Unassociated Document
SCHEDULE
14A
(Rule
14a-101)
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by
the Registrant x
Filed by
a Party other than the Registrant ¨
Check the
appropriate box:
¨
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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¨
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Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as Permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
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x
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Definitive
Proxy Statement
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¨
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Definitive
Additional Materials
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¨
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Solicitation
Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or rule
14a-12
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Power
Efficiency Corporation
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(Name
of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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(Name of
Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
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:
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4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of
transaction:
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¨
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary
materials.
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¨
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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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Amount
Previously Paid:
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(2)
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Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement
No.:
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(3)
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Filing
Party:
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(4)
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Date
Filed:
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POWER EFFICIENCY
CORPORATION
3960 HOWARD HUGHES PARKWAY, SUITE
460
LAS VEGAS NV 89169
June 15, 2009
Dear Fellow
Stockholders:
You are cordially invited to attend the
2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Regardless of whether you plan to attend,
please take a moment to vote your proxy. The Annual Meeting will be held as
follows:
WHEN:
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Thursday, July 16,
2009, 10:00 a.m., Pacific Daylight
Time
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WHERE:
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Power Efficiency Corporation -
Headquarters 3960
Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 460
Las Vegas, NV 89169
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ITEMS OF
BUSINESS:
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·
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Election of eight directors for
terms expiring at the Company’s next annual stockholders’
meeting;
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·
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To ratify the selection of BDO
Seidman , LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the
year ending December 31, 2009;
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·
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To approve the amendment of the
Company’s 2000 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan to increase the
total number of shares of common stock reserved and available for
distribution under the Plan from 20,000,000 shares to 25,000,000 shares;
and
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·
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Act upon any other business that
may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments
thereof.
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RECORD
DATE:
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June 12,
2009
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VOTING BY
PROXY:
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Your
vote is important.
You may vote by returning the proxy card in the envelope
provided.
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The Company’s Board of Directors
believes that a favorable vote for each candidate for a position on the Board of
Directors and for all other matters described in the attached Notice of Annual
Meeting and Proxy Statement is in the best interest of the Company and its
stockholders and recommends a vote “FOR” all candidates and all other matters.
Accordingly, we urge you to review the accompanying material carefully and to
return the enclosed Proxy promptly. On the following pages, we provide answers
to frequently asked questions about the Annual Meeting, as well as a copy of our
2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Sincerely,
Steven Z. Strasser
Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer
POWER EFFICIENCY
CORPORATION
3960 HOWARD HUGHES PARKWAY, SUITE
460
LAS VEGAS NV 89169
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD THURSDAY, JULY 16,
2009
_____________________
To our Stockholders:
Notice is hereby given that the 2009
Annual Meeting (the “Annual Meeting”) of stockholders of Power Efficiency
Corporation (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, will be held at our
principal office at 3960 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 460, Las Vegas, NV 89169,
on Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, for the
following purposes:
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To elect eight directors for terms
expiring at the Company’s next annual stockholders’
meeting;
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·
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To ratify the selection of BDO
Seidman, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the
year ending December 31, 2009;
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·
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To approve the amendment of the
Company’s 2000 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan to increase the
total number of shares of common stock reserved and available for
distribution under the Plan from 20,000,000 shares to 25,000,000 shares;
and
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·
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To act upon any other business
that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments
thereof.
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The Board of Directors has fixed the
close of business on June
12, 2009, as the record
date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the
Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
For a period of 10 days prior to the
Annual Meeting, a stockholders list will be kept at the Company’s office and
shall be available for inspection by stockholders during usual business hours. A
stockholders list will also be available for inspection at the Annual
Meeting.
Your attention is directed to the
accompanying Proxy Statement for further information regarding each proposal to
be made.
STOCKHOLDERS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE
MEETING IN PERSON ARE URGED TO COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY
AND MAIL IT IN THE ENCLOSED STAMPED, SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE AS PROMPTLY AS
POSSIBLE. IF YOU SIGN AND RETURN YOUR PROXY WITHOUT SPECIFYING YOUR CHOICES IT
WILL BE UNDERSTOOD THAT YOU WISH TO HAVE YOUR SHARES VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE DIRECTORS’ RECOMMENDATIONS. IF YOU ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU MAY, IF
YOU DESIRE, REVOKE YOUR PROXY AND VOTE IN PERSON.
IMPORTANT
NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING
TO BE HELD ON JULY 16, 2009.
THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND THE ANNUAL
REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2008 ARE AVAILABLE
AT www.powerefficiency.com/2009annualmeeting.
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By Order of the Board of
Directors
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John (BJ)
Lackland, Chief
Financial Officer and
Secretary
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POWER EFFICIENCY
CORPORATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
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iii
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE
MEETING
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1
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PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF
DIRECTORS
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4
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Nominees for Election of
Directors
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4
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Director Independence
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6
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Board of Directors and Committees
of the Board
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6
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Compensation of
Directors
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7
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Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
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7
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Process for Stockholders to Send
Communications to Our Board of Directors
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8
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Recommendation of the Board of
Directors
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8
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PROPOSAL 2 — RATIFICATION OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
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Fees paid to Sobel & Co.,
LLC
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9
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Recommendation of the Board of
Directors
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10
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PROPOSAL
3 – AMENDMENT OF THE COMPANY’S 2000 STOCK OPTION AND RESTRICTED STOCK
PLAN
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Proposed
Amendment
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11
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Plan
Information
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11
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Plan
Distribution
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11
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Additional
Plan Information
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11
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Reasons
for the Plan Amendment
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11
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Recommendation
of the Board of Directors
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11
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ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
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12
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Beneficial
Ownership
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12
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Executive Officers and Significant
Employees
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED
PARTY TRANSACTIONS
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14
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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership
Reporting Compliance
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15
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Executive
Compensation
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15
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Employment
Agreements
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16
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Stockholder Proposals for the 2010
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
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20
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General
Information
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20
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Method of Counting
Votes
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20
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POWER EFFICIENCY
CORPORATION PROXY STATEMENT
This proxy statement is being furnished
to our stockholders beginning on or about June 15, 2009, in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by the Power Efficiency Corporation Board of Directors
to be used at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be
held at 10:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) on Thursday, July 16, 2009 at our principal
office at 3960 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 460, Las Vegas, NV 89169, and at all
adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting for the purposes listed in
the preceding Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
ABOUT THE MEETING
What am I voting
on?
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Proposal 1: The election of eight directors
for terms expiring at the next Annual Meeting;
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Proposal 2: To ratify the selection of BDO
Seidman, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the
year ending December 31, 2009; and
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Proposal
3: To approve the
amendment of the Company’s 2000 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan to
increase the total number of shares of common stock reserved and available
for distribution under the Plan from 20,000,000 shares to 25,000,000
shares.
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We are not aware of any other
matters that will be voted on. If a matter does properly come before the
Annual Meeting, the persons named as the proxy in the accompanying form of
proxy will vote the proxy at their discretion.
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What is the board’s voting
recommendation?
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Our board of directors recommends
a vote:
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FOR each of the eight nominated
directors;
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FOR the ratification of BDO Seidman,
LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year
ending December 31, 2009; and
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FOR the approval of the amendment to
the Company’s Stock Option and Restricted Stock
Plan.
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What is the vote required for each
proposal?
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Proposal 1: The election of the eight
nominated directors requires the affirmative vote of the plurality of
votes cast by the holders of our common stock present, or represented, at
the Annual Meeting; and
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Proposal 2: The ratification of BDO Seidman,
LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year
ending December 31,
2009, requires a
majority of our common stock present, or represented, at the Annual
Meeting.
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Proposal
3: The approval of
the amendment to the Company’s Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan
requires a majority of our common stock present, or represented, at the
Annual Meeting.
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Who can
vote?
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The record holders of our common
stock and preferred stock on the close of business as of June 12, 2009, the record date, are entitled to
notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
As of the date hereof, 43,255,441 shares of our common stock were issued
and outstanding held by approximately 168 stockholders of record and
140,000 shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding held by 37
stockholders of record. Each outstanding share of our common stock is
entitled to one vote upon each matter presented and each share of our
preferred stock is entitled to one hundred votes upon each matter
presented. A list of stockholders entitled to vote will be
available for inspection by any record stockholder at our corporate
headquarters at 3960
Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 460, Las Vegas, Nevada 89169 prior to or at our Annual
Meeting.
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What constitutes a
quorum?
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In order to conduct our Annual
Meeting, a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote must be
represented in person or by proxy. This is known as a “quorum.”
Abstentions and shares held in “street name” by brokers or nominees who
indicate on their proxies that they do not have discretionary authority to
vote such shares as to a particular matter, referred to as broker
non-votes, will count toward establishing a
quorum.
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How do I
vote?
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There are two ways to
vote:
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· By
completing and mailing the enclosed proxy card;
or
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By attending our
Annual Meeting in person and submitting a written
ballot..
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If you are a beneficial owner and
your broker holds your shares in its name, the broker is permitted to vote
your shares on each of the proposals even if the broker does not receive
voting instructions from you.
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If your shares are held in the
name of a broker, bank or other holder of record, you are invited to
attend our Annual Meeting, but may not vote at our Annual Meeting unless
you have first obtained a proxy, executed in the stockholders’ favor, from
the holder of record.
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What does it mean if I get more
than one proxy?
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It means your shares are held in
more than one account. Please vote all proxies to ensure all your shares
are counted.
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Can I change my vote or revoke my
proxy?
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You can change your vote or revoke
your proxy at any time prior to the closing of the polls,
by:
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· Returning a later-dated proxy
card;
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· Voting in person at our Annual
Meeting; or
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· Notifying our Secretary by written
revocation letter.
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Our Secretary is John (“BJ”)
Lackland. Any revocation should be filed with him at our corporate
headquarters at 3960
Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 460, Las Vegas, Nevada 89169.
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Attendance at our Annual Meeting
will not in itself constitute revocation of a proxy. All shares entitled
to vote and represented by properly completed proxies timely received and
not revoked will be voted as you direct. If no direction is given, the
proxies will be voted as our board
recommends.
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Who conducts the proxy
solicitation?
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Our board of directors is
soliciting these proxies. We will bear the cost of the solicitation of
proxies. Our regular employees may solicit proxies by mail, by telephone,
personally or by other communications, without compensation apart from
their normal salaries.
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Who will count the
votes?
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Our board of directors will
appoint one or more persons to serve as the inspector(s) of elections to
tabulate the votes cast by proxy or in person at the Annual Meeting. The
inspector(s) of elections will also determine whether or not a quorum is
present.
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Do I have any appraisal rights in
connection with any matter to be acted upon?
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No. Our stockholders do not have
appraisal rights in connection with any matter to be acted
upon.
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Who can help answer my
questions?
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If you have any questions about
the Annual Meeting or the proposals to be voted on at the Annual Meeting,
or if you need additional copies of this proxy statement or copies of any
of our public filings referred to in this proxy statement, you should
contact our Secretary, John (“BJ”) Lackland, at (702)
697-0377. A copy of this proxy statement and our annual report
for the year ending December 31, 2008 may be obtained online at
www.powerefficiency.com/2009annualmeeting. Our public filings
can also be accessed at the website of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”) at
www.sec.gov.
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PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
The current term of office of all of our
directors expires at the next Annual Meeting. Our board of directors has proposed the
election of the following individuals for a one-year term expiring at the next
Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their respective successors have been
duly elected and qualified: Mr. John (“BJ”) Lackland, Mr. George Boyadjieff, Dr. Douglass Dunn, Mr. Richard Morgan,
Mr. Gary Rado, Mr. Gregory Curhan, Mr. Kenneth Dickey and Mr. Steven Strasser. Directors will
be elected by the plurality of votes cast by the holders of our common stock
present, or represented, at the Annual Meeting, as long as a quorum is
present.
Each nominee has consented to being
nominated and to serve if elected. In the unlikely event that any nominee
becomes unable to serve for any reason, the proxies will be voted for a
substitute nominee selected by our board of directors.
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION OF
DIRECTORS
The following information is furnished
with respect to each nominee. There are no family relationships between or among
any of our directors or executive officers.
Name
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Age
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Director
Since
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Position
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Steven Z.
Strasser
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59
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2002
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Chairman, Chief Executive
Officer
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John (BJ)
Lackland
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38
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2002
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Director, Chief Financial Officer,
and Secretary
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George
Boyadjieff
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70
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2006
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Director, Senior Technical
Advisor
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Douglass M.
Dunn
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65
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2006
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Director
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Richard
Morgan
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63
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2007
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Director
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Gary Rado
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69
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2005
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Director
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Gregory
Curhan
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47
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2009
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Director
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Kenneth
Dickey
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68
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2009
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Director
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Steven Strasser
– Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer. Prior to becoming the Company’s CEO in October 2004, Mr.
Strasser was the Managing Director, founder and majority owner of Summit Energy
Ventures LLC, currently the largest stockholder in Power Efficiency Corporation.
Summit is a private equity firm focused on
investments in companies with energy efficiency technologies. At Summit, Mr. Strasser spent four years, from
2001 through 2005, evaluating and investing in energy technology companies and
serving on the boards of portfolio companies. Mr. Strasser has been a director
since August 2002.
From 1984 through 2000,
Mr. Strasser was the founder and CEO of Northwest Power Enterprises. Over
its seventeen-year history, Northwest Power Enterprises and its predecessor
companies were involved in multiple aspects of the energy development business.
Mr. Strasser received law degrees from McGill University, Montreal, Canada and the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
John (BJ) Lackland
– Director, Chief
Financial Officer, and Secretary. Mr. Lackland became the Company’s CFO in
October 2004. Mr. Lackland has been the Vice President and Director Summit Energy Ventures since 2001, a private
equity firm that is the largest stockholder in Power Efficiency Corporation.
Summit focuses on investments in companies
with energy efficiency technologies. At Summit, Mr. Lackland evaluated and invested in
energy technology companies and served on the boards of portfolio companies.
Prior to joining Summit, Mr. Lackland was the Director of
Strategic Relations at Encompass Globalization, where he was in charge of
strategic alliances and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to Encompass, he was the
Director of Strategic Planning and Corporate Development at an Internet business
development consulting company, where he was in charge of strategic planning and
investor relations. Mr. Lackland has been an independent consultant to
Fortune 1,000 companies and startups. Mr. Lackland also worked at The
National Bureau of Asian Research, an internationally acclaimed research company
focusing on U.S. policy toward Asia, where he led
economic and political research projects for Microsoft, Dell, Compaq and
U.S. government agencies. Mr. Lackland has
been a director since August 2002.
Mr. Lackland earned an M.B.A. from
the University of Washington Business School, an M.A. in International Studies
(Asian Studies) from the University of Washington’s Jackson School of International
Studies, and a B.A. in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Claremont McKenna College.
George
Boyadjieff — Director and Senior Technical Advisor.
Mr. Boyadjieff has been a director of the Company since May 2006, and Senior
Technical Advisor of the Company since April 2005. Mr. Boyadjieff is the retired
CEO of the former Varco International, a New York Stock Exchange traded oil
service company with over $1.3 billion in annual revenues at the time of Mr.
Boyadjieff’s retirement. Varco has recently merged with National Oil Well to
become National Oil Well Varco (NOV). Mr. Boyadjieff joined Varco in 1969 as
Chief Engineer and was appointed CEO in 1991. Currently Mr. Boyadjieff is a
director of Southwall Technologies, a Silicon Valley hi-tech firm. Mr. Boyadjieff joined
Southwall in December 2004.
Mr. Boyadjieff holds over 50
US patents related to oil and gas well
drilling equipment. Mr. Boyadjieff holds BS and MS degrees in Mechanical
Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and is a graduate of the University of California at Irvine executive program.
Dr. Douglas Dunn
— Dr. Dunn has had an
extensive career in research, business and academic leadership. Dr. Dunn served
as dean of Carnegie Mellon University's Graduate School of Industrial
Administration (now the Tepper School of Business) from July 1996 through June
2002, after which he retired. He began his career at AT&T Bell Laboratories,
and his corporate experienced culminated in senior positions as a corporate
officer leading Federal Regulatory Matters, Regional Government Affairs, and
Visual Communications and Multimedia Strategy for AT&T. Dr. Dunn is a board
member of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. (NasdaqNM: USAP) and
Solutions Consulting, a technology consulting firm, which is wholly owned by
Perot Systems, Inc. He holds a Ph.D. in business from the University of Michigan, an MS in industrial management and a
BS in physics from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Richard Morgan
– Mr. Morgan is
currently Of Counsel to the law firm of Lionel, Sawyer & Collins, and is the
Dean Emeritus and a former Professor of Law at the William S. Boyd School of Law
at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, a position he held from September 1, 1997 through June 30, 2007. Mr. Morgan is an experienced legal
educator, having served as dean at both the Arizona State University College of
Law and the University of Wyoming College of Law. Mr. Morgan earned his B.A. in
Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley in 1967. In 1971 he received
his J.D. from UCLA, where he was an editor of the UCLA Law Review. He practiced
with the Los
Angeles law firm of
Nossaman, Krueger & Marsh in the corporate/securities areas from 1971 to
1980. He was a professor at the Arizona State University College of Law from
1980 to 1987 and served as associate dean from 1983 to 1987. He was dean at the
University of Wyoming College of Law from 1987 to 1990 and returned to the
Arizona State University College of Law in 1990, where he served as dean and
professor of law until 1997.
Gary Rado
– Mr. Rado retired in 2002
after being the President of Casio Inc. USA for 3 years. He joined Casio in 1996
as an EVP to spearhead the
move into the digital
camera business. Before joining Casio, Mr. Rado was with Texas
Instruments Inc. for 21 years. He was the Division Manager of
the Consumer Products Division Worldwide and ran the division for 7 years,
including two years while based in Europe. This division was responsible for home
computer, calculator, and educational products. Mr. Rado earned a
Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from Concord College in 1963.
Gregory Curhan – Mr. Curhan is currently the
President and CEO of CleanTech Capital Consulting, Inc. Prior to
this, Mr. Curhan served as Executive Vice President of Merriman Curhan Ford
Group, Inc. He also was President, Chairman of the Commitment Committee
and Head of the CleanTech investment banking team of Merriman Curhan Ford &
Co., the investment banking subsidiary of Merriman Curhan Ford Group, Inc.,
where he worked from January 2002 to January 2009. Previously, he served as
Chief Financial Officer of WorldRes.com from May 1999 through June 2001. Prior
to joining WorldRes.com, Mr. Curhan served as Director of Global Technology
Research Marketing and Managing Director, Specialty Technology Institutional
Equity Sales at Merrill Lynch & Co. from May 1998 to May 1999. From 1993
through 1998, Mr. Curhan served as Partner, Director of Equities, and as
Managing Director, Research Analyst at Volpe Brown Whelan. Mr. Curhan was
a founder and principal of the investment advisor Curhan, Merriman Capital
Management from July 1988 through December 1992. From 1985 to 1988, Mr. Curhan
was Vice President, Institutional Sales at Montgomery Securities, and was a
Financial Analyst at Merrill Lynch from 1983 to 1985. Mr. Curhan earned his
Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, from Dartmouth College.
Kenneth Dickey– Mr. Dickey is the co-founder of
The Institute of Strategic Mapping, and has spent his extensive career learning
how superior results can be achieved from very average businesses and how to
translate this winning process into an understandable, reusable format.
Mr. Dickey has been retired since February 2002. From October 1999 to
February 2002, Mr. Dickey was Vice President Sales-Marketing for Safetronics,
where he developed sales and marketing strategies, completed Safetronic’s
acquisition of Fincor Electric, a manufacturer of variable frequency drives, and
ran that business unit. Prior to this, Mr. Dickey was the
President/CEO of Cleveland Motion Control, Dynact Inc., and Motion Science,
Inc., from February 1997 to October 1999. Prior to this, Mr. Dickey served
as Senior Vice-President Sales for Reliance Electric/Rockwell Automation from
1994 thru 1996. His responsibilities included Sales/Marketing with 76 sales
offices (located in the Americas), which generated more than $900 million in
revenue. He also spent 9 years as the Operating General Manager of the
Industrial Motor Division at Reliance Electric from 1986 to 1994. Mr.
Dickey earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of
Akron and an Executive MBA from Case-Western Reserve
University.
Although our securities are not
currently quoted on American Stock Exchange, for purposes of assessing director
independence, the Board of Directors uses the definition of “independence”
contained in current Section 121(A) of the NYSE Amex Stock Exchange (“AMEX”)
Constitution and Rules. Our board has reviewed all relationships between the
Company and members of the board and affirmatively has determined that all
directors are independent except Messrs. Strasser, Lackland, and Curhan, who are
employed by the Company. In addition, each of the members of the audit committee
meets the heightened criteria for independence applicable to members of audit
committees under AMEX listing standards.
Board of Directors and Committees of the
Board
Our business affairs are conducted under
the direction of our Board of Directors. The role of our Board of Directors is
to effectively govern our affairs for the benefit of our stockholders and, to
the extent appropriate under governing law, of other constituencies, which
include our employees, customers, suppliers and creditors. Our board strives to
ensure the success and continuity of our business through the selection of a
qualified management team. It is also responsible for ensuring that our
activities are conducted in a responsible ethical manner. Our Board of Directors
has two standing committees, an audit committee and a compensation
committee.
Our Board of Directors met five times in
2008 and seven times in 2007. None of the current directors missed more than
three meetings during the period for which they have been a director and the
meetings held by committees of the Board of Directors on which they
serve.
We do not have a policy that requires
directors to attend our annual meeting of stockholders. All but one of the
directors attended the 2008 Meeting of Stockholders on July 11, 2008.
Audit Committee
Our Audit Committee acts pursuant to our
Audit Committee charter, last amended July, 2006.
Douglas Dunn and Gary Rado currently
serve as our audit committee. Messrs. Dunn and Rado are each independent
directors as required by Section 301 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Rule
10A(3)(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 121(A) of the
American Stock Exchange Constitution and Rules. Mr. Dunn, qualifies as a
financial expert. Our audit committee, among other things:
|
•
|
selects the independent auditors,
considering independence and
effectiveness;
|
|
•
|
receives the written disclosures and the
letter from the independent accountant required by applicable requirements
of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent
accountant's communications with the audit committee concerning
independence, and has discussed with the independent accountant the
independent accountant's independence;
|
|
•
|
discusses the scope and results of
the audit with the independent auditors and reviews with management and
the independent auditors our interim and year-end operating
results;
|
|
•
|
discusses with the independent
accountant the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing
Standargs No. 114 (Communications with Audit
Committees);
|
|
•
|
considers the adequacy of our
internal accounting controls and audit
procedures;
|
|
•
|
reviews and approves all audit and
non-audit services to be performed by the independent auditors;
and
|
|
•
|
administers the whistleblower
policy.
|
Based on the review and
discussions with management
and the Company’s independent auditors above referred to in paragraphs above, the audit committee recommended to the
board of directors that the audited financial statements be included in the
Company's annual report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Compensation
Committee
Douglas Dunn is currently the sole
member of our compensation committee. Mr. Dunn is an independent director as
required by SEC Rules and as defined in Section 121(A) of the American Stock
Exchange Constitution and Rules. Our compensation committee, among other
things:
|
•
|
recommends to the Board of
Directors the compensation level of the executive
officers;
|
|
•
|
reviews and makes recommendations
to our Board of Directors with respect to our equity incentive plans;
and
|
|
•
|
establishes and reviews general
policies relating to compensation and benefits of our
employees.
|
Nominations of
Directors
The Board does not have a standing
nominating committee. When necessary, the Board as a whole performs functions
equivalent to that of a nominating committee. In that capacity, the Board has no
charter. For this reason, (1) the Board has no policy with regard to the
nomination of candidates recommended by security holders; (2) the Board has
developed no specific minimum qualifications that it believes must be met by a
Board-recommended nominee for a position on the Board; (3) the Board has
developed no specific qualities or skills that it believes are necessary for a
member of the Board to possess; and (4) the Board has no specific process for
identifying and evaluating nominees for director.
Stockholders desiring to suggest a
candidate for consideration should send a letter to John (BJ) Lackland, the
Company's Secretary, no later than February 15, 2010, and include: (a) a
statement that the writer is a stockholder (providing evidence if the person's
shares are held in street name) and is proposing a candidate for consideration;
(b) the name and contact information for the candidate; (c) a statement of the
candidate's business and educational experience; (d) information regarding the
candidate's qualifications to be director, including but not limited to an
evaluation of the factors discussed above which the board would consider in
evaluating a candidate; (e) information regarding any relationship or
understanding between the proposing stockholder and the candidate; (f)
information regarding potential conflicts of interest; and (g) a statement that
the candidate is willing to be considered and willing to serve as director if
nominated and elected. Because of the small size of the Company and the limited
need to seek additional directors, there is no assurance that all stockholder
proposed candidates will be fully considered, that all candidates will be
considered equally, or that the proponent of any candidate or the proposed
candidate will be contacted by the Company or the board, and no undertaking to
do so is implied by the willingness to consider candidates proposed by
stockholders. Please note that no such stockholder nominations have been
received by us for this Annual Meeting. Accordingly, no rejections or refusals
of such candidates have been made.
COMPENSATION OF
DIRECTORS
In
January 2008, non-employee directors received options to purchase 100,000 shares
of common stock per year for their board service, pro-rated for the quarters in
the year they served. Employee directors do not receive compensation
for serving on the board of directors. The Chairman of the Audit
Committee received an additional 50,000 options per year, pro-rated for the
quarters in the year he served, and $1,000 per month. The remaining
members of the audit committee receive an additional 25,000, prorated for the
quarters in the year they served. Depending on the anticipated
workload and organization, the board of directors may elect to increase the
compensation for committee members and/or all non-executive board
members.
COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER
PARTICIPATION
None of our executive officers currently
serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any
entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors
or compensation committee.
CODE OF ETHICS
The Company adopted a code of conduct on
August 8, 2008. In early 2006, the Company
developed and implemented an official Employee Manual that requires ethical
behavior from its employees, and defines the consequences of unethical behavior
by its employees.
PROCESS FOR STOCKHOLDERS TO SEND
COMMUNICATIONS TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Stockholders may communicate with any
and all members of our board of directors by transmitting correspondence via
mail or facsimile addressed to one or more directors by name (or to the chairman
of the board, for a communication addressed to the entire board) at the
following address:
Name of the
Director(s)
c/o John (BJ) Lackland, Corporate
Secretary
Power Efficiency
Corporation
3960 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite
460
Las Vegas, NV 89169
Communications from our stockholders to
one or more directors will be collected and organized by our corporate secretary
under procedures approved by our independent directors. The corporate secretary
will forward all communications to the chairman of the board of directors or to
the identified director(s) as soon as practicable; provided however, that
communications that are abusive, in bad taste or that present safety or security
concerns may be handled differently. If multiple communications are received on
a similar topic, the corporate secretary may, in his sole discretion, forward
only representative correspondence.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Our board of directors recommends that
you vote “FOR” all the director nominees.
PROPOSAL 2 —
RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM
Our Audit Committee has selected BDO
Seidman, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, to audit our
financial statements for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2009. Sobel & Co., LLC audited our
financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. Although stockholder approval of the
selection of BDO Seidman, LLP is not required by law, our board of directors
believes it is advisable to give stockholders the opportunity to ratify this
selection. We expect representatives of BDO Seidman, LLP will be present at the
Annual Meeting, with the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire, and
will be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders. In the
event of a negative vote on this proposal by the stockholders, the Audit
Committee will consider whether it is appropriate in the future to consider the
selection of other independent registered public accounting
firms.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH
ACCOUNTANTS
On April
23, 2009, we dismissed Sobel & Co., LLC (“Sobel”) as our independent
registered public accounting firm. Our audit committee approved the
termination of Sobel.
Sobel’s
audit report dated March 30, 2009 (which was included in the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008) on our financial
statements as of, and for the years ended, December 31, 2008 and December 31,
2007, did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer opinion, nor was it
qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles,
except the audit report contained a separate paragraph stating:
“The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company
will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 3 to the
financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations,
and the Company has experienced a deficiency of cash from
operations. These matters raise substantial doubt as to the Company's
ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard
to these matters are also discussed in Note 3. The financial
statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of
these uncertainties.”
During
our two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent interim period through April
23, 2009, there were no disagreements with Sobel on any matter of accounting
principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or
procedure which disagreement, if not resolved to Sobel’s satisfaction, would
have caused Sobel to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in
connection with its report. There were no “reportable events” as defined in Item
304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K during our two most recent fiscal years and the
subsequent interim period through April 23, 2009.
We
provided Sobel with a copy of the foregoing disclosures and requested Sobel to
furnish us a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating
whether or not it agrees with the above statements. Such letter
states Sobel’s agreement with the foregoing statements.
(b)
Engagement of New Certifying Accountant
On April
27, 2009, our audit committee approved the engagement of BDO Seidman, LLP as our
new independent registered public accounting firm. We have not consulted with
BDO Seidman, LLP during our two most recent fiscal years or during the
subsequent interim period through April 27, 2009 regarding the application of
accounting principles to a specific completed or proposed transaction, or the
type of audit opinion that might be rendered on our financial statements, or as
to any disagreement or reportable event as described in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) and
Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
FEES PAID TO SOBEL & CO.,
LLC
The following table shows the fees paid
or accrued by us for the audit and other services provided by Sobel & Co.,
LLC for the fiscal years 2008 and 2007.
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Audit fees
|
|
$ |
51,125 |
|
|
$ |
52,390 |
|
Audit-related
fees
|
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
12,800 |
|
Tax fees
|
|
|
3,250 |
|
|
|
3,250 |
|
All other
fees
|
|
|
6,854 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$ |
73,229 |
|
|
$ |
68,440 |
|
Audit fees represent fees for
professional services provided in connection with the audit of our financial
statements and review of our quarterly financial statements and audit services
provided in connection with other statutory or regulatory
filings.
The audit-related fees represent fees
for professional services rendered in conjunction with SEC Registration
Statement filings and amendments thereto.
Tax fees consist of fees for tax
compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
All other fees represent fees for
professional services not reported above.
All audit and non-audit services
provided by Sobel & Co., LLC in fiscal years 2008 and 2007 were approved in
advance by the Audit Committee.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
The board of directors recommends that
you vote “FOR” the ratification of the selection of BDO Seidman, LLP as our
independent registered public accounting firm, and proxies solicited by the
board will be voted in favor thereof unless a stockholder has indicated
otherwise on the proxy.
PROPOSAL 3 —
AMENDMENT OF THE 2000 STOCK OPTION AND RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN
2000 Stock Option and Restricted Stock
Plan
Proposed Amendment
Under Section 3 of the 2000 Stock
Option and Restricted Stock Plan, (the “Plan”), the current total number of
shares of common stock reserved and available for distribution under the Plan is
20,000,000. The Board of Directors unanimously recommends the
stockholders grant them the authority to amend the Plan by increasing the number
of shares reserved and available for distribution under the Plan to 25,000,000
shares.
Plan Information
The Plan was adopted in
September 2000 and last amended on June 8, 2007. The Plan currently
authorizes the Company to issue up to 20,000,000 shares of its common stock via
grants of:
|
•
|
incentive stock options to
purchase shares of common stock,
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
non-qualified stock options to
purchase shares of common stock, and
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
restricted common
stock.
|
The Plan may be amended, terminated or
modified by the Board of Directors at any time, subject to stockholder approval
as required by law, rule or regulation. However, no such termination,
modification or amendment may affect the rights of an optionee under an
outstanding option or the grantee of an award.
Plan Distributions
Grants received by employees and other
persons are not allocated in any pre-determined fashion. Please see the
information under the heading “Outstanding Equity Awards” for information
regarding how grants under the Plan are distributed.
Additional Plan
Information
For additional information regarding the
Plan, please see the information provided under the heading “Stock Option Plan Narrative
Disclosure.” A copy of the
Plan is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
Reasons for the Plan
Amendment
The purpose of the Plan amendment is to enable the Company to
obtain and retain competent personnel who will contribute to the Company’s
success by their ability, ingenuity and industry knowledge, and to provide
incentives to such personnel and members that are linked directly to increases
in stockholder value, and will therefore, inure to the benefit of all
stockholders of the Company. Eligible recipients of awards under the Plan
include employees, directors, consultants and advisors of the
Company.
The Board of Directors determined to
increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the
Plan because it believes that the current number is insufficient for the
purposes of the Plan as stated above. The market for quality personnel is
competitive, and the ability to obtain and retain competent personnel is of
great importance to the Company’s business operations.
Recommendation of the Board of
Directors
The Board of Directors recommends that
the Stockholders vote “FOR” Proposal 3 to approve the amendment to the Company’s
2000 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan to increase the total number of
shares of common stock reserved and available for distribution under the Plan
from 20,000,000 shares to 25,000,000 shares.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
The
following table sets forth information as to our shares of common stock
beneficially owned as of June 10, 2009 by (i) each person known
by us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of our outstanding
common stock, (ii) each of our directors, (iii) each of our executive officers
named in the Summary Compensation Table and (iv) all of our directors and
executive officers as a group.
Title of Class
|
|
Name of Beneficial Owner(1)
|
|
Shares Owned
|
|
|
|
Owned(11)
|
|
Common
Stock
|
|
Steven Strasser, CEO, Chairman of
the Board
|
|
|
20,681,894 |
(2 |
) |
|
|
37.67
|
% |
Common
Stock
|
|
John (BJ) Lackland, CFO,
Director
|
|
|
2,455,500 |
(3 |
) |
|
|
5.39
|
% |
Common
Stock
|
|
Gregory Curhan,
Director
|
|
|
200,000 |
(4 |
) |
|
Less than
1%
|
|
Common
Stock
|
|
Gary Rado,
Director
|
|
|
752,500 |
(5 |
) |
|
|
1.71
|
% |
Common
Stock
|
|
George Boyadjieff, Director
|
|
|
2,955,000 |
(6 |
) |
|
|
6.55
|
% |
Common
Stock
|
|
Douglas Dunn,
Director
|
|
|
532,500 |
(7 |
) |
|
|
1.22
|
% |
Common
Stock
|
|
Richard Morgan,
Director
|
|
|
250,000 |
(8 |
) |
|
Less than
1%
|
|
Common
Stock
|
|
Kenneth Dickey, Director
|
|
|
200,000 |
(9 |
) |
|
Less than
1%
|
|
Common
Stock
|
|
Summit Energy Ventures,
LLC
|
|
|
8,803,901 |
(2 |
) |
|
|
19.45
|
% |
Common
Stock
|
|
Sarkowski Family
L.P.
|
|
|
7,356,981 |
|
|
|
|
15.63
|
% |
Common
Stock
|
|
Ron Boyer
|
|
|
9,535,769 |
|
|
|
|
18.90
|
% |
Common
Stock
|
|
Michael J. Goldfarb
Enterprises
|
|
|
2,440,001 |
|
|
|
|
5.46
|
% |
Common
Stock
|
|
Byron LeBow Family
Trust
|
|
|
2,850,908 |
|
|
|
|
6.34
|
% |
Common
Stock
|
|
Marathon Resource Partners I
L.P.
|
|
|
4,184,107 |
|
|
|
|
9.18
|
% |
Common
Stock
|
|
Commerce Gas and Electric
Corp.
|
|
|
4,544,376 |
(10 |
) |
|
|
10.22
|
% |
Common
Stock
|
|
All Executive Officers and
Directors as a Group (8 persons)
|
|
|
27,627,394 |
|
|
|
|
45.81
|
% |
(1)
|
Information in this table
regarding directors and executive officers is based on information
provided by them. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes and subject
to community property laws where applicable, each of the directors and
executive officers has sole voting and/or investment power with respect to
such shares. The address for each of the persons reported in the table
other than Commerce Energy Group is in care of Power Efficiency
Corporation at 3960
Howard Hughes Pkwy, Ste 460, Las Vegas, Nevada 89169.
|
(2)
|
Includes 8,803,901 common shares
and common shares subject to options and warrants exercisable within 60
days of the date hereof held by Summit, in which Steven Strasser is one of
two members, 1,760,000 common shares subject to the conversion of 17,600
shares of Series B Preferred Stock, and 7,886,600 common shares subject to
options and warrants which are presently exercisable or will become
exercisable within 60 days of the date hereof. Mr. Strasser was also
granted an additional 600,000 common shares subject to options and
warrants which will become exercisable after 60 days of the date hereof.
Mr. Strasser’s options and warrants expire on various dates from May, 2010
through November, 2015.
|
(3)
|
Includes 2,277,500 common shares
and common shares subject to options and warrants presently exercisable or
which will become exercisable within 60 days of the date hereof. Mr.
Lackland was also granted an additional 360,000 common shares subject to
options which will become exercisable after 60 days of the date hereof.
Mr. Lackland’s options and warrants expire on various dates from May, 2010
through November, 2015.
|
(4)
|
Includes
200,000 common shares subject to options and warrants which will become
exercisable within 60 days of the date hereof. Mr. Curhan’s
options and warrants expire on various dates from April, 2014 through
March, 2019.
|
(5)
|
Includes
200,000 common shares subject to the conversion of 2,000 shares of Series
B Preferred Stock, and 512,500 common shares subject to options and
warrants presently exercisable or which will become exercisable within 60
days of the date hereof. Mr. Rado’s options and warrants expire
on various dates from October, 2012 through March,
2019.
|
(6)
|
Includes
400,000 common shares subject to the conversion of 4,000 shares of Series
B Preferred Stock, and 1,475,000 common shares subject to options and
warrants presently exercisable or which will become exercisable within 60
days of the date hereof. Mr. Boyadjieff’s options and warrants
expire on various dates from April, 2010 through March,
2019.
|
(7)
|
Includes
100,000 common shares subject to the conversion of 1,000 shares of Series
B Preferred Stock, and 412,500 common shares subject to options presently
exercisable or which will become exercisable within 60 days of the date
hereof. Dr. Dunn’s options expire on various dates from May
2016 through March, 2019.
|
(8)
|
Includes
250,000 common shares subject to options presently exercisable or which
will become exercisable within 60 days of the date hereof. Mr.
Morgan’s options expire March,
2019.
|
(9)
|
Includes
200,000 common shares subject to options presently exercisable or which
will become exercisable within 60 days of the date hereof. Mr.
Dickey’s options expire May, 2019.
|
(10)
|
Includes
400,000 common shares subject to the conversion of 4,000 shares of Series
B Preferred Stock, and 815,327 common shares subject to warrants presently
exercisable or which will become exercisable within 60 days of the date
hereof. Commerce’s warrants expire on various dates from
October 2009 through November 2011.
|
(11)
|
The
percentage for common stock includes all common shares subject to options
and warrants exercisable within 60 days of the date
hereof.
|
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY
TRANSACTIONS
Relationship
with Steven Strasser and Summit
Mr.
Strasser, our CEO, owns 99.5% of Summit. As of December 31, 2008,
Summit owned 6,803,901 shares of our common stock and 2,000,000 warrants to
purchase common stock. The total voting power currently represented
by Summit’s ownership of our common stock and voting equivalents is
19%. In addition, Mr. Strasser beneficially owns 20,681,894 shares of
common stock (including those shares beneficially owned by Summit) issued or
issuable on the exercise of options and warrants, and the conversion of Series B
Preferred Stock, exercisable within 60 days of December 31,
2008.
On
January 21, 2008, Mr. Strasser purchased 1,600 units, resulting in the issuance
of 1,600 shares of Series B Preferred Stock and 80,000 warrants to purchase the
Company’s common stock, for $80,000 in cash.
Relationship
with John (BJ) Lackland
Mr.
Lackland, our CFO, owns 0.5% of Summit. Mr. Lackland owns
beneficially 2,455,500 shares of common stock, issued or issuable on the
exercise of options and warrants exercisable within 60 days from the date
hereof.
Agreements with Officers and
Directors
We may enter into indemnification
agreements with our directors and officers. Generally, these agreements attempt
to provide the maximum protection permitted by law with respect to
indemnification. See "Management — Limitation of Liability and Indemnification
of Directors and Officers."
Limitation of Liability and
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Our certificate of incorporation
provides that the personal liability of our directors shall be limited to the
fullest extent permitted by the provisions of Section 102(b)(7) of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or the DGCL. Section 102(b)(7) of the
DGCL generally provides that no director shall be liable personally to us or our
stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director,
provided that our certificate of incorporation does not eliminate the liability
of a director for (i) any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to us or our
stockholders; (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) acts or omissions in
respect of certain unlawful dividend payments or stock redemptions or
repurchases; or (iv) any transaction from which such director derives improper
personal benefit. The effect of this provision is to eliminate our rights and
the rights of our stockholders through stockholders' derivative suits on our
behalf, to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of her or his
fiduciary duty of care as a director including breaches resulting from negligent
or grossly negligent behavior except in the situations described in clauses (i)
through (iv) above. The limitations summarized above, however, do not affect our
or our stockholders' ability to seek non-monetary remedies, such as an
injunction or rescission, against a director for breach of her or his fiduciary
duty.
In addition, our certificate of
incorporation and bylaws provide that we shall, to the fullest extent permitted
by Section 145 of the DGCL, indemnify all directors and officers who we may
indemnify pursuant to Section 145 of the DGCL. Section 145 of the DGCL permits a
company to indemnify an officer or director who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any proceeding because of his or her position,
if the officer or director acted in good faith and in a manner he or she
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of such
company and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. We have entered
into indemnification agreements with our directors and officers consistent with
indemnification to the fullest extent permitted under the
DGCL.
We maintain a directors' and officers'
liability insurance policy covering certain liabilities that may be incurred by
our directors and officers in connection with the performance of their duties.
The entire premium for such insurance is paid by us.
Insofar as indemnification for
liabilities arising under the Securities Act, our directors and officers, and
persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been
informed that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore
unenforceable.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Rules adopted by the SEC under Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act require our officers and directors, and
persons who own more than 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of our equity
securities, to file reports of their ownership, and changes in ownership, of
such securities with the SEC on Forms 3, 4 or 5, as appropriate. Such persons
are required by the regulations of the SEC to furnish us with copies of all
forms they file pursuant to Section 16(a).
Based solely upon a review of Forms 3, 4
and 5 and amendments thereto furnished to us during our most recent fiscal year,
and any written representations provided to us, we believe that all of the
officers, directors, and owners of more than ten percent of the outstanding
shares of our common stock are in compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange
Act for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Executive
Compensation
The following table summarizes
compensation information for the last two fiscal years for (i) Mr. Steven Z.
Strasser, our Principal Executive Officer and (ii) John (BJ) Lackland, our
Principal Financial Officer, who were serving as executive officers at the end
of the fiscal years 2008 and 2007 and who we refer to collectively, the Named
Executive Officers.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION
TABLE
SUMMARY
COMPENSATION TABLE
|
|
Name and
principal
position
|
Year
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
|
|
|
All
Other
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Steven Z.
Strasser(1)
|
2008
|
|
$ |
311,208 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
311,208 |
|
Chairman and
Chief
|
2007
|
|
$ |
297,172 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
297,172 |
|
Executive
Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
(BJ) Lackland (2)
|
2008
|
|
$ |
198,042 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
198,042 |
|
Director and
Chief
|
2007
|
|
$ |
189,109 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
189,109 |
|
Financial
Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Narrative
Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table
During
2004, we hired the following officers: Steven Strasser, Chief Executive Officer,
and John (BJ) Lackland, Chief Financial Officer. Effective June 1, 2005, the
Company entered into employment agreements with the above
officers. These two individuals comprise our current executive
officers. The term of each agreement is five years. In the
event of a defined change in control of the Company, each agreement will provide
for accelerated vesting of stock options and a cash severance payment equal to
2.99 times the executive's then current salary and previous year's
bonus.
On June 1, 2005, we entered into
employment agreements with Steven Strasser as Chief Executive Officer,
BJ Lackland as Chief Financial Officer, and
Nicholas Anderson as Chief Technology Officer. The term of each agreement is for
five years. In the event of a defined change in control of the Company, each
agreement provides for accelerated vesting of stock options and a cash severance
payment equal to 2.99 times the executive's then current salary and previous
year's bonus.
On May 15, 2006, we terminated Nicholas Anderson for
cause and canceled his employment agreement with the Company. As of December 31, 2006, we have not accrued a loss related to
this termination and we do not foresee any material loss in our ability to
manufacture current products or develop new products.
The following table sets forth the
material financial terms of the agreements for each of our executives as of
December 31,
2008:
Name
|
|
Salary(1)
|
|
|
Bonus(2
|
|
|
Common Stock
Options(3)
|
|
Steven
Strasser
|
|
$ |
311,208 |
(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,000,000 |
|
BJ Lackland
|
|
$ |
198,042 |
(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,800,000 |
|
(1)
|
To
be increased annually by at least 5% of current year’s base
salary.
|
(2)
|
At
the discretion of the disinterested members of the
Board.
|
(3)
|
Vesting
evenly and quarterly over five
years.
|
Outstanding equity
awards
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
(#)
|
|
Steven
Strasser
|
|
|
2,045,460 |
|
|
|
527,269 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
0.22 |
|
5/31/2010
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
1,667,060 |
|
|
|
327,731 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
0.20 |
|
5/31/2015
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
0.65 |
|
11/28/2015
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BJ
Lackland
|
|
|
1,672,500 |
|
|
|
540,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
0.20 |
|
5/31/2015
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
375,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
0.65 |
|
11/28/2015
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Stock Option Plan Narrative
Disclosure
As of
June 12, 2009, we had a total of 20,000,000 common shares reserved for issuance
under the 2000 Plan. Of this amount, we had an aggregate of
15,579,896 stock options granted, and 4,420,104 additional shares of common
stock or options available to be granted, under the 2000 Plan. The following is
a description of our plans.
2000
Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan, or the 2000 Plan
The 2000
Plan, was adopted by our board of directors and our stockholders in
2000. On June 8, 2007, the 2000 Plan was amended and restated. As of
June 12, 2009 no restricted shares of common stock have been issued, and 100,000
of the outstanding options to purchase shares of our common stock have been
exercised pursuant to the 2000 Plan. There are 15,579,896 options
outstanding under the 2000 Plan as of June 12, 2009.
Share
Reserve. Under the 2000 Plan, we have initially reserved for
issuance an aggregate of 20,000,000 shares.
Administration. The
2000 Plan is administered by the board of directors. The stock option awards
qualify as "performance-based-compensation" within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the Code, because
they are approved by at least two or more outside directors. The board of
directors has the power to determine the terms of the awards, including the
exercise price, the number of shares subject to each award, the exercisability
of the awards and the form of consideration payable upon exercise.
Tax
Consequences. An employee
or director will not recognize income on the awarding of incentive stock options
and nonstatutory options under the Plan.
An optionee will recognize ordinary
income as the result of the exercise of a nonstatutory stock option in the
amount of the excess of the fair market value of the stock on the day of
exercise over the option exercise price.
An employee will not recognize income on
the exercise of an incentive stock option, unless the option exercise price is
paid with stock acquired on the exercise of an incentive stock option and the
following holding period for such stock has not been satisfied. The employee
will recognize long-term capital gain or loss on a sale of the shares acquired
on exercise, provided the shares acquired are not sold or otherwise disposed of
before the earlier of:
|
(i)
|
two years from the date of award
of the option, or
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
one year from the date of
exercise.
|
If the shares are not held for the
required period of time, the employee will recognize ordinary income to the
extent the fair market value of the stock at the time the option is exercised
exceeds the option price, but limited to the gain recognized on sale. The
balance of any such gain will be a short-term capital gain. Exercise of an
option with previously owned stock is not a taxable disposition of such stock.
An employee generally must include in alternative minimum taxable income the
amount by which the price such employee paid for an incentive stock option is
exceeded by the option’s fair market value at the time his or her rights to the
stock are freely transferable or are not subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture.
Adjustments upon
Merger or Change in Control. The 2000 Plan provides that in the
event of a merger with or into another corporation or a “change in control,”
including the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, and certain other
events, our board of directors (or a committee of the board of directors) may,
in its discretion, provide for some or all of:
|
•
|
assumption or substitution of, or
adjustment to, each outstanding award;
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
acceleration of the vesting of
options and stock appreciation rights;
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
termination of any restrictions on
stock awards or cash awards; or
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
cancellation of awards in exchange
for a cash payment to the
participant.
|
Amendment and
Termination. The board of
directors has the authority to amend, alter or discontinue the 2000 Plan,
subject to the approval of the stockholders, but no amendment will impair the
rights of any award, unless mutually agreed to between the participant and the
administrator.
Eligibility. Awards
under the 2000 Plan may be granted to any of our employees, directors or
consultants or those of our affiliates.
Options. With
respect to non-statutory stock options intended to qualify as "performance-based
compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and incentive
stock options, the exercise price must be at least equal to the fair market
value of our common stock on the date of grant. In addition, the
exercise price for any incentive stock option granted to any employee owning
more than 10% of our common stock may not be less than 110% of the fair market
value of our common stock on the date of grant. The term of any stock
option may not exceed ten years, except that with respect to any participant who
owns 10% or more of the voting power of all classes of our outstanding capital
stock, the term for incentive stock options must not exceed five
years.
Stock Awards. The
administrator may determine the number of shares to be granted and impose
whatever conditions to vesting it determines to be appropriate, including
performance criteria. The criteria may be based on financial
performance, personal performance evaluations and/or completion of service by
the participant. The administrator will determine the level of
achievement of performance criteria. Unless the administrator
determines otherwise, shares that do not vest typically will be subject to
forfeiture or to our right of repurchase, which we may exercise upon the
voluntary or involuntary termination of the participant's service with us for
any reason, including death or disability.
Adjustments upon Merger or Change in
Control. The 2000 Plan provides that in the event of a merger
with or into another corporation or a "change in control," including the sale of
all or substantially all of our assets, and certain other events, our board of
directors (or a committee of the board of directors) may, in its discretion,
provide for some or all of:
|
·
|
assumption
or substitution of, or adjustment to, each outstanding
award;
|
|
·
|
acceleration
of the vesting of options and stock appreciation
rights;
|
|
·
|
termination
of any restrictions on stock awards or cash awards;
or
|
|
·
|
cancellation
of awards in exchange for a cash payment to the
participant.
|
Amendment and
Termination. The board of directors has the authority to
amend, alter or discontinue the 2000 Plan, subject to the approval of the
stockholders, but no amendment will impair the rights of any award, unless
mutually agreed to between the participant and the administrator.
Compensation of
Directors Summary Table
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION
Name
(a)
|
|
Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash
($)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards ($)
|
|
|
Option Awards
($)
|
|
|
Non-
Equity
Incentive
Plan Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Non-Qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
|
|
|
All
Other
Compensation ($)
|
|
|
Total ($)
|
|
Raymond J.
Skiptunis*
|
|
$ |
12,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
38,805 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
50,805 |
|
George
Boyadjieff
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
25,870 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
25,870 |
|
Douglas M.
Dunn
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
32,338 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
32,338 |
|
Richard
Morgan
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
25,870 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
25,870 |
|
Gary Rado
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
32,338 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
32,338 |
|
Greg Curhan**
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Kenneth Dickey**
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
* Mr. Skiptunis
resigned form the Board of Directors on April 20, 2009.
** Messrs. Curhan and Dickey were
not members of the Board of Directors during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.
Narrative
to Director Compensation
In
January 2008, non-employee directors received options to purchase 100,000 shares
of common stock per year for their board service, pro-rated for the quarters in
the year they served. Employee directors do not receive compensation
for serving on the board of directors. The Chairman of the Audit
Committee received an additional 50,000 options per year, pro-rated for the
quarters in the year he served, and $1,000 per month. The remaining
members of the audit committee receive an additional 25,000, prorated for the
quarters in the year they served. Depending on the anticipated
workload and organization, the board of directors may elect to increase the
compensation for committee members and/or all non-executive board
members.
Limitation of Liability and
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Our certificate of incorporation
provides that the personal liability of our directors shall be limited to the
fullest extent permitted by the provisions of Section 102(b)(7) of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or the DGCL. Section 102(b)(7) of
the DGCL generally provides that no director shall be liable personally to us or
our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a
director, provided that our certificate of incorporation does not eliminate the
liability of a director for (i) any breach of the director's duty of
loyalty to us or our stockholders; (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith
or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
(iii) acts or omissions in respect of certain unlawful dividend payments or
stock redemptions or repurchases; or (iv) any transaction from which such
director derives improper personal benefit. The effect of this provision is to
eliminate our rights and the rights of our stockholders through stockholders'
derivative suits on our behalf, to recover monetary damages against a director
for breach of her or his fiduciary duty of care as a director including breaches
resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior except in the situations
described in clauses (i) through (iv) above. The limitations
summarized above, however, do not affect our or our stockholders' ability to
seek non-monetary remedies, such as an injunction or rescission, against a
director for breach of her or his fiduciary duty.
In addition, our certificate of
incorporation and bylaws provide that we shall, to the fullest extent permitted
by Section 145 of the DGCL, indemnify all directors and officers who we may
indemnify pursuant to Section 145 of the DGCL. Section 145 of the DGCL
permits a company to indemnify an officer or director who was or is a party or
is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding because of his or her
position, if the officer or director acted in good faith and in a manner he or
she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of such
company and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. We have entered
into indemnification agreements with our directors and officers consistent with
indemnification to the fullest extent permitted under the
DGCL.
We maintain a directors' and officers'
liability insurance policy covering certain liabilities that may be incurred by
our directors and officers in connection with the performance of their duties.
The entire premium for such insurance is paid by us.
Insofar as indemnification for
liabilities arising under the Securities Act, our directors and officers, and
persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been
informed that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore
unenforceable.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K,
containing audited financial statements, but without exhibits, accompanies this
proxy statement. The 2008 Annual Report and this proxy statement may be
downloaded via the internet at www.powerefficiency.com/2009annualmeeting. The Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC,
including exhibits, is available through the website maintained by the
Commission at www.sec.gov. Stockholders may also obtain a copy of our Form 10-K,
without charge, upon written request to:
POWER EFFICIENCY
CORPORATION
Attn: John (BJ) Lackland, Corporate
Secretary
3960 Howard Hughes Parkway, Ste
460
Las Vegas, Nevada 89169
As of the date of this proxy statement,
our board of directors knows of no business which will be presented for
consideration at the meeting other than the matters stated in the accompanying
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and described in this proxy statement.
If, however, any matter incident to the conduct of the meeting or other business
properly comes before the meeting, the persons acting under the proxies intend
to vote with respect to those matters or other business in accordance with their
best judgment, and the proxy includes discretionary authority to do
so.
A representative from BDO Seidman LLP,
our independent auditors for the current fiscal year, is expected to be present
at the Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if
desired. The representative is expected to be available to respond to
questions.
STOCKHOLDER
PROPOSALS FOR THE 2010 ANNUAL MEETING AND GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
Any
stockholder proposals intended to be presented at the Company’s 2010 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the Company at its office in Las
Vegas, Nevada on or before February 15, 2010 in order to be considered for
inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement and proxy relating to such
meeting. The Company has received no stockholder nominations or
proposals for the 2009 Annual Meeting.
Stockholders
may communicate their comments or concerns about any other matter to the Board
of Directors by mailing a letter to the attention of the Board of Directors c/o
John (BJ) Lackland, Corporate Secretary, at the Company’s headquarters at 3960 Howard Hughes Parkway, Ste
460, Las Vegas, Nevada 89169.
METHOD OF COUNTING
VOTES
Unless a contrary choice is indicated,
all duly executed proxies will be voted in accordance with the instructions set
forth on the proxy card. A broker non-vote occurs when a broker holding shares
registered in street name is permitted to vote, in the broker’s discretion, on
routine matters without receiving instructions from the client, but is not
permitted to vote without instructions on non-routine matters, and the broker
returns a proxy card with no vote (the “non-vote”) on the non-routine matter.
Under the rules and regulations of the primary trading markets applicable to
most brokers, both the election of directors and the ratification of the
appointment of auditors are routine matters on which a broker has the discretion
to vote if instructions are not received from the client in a timely manner.
Abstentions will be counted as present for purposes of determining a quorum but
will not be counted for or against the election of directors or the ratification
of independent auditors. As to Item 1, the Proxy confers authority to vote for
all of the eight persons listed as candidates for a position on the Board of
Directors even though the block in Item 1 is not marked unless the names of one
or more candidates are lined out. The Proxy will be voted “For” Items 1, and 2
unless “Against” or “Abstain” is indicated. If any other business is presented
at the meeting, the Proxy shall be voted in accordance with the recommendations
of the Board of Directors.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
John (BJ) Lackland
Chief Financial Officer
and Secretary
June 15, 2009
EXHIBIT A
POWER
EFFICIENCY CORPORATION
Amended
and Restated 2000 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan
(Adopted
as of September, 2000
and
amended
in June, 2002
and
further
amended on September 8, 2003
and
further
amended on February 23, 2004
and
further
amended in August, 2006
and
further
amended on June 8, 2007)
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Power
Efficiency Corporation (the “Company”) adopted the 2000 Stock Option
and Restricted Stock Plan in September 2000 (the “2000 Plan”);
WHEREAS, this Amended and
Restated 2000 Plan shall supercede the 2000 Plan; and
WHEREAS, all grants under the
2000 Plan shall be covered and subject to the provisions of the Amended and
Restated 2000 Plan.
Section 1.
Purpose; Definitions.
1.1 Purpose. The
purpose of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Option and Restricted
Stock Plan (the "Plan") is to enable the Company to offer to its key employees,
officers, directors and consultants whose past, present and/or potential
contributions to the Company and its Subsidiaries have been, are or will be
important to the success of the Company, an opportunity to acquire a proprietary
interest in the Company. The various types of long-term incentive
awards which may be provided under the Plan will enable the Company to respond
to changes in compensation practices, tax laws, accounting regulations and the
size and diversity of its businesses.
1.2 Definitions. For
purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth
below:
(a) "Agreement"
means the agreement between the Company and the Holder setting forth the terms
and conditions of an award under the Plan.
(b) "Board"
means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) "Code"
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any
successor thereto and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(d) "Committee"
means the Compensation Committee of the Board or such persons as shall be
designated by the President of the company, or any other committee of the Board,
which the Board may designate to administer the Plan or any portion
thereof. The Committee shall consist of disinterested persons
appointed by the Board who, during the one year period prior to commencement of
service on the Committee, shall not have participated in, and while serving and
for one year after serving on the Committee, shall not be eligible for selection
as persons to whom awards of Stock may be allocated, or to whom Stock Options
may be granted under the Plan or any other discretionary plan of the Company,
under which participants are entitled to acquire Stock or Stock Options of the
Company. If no Committee is so designated, then all references in
this Plan to "Committee" shall mean the Board.
Power
Efficiency Corporation
AMENDED
AND RESTATED 2000 STOCK OPTION AND RESTRICTED STOCK
PLAN
|
(e) "Common
Stock" means the Common Stock of the Company, no par value per
share.
(f) "Company"
means Power Efficiency Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Delaware.
(g) "Continuous
Status as an Employee" means the absence of any interruption or
termination of service as an Employee. Continuous Status as an
Employee shall not be considered interrupted in the case of sick leave, military
leave, or any other leave of absence approved by the Board.
(h) "Employee"
shall mean any person, including officers and directors, employed by the Company
or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company and for whom a withholding obligation
exists under Section 3401 of the Code by the employing corporation, as
applicable. The payment of a director's fee by the Company shall not
be sufficient to constitute "employment" by the Company.
(i) "Disability"
means disability as determined under procedures established by the Committee for
purposes of the Plan.
(j) "Effective
Date" means the date set forth in Section 15
(k) "Fair Market
Value", unless otherwise required by any applicable provision of the Code
or any regulations issued thereunder, means, as of any given
date: (i) if the Common Stock is listed on a national securities
exchange or quoted on the NASDAQ National Market or NASDAQ SmallCap Market, the
last sale price of the Common Stock in the principal trading market for the
Common Stock on the last trading day preceding the date of grant of an award
hereunder, as reported by the exchange or NASDAQ, as the case may be; (ii) if
the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on
the NASDAQ National Market or NASDAQ SmallCap Market, but is traded in the
over-the-counter market, the closing bid price for the Common Stock on the last
trading day preceding the date of grant of an award hereunder for which such
quotations are reported by the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated or
similar publisher of such quotations; and (iii) if the fair market value of the
Common Stock cannot be determined pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, such
price as the Committee shall determine, in good faith.
(l) "Holder"
means a person who has received an award under the Plan.
(m) "Incentive Stock
Option" means any Stock Option intended to be and designated as an
"incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Code.
(n) "Non-Qualified
Stock Option" means any Stock Option that is not an Incentive Stock
Option.
(o) "Normal
Retirement" means retirement from active employment with the Company or
any Subsidiary on or after age 65.
(p) "Parent"
means any present or future parent corporation of the Company, as such term is
defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(q) "Plan"
means the Power Efficiency Corporation, Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Option
and Restricted Stock Plan, as hereinafter amended from time to
time.
(r) "Restricted
Stock" means Stock, received under an award made pursuant to Section 7
below, that is subject to restrictions under said Sections 8-11.
(s) "Stock"
means the Common Stock of the Company, no par value per share.
(t) "Stock
Option" or "Option" means any option to purchase shares of Stock which is
granted pursuant to the Plan.
(u) "Subsidiary"
means any present or future subsidiary corporation of the Company, as such term
is defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
Section 2. Administration.
2.1 Committee
Membership. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Committee members shall
serve for such term as the Board may in each case determine, and shall be
subject to removal at any time by the Board.
2.2 Powers of
Committee. The
Committee shall have full authority, subject to Section 2.3 hereof, to award,
pursuant to the terms of the Plan: (i) Stock Options and (ii) Restricted Stock
grants. For purposes of illustration and not of limitation, the
Committee shall have the authority (subject to the express provisions of this
Plan):
(a) to select the officers, key employees,
directors and consultants of the Company or any Subsidiary to whom Stock Options
and/or Restricted Stock, may from time to time be awarded
hereunder.
(b) to determine the terms and conditions,
not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any award granted hereunder
(including, but not limited to, number of shares, share price, any restrictions
or limitations, and any vesting, exchange, surrender, cancellation,
acceleration, termination, exercise or forfeiture provisions, as the Committee
shall determine);
(c) to determine any specified performance
goals or such other factors or criteria which need to be attained for the
vesting of an award granted hereunder;
(d) to determine the terms and conditions
under which awards granted hereunder are to operate on a tandem basis and/or in
conjunction with or apart from other equity awarded under this Plan and cash
awards made by the Company or any Subsidiary outside of this
Plan;
(e) to determine the extent and
circumstances under which Stock and other amounts payable with respect to an
award hereunder shall be deferred which may be either automatic or at the
election of the Holder; and
(f) to substitute (i) new Stock Options for
previously granted Stock Options, which previously granted Stock Options have
higher option exercise prices and/or contain other less favorable terms, and
(ii) new awards of any other type for previously granted awards of the same
type, which previously granted awards are upon less favorable
terms.
2.3 Interpretation of
Plan.
(a) Committee
Authority. Subject to Section 15
hereof, the Committee shall have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such
administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall,
from time to time, deem advisable, to interpret the terms and provisions of the
Plan and any award issued under the Plan (and to determine the form and
substance of all Agreements relating thereto), and to otherwise supervise the
administration of the Plan. Subject to Section 15 hereof, all
decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be
made in the Committee's sole discretion and shall be final and binding upon all
persons, including the Company, its Subsidiaries and
Holders.
(b) Incentive
Stock Options. Anything in the Plan to the
contrary notwithstanding, no term or provision of the Plan relating to Incentive
Stock Options or any Agreement providing for Incentive Stock Options shall be
interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted
under the Plan be so exercised, so as to disqualify the Plan under Section 422
of the Code, or, without the consent of the Holder(s) affected, to disqualify
any Incentive Stock Option under such Section 422.
Section 3. Stock Subject to
Plan.
The total number of shares of
Common Stock reserved and available for distribution under the Plan shall be
20,000,000 shares. Shares of Stock under the Plan may consist, in
whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury
shares. If any shares of Stock that have been optioned cease to be
subject to a Stock Option, or any shares of Stock that are subject to any
Restricted Stock granted hereunder are forfeited or any such award otherwise
terminates without a payment being made to the Holder in the form of Stock, such
shares shall again be available for distribution in connection with future
grants and awards under the Plan. Only net shares issued upon a
stock-for-stock exercise (including stock used for withholding taxes) shall be
counted against the number of shares available under the
Plan.
Section 4. Eligibility.
4.1 General. Awards may be made or
granted to key employees, officers, directors and consultants who are deemed to
have rendered or to be able to render significant services to the Company or its
Subsidiaries and who are deemed to have contributed or to have the potential to
contribute to the success of the Company. No Incentive Stock Option
shall be granted to any person who is not an employee of the Company or a
Subsidiary at the time of grant.
I. STOCK
OPTIONS
Section 5. Stock Options.
5.1 Grant and
Exercise. Stock
Options granted under the Plan may be of two types: (i) Incentive
Stock Options and (ii) Non-Qualified Stock Options. Any Stock Option
granted under the Plan shall contain such terms, not inconsistent with this
Plan, or with respect to Incentive Stock Options, the Code, as the Committee may
from time to time approve. The Committee shall have the authority to
grant Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, or both types of
Stock Options and may be granted alone or in addition to other awards granted
under the Plan. To the extent that any Stock Option intended to
qualify as an Incentive Stock Option does not so qualify, it shall constitute a
separate Non-Qualified Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option
granted under this Plan may only be exercised within ten years of the date of
grant (or five years in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to
optionee ("10% Stockholder") who, at the time of grant, owns Stock possessing
more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or a Parent or Subsidiary.)
5.2 Terms and
Conditions. Stock Options granted under
the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions:
(a) Exercise
Price. The
exercise price per share of Stock purchasable under a Stock Option shall be
determined by the Committee at the time of grant and may be less than 100% of
the Fair Market Value of the Stock as defined above; provided,
however, that (i) the
exercise price of an Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 100% of the
Fair Market Value of the Stock (110%, in the case of 10% Stockholder); and (ii)
the exercise price of a Non-Qualified Stock Option shall not be less than 85% of
the Fair Market Value of the Stock as defined above.
(b) Option
Term. Subject to the
limitations in Section 5.1, the term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the
Committee.
(c) Exercisability. Stock Options shall be
exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as
shall be determined by the Committee. If the Committee provides, in
its discretion, that any Stock Option is exercisable only in installments, i.e.,
that it vests over time, the Committee may waive such installment exercise
provisions at any time at or after the time of grant in whole or in part, based
upon such factors as the Committee shall determine.
(d) Method
of Exercise. Subject to whatever
installment, exercise and waiting period provisions are applicable in a
particular case, Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part at any time
during the term of the Option, by giving written notice of exercise to the
Company specifying the number of shares of Stock to be
purchased. Such notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the
purchase price, which shall be in cash or, unless otherwise provided in the
Agreement, in shares of Stock (including Restricted Stock) or, partly in cash
and partly in such Stock, or such other means which the Committee determines are
consistent with the Plan's purpose and applicable law. Cash payments
shall be made by wire transfer, certified or bank check or personal check, in
each case payable to the order of the Company; provided,
however, that the Company
shall not be required to deliver certificates for shares of Stock with respect
to which an Option is exercised until the Company has confirmed the receipt of
good and available funds in payment of the purchase price
thereof. Payments in the form of Stock shall be valued at the Fair
Market Value of a share of Stock on the date prior to the date of
exercise. Such payments shall be made by delivery of stock
certificates in negotiable form which are effective to transfer good and valid
title thereto to the Company, free of any liens or encumbrances. A
Holder shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares
subject to the Option until such shares shall be transferred to the Holder upon
the exercise of the Option.
(e) Transferability. No Stock Option shall be
transferable by the Holder otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution, and all Stock Options shall be exercisable, during the Holder's
lifetime, only by the Holder.
(f) Termination
by Reason of Death. If a Holder's employment by the Company or
a Subsidiary terminates by reason of death, any portion of the Holder’s Stock
Option that has not vested shall be forfeited, unless otherwise determined by
the Committee at the time of grant and set forth in the
Agreement. Any vested portion of a Holder’s Stock Option
may thereafter be exercised by the legal representative of the estate or by the
legatee of the Holder under the will of the Holder, for a period of one year (or
such other greater or lesser period as the Committee may specify at grant) from
the date of such death or until the expiration of the stated term of such Stock
Option, whichever period is the shorter.
(g) Termination
by Reason of Disability. If a Holder's employment by the
Company or any Subsidiary terminates by reason of Disability, any portion of the Holder’s Stock
Option that
has not vested shall be forfeited, unless otherwise determined by the Committee
at the time of grant and set forth in the Agreement. Any vested portion of a Holder’s Stock Option
may thereafter be exercised by the Holder for a period of one year (or such
other greater or lesser period as the Committee may specify at the time of
grant) from the date of such termination of employment or until the expiration
of the stated term of such Stock Option, whichever period is the shorter. If a Holder is deemed
incompetent due to his or her disability, the vested portion of that Holder’s
Stock Option may be exercised in the same manner by the Holder’s legal
representative or guardian.
(h) Other
Termination. Subject to the provisions of
Section 16.3 below and unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time
of grant and set forth in the Agreement, if a Holder is an employee of the
Company or a Subsidiary at the time of grant and if such Holder's employment by
the Company or any Subsidiary terminates for any reason other than death or
Disability, the Stock Option shall thereupon automatically terminate, except
that if the Holder's employment is terminated by the Company or a Subsidiary
without cause or due to Normal Retirement, then the portion of such Stock Option
which has vested on the date of termination of employment may be exercised for
the lesser of three months after termination of employment or the balance of
such Stock Option's term.
(i) Additional
Incentive Stock Option Limitation. In the case of an Incentive
Stock Option, the amount of aggregate Fair Market Value of Stock (determined at
the time of grant of the Option) with respect to which Incentive Stock Options
are exercisable for the first time by a Holder during any calendar year (under
all such plans of the Company and its Parent and any Subsidiary) shall not
exceed $100,000.
(j) Buyout
and Settlement Provisions. The Committee may at any
time offer to buy out a Stock Option previously granted, based upon such terms
and conditions as the Committee shall establish and communicate to the Holder at
the time that such offer is made.
(k) Stock
Option Agreement. Each grant of a Stock Option
shall be confirmed by, and shall be subject to the terms of an agreement (a
"Stock Option Agreement"), or an amendment thereto, executed by the company and
the Holder. Each Stock Option Agreement shall set forth (1) the
number of shares underlying the Stock Options awarded to the Holder, (2) the
vesting conditions applicable to the award and (3) such other terms and
conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as determined in its discretion by
the Committee.
Section 6. [Intentionally
omitted.]
II. RESTRICTED
STOCK GRANTS
Section 7. Grant of Restricted Stock
Awards
Subject to the provisions of the Plan,
the Committee shall have full and final authority, in its discretion, (1) to
determine the eligibility of any individual to receive an award of Restricted
Stock under the Plan, (2) to select from among the eligible individuals the
persons who are to receive such awards and (3) to determine the number of shares
of Restricted Stock to be awarded to any eligible person selected by the
Committee and the terms and conditions of the award. In determining
the number of shares of Restricted Stock to be granted to any Holder and the
terms and conditions of such award, the Committee shall consider the position
and responsibilities of the individual being considered, the nature and value to
the Company of his or her services, his or her present and/or potential
contribution to the success of the Company, and such other factors as the
Committee may deem relevant.
Section 8. Terms and Conditions of
Restricted Stock Awards
Awards of Restricted Stock granted under
the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions:
8.1 Date
of Awards. Awards of Restricted Stock
shall be made only as of a Valuation Date, as defined in Section
8.9.
8.2 Vesting
Conditions. Awards under the Plan shall
consist of a specified number of shares of Stock (“Restricted Stock”) awarded to
a Holder subject to the satisfaction of one or more vesting conditions
determined and specified by the Committee at the time of the
award. Such vesting conditions may include:
(i) Service
Conditions. A
requirement that the Holder remain in the service of the Company as an employee,
director, member of an Advisory Board, consultant, advisor and/or in such other
capacity or capacities as the Committee may specify (hereinafter referred to as
the Holder’s “Service”) from the date of the award through the Valuation Date or
Valuation Dates specified by the Committee at the time of the
award;
(ii) Performance
Conditions. Satisfaction of such
requirements relating to the performance of the Company, any department, unit or
other portion thereof or the Holder individually as the Committee may determine
and specify at the time of the award; and/or
(iii) Other
Conditions. Such
other conditions to the vesting of the shares of Restricted Stock as the
Committee may, in its discretion, determine and specify at the time of the
award.
The vesting conditions to which an award
of Restricted Stock is subject may be stated in the alternative, such that
satisfaction of one or more of such conditions will be sufficient to cause the
vesting of the shares of Restricted Stock, or cumulatively such that vesting
will not occur unless and until all of such conditions is satisfied, or in any
combination of the two. Vesting conditions may also be stated in such
a manner that vesting of a designated portion of the shares awarded will occur
on satisfaction of one or more specified conditions, whereas satisfaction of
additional or different conditions is required for the vesting of another
specified portion or portions of the shares. For example, an award
may provide for the vesting of an award in stages upon satisfaction of
conditions relating to specified numbers of years of Service and/or levels of
performance.
Unless otherwise specifically determined
by the Committee, the vesting conditions applicable to an award of Restricted
Stock shall be stated in such a manner that vesting of any shares of Restricted
Stock shall occur, if at all, as of one or more Valuation
Dates.
8.3 Restricted
Stock Agreements. All awards of Restricted Stock shall be
confirmed by and subject to the terms of an agreement (a “Restricted Stock
Agreement”), executed by the Company and the Holder. Each Restricted
Stock Agreement shall set forth (1) the number of shares of Restricted Stock
awarded to the Holder, (2) the vesting conditions applicable to the award and
(3) such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as
determined in its discretion by the Committee.
No Holder shall sell, exchange, assign,
alienate, pledge, hypothecate, encumber, charge, give, devise, or otherwise
dispose of, either voluntarily or by operation of law (hereinafter referred to
as "transfer"), any shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan or any rights
or interests appertaining thereto, except as permitted by the
Plan.
8.4 Transfer
Restrictions; Escrow of Restricted Stock. Unless and until the vesting
conditions prescribed by the Committee for such shares have been satisfied, a
Holder may not sell, exchange, assign, alienate, pledge, hypothecate, encumber,
charge, give, or otherwise dispose of, either voluntarily or by operation of law
(any such action being hereinafter referred to as a “transfer”) any shares of
Restricted Stock, or any interest therein, other than by Will or the laws of
descent and distribution on death of the Holder, and any attempt to make such a
transfer shall be null and void. Pending satisfaction of the vesting
conditions with respect thereto, the certificates representing shares of
Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan shall be held in escrow by the Company,
and as a condition of any award of Restricted Stock, the Holder shall deliver to
the Company one or more undated stock powers with respect thereto to be used by
the Company in the event any such shares are forfeited to the Company pursuant
to the terms of the Plan or the Restricted Stock Agreement. As soon
as practicable following satisfaction of the vesting conditions with respect to
any shares of Restricted Stock and payment to the Company of any amount required
for withholding taxes as provided in Section 16.6, the Company will cause a
certificate or certificates for such shares to be delivered to the Holder or in
the event of death to the Holder’s personal representative. Following
satisfaction of the vesting conditions and delivery of stock certificates to the
Holder, shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan will remain subject to the
transfer restrictions provided in Section 10.
8.5 Custody
and Payment of Distributions on Restricted Stock. Unless and until the vesting
conditions with respect to such shares have been satisfied, any dividends or
other distributions paid with respect to shares of Restricted Stock, whether in
cash, securities or other property, and any cash, securities or other property
into which shares of Restricted Stock may be converted or exchanged by reason of
any reorganization, reclassification, recapitalization, stock split or
combination of shares, merger, consolidation or other change affecting the
Company or such shares (collectively “Distributions”), shall be paid to and held
in escrow by the Company subject to the same vesting conditions as the shares of
Restricted Stock to which they relate. As soon as practicable
following satisfaction of the vesting conditions with respect to any shares of
Restricted Stock and payment to the Company of any amount required for
withholding taxes as provided in Section 16.6, the Company will cause any
Distributions held by the Company with respect to such shares to be paid or
delivered to the Holder or in the event of death to the Holder’s personal
representative. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if and to the extent
that the Committee shall so determine and specifically provide in the Restricted
Stock Agreement, cash dividends payable from the earnings of the Company may be
paid directly to the Holder, without restrictions, prior to the satisfaction of
the vesting conditions.
8.6 Shareholder
Status of Holders Of Restricted Stock. As of the date of any award
of Restricted Stock, and unless and until the shares of Restricted Stock awarded
are forfeited to the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plan or the
Restricted Stock Agreement, the Holder shall be considered for all purposes to
be the beneficial and record owner of the shares of Restricted Stock awarded to
the Holder and to have all rights of a shareholder with respect to such shares,
subject only to the restrictions and other terms and conditions of the award as
specified in the Plan or in the Restricted Stock Agreement.
8.7 Termination
of Service of Holders of Restricted Stock. Unless the Committee, in its discretion,
shall otherwise determine and the Restricted Stock Agreement shall so
provide:
(i) If the Service of a
Holder who is disabled within the meaning of Section 422(c)(6) of the Code (a
"Disabled Holder") is voluntarily terminated with the consent of the Company,
the vesting conditions applicable to any outstanding Restricted Stock award held
by such Holder and not previously forfeited to the Company shall be deemed to
have been satisfied as of the date of such termination of
Service;
(ii) Upon death of a Holder
during Service to the Company, the vesting conditions applicable to any
outstanding Restricted Stock award held by such Holder and not previously
forfeited to the Company shall be deemed to have been satisfied as of the date
of death of the Holder; and
(iii) If the Service of a
Holder terminates for any reason other than voluntary termination of a Disabled
Holder with the consent of the Company or death, all shares of Restricted Stock
held by the Holder as to which the vesting conditions have not been satisfied as
of the time of such termination of employment shall be automatically be deemed
forfeited to the Company, without consideration or further action being required
of the Company.
Whether a Holder is a Disabled Holder
shall be determined in each case, in its discretion, by the Committee, and any
such determination by the Committee shall be final, binding and
conclusive.
8.8 Forfeiture
of Restricted Stock; Determinations by the Committee. Except as otherwise
specifically provided in the Plan or the Restricted Stock Agreement, in the
event that any of the vesting conditions applicable to shares of Restricted
Stock shall not be satisfied, the shares of Restricted Stock to which such
conditions relates, and any Distributions held by the Company with respect
thereto, shall automatically be deemed to have been forfeited to the Company,
without consideration or further action being required of the
Company. In the event that the nature of a vesting condition is such
that the determination as to its satisfaction or nonsatisfaction cannot be made
until a later date, such as in the case of an earnings test for a specified
accounting period, the shares subject to such condition shall continue to be
held in escrow by the Company pending final determination as to the satisfaction
of the condition, but the earning or forfeiture of the shares and related
Distributions shall be deemed to have occurred as of the date of satisfaction or
nonsatisfaction of the final vesting condition related to such
shares. Any question or dispute which may arise as to the
satisfaction or nonsatisfaction of any vesting condition shall be determined, in
its discretion, by the Committee, and any such determination by the Committee
shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company, the Holder and all
persons claiming through the Holder.
8.9 Valuation of the
Restricted Stock
(a) As used for this Section
8 of the Plan, the following terms shall have the following
definitions:
(i) “Current Value” as of any
date shall mean the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock as of the most recent
Valuation Date for which a determination of Fair Market Value pursuant to 1.2(k)
has been made by the Committee on or before such date, as adjusted for any stock
splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reclassifications or other changes
in the Stock occurring since such Valuation Date.
(ii) “Valuation Date” shall
mean (1) the date of the first award of Restricted Stock under the Plan, (2)
thereafter, for so long as any shares of Stock shall remain subject to
restrictions under Section 8 or Section 10 hereof, the last day of each fiscal
year of the Company and (3) such other date or dates, if any, as the Committee
may, in its discretion, determine.
(b) On or before the first
Valuation Date, and for each Valuation Date thereafter (1) if such Valuation
Date is the last day of the Company’s fiscal year, not later than 30 days after
the date the report of the Company’s independent accountants with respect to the
Company’s financial statements for such fiscal year (the “Audit Report”) is
furnished to the Board, or (2) in the case of any other Valuation Date, not
later than 30 days such Valuation Date, the Committee shall determine the Fair
Market Value of the Stock as of such Valuation Date. Within 10 days
following its determination of Fair Market Value as of any Valuation Date, the
Committee call cause notice thereof to be furnished to each
Holder. In the absence of manifest error, any determination of Fair
Market Value made pursuant to this Section 8.9 shall, for all purposes of the
Plan, be final, binding and conclusive on the Company, on each Holder, and on
any heirs, legatees, personal representatives or any other person claiming
through any Holder.
Section 9 [Intentionally
Omitted]
III. GENERAL
RESTRICTIONS
Section 10. General Restrictions
Applicable to Grants Under The Plan
10.1 Securities
Law Restrictions. No shares of Stock shall be issued under
the Plan, and no certificates for such shares shall be delivered to any Holder,
unless the Company shall be satisfied (and if requested by the Company, unless
it has received an opinion of counsel selected by the Company to such effect)
that the issuance or delivery of the shares will not cause the Company to
violate the Securities Act, any applicable state or foreign securities law or
any applicable rules or regulations under the Securities Act or under any such
state or foreign securities law. The Company is under no obligation
to register any shares of Stock issuable under the Plan, or take any other
action, under the Securities Act or under any state or foreign securities law in
connection with any award of Stock Options or Restricted Stock or to prepare any
disclosure document for distribution to Holders under the Securities Act or any
state or foreign securities law in connection with any such award. As
a condition precedent to the issuance or delivery of shares upon an award of
Stock Options or Restricted Stock or upon satisfaction of the vesting conditions
with respect thereto, the person entitled to such shares may be required to
represent, warrant and agree (i) that the shares are being acquired for the
account of such person for investment and not with a view to the resale or other
distribution thereof and (ii) that such person will not, directly or indirectly,
transfer, sell, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any such
shares unless the transfer, sale, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other
disposition of the shares is pursuant to effective registrations under the
Securities Act and any applicable state or foreign securities laws or pursuant
to appropriate exemptions from any such registrations. The
certificate or certificates representing the shares to be issued or delivered
upon an award of Stock Options or Restricted Stock or the satisfaction of the
vesting conditions with respect thereto may bear a legend to this effect and
other legends required by any applicable securities laws, and if the Company
should at some time engage the services of a stock transfer agent, appropriate
stop-transfer instructions may be issued to the stock transfer agent with
respect to such shares. In addition, also as a condition precedent to
the issuance or delivery of shares upon an award of Stock Options or Restricted
Stock or the satisfaction of the vesting conditions with respect thereto, the
person entitled to the shares may be required to make certain other
representations and warranties and to provide certain other information to
enable counsel for the Company to render an opinion under the first sentence of
this Section 10.1.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of
this Section 8 and the other provisions of the Plan, any award of Stock Options
or Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be made subject to such other
restrictions and such other terms and conditions, if any, as shall be
determined, in its discretion, by the Committee and set forth in the Stock
Option or Restricted Stock Agreement or an amendment thereto
10.2 Continuing
Transfer Restrictions After the satisfaction of
the vesting conditions with respect thereto, all shares of Stock acquired
pursuant to an award of Stock Options or Restricted Stock under the Plan shall
remain subject to the following continuing restrictions on
transfer:
(a) No Holder shall sell,
exchange, assign, alienate, pledge, hypothecate, encumber, charge, give, devise,
or otherwise dispose of, either voluntarily or by operation of law (hereinafter
referred to as "transfer"), any shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan or
any rights or interests appertaining thereto, except as permitted by the
Plan.
(b) If the Service of a
Holder with the Company terminates for any reason other than death, retirement
under any retirement plan of the Company or because the Holder becomes a
Disabled Holder (including without limitation the resignation of the Holder or
the termination of the Holder's employment by the Company with or without cause)
or if a Holder dies subsequent to any such termination of Service, all shares of
Stock held by the Holder which were acquired pursuant to the Plan shall be
deemed to have been offered for sale to the Company as of the date of such
termination of Service or the date of death, as the case may be, at a price
equal to the Current Value of the shares, determined as provided in Section 8.9,
as of such date. If the Company elects to purchase any or all of the
shares of Stock deemed offered, the Company shall notify the Holder (or his or
her personal representative) by certified mail within 30 days of the date of
termination of the Holder's Service with the Company or the date the chief
executive officer of the Company learns of the Holder's death, as the case may
be, that the Company accepts the deemed offer and the number of such shares that
the Company elects to purchase. If the Company accepts the deemed
offer in whole or in part, the purchase of the shares of Stock pursuant to this
Section 10.2(c) shall be consummated, and payment in full for the shares
purchased shall be made, at the principal executive offices of the Company on
such date and at such time as may be reasonably designated by the Company in
such written notice delivered to the Holder (or his or her personal
representative), but not later than 30 days following the date of such written
notice. Upon receipt of the purchase price of the Stock, the Holder
(or his or her personal representative) shall assign, transfer and deliver to
the Company the certificates for the shares purchased, duly endorsed, with all
necessary stock transfer tax stamps duly affixed, together with any and all
documents required to effectively transfer the shares to the
Company. If the Company decides not to accept the deemed offer in
whole or in part, the Company shall so notify the Holder (or the personal
representative of the Holder). Section 10.2(a), 10.2(b) and 10.2(c)
shall continue to apply to the Holder (or the Holder’s personal representative,
subject to Section 10.2(e)).
(c) If the Service of a
Holder with the Company terminates by reason of retirement under any retirement
plan of the Company or because the Holder becomes a Disabled Holder, the Holder
may, within 30 days following such termination, by written notice to the Company
by certified mail, offer to sell to the Company all, but not less than all, of
the shares of Stock held by the Holder which were acquired pursuant to the Plan
at a price equal to the Current Value of such shares, determined as provided in
Section 8.9, on the date of such termination of employment. If the
Service of a Holder with the Company terminates by reason of death or the Holder
dies following a termination of Service described in the preceding sentence, the
Holder’s personal representative may, within one year following the date of the
Holder’s death, by written notice to the Company by certified mail, offer to
sell to the Company all, but not less than all, of the shares of Stock held by
the Holder which were acquired pursuant to the Plan at a price equal to the
Current Value of such shares, determined as provided in Section 8.9, on the date
of death of the Holder. The Company shall accept any offer made under
this Section 10.2(d) to the extent Company is legally permitted to acquire the
shares of its Stock offered for purchase, except that if offer is made by a
Holder (or his or her personal representative) who owns more than five percent
(5%) of the total number of shares of the Common Stock of the Company (a "Five
Percent Holder"), the Company shall have the right, but shall not be required,
to accept the offer. If the Company will acquire the shares of the
Stock offered, the Company shall notify the Holder (or his or her personal
representative) by certified mail within 30 days of the date of termination of
the Holder's Service with the Company or the date the chief executive officer of
the Company learns of the Holder's death, as the case may be, that the Company
accepts the offer. If the Company accepts the offer, the purchase of
the shares of Stock pursuant to this Section 10.2(d) shall be consummated, and
payment in full for the shares purchased shall be made, at the principal
executive offices of the Company on such date and at such time as may be
reasonably designated by the Company in such written notice delivered to the
Holder (or his or her personal representative), but not later than 30 days
following the date of such written notice. Upon receipt of the
purchase price of the Stock, the Holder (or his or her personal representative)
shall assign, transfer and deliver to the Company the certificates for the
shares purchased, duly endorsed, with all necessary stock transfer tax stamps
duly affixed, together with any and all documents required to effectively
transfer the shares to the Company. If the Company is not legally
permitted to acquire all of the shares offered or the Company decides not to
accept the offer from a Five Percent Holder, the Company shall so notify the
Holder (or the personal representative of the Holder). Section
10.2(a), 10.2(b) and 10.2(d) shall continue to apply to the Holder (or the
Holder’s personal representative, subject to Section
10.2(e)).
(d) In the event of (1) the
death of any Holder and the non-exercise by the Company of the purchase rights
granted in Section 10.2(c) or 10.2(d), (2) the death of a Holder described in
Section 10.2(d) and the failure of the Holder’s personal representative to offer
the Holder’s shares to the Company or (c) the Company’s failure following
exercise of such purchase rights, through the fault of the Company alone, to
consummate the purchase of its Stock, any devisee, legatee or heir of such
Holder (including any trustee) shall be entitled to receive the Stock of the
Holder subject to the Plan, but any such recipient shall be subject to the
transfer restrictions of Sections 10.2(a) and 10.2(b) and, in the event of such
recipient's death, Section 10.2(c) and this Section 10.2(e), as if such
recipient were the "Holder" (with any reference to Service of the Holder meaning
Service of the original Holder hereunder). The devisee, legatee or
heir of such Holder (including any trustee) who receives the Stock shall execute
a written agreement with the Company agreeing to such
restrictions.
(e) Each certificate
representing shares of Stock issued pursuant to the Plan shall have noted on the
face of such certificate legends in substantially the following forms and such
other legends as the Company may deem necessary or appropriate to assure
compliance with the requirements of applicable federal or state securities
laws:
Notice is hereby given that the shares
of stock represented by this certificate are held subject to, and may not be
sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, gifted or otherwise disposed of except in
accordance with, the terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in the 2000
Stock Option Plan of Power Efficiency Corporation (the "Plan"), a copy of which
is on file at the office of Power Efficiency Corporation No such
transaction shall be recognized as valid or effective unless there shall have
been compliance with the terms and conditions of the Plan. By
acceptance of this certificate, the holder (i) represents and warrants that the
shares of stock represented hereby are being acquired for investment for the
account of the holder and not with a view to the resale or other distribution
thereof and (ii) acknowledges that violation of the provisions of the Plan is
not adequately compensable by monetary damages and that, in addition to other
relief, the terms thereof may be specifically enforced in an action for
injunctive relief.
In addition, the shares of stock
represented by this certificate have not been registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or any state or foreign securities law (the "Acts") and
may not be transferred by the holder except (1) pursuant to a Registration
Statement or other appropriate registration effective under the Acts, or (2)
pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Acts and the
delivery of a legal opinion satisfactory to counsel for Power Efficiency
Corporation that registration is not required.
The restrictions on transfer contained
in this Section 10, and the rights and obligations of the Company to purchase
shares of Stock under this Section 10, shall expire on such date, if any, as the
Company shall become subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, provided, however,
that such expiration shall not affect the rights or obligations of the Company
with respect to any offer to purchase accepted by the Company prior to such
date. The expiration of the restrictions contained in this Section 10
shall not affect the restrictions to which a holder of shares of Stock acquired
under the Plan may be subject under the Securities Act, any state or foreign
securities law or other applicable law or the right of the Company to require,
as a condition to any transfer of its Stock, an opinion of legal counsel
satisfactory to the Company as to whether any proposed transfer is in compliance
with the registration or other requirements of such laws.
IV. MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11. Adjustment and Substitution
of Shares
If a dividend or other distribution
shall be declared upon the Stock, payable in shares of the Stock, the number of
shares of Stock remaining available for the issuance of Stock Options or
Restricted Stock awards under the Plan shall be adjusted by adding thereto the
number of shares of Stock which would have been distributable thereon if such
shares had been outstanding on the date fixed for determining the shareholders
entitled to receive such stock dividend or distribution.
If the outstanding shares of the Stock
shall be converted into or exchangeable for a different number or kind of shares
of stock or other securities of the Company or another corporation or entity,
whether through reorganization, reclassification, recapitalization, stock split,
combination of shares, merger or consolidation, then there shall be substituted
for each share of Stock remaining available for the issuance of Stock Options or
Restricted Stock awards under the Plan, the number and kind of shares of stock
or other securities into which each outstanding share of the Stock shall be so
converted or for which each such share shall be
exchangeable.
In the event of any such stock dividend
or distribution, conversion or exchange affecting the Stock (1) shares of Stock
previously issued under the Plan shall be treated in the same manner as other
outstanding shares of Stock and, in the case of shares of Stock Options or
Restricted Stock which remain subject to vesting conditions, shall continue to
be subject to the provisions of Section 8(i) of the Plan for Restricted Stock
and the provisions of the vesting schedules for Stock Options and (2) unless
otherwise determined by the Committee, any securities of the Company or of
another corporation or entity distributed with respect to shares of Stock
acquired under the Plan, or into which shares of Stock acquired under the Plan
shall be converted or for which such shares of Stock shall be exchanged shall be
subject to the provisions of Section 10 of the Plan in the same manner as the
shares of Stock with respect to which they were distributed or
received.
Section 12. [Intentionally
Omitted]
Section 13. [Intentionally
Omitted]
Section 14. Amendment and
Termination.
The Board may at any time, and
from time to time, amend, alter, suspend or discontinue any of the provisions of
the Plan, but no amendment, alteration, suspension or discontinuance shall be
made which would impair the rights of a Holder under any Agreement theretofore
entered into hereunder, without his consent.
Section 15. Term of
Plan.
15.1 Effective
Date. The Plan
shall be effective as of September 2000 ("Effective Date"). Any
awards granted under the Plan prior to such approval shall be effective when
made (unless otherwise specified by the Committee at the time of grant), but
shall be conditioned upon, and subject to, such approval of the Plan by the
Company's stockholders and no awards shall vest or otherwise become free of
restrictions prior to such approval.
15.2 Termination
Date. Unless
terminated by the Board, this Plan shall continue to remain effective until such
time no further awards may be granted and all awards granted under the Plan are
no longer outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, grants of
Incentive Stock Options may only be made during the ten year period following
the Effective Date.
Section 16. General Provisions.
16.1 Written
Agreements. Each
award granted under the Plan shall be confirmed by, and shall be subject to the
terms of the Agreement executed by the Company and the Holder. The
Committee may terminate any award made under the Plan if the Agreement relating
thereto is not executed and returned to the Company within sixty (60) days after
the Agreement has been delivered to the Holder for his or her
execution.
16.2 Unfunded Status of
Plan. The Plan
is intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan for incentive and deferred
compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Holder
by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Holder any rights
that are greater than those of a general creditor of the
Company.
16.3 Employees.
(a) Engaging
in Competition With the Company. In the event an employee
Holder violates a Policy or Agreement of the Company or a subsidiary pertaining
to non-competition, solicitation and/or confidentiality, the Committee, in its
sole discretion may require such Holder to return to the Company the economic
value of any award which was realized or obtained (measured at the date of
exercise, vesting or payment) by such Holder at any time during the period
beginning on that date which is six months prior to the date of such Holder's
violation of the Company's Policy or Agreements.
(b) Termination
for Cause. The
Committee may, in the event an employee is terminated for cause, annul any award
granted under this Plan to such employee and, in such event, the Committee, in
its sole discretion, may require such Holder to return to the Company the
economic value of any award which was realized or obtained (measured at the date
of exercise, vesting or payment) by such Holder at any time during the period
beginning on that date which is six months prior to the date of such Holder's
termination of employment with the Company.
(c) No
Right of Employment. Nothing contained in the
Plan or in any award hereunder shall be deemed to confer upon any employee of
the Company or any Subsidiary any right to continued employment with the Company
or any Subsidiary, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the
Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment of any of its employees at
any time.
16.4 Investment
Representations. The Committee may require
each person acquiring shares of Stock pursuant to a Stock Option or other award
under the Plan to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that the
Holder is acquiring the shares for investment without a view to distribution
thereof.
16.5 Additional Incentive
Arrangements. Nothing contained in the
Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting such other or additional incentive
arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, but not limited to, the
granting of stock options and the awarding of stock and cash otherwise than
under the Plan; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or
applicable only in specific cases.
16.6 Withholding
Taxes. Not later
than the date as of which an amount first becomes includable in the gross income
of the Holder for Federal income tax purposes with respect to any Option or
award of Restricted Stock under the Plan, the Holder shall pay to the Company,
or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee regarding the payment of, any
Federal, state and local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld or
paid with respect to such amount. If permitted by the Committee, tax
withholding or payment obligations may be settled with Common Stock, including
Common Stock that is part of the award that gives rise to the withholding
requirement. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be
conditional upon such payment or arrangements satisfactory to the Company and
the Company or the Holder's employer (if not the Company) shall, to the extent
permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of
any kind otherwise due to the Holder from the Company or any
Subsidiary.
16.7 Governing
Law. The Plan and
all awards made and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to choice of law
provisions).
16.8 Other Benefit
Plans. Any award
granted under the Plan shall not be deemed compensation for purposes of
computing benefits under any retirement plan of the Company or any Subsidiary
and shall not affect any benefits under any other benefit plan no or
subsequently in effect under which the availability or amount of benefits is
related to the level of compensation (unless required by specific reference in
any such other plan to awards under this Plan).
16.9 Non-Transferability. Except as otherwise
expressly provided in the Plan, no right or benefit under the Plan may be
alienated, sold, assigned, hypothecated, pledged, exchanged, transferred,
encumbranced or charged, and any attempt to alienate, sell, assign, hypothecate,
pledge, exchange, transfer, encumber or charge the same shall be
void.
16.10 Applicable
Laws. The
obligations of the Company with respect to all Stock Options and awards under
the Plan shall be subject to (i) all applicable laws, rules and regulations and
such approvals by any governmental agencies as may be required, including,
without limitation, the effectiveness of a registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and (ii) the rules and regulations of any
securities exchange on which the Stock may be listed.
16.11 Conflicts. If any of the terms or
provisions of the Plan conflict with the requirements of (with respect to
Incentive Stock Options), Section 422 of the Code, then such terms or provisions
shall be deemed inoperative to the extent they so conflict with the requirements
of said Section 422 of the Code. Additionally, if this Plan does not
contain any provision required to be included herein under Section 422 of the
Code, such provision shall be deemed to be incorporated herein with the same
force and effect as if such provision had been set out at length
herein.
16.12 Non-Registered
Stock. The
shares of Stock being distributed under this Plan have not been registered under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any applicable state or foreign
securities laws and the Company has no obligation to any Holder to register the
Stock or to assist Holder in obtaining an exemption from the various
registration requirements, or to list the Stock on a national securities
exchange or inter-dealer quotation system.
.