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UNITED STATES |
OMB APPROVAL |
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
OMB Number: 3235-00595 |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 |
Expires: February 28, 2006 |
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SCHEDULE 14A |
Estimated average burden hours per response......... 12.75 |
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: | |
| o | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
| o | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
| x | Definitive Proxy Statement |
| o | Definitive Additional Materials |
| o | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
| x | 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: | |
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| 2. | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: | |
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| 3. | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): | |
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| 4. | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: | |
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| 5. | Total fee paid: | |
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| o | 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: | |
1. |
To elect two Class I directors, to serve until the 2009 Annual Stockholders Meeting, and until their successors are elected and qualify; |
2. |
To consider and act upon a proposal to ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the Companys independent auditors for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007; and |
3. |
To consider and act upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
| Name
and Address(1)
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Amounts and Nature of Ownership |
Percent of Outstanding Shares |
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Directors,
Nominees and Named Executive Officers |
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George T.
Jimenez |
2,023,108 | (2) | 10.76 | % | ||||||
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Paul G. Casner,
Jr. |
41,667 | (3) | * | |||||||
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Harry M.
Linowes |
27,667 | (4) | * | |||||||
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Gilbert A.
Wetzel |
82,667 | (5) | * | |||||||
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J. William
Grimes |
29,225 | (6) | * | |||||||
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Matthew J.
Stover |
16,572 | (7) | * | |||||||
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Steven R.
Delmar |
141,977 | (8) | * | |||||||
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Christopher C.
Couch |
91,451 | (9) | * | |||||||
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All
Directors, Nominees and Executive Officers as a group (8 persons) |
2,454,334 | (10) | 12.84 | |||||||
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Other 5%
Stockholders |
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Oberweis Asset
Management, Inc. 3333 Warrenville Road Suite 500 Lisle, IL 60532 |
985,829 | (11) | 5.28 | |||||||
(1) |
Unless otherwise indicated, the address is c/o ACE*COMM Corporation, 704 Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878 and the designated owner has voting and investment power with respect to the shares. |
(2) |
Includes 133,224 shares issuable upon the exercise of options. Does not include 950 shares held by his mother-in-law, as to which his wife has voting and investment power and as to which Mr. Jimenez disclaims beneficial ownership. |
(3) |
Includes 21,667 shares issuable upon the exercise of options. |
(4) |
Includes 20,667 shares issuable upon the exercise of options. Does not include 100 shares held by his wife in a retirement account, as to which his wife has sole voting and investment power and as to which Mr. Linowes disclaims beneficial ownership. |
(5) |
Includes 15,667 shares issuable upon the exercise of options. |
(6) |
Includes 29,038 shares issuable upon the exercise of options. Includes only shares held individually. Does not include 904,295 shares held by BG Media Investors L.P. (BG LP). Mr. Grimes (along with Mr. John Backe and Mr. Ted Carroll) is a General Partner of BG Media Investors, LLC (BG LLC), the General Partner of BG LP. Messrs. Grimes, Backe and Carroll disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares held by BG LP other than to the extent of its or his individual partnership interest. The Members of BG LLC, as the General Partner of BG LP, exercise shared voting and dispositive power with respect to the 904,295 shares held by BG LP. Excludes 37,572 shares and 112 shares held individually by Messrs. Backe and Carroll, respectively. |
(7) |
Includes 16,441 shares issuable upon the exercise of options. |
(8) |
Includes 136,977 shares issuable upon the exercise of options. |
(9) |
Includes 83,334 shares issuable upon the exercise of options. Also includes 8,117 shares acquired under the Companys employee stock purchase plan. |
(10) |
Includes 457,015 shares issuable upon the exercise of options. Includes only shares held individually or through trusts. |
(11) |
Includes 231,696 shares owned by Oberweis Funds (the Fund), which has delegated voting and dispositive power to Oberweis Asset Management (OAM) and are considered to be shares beneficially owned by OAM by reason of such delegated powers. In addition to the shares beneficially owned by the Fund, other clients of OAM may own shares which are not included herein because OAM does not share voting or investment power for those shares. Various of OAMs shareholders and employees are also officers and trustees of the Fund, but OAM does not consider the Fund to be controlled by such persons. |
| Name of Director or Nominee |
Age |
Director Since |
Class of Director |
Recent Business Experience |
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George T.
Jimenez |
70 | 1983 | III |
Chief Executive Officer of the Company since 1996, President from October 2006 to present and Treasurer from 1983 to present. Formerly,
President from 1983 to September 1999 and July 2001 to June 2005. Mr. Jimenez has been Chairman of the Board of Directors since 1983. |
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Paul G. Casner,
Jr. |
68 | 1983 | II |
Business management consultant. Prior to retirement in April 2005, was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of DRS
Technologies, Inc., a defense electronics corporation starting in June 2000. Executive Vice President, Operations, DRS, from December 1998 to May 2000;
President of DRS Electronic Systems Group, a division of DRS Technologies, from 1994 to 1998; and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Technology
Applications & Service Company from March 1991 to September 1993. |
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Gilbert A.
Wetzel |
74 | 1992 | I |
Senior Vice President, Mayer Leadership Group (formerly Mayer & Associates), a human resources consulting firm, since 2004 and Managing
Director from 1999 to 2004. Executive Vice President, Right Management Consultants, from 1994 to 1999; retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Bell of Pennsylvania and Diamond State Telephone and founder and retired Chief Executive Officer of Geographic Business Publishers,
Inc. |
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Harry M.
Linowes |
78 | 1999 | I |
Business management consultant. Currently an associate of Business Mediation Associates. Senior Partner (1992 to retirement in 1996) and a
Managing Partner (1986 to 1992) of BDO Seidman, Accountants and Consultants. |
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J. William
Grimes |
65 | 2004 | III |
General Partner, BG Media Investors LLC, a private equity capital firm specializing in investments in media and telecommunications companies,
since 1996. President and Interim Chief Executive Officer of i3 Mobile, Inc. from March 2003 to December 2003. Chief Executive Officer, Zenith Media,
from 1994 to 1996; President and CEO of Multimedia, Inc. from 1991 to 1993, and President and CEO of Univision Holdings, Inc. from 1988 to
1991. |
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| Name of Director or Nominee |
Age |
Director Since |
Class of Director |
Recent Business Experience | |||||||||||||
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Matthew J.
Stover |
51 | 2004 | II |
Chairman and CEO of ypOne Publishing, an independent publisher of local
yellow pages shopping directories in the United States and Canada, since
November 2005. Chairman, LKM Ventures, LLC, an investment and advisory
firm, since January 2000. President and then Chief Executive Officer,
edu.com, Inc., a marketing services company, from May 2000 to June 2001.
Group President of Bell Atlantic Directory Services, and its predecessor,
NYNEX Information Services Group, from January 1994 to December 1999.
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| Annual
Compensation(1)
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Long-Term Compensation Awards |
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| Name And Principal Position |
Fiscal Year |
Salary(2)
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Bonus
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Other Annual Compensation(3) |
Restricted Stock Awards |
Number
of Shares Underlying Options |
All Other Compensation(4) |
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| George
T. Jimenez |
2006 | $ | 200,769 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | 0 | $ | 11,171 | |||||||||||||||
| Chairman
of the Board, |
2005 | 200,769 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | 11,171 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Chief
Executive Officer |
2004 | 193,159 | 0 | 0 | | 24,000 | 11,171 | |||||||||||||||||||
| and
Treasurer |
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| John
B. Bennett(5) |
2006 | 220,846 | 0 | 0 | 66,667 | (6) | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| President |
2005 | 14,385 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
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2004 | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
| Christopher
C. Couch |
2006 | 165,635 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Senior
Vice President and |
2005 | 132,116 | (7) | 0 | 24,505 | | 125,000 | (8) | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Chief
Marketing Officer |
2004 | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||
| Steven
R. Delmar |
2006 | 190,731 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Senior
Vice President and |
2005 | 175,673 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Chief
Financial Officer |
2004 | 168,143 | 0 | 0 | | 36,000 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
(1) |
Includes salary deferrals under the Companys 401(k) plan. |
(2) |
Reflects a voluntary reduction in salary starting in February 2002 and continuing through November 2003, for each of the named executive officers employed during that period. |
(3) |
Does not include perquisites and personal benefits aggregating less than 10% of the officers salary and bonus. As to 2005, comprises relocation expenses of $24,505 paid to Mr. Couch. |
(4) |
Consists of, as to all years, amounts paid in connection with a life insurance policy and disability insurance for Mr. Jimenez. For fiscal year 2006, $6,975 was paid for life insurance and $4,196 was paid for disability insurance. |
(5) |
Reflects compensation beginning June 8, 2005, when Mr. Bennett joined the Company, through fiscal year 2006. Subsequent to fiscal year end, in October 2006, Mr. Bennett ceased to be an employee and executive officer of the Company. |
(6) |
One-time grants of restricted stock made to Mr. Bennett in connection with hiring. Includes an award of 50,000 shares of restricted stock, such shares vesting one-quarter per year on June 8 of 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. Also includes 16,667 shares of restricted stock, vesting of which is related to financial performance targets in fiscal year 2006. On June 30, 2006, and based on the closing stock price on that date, the approximate value of the aggregate restricted stock held by Mr. Bennett was $182,001. Subsequent to fiscal year end, it was determined that the financial performance goals were not met and 16,667 of the restricted shares were forfeited. Restricted stock that is unvested at the time of termination of employment is forfeited. Accordingly, at the time he ceased to be an employee, Mr. Bennett forfeited 37,500 shares of restricted stock. |
(7) |
Reflects compensation beginning August 16, 2004, when Mr. Couch joined the Company. |
(8) |
One-time grant made to Mr. Couch in connection with hiring. |
| Individual
Grants
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| Potential
Realizable Value at Assumed Rates of Stock Price Appreciation for Option Term(2) |
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| Name
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Number
of Shares Underlying Options Granted |
Percentage
of Total Options Granted to Employees in Fiscal 2006 |
Exercise Price Per Share |
Expiration Date |
0%
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5%
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10%
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George
T. Jimenez |
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John
B. Bennett |
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Christopher
C. Couch |
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Steven
R. Delmar |
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(1) |
No stock options were granted to executive officers in fiscal year 2006. |
(2) |
Amounts are based on the 0%, 5%, and 10% annual compounded rates of appreciation of the Common Stock price from the date of grant, prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and are not intended to forecast future appreciation of the Companys Common Stock. The prices of the Common Stock, assuming such annual compounded rates of appreciation over the term of the option, would be as follows: |
| Exercise
price
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Term
of Option
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0%
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5%
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10%
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| Number
of Shares Underlying Unexercised Options at Fiscal Year-End |
Value
of Unexercised In-the-Money Options at Fiscal Year-End(2) |
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| Name
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Shares Acquired on Exercise |
Value Realized(1) |
Exercisable/Unexercisable
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Exercisable/Unexercisable
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| George
T. Jimenez |
0 | $ 0 | 133,224 | 20,000 | $ | 24,984 | $ | 30,200 | ||||||||||||||||||
| John
B. Bennett |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Christopher
C. Couch |
0 | 0 | 41,667 | 83,333 | 40,417 | 80,833 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Steven
R. Delmar |
0 | 0 | 136,977 | 20,000 | 128,197 | 30,200 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) |
Value realized represents the positive spread between the respective exercise prices of the exercised options and the fair market value per share on the respective dates of exercise. |
(2) |
Value for in-the-money options represent the positive spread between the respective exercise prices of outstanding options and the market price on June 30, 2006. |
| Name
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Age
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Current
Position
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George
T. Jimenez |
70 |
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President and Treasurer |
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Christopher
C. Couch |
36 |
Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer |
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Steven
R. Delmar |
50 |
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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Loretta
L. Rivers |
49 |
Corporate Secretary and Director of Human Resources |
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| Type of Fee |
Ernst & Young |
Grant Thornton |
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| FY2006 |
FY2005 |
FY2006 |
FY2005 |
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Audit
fees |
$ | 0 | $ | 7,000 | $ | 172,031 | $ | 245,193 | |||||||||||
Audit Related
Fees |
0 | 3,400 | 50,420 | 37,059 | |||||||||||||||
Tax
Fees |
0 | 0 | 49,150 | 60,318 | |||||||||||||||
All other
fees |
0 | 0 | 8,925 | 17,380 | |||||||||||||||
Total
Fees |
$ | 0 | $ | 10,400 | $ | 280,526 | $ | 359,950 | |||||||||||
| (a) Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
(b) Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
(c) Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) |
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| Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders |
4,175,697 | $ 3.05 | 1,196,282 | |||||||||
| Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders |
| $ | | |||||||||
| Total |
4,175,697 | $ 3.05 | 1,196,282 | |||||||||
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The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the nominees listed below and a vote FOR Proposal 2. |
Please |
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SEE REVERSE SIDE |
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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1. |
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS |
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2. |
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF GRANT THORNTON LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS |
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Nominee: |
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FOR THE NOMINEES |
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WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR THE NOMINEES LISTED |
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To withhold authority to vote for either nominee write that nominees |
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Signature(s) |
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Signature |
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Date |
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, 2006 |
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ACE*COMM CORPORATION |
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The undersigned hereby appoints George T. Jimenez and Loretta L. Rivers, or either of them, the proxy or proxies of the undersigned with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of Common Stock of ACE*COMM Corporation held of record by the undersigned at the close of business on October 11, 2006 at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on Friday, December 1, 2006 at 10:00 am, Eastern Time and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof, upon the matters set forth herein. |
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If properly executed, the shares represented by this proxy will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned stockholder, or to the extent directions are not given, such shares will be voted for each of the nominees and each other proposal. |
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Address Change/Comments (Mark the corresponding box on the reverse side) |
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