SCHEDULE
14A
(Rule
14a-101)
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934
Filed by
the registrant x
Filed by
a party other than the registrant o
Check the
appropriate box:
oPreliminary Proxy
Statement
oConfidential, For Use of
the Commission Only (as
permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
xDefinitive Proxy Statement
oDefinitive Additional Materials
oSoliciting Materials Pursuant to Rule 14a-12
AIRSPAN
NETWORKS, INC.
(Name of
Registrant as specified in its Charter)
AIRSPAN
NETWORKS, INC.
(Name of
Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)
Payment
of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
o No fee required.
o Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules
14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of
each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit
price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act
Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state
how it was determined):
(4) Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee
paid: Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
o 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.
(1) Amount
Previously Paid:
(2) Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing
Party:
(4) Date
Filed:
777
Yamato
Road
Suite
105
Boca
Raton, Florida 33431
______________________
May 9,
2005
Dear
Shareholder:
You are
cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Airspan
Networks, Inc. that will be held at our headquarters, 777 Yamato Road, Suite
105, Boca Raton, FL 33431, on June 22, 2005, at 11:00 AM EDT. I look forward to
greeting as many of our shareholders as possible.
Details
of the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting are given in the attached
Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement.
Whether
or not you attend the Annual Meeting it is important that your shares be
represented and voted at the meeting. Therefore, I urge you to sign, date, and
promptly return the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
If you decide to attend the Annual Meeting, you will of course be able to vote
in person, even if you have previously submitted your proxy card.
On behalf
of the Board of Directors, I would like to express our appreciation for your
continued interest in the affairs of the Company.
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Sincerely, |
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/s/ Eric
Stonestrom |
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Eric Stonestrom |
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President and Chief Executive
Officer |
AIRSPAN
NETWORKS, INC.
777
Yamato
Road
Suite
105
Boca
Raton, Florida 33431
______________________
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON JUNE 22, 2005
______________________
To the
Shareholders of
Airspan
Networks, Inc.:
NOTICE IS
HEREBY GIVEN that the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting")
of Airspan Networks, Inc., a Washington corporation (the "Company"), will be
held on June 22, 2005, at 11:00 AM EDT, at the Company’s headquarters, 777
Yamato Road, Suite 105, Boca Raton, FL 33431, for the following purposes:
| · |
To
elect eight members to the Company's Board of Directors to hold office
until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their successors
are duly elected and qualified; |
| · |
To
consider and vote upon a proposal to approve of and ratify the selection
of Ernst & Young, LLP as the Company's independent auditors for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2005; |
| · |
To
approve an amendment to Section 11 of the Company’s Articles of Amendment
to its Articles of Incorporation setting forth the rights, preferences and
privileges of the Series A Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of
Designation”) to modify the voting rights of the holders of the Series A
Preferred Stock as more specifically described herein;
and |
| · |
To
transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual
Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
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All
shareholders are cordially invited to attend; however, only shareholders of
record at the close of business on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 are entitled to
vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
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By Order of the Board
of Directors, |
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/s/ Peter
Aronstam |
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Peter Aronstam |
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Secretary |
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| Boca Raton, Florida |
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| May 9, 2005 |
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THIS
IS AN IMPORTANT MEETING AND ALL SHAREHOLDERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE MEETING
IN PERSON. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, PLEASE
COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE
ENCLOSED RETURN ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
SHAREHOLDERS WHO EXECUTE A PROXY CARD MAY NEVERTHELESS ATTEND THE MEETING,
REVOKE THEIR PROXY AND VOTE THEIR SHARES IN PERSON.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Page |
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PURPOSES
OF THE MEETING |
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1 |
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GENERAL
INFORMATION ABOUT VOTING |
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2 |
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WHO
CAN VOTE? |
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2 |
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HOW
DO I VOTE BY PROXY? |
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WHEN
WAS THIS PROXY STATEMENT SENT TO SHAREHOLDERS? |
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WHAT
IF OTHER MATTERS COME UP AT THE ANNUAL MEETING? |
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2 |
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CAN
I CHANGE MY VOTE AFTER I RETURN MY PROXY CARD? |
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2 |
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CAN
I VOTE IN PERSON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING RATHER THAN BY COMPLETING THE PROXY
CARD? |
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2 |
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WHAT
DO I DO IF MY SHARES ARE HELD IN "STREET NAME"? |
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3 |
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HOW
ARE VOTES COUNTED? |
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3 |
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WHO
PAYS FOR THIS PROXY SOLICITATION? |
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OUTSTANDING
VOTING SECURITIES AND VOTING RIGHTS |
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4 |
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SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS |
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5 |
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ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS |
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6 |
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DIRECTORS |
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6 |
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COMMITTEES
AND MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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9 |
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COMMUNICATIONS
WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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11 |
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REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE(1) |
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11 |
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LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS |
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12 |
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AUDIT
FEES |
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12 |
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AUDIT-RELATED
FEES |
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12 |
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TAX
FEES |
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12 |
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ALL
OTHER FEES |
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13 |
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ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION CONCERNING DIRECTORS |
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13 |
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SECTION
16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE |
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14 |
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SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT |
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14 |
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EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION |
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15 |
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OPTION
GRANTS DURING 2003 FISCAL YEAR |
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16 |
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AGGREGATED
OPTIONS EXERCISES IN FISCAL 2003 AND FISCAL YEAR ENDING OPTION
VALUES |
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17 |
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SECURITIES
AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS |
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17 |
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EMPLOYMENT
CONTRACTS |
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18 |
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REPORT
ON REPRICING OF OPTIONS |
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18 |
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10-YEAR
OPTION REPRICINGS |
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19 |
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COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION |
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COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
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CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
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PERFORMANCE
GRAPH |
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APPROVAL
AND RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANTS |
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APPROVAL
OF AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION TO MODIFY THE VOTING RIGHTS OF
THE HOLDERS OF THE SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK |
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25 |
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OTHER
MATTERS |
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27 |
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ANNUAL
REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
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27 |
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2005
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
OF
AIRSPAN
NETWORKS, INC.
PROXY
STATEMENT
June 22,
2005, 11:00 AM EDT,
777
Yamato Road, Suite 105, Boca Raton, Florida 33431
This
Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of
Directors of Airspan Networks, Inc., a Washington corporation (the "Company"),
of proxies from the holders of the Company's common stock (the "Common Stock")
and Series A preferred stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), for use at the
2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company for the fiscal year 2005, to
be held at the Company’s headquarters, 777 Yamato Road, Suite 105, Boca Raton,
Florida 33431, on June 22, 2005, at 11:00 AM EDT local time, or at any
adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof (the "Annual Meeting"), pursuant to
the foregoing Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
The
approximate date that this Proxy Statement and the enclosed form of proxy are
first being sent to shareholders is May 9, 2005. Shareholders should review the
information provided herein in conjunction with the Company's 2004 Annual Report
on Form 10-K, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A, which accompanies
this Proxy Statement. The complete mailing address, including zip code, of the
Company's principal executive offices is 777 Yamato Road, Suite 105, Boca Raton,
Florida 33431 and its telephone number is (561) 893-8670.
PURPOSES
OF THE MEETING
At the
Annual Meeting, the Company's shareholders will consider and vote upon the
following matters:
1. The
election of eight members to the Company's Board of Directors to serve until the
next Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company or until their successors are
duly elected and qualified;
2. To
consider and vote upon a proposal to approve of and ratify the selection of
Ernst & Young, LLP as the Company's independent auditors for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2005;
3. To
consider and vote upon a proposal to amend Section 11 of the Company’s Articles
of Amendment to its Articles of Incorporation setting forth the rights,
preferences and privileges of the Series A Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of
Designation”) to modify the voting rights of the holders of the Series A
Preferred Stock as more specifically described herein; and
4. Such
other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting, including any
adjournments or postponements thereof.
Unless
contrary instructions are indicated on the enclosed proxy card, all shares
represented by valid proxies received pursuant to this solicitation (and which
have not been revoked in accordance with the procedures set forth below) will be
voted: (1) FOR
the
election of the eight nominees for director named below; (2) FOR
the
approval of and ratification of Ernst & Young, LLP as the Company’s
independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005; and (3)
FOR
the
amendment to Section 11 of the Certificate of Designation.
In the
event a shareholder specifies a different choice by means of the enclosed proxy
card, his shares will be voted in accordance with the specification so made. The
Board of Directors does not know of any other matters that may be brought before
the Annual Meeting nor does it foresee or have reason to believe that proxy
holders will have to vote for substitute or alternate director nominees. In the
event that any other matter should come before the Annual Meeting or any
director nominee is not available for election, the persons named in the
enclosed proxy card will have discretionary authority to vote all proxies not
marked to the contrary with respect to such matters, in accordance with their
best judgment.
GENERAL
INFORMATION ABOUT VOTING
Who
can vote?
You can
vote your shares of Common Stock and/or Series A Preferred Stock if the
Company’s records show that you owned the shares on April 27, 2005. A total
of 38,001,454 shares of Common Stock and 73,000 shares of Series A
Preferred Stock can vote at the Annual Meeting. Pursuant to the Company’s
Articles of Incorporation, you are entitled to one vote for each share of Common
Stock and 100 votes for each share of Series A Preferred Stock. The enclosed
proxy card shows the number of shares you are entitled to vote.
However,
please note that the holder of the Series A Preferred Stock has entered into an
agreement with the Company pursuant to which it has agreed that it shall not
vote, and shall take such action as is deemed reasonably necessary to evidence
its abstention from voting with respect to, 14 votes per each of its shares of
Series A Preferred Stock. Accordingly, the Company anticipates that the holder
of the Series A Preferred Stock will only exercise 86 votes for each share of
Series A Preferred Stock.
With
respect to the election of directors (Proposal No. 1), the ratification of the
auditors (Proposal No. 2), and the amendment to the Certificate of Designation
(Proposal No. 3), the holders of the Common Stock and the Series A Preferred
Stock will vote together on such proposals, as though they were a single class.
However, pursuant to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, the affirmative
vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock,
voting separately as a class, is also necessary for approval of Proposal No. 3.
How
do I vote by proxy?
Follow
the instructions on the enclosed proxy card to vote on each proposal to be
considered at the Annual Meeting. Sign and date the proxy card and mail it back
to the Company in the enclosed envelope. The proxyholders named on the proxy
card will vote your shares as such shareholder instructs. If you sign and return
the proxy card but do not vote on a proposal, the proxyholders will vote for you
on that proposal. Unless you instruct otherwise, the proxyholders will vote for
each of the seven director nominees and in favor of all of the other proposals
to be considered at the Annual Meeting.
When
was this proxy statement sent to shareholders?
This
proxy statement was first mailed on May 9, 2005 to the Company’s shareholders of
record as of April 27, 2005, the record date for voting at the Annual
Meeting.
What
if other matters come up at the Annual Meeting?
The
matters described in this proxy statement are the only matters the Company knows
will be voted on at the Annual Meeting. If other matters are properly presented
at the meeting, the proxyholders will vote your shares as they see fit.
Can
I change my vote after I return my proxy card?
Yes. At
any time before the vote on a proposal, you can change your vote either by
giving the Company’s secretary a written notice revoking your proxy card or by
signing, dating, and returning to the Company a new proxy card. The Company will
honor the proxy card with the latest date.
Can
I vote in person at the Annual Meeting rather than by completing the proxy
card?
Although
the Company encourages you to complete and return the proxy card to ensure that
your vote is counted, you can attend the Annual Meeting and vote your shares in
person.
What
do I do if my shares are held in "street name"?
If your
shares are held in the name of your broker, a bank, or other nominee, that party
should give you instructions for voting your shares.
How
are votes counted?
The
Company will hold the Annual Meeting if holders of a majority of the votes
entitled to be cast either sign and return their proxy cards or attend the
meeting. If you sign and return your proxy card, your shares will be counted to
determine whether the Company has a quorum even if you abstain or fail to vote
on any of the proposals listed on the proxy card.
If your
shares are held in the name of a nominee, and you do not tell the nominee by
June 22, 2005 how to vote your shares (so-called "broker nonvotes"), the nominee
can vote them as it sees fit only on matters that are determined to be routine,
and not on any other proposal. Broker nonvotes will be counted as present to
determine if a quorum exists but will not be counted as present and entitled to
vote on any nonroutine proposal.
Who
pays for this proxy solicitation?
The
Company does. In addition to sending you these materials, the Company may engage
a proxy solicitation firm to contact you directly by telephone, mail or in
person. The Company will bear such costs, if any, which are not expected to
exceed $5,000.
OUTSTANDING
VOTING SECURITIES AND VOTING RIGHTS
The Board
of Directors has set the close of business on April 27, 2005, as the record date
(the "Record Date") for determining shareholders of the Company entitled to
notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of the Record Date, there
were 38,001,454
shares of
Common Stock and 73,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and
outstanding , all of which are entitled to be voted at the Annual Meeting.
Pursuant
to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, each share of Common Stock is
entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to shareholders for approval at
the Annual Meeting and each share of Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to
one-hundred votes on each matter submitted to shareholders for approval at the
Annual Meeting. However, please note that the holder of the Series A Preferred
Stock has entered into an agreement with the Company pursuant to which it has
agreed that it shall not vote, and shall take such action as is deemed
reasonably necessary to evidence its abstention from voting with respect to, 14
votes per each of its shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Accordingly, the
Company anticipates that the holder of the Series A Preferred Stock will only
exercise 86 votes for each share of Series A Preferred Stock.
Shareholders
do not have the right to cumulate their votes for directors.
The
Company's Bylaws provide that the presence, in person or by proxy, of the
holders of record of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the Annual
Meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum.
Pursuant
to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Washington General Company Law,
the eight persons receiving the highest number of votes cast in his or her favor
by the shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock represented in person
or by proxy at the Annual Meeting, taken together, will be elected as directors
(Proposal No. 1). Pursuant to the Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws, the
affirmative vote of a plurality of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and
Series A Preferred Stock represented in person or by proxy at the Annual
Meeting, taken together, is required to approve the ratification of auditors
(Proposal No. 2).
Pursuant
to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, (i) the affirmative vote of a
majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock
represented in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting, taken together and (ii)
the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A
Preferred Stock represented in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting, voting
separately as a class is required to approve the amendment to the Certificate of
Designation (Proposal No. 3).
Abstentions
are counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum.
Abstentions are not counted as votes cast "for" or "against" the election of any
director (Proposal No. 1). However,
abstentions are treated as present and entitled to vote and thus have the effect
of a vote against the ratification of auditors (Proposal No. 2) and the
amendment to the Certificate of Designation (Proposal No.
3).
If less
than a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred
Stock entitled to vote, taken together, are represented at the Annual Meeting, a
majority of the shares so represented may adjourn the Annual Meeting to another
date, time or place, and notice need not be given for the new date, time or
place, if the new date, time or place is announced at the Annual Meeting before
an adjournment is taken. Prior to the Annual Meeting, the Company will select
one or more inspectors of election for the meeting. Such inspectors shall
determine the number of shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock
represented at the Annual Meeting, the existence of a quorum and the validity
and effect of proxies and shall receive, count and tabulate ballots and votes
and determine the results thereof.
A list of
shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available at the
Company's offices, 777 Yamato Road, Suite 105, Boca Raton, FL 33431, for a
period of ten days prior to the Annual Meeting and at the Annual Meeting itself,
for examination by any shareholder.
SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS
Shareholder
proposals for inclusion in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held in the year 2006 must be received at the principal
executive offices of the Company on or before January 9, 2006. Shareholders
interested in submitting a proposal for inclusion in the proxy materials for the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2006 may do so by following the procedures
prescribed in SEC Rule 14a-8.
After the
deadline, a Shareholder may present a proposal at our Annual Meeting of
Shareholders in 2006 if it is submitted to our Secretary within ten days after
the notice of the meeting is given or mailed to the shareholders, but we are not
obligated to present the matter in our proxy materials. If the proposal is
submitted after January 9, 2006, the Company’s proxies will have discretionary
authority to vote on such proposal.
In order
for a shareholder to nominate a candidate for director, under the Company’s
Bylaws timely notice of the nomination must be received by the Company in
advance of the meeting. Ordinarily, such notice must be received not less than
120 nor more than 150 days before the first anniversary of the date of the
Company’s proxy statement in connection with the last Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, i.e., between December 9, 2005 and January 9, 2006 for the 2006
Annual Meeting. The shareholder filing the notice of nomination must
include:
| · |
As
to the shareholder giving the notice: |
| o |
the
name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the Company’s
stock transfer books; |
| o |
a
representation that such shareholder is a shareholder of record and
intends to appear in person or by proxy at such meeting to nominate the
person or persons specified in the notice; |
| o |
the
class and number of shares of stock of the Company beneficially owned by
such shareholder; and |
| o |
a
description of all arrangements or understandings between such shareholder
and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or
persons) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by
such shareholder; and |
| · |
As
to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a
director: |
| o |
the
name, age, business address and, if known, residence address of such
person; |
| o |
the
principal occupation or employment of such
person; |
| o |
the
class and number of shares of stock of the Company that are beneficially
owned by such person; |
| o |
any
other information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed
in solicitations of proxies for election of directors or is otherwise
required by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission promulgated under the Exchange Act; and
|
| o |
the
written consent of such person to be named in the proxy statement as a
nominee and to serve as a director if
elected. |
In order
for a shareholder to bring other business before a shareholder meeting, timely
notice must be received by the Company within the time limits described above.
Such notice must include:
| · |
the
information described above with respect to the shareholder proposing such
business; |
| · |
a
brief description of the business desired to be brought before the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders, including the complete text of any resolutions to
be presented at such meeting, and the reasons for conducting such business
at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders; and |
| · |
any
material interest of such shareholder in such business.
|
These
requirements are separate from and in addition to the requirements a shareholder
must meet to have a proposal included in the Company’s proxy statement.
In each
case the notice must be given by personal delivery or by United States certified
mail, postage prepaid, to Peter Aronstam, the Secretary of the Company, whose
address is 777 Yamato Road, Suite 105, Boca Raton, FL 33431. Any shareholder
desiring a copy of the Company’s Bylaws will be furnished one without charge
upon written request to the Secretary. A copy of the Company’s Bylaws is filed
as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2003, and is available at the Securities and Exchange Commission
Internet website at www.sec.gov.
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
(Proposal
No. 1)
The
Company’s Board of Directors currently consists of eight members. Eight
directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting to hold office until the next
Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are elected and
qualified. It is intended that the accompanying proxy will be voted in favor of
the following persons to serve as directors unless the shareholder indicates to
the contrary on the proxy. Under Washington law and the Company’s Articles of
Incorporation, the eight persons receiving the highest number of votes cast in
his or her favor in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting will be elected as
directors of the Company. Management expects that each of the nominees will be
available for election, but if any of them is not a candidate at the time the
election occurs, it is intended that such proxy will be voted for the election
of another nominee to be designated by the Board of Directors to fill any such
vacancy. Each of the eight director nominees listed below has been approved by
the Governance and Nominating Committee.
DIRECTORS
Our
directors as of the date of this Proxy Statement are as follows:
|
Name
|
Age |
Position |
|
Matthew
J. Desch
|
47
|
Chairman
of the Board
of Directors |
|
Eric
D. Stonestrom
|
43
|
Chief
Executive Officer, President,
and Director |
|
H.
Berry Cash
|
64
|
Director
|
|
Randall
E. Curran
|
50
|
Director
|
|
Michael
T. Flynn
|
56
|
Director
|
|
Guillermo
Heredia
|
63
|
Director
|
|
Thomas
S. Huseby
|
57
|
Director
|
|
David
A. Twyver
|
58
|
Director
|
There are
no family relationships among the
Company’s officers and directors, nor are there any arrangements or
understandings between any of the directors or officers of the Company or any
other person pursuant to which any officer or director was or is to be selected
as an officer or director. All directors hold office until the next Annual
Meeting of the Shareholders or until their successors have been elected and
qualified. The Company’s officers are appointed annually and serve at the
discretion of the Board of Directors.
The
Governance
and Nominating Committee has
affirmatively determined that Messrs. Cash, Curran, Huseby, Twyver, Heredia and
Flynn, a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, meet the definition
of "independent director" under Rule 4200(a)(15) of the National Association of
Securities Dealers’ listing standards.
Matthew
J. Desch became
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Airspan on July 1, 2000. Mr. Desch has
been serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Telcordia Technologies, a private
communications software and services supplier since July 2002. Since November
2003, Mr. Desch has served as a member of the Board of Directors of SAIC, Inc.,
a publicly-traded research and engineering firm. Telcordia is a supplier of
operations support systems and services for service providers around the world.
Since January 2003, Mr. Desch has served as a member of the Compensation
Committee and a member of the Board of Directors of Flarion, Inc. Flarion is a
privately held company that manufactures mobile wireless broadband access
equipment. From 1987 through May 2000, Mr. Desch served in a variety of
management positions with Nortel Networks, a global supplier of networking
solutions and services that support voice, data, and video transmission over
wireless and wireline technologies. From 1996 through May 2000, he served as
Executive Vice President and President of Nortel's Wireless Networks division,
responsible for Nortel's global wireless infrastructure business. Mr. Desch also
has a B.S. from Ohio State University and an M.B.A. from the University of
Chicago.
Eric
D. Stonestrom joined
Airspan at its inception in January 1998 as Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer. In May 1998, he was named President and Chief Executive
Officer as well as a member of the Board of Directors. From 1995 to January
1998, Mr. Stonestrom was employed by DSC Communications Corporation as a Vice
President of operating divisions, including the Airspan product line. From 1984
until 1995, Mr. Stonestrom worked at Bell Laboratories and AT&T in a variety
of positions. He received B.S., M.S. and M. Eng. degrees in 1982, 1983 and 1984,
respectively, from the College of Engineering at the University of California at
Berkeley.
H.
Berry Cash has
served as a director of Airspan since January 1998. He has been a general
partner with InterWest Partners, a venture capital fund focused on technology
and healthcare, since 1986. Mr. Cash currently serves as a member of the Board
of Directors, a member of the Compensation Committee, and a member of the Audit
Committee of i2 Technologies, Inc., a public company which is a provider of
software and services that help customers achieve measurable value through
improvements in coordination and collaboration and Staktek Holdings, Inc., a
public company providing high-density packaged memory stacking solutions for
systems and applications. Mr. Cash is also a member of the Board of Directors
and a member of the Compensation Committee for the following public companies:
Silicon Laboratories, Inc., a developer of mixed-signal integrated circuits for
products such as cell phones, set-top boxes, and computer modems, CIENA Company,
a provider of next generation intelligent optical networking equipment. and
First Acceptance Corporation, a public company which provides non-standard
automobile insurance. Mr. Cash received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from
Texas A&M University and a M.B.A. from Western Michigan University.
Randall
E. Curran joined
the Board of Directors of the Company in October 2004. In February 2005, Mr.
Curran was appointed Chief Executive Officer of ITC^DeltaCom, Inc., a provider
of full-service, integrated telecommunications and technology solutions to
customers in the southeastern United States. From August 2004 to February 2005,
Mr. Curran was a Senior Managing Director in the Interim Management Practice of
FTI Consulting, Inc., a publicly-traded company which provides corporate
finance/restructuring, forensic and litigation consulting, and economic
consulting. At FTI Consulting, Inc., Mr. Curran specialized in the
telecommunications sector. From September 2000 until November 2003, Mr. Curran
held the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ICG Communications,
Inc., a publicly-traded facilities-based communications provider of Internet and
voice communication services. In November 2000, ICG Communications Systems, Inc.
filed for voluntary bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the United States
Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court in the District of
Delaware. During the course of the bankruptcy proceedings, ICG operated its
business and managed its properties and assets as a debtor-in-possession. ICG
emerged from bankruptcy in October 2002. From 1987 through June 2000, he held
several positions, including the position of Chairman, President, Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Operating officer, and Chief Financial Officer, of
Thermadyne Holdings Corporation, a leading welding equipment manufacturers which
was traded on NASDAQ until its sale in 1998. In November 2001, Thermadyne
Holdings Corporation filed for voluntary bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11
of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court in
the District of Delaware. Thermadyne emerged from bankruptcy in May 2003. Mr.
Curran served as Vice President of Finance from 1983 until 1986 at Clarke
Industries, a division of Cooper Industries, a manufacturer of floor maintenance
equipment. From 1981 to 1983 he served as Director of Finance at McGraw-Edison
Co., a manufacturer of electrical products. Mr. Curran was a Senior Auditor of
Arthur Andersen & Co. in the Manufacturing Audit Division from 1976 until
1981. Mr. Curran earned his B.A. degree in Economics from DePauw University in
1976 and an M.B.A. from Loyola University of Chicago in 1982.
Michael
T. Flynn has
served as a director of Airspan since July 2001. From June 1994 until March 31,
2004, Mr. Flynn served as an officer of ALLTEL Corporation, a publicly-traded
integrated telecommunications provider of wireless, local telephone,
long-distance, competitive local exchange, Internet and high-speed data
services. From May 2003 until March 31, 2004, he held the position of Assistant
to the Chief Executive Officer. From April 1997 to May 2003, Mr. Flynn served as
Group President of Communications at ALLTEL. From June 1994 to April 1997, Mr.
Flynn was President of the Telephone Group of ALLTEL. Since January 2004, Mr.
Flynn has served on the Board of Directors, the Audit Committee and the
Compensation Committee of WebEx Communications, a publicly-traded company
providing real time worldwide media access and conferencing services. He also
serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Bay Packets, a privately held
provider of next generation telecommunications application services, and Calix,
a privately held leading provider of integrated voice, data and video loop and
transport access technology. Mr. Flynn earned his B.S. degree in Industrial
Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1970. He attended the Dartmouth
Institute in 1986 and the Harvard Advanced Management Program in
1988.
Guillermo
Heredia joined
the Board of Directors of Airspan in January 2001. Since September 1999, Mr.
Heredia has served as the managing partner of Consultores en Inversiones
Aeronauticas, a provider of consulting services to airline operators and
investors. Mr. Heredia has served in the senior management of three major
Mexican corporations: as President and Chief Operating Officer of Aeromexico
from 1989 to 1992, as President and Chief Operating Officer of Grupo Iusacell,
Mexico’s number two wireless carrier from 1992 to 1994, and as President and
Chief Executive Officer of Previnter, a joint venture of AIG, Bank Boston and
Bank of Nova Scotia from 1995 to 1999. Mr. Heredia currently serves as a member
of the Board of Directors for W L Comunicaciones, a private telecommunications
company involved in developing a wide band fiber optic network in Mexico City
and throughout Mexico and for Jalisco Tequilana Internacional, a private
distiller and distributor of Tequila. Mr. Heredia holds a degree in Mechanical
Engineering from the Universidad de las Americas and in Business Administration
from Universidad Iberoamericana.
Thomas
S. Huseby has
served as a Director of Airspan since January 1998, serving as Chairman of the
Board from January 1998 until July 2000. Mr. Huseby also served as the Chief
Executive Officer of Airspan from January 1998 until May 1998. Since August
1997, Mr. Huseby has served as the Managing Partner of SeaPoint Ventures, a
venture capital fund focused on communications infrastructure. Prior to his
employment with SeaPoint Ventures, from 1994 to 1997, Mr. Huseby was the
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Metawave Communications, a previously
public corporation which manufactured cellular infrastructure equipment.
Previously he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Innova Corporation, a
previously public manufacturer of millimeter wave radios. Mr.
Huseby currently serves as a member of the Board and member of the Compensation
Committee of Entomo, Inc., a private corporation pioneering in Closed Loop
Integrated Communications Services (a fee-based service that facilitates
business-to-business communications), Qpass, Inc., a private corporation which
offers software that facilitates the sale of digital content for wireless
carriers, Wireless Services Company, a private corporation which provides
services for wireless networks, SNAPin Software, Inc., a privately held company
that develops
handset-based wireless customer care and diagnostic products for mobile network
operators, Telecom
Transport Management, Inc., a privately held company providing comprehensive
backhaul transport solutions for wireless carriers in the United States
and
Vayusa, Inc., a privately held company that provides loyalty and payment
merchant services utilizing mobile networks. Mr.
Huseby holds a B.A. in Economics from Columbia College, a B.S.I.E. from the
Columbia School of Engineering and a M.B.A. from Stanford University.
David
A. Twyver joined
the Board of Directors of Airspan in May 1999. Mr. Twyver served as Chairman of
the Board of Directors of Ensemble Communications Inc., a supplier of LMDS
wireless equipment from January 2002 until December 2003 and as a director until
April 2004. He served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Ensemble
from January 2000 until September, 2002. Mr. Twyver served as a director of
Metawave Communications, Inc, a manufacturer of cellular infrastructure
equipment, from March 1998 until February 2003 and as a member of Metawave
Communications, Inc.’s Audit Committee from June 2000 until February 2003. From
1996 to 1997, Mr. Twyver served as Chief Executive Officer of Teledesic
Corporation, a satellite telecommunications company. From 1974 to 1996, Mr.
Twyver served in several management positions at Nortel Networks Limited, a
leading global supplier of data and telephone network solutions and services,
most recently as president of Nortel Wireless Networks from 1993 to 1996. He
received his B.S. in Mathematics and Physics from the University of
Saskatchewan.
Committees
and Meetings of the Board of Directors
During
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors held
twelve meetings and took one action by unanimous written consent. All directors
attended 75% or more of the aggregate of (i) the number of meetings of the Board
of Directors and (ii) the number of meetings of committees of the Board of
Directors held during the period that such person served on such
committee.
While
members of the Company’s Board of Directors are not required to be present at
the Company’s annual meetings, all members of the Company’s Board of Directors
are welcome and encouraged to attend. No directors were able to attend the 2004
annual meeting.
The Board
has four committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the
Governance and Nominating Committee and the Special Litigation Committee.
The Audit
Committee is composed of three directors: Mr. David A. Twyver, Mr. Michael T.
Flynn and Randall E. Curran. The Audit Committee met twelve times and took three
actions by unanimous written consent during the fiscal year ended December 31,
2004 . The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit
Committee is independent pursuant to Rule 4200(a)(15) of the National
Association of Securities Dealers’ listing standards. The Board of Directors has
determined that Randall E. Curran qualifies as an "Audit Committee Financial
Expert" as that term is defined in rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission implementing requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
The Audit
Committee oversees the quality and integrity of the accounting, auditing and
reporting practices of the Company. The Audit Committee's authority includes
overseeing the preparation of the Company's financial statements, discussing
with management the Company's processes to manage business and financial risk,
and overseeing compliance with applicable legal, ethical, and regulatory
requirements. The Audit Committee is responsible for the selection, replacement,
compensation and oversight of the independent auditor engaged to prepare audit
reports on the Company's financial statements. The specific responsibilities in
carrying out the Audit Committee's oversight role are delineated in the Audit
Committee Charter, which is attached as Appendix
A to this
Proxy Statement. The Audit Committee annually reviews and reassesses its
Charter.
The
Compensation Committee is composed of three directors: Mr. Thomas S. Huseby, Mr.
H. Berry Cash and Mr. Matthew J. Desch. The Compensation Committee’s functions
include (i) the review and approval of the compensation and benefits for the
Company’s executive officers, (ii) the administration of the Company’s stock
purchase and stock option plans, and (iii) the recommendation to the Board of
Directors regarding such matters. The Compensation Committee met six times and
took two actions by unanimous written consent during the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2004. Each member of the Compensation Committee, except Mr. Desch
who received approximately $160,000 in 2002 as compensation for serving as
Chairman of the Board, is independent pursuant
to Rule 4200(a)(15) of the National Association of Securities Dealers’ listing
standards. Mr.
Desch is the only
non-employee director who currently works as a senior executive for a company
that, prior to a recent spin-off, was publicly-traded and that is involved in
most aspects of telecommunications, from the infrastructure upon which the U.S.
telephone network is built, to the rapidly expanding IP and mobile
markets.
Based on
these factors, the Board of Directors has determined that the membership of Mr.
Desch on the
Compensation Committee is required by the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders. The Board of Directors believes that, as a result of Mr. Desch’s
industry experience and relationships, Mr. Desch is very well suited to (i)
anticipate and understand how executives in the industry expect to be
compensated for their services and (ii) evaluate the skill and competencies, or
lack thereof, as well as the performance of the Company’s existing or
prospective executive officers.
The
Governance and Nominating Committee is composed of six directors: Mr. David A.
Twyver, Mr. H. Berry Cash, Mr. Michael T. Flynn, Mr. Thomas Huseby, Mr.
Guillermo Heredia and Mr. Matthew J. Desch. The principal function of the
Governance and Nominating Committee is to seek, review and recommend qualified
candidates to the Board of Directors for nomination for election to the Board.
The Governance and Nominating Committee met one time during fiscal 2004. Each
member of the Governance and Nominating Committee, except Mr. Desch, is
independent pursuant to Rule 4200(a)(15) of the National Association of
Securities Dealers’ listing standards. Mr.
Desch is the only
non-employee director who currently works as a senior executive for a company
that, prior to a recent spin-off, was publicly traded and that is involved in
most aspects of telecommunications, from the infrastructure upon which the U.S.
telephone network is built, to the rapidly expanding IP and mobile
markets. Based
on these factors, the Board of Directors has determined that the membership of
Mr. Desch on the
Governance and Nominating Committee is required by the best interests of the
Company and its shareholders. The Board believes that Mr. Desch is very well
suited to identify individuals in the telecommunications industry who are
qualified to become Board members and to consider public policy issues that may
affect the Company.
The Board
has adopted a charter for the Governance and Nominating Committee. The
Governance and Nominating Committee Charter is posted on the Company's website.
The Internet address for the Company's website is http://www.airspan.com.
The
Governance and Nominating Committee’s Charter provides that the Governance
Committee will consider director candidates recommended by shareholders and will
evaluate such candidates using the same guidelines and procedures used in
evaluating director candidates nominated by other persons. Shareholders should
submit any such recommendations for the Governance and Nominating Committee
through the method described under the section entitled “Communications with the
Board of Directors” below. In addition, in accordance with the Company’s Bylaws,
any shareholder of record entitled to vote for the election of directors at the
Annual Meeting may nominate persons for election to the Board of Directors if
such shareholder complies with the notice procedures set forth in the Bylaws and
summarized in the section entitled “Shareholders’ Proposals” above.
In
evaluating director nominees, the Governance and Nominating Committee considers
the following factors:
| · |
the
appropriate size and the diversity of the Company's Board of Directors;
|
| · |
the
needs of the Company with respect to the particular talents and experience
of its directors; |
| · |
the
knowledge, skills and experience of nominees, including experience in
technology, business, finance, administration or public service, in light
of prevailing business conditions and the knowledge, skills and experience
already possessed by other members of the Board;
|
| · |
familiarity
with national and international business matters;
|
| · |
experience
in political affairs; |
| · |
experience
with accounting rules and practices; |
| · |
appreciation
of the relationship of the Company's business to the changing needs of
society; and |
| · |
the
desire to balance the considerable benefit of continuity with the periodic
injection of the fresh perspective provided by new members.
|
The
Governance and Nominating Committee's goal is to assemble a Board of Directors
that brings to the Company a variety of perspectives and skills derived from
business and professional experience. In doing so the Governance and Nominating
Committee also considers candidates with appropriate non-business
backgrounds.
Other
than the foregoing there are no stated minimum criteria for director nominees,
although the Governance and Nominating Committee may also consider such other
factors as it may deem are in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders. In its deliberations, the Governance and Nominating Committee is
aware that the Company must disclose whether one member of the Board meets the
criteria for an "audit committee financial expert" as defined by SEC rules, and
that a majority of the members of the Board must meet the definition of
"independent director" under Rule 4200(a)(14) of the National Association of
Securities Dealers’ listing standards. The Governance and Nominating Committee
also believes it appropriate for certain key members of the Company's management
to participate as members of the Board.
The
Governance and Nominating Committee identifies nominees by first evaluating the
current members of the Board of Directors willing to continue in service.
Current members of the Board with skills and experience that are relevant to the
Company's business and who are willing to continue in service are considered for
re-nomination, balancing the value of continuity of service by existing members
of the Board with that of obtaining a new perspective. If any member of the
Board does not wish to continue in service or if the Governance and Nominating
Committee or the Board decides not to re-nominate a member for re-election, the
Governance and Nominating Committee identifies the desired skills and experience
of a new nominee in light of the criteria above. Current members of the
Governance and Nominating Committee and Board of Directors are polled for
suggestions as to individuals meeting the criteria of the Governance and
Nominating Committee. Research may also be performed to identify qualified
individuals. To date, the Company has not engaged third parties to identify or
evaluate or assist in identifying potential nominees, although the Company
reserves the right in the future to retain a third party search firm, if
necessary.
In
November 2001, the Company created the Special Litigation Committee relating to
the ongoing class action litigation involving the Company and Credit Suisse
First Boston Company, among others (the "CSFB Litigation"). This Special
Litigation Committee was created to work with management and the Company's
counsel in defense of the Company and supervise decisions to be made by the
Company with regard to the CSFB Litigation until such litigation has been
resolved. This Special Litigation Committee is currently composed of two
directors: Mr. Guillermo Heredia and Michael T. Flynn. The Special Litigation
Committee received and reviewed quarterly special litigation updates during the
2004 fiscal year, which it reported to the Board at each of the quarterly Board
meetings.
Communications
with the Board of Directors
The Board
has asked the Company’s management to establish a process for shareholders to
send communications to the Board. Pursuant to the Board’s instructions,
management has established a process whereby shareholders can send
communications to the Board and, if applicable, to the Governance and Nominating
Committee, Audit Committee or to specified individual directors in writing c/o
David Wells, Hunton & Williams LLP, 1111 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2500, Miami,
FL 33131. Mr. Wells is external counsel to the Company’s Board of Directors. The
Company does not screen mail and all such letters will be forwarded to the Board
of Directors, the Governance and Nominating Committee, the Audit Committee or
any such specified individual directors.
Report
of the Audit Committee(1)
The Audit
Committee is responsible for overseeing the Company's financial reporting
process on behalf of the Board of Directors. In this oversight role, the Audit
Committee relies on the work and assurances of the Company’s management, which
has the primary responsibility for financial statements and reports, including
the system of internal controls, and of the independent auditors, who, in their
report, express an opinion on the conformity of the Company’s annual financial
statements to generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States.
In
fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee has reviewed and
discussed with management and the independent auditors the Company's audited
financial statements contained in the Company's Amendment No. 1 to its Annual
Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2004, including a
discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting
principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of
disclosures in the financial statements.
The Audit
Committee has discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be
discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit
Committees), as amended. In addition, the Audit Committee has received the
written disclosures and the letter from the independent accountants required by
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit
Committees). The Audit Committee has substantively discussed with the
independent auditors the auditors' independence from the Company and its
management. The Audit Committee has also considered the compatibilities of
non-audit services with the auditors' independence.
The Audit
Committee discussed with the Company's independent auditors the overall scope
and plans for their audit. The Audit Committee met with the Company's
independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the
results of their examinations, their evaluations of the Company's internal
controls, and the overall quality of the Company's financial reporting.
Based on
the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended
to the Board of Directors, and the Board has approved, that the audited
financial statements be included in the Company's Amendment No. 1 to its Annual
Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, for filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Audit Committee and the Board
have also recommended, subject to shareholder approval, the selection of Ernst
& Young LLP as the Company's independent auditor for the year ending
December 31, 2005.
The
Audit Committee
Randall
E. Curran
David A.
Twyver
Michael
T. Flynn
________________
(1) The
material in this Report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed to be
"soliciting material," nor to be “filed” with the Securities and Exchange
Commission nor subject to Regulation 14A or 14C. This report is not to be
incorporated by reference in any filing of the Company under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
Legal
Proceedings
There are
no pending, material legal proceedings to which any director, officer or
affiliate of the Company, any owner of record or beneficially of more than five
percent of any class of voting securities of the Company, or any associate of
any such director, officer, affiliate of the Company, or security holder is a
party adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or has a material
interest adverse to the Company.
Audit
Fees
Ernst
& Young, LLP (“Ernst & Young”) served as the auditors for the Company
for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003. In addition
to performing the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements,
Ernst & Young provided various other services during fiscal 2004 and 2003.
The aggregate fees billed by Ernst & Young for each of the last two fiscal
years for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company's annual
financial statements, for the reviews of the financial statements included in
the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the audit of the Company’s
internal controls were as follows:
|
Audit
and Quarterly Reviews |
| 2004 |
$609,573 |
| 2003 |
$279,308 |
Audit-Related
Fees
For the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004, Ernst & Young
did not perform or bill the Company for any assurance and related services that
were reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the
Company’s financial statements.
Tax
Fees
The
aggregate fees billed by Ernst & Young in each of the last two fiscal years
for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax
planning were as follows:
|
Tax
Fees |
| 2004 |
$182,536 |
| 2003 |
$150,319 |
Of the
$182,536 in tax fees billed by Ernst & Young during the 2004 fiscal year,
$161,962 related to tax planning and advice provided by Ernst & Young with
respect to acquisitions by the Company and the remaining $20,574 related to fees
in connection with Ernst & Young’s provision of year end corporate tax
compliance advice. Of the $150,391 in tax fees billed by Ernst & Young
during the 2003 fiscal year, $86,283 related to tax advice provided by Ernst
& Young with respect to acquisitions by the Company and the remaining
$63,856 related to fees in connection with Ernst & Young’s provision of year
end corporate tax compliance advice.
All
Other Fees
The
aggregate fees billed by Ernst & Young for services rendered to the Company,
other than the services described above under “Audit Fees”, “Audit-Related Fees”
and “Tax Fees” for the last two fiscal years were as follows:
|
All
Other Fees |
| 2004 |
$4,242 |
| 2003 |
$0 |
Of the
other fees of $4,242 billed by Ernst & Young in 2004, $2,242 related to a
general US GAAP update course and $2,000 for assistance in Israel with a routine
government audit
The Board
and the Audit Committee have established a pre-approval policy for all audit and
non-audit services. For audit services, the independent auditor must provide the
Audit Committee with an engagement letter during the first fiscal quarter of
each year outlining the scope of the audit services proposed to be performed
during the fiscal year. After acceptance of the engagement letter, the
independent auditor will submit to the Audit Committee for approval an audit
services fee proposal after acceptance of the engagement letter.
With
respect to non-audit services, the Company’s management will submit to the Audit
Committee for approval (during the first fiscal quarter of each fiscal year) the
list of non-audit services that it recommends the Audit Committee engage the
independent auditor to provide for the fiscal year. Company management and the
independent auditor will each confirm to the Audit Committee that each non-audit
service on the list is permissible under all applicable legal requirements. In
addition to the list of planned non-audit services, a budget estimating
non-audit service spending for the fiscal year will be provided. The Audit
Committee will approve both the list of permissible non-audit services and the
budget for such services. The Audit Committee will be informed routinely as to
the non-audit services actually provided by the independent auditor pursuant to
the Company’s pre-approval process.
To ensure
the prompt handling of unexpected matters, the Audit Committee has delegated the
authority to amend or modify the list of approved permissible non-audit services
and fees to the Chairman of the Audit Committee, who will report action taken to
the Audit Committee at the next Audit Committee meeting. The independent auditor
must ensure that all audit and non-audit services provided to the Company have
been approved by the Audit Committee. The Chief Accounting Officer will be
responsible for tracking all independent auditor fees against the budget for
such services and report at least annually to the Audit Committee.
Approximately
100% of the audit-related services, tax services and other services provided by
Ernst & Young during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 were approved
by the Audit Committee.
Additional
Information Concerning Directors
Each of
our non-employee directors receives $3,000 per meeting of the Board of Directors
attended in person, together with reimbursement of travel expenses. Non-employee
board members receive $2,000 for attending board meetings telephonically.
Members of the Audit Committee receive $2,000 for attending each of the five
regularly scheduled Audit Committee meetings and $500 for attending each special
meeting of the Audit Committee. We have also entered into an employment
agreement with Eric Stonestrom as described in the section of this Proxy
Statement entitled "Employment Agreements." The Company paid $30,000 to Mr.
Desch in fiscal 2002 as compensation for his employment as Chairman of the
Board. Otherwise, except (i) as described above, (ii) for reimbursement for
reasonable travel expenses relating to attendance at Board meetings and (iii)
the grant of stock options, directors are not compensated for their services as
directors. In the year ended December 31, 2004, we granted 15,000 options to
each of Messrs. Huseby, Twyver, Heredia, Flynn, and Cash, 20,000 options to Mr.
Curran and 30,000 options to Mr. Desch. Directors who are also our employees are
eligible to participate in our 1998 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan and
our Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan.
Section
16(a) Beneficial
Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act 1934, as amended, requires the Company's
directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than ten percent
(10%) of the Company's outstanding Common Stock, to file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") initial reports of ownership and report changes
in ownership of Common Stock. Such persons are required by SEC regulations to
furnish the Company with copies of all such reports they file.
To our
knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of reports furnished to us and
written or oral representations that no other reports were required for such
persons, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to our officers,
directors and greater than ten percent (10%) beneficial owners have been
complied with, except for two late Form 4 filings by each of Mr. Desch, Mr.
Twyver and Mr. Stonestom and one later Form 4 filing by each of Mr. Flynn, Mr.
Heredia and Mr. Stonestrom, Mr. Aronstam, Mr. Paget, Mr. Smith-Petersen and Mr.
Brant.
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The
following table sets forth, as of April 15, 2005, the number of shares of Common
Stock of the Company which were owned beneficially by (i) each person who is
known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of its Common Stock, (ii)
each director and nominee for director, (iii) certain executive officers of the
Company, and (iv) all directors and officers as a group. Unless otherwise
indicated, each of the shareholders has sole voting and investment power with
respect to the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned, subject to the
community property laws, where these rules apply.
|
Name
of Beneficial Owner |
|
|
Amount
and
Nature
of Beneficial
Ownership
(1) |
|
|
Percentage
of
Shares
Owned
(1) (2) |
|
|
Oak
Investment Partners XI, Limited Partnership (3) |
|
|
7,336,624 |
(4) |
|
16.29 |
% |
|
Sevin
Rosen Funds (5) |
|
|
2,980,413
|
(6) |
|
7.89 |
% |
|
Meritech
Capital Partners L.P. (7) |
|
|
1,863,061 |
|
|
4.95 |
% |
|
Eric
D. Stonestrom (8) |
|
|
931,500 |
(9) |
|
2.4 |
% |
|
Peter
Aronstam (8) |
|
|
383,250 |
(10) |
|
1.0 |
% |
|
Jonathan
Paget (11) |
|
|
152,702 |
(12) |
|
* |
|
|
Henrik
Smith-Petersen (11) |
|
|
392,291 |
(13) |
|
1.0 |
% |
|
David
Brant (11) |
|
|
221,066 |
(14) |
|
* |
|
|
H.
Berry Cash (15) |
|
|
72,634 |
(16) |
|
* |
|
|
Matthew
Desch (8) |
|
|
294,382 |
(17) |
|
* |
|
|
Michael
T. Flynn (18) |
|
|
75,000 |
(19) |
|
* |
|
|
Guillermo
Heredia (20) |
|
|
28,125 |
(21) |
|
* |
|
|
Thomas
Huseby (22) |
|
|
308,980 |
(23) |
|
* |
|
|
David
A. Twyver (24) |
|
|
110,732 |
(25) |
|
* |
|
|
Randall
E. Curran (26) |
|
|
6,667 |
(27) |
|
* |
|
|
All
directors and executive officers as a group (12 persons) |
|
|
2,977,329 |
|
|
7.5 |
% |
________________
* Indicates
less than 1% of outstanding shares owned.
(1) A person
is deemed to be the beneficial owner of securities that can be acquired by such
person within 60 days from Apirl 15, 2005 upon exercise of options, warrants and
convertible securities. Each beneficial owner's percentage ownership is
determined by assuming that options, warrants and convertible securities that
are held by such person (but not those held by any other person) and that are
exercisable within 60 days from April, 15 2005 have been exercised.
(2) Applicable
percentage ownership is based on 38,000,253 shares
of Common Stock outstanding as of April 15, 2005.
(3) The
address of Oak Investment Partners XI, Limited Partnership is c/o Oak
Management Corporation, One Gorham Island, Westport, CT 06880. The names
of the parties who share power to vote and share power to dispose of the shares
held by Oak Investment Partners XI, Limited Partnership are Fredric W. Harman,
Bandel L. Carano, Ann H. Lamont, Edward F. Glassmeyer, Gerald R. Gallagher and
David B. Walrod, all of whom are managing members of Oak Associates XI, LLC, the
General Partner of Oak Investment Partners XI, Limited Partnership. Fredric W.
Harman, Bandel L. Carano, Ann H. Lamont, Edward F. Glassmeyer, Gerald R.
Gallagher and David B. Walrod disclaim beneficial ownership of the securities
held by such partnership in which Fredric W. Harman, Bandel L. Carano, Ann H.
Lamont, Edward F. Glassmeyer, Gerald R. Gallagher and David B. Walrod do not
have a pecuniary interest.
(4) Includes
(i) 7,300,000 shares of common stock issuable on the conversion of the Company’s
Series A Preferred Stock, (ii) 35,918 shares of common stock owned by Oak
Investment Partners VIII, Limited Partnership and (iii) 696 shares of common
stock owned by Oak VIII Affiliated Fund.
(5) The
address of Sevin Rosen Funds is 13455 Noel Road, Suite 1670, Dallas, TX 75240.
(6) Includes
purchases made by Sevin Rosen Bayless Management Company, Sevin Rosen Fund
VL.P., Sevin Rosen Fund VIL.P., Sevin Rosen V Affiliates Fund and Sevin Rosen VI
Affiliates Fund L.P., each of which is an affiliate of Sevin Rosen
Funds.
(7) The
address of Meritech Capital is 428 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA
94301.
(8) The
addresses of Messrs. Desch, Stonestrom, and Aronstam is 777 Yamato Road, Suite
105, Boca Raton, FL 33431.
(9) Includes
418,000 shares of common stock issuable on exercise of presently exercisable
stock options and (ii) 3,300 shares held by family members.
(10) Includes
373,250 shares of common stock issuable on exercise of presently exercisable
stock options.
(11) The
addresses of Messrs. Paget, Smith-Petersen, and Brant is Cambridge House, Oxford
Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 1UN, England.
(12) Includes
71,611 shares of common stock issuable on exercise of presently exercisable
stock options.
(13) Includes
382,291 shares of common stock issuable on exercise of presently exercisable
stock options.
(14) Includes 164,270
shares of common stock issuable on exercise of presently exercisable stock
options.
(15) The
address of Mr. Cash is 3000 Sand Hill Road #3-255, Menlo Park, CA 94025. Mr.
Cash is a general partner of InterWest Management Partners VI, LLC.
(16) Includes
(i) 1,570 shares held by Interwest Venture Management Company Profit Sharing
Plan and (ii) 70,000 shares of common stock issuable on exercise of
presently exercisable stock options.
(17) Includes 218,750
shares of common stock issuable on exercise of presently exercisable stock
options.
(18) The
address of Mr. Flynn is One Allied Drive, Little Rock, AR 72202.
(19) Includes 55,000
shares of common stock issuable on exercise of presently exercisable stock
options.
(20) The
address of Mr. Heredia is Newton #54-4, Polanco, D.F, Mexico 11560.
(21) Includes 28,125
shares of common stock issuable on exercise of presently exercisable stock
options.
(22) The
address of Mr. Huseby is 777 108th Avenue N.E., Suite 1895, Bellevue, WA 98004.
(23) Includes 70,000
shares of common stock issuable on exercise of presently exercisable stock
options.
(24) The
address of Mr. Twyver is P.O. Box 2447, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.
(25) Includes
100,000 shares of common stock issuable on exercise of presently exercisable
stock options.
(26)
The
address of Mr. Curran is 3 Sandy Lake Road, Cherry Hills, CO 80110.
(27) Includes 6,667
shares of common stock issuable
on exercise of presently exercisable stock options.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
The
following table sets forth, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2002, 2003,
and 2004 the aggregate compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s four other most highly
compensated executive officers who were serving at December 31, 2004
(collectively, the "Named Executive Officers").
| Name and Principal
Position |
|
Fiscal Year |
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
Securities
Underlying
Options |
|
All
Other
Compensation |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eric
D. Stonestrom, |
|
2004 |
|
$330,000 |
|
$158,500 |
(1) |
45,000 |
|
- |
|
President
& CEO |
|
2003 |
|
$300,000 |
|
$ 10,000 |
|
0 |
|
- |
|
|
|
2002 |
|
$300,000 |
|
$ 0 |
|
200,000 |
|
- |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peter
Aronstam, |
|
2004 |
|
$220,000 |
|
$108,500 |
(3) |
33,000 |
|
- |
|
Senior
Vice President & CFO |
|
2003 |
|
$200,000 |
|
$ 30,000 |
|
0 |
|
- |
|
|
|
2002 |
|
$245,000 |
(2) |
$ 0 |
|
60,000 |
|
- |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jonathan
Paget, (4) |
|
2004 |
|
$306,449 |
|
$121,156 |
(5) |
36,000 |
|
- |
|
Executive
Vice President & COO |
|
2003 |
|
$296,333 |
|
$ 10,000 |
|
0 |
|
- |
|
|
|
2002 |
|
$258,577 |
|
$ 0 |
|
291,202 |
|
- |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Henrik
Smith-Petersen, (4) |
|
2004 |
|
$255,204 |
|
$ 70,688 |
(6) |
30,000 |
|
- |
|
President,
Asia Pacific |
|
2003 |
|
$246,780 |
|
$ 90,661 |
|
0 |
|
- |
|
|
|
2002 |
|
$220,050 |
|
$ 21,778 |
|
60,000 |
|
- |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
Brant, (2) |
|
2004 |
|
$208,511 |
|
$ 84,430 |
(7) |
25,000 |
|
- |
|
Vice
President, Finance and Controller |
|
2003 |
|
$201,628 |
|
$ 15,000 |
|
0 |
|
- |
|
|
|
2002 |
|
$171,789 |
|
$ 0 |
|
50,000 |
|
- |
________________
(1) Includes
(i) $10,000 paid in connection with the Proximity acquisition and (ii) $94,776
paid in February 2005.
(2)
Mr.
Aronstam’s annualized salary for 2002 reflects a reduction of salary from
$260,000 to $200,000 on October 1, 2002.
(3) Includes
(i) $6,000 paid in connection with the Proximity acquisition, (ii) a $20,000
sales bonus and (iii) $53,575 paid in February 2005.
(4) Salary
and bonus amounts for Messrs. Paget, Smith-Petersen, and Brant reflect a
conversion rate from U.K. pounds to U.S. dollars of (Pounds)1: $1.6300 in 2002,
(Pounds)1:1.828 in 2003 and (Pounds)1:1.1.8904, as applicable.
(5) Includes
(i) $6,238 paid in connection with the Proximity acquisition and (ii) $74,484
paid in February 2005.
(6) Such
bonus payments relate to commission earned on sales revenue.
(7) Includes
(i) $6,238 paid in connection with the Proximity acquisition and (ii) $50,680
paid in February 2005.
Option
Grants During 2004 Fiscal Year
The table
below sets forth the following information with respect to options granted to
the Named Executive Officers during the year ended December 31,
2004:
| · |
The
number of shares of common stock underlying options granted during the
year; |
| · |
The
percentage that such options represent of all options granted to employees
during the year; |
| · |
The
exercise price of each option; and |
| · |
The
expiration date of each option. |
| · |
The
potential realizable value of each grant of options, assuming that the
market price of the underlying security appreciates in value from the date
of grant to the end of the option term at both a 5% and a 10% annualized
rate |
| |
|
|
|
|
Potential
Realizable Value
at
Assumed Annual Rate of
Stock
Price Appreciation
For
Option Term |
|
Name |
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Options
|
Percent
of
Total
Options
Granted
to
Employees
in
Fiscal
Year(1) |
Exercise
or
Base
Price
($/Share) |
Expiration
Date |
5%
|
10%
|
|
Eric
D. Stonestrom
|
45,000
(2)
|
7.3%
|
$5.08
|
5/24/14
|
$143,765 |
$364,329 |
|
Peter
Aronstam
|
33,000
(2)
|
5.4%
|
$5.08
|
5/24/14
|
$105,428 |
$267,175 |
|
Jonathan
Paget
|
36,000
(2) |
5.8% |
$5.08 |
5/24/14 |
$115,012 |
$291,464 |
|
Henrik
Smith-Petersen
|
30,000
(2)
|
4.9%
|
$5.08
|
5/24/14 |
$95,844 |
$242,886 |
|
David
Brant
|
25,000
(2)
|
4.1%
|
$5.08
|
5/24/14
|
$89,870 |
$202,405 |
________________
(1) A total
of 616,450 options were granted to employees of the Company in the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2004. Included in this number
are 45,000 options that were granted to a director who is also an employee of
the Company.
(2)
25% of
the options will vest on May 24, 2005 and an additional 1/48th of the options
will vest on each month thereafter.
Aggregated
Options Exercises in Fiscal 2004 and Fiscal Year Ending Option
Values
The
following table provides information as to the number and value of all
outstanding options exercised during fiscal year 2004 by the Named Executive
Officers. We have not granted any stock appreciation rights.
|
Name |
Shares
Acquired
on
Exercise (#) |
Value
Realized ($) |
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
at
Fiscal Year-End
(#)
Exercisable/
Unexercisable
|
Value
of Unexercised
In-the-Money
Options
At
Fiscal Year-End
($)
Exercisable/
Unexercisable
|
|
Eric
D. Stonestrom
|
90,000 |
$312,814
|
464,167/307,500
|
1,238,909/207,500
|
|
Peter
Aronstam
|
0
|
$0
|
338,438/79,562
|
951,306/194,489
|
|
Jonathan
Paget
|
281,091
|
$1,256,499
|
52,799/70,812
|
241,964/184,786
|
|
Henrik
Smith-Petersen
|
0
|
$0
|
354,999/75,000
|
675,508/190,167
|
|
David
Brant
|
49,999
|
$231,495
|
145,313/58,022
|
319,118/146,862
|
Securities
Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The
following table sets forth information as of March 1, 2005 with respect to
compensation plans under which equity securities of the Company are authorized
for issuance.
| |
|
Number
of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options,
warrants
and
rights |
|
Weighted-
average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and
rights |
|
Number
of securities remaining available for issuance under equity compensation
plans |
|
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders (1) |
|
4,382,680 |
|
3.6451 |
|
3,902,454 |
|
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders (2) |
|
745,386 |
|
3.0141 |
|
0 |
________________
(1) In 1998,
2000 and 2004, respectively, the Company’s shareholders approved the 1998 Plan,
the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan,
respectively.
(2)
Issued pursuant to the Company’s 2001 Supplemental Stock Option Plan and the
Company’s 2003 Supplemental Stock Option Plan.
The
2001 Supplemental Stock Option Plan
The 2001
Plan provides for the grant to our non-officer employees and consultants of
non-statutory stock options. The 2001 Plan provides for the grant of options for
up to 901,465 shares of common stock, all of which options have been granted as
of the date hereof. The Compensation Committee administers the 2001 Plan. The
Compensation Committee determines the terms of options granted under the 2001
Plan, including the number of shares subject to the option, exercise price,
term, and exercisability. The exercise price may be equal to, more than or less
than 100% of fair market value on the date the option is granted, as determined
by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has the authority to
amend or terminate the 2001 Plan, provided that shareholder approval shall be
required if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory
requirement. If not terminated earlier, the 2001 Plan will terminate February 7,
2011.
The
2003 Supplemental Stock Option Plan
The 2003
Plan provides for the grant to our non-officer employees, new hires, and
consultants of non-statutory stock options. The 2003 Plan provides for the grant
of options for up to 241,500 shares of common stock, all of which options have
been granted as of the date hereof. The Compensation Committee administers the
2003 Plan. The Compensation Committee determines the terms of options granted
under the 2003 Plan, including the number of shares subject to the option,
exercise price, term, and exercisability. The exercise price may be equal to,
more than or less than 100% of fair market value on the date the option is
granted, as determined by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee
has the authority to amend or terminate the 2003 Plan, provided that shareholder
approval shall be required if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax
or regulatory requirement. If not terminated earlier, the 2003 Plan will
terminate September 1, 2013.
Employment
Contracts
Effective
January 12, 1998, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr.
Stonestrom, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. The employment
agreement, as amended, does not specify a term of service and, as a matter of
practice, Mr. Stonestrom’s salary has been adjusted from time to time by the
Board of Directors. During the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004, Mr.
Stonestrom’s base salary was $330,000 and he earned aggregate bonuses of
$158,500. Under the terms of the employment agreement, Mr. Stonestrom is
entitled to a twelve-month severance payment of base salary if his employment is
terminated involuntarily.
Effective February 1, 2005, Mr. Stonestrom’s base salary was increased to
$380,000.
Effective
February 15, 2001, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Peter
Aronstam, the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
The employment agreement, as amended, does not specify a term of service and, as
a matter of practice, Mr. Aronstam’s salary has been adjusted from time to time
by the Board of Directors. During the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004, Mr.
Aronstam’s base salary was $220,000 and he earned aggregate bonuses of $108,500.
Mr. Aronstam is entitled to receive a severance payment in an amount equal to
the greater of his current 12 month trailing salary plus sales bonus or
$260,000.
Effective
March 25, 1999, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Jonathan
Paget, the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. The
employment agreement does not specify a term of service. For the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2004, Mr. Paget received a base salary of $310,599 and earned
aggregate bonuses of $121,156. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Paget is
entitled to receive nine months of severance in the event the Company terminates
his employment without cause. Under the terms of the agreement, as amended, Mr.
Paget is entitled to nine months of severance payments in the event the Company
terminates his employment without cause.
Effective
January 22, 1998, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Henrik
Smith-Petersen, the Company’s President of Asia Pacific. The employment
agreement does not specify a term of service. For the fiscal year ended December
31, 2004, Mr. Smith-Petersen received a base salary of $258,660 and sales
commissions in the amount of $70,688. Under the terms of the agreement, in the
event the Company terminates Mr. Smith-Petersen’s employment without cause, Mr.
Smith-Petersen is entitled to receive nine months of base salary plus certain
commissions for sales recognized by the Company’s Asia business
division.
Effective
January 21, 1998, and amended as of February 15, 2001, the Company entered into
an employment agreement with David Brant, the Company’s Vice President of
Finance and Controller. The employment agreement does not specify a term of
service. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, Mr. Brant received a base
salary of $211,335 and earned aggregate bonuses of $208,511. Under the terms of
the agreement, in the event the Company terminates Mr. Brant’s employment
without cause, Mr. Brant is entitled to a severance payment in the amount of
nine months of his base salary at the time of termination.
Report
on Repricing of Options
The
following table sets forth information regarding all “repricing” of options held
by any Named Executive Officer since the Company became a reporting company
pursuant to the Exchange Act on July 20, 2000. The table heading and the column
heading below use the term “repricing” as required by the applicable regulation;
however, the options described below was a cancellation and regrant of options.
10-Year
Option Repricings
|
Name |
Date
of Repricing |
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Options
Repriced or
Amended |
Market
Price of Stock At Time of Repricing or
Amendment |
Exercise
Price At Time of Repricing or
Amendment |
New
Exercise
Price |
Length
Of Original Option Term Remaining At Date of Repricing or
Amendment
(Years)
|
|
Jonathan
Paget
Executive
Vice President & COO
|
7/19/02
|
31,335
(1)
|
$1.04
|
$3.60
|
$1.04
|
7.84
|
|
Jonathan
Paget |
7/19/02
|
48,000
(2)
|
$1.04
|
$4.38
|
$1.04
|
9.18
|
|
Jonathan
Paget |
7/19/02
|
80,000
(3)
|
$1.04
|
$6.00
|
$1.04
|
8.91
|
|
Jonathan
Paget |
7/19/02
|
101,867
(4)
|
$1.04
|
$9.60
|
$1.04
|
8.55
|
________________
(1)
Pursuant to the voluntary option exchange discussed below, 41,779 options
previously held by Mr. Paget were cancelled as of July 19, 2002 and 31,355 new
options were issued.
(2)
Pursuant to the voluntary option exchange discussed below, 60,000 options
previously held by Mr. Paget were cancelled as of July 19, 2002 and 48,000 new
options were issued.
(3)
Pursuant to the voluntary option exchange discussed below, 100,000 options
previously held by Mr. Paget were cancelled as of July 19, 2002 and 80,000 new
options were issued.
(4)
Pursuant to the voluntary option exchange discussed below, 127,333 options
previously held by Mr. Paget were cancelled as of July 19, 2002 and 101,867 new
options were issued.
On
December 13, 2001, the Company offered a group of Qualifying Employees (defined
below) the opportunity to exchange all, but not less than all, of the Eligible
Options (defined below) held by such employees for new options to be granted
under the 1998 Stock Option Plan or the 2001 Supplemental Stock Option Plan. The
exchange offer expired on January 18, 2002.
Except as
noted below, virtually all of the employees of the Company and its subsidiaries
during the exchange offer period were considered Qualifying Employees. Members
of the Company’s Board of Directors, Mr. Stonestrom and Mr. Aronstam were not
deemed to be Qualifying Employees and were not entitled to participate in the
exchange offer. The Eligible Options were all the options granted under the 1998
Stock Option Plan or 2001 Supplemental Stock Option Plan between October 1, 1999
and December 13, 2001.
The
Company offered to issue a varying amount of new options with respect to each
Eligible Option, which offers varied based upon the original exercise price
and/or issue date of the subject Eligible Option. The issuance date of the new
options was July 19, 2002, approximately six months after the exchange offer
expired, and the exercise price of all of the new options was set at $1.039, the
closing market price of the Company’s common stock on July 19,
2002.
34
employees of the Company participated in the exchange offer, including one of
the Company’s Named Executive Officers. Pursuant to the exchange offer, 665,796
options were cancelled and 524,875 new options were issued.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
No
interlocking relationship exists between our Board of Directors or compensation
committee and the Board of Directors or compensation committee of any other
company, nor has any such interlocking relationship existed in the
past.
Compensation
Committee Report on Executive Compensation
The
Company’s Compensation Committee is comprised of three directors, all of whom
are “non-employee directors” (within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) and “outside directors”. The Compensation
Committee's role is to review and approve practices and policies related to
compensation primarily for executive officers, including the Chief Executive
Officer and the Named Executive Officers. The
Compensation Committee has retained Frederick W. Cook & Co., Inc. as an
independent consultant to assist the Committee in fulfilling its
responsibilities.
Compensation
Philosophy
The
Compensation Committee’s philosophy is that executive compensation plans should
be designed and administered to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified
executives. Base salaries are maintained at competitive market levels and any
incentives are linked closely to financial performance. The Company maintains a
pay-for-performance culture, where a significant portion of executive
compensation is linked to performance. This emphasis on at-risk compensation
supports the Company's goal to control costs, which is critical to the Company’s
continued success. It is
also the Committee's practice to provide a balanced mix of cash and equity-based
compensation that the Committee believes appropriate to align the short- and
long-term interests of the Company’s executives with that of its shareholders
and to encourage executives to act as equity owners of the Company. The
Company’s executive compensation program consists of the core elements described
below.
Base
Salaries
In
determining base salaries, the Company identifies a reasonable range around the
median for comparable executive positions in a comparison group of companies. In
2004, the Compensation
Committee compared the Company’s senior management compensation levels with
those of a group of twelve companies (the “Compensation Comparison Group”)
generally considered to be comparable to the Company, most of which are included
in the Nasdaq Telecommunications index.
Officer
salaries are generally set within the median range based on individual
performance and experience. Annual salary increases, if any, are determined
based on a variety of factors including average increases in comparison
companies, individual performance, competitiveness of the officer's salary, the
Company's financial condition and operating results, and other variable
components of compensation.
In 2004,
the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer were awarded a 15.1%
and 9.1% base salary increase, respectively. Other than the CEO and the CFO,
there were no salary increases in 2004 for the Named Executive
Officers.
Annual
Incentives
Annual
performance incentives are tied to the Company’s overall performance. For fiscal
2004, pursuant to the Company’s 2004 bonus plan, bonuses were payable to
eligible participants (“Eligible Participants”) based on a formula that took
into account the Company’s annual revenue and gross profit on its non-Proximity
related business as compared to target thresholds established by the
Compensation Committee at the beginning of the fiscal year (the “Factors”).
Eligible Participants included the President, the executive level team and any
non-commissioned employees serving a Vice President, Senior Director or
Director. Each of the Named Executive Officers, other than Henrik Smith-Petersen
who is a commissioned employee, were Eligible Participants. Different
multipliers (the “Position Multiplier”) were applied to each of the Factors,
with the specific multipliers depending on the individual’s position within the
Company.
The
Position Multiplier for the Chief Executive Officers and each of the Named
Executive Officers, other than Henrik Smith-Petersen, under the 2004 bonus plan
were as follows:
| |
Position
Multiplier |
|
Eric
Stonestrom |
0.6 |
|
Peter
Aronstam |
0.5 |
|
Jonathan
Paget |
0.5 |
|
David
Brant |
0.5 |
Payments
under the 2004 bonus plan were determined in accordance with the following
formula:
Aggregate
Bonus Payment = Revenue Component + Gross Profit Component
where:
Revenue
Component =: (2004 Base Salary) x (Position Multiplier) x (Revenue Achievement
Factor) x .5
Gross
Profit Component= (2004
Base Salary) x (Position Multiplier) x (Gross Profit Achievement Factor) x
..5
Under the
2004 bonus plan, the applicable Revenue Achievement Factor could have ranged
from zero, to 1.5 based on pre-established revenue thresholds. Based on the
Company’s 2004 annual revenue, the Revenue Achievement Factor under the 2004
bonus plan equaled 1.5.
In order
for the Gross Profit Achievement Factor to be greater than zero, the Company’s
2004 gross profit from its non-Proximity related business must have equaled or
exceeded a pre-established minimum target threshold. The realized Gross Profit
Achievement Factor under the 2004 bonus plan was zero.
Accordingly,
the bonus amounts paid to the Chief Executive Officer and each of the Named
Executive Officers, other than Henrik Smith-Petersen, under the 2004 bonus plan
were as follows:
| |
|
Revenue
Component |
|
Gross
Profit Component |
|
Total |
|
| |
|
Base
Salary |
|
Position
Multiplier |
|
Revenue
Achievement
Factor |
|
Base
Salary |
|
Position
Multiplier |
|
Gross
Profit
Achievement
Factor |
|
|
|
|
Eric
Stonestrom |
|
$ |
330,000 |
|
|
0.6 |
|
|
1.5 |
|
$ |
330,000 |
|
|
0.6 |
|
|
0 |
|
$ |
148,500 |
|
|
Peter
Aronstam |
|
$ |
220,000 |
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
1.5 |
|
$ |
220,000 |
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
0 |
|
$ |
82,500 |
|
|
Jonathan
Paget |
|
$ |
306,499 |
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
1.5 |
|
$ |
306,599 |
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
0 |
|
$ |
114,919 |
* |
|
David
Brant |
|
$ |
208,511 |
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
1.5 |
|
$ |
208,511 |
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
0 |
|
$ |
78,192 |
* |
*Bonus
amounts for Messrs. Paget and Brant reflect a conversion rate from U.K. pounds
to U.S. dollars of (Pounds)1: $1.8904.
Long-Term
Incentive Awards
In 2004,
long term-term incentive awards for each member of senior management consisted
of a grant of stock options. In consultation with the independent consultants
and management, the Compensation Committee determines the value of the award to
be granted to each recipient.
The
Compensation Committee has determined that, in any calendar year, the Company
shall not grant awards pursuant to any of its equity compensation plans which
would entitle recipients of such awards to receive, upon the grant of the award
or upon the future vesting, exercise or conversion of the award, in the
aggregate more than 3% of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
as of December 31 of the previous calendar year. In addition, the Company shall
not grant awards of restricted stock and deferred stock, including restricted
stock units, which, in the aggregate, would entitle the award holders to receive
a number of shares of Common Stock greater than one-third of the aggregate
number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the grant of any awards made in
the subject calendar year or upon the future vesting, exercise or conversion of
any awards made in the subject calendar year. Finally, at the time of each
award, the sum of the total number of (i) shares of Common Stock issuable upon
the exercise of outstanding stock options, (ii) shares of restricted stock
outstanding and (iii) shares issuable subject to deferred stock awards,
including restricted units, shall not exceed 15% of the total number of shares
of Common Stock outstanding.
Stock
Options.
Options
granted in 2004 were granted pursuant to the Company’s Omnibus Equity
Compensation Plan and vest over a four-year period, with 25% becoming
exercisable on the first anniversary of the grant date (the “First Anniversary”)
and 1/48 becoming exercisable in each month following the First Anniversary. All
options granted in 2004 have a ten-year term. All options in 2004 were granted
with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common
stock on the date of grant.
Chief
Executive Officer Compensation
In
determining Mr. Stonestrom's overall annual compensation, the Compensation
Committee considered Mr. Stonestrom's performance as the Chief Executive Officer
in 2004, taking into account the Company's growth, spending by operators on
telecommunications equipment, and the competitive environment. In addition, the
Compensation Committee reviewed publicly disclosed salaries of Chief Executive
Officers of the Compensation Comparison Group. The Compensation Committee
believes that the aggregate compensation paid to Mr. Stonestrom as President and
Chief Executive Officer for the fiscal year ending 2004 was reasonable compared
to the compensation paid to other chief executive officers of public companies
that compete in the same area of business as the Company.
Corporate
Tax Considerations
The
Internal Revenue Code disallows corporate tax deductions for executive
compensation in excess of $1 million for any of the CEO or the next four most
highly-compensated officers of the Company. Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m)
allows certain exemptions to the deduction cap, including pay programs that
depend on formulas and, therefore, are "performance-based."
The
Compensation Committee considers the deductibility of compensation when
reviewing and approving pay levels and pay programs; but reserves the right to
award compensation that is not deductible under 162(m) if it’s determined to be
the in best interests of the Company and its shareholders. At the present time,
the Company is not at risk of losing a deduction under 162(m) because no
individual covered by the law receives compensation in excess of $1 million.
The
Compensation Committee
H. Berry
Cash
Matthew
J. Desch
Thomas S.
Huseby
Certain
Relationships and Related Party Transactions
Loans
to Related Parties
In
connection with the purchase of 1.5 million shares of the Company’s common stock
(the “Purchased Shares”), on April 27, 1999, Mr. Stonestrom incurred $130,000 of
indebtedness to the Company. On July 16, 2004, Mr. Stonestrom repaid $43,333 of
such indebtedness to the Company and, accordingly, the aggregate outstanding
amount of such indebtedness as of the date of this report is $86,667. The
indebtedness is evidenced by a promissory note which is payable upon the earlier
of Mr. Stonestrom’s termination or bankruptcy or various events constituting a
change in control of the Company or a majority of its assets. No interest is due
under the notes unless Mr. Stonestrom enters into various insolvency related
proceedings, which proceedings trigger an obligation to pay interest at the
highest rate allowed by the State of Delaware. As security for the note, Mr.
Stonestrom has granted the Company a first priority security lien in (i) the
Purchased Shares, (ii) all securities of the Company subsequently acquired by
Mr. Stonestrom, and (iii) all proceeds from the sale of the Purchased Shares.
Code
of Ethics
The
Company maintains a code of conduct (the “Code”) that applies to its Directors,
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and
Controller, as well as to all of the other employees of the Company. This Code,
a copy of which is available on our web site at www.airspan.com,
addresses, among other things: (i) honest and ethical conduct, including the
ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal
and professional relationships; (ii) compliance with applicable governmental
laws, rules, and regulations; (iii) the prompt internal reporting of violations
of the Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; (iv)
accountability for adherence to the Code; and (v) full, fair, accurate, timely
and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that we file with or
submit to the Commission and in other public communications we make. In the
event we ever waive compliance by our Directors, our Chief Executive Officer,
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer or Controller with the Code,
we will disclose the waiver on our website at the web address provided above.
(The URL above is intended to be an inactive textual reference only. It is not
intended to be an active hyperlink to our website. The information on our
website, which might be accessible through a hyperlink resulting from this URL,
is not and is not to be part of this report and is not incorporated herein by
reference).
PERFORMANCE
GRAPH
The
following graph depicts the Company's stock price performance from July 20, 2000
(the date on which quotations for the Common Stock first appeared on the NASDAQ
National Market) through December 31, 2004 relative to the performance of the
NASDAQ Stock Market (U.S. Companies), and the NASDAQ Telecommunications Index
(published by NASDAQ) for the same period. All indices shown in the graph have
been reset to a base of 100 as of July 20, 2000, and assume an investment of
$100 on that date and the reinvestment of dividends paid since that
date.
APPROVAL
AND RATIFICATION OF
INDEPENDENT
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
(Proposal
No. 2)
As
recommended by the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors has designated,
subject to the approval of and ratification by the shareholders, the firm of
Ernst & Young as independent auditors to audit and report on the Company’s
financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005. Action by
shareholders is not required by law in the appointment of independent auditors,
but their appointment is being submitted to the shareholders by the Board in
order to give shareholders an opportunity to express their approval or
disapproved of the selection of Ernst & Young by the Board of
Directors.
The Audit
Committee selected Ernst & Young as the best firm to deliver independent
audits in light of factors such as the auditor’s depth of experience, breadth of
reserves, commitment to provide exceptional service, ability to handle
transaction issues and location of key personnel.
Ernst
& Young has no direct or indirect financial interest in the Company or in
any of its subsidiaries, nor has it had any connection with the Company or any
of its subsidiaries in the capacity of promoter, underwriter, voting trustee
director, officer or employee. The Company anticipates representatives of Ernst
& Young will be present at the meeting of shareholders and will be afforded
an opportunity to make a statement, if they desire to do so. It is also expected
that they will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
In the
event that the shareholders of the Company do not approve of and ratify the
selection of Ernst & Young, the Board of Directors will reconsider who the
Company should designate as its independent auditors.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE COMPANY’S SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE
APPROVAL AND RATIFICATION OF ERNST & YOUNG, LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT
AUDITORS.
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO
CERTIFICATE
OF DESIGNATION TO
MODIFY
THE VOTING RIGHTS OF THE HOLDERS OF THE SERIES A PREFERRED
STOCK
(Proposal
No. 3)
The Board
of Directors has approved, subject to shareholder approval, an amendment to the
Company’s Certificate of Designation to modify the voting rights of the holders
of the Series A Preferred Stock as more specifically described in the section
below entitled “Proposed Amendment to the Certificate of Designation.” If
approved by the shareholders, the amendment will become effective upon the
filing of Articles of Amendment with the Washington Secretary of State, which
would occur as soon as practicable following the Annual Meeting.
A summary
of the proposed amendment to the Certificate of Designation is set forth below.
The Company urges you to carefully review the text of the Certificate of
Designation, as proposed to be amended, a copy of which is attached to this
Proxy Statement as Appendix
B.
Background
of the Series A Preferred Stock Issuance
On
Monday, September 13, 2004, the Company consummated the private sale of 73,000
shares of Series A Preferred Stock to Oak Investment Partners XI, Limited
Partnership (“Oak”) for aggregate gross proceeds of $29.2 million pursuant to
the terms of a Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, effective September 10, 2004,
between the Company and Oak (the “Purchase Agreement”).
Pursuant
to the Purchase Agreement, Oak purchased 73,000 shares of Series A Preferred
Stock, which are convertible into 7,300,000 shares of common stock, for $400 per
share of preferred stock or $4 per share of common stock equivalent. The per
common stock equivalent price was established at a discount of approximately 10%
off the trailing 10 day volume weighted average closing price for the common
stock on September 9, 2004.
The
Company has never paid any dividends on its Common Stock or Series A Preferred
Stock and, accordingly, there are no arrears in dividends payable to holders of
the Series A Preferred Stock.
Relevant
Provisions of the Current Certificate of Designation
In
connection with this transaction, on September 13, 2004, the Company filed the
Certificate of Designation with the Washington Secretary of State, setting forth
the designations, relative rights, preferences, and limitations applicable to
the Series A Preferred Stock.
Pursuant
to the Section 11 of the Certificate of Designation, holders of the Series A
Preferred Stock are entitled to vote on matters presented to the holders of
common stock as if the Series A Preferred Stock was converted into the common
stock.
As set
forth in the Certificate of Designation, holders of the Series A Preferred Stock
may convert the stock into shares of the Company’s common stock at any time at
the rate of 100 shares of common stock for each share of Series A Preferred
Stock (the “Conversion Rate”). After 24 months, the Series A Preferred Stock
will automatically convert into shares of the Company’s common stock at the
Conversion Rate if the common stock trades above $12.00 per share for 30
consecutive days. To the extent that the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock
do not participate fully with other the Company stockholders with respect to
dividends paid, the Conversion Rate may be appropriately adjusted upon the
occurrence of any of the following events: (i) the Company’s payment of common
stock dividends and distributions, (ii) common stock splits, subdivisions or
combinations and (iii) reclassification, reorganization, change or conversion of
the common stock.
Proposed
Amendment to the Certificate of Designation
Effective
September 23, 2004, the Company and Oak agreed to amend (the “Amendment”) the
Purchase Agreement.
To ensure
compliance with NASDAQ Marketplace Rules, the Company, Oak and each subsequent
holder of the Series A Preferred Stock (collectively, the “Parties”) agreed,
pursuant to the Amendment, that the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will
only vote on matters presented to the holders of common stock as if the Series A
Preferred Stock was converted into the common stock at the rate of 1 share of
Series A Preferred Stock to 86 shares of common stock (the “Voting Conversion
Rate”).
The
Parties further agreed pursuant to the Amendment that the holders of the Series
A Preferred Stock shall abstain from voting with respect to any remaining votes
to which the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock may be entitled under the
Articles. The Parties additionally agreed that the Voting Conversion Rate will
be adjusted from time to time in the same manner and under the same
circumstances as the Conversion Rate is adjusted pursuant to the Articles.
Pursuant
to the Amendment, the Parties agreed to use their reasonable efforts to amend
the Company’s Certificate of Designation to provide that holders of the Series A
Preferred Stock are entitled to vote on matters presented to the holders of
common stock as if the Series A Preferred Stock was converted into the common
stock at the Voting Conversion Rate rather than the Conversion Rate. In
furtherance of such objectives, the Parties agreed to seek shareholder approval
of the amendment of the Certificate of Designation at this Annual Meeting.
Accordingly,
the shareholders are being asked to approve an amendment to Section 11 of the
Certificate of Designation to read in its entirety as follows:
Holders
of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote on all matters submitted
to a vote of the holders of the Corporation’s Common Stock, including with
respect to the election of directors of the Corporation, on an as if converted
basis based on the Voting Conversion Rate (defined below) in effect on the
record date of such vote. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall initially
be entitled to cast 86 votes (as adjusted from time to time hereunder, the
“Voting Conversion Rate”). The Voting Conversion Rate shall be adjusted from
time to time in the same manner and under the same circumstances as the
Conversion Rate is adjusted. Notwithstanding the voting group rights set forth
in Section 23B.11.035 of the WBCA, holders of Series A Preferred Stock will not
have, by virtue of the WBCA or this Section 11, the right to vote separately as
a series on any proposed plan of merger or plan of share exchange. Except as
otherwise provided herein, to the maximum extent permitted by law, holders of
Series A Preferred Stock will not have any rights to vote separately as a series
with respect to any matter submitted to a vote of the holders of the
Corporation’s outstanding securities.
Pursuant
to the Amendment, the holder of the Series A Preferred Stock has irrevocably
committed to vote in favor of the amendment to Section 11 of the Certificate of
Designation.
For as
long as the Series A Preferred Stock is outstanding, the general effect of this
amendment to Section 11 of the Certificate of Designation on existing holders of
the Common Stock will be to proportionately increase the voting power of each
share of Common Stock.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS
THAT
THE COMPANY’S SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR”
THE
AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
MODIFYING
THE VOTING RIGHTS OF THE HOLDERS OF THE SERIES A PREFERRED
STOCK
OTHER
MATTERS
Management
is not aware of any matters to be presented for action at the Annual Meeting,
except matters discussed in this Proxy Statement. If any other matters properly
come before the meeting, it is intended that the shares represented by proxies
will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting the proxies.
ANNUAL
REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS
A copy of
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form
10-K/A, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 accompanies this Notice of
Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement. Additional copies of the Annual Report on
Form 10-K may be obtained without charge by writing to:
Airspan
Networks Inc
777
Yamato Road, Suite 105
Boca
Raton, FL 33431
Attention:
Chief Financial Officer.
| |
|
By Order of the Board
of Directors |
| |
|
|
|
Peter
Aronstam |
| May 9, 2005 |
|
Corporate Secretary |
| |
|
APPENDIX
B
CERTIFICATE
OF DESIGNATION
to
the
ARTICLES
OF INCORPORATION
of
AIRSPAN
NETWORKS, INC.
(as
proposed to be amended)
4.12 SERIES
A PREFERRED STOCK
1. Designation
and Rank.
(a)
4,200
shares of the preferred stock of the Corporation, par value $0.0001 per share,
shall be designated and known as the “Series
A Preferred Stock”.
(b)
The
Series A Preferred Stock shall rank senior and prior to the common stock, par
value U.S.$0.0003 per share, of the Corporation (the “Common
Stock”), and
all other classes or series of the capital stock (other than preferred stock) of
the Corporation (now or hereafter authorized or issued), with respect to the
payment of any dividends, the conversion rights set forth herein and any payment
upon liquidation or redemption. The Corporation may not issue any additional
classes or series of preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, redemption or
conversion rights or right of payment of any kind that is senior to the Series A
Preferred Stock, except pursuant to Section 12; provided, however, that the
foregoing shall not, in any way, prevent the Corporation from unilaterally
amending the Articles of Incorporation, authorizing and otherwise designating
additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock and issuing additional shares of
Series A Preferred Stock to the then existing holders of the Series A Preferred
Stock and/or Registrable Securities (as such term is defined in the Preferred
Stock Purchase Agreement, dated September 10, 2004, between the Company and the
purchaser of the Series A Preferred Stock, the (“Purchase
Agreement”) but only
to the extent that such shares of Series A Preferred Stock are being issued in
satisfaction of Non-Registration Fees (as such term is defined in the Purchase
Agreement, “Non-Registration
Fees”).
2. Dividend
Rights.
From and
after the date hereof, when and if the Board of Directors declares a dividend or
distribution payable with respect to the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock
(other than in additional shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents (as
defined in Section 4(e)(i) below), the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock
shall be entitled to the amount of dividends per share in the same form as such
Common Stock dividends that would be payable on the largest number of whole
shares of Common Stock into which a holder's aggregate shares of Series A
Preferred Stock could then be converted pursuant to Section 4 hereof (such
number to be determined as of the record date for the determination of holders
of Common Stock entitled to receive such dividend).
3. Liquidation
Rights.
(a)
Liquidation
Events. The
occurrence of any of the following events shall be deemed a “Liquidation”: (i) any
liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up of the affairs of the Corporation, or
(ii) unless, at the request of the Corporation, the holders of at least a
majority of the Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding determine otherwise,
(W) the merger, reorganization or consolidation of the Corporation (or any
subsidiary or subsidiaries of the Corporation the assets of which constitute all
or substantially all the assets of the business of the Corporation and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole) into or with another corporation, unless, as a
result of such transaction the holders of the Corporation's outstanding
securities immediately preceding such merger, reorganization or consolidation
own (in approximately the same proportions, relative to each other, as
immediately before such transaction) at least a majority of the voting
securities of the surviving or resulting corporation (solely by virtue of their
shares or other securities of the Corporation or the consideration received
thereof in such a transaction) , (X) the sale, transfer or lease (but not
including a transfer or lease by pledge or mortgage to a bona fide lender) of
all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation, whether pursuant to a
single transaction or a series of related transactions (which assets shall
include for these purposes two thirds (66- 2/3%) or more of the outstanding
voting interests of such of the Corporation's subsidiaries the assets of which
constitute all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole), (Y) the sale, transfer or lease (but not
including a transfer or lease by pledge or mortgage to a bona fide lender),
whether in a single transaction or pursuant to a series of related transactions,
of all or substantially all the assets of any of the Corporation's subsidiaries
the assets of which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of the
Corporation and such subsidiaries taken as a whole, or the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of such of the Corporation's subsidiaries the assets
of which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation
and such subsidiaries taken as a whole or (Z) any transaction or series of
related transactions in which securities of the Corporation representing 50% or
more of the combined voting power of the Corporation's then outstanding voting
securities are acquired by any person, entity or group (as the term group is
defined and interpreted under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended).
(b) Liquidation
Preference.
(i) In
the event of any Liquidation, whether voluntary or involuntary, before any
payment of cash or distribution of other property shall be made to the holders
of Common Stock, or any other class or series of stock subordinate in
liquidation preference to the Series A Preferred Stock, the holders of the
Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of the
Corporation legally available for distribution to its stockholders, with respect
to each share of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder, U.S.$400.00 (the
“Original
Issue Price”) (as
appropriately adjusted for any combinations, divisions, or similar
recapitalizations affecting the Series A Preferred Stock after issuance) and all
accumulated or accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (collectively, the
“Series
A Liquidation Preference”).
(ii) If,
upon any Liquidation, the assets of the Corporation available for distribution
to its stockholders are insufficient to pay the holders of the Series A
Preferred Stock the full amounts to which they are entitled pursuant to clause
(b)(i) above, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall share pro rata
in any distribution of assets in proportion to the respective amounts which
would be payable to the holders of the Series A Preferred in respect of the
shares held by them if all amounts payable to them in respect of such were paid
in full pursuant to clause (b)(i) above.
(iii)
After the distributions described in clause (b)(i) or (b)(ii) above have been
paid, subject to the rights of any other class or series of capital stock of the
Corporation that may from time to time come into existence, the remaining assets
of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders shall be
distributed among the holders of Common Stock pro rata based on the number of
shares of Common Stock held by each.
(iv) If
holders of Series A Preferred Stock would receive a greater return in a
Liquidation by converting such holder's shares of Series A Preferred Stock into
Common Stock (in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors, unless
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock
object, in which case the conclusion of such holders will govern), then such
shares will deemed automatically converted to Common Stock immediately before
the effectiveness of such Liquidation.
(c)
Non-Cash
Distributions. If any
distribution to be made pursuant to this Section 3 is to be paid other than in
cash or Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents, the value of such distribution
will be deemed its fair market value as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors. Any securities shall be valued as follows:
(i)
Securities not subject to restrictions on free marketability covered by clause
(ii) below:
(1) if
traded on a securities exchange or through the Nasdaq National Market, the value
shall be deemed to be the average of the closing prices of the securities on
such quotation system over the thirty (30) trading day period ending three (3)
trading days prior to the occurrence of the Liquidation;
(2) if
actively traded over-the-counter, the value shall be deemed to be the average of
the closing bid or sale prices (whichever is applicable) over the thirty (30)
trading day period ending three (3) trading days prior to the occurrence of the
Liquidation; and
(3) if
there is no active public market, the value shall be the fair market value
thereof, as determined by the Board of Directors.
(ii) The
method of valuation of securities subject to restrictions on free marketability
(other than restrictions arising solely by virtue of a stockholder's status as
an affiliate or former affiliate) shall be to effectuate an appropriate discount
from the market value, as determined by clause (i)(1), (2) or (3) of this
Section 3(c), so as to reflect the approximate fair market value thereof, as
determined by the Board of Directors.
(iii) The
holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock shall
have the right to challenge any determination by the Board of Directors of fair
market value pursuant to this Section 3(c), in which case the determination of
fair market value shall be made by an independent appraiser selected jointly by
the Board of Directors and the challenging parties, the cost of such appraisal
to be borne equally by the Corporation and the challenging parties.
4. Conversion
Rights.
The
holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall have conversion rights as follows
(the “Conversion
Right”):
(a)
Conversion
Rate. Each
share of Series A Preferred Stock shall initially be convertible into 100 shares
of the Corporation's Common Stock (as adjusted from time to time hereunder, the
“Conversion
Rate”).
(b)
Automatic
Conversion. If the
closing price for the shares of the Corporation's Common Stock (trading on a
securities exchange or through Nasdaq National Market or other national exchange
or market) exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for events described in Section
4(e)(ii) and 4(e)(iii) below) for any thirty consecutive trading day period that
begins after September 13, 2006, then, upon such occurrence, each share of
Series A Preferred Stock shall be automatically converted into Common Stock
based on the then-effective Conversion Rate (an “Automatic
Conversion”). The
date of such conversion is herein referred to as the “Automatic
Conversion Date”.
(c)
Optional
Conversion. The
holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall have the right, at any time, to
convert the shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder into that
number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares are convertible based on
the then effective Conversion Rate (“Optional
Conversion”). In the
event of any Optional Conversion, the date of the such conversion shall be
referred to as the “Optional
Conversion Date”.
(d)
Mechanics
of Conversion. Before
any holder of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to convert the same
into full shares of Common Stock, and to receive certificates therefor, it shall
either (A) surrender the subject Series A Preferred Stock certificate or
certificates therefor, duly endorsed, at the office of the Corporation or of any
transfer agent for the Series A Preferred Stock or (B) notify the Corporation or
its transfer agent that such certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed
and execute an agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation to indemnify
the Corporation from any loss incurred by it in connection with such
certificates, and shall give written notice to the Corporation at such office
that he elects to convert the same; provided, however, that on an Automatic
Conversion Date, the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be
converted automatically without any further action by the holders of such shares
and whether or not the certificates representing such shares are surrendered to
the Corporation or its transfer agent; provided further, however, that the
Corporation shall not be obligated to issue certificates evidencing the shares
of Common Stock issuable in connection therewith unless either the certificates
evidencing such shares of Series A Preferred Stock are delivered to the
Corporation or its transfer agent as provided above, or the holder notifies the
Corporation or its transfer agent that such certificates have been lost, stolen
or destroyed and executes an reasonably agreement satisfactory to the
Corporation to indemnify the Corporation from any loss incurred by it in
connection with such certificates. On an Automatic Conversion Date, each holder
of record of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be deemed to be the holder
of record of the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion, notwithstanding
that the certificates representing such shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall
not have been surrendered at the office of the Corporation, that notice from the
Corporation shall not have been received by any holder of record of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock, or that the certificates evidencing such shares of
Common Stock shall not then be actually delivered to such holder.
The
Corporation shall, as soon as practicable after such delivery, or after such
agreement and indemnification, issue and deliver at such office to such holder
of Series A Preferred Stock, a certificate or certificates for the number of
shares of Common Stock to which he shall be entitled as aforesaid and a check
payable to the holder in the amount of any cash amounts payable as the result of
a conversion into fractional shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section
8, plus any declared and unpaid dividends on the converted Series A Preferred
Stock. A conversion, other than an Automatic Conversion, shall be deemed to have
been made immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such
surrender of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted, and the
person or persons entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock issuable upon
such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or
holders of such shares of Common Stock on such date; provided, however, that if
the conversion is in connection with an underwritten offer of securities
registered pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or a merger,
sale, financing, or liquidation of the Corporation or other event, the
conversion may, at the option of any holder tendering Series A Preferred Stock
for conversion, be conditioned upon the closing of such transaction or upon the
occurrence of such event, in which case the person(s) entitled to receive the
Common Stock issuable upon such conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock shall
not be deemed to have converted such Series A Preferred Stock until immediately
prior to the closing of such transaction or the occurrence of such event.
(e)
Certain
Adjustments. To the
extent that the holders of Series A Preferred Stock do not participate fully
with other stockholders of the Corporation with respect to dividends paid
pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the following adjustments shall be made to the
Conversion Rate:
(i)
Adjustment
for Common Stock Dividends and Distributions. If, at
any time after the original issue date of the Series A Preferred Stock (the
“Original
Issue Date”), the
Corporation makes, or fixes a record date for the determination of holders of
Common Stock entitled to receive, a dividend or other distribution payable in
additional shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents, in each such
event the Conversion Rate that is then in effect shall be appropriately
increased as of the time of such issuance or, in the event such record date is
fixed, as of the close of business on such record date; provided, however, that
if such record date is fixed and such dividend is not fully paid or if such
distribution is not fully made on the date fixed therefor, the Conversion Rate
shall be recomputed accordingly as of the close of business on such record date
and thereafter the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted pursuant to this Section
4(e)(i) to reflect the actual payment of such dividend or
distribution.
A
“Common
Stock Equivalent” shall
mean each share of Common Stock into which securities or property or rights are
convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for or into shares of Common Stock, or
otherwise entitle the holder thereof to receive directly or indirectly, any of
the foregoing.
(ii)
Adjustments for Stock Splits, Stock Subdivisions and Combinations. If, at any
time after the Original Issue Date, the Corporation subdivides or combines the
Common Stock without making a corresponding subdivision or combination of the
Series A Preferred Stock, (A) in the case of a subdivision (including a stock
split), the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to such event shall be
proportionately increased and (B) in the case of a combination (including a
reverse stock split), the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to such
event shall be proportionately decreased. Any adjustment under this Section
4(e)(ii) shall become effective at the close of business on the date the
subdivision or combination becomes effective.
(iii)
Adjustments for Reclassification, Reorganization and Consolidation. In case of
(A) any reclassification, reorganization, change or conversion of securities of
the class issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock (other than a
change in par value, or from par value to no par value) into other shares or
securities of the Corporation, or (B) any merger or consolidation of the
Corporation with or into another entity (other than a Liquidation or a merger or
consolidation with another entity in which the Corporation is the acquiring and
the surviving entity and that does not result in any reclassification or change
of outstanding securities issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred
Stock) each holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the right to
receive, in lieu of the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon the
conversion of its shares of Series A Preferred Stock (and accumulated or accrued
and unpaid dividends then-outstanding thereunder) in accordance with Section
4(b), the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities, money and
property receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, change, merger
or consolidation upon conversion by a holder of the maximum number of shares of
Common Stock into which such shares of Series A Preferred Stock could have been
converted immediately prior to such reclassification, reorganization, change,
merger or consolidation, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein or
with respect to such other securities or property by the terms thereof. The
provisions of this clause (iii) shall similarly attach to successive
reclassifications, reorganizations, changes, mergers and
consolidations.
5. Other
Distributions.
In the
event the Corporation provides the holders of its Common Stock with
consideration that is not otherwise addressed in Section 2 or Section 4
(including, without limitation, declaring a distribution payable in securities,
assets, cash or evidences of indebtedness issued by other persons or the
Corporation (excluding cash dividends declared and paid by the Corporation out
of retained earnings)), then, in each such case, the holders of the Series A
Preferred Stock shall be entitled to a pro rata share of any such distribution
as though such holders were holders of the number of shares of Common Stock of
the Corporation as though the Series A Preferred Stock had been converted in
whole as of the record date fixed for the determination of the holders of Common
Stock of the Corporation entitled to receive such distribution.
6. Recapitalizations.
If at any
time there occurs a recapitalization of the Common Stock (other than a
Liquidation or a subdivision, combination, or merger or sale of assets provided
for in Section 4(e)(i)-(iii) hereof) the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock
shall be entitled to receive upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock the
number of shares of capital stock or other securities or property of the
Corporation or otherwise to which a holder of the Common Stock deliverable upon
conversion would have been entitled on such recapitalization. In any such case,
appropriate adjustment shall be made in the application of the provisions of
Section 4 hereof with respect to the rights of the holders of the Series A
Preferred Stock after the recapitalization to the end that the provisions of
Section 4 hereof (including adjustment of the Conversion Rate then in effect and
the number of shares purchasable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred
Stock) shall be applicable after that event as nearly equivalent as may be
practicable.
7. No
Impairment.
The
Corporation will not, by amendment of the Articles of Incorporation or through
any reorganization, recapitalization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger,
dissolution, issuance or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid
or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be
observed or performed hereunder by the Corporation, but will at all times in
good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions hereof.
8. No
Fractional Shares and Certificate as to Adjustments.
(a)
No
fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon the conversion of any
share or shares of the Series A Preferred Stock. All shares of Common Stock
(including fractions thereof) issuable upon conversion of more than one share of
Series A Preferred Stock by a holder shall be aggregated for purposes of
determining whether the conversion would result in the issuance of any
fractional share. If, after the aforementioned aggregation, the conversion would
result in the issuance of a fraction of a share of Common Stock, the Corporation
shall, in lieu of issuing any fractional share, pay the holder otherwise
entitled to such fraction a sum in cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the
closing price of the Corporation's Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market
(or any other national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then
traded) on the day immediately preceding the conversion. All calculations under
Section 4 hereof and this Section 8(a) shall be made to the nearest cent or to
the nearest share, as the case may be.
(b)
Upon the
occurrence of each adjustment or readjustment of the Conversion Rate pursuant to
Section 4 hereof, the Corporation, at its expense, shall promptly compute such
adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the terms hereof and prepare and
furnish to each holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock a certificate
setting forth such adjustment or readjustment and showing in detail the facts
upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based. The Corporation shall, upon
the written request at any time of any holder of Series A Preferred Stock, use
its reasonable best efforts to furnish or cause to be furnished to such holder a
like certificate setting forth (i) such adjustment or readjustment, (ii) the
Conversion Rate at the time in effect, and (iii) the number of shares of Common
Stock and the amount, if any, of other property which at the time would be
received upon the conversion of a share of Series A Preferred
Stock.
9. Reservation
of Stock Issuable Upon Conversion.
The
Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized
but unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the
conversion of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, such number of its
shares of Common Stock that shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the
conversion of all outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock; and if at
any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock not
otherwise reserved for issuance shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion
of all then outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, the Corporation
shall take such corporate action that may, in the opinion of its counsel, be
necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to such
number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes, including, without
limitation, engaging in best efforts to obtain the requisite stockholder
approval of any necessary amendment to its Articles of
Incorporation.
10. Notices.
Any
notice required by the provisions hereof to be given to the holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall be given in writing and shall be deemed to have
been given (i) in the case of personal or hand delivery, on the date of such
delivery, (ii) in the case of an internationally-recognized overnight delivery
courier, on the second business day after the date when sent, (iii) in the case
of mailing, on the fifth business day following that day on which the piece of
mail containing such communication is posted and (iv) in the case of facsimile
transmission, the date of telephone confirmation of receipt.
11. Voting
Rights.
Holders
of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote on all matters submitted
to a vote of the holders of the Corporation’s Common Stock, including with
respect to the election of directors of the Corporation, on an as if converted
basis based on the Voting Conversion Rate (defined below) in effect on the
record date of such vote. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall initially
be entitled to cast 86 votes (as adjusted from time to time hereunder, the
“Voting
Conversion Rate”). The
Voting Conversion Rate shall be adjusted from time to time in the same manner
and under the same circumstances as the Conversion Rate is adjusted.
Notwithstanding the voting group rights set forth in Section 23B.11.035 of the
WBCA, holders of Series A Preferred Stock will not have, by virtue of the WBCA
or this Section 11, the right to vote separately as a series on any proposed
plan of merger or plan of share exchange. Except as otherwise provided herein,
to the maximum extent permitted by law, holders of Series A Preferred Stock will
not have any rights to vote separately as a series with respect to any matter
submitted to a vote of the holders of the Corporation’s outstanding
securities.
12. Protective
Provisions.
(a)
So long
as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall
not (either directly or indirectly by merger, consolidation, reclassification or
similar transaction) without first obtaining the approval (by vote or written
consent, as provided by law) of the holders of at least a majority of the
then-outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting separately as a
series:
(i)
amend its
Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws or other governing documents so as to (i)
increase the number of authorized shares of the Corporation's preferred stock or
(ii) adversely change the rights, preferences or privileges of the Series A
Preferred Stock or any holder thereof; provided, however, that the authorization
and issuance of additional shares of Common Stock, and creation of any series of
preferred stock (or issuing shares under any such series) that is junior in
dividends, liquidation preference, redemption, conversion and payment rights and
otherwise to the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to adversely
change the rights, preferences or privileges of the Series A Preferred Stock;
provided further, that the foregoing shall not, in any way, prevent the
Corporation from unilaterally amending the Articles of Incorporation,
authorizing and otherwise designating additional shares of Series A Preferred
Stock and issuing additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock to the then
existing holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and/or Registrable Securities,
but only to the extent that such shares of Series A Preferred Stock are being
issued in satisfaction of Non-Registration Fees.
(ii)
create, authorize, designate, offer, sell or issue any equity security (or
security convertible into or exchangeable for an equity security) that is senior
to or pari passu with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to voting
rights, dividends, liquidation preference or conversion rights; provided,
however, that the foregoing shall not, in any way, prevent the Company from
authorizing, designating, offering, selling or issuing any Common Stock or any
series of preferred stock (or issuing shares under any such series) that is pari
passu with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to voting rights and/or
dividends provided that such Common Stock or series of preferred stock is junior
in liquidation preference to the Series A Preferred Stock; provided further,
that the foregoing shall not, in any way, prevent the Corporation from
unilaterally amending the Articles of Incorporation, authorizing and otherwise
designating additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock and issuing additional
shares of Series A Preferred Stock to the then existing holders of the Series A
Preferred Stock and/or Registrable Securities, but only to the extent that such
shares of Series A Preferred Stock are being issued in satisfaction of
Non-Registration Fees.
(iii)
create any new debt instrument or bank line or increase any existing bank line
or debt obligation (or similar arrangement pursuant to which the Company is or
becomes indebted, but specifically excluding trade payables in the ordinary
course of business and specifically excluding capital lease lines), so that the
Company's total indebtedness pursuant to such instruments, lines or arrangements
exceeds $10,000,000 in the aggregate;
(iv)
declare or pay any Distribution (as defined below) with respect to any capital
stock of the Corporation; or
(v) issue
or agree to issue more than 2,000,000 Additional Shares of Common Stock (as
defined below) or Additional Common Stock Equivalents (as defined below) (as
appropriately adjusted for any combinations, divisions, or similar
recapitalizations affecting the Common Stock after the Original Issue Date) at a
price below $4.00 per share (as appropriately adjusted for any combinations,
divisions, or similar recapitalizations affecting the Common Stock after the
Original Issue Date).
(b)
For
purposes of this Section 12, “Distribution” shall
mean the transfer of cash or other property without consideration, whether by
way of dividend or otherwise, other than dividends on Common Stock payable in
Common Stock, or the purchase or redemption of shares of the Corporation for
cash or property other than repurchases of Common Stock issued to or held by
employees, officers, directors or consultants of the Corporation or its
subsidiaries upon termination of their employment or services pursuant to
agreements providing for the right of said repurchase, provided such agreements
either exist on the Original Issue Date or are approved by holders of a majority
of the Series A Preferred Stock outstanding at the time such agreements become
binding or at the time of such repurchase.
(c)
For
purposes of this Section 12, “Additional
Shares of Common Stock” and
“Additional
Common Stock Equivalents” shall
mean all shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents, respectively,
issued by the Corporation after the Original Issue Date, other than (1) Common
Stock or Common Stock Equivalents issued upon the exercise or conversion of
Common Stock Equivalents outstanding on September 10, 2004; (2) Common Stock or
Common Stock Equivalents issued upon conversion of Series A Preferred Stock
issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement or as payment of Non-Registration
Fees; (3) Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents issued or issuable as a
dividend or distribution on Preferred Stock or pursuant to any event for which
adjustment is made to the Conversion Rate pursuant hereto; (4) Common Stock or
Common Stock Equivalents issued in connection with: (i) the acquisition of
another entity or business by the Corporation by merger, share exchange,
purchase of substantially all of the assets or other reorganization or pursuant
to a joint venture agreement; or (ii) the acquisition of the Corporation by
another corporation or business entity by merger, share exchange, purchase of
substantially all of the assets or other reorganization or pursuant to a joint
venture agreement, the primary purpose of which is not capital raising; (5) up
to 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents (as
appropriately adjusted for any combinations, divisions, or similar
recapitalizations affecting the Common Stock after the Original Issue Date to
officers, directors and employees of, or consultants to, the Corporation
pursuant to stock grants, option plans, purchase plans or other employee stock
incentive programs or arrangements approved by the Board of Directors, or upon
exercise of options or warrants granted to such parties pursuant to any such
plan or arrangement; or (6) additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued
to the then existing holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and/or Registrable
Securities, provided that such shares of Series A Preferred Stock are being
issued in satisfaction of Non-Registration Fees
(d)
For the
purposes of Section 12(a)(v) and Section 12(c), in the event the Corporation at
any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date shall issue any
Additional Common Stock Equivalents or shall fix a record date for the
determination of holders of any class of securities entitled to receive any such
Additional Common Stock Equivalents, then the maximum number of shares (as set
forth in the instrument relating thereto without regard to any provisions
contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such number) of Common Stock
issuable in connection with such Additional Common Stock Equivalents shall be
deemed to have been issued as of such time or, in case such a record date shall
have been fixed, as of the close of business on such record date; provided that
if any Additional Common Stock Equivalent is thereafter amended, or if by its
terms is adjusted to be exerciseable for or convertible into additional shares
of Common Stock, then such additional shares shall be deemed issued as of the
date of such amendment or adjustment.
13. Legend.
The
Series A Preferred Stock and any underlying shares of Common Stock will be
issued under an exemption or exemptions from registration under the Act.
Accordingly, the certificates evidencing the Series A Preferred Stock and the
underlying Common Stock shall, upon issuance, contain a legend, substantially in
the form as follows:
THE
SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND NO
INTEREST HEREIN MAY BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS (1) A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE EFFECTIVE UNDER
THE ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR (2) SUCH SECURITIES ARE
TRANSFERRED PURSUANT TO RULE 144 PROMULGATED UNDER THE ACT (OR ANY SUCCESSOR
RULE) OR (3) THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES SHALL HAVE RECEIVED AN OPINION OF
COUNSEL FOR THE HOLDER OF THESE SECURITIES REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER
THAT NO VIOLATION OF THE ACT OR SIMILAR STATE SECURITIES LAWS WILL BE INVOLVED
IN SUCH TRANSFER.
14. Status
of Converted Stock.
In the
event any shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be converted pursuant to
Section 4 hereof or redeemed pursuant to Section 15 hereof, the shares so
converted or redeemed shall be canceled and shall not be reissuable by the
Corporation.
15. Optional
Redemption.
(a)
At any
time after September 13, 2009, subject to Section 15(e), this Corporation may
redeem, out of funds legally available therefor, in whole or in increments of at
least 15% of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock that have not been converted
into Common Stock pursuant hereto before the time of such redemption (the date
of such redemption being referred to herein as the “Redemption
Date”). The
Corporation shall redeem the shares of Series A Preferred Stock by paying in
cash an amount per share equal to $500 (as appropriately adjusted for any
combinations, divisions, or similar recapitalizations affecting the Series A
Preferred Stock after the Original Issue Date), plus an amount equal to all
declared and unpaid dividends thereon (the “Redemption
Price”). Any
partial redemptions must be effected pro rata among the holders of Series A
Preferred Stock, unless the affected holders consent otherwise. The Corporation
may exercise its redemption right set forth in this Section 15 up to five (5)
separate times.
(b)
At least
thirty (30), but no more than forty five (45) days prior to the Redemption Date,
written notice shall be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each holder of
record (at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on
which notice is sent) of the Series A Preferred Stock, at the address last shown
on the records of the Corporation for such holder, (i) notifying such holder of
the redemption to be effected, the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price, the
place at which payment may be obtained, (ii) calling upon such holder to
surrender to the Corporation the manner and at the place designated the holder's
certificate or certificates representing the shares to be redeemed (or lost
stock affidavits therefor reasonably acceptable to the Corporation) and (iii)
including the officers' certificate described in Section 15(e) (the “Redemption
Notice”). Except
as provided herein, on or after the Redemption Date each holder of Preferred
Stock to be redeemed shall surrender to this Corporation the certificate or
certificates representing the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed
(or lost stock affidavits therefor reasonably acceptable to the Corporation)
(the “Redeemed
Certificates”), in the
manner and at the place designated in the Redemption Notice, and thereupon the
Redemption Price of such shares shall be payable to the order of the person
whose name appears on such certificate or certificates as the owner thereof and
each surrendered certificate shall be cancelled. The Corporation will promptly
prepare and send to each such holder a certificate for any shares of Series A
Preferred Stock represented by a Redeemed Certificate that are not redeemed on
such Redemption Date.
(c) From and
after the applicable Redemption Date, unless there shall have been a default in
payment of the Redemption Price, all rights of the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock designated for redemption in the Redemption Notice as holders of
the Series A Preferred Stock (except the right to receive the Redemption Price
without interest upon surrender of their certificate or certificates) shall
cease with respect to the shares designated for redemption on such date, and
such shares shall not thereafter be transferred on the books of the Corporation
or be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose whatsoever.
(d)
For
avoidance of doubt, the Series A Preferred Stock will continue to have its
conversion rights pursuant to Section 4 until the Redemption Date.
(e)
As a
condition to the Corporation's right to cause a redemption under this Seciton
15, (i) the Corporation must, on the Redemption Date, have funds legally
available for the redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock designated for
redemption, (ii) the Corporation must be able to effect such redemption without
violating or conflicting with any agreement to which the Corporation is a party
or by which it or its assets are bound or the Corporation's Articles of
Incorporation or bylaws, (iii) the Corporation must deposit the Redemption Price
of all the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock with a bank or trust
corporation having aggregate capital and surplus in excess of $100,000,000, as a
trust fund for the benefit of the respective holders of the Series A Preferred
Stock, with irrevocable instructions and authority to the bank or trust
corporation to pay the Redemption Price for such shares to their respective
holders on or after the Redemption Date upon receipt of notification from the
Corporation that such holder has surrendered a share certificate to the
Corporation pursuant to this Section 15 (or lost stock affidavit therefor
reasonably acceptable to the Corporation) and (iv) include in the Redemption
Notice a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Office and Chief Financial
Officer of the Corporation that the conditions set forth in this Section 15(e)
have been satisfied in full. As of the Redemption Date, the deposit shall
constitute full payment of the shares to their holders, and from and after the
Redemption Date the shares so called for redemption shall be redeemed and shall
be deemed to be no longer outstanding, and the holders thereof shall cease to be
shareholders with respect to such shares and shall have no rights with respect
thereto except the right to receive from the bank or trust corporation payment
of the Redemption Price of the shares, without interest, upon surrender of their
certificates therefor (or lost stock affidavit therefor reasonably acceptable to
the Corporation). Such instructions shall also provide that any moneys deposited
by the Corporation pursuant to this Section 15(e) for the redemption of shares
thereafter converted into shares of the Corporation's Common Stock pursuant to
Section 4 hereof prior to the Redemption Date shall be returned to the
Corporation forthwith upon such conversion. The balance of any moneys deposited
by the Corporation pursuant to this Section 15 remaining unclaimed at the
expiration of thirty (30) days following the Redemption Date shall thereafter be
returned to the Corporation upon its request expressed in a resolution of its
Board of Directors, provided the Corporation has used commercially reasonable
efforts to notify the holder of the related Series A Preferred Stock of the
unclaimed amount and such holder's rights therein.