SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
(Rule
14a-101)
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934
Filed
by the Registrant
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Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant
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Check the
appropriate box:
¨ Preliminary Proxy
Statement
¨ Confidential, for Use of the
Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
þ Definitive Proxy
Statement
¨ Definitive Additional
Materials
¨ Soliciting Material
Pursuant to §240.14a-12
SUBAYE,
INC.
(Name of
Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
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Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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Fee computed on table below per
Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
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(1)
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Title of each class of securities
to which transaction
applies:
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(2)
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Aggregate number of securities to
which transaction applies:
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(3)
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Per unit price or other
underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state
how it was determined):
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(4)
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Proposed maximum aggregate value
of transaction:
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Fee paid previously with
preliminary materials:
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Check box if any part of the fee
is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the
filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the
previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule
and the date of its filing:
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(1)
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Form, Schedule or Registration
Statement No.:
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9/F.,
Beijing Business World
56 East
Xinglong Street, Chongwen District
Beijing,
China 100062
July 14,
2010
To the
Stockholders of Subaye, Inc.:
The
annual meeting of the stockholders (the “Meeting”) of Subaye, Inc. (the
“Company”) will be held on August 31, 2010 at 2:00 p.m., local time, at the
Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers, Tang Room I-II on 3/F, 20 Nathan Road,
Kowloon Hong Kong.
Details
of the business to be conducted at the Meeting are provided in the enclosed
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, which you are
urged to read carefully.
On behalf
of the Board of Directors, I cordially invite all stockholders to attend the
Meeting. It is important that your shares be voted on the matters scheduled to
come before the Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting, I urge
you to vote your shares. For your convenience, we are providing three
ways in which you may vote your shares: (1) by internet, at www.proxyvote.com
and using the control number located on your proxy card; (2) by touch-tone
telephone, by dialing the toll-free telephone number located on your proxy card
and following the instructions; or (3) by mail, by executing and returning the
enclosed proxy card in the prepaid envelope provided. If you attend
the Meeting, you may revoke such proxy and vote in person if you wish. Even if
you do not attend the Meeting, you may revoke such proxy at any time prior to
the Meeting by executing another proxy bearing a later date or providing written
notice of such revocation to the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company.
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Sincerely,
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/s/
Zhiguang Cai
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Zhiguang
Cai
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Chief
Executive Officer
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Important Notice Regarding the
Availability of Proxy Materials for the annual meeting of stockholders to be
held on August 31, 2010: In accordance with rules and regulations adopted
by the Securities and Exchange Commission, we are now providing access to our
proxy materials, including the proxy statement, our Annual Report for the 2009
fiscal year and a form of proxy relating to the annual meeting, over the
internet. All stockholders of record and beneficial owners will have the ability
to access the proxy materials at www.proxyvote.com. These proxy materials are
available free of charge.
SUBAYE,
INC.
NOTICE OF
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To
be Held on August 31, 2010
NOTICE IS
HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Meeting”) of Subaye,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held at 2:00 p.m., local
time, at the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers, Tang Room I-II on 3/F, 20
Nathan Road, Kowloon Hong Kong, for the following purposes:
1.
To elect a slate of nominees consisting of Zhiguang Cai, Alan R. Lun, Larry
Schafran, Jinliu Deng and Qimei Liu (each a “Nominee” and collectively, the
“Nominees”) to serve as directors of the Company;
2.
To approve and adopt the Subaye, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive
Plan;
3.
To ratify the appointment of DNTW Chartered Accountants, LLP as the Company’s
independent registered public accountants for fiscal 2010; and
4.
To consider and vote upon such other matter(s) as may properly come before the
Meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof.
The
Board of Directors recommends that you vote in favor of each
proposal.
Stockholders
of record as of the Record Date (as defined below) are entitled to notice of,
and to vote at, this Meeting or any adjournment or postponement
thereof.
WHETHER
OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING, PLEASE VOTE YOUR SHARES, SO THAT
A QUORUM WILL BE PRESENT AND A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES MAY BE VOTED. IT IS
IMPORTANT AND IN YOUR INTEREST FOR YOU TO VOTE YOUR SHARES. FOR YOUR
CONVENIENCE, WE HAVE PROVIDED THREE EASY METHODS IN WHICH YOU CAN VOTE YOUR
SHARES:
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By
Internet. Visit www.proxyvote.com and enter the control
number located on your proxy card.
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By Touch-Tone
Telephone. Dial the toll-free number found on your
proxy card and follow the simple
instructions.
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By
Mail. Simply return your executed proxy in the
enclosed postage paid envelope.
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THE
PROXY IS REVOCABLE AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO ITS USE.
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By
Order Of The Board Of Directors
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/s/
Zhiguang Cai
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Zhiguang
Cai
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Chief
Executive Officer
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9/F.,
Beijing Business World
56 East
Xinglong Street, Chongwen District
Beijing,
China 100062
This
Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy are being furnished with respect to
the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Subaye,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “Subaye”) for the Annual Meeting
of the Stockholders (the “Meeting”) to be held at 2:00 p.m., local time, on
August 31, 2010 and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof, at the Sheraton
Hong Kong Hotel & Towers, Tang Room I-II on 3/F, 20 Nathan Road, Kowloon
Hong Kong.
The
approximate date on which the Proxy Statement and form of proxy are intended to
be sent or given to the stockholders is July 14, 2010. The proxy
material are also available free of charge on the internet at
www.proxyvote.com. The stockholder is invited to attend the
annual meeting to vote on the proposals described in this proxy
statement. However, the stockholder does not need to attend the
annual meeting to vote. Instead the stockholder may simply complete,
sign and return the proxy card, complete the proxy card online at
www.proxyvote.com, or vote by telephone by dialing the toll-free telephone
number located on the proxy card.
We will
bear the expense of solicitation of proxies for the Meeting, including the
printing and mailing of this Proxy Statement. We may request persons, and
reimburse them for their expenses with respect thereto, who hold stock in their
name or custody or in the names of nominees for others to forward copies of such
materials to those persons for whom they hold Common Stock (as defined below)
and to request authority for the execution of the proxies. In addition, some of
our officers, directors and employees, without additional compensation, may
solicit proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors personally or by mail,
telephone or facsimile.
Record
Date
Only
stockholders of record of our common stock, $.001 par value (the “Common
Stock”), as of the close of business on July 9, 2010 (the “Record Date”) are
entitled to notice and to vote at the Meeting and any adjournment or
adjournments thereof.
Voting
Stock
As of the
Record Date, there were 7,444,931 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Each
holder of Common Stock on the Record Date is entitled to one vote for each share
then held on the matter to be voted at the Meeting. No other class of voting
securities was then outstanding.
Quorum
The
presence at the Meeting of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
as of the Record Date, in person or by proxy, is required for a quorum. Should
you submit a proxy, even though you abstain as to the proposal, or you are
present in person at the Meeting, your shares shall be counted for the purpose
of determining if a quorum is present.
Broker
“non-votes” are included for the purposes of determining whether a quorum of
shares is present at the Meeting. A broker “non-vote” occurs when a nominee
holder, such as a brokerage firm, bank or trust company, holding shares of
record for a beneficial owner, does not vote on a particular proposal because
the nominee holder does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that
item and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial
owner.
Voting
The
election of directors requires the approval of a plurality of the votes cast at
the meeting. For purposes of the proposal, abstentions and broker “non-votes”
will have no effect on the outcome.
If you
are the beneficial owner, but not the registered holder of our shares, you
cannot directly vote those shares at the Meeting. You must provide voting
instructions to your nominee holder, such as your brokerage firm or
bank.
If you
wish to vote in person at the Meeting but you are not the record holder, you
must obtain from your record holder a “legal proxy” issued in your name and
bring it to the Meeting.
At the
Meeting, ballots will be distributed with respect to the proposal to each
stockholder (or the stockholder’s proxy if not the management proxy holders) who
is present and did not deliver a proxy to the management proxy holders or
another person. The ballots shall then be tallied, one vote for each share owned
of record, the votes being in three categories: “FOR,” “AGAINST” or
“ABSTAIN”.
Proxies
The form
of proxy solicited by the Board of Directors affords you the ability to specify
a choice among approval of, disapproval of, or abstention with respect to, the
matters to be acted upon at the Meeting. Shares represented by the proxy will be
voted and, where the solicited stockholder indicates a choice with respect to
the matter to be acted upon, the shares will be voted as specified. If no choice
is given, a properly executed proxy will be voted in favor of the
proposal.
Revocability
of Proxies
Even if
you execute a proxy, you retain the right to revoke it and change your vote by
notifying us at any time before your proxy is voted. Such revocation may be
affected by execution of a subsequently dated proxy, or by a written notice of
revocation, sent to the attention of the Chief Executive Officer at the address
of our principal office set forth above in the Notice to this Proxy Statement or
your attendance and voting at the Meeting. Unless so revoked, the shares
represented by the proxies, if received in time, will be voted in accordance
with the directions given therein.
You are
requested, regardless of the number of shares you own or your intention to
attend the Meeting, to sign the proxy and return it promptly in the enclosed
envelope.
Interest
of Officers and Directors in Matters to Be Acted Upon
None of the officers or directors has
any interest in the matters to be acted upon.
PROPOSAL
ONE
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
Subaye’s Board is currently comprised
of five members. Vacancies on the Board may be filled only by persons elected by
a majority of the remaining directors. A director elected by the Board to fill a
vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the term of that director and until the
director’s successor is elected and qualified. This includes vacancies created
by an increase in the number of directors.
The Board has recommended for election
Zhiguang Cai, Alan R. Lun, Larry Schafran, Jinliu Deng, and Qimei Liu. If
elected at the annual meeting, these directors would serve until the end of
their respective terms and until their successors are elected and qualified, or
until their earlier death, resignation or removal.
Directors are elected by a plurality of
the votes present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the
annual meeting. Shares represented by executed proxies will be voted, if
authority to do so is not withheld, for the election of Zhiguang Cai, Alan R.
Lun, Larry Schafran, Jinliu Deng, and Qimei Liu. In the event that any nominee
should be unavailable for election as a result of an unexpected occurrence, such
shares will be voted for the election of such substitute nominee as the Board
may propose. Each of Zhiguang Cai, Alan R. Lun, Larry Schafran, Jinliu Deng, and
Qimei Liu has agreed to serve if elected, and we have no reason to believe that
they will be unable to serve.
Name
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Position With the Company
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Age
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Director Since
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Zhiguang
Cai
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Chief
Executive Officer, Director
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40
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September
2009
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Alan
R. Lun
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President,
Director
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45
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April
2007
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Larry
Schafran (1)(2)(3)
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Director
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71
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November
2009
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Jinliu
Deng (1)(2)(3)
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Director
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45
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October
2009
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Qimei
Liu (1)(2)(3)
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Director
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38
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November
2009
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(1)
Member of Audit Committee
(2)
Member of Compensation Committee
(3)
Member of Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Zhiguang Cai, our Chief
Executive Officer and a member of the Board, joined the Company in 2000. He was
appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Company on September 5,
2009. From August, 2009 to November, 2009, Mr. Cai was the Chief
Executive Officer of Subaye.com, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Company. He was the Vice President of Guangzhou Subaye Computer Tech
Ltd. (“Subaye Computer Tech”), a majority owned subsidiary of the Company from
June 2006 to July 2009, where he was responsible for the development of Subaye
Computer Tech's network and systems integration business and for the planning
analysis of software products, as well as technical training and research and
development. From October 2003 through June 2006, Mr. Cai was the Director of
Subaye Computer Tech's software research and development center. From October
2000 to September 2003, Mr. Cai was the webmaster of Mystaru Limited (formerly
known as IC Star MMS Limited), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Prior
to October 2000, Mr. Cai worked for five years as a teacher of Xishui Computer
Normal School in Hubei province. Mr. Cai graduated in 1995 from the Central
China Normal University Department of Computer Science.
Alan R. Lun, our President and
a member of the Board, is also the Chief Executive Officer of MyStarU Ltd., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, a position he has held since March 2006.
From March 2001 through February 2006, Mr. Lun was the division manager of
Guangdong Country Garden Property Management Co. Ltd., a property management
company in China. On September 5, 2009, Mr. Lun resigned as the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer, but remains the Company’s President and a
director.
Larry Schafran, a member of
the Board since November 2009, has extensive experience in the financial markets
and corporate governance, and is a member of the Board of Directors of other U.
S. publicly-traded companies. Mr. Schafran currently is a Managing
Director of Providence Capital, Inc., a private New York City based activist
investment firm, specializing in small-cap mining and oil/gas exploration firms.
He has held this position since July 2003. From 1999 through 2002,
Mr. Schafran served as Trustee, Chairman/Interim-CEO/President and Co-
Liquidating Trustee of the Special Liquidating Trust of Banyan Strategic Realty
Trust. He also serves as a director of SecureAlert, Inc., Tarragon Corporation,
National Patent Development Corp., New Frontier Energy, Inc., DollarDays
International, Inc. and SulphCo, Inc. Mr. Schafran received a
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Finance and a Masters Degree in Business
Administration from the University of Wisconsin.
Jinliu Deng, a member of the
Board since October 2009, provided consulting services to the Company between
July 2007 and July 2009. Mr. Deng was not compensated $60,000 or more
in fees from the Company in the three years prior to October 19,
2009. From June 2000 to the present, Mr. Deng has served as the
general manager of Guangzhou Free Stage Studios Limited, a leading entertainment
stage company in the People’s Republic of China.
Qimei Liu, a member of the
Board since November 2009, has served as the general manager of Hongjian Hotel,
a business travel services hotel in Guangzhou, the People’s Republic of China,
from July 2006 through the present. From May 2005 to June 2006, Ms.
Liu was the assistant to the Chief Information Officer of HRDQ Group, Inc. Prior
to May 2005, Ms. Liu was the assistant to the Chief Operations Officer of
Blogolb.com, a video sharing website in the People’s Republic of
China.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF
ZHIGUANG CAI, ALAN R. LUN, LARRY SCHAFRAN, JINLIU DENG, AND QIMEI
LIU
PROPOSAL
TWO
APPROVAL
AND ADOPTION OF THE SUBAYE, INC. 2010 OMNIBUS LONG-TERM INCENTIVE
PLAN
The Board
believes it is important to adopt the Plan in order to provide a mechanism to
grant stock options and other stock awards to directors, employees and
consultants as an incentive and to tie their interests closer to those of our
stockholders. In addition, the Board believes it is important to have reserved a
sufficient number of shares to support stock option grants and awards for the
foreseeable future.
Following
is a summary of the material provisions of the Plan. The summary does not
purport to be a complete statement of the Plan, and while references are made to
the full text of the Plan, the full Plan is attached for your review hereto as
Exhibit A. All
capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the same meaning ascribed to
them within the Plan.
The Plan
is intended to enhance the Company’s and its Affiliates’ ability to attract and
retain highly qualified officers, directors, key employees and other persons,
and to motivate such officers, directors, key employees and other persons to
serve the Company and its Affiliates and to expend maximum effort to improve the
business results and earnings of the Company, by providing to such persons an
opportunity to acquire or increase a direct proprietary interest in the
operations and future success of the Company. To this end, the Plan provides for
the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock,
restricted stock units, unrestricted stock and cash awards. Any of these awards
may, but need not, be made as performance incentives to reward attainment of
annual or long-term performance goals in accordance with the terms hereof. Stock
options granted under the Plan may be non-qualified stock options or incentive
stock options, as provided herein.
Administration of the
Plan
The Plan
will be administered by the Board, or at the Board’s discretion, the
Compensation Committee, such other committee as determined by the Board of
Directors, or a subcommittee consisting solely of non-employee, outside
directors (the “Committee”), as is consistent with the Company’s Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws and applicable law. The Committee shall have
full power and authority to take all actions and to make all determinations
required or provided for under the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement, and
shall have full power and authority to take all such other actions and make all
such other determinations not inconsistent with the specific terms and
provisions of the Plan that the Committee deems to be necessary or appropriate
to the administration of the Plan. The interpretation and construction by the
Committee of any provision of the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement shall
be final, binding and conclusive.
Awards
may be granted to any employee, officer or director of the Company or an
Affiliate, or a consultant or adviser currently providing services to the
Company or an Affiliate, as the Committee shall determine and designate from
time to time in its discretion.
The
Committee, in its sole discretion, designates who is eligible to receive awards,
determines the form of each award, determines the number of shares of stock
subject to each award, establishes the exercise price of each award and such
other terms and conditions applicable to the award as the Committee deems
appropriate.
The types
of awards the Committee will be able to grant will be:
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Stock Options. A
stock option entitles the holder to purchase shares of our Common Stock
for a price that is determined when the stock option is granted, which may
not be less than 100% of the fair market value of our Common Stock on the
date of grant. Stock options may be either incentive or
non-incentive. Options may be wholly or partly exercisable when
they are granted, or they may become exercisable in whole or in
installments at a subsequent date or dates, as established by the
Committee when granting the award. A stock option may require that the
exercise price be paid in cash or may permit it to be paid in whole or in
part with shares of our Common Stock (either previously owned shares or
shares issuable upon exercise of the stock option) valued at their fair
market value on the date the stock option is exercised. The Committee will
specify the term of each stock option when it is granted, but the term may
not exceed ten years.
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Stock Appreciation Rights
(SARs). An SAR allows the holder, upon exercise, to
receive the excess of the fair market value of one share of Common Stock
of the Company on the date of exercise over the grant price of the SAR.
The Committee shall determine the circumstances under which an SAR may be
exercised, the month of exercise and method of settlement. SARs may be
awarded independently or in tandem with other
awards.
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Restricted Stock.
Restricted stock is shares of Common Stock that are issued to a
participant (and of which the participant becomes the owner), which are
subject to such restrictions as to transferability and risk of forfeiture
as imposed by the Committee. The restrictions may lapse
separately under such circumstances such as achievement of performance
goals and/or future service requirements. Except to the extent
restricted under the terms of the Plan, any grantee of shares of
restricted stock under the Plan are entitled to vote them and receive
dividends and distributions with regard to them even before they vest.
Shares of restricted stock may not be transferred or pledged until they
vest, except with the approval of the Committee, and then only if the
person to whom they are transferred agrees to abide by the forfeiture
provisions.
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Restricted Stock Units
(RSUs). An RSU is a right to receive stock, cash, or a
combination thereof at the end of a specified deferral period as
determined by the Committee.
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Unrestricted
Stock. Unrestricted stock is freely tradable stock that
does not contain a restrictive legend. The unrestricted stock
granted pursuant to the Plan will be registered on a Registration
Statement on Form S-8.
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The
Committee is also authorized to grant stock as a bonus or to grant stock in lieu
of obligations to pay cash under the Plan or under other compensatory
arrangements.
The
Company has no current plans, proposals or arrangements, written or otherwise,
to grant any specific awards under the Plan.
The Board
of the Company may amend or terminate the Plan at any time, except that any
amendment or alteration to the Plan shall be contingent on the approval of the
Company's stockholders not later than the annual meeting next following such
Board action if such stockholder approval is required by any federal or state
law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange, 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
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE SUBAYE,
INC. 2010 OMNIBUS LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
PROPOSAL
THREE
RATIFICATION
OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Audit
Committee of the Board has appointed DNTW Chartered Accountants, LLP as the
Company’s independent registered public accountants for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2010. Services provided to the Company by our independent
registered public accountants in fiscal 2009 are described under “Audit-Related Matters—Auditor Fees
and Services,” below.
We are
asking our stockholders to ratify the selection of DNTW Chartered Accountants,
LLP as our independent registered public accountants. Although ratification is
not required by our Bylaws or otherwise, the Board is submitting the selection
of DNTW Chartered Accountants, LLP to our stockholders for ratification as a
matter of good corporate practice.
The
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of shares represented in person or
by proxy and entitled to vote on this item will be required for approval.
Abstentions will be counted as represented and entitled to vote and will
therefore have the effect of a negative vote.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF DNTW CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS, LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR FISCAL 2010
In the
event stockholders do not ratify the appointment, the appointment will be
reconsidered by the Audit Committee and the Board. Even if the selection is
ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may select a different
registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines
that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our
stockholders.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
Meetings
and Certain Committees of the Board
The Board
held five meetings during 2009. An Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and
a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee were established in November
2009. In fiscal year 2009, the Audit Committee held no meetings, the
Compensation Committee held no meetings, and the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee held no meetings.
Board
Committees
Audit
Committee
The Audit
Committee is currently comprised of Larry Schafran (Chair), Jinliu Deng and
Qimei Liu, each of whom are “independent” as defined by NASDAQ rules.
Immediately following the Meeting, assuming the election of the Nominees, the
Audit Committee will be comprised of Larry Schafran (Chair), Jinliu Deng and
Qimei Liu, each of whom will be “independent” as defined by NASDAQ rules. The
Audit Committee has an Audit Committee Charter, a copy of which was filed as an
exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company on November 20,
2009. Larry
Schafran is the designated “financial expert” as defined by the Securities and
Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) rules implementing Section 407 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the
appointment, retention, compensation and oversight of the work of any registered
public accounting firm employed by the Company (including resolution of
disagreements between management and the accounting firm regarding financial
reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related
work or performing other audit, review or other services. Any such registered
public accounting firm must report directly to the Audit Committee. The Audit
Committee has the ultimate authority and responsibility to evaluate and, where
appropriate, replace the registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee
was established on November 19, 2009.
Compensation
Committee
The
Compensation Committee is responsible for the administration of all salary,
bonus and incentive compensation plans for our officers and key employees. The
members of the Compensation Committee are Qimei Liu (Chair), Jinliu Deng and
Larry Schafran, all of whom are “independent” directors as defined by NASDAQ
rules. Immediately following the Meeting, assuming the election of the Nominees,
the Compensation Committee will be comprised of Qimei Liu (Chair), Jinliu Deng
and Larry Schafran, each of whom will be “independent” as defined by NASDAQ
rules. The Compensation Committee has a Compensation Committee Charter, a copy
of which was filed as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the
Company on November 20, 2009. The Compensation
Committee reviews and, as it deems appropriate, recommends to the Board
policies, practices and procedures relating to the compensation of the officers
and other managerial employees and the establishment and administration of
employee benefit plans. It advises and consults with the officers of the Company
as may be requested regarding managerial personnel policies. The Compensation
Committee also has such additional powers as may be conferred upon it from time
to time by the Board. The Compensation Committee was established on
November 19, 2009.
Nominating
and Governance Committee
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “Nominating Committee”) is
responsible for preparing a list of candidates to fill the expiring terms of
directors serving on our Board. The Nominating Committee has a Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee Charter, a copy of which was filed as an exhibit
to the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by the Company on November 20, 2009.
The Nominating Committee submits the list of candidates to the Board who
determines which candidates will be nominated to serve on the Board. The names
of nominees are then submitted for election at our Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. The Nominating Committee also submits to the entire Board a list
of nominees to fill any interim vacancies on the Board resulting from the
departure of a member of the Board for any reason prior to the expiration of his
term. The Nominating Committee considers various criteria, including the ability
of the individual to meet the NASDAQ “independence” requirements, general
business experience, general financial experience, knowledge of the Company’s
industry (including past industry experience), education, and demonstrated
character and judgment. The Nominating Committee will consider director nominees
recommended by a stockholder if the stockholder mails timely notice to the
Secretary of the Company at its principal offices, which notice includes (i) the
name, age and business address of such nominee, (ii) the principal occupation of
such nominee, (iii) a brief statement as to such nominee’s qualifications, (iv)
a statement that such nominee consents to his or her nomination and will serve
as a director if elected, (v) whether such nominee meets the definition of an
“independent” director under the NASDAQ listing standards and (vi) the name,
address, class and number of shares of capital stock of the Company held by the
nominating stockholder. Any person nominated by a stockholder for election to
the Board will be evaluated based on the same criteria as all other nominees.
The Nominating Committee also oversees our adherence to our corporate governance
standards. The members of the Nominating Committee are Jinliu Deng (Chair),
Larry Schafran and Qimei Liu. Immediately following the Meeting, assuming the
election of the Nominees, the Nominating Committee will be comprised of Jinliu
Deng (Chair), Larry Schafran and Qimei Liu, each of whom will be “independent”
as defined by NASDAQ rules. The Nominating Committee was established on November
19, 2009.
Director
Nominations and Independence
The
nomination process involves a careful examination of the performance and
qualifications of each incumbent director and potential nominees before deciding
whether such person should be nominated. The Board believes that the business
experience of its directors has been, and continues to be, critical to the
Company’s success. Directors should possess integrity, independence, energy,
forthrightness, analytical skills and commitment to devote the necessary time
and attention to the Company’s affairs. Directors must possess a willingness to
challenge and stimulate management and the ability to work as part of a team in
an environment of trust.
The Board
will generally consider all relevant factors, including, among others, each
nominee’s applicable expertise and demonstrated excellence in his or her field,
the usefulness of such expertise to the Company, the availability of the nominee
to devote sufficient time and attention to the affairs of the Company, the
nominee’s reputation for personal integrity and ethics, and the nominee’s
ability to exercise sound business judgment. Other relevant factors, including
age and diversity of skills, will also be considered. Director nominees are
reviewed in the context of the existing membership of the Board (including the
qualities and skills of the existing directors), the operating requirements of
the Company and the long-term interests of its stockholders. The Board uses its
network of contacts when compiling a list of potential director candidates and
may also engage outside consultants (such as professional search
firms).
In
addition, the Board reviews each nominee’s relationship with the Company in
order to determine whether the nominee can be designated as independent. The
following members of our Board meet the independence requirements and standards
currently established by NASDAQ: Larry Schafran, Qimei Liu and Jinliu
Deng.
Stockholder
Communications
The Board
welcomes communications from our stockholders, and maintains a process for
stockholders to communicate with the Board. Stockholders who wish to communicate
with the Board may send a letter to Zhiguang Cai at 9/F., Beijing Business
World, 56 East Xinglong Street, Chongwen District, Beijing, China 100062. The
mailing envelope must contain a clear notation indicating that the enclosed
letter is a “Stockholder-Board Communication.” All such letters should identify
the author as a security holder. All such letters will be reviewed by Mr. Cai
and submitted to the entire Board no later than the next regularly scheduled
Board meeting.
Annual
Meetings
We have
no policy with respect to director attendance at annual
meetings.
Compensation
of Directors
The
Company has adopted a compensation arrangement for its independent
directors. The independent directors will receive $1,000.00 for each
meeting of the Board they attend in person and $500.00 for each meeting of the
Board in which they participate by telephone or video
conference. Additionally, the independent directors will receive an
annual payment of either (i) 10,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par
value $0.001, which shall be paid in quarterly grants of 2,500 shares, or (ii)
an option to purchase 20,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, ¼ of which
shall vest each quarter.
Retirement,
Post-Termination and Change in Control
We have
no retirement, pension, or profit-sharing programs for the benefit of directors,
officers or other employees, nor do we have post-termination or change in
control arrangements with directors, officers or other employees, but our Board
may recommend adoption of one or more such programs in the future.
EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
General
Certain
information concerning our executive officers as of the date of this proxy
statement is set forth below. Officers are elected annually by the Board and
serve at the discretion of the Board.
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position With Our Company
|
Zhiguang
Cai
|
|
40
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
Alan
R. Lun
|
|
45
|
|
President
|
James
T. Crane
|
|
33
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions.
None.
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The
following tables set forth, as of May 21, 2010, information known to us relating
to the beneficial ownership of shares of common stock by each person who is the
beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of the outstanding shares of common
stock, each director, each executive officer, and all executive officers and
directors as a group.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner*
|
|
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
|
|
|
Percentage of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
|
|
|
Position
|
Enthral
Island Limited
10/F.,
KSH Centre 151 Hoi Bun Road,
Kowloon,
Hong Kong, China
|
|
|
2,993,627 |
|
|
|
40.21
|
% |
|
5%
owner
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wukuang
IE Limited
7/F.,
HaiYiGe, Biguiyuan Shunde, Fushan
GD
China
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
8.06
|
% |
|
5%
owner
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Insequor
Capital, Inc. 61 Rosena Lane
Uxbridge,
Ontario L9P 1X6
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
6.04
|
% |
|
5%
owner
|
Zhiguang
Cai
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
0.40
|
% |
|
Chief
Executive Officer, Director
|
James
T. Crane
|
|
|
122,254 |
|
|
|
1.64
|
% |
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alan
Lun
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
0.40
|
% |
|
President,
Director
|
Yaofu
Su
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
0.08
|
% |
|
Vice
President
|
He
Yao
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
0.13
|
% |
|
Secretary
|
Larry
Schafran
|
|
|
5,800 |
|
|
|
0.08
|
% |
|
Director
|
Jinliu
Deng
|
|
|
2,900 |
|
|
|
0.04
|
% |
|
Director
|
Qimei
Liu
|
|
|
2,900 |
|
|
|
0.04
|
% |
|
Director
|
Directors
and Executive Officers as a Group
|
|
|
194,150 |
|
|
|
2.61
|
% |
|
|
* Except
where otherwise indicated, the address of the beneficial owner is deemed to be
the same address of the Company.
Compensation
of Officers
The following table presents a summary
of the compensation paid to our executive officers during the fiscal years ended
September 30, 2009 and 2008. Except as listed below, there were no bonuses,
other annual compensation, restricted stock awards or stock options/SARs or any
other compensation paid to the named executive officers.
Summary
Compensation Table
Name and
Principal
Position
|
|
Year
Ended
September 30,
|
|
Salary
$
|
|
|
Bonus
$
|
|
|
Stock
awards
$
|
|
|
Option
awards
$
|
|
|
Nonequity
incentive plan
compensation
$
|
|
|
Nonqualified
deferred
compensation
earnings
$
|
|
|
All other
compensation
$
|
|
|
Total
$
|
|
Zhiguang
Cai
|
|
2009
|
|
|
28,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
2,275 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
30,275 |
|
Chief
Executive Officer, Director
|
|
2008
|
|
|
24,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
24,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James
T. Crane
|
|
2009
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
179,163 |
|
|
|
191,163 |
|
Chief Financial
Officer 1
|
|
2008
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
252,400 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
99,049 |
|
|
|
351,449 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alan
R. Lun
|
|
2009
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
1,517 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
41,517 |
|
Chief
Executive Officer, 2
President, Director
|
|
2008
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
130,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
170,000 |
|
1 Mr.
Crane is compensated through his professional services firm J. Crane &
Company, P.C. The figures included herein represent compensation paid to Mr.
Crane personally or J. Crane & Company, P.C.
2 Mr. Lun
resigned as the Chief Executive Officer on September 5, 2009 but remains the
Company’s President and Director.
Employment
Agreements
The
Company has entered into employment agreements with its officers. The terms of
the employment agreements are disclosed below:
Zhiguang Cai. The
Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Cai, our Chief Executive
Officer, on September 24, 2009. Such agreement is effective until
September 2, 2011 and is automatically renewable for additional one-year
terms. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Cai receives a base annual
salary of $30,000. He also received 30,000* restricted shares of the
Company’s Common Stock, which shall vest over the initial term of the
agreement. Mr. Cai receives various benefits pursuant to the
agreement, including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance,
pension benefits, participation in a retirement plan, reimbursement for business
expenses, and use of a car and driver. The agreement may be
terminated by either the Company or Mr. Cai for any reason at any
time.
Alan R. Lun. The
Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Lun, our President, on
September 24, 2009. Such agreement is effective until October 2, 2011
and is automatically renewable for additional one-year
terms. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Lun receives a base annual
salary of $10,000. He also received 20,000* restricted shares of the
Company’s Common Stock, which shall vest over the initial term of the
agreement. Mr. Lun receives various benefits pursuant to the
agreement, including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance,
pension benefits, participation in a retirement plan, reimbursement for business
expenses, and use of a car and driver. The agreement may be
terminated by either the Company or Mr. Lun for any reason at any
time.
James T. Crane. The
Company entered into a consulting agreement with Mr. Crane on October 11, 2009,
pursuant to which Mr. Crane agreed to as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer
for an initial term of three years, after such time the agreement will terminate
automatically. Mr. Crane, an independent contractor, bills the
Company for time incurred by him and his employees to perform the services under
the agreement. The total cash payments for such services shall not
exceed 700,000 Chinese Yuan per year without Company approval, subject to
adjustment if the Company’s total assets change by over 50% or the Company files
a Registration Statement on Form S-1 or Form 10. Additionally, under
the agreement, Mr. Crane received a stock award of 22,500 shares of the
Company’s Common Stock, which contain registration rights and which shall vest
pro rata over the term of the consulting agreement. The consulting
agreement may be terminated by either the Company or Mr. Crane for any reason
upon 30 days notice.
* The
number of shares of Common Stock is adjusted herein to reflect the 100 for 1
reverse stock split of the Company’s Common Stock, which went into effect on
October 23, 2009.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
|
|
Option awards
|
|
|
Stock awards
|
|
Name
|
|
Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options (#)
exercisable
|
|
|
Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options (#)
unexercisable
|
|
|
Equity
incentive
plan awards:
Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
unearned
options (#)
|
|
|
Option
exercise
price
($)
|
|
|
Option
expiration
date
|
|
|
Number
of shares
or units
of stock
that have
not
vested
(#)
|
|
|
Market
value of
shares or
units of
stock
that have
not
vested
($)
|
|
|
Equity
incentive
plan
awards:
Number of
unearned
shares,
units or
other
rights that
have not
vested
(#)
|
|
|
Equity
incentive
plan
awards:
Market or
payout
value of
unearned
shares,
units or
other
rights that
have not
vested
($)
|
|
Zhiguang
Cai
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
29,750 |
|
|
$ |
270,725 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
James
T. Crane
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
18,667 |
|
|
$ |
168,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Alan
R. Lun
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
19,833 |
|
|
$ |
180,483 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the
Exchange Act
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires that the Company’s
directors and executive officers and persons who beneficially own more than ten
percent (10%) of a registered class of its equity securities, file with the SEC
reports of ownership and changes in ownership of its common stock and other
equity securities. Executive officers, directors, and greater than ten percent
(10%) beneficial owners are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Company
with copies of all Section 16(a) reports that they file. Based solely upon a
review of the copies of such reports furnished to us or written representations
that no other reports were required, the Company believes that, during fiscal
year 2009, all filing requirements applicable to its executive officers,
directors, and greater than ten percent (10%) beneficial owners were met except
as follows:
|
|
Number of Late Reports
|
|
Zhiguang
Cai
|
|
2
|
|
Alan
Lun
|
|
2
|
|
James
T. Crane
|
|
2
|
|
Yaofu
Su
|
|
1
|
|
He
Yao
|
|
2
|
|
Wukuang
IE Ltd.
|
|
1
|
|
Arrangements or
Understandings
There was
no arrangement or understanding between any of our directors and any other
person pursuant to which any director was to be selected as a
director.
Involvement
in Certain Legal Proceedings
During
the past five (5) years, none of the directors or executive officers has been
involved in any legal proceedings that are material to the evaluation of their
ability or integrity.
Family
Relationships
None.
AUDIT-RELATED MATTERS – AUDITOR FEES
AND SERVICES
AUDIT
FEES
The
aggregate fees billed by the Company's auditors for professional services
rendered in connection with the audit of the Company's annual consolidated
financial statements for fiscal 2009 and 2008 and quarterly reviews of the
consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Forms 10-K and 10-Q
for fiscal 2009 and 2008, and for the review of the Company’s Form S-1 were
$200,084 and $184,155, respectively.
AUDIT-RELATED
FEES
The
Company's auditors did not bill any additional fees for assurance and related
services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review
of the Company's financial statements.
TAX
FEES
The
aggregate fees billed by the Company's auditors for professional services for
tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were $0 for fiscal 2009 and
2008.
ALL
OTHER FEES
The
aggregate fees billed by the Company's auditors for all other non-audit services
rendered to the Company, such as attending meetings and other miscellaneous
financial consulting in fiscal 2009 and 2008 were $0.
Representatives
of the principal accountants for the current year and for the most recently
completed fiscal year:
a.
are not expected to be present at the Meeting;
b.
will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so;
and
c.
are not expected to be available to respond to appropriate
questions.
Policy
on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services of Independent
Accountant
The Audit
Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided
by the independent accountants. These services may include audit services,
audit-related services, tax fees, and other services. Pre-approval is generally
provided for up to one year and any pre-approval is detailed as to the
particular service or category of services and is subject to a specific budget.
The Audit Committee has delegated pre-approval authority to certain committee
members when expedition of services is necessary. The independent accountants
and management are required to periodically report to the full Audit Committee
regarding the extent of services provided by the independent accountants in
accordance with this pre-approval delegation, and the fees for the services
performed to date.
Compensation
Committee Report
The
Compensation Committee has reviewed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and
discussed that analysis with management. Based on its review and discussions
with management, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the
Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company's 2010 Proxy
Statement. This report is provided by the following directors, who comprise the
Compensation Committee
Jinliu
Deng
Qimei
Liu
Larry
Schafran
Audit
Committee Report
The Audit
Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with our
management. The Audit Committee has discussed with our independent auditors the
matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61
(Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, AU Section 380). The Audit
Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the
independent auditors required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1,
and has discussed with the independent auditors the independent auditors'
independence. Additionally, the Audit Committee has reviewed fees charged by the
independent auditors and has monitored whether the non-audit services provided
by its independent auditors are compatible with maintaining the independence of
such auditors. Based upon its reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee
recommended to our Board that the audited financial statements be included in
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009 for
filing with the SEC and the Board approved that recommendation.
Larry
Schafran
Jinliu
Deng
Qimei
Liu
Delivery
of Documents to Stockholders Sharing an Address
Only one
Proxy Statement is being delivered to two or more security holders who share an
address, unless the Company has received contrary instruction from one or more
of the security holders. The Company will promptly deliver, upon written or oral
request, a separate copy of the Proxy Statement to a security holder at a shared
address to which a single copy of the document was delivered. If you would like
to request additional copies of the Proxy Statement, or if in the future you
would like to receive multiple copies of information or proxy statements, or
annual reports, or, if you are currently receiving multiple copies of these
documents and would, in the future, like to receive only a single copy, please
so instruct the Company, by writing to us at 9/F., Beijing Business World, 56
East Xinglong Street, Chongwen District, Beijing, China 100062.
Submission
of Stockholder Proposals
If you
wish to have a proposal included in our proxy statement and form of proxy for
next year’s annual meeting in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act,
your proposal must be received by us at our principal executive offices on or
before February 4, 2011. A proposal which is received after that date or which
otherwise fails to meet the requirements for stockholder proposals established
by the SEC will not be included. The submission of a stockholder proposal does
not guarantee that it will be included in the proxy statement.
Other
Matters
As of the
date of this Proxy Statement, the Board has no knowledge of any business which
will be presented for consideration at the Meeting other than the Election of
the Directors, the approval and adoption of the Plan, and the ratification of
DNTW Chartered Accountants, LLP. Should any other matter be properly presented,
it is intended that the enclosed proxy will be voted in accordance with the best
judgment of the persons voting the proxies.
We file
annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information
with the SEC. The public may read and copy any materials that we have filed with
the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation
of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also
maintains an internet site that contains the reports, proxy and information
statements and other information regarding Subaye that we have filed
electronically with the SEC. The address of the SEC’s internet site is
http://www.sec.gov.
Annual
Report
A copy of
the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2009,
which has been filed with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, is being mailed to you along with this Proxy Statement. Additional copies
of this Proxy Statement and/or the Annual Report, as well as copies of any
Quarterly Report may be obtained without charge upon written request to Subaye,
Inc., at 9/F., Beijing Business World, 56 East Xinglong Street, Chongwen
District, Beijing, China 100062, or on the SEC’s internet website at
www.sec.gov.
|
|
BY
ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
|
|
|
|
|
July
14, 2010
|
/s/ Zhiguang
Cai
|
|
|
Zhiguang
Cai
|
|
|
Chief
Executive
Officer
|
PROXY
SUBAYE,
INC.
PROXY
SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE
ANNUAL
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To
Be Held on August 31, 2010
The
stockholder(s) whose signature(s) appear(s) on the reverse side of this proxy
form hereby appoint(s) Zhiguang Cai and Alan Lun, individually or either of them
as proxies, with full power of substitution, and hereby authorize(s) them to
represent and vote all shares of Common Stock of the Company which the
stockholder(s) would be entitled to vote on all matters which may come before
the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 2:00 p.m., local time, at the
Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers, Tang Room I-II on 3/F, 20 Nathan Road,
Kowloon Hong Kong.
This
proxy will be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated on the reverse
side of this card. If no instructions are given, this proxy will be voted FOR
the proposals and in the proxies’ discretion upon such other business as may
properly come before the meeting and any adjournments or postponements
thereof.
(To
Be Signed on Reverse Side.)
Please
date, sign and mail your proxy card in the
envelope
provided as soon as possible.
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FOR THE MATTER
SET FORTH BELOW, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE MATTER
SUBMITTED. PLEASE SIGN, DATE, AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE INK AS SHOWN HERE X
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1.
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ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS.
Zhiguang
Cai, Alan R. Lun, Larry Schafran, Jinliu Deng, and Qimei
Liu
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o FOR all nominees, listed above
(except as specified below).
o WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for
all nominees listed above.
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2.
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APPROVAL
OF SUBAYE, INC. 2010 OMNIBUS LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN.
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o FOR the approval of the Subaye,
Inc. 2010 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan.
o AGAINST the approval of the
Subaye, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive
Plan.
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3.
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RATIFICATION
OF DNTW CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS, LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITOR FOR SUBAYE, INC.
FOR THE YEAR 2010.
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o FOR ratification of the
independent auditor.
o AGAINST ratification of
independent auditor.
o ABSTAIN.
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INSTRUCTIONS:
TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ANY INDICATED NOMINEE, WRITE THE NAME(S) OF THE
NOMINEE(S) IN THE SPACE PROVIDED:
Signature
of Stockholder
Date:
Signature
of Stockholder
Date:
NOTE:
Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are
held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator,
attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is
a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer,
giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in
partnership name by authorized person.
SUBAYE,
INC.
9/F.,
Beijing Business World
56
East Xinglong Street, Chongwen District
Beijing,
China 100062
**Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials**
for
the
2010
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
to
Be Held on
August
31, 2010
The
proxy statement and annual report on Form 10-K are available
at
https:/www.proxyvote.com/
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Meeting
Information
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How
to Vote
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Date:
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August
31, 2010
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To
vote, simply complete and mail the proxy card or follow the instructions
included with the proxy materials to vote by telephone or
internet. Alternatively, you may elect to vote in person at the
annual meeting. You will be given a ballot when you
arrive.
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Time:
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2:00
PM (local time)
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Location:
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Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers
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Tang
Room I-II on 3/F
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20
Nathan Road
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Kowloon
Hong Kong
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Voting
Items
The Board
of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following
proposals:
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1.
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Election of five directors for a term of one
year or until the next annual meeting of
stockholders
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Alan R.
Lun
Larry
Schafran
Qimei
Liu
Jinliu
Deng
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2.
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Approval
of the Subaye, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive
Plan
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3.
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Ratification
of Audit Committee’s appointment of DNTW Chartered Accountants, LLP. as
the Company’s independent registered public accountants for fiscal year
2010
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Exhibit
A
SUBAYE,
INC.
2010
OMNIBUS LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
Subaye,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), sets forth herein the terms of its
2010 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), as follows:
The Plan
is intended to enhance the Company’s and its Affiliates’ (as defined herein)
ability to attract and retain highly qualified officers, directors, key
employees and other persons, and to motivate such officers, directors, key
employees and other persons to serve the Company and its Affiliates and to
expend maximum effort to improve the business results and earnings of the
Company, by providing to such persons an opportunity to acquire or increase a
direct proprietary interest in the operations and future success of the Company.
To this end, the Plan provides for the grant of stock options, stock
appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, unrestricted
stock and cash awards. Any of these awards may, but need not, be made as
performance incentives to reward attainment of annual or long-term performance
goals in accordance with the terms hereof. Stock options granted under the Plan
may be non-qualified stock options or incentive stock options, as provided
herein.
For
purposes of interpreting the Plan and related documents (including Award
Agreements), the following definitions shall apply:
2.1. “Affiliate” means any company
or other trade or business that “controls,” is “controlled by” or is “under
common control” with the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 of Regulation C
under the Securities Act, including, without limitation, any
Subsidiary.
2.2.
“Annual Incentive Award”
means an Award made subject to attainment of performance goals (as
described in Section 13) over a performance period of a duration as
specified by the Committee.
2.3. “Award” means a grant of an
Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit,
Unrestricted Stock, or cash award under the Plan.
2.4. “Award Agreement” means a
written agreement between the Company and a Grantee, or notice from the Company
to a Grantee, that evidences and sets out the terms and conditions of an
Award.
2.5. “Board” means the Board of
Directors of the Company.
2.6. “Cause” means, as determined
by the Committee and unless otherwise provided in an applicable agreement with
the Company or an Affiliate at or before the Grant Date: (i) engaging in any
act, omission or misconduct that is injurious to the Company or its Affiliates;
(ii) gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with the performance
of duties; (iii) conviction of a criminal offense (other than minor traffic
offenses); (iv) fraud, embezzlement or misappropriation of funds or property of
the Company or an Affiliate; (v) material breach of any term of any
employment, consulting or other services, confidentiality, intellectual property
or non-competition agreements, if any, between the Service Provider and the
Company or an Affiliate; (vi) the entry of an order duly issued by any
regulatory agency (including federal, state and local regulatory agencies and
self-regulatory bodies) having jurisdiction over the Company or an Affiliate
requiring the removal from any office held by the Service Provider with the
Company or prohibiting a Service Provider from participating in the business or
affairs of the Company or any Affiliate; or (vii) the revocation or threatened
revocation of any of the Company’s or an Affiliate’s government
licenses, permits or approvals, which is primarily due to the Service Provider’s
action or inaction and such revocation or threatened revocation would be
alleviated or mitigated in any material respect by the termination of the
Service Provider’s Services.
2.7. “Change in Control” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 15.2.
2.8. “Code” means the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.
2.9. “Committee” means the
Compensation Committee of the Board, or such other committee as determined by
the Board. The Compensation Committee of the Board may, in its
discretion, designate a subcommittee of its members to serve as the Committee
(to the extent the Board has not designated another person, committee or entity
as the Committee) or to cause the Committee to (i) consist solely of persons who
are “Nonemployee Directors” as defined in Rule 16b-3 issued under the Exchange
Act, (ii) consist solely of persons who are Outside Directors, or (iii) satisfy
the applicable requirements of any stock exchange on which the Common Stock may
then be listed.
2.10. “Company” means Subaye, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation, or any successor corporation.
2.11. “Common Stock” or “Stock”
means a share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per
share.
2.12. “Covered Employee” means a
Grantee who is a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m)(3)
of the Code, as qualified by Section 13.4 herein.
2.13. “Disability” means the Grantee
is unable to perform each of the essential duties of such Grantee’s position by
reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which is
potentially permanent in character or which can be expected to last for a
continuous period of not less than 12 months; provided, however, that, with
respect to rules regarding expiration of an Incentive Stock Option following
termination of the Grantee’s Service, Disability has the meaning as set forth in
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
2.14. “Effective Date” means the
date set forth in Section
16.10 herein.
2.15. “Exchange Act” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as now in effect or as hereafter
amended.
2.16. “Fair Market Value” of a share
of Common Stock as of a particular date shall mean (i) the closing sale price
reported for a share of Common Stock on such date on the national securities
exchange or national market system on which such stock is principally traded, or
if such date is not a trading day, the trading day immediately preceding such
date on which a sale was reported, or (ii) if the shares of Common Stock are not
then listed on a national securities exchange or national market system, or the
value of such shares is not otherwise determinable, such value as determined by
the Board in good faith in its sole discretion (but in any event not less than
fair market value within the meaning of Section 409A).
2.17. “Family Member” means a person
who is a spouse, former spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild, parent,
stepparent, grandparent, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law,
son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother, sister, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law,
including adoptive relationships, of the applicable individual, any person
sharing the applicable individual’s household (other than a tenant or employee),
a trust in which any one or more of these persons have more than fifty percent
of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which any one or more of these
persons (or the applicable individual) control the management of assets, and any
other entity in which one or more of these persons (or the applicable
individual) own more than fifty percent of the voting interests.
2.18. “Grant Date” means, as
determined by the Committee, the latest to occur of (i) the date as of
which the Committee approves an Award, (ii) the date on which the recipient
of an Award first becomes eligible to receive an Award under Section 6
hereof, or (iii) such other date as may be specified by the Committee in
the Award Agreement.
2.19. “Grantee” means a person who
receives or holds an Award under the Plan.
2.20. “Incentive Stock Option” means
an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code,
or the corresponding provision of any subsequently enacted tax statute, as
amended from time to time.
2.21. “Non-Qualified Stock Option”
means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.
2.22. “Option” means an option to
purchase one or more shares of Stock pursuant to the Plan.
2.23. “Option Price” means the
exercise price for each share of Stock subject to an Option.
2.24. “Outside Director” means a
member of the Board who is not an officer or employee of the Company or an
Affiliate, determined in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m) of
the Code.
2.25. “Performance Award” means an
Award made subject to the attainment of performance goals (as described in
Section 13) over a performance period of up to ten
(10) years.
2.26. “Plan” means this Subaye, Inc.
2010 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan.
2.27. “Purchase Price” means the
purchase price for each share of Stock pursuant to a grant of Restricted Stock
or Unrestricted Stock.
2.28. “Reporting Person” means a
person who is required to file reports under Section 16(a) of the Exchange
Act.
2.29. “Restricted Stock” means
shares of Stock, awarded to a Grantee pursuant to Section 10
hereof.
2.30. “Restricted Stock Unit” means
a bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent of shares of Stock, awarded to a
Grantee pursuant to Section 10 hereof.
2.31. “SAR Exercise Price” means the
per share exercise price of a SAR granted to a Grantee under Section 9
hereof.
2.32. “Section 409A” shall mean
Section 409A of the Code and all formal guidance and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
2.33. “Securities Act” means the
Securities Act of 1933, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.
2.34. “Separation from Service”
means a termination of Service by a Service Provider, as determined by the
Committee, which determination shall be final, binding and conclusive; provided
if any Award governed by Section 409A is to be distributed on a Separation
from Service, then the definition of Separation from Service for such purposes
shall comply with the definition provided in Section 409A.
2.35. “Service” means service as a
Service Provider to the Company or an Affiliate. Unless otherwise stated in the
applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee’s change in position or duties shall not
result in interrupted or terminated Service, so long as such Grantee continues
to be a Service Provider to the Company or an Affiliate.
2.36. “Service Provider” means an
employee, officer or director of the Company or an Affiliate, or a consultant or
adviser currently providing services to the Company or an
Affiliate.
2.37. “Stock Appreciation Right” or
“SAR” means a right granted to a Grantee under Section 9
hereof.
2.38. “Subsidiary” means any
“subsidiary corporation” of the Company within the meaning of
Section 424(f) of the Code.
2.39. “Termination Date” means the
date upon which an Option shall terminate or expire, as set forth in
Section 8.3 hereof.
2.40. “Ten Percent Stockholder”
means an individual who owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total
combined voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of the Company, its
parent or any of its Subsidiaries. In determining stock ownership, the
attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall be
applied.
2.41. “Unrestricted Stock” means an
Award pursuant to Section 11 hereof.
3.
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ADMINISTRATION
OF THE PLAN
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3.1. General.
The
Committee shall have such powers and authorities related to the administration
of the Plan as are consistent with the Company’s certificate of incorporation
and bylaws and applicable law. The Committee shall have full power and authority
to take all actions and to make all determinations required or provided for
under the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement, and shall have full power and
authority to take all such other actions and make all such other determinations
not inconsistent with the specific terms and provisions of the Plan that the
Committee deems to be necessary or appropriate to the administration of the
Plan. The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any
provision of the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement shall be final, binding
and conclusive. Without limitation, the Committee shall have full and final
authority, subject to the other terms and conditions of the Plan,
to:
(i)
designate Grantees;
(ii)
determine the type or types of Awards to be made to a Grantee;
(iii)
determine the number of shares of Stock to be subject to an Award;
(iv)
establish the terms and conditions of each Award (including, but not limited to,
the Option Price of any Option, the nature and duration of any restriction or
condition (or provision for lapse thereof) relating to the vesting, exercise,
transfer, or forfeiture of an Award or the shares of Stock subject thereto, and
any terms or conditions that may be necessary to qualify Options as Incentive
Stock Options);
(v)
prescribe the form of each Award Agreement; and
(vi)
amend, modify, or supplement the terms of any outstanding Award including the
authority, in order to effectuate the purposes of the Plan, to modify Awards to
foreign nationals or individuals who are employed outside the United States
to recognize differences in local law, tax policy, or custom.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no amendment or modification may be made to an outstanding Option
or SAR that (i) causes the Option or SAR to become subject to
Section 409A, (ii) reduces the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price,
either by lowering the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price or by canceling the
outstanding Option or SAR and granting a replacement Option or SAR with a lower
Option Price or SAR Exercise Price or (iii) would be treated as a repricing
under the rules of the exchange upon which the Company’s Stock trades, without,
with respect to item (i), the Grantee’s written prior approval, and with respect
to items (ii) and (iii), without the approval of the stockholders of the
Company, provided, that, appropriate adjustments may be made to outstanding
Options and SARs pursuant to Section 15.
The
Company may retain the right in an Award Agreement to cause a forfeiture of the
gain realized by a Grantee on account of actions taken by the Grantee in
violation or breach of or in conflict with any employment agreement,
non-competition agreement, any agreement prohibiting solicitation of employees
or clients of the Company or any Affiliate thereof or any confidentiality
obligation with respect to the Company or any Affiliate thereof or otherwise in
competition with the Company or any Affiliate thereof, to the extent specified
in such Award Agreement applicable to the Grantee. Furthermore, the
Company may annul an Award if the Grantee is terminated for Cause as defined in
the applicable Award Agreement or the Plan, as applicable. The grant of any
Award may be contingent upon the Grantee executing the appropriate Award
Agreement.
3.2. Deferral
Arrangement.
The
Committee may permit or require the deferral of any Award payment into a
deferred compensation arrangement, subject to such rules and procedures as it
may establish and in accordance with Section 409A, which may include
provisions for the payment or crediting of interest or dividend equivalents,
including converting such credits into deferred Stock units.
3.3. No
Liability.
No member
of the Board or of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination
made in good faith with respect to the Plan, any Award or Award
Agreement.
3.4. Book
Entry.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Company may elect to
satisfy any requirement under this Plan for the delivery of stock certificates
through the use of book-entry.
4.
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STOCK
SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
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Subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 15 hereof, the
maximum number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be
900,000. All such shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be
available for issuance pursuant to Incentive Stock Options. Stock
issued or to be issued under the Plan shall be authorized but unissued shares;
or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, issued shares that have been
reacquired by the Company. The maximum number of Common Stock that
will be awarded to any one Grantee during any calendar year shall not exceed
50,000.
The
Committee may adopt reasonable procedures for making adjustments in accordance
with Section 15. If
the Option Price of any Option granted under the Plan, or if pursuant to Section 16.3 the
withholding obligation of any Grantee with respect to an Option or other Award,
is satisfied by tendering shares of Stock to the Company (by either actual
delivery or by attestation) or by withholding shares of Stock, the number of
shares of Stock issued net of the shares of Stock tendered or withheld shall be
deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of
Stock available for delivery under the Plan. To the extent that an Award under
the Plan is canceled, expired, forfeited, settled in cash, settled by issuance
of fewer shares than the number underlying the Award, or otherwise terminated
without delivery of shares to the Grantee, the shares retained by or returned to
the Company will be available under the Plan; and shares that are withheld from
such an Award or separately surrendered by the Grantee in payment of any
exercise price or taxes relating to such an Award shall be deemed to constitute
shares not delivered to the Grantee and will be available under the Plan. In
addition, in the case of any Award granted in assumption of or in substitution
for an award of a company or business acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary or
Affiliate or with which the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate combines,
shares issued or issuable in connection with such substitute Award shall not be
counted against the number of shares reserved under the Plan.
5.
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EFFECTIVE DATE, DURATION
AND AMENDMENTS
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5.1. Term.
The Plan
shall be effective as of the Effective Date and shall terminate on the ten
(10) year anniversary of the Effective Date, and may be terminated on any
earlier date as provided in Section 5.2.
5.2. Amendment
and Termination of the Plan.
The Board
may, at any time and from time to time, amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan as
to any Awards which have not been made. An amendment shall be contingent on
approval of the Company’s stockholders to the extent stated by the Board,
required by applicable law or required by applicable stock exchange listing
requirements. No Awards shall be made after termination of the Plan. No
amendment, suspension, or termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of
the Grantee, impair rights or obligations under any Award theretofore
awarded.
6.
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AWARD
ELIGIBILITY AND LIMITATIONS
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6.1. Service
Providers and Other Persons.
Subject
to this Section 6,
Awards may be made to any Service Provider, including any Service Provider who
is an officer or director of the Company or of any Affiliate, as the Committee
shall determine and designate from time to time in its discretion.
6.2. Successive
Awards.
An
eligible person may receive more than one Award, subject to such restrictions as
are provided herein.
6.3. Stand-Alone,
Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards.
Awards
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 Affiliate, or any business
entity to be acquired by the Company or an Affiliate, or any other right of a
Grantee to receive payment from the Company or any Affiliate. 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, the Committee
shall have the right to require the surrender of such other Award in
consideration for the grant of the new Award. The Board shall have the right, in
its discretion, to make Awards in substitution or exchange for any other award
under another plan of the Company, any Affiliate, or any business entity to be
acquired by the Company or an Affiliate. 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 Affiliate, in which the value of Stock subject to
the Award is equivalent in value to the cash compensation (for example,
Restricted Stock Units or Restricted Stock).
Each
Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, in such form or forms as the
Committee shall from time to time determine. Without limiting the
foregoing, an Award Agreement may be provided in the form of a notice which
provides that acceptance of the Award constitutes acceptance of all terms of the
Plan and the notice. Award Agreements granted from time to time or at
the same time need not contain similar provisions but shall be consistent with
the terms of the Plan. Each Award Agreement evidencing an Award of
Options shall specify whether such Options are intended to be Non-Qualified
Stock Options or Incentive Stock Options, and in the absence of such
specification such options shall be deemed Non-Qualified Stock
Options.
8.
|
TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS
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8.1. Option
Price.
The
Option Price of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee and stated in the
related Award Agreement. The Option Price of each Incentive Stock Option shall
be at least the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Grant Date; provided, however, that
(i) in the event that a Grantee is a Ten Percent Stockholder as of the
Grant Date, the Option Price of an Option granted to such Grantee that is
intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than 110 percent of
the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Grant Date, and (ii) with
respect to Awards made in substitution for or in exchange for awards made by an
entity acquired by the Company or an Affiliate, the Option Price does not need
to be at least the Fair Market Value on the Grant Date. In no case shall the
Option Price of any Option be less than the par value of a share of
Stock.
8.2. Vesting.
Subject
to Section 8.3
hereof, each Option shall become exercisable at such times and under such
conditions (including without limitation performance requirements) as shall be
determined by the Committee and stated in the Award Agreement. For purposes of
this Section 8.2,
fractional numbers of shares of Stock subject to an Option shall be rounded down
to the next nearest whole number.
8.3. Term.
Each
Option shall terminate, and all rights to purchase shares of Stock thereunder
shall cease, upon the expiration of ten (10) years from the Grant
Date, or under such circumstances and on such date prior thereto as is set forth
in the Plan or as may be fixed by the Committee and stated in the related Award
Agreement (the “Termination Date”); provided, however, that in the
event that the Grantee is a Ten Percent Stockholder, an Option granted to such
Grantee that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option at the Grant Date shall
not be exercisable after the expiration of five years from its Grant
Date.
8.4. Separation
from Service.
Except as
otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, if a Grantee’s employment with or
service to the Company or Affiliate terminates for any reason other than Cause,
(i) Options granted to such Grantee, to the extent that they are exercisable at
the time of such termination, shall remain exercisable for a period of not more
than 90 days after such termination (one year in the case of termination by
reason of death or Disability), on which date they shall expire, and (ii)
Options granted to such Grantee, to the extent that they were not exercisable at
the time of such termination, shall expire on the date of such
termination. In the event of the termination of a Grantee’s
employment or service for Cause, all outstanding Options granted to such Grantee
shall expire on the date of such termination. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of its
term.
8.5. Limitations
on Exercise of Option.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Plan, in no event may any Option be exercised, in
whole or in part, (i) prior to the date the Plan is approved by the
stockholders of the Company as provided herein or (ii) after the occurrence
of an event referred to in Section 15 hereof which
results in termination of the Option.
8.6. Method
of Exercise.
An Option
that is exercisable may be exercised by the Grantee’s delivery to the Company of
written notice of exercise on any business day, at the Company’s principal
office, on the form specified by the Company. Such notice shall
specify the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Option is being
exercised and shall be accompanied by payment in full of the Option Price of the
shares for which the Option is being exercised plus the amount (if any) of
federal and/or other taxes which the Company may, in its judgment, be required
to withhold with respect to an Award. Except as otherwise provided by
the Committee, payments hereunder shall be made in accordance with Section 12 of
the Plan.
8.7. Rights
of Holders of Options.
Unless
otherwise stated in the related Award Agreement, an individual holding or
exercising an Option shall have none of the rights of a stockholder (for
example, the right to receive cash or dividend payments or distributions
attributable to the subject shares of Stock or to direct the voting of the
subject shares of Stock ) until the shares of Stock covered thereby are fully
paid and issued to such individual. Except as provided in Section 15 hereof, no
adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which
the record date is prior to the date of such issuance.
8.8. Delivery
of Stock Certificates.
Promptly
after the exercise of an Option by a Grantee and the payment in full of the
Option Price, such Grantee shall be entitled to the issuance of a stock
certificate or certificates evidencing his or her ownership of the shares of
Stock subject to the Option.
8.9. Transferability
of Options.
Except as
provided in Section 8.10, during the
lifetime of a Grantee, only the Grantee (or, in the event of legal incapacity or
incompetence, the Grantee’s guardian or legal representative) may exercise an
Option. Except as provided in Section 8.10, no Option
shall be assignable or transferable by the Grantee to whom it is granted, other
than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
8.10. Family
Transfers.
If
authorized in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee may transfer, not for
value, all or part of an Option which is not an Incentive Stock Option to any
Family Member. For the purpose of this Section 8.10, a “not for
value” transfer is a transfer which is (i) a gift, (ii) a transfer
under a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights; or
(iii) a transfer to an entity in which more than fifty percent of the
voting interests are owned by Family Members (or the Grantee) in exchange for an
interest in that entity. Following a transfer under this Section 8.10, any such
Option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were
applicable immediately prior to transfer. Subsequent transfers of transferred
Options are prohibited except to Family Members of the original Grantee in
accordance with this Section 8.10 or by will
or the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Committee may also provide that Options may be transferred to persons other than
Family Members. The events of termination of Service of Section 8.4 hereof shall
continue to be applied with respect to the original Grantee, following which the
Option shall be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent, and for the
periods specified, in Section 8.4.
8.11. Limitations
on Incentive Stock Options.
An Option
shall constitute an Incentive Stock Option only (i) if the Grantee of such
Option is an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company;
(ii) to the extent specifically provided in the related Award Agreement;
and (iii) to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at
the time the Option is granted) of the shares of Stock with respect to which all
Incentive Stock Options held by such Grantee become exercisable for the first
time during any calendar year (under the Plan and all other plans of the
Grantee’s employer and its Affiliates) does not exceed $100,000. This
limitation shall be applied by taking Options into account in the order in which
they were granted.
9.
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TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK APPRECIATION
RIGHTS
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9.1. Right
to Payment.
A SAR
shall confer on the Grantee a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the
excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of
exercise over (ii) the SAR Exercise Price, as determined by the Committee.
The Award Agreement for an SAR shall specify the SAR Exercise Price, which shall
be fixed on the Grant Date. SARs may be granted alone or in
conjunction with all or part of an Option or at any subsequent time during the
term of such Option or in conjunction with all or part of any other Award. A SAR
granted in tandem with an outstanding Option following the Grant Date of such
Option may have a grant price that is equal to the Option Price.
9.2. Other
Terms.
The Committee shall determine at the
Grant Date or thereafter, the time or times at which and the circumstances under
which a SAR 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 SARs shall cease to be or become exercisable following termination of
Service or upon other conditions, the method of exercise, whether or not a SAR
shall be in tandem or in combination with any other Award, and any other terms
and conditions of any SAR.
9.3. Term of SARs. The
term of a SAR granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee, in
its sole discretion; provided, however, that such term shall not exceed ten years.
9.4. Payment of SAR
Amount. Upon exercise of a SAR, a Grantee shall be entitled to
receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by
multiplying:
(i) the
difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over
the SAR Exercise Price; by
(ii) the
number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.
SARs may
be settled in cash or Stock, as determined
by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement.
10.
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TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK
UNITS
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10.1. Restrictions.
At the
time of grant, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, establish a period of
time (a “restricted period”) and any additional restrictions including the
satisfaction of corporate or individual performance objectives applicable to an
Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units in accordance with Section 13.1 and 13.2. Each Award of Restricted
Stock or Restricted Stock Units may be subject to a different restricted period
and additional restrictions. Neither Restricted Stock nor Restricted Stock Units
may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed
of during the restricted period or prior to the satisfaction of any other
applicable restrictions.
10.2. Restricted
Stock Certificates.
The
Company shall issue stock, in the name of each Grantee to whom Restricted Stock
has been granted, stock certificates or other evidence of ownership representing
the total number of shares of Restricted Stock granted to the Grantee, as soon
as reasonably practicable after the Grant Date. The Committee may provide in an
Award Agreement that either (i) the Secretary of the Company shall hold
such certificates for the Grantee’s benefit until such time as the Restricted
Stock is forfeited to the Company or the restrictions lapse, or (ii) such
certificates shall be delivered to the Grantee, provided, however, that such
certificates shall bear a legend or legends that comply with the applicable
securities laws and regulations and makes appropriate reference to the
restrictions imposed under the Plan and the Award Agreement.
10.3. Rights
of Holders of Restricted Stock.
Unless
the Committee otherwise provides in an Award Agreement, holders of Restricted
Stock shall have the right to vote such Stock and the right to receive any
dividends declared or paid with respect to such Stock. The Committee may provide
that any dividends paid on Restricted Stock must be reinvested in shares of
Stock, which may or may not be subject to the same restrictions applicable to
such Restricted Stock. All distributions, if any, received by a Grantee with
respect to Restricted Stock as a result of any stock split, stock dividend,
combination of shares, or other similar transaction shall be subject to the
restrictions applicable to the original Award.
10.4. Rights
of Holders of Restricted Stock Units.
10.4.1. Settlement
of Restricted Stock Units.
Restricted Stock Units may be settled
in cash or Stock, as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award
Agreement. The Award Agreement shall also set forth whether the Restricted Stock
Units shall be settled (i) within the time period specified in Section 16.9.1 for short
term deferrals or (ii) otherwise within the requirements of
Section 409A, in which case the Award Agreement shall specify upon which
events such Restricted Stock Units shall be settled.
10.4.2. Voting
and Dividend Rights.
Holders
of Restricted Stock Units shall have no rights as stockholders of the Company.
The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement that the holder of such
Restricted Stock Units shall be entitled to receive, upon the Company’s payment
of a cash dividend on its outstanding Stock, a cash payment for each Restricted
Stock Unit held equal to the per-share dividend paid on the Stock, which may be
deemed reinvested in additional Restricted Stock Units at a price per unit equal
to the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date that such dividend is
paid to shareholders.
10.4.3. Creditor’s
Rights.
A holder
of Restricted Stock Units shall have no rights other than those of a general
creditor of the Company. Restricted Stock Units represent an unfunded and
unsecured obligation of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the
applicable Award Agreement.
10.5. Termination
of Service.
Unless
the Committee otherwise provides in an Award Agreement or in writing after the
Award Agreement is issued, upon the termination of a Grantee’s Service, any
Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units held by such Grantee that have not
vested, or with respect to which all applicable restrictions and conditions have
not lapsed, shall immediately be deemed forfeited, and the Grantee shall have no
further rights with respect to such Award.
10.6. Purchase
of Restricted Stock.
The
Grantee shall be required, to the extent required by applicable law, to purchase
the Restricted Stock from the Company at a Purchase Price equal to the greater
of (i) the aggregate par value of the shares of Stock represented by such
Restricted Stock or (ii) the Purchase Price, if any, specified in the
related Award Agreement. If specified in the Award Agreement, the Purchase Price
may be deemed paid by Services already rendered. The Purchase Price shall be
payable in a form described in Section 12 or, in the
discretion of the Committee, in consideration for past Services
rendered.
10.7. Delivery
of Stock.
Upon the
expiration or termination of any restricted period and the satisfaction of any
other conditions prescribed by the Committee, the restrictions applicable to
shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units settled in Stock shall
lapse, and, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, a stock
certificate for such shares shall be delivered, free of all such restrictions,
to the Grantee or the Grantee’s beneficiary or estate, as the case may
be.
11.
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TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF UNRESTRICTED STOCK
AWARDS
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The
Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant (or sell at par value or such other
higher purchase price determined by the Committee) an Award of Unrestricted
Stock to any Grantee pursuant to which such Grantee may receive shares of Stock
free of any restrictions (“Unrestricted Stock”) under the Plan. Awards of
Unrestricted Stock may be granted or sold as described in the preceding sentence
in respect of past Services rendered and other valid consideration, or in lieu
of, or in addition to, any cash compensation due to such Grantee. Unless
otherwise provided by the Committee, Awards of Unrestricted Stock shall be paid
within the time period specified in Section 16.9.1 for
short-term deferrals.
12.
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FORM
OF PAYMENT FOR OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED
STOCK
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12.1. General
Rule.
Payment
of the Option Price for the shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an
Option or the Purchase Price for Restricted Stock shall be made in cash or in
cash equivalents acceptable to the Company, except as provided in this Section 12.
12.2. Surrender
of Stock.
To the
extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option Price for shares
purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option or the Purchase Price for
Restricted Stock may be made all or in part through the tender (including by
attestation) to the Company of unrestricted shares of Stock already owned by the
Grantee, which shares shall be valued, for purposes of determining the extent to
which the Option Price or Purchase Price has been paid thereby, at their Fair
Market Value on the date of exercise or surrender, provided that, in the case of
an Incentive Stock Option, the right to make payment in the form of
already-owned shares of Stock may be authorized only at the time of
grant.
12.3. Cashless
Exercise.
With
respect to an Option only (and not with respect to Restricted Stock), to the
extent permitted by law and to the extent the Award Agreement so provides,
payment of the Option Price may be made all or in part by delivery (on a form
acceptable to the Committee) of an irrevocable direction to a licensed
securities broker acceptable to the Company to sell shares of Stock and to
deliver all or part of the sales proceeds to the Company in payment of the
Option Price and any withholding taxes described in Section 16.3. In
addition, an Award Agreement may permit, or the Committee may allow in its
discretion, payment to be made by a “net exercise” method under which the
Company reduces the number of shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise or
settlement of an Award by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market
Value that does not exceed the aggregate Option Price or Purchase Price, as
applicable.
12.4. Other
Forms of Payment.
To the extent the Award Agreement so
provides or the Committee may allow in its discretion, payment of the Option
Price or the Purchase Price may be made in any other form that is consistent
with applicable laws, regulations and rules.
13.
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TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF PERFORMANCE AND ANNUAL INCENTIVE
AWARDS
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13.1. Performance
Conditions.
The right
of a Grantee to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of any Award, and the
timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions as may be
specified by the Committee. The Committee may use such business criteria and
other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any
performance conditions, and may exercise its discretion to reduce the amounts
payable under any Award subject to performance conditions, except as limited
under Sections 13.2
hereof in the case of a Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award
intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m).
13.2. Performance
or Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees.
If and to
the extent that the Committee determines that a Performance or Annual Incentive
Award to be granted to a Grantee who is designated by the Committee as likely to
be a Covered Employee should qualify as “performance-based compensation” for
purposes of Code Section 162(m), the grant, exercise and/or settlement of
such Performance or Annual Incentive Award shall be contingent upon achievement
of pre-established performance goals and other terms set forth in this Section 13.2. The
maximum cash-based Performance or Annual Incentive Award that is intended to
qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Code
Section 162(m) awarded to any one Grantee during any calendar year shall
not exceed $500,000.
13.2.1. Performance
Goals Generally.
The
performance goals for such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards shall consist
of one or more business criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance
with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent
with this Section 13.2. Performance
goals shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Code
Section 162(m) 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.” The Committee
may determine that such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards shall be granted,
exercised and/or settled upon achievement of any one performance goal or that
two or more of the performance goals must be achieved as a condition to grant,
exercise and/or settlement of such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards.
Performance goals may differ for Performance or Annual Incentive Awards granted
to any one Grantee or to different Grantees.
13.2.2. Business
Criteria.
One or
more of the following business criteria for the Company, on a consolidated
basis, and/or specified subsidiaries or business units of the Company (except
with respect to the total stockholder return and earnings per share criteria),
shall be used exclusively by the Committee in establishing performance goals for
such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards: (i) total stockholder return;
(ii) such total stockholder return as compared to total return (on a
comparable basis) of a publicly available index such as, but not limited to, the
Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index; (iii) net income;
(iv) pretax earnings; (v) earnings before interest expense, taxes,
depreciation and amortization; (vi) pretax operating earnings after
interest expense and before bonuses, service fees, and extraordinary or special
items; (vii) operating margin; (viii) earnings per share;
(ix) return on equity; (x) return on capital; (xi) return on
investment; (xii) operating earnings; (xiii) working capital;
(xiv) ratio of debt to stockholders’ equity and
(xv) revenue.
13.2.3. Timing
for Establishing Performance Goals.
Performance
goals shall be established not later than 90 days after the beginning of any
performance period applicable to such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards, or
at such other date as may be required or permitted for “performance-based
compensation” under Code Section 162(m).
13.2.4. Settlement
of Performance or Annual Incentive Awards; Other Terms.
Settlement
of such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards shall be in cash, Stock, other
Awards or other property, in the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may,
in its discretion, reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in
connection with such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards. The Committee shall
specify the circumstances in which such Performance or Annual Incentive Awards
shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of Service by the Grantee
prior to the end of a performance period or settlement of Performance
Awards.
13.3. Written
Determinations.
All
determinations by the Committee as to the establishment of performance goals,
the amount of any Performance Award pool or potential individual Performance
Awards and as to the achievement of performance goals relating to Performance
Awards, and the amount of any Annual Incentive Award pool or potential
individual Annual Incentive Awards and the amount of final Annual Incentive
Awards, shall be made in writing in the case of any Award intended to qualify
under Code Section 162(m). To the extent permitted by Code
Section 162(m), the Committee may delegate any responsibility relating to
such Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards.
13.4. Status
of Section 13.2 Awards Under Code Section 162(m).
It is the
intent of the Company that Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards under
Section 13.2 hereof
granted to persons who are designated by the Committee as likely to be Covered
Employees within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations
thereunder shall, if so designated by the Committee, constitute “qualified
performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m)
and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, the terms of Section 13.2, including
the definitions of Covered Employee and other terms used therein, shall be
interpreted in a manner consistent with Code Section 162(m) and regulations
thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, because the Committee cannot
determine with certainty whether a given Grantee will be a Covered Employee with
respect to a fiscal year that has not yet been completed, the term Covered
Employee as used herein shall mean only a person designated by the Committee, at
the time of grant of Performance Awards or an Annual Incentive Award, as likely
to be a Covered Employee with respect to that fiscal year. If any provision of
the Plan or any agreement relating to such Performance Awards or Annual
Incentive Awards does not comply or is inconsistent with the requirements of
Code Section 162(m) or regulations thereunder, such provision shall be
construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such
requirements.
13.5. Non-Exclusive
Arrangement.
The
adoption and operation of this Section 13 shall not preclude the Board or the
Committee from approving other stock- or bash-based incentive compensation
arrangements for the benefit of individuals who are Grantees hereunder as the
Board or Committee, as the case may be, deems appropriate and in the best
interests of the Company.
14.1. General.
The
Company shall not be required to sell or issue any shares of Stock under any
Award if the sale or issuance of such shares would constitute a violation by the
Grantee, any other individual exercising an Option, or the Company of any
provision of any law or regulation of any governmental authority, including
without limitation any federal or state securities laws or regulations. If at
any time the Company shall determine, in its discretion, that the listing,
registration or qualification of any shares subject to an Award upon any
securities exchange or under any governmental regulatory body is necessary or
desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the issuance or purchase of
shares hereunder, no shares of Stock may be issued or sold to the Grantee or any
other individual exercising an Option pursuant to such Award unless such
listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been
effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company, and
any delay caused thereby shall in no way affect the date of termination of the
Award. Specifically, in connection with the Securities Act, upon the exercise of
any Option or the delivery of any shares of Stock underlying an Award, unless a
registration statement under such Act is in effect with respect to the shares of
Stock covered by such Award, the Company shall not be required to sell or issue
such shares unless the Committee has received evidence satisfactory to it that
the Grantee or any other individual exercising an Option may acquire such shares
pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Any
determination in this connection by the Committee shall be final, binding, and
conclusive. The Company may, but shall in no event be obligated to, register any
securities covered hereby pursuant to the Securities Act. The Company shall not
be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the exercise of an
Option or the issuance of shares of Stock pursuant to the Plan to comply with
any law or regulation of any governmental authority. As to any jurisdiction that
expressly imposes the requirement that an Option shall not be exercisable until
the shares of Stock covered by such Option are registered or are exempt from
registration, the exercise of such Option (under circumstances in which the laws
of such jurisdiction apply) shall be deemed conditioned upon the effectiveness
of such registration or the availability of such an exemption.
14.2. Rule
16b-3.
During
any time when the Company has a class of equity security registered under
Section 12 of the Exchange Act, it is the intent of the Company that Awards
and the exercise of Options granted hereunder will qualify for the exemption
provided by Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. To the extent that any provision
of the Plan or action by the Board or Committee does not comply with the
requirements of Rule 16b-3, it shall be deemed inoperative to the extent
permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Board, and shall not affect the
validity of the Plan. In the event that Rule 16b-3 is revised or replaced, the
Board may exercise its discretion to modify this Plan in any respect necessary
to satisfy the requirements of, or to take advantage of any features of, the
revised exemption or its replacement.
15.
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EFFECT
OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION
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15.1. Changes
in Stock.
If the
number of outstanding shares of Stock is increased or decreased or the shares of
Stock are changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or
other securities of the Company on account of any recapitalization,
reclassification, stock split, reverse split, combination of shares, exchange of
shares, stock dividend or other distribution payable in capital stock, or other
increase or decrease in such shares effected without receipt of consideration by
the Company occurring after the Effective Date, the number and kinds of shares
for which grants of Options and other Awards may be made under the Plan shall be
adjusted proportionately and accordingly by the Company; provided that any such
adjustment shall comply with Section 409A. In addition, the number and kind
of shares for which Awards are outstanding shall be adjusted proportionately and
accordingly so that the proportionate interest of the Grantee immediately
following such event shall, to the extent practicable, be the same as
immediately before such event. Any such adjustment in outstanding Options or
SARs shall not change the aggregate Option Price or SAR Exercise Price payable
with respect to shares that are subject to the unexercised portion of an
outstanding Option or SAR, as applicable, but shall include a corresponding
proportionate adjustment in the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price per share.
The conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated
as an increase in shares effected without receipt of consideration.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any distribution to the Company’s
stockholders of securities of any other entity or other assets (including an
extraordinary cash dividend but excluding a non-extraordinary dividend payable
in cash or in stock of the Company) without receipt of consideration by the
Company, the Company shall in such manner as the Company deems appropriate,
adjust (i) the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards
and/or (ii) the exercise price of outstanding Options and Stock
Appreciation Rights to reflect such distribution.
15.2. Definition
of Change in Control.
Unless an
Award Agreement provides for a different meaning, a “Change in Control” shall
mean the occurrence of any of the following:
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(i)
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Any
‘person’ (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange
Act) becomes the ‘beneficial owner’ (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power
represented by the Company’s then-outstanding voting securities, provided, however, that a
Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur if an employee benefit plan
(or a trust forming a part thereof) maintained by the Company, directly or
indirectly, becomes the beneficial owner of more than fifty percent
(50%) of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company after
such acquisition;
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(ii)
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A
majority of the members of the Board is replaced during any 12-month
period commencing on the Effective Date, by directors whose appointment or
election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior
to the date of the appointment;
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(iii)
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The
consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other
corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in
(a) the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately
prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or
being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) at least
fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the
voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation; or (b) the directors
of the Company immediately prior thereto continuing to represent at least
fifty percent (50%) of the directors of the Company or such surviving
entity immediately after such merger or consolidation;
or
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(iv)
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The
consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or
substantially all of the Company’s
assets.
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Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if it is determined that an Award hereunder is subject to the
requirements of Section 409A, the Company will not be deemed to have undergone a
Change in Control unless the Company is deemed to have undergone a change in
control pursuant to the definition in Section 409A.
15.3. Effect
of Change in Control; Corporate Transactions.
The
Committee shall determine the effect of a Change in Control upon Awards, and
such effect may be set forth in the appropriate Award Agreement. Unless an Award
Agreement explicitly provides otherwise, if the Company is to be consolidated
with or acquired by another entity in a merger, sale of all or substantially all
of the Company’s assets other than a transaction to merely change the state of
incorporation (a “Corporate Transaction”), the Committee or the board of
directors of any entity assuming the obligations of the Company hereunder (the
“Successor Board”), shall, as to outstanding Options and/or SARs, either
(i) make appropriate provision for the continuation of such Options and/or
SARs by substituting on an equitable basis for the Shares then subject to such
Options and/or SARs either the consideration payable with respect to the
outstanding shares of Common Stock in connection with the Corporate Transaction
or securities of any successor or acquiring entity; or (ii) upon written
notice to the Grantees, provide that all Options and/or SARs must be exercised
(either to the extent then exercisable or, at the discretion of the Committee
or, upon a change of control of the Company, all Options and/or SARs being made
fully exercisable for purposes of this Section 15.3), within a specified number
of days of the date of such notice, at the end of which period the Options
and/or SARs shall terminate; or (iii) terminate all Options and/or SARs in
exchange for a cash payment equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the
Shares subject to such Options and/or SARs (either to the extent then
exercisable or, at the discretion of the Committee, all Options and/or SARs
being made fully exercisable for purposes of this Section 15.3) over the
exercise price thereof.
Unless an
Award Agreement explicitly provides otherwise, with respect to outstanding
grants of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and/or Unrestricted Stock,
the Committee or the Successor Board, shall either (i) make appropriate
provisions for the continuation of such grants of Restricted Stock, Restricted
Stock Units and/or Unrestricted Stock by substituting on an equitable basis for
the Shares then subject to such Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and/or
Unrestricted Stock either the consideration payable with respect to the
outstanding Shares of Common Stock in connection with the Corporate Transaction
or securities of any successor or acquiring entity; or (ii) upon written notice
to the Grantees, provide that all grants of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock
Units and/or Unrestricted Stock must be accepted (to the extent then subject to
acceptance) within a specified number of days of the date of such notice, at the
end of which period the offer of the Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units
and/or Unrestricted Stock shall terminate; or (iii) terminate all grants of
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and/or Unrestricted Stock in exchange
for a cash payment equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Shares
subject to such Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and/or Unrestricted
Stock over the purchase price thereof, if any. In addition, in the
event of a Corporate Transaction, the Administrator may waive any or all Company
repurchase rights with respect to outstanding Restricted Stock and/or Restricted
Stock Units.
15.4. Reorganization
Which Does Not Constitute a Change in Control.
If the
Company undergoes any reorganization, merger, or consolidation of the Company
with one or more other entities which does not constitute a Change in Control,
any Option or SAR theretofore granted pursuant to the Plan shall pertain to and
apply to the securities to which a holder of the number of shares of Stock
subject to such Option or SAR would have been entitled immediately following
such reorganization, merger, or consolidation, with a corresponding
proportionate adjustment of the Option Price or SAR Exercise Price per share so
that the aggregate Option Price or SAR Exercise Price thereafter shall be the
same as the aggregate Option Price or SAR Exercise Price of the shares remaining
subject to the Option or SAR immediately prior to such reorganization, merger,
or consolidation. Subject to any contrary language in an Award Agreement, any
restrictions applicable to such Award shall apply as well to any replacement
shares received by the Grantee as a result of the reorganization, merger or
consolidation.
15.5. Adjustments.
Adjustments
under this Section 15 related to
shares of Stock or securities of the Company shall be made by the Committee,
whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. No
fractional shares or other securities shall be issued pursuant to any such
adjustment, and any fractions resulting from any such adjustment shall be
eliminated in each case by rounding downward to the nearest whole
share.
15.6. No
Limitations on Company.
The
making of Awards pursuant to the Plan shall not affect or limit in any way the
right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications,
reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge,
consolidate, dissolve, or liquidate, or to sell or transfer all or any part of
its business or assets.
16.1. Disclaimer
of Rights.
No
provision in the Plan or in any Award Agreement shall be construed to confer
upon any individual the right to remain in the employ or service of the Company
or any Affiliate, or to interfere in any way with any contractual or other right
or authority of the Company either to increase or decrease the compensation or
other payments to any individual at any time, or to terminate any employment or
other relationship between any individual and the Company. In addition,
notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, unless otherwise
stated in the applicable Award Agreement, no Award granted under the Plan shall
be affected by any change of duties or position of the Grantee, so long as such
Grantee continues to be a Service Provider, if applicable. The obligation of the
Company to pay any benefits pursuant to this Plan shall be interpreted as a
contractual obligation to pay only those amounts described herein, in the manner
and under the conditions prescribed herein. The Plan shall in no way be
interpreted to require the Company to transfer any amounts to a third party
trustee or otherwise hold any amounts in trust or escrow for payment to any
Grantee or beneficiary under the terms of the Plan.
16.2. Nonexclusivity
of the Plan.
Neither
the adoption of the Plan nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of
the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations upon the
right and authority of the Board to adopt such other incentive compensation
arrangements (which arrangements may be applicable either generally to a class
or classes of individuals or specifically to a particular individual or
particular individuals), including, without limitation, the granting of stock
options as the Board in its discretion determines desirable.
16.3. Withholding
Taxes.
The
Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be, shall have the right to deduct from
payments of any kind otherwise due to a Grantee any federal, state, local or
other taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld (i) with respect to
the vesting of or other lapse of restrictions applicable to an Award,
(ii) upon the issuance of any shares of Stock upon the exercise of an
Option, or (iii) pursuant to an Award. At the time of such vesting, lapse,
or exercise, the Grantee shall pay to the Company or the Affiliate, as the case
may be, any amount that the Company or the Affiliate may reasonably determine to
be necessary to satisfy such withholding obligation. Subject to the prior
approval of the Company or the Affiliate, which may be withheld by the Company
or the Affiliate, as the case may be, in its sole discretion, the Grantee may
elect to satisfy such obligations, in whole or in part, (i) by causing the
Company or the Affiliate to withhold shares of Stock otherwise issuable to the
Grantee or (ii) by delivering to the Company or the Affiliate shares of
Stock already owned by the Grantee. The shares of Stock so delivered or withheld
shall have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to such withholding obligations.
The Fair Market Value of the shares of Stock used to satisfy such withholding
obligation shall be determined by the Company or the Affiliate as of the date
that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. A Grantee who has
made an election pursuant to this Section 16.3 may satisfy
his or her withholding obligation only with shares of Stock that are not subject
to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting, or other similar
requirements.
16.4. Captions.
The use
of captions in this Plan or any Award Agreement is for the convenience of
reference only and shall not affect the meaning of any provision of the Plan or
any Award Agreement.
16.5. Other
Provisions.
Each
Award Agreement may contain such other terms and conditions not inconsistent
with the Plan as may be determined by the Committee, in its sole
discretion.
16.6. Number
and Gender.
With
respect to words used in this Plan, the singular form shall include the plural
form, the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, etc., as the
context requires.
16.7. Severability.
If any
provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be determined to be illegal
or unenforceable by any court of law in any jurisdiction, the remaining
provisions hereof and thereof shall be severable and enforceable in accordance
with their terms, and all provisions shall remain enforceable in any other
jurisdiction.
16.8. Governing
Law.
The
validity and construction of this Plan and the instruments evidencing the Awards
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard
to any choice of law principles thereof or of any other
jurisdiction.
16.9. Section 409A.
16.9.1. Short-Term
Deferrals.
For each
Award intended to comply with the short-term deferral exception provided for
under Section 409A, the related Award Agreement shall provide that such
Award shall be paid out by the later of (i) the 15th day of
the third month following the Grantee’s first taxable year in which the Award is
no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or (ii) the 15th day of
the third month following the end of the Company’s first taxable year in which
the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.
16.9.2. Adjustments.
To the
extent that the Board determines that a Grantee would be subject to the
additional 20% tax imposed on certain deferred compensation arrangements
pursuant to Section 409A as a result of any provision of any Award, to the
extent permitted by Section 409A, such provision shall be deemed amended to
the minimum extent necessary to avoid application of such additional tax. The
Board shall determine the nature and scope of such amendment.
16.10. Foreign
Qualified Awards.
Awards
under the Plan may be granted to such Service Providers of the Company and its
Affiliates who are residing in countries or jurisdictions other than the United
States of America as the Committee in its sole discretion may determine from
time to time. The Committee may adopt such supplements to the Plan as
may be necessary or appropriate to comply with the applicable laws of such
country or jurisdiction and to afford Grantees favorable treatment under such
laws.
16.11. Stockholder
Approval; Effective Date of Plan.
The Plan
shall be effective as of May 4, 2010, the date of its approval by the Board (the
"Effective Date"), subject to approval by the Company’s
stockholders. No award that is intended to qualify as
performance-based compensation within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Code
shall be effective unless and until the Plan is approved by the stockholders of
the Company.