TABLE
OF CONTENTS
|
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MEETING |
1 |
|
|
WHO
CAN HELP ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS |
3 |
|
|
THE
2005 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS |
4 |
|
|
General |
4 |
Date,
Time and Place |
4 |
Matters
to be Considered at the Annual Meeting |
4 |
Record
Date |
4 |
Vote
Required |
4 |
Voting
of Proxies; Abstentions; and Broker Non-Votes |
5 |
Revocability
of Proxies |
5 |
Adjournments |
6 |
Voting
by Telephone or Via the Internet |
6 |
Solicitation
of Proxies and Expenses of Solicitation |
6 |
|
|
PROPOSAL
NO. 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS |
7 |
|
|
Director
Nominees |
7 |
Independence
of Directors |
9 |
Meetings
of the Board of Directors |
9 |
Corporate
Governance and Board Committees |
9 |
Director
Nominations |
10 |
Communications
by Stockholders with Directors |
11 |
Director
Attendance at Annual Meetings |
11 |
Vote
Required and Recommendation of GuruNet’s Board of
Directors |
11 |
|
|
PROPOSAL
NO. 2: THE PROPOSED 2005 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
PLAN |
11 |
|
|
Background
and Purpose |
11 |
Shares
Available for Awards; Annual Per-Person Limitations |
12 |
Eligibility |
13 |
Administration |
13 |
Stock
Options and SARs |
13 |
Restricted
and Deferred Stock |
13 |
Dividend
Equivalents |
14 |
Bonus
Stock and Awards in Lieu of Cash Obligations |
14 |
Other
Stock-Based Awards |
14 |
Performance
Awards |
14 |
Other
Terms of Awards |
15 |
Acceleration
of Vesting; Change in Control |
15 |
Amendment
and Termination |
16 |
Special
Rules Applicable to Participants Who Are Israeli Residents |
17 |
Federal
Income Tax Consequences of Awards |
17 |
Nonqualified
Stock Options |
17 |
Incentive
Stock Options |
18 |
Stock
Awards |
18 |
Stock
Appreciation Rights |
19 |
Dividend
Equivalents |
19 |
Section
162 Limitations |
19 |
Importance
of Consulting Tax Advisor |
20 |
Vote
Required and Recommendation of GuruNet’s Board of
Directors |
20 |
PROPOSAL
NO. 3: SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
|
20 |
|
|
Fees
Paid to Principal Accountants |
20 |
Vote
Required and Recommendation of GuruNet’s Board of
Directors |
21 |
|
|
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT OF
GURUNET |
22 |
|
|
EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS |
24 |
|
|
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION AND RELATED MATTERS |
25 |
|
|
Options
Granted in Fiscal Year 2004 |
26 |
2004
Fiscal Year End Option Values |
26 |
Employment
Contracts and Termination of Employment and Change-in-Control
Agreements |
27 |
Compensation
of Directors |
28 |
Director
and Officer Liability |
28 |
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation in Compensation
Decisions |
28 |
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions |
28 |
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance |
29 |
Equity
Compensation Plan Information |
29 |
|
|
REPORT
OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION |
29 |
|
|
Compensation
Philosophy |
29 |
Forms
of Compensation |
30 |
2004
Compensation |
31 |
|
|
REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE |
31 |
|
|
COMPARISON
OF STOCKHOLDER RETURN |
32 |
|
|
ANNUAL
REPORT |
33 |
|
|
DEADLINE
FOR SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2006 ANNUAL MEETING
OF GURUNET’S STOCKHOLDERS |
33 |
|
|
INTEREST
OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON |
33 |
|
|
OTHER
MATTERS |
33 |
|
|
INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM |
33 |
|
|
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION |
34 |
|
|
ANNEX
A: Audit Committee Charter |
|
|
|
ANNEX
B: Form of 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan |
|
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT ANNUAL MEETING
Q: |
When
and where will the annual meeting be
held? |
A: |
The
annual meeting will be held at The Penn Club of New York, 30 West
44th
Street, New York, New York 10036, beginning at 10:00 a.m., New York City
time, on July 12, 2005. |
Q: |
Who
is making this proxy solicitation? |
A: |
This
proxy statement is furnished to holders of our common stock as of the
close of business on May 23, 2005, the record date for the annual meeting
(the “Record Date”), as part of the solicitation of proxies by GuruNet’s
board of directors for use at the annual meeting and any adjournments or
postponements of the annual meeting. |
Q: |
What
am I being asked to vote on at the annual
meeting? |
A: |
At
the annual meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote
on: |
· |
a
proposal to elect two Class I directors to hold office for a three-year
term or until their respective successors are elected and
qualified; |
· |
a
proposal to approve GuruNet’s 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan;
and |
· |
a
proposal to ratify the appointment by our Audit Committee of Somekh
Chaikin, a member of KPMG International, to serve as GuruNet’s independent
registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2005. |
At
present, we know of no other matters to be presented for stockholder action at
the annual meeting.
Q. |
How
does GuruNet’s board of directors recommend that I
vote? |
A: |
Our
board of directors recommends that you vote your shares “FOR”
the election of each of the two nominees named herein to GuruNet’s board
of directors; “FOR”
approval of GuruNet’s 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan; and “FOR”
the ratification of the appointment by our Audit Committee of Somekh
Chaikin, a member of KPMG International, as our independent registered
public accounting firm. |
Q. |
What
vote is required to approve each
proposal? |
A: |
In
the election of directors, the two persons receiving the highest number of
“FOR”
votes will be elected. The proposals regarding the approval
of GuruNet’s 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan and
the ratification of Somekh
Chaikin, a member of KPMG International, as our independent
registered public accounting firm each requires the affirmative
“FOR”
vote of a majority of those shares of GuruNet’s common stock present in
person or represented by properly executed proxies and entitled to vote at
the annual meeting. |
Q. |
What
is the quorum requirement with respect to the annual
meeting? |
A: |
The
presence, in person or by properly executed proxy, of the holders of a
majority of the shares of GuruNet’s common stock entitled to vote at the
annual meeting will constitute a quorum. |
Q: |
Under
what circumstances will the annual meeting be
adjourned? |
A: |
Although
it is not expected, the annual meeting may be adjourned in the absence of
a quorum for the purpose of obtaining a quorum. Any adjournment may be
made without notice, other than by an announcement made at the annual
meeting, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of GuruNet’s
common stock present in person or by properly executed proxy at the annual
meeting. |
Q: |
What
shares can be voted at the annual
meeting? |
A: |
All
shares of GuruNet’s common stock that you own as of the Record Date may be
voted by you. You may cast one vote per share of GuruNet’s common stock
that you held on the Record Date. These shares include shares that are:
(1) held directly in your name as the stockholder of record and (2) held
for you as the beneficial owner through a stockbroker, bank or other
nominee. |
Q: |
What
is the difference between a holder of record and a beneficial owner of
GuruNet’s common stock? |
A: |
Most
of our stockholders hold their shares through a stockbroker, bank or other
nominee, rather than directly in their own name. As summarized below,
there are some distinctions between shares held as a holder of record and
those beneficially owned. |
Holders
of Record
If your
shares of GuruNet’s common stock are registered directly in your name with our
transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, you are considered,
with respect to those shares, the holder of record, and these proxy materials
are being sent directly to you by GuruNet. As the holder of record, you have the
right to grant your voting proxy directly to GuruNet or to vote in person at the
annual meeting. We have enclosed a proxy card with this proxy statement for you
to use.
Beneficial
Owners
If your
shares of GuruNet’s common stock are held in a stock brokerage account or by a
bank or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in
“street name”, and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by your
broker or nominee who is considered, with respect to those shares, the holder of
record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or
nominee how to vote and are also invited to attend the annual meeting. However,
since you are not the holder of record, you may not vote these shares in person
at the annual meeting. Your broker or nominee has enclosed a voting instruction
card with this proxy statement for you to use in directing the broker or nominee
how to vote your shares. You may also vote by telephone as described below under
“How can I vote my shares without attending the annual meeting?” If you are a
beneficial owner and do not provide the holder of record with voting
instructions, your shares may constitute broker non-votes, as described in the
section titled “The 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders—Voting of Proxies;
Abstentions; and Broker Non-Votes.”
Q: |
How
can I vote my shares in person at the annual
meeting? |
A: |
Shares
of GuruNet’s common stock held directly in your name as the holder of
record may be voted in person at the annual meeting. If you choose to do
so, please bring the enclosed proxy card or proof of identification. Even
if you plan to attend the annual meeting, we recommend that you vote your
shares in advance as described below so that your vote will be counted if
you later decide not to attend the annual meeting. Shares held in street
name may be voted in person by you only if you obtain a signed proxy from
the record holder giving you the right to vote the
shares. |
Q: |
How
can I vote my shares without attending the annual
meeting? |
A: |
Whether
you hold shares directly as the holder of record or beneficially in street
name, you may direct your vote without attending the annual meeting by
telephone or by completing and mailing your proxy card or voting
instruction card in the enclosed postage pre-paid envelope. You may also
be able to direct your vote via the Internet. Please refer to the enclosed
materials for details. |
Q: |
Can
I change my vote after I have voted by
proxy? |
A: |
Yes.
You can change your vote at any time before your proxy is voted at the
annual meeting by revoking your proxy. |
If you
are a holder of record of GuruNet’s common stock, you may revoke your proxy
by:
· |
attending
the annual meeting and voting your shares in person at the annual meeting.
Your attendance at the annual meeting alone will not revoke your proxy --
you must also vote at the annual meeting; |
· |
filing
an instrument in writing with the Secretary of GuruNet stating that you
would like to revoke your proxy; or |
· |
filing
another duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the Secretary of
GuruNet so that it arrives prior to the annual
meeting. |
You
should send your revocation or new proxy card to GuruNet’s Secretary at GuruNet
Corporation, Jerusalem Technology Park, Building 98, Jerusalem 91481
Israel.
If you
are a beneficial owner of GuruNet’s common stock and you instructed a broker or
other nominee to vote your shares, you must follow your broker’s directions for
changing those instructions.
Q: |
What
does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card or voting instruction
card? |
A: |
It
means your shares are registered differently or are in more than one
account. Please provide voting instructions for each proxy and voting
instruction card your receive. |
Q: |
Where
can I find the voting results of the annual
meeting? |
A: |
We
will announce preliminary voting results at the annual meeting and publish
final results in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
ended September 30, 2005. |
WHO
CAN HELP ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
If you
have any questions about any of the proposals to be presented at the annual
meeting or how to submit your proxy card, or if you need additional copies of
this proxy statement or the enclosed proxy card or voting instructions, you
should contact:
GuruNet
Corporation
Jerusalem
Technology Park
Building
98
Jerusalem
91481 Israel
Attention:
Steven Steinberg
THE
2005 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
General
We are
furnishing this proxy statement to our stockholders in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by GuruNet’s board of directors for use at the 2005
annual meeting of stockholders to be held on July 12, 2005, and at any
adjournment, postponement or continuation thereof. This proxy statement is first
being furnished to stockholders of GuruNet on or about June 1, 2005.
Date,
Time and Place
The
annual meeting of stockholders will be held on July 12, 2005, at
10:00 a.m., New York City time, at The Penn Club of New York, 30 West
44th Street,
New York, New York 10036.
Matters
to be Considered at the Annual Meeting
At the
annual meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote on:
· |
a
proposal to elect two Class I directors to hold office for a three-year
term or until their respective successors are elected and
qualified; |
· |
a
proposal to approve GuruNet’s 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan;
and |
· |
a
proposal to ratify the appointment by our Audit Committee of Somekh
Chaikin, a member of KPMG International, to serve as GuruNet’s independent
registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2005. |
At
present, we know of no other matters to be presented for stockholder action at
the annual meeting.
Record
Date
We have
fixed the close of business on May 23, 2005 as the Record Date for determination
of stockholders entitled to notice of and to attend and vote at the annual
meeting.
Vote
Required
As of the
close of business on the Record Date, there were 7,024,671 shares of GuruNet’s
common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the annual meeting. A quorum of
stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. The
presence, in person or by properly executed proxy, of the holders of a majority
of the shares of GuruNet’s common stock entitled to vote at the annual meeting
will constitute a quorum. If a
quorum is not present at the annual meeting, we expect that the meeting will be
adjourned or postponed to solicit additional proxies. Votes for and against,
abstentions and “broker non-votes” will each count as being present to establish
a quorum. A “broker non-vote” occurs when a broker holding shares in street name
has not received voting instructions from the customer on certain “non-routine”
matters, such as approval of GuruNet’s 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan, and
therefore is barred by the rules of the applicable securities exchange from
exercising discretionary authority to vote those securities on such proposal.
In the
election of directors, the two persons receiving the highest number of votes
cast “FOR” will be
elected. The approval of the GuruNet 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan and the
ratification of the appointment of Somekh Chaikin, a member of KPMG
International, to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for
the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005 each requires the affirmative
“FOR” vote of
holders of shares representing a majority of the shares of GuruNet’s common
stock represented in person or by properly executed proxy and entitled to vote
at the annual meeting.
The annual
meeting shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board and GuruNet’s
Secretary shall act as secretary of the annual meeting. Inspectors of election
appointed for the annual meeting will tabulate the votes cast by proxy or in
person at the meeting. The inspectors of election will determine whether or not
a quorum is present.
Voting
of Proxies; Abstentions; and Broker Non-Votes
In the
election of directors, you may vote “FOR” each of
the nominees or your vote may be “WITHHELD” with
respect to one or both of the nominees. You may vote “FOR,”
“AGAINST” or
“ABSTAIN” for
each of the other proposals. All
shares of GuruNet’s common stock represented by properly executed proxies
received before or at the annual meeting will, unless the proxies are revoked,
be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated on those proxies. If no
instructions are indicated on a properly executed proxy card, the shares will be
voted “FOR” the
election of management’s two nominees for membership on GuruNet’s board of
directors, “FOR”
approval of GuruNet’s 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan and “FOR”
ratification of GuruNet’s independent registered public accounting firm. You are
urged to mark the box on the card to indicate how to vote your shares.
If your
shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, that brokerage firm
or bank will not be permitted to vote your shares with respect to certain
“non-routine” proposals, such as
approval of GuruNet’s 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan, unless
you provide instructions as to how to vote your shares. If an executed proxy
card is returned by a broker or bank holding shares which indicates that the
broker or bank has not received voting instructions and does not have
discretionary authority to vote on a certain proposal to be presented at the
annual meeting, the shares will be considered present at the annual meeting for
purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, but will not be considered
entitled to vote on such proposal. Brokers may, however, vote their clients’
shares on routine matters, such as the election of directors and the
ratification of GuruNet’s independent registered public accounting firm. Please
note that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or nominee and you
wish to vote at the meeting, you will not be permitted to vote in person unless
you first obtain a proxy issued in your name from the record holder.
A
properly executed proxy marked “ABSTAIN”, although
counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum and for purposes
of determining the aggregate voting power and number of shares represented and
entitled to vote at the annual meeting, will not be voted.
Abstentions
and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the election of
directors. With respect to the approval of GuruNet’s 2005 Incentive Compensation
Plan, brokers are not entitled to exercise discretionary voting authority.
Accordingly, broker non-votes will not be counted for purposes of determining
shares entitled to vote on such proposal and will not affect the outcome. With
respect to the ratification of GuruNet’s independent registered public
accounting firm, brokers are entitled to exercise discretionary voting authority
and, therefore, broker non-votes will have the effect of votes against the
proposal. Because abstentions will be counted for purposes of determining the
aggregate voting power and number of shares represented and entitled to vote at
the annual meeting, abstentions with respect to the proposal to approve
GuruNet’s 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan or the proposal to ratify GuruNet’s
independent registered public accounting firm will, in each case, have the
effect of votes against the proposal.
Revocability
of Proxies
The grant
of a proxy on the enclosed proxy card does not preclude a holder of record of
GuruNet’s common stock from voting in person at the annual meeting. If you are a
holder of record of GuruNet’s common stock, you may revoke a proxy at any time
prior to your proxy being voted at the annual meeting by:
· |
attending
the annual meeting and voting your shares in person at the annual meeting.
Your attendance at the annual meeting alone will not revoke your proxy --
you must also vote at the annual meeting; |
· |
filing
an instrument in writing with the Secretary of GuruNet at GuruNet
Corporation, at Jerusalem Technology Park, Building 98, Jerusalem 91481
Israel, stating that you would like to revoke your proxy;
or |
· |
filing
another duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the Secretary of
GuruNet at GuruNet Corporation, at Jerusalem Technology Park, Building 98,
Jerusalem 91481 Israel, so that it arrives prior to the annual
meeting. |
If you
revoke your proxy in writing you must indicate the certificate number and the
number of shares to which such revocation relates and the aggregate number of
shares represented by such certificate(s). The written notification revoking
your proxy or a later-dated signed proxy card changing your vote must arrive
before the annual meeting takes place in order to be acknowledged and reflected
in the vote.
If you
are a beneficial owner of GuruNet’s common stock and you instructed a broker or
other nominee to vote your shares, you must follow your broker’s directions for
changing those instructions.
If an
adjournment occurs, it will have no effect on the ability of stockholders as of
the Record Date to exercise their voting rights or to revoke any previously
delivered proxies. GuruNet does not expect to adjourn the annual meeting for a
period of time long enough to require the setting of a new record date for such
meeting.
Adjournments
Although
it is not expected, the annual meeting may be adjourned in the absence of a
quorum for the purpose of obtaining a quorum. Any adjournment may be made
without notice, other than by an announcement made at the annual meeting. Any
adjournment or postponement of the annual meeting for the purpose of soliciting
additional proxies will allow GuruNet’s stockholders who have already sent in
their proxies to revoke them at any time prior to their use.
Voting
By Telephone or Via the Internet
If you
hold your shares directly registered in your name with American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, you may vote by telephone or via the
Internet. To vote by telephone, call 1-800-PROXIES and follow the automated
instructions. Instructions for voting via the Internet are set forth on the
enclosed proxy card if you hold your shares directly registered in your name
with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company. Many banks and brokerage
firms have a process for their beneficial owners to provide instructions over
the telephone or via the Internet. Your voting form from your broker or bank
will contain instructions for voting.
Votes
submitted by telephone or via the Internet must be received by 11:59 p.m.,
New York City time, on July 11, 2005. Submitting your proxy by telephone or via
the Internet will not affect your right to vote in person should you decide to
attend the annual meeting.
Solicitation
of Proxies and Expenses of Solicitation
GuruNet
generally will bear the cost of the solicitation of proxies in the enclosed form
from our stockholders. In addition to solicitation by mail, our directors,
officers and employees may solicit proxies from stockholders by telephone,
telegram, letter, facsimile or in person. Following the original mailing of the
proxies and other soliciting materials, we will request that brokerage houses
and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries forward copies of the proxy and
other soliciting materials to the beneficial owners of stock held of record by
such persons and request authority for the exercise of proxies. In those cases,
we will reimburse such company’s custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with doing so.
PROPOSAL
NO. 1
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
GuruNet’s
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that GuruNet’s board
of directors shall consist of not less than five and not more than nine
directors. GuruNet’s board of directors is currently composed of seven directors
and is divided into three classes serving staggered terms: Class I, whose term
will expire at the 2005 annual meeting of stockholders, Class II, whose
term will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2006, and
Class III, whose term will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to
be held in 2007. At each annual meeting of stockholders, the successors to
directors whose term will then expire will be elected to serve from the time of
election and qualification until the third annual meeting following their
election. The terms of two of the present directors expire this year and each of
them has been nominated for reelection. The two nominees identified in the table
below are nominated to be elected at the 2005 annual meeting for the term
expiring at the 2008 annual meeting of the stockholders.
At the
annual meeting, Mark A. Tebbe and Lawrence S. Kramer will stand for reelection
to serve as Class I directors for a three-year term expiring at the annual
meeting of stockholders in 2008 or until their respective successors are elected
and qualified.
If a
proxy is properly executed but does not contain voting instructions, it will be
voted “FOR” the
election of each of the nominees named below as a director of GuruNet. Proxies
cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than two. Management has no
reason to believe that any of the nominees named below will not be a candidate
or will be unable to serve as a director. However, in the event that any of the
nominees should become unable or unwilling to serve as a director, the proxies
may be voted for such substitute nominees as GuruNet’s board of directors may
designate.
Director
Nominees
Set forth
below are the names, ages and descriptions of the backgrounds, as of May 23,
2005, of each of GuruNet’s current directors, including the two nominees for
Class I directors to be elected at this annual meeting.
Name
|
Age |
|
Position |
Class
I directors nominated
for election at this annual meeting of
stockholders: |
Mark
A. Tebbe (1)(2)(4) |
43 |
|
Director |
Lawrence
S. Kramer (1) |
55 |
|
Director |
Class
II directors whose
terms expire at the 2006 annual meeting of
stockholders: |
Edward
G. Sim (2)(3)(4) |
34 |
|
Director |
Jerry
Colonna (2)(3) |
41 |
|
Director |
Class
III directors whose
terms expire at the 2007 annual meeting of
stockholders: |
Robert
S. Rosenschein |
51 |
|
Chairman
of the Board |
Yehuda
Sternlicht (4) |
50 |
|
Director |
Mark
B. Segall |
42 |
|
Director |
(1) Director Nominee - Term to expire in 2008
(2)
Member of Nominations and Governance Committee
(3)
Member of Compensation Committee
(4)
Member of Audit Committee
Nominees
for election for a three-year term expiring at the 2008 annual meeting of
stockholders.
Mark
A. Tebbe has
served as a director since December 1998. He currently serves as a member of our
Audit Committee and Nominations and Governance Committee. Since February 2002,
Mr. Tebbe has been Chairman of Techra Networks LLC, a technology-oriented
consulting firm. From August 1984 to January 2002, Mr. Tebbe founded and served
as Chairman of Lante Corporation, a technology consulting firm. Besides several
non-profit and civic organizations, Mr. Tebbe is a board member of SBI Group,
Elexos Corp. and Selective Search. Mr. Tebbe is a former director of Octus Inc.
and Accent Software International Ltd. Mr. Tebbe graduated with a B.S. in
Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.
Lawrence
S. Kramer has
served as a director since May 2005. Since April 2005, Mr. Kramer serves as
President of CBS Digital Media, overseeing content and sales of the network’s
disparate Web properties, including CBS.com, CBSNews.com, SportsLine.com and
UPN.com. Formerly, Mr. Kramer was the founder, Chairman and CEO of MarketWatch,
Inc. (NASDAQ: MKTW), recently acquired by Dow Jones & Company (NYSE: DJ). He
has served on the Board of Directors of Marketwatch since the company was
founded in 1997 and served as its Chairman of the Board between 1999 and March
2005. Prior to this, between 1994 and 1997, Mr. Kramer served as Vice President
of News, Sports and Marketing at Data Broadcasting Corporation. At DBC he
created a Sports and News Division, including DBC News, the predecessor company
to MarketWatch, Inc. From 1991 to 1994, Mr. Kramer held the position of founder,
President & Executive Editor of DataSport Inc. Prior to founding DataSport,
he spent more than 20 years in journalism as a reporter and editor. During his
distinguished career in the newspaper business, he has won a National Press Club
Award, Gerald E. Loeb Award and Associated Press Awards for reporting. A past
Guest Lecturer at the Harvard Business School for 10 years, Mr. Kramer holds an
MBA degree from Harvard and a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and
Political Science from Syracuse University.
Directors
continuing in office until the 2006 annual meeting of
stockholders.
Edward
G. Sim has
served as a director since August 1999. He currently serves as a member of our
Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominations and Governance
Committee. Mr. Sim is a
member and Managing Director of the Dawntreader Group and Dawntreader Funds,
which he co-founded in 1998. From April 1996 to April 1998, Mr. Sim worked with
Prospect Street Ventures, a New York-based venture capital firm, where he worked
on software and technology investments like 24/7 Media (Nasdaq: TFSM). From June
1994 to April 1996, Mr. Sim worked with J.P. Morgan’s Structured Derivatives
Group on the development of a real-time trading application for global asset
allocation. Mr. Sim currently serves as a director of Deepnines Technologies,
netForensics, Metapa, and Moreover Technologies. Mr. Sim served as a director of
LivePerson (NasdaqSC: LPSN) from October 2000 to July 2001, Flashbase (acquired
by DoubleClick, Nasdaq: DCLK) from June 1999 to June 2000, and
Expertcity/GoToMyPC (acquired by Citrix, Nasdaq: CTXS) from August 1999 to March
2004. Mr. Sim graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Harvard
University.
Jerry
Colonna has
served as a director since June 2004. He currently serves as a member of our
Compensation Committee and Nominations and Governance Committee. From January
2002 until December 2002, Mr. Colonna was a partner with JP Morgan Partners,
LLC, the private equity arm of JP Morgan Chase & Co. Since August 1996, Mr.
Colonna has been a partner with Flatiron Partners, an investment company he
co-founded. Mr. Colonna is a member of the board of directors of a number of
private corporations including a public company, PlanetOut Inc., as well as a
number of non-profit organizations including PENCIL—Public Education Needs Civic
Involvement in Learning, NYPower NY and NYC2012. Mr. Colonna holds a B.A. in
English Literature from Queens College at the City University of New York.
Directors
continuing in office until the 2007 annual meeting of
stockholders.
Robert
S. Rosenschein has been
Chairman of our board and President since he founded GuruNet in December 1998.
From December 1998 to April 2000 and since May 2001, Mr. Rosenschein has served
as our Chief Executive Officer. From May 2000 to April 2001, Mr. Rosenschein
served as our Chairman. From 1988 to 1997, Mr. Rosenschein was Chief Executive
Officer of Accent Software International Ltd. (formerly Kivun), a company that
developed multi-lingual software tools, and from 1997 to 1998, Mr. Rosenschein
was Chief Technical Officer of Accent Software International Ltd. Mr.
Rosenschein graduated with a B.Sc. in Computer Science from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and received the Prime Minister of Israel’s Award for
Software Achievement in 1997.
Yehuda
Sternlicht has
served as a director since June 2004. He currently serves as the Chairman of our
Audit Committee. Since November 2003, Mr. Sternlicht has been self-employed as
an independent financial consultant. From February 2005, Mr. Sternlicht also
serves as Senior Vice-President and CFO of NanoVibronix Inc., a private
corporation focused on research and development of solutions to prevent catheter
acquired infection, other hospital infections and non-catheter biofilm based
infections. From July 1992 until November 2003 he was employed by Savient
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SVNT) as financial manager and in January 1993
was appointed Chief Financial Officer of SVNT. In June 1995 he was appointed
Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer of SVNT, and in December 2002
he was appointed Vice President-Chief Accounting Officer of SVNT. Mr. Sternlicht
is qualified as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Israel and has a
B.A. degree in Accounting and Economy from The Hebrew University.
Mark
B. Segall has
served as a director since December 2004. Mr. Segall is the founder and Chief
Executive Officer of Kidron Corporate Advisors, LLC, a New York based mergers
and acquisitions corporate advisory boutique serving emerging growth companies
primarily in the technology and financial services sectors. Prior to forming
Kidron in 2003, Mr. Segall was the Chief Executive Officer of Investec, Inc.,
the U.S. investment banking operations of the Investec Group, a U.K. and African
based specialist bank. Previously he was a partner at the law firm of Kramer,
Levin and Naftalis LLP, specializing in cross-border mergers and acquisitions
and capital markets activities. Mr. Segall currently serves as a director of
Greg Manning Auctions Inc., the Comtech Group and Integrated Asset Management.
Mr. Segall was also a director of Siliconix Inc. until June 2004. Mr. Segall
received his B.A. from Columbia University and a J.D. from New York University
Law School. Mr. Segall is a designee of Maxim Group LLC.
Independence
of Directors
Our board
of directors has determined that all of GuruNet’s directors, except Robert S.
Rosenschein, are currently “independent” in accordance with the applicable
listing standards of the American Stock Exchange as currently in
effect.
Meetings
of the Board of Directors
During
the year ended December 31, 2004, GuruNet’s board of directors held nine
meetings. The board of directors has an Audit Committee, a Compensation
Committee and a Nominations and Governance Committee. During the year ended
December 31, 2004, the Audit Committee held one meeting. No meetings were held
during the year ended 2004 by the Compensation Committee and the Nominations and
Governance Committee. During the year ended December 31, 2004, no director
attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of
GuruNet’s board of directors (held during the period for which he was a
director) and the total number of meetings held by all committees of GuruNet’s
board of directors on which he served (held during the period that he served).
Corporate
Governance and Board Committees
Our board
of directors has adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct (the “Code”) that
outlines the principles of legal and ethical business conduct under which
GuruNet does business. The Code, which is applicable to all directors, employees
and officers of GuruNet, is available at GuruNet’s website at www.gurunet.com.
Any substantive amendment or waiver of the Code may be made only by GuruNet’s
board of directors or a committee of the board, and will be promptly disclosed
to GuruNet’s stockholders on our website. In addition, disclosure of any waiver
of the Code will also be made by the filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K with
the SEC.
GuruNet’s
board of directors has also adopted a written charter for each of the Audit
Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominations and Governance Committee. Each
charter is available on GuruNet’s website at www.gurunet.com. The charter for
the Audit Committee is attached to this proxy statement as Annex
A.
The Audit
Committee was established in May 2004 and serves at the pleasure of GuruNet’s
board of directors. The Audit Committee monitors the integrity of GuruNet’s
financial statements, reviews the qualifications and independence of GuruNet’s
auditors, monitors the performance of GuruNet's internal audit function and
independent registered public accounting firm , and ensures GuruNet’s compliance
of all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee has the
sole authority to appoint or replace the independent registered public
accounting firm and is directly responsible for the compensation and oversight
of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit
Committee also pre-approves all auditing services and permitted non-audit
services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for GuruNet by
its independent registered public accounting firm.
The
members of the Audit Committee during the year ended December 31, 2004 were
Messrs. Mark A. Tebbe, Edward G. Sim and Yehuda Sternlicht. The members of the
board’s Audit Committee receive an annual fee of $5,000 plus reimbursement for
reasonable travel expenses, and Mr. Yehuda Sternlicht, as Chairman of the Audit
Committee receives an annual fee of $10,000 plus reimbursement for reasonable
travel expenses. GuruNet’s board of directors has determined that each member of
the Audit Committee currently meets the independence criteria set forth in the
applicable rules of the American Stock Exchange and the SEC for audit committee
membership. The board has also determined that all members of the Audit
Committee possess the level of financial literacy required by applicable
American Stock Exchange and SEC rules. GuruNet’s board of directors has
determined that Mr. Sternlicht is qualified as an “audit committee financial
expert” as defined by the SEC. For additional information about the Audit
Committee, see “Report of the Audit Committee” below.
The
Compensation Committee was established in May 2004 and serves at the pleasure of
GuruNet’s board of directors. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves
GuruNet’s salary and benefits policies, including compensation of the Chief
Executive Officer or any severance or similar termination payments to be made to
current or former executive officers or members of senior management. It is also
within the charter of the Compensation Committee to administer our incentive
compensation plans and equity-based compensation plans, and recommend and
approve grants of stock options under such plans. The members of the
Compensation Committee during the year ended December 31, 2004 were Messrs. Mark
A. Tebbe, Edward G. Sim and former director, Michael Eisenberg. GuruNet’s board
of directors has determined that each of the directors who comprise the
Compensation Committee is currently independent for purposes of the applicable
American Stock Exchange rules.
The
Nominations and Governance Committee was established in May 2004, and serves at
the pleasure of GuruNet’s board of directors. The
purpose of the Nominations and Governance Committee is to identify individuals
believed to be qualified to become board members and to recommend that the board
of directors select the director nominees to stand for election at the annual
meeting of stockholders or, if applicable, at a special meeting of stockholders.
It is also within the charter of the Nominations and Governance Committee to
develop and recommend to the board of directors a set of corporate governance
principles applicable to GuruNet, standards to be applied in making
determinations as to the absence of material relationships between GuruNet and a
director and to oversee the selection and composition of committees of the board
of directors and, as applicable, oversee management continuity planning
processes. The members of the Nominations and Governance Committee during the
year ended December 31, 2004 were Messrs. Mark A Tebbe, Edward G. Sim and Jerry
Colonna. GuruNet’s board of directors has determined that each of the directors
who comprise the Nominations and Governance Committee is currently independent
for purposes of the applicable American Stock Exchange rules.
Director
Nominations
The
Nominations and Governance Committee is responsible for, among other things, the
selection, or the recommendation to GuruNet’s board of directors for selection,
of nominees for election as directors. The Nominations and Governance Committee
shall make director nominations as a committee or make recommendations to the
board with respect to director nominations. The Nominations and Governance
Committee does not currently have a policy whereby it will consider
recommendations from stockholders for its director nominees, though it intends
to adopt such a policy during GuruNet’s 2005 fiscal year. The Nominations and
Governance Committee anticipates that such policy will provide that the
Nominations and Governance Committee will consider nominations properly
submitted by shareholders in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
SEC, applicable law and the procedures set forth in GuruNet’s Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws.
When
considering the nomination of directors for election at an annual meeting of
stockholders or, if applicable, a special meeting of stockholders, the
Nominations and Governance Committee takes into account all factors it considers
appropriate, which may include strength of character, mature judgment, career
specialization, relevant technical skills, diversity and the extent to which the
candidate would fill a present need on the board of directors.
If the
Nominations and Governance Committee believes that GuruNet’s board of directors
requires additional candidates for nomination, the Nominations and Governance
Committee may engage, as appropriate, a third party search firm to assist in
identifying qualified candidates. The process may also include interviews and
all necessary and appropriate inquiries into the background and qualifications
of possible candidates.
Communications
by Stockholders with Directors
GuruNet
encourages stockholder communications to GuruNet’s board of directors and/or
individual directors. Stockholders who wish to communicate with GuruNet’s board
of directors or an individual director should send their communications to the
care of Steven Steinberg, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, GuruNet
Corporation, at Jerusalem Technology Park, Building 98, Jerusalem 91481 Israel;
Fax: +972 2 649-5001. Communications regarding financial or accounting policies
should be sent to the attention of the Chairman of the Audit Committee. Mr.
Steinberg will maintain a log of such communications and will transmit as soon
as practicable such communications to the Chairman of the Audit Committee or to
the identified individual director(s), although communications that are abusive,
in bad taste or that present safety or security concerns may be handled
differently, as determined by Mr. Steinberg.
Director
Attendance at Annual Meetings
GuruNet
will make every effort to schedule its annual meeting of stockholders at a time
and date to accommodate attendance by directors taking into account the
directors’ schedules. All directors are encouraged to attend GuruNet’s
annual meeting of stockholders. GuruNet did not hold an annual meeting of
stockholders in 2004.
Vote
Required and Recommendation of GuruNet’s Board of
Directors
The terms
of two of GuruNet’s incumbent Class I directors will expire on the date of the
upcoming annual meeting. Accordingly, two persons are to be elected to serve as
Class I directors of GuruNet’s board of directors at the annual meeting.
Management’s nominees for election by GuruNet’s stockholders to those two
positions are Mark A. Tebbe and Lawrence S. Kramer. Please see “Director
Nominees” above for information concerning each of the nominees.
If a
quorum is present at the annual meeting, the two nominees for Class I directors
receiving the highest number of votes cast “FOR” will be
elected as directors of GuruNet, each to serve until the 2008 annual meeting of
GuruNet’s stockholders or until their respective successors are elected and
qualified. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome
of the election of directors.
Our
board of directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of
each of the nominees named above to GuruNet’s board of
directors.
PROPOSAL
2
THE
PROPOSED 2005 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
Background
and Purpose
On May
26, 2005, GuruNet’s Board of Directors adopted GuruNet’s 2005 Incentive
Compensation Plan, which we refer to as the 2005 Plan, and recommended that it
be submitted to GuruNet’s stockholders for their approval at the next annual
meeting.
The terms
of the 2005 Plan provide for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights
or SARs, restricted stock, deferred stock, other stock-related awards and
performance awards that may be settled in cash, stock or other
property.
The
purpose of the 2005 Plan is to provide a means for GuruNet and its subsidiary,
which we refer to as Related Entity, to attract key personnel to provide
services to GuruNet and the Related Entity, as well as, to provide a means
whereby those key persons can acquire and maintain stock ownership, thereby
strengthening their commitment to the welfare of GuruNet and its Related Entity
and promoting the mutuality of interests between participants and GuruNet’s
stockholders. A further purpose of the 2005 Plan is to provide participants with
additional incentive and reward opportunities designed to enhance the profitable
growth of GuruNet and its Related Entity, and provide participants with annual
and long term performance incentives to expend their maximum efforts in the
creation of stockholder value.
The
effective date of the 2005 Plan is July 18, 2005. As of the date of this proxy
statement, no awards have been granted under the 2005 Plan.
Stockholder
approval of the 2005 Plan is required (i) to comply with certain exclusions from
the limitations of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, which we
refer to as the Code, as described below, (ii) for the 2005 Plan to be eligible
under the “plan lender” exemption from the margin requirements of Regulation G
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we
refer to as the Exchange Act, (iii) to comply with the incentive stock options
rules under Section 422 of the Code, and (iv) for purposes of complying with the
stockholder approval requirements for the listing of shares on the American
Stock Exchange (AMEX).
The
following is a summary of certain principal features of the 2005 Plan. This
summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the
2005 Plan. Stockholders are urged to read the actual text of the 2005 Plan in
its entirety which is set forth as Annex
B to this
proxy statement.
Shares
Available for Awards; Annual Per-Person Limitations
Under the
2005 Plan,
the total number of shares of GuruNet common stock that may be subject to the
granting of awards under the 2005
Plan
shall be equal to 850,000 shares, plus the number of shares with respect to
which awards previously granted thereunder that terminate without being
exercised, and the number of shares that are surrendered in payment of any
awards or any tax withholding requirements.
Awards
with respect to shares that are granted to replace outstanding awards or other
similar rights that are assumed or replaced by awards under the 2005 Plan
pursuant to the acquisition of a business are not subject to, and do not count
against, the foregoing limit.
In
addition, the 2005 Plan imposes individual limitations on the amount of certain
awards in part to comply with Code Section 162(m). Under these limitations,
during any fiscal year the number of options, SARs, restricted shares of GuruNet
common stock, deferred shares of GuruNet common stock, shares as a bonus or in
lieu of other GuruNet obligations, and other stock-based awards granted to any
one participant may not exceed 250,000 shares for each type of such award,
subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The maximum amount that may be
earned by any one participant as a performance award in respect of a performance
period of one year is $2,000,000, and in addition the maximum amount that may be
earned by one participant in respect of a performance period greater than one
year is $200,000 multiplied by the number of full years in the performance
period.
Our
Compensation Committee is to administer the Plan. See “Administration.” The
Committee is authorized to adjust the limitations described in the two preceding
paragraphs and is authorized to adjust outstanding awards (including adjustments
to exercise prices of options and other affected terms of awards) in the event
that a dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, shares of GuruNet common
stock or other property), recapitalization, forward or reverse split,
reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, share
exchange or other similar corporate transaction or event affects GuruNet common
stock so that an adjustment is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or
enlargement of the rights of participants. The Committee is also authorized to
adjust performance conditions and other terms of awards in response to these
kinds of events or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations or
accounting principles.
Eligibility
The
persons eligible to receive awards under the 2005 Plan are the officers,
directors, employees, consultants and other persons who provide services to
GuruNet and the Related Entity. An employee on leave of absence may be
considered as still in the employ of GuruNet or a Related Entity for purposes of
eligibility for participation in the 2005 Plan.
Administration
The
Compensation Committee will administer the 2005 Plan. If the Board elects to
administer the Plan, however, only those Independent Directors of GuruNet’s
Board of Directors may exercise any power or authority over the Plan. Any
references to Committee herein shall be deemed to include the Independent
Directors. Subject to the terms of the 2005 Plan, the Committee is authorized to
select eligible persons to receive awards, determine the type and number of
awards to be granted and the number of shares of GuruNet common stock to which
awards will relate, specify times at which awards will be exercisable or
settleable (including performance conditions that may be required as a condition
thereof), set other terms and conditions of awards, prescribe forms of award
agreements, interpret and specify rules and regulations relating to the 2005
Plan and make all other determinations that may be necessary or advisable for
the administration of the 2005 Plan.
Stock
Options and SARs
The
Committee is authorized to grant stock options, including both incentive stock
options or ISOs, which can result in potentially favorable tax treatment to the
participant, and non-qualified stock options, and SARs entitling the participant
to receive the amount by which the fair market value of a share of GuruNet
common stock on the date of exercise (or the “change in control price,” as
defined in the Plan, following a change in control) exceeds the grant price of
the SAR. The exercise price per share subject to an option and the grant price
of an SAR are determined by the Committee, but in the case of an ISO must not be
less than the fair market value of a share of GuruNet common stock on the date
of grant. For purposes of the 2005 Plan, the term “fair market value” means the
fair market value of GuruNet common stock, awards or other property as
determined by the Committee or under procedures established by the Committee.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or GuruNet’s Board of Directors,
the fair market value of GuruNet common stock as of any given date shall be the
closing sales price per share of GuruNet common stock as reported on the
principal stock exchange or market on which GuruNet common stock is traded on
the date as of which such value is being determined or, if there is no sale on
that date, the last previous day on which a sale was reported. The maximum term
of each option or SAR, the times at which each option or SAR will be
exercisable, and provisions requiring forfeiture of unexercised options or SARs
at or following termination of employment or service generally are fixed by the
Committee except that no option or SAR may have a term exceeding 10 years.
Options may be exercised by payment of the exercise price in cash, shares that
have been held for at least one year (or that the Committee otherwise determines
will not result in a financial accounting charge to GuruNet), outstanding awards
or other property having a fair market value equal to the exercise price, as the
Committee may determine from time to time. Methods of exercise and settlement
and other terms of the SARs are determined by the Committee. SARs granted under
the 2005 Plan may include “limited SARs” exercisable for a stated period of time
following a change in control of GuruNet or upon the occurrence of some other
event specified by the Committee, as discussed below.
Restricted
and Deferred Stock
The
Committee is authorized to grant restricted stock and deferred stock. Restricted
stock is a grant of shares of GuruNet common stock which may not be sold or
disposed of, and which may be forfeited in the event of certain terminations of
employment or service, prior to the end of a restricted period specified by the
Committee. A participant granted restricted stock generally has all of the
rights of a stockholder of GuruNet, unless otherwise determined by the
Committee. An award of deferred stock confers upon a participant the right to
receive shares of GuruNet common stock at the end of a specified deferral
period, and may be subject to possible forfeiture of the award in the event of
certain terminations of employment prior to the end of a specified restricted
period. Prior to settlement, an award of deferred stock carries no voting or
dividend rights or other rights associated with share ownership, although
dividend equivalents may be granted, as discussed below.
Dividend
Equivalents
The
Committee is authorized to grant dividend equivalents conferring on participants
the right to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, cash, shares of GuruNet
common stock, other awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid on
a specific number of shares of GuruNet common stock or other periodic payments.
Dividend equivalents may be granted alone or in connection with another award,
may be paid currently or on a deferred basis and, if deferred, may be deemed to
have been reinvested in additional shares of GuruNet common stock, awards or
otherwise as specified by the Committee.
Bonus
Stock and Awards in Lieu of Cash Obligations
The
Committee is authorized to grant shares of GuruNet common stock as a bonus free
of restrictions, or to grant shares of GuruNet common stock or other awards in
lieu of GuruNet obligations to pay cash under the 2005 Plan or other plans or
compensatory arrangements, subject to such terms as the Committee may
specify.
Other
Stock-Based Awards
The
Committee is authorized to grant awards under the 2005 Plan that are denominated
or payable in, valued by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to
shares of GuruNet common stock. Such awards might include convertible or
exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into
shares of GuruNet common stock, purchase rights for shares of GuruNet common
stock, awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of GuruNet or
any other factors designated by the Committee, and awards valued by reference to
the book value of shares of GuruNet common stock or the value of securities of
or the performance of specified subsidiaries or business units. The Committee
determines the terms and conditions of such awards.
Performance
Awards
The right
of a participant to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of an award, and
the timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions (including
subjective individual goals) as may be specified by the Committee. In addition,
the 2005 Plan authorizes specific performance awards, which represent a
conditional right to receive cash, shares of GuruNet common stock or other
awards upon achievement of certain preestablished performance goals and
subjective individual goals during a specified fiscal year. Performance awards
granted to persons whom the Committee expects will, for the year in which a
deduction arises, be “covered employees” (as defined below) will, if and to the
extent intended by the Committee, be subject to provisions that should qualify
such awards as “performance-based compensation” not subject to the limitation on
tax deductibility by GuruNet under Code Section 162(m). For purposes of Section
162(m), the term “covered employee” means GuruNet’s chief executive officer and
each other person whose compensation is required to be disclosed in GuruNet’s
filings with the SEC by reason of that person being among the four highest
compensated officers of GuruNet as of the end of a taxable year. If and to the
extent required under Section 162(m) of the Code, any power or authority
relating to a performance award intended to qualify under Section 162(m) of the
Code is to be exercised by the Committee, not GuruNet’s Board of
Directors.
Subject
to the requirements of the 2005 Plan, the Committee will determine performance
award terms, including the required levels of performance with respect to
specified business criteria, the corresponding amounts payable upon achievement
of such levels of performance, termination and forfeiture provisions and the
form of settlement. One or more of the following business criteria for GuruNet,
on a consolidated basis, and/or for the Related Entity, or for business or
geographical units of GuruNet and/or a Related Entity (except with respect to
the total stockholder return and earnings per share criteria), shall be used by
the Committee in establishing performance goals for performance awards to
“covered employees” that are intended to qualify under Section 162(m):
(1)
earnings per share; (2) revenues or margins; (3) cash flow; (4) operating
margin; (5) return on net assets, investment, capital, or equity; (6) economic
value added; (7) direct contribution; (8) net income; pretax earnings; earnings
before interest and taxes; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization; earnings after interest expense and before extraordinary or
special items; operating income; income before interest income or expense,
unusual items and income taxes, local, state or federal and excluding budgeted
and actual bonuses which might be paid under any ongoing bonus plans of GuruNet;
(9) working capital; (10) management of fixed costs or variable costs; (11)
identification or consummation of investment opportunities or completion of
specified projects in accordance with corporate business plans, including
strategic mergers, acquisitions or divestitures; (12) total stockholder return;
and (13) debt reduction. Any of the above goals may be determined on an absolute
or relative basis or as compared to the performance of a published or special
index deemed applicable by the Committee including, but not limited to, the
Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index or a group of companies that are
comparable to GuruNet. The Committee may exclude the impact of an event or
occurrence which the Committee determines should appropriately be excluded,
including without limitation (i) restructurings, discontinued operations,
extraordinary items, and other unusual or non-recurring charges, (ii) an event
either not directly related to the operations of GuruNet or not within the
reasonable control of GuruNet’s management, or (iii) a change in accounting
standards required by generally accepted accounting principles.
The
performance goals to be achieved for each performance period shall be
conclusively determined by the Committee and may be based upon the above
criteria. The amount of the award shall be conclusively determined by the
Committee. Performance awards may be paid in a lump sum or in installments
following the close of the performance period or, in accordance with procedures
established by the Committee, on a deferred basis.
Other
Terms of Awards
Awards
may be settled in the form of cash, shares of GuruNet common stock, other awards
or other property, in the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may require
or permit participants to defer the settlement of all or part of an award in
accordance with such terms and conditions as the Committee may establish,
including payment or crediting of interest or dividend equivalents on deferred
amounts, and the crediting of earnings, gains and losses based on deemed
investment of deferred amounts in specified investment vehicles. The Committee
is authorized to place cash, shares of GuruNet common stock or other property in
trusts or make other arrangements to provide for payment of GuruNet’s
obligations under the 2005 Plan. The Committee may condition any payment
relating to an award on the withholding of taxes and may provide that a portion
of any shares of GuruNet common stock or other property to be distributed will
be withheld (or previously acquired shares of GuruNet common stock or other
property be surrendered by the participant) to satisfy withholding and other tax
obligations. Awards granted under the 2005 Plan generally may not be pledged,
hypothecated or otherwise encumbered and are not transferable except by will or
by the laws of descent and distribution, or to a designated beneficiary upon the
participant’s death, except that the Committee may, in its discretion, permit
transfers for estate planning or other purposes subject to any applicable
restrictions under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act.
Awards
under the 2005 Plan are generally granted without a requirement that the
participant pay consideration in the form of cash or property for the grant (as
distinguished from the exercise), except to the extent required by law. The
Committee may, however, grant awards in exchange for other awards under the 2005
Plan awards or under other GuruNet plans, or other rights to payment from
GuruNet, and may grant awards in addition to and in tandem with such other
awards, rights or other awards.
Acceleration
of Vesting; Change in Control
The
Committee may, in its discretion, accelerate the exercisability, the lapsing of
restrictions or the expiration of deferral or vesting periods of any award, and
such accelerated exercisability, lapse, expiration and if so provided in the
award agreement, vesting shall occur automatically in the case of a “change in
control” of GuruNet, as defined in the 2005 Plan (including the cash settlement
of SARs and “limited SARs” which may be exercisable in the event of a change in
control). In addition, the Committee may provide in an award agreement that the
performance goals relating to any performance based award will be deemed to have
been met upon the occurrence of any “change in control.” Upon the occurrence of
a change in control, if so provided in the award agreement, stock options and
limited SARs (and other SARs which so provide) may be cashed out based on a
defined “change in control price,” which will be the higher of (i) the cash and
fair market value of property that is the highest price per share paid
(including extraordinary dividends) in any reorganization, merger,
consolidation, liquidation, dissolution or sale of substantially all assets of
GuruNet, or (ii) the highest fair market value per share (generally based on
market prices) at any time during the 60 days before and 60 days after a change
in control.
For
purposes of the 2005 Plan, a “change in control” will be deemed to occur upon
the earliest of the following:
(a) The
acquisition by any Person of Beneficial Ownership (within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than fifty percent (50%)
of either
(1) the then outstanding shares of common stock of GuruNet (the “Outstanding
GuruNet Common Stock”) or (2) the combined voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities of GuruNet entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors (the “Outstanding GuruNet Voting Securities") (the foregoing
Beneficial Ownership hereinafter being referred to as a "Controlling Interest");
provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 9(b), the following
acquisitions shall not constitute or result in a Change of Control: (v) any
acquisition directly from GuruNet; (w) any acquisition by GuruNet; (x) any
acquisition by any Person that as of the effective date owns Beneficial
Ownership of a Controlling Interest; (y) any acquisition by any employee benefit
plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by GuruNet or any Subsidiary; or
(z) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies
with clauses (1), (2) and (3) of subsection (c) below; or
(b) During
any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the
effective date) individuals who constitute the Board on the effective date (the
“Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the
Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to
the effective date whose election, or nomination for election by GuruNet’s
stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors
then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such
individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this
purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a
result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election
or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) Consummation
of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or
similar corporate transaction involving GuruNet or any of its Subsidiaries, a
sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of GuruNet,
or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by GuruNet or any of its
Subsidiaries (each a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following
such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and
entities who were the Beneficial Owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
GuruNet Common Stock and Outstanding GuruNet Voting Securities immediately prior
to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than
fifty percent (50%) of the then
outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of
such transaction owns GuruNet or all or substantially all of GuruNet’s assets
either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination
of the Outstanding GuruNet Common Stock and Outstanding GuruNet Voting
Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any employee benefit
plan (or related trust) of GuruNet or such corporation resulting from such
Business Combination or any Person that as of the effective date owns Beneficial
Ownership of a Controlling Interest) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly,
fifty
percent (50%) or more
of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from
such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership
existed prior to the Business Combination and (C) at least a majority of the
members of the Board of Directors of the corporation resulting from such
Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the
execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for
such Business Combination; or
(d) Approval
by the stockholders of GuruNet of a complete liquidation or dissolution of
GuruNet.
Amendment
and Termination
GuruNet’s
Board of Directors may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the 2005
Plan or the Committee’s authority to grant awards without further stockholder
approval, except stockholder approval must be obtained for any amendment or
alteration if such approval is required by law or regulation or under the rules
of any stock exchange or quotation system on which shares of GuruNet common
stock are then listed or quoted. Thus, stockholder approval may not necessarily
be required for every amendment to the 2005 Plan which might increase the cost
of the 2005 Plan or alter the eligibility of persons to receive awards.
Stockholder approval will not be deemed to be required under laws or
regulations, such as those relating to ISOs, that condition favorable treatment
of participants on such approval, although GuruNet’s Board of Directors may, in
its discretion, seek stockholder approval in any circumstance in which it deems
such approval advisable. Unless earlier terminated by GuruNet’s Board of
Directors, the 2005 Plan will terminate at the earliest of (a) such time as no
Shares remain available for issuance under the Plan, (b) termination of this
Plan by the Board, or (c) the tenth anniversary of the Plan’s effective
date.
Special
Rules Applicable to Participants Who Are Israeli Residents
Awards to
participants who are residents of Israel for Israeli tax purposes, as of the
date an award is granted, must comply with the applicable requirements of
Section 102 and Section 3(9), as the case may be, of the Israeli Income Tax
Ordinance - 1961 (the “Ordinance”), and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
The Committee is authorized to grant any of the forms of awards discussed above,
provided that such awards are exercisable, or settle, solely into
stock.
In
general, under Section 102 of the Ordinance, awards to employees, officers and
directors, other than controlling shareholders, as defined in the Ordinance, may
be issued either directly to employees, officers or directors, or to a trustee
who holds the awards, and shares issued upon exercise thereof, for the benefit
of the employees officers and directors. Awards held by a trustee must be held
in trust for a period of between 12 to 36 months, depending upon the date of
grant and whether the award was granted under the capital gains tract or
ordinary income tract. Gurunet is currently under the capital gains
tract.
Awards
under Section 102 of the Ordinance which are to be held by a trustee are subject
to the prior approval of the plan by the Israeli Income Tax Authority (the
“ITA”). Gurunet intends to submit the 2005 Plan to the ITA for its approval
prior to the date of the annual meeting.
Awards to
controlling shareholders, as defined in the Ordinance, and to non employees are
subject to the provisions of Section 3(9) of the Ordinance which does not
require awards, or shares issued upon exercise thereof, to be held in
trust.
Federal
Income Tax Consequences of Awards
The 2005
Plan is not qualified under the provisions of section 401(a) of the Code and is
not subject to any of the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974.
Nonqualified
Stock Options
On
exercise of a nonqualified stock option granted under the 2005 Plan an optionee
will recognize ordinary income equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market
value on the date of exercise of the shares of stock acquired on exercise of the
option over the exercise price. If the optionee is an employee of GuruNet or a
Related Entity, that income may be subject to the withholding of Federal income
tax. The optionee’s tax basis in those shares will be equal to their fair market
value on the date of exercise of the option, and his holding period for those
shares will begin on that date.
If an
optionee pays for shares of stock on exercise of an option by delivering shares
of GuruNet’s stock, the optionee will not recognize gain or loss on the shares
delivered, even if their fair market value at the time of exercise differs from
the optionee’s tax basis in them. The optionee, however, otherwise will be taxed
on the exercise of the option in the manner described above as if he had paid
the exercise price in cash. If a separate identifiable stock certificate is
issued for that number of shares equal to the number of shares delivered on
exercise of the option, the optionee’s tax basis in the shares represented by
that certificate will be equal to his tax basis in the shares delivered, and his
holding period for those shares will include his holding period for the shares
delivered. The optionee’s tax basis and holding period for the additional shares
received on exercise of the option will be the same as if the optionee had
exercised the option solely in exchange for cash.
GuruNet
will be entitled to a deduction for Federal income tax purposes equal to the
amount of ordinary income taxable to the optionee, provided that amount
constitutes an ordinary and necessary business expense for GuruNet and is
reasonable in amount, and either the employee includes that amount in income or
GuruNet timely satisfies its reporting requirements with respect to that amount.
Incentive
Stock Options
The 2005
Plan provides for the grant of stock options that qualify as “incentive stock
options” as defined in section 422 of the Code, which we refer to as ISOs. Under
the Code, an optionee generally is not subject to tax upon the grant or exercise
of an ISO. In addition, if the optionee holds a share received on exercise of an
ISO for at least two years from the date the option was granted and at least one
year from the date the option was exercised, which we refer to as the Required
Holding Period, the difference, if any, between the amount realized on a sale or
other taxable disposition of that share and the holder’s tax basis in that share
will be long-term capital gain or loss.
If,
however, an optionee disposes of a share acquired on exercise of an ISO before
the end of the Required Holding Period, which we refer to as a Disqualifying
Disposition, the optionee generally will recognize ordinary income in the year
of the Disqualifying Disposition equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market
value of the share on the date the ISO was exercised over the exercise price.
If, however, the Disqualifying Disposition is a sale or exchange on which a
loss, if realized, would be recognized for Federal income tax purposes, and if
the sales proceeds are less than the fair market value of the share on the date
of exercise of the option, the amount of ordinary income recognized by the
optionee will not exceed the gain, if any, realized on the sale. If the amount
realized on a Disqualifying Disposition exceeds the fair market value of the
share on the date of exercise of the option, that excess will be short-term or
long-term capital gain, depending on whether the holding period for the share
exceeds one year.
An
optionee who exercises an ISO by delivering shares of stock acquired previously
pursuant to the exercise of an ISO before the expiration of the Required Holding
Period for those shares is treated as making a Disqualifying Disposition of
those shares. This rule prevents “pyramiding” or the exercise of an ISO (that
is, exercising an ISO for one share and using that share, and others so
acquired, to exercise successive ISOs) without the imposition of current income
tax.
For
purposes of the alternative minimum tax, the amount by which the fair market
value of a share of stock acquired on exercise of an ISO exceeds the exercise
price of that option generally will be an adjustment included in the optionee’s
alternative minimum taxable income for the year in which the option is
exercised. If, however, there is a Disqualifying Disposition of the share in the
year in which the option is exercised, there will be no adjustment with respect
to that share. If there is a Disqualifying Disposition in a later year, no
income with respect to the Disqualifying Disposition is included in the
optionee’s alternative minimum taxable income for that year. In computing
alternative minimum taxable income, the tax basis of a share acquired on
exercise of an ISO is increased by the amount of the adjustment taken into
account with respect to that share for alternative minimum tax purposes in the
year the option is exercised.
GuruNet
is not allowed an income tax deduction with respect to the grant or exercise of
an incentive stock option or the disposition of a share acquired on exercise of
an incentive stock option after the Required Holding Period. However, if there
is a Disqualifying Disposition of a share, GuruNet is allowed a deduction in an
amount equal to the ordinary income includible in income by the optionee,
provided that amount constitutes an ordinary and necessary business expense for
GuruNet and is reasonable in amount, and either the employee includes that
amount in income or GuruNet timely satisfies its reporting requirements with
respect to that amount.
Stock
Awards
Generally,
the recipient of a stock award will recognize ordinary compensation income at
the time the stock is received equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market
value of the stock received over any amount paid by the recipient in exchange
for the stock. If, however, the stock is non-vested when it is received under
the 2005 Plan (for example, if the employee is required to work for a period of
time in order to have the right to sell the stock), the recipient generally will
not recognize income until the stock becomes vested, at which time the recipient
will recognize ordinary compensation income equal to the excess, if any, of the
fair market value of the stock on the date it becomes vested over any amount
paid by the recipient in exchange for the stock. A recipient may, however, file
an election with the Internal Revenue Service, within 30 days of his or her
receipt of the stock award, to recognize ordinary compensation income, as of the
date the recipient receives the award, equal to the excess, if any, of the fair
market value of the stock on the date the award is granted over any amount paid
by the recipient in exchange for the stock.
The
recipient’s basis for the determination of gain or loss upon the subsequent
disposition of shares acquired as stock awards will be the amount paid for such
shares plus any ordinary income recognized either when the stock is received or
when the stock becomes vested. Upon the disposition of any stock received as a
stock award under the 2005 Plan the difference between the sale price and the
recipient’s basis in the shares will be treated as a capital gain or loss and
generally will be characterized as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares
have been held for more the one year from the date as of which he or she would
be required to recognize any compensation income.
Stock
Appreciation Rights
GuruNet
may grant SARs separate from any other award, which we refer to as Freestanding
SARs, or in tandem with options, which we refer to as Tandem SARs, under the
2005 Plan. Generally, the recipient of a Stand-lone SAR will not recognize any
taxable income at the time the Freestanding SAR is granted.
With
respect to Freestanding SARs, if the recipient receives the appreciation
inherent in the SARs in cash, the cash will be taxable as ordinary compensation
income to the recipient at the time that the cash is received. If the recipient
receives the appreciation inherent in the SARs in shares of stock, the recipient
will recognize ordinary compensation income equal to the excess of the fair
market value of the stock on the day it is received over any amounts paid by the
recipient for the stock.
With
respect to Tandem SARs, if the recipient elects to surrender the underlying
option in exchange for cash or shares of stock equal to the appreciation
inherent in the underlying option, the tax consequences to the recipient will be
the same as discussed above relating to the Freestanding SARs. If the recipient
elects to exercise the underlying option, the holder will be taxed at the time
of exercise as if he or she had exercised a nonqualified stock option (discussed
above), i.e., the recipient will recognize ordinary income for federal tax
purposes measured by the excess of the then fair market value of the shares of
stock over the exercise price.
In
general, there will be no federal income tax deduction allowed to GuruNet upon
the grant or termination of Freestanding SARs or Tandem SARs. Upon the exercise
of either a Freestanding SAR or a Tandem SAR, however, GuruNet will be entitled
to a deduction for federal income tax purposes equal to the amount of ordinary
income that the employee is required to recognize as a result of the exercise,
provided that the deduction is not otherwise disallowed under the
Code.
Dividend
Equivalents
Generally,
the recipient of a dividend equivalent award will recognize ordinary
compensation income at the time the dividend equivalent award is received equal
to the fair market value dividend equivalent award received. GuruNet generally
will be entitled to a deduction for federal income tax purposes equal to the
amount of ordinary income that the employee is required to recognize as a result
of the dividend equivalent award, provided that the deduction is not otherwise
disallowed under the Code.
Section
162 Limitations
The
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 added Section 162(m) to the Code,
which generally disallows a public company’s tax deduction for compensation to
covered employees in excess of $1 million in any tax year beginning on or after
January 1, 1994. Compensation that qualifies as “performance-based compensation”
is excluded from the $1 million deductibility cap, and therefore remains fully
deductible by the company that pays it. GuruNet intends that options granted to
employees whom the Committee expects to be covered employees at the time a
deduction arises in connection with such options, will qualify as such
“performance-based compensation,” so that such options will not be subject to
the Section 162(m) deductibility cap of $1 million. Future changes in Section
162(m) or the regulations thereunder may adversely affect the ability of GuruNet
to ensure that options under the 2005 Plan will qualify as “performance-based
compensation” that is fully deductible by GuruNet under Section
162(m).
Importance
of Consulting Tax Adviser
The
information set forth above is a summary only and does not purport to be
complete. In addition, the information is based upon current Federal and foreign
income tax rules and therefore is subject to change when those rules change.
Moreover, because the tax consequences to any recipient may depend on his or her
particular situation, each recipient should consult his tax adviser as to the
Federal, state, local and other tax consequences of the grant or exercise of an
award or the disposition of stock acquired as a result of an award.
Vote
Required and Recommendation of GuruNet’s Board of
Directors
The
affirmative vote of holders of shares representing a majority of the shares of
GuruNet’s common stock represented in person or by properly executed proxy and
entitled to vote at the annual meeting is required to approve GuruNet’s 2005
Incentive Compensation Plan.
GuruNet’s
board of directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” Proposal No. 2.
PROPOSAL
3
SELECTION
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The board
of directors has selected Somekh Chaikin, a member
of KPMG International, as
GuruNet's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending
December 31, 2005. The board of directors requests the ratification of the
appointment of Somekh Chaikin by the stockholders at the annual
meeting.
Fees
Paid to Principal Accountants
Audit
Fees
The
aggregate fees billed for professional services and paid for the annual audit
and for the review of GuruNet’s financial statements included in GuruNet’s
Annual Report on Form 10-KSB, as amended by Form 10-KSB/A, for the years ended
December 31, 2004 and 2003 and GuruNet’s Forms 10-QSB for the quarters ended
December 31, 2004 and 2003 were approximately $227,835 and $75,438,
respectively. The audit fees for 2004 include the costs associated with
GuruNet’s initial public offering.
Audit-Related
Fees
The
aggregate audit-related fees billed for all respective services for the years
ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, were $0 and $0, respectively.
Tax
Fees
The
aggregate tax fees billed for all respective services for the years ended
December 31, 2004 and 2003, were $0 and $2,420, respectively.
All
Other Fees
The
aggregate fees billed for all other non-audit services rendered by the principal
accountant for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, were $0 and $0,
respectively.
The Audit
Committee of the board of directors maintains a pre-approval policy with respect
to audit and non-audit services to be performed by GuruNet’s independent
registered public accounting firm, in order to assure that the provision of such
services does not impair the auditor’s independence. Before engaging the
independent registered public accounting firm to render a service, the
engagement must be either specifically approved by the Audit Committee, or
entered into pursuant to the pre-approval policy. Unless the Audit Committee
specifically provides for a different period, the term of any pre-approval is 12
months from the date of the pre-approval. Pre-approval authority may be
delegated to one or more members of the Audit Committee, who must report any
pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting;
however, the Audit Committee may not delegate pre-approval authority to
GuruNet’s management.
Pursuant
to the pre-approval policy, the Audit Committee must specifically pre-approve
the terms of the annual audit services engagement, and any changes in terms
resulting from changes in audit scope, GuruNet’s structure or other matters.
A
representative of Somekh Chaikin is expected to be present at the annual meeting
and will have the opportunity to make statements if he or she desires to do so
and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
The
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present in person
at the annual meeting or represented by proxy is required for ratification of
the appointment of Somekh Chaikin as GuruNet’s independent registered public
accounting firm for 2005.
Vote
Required and Recommendation of GuruNet’s Board of
Directors
The
affirmative vote of holders of shares representing a majority of the shares of
GuruNet’s common stock represented in person or by properly executed proxy and
entitled to vote at the annual meeting is required to approve GuruNet’s
selection of independent registered public accounting firm.
GuruNet’s
board of directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” Proposal No. 3.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT OF
GURUNET
The table
and accompanying footnotes set forth certain information as of May 23, 2005 with
respect to the ownership of our common stock by:
· |
each
person or group who is known to us to beneficially own more than 5% of our
outstanding common stock; |
· |
our
chief executive officer and other executive officers whose total
compensation exceeded $100,000 during the year ended December 31, 2004;
and |
· |
all
of our directors and executive officers as a
group. |
A person
is deemed to be the beneficial owner of securities that can be acquired within
60 days of the Record Date from the exercise of options and warrants or the
conversion of convertible securities. Accordingly, common stock issuable upon
exercise of options and warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable
within 60 days of the Record Date have been included in the table with
respect to the beneficial ownership of the person or entity owning the options
and warrants, but not with respect to any other persons or entities.
Applicable
percentage of ownership for each holder is based on 7,024,671 shares of common
stock outstanding on the Record Date, plus any presently exercisable stock
options and warrants held by each such holder, and options, warrants and bridge
notes held by each such holder that will become exercisable or convertible
within 60 days after the Record Date. Unless otherwise indicated, we believe
that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with
respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them.
Name
and Address of Beneficial Owner (1) |
|
Shares
Beneficially
Owned |
|
Percentage
of Common Stock |
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
S. Rosenschein |
|
412,196 |
(2) |
|
5.87 |
% |
Steven
Steinberg |
|
32,490 |
(3) |
|
* |
|
Jeff
Schneiderman |
|
61,942 |
(4) |
|
* |
|
Mark
A. Tebbe |
|
36,089 |
(5) |
|
* |
|
Edward
G. Sim |
|
13,759 |
(6) |
|
* |
|
Yehuda
Sternlicht |
|
7,772 |
(7) |
|
* |
|
Jerry
Colonna |
|
7,772 |
(8) |
|
* |
|
Lawrence
S. Kramer |
|
-- |
(9) |
|
-- |
|
Mark
B. Segall |
|
-- |
(10) |
|
-- |
|
All
directors and executive officers as a group (10
individuals) |
|
572,020 |
(11) |
|
8.14 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Represents less than 1%.
(1) |
Unless
otherwise indicated, the business address of each of the following is
GuruNet Corporation, Jerusalem Technology Park, Building 98, Jerusalem
91481 Israel. |
(2) |
Excludes
151,228 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are
not exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. |
(3) |
Includes
32,490 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are
currently exercisable or are exercisable within 60 days of the Record
Date. Excludes 52,510 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of
options that are not exercisable within 60 days of the Record
Date. |
(4) |
Includes
61,942 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are
currently exercisable or are exercisable within 60 days of the date of the
Record Date. Excludes 23,058 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise
of options that are not exercisable within 60 days of the Record
Date. |
(5) |
Includes
21,721 shares of common stock owned by Mark A. Tebbe and 14,368 shares of
common stock issuable upon exercise of currently exercisable options.
Excludes 25,095 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options
that are not exercisable within 60 days of the Record
Date. |
(6) |
Includes
3,008 shares of common stock owned directly by DT Advisors, LLC, of which
Mr. Sim is the Managing Director and member. Mr. Sim disclaims beneficial
ownership of 2,525 of the shares of common stock held by DT Advisors, LLC
except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. Also
includes 10,751 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of currently
exercisable options. Excludes 25,095 shares of common stock issuable upon
exercise of options that are not exercisable within 60 days of the
Record Date. |
(7) |
Includes
7,772 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are
currently exercisable or are exercisable within 60 days of the Record
Date. Excludes 20,928 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of
options that are not exercisable within 60 days of the Record
Date. |
(8) |
Includes
7,772 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are
currently exercisable or are exercisable within 60 days of the Record
Date. Excludes 20,928 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of
options that are not exercisable within 60 days of the Record
Date. |
(9) |
Excludes
28,700 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are
not exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. |
(10) |
Excludes
28,700 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options that are
not exercisable within 60 days of the Record
Date. |
(11) |
Excludes
200,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options granted
to Jeffrey S. Cutler, Guru Net's Chief Revenue Officer, that are not
exercisable within 60 days of the Record
Date. |
EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
Set forth
below are the names, ages and descriptions of the backgrounds, as of May 23,
2005, of each of current executive officers of GuruNet.
Name
|
Age |
|
Position |
Robert
S. Rosenschein |
51 |
|
Chief
Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board |
Steven
Steinberg |
44 |
|
Chief
Financial Officer and Secretary |
Jeff
Schneiderman |
41 |
|
Chief
Technical Officer |
Jeffrey
S. Cutler |
41 |
|
Chief
Revenue Officer |
Robert
S. Rosenschein has been
Chairman of our board and President since he founded GuruNet in December 1998.
From December 1998 to April 2000 and since May 2001, Mr. Rosenschein has served
as our Chief Executive Officer. From May 2000 to April 2001, Mr. Rosenschein
served as our Chairman. From 1988 to 1997, Mr. Rosenschein was Chief Executive
Officer of Accent Software International Ltd. (formerly Kivun), a company that
developed multi-lingual software tools, and from 1997 to 1998, Mr. Rosenschein
was Chief Technical Officer of Accent Software International Ltd. Mr.
Rosenschein graduated with a B.Sc. in Computer Science from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and received the Prime Minister of Israel’s Award for
Software Achievement in 1997.
Steven
Steinberg joined
GuruNet in December 2002 as Vice President of Finance and became our Chief
Financial Officer and Secretary in January 2004. From January 2001 to November
2002, he was Vice President of Finance at Percite Information Technologies,
Ltd., a supply-chain software company. From November 1998 to December 2000, Mr.
Steinberg was Controller of Albar Financial Services Ltd., an automobile finance
and leasing company. Previously, he was the Chief Financial Officer of the New
York Operations of Health Partners, Inc., and worked for ten years at the New
York offices of the accounting firm Coopers and Lybrand where he was an audit
manager. Mr. Steinberg graduated with a B.B.A. from Florida International
University.
Jeff
Schneiderman has been
our Chief Technical Officer since March 2003. From January 1999 until February
2003, Mr. Schneiderman was our Vice President of Research and Development. From
November 1991 to November 1998, Mr. Schneiderman was employed at Accent Software
International Ltd., where he served as Vice President of Engineering from
October 1996 to March 1998 and as Vice President of Product Development from
March 1998 to November 1998. Mr. Schneiderman also has held development
positions at AT&T Bell Labs and the Whitewater Group. Mr. Schneiderman
graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at
Urbana/Champaign and a M.S. in Computer Science from Illinois Institute of
Technology.
Jeffrey
S. Cutler has been
our Chief Revenue Officer since March 15, 2005. From July 2003 to March 2005 he
served as General Manager of the Software Information and Industry Association’s
Content Division. Prior to that, between October 2001 and January 2003, Mr.
Cutler served as President and Chief Executive Officer for Inlumen, Inc. From
April 1999 to October 2001 Mr. Cutler was Senior Vice President, General Manager
and Chief Operating Officer of Office.com, a leading online business service
co-owned by Winstar Communications and CBS/Viacom, where he also served as Vice
President Business Development between March 1998 and April 1999. Prior to that,
between March 1997 and March 1998 he was Vice President of Sales and Marketing
for Winstar Telebase, a leading channel for premium business content. Between
September 1996 and March 1997, he served as Director of Sales for N2K Telebase,
prior to its acquisition by Winstar. Mr. Cutler also spent two years as Director
of Trading Services at Thomson Financial Services' CDA/Spectrum between December
1994 and August 1996, and worked at CompuServe from March 1986 to July 1994,
managing the distribution of information, network and email/intranet services to
the financial services industry. Mr. Cutler graduated with a BA in Computer
Science and Finance from Rutgers College, Rutgers University in May
1985.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION AND RELATED MATTERS
Executive
Compensation
The table
below summarizes the compensation earned for services rendered to us in all
capacities for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 by our Chief Executive
Officer and any other officer whose 2004 compensation exceeded $100,000. No
other individuals employed by us received a salary and bonus in excess of
$100,000 during 2004.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards |
|
Payouts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities |
|
|
|
All
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying |
|
LTIP |
|
Salaried |
Name
and Principal |
Fiscal |
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
Options/ |
|
Payouts |
|
Compensation(1) |
Position |
Year |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
SARs
(#) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
Robert
Rosenschein |
2004 |
|
179,563 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
22,451 |
Chief
Executive Officer, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
President
and Chairman |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of
the Board |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven
Steinberg |
2004 |
|
111,924 |
|
30,000 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
26,374 |
Chief
Financial Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeff
Schneiderman |
2004 |
|
96,924 |
|
500 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
25,399 |
Chief
Technical Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Includes
payments made for the Israeli equivalent of social security, pension and
disability insurance premiums, payments made in lieu of statutory
severance and payments to continuing education
plans. |
Our named
officers routinely receive other benefits from us that are customary to
similarly situated companies. We have concluded, after reasonable inquiry, that
the aggregate amount of these benefits in each of the years indicated did not
exceed the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of the compensation of any named officer.
Options
Granted in Fiscal Year 2004
We
granted a total of 819,760 options during the fiscal year ended December 31,
2004. The following table sets forth the number of stock options granted to the
named executive officers in fiscal year 2004.
Name
|
|
Number
of
Shares
Underlying
Options
Granted |
|
Date
of
Option
Grant |
|
%
of Total
Options
Granted
to
Employees
in
Fiscal
Year |
|
Exercise
Price |
|
Expiration
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
Rosenschein |
|
241,964 |
|
1/08/2004 |
|
35.2% |
|
$5.06 |
|
1/08/2014 |
Jeff
Schneiderman |
|
22,876 |
|
9/11/2004 |
|
3.3% |
|
$5.25 |
|
9/11/2014 |
Steven
Steinberg |
|
26,353 |
|
9/11/2004 |
|
3.8% |
|
$5.25 |
|
9/11/2014 |
2004
Fiscal Year End Option Values
The
following table sets forth the value of unexercised “in-the-money” options held
that represents the positive difference between the exercise price and the
market price of $8.70 at December 31, 2004. No named executive officer exercised
any options during 2004.
|
Number
of Unexercised in-the-money Options |
|
Value
of Unexercised in-the-money |
|
Name |
at
Fiscal Year End |
|
Options
Fiscal Year end |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
Rosenschein |
241,964 |
|
$ |
880,749 |
|
Jeff
Schneiderman |
76,311 |
|
$ |
454,830 |
|
Steven
Steinberg |
74,139 |
|
$ |
428,721 |
|
Employment
Contracts and Termination of Employment and Change-In-Control
Arrangements
Mr.
Rosenschein is employed as our President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to
a five-year employment agreement that commenced on January 1, 2002 and was
amended and restated as of January 8, 2004. The amended agreement provides for
an annual base salary of $198,000 with 10% annual increases and an annual bonus
to be determined at the discretion of our board of directors. If we terminate
Mr. Rosenschein for any reason other than cause, we are required to pay him a
lump sum of $150,000 regardless of how much time remains in the term of his
employment agreement less the severance pay portion of his Manager’s Insurance
Policy (the “Policy”). If the Policy is greater than $150,000, then Mr.
Rosenschein will be entitled to the entire amount payable under the Policy. At
the time Mr. Rosenschein’s employment agreement was amended and restated,
241,964 options were granted to Mr. Rosenschein under the 2003 Stock Option
Plan. In the event of a change in control, we will accelerate the vesting of 50%
of any options granted to Mr. Rosenschein that have not vested as of the
effective date of the change of control. If, within 12 months after such change
in control, Mr. Rosenschein is terminated without cause, any unvested options
that were granted to Mr. Rosenschein will vest immediately upon the effective
date of the termination. Mr. Rosenschein has agreed to refrain from competing
with us for a period of two years following the termination of his employment.
Mr.
Steinberg is employed
as our Chief Financial Officer pursuant to an employment agreement that
commenced on April 1, 2004. The agreement provides for a base annual salary of
$130,800. We or Mr. Steinberg may terminate the employment agreement by
providing three months written notice. If we terminate Mr. Steinberg without
cause, we shall extend the period during which Mr. Steinberg may exercise his
options granted after the date of his employment agreement by one year from the
effective date of Mr. Steinberg’s termination. In the event of a change in
control, we will accelerate the vesting of 50% of any options granted to Mr.
Steinberg that have not vested as of the effective date of the change of
control. If, within 12 months after such change in control, Mr. Steinberg is
terminated without cause, Mr. Steinberg is entitled to four months written
notice and any unvested options that were granted to Mr. Steinberg will vest
immediately upon the effective date of the termination. Mr. Steinberg has agreed
to refrain from competing with us for a period of twelve months following the
termination of his employment.
Mr.
Schneiderman is employed as our Chief Technical Officer pursuant to an
employment agreement that commenced on April 1, 2004. The agreement provides for
a base annual salary of $117,480. We or Mr. Schneiderman may terminate the
employment agreement by providing three months written notice. If we terminate
Mr. Schneiderman without cause, we shall extend the period during which Mr.
Schneiderman may exercise his options granted after the date of his employment
agreement by one year from the effective date of Mr. Schneiderman’s termination.
In the event of a change in control, we will accelerate the vesting of 50% of
any options granted to Mr. Schneiderman subsequent to his employment agreement
that have not vested as of the effective date of the change of control. If,
within 12 months after such change in control, Mr. Schneiderman is terminated
without cause, Mr. Schneiderman is entitled to four months written notice and
any unvested options that were granted to Mr. Schneiderman subsequent to the
date of his employment agreement will vest immediately upon the effective date
of the termination. Mr. Schneiderman has agreed to refrain from competing with
us for a period of twelve months following the termination of his
employment.
Mr.
Cutler is employed as our Chief Revenue Officer pursuant to an employment
agreement that commenced on March 15, 2005. The agreement provides for a base
annual salary of $225,000. We or Mr. Cutler may terminate the employment
agreement by providing thirty days written notice. If we terminate Mr. Cutler
without cause, or if Mr. Cutler resigns for certain “good reasons” enumerated in
the employment agreement, we shall extend the period during which Mr. Cutler may
exercise his options granted after the date of his employment agreement by one
year from the effective date of Mr. Cutler’s termination and pay to Mr. Cutler a
lump-sum cash payment equal to between 6 and 12 months of his base salary,
depending upon his length of service at the time of such termination. In the
event of a change in control, we will accelerate the vesting of 50% of any
options granted to Mr. Cutler subsequent to his employment agreement that have
not vested as of the effective date of the change of control. If GuruNet
terminates Mr. Cutler’s employment without Cause (or if Mr. Cutler resigns for
certain “good reasons” enumerated in the employment agreement) at any time
during the twelve (12) months subsequent to a change of control, then, 100% of
any options granted to Mr. Cutler that have not vested will immediately vest and
GuruNet will pay to Mr. Cutler a lump-sum cash payment equal to his annual base
salary at the time of the change in control. If upon a change of control the
market closing price of GuruNet’s common stock is less than 120% of
GuruNet’s market closing price on the employment commencement date, then Mr.
Cutler shall have the option to forfeit 200,000 of his options and he shall
receive a stock award of 50,000 shares of GuruNet’s common stock. Mr. Cutler has
agreed to refrain from competing with us following the termination of his
employment for a period of between six to twelve months, depending on certain
conditions enumerated in the employment agreement.
Compensation
of Directors
Non-employee
directors receive an annual fee of $15,000, plus $500 for attendance at each
full board meeting of our board of directors and reimbursement for reasonable
travel expenses. In January 2004, our board authorized the grant of options to
purchase 28,671 shares of common stock under our existing stock option plan to
each of Mr. Tebbe and Mr. Sim. In June 2004, our board authorized the grant of
options to purchase 28,700 shares of common stock under our existing stock
option plan to each of Mr. Sternlicht, Mr. Colonna and former director, Mr.
Eisenberg. In December 2004, our board authorized the grant of options to
purchase 28,700 shares of common stock under our existing stock option plan to
Mr. Segall. Additionally, the members of the board’s Audit Committee will be
paid an additional annual fee of $5,000 plus reimbursement for reasonable travel
expenses, and the Chairman of the Audit Committee will be paid an additional
annual fee of $10,000 plus reimbursement for reasonable travel
expenses.
Director
and Officer Liability
GuruNet’s
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that all directors,
officers, employees and agents of GuruNet shall be entitled to be indemnified by
GuruNet to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law. GuruNet’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
includes a provision eliminating the personal liability of directors and
officers to GuruNet for damages to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law,
including exculpation for acts or omissions in violation of directors' fiduciary
duties of care. GuruNet also has in effect under policies currently in effect
and expiring on December 9, 2005, insurance covering all of its directors and
officers against certain liabilities and reimbursing GuruNet for obligations for
which it incurs as a result of its indemnification of such directors, officers
and employees.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation in Compensation
Decisions
The
members of the Compensation Committee during the year ended December
31, 2004 were Messrs. Mark A. Tebbe, Edward G. Sim and former director
Michael Eisenberg. During 2004, none of our executive officers served as a
director or member of a compensation committee (or other committee serving an
equivalent function) of any other entity, whose executive officers served as a
director or member of our Compensation Committee.
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions
In March
2004, Mark A. Tebbe, one of the members of our board of directors and as agent
on our behalf, purchased the Internet domain name, “www.Answers.com,” from an
unrelated third party for $80,200. Immediately following such purchase, Mr.
Tebbe transferred the Internet domain name to us and was reimbursed $80,200. The
terms of transaction were as favorable to us as those generally available from
unaffiliated third parties. However, at the time this transaction was entered
into, we lacked sufficient disinterested independent directors to ratify the
transaction.
In May 2005, GuruNet entered into a certain API
Agreement with Shopping.com, Inc. A former member of our board, Michael
Eisenberg, was at the time of the board approval of such transaction a board
member of both GuruNet and Shopping.com. Since Mr. Eisenberg was deemed an
interested director with respect to this transaction, it was approved by a
majority of the disinterested independent directors of GuruNet.
Other
than the aforementioned, there have been no transactions during the last two
years, or proposed transactions, to which we were or will be a party, in which
any director, executive officer, beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common
stock or any member of the immediate family (including spouse, parents,
children, siblings and in-laws) of any of these persons, had or is to have a
direct or indirect material interest.
Any
future transactions with officers, directors or 5% stockholders will be on terms
no less favorable to us than could be obtained from independent parties. Any
affiliated transactions must be approved by a majority of our independent and
disinterested directors who have access to our counsel or independent legal
counsel at our expense.
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, officers and persons who own
more than 10% of our outstanding common stock to file with the SEC initial
reports of ownership and changes in ownership of our common stock. Such
individuals are also required to furnish us with copies of all such ownership
reports they file.
Based
solely on information furnished to us and contained in reports filed with the
SEC, as well as any written representations that no other reports were required,
GuruNet Corporation believes that during 2004, all Securities and Exchange
Commission filings of its directors and executive officers complied with the
requirements of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act, with the exception of
two filings relating to Messrs. Steven Steinberg and Jeff Schneiderman. Steven
Steinberg filed a late Form 5, in lieu of filing of late Form 4 to report a
November 2004 grant of stock options for 26,353 shares of common stock. Jeff
Schneiderman filed a late Form 5, in lieu of filing of late Form 4 to report a
November 2004 grant of stock options for 22,876 shares of common
stock.
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
The
following table sets forth certain information at December 31, 2004 with respect
to our equity compensation plans that provide for the issuance of options,
warrants or rights to purchase our securities.
|
No.
of Securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants
and rights
(a) |
|
Weighted-average
exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and
rights
(b) |
|
No.
of securities
remaining
available
for
future issuance
under
equity
compensation
plans
(excluding
securities
reflected
in column
(a))
(c) |
|
|
|
Equity
compensation plans |
|
|
|
|
|
|
approved
by security holders |
1,050,404
|
|
$5.03 |
|
471,304 |
|
Equity
compensation plans not |
|
|
|
|
|
|
approved
by security holders |
0 |
|
$0.00 |
|
0 |
|
Total |
1,050,404 |
|
$5.03 |
|
471,304 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
REPORT
OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
ON
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation
Philosophy
GuruNet
strives to apply a uniform philosophy regarding compensation for all of its
employees, including the members of its senior management. This philosophy is
based upon the premise that the achievements of GuruNet result from the combined
and coordinated efforts of all employees working toward common goals and
objectives in a competitive, evolving market place.
The goals
of GuruNet’s compensation program are to align remuneration with business
objectives and performance, and to enable GuruNet to retain and competitively
reward executive officers who contribute to the long-term success of GuruNet.
GuruNet attempts to pay its executive officers competitively in order that it
will be able to retain the most capable people in the industry. In making
executive compensation decisions, the Compensation Committee considered
achievement of certain criteria, some of which relate to GuruNet’s performance
and others of which relate to the performance of the individual employee. Awards
to executive officers are based on achievement of company and individual
performance criteria.
The
Compensation Committee will evaluate GuruNet’s compensation policies on an
ongoing basis to determine whether they enable GuruNet to attract, retain and
motivate key personnel. To meet these objectives, the Compensation Committee may
from time to time increase salaries, award additional stock options or provide
other short and long-term incentive compensation to executive
officers.
Forms
of Compensation
We
provide our executive officers with a compensation package consisting of base
salary and participation in benefit plans generally available to other
employees. In setting total compensation, the Compensation Committee considers
individual and company performance, as well as market information regarding
compensation paid by other companies in our industry.
Base
Salary. Salaries
for our executive officers are initially set based on negotiation with
individual executive officers at the time of recruitment and with reference to
salaries for comparable positions in the industry for individuals of similar
education and background to the executive officers being recruited. We also
consider the individual’s experience, reputation in his or her industry and
expected contributions to GuruNet.
Bonuses. It is
our policy that a component of each officer’s potential annual compensation take
the form of a performance-based bonus. Bonus payments to officers other than the
Chief Executive Officer are determined by the Compensation Committee, in
consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, based on GuruNet’s financial
performance and the achievement of the officer’s individual performance
objectives. The Chief Executive Officer’s bonus is determined by the
Compensation Committee, without participation by the Chief Executive Officer,
based on the same factors.
Long-Term
Incentives.
Longer-term incentives are provided through stock options, which reward
executives and other employees through the growth in value of our stock. The
Compensation Committee believes that employee equity ownership provides a major
incentive for employees to build stockholder value and serves to align the
interests of employees with those of GuruNet’s stockholders. Grants of stock
options to executive officers are based upon each officer’s relative position,
responsibilities and contributions to GuruNet, with primary weight given to the
executive officers’ relative rank and responsibilities. Initial stock option
grants designed to recruit an executive officer to join GuruNet may be based on
negotiations with the officer and with reference to historical option grants to
existing officers. Stock options are generally granted at an exercise price
equal to the market price of our common stock on the date of grant and will
provide value to the executive officers only when the price of our common stock
increases over the exercise price.
Employment
and Severance Agreements. GuruNet
has entered into employment agreements with its executive officers and certain
key employees. Except for Robert S. Rosenschein, our Chief Executive Officer,
our employment agreements with our officers and key employees are terminable by
either party upon 30-90 days notice. The employment agreements of Mr.
Rosenschein and Mr. Cutler provide for a severance payment in the event GuruNet
terminates their employment without cause, and in the case of Mr. Cutler’s,
should Mr. Cutler leave with ‘good reason’ as defined in his employment
agreement.
Compliance
with Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m).
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, restricts
deductibility of executive compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer and
each of the four other most highly compensated executive officers holding office
at the end of any year to the extent such compensation exceeds $1,000,000 for
any of such officers in any year and does not qualify for an exception under
Section 162(m) or related regulations. The Compensation Committee’s policy
is to qualify its executive compensation for deductibility under applicable tax
laws to the extent practicable. Income related to stock options granted under
GuruNet’s 1999
Stock Option Plan, the 2000 Stock Plan, the 2003 Stock Plan and
the 2004 Stock Plan generally
qualify for an exemption from these restrictions imposed by Section 162(m).
In the future, the Compensation Committee will continue to evaluate the
advisability of qualifying its executive compensation for full deductibility.
2004
Compensation
Compensation
for the individuals who served as Chief Executive Officer of GuruNet and other
executive officers for fiscal 2004 was set according to the established
compensation policy described above.
Robert S.
Rosenschein serves as GuruNet’s Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman
of the Board. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, Mr. Rosenschein
received $179,563 in salary, $0 in bonuses and $22,451 in other compensation for
his service as an executive officer of GuruNet. In 2004, GuruNet granted Mr.
Rosenschein options to purchase 241,964 shares of GuruNet’s common stock at an
exercise price of $5.06 per share. Mr. Rosenschein’s compensation for the 2004
fiscal year was based on qualitative managerial efforts and business
ingenuity.
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE:
Mark A.
Tebbe
Edward G.
Sim
Michael
Eisenberg (Former director)
REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit
Committee currently consists of three directors, each of whom, in the judgment
of GuruNet’s board of directors, is “independent” as defined in the applicable
listing standards of the American Stock Exchange. The members of GuruNet’s Audit
Committee are Mark A. Tebbe, Edward G. Sim and Yehuda Sternlicht . The Audit
Committee acts pursuant to a written charter that has been adopted by GuruNet’s
board of directors. A copy of the charter is attached to this proxy statement as
Annex
A.
The
following is the report of the Audit Committee with respect to GuruNet’s audited
financial statements for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. The
information contained in this report shall not be deemed to be soliciting
material or to be filed with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated
by reference into any future filing under the Exchange Act, except to the extent
that GuruNet specifically incorporates it by reference in such
filing.
In
connection with the preparation and filing of GuruNet’s Annual Report on Form
10-KSB/A for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2004:
(1) The Audit
Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with
management;
(2) The Audit
Committee discussed with Somekh Chaikin, a member
of KPMG International, GuruNet’s independent
registered public accounting firm, the material required to be discussed by
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit Committees, (as
may be modified or supplemented); and
(3) The Audit
Committee received the written disclosures and the letter from Somekh Chaikin
required by the Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence
Discussions with Audit Committees, as may be modified or supplemented, and
discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm any
relationships that may impact their objectivity and independence and satisfied
itself as to the independence of the independent registered public accounting
firm.
Based on
the review and discussion referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to
GuruNet’s board of directors that GuruNet’s audited financial statements be
included in GuruNet’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB/A for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004, to be filed with the SEC.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE:
Mark A.
Tebbe
Edward G.
Sim
Yehuda
Sternlicht
COMPARISON
OF STOCKHOLDER RETURN
The
following graph shows a comparison from October 13, 2004, (the date GuruNet’s
common stock commenced trading on the American Stock Exchange) through December
31, 2004 of cumulative total return for GuruNet’s common stock compared with (i)
the American Stock Exchange Market Composite Index and (ii) the Morgan Stanley
Hi-Tech Index. Such returns are based on historical results and are not intended
to suggest future performance. The graph assumes that the value of the
investment in GuruNet’s common stock, the American Stock Exchange Composite
Index and the Morgan Stanley Hi-Tech Index each was $100 on October 13, 2004 and
that all dividends were reinvested. All of the indices include only companies
whose common stock has been registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, for
at least the time frame set forth in the graph. GuruNet has never paid dividends
on its common stock and has no present plans to do so.
COMPARISON
OF 11 WEEKS CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG
GURUNET CORPORATION, THE AMEX COMPOSITE INDEX AND THE MORGAN STANLEY HI-TECH
INDEX
|
|
Company/Market/Index |
10/13/2004 |
12/31/04 |
GuruNet
Corporation |
100 |
174 |
AMEX
Composite Index |
100 |
113 |
Morgan
Stanley Hi-Tech Index |
100 |
112 |
ANNUAL
REPORT
A copy of
GuruNet's 2004 Annual Report to Stockholders is being mailed to stockholders
with this proxy statement.
DEADLINE
FOR SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
FOR
THE 2006 ANNUAL MEETING OF GURUNET’S STOCKHOLDERS
We have
an advance notice provision under our bylaws for stockholder business to be
presented at annual meetings of stockholders. Such provision states that in
order for stockholder business to be brought before an annual meeting by a
stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing
to our Secretary. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or
mailed and received at our principal executive offices not less than 75 days nor
more than 90 days prior to the date of the annual meeting; provided, however,
that if less than 75 days’ prior notice or prior public disclosure of the date
of the annual meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the
stockholder to be timely must be so delivered or received not later than the
close of business on the 10th day
following the earlier of (1) the day on which such notice of meeting was mailed
or (2) the day on which such public disclosure was made.
GuruNet’s
stockholders may submit for inclusion in GuruNet’s proxy statement for the 2006
annual meeting of stockholders proposals on matters appropriate for stockholder
action at the 2006 annual meeting of stockholders consistent with Rule 14a-8
promulgated under the Exchange Act. GuruNet must receive proposals that
stockholders seek to include in the proxy statement for GuruNet’s 2006 annual
meeting by no later than February 1, 2006. If next year’s annual meeting is held
on a date more than 30 calendar days from July 12, 2006, a stockholder
proposal must be received by a reasonable time before GuruNet begins to print
and mail its proxy solicitation materials for such annual meeting. Any
stockholder proposals will be subject to the requirements of the proxy rules
adopted by the SEC.
INTEREST
OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
No
director or executive officer of GuruNet at any time since the beginning of the
last fiscal year, nor any individual nominated to be a director of GuruNet, nor
any associate or affiliate of any of the foregoing, has any material interest,
directly or indirectly, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or
otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the annual meeting.
OTHER
MATTERS
Our board
of directors does not intend to bring any matters before the annual meeting
other than those specifically set forth in the notice of the annual meeting and,
as of the date of this proxy statement, does not know of any matters to be
brought before the annual meeting by others. If any other matters properly come
before the annual meeting, or any adjournment or postponement of the annual
meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to
vote those proxies on such matters in accordance with their best
judgment.
INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
GuruNet’s
consolidated audited balance sheets as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the
related consolidated statements of and cash flows for each of the two years in
the period ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, have been audited by Somekh
Chaikin, a member
of KPMG International, independent
registered public accounting firm and have been included herein in reliance upon
said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. Somekh Chaikin, a member
of KPMG International has been
our independent registered public accounting firm since 1999, and our board of
directors, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, has reappointed
Somekh Chaikin, a member
of KPMG International to audit
GuruNet for fiscal year 2005.
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
GuruNet
is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act and
files reports and other information with the SEC. Such reports and other
information filed by GuruNet may be inspected and copied at the SEC’s Public
Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C.
20549, as well as in the SEC’s public reference rooms in New York, New York and
Chicago, Illinois. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information
on the operation of the SEC’s public reference rooms. The SEC also maintains an
Internet site that contains reports, proxy statements and other information
about issuers, like us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of the
SEC’s web site is http://www.sec.gov.
GURUNET
CORPORATION
AUDIT
COMMITTEE CHARTER
Purpose
The Audit
Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors (the "Board") to assist the
Board in monitoring (1) the integrity of the consolidated financial statements
of GuruNet Corporation and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, whether
domestic or foreign (the "Company") to oversee the accounting and financial
reporting processes of the Company and the audits of the financial statements of
the Company, (2) the qualifications and independence of the Company’s auditors,
(3) the performance of the Company's internal audit function and independent
accountants, and (4) the compliance by the Company with all applicable legal and
regulatory requirements.
The Audit
Committee shall prepare the report required by the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") as now or may hereafter be amended,
modified or adopted, to be included in the Company's annual proxy
materials.
Committee
Membership
The Audit
Committee shall consist of no fewer than three members. The members of the Audit
Committee shall meet the independence and experience requirements of Section
10A(m)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), the rules and regulations of the Commission and of The Nasdaq Stock
Market, Inc. or any national securities exchange on which any securities of the
Company are traded, as now or may hereafter be amended, modified or adopted. At
least one member of the Audit Committee shall be an "Audit Committee Financial
Expert" as defined by the Commission's rules and regulations.
The
Members of the Audit Committee shall be appointed by the Board and may be
replaced by the Board at any time a majority of the Board determines that such
Members’ continued service on the Committee is no longer in the best interest of
the Company.
No member
of the Audit Committee shall serve on the audit committee of more than two other
pubic companies, unless the Board determines that such simultaneous service
would not impair the ability of such member to effectively serve on
Committee.
Meetings
The Audit
Committee shall meet as often as it determines, but not less frequently than
quarterly. Meetings may be held either in person or telephonically as determined
by the Chairman of the Audit Committee on such notice as the Chairman may
determine. The Audit Committee shall meet periodically with management, the
internal auditors, when established, and the independent accountants in separate
executive sessions. The Audit Committee may request any officer or employee of
the Company or the Company's outside counsel or independent accountants to
attend a meeting of the Committee or to meet with any members of, or consultants
to, the Audit Committee.
Committee
Authority and Responsibilities
The Audit
Committee shall have the sole authority to appoint or replace the independent
accountants. The Audit Committee shall be directly responsible for the
compensation and oversight of the work of the independent accountants (including
resolution of disagreements between management and the independent accountants
regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit
report or related work. The independent accountants shall report directly to the
Audit Committee.
The Audit
Committee shall pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit
services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for the Company
by its independent accountants, subject to the de minimus exceptions for
non-audit services described in Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Exchange Act which
are approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the audit.
Pre-approval of all auditing services and permitted non-audit services shall be
in accordance with the policy of the Audit Committee appended to this Charter as
Attachment A, as may be amended or modified by the Audit Committee.
The Audit
Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees consisting of one or
more members when appropriate, including the authority to grant pre-approvals of
audit and permitted non-audit services, provided that decisions of such
subcommittee to grant pre-approvals shall be presented to the full Audit
Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
The Audit
Committee shall have the authority, to the extent it deems necessary or
appropriate, to retain independent legal, accounting or other advisors. The
Company shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit
Committee, for payment of compensation to the independent accountants for the
purpose of rendering or issuing an audit report and to any advisors employed by
the Audit Committee.
The Audit
Committee shall regularly report to the Board. The Audit Committee shall review
and reassess the adequacy of this Charter annually and recommend any proposed
changes to the Board for approval.
The Audit
Committee, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, shall:
Financial
Statement and Disclosure Matters
1. |
Review
and discuss with management and the independent accountants the annual
audited financial statements, including disclosures made in "management's
discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations"
section of the Company's Exchange Act reports, and recommend to the full
Board whether the audited financial statements should be included in the
Company's Form 10-K. |
2. |
Review
and discuss with management and the independent accountants the Company's
quarterly financial statements prior to the filing of its Form 10-Q,
including the results of the independent accountants' review of the
quarterly financial statements. |
3. |
Discuss
with management and the independent accountants significant financial
reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of
the Company's financial statements, including any significant changes in
the Company's selection or application of accounting principles, any major
issues as to the adequacy of the Company's internal controls and any
special steps adopted in light of material control
deficiencies. |
4. |
Review
and discuss quarterly results from the independent accountants review
procedures on: |
(a) |
All
critical accounting policies and practices to be used, including critical
and significant accounting releases. |
(b) |
All
alternative treatments of financial information within accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America that have
been discussed with management, ramifications of the use of such
alternative disclosures and treatments, and the treatment preferred by the
independent accountants. |
(c) |
Other
material written communications between the independent accountants and
management, such as any management letter or schedule of unadjusted
differences. |
5. |
Discuss
with management the Company's earnings press releases, including the use
of "pro forma" or "adjusted" non-GAAP information, as well as financial
information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating
agencies. Such discussion may be done generally (consisting of discussing
the types of information to be disclosed and the types of presentations to
be made). |
6. |
Discuss
with management and the independent accountants the effect of regulatory
and accounting initiatives as well as off-balance sheet items on the
Company's financial statements. |
7. |
Discuss
with management the Company's major financial risk exposures and the steps
management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including the
Company's risk assessment and risk management
policies. |
8. |
Discuss
with the independent accountants the matters required to be discussed by
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 relating to the conduct of the
audit including any difficulties encountered in the course of the audit
work, any restrictions on the scope of activities or access to requested
information, and any significant disagreements with
management. |
9. |
Review
disclosures made to the Audit Committee by the Company's CEO and CFO
during their certification process for the Form 10-K and Form 10-Q about
any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal
controls or material weaknesses therein and any fraud involving management
or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's internal
controls. |
Oversight
of the Company's Relationship with the Independent Accountants
10. |
Review
and evaluate the lead partner of the independent accountants'
team. |
11. |
Obtain
and review a report from the independent accountants at least annually
regarding (a) the independent accountants' internal quality-control
procedures, (b) any material issues raised by the most recent internal
quality-control review, or peer review, of the firm, or by any inquiry or
investigation by governmental or professional authorities within the
preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out
by the firm, (c) any steps taken to deal with any such issues, and (d) all
relationships between the independent accountants and the Company.
Evaluate the qualifications, performance and independence of the
independent accountants, including considering whether the accountants'
quality controls are adequate and the provision of permitted non-audit
services is compatible with maintaining the accountants' independence, and
taking into account the opinions of management and internal
auditors. |
12. |
Ensure
the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary
responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for
reviewing the audit at least every five years, and consider whether the
auditing firm should be rotated at prescribed intervals as
well. |
13. |
Recommend
to the Board policies for the Company's hiring of employees or former
employees of the independent accountants who participated in any capacity
in the audit of the Company as well as monitoring the effect any such
hiring has on independence. |
14. |
Meet
with the independent accountants prior to the audit to discuss the
planning and staffing of the audit. |
Oversight
of the Company's Internal Audit Function
15. |
Review
the appointment and replacement of the senior internal
auditor. |
16. |
Review
the significant reports to management prepared by the internal auditing
department and management's responses. |
17. |
Discuss
with management the internal audit department responsibilities, budget and
staffing and any recommended changes in the planned scope of the internal
audit. |
Compliance
Oversight Responsibilities
18. |
Obtain
from the independent accountants assurance that Section 10A(b) of the
Exchange Act has not been implicated. |
19. |
Obtain
reports from management, the Company's internal audit department that the
Company and its subsidiary/foreign affiliated entities are in conformity
with applicable legal requirements and the Company's Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics. Review reports and disclosures of insider and
affiliated party transactions. Advise the Board with respect to the
Company's policies and procedures regarding compliance with applicable
laws and regulations and with the Company's Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics. Review with the independent accountants their report with respect
to management's evaluation of internal financial
controls. |
20. |
Establish
procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received
by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or
auditing matters, and the confidential, anonymous submission by employees
of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing
matters. |
21. |
Discuss
with management and the independent accountants any correspondence with
regulators or governmental agencies and any published reports which raise
material issues regarding the Company's financial statements or accounting
policies. |
22. |
Discuss
with the Company's General Counsel legal matters that may have a material
impact on the financial statements or the Company's compliance
policies. |
Limitation
of Audit Committee's Role
While the
Audit Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in this Charter,
it is not the duty of the Audit Committee to plan or conduct audits or to
determine that the Company's financial statements and disclosures are complete
and accurate and are in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States of America and applicable rules and regulations. These are
the responsibilities of management and the independent auditor.
ATTACHMENT
A
GuruNet
Corporation Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy
I. |
Statement
of Principles |
The Audit
Committee is required to pre-approve the audit and non-audit services performed
by the independent auditor in order to assure that the provision of such
services does not impair the auditor's independence. Unless a type of service to
be provided by the independent auditor has received general pre-approval, it
will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee. Any proposed services
exceeding pre-approved cost levels will require specific pre-approval by the
Audit Committee.
The
appendices to this Policy describe the Audit, Audit-related, Tax and All Other
services that have the pre-approval of the Audit Committee. The term of any
pre-approval is 12 months from the date of pre-approval, unless the Audit
Committee specifically provides for a different period. The Audit Committee will
periodically revise the list of pre-approved services, based on subsequent
determinations.
The Audit
Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of its members. The
member or members to whom such authority is delegated shall report any
pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The
Audit Committee does not delegate its responsibilities to pre-approve services
performed by the independent auditor to management.
The
annual Audit services engagement terms and fees will be subject to the specific
pre-approval of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will approve, if
necessary, any changes in terms, conditions and fees resulting from changes in
audit scope, Company structure or other matters.
In
addition to the annual Audit services engagement approved by the Audit
Committee, the Audit Committee may grant pre-approval for other Audit services,
which are those services that only the independent auditor reasonably can
provide. The Audit Committee has pre-approved the Audit services listed in
Appendix A. All other Audit services not listed in Appendix A must be separately
pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
IV. |
Audit-Related
Services |
Audit-related
services are assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the
performance of the audit or review of the Company's financial statements and
that are traditionally performed by the independent auditor. The Audit Committee
believes that the provision of Audit-related services does not impair the
independence of the auditor, and has pre-approved the Audit-related services
listed in Appendix B. All other Audit-related services not listed in Appendix B
must be separately pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
The Audit
Committee believes that the independent auditor can provide Tax services to the
Company such as tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice without impairing
the auditor's independence. However, the Audit Committee will not permit the
retention of the independent auditor in connection with a transaction initially
recommended by the independent auditor, the purpose of which may be tax
avoidance and the tax treatment of which may not be supported in the Internal
Revenue Code and related regulations. The Audit Committee has pre-approved the
Tax services listed in Appendix C. All Tax services involving transactions not
listed in Appendix C must be separately pre-approved by the Audit
Committee.
The Audit
Committee may grant pre-approval to those permissible non-audit services
classified as All Other services that it believes are routine and recurring
services, and would not impair the independence of the auditor. The Audit
Committee has pre-approved the All Other services listed in Appendix D.
Permissible All Other services not listed in Appendix D must be separately
pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
A list of
the SEC's prohibited non-audit services is attached to this policy as Exhibit 1.
The SEC's rules and relevant guidance should be consulted to determine the
precise definitions of these services and the applicability of exceptions to
certain of the prohibitions.
VII. |
Pre-Approval
Fee Levels |
Pre-approval
fee levels for all services to be provided by the independent auditor will be
established periodically by the Audit Committee. Any proposed services exceeding
these levels will require specific pre-approval by the Audit
Committee.
VIII. |
Supporting
Documentation |
With
respect to each proposed pre-approved service, the independent auditor will
provide detailed back-up documentation, which will be provided to the Audit
Committee, regarding the specific services to be provided.
Requests
or applications to provide services that require separate approval by the Audit
Committee will be submitted to the Audit Committee by both the independent
auditor and the Chief Financial Officer and must include a joint statement as to
whether, in their view, the request or application is consistent with the SEC's
rules on auditor independence.
Annex
B
____________________________________
GURUNET
CORPORATION
2005
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
___________________________________
2005
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
Page |
|
|
|
|
1. |
|
Purpose |
1 |
2. |
|
Definitions |
1 |
3. |
|
Administration. |
6 |
|
(a) |
Authority
of the Committee |
6 |
|
(b) |
Manner
of Exercise of Committee Authority |
7 |
|
(c) |
Limitation
of Liability |
7 |
4. |
|
Shares
Subject to Plan. |
7 |
|
(a) |
Limitation
on Overall Number of Shares Available for Delivery Under
Plan |
7 |
|
(b) |
Application
of Limitation to Grants of Award |
7 |
|
(c) |
Availability
of Shares Not Delivered under Awards and Adjustments to
Limits |
8 |
5. |
|
Eligibility;
Per-Person Award Limitations |
9 |
6. |
|
Specific
Terms of Awards. |
9 |
|
(a) |
General |
9 |
|
(b) |
Options |
9 |
|
(c) |
Stock
Appreciation Rights |
10 |
|
(d) |
Restricted
Stock Awards |
11 |
|
(e) |
Deferred
Stock Award |
12 |
|
(f) |
Bonus
Stock and Awards in Lieu of Obligations |
13 |
|
(g) |
Dividend
Equivalents |
13 |
|
(h) |
Performance
Awards |
13 |
|
(i) |
Other
Stock-Based Awards |
14 |
7. |
|
Certain
Provisions Applicable to Awards. |
14 |
|
(a) |
Stand-Alone,
Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards |
14 |
|
(b) |
Term
of Awards |
14 |
|
(c) |
Form
and Timing of Payment Under Awards; Deferrals |
15 |
|
(d) |
Exemptions
from Section 16(b) Liability |
15 |
|
(e) |
Code
Section 409A |
15 |
8. |
|
Special
Provisions For Israeli Residents. |
15 |
|
(a) |
Scope |
15 |
|
(b) |
Grants
Under Israeli Law |
15 |
|
(c) |
Trustee
102 Awards. |
16 |
|
(d) |
Non
Trustee 102 Awards |
17 |
|
(e) |
3(9)
Awards |
18 |
|
(f) |
Non
Transferable |
18 |
|
(g) |
Compliance
of Other Awards with Applicable Israeli law |
18 |
|
(h) |
Tax
Compliance |
19 |
|
(i) |
Currency |
19 |
9. |
|
Code
Section 162(m) Provisions. |
19 |
|
(a) |
Covered
Employees |
19 |
|
(b) |
Performance
Criteria |
20 |
|
(c) |
Performance
Period; Timing For Establishing Performance Goals |
20 |
|
(d) |
Adjustments |
20 |
|
(e) |
Committee
Certification |
20 |
10. |
|
Change
in Control. |
21 |
|
(a) |
Effect
of “Change in Control.” |
21 |
|
(b) |
Definition
of “Change in Control” |
22 |
11. |
|
General
Provisions. |
23 |
|
(a) |
Compliance
With Legal and Other Requirements |
23 |
|
(b) |
Limits
on Transferability; Beneficiaries |
23 |
|
(c) |
Adjustments |
24 |
|
(d) |
Taxes |
25 |
|
(e) |
Changes
to the Plan and Awards |
25 |
|
(f) |
Limitation
on Rights Conferred Under Plan |
25 |
|
(g) |
Unfunded
Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts |
26 |
|
(h) |
Nonexclusivity
of the Plan |
26 |
|
(i) |
Payments
in the Event of Forfeitures; Fractional Shares |
26 |
|
(j) |
Governing
Law |
26 |
|
(k) |
Non-U.S.
Laws |
26 |
|
(l) |
Plan
Effective Date and Shareholder Approval; Termination of
Plan |
27 |
2005
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
1. Purpose. The
purpose of this 2005 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN (the “Plan”) is to assist
GuruNet Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and its Related
Entities (as hereinafter defined) in attracting, motivating, retaining and
rewarding high-quality executives and other employees, officers, directors,
consultants and other persons who provide services to the Company or its Related
Entities by enabling such persons to acquire or increase a proprietary interest
in the Company in order to strengthen the mutuality of interests between such
persons and the Company’s shareholders, and providing such persons with
performance incentives to expend their maximum efforts in the creation of
shareholder value.
2. Definitions. For
purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below,
in addition to such terms defined elsewhere in the Plan.
(a) “Award”
means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Deferred
Stock Award, Share granted as a bonus or in lieu of another award, Dividend
Equivalent, Other Stock-Based Award or Performance Award, Trustee 102 Award, Non
Trustee 102 Award, 3(9) Award, together with any other right or interest,
granted to a Participant under the Plan.
(b) “Award
Agreement” means any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document
evidencing any Award granted by the Committee hereunder.
(c) “Beneficiary”
means the person, persons, trust or trusts that have been designated by a
Participant in his or her most recent written beneficiary designation filed with
the Committee to receive the benefits specified under the Plan upon such
Participant’s death or to which Awards or other rights are transferred if and to
the extent permitted under Section 11(b) hereof.
If, upon a Participant’s death, there is no designated Beneficiary or surviving
designated Beneficiary, then the term Beneficiary means the person, persons,
trust or trusts entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to
receive such benefits.
(d) “Beneficial
Owner” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act and any successor to such Rule.
(e) “Board”
means the Company’s Board of Directors.
(f) “Capital
Gain Award” means a grant to a Participant of an Option, Share or other Award
which the Company elects and designates to qualify for capital gain tax
treatment in accordance with the provisions of Section 102(b)(2) of the
Ordinance.
(g) “Change
in Control” means a Change in Control as defined with related terms in Section
10(b) of the Plan.
(h) “Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including
regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations thereto.
(i) “Committee”
means the Compensation Committee of the Board.
(j) “Consultant”
means any person (other than an Employee or a Director, solely with respect to
rendering services in such person’s capacity as a director) who is engaged by
the Company or any Related Entity to render consulting or advisory services to
the Company or such Related Entity.
(k) “Continuous
Service” means the uninterrupted provision of services to the Company or any
Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director, Consultant or other
service provider. Continuous Service shall not be considered to be interrupted
in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers among the
Company, any Related Entities, or any successor entities, in any capacity of
Employee, Director, Consultant or other service provider, or (iii) any change in
status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or a
Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director, Consultant or other
service provider (except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement). An
approved leave of absence shall include sick leave, military leave, or any other
authorized personal leave.
(l) “Controlling
Shareholder” means a controlling shareholder as defined in Section 32(9) of
the Ordinance.
(m) “Covered
Employee” means an Eligible Person who is a “covered employee” within the
meaning of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code, or any successor provision thereto.
(n) “Date of
Grant” means,
the date of grant of an Award, as determined by the Committee and set forth in
the Participant’s Award Agreement.
(o) “Deferred
Stock” means a right to receive Shares, including Restricted Stock, cash or a
combination thereof, at the end of a specified deferral period.
(p) “Deferred
Stock Award” means an Award of Deferred Stock granted to a Participant under
Section 6(e) hereof.
(q) “Director”
means a member of the Board or the board of directors of any Related Entity.
(r) “Disability”
means a permanent and total disability (within the meaning of Section 22(e) of
the Code), as determined by a medical doctor satisfactory to the Committee.
(s) “Discounted
Option” means any Option awarded under Section 6(b) hereof
with an exercise price that is less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the
date of grant.
(t) “Discounted
Stock Appreciation Right” means any Stock Appreciation Right awarded under
Section 6(c) hereof
with an exercise price that is less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the
date of grant.
(u) “Dividend
Equivalent” means a right, granted to a Participant under Section 6(g) hereof,
to receive cash, Shares, other Awards or other property equal in value to
dividends paid with respect to a specified number of Shares, or other periodic
payments.
(v) “Effective
Date” means the effective date of the Plan, which shall be July 18, 2005.
(w) “Eligible
Person” means each officer, Director, Employee, Consultant and other person who
provides services to the Company or any Related Entity. The foregoing
notwithstanding, only employees of the Company, or any parent corporation or
subsidiary corporation of the Company (as those terms are defined in Sections
424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively), shall be Eligible Persons for
purposes of receiving any Incentive Stock Options. An Employee on leave of
absence may be considered as still in the employ of the Company or a Related
Entity for purposes of eligibility for participation in the Plan.
(x) “Employee”
means any person, including an officer or Director, who is an employee of the
Company or any Related Entity. The payment of a director’s fee by the Company or
a Related Entity shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the
Company.
(y) “Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time,
including rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.
(z) “Fair
Market Value” means the fair market value of Shares, Awards or other property as
determined by the Committee, or under procedures established by the Committee.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Fair Market Value of a Share
as of any given date shall be the closing sale price per Share reported on a
consolidated basis for stock listed on the principal stock exchange or market on
which Shares are traded on the date as of which such value is being determined
or, if there is no sale on that date, then on the last previous day on which a
sale was reported.
(aa) “Incentive
Stock Option” means any Option intended to be designated as an incentive stock
option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision
thereto.
(bb) “Independent”,
when referring to either the Board or members of the Committee, shall have the
same meaning as used in the rules of the American Stock Exchange or any national
securities exchange on which any securities of the Company are listed for
trading, and if not listed for trading, by the rules of the Nasdaq Stock
Market.
(cc) “Incumbent
Board” means the Incumbent Board as defined in Section 10(b)(ii) of the Plan.
(dd) “ITA”
means the
Israeli Tax Authorities.
(ee) “Non-Employee” means a
consultant, adviser, service provider, Controlling Shareholder or any other
person who is not an employee within the meaning of Section 102 of the
Ordinance.
(ff) “Non
Trustee 102 Award” means a grant to a Participant of an Option, Share or other
Award granted in compliance with Section 102(c) of the
Ordinance.
(gg) “Option”
means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(b) hereof,
to purchase Shares or other Awards at a specified price during specified time
periods or under Section 8 hereof
to purchase Shares at a specified price during specified time periods.
(hh) “Optionee”
means a person to whom an Option is granted under this Plan or any person who
succeeds to the rights of such person under this Plan.
(ii) “Option
Proceeds” means the cash actually received by the Company for the exercise price
in connection with the exercise of Options that are exercised after the
Effective Date of the Plan plus the maximum tax benefit that could be realized
by the Company as a result of the exercise of such Options, which tax benefit
shall be determined by multiplying (i) the amount that is deductible for Federal
income tax purposes as a result of any such option exercise (currently, equal to
the amount upon which the Participant’s withholding tax obligation is
calculated), times (ii) the maximum Federal corporate income tax rate for the
year of exercise. With respect to Options, to the extent that a Participant pays
the exercise price and/or withholding taxes with Shares, Option Proceeds shall
not be calculated with respect to the amounts so paid in Shares.
With
respect to Options granted pursuant to Section 8 hereof,
such term shall mean the price paid by a Participant for each Share subject to
an Option.
(jj) “Ordinary
Income Award” means a grant to a Participant of an Option, Share or other Award
which the Company elects and designates to qualify for ordinary income tax
treatment in accordance with the provisions of Section 102(b)(1) of the
Ordinance.
(kk) “102
Award” means a grant to an Employee of an Option, Share or other Award in
compliance with Section 102 of the Ordinance.
(ll) “Ordinance”
means the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance (New Version) 1961 as now in effect and
as hereafter amended from time to time.
(mm) “Other
Stock-Based Awards” means Awards granted to a Participant under Section
6(i) hereof.
(nn) “Participant”
means a person who has been granted an Award under the Plan which remains
outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible Person.
(oo) “Performance
Award” shall mean any Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units granted
pursuant to Section 6(h).
(pp) “Performance
Period” means that period established by the Committee at the time any
Performance Award is granted or at any time thereafter during which any
performance goals specified by the Committee with respect to such Award are to
be measured.
(qq) “Performance
Share” means any grant pursuant to Section 6(h) of a
unit valued by reference to a designated number of Shares, which value may be
paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall
determine, including cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof,
upon achievement of such performance goals during the Performance Period as the
Committee shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.
(rr) “Performance
Unit” means any grant pursuant to Section 6(h) of a
unit valued by reference to a designated amount of property (including cash)
other than Shares, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of
such property as the Committee shall determine, including cash, Shares, other
property, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals
during the Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of
such grant or thereafter.
(ss) “Person”
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the
Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, and shall include a
“group” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.
(tt) “Related
Entity” means any Subsidiary, and any business, corporation, partnership,
limited liability company or other entity designated by Board in which the
Company or a Subsidiary holds a substantial ownership interest, directly or
indirectly which for purposes of Section 8 shall
mean an entity which qualifies as an employer under Section 102 of the
Ordinance.
(uu) “Restricted
Stock” means any Share issued with the restriction that the holder may not sell,
transfer, pledge or assign such Share and with such risks of forfeiture and
other restrictions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose
(including any restriction on the right to vote such Share and the right to
receive any dividends), which restrictions may lapse separately or in
combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, as the
Committee may deem appropriate.
(vv) “Restricted
Stock Award” means an Award granted to a Participant under
Section 6(d) hereof.
(ww) “Rule
16b-3” means Rule 16b-3, as from time to time in effect and applicable to the
Plan and Participants, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission
under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(xx) “Section 102”
means Section 102 of the Ordinance as now in effect and as hereafter
amended from time to time.
(yy) “Section
3(9)” means Section 3(9) of the Ordinance as now in effect and as hereafter
amended from time to time.
(zz) “Shareholder
Approval Date” means the date on which this Plan is approved shareholders of the
Company eligible to vote in the election of directors, by a vote sufficient to
meet the requirements of Code Sections 162(m) (if applicable) and 422, Rule
16b-3 under the Exchange Act (if applicable), applicable requirements under the
rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares
may be listed on quoted, and other laws, regulations and obligations of the
Company applicable to the Plan.
(aaa) “Shares”
means the shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share; and
such other securities as may be substituted (or resubstituted) for Shares
pursuant to Section 11(c) hereof;
provided, however, that for purposes of Section 8 such
other securities shall only be deemed Shares to the extent such substitution or
resubstitution complies with the requirements of Section 102 and Section 3(9),
as the case may be.
(bbb) “Stock
Appreciation Right” means a right granted to a Participant under Section
6(c)
hereof.
(ccc) “Subsidiary”
means any corporation or other entity in which the Company has a direct or
indirect ownership interest of 50% or more of the total combined voting power of
the then outstanding securities or interests of such corporation or other entity
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or in which the Company
has the right to receive 50% or more of the distribution of profits or 50% or
more of the assets on liquidation or dissolution.
(ddd) “Substitute
Awards” shall mean Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption
of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right
or obligation to make future awards, by a company acquired by the Company or any
Related Entity or with which the Company or any Related Entity
combines.
(eee) “3(9)
Award” means a grant to a Participant of an Option, Share or other Award in
compliance with Section 3(9) of the Ordinance to any person who is a Non-
Employee.
(fff) “Trustee”
means any individual or entity appointed by the Committee to serve as a trustee
under the Plan and approved by the ITA, all in accordance with the provisions of
Section 102(a) of the Ordinance.
(ggg) “Trustee
102 Award” means a grant to a Participant of a Capital Gain Award and Ordinary
Income Award granted pursuant to Section 102(b) of the Ordinance and held
in trust by a Trustee for the benefit of the Participant.
3. Administration.
(a) Authority
of the Committee. The
Plan shall be administered by the Committee, except to the extent the Board
elects to administer the Plan, in which case the Plan shall be administered by
only those directors who are Independent Directors, in which case references
herein to the “Committee” shall be deemed to include references to the
Independent members of the Board. The Committee shall have full and final
authority, subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, to select
Eligible Persons to become Participants, grant Awards, determine the type,
number and other terms and conditions of, and all other matters relating to,
Awards, prescribe Award Agreements (which need not be identical for each
Participant) and rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan,
construe and interpret the Plan and Award Agreements and correct defects, supply
omissions or reconcile inconsistencies therein, and to make all other decisions
and determinations as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the
administration of the Plan. In exercising any discretion granted to the
Committee under the Plan or pursuant to any Award, the Committee shall not be
required to follow past practices, act in a manner consistent with past
practices, or treat any Eligible Person or Participant in a manner consistent
with the treatment of other Eligible Persons or Participants.
(b) Manner
of Exercise of Committee Authority. The
Committee, and not the Board, shall exercise sole and exclusive discretion on
any matter relating to a Participant then subject to Section 16 of the
Exchange Act with respect to the Company to the extent necessary in order that
transactions by such Participant shall be exempt under Rule 16b-3 under the
Exchange Act. Any action of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding
on all persons, including the Company, its Related Entities, Participants,
Beneficiaries, transferees under Section 11(b) hereof
or other persons claiming rights from or through a Participant, and
shareholders. The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the
taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any
power or authority of the Committee. The Committee may delegate to officers or
managers of the Company or any Related Entity, or committees thereof, the
authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, to perform
such functions, including administrative functions as the Committee may
determine to the extent that such delegation will not result in the loss of an
exemption under Rule 16b-3(d)(1) for Awards granted to Participants subject to
Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company and will not cause
Awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Code
Section 162(m) to fail to so qualify. The Committee may appoint agents to assist
it in administering the Plan.
(c) Limitation
of Liability. The
Committee and the Board, and each member thereof, shall be entitled to, in good
faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her
by any officer or Employee, the Company’s independent auditors, Consultants or
any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan. Members of the
Committee and the Board, and any officer or Employee acting at the direction or
on behalf of the Committee or the Board, shall not be personally liable for any
action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan,
and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by
the Company with respect to any such action or determination.
4. Shares
Subject to Plan.
(a) Limitation
on Overall Number of Shares Available for Delivery Under Plan. Subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 11(c) hereof,
the total number of Shares reserved and available for delivery under the Plan
shall be 850,000. Any Shares delivered under the Plan may consist, in whole or
in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.
(b) Application
of Limitation to Grants of Award. No
Award may be granted if the number of Shares to be delivered in connection with
such an Award or, in the case of an Award relating to Shares but settled only in
cash (such as cash-only Stock Appreciation Rights), the number of Shares to
which such Award relates, exceeds the number of Shares remaining available for
delivery under the Plan, minus the number of Shares deliverable in settlement of
or relating to then outstanding Awards. The Committee may adopt reasonable
counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as,
for example, in the case of tandem or substitute awards) and make adjustments if
the number of Shares actually delivered differs from the number of Shares
previously counted in connection with an Award.
(c) Availability
of Shares Not Delivered under Awards and Adjustments to Limits.
(i) If any
Shares subject to an Award are forfeited, expire or otherwise terminate without
issuance of such Shares, or any Award is settled for cash or otherwise does not
result in the issuance of all or a portion of the Shares subject to such Award,
the Shares shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration, termination,
cash settlement or non-issuance, again be available for Awards under the Plan,
subject to Section 4(c)(v)
below.
(ii) In the
event that any Option or other Award granted hereunder is exercised through the
tendering of Shares (either actually or by attestation) or by the withholding of
Shares by the Company, or withholding tax liabilities arising from such option
or other award are satisfied by the tendering of Shares (either actually or by
attestation) or by the withholding of Shares by the Company, then only the
number of Shares issued net of the Shares tendered or withheld shall be counted
for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for grant
under the Plan.
(iii) Shares
reacquired by the Company on the open market using Option Proceeds shall be
available for Awards under the Plan. The increase in Shares available pursuant
to the repurchase of Shares with Option Proceeds shall not be greater than the
amount of such proceeds divided by the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date
of exercise of the Option giving rise to such Option Proceeds.
(iv) Substitute
Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan or
authorized for grant to a Participant in any period. Additionally, in the event
that a company acquired by the Company or any Related Entity or with which the
Company or any Related Entity combines has shares available under a pre-existing
plan approved by shareholders and not adopted in contemplation of such
acquisition or combination, the shares available for delivery pursuant to the
terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using
the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in
such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the
holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or
combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the
Shares authorized for delivery under the Plan; provided that Awards using such
available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have
been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or
combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Employees or
Directors prior to such acquisition or combination.
(v) Any
Shares that again become available for delivery pursuant to this Section
4(c) shall be
added back as one (1) Share.
(vi) Notwithstanding
anything in this Section 4(c) to the
contrary and solely for purposes of determining whether Shares are available for
the delivery of Incentive Stock Options, the maximum aggregate number of shares
that may be granted under this Plan shall be determined without regard to any
Shares restored pursuant to this Section 4(c) that, if
taken into account, would cause the Plan to fail the requirement under Code
Section 422 that the Plan designate a maximum aggregate number of shares that
may be issued.
5. Eligibility;
Per-Person Award Limitations.
Awards
may be granted under the Plan only to Eligible Persons. Subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 11(c), in any
fiscal year of the Company during any part of which the Plan is in effect, no
Participant may be granted (i) Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with respect
to more than 250,000 Shares or (ii) Restricted Stock, Deferred Stock,
Performance Shares and/or Other Stock-Based Awards with respect to more than
250,000 Shares. In addition, the maximum dollar value payable to any one
Participant with respect to Performance Units is (x) $2,000,000 with respect to
any 12 month Performance Period (pro-rated for any Performance Period that is
less than 12 months based upon the ratio of the number of days in the
Performance Period as compared to 365), and (y) with respect to any
Performance Period that is more than 12 months, $200,000 multiplied by the
number of full years in the Performance Period.
6. Specific
Terms of Awards.
(a) General. Awards
may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in Sections 6 and
8. In
addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the
date of grant or thereafter (subject to Section 11(e)), such
additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the
Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of
Awards in the event of termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service and
terms permitting a Participant to make elections relating to his or her Award.
The Committee shall retain full power and discretion to accelerate, waive or
modify, at any time, any term or condition of an Award that is not mandatory
under the Plan. Except in cases in which the Committee is authorized to require
other forms of consideration under the Plan, or to the extent other forms of
consideration must be paid to satisfy the requirements of Delaware law, no
consideration other than services may be required for the grant (but not the
exercise) of any Award.
(b) Options.
The
Committee is authorized to grant Options to any Eligible Person on the following
terms and conditions:
(i) Exercise
Price. Other
than in connection with Substitute Awards, the exercise price per Share
purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee, provided that
such exercise price shall not, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, be less
than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of the Option
and shall not, in any event, be less than the par value of a Share on the date
of grant of the Option. If an Employee owns or is deemed to own (by reason of
the attribution rules applicable under Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10%
of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or any
parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are
defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively) and an Incentive
Stock Option is granted to such employee, the exercise price of such Incentive
Stock Option (to the extent required by the Code at the time of grant) shall be
no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value a Share on the date such Incentive
Stock Option is granted.
(ii) Time
and Method of Exercise. The
Committee shall determine the time or times at which or the circumstances under
which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on
achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the time
or times at which Options shall cease to be or become exercisable following
termination of Continuous Service or upon other conditions, the methods by which
the exercise price may be paid or deemed to be paid (including in the discretion
of the Committee a cashless exercise procedure), the form of such payment,
including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other Awards or awards granted
under other plans of the Company or a Related Entity, or other property
(including notes or other contractual obligations of Participants to make
payment on a deferred basis provided that such deferred payments are not in
violation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or any rule or regulation adopted
thereunder or any other applicable law), and the methods by or forms in which
Shares will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants.
(iii) Incentive
Stock Options. The
terms of any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan shall comply in all
respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code. Anything in the Plan to
the contrary notwithstanding, no term of the Plan relating to Incentive Stock
Options (including any Stock Appreciation Right issued in tandem therewith)
shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority
granted under the Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify either the Plan or any
Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code, unless the Participant has
first requested, or consents to, the change that will result in such
disqualification. Thus, if and to the extent required to comply with Section 422
of the Code, Options granted as Incentive Stock Options shall be subject to the
following special terms and conditions:
(A) the
Option shall not be exercisable more than ten years after the date such
Incentive Stock Option is granted; provided, however, that if a Participant owns
or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the
Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company (or any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as
those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively)
and the Incentive Stock Option is granted to such Participant, the term of the
Incentive Stock Option shall be (to the extent required by the Code at the time
of the grant) for no more than five years from the date of grant;
and
(B) The
aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date the Incentive Stock
Option is granted) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options
granted under the Plan and all other option plans of the Company (and any parent
corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are defined
in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively) during any calendar year
exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year shall
not (to the extent required by the Code at the time of the grant) exceed
$100,000.
(c) Stock
Appreciation Rights. The
Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights to any Eligible Person in
conjunction with all or part of any Option granted under the Plan or at any
subsequent time during the term of such Option (a “Tandem Stock Appreciation
Right”), or without regard to any Option (a “Freestanding Stock Appreciation
Right”), in each case upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may
establish in its sole discretion, not inconsistent with the provisions of the
Plan, including the following:
(i) Right
to Payment. A Stock
Appreciation Right shall confer on the Participant to whom it is granted a right
to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of
one Share on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price of the Stock
Appreciation Right as determined by the Committee. The grant price of a Stock
Appreciation Right may be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date
of grant, in the case of a Freestanding Stock Appreciation Right, but shall not
be less than the associated Option exercise price, in the case of a Tandem Stock
Appreciation Right.
(ii) Other
Terms. The
Committee shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter, the time or times
at which and the circumstances under which a Stock Appreciation Right may be
exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance
goals and/or future service requirements), the time or times at which Stock
Appreciation Rights shall cease to be or become exercisable following
termination of Continuous Service or upon other conditions, the method of
exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement,
method by or forms in which Shares will be delivered or deemed to be delivered
to Participants, whether or not a Stock Appreciation Right shall be in tandem or
in combination with any other Award, and any other terms and conditions of any
Stock Appreciation Right.
(iii) Tandem
Stock Appreciation Rights. Any
Tandem Stock Appreciation Right may be granted at the same time as the related
Option is granted or, for Options that are not Incentive Stock Options, at any
time thereafter before exercise or expiration of such Option. Any Tandem Stock
Appreciation Right related to an Option may be exercised only when the related
Option would be exercisable and the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to
the related Option exceeds the exercise price at which Shares can be acquired
pursuant to the Option. In addition, if a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right exists
with respect to less than the full number of Shares covered by a related Option,
then an exercise or termination of such Option shall not reduce the number of
Shares to which the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right applies until the number of
Shares then exercisable under such Option equals the number of Shares to which
the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right applies. Any Option related to a Tandem
Stock Appreciation Right shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the Tandem
Stock Appreciation Right has been exercised, and any Tandem Stock Appreciation
Right shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the related Option has been
exercised.
(d) Restricted
Stock Awards. The
Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Awards to any Eligible Person
on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Grant
and Restrictions.
Restricted Stock Awards shall be subject to such restrictions on
transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the
Committee may impose, or as otherwise provided in this Plan, covering a period
of time specified by the Committee (the “Restriction Period”). The terms of any
Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan shall be set forth in a written
Award Agreement which shall contain provisions determined by the Committee and
not inconsistent with the Plan. The restrictions may lapse separately or in
combination at such times, under such circumstances (including based on
achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), in such
installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine at the date of grant
or thereafter. Except to the extent restricted under the terms of the Plan and
any Award Agreement relating to a Restricted Stock Award, a Participant granted
Restricted Stock shall have all of the rights of a shareholder, including the
right to vote the Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends thereon
(subject to any mandatory reinvestment or other requirement imposed by the
Committee). During the Restriction Period, subject to Section 11(b) below,
the Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated,
margined or otherwise encumbered by the Participant.
(ii) Forfeiture. Except
as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination of a Participant’s
Continuous Service during the applicable Restriction Period, the Participant’s
Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to a risk of forfeiture that has
not lapsed or otherwise been satisfied shall be forfeited and reacquired by the
Company; provided that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in
any Award Agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that forfeiture
conditions relating to Restricted Stock Awards shall be waived in whole or in
part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes.
(iii) Certificates
for Stock.
Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the
Committee shall determine. If certificates representing Restricted Stock are
registered in the name of the Participant, the Committee may require that such
certificates bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and
restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, that the Company retain
physical possession of the certificates, and that the Participant deliver a
stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted
Stock.
(iv) Dividends
and Splits. As a
condition to the grant of a Restricted Stock Award, the Committee may require or
permit a Participant to elect that any cash dividends paid on a Share of
Restricted Stock be automatically reinvested in additional Shares of Restricted
Stock or applied to the purchase of additional Awards under the Plan. Unless
otherwise determined by the Committee, Shares distributed in connection with a
stock split or stock dividend, and other property distributed as a dividend,
shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as
the Restricted Stock with respect to which such Shares or other property have
been distributed.
(e) Deferred
Stock Award. The
Committee is authorized to grant Deferred Stock Awards to any Eligible Person on
the following terms and conditions:
(i) Award
and Restrictions.
Satisfaction of a Deferred Stock Award shall occur upon expiration of the
deferral period specified for such Deferred Stock Award by the Committee (or, if
permitted by the Committee, as elected by the Participant). In addition, a
Deferred Stock Award shall be subject to such restrictions (which may include a
risk of forfeiture) as the Committee may impose, if any, which restrictions may
lapse at the expiration of the deferral period or at earlier specified times
(including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service
requirements), separately or in combination, in installments or otherwise, as
the Committee may determine. A Deferred Stock Award may be satisfied by delivery
of Shares, cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the specified number of Shares
covered by the Deferred Stock, or a combination thereof, as determined by the
Committee at the date of grant or thereafter. Prior to satisfaction of a
Deferred Stock Award, a Deferred Stock Award carries no voting or dividend or
other rights associated with Share ownership.
(ii) Forfeiture. Except
as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination of a Participant’s
Continuous Service during the applicable deferral period or portion thereof to
which forfeiture conditions apply (as provided in the Award Agreement evidencing
the Deferred Stock Award), the Participant’s Deferred Stock Award that is at
that time subject to a risk of forfeiture that has not lapsed or otherwise been
satisfied shall be forfeited; provided that the Committee may provide, by rule
or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or may determine in any individual
case, that forfeiture conditions relating to a Deferred Stock Award shall be
waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified
causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part the
forfeiture of any Deferred Stock Award.
(iii) Dividend
Equivalents. Unless
otherwise determined by the Committee at date of grant, any Dividend Equivalents
that are granted with respect to any Deferred Stock Award shall be either (A)
paid with respect to such Deferred Stock Award at the dividend payment date in
cash or in Shares of unrestricted stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the
amount of such dividends, or (B) deferred with respect to such Deferred Stock
Award and the amount or value thereof automatically deemed reinvested in
additional Deferred Stock, other Awards or other investment vehicles, as the
Committee shall determine or permit the Participant to elect.
(f) Bonus
Stock and Awards in Lieu of Obligations. The
Committee is authorized to grant Shares to any Eligible Persons as a bonus, or
to grant Shares or other Awards in lieu of obligations to pay cash or deliver
other property under the Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements,
provided that, in the case of Eligible Persons subject to Section 16 of the
Exchange Act, the amount of such grants remains within the discretion of the
Committee to the extent necessary to ensure that acquisitions of Shares or other
Awards are exempt from liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Shares
or Awards granted hereunder shall be subject to such other terms as shall be
determined by the Committee.
(g) Dividend
Equivalents. The
Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to any Eligible Person
entitling the Eligible Person to receive cash, Shares, other Awards, or other
property equal in value to the dividends paid with respect to a specified number
of Shares, or other periodic payments. Dividend Equivalents may be awarded on a
free-standing basis or in connection with another Award. The Committee may
provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed when accrued or
shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares, Awards, or other
investment vehicles, and subject to such restrictions on transferability and
risks of forfeiture, as the Committee may specify.
(h) Performance
Awards. The
Committee is authorized to grant Performance Awards to any Eligible Person
payable in cash, Shares, or other Awards, on terms and conditions established by
the Committee, subject to the provisions of Section 9 if and
to the extent that the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, determine that
an Award shall be subject to those provisions. The performance criteria to be
achieved during any Performance Period and the length of the Performance Period
shall be determined by the Committee upon the grant of each Performance
Award;
provided, however, that a Performance Period shall not be shorter than three
months nor
longer than five years. Except
as provided in Section 10 or as
may be provided in an Award Agreement, Performance Awards will be distributed
only after the end of the relevant Performance Period. The performance goals to
be achieved for each Performance Period shall be conclusively determined by the
Committee and may be based upon the criteria set forth in Section 9(b), or in
the case of an Award that the Committee determines shall not be subject to
Section 9 hereof,
any other criteria that the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine
should be used for that purpose. The amount of the Award to be distributed shall
be conclusively determined by the Committee. Performance Awards may be paid in a
lump sum or in installments following the close of the Performance Period or, in
accordance with procedures established by the Committee, on a deferred
basis.
(i) Other
Stock-Based Awards. The
Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant
to any Eligible Person such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in,
valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related
to, Shares, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the
Plan. Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted to Participants either alone or in
addition to other Awards granted under the Plan, and such Other Stock-Based
Awards shall also be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other
Awards granted under the Plan. The Committee shall determine the terms and
conditions of such Awards. Shares delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature
of a purchase right granted under this Section 6(i) shall be
purchased for such consideration, (including
without limitation loans from the Company or a Related Entity provided that such
loans are not in violation of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, or any rule or
regulation adopted thereunder or any other applicable law) paid for
at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without
limitation, cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, as the Committee shall
determine.
7. Certain
Provisions Applicable to Awards.
(a) Stand-Alone,
Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards. Awards
granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted
either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange
for, any other Award or any award granted under another plan of the Company, any
Related Entity, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or a
Related Entity, or any other right of a Participant to receive payment from the
Company or any Related Entity. Such additional, tandem, and substitute or
exchange Awards may be granted at any time. If an Award is granted in
substitution or exchange for another Award or award, the Committee shall require
the surrender of such other Award or award in consideration for the grant of the
new Award. In addition, Awards may be granted in lieu of cash compensation,
including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the Company or
any Related Entity, in which the value of Stock subject to the Award is
equivalent in value to the cash compensation (for example, Deferred Stock or
Restricted Stock), or in which the exercise price, grant price or purchase price
of the Award in the nature of a right that may be exercised is equal to the Fair
Market Value of the underlying Stock minus the value of the cash compensation
surrendered (for example, Options or Stock Appreciation Right granted with an
exercise price or grant price “discounted” by the amount of the cash
compensation surrendered).
(b) Term
of Awards. The
term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the
Committee; provided that in no event shall the term of any Option or Stock
Appreciation Right exceed a period of ten years (or in the case of an Incentive
Stock Option such shorter term as may be required under Section 422 of the
Code).
(c) Form
and Timing of Payment Under Awards; Deferrals. Subject
to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments to be made
by the Company or a Related Entity upon the exercise of an Option or other Award
or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall
determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other Awards or other
property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or
on a deferred basis. Any installment or deferral provided for in the preceding
sentence shall, however, be subject to the Company’s compliance with the
provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the rules and regulations adopted
by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, and all applicable rules
of the American Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which the
Company’s securities are listed for trading and, if not listed for trading on
either the American Stock Exchange or a national securities exchange, then the
rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The settlement of any Award may be
accelerated, and cash paid in lieu of Stock in connection with such settlement,
in the discretion of the Committee or upon occurrence of one or more specified
events (in addition to a Change in Control). Installment or deferred payments
may be required by the Committee (subject to Section 11(e) of the Plan,
including the consent provisions thereof in the case of any deferral of an
outstanding Award not provided for in the original Award Agreement) or permitted
at the election of the Participant on terms and conditions established by the
Committee. Payments may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment
or crediting of a reasonable interest rate on installment or deferred payments
or the grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents or other amounts in respect of
installment or deferred payments denominated in Shares.
(d) Exemptions
from Section 16(b) Liability. It is
the intent of the Company that the grant of any Awards to or other transaction
by a Participant who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be
exempt from Section 16 pursuant to an applicable exemption (except for
transactions acknowledged in writing to be non-exempt by such Participant).
Accordingly, if any provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement does not
comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 then applicable to any such
transaction, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent
necessary to conform to the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 so that such
Participant shall avoid liability under Section 16(b).
(e) Code
Section 409A. If and
to the extent that the Committee believes that any Awards may constitute a
“nonqualified deferred compensation plan” under Section 409A of the Code, the
terms and conditions set forth in the Award Agreement for that Award shall be
drafted in a manner that is intended to comply with, and shall be interpreted in
a manner consistent with, the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the
Code.
8. Special
Provisions For Israeli Residents.
(a) Scope. This
Section 8(a) shall
apply only to Participants who are residents of the State of Israel for Israeli
tax purposes as of the Date of Grant of an Award.
(b) Grants
Under Israeli Law. Any
other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, the Plan may also be administered
pursuant to the provisions of Section 102 and/or Section 3(9) of the Ordinance
and the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to Participants who are
Israeli residents for Israeli tax purposes as of the Date of Grant of an Award.
The Committee may grant to such Eligible Persons Trustee 102 Awards, Non Trustee
102 Awards and 3(9) Awards as set forth in this Section 8(a).
(c) Trustee
102 Awards.
(i) Under the
Plan, the Company may grant both Capital Gain Awards and Ordinary Income Awards.
However, the Committee shall elect from time to time, as permitted by applicable
law, to issue either Capital Gain Awards or Ordinary Income Awards and shall
notify all relevant authorities, including the ITA, of such election (the
“Election”). The Committee shall be entitled to change such Election at any time
after the date 12 months from the end of the calendar year in which the first
grant was made in accordance with the previous Election, or such other date as
may be allowed by applicable law. For so long as an Election is in effect, all
Trustee 102 Awards shall be issued as either Capital Gain Awards or as Ordinary
Income Awards in accordance with the Election then in effect. Awards granted
pursuant to this Section shall be subject to the general terms and conditions
specified in the Plan, except for provisions of the Plan applying to Awards
under different tax laws or regulations.
(ii) Trustee
102 Awards may be granted after the date 30 days after the Company delivers to
the ITA its request for approval of the Plan and the Trustee in accordance with
Section 102 provided that no rejection of the Plan or the Trustee has been
received by the Company by such date. Notwithstanding the above, if within 90
days of the Company’s delivery of the Plan to the ITA for approval, the ITA
notifies the Company of its decision not to approve the Plan or the Trustee, any
Awards that were granted and intended to be granted as Trustee 102 Awards shall
be deemed to be Non Trustee 102 Awards, or will be treated as shall be agreed to
with the ITA at such time.
(iii) All
Trustee 102 Awards granted under this Plan shall be granted by the Company to a
Trustee designated by the Committee and shall be registered in the name of the
Trustee. The Trustee shall hold each such Award and any Shares issued upon
exercise of such Award , registered in the name of the Trustee in trust for the
benefit of the Participant in respect of whom such Award or Share was granted.
All certificates representing Shares issued to the Trustee under the Plan shall
be registered in the name of the Trustee and shall be deposited with the
Trustee, and shall be held by the Trustee for the benefit of the Participant for
such period of time as required by Section 102 or any regulations, rules or
orders or procedures promulgated thereunder (the “Lockup Period”). All bonus
shares and stock dividends to be issued by the Company, if any, with regard to
Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of Trustee 102 Awards, while held by the
Trustee, shall be registered in the name of the Trustee; and all provisions
applying to such Shares shall apply to the bonus shares and stock dividends
issued by virtue thereof, mutatis mutandis. Such bonus shares and stock
dividends shall be subject to the Lockup Period of the Shares in respect of
which they were issued.
(iv) Pursuant
to Section 102, the Participant may not sell, transfer, release from trust or
otherwise dispose of the Trustee 102 Awards or the Shares received upon exercise
of any such Award during the Lockup Period. Notwithstanding the above, in the
event such a sale, transfer or other disposition of the Award or the Shares
occurs before the end of the Lockup Period, then the provisions of Section 102
relating to non-compliance with the Lockup Period, will apply and the
Participant shall bear the entire burden thereof.
(v) Anything
to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall not release any Trustee 102
Awards or any Shares issued upon exercise of the Awards, prior to the full
payment of the relevant exercise price and payment by the Participant of
Participant’s tax liability arising from such Trustee 102 Awards or Shares
issued upon exercise thereof.
(vi) As a
condition to any Trustee 102 Awards grant, the Participant shall execute a
written release releasing the Trustee, the Company and any Related Entity from
any liability in respect of any action or decision duly taken with respect to
the Plan or such Awards or Shares issued thereunder.
(vii) Trustee
102 Awards may only be granted to Eligible Persons who are Employees of the
Company or a Related Entity and who are not, as of the Date of Grant, and who
will not be, as a result of such grant, a Controlling Shareholder.
(d) Non
Trustee 102 Awards
(i) Awards
granted pursuant to this Section are intended to constitute Non Trustee 102
Awards and shall be subject to the general terms and conditions specified in the
Plan, except for provisions of the Plan applying to Awards under different tax
laws or regulations. Non Trustee 102 Awards shall comply with the provisions of
Section 102(c) of the Ordinance.
(ii) The
Company may grant Non Trustee 102 Awards only to Employees of the Company or a
Related Entity and may not be granted to a person who is, or who as a result of
such grant would become a Controlling Shareholder.
(iii) Non
Trustee 102 Awards that may be granted pursuant to the Plan, in the discretion
of the Committee, may be issued to a trustee appointed by the
Committee.
(iv) If a
Participant ceases to be an Employee of the Company or a Related Entity, as the
case may be, for any reason, the Participant will be obligated to provide the
Company with a security or guarantee, in form and substance agreeable to the
Company, in its sole and absolute discretion, to cover any tax obligation which
may result from the sale or disposition of such Award or the Shares received
upon exercise thereof.
(v) The
Shares issued upon the exercise of the Non Trustee 102 Awards, and all rights
attached thereto shall not be transferred to a third party unless and until the
Company has either (a) withheld payment of all taxes required to be paid
upon the sale or transfer thereof, if any, or (b) received confirmation
either that such payment, if any, was remitted to the relevant tax authorities
or that other arrangements regarding such payment were made, all in form and
substance satisfactory to the Company.
(vi) All bonus
shares and stock dividends issued by the Company, if any, with regard to Shares
issued pursuant to the exercise of Non Trustee 102 Awards, shall be subject to
all of the provisions of the Plan applicable to such Shares, mutatis
mutandis.
(e) 3(9)
Awards
(i) Awards
granted pursuant to this Section shall constitute 3(9) Options and shall be
subject to the general terms and conditions specified in the Plan, except for
those provisions of the Plan applying to Awards subject to different tax laws or
regulations.
(ii) 3(9)
Awards shall comply with the provisions of Section 3(9) of the Ordinance and may
only be granted to Non Employees of the Company or Related
Entities;
(iii) 3(9)
Awards granted pursuant to the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be
issued to a trustee appointed by the Committee. In such case, the Company may
elect to enter into an agreement with a trustee concerning the administration of
the issuance and exercise of 3(9) Awards, the purchase and sale of Shares issued
upon exercise thereof, and the arrangements for payment or withholding of taxes
due in connection with any such exercise, purchase or sale. The trust agreement
may provide that the Company will issue the Shares to such trustee for the
benefit of the Participant.
(iv) The
Company may require, as a condition to the grant of 3(9) Awards , that such
Participant provide a surety or guarantee to the satisfaction of the Company, to
secure payment of all taxes which may become due upon the future transfer or
disposition of such Shares to be issued upon the exercise of such
3(9) Awards.
(v) The
Shares issued upon the exercise of the 3(9) Awards, and all rights attached
thereto shall not be transferred unless and until the Company has either
(a) withheld payment of all taxes required to be paid upon the sale or
transfer thereof, if any, or (b) received confirmation either that such
payment, if any, was remitted to the relevant tax authorities or that other
arrangements regarding such payment were made, all in form and substance
satisfactory to the Company.
(f) Non
Transferable. No
Award granted hereunder shall be transferable by a Participant other than by
will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
(g) Compliance
of Other Awards with Applicable Israeli law. The
Committee may grant Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards,
Deferred Stock Awards, Bonus Stock and Awards in lieu of obligations to pay cash
or other property, Dividend Equivalents, Performance Awards and Other Stock
Based Awards to Eligible Persons who are Israeli residents for Israeli tax
purposes at the Date of Grant; provided, however, that all such awards are
structured so as to settle or be exercisable solely into Stock and to comply
with all of the applicable rules and regulations with respect to Trustee 102
Awards or Non Trustee 102 Awards or otherwise qualify for treatment as 3(9)
Awards.
(h) Tax
Compliance
(i) Any and
all tax consequences arising from the grant or exercise of Awards under this
Section 8(h), the
payment for, or the transfer of, Shares issued upon the exercise thereof, or
from any other event or act under the Plan (whether of the Company, a Related
Entity, the Trustee or the Participant), including, without limitation, any
non-compliance of the Participant with the provisions hereof or of the
Ordinance, shall be borne solely by the Participant. The Company, any applicable
Related Entity, and the Trustee, shall each, to the extent relevant, withhold
taxes according to the requirements of applicable laws, rules and regulations,
including the withholding of taxes at source. Furthermore, each Participant
shall indemnify each of the Company, the applicable Related Entity and the
Trustee, and hold them harmless from any and all liability for any tax or
interest or penalty thereupon, including without limitation, liabilities
relating to the necessity to withhold, or to have withheld, any such tax from
any payment made to the Participant. For the removal of doubt it is hereby
clarified that Participant shall bear and be liable for all tax and other
consequences in the event that Participant’s Trustee 102 Awards and/or Shares
issued upon exercise thereof are not held for the entire Lockup Period, all as
provided in Section 102.
(ii) Without
derogating from the above, each Participant shall provide the Company, and any
applicable Related Entity, and the Trustee, if any, with all relevant executed
documents, certificates and/or forms that may be required from time to time by
the Company or such Related Entity in order to comply with all applicable laws
to determine and/or establish the Israeli tax liability of such Participant.
(iii) Any
provisions of the Section 102 or Section 3(9) of the Ordinance
and/or any of the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, which are not
expressly specified in the Plan or in the applicable Award Agreement, shall be
deemed incorporated into the Plan and Award Agreement and shall be binding upon
the Company, relevant Related Entity and the Participant.
(i) Currency.
Except as
otherwise determined by the Committee, all monetary values with respect to
Awards granted pursuant to this Section 8,
including without limitation the fair market value and the exercise price of
each Award, shall be stated in United States Dollars. In the event that the
exercise price is in fact to be paid in New Israeli Shekels, then the conversion
rate to be applied shall be the last known representative rate of exchange of
the US Dollar to the New Israeli Shekels on the date of payment. Provided,
however, that the amount of any tax liability shall be determined in accordance
with applicable law and regulations.
9. Code
Section 162(m) Provisions.
(a) Covered
Employees. The
Committee, in its discretion, may determine at the time an Award is granted to
an Eligible Person who is, or is likely to be, as of the end of the tax year in
which the Company would claim a tax deduction in connection with such Award, a
Covered Employee, that the provisions of this Section 9 shall be
applicable to such Award.
(b) Performance
Criteria. If an
Award is subject to this Section 9, then
the lapsing of restrictions thereon and the distribution of cash, Shares or
other property pursuant thereto, as applicable, shall be contingent upon
achievement of one or more objective performance goals. Performance goals shall
be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Section 162(m) of the
Code and regulations thereunder including the requirement that the level or
levels of performance targeted by the Committee result in the achievement of
performance goals being “substantially uncertain.” One or more of the following
business criteria for the Company, on a consolidated basis, and/or for Related
Entities, or for business or geographical units of the Company and/or a Related
Entity (except with respect to the total shareholder return and earnings per
share criteria), shall be used by the Committee in establishing performance
goals for such Awards: (1) earnings per share; (2) revenues or
margins; (3) cash flow; (4) operating margin; (5) return on net
assets, investment, capital, or equity; (6) economic value added;
(7) direct contribution; (8) net income; pretax earnings; earnings
before interest and taxes; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization; earnings after interest expense and before extraordinary or
special items; operating income; income before interest income or expense,
unusual items and income taxes, local, state or federal and excluding budgeted
and actual bonuses which might be paid under any ongoing bonus plans of the
Company; (9) working capital; (10) management of fixed costs or
variable costs; (11) identification or consummation of investment
opportunities or completion of specified projects in accordance with corporate
business plans, including strategic mergers, acquisitions or divestitures;
(12) total shareholder return; and (13) debt reduction. Any of the
above goals may be determined on an absolute or relative basis or as compared to
the performance of a published or special index deemed applicable by the
Committee including, but not limited to, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock
Index or a group of companies that are comparable to the Company. The Committee
may exclude the impact of an event or occurrence which the Committee determines
should appropriately be excluded, including without limitation (i)
restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items, and other unusual
or non-recurring charges, (ii) an event either not directly related to the
operations of the Company or not within the reasonable control of the Company’s
management, or (iii) a change in accounting standards required by generally
accepted accounting principles.
(c) Performance
Period; Timing For Establishing Performance Goals.
Achievement
of performance goals in respect of such Performance Awards shall be measured
over a Performance Period no shorter than three months and no longer than five
years, as specified by the Committee. Performance goals shall be established not
later than 90 days after the beginning of any Performance Period applicable to
such Performance Awards, or at such other date as may be required or permitted
for “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m).
(d) Adjustments.
The
Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to
be made in connection with Awards subject to this Section 9, but may
not exercise discretion to increase any such amount payable to a Covered
Employee in respect of an Award subject to this Section 9. The
Committee shall specify the circumstances in which such Awards shall be paid or
forfeited in the event of termination of Continuous Service by the Participant
prior to the end of a Performance Period or settlement of Awards.
(e) Committee
Certification. No
Participant shall receive any payment under the Plan unless the Committee has
certified, by resolution or other appropriate action in writing, that the
performance criteria and any other material terms previously established by the
Committee or set forth in the Plan, have been satisfied to the extent necessary
to qualify as “performance based compensation” under Code Section
162(m).
10. Change
in Control.
(a) Effect
of “Change in Control.”
Subject
to Section 10(a)(iv), and if
and only to the extent provided in the Award Agreement, or to the extent
otherwise determined by the Committee, upon the occurrence of a “Change in
Control,” as defined in Section 10(b):
(i) Any
Option or Stock Appreciation Right that was not previously vested and
exercisable as of the time of the Change in Control shall become immediately
vested and exercisable, subject to applicable restrictions set forth in Section
11(a)
hereof.
(ii) Any
restrictions, deferral of settlement, and forfeiture conditions applicable to a
Restricted Stock Award, Deferred Stock Award or an Other Stock-Based Award
subject only to future service requirements granted under the Plan shall lapse
and such Awards shall be deemed fully vested as of the time of the Change in
Control, except to the extent of any waiver by the Participant and subject to
applicable restrictions set forth in Section 11(a)
hereof.
(iii) With
respect to any outstanding Award subject to achievement of performance goals and
conditions under the Plan, the Committee may, in its discretion, deem such
performance goals and conditions as having been met as of the date of the Change
in Control.
(iv) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if in the event of a Change in Control the successor company
assumes or substitutes for an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock
Award, Deferred Stock Award or Other Stock-Based Award, then each outstanding
Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Deferred Stock Award
or Other Stock-Based Award shall not be accelerated as described in Sections
10(a)(i),
(ii) and
(iii). For the
purposes of this Section 10(a)(iv), an
Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Deferred Stock Award
or Other Stock-Based Award shall be considered assumed or substituted for if
following the Change in Control the award confers the right to purchase or
receive, for each Share subject to the Option, Stock Appreciation Right,
Restricted Stock Award, Deferred Stock Award or Other Stock-Based Award
immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether
stock, cash or
other securities or property) received in the transaction constituting a Change
in Control by holders of Shares for each Share held on the effective date of
such 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
transaction constituting a Change in Control is not solely common stock of the
successor company or its parent or subsidiary, the Committee may, with the
consent of the successor company or its parent or subsidiary, provide that the
consideration to be received upon the exercise or vesting of an Option, Stock
Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Deferred Stock Award or Other
Stock-Based Award, for each Share subject thereto, will be solely common stock
of the successor company or its parent or subsidiary substantially equal in fair
market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Shares in the
transaction constituting a Change in Control. The determination of such
substantial equality of value of consideration shall be made by the Committee in
its sole discretion and its determination shall be conclusive and binding.
(b) Definition
of “Change in Control”. Unless
otherwise specified in an Award Agreement, a “Change in Control” shall mean the
occurrence of any of the following:
(i) The
acquisition by any Person of Beneficial Ownership (within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than fifty percent (50%) of
either (A) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
“Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (B) the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities) (the
foregoing Beneficial Ownership hereinafter being referred to as a “Controlling
Interest”); provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 10(b), the
following acquisitions shall not constitute or result in a Change of Control:
(v) any acquisition directly from the Company; (w) any acquisition by the
Company; (x) any acquisition by any Person that as of the Effective Date owns
Beneficial Ownership of a Controlling Interest; (y) any acquisition by any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company
or any Subsidiary; or (z) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a
transaction which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subsection (iii)
below; or
(ii) During
any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the
Effective Date) individuals who constitute the Board on the Effective Date (the
“Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the
Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to
the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s
shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors
then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such
individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this
purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a
result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election
or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or
(iii) Consummation
of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or
similar corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company, or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries (each a “Business Combination”), in each case,
unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the
individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners, respectively, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities
immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or
indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the then outstanding shares of
common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case
may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including,
without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the
Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or
through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may
be, (B) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the
Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any
Person that as of the Effective Date owns Beneficial Ownership of a Controlling
Interest) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more
of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from
such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership
existed prior to the Business Combination and (C) at least a majority of the
members of the Board of Directors of the corporation resulting from such
Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the
execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for
such Business Combination; or
(iv) Approval
by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of
the Company.
11. General
Provisions.
(a) Compliance
With Legal and Other Requirements. The
Company may, to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Committee,
postpone the issuance or delivery of Shares or payment of other benefits under
any Award until completion of such registration or qualification of such Shares
or other required action under any federal or state law, rule or regulation,
listing or other required action with respect to any stock exchange or automated
quotation system upon which the Shares or other Company securities are listed or
quoted, or compliance with any other obligation of the Company, as the
Committee, may consider appropriate, and may require any Participant to make
such representations, furnish such information and comply with or be subject to
such other conditions as it may consider appropriate in connection with the
issuance or delivery of Shares or payment of other benefits in compliance with
applicable laws, rules, and regulations, listing requirements, or other
obligations.
(b) Limits
on Transferability; Beneficiaries. No
Award or other right or interest granted under the Plan shall be pledged,
hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or subject to any lien, obligation or
liability of such Participant to any party, or assigned or transferred by such
Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or to
a Beneficiary upon the death of a Participant, and such Awards or rights that
may be exercisable shall be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant
only by the Participant or his or her guardian or legal representative, except
that Awards and other rights (other than Incentive Stock Options and Stock
Appreciation Rights in tandem therewith) may be transferred to one or more
Beneficiaries or other transferees during the lifetime of the Participant, and
may be exercised by such transferees in accordance with the terms of such Award,
but only if and to the extent such transfers are permitted by the Committee
pursuant to the express terms of an Award Agreement (subject to any terms and
conditions which the Committee may impose thereon). A Beneficiary, transferee,
or other person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any
Participant shall be subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any
Award Agreement applicable to such Participant, except as otherwise determined
by the Committee, and to any additional terms and conditions deemed necessary or
appropriate by the Committee.
(c) Adjustments.
(i) Adjustments
to Awards. In the
event that any extraordinary dividend or other distribution (whether in the form
of cash, Shares, or other property), recapitalization, forward or reverse split,
reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, share
exchange, liquidation, dissolution or other similar corporate transaction or
event affects the Shares and/or such other securities of the Company or any
other issuer such that a substitution, exchange, or adjustment is determined by
the Committee to be appropriate, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it
may deem equitable, substitute, exchange or adjust any or all of (A) the
number and kind of Shares which may be delivered in connection with Awards
granted thereafter, (B) the number and kind of Shares by which annual
per-person Award limitations are measured under Section 5 hereof,
(C) the number and kind of Shares subject to or deliverable in respect of
outstanding Awards, (D) the exercise price, grant price or purchase price
relating to any Award and/or make provision for payment of cash or other
property in respect of any outstanding Award, and (E) any other aspect of any
Award that the Committee determines to be appropriate.
(ii) Adjustments
in Case of Certain Corporate Transactions. In the
event of any merger, consolidation or other reorganization in which the Company
does not survive, or in the event of any Change in Control, any outstanding
Awards may be dealt with in accordance with any of the following approaches, as
determined by the agreement effectuating the transaction or, if and to the
extent not so determined, as determined by the Committee: (a) the continuation
of the outstanding Awards by the Company, if the Company is a surviving
corporation, (b) the assumption or substitution for, as those terms are defined
in Section 10(b)(iv) hereof,
the outstanding Awards by the surviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary,
(c) full exercisability or vesting and accelerated expiration of the outstanding
Awards, or (d) settlement of the value of the outstanding Awards in cash or cash
equivalents or other property followed by cancellation of such Awards (which
value, in the case of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, shall be measured by
the amount, if any, by which the Fair Market Value of a Share exceeds the
exercise or grant price of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right as of the
effective date of the transaction). The Committee shall give written notice of
any proposed transaction referred to in this Section 11(c)(ii) a
reasonable period of time prior to the closing date for such transaction (which
notice may be given either before or after the approval of such transaction), in
order that Participants may have a reasonable period of time prior to the
closing date of such transaction within which to exercise any Awards that are
then exercisable (including any Awards that may become exercisable upon the
closing date of such transaction). A Participant may condition his exercise of
any Awards upon the consummation of the transaction.
(iii) Other
Adjustments. The
Committee (and the Board if and only to the extent such authority is not
required to be exercised by the Committee to comply with Section 162(m) of the
Code) is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the
criteria included in, Awards (including Performance Awards, or performance goals
relating thereto) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including,
without limitation, acquisitions and dispositions of businesses and assets)
affecting the Company, any Related Entity or any business unit, or the financial
statements of the Company or any Related Entity, or in response to changes in
applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, tax rates and regulations
or business conditions or in view of the Committee’s assessment of the business
strategy of the Company, any Related Entity or business unit thereof,
performance of comparable organizations, economic and business conditions,
personal performance of a Participant, and any other circumstances deemed
relevant; provided that no such adjustment shall be authorized or made if and to
the extent that such authority or the making of such adjustment would cause
Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Awards granted pursuant to
Section 9(b) hereof
to Participants designated by the Committee as Covered Employees and intended to
qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m) and the
regulations thereunder to otherwise fail to qualify as “performance-based
compensation” under Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder.
(d) Taxes. The
Company and any Related Entity are authorized to withhold from any Award
granted, any payment relating to an Award under the Plan, including from a
distribution of Shares, or any payroll or other payment to a Participant,
amounts of withholding and other taxes due or potentially payable in connection
with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the
Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company or any Related Entity and
Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and
other tax obligations relating to any Award. This authority shall include
authority to withhold or receive Shares or other property and to make cash
payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Participant’s tax obligations,
either on a mandatory or elective basis in the discretion of the
Committee.
(e) Changes
to the Plan and Awards. The
Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan, or the
Committee’s authority to grant Awards under the Plan, without the consent of
shareholders or Participants, except that any amendment or alteration to the
Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders not later
than the annual meeting next following such Board action if such shareholder
approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation (including,
without limitation, Rule 16b-3 or Code Section 162(m)) or the rules of any stock
exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares may then be listed or
quoted, and the Board may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit
other such changes to the Plan to shareholders for approval; provided that,
without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Board action may
materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any
previously granted and outstanding Award. The Committee may waive any conditions
or rights under, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any Award
theretofore granted and any Award Agreement relating thereto, except as
otherwise provided in the Plan; provided that, without the consent of an
affected Participant, no such Committee or the Board action may materially and
adversely affect the rights of such Participant under such Award.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Committee shall be authorized to
amend any outstanding Option and/or Stock Appreciation Right to reduce the
exercise price or grant price without the prior approval of the shareholders of
the Company. In addition, the Committee shall be authorized to cancel
outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciate Rights replaced with Awards having a
lower exercise price without the prior approval of the shareholders of the
Company.
(f) Limitation
on Rights Conferred Under Plan. Neither
the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving
any Eligible Person or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person
or Participant or in the employ or service of the Company or a Related Entity;
(ii) interfering in any way with the right of the Company or a Related
Entity to terminate any Eligible Person’s or Participant’s Continuous Service at
any time, (iii) giving an Eligible Person or Participant any claim to be
granted any Award under the Plan or to be treated uniformly with other
Participants and Employees, or (iv) conferring on a Participant any of the
rights of a shareholder of the Company unless and until the Participant is duly
issued or transferred Shares in accordance with the terms of an
Award.
(g) Unfunded
Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts. The
Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred
compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant or
obligation to deliver Shares pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan
or any Award shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than
those of a general creditor of the Company; provided that the Committee may
authorize the creation of trusts and deposit therein cash, Shares, other Awards
or other property, or make other arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations
under the Plan. Such trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the
“unfunded” status of the Plan unless the Committee otherwise determines with the
consent of each affected Participant. The trustee of such trusts may be
authorized to dispose of trust assets and reinvest the proceeds in alternative
investments, subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify
and in accordance with applicable law.
(h) Nonexclusivity
of the Plan. Neither
the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor its submission to the shareholders of
the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the
power of the Board or a committee thereof to adopt such other incentive
arrangements as it may deem desirable including incentive arrangements and
awards which do not qualify under Section 162(m) of the Code.
(i) Payments
in the Event of Forfeitures; Fractional Shares. Unless
otherwise determined by the Committee, in the event of a forfeiture of an Award
with respect to which a Participant paid cash or other consideration, the
Participant shall be repaid the amount of such cash or other consideration. No
fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any
Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, other Awards or other
property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether
such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise
eliminated.
(j) Governing
Law. The
validity, construction and effect of the Plan, any rules and regulations under
the Plan, and any Award Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the
laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to principles of conflict of
laws, and applicable federal law.
(k) Non-U.S.
Laws. The
Committee shall have the authority to adopt such modifications, procedures, and
subplans as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws
of foreign countries in which the Company or its Subsidiaries may operate to
assure the viability of the benefits from Awards granted to Participants
performing services in such countries and to meet the objectives of the Plan.
(l) Plan
Effective Date and Shareholder Approval; Termination of Plan. The
Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date, subject to subsequent
approval, within 12 months of its adoption by the Board, by shareholders of the
Company eligible to vote in the election of directors, by a vote sufficient to
meet the requirements of Code Sections 162(m) (if applicable) and 422, Rule
16b-3 under the Exchange Act (if applicable), applicable requirements under the
rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares
may be listed or quoted, and other laws, regulations, and obligations of the
Company applicable to the Plan. Awards may be granted subject to shareholder
approval, but may not be exercised or otherwise settled in the event the
shareholder approval is not obtained. The Plan shall terminate at the earliest
of (a) such time as no Shares remain available for issuance under the Plan, (b)
termination of this Plan by the Board, or (c) the tenth anniversary of the
Effective Date. Awards outstanding upon expiration of the Plan shall remain in
effect until they have been exercised or terminated, or have expired.
* * * * * *