def14a
SCHEDULE 14(A)
(Rule 14a-101)
Information Required in Proxy Statement
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment
No. )
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the
Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only
(as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
þ
Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §
240.14a-12 |
FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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Fee computed on table below
per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(2) |
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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(3) |
Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act
Rule 0-11 (set
forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state
how it was determined): |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which
the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous
filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule
and the date of its filing. |
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Forrester Research, Inc.
400 Technology Square
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
George F. Colony
Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer
April 4, 2006
To Our Stockholders:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2006 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of Forrester Research, Inc., which will be held on
Tuesday, May 9, 2006, at the offices of Ropes &
Gray LLP, One International Place, Boston, Massachusetts at
10:00 a.m. (local time).
On the following pages, you will find the formal notice of the
Annual Meeting and our proxy statement. When you have finished
reading the proxy statement, please promptly mark, sign, date
and return the enclosed proxy card to ensure that your shares
will be represented.
We hope that many of you will be able to attend in person. I
look forward to seeing you there.
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Sincerely yours, |
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George F. Colony
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Chairman of the Board |
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and Chief Executive Officer |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Forrester Research, Inc.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
MAY 9, 2006
Notice is hereby given that the 2006 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of Forrester Research, Inc. will be held at the
offices of Ropes & Gray LLP, One International Place,
Boston, Massachusetts at 10:00 a.m. (local time) on
Tuesday, May 9, 2006 for the following purposes:
1. To elect two Class III
directors to serve until the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
2. To approve the Forrester
Research, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.
3. To approve the Forrester
Research, Inc. 2006 Stock Option Plan for Directors.
4. To transact such other business
as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournments
thereof.
The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the
proxy statement accompanying this notice.
Stockholders of record at the close of business on
March 31, 2006 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the
meeting. A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting
will be open to examination by stockholders at the meeting and
during normal business hours from April 28, 2006 to the
date of the meeting at our offices, located at 400 Technology
Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139.
If you are unable to be present personally, please sign and date
the enclosed proxy and return it promptly in the enclosed
envelope.
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By Order of the Board of Directors |
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Gail S. Mann, Esq.
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Secretary |
Cambridge, Massachusetts
April 4, 2006
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AT THE
MEETING. PLEASE
SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE
WHETHER OR
NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON.
FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC.
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
May 9, 2006
PROXY STATEMENT
The Board of Directors of Forrester Research, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, is soliciting the enclosed proxy card from our
stockholders. The proxy will be used at our 2006 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders and at any adjournments thereof. You are invited
to attend the meeting to be held at 10:00 a.m. (local time)
on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 at the offices of Ropes &
Gray LLP, One International Place, Boston, Massachusetts. This
proxy statement was first mailed to stockholders on or about
April 5, 2006.
This proxy statement contains important information regarding
our annual meeting. Specifically, it identifies the proposals
upon which you are being asked to vote, provides information
that you may find useful in determining how to vote and
describes voting procedures.
We use several abbreviations in this proxy statement. We
call our Board of Directors the Board and refer to
our fiscal year which began on January 1, 2005 and ended on
December 31, 2005 as fiscal 2005.
Who May Attend and Vote?
Stockholders who owned our common stock at the close of business
on March 31, 2006 are entitled to notice of and to vote at
the annual meeting. We refer to this date in this proxy
statement as the record date. As of the record date,
we had 21,313,924 shares of common stock issued and
outstanding. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote
on each matter to come before the meeting.
How Do I Vote?
If you are a stockholder of record of our common stock, you may
vote:
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In person. If you attend the meeting, you may deliver
your completed proxy card in person or fill out and return a
ballot that will be supplied to you at the meeting. |
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By Mail. If you choose to vote by mail, simply mark your
proxy card, date and sign it, and return it in the postage-paid
envelope provided. |
By signing and returning the proxy card according to the
enclosed instructions, you are enabling the individuals named on
the proxy card (known as proxies) to vote your
shares at the meeting in the manner you indicate. We encourage
you to sign and return the proxy card even if you plan to attend
the meeting. In this way, your shares will be voted even if you
are unable to attend the meeting. Your shares will be voted as
you direct on the proxy card. If a proxy card is signed and
received by our Secretary, but no instructions are indicated,
then the proxy will be voted FOR the election of the
nominees for director and For approval of the 2006
Equity Incentive Plan and 2006 Stock Option Plan for Directors.
How do I Vote if My Shares are Held in Street Name?
If you hold shares in street name (that is, through
a bank, broker, or other nominee), the bank, broker, or other
nominee has provided you with a voting instruction form along
with this proxy statement. Please follow the instructions on
that form to make sure your shares are properly voted. If you
hold shares in street name and would like to attend
the annual meeting and vote in person, you will need to bring an
account statement or other acceptable evidence of ownership of
our common stock as of the close of business on the
record date. However, if you wish to vote your shares in person,
you must contact the person in whose name your shares are
registered and obtain a proxy card from that person and bring it
to the annual meeting.
What Does the Board of Directors Recommend?
The Board recommends that you vote FOR:
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the election of the nominees for Class III directors
identified in Proposal One. |
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approval of the Forrester Research, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive
Plan. |
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approval of the Forrester Research, Inc. 2006 Stock Option Plan
for Directors. |
If you are a record holder and submit the proxy card but do not
indicate your voting instructions, the persons named as proxies
on your proxy card will vote in accordance with the
recommendations of the Board of Directors. If you hold your
shares in street name, and you do not indicate how
you wish to have your shares voted, your nominee has discretion
to instruct the proxies to vote on the election of directors but
does not have the authority, without your specific instructions,
on Proposals 2 and 3.
What Vote is Required for Each Proposal?
A majority of the shares entitled to be cast on a particular
matter, present in person or represented by proxy, constitutes a
quorum as to any proposal. The nominees for election of the
Class III directors at the meeting (Proposal 1) who
receive the greatest number of votes properly cast for the
election of directors will be elected. As a result, shares that
withhold authority as to the nominees recommended by the Board
will have no effect on the outcome. The affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the shares of common stock present in
person or represented by proxy and voting is required to approve
the Forrester Research, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan
(Proposal 2) and the Forrester Research, Inc. 2006 Stock
Option Plan for Directors (Proposal 3).
Shares represented by proxies that indicate an abstention or a
broker non-vote (that is, shares represented at the
annual meeting held by brokers or nominees as to which
(i) instructions have not been received from the beneficial
owners or persons entitled to vote and (ii) the broker or
nominee does not have discretionary voting power on a particular
matter) will be counted as shares that are present and entitled
to vote on the matter for purposes of determining the presence
of a quorum. An abstention therefore has no effect on the
outcome of Proposals 2 and 3. A broker or nominee holding
shares in street name has discretionary authority to vote on the
election of directors (Proposal 1), but does not have
discretionary voting authority with respect to the proposals to
approve the Forrester Research, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan
or the Forrester Research, Inc. 2006 Stock Option Plan for
Directors (Proposals 2 and 3). The broker or nominee
therefore may not vote shares on these two proposals unless the
nominee receives voting instructions from the beneficial owner.
Accordingly, a broker non-vote will have no effect on the
outcome of proposals 2 and 3.
May I Change My Vote After I Return My Proxy Card?
Yes. If you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke a proxy
any time before it is voted by:
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returning to us a newly signed proxy card bearing a later date; |
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delivering a written instrument to our Secretary revoking the
proxy card; or |
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attending the annual meeting and voting in person. |
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If you hold shares in street name, you should follow
the procedure in the instructions that your nominee has provided
to you.
Who Will Bear the Cost of Proxy Solicitation?
We will bear the expense of soliciting proxies. Our
officers and regular employees (who will receive no compensation
in addition to their regular salaries) may solicit proxies. In
addition to soliciting proxies through the mail, our officers
and regular employees may solicit proxies personally, as well as
by mail, telephone, and telegram from brokerage houses and other
stockholders. We will reimburse brokers and other persons for
reasonable charges and expenses incurred in forwarding
soliciting materials to their clients.
How Can I Obtain an Annual Report on
Form 10-K?
Our annual report is available on our website at
www.forrester.com. If you would like a copy of our Annual Report
on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, we will send you
one without charge. Please contact the Director, Investor
Relations, Forrester Research, Inc., 400 Technology Square,
Cambridge, MA 02139, Tel: (617) 613-6000.
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PROPOSAL ONE:
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes of equal
size. The members of each class are elected to serve a
three-year term with the term of office of each class ending in
successive years. Robert M. Galford and Gretchen Teichgraeber
are the Class III directors whose terms expire at this
annual meeting. The Board of Directors has nominated them to
serve as Class III directors until the 2009 annual meeting.
Gretchen Teichgraeber joined our Board of Directors in December
2005 and is a nominee for election by the stockholders to the
Board of Directors for the first time. Ms. Teichgraeber was
recommended by the non-management directors who serve on the
Compensation and Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors,
as well as by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and her
appointment to the Board was approved unanimously by our Board
of Directors.
The proxies intend to vote each share for which a proper proxy
card has been returned and not revoked in favor of the
Class III directors named above. If you wish to withhold
the authority to vote for the election of either of the
nominees, your returned proxy card must be marked to that effect.
It is expected that Mr. Galford and Ms. Teichgraeber
will be able to serve, but if either of them is unable to serve,
the proxies reserve discretion to vote, or refrain from voting,
for a substitute nominee or nominees.
NOMINEES FOR CLASS III DIRECTORS TERM EXPIRING
2009
Robert M. Galford, age 53, a Class III director,
became a director of Forrester in November 1996.
Mr. Galford has been a managing partner of the Center for
Executive Development, an executive education provider, in
Boston, since April 2001. From 2000 to 2001, he was the
executive vice president and chief people officer at Digitas,
Inc., a technology and marketing services firm.
Gretchen Teichgraeber, age 52, a Class III director,
became a director of Forrester in December 2005.
Ms. Teichgraeber has been the chief executive officer of
Scientific American, Inc., publisher of the science and
technology magazine, Scientific American, since 2000. Prior to
joining Scientific American, Ms. Teichgraeber served as
general manager, publishing, and vice president, marketing and
information services at CMP Media, Inc., a leading provider of
technology news and information.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR
THE ELECTION OF
THE NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE.
CLASS I DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE UNTIL 2008
George F. Colony, age 52, a Class I director, is the
founder of Forrester and since 1983, he has served as Chairman
of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. He also has served as
Forresters President since September 2001, and he
previously was Forresters President from 1983 to 2000.
Michael H. Welles, age 51, a Class I director, became
a director of Forrester in November 1996. Mr. Welles is
chief operating officer and a founder of S2 Security
Corporation, an
IP-based facility
security systems
start-up. Prior to
2003, he served as vice president and general manager of the
platforms business with NMS Communications, an OEM
infrastructure supplier to the telecom industry, from 2000 to
2002.
CLASS II DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE UNTIL 2007
Henk W. Broeders, age 53, a Class II director, became
a director of Forrester in May 1998. Since October 2003,
Mr. Broeders has been a member of the Executive Committee
of Cap Gemini S.A., a global management consulting firm
headquartered in Paris, France operating under the name
CapGemini. From 1998 to 2003, Mr. Broeders served as
Chairman of the Executive Board of Cap Gemini N.V., a subsidiary
of Cap Gemini S.A. located in the Netherlands. Mr. Broeders
is also a director of BWise B.V., a software
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company in the Netherlands focusing on Sarbanes-Oxley compliance
software, and Jaarbeurs (Holding) B.V., a Dutch company in the
business of managing a large exhibition and trade fair center.
George R. Hornig, age 51, a Class II director, became
a director of Forrester in November 1996. Mr. Hornig has
been a Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of
Alternative Investments at Credit Suisse, a global financial
services firm, since 1999. He is also a director of Unity Mutual
Life Insurance Company, Office Tiger LLC, and U.S. Health
Group.
Corporate Governance
We believe that good corporate governance is important to ensure
that Forrester is managed for the long-term benefit of its
stockholders. Based on our continuing review of the provisions
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission and the listing standards of The NASDAQ
Stock Market, Inc., our Board of Directors has adopted Corporate
Governance Guidelines, an amended and restated charter for the
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, and a charter for the
Compensation and Nominating Committee of the Board. We also have
a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to
all of our officers, directors and employees, including our
principal executive officer, principal financial officer,
principal accounting officer, and persons performing similar
functions. You can access our Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics, Corporate Governance Guidelines and our current
committee charters on our website, at www.forrester.com.
Information With Respect to Board of Directors
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Board Meetings and Committees |
Our Board of Directors has determined that each of the
directors, with the exception of Mr. Colony, our Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer, is independent under applicable
NASDAQ standards, as currently in effect.
Our Board of Directors held seven meetings during fiscal 2005.
With the exception of Mr. Broeders, each director attended
at least 75 percent of the aggregate of the meetings of the
Board of Directors and of each committee of which he is a
member. Forrester does not require directors to attend the
annual meeting of stockholders, but all directors are encouraged
to do so. Other than Mr. Colony, who presided at the
meeting, and Mr. Galford, our directors did not attend the
2005 annual meeting of stockholders. The Board of Directors
currently has two standing committees, the Audit Committee and
the Compensation and Nominating Committee, whose members consist
solely of independent directors.
Our Audit Committee consists of three members: George R.
Hornig, Chairman, Henk W. Broeders, and Michael H. Welles. The
Board has determined that Mr. Hornig is an audit
committee financial expert under applicable rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and all of the members of
the Audit Committee satisfy the financial literacy standards of
NASDAQ. The Audit Committee held six meetings during fiscal
2005. The responsibilities of our Audit Committee and its
activities during fiscal 2005 are described in the
committees amended and restated charter and in the Report
of the Audit Committee contained in this proxy statement at
page 13.
Our Compensation and Nominating Committee consists of two
members: Robert M. Galford and Michael H. Welles. The
Compensation and Nominating Committee held two meetings during
fiscal 2005. The Compensation and Nominating Committee has
authority, as specified in the committees charter, to,
among other things, evaluate and approve the compensation of our
Chief Executive Officer, review and approve the compensation of
our other executive officers, administer our stock plans, and
oversee the development of executive succession plans for the
CEO and other executive officers. The committee also has the
authority to identify and recommend to the Board qualified
candidates for director. See the Report of the
Compensation and Nominating Committee of the Board of
Directors on page 11 for more information about the
committees activities with respect to executive
compensation.
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As noted above, the Compensation and Nominating Committee has
responsibility for recommending nominees for election as
directors of Forrester. Our stockholders may recommend
individuals for this committee to consider as potential director
candidates by submitting their names and background to the
Forrester Research Compensation and Nominating
Committee, c/o Chief Legal Officer and Secretary, 400
Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139. The Compensation and
Nominating Committee will consider a recommended candidate for
the next annual meeting of stockholders only if biographical
information and background material is provided no later than
the date specified below under Stockholder Proposals
for receipt of stockholder proposals.
The process that the Compensation and Nominating Committee will
follow to identify and evaluate candidates includes requests to
Board members and others for recommendations, meetings from time
to time to evaluate biographical information and background
material relating to potential candidates, and interviews of
selected candidates by members of the Compensation and
Nominating Committee. Assuming that biographical and background
material is provided for candidates recommended by the
stockholders, the Compensation and Nominating Committee will
evaluate those candidates by following substantially the same
process, and applying substantially the same criteria, as for
candidates submitted by Board members.
In considering whether to recommend any candidate for inclusion
in the Boards slate of recommended director nominees,
including candidates recommended by stockholders, the
Compensation and Nominating Committee will apply the criteria
set forth in the committees charter and in the Corporate
Governance Guidelines. These criteria include, among others, the
candidates integrity, age, experience, commitment,
diligence, conflicts of interest and the ability to act in the
interests of all stockholders. The Compensation and Nominating
Committee does not assign specific weights to particular
criteria and no particular criterion is necessarily applicable
to all prospective nominees. We believe that the backgrounds and
qualifications of the directors, considered as a group, should
provide a composite mix of experience, knowledge and abilities
that will allow the Board to fulfill its responsibilities.
In addition, our bylaws permit stockholders to nominate
directors for election at an annual meeting of stockholders. To
nominate a director, in addition to providing certain
information about the nominee and the nominating stockholder,
the stockholder must give timely notice to Forrester, which, in
general, requires that the notice be received by us no less than
60 nor more than 90 days prior to the applicable annual
meeting of stockholders. In accordance with our by-laws, the
2007 Annual Meeting will be held on May 8, 2007.
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Communications from Stockholders |
The Board will give appropriate attention to communications on
issues that are submitted by stockholders, and will respond if
and as appropriate. Absent unusual circumstances or as
contemplated by committee charters, the Compensation and
Nominating Committee, with the assistance of the Chief Legal
Officer, will be primarily responsible for monitoring
communications from stockholders and will provide copies of
summaries of such communications to the other directors as he or
she considers appropriate.
Stockholders who wish to send communications on any topic to the
Board should address such communications to the Forrester
Research Compensation and Nominating Committee, c/o Chief
Legal Officer and Secretary, Forrester Research, Inc., 400
Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139.
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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation |
The Compensation and Nominating Committee consists of
Messrs. Galford and Welles, neither of whom is or has been
an executive officer or employee of Forrester. None of our
executive officers serves as a member of the compensation
committee (or of any committee performing an equivalent
function, or if none, the board of directors) of any entity in
which any of our directors serves as an executive officer.
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Cash
Compensation
Our non-employee directors receive an annual retainer of
$10,000, payable quarterly in arrears, and members of the Audit
Committee receive $1,500 for each meeting they attend, with the
Chairman of the Audit Committee receiving an additional
$5,000 per year. Members of our Board of Directors are
reimbursed for their expenses incurred in connection with
attending any meeting.
Amended
and Restated 1996 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee
Directors
Under the Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option Plan for
Non-Employee Directors, following each annual meeting of
stockholders, each non-employee director receives an option to
purchase 12,500 shares of our common stock at an
exercise price equal to the fair market value on that date.
These options vest in four equal annual installments. After last
years annual meeting, our four non-employee directors at
that time each received an option to
purchase 12,500 shares of our common stock at an
exercise price of $15.48 per share. Each newly elected,
non-employee director will receive an option to
purchase 6,000 shares of our common stock at an
exercise price equal to the fair market value on the date he or
she is first elected as a director. These options also vest in
four equal annual installments, with the first installment
vested on the date of grant. Gretchen Teichgraeber received an
option to purchase 6,000 shares of our common stock at
an exercise price of $19.45 per share when she joined the
Board in December 2005.
The Compensation and Nominating Committee of the Board of
Directors also has the authority under the plan to grant stock
options to non-employee directors in such amounts and on such
terms as it shall determine at the time of grant. No such awards
have been made.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT
The following table and notes provide information about the
beneficial ownership of our outstanding common stock as of
March 15, 2006 by:
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(i) each person who we know beneficially owns more than 5%
of our common stock; |
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(ii) each of the executive officers named below in the
Summary Compensation Table; |
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(iii) each member of our Board of Directors; and |
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(iv) our directors and executive officers as a group. |
Except as otherwise indicated, each of the stockholders named in
the table below has sole voting and investment power with
respect to the shares of our common stock beneficially owned.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules
of the Securities and Exchange Commission and includes voting or
investment power with respect to the shares. Shares subject to
exercisable options include options that are currently
exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of March 15,
2006.
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Common Stock Beneficially Owned | |
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Percentage of | |
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Exercisable | |
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Name of Beneficial Owner |
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George F. Colony, c/o Forrester Research, Inc.
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7,944,088 |
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37.4 |
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400 Technology Square, |
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Cambridge, MA, 02139(1) |
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Royce & Associates, LLC(2)
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1,887,100 |
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8.9 |
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1414 Avenue of the Americas |
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New York, N.Y. 10019 |
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U.S. Trust Corporation(3)
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1,509,755 |
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7.1 |
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114 West 47th Street, 25th Floor |
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New York, NY 10036-1532 |
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Neil Bradford
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61,666 |
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123,766 |
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Charles Chang
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18,750 |
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Robert W. Davidson
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70,000 |
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Brian E. Kardon
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2,631 |
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36,250 |
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Robert M. Galford(4)
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2,400 |
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67,750 |
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Henk W. Broeders
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61,584 |
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George R. Hornig
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50,000 |
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Gretchen Teichgraeber
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1,500 |
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Michael H. Welles
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76,250 |
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Directors and executive officers as a group (16 persons)
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8,017,524 |
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747,741 |
|
|
|
39.9 |
% |
|
|
(1) |
Includes (a) 1,580 shares held by
Mr. Colonys wife as to which Mr. Colony
disclaims beneficial ownership, and (b) shares that are
subject to options Mr. Colony granted to one employee. |
|
(2) |
Beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2005, as reported
in a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on January 20, 2006. |
|
(3) |
Beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2005, as reported
in a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on February 14, 2006. Reporting person includes
United States Trust Company of New York, a New York
state-chartered bank, which is a wholly-owned direct subsidiary
of U.S. Trust Corporation (UST Corp.).
U.S. Trust Company, N.A., a national bank with headquarters
in Connecticut, is a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of UST Corp.
The beneficial owner has sole voting power with respect to
572,895 shares and shared voting power with respect to
5,000 shares, and sole dispositive power with respect to
1,363,745 shares and shared dispositive power with respect
to 132,430 shares. |
8
|
|
(4) |
The 2,400 shares are held in trust for
Mr. Galfords children, and Mr. Galford disclaims
beneficial ownership of these shares. |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation of Executive Officers
The following table shows the compensation earned during fiscal
2005 by our Chief Executive Officer and each of our four most
highly compensated executives as of December 31, 2005. We
refer to these officers as the named executive
officers.
Summary Compensation Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-Term Compensation | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Annual Compensation(1) | |
|
Securities | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Underlying | |
|
All Other | |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year | |
|
Salary | |
|
Bonus | |
|
Options | |
|
Compensation(4) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
George F. Colony
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
300,000 |
|
|
$ |
103,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,838 |
|
|
Chairman of the Board and |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
$ |
287,500 |
|
|
$ |
90,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
4,060 |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
$ |
250,000 |
|
|
$ |
160,333 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,600 |
|
|
Neil Bradford
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
250,000 |
|
|
$ |
188,850 |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
$ |
6,300 |
|
|
President, Americas |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
$ |
242,500 |
|
|
$ |
85,295 |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
$ |
6,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
$ |
208,333 |
|
|
$ |
111,291 |
|
|
|
58,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,836 |
|
|
Charles Chang(2)
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
250,000 |
|
|
$ |
152,831 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
President, Asia Pacific |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
$ |
71,023 |
|
|
$ |
37,500 |
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert W. Davidson(3)
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
249,843 |
|
|
$ |
37,413 |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
$ |
52,619 |
|
|
President, EMEA |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
$ |
246,345 |
|
|
$ |
84,133 |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
$ |
35,909 |
|
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
$ |
224,845 |
|
|
$ |
93,970 |
|
|
|
27,000 |
|
|
$ |
12,863 |
|
|
Brian E. Kardon
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
$ |
212,500 |
|
|
$ |
87,472 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
$ |
6,300 |
|
|
Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
$ |
208,500 |
|
|
$ |
61,222 |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
$ |
6,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
$ |
202,000 |
|
|
$ |
112,970 |
|
|
|
41,000 |
|
|
$ |
6,000 |
|
|
|
(1) |
No named executive officer received perquisites or other
personal benefits in excess of the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of
his salary and bonus. |
|
(2) |
Mr. Chang joined the Company in September 2004 and left the
Company subsequent to the end of 2005. |
|
(3) |
Foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based
on the average exchange rates during the reported fiscal period. |
|
(4) |
With the exception of Mr. Davidson, represents our
contributions to each of the named executive officers
401(K) plans. For Mr. Davidson, represents our
contributions to pension plans maintained outside of the United
States. |
9
Options Granted and Options Exercised in the Last Fiscal
Year
The following tables set forth certain information about stock
options granted to, exercised by, and held by the named
executive officers during fiscal 2005.
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Potential | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Realizable Value | |
|
|
|
|
% of Total | |
|
|
|
|
|
at Annual Rates | |
|
|
Number of | |
|
Options | |
|
|
|
|
|
of Stock Price | |
|
|
Securities | |
|
Granted to | |
|
|
|
|
|
Appreciation for | |
|
|
Underlying | |
|
Employees | |
|
Exercise | |
|
|
|
Option Term(2) | |
|
|
Options | |
|
in Fiscal | |
|
Price | |
|
Expiration | |
|
| |
Name |
|
Granted | |
|
Year | |
|
($/Share)(1) | |
|
Date | |
|
5% ($) | |
|
10% ($) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
George F. Colony
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Neil Bradford
|
|
|
30,000 |
(1) |
|
|
2.6% |
|
|
$ |
14.06 |
|
|
|
03/30/15 |
|
|
$ |
265,176 |
|
|
$ |
671,955 |
|
Charles Chang
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert W. Davidson
|
|
|
30,000 |
(1) |
|
|
2.6% |
|
|
$ |
14.06 |
|
|
|
03/30/15 |
|
|
$ |
265,176 |
|
|
$ |
671,955 |
|
Brian E. Kardon
|
|
|
20,000 |
(1) |
|
|
1.8% |
|
|
$ |
14.06 |
|
|
|
03/30/15 |
|
|
$ |
176,784 |
|
|
$ |
446,970 |
|
|
|
(1) |
The exercise price of the options granted is equal to the fair
market value of our common stock on the date of grant. The
options granted to the named executive officers were
performance-based, with vesting determined based upon
achievement of defined performance objectives relating to
earnings per share. The options could vest over two or three
years, depending on performance, or the option shares could be
forfeited if the defined performance objectives are not met.
Based on actual results for fiscal 2005, 50% of the option
shares become exercisable on the first anniversary of the option
grant date, and the remaining 50% become exercisable on the
second anniversary of the option grant date. The options become
exercisable in full upon a change of control. |
|
(2) |
The amounts shown on this table represent hypothetical gains
that could be achieved for the respective options if exercised
at the end of the option term. These gains are based on assumed
rates of stock appreciation of 5% and 10%, compounded annually
from the date the respective options were granted to their
expiration date. The gains shown are net of the option exercise
price, but do not include deductions for taxes or other expenses
associated with the exercise. Actual gains, if any, on stock
option exercises will depend on the future performance of our
common stock, the holders continued employment through the
option period, and the date on which the options are exercised. |
Aggregated Option Exercises in 2005 and
Fiscal Year-end Option Values
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year-End Option Values | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities | |
|
Value of Unexercised | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying Unexercised | |
|
In-the-Money Options | |
|
|
Shares | |
|
Value | |
|
Options at Fiscal Year-End: | |
|
at Fiscal Year-End ($)(1): | |
|
|
Acquired on | |
|
Realized | |
|
| |
|
| |
Name |
|
Exercise | |
|
(2) | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Unexercisable | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
George F. Colony
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Neil Bradford
|
|
|
23,000 |
|
|
$ |
154,556 |
|
|
|
102,916 |
|
|
|
84,050 |
|
|
$ |
86,888 |
|
|
$ |
261,963 |
|
Charles Chang
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,750 |
|
|
|
56,250 |
|
|
$ |
32,250 |
|
|
$ |
96,750 |
|
Robert W. Davidson
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
$ |
50,060 |
|
|
|
61,250 |
|
|
|
68,750 |
|
|
$ |
88,988 |
|
|
$ |
203,763 |
|
Brian E. Kardon
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
$ |
42,195 |
|
|
|
22,500 |
|
|
|
52,500 |
|
|
$ |
57,825 |
|
|
$ |
154,925 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Based on the market price of $18.75 per share, which was
the closing price per share of our common stock on the NASDAQ
National Market on the last trading day of fiscal 2005, less the
option exercise price per share. |
10
|
|
(2) |
Represents the difference between the fair market value of the
shares on the date of exercise and the exercise price. |
Employment and Severance Agreements
In March 2006, our Dutch subsidiary entered into an agreement
with Robert Davidson regarding his termination of employment.
Pursuant to the March 2006 agreement, Mr. Davidson will
receive a severance payment in the amount of 227,802 euros,
payable within one month after his employment terminates, in the
form of a lump sum payment or an annuity, at
Mr. Davidsons election in accordance with the
agreement. Mr. Davidsons employment is scheduled to
terminate on June 30, 2006.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table provides information as of December 30,
2005, the last business day of fiscal 2005, about our equity
compensation plans that were in effect during fiscal 2005.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities | |
|
|
Number of Securities | |
|
Weighted-Average | |
|
Remaining Available for | |
|
|
to Be Issued Upon | |
|
Exercise Price of | |
|
Future Issuance under | |
|
|
Exercise of | |
|
Outstanding | |
|
Equity Compensation Plans | |
|
|
Outstanding Options, | |
|
Options, Warrants | |
|
(Excluding Securities | |
|
|
Warrants and Rights | |
|
and Right | |
|
Reflected in Column (a)) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Plan Category |
|
(a) | |
|
(b) | |
|
(c) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(1)
|
|
|
5,251,470 |
|
|
$ |
20.85 |
|
|
|
2,162,207 |
(2) |
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
5,251,470 |
|
|
$ |
20.85 |
|
|
|
2,162,207 |
(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
The approved plans are Forresters 1996 Amended and
Restated Equity Incentive Plan (the 1996 Plan), 1996
Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee
Directors, and 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended. |
|
(2) |
Of these shares available for issuance, all those available
under the 1996 Plan may be issued as restricted stock. We have
never awarded any shares of restricted stock under the 1996
Plan. If and when Forresters 2006 Equity Incentive Plan
and 2006 Stock Option Plan for Directors are adopted by the
stockholders (see Proposals 2 and 3 below), no further
shares would be available for issuance under the 1996 Plan or
the 1996 Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee
Directors. |
Report of the Compensation and Nominating Committee of the
Board of Directors
The Compensation and Nominating Committee is responsible, among
other things, for reviewing the compensation of Forresters
directors, the chief executive officer and other executive
officers, and administering Forresters stock plans. The
members of the committee are Messrs. Galford and Welles,
both of whom are independent directors under the applicable
standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market, and neither of whom is or
ever has been an executive officer or employee of Forrester.
Forresters culture emphasizes certain key
values including client service, quality, and
creativity that it believes are critical to its
continued growth. To encourage achievement of these key values,
Forrester places great emphasis on individual excellence, and
employees at all levels, as well as executive officers, are
encouraged to take initiative and lead individual projects that
enhance Forresters effectiveness. Forresters
compensation philosophy bases cash compensation on individual
achievement, teamwork, and Forresters short-term
performance. This philosophy seeks to align employees
incentives with Forresters objective of enhancing
stockholder value over the longer term through long-term
incentives, which historically have been principally in the form
of stock options vesting over time. Compensation packages are
also designed to be competitive with other companies in the
industry so that Forrester can continue to attract, retain, and
motivate key employees who are critical to the long-term success
of Forrester.
11
Compensation for Forresters executive officers in 2005
consisted of three principal components: base salary, cash
bonuses, and stock options.
Base Salary. Base salaries of executive officers were
determined by evaluating the responsibilities of the position,
the experience and performance of the individual, and formal and
informal industry comparisons.
Cash Bonuses. Cash bonuses were determined based upon
performance against individual and team goals and were funded
based on Forresters overall performance against key
business objectives.
Stock Options. The principal equity component of
executive compensation historically has been in the form of
stock options granted under Forresters equity incentive
plan. Stock options generally will be granted when an executive
joins Forrester, with additional options granted from time to
time for promotions and performance. The Compensation and
Nominating Committee believes that stock option participation
helps to motivate and retain executives and also aligns
managements incentives with long-term stock price
appreciation. In determining the size and nature of stock-based
awards for 2005, the Compensation and Nominating Committee
considered formal and informal surveys of companies in similar
businesses, recognizing that equity compensation is a key
retention incentive in a company, like Forrester, that relies
heavily on the quality of its executives and analysts. In order
to better align managements stock-based compensation with
the interests of stockholders, stock options granted to
executive officers in 2005 were principally performance-based,
with vesting and the vesting schedule keyed to achievement of
pro forma earnings per share targets.
Mr. Colonys compensation package in 2005 as Chief
Executive Officer consisted of base salary, cash bonus, and the
same executive and employee benefit programs as those in which
other executives participate. In deciding the size of
Mr. Colonys cash bonus target relative to his total
cash compensation, the committee considered Forresters
performance, including revenues, operating income, bookings, and
agreement value, although no single factor was more important
than any other in determining Mr. Colonys cash bonus
target or overall compensation. Mr. Colonys cash
bonus was funded based on Forresters overall performance
against key business objectives. Given Mr. Colonys
significant ownership of Forrester common stock, the committee
did not grant stock options to Mr. Colony in 2005.
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code limits the
deductibility of compensation paid to certain executive officers
in excess of $1 million unless the compensation is
performance based. To the extent consistent with its performance
goals, it is Forresters policy to structure compensation
arrangements with its executive officers to preserve the
deductibility of that compensation in light of
Section 162(m).
|
|
|
Robert M. Galford |
|
Michael H. Welles |
12
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors has appointed an Audit Committee composed
of three non-employee directors: Messrs. Hornig (Chairman),
Broeders, and Welles. Each of the members of the Audit Committee
is independent as defined under the NASDAQ Stock
Market listing standards. The Board has determined that
Mr. Hornig is an audit committee financial
expert under applicable rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, and the members of the Audit Committee
satisfy the NASDAQ financial literacy standards.
The Audit Committee is responsible for providing independent
oversight of Forresters accounting functions and internal
controls. The Audit Committee oversees Forresters
financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors,
reviews financial disclosures, and meets privately, outside of
the presence of management, with Forresters internal
auditor and with the independent registered public accounting
firm. The Audit Committee also selects and appoints the
independent registered public accounting firm, reviews the
performance of the independent registered public accounting
firm, and reviews the independent registered public accounting
firms fees. The Audit Committee operates under a written
charter adopted by the Board of Directors.
In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit
Committee reviewed and discussed Forresters audited
financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2005 with Forresters management and with BDO Seidman, LLP,
Forresters independent registered public accounting firm.
The Audit Committee also discussed with BDO Seidman, LLP the
matters required by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61,
as amended, Communications with Audit Committees.
This included a discussion of the independent registered public
accounting firms judgments as to the quality, not just the
acceptability, of Forresters accounting principles, and
such other matters as are required under the standards of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). The
Audit Committee also received the written disclosures and letter
from BDO Seidman, LLP required by Independence Standards Board
Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussion with Audit
Committees) and the Audit Committee discussed the independence
of BDO Seidman, LLP with that firm.
Based on the Audit Committees review and discussions noted
above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of
Directors, and the Board of Directors approved, the inclusion of
the audited financial statements in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
|
|
|
AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE |
|
BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
|
|
George R. Hornig, Chairman |
|
Henk W. Broeders |
|
Michael H. Welles |
13
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
Set forth below is a line graph comparing the cumulative total
return on our common stock to the cumulative total return on the
NASDAQ Stock Market Index of U.S. Companies and the Russell
2000 index for the period commencing December 31, 2000 and
ending on December 31, 2005. The chart data assumes in each
case that $100 was invested on December 31, 2000 and that
all dividends were reinvested. The stock performance graph is
not necessarily indicative of future stock performance.
Comparison of Cumulative Total Returns
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
12/31/00 |
|
|
12/29/01 |
|
|
12/31/02 |
|
|
12/31/03 |
|
|
12/31/04 |
|
|
12/31/05 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
Forrester Research
|
|
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
|
$ |
40.23 |
|
|
|
$ |
31.10 |
|
|
|
$ |
35.46 |
|
|
|
$ |
35.84 |
|
|
|
$ |
37.45 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nasdaq Stock Market (US Companies)
|
|
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
|
$ |
79.32 |
|
|
|
$ |
54.84 |
|
|
|
$ |
81.99 |
|
|
|
$ |
89.22 |
|
|
|
$ |
91.12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Russell 2000
|
|
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
|
$ |
101.03 |
|
|
|
$ |
79.23 |
|
|
|
$ |
115.18 |
|
|
|
$ |
134.75 |
|
|
|
$ |
139.23 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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OTHER INFORMATION
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act requires our
officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of our
common stock to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Officers, directors and greater than 10%
beneficial stockholders are required by SEC regulation to
furnish to us copies of all Forms 3, 4 and 5 they file.
Based solely on our review of copies of such forms which we
received, we believe that all of our officers, directors, and
greater than 10% beneficial owners complied on a timely basis
with all filing requirements with respect to transactions during
fiscal 2005.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Registration Rights and Non-Competition Agreement. At the
time of our initial public offering, we entered into a
registration rights and non-competition agreement with
Mr. Colony which provides that if Mr. Colonys
employment with us is terminated he will not compete with us for
the one year period after the date of such termination. The
agreement also provides that in the event we propose to file a
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, with respect to an offering by us for our own account
or the account of another person, or both, Mr. Colony shall
be entitled to include shares held by him in such a
registration, subject to the right of the managing underwriter
of any such offering to exclude some or all of such shares from
such registration if and to the extent the inclusion of the
shares would adversely affect the
14
marketing of the shares to be sold by us. The agreement also
provides that Mr. Colony may require us to register shares
under the Securities Act with a fair market value of at least
$5 million, except that we are not required to effect such
registration more than twice or at certain times described in
the agreement. The agreement also provides that we will pay all
expenses incurred in connection with such registration.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
BDO Seidman, LLP audited our financial statements for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2005. We expect that
representatives of BDO Seidman, LLP will attend the Annual
Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement, and will
be available to respond to appropriate questions. The Audit
Committee of our Board of Directors has selected BDO Seidman,
LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2006.
Replacement of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
in 2004
On April 7, 2004, our Audit Committee dismissed
Deloitte & Touche LLP (Deloitte) as our
independent registered public accounting firm. On that date, our
Audit Committee selected BDO Seidman, LLP as our independent
registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004.
Deloittes report on our consolidated financial statements
for the year ended December 31, 2003 did not contain an
adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they
qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or
accounting principles. Deloittes report contained
explanatory paragraphs relating to the adoption of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and
Other Intangible Assets, and the application of procedures
relating to certain disclosures of financial statement amounts
related to the 2001 financial statements that were audited by
other auditors who have ceased operations. During the year ended
December 31, 2003 and through the dismissal date, there
were no disagreements with Deloitte on any matter of accounting
principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or
auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to
Deloittes satisfaction, would have caused it to make
reference to the subject matter in connection with its report on
our consolidated financial statements for such years. There were
no reportable events as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of
Regulation S-K.
We provided Deloitte with a copy of the foregoing disclosures at
the time that we filed a
Form 8-K reporting
the dismissal. A letter from Deloitte addressed to the
Securities and Exchange Commission that was included with the
Form 8-K and which
states that Deloitte agreed with the foregoing disclosure is
incorporated by reference as Exhibit 16 to our 2005 Annual
Report on
Form 10-K.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms Fees and
Other Matters
The following table presents the aggregate fees billed for
services rendered by BDO Seidman, LLP and its affiliates for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and December 31,
2004.
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Fiscal 2005 | |
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Fiscal 2004 | |
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Audit Fees
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$ |
405,030 |
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$ |
398,149 |
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Audit-Related Fees
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9,000 |
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2,500 |
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Tax Fees
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4,487 |
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4,274 |
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All Other Fees
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Total Fees
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$ |
418,517 |
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$ |
404,923 |
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These are fees related to professional services rendered by the
principal accountant in connection with the audits of our annual
financial statements and our internal controls over financial
reporting, the reviews of the interim financial statements
included in each of our quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q,
international statutory audits, and review of other SEC filings.
15
These fees are for assurance and related services by the
principal accountant that are reasonably related to the
performance of the audit or review of our financial statements,
primarily for accounting consultations.
These are fees billed for professional services related to tax
compliance and tax consulting services.
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Audit Committees Pre-Approval Policy and
Procedures |
During 2003, the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors
adopted a policy for the pre-approval of audit and permissible
non-audit services for the purpose of maintaining the
independence of our independent registered public accounting
firm. We may not engage our independent registered public
accounting firm to render any audit or non-audit service unless
either the service is approved in advance by the Audit Committee
or by the Chairman pursuant to delegated authority. At each
regularly scheduled meeting of the Audit Committee, management
or a representative of the independent registered public
accounting firm must report to the Audit Committee summarizing
the services provided by the independent registered public
accounting firm, including the fees charged for the services,
listing newly pre-approved services since the last regularly
scheduled meeting, and an updated projection for the current
year of the estimated annual fees to be paid to the independent
registered public accounting firm for all pre-approved audit and
permissible non-audit services.
PROPOSAL TWO: APPROVAL OF THE FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC.
2006 EQUITY
INCENTIVE PLAN
On March 31, 2006, the Compensation and Nominating
Committee of the Board of Directors (the Committee)
approved and recommended to the Board of Directors, and the
Board of Directors adopted effective upon stockholder approval
and recommends that you approve, the Forrester Research, Inc.
2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2006 Plan).
As of April 3, 2006, 1,356,307 shares remained available
for grant under the Companys 1996 Amended and Restated
Equity Incentive Plan (1996 Plan). Upon adoption of
the 2006 Plan by the Stockholders, the expiring 1996 Plan will
be terminated and no further awards will be granted or issued
thereunder.
The following is a summary of the material features of the 2006
Plan. It may not contain all of the information important to
you. We urge you to read the entire 2006 Plan, a copy of which
appears as Exhibit A to this Proxy Statement.
DESCRIPTION OF THE 2006 PLAN
The Board believes that the success of Forrester depends, in
large part, on the ability of Forrester to attract, retain and
motivate key personnel. Accordingly, the Board firmly believes
that adoption of the 2006 Plan, a broad-based equity
compensation program, as more fully described below, is a
necessary retention tool that is in the best interests of
Forrester and its stockholders.
The 2006 Plan will become effective on the date of its approval
by the stockholders and will terminate when there are no
remaining shares available for Awards. No Awards may be made
under the 2006 Plan after the tenth anniversary minus one day of
the effective date of its adoption and approval. The maximum
number of shares of common stock that may be delivered in
satisfaction of Awards made under the 2006 Plan shall be
4,350,000 plus the number (not to exceed 2,500,000) of returned
1996 Plan shares. 1996 Plan shares will be considered
returned if on the date the 2006 Plan is approved by
stockholders they were subject to outstanding awards granted
under that plan and (i) in the case of restricted stock
awards are thereafter forfeited, or (ii) in all other
cases, are satisfied or exercised, or terminate or expire, on or
after that approval date without the delivery of the shares.
16
Shares delivered under the 2006 Plan may consist of either
authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares. For purposes
of calculating the maximum number of shares that may be
delivered in satisfaction of Awards made under the 2006 Plan,
such maximum will be determined net of any shares
(i) withheld by Forrester in payment of the exercise price
of an Award or in satisfaction of tax withholding with respect
to an Award, (ii) awarded under the 2006 Plan as restricted
stock but subsequently forfeited, or (iii) subject to an
Award that is exercised or satisfied, or terminates or expires,
without the delivery of such shares. In the event of a stock
dividend, stock split or other change in our capital structure,
the Administrator will make appropriate adjustments to the
limits described above and will also make appropriate
adjustments to the number and kind of shares of stock or
securities subject to Awards, any exercise prices relating to
Awards and any other provisions of awards affected by the
change. The Administrator may also make similar adjustments to
take into account other distributions to stockholders or any
other event, if the Administrator determines that adjustments
are appropriate to avoid distortion in the operation of the 2006
Plan and to preserve the value of awards.
The maximum number of shares of common stock for which stock
options may be granted to any person in any calendar year and
the maximum number of shares of common stock subject to stock
appreciation rights (SARs) granted to any person in
any calendar year will each be 1,000,000. The maximum number of
shares that will be paid to any person under other awards in any
calendar year will be 1,000,000.
The maximum number of shares that may be issued under the 2006
Plan represents approximately 20% percent of the total number of
shares of Forrester common stock outstanding on April 3,
2006, excluding treasury shares. Approximately
5,345,340 shares remained issuable in connection with
outstanding awards under prior Forrester plans, including the
1996 Plan and the 1996 Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan
for Non-employee Directors Plan (1996 Directors
Plan). The total number of shares issuable in connection
with outstanding awards under prior Forrester plans, added
together with shares issuable under the proposed 2006 Plan and
the proposed 2006 Stock Option Plan for Directors (as described
in Proposal Three: Approval of 2006 Stock Option Plan for
Directors below), represent approximately 48% of
Forresters outstanding shares on April 3, 2006.
Administration. The Compensation and Nominating Committee
of the Board of Directors (Administrator) will
administer the 2006 Plan. The Administrator has full authority
to determine who will receive Awards and to determine the types
of Awards to be granted as well as the amounts, terms, and
conditions of any awards. Awards may be in the form of options,
SARs, restricted or unrestricted stock, restricted or
unrestricted stock units, or performance awards (collectively,
Awards). The Administrator has the right to
determine any questions that may arise regarding the
interpretation and application of the provisions of the 2006
Plan and to make, administer, and interpret such rules and
regulations as it deems necessary or advisable. To the extent
permitted by law and the terms of the 2006 Plan, the
Administrator may, in its discretion, delegate its duties,
powers, and rights under the 2006 Plan to one or more of its
members or officers of the Company. Determinations of the
Administrator and its delegates made under the 2006 Plan are
conclusive and bind all parties.
Eligibility. Key employees of, and consultants and
advisors to, Forrester are eligible to be granted Awards under
the 2006 Plan, except that incentive stock options may only be
granted to employees of Forrester and its subsidiaries. As of
March 31, 2006, the group of persons from whom the
Administrator will select participants consists of approximately
700 individuals.
Stock Options. The Administrator may from time to time
award options to any participant subject to the limitations
described above. Stock options give the holder the right to
purchase shares of Forrester common stock within a specified
period of time at a specified price. The 2006 Plan provides for
the grant of two types of options: incentive stock options
(ISOs), which are subject to special tax treatment
as described below, and nonstatutory stock options
(NSOs).
The exercise price of both an ISO and NSO granted under the 2006
Plan may not be less than the fair market value of Forrester
common stock on the date the option is granted. In addition, the
expiration date of
17
an ISO cannot be more than ten years after the date of the
original grant. The Administrator will determine all other terms
and conditions related to the exercise of an option, including
the consideration to be paid, if any, for the grant of the
option, the time at which options may be exercised and
conditions related to the exercise of options.
The option exercise price is payable in cash or check acceptable
to the Administrator. The Administrator may, in its discretion,
also permit optionees to make payment in common stock of
Forrester having a fair market value equal to the option
exercise price, or subject to certain conditions, using a
broker-assisted cashless exercise program.
All unexercised options terminate not later than after a certain
number of years as determined by the Committee. The maximum term
of an ISO may not be longer than ten years. Except as otherwise
provided in the 2006 Plan and the applicable award agreement,
vested options generally must be exercised within three months
of the cessation of a participants employment with
Forrester.
The closing price of Forrester common stock as reported on the
NASDAQ National Market on March 31, 2006 was
$22.32 per share.
Stock Appreciation Rights. The 2006 Plan permits the
Administrator to grant SARs. A SAR entitles the holder, upon
exercise, to receive an amount in Forrester common stock, or
cash, or a combination thereof, determined by reference to
appreciation from and after the date of grant in the base price
of a share of Forrester common stock, which may not be less than
such shares fair market value on the date of grant.
Restricted Stock; Stock Unit Awards. Under the 2006 Plan,
the Administrator may grant nontransferable shares of restricted
or unrestricted common stock and restricted or unrestricted
stock unit awards. A stock award is an award of shares of
Forrester common stock, while a stock unit award entitles the
recipient to the future delivery of shares of common stock or an
amount of equivalent value. Stock unit awards may be settled in
shares, cash or a combination thereof. Awards of restricted
stock and unrestricted stock may be made in exchange for past
services or other lawful consideration. Generally, awards of
restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards are subject to
the requirement that the shares or award be forfeited or resold
to Forrester unless specified conditions, such as continued
employment and/or achievement of performance goals, are met.
Subject to these restrictions, conditions and forfeiture
provisions, any recipient of an award of restricted stock will
have all the rights of a stockholder of Forrester, including the
right to vote the shares and to receive dividends. Other Awards
under the 2006 Plan may also be settled with restricted stock.
Performance Awards. The Administrator may also make
Awards subject to the satisfaction of specified performance
criteria (Performance Awards). Performance Awards
may consist of stock options, SARs, restricted stock or
restricted stock units. The performance criteria used in
connection with a particular Performance Award will be
determined by the Administrator. In the case of Performance
Awards intended to qualify for exemption under
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, the
Administrator will use objectively determinable measures of
performance in accordance with Section 162(m) that are
based on any or any combination of the following (determined
either on a consolidated basis or, as the context permits, on a
divisional, subsidiary, line of business, project or
geographical basis or in combinations thereof): sales; revenues;
assets; expenses; earnings before or after deduction for all or
any portion of interest, taxes, depreciation, or amortization,
whether or not on a continuing operations or an aggregate or per
share basis; return on equity, investment, capital or assets;
one or more operating ratios; borrowing levels, leverage ratios
or credit rating; market share; capital expenditures; cash flow;
stock price; stockholder return; sales of particular products or
services; customer acquisition or retention; acquisitions and
divestitures (in whole or in part); joint ventures and strategic
alliances; spin-offs, split-ups and the like; reorganizations;
or recapitalizations, restructurings, financings (issuance of
debt or equity) or refinancings. Any of the foregoing
performance criteria and any targets set by the Administrator
with respect to those criteria need not be based upon an
increase, a positive or improved result or avoidance of loss. In
addition, to the extent that an event, such as an acquisition or
disposition, occurs during the period related to a Performance
Award that affects one or more of the performance criteria, the
Administrator may adjust the performance criteria in an
objectively determinable manner to reflect such events. Such
adjustments will be made only to the extent consistent with the
requirements for satisfying the performance-based compensation
exception under Section 162(m). The
18
Administrator will determine whether the performance targets or
goals that have been chosen for a particular Performance Award
have been met.
General Provisions Applicable to All Awards. Neither
ISOs, nor, except as the Administrator may otherwise determine
or provide in an Award, any other Award may be sold, assigned,
transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to
whom it is granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law,
except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. During
the life of a participant an ISO is exercisable only by the
recipient. Other Awards may be transferred during the
recipients lifetime, but only on a gratuitous basis and
only to the extent, if any, permitted by the Administrator.
Treatment of Awards in Connection with Certain
Transactions. The 2006 Plan provides that, in the event of
(i) a consolidation, merger, or similar transaction or
series of transactions in which Forrester is not the surviving
corporation or which results in the acquisition by a person or
entity or by a group of persons or entities acting together of
substantially all of Forresters common stock, (ii) a
sale of all or substantially all the assets of Forrester, or
(iii) a complete liquidation or dissolution of Forrester,
the following rules will apply unless otherwise provided in an
Award:
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If there is a surviving or acquiring entity, the Administrator
may arrange to have that entity (or an affiliate) assume some or
all outstanding Awards or grant substitute Awards. Any such
assumption or substitution of a stock option or SAR exempt from
the requirements of Section 409A of the Code will be
accomplished in a manner that preserves such exemption. |
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If the transaction involves a payment to Forrester stockholders
(whether cash, non-cash, or some combination of the two), the
Administrator may provide for a cash-out payment
with respect to some or all Awards or portions thereof. With
respect to each affected Award, the cash-out payment
will be equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of
one share of Forrester common stock multiplied by the number of
shares of stock subject to the Award or portion thereof over the
aggregate exercise or purchase price (if any) of the Award or
portion thereof. |
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Regardless of whether there is a surviving or acquiring entity,
if the transaction does not involve an assumption or
substitution of Awards or a cash-out payment, all
Awards requiring exercise will become fully exercisable and the
delivery of shares deliverable under a stock unit award will be
accelerated prior to the completion of the transaction on a
basis that gives participants a reasonable opportunity, as
determined by the Administrator to participate in the
transaction as a stockholder. |
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Existing Awards, unless assumed, will terminate upon completion
of the transaction. |
The Administrator may require that any amounts delivered,
exchanged or otherwise paid with respect to a
cash-out or acceleration of an outstanding Award
contain restrictions as it deems appropriate to reflect any
performance or other vesting conditions to which the Award was
subject. In the case of restricted stock, the Administrator may
require that any amounts delivered, exchanged or otherwise paid
in respect of such stock be placed in escrow or otherwise made
subject to restrictions.
Amendment and Termination. The Administrator may amend
the 2006 Plan or any outstanding Award at any time or times for
any purpose which may at the time be permitted by law, and may
at any time terminate the 2006 Plan as to any future grants of
Awards. The Administrator may not, however, alter the terms of
an Award so as to affect adversely the participants rights
under an Award without the participants consent, unless
the Administrator expressly reserved the right to do so at the
time of the Award.
2006 PLAN BENEFITS
The future benefits or amounts that would be received under the
2006 Plan by executive officers and non-executive officer
employees are discretionary and are therefore not determinable
at this time. In addition, the benefits or amounts which would
have been received by or allocated to such persons for the last
completed fiscal year if the plan had been in effect cannot be
determined.
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FEDERAL TAX EFFECTS
The following discussion summarizes certain United States
federal income tax consequences of the issuance and receipt of
options under the 2006 Plan and the 2006 Directors Plan (as
described in Proposal Three: Approval of 2006 Stock
Option Plan for Directors below) under the law as in
effect on the date of this proxy statement. The 2006 Plan
provides for the grant of both ISOs and NSOs, as well as other
Awards; the 2006 Directors Plan provides only for the grant
of NSOs. The summary does not purport to cover federal
employment tax or other federal tax consequences that may be
associated with the 2006 Plan or the 2006 Directors Plan,
nor does it cover state, local or
non-U.S. taxes.
ISOs. An optionee realizes no taxable income upon the
grant or, for regular tax purposes, upon the exercise of an ISO.
However, the exercise of an ISO may result in an alternative
minimum tax liability to the optionee. With certain exceptions,
a disposition of shares purchased under an ISO within two years
from the date of grant or within one year after exercise
produces ordinary income to the optionee (and a deduction to
Forrester) equal to the value of the shares at the time of
exercise less the exercise price. Any additional gain recognized
in the disposition is treated as a capital gain for which
Forrester is not entitled to a deduction. If the optionee does
not dispose of the shares until after the expiration of these
one- and two-year holding periods, any gain or loss recognized
upon a subsequent sale is treated as a long-term capital gain or
loss for which Forrester is not entitled to a deduction.
NSOs. In general, in the case of an NSO, the optionee has
no taxable income at the time of grant but realizes income in
connection with exercise of the option in an amount equal to the
excess (at the time of exercise) of the fair market value of the
shares acquired upon exercise over the exercise price; a
corresponding deduction is available to Forrester; and upon a
subsequent sale or exchange of the shares, any recognized gain
or loss after the date of exercise is treated as capital gain or
loss for which Forrester is not entitled to a deduction.
In general, an ISO that is exercised by the optionee more than
three months after termination of employment is treated as an
NSO. ISOs are also treated as NSOs to the extent they first
become exercisable by an individual in any calendar year for
shares having a fair market value (determined as of the date of
grant) in excess of $100,000.
The Administrator may award stock options that are exercisable
for restricted stock. Under Section 83 of the Code, an
optionee who exercises a nonqualified stock option for
restricted stock will generally have income only when the stock
vests, equal to the fair market value of the stock at that time
less the exercise price. However, the optionee may make a
so-called 83(b) election in connection with the
exercise to recognize taxable income at the time of exercise.
Assuming no other applicable limitations, the amount and timing
of the deduction available to Forrester will correspond to the
income recognized by the optionee. In the case of an optionee
who exercises an incentive stock option for restricted stock,
the tax consequences described above with respect to the
exercise of incentive stock options will apply except that
(i) the optionee will have no alternative minimum taxable
income associated with the exercise until the stock vests,
unless the optionee makes a timely 83(b) election,
and (ii) in the event of a disqualifying disposition, the
ordinary income recognized by reason of the disposition and
Forresters corresponding deduction will be measured by
reference to the fair market value of the stock at the time the
stock vested.
Under the so-called golden parachute provisions of
the Code, the accelerated vesting of Awards in connection with a
change in control of Forrester may be required to be valued and
taken into account in determining whether participants have
received compensatory payments, contingent on the change in
control, in excess of certain limits. If these limits are
exceeded, a substantial portion of amounts payable to the
participant, including income recognized by reason of the grant,
vesting or exercise of Awards under the 2006 Plan, may be
subject to an additional 20% federal tax and may be
nondeductible to Forrester.
The foregoing description of tax consequences assumes that
options awarded under the Plan will also qualify for exemption
from the rules applicable to nonqualified deferred compensation
under Section 409A of the Code, which could otherwise
result in acceleration of income and additional tax to the
holders of awards. Under currently proposed guidance under
Section 409A of the Code, the exemption from
Section 409A
20
should be available to both incentive stock options and
nonqualified stock options granted under the 2006 Plan and the
2006 Directors Plan. Options under the 2006 Plan should
also be able to qualify as performance-based awards not subject
to the deduction limitation under Section 162(m) of the
Code. Where applicable, Section 162(m) limits the deduction
for compensation payable to certain executive officers of
Forrester.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE
FOR THE PROPOSAL TO ADOPT THE FORRESTER RESEARCH,
INC. 2006 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN.
PROPOSAL THREE: APPROVAL OF 2006 STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR
DIRECTORS
On March 31, 2006, the Compensation and Nominating
Committee of the Board of Directors (the Committee)
approved and recommended to the Board of Directors, and the
Board of Directors adopted and recommended that you approve, the
Forrester Research, Inc. 2006 Stock Option Plan for Directors
(the 2006 Directors Plan).
As of April 3, 2006, 154,000 shares remained available
for grant under Forresters 1996 Stock Option Plan for
Non-Employee Directors (1996 Directors Plan).
Upon adoption of the 2006 Directors Plan by the
Stockholders, the expiring 1996 Directors Plan will be
terminated and no further awards will be granted or issued
thereunder.
The following is a summary of the material features of the
2006 Directors Plan. It may not contain all of the
information important to you. We urge you to read the entire
2006 Directors Plan, a copy of which appears as
Exhibit B to this Proxy Statement.
DESCRIPTION OF THE 2006 DIRECTORS PLAN
The Plan has been established to advance the interests of
Forrester and its affiliated companies by providing for the
grant of stock options to non-employee directors.
The 2006 Directors Plan will become effective on the date
of its approval by the stockholders and will terminate when
there are no remaining shares available for awards. A maximum of
450,000 shares of common stock may be delivered in
satisfaction of Awards made under the 2006 Directors Plan.
Shares delivered under the 2006 Directors Plan may consist
of either authorized but unissued or treasury shares. The number
of shares delivered upon exercise of an Award is determined net
of any shares transferred by the optionee to Forrester
(including through the holding back of shares that would
otherwise have been deliverable upon exercise) in payment of the
exercise price. In the event of a stock dividend, stock split or
other change in our capital structure, the Administrator will
make appropriate adjustments to the limit described above and
will also make appropriate adjustments to the number and kind of
shares of stock or securities subject to Awards, any exercise
prices relating to Awards and any other provisions of awards
affected by the change. The Administrator may also make similar
adjustments to take into account other distributions to
stockholders or any other event, if the Administrator determines
that adjustments are appropriate to avoid distortion in the
operation of the 2006 Directors Plan and to preserve the
value of Awards.
The maximum number of shares that may be issued under the
2006 Directors Plan represents approximately 2% percent of
the total number of shares of Forrester common stock outstanding
on April 3, 2006, excluding treasury shares. Approximately
5,345,340 shares remained issuable in connection with
outstanding awards under prior Forrester plans, including the
1996 Plan and the 1996 Directors Plan. The total number of
shares issuable under prior Forrester plans, added together with
shares issuable under the proposed 2006 Directors Plan and
the 2006 Plan (as described in Proposal Two:
Approval of the 2006 Forrester Research, Inc. 2006 Equity
Incentive Plan above), represent approximately 48% of
Forresters outstanding shares on April 3, 2006.
Administration. The Compensation and Nominating Committee
of the Board of Directors (Administrator) will
administer the 2006 Directors Plan. The Administrator has
full authority to determine who will receive stock options as
well as the amounts, terms, and conditions of any stock options.
The Administrator has the right to determine any questions that
may arise regarding the interpretation and application of the
21
provisions of the 2006 Directors Plan and to make,
administer, and interpret such rules and regulations as it deems
necessary or advisable. The Administrator may, under the terms
of the 2006 Plan, delegate ministerial tasks to such persons as
it deems appropriate. Determinations of the Administrator and
its delegates made under the 2006 Directors Plan are
conclusive and bind all parties.
Eligibility. Only directors who are not present or former
employees of Forrester or of any subsidiary of Forrester are
eligible to participate in the 2006 Directors Plan. The
group of persons eligible for Awards under the
2006 Directors Plan consists of five individuals.
Stock Options. The Administrator may from time to time
award options to any participant subject to the limitations
described above. Stock options give the holder the right to
purchase shares of Forrester common stock within a specified
period of time at a specified price. The 2006 Directors
Plan provides for the grant of two types of stock option awards:
Automatic Awards (including Annual Awards and Interim Awards)
and Discretionary Awards (collectively, Awards).
Automatic Awards. Beginning with the annual meeting at
which the 2006 Directors Plan is approved by the
stockholders, and on the date of each subsequent annual meeting,
each eligible non-employee director, including any non-employee
director who is elected to the Board on that date but not
including any individual who ceases to be a member of the Board
on that date, will receive an Annual Award that entitles him or
her to acquire 12,500 shares of Forrester common stock. A
person who becomes a non-employee director between annual
meetings will receive an Interim Award that entitles him or her
to acquire 6,000 shares of Forrester common stock.
Discretionary Awards. The Committee also has the
authority to award non-employee directors Discretionary Awards
that entitles him or her to acquire shares of Forrester common
stock in such amounts and on such terms not inconsistent with
the 2006 Directors Plan as it shall determine at the time
of the Award.
The exercise price of an Automatic or Discretionary Award
granted under the 2006 Directors Plan may not be less than
the fair market value of Forresters common stock on the
date the option is granted. In addition, the expiration date of
an Automatic Award cannot be more than ten years after the date
of original grant. Automatic Annual Awards vest as to 25% of the
Forrester shares subject to each Award on each of the first,
second, third and fourth anniversaries of the date of grant, and
Automatic Interim Awards vest as to 25% of the shares subject to
each award on the date of grant and on each of the first, second
and third anniversaries of the date of grant. In the case of
Discretionary Awards, the exercise price and the expiration date
are determined in the discretion of the Administrator. The
Administrator will determine all other terms and conditions
related to the exercise of an option, including the
consideration to be paid, if any, for the grant of the option,
the time at which options may be exercised and conditions
related to the exercise of options.
The option exercise price is payable in cash or check acceptable
to the Administrator. The Administrator may, in its discretion,
also permit optionees to make payment in common stock of
Forrester having a fair market value equal to the option
exercise price, or subject to certain conditions, using a
broker-assisted cashless exercise program.
The closing price of Forrester common stock as reported on the
NASDAQ National Market on March 31, 2006 was
$22.32 per share.
General Provisions Applicable to All Awards. Neither
Automatic nor Discretionary Awards may be sold, assigned,
transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to
whom it is granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law,
except by will or the laws of descent and distribution; however,
the Administrator may permit an optionee to transfer any or all
of his or her stock options in a gratuitous transfer to a family
member or a family trust, family partnership or similar entity.
During the life of a participant, as the Administrator may
provide, Automatic and Discretionary Awards are exercisable only
by the recipient.
Treatment of Awards in Connection with Certain
Transactions. The 2006 Directors Plan provides that, in
the event of (i) a consolidation, merger, or similar
transaction or series of transactions in which Forrester is not
the surviving corporation or which results in the acquisition by
a person or entity or by a group of persons or entities acting
together of substantially all of Forresters common stock,
(ii) a sale of all or substantially all
22
the assets of Forrester, or (iii) a complete liquidation or
dissolution of Forrester, the following rules will apply unless
otherwise provided in an Award:
If there is a surviving or acquiring entity, the Administrator
may arrange to have that entity (or an affiliate) assume some or
all outstanding Automatic and Discretionary Awards or grant
substitute Awards to any participant who will continue to
provide services to the surviving or acquiring entity.
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If the transaction involves a payment to Forrester stockholders
(whether cash, non-cash, or some combination of the two), the
Administrator may provide for a cash-out payment
with respect to some or all Awards. With respect to each
affected Award, the cash-out payment will be equal
to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of one share of
Forrester common stock subject to the Automatic or Discretionary
Award multiplied by the number of shares of stock subject to the
Automatic or Discretionary Award over the aggregate exercise or
purchase price (if any) of the Automatic or Discretionary Award. |
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Regardless of whether there is a surviving or acquiring entity,
if the transaction does not involve an assumption or
substitution of Awards or a cash-out payment, all
Automatic or Discretionary Awards will become fully exercisable
prior to the completion of the transaction on a basis that gives
participants a reasonable opportunity, as determined by the
Administrator, to participate in the transaction as a
stockholder. |
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Existing Automatic or Discretionary Awards, unless assumed, will
terminate upon completion of the transaction. |
The Administrator may require that any amounts delivered,
exchanged or otherwise paid with respect to a
cash-out or acceleration of an outstanding Automatic
or Discretionary Award contain restrictions as it deems
appropriate to reflect any performance or other vesting
conditions to which the Award was subject.
Termination of Service. When a non-employee director
ceases for any reason to be a member of the Forrester Board of
Directors, all Automatic Awards and, unless otherwise provided
in the terms of the Award, all Discretionary Awards then held by
the non-employee Director that have not already vested will
immediately terminate. In the case of all Automatic and
Discretionary Awards that have vested as of the date the
non-employee terminates his or her service with the Board, the
director will have a period of three (3) months or until
the last day of the applicable ten-year term, if earlier, to
exercise those options. In the event that termination of service
is due to the death of the non-employee director, the estate of
the director shall have the lesser of one-year or the date the
options would otherwise expire to exercise those options.
Amendment and Termination. The Administrator may amend
the 2006 Directors Plan or any outstanding Award at any
time or times for any purpose which may at the time be permitted
by law, and may at any time terminate the 2006 Directors
Plan as to any future grants of Awards. The Administrator may
not, however, alter the terms of an Award so as to affect
adversely the participants rights under an Award without
the participants consent, unless the Administrator
expressly reserved the right to do so at the time of the Award.
2006 DIRECTOR PLAN BENEFITS
Plan Benefits. The following table sets forth information
with respect to the options that will be granted under the
2006 Directors Plan to eligible directors immediately after
the 2006 Annual Meeting of
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Stockholders. As discussed above, executive officers and other
employees are not eligible to participate in the
2006 Directors Plan.
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Number of Shares Subject to | |
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Options Granted Under the | |
Director |
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2006 Directors Plan | |
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Henk W. Broeders
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12,500 |
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Robert M. Galford
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12,500 |
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George R. Hornig
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12,500 |
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Gretchen Teichgraeber
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12,500 |
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Michael H. Welles
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12,500 |
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Non-Executive Director Group
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62,500 |
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FEDERAL TAX EFFECTS
For a discussion of certain United States federal income tax
consequences applicable to stock options granted under the
2006 Directors Plan under the law as in effect on the date
of this proxy statement, please refer to the section entitled
Federal Tax Effects in Proposal Two:
Approval of the Forrester Research, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive
Plan above.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE
FOR
THE PROPOSAL TO ADOPT THE FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC.
2006 STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR DIRECTORS.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Stockholder proposals to be considered at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders in 2007 must be received by December 6, 2006
to be considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for that
meeting.
Stockholders who wish to make a proposal at the 2007 annual
meeting, other than proposals included in our proxy materials,
must notify us between February 7, 2007 and March 9,
2007. If the stockholder does not notify us by March 9,
2007, the proxies will have discretionary authority to vote on a
stockholders proposal brought before the meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Board of Directors has no knowledge of any other matter that
may come before the annual meeting and does not, itself,
currently intend to present any other such matter. However, if
any such other matters properly come before the meeting or any
adjournment of the meeting, the persons named as proxies will
have discretionary authority to vote the shares represented by
the accompanying proxy in accordance with their own judgment.
FORM 10-K
A copy of our annual report on
Form 10-K filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission has been mailed with
this proxy statement and is available to stockholders without
charge by writing to Forrester Research, Inc., Investor
Relations, 400 Technology Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139.
24
Exhibit A
FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC.
2006 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Exhibit A, which is incorporated by reference, defines the
terms used in the Plan and sets forth certain operational rules
related to those terms.
The Plan has been established to advance the interests of the
Company by providing for the grant to Participants of
Stock-based Awards.
The Administrator has discretionary authority, subject only to
the express provisions of the Plan, to interpret the Plan;
determine eligibility for and grant Awards; determine, modify or
waive the terms and conditions of any Award; prescribe forms,
rules and procedures; and otherwise do all things necessary to
carry out the purposes of the Plan. In the case of any Award
intended to be eligible for the performance-based compensation
exception under Section 162(m), the Administrator will
exercise its discretion consistent with qualifying the Award for
that exception. Determinations of the Administrator made under
the Plan will be conclusive and will bind all parties.
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4. |
LIMITS ON AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN |
(a) Number of Shares. The number of shares of
Stock available for delivery in satisfaction of Awards under the
Plan shall be determined in accordance with this
Section 4(a).
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(1) Subject to Section 7(b), the maximum number of
shares of Stock that may be delivered in satisfaction of Awards
under the Plan shall be four million three hundred fifty
thousand (4,350,000) plus the number (not to exceed two and
one-half million (2,500,000)) of unused Prior Plan shares. For
purposes of the preceding sentence, shares of Stock shall be
unused Prior Plan shares (i) if they were subject to awards
under the Prior Plan, other than restricted stock awards, that
were outstanding on the day preceding the Effective Date to the
extent such Prior Plan awards are exercised or are satisfied, or
terminate or expire, on or after the Effective Date without the
delivery of such shares, or (ii) if they were outstanding
on the day preceding the Effective Date as restricted stock
awards under the Prior Plan and are thereafter forfeited. The
number of shares of Stock delivered in satisfaction of an Award
shall be, for purposes of the first sentence of this
Section 4(a)(1), the number of shares of Stock subject to
the Award reduced by the number of shares of Stock
(a) withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise
price of the Award or in satisfaction of tax withholding
requirements with respect to the Award, or (b) awarded
under the Plan as Restricted Stock but thereafter forfeited, or
(c) made subject to an Award that is exercised or
satisfied, or that terminates or expires, without the delivery
of such shares. |
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(2) To the extent consistent with the requirements of
Section 422 and with other applicable legal requirements
(including applicable stock exchange or Nasdaq requirements),
Stock issued under awards of an acquired company that are
converted, replaced, or adjusted in connection with the
acquisition shall not reduce the number of shares available for
Awards under the Plan. |
(b) Type of Shares. Stock delivered by the
Company under the Plan may be authorized but unissued Stock or
previously issued Stock acquired by the Company. No fractional
shares of Stock will be delivered under the Plan.
(c) Section 162(m) Limits. The maximum
number of shares of Stock for which Stock Options may be granted
to any person in any calendar year and the maximum number of
shares of Stock subject to SARs
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granted to any person in any calendar year will each be one
million (1,000,000). The maximum number of shares subject to
other Awards granted to any person in any calendar year will be
one million (1,000,000) shares. The foregoing provisions will be
construed in a manner consistent with Section 162(m).
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5. |
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION |
The Administrator will select Participants from among those key
Employees and consultants and advisors to, the Company or its
Affiliates who, in the opinion of the Administrator, are in a
position to make a significant contribution to the success of
the Company and its Affiliates. Eligibility for ISOs is limited
to employees of the Company or of a parent
corporation or subsidiary corporation of the
Company as those terms are defined in Section 424 of the
Code.
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6. |
RULES APPLICABLE TO AWARDS |
(a) All Awards
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(1) Award Provisions. The Administrator will
determine the terms of all Awards, subject to the limitations
provided herein. By accepting any Award granted hereunder, the
Participant agrees to the terms of the Award and the Plan.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary,
awards of an acquired company that are converted, replaced or
adjusted in connection with the acquisition may contain terms
and conditions that are inconsistent with the terms and
conditions specified herein, as determined by the Administrator. |
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(2) Term of Plan. No Awards may be made after
the tenth anniversary of date of adoption (minus one day), 2016,
but previously granted Awards may continue beyond that date in
accordance with their terms. |
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(3) Transferability. ISOs may not be
transferred other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the
Participant to whom they were awarded, only by that Participant.
Other Awards may be transferred during a Participants
lifetime only on a gratuitous basis and then only to the extent,
if any, determined by the Administrator. |
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(4) Vesting, Etc. The Administrator may
determine the time or times at which an Award will vest or
become exercisable and the terms on which an Award requiring
exercise will remain exercisable. Without limiting the
foregoing, the Administrator may at any time accelerate the
vesting or exercisability of an Award, regardless of any adverse
or potentially adverse tax consequences resulting from such
acceleration. Unless the Administrator expressly provides
otherwise, however, the following rules will apply: immediately
upon the cessation of the Participants Employment, each
Award requiring exercise that is then held by the Participant or
by the Participants permitted transferees, if any, will
cease to be exercisable and will terminate, and all other Awards
that are then held by the Participant or by the
Participants permitted transferees, if any, to the extent
not already vested will be forfeited, except that: |
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(A) subject to (B) and (C) below, all Stock
Options and SARs held by the Participant or the
Participants permitted transferees, if any, immediately
prior to the cessation of the Participants Employment, to
the extent then exercisable, will remain exercisable for the
lesser of (i) a period of three months or (ii) the
period ending on the latest date on which such Stock Option or
SAR could have been exercised without regard to this
Section 6(a)(4), and will thereupon terminate; |
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(B) all Stock Options and SARs held by a Participant or the
Participants permitted transferees, if any, immediately
prior to the Participants death, to the extent then
exercisable, will remain exercisable for the lesser of
(i) the one year period ending with the first anniversary
of the Participants death or (ii) the period ending
on the latest date on which such Stock Option or SAR could have
been exercised without regard to this Section 6(a)(4), and
will thereupon terminate; and |
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(C) all Stock Options and SARs held by a Participant or the
Participants permitted transferees, if any, immediately
prior to the cessation of the Participants Employment will
immediately terminate upon such cessation if the Administrator
in its sole discretion determines that |
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such cessation of Employment has resulted for reasons which cast
such discredit on the Participant as to justify immediate
termination of the Award. |
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(5) Taxes. The Administrator will make such
provision for the withholding of taxes as it deems necessary.
The Administrator may, but need not, hold back shares of Stock
from an Award or permit a Participant to tender previously owned
shares of Stock in satisfaction of tax withholding requirements
(but not in excess of the minimum withholding required by law). |
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(6) Dividend Equivalents, Etc. The
Administrator may provide for the payment of amounts in lieu of
cash dividends or other cash distributions with respect to Stock
subject to an Award. Any entitlement to dividend equivalents or
similar entitlements shall be established and administered
consistent either with exemption from, or compliance with, the
requirements of Section 409A to the extent applicable. |
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(7) Rights Limited. Nothing in the Plan will
be construed as giving any person the right to continued
employment or service with the Company or its Affiliates, or any
rights as a stockholder except as to shares of Stock actually
issued under the Plan. The loss of existing or potential profit
in Awards will not constitute an element of damages in the event
of termination of Employment for any reason, even if the
termination is in violation of an obligation of the Company or
Affiliate to the Participant. |
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(8) Section 162(m). This
Section 6(a)(8) applies to any Performance Award intended
to qualify as performance-based for the purposes of
Section 162(m) other than a Stock Option or SAR. In the
case of any Performance Award to which this Section 6(a)(8)
applies, the Plan and such Award will be construed to the
maximum extent permitted by law in a manner consistent with
qualifying the Award for such exception. With respect to such
Performance Awards, the Administrator will preestablish, in
writing, one or more specific Performance Criteria no later than
90 days after the commencement of the period of service to
which the performance relates (or at such earlier time as is
required to qualify the Award as performance-based under
Section 162(m)). Prior to grant, vesting or payment of the
Performance Award, as the case may be, the Administrator will
certify whether the applicable Performance Criteria have been
attained and such determination will be final and conclusive. No
Performance Award to which this Section 6(a)(8) applies may
be granted after the first meeting of the stockholders of the
Company held in 2011 until the listed performance measures set
forth in the definition of Performance Criteria (as
originally approved or as subsequently amended) have been
resubmitted to and reapproved by the stockholders of the Company
in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m) of
the Code, unless such grant is made contingent upon such
approval. |
(b) Awards Requiring Exercise
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(1) 409A Exemption. Except as the
Administrator otherwise determines, no Award requiring exercise
shall have deferral features, or shall be administered in a
manner, that would cause such Award to fail to qualify for
exemption from Section 409A. |
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(2) Time And Manner Of Exercise. Unless the
Administrator expressly provides otherwise, an Award requiring
exercise by the holder will not be deemed to have been exercised
until the Administrator receives a notice of exercise (in form
acceptable to the Administrator) signed by the appropriate
person and accompanied by any payment required under the Award.
If the Award is exercised by any person other than the
Participant, the Administrator may require satisfactory evidence
that the person exercising the Award has the right to do so. |
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(3) Exercise Price. The exercise price (or
the base value from which appreciation is to be measured) of
each Award requiring exercise shall be not less than 100% of the
fair market value of the Stock subject to the Award, determined
as of the date of grant, or such higher amount as the
Administrator may determine in connection with the grant. Fair
market value shall be determined by the Administrator consistent
with the requirements of Section 422 and Section 409A,
as applicable. No such Award, once granted, may be repriced
other than in accordance with the applicable stockholder
approval requirements of Nasdaq. |
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(4) Payment Of Exercise Price. Where the
exercise of an Award is to be accompanied by payment, the
Administrator may determine the required or permitted forms of
payment, subject to the requirements of this paragraph. All
payments will be by cash or check acceptable to the
Administrator, or, if so permitted by the Administrator and if
legally permissible, (i) through the delivery of shares of
Stock that have been outstanding for at least six months (unless
the Administrator approves a shorter period) and that have a
fair market value equal to the exercise price, (ii) by
delivery to the Company of a promissory note of the person
exercising the Award, payable on such terms as are specified by
the Administrator, (iii) through a broker-assisted exercise
program acceptable to the Administrator, (iv) by other
means acceptable to the Administrator, or (v) by any
combination of the foregoing permissible forms of payment. The
delivery of shares in payment of the exercise price under
clause (i) above may be accomplished either by actual
delivery or by constructive delivery through attestation of
ownership, subject to such rules as the Administrator may
prescribe. |
(c) Awards Not Requiring Exercise
Restricted Stock and Unrestricted Stock, whether delivered
outright or under Awards of Stock Units or other Awards that do
not require exercise, may be made in exchange for such lawful
consideration, including services, as the Administrator
determines. Any Award resulting in a deferral of compensation
subject to Section 409A shall be construed to the maximum
extent possible, as determined by the Administrator, consistent
with the requirements of Section 409A.
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7. |
EFFECT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS |
(a) Mergers, etc. Except as otherwise
provided in an Award, the following provisions shall apply in
the event of a Covered Transaction:
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(1) Assumption or Substitution. If the
Covered Transaction is one in which there is an acquiring or
surviving entity, the Administrator may provide for the
assumption of some or all outstanding Awards or for the grant of
new awards in substitution therefor by the acquiror or survivor
or an affiliate of the acquiror or survivor. Any substitution or
assumption of a Stock Option or SAR exempt from the requirements
of Section 409A shall be accomplished on a basis that
preserves such exemption. |
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(2) Cash-Out of Awards. If the Covered
Transaction is one in which holders of Stock will receive upon
consummation a payment (whether cash, non-cash or a combination
of the foregoing), the Administrator may provide for payment (a
cash-out), with respect to some or all Awards or
portions thereof, equal in the case of each affected Award or
portion thereof to the excess, if any, of (A) the fair
market value of one share of Stock (as determined by the
Administrator in its reasonable discretion) times the number of
shares of Stock subject to the Award or such portion, over
(B) the aggregate exercise or purchase price, if any, under
the Award or such portion (in the case of a SAR, the aggregate
base price above which appreciation is measured), in each case
on such payment terms (which need not be the same as the terms
of payment to holders of Stock) and other terms, and subject to
such conditions, as the Administrator determines. |
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(3) Acceleration of Certain Awards. If the
Covered Transaction (whether or not there is an acquiring or
surviving entity) is one in which there is no assumption,
substitution or cash-out, each Award requiring exercise will
become fully exercisable, and the delivery of shares of Stock
deliverable under each outstanding Award of Stock Units
(including Restricted Stock Units and Performance Awards to the
extent consisting of Stock Units) will be accelerated and such
shares will be delivered, prior to the Covered Transaction, in
each case on a basis that gives the holder of the Award a
reasonable opportunity, as determined by the Administrator,
following exercise of the Award or the delivery of the shares,
as the case may be, to participate as a stockholder in the
Covered Transaction. |
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(4) Termination of Awards Upon Consummation of
Covered Transaction. Each Award (unless assumed pursuant
to Section 7(a)(1) above), other than outstanding shares of
Restricted Stock (which shall be treated in the same manner as
other shares of Stock, subject to Section 7(a)(5) below),
will terminate upon consummation of the Covered Transaction. |
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(5) Additional Limitations. Any share of
Stock delivered pursuant to Section 7(a)(2) or
Section 7(a)(3) above with respect to an Award may, in the
discretion of the Administrator, contain such restrictions, if
any, as the Administrator deems appropriate to reflect any
performance or other vesting conditions to which the Award was
subject. In the case of Restricted Stock, the Administrator may
require that any amounts delivered, exchanged or otherwise paid
in respect of such Stock in connection with the Covered
Transaction be placed in escrow or otherwise made subject to
such restrictions as the Administrator deems appropriate to
carry out the intent of the Plan. |
(b) Change in and Distributions With Respect to
Stock
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(1) Basic Adjustment Provisions. In the event
of a stock dividend, stock split or combination of shares
(including a reverse stock split), recapitalization or other
change in the Companys capital structure, the
Administrator will make appropriate adjustments to the maximum
number of shares specified in Section 4(a) that may be
delivered under the Plan and to the maximum share limits
described in Section 4(c), and will also make appropriate
adjustments to the number and kind of shares of stock or
securities subject to Awards then outstanding or subsequently
granted, any exercise prices relating to Awards and any other
provision of Awards affected by such change. |
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(2) Certain Other Adjustments. The
Administrator may also make adjustments of the type described in
Section 7(b)(1) above to take into account distributions to
stockholders other than those provided for in Section 7(a)
and 7(b)(1), or any other event, if the Administrator determines
that adjustments are appropriate to avoid distortion in the
operation of the Plan and to preserve the value of Awards made
hereunder, having due regard for the qualification of ISOs under
Section 422, the requirements of Section 409A, and the
performance-based compensation rules of Section 162(m),
where applicable. |
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(3) Continuing Application of Plan Terms.
References in the Plan to shares of Stock will be construed to
include any stock or securities resulting from an adjustment
pursuant to this Section 7. |
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8. |
LEGAL CONDITIONS ON DELIVERY OF STOCK |
The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Stock
pursuant to the Plan or to remove any restriction from shares of
Stock previously delivered under the Plan until: (i) the
Company is satisfied that all legal matters in connection with
the issuance and delivery of such shares have been addressed and
resolved; (ii) if the outstanding Stock is at the time of
delivery listed on any stock exchange or national market system,
the shares to be delivered have been listed or authorized to be
listed on such exchange or system upon official notice of
issuance; and (iii) all conditions of the Award have been
satisfied or waived. If the sale of Stock has not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Company may require, as a condition to exercise of the Award,
such representations or agreements as counsel for the Company
may consider appropriate to avoid violation of such Act. The
Company may require that certificates evidencing Stock issued
under the Plan bear an appropriate legend reflecting any
restriction on transfer applicable to such Stock, and the
Company may hold the certificates pending lapse of the
applicable restrictions.
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9. |
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION |
The Administrator may at any time or times amend the Plan or any
outstanding Award for any purpose which may at the time be
permitted by law, and may at any time terminate the Plan as to
any future grants of Awards; provided, that except as
otherwise expressly provided in the Plan the Administrator may
not, without the Participants consent, alter the terms of
an Award so as to affect adversely the Participants rights
under the Award, unless the Administrator expressly reserved the
right to do so at the time of the Award. Any amendments to the
Plan shall be conditioned upon stockholder approval only to the
extent, if any, such approval is required by law (including the
Code and applicable stock exchange or Nasdaq requirements), as
determined by the Administrator.
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10. |
OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS |
The existence of the Plan or the grant of any Award will not in
any way affect the Companys right to Award a person
bonuses or other compensation in addition to Awards under the
Plan.
(a) Waiver of Jury Trial. By accepting an
Award under the Plan, each Participant waives any right to a
trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim
concerning any rights under the Plan and any Award, or under any
amendment, waiver, consent, instrument, document or other
agreement delivered or which in the future may be delivered in
connection therewith, and agrees that any such action,
proceedings or counterclaim shall be tried before a court and
not before a jury. By accepting an Award under the Plan, each
Participant certifies that no officer, representative, or
attorney of the Company has represented, expressly or otherwise,
that the Company would not, in the event of any action,
proceeding or counterclaim, seek to enforce the foregoing waivers
(b) Limitation of Liability. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in the Plan, neither the Company, any
Affiliate, nor the Administrator, nor any person acting on
behalf of any of them, shall be liable to any Participant or to
the estate or beneficiary of any Participant or to any other
holder of an Award by reason of any acceleration of income, or
any additional tax, asserted by reason of the failure of an
Award to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 or
Section 409A or by reason of Section 4999 of the Code;
provided, that nothing in this Section 11(b) shall limit
the ability of the Administrator or the Company to provide by
separate express written agreement with a Participant for a
gross-up payment or
other payment in connection with any such tax or additional tax.
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EXHIBIT A
Definition of Terms
The following terms, when used in the Plan, will have the
meanings and be subject to the provisions set forth below:
Administrator: The Compensation Committee,
except that the Compensation Committee may delegate (i) to
one or more of its members such of its duties, powers and
responsibilities as it may determine; (ii) to one or more
officers of the Company the power to grant rights or options to
the extent permitted by Section 157(c) of the Delaware
General Corporation Law; (iii) to one or more officers of
the Company the authority to allocate other Awards among such
persons (other than officers of the Company) eligible to receive
Awards under the Plan as such delegated officer or officers
determine consistent with such delegation; provided, that
with respect to any delegation described in this
clause (iii) the Compensation Committee (or a properly
delegated member or members of such Committee) shall have
authorized the issuance of a specified number of shares of Stock
under such Awards and shall have specified the consideration, if
any, to be paid therefor; and (iv) to such Employees or
other persons as it determines such ministerial tasks as it
deems appropriate. In the event of any delegation described in
the preceding sentence, the term Administrator shall
include the person or persons so delegated to the extent of such
delegation.
Affiliate: Any corporation or other entity
that stands in a relationship to the Company that would result
in the Company and such corporation or other entity being
treated as one employer under Section 414(b) or
Section 414(c) of the Code, except that in determining
eligibility for the grant of a Stock Option or SAR by reason of
service for an Affiliate, Sections 414(b) and 414(c) of the
Code shall be applied by substituting at least 50%
for at least 80% under Section 1563(a)(1),
(2) and (3) of the Code and Treas. Regs.
§ 1.414(c)-2; provided, that to the extent
permitted under Section 409A, at least 20%
shall be used in lieu of at least 50%; and
further provided, that the lower ownership threshold
described in this definition (50% or 20% as the case may be)
shall apply only if the same definition of affiliation is used
consistently with respect to all compensatory stock options or
stock awards (whether under the Plan or another plan). The
Company may at any time by amendment provide that different
ownership thresholds (consistent with Section 409A) apply.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition,
except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, a
corporation or other entity shall be treated as an Affiliate
only if its employees would be treated as employees of the
Company for purposes of the rules promulgated under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the use of
Form S-8.
Award: Any or a combination of the following:
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(i) Stock Options. |
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(ii) SARs. |
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(iii) Restricted Stock. |
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(iv) Unrestricted Stock. |
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(v) Stock Units, including Restricted Stock Units. |
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(vi) Performance Awards. |
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(vii) Awards (other than Awards described in
(i) through (vi) above) that are convertible into or
otherwise based on Stock. |
Board: The Board of Directors of the Company.
Code: The U.S. Internal Revenue Code of
1986 as from time to time amended and in effect, or any
successor statute as from time to time in effect.
Compensation Committee: The Compensation and
Nominating Committee of the Board.
Company: Forrester Research, Inc.
A-7
Covered Transaction: Any of (i) a
consolidation, merger, or similar transaction or series of
related transactions, including a sale or other disposition of
stock, in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or
which results in the acquisition of all or substantially all of
the Companys then outstanding common stock by a single
person or entity or by a group of persons and/or entities acting
in concert, (ii) a sale or transfer of all or substantially
all the Companys assets, or (iii) a dissolution or
liquidation of the Company. Where a Covered Transaction involves
a tender offer that is reasonably expected to be followed by a
merger described in clause (i) (as determined by the
Administrator), the Covered Transaction shall be deemed to have
occurred upon consummation of the tender offer.
Employee: Any person who is employed by the
Company or an Affiliate.
Employment: A Participants employment
or other service relationship with the Company and its
Affiliates. Employment will be deemed to continue, unless the
Administrator expressly provides otherwise, so long as the
Participant is employed by, or otherwise is providing services
in a capacity described in Section 5 to the Company or its
Affiliates. If a Participants employment or other service
relationship is with an Affiliate and that entity ceases to be
an Affiliate, the Participants Employment will be deemed
to have terminated when the entity ceases to be an Affiliate
unless the Participant transfers Employment to the Company or
its remaining Affiliates.
ISO: A Stock Option intended to be an
incentive stock option within the meaning of
Section 422. Each option granted pursuant to the Plan will
be treated as providing by its terms that it is to be a
non-incentive stock option unless, as of the date of grant, it
is expressly designated as an ISO.
Participant: A person who is granted an Award
under the Plan.
Performance Award: An Award subject to
Performance Criteria. The Committee in its discretion may grant
Performance Awards that are intended to qualify for the
performance-based compensation exception under
Section 162(m) and Performance Awards that are not intended
so to qualify.
Performance Criteria: Specified criteria,
other than the mere continuation of Employment or the mere
passage of time, the satisfaction of which is a condition for
the grant, exercisability, vesting or full enjoyment of an
Award. For purposes of Awards that are intended to qualify for
the performance-based compensation exception under
Section 162(m), a Performance Criterion will mean an
objectively determinable measure of performance relating to any
or any combination of the following (measured either absolutely
or by reference to an index or indices and determined either on
a consolidated basis or, as the context permits, on a
divisional, subsidiary, line of business, project or
geographical basis or in combinations thereof): sales; revenues;
assets; expenses; earnings before or after deduction for all or
any portion of interest, taxes, depreciation, or amortization,
whether or not on a continuing operations or an aggregate or per
share basis; return on equity, investment, capital or assets;
one or more operating ratios; borrowing levels, leverage ratios
or credit rating; market share; capital expenditures; cash flow;
stock price; stockholder return; sales of particular products or
services; customer acquisition or retention; acquisitions and
divestitures (in whole or in part); joint ventures and strategic
alliances; spin-offs, split-ups and the like; reorganizations;
or recapitalizations, restructurings, financings (issuance of
debt or equity) or refinancings. A Performance Criterion and any
targets with respect thereto determined by the Administrator
need not be based upon an increase, a positive or improved
result or avoidance of loss. To the extent consistent with the
requirements for satisfying the performance-based compensation
exception under Section 162(m), the Administrator may
provide in the case of any Award intended to qualify for such
exception that one or more of the Performance Criteria
applicable to such Award will be adjusted in an objectively
determinable manner to reflect events (for example, but without
limitation, acquisitions or dispositions) occurring during the
performance period that affect the applicable Performance
Criterion or Criteria.
Plan: Forrester Research, Inc. 2006 Equity
Incentive Plan as from time to time amended and in effect.
Prior Plan: Forrester Research, Inc. 1996
Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and in
effect prior to the Effective Date.
A-8
Restricted Stock: Stock subject to
restrictions requiring that it be redelivered or offered for
sale to the Company if specified conditions are not satisfied.
Restricted Stock Unit: A Stock Unit that is,
or as to which the delivery of Stock or cash in lieu of Stock
is, subject to the satisfaction of specified performance or
other vesting conditions.
SAR: A right entitling the holder upon
exercise to receive an amount (payable in shares of Stock of
equivalent value) equal to the excess of the fair market value
of the shares of Stock subject to the right over the fair market
value of such shares at the date of grant.
Section 409A: Section 409A of the
Code.
Section 422: Section 422 of the
Code.
Section 162(m): Section 162(m) of
the Code.
Stock: Common Stock of the Company, par value
$.01 per share.
Stock Option: An option entitling the holder
to acquire shares of Stock upon payment of the exercise price.
Stock Unit: An unfunded and unsecured
promise, denominated in shares of Stock, to deliver Stock or
cash measured by the value of Stock in the future.
Unrestricted Stock: Stock not subject to any
restrictions under the terms of the Award.
A-9
Exhibit B
FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC.
STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR DIRECTORS
Exhibit A, which is incorporated by reference, defines the
terms used in the Plan and sets forth certain operational rules
related to those terms.
The Plan has been established to advance the interests of the
Company by providing for the grant of Stock Options to Eligible
Directors.
The Administrator has discretionary authority, subject only to
the express provisions of the Plan, to interpret the Plan;
determine eligibility for and grant Stock Options; determine,
modify or waive the terms and conditions of any Stock Option;
prescribe forms, rules and procedures; and otherwise do all
things necessary to carry out the purposes of the Plan.
Determinations of the Administrator made under the Plan will be
conclusive and will bind all parties.
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4. |
LIMITS ON AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN |
(a) Number of Shares. A maximum of four
hundred fifty thousand (450,000) shares of Stock may be
delivered under the Plan. Shares of Stock, if any, withheld by
the Company in payment of the exercise price of a Stock Option
shall not be treated as delivered for purposes of the preceding
sentence.
(b) Type of Shares. Stock delivered by the
Company under the Plan may be authorized but unissued Stock or
previously issued Stock acquired by the Company. No fractional
shares of Stock will be delivered under the Plan.
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5. |
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION |
Only Eligible Directors shall be eligible to be awarded Stock
Options under, and thereby to participate in, the Plan.
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6. |
RULES APPLICABLE TO STOCK OPTIONS |
(a) Automatic Awards
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(1) Number of Stock Options; Time of Grant;
Term. On the date of each annual meeting of stockholders
of the Company (beginning with the annual meeting of
stockholders at which the Plan is approved), each individual who
is then an Eligible Director, including any Eligible Director
elected to the Board on such date but not including any
individual who ceases to be a member of the Board on such date,
shall automatically be granted an Annual Award. In addition,
each individual who first becomes an Eligible Director between
annual meetings shall be granted an Interim Award on the date he
or she first becomes an Eligible Director. Subject to
Section 7 and the terms of the award, (i) each Annual
Award shall entitle the Eligible Director to acquire
12,500 shares of Stock, and (ii) each Interim Award
shall entitle the Eligible Director to acquire 6,000 shares
of Stock. Unless earlier exercised or terminated in accordance
with the Plan, each Automatic Award shall have a term of ten
(10) years from the date of grant. |
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(2) Exercise Price. The per-share exercise
price of each Automatic Award shall be the per-share fair market
value of the Stock on the date of grant, as determined by the
Administrator. |
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(3) Vesting. Unless earlier terminated and
subject to Section 7 below, each Automatic Award shall vest
(become exercisable) as to one quarter (25%) of the shares
subject thereto on (a) in the case of an Interim Award, on
the date of grant and on each of the next three anniversaries of
that date, and (b) in the case of an Annual Award, the
first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the date of
grant |
(b) Discretionary Awards
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(1) Grant. In addition to such Automatic
Awards as may be granted pursuant to Section 6(a) above,
the Administrator may grant Discretionary Awards to any Eligible
Director at any time, for such number of shares as the
Administrator may determine in its discretion. |
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(2) Exercise Price; Other Terms. Each
Discretionary Award shall be exercisable at a price per share
determined by the Administrator in connection with the grant
that is not less than the per-share fair market value of the
Stock on the date of grant, as determined by the Administrator.
Each Discretionary Award shall be subject to such vesting and
other terms, not inconsistent with the express provisions of the
Plan, as the Administrator may determine in its discretion. |
(c) All Awards
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(1) Transferability. A Stock Option may not
be transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution and during the Eligible Directors lifetime
may be exercised only by the Eligible Director. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Administrator in its discretion may permit
any Eligible Director to transfer any or all of his or her Stock
Options in a gratuitous transfer to a family member or a family
trust, family partnership or similar entity. |
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(2) Time and Manner of Exercise; Payment of Exercise
Price. A Stock Option will not be deemed to have been
exercised until the Administrator receives a notice of exercise
(in form acceptable to the Administrator) signed by the
appropriate person and accompanied by the exercise price. If the
Stock Option is exercised by any person other than the
Participant, the Administrator may require satisfactory evidence
that the person exercising the Stock Option has the right to do
so. The exercise price must be paid (i) by cash or check
acceptable to the Administrator, or (ii) through the
delivery of shares of Stock that have been outstanding for at
least six months (unless the Administrator approves a shorter
period) and that have a fair market value equal to the exercise
price, or (iii) through a broker-assisted exercise program
acceptable to the Administrator, or (iv) by other means
acceptable to the Administrator, or (v) by any combination
of the foregoing permissible forms of payment. The delivery of
shares in payment of the exercise price under clause (ii)
above may be accomplished either by actual delivery or by
constructive delivery through attestation of ownership, subject
to such rules as the Administrator may prescribe. |
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(3) Termination of Service. If an Eligible
Director ceases for any reason other than death to be a member
of the Board, all Automatic Awards and, unless otherwise
provided in the terms of the Award, all Discretionary Awards
then held by the Eligible Director that are not then vested
shall immediately terminate and all other Automatic Awards and
Discretionary Awards then held by the Eligible Director shall
remain exercisable for a period of three (3) months or
until the last day of the applicable ten-year term, if earlier,
and then (except to the extent previously exercised) shall
immediately terminate. In the event of an Eligible
Directors death, except as the Administrator shall
otherwise provide, all Automatic Awards and Discretionary Awards
held by the Eligible Director not then exercisable shall
terminate. All Automatic Awards and Discretionary Awards held by
an Eligible Director or his or her permitted transferees, if
any, immediately prior to the Eligible Directors death, to
the extent exercisable, (i) will remain exercisable for the
lesser of the one-year period ending with the first anniversary
of the Eligible Directors death or (ii) the period
ending on the latest date on which such Automatic Award or
Discretionary Award could have been exercised without regard to
this Section 6(c)(3), and will thereupon terminate. |
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(4) Dividend Equivalents, Etc. The
Administrator may provide for the payment of amounts in lieu of
cash dividends or other cash distributions with respect to Stock
subject to a Stock Option, subject in each case to compliance
with the requirements of Section 409A to the extent
applicable. |
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(5) Rights Limited. Nothing in the Plan will
be construed as giving any Eligible Director the right to
continued service with the Company or any rights as a
stockholder except as to shares of Stock actually issued under
the Plan. |
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7. |
EFFECT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS |
(a) Mergers, etc. Except as otherwise
provided in a Stock Option, the following provisions shall apply
in the event of a Covered Transaction:
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(1) Assumption or Substitution. If the
Covered Transaction is one in which there is an acquiring or
surviving entity, the Administrator may provide for the
assumption of some or all outstanding Stock Options or for the
grant of new awards in substitution therefor by the acquiror or
survivor or an affiliate of the acquiror or survivor to any
Eligible Director who will continue to provide services to the
acquiring or surviving entity. |
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(2) Cash-Out of Awards. If the Covered
Transaction is one in which holders of Stock will receive upon
consummation a payment (whether cash, non-cash or a combination
of the foregoing), the Administrator may provide for payment (a
cash-out), with respect to some or all Awards, equal
in the case of each affected Stock Option to the excess, if any,
of (A) the fair market value of one share of Stock (as
determined by the Administrator in its reasonable discretion)
times the number of shares of Stock subject to the Stock Option,
over (B) the aggregate exercise or purchase price, if any,
under the Stock Option, in each case on such payment terms
(which need not be the same as the terms of payment to holders
of Stock) and other terms, and subject to such conditions, as
the Administrator determines. |
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(3) Acceleration of Certain Awards. If the
Covered Transaction (whether or not there is an acquiring or
surviving entity) is one in which there is no assumption,
substitution or cash-out under Section 7(a)(1) above), each
Stock Option requiring exercise will become fully exercisable,
prior to the Covered Transaction, on a basis that gives the
holder of the Stock Option a reasonable opportunity, as
determined by the Administrator, following exercise of the Stock
Option to participate as a stockholder in the Covered
Transaction. |
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(4) Termination of Awards Upon Consummation of
Covered Transaction. Each Stock Option (unless assumed
pursuant to Section 7(a)(1) above), will terminate upon
consummation of the Covered Transaction. |
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(5) Additional Limitations. Any share of
Stock delivered pursuant to Section 7(a)(2) or
Section 7(a)(3) above with respect to a Stock Option may,
in the discretion of the Administrator, contain such
restrictions, if any, as the Administrator deems appropriate to
reflect any performance or other vesting conditions to which the
Stock Option was subject. |
(b) Change in and Distributions With Respect to
Stock
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(1) Basic Adjustment Provisions. In the event
of a stock dividend, stock split or combination of shares
(including a reverse stock split), recapitalization or other
change in the Companys capital structure, the
Administrator will make appropriate adjustments to the maximum
number of shares specified in Section 4(a) that may be
delivered under the Plan and to the share amounts described in
Section 6(a)(1), and will also make appropriate adjustments
to the number and kind of shares of stock or securities subject
to Stock Options then outstanding or subsequently granted, any
exercise prices relating to Stock Options and any other
provision of Stock Options affected by such change. |
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(2) Continuing Application of Plan Terms.
References in the Plan to shares of Stock will be construed to
include any stock or securities resulting from an adjustment
pursuant to this Section 7. |
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8. |
LEGAL CONDITIONS ON DELIVERY OF STOCK |
The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Stock
pursuant to the Plan or to remove any restriction from shares of
Stock previously delivered under the Plan until: (i) the
Company is satisfied that all legal matters in connection with
the issuance and delivery of such shares have been addressed and
resolved;
B-3
(ii) if the outstanding Stock is at the time of delivery
listed on any stock exchange or national market system, the
shares to be delivered have been listed or authorized to be
listed on such exchange or system upon official notice of
issuance; and (iii) all conditions of the Award have been
satisfied or waived. If the sale of Stock has not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Company may require, as a condition to exercise of the Award,
such representations or agreements as counsel for the Company
may consider appropriate to avoid violation of such Act. The
Company may require that certificates evidencing Stock issued
under the Plan bear an appropriate legend reflecting any
restriction on transfer applicable to such Stock, and the
Company may hold the certificates pending lapse of the
applicable restrictions.
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9. |
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION |
The Administrator may at any time or times amend the Plan or any
outstanding Stock Option for any purpose which may at the time
be permitted by law, and may at any time terminate the Plan as
to any future grants of Stock Options; provided, that
except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan the
Administrator may not, without the Eligible Directors
consent, alter the terms of a Stock Option so as to affect
adversely the Eligible Directors rights under the Stock
Option, unless the Administrator expressly reserved the right to
do so at the time of the Stock Option grant. Any amendments to
the Plan shall be conditioned upon stockholder approval only to
the extent, if any, such approval is required by law (including
the Code and applicable stock exchange or Nasdaq requirements),
as determined by the Administrator.
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10. |
OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS |
The existence of the Plan or the grant of any Stock Option will
not in any way affect the Companys right to grant an
Eligible Director other compensation outside of the Plan.
B-4
EXHIBIT A
Definition of Terms
The following terms, when used in the Plan, will have the
meanings and be subject to the provisions set forth below:
Administrator: The Compensation Committee,
except that the Compensation Committee may delegate to such
persons as it determines such ministerial tasks as it deems
appropriate. In the event of any delegation described in the
preceding sentence, the term Administrator shall
include the person or persons so delegated to the extent of such
delegation.
Annual Award: An Automatic Award described in
Section 6(a)(1)(i).
Automatic Award: A Stock Option described in
Section 6(a)(1).
Board: The Board of Directors of the Company.
Code: The U.S. Internal Revenue Code of
1986 as from time to time amended and in effect, or any
successor statute as from time to time in effect.
Compensation Committee: The Compensation and
Nominating Committee of the Board.
Company: Forrester Research, Inc.
Covered Transaction: Any of (i) a
consolidation, merger, or similar transaction or series of
related transactions, including a sale or other disposition of
stock, in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or
which results in the acquisition of all or substantially all of
the Companys then outstanding common stock by a single
person or entity or by a group of persons and/or entities acting
in concert, (ii) a sale or transfer of all or substantially
all the Companys assets, or (iii) a dissolution or
liquidation of the Company. Where a Covered Transaction involves
a tender offer that is reasonably expected to be followed by a
merger described in clause (i) (as determined by the
Administrator), the Covered Transaction shall be deemed to have
occurred upon consummation of the tender offer.
Discretionary Award: A Stock Option described
in Section 6(b)(1).
Eligible Director: A member of the Board who
is not a present or former employee of the Company or of any
subsidiary of the Company.
Interim Award: An Automatic Award described
in Section 6(a)(1)(ii).
Plan: The Forrester Research, Inc. Stock
Option Plan for Directors as from time to time amended and in
effect.
Stock: Common Stock of the Company, par value
$.01 per share.
Stock Option: An option entitling the holder
to acquire shares of Stock upon payment of the exercise price.
B-5
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Mark this box with an X if you have made
changes to your name or address details above. |
Annual Meeting Proxy Card
A Election of Directors
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the following nominees.
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To elect two Class III directors to serve until the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders: |
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Withhold |
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01 Robert M. Galford
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02 Gretchen Teichgraeber
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B Issues
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the following proposals.
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Abstain |
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2.
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To approve the Forrester Research, Inc. 2006 Equity
Incentive Plan.
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3.
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To approve the Forrester Research, Inc. 2006 Stock
Option Plan for Directors.
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any
adjournments thereof. |
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Mark this box with an X if you plan to attend the Meeting. o
C Authorized Signatures Sign Here This section must be completed for your instructions to
be executed.
Please sign exactly as your name appears hereon. Where shares are held jointly, both holders
should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give
full title as such.
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0 0 8 6 6 5 1
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1 U P X
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C O Y
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Proxy Forrester Research, Inc.
Proxy Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company for an Annual Meeting, May
9, 2006
The undersigned appoints George F. Colony and Gail S. Mann, Esq., and each of them, as
proxies, each with the power of substitution, and authorizes them to represent and vote all shares
of common stock of Forrester Research, Inc. held by the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders to be held at the offices of Ropes & Gray LLP, One International Place, Boston,
Massachusetts 02110 at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 9, 2006, or any adjournments thereof, for the
following purposes set forth on the reverse side.
This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed by the undersigned
stockholder(s). If no contrary direction is made, the proxy will be voted FOR the election of the
directors, FOR the approval of the Forrester Research, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan and FOR the
approval of the Forrester Research, Inc. 2006 Stock Option Plan for Directors.
(Continued and to be voted on reverse side.)