def14a
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
CHOLESTECH CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and
identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous
filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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CHOLESTECH CORPORATION
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
August 17, 2005
10:00 a.m.
TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2005 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of Cholestech Corporation, which will be held at
our executive offices located at 3347 Investment Boulevard,
Hayward, California 94545-3808, on Wednesday, August 17,
2005, at 10:00 a.m. local time for the following purposes:
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1. To elect seven directors to serve until the next annual
meeting of shareholders or until their successors are duly
elected and qualified. |
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2. To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
as our independent registered public accounting firm for the
fiscal year ending March 31, 2006. |
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3. To approve an amendment to our 2000 stock incentive
program to increase the aggregate number of shares of common
stock that may be issued under such program by 300,000, and to
approve the material terms of the 2000 stock incentive program
for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. |
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4. To transact such other business as may properly come
before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the
meeting. |
These items of business are more fully described in the proxy
statement accompanying this notice. Only shareholders of record
at the close of business on June 20, 2005 will be entitled
to attend and vote at the annual meeting.
Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, please
complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card as
promptly as possible in the accompanying reply envelope. You may
revoke your proxy in the manner described in the accompanying
proxy statement at any time before it has been voted at the
annual meeting. Any shareholder attending the annual meeting may
vote in person even if he or she has returned a proxy.
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For the Board of Directors of |
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CHOLESTECH CORPORATION |
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John F. Glenn |
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Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer, |
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Treasurer and Secretary |
July 15, 2005
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE
COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AS PROMPTLY AS
POSSIBLE AND RETURN IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING REPLY ENVELOPE.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ii
CHOLESTECH CORPORATION
PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE
2005 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
GENERAL INFORMATION
The enclosed proxy is solicited on behalf of the board of
directors of Cholestech Corporation (Cholestech) for
use at our 2005 annual meeting of shareholders and at any
adjournment or postponement of the meeting. The purposes of the
annual meeting are set forth in the accompanying notice of
annual meeting of shareholders.
The annual meeting will be held at our principal executive
offices located at 3347 Investment Boulevard, Hayward,
California 94545-3808, on Wednesday, August 17, 2005, at
10:00 a.m. local time. Our telephone number at that
location is (510) 732-7200.
These proxy solicitation materials and the Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 25, 2005,
including financial statements, were first mailed on or about
July 15, 2005 to all shareholders entitled to vote at the
meeting. You may receive an additional copy of our Annual
Report on Form 10-K or a copy of the exhibits to our
Annual Report on Form 10-K without charge by sending a
written request to our corporate secretary at the address
above.
Who May Vote
You may vote if our records show that you owned your shares as
of June 20, 2005. At the close of business on that date, we
had a total of 14,630,054 shares of common stock
outstanding, which were held by approximately
153 shareholders of record. As of the record date, we had
no shares of our preferred stock outstanding.
Revoking Your Proxy Card
You may revoke your proxy card at any time before it is voted at
the annual meeting. In order to do this, you must either
(i) sign and return another proxy card bearing a later
date; (ii) provide written notice of the revocation to John
F. Glenn, our vice president of finance and chief financial
officer, before we take the vote at the annual meeting; or
(iii) attend the meeting and vote in person.
Quorum Requirement
A quorum, which is a majority of our outstanding shares as of
the record date, must be present in order to hold the annual
meeting and to conduct business. Your shares will be counted as
being present at the meeting if you attend the meeting in person
or if you submit a properly executed proxy card.
Voting
You are entitled to one vote for each share held. In voting for
the election of directors (Proposal One), you may cumulate
your votes. This means you may give one candidate a number of
votes equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied
by the number of shares held by you, or distribute your votes on
the same principle among as many candidates as you may select,
provided that you cannot cast votes for more candidates than the
number of directors to be elected (seven). However, you will not
be entitled to cumulate votes unless the candidates name
has been placed in nomination prior to voting and you have given
notice at the meeting, prior to the voting, of your intention to
cumulate your votes. On all other matters, you are entitled to
one vote for each share held.
If your proxy card is properly dated, executed and returned,
your shares will be voted at the annual meeting in accordance
with the instructions you indicate on the proxy card. If you
submit the proxy card but do not indicate your voting
instructions, your shares will be voted as follows:
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FOR the election of the seven nominees to the board of directors; |
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FOR the ratification of the appointment of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public
accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31,
2006; and |
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FOR the amendment to our 2000 stock incentive program to
increase the aggregate number of shares of common stock that may
be issued under such program by 300,000, and to approve the
material terms of the 2000 stock incentive program for purposes
of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. |
Proxy Solicitation Costs
Our board of directors is making this solicitation of proxies
and we will bear the entire cost of proxy solicitation,
including the preparation, assembly, printing and mailing of our
proxy materials. None of our directors intend to oppose any
action for which shareholder approval is being solicited. We
have engaged Georgeson Shareholder Communications Inc. to assist
in solicitation of proxies at an estimated fee of $15,000, plus
disbursements. In addition, we may reimburse brokerage firms and
other persons representing beneficial owners for their expenses
in forwarding solicitation materials to such beneficial owners.
Certain of our directors, officers and regular employees,
without additional compensation, may solicit proxies on behalf
of our board of directors, personally or by telephone or
facsimile. We expect that a representative from our transfer
agent, Computershare Limited, will tabulate the proxies and act
as the inspector of elections.
Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes
If you return a proxy card that indicates an abstention from
voting on all matters, the shares represented will be counted as
present for the purpose of determining a quorum, but they will
not be voted on any matter at the annual meeting. Consequently,
if you abstain from voting on the proposal to elect directors,
your abstention will have no effect on the outcome of the vote
with respect to this proposal. If you abstain from voting on the
proposal to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
as our independent registered public accounting firm and the
proposal to increase the aggregate number of shares of common
stock that may be issued under the 2000 stock incentive program
and to approve the material terms of such program, your
abstention will have the same effect as a vote against these
proposals.
Under the rules that govern brokers who have record ownership of
shares that are held in street name for their
clients, who are the beneficial owners of the shares, brokers
have discretion to vote these shares on routine matters but not
on non-routine matters. Thus, if you do not otherwise instruct
your broker, the broker may turn in a proxy card voting your
shares for routine matters but expressly instructing
that the broker is NOT voting on non-routine matters. A
broker non-vote occurs when a broker expressly
instructs on a proxy card that it is not voting on a matter,
whether routine or non-routine. Broker non-votes are counted for
the purpose of determining the presence or absence of a quorum
but are not counted for determining the number of votes cast for
or against a proposal. Your broker will have discretionary
authority to vote your shares on Proposal One and
Proposal Two, which are both routine matters. However, for
shares held through a broker or other nominee who is a NYSE
member organization, your shares will only be voted in favor of
Proposal Three if you have provided specific voting
instructions to your broker or other nominee to vote your shares
in favor of that proposal. See Vote Required
following each proposal for further information.
Voting Results
The preliminary voting results will be announced at the annual
meeting. The final voting results will be calculated by our
transfer agent and inspector of elections, Computershare
Limited, and published in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the second quarter of fiscal year 2006.
2
Deadline of Receipt of Shareholder Proposals for 2006 Annual
Meeting
As a shareholder, you may be entitled to present proposals for
action at a forthcoming meeting if you comply with the
requirements of the proxy rules established by the Securities
and Exchange Commission. If you intend to present a proposal at
our 2006 annual meeting of shareholders, the proposal must be
received by us no later than March 17, 2006 to be
considered for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of
proxy relating to that meeting.
The Securities and Exchange Commission rules establish a
different deadline with respect to discretionary voting for
shareholder proposals that are not intended to be included in a
companys proxy statement. The discretionary vote deadline
for our 2006 annual meeting is May 31, 2006, which is 45
calendar days prior to the anniversary of the mailing date of
this proxy statement. If a shareholder gives notice of a
proposal after the discretionary vote deadline, our proxy
holders will be allowed to use their discretionary voting
authority to vote against the shareholder proposal when and if
the proposal is raised at our 2006 annual meeting.
Nomination of Director Candidates
You may also propose director candidates for consideration by
the boards nominating committee. It is our policy that our
nominating committee will consider recommendations for
candidates to the board of directors from shareholders holding
not less than 1% of the total outstanding shares of our common
stock and who have held such common stock continuously for at
least 12 months prior to the date of the submission of the
recommendation. The nominating committee will consider persons
recommended by our shareholders in the same manner as a nominee
recommended by other board members or management. See
Corporate Governance Policy for Director
Recommendations and Nominations for additional information.
Shareholder Communications to Directors
Shareholders may communicate directly with our directors by
sending an email to board@cholestech.com. Our chief
financial officer will monitor these communications and will
ensure that appropriate summaries of all received messages and
all received messages are provided to the board of directors at
its regularly scheduled meetings. In addition, all of our
directors will have access to this email address. Where the
nature of a communication warrants, our chief financial officer
may decide to obtain the more immediate attention of the
appropriate committee of the board of directors or a
non-management director, or our management or independent
advisors, as our chief financial officer considers appropriate.
After reviewing shareholder messages, our board of directors
will determine whether any response is necessary and whether
further action is required.
Other Matters
Other than the proposals listed above, our board of directors
does not intend to present any other matters to be voted on at
the 2005 annual meeting of shareholders. Our board of directors
is not currently aware of any other matters that will be
presented by others for action at the meeting. However, if other
matters are properly presented at the 2005 annual meeting of
shareholders and you have signed and returned your proxy card,
the proxy holders will have discretion to vote your shares on
these matters to the extent authorized under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
3
PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
General
A board of seven directors is to be elected at the annual
meeting. Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will
vote the proxies received by them for the seven nominees named
below, all of whom are presently our directors. In any event,
the proxy holders cannot vote the proxies for a greater number
of persons than seven. In the event that any nominee is unable
or declines to serve as a director at the time of the annual
meeting, the proxies will be voted for a nominee who shall be
designated by the present board of directors to fill the
vacancy. In the event that additional persons are nominated for
election as directors, the proxy holders intend to vote all
proxies received by them in such a manner (in accordance with
cumulative voting) as will assure the election of as many of the
nominees listed below as possible, and, in such event, the
specific nominees to be voted for will be determined by the
proxy holders. We are not aware of any nominee who will be
unable or will decline to serve as a director. The term of
office for each person elected as a director will continue until
the next annual meeting of shareholders or until such
directors successor has been duly elected and qualified.
Nominees
The following table sets forth the names, ages and titles of the
nominees as of June 20, 2005:
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Director |
Name of Nominee |
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Position with Cholestech |
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Since |
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John H. Landon(2)(3)(4)(5)
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Chairman of the Board |
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1997 |
Warren E. Pinckert II
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President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
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1993 |
Michael D. Casey(3)(4)(6)
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59 |
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Director |
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2001 |
John L. Castello(2)(3)(4)(7)
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69 |
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Director |
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1993 |
Elizabeth H. Dávila(1)(2)
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60 |
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Director |
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2003 |
Stuart Heap(1)(2)
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56 |
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Director |
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2003 |
Larry Y. Wilson(1)(8)
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55 |
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Director |
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1998 |
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Member of the audit committee. |
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Member of the compensation committee. |
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Member of the nominating committee. |
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Member of the governance committee. |
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Chair of the nominating committee. |
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Chair of the governance committee. |
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Chair of the compensation committee. |
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Chair of the audit committee. |
There are no family relationships between any director or
executive officer.
John H. Landon has served as a director since December
1997 and as our chairman since August 2000. Mr. Landon
served as the vice president and general manager of Medical
Products for E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company from 1992 until
his retirement in 1996. Prior to that, Mr. Landon served in
various capacities at DuPont, including vice president and
general manager, Diagnostics and Biotechnology from 1990 to
1992, director of Diagnostics from 1988 to 1990, business
director of Diagnostic Imaging from 1985 to 1988 and in various
other professional and management positions at DuPont from 1962
to 1985. Mr. Landon is also
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a director of Digene Corporation and Christiana Care Corporation
and has previously served as a director of the GenVec, Inc.
Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) and the DuPont
Merck Pharmaceutical Company. Mr. Landon earned a Bachelor
of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of
Arizona.
Warren E. Pinckert II has served as our president,
chief executive officer and a director since June 1993.
Mr. Pinckert served as our executive vice president of
operations from 1991 to June 1993, as our chief financial
officer and vice president of business development from 1989 to
June 1993 and as our secretary from 1989 to January 1997. From
1983 to 1989, Mr. Pinckert was chief financial officer of
Sunrise Medical Inc., an international durable medical equipment
manufacturer. Mr. Pinckert is also a director of PacifiCare
Health Systems, Inc. and serves on the Board of Advisors for the
San Francisco State University School of Business.
Mr. Pinckert earned a Bachelor of Science degree in
Accounting and a Masters of Business Administration degree from
the University of Southern California.
Michael D. Casey has served as a director since February
2001. Mr. Casey served as the chairman, president, chief
executive officer and a director of Matrix Pharmaceutical, Inc.
from 1997 until his retirement in February 2002. From November
1995 to December 1996, Mr. Casey was executive vice
president at Schein Pharmaceutical, Inc. In December 1996, he
was appointed president of the retail and specialty products
division of Schein. From June 1993 to November 1995, he served
as president and chief operating officer of Genetic Therapy,
Inc. Mr. Casey was president of McNeil Pharmaceutical (a
unit of Johnson & Johnson) from 1989 to June 1993 and
vice president, sales and marketing for Ortho Pharmaceutical
Corp. (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson) from 1985 to
1989. Mr. Casey is also a director of Celgene Corporation,
Bone Care International, Inc., Allos Therapeutics, Inc.,
OrthoLogic Corporation and Durect Corporation.
John L. Castello has served as a director since August
1993. Mr. Castello is the chairman, president and chief
executive officer of Xoma Ltd., a biotechnology company.
Mr. Castello joined Xoma in April 1992 as president and
chief executive officer and became chairman in 1993. He served
as president of Ares Serono Diagnostics from 1986 to 1988,
president and chief operating officer of The Ares Serono Group
from 1988 to 1991 and chairman of Ares Serono Inc. from 1991 to
1992. From 1960 to 1986, Mr. Castello held various senior
management positions at Amersham International plc, Abbott
Laboratories, General Foods and Honeywell Corp.
Mr. Castello earned a Bachelor of Science degree in
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering from Notre Dame University.
Elizabeth H. Dávila has served as a director since
August 2003. Ms. Dávila served as chairman of the
board and chief executive officer of VISX, Incorporated, a
developer of proprietary technologies and systems for laser
vision correction, from 2001 until May 2005 when VISX was
acquired by Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. She is currently a
member of the board of directors of Advanced Medical Optics.
From 1995 to 2001, Ms. Dávila held the positions of
president, executive vice president and chief operating officer
at VSX and served as a director since December 1995 at VISX.
Prior to joining VISX, Ms. Dávila was at Syntex
Corporation from 1977 to 1994 where she held senior management
positions in its medical device, medical diagnostics, and
pharmaceutical divisions. Ms. Dávila also serves on
the board of directors of Nugen Technologies, Inc. She holds a
masters degree in chemistry from Notre Dame and an MBA from
Stanford University.
Stuart Heap has served as a director since March 2003.
Mr. Heap is the chief executive officer of Regent Medical,
a manufacturer of surgical gloves for the healthcare industry.
From January 2002 to June 2004, Mr. Heap served as chief
executive officer and president of SSL-Americas. From January
1998 to December 2001, Mr. Heap served as the president of
the contact lens division of CIBA Vision Corp., a subsidiary of
Novartis AG. Mr. Heap was the head of global marketing for
CIBA Vision from June 1995 to June 1997. Mr. Heap earned a
Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Salford
University in the United Kingdom.
Larry Y. Wilson has served as a director since May 1998.
Since January 2002, Mr. Wilson has served as senior vice
president and chief financial officer for Northern California
for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. From 1987 to June 2001,
Mr. Wilson served as the executive vice president and chief
operating officer of
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Catholic Healthcare West. Mr. Wilson served as the
executive vice president and chief financial officer of Mercy
Health System, a predecessor of Catholic Healthcare, from 1983
to 1986 and as a principal of the Health and Medical Division of
Booz Allen & Hamilton, a consulting company, from 1979
to 1983. From 1995 to December 2001, Mr. Wilson also served
as an officer and director of the California Healthcare
Association and as its chairman in 2000. Mr. Wilson earned
a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Harvard University and
a Masters of Business Administration degree from Stanford
University.
Vote Required and Board Recommendation
If a quorum is present, the seven nominees receiving the most
FOR votes (among votes properly cast in person or by
proxy) will be elected to the board of directors. Abstentions
and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the
vote with respect to this proposal. The board of directors
recommends that shareholders vote FOR the election of each
of the seven nominees named above.
6
PROPOSAL TWO
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The board of directors, acting upon the recommendation of the
audit committee of the board of directors, has selected
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public
accounting firm (PwC), to audit our consolidated
financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31,
2006, and recommends that the shareholders vote for the
ratification of such appointment. In the event of a negative
vote on such ratification, the board of directors will
reconsider its selection.
Representatives of PwC are expected to be present at the annual
meeting with the opportunity to make a statement if they desire
to do so and are expected to be available to respond to
appropriate questions.
Fees to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for Fiscal 2005 and
2004
The following table presents fees for professional services
rendered by PwC for the audit of our consolidated annual
financial statements for fiscal 2005 and 2004 and fees billed
for audit services, audit-related services, tax services and all
other services rendered by PwC for fiscal 2005 and 2004:
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2005 | |
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2004 | |
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Audit Fees
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$ |
567,380 |
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|
$ |
141,050 |
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Audit-Related Fees
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111,500 |
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40,300 |
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Tax Fees
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104,295 |
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192,000 |
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All Other Fees
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Total Fees
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$ |
783,175 |
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$ |
373,350 |
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Audit Fees. Consists of fees billed for professional
services rendered for the audit of our consolidated financial
statements and review of the interim consolidated financial
statements included in quarterly reports and services that are
normally provided by PwC in connection with statutory and
regulatory filings or engagements.
Audit-Related Fees. Consists of fees billed for assurance
and related services that are reasonably related to the
performance of the audit or review of our consolidated financial
statements and are not reported under Audit Fees.
These services include primarily of services related to internal
controls, attest services that are not required by statute or
regulation, and consultations concerning financial accounting
and reporting standards.
Tax Fees. For 2005, consists of fees billed for
professional services for tax compliance ($67,000) and tax
planning ($37,295). For 2004, consists of fees billed for
professional services for tax compliance ($119,700), tax advice
($8,000) and tax planning ($64,300). These services include
assistance regarding federal, state and international tax
compliance, tax audit defense, customs and duties and
international tax planning.
All Other Fees. Consists of fees for products and
services other than the services reported above.
Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and
Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm
The audit committees policy is to pre-approve all audit
and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent
registered public accounting firm. These services include audit
services, audit-related services, tax services and other
services. Pre-approval is generally detailed as to the
particular service or category of services and is generally
subject to a specific budget. The independent registered public
accounting firm and management are required to periodically
report to the audit committee regarding the extent of services
provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in
accordance with this pre-approval, and the fees for the services
performed to date. The audit committee also pre-approves
particular services on a case-by-case basis.
7
The audit committee approved all of the services described under
the captions Audit Fees, Audit Related
Fees, Tax Fees, and All Other Fees
and no time expended on PwCs engagement to audit financial
statements for the most recent fiscal year was attributed to
work performed by persons other than the independent registered
public accounting firms full-time, permanent employees.
In making its recommendation to appoint PwC as our independent
registered public accounting firm, the audit committee has
considered whether the provision of the non-audit services
rendered by PwC is compatible with maintaining the firms
independence. The audit committee has determined that the
provision of non-audit services by PwC is compatible with
maintaining the firms independence as our independent
registered public accounting firm.
Vote Required and Board Recommendation
Shareholder ratification of the selection of PwC as our
independent registered public accounting firm is not required by
our bylaws or any other applicable legal requirement. However,
the board of directors is submitting the selection of PwC to the
shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate
practice. Even if the selection is ratified, the audit committee
at its discretion may direct the appointment of a different
independent registered public accounting firm at any time during
the year if it determines that such a change would be in our
best interests and in the best interests of our shareholders.
To be approved, this proposal must receive a FOR
vote from a majority of the shares present and voting, either in
person or by proxy (which shares voting affirmatively also must
constitute at least a majority of the required quorum).
Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against this
proposal and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome
of the vote with respect to this proposal. The board of
directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR
ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as
our independent registered public accounting firm.
8
PROPOSAL THREE
AMENDMENT TO 2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO INCREASE
AGGREGATE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AUTHORIZED FOR
ISSUANCE,
AND APPROVAL OF MATERIAL TERMS OF 2000 STOCK INCENTIVE
PROGRAM
FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 162(m) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE
CODE
The board of directors has approved an amendment to our 2000
stock incentive program to increase the aggregate number of
shares of our common stock that may be issued under the program
by 300,000 shares and to permit awards granted under the
2000 stock incentive program to certain officers to qualify for
a tax deduction for United States federal income tax purposes.
The board of directors believes that the fundamental objectives
of a long-term incentive compensation program are to align the
interests of our employees, consultants and directors with those
of our shareholders and to create long-term shareholder value.
The board of directors believes that the 2000 stock incentive
program gives us the ability to achieve these objectives and
will help us recruit, reward, motivate and retain talented
personnel crucial to our success. If the proposed amendment does
not receive shareholder approval, we may be unable to attract
and retain such personnel. The board of directors believes that
the proposed share increase will provide sufficient shares for
anticipated grants through fiscal 2007.
At the annual meeting, our shareholders are being asked to
approve these amendments to our 2000 stock incentive program,
the material terms of which are described more fully below. As
of the record date, a total of 1,845,000 shares have been
reserved under the 2000 stock incentive program, of which
options to purchase 1,108,444 shares of our common
stock have been granted pursuant to the plan (552,573 of which
were vested) and 736,556 shares remain available for future
grant. Our named executive officers and directors have an
interest in this proposal.
Key points of the 2000 stock incentive program include:
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Our 2000 stock incentive program does not include an
evergreen provision (i.e., a provision that
automatically the shares reserved for issuance under the
program). Rather, assuming approval of this proposal, our 2000
stock incentive program will have 1,036,556 shares of our
common stock reserved for future issuance. As stated above, we
believe this share reserve should be sufficient for anticipated
grants through the end of fiscal year 2007. Periodic submission
of stock plan share increase requests to our shareholders give
you the opportunity to consider and review our equity
compensation practices regularly. |
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The 2000 stock incentive program prohibits the grant of stock
options with exercise prices less than fair market value of our
common stock on the date of grant. |
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The 2000 stock incentive program also generally prohibits the
re-pricing of stock options or stock appreciation
rights, although awards may be bought out for a payment
in cash or our stock. |
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The 2000 stock incentive program generally provides that at
least 90% of the total full value awards (i.e., awards of stock
purchase rights) issued under the plan will vest over a minimum
period of three years (our standard vesting schedule for full
value awards is currently four years), unless such award is to
vest based upon achievement of one or more performance
objectives, in which case the minimum vesting period will be
twelve-months. |
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We recently finished a study of our overall equity compensation
strategy, with the goal of better understanding current
competitive practices, aligning the interests of our employees
and our shareholders and managing the shareholder dilution
(i.e., burn rate and overhang) related to our equity programs.
Following a review of this study, we believe that full value
awards (e.g., stock purchase rights) can be an important and
effective part of an equity compensation strategy, consistent
with best practices, the competitive market and reduced
shareholder dilution. |
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Imminent changes in the equity compensation accounting rules,
which are currently scheduled to become effective for us on
April 1, 2006, may also materially change competitive
equity compensation practices, especially as they pertain to the
increased use of full value awards. |
9
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Consistent with the equity compensation strategy study and
emerging market trends, we have begun to use full value awards
as part of our equity compensation program. Although we believe
full value awards are an important part of an effective equity
compensation strategy, we recognize that the issuance of full
value awards can potentially be more costly to our shareholders
than appreciation awards, such as stock options. Accordingly,
any shares subject to a stock purchase right with a purchase
price less than fair market value on the date of grant will be
counted against the 2000 stock incentive programs share
reserve as two shares for every one share subject to such award.
Correspondingly, to the extent that a share that counted as two
shares against the 2000 stock incentive program reserve at the
time of grant pursuant to the preceding sentence is recycled
back into the 2000 stock incentive program (e.g., upon award
termination or share repurchase or forfeiture), the 2000 stock
incentive program will be credited with two shares that will
thereafter be available for future issuance under the 2000 stock
incentive program. |
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We will obtain shareholder approval of any plan amendment as
required by applicable law, including but not limited to, any
amendment to increase the shares available for issuance under
the plan or any increase in the class of eligible service
providers under the plan. |
We are also asking the shareholders for approval of the material
terms of the amended 2000 stock incentive program so that we
have the flexibility to qualify stock purchase rights as
performance-based compensation within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the Code). A favorable vote for this
proposal will allow us to deduct certain executive compensation
each year (including any income associated with
performance-based stock purchase rights) and provide us with
potentially significant future tax benefits and associated cash
flows.
For the reasons stated above, the shareholders are being asked
to approve the 2000 stock incentive program. We believe strongly
that the approval of the 2000 stock incentive program is
essential to our continued success. In particular, we believe
that our employees are our most valuable assets and that the
awards permitted under the 2000 stock incentive program are
vital to our ability to attract and retain outstanding and
highly skilled individuals. Such awards also are crucial to our
ability to motivate employees to achieve our goals.
Summary of 2000 Stock Incentive Program
The essential terms of the 2000 stock incentive program (taking
into account the proposed share increase discussed above) are
summarized below, but are qualified in their entirety by
reference to the 2000 stock incentive program:
Purpose
The purpose of the 2000 stock incentive program is to attract
and retain the best available personnel for positions of
substantial responsibility with our company, to provide
additional incentive to our employees, directors and
consultants. Options and stock purchase rights (each, an
award) may be granted under the 2000 stock incentive
program. Options granted under the 2000 stock incentive program
may be either incentive stock options, as defined in
Section 422 of the Code, or nonstatutory stock options.
Administration
The 2000 stock incentive program is generally administered by
the board or a committee appointed by the board and is currently
administered by the compensation committee of the board of
directors. With respect made to certain executive officers, the
administrator will generally consist of directors who qualify as
outside directors under Section 162(m) of the
Code (to enable us to receive a federal tax deduction for
certain compensation paid under the 2000 stock incentive
program) and will meet such other requirements as are
established by the Securities and Exchange Commission for plans
intended to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, to the extent the administrator
determines it is desirable to meet the requirements of these
rules. For the 2000 stock incentive program to qualify for
exemption under Rule 16b-3, the administrator must consist
of directors who are non-employee directors. Subject
to the
10
terms of the 2000 stock incentive program, the administrator
determines the terms of the awards granted, including the
exercise price, number of shares subject to the awards, and the
exercisability, and has the authority to amend awards. All
questions of interpretation are determined by the administrator
and its decisions are final and binding upon all participants.
Eligibility; Limitations
Nonstatutory stock options and stock purchase rights may be
granted under the 2000 stock incentive program to our employees,
directors and consultants and of any parent or subsidiary of our
company. Incentive stock options may be granted only to
employees or employees of any parent or subsidiary. The
administrator, in its discretion, selects the employees,
directors and consultants to whom options and stock purchase
rights may be granted, the time or times at which such options
and stock purchase rights will be granted, and the number of
shares subject to each such grant, subject to the limits
discussed below.
Section 162(m) of the Code places limits on the
deductibility for federal income tax purposes of compensation
paid to our chief executive officer and each our four other
highest paid employees. In order to provide us with flexibility
to provide compensation to such persons that is fully
deductible, the 2000 stock incentive program provides that no
employee, director or consultant may be granted, in any fiscal
year:
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options to purchase more than 300,000 shares of common
stock, except that in connection with such individuals
initial service with us, he or she may be granted options to
purchase up to an additional 300,000 shares of common
stock, and |
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stock purchase rights to purchase to purchase more than
150,000 shares of common stock, except that in connection
with such individuals initial service with us, he or she
may be granted stock purchase rights to purchase up to an
additional 150,000 shares of common stock. |
Terms and Conditions of Options
A stock option is the right to acquire shares at a fixed
exercise price for a fixed period of time. Each option is
evidenced by a stock option agreement between us and the
optionee, and is subject to the following additional terms and
conditions:
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(a) Exercise Price. The administrator determines the
exercise price of options at the time the options are granted.
The exercise price of an option may not be less than 100% of the
fair market value of the common stock on the date such option is
granted; provided, however, the exercise price of an incentive
stock option granted to a 10% shareholder may not be less than
110% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date
such option is granted. The fair market value of the common
stock is generally determined with reference to the closing sale
price for the common stock (or the closing bid if no sales were
reported) on the date the option is granted. |
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(b) Exercise of Option; Form of Consideration. The
administrator determines when options become exercisable, and
may, in its discretion, accelerate the vesting of any
outstanding option. Stock options granted under the 2000 stock
incentive program generally vest and become exercisable over
four years. The means of payment for shares issued upon exercise
of an option is specified in each option agreement. The 2000
stock incentive program permits payment to be made by cash,
check, other shares of our common stock, cashless exercises, a
reduction in the amount of any company liability to the
optionee, any other form of consideration permitted by
applicable law or any combination of the foregoing methods of
payment. In light of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we will not
allow payment to be made by promissory note from our directors
and officers. |
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(c) Term of Option. The term of an incentive stock
option may be no more than seven years from the date of grant;
provided that in the case of an incentive stock option granted
to a 10% shareholder, the term of the option may be no more than
five years from the date of grant. No option may be exercised
after the expiration of its term. |
11
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(d) Termination of Employment. If an optionees
employment or consulting relationship terminates for any reason
or the optionee ceases to serve as a director (other than death
or disability), then all options held by the optionee under the
2000 stock incentive program will remain exercisable, to the
extent vested, and then expire on the earlier of (i) the
date set forth in his or her notice of grant, and if no date is
so set forth, three months following such termination, or
(ii) the expiration date of such option. To the extent the
option is exercisable at the time of such termination, the
optionee may exercise all or part of such option at any time
before expiration. |
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(e) Death or Disability. In the event of an
optionees death or disability, then all options held by
such optionee under the 2000 stock incentive program will remain
exercisable, to the extent vested, and then expire on the
earlier of (i) the date set forth in his or her notice of
grant, and if no date is so set forth, 12 months following
the date of death or disability, or (ii) the expiration
date of such option. To the extent the option is exercisable at
the time of such optionees death or disability, the
optionee (or the administrator of the optionees estate)
may exercise all or part of such option at any time before
expiration. |
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(f) Other Provisions. The administrator may offer to
buy out previously granted options at any time for a payment in
cash or stock. However, options cannot be repriced nor can an
exchange program be implemented without first obtaining
shareholder approval. The stock option agreement may contain
other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the
2000 stock incentive program as may be determined by the
administrator. |
Stock Purchase Rights
Awards of stock purchase rights (also referred to as restricted
stock) are shares that vest in accordance with the terms and
conditions established by the administrator. Each stock purchase
right is evidenced by an award agreement between us and the
purchaser. The administrator will determine the purchase price
to be paid for the shares, the number of shares subject to an
award of stock purchase rights (subject to the award limitations
described above), and any other terms and conditions of the
award. Unless the administrator determines otherwise, the award
agreement will grant us a repurchase option exercisable upon the
voluntary or involuntary termination of the purchasers
employment with us for any reason (including death or
disability). The repurchase price will be the original price
paid by the purchaser and may be paid by cancellation of any
indebtedness of the purchaser to us. Our repurchase option will
lapse at a rate determined by the administrator, but for at
least 90% of the total stock purchase rights issued under the
term of the plan, in no event earlier than 1/36th per month over
three years; provided, however, that the administrator has
determined that the repurchase option will lapse based on the
achievement of one or more performance goals, in no event will
our repurchase option lapse earlier than the date one year from
the date of grant.
Performance Goals
As discussed above, under Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code, the annual compensation paid to our chief
executive officer and to each of our other four most highly
compensated executive officers may not be deductible to the
extent it exceeds $1 million. However, we are able to
preserve the deductibility of compensation in excess of
$1 million if the conditions of Section 162(m) are
met. These conditions include shareholder approval of the
material terms of the amended 2000 stock incentive program,
setting limits on the number of shares subject to awards that
any individual may receive, and for stock purchase rights,
establishing performance criteria that must be met before the
award actually vests.
We have amended the 2000 stock incentive program so that it
permits us to pay compensation that qualifies as
performance-based under Section 162(m). Thus, the
administrator (in its discretion) may make performance goals
applicable to a participant with respect to a stock purchase
right. Performance goals may differ from participant to
participant and from stock purchase right to stock purchase
right. At the administrators discretion, one or more of
the following performance goals may apply: cash flow, earnings,
gross margin, market price of stock, market share, net income,
operating income, operating margin, return on capital, return on
equity, return on net assets, revenue and sales. Any criteria
used may be measured, as applicable, in absolute terms or in
relative terms (including passage of time and/or against another
company
12
or companies), on a per-share basis, against the performance of
our company as a whole or any segment of our company, on a
growth basis and on a pre-tax or after-tax basis.
Formula Option Grants to Non-Employee Directors
The 2000 stock incentive program also provides for
non-discretionary grants of nonstatutory stock options to our
non-employee directors. The 2000 stock incentive program
provides that an initial grant of an option of
20,000 shares will be made when each non-employee director
first joins our board, either by way of election by our
shareholders or by way of appointment by our board to fill a
vacancy. Thereafter, each non-employee director will be
automatically granted an option to purchase of
10,000 shares following each annual meeting of our
shareholders, provided, if immediately after such meeting, the
non-employee director continues to serve on our board and will
have served on our board for at least the preceding six months.
The 2000 stock incentive program also provides that the
non-employee director who acts as the chairman of our board of
directors will be granted an additional option to
purchase 10,000 shares following each annual meeting
of our shareholders, provided, that after such meeting the
non-employee director will continue to serve as the chairman.
Further, the 2000 stock incentive program provides that each
non-employee director who acts as the chairman of the audit
committee or the chairman of the compensation committee will be
granted an additional option to purchase 5,000 shares
following each annual meeting of our shareholders, provided that
after such meeting the non-employee director continues to serve
as the chairman of either the audit committee or the
compensation committee.
All options automatically granted to our non-employee directors
are subject to a seven-year term and must have an exercise price
equal to 100% of our fair market value on the date of grant. The
initial option granted to our non-employee directors vests as to
25% of the shares one year after the date of grant and as to
1/48ths of the shares monthly thereafter. All other options
automatically granted to our non-employee directors shall vest
as to 25% each calendar quarter after the date of grant, such
that 100% of the option will be exercisable one year after the
date of grant or on the date of the subsequent annual meeting of
the shareholders of our company, whichever is earlier.
Nontransferability of Awards
Unless otherwise determined by the administrator, awards granted
under the 2000 stock incentive program are not transferable
other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and
may be exercised during the participants lifetime only by
the participant.
Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization
In the event that our stock changes by reason of any stock
split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination,
reclassification or other similar change in our capital
structure effected without the receipt of consideration,
appropriate adjustments will be made in the number and class of
shares of stock subject to the 2000 stock incentive program, the
number and class of shares of stock subject to any option or
stock purchase right outstanding under the 2000 stock incentive
program, the exercise price of any such outstanding option or
stock purchase right, the number of shares of stock covered by
options automatically granted to non-employee directors under
the 2000 stock incentive program, and the per-person award
limitations.
In the event of a liquidation or dissolution, any unexercised
options or stock purchase rights will terminate. The
administrator may, in its discretion, provide that each
participant will have the right to exercise and be fully vested
in all or any part of the participants options and stock
purchase rights, including those not otherwise exercisable,
until the date ten days prior to the consummation of the
liquidation or dissolution.
In the event of a merger of our company or the sale of
substantially all of our assets, each outstanding option or
stock purchase right (or underlying restricted stock) will be
assumed or an equivalent option or right or restricted stock
substituted by the successor corporation. If the successor
corporation refuses to assume the options and stock purchase
rights (or underlying restricted stock) or to substitute
substantially equivalent options and stock purchase rights or
restricted stock, the optionee will have the right to exercise
the option or
13
stock purchase right as to all the optioned stock, including
shares not otherwise exercisable and will fully vest in the
restricted stock. In such event, the administrator will notify
the optionee that the option or stock purchase right is fully
exercisable for 15 days from the date of such notice and
that the option or stock purchase right terminates upon
expiration of such period.
Amendment and Termination of the 2000 Stock Incentive
Program
The board may amend, alter, suspend or terminate the 2000 stock
incentive program, or any part thereof, at any time and for any
reason. However, we will obtain shareholder approval for any
amendment to the 2000 stock incentive program to the extent
necessary or desirable to comply with applicable law, including
any amendment to add shares to the plan reserve or increase the
class of eligible participants under the plan. No such action by
the board or shareholders may alter or impair any option or
stock purchase right previously granted under the 2000 stock
incentive program without the written consent of the optionee.
Unless terminated earlier, the 2000 stock incentive program will
terminate in 2010.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following paragraphs are a summary of the general federal
income tax consequences to U.S. taxpayers and us of awards
granted under the 2000 stock incentive program. It does not
purport to be complete and does not discuss the tax consequences
of the participants death or the provisions of the income
tax laws of any municipality, state or foreign country in which
the employee may reside. Tax consequences for any particular
individual may be different.
Incentive Stock Options. An optionee who is granted an
incentive stock option does not recognize federal taxable income
at the time the option is granted or upon its exercise, although
the exercise may subject the optionee to the alternative minimum
tax. Upon a disposition of the shares more than two years after
grant of the option and one year after exercise of the option,
any gain or loss (that is, the difference between the sale price
and the exercise price of the option) is treated as long-term
capital gain or loss. If these holding periods are not
satisfied, the optionee recognizes ordinary income at the time
of disposition equal to the difference between the exercise
price and the lower of (i) the fair market value of the
shares at the date of the option exercise or (ii) the sale
price of the shares. Any gain or loss recognized on such a
premature disposition of the shares in excess of the amount
treated as ordinary income is treated as long term or short term
capital gain or loss, depending on how long the optionee held
the shares. A different rule for measuring ordinary income upon
such a premature disposition may apply if the optionee is also
an officer, director or 10% shareholder of our company. Unless
limited by Section 162(m), we are entitled to a deduction
in the same amount as the ordinary income recognized by the
optionee.
The exercise of an incentive stock option may subject the
optionee to alternative minimum tax under Section 55 of the
Code.
Nonstatutory Stock Options. An optionee does not
recognize any taxable income at the time he or she is granted a
nonstatutory stock option. Upon exercise, the optionee
recognizes taxable income generally measured by the excess of
the then fair market value of the shares over the exercise
price. Any taxable income recognized in connection with an
option exercise by one of our employees is subject to tax
withholding by us. Unless limited by Section 162(m), we are
entitled to a deduction in the same amount as the ordinary
income recognized by the optionee. Upon a disposition of such
shares by the optionee, any difference between the sale price
and the optionees exercise price, to the extent not
recognized as taxable income as provided above, is treated as
long term or short term capital gain or loss, depending how long
the optionee held the shares.
Stock Purchase Rights. Stock purchase rights will
generally be taxed in the same manner as nonstatutory stock
options, and generally, no income is recognized by the purchaser
in connection with the grant of the stock purchase right or in
connection with the exercise of the right for unvested stock,
unless an election under Section 83(b) of the Code is filed
with the Internal Revenue Service within thirty (30) days
of the date of transfer of the stock purchase right. At the time
of purchase, restricted stock is subject to a substantial
risk of forfeiture within the meaning of Section 83
of the Code because we may repurchase the stock when the
purchaser ceases to provide services to us. As a result of this
substantial risk of forfeiture, the
14
purchaser will not recognize ordinary income at the time of
purchase unless an election under Section 83(b) of the Code
is timely filed. Instead, the purchaser will recognize ordinary
income on the dates when the stock is no longer subject to a
substantial risk of forfeiture (i.e., when our right of
repurchase lapses). The purchasers ordinary income is
measured as the difference between the purchase price and the
fair market value of the stock on the date the stock is no
longer subject to right of repurchase.
The purchaser may accelerate to the date of purchase his or her
recognition of ordinary income, if any, and the beginning of any
capital gain holding period by timely filing an election
pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code. In such event, the
ordinary income recognized, if any, is measured as the
difference between the purchase price and the fair market value
of the stock on the date of purchase, and the capital gain
holding period commences on such date. The ordinary income
recognized by a purchaser who is an employee will be subject to
tax withholding by us.
Upon the purchasers disposition of the shares, any gain or
loss is treated as capital gain or loss. The ordinary income
recognized by a purchaser who is an employee will be subject to
tax withholding by us, and unless limited by
Section 162(m), we generally will be entitled to a tax
deduction in that amount at the time the purchaser recognizes
ordinary income with respect to a stock purchase right.
Tax Effect for the Company. We generally will be entitled
to a tax deduction in connection with an award in an amount
equal to the ordinary income realized by a participant and at
the time the participant recognizes such income (for example,
the exercise of a nonstatutory stock option), unless limited by
Section 162(m) of the Code. As discussed above,
Section 162(m) of the Code limits the deductibility of
compensation paid to our chief executive officer and to each of
our four most highly compensated executive officers. However,
the 2000 stock incentive program permits the administrator to
grant awards that qualify as performance-based compensation for
purposes of satisfying the conditions of Section 162(m),
thereby permitting us to receive a federal income tax deduction
in connection with such awards.
Incorporation by Reference
The foregoing summary of the 2000 stock incentive program is
qualified in its entirety by the specific language of the 2000
stock incentive program, a copy of which is attached as
Appendix A to this proxy statement.
Vote Required and Board Recommendation
To be approved, this proposal must receive a FOR
vote from a majority of the shares present and voting, either in
person or by proxy (which shares voting affirmatively also must
constitute at least a majority of the required quorum).
Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against this
proposal and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome
of the vote with respect to this proposal. The board of
directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR the
amendment to the 2000 stock incentive program to increase the
aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued
under such program to maintain competitive compensation packages
for our key employees, and to approve the material terms of the
2000 stock incentive program for purposes of Section 162(m)
of the Code to allow us to potentially take tax deductions
associated with executive compensation.
Participation in the 2000 Stock Incentive Program
The grant of options and stock purchase rights under the 2000
stock incentive program to executive officers, including the
executive officers named in the summary compensation table
below, is subject to the discretion of the administrator. As of
the date of this proxy statement, the administrator has not made
any determination with respect to future option grants or stock
purchase rights under the 2000 stock incentive program. The
administrator of the 2000 stock incentive program currently
plans to make grants to non-employee directors of
10,000 shares per non-employee director elected at the
annual meeting, an additional grant of 10,000 shares to the
chairman of the board and an additional grant of
5,000 shares to each of the chairmen of the audit and
compensation committees. Accordingly, except for these
non-discretionary grants to non-employee directors, future
option grants and stock purchase rights are not determinable.
15
The table below depicts the grant of options and stock purchase
rights (also referred to as restricted stock) under the 2000
stock incentive program during fiscal 2005 to (i) each of
our directors, (ii) each of the executive officers named in
the summary compensation table on page 23,
(iii) current executive officers as a group,
(iv) non-employee directors as a group and (v) all
other employees (including all current officers who are not
executive officers) as a group.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollar Value of | |
|
|
|
|
Average | |
|
Number of Shares | |
|
Shares of | |
|
|
Number of | |
|
Per Share | |
|
of Restricted | |
|
Restricted Stock | |
Name |
|
Options Granted | |
|
Exercise Price | |
|
Stock Granted | |
|
Granted(1) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Warren E. Pinckert II
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
$ |
10.19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warren E. Pinckert II
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
$ |
6.97 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John F. Glenn
|
|
|
22,000 |
|
|
$ |
10.19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Barbara T. McAleer
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
$ |
10.19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth F. Miller
|
|
|
22,000 |
|
|
$ |
10.19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Terry L. Wassmann
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
$ |
10.19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Donald P. Wood
|
|
|
22,000 |
|
|
$ |
10.19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Donald P. Wood
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
$ |
7.32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas E. Worthy
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
$ |
10.19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John H. Landon
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
$ |
7.32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael D. Casey
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
$ |
7.32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John L. Castello
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
$ |
7.32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elizabeth H. Dávila
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
$ |
7.32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stuart Heap
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
$ |
7.32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Larry Y. Wilson
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
$ |
7.32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All current executive officers as a group (7 persons)
|
|
|
199,000 |
|
|
$ |
9.91 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All non-employee directors as a group (6 persons)
|
|
|
80,000 |
|
|
$ |
7.32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All other employees (including all current officers who are not
executive officers) as a group
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,848 |
|
|
$ |
229,394 |
|
|
|
(1) |
The dollar value of such shares of restricted stock is based on
$10.04 per share, the last reported trade price for our
common stock on June 20, 2005. |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Board and Committee Meetings
The board of directors held five meetings during fiscal 2005.
All directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the board
and committees of which they were members held during fiscal
2005.
The board of directors has set forth its corporate governance
practices in the Corporate Governance Guidelines of
Cholestech Corporation, a copy of which is available at the
Investor Relations section of our website at
http://www.cholestech.com.
Committees of the Board
The board of directors has an audit committee, a compensation
committee, a nominating committee and a governance committee.
16
Audit Committee
The responsibilities of the audit committee include recommending
to the board the selection of the independent accountants,
overseeing actions taken by our independent accountants and
reviewing our internal accounting controls. The audit committee
is authorized to conduct such reviews and examinations as it
deems necessary or desirable with respect to the practices and
procedures of the independent accountants, the scope of the
annual audit, accounting controls, practices and policies, and
the relationship between us and our independent accountants,
including the availability of our records, information and
personnel. The audit committee acts under a written charter
adopted and approved by our board of directors.
The audit committee held 12 meetings, by phone or in person,
during fiscal 2005. During fiscal 2005, the audit committee
consisted of Messrs. Wilson, Heap and Casey. In June 2005,
Ms. Dávila succeeded Mr. Casey as a member of the
audit committee. Each member of the audit committee is
independent as defined under the rules of the SEC and the
corporate governance standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The
board of directors has determined that Mr. Wilson is
qualified as an audit committee financial expert within the
meaning of the rules of the SEC and has confirmed that the other
members of the Audit Committee are able to read and understand
financial statements. The report of the audit committee for
fiscal 2005 is included in this proxy statement.
Compensation Committee
The compensation committee focuses on executive compensation,
incentive and other forms of compensation for directors,
officers and other employees and the administration of our
various compensation and benefit plans. The compensation
committee acts under a written charter adopted and approved by
our board of directors.
The compensation committee held five meetings during fiscal
2005. The compensation committee consists of
Messrs. Castello, Landon and Heap and Ms. Dávila.
None of the compensation committee members are employees of
Cholestech and all of them are independent within the meaning of
the corporate governance standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market.
The report of the compensation committee for fiscal 2005 is
included in this proxy statement.
Nominating Committee
The nominating committee is responsible for ensuring that the
board of directors is properly constituted to meet its fiduciary
obligations to shareholders and our company. The nominating
committee recommends to the board of directors candidates for
nomination to the board of directors and will consider nominees
recommended by shareholders. Shareholders making such
recommendations should follow the procedures outlined above
under Deadline of Receipt of Shareholder Proposals for
2005 Annual Meeting.
The nominating committee held one meeting during fiscal 2005.
During fiscal 2005, the nominating committee consisted of
Messrs. Landon, Casey and Castello and
Ms. Dávila. In June 2005, Ms. Dávila ceased
to be a member of the nominating committee. None of the
nominating committee members are employees of Cholestech and all
of them are independent within the meaning of the corporate
governance standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Governance Committee
The governance committee is responsible for ensuring that our
company has appropriate corporate governance policies and
practices and monitoring compliance with such policies and
practices.
The governance committee held two meetings during fiscal 2005.
During fiscal 2005, the governance committee consisted of
Messrs. Casey, Landon and Castello and
Ms. Dávila. In June 2005, Ms. Dávila ceased
to be a member of the governance committee. None of the
governance committee members are employees of Cholestech and all
of them are independent within the meaning of the corporate
governance standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market.
17
Director Recommendations and Nominations
The nominating committee considers candidates for board
membership suggested by our board members, management and
shareholders. The nominating committee has also retained
third-party executive search firms to identify independent
director candidates upon the request of the nominating committee
from time to time. It is the policy of the nominating committee
to consider recommendations for candidates to the board of
directors from shareholders holding not less than 1% of the
total outstanding shares of our common stock and who have held
such common stock continuously for at least 12 months prior
to the date of the submission of the recommendation. The
nominating committee will consider persons recommended by our
shareholders in the same manner as a nominee recommended by the
board of directors, individual board members or management.
In addition, a shareholder that instead desires to nominate a
person directly for election to the board of directors at an
annual or special meeting of our shareholders must meet the
deadlines and other requirements set forth in the rules and
regulations of the SEC related to shareholder proposals.
Where the nominating committee has either identified a
prospective nominee or determines that an additional or
replacement director is required, the nominating committee may
take such measures that it considers appropriate in connection
with its evaluation of a director candidate, including candidate
interviews, inquiry of the person or persons making the
recommendation or nomination, engagement of an outside search
firm to gather additional information, or reliance on the
knowledge of the members of the committee, the board or
management. In its evaluation of director candidates, including
the members of the board of directors eligible for re-election,
the nominating committee considers a number of factors,
including the following:
|
|
|
|
|
the current size and composition of the board of directors and
the needs of the board of directors and the respective
committees of the board; |
|
|
|
such factors as judgment, independence, character and integrity,
age, area of expertise, diversity of experience, length of
service, and potential conflicts of interest; and |
|
|
|
such other factors as the committee may consider appropriate. |
The nominating committee has also specified the following
minimum qualifications to be satisfied by any nominee for a
position on the board:
|
|
|
|
|
the highest personal and professional ethics and integrity; |
|
|
|
proven achievement and competence in the nominees field
and the ability to exercise sound business judgment; |
|
|
|
skills that are complementary to those of the existing board
members; |
|
|
|
the ability to assist and support management and make
significant contributions to our success; and |
|
|
|
an understanding of the fiduciary responsibilities that are
required of a member of the board and the commitment of time and
energy necessary to diligently carry out those responsibilities. |
In connection with its evaluation, the nominating committee
determines whether it will interview potential nominees. After
completing the evaluation and review, the nominating committee
makes a recommendation to the full board as to the persons who
should be nominated to the board, and the board determines and
approves the nominees after considering the recommendation and
report of the nominating committee.
Director Independence
Current Board Members. In June 2005, the board undertook
a review of the independence of its members and considered
whether any director had a material relationship with Cholestech
or its management that could compromise his or her ability to
exercise independent judgment in carrying out his or her
responsibilities. As a result of this review, the board
affirmatively determined that John H. Landon, Michael
18
D. Casey, John L. Castello, Elizabeth H. Dávila, Stuart
Heap and Larry Y. Wilson are independent of Cholestech and its
management under the corporate governance standards of the
Nasdaq Stock Market.
Executive Sessions of Independent Directors. It is the
practice of our independent directors to meet separately from
our Chief Executive Officer after each regularly scheduled
meeting of the board. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines
provide that the independent directors of the board meet in
executive sessions on at least a quarterly basis.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
The board of directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct
and Ethics that is applicable to all of our employees,
officers and directors, including our senior executive and
financial officers. In addition, we have in place a Code of
Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial
Officers, which applies to our chief executive officer and
our chief financial officer, who also serves as our principal
accounting officer. These codes are intended to deter wrongdoing
and promote ethical conduct among our directors, executive
officers and employees. The Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics and the Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and
Senior Financial Officers are available on our corporate
website. We intend to post any amendments to or waivers from the
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics on our website.
Attendance by Board Members at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders
It is the policy of the board that all board members are
expected to attend the annual meeting of shareholders.
Exceptions may be made due to illness, travel or other
commitments. All members of the board of directors attended our
annual meeting of shareholders in person on August 18, 2004.
Director Compensation
Cash Compensation. In fiscal 2005, directors who were not
employees received a $1,000 monthly retainer, a $1,000 fee
for each board meeting they attended and a $500 fee for each
telephonic board meeting they attended with the exception of the
chairman, who received a $2,000 monthly retainer, a $2,000
fee for each board meeting he attended and a $1,000 fee for each
telephonic board meeting he attended. Directors who were not
employees also received a $500 fee for each committee meeting
they attended that was on the same day as a regular board
meeting (with the exception of the chairmen of each of the
committees who received $1,000). For committee meetings that
non-employee directors attended that were not on the same day as
a regular board meeting, they received a $1,000 fee for each
meeting (with the exception of the chairmen of each of the
committees who received $2,000). The chairmen of the audit and
compensation committees received an additional annual retainer
of $6,000 and $3,000, respectively. The chairmen of the audit
and compensation committees received the customary per meeting
fees.
Equity Compensation. Our 2000 stock incentive program
provides for the grant of options to purchase our common stock
to non-employee directors pursuant to a non-discretionary,
automatic grant mechanism, whereby each such director is granted
an option to purchase 10,000 shares on the date of each
annual meeting (with the exception of the chairman who is
granted an additional option to purchase 10,000 shares and
the chairmen of the audit and compensation committees who are
also each granted an additional option to purchase
5,000 shares on the date of each annual meeting), or an
initial grant of an option to purchase 20,000 shares upon
becoming a member of the board of directors.
The exercise price per share of these non-discretionary,
automatic options is equal to the closing sales price of our
common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on the date of grant and
all such options vest at a rate of 25% each calendar quarter
after the date of grant so long as the individual remains a
director of our company.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
During fiscal year 2005, no member of the compensation committee
was an officer or employee or former officer or employee of
Cholestech. No member of the compensation committee or executive
officer of Cholestech served as a member of the board of
directors or compensation committee of any entity that has an
19
executive officer serving as a member of our board of directors
or compensation committee. Finally, no member of the
compensation committee had any other relationship requiring
disclosure in this section. Mr. Pinckert, our president and
chief executive officer and a director, participated as a
non-member of the committee in all discussions and decisions
regarding salaries and incentive compensation for all of our
employees and consultants, except that Mr. Pinckert was
excluded from discussions regarding his own salary, incentive
compensation and stock option grants.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table provides information as of March 25,
2005 about our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise
of options, warrants and rights under all of our existing equity
compensation plans, including the 1997 stock incentive program,
the 1999 nonstatutory stock option plan, the 2000 stock
incentive program and the 2002 employee stock purchase plan:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Remaining Available for | |
|
|
Number of Securities | |
|
|
|
Future Issuance Under | |
|
|
to be Issued Upon | |
|
Weighted-Average | |
|
Equity Compensation | |
|
|
Exercise of | |
|
Exercise Price of | |
|
Plans (Excluding | |
|
|
Outstanding Options, | |
|
Outstanding Options, | |
|
Securities Reflected in | |
Plan Category |
|
Warrants and Rights | |
|
Warrants and Rights | |
|
the First Column) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Equity compensation plans
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
|
178,521 |
|
approved by security holders
|
|
|
65,389 |
(2) |
|
|
8.55 |
|
|
|
75,056 |
|
|
|
|
940,032 |
(3) |
|
|
9.85 |
|
|
|
744,572 |
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
|
|
1,118,614 |
(4) |
|
|
9.73 |
|
|
|
110,870 |
|
Total
|
|
|
2,124,035 |
|
|
|
9.75 |
|
|
|
1,109,019 |
|
|
|
(1) |
We are unable to ascertain with specificity the number of
securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding rights
under the 2002 employee stock purchase plan or the weighted
average exercise price of outstanding rights under such plan.
The 2002 employee stock purchase plan provides that shares of
our common stock may be purchased at a per share price equal to
85% of the fair market value of the common stock on the last
trading day of the applicable offering period. |
|
|
(2) |
Issued under the 1997 stock incentive program. |
|
(3) |
Issued under the 2000 stock incentive program. |
|
(4) |
Issued under the 1999 nonstatutory stock option plan. |
1999 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan
On September 1, 1999, the board of directors approved the
1999 nonstatutory stock option plan. The 1999 nonstatutory stock
option plan has not been submitted to our shareholders for
approval.
The material terms of the 1999 nonstatutory stock option plan
are summarized as follows:
Purpose
The purposes of the 1999 nonstatutory stock option plan are to
attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of
substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentive to
employees and to promote the success of our business.
Eligibility to Participate in the 1999 Nonstatutory Stock
Option Plan
Nonstatutory stock options may be granted to our consultants and
our employees who are not officers or directors, except in
connection with initial service with our company.
20
Number of Shares Covered by the 1999 Nonstatutory Stock
Option Plan
The board of directors initially reserved 1,000,000 shares
of our common stock for issuance under the 1999 nonstatutory
stock option plan. On June 14, 2001 and March 27,
2002, the board of directors amended the 1999 nonstatutory stock
option plan to increase the aggregate number of shares of common
stock authorized for issuance by 500,000 at each meeting. As of
March 25, 2005, options to acquire 1,118,614 shares
were outstanding under the 1999 nonstatutory stock option plan,
out of the 2,000,000 shares reserved for issuance and
110,870 shares remained available for future issuance.
Pursuant to the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, the board of
directors will not make further amendments to the 1999
nonstatutory stock option plan to increase the aggregate number
of shares of common stock authorized for issuance without
shareholder approval.
Awards Permitted under the 1999 Nonstatutory Stock Option
Plan
The 1999 nonstatutory stock option plan authorizes the granting
of nonstatutory stock options only.
Terms of Options
The exercise price of an option may not be less than the fair
market value of our common stock on the date of grant and no
option may have a term of more than ten years from the date of
grant. All of the options that are currently outstanding under
the 1999 nonstatutory stock option plan vest and become
exercisable over a four year period beginning at the grant date.
Payment of the exercise price may be made by cash, check,
promissory note, other shares of our common stock, cashless
exercise, a reduction in the amount of any company liability to
the optionee, any other form of consideration permitted by
applicable law or any combination of the foregoing methods of
payment. In light of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we will not
allow payment to be made by promissory note from our directors
and officers. Options may be made exercisable only under the
conditions the board of directors or its appointed committee may
establish. If an optionees employment terminates for any
reason, the option remains exercisable for a fixed period of
three months or such longer period as may be fixed by the board
of directors or its appointed committee up to the remainder of
the options term.
Capital Changes
The number of shares available for future grant and previously
granted but unexercised options are subject to adjustment for
any future stock dividends, splits, mergers, combinations or
other changes in capitalization as described in the 1999
nonstatutory stock option plan.
Merger or Change of Control
In the event of a merger of our company with or into another
corporation or the sale of substantially all of our assets, each
outstanding option under the 1999 nonstatutory stock option plan
must be assumed or an equivalent option or right substituted by
the successor corporation. If the successor corporation refuses
to assume or substitute for the option, the optionee will fully
vest in and have the right to exercise the option as to all of
the optioned stock, including shares as to which it would not
otherwise be vested or exercisable.
Termination and Amendment
The 1999 nonstatutory stock option plan provides that the board
of directors may amend or terminate the 1999 nonstatutory stock
option plan without shareholder approval, but no amendment or
termination of the 1999 nonstatutory stock option plan or any
award agreement may adversely affect any award previously
granted under the 1999 nonstatutory stock option plan without
the written consent of the optionee. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market require
shareholder approval of all material amendments to the 1999
nonstatutory stock option plan.
21
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information regarding the
beneficial ownership of our common stock as of June 20,
2005 by:
|
|
|
|
|
each shareholder known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of
our common stock; |
|
|
|
each of our directors; |
|
|
|
each of the executive officers named in the summary compensation
table on page 23; and |
|
|
|
all of our directors and executive officers as a group. |
Unless otherwise noted, the shareholders named in the table have
sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of
common stock owned by them, subject to applicable common
property laws.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of | |
|
Number of | |
|
Total | |
|
Percent of | |
|
|
Shares | |
|
Shares | |
|
Shares | |
|
Shares | |
|
|
Beneficially | |
|
Underlying | |
|
Beneficially | |
|
Beneficially | |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) |
|
Owned | |
|
Options | |
|
Owned | |
|
Owned(2) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
5% Shareholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FMR Corp.(3)
|
|
|
1,866,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,866,700 |
|
|
|
12.8 |
% |
|
82 Devonshire Street
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boston, MA 02109
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tocqueville Asset Management, L.P.(4)
|
|
|
1,037,380 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,037,380 |
|
|
|
7.1 |
% |
|
40 West 57th St., 19th Floor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New York, NY 10019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors and Named Executive Officers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warren E. Pinckert II
|
|
|
191,668 |
|
|
|
182,756 |
|
|
|
374,424 |
|
|
|
2.5 |
% |
|
John F. Glenn
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
1,833 |
|
|
|
4,833 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
Barbara T. McAleer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,666 |
|
|
|
1,666 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
Kenneth F. Miller
|
|
|
3,030 |
|
|
|
13,499 |
|
|
|
16,529 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
Terry L. Wassmann
|
|
|
7,424 |
|
|
|
114,498 |
|
|
|
121,922 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
Donald P. Wood
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,581 |
|
|
|
35,581 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
Thomas E. Worthy
|
|
|
16,820 |
|
|
|
79,273 |
|
|
|
96,093 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
Michael D. Casey
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
John L. Castello
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
55,000 |
|
|
|
57,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
Elizabeth H. Dávila
|
|
|
300 |
|
|
|
19,999 |
|
|
|
20,299 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
Stuart Heap
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
John H. Landon
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
78,000 |
|
|
|
80,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
Larry Y. Wilson
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
55,000 |
|
|
|
57,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
All directors and executive officers as a group (13 persons)
|
|
|
228,242 |
|
|
|
702,105 |
|
|
|
930,347 |
|
|
|
6.1 |
% |
|
|
(1) |
Unless otherwise noted, the address of each listed shareholder
is that of our principal executive offices: 3347 Investment
Boulevard, Hayward, California 94545-3808. |
|
(2) |
This table is based upon information supplied by officers,
directors and principal shareholders. Percentage of beneficial
ownership is based on 14,630,054 shares of common stock
outstanding as of June 20, 2005. For each named person,
this percentage includes common stock that such person has the
right to acquire either currently or within 60 days of
June 20, 2005, including upon the exercise of an option;
however, such common stock is not deemed outstanding for the
purpose of computing the percentage owned by any other person.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules
of the Securities and Exchange Commission and includes voting
and investment power with respect to shares. |
|
(3) |
Reflects ownership as reported on Schedule 13G/ A filed on
February 14, 2005 with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by FMR Corp. FMR Corp. is the parent holding company
of a group of investment management companies that hold
investment power and, in some cases, voting power over the |
22
|
|
|
securities reported in the Schedule 13G/ A. The investment
management companies, which include several investment advisers
registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act
of 1940, provide investment advisory and management services for
their respective clients. According to such Schedule 13G/ A,
these entities have sole voting power with respect to
213,800 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to
1,866,700 shares. Ownership shown does not reflect holdings
shown on the March 31, 2005 Form 13F of
2,138,800 shares. |
|
(4) |
Reflects ownership as reported on Schedule 13G/ A filed
February 17, 2005 with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by Tocqueville Asset Management, L.P. According to
such Schedule 13G/ A, this entity has sole voting power
with respect to 940,050 shares and sole dispositive power
with respect to 1,037,380 shares. Ownership shown does not
reflect holdings shown on the March 31, 2005 Form 13F
of 679,360 shares. |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER MATTERS
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth certain summary information for
fiscal 2005, 2004 and 2003 regarding compensation awarded to,
earned by or paid to our chief executive officer and our four
next most highly compensated executive officers (our named
executive officers).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long Term | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Compensation | |
|
Awards | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying | |
|
|
|
|
Fiscal | |
|
|
|
Options | |
|
All Other | |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year | |
|
Salary | |
|
Bonus | |
|
(# of shares) | |
|
Compensation(1) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Warren E. Pinckert II
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
387,577 |
|
|
$ |
190,466 |
|
|
|
64,000 |
|
|
$ |
10,460 |
|
|
President and Chief Executive
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
369,465 |
|
|
|
33,750 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
8,443 |
|
|
Officer
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
334,962 |
|
|
|
82,000 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
9,156 |
|
John F. Glenn(2)
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
98,000 |
|
|
$ |
45,014 |
|
|
|
62,000 |
|
|
$ |
5,789 |
|
|
Vice President of Finance,
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer,
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Treasurer and Secretary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Barbara T. McAleer(3)
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
31,923 |
|
|
$ |
20,000 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
$ |
756 |
|
|
Vice President of Quality Assurance
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and Regulatory Affairs
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth F. Miller
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
195,328 |
|
|
$ |
84,844 |
|
|
|
62,000 |
|
|
$ |
284,227 |
|
|
Vice President of Marketing
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and Sales
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Terry L. Wassmann
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
167,410 |
|
|
$ |
68,851 |
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
$ |
5,672 |
|
|
Vice President of
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
151,973 |
|
|
|
8,733 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
4,337 |
|
|
Human Resources
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
148,608 |
|
|
|
22,126 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
4,885 |
|
Donald P. Wood
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
208,904 |
|
|
$ |
141,033 |
|
|
|
37,000 |
|
|
$ |
14,825 |
|
|
Vice President of
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
176,788 |
|
|
|
10,406 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
10,753 |
|
|
Operations
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas E. Worthy
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
188,168 |
|
|
$ |
20,819 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
$ |
7,775 |
|
|
Vice President of Development and
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
165,300 |
|
|
|
9,422 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
6,357 |
|
|
Regulatory Affairs
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
153,688 |
|
|
|
21,431 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
6,015 |
|
|
|
(1) |
These amounts consist of premiums on group term life insurance,
medical and dental insurance, long term disability insurance and
contributions to our 401(k) Plan on behalf of the named
executive officers, except for the amount shown for
Mr. Miller, which also consists of $271,556 in relocation
expenses. |
23
|
|
(2) |
Mr. Glenn joined Cholestech in October 2004 as our vice
president of finance, chief executive office, treasurer and
secretary. |
|
(3) |
Ms. McAleer joined Cholestech in February 2005 as our vice
president of quality assurance and regulatory affairs. |
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
The following table sets forth information regarding options
granted during fiscal 2005 under our 1999 nonstatutory stock
option plan and 2000 stock incentive program to each of our
named executive officers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Individual Grants | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent of | |
|
|
|
Potential Realizable | |
|
|
|
|
Total | |
|
|
|
Value at Assumed Rates | |
|
|
Number of | |
|
Options | |
|
|
|
of Stock Price | |
|
|
Securities | |
|
Granted to | |
|
|
|
Appreciation for Option | |
|
|
Underlying | |
|
Employees | |
|
Exercise | |
|
|
|
Term(1) | |
|
|
Options | |
|
in Fiscal | |
|
Price Per | |
|
Expiration | |
|
| |
Name |
|
Granted(2) | |
|
Year(3) | |
|
Share(2)(4) | |
|
Date | |
|
5% | |
|
10% | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Warren E. Pinckert II
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
9.1 |
% |
|
$ |
10.19 |
|
|
|
3/23/2012 |
|
|
$ |
248,901 |
|
|
$ |
580,046 |
|
Warren E. Pinckert II
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
0.6 |
% |
|
|
6.97 |
|
|
|
10/13/2011 |
|
|
|
11,350 |
|
|
|
26,450 |
|
John F. Glenn
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
6.1 |
% |
|
|
6.97 |
|
|
|
10/13/2011 |
|
|
|
113,500 |
|
|
|
264,502 |
|
John F. Glenn
|
|
|
22,000 |
|
|
|
3.4 |
% |
|
|
10.19 |
|
|
|
3/23/2012 |
|
|
|
91,264 |
|
|
|
212,683 |
|
Barbara T. McAleer
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
9.1 |
% |
|
|
10.19 |
|
|
|
3/23/2012 |
|
|
|
248,901 |
|
|
|
580,046 |
|
Kenneth F. Miller
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
6.1 |
% |
|
|
8.97 |
|
|
|
6/16/2011 |
|
|
|
146,068 |
|
|
|
340,400 |
|
Kenneth F. Miller
|
|
|
22,000 |
|
|
|
3.4 |
% |
|
|
10.19 |
|
|
|
3/23/2012 |
|
|
|
91,264 |
|
|
|
212,683 |
|
Terry L. Wassmann
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
2.1 |
% |
|
|
10.19 |
|
|
|
3/23/2012 |
|
|
|
58,077 |
|
|
|
135,344 |
|
Donald P. Wood
|
|
|
22,000 |
|
|
|
3.4 |
% |
|
|
10.19 |
|
|
|
3/23/2012 |
|
|
|
91,264 |
|
|
|
212,683 |
|
Donald P. Wood
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
2.3 |
% |
|
|
7.32 |
|
|
|
8/18/2011 |
|
|
|
44,700 |
|
|
|
104,169 |
|
Thomas E. Worthy
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
3.0 |
% |
|
|
10.19 |
|
|
|
3/23/2012 |
|
|
|
82,967 |
|
|
|
193,349 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Potential realizable value (i) is net of exercise price
before taxes, (ii) assumes that our common stock
appreciates at the annual rate shown (compounded annually) from
the date of grant until the expiration of the ten year option
term, and (iii) assumes that the option is exercised at the
exercise price and sold on the last day of its term at the
appreciated price. These numbers are calculated based on the
requirements promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission and do not reflect our estimate of future stock price
growth. |
|
(2) |
Options were granted at an exercise price equal to the fair
market value of our common stock, as determined by the board of
directors on the date of grant with reference to the closing
price of our common stock on the Nasdaq National Market on the
date of grant. All options vest in equal monthly installments
over a four year period beginning on the grant date, provided
the optionee continues to be employed by us. In March 2005, our
board of directors, acting on the recommendation of our
compensation committee, accelerated vesting of all options with
an exercise price above $12.06 for employees and executive
officers. |
|
(3) |
Based on an aggregate of 657,082 options granted to employees
under the 1999 nonstatutory stock option plan and the 2000 stock
incentive program in fiscal 2005. |
|
(4) |
Exercise price and tax withholding obligations related to
exercise may be paid in cash, check, by delivery of a ready
owned shares of our common stock subject to certain conditions,
or pursuant to a cashless exercise procedure under which the
optionee provides irrevocable instructions to a brokerage firm
to sell the purchased shares and to remit to us, out of the sale
proceeds, an amount equal to the exercise price plus all
applicable withholding taxes. |
24
Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal
Year End Option Values
The following table sets forth information concerning the
exercise of options by our named executive officers and the
value of stock options held by our named executive officers as
of March 25, 2005.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities | |
|
Value of Unexercised In-the- | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying Unexercised | |
|
Money Options at Fiscal | |
|
|
Shares | |
|
|
|
Options at Fiscal Year End | |
|
Year End(2) | |
|
|
Acquired on | |
|
Value | |
|
| |
|
| |
Name |
|
Exercise | |
|
Realized(1) | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Warren E. Pinckert II(3)
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
$ |
58,579 |
|
|
|
200,412 |
|
|
|
143,588 |
|
|
$ |
193,002 |
|
|
$ |
137,093 |
|
John F. Glenn
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
62,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
121,200 |
|
Barbara T. McAleer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth F. Miller
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
62,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
41,200 |
|
Terry L. Wassmann
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
108,286 |
|
|
|
40,714 |
|
|
|
180,953 |
|
|
|
42,197 |
|
Donald P. Wood
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26,352 |
|
|
|
70,648 |
|
|
|
60,008 |
|
|
|
106,592 |
|
Thomas E. Worthy
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
209,458 |
|
|
|
72,606 |
|
|
|
46,669 |
|
|
|
114,886 |
|
|
|
42,080 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Fair market value of our common stock as of the exercise date
minus the exercise price of the options. |
|
(2) |
Fair market value of our common stock, based on the $10.00
closing price on March 25, 2005 on the Nasdaq National
Market, minus the exercise price of the unexercised options. |
|
(3) |
Mr. Pinckert continues to hold the 20,000 shares
acquired upon exercise. |
Employment Agreements and Change of Control Arrangements
In June 2001, we entered into a severance agreement with
Mr. Pinckert. This agreement was amended in March 2003 and
provides that in the event he is terminated by us, for any or no
reason, Mr. Pinckert will be paid, over a period of
18 months commencing on the date of such termination, an
amount equal to 18 months compensation, at the rate
of compensation in effect immediately prior to such termination
(minus applicable withholding). Pursuant to the severance
agreement, Mr. Pinckert will also receive medical and
dental coverage for 18 months and 18 months
worth of unvested and outstanding stock options will accelerate.
We entered into severance agreements with Ms. Wassmann and
Dr. Worthy in July 2001 and with Mr. Wood in April
2003. These agreements were amended in October 2003. We also
entered into a severance agreement with Mr. Miller in June
2004, Mr. Glenn in October 2004 and Ms. McAleer in
January 2005. These severance agreements provide that in the
event he or she is terminated by us, for any or no reason, he or
she will be paid, over a period of 12 months commencing on
the date of such termination, an amount equal to
12 months compensation, at the rate of compensation
in effect immediately prior to such termination (minus
applicable withholding). Pursuant to the severance agreements,
these individuals will also receive medical and dental coverage
for 12 months and 12 months worth of unvested
and outstanding stock options will accelerate.
We entered into a change of control severance agreement with
Mr. Pinckert in June 2001. This agreement was amended in
January 2003 and March 2004 and provides that if his employment
is constructively terminated within 12 months after a
change of control of our company, Mr. Pinckert will be
paid, over a period of 24 months commencing on the date of
such termination, an amount equal to (i) two years
compensation at the rate of compensation in effect immediately
prior to such termination (minus applicable withholding),
(ii) 200% of his target bonus as in effect for the fiscal
year in which the termination occurs and (iii) up to 100%
of his target bonus as in effect for the fiscal year in which
the termination occurs, with such amount determined by the Board
in its sole discretion based on Mr. Pinckerts
achievement of the management objectives on which such bonus is
based and pro rated for the year of termination. In addition,
upon such termination after a change of control, 100% of the
outstanding stock options held by Mr. Pinckert will vest,
and he will receive medical and dental coverage for
24 months.
We entered into change of control severance agreements with
Ms. Wassmann in August 2001. This agreement was amended in
January 2003 and March 2004. We also entered into change of
control severance agreements with Mr. Wood in October 2003,
Dr. Worthy in October 2003. These agreements were also
25
amended in March 2004. We entered into a change of control
severance agreement with Mr. Miller in June 2004,
Mr. Glenn in October 2004 and Ms. McAleer in January
2005. These change of control severance agreements provide that
if the employment of these individuals is constructively
terminated within 12 months after a change of control of
our company, they will be paid, over a period of 18 months
commencing on the date of such termination, an amount equal to
(i) 18 months compensation at the rate of
compensation in effect immediately prior to such termination
(minus applicable withholding), (ii) 150% of his or her
target bonus as in effect for the fiscal year in which the
termination occurs and (iii) up to 100% of his or her
target bonus as in effect for the fiscal year in which the
termination occurs, with such amount determined by the Board in
its sole discretion based on their achievement of the management
objectives on which such bonus is based and pro rated for the
year of termination. In addition, upon such termination after a
change of control, 100% of the outstanding stock options held by
these individuals will vest, and they will receive medical and
dental coverage for 18 months.
26
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
In accordance with the written charter adopted by the board of
directors, the compensation committee of the board of directors
reviews and approves our executive compensation policies. The
compensation committee administers our various incentive plans,
including the 1997 stock incentive program, the 1999
nonstatutory stock option plan and the 2000 stock incentive
program, sets compensation policies applicable to our executive
officers and evaluates the performance of our executive
officers. The compensation levels of our executive officers for
fiscal 2005, including base salary levels, potential bonuses and
stock option grants were determined by the compensation
committee at the beginning of the fiscal year. The following is
a report of the compensation committee describing the
compensation policies and rationale applicable with respect to
the compensation paid to our executive officers for fiscal 2005.
General Compensation Philosophy
Our philosophy in setting compensation policies for our
executive officers is to maximize shareholder value over time.
The primary goal of our executive compensation program is to
closely align the interests of the executive officers with those
of our shareholders. To achieve this goal, we attempt to
(i) offer compensation opportunities that attract and
retain executives whose abilities are critical to our long term
success, motivate individuals to perform at their highest level
and reward outstanding achievement, (ii) maintain a portion
of the executives total compensation at risk, tied to
achievement of financial, organizational and management
performance goals, and (iii) encourage executives to manage
from the perspective of owners with an equity stake in our
company. The compensation committee currently uses base salary,
annual cash incentives and stock options to meet these goals.
Cash Compensation
Base salary is primarily used by us as a device to attract,
motivate, reward and retain highly skilled executives. The
compensation committee reviewed and approved fiscal 2005 base
salaries for our chief executive officer and other executive
officers at the beginning of the fiscal year. Base salaries were
established by the compensation committee based on an executive
officers job responsibilities, level of experience,
individual performance, contribution to the business, our
financial performance for the past year and recommendations from
management. The compensation committee also takes into account
the salaries for similar positions at comparable companies,
based on each individual members industry experience. In
reviewing base salaries, the compensation committee focuses
significantly on each executive officers prior performance
with us and expected contribution to our future success. In
making base salary decisions, the compensation committee
exercises its discretion and judgment based upon these factors.
No specific formula is applied to determine the weight of each
factor. In fiscal 2005, the base of salary of Mr. Pinckert,
our chief executive officer and president, was $390,000, as
compared to $375,000 in fiscal 2004.
Each named executive officers bonus is based on
qualitative and quantitative factors and is intended to motivate
and reward such named executive officers by directly linking the
amount of any cash bonus to specific company based performance
targets and specific individual based performance targets.
Annual incentive bonuses for named executive officers are
intended to reflect the committees belief that a portion
of the compensation of each named executive officer should be
contingent upon the performance of our company, as well as the
individual contribution of each named executive officer. To
carry out this philosophy, the board of directors reviews and
approves the financial budget for the fiscal year. The
compensation committee then establishes target bonuses for each
named executive officer as a percentage of the officers
base salary. The named executive officers, including
Mr. Pinckert, must successfully achieve these performance
targets which are submitted by management to the compensation
committee for its evaluation and approval at the beginning of
the fiscal year. The company based performance goals are tied to
two financial performance objectives for Cholestech, earnings
per share and sales revenue. The individual performance goals
are tied to different indicators of such named executive
officers performance, such as our financial performance,
new product development and increase in the customer base. The
compensation committee evaluates the completion of the company
based performance targets and specific individual based
performance targets and approves a performance rating relative
to these goals. This scoring is influenced by
27
the compensation committees perception of the importance
of the various corporate and individual goals. The compensation
committee believes that the bonus arrangement provides an
excellent link between our earnings performance and the
incentives paid to the named executive officers. In fiscal 2005,
Mr. Pinckerts bonus was $190,466, as compared to
$33,750 in fiscal 2004.
Equity Based Compensation
The compensation committee provides our named executive officers
with long-term incentive compensation through grants of stock
options under our 2000 stock incentive program. The compensation
committee believes that stock options provide our named
executive officers with the opportunity to purchase and maintain
an equity interest in our company and to share in the
appreciation of the value of our common stock. The compensation
committee believes that stock options directly motivate an
executive to maximize long term shareholder value. Such options
also use vesting periods that encourage key executives to remain
with our company. All options granted to named executive
officers to date have been granted at the fair market value of
our common stock on the date of grant. The compensation
committee considers the grant of each option subjectively,
considering factors such as the named executive officers
relative position and responsibilities, the individual
performance of the named executive officer over the previous
fiscal year and the anticipated contribution of the named
executive officer to the attainment of our long term strategic
performance goals. The committee also considers stock options
granted in prior years. The compensation committee views stock
option grants as an important component of our long term,
performance based compensation philosophy.
Under the guidelines stated above, the compensation committee
reviewed and granted stock options and restricted stock on
March 25, 2005 to Mr. Pinckert and the named executive
officers as described above under the headings Executive
Compensation Summary Compensation Table and
Executive Compensation and Other Matters
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year.
On March 23, 2005, the board of directors, acting upon our
recommendation, approved the acceleration of vesting for all
outstanding unvested stock options with a per share exercise
price equal to or greater than $12.06. As a result of vesting
acceleration of these stock options, options to
purchase 93,465 shares of our common stock became
immediately exercisable as of March 23, 2005, including
16,251 shares held by Mr. Pinckert, which had an
exercise price of $17.83. The vesting acceleration also affected
options held by Dr. Worthy and Ms. Wassmann.
The primary purpose of the vesting acceleration of such stock
options was to eliminate future compensation expense that
Cholestech would otherwise recognize in its income statement
with respect to these accelerated options upon the adoption of
Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 123 (Revised 2004), Share-Based
Payment. The aggregate estimated compensation expense
associated with these accelerated options that would have been
recognized in Cholestechs income statements after adoption
of SFAS 123R was approximately $1.1 million. In
addition, because these options had exercise prices in excess of
current market value (were underwater), they were
not achieving their original objectives of incentive
compensation and employee retention.
28
Tax Deductibility of Executive Compensation
The compensation committee has considered the potential impact
of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code on the
compensation paid to our named executive officers.
Section 162(m) disallows a tax deduction for any publicly
held corporation for individual compensation exceeding
$1.0 million in any taxable year for any of the named
executive officers. However, certain performance based
compensation is specifically exempt from the deduction limit. We
have adopted a policy that, where reasonably practicable, we
will seek to qualify variable compensation paid to our executive
officers for an exemption from the deductibility limitations of
Section 162(m).
Respectfully submitted by the compensation committee of the
board of directors:
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John L. Castello, Chairman |
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Elizabeth H. Dávila |
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Stuart Heap |
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John H. Landon |
29
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
In accordance with the written charter adopted by the board of
directors, the audit committee of the board of directors,
composed of three independent directors, has the primary
responsibility of overseeing our financial reporting, accounting
principles and system of internal accounting controls and
reporting its observations and activities to the board. It also
recommends the appointment of the independent registered public
accounting firm and approves the services performed by the
independent registered public accounting firm. The members of
the audit committee have been determined to be independent in
accordance with the applicable rules of the National Association
of Securities Dealers.
The audit committee has received from the independent registered
public accounting firm a formal written statement describing all
relationships between the independent registered public
accounting firm and us that might bear on the independent
registered public accounting firms independence consistent
with Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1
(Independence Discussion with audit committees) and has
discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm
any relationships that may impact their independence, and
satisfied itself as to the independent registered public
accounting firms independence.
Management has the primary responsibility for the preparation of
the financial statements and the reporting process including the
systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight
responsibilities, the audit committee and the independent
registered public accounting firm reviewed the audited financial
statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K with
management including a discussion of the accounting principles,
the reasonableness of significant judgments and the clarity of
disclosures in the financial statements. As part of the review
of the audited financial statements, the audit committee
discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm
their judgments as to our accounting principles and such other
matters as are required to be discussed with the audit committee
under generally accepted auditing standards.
The audit committee has discussed and reviewed with the
independent registered public accounting firm all communications
required by generally accepted auditing standards, including
those described in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61
(Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, AU 380) and,
with and without management present, discussed and reviewed the
results of the independent registered public accounting
firms examination of the financial statements.
The audit committee meets with the independent registered public
accounting firm, with and without management present, to discuss
the results of their integrated audit of our financial
statements and our internal control over financial reporting and
the overall quality of our financial reporting. During fiscal
2005, the audit committee met 12 times, and our management and
independent registered public accounting firm were present at
each of those meetings.
The audit committee also reviewed managements report on
internal controls as well as the independent registered public
accounting firms report to our company as to the results
of its audit of our internal control over financial reporting as
required under section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Based on the above review and discussions with management and
the independent registered public accounting firm, the audit
committee recommended to the board of directors that our
companys audited financial statements and
managements report on internal control over financial
reporting be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended March 25, 2005 for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The audit committee also
recommended the reappointment of the independent registered
public accounting firm, and the board of directors concurred in
such recommendation.
Respectfully submitted by the audit committee of the board of
directors:
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Larry Y. Wilson, Chairman |
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Michael D. Casey* |
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Stuart Heap |
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* |
In June 2005, Ms. Dávila succeeded Mr. Casey as a
member of the audit committee. |
30
STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following is a line graph comparing the cumulative total
return to shareholders of our common stock at March 25,
2005 since March 31, 2000 to the cumulative total return
over such period of (i) The Nasdaq Stock Market United
States Index and (ii) a Peer Group Index, which includes
all companies in the Standard Industrial Classification Code
3826 Measuring and Controlling Devices, of which we
are a member.
Comparison of Five Year Cumulative Total Return(1) Among
Cholestech Corporation,
The Nasdaq Stock Market (U.S.) Index and a Peer
Group(2)(3)
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Cumulative Total Return | |
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3/00 |
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3/01 |
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3/02 |
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3/03 |
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3/04 |
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3/05 |
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Cholestech Corporation
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100.00 |
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56.83 |
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210.99 |
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96.12 |
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103.91 |
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119.02 |
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Nasdaq Stock Market (U.S.)
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100.00 |
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47.07 |
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41.31 |
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21.97 |
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38.41 |
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37.26 |
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Peer Group
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100.00 |
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84.84 |
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80.33 |
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51.92 |
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88.65 |
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86.28 |
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(1) |
Assumes that $100.00 was invested on March 31, 2000 in our
common stock or index, and that all dividends were reinvested.
No dividends have been declared on our common stock. Shareholder
returns over the indicated period should not be considered
indicative of future shareholder returns. |
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(2) |
Peer Group is SIC Code 3826 Measuring and
Controlling Devices. |
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(3) |
We operate on a 52/53 week fiscal year, which ends on the
last Friday in March. Accordingly, the last trading day of our
fiscal year may vary. For consistent presentation and comparison
to the indices shown herein, we have calculated our stock
performance graph assuming a March 31 year end. |
31
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
We believe that, except as described above, in the past fiscal
year there has not been, nor is there currently proposed, any
transaction or series of similar transactions to which we were
or are to be a party in which the amount involved exceeds
$60,000 and in which any director, executive officer or holder
of more than 5% of our common stock, or members of any such
persons immediate family, had or will have a direct or
indirect material interest.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING
COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act of 1934 requires our
executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than
10% of a registered class of our equity securities, to file
reports of initial ownership and changes in ownership with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. Executive officers, directors and
greater than 10% shareholders are required by the Securities and
Exchange Commission to furnish us with copies of all
Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on our review
of copies of such forms that we have received, or written
representations from reporting persons, we believe that all
executive officers, directors and 10% shareholders complied with
all applicable filing requirements during fiscal 2005, except
that Mr. Miller was late in filing a Form 4 with
respect to an option grant of 40,000 shares in June 2004.
The required filing has since been made.
OTHER MATTERS
We are not aware of any other matters to be submitted at the
annual meeting. If any other matters properly come before the
annual meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the
enclosed proxy card to vote the shares they represent as the
board may recommend.
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF |
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CHOLESTECH CORPORATION |
Dated: July 15, 2005
32
Appendix A
CHOLESTECH CORPORATION
2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PROGRAM
(As Amended Effective July 2005)
1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this
2000 Stock Incentive Program are:
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to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions
of substantial responsibility, |
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to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors and
Consultants, and |
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to promote the success of the Companys business. |
Options granted under the Plan may be Incentive Stock Options or
Nonstatutory Stock Options, as determined by the Administrator
at the time of grant. Stock Purchase Rights may also be granted
under the Plan.
2. Definitions. As used herein, the following
definitions shall apply:
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(a) Administrator means the Board
or any of its Committees as shall be administering the Plan, in
accordance with Section 4 of the Plan. |
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(b) Applicable Laws means the
requirements relating to the administration of stock option
plans under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal
and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or
quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted
and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction
where Options or Stock Purchase Rights are, or will be, granted
under the Plan. |
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(c) Board means the Board of
Directors of the Company. |
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(d) Code means the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. |
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(e) Committee means a committee
of Directors appointed by the Board in accordance with
Section 4 of the Plan. |
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(f) Common Stock means the common
stock of the Company. |
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(g) Company means Cholestech
Corporation, a California corporation. |
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(h) Consultant means any person,
including an advisor, engaged by the Company or a Parent or
Subsidiary to render services to such entity. |
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(i) Determination Date means the
latest possible date that will not jeopardize the qualification
of a Stock Purchase Right granted under the Plan as
performance-based compensation under
Section 162(m) of the Code. |
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(j) Director means a member of
the Board. |
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(k) Disability means total and
permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the
Code. |
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(l) Employee means any person,
including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any
Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. A Service Provider shall
not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of
absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between
locations of the Company or between the Company, its Parent, any
Subsidiary, or any successor. For purposes of Incentive Stock
Options, no such leave may exceed ninety days, unless
reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by
statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave
of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, on the
181st day
of such leave any Incentive Stock Option held by the Optionee
shall cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall
be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
Neither service as a Director nor payment of a directors
fee by the Company shall be sufficient to constitute
employment by the Company. |
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(m) Exchange Act means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
A-1
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(n) Fair Market Value means, as
of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows: |
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(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or a national market system, including without
limitation the Nasdaq National Market or The Nasdaq SmallCap
Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market Value shall
be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid,
if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system
on the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street
Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems
reliable; |
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(ii) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a
recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not
reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock shall
be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the
Common Stock on the last market trading day prior to the day of
determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or
such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or |
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(iii) In the absence of an established market for the
Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good
faith by the Administrator. |
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(o) Incentive Stock Option means
an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder. |
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(p) Inside Director means a
Director who is an Employee. |
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(q) Nonstatutory Stock Option
means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock
Option. |
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(r) Notice of Grant means a
written or electronic notice evidencing certain terms and
conditions of an individual Option or Stock Purchase Right
grant. The Notice of Grant is part of the Option Agreement. |
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(s) Officer means a person who is
an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16
of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder. |
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(t) Outside Director means a
Director who is not an Employee and who is not the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 1% or more
of the total voting power represented by the Companys
outstanding voting securities on the date of any grant hereunder. |
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(u) Option means a stock option
granted pursuant to the Plan. |
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(v) Option Agreement means an
agreement between the Company and an Optionee evidencing the
terms and conditions of an individual Option grant. The Option
Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. |
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(w) Option Exchange Program means
a program whereby outstanding Options are surrendered in
exchange for Options with a lower exercise price. |
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(x) Optioned Stock means the
Common Stock subject to an Option or Stock Purchase Right. |
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(y) Optionee means the holder of
an outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right granted under the
Plan. |
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(z) Parent means a parent
corporation, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined
in Section 424(e) of the Code. |
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(aa) Period of Restriction means
the period during which the transfer of Shares of restricted
stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Purchase
Right are subject to restrictions and, therefore, the Shares are
subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. Such restrictions
may be based on the passage of time, the achievement of target
levels of performance, or the occurrence of other events as
determined by the Administrator. |
A-2
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(bb) Plan means this Cholestech
Corporation 2000 Stock Incentive Program. |
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(cc) Restricted Stock means
shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to a grant of Stock
Purchase Rights under Section 11 of the Plan. |
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(dd) Restricted Stock Purchase
Agreement means a written agreement between the
Company and the Optionee evidencing the terms and restrictions
applying to stock purchased under a Stock Purchase Right. The
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement is subject to the terms and
conditions of the Plan and the Notice of Grant. |
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(ee) Rule 16b-3 means
Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to
Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised
with respect to the Plan. |
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(ff) Section 16(b) means
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. |
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(gg) Service Provider means an
Employee, Director or Consultant. |
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(hh) Share means a share of the
Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 14 of
the Plan. |
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(ii) Stock Purchase Right means
the right to purchase Common Stock pursuant to Section 11
of the Plan, as evidenced by a Notice of Grant. |
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(jj) Subsidiary means a
subsidiary corporation, whether now or hereafter
existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code. |
3. Stock Subject to the Plan.
(a) Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the
provisions of Section 14 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate
number of Shares that may be optioned and sold under the Plan is
two million one hundred and forty-five thousand (2,145,000)
Shares. The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or
reacquired Common Stock.
(b) Full Value Awards. Any Shares subject to
Options will be counted against the numerical limits of this
Section 3 as one Share for every Share subject thereto. Any
Shares subject to Stock Purchase Rights with a per share
purchase price lower than 100% of Fair Market Value on the date
of grant will be counted against the numerical limits of this
Section 3 as two Shares for every one Share subject
thereto. To the extent that a Share that was subject to an award
that counted as two Shares against the Plan reserve pursuant to
the preceding sentence is recycled back into the Plan under the
next paragraph of this Section 3, the Plan will be credited
with two Shares.
(c) Lapsed Awards. If an Option or Stock
Purchase Right expires or becomes unexercisable without having
been exercised in full, or is surrendered pursuant to an Option
Exchange Program, the unpurchased Shares which were subject
thereto shall become available for future grant or sale under
the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). Shares that have
actually been issued under the Plan, whether upon exercise of an
Option or Stock Purchase Right, shall not be returned to the
Plan and shall not become available for future distribution
under the Plan, except that if Shares of restricted stock
acquired pursuant to a Stock Purchase Right are repurchased by
the Company at the original purchase price or are forfeited to
the Company, such Shares shall become available for future grant
under the Plan. Shares used to pay the exercise price of an
Option will not become available for future grant or sale under
the Plan. Shares used to satisfy tax withholding obligations
will not become available for future grant or sale under the
Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing and, subject to adjustment
provided in Section 14, the maximum number of Shares that
may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will
equal the aggregate Share number stated in Section 3(a),
plus, to the extent allowable under Section 422 of the
Code, any Shares that become available for issuance under the
Plan under this Section 3(c).
A-3
4. Administration of the Plan.
(a) Procedure.
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(i) Multiple Administrative Bodies. Different
Committees with respect to different groups of Service Providers
may administer the Plan. |
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(ii) Section 162(m). To the extent that
the Administrator determines it to be desirable to qualify
Options or Stock Purchase Rights granted hereunder as
performance-based compensation within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Code, the Plan shall be administered
by a Committee of two or more outside directors
within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. |
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(iii) Rule 16b-3. To the extent
desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under
Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder shall
be structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under
Rule 16b-3. |
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(iv) Other Administration. Other than as
provided above, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the
Board or (B) a Committee, which committee shall be
constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws. |
(b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to
the provisions of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee,
subject to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such
Committee, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its
discretion:
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(i) to determine the Fair Market Value; |
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(ii) to select the Service Providers to whom Options and
Stock Purchase Rights may be granted hereunder; |
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(iii) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to
be covered by each Option and Stock Purchase Right granted
hereunder; |
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(iv) to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan; |
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(v) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent
with the terms of the Plan, of any Option or Stock Purchase
Right granted hereunder. Such terms and conditions include, but
are not limited to, the exercise price, the time or times when
Options or Stock Purchase Rights may be exercised (which may be
based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or
waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or
limitation regarding any Option or Stock Purchase Right or the
shares of Common Stock relating thereto, based in each case on
such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall
determine; |
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(vi) to reduce the exercise price of any Option or Stock
Purchase Right to the then current Fair Market Value if the Fair
Market Value of the Common Stock covered by such Option or Stock
Purchase Right shall have declined since the date the Option or
Stock Purchase Right was granted; provided, however, that such
action is approved by the Companys shareholders; |
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(vii) to institute an Option Exchange Program; provided,
however, that such action is approved by the Companys
shareholders; |
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(viii) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and
awards granted pursuant to the Plan; |
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(ix) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations
relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating
to sub-plans established for the purpose of qualifying for
preferred tax treatment under foreign tax laws; |
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(x) to modify or amend each Option or Stock Purchase Right
(subject to Section 16(c) of the Plan), including the
discretionary authority to extend the post-termination
exercisability period of Options longer than is otherwise
provided for in the Plan; |
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(xi) to allow Optionees to satisfy withholding tax
obligations by electing to have the Company withhold from the
Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase
Right that number |
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of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount
required to be withheld. The Fair Market Value of the Shares to
be withheld shall be determined on the date that the amount of
tax to be withheld is to be determined. All elections by an
Optionee to have Shares withheld for this purpose shall be made
in such form and under such conditions as the Administrator may
deem necessary or advisable; |
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(xii) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the
Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Option
or Stock Purchase Right previously granted by the Administrator; |
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(xiii) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or
advisable for administering the Plan. |
(c) Effect of Administrators Decision.
The Administrators decisions, determinations and
interpretations shall be final and binding on all Optionees and
any other holders of Options or Stock Purchase Rights.
5. Eligibility. Nonstatutory Stock Options
and Stock Purchase Rights may be granted to Service Providers.
Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.
6. Limitations.
(a) Each Option shall be designated in the Option Agreement
as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock
Option. However, notwithstanding such designation, to the extent
that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect
to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first
time by the Optionee during any calendar year (under all plans
of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000,
such Options shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For
purposes of this Section 6(a), Incentive Stock Options
shall be taken into account in the order in which they were
granted. The Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined
as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares is granted.
(b) Neither the Plan nor any Option or Stock Purchase Right
shall confer upon an Optionee any right with respect to
continuing the Optionees relationship as a Service
Provider with the Company, nor shall they interfere in any way
with the Optionees right or the Companys right to
terminate such relationship at any time, with or without cause.
(c) The following limitations shall apply to grants of
Options:
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(i) No Service Provider shall be granted, in any fiscal
year of the Company, Options to purchase more than
300,000 Shares. |
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(ii) In connection with his or her initial service, a
Service Provider may be granted Options to purchase up to an
additional 300,000 Shares, which shall not count against
the limit set forth in subsection (i) above. |
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(iii) The foregoing limitations shall be adjusted
proportionately in connection with any change in the
Companys capitalization as described in Section 14. |
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(iv) If an Option is cancelled in the same fiscal year of
the Company in which it was granted (other than in connection
with a transaction described in Section 14), the cancelled
Option will be counted against the limits set forth in
subsections (i) and (ii) above. For this purpose, if
the exercise price of an Option is reduced, the transaction will
be treated as a cancellation of the Option and the grant of a
new Option. |
7. Term of Plan. Subject to Section 20
of the Plan, the Plan shall become effective upon its adoption
by the Board. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten
(10) years unless terminated earlier under Section 16
of the Plan.
8. Term of Option. The term of each Option
shall be stated in the Option Agreement. In the case of an
Incentive Stock Option, the term shall be seven (7) years
from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided
in the Option Agreement. Moreover, in the case of an Incentive
Stock Option granted to an Optionee who, at the time the
Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more
than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or
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Subsidiary, the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be five
(5) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as
may be provided in the Option Agreement.
9. Option Exercise Price and Consideration.
(a) Exercise Price. The per share exercise
price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an
Option shall be determined by the Administrator, subject to the
following:
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(i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option |
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(A) granted to an Employee who, at the time the Incentive
Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten
percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise
price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per
Share on the date of grant. |
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(B) granted to any Employee other than an Employee
described in paragraph (A) immediately above, the per
Share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair
Market Value per Share on the date of grant. |
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(ii) In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option, the per
Share exercise price shall be determined by the Administrator
but in no event shall be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value
per Share on the date of grant. |
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(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options may be granted
with a per Share exercise price of less than 100% of the Fair
Market Value per Share on the date of grant pursuant to a merger
or other corporate transaction. |
(b) Waiting Period and Exercise Dates. At the
time an Option is granted, the Administrator shall fix the
period within which the Option may be exercised and shall
determine any conditions that must be satisfied before the
Option may be exercised.
(c) Form of Consideration. The Administrator
shall determine the acceptable form of consideration for
exercising an Option, including the method of payment. In the
case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Administrator shall
determine the acceptable form of consideration at the time of
grant. Such consideration may consist entirely of:
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(i) cash; |
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(ii) check; |
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(iii) other Shares which have a Fair Market Value on the
date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the
Shares as to which said Option shall be exercised; |
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(iv) consideration received by the Company under a cashless
exercise program implemented by the Company in connection with
the Plan; |
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(v) a reduction in the amount of any Company liability to
the Optionee, including any liability attributable to the
Optionees participation in any Company-sponsored deferred
compensation program or arrangement; |
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(vi) any combination of the foregoing methods of
payment; or |
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(vii) such other consideration and method of payment for
the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable
Laws. |
10. Exercise of Option.
(a) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a
Shareholder. Any Option granted hereunder shall be
exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times
and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and
set forth in the Option Agreement. Unless the Administrator
provides otherwise, vesting of Options granted hereunder shall
be tolled during any unpaid leave of absence. An Option may not
be exercised for a fraction of a Share.
A-6
An Option shall be deemed exercised when the Company receives:
(i) written or electronic notice of exercise (in accordance
with the Option Agreement) from the person entitled to exercise
the Option, and (ii) full payment for the Shares with
respect to which the Option is exercised. Full payment may
consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized by
the Administrator and permitted by the Option Agreement and the
Plan. Shares issued upon exercise of an Option shall be issued
in the name of the Optionee or, if requested by the Optionee, in
the name of the Optionee and his or her spouse. Until the Shares
are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books
of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the
Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other
rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned
Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company
shall issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after
the Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a
dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to
the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in
Section 14 of the Plan.
Exercising an Option in any manner shall decrease the number of
Shares thereafter available, both for purposes of the Plan and
for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which
the Option is exercised.
(b) Termination of Relationship as a Service
Provider. If an Optionee ceases to be a Service
Provider, other than upon the Optionees death or
Disability, the Optionee may exercise his or her Option within
such period of time as is specified in the Option Agreement to
the extent that the Option is vested on the date of termination
(but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such
Option as set forth in the Option Agreement). In the absence of
a specified time in the Option Agreement, the Option shall
remain exercisable for three (3) months following the
Optionees termination. If, on the date of termination, the
Optionee is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the
Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option shall
revert to the Plan. If, after termination, the Optionee does not
exercise his or her Option within the time specified by the
Administrator, the Option shall terminate, and the Shares
covered by such Option shall revert to the Plan.
(c) Disability of Optionee. If an Optionee
ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the
Optionees Disability, the Optionee may exercise his or her
Option within such period of time as is specified in the Option
Agreement to the extent the Option is vested on the date of
termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the
term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement). In
the absence of a specified time in the Option Agreement, the
Option shall remain exercisable for twelve (12) months
following the Optionees termination. If, on the date of
termination, the Optionee is not vested as to his or her entire
Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option
shall revert to the Plan. If, after termination, the Optionee
does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified
herein, the Option shall terminate, and the Shares covered by
such Option shall revert to the Plan.
(d) Death of Optionee. If an Optionee dies
while a Service Provider, the Option may be exercised within
such period of time as is specified in the Option Agreement (but
in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option
as set forth in the Notice of Grant), by the Optionees
estate or by a person who acquires the right to exercise the
Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent that
the Option is vested on the date of death. In the absence of a
specified time in the Option Agreement, the Option shall remain
exercisable for twelve (12) months following the
Optionees termination. If, at the time of death, the
Optionee is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the
Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option shall
immediately revert to the Plan. The Option may be exercised by
the executor or administrator of the Optionees estate or,
if none, by the person(s) entitled to exercise the Option under
the Optionees will or the laws of descent or distribution.
If the Option is not so exercised within the time specified
herein, the Option shall terminate, and the Shares covered by
such Option shall revert to the Plan.
(e) Buyout Provisions. The Administrator may
at any time offer to buy out for a payment in cash
or Shares an Option previously granted based on such terms
and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and
communicate to the Optionee at the time that such offer is made.
A-7
11. Stock Purchase Rights.
(a) Rights to Purchase. Stock Purchase Rights
may be issued either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with
other awards granted under the Plan and/or cash awards made
outside of the Plan. After the Administrator determines that it
will offer Stock Purchase Rights under the Plan, it shall advise
the offeree in writing or electronically, by means of a Notice
of Grant, of the terms, conditions and restrictions related to
the offer, including the number of Shares that the offeree shall
be entitled to purchase, the price to be paid, and the time
within which the offeree must accept such offer. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, during any fiscal year no Service Provider will
receive Stock Purchase Rights covering more than an aggregate of
150,000 Shares; provided, however, that in connection with
an individuals initial service as an Employee, an Employee
may be granted an aggregate of up to an additional
150,000 Shares of Stock Purchase Rights. The offer shall be
accepted by execution of a Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement
in the form determined by the Administrator.
(b) Repurchase Option. Unless the
Administrator determines otherwise, the Restricted Stock
Purchase Agreement shall grant the Company a repurchase option
exercisable upon the voluntary or involuntary termination of the
purchasers service with the Company for any reason
(including death or Disability). The purchase price for Shares
repurchased pursuant to the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement
shall be the original price paid by the purchaser and may be
paid by cancellation of any indebtedness of the purchaser to the
Company. The repurchase option shall lapse at a rate determined
by the Administrator; provided, however, that Shares of
Restricted Stock will vest no earlier than one-third (1/3rd) of
the total number Shares of Restricted Stock subject to a Stock
Purchase Right each year from the date of grant, unless the
Administrator determines that the Stock Purchase Right is to
vest upon the achievement of one or more performance objectives,
in which case the period for measuring performance will be at
least twelve (12) months, provided further that the
foregoing vesting restrictions shall not apply to up to ten
percent (10%) of the Stock Purchase Rights issued by the Company
over the term of the Plan.
(c) Other Provisions. The Restricted Stock
Purchase Agreement shall contain such other terms, provisions
and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be
determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.
(d) Rights as a Shareholder. Once the Stock
Purchase Right is exercised, the purchaser shall have the rights
equivalent to those of a shareholder, and shall be a shareholder
when his or her purchase is entered upon the records of the duly
authorized transfer agent of the Company. No adjustment will be
made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is
prior to the date the Stock Purchase Right is exercised, except
as provided in Section 14 of the Plan.
(e) Performance Goals. Awards of Stock
Purchase Rights under the Plan may be made subject to the
attainment of performance goals relating to one or more business
criteria within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code
and may provide for a targeted level or levels of achievement
(Performance Goals) including cash flow; cash
position; earnings before interest and taxes; earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; earnings per
Share; economic profit; economic value added; equity or
shareholders equity; market share; net income; net profit;
net sales; operating earnings; operating income; profit before
tax; ratio of debt to debt plus equity; ratio of operating
earnings to capital spending; revenue; return on net assets; or
total return to shareholders. Any Performance Goals may be used
to measure the performance of the Company as a whole or a
business unit of the Company and may be measured relative to a
peer group or index and may be stated in terms of growth of the
applicable performance metric. The Performance Goals for a
Service Provider will be determined by the Administrator based
on the Companys tactical and strategic business
objectives, which may differ from Service Provider to Service
Provider and from Stock Purchase Right to Stock Purchase Right.
Prior to the Determination Date, the Administrator will
determine whether to make any adjustments to the calculation of
any Performance Goal with respect to any Service Provider for
any significant or extraordinary events affecting the Company.
In all other respects, Performance Goals will be calculated in
accordance with the Companys financial statements,
generally accepted accounting principles, or under a methodology
established by the Administrator prior to the issuance of a
Stock Purchase Right, which is consistently applied and
identified in the financial statements, including footnotes, or
the management discussion and analysis section of the
Companys annual report.
A-8
12. Non-Transferability of Options and Stock Purchase
Rights. Unless determined otherwise by the
Administrator, an Option or Stock Purchase Right may not be
sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed
of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or
distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the
Optionee, only by the Optionee. If the Administrator makes an
Option or Stock Purchase Right transferable, such Option or
Stock Purchase Right shall contain such additional terms and
conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate.
13. Formula Option Grants to Outside
Directors. Outside Directors shall be granted Options
each year in accordance with the following provisions:
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(a) All Options granted pursuant to this Section 13
shall be Nonstatutory Stock Options and, except as otherwise
provided herein, shall be subject to the other terms and
conditions of the Plan. |
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(b) Except as provided in subsection (f) below,
each person who first becomes an Outside Director on or after
the date that shareholders of the Company approve this Plan,
whether through election by the shareholders of the Company or
appointment by the Board to fill a vacancy shall be
automatically granted an Option to purchase up to
20,000 Shares (the First Option), as determined
by the Board in its sole and absolute discretion, on the date he
or she first becomes an Outside Director; provided,
however, that an Inside Director who ceases to be an
Inside Director but who remains a Director shall not receive a
First Option. |
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(c) Except as provided in subsection (f) below,
each Outside Director shall be automatically granted an Option
to purchase up to 10,000 Shares (a Subsequent
Option) following each annual meeting of the shareholders
of the Company, if immediately after such meeting, he or she
shall continue to serve on the Board and shall have served on
the Board for at least the preceding six (6) months. |
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(d) Except as provided in subsection (f) below,
each Outside Director who acts as the Chairman of the Board
shall be automatically granted an Option to purchase up to
10,000 Shares (a Chair Option) following each
annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company, if
immediately after such meeting, he or she shall continue to
serve as the Chairman of the Board. |
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(e) Except as provided in subsection (f) below,
each Outside Director who acts as the Chairman of the Audit or
Compensation Committee shall be automatically granted an Option
to purchase up to 5,000 Shares (a Committee Chair
Option) following each annual meeting of the shareholders
of the Company, if immediately after such meeting, he or she
shall continue to serve as the Chairman of such Committee. |
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(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (b), (c),
(d) and (e) hereof, any exercise of an Option granted
before the Company has obtained shareholder approval of the Plan
in accordance with Section 20 hereof shall be conditioned
upon obtaining such shareholder approval of the Plan in
accordance with Section 20 hereof. |
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(g) The terms of each First Option, Subsequent Option,
Chair Option and Committee Chair Option granted pursuant to this
Section 13 shall be as follows: |
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(i) the term of each First Option, Subsequent Option, Chair
Option and Committee Chair Option shall be seven (7) years. |
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(ii) the exercise price per Share shall be 100% of the Fair
Market Value per Share on the date of grant of each First
Option, Subsequent Option, Chair Option and Committee Chair
Option. In the event that the date of grant is not a trading
day, the exercise price per Share shall be the Fair Market Value
on the next trading day immediately following the date of grant. |
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(iii) 100% of the Shares subject to each Subsequent Option,
Chair Option and Committee Chair Option shall vest (A) one
year after the date of grant or (B) on the date of the
subsequent annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company,
whichever is earlier, subject to the Optionee remaining a
Service Provider as of such vesting dates. |
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(iv) 25% of the Shares subject to the First Option shall
vest one year after the date of grant and 1/48 of the Shares
subject to such option shall vest monthly thereafter, subject to
the Optionee remaining a Service Provider as of such vesting
dates. |
14. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization,
Dissolution, Merger or Asset Sale.
(a) Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any
required action by the shareholders of the Company, the number
of shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding Option and
Stock Purchase Right, and the number of shares of Common Stock
which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to
which no Options or Stock Purchase Rights have yet been granted
or which have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or
expiration of an Option or Stock Purchase Right, as well as the
price per share of Common Stock covered by each such outstanding
Option or Stock Purchase Right, shall be proportionately
adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued
shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse
stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of
the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the
number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt
of consideration by the Company; provided,
however, that conversion of any convertible securities of
the Company shall not be deemed to have been effected
without receipt of consideration. Such adjustment shall be
made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be
final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided
herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any
class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any
class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall
be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common
Stock subject to an Option or Stock Purchase Right.
(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event
of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the
Administrator shall notify each Optionee as soon as practicable
prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. The
Administrator in its discretion may provide for an Optionee to
have the right to exercise his or her Option until ten
(10) days prior to such transaction as to all of the
Optioned Stock covered thereby, including Shares as to which the
Option would not otherwise be exercisable. In addition, the
Administrator may provide that any Company repurchase option
applicable to any Shares purchased upon exercise of an Option or
Stock Purchase Right shall lapse as to all such Shares, provided
the proposed dissolution or liquidation takes place at the time
and in the manner contemplated. To the extent it has not been
previously exercised, an Option or Stock Purchase Right will
terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed
action.
(c) Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of a
merger of the Company with or into another corporation, or the
sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, each
outstanding Option and Stock Purchase Right (or unvested shares
of Restricted Stock) shall be assumed or an equivalent option or
right or shares substituted by the successor corporation or a
Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event
that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute
for the Option or Stock Purchase Right (or unvested shares of
Restricted Stock), the Optionee shall fully vest in and have the
right to exercise the Option or Stock Purchase Right (or
unvested shares of Restricted Stock) as to all of the Optioned
Stock or such unvested shares, including Shares as to which it
would not otherwise be vested or exercisable. In addition, with
respect to performance-based Stock Purchase Rights (or unvested
shares of Restricted Stock), all Performance Goals or other
vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at target levels and
all other terms and conditions met. If an Option or Stock
Purchase Right becomes fully vested and exercisable in lieu of
assumption or substitution in the event of a merger or sale of
assets, the Administrator shall notify the Optionee in writing
or electronically that the Option or Stock Purchase Right shall
be fully vested and exercisable for a period of fifteen
(15) days from the date of such notice, and the Option or
Stock Purchase Right shall terminate upon the expiration of such
period. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Option or Stock
Purchase Right (or unvested shares of Restricted Stock) shall be
considered assumed if, following the merger or sale of assets,
the option or right or restricted stock confer the right to
purchase or receive, for each Share of Optioned Stock subject to
the Option or Stock Purchase Right (or unvested shares of
Restricted Stock) immediately prior to the merger or sale of
assets, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other
securities or property) received in the merger or sale of assets
by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective
date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of
consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders
of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided,
however, that if such consideration received in the
A-10
merger or sale of assets is not solely common stock of the
successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with
the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the
consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Option or
Stock Purchase Right, for each Share of Optioned Stock subject
to the Option or Stock Purchase Right, or the vesting of the
Restricted Stock, for each Share of Restricted Stock, to be
solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent
equal in fair market value to the per share consideration
received by holders of Common Stock in the merger or sale of
assets.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 14(c) to the
contrary, a Stock Purchase Right (or unvested shares of
Restricted Stock) that vests, is earned or paid-out upon the
satisfaction of one or more Performance Goals will not be
considered assumed if the Company or its successor modifies any
of such Performance Goals without the Service Providers
consent; provided, however, a modification to such Performance
Goals only to reflect the successor corporations
post-merger or asset sale corporate structure will not be deemed
to invalidate an otherwise valid Stock Purchase Right (or
underlying Restricted Stock) assumption.
15. Date of Grant. The date of grant of an
Option or Stock Purchase Right shall be, for all purposes, the
date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting
such Option or Stock Purchase Right, or such other later date as
is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the determination
shall be provided to each Optionee within a reasonable time
after the date of such grant.
16. Amendment and Termination of the Plan.
(a) Amendment and Termination. The Board may
at any time amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan.
(b) Shareholder Approval. The Company shall
obtain shareholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent
necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws. Without
limiting the foregoing sentence, the number of Shares available
under the Plan pursuant to Section 3 herein may not be
increased without the approval of the Companys
shareholders, except as provided in Section 3, and the
class of Service Providers eligible under the Plan pursuant to
Section 5 may not be increased without approval of the
Companys shareholders.
(c) Effect of Amendment or Termination. No
amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan
shall impair the rights of any Optionee, unless mutually agreed
otherwise between the Optionee and the Administrator, which
agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee and the
Company. Termination of the Plan shall not affect the
Administrators ability to exercise the powers granted to
it hereunder with respect to Options granted under the Plan
prior to the date of such termination.
17. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.
(a) Legal Compliance. Shares shall not be
issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase
Right unless the exercise of such Option or Stock Purchase Right
and the issuance and delivery of such Shares shall comply with
Applicable Laws and shall be further subject to the approval of
counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.
(b) Investment Representations. As a
condition to the exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right,
the Company may require the person exercising such Option or
Stock Purchase Right to represent and warrant at the time of any
such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for
investment and without any present intention to sell or
distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the
Company, such a representation is required.
18. Inability to Obtain Authority. The
inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory
body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the
Companys counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance
and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of
any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such
Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been
obtained.
19. Reservation of Shares. The Company,
during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep
available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to
satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
20. Shareholder Approval. The Plan shall be
subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company within
twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is adopted. Such
shareholder approval shall be obtained in the manner and to the
degree required under Applicable Laws.
A-11
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
CHOLESTECH CORPORATION
Proxy for the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
August 17, 2005
The undersigned shareholder of Cholestech Corporation, a
California corporation, hereby acknowledges receipt of the
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement,
each dated July 15, 2005, and hereby appoints John L.
Castello and Warren E. Pinckert II and each of them,
proxies and attorneys-in-fact, with full power to each of
substitution, on behalf and in the name of the undersigned, to
represent the undersigned at the 2005 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of Cholestech Corporation to be held on
August 17, 2005 at 10:00 a.m., local time, at our
principal executive offices located at 3347 Investment
Boulevard, Hayward, California 94545-3808, and at any
adjournment or adjournments thereof, and to vote all shares of
Common Stock which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if
then and there personally present, on the matters set forth
below:
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE
FOR PROPOSALS 1, 2 AND 3.
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1. |
TO ELECT SEVEN DIRECTORS TO SERVE UNTIL THE NEXT ANNUAL MEETING
OF SHAREHOLDERS OR UNTIL THEIR SUCCESSORS ARE DULY ELECTED AND
QUALIFIED: |
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NOMINEES: |
Michael D. Casey, John L. Castello, Elizabeth H.
Dávila, Stuart Heap, John H. Landon, Warren E.
Pinckert II and Larry Y. Wilson |
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FOR
ALL NOMINEES |
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WITHHOLD
FROM ALL NOMINEES |
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o |
o
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o
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FOR ALL NOMINEES
EXCEPT AS WRITTEN ABOVE |
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2. |
PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2006: |
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o FOR o AGAINST o ABSTAIN |
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3. |
PROPOSAL TO AMEND OUR 2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO
INCREASE THE AGGREGATE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK RESERVED
FOR ISSUANCE THEREUNDER BY 300,000 SHARES, AND TO APPROVE THE
MATERIAL TERMS OF THE 2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR PURPOSES
OF SECTION 162(m) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE: |
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o FOR o AGAINST o ABSTAIN |
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and, in their discretion, upon such other matter or matters
which may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or
adjournments thereof.
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO CONTRARY
DIRECTION IS INDICATED, WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF
DIRECTORS, FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM, FOR THE AMENDMENT TO THE 2000 STOCK INCENTIVE
PROGRAM TO INCREASE THE AGGREGATE NUMBER OF SHARES, AND TO
APPROVE THE MATERIAL TERMS OF THE 2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PROGRAM
FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 162(m) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
AND AS SAID PROXIES DEEM ADVISABLE ON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY
PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
After you have marked and dated this proxy, please sign exactly
as your name appears on this card and return this card promptly
in the enclosed envelope. If the shares being voted are
registered in the names of two or more persons, whether as joint
tenants, as community property or otherwise, both or all of such
persons should sign. If you are signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian or if you are signing in
another fiduciary capacity, please give your full title as such.
If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by
President or other authorized person. If a partnership, please
sign in partnership name by authorized person.
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Date: _______________________________________, 2005 |
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Signature:
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Date: _______________________________________, 2005 |
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Signature:
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