researchfrontier_def14a.htm
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED
IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A
INFORMATION
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RESEARCH FRONTIERS
INCORPORATED
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240 Crossways Park Drive
Woodbury, NY
11797
(516) 364-1902
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
June 10, 2010
To the Stockholders
of Research Frontiers Incorporated:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
Research Frontiers Incorporated (the “Company”) will be held at the Fox Hollow
Inn, 7725 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury, New York 11797, on June 10, 2010 at 11:00
A.M., local time, for the following purposes:
1. To elect two Class II
directors;
2. To ratify the selection of BDO
Seidman, LLP as the independent registered public accountants of the Company for
the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010; and
3. To transact such other business as may
properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the
close of business on April 16, 2010 as the record date for the determination of
stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting or any
adjournments thereof.
The Board of Directors requests all
stockholders to sign and date the enclosed form of proxy and return it in the
postage paid, self-addressed envelope provided for your convenience. Please do
this whether or not you plan to attend the meeting. Should you attend, you may,
if you wish, withdraw your proxy and vote your shares in person. BECAUSE YOUR BROKER MAY NOT HAVE DISCRETION TO VOTE ON ALL OF THE ABOVE
MATTERS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEND IN YOUR PROXY.
By Order of the Board of
Directors, |
|
JOSEPH M. HARARY, Secretary |
Woodbury, New
York
April 30, 2010
RESEARCH FRONTIERS
INCORPORATED
240 CROSSWAYS PARK DRIVE, WOODBURY, NY 11797 (516)
364-1902
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To be held
Thursday, June 10, 2010
This Proxy Statement is furnished by the Board of Directors of Research
Frontiers Incorporated (the “Company”) in connection with the solicitation by
the Company of proxies to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders which
will be held at the Fox Hollow Inn, 7725 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury, New York
11797, on June 10, 2010, at 11:00 A.M., local time, and all adjournments
thereof.
Any stockholder giving a proxy will have
the right to revoke it at any time prior to the time it is voted. A proxy may be
revoked by written notice to the Company, Attention: Secretary, by execution of
a subsequent proxy or by attendance and voting in person at the Annual Meeting
of Stockholders. Attendance at the meeting will not automatically revoke the
proxy. All shares represented by effective proxies will be voted at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders, or at any adjournment thereof. Unless otherwise
specified in the proxy, shares represented by proxies will be voted (i)
for the election of the nominees for director
listed below, and (ii) for the ratification of the selection of the
independent registered public accountants. The cost of proxy solicitations will
be borne by the Company. In addition to solicitations of proxies by use of the
mails, some officers or employees of the Company, without additional
remuneration, may solicit proxies personally or by telephone. The Company will
also request brokers, dealers, banks and their nominees to solicit proxies from
their clients, where appropriate, and will reimburse them for reasonable
expenses related thereto.
The Company’s executive offices are
located at 240 Crossways Park Drive, Woodbury, New York 11797-2033. Research
Frontiers believes that it can learn from constructive dialog with stockholders
and other stakeholders and therefore actively encourages communications with all
such interested parties. All e-mail communications to Directors@SmartGlass.com
will be forwarded to each director of the Company. Furthermore, subject to the
limits imposed by Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations
regarding disclosure of information that is not made generally available to all
stockholders at the same time, we will endeavor to respond to specific questions
or suggestions which, in the opinion of management or the Board, merit
individual response. On or about May 3, 2010, this Proxy Statement and the
accompanying form of proxy, together with a copy of the Annual Report of the
Company for the year ended December 31, 2009, including financial statements,
are to be mailed to each stockholder of record at the close of business on April
16, 2010.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF
PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS MEETING TO BE HELD ON
JUNE 10, 2010
This Proxy Statement
is available at www.smartglass.com/proxy.asp.
VOTING SECURITIES AND SECURITY
OWNERSHIP
Shares Entitled to Vote, Quorum and Required
Vote
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 16, 2010
are entitled to vote at the meeting. As of April 16, 2010, the Company had
issued and outstanding and entitled to vote 17,111,239 shares of common stock,
par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), the Company’s only class of
voting securities outstanding. Each share of Common Stock entitles the holder
thereof to one vote.
As a stockholder of record, you may vote
in person at the Annual Meeting or you may vote by proxy without attending the
meeting. If you are a registered stockholder, you may vote your shares by giving
a proxy via mail, telephone or Internet. To vote your proxy by mail, indicate
your voting choices, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the
postage-paid envelope provided. You may vote by telephone or Internet by
following the instructions on your proxy card. If you hold your shares through a
broker, bank or other nominee, that institution will send you separate
instructions describing the procedure for voting your shares.
If you provide a properly executed proxy
before voting at the Annual Meeting is closed, the persons listed on the proxy
card will vote your shares of Common Stock in accordance with your directions.
If you do not indicate how your shares are to be voted, the persons listed on
the proxy card will vote your shares as recommended by the Board of Directors.
The persons listed on the proxy card will also have the discretionary authority
to vote on your behalf on any other matter that is properly brought before the
Annual Meeting. If you wish to give a proxy to someone other than the persons
listed on the proxy card, please cross out the names of the people listed on the
proxy card and add the name of the person holding your proxy.
If we receive a valid proxy before voting
at the Annual Meeting is closed, your shares are voted as indicated on the proxy
card. If you indicate on your proxy card that you wish to “abstain” or
“withhold,” as the case may be, from voting on an item, your shares will not be
voted on that item.
If you do not provide voting instructions
to your broker or nominee at least ten days before the Annual Meeting, that
person has discretion to vote your shares on matters that the New York Stock
Exchange has determined are routine. However, a broker or nominee cannot vote
shares on non-routine matters without your instructions, and this is referred to
as a "broker non-vote." Even though your broker may have discretionary authority to vote your
shares on your behalf on the proposal regarding ratification of BDO Seidman as
our accountants for 2010, your broker does not have authority to vote on the election of directions presented at this
Annual Meeting, so it is important that you vote your shares and send in your
proxy.
The Annual Meeting cannot conduct
business unless a quorum is present. In order to have a quorum, a majority of
the shares of the Company’s Common Stock that are outstanding and entitled to
vote at the meeting must be represented in person or by proxy. Abstentions and
broker non-votes will be counted to determine whether there is a quorum present.
If a quorum is not present, the Annual Meeting will be rescheduled for a later
date.
Directors are elected by a plurality of
the votes cast at the meeting on this proposal and the two nominees who receive
the most votes will be elected. Please note that the rules that guide how most
brokers vote your stock have changed. Such rules provide that brokerage firms or
other nominees may not vote your shares with respect to matters that are not
“routine” under the rules. The rules were recently amended to provide that the
election of directors is no longer a “routine” matter. Accordingly, most
brokerage firms or other nominees may not vote your shares with respect to the
election of directors without specific instructions from you as to how your
shares are to be voted. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of
the vote.
2
The ratification and appointment of our independent registered public
accounting firm for 2010 requires an affirmative majority of the total votes
cast “FOR” and “AGAINST” to be approved. This matter is considered a “routine”
under the rules and, therefore, brokerage firms and other nominees have the
authority under the rules to vote your unvoted shares with respect to this
matter if you have not furnished voting instructions within a specified period
of time prior to the meeting. Abstentions will have the same effect as votes
against the proposal. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the
vote.
Security Ownership of Principal Stockholders
and Management
The following table sets forth certain
information with respect to those persons or groups known to the Company who
beneficially own more than 5% of the Company’s Common Stock, and for all
directors and executive officers of the Company individually and as a
group.
|
|
Amount and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
nature of |
|
Exercisable |
|
|
|
|
Beneficial |
|
Warrants |
|
Percent |
Name of Beneficial
Owner |
|
|
Ownership(1) |
|
and Options |
|
of Class |
Robert L. Saxe |
|
1,082,838 |
(2) |
|
636,530 |
|
6.10 |
Joseph M. Harary |
|
674,174 |
(3) |
|
411,000 |
|
3.85 |
M. Philip Guthrie |
|
66,000 |
|
|
25,000 |
|
0.39 |
Richard Hermon-Taylor |
|
70,025 |
|
|
25,000 |
|
0.41 |
Victor F. Keen |
|
497,099 |
|
|
202,200 |
|
2.87 |
Michael R. LaPointe |
|
113,259 |
(4) |
|
104,500 |
|
0.66 |
Steven M. Slovak |
|
105,384 |
|
|
96,500 |
|
0.61 |
All
directors and officers as a group (7 persons) |
|
2,388,123 |
(5) |
|
1,500,730 |
|
12.83 |
|
(1) |
|
All information
is as of April 16, 2010 and was determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 based upon information furnished
by the persons listed or contained in filings made by them with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise known to the Company.
Unless otherwise indicated, beneficial ownership disclosed consists of
sole voting and dispositive power, and also includes options and warrants
held by the listed persons that are presently exercisable or exercisable
within the next 60 days, and awards of restricted stock subject to vesting
are assumed to be fully issued and outstanding. Shares of Common Stock of
the Company acquired by officers, directors and employees through the
exercise of stock options or otherwise are subject to restrictions on
their transfer, including restrictions imposed by applicable securities
laws, as well as additional restrictions imposed by the Company in
accordance with written agreements and policy statements. The mailing
address for the above individuals is c/o Research Frontiers Incorporated,
240 Crossways Park Drive, Woodbury, NY
11797. |
3
|
(2) |
|
Includes (i)
62,788 shares of Common Stock owned by a trust u/w Leonard S. Saxe for
which Mr. Saxe serves as a co-trustee, and has a beneficial interest in
one-half of the income from such trust; and (ii) 11,250 shares of Common
Stock owned by a trust for the children of the late George Backer and
certain others for which Mr. Saxe serves as sole trustee. Mr. Saxe
disclaims beneficial ownership of all securities described in item (ii)
above. |
|
|
|
(3) |
|
Includes 97,560
shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Harary’s children, as to which shares
Mr. Harary disclaims beneficial ownership. |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
Includes 898
shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. LaPointe’s wife, as to which shares
Mr. LaPointe disclaims beneficial ownership. |
|
|
|
(5) |
|
Includes the
securities described above in footnotes (2) through
(4). |
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
(Item 1)
The number of directors is currently set at five, pursuant to the By-Laws
of the Company. A majority of the Board of Directors of the Company are
independent directors. The Board of Directors is divided into three classes, as
nearly equal in number as possible. Each class serves three years, with the
terms of office of the respective classes expiring in successive years. The term
of office of the Class II directors expires at the 2010 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. The Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee, proposes that M. Philip Guthrie and Victor F.
Keen be elected to serve again as Class II directors and hold office for a
three-year term expiring at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and until
the election and qualification of their respective successors. Each has
indicated a willingness to serve as a director again. If no other choice is
specified in the accompanying proxy, the persons named therein have advised the
Board of Directors that it is their present intention to vote the proxy for the
election of the nominees set forth below. Each of the members of the Board of
Directors of the Company, including the nominees listed below, is presently a
director of the Company, and was elected to such office by the stockholders of
the Company. Should a nominee become unable to accept nomination or election, it
is intended that the persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote for the
election of such other person as the Board of Directors may nominate in the
place of such nominee on the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee. There is no indication at present that any nominee will be
unable to accept nomination.
The following biographical information is
provided with respect to each director:
Directors Standing for
Election
M. Philip Guthrie
M. Philip Guthrie, age 65, has been a
director of the Company since December 2007. Mr. Guthrie serves as Chairman of
the Company’s Audit Committee, and also serves on the Company’s Compensation and
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees. Mr. Guthrie was Chief Financial
Officer of two public companies in the airline industry - Southwest Airlines
during its formative and high-growth years, and Braniff International during its
initial restructure and successful reorganization. His other aerospace
experience includes CEO of InTech Aerospace Group, which provided a full range
of interior service and maintenance to the commercial airline industry and to
the US Government. He was Managing Director of Mason Best Company and served in
board and management roles in many of its, and other private equity firms’,
portfolio companies. He has also served as Chairman of the Board for
Westmark/Tracor, a maker of military electronic systems. He currently serves on
the Boards of Ariel Reinsurance (Bermuda) and is also a member of its Audit
Committee, Direct General Corporation where he is also Chairman of its Audit
Committee, Bristol Group (Argentina), and Neuro Resource Group, Inc. He is CEO
of Neuro Holdings International, an international distributor of leading-edge
medical devices for pain management. Mr. Guthrie has a CPA and began his career
at Price Waterhouse. He has an MBA from the University of Michigan where he was
a Paton Scholar and a BBA Summa Cum Laude in
accounting from Louisiana Tech University. He is CEO of Denham Partners, LLC, a
private investment firm. Mr. Guthrie has more than 20 years of service as CEO,
CFO, and director of various public and private companies which helps provide
the Board with strategic insights in all areas. In addition, he has experience
in public accounting, has led many large financial transactions and has held
senior management roles in multiple airline and aviation companies. Furthermore,
his international business experience and financial and strategic consulting
abroad enable him to provide a global perspective to the Board.
4
Victor F. Keen
Victor F. Keen, age 68, has been a director of the Company since June
2001, and served as the Company's corporate Secretary from 1987 to 2007. Mr.
Keen is Of Counsel to the law firm of Duane Morris LLP, one of the 100 largest
law firms in the world with more than 650 lawyers. He has served prior thereto
as a partner and chairman of Duane Morris’ tax department. Mr. Keen is a
graduate of Trinity College (1963) and Harvard Law School (1966). Mr. Keen
serves as Chairman of the Company’s Compensation Committee, and also serves on
the Company’s Audit, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees. Mr.
Keen is also a member of the board of directors of 3DIcon Corporation, a
development-stage technology company developing 3-D projection and display
technologies. Mr. Keen serves on 3DIcon’s Audit Committee, Nominating/Corporate
Governance Committee and Compensation Committee and is Chairman of its
Compensation Committee. Mr. Keen is also a Managing Member of Chelsea/Village
Associates, LLC and Ninth Avenue Associates, LLC, both of which own and manage
real estate in Manhattan. Mr. Keen possesses valuable experience as a result of
his service on the boards and committees of other public companies. He also has
extensive experience in representing and counseling large and small companies in
a wide variety of business transactions and he provides valuable insight as a
long time investor in the Company and as one of its largest non-management
stockholders.
Directors Continuing in
Office
Class I - Term Expires at the 2012 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders
Joseph M. Harary
Mr. Harary, age 49, became Vice President and General Counsel to the
Company in April 1992 and has been a director of the Company since February
1993. In December 1999, Mr. Harary was promoted to the position of Executive
Vice President and General Counsel, and in February 2002 was promoted to the
position of President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Mr. Harary was
promoted to the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Company in January
2009. Mr. Harary has also been the Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the
Company since 2005 and its corporate Secretary since 2007. Prior to joining
Research Frontiers, Mr. Harary’s corporate law practice emphasized technology,
licensing, mergers and acquisitions, securities law, and intellectual property
law at three prestigious New York City law firms. Mr. Harary graduated
Summa Cum Laude from Columbia College in 1983 with an A.B.
degree in economics, and received a Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School
in 1986 where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Prior to attending law
school, Mr. Harary was an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Mr. Harary’s significant and diverse managerial experience with the Company for
more than 18 years, including executive and operational roles, gives him unique
insights into the Company’s business, relationships, challenges, opportunities
and operations.
5
Richard Hermon-Taylor
Richard Hermon-Taylor, age 68, has been a director of the Company since
December 2007. Mr. Hermon-Taylor serves as Chairman of the Company’s Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee, and also serves on the Company’s Audit and
Compensation Committees. His prior Board of Director experience includes
Harley-Davidson, a $5 billion manufacturer of motorcycles, clothes, and the
licensor of the Harley-Davidson trademark. During his over 15-year tenure on the
Harley-Davidson Board, he served on its Audit, Compensation, and Nominating
Committees. He also served on the Board of Galileo Electro-Optics, a public
company that was acquired by Corning, Inc. From 1970-1986 he was with the Boston
Consulting Group and managed the firm's offices in Boston and Milan. Mr.
Hermon-Taylor received a B.A. in Chemical Engineering from Cambridge University
in England and an MBA from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business,
where he was a Baker Scholar. He is currently President and Co-Founder of
Bio-Science International, Inc. This company specializes in technology
development and licensing agreements for the life sciences industry. He also
operates his own marketing and corporate strategy consultancy. Mr.
Hermon-Taylor’s more than 20 years of service as a director of several public
companies helps guide the Board in its strategic oversight role. In addition, he
has expertise in licensing and has extensive experience as a strategy consultant
in industries important for Research Frontiers, including the automotive
industry, the architectural market and high-end consumer products. His
international background and experience add to the strength of our
Board.
Class III - Term Expires at the 2011 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders
Robert L. Saxe
Mr. Saxe, age 74, is a founder of the Company and has been Chairman of
the Board of Directors of the Company since its inception in 1965, was its
President from 1966 to February 2002, and Treasurer from 1966 to 2005. Mr. Saxe
is the Company’s Chief Technology Officer and served as the Company’s Chief
Executive Officer from 1965 to 2008. He graduated from Harvard College in 1956
with an A.B. degree, Cum Laude in
General Studies (with a major in physics). Mr. Saxe also received an M.B.A.
degree from Harvard Business School in 1960. As founder of the Company, his
strategic vision, leadership and knowledge of the Company’s technology and the
industries it serves bring valuable insight and a thoughtful perspective to
Board deliberations and discussions.
6
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Board Leadership Structure and Risk
Oversight
The Company has separated the positions of Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer. The Company’s founder, Robert Saxe, has served as the Company’s
Chairman since the Company’s formation. The Company promoted the Company’s
President, Joseph M. Harary, to his current position as Chief Executive Officer
effective in January 2009. We believe that this division of responsibilities
allows Mr. Saxe to focus on matters relating to the proper functioning of the
Board of Directors while permitting Mr. Harary to focus on matters relating to
the management of the Company. In addition, since the Board is responsible for
the monitoring of the performance of the Company and of its Chief Executive
Officer, the separation of roles of Chief Executive and Board Chairman, together
with the fact that the majority of the Board members are independent under the
applicable listing standards of the NASDAQ Capital Market, helps to ensure that
these functions are properly executed.
Our independent directors each chair a
committee of the Board. Mr. Guthrie chairs the Audit Committee, Mr. Keen chairs
the Compensation Committee, and Mr. Hermon-Taylor chairs the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee. Each independent director also serves on each of
the aforementioned committees.
Our Board oversees a Company-wide
approach to risk management that is designed to support the achievement of
organizational objectives, including strategic objectives, to improve long-term
organizational performance and enhance stockholder value. A fundamental part of
risk management is not only understanding the risks a company faces and what
steps management is taking to manage those risks, but also understanding what
level of risk is appropriate. In setting our business strategy, our Board
assesses the various risks that now or in the future may be faced by the Company
and the degree to which they are being mitigated by management, and determines
what constitutes an appropriate level of risk for us.
While our Board has the ultimate
oversight responsibility for the risk management process, various committees of
our Board also have responsibility for risk management in their particular areas
of responsibility. In particular, the Audit Committee focuses on financial risk,
including internal controls, and receives an annual risk assessment report from
our internal auditor and outside auditors. Risks related to our compensation
programs are reviewed by the Compensation Committee and the Company's overall
compensation policies covering all employees are meant to motivate employees
with an effective balance between cash and equity compensation, focus on
performance, and improve our results on a cost-effective basis without
encouraging excessive risk taking. Legal and regulatory compliance risks are
reviewed by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our Board is
advised by the committees of significant risks and management’s response via
periodic updates.
Board Composition
The number of directors is currently set
at five. The Company has a classified board of directors which means it is
divided into three classes. Members of each class are elected to serve for
staggered three-year terms. The Company believes that a classified board of
directors provides continuity and stability in pursuing the Company’s business
strategies and policies and reinforces the Company’s commitment to a long-term
perspective and increases the Board’s
negotiating leverage when dealing with a potential acquirer. As discussed
below under “Director Independence,” a majority of the Board of Directors of the
Company are “independent” directors.
7
At a minimum, Board members and candidates for membership on the Board of
Directors must possess the experience, skills and background necessary to gain a
basic understanding of the principal operational and financial objectives and
plans of the Company, the results of operations and financial condition of our
Company and its business segments and the relative standing of our Company and
its business in relation to its competitors. In addition, candidates must have a
perspective that will enhance the Board’s strategic discussions and must be
capable of and committed to devoting adequate time to Board duties, including
attendance at regularly-scheduled Board and Board committee
meetings.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee reviews and assesses with the Board of Directors the specific skills,
experience, and background sought of Board members in the context of our
business and the then-current membership on the Board. This assessment includes
a consideration of independence, diversity, skills, business experience, and
personal and industry backgrounds. Although the Company does not have a formal
policy on diversity, as a matter of practice, the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee strives to have a diverse set of skills, experience and
backgrounds represented on the Board in order to bring many different viewpoints
to guide and assist management of the Company. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee and the Board generally regard the following as key skills
and experience important for the Company’s Directors, as a group, to have in
light of our current business and structure: senior leadership experience,
public company board experience, experience in financial markets and with
financing transactions, knowledge of accounting and financial reporting
processes, experience in various industries relevant to the markets for the
Company’ s light-control technology, technical knowledge relevant to our
products, licensing, marketing and strategic planning expertise and legal
education and experience.
Director Independence
The Board has determined that Messrs.
Guthrie, Hermon-Taylor and Keen are “independent” in accordance with applicable
listing standards of the NASDAQ Capital Market. Because Messrs. Saxe and Harary
are employed as executive officers of the Company, neither qualifies as
independent.
The NASDAQ Capital Market rules provide
that a director cannot be considered independent if:
- the director is, or at any time
during the past three years was, an employee of the company;
- the director or a family member of
the director accepted any compensation from the company in excess of $120,000 during any
period of 12 consecutive months within the three years preceding the independence
determination (subject to certain exclusions, including, among other things, compensation
for board or board committee service);
- a family member of the director
is, or at any time during the past three years was, an executive officer of the company;
8
- the director or a family member of
the director is a partner in, controlling stockholder of, or an executive officer of an entity to
which the company made, or from which the company received, payments in the current or
any of the past three fiscal years that exceed 5% of the recipient’s consolidated
gross revenue for that year or $200,000, whichever is greater (subject to certain
exclusions);
- the director or a family member of
the director is employed as an executive officer of an entity where, at any time during the past
three years, any of the executive officers of the company served on the compensation committee
of such other entity; or
- the director or a family member of
the director is a current partner of the company’s outside auditor, or at any time during the
past three years was a partner or employee of the company’s outside auditor, and who
worked on the company’s audit.
In addition, an independent director must be a
person who lacks a relationship that, in the opinion of the Board, would
interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the
responsibilities of a director. The Board has not established categorical
standards or guidelines to make these subjective determinations but considers
all relevant facts and circumstances.
In addition to the Board-level standards for
director independence, the directors who serve on the Audit Committee each
satisfy standards established by the Securities and Exchange Commission
providing that to qualify as “independent” for the purposes of membership on
that committee, members of audit committees may not accept directly or
indirectly any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the company
other than their director compensation.
Board Committees
The Board of
Directors has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee. The members of each of these committees are M.
Philip Guthrie, Richard Hermon-Taylor, and Victor F. Keen, each of whom the
Board has determined is an “independent director” in accordance with applicable
listing standards of the NASDAQ Capital Market.
Audit Committee. During fiscal 2000, the Audit Committee of the
Board of Directors developed a written charter for the Committee that was
approved by the Board of Directors which was updated in 2004, and was updated
again in February 2009. The complete text of the Audit Committee’s current
charter is available on Company’s website at www.SmartGlass.com and is also
attached as an exhibit to the Company’s April 30, 2009 Proxy
Statement.
The Audit Committee reviews and reports to the
Board of Directors with respect to various auditing and accounting matters,
including the nomination of the Company’s independent registered public
accountants, the scope of audit procedures, general accounting policy matters,
and the performance of the Company’s independent registered public accountants.
The Audit Committee is comprised of the independent directors of the Company: M.
Philip Guthrie, who serves as the Audit Committee’s Chairman and is also the
Audit Committee’s “financial expert” (as such term is defined by applicable
rules), Richard Hermon-Taylor and Victor F. Keen. The Company believes that all
of the members of its Audit Committee, due to their backgrounds and business
experience, have a sufficient understanding of generally accepted accounting
principles and financial statements, the ability to assess the general
application of such principles, an understanding of internal controls over
financial reporting, and of audit committee functions to perform their duties as
an Audit Committee.
9
Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee reviews and reports to the Board of Directors
its recommendations for compensation of all employees and sets the compensation
of the management of the Company. In addition, each committee member is a
“non-employee director” as defined in Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, and an “outside director” as defined for purposes of
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The
Compensation Committee is not required to, and does not have, a written
charter.
Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee. The Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing the governance
practices of the Company and for making recommendations to the Board for any
modifications to such practices. It also identifies individuals qualified to
become Board members and recommends to the Board the director nominees for the
next annual meeting of stockholders and candidates to fill vacancies on the
Board. Additionally, the committee recommends to the Board the directors to be
appointed to Board committees. Because the Board of Directors of the Company has
a majority of independent directors, these independent directors control the
Board of Directors’ selection of nominees for director. The Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee is not required to, and does not have, a written
charter.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee considers candidates for Board membership suggested by its members and
by other Board members. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may
also engage the services of a director candidate search consultant. In that
case, the director candidate search consultant will seek out candidates who have
the experiences, skills, and characteristics that the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee has determined are necessary to serve as a member of the
Board and then present the most qualified candidates to the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee and the Company’s management.
Once a prospective nominee has been
identified, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee makes an initial
determination as to whether to conduct a full evaluation of the candidate. This
initial determination is based on the information provided to the committee with
the recommendation of the prospective candidate, as well as the committee’s own
knowledge of the prospective candidate, which may be supplemented by inquiries
of the person making the recommendation or others. The preliminary determination
is based primarily on the need for additional Board members to fill vacancies or
expand the size of the Board and the likelihood that the prospective nominee can
satisfy the evaluation factors described under the heading “Board Composition”
above. The committee then evaluates the prospective nominee and his or her
qualifications, as well as other factors which may include such things as
whether the prospective nominee meets the independence requirements and other
qualifications or criteria set forth under applicable listing standards of the
NASDAQ Capital Market, or other requirements defined under applicable SEC rules
and regulations; the extent to which the prospective nominee's skills,
experience and perspective add to the range of talent appropriate for the Board
and whether such attributes are relevant to the Company’s industry; the
prospective nominee's ability to dedicate the time and resources sufficient for
the diligent performance of Board duties; and the extent to which the
prospective nominee holds any position that would conflict with responsibilities
to the Company.
10
If the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee's internal
evaluation is positive, the committee and possibly others will interview the
candidate. Upon completion of this evaluation and interview process, the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee makes a recommendation and report
to the full Board as to whether the candidate should be nominated by the Board
and the Board determines whether to approve the nominee after considering this
recommendation and report.
Additionally, in selecting nominees for directors, the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee will review candidates recommended by
stockholders in the same manner and using the same general criteria as
candidates recruited by the committee and/or recommended by the Board. The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will also consider whether any
person nominated by a stockholder has been so nominated on a timely basis and in
accordance with the provisions of the Company's By-laws relating to stockholder
nominations and other applicable provisions including those described in "2011
Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations" below.
Attendance at Board, Committee, and Annual
Stockholders’ Meetings
During 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors had eleven formal meetings
and also met numerous additional times informally, the Board’s Audit Committee
met four times, and the Board’s Compensation Committee met eight times. The
Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met six times in 2009.
No incumbent director attended less than 75% of meetings of the full Board of
Directors and of the Board committee(s) of which that director was a member
during 2009. The Company encourages and expects all of its directors to attend
its Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and all of the Company’s directors attended
last year’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Executive Officers
In addition to Robert L. Saxe and Joseph M. Harary, whose biographical
information is provided above, the only other executive officers of the Company
are Michael R. LaPointe and Steven M. Slovak.
Michael R. LaPointe, age 51, who is the Company’s Vice President -
Marketing since March 2002, joined the Company as its Director of Marketing for
Architectural Windows and Displays in March 2000. Mr. LaPointe, a graduate of
Brown University with a B.A. in Organizational Behavior & Management and a
B.A. in Psychology, worked in a marketing capacity for IBM Corporation in the
early 1980s. He subsequently founded and developed several companies involved in
the application and licensing of new technologies for various consumer products.
During that period Mr. LaPointe also worked as a management consultant, where in
1994 he began his relationship with Research Frontiers, assisting the Company
with its marketing strategy.
Steven M. Slovak, age 48, joined Research Frontiers in January 1989 as a
chemist and was promoted to various positions. In November 2005 Mr. Slovak
became Research Frontiers’ Director of Film Development, and in January 2008 was
promoted to his current position as Vice President-Technology where he oversees
a team of chemists and growing R&D initiatives. Steve Slovak is an inventor
on numerous patents and patent applications held by Research Frontiers worldwide
on SPD-Smart light-control technology, and is a member of various scientific
organizations including the ASTM International and the National Fenestration
Ratings Council (NFRC).
11
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
In 2009, the
Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors consisted solely of independent
directors. None of the Company’s executive officers served as a director or
member of the compensation committee of another entity which had an executive
officer that served as a director or member of the Company’s Compensation
Committee. No member of the Company’s Compensation Committee is a current or
former employee of the Company.
The Board of Directors
recommends a vote FOR election of the two nominees listed above and it is
intended that proxies not marked to the contrary will be so
voted.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANTS
(Item 2)
The Audit Committee, with the concurrence of the Board of Directors, has
selected the firm of BDO Seidman, LLP to serve as our independent registered
public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010. BDO Seidman,
LLP has been the Company’s independent registered public accountants since 2005.
We expect that representatives of BDO Seidman, LLP will attend the meeting, have
the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire, and be available to
respond to appropriate questions.
Audit and Other Fees
The following table presents fees paid or accrued for professional audit
services rendered by BDO Seidman, LLP for the audit of our annual financial
statements for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and fees billed to us
for other services rendered by BDO Seidman, LLP during that period:
|
|
2009 |
|
2008 |
Audit
Fees (1) |
|
$ |
145,000 |
|
$ |
154,000 |
Audit-Related Fees |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
Tax
Fees (2) |
|
|
13,000 |
|
|
14,500 |
All
Other Fees |
|
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
Total |
|
$ |
158,000 |
|
$ |
168,500 |
|
(1) |
|
Audit fees include fees for the audit of
the Company’s annual financial statements and review of its internal
controls over financial reporting, review of financial statements included
in the Company’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Reports, and services that are
normally provided by the independent registered public accountants in
connection with regulatory filings for those fiscal years. |
|
|
|
(2) |
|
Tax fees include fees for all services
performed by the independent registered public accountants’ tax personnel
except those services specifically related to the audit of the financial
statements, and includes fees for tax compliance and tax
advice. |
The Audit Committee has approved the
above-listed fees, has considered whether the provision of the non-audit
services described above is compatible with maintaining such accounting firms’
independence, and has determined that the provision of such services is
compatible with maintaining such accounting firms’ independence.
12
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR ratification of the
selection of the accounting firm of BDO Seidman, LLP as independent registered
public accountants of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The following Audit Committee Report
does not constitute soliciting material and should not be deemed filed or
incorporated by reference into any other Company filing under the Securities Act
of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent the Company
specifically incorporates this Report by reference therein.
The Audit Committee of the Board is
responsible for providing independent, objective oversight of the Company’s
accounting functions and internal controls. The Audit Committee’s duties
specifically include the appointment, compensation and supervision of the
Company’s independent registered public accountants, as well as pre-approval of
all auditing and non-auditing services provided by the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm. Management is responsible for the Company’s
internal controls and financial reporting process. The independent registered
public accountants are responsible for performing an independent audit of the
Company’s financial statements and its internal controls over financial
reporting, in accordance with auditing standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board, and to issue a report thereon. As set forth in more
detail in its charter, the Audit Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and
oversee these processes.
In connection with these
responsibilities, the Audit Committee met with management and the Company’s
independent registered public accountants, to review and discuss all financial
statements included in the Company’s quarterly and annual reports for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2009 (the “Financial Statements”) prior to their
issuance and to discuss significant accounting issues. Management has advised us
that the Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, and the Committee discussed the Financial
Statements with both management and the independent registered public
accountants. Our review included discussions with the independent registered
public accountants of matters required to be discussed by the Statement on
Auditing Standards No. 61 as amended (Communication with Audit Committees).
The Audit Committee also received
written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public
accountants required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the
Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent
registered public accountants that firm’s independence.
Finally, the Audit Committee
continued to monitor the integrity of the Company’s financial reporting
processes and its internal procedures and controls.
13
Based upon the Audit Committee’s discussions with management and the
independent registered public accountants, and the Audit Committee’s review of
the representations of management and the independent registered public
accountants, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the
Company’s audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, for filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Members of the Audit Committee |
M.
Philip Guthrie (Chairman) |
Richard Hermon-Taylor |
Victor
F. Keen |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND
ANALYSIS
Overview
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis
primarily addresses the compensation of Robert L. Saxe, Chairman of the Board
and Chief Technology Officer, Joseph M. Harary, President, Chief Executive
Officer, General Counsel, Treasurer and Secretary, Michael R. LaPointe, Vice
President – Marketing, and Steven M. Slovak, Vice President - Technology. The
foregoing named executive officers comprise all of our executive officers. These
four executive officers are referred to as the “named executive officers”
throughout this proxy statement.
Our Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
The Company seeks to include in
compensation for the Company’s executive officers a combination of base salary,
equity incentives, and performance-based bonuses that is intended to attract,
retain and motivate executive officers who have the skills, experience and
knowledge important to the success of the Company and to reward superior
performance and encourage actions that drive our business strategy. The
objective of this approach is to align total executive compensation with the
long-term performance of the Company and the interests of its stockholders and
enable employees of the Company to participate in the Company’s growth. Through
ownership of stock and options, the Company believes that executive officers are
rewarded if the Company’s stockholders receive the benefit of appreciation of
the price of the Company’s Common Stock.
Role of the Compensation Committee in
Compensation Decisions
The compensation of executive officers of
the Company, including its named executive officers, is determined by the
Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. The salaries of all
executive officers are also reviewed at least annually by the Compensation
Committee and by the entire Board of Directors. Numerous factors are reviewed in
determining compensation levels. These factors include: the compensation levels
of executive officers with comparable experience and qualifications,
compensation levels at comparable companies, individual and Company performance,
past compensation levels, building stockholder value, and other relevant
considerations, including a review of applicable compensation studies and other
reference materials. The Company’s Compensation Committee also reviews and
approves recommendations made by management of the Company with respect to the
compensation of all non-executive employees of the Company.
14
Role of Management in Compensation Decisions
As mentioned above, management of the Company makes recommendations to
the Compensation Committee with respect to the compensation of all non-executive
employees of the Company. The Compensation Committee reviews and has discretion
to approve those recommendations.
Compensation Consultants and Benchmarking
The Compensation Committee engaged Dolmat
Connell & Partners to provide guidance with respect to the amount and mix of
compensation awarded to the Company’s Chairman and Chief Technology Officer and
its President and Chief Executive Officer. The nature and scope of services
rendered by Dolmat Connell & Partners were to: (i) evaluate the past and
current compensation of those individuals, (ii) aid the Compensation Committee
in developing a relevant peer group of companies (the “Compensation Peer Group”)
against which to measure the reasonableness and appropriateness of compensation
of those individuals, and (iii) provide guidance to the Compensation Committee
in determining the level of 2009 compensation and the mix as among cash, and
long and short-term incentive compensation. Dolmat Connell & Partners
submitted its report to the Compensation Committee which the Compensation
Committee reviewed and considered in connection with establishing executive
compensation in 2009. The Compensation Committee did not direct Dolmat Connell
& Partners to perform these services in any particular manner or under any
particular method.
For 2009, the following companies were
included in the Compensation Peer Group: Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc.,
Microvision, Inc., Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc., American Technology Corp.,
I.D. Systems, Inc., MOCON, Inc., PURE Bioscience, Arrowhead Research Corp.,
Medis Technologies Ltd, MoSys, Inc., Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., AspenBio
Pharma, Inc., Mesa Laboratories, Inc., Nexxus Lighting, Inc. and Transmeta
Corp.
Taking all of the factors the
Compensation Committee regards as relevant, including the compensation levels of
comparable executives among the Compensation Peer Group, and the finding and
recommendations contained in the report prepared by Dolmat Connell &
Partners, the Compensation Committee, having met and deliberated eight times
during 2009, believes that the current compensation approach and level of
compensation of the Company’s named executive officers is appropriate and in the
best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
Components of Named Executive Officer
Compensation
The principal components of compensation
for the named executive officers are base salary, performance-based annual cash
compensation and long-term equity compensation. The Compensation Committee seeks
to achieve a mix of these components such that total compensation is competitive
in the marketplace. Historically, the Company’s compensation program focused on
base salary as a primary means to compensate its named executive officers. In
recent years, the Company has relied increasingly on short-term and long-term
incentive compensation to better align the interests of the named executive
officers with the interests of stockholders in both short-term and long-term
growth. The Company continues to transition its compensation program from its
historical base salary orientation to a program with an increasing emphasis on
incentive compensation. The Compensation Committee does not have a formal policy
for allocation between cash and non-cash or short-term and long-term incentive
compensation.
15
The following table shows the components of named executive officer
compensation:
Component |
|
Purpose |
|
Characteristics |
Base Salary
|
|
Compensate
named executive officers for performing their roles and assuming their
levels of executive responsibility. Intended to provide a competitive
level of compensation, it is a necessary component in recruiting and
retaining executives.
|
|
Fixed
component. Annually reviewed and adjusted as
appropriate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance-based Annual Incentive
Compensation
|
|
Promote the
achievement of short-term business and financial goals. Align named
executive officers and stockholder interests in the short-term performance
of the Company and reward named executive officers for superior Company
performance during the short-term.
|
|
Performance-based bonus opportunity based on the achievement of
certain goals, which may be individual performance goals, Company
performance goals or a combination of the two.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-Term Equity
Compensation
|
|
Promote the
achievement of the Company’s long-term financial goals and increases in
value for the Company’s stockholders. Align named executive officers and
stockholder interests, promote named executive officers’ retention and
reward named executive officers for superior Company performance over
time.
|
|
Reviewed
annually and granted, if appropriate, in the form of stock options and
stock awards.
|
Base Salary.
The amount of base salary
for any executive officer is based on the level of responsibility of the
executive officer, the Company’s performance, the executive officer’s individual
performance and the executive officer’s compensation compared to similarly
situated executives in the Compensation Peer Group. As mentioned above,
historically the Company’s compensation program has focused on base salary as
its primary compensation element. Base salary is an important element in
recruiting and retaining executive officers.
Performance-based Annual Incentive
Compensation. In order to
better align our compensation practices with the market and to promote the
achievement of short-term business and financial goals, the Compensation
Committee has increasingly emphasized bonus opportunities for its executive
officers in the form of performance-based annual incentive compensation.
A portion of Mr. Harary’s 2009
compensation was tied to the achievement of various business and financial goals
during the year. Under his employment agreement, Mr. Harary is eligible to earn
a cash bonus based upon the achievement of performance goals established by the
Board. The performance goals established by the Board for 2009 were divided into
three main categories: (1) strengthening the Company’s financial condition, (2)
achievement of targeted revenue levels, and (3) achievement of certain
performance improvements to the Company’s light-control technology and the
establishment of strategic goals for the entire Company and their efficient
implementation and management.
16
For 2009, the Board set the aggregate target bonus for Mr. Harary at
$150,000, which such amount the Board allocated among the three categories
described above as follows: one-half of the target bonus amount was allocated to
the first category and one-quarter of the target bonus amount was allocated to
each of the second and third categories, respectively. The Board believes that
such amounts create an appropriate mix as among the fixed, short term incentive
and long term incentive components of his compensation arrangement. In the view
of the Board, achievement of the performance goals for each category is
challenging but attainable.
For some categories, payment of the bonus
amount allocated to that category was dependent upon the Company’s achievement
of at least a “threshold” level of performance. If the threshold level of
performance with respect to a particular category was not achieved, the portion
of the bonus payment allocated to that category was not paid to Mr. Harary.
At the end of the performance period, the
Compensation Committee determined the extent to which the pre-established
performance goals were satisfied during the performance period. The amount of
compensation awarded for 2009 to Mr. Harary as a bonus is reflected in the
“Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the “Summary Compensation
Table” below.
A cash bonus may be awarded at the
discretion of the Board and Compensation Committee for extraordinary individual
achievement or for other reasons. In 2009, Mr. Slovak was also awarded a
discretionary bonus based upon the achievement of certain research-related
goals. The bonus amount awarded to Mr. Slovak for 2009 is reflected in the
“Bonus” column of the “Summary Compensation Table” below.
Long-Term Equity
Compensation. The Company
uses long-term equity compensation to provide incentives to those most
responsible for the Company’s success, to promote the achievement of the
Company’s long-term financial goals and to align the interests of its executive
officers, employees and consultants with that of its stockholders. The award of
long-term equity compensation also assists the Company in attracting and
retaining executive officer talent and reduces the amount of cash compensation
that would otherwise be necessary to do so. Historically, the Company has
granted equity awards to executive officers in the form of stock options or
restricted stock under the Company’s 2008 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2008
Plan”) and its predecessor plan, the 1998 Stock Option Plan, which expired at
the end of 2007.
The Compensation Committee and Board
believe that the 2008 Plan is essential to the Company’s continued success. The
purpose of the 2008 Plan is to afford an incentive to executive officers, other
employees, non-employee directors and consultants of the Company to acquire a
proprietary interest in the Company, to continue as employees, non-employee
directors or consultants (as the case may be), to increase their efforts on
behalf of the Company and to promote the success of the Company’s business. The
Compensation Committee and Board believe that the granting of awards under the
2008 Plan will promote continuity of management, help attract new employees, and
encourage employees, directors, officers and consultants, to increase their
stock ownership in the Company and provide an increased incentive and personal
interest in the welfare of the Company by those who are or may become primarily
responsible for shaping and carrying out the long range plans of the Company and
securing its continued growth, development and financial success. To further
such purposes, stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and
restricted stock units may be granted pursuant to the 2008 Plan. The Company has
relied primarily on stock option grants and awards of restricted stock under the
2008 Plan to compensate named executive officers. The Company has not awarded
stock appreciation rights or restricted stock units.
17
During 2009, the Compensation Committee awarded restricted stock to each
of its named executive officers as set forth in the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards
in 2009” table below. No stock options were granted in 2009 to any of our named
executive officers.
Employment Arrangements
The Company entered into an employment
agreement effective January 1, 1989 with Mr. Robert L. Saxe which automatically
renews itself for successive one-year terms unless either the Company or Mr.
Saxe gives the other at least 10 days prior written notice of the intention not
to renew the employment agreement. Pursuant to that agreement, Mr. Saxe received
an annual base salary from the Company of $402,132 during 2009 and will receive
an annual base salary of $300,000 through December 31, 2010. Pursuant to his
employment agreement, Mr. Saxe has agreed not to compete with the Company for a
period of two years following the termination of his employment thereunder. In
the event of Mr. Saxe’s death, Mr. Saxe’s estate shall be entitled to receive
his accrued but unpaid base salary and bonus plus $50,000.
In 2009, the Company entered into a
five-year employment agreement with Joseph M. Harary, which was effective as of
January 1, 2009 when Mr. Harary was promoted to the position of Chief Executive
Officer of the Company. The agreement automatically renews itself for successive
one-year terms unless either the Company or Mr. Harary gives the other at least
90 days prior written notice of the intention not to renew the employment
agreement. Pursuant to that agreement, in addition to possible future equity
incentive awards granted by the Board of Directors of the Company in their
discretion, Mr. Harary received 150,000 shares of restricted stock of the
Company which vest monthly over a three-year period, and Mr. Harary will receive
an annual base salary from the Company of $425,000, and will be eligible to also
earn a bonus based upon the achievement of performance goals established by the
Board of Directors for Mr. Harary. Pursuant to his employment agreement, if Mr.
Harary’s employment is terminated due to his death or disability, Mr. Harary
shall be entitled to receive his base salary (less any disability payments) for
six months as well as any earned or accrued bonus. If Mr. Harary’s employment is
not renewed, or is terminated by the Company other than due to death,
disability, or for cause (as defined in the agreement) prior to its scheduled
expiration date, then Mr. Harary shall also receive his base salary for between
one and three years, depending upon the date of such termination. If there is a
change in control of the Company, Mr. Harary shall receive his base salary for
the longer of three years or the scheduled date of termination of Mr. Harary’s
employment agreement. Unless vesting is otherwise accelerated under the terms of
an equity award (which is usually done in the case of death or disability of an
employee), if Mr. Harary’s employment is terminated by the Company in breach of
his employment agreement or is terminated by Mr. Harary other than for good
reason (as defined in the agreement), any unvested equity awards shall also
become immediately vested. Pursuant to the employment agreement, Mr. Harary is
also entitled to four weeks paid vacation each year, and other fringe benefits
generally applicable to other employees of the Company. Under his employment
agreement, Mr. Harary has also agreed to certain restrictive covenants including
Mr. Harary’s agreement not to solicit employees or compete with the Company for
a period of two years following the termination of his employment thereunder.
The Company has not entered into
employment agreements, written or unwritten, with its other executive officers,
Messrs. LaPointe and Slovak.
18
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
REPORT
The following
Compensation Committee Report does not constitute soliciting material and should
not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other Company filing
under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except
to the extent the Company specifically incorporates this Report by reference
therein.
The Compensation Committee of the Board
of Directors of Research Frontiers Incorporated has reviewed and discussed with
management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis included in this Proxy
Statement. Based on its reviews and discussions, the Committee recommended to
the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included
in this Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference into the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
This report is submitted on behalf of the
Compensation Committee.
Members of the Compensation Committee |
Victor F. Keen (Chairman) |
M. Philip Guthrie |
Richard Hermon-Taylor |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
TABLES
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth
information regarding each element of compensation that we pay or award to our
named executive officers. The Company has not and does not currently provide,
and has no plan to provide in the future, pension benefits, non-qualified
defined contributions, or deferred contributions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive Plan |
|
All Other |
|
|
|
Name and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock/Option |
|
Compensation |
|
Compensation |
|
|
|
Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
Salary($) |
|
Bonus($) |
|
Awards($)(1) |
|
($) |
|
($)(2) |
|
Total($)(3) |
Robert L. Saxe, |
|
2009 |
|
$ |
402,132 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
53,500 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
43,307 |
|
$ |
498,939 |
Chairman of the |
|
2008 |
|
$ |
409,865 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
24,747 |
|
$ |
434,612 |
Board and Chief |
|
2007 |
|
$ |
393,091 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
903,582 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
10,583 |
|
$ |
1,307,256 |
Technology Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph M. Harary, |
|
2009 |
|
$ |
425,000 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
321,000 |
|
$ |
128,361 |
|
$ |
65,561 |
|
$ |
966,922 |
President, Chief |
|
2008 |
|
$ |
409,865 |
|
$ |
75,000 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
55,680 |
|
$ |
540,545 |
Executive Officer, |
|
2007 |
|
$ |
393,091 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
708,556 |
|
$ |
139,760 |
|
$ |
37,797 |
|
$ |
1,279,204 |
General Counsel, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Treasurer and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael R. LaPointe, |
|
2009 |
|
$ |
106,906 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
7,490 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
1,379 |
|
$ |
115,775 |
Vice President- |
|
2008 |
|
$ |
146,203 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
2,759 |
|
$ |
148,962 |
Marketing |
|
2007 |
|
$ |
140,219 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
210,747 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
350,966 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven M. Slovak, |
|
2009 |
|
$ |
143,444 |
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
$ |
12,840 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
8,827 |
|
$ |
190,111 |
Vice President- |
|
2008 |
|
$ |
146,203 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
5,517 |
|
$ |
151,720 |
Technology |
|
2007 |
|
$ |
113,076 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
280,134 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
$ |
4,349 |
|
$ |
397,559 |
19
|
(1) |
|
Amounts in this
column represent stock options issued in 2007 and 2008 and restricted
stock awards issued in 2009. No stock options were granted in 2008 or 2009
and no restricted stock awards were made in 2007 or 2008. The dollar value
of option awards listed in this column for 2007 and 2008 are estimated
grant date fair values based upon the Black-Scholes valuation method in
accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standard
Codifications Topic 718 (“ASC 718”) and using the assumptions set forth in
the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the respective year in
question. For 2009, amounts listed represent stock awards and are valued
based upon the high and low trading price of the Company’s Common Stock on
the trading day immediately prior to the award date. |
|
(2) |
|
Consists solely
of cash payments of accrued but unused vacation. |
|
(3) |
|
Consists of cash
compensation (salary, bonus, and accrued vacation) plus the estimated
grant date fair value of stock and option awards calculated based upon the
valuation methods described in footnote (1) above. These amounts do not
indicate the amount actually received by the individual since estimated
values will fluctuate based upon future market conditions. The 2009 stock
grant to Mr. Harary of 150,000 shares of Common Stock (vesting over a
period of 3 years) with an estimated value at the time of grant of
$321,000 was issued pursuant to Mr. Harary’s employment agreement with the
Company when Mr. Harary became the Chief Executive Officer of the Company
in January 2009. |
Grants of Plan-Based Awards in
2009
The table below provides information regarding payment of non-equity
incentive plan compensation and awards of restricted stock pursuant to the 2008
Plan to the named executive officers of the Company. No stock options were
granted in 2009 to any named executive officer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Possible Payouts under
Non- |
|
Stock |
|
Grant Date |
|
|
|
|
Equity Incentive Plan Awards
(1) |
|
Awards: |
|
Fair Value |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
of Stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares of |
|
and Option |
Name |
|
|
Grant Date |
|
Threshold ($) |
|
Target ($) |
|
Maximum ($) |
|
Stock(#)(2) |
|
Awards ($) |
Robert L. Saxe |
|
1/1/2009 |
|
|
– |
|
|
– |
|
– |
|
|
25,000 |
|
$ |
53,500 |
Joseph M. Harary |
|
N / A |
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
$ |
150,000 |
|
(3 |
) |
|
– |
|
|
– |
|
|
1/1/2009 |
|
|
– |
|
|
– |
|
– |
|
|
150,000 |
|
$ |
321,000 |
Steven M. Slovak |
|
1/1/2009 |
|
|
– |
|
|
– |
|
– |
|
|
6,000 |
|
$ |
12,840 |
Michael R. LaPointe |
|
1/1/2009 |
|
|
– |
|
|
– |
|
– |
|
|
3,500 |
|
$ |
7,490 |
|
(1) |
|
These columns
report the range of cash payouts for 2009 performance under Mr. Harary’s
employment agreement as described in the Compensation Discussion and
Analysis. The amounts shown in the “Threshold” column reflect the minimum
payout opportunity if threshold performance was achieved. |
|
(2) |
|
Represents awards
of restricted shares made under the 2008 Plan. Restricted shares vest at a
rate of 1/36 per month over a three year period starting on January 31,
2009. |
|
(3) |
|
If actual
performance exceeds targeted performance, Mr. Harary is entitled to a
bonus in excess of the target amount equal to the percentage of the amount
by which actual performance exceeded targeted
performance. |
20
Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2009
The following table shows all options outstanding as of the end of 2009
that have been granted to named executive officers of the Company. All options
were fully vested and exercisable as of the end of 2009 other than 1,500 options
issued to Mr. LaPointe with an exercise price of $18.90625 per share.
|
|
Option Awards
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unexercised |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options |
|
Option |
|
|
|
Option |
|
|
(#) |
|
Exercise |
|
Option |
|
Expiration |
Name |
|
|
Exercisable |
|
Price ($) |
|
Grant Date |
|
Date |
Robert L. Saxe |
|
61,981 |
|
$ |
14.93000 |
|
07/12/07 |
|
07/11/10 |
|
|
48,000 |
|
$ |
14.46875 |
|
10/12/00 |
|
10/11/10 |
|
|
48,000 |
|
$ |
19.00000 |
|
12/15/00 |
|
12/14/10 |
|
|
120,000 |
|
$ |
25.52500 |
|
06/14/01 |
|
06/13/11 |
|
|
60,000 |
|
$ |
9.94000 |
|
09/24/01 |
|
09/23/11 |
|
|
60,000 |
|
$ |
12.77500 |
|
06/13/02 |
|
06/12/12 |
|
|
27,733 |
|
$ |
6.00000 |
|
07/01/05 |
|
06/30/15 |
|
|
88,560 |
|
$ |
11.20000 |
|
12/06/05 |
|
12/05/15 |
|
|
20,000 |
|
$ |
11.37500 |
|
02/13/07 |
|
02/12/17 |
|
|
64,756 |
|
$ |
9.80000 |
|
12/03/07 |
|
12/02/17 |
Joseph M. Harary |
|
50,000 |
|
$ |
14.93000 |
|
07/12/07 |
|
07/11/10 |
|
|
28,000 |
|
$ |
14.46875 |
|
10/12/00 |
|
10/11/10 |
|
|
28,000 |
|
$ |
19.00000 |
|
12/15/00 |
|
12/14/10 |
|
|
60,000 |
|
$ |
25.52500 |
|
06/14/01 |
|
06/13/11 |
|
|
30,000 |
|
$ |
9.94000 |
|
09/24/01 |
|
09/23/11 |
|
|
35,000 |
|
$ |
12.77500 |
|
06/13/02 |
|
06/12/12 |
|
|
40,000 |
|
$ |
11.20000 |
|
12/06/05 |
|
12/05/15 |
|
|
15,000 |
|
$ |
11.37500 |
|
02/13/07 |
|
02/12/17 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
$ |
9.80000 |
|
12/03/07 |
|
12/02/17 |
Michael R. LaPointe |
|
50,000 |
|
$ |
37.03125 |
|
02/22/00 |
|
02/21/10 |
|
|
1,500 |
|
$ |
18.90625 |
|
06/08/00 |
|
05/22/10 |
|
|
1,500 |
|
$ |
14.46875 |
|
10/12/00 |
|
10/11/10 |
|
|
1,500 |
|
$ |
19.00000 |
|
12/15/00 |
|
12/14/10 |
|
|
15,000 |
|
$ |
25.52500 |
|
06/14/01 |
|
06/13/11 |
|
|
7,000 |
|
$ |
12.77500 |
|
06/13/02 |
|
06/12/12 |
|
|
7,000 |
|
$ |
12.81000 |
|
06/12/03 |
|
06/11/13 |
|
|
10,000 |
|
$ |
6.17500 |
|
12/14/04 |
|
12/13/14 |
|
|
11,000 |
|
$ |
6.00000 |
|
07/01/05 |
|
06/30/15 |
|
|
10,000 |
|
$ |
5.60000 |
|
12/06/05 |
|
12/05/15 |
|
|
10,000 |
|
$ |
11.37500 |
|
02/13/07 |
|
02/12/17 |
|
|
10,000 |
|
$ |
14.93000 |
|
07/12/07 |
|
07/11/17 |
|
|
10,000 |
|
$ |
9.80000 |
|
12/03/07 |
|
12/02/17 |
Steven M. Slovak |
|
2,000 |
|
$ |
14.46875 |
|
10/12/00 |
|
10/11/10 |
|
|
2,000 |
|
$ |
19.00000 |
|
12/15/00 |
|
12/14/10 |
|
|
4,000 |
|
$ |
25.52500 |
|
06/14/01 |
|
06/13/11 |
|
|
5,000 |
|
$ |
9.94000 |
|
09/24/01 |
|
09/23/11 |
|
|
5,000 |
|
$ |
12.77500 |
|
06/13/02 |
|
06/12/12 |
|
|
6,000 |
|
$ |
12.81000 |
|
06/12/03 |
|
06/11/13 |
21
7,500 |
|
$ |
6.17500 |
|
12/14/04 |
|
12/13/14 |
10,000 |
|
$ |
5.60000 |
|
12/06/05 |
|
12/05/15 |
10,000 |
|
$ |
11.37500 |
|
02/13/07 |
|
02/12/17 |
15,000 |
|
$ |
14.93000 |
|
07/12/07 |
|
07/11/17 |
15,000 |
|
$ |
9.80000 |
|
12/03/07 |
|
12/02/17 |
The following table shows all awards of restricted stock outstanding as
of the end of 2009 that have been awarded to our named executive
officers.
|
|
Stock Awards |
|
|
Number of Shares or Units
of |
|
Market Value of Shares
or |
|
|
Stock that Have Not |
|
Units of Stock that Have
Not |
Name |
|
|
Vested (#) (1) |
|
Vested ($) |
Robert L. Saxe |
|
16,667 |
|
$ |
63,167 |
Joseph M. Harary |
|
100,000 |
|
$ |
379,000 |
Steven M. Slovak |
|
4,000 |
|
$ |
15,160 |
Michael R. LaPointe |
|
2,333 |
|
$ |
8,843 |
|
(1) |
|
Represents
awards of restricted shares made under the 2008 Plan. Restricted shares
vest at a rate of 1/36 per month over a three year period starting on
January 31, 2009.
|
Stock Options Exercised and Stock Vested in
2009
The following table sets forth the number of shares of stock acquired by
each named executive officer in 2009 upon vesting of awards of stock pursuant to
the Company’s 2008 Plan. While not indicative of amounts actually realized by
the named executive upon vesting, the right hand column in the table below
indicates the aggregate dollar value of stock that vested during fiscal 2009,
calculated by multiplying the number of shares acquired on vesting by the market
value (determined based upon the average of the high and low trading price of
the Company’s Common Stock) of such shares on the date of vesting. No stock
options were exercised in 2009 by any named executive officer of the Company.
|
|
Stock Awards |
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
Shares Acquired |
|
Value Realized |
Name |
|
|
on Vesting (#) |
|
on Vesting($) |
Robert L. Saxe |
|
8,333 |
|
$ |
29,641 |
Joseph M. Harary |
|
50,000 |
|
$ |
177,854 |
Steven M. Slovak |
|
2,000 |
|
$ |
7,114 |
Michael R. LaPointe |
|
1,167 |
|
$ |
4,151 |
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change
of Control
Mr. Harary’s and Mr. Saxe’s respective employment agreements provide for
certain payments and benefits upon a termination, separation, or change in
control. Neither of our other named executive officers have an employment
agreement with us or are otherwise entitled to any sort of cash payment upon
termination or separation from us.
Both our 2008 Plan and 1998 Stock Option
Plan provide for the continuation or acceleration of certain awards and grants
thereunder in the event of specified separations from employment with us. Under
the standard grant agreements for options granted under our 2008 Plan and our
1998 Stock Option Plan, the option holder generally has three months after the
date of termination to exercise options that were exercisable on or before the
date that employment ends unless the options’ expiration date occurs first
(other than for death or disability). Upon an option holder’s death or
disability, the holder or the holder’s estate, as applicable, may exercise
options that were exercisable on or before the date that employment ends due to
death or disability for a period of six months thereafter, unless the options’
expiration date occurs first. All of the outstanding options issued to our named
executive officers are vested, other than with respect to an option to purchase
1,500 shares of our common stock granted to Mr. LaPointe. The potential payments
upon termination or change of control described below for Mr. LaPointe does not
reflect a benefit amount for unvested options because vesting is not
accelerated.
22
Under award agreements with our named executive officers for restricted
stock granted pursuant to our 2008 Plan, each named executive officer’s unvested
restricted stock shall immediately become fully vested as of the date of his
termination due to death or disability. In addition, Mr. Harary’s employment
agreement provides that his restricted stock and any additional equity incentive
awards granted to him under the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan or otherwise will
immediately vest upon his termination by the Company (other than for cause or in
connection with his death or disability), his resignation for good reason or
upon change of control of the Company.
Although our 1998 Stock Option Plan
authorized the grant of restricted stock grants, the Company only granted stock
options during the ten years that the plan was in effect.
Robert L. Saxe
Had Mr. Saxe’s employment terminated on
December 31, 2009 due to his death or disability, his restricted stock would
have immediately vested. The value of his restricted stock, based upon the
closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2009 ($3.79), would have been
$63,167. Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Saxe’s estate would be
entitled to receive $50,000 as a single, lump-sum payment upon his death. Mr.
Saxe is not entitled to any payment upon termination for any other reason or
upon a change of control of the Company.
Joseph M. Harary
The following table describes the
potential payments and benefits to Mr. Harary upon termination of his employment
or a change of control of the Company had such termination or change of control
occurred on December 31, 2009.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By Company |
|
By Mr. Harary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other than |
|
|
|
|
|
than |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For |
|
for Disability |
|
For Good |
|
Good |
|
Change of |
Payments and Benefits |
|
|
Death |
|
Disability |
|
Cause |
|
or Cause |
|
Reason |
|
Reason |
|
Control |
Accelerated vesting of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted Stock(1) |
|
$ |
379,000 |
|
|
$ |
379,000 |
|
|
– |
|
$ |
379,000 |
|
|
$ |
379,000 |
|
|
– |
|
$ |
379,000 |
|
Cash payment under |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
employment agreement |
|
$ |
212,500 |
(2) |
|
$ |
212,500 |
(3) |
|
– |
|
$ |
1,275,000 |
(4) |
|
$ |
1,275,000 |
(4) |
|
– |
|
$ |
1,275,000 |
(4) |
Bonus payable under |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
employment agreement(5) |
|
$ |
128,361 |
|
|
$ |
128,361 |
|
|
– |
|
$ |
128,361 |
|
|
$ |
128,361 |
|
|
– |
|
$ |
128,361 |
|
23
|
(1) |
|
Had Mr. Harary’s
employment terminated on December 31, 2009, the value of his restricted
stock, based upon the closing price of our common stock on December 31,
2009 ($3.79), would have been $379,000. |
|
(2) |
|
The amount of the
benefit shown would be paid over a six month period following the date of
his termination in the manner it would have been paid if Mr. Harary’s
employment had not so terminated. |
|
(3) |
|
The amount of the
benefit shown would be paid in equal installments over a six month period
following the date of Mr. Harary’s termination on December 31, 2009 at
such intervals (at least monthly) as salaries are paid generally to
executive officers of the company. Mr. Harary’s employment agreement
provides that the company shall pay the amount, if any, by which Mr.
Harary’s base salary for the period commencing on the date of termination
and ending on the six month anniversary of such date the exceeds the sum
of (i) the amount of base salary received by Mr. Harary with respect to
the period he was disabled and (ii) the sum of the amounts, if any,
payable to him under the Company’s benefit plans. The amount of the
benefit shown assumes that Mr. Harary became disabled and was terminated
on December 31, 2009, that Mr. Harary did not receive his base salary
during the period in which he was disabled and that no amounts were
payable to him under the Company’s benefit plans. |
|
(4) |
|
The amount of the
benefit shown would be paid over a three year period following the date of
his termination in the manner it would have been paid if Mr. Harary’s
employment had not so terminated. |
|
(5) |
|
Assumes that Mr.
Harary was eligible as of the date of his termination to receive a bonus
in the amount reported in the “Summary Compensation Table” for
2009. |
Steven M. Slovak
Had Mr. Slovak’s employment terminated on December 31, 2009 due to his
death or disability, his restricted stock would have immediately vested. The
value of his restricted stock, based upon the closing price of our common stock
on December 31, 2009 ($3.79), would have been $15,160. Mr. Slovak is not
entitled to any payment upon termination for any other reason or upon a change
of control of the Company.
Michael R. LaPointe
Had Mr. LaPointe’s employment terminated
on December 31, 2009 due to his death or disability, his restricted stock would
have immediately vested. The value of his restricted stock, based upon the
closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2009 ($3.79), would have been
$8,843. Mr. LaPointe is not entitled to any payment upon termination for any
other reason or upon a change of control of the Company.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Since the Company’s three independent directors each chair one of three committees (Audit,
Compensation, or Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees), and serve as
members of the other such committees that they do not so chair, the Company
believes that it is appropriate to set target levels of director compensation
based upon the factors described above for service on the Company’s Board of
Directors. Based in part upon its review of comparable directors fees paid among
the Compensation Peer Group companies, and upon the analysis and recommendations
of the independent compensation consulting firm noted above, each non-employee
independent director received stock with respect to service as a Director during
2009 having a valuation initially targeted at approximately $80,000, which
targeted amount is then subject to adjustment based upon results achieved and
future modification as a result of prevailing compensation levels and other
factors. The mix of cash and stock for 2009 and future years was developed
following the review of an independent compensation consulting firm’s report and
an evaluation of prevailing trends and best practices in corporate governance
and director compensation in a broad range of public companies.
Non-management directors of the Company each received in January 2009
their compensation for service on the Board in 2009 in a combination of 25,000
shares of Common Stock of the Company (having an estimated value at the time of
grant of $53,500) and a cash fee of $35,000. The following table summarizes
compensation paid or awarded to the Company’s non-management directors in 2009.
Management directors are not compensated for their service as directors. The
compensation received by our management directors for their services as
employees is shown in the “Summary Compensation Table” on page 19 of this proxy
statement.
Name |
|
|
Fees Paid in Cash |
|
Stock Awards(1) |
|
Total |
Robert M. Budin (retired
12-31-09) |
|
$ |
35,000 |
|
$ |
53,500 |
|
$ |
88,500 |
M. Philip Guthrie |
|
$ |
35,000 |
|
$ |
53,500 |
|
$ |
88,500 |
Richard Hermon-Taylor |
|
$ |
35,000 |
|
$ |
53,500 |
|
$ |
88,500 |
Victor F. Keen |
|
$ |
35,000 |
|
$ |
53,500 |
|
$ |
88,500 |
|
(1) |
|
The dollar values reported in this column
reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of awards of stock to each of
the independent non-management directors in fiscal 2009 computed in
accordance with ASC 718 based upon the average of the high and low trading
price of the Company’s Common Stock on the trading date immediately prior
to the date of the stock
award.
|
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN
INFORMATION
The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2009 with
respect to shares of the Company's Common Stock that may be issued under the
Company's existing 2008 Plan, and any other equity that may be issued to
officers or directors of, or consultants to, the Company. There are no equity
compensation plans that were not approved by the Company’s
stockholders.
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
securities to be |
|
|
|
|
securities |
|
|
issued upon |
|
Weighted-average |
|
remaining |
|
|
exercise of |
|
exercise price of |
|
available for future |
|
|
outstanding |
|
outstanding |
|
issuance under |
|
|
options, warrants |
|
options, warrants |
|
equity |
Plan category |
|
|
and rights |
|
and rights |
|
compensation plans |
Equity compensation plans |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
approved by security holders |
|
2,011,180 |
|
$ |
13.82 |
|
450,938 |
Equity compensation plans not |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
approved by security holders |
|
– |
|
|
– |
|
– |
Total |
|
2,011,180 |
|
$ |
13.82 |
|
450,938 |
25
STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE
The following table sets forth the range of the high and low selling
prices (as provided by The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.) of the Company’s Common
Stock for each quarterly period within the past two fiscal years. The following
high and low selling prices may reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail
mark-up, mark-down, or commission, and may not necessarily represent actual
transactions.
Quarter Ended |
|
|
Low |
|
High |
March 31, 2008 |
|
$ |
4.75 |
|
$ |
10.32 |
June 30, 2008 |
|
$ |
4.76 |
|
$ |
7.99 |
September 30, 2008 |
|
$ |
3.90 |
|
$ |
6.21 |
December 31, 2008 |
|
$ |
1.55 |
|
$ |
4.48 |
March 31, 2009 |
|
$ |
1.91 |
|
$ |
4.90 |
June 30, 2009 |
|
$ |
2.75 |
|
$ |
4.60 |
September 30,2009 |
|
$ |
2.38 |
|
$ |
4.89 |
December 31, 2009 |
|
$ |
3.51 |
|
$ |
4.79 |
The following graph compares the total returns (assuming reinvestment of
dividends) on $100 invested on December 31, 2004 in the Company’s Common Stock
(REFR), the NASDAQ Composite (U.S.) Stock Index, and the NASDAQ Electronic
Component Stock Index. The stock price performance shown on the graph below
reflects historical data provided by The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. and is not
necessarily indicative of future price performance.
26
2011 STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND DIRECTOR
NOMINATIONS
Any stockholder who intends to present a
proposal for action, including the nomination of a candidate for Director, at
the Company’s 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, must comply with and meet the
requirements of the Company’s By-Laws and of Rule 14a-8 of the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Rule 14a-8 requires, among other things, that any proposal
be received by the Company at its principal executive office, 240 Crossways Park
Drive, Woodbury, New York 11797, Attention: Corporate Secretary, by December 31,
2010. Section 2.12 of the Company’s By-Laws (a copy of which is available upon
request) sets forth the procedures that must be followed with respect to
stockholder nominations, which include a requirement that the person making the
nomination be a stockholder of record at the time of giving notice for such
stockholders meeting and who shall be entitled to vote for the election of
directors at the meeting, and that such nomination be made pursuant to timely
notice in proper written form to the Secretary of the Company. To be in proper
written form, such notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the
stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, (i)
the name, age, business address and residence address of such person, (ii) the
principal occupation or employment of such person, (iii) the class and number of
shares of the Company which are owned beneficially and of record by such person,
(iv) any other information relating to such person that is required to be
disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise
required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including, without limitation, such
person's written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and
to serving as a director if elected), and (v) any other information that is or
would be required to be disclosed in a Schedule 13D promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 regardless of whether such person would
otherwise be required to file a Schedule 13D, and (b) as to the stockholder
giving the notice (i) the name and address, as they appear on the Company’s
books, as such stockholder, (ii) the class and number of shares of the Company
which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder, and (iii) a
description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder and
the person nominated by such stockholder, and any interest by such stockholder
in the election of the person nominated by such stockholder, and any
relationship between such stockholder and the person so nominated. In addition,
a person providing notice under this Section shall supplementally and promptly
provide such other information as the Company otherwise requests. At the request
of the Board, any person nominated by the Board for election as a director shall
furnish to the Secretary of the Company that information required to be set
forth in a stockholder's notice of nomination which pertains to the
nominee.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING
COMPLIANCE
Under the securities laws of the United States, the Company’s directors,
its executive officers, and any persons holding more than ten percent of the
Company’s Common Stock are required to report their initial ownership of the
Company’s Common Stock and any subsequent changes in that ownership to the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Specific due dates for these reports have
been established, and the Company is required to disclose in this Proxy
Statement any failure to file by these dates. All of these filing requirements
were satisfied on a timely basis. In making these disclosures, the Company has
relied solely on written representations of its directors and executive officers
and copies of the reports that they have filed with the Commission.
27
HOUSEHOLDING INFORMATION
Securities and Exchange Commission regulations
permit the Company to send a single set of proxy materials, which includes this
Proxy Statement and the Annual Report to Stockholders, to two or more
stockholders that share the same address. Each stockholder will continue to
receive his or her own separate proxy card. Upon written or oral request, the
Company will promptly deliver a separate set of proxy materials to a stockholder
at a shared address that only received a single set of proxy materials for this
year. If a stockholder would prefer to receive his or her own copy, please
contact Gregory M. Sottile, by telephone at (516) 364-1902, by U.S. mail at
Research Frontiers Inc., 240 Crossways Park Drive, Woodbury, NY 11797, or by
e-mail at info@SmartGlass.com. Similarly, if a stockholder would like to receive
his or her own set of the Company’s proxy materials in future years or if a
stockholder shares an address with another stockholder and both would like to
receive only a single set of the Company’s proxy materials in future years,
please contact Mr. Sottile.
GENERAL AND OTHER MATTERS
Management knows of no matter other than the matters described above
which will be presented to the meeting. However, if any other matters properly
come before the meeting, or any of its adjournments, the person or persons
voting the proxies will vote them in accordance with his, her or their best
judgment on such matters.
|
By Order of the Board of Directors |
|
|
JOSEPH M. HARARY, Secretary |
Woodbury, New York
April 30, 2010
THE COMPANY WILL
PROVIDE WITHOUT CHARGE A COPY OF THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR
THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009 INCLUDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ANY
SCHEDULES THERETO (EXCEPT EXHIBITS), TO EACH OF THE COMPANY’S STOCKHOLDERS, UPON
RECEIPT OF A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR MAILED TO THE COMPANY’S OFFICES,
ATTENTION: SECRETARY. REQUESTS FROM BENEFICIAL STOCKHOLDERS MUST SET FORTH A
REPRESENTATION AS TO SUCH OWNERSHIP ON APRIL 16, 2010.
28
6 FOLD AND DETACH HERE AND READ THE
REVERSE SIDE 6 |
PROXY
RESEARCH FRONTIERS INCORPORATED
240 Crossways Park
Drive, Woodbury, New York 11797-2033
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF
OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - June 10,
2010
The
undersigned hereby appoints Robert L. Saxe and Joseph M. Harary, or either of
them, as Proxy or Proxies of the undersigned with full power of substitution to
attend and to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
Research Frontiers Incorporated to be held on June 10, 2010, and at any
adjournments thereof, and to vote thereat the number of shares of stock of the
Company the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present, in
accordance with the instructions set forth on the reverse side hereof. Any proxy
heretofore given by the undersigned with respect to such stock is hereby
revoked.
(Continued, and to be marked, dated and
signed, on the other side)
6 FOLD AND DETACH HERE AND READ THE
REVERSE SIDE 6 |
PROXY |
Please mark vote as in this example. |
|
×
|
|
|
1. Election of Directors
NOMINEES: M. Philip Guthrie and Victor F.
Keen |
|
2. |
|
Ratification of the selection of BDO
Seidman, LLP as independent registered public accountants of the company
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010. |
|
FOR
c |
|
AGAINST
c |
|
|
ABSTAIN c |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
c FOR ALL
nominees listed above. c FOR ALL
nominees listed
above |
|
3. |
|
In their discretion, upon such other matters as may properly come
before the meeting. |
|
|
|
|
|
EXCEPT:________________________ |
|
|
|
If no specification is made, this proxy will be voted FOR the
nominees listed above and FOR APPROVAL of Proposal 2. |
(Instruction: To withhold authority to vote on any
individual nominee, write the name in the space above.) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
c WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
to vote for all nominees listed
above. |
|
|
|
Please
indicate whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting on Thursday,
June 10, 2010. |
|
|
YES c |
|
|
NO c |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMPANY
ID:
PROXY
NUMBER:
ACCOUNT NUMBER:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dated: |
|
, 2010 |
|
|
|
Please sign exactly as name
appears above. For joint accounts, each joint owner must sign. Please give
full title if signing in a representative capacity. |
PLEASE MARK, DATE AND SIGN THIS PROXY AND
RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE