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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary proxy statement |
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Confidential, for use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive proxy statement |
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Soliciting material pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
BACKWEB TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the
amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined): |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which
the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or
Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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December 1, 2005
Dear Fellow Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2005 Annual General
Meeting of Shareholders of BackWeb Technologies Ltd., on
Thursday, December 29, 2005, beginning at 4:00 p.m.,
local time, at the Companys principal executive offices
located at 10 Haamal St., Park Afek, Rosh Haayin
48092, Israel. All shareholders of record on November 28,
2005 are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting.
The Notice of Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, the Proxy
Statement and the accompanying proxy card, and BackWebs
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2004 are enclosed.
Please vote on each of the matters listed in the enclosed Notice
of Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. Your Board of
Directors recommends a vote FOR each of the
proposals listed in the Notice. Please refer to the Proxy
Statement for detailed information on each of the proposals.
The vote of every shareholder is important. Regardless of
whether you plan to attend the meeting, please vote by signing
and returning the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible in the
envelope provided.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of BackWeb Technologies Ltd.
and its management team, I would like to thank you for your
continued interest in BackWeb and look forward to seeing you at
the meeting.
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Sincerely, |
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William Heye |
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Chief Executive Officer |
BACKWEB TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held December 29, 2005
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF BACKWEB TECHNOLOGIES LTD.:
The 2005 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of BackWeb
Technologies Ltd. (the Company) will be held on
Thursday, December 29, 2005, at 4:00 p.m., local time,
at the Companys principal executive offices located at
10 Haamal St., Park Afek, Rosh Haayin 48092,
Israel for the following purposes:
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1. To re-elect Eli Barkat as a Class III director to
serve for a term of three years, expiring upon the 2008 Annual
General Meeting of Shareholders, or until his successor is
elected; |
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2. To elect Kara Andersen to serve as an Outside Director
under Israels Companies Law for a term of three years; |
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3. To approve an amendment to the Companys Articles
of Association regarding director and officer insurance,
indemnification and exculpation; |
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4. To approve insurance, indemnification and exculpation
agreements with each of the Companys directors; |
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5. To (i) ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP
as the Companys independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005 and
(ii) authorize the Audit Committee to enter into an
agreement to pay the fees of Grant Thornton on customary
terms; and |
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6. To transact such other business as may properly come
before the meeting or any postponements or adjournments thereof. |
The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the
Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice. Only shareholders of
record at the close of business on November 28, 2005 are
entitled to attend and vote at the meeting. Shareholders are
cordially invited to attend the meeting in person. However, to
ensure your representation at the meeting, you are urged to
mark, sign, date, and return the enclosed proxy card as promptly
as possible in the postage-prepaid envelope enclosed for that
purpose. Please note, however, that if your shares are held of
record by a broker, bank, or other nominee, and you wish to vote
at the meeting, you must obtain from that broker, bank, or other
nominee a proxy card issued in your name. If you send in your
proxy card and then decide to attend the meeting to vote your
shares in person, you may still do so. Your proxy is revocable
in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Proxy
Statement.
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FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, |
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Eli Barkat, |
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Chairman of the Board of Directors |
Rosh Haayin, Israel
December 1, 2005
IMPORTANT:
Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, you are
requested to complete and promptly return the enclosed proxy
card in the envelope provided.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BACKWEB TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
PROXY STATEMENT FOR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING
This Proxy Statement is being furnished in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the
Board) of BackWeb Technologies Ltd., an Israeli
company (the Company or BackWeb), for
use at the Companys Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
(the Annual General Meeting), to be held on
Thursday, December 29, 2005, at 10 Haamal St., Park
Afek, Rosh Haayin 48092, Israel, commencing at
4:00 p.m., local time, or at any adjournment or
postponement thereof, for the purposes set forth herein and in
the accompanying Notice of Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders.
The Notice of Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, this Proxy
Statement and the accompanying proxy card, and the
Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2004, are first being mailed on or about
December 2, 2005 to shareholders entitled to vote at the
Annual General Meeting.
Record Date and Shares Outstanding
The Board has set November 28, 2005 (the Record
Date) as the record date for the Annual General Meeting.
Only holders of record of the Companys Ordinary Shares,
par value NIS 0.03 per share (Ordinary Shares),
at the close of business on that date are entitled to vote at
and attend the Annual General Meeting. Shareholders who hold
Ordinary Shares as of the Record Date through a bank, broker or
other nominee that is a shareholder of record of the Company or
that appears in the participant listing of a security depository
are also entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual
General Meeting. We had approximately 41,125,540 Ordinary Shares
outstanding as of the Record Date.
Solicitation and Voting
The Company will bear the cost of soliciting proxies for the
Annual General Meeting. The Company will ask banks, brokerage
houses, fiduciaries and custodians holding Ordinary Shares in
their names for others to send proxy materials to and obtain
proxies from the beneficial owners of such Ordinary Shares, and
the Company may also reimburse them for their reasonable
expenses in doing so. In addition to soliciting proxies by mail,
the Company and its directors, officers and employees, may also
solicit proxies personally, by telephone or by other appropriate
means. No additional compensation will be paid to directors,
officers or employees for such services.
Each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each Ordinary Share
held by such person on all matters presented at the meeting. The
required quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual
General Meeting is two or more shareholders present in person or
by proxy and holding, in the aggregate, more than fifty percent
of the Companys Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding on
the Record Date. Under Israeli law, broker non-votes, which
occur when a shareholder does not give a proxy to his or her
broker with instructions as to how to vote his or her shares,
and abstentions will be disregarded and will have no effect on
whether the requisite vote is obtained. However, broker
non-votes and abstentions will be counted for purposes of
establishing a quorum.
Proxies properly executed, duly returned to and received by the
Company prior to the Annual General Meeting, and not revoked,
will be voted as instructed on those proxies. If no instructions
are given on the proxies, such proxies will be voted
FOR each of the proposals contained in the
proxies. In the case of the election of directors to the Board,
proxies that give no instructions as to how they should be voted
will be counted as voted FOR the election to
the Board of each of the nominees presented by the Board.
Revocability of Proxies
Any shareholder giving a proxy pursuant to this solicitation has
the power to revoke it at any time before it is voted. It may be
revoked by delivering to the Secretary of the Company, prior to
the Annual General Meeting, at the above address of the Company,
a written notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing
a later date. A shareholder of record at the close of business
on the Record Date may also revoke his or her proxy by voting in
person if present at the Annual General Meeting. Attendance at
the Annual General Meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy.
PROPOSAL ONE
RE-ELECTION OF CLASS III DIRECTOR
In accordance with the Companys Articles of Association,
the Companys shareholders last fixed the maximum number of
directors at six. The Company currently has four directors, one
of whom is standing for re-election at this Annual General
Meeting. In addition, as discussed in Proposal Two,
Election of Outside Director, the Company is seeking
to fill one of the two vacancies on its Board at this Annual
General Meeting by electing a second Outside Director in
accordance with Israels Companies Law. Proxies cannot be
voted for a greater number of persons than the nominees named in
this Proxy Statement.
Our Articles of Association provide for a classified Board, with
directors being divided into Class I, Class II and
Class III. Outside Directors elected in accordance with
Israels Companies Law are not members of any class of
directors.
Mr. Eli Barkat, the Companys Chairman, serves as a
Class III director. His term expires as of this 2005 Annual
General Meeting of Shareholders. Shareholders are being asked to
re-elect Mr. Barkat as a Class III director, to serve
for a term of three years, expiring upon the 2008 Annual General
Meeting of Shareholders, or until his successor is elected.
Biographical information concerning Mr. Barkat, the nominee
for re-election as a Class III director is set forth below.
Nominee for Re-election to the Board as a Class III
Director to Serve for a Three-Year Term Until the Annual General
Meeting of Shareholders to Be Held in 2008
ELI BARKAT, age 42, has served as our Chairman of the Board
since 1996. He also served as our Chief Executive Officer from
1996 through December 2003. From 1988 to February 1996,
Mr. Barkat served as a Managing Director and Vice President
of Business Development of BRM Technologies Ltd., a technology
venture firm. Prior to 1988, Mr. Barkat held various
positions with the Aurec Group, a communications media and
information company, and Daizix Technologies, a computer
assisted design applications company. In addition,
Mr. Barkat served as a paratrooper in the Israel Defense
Forces where he attained the rank of lieutenant. Mr. Barkat
holds a B.S. in computer science and mathematics from the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem.
The terms of office of Uday Bellary, the Companys
Class I director whose term is scheduled to expire at the
2006 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, and of William
Heye, the Companys Class II director whose term is
scheduled to expire at the 2007 Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders, will continue beyond the Annual General Meeting.
Therefore, they are not required to stand for re-election at the
Annual General Meeting. Biographical information concerning
Mr. Bellary and Mr. Heye is set forth below.
Class I Director Whose Term Continues Until the Annual
General Meeting of Shareholders to Be Held in 2006
UDAY BELLARY, age 50, has served as one of our directors
since 2004. Mr. Bellary has been the Chief Financial
Officer of Atrica, Inc., a telecommunications equipment
manufacturer, since April 2005. Prior to that,
Mr. Bellary was the Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of VL, Inc., a provider of Voice over
IP technology and services from September 2003 until
April 2005. From February 2000 through September 2003,
Mr. Bellary served as Senior Vice President,
Finance & Administration and Chief Financial Officer of
Metro Optix, Inc., a provider of optical networking equipment
that was acquired in September 2003
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by Xtera Communications. From September 1997 to October 1999, he
served as Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer
of MMC Networks, Inc., a manufacturer of network processors that
was acquired in October 2000 by Applied Micro Circuits
Corporation. Mr. Bellary also serves on the board of
directors of Versant Corporation and several private companies.
Mr. Bellary holds a B.S. degree in finance, accounting and
economics from Karnatak University, India and a DMA degree in
finance and managerial accounting from the University of Bombay,
India. He is a Certified Public Accountant in the U.S. and a
Chartered Accountant in India.
Class II Director Whose Term Continues Until the Annual
General Meeting of Shareholders to Be Held in 2007
WILLIAM HEYE, age 44, has been one of our directors since
July 2005. Mr. Heye became the Companys Chief
Executive Officer on October 11, 2004. Prior to that, he
served as the Companys Vice President, Business
Development and Products from 2003 through 2004; as the
Companys Vice President, Professional Services from 2001
through 2003; as Director of Research and Development from 1998
through 2001, and as Director of Product Management and
Marketing from 1996 through 1998. Prior to joining BackWeb, from
1992 to 1996 Mr. Heye was Director of Marketing &
Sales at The Voyager Company, a media company, responsible for
launching the companys consumer film and CD-ROM products
and developing sales and marketing programs. From 1985 to 1990,
Mr. Heye held various technical and field sales positions
at IBM. Mr. Heye holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering and
a B.A. in English from Texas A&M University, and an M.B.A.
from the Harvard Business School.
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of a majority of the Ordinary Shares voting
on this proposal in person or by proxy is required for the
re-election of Mr. Barkat as a Class III director.
THE COMPANYS BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS VOTING
FOR THE RE-ELECTION OF MR. BARKAT AS A
CLASS III DIRECTOR.
PROPOSAL TWO
ELECTION OF OUTSIDE DIRECTOR
Israels Companies Law requires us to have at least two
Outside Directors who are each elected for a three-year term of
office. Outside Directors are not members of any class of
directors. Mr. Amir Makleff was elected by the shareholders
at the 2004 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to serve as
an Outside Director under Israels Companies Law. Isabel
Maxwell served as the Companys other Outside Director
until her departure from the Board in May 2005. The shareholders
are being asked to elect Ms. Kara Andersen to serve as an
Outside Director under Israels Companies Law for a
three-year term to fill the vacancy created by the departure of
Ms. Maxwell from the Companys Board.
Ms. Andersen was suggested for consideration for election
to the Companys Board of Directors by Mr. Makleff.
Biographical information concerning Ms. Andersen, the
nominee for election as an Outside Director, is set forth below.
Nominee for Election to the Board as an Outside Director to
Serve for a Three-Year Term Until the Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders to Be Held in 2008
KARA ANDERSEN, age 41, is Vice President of Operations and
General Counsel at PneumRx, Inc., a medical device company.
Prior to joining PneumRx in August 2004, Ms. Andersen was a
partner at the law firm of Keker & Van Nest, LLP, where
she had practiced since 1996. Ms. Andersen received an A.B.
in Organizational Behavior and Management and French Literature
from Brown University and a J.D. from the
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UCLA School of Law. Ms. Andersen currently serves on the
Boards of Directors of the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law
Center and of ODC, a non-profit arts organization.
The term of office of Amir Makleff, the Companys other
Outside Director whose term is scheduled to expire at the 2007
Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, will continue beyond the
Annual General Meeting. Therefore, he is not required to stand
for re-election at the Annual General Meeting. Biographical
information concerning Mr. Makleff is set forth below.
Outside Director Whose Term Continues Until the Annual
General Meeting of Shareholders to Be Held in 2007
AMIR MAKLEFF, age 57, has served as one of our directors
since 2004. Mr. Makleff is a co-founder of BridgeWave
Communications, a provider of gigabit wireless products and high
frequency Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology,
and has served as its President and Chief Executive Officer
since January 1999. From November 1995 to November 1998,
Mr. Makleff served as Chief Operating Officer and Senior
Vice President of Engineering of Netro Corporation, a fixed
wireless networking infrastructure provider. From 1990 to 1995,
Mr. Makleff served as General Manager and Vice President,
Engineering of the Access Division of Telco System, a telecom
equipment supplier. Prior to that, Mr. Makleff held senior
engineering and marketing positions at Nortel, Amdahl
Corporation, and Telestream Corporation, of which he was
co-founder. Mr. Makleff served for eight years in various
senior research and development roles in the Israeli Ministry of
Defense. Mr. Makleff holds a B.S. and an M.S. from the
Technion Israel Institute of Technology.
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of a majority of the Ordinary Shares voting
on this proposal in person or by proxy is required for the
election of Ms. Andersen as an Outside Director. In
addition, the shareholders approval must include at least
one-third of the Ordinary Shares (other than shares held by the
Companys controlling shareholders) voting on this proposal
in person or by proxy, or, alternatively, the total number of
Ordinary Shares (other than shares held by the Companys
controlling shareholders) voted against this proposal must not
represent more than one percent of the outstanding Ordinary
Shares. For this purpose, you are asked to indicate on the
enclosed proxy card whether you are a controlling shareholder of
the Company; by signing and returning the proxy card you are
confirming that you are not a controlling shareholder of the
Company unless you specifically indicate to the contrary. Under
the Israeli Companies Law, in general, a person will be deemed
to be a controlling shareholder if the person has the power to
direct the activities of the Company, otherwise than by reason
of being a director or other office holder of the Company.
THE COMPANYS BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS VOTING
FOR THE ELECTION OF MS. ANDERSEN AS AN
OUTSIDE DIRECTOR.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
At the 2003 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, shareholders
approved a cash compensation package for non-employee directors.
Under the approved compensation policy, non-employee directors
receive cash remuneration consisting of $1,000 per fiscal
quarter, plus $1,000 for each Board meeting attended and $1,000
for each Committee meeting attended. In addition, the Chair of
the Audit Committee receives an additional $500 per Audit
Committee meeting. Meeting fees for Board meetings require in
person or videoconference attendance, with one telephone meeting
exception allowed for each year. Committee meeting attendance
may be in person, by videoconference, or by telephone.
In addition, under the policy approved by the shareholders,
non-employee directors are eligible for non-discretionary grants
of stock options under the Companys option plans.
Non-employee directors receive a non-discretionary option grant
of 50,000 Ordinary Shares upon their initial election or
appointment to the
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Board and annual option grants of 15,000 Ordinary Shares at each
Annual General Meeting of Shareholders thereafter during their
term of service. Annual option grants are not made in cases
where a directors term of office prior to the Annual
General Meeting has been shorter than six months. The
non-discretionary grants vest over a period of four years, with
one-quarter of the Ordinary Shares subject to the option
becoming vested and exercisable after one year and monthly
thereafter over the remaining period of thirty-six months,
subject to continued service as a director of the Company. The
grant date of the initial option grant is the date that the
non-employee director is initially elected or appointed to the
Board. The grant date of the annual option grant is the date of
the Annual General Meeting. The exercise price for these
non-discretionary grants is the closing sale price of the
Companys Ordinary Shares on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market the
day before the grant date.
Reasonable expenses incurred by each director in connection with
his or her duties as a director are also reimbursed. A Board
member who is also an employee of BackWeb does not receive
compensation for service as a director.
BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES
The Board held a total of eight meetings (including regularly
scheduled and special meetings) during fiscal 2004. Each of the
incumbent directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate of
all meetings of the Board and any meetings of committees of the
Board on which he served.
The Board has a standing Audit Committee and Compensation
Committee. The Board does not currently have a formal nominating
committee or a governance committee. The functions customarily
performed by nominating and governance committees are performed
by the independent members of the Board who make recommendations
to the full Board regarding candidates for nomination and the
size and composition of the Board. The independent members of
the Board monitor the mix of skills, experience and background
of the Board to ensure it maintains the necessary composition to
effectively perform its oversight functions. The independent
members of the Board may from time to time solicit and receive
recommendations for candidates from members of the Board, senior
level executives, individuals personally known to the members of
the Board, and third party search firms as appropriate. In order
to be considered for membership on the Board, a candidate should
possess, at a minimum, the following qualifications:
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high personal and professional ethics and integrity; |
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commitment to representing the long-term interests of the
Companys shareholders; |
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objectivity and practical and mature judgment; and |
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willingness to understand the business of the Company and to
devote adequate time to carry out his or her duties. |
The independent members of the Board believe that their
processes effectively serve the functions of nominating and
governance committees, and do not believe there is a need for a
separate, formal nominating or governance committee. Although
there is no formal policy regarding shareholder nominees, the
independent members of the Board believe that shareholder
nominees should be viewed in substantially the same manner as
other nominees. The consideration of any candidate for director
will be based on the independent members of the Boards
assessment of the individuals background, skills and
abilities, and if such characteristics qualify the individual to
fulfill the needs of the Board at that time. Shareholders
wishing to propose nominees for consideration for the Board
should submit the candidates name and qualifications to
our Corporate Secretary prior to the deadlines set forth under
Deadline for Future Proposals of Shareholders in
this Proxy Statement.
The current members of the Audit Committee are
Messrs. Bellary and Makleff, with Mr. Bellary serving
as the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Andersen will
become a member of the Audit Committee following the Annual
General Meeting if our shareholders elect her to the Board.
Ms. Maxwell served as a member of the Audit Committee until
she left the Board in May 2005 and Mr. Bellary joined the Audit
Committee in July 2005. As described in more detail in the
Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors in this
Proxy Statement, the Audit Committee is responsible for
assisting the Board in its oversight of our accounting
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and financial reporting processes, the audits of our financial
statements, and our system of internal controls. The Audit
Committee held four meetings in fiscal 2004. The Board of
Directors has determined that Mr. Bellary is an audit
committee financial expert, as defined under
Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K. Each member of the
Audit Committee is independent as defined under the rules of The
Nasdaq Stock Market and as required under Rule 10A-3(b)(1)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Audit Committee
operates under a written charter that was filed with the
Companys definitive proxy statement relating to its 2003
Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.
The Compensation Committee currently consists of
Messrs. Makleff and Bellary, with Mr. Makleff serving
as the chair of the Compensation Committee. We expect
Ms. Andersen to become a member of the Compensation
Committee following the Annual General Meeting if our
shareholders elect her to the Board. As described in more detail
in the Report of the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors in this Proxy Statement, the Compensation Committee
reviews and approves all forms of compensation to be provided to
the Companys executive officers, consults with management
regarding compensation and benefits for non-executive officers
and other employees, and oversees our compensation and benefits
policies generally. The Compensation Committee held one meeting
in fiscal 2004. Messrs. Makleff and Bellary are each
independent as defined under the rules of The Nasdaq Stock
Market, non-employee directors within the meaning of
Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and
outside directors within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Communication with the Board
Shareholders may send communications to the Board of Directors
by writing to them at BackWeb Technologies Ltd., Attention: Vice
President, Finance, 2077 Gateway Place, Suite 500,
San Jose, CA 95110. All shareholder communications will be
reviewed by the Vice President, Finance and forwarded to the
Board if appropriate. Our Vice President, Finance reserves the
right to not forward to board members any abusive, threatening,
or otherwise inappropriate materials.
Directors Attendance at Annual General Meetings of
Shareholders
Although we do not have a formal policy regarding attendance by
members of the Board at our Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders, we encourage directors to attend. In 2004, one of
our directors attended our Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders.
PROPOSAL THREE
APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF
THE COMPANY REGARDING INSURANCE, INDEMNIFICATION AND
EXCULPATION
Background
Our Articles of Association currently allow us to procure
insurance for or indemnify any Office Holder (defined as any
director, managing director, general manager, chief executive
officer, executive vice president, vice president, other manager
directly subordinate to the general manager or any other person
assuming the responsibilities of any of these positions
regardless of that persons title) to the fullest extent
permitted under Israels Companies Ordinance or any
successor provisions, provided that the procurement of any such
insurance or provision of any such indemnification, as the case
may be, is approved by the Audit Committee of the Company and
otherwise as required by law. Our Articles of Association also
allow us to procure insurance for or indemnify any person who is
not an Office Holder, including, without limitation, any
employee, agent, consultant or contractor of the Company who is
not an Office Holder. The specific text of Article 68 of
our Articles of Association governing indemnity and insurance is
as follows:
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68. Indemnity and Insurance |
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Subject to the provisions of the Companies Ordinance, the
Company may (i) procure insurance for, or indemnify any
Office Holder, to the fullest extent permitted and not
prohibited by Sections 96(41) |
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and 96(42) of the Companies Ordinance, or any successor
provisions; provided, however, that the procurement of any such
insurance or provision of any such indemnification, as the case
may be, is approved by the Audit Committee of the Company and
otherwise as required by law; or (ii) procure insurance for
or indemnify any person who is not an Office Holder, including,
without limitation, any employee, agent, consultant or
contractor of the Company who is not an Office Holder. |
The Company was incorporated and its Articles of Association
were adopted under Israels Companies Ordinance, the
predecessor to Israels Companies Law. The Companies Law
made certain changes to the rules governing insurance,
indemnification and exculpation of Office Holders. The principal
changes made by the Companies Law were: to allow exculpation of
Office Holders; to permit both indemnification after the fact
and an advance undertaking to indemnify, provided that such
advance undertaking is limited to categories of events that the
Board believes are foreseeable on the date of grant of the
undertaking to indemnify and to an amount determined by the
Board to be reasonable in the circumstances; and to provide
various limitations on the types of liability that may be
insured, indemnified or exculpated.
In March 2005, the provisions of the Companies Law that govern
the insurance, indemnification and exculpation of Office Holders
were amended. The two principal changes made by the amendment
were to allow indemnification in connection with specific
regulatory investigations and proceedings, and to require that a
companys board of directors find the limits on an advance
undertaking to indemnify regarding monetary liability imposed in
favor of a third party in a judgment appropriate in view of the
specific companys activities.
In light of the cumulative effect of the changes to these
provisions since the adoption of these provisions in our
Articles of Association, our Board of the Directors believes
that, although not required, it would be advisable to amend the
provisions of our Articles of Association to more accurately
reflect the current provisions of the Companies Law. Our Board
of Directors believes that amending our Articles of Association
to conform more closely to the current provisions of the
Companies Law will facilitate the recruitment and retention of
qualified individuals to serve as our directors.
Proposal
You are being asked to approve an amendment to our Articles of
Association regarding insurance, indemnification and exculpation
to reflect the changes to the Companies Law discussed above.
We are proposing to adopt the following Special Resolution:
|
|
|
RESOLVED, that the Companys Articles of Association
be amended to replace Article 68 with the following: |
|
|
68. Insurance, Indemnification and Exculpation |
The Company may insure, indemnify and exculpate its Office
Holders to the fullest extent permitted by law, from time to
time. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
|
|
|
(a) Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law
5759-1999 as amended from time to time (the Companies
Law), the Company may enter into a contract for the
insurance of its Office Holders, for act or omissions in their
capacity as Office Holders, in whole or in part, against any of
the following: |
|
|
|
(i) breach of the duty of care owed to the Company or a
third party; |
|
|
(ii) breach of the fiduciary duty owed to the Company,
provided that the Office Holder acted in good faith and had
reasonable grounds to believe that his action would not harm the
Companys interests; and |
|
|
(iii) monetary liability imposed on the Office Holder in
favor of a third party. |
|
|
|
(b) Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, the
Company is entitled retroactively to indemnify any Office
Holder, or to provide a prior undertaking to indemnify an Office
Holder where such prior undertaking is limited (1) to
categories of events that the Board believes are foreseeable in
light of the Companys activities on the date of grant of
the undertaking to indemnify, and (2) to an amount or in |
7
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|
accordance with guidelines determined by the Board to be
reasonable in the circumstances (and such undertaking includes
the categories of events that the Board believes are foreseeable
in light of the Companys activities on the date of grant
of the undertaking to indemnify and to an amount or in
accordance with guidelines determined by the Board to be
reasonable in the circumstances), for an act that such Office
Holder performed by virtue of being an Office Holder of the
Company, for monetary liability imposed on the Office Holder in
favor of a third party in a judgment, including a settlement or
an arbitral award confirmed by a court. |
|
|
(c) Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, the
Company is entitled retroactively to indemnify any Office
Holder, or to provide a prior undertaking to indemnify an Office
Holder for: |
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|
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|
(i) reasonable legal costs, including attorneys fees,
expended by an Office Holder as a result of an investigation or
proceeding instituted against the Office Holder by a competent
authority, provided that such investigation or proceeding
concludes without the filing of an indictment against the Office
Holder and either (A) no financial liability was imposed on
the Office Holder in lieu of criminal proceedings, or (B)
financial liability was imposed on the Office Holder in lieu of
criminal proceedings but the alleged criminal offense does not
require proof of criminal intent; and |
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|
(ii) reasonable legal costs, including attorneys
fees, expended by the Office Holder or for which the Office
Holder is charged by a court, (a) in an action brought
against the Office Holder by or on behalf of the Company or a
third party, or (b) in a criminal action in which the
Office Holder is found innocent, or (c) in a criminal
action in which the Office Holder is convicted and in which a
proof of criminal intent is not required. |
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|
(d) Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, the
Company may exculpate an Office Holder in advance from
liability, or any part of liability, for damages sustained by
virtue of a breach of duty of care to the Company. |
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of at least 75% of the Ordinary Shares
voting on this proposal in person or by proxy is required for
approval of the Special Resolution to amend the Articles of
Association of the Company.
Board Recommendation
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE
FOR THE AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF
ASSOCIATION OF THE COMPANY.
* * * * *
The Companies Law provides that the fourth item of business,
described in greater detail below, can be validly approved by
shareholders only following approval by the Audit Committee and
the Board of Directors, in that order. Accordingly, the
shareholders meeting will be adjourned immediately following the
vote on the third item of business specified above. If the
nominee for outside director is elected, the newly-constituted
Board of Directors of the Company will convene at such time to
appoint an Audit Committee that includes both outside directors,
as required by Israeli Law. Thereafter, the Audit Committee will
consider a proposal to approve the fourth item of business
specified below. If the Audit Committee approves this proposal,
the proposal will then be submitted to the Board of Directors
for consideration. Subject to the approval of the Audit
Committee and the Board of Directors of this proposal, the
shareholders meeting will reconvene at 4:30 p.m. to
consider and vote upon the fourth item of business, described in
greater detail below.
* * * * *
8
PROPOSAL FOUR
APPROVAL OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS WITH THE
COMPANYS
DIRECTORS
Background
Shareholders are being asked to approve the insurance,
indemnification and exculpation agreements that the Company
intends to enter into with each of its directors, in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A (the Indemnification
Agreements). Such Indemnification Agreements conform to
the amendment to the Companys Articles of Association set
forth above, and will not be brought before the shareholders for
approval if Proposal No. Three above is not approved.
The proposed form of agreement is intended to ensure that our
directors have indemnification to the fullest extent permitted
by law. In light of the increased responsibility of directors
pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and changes to the corporate
governance requirements of The Nasdaq Stock Market and Israeli
law, and the increased difficulty of recruiting and retaining
qualified directors, the Board of Directors has determined that
it is in the best interests of the Company to enter into
Indemnification Agreements with its directors. In particular,
the Board believes that most of its peers provide
indemnification agreements to their directors, and that such
agreements are typical for companies that are publicly traded on
United States securities exchanges or on Nasdaq. As a result,
the absence of such an agreement can seriously prejudice the
Company in seeking to recruit and retain qualified directors.
In general, the proposed Indemnification Agreements would
generally indemnify the Companys directors to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law for any liability and
reasonable legal expense that may be imposed on them for
actions, or failures to act, in their capacity as Office Holders
of the Company or its subsidiaries. The Company would also be
obligated to advance an amount estimated to cover the
directors reasonable legal expenses, including
attorneys fees, with respect to which they would be
entitled to be indemnified. In addition, the proposed
Indemnification Agreements would require that the Company
maintain directors and officers liability insurance
for the benefit of its directors, providing coverage in an
amount as determined by the Board of Directors. The Companies
Law currently prohibits a company from indemnification,
insurance or exculpation of an Office Holder of any of the
following: breach of the fiduciary duty, intentional or reckless
breach of the duty of care, an act performed with the intent to
obtain an unlawful personal gain, or fine or penalty levied on
the Office Holder; provided, however, that a company may
indemnify or insure an Office Holder for breach of fiduciary
duty, if the Office Holder acted in good faith and had
reasonable cause to believe that the act would not prejudice the
company. In addition, the Companies Law provides that a company
may not agree in advance to exculpate a director from liability
to the company in connection with breach of the duty of care in
decisions relating to dividends, buybacks and the like.
The Companys advance indemnification undertaking is
limited to specified categories of liability, which are
described in Schedule A to the form of the Indemnification
Agreements, and the maximum amount that the Company would be
required to indemnify any director for any category is limited
to $20 million. Under the Companies Law, an advance
undertaking to indemnify regarding monetary liability imposed in
favor of a third party in a judgment requires the Board of
Directors to make a finding that the undertaking is limited to
categories of events that the Board believes are foreseeable in
light of the Companys activities on the date of grant of
the undertaking to indemnify and to an amount or in accordance
with guidelines determined by the Board to be reasonable under
the circumstances. The Board of Directors has reviewed the
limits contained in the form of Indemnification Agreements and
found them to be consistent with these Companies Law limitations.
Proposal
We are proposing to adopt the following Ordinary Resolution:
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|
|
RESOLVED, that the Indemnification Agreements with each of
the Companys directors in the form attached as
Exhibit A to the Companys Proxy Statement dated
December 1, 2005, be, and they hereby are, approved. |
9
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of a majority of the Ordinary Shares voting
on this proposal in person or by proxy is required for the
approval of the resolution to approve the Indemnification
Agreements.
Board Recommendation
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE
FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE INDEMNIFICATION
AGREEMENTS IN FAVOR OF THE COMPANYS DIRECTORS.
PROPOSAL FIVE
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT AND COMPENSATION OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee of the Board has selected Grant Thornton LLP
(Grant Thornton) as the Companys independent
registered public accounting firm to audit the financial
statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2005, and to serve as auditors, within the
meaning of the Israels Companies Law.
Former Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003,
Ernst & Young LLP audited the financial statements of
the Company. Ernst & Young had served as the
Companys independent registered public accounting firm
since the Companys inception in August 1995. On
April 21, 2004, the Audit Committee of the Company accepted
Ernst & Youngs resignation, effective upon the
filing of the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2004. Ernst &
Youngs resignation was due to preliminary discussions they
were entering into with the Company with respect to a potential
licensing transaction. The Ernst & Young LLP report on
the financial statements for the two years ended
December 31, 2003 did not contain any adverse opinion or a
disclaimer of opinion, nor was it qualified or modified as to
uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. There were
no disagreements with Ernst & Young on any matter of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements,
if not resolved to the satisfaction of Ernst & Young,
would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of
the disagreements in connection with its reports.
Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The following table summarizes the aggregate fees billed to the
Company by Grant Thornton in 2004 and by its former independent
registered public accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP,
the member firms of Ernst & Young Global, and their
respective affiliates (collectively, Ernst &
Young Entities) for services rendered to the Company in
2003:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2003 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Audit Fees
|
|
$ |
240,000 |
|
|
$ |
255,000 |
|
Audit-Related Fees
|
|
|
24,000 |
|
|
|
39,000 |
|
Tax Fees
|
|
|
166,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
All Other Fees
|
|
|
198,000 |
|
|
|
13,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$ |
628,000 |
|
|
$ |
307,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit Fees. This category includes the audit of
BackWebs annual financial statements and review of
financial statements included in BackWebs Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q. This category also includes advice on
audit and accounting matters that arose during, or as a result
of, the audit or the review of interim financial statements, and
statutory audits. The amount in 2004 includes cash payments made
to Ernst & Young Entities of $70,000.
10
Audit-Related Fees. This category consists of assurance
and related services that are reasonably related to the
performance of the audit or review of BackWebs financial
statements and are not reported above under Audit
Fees. The services for the fees disclosed under this
category related to preparation of financial statements in the
Companys international subsidiaries and other local
compliance activities. The amount in 2004 represents cash
payments made to Ernst & Young Entities of $39,000.
Tax Fees. This category consists of professional services
rendered for tax compliance and tax advice. The services for the
fees disclosed under this category include tax return
preparation and technical tax advice.
All Other Fees. This category consists of the aggregate
fees billed for professional services rendered, other than the
services reported above. The services for the fees disclosed
under this category include liquidation services for certain
international subsidiaries, as well as other consulting services
unrelated to audit and tax services. The amount in 2004
represents cash payments made to Ernst & Young Entities
of $7,000.
Pre-Approval Process for Auditor Services
The services performed by the Ernst & Young Entities in
2003 and Grant Thornton in 2004 were pre-approved in accordance
with the pre-approval procedures adopted by the Audit Committee,
with the exception of certain limited payroll tax work in the
United Kingdom for the Companys subsidiary located in the
United Kingdom, which work was approved by the Audit Committee
at its January 27, 2004 meeting. All requests for audit,
audit-related, tax, and other services must be submitted to the
Audit Committee for pre-approval with an estimate of fees for
the services. Pre-approval is generally provided at regularly
scheduled meetings.
Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
The Board is seeking (1) ratification by the shareholders
for the Audit Committees selection and appointment of
Grant Thornton as the independent registered public accounting
firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2005, and (2) the authorization by the shareholders for the
Audit Committee to enter into an agreement to pay the fees of
Grant Thornton as the independent registered public accounting
firm of the Company on customary terms. Shareholder ratification
of the Companys independent registered public accounting
firm, including the authorization for the Audit Committee to
enter into an agreement for their fees, is required under
Israels Companies Law.
If the shareholders do not approve the selection of Grant
Thornton, the Audit Committee will reconsider its selection.
Representatives of Grant Thornton are expected to be present at
this Annual General Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a
statement if they so desire, and are expected to be available to
respond to appropriate questions. In accordance with
Section 60(b) of Israels Companies Law, shareholders
are invited to discuss the Companys Consolidated Financial
Statements for the year ended December 31, 2004, and
questions regarding the financial statements may be addressed to
us or to Grant Thornton.
Vote Required
The affirmative vote of a majority of the Ordinary Shares voting
on this proposal in person or by proxy is required for the
ratification and approval of the appointment of Grant Thornton
and the authorization of the Audit Committee to enter into an
agreement with Grant Thornton with respect to its fees.
THE COMPANYS BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
VOTING FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF GRANT THORNTON AS THE COMPANYS INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING
DECEMBER 31, 2005, AND THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE AUDIT
COMMITTEE TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT TO PAY THE FEES OF GRANT
THORNTON.
11
OTHER INFORMATION
Executive Officers
Biographical information for the current executive officers of
the Company is set forth below, other than Mr. Heye whose
biographical information is contained in Proposal One.
Executive officers are designated as such and serve at the
discretion of the Board, and until their successors have been
duly elected and qualified, unless sooner removed by the Board.
KEN HOLMES, age 39, became the Companys Vice
President, Finance on October 11, 2004. Prior to that, he
served as the Companys Senior Director of Finance and
Corporate Controller from May 2003 through October 2004. Prior
to BackWeb, from January 2001 through May 2003, Mr. Holmes
was Chief Financial Officer of Project InVision, a project
management software company. He was also the Senior Director of
Finance at QuantumShift from February 1998 through December
2000, and has held finance positions at NeXT Software and Omnis
Software. Mr. Holmes holds a B.S. in finance from The
University of San Francisco.
PETE SZALAY, age 43, became the Companys Vice
President of Sales and Marketing in October 2005. From October
2003 to September 2005, Mr. Szalay was Chief Executive
Officer of Aramova, Inc., a provider of intelligent access
management solutions; Mr. Szalay remains the Chairman of
Aramova. Prior to Aramova, from January 2000 to September 2003,
Mr. Szalay was a founder and Vice President of Sales and
Marketing at Alopa Networks, a provider of middleware and client
solutions to large telecommunications companies. Mr. Szalay
has also held senior positions in sales, operations, and
engineering at companies such as Ambit, Summit Design, Synopsys
and TRW. Mr. Szalay holds a B.S.E.E. from UCLA, and an
M.S.E.E. from the University of Southern California.
MOSHE RACCAH, age 39, became the Companys Vice
President of Business Development and Professional Services in
October 2005. From July 2001 to May 2005, Mr. Raccah was
the Corporate Vice President of Strategic Alliances at Amdocs, a
supplier of operations support software used by
telecommunications service providers to deliver voice, data and
wireless services. Prior to Amdocs, from July 1999 to March
2001, Mr. Raccah was the founder and CEO of Personetics, an
Israeli software company focused on solutions for premier
customer relationship commerce web sites. Prior to that,
Mr. Raccah started and managed his own services company,
Winsite, which was subsequently merged into what became Ness
Ltd., a systems integrator. Mr. Raccah has also held senior
management positions at Ipex Group, Microsoft Israel and Magic
Software.
Relationship Among Directors or Executive Officers
There are no family relationships between any director or
executive officer and any other director or executive officer.
12
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT
The following table shows the amount of our Ordinary Shares
beneficially owned, as of November 16, 2005, by
(1) persons known by us to own 5% or more of our Ordinary
Shares, (2) each Named Executive Officer listed in the
Summary Compensation Table below, (3) our directors and
director nominees, and (4) our executive officers and
directors as a group. Beneficial ownership is determined in
accordance with the rules of the SEC.
The address for each listed director and executive officer is
c/o BackWeb Technologies Ltd., 10 Haamal St., Park
Afek, Rosh Haayin 48092, Israel. Except as indicated by
footnote, the persons named in the table have sole voting and
investment power with respect to all Ordinary Shares shown as
beneficially owned by them. The number of Ordinary Shares
outstanding used in calculating the percentages in the table
below includes the Ordinary Shares underlying options or
warrants held by such person that are exercisable within
60 days of November 16, 2005, but excludes Ordinary
Shares underlying options or warrants held by any other person.
Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on
41,125,540 Ordinary Shares outstanding as of
November 16, 2005.
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Number of | |
|
Percentage of | |
|
|
Ordinary Shares | |
|
Ordinary Shares | |
Beneficial Owner |
|
Beneficially Owned | |
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Beneficially Owned | |
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| |
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| |
5% or Greater Shareholders
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|
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|
|
|
|
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EliBarkat Holdings Ltd.(1)
|
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|
3,352,342 |
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|
8.2 |
% |
|
8 Hamarpe Street
Har Hotzvim
Jerusalem 91450 Israel |
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|
|
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|
|
Yuval 63 Holdings (1995) Ltd.(2)
|
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3,352,342 |
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8.2 |
% |
|
8 Hamarpe Street
Har Hotzvim
Jerusalem 91450 Israel |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
NirBarkat Holdings Ltd.(3)
|
|
|
3,352,342 |
|
|
|
8.2 |
% |
|
8 Hamarpe Street
Har Hotzvim
Jerusalem 91450 Israel |
|
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|
|
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Named Executive Officers, Directors, and Director Nominees
|
|
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|
|
Eli Barkat(4)
|
|
|
4,988,089 |
|
|
|
11.7 |
% |
Uday Bellary(5)
|
|
|
17,708 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Amir Makleff(6)
|
|
|
17,708 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Kara Andersen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William Heye(7)
|
|
|
637,406 |
|
|
|
1.5 |
% |
Ken Holmes(8)
|
|
|
163,083 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Erez Lorber
|
|
|
12,631 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Michael A. Morgan
|
|
|
31,632 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Executive officers and current directors as a group (7
persons)(9)
|
|
|
5,823,994 |
|
|
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13.5 |
% |
|
|
(1) |
Eli Barkat substantially controls the voting power of EliBarkat
Holdings Ltd. The shares listed in the table above for EliBarkat
Holdings Ltd. do not include (1) 548,131 Ordinary Shares
owned directly by Mr. Barkat, (2) 1,000 Ordinary
Shares owned directly by Mr. Barkats wife, with
respect to which he disclaims beneficial ownership, (3) and
606,592 Ordinary Shares held by BRM Technologies Ltd. in which
EliBarkat Holdings Ltd. is a shareholder, with respect to which
shares Mr. Barkat and EliBarkat Holdings Ltd. disclaim
beneficial ownership except to the extent of their pecuniary
interest therein. The address of EliBarkat Holdings Ltd. is 2077
Gateway Place, Suite 500, San Jose, CA 95110. |
13
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(2) |
Yuval Rakavy, a former BackWeb director, owns substantially all
of the equity and voting power of Yuval Rakavy Ltd., the parent
company of Yuval 63 Holdings (1995) Ltd. The shares listed
in the table above for Yuval 63 Holdings (1995) Ltd. do not
include 606,592 Ordinary Shares held by BRM Technologies Ltd. in
which Yuval 63 Holdings (1995) Ltd. is a shareholder, with
respect to which shares Mr. Rakavy and Yuval 63 Holdings
(1995) Ltd. disclaim beneficial ownership except to the
extent of their pecuniary interest therein. The address of Yuval
63 Holdings (1995) Ltd. is 2077 Gateway Place,
Suite 500, San Jose, CA 95110. |
|
(3) |
Nir Barkat, a former BackWeb director, owns substantially all of
the equity and voting power of Nir Barkat Ltd., the parent
company of NirBarkat Holdings Ltd. Nir Barkat is the brother of
Eli Barkat, our Chairman and former Chief Executive Officer. The
shares listed in the table above for Nir Barkat Ltd. do not
include 606,592 Ordinary Shares held by BRM Technologies Ltd. in
which Nir Barkat Ltd. is a shareholder, with respect to which
shares Mr. Barkat and Nir Barkat Ltd. disclaim beneficial
ownership except to the extent of their pecuniary interest
therein. The address of Nir Barkat Ltd. is 2077 Gateway Place,
Suite 500, San Jose, CA 95110. |
|
(4) |
The shares listed in the table above for Eli Barkat include
3,352,342 Ordinary Shares held by EliBarkat Holdings Ltd., an
entity substantially controlled by Eli Barkat, 1,000 Ordinary
Shares owned directly by Mr. Barkats wife, with
respect to which he disclaims beneficial ownership, and options
to purchase 1,342,812 Ordinary Shares that are exercisable
within 60 days of November 16, 2005. The shares listed
in the table above for Eli Barkat do not include 606,592
Ordinary Shares held by BRM Technologies Ltd. in which EliBarkat
Holdings Ltd., an entity substantially controlled by
Mr. Barkat, is a shareholder, with respect to which shares
Mr. Barkat and EliBarkat Holdings Ltd. disclaim beneficial
ownership except to the extent of their pecuniary interest
therein. |
|
(5) |
The shares listed in the table above for Mr. Bellary
consist of options to purchase 17,708 Ordinary Shares that
are exercisable within 60 days of November 16, 2005. |
|
(6) |
The shares listed in the table above for Mr. Makleff
consist of options to purchase 17,708 Ordinary Shares that
are exercisable within 60 days of November 16, 2005. |
|
(7) |
The shares listed in the table above for Mr. Heye include
options to purchase 630,739 Ordinary Shares that are
exercisable within 60 days of November 16, 2005. |
|
(8) |
The shares listed in the table above for Mr. Holmes include
options to purchase 153,083 Ordinary Shares that are
exercisable within 60 days of November 16, 2005. |
|
(9) |
The shares listed in the table above for our executive officers
and directors as a group include options to purchase 2,162,050
Ordinary Shares that are exercisable within 60 days of
November 16, 2005. |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
requires the Companys executive officers and directors and
persons who own more than 10% of the Companys Ordinary
Shares to file an initial report of ownership on Form 3 and
changes in ownership on Form 4 or 5 with the SEC. Executive
officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders are also
required by SEC rules to furnish the Company with copies of all
Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received
by it, or written representations from certain reporting
persons, the Company believes that, with respect to its fiscal
year ended December 31, 2004, all filing requirements
applicable to its executive officers, directors and 10%
shareholders were met, with the exception of late filings for
Eli Barkat for the disposition of shares on November 10,
2004, November 12, 2004 and November 16, 2004.
14
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the compensation earned for
services rendered to us in all capacities for the fiscal years
ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002 by our two former
Chief Executive Officers who served in such capacity during
2004, our former Chief Financial Officer, our current Chief
Executive Officer, and the Companys one other executive
officer who was serving as an executive officer of the Company
as of December 31, 2004 (collectively, referred to as
Named Executive Officers in this Proxy Statement):
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
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Bonus ($) | |
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Eli Barkat(1)
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|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
97,542 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
Chairman and former Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
259,200 |
|
|
|
85,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
281,264 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
725,000 |
|
Erez Lorber(2)
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
177,808 |
|
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
193,842 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Former Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
193,500 |
|
|
|
25,755 |
|
|
|
69,600 |
|
|
|
400,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
199,771 |
|
|
|
29,812 |
|
|
|
19,377 |
|
|
|
37,500 |
|
William Heye(3)
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
180,000 |
|
|
|
44,126 |
|
|
|
11,763 |
|
|
|
700,000 |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
180,000 |
|
|
|
13,771 |
|
|
|
50,977 |
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
167,250 |
|
|
|
25,001 |
|
|
|
1,752 |
|
|
|
37,500 |
|
Ken Holmes(4)
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
155,000 |
|
|
|
25,480 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
193,000 |
|
|
Vice President, Finance |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
99,260 |
|
|
|
9,141 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
66,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael A. Morgan(5)
|
|
|
2004 |
|
|
|
158,333 |
|
|
|
34,228 |
|
|
|
74,314 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Former Chief Finance Officer |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
190,000 |
|
|
|
41,120 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
69,910 |
|
|
|
12,380 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Mr. Barkat resigned as Chief Executive Officer on
January 1, 2004. Mr. Barkat received a salary through
June 30, 2004, and thereafter was compensated in similarly
to other directors with no salary paid to him by us after that
date. |
|
(2) |
Mr. Lorber succeeded Mr. Barkat as Chief Executive
Office in January 2004. Prior to that, Mr. Lorber served as
Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Business Development from
October 2002 through December 2003. From May 2000 to September
2002, Mr. Lorber served as our Vice President, Business
Development. |
|
(3) |
Mr. Heye succeeded Mr. Lorber as Chief Executive
Officer in October 2004. |
|
(4) |
Mr. Holmes joined BackWeb in May 2003. |
|
(5) |
Mr. Morgan resigned as Chief Financial Officer on
October 8, 2004. Mr. Morgan joined BackWeb in August
2002. |
|
(6) |
The Other Annual Compensation column includes
commission payments, severance payments, and vacation payout
amounts. |
Stock Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
The following table presents each grant of stock options to each
of our Named Executive Officers under our 1996 Israel Stock
Option Plan and 1998 United States Stock Option Plan
(collectively, the Option Plans) during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2004, including the potential
realizable value of the options at assumed 5% and 10% annual
rates of appreciation over the term of the option, compounded
annually. These rates of returns are mandated by the rules of
the SEC and do not represent our estimate or projections of our
15
future stock prices. Actual gains, if any, on stock option
exercises will depend on the future performance of our Ordinary
Shares.
Percentages shown under Percent of Total Options Granted
to Employees in Fiscal Year are based on options to
purchase an aggregate of 3,352,500 Ordinary Shares granted to
employees of the Company under the Option Plans during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.
The exercise price of each option was equal to the closing sale
price of our Ordinary Shares as quoted on the Nasdaq SmallCap
Market the day before the date of grant. The exercise price for
an option may be paid in cash, check, in shares of our Ordinary
Shares valued at fair market value on the exercise date, a
reduction in Company liability to the optionee or any
combination of these methods of payment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Potential Realizable | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value at Assumed | |
|
|
Number of | |
|
Percent of | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Rates of Stock | |
|
|
Securities | |
|
Total Options | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Price Appreciation for | |
|
|
Underlying | |
|
Granted to | |
|
Exercise or | |
|
|
|
|
|
Option Term | |
|
|
Options | |
|
Employees in | |
|
Base Price | |
|
|
|
Expiration | |
|
| |
Name |
|
Granted (#) | |
|
Fiscal Year | |
|
($/Share) | |
|
Grant Date | |
|
Date | |
|
5% | |
|
10% | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Eli Barkat
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
0.4 |
% |
|
$ |
0.40 |
|
|
|
8/10/04 |
|
|
|
8/10/14 |
|
|
$ |
2,443 |
|
|
$ |
5,692 |
|
Erez Lorber
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William Heye
|
|
|
700,000 |
|
|
|
20.9 |
% |
|
|
0.39 |
|
|
|
11/4/04 |
|
|
|
11/4/14 |
|
|
|
111,138 |
|
|
|
259,000 |
|
Ken Holmes
|
|
|
193,000 |
|
|
|
5.8 |
% |
|
|
0.39 |
|
|
|
11/4/04 |
|
|
|
11/4/14 |
|
|
|
30,642 |
|
|
|
71,410 |
|
Michael A. Morgan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Barkats options shown on the table above have a
term of ten years and vest as to 25% of the Ordinary Shares
subject to the option on the first anniversary of the grant date
and as to
1/48
of the Ordinary Shares subject to the option each month
thereafter until the option is fully vested four years from the
grant date.
Mr. Heyes options shown on the table above have a
term of ten years and vest as to 33% of the Ordinary Shares
subject to the option on the first anniversary of the grant date
and as to
1/36
of the Ordinary Shares subject to the option each month
thereafter until the option is fully vested three years from the
grant date.
Mr. Holmes options shown on the table above have a
term of ten years and vest as to 50% of the Ordinary Shares
subject to the option on the first anniversary of the grant date
and as to
1/24
of the Ordinary Shares subject to the option each month
thereafter until the option is fully vested two years from the
grant date.
Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal
Year End Option Values
None of the Named Executive Officers exercised any of his
options during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. The
following table sets forth the number and value of securities
underlying unexercised options held by each of the Named
Executive Officers as of December 31, 2004.
Amounts shown under the column Value of Unexercised
In-the-Money Options at Fiscal Year End are based on the
fair market value, i.e. the closing sale price, of our Ordinary
Shares as quoted on the Nasdaq
16
SmallCap Market on December 31, 2004 (which was
$0.70 per Ordinary Share), less the exercise price payable
for such Ordinary Shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities | |
|
Value of Unexercised | |
|
|
Underlying Unexercised | |
|
In-the-Money Options at | |
|
|
Options at Fiscal Year End | |
|
Fiscal Year End | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Name |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Eli Barkat
|
|
|
1,114,062 |
|
|
|
600,938 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
4,500 |
|
Erez Lorber
|
|
|
281,874 |
|
|
|
565,626 |
|
|
|
84,687 |
|
|
|
167,688 |
|
William Heye
|
|
|
298,000 |
|
|
|
867,500 |
|
|
|
3,750 |
|
|
|
228,250 |
|
Ken Holmes
|
|
|
24,000 |
|
|
|
235,000 |
|
|
|
2,025 |
|
|
|
63,205 |
|
Michael A. Morgan
|
|
|
106,717 |
|
|
|
206,667 |
|
|
|
88,333 |
|
|
|
182,667 |
|
Employment Agreements and Change of Control Arrangements
Mr. Heyes current base salary is $180,000 and his
bonus for 2005 may be up to $144,000 and will be determined
according to the terms of BackWebs 2005 variable
compensation plan. Mr. Heyes employment is at will
and may be terminated at any time, with or without formal cause.
Mr. Holmes current base salary is $155,000 and his
bonus for 2005 may be up to $72,000 and will be determined
according to the terms of BackWebs 2005 variable
compensation plan. Mr. Holmess employment is at will
and may be terminated at any time, with or without formal cause.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
Messrs. Bellary and Makleff are the current members of the
Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors. Neither has
ever been one of our officers or employees nor during the past
fiscal year had any other interlocking relationships as defined
by the SEC. None of our executive officers currently serves or
in the past has served as a member of the board of directors or
compensation committee of any entity that has one or more
executive officers serving on our Board or Compensation
Committee. We expect Ms. Andersen to become a member of the
Compensation Committee following the Annual General Meeting if
our shareholders elect her to the Board.
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Compensation Committee of the Board is providing the
following report on executive compensation in accordance with
the rules and regulations of the SEC. This report outlines the
policies of the Compensation Committee with respect to executive
compensation, the various components of the Companys
compensation program for executive officers, and the basis on
which the compensation for each individual who served as the
Companys Chief Executive Officer during 2004 was
determined.
The information contained in the following report shall not be
deemed to be soliciting material or to be
filed with the SEC, nor shall such information be
incorporated by reference into any future filing under the
Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates
it by reference into such filing.
General
The Compensation Committees functions include:
|
|
|
|
|
determining all forms of compensation of the Companys
Chief Executive Officer; |
|
|
|
reviewing and approving all forms of compensation for the other
executive officers, including salary, bonuses and stock options; |
17
|
|
|
|
|
consulting with management regarding compensation and benefits
for non-executive officers and other employees; and |
|
|
|
overseeing our compensation and benefits policies generally. |
Compensation Policies
The Companys executive compensation policies have two
principal goals: (1) attracting, rewarding and retaining
executives, and (2) motivating executives to achieve
short-term and long-term corporate goals that enhance
shareholder value. Accordingly, the Compensation
Committees objectives are to:
|
|
|
|
|
offer compensation opportunities that attract and retain
executives whose abilities are critical to the Companys
long-term success and motivate individuals to perform at their
highest level; |
|
|
|
tie in a significant portion of the executives total
compensation to achievement of financial, organizational,
management and personal performance goals; and |
|
|
|
reward outstanding individual performance by an executive
officer that contributes to the Companys long-term success. |
Compensation of Executive Officers Generally
The Companys compensation program for its executives
emphasizes variable compensation, primarily through grants of
short- and long-term performance-based incentives. Executive
compensation generally consists of the following: (1) base
salary; (2) incentive bonuses; and (3) long-term
equity incentive awards in the form of stock option grants. Each
executive officers compensation package is designed to
provide an appropriately weighted mix of these elements.
Base Salary. Base salary levels for each of the
Companys executive officers, including the Chief Executive
Officer, are generally set within a range of base salaries that
the Board (through the Compensation Committee or in its
entirety) believes reflect market salaries for similar executive
officers at comparable companies. Commercially available
compensation surveys are used, when appropriate, to determine
that such range is at or near the levels paid by comparable
companies engaged in the software industry and located within
comparable geographical locations. The Board does not use
formulas but instead exercises its judgment based on
considerations including overall responsibilities and the
importance of these responsibilities to the Companys
success, experience and ability, past short-term and long-term
job performance and salary history. In addition, in reviewing
executive salaries generally and in setting the salary of the
Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee generally
takes into account the Companys past financial performance
and future expectations, as well as changes in the
executives responsibilities.
Incentive Bonuses. The Compensation Committee recommends
the payment of bonuses to provide an incentive to executive
officers to be productive over the course of each fiscal year
and to bring the total cash-based compensation to market levels.
A portion of these bonuses are awarded if the Company achieves
or exceeds certain corporate performance objectives and a
portion of these bonuses are awarded if the executive achieves
or exceeds certain personal goals.
Equity Incentives. Stock options are used by the Company
as long-term compensation to provide a stock-based incentive to
improve the Companys financial performance and to assist
in the recruitment, retention and motivation of professional,
managerial and other personnel. Generally, stock options are
granted to executive officers from time to time based primarily
upon the individuals actual and/or potential contributions
to the Company and the Companys financial performance.
Stock options are designed to align the interests of the
Companys executive officers with those of its shareholders
by encouraging executive officers to enhance the value of the
Company, the price of its Ordinary Shares, and hence, the
shareholders return. In addition, the vesting of stock
options over a period of time is designed to create an incentive
for the individual to remain with the Company. The Company has
granted options to the executives on an ongoing basis to provide
continuing incentives to the executives to meet future
performance goals and to remain with the Company. The Committee
recommended and the Board approved option grants in connection
with certain
18
incentive programs for the Companys executive officers as
described more fully in the section Stock Option Grants in
Last Fiscal Year in this Proxy Statement.
Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer
The Compensation Committee annually reviews the performance and
compensation of the Chief Executive Officer based on the
assessment of his past performance, its expectation of his
future contributions to the Companys performance and the
compensation paid to chief executive officers of comparable
companies. Erez Lorber served as the Companys Chief
Executive Officer from January 1, 2004 through October 11,
2004. For 2004, the Compensation Committee recommended, and the
Audit Committee and Board approved, setting the base salary of
Mr. Lorber at $230,000, with the potential for a bonus of
up to $137,000. Mr. Lorber received a performance bonus of
$12,000 during 2004 as directed by the Board. The Compensation
Committee believes the compensation paid to Mr. Lorber for
2004 was reasonable.
Mr. Heye became our Chief Executive Officer on
October 11, 2004. In connection with this appointment and
based on a review of the market for comparable positions, the
Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board approved,
setting the base salary of Mr. Heye at $180,000, with the
potential for a bonus of up to $144,000, which includes a draw
each quarter of $12,500 against an annual total bonus.
Mr. Heyes bonus is based upon BackWeb meeting certain
specified milestones related to 2005 annual revenue,
BackWebs cash balance at the end of fiscal year 2005 and
attainment of an additional business objectives. In addition, in
November 2004, Mr. Heye was granted an option to
purchase 700,000 of our Ordinary Shares which vest over a
three-year period due to the significant elevation in his role
and responsibility within the Company.
Policy with Respect to Qualifying Compensation for
Deductibility
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code imposes a limit
on tax deductions for annual compensation (other than
performance-based compensation) in excess of one million dollars
paid by a corporation to its chief executive officer or any of
its other four most highly compensated executive officers in a
single year. The Company has not established a policy with
regard to Section 162(m) of the Code, since the Company has
not and does not currently anticipate paying cash compensation
in excess of one million dollars per annum to any employee. The
Board of Directors will continue to assess the impact of
Section 162(m) on its compensation practices and determine
what further action, if any, may be appropriate in the future.
|
|
|
SUBMITTED BY THE COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE |
|
|
Amir Makleff, Chairman |
|
Uday Bellary |
19
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Audit Committee of the Companys Board is providing the
following report in accordance with the rules and regulations of
the SEC. The information contained in the following report shall
not be deemed to be soliciting material or to be
filed with the SEC, nor shall such information be
incorporated by reference into any future filing under the
Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates
it by reference into such filing.
Role of the Audit Committee
The purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of
Directors in its oversight of our accounting and financial
reporting processes, the audits of our financial statements, and
our system of internal controls. The Audit Committees
primary responsibilities are to:
|
|
|
|
|
appoint, compensate, and oversee the work of the independent
registered public accounting firm; |
|
|
|
review the independent registered public accounting firms
activities, performance, independence and fee arrangements; |
|
|
|
request certain information from, and discuss certain matters
with, the independent registered public accounting firm as
required by applicable accounting standards; and |
|
|
|
review with management, before release, our audited annual
financial statements and unaudited interim financial statements,
including the Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of
our annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q. |
In addition, under the Companies Law, the Audit Committee is
required to monitor any deficiencies in the administration of
the Company, including by consulting with the internal auditor,
and to review and approve related party transactions (such as
transactions with Office Holders or with controlling
shareholders).
Management is responsible for: (1) the preparation and
presentation of our financial statements; (2) our
accounting and disclosure principles; and (3) our internal
controls over financial reporting designed to ensure compliance
with accounting standards, applicable laws and regulations.
Grant Thornton LLP, our independent registered public accounting
firm for fiscal 2004, was responsible for performing an
independent audit of the consolidated financial statements in
accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the
United States.
20
Review of Audited Financial Statements for Fiscal Year ended
December 31, 2004
Our Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed our audited
financial statements with management. In addition, the Audit
Committee has discussed with Grant Thornton the matters required
to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61
(Communications with Audit Committees). The Audit Committee has
also received written disclosures and the letter from Grant
Thornton as required by the Independence Standards Board
Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit
Committees), and discussed with Grant Thornton their
independence from us.
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit
Committee recommended to our Board of Directors, and it approved
and ratified, the inclusion of the audited consolidated
financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2004, as filed with the SEC.
Members of the Audit Committee rely without independent
verification on the information provided to them and on the
representations made by management and the independent
registered public accounting firm. Accordingly, the Audit
Committee oversight does not provide an independent basis to
determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting
and financial reporting principles or appropriate internal
controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with
accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations.
Furthermore, the Audit Committees considerations and
discussions referred to above do not assure that the audit of
our financial statements has been carried out in accordance with
generally accepted auditing standards, that the financial
statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles or that Grant Thornton was in fact
independent.
|
|
|
SUBMITTED BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE |
|
|
Uday Bellary, Chairman |
|
Amir Makleff |
21
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The graph below compares the cumulative total shareholder return
on the Companys Ordinary Shares with the cumulative total
return on The Nasdaq Composite Index and the Nasdaq
Computer & Data Processing Stocks Index. The period
shown commences on June 11, 1999, the date that the
Companys Ordinary Shares were first traded on a public
market. The graph assumes an investment of $100.00 on
June 11, 1999. The comparisons in the graph below are based
upon historical data and are not indicative of, nor intended to
forecast, future performance of the Companys Ordinary
Shares.
|
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| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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6/11/1999 |
|
|
12/31/1999 |
|
|
12/31/2000 |
|
|
12/31/2001 |
|
|
12/31/2002 |
|
|
12/31/2003 |
|
|
12/31/2004 |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
|
BackWeb
|
|
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
|
$ |
351.04 |
|
|
|
$ |
56.25 |
|
|
|
$ |
11.25 |
|
|
|
$ |
1.92 |
|
|
|
$ |
10.83 |
|
|
|
$ |
11.50 |
|
|
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|
Nasdaq Computer &
Data Processing Stocks Index
|
|
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
|
204.70 |
|
|
|
|
93.92 |
|
|
|
|
75.62 |
|
|
|
|
52.15 |
|
|
|
|
68.70 |
|
|
|
|
70.52 |
|
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|
Nasdaq Stock Market (U.S.)
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100.00 |
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166.73 |
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100.55 |
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79.77 |
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55.15 |
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82.45 |
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84.89 |
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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the
Companys previous or future filings under the Securities
Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that might
incorporate this Proxy Statement or future filings made by the
Company under those statutes, this Comparative Performance Graph
shall not be deemed filed with the SEC and shall not be deemed
incorporated by reference into any of those prior filings or
into any future filings made by the Company under those statutes.
22
DEADLINE FOR FUTURE PROPOSALS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Proposals of shareholders intended for inclusion in the proxy
statement to be furnished to all shareholders entitled to vote
at the 2006 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders pursuant to
SEC Rule 14a-8 must be received by the Secretary of the
Company at the Companys principal executive offices in
Israel or at the offices of the Companys
U.S. subsidiary not later than August 3, 2006.
Shareholders wishing to bring a proposal before our 2006 Annual
General Meeting of Shareholders (but not include it in our proxy
materials) must provide written notice of the proposal to the
Secretary of the Company at the Companys principal
executive offices in Israel or at the offices of the
Companys U.S. subsidiary not later than
October 17, 2006. In order to curtail controversy as to the
date upon which such written notice is received by the Company
or its U.S. subsidiary, it is suggested that such notice be
submitted by Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, or a
similar method which confirms the date of receipt.
OTHER PROPOSED ACTION
The Board is not aware of any other matters to be presented at
the meeting.
23
Exhibit A
FORM OF DIRECTOR
INSURANCE, INDEMNIFICATION AND EXCULPATION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, dated as
of ,
between BackWeb Technologies Ltd., an Israeli company (the
Company), and [insert name of director], a
director of the Company (the Indemnitee).
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WHEREAS, |
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Indemnitee is an Office Holder of the Company; and |
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WHEREAS, |
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both the Company and Indemnitee recognize the increased risk of
litigation and other claims being asserted against Office
Holders of public companies; and |
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WHEREAS, |
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the Articles of Association of the Company authorize the Company
to insure, indemnify and exculpate directors; and |
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WHEREAS, |
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in recognition of Indemnitees need for substantial
protection against personal liability in order to assure
Indemnitees continued service to the Company in an
effective manner and Indemnitees reliance on the aforesaid
Articles of Association and, in part, to provide Indemnitee with
specific contractual assurance that the protection promised by
the Articles of Association will be available to Indemnitee
(regardless of, among other things, any amendment to or
revocation or any change in the composition of the
Companys Board of Directors or acquisition of the
Company), the Company wishes to provide in this Agreement for
the insurance, indemnification and exculpation of Indemnitee to
the fullest extent permitted by law from time to time and as set
forth in this Agreement. |
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing
premises and of Indemnitee continuing to serve the Company
directly or, at its request, with another enterprise, and
intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree
as follows:
1.1 Change in
Control: shall be deemed to have occurred if:
(i) any person (as such term is used in
Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended), other than a trustee or other fiduciary
holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company
or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the
shareholders of the Company in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company, is or
becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the total
voting power represented by the Companys then outstanding
voting securities; or (ii) during any period of two
consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such
period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company and any
new director whose election by the Board of Directors or
nomination for election by the Companys shareholders was
approved by a majority of the directors then still in office who
either were directors at the beginning of the period of whose
election or nomination for election was previously so approved,
cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or
(iii) the shareholders of the Company approve a merger or
consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other
than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting
securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by
being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity)
at least 51% of the total voting power represented by the voting
securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the
shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete
liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or
disposition by the Company of all or substantially all the
Companys assets.
1.2 Expense: includes
reasonable legal costs, including attorneys fees, expended
by an Office Holder or for which an Office Holder has been
charged by a court, or in connection with an investigation or
other proceeding by a competent authority.
A-1
1.3 Office Holder: as
such term is defined in the Companies Law 5759-1999.
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2. |
INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES. |
2.1 The Company hereby undertakes
to indemnify the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law from time to time, for any liability and Expense
that may be imposed on Indemnitee due to an act performed or
failure to act by him in his capacity as an Office Holder of the
Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any entity in which
Indemnitee serves as an Office Holder at the request of the
Company either prior to or after the date hereof, for any event
against which indemnification is available or permitted by law
to be provided to an Office Holder (Indemnifiable
Events), including without limitation the following:
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2.1.1 monetary liability imposed on an Office Holder in favor of
a third party in a judgment, including a settlement or an
arbitral award confirmed by a court; |
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2.1.2 reasonable legal costs, including attorneys fees,
expended by the Indemnitee as a result of an investigation or
proceeding instituted against the Indemnitee by a competent
authority, provided that such investigation or proceeding
concludes without the filing of an indictment against the
Indemnitee and either (A) no financial liability was
imposed on the Indemnitee in lieu of criminal proceedings, or
(B) financial liability was imposed on the Indemnitee in
lieu of criminal proceedings but the alleged criminal offense
does not require proof of criminal intent; and |
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2.1.3 reasonable legal costs, including attorneys fees,
expended by the Indemnitee or for which the Indemnitee is
charged by a court, (a) in an action brought against the
Indemnitee by or on behalf of the Company or a third party, or
(b) in a criminal action in which the Indemnitee is found
innocent, or (c) in a criminal action in which the
Indemnitee is convicted and in which a proof of criminal intent
is not required. |
2.2 The indemnification undertaking
made by the Company shall be only with respect to such events as
are described in Schedule A hereto. The maximum amount
payable by the Company under this Agreement for each event
described in Schedule A shall be as set forth in Schedule
A. The indemnification provided herein shall not be subject to
the limitations imposed by this Section 2.2 and
Schedule A if and to the extent such limits are no longer
required by law.
2.3 If so requested by Indemnitee,
the Company shall advance an amount (or amounts) estimated by it
to cover Indemnitees Expenses, including attorneys
fees, with respect to which Indemnitee is entitled to be
indemnified under Paragraph 2.1 above. The advances to be
made hereunder shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee as
soon as practicable but in any event no later than fifteen
(15) days after written demand by such Indemnitee therefor
to the Company.
2.4 The Companys obligation
to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses in accordance with
this Agreement shall be for such period as Indemnitee shall be
subject to any possible claim or threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding or any inquiry or
investigation, whether civil, criminal or investigative, arising
out of the Indemnitees service in the foregoing positions,
whether or not Indemnitee is still serving in such positions.
2.5 The Company undertakes that as
long as it may be obligated to provide indemnification and
advance Expenses under this Agreement, the Company will purchase
and maintain in effect directors and Office Holders liability
insurance to cover the liability of Indemnitee, providing
coverage in amounts as determined by the Board of Directors of
the Company in its sole discretion; provided, that, the Company
shall have no obligation to obtain or maintain directors and
officers insurance if the Company determines in good faith that
such insurance is not reasonably available, the premium costs
for such insurance are disproportionate to the amount of
coverage provided, or the coverage provided by such insurance is
so limited by exclusions that it provides an insufficient
benefit. The Company undertakes to give prompt written notice of
the commencement of any claim hereunder to the insurers in
accordance with the procedures set forth in each of the policies.
A-2
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3. |
GENERAL LIMITATIONS ON INDEMNIFICATION. |
3.1 If, when and to the extent that
the Indemnitee would not be permitted to be so indemnified under
applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed
by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company) for
all such amounts theretofore paid (unless Indemnitee has
commenced legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction
to secure a determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified
under applicable law, in which event Indemnitee shall not be
required to so reimburse the Company until a final judicial
determination is made with respect thereto as to which all
rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) and
shall not be obligated to indemnify or advance any additional
amounts to Indemnitee (unless there has been a determination by
a court or competent jurisdiction that the Indemnitee would be
permitted to be so indemnified under this Agreement).
3.2 The Company undertakes that in
the event of a Change in Control of the Company, the
Companys obligations under this Agreement shall continue
to be in effect following such Change in Control, and the
Company shall take all necessary action to ensure that the party
acquiring control of the Company shall independently undertake
to continue in effect such Agreement, to maintain the provisions
of the Articles of Association allowing indemnification and to
indemnify Indemnitee in the event that the Company shall not
have sufficient funds or otherwise shall not be able to fulfill
its obligations hereunder.
4.1 No supplement, modification or
amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in
writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute
a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar)
nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver. Any waiver
shall be in writing.
5.1 In the event of payment under
this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of
such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who
shall execute all papers required and shall do everything that
may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution
of such documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to
bring suit to enforce such rights.
6.1 The Company shall not be liable
under this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any
claim made against Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has
otherwise actually received payment (under any insurance policy
or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.
Any amounts paid to Indemnitee under such insurance policy or
otherwise after the Company has indemnified the Indemnitee for
such liability or Expense shall be repaid to the Company
promptly upon receipt by Indemnitee.
7.1 Subject to the receipt of all
the required approvals in accordance with the Israeli Law,
including the approvals of the audit committee, the Board of
Directors and to the same extent required, by the shareholders
of the Company, this Agreement shall be in full force and effect
as of the date hereof.
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8. |
NOTIFICATION AND DEFENSE OF CLAIM. |
8.1 Promptly after receipt by
Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or
proceeding, Indemnitee will, if a claim in respect thereof is to
be made against the Company under this Agreement, notify the
Company of the commencement hereof; but the omission so to
notify the Company will not relieve it from any liability which
it may have the Indemnitee otherwise than under this Agreement.
With
A-3
respect to any such action, suit or proceeding as to which
Indemnitee notifies the Company of the commencement thereof and
without limitation of Section 2.1:
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8.1.1 The Company will be entitled to participate therein at its
own expense; and |
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8.1.2 Except as otherwise provided below, to the extent that it
may wish, the Company jointly with any other indemnifying party
similarly notified will be entitled to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee.
After notice from the Company to Indemnitee of its election to
assume the defense thereof, the Company will not be liable to
Indemnitee under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation or
as otherwise provided below. Indemnitee shall have the right to
employ its counsel in such action, suit or proceeding, but the
fees and expenses of such counsel incurred after notice from the
Company of its assumption of the defense thereof shall be at the
expense of Indemnitee unless: (i) the employment of counsel
by Indemnitee has been authorized by the Company;
(ii) Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there
may be a conflict of interest between the Company and the
Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of such action; or
(iii) the Company shall not in fact have employed counsel
to assume the defense of such action, in each of which cases the
fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the
Company. The Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense
of any action, suit or proceeding brought by or on behalf of the
Company or as to which the Indemnitee shall have made the
conclusion provided for in (ii) above. |
8.2 The Company shall not be liable
to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts
paid in settlement of any action or claim effected without its
written consent. The Company shall not settle any action or
claim in any manner which would impose any penalty or limitation
on the Indemnitee without the Indemnitees written consent.
Neither the Company nor the Indemnitee will unreasonably
withhold their consent to any proposed settlement.
9.1 The rights of the Indemnitee
hereunder shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights he
or she may have under the Companys Articles of Association
or applicable law or otherwise, and to the extent that during
the Indemnification Period the rights of the then existing
directors and Office Holders are more favorable to such
directors or Office Holders than the rights currently provided
thereunder or under this Agreement to Indemnitee, Indemnitee
shall be entitled to the full benefits of such more favorable
rights.
10.1 This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns,
including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the
business and/or assets of the Company, spouses, heirs and
personal and legal representatives. This Agreement shall
continue in effect during the Indemnification Period, regardless
of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as an Office Holder or
director of the Company or of any other enterprise at the
Companys request.
11.1 The provisions of this
Agreement shall be severable in the event that any provision
hereof (including any provision within a single section,
paragraph or sentence) is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, and
the remaining provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest
extent permitted by law.
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12. |
GOVERNING LAW, JURISDICTION. |
12.1 This Agreement shall be
governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the
laws of the State of Israel. The parties hereto irrevocably
submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Tel-Aviv
in any action related to this Agreement.
A-4
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13. |
ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND TERMINATION. |
13.1 This Agreement represents the entire agreement between the
parties; and there are no other agreements, contracts or
understandings between the parties with respect to the subject
matter of this Agreement. No termination or cancellation of this
Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by
both parties hereto.
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BackWeb Technologies Ltd. |
A-5
SCHEDULE A
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1.
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Negotiations, execution, delivery and performance of agreements
on behalf of the Company |
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$20,000,000 |
2.
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Anti-competitive acts and acts of commercial wrongdoing |
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$20,000,000 |
3.
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Acts in regard of invasion of privacy including with respect to
databases and acts in regard of slander |
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$20,000,000 |
4.
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Acts in regard of violation of copyrights, patents, designs and
any other intellectual property rights |
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$20,000,000 |
5.
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Approval of corporate actions including the approval of the acts
of the Companys management, their guidance and their
supervision |
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$20,000,000 |
6.
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Claims of failure to exercise business judgement and a
reasonable level of proficiency, expertise and care in regard of
the Companys business |
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$20,000,000 |
7.
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Violations of securities laws of any jurisdiction, including
without limitation, fraudulent disclosure claims, failure to
comply with SEC disclosure rules and other claims relating to
relationships with investors and the investment community |
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$20,000,000 |
8.
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Violations of laws requiring the Company to obtain regulatory
and governmental licenses, permits and authorizations in any
jurisdiction |
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$20,000,000 |
9.
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Claims in connection with publishing or providing any
information, including any filings with governmental
authorities, on behalf of the Company in the circumstances
required under applicable laws |
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$20,000,000 |
10.
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Violations of any law or regulation governing domestic and
international telecommunication in any jurisdiction |
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$20,000,000 |
11.
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Claims in connection with employment relationships with the
Companys or its subsidiaries employees |
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$20,000,000 |
A-6
BACKWEB TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS, DECEMBER 29, 2005
P R O X Y
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
BACKWEB TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
PROXY
The undersigned shareholder revokes all previous proxies, acknowledges receipt of the notice of the
Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held Thursday, December 29, 2005 and the Proxy
Statement related thereto and appoints William Heye, Ken Holmes and Boaz Hamo, and each of them,
with full power of substitution, the proxy of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to
vote all Ordinary Shares of BackWeb Technologies Ltd. which the undersigned is entitled to vote,
either on his own behalf or on behalf of an entity or entities, at the Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders of the Company to be held at 10 Haamal St., Park Afek, Rosh Haayin 48092, Israel on
Thursday, December 29, 2005 at 4:00 p.m., local time, and at any adjournment or postponement
thereof.
I hereby vote my Ordinary Shares of BackWeb Technologies Ltd. as specified on the reverse side of
this card.
Address change information: MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE ON REVERSE [ ]
SEE REVERSE
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE
DETACH HERE
[X] Please mark votes as in this example.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR each of the matters listed below. This Proxy, when
properly executed, will be voted as specified below. This Proxy will be voted FOR Proposals No. 1,
2, 3, 4 and 5 if no specification is made. In addition, unless the undersigned has marked YES next
to Item 6 below, the undersigned confirms that the undersigned is NOT a controlling shareholder of
the Company (in general, a person will be deemed a controlling shareholder if he/she/it has the
power to direct the activities of the Company, otherwise than by reason of being a director or
other office holder of the Company).
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FOR
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WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY |
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1.
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Re-election of Eli Barkat as a Class III
director (term through the 2008 Annual General
Meeting of Shareholders)
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o
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o |
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FOR
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WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY |
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2.
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Election of Kara Andersen as an Outside Director
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o
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o |
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN |
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3.
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Approval of an amendment to the Companys
Articles of Association regarding director and
officer insurance, indemnification and
exculpation
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o
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o
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o |
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN |
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4.
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Approval of insurance, indemnification and
exculpation agreements with each of the
Companys directors
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o
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o |
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN |
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5.
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Ratification of Audit Committee selection and
appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as
independent registered public accounting firm
for the 2005 fiscal year and authorization for
the Audit Committee to enter into an agreement
to pay the fees of Grant Thornton on customary
terms.
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o
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o
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o |
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YES
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NO |
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6.
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I am a controlling shareholder of the Company
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o
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o |
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Note: Please sign your name exactly as it appears hereon. If acting as attorney, executor, trustee
or in other representative capacity, sign name and title.