special scheduled meeting, after recommendation by the
Compensation Committee. Stock options have been awarded under the
2005 Stock Incentive Plan at the closing price of the Company’s common stock,
and under the 2000 Stock Option Plan, as the average of the highest and lowest
sales price per share of the Company’s common stock, each as reported by NASDAQ
on the date of the grant.
Equity
awards to executives are generally granted or determined at the time of the
execution of the applicable employment agreement. The amount of shares granted
has in the past been determined based on (i)revenue and (ii) earnings before
interest and taxes (“EBIT”) thresholds. The Compensation Committee is
currently conducting a review of the design of performance-based incentive stock
compensation for the executive management team.
Compensation
Consultants
Regarding
most compensation matters, management provides recommendations to the
Compensation Committee; however, the Compensation Committee does not delegate
any of its functions to others in recommending compensation of executive
officers to the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee
periodically engages outside compensation consultants with respect to executive
and/or director compensation matters. During fiscal year 2009, the
Compensation Committee retained Compensation Resources, Inc., an independent
compensation consultant, to conduct a competitive analysis of compensation
arrangements for comparable Boards of Directors and Executive Chairs within the
healthcare technology, communications equipment and medical instruments
industries. However, the Compensation Committee did not rely on CRI’s
analysis with respect to any determinations or recommendations regarding the
amount or form of executive or director compensation during fiscal year
2009. The Board of Directors may determine to modify director
compensation in the future based on CRI’s analysis. CRI did not
provide any services other than the analysis described above.
Individual Compensation
Considerations
With
respect to each of the named executive officers, in additional to the general
considerations described above, the Compensation Committee evaluated the
following criteria in determining such executive’s compensation
structure:
Jack
Rhian, President and Chief Executive Officer
In 2005,
when Mr. Rhian was President and Chief Operating Officer, the Compensation
Committee recommended that Mr. Rhian’s pay structure should be comprised of a
(i) base salary, (ii) performance based stock compensation and (iii)
non-performance stock compensation. In light of Mr. Rhian’s past and
future position with the Company as President and Chief Operating Officer, the
committee felt that since Mr. Rhian would be responsible for overseeing the
Company’s overall performance, a significant portion of his compensation should
be based on Company performance criteria. In recommending the
specific performance criteria, the Compensation Committee determined that the
award should primarily be based on EBIT, which it believes is the best indicator
of the Company’s overall performance. In addition, to provide
incentive to Mr. Rhian to remain with the Company, the Compensation Committee
also recommended compensating Mr. Rhian with non-performance shares which would
vest annually over the term of his employment agreement.
In
determining the various levels of performance targets, the Compensation
Committee considered the following metrics:
·
Evaluation
of past individual performance and expected future contribution.
·
A
review of compensation packages with comparable companies.
·
Use
of an outside third party consultant
·
Overall
past performance and desired future performance of the Company
Frederic
S. Siegel, Executive Vice President
In 2007,
the Compensation Committee recommended that Mr. Siegel's pay structure, be
comprised of a (i) base salary, (ii) performance based stock and cash
compensation and (iii) non-performance stock compensation. Due to Mr.
Siegel’s overall responsibility for the operating results of the Company's HSMS
segment, including delivery of top line and pre-tax profit, the Compensation
Committee believed that a portion of his compensation should be based on Company
performance targets. As part of this structure, the Compensation Committee also
recommended to reduce the base salary earned by Mr. Siegel in 2005 and 2006 in
order to appropriately balance the allocation between performance based and
non-performance based compensation. In recommending the specific performance
criteria, the Compensation Committee determined that the performance incentives
should be broken out into three areas; (i) HSMS revenue growth, (ii) HSMS EBIT
growth and (iii) total Company EBIT growth, with the majority of the performance
incentive being weighted towards the first two criteria. In addition,
to provide incentive to Mr. Siegel to remain with the Company, the Compensation
Committee recommended compensating Mr. Siegel with non-performance shares which
would vest annually over the term of his employment agreement.
In
determining the various levels of performance targets, the Compensation
Committee considered the following metrics:
·
Evaluation
of past individual performance and expected future contribution.
·
A
review of compensation packages with comparable companies.
·
Use
of an outside third party consultant.
·
Overall
past performance and desired future performance in the HSMS segment as well as
the Company.
Richard
Rallo, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer of the HSMS division and
Corporate Secretary
In 2005,
and again in 2008, in connection with the Company’s entry into a new employment
agreement with Mr. Rallo (which is described below in more detail), the
Compensation Committee recommended that Mr. Rallo’s pay structure, who is the,
be comprised of a base salary and non-performance stock
compensation. Due to his unique position as Chief Financial Officer,
the Compensation Committee did not believe it was appropriate to provide
performance based compensation as part of Mr. Rallo’s pay structure. In
addition, to provide incentive to Mr. Rallo to remain with the Company, the
Compensation Committee recommended compensating Mr. Rallo with non-performance
shares which would vest annually over the term of his employment
agreement.
In
determining the structure of Mr. Rallo’s compensation, the Compensation
Committee considered the following metrics:
·
Evaluation
of past individual performance and expected future contribution.
·
A
review of compensation packages with comparable companies.
·
Use
of an outside third party consultant
Randi
Baldwin, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Program Development
In 2006
and again in 2009, the Compensation Committee recommended that Ms. Baldwin’s pay
structure, be comprised of a base salary and non-performance stock option
compensation. Due to her position, the Compensation Committee did not
believe it was appropriate to provide performance based compensation as part of
Ms. Baldwin’s pay structure.
In
determining the structure of Ms. Baldwin’s compensation, the Compensation
Committee considered the following metrics:
·
Evaluation
of past individual performance and expected future contribution.
·
A
review of compensation packages with comparable companies.
·
Use
of an outside third party consultant
Retirement and Other
Benefits
All
employees in the United States are eligible to participate in the Company's
401(k) Retirement Plan.
401(k) Retirement
Plan
In 1997,
the Company instituted a 401(k) Plan covering substantially all full-time
employees with at least six months of service. Under the Plan, employees may
elect to defer up to 15% of compensation (subject to certain limitations).
Matching contributions are discretionary and may be contributed at the option of
the Company. The Company currently matches 15% of up to 4% of the
employee contributions. In addition, the Company may make an annual
discretionary profit-sharing contribution. Employee contributions, Company
matching contributions and related earnings are always 100% vested.
Accounting and Tax
Considerations
Beginning
on January 1, 2006, the Company began accounting for stock-based payments in
accordance with the requirements of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”)
Topic 718 (formerly SFAS 123(R)).
The
Company's equity grant policy has been impacted by the implementation of ASC
Topic 718. Under this accounting pronouncement, the Company is
required to value unvested stock options granted prior to the adoption of ASC
Topic 718 under the fair value method and expense those amounts in the income
statement over the stock option's remaining vesting period.
Section
162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code restricts deductibility of executive
compensation paid to the Company’s chief executive officer and each of the four
other most highly compensated executive officers holding office at the end of
any year to the extent such compensation exceeds $1,000,000 for any of such
officers in any year and does not qualify for an exception under Section 162(m)
or related regulations. The Board of Directors’ policy is to qualify
its executive compensation for deductibility under applicable tax laws to the
extent practicable. Income related to stock and stock options generally
qualifies for an exemption from these restrictions imposed by Section 162(m). In
the future, the Board of Directors will continue to evaluate the advisability of
qualifying its executive compensation for full deductibility.
Compensation
Committee Report on Executive Compensation
The
Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion
and Analysis with management and, based on such review and discussion, it has
recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and
Analysis be included in this proxy statement and in AMAC’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.
|
THE
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
|
|
|
|
Yacov
Shamash
|
|
Ronald
Levin
|
|
John
S.T. Gallagher
|
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During
fiscal year 2009, Messrs. Shamash, Levin, and Gallagher served as members of
AMAC’s Compensation Committee. None of the members of the
Compensation Committee has ever been an officer or employee of AMAC. During all
or part of fiscal year 2009, none of AMAC’s executive officers served as a
member of the Board of Directors or compensation committee of any other company
that had one or more executive officers serving as a member of AMAC’s Board of
Directors or Compensation Committee.
Compensation
Risks
AMAC’s
management and the Compensation Committee have reviewed AMAC’s compensation
policies and practices for its named executive officers and other employees and
have concluded that any risks arising from AMAC’s compensation policies and
programs are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on
AMAC.
Summary
Compensation Table
The table
below summarizes the dollar amounts of all the total compensation components for
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 (fiscal year 2007), December 31, 2008
(fiscal year 2008) and December 31, 2009 (fiscal year 2009), paid to or earned
by each of AMAC’s (i) principal executive officer, (ii) principal
financial officer, and (iii) two other highest paid executive officers who
were executive officers at the end of fiscal year 2009 (collectively, the “named
executive officers”).
Name and
Principal Position
|
Year
|
|
Salary ($)
|
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
($) (1)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
($)(2)
|
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
All
Other
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Total ($)
|
|
Jack
Rhian
|
2009
|
|
$
|
300,000
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
13,966
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
313,966
|
|
President
and
Chief
Executive Officer
|
2008
|
|
|
280,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
13,688
|
(3)
|
|
|
293,688
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
260,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
13,558
|
(3)
|
|
|
273,558
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frederic
Siegel
|
2009
|
|
|
210,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
114,279
|
|
|
|
13,249
|
(4)
|
|
|
337,528
|
|
Executive
Vice
President
|
2008
|
|
|
200,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
30,929
|
|
|
|
12,599
|
(4)
|
|
|
243,528
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
190,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
547,400
|
(5)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
5,253
|
|
|
|
12,046
|
(4)
|
|
|
754,699
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard
Rallo
|
2009
|
|
|
215,000
|
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
91,140
|
|
|
|
35,289
|
(6)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
12,638
|
(7)
|
|
|
364,067
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer of the HSMS Division,
|
2008
|
|
|
200,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
10,773
|
(7)
|
|
|
210,773
|
|
and
Corporate Secretary
|
2007
|
|
|
185,000
|
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
|
21,390
|
(8)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
10,708
|
(7)
|
|
|
222,098
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Randi
Baldwin
|
2009
|
|
|
162,500
|
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
25,186
|
(9)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
10,008
|
(10)
|
|
|
202,694
|
|
Senior
Vice President, Marketing and Program Development
|
2008
|
|
|
147,667
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
9,288
|
(10)
|
|
|
156,955
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
141,167
|
|
|
|
10,100
|
|
|
|
21,390
|
(8)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
9,247
|
(10)
|
|
|
181,904
|
|
(1)
|
Amounts
represent the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock awards
and performance-based stock awards granted computed in accordance with ASC
Topic 718 regarding share-based payments for the listed fiscal
year. In accordance with current SEC disclosure requirements,
stock awards for fiscal year 2008 and fiscal year 2007, previously
reported as amounts recognized, or “expensed,” for the fiscal year, are
now being reported above as grant date fair values. Amounts of
stock awards which have been granted prior to 2007 and are being expensed
over the last three fiscal years, are not reflected in the table as the
transition rules only look back three
years.
|
For
restricted stock awards, fair value is calculated by multiplying the number of
shares of restricted stock by the closing price of our common stock on the date
of grant. For performance-based stock awards, the amount reflected is
based upon the assumption that the applicable performance metric would be
achieved. For additional information on the valuation assumptions
used, refer to the portion of Note 1 on “Accounting for stock-based
compensation” and Note 7 on “Common Stock and Options” in the AMAC financial
statements filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the respective
year-end. See the 2009 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table immediately
below for information on grants awarded in fiscal year 2009. These
amounts may not necessarily represent the actual value realized by the named
executives. For a discussion of performance-based awards that were
not earned because the applicable goals were not achieved, please see the
“Narrative Disclosure to Summary
Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards”
below.
(2)
|
Amounts
represent the aggregate grant date fair value of stock option awards
granted computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718 regarding share-based
payments for the listed fiscal year. In accordance with current
SEC disclosure requirements, stock awards for fiscal year 2008 and fiscal
year 2007, previously reported as amounts recognized, or “expensed,” for
the fiscal year, are now being reported above as grant date fair
values. Amounts of stock options which have been granted prior
to 2007 and are being expensed over the last three fiscal years, are not
reflected in the table as the transition rules only look back three
years.
|
For stock
options, fair value is calculated using, for stock options granted under the
2000 Stock Option Plan, the average between the high and low sales prices for
our common stock on the date of grant, and for stock options granted under the
2005 Stock Incentive Plan, the closing price of our common stock on the date of
grant. For information on the valuation assumptions used, refer to
the portion of Note 1 on “Accounting for stock-based compensation” and Note 7 on
“Common Stock and Options” in the AMAC financial statements filed with the
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the respective year-end. See the 2009
Grants of Plan-Based Awards table immediately below for information on stock
options awarded in 2009. These amounts may not necessarily represent the actual
value realized by the named executives.
(3)
|
Includes
auto stipend of $12,200, $12,000 and $12,000 for 2009, 2008 and 2007 and
employer 401(k) contribution of $1,766, $1,688 and $1,558 in 2009, 2008
and 2007, respectively.
|
(4)
|
Includes
auto stipend of $12,495, $11,400 and $11,400 for 2009, 2008 and 2007 and
employer 401(k) contribution of $754, $1,199 and $646 in 2009, 2008 and
2007, respectively
|
(5)
|
Represents
the aggregate fair value of 22,000 shares of restricted stock and 46,000
performance-based awards of stock, calculated using the $8.05 closing
price of our common stock on the date of grant. The time-vested
shares vest equally at 5,500 common shares per annum from December 31,
2007 to December 31, 2010. Up to 11,500 shares of our common
stock may be earned per year under the performance-based awards if certain
performance thresholds are met, as discussed in more detail in the
“Narrative Disclosure to
Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards”
below. In addition, for a discussion of performance-based
awards that were not earned because the applicable goals were not
achieved, please see the
“Narrative Disclosure to
Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards”
below.
|
(6)
|
O
n November 13, 2009, Mr. Rallo
waived 9,500 shares of restricted stock which, in January 2009, had been
granted inadvertently in excess of the 2005 Stock Incentive
Plan
’
s individual share limit for Mr.
Rallo, and which had not yet vested. On the same
dat
e
, the Board of Directors granted
to Mr. Rallo options to purchase up to 21,700 shares of common stock under
the Company
’
s 2000 Stock Option
Plan. The grant date fair value of the cancelled shares of
restricted stock is $41,230 and for the newly granted s
t
ock options is
$35,289.
|
(7)
|
Includes
auto stipend of $11,400, $9,600 and $9,600 for 2009 and 2008 and 2007 and
employer 401(k) contribution of $1,238, $1,173 and $1,086 in 2009, 2008
and 2007, respectively.
|
(8)
|
Represents
the aggregate fair value of
3,000 shares of
restricted stock issued to each of Mr. Rallo and Ms. Baldwin calculated
using the $7.13
closing price of our common stock on the date of
grant.
|
(9)
|
On
June 25, 2009, the Board granted Ms. Baldwin options to purchase up to
15,000 shares of common stock under the Company’s 2000 Stock Option Plan
pursuant to Ms. Baldwin’s executed employment
agreement.
|
(10)
|
Includes
auto stipend of $9,000, $8,400 and $8,400 for 2009, 2008 and 2007 and
employer 401(k) contribution of $1,008, $888 and $847 in 2009, 2008 and
2007, respectively.
|
Grants
of Plan-Based Awards
The
following table discloses each grant of a plan-based award to a named executive
officer during fiscal year 2009:
|
|
|
|
All
Other
|
|
|
All
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
Date
Fair
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Number
of
|
|
|
or
Base
|
|
|
Value
of
|
|
|
|
|
|
of
Shares
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
Price
of
|
|
|
Stock
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
of
Stock
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
Options
|
|
|
|
Grant
|
|
or
Units
|
|
|
Options
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
Name
|
|
Date
(1)
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
($/Sh)
|
|
|
($)
(2)
|
|
Richard
Rallo
|
|
1/19/09
|
|
|
21,500
|
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
93,310
|
|
|
|
11/13/09
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21,700
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
5.88
|
|
|
|
35,289
|
|
Randi
Baldwin
|
|
6/25/09
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000
|
(4)
|
|
|
5.72
|
|
|
|
25,186
|
|
|
(1)
|
Represents
the date the equity awards were granted by AMAC’s Board of
Directors.
|
|
(2)
|
This
column shows the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock and
stock options under applicable SEC rules granted to the named executives
in the table, in 2009. See Note 1 of the 2009 Summary
Compensation Table for a discussion of the fair value calculation related
to the restricted stock grant. For these stock options, which
were granted under the 2000 Stock Option Plan, fair value is calculated
using the
average between the
high and low prices for our common stock on the grant date, which is the
same as the applicable exercise price disclosed above in the
table. For additional information on the valuation assumptions,
refer to the portion of Note 1 on “Accounting for stock-based
compensation” and Note 7 on “Common Stock and Options” in the AMAC
financial statements filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2009, as filed with the
SEC.
|
|
(3)
|
On
November 13, 2009, Mr. Rallo waived 9,500 shares of restricted stock
which, in January 2009, had been granted inadvertently in excess of the
2005 Stock Incentive Plan’s individual share limit for Mr. Rallo, and
which had not yet vested. On the same date, the Board of
Directors granted to Mr. Rallo options to purchase up to 21,700 shares of
common stock under the 2000 Stock Option Plan. The grant date
fair value of the cancelled shares of restricted stock is $41,230 and of
the newly granted stock options is
$35,289.
|
|
(4)
|
On June 25, 2009, the Board
granted Ms. Baldwin options to purchase up to 15,000
shares of common stock under the
Company
’
s 2000 Stock Option Plan pursuant
to Ms. Baldwin
’
s executed employment agreement.
|
Narrative
Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based
Awards
Jack
Rhian
On
November 11, 2005, we entered into an employment agreement with Jack Rhian,
under which he is employed for a period of five years beginning on January 1,
2006 as our President and Chief Operating Officer. Subsequently,
effective January 1, 2007, Mr. Rhian was appointed as our Chief Executive
Officer. Mr. Rhian’s employment agreement provides for the following
base salary amounts: $240,000 per annum, for the period beginning January 1,
2006 and ending December 31, 2006; $260,000 per annum, for the period beginning
January 1, 2007 and ending December 31, 2007; $280,000 per annum, for the period
beginning January 1, 2008 and ending December 31, 2008; $300,000 per annum, for
the period beginning January 1, 2009 and ending December 31, 2009; and $300,000
per annum, for the period beginning January 1, 2010 and ending December 31,
2010.
In
connection with his employment agreement, on January 20, 2006, we entered into a
stock purchase agreement with Mr. Rhian. Pursuant to this stock
purchase agreement, Mr. Rhian was granted, under the Company’s 2005 Incentive
Plan, 50,000 shares of restricted common stock subject to a repurchase right in
our favor. We have the right to repurchase the shares for $.01 per
share if Mr. Rhian ceases to be employed by us. The repurchase right
lapsed with respect to (i) 10,000 shares on December 31, 2006, (ii) 10,000
shares on December 31, 2007, (iii) 10,000 shares on December 31, 2008, and
(iv)10,000 shares on December 31, 2009, and lapses with respect to 10,000
shares on December 31, 2010, subject to the condition that Mr. Rhian remains
employed by us on such date; provided, however, that in the event of a change in
control (as defined in Mr. Rhian’s employment agreement) if we or our successor
pursuant to such change in control, as applicable, and Mr. Rhian either agree to
continue the employment agreement or to enter into a new employment agreement
mutually acceptable to us or our successor and Mr. Rhian in lieu of his current
employment agreement, then any such shares which remain unvested, will vest
immediately.
In
addition, Mr. Rhian is entitled to the following bonus compensation stock
grants: (i) up to 80,000, based on meeting or exceeding EBIT (as set forth in
our audited financial statements for the applicable fiscal year) performance
targets, as described below, and (ii) 2,000 shares of common stock per year, for
a total of up to 10,000 shares of common stock over the employment period, based
on our total revenues, as set forth in our audited financial statements for the
applicable fiscal year, meeting or exceeding an amount equal to at least 115% of
the Company's total revenues for the prior fiscal year.
EBIT Targets For 2006 –
2010
EBIT
growth over prior fiscal year
|
#
of Shares
|
|
|
15.0
– 17.49%
|
8,000
shares
|
17.5
– 19.99%
|
9,000
shares
|
20.0
– 22.49%
|
10,500 shares
|
22.5
– 24.99%
|
13,000
shares
|
25.0%
- or more
|
16,000
shares
|
On March
30, 2009, the Company and Mr. Rhian entered into an amendment to Mr. Rhian's
employment agreement. The amendment clarified certain computations in connection
with the calculation of the performance based formula for certain stock awards
by which Mr. Rhian could make up, in a subsequent year, a failure to have met
the performance threshold in a prior year. It also clarified the effect of
certain non-operational adjustments on the formula.
For the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, our EBIT growth (reduction)
was 79% (13)% and 22%, respectively and our year over year revenue growth for
2007 exceeded 115%, while in 2009 and 2008 it did not exceed this
threshold. Based on meeting the EBIT growth over prior fiscal year
target for 2009, Mr. Rhian is entitled to 16,000 bonus shares.
Mr. Rhian
was not entitled to any bonus shares in 2008. Based on 2007 results,
Mr. Rhian was entitled to 12,500 bonus shares. On December 27, 2007,
Mr. Rhian elected to forfeit 6,000 of these shares.
On June
30, 2010 Mr. Rhian elected to forfeit his rights to up to 18,000 shares of bonus
compensation stock he is entitled to with respect to fiscal year 2010, as
described above. Our Board of Directors has granted to Mr. Rhian a
replacement award of the same value under the 2010 Plan, as described in more
detail under “New Plan Benefits” under Proposal No. 2, subject to the adoption
of the 2010 Plan by the shareholders. In connection with the
Compensation Committee’s review of the design of performance-based
incentive stock compensation for the executive management team, the performance
criteria for these shares may be modified during fiscal year 2010.
Frederic
S. Siegel
On May
29, 2007, we entered into a four year employment agreement, commencing as of
January 1, 2007, under which Mr. Frederic Siegel is employed as our Executive
Vice President. Mr. Siegel’s employment agreement provides for the following
base salary amounts: $190,000 in 2007, $200,000 in 2008, $210,000 in
2009 and $220,000 in 2010. We also agreed to grant to Mr. Siegel
5,500 shares of restricted common stock to vest, subject to the condition that
Mr. Siegel is employed by us at the applicable date, as follows: 5,500 shares on
each of December 31, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Of these shares,
16,500 have vested as of December 31, 2009. In the event of a Change
in Control (as defined in Mr. Siegel’s employment agreement), if we or our
successor pursuant to such change in control, as applicable, and Mr. Siegel
either agree to continue the employment agreement or to enter into a new
employment agreement mutually acceptable to us or our successor and Mr. Siegel
in lieu of his current employment agreement, then any such shares which remain
unvested, will vest immediately.
In
addition, Mr. Siegel will be eligible to receive additional bonuses payable in
cash and shares of our common stock based on certain revenue and EBIT targets,
as set forth below:
(i) a
cash bonus equal to one of the following percentages of the dollar amount of
yearly revenue growth in excess of 7% in the our Health and Safety Monitoring
Systems (“HSMS”) segment for each of the fiscal years ending December 31, 2007,
2008, 2009 and 2010: 2%, if the HSMS revenue grows by more than 7% but less than
10%; 3%, if the HSMS revenue grows by 10% or more but less than 13%; 4.25%, if
the HSMS revenue grows by 13% or more but less than 16%; 5.75%, if the HSMS
revenue grows by 16% or more but less than 19%; 7.5%, if the HSMS revenue grows
by 19% or more.
(ii) a
cash bonus equal to one of the following percentages of EBIT from our HSMS
segment for each of the fiscal years ending December 31, 2007, 2008, 2009 and
2010, plus one of the following number of shares: 2% plus 500 shares, if the
HSMS EBIT equals to 5% or more but less than 6% of the HSMS revenues for the
applicable year; 2.5% plus 1,000 shares, if the HSMS EBIT equals to 6% or more
but less than 7% of the HSMS revenues for the applicable year; 3.0% plus 1,500
shares, if the HSMS EBIT equals to 7% or more but less than 8% of the HSMS
revenues for the applicable year; 3.5% plus 2,000 shares, if the HSMS EBIT
equals to 8% or more but less than 9% of the HSMS revenues for the applicable
year; 4.0% plus 2,500 shares, if the HSMS EBIT equals to 9% or more but less
than 10% of the HSMS revenues for the applicable year; 4.5% plus 3,000 shares,
if the HSMS EBIT equals to 10% or more of the HSMS revenues for the applicable
year; and
(iii) one
of the following number of shares based on the year-over-year growth of
our EBIT on a consolidated basis for each of the fiscal years ending
December 31, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010: 3,000 shares, if EBIT grows by 15% or
more but less than 17.5%; 4,000 shares, if EBIT grows by 17.5% or more but less
then 20%; 5,250 shares, if EBIT grows by 20% or more but less than 22.5%; 6,500
shares, if EBIT grows by 22.5% or more but less than 25%; and 8,500 shares, if
EBIT grows by 25% or more.
To the
extent that the number of shares earned pursuant to paragraph (ii) and (iii)
above exceed 37,500 (the number of shares in the Company’s 2005 Incentive Plan
currently reserved for Mr. Siegel’s performance based grants), the grant of any
such excess shares are subject to shareholder approval prior to
issuance.
On March
30, 2009, the Company and Mr. Frederic Siegel entered into an amendment to Mr.
Siegel's employment agreement. The amendment provided for the disregarding of
one-time non-operational events in the year following the year in which the
one-time non-operational event occurred, in calculating the amounts due under
certain of Mr. Siegel's performance based stock awards.
For the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, our EBIT growth (reduction)
was 79% (13)% and 22%, respectively. Based on meeting the EBIT growth
over prior fiscal year target for 2009, Mr. Siegel is entitled to 8,500 bonus
shares. Additionally, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 our
HSMS segment EBIT, as a percentage of HSMS revenues, was 13%; therefore, Mr.
Siegel was entitled to receive a cash bonus and bonus shares in
2009. Based upon the agreed to methodologies, Mr. Siegel was entitled
to a cash bonus of $114,729 and a stock bonus of 3,000 shares. For the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2009, our HSMS segment revenue grew 5.6%, which was
below the 7% threshold and; therefore, Mr. Siegel was not entitled to an
additional cash bonus.
For the
year ended December 31, 2008, our HSMS segment revenue grew 12.9 percent;
therefore, Mr. Siegel was entitled to a cash bonus of $30,929. Based on agreed
to methodologies, the EBIT target for HSMS was not realized in 2008 and Mr.
Siegel was not entitled to an additional cash bonus or bonus shares in 2008 in
connection with the EBIT target for HSMS. In 2008, Mr. Siegel was not
entitled to any bonus shares as our year over year consolidated EBIT growth for
2008 over 2007 did not exceed the 115% threshold.
For the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, our HSMS segment revenue grew 8.7 percent;
therefore, Mr. Siegel was entitled to a cash bonus of
$5,253. Additionally, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 our
EBIT growth was 22%; therefore, Mr. Siegel was entitled to 5,250 bonus shares in
2007. However, based on agreed to methodologies, the EBIT target for
HSMS was not realized in 2007 and Mr. Siegel was not entitled to a cash bonus or
bonus shares in 2007 in connection with the EBIT target for HSMS.
Richard
Rallo
On
January 20, 2006, we entered into an employment agreement with Richard Rallo
(the “2006 Rallo Agreement”), under which he was employed for a period of three
years, beginning on January 1, 2006, as our Chief Financial
Officer. The 2006 Rallo Agreement expired on December 31,
2008. It provided for the following base salary amounts: $170,000 per
annum, for the period beginning January 1, 2006 and ending December 31, 2006;
$185,000 per annum, for the period beginning January 1, 2007 and ending December
31, 2007; and $200,000 per annum, for the period beginning January 1, 2008 and
ending December 31, 2008. The 2006 Rallo Agreement was terminable upon certain
specified events constituting cause, and in certain circumstances upon a change
in control.
In
connection with the 2006 Rallo Agreement, on January 20, 2006, we entered into a
stock purchase agreement with Mr. Rallo. Pursuant to this stock
purchase agreement, Mr. Rallo was granted 10,000 shares of restricted common
stock subject to a repurchase right in our favor. We had the right to
repurchase the shares for $.01 per share if Mr. Rallo ceased to be employed by
us. The repurchase right lapsed with respect to (i) 2,500 shares on
December 31, 2006, (ii) 3,500 shares on December 31, 2007, and (iii) 4,000
shares on December 31, 2008.
On
January 19, 2009, after the expiration of the 2006 Rallo Agreement, we entered
into a new employment agreement with Richard Rallo (the “2009 Rallo Agreement”),
under which Mr. Rallo’s employment will be continued for a term of 3 years,
commencing January 1, 2009. Mr. Rallo is continuing in his current
role as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and also assumed the role of the
Chief Operating Officer of the HSMS Division.
Under the
2009 Rallo Agreement, Mr. Rallo is entitled to receive the following base salary
amounts: $215,000 per annum, for the period beginning January 1, 2009 and ending
December 31, 2009; $232,500 per annum, for the period beginning January 1, 2010
and ending December 31, 2010; and $250,000 per annum, for the period beginning
January 1, 2011 and ending December 31, 2011. The 2009 Rallo
Agreement is terminable upon certain specified events constituting Cause (as
defined in the 2009 Rallo Agreement) and in certain circumstances upon a Change
in Control (as defined in the 2009 Rallo Agreement). The 2009 Rallo
Agreement is also terminable by the Company without Cause, in which case Mr.
Rallo shall be entitled to receive all of the salary and stock compensation
provided for in the 2009 Rallo Agreement, as described below under “Potential
Payments upon Termination or Change-in-Control.”
In
connection with the 2009 Rallo Agreement, on January 19, 2009, we entered into a
stock purchase agreement with Mr. Rallo. Pursuant to this stock
purchase agreement, Mr. Rallo was granted 21,500 shares of restricted common
stock subject to a repurchase right in our favor. Not long after
these shares were granted, the Company discovered it had inadvertently granted
9,500 shares in excess of Mr. Rallo’s individual 50,000 share limit under the
Company’s 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, of which 1,500 shares were to vest on
December 31, 2010 and 8,000 shares were to vest on December 31, 2011 (the
“Excess Shares”). As a result, the grant of the Excess Shares has
been cancelled and Mr. Rallo has agreed in writing to waive any and all rights
with respect to the Excess Shares.
On
November 13, 2009, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a grant to Mr.
Rallo the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, under the Company’s 2000 Stock
Option Plan (the “2000 SOP”), of options to purchase 3,426 shares of Common
Stock, vesting on December 31, 2010, and options to purchase 18,274 shares of
the Company’s Common Stock, vesting on December 31, 2011 (which vesting is
subject to continued employment on the date of vesting, in accordance with the
2000 SOP and the other terms and conditions of the 2009 Rallo
Agreement. These options have a per share exercise price of
$5.88. The grant of these options was made to replace, and to provide
incentive compensation with equivalent value to the Excess
Shares. The 2000 SOP does not contain any individual grant
limits.
With
respect to the remaining 12,000 shares of restricted common stock granted in
2009, we have the right to repurchase the shares for $.01 per share if Mr. Rallo
ceases to be employed by us. The repurchase right lapsed with respect
to 6,500 shares on December 31, 2009, and will lapse with respect to5,500 shares
on December 31, 2010, subject to the condition that Mr. Rallo remains employed
by us on each such applicable date; provided, however, that in the event of a
change in control (as defined in the 2009 Rallo Agreement) if we or our
successor pursuant to such change in control, as applicable, and Mr. Rallo
either agree to continue his current employment agreement or to enter into a new
employment agreement mutually acceptable to us or our successor and Mr. Rallo in
lieu of his current employment agreement, then any such shares which remain
unvested, will vest immediately.
Randi
Baldwin
On
November 15, 2006, we entered into an employment agreement with Randi Baldwin
(the “2006 Baldwin Agreement”), under which we agreed to employ her for a period
of three years, beginning on November 1, 2006, as our Vice President,
Communications and Marketing. The 2006 Baldwin Agreement provided for
the following base salary amounts: $140,000 per annum, for the period beginning
November 1, 2006 and ending October 31, 2007; $147,000 per annum, for the period
beginning November 1, 2007 and ending October 31, 2008; and $155,000 per annum,
for the period beginning November 1, 2008 and ending October 31,
2009. The 2006 Baldwin Agreement was only terminable upon certain
specified events constituting cause, and in certain circumstances upon a change
in control.
On June
25, 2009, we entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Baldwin (the “2009
Baldwin Agreement”), under which Ms. Baldwin’s employment will be continued for
a term of three years, commencing as of July 1, 2009. The 2009
Baldwin Agreement supersedes the 2006 Baldwin Agreement as of such effective
date. Ms. Baldwin will continue in her current role as the Company’s
Senior Vice President, Marketing and Program Development. The 2009
Baldwin Agreement provides for the following base salary amounts: $170,000 per
annum, for the period beginning July 1, 2009 and ending June 30, 2010; $180,000
per annum, for the period beginning July 1, 2010 and ending June 30, 2011; and
$190,000 per annum, for the period beginning July 1, 2011 and ending June 30,
2012. The 2009 Baldwin Agreement is terminable by the Company upon
certain specified events constituting Cause (as defined in the 2009 Baldwin
Agreement) without payment of severance. The 2009 Baldwin Agreement
is also terminable by the Company without Cause and in certain circumstances
upon a Change in Control (as defined in the 2009 Baldwin Agreement), in which
case Ms. Baldwin is entitled to receive certain severance and benefits related
payments, as described below under
“Potential Payments upon Termination
or Change-in-Control.”
Pursuant
to the 2009 Baldwin Agreement, Ms. Baldwin was granted, subject to the terms of
the Company's 2000 Stock Option Plan and the applicable stock option agreement
under such plan, options to purchase 4,000 shares of the Company’s common stock,
vesting on July 1, 2009, options to purchase 5,000 shares of the Company’s
common stock, vesting on July 1, 2010, and options to purchase 6,000 shares of
the Company’s common stock, vesting on July 1, 2011. These stock
options will be exercisable for a five year term from the date of grant, and
will have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s
common stock on the applicable date of grant, as determined in accordance with
the 2000 Stock Option Plan. Vesting is dependent on continued
employment on the vesting date, as provided under the 2000 Stock Option
Plan.
Dividend Payments to Named
Executive Officers
On
December 16, 2009, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had
approved the payment of a special cash dividend of $0.10 (ten cents) per common
share. The dividend was paid on or about January 15, 2010 to all
shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 28,
2009. As stated above, all holders of restricted stock, including Mr.
Rhian, Mr. Rallo and Mr. Fred Siegel, were eligible to receive, and received the
cash dividend on their respective shares of restricted stock. All
dividends attributable to unvested shares are being held by the Company until
such unvested shares are vested, and such dividends are no longer subject to
forfeiture.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The
following table discloses for each named executive officer all shares of common
stock underlying unexercised options and all stock awards that have not yet
vested as of December 31, 2009.
|
Option Awards
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
Name
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable
(1)
|
|
|
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
|
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
|
Number
of Shares
or Units
of Stock
that Have
Not
Vested
(#)
(2)
|
|
|
Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock
that
Have Not
Vested
($)
(3)
|
|
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
(4)
|
|
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market
or Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested
($)
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack
Rhian
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
$
|
66,300
|
|
|
|
36,000
|
|
|
$
|
238,680
|
|
|
|
4,343
|
|
|
$
|
2.87
|
|
12/31/11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
$
|
3.25
|
|
1/30/12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
$
|
3.50
|
|
1/30/13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
$
|
4.00
|
|
1/30/14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,856
|
|
|
$
|
2.30
|
|
8/12/12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
$
|
2.29
|
|
1/27/13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frederic
Siegel
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,500
|
|
|
$
|
36,465
|
|
|
|
23,000
|
|
|
$
|
152,490
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
$
|
2.87
|
|
12/31/11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,252
|
|
|
$
|
2.87
|
|
12/31/11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,827
|
|
|
$
|
2.30
|
|
8/12/12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,400
|
|
|
$
|
2.29
|
|
1/27/13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,917
|
|
|
$
|
1.98
|
|
4/08/13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
65,530
|
|
|
$
|
4.24
|
|
5/27/14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard
Rallo
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,500
|
|
|
$
|
36,465
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,088
|
|
|
$
|
2.87
|
|
12/31/11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
$
|
3.25
|
|
1/30/12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,038
|
|
|
$
|
2.30
|
|
8/12/12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,800
|
|
|
$
|
2.29
|
|
1/27/13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
$
|
2.50
|
|
11/14/13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
$
|
4.24
|
|
5/27/14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
$
|
5.96
|
|
12/07/10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21,700
|
(5)
|
|
$
|
5.88
|
|
11/13/14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Randi
Baldwin
|
|
1,845
|
|
|
$
|
2.87
|
|
12/31/11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
$
|
3.64
|
|
3/12/12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,135
|
|
|
$
|
2.30
|
|
8/12/12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,200
|
|
|
$
|
2.29
|
|
1/27/13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,000
|
|
|
$
|
3.98
|
|
3/25/14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,500
|
|
|
$
|
6.20
|
|
12/29/10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,500
|
|
|
$
|
6.09
|
|
11/14/11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000
|
(6)
|
|
$
|
5.72
|
|
6/25/14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) All
stock options were fully vested at December 31, 2009, except as noted otherwise
in the footnotes below.
(2) The
10,000 shares of restricted stock held by Mr. Rhian, the 5,500 shares of
restricted stock held by Mr. Siegel, and the 5,500 shares of restricted stock
held by Mr. Rallo, all vest on December 31, 2010.
(3) Based
on the closing market price of the Company's common stock at the end of the last
completed fiscal year ($6.63), multiplied by the number of shares
reported.
(4) Mr.
Rhian may earn up to a potential maximum of 18,000 shares per year based on
certain performance criteria as described in the Narrative Disclosure to Summary
Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards. Mr. Siegel may
earn up to a potential maximum of 11,500 shares per year based on certain
performance criteria as described in the Narrative Disclosure to Summary
Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards.
(5) Of
these options held by Mr. Rallo, options to purchase 3,426 shares vest on
December 31, 2010, and options to purchase 18,274 shares vest on December 31,
2011.
(6) Of
these options held by Ms. Baldwin, options to purchase 5,000 shares vest on July
1, 2010 and options to purchase 6,000 shares vest on July 1, 2011.
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
Table
The table below shows for the named
executive officers for fiscal year 2009 (i) all stock options that were
exercised; and (ii) all previously granted stock awards that
vested
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option
Awards
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
|
|
Name
|
|
Number
of
Shares
Acquired
on
Exercise
(#)
|
|
|
Value
Realized
On
Exercise
($)
(1)
|
|
|
Number
of
Shares
Acquired
on
Vesting
(#)
|
|
|
Value
Realized
on
Vesting
($)
(2)
|
|
Jack
Rhian
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
$
|
66,300
|
|
Fred
Siegel
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
5,500
|
|
|
|
36,465
|
|
Rich
Rallo
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
6,500
|
|
|
|
43,095
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Based
on the difference between the market price of the underlying securities at
exercise and the exercise price of the options.
|
(2)
|
Based
on the market value of the shares on the day of
vesting.
|
Pension Benefits
During
fiscal year 2009, AMAC did not have any plan that provided for pension payments
or other benefits at, following, or in connection with retirement.
Nonqualified Deferred
Compensation
During
fiscal year 2009, AMAC did not have any defined contribution or other plan that
provided for the deferral of compensation on a basis that is not
tax-qualified.
Potential
Payment Upon Termination or Change-in-Control
Unless
Mr. Rhian is terminated for cause (as defined in his employment agreement), in
the event that we do not offer Mr. Rhian to enter into a written employment
agreement with terms and conditions no less favorable than substantially the
same terms and conditions as his current employment agreement to begin
immediately following the expiration of his current employment agreement, Mr.
Rhian shall receive payment of base salary, based on the then applicable salary
level, for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of the expiration of his
current employment agreement.
In the
event of his death during the term of the employment agreement, Mr. Rhian’s
estate or such other person as he designated will be entitled to receive his
base salary for a period of one year from the date of his death.
In the
event that Mr. Rhian should become disabled and be unable to perform his duties
for a period of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days or an aggregate of
more than one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days in any 12 month period, we
may terminate his employment agreement after the expiration of such
period.
In
addition, in the event there is a change in control (as defined in Mr. Rhian’s
employment agreement) and Mr. Rhian’s employment with us is terminated within
180 days following such change in control without cause or through a
constructive termination, then Mr. Rhian will be entitled to a lump sum cash
payment equal to 2.99 times his average annual total compensation, as measured
for the past 5 years, in lieu of any remaining obligations from us under his
employment agreement. Had such termination occurred on December 31,
2009, Mr. Rhian would have been entitled to receive a $777,400 payment as a
result of such termination.
As
described above, in the event of a change in control (as defined in Mr. Rhian’s
employment agreement) if we or our successor in interest following such change
in control, as applicable, and Mr. Rhian either agree to continue the employment
agreement or to enter into a new employment agreement mutually acceptable to us
or our successor and Mr. Rhian in lieu of his current employment agreement, then
any shares of restricted stock which remain unvested, will vest immediately upon
our or our successor’s mutual agreement with Mr. Rhian to continue his current
employment agreement or to enter into a new employment agreement.
Unless
Mr. Frederic Siegel is terminated for cause (as defined in Mr. Siegel’s
employment agreement), in the event that the Company does not offer Mr. Siegel
to enter into a written employment agreement with terms and conditions no less
favorable that substantially the same terms and conditions as his current
employment agreement to begin immediately following the expiration of his
current employment agreement, Mr. Siegel shall receive payment of base salary,
based on the then applicable salary level, for a period of twelve (12) months
from the date of the expiration of his current employment
agreement.
In the
event of his death during the term of the employment agreement, Mr. Siegel’s
estate or such other person as he designated will be entitled to receive his
base salary for a period of one year from the date of his death.
In the
event that Mr. Siegel should become disabled and be unable to perform his duties
for a period of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days or an aggregate of
more than one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days in any 12 month period, the
Company may terminate the employment agreement after the expiration of such
period.
In
addition, in the event there is a change in control (as defined in Mr. Siegel’s
employment agreement) and Mr. Siegel’s employment with us is terminated within
180 days following such change in control without cause or through constructive
termination, Mr. Siegel will be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to 2.99
times his average annual total compensation, as measured for the past 5 years,
in lieu of any remaining obligations of the Company under his employment
agreement. Had such termination occurred on December 31, 2009, Mr.
Siegel would have been entitled to receive a $598,000 payment as a result of
such termination.
As
described above, in the event of a change in control, if we or our successor in
interest following such change in control, as applicable, and Mr. Siegel either
agree to continue the employment agreement or to enter into a new employment
agreement mutually acceptable to us or our successor and Mr. Siegel in lieu of
his current employment agreement, then any shares of restricted stock which
remain unvested, will vest immediately.
Under the
2009 Rallo Agreement, unless Mr. Rallo is terminated for cause (as defined in
the 2009 Rallo Agreement), in the event that the Company does not offer Mr.
Rallo to enter into a written employment agreement with terms and conditions no
less favorable than substantially the same terms and conditions as the 2009
Rallo Agreement to begin immediately following the expiration of the 2009 Rallo
Agreement, Mr. Rallo will receive payment of base salary, based on the then
applicable salary level, for a period of twelve (12) months, commencing seven
(7) months following the date of the expiration of the 2009 Rallo
Agreement.
Under the
2009 Rallo Agreement, in the event of Mr. Rallo’s death during the term of the
2009 Rallo Agreement, Mr. Rallo’s estate or such other person as he designated
will be entitled to receive his base salary for a period of one year from the
date of his death.
In the
event that Mr. Rallo becomes disabled and is unable to perform his duties for a
period of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days or an aggregate of more than
one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days in any 12 month period, we are
entitled to terminate the 2009 Rallo Agreement after the expiration of such
period
In
addition, under the 2009 Rallo Agreement in the event that there is a Change in
Control (as defined in the 2009 Rallo Agreement) and Mr. Rallo’s employment with
the Company is terminated following such Change in Control under certain
conditions, Mr. Rallo will be entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to
2.99 times his average annual total compensation, as measured for the past 5
years, in lieu of any remaining obligations of the Company under the 2009
Employment Agreement. Had such termination occurred on December 31,
2009, Mr. Rallo would have been entitled to receive a $547,170 payment as a
result of such termination.
As
described above, in the event of a Change in Control if we or our successor in
interest following such change in control, as applicable, and Mr. Rallo either
agree to continue his current employment agreement or to enter into a new
employment agreement mutually acceptable to us or our successor and Mr. Rallo in
lieu of his current employment agreement, then any shares of restricted stock
held by him which remain unvested, will vest immediately upon our or our
successor’s mutual agreement with Mr. Rallo to continue his current employment
agreement or to enter into a new employment agreement.
Under the
2009 Baldwin Agreement, in the event Ms. Baldwin is terminated without cause (as
defined in the 2009 Baldwin Agreement), and, in the event that we do not offer
Ms. Baldwin to enter into a written employment agreement with terms and
conditions no less favorable than substantially the same terms and conditions as
the 2009 Baldwin Agreement to begin immediately following the expiration of such
agreement, Ms. Baldwin will receive payment of base salary, based on the then
applicable salary level, for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of the
expiration of her current employment agreement.
In the
event of Ms. Baldwin’s death during the term of the 2009 Baldwin Agreement, Ms.
Baldwin’s estate or such other person as she designated is entitled to receive
her base salary for a period of one year from the date of her
death.
In the
event that Ms. Baldwin becomes disabled and is unable to perform her duties for
a period of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days or an aggregate of more
than one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days in any 12 month period, we have
the right to terminate the 2009 Baldwin Agreement after the expiration of such
period.
In
addition, under the 2009 Baldwin Agreement, in the event there is a change in
control (as defined in the 2009 Baldwin Agreement) and Ms. Baldwin’s employment
with us is terminated within 180 days following such change in control without
cause or through a constructive termination, then Ms. Baldwin is entitled to the
greater of (i) an amount equal to the remainder of her salary which would be
payable through the expiration of the 2009 Baldwin Agreement or (ii) an amount
equal to twelve (12) months of the salary in effect under that agreement at the
time of such termination. In such event, we are also required to pay all health
insurance benefits otherwise payable to Ms. Baldwin be paid for the greater of
the otherwise remaining term of the 2009 Baldwin Agreement (notwithstanding
termination) or twelve (12) months. Had such termination occurred on December
31, 2009, Ms. Baldwin would have been entitled to receive a $ $455,000 payment
as a result of such termination.
Ownership
of AMAC Common Stock
The
following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of
AMAC’s common stock as of June 18, 2010, by (i) each person who is known by
AMAC to beneficially own more than five percent of AMAC’s common stock,
(ii) each of AMAC’s current directors, (iii) each of the named executive
officers in the Summary Compensation Table, and (iv) all executive officers
and directors as a group.
Name and address of Beneficial
Owner (1)
|
|
Shares of Common Stock
Beneficially Owned (2)
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage of Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5%
Stockholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Discovery
Group I, LLC
Daniel
J. Donoghue
Michael
R. Murphy
191
North Wacker Drive
Suite
1685
Chicago,
Illinois 60606
|
|
|
747,592
|
|
(3)
|
|
|
|
7.8
|
%
|
Directors
and Named Executive Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Howard
M. Siegel
|
|
|
913,369
|
|
(4)
|
|
|
|
9.6
|
%
|
Ronald
Levin
184
Greenway Road
Lido
Beach, NY 11561
|
|
|
145,647
|
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
1.5
|
%
|
John
S.T. Gallagher
26
Woodfield Road
Stony
Brook, NY 11790
|
|
|
39,847
|
|
(6)
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Frederic
Siegel
|
|
|
399,842
|
|
(7)
|
|
|
|
4.1
|
%
|
Yacov
Shamash, PH.D.
7
Quaker Hill Road
Stony
Brook, NY 11790
|
|
|
68,947
|
|
(8)
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Jack
Rhian
|
|
|
383,953
|
|
(9)
|
|
|
|
4.0
|
%
|
Richard
Rallo
|
|
|
132,226
|
|
(10)
|
|
|
|
1.4
|
%
|
Randi
Baldwin
|
|
|
62,451
|
|
(11)
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Gregory
Fortunoff
25
Montrose Court,
Roslyn,
NY 11576
|
|
|
830,668
|
|
(12)
|
|
|
|
8.7
|
%
|
All
executive officers and directors as a group (9 persons)
|
|
|
2,976,950
|
|
|
|
|
|
29.6
|
%
|
* Less
than one percent.
(1)
|
Except
as otherwise indicated, the address of each individual listed is c/o the
Company at 3265 Lawson Boulevard, Oceanside, New York
11572.
|
(2)
|
This
table is based upon information supplied by officers, directors and
stockholders and Schedules 13D and 13G filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Unless otherwise indicated in
the footnotes to this table and subject to community property laws where
applicable, the Company believes that each of the stockholders named in
this table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares
indicated as beneficially owned. Applicable percentages are
based on 9,557,870 shares outstanding on June 18, 2010, adjusted as
required by rules promulgated by the
SEC.
|
A person
is deemed to be the beneficial owner of securities that can be acquired by such
person currently or within 60 days upon the exercise of any option, warrant or
right or upon conversion of any security (in any case, the “Currently
Exercisable Right”). Each beneficial owner’s percentage ownership is determined
by assuming that the Currently Exercisable Rights that are held by such person
(but not those held by any other person) have been exercised and shares issued
upon such assumed exercise are considered outstanding only for the purpose of
computing the percentage of outstanding Common Stock assumed to be owned by the
holder based on the assumed exercise of such rights, but (except for the
calculation of beneficial ownership by all directors and executive officers as a
group) are not considered outstanding for the purpose of computing the
percentage of outstanding Common Stock owned by any other person.
(3)
|
Based
on the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on June 17, 2010 by Discovery
Equity Partners, L.P., Discovery Group I, LLC, Daniel J. Donoghue and
Michael R. Murphy. Discovery Group is the sole general partner
of Discovery Equity Partners, L.P and has sole discretionary investment
authority with respect to Discovery Equity Partners’ shares of the
Company’s common stock. Daniel J. Donoghue and Michael R.
Murphy are the sole managing members of Discovery Group. As a
consequence, Discovery Group and Messrs. Donoghue and Murphy share
beneficial ownership of all the shares of the Company’s common stock owned
by Discovery Group and Discovery Equity Partners, while Discovery Equity
Partners shares beneficial ownership with Discovery Group and Messrs.
Donoghue and Murphy of only the 641,208 shares of Common Stock owned by
it.
|
(4)
|
Includes
24,000 shares held by Mr. Siegel’s wife, and 19,300 shares held as
custodian for his son. Mr. Siegel has pledged 110,000 shares of
the Company’s common stock.
|
(5)
|
Includes
40,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of currently exercisable stock
options. Also includes 15,700 shares owned by Mr. Levin’s wife,
as to which Mr. Levin disclaims beneficial ownership. Mr. Levin
maintains margin securities accounts at brokerage firms and the positions
held in such margin accounts, which may from time to time include shares
of the Company’s common stock, are pledged as collateral security for the
repayment of debit balances, if any, in the accounts. At June
18, 2010, Mr. Levin held 47,300 share in such
accounts.
|
(6)
|
Includes
20,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of currently exercisable stock
options.
|
(7)
|
Includes
123,926 shares issuable upon the exercise of currently exercisable stock
options. Also includes 5,500 shares of restricted stock
that are not vested as of June 18, 2010 and are subject to
forfeiture.
|
(8)
|
Includes
40,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of currently exercisable stock
options.
|
(9)
|
Includes
93,199 shares issuable upon the exercise of currently exercisable stock
options and 48,000 shares owned by Mr. Rhian's wife. Also
includes 10,000 shares of restricted stock that are not vested as of June
18, 2010 and are subject to
forfeiture.
|
(10)
|
Includes
81,926 shares issuable upon the exercise of currently exercisable stock
options. Also includes 5,500 shares of restricted stock that
are not vested as of June 18, 2010 and are subject to
forfeiture.
|
(11)
|
Includes
59,180 shares issuable upon the exercise of currently exercisable stock
options.
|
(12)
|
Includes
10,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of currently exercisable stock
options. Also includes 17,700 shares held as custodian for his two minor
children and 49,000 shares held in a GRAT for the benefit of his minor
children over which Mr. Fortunoff maintains voting and investment power.
Mr. Fortunoff maintains margin securities accounts at brokerage firms and
the positions held in such margin accounts, which may from time to time
include shares of the Company’s common stock, are pledged as collateral
security for the repayment of debit balances, if any, in the
accounts. At June 18, 2010, Mr. Fortunoff held 820,668 shares
in such accounts.
|
PROPOSAL
NO. 2
APPROVAL
OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ALERT CORP.
2010
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
On June
30, 2010, our Board of Directors adopted, subject to shareholder approval, the
American Medical Alert Corp. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2010
Plan”). The following is a summary of the material terms of the 2010
Plan. For further details regarding the terms of the plan, we
encourage shareholders to review the full text of the 2010 Plan, which is
included as
Appendix A
to this proxy statement.
If the
2010 Plan is approved by shareholders, no further grants will be made under the
American Medical Alert Corp. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2005
Plan”). The American Medical Alert Corp. 2000 Stock Option Plan
terminated pursuant to its terms on March 17, 2010.
2010
Equity Incentive Plan
Purposes
The
purposes of the 2010 Plan are to assist AMAC and its subsidiaries in attracting
and retaining valued non-employee directors, employees and consultants, to align
their respective interests with shareholders’ interests through equity-based
compensation and to permit the granting of awards that are intended to
constitute performance-based compensation for certain executive officers under
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (“Section
162(m)”). Options (including options intended to qualify as incentive
stock options under Section 422 of the Code), stock appreciation rights,
restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards may be
granted under the 2010 Plan. AMAC believes it is essential to obtain
authorization for the 2010 Plan in order to retain the ability to continue to
provide a market-competitive incentive for retention and motivation of key
employees.
Administration
Our Board
of Directors or a committee of our Board of Directors will administer our 2010
Plan. In the case of awards intended to qualify as “performance based
compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m), the 2010 Plan will be
administered by a committee will consist of two (2) or more “outside directors”
within the meaning of Treasury Regulations issued pursuant to Section
162(m).
The
administrator will have the power to determine the terms of the awards,
including the exercise price, the number of shares subject to each such award,
the exercisability of the awards and the form of consideration payable upon
exercise. The administrator also will have the authority to institute
an exchange program whereby the exercise prices of outstanding awards may be
reduced, outstanding awards may be surrendered or cancelled in exchange for
awards of the same type (which may have higher or lower exercise prices), awards
of a different type and/or cash, or outstanding awards may be transferred to a
third party.
Shares
Subject to the 2010 Plan
The stock
subject to options and awards under the 2010 Plan is authorized but unissued
shares of our common stock or shares of treasury common stock. The number of
shares of common stock that may be issued pursuant to awards under the 2010 Plan
is 750,000 shares (and incentive stock options may be issued for the total
number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2010 Plan). In the
event that any outstanding award under the 2010 Plan expires, is forfeited,
cancelled or otherwise terminated without the issuance of shares or is otherwise
settled for cash, the shares subject to such award, to the extent of any such
forfeiture, cancellation, expiration, termination or settlement for cash, shall
again be available for awards under the 2010 Plan.
Section
162(m) Limitations
Section
162(m) generally disallows a tax deduction to public companies for compensation
in excess of $1 million paid to the chief executive officer or any of the three
other most highly compensated officers (other than the chief executive officer
or the chief financial officer). Certain performance-based compensation is
specifically exempt from the deduction limit if it otherwise meets the
requirements of Section 162(m). One of the requirements for equity
compensation plans is that there must be a limit to the number of shares granted
to any one individual under the plan during a specified
period. Accordingly, the 2010 Plan provides that no participant may
receive awards denominated in shares during any fiscal year in excess of 150,000
shares, and no participant may receive awards denominated in cash or property
during any fiscal year in excess of $750,000, in each case, subject to
adjustments made in accordance with the plan. Shareholder approval of
this proposal will constitute shareholder approval of this limitation for
Section 162(m) purposes.
Eligibility
Incentive
stock options, or ISOs, may be granted only to employees of AMAC or a
subsidiary. Nonstatutory stock options, or NSOs, stock appreciation
rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards
and performance-based compensation (including any of the foregoing awards
structured as such) may be granted to employees and consultants, in each case,
of AMAC or any of its subsidiaries and members of the Board of Directors of
AMAC. Each option will be designated in the stock option agreement as
either an ISO or an NSO. As of December 31, 2009, we estimate that
approximately 550 employees, five consultants, as well as our four independent
directors, were eligible to participate in the 2010 Plan.
Terms
of Stock Options
Exercise Price.
The exercise
price for shares issued upon exercise of options will be determined by the
administrator but may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the
stock underlying the option on the date the option is granted. The
exercise price of ISOs granted to a 10% or greater shareholder may not be less
than 110% of the fair market value on the date of grant.
Form of Consideration.
The
means of payment for shares issued upon exercise of an option will be specified
in each option agreement. The 2010 Plan permits payment to be made by cash;
check; other shares of our common stock (with some restrictions); consideration
received by AMAC under a broker-assisted (or other) cashless exercise program
(whether through a broker or otherwise) implemented by the Company in connection
with the 2010 Plan; shares of our common stock otherwise issuable in connection
with the exercise of the option that are withheld by AMAC; any combination of
the foregoing; or any other method of payment determined by the administrator to
be consistent with applicable laws.
Term of Options.
The term of
an option may be no more than five years from the date of grant.
Other
Provisions.
The award agreement for each option grant may
contain other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the 2010
Plan and applicable laws, as may be determined by the
administrator.
Post-Termination
Exercise.
After termination of an employee, consultant or
director, he or she may exercise his or her option, to the extent vested, for
the period of time specified in the option agreement. In the absence
of a specified time in the option agreement, the option will remain exercisable
for twelve (12) months following a termination due to death or disability, and
for three (3) months in all other cases. However, an option generally
may not be exercised later than the expiration of its term. If an
employee, consultant or director is terminated for cause, the option will
terminate immediately upon such termination, and will not then be exercisable by
such employee, consultant or director.
Stock
Appreciation Rights
Stock
appreciation rights allow the recipient to receive the appreciation in the fair
market value of our common stock between the exercise date and the date of
grant. The administrator will determine the terms of stock
appreciation rights, including when such rights become exercisable and whether
to pay the increased appreciation in cash or with shares of our common stock, or
a combination thereof, except that the per share exercise price for the shares
to be issued pursuant to the exercise of a stock appreciation right will be no
less than one hundred percent (100%) of the fair market value per share on the
date of grant. Stock appreciation rights expire under the same rules
that apply to stock options.
Restricted
Stock Awards
Restricted
stock awards are shares of our common stock that vest in accordance with terms
and conditions established by the administrator. The administrator
will determine the number of shares of restricted stock granted to any employee.
The administrator may impose whatever conditions to vesting it determines to be
appropriate. For example, the administrator may set restrictions based on the
achievement of specific performance goals. Shares of restricted stock
that do not vest are subject to our right of repurchase or
forfeiture.
Restricted
Stock Units
Restricted
stock units are awards that will result in payment to a participant at the end
of a specified period only if the vesting criteria established by the
administrator are achieved or the award otherwise vests. Generally, a
participant will receive the fair market value of a share of our common stock
upon vesting for each share underlying the restricted stock unit. The
administrator may impose whatever conditions to vesting, restrictions and
conditions to payment it determines to be appropriate. For example,
the administrator may set restrictions based on the achievement of specific
performance goals, on the continuation of service or employment or any other
basis determined by the administrator. Payments of earned restricted
stock units may be made, in the administrator’s discretion, in cash or with
shares of our common stock, or a combination thereof.
Other
Stock-Based Awards
The
administrator will have the right to grant other awards of shares of our common
stock or valued by reference to or based upon the fair market value of our
common stock, having such terms and conditions as the administrator may
determine, including without limitation, unrestricted shares of our common
stock. Unrestricted shares of our common stock may be issued to
participants in recognition of past services or other valid consideration, and
may be issued in lieu of cash compensation to be paid to
participants. The administrator will determine to whom and when other
stock-based awards will be made, the number of shares to be awarded under (or
otherwise related to) such other stock-based awards, whether such other
stock-based awards will be settled in cash, shares or a combination of cash and
shares, and all other terms and conditions of such awards.
Performance
Goals
Any
awards granted under the 2010 Plan may be granted so as to qualify for the
performance-based compensation exemption of Section 162(m) (“Section 162(m)
performance-based awards”). As determined by the administrator in its sole
discretion, either the granting, vesting or payment of such performance-based
awards will be based on achievement of performance goals based on one or more
performance measures as set forth in the 2010 Plan.
The
business criteria to be used for establishing performance goals under any
Section 162(m) performance-based award will be as follows: (a) sales or revenue;
(b) earnings per share; (c) measurable achievement in quality, operation and
compliance initiatives; (d) objectively determinable measure of non-financial
operating and management performance objectives; (e) net earnings or gross
earnings (either before or after interest and taxes, depreciation and
amortization, or before or after interest and taxes); (f) economic value-added;
(g) net income (either before or after taxes); (h) operating earnings; (i) cash
flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow);
(j) cash flow return on capital; (k) return on net assets; (l) return on
stockholders’ equity; (m) return on assets; (n) return on capital; (o)
stockholder returns, dividends and/or other distributions; (p) return on sales;
(q) gross or net profit margin; (r) productivity; (s) expenses; (t) margins; (u)
operating efficiency; (v) customer satisfaction; (w) measurable achievement in
quality and compliance initiatives; (x) working capital; (y) debt; (z) debt
reduction; (aa) price per share of stock; (bb) market share; (cc) completion of
acquisitions; (dd) business expansion; (ee) product diversification; and (ff)
new or expanded market penetration. The foregoing criteria shall have
any reasonable definitions that the Administrator may specify, which may include
or exclude any or all of the following items, as the Administrator may specify;
(pp) extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items; (qq) effects of changes in
tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting
reported results; (rr) effects of currency fluctuations; (ss) effects of
financing activities (e.g., effect on earnings per share of issuing convertible
debt securities); (tt) expenses for restructuring, productivity initiatives or
new business initiatives; (uu) impairment of tangible or intangible assets; (vv)
litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (ww) non-operating items; (xx)
acquisition expenses; (yy) discontinued operations; and (zz) effects of assets
sales or divestitures.
In
addition, Section 162(m) performance-based awards may use the foregoing business
criteria to measure the performance of AMAC and/or any of its subsidiaries as a
whole, any business unit or divisional unit thereof or any combination thereof
against any goal including past performance or compared to the performance of a
group of comparable companies or a published or special index. Subject to
Section 162(m), the administrator may adjust the performance goals (including to
prorate goals and payments for a partial plan year) in the event of the
following occurrences: (i) non-recurring events, including divestitures,
spin-offs, or changes in accounting standards or polices; (ii) mergers and
acquisitions; and (iii) financing transactions, including selling accounts
receivable.
Section
162(m) performance-based awards may not be adjusted in a manner more favorable
to a participant. Subject to the amendment provisions of the 2010
Plan, the administrator may adjust such awards in a manner less favorable to a
participant, either on a formula or discretionary basis or any combination, as
the administrator determines in its discretion.
Transferability
of Awards
Unless
otherwise determined by the administrator, an award granted under the 2010 Plan
may not be transferred or assigned during a participant’s lifetime and will not
be transferable or assignable by the participant except in the event of his or
her death (subject to the applicable laws of descent and
distribution). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the administrator, in
its discretion, may permit the transfer, solely as gifts or pursuant to a
domestic relations order during a participant’s lifetime, of awards (other than
ISOs) to certain immediate family members of a participant and certain entities
controlled by a participant.
Certain
Adjustments
In the
event of certain changes in our capitalization, to prevent diminution or
enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits available under the 2010 Plan,
the administrator will make adjustments to one or more of the number and class
of shares that may be issued under the 2010 Plan and/or the number, class and
price of shares covered by each outstanding award and the numerical share limits
contained in the 2010 Plan. In the event of our proposed liquidation or
dissolution, the administrator will notify participants as soon as practicable
and all awards, to the extent that they have not been previously exercised, will
terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed
transaction.
Change
in Control Transactions
The 2010
Plan provides that in the event of a change in control, as defined in the 2010
Plan, each outstanding award will be treated as the administrator determines,
including, without limitation, that awards may be assumed or substituted for by
the acquiring or succeeding corporation, awards may vest in whole or in part
prior to or upon consummation of the change in control and, to the extent the
administrator determines, terminate on the effectiveness of the change in
control, or awards may be terminated in exchange for cash and/or property or
replaced with other rights or property. The administrator will not be
required to treat all awards similarly in the event of a change in
control.
Cancellation
and Rescission of Awards for Fraud and Other Misconduct
Unless
the award agreement specifies otherwise, the administrator may cancel, rescind,
suspend, withhold or otherwise limit or restrict a participant’s rights,
payments, and benefits with respect to an outstanding award that has not yet
been exercised, delivered, or otherwise settled (i) in the event of the
termination of such participant’s continuous service for cause, or (ii) in the
case of certain specified types of misconduct, including fraud, misappropriation
of AMAC property, including intellectual property, and violation of
non-competition obligations. In addition, if AMAC is required to
prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of AMAC, as
a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the
securities laws, any participant who knowingly or through gross negligence
engaged in the misconduct, or who knowingly or through gross negligence failed
to prevent the misconduct, and any participant who is one of the individuals
subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002, will be required to reimburse AMAC the amount of any payment in settlement
of an award earned or accrued during the twelve (12) month period following the
first public issuance or filing with the SEC (whichever first occurred) of the
applicable non-compliant financial document. The administrator may
also specify in an award agreement additional events that may cause a
participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an award to be
subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, rescission or recoupment, or
which may affect any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of
an award.
Plan
Amendments and Termination
No award
may be granted under the 2010 Plan on or after the ten year anniversary of the
date it was initially approved by the Board of Directors, or earlier, if we
terminate the 2010 Plan sooner. The administrator may amend, modify
or terminate the 2010 Plan or any portion thereof or any award under the 2010
Plan at any time provided that, subject to certain exceptions, the participant’s
consent to any action affecting that participant’s award must be obtained unless
the administrator determines that the action would not materially diminish the
rights of the participant under any award granted to such participant under the
2010 Plan or is necessary and desirable to cause the award to comply with
applicable laws or to obtain or maintain favorable tax, securities exchange, or
regulatory treatment. Subject to certain exceptions, no such action
shall be made without the prior approval of AMAC’s shareholders, if such
approval is necessary to comply with any applicable laws, including if such
action increases the number of shares available under the 2010 Plan, or changes
certain eligibility requirements under the 2010 Plan, in each case to the extent
such shareholder approval is required at the time such action is
taken.
Tax
Withholding
AMAC has
the power and right to deduct or withhold automatically from any amount
deliverable under an award or otherwise, or require a participant to remit to
AMAC, the amount necessary to satisfy all applicable taxes to be withheld with
respect to any taxable event arising under the 2010 Plan. Subject to
the foregoing and the approval of the administrator, participants may elect to
satisfy any withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having AMAC
withhold shares of AMAC’s common stock having a fair market value on the date
the tax is to be determined equal to the minimum statutory total tax that could
be imposed.
Federal
Income Tax Consequences
Incentive Stock Options
— A
participant who receives an ISO will generally recognize no taxable income for
regular federal income tax purposes upon either the grant or the exercise of
such ISO. However, when a participant exercises an ISO, the difference between
the fair market value of the shares purchased and the option price of those
shares will be includable in determining the participant’s alternative minimum
taxable income.
If the
shares are retained by the participant for at least one year from the date of
exercise and two years from the date of grant of the options, gain will be
taxable to the participant upon sale of the shares acquired upon exercise of the
ISO, as a long-term capital gain. In general, the adjusted basis for
the shares acquired upon exercise will be the option price paid with respect to
such exercise. AMAC will not be entitled to a tax deduction arising
from the exercise of an ISO if the employee qualifies for such long-term capital
gain treatment.
Nonstatutory Stock Options (NSOs)
and Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
— A participant will not recognize
taxable income for federal income tax purposes at the time an NSO or SAR is
granted. However, the participant will recognize compensation taxable as
ordinary income at the time of exercise for all shares that are not subject to a
substantial risk of forfeiture. The amount of such compensation will
be the difference between the option price for an NSO, or base price, for an
SAR, and the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise of the NSO
or cash or shares received upon the exercise of the SAR. AMAC will be entitled
to a deduction for federal income tax purposes at the same time and in the same
amount as the participant is deemed to have recognized income upon exercise of
the NSO or the SAR.
The
participant’s basis in any shares acquired upon the exercise of an NSO or SAR
will be adjusted by adding the amount so recognized as compensation to the
purchase price paid by the participant for the shares. The participant will
recognize gain or loss when he or she disposes of any shares obtained upon
exercise of an NSO or SAR in an amount equal to the difference between the
selling price and the participant’s tax basis in such shares. Such gain or loss
will be treated as long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending upon
the holding period.
Stock Rights
— The federal
income tax consequences of a stock right will depend on how the award is
structured. A participant will recognize ordinary income on the grant
of an award of unrestricted shares of common stock equal to the excess of the
fair market of each share subject to the stock right over the purchase price
paid by the participant. If the award is structured as a restricted
stock award (i.e., with transfer restrictions and/or a right of repurchase by
AMAC), then unless a participant makes a voluntary filing under Section 83(b) of
the Code to recognize ordinary income on the date the award is granted, a
participant granted a restricted stock award will recognize ordinary income on
the excess of the fair market of each share subject to the stock right over the
purchase price paid by the participant on the date restrictions
lapse. AMAC will be entitled to a deduction for federal income tax
purposes at the same time and in the same amount as the participant recognizes
income in respect of the award.
Other Stock Based Awards (including
Restricted Stock Units) other than SARs
— The tax consequences of other
stock based awards depends on how the awards are
structured. Generally, an award such as restricted stock units will
cause a participant to recognize income on the date the award is paid to the
participant or “constructively received” by the participant, provided the award
complies with Section 409A of the Code. There are no immediate tax
consequences of receiving an award of restricted stock units under the 2010
Plan. AMAC will be entitled to a deduction for federal income tax purposes at
the same time and in the same amount as the participant recognizes income in
respect of the award.
Securities
Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The
following table sets forth information about securities authorized for issuance
under AMAC’s equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2009, including the
2000 Stock Option Plan (“2000 Plan”) and the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (“2005
Plan”):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of securities
|
|
|
|
Number of securities
|
|
|
(b)
|
|
|
remaining available for
|
|
|
|
to be issued upon
|
|
|
Weighted-average
|
|
|
future issuance under
|
|
|
|
exercise of
|
|
|
exercise
|
|
|
equity compensation
|
|
|
|
outstanding
|
|
|
price of outstanding
|
|
|
plans (excluding
|
|
|
|
options, warrants
|
|
|
options, warrants and
|
|
|
securities reflected in
|
|
Plan Category
|
|
and rights
|
|
|
rights
|
|
|
column (a))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
compensation
plans
approved by
security
holders
|
|
|
953,785
|
(1)
|
|
$
|
4.02
|
(2)
|
|
|
344,411
|
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders (3)
|
|
|
10,000
|
(4)
|
|
|
5.93
|
|
|
|
|
(4)
|
(1)
|
Includes
894,785 shares subject to stock options and 59,000 performance-based
shares subject to future vesting (which performance-based shares are fully
vested at June 18, 2010).
|
(2)
|
This
amount includes 894,785 shares subject to outstanding stock options at a
weighted average price of $4.29, and 59,000 performance-based shares with
a $0 exercise price. If the performance based shares are
excluded from the calculation, then the weighted average exercise
price is $4.29.
|
(3)
|
As
of June 18, 2010, approximately 268,641 shares of AMAC’s common stock
remain available for issuance under the 2005 Plan. The 2000
Plan terminated on March 17, 2010.
|
(4)
|
On
October 26, 2009, AMAC issued, in connection with a strategic business
relationship, (i) a warrant to purchase 10,000 shares of our common stock,
of which 5,000 shares vested immediately and 5,000 shares vest one year
from the grant date subject to certain conditions, which is exercisable
for a five year term from the applicable vesting date, and (ii) a warrant
to purchase a number of shares of our common stock determined by a formula
based on future levels of business activity in connection with such
strategic business relationship, which is exercisable for a five year term
from the grant date subject to earlier termination in the event of the
termination of the strategic business relationship. Each
warrant has a per share exercise price of
$5.93.
|
New
Plan Benefits
The
following table shows the restricted stock and performance-based stock awards
that the individuals and groups referred to below will receive in 2010 if the
2010 Plan and is approved by the Company’s shareholders at this Annual
Meeting. For amounts granted under prior incentive plans, see
the
“Summary Compensation
Table”
beginning on page 22.
New
Plan Benefits
|
|
Dollar Value
|
|
|
Number of Units
|
|
Jack
Rhian, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
18,000
|
*
|
Richard
Rallo, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer of
HSMS, and Corporate Secretary
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Fred
Siegel, Executive Vice President
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Randi
Baldwin, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Program
Development
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Executive
group
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
18,000
|
*
|
Non-Executive
Director Group
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
16,921
|
**
|
Non-Executive
Officer Group
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
* On
June 30, 2010, Mr. Rhian elected to forfeit his rights to the up to 18,000
shares of bonus compensation stock he is entitled to with respect to fiscal year
2010, as described in more detail above under “
Narrative Disclosure to Summary
Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards
.” Our Board
of Directors has granted to Mr. Rhian a replacement award of up 18,000 shares of
bonus compensation stock (with substantially the same terms and conditions as
the forfeited grant) under the 2010 Plan, subject to approval by the
shareholders of the 2010 Plan, as follows: (i) up to 16,000 shares of our common
stock, based on meeting or exceeding EBIT growth in fiscal 2010 over fiscal year
2009 by 25.0% or more (as set forth in our audited financial statements for the
applicable fiscal year), and (ii) 2,000 shares based on our total revenues, as
set forth in our audited financial statements for fiscal year 2010, meeting or
exceeding an amount equal to at least 115% of our total revenues for fiscal year
2009. Both the forfeiture and replacement of the original award were
made in recognition that such bonus shares, if earned and paid under the 2005
Plan, may have exceeded the individual award limits applicable to Mr. Rhian
under the 2005 Plan. In connection with the Compensation Committee’s
review of the design of performance-based incentive stock compensation for the
executive management team, the performance criteria for these shares may be
modified during fiscal year 2010.
** Based on the
director compensation policy in place for non-employee directors with respect to
fiscal year 2010, the non-employee directors would have received a total of
16,921 shares of restricted stock under the 2010 Plan had it been in place
during fiscal year 2009. Please refer to the
“Narrative Disclosure to Director
Compensation Table”
for a description of non-employee director
compensation for fiscal year 2010. For fiscal year 2010, two
non-employee directors elected to receive cash, and not stock, with respect to
the retainers for the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee. The
cash payment is not subject to the 2010 Plan.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A
VOTE
FOR
APPROVAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL
ALERT CORP. 2010 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN.
Audit
Committee Report
During
fiscal year 2009, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management of
the Company and with Margolin, Winer & Evens LLP, the independent auditors
of the Company, the audited financial statements of the Company as of December
31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, and for each of the three years then ended,
respectively (the “Audited Financial Statements”). In addition, the Audit
Committee discussed with Margolin, Winer & Evens LLP the matters required by
Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended by Statement
on Auditing Standards No. 90.
The Audit
Committee also received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from
the independent auditors required by applicable requirements of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant's
communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and has
discussed with them their independence from the Company. The Audit
Committee also discussed with management of the Company and the independent
auditors such other matters and received such assurances from them as it deemed
appropriate.
Management
is responsible for the Company’s internal controls and the financial reporting
process. Margolin, Winer & Evens LLP is responsible for
performing an independent audit of the Company’s financial statements in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and issuing a report
thereupon. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and
oversee these processes.
Based on
the foregoing review and discussions and a review of the report of the
independent auditors with respect to the Audited Financial Statements, and
relying thereon, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors the
inclusion of the Audited Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
|
THE
AUDIT COMMITTEE
|
|
|
|
Yacov
Shamash
|
|
Ronald
Levin
|
|
Gregory
Fortunoff
|
|
John
S.T. Gallagher
|
PROPOSAL
NO. 3
RATIFICATION
OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT
AUDITORS
Shareholders
will be asked to ratify the selection by the Audit Committee of Margolin, Winer
& Evens LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal
year ending December 31, 2010. Margolin, Winer & Evens LLP currently serves
as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, and has served
as such since 1995. Representatives of the firm will be present at
the Annual Meeting, will be given an opportunity to make a statement if they
desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions by
shareholders concerning the accounts of AMAC.
Although
the submission to shareholders of the selection of Margolin, Winer & Evens
LLP is not required by law or the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, the
Audit Committee believes it is appropriate to submit this matter to shareholders
to allow a forum for shareholders to express their views with regard to the
Audit Committee’s selection. The Audit Committee retains the sole
authority to select and replace the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm at any time. In the event shareholders do not ratify
the selection, the Audit Committee may, but is not required to, reconsider the
selection of Margolin, Winer & Evens LLP.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE
FOR
RATIFICATION OF
THE
SELECTION
OF MARGOLIN, WINER & EVENS LLP.
Fees
Paid to the Independent Auditors
During
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 (“fiscal year 2008”) and December 31,
2009 (“fiscal year 2009”), professional services were performed for AMAC by
Margolin, Winer & Evens LLP (“MWE”), AMAC’s independent registered public
accounting firm. Set forth below is information relating to the aggregate fees
billed by MWE for professional services rendered for each such fiscal
year. All fees and services were pre-approved in accordance with the
Audit Committee’s pre-approval policy.
Audit
Fees
The
aggregate fees billed for MWE’s audit of AMAC’s consolidated annual financial
statements, review of financial statements in AMAC’s Forms 10-Q, and other
services that are normally provided by the independent registered public
accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or
engagements were $260,500 for fiscal year 2009 and $248,000 for fiscal year
2008.
Audit
Related Fees
Audit
related fees billed to the Company by MWE during fiscal year 2009 and fiscal
year 2008 were $13,000 and $18,500, respectively. Such amounts
include employee benefit plan audits and consultations concerning financial
accounting and reporting.
Tax
Fees
Tax fees
billed to the Company by MWE during fiscal year 2009 and fiscal year 2008 were
$61,500 and $62,000, respectively. Such fees involved the preparation
of tax returns.
All
Other Fees
There
were no fees billed by MWE for any other services in fiscal year 2008 or fiscal
year 2009.
Pre-Approval
Policy for Services by Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
The Audit
Committee has implemented procedures for the pre-approval of all engagements of
the AMAC’s independent registered public accounting firm for both audit and
permissible non-audit services, including the fees and terms of each engagement,
subject to certain permitted statutory de minimus exceptions. The
Audit Committee annually meets with the independent registered public accounting
firm and reviews and pre-approves all audit and audit-related services prior to
the commencement of the audit engagement. The Audit Committee will
discuss any non-audit services with management and, as necessary, with the
independent registered public accounting firm, prior to making any determination
to approve or reject any such engagement. All audit, audit-related
and tax fees for fiscal year 2009 were pre-approved by the Audit
Committee.
RELATED
PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Policy
The Audit
Committee recognizes that related party transactions present a heightened risk
of conflicts of interest and/or improper valuation (or the perception or
appearance thereof). The Board of Directors has adopted a Related
Party Transactions Policy (the “Policy”) to be followed in connection with all
related party transactions involving AMAC. This Policy may be found
on AMAC’s website at www.amac.com under the “Investor Relations, Corporate
Governance” headings.
For
purposes of the Policy, a “Related Party” is:
|
·
|
Each
director and executive officer of
AMAC;
|
|
·
|
Any
nominees for election as a director of
AMAC;
|
|
·
|
Any
security holder who is known by AMAC to own of record or beneficially own
more than 5% of any class of AMAC’s voting securities;
and
|
|
·
|
Any
immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons, including persons
sharing such person’s household, other than an employee or
tenant.
|
For
purposes of the Policy, a “related party transaction” is any transaction or
series of transactions in which AMAC participates and a Related Party has a
direct or indirect material interest, such as sales, purchase and transfers of
real or personal property, use of property and equipment by lease or otherwise,
services received or furnished and borrowings and lendings, including
guarantees. Examples of a transaction in which a Related Party would have a
direct or indirect material interest include transactions between AMAC and any
entity that is owned or controlled by a Related Party, or an entity in which a
Related Party has a substantial interest or control.
The Board
of Directors has determined that the Audit Committee is best suited to review
and approve related party transactions. Compensation arrangements
reviewed by the Compensation Committee are not subject to the Policy and are not
required to be reviewed by the Audit Committee. Messrs. Shamash,
Levin, Gallagher and Fortunoff, all of whom were determined by the Board to be
independent, are the sole members of the Audit Committee. In
evaluating a related party transaction, the Audit Committee shall, in its
judgment, consider the relevant facts and circumstances of the related party
transaction and any of the following factors that are relevant:
|
·
|
The
position or relationship of the Related Party at or with
AMAC;
|
|
·
|
The
materiality of the transaction to the Related Party, including the dollar
value of the transaction;
|
|
·
|
The
business purpose for and reasonableness of the
transaction;
|
|
·
|
Whether
the related party transaction is comparable to a transaction that could be
available on an arms-length basis;
|
|
·
|
Whether
the related party transaction would cause AMAC to be in violation of
Nasdaq listing standards (or the listing standards of any other exchange
or market constituting AMAC’s primary trading market);
and
|
|
·
|
The
effect of the transaction on AMAC’s business and
operations.
|
During
fiscal year 2009, AMAC engaged in the following related party
transactions:
AMAC's
executive offices and back-up Emergency Response Center are located in a 5,600
square foot facility at 3265 Lawson Boulevard, Oceanside, New
York. On January 1, 1995, AMAC entered into a five-year operating
lease with Howard M. Siegel, Chairman of the Board and Senior Advisor, to lease
this space. In February 1998, the lease was extended until September
30, 2007 and subsequently through additional extensions has been extended
through December 2012. The lease currently provides for a base annual
rent of $133,963 plus reimbursements for real estate taxes and other operating
expenses.
Howard M.
Siegel owed AMAC $123,532 at December 31, 2001 for certain advances made to
him. In July 2002, the amount owned by Mr. Siegel, plus accrued
interest, was converted into a term promissory note. The term
promissory note bore interest at a rate of 5% per annum and was payable in
monthly installments of principal and interest through September 1,
2009. The note was paid in full upon maturity. At December
31, 2008 there was $21,117 outstanding thereunder.
During
fiscal year 2009, AMAC paid to Howard Siegel compensation equal to $176,059, for
his service as Senior Advisor under his then-effective employment agreement with
AMAC. This compensation included $175,000 in salary and $1,059 in
401(k) contributions. AMAC entered into an at-will employment
agreement with Mr. Siegel, effective January 1, 2010, under which Mr. Siegel
continues to serve as Senior Advisor to the President and Chief Executive
Officer. Under this employment agreement, AMAC has agreed to pay Mr.
Siegel a salary of $125,000 per year. In addition, AMAC has agreed to provide
Mr. Siegel with the use of a suitable automobile leased by AMAC, including any
insurance costs, with all reasonable expenses of operation related to
performance of his duties. AMAC has also agreed to reimburse Mr.
Siegel for the cost of his U.S. Medicare coverage. The foregoing
transaction was reviewed and recommended for approval to the Board of Directors
by the Compensation Committee, and was then approved by the Board of Directors
based on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee.
SECTION
16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
AMAC’s
executive officers, directors and 10% shareholders are required under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to file reports of ownership and change in
ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of
these reports must also be furnished to AMAC.
Based
solely on review of the copies of such reports furnished to AMAC, or written
representations that no reports were required, AMAC believes that during fiscal
year 2009 its executive officers, directors and 10% holders complied with all
filing requirements except that an untimely Form 4 was filed by each of Yacov
Shamash, Ron Levin, Gregory Fortunoff and John S.T. Gallagher on October 5, 2009
in connection with a grant of restricted stock on September 30,
2009.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2011
ANNUAL MEETING
Shareholder Proposals for Inclusion
in the 2011 Proxy Statement
Shareholders
of AMAC are entitled to submit proposals to be included in AMAC’s proxy
materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2011, provided that these
matters are appropriate for shareholder action and that the shareholder complies
with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act. To be
eligible for inclusion, shareholder proposals must be received by the Corporate
Secretary of AMAC (see address below) no later than March 3, 2011.
Director Nominations and Other
Shareholder Proposals for Presentation at the 2011 Annual
Meeting
AMAC’s
Bylaws require advanced notice of any proposal of business to be brought before
an annual meeting by a shareholder that will not be included in AMAC’s proxy
materials, including any such proposal for the nomination for election of a
director. Any such shareholder proposal must comply with the
procedural requirements of AMAC’s Bylaws and for which written notice is
received by the Corporate Secretary of AMAC (see address below) not later than
the close of business on the 120th day and not earlier than the close of
business on the 150th day prior to the first anniversary of the mailing of the
preceding year’s proxy statement relating to the previous year’s annual meeting
of shareholders (unless the Company did not hold such previous year's annual
meeting or the date of the current year's annual meeting has been changed by
more than 30 days from the date of the previous year's annual meeting, in which
case the Bylaws provide alternative dates for
timeliness). Accordingly, any shareholder who wishes to have a
nomination or other business considered by shareholders at the 2011 Annual
Meeting must deliver written notice to the Corporate Secretary (containing the
information required by the Bylaws) no earlier than the close of business on
February 1, 2011, and no later than March 3, 2011. Any proposal
received outside of these dates will be considered untimely. The
advance notice requirement in our Bylaws supersedes the notice period in Rule
14a-4(c)(1) of the federal proxy rules regarding discretionary proxy voting
authority with respect to such shareholder business.
The above
summary sets forth the procedures by which proposals may be properly brought
before and voted upon at AMAC’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders. If
you plan to submit a proposal or nominate a director, please review our Amended
and Restated Bylaws carefully. You may obtain a copy of our Bylaws by
mailing a request in writing to the address set forth below. Our Bylaws are also
available as Exhibit 3(b) of the Company’s Form 10-K for year ended December 31,
2007.
All
shareholder proposals and notices should be directed to the Corporate Secretary
of AMAC c/o American Medical Alert Corp., 3265 Lawson Boulevard, P.O. Box 40,
Oceanside, NY 11572. Any director nominations should be addressed to
the Nominating Committee c/o the Corporate Secretary at the same
address.
OTHER
BUSINESS
The Board
of Directors does not know of any other business to come before the Annual
Meeting. However, if any other matters are properly brought before
the Annual Meeting, including adjournment of the Meeting and any other matters
incident to the conduct of the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named
in the proxy card and voting instruction card to vote on such matters in
accordance with their best judgment. Discretionary authority for them
to do so is contained in the proxy card and voting instruction
card. The Annual Meeting may be adjourned from time to time by
approval of a majority of votes cast by holders of shares present at the Annual
Meeting, whether or not a quorum exists.
SHAREHOLDERS SHARING
THE SAME ADDRESS
In order
to reduce printing and postage costs, in certain cases AMAC is sending only one
copy of its annual report and proxy statement to shareholders of record sharing
the same address. AMAC will not use this practice, known as
“householding,” if AMAC is notified that one or more of these shareholders
wishes to continue receiving individual copies. If any shareholder of record
residing at such address wishes to receive a separate annual report or proxy
statement for this Annual Meeting or in the future, he or she may contact AMAC’s
Corporate Secretary, and AMAC will promptly deliver a separate copy of the
documents requested. If a shareholder of record is receiving multiple copies of
the annual report and proxy statement, the shareholder can request householding
by contacting AMAC’s Corporate Secretary. The Corporate Secretary may be
contacted by writing to the Corporate Secretary of AMAC c/o American Medical
Alert Corp., 3265 Lawson Boulevard, P.O. Box 40, Oceanside, NY
11572.
Shareholders
who participate in householding will continue to receive individual proxy cards.
Beneficial owners (i.e., shares are held in the name of a broker, bank or other
nominee) can request information about householding from their broker, bank or
other nominee of record.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FILED WITH
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
A COPY OF
AMAC’S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009,
MAY BE OBTAINED, WITHOUT CHARGE, BY ANY SHAREHOLDER, UPON WRITTEN REQUEST
DIRECTED TO THE CORPORATE SECRETARY OF AMERICAN MEDICAL ALERT C/O AMERICAN
MEDICAL ALERT CORP., 3265 LAWSON BOULEVARD, P.O. BOX 40, OCEANSIDE, NY
11572.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors,
|
|
|
|
Richard
Rallo
|
|
Corporate
Secretary
|
July
1, 2010
|
|
APPENDIX
A
AMERICAN
MEDICAL ALERT CORP.
2010
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1.
Purposes of the Plan
.
The purposes of this Plan are:
|
·
|
to
attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of
substantial responsibility,
|
|
·
|
to
provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors and Consultants,
and
|
|
·
|
to
promote the success of the Company’s
business.
|
The Plan
permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options, Nonstatutory Stock Options, Stock
Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Other
Stock-Based Awards. The Plan also permits the grant of awards that
are intended to constitute performance-based compensation for certain executive
officers under Section 162(m).
2.
Definitions
. As used
herein, the following definitions will apply:
(a) “
Action
” has the
meaning set forth in Section 30.
(b) “
Administrator
” means
the Board or any of its Committees as will be administering the Plan, in
accordance with Section 4.
(c) “
Affiliate
” means any
entity that the Company, either directly or indirectly, is in common control
with, is controlled by or controls, or any entity that the Company has a
substantial direct or indirect equity interest, as determined by the
Board.
(d) “
Annual Award Limit
”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3(c)(ii).
(e) “
Applicable Laws
”
means the requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards and
any related matters under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state
securities laws, the Code, and any stock exchange or quotation system on which
the Common Stock is listed or quoted, and all rules and regulations relating to
any of the foregoing.
(f) “
Award
” means,
individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Stock
Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Other Stock-Based
Awards or Performance-Based Compensation award.
(g) “
Award Agreement
”
either (a) a written or electronic agreement entered into by the Company and a
Participant setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award
granted under this Plan, or (b) a written or electronic statement issued by the
Company or a Subsidiary of the Company to a Participant describing the terms and
provisions of the actual grant of such Award.
(h) “
Beneficial Owner
”
will have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General
Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.
(i) “
Board
” means the
Board of Directors of the Company.
(j) “
Cause
” means (i)
“cause,” as such term (or any similar term, such as “with cause”) is defined in
any employment, consulting or other applicable agreement for services between
the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, as applicable, and such Participant,
or (ii) in the absence of such an agreement, “cause” as such term is defined in
the Award Agreement between the Company and such Participant, or (iii) in the
absence of both of the foregoing, (A) the Participant’s persistent or chronic
refusal or failure to perform any of his or her reasonable duties and
responsibilities, as determined from time to time by the Board, which remains
uncured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board within 30 days of written
notice from the Company of such alleged fault; (B) the Participant acts
(including a failure to act) in a manner which constitutes willful misconduct,
gross negligence, or insubordination; (C) in the Company’s determination that,
in the reasonable judgment of the Board, the Participant has: (x) committed an
act of fraud, embezzlement or misappropriation relating to the Company; (y)
violated any material provision of any rules, policies, procedures or guidelines
of the Company, including but not limited to the Company’s Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics; or (z) committed any other act causing material harm to the
Company’s standing or reputation, or any act of unauthorized use or disclosure
of confidential or proprietary information or other intellectual property or
trade secrets of the Company, common law fraud or other fraud with respect
thereto; (D) a breach by the Participant of any material term of the Plan or any
Award Agreement, any other written agreement with the Company or any fiduciary
duty to the Company; (E) the Participant’s indictment for or conviction (or the
entry of a plea of a nolo contendere or equivalent plea) in a court of competent
jurisdiction of a felony, or any misdemeanor, which misdemeanor involves
material dishonesty or moral turpitude; or (F) the Participant’s habitual or
repeated misuse of, or habitual or repeated performance of the Participant’s
duties under the influence of, alcohol or controlled substances. As
used in this definition of “Cause”, the “Company” will mean the Company and each
of the Company’s Subsidiaries.
(k) “
Change in Control
”
means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) any
Person, other than an Affiliate of the Company immediately prior to consummation
of such transaction, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the
combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities;
or
(ii) individuals
who, on the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease
for any reason over a period of one (1) year to constitute a majority of the
number of directors then serving on the Board; provided, however, that any new
director whose appointment or election by the Incumbent Board or nomination for
election by the Company’s stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of
at least a majority of the directors then still in office who either were
directors on the Effective Date, or whose appointment, election or nomination
for election was previously so approved or recommended, will be considered as
though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board; or
(iii) there
is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company or any Subsidiary with
any other corporation (in one or a series of related transactions), other than
(A) a merger or consolidation that would result in the voting securities of the
Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing
to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof) more than fifty
percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the securities of the Company or
any surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after such
merger or consolidation, or (B) a merger or consolidation effected to implement
a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person
becomes, as a result of such merger or consolidation, the Beneficial Owner,
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than
fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s
then-outstanding securities; or
(iv) there
is consummated one or more sales, leases, exchanges, or other transfers (in one
or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets; provided that the following will not constitute a Change in
Control under this subsection (iv): (A) a transfer of assets to an entity
that is controlled by the Company’s stockholders immediately prior to
consummation of such transaction, or (B) a transfer of assets by the
Company to an Affiliate of the Company immediately prior to consummation of such
transaction.
(l) “
Code
” means the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any reference to a section
of the Code herein will be a reference to any successor or amended section of
the Code.
(m) “
Committee
” means a
committee of Directors or of other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws
appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 4.
(n) “
Common Stock
” means
the common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share.
(o) “
Company
” means
American Medical Alert Corp., a New York corporation, or any successor
thereto.
(p) “
Consultant
” means any
natural person (other than an Employee or a Director) who is engaged by the
Company or a Subsidiary to render consulting or advisory services to such
entity; provided that such services are not in connection with the offer or sale
of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly
promote or maintain a market for the Company's securities.
(q) “
Continuous Service
”
means that the provision of services to the Company or a Subsidiary in any
capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant is not interrupted or
terminated. In jurisdictions requiring notice in advance of an
effective termination as an Employee, Director or Consultant, Continuous Service
will be deemed terminated upon the actual cessation of providing services to the
Company or a Subsidiary which, to the extent applicable, will not be deemed to
occur until the expiration of any required notice period that must be fulfilled
before a termination as an Employee, Director or Consultant can be effective
under applicable labor laws. Continuous Service will not be considered
interrupted in the case of (i) any sick leave, military leave or other approved
“bona fide leave of absence” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section
1.409A-1(h)(1)), (ii) transfers among the Company or any Subsidiary, or any
successor, in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant, or (iii) any
change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company
or a Subsidiary in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant (except as
otherwise provided in the Award Agreement).
(r) “
Director
” means each
member of the Board who is not an Employee.
(s) “
Disability
” means
unless otherwise specified in an Award Agreement or other written employment,
consulting or services agreement between the Participant or the Company or a
Subsidiary of the Company, as applicable, means “Disability” within the meaning
of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(4).
(t) “
Effective Date
” means
the date set forth in Section 29.
(u) “
Employee
” means an
officer or other employee of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company,
including a member of the Board who is an employee of the Company or a
Subsidiary of the Company. Neither service as a member of the Board
nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company
will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by such entity.
(v) “
Exchange Act
” means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(w) “
Exchange Program
”
means a program under which (i) outstanding Awards are surrendered or
cancelled in exchange for Awards of the same type (which may have higher or
lower exercise prices and different terms), Awards of a different type, and/or
cash, (ii) Participants would have the opportunity to transfer any
outstanding Awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected
by the Administrator, and/or (iii) the exercise price of an outstanding
Award is reduced. The Administrator will determine the terms and
conditions of any Exchange Program in its sole discretion.
(x) “
Fair Market Value
”
means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as
follows:
(i) If
the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national
market system, including, without limitation, the New York Stock Exchange, the
American Stock Exchange, and the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global
Market or the Nasdaq Capital Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market
Value will be the closing sales price for such stock on the day of determination
(or, if no closing sales price was reported on that date, on the last date such
closing price was reported), as reported by such exchange or system or such
other source as the Administrator deems reliable;
(ii) If
the Common Stock is regularly quoted on an automated quotation system (including
the OTC Bulletin Board and the “Pink Sheets” published by the National Quotation
Bureau, Inc.) or by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value will
be the closing sales price for such stock or, if selling prices are not
reported, its Fair Market Value will the mean between the high bid and low asked
prices for the Common Stock on the day of determination (or, if no such prices
were reported on that date, on the last date such prices were reported), as
reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator
deems reliable; or
(iii) In
the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value
will be determined in good faith by the Administrator.
(y) “
Fiscal Year
” means
the fiscal year of the Company.
(z) “
Incentive Stock
Option
” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations
promulgated thereunder.
(aa) “
Nonstatutory Stock
Option
” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not
intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
(bb) “
Option
” means a stock
option granted pursuant to the Plan.
(cc) “
Other Stock-Based
Award
” means any right granted under Article 10 of the Plan.
(dd) “
Participant
” means
the holder of an outstanding Award.
(ee) “
Performance-Based
Compensation
” means compensation, including, without limitation, any
Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit or
Other Stock-Based Award, that is intended to constitute “qualified
performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section
162(m).
(ff)
“
Performance Measures
”
means measures as described in Section 11(b) on which the performance goals are
based in order to qualify Awards as Performance-Based Compensation.
(gg) “
Period of
Restriction
” means the period during which Restricted Stock awarded under
Section 7 is subject to forfeiture or repurchase, as applicable.
(hh) “
Plan
” means this 2010
Equity Incentive Plan.
(ii)
“
Restricted Stock
”
means Shares issued pursuant to a Restricted Stock award under
Section 7.
(jj)
“
Restricted Stock
Unit
” means a right granted pursuant to Section 8 to receive the Fair
Market Value of one Share upon the expiration of the applicable restriction or
deferral period. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents an unfunded
and unsecured obligation of the Company.
(kk) “
Rule 16b-3
” means
Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when
discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan.
(ll)
“
Section 162(m)
” means
Section 162(m) of the Code and all regulations, guidance, compliance programs
and other interpretative authority thereunder.
(mm) “
Section 409A
” means
Section 409A of the Code and all regulations, guidance, compliance programs and
other interpretative authority thereunder.
(nn) “
Securities Act
” means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
(oo) “
Service Provider
”
means an Employee, Director or Consultant..
(pp) “
Share
” means a share
of the Common Stock, or such other class or kind of shares or other securities
resulting from the application of Section 16.
(qq) “
Stock Appreciation
Right
” means an Award, granted alone or in tandem with an Option, that
pursuant to Section 9 is designated as a Stock Appreciation
Right.
(rr)
“
Subsidiary
” means any
corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations
beginning with the Company (or any parent of the Company) if each of the
corporations, other than the last corporation in each unbroken chain owns stock
possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
(ss) “
Substitute Award
” has
the meaning set forth in Section 3(b).
(tt)
“
Tandem
SAR
” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(a).
3.
Stock Subject to the Plan
.
(a)
Stock Subject to the Plan
. Subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 16, the maximum aggregate number of Shares
that may be issued under the Plan is Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand
(750,000) Shares. Shares of Common Stock covered by an Award
shall be counted as used as of the applicable date of grant.
(b)
Share Usage; Lapsed Awards;
Additional Shares
. Any Shares that are subject to Awards shall
be counted against the limit set forth in Section 3(a) as one Share for every
one Share subject to the Award. If any outstanding Award expires, is
forfeited, cancelled, surrendered pursuant to an Exchange Program or otherwise
terminated without the issuance of Shares, or is otherwise settled for cash, the
Shares subject to such Award, to the extent of any such forfeiture,
cancellation, surrender, expiration, termination or settlement for cash, will
again become available for future grant or sale under the Plan. Any
Shares delivered to the Company, or withheld by the Company as part or full
payment for the purchase price of an Award granted under this Plan or, to the
extent the Administrator determines that the availability of Incentive Stock
Options under the Plan will not be compromised, Shares used to satisfy the
Company’s withholding obligation with respect to an Award granted under this
Plan, will again be available for Awards under the Plan; provided, that any
withheld Shares will continue to be counted as outstanding for purposes of
determining whether an Annual Award Limit has been attained. If the
Administrator authorizes the assumption or substitution under this Plan, in
connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of assets, property or
stock, reorganization, or similar corporate transaction, of awards granted by
another entity under another plan (each, a “
Substitute Award
”),
such substitution or assumption will not (i) reduce the maximum number of Shares
available for issuance under this Plan or (ii) be subject to or counted against
a Participant’s Annual Award Limit.
(c)
Award
Limits
.
(i) Subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 16 and subject to the provisions of
Sections 422 or 424 of the Code and any successor provisions, the maximum number
of Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will
equal Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand (750,000).
(ii) Subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 16, the maximum number of Shares with
respect to which any Awards denominated in Shares may be granted to any
Participant in any Fiscal Year will be 150,000 Shares, and the maximum amount of
cash payable and fair value of property with respect to Awards denominated in
cash or property that may be granted to any Participant in any Fiscal Year will
be $750,000 (each limit described in this Section 3(c)(ii) an “
Annual Award Limit
”
and collectively, “
Annual Award
Limits
”).
(d)
Share
Reserve
. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at
all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as will be sufficient
to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
4.
Administration of the
Plan
.
(a)
Procedure
.
(i)
Multiple Administrative
Bodies
. Different Committees may administer the Plan with
respect to different groups of Service Providers.
(ii)
Section 162(m)
.
To the extent that the Administrator determines it to be desirable to qualify
Awards granted hereunder as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning
of Section 162(m), the Plan will be administered by a Committee of two
(2) or more “outside directors” within the meaning of
Section 162(m).
(iii)
Rule 16b-3
. Subject
to Section 13, to the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as
exempt under Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder will be
structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule
16b-3.
(iv)
Other
Administration
. Other than as provided above, the Plan will be
administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which committee will
be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws.
(b)
Powers of the
Administrator
. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and in the case of
a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such
Committee, the Administrator will have the authority, in its
discretion:
(i) to
determine the Fair Market Value;
(ii) to
select the Service Providers to whom Awards may be granted
hereunder;
(iii) to
determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted
hereunder;
(iv) to
approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan;
(v) to
determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan,
of any Award granted hereunder. Such terms and conditions include,
but are not limited to, the exercise or purchase price, the time or times when
Awards may be exercised, i.e. vesting and forfeiture dates (which may be based
on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture
restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the
Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator
will determine;
(vi) to
determine the terms and conditions of any, and to institute any Exchange
Program;
(vii) to
authorize and make Substitute Awards and Awards in assumption of, or in
substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries;
(viii) to
construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the
Plan;
(ix) to
modify, waive or amend any terms or conditions of an Award (subject to Section
30 of the Plan), including but not limited to the discretionary authority to
extend the exercisability period of Awards and to extend the maximum term of an
Option;
(x) to
accelerate or waive vesting of Awards, lapsing of restrictions or deferral
limitations imposed on Awards (including to allow a Participant to defer the
receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be
due to such Participant under an Award), and exercisability of
Awards;
(xi) to
allow Participants to satisfy withholding tax obligations in such manner as
prescribed in Section 18;
(xii) to
authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required
to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator;
and
(xiii) to
determine of the treatment of Awards upon a Change in Control as provided in
Section 16(c); and
(xiv) to
make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering
the Plan.
(c)
Effect of
Administrator’s Decision
. The Administrator’s decisions,
determinations and interpretations will be final and binding on all Participants
and any other holders of Awards.
(d)
No
Liability
. Under no circumstances will the Company, any
Subsidiary, the Administrator, or the Board incur liability for any indirect,
incidental, consequential or special damages (including lost profits) of any
form incurred by any person, whether or not foreseeable and regardless of the
form of the act in which such a claim may be brought, with respect to the Plan
or the Company’s, any Subsidiary’s, the Administrator’s or the Board’s roles in
connection with the Plan.
5.
Eligibility
. Nonstatutory
Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock
Units, Other Stock-Based Awards and Performance-Based Compensation awards may be
granted to Service Providers. Incentive Stock Options (whether or not
qualified as Performance-Based Compensation) may be granted only to
Employees. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, any Awards
granted to an individual who is not a Service Provider or otherwise in error
shall be void
ab
initio
. Awards
granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Agreements (which need not be
identical) that provide additional terms and conditions associated with such
Awards, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided,
however, that in the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Plan
and any such Award Agreement, the provisions of the Plan shall
prevail.
6.
Stock
Options
.
(a)
Grant of
Options
. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the
Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Options to Service
Providers which permit a Participant to purchase from the Company a stated
number of Shares at a per Share exercise price established by the
Administrator. Options will be evidenced by Award Agreements which
will state the number of Shares covered by such Option. Such Award
Agreements will conform to the requirements of the Plan, and may contain such
other provisions, as the Administrator deems advisable. Each Option
will be designated in the Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or
a Nonstatutory Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such
designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares
with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time
by the Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and
any Subsidiary) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), such Options
will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this
Section 6(a), Incentive Stock Options will be taken into account in the
order in which they were granted. The Fair Market Value of the Shares
will be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares is
granted. An Option granted as an Incentive Stock Option shall, to the
extent it fails to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, be treated as a
Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(b)
Term of
Option
. The term of each Option will be stated in the Award
Agreement, but in no event will such term be greater than five (5) years
from the date of grant.
(c)
Option Exercise Price and
Consideration
.
(i)
Exercise
Price
. The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be
issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option will be determined by the
Administrator, but will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the
Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. In addition, in the case of an
Incentive Stock Option granted to an Employee who owns stock representing more
than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or any Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price will be no less than one
hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date
of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section 6(c)(i), the per Share exercise price for the Shares to be issued
pursuant to the exercise of an Option that is a Substitute Award may be less
than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant; provided, that such
substitution complies with Applicable Laws, including, if applicable,
Section 424 of the Code and/or Section 409A.
(ii)
Waiting Period and Exercise
Dates
. At the time an Option is granted, the Administrator will fix the
period within which the Option may be exercised and will determine any
conditions that must be satisfied before the Option may be
exercised.
(iii)
Form of
Consideration
. The Administrator will determine the acceptable
form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of
payment. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Administrator
will determine the acceptable form of consideration at the time of
grant. Such consideration may consist entirely of: (1) cash;
(2) check; (3) other Shares, provided that such Shares have a Fair
Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of
the Shares as to which such Option will be exercised and provided further that
accepting such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences to
the Company, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion;
(4) consideration received by the Company under a broker-assisted (or
other) cashless exercise program (whether through a broker or otherwise)
implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan; (5) Shares
otherwise issuable in connection with the exercise of the Option that are
withheld by the Company; (6) such other consideration and method of payment
for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws; or
(7) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.
(d)
Exercise of
Option
.
(i)
Procedure for
Exercise
. Any Option granted hereunder will be exercisable
according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions
as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award
Agreement. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a
Share.
An Option
will be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (i) notice of exercise
(in such form as the Administrator may specify from time to time) from the
person entitled to exercise the Option, and (ii) full payment for the
Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised (together with applicable
withholding taxes), as authorized by the Administrator and permitted by the
Award Agreement and the Plan. Shares issued upon exercise of an
Option will be issued in the name of the Participant. The Company
will issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is
exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right
for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as
provided in Section 16.
(ii)
Termination of Relationship
as a Service Provider
. If a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates,
other than as the result of the Participant’s death or Disability, the
Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is
specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the
date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of
such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement). In the absence of a
specified time frame in the Award Agreement, an Option will remain exercisable
for three (3) months following such termination (but in no event later than
the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement);
provided that, except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement,
if such Participant’s Continuous Service was terminated for Cause, the Award
will terminate immediately upon termination. Unless otherwise
provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is
not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested
portion of the Option will become available again for grant under the
Plan. If after termination of Continuous Service, the Participant
does not exercise the vested portion of his or her Option within the time frame
specified by the Administrator, the Option will terminate, and the Shares
covered by such Option, to the extent not exercised, will become available again
for grant under the Plan.
(iii)
Disability of
Participant
. If a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates as a result
of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option
within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent
the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the
expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award
Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Award
Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for twelve (12) months
following the termination a Participant’s Continuous Service as a result of the
Participant’s Disability. Unless otherwise provided by the
Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is not vested as to
his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the
Option will become available again for grant under the Plan. If after
termination of Continuous Service the Participant does not exercise his or her
Option within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the
Shares covered by such Option will become available again for grant under the
Plan.
(iv)
Death of
Participant
. If a Participant dies while a Service Provider,
the Option may be exercised), subject to Section 22, following the Participant’s
death within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the
extent that the Option is vested on the date of death (but in no event later
than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award
Agreement. In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement,
the Option will remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following
Participant’s death. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator,
if at the time of death Participant is not vested as to his or her entire
Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will
immediately return to the Plan and become available again for grant under the
Plan. If the Option is not so exercised within the time specified
herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will
become available again for grant under the Plan.
7.
Restricted
Stock
.
(a)
Grant of Restricted
Stock
. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the
Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted
Stock to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole
discretion, will determine, which Shares are subject to restrictions on transfer
and/or forfeiture based upon the failure to satisfy specified vesting criteria
including, without limitation, the passage of time or the achievement of target
levels of performance, or the occurrence of other specified events, each as
determined by the Administrator. Participants shall be awarded
Restricted Stock in exchange for consideration not less than the minimum
consideration required by Applicable Laws. Restricted Stock will be
evidenced by Award Agreements which will specify the Period(s) of Restriction,
the number of Shares of Restricted Stock subject to the Award, the purchase
price, if any, of the Shares of Restricted Stock (provided, however, that any
grant of Restricted Stock shall comply with any minimum consideration payment
required by Applicable Laws), and the conditions under which the Restricted
Stock may be forfeited to the Company, as applicable. Such Award
Agreements will conform to the requirements of the Plan, and may contain such
other provisions, as the Administrator deems advisable. Unless the
Administrator determines otherwise, the Company or its outside legal counsel as
escrow agent will hold Shares of Restricted Stock until the restrictions on such
Shares have lapsed.
(b)
Transferability
.
Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7, Shares of Restricted Stock may
not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or
hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction.
(c)
Other Restrictions, Terms
and Conditions
. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may
impose such other restrictions on Shares of, and terms and conditions
of, Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable or
appropriate.
(d)
Removal of
Restrictions
. Except as otherwise provided in this
Section 7, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock
grant made under the Plan will be released from escrow as soon as practicable
after the last day of the Period of Restriction or at such other time as the
Administrator may determine. The Administrator, in its discretion,
may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be
removed.
(e)
Voting
Rights
. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers
holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise full voting
rights with respect to those Shares, unless the Administrator determines
otherwise.
(f)
Dividends and Other
Distributions
. During the Period of Restriction, Service
Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to receive all
dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares, unless the
Administrator provides otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
such dividends or other distributions (whether in the form of cash or Shares)
will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability
as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were
paid.
(g)
Return of Restricted Stock
to Company
. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted
Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed will be deemed forfeited to the
Company and will become available again for grant under the Plan. In
addition, except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement, any Shares of
Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed will be deemed forfeited
to the Company upon the termination of a Participant’s Continuous
Service.
(h)
Section 83(b)
Election
. If a Participant makes an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of
the Code concerning Restricted Stock, the Participant will be required to file
promptly a copy of such election with the Company.
8.
Restricted Stock
Units
.
(a)
Grant
. Subject
to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from
time to time, may grant Restricted Stock Units to Service Providers in such
amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will
determine. Restricted Stock Units will be evidenced by Award
Agreements which will specify the terms, conditions, and restrictions related to
the grant. Such Award Agreements will conform to the requirements of
the Plan, and may contain such other provisions, as the Administrator deems
advisable.
(b)
Vesting Criteria and Other
Terms
. The Administrator will set vesting criteria in its
discretion, which, depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will
determine the number of Restricted Stock Units that will be paid out to the
Participant. The Administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the passage
of time, achievement of target levels of performance, or any other basis
determined by the Administrator in its discretion.
(c)
Earning Restricted Stock
Units
. Upon meeting the applicable vesting criteria, the
Participant will be entitled to receive a payout as determined by the
Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the
grant of Restricted Stock Units, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may
reduce or waive any vesting criteria that must be met to receive a
payout.
(d)
Form and Timing of
Payment
. Payment of vested Restricted Stock Units will be made
as soon as practicable after the date(s) determined by the Administrator and set
forth in the Award Agreement; but in no event later than two and one-half months
following the end of the year in which such Restricted Stock Units
vest. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may settle earned
Restricted Stock Units in Shares, cash of equivalent value, or a combination of
both.
(e)
Cancellation
. On
the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unvested Restricted Stock Units
will be deemed forfeited to the Company and will become available again for
grant under the Plan. In addition, except as provided in the Award
Agreement, such portion of the Restricted Stock Unit that has not vested will be
forfeited to the Company upon the termination of a Participant’s Continuous
Service.
9.
Stock Appreciation
Rights
.
(a)
Grant of Stock Appreciation
Rights
. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, a
Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to Service Providers at any time and
from time to time as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole
discretion, Participants, including a grant of Stock Appreciation Rights in
tandem with any Option at the same time such Option is granted (a “
Tandem
SAR
”). Each Stock Appreciation Right grant will be evidenced
by an Award Agreement that will specify the number of Stock Appreciation Rights
granted, the exercise price, the term, and the conditions of
exercise. Such Award Agreements will conform to the requirements of
the Plan, and may contain such other provisions, as the Administrator deems
advisable.
(b)
Exercise Price and Other
Terms
. The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant
to exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right will be determined by the
Administrator and will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the
Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the exercise price of a Stock Appreciation Right that is a Substitute
Award may be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant;
provided, that such substitution complies with Applicable Laws, including, if
applicable, Section 424(a) of the Code. Otherwise, the
Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, will have complete
discretion to determine the terms and conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights
granted under the Plan.
(c)
Expiration of Stock
Appreciation Rights
. A Stock Appreciation Right granted under
the Plan will expire upon the date determined by the Administrator, in its sole
discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the rules of Section 6(b) relating to the maximum term and Section 6(d) relating
to exercise (other than with respect to payment) also apply to Stock
Appreciation Rights.
(d)
Payment of Stock
Appreciation Right Amount
. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a
Participant will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount
determined by multiplying:
(i) The
difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over
the exercise price;
times
(ii) The
number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is
exercised.
At the
discretion of the Administrator, the payment upon Stock Appreciation Right
exercise may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination
thereof.
(e)
Tandem Stock Appreciation
Rights
. A Tandem SAR shall be exercisable only to the extent that the
related Option is exercisable and shall expire no later than the expiration of
the related Option. Upon the exercise of all or a portion of a Tandem SAR, a
Participant shall be required to forfeit the right to purchase an equivalent
portion of the related Option (and, when a Share is purchased under the related
Option, the Participant shall be required to forfeit an equivalent portion of
the Stock Appreciation Right).
10.
Other Stock-Based
Awards
. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may grant
awards of Shares and awards that are valued, in whole or in part, by reference
to, or are otherwise based on the Fair Market Value of, Shares (the “
Other Stock-Based
Awards
”), including without limitation, stock bonus awards. In
furtherance, and not in limitation, of the foregoing, Other Stock-Based Awards
may be made as additional compensation for services rendered by the Service
Provider or may be in lieu of cash or other compensation to which the Service
Provider is entitled from the Company. Such Other Stock-Based Awards
will be in such form, and dependent on such conditions, as the Administrator
will determine, including, without limitation, the right to receive Shares in
the future, cash payments based in whole or in part on the value or future value
of Shares, or any combination thereof. Other Stock-Based Awards may
be granted alone or in addition to any other Awards granted under the
Plan. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator will
determine in its sole discretion to whom and when Other Stock-Based Awards will
be made, the number of Shares to be awarded under (or otherwise related to) such
Other Stock-Based Awards, whether such Other Stock-Based Awards will be settled
in cash, Shares or a combination of cash and Shares, and all other terms and
conditions of such awards (including, without limitation, the vesting provisions
thereof and provisions ensuring that all Shares so awarded and issued will be
fully paid and non-assessable). To the extent a Participant is
eligible to receive dividends or other distributions (whether in the form of
cash or Shares) in connection with any Other Stock-Based Award, such dividends
will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability
and vesting criteria as the underlying Other Stock-Based Award and/or
the Shares issuable thereunder. Each Other Stock-Based Award grant
will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify such terms and
conditions, as determined by the Administrator. Such Award Agreements
will conform to the requirements of the Plan.
11.
Performance Based
Compensation
.
(a)
Grant of Performance-Based
Compensation
. The Administrator is authorized, but is not obligated, to
design any Award so that the amounts or Shares payable or distributed pursuant
to such Award are treated as “qualified performance-based compensation” within
the meaning of Section 162(m).
(b)
Performance Measures
.
The vesting, crediting and/or payment of Performance-Based Compensation shall be
based on the achievement of objective performance goals based on one or more of
the following Performance Measures: (a) sales or revenue; (b) earnings per
share; (c) measurable achievement in quality, operation and compliance
initiatives; (d) objectively determinable measure of non-financial operating and
management performance objectives; (e) net earnings or gross earnings (either
before or after interest and taxes, depreciation and amortization, or before or
after interest and taxes); (f) economic value-added; (g) net income (either
before or after taxes); (h) operating earnings; (i) cash flow (including, but
not limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow); (j) cash flow return on
capital; (k) return on net assets; (l) return on stockholders’ equity; (m)
return on assets; (n) return on capital; (o) stockholder returns, dividends
and/or other distributions; (p) return on sales; (q) gross or net profit margin;
(r) productivity; (s) expenses; (t) margins; (u) operating efficiency; (v)
customer satisfaction; (w) measurable achievement in quality and compliance
initiatives; (x) working capital; (y) debt; (z) debt reduction; (aa) price per
share of stock; (bb) market share; (cc) completion of acquisitions; (dd)
business expansion; (ee) product diversification; and (ff) new or expanded
market penetration. The foregoing criteria shall have any reasonable
definitions that the Administrator may specify, which may include or exclude any
or all of the following items, as the Administrator may specify: (pp)
extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items; (qq) effects of changes in tax
law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported
results; (rr) effects of currency fluctuations; (ss) effects of financing
activities (e.g., effect on earnings per share of issuing convertible debt
securities); (tt) expenses for restructuring, productivity initiatives or new
business initiatives; (uu) impairment of tangible or intangible assets; (vv)
litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (ww) non-operating items; (xx)
acquisition expenses; (yy) discontinued operations; and (zz) effects of assets
sales or divestitures.
Any
Performance Measure may be (i) used to measure the performance of the Company
and/or any of its Subsidiaries as a whole, any business unit or divisional level
thereof or any combination thereof against any goal including past performance
or (ii) compared to the performance of a group of comparable companies, or a
published or special index, in each case that the Administrator, in its sole
discretion, deems appropriate. Subject to Section 162(m), the Administrator may
adjust the performance goals (including to prorate goals and payments for a
partial Fiscal Year) in the event of the following occurrences: (a)
non-recurring events, including divestitures, spin-offs, or changes in
accounting standards or policies; (b) mergers and acquisitions; and (c)
financing transactions, including selling accounts receivable.
(c)
Establishment of Performance
Goals
. No later than ninety (90) days after the commencement of a
Performance Period (but in no event after twenty-five percent (25%) of such
Performance Period has elapsed), the Administrator shall establish in writing:
(i) the performance goals applicable to the Performance Period; (ii) the
Performance Measures to be used to measure the performance goals in terms of an
objective formula or standard; (iii) the formula for computing the amount of
compensation payable to the Participant if such performance goals are obtained;
and (iv) the Participants or class of Participants to which such performance
goals apply. The outcome of such performance goals must be substantially
uncertain when the Administrator establishes the goals.
(d)
Adjustment of
Performance-Based Compensation
. Awards that are designed to qualify as
Performance-Based Compensation may not be adjusted in a manner more favorable to
a Participant. Subject to Section 30, the Administrator shall retain
the discretion to adjust such Awards in a manner less favorable to a
Participant, either on a formula or discretionary basis or any combination, as
the Administrator determines.
(e)
Certification of
Performance
. Except for Awards that pay compensation attributable solely
to an increase in the value of Shares, no Award designed to qualify as
Performance-Based Compensation shall be vested, credited or paid, as applicable,
with respect to any Participant until the Administrator certifies in writing
that the performance goals and any other material terms applicable to such
Performance Period have been satisfied.
(f)
Non-162(m) Performance
Goals
. The Administrator may condition the grant, vesting or
delivery of any Award upon the achievement of one or more performance goal(s)
specified in the Award Agreement, whether or not such Award will qualify, or is
designed to qualify, as Performance Based Compensation.
(g)
Interpretation
. Each
provision of the Plan and each Award Agreement relating to Performance-Based
Compensation shall be construed so that each such Award shall be “qualified
performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m), and any
provisions of the Award Agreement thereof that cannot be so construed shall be
disregarded, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator.
12.
Compliance With Code
Section 409A
.
The
Company intends that any Awards be structured in compliance with, or to satisfy
an exemption from, Section 409A, such that there are no adverse tax
consequences, interest, or penalties under Section 409A as a result of the grant
or realization of the benefits of any Awards. Notwithstanding the
Company’s intention, in the event any Award is subject to Section 409A, the
Administrator may, in its sole discretion and without a Participant’s prior
consent, amend the Plan and/or Awards, adopt policies and procedures, or take
any other actions (including amendments, policies, procedures and actions with
retroactive effect) as are necessary or appropriate to (i) exempt the Plan
and/or any Award from the application of Section 409A, (ii) preserve the
intended tax treatment of any such Award, or (iii) comply with the requirements
of Section 409A, including without limitation any such regulations guidance,
compliance programs and other interpretative authority that may be issued after
the date of grant of an Award. This Plan, Awards and Award Agreements granted
hereunder will be interpreted at all times in such a manner that the terms and
provisions of the Plan, Awards and Award Agreements are exempt from or comply
with Section 409A.
13.
Rule 16b-3
. During
any time when the Company has a class of equity security registered under
Section 12 of the Exchange Act, with respect to Participants subject to Section
16 of the Exchange Act, transactions under the Plan are intended to comply with
all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the Exchange
Act. To the extent any provision of the Plan or action by the Administrator
fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by
law and deemed advisable by the Administrator.
14.
No Guarantees Regarding Tax
Treatment
. Participants (or their beneficiaries) will be responsible for
all taxes with respect to any Awards under the Plan. The Administrator and the
Company make no guarantees to any person regarding the tax treatment of Awards
or payments made under the Plan. Neither the Administrator nor the
Company has any obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any
tax on any person with respect to any Award under Section 409A or otherwise and
none of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their employees or
representatives will have any liability to a Participant with respect
thereto.
15.
Leaves of Absence; Impact on
ISO Treatment
. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise,
vesting of Awards granted hereunder will be suspended during any unpaid leave of
absence, notwithstanding the existence of Continuous Service. In
addition, notwithstanding the existence of Continuous Service, for purposes of
each Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan, if any sick leave, military
leave or other approved “bona fide leave of absence” exceeds ninety (90) days,
and reemployment upon expiration of such leave is not guaranteed by statute or
contract, then the Incentive Stock Option will be treated as a Non-Qualified
Option on the day three (3) months and one (1) day following the expiration of
such ninety (90) day period.
16.
Adjustments; Dissolution or
Liquidation; Change in Control
.
(a)
Adjustments
. In
the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash,
Shares, other securities, or other property, but excluding regular cash
dividends to shareholders of the Company), recapitalization, stock split,
reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off,
combination, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the
Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the
Shares occurs, the Administrator, in order to prevent diminution or enlargement
of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the
Plan, will adjust the number and class of Shares that may be issued under the
Plan and/or the number, class, and price of Shares covered by each outstanding
Award, and the numerical Share limits in Section 3, in each case as the
Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
(b)
Dissolution or
Liquidation
. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of
the Company, the Administrator will notify each Participant as soon as
practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed
transaction. To the extent it has not been previously exercised or is
not vested, an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of
such proposed action.
(c)
Change in
Control
. In the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding
Award will be treated as the Administrator determines without a Participant’s
consent, including, without limitation, the following: (i) to provide that
Awards will be assumed, or substantially equivalent Awards will be substituted,
by the Company or by the surviving company or corporation, or the parent of
either, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and
prices; (ii) to provide that outstanding Awards will vest and become
exercisable, realizable, or payable, or restrictions applicable to an Award will
lapse, in whole or in part immediately prior to, and contingent
upon, consummation of such Change in Control; (iii) upon written or
electronic notice to a Participant, provide that any outstanding Awards must be
exercised, to the extent then exercisable, during a reasonable period of time
prior to the scheduled consummation of the Change in Control, or such other
period as determined by the Administrator (in either case, contingent upon the
consummation of the Change in Control), and at the end of such period, such
Awards shall terminate to the extent not so exercised within the relevant
period; (iv) to provide for (A) the termination of an Award in exchange for
an amount of cash and/or property equal to (1) with respect to vested Options at
the time of the Change in Control, for each share of Common Stock subject to an
outstanding Option,, the excess, if any, of the price paid per share of Common
Stock in the Change in Control over the exercise price thereof (the “Option
Spread”); and (2) with respect to all Awards other than Options, equal to the
amount that would have been attained upon realization of the Participant’s
rights as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction (and, for the
avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction the
Administrator determines in good faith that that in the case of Options, the
Option Spread is zero, or in the case of other Awards, no amount would have been
attained upon realization of the Participant’s rights with respect to such other
Awards, then such Option or Award may be terminated by the Administrator without
payment), or (B) the replacement of such Award with other rights or
property selected by the Administrator in its sole discretion; or (v) any
combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted
under this subsection 16(c), the Administrator will not be obligated to treat
all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type,
similarly.
17.
No Constraint on Corporate
Action
. Nothing in the Plan will be construed to (i) limit, impair, or
otherwise affect the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ right or power to
make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital
or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell,
or transfer all or any part of its business or assets, or (ii) limit the right
or power of the Company or its Subsidiaries to take any action which such entity
deems to be necessary or appropriate.
18.
Tax
Withholding
.
(a)
Withholding
Requirements
. Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an
Award (or exercise thereof), the Company will have the power and the right to
deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount
sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes (including
the Participant’s FICA obligation) required to be withheld with respect to such
Award (or exercise thereof).
(b)
Withholding
Arrangements
. The Administrator, in its sole discretion and pursuant to
such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit a Participant to
satisfy such tax withholding obligation, in whole or in part by (without
limitation) (a) paying cash, (b) electing to have the Company withhold
otherwise deliverable cash or Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the
minimum statutory amount required to be withheld, or (c) delivering to the
Company already-owned Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum
statutory amount required to be withheld. The Fair Market Value of
the Shares to be withheld or delivered will be determined as of the date that
the taxes are required to be withheld.
19.
No Effect on Employment or
Service
. The granting of an Award under the Plan shall impose no
obligation on the Company or any Subsidiary to continue the Continuous Service
of a Participant and shall not lessen or affect any right that the Company or
any Subsidiary may have to terminate the Continuous Service of such
Participant. No Participant or other person shall have any claim to
be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of
Participants, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and
conditions of Awards and the Administrator’s determinations and interpretations
with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant
(whether or not such Participants are similarly situated).
20.
Waiver of Certain
Claims
. By participating in the Plan, the Participant waives all and any
rights to compensation or damages in consequence of the termination of his or
her office or Continuous Service for any reason whatsoever, insofar as those
rights arise or may arise from his or her ceasing to have rights under the Plan
as a result of such termination, or from the loss or diminution in value of such
rights or entitlements, including by reason of the operation of the terms of the
Plan, any determination by the Board or Administrator pursuant to a discretion
contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement or the provisions of any statute or
law relating to taxation.
21.
Rights as a
Shareholder
. Except as otherwise provided herein or in the
applicable Award Agreement, neither Participant nor any person claiming under or
through Participant will have any of the rights or privileges of a shareholder
of the Company in respect of any Shares covered by any Award until the
Participant becomes the record holder of such Shares.
22.
Transferability of
Awards
. Each Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Right granted
under the Plan shall not be transferable or assignable other than by will or the
laws of descent and distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of
the Participant, only by the Participant. Each other Award granted
under the Plan will not be transferable or assignable by a Participant, and may
not be made subject to execution, attachment or similar procedures, other than
by will or the laws of descent and distribution or as determined by the
Administrator in accordance with the Exchange Act or any other Applicable
Law. Any such purported transfer shall be void and unenforceable
against the Company or any Affiliate. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Administrator, in its discretion, may permit the transfer, solely as gifts
or pursuant to a domestic relations order during a Participant’s lifetime, of
Stock Options (other than Incentive Stock Options), Stock Appreciation Right and
other Awards to a Participant’s immediate family members. For this
purpose, immediate family member means the Participant’s child, stepchild,
grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling,
niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law,
brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person
sharing the Participant’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust
in which these persons have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest,
a foundation in which these persons (or the Participant) control the management
of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Participant) own
more than fifty percent of the voting interests. Any permitted
transfer of Awards shall not be effective to bind the Company unless the
Administrator shall have been furnished with written notice thereof and a copy
of such evidence as the Administrator may deem necessary to establish the
validity of the transfer and the acceptance by the transferee or transferees of
the terms and conditions hereof. An Award exercisable after the death
of a Participant may be exercised by the Participant’s designated beneficiary,
provided such beneficiary has been designated prior to Participant’s death in a
form acceptable to the Administrator. If no such beneficiary has been
designated by the Participant, then such Award may be exercised by the personal
representative of the Participant’s estate or by the person(s) to whom the Award
is transferred pursuant to the Participant’s will or in accordance with the
applicable laws of descent and distribution. The terms of an Award
shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the beneficiaries, executors,
administrators, heirs, permitted transferees and successors of the
Participant.
23.
Conditions Upon Issuance of
Shares
.
(a)
Legal Compliance
. The
granting of Awards, the issuance of Shares under the Plan and any dispositions
of Shares issued pursuant to Awards shall be subject to all Applicable Laws and
to such approvals by any governmental agencies, or any stock exchanges on which
the Shares are admitted to trading or listed, as may be
required. In furtherance, and not in limitation of the
foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver evidence of
title for Shares prior to:
(i) Obtaining
any approvals from governmental agencies, or any stock exchanges on which the
Shares are admitted to trading or listed, that the Administrator determines are
necessary or advisable; and
(ii) Completion
of any listing, registration or other qualification of the Shares under any
Applicable Law or ruling of any governmental regulatory body that the
Administrator determines to be necessary or advisable.
Notwithstanding
anything contained in the Plan, the terms and conditions related to the Award,
or any other agreement to the contrary, in the event that the disposition of
Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan is not covered by a then current
registration statement under the Securities Act, and is not otherwise exempt
from such registration, such Shares shall be restricted against transfer to the
extent required by the Securities Act and Rule 144 or other regulations
thereunder. The Administrator may require any person receiving Shares
pursuant to an Award or upon a subsequent disposition of such Shares, as a
condition precedent to receipt of such Shares, to represent and warrant to the
Company in writing that the Shares of Common Stock acquired by such person are
acquired without a view to any distribution thereof and will not be sold or
transferred other than pursuant to an effective registration thereof under the
Securities Act or pursuant to an applicable exemption under the Securities Act
or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The certificates evidencing
any of such Shares shall be appropriately amended or have an appropriate legend
placed thereon to reflect their status as restricted securities as
aforesaid.
The
restrictions contained in this Section 23(a) shall be in addition to any
conditions or restrictions that the Administrator may impose pursuant to Section
23(b).
(b)
Conditions and Restrictions
on Shares
. The Administrator may impose such other conditions
or restrictions on any Shares received or to be received in connection with the
grant or exercise of an Award, or any dispositions of Shares issued pursuant to
Awards, as it may deem advisable or desirable. These restrictions may
include, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant hold the Shares
received for a specified period of time. The certificates for Shares
may include any legend which the Administrator deems appropriate to reflect any
conditions and restrictions applicable to such Shares.
24.
Inability to Obtain
Authority
. The inability of the Company to obtain authority
from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the
Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance, sale or other
disposition of any Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company of any liability
in respect of the failure to issue or effect the sale or other disposition of
such Shares as to which such requisite authority has not been
obtained.
25.
Unfunded Plan
.
Participants will have no right, title, or interest whatsoever in or to any
investments that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may make to aid it in
meeting its obligations under the Plan. Nothing contained in the Plan, and no
action taken pursuant to its provisions, will create or be construed to create a
trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any
Participant, beneficiary, legal representative, or any other
person. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive
payments from the Company under the Plan, such right will be no greater than the
right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company. All payments
to be made hereunder will be paid from the general funds of the Company and no
special or separate fund will be established and no segregation of assets will
be made to assure payment of such amounts. The Plan is not subject to
the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time
to time.
26.
Data Protection
. By
participating in the Plan, the Participant consents to the collection,
processing, transmission and storage by the Company in any form whatsoever, of
any data of a professional or personal nature which is necessary for the
purposes of introducing and administering the Plan. The Company may
share such information with any Subsidiary, the trustee of any employee benefit
trust, its registrars, trustees, brokers, other third party administrator or any
Person who obtains control of the Company or acquires the Company, undertaking
or part-undertaking which employs the Participant, wherever
situated.
27.
Cancellation and Rescission
of Awards for Fraud and Other Misconduct
.
(a) Unless
the Award Agreement specifies otherwise, the Administrator may cancel, rescind,
suspend, withhold or otherwise limit or restrict a Participant’s rights,
payments, and benefits with respect to an outstanding Award that has not yet
been exercised, delivered, or otherwise settled (i) in the event of the
termination of such Participant’s Continuous Service for Cause, or (ii) if, (1)
in the Company’s determination that, in the reasonable judgment of the Board,
the Participant has: (x) committed an act of fraud, embezzlement or
misappropriation relating to the Company or a Subsidiary; (y) committed any act
of unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential or proprietary information or
other intellectual property or trade secrets of the Company or a Subsidiary, or
common law fraud or other fraud with respect thereto, or (z) while such
Participant is a Service Provider, acted in competition with the Company or
otherwise committed acts adverse to the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s interest,
or following termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service, has breached any
material post-termination contractual obligation to the Company or a Subsidiary;
including, without limitation, non-compete obligations, or (2) the Participant
has been indicted for or convicted of (or entered a plea of a nolo contendere or
equivalent plea), in a court of competent jurisdiction, a felony, or any
misdemeanor, which misdemeanor involves material dishonesty or moral
turpitude.
(b) If
the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material
noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial
reporting requirement under the securities laws, any Participant who knowingly
or through gross negligence engaged in the misconduct, or who knowingly or
through gross negligence failed to prevent the misconduct, and any Participant
who is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, shall reimburse the Company the amount of any
payment in settlement of an Award earned or accrued during the twelve (12) month
period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever first occurred) of the applicable
non-compliant financial document.
(c) An
Award Agreement may also specify additional events that may cause a
Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award to be
subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, rescission or recoupment, or
which may affect any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of
an Award.
28.
Date of Grant
. The
date of grant of an Award will be, for all purposes, the date on which the
Administrator makes the determination granting such Award, or such other later
date as is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the
determination will be provided to each Participant within a reasonable time
after the date of such grant.
29.
Term of Plan
. The
Plan will become effective upon its adoption by the Board, which date is set
forth below (the “
Effective Date
”);
provided
, that
the Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Company at an annual meeting or
any special meeting of shareholders of the Company within 12 months of the
Effective Date, and such approval of shareholders shall be a condition to the
right of each Participant to receive any Awards hereunder. If the
shareholders fail to approve the Plan as specified hereunder, the Plan shall
terminate
ab
initio
. Any
Awards granted under the Plan prior to such approval of shareholders shall be
effective as of the date of grant, but no such Award may be exercised or settled
and no restrictions relating to any Award may lapse prior to such shareholder
approval, and if the shareholders fail to approve the Plan as specified
hereunder, any such Award shall be cancelled. No Award shall be
granted under the Plan on or after the ten year anniversary of the Effective
Date (or such earlier date that the Plan may be terminated by the Board), but
the term and exercise of Awards granted theretofore may extend beyond that
date.
30.
Amendment, Modification,
Suspension and Termination of Plan
. The Administrator may
amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate (for purposes of this Section
30, an “
Action
”) the Plan or
any portion thereof or any Award (or Award Agreement) thereunder at any time;
provided that no such Action shall be made, other than as permitted under
Section 12, (i) without shareholder approval (A) if such approval is necessary
to comply with any Applicable Laws, (B) if such Action increases the number of
Shares available under the Plan or materially expands the class of participants
eligible to participate in the Plan, to the extent shareholder approval is
required for such Actions under Applicable Laws at the time such Action is
taken, or (C) to the extent desired, to obtain or maintain favorable tax,
exchange, or regulatory treatment (including, without limitation increases in
the Annual Award Limits) for the Company and/or a Subsidiary, and (ii) without
the written consent of the affected Participant, if such Action would materially
diminish the rights of any Participant under any Award theretofore granted to
such Participant under the Plan; provided, however, that the Administrator may
amend the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement without such consent of the
Participant in such manner as it deems necessary or desirable to comply with
Applicable Laws, including without limitation, to satisfy the requirements of
Section 162(m), Section 422 of the Code regarding “incentive stock options”, and
Rule 16b-3 and to otherwise obtain or maintain any favorable tax, exchange, or
regulatory treatment. Termination of the Plan will not affect the
Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with
respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such
termination.
31.
Governing Law
. The
Plan and each Award Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of New
York, excluding any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might
otherwise refer construction or interpretation of the Plan to the substantive
law of another jurisdiction.
32.
Severability
. If
any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid,
illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or as to any Person or Award, or
would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the
Administrator, such provision will be construed or deemed amended to conform to
applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in
the determination of the Administrator, materially altering the intent of the
Plan or the Award, such provision will be stricken as to such jurisdiction,
Person, or Award, and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award will remain
in full force and effect.
33.
Successors
. All
obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards granted
hereunder will be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence
of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger,
consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business or
assets of the Company.
* *
*
This Plan
was duly adopted and approved by the Board on the 30th day of June,
2010.
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