def14a
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
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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)
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November 30, 2006
Dear Fellow Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2006 Annual General
Meeting of Shareholders of BackWeb Technologies Ltd., on
Thursday, December 28, 2006, 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,
2006 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, 2005 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.
Sincerely,
William Heye
Chief Executive Officer
BACKWEB
TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
NOTICE OF
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held December 28,
2006
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF BACKWEB TECHNOLOGIES LTD.:
The 2006 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of BackWeb
Technologies Ltd. (the Company) will be held on
Thursday, December 28, 2006, 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:
1. To re-elect Uday Bellary as a Class I director to
serve for a term of three years, expiring upon the 2009 Annual
General Meeting of Shareholders, or until his successor is
elected;
2. To (i) ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP
as the Companys independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006 and
(ii) authorize the Audit Committee to enter into an
agreement to pay the fees of Grant Thornton on customary
terms; and
3. 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, 2006 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.
FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Eli Barkat
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Rosh Haayin, Israel
November 30, 2006
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 28, 2006, 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, 2005, are first being
mailed on or about November 30, 2006 to shareholders
entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting.
Record
Date and Shares Outstanding
The Board has set November 28, 2006 (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 41,303,994 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 the election of Uday Bellary as a
Class I director and FOR the
ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the
Companys independent registered public accounting firm for
the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006 and the
authorization for the Audit Committee to enter into an agreement
to pay the fees of Grant Thornton on customary terms.
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 I 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 five directors, one
of whom is standing for re-election at this Annual General
Meeting. 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. Uday Bellary serves as a Class I director. His
term expires as of this 2006 Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders. Shareholders are being asked to re-elect
Mr. Bellary as a Class I director, to serve for a term
of three years, expiring upon the 2009 Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders, or until his successor is elected.
Biographical information concerning Mr. Bellary, the
nominee for re-election as a Class I director is set forth
below.
Nominee
for Re-election to the Board as a Class I Director to Serve
for a Three-Year Term Until the Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders to Be Held in 2009
Uday
Bellary
UDAY BELLARY, age 51, 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 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.
The terms of office of William Heye, the Companys
Class II director whose term is scheduled to expire at the
2007 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, Eli Barkat, the
Companys Class III director whose term is scheduled
to expire at the 2008 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders,
Amir Makleff, one of the Companys Outside Directors whose
term is scheduled to expire at the 2008 Annual General Meeting
of Shareholders, and Kara Andersen, one of the
Companys Outside Directors 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 this Annual General
Meeting. Biographical information concerning Messrs. Heye,
Barkat and Makleff and Ms. Andersen are set forth
below.
2
Class II
Director Whose Term Continues Until the Annual General Meeting
of Shareholders to Be Held in 2007
William
Heye
WILLIAM HEYE, age 45, has been one of our directors since
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.
Class III
Director Whose Term Continues Until the Annual General Meeting
of Shareholders to Be Held in 2008
Eli
Barkat
ELI BARKAT, age 43, is a managing director of BRM Capital,
an Israeli venture capital firm. Mr. Barkat 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.
Outside
Director Whose Term Continues Until the Annual General Meeting
of Shareholders to Be Held in 2007
Amir
Makleff
AMIR MAKLEFF, age 58, 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.
Outside
Director Whose Term Continues Until the Annual General Meeting
of Shareholders to Be Held in 2008
Kara
Andersen
KARA ANDERSEN, age 42, has served as one of our directors
since 2005. Ms. Andersen 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 currently serves
on the Boards of Directors of the Legal Aid Society-Employment
Law Center and of ODC, a non-profit arts organization.
Ms. Andersen received an A.B. in organizational behavior
and management and French literature from Brown University and a
J.D. from the UCLA School of Law.
3
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 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 Capital Market the
day before the grant date.
In connection with the policy described in the preceding
paragraph, in December 2005, we granted Ms. Andersen an
option to purchase 50,000 Ordinary Shares upon her initial
election to the Board, and we granted each of
Messrs. Barkat, Bellary and Makleff options to purchase
15,000 Ordinary Shares following the completion of our 2005
Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.
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 five meetings (including regularly
scheduled and special meetings) during fiscal 2005. Each of our
directors, other than Ms. Andersen who was elected to the
Board on December 29, 2005, 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.
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The independent members of the Board believe that their
processes effectively serve the functions of a nominating and
governance committee, 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 and Ms. Andersen, with
Mr. Bellary serving as the chair of the Audit Committee.
One of our former directors, Isabel 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 and financial reporting processes,
the audits of our financial statements, and our system of
internal controls. The Audit Committee held five meetings in
fiscal 2005. 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, the most current copy of which
is set forth as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.
The Compensation Committee currently consists of
Messrs. Makleff and Bellary and Ms. Andersen, with
Mr. Makleff serving as the chair of the Compensation
Committee. 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 two meetings in
fiscal 2005. Each member of the Compensation Committee is
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 2005, one of
our directors attended our Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders.
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. Bellary as a Class I director.
THE COMPANYS BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS VOTING
FOR THE RE-ELECTION OF MR. BELLARY AS A
CLASS I DIRECTOR.
5
PROPOSAL TWO
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, 2006, and to serve as auditors, within the
meaning of the Israels Companies Law.
Fees Paid
to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The following table summarizes the aggregate fees billed to the
Company by Grant Thornton and Ernst & Young LLP, the
Companys former independent registered public accounting
firm, (Ernst & Young), in 2004 and 2005:
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2004
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2005
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Audit Fees
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$
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255,000
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$
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233,000
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Audit-Related Fees
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39,000
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14,000
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Tax Fees
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All Other Fees
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13,000
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Total
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$
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307,000
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$
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247,000
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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 of $70,000.
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 of $39,000.
Tax Fees. There were no fees billed to the
Company in either of 2004 or 2005 by Grant Thornton or Ernst
& Young for tax compliance, tax advice or tax planning
services.
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 of
$7,000.
Pre-Approval
Process for Auditor Services
The services performed by Grant Thornton in 2004 and 2005 were
pre-approved in accordance with the pre-approval procedures
adopted by the Audit Committee. 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,
2006, 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.
6
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, 2005, 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, 2006, AND THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE AUDIT
COMMITTEE TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT TO PAY THE FEES OF GRANT
THORNTON.
OTHER
INFORMATION
Executive
Officers
Biographical information for Ken Holmes, the Companys Vice
President, Finance is set forth below. Mr. Holmes along
with Mr. Heye, whose biographical information is contained
in Proposal One, are currently the Companys only
executive officers. 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 40, 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.
Relationship
Among Directors or Executive Officers
There are no family relationships between any director or
executive officer and any other director or executive officer.
7
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table shows the amount of our Ordinary Shares
beneficially owned, as of November 20, 2006, 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 current directors
and (4) our current 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., 2077 Gateway Place,
Suite 500, San Jose, CA 95110. 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 20, 2006, but excludes Ordinary
Shares underlying options or warrants held by any other person.
Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 41,303,994
Ordinary Shares outstanding as of November 20, 2006.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Percentage of
|
|
|
|
Ordinary Shares
|
|
|
Ordinary Shares
|
|
Beneficial Owner
|
|
Beneficially Owned
|
|
|
Beneficially Owned
|
|
|
5% or Greater
Shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EliBarkat Holdings Ltd.(1)
|
|
|
3,352,342
|
|
|
|
8.1
|
%
|
8 Hamarpe Street
Har Hotzvim
Jerusalem 91450 Israel
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yuval 63 Holdings
(1995) Ltd.(2)
|
|
|
3,352,342
|
|
|
|
8.1
|
%
|
8 Hamarpe Street
Har Hotzvim
Jerusalem 91450 Israel
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NirBarkat Holdings Ltd.(3)
|
|
|
3,352,342
|
|
|
|
8.1
|
%
|
8 Hamarpe Street
Har Hotzvim
Jerusalem 91450 Israel
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Named Executive Officers and
Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eli Barkat(4)
|
|
|
5,356,089
|
|
|
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13.0
|
%
|
Kara Andersen(5)
|
|
|
12,500
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Uday Bellary(6)
|
|
|
33,958
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Amir Makleff(7)
|
|
|
33,958
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|
|
|
*
|
|
William Heye(8)
|
|
|
964,250
|
|
|
|
2.3
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%
|
Ken Holmes(9)
|
|
|
260,000
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Current executive officers and
directors as a group (6 persons)(10)
|
|
|
6,660,755
|
|
|
|
16.2
|
%
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Less than 1% |
|
(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. |
|
(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 |
8
|
|
|
|
|
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 1,712,812 Ordinary Shares that are exercisable
within 60 days of November 20, 2006. 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 Ms. Andersen
consist of options to purchase 12,500 Ordinary Shares that are
exercisable within 60 days of November 20, 2006. |
|
(6) |
|
The shares listed in the table above for Mr. Bellary
consist of options to purchase 33,958 Ordinary Shares that are
exercisable within 60 days of November 20, 2006. |
|
(7) |
|
The shares listed in the table above for Mr. Makleff
consist of options to purchase 33,958 Ordinary Shares that are
exercisable within 60 days of November 20, 2006. |
|
(8) |
|
The shares listed in the table above for Mr. Heye include
options to purchase 957,583 Ordinary Shares that are exercisable
within 60 days of November 20, 2006. |
|
(9) |
|
The shares listed in the table above for Mr. Holmes include
options to purchase 250,000 Ordinary Shares that are exercisable
within 60 days of November 20, 2006. |
|
(10) |
|
The shares listed in the table above for our executive officers
and directors as a group include options to purchase 3,000,811
Ordinary Shares that are exercisable within 60 days of
November 20, 2006. |
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, 2005, all filing requirements
applicable to its executive officers, directors and 10%
shareholders were met, with the exception of the following: a
Form 3 was not filed in connection with the election of
Ms. Andersen to the Board in December 2005 and Forms 4
were not filed with respect to the option grants made to
(1) Ms. Andersen and each of Messrs. Barkat,
Bellary and Makleff in December 2005 and (2) Moshe Raccah,
the Companys former Vice President of Business Development
and Professional Services, and Pete Szalay, the Companys
former Vice President of Sales and Marketing, in connection with
the commencement of their employment with the Company in October
2005.
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, 2005, 2004 and 2003 by our Chief
Executive Officer and the Companys one other executive
officer who was serving as an executive officer of the Company
as of December 31, 2005 and whose total
9
salary and bonus for fiscal 2005 was at least $100,000
(collectively, referred to as Named Executive
Officers in this Proxy Statement):
SUMMARY
COMPENSATION TABLE
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|
|
|
|
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|
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|
Long Term
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Compensation
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Annual
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
|
Salary ($)
|
|
|
Bonus ($)
|
|
|
($)(3)
|
|
|
Options (#)
|
|
|
William Heye(1)
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
180,000
|
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
|
|
14,461
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
|
180,000
|
|
|
|
44,126
|
|
|
|
11,763
|
|
|
|
700,000
|
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
180,000
|
|
|
|
13,771
|
|
|
|
50,977
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
Ken Holmes(2)
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
155,000
|
|
|
|
56,364
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President, Finance
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
|
155,000
|
|
|
|
25,480
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
193,000
|
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
99,260
|
|
|
|
9,141
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
66,000
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Mr. Heye became Chief Executive Officer in October 2004.
Prior to that, Mr. Heye served as the Companys Vice
President, Business Development and Products from April 2003
through 2004 and as the Companys Vice President,
Professional Services in 2003 prior to becoming Vice President,
Business Development and Products. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Holmes joined BackWeb in May 2003. |
|
(3) |
|
The Other Annual Compensation column includes
commission payments and vacation payout amounts. |
Stock
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
The Company did not grant stock options to any of its Named
Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2005.
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, 2005. 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, 2005.
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 Capital Market on December 30, 2005
(which was $0.56 per Ordinary Share), the last trading day
during 2005, 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
|
|
|
William Heye
|
|
|
591,666
|
|
|
|
573,834
|
|
|
|
42,592
|
|
|
|
76,408
|
|
Ken Holmes
|
|
|
145,041
|
|
|
|
113,959
|
|
|
|
17,772
|
|
|
|
15,038
|
|
Employment
Agreements
Mr. Heyes current base salary is $200,000 and his
bonus for 2006 may be up to $120,000 and will be determined
according to the terms of BackWebs 2006 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 $165,000 and his
bonus for 2006 may be up to $75,000 and will be determined
according to the terms of BackWebs 2006 variable
compensation plan. Mr. Holmess employment is at will
and may be terminated at any time, with or without formal cause.
10
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Messrs. Bellary and Makleff and Ms. Andersen 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.
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 the Companys Chief Executive
Officer during 2005 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;
|
|
|
|
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
11
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 historically granted options to its executives to
provide continuing incentives to the executives to meet future
performance goals and to remain with the Company.
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. In connection with the appointment of William Heye as
the Companys Chief Executive Officer in October 2004 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 included a draw
each quarter of $12,500 against an annual total bonus.
Mr. Heyes bonus for 2005 was determined in accordance
with the terms of the Companys 2005 bonus plan (the
2005 Bonus Plan) and was 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. Based upon the
Companys performance in 2005 in relation to milestones
specified in the 2005 Bonus Plan, the Compensation Committee
authorized the Company to make payments under the 2005 Bonus
Plan at the rate of 50% of target bonus, which resulted in
Mr. Heye receiving a bonus of $90,000 for fiscal 2005. The
Compensation Committee also reviewed Mr. Heyes
compensation in January 2006 and elected to increase
Mr. Heyes base salary to $200,000 per year,
which includes a 25% quarterly recoverable draw against bonus,
and set his target bonus at $120,000 for 2006.
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 $1,000,000 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
12
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
$1,000,000 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.
Kara Andersen, who was appointed to the Compensation Committee
in December 2005 upon her election to the Companys Board
of Directors, did not take part in the foregoing actions by the
Compensation Committee.
SUBMITTED BY THE COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE
Amir Makleff, Chairman
Uday Bellary
Kara Andersen
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 Companys
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
control 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 2005, was responsible for performing an
independent audit of the consolidated financial statements in
accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the
United States.
Review of
Audited Financial Statements for Fiscal Year Ended
December 31, 2005
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
13
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, 2005, 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.
Kara Andersen, who was appointed to the Audit Committee in
December 2005 upon her election to the Companys Board of
Directors, did not take part in the foregoing actions by the
Audit Committee.
SUBMITTED BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
Uday Bellary, Chairman
Amir Makleff
Kara Andersen
RELATED
PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Other than the compensation arrangements described in
Compensation of Directors and Executive
Compensation, since January 1, 2005, there has not
been, nor is there currently proposed, any transaction or series
of similar transactions to which we were or will be a party in
which the amount involved exceeded or will exceed $60,000 and in
which any director, executive officer, holder of more than 5% of
our common stock or any member of his or her immediate family
had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
14
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 January 1, 2001 and assumes an initial
investment of $100.00. The comparisons in the graph below are
based upon historical data and are not indicative of, nor
intended to forecast, future performance of the Companys
Ordinary Shares.
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1/1/2001
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12/31/2001
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12/31/2002
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12/31/2003
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12/31/2004
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12/31/2005
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BackWeb
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$
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100.00
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$
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11.25
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$
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1.92
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$
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10.83
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$
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11.50
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$
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4.67
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Nasdaq Computer & Data
Processing Stocks Index
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100.00
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75.62
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52.15
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68.70
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70.52
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74.83
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Nasdaq Stock Market (U.S.)
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100.00
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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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89.27
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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 stock price 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.
15
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 2007 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 July 31, 2007. Shareholders wishing to bring a
proposal before our 2007 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 14, 2007. 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.
16
APPENDIX A
CHARTER
FOR THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF BACKWEB TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
Amended and Restated as of April 28, 2003
Purpose
The Audit Committee will make such examinations as are necessary
to monitor the corporate financial reporting and the internal
and external audits of BackWeb Technologies Ltd. and its
subsidiaries (the Company), to provide to the Board
of Directors the results of its examinations and recommendations
derived therefrom, to outline to the Board improvements made, or
to be made in internal accounting controls, to select (subject
to shareholder approval to the extent required by Israeli law)
independent auditors, and to provide to the Board such
additional information and materials as it may deem necessary to
make the Board aware of significant financial matters that
require Board attention. In addition, the Audit Committee is
responsible for identifying flaws in the business management of
the Company, in consultation with the Companys internal
auditor and the independent accountants, and proposing remedial
measures to the Board of Directors. The Committee also reviews
for approval actions or transactions that by Israeli law require
audit committee approval.
The Committee shall review and assess this Charter at least
annually.
In addition, the Audit Committee will undertake those specific
duties and responsibilities listed below and such other duties
as the Board of Directors from time to time prescribe.
Membership
The Audit Committee will consist of at least three
(3) members of the Board, all of whom shall be independent
directors, in accordance with the rules of The Nasdaq Stock
Market, as they may be amended from time to time, and by the
rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934. The Committee shall include every director who is
required by Israels Companies Law to be a member, and
shall exclude every director who is restricted by Israels
Companies Law from serving as a member.
Each member of the Committee shall be financially literate or
will become so within a reasonable period of time after
appointment to the Committee. In addition, at least one
(1) member of the Committee will have accounting or related
financial management experience.
Subject to the foregoing, the members of the Audit Committee
will be appointed by and will serve at the discretion of the
Board of Directors.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Audit Committee shall include:
1. Reviewing on a continuing basis the adequacy of the
Companys system of internal controls;
2. Reviewing on a continuing basis the activities,
organizational structure and qualifications of the
Companys internal audit function;
3. Reviewing the independent auditors proposed audit
scope and approach;
4. Conducting a post-audit review of the financial
statements and audit findings, including any suggestions for
improvements provided to management by the independent auditors;
5. Reviewing the performance of the independent auditors;
6. Appointing the Companys independent auditors,
subject to the ratification and approval by the Companys
shareholders to the extent required by Israeli law;
7. Setting the compensation of and entering into fee
arrangements with the independent auditors after such authority
is delegated to the Committee by the Companys Board of
Directors and subject to the ratification and approval by the
Companys shareholders to the extent required by Israeli
law;
A-1
8. Reviewing the audited financial statements and
Managements Discussion and Analysis in the Companys
annual report on
Form 10-K;
9. Reviewing the unaudited quarterly operating results in
the Companys quarterly earnings release;
10. Overseeing compliance with Securities and Exchange
Commission requirements for disclosure of auditors
services and audit committee members and activities;
11. Reviewing, in conjunction with counsel, any legal
matters that could have a significant impact on the
Companys financial statements;
12. Identifying flaws in the business management of the
Company, in consultation with the Companys internal
auditor and the independent accountants, and proposing remedial
measures to the Board of Directors;
13. Reviewing related party transactions for potential
conflicts of interest, and reviewing for approval actions or
transactions that by Israeli law require audit committee
approval;
14. Ensuring receipt from the outside auditors of a formal
written statement delineating all relationships between the
auditors and the Company, consistent with Independence Standards
Board Standard 1, actively engaging in a dialogue with the
auditors with respect to any disclosed relationships or services
that may impact the objectivity and independence of the
auditors, and taking, or recommending that the full Board take,
appropriate action to oversee the independence of the outside
auditors;
15. Acting with the understanding that the outside
auditors ultimate accountability is to the Board and the
Audit Committee, as representatives of shareholders, it being
understood that these shareholder representatives have the
ultimate authority and responsibility to select, evaluate, and,
where appropriate, replace the outside auditors (or to nominate
the outside auditors to be proposed for shareholder approval in
any proxy statement);
16. Performing other oversight functions as requested by
the full Board of Directors; and
17. Engaging independent counsel or other advisors, as it
deems necessary, to carry out its duties, and to be provided
with appropriate funding from the Company, as determined by the
Committee.
In addition to the above responsibilities, the Audit Committee
will undertake such other duties as the Board of Directors
delegates to it, and will report, at least annually, to the
Board regarding the Committees examinations and
recommendations.
Meetings
The Audit Committee will meet from time to time as determined by
the Board
and/or the
members of the Committee, and shall generally meet on a
quarterly basis. The Audit Committee may establish its own
schedule, which it will provide to the Board of Directors in
advance. If so requested by the internal auditor, and subject to
the applicable provisions of Israels Companies Law, the
Audit Committee will convene for a special meeting on such topic
as may be specified by the internal auditor.
The Audit Committee will meet separately with the Chief
Executive Officer and separately with the Chief Financial
Officer of the Company at least annually to review the financial
affairs of the Company. The Audit Committee will meet with the
independent auditors of the Company, at such times as it deems
appropriate, to review the independent auditors
examination and management report. The Audit Committee will meet
with the internal auditor of the Company, at such times as it
deems appropriate, to review the internal auditors
examination and reports. In addition, to the extent required by
Israels Companies Law, the internal auditor shall receive
notice of, and shall be entitled to attend, every meeting of the
Audit Committee.
Minutes
The Audit Committee will maintain written minutes of its
meetings, which minutes will be filed with the minutes of the
meetings of the Board of Directors.
A-2
BACKWEB TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS, DECEMBER 28, 2006
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 28, 2006 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 28, 2006 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
þ 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
and 2 if no specification is made. In addition, unless the undersigned has marked YES next to Item
3 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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WITHHOLD |
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FOR
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AUTHORITY |
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1.
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Re-election of Uday Bellary as a Class I
director (term through the 2009 Annual
General Meeting of Shareholders)
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN |
2.
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Ratification of Audit Committee selection
and appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as
independent registered public accounting
firm for the 2006 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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YES
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NO |
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3.
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I am a controlling shareholder of the Company
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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.