o |
Preliminary
Proxy Statement
|
o |
Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
|
x |
Definitive
Proxy Statement
|
o |
Definitive
Additional Materials
|
o |
Soliciting
Material Pursuant to Section
240.14a-12
|
x |
No
fee required.
|
o |
Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
|
(1) |
Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
|
(2)
|
Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction
applies:
|
(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):
|
(4)
|
Proposed
maximum aggregate value of
transaction:
|
(5)
|
Total
fee paid:
|
o |
Fee
paid previously with preliminary
materials.
|
o |
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.
|
(1)
|
Amount
Previously Paid:
|
(2)
|
Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement
No.:
|
(3)
|
Filing
Party:
|
(4)
|
Date
Filed:
|
1.
|
To
elect one Class II director to serve until the 2011 Annual Meeting
of
Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified
(Proposal No. 1);
|
2.
|
To
consider and act upon a proposal to ratify the Board’s selection of
Carlin, Charron & Rosen, LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for
the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008 (Proposal No. 2);
and
|
3.
|
To
transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
or
any adjournment thereof.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors
|
|
RICHARD
TANEY
|
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
New
York, New York
|
|
April
24, 2008
|
|
Page
|
|
PROXY
STATEMENT
|
1
|
|
VOTING
PROCEDURES
|
1
|
|
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP BY MANAGEMENT AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
|
2
|
|
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
|
4
|
|
Board
of Directors
|
4
|
|
Attendance
|
4
|
|
Board
Independence
|
4
|
|
Board
Committees
|
4
|
|
Compensation
and Stock Option Committee
|
5
|
|
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
|
5
|
|
Audit
Committee
|
5
|
|
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee
|
6
|
|
Recommendations
by Stockholders of Director Nominees
|
6
|
|
Stockholder
Communications with the Board of Directors
|
7
|
|
Family
Relationships
|
7
|
|
Involvement
in certain legal proceedings
|
8
|
|
Code
of Ethics
|
8
|
|
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS (PROPOSAL NO. 1)
|
8
|
|
Information
about the Nominee for the Board of Directors
|
9
|
|
Information
about the Other Members of the Board of Directors
|
10
|
|
Director
Compensation for 2007
|
11
|
|
INFORMATION
ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
|
13
|
|
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
|
13
|
|
Compensation
Discussion & Analysis
|
13
|
|
Overview
|
14
|
|
Compensation
Philosophy
|
14
|
|
Elements
of Executive Compensation
|
14
|
|
Report
of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee
|
16
|
|
Summary
Compensation Table
|
17
|
|
Grants
of Plan-Based Awards in 2007
|
17
|
|
Outstanding
Equity Awards at 2007 Fiscal Year-End
|
19
|
|
Option
Exercises and Stock Vested in 2007
|
20
|
|
Nonqualified
Deferred Compensation in 2007
|
20
|
|
Key
Employee Arrangements: CEO Employment Agreement
|
21
|
|
Change
of Control Payments
|
21
|
|
REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
|
22
|
|
Page
|
|
AUDIT
AND NON-AUDIT FEES
|
23
|
|
SECTION
16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
|
23
|
|
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
|
23
|
|
Transactions
with Related Persons
|
23
|
|
Review,
Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related
Persons
|
24
|
|
Promoters
and Certain Control Persons
|
24
|
|
RATIFICATION
OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS (PROPOSAL NO. 2)
|
25
|
|
Policy
on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit
Services of Independent Auditors
|
25
|
|
STOCKHOLDER
PROPOSALS FOR NEXT ANNUAL MEETING
|
26
|
|
EXPENSES
AND SOLICITATION
|
26
|
|
OTHER
BUSINESS
|
26
|
Directors,
Executive
Officers
and
5% Stockholders(1)
|
Shares
Beneficially
Owned(2)
|
Percentage of
Common Shares
Outstanding(3)
|
|||||
Robert
Ladd(4)
|
2,841,839
|
11.2
|
%
|
||||
Richard
Taney(5)
|
356,000
|
1.4
|
%
|
||||
Harold
S. Koplewicz, M.D.(6)
|
285,000
|
1.1
|
%
|
||||
Laura
A. Philips, Ph.D., MBA(7)
|
164,000
|
0.6
|
%
|
||||
Jonathan
Lewis, M.D.(8)
|
150,000
|
0.6
|
%
|
||||
Paul
M. Feinstein(9)
|
38,375
|
0.2
|
%
|
||||
All
directors and executive officers as a group (six
persons)(10)
|
3,835,214
|
14.7
|
%
|
||||
M.S.
Koly(11)
|
1,483,311
|
5.9
|
%
|
||||
Venkol
Trust
|
670,701
|
2.7
|
%
|
(1)
|
Except
as otherwise noted in the footnotes to this table, each person or
entity
named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect
to
all shares owned, based on the information provided to us by the
persons
or entities named in the table.
|
(2)
|
Shares
of Common Stock subject to options or warrants exercisable within
60 days
of the Record Date are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage
owned by the person or entity holding such options or
warrants.
|
(3)
|
Percentage
of beneficial ownership is calculated on the basis of the amount
of
outstanding securities (Common Stock) at the Record Date (25,259,284
shares) plus, for each person or entity, any securities that person
or
entity has the right to acquire within 60 days pursuant to stock
options
or other rights.
|
(4)
|
Mr.
Ladd is a director of Delcath. Mr. Ladd has sole voting and dispositive
power with respect to these shares. The figure above also includes
vested
stock options to purchase 40,000 shares of Common
Stock.
|
(5)
|
Mr.
Taney is the President and CEO of Delcath and is also a director.
The
figure above represents 116,000 shares owned directly by him. The
figure
above also includes vested stock options to purchase 240,000 shares
of
Common Stock.
|
(6)
|
Dr.
Koplewicz is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Delcath. The
figure
above represents 45,000 shares owned directly by him. The figure
above
also includes vested stock options to purchase 240,000 shares of
Common
Stock.
|
(7)
|
Dr.
Philips is a director of Delcath. The figure above represents 14,000
shares owned directly by her or her spouse. The figure above also
includes
vested stock options to purchase 150,000 shares of Common
Stock.
|
(8)
|
Dr.
Lewis is a director of Delcath. The figure above represents vested
stock
options to purchase 150,000 shares of Common
Stock.
|
(9)
|
Mr.
Feinstein is the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Delcath.
The
figure above includes vested stock options to purchase 35,000 shares
of
Common Stock.
|
(10) |
The
number of shares beneficially owned by all directors and executive
officers as a group includes 855,000 shares of Common Stock issuable
within 60 days of the Record Date upon exercise of stock options
granted
to directors and executive officers pursuant to our various stock
option
plans.
|
(11)
|
Includes
812,610 shares held by Mr. Koly, the former President, CEO and director
of
the Company, and 670,701 shares held by the Venkol Trust, of which
Mr.
Koly has a pecuniary interest in approximately 63,000 shares. Mr.
Koly is
a trustee of this trust and is deemed the beneficial owner of its
shares
because of his voting power.
|
Compensation and Stock
Option Committee
|
Audit Committee
|
Nominating and
Corporate Governance
Committee
|
||||||||
Mr.
Taney
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
|||||||
Dr.
Koplewicz
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
(1)
|
||||||
Dr.
Philips
|
X
|
X
|
(1)
|
X
|
||||||
Dr.
Lewis
|
X
|
(1)
|
X
|
X
|
||||||
Mr.
Ladd
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
·
|
the
selection, evaluation and, where appropriate, replacement of the
Company’s
outside auditors;
|
·
|
an
annual review and evaluation of the qualifications, performance and
independence of the Company’s outside
auditors;
|
·
|
the
approval of all auditing services and permitted non-audit services
provided by the Company’s outside
auditors;
|
·
|
the
receipt of an annual communication from the Company’s outside auditors as
required by Independence Standards Board Standard No.
1;
|
·
|
the
review of the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s accounting and
internal controls over financial
reporting;
|
·
|
the
review and discussion with management and the outside auditors of
the
Company’s financial statements to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission; and
|
·
|
the
preparation of a report for inclusion in the Company’s annual proxy
statement.
|
Nominee
|
Age
|
Year First Joined Board
|
Current Positions
|
|||
Richard
L. Taney
|
52
|
November
2006
|
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
Name
|
Fees
Earned or
Paid in
Cash
($)
|
Stock
Awards
($)(1)
|
Options
Awards
($)(1)
|
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compen-
sation
($)
|
Change in
Pension Value
and Non-
qualified
Deferred
Compen-
sation
Earnings
($)
|
All Other
Compen-
sation
($)
|
Total
($)
|
|||||||||||||||
Former
Directors:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
M.S.
Koly(2)
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
|||||||||||||||
Mark
A. Corigliano(2)
|
1,000
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
1,000
|
|||||||||||||||
Daniel
Isdaner(2)
|
1,000
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
1,000
|
|||||||||||||||
Samuel
Herschkowitz, M.D.(2)
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
|||||||||||||||
Current
Directors:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Richard
Taney(3)
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
|||||||||||||||
Harold
S. Koplewicz, M.D.(4)
|
12,000
|
–
|
250,000
|
(5)
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
262,000
|
||||||||||||||
Robert
B. Ladd
|
14,000
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
14,000
|
|||||||||||||||
Laura
A. Philips, Ph.D., MBA(6)
|
13,000
|
–
|
174,500
|
(7)
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
187,500
|
||||||||||||||
Jonathan
J. Lewis, M.D., Ph.D.(6)
|
13,000
|
–
|
214,500
|
(8)
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
227,500
|
(1)
|
The
amount shown in the table reflects the dollar amount recognized for
fiscal
2007 financial statement reporting purposes of the outstanding option
awards and stock awards held by the directors in accordance with
FAS 123R.
|
(2)
|
Mr.
Koly resigned as Chairman of the Board and a director effective as
of
January 26, 2007. Messrs. Corigliano and Isdaner resigned as directors
on
April 16, 2007. Dr. Samuel Herschkowitz resigned as a member of its
Board
of Directors, effective as of August 17,
2007.
|
(3)
|
As
Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mr. Taney does not receive
any
compensation for his services on the Board of Directors.
|
(4)
|
Following
the resignation of Mr. Koly as Chairman of the Board, Dr. Koplewicz
was
appointed as Chairman, on February 1, 2007.
|
(5)
|
As
of December 31, 2007, Dr. Koplewicz held options to purchase an aggregate
of 240,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. This includes: (i)
options to purchase 40,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, granted
on November 14, 2006, which are currently exercisable at $3.28 per
share,
and expire as to all shares on November 14, 2011, with a grant date
fair
value of computed in accordance with FAS 123R of $1.31 per share;
(ii)
options to purchase 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, granted
on May 24, 2007, which are currently exercisable at $3.90 per share,
and
expire as to all shares on May 24, 2012, with a grant date fair value
of
computed in accordance with FAS 123R of $1.51 per share; and (iii)
options
to purchase 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, granted on May
24, 2007, which are currently exercisable at $5.85 per share, and
expire
as to all shares on May 24, 2012, with a grant date fair value of
computed
in accordance with FAS 123R of $0.99 per
share.
|
(6)
|
Dr.
Philips was appointed as director on May 24, 2007. Dr. Lewis was
appointed
as a director on June 4, 2007.
|
(7)
|
As
of December 31, 2007, Dr. Philips held options to purchase an aggregate
of
150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. This includes: (i) options
to purchase 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, granted on May
24, 2007, which are currently exercisable at $3.90 per share, and
expire
as to all shares on May 24, 2012, with a grant date fair value of
computed
in accordance with FAS 123R of $1.51 per share; and (ii) options
to
purchase 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, granted on May 24,
2007, which are currently exercisable at $5.85 per share, and expire
as to
all shares on May 24, 2012, with a grant date fair value of computed
in
accordance with FAS 123R of $0.99 per
share.
|
(8) |
As
of December 31, 2007, Dr. Lewis held options to purchase an aggregate
of
150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. This includes: (i) options
to purchase 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, granted on June
4, 2007, which are currently exercisable at $4.76 per share, and
expire as
to all shares on June 4, 2012, with a grant date fair value of computed
in
accordance with FAS 123R of $1.85 per share; and (ii) options to
purchase
100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, granted on June 4, 2007,
which are currently exercisable at $7.14 per share, and expire as
to all
shares on June 4, 2012, with a grant date fair value of computed
in
accordance with FAS 123R of $1.22 per
share.
|
Name
|
Age
|
Office Currently Held
|
||
Richard
Taney
|
52
|
President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
||
Paul
M. Feinstein
|
60
|
Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer
|
||
Seymour
Fein
|
59
|
Chief
Medical Officer
|
1.
|
to
offer a competitive total compensation value that will allow the
Company
to attract, retain and motivate highly talented individuals to fill
key
positions; and
|
2.
|
to
align a significant portion of each executive’s total compensation with
the annual and long-term performance of the Company and the interests
of
the Company’s shareholders.
|
Name and
Principal Position
|
Year
|
Salary
($)
|
Bonus
($)
|
Stock
Awards(1)
($)
|
Option
Awards(1)
($)
|
Non-
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compen-
sation
($)
|
Change in
Pension
Value and
Non-
qualified
Deferred
Compen-
sation
Earnings
($)
|
All Other
Compen-
sation
($)
|
Total
($)
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Richard
Taney
|
2007
|
373,000
|
–
|
211,000
|
225,500
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
809,500
|
|||||||||||||||||||
President,
CEO and Director
|
2006
|
10,000
|
–
|
–
|
52,400
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
62,400
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Paul
Feinstein,
|
2007
|
135,000
|
20,000
|
–
|
16,750
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
171,750
|
|||||||||||||||||||
CFO
and Treasurer(3)
|
2006
|
120,000
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
120,000
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Seymour
Fein, M.D.,
|
2007
|
(2)
|
216,000
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
31,908
|
247,908
|
||||||||||||||||||
Chief
Medical Officer
|
2006
|
(3)
|
240,000
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
20,340
|
260,340
|
||||||||||||||||||
Samuel
Herschkowitz, M.D.,
|
2007
|
(4)
|
112,000
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
112,000
|
||||||||||||||||||
Former
Chief Operating Officer
|
2006
|
46,875
|
–
|
–
|
52,400
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
99,275
|
(1)
|
The
amount shown reflects the dollar amount recognized for fiscal 2007
financial statement reporting purposes of the outstanding stock and
option
awards held by the named executives in accordance with FAS
123R.
|
(2)
|
Dr.
Fein is paid $18,000 per month as a consultant fee. He is also reimbursed
for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in this capacity, which totaled
$31,908 (shown as Other Compensation).
|
(3)
|
Dr.
Fein was paid $20,000 per month as a consultant fee during 2006.
He was
also reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in this capacity,
which totaled $20,340 (shown as Other Compensation).
|
(4)
|
Dr.
Herschkowitz resigned as Interim Chief Operating Officer effective
as of
July 1, 2007. Salary shown represents $85,000 annual salary paid
to Dr.
Herschkowitz in his capacity as interim Chief Operating Officer between
January 1, 2007 and June 30, 2007, and $27,000 for services as a
consultant to the Company between July 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007.
During his employment as interim Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Herschkowitz
did not receive additional compensation for his services on the Company’s
Board of Directors.
|
Name
|
Grant Date
|
All Other Stock
Awards:
Number of Shares
of Stock or Units
(#)
|
All Other Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#)
|
Exercise or Base
Price of Option
Awards
($/Sh)
|
Grant Date Fair
Value of Stock and
Option Awards
($)
|
|||||||||||
Richard
Taney
|
5/24/07
|
25,000
|
–
|
–
|
98,750
|
|||||||||||
7/2/07
|
25,000
|
–
|
–
|
112,250
|
||||||||||||
7/2/07
|
–
|
50,000
|
(1)
|
$
|
3.90
|
94,000
|
||||||||||
7/2/07
|
–
|
100,000
|
(2)
|
$
|
5.85
|
131,000
|
||||||||||
Paul
Feinstein
|
11/30/07
|
–
|
25,000
|
(3)
|
$
|
1.88
|
16,750
|
|||||||||
Seymour
Fein, M.D.
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
|||||||||||
Samuel
Herschkowitz, M.D.
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
(1)
|
Represents
options granted on July 2, 2007 in accordance with the terms of Mr.
Taney’s Employment Agreement with the Company and under the Company’s 2004
Stock Incentive Plan. These options were immediately exercisable
at a
price of $3.90 per share, and expire as to all shares on July 2,
2012.
|
(2)
|
Represents
options granted on July 2, 2007 in accordance with the terms of Mr.
Taney’s Employment Agreement with the Company and under the Company’s 2004
Stock Incentive Plan. These options were immediately exercisable
at a
price of $5.85 per share, and expire as to all shares on July 2,
2012.
|
(3)
|
Represents
options granted on November 30, 2007 under the Company’s 2004 Stock
Incentive Plan. These options were immediately exercisable at a price
of
$1.88 per share, and expire as to all shares on November 30, 2012.
|
Option Awards
|
Stock Awards
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#
Exercisable)
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#
Unexercisable)
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options (#)
|
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
|
Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
($)
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested
($)
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Richard
Taney
|
40,000
|
–
|
–
|
3.28
|
11/14/2011
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
|||||||||||||||||||
50,000
|
|
–
|
–
|
3.90
|
7/2/2012
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
|||||||||||||||||||
100,000
|
|
–
|
–
|
5.85
|
7/2/2012
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Paul
Feinstein
|
10,000
|
|
–
|
–
|
3.59
|
11/8/2010
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
||||||||||||||||||
25,000
|
|
–
|
–
|
1.88
|
11/30/2012
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Seymour
Fein, M.D.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Samuel
Herschkowitz, M.D.
|
50,000
|
|
–
|
–
|
2.78
|
7/7/2010
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
||||||||||||||||||
70,000
|
|
–
|
–
|
3.59
|
11/8/2010
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
|||||||||||||||||||
40,000
|
|
–
|
–
|
3.28
|
11/14/2011
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
Option Awards
|
Stock Awards
|
||||||||||||
Name
|
Number of
Shares Acquired
on Exercise
|
Value Realized
on Exercise
|
Number of
Shares Acquired
on Vesting
(#)
|
Value Realized
on Vesting
($)
|
|||||||||
Richard
Taney
|
–
|
–
|
50,000
|
211,000
|
|||||||||
Paul
Feinstein
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
|||||||||
Seymour
Fein, M.D.
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
|||||||||
Samuel
Herschkowitz, M.D.
|
12,169
|
(1)
|
$
|
50,501
|
(2)
|
–
|
–
|
(1)
|
Dr.
Herschkowitz received 12,169 shares upon cashless exercise of options
to
purchase an aggregate of 60,300 shares at an exercise price of $3.3125
per
share.
|
(2) |
The
closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of cashless
exercise (August 16, 2008) was
$4.15.
|
Fiscal
Year
|
|||||||
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
Audit
Fees
|
$
|
99,600
|
$
|
110,685
|
|||
Audit-Related
Fees
|
$
|
21,930
|
$
|
0
|
|||
Tax
Fees
|
$
|
0
|
$
|
0
|
|||
Total
|
$
|
121,530
|
$
|
110,685
|
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” ALL
PROPOSALS.
1.
Election of Directors
o FOR
ONE NOMINEE: RICHARD L.
TANEY, as Class II
Director
o WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY
FOR
NOMINEE
o FOR
ALL EXCEPT
(See
Instruction below)
INSTRUCTION:
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s),mark
“FOR ALL
EXCEPT” and write the name of the nominee you wish to withhold authority
in the box below.
To
change the address on your account, please
check o
the box
at right and indicate your new address in the
space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may be submitted via this method. |
2.
To
consider and act upon a proposal to ratify the Board’s selection of
Carlin, Charron & Rosen, LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for
the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.
o FOR
THE PROPOSAL
o AGAINST
THE
PROPOSAL
THIS
PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED. IF NO DIRECTION
IS MADE, THE PROXY SHALL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE LISTED
NOMINEES
AS DIRECTORS, FOR THE RATIFICATION OF CARLIN, CHARRON & ROSEN, LLP AS
THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
2008, AND, IN THE CASE OF OTHER MATTERS THAT LEGALLY COME BEFORE
THE
MEETING, AS SAID ATTORNEY(S) MAY DEEM ADVISABLE.
PLEASE
CHECK HERE IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
ON
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2008 AT 11:00 A.M. AT THE OMNI BERKSHIRE PLACE
HOTEL,
21 EAST 52ND
STREET, NEW YORK,
N.Y.
o
|
|
Signature
of Stockholder ______________ Date: ________
|
Signature
of Stockholder ______________ Date:
________
|
A. |
Executive
Officer Compensation.
Review and approve the corporate goals and objectives relevant to
the
compensation of the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and
other executive officers, evaluate the officers’ performance in light of
those goals and objectives, and set the officers’ compensation level based
on this evaluation;
|
B. |
Significant
Officer Contracts/Compensation Arrangements.
Review and approve significant employment agreements, arrangements,
or
transactions with executive officers, including any arrangements
having
any compensatory effect or purpose;
|
C. |
Director
Compensation.
Review and recommend to the Board appropriate director compensation
programs for service as directors, committee chairmanships, and committee
members, consistent with any applicable requirements of the listing
standards for independent
directors;
|
D. |
Compensation
Policies and Performance Review.
Establish the overall compensation philosophy of the Company and
periodically assess the Corporation’s policies applicable to the
Corporation’s executive officers and directors, including the relationship
of corporate performance to executive compensation, and evaluate
the
performance of the CEO and other executive officers against those
corporate goals and objectives, and, in connection with other
responsibilities and duties herein, recommend such compensation levels
and
structure to the full Board of Directors for final
approval;
|
E. |
Equity
Plan Awards.
Approve stock option grants and other equity-based or incentive awards
under any stock option or equity incentive compensation plans adopted
by
the Corporation, and otherwise assist the Board in administering
awards,
whether to employees or non-employees, under these
plans;
|
F. |
Evaluate
Stock and Incentive Plans.
Evaluate and make recommendations to the Board concerning any stock
option
or equity incentive compensation plans proposed for or adopted by
the
Corporation and make recommendations to the Board with respect to
incentive compensation plans and equity-based
plans;
|
G. |
Retention
of Compensation Consultants and Other Professionals.
Have full authority to obtain advice and seek assistance from, internal
and external legal, accounting and other advisors, as well as independent
compensation consultants and other professionals to assist in the
design,
formulation, analysis and implementation of compensation programs
for the
Corporation’s executive officers and other key employees, and determine
the funding necessary for the payment of compensation to any consultant
retained to advise the Committee;
|
H. |
Committee
Report in Proxy Statement.
Assist in the preparation of and approve a report of the Committee
for
inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy statement for each annual meeting of
stockholders, in accordance with the rules of the SEC and any requirements
of the Nasdaq;
|
I. |
Review.
Periodically review the operation of all of the Corporation’s employee
benefit plans, provided, however, that day-to-day administration
of such
plans, including the preparation and filing of all government reports
and
the preparation and delivery of all required employee materials and
communications, shall be performed by Corporation
management;
|
J. |
CD&A.
Review and approve the Compensation Discussion and Analysis for annual
disclosure to the shareholders;
|
K. |
Access
to Executives.
Have full access to the Corporation’s executives as necessary to carry out
its responsibilities;
|
L. |
Other
Activities.
Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the
Corporation’s By-laws and governing law, as the Committee or the Board
deems necessary or appropriate;
|
M. |
Review
Charter.
Review the Committee’s Charter from time to time for adequacy and
recommend any changes to the Board;
and
|
N. |
Report
to Board.
Report to the Board of Directors on the major items covered at each
Committee meeting.
|
1. |
The
Committee shall have the sole authority to retain and terminate any
search
firm to be used to identify director candidates and shall have sole
authority to approve the search firm’s fees and other retention terms. The
Committee shall also have authority to obtain advice and assistance
from
internal or external legal, accounting or other
advisors.
|
2. |
The
Committee shall actively seek individuals qualified to become Board
members for recommendation to the
Board.
|
3. |
The
Committee shall receive comments from all directors and report annually
to
the Board with an assessment of the Board’s performance, to be discussed
with the full Board following the end of each fiscal
year.
|
4. |
The
Committee shall initially create and recommend for adoption by the
Board
corporate governance guidelines for the Company and, on an annual
basis
thereafter, review and reassess the adequacy of these guidelines
and
recommend any proposed changes to the Board for
approval.
|
5. |
The
Committee shall annually review the succession planning recommendations
for the Company’s senior executive officers, including but not limited to
the Chief Executive Officer and will do so in concert with the
Compensation and Stock Option Committee and the Chairman of the Board
of
Directors.
|
6. |
The
Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees when
appropriate.
|
7. |
At
each meeting of the Board that follows a meeting of the Committee,
the
Chairman of the Committee shall report to the full Board on the matters
considered at the last meeting(s) of the
Committee.
|
8. |
The
Committee shall review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter
annually
and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval. The
Committee shall annually review its own performance.
|