MERGE TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
Merge Technologies Incorporated
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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Merge Technologies Incorporated
6737 West Washington Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 532145650
(414) 9774000
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To the Shareholders of Merge Technologies Incorporated:
We invite you to attend our 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 11, 2007, at 10:00 a.m.
Central Time, at the Doubletree Hotel Milwaukee/Brookfield, 18155 West Bluemound Road, in
Brookfield, Wisconsin. At the Annual Meeting, as we describe in the accompanying Proxy Statement,
we will ask you to vote on the following matters:
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the election of eleven (11) directors; |
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the amendment of our Companys Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
to change our name to Merge Healthcare Incorporated; and |
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such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting, or any
adjournment or postponement thereof. |
You are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting only if you were a Shareholder of record at the
close of business on March 26, 2007. A Proxy Statement and proxy card are enclosed. Whether or
not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting, it is important that you promptly complete, sign, date
and mail the proxy card in the enclosed envelope so that you may vote your shares.
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By order of the Board of Directors:
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/s/ Kenneth D.
Rardin
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Kenneth D. Rardin
President and Chief Executive Officer |
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Milwaukee, Wisconsin
April 9, 2007
Our 2006 Summary Annual Report (including our Companys Annual Report on Form 10K) is enclosed
with this Notice and Proxy Statement.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE
2007 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
MERGE TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
MAY 11, 2007
Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this Proxy Statement to we,
our, us, or the Company are to Merge Technologies Incorporated doing business as Merge
Healthcare and its subsidiaries.
Why have I received this Proxy Statement?
We are furnishing this Proxy Statement to the holders of shares of our Common Stock (whom we
refer to as you or our Shareholders), in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our
Board of Directors (which we refer to as our Board) for use at the 2007 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held on May 11, 2007, or any adjournment or postponement thereof (the Annual
Meeting). We first sent this Proxy Statement, the enclosed Notice and proxy card to Shareholders
on or about April 9, 2007.
When will the Annual Meeting be held?
The Annual Meeting will be convened at approximately 10:00 a.m. Central Time on May 11, 2007.
Any adjournment or postponement thereof will be announced at the Annual Meeting.
Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?
You are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting only if you were a Shareholder of record at the
close of business on March 26, 2007. In addition, only shares of our Common Stock represented by
properly executed proxies in the accompanying form received by our Board prior to the Annual
Meeting will be voted at the Annual Meeting. A complete list of Shareholders eligible to vote will
be available for inspection at our offices beginning two (2) business days after the date of this
Notice and Proxy Statement.
How many shares will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?
At
the close of business on March 26, 2007, there were 33,903,735 shares of our Common Stock
outstanding that have voting rights, including: (i) 31,672,212 shares of our Common Stock, and
(ii) one Preferred Series 3 Special Voting Share, which entitles the holder of record of such share
to voting rights equal to 2,231,523 shares of our Common Stock. The Preferred Series 3 Special
Voting Share was issued by us in connection with our business combination with Cedara Software
Corp. (Cedara) to provide voting rights to holders of Merge Cedara ExchangeCo Limited
Exchangeable Shares, which shares are convertible into shares of our Common Stock. The Preferred
Series 3 Special Voting Share will be treated as Common Stock having 2,231,523 votes at the Annual
Meeting. Our current directors and Named Executive Officers own 446,822 shares of our Common
Stock, or approximately 1.3% of our total outstanding Common Stock, which they intend to vote in
favor of the proposals.
How many shares are required to be present at the Annual Meeting?
A quorum of Shareholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. The presence in person or
representation by proxy at any meeting of our Shareholders of a majority of the outstanding shares
of our Common Stock entitled to vote at the meeting constitutes a quorum. If a quorum is not
present, then the Annual Meeting may be postponed or adjourned, without notice other than
announcement at the Annual Meeting, until a quorum is present or represented. At any subsequent
reconvening of the Annual Meeting, all proxies will be voted in the same manner as the proxies
would have been voted at the original convening of the Annual Meeting, except for any proxies that
have been effectively revoked or withdrawn prior to the subsequent meeting.
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Broker nonvotes are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the
Annual Meeting, but are not counted for purposes of determining whether a proposal has been
approved. A broker nonvote occurs on an item when a broker does not have discretionary voting
authority to vote on a proposal and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner of the
shares as to how to vote on the proposal.
How will my vote be counted?
If you specify a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon in the enclosed proxy and
return it to our Board, the shares of our Common Stock represented by that proxy will be voted as
specified. If you do not specify a choice in an otherwise properly executed proxy with respect to
any proposal referred to therein, the shares of our Common Stock represented by that proxy will be
voted with respect to that proposal in accordance with the recommendations of our Board described
herein. Votes cast by proxy or in person at the Annual Meeting will be counted by an inspector of
election appointed for the Annual Meeting, who will also determine whether or not a quorum is
present.
May I change my vote after returning this proxy?
If you sign and return a proxy in the accompanying form, you may revoke it by: (i) giving
written notice of revocation to us before the proxy is voted at the Annual Meeting; (ii) executing
and delivering a laterdated proxy before the proxy is voted at the Annual Meeting; or (iii)
attending the Annual Meeting and voting your shares of Common Stock in person.
What vote is required to approve the proposals?
The eleven (11) nominees receiving the highest vote totals of the eligible shares of our
Common Stock will be elected as our directors. With regard to the election of directors, votes may
be cast in favor or withheld; votes that are withheld will be excluded entirely from the vote and
will have no effect.
The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of our Common Stock eligible to
vote (i.e., a majority of the shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the record
date) is required for approval of the proposed Amendment to our Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation, as well as to approve any other matter that is properly brought before the Annual
Meeting. Therefore, approval of this proposal will require the affirmative vote of 16,951,869
shares.
Who will pay solicitation costs associated with this Proxy Statement?
We will make arrangements with brokerage houses, banks and other custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries to forward solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of the shares of our Common
Stock held of record by those persons. We may reimburse these custodians, nominees and fiduciaries
for their reasonable outofpocket expenses incurred in forwarding proxy materials to these
beneficial owners. We will bear the cost of soliciting proxies, although we currently do not
intend to solicit proxies. In addition to the use of the mail, proxies may be solicited by our
directors, officers or employees, who will not be specifically compensated for these services, by
means of personal calls upon, or telephonic, telegraphic or facsimile communications with,
Shareholders or their representatives.
The mailing address of our principal executive offices is 6737 West Washington Street, Suite
2250, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 532145650. Our Shareholder email address is
shareholderinfo@mergehealthcare.com and our web site is located at
www.mergehealthcare.com. The shares of our Common Stock are included for quotation on the
NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol MRGE.
WE INTEND TO BEGIN MAILING THIS PROXY STATEMENT ON OR ABOUT APRIL 9, 2007.
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PROPOSAL ONE: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Eleven (11) individuals will be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve as directors until our
next Annual Meeting of the Shareholders or otherwise as provided in our Amended and Restated Bylaws
adopted on September 6, 2006 (our Bylaws). The individuals named as proxy voters in the
accompanying proxy, or their substitutes, will vote for the following nominees with respect to all
proxies we receive unless instructions to the contrary are provided. If any nominee becomes
unavailable for any reason, the votes will be cast for a substitute nominee designated by our
Board. Our directors have no reason to believe that any of the nominees named below will be unable
to serve if elected.
The following table lists the names of our current directors, each of whom is a candidate for
reelection, and their respective ages and positions with us, followed by a brief biography of each
individual, including their business experience during the past five years.
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Robert A. Barish, M.D. |
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Director |
Dennis Brown |
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Director |
Michael D. Dunham |
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Chairman of Board |
Robert T. Geras |
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Director |
Anna Marie Hajek |
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Director |
R. Ian Lennox |
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Director |
Kevin E. Moley |
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Director |
Kevin G. Quinn |
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Director |
Ramamritham Ramkumar |
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Director |
Kenneth D. Rardin |
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Director, President & Chief Executive Officer |
Richard A. Reck |
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Director |
Robert A. Barish, M. D. is Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs and Professor of Emergency Medicine
at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. From 1996 to 1998, he served as the chief
executive officer of University Care, for University of Maryland Medical. He is a Trustee of the
Endowment Fund of the University of Maryland. Dr. Barish holds a B.A. from the University of New
Hampshire, an M.D. from the New York Medical College and an M.B.A. from Loyola College. Dr. Barish
has served on our Board since our initial public offering in February 1998.
Dennis Brown served as vice president of finance, chief financial officer and treasurer of
Apogent Technologies Inc. (Apogent), a New York Stock Exchange company from January 2003 to
December 2004. Fisher Scientific International Inc. acquired Apogent in August 2004, and after
completion of a transition period, Mr. Brown retired from Apogent in December 2004. From December
2000 through January 2003, Mr. Brown served as a financial consultant to Apogent. Mr. Brown also
served as vice president of finance, chief financial officer and treasurer of Apogents
predecessor, Sybron International Corporation (Sybron), a publicly traded company formerly
headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from January 1993 through December 2000, at which time
Sybrons life sciences group was relocated to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Sybron was renamed
Apogent. Mr. Brown is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (England).
Mr. Brown has served on our Board since May 2003 and previously served on our Board from the date
of our initial public offering in February 1998 until May 2000.
Michael D. Dunham has served on our Board since our initial public offering in February 1998
and has been Chairman of the Board since May 2006 (including designation as our principal executive
officer from July 2006 until early September 2006). Mr. Dunham is the owner and, since 2002, has
served as president of Dunham Global Associates, Ltd., which owns private companies in the software
technology industry. Mr. Dunham previously served as senior vice president of industrial and
financial systems, IFS NA, a publicly traded Swedenbased corporation that markets and supports
manufacturing software systems, from 1999 to May 2006. Mr. Dunham cofounded and served as chief
executive officer of publicly traded Effective Management Systems, Inc. between 1978 and 1999. Mr.
Dunham is a director of Heartland Group, Inc., a mutual funds holding company. Mr. Dunham also
served as a director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce from 1991 to 2004. Mr.
Dunham holds a B.S. in
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Electrical Engineering from the University of Denver and a M.M.S. from the Stevens Institute
of Technology.
Robert T. Geras has been a Shareholder since May 1989 and our director since prior to our
initial public offering in 1998. Since January 2004, Mr. Geras has been a director of Capital
Growth Systems, Inc., a public reporting holding company for Nexvu Technologies LLC, an application
performance management software company. Mr. Geras has been a private venture investor for more
than 25 years and has participated as a director of, investor in, and/or advisor to numerous small
businesses in fields ranging from medical equipment, computer software, banking,
telecommunications, industrial distribution and the internet. He has also assisted in corporate
planning, capital formation and management for his various investments. Mr. Geras holds a B.S.B.A.
from Northwestern University.
Anna Marie Hajek has been president and chief executive officer of Clarity Group, Inc., a
healthcare risk and quality management company specializing in patient safety solutions and the
management of professional liability insurance operations since she cofounded the firm in 2000.
From 1995 to 2000, Ms. Hajek served as executive vice president and president of the Healthcare
Risk Services Group operating division of MMI Companies, Inc., a New York Stock Exchange company
specializing in risk management and liability insurance to the healthcare industry. Ms. Hajek has
worked in hospital and academic medical center settings in her capacity as a medical technologist
and educator. She received her B.A. with honors from the College of St. Teresa, Winona, Minnesota,
and her Masters Degree in Health Professions Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
She holds an active Medical Technologist Certification from the American Society of Clinical
Pathologists. Ms. Hajek joined our Board in May 2001.
R. Ian Lennox is an investor in the life sciences industry. He is a director of several life
sciences companies in North America. From 2000 to 2004, Mr. Lennox held leadership positions at
MDS Inc. (MDS), first as president and chief executive officer, drug discovery and development,
and later as president and chief executive officer, pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets.
Prior to joining MDS, he was president and chief executive officer of Phoenix International Life
Sciences, a NASDAQ Stock Exchange company, and chairman and chief executive officer of Drug Royalty
Corporation, a Toronto Stock Exchange listed company. From 1978 to 1997, Mr. Lennox held
progressively senior managerial positions at Monsanto Company in the U. S., Europe and Latin
America, including six years as president and chief executive officer, Monsanto (Canada), based in
Toronto. Mr. Lennox has also served as director of a number of life sciences companies and
charitable foundations in North America. Mr. Lennox holds an Honours B.S. degree in physiology and
pharmacology and an M.B.A. from the University of Western Ontario. He has also completed the
executive management program in finance at the Columbia School of Business. Mr. Lennox joined our
Board in August 2005.
Kevin E. Moley most recently served as U. S. Ambassador representing the United States of
America to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva from September 2001
to April 2006. Prior to this position, Ambassador Moley was a private investor and served on the
board of several public and private companies. Additionally, he served as president and chief
executive officer of Integrated Medical Systems Inc., then one of the largest physician networking
services, from 1996 to 1998, and was a senior vice president of PCS Health Systems, Inc. from 1993
to 1996. From 1992 to 1993 Ambassador Moley served as Deputy Secretary of the U. S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS). He began his government career at HHS in 1984. Ambassador Moley
previously served on our Companys Board from 1998 to 2001, and currently serves on the board of
directors of Cephalon, a NASDAQ Stock Exchange international biopharmaceutical company. Ambassador
Moley was appointed to our Board in September 2006.
Kevin G. Quinn has been, since 1999, president of Wye River Group, Inc., a private investment
and advisory company specializing in corporate and public finance. From 1994 to 1999, Mr. Quinn
was managing director and head of investment banking at H.C. Wainwright & Co., which served as one
of the underwriters of our Companys initial public offering. Mr. Quinns previous positions
include Alex. Brown & Sons, where Mr. Quinn served as a managing director and manager of public
finance from 1982 to 1994. He currently serves on the boards of directors of several public and
private companies, including CareFirst, Inc., one of the largest healthcare insurers in the
midAtlantic region, as well as Securities
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Finance Trust Company and Old Mutual Asset Management Trust Company. Mr. Quinn was appointed
to the Board in September 2006. Mr. Quinn earned J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from the University of
Maryland and a B.A. from Loyola College.
Ramamritham Ramkumar was formerly a director of Cedara prior to our business combination with
Cedara and has served on our Board since August 2005. Mr. Ramkumar has been a principal
shareholder and chairman of the board of Process Research ORTECH, Inc., a metallurgical research
and development organization, since 1988, and has held various positions at Reff Incorporated, now
a division of Knoll Incorporated, until 1986. From 1988 to 2004, Mr. Ramkumar was president and
chief executive officer at Inscape Corporation, formerly Office Specialty, and has held various
positions at Clarkson Gordon, now Ernst and Young. Mr. Ramkumar has a Bachelor of Technology from
Metallurgical Engineering and an M.B.A. from the University of Toronto. Mr. Ramkumar is a Charter
Member of the Toronto chapter of TiE and serves on the board of directors of Toronto Rehabilitation
Hospital.
Kenneth D. Rardin was appointed as a director and President and Chief Executive Officer on
September 6, 2006. Mr. Rardin has over 25 years of senior executive management experience in the
healthcare information technology, computer software, and computer services industry. From October
2004 to January 2006, Mr. Rardin served as chairman and chief executive officer of Park City
Solutions, a leading eHealth company that specialized in electronic health records, systems
integration and consulting. Prior to joining Park City Solutions, Mr. Rardin was the managing
partner of Rardin Capital Management, a technology and financial consulting company. From October
1992 to October 1998, Mr. Rardin served as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of
IMNET Systems, Inc., an electronic healthcare information management system company.
Richard A. Reck, is the president of Business Strategy Advisors LLC, a business strategy
consulting firm, and has served in such capacity since August 2002. Mr. Reck joined the certified
public accounting firm of KPMG LLP in June 1973 and remained in their employ until his retirement
as a partner in July 2002. He currently serves on the boards of Interactive Intelligence, Inc., a
publicly held software company, and Advanced Life Sciences Holdings Inc., a publicly held
biopharmaceutical company, as well as the boards of several private and notforprofit entities.
Mr. Reck is a certified public accountant and holds a B.A. in Mathematics from DePauw University
and an M.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Michigan. Mr. Reck has been a director of our
Company since April 2003.
We strongly encourage our directors to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. At the 2006
Annual Meeting of Shareholders, all of the directors then serving attended.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD: The Board recommends and nominates Dr. Barish, Ms. Hajek and
Messrs. Brown, Dunham, Geras, Lennox, Moley, Quinn, Ramkumar, Rardin and Reck for election as
directors of our Company by the Shareholders at the Annual Meeting to serve until the next Annual
Meeting of Shareholders or as otherwise provided in the By-laws.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Board of Directors General
Our Board is required to meet at least once per year, either in person or by telephonic
conference. Our Board met thirty eight (38) times during 2006, eight (8) occasions of which
included only the non-employee directors. All of the directors attended at least seventy five
percent (75%) of the meetings of the Board, and at least seventy five percent (75%) of the meetings
of all committees on which they served.
Our Board has determined that each of Dr. Barish, Ms. Hajek, and Messrs. Brown, Geras, Lennox,
Moley, Ramkumar, Quinn and Reck is independent under NASDAQ listing standards. Our Board generally
uses the director independence standards set forth by NASDAQ as its subjective independence
criteria for directors, and then makes an affirmative determination as to each directors
independence by taking into account other, objective criteria as applicable.
Board Committees
Our Board has three standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a
Nominating Committee.
Audit Committee. Our Audit Committee adopted an amended and restated charter in August 2006,
to replace the charter which had previously been in effect. The charter is available on our web
site at www.mergehealthcare.com. Our Audit Committee recommends engagement of our
Companys independent accountants, approves services performed by these accountants, and reviews
and evaluates our Companys accounting system and its system of internal accounting controls. The
Audit Committee met twenty four (24) times in 2006. The directors who currently serve on the Audit
Committee are Mr. Brown, as chair, Messrs. Geras, Ramkumar and Reck. Mr. Brown is the designated
financial expert. All of the members of the Audit Committee are independent, as defined in Rule
4200 of the NASDAQ Global Market (which we refer to as Rule 4200).
Compensation Committee. Our Compensation Committee does not have a formal written charter.
Our Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing the compensation of our executive officers
and providing recommendations to our Board relating to such compensation. This committee also
reviews and administers stock option and other equity grants under our stock option plans. The
directors who currently serve on our Compensation Committee are Ms. Hajek, as chair, Dr. Barish,
and Messrs. Lennox and Reck. All of the members of the Compensation Committee are currently
independent, as defined in Rule 4200. Our Compensation Committee met twenty one (21) times in
2006.
We did not utilize the services of any compensation consultants in determining the amount or
form of executive and director compensation in 2006.
Nominating Committee. Our Nominating Committee has a formal written charter, which is
available on our web site at www.mergehealthcare.com. Our Nominating Committee nominates
candidates for our Board and will consider nominees recommended by Shareholders. The Nominating
Committee met four (4) times in 2006. The directors who currently serve on our Nominating
Committee are Dr. Barish, as chair, Ms. Hajek and Mr. Lennox, each of whom is independent, as
defined in Rule 4200.
Nominating Committee Composition and Procedures
The Nominating Committee will consider for nomination as a director candidates recommended by
Shareholders, directors, officers, thirdparty search firms and other sources. In evaluating
candidates, the Nominating Committee considers the attributes of the candidate (including public
company background, healthcare and information technology experience, integrity, strategic
contribution, and ability to devote requisite time) and the needs of the Board, and will review all
candidates in the same manner, regardless of the source of the recommendation. The Nominating
Committee will consider individuals recommended by Shareholders for nomination as a director in
accordance with the procedures described in
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our Bylaws. Shareholders submitted no candidates for nomination for election as a director
to our Nominating Committee in connection with the Annual Meeting. According to our Bylaws, a
Shareholder must give advance notice and furnish certain information in order to submit a
nomination for election as a director. Any Shareholder who wishes to present a candidate for
consideration by our Nominating Committee should send a timely notice identifying the name of the
candidate and summary of the candidates qualifications, along with other supporting documentation,
in each case as described in Section 2.13 of our Bylaws, to the Nominating Committee.
Policies and Procedures Governing Related Person Transactions
In March 2007, our Board adopted written policies and procedures regarding related person
transactions. For purposes of these policies and procedures:
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a related person means any of our directors, executive officers,
nominees for director, holder of five percent (5%) or more of our Common Stock or any
of their immediate family members; and |
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a related person transaction generally is a transaction (including any
indebtedness or a guarantee of indebtedness) in which we were or are to be a
participant and the amount involved exceeds $50,000, and in which a related person had
or will have a direct or indirect material interest. |
Each of our executive officers, directors or nominees for director is required to disclose to
our Audit Committee certain information relating to related person transactions for review,
approval or ratification by our Audit Committee. Disclosure to our Audit Committee should occur
before, if possible, or as soon as practicable after the related person transaction is effected,
but in any event as soon as practicable after the executive officer, director or nominee for
director becomes aware of the related person transaction. Our Audit Committees decision whether
or not to approve or ratify a related person transaction is to be made in light of our Audit
Committees determination that consummation of the transaction is not or was not contrary to our
best interests. Any related person transaction must be disclosed to our full Board.
Because the policies and procedures were first adopted in March 2007, the relationship
described below under Related Person Transactions was not approved or ratified pursuant to the
terms of the policy.
Related Person Transactions
Through June 30, 2006, Michael D. Dunham served as a member of the audit committee of the
board of directors of Merchants & Manufacturers Bancorporation Inc. (MMB), and as a director of
the board of directors of Lincoln State Bank, the bank subsidiary of MMB with which we have
depository accounts. Mr. Dunham resigned from the boards of directors of MMB and Lincoln State
Bank effective June 30, 2006.
Code of Ethics and Whistleblower Policy
We have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all of our directors, employees and officers,
including our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer, our controller and
persons performing similar functions. Our Code of Ethics and the related Whistleblower Policy are
available on our web site at www.mergehealthcare.com. Future material amendments or
waivers relating to the Code of Ethics and/or the corresponding Whistleblower Policy will be
disclosed on our web site referenced in this paragraph within four (4) business days following the
date of such amendment or waiver.
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Shareholder Litigation
On August 28, 2006, a derivative action was filed in the Circuit Court of Milwaukee County,
Civil Division, against certain of our former executive officers, and all of the thencurrent
members of our Board. The plaintiffs allege that each of the individual defendants breached
fiduciary duties to us by violating generally accepted accounting principles, willfully ignoring
problems with accounting and internal control practices and procedures and participating in the
dissemination of false financial statements and also allege that we and the director defendants
failed to hold an annual meeting of shareholders for 2006 in violation of Wisconsin law. The
plaintiffs ask for unspecified amounts in damages and costs, as well as equitable relief. In
response to the filing of this action, our Board formed a Special Litigation Committee, which
committee has full authority to investigate the allegations of the derivative complaint and
determine whether pursuit of the claims against any or all of the individual defendants would be in
our best interest. The Special Litigation Committees investigation is substantially complete.
MANAGEMENT
Directors
For the names of and biographical information regarding each of the directors and a discussion
of Board committees, see the discussions under the headings Proposal One: Election of Directors
and Corporate Governance.
Executive Officers
The names of our current executive officers, and their respective ages and positions with our
Company, are as follows:
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Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth D. Rardin |
|
56 |
|
President and Chief Executive Officer, Director |
Steven R. Norton |
|
45 |
|
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
Gary D. Bowers |
|
54 |
|
President, Merge Healthcare North America |
Jacques F. Cornet |
|
51 |
|
President, Merge Healthcare EMEA |
Loris Sartor |
|
49 |
|
Senior Vice President, and President, Cedara |
Mr. Rardins biography appears above under the heading Proposal One: Election of Directors.
Steven R. Norton joined us as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
effective January 8, 2007. Previously, Mr. Norton was senior vice president and chief financial
officer at Manhattan Associates, a provider of supply chain management software and systems, from
January 2005 to March 2006. From November 1999 to January 2005, Mr. Norton was employed as
executive vice president and chief financial officer for Concurrent Computer Corporation, a
publicly traded technology company that offers videoondemand and realtime computer processing
solutions. Additionally, Mr. Norton held senior finance positions at LHS Group, and was an auditor
with Ernst & Young, and KPMG LLP. Mr. Norton received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan
State University.
Gary D. Bowers was appointed Senior Vice President, Strategic Business Initiatives in November
2006. He joined us as Vice President in September 2006 and was promoted to President, Merge
Healthcare North America in February 2007. Prior to joining us, Mr. Bowers was senior vice
president, product technology for Park City Solutions from October 2004 to November 2005, and was a
general partner of Rardin Capital Management, a technology and financial consulting firm, from
December 1999 to September 2004. Mr. Bowers holds a B.A. in Statistics from the University of
Rochester.
Jacques F. Cornet was appointed President Merge Healthcare EMEA (Europe, Middle East,
Africa) in November 2006. He was formerly Vice President Business Development and Strategic
Marketing of Cedara. Before joining Cedara in mid2000, Mr. Cornet held several strategic
business
8
management positions at ADAC Laboratories (now part of Philips Medical Systems) in the U. S.,
GE HealthCare in Europe and the U. S. and GE Calma in Europe. Mr. Cornet holds an M. Sc. Degree in
ElectroMechanical and Computer Sciences and Executive Marketing from HEC France.
Loris Sartor was appointed President of Cedara in November 2006. He formerly held various
positions with Cedara, including Director of the Platforms Products Division, Product Vice
President, Divisional Vice President of Engineering and Customer Solutions, and most recently Vice
President of Sales. Prior to joining Cedara, Mr. Sartor held several technical and management
positions in the Sietec Open Systems division at Siemens Electric Ltd., as well as various other
technical positions within the software industry. Mr. Sartor holds a Bachelor of Applied Science
and Engineering Degree (Computer Science Option) and an M.B.A. from the University of Toronto.
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The following discussion and analysis relates to the compensation earned for 2006 by the
executives listed below, whom we refer to as our Named Executive Officers. As a result of
various challenges we faced as a company in 2006 as described below, we made significant changes in
our senior executive team. Due to these actions, we have a number of persons who are deemed to be
Named Executive Officers who are no longer our employees. To assist in your understanding of our
compensation discussion and analysis, we have identified below the names and titles of the Named
Executive Officers who are currently on our senior management team as well as those persons who are
former officers of our Company.
|
|
|
Current Officers/Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth D. Rardin
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer since September 2006 |
|
|
|
Steven R. Norton*
|
|
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
since January 2007 |
|
|
|
Steven M. Oreskovich
|
|
Chief Accounting Officer and Interim Treasurer; Principal Financial
Officer from July 2006 to January 2007 |
|
|
|
Gary D. Bowers
|
|
Senior Vice President, Strategic Business Initiatives since
November 2006; President, Merge Healthcare North America since
February 2007 |
|
|
|
Jacques F. Cornet
|
|
President of Merge Healthcare EMEA since November 2006 |
|
|
|
Loris Sartor
|
|
Senior Vice President, Cedara President since November 2006 |
|
|
|
Michael D. Dunham
|
|
Interim Principal Executive Officer from July 2, 2006 until
September 6, 2006; Chairman of the Board |
|
|
|
Former Officers |
|
|
|
|
|
Richard A. Linden
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer until May 15, 2006 |
|
|
|
William C. Mortimore
|
|
Interim Chief Executive Officer from May 15, 2006 until July 2, 2006 |
|
|
|
Robert J. White
|
|
Senior Vice President, Interim CoPresident & CoChief Executive
Officer from July 2, 2006 until August 18, 2006, Interim President
& Chief Executive Officer from August 18, 2006 until November 16,
2006, and Merge eMed, Inc. President until November 16, 2006 |
|
|
|
Brian E. Pedlar
|
|
Interim CoPresident & CoChief Executive Officer from July 2,
2006 until August 18, 2006, and Cedara President until August 18,
2006 |
|
|
|
Scott T. Veech
|
|
Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer until July 2, 2006 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Because we did not employ Mr. Norton in 2006, he is not described in the
compensation discussion set forth under Executive Compensation beginning on page 19 of this
Proxy Statement. |
9
Background
As a company, we were confronted with challenges and change during 2006 including, among other
things, the restatement of our previously issued financial statements, internal investigations, an
informal United States Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission) inquiry and shareholder
lawsuits. We experienced change in our senior management team; of the twelve Named Executive
Officers identified in this discussion, we still employ only six Messrs. Rardin, Norton,
Oreskovich, Cornet, Sartor and Bowers. We were required to rebuild our senior executive team in a
time involving a great deal of uncertainty with respect to our future and strategic direction. Our
Board and Compensation Committee conducted new chief executive officer and chief financial officer
searches during this period. As a result of these circumstances, we considered, and in some cases
offered, enhanced compensation arrangements to attract and retain the candidates with the necessary
skill set and experience to rebuild our organization. In addition, our Board and Compensation
Committee focused on the proper compensation and financial motivation of the remaining senior
management and employees.
Compensation Philosophy
The primary objectives of our executive compensation policies are as follows:
|
|
|
to attract and retain talented executives by providing compensation that
is, overall, competitive with the compensation provided to executives at companies of
comparable size and growth trajectory in the healthcare information technology
industry, while maintaining compensation within levels that are consistent with our
annual budget, financial objectives and operating performance; |
|
|
|
|
to provide appropriate incentives for executives to work toward the
achievement of our annual financial performance and business goals based on our annual
budget; |
|
|
|
|
to more closely align the interests of the executive officers with those
of our Shareholders and the longterm interests of our Company; and |
|
|
|
|
to achieve internal parity in compensation across our multinational
organization. |
Our executive compensation programs are designed to reward executive contributions to the
success of our organization. Specifically, they are designed to reward achievement of our annual
financial performance and business goals based on our annual budget and creation of Shareholder
value.
Compensation Mix
Historically,
we have used a mix of short-term compensation (base salaries and annual cash
incentive bonuses) and long-term compensation (stock option grants) designed to meet the
objectives of our compensation programs. We have had no fixed policy for allocating between
long-term and short-term compensation or between cash and non-cash compensation. We have
determined the exact mix of compensation structures on a case-by-case basis, basing our
determination on competitive market data provided by a compensation consultant or gathered in
informal internal market studies, the experience and judgment of our Compensation Committee, and
the recommendation of our Chief Executive Officer (except with respect to his own compensation).
As a result, the mix may have differed for each individual. Because we believe that it is
important to align the interests of our executives with those of our Shareholders, equity incentive
compensation has made up a significant portion of each executives overall compensation package and
our Named Executive Officers have received minimal perquisites.
In
the future, we plan to continue to use a similar mix of short-term
and long-term
compensation, which we will continue to implement on a case-by-case basis. To enhance the
alignment of our executives interests with the interests of our Shareholders, however, we
currently intend to provide an increasingly large portion of executive compensation in the form of
long-term, equity-based awards.
10
Role of the Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee of our Board is responsible for administering our compensation
practices and ensuring they are competitive, and designed to drive corporate performance. Our
Compensation Committee reviews compensation policies affecting our executive officers annually,
taking into consideration our financial performance, our annual budget, our position within the
healthcare information technology industry, the executive compensation policies of similar
companies in similar industries and, when reviewing individual compensation levels, certain
individual factors, including the executives level of experience and responsibility and the
personal contribution that the individual has made to our success.
In 2006, our Compensation Committee reviewed its compensation policies with respect to our
Named Executive Officers and senior management team in light of the distressed nature of our
financial performance and the exceptional occurrences during the year, and therefore took into
account factors that were an aberration from the norm. For example, the Compensation Committee
placed extra emphasis on the individual performance of those Named Executive Officers and members
of our senior management who remained in our employ, and focused significant compensation on
retention bonuses for those employees and officers the Compensation Committee believed were vital
to the rebuilding of our organization.
Our
Compensation Committee began using the services of a third-party compensation consultant
in 2005 as a result of our acquisition of Cedara, which substantially increased the size and
complexity of our Company. In that year, our Compensation Committee engaged Compensation
Resources, Inc. to perform a benchmarking study of executive compensation among certain companies
in the healthcare software and computer services industry. The companies included in the study
were the following:
|
|
|
Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Computer Programs & Systems Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Eclipsys Corp. |
|
|
|
|
IDX Systems Corp. |
|
|
|
|
Landacorp Inc. |
|
|
|
|
NDCHealth Corp |
|
|
|
|
OAO Technology Solutions Inc. |
|
|
|
|
OSI Systems Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Practiceworks Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Quality Systems Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Stentor Inc. |
|
|
|
|
WebMD Corp. |
|
|
|
|
Bruker Biosciences Corp |
|
|
|
|
Dendrite International Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Emageon Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Impac Systems Corp. |
|
|
|
|
Mediware information Systems Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Netsmart Technologies Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Omnicell Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Per Se Technologies Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Quadramed Corp. |
|
|
|
|
Quovadx Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Trizetto Group Inc. |
Our Compensation Committee used the information that Compensation Resources generated to
evaluate the competitiveness of the compensation packages we offered to executives and make
adjustments to enhance our ability to attract and retain talented executives in the future. In
2006, in light of the challenges we faced as a company, the Compensation Committee did not engage a
compensation consultant but instead continued to utilize the 2005 information provided by
Compensation Resources. The Compensation Committee also used information on compensation paid by
peer companies in the healthcare information technology industry provided by the international
executive search firm hired to perform our chief executive officer search.
11
Chief Executive Officer Turnover
We saw significant turnover in 2006 in the office of President and Chief Executive Officer.
Several of our Named Executive Officers served in that role for part of the year:
|
|
|
Mr. Linden, our President and Chief Executive Officer during the first
part of the year, resigned on May 15, 2006. Until his resignation, Mr. Linden was
compensated pursuant to his employment agreement originally effective March 1, 2004.
Mr. Linden received no compensation or benefits subsequent to his resignation. |
|
|
|
|
Mr. Mortimore, the founder of our Company and our Chief Executive Officer
prior to Mr. Linden taking that position, was appointed Interim Chief Executive
Officer upon Mr. Lindens resignation (as our Board commenced a search for a new
permanent President and Chief Executive Officer). Mr. Mortimore resigned as Interim
Chief Executive Officer on July 2, 2006. For his services as Interim Chief Executive
Officer, Mr. Mortimore was compensated under his existing employment agreement,
originally effective as of March 1, 2004, and also received an increase in salary
reflective of his increased responsibilities, which we discuss below. Mr. Mortimore
received no compensation or benefits subsequent to his resignation. |
|
|
|
|
Messrs. Pedlar and White were appointed Interim co-Presidents and
co-Chief Executive Officers upon Mr. Mortimores resignation, and Mr. Dunham (our
Chairman of the Board) was appointed Interim Principal Executive Officer. Mr. Pedlar
served as co-President and co-Chief Executive Officer until his departure from our
Company effective August 18, 2006, and Messrs. White and Dunham served as President
and Chief Executive Officer and Principal Executive Officer, respectively, until Mr.
Rardins appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer on September 6, 2006.
Mr. White subsequently separated from our Company effective November 16, 2006. Mr.
Dunham continues to serve as our Chairman of the Board. |
|
|
|
Messrs. Pedlar and White each received a cash incentive award in the amount
of $50,000 for his agreement to serve as Interim co-President and co-Chief
Executive Officer. On July 2, 2006, our Board also approved a cash retention
award opportunity for each of Mr. Pedlar and Mr. White equal to sixty percent
(60%) of such officers current base salary $162,602 in the case of Mr.
Pedlar, and $150,000 in the case of Mr. White to be paid on October 1, 2007
if such officer were still employed by us on that date. These cash incentive
awards were to be in lieu of 2006 annual performance bonuses. Mr. White
received payment of his award as a result of a severance arrangement between
us and Mr. White. Also pursuant to that severance arrangement, Mr. White is
entitled all compensation and benefits to which he was entitled pursuant to
his employment agreement with us effective on April 1, 2006 for a period of
eighteen (18) months following his departure from our Company in November
2006. While Mr. Pedlar did not receive direct payment of his award due to his
departure prior to October 1, 2007, in February 22, 2007, we entered into a
settlement agreement with Mr. Pedlar in response to a lawsuit that Mr. Pedlar
filed against us and Cedara. Without admitting any of the allegations of his
complaint, we agreed with Mr. Pedlar to settle his claims. Pursuant to the
settlement, we agreed to pay Mr. Pedlar a total of CDN$586,000 (less required
tax withholding) and to pay CDN$90,000 for Mr. Pedlars attorneys fees and
expenses in the employment proceedings. |
|
|
|
|
For his service as Interim Principal Executive Officer, Mr.
Dunham received a one-time stock option grant, as disclosed in the Grant of
Plan Based Awards table on page 21 of this Proxy Statement. |
12
|
|
|
Mr. Rardin became our President and Chief Executive Officer on September
6, 2006. Mr. Rardins compensation package was established pursuant to the arms
length negotiations that proceeded our engaging him as our new President and Chief
Executive Officer. In connection with his agreement to become our President and Chief
Executive Officer, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Rardin effective
as of September 6, 2006. |
Elements of Compensation
The compensation that we pay our Named Executive Officers consists of the following elements:
base salary, cash incentive compensation, equity incentive
compensation, post-employment benefits,
and, in limited circumstances, perquisites and other benefits. The following discussion explains
the reason we pay each element of compensation, how the amount of each element is determined, and
how each element fits into our overall compensation philosophy and affects decisions regarding
other elements.
Base Salary. We seek to pay executives a base salary competitive with salaries of executives
at companies of comparable position in the healthcare information technology industry. We have not
historically attempted to make base salary a certain percentage of total compensation.
Our Compensation Committee reviews the base salaries of all executive officers annually, and
may adjust these salaries to ensure external competitiveness and to reflect adequately on the
executives individual position and performance, as well as the performance of our Company. In
addition to these factors, our Compensation Committee considers the recommendations of our Chief
Executive Officer when adjusting base salaries of our Named Executive Officers other than our Chief
Executive Officer. We may also make base salary adjustments during the year if the scope of an
executive officers responsibility changes relative to the other executives.
Historically, our Compensation Committee has approved, in connection with our Companys
business planning and budgeting process, a target salary increase of between three percent (3%) and
five percent (5%) across our Company as a whole, with a portion of this pool to be allocated to
executive officer base salaries and the remainder to be allocated to other employees. The
Compensation Committee has not used any formula or specific criteria to determine how much of this
pool to allocate to the executive officers, but has instead taken into consideration a variety of
corporate and individual performance factors and its views on whether the base salaries for
executive officers within the general industry were increasing.
In 2006, the Compensation Committee primarily focused on individual performance and its desire
to retain the services of the executive officers needed to rebuild and sustain our Company. We
also adjusted the base salaries of a number of employees in connection with the efforts of Mr.
Rardin (in his capacity as our Chief Executive Officer) to enhance parity of base salary within our
Company among employees located in different countries. These adjustments were based on
recommendations of Mr. Rardin resulting from informal marketplace studies and studies of current
company compensation practices that he conducted following his appointment as our Chief Executive
Officer.
We adjusted the annual base salaries of several of our Named Executive Officers in 2006 as
shown below. As noted, the adjustments reflect, variously, promotions to a current position,
significant personal achievements and our need to continue to provide a competitive and attractive
compensation package in light of the distressed nature of our organization. The amounts of salary
paid to our Named Executive Officers in 2006 are shown in the Salary column of the Summary
Compensation Table on page 19 of this Proxy Statement.
|
|
|
Current Named Executive Officers |
|
|
|
On July 1, 2006, we increased Mr. Oreskovichs salary from
approximately $144,000 to $175,000 in recognition of his promotion to Chief
Accounting Officer. |
13
|
|
|
On November 15, 2006, we increased Mr. Bowers salary from
$215,000 to $235,000 due to increased responsibilities with respect to the
development and implementation of an offshore software development and
customer support center in India. In February 2007, we entered into an
employment agreement with Mr. Bowers that reflects this level of base salary
to, among other things, reflect his promotion to President, Merge Healthcare
North America. |
|
|
|
|
On November 15, 2006, we increased Mr. Cornets salary from
CDN$240,000 to CDN$267,650 (at that time, approximately $235,000) due to his
promotion to President, Merge Healthcare EMEA. |
|
|
|
|
On November 15, 2006, we increased Mr. Sartors salary from
CDN$150,000 to approximately CDN$267,650 (at that time, approximately
$235,000) due to his promotion to President of Cedara and to reflect that he
would no longer be a participant in a Company-sponsored sales commission
plan. |
|
|
|
Former Named Executive Officers |
|
|
|
On June 15, 2006, we increased Mr. Mortimores salary from
$150,000 to $300,000 due to his increased responsibilities as Interim Chief
Executive Officer. |
|
|
|
|
On June 12, 2006, we increased Mr. Pedlars salary from
approximately CDN$262,000 to CDN $300,000 (retroactively applied to June 1,
2005) in anticipation of entering into an agreement that was not finalized
prior to Mr. Pedlars departure from our Company. |
In establishing the base salaries of the newly hired Mr. Rardin in 2006 ($425,000 per year)
and Mr. Norton in 2007 ($300,000 per year) pursuant to the arms length negotiations that preceded
their becoming our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer,
respectively, our Board and Compensation Committee relied heavily on benchmarking data provided by
an international executive search firm, the Compensation Committees experience and visibility in
the marketplace, and historical compensation data gathered during the interview processes.
Cash Incentive Compensation. In 2005, our Named Executive Officers participated in an annual
cash incentive bonus plan, called the Corporate Bonus Program. Due to the difficulties that we
faced in 2006, including the restatement of the previously issued 2003 and 2004 financial
statements and the first two quarters of 2005 financial statements, we were unable, for 2006, to
establish a corporate business plan or to determine corporate financial targets that would serve as
appropriate targets under a short-term cash incentive bonus program. Accordingly, we did not
utilize a Corporate Bonus Program in 2006. The Compensation Committee
instead created a one-time
retention bonus for certain key employees, including some of our Named Executive Officers, in an
attempt to retain the services of employees with the skills and experience to make a significant
contribution to our Company during the transition period. These bonuses will be paid in September
2007 provided the executive either has (i) been continuously employed by us until then, or (ii) had
his or her employment involuntarily terminated by us without cause.
The following is a list of the retention bonus amounts for the Named Executive Officers that
remain in our employ:
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Amount |
|
Mr. Oreskovich |
|
$ |
105,000 |
|
Mr. Cornet |
|
$ |
105,960 |
|
Mr. Sartor |
|
$ |
66,225 |
|
14
Mr. Rardins employment agreement provides that he will be eligible for an annual performance
bonus with a target of seventy percent (70%) of his base salary. Additional bonus above seventy
percent (70%) may be awarded at the Boards discretion, based on performance. In the first twelve
months of the employment agreement, fifty percent (50%) of the bonus target is guaranteed to Mr.
Rardin, while the remaining fifty percent (50%) is dependent on achievement of Company and
individual performance targets to be established by the Board or an appropriate committee of the
Board after discussions with Mr. Rardin. For the period from the end of the initial twelve months
to year end 2007, our Board and Mr. Rardin will mutually agree to a bonus plan and appropriate
goals for that period, which bonus plan and goals have not yet been established.
In early 2007, we paid to Mr. Rardin the guaranteed portion of his annual bonus target that he
earned during 2006 in the amount of $49,584. We also paid to Mr. Rardin the pro rata portion
(ninety percent (90%)) of the remainder of his target bonus that he earned in 2006 in the amount of
$44,626. This discretionary portion of his target bonus was dependent on the achievement of
Company and individual performance targets. The Compensation Committee established those
performance targets as (1) the provision by Mr. Rardin of strong leadership, (2) the integration of
Cedara and Merge Healthcare North America to more effectively use the collective resources of our
Company, (3) the establishment of a new executive management team, and (4) the presentation to the
Board of a viable operational plan for 2007.
We paid to Mr. Bowers a discretionary a bonus equal to $31,333 based on his accomplishments in
2006 relating to the development and implementation of an offshore software development and
customer support center in India.
Mr. Nortons employment agreement provides that he will be eligible for an annual performance
bonus with a target of sixty percent (60%) of his base salary, subject to adjustment as recommended
by Mr. Rardin in his capacity as Chief Executive Officer and as approved by our Board.
For
2007, we have implemented a performance-based cash bonus plan for our Named Executive
Officers and senior management team. The goals of the plan include the following:
|
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|
providing an incentive to deliver on the goals and objectives of the
organization as set by our Chief Executive Officer and Board; |
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|
tying the interests of the executives to that of our Board and Shareholders; and |
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|
enabling us to attract and retain key executive talent. |
Under the plan, the members of our senior management team will be eligible for a bonus based
on Company-wide or business unit performance, or a combination
of Company-wide and business unit
performance, as measured against predetermined revenue and EBITDA targets. We define EBITDA as
operating income excluding depreciation and amortization, interest, income taxes, FAS 123R expense,
and other expenses that are not typically incurred in the normal operations of our Company. Each
participant is assigned a target bonus amount under the plan, expressed as a percentage of base
salary. The participant will receive half of the bonus amount if we (or our business unit, as
applicable) achieve the revenue target under the plan, and will receive the other half if we (or
our business unit) achieve the EBITDA target under the plan. If we (or our business unit) do not
achieve the predetermined revenue or EBITDA targets, we will not pay any bonus under the plan. If
the targets are exceeded, the bonus amounts may increase, up to one hundred fifty percent (150%) of
the target amount.
15
For our current Named Executive Officers, target and maximum bonus amounts for 2007 are as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Target (as % of |
|
Maximum (as % |
Name |
|
Base Salary) |
|
of Base Salary) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Rardin |
|
|
70 |
|
|
|
105 |
|
Mr. Norton |
|
|
60 |
|
|
|
90 |
|
Mr. Oreskovich |
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
37.5 |
|
Mr. Cornet |
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
60 |
|
Mr. Sartor |
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
60 |
|
Mr. Bowers |
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
60 |
|
Half of the bonus amounts will be earned and paid based on quarterly performance, and half
will be earned and paid based on annual performance. In April 2007, our Audit Committee finalized
the revenue and EBITDA targets under the plan for 2007. We also may, from time to
time, at our discretion, award bonuses to executives based on such other terms and conditions as
our Compensation Committee and Chief Executive Officer may determine appropriate in specific
situations.
Long-Term
Incentive Compensation. We provide long-term incentive compensation through
participation in the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, which authorizes the grant of stock, options to
purchase stock, stock units, performance units and stock appreciation rights from time to time to
our officers, employees, directors and consultants. To date, we have only issued options under our
2005 Equity Incentive Plan, although the Compensation Committee may consider the issuance of other
forms of equity awards in the future. We provide long-term incentive compensation to focus our
executive officers attention on the long-term performance of our Company and the future prospects
of its business and to align the interests of our executives more closely with the interests of our
Shareholders.
We
believe that long-term stock-based incentive compensation should be structured so as to
closely align the interests of our executive officers with the interests of the Shareholders and,
in particular, to provide only limited value (if any) in the event that our stock price fails to
increase over time. We have, as a result, relied on stock option grants as the principle vehicle
for payment of long-term incentive compensation. Under our 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, the
Compensation Committee is responsible for approving awards of stock option grants to executive
officers, taking into account the relative contributions of each executive, competitive conditions
in the industry, negotiations with the executive in connection with his or her initial employment
or promotion, as well as the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer with respect to the
other executive officers. Stock options are granted, in part, to reward executive officers for
their long-term strategic management of our Company and to motivate the executive officers to
improve Shareholder value by increasing this component of their compensation package, and
accomplish our Compensation Committees objective to provide a greater portion of compensation for
executive officers in the form of long-term equity based awards.
We have no set policy as to when stock options should be awarded, although historically we
have awarded stock options to our executive officers on an annual basis and upon the initial hire.
We plan to continue to make stock option grants part of our regular executive compensation
practices to be reviewed periodically, but not necessarily annually. Stock option agreements under
the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan provide that the exercise price of each stock option is the closing
price on the date on which the options are granted. Each grant is subject to vesting conditions
established at the date of the grant and the stock options generally vest in equal annual
installments over a period of four years. Our Compensation Committee, pursuant to the terms of our
2005 Equity Incentive Plan, exercises discretion as to the actual vesting period.
During 2006, in connection with his appointment as our President and Chief Executive Officer,
Mr. Rardin received a grant of 450,000 stock options. Twenty five percent (25%) of the options
were vested immediately, and an additional twenty five percent (25%) will vest at the anniversary
date in each of the next three years. Mr. Rardins award and the other awards to our Named
Executive Officers under our 2005 Equity Incentive Plan in 2006 are shown below in the Grants of
Plan Based Awards table on page 21
16
of this Proxy Statement. In January 2007, in connection with his appointment as our Chief
Financial Officer, we granted Mr. Norton 225,000 stock options that will vest on a monthly basis in
equal increments over the 48 months following the announcement of his appointment. The options are
subject to the terms of our 2005 Equity Incentive Plan and were granted with an exercise price
equal to the closing price of our Common Stock on the date of the grant. The Compensation
Committee determined the size of the stock option grants to each of Mr. Rardin and Mr. Norton based
partially on data provided by the international executive search firm that conducted the officer
searches relating to the executive compensation policies of similar companies in similar
industries.
Post-Employment Benefits. To help provide for our Named Executive Officers financial
security in retirement, we encourage them to participate in our long-term profit sharing plans,
which consist of a 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan for U. S. employees and a Deferred Profit Sharing
Plan (DPSP) for Canadian employees, and we make matching contributions under both plans.
Historically, we have not made fixed profit-sharing contributions under either of these plans.
All salaried employees of our Company and our subsidiaries are eligible to participate in one of
these plans, and our Named Executive Officers participation is on the same terms as the
participation of all other participants in these plans. The U. S. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and
Canadian DPSP provide for matching contributions by us of fifty percent (50%) of an employees
contribution, up to the lesser of three percent (3%) of the employees base pay or U.S.$7,500 in
the United States of America and CDN$9,000 in Canada.
We do not maintain a general severance policy applicable to all of our Named Executive
Officers, although our Compensation Committee may determine in its discretion to provide severance
benefits to our executive officers, including our Named Executive Officers, upon their termination
of employment with us. The employment agreements of
Messrs. Rardin, Norton, Oreskovich, Cornet, Sartor and Bowers,
however, entitle them to certain severance benefits if their employment is terminated under certain
circumstances, including certain terminations in connection with a change in control of our
Company. We intend these severance benefits to provide economic protection to the executives
following a change in control of our Company so that executives can remain focused on our business
without undue concern for their personal circumstances. We believe that the amount of severance
benefits we offer under the terms of the executive employment agreements is similar to the amounts
offered to executive officers by similarly situated companies in our industry. Detailed
information regarding these employment agreements is included in the text following the Summary
Compensation Table on page 19 of this Proxy Statement.
Perquisites
and Other Benefits. In 2006 and several years prior, all Canada-based executives
received a car allowance of CDN$9,600 per annum, which was paid on a monthly basis and taxed
according to Canada Revenue Agency regulations. In November 2006, all car allowances were
eliminated simultaneously with salary adjustments for those executives. Pursuant to his employment
agreement, Mr. Rardin is entitled to receive certain commuting expenses for a maximum of nine
months following September 6, 2006.
In
the U. S., executive officers participate in our broad-based benefit plans on the same
terms generally applicable to all U. S.-based employees. Our Canadian executives have an enhanced
benefits program when compared with the general Canadian employee base. This regional difference
reflects the very different nature of the healthcare systems in Canada and the U. S. and is
consistent with the general industry practices of these two countries.
Except as described above, we provide no other perquisites or other benefits to our Named
Executive Officers.
Tax Considerations
In establishing and adjusting our compensation programs, we consider the potential impact of
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), which generally
disallows a tax deduction to publicly held companies for compensation exceeding $1,000,000 in any
taxable year paid to the Chief Executive Officer and any other executive officer. Under Code
regulations, qualifying performance-based compensation will not be subject to the deduction limit
if certain requirements are met.
17
Our goal is to design compensation strategies that further the best interests of our Company
and our Shareholders. To the extent they are consistent with that goal, we attempt, where
practical, to use compensation policies and programs that preserve the deductibility of
compensation expenses.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis
set forth above with management and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation
Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in
this Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10K for the
year ended December 31, 2006.
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Anna Marie Hajek, Chair
|
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Robert A. Barish, M.D.
|
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R. Ian Lennox
|
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Richard A. Reck |
18
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLES
The following two tables summarize the compensation earned by our Named Executive Officers for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.
Current Executive Officers
The following table relates to the compensation earned by our current Named Executive Officers
in 2006.
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|
NonEquity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option |
|
Incentive Plan |
|
All Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
Awards(1) |
|
Compensation |
|
Compensation |
|
Total |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth D. Rardin
President & Chief Executive
Officer |
|
2006 |
|
|
137,035 |
|
|
|
94,950 |
|
|
|
571,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37,232 |
(2) |
|
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840,717 |
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Steven M. Oreskovich
Chief Accounting Officer &
Interim Treasurer |
|
2006 |
|
|
159,375 |
|
|
|
746 |
|
|
|
223,363 |
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
3,906 |
(3) |
|
|
422,390 |
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
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Jacques F. Cornet(4)
President, Merge
Healthcare
EMEA Division |
|
2006 |
|
|
207,834 |
|
|
|
138,537 |
|
|
|
59,069 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,817 |
(5) |
|
|
425,257 |
|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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Loris Sartor(4)
Senior Vice President,
Cedara President |
|
2006 |
|
|
139,584 |
|
|
|
675 |
|
|
|
69,419 |
|
|
|
148,285 |
|
|
|
25,952 |
(6) |
|
|
383,915 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gary D. Bowers(7)
Senior Vice President,
Strategic Business
Initiatives |
|
2006 |
|
|
71,901 |
|
|
|
32,148 |
|
|
|
129,484 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,000 |
(2) |
|
|
245,533 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The amounts in this column reflect that portion of the dollar amount of awards
that we recognized for financial statement reporting purposes in accordance with Financial
Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004),
ShareBased Payment (which we refer to as FAS 123R), for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2006 (disregarding the estimate of forfeitures related to servicebased vesting). Based on
this methodology, the amounts may include amounts from awards granted in and prior to 2006.
Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in note 6 to our audited
financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 included in our Annual Report
on Form 10K filed with the Commission on March 8, 2007. |
|
(2) |
|
Represents amounts paid for consulting services rendered prior to becoming our
employee. |
|
(3) |
|
Represents a Company contribution to Mr. Oreskovichs account under our 401(k)
profit sharing plan. |
|
(4) |
|
U. S. Dollars represented based on Canadian Dollar to U. S. Dollar conversion
ratio of 1.1654 at December 31, 2006. |
|
(5) |
|
Represents a Company contribution of $6,136 under our DPSP for Canadian employees,
payment of $6,331 in medical, dental, optical and life insurance and related costs for the
benefit of Mr. Cornet, and $7,350 for a car allowance. |
|
(6) |
|
Represents a Company contribution of $4,188 under our DPSP for Canadian employees,
payment of $14,414 in medical, dental, optical and life insurance and related costs for the
benefit of Mr. Sartor, and $7,350 for a car allowance. |
|
(7) |
|
Mr. Bowers became an employee on September 6, 2006 and an executive officer on
November 18, 2006. |
19
Former Executive Officers
The following table relates to the compensation earned by our former Named Executive Officers
in 2006.
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|
NonEquity |
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option |
|
Incentive Plan |
|
All Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
Awards(1) |
|
Compensation |
|
Compensation |
|
Total |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William C. Mortimore
Former President & Chief
Executive Officer(2) |
|
2006 |
|
|
109,903 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
61,250 |
(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,625 |
(4) |
|
|
173,778 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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Richard A. Linden
Former President & Chief
Executive Officer(5) |
|
2006 |
|
|
162,981 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,219 |
(4) |
|
|
167,200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
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|
|
|
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|
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Michael D. Dunham
Former Executive Director
& Principal Executive
Officer(7) |
|
2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
240,150 |
(8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
75,750 |
(9) |
|
|
315,900 |
|
|
|
|
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Robert J. White
Senior Vice President
Interim CoPresident &
CoChief Executive
Officer
Merge eMed, Inc. President(10) |
|
2006 |
|
|
169,306 |
|
|
|
50,000(11) |
|
|
|
571,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23,504 |
(12) |
|
|
814,310 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian E. Pedlar(13)(14)
Senior Vice President, OEM International
Interim CoPresident &
CoChief Executive Officer
Cedara President |
|
2006 |
|
|
255,237 |
|
|
|
90,257(15) |
|
|
|
172,650 |
(16) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
594 |
(17) |
|
|
518,738 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott T. Veech
Former Chief Financial
Officer, Secretary & Treasurer(18) |
|
2006 |
|
|
141,346 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
345,445 |
(19) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,438 |
(4) |
|
|
490,229 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The amounts in this column reflect that portion of the dollar amount of awards
that we recognized for financial statement reporting purposes in accordance with FAS 123R for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 (disregarding the estimate of forfeitures related to
servicebased vesting). Based on this methodology, the amounts may include amounts from
awards granted in and prior to 2006. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are
included in note 6 to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2006 included in our Annual Report on Form 10K filed with the Commission on March 8, 2007. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Mortimore became our Interim President and Chief Executive Officer effective
May 15, 2006, and resigned all positions with us and our subsidiaries, including as an
officer, employee and director, effective July 2, 2006. |
|
(3) |
|
Upon Mr. Mortimores departure from our Company effective July 2, 2006, he
forfeited 17,500 options. |
|
(4) |
|
Represents a Company contribution to the Named Executive Officers account under
our 401(k) profit sharing plan. |
|
(5) |
|
Mr. Linden resigned all positions with us and our subsidiaries, including as an
officer, employee and director, effective May 15, 2006. |
|
(6) |
|
Upon Mr. Lindens departure from our Company effective May 15, 2006, he forfeited
225,000 options. |
|
(7) |
|
Mr. Dunham became our Interim Executive Director & Principal Executive Officer
effective July 2, 2006 and continued in that role until Mr. Rardin became our President and
Chief Executive Officer on September 6, 2006. |
|
(8) |
|
Represents (i) an award of 15,000 options, fair value $49,650, for Mr. Dunhams
service as a director, and (ii) a onetime option award of 50,000 options, fair value
$190,500, in consideration of Mr. Dunhams agreement to serve as principal executive officer
from July 2, 2006 until September 6, 2006, at which time Mr. Rardin joined our Company as our
President and Chief Executive Officer. The compensation Mr. Dunham received in respect of his
service as a director is also reflected in the Director Compensation Table. |
|
(9) |
|
Represents $75,750 in directors fees paid in cash. These fees are also reflected
in the Director Compensation Table. |
|
(10) |
|
Mr. White joined our Company effective April 1, 2006 as an executive officer. His
employment with us ended effective November 16, 2006. |
|
(11) |
|
One time cash incentive award to Mr. White for his agreement to serve as Interim
CoPresident and Interim CoChief Executive Officer, as reported on our Current Report on
Form 8K, filed with the Commission on July 3, 2006. |
20
|
|
|
(12) |
|
Represents a Company contribution of $2,670 to Mr. Whites account under our 401(k)
profit sharing plan and severance payments of $20,833 paid to Mr. White following his
departure from our Company. |
|
(13) |
|
U. S. Dollars represented based on Canadian Dollar to U. S. Dollar conversion ratio
of 1.1654 at December 31, 2006. |
|
(14) |
|
Mr. Pedlars employment with us ended effective August 18, 2006. |
|
(15) |
|
Represents a one time cash incentive award of $50,000 to Mr. Pedlar for his
agreement to serve as Interim CoPresident and Interim CoChief Executive Officer, as
reported on our Current Report on Form 8K, filed with the Commission on July 3, 2006, and a
onetime discretionary bonus of $40,257 in recognition of his efforts on behalf of our
Company. |
|
(16) |
|
Upon Mr. Pedlars departure from our Company effective August 18, 2006, he
forfeited 77,500 options. |
|
(17) |
|
Represents a Company contribution of $594 under our DPSP for Canadian employees. |
|
(18) |
|
Mr. Veech resigned all positions with us and our subsidiaries, including as an
officer and employee, effective July 2, 2006. |
|
(19) |
|
Upon Mr. Veechs departure from our Company effective July 2, 2006, he forfeited
96,250 options. |
GRANTS OF PLAN BASED AWARDS
The following table contains information on the planbased equity and nonequity awards
granted to our Named Executive Officers in 2006.
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|
|
|
|
|
Option |
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards(1): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under |
|
Number of |
|
Exercise or Base |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NonEquity Incentive Plan Awards |
|
Securities |
|
Price of Option |
|
Grant Date Fair |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Threshold |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying Options |
|
Awards |
|
Value of Option |
Name |
|
Grant Date |
|
($) |
|
Target ($) |
|
Maximum ($) |
|
(#) |
|
($ / Share) |
|
Awards(2)($) |
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth D. Rardin |
|
|
09/06/06 |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
8.05 |
|
|
|
1,714,500 |
|
Steven M. Oreskovich |
|
|
09/06/06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
8.05 |
|
|
|
381,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,000(3) |
|
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|
Jacques F. Cornet |
|
|
11/17/06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
6.34 |
|
|
|
159,000 |
|
Loris Sartor |
|
|
11/17/06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
6.34 |
|
|
|
159,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
300,000(4) |
|
|
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|
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|
Gary D. Bowers |
|
|
09/06/06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
8.05 |
|
|
|
381,000 |
|
|
|
|
11/17/06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
6.34 |
|
|
|
79,500 |
|
Michael D. Dunham(5) |
|
|
09/06/06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
8.05 |
|
|
|
190,500 |
|
Robert J. White |
|
|
09/06/06 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
8.05 |
|
|
|
571,500 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Grant of options pursuant to our Companys 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. |
|
(2) |
|
Amounts represent full grant date fair value as determined in accordance with FAS
123R and reported on our Annual Report of Form 10K filed with the Commission on March 8,
2007. |
|
(3) |
|
Incentive award pursuant to a letter agreement with Mr. Oreskovich, as reported on
our Current Report on Form 8K, filed with the Commission on July 3, 2006, earned as a result
of the filing of our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10K and our Quarterly Report on Form 10Q
for the three months ended March 31, 2006. |
|
(4) |
|
Represents sales commissions target under Cedaras SSD Team Compensation Plan. |
|
(5) |
|
One time option award to Mr. Dunham in consideration of his agreement to serve as
principal executive officer from July 2, 2006 until September 6, 2006, at which time Mr.
Rardin joined us as our President and Chief Executive Officer. |
Employment Agreements
Rardin Employment Agreement. On September 6, 2006, our Board approved, and our Company
entered into, an employment agreement with Kenneth D. Rardin, pursuant to which we agreed to employ
Mr. Rardin as our Companys President and Chief Executive Officer and also to appoint Mr. Rardin as
a director of our Company. The employment agreement obligates our Company to pay Mr. Rardin a
salary at a rate of no less than $425,000 per year. Options to purchase 450,000 of our 2005 Common
Shares were granted to Mr. Rardin under our Companys 2005 Equity Incentive Plan on September 6, 2006.
In addition, the
21
employment agreement provides that Mr. Rardin will be eligible for annual performance bonuses
with a target of seventy percent (70%) of base salary. Our Board, in its discretion, may award an
additional bonus above the seventy percent (70%) target. In the first twelve months of the
employment agreement, 50% of the bonus target is guaranteed to Mr. Rardin, while the remaining
fifty percent (50%) is dependent on achievement of defined Company and individual performance
targets. For the period from the end of the initial twelve months to year end 2007, our Board and
Mr. Rardin will mutually agree to a bonus plan and appropriate goals for that period. Mr. Rardin
is also entitled to receive (a) certain commuting expenses for a maximum of nine months following
the date of the employment agreement and relocation expenses, and (b) all nonwage benefits our
Company provides generally for its executive employees.
Oreskovich Employment Agreement. On July 2, 2006, we entered into a letter agreement (the
Oreskovich Agreement) with Steven M. Oreskovich, our Chief Accounting Officer and Interim
Treasurer and Interim Secretary. Under the Oreskovich Agreement, we agreed to (1) award Mr.
Oreskovich a cash bonus of $35,000 within thirty (30) days of our filing our Annual Report on Form
10K and Quarterly Report on Form 10Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, (2) increase Mr.
Oreskovichs base salary to $175,000 per year, effective July 1, 2006, and (3) pay Mr. Oreskovich a
cash retention bonus in an amount equal to sixty percent (60%) of his base salary at the time of
payout within thirty (30) days of June 30, 2007.
White Employment Agreement. Pursuant to his employment agreement with us, dated as of April
1, 2006, Mr. White will continue to receive salary payments and participate in our benefit plans
for eighteen (18) months following November 16, 2006, the date of Mr. Whites termination of
employment.
Other Employment Agreements. As a result of the resignations of Messrs. Mortimore, Linden,
Pedlar and Veech, they will not be entitled to any further compensation or benefits under their
respective employment or retention agreements.
Option Awards
All of the stock options that we granted to our Named Executive Officers in 2006 were
non-qualified stock options granted pursuant to the terms of our 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. All
of the options have an exercise price equal to the closing price of our Common Stock on the date on
which they were granted. The options generally vest equally over a period of four years, subject
to the executives continued employment with us. Following a termination of service for any reason
other than gross negligence, commission of a felony or a material violation of any of our
established policies, vested options remain exercisable for six months. Our Board may accelerate
the vesting of the options on a change of control of our Company.
22
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR END
The following table contains information concerning equity awards held by our Named Executive
Officers that were outstanding as of December 31, 2006.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities |
|
Number of Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying Unexercised |
|
Underlying Unexercised |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options |
|
Options |
|
Option Exercise |
|
|
|
|
(#) |
|
(#) |
|
Price |
|
Option Expiration |
Name |
|
Exercisable(1) |
|
Unexercisable |
|
($) |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth D. Rardin |
|
|
112,500 |
|
|
|
337,500 |
(1) |
|
|
8.05 |
|
|
|
09/05/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven M. Oreskovich |
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
(2) |
|
|
15.00 |
|
|
|
03/31/2010 |
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
2,500 |
(3) |
|
|
12.96 |
|
|
|
07/15/2010 |
|
|
|
|
17,500 |
|
|
|
17,500 |
(4) |
|
|
17.50 |
|
|
|
05/31/2011 |
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
75,000 |
(5) |
|
|
8.05 |
|
|
|
09/05/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jacques F. Cornet |
|
|
12,500 |
|
|
|
12,500 |
(6) |
|
|
17.50 |
|
|
|
05/31/2011 |
|
|
|
|
26,656 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
2.75 |
|
|
|
05/11/2008 |
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
7,500 |
(7) |
|
|
17.82 |
|
|
|
10/19/2011 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
(8) |
|
|
6.34 |
|
|
|
11/16/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loris Sartor |
|
|
12,500 |
|
|
|
12,500 |
(6) |
|
|
17.50 |
|
|
|
05/31/2011 |
|
|
|
|
24,458 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
2.75 |
|
|
|
05/11/2008 |
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
(9) |
|
|
17.82 |
|
|
|
10/19/2011 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
(8) |
|
|
6.34 |
|
|
|
11/16/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gary D. Bowers |
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
75,000 |
(5) |
|
|
8.05 |
|
|
|
09/05/2012 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
25,000 |
(8) |
|
|
6.34 |
|
|
|
11/16/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael D. Dunham |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
8.05 |
|
|
|
09/05/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian E. Pedlar |
|
|
37,500 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
17.50 |
|
|
|
02/14/2007 |
|
|
|
|
32,788 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
2.75 |
|
|
|
02/14/2007 |
|
|
|
|
2,935 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
5.18 |
|
|
|
02/14/2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert J. White |
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
8.05 |
|
|
|
05/15/2007 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
112,500 options will vest on each of September 6, 2007, September 6, 2008 and
September 6, 2009. |
|
(2) |
|
5,000 options will vest on each of April 1, 2007 and April 1, 2008. |
|
(3) |
|
1,250 options will vest on each of July 16, 2007 and July 16, 2008. |
|
(4) |
|
8,750 options will vest on each of June 1, 2007 and June 1, 2008. |
|
(5) |
|
25,000 options will vest on each of September 6, 2007, September 6, 2008 and
September 6, 2009. |
|
(6) |
|
6,250 options will vest on each of June 1, 2007 and June 1, 2008. |
|
(7) |
|
2,500 options will vest on each of October 20, 2007, October 20, 2008 and October
20, 2009. |
|
(8) |
|
Twenty five percent (25%) of unexercised options (unexercisable) will vest on each
of November 17, 2007, November 17, 2008, November 17, 2009 and November 17, 2010. |
|
(9) |
|
5,000 options will vest on each of October 20, 2007, October 20, 2008 and October
20, 2009 |
23
OPTION EXERCISES
The following table provides information about options exercised by our Named Executive
Officers in 2006.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
Value Realized on |
|
|
Acquired on Exercise |
|
Exercise(1) |
Name |
|
(#) |
|
($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard A. Linden |
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
|
254,700 |
|
Scott T. Veech |
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
750 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Reflects the amount calculated by multiplying the number of options exercised by the
difference between the market price of our Common Stock on the exercise date and the exercise
price of options. |
POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGEINCONTROL
Description of Agreements Providing for Potential Payments
We have entered into certain agreements that will require us to provide compensation to
certain of our Named Executive Officers in the event of a termination of employment. These
agreements generally call for increased payments if this termination of employment occurs in
connection with a change of control. A summary of these agreements follows.
Rardin Employment Agreement
Mr. Rardins employment agreement provides for payments and benefits on certain terminations
and changes of control of our Company.
Termination for Cause; Resignation without Good Reason. If we terminate Mr. Rardins
employment for cause or he resigns without good reason (as such terms are defined in his
agreement), then he will receive only the salary that is accrued through the date of termination.
Cause is defined in the agreement as a termination for gross negligence related to the
performance of Mr. Rardins duties, Mr. Rardins commission of a felony or his material violation
of a significant corporate policy that has not been substantially mitigated after three (3) days
notice. Good reason is defined in the agreement as any of (i) a constructive termination, (ii)
our failure to comply with our director and officer liability insurance coverage obligations under
the agreement, or (iii) a material reduction in Mr. Rardins base salary, incentive compensation
opportunity, or responsibility.
Termination due to Disability or without Cause; Resignation for Good Reason. If we terminate
Mr. Rardins employment as a result of the onset of his disability or without cause, or if he
terminates his employment for good reason, and the termination occurs during the first year of the
employment agreement, then we will pay to Mr. Rardin an amount equal to:
|
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twelve (12) months of thencurrent salary, to be paid in equal
installments over the twelve (12) month period, |
|
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|
|
the guaranteed portion of the thencurrent bonus, to be paid in equal
installments over the twelve (12) month period, and |
24
|
|
|
continuation of certain supplemental benefits for twelve (12) months
after the date of termination. |
If the termination without cause or for good reason occurs after the first year of the employment
agreement, then we will pay to Mr. Rardin an amount equal to:
|
|
|
twenty four (24) months thencurrent salary, to be paid in equal
installments over the twenty four (24) month period, |
|
|
|
|
an amount equal to two (2) times the maximum amount of the thencurrent
bonus that could be earned assuming the achievement of the highest performance targets
for each month of the current plan year, to be paid in equal installments over the
twenty four (24) month period, and |
|
|
|
|
continuation of certain supplemental benefits for twenty four (24) months
after the date of termination. |
In addition, in the event of such a termination after the first year of the employment agreement,
all options held by Mr. Rardin would immediately vest and become exercisable.
Change in Control. Mr. Rardins employment agreement provides that, in the event of a change
in control of our Company, as defined in the agreement, all options then held by Mr. Rardin will
immediately vest and become exercisable. In addition, if Mr. Rardins employment is terminated
within 120 days prior to, or 365 days following, a change in control in certain circumstances, he
will be entitled to:
|
|
|
twenty four (24) months of thencurrent salary, to be paid in a single
payment, |
|
|
|
|
an amount equal to two (2) times the maximum amount of thencurrent
bonus (without regard to achievement of targets), to be paid in a single payment, and |
|
|
|
|
continuation of benefits for twenty four (24) months following
termination. |
Further, upon a change of control, we will deposit into an escrow account $300,000 as a stay
bonus for Mr. Rardin to help assure a smooth transition, but only if the acquiror requests Mr.
Rardins continued employment. The amount in the escrow will be paid to Mr. Rardin twelve (12)
months after the change in control if Mr. Rardin has substantially performed the services requested
by the acquiror. A change in control is defined in the agreement as a change in the ownership of
fifty percent (50%) or more of our outstanding Common Stock in a transaction or series of
transactions effected by a third party or group, a change of at least fifty percent (50%) of our
Board in a transaction or series of transactions effected by a third party or group (other than
pursuant to a nomination of a new slate of directors where there has been no material change in
beneficial ownership of our Common Stock within the year preceding such nomination) or a sale of
substantially all of our assets.
Tax Gross Ups. Mr. Rardins employment agreement requires us to make him whole with respect
to any payments or benefits from us if any excise taxes are imposed on such payments or benefits
under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Restrictive Covenants. Mr. Rardins employment agreement includes customary provisions with
regard to noncompetition and nonsolicitation (including during the 24 month period following
termination of employment), as well as confidentiality.
Oreskovich Key Officer and Retention Agreements
Our Key Officer and Retention Agreements with Mr. Oreskovich provide for payments and
benefits on certain terminations and changes of control of our Company.
25
Termination for Cause; Resignation without Good Reason. If we terminate Mr. Oreskovichs
employment for cause or he resigns without good reason (as such terms are defined in the Key
Officer Agreement), he will receive only the salary that is accrued through the date of
termination. Cause is defined in the Key Officer Agreement as a termination for gross
negligence, commission of a felony or material violation of a corporate policy. Good reason is
defined in the Key Officer Agreement as constructive termination or a material reduction in Mr.
Oreskovichs base salary or responsibility.
Termination without Cause or Due to Disability; Resignation for Good Reason. If we terminate
Mr. Oreskovichs employment without cause or due to his disability, or he terminates his employment
for good reason, then under the Key Officer Agreement, if Mr. Oreskovich executes a release, we
will pay to him an amount equal to:
|
|
|
twelve (12) months of thencurrent salary, to be paid in equal
installments over the twelve (12) month period, |
|
|
|
|
a pro rated bonus, to be paid in equal installments over the twelve (12)
month period, and |
|
|
|
|
continuation of benefits for twelve (12) months after the date of
termination. |
If we terminate Mr. Oreskovichs employment without cause or he is constructively terminated
(as defined in the Retention Agreement) prior to June 30, 2007, Mr. Oreskovich would also receive a
retention bonus equal to sixty percent (60%) of base salary. Cause is defined in the Retention
Agreement as Mr. Oreskovichs willful and continued failure to substantially perform his duties,
willful act of misconduct that is materially injurious to our Company, conviction of a felony,
willful breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, or willful violation of any law that
materially affects our Company. Constructive termination is defined in the Retention Agreement
as any reduction in Mr. Oreskovichs responsibilities, authority or compensation package.
Change in Control. Mr. Oreskovichs Key Officer Agreement provides that, in the event of a
change in control of our Company, as defined in the Key Officer Agreement, all options then held
by Mr. Oreskovich will immediately vest and become exercisable and, if the change of control occurs
before June 30, 2007, a bonus of sixty percent (60%) of base salary under the Retention Agreement.
In addition, under the Key Officer Agreement, Mr. Oreskovich will be entitled to additional
payments in the event of a change in control, if:
|
|
|
Mr. Oreskovichs employment is involuntarily terminated within 365 days
following the change in control, or |
|
|
|
|
Mr. Oreskovich voluntarily terminates his employment with us within 365
days following the change in control, following any of: |
|
|
|
a reduction in his responsibilities or authority with respect to
the business, |
|
|
|
|
any reduction in his compensation package, including
thencurrent salary, in effect immediately prior to the change in control, or |
|
|
|
|
the relocation of our principal place of business by more than
thirty (30) miles. |
Under this scenario, Mr. Oreskovich will be entitled to the following additional benefits:
|
|
|
twelve (12) months of his thencurrent salary, to be paid in a
single payment within thirty (30) days of termination of his employment, and |
26
|
|
|
an amount equal to onetwelfth (1/12th) of the maximum amount of
his thencurrent annual bonus determined without regard to achievement of
performance targets for each month of the current plan year during which he
was employed, plus an additional twelve (12) months, to be paid in a single
payment within thirty (30) days of the termination of his employment, and |
|
|
|
|
continuation of the welfare benefits of healthcare, life and
accidental death and dismemberment, and disability insurance coverage for
twelve (12) months after the termination. |
Further, upon a change in control, we will deposit $50,000 into an interestbearing escrow
account as a stay bonus to help assure a smooth transition if the acquiror requests that Mr.
Oreskovich continue his employment with us. The amount held in escrow will be paid to Mr.
Oreskovich twelve (12) months after the change in control if he has substantially performed the
services requested by the acquiror. A change in control is defined in the Key Officer Agreement
as a change in the ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of our outstanding Common Stock in a
transaction or series of transactions effected by a third party or group, a change of at least
fifty percent (50%) of our Board in a transaction or series of transactions effected by a third
party or group (other than pursuant to a nomination of a new slate of directors where there has
been no material change in beneficial ownership of our Common Stock within the year preceding such
nomination) or a sale of substantially all of our assets.
Restrictive Covenants. The Key Officer Agreement contains customary provisions with regard to
noncompetition and nonsolicitation (including during the twelve (12) month period following
termination of employment).
White Employment Agreement
Pursuant to his employment agreement with us, Mr. White will continue to receive salary
payments and participate in our benefit plans for eighteen (18) months following November 16, 2006,
the date of Mr. Whites termination of employment. The value of Mr. Whites salary for the
eighteen (18) months is $375,000 and the value of his continued participation in our benefit plans
for the eighteen (18) months is estimated to be $16,321. Mr. Whites employment contains customary
provisions with regard to noncompetition and nonsolicitation (including during the eighteen
(18) month period following termination of employment).
Bowers Employment Agreement
In February 2007, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Bowers. The agreement
provides for payments and benefits on certain terminations and changes of control of our Company.
Termination for Cause; Resignation without Good Reason. If we terminate Mr. Bowers
employment for cause or he resigns without good reason (as such terms are defined in his
employment agreement), he will receive only the salary that is accrued through the date of
termination. Cause is defined in the agreement as a termination for gross negligence, commission
of a felony or material violation of a corporate policy. Good reason is defined in the agreement
as constructive termination, a material reduction in Mr. Bowers base salary, target bonus
percentage or responsibility, or a requirement that he change his principal place of employment to
more than twenty (20) miles from his current residence.
Termination without Cause or Due to Disability; Resignation for Good Reason. If we terminate
Mr. Bowers employment without cause or due to his disability, or he terminates his employment for
good reason, then we will pay to him an amount equal to:
|
|
|
twelve (12) months of thencurrent salary, to be paid in equal
installments over the twelve (12) month period, |
27
|
|
|
an amount equal to onetwelfth (1/12th) of the maximum amount of his
thencurrent annual bonus determined without regard to achievement of performance
targets for each month of the current plan year during which he was employed, plus an
additional twelve (12) months, to be paid in equal installments over the twelve (12)
month period, and |
|
|
|
|
continuation of benefits for twelve (12) months after the date of
termination. |
Change in Control. Mr. Bowers employment agreement provides that, in the event of a change
in control of our Company, as defined in the employment agreement, all options then held by Mr.
Bowers will immediately vest and become exercisable.
In addition, Mr. Bowers will be entitled to additional payments in the event of a change in
control if:
|
|
|
Mr. Bowers employment is involuntarily terminated within 365 days
following the change in control, or |
|
|
|
|
Mr. Bowers voluntarily terminates his employment with us within 365 days
following the change in control, following any of: |
|
|
|
a reduction in his responsibilities or authority with respect to
the business, |
|
|
|
|
any reduction in his compensation package, including
thencurrent salary, in effect immediately prior to the change in control, or |
|
|
|
|
the relocation of Mr. Bowers principal place of employment by
more than twenty (20) miles from his current residence. |
Under this scenario, Mr. Bowers will be entitled to the greater of:
|
|
|
any minimum severance required by law, and |
|
|
|
|
all of the following: |
|
|
|
twelve (12) months of his thencurrent salary, to be
paid according to normal payroll practices, plus |
|
|
|
|
an amount equal to onetwelfth (1/12th) of the maximum
amount of his thencurrent annual bonus determined without regard to
achievement of performance targets for each month of the current plan
year during which he was employed, plus an additional twelve (12)
months, to be paid in a single payment at the same time as the last
salary equivalent payment, and |
|
|
|
|
benefits continuation for twelve (12) months after the
termination. |
A change in control is defined in Mr. Bowers agreement as a change in the ownership of fifty
percent (50%) or more of our outstanding Common Stock in a transaction or series of transactions
effected by a third party or group, a change of at least fifty percent (50%) of our Board in a
transaction or series of transactions effected by a third party or group (other than pursuant to a
nomination of a new slate of directors where there has been no material change in beneficial
ownership of our Common Stock within the year preceding such nomination) or a sale of substantially
all of our assets.
28
Restrictive Covenants. Mr. Bowers employment agreement requires him to preserve confidential
information and not to compete with our Company or solicit customers or employees of our Company
for the twelve (12) months following any termination of employment.
Cornet and Sartor Employment Agreements
In April 2007, we entered into employment agreements with each of Mr. Cornet and Mr. Sartor.
The agreements provide for payments and benefits on certain terminations and changes of control of
our Company, as described below.
Termination for Cause; Resignation without Good Reason. Under the agreements of Messrs.
Cornet and Sartor, if we terminate the executives employment for cause or he resigns without
good reason (as such terms are defined in his employment agreement), he will be entitled only to
payments or benefits required by law, if any. Cause is defined in the agreements as a
termination for gross negligence, commission of a felony or material violation of a corporate
policy. Good reason is defined in the agreements as constructive termination, a material
reduction in the executives base salary, target bonus percentage or responsibility, or a
requirement that he change his principal place of employment to more than twenty (20) miles from
the Toronto, Canada area.
Termination without Cause or Due to Disability; Resignation for Good Reason. If we terminate
the executives employment without cause or due to his disability, or he terminates his employment
for good reason, then we will pay to him an amount equal to:
|
|
|
twelve (12) months of thencurrent salary, to be paid in equal
installments over the twelve (12) month period, |
|
|
|
|
an amount, to be paid in equal installments over the twelve (12) month
period, equal to onetwelfth (1/12th) of the target amount of his thencurrent
annual bonus for each month of the current plan year during which he was employed,
plus an additional twelve (12) months, multiplied by a factor representing the
previous years performance, and |
|
|
|
|
continuation of benefits for twelve (12) months after the date of
termination. |
Change in Control. The agreements of Messrs. Cornet and Sartor provide that, in the event of
a change in control of our Company, as defined in the employment agreement, all options then held
by the executives will immediately vest and become exercisable.
In addition, each of the executives will be entitled to additional payments in the event of a
change in control if:
|
|
|
his employment is involuntarily terminated within 365 days following the
change in control, or |
|
|
|
|
he voluntarily terminates his employment with us within 365 days
following the change in control, following any of: |
|
|
|
a reduction in his responsibilities or authority with respect to
the business, |
|
|
|
|
any reduction in his compensation package, including
thencurrent salary, in effect immediately prior to the change in control, or |
|
|
|
|
the relocation of the executives principal place of employment
by more than twenty (20) miles from the Toronto, Canada area. |
29
Under this scenario, the terminated executive will be entitled to the greater of:
|
|
|
any minimum severance required by law, and |
|
|
|
|
all of the following: |
|
|
|
twelve (12) months of his thencurrent salary, to be
paid according to normal payroll practices, plus |
|
|
|
|
an amount equal to onetwelfth (1/12th) of the maximum
amount of his thencurrent annual bonus determined without regard to
achievement of performance targets for each month of the current plan
year during which he was employed, plus an additional twelve (12)
months, to be paid in a single payment at the same time as the last
salary equivalent payment, and |
|
|
|
|
benefits continuation for twelve (12) months after the
termination. |
A change in control is defined in the agreements as a change in the ownership of fifty percent
(50%) or more of our outstanding Common Stock in a transaction or series of transactions effected
by a third party or group, a change of at least fifty percent (50%) of our Board in a transaction
or series of transactions effected by a third party or group (other than pursuant to a nomination
of a new slate of directors where there has been no material change in beneficial ownership of our
Common Stock within the year preceding such nomination) or a sale of substantially all of our
assets.
Restrictive Covenants. The agreements of Messrs. Cornet and Sartor require each of them to
preserve confidential information and not to compete with us or solicit our customers or employees
for the twelve (12) months following any termination of employment.
Other Employment Agreements
Other Employment Agreements. As a result of the resignations of Messrs. Mortimore, Linden,
Pedlar and Veech, they will not be entitled to any further compensation or benefits under their
respective employment or retention agreements.
Summary of Termination Payments and Benefits
The following tables summarize the value of the termination and change in control payments and
benefits to which each of our Named Executive Officers would have been entitled if he had
terminated employment on December 31, 2006 under the circumstances indicated. Because Messrs.
Mortimore, Linden, Dunham, Pedlar, Veech, Cornet, Sartor and Bowers would not have been entitled to
any termination or change in control payments or benefits if their employment had been terminated
on December 31, 2006, we have not included tables with respect to these Named Executive Officers.
The amounts shown in the tables do not include accrued but unpaid salary, earned annual bonus for
2006, or payments and benefits to the extent they are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis to
salaried employees generally upon termination of employment or change in control.
30
KENNETH D. RARDIN
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination without |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cause or as a |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination for |
|
Result of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cause or |
|
Disability, or |
|
Change in Control |
|
Change in Control with |
|
|
Resignation without |
|
Resignation For |
|
with no Qualifying |
|
a Qualifying |
|
|
Good Reason |
|
Good Reason |
|
Termination |
|
Termination |
Type of Payment |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
573,750 |
|
|
$ |
300,000 |
(1) |
|
$ |
1,909,882 |
(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Benefits
Continuation |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
10,881 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
21,762 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accelerated Option
Vesting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
584,631 |
|
|
$ |
300,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,931,644 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Reflects stay bonus payable twelve (12) months after the change in
control contingent on Mr. Rardins substantial performance of services requested by the
acquiror. |
|
(2) |
|
Amount includes $164,882 of excise tax gross up payment. For purposes of
determining whether any excise tax was triggered, we assumed we would be able to overcome any
presumption that stock option grants in 2006 were made in contemplation of a change in control
pursuant to regulations promulgated under Internal Revenue Code. |
STEVEN M. ORESKOVICH
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination without |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cause or as a |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Result of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination for |
|
Disability, or |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cause or |
|
Resignation For |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Resignation without |
|
Good |
|
|
|
|
|
Change in Control |
|
|
Good |
|
Reason/Constructiv |
|
Change in Control with no |
|
with a Qualifying |
|
|
Reason(1) |
|
Termination(1) |
|
Qualifying Termination |
|
Termination |
Type of Payment |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
280,000 |
|
|
$ |
155,000 |
(2)(3) |
|
$ |
330,000 |
(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Benefits
Continuation |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,828 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,828 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accelerated Option
Vesting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
283,828 |
|
|
$ |
155,000 |
|
|
$ |
333,828 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Assumes that the termination meets or does not meet, as indicated, (i) the
definition of cause under both the Key Officer Agreement and the Retention Agreement or,
alternatively, (ii) the definition of good reason under the Key Officer Agreement and the
definition of constructive termination under the Retention Agreement. |
|
(2) |
|
Reflects a bonus of $105,000, payable only if a change of control occurs
prior to June 30, 2007. |
|
(3) |
|
Reflects a $50,000 stay bonus payable twelve (12) months after the change
in control contingent on Mr. Oreskovichs substantial performance of services requested by the
acquiror. |
31
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The following tables provide information about the compensation earned by our directors during
2006 regardless of when paid and their equity holdings as of December 31, 2006. The tables do not
include Mr. Rardin, who received no additional compensation for his services as a director.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees Earned or Paid |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
in |
|
Option |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash(1) |
|
Awards(2)(3) |
|
Total |
Name |
|
Year |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert A. Barish, M.D. |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
66,000 |
|
|
|
49,650 |
|
|
|
115,650 |
|
Dennis Brown |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
83,000 |
|
|
|
49,650 |
|
|
|
132,650 |
|
Michael D. Dunham |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
75,750 |
|
|
|
49,650 |
(4) |
|
|
125,400 |
|
Robert T. Geras |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
72,000 |
|
|
|
49,650 |
|
|
|
121,650 |
|
Anna Marie Hajek |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
80,500 |
|
|
|
49,650 |
|
|
|
130,150 |
|
R. Ian Lennox |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
74,250 |
|
|
|
49,650 |
|
|
|
123,900 |
|
Kevin E. Moley(5) |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
29,250 |
|
|
|
49,650 |
|
|
|
78,900 |
|
Ramamritham Ramkumar |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
66,000 |
|
|
|
49,650 |
|
|
|
115,650 |
|
Kevin G. Quinn(5) |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
27,750 |
|
|
|
49,650 |
|
|
|
77,400 |
|
Richard A. Reck |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
81,750 |
|
|
|
49,650 |
|
|
|
131,400 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Includes the payment of $5,000 to Mr. Brown in respect of his service as the Chair
of our Audit Committee, and the payment of $4,000 to Ms. Hajek in respect of her service as
the Chair of our Compensation Committee, both of which were made in January 2007, following
our 2006 annual meeting of Shareholders. |
|
(2) |
|
Amounts reflect aggregate compensation cost recognized by our Company for 2006 for
outstanding option awards to the directors, as determined in accordance with Financial
Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004)
Share-Based Payment (which we refer to as FAS 123R), using the assumptions and methodologies
disclosed and reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March
8, 2007. The amounts also reflect the grant date fair value of the options awarded in 2006. |
|
(3) |
|
Amounts represent 15,000 options granted in accordance with the Board compensation
plan in effect for the year presented on the date of our 2006 annual meeting of Shareholders.
Please refer to following table entitled Outstanding Equity Awards of Directors at Fiscal Year
End for the aggregate number of option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2006. |
|
(4) |
|
Does not include the one time option award to Mr. Dunham as reported in the
executive Summary Compensation Table and the executive Grants of Plan Based Awards table,
which option award was made to Mr. Dunham in consideration of his agreement to serve as
principal executive officer from July 2, 2006 until September 6, 2006. |
|
(5) |
|
Messrs. Moley and Quinn were elected to our Board on September 6, 2006. |
Directors received an annual payment of $15,000 in cash and a grant of 15,000 options for
serving on our Board. The Chair of the Audit Committee and the Chair of the Compensation Committee
also received an additional payment of $5,000 and $4,000, respectively, for their services as
Chair. Each of these annual awards is paid when the directors are elected or reelected for the
next annual term. In addition to the annual payments, directors who are not employees received
$1,500 per Board or Board committee meeting that they attended in person and $750 per Board or
Board Committee meeting that they attended telephonically. Directors are compensated for meeting
attendance on a quarterly basis, as soon as reasonably possible following the quarter in which the
meeting compensation was earned. The meeting fees for the fourth quarter thus were not paid until
January 2007. Directors also receive reimbursement for all reasonable expenses they incur to
attend Board and Board committee meetings. With the exception this year of Mr. Dunham, who
received the onetime option grant described in the second executive Summary Compensation Table
for his services as Interim Executive Director and Principal Executive Officer, directors who are
also our employees do not receive any additional compensation for their services as members of our
Board.
32
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS OF DIRECTORS AT FISCAL YEAR END
The following table contains information concerning equity awards held by our directors that
were outstanding as of December 31, 2006.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards(1) |
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate Number of |
|
|
Securities |
|
Exercise Price of |
|
|
|
|
|
Securities |
|
|
Underlying Options |
|
Option Awards |
|
Expiration |
|
Underlying Options |
Name |
|
(#) |
|
($ / Share) |
|
Date |
|
(#) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert A. Barish, M.D. |
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
6.59 |
|
|
|
12/27/2016 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis Brown |
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
9.78 |
|
|
|
05/21/2013 |
|
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
16.19 |
|
|
|
05/20/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
17.50 |
|
|
|
06/01/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
6.59 |
|
|
|
12/27/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael D. Dunham(2) |
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
6.00 |
|
|
|
01/29/2008 |
|
|
|
72,500 |
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
1.03 |
|
|
|
08/23/2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
2.13 |
|
|
|
02/08/2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
2.75 |
|
|
|
04/10/2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
1.40 |
|
|
|
05/23/2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
8.19 |
|
|
|
05/23/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
9.78 |
|
|
|
05/21/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
16.19 |
|
|
|
05/20/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
17.50 |
|
|
|
06/01/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
6.59 |
|
|
|
12/27/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert T. Geras |
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
6.00 |
|
|
|
01/29/2008 |
|
|
|
67,500 |
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
1.03 |
|
|
|
08/23/2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
1.40 |
|
|
|
05/23/2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
8.19 |
|
|
|
05/23/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
9.78 |
|
|
|
05/21/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
16.19 |
|
|
|
05/20/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
17.50 |
|
|
|
06/01/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
6.59 |
|
|
|
12/27/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anna Marie Hajek |
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
8.19 |
|
|
|
05/23/2012 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
9.78 |
|
|
|
05/21/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
16.19 |
|
|
|
05/20/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
17.50 |
|
|
|
06/01/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
6.59 |
|
|
|
12/27/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Ian Lennox(3) |
|
|
11,740 |
|
|
|
12.49 |
|
|
|
05/31/2008 |
|
|
|
41,740 |
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
17.50 |
|
|
|
06/01/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
6.59 |
|
|
|
12/27/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin E. Moley |
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
6.59 |
|
|
|
12/27/2016 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ramamritham Ramkumar |
|
|
11,178 |
|
|
|
19.38 |
|
|
|
08/24/2015 |
|
|
|
26,178 |
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
6.59 |
|
|
|
12/27/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin G. Quinn |
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
6.59 |
|
|
|
12/27/2016 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
33
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards(1) |
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities |
|
Exercise Price of |
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate Number of |
|
|
Underlying Options |
|
Option Awards |
|
Expiration |
|
Securities |
Name |
|
(#) |
|
($ / Share) |
|
Date |
|
Underlying Options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard A. Reck |
|
|
411 |
|
|
|
7.46 |
|
|
|
04/23/2013 |
|
|
|
45,411 |
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
9.78 |
|
|
|
05/21/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
16.19 |
|
|
|
05/20/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
17.50 |
|
|
|
06/01/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
6.59 |
|
|
|
12/27/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
All options are fully vested and presently exercisable. |
|
(2) |
|
Does not include the one time option award to Mr. Dunham as reported in the
executive Summary Compensation Table and the executive Grants of Plan Based Awards, which
option award was made to Mr. Dunham in consideration of his agreement to serve as principal
executive officer from July 2, 2006 until September 6, 2006, as an executive officer and not
in consideration of his services as a director. |
|
(3) |
|
Includes a replacement option to purchase 11,740 shares issued on June 1, 2005
to Mr. Lennox as a former director of Cedara in accordance with the Merger Agreement, dated as
of January 17, 2005, by and among Merge Technologies Incorporated, Cedara Software Corp. and
Corrida, Ltd. |
34
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table shows, as of March 26, 2007, the beneficial ownership of shares of our
Common Stock, by: (i) each person that is known to us to beneficially own or exercise the voting
or dispositive control of five percent (5%) or more of our outstanding Common Stock; (ii) each of
our directors and Named Executive Officers for 2006 (including Messrs. Linden, Mortimore, Pedlar,
Veech and White, each of whom is no longer associated with us); and (iii) all of our directors and
current executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated in the footnotes to the
table, each of the persons named below has sole voting and investment power with respect to the
shares shown as beneficially owned by such person. In general, a person is deemed to be a
beneficial owner of a security if that person has or shares the power to vote or direct the
voting of such security, or the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security.
A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which the person has the
right to acquire the beneficial ownership within sixty (60) days.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares Beneficially |
|
Percentage of Total |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1) |
|
Owned(2)(3) |
|
Outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FMR Corp. (4) |
|
|
2,935,300 |
|
|
|
8.66 |
% |
Glenhill Advisors, LLC (5) |
|
|
1,900,000 |
|
|
|
5.60 |
% |
Silver Point Capital, L. P. (6) |
|
|
1,734,500 |
|
|
|
5.12 |
% |
Robert A.
Barish, M. D. |
|
|
77,781 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
Gary D. Bowers |
|
|
25,451 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
Dennis Brown |
|
|
45,284 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
Jacques F. Cornet |
|
|
43,299 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
Michael D. Dunham |
|
|
151,912 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
Robert T. Geras |
|
|
320,591 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
Anna Marie Hajek |
|
|
57,983 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
R. Ian Lennox (7) |
|
|
44,675 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
Richard A. Linden |
|
|
256,850 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
Kevin E. Moley |
|
|
21,249 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
William C. Mortimore |
|
|
310,947 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
Steven M. Oreskovich |
|
|
60,949 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
Brian E. Pedlar |
|
|
73,223 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
Kevin G. Quinn |
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
Ramamritham Ramkumar |
|
|
36,178 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
Kenneth D. Rardin |
|
|
130,500 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
Richard A. Reck |
|
|
73,439 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
Loris Sartor (7) |
|
|
67,058 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
Scott T. Veech |
|
|
22,250 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
Robert J. White |
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
(* |
) |
All current directors and executive officers as a
Group (15 persons) |
|
|
1,133,050 |
|
|
|
3.34 |
% |
|
|
|
(*) |
|
Less than 1% of outstanding Common Stock. |
|
(1) |
|
The business address of each beneficial owner who is also a director or
executive officer of our Company is c/o Merge Technologies Incorporated, 6737 West Washington
Street, Suite 2250, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 532145650. The business address for FMR Corp. is
82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. The business address of Glenhill Advisors,
LLC, is 598 Madison Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10022. The business address of
Silver Point Capital, L. P., is Two Greenwich Plaza, 1st Floor, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830. |
|
(2) |
|
Except pursuant to applicable marital property laws or as indicated otherwise in the
footnotes to this table, to our knowledge, each Shareholder identified in the table possesses
sole voting and investment power with respect to all Common Stock shown as beneficially owned
by such beneficial owner. |
|
(3) |
|
Share amounts include the following numbers of shares of Common Stock which may be
acquired upon the exercise of stock options which are currently exercisable or exercisable
within sixty (60) days of March 26, 2007: 15,000 for Dr. Barish; 25,000 for Mr. Bowers;
45,000 for Mr. Brown; 41,656 for Mr. Cornet; 122,500 for Mr. Dunham; 67,500 for Mr. Geras;
50,000 for Ms. Hajek, 41,740 for Mr. Lennox; 15,000 for Mr. Moley; 60,000 for Mr. Oreskovich;
73,223 for Mr. Pedlar; 15,000 for Mr. Quinn; 26,178 for Mr. Ramkumar; 112,500 for Mr. Rardin;
45,411 for Mr. Reck; 41,958 for Mr. Sartor; 150,000 for Mr. White; and 683,193 for all current
directors and executive officers as a group. |
|
(4) |
|
As reported on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Commission on February 14, 2007,
jointly by FMR Corp., a registered investment advisor, Fidelity Management & Research Company
(Fidelity), a wholly owned subsidiary of FMR Corp. and a registered investment advisor,
Edward C. Johnson 3d, Chairman of FMR Corp., and members of the family of Edward C. Johnson 3d
(collectively, FMR Corp.) with respect to the number of shares beneficially owned by FMR
Corp. Edward C. Johnson 3d and FMR Corp., through its control of
Fidelity and its subsidiaries, each has sole dispositive power with
respect to the number of shares beneficially owned. |
35
|
|
|
(5) |
|
As reported on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Commission on February 14, 2007,
jointly by Glenhill Advisors, LLC, Glenn J. Krevlin and Glenhill Capital Management, LLC. Mr.
Krevlin is the managing member and control person of Glenhill Advisors, LLC and Glenhill
Advisors, LLC is the managing member of Glenhill Capital Management, LLC. According to the
Schedule 13G/A, each of Glenhill Advisors, LLC and Mr. Krevlin have sole voting and
dispositive power and Glenhill Capital Management, LLC has shared voting and dispositive power
with respect to the number of shares beneficially owned. |
|
(6) |
|
As reported on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Commission on February 14, 2007,
jointly by Silver Point Capital, L. P., a Delaware limited partnership, Edward A. Mule and
Robert J. OShea (collectively, Silver Point), with respect to the ownership of 1,734,500
shares of our Common Stock (the Shares) by Silver Point Capital Fund, L. P. and Silver Point
Capital Offshore Fund, Ltd. (collectively, the Funds). Silver Point Capital Management, LLC
(Management) is the general partner of Silver Point and each of Messrs. Mule and OShea is a
member of Management and has voting and investment power with respect to the Shares held by
the Funds, and may each be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the Shares. Silver Point,
Management, and Messrs. Mule and OShea disclaim beneficial ownership of the Shares, except to
the extent of any pecuniary interest. Silver Point, Mr. Mule and Mr. OShea share voting and
dispositive power with respect to the Shares. |
|
(7) |
|
Includes 2,935 and 100 nonvoting exchangeable shares of Merge Cedara ExchangeCo
Limited, which exchangeable shares may be exchanged on a onetoone basis for shares of our
Companys Common Stock, owned by Messrs. Lennox and Sartor, respectively. |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act) requires our
executive officers, members of our Board, and persons who own more than ten percent (10%) of a
registered class of our equity securities, to file initial statements of beneficial ownership (Form
3), and statements of changes in beneficial ownership (Forms 4 or 5) of our equity securities with
the Commission. The Commission requires executive officers, directors and greater than ten percent
(10%) Shareholders to furnish us with copies of all these forms filed with the Commission.
To our knowledge, based solely upon our review of the copies of these forms received by us, or
written representations from certain reporting persons that no additional forms were required for
those persons, we believe that all of our executive officers and directors complied with their
reporting obligations during 2006.
36
PROPOSAL TWO: AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
Our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the Articles of Incorporation) currently
specify the name of our Company as Merge Technologies Incorporated. Our Board is proposing an
amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to change our Companys name to Merge Healthcare
Incorporated. If the Shareholders approve this proposal, then Article I of our Articles of
Incorporation will be amended to read in its entirety as follows:
The name of the Corporation is MERGE HEALTHCARE INCORPORATED.
The name change is intended to better reflect the nature of our business. Our Board
believes that Merge Technologies is no longer reflective of our business as it exists today
that is, the development of clinical and medical imaging software applications and development
tools that we believe are on the forefront of medicine and medical imaging software solutions and
that support endtoend business and clinical workflow for radiology department and specialty
practices, imaging centers and hospitals. Since March 1, 2007, we have been doing business under
the name Merge Healthcare for our parent corporation, and the names Merge Healthcare North
America and Merge Healthcare EMEA for our direct enduser businesses in North America and
Europe, Middle East and Africa, respectively. Changing our corporate and brand names to Merge
Healthcare Incorporated emphasizes our exclusive focus on healthcarerelated solutions, software
and services. We propose to change our Companys formal, legal name to Merge Healthcare
Incorporated to reinforce that branding. The name change will not alter any rights of
Shareholders.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD: The Board recommends a vote FOR changing our Company name to
Merge Healthcare Incorporated.
37
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The information contained in this report shall not be deemed to be soliciting material
or filed or incorporated by reference in future filings with the Commission, or subject to the
liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically
incorporate it by reference into a document filed under the Securities Act of 1933 (Securities
Act) or the Exchange Act.
The Audit Committee has adopted certain preapproval categories for each fiscal year. These
categories relate to auditor assistance with periodic filings with the Commission, auditor
assistance with Board approved capital raising or debt financing, auditor assistance with Board
approved acquisitions, auditor assistance with due diligence, required responses to Commission
comment letters, and auditor assistance with routine tax matters.
We, the members of the Audit Committee of our Company, represent the following:
|
1. |
|
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed our Companys audited
financial statements with management of our Company; |
|
|
2. |
|
The Audit Committee has discussed with KPMG LLP, our Companys independent
auditors, the matters required to be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards No.
61, as may be modified or supplemented; |
|
|
3. |
|
The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from
KPMG LLP required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, as may be modified
or supplemented, and has discussed with KPMG LLP its independence; and |
|
|
4. |
|
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee
recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in our
Companys Annual Report on Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2006, for filing
with the Commission. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis Brown, Chair
|
|
Robert T. Geras
|
|
Ramamritham Ramkumar
|
|
Richard A. Reck |
38
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
KPMG LLP is our independent public accountant and has audited our consolidated balance sheets
as of December 31, 2006, and December 31, 2005, and the consolidated statements of operations,
Shareholders equity, comprehensive income (loss) and cash flows for each of the three years ended
December 31, 2006, as stated in their reports appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10K.
Representatives of KPMG LLP will be present at our Annual Meeting. They will have the
opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and to respond to appropriate questions.
The following table presents fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of
our annual financial statements for 2006 and 2005 and fees billed for other services rendered
during 2006 and 2005 by KPMG LLP:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit fees (1) |
|
$ |
1,085,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,690,000 |
|
Tax fees (2) |
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
All other fees |
|
|
1,500 |
|
|
|
1,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total fees |
|
$ |
1,092,500 |
|
|
$ |
2,691,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Audit fees include fees for the annual financial statement audit, quarterly
reviews, audit of internal control over financial reporting, consents, review of registration
statements and review of, and assistance with, Current Reports on Form 8K. |
|
(2) |
|
Tax fees consist of fees for tax compliance and tax consulting in Canada. |
The Audit Committee of our Board has considered whether the provision of these services
not related to the audit of the financial statements acknowledged above is compatible with
maintaining the independence of KPMG LLP and is of the opinion that the provision of these services
does not compromise KPMG LLPs independence.
The Audit Committee, in accordance with its charter, must preapprove all nonaudit services
provided by our independent registered public accountants. The Audit Committee generally
preapproves specified services in the defined categories of audit services, audit related
services and tax services up to specified amounts. Preapproval may also be given as part of our
Audit Committees approval of the scope of the engagement of the independent registered public
accountants or on an individual, explicit casebycase basis before the independent auditor is
engaged to provide each service.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10K
We will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of this Proxy Statement has been
delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of our Companys Annual Report on Form 10K for
the year ended December 31, 2006. Requests should be made to the Investor Relations Department at
our principal executive offices located at 6737 West Washington Street, Suite 2250, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 532145650; telephone number (414) 9774000 or at IR@mergehealthcare.com.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
We did not receive any Shareholder proposals for inclusion in this years Proxy Statement. If
a Shareholder wishes to present a proposal to be included in the Proxy Statement for the next
Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the proposal must be submitted in writing and received by our
Corporate Secretary at our offices no later than February 4, 2008.
To bring business before an Annual Meeting, a Shareholder must submit a timely notice that
otherwise complies with the requirements of our Bylaws. Our Bylaws require, among other
things, that the notice contain a brief description of the business desired to be brought before
the meeting and, if such
39
business includes a proposal to amend our Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment,
the Shareholders reasons for conducting the business at the meeting and any material interest in
such business of the Shareholder. Our Bylaws are available free of charge on file with the
Commission, by searching the EDGAR archives at www.sec.gov, or by written request to our Corporate
Secretary at 6737 West Washington Street, Suite 2250, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 532145650.
SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Shareholders who wish to communicate with our Board may send correspondence to our Corporate
Secretary, Merge Technologies Incorporated, 6737 West Washington Street, Suite 2250, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 532145650. Our Corporate Secretary will submit your correspondence to our Board or the
appropriate Board committee, as applicable. You may communicate directly with the Chairman of the
Board by sending correspondence to Chairman of the Board of Directors, Merge Technologies
Incorporated, 6737 West Washington Street, Suite 2250, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53214-5650.
MAILINGS TO HOUSEHOLDS
To reduce duplicate mailings, we are now sending only one copy of any Proxy Statement or
annual report to multiple Shareholders sharing an address unless we receive contrary instructions
from one or more of the Shareholders. Upon written request, we will promptly deliver a separate
copy of the annual report or Proxy Statement to a Shareholder at a shared address.
If you wish to receive separate copies of each Proxy Statement and annual report please notify
us by writing or calling our Corporate Secretary at Merge Technologies Incorporated, 6737 West
Washington Street, Suite 2250, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 532145650 or (414) 9774000. If you are
receiving duplicate mailings, you may authorize us to discontinue mailings of multiple Proxy
Statements and annual reports. To discontinue duplicate mailings, notify us by writing or calling
our Corporate Secretary.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. THE PROMPT
RETURN OF PROXIES WILL SAVE OUR COMPANY
THE EXPENSE OF FURTHER REQUESTS FOR
PROXIES. PLEASE PROMPTLY MARK, SIGN, DATE
AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
40
2007 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
MERGE TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
May 11, 2007
Please date, sign and mail
your proxy card in the
envelope provided as soon
as possible.
¯ Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided. ¯
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PLEASE
SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK
YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE
x
|
1.
|
|
Elect eleven (11) individuals to serve as Directors until the next annual meeting of Shareholders or otherwise as provided in the Companys Amended and Restated Bylaws (check one box). |
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|
2. |
|
Approve the amendment to the Companys
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to change the Companys name to Merge Healthcare Incorporated. |
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FOR
o
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AGAINST
o
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ABSTAIN
o |
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NOMINEES: |
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In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to
vote upon such other business as may properly come before the Annual
Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof. |
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o |
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FOR ALL NOMINEES |
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¡ |
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Robert A. Barish, M. D. |
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¡ |
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Dennis Brown |
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o |
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WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ALL NOMINEES |
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¡ ¡
¡
¡
¡
¡
¡
¡
¡
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Michael D. Dunham Robert T. Geras
Anna Marie Hajek R. Ian Lennox
Kevin E. Moley
Kevin G. Quinn
Ramamritham Ramkumar
Kenneth D. Rardin Richard A. Reck |
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o
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FOR ALL EXCEPT |
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YOUR
VOTE IS IMPORTANT. THE PROMPT RETURN OF PROXIES WILL SAVE THE
COMPANY THE EXPENSE OF FURTHER REQUESTS FOR PROXIES. PLEASE PROMPTLY
MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
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INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s),
mark FOR ALL EXCEPT and fill in the circle next to
each nominee you wish to
withhold, as shown here: = |
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The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all director nominees and FOR proposal 2.
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To change the address on your account, please check the box
at right and indicate your new address in the address space
above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s)
on the account may not be submitted
via this method. |
o |
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Signature
of Shareholder
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Date:
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Signature
of Shareholder
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Date:
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Note: |
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Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When
shares are hold jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as
executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give
full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign
corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such.
If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by an authorized person. |
MERGE TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
6737 WEST WASHINGTON STREET
SUITE 2250
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN 53214-5650
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Steven R. Norton and Gregory S. Wilson, and each of them, as
Proxies, with the power to appoint their substitutes, and hereby authorizes them to represent and
to vote, as designated below, all of the shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of
Merge Technologies Incorporated (the Company) held of record by the undersigned on March 26,
2007, at the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 11, 2007, or any adjournment or
postponement thereof.
This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the
undersigned Shareholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR the proposals set
forth herein.
(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)