SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ___)
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ePlus inc.
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400 Herndon Parkway
Herndon, Virginia 20170
August 5, 2003
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting of stockholders of ePlus
inc. on September 18, 2003. The annual meeting will begin at 8:00 a.m. local
time at the Courtyard Marriott, 533 Herndon Parkway, Herndon, Virginia 20170.
The formal notice of the meeting follows on the next page. In addition,
information regarding each of the matters you will be asked to vote on at the
annual meeting is contained in the attached proxy statement. We urge you to read
the proxy statement carefully. We first began mailing these proxy materials on
or about August 5, 2003 to all stockholders of record at the close of business
on July 21, 2003. This mailing includes the proxy statement, proxy card, a
return envelope, and the ePlus 2003 annual report.
It is important that you vote at the annual meeting. Whether or not you plan to
attend in person, we urge you to complete, date, and sign the enclosed proxy
card and return it as promptly as possible in the accompanying envelope. If you
are a stockholder of record and do attend the meeting and wish to vote your
shares in person, even after returning your proxy, you may still do so.
We look forward to seeing you in Herndon, Virginia on September 18, 2003.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Phillip G. Norton
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Phillip G. Norton, President
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
to be held September 18, 2003
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To the Stockholders of ePlus inc.:
The annual meeting of stockholders of ePlus inc., a Delaware corporation, will
be held on September 18, 2003, at the Courtyard Marriott, 533 Herndon Parkway,
Herndon, Virginia 20170, at 8:00 a.m. local time for the purposes stated below:
1. To elect two Class I Directors, each to serve a term of three
years and until their successors have been duly elected and
qualified.
2. To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our
independent auditors for our fiscal year ending March 31, 2004.
3. To approve and adopt an amendment to the ePlus inc. Certificate
of Incorporation to decrease the number of shares of our
authorized stock from 52 million shares (consisting of 50 million
shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 2 million
preferred shares, par value $0.01 per share) to 27 million shares
(consisting of 25 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01
per share, and 2 million preferred shares, par value $0.01 per
share).
4. To approve an amendment to the ePlus inc. Amended and Restated
1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan, which sets the number of shares of
common stock available for awards under the plan at 3,000,000.
5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
annual meeting.
Under the provisions of our Bylaws, and in accordance with Delaware law, the
Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on July 21, 2003 as the
record date for stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual
meeting.
Whether or not you expect to be present at the meeting, please date and sign the
enclosed proxy card and mail it promptly in the enclosed envelope to NATIONAL
CITY BANK, Corporate Trust Operations, Post Office Box 92301, Cleveland, Ohio
44193-0900.
ePlus inc.
/s/ Erica S. Stoecker
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August 5, 2003 Erica S. Stoecker
Corporate Secretary
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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Information about ePlus inc................................................1
Information about the Annual Meeting.......................................1
Information about this Proxy Statement.....................................2
Information about Voting...................................................2
Quorum Requirements........................................................3
Voting Requirements........................................................3
Dissenters' Rights of Appraisal............................................4
Voting Securities, Principal Holders thereof, and Management...............5
Directors and Executive Officers...........................................6
Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers......................... .14
Performance Graph..........................................................19
Certain Transactions.......................................................20
Proposal 1: Election of Class I Directors.................................22
Proposal 2: Ratification of Appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as
Independent Auditors..........................................22
Proposal 3: Amendment to the ePlus inc. Certificate of Incorporation......23
Proposal 4: Amendment to the ePlus inc. Amended and Restated Long-Term
Incentive Plan................................................24
Other Proposed Action......................................................31
Stockholder Proposals and Submissions......................................32
Appendix A: Proposed Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation........A-1
Appendix B: The ePlus inc. Amended and Restated 1998 Long-Term
Incentive Plan................................................B-1
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INFORMATION ABOUT EPLUS INC.
ePlus inc. has been in the business of selling, leasing, financing, and managing
information technology and other assets for over 12 years. We have developed our
Enterprise Cost Management model through development and acquisition of
software, products, and business process services over the past five years. The
address of our principal executive office is 400 Herndon Parkway, Herndon,
Virginia 20170 and our telephone number at that address is (703) 834-5710. Our
website is located at www.eplus.com. The information on our website is not
incorporated into this proxy statement.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
Our annual meeting will be held on September 18, 2003 at 8:00 a.m. local time at
the Courtyard Marriott, 533 Herndon Parkway, Herndon, Virginia 20170.
The annual meeting has been called to consider and take action on the following
proposals:
1. To elect two Class I Directors, each to serve a term of three years
and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
2. To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent
auditors for our fiscal year ending March 31, 2004.
3. To approve and adopt an amendment to the ePlus inc. Certificate of
Incorporation to decrease the number of shares of our authorized stock
from 52 million shares (consisting of 50 million shares of common
stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 2 million preferred shares, par
value $0.01 per share) to 27 million shares (consisting of 25 million
shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 2 million
preferred shares, par value $0.01 per share).
4. To approve an amendment to the ePlus inc. Amended and Restated 1998
Long-Term Incentive Plan, which sets the number of shares of common
stock available for awards under the plan at 3,000,000.
5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the annual
meeting.
Our Board of Directors, or in the case of proposal 2, the Audit Committee of our
Board of Directors, has unanimously approved each of the proposals and
recommends that you vote in favor of each of the proposals. All holders of
record of our common stock at the close of business on July 21, 2003, the record
date, will be entitled to vote at the annual meeting.
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INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROXY STATEMENT
We have sent you this proxy statement because ePlus' Board of Directors is
soliciting your proxy to vote at the annual meeting. ePlus is bearing the cost
of this proxy solicitation. If you own ePlus common stock in more than one
account, such as individually and also jointly with your spouse, you may receive
more than one set of these proxy materials. To assist us in saving money and to
provide you with better stockholder services, we encourage you to have all of
your accounts registered in the same name and address. You may do this by
contacting our transfer agent, National City Bank, Victor LaTessa, at (216)
222-3579. This proxy statement contains information that we are required to
provide to you under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and is
designed to assist you in voting your shares. On or about August 5, 2003, we
began mailing these proxy materials to all stockholders of record at the close
of business on July 21, 2003.
INFORMATION ABOUT VOTING
Stockholders can vote in person at the annual meeting or by proxy. To vote by
proxy, please mail the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed envelope. Please sign
and date your proxy card before mailing.
Each share of ePlus common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters
presented at the annual meeting. If your shares are held in the name of a bank,
broker, or other holder of record, you will receive instructions from the holder
of record that you must follow in order for your shares to be voted. If your
shares are not registered in your own name and you plan to attend the annual
meeting and vote your shares in person, you should contact your broker or agent
in whose name your shares are registered to obtain a broker's proxy card and
bring it to the annual meeting in order to vote. If you vote by proxy, the
individuals named on the card (your proxy holders) will vote your shares in the
manner you indicate. You may specify whether your shares should be voted for
none, one or both of the nominees for director and for or against each of the
other proposals. If you sign and return the card without indicating your
instructions, your shares will be voted for:
o the election of both the Class I nominees for director;
o the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our
independent auditors for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2004;
o the approval of the proposal to amend the ePlus Certificate
of Incorporation to decrease the number of shares of our authorized
stock from 52 million shares (consisting of 50 million shares of
common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 2 million preferred
shares, par value $0.01 per share) to 27 million shares (consisting of
25 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share and 2
million preferred shares, par value $0.01 per share); and
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o the approval of an amendment to the ePlus inc. Amended and Restated
1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan, which sets the number of shares of
common stock available for awards under the plan at 3,000,000.
You may revoke or change your proxy at any time before it is voted by sending a
written notice of your revocation to ePlus' Corporate Secretary, Erica S.
Stoecker at ePlus' principal executive office.
QUORUM REQUIREMENTS
As of July 21, 2003, the record date for this solicitation of proxies, there
were 9,475,901 shares of common stock outstanding, each of which is entitled to
one vote. The holders of record of a majority of the shares of common stock
entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, or by proxy, will constitute
a quorum for the transaction of business at the annual meeting or any
adjournment thereof. If a quorum is not present, the annual meeting may be
adjourned until a quorum is obtained.
VOTING REQUIREMENTS
Proposal 1: Election of Class I Directors
To be elected as a Class I Director, a nominee must be one of the two persons
receiving the greatest number of affirmative votes cast at the meeting for Class
I Directors.
Proposal 2: Ratification of Appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Independent
Auditors
To be approved, Proposal 2 requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the
meeting and entitled to vote on the proposal.
Proposal 3: Amendment to the ePlus inc. Certificate of Incorporation
To be approved, Proposal 3 requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote on the
proposal.
Proposal 4: Amendment to the ePlus inc Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive
Plan
To be approved, Proposal 4 requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the
meeting and entitled to vote on the proposal.
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Effect of Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes
Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted only for the purpose of
determining the existence of a quorum, but will not be counted as an affirmative
vote for the purposes of determining whether a proposal has been approved.
Therefore, an abstention or a broker non-vote will not have any effect on the
votes for proposal 1 but will have the effect as a vote against proposals 2, 3,
and 4.
All proxies received will be voted in accordance with the choices specified on
such proxies. Proxies will be voted in favor of a proposal if no contrary
specification is made. All valid proxies obtained will be voted at the
discretion of the Board of Directors with respect to any other business that may
come before the annual meeting.
We may solicit proxies by use of the mails, in person, by telephone, e-mail, or
other electronic communications. We will bear the cost of soliciting proxies in
the accompanying form. We may reimburse brokerage firms and others for their
expenses in forwarding proxy materials to the beneficial owners and soliciting
them to execute the proxies.
DISSENTERS' RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL
The Board of Directors does not propose any action for which the laws of the
state of Delaware, or the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, or corporate
resolutions of ePlus provide a right of a stockholder to dissent and obtain
payment for shares.
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VOTING SECURITIES, PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF, AND MANAGEMENT
Except as set forth below, the following table sets forth certain information as
of July 15, 2003, with respect to: (1) each executive officer, director, and
director nominee; (2) all executive officers and directors of ePlus as a group;
and (3) all persons known by ePlus to be the beneficial owners of more than five
percent of our common stock.
Number of
Shares Percentage
Beneficially of Shares
Name of Beneficial Owner(1) Owned (2) Outstanding
--------------------------- --------- -----------
Phillip G. Norton (3).................................................. 2,346,000 24.0%
Bruce M. and Elizabeth D. Bowen (4).................................... 825,000 8.6
Steven J. Mencarini (5)................................................ 95,600 1.0
Kleyton L. Parkhurst (6)............................................... 229,000 2.4
C. Thomas Faulders, III (7)............................................ 43,507 *
Terrence O'Donnell (8)................................................. 60,000 *
Lawrence S. Herman..................................................... 7,500 *
All directors and named executive officers as a group (8 Individuals).. 3,606,607 34.9
Eric D. Hovde (9)...................................................... 711,492 7.5
Putnam Investments LLC (10)............................................ 1,235,191 13.1
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* less than 1%
(1) The business address of Messrs. Norton, Bowen, Mencarini, Parkhurst,
Faulders, O'Donnell, and Herman is 400 Herndon Parkway, Herndon, Virginia,
20170. The business address of Mr. Hovde is 1826 Jefferson Place, NW,
Washington, DC 20036. The business address of Putnam Investments LLC is One
Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
(2) Unless otherwise indicated and subject to community property laws where
applicable, each of the stockholders named in this table has sole voting
and investment power with respect to the shares shown as beneficially owned
by such stockholder. A person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of
securities that can be acquired by such person within 60 days from July 15,
2003, upon exercise of options or warrants. Each beneficial owner's
percentage ownership is determined by assuming that options or warrants
that are held by such person (but not by any other person) and that are
exercisable within 60 days from July 15, 2003, have been exercised. The
ownership amounts reported for persons who we know own more than 5% of our
common stock are based on the Schedules 13D and 13G filed with the SEC by
such persons, unless we have reason to believe that the information
contained in those filings is not complete or accurate.
(3) Includes 2,040,000 shares held by J.A.P. Investment Group, L.P., a Virginia
limited partnership, of which J.A.P., Inc., a Virginia corporation, is the
sole general partner. The limited partners are: Patricia A. Norton, the
spouse of Mr. Norton, trustee for the benefit of Phillip G. Norton, Jr.,
u/a dated as of July 20, 1983; Patricia A. Norton, the spouse of Mr.
Norton, trustee for the benefit of Andrew L. Norton, u/a dated as of July
20, 1983; Patricia A. Norton, trustee for the benefit of Jeremiah O.
Norton, u/a dated as of July 20, 1983; and Patricia A. Norton. Patricia A.
Norton is the sole stockholder of J.A.P., Inc. Also includes 305,000 shares
of common stock issuable to Mr. Norton under options.
(4) Includes 520,000 shares held by Mr. and Mrs. Bowen, as tenants by the
entirety, and 160,000 shares held by Bowen Holdings LLC, a Virginia limited
liability company, composed of Mr. Bowen and three minor children of whom
Mr. Bowen is legal guardian and for which shares Mr. Bowen serves as
manager. Also includes 145,000 shares of common stock issuable to Mr. Bowen
under options.
(5) Includes 95,600 shares of common stock issuable to Mr. Mencarini under
options.
(6) Includes 216,000 shares of common stock issuable to Mr. Parkhurst under
options.
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(7) Includes 43,507 shares of common stock issuable to Mr. Faulders under
options.
(8) Includes 60,000 shares of common stock issuable to Mr. O'Donnell under
options.
(9) Of the 711,492 shares beneficially owned by Eric D. Hovde, 386,800 of the
shares, beneficially owned are as managing member of Hovde Capital, L.L.C.,
the General Partner to Financial Institution Partners II, L.P., the direct
owner; 30,000 of the shares beneficially owned are as managing member of
Hovde Acquisition II, L.L.C., 19,000 of the shares beneficially owned are
as trustee for Hovde Financial, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan and Trust; 17,000
of the shares beneficially owned are as trustee for The Eric D. Hovde and
Steven D. Hovde Foundation; 32,824 of the shares beneficially owned are
held directly; and 225,868 of the shares beneficially owned are as
President, CEO and Managing Member of Hovde Capital Advisors LLC, the
Investment Manager to Financial Institution Partners III, L.P., Financial
Institution Partners, L.P., Financial Institution Partners, Ltd., and
Financial Institution Partners IV, L.P., the direct owners. This
information was obtained from Form 13D/A filed by Hovde Capital Advisors
LLC, Financial Institution Partners III, L.P., Financial Institution
Partners, L.P., Financial Institution Partners, Ltd., Eric D. Hovde, Steven
D. Hovde, Financial Institution Partners II, L.P., Hovde Capital, L.L.C.,
Hovde Acquisition II, L.L.C., The Eric D. Hovde and Steven D. Hovde
Foundation, Hovde Financial, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan and Trust, and
Financial Institution Partners IV, L.P., effective June 30, 2003.
(10) Includes shares held by the series of funds of Putnam to which Putnam
Investments LLC is investment adviser.
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth the name, age, and position with ePlus inc. of
each person who is an executive officer or director.
Name Age Position Class
----------------------------------- --- ------------------------------------------------------------- -----
Phillip G. Norton......................59 Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer III
Bruce M. Bowen.........................51 Director and Executive Vice President III
Steven J. Mencarini....................48 Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Kleyton L. Parkhurst...................40 Senior Vice President, Assistant Secretary, and Treasurer
Terrence O'Donnell.....................59 Director II
C. Thomas Faulders, III................53 Director I
Lawrence S. Herman.....................59 Director I
The name and business experience during the past five years of each director and
executive officer of ePlus are described below.
Phillip G. Norton joined us in March 1993 and has served since then as our
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Since September 1996, Mr.
Norton has also served as our President. Mr. Norton is a 1966 graduate of the
U.S. Naval Academy.
Bruce M. Bowen founded our company in 1990 and served as our President until
September 1996. Since September 1996, Mr. Bowen has served as our Executive Vice
President, and from September 1996 to June 1997 also served as our Chief
Financial Officer. Mr. Bowen has served on our Board of Directors since our
founding. He is a 1973 graduate of the University of Maryland and in 1978
received a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Maryland.
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Steven J. Mencarini joined us in June of 1997 as Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer. Prior to joining us, Mr. Mencarini was Controller of the
Technology Management Group of Computer Sciences Corporation, one of the
nation's three largest information technology outsourcing organizations. Mr.
Mencarini joined Computer Sciences Corporation in 1991 as Director of Finance
and was promoted to Controller in 1996. Mr. Mencarini is a 1976 graduate of the
University of Maryland and received a Masters of Taxation from American
University in 1985.
Kleyton L. Parkhurst joined us in May 1991 as Director of Finance and served as
our Secretary and Treasurer from September 1996 until September 2001. Since
September 2001 Mr. Parkhurst has served as our Assistant Secretary and
Treasurer. In July 1998, Mr. Parkhurst was made Senior Vice President for
Corporate Development. Mr. Parkhurst is currently responsible for all of our
mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, marketing, and the ePlus Group's
finance department. Mr. Parkhurst is a 1985 graduate of Middlebury College.
Terrence O'Donnell joined our Board of Directors in November 1996 upon the
completion of our initial public offering. Mr. O'Donnell is a partner with the
law firm of Williams & Connolly LLP in Washington, D.C. and Executive Vice
President and General Counsel of Textron, Inc. Mr. O'Donnell has practiced law
since 1977, and from 1989 through 1992 served as General Counsel to the U.S.
Department of Defense. Mr. O'Donnell presently also serves as a director of IGI,
Inc., an American Stock Exchange company. Mr. O'Donnell is a 1966 graduate of
the U.S. Air Force Academy and received a Juris Doctor from Georgetown
University Law Center in 1971.
C. Thomas Faulders, III joined our Board of Directors in July 1998. Mr. Faulders
is the Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of LCC International,
Inc. From July 1998 to December 1999, Mr. Faulders served as Chairman of the
Board of Telesciences, Inc., an information services company. From 1995 to 1998,
Mr. Faulders was Executive Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial
Officer of BDM International, Inc., a prominent systems integration company. Mr.
Faulders is a member of the Board of Directors of United Defense, Inc.,
Universal Technology and Systems, Inc., and Sentori, Inc. He is a 1971 graduate
of the University of Virginia and in 1981 received a Masters of Business
Administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr.
Faulders has been nominated by the Board of Directors for re-election as a Class
I Director at the 2003 annual meeting of stockholders.
Lawrence S. Herman joined our Board of Directors in March 2001. Mr. Herman is
one of BearingPoint's most senior Managing Directors and is responsible for
managing national alliances with e-government and enterprise software companies
in the company's state and local government practice. During his career, Mr.
Herman has specialized in developing, evaluating, and implementing financial and
management systems and strategies for state and local governments around the
nation. Mr. Herman has been with BearingPoint for over thirty-five years. He has
directed a statewide performance audit of North Carolina, resulting in a
strategic fiscal plan. He further directed similar statewide fiscal strategies
for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the State of Louisiana, the State of Oklahoma,
and the District of Columbia. Mr. Herman received his B.S. degree in Mathematics
and Economics from Tufts University in 1965 and his Masters of Business
Administration in 1967 from Harvard Business School. Mr. Herman has been
nominated by the Board of Directors for re-election as a Class I Director at the
2003 annual meeting of stockholders.
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Each executive officer of ePlus is chosen by the Board of Directors and holds
his or her office until his or her successor shall have been duly chosen and
qualified or until his or her death or until he or she shall resign or be
removed as provided by the Bylaws.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires
ePlus' officers, directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a
registered class of ePlus' equity securities, to file reports of ownership and
changes in ownership of equity securities of ePlus with the SEC. Officers,
directors, and greater-than-ten-percent stockholders are required by SEC
regulations to furnish ePlus with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they
file.
Based solely upon a review of Forms 3, Forms 4, and Forms 5 furnished to ePlus
pursuant to Rule 16a-3 under the Exchange Act, ePlus believes that all such
forms required to be filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act were
timely filed, as necessary, by the officers, directors, and security holders
required to file such forms.
The Board of Directors
ePlus' Bylaws, as amended on July 15, 2003, provide that the number of directors
of ePlus shall be five, until this number is amended by a resolution duly
adopted by the Board of Directors or the stockholders (subject to certain
provisions of the Bylaws relating to the entitlement of holders of preferred
stock to elect directors). Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes:
Class I, comprised of two directors; Class II, comprised of one director; and
Class III, comprised of two directors. Our director, Thomas L. Hewitt, who was a
Class II director resigned from the Board of Directors effective June 16, 2003,
such resignation was not as a result of any disagreement with management.
Subject to the provisions of the Bylaws, at each annual meeting of stockholders,
the successors to the class of directors whose term is then expiring shall be
elected to hold office for a term expiring at the third succeeding annual
meeting of stockholders. Messrs. Faulders and Herman, our Class I directors are
standing for re-election at the 2003 annual meeting. Each director holds office
until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified or until he or
she has resigned or been removed in the manner provided in the Bylaws. The
members of the three classes of directors are as follows:
o Class I
C. Thomas Faulders, III
Lawrence S. Herman
o Class II
Terrence O'Donnell
o Class III
Phillip G. Norton
Bruce M. Bowen
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The Class II Director will stand for re-election at the annual meeting of
stockholders in 2004. The Class III Directors will stand for re-election at the
annual meeting of stockholders in 2005. The classification of the Board of
Directors, with staggered terms of office, was implemented for the purpose of
maintaining continuity of management and of the Board of Directors.
There are no material proceedings to which any director, executive officer, or
affiliate of ePlus, any owner of record or beneficially of more than five
percent of any class of voting securities of ePlus, or any associate of any such
director, executive officer, affiliate of ePlus, or security holder is a party
adverse to ePlus or any of its subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse
to ePlus or any of its subsidiaries.
Director Compensation
Directors who are also employees of ePlus do not currently receive any
compensation for service as members of the Board of Directors. Each outside
director receives an annual grant of 10,000 stock options and $500 for each
committee meeting. All directors will be reimbursed for their out-of-pocket
expenses incurred to attend board or committee meetings.
Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors met four times during the fiscal year ended March 31,
2003. In addition to meetings of the full Board, directors also attended
meetings of Board Committees. No incumbent director attended fewer than 75% of
the total number of meetings held by the Board of Directors and the meetings of
any committee on which the director served. The Board of Directors has the
following committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Stock
Incentive Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
Audit Committee
General. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for
selecting ePlus' independent public accountants, monitoring and reviewing the
quality and activities of ePlus' internal and external audit functions,
monitoring the adequacy of ePlus' operating and internal controls as reported by
management and the external or internal auditors, and reviewing ePlus' periodic
reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The members
of the Audit Committee are Terrence O'Donnell (Chairman), C. Thomas Faulders,
III, and Lawrence S. Herman. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, five
meetings of the Audit Committee were held.
Audit Committee Report. The Audit Committee is composed of three directors who
are independent as defined under the rules of the National Association of
Securities Dealers. The committee operates under a written charter approved by
the Board of Directors, which was included as Appendix A to ePlus' proxy
statement for the 2001 annual meeting of stockholders.
The committee reviews ePlus' financial reporting process on behalf of the Board
of Directors. In fulfilling its responsibilities, the committee has reviewed and
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discussed the audited financial statements contained in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2003 with ePlus' management. Management
is responsible for our financial statements and the financial reporting process,
including internal controls. The independent accountants are responsible for
expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent accountants the matters
required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61,
Communication with Audit Committees, as amended. The committee has discussed
with the independent accountant the accountants' independence from ePlus and its
management including the matters in the written disclosures provided to the
committee as required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1,
Independence Discussions with Audit Committees. The committee has also
considered whether the provision of non-audit services by the independent
accountants to ePlus is compatible with maintaining auditors' independence.
Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the committee
recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors approved, that
the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended March 31, 2003, for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
By The Audit Committee
Terrence O'Donnell (Chairman)
C. Thomas Faulders, III
Lawrence S. Herman
-10-
Compensation Committee
General. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for
reviewing the salaries, benefits, and other compensation, including stock-based
compensation, of Mr. Norton and Mr. Bowen, and making recommendations to the
Board of Directors based on its review. The members of the Compensation
Committee during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003 were C. Thomas Faulders,
III (Chairman), Terrence O'Donnell, and Thomas L. Hewitt, all of whom were
independent directors. Mr. Norton and Mr. Bowen, as directors, do not vote on
any matters affecting their personal compensation. Following the resignation of
Mr. Hewitt from the ePlus Board of Directors, Lawrence S. Herman became a member
of the Compensation Committee, replacing Mr. Hewitt. Mr. Herman is also an
independent director. Mr. Bowen and Mr. Norton are responsible for reviewing and
establishing salaries, benefits, and other compensation, excluding stock-based
compensation, for all other employees.
Compensation arrangements during our 2003 fiscal year were determined in
accordance with the executive compensation policy set forth below. The
Compensation Committee considers compensation paid to our executive officers to
be deductible for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Compensation Committee Report. The Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors has prepared the following report on our policies with respect to the
compensation of executive officers for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003. The
compensation programs of ePlus are designed to align compensation with business
objectives and performance, and to enable ePlus to attract, retain, and reward
executives who contribute to the long-term success of ePlus.
The Compensation Committee believes that executive pay should be linked to
performance. Therefore, ePlus provides an executive compensation program which
includes three principal elements: (1) base pay, (2) potential cash bonus, and
(3) long-term incentive opportunities through the use of stock options.
Criteria for Determination of Executive Compensation. In determining each of the
principal elements of each executive's compensation, as well as the overall
compensation package thereof, the following criteria are considered by the
persons responsible for recommending or approving such compensation: (1) the
compensation awarded to executives with comparable titles and responsibilities
to those of such executive by companies in our industry (or, to the extent
information is not available, in comparable industries) whose revenues and
earnings are comparable to those of ePlus, as reported by reliable independent
sources; (2) the results of operations of ePlus during the past year, on an
absolute basis and compared with ePlus' targeted results for such year as well
as with the results of the comparable companies, as reported by reliable
independent sources; (3) the performance of such executive during the past year,
on an absolute basis and as compared with the performance targets set by ePlus
for such executive for such year and the performance of the other executives of
ePlus during such year; and (4) any other factor which the Compensation
Committee determines to be relevant. The weight to be given to each of the
foregoing criteria is determined by the Compensation Committee in the exercise
of its reasonable judgment in accordance with the purposes of this executive
compensation policy and may vary from time to time or from executive to
executive.
-11-
The role of the Compensation Committee is limited to the review of the
compensation, excluding stock-based compensation for Mr. Norton and Mr. Bowen,
who are principal stockholders of ePlus. Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code imposes a limit, with certain exceptions, on the amount that a
publicly-held corporation may deduct in any year for the compensation paid with
respect to its five most highly compensated executive officers. While the
Compensation Committee cannot predict with certainty how ePlus' compensation tax
deduction might be affected, the Compensation Committee tries to preserve the
tax deductibility of all executive compensation while maintaining flexibility
with respect to ePlus' compensation programs as described in this report.
Chief Executive Officer Compensation. The executive compensation policy
described above is applied in setting Mr. Norton's compensation. Mr. Norton
generally participates in the same executive compensation plans and arrangements
available to the other executives. Accordingly, his compensation also consists
of an annual base salary, a potential annual cash bonus, and, potentially,
long-term equity-linked compensation in the form of stock options. The
Compensation Committee's general approach in establishing Mr. Norton's
compensation is to be competitive with peer companies, but to have a large
percentage of his target based upon objective performance criteria and targets
established in our strategic plan.
Mr. Norton's compensation for the year ended March 31, 2003 included $250,000 in
base salary. Mr. Norton received a bonus of $150,000 for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2003. Mr. Norton's salary was based on, among other factors, ePlus'
performance and the 2002 compensation of chief executive officers of comparable
companies, although his compensation was not linked to any particular group of
these companies.
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, one meeting of the Compensation
Committee was held.
BY THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
C. Thomas Faulders, III (Chairman)
Terrence O'Donnell
-12-
Stock Incentive Committee
The Stock Incentive Committee of the Board of Directors is authorized to award
stock, and various stock options and rights and other stock-based compensation
grants under the ePlus inc. Amended and Restated 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
The members of the Stock Incentive Committee during the fiscal year ended March
31, 2003 were Mr. Bowen, Mr. Hewitt, and Mr. Norton. Except for formula plan
grants to the outside directors and grants that are approved by a majority of
the disinterested members of the Board of Directors, no member of the Stock
Incentive Committee or the Compensation Committee is eligible to receive grants
under the ePlus inc. Amended and Restated 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan. During
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, one meeting of the Stock Incentive
Committee was held.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
On July 15, 2003, the Board of Directors formed a Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee to assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its
oversight responsibilities under the NASDAQ Stock Market listing standards and
Delaware law. This committee is authorized and designated for the purposes of
(1) identifying individuals qualified to serve on the Board of Directors and to
select, or to recommend that the Board of Directors select a slate of director
nominees for election by the stockholders of ePlus at each annual meeting of the
stockholders of ePlus, in accordance with ePlus' Certificate of Incorporation
and Bylaws and with Delaware law, and (2) evaluating, developing, and
recommending to the Board of Directors a set of corporate governance policies
and principles to be applicable to ePlus. The Board of Directors appointed Mr.
Terrence O'Donnell, Mr. C. Thomas Faulders, III, and Mr. Lawrence S. Herman to
serve as members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, all of
whom are independent directors.
-13-
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Summary Compensation Table
The following table provides certain summary information concerning the
compensation earned, for services rendered in all capacities to ePlus, by ePlus'
Chief Executive Officer and certain other executive officers of ePlus, who we
refer to as the "named executive officers," for the fiscal years ended March 31,
2001, 2002, and 2003. Certain columns have been omitted from this summary
compensation table, as they are not applicable.
Annual Compensation Long-Term Compensation
---------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Securities
Underlying All Other
Name and Fiscal Bonus/ Options Compensation
Principal Position Year Salary ($) Commission ($) (#) ($)(1)
------------------------------------- --------- -------------- ---------------- ----------------- -----------------
Phillip G. Norton 2003 $250,000 $150,000 -- --
Chairman, Chief Executive 2002 250,000 150,000 -- $1,500
Officer and President 2001 250,000 147,773 -- 1,500
Bruce M. Bowen 2003 225,000 100,000 -- --
Director and 2002 225,000 100,000 -- 1,500
Executive Vice President 2001 225,000 100,000 -- 1,500
Kleyton L. Parkhurst 2003 200,000 100,000 30,000(3) --
Senior Vice President, Assistant 2002 200,000 75,000 1,500
Secretary and Treasurer 2001 175,000 70,000 30,000 1,500
Steven J. Mencarini 2003 185,000 71,250 12,000(3) --
Chief Financial Officer and 2002 182,500(2) 43,750 1,500
Senior Vice President 2001 168,751 25,000 15,000 1,500
-------------------------
(1) All amounts reported represent ePlus' employer 401(k) plan matching
contributions.
(2) Difference in salary represents a salary increase effective July 1, 2001 to
$185,000.
(3) Stock options granted on June 28, 2002 under the ePlus Amended and Restated
Long-Term Incentive Plan.
Fiscal Year-end Option Values
The following table sets forth information regarding the value of unexercised
options held by the named executive officers at the end of fiscal year 2003. The
named executive officers did not exercise any options during fiscal year 2003.
-14-
Number of Securities Underlying Value of Unexercised
Unexercised Options at In-the-Money Options at
Fiscal Year-End (#) Fiscal Year-End($)(1)
------------------------------ ---------------------------
Name Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
Phillip G. Norton............. 305,000 -- 0 --
Bruce M. Bowen................ 145,000 -- 0 --
Kleyton L. Parkhurst.......... 195,000 45,000 80,000 6,900
Steven J. Mencarini........... 88,200 19,500 0 2,760
-------------------
(1) Based on a last sale price of $7.20 per share as of the close of business
on March 31, 2003.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table gives information about ePlus' common stock that may be
issued upon the exercise of options, warrants, and rights under all of ePlus'
existing equity compensation plans as of March 31, 2003, including the ePlus
inc. Amended and Restated 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated
Incentive Stock Option Plan, Amended and Restated Outside Director Stock Option
Plan, and Amended and Restated Nonqualified Stock Option Plan.
Number of securities
remaining available for
Number of securities to future issuance under equity
be issued upon exercise Weighted-average exercise compensation plans
of outstanding options, price of outstanding options, (excluding securities
Plan Category warrants and rights warrants and rights reflected in column(1))
----------------- ----------------------- ----------------------------- -----------------------------
(1) (2) (3)
Equity compensation plans
approved by security
holders 2,013,688 $9.14 0(1)
Equity compensation plans
not approved by
security holders --- --- ---
Total 2,013,688 --- 0
(1) ePlus has reserved for issuance upon the grant or exercise of awards
pursuant to the ePlus inc. Amended and Restated 1998 Long-Term Incentive
Plan that number of shares of the authorized but unissued shares of common
stock equal to (1) 20% of the total number of shares of common stock
outstanding from time to time, as determined immediately after giving pro
forma effect to the assumed exercise of all options or other rights to
acquire common stock, less (2) any shares of common stock that have been
purchased under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan from time to time, and
less (3) any shares granted pursuant to the exercise of options or
otherwise granted as awards under the Amended and Restated Incentive Stock
Option Plan, Amended and Restated Outside Director Stock Option Plan, and
Amended and Restated Nonqualified Stock Option Plan.
-15-
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
The following table sets forth information concerning individual grants of stock
options to the named executive officers during fiscal year 2003.
Individual Grants
---------------------------------------------------
Number of Percentage of Potential Realized Value at
Securities Total Options Assumed Annual Rates of
Underlying Granted to Stock Price Appreciation
Options Employees Exercise for Option Term(2)
Granted in Fiscal Year Price Expiration ---------------------------
Name (#) (1) ($/sh) Date 5%($) 10%($)
--------------------- --------- -------------- -------- -------- ------------ ------------
Phillip G. Norton -- -- -- -- -- --
Bruce M. Bowen -- -- -- -- -- --
Kleyton L. Parkhurst 30,000(3) 38.96% 6.97 6/27/12 131,400 333,300
Steven J. Mencarini 12,000(3) 15.58% 6.97 6/27/12 52,560 133,320
----------
(1) The percentage of total options granted to employees in fiscal year 2003 is
based on options to purchase an aggregate of 77,000 shares of Common Stock
options granted to employees during fiscal year 2003.
(2) The dollar amounts reported in the "Potential Realized Value at Assumed
Annual Rates of Stock Price Appreciation for Option Term" columns represent
hypothetical amounts that may be realized on exercise of options
immediately prior to the expiration of their term assuming the specified
compounded rates of appreciation of the Common Stock over the term of the
options. The 5% and 10% assumed annual rate of stock price appreciation are
required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not
reflect the Company's estimate or projection of future stock price growth.
(3) These options vest as follows: twenty percent after the first anniversary
of the grant, an additioanl thirty percent after the second anniversary of
the grant, and the remaining fifty percent after the third anniversary of
the grant.
Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment and Change in Control
Arrangements
ePlus has entered into employment agreements with Phillip G. Norton, Bruce M.
Bowen, and Kleyton L. Parkhurst, each effective as of September 1, 1996, and
with Steven J. Mencarini, effective as of June 18, 1997. Each employment
agreement provided for an initial term of three years, and is subject to an
automatic one-year renewal at the expiration thereof unless ePlus or the
employee provides notice of an intention not to renew at least three months
prior to expiration.
The current annual base salaries ($250,000 in the case of Phillip G. Norton;
$225,000 in the case of Bruce M. Bowen; $200,000 in the case of Kleyton L.
Parkhurst; and $225,000 in the case of Steven J. Mencarini) are in effect and
each employee may be eligible for commissions or performance bonuses. The
performance bonuses for Phillip G. Norton and Bruce M. Bowen are discretionary,
based on the performance of ePlus and as approved by the Compensation Committee.
The performance bonuses for Kleyton L. Parkhurst and Steven J. Mencarini are
paid based upon performance criteria established by Phillip G. Norton and Bruce
M. Bowen.
Under the employment agreements, each receives certain other benefits, including
medical, insurance, death and long-term disability benefits, employer 401(k)
contributions, and reimbursement of employment-related expenses. Mr. Bowen's
country club dues are paid by ePlus. The employment agreements of Messrs.
Norton, Bowen, and Mencarini contain a covenant not to compete on the part of
each, whereby in the event of a voluntary termination of employment, upon
expiration of the term of the agreement, or upon the termination of employment
-16-
by ePlus for cause, each are subject to restrictions upon acquiring, consulting
with, or otherwise engaging in or assisting in the providing of capital needs
for competing business activities or entities within the United States for a
period of one year after the date of such termination or expiration of the term
of the employment agreement.
Under his original employment agreement, Phillip G. Norton was granted options
to acquire 130,000 shares of common stock at a price per share equal to $8.75.
These options have a ten year term and became exercisable and vested in 25%
increments over four years, ending on November 20, 1999. In February 1998, Mr.
Norton was also granted options to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock at a
price per share equal to $12.65 and in August 1999 was granted options to
purchase 175,000 shares of common stock at a price per share equal to $7.75
Under his original employment agreement, Bruce M. Bowen was granted options to
acquire 15,000 shares of common stock at a price per share equal to $8.75. These
options have a ten year term and became exercisable and vested in 25% increments
over four years, ending on November 20, 1999. In February 1998, Mr. Bowen was
also granted options to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock at a price per
share equal to $11.50 and in August 1999 was granted options to purchase 115,000
shares of common stock at a price per share equal to $7.75.
Under his original employment agreement, Kleyton L. Parkhurst was granted
options to acquire 100,000 shares of common stock at a price per share equal to
$6.40. These options have a ten year term and became exercisable and vested in
25% increments over four years ending on November 20, 1999. In February 1998,
Mr. Parkhurst was also granted options to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock
at a price per share equal to $11.50 and in September 1998 was granted options
to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock at a price per share of $8.75. In
August 1999, Mr. Parkhurst was granted options to purchase 20,000 shares of
common stock at a price per share equal to $7.75 and in September 2000 was
granted options to purchase 30,000 shares of common stock at a price per share
equal to $17.375. In June 2002, Mr. Parkhurst was also granted 30,000 options to
purchase common stock at a price per share equal to $6.97.
In connection with his original employment, Steven J. Mencarini was granted
options to acquire 16,200 shares of common stock at a price per share equal to
$12.75. These options have a ten year term, and become exercisable and vest in
20% increments over five years at the end of each year of service, and are
subject to acceleration upon certain conditions. In September 1997, Mr.
Mencarini was also granted options to purchase 5,100 shares of common stock at a
price per share equal to $13.25 and in December 1997 was granted options to
purchase 9,400 shares of common stock at a price per share equal to $12.25. In
February 1998, Mr. Mencarini was granted options to purchase 5,000 shares of
common stock at a price per share equal to $11.50; in October 1998, he was
granted options to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock at a price per share
equal to $8.00; in August 1999 he was granted options to purchase 20,000 shares
of commmon stock at a price per share equal to $7.75; in September 2000 he was
granted options to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock at a price per share
equal to $17.375; and in December 2000 he was granted options to purchase 5,000
shares of common stock at a price per share equal to $7.75. In June 2002, Mr.
Mencarini was also granted 12,000 options to purchase common stock at a price
per share equal to $6.97 per share.
ePlus maintains key-man life insurance on Mr. Norton in the amount of $11
million.
-17-
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
For the year ended March 31, 2003, all decisions regarding executive
compensation were made by the Compensation Committee with respect to Mr. Norton
and Mr. Bowen. Compensation for other executives was made by the committee, Mr.
Norton, or Mr. Bowen consistent with Compensation Committee Policy. The members
of the Compensation Committee are C. Thomas Faulders, III (Chairman), Terrence
O'Donnell, and Lawrence S. Herman. None of the executive officers of ePlus
currently serves on the Compensation Committee of another entity or any other
committee of the Board of Directors of another entity performing similar
functions.
-18-
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph shows the value as of March 31, 2003 of a $100 investment
made on March 31, 1998 in ePlus' common stock (with dividends, if any,
reinvested), as compared with similar investments based on (1) the value of the
NASDAQ Stock Market Index (U.S.) (with dividends reinvested) and (2) the value
of the NASDAQ financial index. The stock performance shown below is not
necessarily indicative of future performance.
3/99 3/00 3/01 3/02 3/03
--------- ---------- ---------- --------- ----------
EPLUS INC. 60.00 240.91 66.82 69.02 52.36
NASDAQ STOCK MARKET (U.S.) 135.08 250.99 100.60 101.32 74.37
NASDAQ FINANCIAL 90.11 85.39 94.44 117.52 108.97
-19-
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Advances and Loans to Employees and Stockholders
ePlus has in the past provided loans and advances to employees and certain
stockholders. Such balances are to be repaid from personal funds or commissions
earned by the employees and/or stockholders on successful sales or financing
arrangements obtained on behalf of ePlus. Loans and advances to employees and/or
stockholders totaled $54,132 for the year ended March 31, 2003. There were no
loans or extensions of credit by ePlus or any ePlus subsidiary to any of the
ePlus directors or executive officers.
Leases with Related Parties
ePlus leases certain office space from related parties. During the year ended
March 31, 2003, ePlus paid $256,300 in rent to Phillip G. Norton, our chief
executive officer and president, and $228,000 in rent to Vince Marino, president
of ePlus Technology inc of PA, a wholly owned subsidiary of ePlus during the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2003. All leases with related parties are approved
in advance by the Board of Directors.
Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into separate but identical indemnification agreements with each
of our directors and executive officers, and we expect to enter into similar
indemnification agreements with persons who become directors or executive
officers in the future. The indemnification agreements provide that ePlus will
indemnify the director or officer against any expenses or liabilities incurred
in connection with any proceeding in which the director or officer may be
involved as a party or otherwise, by reason of the fact that the director or
officer is or was a director or officer of ePlus or by reason of any action
taken by or omitted to be taken by the director or officer while acting as an
officer or director of ePlus. However, ePlus is only obligated to provide
indemnification under the indemnification agreements if:
(1) the director or officer was acting in good faith and in a manner the
director or officer reasonably believed to be in the best interests of
ePlus, and, with respect to any criminal action, the director or
officer had no reasonable cause to believe the director's or officer's
conduct was unlawful;
(2) the claim was not made to recover profits made by the director or
officer in violation of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, as amended,
or any successor statute;
(3) the claim was not initiated by the director or officer;
(4) the claim was not covered by applicable insurance; or
(5) the claim was not for an act or omission of a director of ePlus from
which a director may not be relieved of liability under Section
-20-
103(b)(7) of the DGCL. Each director and officer has undertaken to
repay ePlus for any costs or expenses paid by ePlus if it is
ultimately determined that the director or officer is not entitled to
indemnification under the indemnification agreements.
Future Transactions
ePlus' policy requires that all material transactions between ePlus and its
officers, directors, or other affiliates must be approved by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board of Directors of ePlus, and be on terms no
less favorable to ePlus than could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties.
-21-
PROPOSAL 1
To Elect Two Class I Directors to Serve for Three Years and until their
Respective Successors Have Been Duly Elected and Qualified.
The Board of Directors has concluded that the re-election of C. Thomas Faulders,
III and Lawrence S. Herman as Class I Directors is in the best interest of ePlus
and recommends stockholder approval of the re-election of C. Thomas Faulders,
III and Lawrence S. Herman as Class I directors. The remaining three directors
will continue to serve in their positions for the remainder of their terms.
Biographical information concerning Mr. Faulders and Mr. Herman, and ePlus'
other directors can be found under "Directors and Executive Officers."
Unless otherwise instructed or unless authority to vote is withheld, all proxies
will be voted for the election of C. Thomas Faulders, III and Lawrence S. Herman
as Class I Directors. Although the Board of Directors of ePlus does not
contemplate that such nominees will be unable to serve, if such a situation
arises prior to the annual meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy card
will vote for the election of such other person or persons as may be nominated
by the Board of Directors.
Vote Required for Approval. The two persons receiving the greatest number of
affirmative votes cast at the annual meeting will be elected as Class I
Directors.
Board of Directors Recommendation. The Board of Directors unanimously recommends
that you vote in favor of the election of C. Thomas Faulders, III and Lawrence
S. Herman as Class I Directors.
PROPOSAL 2
To Ratify the Appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as ePlus' Independent
Auditors for ePlus' Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2004.
Subject to stockholder ratification, the Audit Committee has reappointed the
firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent auditors to examine ePlus'
financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2004. Deloitte &
Touche has audited ePlus' financial statements since its inception. If the
stockholders do not ratify this appointment, other independent auditors will be
considered by the Audit Committee.
Representatives of Deloitte & Touche are expected to attend the annual meeting
and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire and to respond
to appropriate questions.
Audit Fees. The aggregate fees to be charged by Deloitte & Touche for
professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003 and for the reviews of the financial
statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for that fiscal year
were $255,000. To date, Deloitte & Touche LLP has billed $150,000 to ePlus for
the services performed in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004.
-22-
Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees. There were no fees
billed by Deloitte & Touche for professional services rendered for information
technology services relating to financial information systems design and
implementation for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003.
All Other Fees. There were no fees billed by Deloitte & Touche for services
rendered to ePlus, other than the services described above under "Audit Fees"
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003.
Vote Required for Approval. The affirmative vote of the holders of at least a
majority of the shares of common stock present in person or by proxy and
entitled to vote at the annual meeting on the proposal will constitute approval
of Proposal 2.
Audit Committee Recommendation. The Audit Committee unanimously recommends that
you vote in favor of the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche
LLP as independent auditors for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2004.
PROPOSAL 3
To Approve And Adopt An Amendment To The ePlus inc. Certificate Of Incorporation
To Decrease The Number Of Shares Of Authorized Stock Of ePlus From 52 Million
Shares (50 Million Shares Of Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share, And 2
Million Preferred Shares, Par Value $0.01 Per Share) To 27 Million Shares
(Consisting Of 25 Million Shares Of Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share, and
2 Million Preferred Shares, Par Value $0.01 Per Share).
The Board of Directors has adopted a resolution declaring it advisable and in
the best interests of ePlus and its stockholders that the ePlus inc. Certificate
of Incorporation be amended to provide for a decrease in the authorized number
of shares of stock of ePlus from 52 million shares (consisting of 50 million
shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 2 million preferred
shares, par value $0.01 per share) to 27 million shares (consisting of 25
million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 2 million
preferred shares, par value $0.01 per share). Such resolution also directs that
such proposal be submitted to ePlus' stockholders for consideration at the
annual meeting and recommends that the stockholders vote in favor of such
amendment at the annual meeting.
If Proposal 3 is approved by ePlus' stockholders, the annual Delaware franchise
tax, an amount calculated using the number of capital stock a company is
authorized to issue, will decrease by approximately $30,000 per year. Upon the
effect of such an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of
Directors would have authority to issue up to twenty-five million (25,000,000)
shares of common stock and to designate and issue up to two million (2,000,000)
shares of preferred stock to stockholders, for such consideration and with such
rights and preferences as the Board of Directors may determine
-23-
without further action by the stockholders except as may be required by law. As
of the date hereof, ePlus has not designated or issued any shares of preferred
stock and the proposal will not change the authorized number of shares of
preferred stock. As of the record date there were 9,475,901 shares of common
stock issued and outstanding, and 1,088,484 shares of treasury stock. The Board
of Directors of ePlus has reserved 2,006,188 shares of common stock for issuance
pursuant to the exercise of outstanding stock options. Accordingly, there remain
37,429,427 shares of common stock which are unissued and are not reserved for
any specific purpose. If the amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation is
approved this number will be reduced to approximately 12,429,427 shares.
Vote Required for Approval. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
the shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote on the proposal is
required for approval of Proposal 3.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the approval of the
amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation.
PROPOSAL 4
To Approve An Amendment To The ePlus inc. Amended And Restated 1998 Long-Term
Incentive Plan, Which Sets The Number Of Shares Of Common Stock Available For
Awards Under The Plan At 3,000,000.
Effective July 15, 2003, pursuant to an action by written consent, ePlus' Board
of Directors approved and recommended to the stockholders an amendment to the
ePlus, inc. Amended and Restated 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "LTIP") that
would eliminate the "evergreen" share replenishment feature of the LTIP and set
the number of shares of ePlus common stock available for awards under the LTIP
at 3,000,000.
In order to preserve the full deductibility of awards made pursuant to the LTIP
under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), the amendment to the LTIP, is being submitted to ePlus' stockholders
for approval.
Specifically, the amendment amends Section 5.1 of the LTIP. Section 5.1 of the
LTIP currently provides that the number of shares of common stock which may be
subject to awards under the LTIP are equal to 20% of the outstanding shares of
common stock of ePlus, on a fully diluted basis, less shares issued pursuant to
our other equity plans, at the time of the award grant. At the time of the
original adoption of the LTIP it was anticipated that this formulation would
provide for a sufficient number of shares to be the subject of awards. In an
effort to strengthen stockholder value, ePlus has recently engaged in the
practice of repurchasing shares of ePlus common stock on the open market. As a
result of these repurchases, the number of outstanding shares of ePlus common
stock has been steadily decreasing, and, as a result under the current
formulation set forth in Section 5.1 of the LTIP, ePlus has been significantly
restricted as to the number of awards that may be granted under the LTIP. As
described below, management believes that there is value to the company's
stockholders in aligning the interests of its employees, officers, consultants,
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and directors with the interests of its stockholders. In addition, the awards
that are granted under the LTIP also assist us in recruiting qualified employees
who contribute to our success. The proposed amendment would amend Section 5.1 of
the LTIP to read as follows:
5.1. NUMBER OF SHARES. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section
15.1, the aggregate number of shares of Stock reserved and available for
Awards or which may be used to provide a basis of measurement for or to
determine the value of an Award (such as with a Stock Appreciation Right or
Performance Unit Award) shall be 3,000,000. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
not more than 10% of the shares authorized herein may be granted as Awards
of Restricted Stock or unrestricted Stock Awards.
If the amendment is approved by the stockholders, up to 3 million shares could
be subject to awards issued under the plan. Management believes that this
limitation will allow for the issuance of an appropriate number of awards for
the foreseeable without unnecessarily diluting the company's stockholders.
As of July 15, 2003, there were approximately 551 persons eligible to
participate in the LTIP. As of July 15, 2003, there were approximately 2,006,188
shares of ePlus' common stock subject to outstanding awards and no shares of
ePlus' common stock were reserved and available for future awards under the
plan.
A summary of the LTIP is set forth below. The summary is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the full text of the LTIP as it is proposed to be
amended, which is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix B.
General
The purpose of the LTIP is to promote the success, and enhance the value, of
ePlus by linking the personal interests of employees, officers, consultants and
directors to those of the stockholders, and by providing such employees,
officers, consultants, and directors with an incentive for outstanding
performance.
The LTIP authorizes the granting of awards ("Awards") to employees, officers,
consultants, and directors of ePlus or its subsidiaries in the following forms:
(1) options to purchase shares of common stock ("Options"), which may be
incentive stock options or non-qualified options; (2) stock appreciation rights
("SARs"); (3) performance units ("Performance Units"); (4) restricted stock
("Restricted Stock"); (5) dividend equivalents ("Dividend Equivalents"); (6)
other stock-based awards; or (7) any other right or interest relating to common
stock or cash. Not more than 10% of the shares authorized under the LTIP may be
granted as Awards of Restricted Stock or unrestricted Stock Awards. The maximum
number of shares of common stock with respect to one or more Options and/or SARs
that may be granted during any one calendar year under the LTIP to any one
participant is 500,000. The maximum fair market value of any Awards (other than
Options and SARs) that may be received by a participant (less any consideration
paid by the participant for such Award) during any one calendar year under the
LTIP is $2,000,000.
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Pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code, ePlus may not deduct compensation in
excess of $1 million paid to the Chief Executive Officer and the four next most
highly compensated executive officers of ePlus. The LTIP is designed to comply
with Code Section 162(m) so that the grant of Options and SARs under the LTIP,
and other Awards, such as Performance Units, that are conditioned on the
performance goals described in the LTIP, will be excluded from the calculation
of annual compensation for purposes of Code Section 162(m) and will be fully
deductible by ePlus. The Board of Directors has approved the amended and
restated LTIP for submission to the stockholders in order to preserve the full
deductibility of awards made pursuant to the LTIP under Section 162(m) of the
Code.
Administration
The LTIP is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
of ePlus. Except as such discretion may be limited by the automatic provisions
with respect to annual grants of Options to non-employee directors, the
Compensation Committee has the power, authority, and discretion to designate
participants; determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each
participant and the number, terms, and conditions thereof; establish, adopt, or
revise any rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to
administer the LTIP; and make all other decisions and determinations that may be
required under, or as the Compensation Committee deems necessary or advisable to
administer, the LTIP.
Formula Grants To Non-Employee Directors
Pursuant to the terms of the LTIP, on the day following each annual meeting of
ePlus' stockholders held on or before September 1, 2006, each non-employee
director of ePlus who is serving in such capacity as of such day will be granted
a non-qualified Option to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock (each, a
"Director Option"). Appropriate pro-rata grants will be made if at any time
there are insufficient shares under the LTIP to make the full scheduled grants
of Director Options. The exercise price for each Director Option will be 100% of
the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. Each Director
Option will expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant unless earlier
terminated as provided below. A Director Option will not automatically lapse by
reason of the optionee ceasing to qualify as a non-employee director but
remaining as a member of the Board of Directors. However, Director Options will
lapse under the earliest of the following circumstances: (1) ten years after the
date of grant; (2) if the optionee ceases to serve as a member of the Board of
Directors for any reason other than by reason of death or disability, his
Director Options will lapse three months after such termination as a member of
the Board of Directors; provided, however, that if the director is removed for
cause, his Director Options will lapse immediately; and (3) if the optionee
ceases to serve as a member of the Board of Directors by reason of his death or
disability, his Director Options will lapse one year after such termination as a
member of the Board of Directors.
Each Director option will be immediately exercisable, in whole or in part, on
the first anniversary of the date of grant. Director Options are assignable or
transferable by the director by will, by the laws of descent and distribution,
or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, and will be transferable by
the director to any of the following permitted transferees, upon such reasonable
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terms and conditions as the Compensation Committee may establish (and, unless
specifically permitted by the Board of Directors in advance, such transfers
shall be limited to one transfer per director to no more than four transferees):
(1) one or more of the following family members of the director: any child,
stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling,
mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or
sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, (2) a trust, partnership, or
other entity established and existing for the sole benefit of, or under the sole
control of, one or more of the above family members of the director, or (3) any
other transferee specifically approved by the Compensation Committee after
taking into account any state or federal tax, securities, or other laws
applicable to transferable options.
No Director Options will be granted after September 1, 2006. However, the
Compensation Committee may make discretionary awards to non-employee directors
pursuant to the other provisions of the LTIP before or after September 1, 2006.
Discretionary Awards
Stock Options. The Compensation Committee is authorized to grant Options, which
may be incentive stock options ("ISOs") or nonqualified stock options ("NQSOs"),
to participants. The exercise price of any Option may not be less than the fair
market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant. All Options will be
evidenced by a written Award Agreement between ePlus and the participant, which
will include such provisions as may be specified by the Compensation Committee.
The terms of any ISO must meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.
Stock Appreciation Rights. The Compensation Committee may grant SARs to
participants. Upon the exercise of a SAR, the participant has the right to
receive the excess, if any, of: the fair market value of one share of common
stock on the date of exercise over the grant price of the SAR as determined by
the Compensation Committee, which will not be less than the fair market value of
one share of common stock on the date of grant. All awards of SARs will be
evidenced by an Award Agreement, reflecting the terms, methods of exercise,
methods of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, and any
other terms and conditions of the SAR, as determined by the Compensation
Committee at the time of grant.
Performance Units. The Compensation Committee may grant Performance Units to
participants on such terms and conditions as may be selected by the Compensation
Committee. The Compensation Committee will have the complete discretion to
determine the number of Performance Units granted to each participant and to set
performance goals and other terms or conditions to payment of the Performance
Units in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met,
will determine the number and value of Performance Units that will be paid to
the participant.
Restricted Stock Awards. The Compensation Committee may make awards of
Restricted Stock to participants, which will be subject to such restrictions on
transferability and other restrictions as the Compensation Committee may impose
(including, without limitation, limitations on the right to vote Restricted
Stock or the right to receive dividends, if any, on the Restricted Stock).
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Dividend Equivalents. The Compensation Committee is authorized to grant Dividend
Equivalents to participants subject to such terms and conditions as may be
selected by the Compensation Committee. Dividend Equivalents entitle the
participant to receive payments equal to dividends with respect to all or a
portion of the number of shares of common stock subject to an Option Award or
SAR Award, as determined by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation
Committee may provide that Dividend Equivalents be paid or distributed when
accrued or be deemed to have been reinvested in additional shares of common
stock, or otherwise reinvested.
Other Stock-Based Awards. The Compensation Committee may, subject to limitations
under applicable law, grant to participants such other Awards that are payable
in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related
to shares of common stock, as deemed by the Compensation Committee to be
consistent with the purposes of the LTIP, including without limitation shares of
common stock awarded purely as a "bonus" and not subject to any restrictions or
conditions, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights
convertible or exchangeable into shares of common stock, and Awards valued by
reference to book value of shares of common stock or the value of securities of
or the performance of specified parents or subsidiaries of ePlus. The
Compensation Committee will determine the terms and conditions of any such
Awards.
Performance Goals. The Compensation Committee may determine that any Award will
be determined solely on the basis of (1) the achievement by ePlus or a parent or
subsidiary of a specified target return, or target growth in return, on equity
or assets, (2) ePlus', parent's, or subsidiary's stock price, (3) the
achievement by an individual or a business unit of ePlus, parent, or subsidiary
of a specified target, or target growth in, revenues, net income, or earnings
per share, (4) the achievement of objectively determinable goals with respect to
service or product delivery, service or product quality, customer satisfaction,
meeting budgets, and/or retention of employees or (5) any combination of the
goals set forth in (1) through (4) above. Furthermore, the Compensation
Committee reserves the right for any reason to reduce (but not increase) any
Award, notwithstanding the achievement of a specified goal. If an Award is made
on such basis, the Compensation Committee must establish goals prior to the
beginning of the period for which such performance goal relates (or such later
date as may be permitted under Code Section 162(m)). Any payment of an Award
granted with performance goals will be conditioned on the written certification
of the Compensation Committee in each case that the performance goals and any
other material conditions were satisfied.
Limitations on Transfer; Beneficiaries. Except for certain limited exceptions
applicable to Director Options, no Award will be assignable or transferable by a
participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or,
except in the case of an ISO, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order;
provided, however, that the Compensation Committee may (but need not) permit
other transfers where the Compensation Committee concludes that such
transferability (1) does not result in accelerated taxation, (2) does not cause
any Option intended to be an incentive stock option to fail to be described in
Code Section 422(b), and (3) is otherwise appropriate and desirable, taking into
account any factors deemed relevant, including without limitation, any state or
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federal tax or securities laws or regulations applicable to transferable Awards.
A participant may, in the manner determined by the Compensation Committee,
designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the participant and to receive
any distribution with respect to any Award upon the participant's death.
Acceleration Upon Certain Events. Upon the participant's death, disability or
retirement, all outstanding Options, SARs, and other Awards in the nature of
rights that may be exercised will become fully exercisable and all restrictions
on outstanding Awards will lapse. Any Options or SARs will thereafter continue
or lapse in accordance with the other provisions of the LTIP and the Award
Agreement. In the event of a Change in Control of ePlus (as defined in the
LTIP), all outstanding Options, SARs, and other Awards in the nature of rights
that may be exercised will become fully vested and all restrictions on all and
is contingent upon qualifying for such accounting treatment will lapse. In the
event of (1) the commencement of a public tender offer for all or any portion of
the common stock, or (2) a proposal to merge, consolidate, or otherwise combine
into and with another corporation (in which transaction ePlus would not survive)
is submitted to the stockholders of ePlus for approval, the Compensation
Committee may in its sole discretion declare all outstanding Options, SARs, and
other Awards in the nature of rights that may be exercised to become fully
vested, and/or all restrictions on all outstanding Awards to lapse, in each case
as of such date as the Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion,
declare, which may be on or before the consummation of such tender offer or
other transaction or event.
Termination And Amendment
The Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee may, at any time and from
time to time, terminate, amend, or modify the LTIP without stockholder approval;
provided, however, that the Compensation Committee may condition any amendment
on the approval of stockholders of ePlus if such approval is necessary or deemed
advisable with respect to tax, securities, or other applicable laws, policies,
or regulations. No termination, amendment, or modification of the LTIP may
adversely affect any Award previously granted under the LTIP, without the
written consent of the participant. The exercise price of any outstanding option
may not be reduced, directly or indirectly, without the prior approval of
stockholders.
Certain Federal Income Tax Effects
Nonqualified Stock Options. Under present federal income tax regulations, there
will be no federal income tax consequences to either ePlus or the participant
upon the grant of an NQSO (including the Director Options). However, the
participant will realize ordinary income on the exercise of the NQSO in an
amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the common stock acquired
upon the exercise of such option over the exercise price, and ePlus will receive
a corresponding deduction. The gain, if any, realized upon the subsequent
disposition by the participant of the common stock will constitute short-term or
long-term capital gain, depending on the participant's holding period.
Incentive Stock Options. Under present federal income tax regulations, there
will be no federal income tax consequences to either ePlus or the participant
upon the grant of an ISO or the exercise thereof by the participant. If the
participant holds the shares of common stock for the greater of two years after
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the date the Option was granted or one year after the acquisition of such shares
of common stock (the "required holding period"), the difference between the
aggregate option price and the amount realized upon disposition of the shares of
common stock will constitute long-term capital gain or loss, and ePlus will not
be entitled to a federal income tax deduction. If the shares of common stock are
disposed of in a sale, exchange, or other "disqualifying disposition" during the
required holding period, the participant will realize taxable ordinary income in
an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the common stock
purchased at the time of exercise over the aggregate option price, and ePlus
will be entitled to a federal income tax deduction equal to such amount.
SARs. Under present federal income tax regulations, a participant receiving a
SAR will not recognize income, and ePlus will not be allowed a tax deduction, at
the time the Award is granted. When a participant exercises the SAR, the amount
of cash and the fair market value of any shares of common stock received will be
ordinary income to the participant and will be allowed as a deduction for
federal income tax purposes to ePlus.
Performance Units. Under present federal income tax regulations, a participant
receiving Performance Units will not recognize income and ePlus will not be
allowed a tax deduction at the time the Award is granted. When a participant
receives payment of Performance Units, the amount of cash and the fair market
value of any shares of common stock received will be ordinary income to the
participant and will be allowed as a deduction for federal income tax purposes
to ePlus.
Restricted Stock. Under present federal income tax regulations, and unless the
participant makes an election to accelerate recognition of the income to the
date of grant, a participant receiving a Restricted Stock Award will not
recognize income, and ePlus will not be allowed a tax deduction, at the time the
Award is granted. When the restrictions lapse, the participant will recognize
ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the common stock, and ePlus
will be entitled to a corresponding tax deduction at that time.
Benefits To Named Executive Officers And Others
The table below reflects awards granted under the LTIP during the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2003 to the persons and groups indicated. With the exception of
annual formula grants to non-employee directors described above, any future
awards under the LTIP will be made at the discretion of the Compensation
Committee. Consequently, ePlus cannot determine, with respect to (1) the named
executive officers, (2) all current executive officers as a group, or (3) all
eligible participants, including all current officers who are not executive
officers, as a group, either the benefits or amounts that will be received in
the future by such persons or groups pursuant to the LTIP.
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ePlus inc. Amended and Restated 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan
Stock Option Grants
----------------------------
Number of
Name and Position Dollar Value(1) Options
------------------------------------------------- --------------- -----------
Phillip G. Norton................................ -- --
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
Bruce M. Bowen................................... -- --
Director and Executive Vice President
Kleyton L. Parkhurst............................. $189,600 30,000
Senior Vice President, Assistant Secretary and
Treasurer
Steven J. Mencarini.............................. $75,840 12,000
Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President
All Executive Officers as a Group................ $265,440 42,000
All Non-Executive Directors as a Group........... $0 0(2)
All Non-Executive Officer Employees as a Group... $265,440 42,000
-------------------
(1) The dollar value of the options will be dependent on the difference between
the exercise price and the fair market value of the underlying shares on
the date of exercise (the "option spread"). The dollar value of the options
shown above represents the option spread as of July 15 2003, based on the
weighed average exercise price of the options.
(2) Pursuant to the terms of the LTIP, on the day following each annual meeting
of the ePlus stockholders held on or before September 1, 2006, each
non-employee director of ePlus is granted a non-qualified stock option to
purchase 10,000 shares of common stock. ePlus currently has three
non-employee directors serving on its Board of Directors. In connection
with this provision, 10,000 options were granted to each of the
non-employee directors in April 2003.
Additional Information
The closing price of the common stock, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market
on July 21, 2003, was $13.29.
Vote Required for Approval. The affirmative vote of the holders of at least a
majority of the shares of common stock present in person or by proxy and
entitled to vote at the annual meeting on the proposal will constitute approval
of Proposal 4.
Board of Directors Recommendation. The Board of Directors unanimously recommends
that you vote in favor of the amendment to the ePlus inc. Amended and Restated
1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
OTHER PROPOSED ACTION
The Board of Directors does not intend to bring any other matters before the
annual meeting, nor does the Board of Directors know of any matters which other
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persons intend to bring before the annual meeting. If, however, other matters
not mentioned in this proxy statement properly come before the annual meeting,
the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy will vote thereon in
accordance with the recommendation of the Board of Directors.
You should note that ePlus' Bylaws provide that in order for a stockholder to
bring business before a meeting or to make a nomination for the election of
directors, the stockholder must give written notice complying with the
requirements of the Bylaws to the Secretary of ePlus not later than 90 days in
advance of the meeting or, if later, the seventh day following the first public
announcement of the date of the meeting.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND SUBMISSIONS
If any stockholder wishes to present a proposal for inclusion in the proxy
materials to be solicited by the ePlus Board of Directors with respect to the
next annual meeting of stockholders, that proposal must be presented to ePlus'
management prior to April 4, 2004.
In accordance with ePlus' Bylaws, for a stockholder proposal or nomination to be
considered at a meeting of stockholders, the proposal must be submitted in
writing to the Secretary of ePlus not less than 90 days in advance of such
meeting or, if later, the seventh day following the first public announcement of
the date of such meeting.
Whether or not you expect to be present at the annual meeting, please sign and
return the enclosed proxy card promptly. Your vote is important. If you are a
stockholder of record and attend the annual meeting and wish to vote in person,
you may withdraw your proxy at any time prior to the vote.
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APPENDIX A
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
Below is the full text of the proposed amendment to the ePlus inc. Certificate
of Incorporation. The only change to the Certificate of Incorporation affected
by this amendment is to decrease the number of authorized shares ePlus' stock,
as described in the proxy statement.
The Corporation's certificate of incorporation hereby is amended by deleting
existing Article "FOURTH" of the certificate of incorporation in its entirety
and replacing it with the following language:
"FOURTH"
The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the
Corporation shall have authority to issue is 27 million (27,000,000)
shares consisting of 25 million (25,000,000) shares of common stock
having a par value of $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock") and 2
million (2,000,000) shares of preferred stock having a par value of
$0.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock").
The Board of Directors of the Corporation is authorized, subject to
limitations prescribed by law, to provide by resolution or resolutions for
the issuance of shares of the Preferred Stock as a class or in series, and,
by filing a certificate of designations, pursuant to the Delaware General
Corporation Law, setting forth a copy of such resolution or resolutions to
establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each
such series and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of
the shares of the class or of each such series an the qualifications,
limitations, and restrictions thereof. The authority of the Board of
Directors with respect to the class or each series shall include, but not
be limited to, determination of the following:
(a) the number of shares constituting any series and the distinctive
designation of that series;
(b) the dividend rate of the shares of the class or of any series, whether
dividends shall be cumulative, and if so, from which date or dates,
and the relative rights of priority, if any of payment of dividends on
shares of the class or of that series;
(c) whether the class or any series shall have voting rights, in addition
to the voting rights provided by law, and if so, the terms of such
voting rights;
(d) whether the class or any series shall have conversion privileges and,
if so, the terms and conditions of conversion, including provision for
adjustment of the conversion rate in such events as the Board of
Directors shall determine;
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(e) whether or not the shares of the class or of any series shall be
redeemable, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption,
including the date or dates upon or after which they shall be
redeemable and the amount per share payable in case of redemption,
which amount may vary under different conditions and at different
redemption dates;
(f) whether the class or any series shall have a sinking fund for the
redemption or purchase of shares of the class or of that series, and
if so, the terms and amount of such sinking fund;
(g) the rights of the shares of the class or of any series in the event of
voluntary or involuntary dissolution or winding up of the Corporation,
and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of shares of
the class or of that series; and
(h) any other powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and
restrictions of the class or of that series.
All rights accruing to the outstanding shares of the Corporation not
expressly provided for to the contrary herein or in any certificate of
designation shall be vested exclusively in the Common Stock."
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APPENDIX B
EPLUS INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED 1998 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE
1.1. GENERAL. The purpose of the ePlus inc. Amended and Restated 1998
Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is to promote the success, and enhance the
value, of ePlus inc. (the "Corporation"), by linking the personal interests of
its employees, officers, consultants and directors to those of Corporation
stockholders and by providing such persons with an incentive for outstanding
performance. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the
Corporation in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of
employees, officers, consultants and directors upon whose judgment, interest,
and special effort the successful conduct of the Corporation's operation is
largely dependent. Accordingly, the Plan permits the grant of incentive awards
from time to time to selected employees, officers, consultants and directors. In
addition, the Plan provides for automatic annual grants of options to
Non-Employee Directors of the Corporation as provided in Article 13.
ARTICLE 2
EFFECTIVE DATE
2.1. EFFECTIVE DATE. The Plan shall be effective as of the date upon which
it shall be approved by the Board (the "Effective Date"). However, the Plan
shall be submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation for approval within 12
months of the Board's approval thereof. No Incentive Stock Options granted under
the Plan may be exercised prior to approval of the Plan by the stockholders and
if the stockholders fail to approve the Plan within 12 months of the Board's
approval thereof, any Incentive Stock Options previously granted hereunder shall
be automatically converted to Non-Qualified Stock Options without any further
act. In the discretion of the Committee, Awards may be made to Covered Employees
which are intended to constitute qualified performance-based compensation under
Code Section 162(m). Any such Awards shall be contingent upon the stockholders
having approved the Plan.
ARTICLE 3
DEFINITIONS
3.1. DEFINITIONS. When a word or phrase appears in this Plan with the
initial letter capitalized, and the word or phrase does not commence a sentence,
the word or phrase shall generally be given the meaning ascribed to it in this
Section, unless a clearly different meaning is required by the context. The
following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
"Award" means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock
Award, Performance Unit Award, Dividend Equivalent Award, or Other
B-1
Stock-Based Award, or any other right or interest relating to Stock or
cash, granted to a Participant under the Plan.
"Award Agreement" means any written agreement, contract, or other
instrument or document evidencing an Award.
"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
"Cause" as a reason for a Participant's termination of employment or
service as a director or consultant shall have the meaning assigned such
term in the written employment or other agreement, if any, between such
Participant and the Corporation or an affiliated company, provided, however
that if there is no such agreement in which such term is defined, "Cause"
shall mean any of the following acts by the Participant, as determined by
the Board: gross neglect of duty, prolonged absence from duty without the
consent of the Corporation, intentionally engaging in any activity that is
in conflict with or adverse to the business or other interests of the
Corporation, or willful misconduct, misfeasance or malfeasance of duty
which is reasonably determined to be detrimental to the Corporation.
"Change in Control" means and includes each of the following:
(1) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within
the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act) (a
"Person") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the 1934 Act) of 25% or more of the combined voting
power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the
"Outstanding Corporation Voting Securities"); provided, however, that
for purposes of this subsection (1), the following acquisitions shall
not constitute a Change of Control: (1) any acquisition by a Person
who is on the Effective Date the beneficial owner of 25% or more of
the Outstanding Corporation Voting Securities, (2) any acquisition
directly from the Corporation, (3) any acquisition by the Corporation,
(4) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
sponsored or maintained by the Corporation or any corporation
controlled by the Corporation, or (5) any acquisition by any
corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (1),
(2) and (3) of subsection (3) of this definition; or
(2) Individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the
Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at
least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual
becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election,
or nomination for election by the Corporation's stockholders, was
approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then
comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such
individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for
this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office
B-2
occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with
respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or
threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a
Person other than the Board; or
(3) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or
sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Corporation (a "Business Combination"), in each case, unless,
following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of
the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the
Outstanding Corporation Voting Securities immediately prior to such
Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more
than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of
the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including,
without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such
transaction owns the Corporation or all or substantially all of the
Corporation's assets either directly or through one or more
subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the
Outstanding Corporation Voting Securities, (2) no Person (excluding
any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Corporation or such
corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially
owns, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the combined voting power
of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except
to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business
Combination, and (3) at least a majority of the members of the Board
of Directors of the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the
execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board,
providing for such Business Combination; or
(4) Approval by the stockholders of the Corporation of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
time to time.
"Committee" means the committee of the Board described in Article
4.
"Corporation" means ePlus inc., a Delaware corporation.
"Covered Employee" means a covered employee as defined in Code
Section 162(m)(3).
"Disability" shall mean any illness or other physical or mental condition
of a Participant that renders the Participant incapable of performing his
customary and usual duties for the Corporation, or any medically determinable
illness or other physical or mental condition resulting from a bodily injury,
disease or mental disorder which, in the judgment of the Committee, is permanent
and continuous in nature. The Committee may require such medical or other
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evidence as it deems necessary to judge the nature and permanency of the
Participant's condition. Notwithstanding the above, with respect to an Incentive
Stock Option, Disability shall mean Permanent and Total Disability as defined in
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
"Dividend Equivalent" means a right granted to a Participant under Article
11.
"Effective Date" has the meaning assigned such term in Section 2.1.
"Fair Market Value," on any date, means (1) if the Stock is listed on a
securities exchange or is traded over the Nasdaq National Market, the closing
sales price on such exchange or over such system on such date or, in the absence
of reported sales on such date, the closing sales price on the immediately
preceding date on which sales were reported, or (2) if the Stock is not listed
on a securities exchange or traded over the Nasdaq National Market, the mean
between the bid an offered prices as quoted by Nasdaq for such date, provided
that if it is determined that the fair market value is not properly reflected by
such Nasdaq quotations, Fair Market Value will be determined by such other
method as the Committee determines in good faith to be reasonable.
"Incentive Stock Option" means an Option that is intended to meet the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.
"Non-Employee Director" means a member of the Board who is not an employee
of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary.
"Non-Qualified Stock Option" means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock
Option.
"Option" means a right granted to a Participant under the Plan to purchase
Stock at a specified price during specified time periods. An Option may be
either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option; provided, that
Options granted under Article 13 shall be Non-Qualified Options.
"Other Stock-Based Award" means a right, granted to a Participant under
Article 12, that relates to or is valued by reference to Stock or other Awards
relating to Stock.
"Parent" means a corporation which owns or beneficially owns a majority of
the outstanding voting stock or voting power of the Corporation. For Incentive
Stock Options, the term shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section
424(e).
"Participant" means a person who, as an employee, officer, consultant or
director of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, has been granted an Award under
the Plan.
"Performance Unit" means a right granted to a Participant under Article 9,
to receive cash, Stock, or other Awards, the payment of which is contingent upon
achieving certain performance goals established by the Committee.
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"Plan" means the ePlus inc. Amended and Restated 1998 Long-Term Incentive
Plan, as amended from time to time.
"Restricted Stock Award" means Stock granted to a Participant under Article
10 that is subject to certain restrictions and to risk of forfeiture.
"Retirement" means a Participant's termination of employment with the
Corporation, Parent or Subsidiary after attaining any normal or early retirement
age specified in any pension, profit sharing or other retirement program
sponsored by the Corporation, or, in the event of the inapplicability thereof
with respect to the person in question, as determined by the Committee in its
reasonable judgment.
"Stock" means the $.01 par value common stock of the Corporation and such
other securities of the Corporation as may be substituted for Stock pursuant to
Article 15.
"Stock Appreciation Right" or "SAR" means a right granted to a Participant
under Article 8 to receive a payment equal to the difference between the Fair
Market Value of a share of Stock as of the date of exercise of the SAR over the
grant price of the SAR, all as determined pursuant to Article 8.
"Subsidiary" means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership
or other entity of which a majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting
power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Corporation. For
Incentive Stock Options, the term shall have the meaning set forth in Code
Section 424(f).
"1933 Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
"1934 Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time
to time.
ARTICLE 4
ADMINISTRATION
4.1. COMMITTEE. The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation
Committee of the Board or, at the discretion of the Board from time to time, by
the Board. The Committee shall consist of two or more members of the Board. It
is intended that the directors appointed to serve on the Committee shall be
"non-employee directors" (within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the
1934 Act) and "outside directors" (within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and
the regulations thereunder). However, the mere fact that a Committee member
shall fail to qualify under either of the foregoing requirements shall not
invalidate any Award made by the Committee which Award is otherwise validly made
under the Plan. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by, and may be
changed at any time and from time to time in the discretion of, the Board.
During any time that the Board is acting as administrator of the Plan, it shall
have all the powers of the Committee hereunder, and any reference herein to the
Committee (other than in this Section 4.1) shall include the Board.
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4.2. ACTION BY THE COMMITTEE. For purposes of administering the Plan, the
following rules of procedure shall govern the Committee. A majority of the
Committee shall constitute a quorum. The acts of a majority of the members
present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and acts approved
unanimously in writing by the members of the Committee in lieu of a meeting,
shall be deemed the acts of the Committee. Each member of the Committee is
entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information
furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of the Corporation or
any Parent or Subsidiary, the Corporation's independent certified public
accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional
retained by the Corporation to assist in the administration of the Plan.
4.3. AUTHORITY OF COMMITTEE. Except as provided below, the Committee has
the exclusive power, authority and discretion to do the following; except as
such discretion shall be limited by the automatic provisions of Article 13 with
respect to annual grants of Options to Non-Employee Directors:
(a) Designate Participants;
(b) Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each
Participant;
(c) Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of
shares of Stock to which an Award will relate;
(d) Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the
Plan, including but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, or
purchase price, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule
for lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability
of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, based in each case on
such considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion determines;
(e) Accelerate the vesting, exercisability or lapse of restrictions of
any outstanding Award, based in each case on such considerations as the
Committee in its sole discretion determines;
(f) Determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an
Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in,
cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled,
forfeited, or surrendered;
(g) Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be
identical for each Participant;
(h) Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection
with an Award;
(i) Establish, adopt or revise any rules and regulations as it may
deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
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(j) Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required
under the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to
administer the Plan; and
(k) Amend the Plan or any Award Agreement as provided herein; and
(l) Adopt such modifications, procedures, and subplans as may be
necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws of non-U.S.
jurisdictions in which the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary may
operate, in order to assure the viability of the benefits of Awards granted
to participants located in such other jurisdictions and to meet the
objectives of the Plan.
Notwithstanding the above, the Board or the Committee may expressly
delegate to a special committee consisting of one or more directors who are also
officers of the Corporation some or all of the Committee's authority under
subsections (a) through (g) above with respect to those eligible Participants
who, at the time of grant are not, and are not anticipated to be become, either
(1) Covered Employees or (2) persons subject to the insider trading rules of
Section 16 of the 1934 Act.
4.4. DECISIONS BINDING. The Committee's interpretation of the Plan, any
Awards granted under the Plan, any Award Agreement and all decisions and
determinations by the Committee with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and
conclusive on all parties.
ARTICLE 5
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
5.1. NUMBER OF SHARES. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15.1,
the aggregate number of shares of Stock reserved and available for Awards or
which may be used to provide a basis of measurement for or to determine the
value of an Award (such as with a Stock Appreciation Right or Performance Unit
Award) shall be 3,000,000. Notwithstanding the foregoing, not more than 10% of
the shares authorized herein may be granted as Awards of Restricted Stock or
unrestricted Stock Awards.
5.2. LAPSED AWARDS. To the extent that an Award is canceled, terminates,
expires, lapses or is forfeited for any reason, any shares of Stock subject to
the Award will again be available for the grant of an Award under the Plan and
shares subject to SARs or other Awards settled in cash will be available for the
grant of an Award under the Plan.
5.3. STOCK DISTRIBUTED. Any Stock distributed pursuant to an Award may
consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Stock, treasury Stock
or Stock purchased on the open market.
5.4. LIMITATION ON AWARDS. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the
contrary (but subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15.1), the maximum
number of shares of Stock with respect to one or more Options and/or SARs that
may be granted during any one calendar year under the Plan to any one Covered
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Employee shall be 500,000. The maximum fair market value (measured as of the
date of grant) of any Awards other than Options and SARs that may be received by
a Covered Employee (less any consideration paid by the Participant for such
Award) during any one calendar year under the Plan shall be $2,000,000.
ARTICLE 6
ELIGIBILITY
6.1. GENERAL. Awards may be granted only to individuals who are employees,
officers, consultants or directors of the Corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary.
ARTICLE 7
STOCK OPTIONS
7.1. GENERAL. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to
Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(a) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Stock under an
Option shall be determined by the Committee, provided that the exercise
price for any Option shall not be less than the Fair Market Value as of the
date of the grant.
(b) Time And Conditions Of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the
time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part,
subject to Section 7.1(e). The Committee also shall determine the
performance or other conditions, if any, that must be satisfied before all
or part of an Option may be exercised or vested. The Committee may waive
any exercise or vesting provisions at any time in whole or in part based
upon factors as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion so that
the Option becomes exerciseable or vested at an earlier date. The Committee
may permit an arrangement whereby receipt of Stock upon exercise of an
Option is delayed until a specified future date.
(c) Payment. The Committee shall determine the methods by which the
exercise price of an Option may be paid, the form of payment, including,
without limitation, cash, shares of Stock, or other property (including
"cashless exercise" arrangements), and the methods by which shares of Stock
shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants; provided that
if shares of Stock are used to pay the exercise price of an Option, such
shares must have been held by the Participant for at least six months. When
shares of Stock are delivered, such delivery may be by attestation of
ownership or actual delivery of one or more certificates.
(d) Evidence Of Grant. All Options shall be evidenced by a written
Award Agreement between the Corporation and the Participant. The Award
Agreement shall include such provisions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as
may be specified by the Committee or, in the case of Options granted
pursuant to Article 13, by the provisions of Article 13.
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7.2. INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. The terms of any Incentive Stock Options
granted under the Plan must comply with the following additional rules:
(a) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Stock shall be set
by the Committee, provided that the exercise price for any Incentive Stock
Option shall not be less than the Fair Market Value as of the date of the
grant.
(b) Exercise. In no event may any Incentive Stock Option be
exercisable for more than ten years from the date of its grant.
(c) Lapse Of Option. An Incentive Stock Option shall lapse under the
earliest of the following circumstances; provided, however, that the
Committee may, prior to the lapse of the Incentive Stock Option under the
circumstances described in paragraphs (3), (4) and (5) below, provide in
writing that the Option will extend until a later date, but if an Option is
exercised after the dates specified in paragraphs (3), (4) and (5) below,
it will automatically become a Non-Qualified Stock Option:
(1) The Incentive Stock Option shall lapse as of the option expiration
date set forth in the Award Agreement.
(2) The Incentive Stock Option shall lapse ten years after it is
granted, unless an earlier time is set in the Award Agreement.
(3) If the Participant terminates employment for any reason other than
as provided in paragraph (4) or (5) below, the Incentive Stock Option shall
lapse, unless it is previously exercised, three months after the
Participant's termination of employment; provided, however, that if the
Participant's employment is terminated by the Corporation for Cause, the
Incentive Stock Option shall (to the extent not previously exercised) lapse
immediately.
(4) If the Participant terminates employment by reason of his
Disability, the Incentive Stock Option shall lapse, unless it is previously
exercised, one year after the Participant's termination of employment.
(5) If the Participant dies while employed, or during the three-month
period described in paragraph (3) or during the one-year period described
in paragraph (4) and before the Option otherwise lapses, the Option shall
lapse one year after the Participant's death. Upon the Participant's death,
any exercisable Incentive Stock Options may be exercised by the
Participant's beneficiary, determined in accordance with Section 14.6.
Unless the exercisability of the Incentive Stock Option is accelerated as
provided in Article 15, if a Participant exercises an Option after termination
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of employment, the Option may be exercised only with respect to the shares that
were otherwise vested on the Participant's termination of employment.
(d) Individual Dollar Limitation. The aggregate Fair Market Value
(determined as of the time an Award is made) of all shares of Stock with respect
to which Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in any
calendar year may not exceed $100,000.00.
(e) Ten Percent Owners. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any
individual who, at the date of grant, owns stock possessing more than ten
percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary unless the exercise price per share of
such Option is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value per share of Stock at the
date of grant and the Option expires no later than five years after the date of
grant.
(f) Expiration Of Incentive Stock Options. No Award of an Incentive Stock
Option may be made pursuant to the Plan after the day immediately prior to the
tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.
(g) Right To Exercise. During a Participant's lifetime, an Incentive Stock
Option may be exercised only by the Participant or, in the case of the
Participant's Disability, by the Participant's guardian or legal representative.
(h) Non-Employees. The Committee may not grant an Incentive Stock Option to
a non-employee. The Committee may grant an Incentive Stock Option to a director
who is also an employee of the Corporation or Parent or Subsidiary but only in
that individual's position as an employee and not as a director.
ARTICLE 8
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
8.1. GRANT OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. The Committee is authorized to
grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Participants on the following terms and
conditions:
(a) Right To Payment. Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right,
the Participant to whom it is granted has the right to receive the excess,
if any, of:
(1) The Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of
exercise; over
(2) The grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right as determined
by the Committee, which shall not be less than the Fair Market Value
of one share of Stock on the date of grant.
(b) Other Terms. All awards of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be
evidenced by an Award Agreement. The terms, methods of exercise, methods of
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settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, and any other
terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by
the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award and shall be reflected
in the Award Agreement.
ARTICLE 9
PERFORMANCE UNITS
9.1. GRANT OF PERFORMANCE UNITS. The Committee is authorized to grant
Performance Units to Participants on such terms and conditions as may be
selected by the Committee. The Committee shall have the complete discretion to
determine the number of Performance Units granted to each Participant, subject
to Section 5.4. All Awards of Performance Units shall be evidenced by an Award
Agreement.
9.2. RIGHT TO PAYMENT. A grant of Performance Units gives the Participant
rights, valued as determined by the Committee, and payable to, or exercisable
by, the Participant to whom the Performance Units are granted, in whole or in
part, as the Committee shall establish at grant or thereafter. The Committee
shall set performance goals and other terms or conditions to payment of the
Performance Units in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they
are met, will determine the number and value of Performance Units that will be
paid to the Participant.
9.3. OTHER TERMS. Performance Units may be payable in cash, Stock, or other
property, and have such other terms and conditions as determined by the
Committee and reflected in the Award Agreement.
ARTICLE 10
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
10.1. GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK. The Committee is authorized to make Awards
of Restricted Stock to Participants in such amounts and subject to such terms
and conditions as may be selected by the Committee. All Awards of Restricted
Stock shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Award Agreement.
10.2. ISSUANCE AND RESTRICTIONS. Restricted Stock shall be subject to such
restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may
impose (including, without limitation, limitations on the right to vote
Restricted Stock or the right to receive dividends on the Restricted Stock).
These restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under
such circumstances, in such installments, upon the satisfaction of performance
goals or otherwise, as the Committee determines at the time of the grant of the
Award or thereafter.
10.3. FORFEITURE. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the
time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, upon termination of employment
during the applicable restriction period or upon failure to satisfy a
performance goal during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock that
is at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited and reacquired by the
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Corporation; provided, however, that the Committee may provide in any Award
Agreement that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted
Stock will be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting
from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in
part restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock.
10.4. CERTIFICATES FOR RESTRICTED STOCK. Restricted Stock granted under the
Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If
certificates representing shares of Restricted Stock are registered in the name
of the Participant, certificates must bear an appropriate legend referring to
the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock.
ARTICLE 11
DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS
11.1. GRANT OF DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS. The Committee is authorized to grant
Dividend Equivalents to Participants subject to such terms and conditions as may
be selected by the Committee. Dividend Equivalents shall entitle the Participant
to receive payments equal to dividends with respect to all or a portion of the
number of shares of Stock subject to an Award, as determined by the Committee.
The Committee may provide that Dividend Equivalents be paid or distributed when
accrued or be deemed to have been reinvested in additional shares of Stock, or
otherwise reinvested.
ARTICLE 12
OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS
12.1. GRANT OF OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS. The Committee is authorized,
subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other
Awards that are payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or
otherwise based on or related to shares of Stock, as deemed by the Committee to
be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including without limitation shares
of Stock awarded purely as a "bonus" and not subject to any restrictions or
conditions, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights
convertible or exchangeable into shares of Stock, and Awards valued by reference
to book value of shares of Stock or the value of securities of or the
performance of specified Parents or Subsidiaries. The Committee shall determine
the terms and conditions of such Awards.
ARTICLE 13
Annual Award of options to Non-Employee Directors
13.1. GRANT OF OPTIONS. Each Non-Employee Director who is serving in such
capacity as of the day following the annual meeting of the Corporation's
stockholders ("Annual Meeting") held in 1998 shall be granted a Non-Qualified
Option to purchase up to 10,000 shares of Stock, subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 15.1. As of the day following each subsequent Annual
Meeting, each Non-Employee Director who is serving in such capacity as of such
date shall be granted a Non-Qualified Option to purchase 10,000 shares of Stock,
subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15.1. Each such day that Options
are to be granted under this Article 13 is referred to hereinafter as a "Grant
Date."
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If on any Grant Date, shares of Stock are not available under the Plan to
grant to Non-Employee Directors the full amount of a grant contemplated by the
immediately preceding paragraph, then each Non-Employee Director shall receive
an Option (a "Reduced Grant") to purchase shares of Stock in an amount equal to
the number of shares of Stock then available under the Plan divided by the
number of Non-Employee Directors as of the applicable Grant Date. Fractional
shares shall be ignored and not granted.
If a Reduced Grant has been made and, thereafter, during the term of the
Plan, additional shares of Stock become available for grant, then each person
who was a Non-Employee Director both on the Grant Date on which the Reduced
Grant was made and on the date additional shares of Stock become available (a
"Continuing Non-Employee Director") shall receive an additional Option to
purchase shares of Stock. The number of newly available shares shall be divided
equally among the Options granted to the Continuing Non-Employee Directors;
provided, however, that the aggregate number of shares of Stock subject to a
Continuing Non-Employee Director's additional Option plus any prior Reduced
Grant to the Continuing Non-Employee Director on the applicable Grant Date shall
not exceed 10,000 shares (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 15.1). If
more than one Reduced Grant has been made, available Options shall be granted
beginning with the earliest such Grant Date.
13.2. OPTION PRICE. The option price for each Option granted under this
Article 13 shall be the Fair Market Value on the date of grant of the Option.
13.3. Term. Each Option granted under this Article 13 shall, to the extent
not previously exercised, terminate and expire on the date ten (10) years after
the date of grant of the option, unless earlier terminated as provided in
Section 13.4.
13.4. LAPSE OF OPTION. An Option granted under this Article 13 shall not
automatically lapse by reason of the Participant ceasing to qualify as a
Non-Employee Director but remaining as a member of the Board. An Option granted
under this Article 13 shall lapse under the earliest of the following
circumstances:
(1) The Option shall lapse ten years after it is granted.
(2) If the Participant ceases to serve as a member of the Board for
any reason other than as provided in paragraph (3) or (4) below, the Option
shall lapse, unless it is previously exercised, three months after the
Participant's termination as a member of the Board; provided, however, that
if the Participant is removed for cause (determined in accordance with the
Corporation's Bylaws, as amended from time to time), the Option shall (to
the extent not previously exercised) lapse immediately.
(3) If the Participant ceases to serve as a member of the Board by
reason of his Disability, the Option shall lapse, unless it is previously
exercised, one year after the Participant's termination as a member of the
Board.
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(4) If the Participant dies while serving as a member of the Board, or
during the three-month period described in paragraph (2) or during the
one-year period described in paragraph (3) and before the Option otherwise
lapses, the Option shall lapse one year after the Participant's death. Upon
the Participant's death, any exercisable Options may be exercised by the
Participant's beneficiary, determined in accordance with Section 14.6.
If a Participant exercises Options after termination of his service on the
Board, he may exercise the Options only with respect to the shares that were
otherwise exercisable on the date of termination of his service on the Board.
Such exercise otherwise shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this
Article 13.
13.5. Exercisability. Each Option granted under this Article 13 shall be
immediately exercisable, in whole or in part, on the first anniversary of the
date of grant.
13.6. Exercise and Payment. An Option granted under this Article 13 shall
be exercised by written notice directed to the Secretary of the Corporation (or
his designee) and accompanied by payment in full of the exercise price in cash,
by check, in shares of Stock, or in any combination thereof; provided that if
shares of Stock surrendered in payment of the exercise price were themselves
acquired otherwise than on the open market, such shares shall have been held by
the Participant for at least six months. To the extent permitted under
Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, and subject to applicable securities
laws, such Options may be exercised through a broker in a so-called "cashless
exercise" whereby the broker sells the Option shares and delivers cash sales
proceeds to the Corporation in payment of the exercise price.
13.7. Transferability of Options. Any Option granted pursuant to this
Article 13 shall be assignable or transferable by the Participant by will, by
the laws of descent and distribution, or pursuant to a qualified domestic
relations order that would satisfy Section 414(p)(1)(A) of the Code if such
section applied to an Award under the Plan. In addition, any Option granted
pursuant to this Article 13 shall be transferable by the Participant to any of
the following permitted transferees, upon such reasonable terms and conditions
as the Committee may establish (and, unless specifically permitted by the Board
in advance, such transfers shall be limited to one transfer per Participant to
no more than four transferees): (1) one or more of the following family members
of the Participant: any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent,
grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law,
daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive
relationships, (2) a trust, partnership or other entity established and existing
for the sole benefit of, or under the sole control of, one or more of the above
family members of the Participant, or (3) any other transferee specifically
approved by the Committee after taking into account any state or federal tax,
securities or other laws applicable to transferable options.
13.8. Termination of Article 13. No Options shall be granted under this
Article 13 after September 1, 2006.
13.9. Non-Exclusivity. Nothing in this Article 13 shall prohibit the
Committee from making discretionary Awards to Non-Employee Directors pursuant to
the other provisions of the Plan before or after September 1, 2006. Options
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granted pursuant to this Article 13 shall be governed by the provisions of this
Article 13 and by other provisions of the Plan to the extent not inconsistent
with the provisions of Article 13.
ARTICLE 14
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS
14.1. STAND-ALONE, TANDEM, AND SUBSTITUTE AWARDS. Awards granted under the
Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in
addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for, any other Award granted
under the Plan. If an Award is granted in substitution for another Award, the
Committee may require the surrender of such other Award in consideration of the
grant of the new Award. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other
Awards may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the
grant of such other Awards.
14.2. EXCHANGE PROVISIONS. The Committee may at any time offer to exchange
or buy out any previously granted Award for a payment in cash, Stock, or another
Award (subject to Section 14.1), based on the terms and conditions the Committee
determines and communicates to the Participant at the time the offer is made.
14.3. TERM OF AWARD. The term of each Award shall be for the period as
determined by the Committee, provided that in no event shall the term of any
Incentive Stock Option or a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with the
Incentive Stock Option exceed a period of ten years from the date of its grant
(or, if Section 7.2(e) applies, five years from the date of its grant).
14.4. FORM OF PAYMENT FOR AWARDS. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any
applicable law or Award Agreement, payments or transfers to be made by the
Corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary on the grant or exercise of an Award may
be made in such form as the Committee determines at or after the time of grant,
including without limitation, cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, or
any combination, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in
installments, or on a deferred basis, in each case determined in accordance with
rules adopted by, and at the discretion of, the Committee.
14.5. LIMITS ON TRANSFER. No right or interest of a Participant in any
unexercised or restricted Award may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to
or in favor of any party other than the Corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary,
or shall be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant to
any other party other than the Corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary. No
unexercised or restricted Award shall be assignable or transferable by a
Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or,
except in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, pursuant to a domestic
relations order that would satisfy Section 414(p)(1)(A) of the Code if such
Section applied to an Award under the Plan; provided, however, that the
Committee may (but need not) permit other transfers where the Committee
concludes that such transferability (1) does not result in accelerated taxation,
(2) does not cause any Option intended to be an incentive stock option to fail
to be described in Code Section 422(b), and (3) is otherwise appropriate and
desirable, taking into account any factors deemed relevant, including without
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limitation, any state or federal tax or securities laws or regulations
applicable to transferable Awards.
14.6. BENEFICIARIES. Notwithstanding Section 14.4, a Participant may, in
the manner determined by the Committee, designate a beneficiary to exercise the
rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to any
Award upon the Participant's death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal
representative, or other person claiming any rights under the Plan is subject to
all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to the
Participant, except to the extent the Plan and Award Agreement otherwise
provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by
the Committee. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the
Participant, payment shall be made to the Participant's estate. Subject to the
foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Participant
at any time provided the change or revocation is filed with the Committee.
14.7. STOCK CERTIFICATES. All Stock issuable under the Plan is subject to
any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary
or advisable to comply with federal or state securities laws, rules and
regulations and the rules of any national securities exchange or automated
quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted, or traded. The Committee
may place legends on any Stock certificate or issue instructions to the transfer
agent to reference restrictions applicable to the Stock.
14.8. ACCELERATION UPON DEATH OR DISABILITY OR RETIREMENT. Notwithstanding
any other provision in the Plan or any Participant's Award Agreement to the
contrary, upon the Participant's death or Disability during his employment or
service as a consultant or director, or upon the Participant's Retirement, all
outstanding Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, and other Awards in the nature
of rights that may be exercised (including, without limitation, Options granted
pursuant to Article 13) shall become fully exercisable and all restrictions on
outstanding Awards shall lapse. Any Option or Stock Appreciation Rights Awards
shall thereafter continue or lapse in accordance with the other provisions of
the Plan and the Award Agreement. To the extent that this provision causes
Incentive Stock Options to exceed the dollar limitation set forth in Section
7.2(d), the excess Options shall be deemed to be Non-Qualified Stock Options.
14.9. ACCELERATION UPON A CHANGE IN CONTROL. Except as otherwise provided
in the Award Agreement, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, all
outstanding Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, and other Awards in the nature
of rights that may be exercised (including, without limitation, Options granted
pursuant to Article 13) shall become fully exercisable and all restrictions on
outstanding Awards shall lapse; provided, however that such acceleration will
not occur if, in the opinion of the Corporation's accountants, such acceleration
would preclude the use of "pooling of interest" accounting treatment for a
Change in Control transaction that (1) would otherwise qualify for such
accounting treatment, and (2) is contingent upon qualifying for such accounting
treatment. To the extent that this provision causes Incentive Stock Options to
exceed the dollar limitation set forth in Section 7.2(d), the excess Options
shall be deemed to be Non-Qualified Stock Options.
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14.10. ACCELERATION UPON CERTAIN EVENTS NOT CONSTITUTING A CHANGE IN
CONTROL. In the event of the occurrence of any circumstance, transaction or
event not constituting a Change in Control (as defined in Section 3.1) but which
the Board of Directors deems to be, or to be reasonably likely to lead to, an
effective change in control of the Corporation of a nature that would be
required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of the 1934
Act, the Committee may in its sole discretion declare all outstanding Options,
Stock Appreciation Rights, and other Awards in the nature of rights that may be
exercised (including, without limitation, Options granted pursuant to Article
13) to be fully exercisable, and/or all restrictions on all outstanding Awards
to have lapsed, in each case, as of such date as the Committee may, in its sole
discretion, declare, which may be on or before the consummation of such
transaction or event. To the extent that this provision causes Incentive Stock
Options to exceed the dollar limitation set forth in Section 7.2(d), the excess
Options shall be deemed to be Non-Qualified Stock Options.
14.11. ACCELERATION FOR ANY OTHER REASON. Regardless of whether an event
has occurred as described in Section 14.9 or 14.10 above, the Committee may in
its sole discretion at any time determine that all or a portion of a
Participant's Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, and other Awards in the nature
of rights that may be exercised (including, without limitation, Options granted
pursuant to Article 13) shall become fully or partially exercisable, and/or that
all or a part of the restrictions on all or a portion of the outstanding Awards
shall lapse, in each case, as of such date as the Committee may, in its sole
discretion, declare. The Committee may discriminate among Participants and among
Awards granted to a Participant in exercising its discretion pursuant to this
Section 14.11.
14.12. EFFECT OF ACCELERATION. If an Award is accelerated under Section
14.9 or 14.10, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide (1) that the
Award will expire after a designated period of time after such acceleration to
the extent not then exercised, (2) that the Award will be settled in cash rather
than Stock, (3) that the Award will be assumed by another party to the
transaction giving rise to the acceleration or otherwise be equitably converted
in connection with such transaction, or (4) any combination of the foregoing.
The Committee's determination need not be uniform and may be different for
different Participants whether or not such Participants are similarly situated.
14.13. PERFORMANCE GOALS. The Committee may determine that any Award
granted pursuant to this Plan to a Participant (including, but not limited to,
Participants who are Covered Employees, but excluding Options granted pursuant
to Article 13) shall be determined solely on the basis of (1) the achievement by
the Corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of a specified target return, or
target growth in return, on equity or assets, (2) the Corporation's, Parent's or
Subsidiary's stock price, (3) the achievement by an individual or a business
unit of the Corporation, Parent or Subsidiary of a specified target, or target
growth in, revenues, net income or earnings per share, (4) the achievement of
objectively determinable goals with respect to service or product delivery,
service or product quality, customer satisfaction, meeting budgets and/or
retention of employees or (5) any combination of the goals set forth in (1)
through (4) above. If an Award is made on such basis, the Committee shall
establish goals prior to the beginning of the period for which such performance
goal relates (or such later date as may be permitted under Code Section 162(m)
or the regulations thereunder) and the Committee may for any reason reduce (but
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not increase) any Award, notwithstanding the achievement of a specified goal.
Any payment of an Award granted with performance goals shall be conditioned on
the written certification of the Committee in each case that the performance
goals and any other material conditions were satisfied.
14.14. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Whether military, government or other
service or other leave of absence shall constitute a termination of employment
shall be determined in each case by the Committee at its discretion, and any
determination by the Committee shall be final and conclusive. A termination of
employment shall not occur (1) in a circumstance in which a Participant
transfers from the Corporation to one of its Parents or Subsidiaries, transfers
from a Parent or Subsidiary to the Corporation, or transfers from one Parent or
Subsidiary to another Parent or Subsidiary, or (2) in the discretion of the
Committee as specified at or prior to such occurrence, in the case of a
spin-off, sale or disposition of the Participant's employer from the Corporation
or any Parent or Subsidiary. To the extent that this provision causes Incentive
Stock Options to extend beyond three months from the date a Participant is
deemed to be an employee of the Corporation, a Parent or Subsidiary for purposes
of Section 424(f) of the Code, the Options held by such Participant shall be
deemed to be Non-Qualified Stock Options.
ARTICLE 15
CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE
15.1. GENERAL. In the event of a corporate transaction involving the
Corporation (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split,
extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger,
consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares), the
authorization limits under Section 5.1 and 5.4 shall be adjusted
proportionately, and the Committee may adjust Awards to preserve the benefits or
potential benefits of the Awards. Action by the Committee may include: (1)
adjustment of the number and kind of shares which may be delivered under the
Plan; (2) adjustment of the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding
Awards; (3) adjustment of the exercise price of outstanding Awards; and (4) any
other adjustments that the Committee determines to be equitable. In addition,
the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide (1) that Awards will be
settled in cash rather than Stock, (2) that Awards will become immediately
vested and exercisable and will expire after a designated period of time to the
extent not then exercised, (3) that Awards will be assumed by another party to a
transaction or otherwise be equitably converted or substituted in connection
with such transaction, (4) that outstanding Awards may be settled by payment in
cash or cash equivalents equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the
underlying Stock, as of a specified date associated with the transaction, over
the exercise price of the Award, or (5) any combination of the foregoing. The
Committee's determination need not be uniform and may be different for different
Participants whether or not such Participants are similarly situated. Without
limiting the foregoing, in the event a stock dividend or stock split is declared
upon the Stock, the authorization limits under Section 5.1 and 5.4 shall be
increased proportionately, and the shares of Stock then subject to each Award
shall be increased proportionately without any change in the aggregate purchase
price therefor.
B-18
ARTICLE 16
AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION
16.1. AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION. The Board or the Committee
may, at any time and from time to time, amend, modify or terminate the Plan
without stockholder approval; provided, however, that the Board or Committee may
condition any amendment or modification on the approval of stockholders of the
Corporation if such approval is necessary or deemed advisable with respect to
tax, securities or other applicable laws, policies or regulations.
16.2. AWARDS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED. At any time and from time to time, the
Committee may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award without approval
of the Participant; provided, however, that, subject to the terms of the
applicable Award Agreement, such amendment, modification or termination shall
not, without the Participant's consent, reduce or diminish the value of such
Award determined as if the Award had been exercised, vested, cashed in or
otherwise settled (at the spread value in the case of an Option or Stock
Appreciation Right) on the date of such amendment or termination; and provided
further that, except as otherwise provided in the anti-dilution provision of the
Plan, the exercise price of any Option may not be reduced, directly or
indirectly, without the prior approval of the stockholders of the Company. No
termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect any
Award previously granted under the Plan, without the written consent of the
Participant.
ARTICLE 17
GENERAL PROVISIONS
17.1. NO RIGHTS TO AWARDS. No Participant or employee, officer, consultant
or director shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and
neither the Corporation nor the Committee is obligated to treat Participants and
employees, officers, consultants or directors uniformly.
17.2. NO STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. No Award gives the Participant any of the
rights of a stockholder of the Corporation unless and until shares of Stock are
in fact issued to such person in connection with such Award.
17.3. WITHHOLDING. The Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary shall have
the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to
remit to the Corporation, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and
local taxes (including the Participant's FICA obligation) required by law to be
withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of the Plan. With
respect to withholding required upon any taxable event under the Plan, the
Committee may, at the time the Award is granted or thereafter, require or permit
that any such withholding requirement be satisfied, in whole or in part, by
withholding from the Award shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value on the
date of withholding equal to the minimum amount (and not any greater amount)
required to be withheld for tax purposes, all in accordance with such procedures
as the Committee establishes.
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17.4. NO RIGHT TO EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER STATUS. Nothing in the Plan or any
Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the
Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary to terminate any Participant's
employment or status as a consultant or director at any time, nor confer upon
any Participant any right to continue as an employee, officer, consultant or
director of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary.
l7.5. UNFUNDED STATUS OF AWARDS. The Plan is intended to be an "unfunded"
plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payments not
yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or
any Award Agreement shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than
those of a general creditor of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary.
17.6. INDEMNIFICATION. To the extent allowable under applicable law, each
member of the Committee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the
Corporation from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon
or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any
claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which such member may be a party or in
which he may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act under the
Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by such member in
satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him
provided he gives the Corporation an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle
and defend the same before he undertakes to handle and defend it on his own
behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any
other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the
Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or
otherwise, or any power that the Corporation may have to indemnify them or hold
them harmless.
17.7. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER BENEFITS. No payment under the Plan shall be
taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement,
savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or benefit plan of the
Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary unless provided otherwise in such other
plan.
17.8. EXPENSES. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by
the Corporation and its Parents or Subsidiaries.
17.9. TITLES AND HEADINGS. The titles and headings of the Sections in the
Plan are for convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict,
the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.
17.10. GENDER AND NUMBER. Except where otherwise indicated by the context,
any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural shall
include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.
17.11. FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued and
the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be given in
lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated
by rounding up.
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17.12. GOVERNMENT AND OTHER REGULATIONS. The obligation of the Corporation
to make payment of awards in Stock or otherwise shall be subject to all
applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by government
agencies as may be required. The Corporation shall be under no obligation to
register under the 1933 Act, or any state securities act, any of the shares of
Stock issued in connection with the Plan. The shares issued in connection with
the Plan may in certain circumstances be exempt from registration under the 1933
Act, and the Corporation may restrict the transfer of such shares in such manner
as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.
17.13. GOVERNING LAW. To the extent not governed by federal law, the Plan
and all Award Agreements shall be construed in accordance with and governed by
the laws of the State of Delaware.
17.14. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS. Each Award Agreement may contain such other
terms and conditions as the Committee may determine; provided that such other
terms and conditions are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan.
The foregoing is hereby acknowledged as being the ePlus inc. Amended and
Restated 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan as adopted by the Board of Directors of
the Corporation on July 28, 1998 and approved by the stockholders of the
Corporation on September 16, 1998; and as amended and restated on July 15, 2003
by the Board of Directors of the Corporation and approved by the stockholders of
the Corporation on September 18, 2003.
B-21
[FORM OF PROXY CARD]
ePlus inc. Proxy
Annual Meetings of Stockholders Of
ePlus inc.
September 18, 2003
THE PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Kleyton L. Parkhurst and Steven J. Mencarini,
and each or either of them, proxies, with power of substitution, to vote all
shares of the undersigned at the annual meeting of stockholders of ePlus inc., a
Delaware corporation, to be held on September 18, 2003 at 8:00 a.m. at the
Courtyard Marriott, 533 Herndon Parkway, Herndon, Virginia 20170, or at any
adjournment thereof, upon the matters set forth in the Proxy Statement for such
meeting, and in their discretion, upon such other business as may properly come
before the meeting.
1. To elect two Class I Directors, each to serve a term of three years and
until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
TO VOTE FOR BOTH THE NOMINEES LISTED BELOW
[ ] FOR BOTH THE NOMINEES LISTED BELOW [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
C. Thomas Faulders, III Lawrence S. Herman
OR TO VOTE FOR EACH NOMINEE SEPARATELY
C. Thomas Faulders, III [ ] FOR [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
Lawrence S. Herman [ ] FOR [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
2. To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as ePlus' independent
auditors for ePlus' fiscal year ending March 31, 2004.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
3. To approve and adopt an amendment to the ePlus inc. Certificate of
Incorporation to decrease the number of shares of our authorized stock from
52 million shares (consisting of 50 million shares of common stock, par
value $0.01 per share and 2 million preferred shares, par value $0.01 per
share) to 27 million shares (consisting of 25 million shares of common
stock, par value $0.01, and 2 million preferred shares, par value $0.01 per
share).
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
4. To approve an amendment to the ePlus inc. Amended and Restated 1998
Long-Term Incentive Plan, which sets the number of shares of common stock
available for awards under the Plan at 3,000,000.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
Dated:________________, 2003
Signature: ______________________________________________________________
Signature if held jointly: ______________________________________________
NOTE: When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. Persons
signing as Executor, Administrator, Trustee, etc. should so indicate.
Please sign exactly as the name appears on the proxy.
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY ALL PROXIES RECEIVED WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE CHOICES SPECIFIED ON SUCH PROXIES. THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY A
PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF A PROPOSAL IF NO CONTRARY SPECIFICATION IS
MADE. ALL VALID PROXIES OBTAINED WILL BE VOTED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS WITH RESPECT TO ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY COME BEFORE
THE ANNUAL MEETING.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.