def14a
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
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þ Definitive Proxy Statement
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o Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-11(c) or §240.14a-2
COMSCORE, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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11950
Democracy Drive
Suite 600
Reston, Virginia 20190
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JULY 29, 2009
To the Stockholders of comScore, Inc.:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of comScore, Inc. (the Company) will be held at the
Companys offices at 11950 Democracy Drive, Suite 600,
Reston, Virginia 20190 on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, at
3:30 p.m. EDT for the following purposes:
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to elect two Class II members of the board of directors to
serve until the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders;
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to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the
Companys independent registered public accounting firm for
the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009; and
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to transact any other business that is properly brought before
the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
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Please refer to the attached proxy statement, which forms a part
of this Notice and is incorporated herein by reference, for
further information with respect to the business to be
transacted at the annual meeting.
Stockholders of record at the close of business on June 15,
2009 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual
meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. The
presence, in person or by proxy, of shares of the Companys
common stock representing a majority of shares of the
Companys common stock issued and outstanding on the record
date will be required to establish a quorum at the annual
meeting.
Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend this
meeting, please vote today using the enclosed proxy card to vote
by Internet or by signing, dating and returning the proxy card
in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you are a stockholder
of record of the Companys common stock, you may cast your
vote by proxy or in person at the annual meeting. If your shares
are held in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, you should
instruct it on how to vote your shares.
Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on July 29,
2009
Our proxy statement is attached. Financial and other information
concerning the Company is contained in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 and our
Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on
Form 10-K/A
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. We have
elected to provide access to our proxy materials both by sending
you this full set of proxy materials, including a proxy card,
and by notifying you of the availability of our proxy materials
on the Internet. This proxy statement, our 2008 Annual Report on
Form 10-K
and our Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on
Form 10-K/A
are available on our corporate website at www.comscore.com.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Christiana L. Lin
General Counsel and Secretary
Reston, Virginia
June 16, 2009
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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35
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COMSCORE,
INC.
PROXY
STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
JULY 29, 2009
INFORMATION
CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING
General
This proxy statement is furnished to our stockholders in
connection with the solicitation of proxies for use at our
annual meeting of stockholders to be held on Wednesday,
July 29, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. EDT at comScores
offices at 11950 Democracy Drive, Suite 600, Reston,
Virginia 20190, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
A copy of our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
and Amendment No. 1 to our Annual Report on
Form 10-K/A
for the year ended December 31, 2008, together with this
proxy statement and accompanying proxy card and notice, will be
first mailed on or about June 22, 2009 to our stockholders
of record.
This solicitation is made on behalf of our board of directors,
and we will pay the costs of solicitation. Our directors,
officers and employees may also solicit proxies by telephone,
fax, electronic mail or personal interview without additional
consideration. We will reimburse banks, brokerage firms and
other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable
expenses incurred by them in sending proxy material to our
stockholders. We have retained American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company to assist in the
solicitation of proxies with respect to shares of our common
stock held of record by brokers, nominees and institutions for a
customary fee.
Our principal executive offices are located at 11950 Democracy
Drive, Suite 600, Reston, Virginia 20190, and our telephone
number is
(703) 438-2000.
Shares
Entitled to Vote and Quorum Requirement
Stockholders of record of our common stock at the close of
business on June 15, 2009 are entitled to notice of, and to
vote at, our 2009 annual meeting of stockholders. A list of our
stockholders will be available for review at our principal
executive offices during regular business hours for a period of
ten days prior to the annual meeting. As of June 15, 2009,
30,202,070 shares of our common stock were issued and
outstanding. The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy,
of a majority of the shares of the common stock issued and
outstanding on June 15, 2009 will constitute a quorum. Our
outstanding common stock constitutes the only class of
securities entitled to vote at the annual meeting. Each share of
common stock is entitled to one vote.
Voting
Procedures
A proxy card is enclosed for your use. We ask that you carefully
review, complete, sign, date and return the proxy card in the
accompanying envelope, which is postage prepaid if you mail it
in the United States. You may also vote by Internet according to
the instructions included on the proxy card.
Unless you provide different instructions on your proxy, all
shares represented by valid proxies (and not revoked before they
are voted) will be voted at the meeting FOR the election of all
of the director nominees listed in Proposal No. 1 and
FOR the ratification of the appointment of our independent
public registered accounting firm in Proposal No. 2.
With respect to any other business that may properly come before
the annual meeting and be submitted to a vote of stockholders,
proxies will be voted in accordance with the best judgment of
the designated proxy holders.
The persons named as attorneys-in-fact to vote the proxies,
Magid M. Abraham and Kenneth J. Tarpey, were selected by the
board of directors and are executive officers of the company.
All properly executed proxies returned in time to be counted at
the annual meeting will be voted.
Shares represented by proxies that reflect abstentions or
broker non-votes (i.e., shares held by a broker or
nominee that are represented at the meeting, but with respect to
which the broker or nominee is not empowered to vote on a
particular proposal) will be counted as shares that are present
and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of
a quorum. Broker non-votes are not deemed to be entitled to vote
for purposes of determining whether stockholder approval of a
matter has been obtained. As a result, broker non-votes are not
included in the tabulation of voting results on any proposal.
The director nominees listed in Proposal No. 1 will be
elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present or
represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the
election of directors. The appointment of our independent
registered public accounting firm listed in
Proposal No. 2 will be ratified if a majority of
shares present or represented by proxy at the meeting and
entitled to vote thereon vote FOR such proposal.
Stockholders of record may vote by (i) completing and
returning the enclosed proxy card prior to the meeting,
(ii) voting by Internet according to the instructions
included on the proxy card, (iii) voting in person at the
meeting or (iv) submitting a signed proxy card at the
meeting.
Your vote is important. Accordingly, please carefully review,
complete, sign, date and return the accompanying proxy card or
vote by Internet whether or not you plan to attend the annual
meeting in person.
You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is actually
voted at the meeting either by signing and submitting a new
proxy card with a later date or by attending the meeting and
voting in person. However, merely attending the meeting will not
revoke your submitted proxy unless you specifically request your
proxy be revoked. If you hold shares through a bank or brokerage
firm, you must contact that bank or firm directly to revoke any
prior voting instructions.
All votes cast at the meeting will be tabulated by the persons
appointed by our board of directors to act as inspectors of
election for the meeting.
PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
General
Information
Our board of directors has eight authorized seats. The board of
directors is divided into three classes (Class I,
Class II and Class III) with staggered three-year
terms. Two Class II directors are to be elected at the 2009
annual meeting of stockholders to serve a three-year term
expiring at the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders or until
their respective successors have been elected and qualified. The
Class I and Class III directors will continue to serve
their respective terms. Proxies cannot be voted for more than
the two named nominees.
Our board of directors has nominated William J. Henderson and
Ronald J. Korn to serve as Class II directors. There are no
family relationships among our directors or executive officers.
Shares represented by the accompanying proxy will be voted for
the election of the nominees recommended by the board of
directors unless the proxy is marked in such a manner so as to
withhold authority to vote. If any nominee is unable or
unexpectedly declines to serve as a director, the board of
directors may designate another nominee to fill the vacancy, and
the proxy will be voted for that nominee. Each person nominated
for election has agreed to serve if elected, and we have no
reason to believe that any nominee will be unable to serve.
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The names of the nominees and our other directors, their ages as
of June 15, 2009 and certain other information about them
are set forth below:
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Name of Nominee of Director
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Age
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Position
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Director Since
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Class II Directors with term expiring at the 2009 Annual
Meeting:
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William J. Henderson(1)(2)
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Director
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Ronald J. Korn(1)
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Director
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2005
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Class III Directors with term expiring at the 2010
Annual Meeting:
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Gian M. Fulgoni
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Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director
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Jeffrey Ganek(1)
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Director
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2008
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Bruce Golden(3)
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Director
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2002
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Class I Directors with term expiring at the 2011 Annual
Meeting:
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Magid M. Abraham
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President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
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1999
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William Katz(2)(3)
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Director
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2008
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Jarl Mohn(2)(3)
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Director
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2008
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member of audit committee |
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member of compensation committee |
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member of nominating and governance committee |
The principal occupations and positions for at least the past
five years of our director nominees and directors are described
below.
Class II
Director Nominees for Election for a Three-Year Term Expiring at
the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
William J. Henderson has served as a director since
August 2001. Mr. Henderson was the 71st Postmaster
General of the United States. He served in that position from
May 1998 until his retirement in May 2001. Mr. Henderson
also served as the Chief Operations Officer of Netflix, Inc.
from January 2006 until February 2007. Mr. Henderson also
currently serves on the board of directors of Acxiom
Corporation, where he has been a director since June 2001.
Mr. Henderson holds a B.S. from the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill and served in the U.S. Army.
Ronald J. Korn has served as a director since November
2005. Since 1991, he has served as the President of Ronald Korn
Consulting, which provides business and marketing services.
Mr. Korn served as a director, chairman of the audit
committee, and member of the loan committee of Equinox Financial
Corporation from 1999 until its acquisition in October 2005.
Since 2002, he has served as a director, chairman of the audit
committee and a member of the compensation and nominating and
governance committees of PetMed Express, Inc., and since July
2003, he has served as a director, chairman of the audit
committee and a member of the compensation committee of Ocwen
Financial Corporation. Prior to that, Mr. Korn was a
partner and employee of KPMG, LLP, from 1961 to 1991, where he
was the managing partner of KPMGs Miami office from 1985
until 1991. Mr. Korn holds a B.S. from the Wharton School
of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from
New York University Law School.
The two nominees receiving the largest number of affirmative
votes cast representing shares of our common stock present at
the 2009 annual meeting of stockholders in person or by proxy
and entitled to vote will be elected as the Class II
directors. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect
on this proposal.
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE
FOR EACH OF THE TWO NAMED DIRECTOR NOMINEES IN
PROPOSAL NUMBER 1.
Class III
Directors Continuing in Office until the 2010 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders
Gian M. Fulgoni, one of our co-founders, has served as
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors since September
1999. Prior to co-founding comScore, Mr. Fulgoni was
employed by Information Resources, Inc., where he served as
President from 1981 to 1989, Chief Executive Officer from 1986
to 1998 and Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1991 until
1995. Mr. Fulgoni has served on the board of directors of
PetMed Express, Inc. since 2002 and previously served from
August 1999 through November 2000. Mr. Fulgoni has also
served on the board of directors of INXPO, LLC, an
Illinois-based provider of virtual events, since July 2005 and
the Advertising Research Foundation, an industry research
organization, since 2008. He also served on the board of
directors of Platinum Technology, Inc. from 1990 to 1999,
U.S. Robotics, Inc. from 1991 to 1994, and Yesmail.com,
Inc. from 1999 to 2000. In 1991 and again in 2004,
Mr. Fulgoni was named an Illinois Entrepreneur of the Year,
the only person to have twice received the honor. In 1992, he
received the Wall Street Transcript Award for outstanding
contributions as Chief Executive Officer of Information
Resources, Inc. in enhancing the overall value of that company
to the benefit of its shareholders. In 2008, Mr. Fulgoni
was inducted into the Chicago Entrepreneur Hall of Fame and was
named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Educated in the United Kingdom, Mr. Fulgoni holds an M.A.
in Marketing from the University of Lancaster and a B.Sc. in
Physics from the University of Manchester.
Bruce Golden has served as a director since June 2002. He
is a partner at Accel Partners, which he joined in 1997.
Mr. Golden has led a number of investments in enterprise
software and Internet-related companies while at Accel and
currently serves as a member of the boards of directors of
several private companies. Mr. Golden holds an M.B.A. from
Stanford University and a B.A. from Columbia University.
Jeffrey Ganek has served as a director since May 2008.
Since December 1999, Mr. Ganek has also served as chairman
of the board of directors and chief executive officer of
NeuStar, Inc. From December 1995 to December 1999,
Mr. Ganek was Senior Vice President and Managing Director
of Communications Industry Services at Lockheed Martin, an
advanced technology company. The Communications Industry
Services group of Lockheed Martin was acquired from Lockheed
Martin in 1999 to form NeuStar, which provides
clearinghouse services to the telecommunications industry. From
1993 to 1995, he was Vice President Asia Operations
for Global TeleSystems Group, a communications service provider
in Europe and Asia. From 1991 to 1993, Mr. Ganek was Vice
President of Marketing at GTE Spacenet, a satellite
communications service provider. From 1985 to 1991, he was
Director of Marketing and Corporate Development at MCI
Communications Corporation, a telecommunications company. From
1976 to 1985, he held management positions at AT&T, a
telecommunications company, in Corporate Development, Marketing
and Finance. Mr. Ganek holds an M.S. in Public Policy and
Management and a B.S. in Economics from Carnegie-Mellon
University.
Class I
Directors Continuing in Office until the 2011 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders
Magid M. Abraham, Ph.D., one of our co-founders, has
served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director since
September 1999. In 1995, Dr. Abraham founded Paragren
Technologies, Inc., which specialized in delivering large scale
Customer Relationship Marketing systems for strategic and target
marketing, and served as its Chief Executive Officer from 1995
to 1999. Prior to founding Paragren, Dr. Abraham was
employed by Information Resources, Inc. from 1985 until 1995,
where he was President and Chief Operating Officer from 1993 to
1994 and later Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1994
until 1995. Since January 2008, Dr. Abraham has also been a
member of the board of directors of Milo.com, a startup company.
In 2008, Dr. Abraham was inducted into the Entrepreneur
Hall of Fame and was named an Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur of the Year in the Washington DC area.
Dr. Abraham received the Paul Green Award in 1996 and the
William F. ODell Award in 2000 from the American Marketing
Association for a 1995 article that he co-authored in the
Journal of Marketing Research. He received a Ph.D. in Operations
Research and an M.B.A. from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology. He also holds an Engineering degree from the
École Polytechnique in France.
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William Katz has served as a director since June 2008.
Since June 2004, Mr. Katz has also served as the chairman
of the board of directors of Visible World Inc., a
privately-held multimedia marketing services provider. From 1996
to 2004, Mr. Katz served as President and Chief Executive
Officer of BBDO New York, the flagship office of BBDO Worldwide,
the worlds third largest global agency network.
Mr. Katz also currently serves on the board of directors of
Papaya King, a privately-held restaurant chain. Mr. Katz
holds a B.A. in Business and Psychology from American University.
Jarl Mohn, also known as Lee Masters from his radio
career, has served as a director since June 2008. Mr. Mohn
has also served on the board of directors of Scripps Network
Interactive since June 2008. From December 2003 until July 2008,
Mr. Mohn served on the board of directors of CNET Networks,
Inc., where he also served as non-executive chairman from
October 2006 to July 2008. Mr. Mohn also previously served
on the boards of directors of XM Satellite Radio, Inc. from May
2004 to July 2008 and the E.W. Scripps Company from 2002 until
2008. Mr. Mohn was the founding President of Liberty
Digital Inc., a publicly traded subsidiary of Liberty Media
Group involved in interactive television, cable television
networks and Internet enterprises, and served as its Chief
Executive Officer from June 1999 to March 2002. Prior to
founding Liberty Digital, he was President and Chief Executive
Officer of E! Entertainment Television. From 1986 to 1989,
Mr. Mohn was Executive Vice President and General Manager
of MTV and VH1. His professional career also includes twenty
years in radio. Mr. Mohn attended Temple University, where
he studied Mathematics and Philosophy.
Standing
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors has established an audit committee, a
compensation committee and a nominating and governance
committee. Our board of directors and its committees meet
regularly throughout the year and also hold special meetings and
act by written consent from time to time as appropriate. Our
board of directors has delegated various responsibilities and
authority to its committees as generally described below. The
committees regularly report on their activities and actions to
the full board of directors. Each committee of our board of
directors has a written charter approved by our board of
directors.
Audit
Committee
The audit committee of our board of directors recommends the
appointment of our independent registered public accountant,
reviews our internal accounting procedures and financial
statements, and consults with and reviews the services provided
by our independent registered public accountant, including the
results and scope of their audit. The audit committee met
fourteen times (including telephonic meetings) during 2008.
The audit committee is currently comprised of Ronald J. Korn
(chair), William J. Henderson and Jeffrey Ganek, each of whom is
independent within the meaning of the requirements of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and applicable U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and NASDAQ rules. Ronald J.
Korn is chairman of our audit committee as well as our audit
committee financial expert, as currently defined under the SEC
rules implementing the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We believe
that the composition and functioning of our audit committee
complies with all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, The NASDAQ Global Market, and SEC rules and
regulations.
The audit committee operates under a written charter adopted by
the board of directors, a copy of which is available under the
Investor Relations section of our website,
http://www.comscore.com.
Compensation
Committee
The compensation committee of our board of directors reviews and
recommends to our board of directors the compensation and
benefits for our executive officers, administers our stock
plans, and establishes and reviews general policies relating to
compensation and benefits for our employees. The compensation
committee met seven times (including telephonic meetings) during
2008.
The compensation committee is currently comprised of William J.
Henderson (chair), William Katz and Jarl Mohn, each of whom is
independent within the meaning of applicable NASDAQ rules. We
believe that
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the composition and functioning of our compensation committee
complies with all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, The NASDAQ Global Market, and SEC rules and
regulations.
The compensation committee operates under a written charter
adopted by the board of directors, a current copy of which is
available under the Investor Relations section of
our website,
http://www.comscore.com.
Nominating
and Governance Committee
The nominating and governance committee of our board of
directors is responsible for, among other things, reviewing the
appropriate size, function and needs of the board of directors;
establishing criteria for evaluating and selecting new members
of our board of directors, subject to board of directors
approval thereof; identifying and recommending to our board of
directors for approval individuals qualified to become members
of the board of directors; and monitoring and making
recommendations to the board of directors on matters relating to
corporate governance. The nominating and governance committee
met one time (including telephonic meetings and actions by
unanimous written consent) during 2008.
The nominating and governance committee currently consists of
Bruce Golden (chair), William Katz and Jarl Mohn. We believe
that the composition and functioning of our nominating and
governance committee complies with all applicable requirements
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, The NASDAQ Global Market and
SEC rules and regulations.
The nominating and governance committee operates under a written
charter adopted by the board of directors, a current copy of
which is available under the Investor Relations
section of our website,
http://www.comscore.com.
Board of
Directors and Committee Meeting Attendance
Our board of directors met seven times (including telephonic
meetings) during the year ended December 31, 2008. Each of
our incumbent directors has attended at least 75% of the
aggregate number of meetings held by the board of directors
(during the period in 2008 for which he was a director) and by
the committees of the board of directors on which such
individual served (during the period in 2008 for which he served
as a committee member), except Mr. Katz.
Independent members of the board of directors regularly meet in
executive session without management present.
Annual
Meeting Attendance
We encourage, but do not require, our directors to attend our
annual meeting of stockholders. Two directors attended our 2008
annual meeting of stockholders.
Director
Nomination Process
Our nominating and governance committee identifies director
nominees by first evaluating the current members of the board of
directors willing to continue in service. Current members with
skills and experience that are relevant to our business and who
are willing to continue in service are considered for
nomination. If any member of the board of directors does not
wish to continue in service, or the committee or board of
directors decides not to nominate a member for re-election, the
committee identifies the desired skills and experience of a new
nominee. Current members of the board of directors and senior
management are then polled for their recommendations. To date,
we have not engaged third parties to identify or evaluate
potential nominees; however, the committee may do so in the
future.
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The nominating and governance committee will also consider
nominees recommended by stockholders, and any such
recommendations should be forwarded to our Corporate Secretary
in writing at our executive offices as identified in this proxy
statement. In accordance with our bylaws, such recommendations
should include the following information:
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the name, age, business address and residence address of the
proposed candidate;
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the principal occupation or employment of the proposed candidate;
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the class and number of shares of our stock that the proposed
candidate beneficially owns;
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a description of all arrangements or understandings between the
stockholder making the recommendations and each director nominee
and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons)
pursuant to which the nominations are to be made by the
stockholder; and
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any other information relating to such director candidate that
is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for
elections of directors or is otherwise required pursuant to
Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (including without limitation such nominees
written consent to being named in any proxy statement as a
nominee and to serve as a director if elected).
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The nominating and governance committee evaluates individual
director candidates based upon a number of criteria, including:
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a high degree of personal and professional integrity;
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commitment to promoting the long term interests of our
stockholders;
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broad general business experience and acumen, which may include
experience in management, finance, marketing and accounting,
with particular emphasis on technology companies;
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adequate time to devote attention to the affairs of our company;
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an ability to bring balance to our board of directors in light
of our companys current and anticipated needs and in light
of the skills and attributes of the other board members; and
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|
other attributes relevant to satisfying the requirements imposed
by the SEC and NASDAQ.
|
Director
Compensation
Director
Compensation Policies
Retainers and Meeting Fees: During 2008, our
non-employee directors were eligible to receive an annual cash
retainer of $25,000 for service on our board of directors, and
the chairs of certain of the standing committees of our board of
directors were eligible to receive annual cash retainers as
follows: $10,000 per year for the chair of our audit committee
and $7,500 per year for the chair of our compensation committee.
In the case of new non-employee directors, these fees are
prorated based on when the non-employee director joined our
board of directors during the year. Employee directors are not
compensated for board of director or committee service in
addition to their regular employee compensation.
Other Equity-Based Compensation: Outside
directors are also eligible to receive stock awards and option
grants under our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan. Since our initial
public offering in 2007, our non-employee directors have been
and are entitled to an annual grant of restricted stock having a
value of $50,000 at the time of grant. The total amount of each
annual grant of restricted stock shall remain unvested until the
earlier of (i) the date of the respective directors
next anniversary upon joining our board of directors,
(ii) the date of the first annual stockholders
meeting following the date of grant or (iii) a change of
control. The board of directors has discretion to accelerate or
modify such vesting schedule due to special circumstances.
Expenses: We reimburse our non-employee
directors for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in
the performance of their duties as directors. Such expense
reimbursements are less than $10,000 in the aggregate for any
non-employee director during fiscal 2008 and are not included in
the table below under the subheading 2008 Director
Compensation.
7
2008 Director
Compensation
The following table sets forth certain information concerning
cash and non-cash compensation earned by the non-employee
members of our board of directors in 2008. None of the
non-employee members of our board of directors received option
awards or other compensation in 2008, and no expense was
incurred during 2008 for existing option awards held by
directors.
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Fees Earned or
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Stock
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Name
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|
Paid in Cash
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|
|
Awards($)(1)
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Total($)
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Jeffrey Ganek(2)
|
|
$
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16,140
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|
|
$
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28,633
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(3)
|
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$
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44,773
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Bruce Golden
|
|
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25,000
|
|
|
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53,926
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(3)
|
|
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78,926
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William J. Henderson
|
|
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32,500
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|
|
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53,926
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(3)
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|
|
86,426
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William Katz(4)
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|
|
14,354
|
|
|
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28,633
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(3)
|
|
|
42,987
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Ronald J. Korn
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|
|
35,000
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|
|
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53,926
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(3)
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|
88,926
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Jarl Mohn(4)
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|
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14,354
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|
|
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28,633
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(3)
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|
|
42,987
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Thomas D. Berman(5)(6)
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10,645
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|
|
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25,293
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|
|
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35,938
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Frederick R. Wilson(5)
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|
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10,645
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|
|
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25,293
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|
|
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35,938
|
|
|
|
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(1) |
|
Represents the amounts recognized for financial statement
reporting purposes with respect to the 2008 fiscal year in
accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 123R, Share-Based Payment (SFAS No. 123R),
excluding the estimate of forfeitures related to service-based
vesting conditions. The awards for which expense is shown in
this table include awards granted during 2008, as well as awards
granted prior to 2008 for which we continued to recognize
expense in 2008, and the expense is not necessarily an
indication of which directors received the most gains from
equity awards. Assumptions used in the calculation of these
award amounts are included in Note 9 to the consolidated
financial statements included in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2008. The grant date fair
value of each stock or option award included in the awards for
which expense is shown in the table above is as follows: |
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Fair Value
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Name
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Award Type
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Grant Date
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Grant Date
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Jeffrey Ganek
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|
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Restricted Stock
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|
|
June 4, 2008
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|
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$
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49,993
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Bruce Golden
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|
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Restricted Stock
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|
|
|
June 4, 2008
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|
|
|
49,993
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted Stock
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|
|
|
July 2, 2007
|
|
|
|
49,997
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|
William J. Henderson
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|
Restricted Stock
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|
|
|
June 4, 2008
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|
|
|
49,993
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|
|
|
|
Restricted Stock
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|
|
|
July 2, 2007
|
|
|
|
49,997
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|
William Katz
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|
|
Restricted Stock
|
|
|
|
June 4, 2008
|
|
|
|
49,993
|
|
Ronald J. Korn
|
|
|
Restricted Stock
|
|
|
|
June 4, 2008
|
|
|
|
49,993
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted Stock
|
|
|
|
July 2, 2007
|
|
|
|
49,997
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|
Jarl Mohn
|
|
|
Restricted Stock
|
|
|
|
June 4, 2008
|
|
|
|
49,993
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|
Thomas D. Berman
|
|
|
Restricted Stock
|
|
|
|
July 2, 2007
|
|
|
|
49,997
|
|
Frederick R. Wilson
|
|
|
Restricted Stock
|
|
|
|
July 2, 2007
|
|
|
|
49,997
|
|
|
|
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(2) |
|
Mr. Ganek first joined our board of directors in May 2008. |
|
(3) |
|
All of our non-employee directors that continued to serve after
our 2008 annual meeting of stockholders received an annual award
of restricted stock with a fair value calculated in accordance
with SFAS No. 123R of approximately $50,000 (as
adjusted for rounding of fractional shares, which were
excluded). The awards are restricted common stock subject to a
right of repurchase by comScore until the earlier of
(i) the date that is one (1) day prior to the date of
the 2008 annual meeting of our stockholders or (ii) the one
(1) year anniversary of such directors service as a
director since our initial public offering, subject to such
director continuing to serve on our board of directors at such
date. |
|
(4) |
|
Mr. Katz and Mr. Mohn were first elected to our board
of directors in June 2008. |
|
(5) |
|
Mr. Berman and Mr. Wilson served as Class I
directors until their terms expired in June 2008. |
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(6) |
|
All compensation paid to Mr. Berman was assigned to BVCF
IV, L.P. |
8
Director
and Director Nominee Independence
Our board of directors has determined that each of
Messrs. Ganek, Golden, Henderson, Katz, Korn and Mohn is
independent under the rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market;
therefore, every member of the audit committee, compensation
committee and nominating and governance committee is an
independent director in accordance with those standards. There
were no related person transactions considered in the last
fiscal year in the determination of the independence of the
directors.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Between January and June 2008, William J. Henderson, Thomas D.
Berman and Frederick R. Wilson served on our compensation
committee. Messrs Berman and Wilsons terms as Class I
directors expired in June 2008. William Katz and Jarl Mohn were
elected to our board of directors in June 2008 and were elected
to our compensation committee. None of the current or former
members of our compensation committee in 2008 was a present or
former officer or employee of our company. In addition, during
2008, none of our officers had an interlock
relationship, as that term is defined by the SEC.
Code of
Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that
applies to all directors and employees of the company, including
our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and
principal accounting officer or controller. The full text of our
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is posted under the
Investor Relations section on our website at
http://www.comscore.com.
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Policies
and Procedures for Transactions with Related Persons
Related person transactions, which we define as all transactions
involving an executive officer, director, nominee for director
or a holder of more than five percent of our common stock,
including any of their immediate family members and any entity
owned or controlled by such persons, are reviewed and approved
by the audit committee of our board of directors or in some
cases by a majority of disinterested directors on our board of
directors.
In any transaction involving a related person, our audit
committee and our board of directors consider all of the
available material facts and circumstances of the transaction,
including: the direct and indirect interests of the related
persons; in the event the related person is a director or
nominee for director (or immediate family member of a director
or an entity with which a director is affiliated), the impact
that the transaction will have on a directors or nominee
for directors independence; the risks, costs and benefits
of the transaction to us; and whether any alternative
transactions or sources for comparable services or products are
available.
After considering all such facts and circumstances, our audit
committee and our board of directors determines whether approval
or ratification of the related person transaction is in our best
interests. For example, if our audit committee determines that
the proposed terms of a related person transaction are
reasonable and at least as favorable as could have been obtained
from unrelated third parties, it will recommend to our board of
directors that such transaction be approved or ratified. In
addition, if a related person transaction will compromise the
independence of one of our directors or nominees for director,
our audit committee may recommend that our board of directors
reject the transaction if it could affect our ability to comply
with securities laws and regulations or NASDAQ listing
requirements.
Of the transactions described below, the employment arrangement
with Ms. Abraham and several of the indemnification
agreements were entered into prior to the adoption of our audit
committee charter. Accordingly, each of those transactions were
approved by disinterested members of our board of directors
after making a determination that the transaction was executed
on terms no less favorable than those we could have obtained
from unrelated third parties. The transaction with INXPO, LLC,
or INXPO, was ratified by our audit
9
committee after making a determination that the transaction was
executed on terms no less favorable than those we could have
obtained from unrelated third parties.
The policies and procedures described above for reviewing and
approving related person transactions are not in writing.
However, the charter for our audit committee provides that one
of the committees responsibilities is to review and
approve in advance any proposed related person transactions.
Transactions
and Relationships with Directors, Officers and Five Percent
Stockholders
We believe that there has not been any other transaction or
series of transactions during 2008 to which we were or are to be
a participant in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and
in which any director, nominee for director, executive officer
or holder of more than five percent of our common stock, or
members of any such persons immediate family, had or will
have a direct or indirect material interest, other than
compensation described in Executive Compensation or
Director Compensation elsewhere in this proxy
statement and as described below.
Linda
Boland Abraham
Since our inception in 1999, Linda Boland Abraham, the spouse of
our President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Magid M.
Abraham, has been employed in various management positions with
us. Most recently, Ms. Abraham has served as our Executive
Vice President of Global Product Management since October 2007.
Ms. Abraham earned approximately $208,000 in salary, and
received $51,000 in bonus (of which, approximately $18,000 was
paid in the form of restricted stock based on the value at the
time of grant) and an award of restricted stock with a value at
the time of grant of approximately $97,000 in 2008.
Indemnification
Agreements
We have entered into an indemnification agreement with each of
our directors and executive officers. The indemnification
agreements and our amended and restated certificate of
incorporation and bylaws require us to indemnify our directors
and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.
Services
Agreement with INXPO, LLC
During December 2007, we entered into a services agreement with
INXPO, an Illinois-based provider of virtual events.
Mr. Fulgoni has been a member of the board of directors of
INXPO since July 2005. In 2008, we purchased services under this
agreement from INXPO with an aggregated value of $202,000. As of
December 31, 2008, no amounts were payable to INXPO.
PROPOSAL NO. 2
RATIFICATION
OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM
Our audit committee has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as
our independent registered public accounting firm for the year
ending December 31, 2009. Ernst & Young LLP has
served as our independent audit firm since 2000 and has audited
our financial statements for fiscal years 2000 through 2008. A
representative of Ernst & Young LLP is expected to be
present at our 2009 annual meeting of stockholders and will have
an opportunity to make a statement and respond to appropriate
questions from stockholders.
Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP
as our independent registered public accounting firm is not
required by our bylaws or other applicable legal requirements.
However, our board of directors is submitting the appointment of
Ernst & Young LLP to the stockholders for ratification
as a matter of good corporate practice. If our stockholders fail
to ratify the appointment, the audit committee will reconsider
whether to retain the firm. Even if the appointment is ratified,
the audit committee at its discretion may direct the appointment
of a different independent registered public accounting firm at
any time during the year if it determines that such a change
would be in our best interests and the best interests of our
stockholders.
10
The affirmative vote of a majority of shares of our common stock
present at the 2009 annual meeting of stockholders in person or
by proxy and entitled to vote is required to ratify the
appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent
registered public accounting firm for the year ending
December 31, 2009. Abstentions will have the same effect as
a vote against this proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE
FOR PROPOSAL NUMBER 2.
Audit and
Related Fees for Fiscal Years 2007 and 2008
The following table sets forth a summary of the fees billed to
us by Ernst & Young LLP for professional services for
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008,
respectively. All of the services described in the following fee
table were approved by the audit committee.
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|
|
Name
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Audit Fees(1)
|
|
$
|
1,850,125
|
|
|
$
|
1,459,325
|
|
Audit-Related Fees(2)
|
|
|
67,170
|
|
|
|
73,800
|
|
Tax Fees(3)
|
|
|
116,637
|
|
|
|
205,355
|
|
All Other Fees(4)
|
|
|
177,056
|
|
|
|
171,105
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Fees
|
|
$
|
2,210,988
|
|
|
$
|
1,909,565
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Audit fees represent fees for professional services relating to
the audit of our financial statements included in our annual
reports on
Form 10-K
and our registration statements on
Forms S-1
and S-8, the
audit of internal control over financial reporting required by
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the review of
the financial statements included in our quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q. |
|
(2) |
|
Audit-related fees represent fees for assurance and related
services that are reasonably related to the performance of the
audit or review of financial statements and not reported under
Audit Fees. |
|
(3) |
|
Tax fees principally represent fees for professional services
for tax compliance and tax advice. |
|
(4) |
|
Other fees consisted of miscellaneous other permissible services
not included in the first three categories and were immaterial
for 2007 and 2008. |
The audit committee meets regularly with Ernst & Young
LLP throughout the year and reviews both audit and non-audit
services performed by Ernst & Young LLP as well as
fees charged for such services. The audit committee has
determined that the provision of the services described above is
compatible with maintaining Ernst & Young LLPs
independence in the conduct of its audit functions.
Pre-Approval
Policies and Procedures
Our audit committee has adopted and our board of directors has
approved a policy that sets forth the procedures and the
conditions pursuant to which services proposed to be performed
by the independent auditor may be pre-approved. Pursuant to its
audit, audit-related and non-audit services pre-approval policy,
our audit committee may delegate either type of pre-approval
authority to one or more of its members. The member to whom such
authority is delegated must report, for informational purposes
only, any pre-approval decisions to the audit committee at its
next scheduled meeting. Our audit committee pre-approved all
audit related, tax and other services rendered by
Ernst & Young LLP in 2007 and 2008, with the exception
of 9.7% of the tax services rendered by Ernst & Young
LLP in 2008. Such services were promptly brought to the
attention of, and were approved by, the audit committee.
11
AUDIT
COMMITTEE REPORT
The audit committee is comprised of independent
directors, as determined in accordance with Rule 5605(a)(2)
of the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules and
Rule 10A-3
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The audit committee
operates pursuant to a written charter adopted by the board of
directors, a copy of which is available under the Investor
Relations section of our website located at
http://www.comscore.com.
As described more fully in its charter, the purpose of the audit
committee is to assist the board of directors with its oversight
responsibilities regarding the integrity of our financial
statements, our compliance with legal and regulatory
requirements, assessing our independent registered public
accounting firms qualifications and independence and, if
applicable, the performance of the persons performing internal
audit duties for our company.
Company management is responsible for preparation, presentation
and integrity of our financial statements as well as our
financial reporting process, accounting policies, internal audit
function, internal accounting controls and disclosure controls
and procedures. Our independent registered public accounting
firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of our
consolidated financial statements in accordance with standards
of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
and to issue a report thereon. The audit committees
responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes. The
following is the audit committees report submitted to the
board of directors for 2008.
The audit committee has:
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|
|
reviewed and discussed our companys audited financial
statements with management and Ernst & Young LLP, the
companys independent registered public accounting firm;
|
|
|
|
discussed with Ernst & Young LLP the matters required
to be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61,
Communications with Audit Committees, as currently in
effect and as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board in Rule 3200T; and
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|
received from Ernst & Young LLP, disclosures and a
letter regarding their independence as required the applicable
requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
requesting Ernst & Young LLPs communication with
the audit committee concerning independence and discussed the
auditors independence with them.
|
In addition, the audit committee has met separately with company
management and with Ernst & Young LLP.
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the audit
committee recommended to the board of directors that the audited
2008 financial statements be included in our companys
Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2008 for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Ronald J. Korn, Chairman
Jeffrey Ganek
William J. Henderson
The foregoing audit committee report shall not be deemed
incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities
Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and shall
not otherwise be deemed filed under these acts, except to the
extent we specifically incorporate by reference into such
filings.
12
COMPENSATION
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The following discussion and analysis of our compensation
arrangements with our named executive officers should be read
together with the compensation tables and related disclosures
set forth elsewhere in this proxy statement. Our named executive
officers for the year ended December 31, 2008 are Magid M.
Abraham, John M. Green, Gian M. Fulgoni, Gregory T. Dale and
Christiana L. Lin. This discussion contains forward-looking
statements that are based on our current plans and expectations
regarding future compensation programs. Actual compensation
programs that we adopt may differ materially from currently
planned programs as summarized in this discussion.
Our
Philosophy
The objective of our compensation programs for employees is to
attract and retain top talent. Our compensation plans are
designed to motivate and reward employees for achievement of
positive business results and also to promote and enforce
accountability. In determining the compensation arrangement of
our senior executives, we are guided by the following key
principles:
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|
Attract and Retain Top Talent. Our
compensation arrangements should be sufficient to allow us to
attract, retain and motivate executives with the necessary
skills and talent to successfully manage our business. In order
to attract, motivate and retain such executives, we seek to
compensate our executives at levels of at least the 50th
percentile of our identified peer group, with opportunities to
reward stronger performers at levels as much as the 75th
percentile of that peer group.
|
|
|
|
Promote Business Performance
Accountability. Compensation should be tied, in
part, to the performance of the portion of the business for
which an executive is responsible and how that executives
business unit or area performs and contributes to the overall
financial performance of our business.
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|
|
|
Promote Individual Performance
Accountability. Compensation should be tied, in
part, to the individual executives performance to
encourage and reflect individual contributions to our
performance. Our board of directors considers both qualitative
and quantitative factors as measures of individual performance
and weights these factors as appropriate in assessing a
particular individuals performance.
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|
|
Align Stockholder Interests. Compensation
should be tied, in part, to our financial performance through
equity awards, which help to align our executives
interests with those of our stockholders.
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|
|
|
Maintain an Independent Process. Compensation
should be assessed with independence and objectivity to protect
the interests of our business and our stockholders while also
providing fair compensation to our executives. An independent
compensation committee of our board of directors should be, and
is, responsible for reviewing and establishing the compensation
for our Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman, and for
reviewing and approving the compensation recommendations made by
our Chief Executive Officer for all of our other named executive
officers.
|
Application
of our Philosophy
We believe that our executive compensation and benefit program
balances short-term and long-term components, cash and equity
elements, and fixed and contingent payments. We apply our
compensation philosophy using both quantitative and qualitative
standards to incentivize our senior management and reward them
for achieving the following goals:
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develop a culture that embodies a passion for our business and a
drive to achieve and exceed established goals and objectives;
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|
provide leadership to the organization in such a way as to
maximize the results of our business operations;
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|
lead us by demonstrating forward thinking in the operation,
development and expansion of our business; and
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|
|
effectively manage organizational resources to derive the
greatest value possible from each dollar invested.
|
13
Our executive compensation structure aims not only to compensate
top talent at levels that we believe are at the 50th percentile
or greater of an identified peer group, but also to be fair
relative to compensation paid to other professionals within our
organization, relative to our short- and long-term performance
results and relative to the value we deliver to our
stockholders. We seek to maintain a performance-oriented culture
with a compensation approach that rewards our executive officers
when we achieve and exceed our goals and objectives, while
putting at risk an appropriate portion of their compensation
against the possibility that our goals and objectives may not be
achieved. Overall, our approach is designed to relate the
compensation of our executive officers to the following: the
achievement of short- and long-term goals and objectives; their
willingness to challenge and improve existing policies and
structures; and their capability to take advantage of unique
opportunities and overcome difficult challenges within our
business.
Role of
Our Compensation Committee
Our compensation committee approves, administers and interprets
our executive compensation and benefit policies, including our
1999 Stock Plan, our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan and our
compensation, incentives and benefits programs. Our compensation
committee is appointed by our board of directors, and consists
entirely of directors who are outside directors for
purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code,
non-employee directors for purposes of
Rule 16b-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
independent directors under the listing standards of
the NASDAQ Stock Market. Our compensation committee is comprised
of Messrs. Henderson, Katz and Mohn, and is chaired by
Mr. Henderson.
Our compensation committee reviews and approves our executive
compensation and benefit program to ensure that it is consistent
with our compensation philosophy and corporate governance
guidelines. Our compensation committee also is responsible for
establishing the executive compensation packages offered to our
executive officers.
Our compensation committee has taken the following steps to
ensure that our executive compensation and benefit program is
consistent with both our compensation philosophy and our
corporate governance guidelines:
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|
|
|
|
regularly reviewed the performance of and the total compensation
earned by or awarded to our Chief Executive Officer and
Executive Chairman independent of input from them;
|
|
|
|
examined on an annual basis the performance of our other named
executive officers and other key employees with assistance from
our Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman and approved
compensation packages that are believed to be consistent with or
more attractive than those generally found in the
executives marketplace;
|
|
|
|
regularly held executive sessions of compensation committee
meetings without management present; and
|
|
|
|
engaged an outside compensation consultant beginning in mid-2007
to review our executive compensation practices and provide
comparison to other opportunities in the marketplaces for our
executives in connection with setting compensation for our 2008
and 2009 bonus target levels and 2008 and 2009 fiscal year base
salaries and equity-award levels.
|
Utilization
of Outside Compensation Consultants
Prior to our initial public offering in 2007, our compensation
committee had not previously conducted formal surveys or
analyses of compensation levels in various marketplaces or
engaged compensation consultants to do so on our behalf.
However, beginning in mid-2007, in addition to utilizing the
collective experience and knowledge of our board of directors
and executive management, as well as informal reviews of
compensation information gained through marketplace contacts and
service providers, our compensation committee selected and
directly engaged the services of an independent executive
compensation consulting firm, Towers Perrin. No member of the
compensation committee or any named executive officer has any
affiliation with Towers Perrin. Towers Perrin has not performed
any other work for us, and it has reported directly to the
chairman of the compensation committee.
14
December
2007 Review of Executive Compensation
In December 2007 and in response to a request from the
compensation committee, Towers Perrin provided a report to the
compensation committee with input on a range of external market
factors, including evolving executive compensation trends.
Towers Perrin also provided general observations on our
executive compensation programs, and it provided recommendations
as to the amount or form of compensation for our named executive
officers.
Based on the collective inputs from Towers Perrin, management,
and the experience of the members of our board of directors and
compensation committee, in December 2007 our compensation
committee set our executives base salaries, target annual
bonus levels and long-term incentive award values for our 2008
fiscal year. Our compensation committee set these components of
executive compensation at target levels to fall within the
50th percentile range of an identified peer group in each
of the following categories that make up our total compensation:
executive base salary, target annual bonus levels and long-term
incentive awards. This compensation philosophy was also intended
to retain the flexibility of allowing potential cash
compensation to fall within the 75th percentile range of
the identified peer group for superior performance. In addition,
this compensation approach employed a long-term incentive
program that had as its goal the retention of key employees, the
alignment of employee interests with those of stockholders, and
adequate simplicity of both comprehension and administration.
Our compensation committee chose the 50th percentile of this
peer group as the baseline for our compensation components with
a view towards what our compensation committee believed to be
fair to our executives and to the company as well as consistent
with industry practices in the technology sector. In making such
determination, our compensation committee considered such
factors as the stage of our companys development, the size
and characteristics of our company, based on both headcount and
operations and balance sheet characteristics, as well as the
expected future characteristics of our business relative to our
identified peer group.
The December 2007 study provided by Towers Perrin referenced
both published compensation survey data of comparably-sized
companies and a valuation peer group determined based on inputs
from investment banks as well as management input as to
companies with whom we compete for executive talent, with median
annual revenues of $100 million. All of the companies
included in the peer group are providers of digital marketing
intelligence or related analytical products and services,
marketing services and solutions or survey services.
Specifically, the peer group consisted of the following
companies:
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Arbitron Inc.
Forrester Research, Inc.
Greenfield Online, Inc.
Harris Interactive Inc.
Ipsos Group S.A.
Marchex, Inc.
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MIVA, Inc.
Morningstar, Inc.
National Research Corporation
Omniture, Inc.
Rainmaker Systems, Inc.
Taylor Nelson Sofres plc
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Think Partnership Inc.
Traffix, Inc.
ValueClick, Inc.
Website Pros, Inc.
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2008
Review of Compensation
In 2008, as part of our ongoing commitment to link current
compensation levels to our compensation philosophy and business
strategy, our compensation committee requested that Towers
Perrin review our direct compensation, including base salary,
total cash compensation and total direct compensation. We define
total cash compensation as base salary plus actual annual
incentives, and we define total direct compensation as total
cash compensation plus the annualized expected value of
long-term incentives.
Towers Perrin provided a report to the compensation committee in
October 2008 with observations and analyses regarding the direct
compensation of our executive officers. This study provided by
Towers Perrin referenced the same peer group used for the
December 2007 study, except Traffix, Inc. was excluded due to
its acquisition in February 2008.
Based on the inputs from Towers Perrin and our management as
well as their own review, our compensation committee determined
that our executives compensation package for our 2008
fiscal year
15
continued to fall within the 50th percentile range of the
identified peer group for executive compensation, and target
annual incentives, total cash compensation and total direct
compensation were all in line with market medians, with the
flexibility to exceed up to the 75th percentile range of the
identified peer group. Our compensation committee further
determined that, with the exception of Dr. Abraham, our
named executive officers base salaries for our 2008 fiscal
year continued to fall within the 50th percentile range of our
identified peer group for executive base salary. Although
Dr. Abrahams base salary was found to be below the
50th percentile range, our compensation committee determined
that Dr. Abrahams compensation package was heavily
weighted in equity compensation. Such equity component was found
to have counterbalanced the shortfall in base salary such that
Dr. Abrahams compensation package remained consistent
with our compensation philosophy. Moreover, the compensation
committee believed that the heavier weighting towards equity
compensation would better align Dr. Abrahams
interests with the interests of the company and our
stockholders. Accordingly, the compensation committee determined
in October 2008 to leave 2009 base salaries for our named
executive officers unchanged from 2008.
In connection with their October 2008 review of base salaries,
the compensation committee requested that Towers Perrin further
review our incentive programs, including annual performance
bonuses and long-term incentive awards. Since our initial public
offering, our annual performance bonuses have been paid in cash
and, in recent years, restricted stock in lieu of a portion of
the cash bonus at the election of the officers. Our long-term
incentive awards utilize restricted stock, although we have used
stock option awards in past years as well. Given the economic
conditions in late 2008, the compensation committee sought to
explore the use of non-cash incentives as an alternative to
cash-based incentives in order to better control the cash usage
of the company. At the same time, our management also suggested
to the compensation committee that non-cash based incentives may
help enhance retention of existing employees and align
stockholder interest with employee interests.
Pursuant to the compensation committees request, Towers
Perrin provided several reports to the compensation committee
during the first few months of 2009 with observations and
analysis as well as certain proposals regarding making salary
adjustments and increasing the non-cash components of our annual
performance bonuses and long-term incentive awards to our
executive officers.
Based on the inputs from Towers Perrin and our management as
well as their own review, in March 2009 our compensation
committee established an incentive award policy for our 2009
fiscal year to the effect that bonus target amounts would be
combined with long-term incentive target amounts, and would be
paid entirely with awards of restricted stock or restricted
stock units according to certain target levels based on
respective base salary levels for each of the executive officers
included in the policy. The stock associated with such awards
would be distributed in 2010, and seventy-five percent of the
total shares issued would remain subject to vesting restrictions
that would lapse ratably over the three years following the
award date.
Based on additional inputs from Towers Perrin, the compensation
committee determined, in April 2009, that our named executive
officers should have a compensation package that was more
heavily weighted in equity than in cash. As a result, the
compensation committee determined that the base salary of our
named executive officers should be reduced by 7.5% and that
additional restricted stock should be awarded to our named
executive officers. On May 1, 2009, our compensation
committee granted additional shares of restricted stock to our
named executive officers to partially offset the effects of the
salary reduction. Each award was made pursuant to our 2007
Equity Incentive Plan, and is subject to vesting in equal
installments over a four year period with each installment
vesting annually on May 1. Such a compensation adjustment
is expected to allow us to reduce our cash expenses, increase
our long-term retention of employees, and retain additional
liquid resources to fund and accelerate certain investments in
new product offerings and capabilities within our existing cost
structure.
Our compensation committee believes that this format and the
target levels are consistent with the 50th percentile range
of our identified peer group. In reaching these decisions, the
compensation committee considered the importance of providing
increased incentive opportunities to our executive officers in
equity, which would help better align the long-term incentives
of those executives with the incentives of our stockholders. The
compensation committee also considered the importance of
reducing or delaying cash
16
outlays from the company in light of the global economic
environment, the inherent cash budgeting uncertainties in such
an environment as well as managements planned investments
in strategic projects and opportunities. Finally, the
compensation committee considered the competitive landscape for
compensation, observing that, in light of the current economic
conditions, most U.S. technology companies had not
necessarily reduced bonus opportunities for executives but
rather had changed the threshold performance levels and
discretionary components of their bonus programs.
Components
of our Executive Compensation Program.
Our executive compensation program consists of three components:
short-term compensation (including base salary and annual
performance bonuses), long-term incentives (including equity
awards in the form of stock options, restricted stock units
and/or
restricted stock awards) and benefits.
Our compensation committee evaluates executive compensation and
strives to apply the mix of these components in a manner that
implements our philosophy while meeting our objectives to
attract and retain top talent using compensation that is
consistent with or more attractive than other opportunities
while also adjusting for individual relative performance and
responsibilities as well as our business goals. Our compensation
committee has no formal policy for allocating compensation among
the compensation components described above, but it does strive
to set each component at levels that are consistent with the
50th percentile range of our identified peer group.
Short-term
Compensation
We utilize short-term compensation, including base salary,
annual adjustments to base salary and annual performance
bonuses, to motivate and reward our key executives in accordance
with our performance-based program. Each individuals
short-term compensation components are tied to an annual
assessment of his or her progress against established objectives.
Base
Salary
Base salary is used to recognize the experience, skills,
knowledge and responsibilities required of each executive
officer, as well as to reflect market conditions as indicated by
reference to the companys peer group. As we considered our
executives compensation for 2008, base salary
determinations were guided primarily by our objective to provide
compensation at levels to attract and retain top talent. In
establishing the 2008 base salaries of the executive officers,
our compensation committee and management took into account a
number of factors, including the executives seniority,
position and functional role, level of responsibility and his or
her accomplishments against personal and group objectives. In
addition, we considered the market for corresponding positions
within comparable geographic areas and industries as well as the
state of our business and our cash flows. In initially setting
2008 base salaries, the compensation committee and management
also compared their assessments to the results of the December
2007 study by Towers Perrin.
The base salary of our executive officer group is reviewed on an
annual basis, and adjustments are made to reflect
performance-based factors, marketplace conditions and the
overall performance of our business. Increases are considered
within the context of our overall annual merit increase
structure as well as individual and marketplace factors. We do
not apply specific formulas to determine increases. In 2008, due
to increasing global economic uncertainty, our compensation
committee generally considered the impact of external
marketplace conditions as the determinative factor in setting
our executive officers salaries for 2008 and 2009.
However, we have historically also considered the following when
evaluating officer salaries:
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their achievement of specific objectives established during the
prior review;
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an assessment of their professional effectiveness, consisting of
a portfolio of competencies that include leadership, commitment,
creativity and organizational accomplishment;
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their knowledge, skills and attitude, focusing on capabilities,
capacity and the ability to drive results; and
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17
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external factors such as the marketplace for the executive
officer, the state of our business and the condition of the
global economy.
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Magid M. Abraham, our Chief Executive Officer, periodically
reviews the performance of our executive officers in the context
of the factors noted above and recommends to the compensation
committee any base salary changes or bonuses deemed appropriate.
In late 2007, in connection with the December 2007 report
prepared by Towers Perrin, our compensation committee approved
an increase of the base salaries of our executive officers for
our 2008 fiscal year in order to better align with our
companys compensation philosophy of providing executive
base salaries at the 50th percentile range of our
companys peer group.
In late 2008, in connection with the October 2008 report
prepared by Towers Perrin, our compensation committee
re-evaluated the base salaries of our executive officers for our
upcoming 2009 fiscal year. Although all of our named executive
officers achieved various objectives and demonstrated in
improvements in their personal capacities, the compensation
committee considered the external market factors and economic
conditions particularly heavily in the October 2008 review. In
light of our overall financial performance and the general
uncertainty of the global economic conditions, as well as the
competitive conditions within our peer group and industry, our
compensation committee determined at that time to set base
salaries of our executive officers for our upcoming 2009 fiscal
year at the same level as were set in 2008.
In April 2009, based on additional inputs from Towers Perrin,
the compensation committee determined that our named executive
officers should have a compensation package that was more
heavily weighted in equity than in cash. As a result, the
compensation committee determined, among other things, that the
2009 base salary of our named executive officers should be
reduced by 7.5% from the 2008 base salary.
The base salaries for 2007, 2008 and 2009 for each named
executive officer are set forth below:
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Base Salary
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Percentage Change
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Name and Principal Position
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2007
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2008(1)
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2009(2)
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2008 v. 2007
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2009 v. 2008
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Magid M. Abraham, Ph.D.
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
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$
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325,000
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$
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425,000
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$
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393,125
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30.9
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%
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(7.5
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)%
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John M. Green
Chief Financial Officer
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270,000
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302,400
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222,000
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(3)
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12.0
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(26.6
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)%(3)
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Gian M. Fulgoni
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors
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300,000
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375,000
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346,875
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25.0
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(7.5
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)%
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Gregory T. Dale
Chief Technology Officer
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260,000
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275,600
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254,930
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6.0
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(7.5
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)%
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Christiana L. Lin
General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer
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200,000
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250,000
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231,250
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25.0
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(7.5
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)%
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(1) |
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Effective beginning March 1, 2008. |
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(2) |
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Effective beginning May 1, 2009. The compensation committee
also awarded restricted stock to our executive officers to
realign the equity and cash balance of each executive
officers compensation package. The additional restricted
stock was subject to vesting over a four-year period. |
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(3) |
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Mr. Green served as our Chief Financial Officer until
April 19, 2009, and he became our Executive Vice President
of Human Capital on April 20, 2009. Accordingly, the terms
of his employment arrangement were amended effective
May 20, 2009 to align his compensation package with
compensation commensurate with his new role.
Mr. Greens initial salary for his new role was
further adjusted to reflect a 7.5% cash salary reduction taken
by our management for 2009 consistent with the adjustment for
all of our management in April 2009. For further details of
Mr. Greens amended employment arrangement beginning
May 20, 2009, refer to the Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on May 22, 2009. |
18
Annual
Performance Bonuses
Annual performance bonuses for our executive officers are tied
to the achievement of our annual company goals and objectives,
functional area goals,
and/or
individual performance objectives. Annual performance bonuses
are primarily guided by our objectives of accountability for
individual and business performance. We set clearly defined
goals for each executive officer, with an emphasis on
quantifiable and achievable targets. A portion of each executive
officers bonus is clearly tied to the achievement of
specific targets relative to the performance of the particular
business segment or functional area for which they are
responsible, with the remainder tied to similar targets relative
to our overall financial performance. Individual awards under
the program are based on a thorough review of the applicable
performance results of our company, business, function or
individual as compared to the applicable goals.
Target bonuses are set at a percentage of actual full-year
salary. Our compensation committee approves these percentages
for our executive officers based on a determination of the
appropriate portion of total compensation that should be at risk
for a particular executive officer. Generally, target bonuses
for our most senior executive officers are set at a higher
percentage of salary than for our other executive officers, so
as to recognize their broader responsibility for company-wide
results and to place a greater portion of their total
compensation at risk against the achievement of overall goals
and objectives.
2008
Bonuses
The 2008 target bonus and actual bonus award levels as a
percentage of 2008 full year base salary for our executive
officers were as follows:
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Name and Principal Position
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Actual Bonus(1)
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Bonus Target
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Magid M. Abraham, Ph.D.
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
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45
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%
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80
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%
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John M. Green
Chief Financial Officer
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28
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50
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Gian M. Fulgoni
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors
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45
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80
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Gregory T. Dale
Chief Technology Officer
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20
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35
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Christiana L. Lin
General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer
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22
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35
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(1) |
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Cash payments were made on February 27, 2009. |
In order to further improve our companys retention
objectives and alignment of executive compensation with
stockholder interests, a portion of each named executive
officers bonus was issued in shares of restricted common
stock. The value of the stock-based portion of each named
executive officers bonus was calculated as twenty-five
percent (25%) of the executive officers full target bonus;
any difference between what the executive officers actual
earned bonus amount and the target amount was then adjusted
through the cash component of the bonus. The number of shares
underlying the stock-based portion of the bonuses was based on
the dollar amount foregone in lieu of cash and the closing stock
price of our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global
Market on February 18, 2009, the date we paid these 2008
bonus payments to our named executive officers.
The annual performance bonuses established for the 2008 fiscal
year for Dr. Abraham and Messrs. Green and Fulgoni
were based on a mix of quantitative and qualitative factors
certain of which were the satisfactory
19
completion of specific projects or initiatives. The 2008 bonus
targets for Dr. Abraham and Messrs. Green and Fulgoni
were calculated based on the following component factors:
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Percentage Weight
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Achievement of
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of Bonus Target
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Milestones for 2008 earnings before interest taxes, depreciation
and amortization, or EBITDA
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50
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%
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Milestones for 2008 revenue
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30
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Individual qualitative factors such as client retention,
personnel retention, strategic milestones
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20
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We established the quantitative revenue and EBITDA targets such
that, if the company meets the expected publicly announced
full-year EBITDA and revenue guidance, they would have achieved
approximately 40% of the overall target bonus. The specific
milestone levels are not disclosed, as such information is not
necessary for the protection of our investors and may allow our
competitors to have damaging insight into our plans and cost
structure.
The annual performance bonuses established for the 2008 fiscal
year for Mr. Dale and Ms. Lin were based solely on
qualitative factors. Targets were based on qualitative
performance factors such as successful completion and
integration of strategic transactions, effective management of
their respective organizations, the development and release of
new technology or product offerings and the successful
implementation of strategic initiatives.
At the end of each fiscal year, each named executive officer
completes a self-assessment of his or her performance in the
context of their bonus criteria. Dr. Abraham reviews these
self-assessments and makes a recommendation to our compensation
committee on the achievement of the target bonus amounts. Our
named executive officers earned the following bonuses based on
the performance of our business and their individual
performances in 2008:
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2008 Actual
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2008 Bonus
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2008 Actual
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Bonus as % of
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Name and Principal Position
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Target
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Bonus(1)
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2008 Target
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Magid M. Abraham, Ph.D.
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
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$
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326,666
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$
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182,933
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56
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%
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John M. Green
Chief Financial Officer
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148,500
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83,160
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56
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Gian M. Fulgoni
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors
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290,000
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162,400
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56
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Gregory T. Dale
Chief Technology Officer
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95,550
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54,464
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57
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Christiana L. Lin
General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer
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84,583
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53,922
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64
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(1) |
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Approximately twenty five percent (25%) of the target amount was
paid in the form of restricted stock based on the value of our
common stock as reported at market close by the NASDAQ Global
Market on the date of payment. Cash payments were made on
February 27, 2009. |
As noted above, our named executive officers did not receive
100% of their target bonuses. Dr. Abrahams,
Mr. Greens and Mr. Fulgonis respective
bonuses were lower than our target due to our reported revenue
results and EBITDA results for 2008 being below the high-end of
our targets for our bonus policy. Ms. Lin and Mr. Dale
each received a portion of their total bonus target based on
their actual performance against their qualitative goals as well
as our overall revenue and EBITDA results.
2009
Executive Compensation Bonus Policy
Based on the collective inputs from Towers Perrin, management,
and the experience of the members of our board of directors and
compensation committee, in February 2009 our compensation
committee determined
20
to consolidate our bonus policy for our 2009 fiscal year with
our long-term incentive compensation policy, so that executives
would be awarded restricted stock according to certain target
levels based on each executive officers respective base
salary levels.
In reaching this decision, the compensation committee considered
the importance of providing increased incentive opportunities to
our executive officers in equity, which would help better align
the long-term incentives of those executives with the incentives
of our stockholders. The compensation committee also considered
the importance of reducing or delaying cash outlays from the
company in light of the global economic environment, the
inherent cash budgeting uncertainties in such an environment as
well as managements planned investment activities.
Finally, the compensation committee considered the competitive
landscape for compensation, observing that, most
U.S. technology companies had not necessarily reduced the
value of bonus opportunities for executives despite the recent
economic downturn but rather had adjusted the threshold
performance levels and discretionary components of their bonus
programs in order to reduce cash outlays while providing
long-term incentives.
Our compensation committee believes that this format of a bonus
and long-term compensation policy and the target levels are
consistent with the 50th percentile range of our identified
peer group based on their experience in the marketplace as well
as insight provided by Towers Perrins report. The
specifics terms of this combined bonus and long-term
compensation policy is summarized in greater detail in the
following section titled Long-Term Compensation.
Long-term
Compensation
Long-term, equity-based incentives are primarily guided by our
objective of aligning executive compensation with the interests
of our stockholders. Grants of stock options, restricted stock
units and restricted stock made to executive officers are
designed to provide them with incentive to execute their
responsibilities in such a way as to generate long-term benefit
to us and our stockholders. Through possession of stock options,
restricted stock units and shares of restricted stock, our
executives participate in the long-term results of their
efforts, whether by appreciation of our companys value or
the impact of business setbacks, either company-specific or
industry based. Additionally, stock options, restricted stock
units and shares of restricted stock provide a means of ensuring
the retention of key executives, in that they are in almost all
cases subject to vesting over an extended period of time, often
multiple years.
Stock options, restricted stock units and shares of restricted
stock are granted periodically, and are typically subject to
vesting based on the executives continued employment.
Historically, most of these grants were designed to vest evenly
over four years, beginning on the date of the grant. Prior to
2007, our long-term compensation equity grants consisted solely
of stock options granted by our board of directors based upon
the recommendations of our compensation committee.
Beginning in 2007, we began to use shares of restricted common
stock as a form of long-term compensation. Such grants have been
made by our board of directors upon the recommendations of our
compensation committee. Our compensation committee has preferred
the recent use of restricted stock in favor of stock options now
that our common stock is publicly traded because it results in
less dilution of our existing stockholders and provides some
immediate, tangible value to our employees, and it also does not
require cash outlay by our employees. At the same time,
restricted stock with vesting creates long-term growth
incentives for our employees as well. We expect to continue to
predominantly use restricted stock awards in favor of stock
options as a form of long-term, stock-based compensation in the
foreseeable future.
Historically, upon joining us, each executive was granted an
initial option award that was primarily based on competitive
conditions applicable to the executives specific position.
After our initial public offering, upon joining us, each
executive is granted an initial restricted stock award that is
primarily based on competitive conditions applicable to the
executives specific position. In addition, the
compensation committee considers the number of shares subject to
options or shares of restricted stock owned by other executives
in comparable positions within our company when determining the
number of shares to grant to each executive, as well as the
number of shares that remain unvested. Based upon the findings
of the December 2007 study conducted by Towers Perin and
reviewed by our compensation committee, we believe this strategy
is consistent with the
21
approach of our peer group and, in our compensation
committees view, is appropriate for aligning the interests
of our executives with those of our stockholders over the long
term.
Periodic awards to executive officers are made based on an
assessment of their sustained performance over time, their
ability to impact results that drive value to our stockholders
and their organization level. Equity awards are not granted
automatically to our executives on an annual basis. Magid M.
Abraham, our Chief Executive Officer, periodically reviews the
performance of our executive officers on the basis noted above
and recommends to the compensation committee any equity awards
deemed appropriate. The compensation committee reviews any such
recommendations and presents them to our board of directors for
approval, if appropriate.
In connection with the December 2007 Towers Perrin study, in
December 2007 our compensation committee approved guidelines for
restricted stock awards to be granted in the first quarter of
2008 based on each executives respective 2008 base salary
as well as the number of shares held by each executive officer
that remain unvested. On February 18, 2008, our
compensation committee approved specific restricted common stock
awards for our executives using the targets established in
December 2007, as well as factors such as the number of unvested
shares remaining from option grants previously awarded to the
executive and the amount of restricted common stock awarded to
an executive that remains subject to a right of repurchase. The
target percentages for each executive as well as the actual
grants and the fair value at the time of grant were as follows:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Target Restricted
|
|
|
|
Actual Number
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Award Value as
|
|
|
|
of Shares of
|
|
|
|
|
a % of 2008 Base
|
|
2008 Base
|
|
Restricted
|
|
Award Date
|
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Salary
|
|
Salary
|
|
Stock Awarded
|
|
Fair Value(1)
|
|
Magid M. Abraham, Ph.D.
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
|
|
200
|
%
|
|
$
|
425,000
|
|
|
|
37,594
|
|
|
$
|
850,000
|
|
John M. Green
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
200
|
|
|
|
302,400
|
|
|
|
26,749
|
|
|
|
604,795
|
|
Gian M. Fulgoni
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors
|
|
|
150
|
|
|
|
375,000
|
|
|
|
24,878
|
|
|
|
562,492
|
|
Gregory T. Dale
Chief Technology Officer
|
|
|
60
|
|
|
|
275,600
|
|
|
|
8,846
|
|
|
|
200,008
|
|
Christiana L. Lin
General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
|
8,846
|
|
|
|
200,008
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Amounts represent fair value of stock-based awards granted in
the fiscal year as calculated in accordance with
SFAS No. 123R and as further described in Note 9
of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included
in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. |
The actual awards to Mr. Dale and Ms. Lin were larger
than the target percentages. Our compensation committee
considered the existing outstanding awards held by Mr. Dale
and Ms. Lin and the degree to which they were already
vested. Based on such considerations, the compensation committee
determined that a larger grant was necessary for Mr. Dale
and Ms. Lin than initially targeted in order to fulfill our
goals for incentivizing retention.
2009
Executive Long-Term Compensation Policy
As discussed above in the subsection titled Annual
Performance Bonuses 2009 Executive Compensation
Bonus Policy, in February 2009 our compensation committee
combined our bonus policy for our 2009 fiscal year with our
long-term compensation policy, so that executives may be awarded
restricted stock according to certain target levels based on our
executive officers respective base salary levels and their
performance during the 2009 fiscal year. If earned, these awards
will be paid out following the end of our 2009 fiscal year, with
a portion of the shares issued vesting immediately upon the date
of the award and the remaining shares vesting over three years
thereafter. Our compensation committee believes that this format
and the target levels are
22
consistent with or more attractive than other opportunities in
those executives respective marketplaces based on their
experience in the marketplace as well as insight provided by
Towers Perrins report.
The combined bonus and long-term compensation targets for each
executive for the 2009 fiscal year bonuses are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009 Bonus Target
|
|
|
|
Level as a % of
|
|
|
|
2009 Full-Year
|
|
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Salary(1)
|
|
|
Magid M. Abraham, Ph.D.
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
|
|
200
|
%
|
Kenneth J. Tarpey(2)
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
125
|
|
Gian M. Fulgoni
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors
|
|
|
160
|
|
Gregory T. Dale
Chief Technology Officer
|
|
|
80
|
|
John M. Green
Chief Financial Officer/Executive Vice President of Human
Capital(3)
|
|
|
75
|
|
Christiana L. Lin
General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer
|
|
|
80
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The full value of this bonus is expected to be paid in the form
of restricted stock based on the value of our common stock as
reported at market close by the NASDAQ Global Market on the date
of payment, as adjusted for rounding for fractional shares. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Tarpey is not a named executive officer for our 2008
fiscal year, but his 2009 bonus targets have been included since
he will be a named executive officer for our 2009 fiscal year
because he will have served as our principal financial officer
for at least part of the 2009 fiscal year. |
|
(3) |
|
Mr. Green served as our Chief Financial Officer until
April 19, 2009, and he became our Executive Vice President
of Human Capital on April 20, 2009. Accordingly, the terms
of his employment arrangement were amended effective
May 20, 2009 to align his compensation package with
compensation commensurate with his new role. Mr. Green is
no longer deemed an executive officer in his new capacity.
However, his 2009 bonus targets have been included since he will
be a named executive officer for our 2009 fiscal year because he
will have served as our principal financial officer for at least
part of the 2009 fiscal year. For further details of
Mr. Greens amended employment arrangement beginning
May 20, 2009, refer to the Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on May 22, 2009. |
Under this policy, the award levels established for the 2009
fiscal year for Dr. Abraham and Messrs. Tarpey and
Fulgoni are based on a mix of quantitative and qualitative
factors, certain of which were the satisfactory completion of
specific projects or initiatives. The 2009 targets for
Dr. Abraham and Messrs. Tarpey and Fulgoni are
calculated based on the following component factors:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weight of
|
|
Achievement of
|
|
Bonus Target
|
|
|
Milestones for 2009 earnings before interest taxes, depreciation
and amortization, or EBITDA
|
|
|
50
|
%
|
Milestones for 2009 revenue
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
Individual qualitative factors such as client retention,
personnel retention, strategic milestones
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
A minimum threshold must be exceeded for each component above
before any bonus payment will be made with respect to that
component. In the event that the target metrics are surpassed,
the maximum possible awards under the plan for Dr. Abraham,
and Messrs. Fulgoni and Tarpey are 320%, 240% and 175%,
respectively, of base salary.
23
The annual performance targets established for the 2009 fiscal
year for Messrs. Dale and Green and Ms. Lin are based
solely on the achievement of qualitative performance factors.
Targets were based on qualitative factors such as successful
completion and integration of strategic transactions, effective
management of their respective organizations, the development
and release of new technology or product offerings, successful
recruiting and development of our human capital resources and
the successful implementation of strategic initiatives.
We anticipate that the above bonus restricted stock awards, if
awarded, will be made during the first quarter of 2010 based on
each executives actual performance. We further expect that
one-quarter of the number of shares of the restricted stock
award to each named executive officer would vest immediately
upon the grant date, and the remaining three-quarters of the
shares of the restricted stock award would vest ratably over the
three-year period following the grant date.
Participants in this policy must remain employed through the
date that awards are paid in order to qualify for the awards.
Our compensation committee, in its sole discretion, retains the
right to amend, supplement, supersede or cancel this policy for
any reason, and reserves the right to determine whether and when
to pay out any awards, regardless of the achievement of the
performance targets.
Benefits
and Perquisites
We provide the following benefits to our executive officers on
the same basis as the benefits provided to all our employees:
|
|
|
|
|
health and dental insurance;
|
|
|
|
life insurance;
|
|
|
|
short-and long-term disability; and
|
|
|
|
401(k) plan.
|
These benefits are consistent with those offered by other
companies and specifically with those companies with which we
compete for employees.
In general, we do not view perquisites as a significant
component of our executive compensation structure. However, the
compensation committee has the authority to approve perquisites,
primarily for retention purposes or to accommodate specific, and
usually temporary, circumstances of executives who do not reside
near their work locations.
Severance
and Change of Control Arrangements
Of our named executive officers for 2008, Dr. Abraham and
Messrs. Green and Fulgoni were parties to agreements that
provided certain benefits to these executive officers in the
event of their termination or a change of control of the Company
under certain circumstances. Mr. Tarpeys employment
agreement included certain severance and change of control
provisions, but, as Mr. Tarpey was not an employee of the
Company during 2008, such discussion is not included herein. For
further details of Mr. Tarpeys employment arrangement
beginning April 1, 2009, refer to the Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on April 20, 2009 upon the public announcement of
Mr. Tarpeys hiring.
We believe the following arrangements are useful retention tools
that are particularly necessary in an industry, such as ours,
where there is frequent market consolidation. We recognize that
it is possible that we may be subject to a change of control,
and that this possibility could result in a sudden departure or
distraction of Dr. Abraham and Messrs. Green and
Fulgoni to the detriment of our business. We believe that the
following arrangements help to maintain the continued focus and
dedication of Dr. Abraham and Messrs. Green and
Fulgoni to their assigned duties to maximize stockholder value
without the distraction that could result from the uncertainty
of a change of control.
24
Magid M.
Abraham and Gian M. Fulgoni
Certain shares of the restricted common stock held by
Dr. Abraham and Mr. Fulgoni at December 31, 2008
that remain unvested were subject to single trigger
acceleration provisions, which results in the repurchase rights
fully lapsing upon the occurrence of a change of
control event. In general terms, the restricted stock
agreements for Dr. Abraham and Mr. Fulgoni define a
change of control event as an acquisition of at
least 50% of the voting control of the company, a sale or merger
of the company or the sale of substantially all the assets of
the company. Assuming a fair market value of our common stock of
$12.75 per share, which represented the closing market price of
our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market on
December 31, 2008, Dr. Abraham and Mr. Fulgoni
would have obtained an immediate increase in the value of their
respective stock holdings upon a change of control at
December 31, 2008 as indicated in the table below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted Common
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Shares
|
|
|
Value Realized
|
|
|
|
Vesting Upon a
|
|
|
Upon a Change
|
|
Name
|
|
Change of Control
|
|
|
of Control
|
|
|
Magid M. Abraham, Ph.D.
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
$
|
956,250
|
|
Gian M. Fulgoni
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors
|
|
|
56,250
|
|
|
|
717,188
|
|
John M.
Green
Given Mr. Greens change in position on April 20,
2009 from Chief Financial Officer to Executive Vice President of
Human Capital, his employment arrangement was amended on
May 20, 2009, including severance and change of control
provisions, to align his compensation package with one more
commensurate with his new role.
May 2009
Arrangement
In connection with the modification of Mr. Greens
prior employment arrangement and his new May 20, 2009
employment offer letter, unvested options and shares of
restricted stock held by Mr. Green were cancelled as of
May 18, 2009, except that Mr. Green retained
11,803 shares of restricted stock and options for the
purchase of 16,248 shares of the Companys common
stock that were then unvested and remain subject to vesting
contingent upon Mr. Greens continued status as a
service provider. However, if Mr. Green is terminated
without cause (as such term is defined in the award agreements)
prior to the date on which those options and shares fully vest,
those options and shares will fully vest upon his date of
termination.
As of the date of Mr. Greens new employment agreement
on May 20, 2009, our previous obligations with respect to
Mr. Greens severance and changes of control were
superseded by the new agreement.
For further details of Mr. Greens amended employment
arrangement beginning May 20, 2009, refer to the Current
Report on
Form 8-K
filed on May 22, 2009.
Prior
Arrangement as of December 31, 2008
Prior to the amendment of Mr. Greens employment
arrangement, in the event that we terminated Mr. Green
without cause, Mr. Green would have been entitled to
severance equal to six pay periods of his salary as Chief
Financial Officer, or $69,786, in addition to any unpaid
prorated base salary, benefits and expense reimbursements to
which he was entitled by virtue of his past employment with us
at December 31, 2008.
Also pursuant to our previous offer agreement with
Mr. Green, options granted to Mr. Green upon his
initial employment were subject to certain vesting provisions
that were accelerated upon a combination of a change of control
of our company and Mr. Greens termination or
demotion. Assuming a fair market value of our common stock of
$12.75 per share, which represented the closing market price of
our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market on
December 31, 2008, Mr. Greens option holdings at
December 31,
25
2008 would have vested and resulted in an immediate increase in
value to Mr. Green upon a change of control
December 31, 2008 as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
Increase in
|
|
Result for Mr. Green Upon a Change of Control at
December 31, 2008
|
|
Vesting
|
|
|
Price
|
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
Position lost and not provided an equivalent position
|
|
|
48,751
|
|
|
$
|
7.50
|
|
|
$
|
255,943
|
|
Position lost and provided with a diminished alternative position
|
|
|
32,500
|
|
|
|
7.50
|
|
|
|
170,625
|
|
Additionally, pursuant to our previous employment arrangement
with Mr. Green 22,500 shares of restricted common
stock held by Mr. Green that remained unvested at
December 31, 2008 were subject to single
trigger acceleration provisions, which would have resulted
in the repurchase rights fully lapsing upon the occurrence of a
change of control event. In general terms, the
agreement for Mr. Green defined a change of
control event as an acquisition of at least 50% of the
voting control of the company, a sale or merger of the company
or the sale of substantially all the assets of the company.
Assuming a fair market value of our common stock of $12.75 per
share, which represented the closing market price of our common
stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market on
December 31, 2008, Mr. Green would have obtained an
immediate increase in the value of his stock holdings upon a
change of control at December 31, 2008 of $286,875.
Total
Compensation
We intend to continue our strategy of compensating our named
executive officers at levels consistent with or more attractive
than other opportunities for each type of executive, with the
opportunity to impact their total annual compensation through
performance-based incentive programs that include both cash and
equity elements. Our approach to total executive compensation is
designed to drive results that maximize our financial
performance and deliver value to our stockholders. In light of
our compensation philosophy, we believe that the total
compensation package for our executives should continue to
consist of base salary, annual cash performance bonus and
long-term equity-based incentives, reflecting our key
compensation principles of compensation to attract and retain
top talent, accountability for individual and business
performance, and alignment with stockholder interests,
respectively. We do not consider benefits to be a key element in
attracting executive officers, and we typically offer largely
the same benefits to our executive officers as to our other
employees. Historically, we have typically offered a combination
of short-term and long-term compensation to suit our
executives preferences. Certain of our executives who
joined us earlier in our history preferred to accept more
long-term compensation in the form of stock options, as the
potential return was higher at that stage and our ability to
fund short-term cash compensation was more limited. At the same
time, certain of our executives have preferred greater
short-term compensation and reduced long-term compensation. As
we have become more profitable and our common stock has become
publicly traded, our ability to attract executives through
short-term compensation has increased. Accordingly, we expect
that our decisions regarding the relationship among our elements
of compensation will become less dependent upon our stage as a
growing company and more dependent upon our key compensation
principles.
Evolution
of our Compensation Approach
Our compensation approach is necessarily tied to our stage of
development as a company. Accordingly, the specific direction,
emphasis and components of our executive compensation program
will continue to evolve as our company and its underlying
business strategy continue to grow and develop. For example, we
have reduced our executive compensation programs emphasis
on stock options as a long-term incentive component in favor of
other forms of equity compensation such as restricted stock
awards. Similarly, we continue to revise how we measure senior
executive performance to take into account the unique
requirements of being a public company, including, but not
limited to, strict compliance with the standards of the Sarbanes
Oxley Act. In addition, we have engaged an outside compensation
consultant since mid-2007 to assist our compensation committee
in continuing to evolve our executive compensation program, and
we may look to programs implemented by comparable public
companies in refining our compensation approach.
26
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE REPORT
The compensation committee has reviewed and discussed the
Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this proxy
statement with company management. Based on the compensation
committees review of, and the discussions with management
with respect to, the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the
compensation committee recommended to the board of directors
that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in
this proxy statement and, by reference, in our companys
Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 for filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
William J. Henderson, Chairman
William Katz
Jarl Mohn
The foregoing compensation committee report shall not be
deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the
Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under these acts, except
to the extent we specifically incorporate by reference into such
filings.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth summary information concerning
compensation for the following persons: (i) our chief
executive officer, (ii) our chief financial officer during
2008 and (iii) the three most highly compensated of our
other executive officers who received compensation during 2008
of at least $100,000 and who were executive officers on
December 31, 2008. We refer to these persons as our
named executive officers elsewhere in this proxy
statement. The following table includes all compensation earned
by the named executive officers for the respective periods,
regardless of whether such amounts were actually paid during the
period.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
Option
|
|
Incentive Plan
|
|
All Other
|
|
|
Name and Principal
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
Awards
|
|
Compensation
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary ($)
|
|
Bonus ($)
|
|
($)(1)
|
|
($)(1)
|
|
($)(2)
|
|
($)
|
|
Total ($)
|
|
Magid M. Abraham, Ph.D.
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
$
|
408,333
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
465,012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
183,751
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
3,290
|
(4)
|
|
$
|
1,060,386
|
|
President, Chief
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
326,635
|
|
|
$
|
95,317
|
(5)
|
|
|
209,209
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,178
|
(4)
|
|
|
634,339
|
|
Executive Officer and Director
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
297,612
|
|
|
|
117,273
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,072
|
(4)
|
|
|
417,957
|
|
John M. Green
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
297,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
213,093
|
|
|
$
|
154,359
|
|
|
|
85,031
|
(6)
|
|
|
4,099
|
(4)
|
|
|
753,582
|
|
Chief Financial Officer*
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
271,500
|
|
|
|
62,819
|
(7)
|
|
|
219,264
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,900
|
(4)
|
|
|
557,483
|
|
|
|
|
2006
|
(8)
|
|
|
156,731
|
|
|
|
47,019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
86,366
|
(8)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
42
|
(9)
|
|
|
291,158
|
|
Gian M. Fulgoni
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
362,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
332,976
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
168,126
|
(10)
|
|
|
4,162
|
(4)
|
|
|
867,764
|
|
Executive Chairman of
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
303,000
|
|
|
|
88,931
|
(11)
|
|
|
156,907
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,178
|
(4)
|
|
|
553,016
|
|
the Board of Directors
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
281,635
|
|
|
|
111,409
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,072
|
(4)
|
|
|
396,116
|
|
Gregory T. Dale
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
272,999
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
93,584
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
51,401
|
(12)
|
|
|
3,161
|
(4)
|
|
|
421,145
|
|
Chief Technology Officer
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
258,538
|
|
|
|
59,879
|
(13)
|
|
|
37,658
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,178
|
(4)
|
|
|
359,253
|
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
222,115
|
|
|
|
44,423
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,072
|
(4)
|
|
|
269,610
|
|
Christiana L. Lin
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
241,667
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
96,446
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
49,078
|
(14)
|
|
|
3,161
|
(4)
|
|
|
390,352
|
|
General Counsel and
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
158,958
|
|
|
|
32,775
|
(15)
|
|
|
39,750
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,482
|
(4)
|
|
|
233,965
|
|
Chief Privacy Officer
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
149,077
|
|
|
|
29,815
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,173
|
(4)
|
|
|
181,065
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
We announced on February 11, 2009 that Mr. Green will
transition positions with us to serve as our Executive Vice
President of Human Capital. As part of the transition,
Mr. Green continued to serve as our Chief Financial Officer
until April 20, 2009, when Kenneth J. Tarpey was appointed
as our Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Green served as our
chief financial officer for the entirety of 2008. For details of
Mr. Greens amended employment arrangement beginning
May 20, 2009, refer to the Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on May 22, 2009. |
27
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Represents the amounts recognized for financial statement
reporting purposes with respect to the fiscal year in accordance
with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R,
Share-Based Payment (SFAS No. 123R), excluding
estimates of forfeitures related to any service-based vesting
conditions. The awards for which expense is shown in this table
include the awards granted during the applicable year, as well
as awards granted prior to the applicable year for which we
continued to recognize expense in that year. The expense is not
necessarily an indication of which named executive officers
received the most gains from equity awards. Assumptions used in
the calculation of these award amounts are included in
Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements included in
our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2008. These amounts exclude
the expense effect of awards issued as part of annual bonuses or
incentive payments in lieu of cash that are otherwise included
in the Bonus or Non-Equity Incentive Plan
Compensation columns above. |
|
(2) |
|
Amounts in this column represent compensation actually paid in
cash or stock-based compensation to our named executive officers
pursuant to our executive compensation bonus policy for 2008, as
disclosed on a
Form 8-K
filed on December 27, 2007. Payments under such policy were
paid in February 2009 following approval by our compensation
committee. |
|
(3) |
|
Includes an award of 10,247 shares of restricted stock with
a fair value at the time of grant of approximately $81,667
granted in lieu of cash bonus, and 3,299 shares were
withheld for taxes. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes discretionary matching contributions by us to the
officers 401(k) plan account and payment of life insurance
premiums paid on behalf of the officer. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes an award of 1,996 shares of restricted stock with
the value at the time of grant of approximately $36,097 which
amount reflected a 25% premium in addition to the stock-based
bonus earned in recognition of compensation delay and
constraints on liquidity associated with receiving shares in
lieu of cash. comScores right of repurchase lapsed for
100% of the total number shares subject to the original grant on
February 18, 2009. |
|
(6) |
|
Includes an award of 4,658 shares of restricted stock with
a fair value at the time of grant of approximately $37,125
granted in lieu of cash bonus, and 1,627 shares were
withheld for taxes. |
|
(7) |
|
Includes an award of 1,290 shares of restricted stock with
the value at the time of grant of approximately $23,336 which
amount reflected a 25% premium in addition to the stock-based
bonus earned in recognition of compensation delay and
constraints on liquidity associated with receiving shares in
lieu of cash. comScores right of repurchase lapsed for
100% of the total number shares subject to the original grant on
February 18, 2009. |
|
(8) |
|
Mr. Green was hired in May 2006 and was granted an option
award in connection with his initial employment. |
|
(9) |
|
Includes life insurance premiums paid on behalf of the officer. |
|
(10) |
|
Includes an award of 9,097 shares of restricted stock with
a fair value at the time of grant of approximately $72,500
granted in lieu of cash bonus, and 2,679 shares were
withheld for taxes. |
|
(11) |
|
Includes an award of 1,850 shares of restricted stock with
the value at the time of grant of approximately $33,471 which
amount reflected a 25% premium in addition to the stock-based
bonus earned in recognition of compensation delay and
constraints on liquidity associated with receiving shares in
lieu of cash. comScores right of repurchase lapsed for
100% of the total number shares subject to the original grant on
February 18, 2009. |
|
(12) |
|
Includes an award of 2,997 shares of restricted stock with
a fair value at the time of grant of approximately $23,888
granted in lieu of cash bonus, and 965 shares were withheld
for taxes. |
|
(13) |
|
Includes an award of 1,230 shares of restricted stock with
the value at the time of grant of approximately $22,244 which
amount reflected a 25% premium in addition to the stock-based
bonus earned in recognition of compensation delay and
constraints on liquidity associated with receiving shares in
lieu of cash. comScores right of repurchase lapsed for
100% of the total number shares subject to the original grant on
February 18, 2009. |
|
(14) |
|
Includes an award of 2,653 shares of restricted stock with
a fair value at the time of grant of approximately $21,146
granted in lieu of cash bonus, and 854 shares were withheld
for taxes. |
28
|
|
|
(15) |
|
Includes an award of 647 shares of restricted stock with
the value at the time of grant of approximately $11,705 which
amount reflected a 25% premium in addition to the stock-based
bonus earned in recognition of compensation delay and
constraints on liquidity associated with receiving shares in
lieu of cash. comScores right of repurchase lapsed for
100% of the total number shares subject to the original grant on
February 18, 2009. |
Grants of
Plan-Based Awards
The following table sets forth certain information concerning
grants of plan-based awards to named executive officers in 2008.
No options were granted to our named executive officers during
2008.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Other
|
|
Grant Date
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Possible Payout Under
|
|
Stock Awards:
|
|
Fair Value of
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1)
|
|
Number of
|
|
Stock and
|
|
|
Grant
|
|
Threshold
|
|
Target
|
|
Maximum
|
|
Shares of Stock
|
|
Option Awards
|
Name
|
|
Date
|
|
($)
|
|
($)
|
|
($)
|
|
(#)
|
|
(2)
|
|
Magid M. Abraham, Ph.D.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
408,333
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
President, Chief
|
|
|
2/18/2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37,594
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
850,000
|
|
Executive Officer and Director
|
|
|
2/18/2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,996
|
(4)(5)
|
|
|
45,130
|
|
John M. Green
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
297,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
2/18/2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26,749
|
(3)
|
|
|
604,795
|
|
|
|
|
2/18/2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,290
|
(4)(5)
|
|
|
29,167
|
|
Gian M. Fulgoni
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
362,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Chairman of
|
|
|
2/18/2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,878
|
(3)
|
|
|
562,492
|
|
the Board of Directors
|
|
|
2/18/2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,850
|
(4)(5)
|
|
|
41,829
|
|
Gregory T. Dale
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
273,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Technology Officer
|
|
|
2/18/2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,846
|
(3)
|
|
|
200,008
|
|
|
|
|
2/18/2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,230
|
(4)(5)
|
|
|
27,810
|
|
Christiana L. Lin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
241,667
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General Counsel and
|
|
|
2/18/2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,846
|
(3)
|
|
|
200,008
|
|
Chief Privacy Officer
|
|
|
2/18/2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
647
|
(4)(5)
|
|
|
14,629
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The target incentive amounts shown in this column reflect the
value of incentive compensation available in a combination of
cash or stock to our named executive officers pursuant to our
executive compensation bonus policy for 2008, as disclosed on a
Form 8-K
filed on December 27, 2007. The amounts representing the
target awards were pre-established as a percentage of salary.
The maximum is the greatest payout which can be made if the
pre-established maximum performance level is met or exceeded.
The policy also provides that 25% of the bonus amount shall be
paid in shares of restricted stock valued at the time of grant.
Actual payouts under our executive compensation bonus policy for
2008 were approved on February 18, 2009 and are reflected
in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the
Summary Compensation Table. |
|
(2) |
|
Amounts represent fair value of stock-based awards granted in
the fiscal year as calculated in accordance with
SFAS No. 123R and as further described in Note 9
of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included
in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. |
|
(3) |
|
comScores right of repurchase shall lapse for 25% of the
total number shares subject to the original grant each year
following the anniversary of the grant. |
|
(4) |
|
The referenced grant was issued in lieu of a cash bonus earned
for the 2007 fiscal year at the election of the officer. |
|
(5) |
|
comScores right of repurchase shall lapse for 100% of the
total number shares subject to the original grant on the one
(1) year anniversary of the grant. |
29
Outstanding
Equity Awards at December 31, 2008
The following table shows outstanding equity awards held by the
named executive officers as of December 31, 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
|
Number of Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares of
|
|
Market Value of
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
Option
|
|
Option
|
|
Stock That
|
|
Shares of Stock That
|
|
|
Unexercised Options (#)
|
|
Exercise
|
|
Expiration
|
|
Have Not Vested
|
|
Have Not Vested
|
Name
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
Unexercisable
|
|
Price($)
|
|
Date
|
|
(#)
|
|
($)(1)
|
|
Magid M. Abraham, Ph.D.
|
|
|
391,099
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.25
|
|
|
|
12/16/2013
|
|
|
|
75,000
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
956,250
|
|
President, Chief
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37,594
|
(3)
|
|
|
479,324
|
|
Executive Officer and Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,996
|
(4)
|
|
|
25,449
|
|
John M. Green
|
|
|
48,749
|
|
|
|
48,751
|
(5)
|
|
|
7.50
|
|
|
|
5/9/2016
|
|
|
|
22,500
|
(6)
|
|
|
286,875
|
|
Chief Financial Officer*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26,749
|
(7)
|
|
|
341,050
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,290
|
(4)
|
|
|
16,448
|
|
Gian M. Fulgoni
|
|
|
223,345
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.25
|
|
|
|
12/16/2013
|
|
|
|
56,250
|
(8)
|
|
|
717,188
|
|
Executive Chairman of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,878
|
(9)
|
|
|
317,195
|
|
the Board of Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,850
|
(4)
|
|
|
23,587
|
|
Gregory T. Dale
|
|
|
67,925
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.25
|
|
|
|
4/27/2014
|
|
|
|
13,500
|
(10)
|
|
|
172,125
|
|
Chief Technology Officer
|
|
|
12,732
|
|
|
|
1,668
|
(11)
|
|
|
2.45
|
|
|
|
2/1/2015
|
|
|
|
8,846
|
(12)
|
|
|
112,787
|
|
|
|
|
5,249
|
|
|
|
3,751
|
(13)
|
|
|
4.50
|
|
|
|
12/27/2015
|
|
|
|
1,230
|
(4)
|
|
|
15,683
|
|
Christiana L. Lin
|
|
|
2,869
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.25
|
|
|
|
4/27/2014
|
|
|
|
14,250
|
(14)
|
|
|
181,688
|
|
General Counsel and
|
|
|
7,499
|
|
|
|
2,501
|
(15)
|
|
|
4.50
|
|
|
|
12/27/2015
|
|
|
|
8,846
|
(12)
|
|
|
112,787
|
|
Chief Privacy Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
647
|
(4)
|
|
|
8,249
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
In connection with the amendment of Mr. Greens
employment arrangement in May 2009, 42,896 shares of
then-unvested restricted stock were forfeited and then-unvested
options for the purchase of 18,960 shares of our common
stock held by Mr. Green were cancelled as of May 18,
2009. For further details of Mr. Greens amended
employment arrangement beginning May 20, 2009, refer to the
Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed on May 22, 2009. |
|
(1) |
|
Market value of shares of stock that have not vested is computed
based on $12.75 per share, which was the closing price of our
common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market on
December 31, 2008. |
|
(2) |
|
comScores right of repurchase lapses for
25,000 shares annually on March 25. |
|
(3) |
|
comScores right of repurchase lapses for 9,398 shares
annually on February 18. |
|
(4) |
|
comScores right of repurchase lapsed for 100% of the total
number shares indicated on February 18, 2009. |
|
(5) |
|
2,708 shares of such option vest monthly; grant is fully
vested on May 9, 2010. |
|
(6) |
|
comScores right of repurchase lapses for 7,500 shares
annually on March 25. |
|
(7) |
|
comScores right of repurchase lapses for 6,687 shares
annually on February 18. |
|
(8) |
|
comScores right of repurchase lapses for
18,750 shares annually on March 25. |
|
(9) |
|
comScores right of repurchase lapses for 6,219 shares
annually on February 18. |
|
(10) |
|
comScores right of repurchase lapses for 4,500 shares
annually on March 25. |
|
(11) |
|
833 shares of such option vest monthly; grant is fully
vested on February 1, 2009. |
|
(12) |
|
comScores right of repurchase lapses for 2,211 shares
annually on February 18. |
|
(14) |
|
comScores right of repurchase lapses for 4,750 shares
annually on March 25. |
|
(13) |
|
312 shares of such option vest monthly; grant is fully
vested on December 27, 2010. |
|
(15) |
|
208 shares of such option vest monthly; grant is fully
vested on December 27, 2010. |
30
Option
Exercises and Stock Vested Table
The following table shows the stock options exercised and value
realized upon exercise, as well as all stock awards vested and
value realized upon vesting by our named executive officers
during the year ended December 31, 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards
|
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Realized on
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Realized on
|
|
|
|
Acquired on
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
Acquired on
|
|
|
Vesting
|
|
Name
|
|
Exercise (#)
|
|
|
($)(1)
|
|
|
Vesting (#)
|
|
|
($)(1)
|
|
|
Magid M. Abraham, Ph.D.
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
$
|
1,692,000
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
$
|
487,000
|
(2)
|
John M. Green
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,500
|
|
|
|
146,100
|
(2)
|
Gian M. Fulgoni
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
|
18,750
|
|
|
|
365,250
|
(2)
|
Gregory T. Dale
Chief Technology Officer
|
|
|
58,002
|
|
|
|
839,710
|
|
|
|
4,500
|
|
|
|
87,660
|
(2)
|
Christiana L. Lin
General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,750
|
|
|
|
92,530
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The value realized on exercise is calculated as the difference
between the actual sales price of the shares underlying the
options exercised and the applicable exercise price of those
options. |
|
(2) |
|
The value realized on vesting is calculated by multiplying the
number of shares vesting and by the market value of the
underlying shares on the vesting date, which was $19.48 per
share at market close as listed by the NASDAQ Global Market on
March 25, 2008. |
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information with respect
to beneficial ownership of our common stock, as of June 15,
2009, by:
|
|
|
|
|
each beneficial owner of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of
our common stock;
|
|
|
|
each of our directors;
|
|
|
|
each of our named executive officers; and
|
|
|
|
all of our executive officers and directors as a group.
|
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules
of the SEC. Except as indicated by the footnotes below, we
believe, based on the information furnished to us, that the
persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting
and investment power with respect to all shares of the common
stock that they beneficially own, subject to applicable
community property laws. In computing the number of shares
beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of
that person, shares of common stock subject to options or
warrants held by that person that are currently exercisable or
exercisable within 60 days of June 15, 2009 are deemed
outstanding, but are not deemed outstanding for purposes of
computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Unless
otherwise indicated, these shares do not include any stock or
options awarded after June 15, 2009. A total of
30,202,070 shares of our common stock were outstanding as
of June 15, 2009.
31
Except as otherwise indicated, the address of each of the
persons in this table is
c/o comScore,
Inc., 11950 Democracy Drive, Suite 600, Reston, Virginia
20190.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and Nature of
|
|
|
Percentage of
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Beneficial
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Common Stock
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Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
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Ownership(1)
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Outstanding
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5% Stockholders:
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Accel Partners(2)
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5,902,859
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19.5
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%
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Blackrock, Inc.(3)
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2,291,801
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7.6
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AXA Financial, Inc.(4)
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1,723,760
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5.7
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Directors and Named Executive Officers:
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Magid M. Abraham, Ph.D.(5)
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1,822,187
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6.0
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Gian M. Fulgoni(6)
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1,272,720
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4.2
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Gregory T. Dale(7)
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164,356
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*
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John M. Green(8)
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143,130
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*
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Christiana L. Lin(9)
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73,121
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*
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Jeffrey Ganek
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2,287
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*
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Bruce Golden(10)
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20,418
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*
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William J. Henderson(11)
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39,176
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*
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William Katz
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1,987
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*
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Ronald J. Korn(12)
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20,967
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*
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Jarl Mohn
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1,987
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*
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All directors and executive officers as a group (eleven
persons)(13)
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3,562,336
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11.5
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* |
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Represents less than 1% of the outstanding shares of common
stock. |
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(1) |
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The information provided in this table is based on our records,
information supplied to us by our executive officers, directors
and principal stockholders and information contained in
Schedules 13D and 13G filed with the SEC. |
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(2) |
|
Includes shares held by Accel VII L.P., Accel Internet
Fund III L.P. and Accel Investors 99 L.P. (together,
the Accel Funds). Accel VII Associates L.L.C. is a
general partner of Accel VII L.P. and has sole voting and
dispositive power with respect to the shares held by Accel VII
L.P. Accel Internet Fund III Associates L.L.C. is a general
partner of Accel Internet Fund III L.P. and has sole voting
and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by Accel
Internet Fund III L.P. James W. Breyer, Arthur C.
Patterson, Theresia Gouw Ranzetta, James R. Swartz, and J. Peter
Wagner are managing members of Accel VII Associates L.L.C. and
Accel Internet Fund III Associates L.L.C. and share voting
and dispositive powers. They are also the General Partners of
Accel Investors 99 L.P. and share voting and dispositive
power with respect to the shares held by Accel Investors
99 L.P. The general partners and managing members disclaim
beneficial ownership of the shares owned by the Accel Funds
except to the extent of their proportionate pecuniary interest
therein. The address for Accel Partners is 428 University
Avenue, Palo Alto, California 94301. |
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(3) |
|
This information is derived solely from the Schedule 13G
filed with the SEC on February 10, 2009 and effective as of
December 31, 2008. BlackRock, Inc. on behalf of its
investment advisory subsidiaries has shared voting and
dispositive power as to 2,291,801 shares. Includes shares
reportedly held by the following subsidiaries of Blackrock, Inc.
that are investment advisors: BlackRock Advisors LLC, BlackRock
Asset Management U.K. Limited, BlackRock Capital Management,
Inc., BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., BlackRock Investment
Management, LLC, BlackRock (Channel Islands) Ltd, BlackRock
Japan Co. Ltd and State Street Research & Management
Co. The address for Blackrock, Inc. and its subsidiaries is
c/o Blackrock,
Inc., 40 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10022. |
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(4) |
|
This information is derived solely from the Schedule 13G
filed with the SEC on February 13, 2008 and effective as of
December 31, 2008 by AXA Financial, Inc. (AXA
Financial); AXA, which owns AXA |
32
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Financial; and AXA Assurances I.A.R.D. Mutuelle and AXA
Assurances Vie Mutuelle (collectively with AXA Assurances
I.A.R.D. Mutuelle, Mutuelles AXA), which as a group
control AXA. This information includes an aggregate of
1,723,760 shares beneficially owned by AllianceBernstein
L.P. and AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, subsidiaries of
AXA Financial. According to the Schedule 13G, the
subsidiaries of AXA Financial operate under independent
management and make independent decisions. The address for the
Mutuelles AXA is 26, rue Drouot, 75009 Paris, France; the
address for AXA is 25, avenue Matignon, 75008 Paris, France; and
the address for AXA Financial is 1290 Avenue of the Americas,
New York, New York 10104. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes 241,099 shares subject to options that are
immediately exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of
June 15, 2009. Also includes 581,876 shares held by
the Abraham Family Trust, of which Dr. Abraham and his
wife, Linda Abraham, are co-trustees and share voting and
investment control. Mr. and Mrs. Abraham disclaim
beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of
their respective pecuniary interests. Also includes
29,941 shares subject to options held by Mrs. Abraham
that are immediately exercisable or exercisable within
60 days of June 15, 2009. Also includes
158,969 shares held directly by Dr. Abraham and
27,758 shares held by Mrs. Abraham subject to a right
of repurchase held by the Company pursuant to restricted stock
sale agreements. |
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(6) |
|
Includes 223,345 shares subject to options that are
immediately exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of
June 15, 2009. Also includes 111,841 shares subject to
a right of repurchase held by the Company pursuant to a
restricted stock sale agreement. |
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(7) |
|
Includes 89,762 shares subject to options that are
immediately exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of
June 15, 2009. Also includes 31,983 shares subject to
a right of repurchase held by the Company pursuant to a
restricted stock sale agreement. |
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(8) |
|
Includes 70,416 shares subject to options that are
immediately exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of
June 15, 2009. Also includes 22,728 shares subject to
a right of repurchase held by the Company pursuant to a
restricted stock sale agreement. |
|
(9) |
|
Includes 11,827 shares subject to options that are
immediately exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of
June 15, 2009. Also includes 32,010 shares subject to
a right of repurchase held by the Company pursuant to a
restricted stock sale agreement. |
|
(10) |
|
Mr. Golden is a partner of Accel Partners, and he disclaims
beneficial ownership of any of the Accel Funds shares
except to the extent of his proportionate pecuniary interest
therein. See footnote (2) of this table for further details
of ownership by Accel Funds. |
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(11) |
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Includes 14,958 shares subject to options that are
immediately exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of
June 15, 2009. |
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(12) |
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Includes 8,749 shares subject to options that are
immediately exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of
June 15, 2009. |
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(13) |
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Includes 690,097 shares subject to options that are
immediately exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of
the June 15, 2009. Also includes 385,289 shares
subject to a right of repurchase held by the Company pursuant to
restricted stock sale agreements. |
33
Section 16(a)
Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, requires that certain of our executive officers and
directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered
class of our equity securities, file reports of ownership and
changes in ownership (Forms 3, 4 and 5) with the SEC.
Such executive officers, directors and greater than 10% holders
are required to furnish us with copies of all of these forms
that they file. Certain employees of our company hold a power of
attorney to enable such individuals to file ownership and change
in ownership forms on behalf of certain of our executive
officers and directors.
Based solely on our review of these reports or written
representations from certain reporting persons, we believe that
during 2008, all filing requirements applicable to our officers,
directors, greater-than-10% beneficial owners and other persons
subject to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, were met, except that the following reports,
although filed, were not filed timely:
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Name of Filer
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Form
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Date Filed
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Description
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Magid M. Abraham
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4
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March 4, 2008
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Late filing for grant of restricted stock on February 18, 2008.
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4/A
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March 27, 2008
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Amendment to correct clerical error regarding total shares held
in original filing on August 13, 2008.
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4/A
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March 27, 2008
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Amendment to correct clerical error regarding total shares held
in original filing on February 19, 2008.
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4/A
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August 25, 2008
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Amendment to clarify sale transaction reported on March 3, 2008
was made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Plan.
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4/A
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January 29, 2009
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Amendment to correct clerical error in filing dated November 7,
2008 regarding nature of beneficial ownership of shares
indirectly controlled by Dr. Abraham.
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Gregory T. Dale
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4
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March 4, 2008
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Late filing for grant of restricted stock on February 19, 2008.
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4/A
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March 4, 2008
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Amendment to clarify sale transaction filed on January 12, 2008
was made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Plan.
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4/A
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March 4, 2008
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Amendment to clarify sale transaction filed on February 12, 2008
was made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Plan.
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4/A
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March 4, 2008
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Amendment to clarify sale transaction filed on February 25, 2008
was made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Plan.
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Gian M. Fulgoni
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4
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March 4, 2008
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Late filing for grant of restricted stock on February 18, 2008.
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Jeffrey Ganek
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4/A
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March 24, 2009
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Amendment to correct clerical error in filing dated June 16,
2008 regarding acquisition price for award of restricted stock.
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Bruce Golden
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4
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June 16, 2008
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Late filing for grant of restricted stock on June 4, 2008.
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4/A
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March 24, 2009
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Amendment to correct clerical error in filing dated June 16,
2008 regarding acquisition price for award of restricted stock.
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John M. Green
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4
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March 4, 2008
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Late filing for grant of restricted stock on February 18, 2008.
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William J. Henderson
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4
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June 16, 2008
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Late filing for grant of restricted stock on June 4, 2008.
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4/A
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March 24, 2009
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Amendment to correct clerical error in filing dated June 16,
2008 regarding acquisition price for award of restricted stock.
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34
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Name of Filer
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Form
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Date Filed
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Description
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William Katz
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4
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June 16, 2008
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Late filing for grant of restricted stock on June 4, 2008.
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4/A
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March 24, 2009
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Amendment to correct clerical error in filing dated June 16,
2008 regarding acquisition price for award of restricted stock.
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Ronald J. Korn
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4
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June 16, 2008
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Late filing for grant of restricted stock on June 4, 2008.
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4/A
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March 24, 2009
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Amendment to correct clerical error in filing dated June 16,
2008 regarding acquisition price for award of restricted stock.
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Christiana L. Lin
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4
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March 4, 2008
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Late filing for grant of restricted stock on February 18, 2008.
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Jarl Mohn
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4
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June 16, 2008
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Late filing for grant of restricted stock on June 4, 2008.
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OTHER
INFORMATION
Other
Matters to be Presented at the Annual Meeting
We do not know of any matters to be presented at our 2009 annual
meeting of stockholders other than those described in this proxy
statement. If any other matters are properly brought before the
annual meeting, proxies will be voted in accordance with the
best judgment of the person or persons voting the proxies.
Security
Holder Communication with Board Members
Any holder of our common stock may contact the board of
directors or a specified individual director by writing to the
attention of the board of directors (or a specified individual
director) and sending such communication to the attention of our
Corporate Secretary at our executive offices as identified in
this proxy statement. Each communication from a stockholder
should include the following information in order to permit us
to confirm your status as a security holder and enable us to
send a response if deemed appropriate:
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the name, mailing address and telephone number of the security
holder sending the communication;
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the number and type of our securities owned by such security
holder; and
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if the security holder is not a record owner of our securities,
the name of the record owner of our securities beneficially
owned by the security holder.
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Our Corporate Secretary will forward all appropriate
communications to the board of directors or individual members
of the board of directors as specified in the communication. Our
Corporate Secretary may, but is not required to, review all
correspondence addressed to the board of directors, or any
individual member of the board of directors, for any
inappropriate correspondence more suitably directed to
management.
Stockholder
Proposals for 2010 Annual Meeting
Our bylaws provide for advance notice procedures to recommend a
person for nomination as a director or to propose business to be
considered by stockholders at a meeting. For the 2010 annual
meeting of stockholders, such nominations or proposals, other
than those made by or at the direction of the board of
directors, must be submitted in writing and received by our
Corporate Secretary at our offices no later than March 24,
2010, which is 90 days prior to the anniversary of the
expected first mailing date of this proxy statement. If our 2010
annual meeting of stockholders is moved more than 30 days
before or after the anniversary date of our 2009 annual meeting
of stockholders, then the deadline is the close of business on
the tenth day following the day notice of the date of the
meeting was mailed or made public, whichever occurs first. Such
proposals also must comply with all applicable requirements of
the rules and regulations of the SEC. The chairperson of the
stockholder meeting may refuse to acknowledge the introduction
of your proposal if it is not made in compliance with the
foregoing procedures or the applicable provisions of our bylaws.
35
In addition, for a stockholder proposal to be considered for
inclusion in our proxy statement for the 2010 annual meeting of
stockholders, the proposal must be submitted in writing and
received by our Corporate Secretary at our offices at 11950
Democracy Drive, Suite 600, Reston, Virginia 20190 no later
than February 22, 2010, which is 120 days prior to the
anniversary of the expected mailing date of this proxy statement.
Householding
of Annual Meeting Materials
Some banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may
participate in the practice of householding proxy
statements and their accompanying documents. This means that
only one copy of our proxy statement is sent to multiple
stockholders in your household. We will promptly deliver a
separate copy of these documents without charge to you upon
written request to comScore, Inc., 11950 Democracy Drive,
Suite 600, Reston, Virginia 20190, Attn: Investor
Relations. If you want to receive separate copies of our proxy
statements in the future, or if you are receiving multiple
copies and would like to receive only one copy per household,
you should contact your bank, broker or other nominee record
holder, or you may contact us at the above address and phone
number.
36
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
COMSCORE, INC.
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JULY 29, 2009
The undersigned stockholder of comScore, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), hereby
acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and accompanying Proxy
Statement each dated June 16, 2009 and hereby appoints Magid M. Abraham and Kenneth J. Tarpey, or
one of them, proxies and attorneys-in-fact, each with full power of substitution, to represent the
undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of comScore, Inc. to be held on July 29, 2009 at
3:30 p.m., local time at the Companys office at 11950 Democracy Drive, Suite 600, Reston, Virginia
20190 and at any adjournment thereof, and to vote all shares of Common Stock of the Company held of
record by the undersigned on June 15, 2009 as hereinafter specified upon the proposals listed, and
with discretionary authority upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting.
The
Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K and Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K/A
for the year ended December 31, 2008 accompanies this Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and
Proxy Statement. These documents can also be accessed under the Investor Relations section of
the Companys website at www.comscore.com.
(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
COMSCORE, INC.
July 29, 2009
NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIAL:
The Notice of Meeting, Proxy Statement, Proxy Card
are available under the Investor Relations section at www.comscore.com
Please sign, date and mail
your proxy card in the
envelope provided as soon
as possible.
ê Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided. ê
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND FOR PROPOSAL 2.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE ý
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN |
1.
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To elect two (2) Class II members of the board of directors to serve until the 2012 annual meeting of stockholder: |
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To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP
as the Companys independent
registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009: |
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NOMINEES: |
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FOR ALL NOMINEES |
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William J. Henderson Ronald J. Korn |
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THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER
DIRECTED HEREIN. IF NO SPECIFICATION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED FOR THE PROPOSALS HEREIN AND AS SAID PROXIES DEEM
ADVISABLE IN THEIR DISCRETION ON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY
PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR MAY OTHERWISE BE ALLOWED
TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE MEETING. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSALS HEREIN.
IN ORDER TO ASSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS, PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
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WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ALL NOMINEES
FOR ALL EXCEPT
(See instructions below) |
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INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s),
mark FOR ALL EXCEPT and fill in the circle next to
each nominee you wish to
withhold, as shown here:=
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To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method. |
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Signature
of Stockholder
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Date:
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Signature
of Stockholder
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Date:
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Note:
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Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy.
When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign.
When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian,
please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign
full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer
is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
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ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
COMSCORE, INC.
July 29, 2009
PROXY VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
INTERNET - Access www.voteproxy.com
and follow the on-screen instructions. Have
your proxy card available when you access the
web page, and use the Company Number and
Account Number shown on your proxy card.
Vote online until 11:59 PM EDT the day before the meeting.
MAIL - Sign, date and mail your proxy
card in the envelope provided as soon as
possible.
IN PERSON - You may vote your shares
in person by attending the Annual Meeting.
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COMPANY NUMBER
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ACCOUNT NUMBER
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NOTICE
OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIAL: The Notice
of Meeting, Proxy Statement, Proxy Card
are available under the Investor Relations section at www.comscore.com
ê Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided
IF you are not voting via the Internet. ê
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND FOR PROPOSAL 2.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE
x
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN |
1.
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To elect two (2) Class II members of the board of directors to serve until the 2012
annual meeting of stockholders: |
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2. |
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To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Companys independent registered
public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009: |
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NOMINEES: |
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FOR ALL NOMINEES |
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William J. Henderson Ronald J. Korn |
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THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN. IF NO SPECIFICATION
IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE PROPOSALS HEREIN AND AS SAID PROXIES DEEM ADVISABLE IN
THEIR DISCRETION ON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR MAY OTHERWISE BE
ALLOWED TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE MEETING. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE
FOR THE PROPOSALS HEREIN.
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WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ALL NOMINEES |
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FOR ALL EXCEPT (See instructions below) |
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IN ORDER TO ASSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS, PLEASE MARK, SIGN,
DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. |
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INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold
authority to vote for any individual
nominee(s), mark FOR ALL EXCEPT and
fill in the circle next to each nominee
you wish to withhold, as shown here: =
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To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above.
Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method. |
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Signature
of Shareholder
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Date:
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Signature
of Shareholder
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Date:
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Note: |
Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held
jointly, each holder should sign, When signing as executor, administrator, attorney,
trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation,
please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If
signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
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